[00:00:10]
[Proclamation 1]
ALL RIGHT.I'M OUR FIRST, UM, I'M VERY HONORED THAT OUR FIRST PRESENTATION THIS MORNING IS TO A VERY SPECIAL PERSON, KELLY WHITE.
I'M GOING TO ASK HER TO COME UP AND, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, FOLKS THAT ARE HERE WITH YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME UP.
OTHERWISE SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO STAND UP HERE BY HERSELF, WHICH SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DO.
I THINK IT'S LIKE THAT ALWAYS.
I AM SO VERY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO, UM, HONOR MY FRIEND, KELLY, WHITE, SOMEONE I'VE LOOKED UP TO FOR A LONG TIME.
THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW HER, SHE IS A FORCE OF NATURE AND SHE HAS BEEN TRULY, TRULY, TRULY A WONDERFUL, GREAT, ENORMOUS ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I KNOW SHE WILL CONTINUE TO BE.
SO I AM GOING TO READ A PROCLAMATION FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
AND THEN I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO OUR MAYOR WHO HAS SOME SPECIAL, A SPECIAL WORDS FOR, FOR KELLY.
SO BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS KELLY WHITE STARTED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT AUSTIN CENTER FOR BATTERED WOMEN IN 1993 AND PROCEEDED TO MERGE THE ORGANIZATION WITH THE AUSTIN RAPE CRISIS CENTER TO CREATE SAFE PLACE, WHICH SHE LATER WORKED TO MERGE WITH THE AUSTIN CHILDREN'S SHELTER TO CREATE THE SAFE ALLIANCE.
I WANT TO STOP THERE FOR A SECOND.
THIS IS, THIS IS REALLY, TRULY A VERY INNOVATIVE THING NATIONALLY.
UM, I WAS ON THE, THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER YEARS AGO AND I AM JUST, UM, I JUST WANT TO, I CAN'T UNDEREMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND HOW INNOVATIVE IT IS TO PULL THESE ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER.
SO, UH, SHE HAS A LASTING LEGACY WHERE SHE HAS DONE THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WHEREAS KELLY WHITE UNDERSTOOD BEFORE MOST THE INTERCONNECTED INTERGENERATIONAL NATURE OF CHILD ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND CREATED SAFE MAKING AUSTIN.
ONE OF THE FEW CITIES IN THE WORLD THAT HAS AN ORGANIZATION LIKE SAFE, THAT ADDRESSES THE FULL CYCLE OF VIOLENCE AND ABUSE HOLISTICALLY.
AND WHEREAS UPON HER RETIREMENT FROM SAFE, WE RECOGNIZE THAT KELLY WHITE HAS, HAS ALWAYS PUT THE NEEDS OF SURVIVORS UPFRONT AND CENTER, WHICH HAS LED TO HER REMARKABLE SUCCESS, GROWING SAFE SERVICES, TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF ABUSE AND PREVENT FURTHER VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO NOW THEREFORE I AM KITCHEN ON BEHALF OF OUR MAYOR, STEVE ADLER, AND THE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 24TH AS KELLY WHITE APPRECIATION DAY.
IT IS, IT IS, IT IS REALLY SPECIAL FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO DECLARE A DAY IN THIS CITY FOR SOMEONE.
IT IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RECOGNITIONS THAT WE DO OF CONTRIBUTIONS THAT SOMEONE MAKES TO THE COMMUNITY IT'S REALLY SPECIAL.
BUT IN THIS CASE, WE THOUGHT THAT WE NEEDED TO GO EVEN ONE STEP BEYOND THAT AND DO SOMETHING THAT WE SELDOM DO.
UH, JUST BY WAY OF, UH, RECOGNIZING FOR ME HOW MUCH YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME THROUGH THE YEARS, THE WORK THAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE FRONT LINE THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF DO, WHICH IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
UH, AND IN PART, BECAUSE, UH, PROBABLY MY WIFE IS AN OFFICER ON THE BOARD, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO US.
SO FOR THE CITY, I WANT TO PRESENT TO YOU A KEY TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
[00:05:01]
WE'LL SEE HOW I DO.I'VE KNOWN NOTHING PREPARED EXCEPT TO SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU GO THROUGH THAT LITANY OF THINGS AND I'VE CERTAINLY NEVER DONE IT ALONE.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN RIGHT THERE, UM, WORKING AND ADVOCATING AND CREATING THIS CHANGE RIGHT ALONGSIDE ME.
SOME FROM THE BEGINNING FROM 1993, KAREN KAHN BACK IN THE CORNER WAS ONE OFFICE OVER FOR ME WHEN I STARTED.
AND MARY BEN RAMSEY WAS ON THE BOARD, I BELIEVE.
AND, UM, UH, MELINDA, MELINDA IS THERE LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN THERE.
SO I, UH, I WILL, I WILL MISS SOMEBODY, BUT, UH, AND OF COURSE JULIA CAME IN VERY, VERY QUICKLY AND, AND WE'VE THIS INCREDIBLE TEAM, INCREDIBLE TEAM.
AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND I KNOW, I FEEL OKAY ABOUT LEAVING SAFE.
MY, MY BABY IT'S BEEN MY LIFE'S WORK.
UM, BECAUSE I KNOW OF THESE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE THAT HAVE, THAT WILL, THAT WILL CARRY IT FORWARD AND THEY ARE SO AMAZING.
AND OF COURSE I HAVE, UM, OVER HERE IN THE CORNER, MY HUSBAND, BILL, WHO HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY THROUGH THE YEARS WITH ME AND MY DAUGHTER, MEGAN, WHO IS GOING TO BE UPSET THAT I HAVE RECOGNIZED HER.
SHE'S THE, SHE, YOU CAN RECOGNIZE HER.
SHE'S HER MOTHER'S DAUGHTER CAUSE SHE'S DRESSED IN BLACK.
SO, UM, UH, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO THESE EXTRAORDINARY, UM, MEMBERS OF OUR CITY COUNCIL AND OUR MAYOR THAT HAVE GUIDED US THROUGH, UM, THE CITY THROUGH WHAT HAS BEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.
I'M JUST GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.
[Proclamation 2]
GOOD MORNING.THANK YOU FOR WAIT TILL IT GETS QUIET.
A SPECIAL, OKAY, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY ON BEHALF OF AN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF AN INSPIRING YOUNG AUSTINITE.
I AM MACKENZIE KELLY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SIX IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND TODAY WE ARE RECOGNIZING KAYLEE WILLIAMSON RIGHT HERE.
[00:10:01]
AN AMAZING HUMAN BEING.I FIRST HEARD ABOUT KAYLEE'S STORY BY WATCHING IT ON THE NEWS.
I WAS GLAD THAT THE HEADLINE CAUGHT MY ATTENTION BECAUSE WHEN I WAS WATCHING THE NEWS REPORT, I WAS BROUGHT TO TEARS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD KAYLEE'S STORY, IT'S ONE THAT'S WORTH HEARING AND SHARING TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH ALL THE BAD NEWS THESE DAYS, HER STORY IS AN INSPIRING ONE AND WE SHOULD CERTAINLY CELEBRATE IT.
HER JOURNEY BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN HEALTH PROBLEMS DETERMINED THAT SHE NEEDED TO CHANGE IN HER LIFESTYLE TOGETHER WITH HER MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER, THEY STARTED TAKING SMALL STEPS, WHICH EVENTUALLY TURNED INTO LARGER ONES FOR THAT HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.
OVER TIME KAYLEE'S MEDICAL CONDITIONS IMPROVED.
AND LATER SHE STARTED RUNNING HALF MARATHONS WITH HER SUPPORT FROM HER TEAM AND HER MOTHER.
SHE CONTINUES TO BREAK THROUGH BARRIERS.
IN 2017, SHE COMPLETED THE ASCENSION SETON AUSTIN HALF MARATHON.
AND RECENTLY IN 2022, SHE SET OUT TO FINISH THE FULL 26.2 MILE AUSTIN MARATHON.
SHE KNEW THIS WOULDN'T BE EASY, BUT SHE DID IT ANYWAY.
AND HER STORY IS SO INSPIRING.
HER MOTHER AND HER TEAM, COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF HER SUCCESS.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, I WANT TO PRESENT YOU WITH A PROCLAMATION FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND INSPIRATION TO THE ENTIRE CITY.
I'M GOING TO PULL IT OUT HERE AND I'M GOING TO READ IT.
AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE MARATHON HAS ANCIENT ROOTS, BUT THE OFFICIAL RACE LENGTH OF 26.2 MILES WASN'T ESTABLISHED UNTIL THE 20TH CENTURY.
AND WHEREAS THE FIRST ORGANIZED MARATHON WAS HELD IN ATHENS IN AN 1896 OLYMPIC GAMES AND SERVED AS A BASIS FOR THE MODERN MARATHON THAT WE ENJOY TODAY.
AND WHEREAS MARATHONS ARE NO SMALL EFFORT BY RUNNERS IN WHICH 1.1 MILLION RUNNERS COMPLETE GLOBALLY PER YEAR.
AND WHEREAS ONE OF THOSE AMBITIOUS COMPETITIVE RUNNERS IS AUSTINITE KAYLEE WILLIAMSON.
AND WHEREAS KAYLEE WILLIAMSON IS A STRONG YOUNG LADY THAT RUNS HER HEART OUT WITH COMMITMENT AND FORTITUDE.
AND WHEREAS THIS MOTIVATION INSPIRED KAYLEE TO RUN THE AUSTIN HALF MARATHON ON FEBRUARY 20TH, 2022, AND THEREFORE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING IT.
AND WHEREAS THIS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE WAS SUPPORTED BY HER DEDICATED TEAM, HER LOVING MOTHER, SANDRA WILLIAMSON.
AND WHEREAS THE COMPLETION OF THIS CHALLENGE SENT A WAVE OF INSPIRATION AND MOTIVATION THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND BEYOND NOW, THEREFORE I COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY, COUNCIL MEMBER, TASHA HARPER, MADISON, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ANN KITCHEN, AND THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN HEREBY PROCLAIM THE DAY THAT YOU WON THE MARATHON AND PASSED IT FEBRUARY 20TH, 2022 IS KAYLEE WILLIAMSON DAY IN AUSTIN.
AND YOU HEARD FROM THE MAYOR THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE HIGHEST HONORS SOMEONE CAN HAVE IS A PROCLAMATION.
AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU THIS COIN FROM MY OFFICE THAT WE GIVE TO PEOPLE WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND AND INSPIRE PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO YOU CAN KEEP IT WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES.
I AM SO PROUD OF YOU, MRS. WILLIAMSON, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK, OKAY, I'M GONNA TAKE THIS OFF.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'D LIKE TO THANK MAYOR ADLER AND COUNCIL WOMAN, UM, MEMBER MCKINSEY, UH, KELLY TRAINING FOR THIS MARATHON.
WASN'T SOMETHING WE DID IN SIX MONTHS.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT TOOK TWO YEARS.
AND THOUGH SHE'S DONE 15 HALF MARATHONS AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE NEXT WEEK.
WE'RE HAVING THIS GOAL OF DOING ONE IN EVERY STATE.
THE IDEA IS TO BRING THEIR RECOGNITION AND INSPIRE OTHERS, TO GET UP AND MOVE.
WHETHER IT'S RUNNING, SWIMMING, WHATEVER IT IS IS TO REALIZE HOW MUCH THAT PLAYS IN OUR IMPORTANCE, IN OUR LIFESTYLE TO HEALTH ISSUES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE CREATED THE PLATFORM OF DOING A HALF MARATHON IN EVERY STATE, BUT IT WOULD NOT HAVE STARTED.
UM, IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR HERE, THE SUPPORT WE RECEIVED THROUGH THE AUSTIN RUNNERS CLUB, THE SUPPORT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM ASCENSION, UM, AUSTIN MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, EVERYBODY FROM TOP TO BOTTOM HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING CITIZENS SHOWING UP ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET.
IT FIVE IN THE MORNING WHEN WE'RE STARTING THE MARATHON, WE HAD PEOPLE SHOW UP IN THE DARK JUST SO THEY COULD CHEER HER ON THAT'S THIS CITY.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEVER WANT TO TAKE FOR GRANTED.
WE WANT TO TAKE THIS TO OTHER STATES, TO GET PEOPLE, TO SEE THE POTENTIAL IN ALL OF US, BECAUSE ALL OF US HIT BARRIERS SOMETIMES.
AND SOMETIMES IT'S SOME NEGATIVE THINGS THAT MIGHT GO ON THAT WE START BELIEVING AND LIVING BY.
AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT I DIDN'T RAISE MY DAUGHTER TO DO IS TO LIVE BY A MYTH OF WHAT SHE COULD OR COULD NOT DO.
I WANT IT TO RAISE MY DAUGHTER TO BE EMPOWERED.
AND THROUGH THAT, I WANT IT TO BE ABLE TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE EMPIRE EMPOWERED HER FIRST HALF MARATHON.
SHE SAYS, MOM, DO YOU THINK I'M INSPIRING PEOPLE? AND I REMEMBER LOOKING AT HER AND SAYING, BABY GIRL, YOU HAVE NO
[00:15:01]
IDEA.SO ONE THING THAT I WOULD WANT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM TO KNOW IS THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US HAVE GREATNESS IN US AND TO, TO EACH OTHER, TO OURSELVES AND TO FULFILL THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS, IS JUST AMAZING.
SO I DON'T CRY AS MUCH AS HER, BUT IT'S VERY EMOTIONAL FOR HER BECAUSE THIS WAS A JOURNEY THAT STARTED IN HONOR OF MY MOM, WHO WE LOST LAST YEAR TO ALZHEIMER'S.
SO THE WHOLE GOAL IS JUST TO BRING THAT AWARENESS AND WE WANT TO THANK THE CITY.
I JUST DON'T THINK IN ANY OTHER CITY, WE WOULD HAVE HAD THE PATHWAY THAT WE'VE HAD HERE.
YOU WERE TO SAY SOMETHING AND I WAS LIKE, THANK YOU.
YOU CAN SAY, YOU WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU.
WHO DO YOU NEED HELP FROM? OF COURSE YOU WANT ME TO HOLD YOUR HAND? SHE'S TALKING TO THE MICROPHONE.
UM, I GOT TO, UM, I GOT, I SAY, UH, I HAVE A PARFAIT MOTHER, UM, WHO, UM, WHO ALWAYS TAKING CARE OF ME.
AND THEN YOU GUYS SAY TO ME TO SEE MY, UM, MY MOM, BECAUSE SHE SAVED MY LIFE BECAUSE, UM, UH, A MOMENT THAT I, I WAS HAVING, UM, WITH MY, WITH MY GRANDMA THAT, UM, I SEE MY, UM, I SAY MY, I SAY MY MEMORIES WHERE MY GRANDMA, SHE ALWAYS TOLD ME.
UM, UM, I AM, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU FOR MY MARITIME.
AND THEN SHE ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT, UM, I AM, I, AM I WAKE, I ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU FOR MY MARITIME.
AND THEN, UM, UM, WE ALWAYS SEEING TWO GHETTO IS YOUR MAIN SHOW SAYING, OH, WELL NOW YOU'RE OUR SUNSHINE TOO.
IT'S THAT SONG? UH, UM, I ALWAYS SING TO MEG PIE.
SHE CANNOT AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THEY MAKE YOU, YOU ARE HONOR ME.
[00:21:12]
I'D LOVE TO THANK YOU.WELL, I THINK I'M UP NEXT, BUT THAT'S A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW.
KINDA HIDE FROM THE BEST HUGGER IN THE BUILDING.
SO I'M UP NEXT? MY NAME IS NATASHA
[Proclamation 3]
HARPER MADISON.I'M THE VERY PROUD COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE.
UM, THIS IS AN ESPECIALLY POIGNANT PROCLAMATION GIVEN THE STATUS OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE MORE THAN TWO YEARS SINCE THE CORONAVIRUS FIRST APPEARED IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, I'LL SAY THIS AS JUST A, UH, A PERSONAL, UH, EXPERIENCE.
UH, I REMEMBER WHEN COVID HIT, UH, I'M IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.
AND SO MARCH 16TH, I REMEMBER THE DAY MY HUSBAND MOVED INTO A TRAILER, UM, AND OUR DRIVEWAY, WE HAD DINNER AND THE DRIVEWAY.
UH, I GOT MY GROCERIES DELIVERED.
I REMEMBER WHEN IT HIT AND HOW LONG IT LASTED.
AND SO I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF Y'ALL TODAY WITH NO MASK ON MY FACE.
LIKE IT GOT TO BE SO OPPRESSIVE, ALL OF THE CONSIDERATIONS YOU HAVE TO TAKE.
SO I'M REALLY, REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL THAT WE, AS A COMMUNITY HAVE TAKEN THE STEPS THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE TO LESSEN THE HARM.
RIGHT NOW, INFECTIONS ARE AT A HISTORIC LOW THAT'S GREAT NEWS, BUT IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO CATCH OUR BREATH, LITERALLY, AND LOOK BACK AT WHERE WE'VE BEEN SINCE MARCH OF 2020.
WE KNOW COVID TOOK A DISPROPORTIONATE TOLL ON BLACK BROWN AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW YOUNG PEOPLE PLAYED AN INTERESTING ROLE IN THE PANDEMIC.
A LOT OF THEM THOUGHT THEY WERE INVINCIBLE AND TOOK RISKS.
A LOT OF THEM ARE PAYING FOR THOSE RISKS.
UNFORTUNATELY WITH LONG TERM SIDE EFFECTS, YOUNG PEOPLE AREN'T INVINCIBLE.
AND THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE EARLY IN LIFE HAVE A LONG TAIL THROUGH THE REMAINING YEARS.
SO I'M GLAD TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR THIS CAUSE IN WHICH CASE YOU'RE READY BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DEFINES ADOLESCENTS AS AGES 10 TO 24.
AND THIS UNIQUE STAGE OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IS AN IMPORTANT TIME FOR LAYING THE FOUNDATION OF GOOD HEALTH.
AND WHEREAS YOUTH HAVE A SPECIAL ROLE IN OUR SOCIETY AS FUTURE LEADERS AND ADULTS HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT AND PARTNER WITH THEM SO THAT THEY HAVE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO FLOURISH.
WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE EQUITABLE RESOURCES AND TOOLS, THEY CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING INCLUDING
[00:25:01]
MENTAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.WHEREAS INTERNATIONAL ADOLESCENT HEALTH WEEK CELEBRATED IN MARCH IS A GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE.
WE'RE IN YOUNG PEOPLE, AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITIES, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND OTHER ADVOCATES COME TOGETHER WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF WORKING COLLECTIVELY TOWARDS IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THE OVER 1 BILLION ADOLESCENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE TODAY.
AND WHEREAS INTERNATIONAL ADOLESCENT HEALTH WEEK IS MARCH 20 THROUGH 26, PARDON ME? 2022 AND MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, ADOLESCENTS, AND YOUNG ADULTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE GLOBAL RECOGNITION OF INTERNATIONAL ADOLESCENT HEALTH WEEK.
NOW, THEREFORE I MAYOR, I'M SORRY, I'M NOT MAYOR STEVE AETHER I COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON, ALONG WITH MAYOR STEVE ADLER AND THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO DECLARE HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 20TH THROUGH 26TH, 2022, AS INTERNATIONAL AS ADOLESCENT HEALTH WEEK.
AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE THIS OFF TO YOU.
I SEE YOUR PINK NOTES LOOKS LIKE YOU HAD SOMETHING TO SAY, YOU SHOULD SIT THIS HERE UNTIL WE TAKE OUR PHOTOGRAPH.
UM, SO I'M A FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND SPECIALIST IN ADOLESCENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF Y'ALL KNOW THAT THERE IS A SPECIALTY OF ADOLESCENT MEDICINE AND BY DOING THIS PROCLAMATION, WE'RE PUTTING AUSTIN ON A GLOBAL MAP.
AND SO YOU CAN LOOK UP HASHTAG I A H W 22 FOR INTERNATIONAL ADOLESCENT HEALTH WEEK, AND THE COLOR IS LIME GREEN AND IT IS BEING CELEBRATED ALL OVER THE WORLD THIS WEEK, INDIA, BRAZIL, ENGLAND, IRELAND, SOUTH AMERICA.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A SENIOR YOUTH AMBASSADOR, UH, THAT IS MENTORING YOUTH AROUND THE WORLD TO BE PART OF THIS INITIATIVE.
UH, WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED SINCE 2018.
AND AS YOU WERE SAYING, THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN REALLY HARD ON ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS.
I THINK WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THAT.
UM, AND THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT HAS HAPPENED, THEY'VE BEEN HAVING TO ENDURE ONLINE SCHOOL AND THE RECENT ANTI-TRANS GENDER LEGISLATION AND MULTIPLE THINGS THAT HAVE MADE THEIR LIVES VERY DIFFICULT.
BUT I WANT TO SAY THE THEME FOR TODAY FROM THE PREVIOUS POCK PROCLAMATIONS IS ALSO TO CELEBRATE GOOD NEWS, THE INTERNATIONAL ADOLESCENT HEALTH WEEK, AND OUR PARTICULAR WORK AT THE CENTER FOR ADOLESCENT HEALTH AT PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CLINIC ARE SOLUTION ORIENTED.
UH, BY COINCIDENCE, WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE THE MEDICAL CARE FOR THE YOUTH AT THE SAFE CHILDREN'S SHELTER.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE A SCHOOL-BASED CLINIC OUT IN MAINE OR SO WE WORK VERY HARD TO WORK WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY FOR ALL YOUTH, BUT IT DOES TAKE A TEAM.
I THINK, SAFE, DEMONSTRATED THAT, UH, TAKES PHYSICIANS, NURSE PRACTITIONERS, MEDICAL ASSISTANTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, HEALTH EDUCATORS, AND WE WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
UM, WE ALSO TAKE YOUTH AS PART OF THE SOLUTION.
SO WE HAVE HERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL.
ANNE MARIE STARTED OUR YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL OVER FIVE YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE 30 MEMBERS THIS YEAR AND THEY ARE PART OF OUR SOLUTION.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S TRENDING.
SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCILS OR YAKS, OR WHY ABS FOR YOUTH ADVISORY BOARDS AND GIVING THEIR VOICE AND PROMOTING WHAT THEY DO IS A VERY IMPORTANT SOLUTION TO WHAT'S FACING YOUTH IN THEIR HEALTHCARE.
SO YOUTH OFFER SOLUTIONS AROUND THE BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY, THE ACCEPTANCE OF DIVERSITY AND BEING THE CHANGE.
AND IT HELPS PREVENT BURNOUT AND A LOT OF US HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THAT WE EXPERIENCED DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU AND I WANT TO THANK AUSTIN FOR SHOWING HOW MUCH THEY DO CARE ABOUT THE ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE OUR FUTURE.
[Call to Order]
[00:30:33]
GAVEL IN THIS MEETING.IT IS A THURSDAY, MARCH 24TH, 2022.
IT IS A 10 0 8 AND WE'RE GOING TO CONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE IN CITY HALL.
UH, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS, UH, CALLING IN REMOTE.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY'S FACE ON THE, UH, ON THE DAYAS.
UH, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE WERE HERE, COULD SEE EACH OTHER, UH, ORDERS YESTERDAY, UH, SAID THAT THERE'S NO LONGER REQUIRED MASKING AND CITY BUILDINGS THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU CAN'T WHERE I'M ASKING THE CITY BUILDING AND ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO CERTAINLY CAN AND OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IN FACT, ADVISES THAT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE OR ARE AROUND PEOPLE WHO ARE SUSCEPTIBLE, BUT NO REQUIREMENT TO WEAR A MASK.
I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS, AS I THINK, IS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOLKS LOOKING AT THE SPIKES THAT WE'RE SEEING THE SURGES WE'RE SEEING IN WESTERN EUROPE, UH, AND, AND SEEING IN MAYBE IN SOME OTHER STATES, UH, AROUND THE COUNTRY, UH, WE'RE ALL WATCHING THAT REALLY CLOSELY TO SEE IF, UH, THE OTHER SURGE COMES BACK TO US.
IT WOULD NOT BE UNTHINKABLE IF THAT HAPPENED.
UH, IF THAT HAPPENS, PROBABLY EVERYBODY WOULD GET ASKED TO PUT BACK ON THE MASKS FOR THREE WEEKS TO TAMP IT BACK DOWN, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT NOW.
AND WE CAN CELEBRATE WHERE WE ARE AND ENJOY BEING ABLE TO, UH, TO, TO, TO SEE ONE ANOTHER, UH, COLLEAGUES, UH, BY WAY OF, UH, UH, CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS THAT WE WANT TO READ INTO THE RECORD FOR TODAY'S MEETING ITEM NUMBER 33 ON MARCH 21ST, 2022 IS REBECCA RECOMMENDED BY THE UTILITY ELECTRIC UTILITY COMMISSION ON A SEVEN O VOTE WITH COMMISSIONERS BOWEN, UM, HARDNESS, CHAPMAN, AND FUNK HOUSER, ABSENT ITEM 42, WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED WITH ITEM 46, ITEM 63 POSTPONE TO APRIL 7TH, 2022 ITEM 76 AND 77 IS DISTRICT SEVEN, NOT DISTRICT ONE, UH, ITEM NUMBER, UH, 85, THE RELEVANT ORDINANCE, UH, IS, UM, NUMBER, UH, OH 1 1 2 1 3 DASH FOUR ONE.
AND THAT'S OUR CORRECTION AND ITEM NUMBER 93.
UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEM ALTER HAS BEEN ADDED AS A SPONSOR.
WE HAVE SOME PULLED ITEMS, 27 BY KELLY, 37 BY TOBO 52 BY ALTAR AND 55 AND 57 BY TOVO.
WE HAVE LAID BACK UP IN ITEMS 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 34 54 55, UH, 50, UH, SEVEN, UH, 61 63 69, 70 73, 76, 77, 81 82, 83, 85, 86 AND 89.
UH, I DON'T SEE LISTED HERE ON 57.
UH, THE, UM, OTHER IT IS DRAFT RESOLUTION V2 IS ON, I THINK THERE'S A V3 AS WELL.
SO IF MY, THERE IT IS DRAFT RESOLUTION B3.
UH, THOSE ARE ALL THE LAID BACK UP, UH, ITEMS. UM, IT IT'S, WE HAVE, UH, SPEAKERS SIGNED UP BOTH, UH, REMOTE, UH, AND IN PERSON WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE IN-PERSON FIRST.
UM, I WOULD, UH, POINT OUT THAT IT'S MY BELIEF AT THIS POINT THAT THE, UH, DAC ITEM IS GOING TO GET, UH, POSTPONED, UH, THAT DECK ITEM, UH,
[00:35:01]
IS SEVERAL ITEMS ON OUR, UM, UH, AGENDA ITEMS, 13, 14 AND 34.UH, SO, UM, THE APPROPRIATE TIME THEN TO SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF, OF THOSE WOULD BE IF IT, IF, AND WHEN IT COMES BACK TO US, UH, BUT THERE WILL BE ONLY THE POSTPONEMENT, UH, HAPPENING TODAY.
UH, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO CALL PEOPLE TO SPEAK ON THE MERITS OF THE RESOLUTION, CAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE CONSIDERED TODAY.
UH, GIVEN THAT, UH, I THINK WE, WE CAN GO FOR TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO, UH, TO, TO SET THE CLOCK MAYOR PRO TEM.
UM, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, ONE FOR THE DOC.
UM, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO PULL THAT? SO WE CAN, THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT IN YOUR QUORUM CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING AND HOW WE ARRIVED AT THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL WITH OUR COMMUNITY WHO DOESN'T ALWAYS READ OUR MESSAGE BOARD, UM, TO HEAR THAT, AND THEN WE CAN TAKE UP THE MOTION WE'LL POSTPONE, BUT THAT'D BE 13, 14 AND 34.
UM, AND THEN I WANT, I WILL, UM, LAY OUT MY DIRECTION OR AMENDMENTS LATER, BUT I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT I, UM, HAVE THE AMENDMENT DRAFTED THAT GOES WITH THE LIFEGUARD ITEM TO ADD THE, EXPLORING THE TRANSPORTATION, UM, OBSTACLES.
AND THEN I HAVE PUT UP DIRECTION FOR ITEM 40 RELATED TO THE INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICE LEASE AND IN RELATION TO 43 WITH RESPECT TO, UH, WORKFORCE, UM, AND HAVE POLLED, UH, 52.
YES, BECAUSE WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
YOU SAID ABOUT THE SECURITY ITEM I POSTED LAST NIGHT, UM, DIRECTION ON THE MESSAGE BOARD WITH RESPECT TO, UM, NEXT STEPS FOR MOVING THEM FROM LEASE TO OWNING.
AND, AND I I'M ASSUMING THAT THAT CAN STILL GO ON CONSENT.
I WAS JUST CALLING ATTENTION TO IT SINCE WE'VE HAD SO MANY EMAILS AND MESSAGES ON THE MESSAGE BOARD THAT'S NUMBER 40.
AND YOU ALSO CAUGHT OUT SOME OTHER I'M SORRY, MEAN, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
CAUSE I HADN'T LOOKED AT THE MESSAGE BOARD YET THIS MORNING AND MISSED THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAD ASKED SOME QUESTIONS AND THEY HAVE STAFF AS I DID AS WELL.
AND SO, UM, I'M EAGER TO SEE YOUR NEXT STEPS, I THINK.
UM, THERE DOES NEED TO BE A PLAN FOR MOVING THE MENTALLY SPACE.
SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THAT.
SO IT WAS, UM, THE HAVE DIRECTION ON 40, WHICH IS THE ISO LEASE 43, WHICH IS THE WORKFORCE CONTRACT.
BOTH OF THOSE I POSTED LAST NIGHT.
AND THEN I POSTED, I DON'T REMEMBER THAT I HAD WANTED TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR FOR THE LIFEGUARD ITEM AND EXPRESSED A NEED FOR US TO, UM, EXPLORE IF WE CAN ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION OBSTACLES.
UM, I DON'T SEE A VERSION TWO, SO I HAVE A AMENDMENT THAT DOES THAT, BUT I THINK THAT COULD STILL GO ON CONSENT AS WELL.
AND THEN I PULLED 52, WHICH IS THE SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS, WHICH I PULLED BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT FULLY FUNDED THE PRIME TIME CONTRACT FOR AISD.
I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR PRO TEMPS CO-SPONSORSHIP ON THAT.
UM, AND BRINGING THE AMENDMENT.
SO I AGREE WE DON'T NEED TO PULL IT, BUT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO ADD IN THAT AMENDMENT AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AFTER THE SPEAKERS, WE CAN DO THAT.
AND THEN FOR ITEM 46, I DON'T NEED TO PULL THAT ONE EITHER.
UM, I INTEND TO MOVE ITS PASSAGE WITH SOME DIRECTION TODAY, SO THAT ALSO DOESN'T NEED TO BE PULLED.
UM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT FOR AFTER THE SPEAKERS, JUST THAT I WOULD WANT TO ADD, UH, A DIRECTION.
IS THAT THE ROWING DOT? CAUSE I THINK THERE WERE TWO ITEMS ON THAT AND I, WITH THE CONSENT, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE PASS BOTH OF THOSE.
SO, SO I BELIEVE 42 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AND REPLACED.
SO YES, THERE WERE TWO ITEMS, ONE FOR THIS YEAR AND ONE FOR A ONE YEAR.
SO I'M GOING TO MOVE THE PASSAGE OF 46 THE ONE YEAR.
BUT APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION IS THAT 42 IS WITHDRAWN AND REPLACE WITH 46.
WELL, AFTER THE SPEAKERS, WE'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO MAKE THAT AMENDMENT.
IT MAKES SOME COMMENTS AND KEEP IT ON CONSENT.
IF THERE'S NOT ANY ISSUES WITH THAT.
[Public Comments (Part 1 of 3)]
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO AHEAD.AND THEN, UH, HERE, UH, SPEAKERS, UM, WE'LL START WITH THE, UH, SPEAKERS THAT ARE HERE, UH, THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, UH, IN PERSON.
THERE'S A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE.
BILL BRYCE, UH, KIMBERLY 11 SINGE I'VE STINELY CHRIS HARSHBARGER JEFF CALL CALI
[00:40:01]
ELIZABETH KURTZ, STEVEN SCANLAN, ANDREW TEMPLETON.DO ANY OF YOU NEED TO SPEAK HERE THIS MORNING ON THOSE ITEMS BEING POSTPONED? OKAY.
UH, WHAT ABOUT THE ITEM NUMBER 55? UH, RYAN HARVEY.
WHY DON'T YOU COME ON UP AND SPEAK? YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, MR. HARVEY SPEAKING ON ITEM 55 MORNING.
SO THE 33 YEARS, BUT THIS IS MY FIRST.
DO WE HAVE THE ANALYZER? DO WE HAVE THE MIC ON, SORRY.
UM, SO MY NAME IS RYAN HARVEY.
UH, I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR 33 YEARS AND THIS IS MY FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING PUBLIC COMMENT.
I CAME DOWN TO APPLAUD THE COUNCIL FOR BOTH RESOLUTIONS 55 AND 57.
AND, UH, I WAS INSPIRED BY YOUR TALK ON TUESDAY DURING THE CITY WORK MEETING, UM, TO SEE HOW SAVVY THE DISCUSSION WAS AND HOW OPEN EVERYONE WAS TO EXPLORING BLOCKCHAIN SOLUTIONS FOR THE CITY.
UM, I THOUGHT THAT THERE WERE SO MANY INTELLIGENT QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IT CAN BE USED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, SERVING, UM, FOLKS THAT ARE HOMELESS, UM, AND, UH, ANY OTHER POTENTIAL INVESTIGATIONS WITHIN THE SPACE BECAUSE BLOCKCHAIN AND CRYPTO ARE SOMETHING THAT'S MOVING SO QUICKLY.
THE TECHNOLOGY FROM SIX MONTHS AGO CAN BE ANCIENT THERE'S NEW STUFF COMING IN EVERY DAY.
AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE AUSTIN BROADCASTING ITSELF AS OPEN FOR BUSINESS, OPEN FOR DIALOGUE, BUT ALSO WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CAUTION TO ALL OF THE VOLATILITY, WHICH I KNOW WAS MENTIONED ON TUESDAY.
UM, I THINK THAT, UH, THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN TOWN LIKE MINE ATX DAO, AND I WAS EXCITED TO SEE, UM, DOW HAS MENTIONED IN THE RESOLUTION THAT CAN BE A POINT OF INFORMATION FOR THE ORGANIZATION, THE CITY INNOVATION OFFICE.
UH, IF WE CAN BE A RESOURCE TO YOU FOR INFORMING YOU ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE INDUSTRY, WE'D BE HAPPY TO.
AND, UM, HOW AUSTIN CAN IMPROVE WITH THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY.
USE US WE'RE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET AND WE'RE CREATING EVERY WEEK OUT IN THE OPEN, JUST LIKE YOU GUYS ARE GREAT.
WHAT ABOUT SAM PEDEA? DON'T YOU COME ON UP, SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 57, JESSE PATTERSON IS ON DECK TWO MINUTES.
UM, I'M ALSO HERE PRESENTED AT THE XL.
I MOVED TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS AGO.
AND IN THIS FEW SEVEN MONTHS, I'VE ALREADY FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE CITY IN MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS.
ONE OF THOSE LEVELS IN WHICH I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CITY WAS WITH THE FORWARD-THINKING OF THE CITY IN THIS, I BELIEVE IT WAS REFLECTED IN, IN RESOLUTION 57 THAT I'M SPEAKING TO.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR A DIGITAL SOLUTION ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, BUT ALSO ON BEHALF OF ATX.
I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS OUR ORGANIZATION REALLY SUPPORTS THE RESOLUTION ON AUSTIN, MOVING FORWARD AS A FORWARD-THINKING CITY WHEN IT COMES TO CRYPTO, BUT BEYOND JUST EXPRESSING THIS, UH, SUPPORT FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
I ALSO WANT TO SHARE SOME WORDS OF CAUTION AND ALSO MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT CITY COUNCIL.
WE, OUR CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER NOT TO BE TAKEN BY THE EXCITEMENT OF THE INDUSTRY AND THE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND GRUSH, UH, INTO, INTO DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT MAY NOT BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE CITY.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT ANY INNOVATIONS THAT ARE IMPLEMENTED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN BENEFIT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST TRY TO CAPITALIZE ON THE GOOD INTENTIONS OF CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY MAYOR, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE CITY, UH, CITIZENS AND THE MEMBERS.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR THAT AS WELL.
WE WANT TO MAKE IT THE EXILE AVAILABLE TO YOU GUYS FOR, WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF PROFESSIONALS IN THE SPACE, ALL NATIVE TO AUSTIN, ALL, ALL, ALL LIVING IN AUSTIN AND ALL OF US FALL IN LOVE WITH THE CITY IN MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS AS WELL.
WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE WE HAVE.
WE ARE, AND WE UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE ARE ASKING CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER, AS YOU PURSUED THIS RESOLUTION TO PLEASE USE US AS A RESOURCE, PLEASE WORK WITH US BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY INNOVATIONS IN THE SPACE OF BLOCKCHAIN THAT ARE IMPLEMENTED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAVE THE INTERESTS OF THE CITIZENS AT HEART AND THE INTEREST OF THE CITY.
BECAUSE AS I SAID, WE'RE A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO OFTEN LOVE WITH THE CITY AND WHO I WANT TO SEE THE CITY PROSPER.
SO ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE HERE TO FULLY SUPPORT YOU ALL, AND WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO SEE
[00:45:01]
AUSSIE MOVING FORWARD IN THIS SPACE.I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND I'M ALSO HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ATX DOW ORGANIZATION.
I'M THE HEAD OF EDUCATION FOR ATX DOW, AND I WANT TO REAFFIRM AND EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND ALSO OFFER OUR SERVICES TO ANY COALITION OR GROUP THAT MAY FORM TO FURTHER THESE INVESTIGATIONS.
UM, AGAIN, UM, REITERATING THE CONCERNS AND, AND, UM, EXPRESSIONS OF OPTIMISM OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF MY ORGANIZATION.
UM, WE THINK THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD, AND WE KNOW THAT MANY IN THE WEB THREE INDUSTRY HAVE SEEN AUSTIN MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION AND HAVE STARTED TO VIEW THE CITY AS AN AREA THAT MAY BE VERY PROMISING FOR OUR INDUSTRY.
UM, SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING THESE RESOLUTIONS AND, UM, WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, WORKING WITH YOU IF THEY SHOULD PASS.
HI, I'M GOING TO GO BACK FOR JUST A SECOND, CAUSE I, I UNDERSTAND MIGHT'VE BEEN CONFUSING ITEMS. 13, 14 AND 34 ARE GOING TO GET POSTPONED THOSE THAT'S THE DECK ITEM.
UH, IF SOMEONE WAS TO SPEAK ON WHETHER OR NOT IT SHOULD BE POSTPONED BECAUSE THAT'S THE ACTION THAT'S BEING TAKEN TODAY.
I WANT TO GIVE THOSE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE POSTPONEMENT ISSUE.
MR. BRYCE, YOU SIGNED UP, YOU WANT TO SPEAK NOT ON THE MERITS OF WHETHER IT SHOULD BE IN THIS PLACE OR NOT PUT ON THE POSTPONEMENT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL I'M BILL BRYCE WITH DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE.
I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO THE DIRECTION YOU WERE GOING THERE.
THAT BEING SAID, I'LL BE VERY BRIEF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, AS YOU KNOW, HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ADVOCATE AND PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY COURT PARTNERING ON MANY INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH HIGHLY ACUTE ISSUES, VERY COMPLEX ISSUES.
MANY OF WHOM ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
WE OPPOSE MOVING COMMUNITY COURT TO 1 24 WEST EIGHTH STREET, AND THIS IS NOT ABOUT AN MB IT'S WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COURT, ITS CLIENTS, AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE IN LIGHT OF CURRENT PLANNING AND FUNDING EFFORTS RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS, WE HAVE AN UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY THAT WE MUST LEVERAGE.
WE NEED TO BE FORWARD-THINKING ABOUT HOW THE COURT CAN BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY BEFORE SELECTING A BUILDING FOR THE COURT TO OPERATE MUCH AS IT HAS IN THE PAST.
THERE ARE INNOVATIVE COURT MODELS OUT THERE THAT CAN BE APPLIED HERE TO INCREASE SERVICE DELIVERY AND REDUCE FAILURE TO APPEAR RATES, WHICH OFTEN RESULT IN PEOPLE BEING ARRESTED FOR FINE ONLY OFFENSES WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT FROM THE CENTER FOR COURT INNOVATION AND LOCAL EXPERTISE, WE CAN DEFINE A MORE EFFECTIVE AND COST-EFFECTIVE MODEL FOR AUSTIN.
IT'S IMPERATIVE TO BE FUTURE MINDED AND FULLY INFORMED.
BEFORE DECIDING ON THE FACILITY, WE URGE YOU TO POSTPONE THESE ACTIONS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU CONSIDERING DOING THAT.
AND THE DECISION TO POSTPONE, I, I BELIEVE IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COURTS, CLIENTS, AUSTIN, TAXPAYERS, DOWNTOWN IN THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUE BONE MAN? COME ON DOWN.
MAYOR ADLER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I STRONGLY OPPOSE ITEMS, 13, 14 AND 34.
THE OLD MUNI BUILDING IS SIMPLY THE WRONG BUILDING AND SITE FOR THE DAC ITSELF, ALL ITS SERVICES.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE DAC CLIENTELE.
I'M ENCOURAGED BY WHAT I HEARD FROM YOU JUST A MINUTE AGO.
UM, THAT EMOTION WILL BE PASSED TODAY TO REVIEW THE DOCK OPERATIONS FROM TIP TO TOE.
ASSUMING THIS PASSES, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS ON THIS ISSUE.
ONE OF THE THING I JUST WANT TO LOOK FORWARD, I'M HERE TO ALSO ADVOCATE FOR A RESOLUTION THAT WAS UNANIMOUS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED BY CITY COUNCIL IN MAY OF 2020, UH, TO MAKE THE OLD MUNI BUILDING A CULTURAL ARTS, UH, CENTER FOR THE ARTS WITH ITS LONG HISTORY AND PRIME LOCATION.
THIS BUILDING WILL MAKE A GREAT ADDITION TO AUSTIN'S CULTURAL TRUST.
UM, TO THIS END HATS OFF TO THE CITY.
YOU ALL FOR ITS INAUGURAL PIECE OF ART PLACED OUT FRONT OSCE, UH, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE RAINBOW KABWE, WHICH YOU ALL HAVE A PICTURE OF.
UM, HE'S AUSTIN'S AMBASSADOR FOR THE ARTS.
I RESPECTFULLY ASKED THE CITY, CONTINUED TO ADVANCE THE RESOLUTION.
YOU PASSED TO MAKE THE OLD MUNI BUILDING A WONDERFUL AND VIBRANT CULTURAL CENTER THAT THE CITY AND OUR OWN RAINBOW COWBOY CAN BE PROUD TO PROMOTE.
ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE FORWARD THEN AGAIN, WITHIN PERSON, UH, FOLKS, UH, ITEM NUMBER 46, UH, IS, UH, UH, MY FORTINETS HERE.
WHY YOU COME ON DOWN? WELCOME BACK INTO A CITY HALL AND EVERY PROTEST.
[00:50:01]
COUNCIL.I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY CLIENT THROWING DOC, UH, MS. SUSAN GOLDBERG IS THE OWNER OF ROWAN DOCK.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, WE JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US THE TIME TO, UH, CONTINUE MEETING WITH STAFF.
WE WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS STAFF PURCHASING STAFF AND ESPECIALLY DIRECTOR MCNEELY.
WE'VE COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION AND AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, WE'VE ASKED FOR SOME ADDITIONAL DIRECTION AND SO WE WILL, UH, ACCEPT AND SUPPORT THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL.
AND SO WE JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING US GET TO THIS POINT.
AND WE'RE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS, IF YOU HAVE ANY.
IS, UH, RYAN HARVEY HERE? YEAH, I, WE ALREADY, YOU ALREADY HAD YOU SPEAK, RIGHT? THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
UH, THEN, UM, AND I THINK WE GOT THE TWO ON 57.
WHAT ABOUT, UH, UH, TRISHA FOR TRISHA WITH US? WHY DON'T YOU COME ON DOWN AS FORBES? CLARENCE WATSON IS ON DECK.
GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING ME TODAY.
MY NAME IS TRICIA FORBES AND I AM THE TEXAS MANAGER FOR CRIME SURVIVORS FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE.
WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION WITH MORE THAN 80,000 MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UM, MANY THOUSANDS OF THEM IN TEXAS, WE BELIEVE IN SOLUTIONS LIKE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS THAT SERVE PEOPLE WHO OFTEN FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS AND TRADITIONAL SERVICES.
MANY OF OUR MEMBERS ARE, UH, VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE ARE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO VIOLENCE AND ALL OTHER KINDS OF TRAUMA.
MANY OF OUR MEMBERS ALSO HAVE COMPLEX TRAUMA FROM A LIFETIME OF VIOLENT EXPERIENCES.
WE BELIEVE IN NEW PUBLIC SAFETY SOLUTIONS AND THAT TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS ARE VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFER.
THEY OFFER COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND TRAUMA INFORMED COUNSELING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AT NO COST.
AND THEY ALSO SERVE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT FILE A POLICE REPORT, WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE WHO DON'T GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM DO NOT HAVE THE SAME KIND OF ACCESS TO SERVICES AS PEOPLE WHO DO.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE FOUND IN THE 39 TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS THAT OPERATE AROUND THE COUNTRY, THAT WITH COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND SOMEONE TO WALK A VICTIM THROUGH ALL OF THE SYSTEMS THAT THEY COME INTO CONTACT WITH, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO REPORT THEIR CRIMES.
SO WE REALLY APPLAUD COUNCIL MEMBER, ONE TEZ, AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO HAS SHOWN US SUPPORT.
AND GIVEN YOUR TIME AS WE'VE WORKED ON MAKING THIS A REALITY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAVE SEVERAL OF OUR MEMBERS, UM, HERE TO SPEAK AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HEARING US AND FOR SUPPORTING TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS IN AUSTIN.
THANK YOU, CLARENCE WATSON, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, SIR.
MY NAME IS CLARENCE WATSON AND I'M THE AUSTIN CHAPTER COORDINATOR FOR CROWNS, THE BARS FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE, AND ALSO AUSTIN KNIGHT.
I'VE BEEN RAISED IN AUSTIN AND I LOVE MY CITY, BUT I'VE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF DARK TIMES IN MY CITY.
I AM A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OF THE CHILD.
I'M A SURVIVOR OF GUN VIOLENCE AS A YOUNG MAN.
ALL THESE TRAUMAS THAT I EXPERIENCED IN MY YOUNG, YOUNGER YEARS LED ME DOWN A LONG JOURNEY OF SETBACKS AND CHALLENGES AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THOSE, THEY PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, CRITICAL CASE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION AND FREE COUNSELING.
SOMETHING THAT MY FAMILY REALLY NEEDED AT THE TIME, THESE SERVICES HAVE PROVEN TO WORK AND IT CAN HELP END THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE, TRAUMA, AND INCARCERATION.
MANY LIKE MYSELF HAVE FALLEN INTO,
[00:55:02]
THEY SAY DOING THE SAME THING AND EXPECTING A DIFFERENT OUTCOME IS INSANITY.BUT WHAT DO YOU CALL GIVE A MINIMUM ARE NO SERVICES AND EXPECTED A DIFFERENT OUTCOME FROM INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHY DON'T YOU COME ON DOWN, STORED HER SHARE MR. HIRSCH.
MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M SYLVIA, BLANGO CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOME BRIEF COMMENTS ON THE CITY'S FYI 2223 ACTION PLAN.
I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THAT HAKA IS PROJECTING A LATE SUMMER CLOSING FOR THE LONG ANTICIPATED ROSEWOOD COURTS REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
UH, THAT TRANSFORMATION PROJECT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CURRENT ROSEWOOD RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS FUTURE FAMILIES THAT WE'LL CALL ROSEWOOD HOME.
IN A NUTSHELL, THE PROJECT ENTAILS A CREATION OF 164 BRAND NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT HOUSING UNITS, THE FULL RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF EIGHT HISTORIC BUILDINGS WITH 20 FULLY RENOVATED HOUSING UNITS FOR A TOTAL OF 184 DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, A COMMEMORATIVE GREEN SPACE TO HONOR THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN'S ORIGINAL EMANCIPATION PARK AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF 12 BRAND NEW, TRULY AFFORDABLE FOR SALE HOMES FOR ELIGIBLE HAKA FAMILIES.
ALL ELEMENTS OF THIS PROJECT PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND CLEARLY MEET THE OBJECTIVES OF AUSTIN'S CITY.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT, I WILL SHARE THAT THERE IS A SIZEABLE GAP IN THE FUNDING FOR THE FINANCING OF THIS PROJECT DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE HISTORIC RESTORATION SCOPE AND THE EVER RISING COSTS OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND LABOR.
WE NEED THE CITY'S HELP IN MAKING THIS TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT A REALITY, THEREFORE, AS HPD WORKS TO IDENTIFY PROJECTS, TO ASSIST IN ITS ACTION PLAN HAKA RESPECTFULLY ASKS FOR THE CITY'S HELP IN FILLING SOME OF THIS GAP THROUGH THE RHD PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2223.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AND MAY I ASK A QUESTION? YES, GO AHEAD.
UM, CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF THE SIZE OF THE GAP AMONG YES.
IT'S APPROXIMATELY A $10 MILLION GAP.
THANK YOU MR. HER TWO MINUTES.
UH, MY NAME IS JARED HARRY HIRSCH.
AND THIS WEEK I GOT TO TESTIFY ON NEEDS ASSESSMENT, BOTH HERE TODAY AND PAST TUESDAY AT THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT IS REQUIRED BY HUD.
SOME OF THE POOREST AMONG US ARE HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE AN 80%, 50% AND 30% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME WITHIN THE AUSTIN SEMI CITY LIMITS OR AN UNINCORPORATED TRAVIS COUNTY.
THESE ARE THE SAME TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO I WAS ALLOWED TO HELP WITH WEATHERIZATION HOME REPAIRS.
WHEN I BECAME THE CITY'S WEATHERIZATION COORDINATOR IN 1977, UH, AT THE TIME WHEN I WAS HIRED, I EARNED $5 AND 93 CENTS AN HOUR.
AND AT THE END OF MY PROBATIONARY PERIOD, I EARNED $6 AND 38 CENTS AN HOUR.
SO IT WAS PRETTY EASY TO UNDERSTAND THE HOUSING NEEDS OF FAMILIES, BOTH IN AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
I'M ASKING YOU TO ESTABLISH AS PART OF THE ACTION PLAN PROCESS, THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES FOR THE 20 22 23 BUDGET YEAR FOR THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS FOR LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS, ROOF REPAIRS, REPAIRS TO LEAKING WATER PIPES REPLACEMENT OF FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIRS TO ELECTRIC WIRING SYSTEMS REPLACEMENT OF UNVENTED SPACE HEATERS WITH THE VENTILATED HEATING SYSTEMS, REPAIRS TO HEATING VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS AND REPAIRS TO HOMES DAMAGED BY FLOODING HIGH WINDS AND FIRE CITY AND COUNTY BUDGETS SHOULD REFLECT THE NUMBER OF LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TO BE SERVED BY HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WITH A REMINDER OF THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT GOAL OF 600 PHONES
[01:00:01]
REPAIRED PER YEAR OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD.SO I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP SOME OF THE POOREST HOMEOWNERS ABOVE, AMONG US.
THEY WERE FACING ENORMOUS GENTRIFICATION PRESSURES AND, UH, CONTINUED FUNDING OF HOME REPAIR WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO AGE IN PLACE LIKE THE REST OF US ARE TRYING TO DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 69 IS A TAYLOR LAYING HERE, HERE.
THOSE ARE ZONING ITEMS. OKAY, GREAT.
SO I THINK THEN THAT THOSE WOULD BE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE THIS MORNING.
ARE THERE ANY AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE LATER LOWER ON THIS? WE DO NOT HAVE ANY, BUT WE DO HAVE, UM, SPEAKERS ONLINE.
UH, SO THE SPEAKERS THAT SHOW UP ON ITEM 93, PEOPLE SIGNED UP THERE.
SO WHAT ABOUT SCOTT COB ARE THERE WHEN YOU WANT TO COME DOWN AND ANGELA RICK, ANGELA RICHTER AND SOPHIA PENA, YOU EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES.
I WORK AS A LIFEGUARD AT BARTON SPRINGS POOL.
AND I JUST WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE JOB WE DO THERE.
WE'RE VERY UNDERSTAFFED RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ACTUALLY A WORSE SITUATION THAN YOU'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE MEDIA AND WHAT YOU'VE HEARD.
UH, WE JUST GOT AN EMAIL TWO DAYS AGO SAYING THEY'RE ONLY FIVE TO NINE, UH, BARTON SPRINGS LIFEGUARD WITH OPEN AVAILABILITY, UH, OF THE 26.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF IN THE WINTER TIME, THEY'RE TEMPORARY LIFE GUARDS AND THEY GET THEIR JOBS.
AND SO WHEN IT COMES AROUND TO SPRING, UH, THOSE PEOPLE HAVE OTHER JOBS AND THEY ALSO GO TO SCHOOL.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOWN TO FIVE TO NINE WITH OPEN AVAILABILITY.
OTHER PEOPLE CAN WORK SOME BUT NOT ALL THE TIME.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S DIFFICULT TO FULLY STAFF.
MY SUGGESTIONS GOING FORWARD IS TO RAISE THE AUSTIN LIVING WAGE TO $22 AN HOUR, WHICH I SUGGEST YOU ADD TO THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU SEND TO THE CITY MANAGER, PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE SUPPORTED THAT ON VOTE TWO DAYS AGO, OR A FEW DAYS AGO, MONDAY, THEY'RE GOING TO THE FULL BOARD IS PROBABLY GOING TO ALSO SUPPORT $22 AN HOUR.
I ALSO ASK YOU TO MAKE SOME OF THE LIFEGUARDS WHO WORK ALL YEAR ROUND FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES OR REGULAR PART-TIME EMPLOYEES ARE REGULAR PORT EMPLOYEES, WHETHER THEY'RE FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME THAT WAY YOU HAVE PEOPLE WORKING ALL YEAR ROUND AND THEY CAN, YOU WON'T HAVE THIS PERIOD IN THE SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER, WE DOWN TO VERY FEW LIFEGUARDS, WE NEED BENEFITS.
UH, SOMEONE TALKED ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.
YOU COULD ADD AN EXTRA HOUR OF, OF TWO EACH OR STIPEND OF EXTRA HOUR FOR EACH SHIFT OR, OR WEEKLY STIPEND, NEW TRANSPORTATION.
WE ALREADY GET A BUS PASS, BUT IT TAKES TOO LONG FOR ME TO GET TO WORK TWO HOURS ON THE BUS.
UM, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT JOB.
WE DESERVE MORE PAY THAN WHAT WE CAN GET AND COMPETITIVE, UH, OTHER JOBS LIKE FOOD OR RETAIL PEOPLE GET HURT, BUT DOING LIFE GUARDING THIS PAST WEEKEND, THERE WERE ONLY FIVE OF MINE GETTING MY HUSBAND QUESTIONS.
I'M THE ADVOCACY MANAGER AT AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION.
AND FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
AND ALL OF YOU WHO ARE CO-SPONSORING THIS ITEM ON LIFEGUARDS FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR PUBLIC POOLS AND THE IMPORTANT JOB THAT OUR LIFEGUARDS DO.
UM, WE KNOW THAT IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE EVERY ACTION TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POOLS ARE FULLY STAFFED AND OPEN THIS SUMMER.
ALL AUSTINITES DESERVE TO HAVE A PLACE TO SWIM REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE THEIR OWN PRIVATE POOL OR TO PAY MEMBERSHIP AT A PRIVATE POOL.
UM, I KNOW I AM CERTAINLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO TEACH MY CHILDREN HOW TO SWIM IN CITY OF AUSTIN POOLS THIS SUMMER, UM, CITY OF AUSTIN LIFEGUARDS DID RECENTLY SPEAK AT THE PARKS BOARD MEETINGS.
UM, AND YOU HEARD FROM ONE OF THEM JUST NOW ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A LIVING WAGE AND THE VALUE OF OTHER INCENTIVES.
UM, ONE THAT WE HEARD FROM THEM WAS ABOUT LUNCH BEING PROVIDED.
I'M NOT SURE IF SOMEONE WILL SPEAK TO THAT TODAY, AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO BEING A PARTNER IN THIS.
WE HAVE LET THE PARKS DEPARTMENT KNOW, UM, THAT WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HELP CONTRIBUTE TO AN INCENTIVE THAT COULD WORK TO
[01:05:01]
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH LIFEGUARDS THIS SUMMER.AND GOOD MORNING, MAYOR ADLER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I STAND BEFORE YOU HERE TODAY AS AN OPEN WATER GUARD AT BARNARD SPRINGS.
PART OF THE REASON THAT WE HAVE THIS HUGE LACK OF LIFEGUARDS IS THE PAY RATE, WHICH IS NO MORE THAN IT'S PAID AT ANY OTHER JOB WITH A LOT LESS RESPONSIBILITY AND WORK, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF BARNES SPRINGS, OUR JOB ISN'T JUST TO WATCH THE WATER, BUT IN A TYPICAL SUMMER DAY, THERE'S EASILY TWO TO FOUR SAVES, NOT COUNTING MEDICALS AND PER STATE.
BESIDES THIS, WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN MAINTAINING A CLEAN AND SAFE FACILITY, WHICH INCLUDES NO ALCOHOL, NO GLASS.
AND THIS ITSELF IS A LOT OF JOB.
SO THAT ITSELF IS AN IMPORTANT REASON TO INCREASE PAY, NOT JUST THAT, BUT WITH EVERYTHING INCREASED RENT, GAS, NEARLY DOUBLING PACE AND AUSTIN BEING A MAJOR GROWING CITY, 15 OR EVEN $17 PER HOUR IS BARELY MAKING BY FOR MANY GUARDS, ESPECIALLY AT BARTON SPRINGS.
THIS JOB IS THEIR MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME.
NOW I LOVE MY JOB SPEAKING FOR ALL OF US AT BARNES SPRINGS, WE ALL DO.
IT'S A REALLY GREAT JOB TO WORK IN, BUT WITH ONLY 25 OPEN-WATER GUARDS ON PAYROLL, EACH TIME IT BECOMES MORE STRESSFUL AND LESS FLEXIBLE.
AND BARTON SPRINGS AS A MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTION BEING CLOSED AND EXTRA TWO DAYS A WEEK, PATRONS AREN'T HAPPY.
AND WITH EIGHT TO 10,000 PEOPLE VISITING A DAY, THAT'S A LOT LESS INCOME.
SO I ASKED FOR YOUR HELP, NOT JUST US OF LIFEGUARDS, BUT FOR OUR MANAGERS, SUPERVISORS AND FOR THE THOUSANDS OF PATRONS AND TOURISTS WHO VISIT BRUNCH SPRINGS.
SO IN ORDER TO ADDRESS ALL OF THIS, MY PROPOSAL IS TO INCREASE THE LIVING WAGE TO $22, NOT JUST THIS, BUT AS, AS, UH, SHE MENTIONED, UH, PROVIDING LUNCH BECAUSE WE HAD IT, WE HAD LUNCH PROVIDED FOR SPRING BREAK, AND THAT WAS A HUGE HELP BECAUSE AN EIGHT HOUR SHIFTS, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO EAT.
SO IF WE HAVE LUNCH PROVIDED, IT WOULD BE A HUGE HELP AND IT WOULD BE A HUGE INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO WORK AS LIFEGUARDS TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
IF YOU WOULD GO AHEAD AND, AND TAKE US TO, UH, THE NON ZONING SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SHUT DISSIPATING REMOTELY.
WE HAVE A FEW THAT ARE REGISTERED FOR 13, 14 AND 34.
SO AGAIN, IF THEY ARE SPEAKING ON THE POSTPONEMENT, I WILL CALL THEM UP.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, LISTENING TO ME.
I'VE BEEN A DOWNTOWN HOMEOWNER FOR 20 YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING POSTPONEMENT OF ITEMS, 13, 14 AND 34 RELATED TO THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.
THIS WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO RECONSIDER NOT ONLY LOCATION, BUT ALSO THE FORM OF THE DECK.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS PORTION OF DOWNTOWN IS BEING ADVANCED AS A CENTER OF TOURISM AND COMMERCE.
THE BUILDING IS ONE BLOCK FROM TWO NEW LUXURY HOTELS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, ONE BLOCK FROM THE NEW INDEED AND UT TOWERS AND DOWN THE STREET FROM THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION AND CAPITOL.
IT IS AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR AN ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER, WHICH MIGHT APPEAL TO TOURISTS, BUT A QUESTIONABLE LOCATION FOR THIS COURT.
I WOULD URGE THE COUNCIL TO POSTPONE AND RECONSIDER WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR HOMELESS POPULATION AND FOR THIS DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD IN PARTICULAR.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS TIME.
HI, MY NAME IS SUSIE GALLAHUE.
I SPOKE, UM, A FEW WEEKS AGO AT THE ORIGINAL, UM, HEARING.
UM, AND I AM JUST, I SUPPOSE, HAVING THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT MOVED TO THE LOCATION, I'M REALLY IN FAVOR OF WHAT, UM, JEFF STINELY MY, UM, COLLEAGUE IN THE BUILDING AT THE BROWN BUILDING RESIDENTS PROPOSED TO ACTUALLY KEEP THE ORIGINAL PLAN OF USING THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING AS A CULTURAL ARTS CENTER.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER USE OF THE SPACE, UM, ESPECIALLY BEING TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION AND RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OF AUSTIN.
UM, I JUST THINK IT IT'S A HIGHLY VISITED TOURIST AREA AND THAT WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER USE OF THE SPACE.
WELL, GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, JUST REMINDER THE TESTIMONY NOW SHOULD BE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD POSTPONE THIS ACTION OR NOT BLAINE SEVILLE.
[01:10:01]
ADLER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR POSTPONEMENT OF ITEMS. 13, 14 AND 34.
UM, AGAIN, JUST TO ECHO THAT WE'VE GOT SO FEW HISTORICAL BUILDINGS LEFT DOWNTOWN, UH, FIELD, THIS BUILDING SHOULD BE PRESERVED, UH, AND THE CITY SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH, IT'S AN ISSUE OF UNANIMOUS DECISION FOR A CULTURAL CENTER IN ITS ENTIRETY.
UH, THE OTHER ITEM IS THAT, UH, SPEAKING WITH DEVELOPERS IN TODAY'S INFLATED ENVIRONMENT, UM, SOME DEVELOPERS BELIEVE THAT YOUR $32 MILLION ESTIMATE TO WHITE BOX AND BUILD OUT, UH, THIS BUILDING IS MORE LIKELY IN THE 45 TO $60 MILLION RANGE IN TODAY'S DOLLARS.
UM, THIS MONEY, THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY DICTATES THAT THERE ARE DEFINITELY BETTER AVENUES HAVING MORE COMPLIMENTARY CO-LOCATED SERVICES, UH, WOULD ALSO BE BETTER TO HAVE A CHEAPER LEASE FACILITIES, UH, GIVEN THE SERVICE, THEN THE ABILITY TO MOVE AS NEEDED TO AREAS THAT BEST FIT THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICES AT ANY POINT IN TIME.
UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE POSTPONEMENT AND ANALYSIS AND, UH, AND I, YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I DO WANT TO, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RECORD IN THIS IS ACCURATE AS PEOPLE DISCUSS IT.
UH, OBVIOUSLY I'M BRINGING THEM THE MOTION TO POSTPONE BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE ISSUES.
WE NEED TO SPEAK THROUGH THE ACTION THAT WE TOOK AS A BODY WITH RESPECT TO CULTURAL ARTS IN THAT, IN THAT PROPERTY, UH, WAS NOT TO DESIGNATE THAT PROPERTY FOR, FOR CULTURAL OURS.
THE RESOLUTION WAS BROADER THAN THAT.
IT, IT SAID WE NEED TO FIND AND TAKE A LOOK AT CITY OWNED PROPERTIES TO FIND PROPERTIES THAT WOULD BE AMENABLE FOR CULTURAL ART USES.
UH, AND WE WANTED THEM TO LOOK ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE SAID, UH, AT THE ENTIRE PORTFOLIO OF CITY OWNED BUILDINGS AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL ON PROPERTIES THAT COULD BE SUITABLE FOR CULTURAL USES.
UH, AND WE ASKED THAT THAT REVIEW INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING AT EIGHTH STREET ALSO, BY THE WAY, THE CLOSED FIRE STATION THAT BALLET AUSTIN HAD BEEN USING UP ON A WATER LOOP.
AND SO, SO MY INTEREST IS STILL THERE FOR US TO, TO FIND CITY OWNED PROPERTIES THAT CAN BE PUT TO CULTURAL USE.
AND THAT CERTAINLY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS BUILDING.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND THE COMMUNITY FOR THAT USE.
UH, BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RECORD IS CLEAR THAT THE COUNCIL NEVER TOOK ACTION DESIGNATING THIS PROPERTY FOR FOUR, FOR THAT USE COUNTS FOR OUR POOL.
AND I AM REALLY, REALLY GLAD THAT YOU CLARIFIED THAT.
I WAS, I, I WAS A BIT, UM, SURPRISED THAT THAT RESOLUTION HAD BEEN MISTAKEN IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I WASN'T REALLY SURE HOW, HOW THAT, HOW THAT HAD HAPPENED.
SO WE REGULARLY PUT OUT BROAD INITIATIVE TYPE RESOLUTIONS ASKING FOR A WIDE ARRAY, A BROAD EXPANSIVE INFORMATION.
UM, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T CHOOSE, UM, ONE OVER MANY BEFORE WE HAVE THE INFORMATION ON THE MANY, OR AT LEAST WE TRY REALLY HARD NOT TO BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.
SO THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
I THINK THAT THAT HAS BEEN MISTAKEN BROADLY IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT CERTAINLY WHAT YOU'VE JUST SAID WILL HELP TO CLEAR THAT UP FOR EVERYBODY.
HI, CONTINUING ON WITH SPEAKERS, PLEASE CALL THE NEXT ONE.
I APPRECIATE THE POSTPONEMENT OF FOLDING, UH, ITEM NUMBER 13, 14 AND 34.
THANK YOU, ALEX STRANGER FOR ITEM 55.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
UM, MY NAME IS ALEX STRINGER AND I'M JUST CALLING TO VOICE MY SUPPORT AROUND MACKENZIE KELLY, THAT ITEM 55, AN ITEM 57 RESOLUTION TO, UM, EXPLORE USING BITCOIN AS A MODE OF PAYMENT.
UM, AS WELL AS EXPLORING HOW WE CAN BEST UTILIZE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY IN THE CITY.
UM, I STARTED BUYING BITCOIN AND AROUND THE SPRING OF 2020, AND BEFORE I STARTED BUYING BITCOIN, I WAS BROKE.
AND AS A RESULT OF HAVING BOUGHT BITCOIN AND OWNING BITCOIN, I AM A LOT LESS BROKE.
UM, I WAS ABLE TO BUY A HOUSE WITH MY BITCOIN MONEY.
MY FINANCIAL SITUATION HAS IMPROVED
[01:15:01]
IRREPARABLY.UM, ALSO THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, I'VE GOT THE CHANCE TO REALLY LEARN A LOT ABOUT THIS ASSET AND WHY IT'S SO VALUABLE.
AND I REALLY WANT TO SAY THAT I APPLAUD YOU GUYS TREMENDOUSLY FOR, UM, FOR TAKING THIS INITIATIVE.
YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY IS LIKE OFF THE TECH HUB WHERE, UM, YOU'RE GOING TO ATTRACT A LOT OF PEOPLE AND A LOT OF VERY SMART, INTELLIGENT GROWTH THAT WILL BENEFIT EVERYBODY AS A RESULT OF ADOPTING THIS TECHNOLOGY.
BUT IN PUTTING BIG POINT ON YOUR BALANCE SHEET, WHICH I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU GUYS DOING, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT MORE DISPOSABLE INCOME WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS TO SPEND MONEY ON A LOT OF OTHER SOCIAL INITIATIVES THAT YOU GUYS PRIDE YOURSELF ON, LIKE AFFORDABILITY, HELPING HOMELESS, UM, GREEN TRANSPORTATION, ET CETERA.
SO I THINK THAT THIS IS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU GUYS TO DO.
I ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, I ALSO HAVE ONE MORE THING TO SAY ABOUT THIS AND YOU KNOW, THIS PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CENSORSHIP.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DEVALUING OF CURRENCY AND, UM, GIVING RESIDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PAY TAXES IN BITCOIN, HOLDING THE CENTER BALANCE SHEET.
I WOULD ALSO EXPLORE, YOU KNOW, OFFERING PEOPLE DISCOUNTS TO, UM, PAY THEIR TAXES IN BITCOIN BECAUSE YOU KNOW, NOBODY'S GONNA WANT TO GIVE UP THEIR CRYPTO BECAUSE OF HOW VALUABLE IT IS, UNLESS THERE'S AN INCENTIVE TO DO IT.
SO WE COULD ALSO BE USING BITCOIN TO MAKE PORTABLE PROPERTY TAXES.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION FOR A TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER ITEM 61, AS PART OF AUSTIN'S REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS.
I SERVED ON THE WORKING GROUP FOR SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
AND ONE OF OUR WORK GROUPS STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS WAS THAT AUSTIN JOINED THE 39 CITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY CREATED TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS.
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER PRINCESS, MY COUNCIL NATASHA HYPER MEDICINE COMES FROM MEMBERS TOBO AND KITCHEN.
THE MAYOR PRO TEM, THE MAYOR, AND EVERYONE HAS WORKED TO BRING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD AS SOMEONE WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MOVEMENT TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BOTH INDIRECT SERVICES TO SURVIVORS AND THEN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW CRUCIAL IT IS FOR SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE TO HAVE ACCESSIBLE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AVENUES, TO DEALING WITH TRAUMA, ESPECIALLY SURVIVORS WHO EXPERIENCED CONCENTRATED CYCLES OF CRIME WITHOUT REAL LIFE ACCESS TO PREVENTION OR TREATMENT.
AS THE EARLIER SPEAKER MENTIONED, AS WE WORK TO BRING TRUE PUBLIC SAFETY TO OUR CITY, IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE INVEST IN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WOEFULLY UNDERSERVED, AND AT TIMES EVEN HARMED BY THE SAME SYSTEMS, PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, LGBTQ PLUS SURVIVORS, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND PEOPLE EXPERIENCING STREET VIOLENCE AND GUN VIOLENCE, TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS PROVIDE RESOURCES TO SURVIVORS WHO ARE THE LEAST LIKELY TO BE SERVED LIKE IN SYSTEMS TRAUMA RECOVERY IS VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND FUNDS THAT WE SPEND TO BREAK CYCLES OF VIOLENCE AND THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE EXPENDITURES THE CITY COULD MAKE WHEN IT COMES TO RESPONDING TO VIOLENCE.
A TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER IN AUSTIN WOULD BE A MAJOR STEP TOWARD EQUITY BASED POSITIONS THAT ADDRESS SERIOUS HARM WITH INTENSIVE COMMUNITY CARE.
I URGE YOU TO PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION.
MY NAME IS MCKINNEY LAW AND I'M A PUBLIC POLICY MANAGER AT THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE.
CARA TALKER FROM ALLIANCE FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE SERVES ON OUR PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE AND HAS BEEN PIVOTAL IN ELEVATING AND EDUCATING US ON TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS.
TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS ARE PLACED WITHIN THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF RESOURCES SO THAT MORE MARGINALIZED VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS AND RECEIVE SERVICES FROM TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS.
EVEN IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO FILE A POLICE REPORT, TRCS OFFER AN ADDED LAYER OF SUPPORT FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T ACCESS CRIMINAL SERVICES OR EXISTING SERVICES.
AND WE KNOW MANY VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE.
DON'T CHOOSE TO UTILIZE THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM FOR A MYRIAD OF REASONS.
FAMILY VIOLENCE PROGRAMS ARE CRITICAL TO COMMUNITY WORK, BUT WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT MANY SURVIVORS FIRST SEEK SUPPORT AT OTHER SITES, WE ALSO SUPPORT ENHANCED COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE THAT WORKS IN CONCERT WITH THE LOCAL FAMILY VIOLENCE PROGRAM TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY SAFETY, CRIME SURVIVORS NEED MORE OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT AND ADOPTING THIS RESOLUTION AND FUNDING.
A TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER OFTEN WILL NOT ONLY DEVELOP A TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER TO SERVE VICTIMS, BUT ALSO A MODEL WE CAN LOOK TO AND LEARN FROM, AND OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE PATHWAYS TOWARDS SURVIVORS, SAFETY AND HEALING.
[01:20:03]
GOOD MORNING.LAST NAME ARRESTS IN DISTRICT SIX AND POLICY ANALYSTS WITH THE TEXAS FAIR DEFENSE PROJECT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 61.
TODAY, I WILL BE BRIEF AS A MEMBER ORGANIZATION OF THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASKFORCE.
WE HIGHLY SUPPORT ITEM 61 AND THE CREATION OF TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS ON A DAILY BASIS.
WE SEE THE IMPACT OF HARM AND TRAUMA ON OUR CLIENTS WITHOUT HOLISTIC SERVICES AND TRAUMA INFORMED TREATMENT, LOW INCOME AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR FEEL THE BRUNT OF BOTH VIOLENCE AND CRIMINALIZATION.
THE MOST, THE CITY'S LACK OF RESOURCES TO PROVIDE CRITICAL TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPY AND CASE MANAGEMENT RESTRICT COMMUNITIES TO REMAIN IN A PLACE OF HURT AND TRAUMA AND PREVENTS THEM FROM HEALING TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS ARE ONE OF THE MANY SOLUTIONS THEY NEED TO REDUCE COMMUNITY HARM THEY'RE EVIDENCE-BASED COST-EFFECTIVE.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE.
THE CITY IS HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AROUND TRAUMA AND RECOVERY AND MAKING INTENTIONAL STEPS TOWARDS HEALING AND HARM REDUCTION.
I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 61.
MY NAME IS JILL HENDERSON AND I AM ALSO SPEAKING ON REGULATION 61.
I AM A MEMBER OF DISTRICT 10, HAD BEEN A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN FOR 31 YEARS AND ACTUALLY AM A CRIME SURVIVOR.
SO I LOST A BONE, THIS CHILD WITH GUN VIOLENCE IN 2017 AND RECENTLY LOST, UM, ANOTHER SON.
SO, UM, A BRUTAL MURDER IN GREECE IN 2017 AKARI HENDERSON.
I I'M, I'M SPEAKING FROM FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE ABOUT WHY WE FEEL A TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER WOULD WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE FEEL THAT, UM, AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED OUR FAMILY TREMENDOUSLY.
WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE SUPPORT THAT WE NEED, UM, WITH COUNSELING SERVICES, AS WELL AS HELPING FILL OUT VICTIMS, COMPENSATION, PAPERWORK, AND HELPING US WITH LEGAL RESOURCES ALSO THAT WE NEED TO NAVIGATE THROUGH SUCH A, UM, HORRIFIC SEASON IN OUR LIVES.
SHE, OUR SEAMS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY NOT ONLY HELP ONE TYPE OF VICTIM.
THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH EXISTING SERVING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL VICTIMS. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITIES HEAL AND COME TOGETHER AND, UM, DO MORE OF UNITED AND HOW WE DEAL WITH ISSUES THAT IMPACT SUCH A VULNERABLE COMMUNITY.
SO I ASKED HIM, MR. CLEAN ON THIS RESOLUTION TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
MR. WATSON, PLEASE UNMUTE KRISSY.
O'BRIAN HELLO? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
THIS IS CHRISTIE O'BRIEN WITH THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.
WE ARE CALLING TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR ITEM NUMBER 93, THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND HER STAFF FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
WE FEEL THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE RECOMMENDATION, TO LOOK AT MORE PERMANENT FTE HIRING FOR STAFF SERVICING POOLS THAT ARE OPEN YEAR ROUND.
THESE EMPLOYEES NEED STABILITY AND SHOULD BE FULL-TIME STATUS.
SHORTAGES ARE CITYWIDE AND THE EMPLOYEES ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF IT.
WE STILL HAVE ADMIN STAFF AT APD CALLING THROUGH THE BACKLOG OF 9 1, 1 CALLS.
WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP BRING THEM RELIEF.
LOCAL 1624 IS LOOKING FORWARD TO LIVING WAGE WORK SESSION, WHERE WE WOULD BE BRINGING OUR RECOMMENDATION TO RAISE THE WAGE FORWARD.
WE MUST RAISE THE WAGE TO 22 AN HOUR THIS YEAR TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS.
WE KNOW THE BUDGET WILL BE TIGHT, AND WE ASK THAT YOU PUT YOUR OPERATION AND THE EMPLOYEES WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN FIRST WHEN CONSIDERING YOUR FUNDING PRIORITIES THIS YEAR ON ITEM 55, WE APPRECIATE YOUR INNOVATIVE IDEAS, BUT WE DO NOT FEEL THIS IS THE TIME TO BE SPENDING TAXPAYER FUNDS, RESOURCES, TIME AND ENERGY ON NEW TASKS,
[01:25:01]
SUCH AS CRYPTOCURRENCY OR BLOCKCHAIN STUDIES WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PRIORITIES LIKE EMPLOYEE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT, HIGHER HEALTHCARE CONTRIBUTIONS, WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES.FIRST AND FOREMOST, LASTLY, WE SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER FIVE, SPENDING FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF TO SUPPORT THE RAPID INCREASE IN PASSENGER TRAFFIC AT ABIA.
THIS WILL HELP WITH RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT OF EMPLOYEES AND ADEQUATELY FUND AIRPORT STAFFING OPERATIONAL NEEDS.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M THE POLICY DIRECTOR AT THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION, UH, DISTRICT NINE RESIDENT.
AND I'M CALLING TO, UM, OPPOSE, UH, ITEM 55, UH, SUPPORT ITEM 57 CONTINGENT ON THE PROVISIONS RELATED TO PUBLIC BANKING IN OLD HEARTEDLY SUPPORT ITEM 61, HOPING TO ESTABLISH A DRAMA RECOVERY CENTER.
UM, I BELIEVE ITEMS 55 AND 57 TO THOSE OTHERS THAT HAVE CALLED IN, UM, AS A MEMBER OF THE REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
I APPRECIATE THAT DESPITE LOCAL STATE AND LOCAL EFFORTS BY POLICE ASSOCIATIONS TO KILL OUR EFFORTS, THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE PUT FORWARD APPROVE RESILIENT AND NECESSARY TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS PROVIDE CRITICAL CARE TO THOSE HARM TYPICALLY WITHOUT ACCESS AND THEIR ABSENCE WITHIN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM, UH, TO, TO THIS POINT HIGHLIGHT THE BANKRUPTCY OF THE LONGSTANDING POLICE CENTRIC APPROACH THAT WE'VE TAKEN, UH, AND THAT MOST CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY I'VE TAKEN.
AND SO, UM, I'M REALLY HEARTENING TO SEE, UH, THE CITY AND HOPEFULLY THE COUNTY AS WELL.
UH, ACTUALLY TAKE AN APPROACH THAT RECOGNIZES, UH, THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED UNDERSTAND THAT THAT THEIR RECOVERY IS, IS PART OF AND CRUCIAL TO WHAT WE REFER TO AS PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, AND, AND THAT, UH, FOCUSED PURELY ON THE THREAT AND USE OF VIOLENT PUNISHMENT CAN NEVER GET US TO A SAFE CITY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, TO AUTO THAT HAVE BEEN BEHIND ITEM 61 AND, AND REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, THE WORK TO, TO GET THIS THROUGH, UH, ESPECIALLY TO, UH, THE, THE PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES COUNSELING, THE HEARTS OF MADISON AND THE ALLIANCE FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY, UH, AND CRIME SURVIVORS FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE.
ZENOBIA JOSEPH, MS. JOSEPH, PLEASE UNMUTE.
MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO ITEMS 43 AND 44.
THOSE ARE YOUR TWO WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ITEMS. THE CLERK'S OFFICE SHOULD HAVE FORWARDED YOU MY WRITTEN TESTIMONY, AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE $3.2 MILLION FOR CHILDCARE IN THE $6.6 MILLION FOR WORKFORCE, I SPECIFICALLY WOULD ASK THAT YOU REDIRECT THOSE ONES TO HELP TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT WITH THE EVICTIONS THAT ARE IMPENDING SPECIFICALLY, AS THEY STATED DURING THEIR MEETING ON TUESDAY, THERE ARE 4,876 APPLICATION.
AND SO TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM, I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT ON MAY 6TH, 2021, YOU CALLED FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO ACTUALLY LOOK COLLABORATIVELY AT THE FUNDING THAT WAS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ALSO FROM CAPITAL METRO.
AND SO, AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE REALLOCATION OF THESE DOLLARS, I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR METRO RAPID ON PALMER, SAMSUNG, TO APPLE, AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE EVICTIONS.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE CITY HAS AN OBLIGATION AS WELL TO ADDRESS PEOPLE THAT WILL BECOME HOMELESS.
AND SO THE COUNTY HAS DONE ITS PART TO SET ASIDE $110 MILLION FOR THE HOMELESS ISSUE, BUT THAT'S $10 MILLION MORE THAN YOU REQUESTED.
AND SO IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOCATE THESE DOLLARS TO HELP THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING EVICTED, I WOULD ASK THE COUNTY TO TAKE THEIR $10 MILLION AND USE IT
[01:30:01]
TO HELP THE PEOPLE AVERT BEING PUT OUT OF THEIR HOMES.AND LASTLY, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THEY ARE HAVING A WORK SESSION TODAY AS IT RELATES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I JUST WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT YOU DO HAVE SOME LINKS IN THE, IN THE EMAIL THAT I SENT, UM, SO THAT YOU CAN SEE SPECIFICALLY THAT THE COUNTY'S RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WAS OPEN ONE WEEK IN OVER 3000 PEOPLE APPLY.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU, YES, CHILDCARE IS IMPORTANT, BUT IF THE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE, THEN THE CHILDREN WILL SUFFER AS WELL.
AND I REALIZED THIS IS ON CONSENT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
MS. WATSON HEY EVERYBODY, IT'S BEEN MOONS, CHEVYS, WATSON HERE, ADMIN OF WORKING GROUP 5, 1 2, WHO SAYS THAT THE UNDERBELLY OF THE CITY TO SEE WHAT YOU ALL HAVE NOT DONE.
I'M GLAD THIS IS AN OB A WENT BEFORE ME BECAUSE I WILL ECHO THE ABSOLUTE SAME SINCE I RETURNED FROM PRISON.
AND MAY, 2020, YOU ALL HAVE DENIED THE PEOPLE.
YOU ALL HAVE DENIED WHAT WE NEEDED.
WE HAVE ASKED, WE HAVE LABORED.
WE HAVE TOILED AND ASKED FOR REAL SOLUTIONS, NOT NEOSPORIN ON GAPING WOUNDS.
I TEND SOMETIMES WHEN I JUMPED INTO THE QUEUE, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE I AM.
WE AGAIN, SIT AT THE UNDERBELLY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, NO DISRESPECT TO THE TEXAS ALLIANCE OF SAFETY FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE, BUT WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF JUSTICE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TODAY.
STEVE WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE ALISON WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE I AM TIRED OF HEARING.
AUSTINITES COME TO YOU ALL WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK, MONTH AFTER MONTH AFTER MONTH, HOPING THAT YOU ALL DO SOMETHING ABOUT HOUSING, INJUSTICES, FOOD INSECURITY MAKE REAL SOLUTIONS TODAY.
AS
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE FEARING, LOSING EVERYTHING THEY HAVE.
AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE TIME AS ALWAYS STANDING FOR THE PEOPLE, HOPING THAT YOU ALL HERE, BUT NO ONE THAT YOU ALL MAY NOT.
I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
PLEASE DO SOMETHING, SOMETHING OTHER THAN NEOSPORIN ON A GAPING WOUND.
MAYOR THAT CONCLUDES THE CONSENT SPEAKERS.
UM, WE DO HAVE MS. JOSEPH ON THE LINE FOR HFC.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECESS.
THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UH, HERE AT, UH, 11, 10, OR JUST A MOMENT.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO THEN CONVENE
[Austin Housing and Finance Corporation (Part 1 of 2)]
THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING HERE ON MARCH 24TH, 2020.A BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE PRESENT 2022.
WHAT DID I SAY? 20 20, 20, 20, 20 22.
UM, WE'VE KIND OF LOST A COUPLE OF YEARS IN THERE AND WE DON'T WANT TO REPEAT THAT, REPEAT THEM.
UM, BUT UH, WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CONVENE THIS MAYBE FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAKING PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
UH, I THINK WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, UH, SIGNED UP.
WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL HER? THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL.
DO I HAVE TWO MINUTES OR THREE, THREE MINUTES.
UM, MY OPPOSITION SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION ITEM ONE IS SPECIFICALLY THE $458,000 SPECIFIES THAT THIS FUNDING IS COMING FROM THE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUND SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO PROJECT CONNECT ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY.
HOWEVER, YOU DO HAVE THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE BYLAWS, WHICH SPECIFIES THAT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND EQUITY MATTERS WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE THAT COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO REMIND YOU AS WELL THAT YOUR JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT THROUGH 3.2 0.2, THE PRIORITY POPULATION SPECIFIES THAT BIPAP, WHICH I HATE THAT TERM, BUT IT'S IN THE LANGUAGE.
BLACK INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE PRIORITY POPULATIONS FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
SO MY QUESTION, AS IT RELATES TO THIS FOURPLEX,
[01:35:01]
THERE IS THEREFORE TWO BEDROOM UNITS.WHAT BLACK PEOPLE HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO? WHAT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE YOU COMMUNICATED WITH? HOW DID GREG SMITH COME TO THIS PROJECT? AND SPECIFICALLY, HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? YOU JUST HEARD FROM MR. WATSON TALKING ABOUT THE NEEDS AND ETHOS.
AND SPECIFICALLY, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS ANTI-DISPLACEMENT FUND IS REALLY A FORCE.
AND SO RESPECTFULLY MAYOR, I'M NOT SURE WHY YOU HAVE SUCH AN AVERSION TO BLACK PEOPLE.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO GROW ANY TYPE OF WEALTH IN EAST AUSTIN.
YOU HAVE ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY, 56, THE COLONY PARK, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE.
THAT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A REGURGITATED RESOLUTION.
WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT JUST YESTERDAY, MAYOR THE EMAIL REPORT SPECIFIED THAT PEOPLE HAVE LOST FAITH IN THIS PROCESS AS IT RELATES TO PROJECT CONNECT.
SO UNLESS YOU'RE JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS AND THIS IS MERELY AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY, I WOULD ASK YOU TO PAUSE THIS ITEM, GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR HOME OWNERSHIP.
I SUPPORT HOME OWNERSHIP IN THIS AREA.
THIS IS IN THE AREA OFF A LOYAL ELAINE.
THIS IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT.
AND AS IT RELATES TO THE RESOLUTION THAT TALKS ABOUT CALLING ME PARK, THE GREEN LINE, SPECIFICALLY JUNE 20TH, 2017, TODD HEMINGSON TOLD TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
IT DOES NOT MEET THE RIDERSHIP FOR FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION FUNDING.
IT HAS TO BE LOCALLY FUNDED AND NATASHA HARPER MADISON, THE DISTRICT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER ASKED THIS QUESTION DURING THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE, THIS IS DISINFORMATION AND THEN LANGUAGE NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND IT NEEDS TO ACCURATELY REFLECT WHAT IS HAPPENING.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO ANYTHING IN THIS AREA, THERE NEEDS TO BE HOME OWNERSHIP.
AND I WOULD JUST ASK THE COUNCIL, 84 0 2 GORE CREEK CIRCLE, WHICH IS NEAR ROUTE 3 37, THE SOUL FREQUENT BUS LINES TO CONSIDER A PLOT OF LAND SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GROW THEIR OWN FOOD, HOME OWNERSHIP, WHERE YOU HAVE THE, UH, YOU ACTUALLY OWN THE LAND AND SOMEONE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, SOME TYPE OF EQUITY IN THE PROPERTY, BUT THEY DON'T OWN THE LAND.
YOU ACTUALLY THROUGH THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS TO SPEAK.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECESS.
THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING HERE AT 1115.
I'M ON A RECONVENE, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING CONTINUING HERE ON MARCH 24TH, 2022.
UH, TIME IS UH, 1115, UH, COLLEGE.
WE'RE BACK TO OUR AGENDA COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, I HAVE AN ITEM THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS BEFORE WE VOTE.
UM, I THINK WHICH ITEM IS THAT? WELL, IT'S NOT A NUMBERED ITEM ON THE AGENDA, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE.
WE HAVE A PERSON ON OUR, ON OUR, UH, COUNCILS HERE.
WHO'S HAVING A VERY SPECIAL DAY AND UM, I FOR ONE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK HIM AND PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, WE HAVE SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEFORE IN THE PAST.
AND SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE WITH A BETTER VOICE THAN MINE WOULD LIKE TO, TO LEAD THAT EFFORT, BUT, UM, UH, MAYOR, I HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A VERY SPECIAL DAY.
AND I AM, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
SO NOBODY'S GOING TO TAKE ME UP ON SINGING, HUH? YEAH, I SAY WE DO IT WITHOUT THE MICROPHONES.
WE DON'T NEED TO PUT Y'ALL THROUGH ALL THAT, UH, B BIRD
GOTTA BE TURNED OFF THE MICROPHONES, THOSE THINGS GO VIRAL.
[Consent Agenda]
THINK THAT, UH, UH, THE PULLED ITEMS THAT, UH, I HAVE AT THIS POINT[01:40:01]
ARE ITEMS, UH, 13, 14 AND 34.UH, THAT'S THE DECK THREE ITEMS ALSO ITEMS 27, 34 37 55 AND 57 FOR THE RECORD.
I WANT TO NOTE THAT, UH, ITEM NUMBER 52, I THINK THAT WAS ALSO PULLED SO 52 55 AND 57 WITH BULLETS.
AGAIN, THE PULLED ITEMS I HAVE ARE 13, 14 34, 27, 34, 37 52 55 AND 57.
THERE WERE SOME OTHER ITEMS WE'RE GOING TO PUT AMENDMENTS TO, AND WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS, WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND LEAVE THOSE ON CONSENT.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT ITEM 27 BACK ON CONSENT STAFF WAS ABLE TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS AND SO WE NO LONGER NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT.
27 BACK ON THE CONSENT, A MAYOR PRO TEM.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO PULL 64 OF A SUPER QUICK QUESTION.
UH, I HAVE 64, NOT ON THE CONSENT THEN I'LL TRY AND FIGURE IT OUT BEFORE THEN.
UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYTHING ELSE TO IDENTIFY SUPPORT ITEM? YEAH, I THINK I CAN STAY ON CONSENT, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MEDICINE ABOUT ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT SHE MADE TO HER RESOLUTION, WHICH I THINK WAS JUST DISTRIBUTED.
SORRY, JUST LOOKING FOR THE NUMBER 56.
SO I THINK IT CAN STAY ON CONSENT.
I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DATE CHANGE THAT YOU MENTIONED.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ST.
CATHERINE PULL MAKES THE MOTION SECONDED BY, UM, UM, GOT SORT OF WITH THIS, UH, DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT, UH, ITEM THAT WOULD INCLUDE MAKING AMENDMENTS OR INCLUDE ASKING QUESTIONS.
AND I'D LIKE THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT, UH, ON ITEM NUMBER 52, I'M NOT GOING TO BE VOTING.
I DON'T THINK I HAVE A LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY NOT TO VOTE, BUT MY WIFE, DIANE IS AN OFFICER OF SAFE AND ON THE BOARD.
SO I'M JUST NOT GOING TO VOTE ON THAT ITEM.
SO WE'LL GET TO THAT ONE LATER.
UH, THERE WERE SOME, UM, UH, QUICK CHANGES AND, AND TO, UH, THE ITEMS ON CONSENT MAYOR PRO TEM, I THINK YOU HAD TWO OR THREE OF THOSE.
YOU WANT TO PULL YOURS UP? SURE.
I'LL DO MY AMENDMENTS AND THEN I'LL DO MY REMARKS LATER FOR OTHER ITEMS, UM, AFTER SOMEONE ELSE HAS A CHANCE.
SO FOR ITEM NUMBER 40, UM, THIS IS THE LEASE FOR THE INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICE.
I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION.
CITY MANAGERS DIRECTED TO WORK WITH THE ISO AND THE REST, WHICH IS THE REAL ESTATE OFFICE TO ESTABLISH A PLAN THAT ENSURES THE ISO MOVES INTO A CITY OWNED FACILITY THAT MEETS THE ISO TECHNICAL AND SECURITY REQUIREMENTS BEFORE THE END OF THE REQUESTED LEASE EXTENSION.
UM, I WANT TO JUST EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT, UM, AS A MEMBER OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
AND NOW AS CHAIR, I'VE WORKED WITH STAFF TO CREATE A PLAN FOR THE CITY TO SWITCH FROM LEASING SPACE, TO OWNING SPACE, WHICH IS PROJECTED TO SAVE OVER $300 MILLION IN 30 YEARS AND MOVE OVER 20 MILLION A YEAR FROM ABERDEEN COST TO CAPITAL.
THOSE ARE THE PROJECTIONS THAT WE HAD BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE TO A LOT OF TELECOMMUTING.
UM, SO THOSE NUMBERS MIGHT BE EVEN HIGHER.
UM, BUT IT IS BOTH THE $300 MILLION IN 30 YEARS SAVINGS, BUT ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT UNDER OUR REVENUE CAP IS THE ABILITY TO SWITCH FROM OPERATING TO CAPITAL COSTS, GIVES US A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY IN OUR REGULAR BUDGET.
UM, IF WE WANT TO SEE THIS PLAN AND THESE SAVINGS IMPLEMENTED, WE MUST CONSCIOUSLY AND DELIBERATELY MOVE TO OWNING SPACE.
UM, AND NOT JUST WAKE UP AT THE END OF ELISE AND BE LIKE, OH, WHAT DO WE DO NOW? UM, SO THIS DIRECTION PUSHES US IN THAT, IN, TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING THAT PLAN.
AND, AND YOU WILL SEE ME DOING THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE ARE NO ALTERNATIVES TO LISA'S, UM, ON A PRETTY REGULAR BASIS, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE THESE FISCALLY PRUDENT STEPS.
UM, SO I WOULD MOVE ADDING THAT DIRECTION TO ITEM 40.
DOES EVERYBODY HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT AMENDMENT BEING ADDED ROOM 40 HEARING? NO OBJECTION ADDED TO 40.
AND THEN FOR ITEM 43, I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT THAT ITEM.
IT'S A CONTRACT WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS TO IMPLEMENT 6.6 MILLION OF THE CITY'S ARPA SPENDING FRAMEWORK DESIGNATED FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, THESE INVESTMENTS WILL ENSURE WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
[01:45:01]
I POSTED SOME DIRECTION TO THE MESSAGE BOARD THAT I HOPE WILL BE ADOPTED ON CONSENT, WHICH DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO IDENTIFY AND EXPLORE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S OWN WORKFORCE NEEDS.FOR EXAMPLE, THE CDL DRIVER VACANCIES.
SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE VACANCIES WE HAVE AT THE CITY.
WE ARE SPENDING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO INVEST IN WORKFORCE TRAINING.
I WOULD LIKE US TO TRY TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION UP WITH OUR OWN WORKFORCE.
WE HAVE OPENINGS AND JOBS THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS, NOT JUST TRAINING, BUT ACTUALLY FEED PEOPLE INTO JOBS AND BENEFIT FROM THE TRAINING THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR.
SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE, UM, ADOPTION OF THAT DIRECTION, ALONG WITH THE CONSENT.
DOES YOUR DIRECTION MAKE IT SO THAT IT'S THAT EXCLUSIVELY? NO, IT, IT, IT SAYS, UM, IT HAS, UH, IT SAYS TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S OWN WORKFORCE NEEDS.
AND THEN IN PARENTHESES, IT SAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, CDL DRIVER VACANCIES, AND IT, AND IT DOESN'T SAY IT SAYS IDENTIFY AND EXPLORE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN, SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO EXCLUSIVELY GO TO THE CITY.
UM, BUT I DO BELIEVE IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE SHOULD NOT MISS, UM, FOR ADDRESSING SOME OF OUR OWN NEEDS AND COLLABORATING WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS TO HELP US, UM, DO THAT.
SO FOR THAT REASON, I SUPPORTED ANY OBJECTION TO THAT AMENDMENT BEING ADDED, HEARING NONE, THAT AMENDMENT IS ADDED AND IT REMAINS ON CONSENT.
AND THEN I HAVE A THIRD AMENDMENT, UM, TO THE NUMBER ITEM 93, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS IS BRINGING, WHICH IS AMPLIFYING PART'S EFFORTS TO SUPPORT OUR LIFEGUARDS AND TEMPORARY PARD STAFF.
I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ITEM.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT THE VALUE THAT THESE JOB EXPERIENCES CAN BRING TO YOUNG PEOPLE OR TO ANYONE WHO HAS JOBS.
UM, BUT I'M ALSO A PARENT OF TEENS WITH FRIENDS WHO HAVE KIDS WHO ARE TEENS, UM, THAT COULD WORK AT THE POOL.
UM, BUT TRANSPORTATION IS AN ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR HOURS SHIFT ALL THE TIME.
UM, SO I'M PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT THAT ADDS A BULLET TO THE LIST OF THINGS TO CONSIDER THAT IS ADDRESSING TRANSPORTATION OBSTACLES, FACING PERSPECTIVE STAFF.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S BEEN DISTRIBUTED.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE OBJECTION TO THAT AMENDMENT BEING ADDED? IT'S 93 HEARING NONE IT'S ADDED THAT STAYS ON CONSENT.
AND I'LL LET OTHER PEOPLE TALK AND COME BACK TO MY COMMENTS.
DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING TO THAT? I'M 46.
I HAD SOME COMMENTS ON 93 AS WELL, SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE JUST WANT TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS.
UM, AND I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME OTHERS THAT, THAT WANT TO BE MADE.
I REALLY WANT TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION FOR THE FOLKS THAT CAME AND SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY ABOUT THE, UM, INCENTIVIZING MORE PEOPLE TO SIGN UP TO BE LIFEGUARDS TODAY REALLY LOVED SEEING YOU IN CHAMBERS.
AND I KNOW, UM, ASKED ME HAS BEEN PIVOTAL IN TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR LIFEGUARDS YEAR OVER YEAR IN OUR BUDGET CYCLE.
UM, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SUMMER IN AUSTIN, WE THINK ABOUT SWIMMING.
AND AFTER TWO YEARS OF PANDEMIC AND MUCH NEEDED REPAIRS, FOR MANY REASONS, I KNOW OUR RESIDENTS ARE READY TO JUMP BACK INTO THEIR LOCAL POOLS WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.
HOWEVER, WE ARE FACING A CRITICAL LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE, AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO OPEN ALL OF OUR POOLS OR KEEP OUR RESIDENTS SAFE.
IF WE CAN'T TRAIN UP ENOUGH LIFEGUARDS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AS A FORMER LIFEGUARD MYSELF, I KNOW LIFEGUARDS ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO TAKE CONTROL OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
I WAS TRAINED MANY YEARS AGO TO BE A LIFEGUARD FOR MY FIRST JOB.
AS A 16 YEAR OLD, I WAS ABLE TO WORK MY WAY UP TO TEACHING CERTIFICATION COURSES ALL BEFORE GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE, THE SKILLS I LEARNED THEN HAVE TAUGHT ME HOW TO STEP UP WHEN THE MOMENT CALLS YOU.
AND I KNOW OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS DO THE SAME DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
SO AS YOU CAN TELL, I THINK OF LIFEGUARDS AS ESSENTIAL FIRST RESPONDERS WHO DESERVE RESPECT AND APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION.
IT'S A JOB THAT REQUIRES CERTIFICATION, DEDICATION AND CRITICAL DECISION-MAKING SKILLS.
AND THOSE SECONDS BEFORE EMS ARRIVES ARE CRITICAL.
WHAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES IS ENHANCE THE EXISTING EFFORTS OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND POTENTIALLY GIVES THEM MORE TOOLS TO HIRE THE SEASONAL EMPLOYEES THAT THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED.
IT ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO EXPLORE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STRATEGIES AND COME BACK WITH SOME OPTIONS FOR US TO CONSIDER THAT MIGHT INCLUDE WAVING TRAINING FEES, OFFERING BONUSES AND OR LONGEVITY PAY INCREASING HOURLY PAY, OFFERING FULL-TIME STATUS AND BENEFITS TO CERTAIN EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WORKING ALL YEAR ROUND AND INCREASING FUNDING FOR MARKETING EFFORTS.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS LAUNCHED HIRING FAIRS.
ONE OF WHICH I WAS LUCKY TO ATTEND LAST WEEK.
I REALLY ENJOYED MYSELF AT THAT HIRING FAIR.
AND THEY'RE BEGINNING TO OFFER SUMMER COMPLETION BONUSES THERE.
THEY ARE ALSO WORKING WITH AISD.
I KNOW I'VE HEARD SUGGESTIONS ABOUT GOING INTO THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND MAKING SURE TO GET THE WORD OUT.
AND THEY'VE BEEN LAUNCHING ROBUST MARKETING EFFORTS ARE READY.
THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO GET THE WORD OUT, BUT IT'S CLEAR THEY ARE FACING OBSTACLES
[01:50:01]
THAT JUST MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE OVERCOME WITH A FEW MORE TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX.SO WHEN I WAS WITH OUR PARK STAFF LAST WEEK, THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE ONLY AT ABOUT 10% OF THE WAY OF HIRING THE LIFEGUARDS.
THEY NEED, THEY NEED 750 LIFEGUARDS TO BE FULLY STAFFED AT 33 PUBLIC POOLS.
AND I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHICH POOLS STAY OPEN, BUT THERE ARE SOME INCLUDING BARTON SPRINGS THAT HAVE HAD TO CLOSE ON CERTAIN DAYS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ENOUGH.
UM, OPEN-WATER TRAINED LIFEGUARDS TO BE ABLE TO STAFF EVERY SINGLE POSITION.
SO IF WE DON'T GET THERE, OUR POOLS WON'T FULLY OPEN SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS THAT SO MANY PARENTS RELY ON MIGHT NEED TO BE CUT OR POSTPONED OR DIMINISHED IN SOME WAY.
SO LET ME TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS COUNCIL MEMBERS, KITCHEN HARPER, MADISON, AND TOVO AS WELL AS MAYOR ADLER AND MAYOR PRO TEM ALTAR.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE PARKS BOARD WHO HAVE BEEN WRESTLING WITH THESE QUESTIONS AS WELL AND MADE SOME GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS ALONG THE WAY THAT WE'VE INCORPORATED.
AND MOST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR EXISTING LIFEGUARDS CAMP COUNSELORS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES.
WHO'VE REACHED OUT TO MY OFFICE WITH SUGGESTIONS AND OFFERED REALLY HELPFUL FEEDBACK.
YOU ARE WHAT MAKES AUSTIN THE INCREDIBLE CITY THAT IT IS.
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOU, AND I CAN MAKE COMMENTS ON 46 IF NO ONE ELSE WANTS TO TALK 40 ON 93, I DO.
WELL, WE'LL GIVE OTHER PEOPLE A CHANCE TO SPEAK AS THEY WANT TO.
I THINK HE WANTS TO SPEAK ON 93.
UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS ITEM.
UH, I'M A FORMER BARTON SPRINGS LIFEGUARD, UH, 19 97, 19 98.
UH, BUT IT WAS PROBABLY TO THIS DAY, STILL THE BEST JOB I'VE EVER HAD.
UH, IT'S A TOUGHER JOB THAN PEOPLE WOULD IMAGINE, UH, ESPECIALLY AT BARTON SPRINGS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR OPEN WATER CERTIFICATION, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IN THE UNIVERSE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR JOBS, THERE ARE PHYSICAL, UH, REQUIREMENTS FOR BEING A LIFEGUARD.
SO ALREADY YOU'RE KIND OF NARROWING THE SCOPE OF PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE JOB.
AND THEN FOR SOMETHING LIKE BARTON SPRINGS, THERE'S EVEN TOUGHER, UH, PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO GET THE OPEN WATER CERTIFICATION.
SO THERE'S EVEN SMALLER GROUP OF PEOPLE.
AND WE REALLY NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT.
UH, AND HONESTLY, I THINK FULL-TIME, IT'S OPEN YEAR ROUND.
WE NEED GUARDS TO AROUND, UH, I, WE SHOULD HAVE A CORE GROUP OF LIFEGUARDS WHO WERE FULL-TIME CITY EMPLOYEES WITH FULL PAY AND BENEFITS, UH, TO, UH, TO REFLECT THAT.
UH, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN STRANGE TO ME THAT, THAT, THAT WE DON'T.
UH, AND I JUST WANTED TO MENTION ALSO, JUST IN TERMS OF STAFFING NEEDS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT LIKE A SECURITY GUARD WHERE YOU CAN KIND OF SIT THERE AND JUST, YOU KNOW, WATCH THE DOOR OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, LIFEGUARDS REALLY HAVE TO KEEP A FOCUS ON THE WATER AND WHY THEY ROTATE THEM SO FREQUENTLY.
AND TO ROTATE THEM FREQUENTLY, YOU NEED ENOUGH STAFF TO BE ABLE TO ROTATE YOU.
CAN'T JUST SIT THERE FOR THREE HOURS, CAUSE YOU'LL LOSE FOCUS AND THEN SOMEONE WILL SLIP AWAY.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A TRAGEDY THAT, THAT COULDN'T BE AVOIDABLE.
SO THERE'S THIS HIGHER STAFFING NEEDS.
AND, UH, PEOPLE, UH, REALIZE THEY DO MAINTENANCE.
UH, THEY ALSO REALLY KIND OF OUR DEFAULT SECURITY GUARDS AT THE POOLS, UH, YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH ANY KIND OF PROBLEMS, ANY KIND OF FIGHTS, ANY KIND OF DISRUPTIONS.
SO, UH, AGAIN, I WANNA, UH, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR BRINGING THE RESOLUTION AND IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD LOVE TO BE LISTED AS A CO-SPONSOR AS WELL.
AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
YOU HAVE A RECORD WILL REFLECT THAT YOU ARE LISTED AS A CO-SPONSOR AS WELL, A COUNSELOR KITCHEN.
I, I WANTED TO BRIEFLY COMMENT ON, UM, UH, 93 AND THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON, ALL THE CO-SPONSORS AND ALL THE SUPPORT FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I HEARD FROM, UH, LOTS OF FOLKS, AS I KNOW, ALL OF YOU HAVE, BUT, UM, MY DISTRICT IS SO CLOSE TO THE POOL.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT, UM, THAT REALLY RELY ON THE POOL, UH, FOR, FOR, FOR PEACE OF MIND IN TERMS OF EXERCISING EVERY MORNING AND SWIMMING EVERY MORNING.
AND IT'S REALLY BEEN A BLOW TO THEM, UH, TO HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER WE HAVE SUFFICIENT LIFEGUARDS.
SO, UH, APPRECIATE, UH, YOUR WORDS, COUNCIL MEMBER, ALICE, AND, AND, UH, YOURS TO COUNCIL MEMBER AVAILA.
I THINK THAT, UM, THERE'S A REAL RECOGNITION IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THE LIFEGUARDS ARE, UH, FOR ALL OF US.
I WANTED TO WEIGH IN AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS NEVER BEEN A LIFEGUARD, BUT WHO ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATES THEM.
UM, UH, IN PARTICULAR IT'S BEEN A LONGSTANDING CONCERN THAT WE HAVE HAD THE SHORTAGE OF LIFEGUARDS BECAUSE IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A PART-TIME JOB AND IT'S SEASONAL AND I'D LOVE THE CONCEPT THAT WOULD HAVE THIS BE A YEAR ROUND, UM, UH, PROFILE.
AND, UM, THANKS TO ALL THE FOLKS OUT THERE
[01:55:01]
WHO DO THIS JOB FOR US EVERY, EVERY YEAR, EVERY SEASON, AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING OUR, ALL OF OUR POOLS OPEN REGULARLY AND CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT, UH, THE SWIMMING SEASON.AND THEN JUST ONE LAST LITTLE, UM, SHOUT OUT TO OUR, OUR PARKS AND REC STAFF FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF OUR PUBLIC POOLS.
AND IF THERE WERE EVER A WAY, UM, THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE OPENING DATE AND THE CLOSING DATE OF THE MAJORITY OF OUR POOLS, UM, TO MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH WHEN IT REALLY IS HOT IN OUR CITY, UM, THAT WOULD BE A NICE, ADDITIONAL, UM, REFORM POTENTIALLY.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER LS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN IN TOUCH A LITTLE BIT WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE PROGRAM THAT'S THAT HAPPENS IN CONJUNCTION WITH SEVERAL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW SINCE THIS IS ON CONSENT, I DON'T WANT TO SLOW US DOWN, BUT DIRECTOR MCNEELY, IF YOU COULD GIVE US AN UPDATE I KNOW DURING, DURING COVID, SOME OF THAT WORK STOPPED, BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP AND, AND WE DON'T NEED TO DO IT TODAY UNLESS YOU HAVE A QUICK ANSWER, BUT, UM, BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW WHETHER THAT PROGRAM HAS RESTARTED BECAUSE IT WAS DESIGNED TO REALLY HELP RECRUIT LIFEGUARDS, UM, AMONG, AMONG SOME OF OUR YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THANKS AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD.
UM, I DO WANNA SAY MAYOR ON ITEM 37, I REALLY WOULD LIKE JUST TO POSTPONE IT.
SO IF THERE'S NO CONCERNS ABOUT THAT, WE HAVE CHECKED WITH THE STAFF TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY IMPACT OF POSTPONING IT FOR ONE MEETING.
THIS IS, THIS IS A KIND OF AN UNUSUAL, AN UNUSUAL THING TO ARRIVE ON OUR AGENDA.
IT'S A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN BUILT, PURCHASED RATHER FOR THE HANCOCK'S WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND IS, AND WE ARE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE UP TO 10 YEARS OF LEASES WITH A BOAT STORAGE COMPANY ON THAT TRACT.
AND I'D LIKE TO JUST HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH OUR STAFF ABOUT, UM, REALLY TO GET A SENSE OF HOW FULLY VETTED IT WAS.
THIS PROPOSAL WAS WITH OUR, WITH OUR STRATEGIC FACILITIES COMMITTEE.
SO IF, IF NOBODY'S CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSTPONEMENT, I WOULD LEAVE IT ON CONSENT AND JUST REQUEST A POSTPONEMENT MANAGER IS STAFF OKAY WITH POSTPONEMENT I'M CONFIRMING, BUT I BELIEVE WE ARE.
AND THEN I, MY BUDDY, SORRY, HANG ON.
ANYBODY HAVE OBJECTION, POSTPONING THIS AND LEAVING IT ON CONSENT.
UM, I DON'T HAVE AN OBJECTION.
UM, BUT I THINK FOR NEXT STEPS, COUNCIL MEMBER TOPO, PROBABLY, UM, THIS IS IN COUNCIL MEMBER.
KELLY'S DISTRICT WILL BE IN MY DISTRICT, UM, COME JANUARY.
SO WE WOULD ALSO, LIKE, I KNOW YOU'RE RESPONDING TO SOME QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED ABOUT IT.
UM, BUT WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE DISASTER AND I HAD, I HAD REACHED OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, AND SO ABSOLUTELY WE'LL, WE'LL LOOP YOU IN AS WELL.
THAT WILL STAY THEN ON CONSENT WITH MOTION TO POSTPONE UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING.
AND THEN WITH REGARD TO 56, I HAD A QUESTION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.
I'M, I'M REALLY EAGER TO SEE THIS PLAN BE FUNDED AS WELL.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
I WAS, I DID NOTICE IN THE DRAFT THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED THIS MORNING, THAT YOU CHANGED THE DATE RATHER SUBSTANTIALLY.
AND I, UM, IT'S A LONG WHILE FROM NOW.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT, ESPECIALLY SINCE I THINK IT MAY BE SCHEDULED NOW FOR THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS USUALLY A REALLY LARGE ONE AND A LOT OF THINGS GET POSTPONED.
UM, SO I WOULD, BUT IN ANY CASE, I ASSUME YOU'VE BEEN WITH STAFF AND THAT WAS THEIR SUGGESTION, BUT I WONDERED IF YOU COULD WALK US THROUGH THAT CHANGE AND SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE IT UP ANY SOONER.
AND I WOULD OPERATE INDIFFERENCE TO ACM GONZALEZ OR ANYTHING BEYOND THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS UPDATED LANGUAGE, IT, IT JUST REFLECTS STAFF'S REQUEST AND WAS DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH COTELLAS.
UM, THE UPDATE BASICALLY ENSURES THAT STAFF CAN GET WITH TELUS AND GET WHAT THEY NEED IN TIME.
UM, AND SO IN ORDER FOR IT TO, TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD, BUT BEYOND THAT, I WOULD DEFER TO ACM GONZALEZ.
AND TO YOUR POINT, YES, WE WERE DEFINITELY WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH STAFF AND WITH, COULD TELL US IN THE COLONY PARK FOLKS, AND I'LL JUST KNOW MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THAT THAT'S JUST THE LATER DATES.
AND SO OBVIOUSLY IT COULD COME EARLIER, OBVIOUSLY IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET THERE SOONER, BUT ACM GONZALES.
DO YOU WANT ANYTHING? HANG ON ONE SECOND.
WHAT'S THAT? GET YOUR MIC ON? NOT YET.
MANZER UH, RODNEY GONZALES, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
WE ARE PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE DATE HAS BEEN EXPANDED AND TO THE CITY MANAGER'S POINT.
[02:00:01]
THE WORK EARLY, WE CERTAINLY WILL BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL EARLIER.SO I WONDER MANAGER, I GUESS I WOULD SAY SOMETIMES WHEN THINGS, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT, THAT, UH, WE SHIFT GEARS A LITTLE BIT ON SOME OF THESE REALLY LARGE INFORMATION REQUESTS AND INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION TO BE AVAILABLE BEFORE IT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL, IN SOME CASES, I THINK IT'S REALLY HELPFUL IF WE HAVE SOME CHECK-IN POINTS AND START TO GET SOME OF THAT INFORMATION AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON, I WASN'T IN YOUR QUORUM.
SO I WASN'T ABLE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOU, BUT WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO, TO ADDING LANGUAGE ALONG THOSE LINES SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME UPDATES, EVEN IF THERE'LL BE A MEMO OR JUST A SUPER BRIEF CONVERSATION, THE WORK SESSION, SO THAT WE HAVE A SENSE OF HOW SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE TRANSPIRING.
AND BY THE WAY, I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THAT FOR HEALTH SOUTH AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE FOR US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT BIG PROJECTS LIKE HEALTH SOUTH, UM, BEFORE IT LANDS ON OUR AGENDA AS KIND OF A FINISHED PRODUCT, I JUST THINK, I THINK THAT WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THESE, IN, IN THESE BIG PROJECTS THAT HAVE THE ENORMOUS POTENTIAL TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND, AND WE CAN BE HELPFUL IN THE CONVERSATION AS THAT WORK GOES ON.
AND SO I WOULD, AGAIN, MANAGER, I KNOW, I THINK YOU AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE.
I JUST WOULD ASK THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, REGARD SOME OF OUR WORK SESSIONS AND THINGS AS MORE OF A OPPORTUNITY TO BE ITERATIVE AND TO TALK ABOUT THINGS EVEN WHEN THEY'RE NOT FULLY FINISHED.
SO SORRY, THAT WAS A LONG, UM, ALONG A LOT OF TALKING, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON, I GUESS, UM, IF I COULD GET BACK, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE? IF WE ADD IN SOME LANGUAGE ASKS FOR THOSE INTERIM REPORT BACKS, YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE ME COUNCIL MEMBER.
I HAVE A TERRIBLE ALLERGIES RIGHT NOW.
SO I WAS CLEARING MY THROAT WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING, I DIDN'T HEAR EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS THAT YOU WANTED TO ADD, BUT IF, IF ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS ADDITIONAL UPDATES, ADDITIONAL NOTIFICATION.
I, FIRST OF ALL, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE IS NO PART OF ME THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE VERY CONSISTENTLY WORKING WITH STAFF ON THIS ITEM.
IT IS EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT.
BUT IF, IF ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS YOU WANT TO ADD LANGUAGE THAT SAYS, BRING US MORE UPDATES.
WHY NOT? OF COURSE I'M COMFORTABLE WITH, YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
CAUSE I KNOW THAT YOUR OFFICE, THAT YOU AND YOUR OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO, WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE LEADERS ON THIS AND TO BE IN TOUCH WITH STAFF, BUT THAT ALLOWS IT TO KIND OF BE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE DIOCESE.
SO, UM, SO I GUESS I WOULD PUT THAT WHATSOEVER.
SO I WOULD ADD, UM, LANGUAGE THAT SUGGESTS THE MANAGER COME BACK, UM, WITH AN UPDATE, LET'S SAY BY THE END OF JULY, UH, EXCUSE ME, BY THE END OF JUNE WITH AN UPDATE, ANY OBJECTION TO THOSE, THAT LANGUAGE BEING INCLUDED.
YOU OKAY WITH THAT? I HAVE HAD MY HAND RAISED FOR LIKE FIVE SPEAKERS, UM, AT THIS POINT.
SO, UH, IF, IF ONCE WERE RESOLVED WITH THIS, I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO BE RECOGNIZED.
YOU WILL BE THE NEXT SPEAKER ON THIS ISSUE.
ARE YOU OKAY WITH THE WORDING CHANGE ROOM COUNCIL MEMBER DROBO, IS ANYONE HAVING AN OBJECTION TO THAT WITHOUT OBJECTION, THEN THAT'S ADDED THEN TO THAT ITEM 56.
COUNCIL MEMBER, HOPPER, MADISON.
UM, SO MAYBE, UH, MAYBE MY, MY HAND RAISED WAS PREMATURE.
UM, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT COLONY PARK, UH, THE COLONY PARK, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE.
IT STARTED OUT AS A THREE YEAR PLANNING PROCESS.
WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS SINCE THEN, BUT WORKING EXTENSIVELY WITH THE COMMUNITY TO COME UP WITH A VISION FOR THE PLANT, WORKING WITH CENTRAL, EXCUSE ME, WITH CENTRAL HEALTH TO FAST-TRACK THE HEALTH CLINIC THAT WE FINALLY GOT SELECTING COULD TELL US AS OUR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PARTNER, BUT THE FACT IS WE STILL DON'T HAVE ONE OF THE MOST VITAL THINGS, A FINANCING PLAN.
IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY BEGGING FOR MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR BACKYARD, BUT THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT HAS EXPERIENCED DECADES OF NEGLECT AND DISINVESTMENT.
ALMOST A QUARTER OF ITS RESIDENTS LIVE IN POVERTY.
AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW FAMILIAR Y'ALL ARE WITH THE AREA, BUT LITERALLY MILES AWAY FROM DECENT GROCERIES, FROM A PHARMACY, FROM A HEALTH CLINIC, FROM A BANK, FROM ALL THOSE THINGS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, EXCUSE ME, PARDON ME UP AND MORE FORTUNATE COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO AND TAKE FOR GRANTED, FRANKLY, THIS SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE WILL TRANSFORM THIS CORNER
[02:05:01]
OF TOWN.IT WILL BRING WALKABLE, TRANSIT, FRIENDLY, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT TO COLONY PARK.
IT WILL SERVE AS AN IMPORTANT NODE FOR TWO IMPORTANT PROJECT CONNECT INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING OUR SECOND COMMUTER COMMUTER RAIL MONTH.
IT WILL BRING BETTER PARKS, BETTER TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE.
AND IT WILL BRING NEARLY 2000 NEW UNITS OF HOUSING, BOTH SINGLE AND MULTI-FAMILY.
AND IN ONE OF THOSE FIVE UNITS, I'M SORRY.
AND ONE IN FIVE OF THOSE UNITS WILL BE RESERVED FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT OTHERWISE AFFORD TO BUY OR RENT IN AUSTIN.
RIGHT NOW, THE CURRENT RESIDENTS OF COLONY PARK REALIZE THAT THIS PROJECT IS ABOUT ACCESS, ACCESS TO HOUSING, ACCESS, TO MOBILITY, ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAVE BEEN PROMISING THEM THIS ACCESS FOR A LONG TIME AND WE STILL HAVEN'T DELIVERED.
I UNDERSTAND, AND I FEEL THEIR FRUSTRATIONS DEEPLY.
I FEEL THE FRUSTRATION AND I DON'T THINK IT'S DISPROPORTIONATE GIVEN, UH, HOW LONG FOLKS HAVE BEEN WAITING.
I HOPE THAT WITH THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE DEMONSTRATE TO THEM AND TO EVERYONE ELSE THAT THIS IS TRULY A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND TO THE POINT THAT I MADE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, EXCUSE ME, TOBO I DON'T INTEND TO LET THIS GO.
AND THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER, I HOPE THAT WE SIGNAL THAT WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE DEVELOPMENT ITSELF, THAT WE WANT TO CREATE THOUGHTFUL, DELIBERATE STRATEGIES WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE AREA RIGHT NOW WILL BE ABLE TO STAY IN PLACE AND ENJOY EVERYTHING THAT A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY WILL BRING.
SO THANK YOU TO MY CO-SPONSORS AND COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THE EFFORT.
THANK YOU TO CITY STAFF WHO HAVE INVESTED SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY.
I MEAN, I REALLY CAN'T EXPRESS HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT HAS GONE INTO THIS.
THANK YOU, TIKKA TELLIS, UH, FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND THANK YOU TO MS. BARBARA SCOTT, THE COLONY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND EVERYONE ELSE IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE'VE BEEN SO TIRELESSLY, RELENTLESSLY PUSHING THIS BOULDER UP THE HILL FOR YEARS NOW, I DEEPLY AM GRATEFUL AND APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO US PUTTING OUR, OUR EFFORT BEHIND WHAT WE CLAIM TO BE VALUABLE TO US.
WE HAVE THE EMOTION IN FRONT OF US FOR THE, UH, UH, CONSENT AGENDA, COUNCILOR AMERICAN KITCHEN.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, REQUEST TO BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR ON THE ITEM RELATED TO COLONY PARK, WHICH I THINK IS 56.
AND I WANT TO, UH, THANK CO COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON.
I TRULY APPRECIATE HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND JUST WANT TO COMMIT TO BEING, UH, HELPFUL IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN, UH, TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE SO CAN WE SHOW ME AS A CO-SPONSOR TO REFLECT THAT THANKS MAYOR, UH, FIRST, UH, FOR THOSE WHO'VE CALLED IN AND THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WE WILL BE, I WILL HAVE COMMENTS TO GIVE ON THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER WHEN WE TAKE THAT UP.
UM, IT IS NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS A COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED OUT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
UM, FOR MY COMMENTS TODAY, I DID ALSO WANT TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT TO, I THINK, THE CITY MANAGER, UM, AND CITY STAFF FOR THEIR ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY IN ADDING PAID LEAVE FOR ALL OUR SWORN PERSONNEL.
UM, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE GUARANTEED ACCESS TO PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.
AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT OUR EMS FIRE AND POLICE WILL NOW BE UP TO PARODY WITH SIX WEEKS PAID LEAVE, UM, ALONG WITH THE REST OF CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES.
AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, WHO LED THE POLICY RESOLUTION THAT RESULTED IN, IN THAT ACTION.
SO THANK YOU CITY MANAGER AND STAFF COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ITEMS ON TODAY'S CONSENT AGENDA AGENDA THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT.
THERE ARE A FEW FROM THE AVIATION DEPARTMENT.
ONE OF THOSE ITEMS INCLUDES ADDING 80 NEW POSITIONS, 50 OF WHICH ARE FRONTLINE POSITIONS, COMPRISING OF SECURITY, MAINTENANCE, CUSTODIAL GUEST SERVICES, OPERATIONS, AND TECHNICAL POSITIONS.
AND BY ADDING THIS STAFFING, IT'LL ALLOW THE AVIATION DEPARTMENT TO, UM, CONVERT
[02:10:01]
50 TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE POSITIONS TO FULL-TIME AND THAT'S GOING TO HELP US WITH RETENTION.AS WE KNOW, WE ARE EXPERIENCING TREMENDOUS GROWTH WITH OUR AIRPORT AND BY HAVING ADDITIONAL STAFF, WE'LL ENSURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, SAFE AND SMOOTH TRAVEL FOR EVERYONE THAT VISITS OUR AIRPORT.
SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT ITEM MOVE FORWARD.
ALSO ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF AUSTIN WATER RELATED ITEMS, AND AS CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN WATER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, I DID WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEM.
UM, ONE OF THEM IS ABOUT UPDATING EXISTING CHLORINE AND AMMONIA SYSTEMS. AND THIS WILL ALLOW US TO MAXIMIZE THE UTILITY OF THE CURRENT OLRICK PLANT ALLOWING FOR SAFER TECHNOLOGIES TO BE DEPLOYED WITH THE NECESSARY UPDATES.
AND WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE THAT ORRICK, UM, IS ONE OF OUR, IS OUR SECOND OLDEST WATER PLANT THAT WE HAVE IN AUSTIN.
AND CERTAINLY, UM, THE RECENT INCIDENTS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH OUR WATER UTILITY, UM, HAVE COME FROM THE ALRICH WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE THESE ITEMS MOVE FORWARD.
THAT'LL HELP US IN MAKING NECESSARY INVESTMENTS IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE AUSTIN WATER ITEMS. THERE'S ALSO ONE ITEM 24 THAT WILL INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF TESTING OF SINO TOXINS, UM, AND ALGAE BLOOMS, WHICH IS WE KNOW HAS, UM, IN THE PAST RESULTED IN OR CAUSING PETS TO DIE.
AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD ITEM FOR US TO BRING FORWARD INTO ADOPT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, SAFE WATER FOR, FOR PETS.
UM, AND THEN ALSO ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE THE CHAMBER ITEM ITEMS, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER, AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK OF THE THEN CALLED, UH, MECCA CHAMBER.
AND NOW HAS BEEN REBRANDED AS THE, UH, DECA DIVERSITY AND ETHNIC CHAMBER ALLIANCE.
AND IT'S SO WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT TYPE OF COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION COMING OUT OF OUR MINORITY CHAMBERS.
AND SO I AM PLEASED TO SEE THESE ITEMS MOVE FORWARD AND WANT TO THANK THEM FOR COMING TOGETHER AND LAUNCHING A, A JOINT PLAN ON, UM, ECONOMIC EQUITY DEVELOPMENT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR DOING THAT.
AND LASTLY, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, UM, THIS MARKS, THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING OF ONE OF MY TEAM MEMBERS, UH, JESSE
UM, BUT I WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER SERVICE.
SHE IS A FORMER JOURNALIST WHO I HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY AND FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH.
UM, THERE'S NOT A WEEK THAT GOES BY THAT.
I DON'T HEAR POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE WAYS THAT WE'VE ENGAGED OUR DISTRICT TO COMMUNITY.
AND JESSIE WAS SUCH A HUGE PART IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND DRIVING OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS.
AND SO, UM, HER EXPERTISE, HER TALENTS, HER WORK AT WORK ETHIC IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE MISSED, UM, IN OUR DISTRICT TWO OFFICE, BUT I WISH HER ALL THE BEST AND I KNOW THAT SHE WILL ALWAYS BE ON OUR D TWO TEAM.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, JESSIE, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR PRO TEM, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS.
SO I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS NINE THROUGH 12 ON TODAY'S CONSENT AGENDA FOR OVER A YEAR, I'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE AUSTIN LGBT CHAMBER, THE GREATER AUSTIN ASIAN CHAMBER, THE GREATER AUSTIN BLACK CHAMBER AND THE GREATER AUSTIN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AS WELL AS CITY STAFF TO ENVISION A MORE MEANINGFUL WAY FOR THE CITY TO PARTNER WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND FOR THE CHAMBERS TO PARTNER WITH EACH OTHER.
AUSTIN HAS A GROWING POPULATION AND ECONOMY AND ALL OF US UP HERE ON COUNCIL KNOW THAT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERYONE IS LIFTED UP EQUALLY BY THAT GROWTH WITHIN THE BUSINESS SECTOR, WE MUST SUPPORT AND FOSTER THE CREATION AND SUSTAINABILITY OF MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES.
OUR CHAMBERS CAN HELP US WITH THAT.
WE UNDERWENT THIS REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS SYSTEM TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE SILOED NATURE OF THOSE CONTRACTS AND IN RECOGNITION THAT THE CITY SHOULD PARTNER WITH THE FOUR CHAMBERS THAT COMPRISE THE NEW DIVERSITY AND ETHNIC CHAMBER ALLIANCE IN A WAY THAT LEVERAGES THEIR COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE OF REDUCING BARRIERS, BUILDING COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTING THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF THE BUSINESSES THEY SERVE IN A WAY THIS NEW APPROACH IS STRATEGIC CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THESE CHAMBERS AND OUR MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC EQUITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
THE DECK CHAMBERS WILL WORK TOGETHER TO BOLSTER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL THE BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES SUPPORTED BY THE ALLIANCE AND INVITE OUR COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO THE READ PLAN CAN REFLECT ALL OF THE REGIONS, UH, PRIORITIES WITH RESPECT TO ECONOMIC EQUITY AND DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE CHAMBERS AND TO THE CITY STAFF FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE
[02:15:01]
DONE OVER MANY MONTHS TO MAKE THIS NEW PATH FORWARD.AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY STAFF MEMBER AND
I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS AND I INVITE YOU TO JOIN MYSELF AND THE FOUR CHAMBERS FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE AT FIVE 30 IN THE PRESS ROOM, AS WE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC EQUITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN PROCESS.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO COMMENT ON ITEM 44, WHICH IS RELATED TO CHILDCARE.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OBLIGATIONS WE HAVE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THESE INVESTMENTS BEGAN AS RECOMMENDATIONS GENERATED BY OUR SUCCESS BY SIX COALITION PARTNERS.
AND I WAS PROUD TO COACH CHAMPION THEIR INCLUSION IN OUR ARPA SPENDING FRAMEWORK.
THESE CONTRACTS WILL ENABLE US TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES AND CHILDREN ON THE CHILDCARE SUBSIDY.
WAIT-LISTS PROVIDE PREMIUM PAY WAGE STIPENDS FOR ESSENTIAL CHILDCARE WORKERS AND ADD CAPACITY TO OUR CONTINUED DUTY OF CARE PROGRAM.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR CHILDCARE ADVOCATES, OUR STAFF, AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE WORK AND COLLABORATION.
IT TOOK TO BRING THIS TO FRUITION.
UM, FINALLY ON CONSENT, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I'M REALLY PROUD TO CO-SPONSOR, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER HYPER MADISON'S, UH, RESOLUTION ON COLONY PARK AND THANK HER FOR HER LEADERSHIP.
UM, A LOT HAS ALREADY BEEN SET ON THIS ITEM, BUT I JUST WANT TO ADD MY VOICE TO SAY IT AS LONG PAST TIME TO ACCELERATE THIS PROCESS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO ITEM 56, THE COLONY PARK ITEM.
I THINK THAT'S, UM, A FANTASTIC RESOLUTION AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ITS SUCCESS.
UM, I ALSO HAVE COMMENTS AND DIRECTION ON ITEM 46, WHICH IS THE ROWING DOCK ITEM.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME SOME MORE TIME OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, COLLEAGUES, UH, TO BE ABLE TO TALK WITH THE ROWING DOCK OWNERS AND CITY STAFF ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THE ROWING DOCK, AS WE ALL KNOW, IS A BELOVED WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS THAT HAS BEEN AN OPERATION FOR MANY YEARS IN AUSTIN.
THEIR CONTRACT IS SET TO EXPIRE NEXT MONTH.
AND SO LATE LAST YEAR, THEY WERE GEARING UP AND EXPECTING TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO A NEW RFP THAT IF AWARDED TO THEM WOULD HAVE SET THEIR BUSINESS UP FOR ANOTHER DECADE OR TWO ON LADY BIRD LAKE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE RFP WAS GETTING READY TO GO AND THE ROWING DOC WAS EXPECTING IT TO BE RELEASED LATE LAST YEAR.
HOWEVER, THEY WERE A BIT SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THE RFP WOULD NOT BE RELEASED AFTER ALL.
AND INSTEAD A TWO YEAR EXTENSION WAS ORIGINALLY OFFERED TO THEIR EXISTING CONTRACT.
UM, SO WE, WE TRYING TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS WHILE THE, THE VISION PLANNING FOR ZILKER PARK IS HAPPENING.
UM, SO FOR TODAY, UH, THE ROWING DOCK DIRECTOR MCNEELY AND PARD STAFF, WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH THEM.
AND SO ITEM 42, WHICH WAS THE TWO YEAR EXTENSION IS BEING WITHDRAWN REPLACED WITH ITEM 46, WHICH IS THE ONE-YEAR EXTENSION.
AND AS NOW, AS, AS IT STANDS NOW IS GOOD TO STAY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE KNOW THIS IS A BALANCE OF PREDICTABILITY AND CONSISTENCY FOR OUR CONCESSION AGREEMENTS, WHICH ARE USUALLY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT OPERATE AND MAINTAIN OUR PUBLIC SPACES ALL WHILE RESPECTING THE PROCESSES OF VISION PLANS FOR OUR PARKS.
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PARKS IN AUSTIN.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN FIND THE CORRECT BALANCE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAS BEEN, WHAT WILL BE AND HOW WE CAN HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SUCCEED IN THAT SPACE.
SO MY DIRECTION IS TO THE CITY MANAGER TO EXPLORE OPTIONS ON HOW AN RFP FOR THIS CONCESSION CAN BE ISSUED WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR IN RELATION TO THE EXPECTED TIMELINE OF THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN, PROCESS, AND REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL BY MAY 19TH, 2022.
SO WE'D LIKE A LITTLE BETTER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW THIS RFP PROCESS IS GOING TO WORK.
UNDERSTANDING IT IS, UM, WAS ALMOST OUT THE DOOR.
UH, SO WE WANT TO RESPECT THE TIMELINE OF THE VISION PLANNING PROCESS AND NOT GET AHEAD OF IT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE RFPS AND CONCESSIONS ARE, ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRANSITION INTO THEIR NEXT 10 AND 20 YEAR CONTRACTS, UM, WITH RESPECT THAT THESE ARE PUBLIC BIDDING PROCESSES.
AND SO, UM, WE KNOW NOTHING IS A GIVEN TO A CERTAIN GROUP.
THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC PROCESS, BUT IF WE COULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION, COME BACK BY THE MAY 19TH MEETING OF THIS YEAR, IT WOULD HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THIS ONE-YEAR EXTENSION.
ANY OBJECTION TO THAT BEING INCLUDED, NO SAYING THAT, AND THAT'S INCLUDED REMAINS ON CONSENT.
I HAVE NUMBER 46 AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN ALSO AS A CO-SPONSOR OF ITEM 93
[02:20:03]
FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE SAME.I JUST WANT TO GIVE THANKS AND CREDIT TO MY PREDECESSOR, GREG SAAR AND ITEM NUMBER 41.
IT'S ACQUISITION OF A HOUSE NEXT TO A CREEK, UH, THAT WILL INCREASE CONNECTIVITY IN AN AREA THAT IS PARKED EFFICIENT.
IT WILL PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM FLOODING.
UH, THE HOUSE WAS FLOODING BECAUSE OF, UH, OF, UH, THE PROXIMITY TO THE CREEK, UH, AND IT WILL ADD PARKLAND BADLY NEEDED PARKLAND IN A PARKS DEFICIENT AREA.
AND I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT, OKAY.
UH, COLLIES, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? AGAIN, THE ITEMS IT'S CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, ONE THROUGH 59 ALSO ITEM 93, THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED ARE 13, 14 AND 34.
UM, ALSO, UH, ITEM 52 55 AND 57.
UH, I'D LIKE TO ALSO ADD MYSELF AS A CO-SPONSOR TO THE COLONY PARK ITEM NUMBER 56, YOU KNOW, SOME WEEKS WE DO THAT SOME WEEKS.
UM, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, I MEAN, OFTEN I JUST SUPPORT THINGS BY VOTING FOR THEM, UM, RATHER THAN ADDING MYSELF AS A CO-SPONSOR, BUT AT THIS POINT WE'VE GOT SO MANY FOLKS ADDING, ADDING THEMSELVES TO DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT I WANT TO, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.
THIS IS A PROJECT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO VOTE ON TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE PAST.
AND AGAIN, I REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON'S WORK TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HONORING THAT COMMITMENT AND REALLY GETTING THAT WORK DONE AND HUGE, THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE DRIVEN THIS PROJECT FORWARD FOR SO VERY, VERY LONG.
AND IF AT ALL, IT'S NECESSARY TO, TO REITERATE.
I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BE LISTED AS A CO-SPONSOR IN ORDER TO INDICATE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OR A LONG HISTORY OF, OF BEING INVOLVED IN THAT SUBJECT OR SUBJECT MATTER COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
I THINK I DON'T NEED TO SAY ANYTHING YOU JUST ADDRESSED.
I WAS GOING TO ADD MYSELF TO AND MENTIONED THAT I HAD WORKED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HOUSTON, MEGHAN 2015 SORT OF ITS OWN.
BUT, BUT YES, I THINK THE RECORD IS, IS OFFICIALLY FULL, UH, FOR THE PAST YEARS IN OUR PAST ACTION, HAPPY THAT THE COLONY PARK IS MOVING FORWARD, JUST LIKE WE ALL ARE AND GOOD TO SEE ON THE BACK ROAD THERE.
UH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
HE'D SEEN ANANYMOUS, UH, WITH THE COMMENTS THAT, UH, PEOPLE HAVE MADE COLLEAGUES THAT GETS US TO, UH, TO, TO NOON.
DO WE HAVE ANY EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS THIS TIME? DON'T THINK WE DO.
[Public Comments (Part 2 of 3)]
WE HAVE, UH, CITIZENS THAT WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, UH, ON OUR, ON OUR AGENDA.SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL THOSE SPEAKERS.
UH, AND THEN I'M GONNA SUGGEST PROPERLY THAT WE, UH, TAKE A BREAK FOR LUNCH, UH, COME BACK, UH, ONE 30 OR TWO.
LET'S MAKE THAT CALL AT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION TO DO THE, UH, ZONING SPEAKERS AND THEN HANDLE THE CONSENT ZONING, THE BEST OF THE PULLED ITEMS AND THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THE ZONING CASES.
BUT LET'S DO BAND WITH, UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS, UH, SUSANA ALMANZA YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, UH, MAYOR, BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, WE HAVE A REPORT AND WE'D LIKE TO GET THE APPROVAL FOR YOU TO TAKE IT OUT OF ORDER.
SO THE DOCTOR SAID SOVIET DATA WILL GO FIRST.
AND I HAVE TALKED TO PAUL ROBBINS IF IT WAS ALL RIGHT.
UH, IF WE LINED UP, BUT I JUST NEED TO GET YOU ALL'S PERMISSION BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A CONSECUTIVE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
HOW DO YOU ADVANCE THE SLIDES UP HERE? THIS IS NEW TO US, THAT MY PLACE
[02:25:15]
OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON.UM, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SYLVIA RERA HEALTH COORDINATOR.
FIRPA THERE, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE FINDINGS OF A REPORT THAT WELL THAT HAS DONE.
SO CONTINUED LEGACY OF DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION IN EAST AUSTIN.
BEFORE WE BEGAN TO PRESENT THE FACTS, LET ME PROVIDE A HISTORICAL CONTEXT FOR THE REPORT.
AS WE KNOW THE CITY OF AUSTIN, CITY OF AUSTIN MASTER PLAN OF 1928, FORCIBLY RELOCATED AFRICAN AND MEXICAN COMMUNITIES TO EAST AUSTIN.
THE CITY CONTINUES TO USE VARIOUS ZONING TOOLS TO DISPLACE AND GENTRIFY THE COMMUNITIES IN EAST AUSTIN AND NEIGHBORHOODS IN EAST AUSTIN FAST-FORWARD TO FAST-FORWARD TO 19 NIGHT, THE 1990S, WHERE WE HAVE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE RELOCATION, INCLUDING THE SMART GROWTH INITIATIVE THAT DESIGNATED EAST AUSTIN AS A DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE.
SO EAST AUSTIN WAS ONCE A DRIVING AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY IS NOW GENTRIFIED, CONSIDERABLY.
THE ADOPTION OF LAND USE AND ZONING POLICIES HAVE ULTIMATELY DESTROYED EAST SIDE COMMUNITIES AND RELOCATED FAMILIES TO EAST OF OUR HIGHWAY 35, 180 3, EXCUSE ME, SADLY.
THIS IS WHAT THE REPORT THAT FOR THEIR DEAD IN 1993, THAT SHOWED THE RELOCATION OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES THAT WE IDENTIFY WITH.
SADLY, THIS HAS BECOME THE REALITY.
THIS IS A MAP THAT SHOWS THE RELOCATION OF OUR COMMUNITY EAST ALL THE WAY OUT TO OUR PAST 180 3, THE VOICES OF EAST AUSTIN RESIDENTS, AND THESE ARE LONG TIME RESIDENTS AND FOR GENERATIONS.
WELL, THE ONLY THING I FORESEE IS THAT THE PEOPLE WITH MONEY ARE COMING TO THE EAST SIDE AND THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE WILL BE FORCED TO GET OUT.
THEY RAISE YOUR PROPERTY VALUE WHERE YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY YOUR TAXES ON IT.
NOW MOST OF THE NEIGHBORS ARE WHITE AND THEY DON'T SOCIALIZE WITH US.
I MISS THE SOUND OF CHILDREN PLAYING BECAUSE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, IT WAS ALL FAMILIES AND EACH FAMILY PROBABLY HAD FIVE TO SIX KIDS AND WE ALL PLAYED TOGETHER.
SO WHAT WE HAVE NOW, AN EAST AUSTIN IS THE REMNANTS OF A ONCE GREAT COMMUNITY.
THE DEMOLITION PROCESS, THIS REPORT LOOKS AT THE PROCESS OF THE EXISTING DEMOLITION PROCESS.
WHAT YOU HAVE IS MOSTLY DIRECTED TO COMMERCIAL AND MULTIFAMILY.
THAT PROCESS HAS A SITE PLAN OF DIFFERENT STEPS THAT COMMUNITIES TAKE, BUT THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.
THAT THE DEMOLITION PROCESS IS NOT EQUITABLE TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
UM, SO ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE
AND TO UNDERSTAND HOW DEMOLITION PERMITS, ESPECIALLY FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
SO THIS FIRST CHART IS THE OVERALL DEMOLITION PERMITS THAT HAS BEEN, HAVE BEEN ISSUED THROUGHOUT AUSTIN.
AND WE CAN SEE THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN, IN THIS CHART.
77% OF THE DEMOLITION PERMITS ISSUED WERE FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
WE SPECIFICALLY LOOKED AT SIX ZIP CODES IN EAST AUSTIN, 7 8, 7 0 2 21 22, 23 41 IN 44.
AND WE SAW A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN DEMOLITION, ESPECIALLY FROM 2015
[02:30:01]
TO 2019, WHICH IS ALSO WHEN THE SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT COUNCIL TOOK POWER.AND YOU CAN SEE IT RANGES FROM 17% INCREASE IN 7 8 7 2 2, UM, 2, 104 50 4% INCREASE IN 7, 8, 7 44.
WE ALSO ANALYZED, UM, THE DEMOLITION PERMITS ISSUED IN WEST AND CENTRAL AUSTIN IN ORDER TO DO A COMPARISON.
AND AS YOU CAN TELL ON THEIR CHART, UM, EAST AUSTIN IS THE ORANGE AND THERE IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE SINGLE FAMILY HOME DEMOLITION PERMITS THAT WERE ISSUED.
UM, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE ANY SAUCE IN 72% OF THE DEMOLITION PERMITS WORKED FOR TOTAL DEMOLITIONS AND ONLY 28% WERE PARTIAL.
WHEREAS IN CENTRAL AND WEST AUSTIN, 45% WAS FOR TOTAL DEMOLITIONS AND 55% WERE FOR PARTIAL DEMOLITIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, WE LOOKED AT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE THAT WAS DEMOLISHED IN EAST AUSTIN AND THE SH IT SHOWS THAT THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT, UM, DESTRUCTION WITH OVER 2 MILLION SQUARE FOOT THAT WAS DEMOLISHED IN THE SIX SELECTED ZIP CODES.
AND IN FROM 2014 TO 2017 IN ONE ZIP CODE ALONE, 7, 8, 7 44, THERE WAS OVER 700,000 SQUARE FOOTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WAS DESTROYED.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS CONNECTS TO GENTRIFICATION.
AND WE SAW THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES IN 7 8, 702 2 1 2 2 2 3, AND THE TAXES WERE QUADRUPLED WHILE IN OTHER AREAS, IT WAS ALMOST DOUBLED.
UM, AND THIS AGAIN IS ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH GENTRIFICATION HAPPENS, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PRICED OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AFTER THE DEMOLITION PROCESS TOOK PLACE AND THE DEMOLITION DEMOLITION HOMES, THEY HAD NEW HOMES THAT WERE BUILT A LOT OF TIMES, TWO PROPERTIES ON ONE SINGLE LOT, AND THEY HAD AN AVERAGE OF A 45% INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND I WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THESE ARE THE FINDINGS WHEN THE NEW CITY COUNCIL CAME ABOARD.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO TAKE A LOOK BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOST MORE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING HAD MORE SINGLE FAMILY DEMOLITIONS IN EAST AUSTIN THAN EVER BEFORE.
AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES, DEMOLITION OF FAMILY HOMES EQUALS LUCK, LUXURY, AND NON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH EQUALS INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES AND DISPLACEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY RECOMMENDATIONS FIRST, BUT THAT RECOMMENDS CHANGES TO THE DEMOLITION PROCESS.
IN ORDER FOR RESIDENTS PARTICIPATION TO ASSURE EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
THESE CHANGES WILL INCLUDE A PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS THAT WILL ONE PROVIDE 120 DAY WRITTEN NOTIFICATIONS TO NEIGHBORS AND THE COMMUNITY ON AN INCOMING DEMOLITION PERMIT HEARING, INCLUDING PUBLIC ONSITE NOTIFICATION SIGN TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, INCLUDING LISTED PROTECTED TREES PRIOR TO HEARING, AND THREE ALLOW VALID PETITION TO DISPUTE DEMOLITION PERMITS AND OR STAFF DECISIONS FOR REQUIRE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR DEMOLITION PERMITS TO BE APPEALED FIVE, IF A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME IS DEMOLISHED, ONE OF THE HOMES BUILT ON THAT PROPERTY HAS TO BE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME BUILD AT 50%.
MFI FIVE, EVEN APARTMENT COMPLEX IS BEING BUILT.
30% OF THE HOUSING MUST BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 50% MFI.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE REACHED A TIME THAT WE NEED TO THINK OUT OF THE BOX.
AND JUST AS WE LOOKED AT, UM, AFFORDABILITY ON LOCK AND SO FORTH, WE NEED TO LOOK AT POLICIES OF HOW WE CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, MIDDY MITIGATE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND LOOK AT HOW WE CAN STOP THE INCREASED PROPERTY TAXES ON A WAR, THE POOR AND THE WORKING POOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR BY ADDING POLICIES.
UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT ZONING OF HOW CAN NOT ONLY WE INCREASE, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT HOW CAN WE INCREASE LOW INCOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HIT IT AT 40 AND 50% MFI? BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS 60% MFI FOR RENTAL AND 80% FOR HOME OWNERSHIP.
AND OF COURSE, THAT IS CONTINUING TO DISPLACEMENT AND THE GENTRIFICATION.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S THE LEGACY WE REALLY WANT TO ADDRESS AGAIN, HOW ZONING TOOLS ARE USED AND HAVE BEEN USED HISTORICALLY TO DISPLACE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
AND THE DEMOLITION PROCESS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE ZONING TOOLS THERE'S ADDING TO THE DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, MS. ALMANZA WOULD Y'ALL MIND BOARDING A CUP RIGHT HERE? IT'S THREE.
WOULD Y'ALL MIND FORWARDING A COPY OF THE
[02:35:01]
SLIDE DECK TO MY OFFICE, PLEASE? YES.BY 1115, WE EMAILED EVERYONE A COPY OF THE GENTRIFICATION REPORT.
IT WAS A FEW THAT WERE MISSING, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS IT.
WAS THAT OUR LAST SPEAKER ON THAT TOPIC? I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I THINK THIS IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE RESEARCH AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY, BUT ALSO PROVIDING US WITH IT EARLIER THIS MORNING.
I AGREE THAT WE MADE DEMOLITIONS EXTRAORDINARILY EASY IN THIS CITY, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO EXPLORING YOUR IDEAS AND TO TALKING WITH YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE PATHS WE HAVE EXPLORED THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO, UM, GET, GET, UM, INCORPORATE AND APPROVE INTO POLICY, INCLUDING INCLUDING TOUGHER, UH, MORE STRINGENT REGULATIONS ON US, BESTOS AND LEAD, WHICH WOULD I BELIEVE, UM, HELP SLOW DOWN THE SPATE OF DEMOLITIONS, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I LOOK FORWARD TO EXPLORING IT MORE.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES COUNSEL.
I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST AND CONSUMER ADVOCATE.
THIS SPEECHES IN PROTEST ABOUT INFORMATION BEING WITHHELD BY AUSTIN ENERGY.
SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2014, I'VE BEEN USING OPEN RECORDS LAWS TO PRU AUSTIN'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR UTILITY DISCOUNTS TO THE POOR WAS GIVING MONEY TO WEALTHY CUSTOMERS.
AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS TO CORRECT THIS PROGRAM.
A REVELATION OF THESE PROBLEMS IS WHAT THE CITY TO REPURPOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FORMERLY GIVEN TO WEALTHY CUSTOMERS, TO PEOPLE REALLY IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE.
THE PROGRAM TODAY IS STILL BROKEN, BUT IT IS NOT AS BROKEN.
IT STILL NEEDS FURTHER REPAIR.
SO I AM OUTRAGED AND INSULTED THAT AUSTIN ENERGY IS NOW REFUSING TO RELEASE DATA THAT I, THAT THEY HAVE ROUTINELY PROVIDED SINCE 2014, AUSTIN ENERGY IS REFUSING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT ENABLES THE PUBLIC TO MONITOR IF CUSTOMERS THAT OWN MANSIONS AND MULTIPLE PROPERTIES ARE RECEIVING DISCOUNTS TO THE POOR, THIS PARTICULAR MANSION THAT YOU SEE HERE DO NOTE THE TENNIS COURT IN THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER.
UH, THIS, THIS PARTICULAR OWNER HAS RECEIVED CAP DISCOUNTS AT ANOTHER PROPERTY.
THE BUREAUCRACY CLAIMS THAT A NEW STATE LAW ALLOWS THEM TO WITHHOLD THIS EMBARRASSING INFORMATION.
MY BEST INFORMATION IS THAT THE CITY GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED THIS BILL.
I'VE READ IT AND I'VE READ THE ANALYSIS AND IT DOES NOT DEAL WITH CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AT ALL.
EVEN IF I AM WRONG, NOTHING PREVENTS THE CITY FROM ESTABLISHING A ROLE THAT CAP CUSTOMERS ARE SUBJECT TO RELEASE OF LIMITED INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PUBLIC SINCE 2014.
CAP IS A DISCRETIONARY PROGRAM AND NOT SUBJECT TO OTHER UTILITY TERMS OF SERVICE.
GOING PAST THIS CLUMSY ATTEMPT BY THE UTILITY TO OBFUSCATE INFORMATION ARE TWO MORE IMPORTANT THINGS.
FIRST SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL PROBLEMS WERE FIRST EXPOSED.
YOUR UTILITY CANNOT FIX THIS PROGRAM.
THE CUSTOMERS WITH HIGH PROPERTY WEALTH ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG COUNCIL.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER THINGS WRONG WITH THIS PROGRAM.
THERE COULD LITERALLY BE THOUSANDS OF CAP CUSTOMERS WHO ARE NOT POOR, BUT ARE RECEIVING MONEY MEANT FOR THE POOR.
THE SECOND IS THAT IF YOU ALLOW AUSTIN ENERGY TO DO THIS, YOU WILL ENABLE ROGUE BUREAUCRATS TO HIDE EVEN MORE INFORMATION ON OTHER ISSUES.
MAYBE SOME OF YOU DO NOT COMPLETELY AGREE WITH MY STAND ON CAP, BUT YOU ALL AGREE.
WE NEED ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT.
UM, CITY MANAGER, UM, MR. ROBBINS HAS BEEN ADVOCATING ON THIS ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME.
WE JUST RECENTLY DID A SPECIAL PROJECT THAT PROVIDED US SOME INFORMATION THAT I AM CONCERNED TO HEAR ABOUT CHANGES IN THIS DATA PROCESS.
IF YOU CAN PROVIDE US, UM, SOME INFORMATION ON THESE CHOICES AND, AND, AND IDEALLY GET HIM THE DATA THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, MR. ROBINSON,
[02:40:02]
JUST, WE RECEIVED, UH, A RESPONSE FROM AUSTIN ENERGY REGARDING THE EVALUATION THAT WAS DONE.AND, UH, DID YOU, WERE YOU ABLE TO, UH, TO, TO SEE THAT WE'RE REGARDING CAP? UH, AND, UH, THERE WAS A, I GUESS AN AUDIT AND THEN THEY RESPONDED TO THE AUDIT IT, WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THEIR RESPONSE? UH, SIR, I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE IN JANUARY OF 21, 20 21, AND IT WAS A SIX PART COMPLAINT.
UH, THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE CHOSE TO AUDIT ONE PART OF ONE PART OF THE COMPLAINT.
THEY CALLED ME PRIOR TO THEIR AUDIT OF ONE PART OF ONE PART OF THE COMPLAINT AND EXPLAINED WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO.
I TOLD THEM AT THE TIME, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND ANY MAJOR BREAKING OF THE RULES.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE RULES ARE LUDICROUS, SO THAT WOULD, I COULD GO ON FOR HALF AN HOUR AND YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME, BUT, UH, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU IN YOUR OFFICE, BUT THAT WOULD BE MY LIMITED RESPONSE TO THE AUDIT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH WITH DISRUPTS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, MARIO CANTU.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, MORGAN CANTU.
UH, I HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAYOR HELLER.
I WANTED TO MENTION TODAY, THE FOCUS IS, UH, EMS POLICE, FIRE, EMS, APD, BUT THE FOCUS HERE IS GOING TO BE ADJUSTED A LITTLE BIT TO, UH, THE EMT PARAMEDICS AND THE DISPATCHERS THAT WORKED FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
A FRIEND OF MINE, I ASKED A PERSONAL WALL BACK.
HAVE YOU EVER MET A PARAMEDIC? AND THE PERSON SAID, UH, THE ONLY ONE THAT I'VE EVER MET WAS IN BACK OF AN AMBULANCE.
UH, MOST INDIVIDUALS DON'T HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE PARAMEDICS BECAUSE WE'RE SOMEWHAT KIND OF RARE IN THE SYSTEM OF EMT, PARAMEDICS, DISPATCHERS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ADVOCATE FOR AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS EMPLOYEES, AS MAYBE SOME OF Y'ALL KNOW, THERE WAS NO PANDEMIC PAY FOR THOSE, UH, THAT PRETTY MUCH KIND OF SERVED IN THIS LITTLE SMALL WAR OF COMBAT THAT WE HAD FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND IT WAS LITERALLY AT TIMES LIKE THAT, UH, IT WAS LIKE BEING IN A WAR, A WAR ZONE.
UM, I KNOW EARLIER YOU MENTIONED, AND I DON'T WANT TO GO OFF TRACK, BUT I DID HEAR ABOUT LIFEGUARDS.
UM, I'M GLAD THAT THE DECISIONS YOU MADE ABOUT LIFEGUARDS AND FOR THE STAFF OR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE WORKED AS LIFEGUARDS.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED WAS THAT THE LIFEGUARDS DO CRITICAL THINKING.
THEY FOCUS, THEY GET FATIGUED, UH, AND IT'S A, IT'S A JOB THAT THEY TRUSTED.
AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE I HEARD THAT WHEN A LEFT GUARD GOES IN TO SAVE SOMEBODY IN MAY, MIGHT HAVE TO DO CPR OR PULL THE CHILD OUT OR PULL THE PERSON OUT, THEY CALL EMS AND EMS ARRIVES.
SO IT'S A DUAL ROLE BETWEEN THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, THE, I GUESS THE PALM THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE, WE DID HAVE WITH LIVE CARDS IS THE PAY THE PAY WE NEEDED TO GIVE THEM BETTER PAY.
WELL, IT'S THE SAME THING WITH AUSTIN EMS. WE NEED TO GIVE THEM BETTER PAY.
UH, RIGHT NOW THE TURNOVER RATE IS VERY HIGH.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT, UH, IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF THAT, YOU, YOU KNOW, THERE COULD BE A SHORTAGE OR A TIME DELAY WITH THE EMS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE TO FOCUS ON GETTING BETTER PAY FOR THE EMS STAFF, NEW HIRES, THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE AND, UH, MAKING SURE THAT, UH, THAT IS, THAT HAS REALLY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE WE NEED TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE STAFF, SHOULD THE PANDEMIC COME BACK AGAIN, UH, WHICH WE MAY, MAY NOT KNOW, BUT YOU KNOW, THE PROBABILITY COULD BE HIGH AND THAT IF IT DOES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE STAFF IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.
AND THE LIFEGUARD PART IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE CHILDREN, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER, UH, DAYS THAT THEY CAN GO AND HAVE FUN AT A SWIMMING POOL THAT THEY HADN'T HAD FUN IN FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS.
AND TO ME, THAT'S, THAT'S A BIG FOCUS.
THAT'S A GREAT THING THAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT THERE IS FOR THE CHILDREN.
[02:45:02]
THANK YOU.UH, HAND AND LEADING HADDEN OR HAD NOT LEVY.
WHAT ABOUT, UH, ZACHARY FADDIS? ZACHARY PARIS.
HE IS REMOTE ZACHARY AND PAULA.
YOU WANT TO CALL THEM BOTH? THERE ARE NEXT TO, WELL, ACTUALLY LET'S HOLD ON TO THEM AND LET'S GET THE ONES DONE THAT ARE WE'LL COME BACK TO.
THAT'S BEEN ON THE STREETS FOR ROUGHLY 14 YEARS.
I'VE COME HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS.
TO BE HONEST, I HAVE A PHD WHEN IT COMES TO BEING HOMELESS.
UH, I'VE BEEN OUT HERE FOR A WHILE.
SO I'VE WITNESSED MENTAL ILLNESS.
I'VE WHEN IT'S DRUG ABUSE, I'VE WITNESSED DISCRIMINATION VIOLENCE IN THE BIAS IN THE STREETS OF AUSTIN.
THERE WAS A COMPLETE DISCONNECT WITH THE LOCAL AUSTINITE AND A HUMAN THAT HAS LESS, I THINK TEXAS OR AUSTIN, TEXAS COULD BE THE BLUEPRINT FOR A NEW AGE.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE UNHOUSED, I'VE COME UP WITH A PERMANENT SOLUTION AND A VOCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT HELPS THE HOMELESS BECOME EQUALS AGAIN.
UNFORTUNATELY IT SEEMS I CAN'T GET ANYONE TO LISTEN BECAUSE I LACK THE RESOURCES OR I LACK THE CREDENTIALS.
AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT CONSTANTLY TARGETS THE HOMELESS, GIVING THEM MISDEMEANOR CITATIONS.
LITTLE DOES TRAVIS COUNTY KNOW THIS IS THE ONLY CITY IN AMERICA WHERE AN UNHOUSED HOMELESS PERSON HAS 20 MISDEMEANORS IN SEVEN FELONIES.
THANKS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
A LOT OF LIVES CAN NEVER BOUNCE BACK JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM WORKS.
LEASING AGENCIES DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.
UM, THEY CAN RENT TO WHOEVER THEY WANT TO DUE TO LOW EDUCATION DUE TO SOME MENTAL DISABILITY DUE TO REJECTION AND CRIMINAL BACKGROUND.
70 TO 80% OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION IS ELIMINATED FROM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK AND DOORS BECAUSE EACH PERSON IS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS. I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO LISTEN TO MY PROPOSAL.
THAT'S FAR CHEAPER THAN 40 TO $60 MILLION IN MOTELS.
THE HOMELESS QUALIFY FOR APARTMENTS THAT 80% WILL NOT GET BECAUSE OF THE BIAS SITS IN AUSTIN AND 2021 PROPOSITION B TOOK 200 PEOPLE OFF OF THE STREETS AND LEFT 3,600 PEOPLE ON THE STREETS.
UH, I REALLY DIDN'T SEE HOW THAT WORKED ON THE NEWS THAT SAYS 17 1800 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HOUSED, BUT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE PROOF IS.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN MOTELS FOR FIVE MONTHS, NOT EVEN TALKED TO CASE MANAGEMENT BECAUSE THE WAIT LISTS FOR TRAVIS COUNTY CASE MANAGEMENT IS OVER 300 PEOPLE, REGARDLESS, EVEN IF THEY WERE GIVEN A VOUCHER TO GET AN APARTMENT, THEIR CRIMINAL BACKGROUND GETS IN THE WAY OF THEM BEING APPROVED AT A LEASING AGENCY.
UM, JUST LIKE ME, I'M HAVING AN ISSUE WITH GETTING AN APARTMENT AND I HAVE A VOUCHER.
AND BECAUSE OF MY CRIMINAL BACKGROUND FROM BEING HOMELESS AND CATCHING MISDEMEANORS, I'M DENIED, I'VE BEEN DENIED AT 70 PLACES IN A MONTH OR AT BRICKS AND MORTAR FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT'S NOT POTTY TRAINED AND TRANSITIONED INTO HOUSING IS ILLOGICAL.
LOW-INCOME HOUSING IS A 60 YEAR FORM OF SEGREGATION.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF APARTMENTS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL QUALIFY FOR, BUT AS I SPEAK AGAIN, IT'S THE HOMELESS, IT'S THE MHMR. IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE INDIFFERENCE IN AUSTIN.
SOMETIMES SOMEONE CAN WALK DOWN THE STREET AND THEY CAN SAY HELLO IN A PERSONAL ACT LIKE THEY'RE THEIR IPODS OR THEIR HEADPHONES, OR TOO LOUD, OR REGARDLESS OF THAT, UM, I'D LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THIS CHANCE TO TALK TO CITY COUNCIL ABOUT A PERMANENT SOLUTION.
EVERYONE ELSE CAN COPY IN THE UNITED STATES.
UM, A HOMELESS SHELTER IS A SCAM AND THAT'S BEEN USED FOR 70, 80 YEARS IN THIS COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A BUSINESS TO BE HOMELESS AND, UH, A SANDWICH THAT SOMEONE HANDS OUT DOESN'T END HOMELESSNESS.
THE MOTELS ARE A TEMPORARY BAND-AID AND THERE'S OVER THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON THE STREETS THAT DON'T QUALIFY FOR THOSE MOTELS THAT YOU GUYS BOUGHT.
I HAVE A SOLUTION THAT CAN ACTUALLY TURN SOMEONE INTO AN EQUAL FOR 24 HOURS.
THEY CAN ACTUALLY MAKE DECISIONS.
AND I'D LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO ACTUALLY HEAR ME OUT ON A PROPOSITION ON A WAY THAT YOU CAN SPEND THE MONEY CORRECTLY AND THEN MAKE YOU GUYS LOOK GOOD.
WHY DON'T YOU REACH OUT TO THE COUNCIL OFFICE IS THE WAY TO GET AHOLD OF IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT.
I DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES, SO I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, REALLY JUMP IN MY SCHEDULE BOOK
[02:50:01]
LIKE I NEED TO, BUT THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.UM, I HOPE YOU GUYS CAN, UM, TAKE MY PROPOSAL SERIES.
UM, SIR, UH, TELL ME YOUR NAME AGAIN.
IF YOU ARE ABLE TO, TO BE HERE FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES, I WILL CHECK TO SEE IF MY STAFF PERSON CAN COME DOWN AND SPEAK WITH YOU.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE ONCE AGAIN.
CAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS MY SECOND OR THIRD TIME EITHER CONNECTING WITH UI DIRECTLY IN THIS, IN THIS SETTING HERE OR THROUGH MEETINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER IN THE PAST.
UH, MY NAME IS MICHAEL WARD JR.
I'M THE PRESIDENCY, YO AUSTIN, URBAN TECHNOLOGY MOVEMENT, AUSTIN KNOWN AS AUTUMN HQ, A 5 0 1 C3 TECH NONPROFIT.
I'M ALSO ON THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE GREATER AUSTIN STEM ECOSYSTEM.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN ENGINEERING SCHOOL AND ALSO THE TEXAS A AND M ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE TEXAS SCIENCE FAIR.
AND MOST RECENTLY I'M THE NEWEST COMMUNITY PARTNER FOR THE TEXAS IT CAUCUS.
SO I DO WEAR A COUPLE HATS TO COME HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN TECH AND ALSO ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FOR OUR LOW INCOME UNDERSERVED AT UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE YOU ALL KNOW OF SAMSUNG, AMAZON TESLA, APPLE, ORACLE, ALL OF THESE TECH COMPANIES HAVE A FEW THINGS IN COMMON.
THEY'VE EITHER DECIDED TO MOVE THEIR HEADQUARTERS HERE TO AUSTIN OR TO EXPAND THEIR EXISTING PRESENCE HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND BASED ON THE NUMBERS RELEASED BY THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WE HAVE NOT ONLY SURPASSED THE NUMBER OF JOBS WE HAD PRE 2021 WILL.
WE HAVE ADDED MORE THAN 30,000 JOBS IN THE CENTRAL TEXAS AREA.
I'M HERE TODAY TO FOLLOW UP ON THE BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT I'VE REQUESTED FOR $675,000 TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO ACTUALLY PLACE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTO THESE TYPES OF JOBS, OR AT LEAST LEARN THE SKILLS THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THE SAMSUNG TESLAS, ORACLE'S AMAZON AND APPLES OF THE WORLD.
SO I URGE YOU AND REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE AND ACTUALLY CREATING A SOLUTION TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN MANY DIFFERENT MEETINGS WITH YOU ALL WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, WHAT INSTITUTIONS, AND A LOT OF THEM COME TO AUTOMATED QUEUE ASKING FOR SOLUTIONS.
HOW CAN WE GET PLUGGED IN WITH EMPLOYERS? HOW CAN WE HAVE INTERNSHIPS? HOW CAN WE TALK ABOUT APPRENTICESHIPS? ALL OF THOSE THINGS WE DO HERE AT AUTOMATED QUEUE, WE HAVE MORE THAN 145 PEOPLE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN OUR PROGRAM RIGHT NOW FOR TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE OVER 500 PEOPLE ON OUR JOB BOARD LOOKING FOR JOBS AT SAMSON'S ORACLE'S FACEBOOK, AMAZON, AND YOU NAME IT.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE ARE BUILDING THE TECH ECOSYSTEM THAT AUSTIN SAYS THEY WANT TO HAVE.
WE HAVE OVER 44 EMPLOYERS, INSTITUTIONS, ORGANIZATIONS ON OUR WEBSITE SAYING, HEY, WE SUPPORT THIS TECH ECOSYSTEM THROUGH JOBS, THROUGH FUNDING, THROUGH VOLUNTEERS, THROUGH PARTICIPANTS OR THROUGH RESOURCES.
AND I'M HERE TO SAY, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
I WANT TO STOP HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HELPING THE COMMUNITY, BUT YET WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THEY'RE STILL IN POVERTY.
THEY STILL DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE JOBS.
AND THE EMPLOYERS ARE SAYING, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO FIND THEM.
AND SO, AS I CONCLUDE, I DO HAVE SOME DOCUMENTATION.
I WOULD LOVE TO LEAVE WITH YOU ALL.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT STOP TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT ACTUALLY SOLVING THE LACK OF DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE JUST PASSED, UM, WAS THIS SERIES OF CON CONTRACTS WITH OUR, UM, FOR MULTI-ETHNIC CHAMBERS, WHICH ARE NOT GOING TO BE THE DIVERSITY AND EQUITY CHAMBER ALLIANCE TOO.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE TASKED WITH PUTTING TOGETHER A REGIONAL ECONOMIC, UM, EQUITY AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
UM, IF YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH MY OFFICE, I MADE A PRETEND MOUSE SMELTER.
UM, WE CAN CONNECT YOU UP, UM, WITH THAT GROUP, FOR THAT PROCESS.
I THINK YOUR VOICE AND YOUR EXPERIENCE, UM, AND THE IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE, UM, THAT WOULD BE A PARTICULAR PLACE THAT WE COULD ADVANCE THAT.
AND WE JUST, YOU KNOW, KICKING THAT OFF, UM, TODAY.
AND I THINK IT'D BE REALLY APPROPRIATE, UM, TO CONNECT YOU WITH THAT.
AND THE LAST THING THAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO MOVE AS FAST AS WE CAN, AND I'M EVEN INTERESTED IN THE PAY FOR SUCCESS MODEL.
[02:55:01]
UPFRONT TAKES TOO LONG FOR POLICIES, REQUIREMENTS, NOT A PROBLEM.LET US SHOW YOU THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND THEN Y'ALL CAN, WE CAN INVOICE YOU ALL AFTERWARDS.
AND WE COULD USE THE TESTIMONIES OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE HELPING TO BE THE VALUE OF APPROVAL.
CAN WE LEAVE THE DOCUMENTATION FOR YOU ALL AS WELL? YES.
IF YOU GIVE IT TO THE CLERK, I'LL HAND IT OUT.
I REPRESENT THE SOFTWARE FOR CITY CITIZEN, APPROXIMATELY 5,000 HOUSEHOLDS.
WE AGREE THAT AUSTIN'S MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ESPECIALLY CLOSER TO LARGE EMPLOYERS TO HELP CUT OUR TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
HOWEVER, WE DISAGREE WITH C AND LOO ALTERNATIVE FOR DEVELOPERS WHO RECEIVE GREATER ENTITLEMENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
20% OF THE UNIT SHOULD BE ONSITE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION INCENTIVES, SUCH AS MORE FLEXIBILITY IN REGARD TO ADU, COUPLED WITH GREATER DENSITY, RATHER THAN YOU DEVELOPMENT OR A POSITIVE STEP AND ANOTHER TOOL TO AVOID EXTENSIVE DEMOLITION STOCK QUOTES.
THESE ARE MY PERSONAL REMARKS AS ARE SHE SEES POSITION ECHOES TODAY'S PRESENTATION BY OUR EAST SIDE.
NEIGHBORS FRCC IS RAPIDLY LOSING MARKET AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEMOLITION, WHICH IS A REAL ESTATE INVESTOR, I BELIEVE IS BECAUSE OF A HUGE JUMP IT'S PROPERTY TAXES FROM 2020 TO 2021, APPROXIMATELY FOUR TO $7,000 A ONE YEAR LANDLORDS OFTEN DON'T WANT TO SELL HIGH TAXES, PERSUADE THEM.
YOU GIVE INCENTIVES TO DEVELOPERS TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHY NOT INCENTIVIZE LANDLORDS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY REBATING THEM THEIR PROPERTY TAXES, TO MEASUREMENT WITH THEIR LOSS BY RENTING OUT AFFORDABLE VERSUS MARKET RATES.
THIS WOULD MITIGATE DISPLACEMENT AND I BELIEVE DEMOLITION.
MANY OF THESE LANDLORDS ARE DEBT-FREE AND THUS CAN'T AFFORD TO RENT TO TENANTS FOR MARKET AFFORDABLE RATES, MEANING IT NEEDS NO SUBSIDY AND TO BE PAID BY THE REST OF THE TAXPAYERS.
LANDLORDS ARE RAISING RENT 33% BECAUSE OF TAXES COMMIT TO CATS.
SO WHY THE PROPERTY TAXES 3.5% PER YEAR, REGARDLESS OF A PACE VALUES, SIMPLY ADJUST YOUR RATE TO DEVELOPERS ARE USING VM ROUTE SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE MORE PROFIT.
BUT OFTEN THEY ARE BUILDING BEDS IN THE EAST AUSTIN AREA, WHICH RAISES THE PROPERTY TAXES FOR EVERYONE AROUND THEM.
AS WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE TODAY, AND THEN YOUR PROPOSED PAYMENT FOR FEEDING LOOP ARE ABSOLUTELY UNREASONABLE.
FOR EXAMPLE, FAMILY, TO BUILD A STUDIO OF $135,000 IS NOT POSSIBLE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE LAND.
AND THAT MEANS THAT THE AGGRESSIVE TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FUND ANY TYPE OF NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT'S BUILT USING CM LU AND LASTLY, STOP TAKING OD DEBT.
THE REASON THE LANDLORDS CAN IT CAN DO WELL IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO DEBT.
EVERY TIME YOU TAKE OUT DEBT, THAT'S MORE TAX BURDEN ON OTHER PEOPLE.
AND THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO BUY A HOME, TO CONSIDER TAKING OUT A $270 MILLION LOAN IS ABSOLUTELY SPEAK DURING YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
IT WILL DISPLACE MANY TOO MANY PEOPLE IN AUSTIN.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A RESIDENT OF THE JOHNSON TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD AND DISTRICT THREE AND A BOARD MEMBER OF CORA, AN ORGANIZATION THAT FIGHTS FOR ABUNDANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR EVERYONE THAT'S COMING IN TODAY TO SPEAK ON THE CITY'S FAILURE AND REFUSAL TO PROVIDE THAT HOUSING.
IT'S PART OF YOUR REGULAR BUSINESS.
TODAY, YOU'LL HEAR FROM MANY PEOPLE TRYING TO CHANGE THE ZONING ON THEIR PROPERTY TO BUILD MORE OR HOMES TO HOUSE PEOPLE FOR BUSINESSES THAN FOR WORK AND SHOP FROM.
THEY WILL COME TO YOU ALREADY HAVING GONE BEFORE COMMISSION AND MAY HAVE TO COME TO YOU TWICE MORE.
OFTENTIMES YOUR ANSWER WILL BE TO NEGOTIATE MORE, BUT THAT WOULD BE IN IT THAT LOCAL CLUB.
THERE'S NOTHING STOPPING ANYONE FROM BUILDING A SINGLE FAMILY HOME THAT MOST EXPENSIVE AND LEAST NEEDED FORM OF HOUSING.
BUT THE MINUTE YOU'D LIKE TO BUILD MORE TO HOUSE, MORE
[03:00:01]
PEOPLE DO MORE AFFORDABLE MEANS MUST COMMIT YOURSELF TO A REGULATORY GAP, BUT THROUGH ZONING OVERLAYS, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS COMMIT PERMISSIONS.AND FINALLY YOURSELVES, WE TELL OURSELVES THAT EVERY DEVELOPMENT MUST BE PERFECT AND UNOFFENSIVE TO ALL PARTIES.
THE OBVIOUS OUTCOME IS THAT PURE HOMES ARE BUILT AND MORE DISPLACEMENT OCCURS.
WE HAVE BUILT A SYSTEM IN WHICH THE DEFAULT ANSWER IS NO, NO MORE HOMES, NO MORE NEIGHBORS, NO, TO BEING A WELCOMING CITY FOR ANYONE, BUT THE RICH FOR TOO LONG, WE HAVE GIVEN VOICE AND PALETTES THE INCUMBENT LANDOWNERS OF THE CITY, THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT FEEL THE PAIN OF INCREASING RENTS AND ACTUALLY BECOME MILLIONAIRES OFFERS TO THE SEVERE LACK OF HOUSING TO THEM.
MORE HOUSING MEANS MORE TRAFFIC AND IT CHANGES.
THEY DO NOT SEE OR FEEL THE PAIN THAT OBSTRUCTION CAUSES THE INCREASING GRANTS, THE ENDLESS SUBURBS AND THE CAR DEPENDENCY.
IT ENSURES WE CAN'T DENY CHANGE.
WE CAN ONLY DIRECT IT BY REFUSING TO BUILD THE HOUSING, TO ACCOMMODATE OUR POPULATION.
WE ARE DECIDING THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SHOULD BECOME INCREASINGLY EXPENSIVE EXCLUSIONARY AND WHITE OVERTIME.
AUSTIN IS CHANGING AND THE PAST IS SOMETHING WE CAN MOURN, BUT WE CAN'T.
SO JEALOUSLY CLING TO IT THAT WE DESTROY OUR FUTURE BY KEEPING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS EXCLUSIVE.
WE ARE NOT KEEPING OUT NEWCOMERS.
WE ARE CASTING OUT THE POOREST AMONGST US.
WE ARE ENSURING THAT GROWTH CAUSES DISPLACEMENT REGULATING OUR FELLOW RESIDENTS TO SUBURBS OF BUDDHA AND ROUND ROCK.
THIS IS THE POLITICS OF SCARCITY.
WHEN INCREASING POPULATION MUST FIGHT OVER A FIXED SUPPLY OF HOUSING.
INSTEAD YOU MUST PLAN FOR ABUNDANCE.
THERE'S MORE THAN ENOUGH LOVE AND LAND TO GO AROUND IN OUR GREAT CITY.
WELL, WE MUST LEARN TO SAY YES FIRST WITH OUR HEARTS AND THEN WITH OUR LAWS.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, SO THAT WE CAN LET SOME STAFF GO LET'S CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME THINGS WE CAN GET DONE WITHOUT DISCUSSION.
UM, AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT I WOULD, I'M SORRY, WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SIR? I'M SORRY.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PROCEED.
WE HAVE, UM, OUR COLLEAGUES TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME ITEMS WE CAN TAKE CARE OF WITHOUT ANY DISCUSSION AT ALL.
COUNCILMAN POINT THIS, I THINK ITEM 61, THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER, IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, BECAUSE OTHERWISE I HAVE TO STEP AWAY AT TWO O'CLOCK FOR AN HOUR OR SO, AND I MIGHT MISS IT.
UH, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN DO THESE WITH THAT DISCUSSION.
WE CAN DISCUSS THEM LATER IN THE DAY.
I'M GOING TO, WE CAN GET THROUGH WITH THAT DISCUSSION.
UM, UM, CATHERINE WENT THIS, UH, UH, MUS, UH, PASSAGE OF ITEM NUMBER 61.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? UH, KEN'S OVER KITCHEN SECONDS THAT ANY DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I'M SHOWING THAT BEING UNANIMOUS ON THE DIAL 61 PASSES, WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL ITEMS THAT ARE IN A ROW HERE.
ITEM NUMBER 60 IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO CONTINUE THE EXISTENCE AND OPERATION TOURISM COMMISSION.
I'M THE MAYOR PRO TEM MAKES THAT MOTION IN THE PAST.
IS THERE A SECOND? THAT'S WHERE IT PULLS SECONDS.
THOSE OPPOSED THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE ALSO HAVE THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.
DO WE HAVE STAFF WITH US? LET'S SEE IF WE CAN LET THEM GO OR WE'RE WAITING FOR THEM TO COME TO US.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 63 IS POSTPONED, UH, UNTIL THE APRIL 7TH MEETING.
UH, ANY OBJECTION TO THAT POSTPONEMENT HEARING NONE.
ITEM NUMBER 64, UH IT'S TO THE RESOLUTION, AUTHORIZING A CHANGE AND USE THE DEDICATED PARKLAND HOLLY SHORES.
IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS 64 COUNCIL MEMBER RENTER RHEA MAKES THAT MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER HOPPER, MADISON SECONDS AND DISCUSSION.
I, UM, REACHED OUT TO STAFF TO ASK THEM WHAT THE MITIGATION WOULD BE.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS IN OUR, ON OUR BACKUP, BUT THERE WOULD BE MITIGATION.
ANYTIME ANOTHER DEPARTMENT USES THE PROPERTY.
I THINK IT'S IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF AROUND 300 PLUS THOUSAND DOLLARS.
I ASSUME IT'S GOING TO BE REINVESTED THERE IN THE PARK, BUT, UM, I WOULD APPRECIATE GETTING CONFIRMATION ABOUT THAT.
WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT BEFORE
[03:05:01]
WE VOTE ON IT TODAY, BUT I WOULD, I'D BE INTERESTED IN, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST A QUICK EMAIL MAYBE TO ALL OF US LETTING US KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE INVESTED IN THE VISION PLAN FOR THAT PARK.THE MANAGER SAYS THAT THAT'LL HAPPEN.
MAYBE THAT WAS THE QUESTION I WAS TRYING TO GET SOLVED EARLIER.
SO IF YOU'D LET THE COUNCIL KNOW, THANK YOU.
I THINK IT WAS MOVED AND SECONDED THOSE IN FAVOR.
UM, UH, THIS IS TO APPROVE THE HUD ACTION LAND, THEIR MOTION TO APPROVE IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, OUR PERMISSION, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER VILLA LEFT THE DAY AS FOR THE LAST VOTE.
I JUST NOTICED THAT YOU DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THAT.
AS OUR BELLA WAS NOT WITH US ON THE LAST BOAT, LET THE RECORD PLEASE REFLECT THAT WE HAVE THE FOLKS WITH AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION WITH US.
[Austin Housing and Finance Corporation (Part 2 of 2)]
CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE AT 1243 AND AT 1243, I'M GOING TO CONVENE THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION MEETING.UH, NOW TIME FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF THE AGENDA STAFF.
YOU WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH, UH, ITEMS, UH, MAYOR MANDY DEMAND, AUSTIN HOUSING, FINANCE CORPORATION.
WE ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY, AND THAT IS TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A LOAN TO AUSTIN REVITALIZATION AUTHORITY, A R A OR THE ACQUISITION OF A FOURPLEX IN THE COLONY PARK LAKESIDE AREA AT 84 0 2 GUARD CREEK CIRCLE.
AND THIS IS FOR THE ACQUISITION AND REHAB AND THE HOME WILL BE, OR ALL FOUR UNITS WILL BE RENTED TO FOLKS AT, OR BELOW 50% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME OR REGULATIONS OF OUR BRAND NEW AD CAP PROGRAM, WHICH IS OUR PANTY TYPE DISPLACEMENT COMMUNITY ACQUISITION PROGRAM UTILIZING OUR PROJECT CONNECT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT DOLLARS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM? COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON MAKES THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA SECONDS AND DISCUSSION.
ACTUALLY IT WAS DIRECTOR HARPER, MADISON, AND DIRECTOR, UH, READ THROUGH YET THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND THERE.
OPPOSED UNANIMOUS WITH, UH, UH, DIRECTOR VAL OFF THE, UH, DYESS THAT PASSES, UH, AND WITH THAT BEING OUR ITEMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, MANDY FOR BEING WITH US, UM, I'M GOING TO ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION HERE AT 1245 AND AT 1245, I'M GOING TO CONVENE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UH, STILL HERE ON, UH, MARCH 24TH, 2022.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE HUD, UH, ACTION PLAN ITEM NUMBER 65 COUNCIL MEMBER DARIA MAKES THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, POINT IS SECONDS THAT MOTION AND DISCUSSION.
TAKE A, VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED IT'S UNANIMOUS COUNCIL MEMBER OF L OFF THE DIOCESE HE'S BACK AND VOTING IN FAVOR.
IT'S UNANIMOUS WITH EVERYBODY ON THE DIACETYL NUMBER 65.
UH, AND THEN ITEM NUMBER 66 IS THE, UH, UM, FULL PURPOSE THAT, YES, THAT'S FREEDOM 65.
DON'T WE JUST NEED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING OR BECAUSE OF, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ACTION, CAUSE IT HAS TO BE THERE.
I ASKED YOU AGAIN, ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT, THAT WE MISSED RIGHT NOW AND WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 66.
I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT REAL QUICK ON ITEM NUMBER 66, THE ANNEXATION ITEM.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE NOTE THAT IN THE ORDINANCE, OR WAS THAT AN AIR? THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM WAS CONDUCTED ON MARCH 3RD, NOT TODAY.
SO ON OUR AGENDA TODAY TO DO IT, UH, IT'S AUTOMATED ITEM 66 IS THE, UH, THE ANNEXATION OF THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY FOR THE FIRE STATION AND, UH, EMS ON SIX 20.
UH, IT'S JUST THE ORDINANCE IN YOUR BACKUP SAYS THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CONDUCTED TODAY.
IT WAS ACTUALLY CONDUCTED ON MARCH 3RD.
SO I COULD SPEND ESTIMATE THAT NOTATION FOR THE RECORD.
THE RECORD NOTE THAT WAS WITH PUBLIC HEARING, WHAT ARE WE DOING TODAY? TODAY? WE'RE ACTUALLY VOTING ON, ON THE ANNEXATION ITSELF.
AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S A CITY OWNED PROPERTY.
AND WE'VE BEEN, AND WE'VE BEEN NOTICED TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE? OKAY.
THAT'S R KELLY MAKES THE MOTIONS THAT ARE SECOND.
UH, VAL IS SECOND DISCUSSION THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED UNANIMOUSLY, THAT ITEM IS
[03:10:01]
APPROVED.ALL RIGHT, GUYS, WE HAVE PULLED ITEMS WHEN WE COME BACK AND WE HAVE ZONING CASES.
I'D SUGGEST WE COME BACK AT TWO, WE'LL TAKE THE SPEAKERS, WE'LL HANDLE THE CONSENT ZONING.
WE'LL DO THE PULLED ITEMS. AND THEN THE ZONING CASES MIRROR.
I WILL ALSO BE OFF THE DYESS, UM, AT TWO O'CLOCK I THINK SEVERAL OF US, I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL OF US THAT ARE GOING TO BE OFF THE DYES MOMENTARILY.
UM, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, IF YOU CAN, UH, AT LEAST CALL THE SPEAKERS.
I DIDN'T HEAR THE TIME THAT YOU SAID TWO O'CLOCK AND JUST TO CAN, SO WE'LL DO THE SPEAKERS AND THEN JUST CONSENTED THE CONSENT AGENDA ON REMAINING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THEY'RE CONSENTED YET WILL BE THE ZONING IN SAN, BUT ON THE OTHER CONSENT AGENDA ON THE CODE, THE OLD ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE WE HAVE REMAINING 13, 14 30, 4, 50 TO 55 AND 57, UM, 13, 14 30, 4, 52 55 AND 57, AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE, EVERYTHING ELSE IS ZONING.
WE SHOULD ALL BE BACK BY THE TIME YOU TAKE THE SPEAKERS AND DO THE CONSENT ZONING AGENDA.
I THINK WE'LL BE BACK AT THAT POINT.
WE HAVE PROBABLY 30, 40 SPEAKERS.
I THINK WE WERE TELLING HIM TWO MINUTES, A PIECE SPEAKING ON THE ZONING CASES.
SO WITH THAT HERE AT, UH, 1249, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN RECESS UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK.
SO YOU GUYS HAVE MEETING, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, ALISON ALTER.
UM, WE HAVE A COUPLE REQUESTS TO RECONSIDER SOME ITEMS FROM EARLIER, UM, FROM THE AGENDA, UM, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO DO AND WE'LL TRY AND I WANT TO WAIT FOR ONE OF THEM FOR COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA.
CAUSE IT WAS ITEM 64, WHICH WAS IN HIS DISTRICT.
UM, BUT I THINK WE CAN GO AHEAD AND RECONSIDER
[66. Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance relating to the full-purpose annexation of approximately 16.4 acres located in Travis County near 9804 North FM 620 Road and approve a written plan for the provision of municipal services. Case number: C7a-2022-0001. The property is owned by the City of Austin and is adjacent to Austin Council District 6.]
ITEM 66.UM, THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO RECONSIDERING ITEMS? 66? NO.
UM, JERRY, I INVITE YOU TO COME UP AND CORRECT THE RECORD SO THAT WE CAN REDO THAT.
I'M SORRY, BUT I HAVE A CORRECTION TO MY CORRECTION FROM EARLIER.
UM, THE, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CONDUCTED TODAY, OR I GUESS YOU'RE ABOUT TO CONDUCT A PERIOD TODAY.
THE ORDINANCE THAT DIVERT, IT SAYS MARCH 3RD.
SO JUST NEED TO MAKE NOTE OF THAT AND THAT'S IT.
SO WE JUST NEED YOU TO YOU IF YOU'D VOTE TO RECONSIDER AND THEN JUST VOTE AGAIN TO APPROVE IT.
DO WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? YES.
SO WE NEED TO VOTE TO, UH, PASS ITEM 66 AND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING BELIEVE THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY MAKES THAT MOTION AS SHE NEEDED BEFORE US IN HER DISTRICT.
AND I WILL SECOND THAT, UM, AND SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 66 IS RECONSIDERED AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, SO THAT IS UNANIMOUS ON THE DAYAS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, VELA KELLY, MYSELF POOL ELLIS KITCHEN, UM, ON THE REGULAR DICE VOTING.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON.
WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER
UM, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, UM, MR. RENTERIA HAS JUST JOINED US.
UM, MR. RENTERIA, WE NEED TO TAKE UP
[64. Conduct a public hearing in accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 26 to consider a resolution authorizing a change in use of dedicated parkland, known as Holly Shores/Edward Rendon Sr. Metro Park at Festival Beach and Peace Point at Lady Bird Lake Metro Park, to allow Austin Energy to construct, install, use, maintain, and repair approximately 10,791 square feet of permanent subterranean electric duct bank and an additional approximately 59,885 square feet of temporary use area, in order to replace an aging electric cable across Lady Bird Lake (Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second Street, Austin, TX).]
ITEM 64 AGAIN AND RECONSIDER IT, UM, SO THAT WE CAN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.AND A BRIEF STATEMENT CAN BE READ INTO THE RECORD, UM, BECAUSE IT OF, UM, THE NATURE OF THE ITEM.
SO ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO RECONSIDERING ITEMS? 64? I'M SEEING NONE.
I WOULD INVITE, UH, MR. MONTEZ TO, UM, MAKE HIS PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL.
MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN HEAR ME.
UM, I'M GREGORY MONTIS WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND ITEM NUMBER 64 IS A PUBLIC HEARING IN ACCORDANCE THE, UH, CHAPTER 26 OF THE TEXAS APPROXIMATE WHILE, UM, THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS DUE TO A PERMANENT CHANGE IN USE FROM DEDICATED PARKLAND TO A NON RECREATIONAL USE.
THIS REQUEST COMES FROM THE AUSTRALIAN CHIEF DEPARTMENT TO BUILD A SUBTERRANEAN ELECTRIC DUCT BANK.
AND THEY'RE PUSHING A DEDICATED PARKLAND KNOWN AS EDWARD DON SR METRO PARK AT FESTIVAL BEACH AND PEACE POINT AT LADYBIRD LAKE
[03:15:01]
METRO PARK.ILLEGAL FACT FINDING FOR THIS REQUEST IS THAT THERE IS NO FEASIBLE OR PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE TAKING OF DEDICATED PARKLAND, WHICH INCLUDES ALL PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE PARK.
IT'S PART OF THIS PROJECT MITIGATION FUNDS TOTALING $327,608 WILL BE PAID TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
THE DATES OF PUBLIC NOTIFICATION IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN WERE A FEBRUARY 27TH, MARCH SIX AND MARCH 13TH OF THIS YEAR.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY, THANK YOU.
UM, I DO NOT RECALL IF COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO HAD ANY DIRECTION ON THAT AMOUNT OR SHE JUST WANTED TO HAVE CLARITY ON WHETHER THE MITIGATION MONEY WOULD BE SPENT IN THAT PARK IN PARTICULAR PRO TEM, THE MITIGATION FUNDS ARE DIRECTED BACK TO THE IMPACT THAT PARK, UM, WHAT YOU COULD DO.
AND THIS IS YOUR UP TO THE COUNCIL IS IF IN YOUR MOTION YOU WANTED TO, UM, ADD THAT LANGUAGE TO THE MOTION AND HAVE THAT APPROVED IN SECOND, BUT WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY AS WELL.
SO JUST SO YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION WITH THE MITIGATION, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLICITLY MAKE THAT NOTION OR DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THERE? WAIT FOR IT? I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE THAT MOTION THAT THE 80 FUNDS THAT IF, UH, GOES BACK DEDICATED TO THE, UH, TO THE PARKLAND, TO THE PARK AND COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA MAKES THAT MOTION, COUNCILMEMBER POOL SECONDS THAT, UM, SO WE WILL THEN TAKE UP THE MOTION AS AMENDED BEFORE WE DO.
I'LL JUST SAY THAT, UM, I KNOW THAT CONCEPT OCTOBER AND I WERE BOTH ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE DO SOMETIMES NEED TO USE THIS, UM, STATE VEHICLE TO USE, UM, EASEMENTS AND OTHER THINGS WITHIN OUR PARKS.
UM, AND THERE'S USUALLY MONEY THAT COMES FROM THAT BECAUSE YOU WOULD OTHERWISE BE PAYING A PRIVATE ENTITY TO STORE STUFF OR TO DO THAT IN ANY OTHER CASE.
UM, AND THIS PRACTICE OF PAYING THE PARK FOLKS, UH, THE PART, UM, THIS RENUMERATION HAS BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT.
IT WAS VERY CRITICAL WHEN WE DID THE RENOVATIONS OF RAMSEY PARK.
UM, AND SO SOMETHING THAT I THINK REALLY DOES HELP THESE PARKS THAT HAVE TO UNDERGO THIS PROCESS AND BE OUT OF SERVICE.
IT'S ONE WAY FOR US, UM, TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE USERS.
WHO'VE BEEN UNABLE TO USE OFTEN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK OR THEIR DISTRICT PARK THAT'S NEARBY THEM.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO KNOW BEFORE WE VOTE? NO, MA'AM THAT IS IT.
SO WITH THAT AMENDMENT ARE RECONSIDERING ITEMS 66, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR 64 64.
UM, SO WE ARE RECONSIDERING ITEM 64, AND THAT AMENDMENT WAS TO ITEM 64 AS WELL CASE THERE WAS NO CONFUSION AND WE'VE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WAS UNANIMOUS ON THE DAYAS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS, QUANTAS TOVO AND MAYOR ADLER OFF THE DIOCESE.
[Zoning Consent Agenda (Part 1 of 2)]
TO MOVE OVER TO ZONING, UM, AND TAKE UP OUR POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS AND THEN OUR CONSENT SPEAKERS AND THEN CONSENT AGENDA.THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL ON JOY HARDEN WITH THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UM, AS THE MAYOR, OF COURSE, TAM STAYED AT YOUR FIRST CASES TO CONSIDER ARE THE DIS DISCUSSION POSTPONEMENT CASES, WHICH ARE ITEMS 83 AND 84.
UM, 83 IS ITEM NUMBER NPA 20 21 0 0 0 2 0.01.
AND, UM, ITEM 84 IS C ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 3 8.
WE DO HAVE MS. KRISTEN HANEY HERE, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S POSTPONEMENT REQUEST AND MR. RICHARD SUTTLE SPEAKING AGAINST THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
AND PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S FIRST POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
YOU'LL HAVE, UH, I THINK WE SAID WE'RE HAVING TWO MINUTES FOR SPEAKERS, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE ECC, I'M HERE TO REQUEST A POSTPONEMENT OF ITEMS, 83 AND 84 REGARDING 1400 EAST FOURTH STREET.
WE'RE REQUESTING A NEW HEARING DATE OF MAY 5TH, SIX WEEKS FROM TODAY, JUST LAST TUESDAY, MARCH 15TH, THE ECC RECEIVED AN INITIAL OFFER LETTER FROM THE APPLICANT.
THIS IS THE FIRST OFFER RECEIVED FROM THE APPLICANT SINCE WE VOTED TO UPROSE OPPOSE THE PROJECT.
ONE MONTH EARLIER, THE TERMS OF THAT OFFER WERE DISCUSSED IN A MEETING WITH BOTH PARTIES AND COUNCIL MEMBER, RENTERIA STAFF JUST LAST WEDNESDAY.
[03:20:02]
UM, AND AGAIN, AT A GENERAL MEETING OF THE ECC THAT EVENING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES HAS NOT YET BEEN REACHED AND WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING WITH STAFF AND NEIGHBORHOOD STAKEHOLDERS TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE OFFER THAT WE FIND FAIR AGREEABLE IN WORTHY OF EVERYONE'S TIME AND ENERGY FOR DISCUSSION, WE INTEND TO PROPOSE A SOLUTION THAT WE CAN SUPPORT WHILE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING A SOLUTION THAT WE CAN REMAIN NEUTRAL TO WITH ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS.WE'RE WAITING ON ANSWERS TO SOME OF OUR QUESTIONS IN COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA.
HIS CHIEF OF STAFF IS WORKING ON THAT.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED YET.
THE MAY 5TH DATE ALLOWS US TO FACILITATE THE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS.
THIS ITEM REQUIRES TO PRESENT THEM AT OUR NEXT GENERAL MEETING FOR A FINAL VOTE AND PREPARE COMMENTS AND EXHIBITS TO SHARE WITH THE CITY.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD STRONGLY ENCOURAGES YOU TO SUPPORT OUR POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UH, HOW MANY, WHAT WAS THE VOTE ON THAT POSTPONEMENT WHERE THE CONTACTING, WHAT WAS THE VOTE ON THE POST-SETTLEMENT? DO YOU MEAN THE CONTACT TO YOU ABOUT, ABOUT ASKING? CAUSE I, ARE YOU ASKING HOW MANY WERE IN FAVOR AND HOW MANY WERE OPPOSED? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE, UM, VOTED ON, I DON'T THINK WE NEEDED A VOTE ON THE POSTPONEMENT.
IT WAS A DISCUSSION, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO THAT THIS CONVERSATION FULLY DIDN'T TAKE A VOTE.
WE DISCUSSED IT AT OUR MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, MR. SATO, TWO MINUTES, PLEASE.
MAYOR PRO TEM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
I KIND OF DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO RESPOND, UM, WITHOUT SOUNDING SNARKY, BUT WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE, WITH THE CONTACT TEAM.
AND I ACTUALLY GOT A LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 7TH, BASED ON A PREVIOUS OFFER FOR ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS ON TOP OF THE CITY'S, UM, DENSITY BONUS.
AND ON FEBRUARY 7TH, THE, THEY, THEY VOTED AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT OPPOSE OUR PROPOSAL.
IT WASN'T UNTIL THEN AT SOME POINT THEY CAME BACK AND RECONSIDERED AND WE HAVE, WHILE WE REALLOCATED SOME OF THE MONEY THAT THEY'VE ASKED FOR, IT'S STILL THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY IT'S STILL, UH, EXCEEDS DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUS MONEY.
AND, UM, WE JUST CAN'T SEE, UH, A SIX WEEK POSTPONEMENT TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.
IN ADDITION, IT'S NOT THE NEIGHBORHOODS TRUE FIRST REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT.
THEY MADE A REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT LAST TIME, UH, FOUND THAT THEY HAD NOT GOTTEN IT IN ON TIME.
AND SO THIS IS REALLY THEIR SECOND POSTPONEMENT.
UM, I KNOW THE COUNCIL LIKES TO HONOR THOSE FIRST POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT.
I THINK SINCE, UM, AUGUST OF 2021, WE'VE BEEN AT THE TABLE WITH EVERYBODY, WE'VE GOT IT TO WHERE THEY DIDN'T OPPOSE IT.
AND THERE'S JUST A PATTERN THERE.
I WOULD, I WOULD THINK THAT I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD JUST MOVE FORWARD ON THIS TODAY AND, UM, AND FINISH IT UP.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
AND I DO WANT TO JUST PROCEDURALLY CHECK FOR POSTPONEMENTS.
DOES THE APPLICANT GET MORE THAN TWO MINUTES OR I DON'T KNOW IF HE NEEDS MORE THAN THAT, BUT NOPE.
UM, SO THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS FINDING REMOTE.
SO THE ITEM BEFORE US IS WHETHER TO POSTPONE ITEMS 83 AND 84, OR WE NEED TO SEE IF THERE'S A MOTION TO POSTPONE ITEMS, 83 AND 84, UM, TO THE MAY 1ST MEETING IN MAY.
UM, WE WOULD NEED A MOTION FOR THAT.
UM, I'M NOT GOING TO BE REQUESTED OR POSTPONEMENT.
I THINK THAT'S, UH, THAT, UH, WE HAVE WORKED OUT A PRETTY FAIR DEAL.
UH, WE'RE UH, NOT ONLY, UH, DEDICATED FUNDS AND MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S GOING TO GO TO, UH, THE EAST AUSTIN CONSERVANCY THAT HELPS OUR SEEDER PAY THEIR INCOME TAX.
UH, I, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS OVER $300,000 FOR THAT.
WE ALSO GOING TO BE WORKING FOR SUPPORTING, UH, UH, UH, UH, THE TRAIL THAT'S THEIR WILD LOOP IS GOING TO BE GETTING SOME OF THE FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE
[03:25:01]
THAT IS THAT ANY NEW BUILDING GETS BUILT THERE.UH, WE, BECAUSE IT'S A TIFFT THAT AREA IS A TIFF AND IT'S ALSO, WE'RE GOING TO BE RECOVERING 20% OF THAT ADDED VALUE BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE RAIL ITSELF.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A STONE THROW AWAY FROM THE ACTUAL STATION THERE, THE RED LINE STATION AT SOUTHFIELD.
SO THIS IS A, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND, UH, I, I KNOW THAT I ASKED MY SECTOR REP AND OUT OF FRUSTRATION, SHE SAID SHE COULDN'T GO TO THESE MEETINGS ANYMORE.
AND WE WAS SHOOTING WAS GOING TO, AND SHE STEPPED DOWN.
SO, UH, THERE WAS A LOT OF, UH, 11 THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THIS CONTACT TEAM THAT, UH, UH, WE, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW THEY'RE TAKING THEIR BOATS, UH, WHETHER THEY'RE AREN'T MEETING AND VOTING, BUT WE, I KNOW THAT WE HAD A DEAL AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE DON'T HAVE A DEAL.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SIT DOWN THERE WITH, UH, WHAT'S SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CONTACT TEAM, AND WE HAVE WORKED WITH, UH, THE, UH, THE APPLICANT TO GET A FAIR DEAL FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
CAUSE I AM PART OF, UM, SO IT SAYS A CHAVEZ AND I WAS ON THE CONTACT TEAM UNTIL I HAD TO STEP DOWN BECAUSE I'M AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND I COULDN'T SEE TWO POLLS, BUT, UH, UH, WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON OUR, ON OUR CONTACT TEAM.
I WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL PERSON SAID ACTUALLY DEVELOPED THE CONTACT TEAM.
AND, UH, I, I REALLY AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT.
I, I BELIEVE THAT THE SOONER THAT WE GET THIS DONE, THE MORE WE CAN BENEFIT, ESPECIALLY IN MY AREA AND ESPECIALLY IN, UH, IN THAT TIP, WHICH INCLUDE ALSO DISTRICT ONE, IT GOES ALL THE WAY TO ME AND HER.
SO WE NEED ALL THE FUNDINGS THAT WE CAN GET FOR OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF NON-PROFITS OR THAT ARE SITTING ON VACANT PROPERTY, BUT NOT, NOT THE FUNDING THAT'S NEEDED.
SO, UH, THAT'S THE, ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY I I'VE DONE THE RECOMMENDED POSTPONEMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE SET DOWN THERE AND WORK OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS TO GET WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND MAYBE I CAN ASK MR. SUTTLE THIS QUESTION, UM, CAUSE I'M WORRIED ABOUT LOSING, UM, UH, SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT, UM, MAY, MAY EMERGE FROM ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS.
AND, BUT I AGREE THAT SIX WEEKS IS A PRETTY LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
UM, IF WE, IF I WERE TO MAKE A MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS TO APRIL SEVEN, TO OUR NEXT MEETING, UM, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, UM, MS. HANEY AND MR. SUTTLE COULD AGREE TO AND SEE IF WITH AN ADDITIONAL PUSH THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A LITTLE MORE MOVEMENT ON THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS, AND THAT MIGHT ALSO SATISFY THE CONCERNS ON THE DYESS AS EXPRESSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RENTER, ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE LATER DATE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S MUCH BETTER THAN SIX WEEKS, OBVIOUSLY WE'D PREFER TODAY, BUT IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL TO GO APRIL 7TH, I WON'T HOLD MY NOSE UNTIL I PASS OUT.
WELL, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO REVIVE YOU HERE TO WATCH MS. HANEY.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT, THAT YOU WOULD ALSO AGREE TO? UM, IT WILL HELP A LOT.
WE DO HAVE SOME UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
WE ARE TRYING TO WORK THIS OUT.
UM, AND I THINK THERE'S MORE TO PRESENT TO ALL OF YOU AND WE JUST NEED THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY, TO GIVE YOU THE FULL PICTURE OF THE FULL HISTORY OF WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE AND HOW IMPORTANT THIS PROJECT IS TO THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER OF ENTRY, IT IS, IS, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE BOTH BONDED TO APRIL'S SECOND EMOTION COUNCIL MEMBER.
IF I MAY REAL QUICK, TWO THINGS, ONE, THE STAFF WILL NOT BE REVIVING MR. SUTTLE, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT AND MAKE SURE HE KNOWS THAT TOO.
UM, JUST, THIS IS JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
UM, YOU CAN DO OF COURSE, WHATEVER YOU LIKE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN KEEPING THE SEVENTH ALL CONSENT OR POSTPONEMENT ITEMS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE STATEMENT PUT ON THAT DAY.
SO RIGHT NOW THAT'S THE ONLY DISCUSSION CASE ON THE SEVENTH, BUT IT'S A COURSE IT'S UP TO YOU ALL NOW.
UM, WHAT I MIGHT SUGGEST IS IF WE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE AGREEMENT OF FOLKS OF THE PARTIES THAT THE SEVENTH IS OKAY, AND I THINK THAT WILL BE
[03:30:01]
A BENEFIT TO ALL OF US, BUT WHAT WE MIGHT DO IS HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT AND WORK SESSION ON THE FIFTH.SO THAT, WHICH I KNOW WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE PUTIN AND THE REST ALSO, BUT MAYBE WE COULD KIND OF SHIFT THAT CONVERSATION TO THE FIFTH.
AND WHEN WE GET TO THE SEVENTH, WE WILL KNOW WHERE WE'RE, WHERE WE'RE AT.
UM, JERRY, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
UM, YES, WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE TABLE SEVENTH MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER, ANDREA AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
UM, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT MR. SUTTLE SAID ABOUT THIS, NOT BEING THEIR FIRST POSTPONEMENT, HAVE THEY FORMALLY REQUESTED A POSTPONEMENT WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME THAT THEY COULD, WHERE THEY WERE GIVEN? I MEAN, WERE THEY GIVEN A POSTPONEMENT AT SOME POINT THERE WAS A REQUEST THERE'S A PART OF THE CODE THAT'S THAT, UM, SHALL WE SAY SPOKEN TO VERY OFTEN OR ENFORCED VERY OFTEN IT TALKS ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR POSTPONEMENT REQUEST, UM, THAT THEY NEED TO BE TIMELY.
AND THE, THERE WAS A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE OR FROM THE CONTACT TEAM.
AND THAT WAS SUBMITTED INSIDE SHORT OF THOSE THAT, THAT TIMELINESS THAT THE CODE CALLS FOR.
AND SO MR. SUTTLE POINTED OUT TO US THAT THAT POSTPONE REQUEST WAS NOT TIMELY AS PER THE CODE.
SO THEY WITHDREW THAT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
UM, BUT NOW THEY'RE ASKING FOR ONE, SO THAT'S WHY WE STATED THAT IT'S THEIR FIRST REQUEST.
THEY DID TAKE ONE, THEY DIDN'T SUBMIT ONE BEFORE THE WITHDREW.
SO THERE, THERE WAS NOT, I MEAN, SO IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN A POSTPONEMENT, IT IS OUR PRACTICE TO PROVIDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A AT LEAST ONE POSTPONEMENT.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY MR. ANDREA, IT'S A HOMESTEAD PRESERVATION DISTRICT, NOT A TIF PER SE, OR IS THAT, OR IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO AS THE, AS THE DIFF? CORRECT.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF POSTPONING THIS TO APRIL 7TH, UM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS.
THAT'S ON THE UNANIMOUS ON THE DYESS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER
I WAS CONSIDERING THAT PART OF THE DICE, BUT YES.
AND DO WE HAVE ANOTHER POSTPONEMENT REQUESTS? SO MAYOR PRETEND AND COUNCIL, WE DO HAVE CONSENT POSTPONEMENTS.
THOSE ARE YOUR MAIN LEFT CASES.
THERE'S AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO 4 21.
UM, THE MACHACA SOUTH, UM, IS ANOTHER CONSENT POST-MOMENT UM, I'M 73 APPLICANT.
POST-MOMENT TO 4 21 ITEM NUMBER 80 IS THE TILLARY RCA AND NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONEMENT 2 4 7, UM, THE 83 AND 84, WHICH THE COUNCIL, UM, JUST SOME HEALTH AND NEIGHBORHOOD POST-MOMENT REQUESTS TO FOUR SEVEN.
AND THEN, UM, ITEM ADA DOES A STAFF POSTPONEMENT TO 4 21.
SO THOSE ARE THE CONSENT POSTPONEMENTS, ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT WISH TO SPEAK TO THOSE ITEMS WOULD TYPICALLY JUST BE TO THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CALL THOSE OUT BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS.
AND I DO KNOW WE HAVE SPEAKER SPEAKERS FOR 83 AND 84, WHICH, UM, THE COUNCIL JUST POSTPONE TILL FOUR SEVEN.
SO THOSE SPEAKERS CAN, UM, CALL BACK IN, UM, ON APRIL 7TH, UNLESS THEY WANT TO SPEAK TO THE MERITS OF THE FISCAL.
UM, TO AVOID ANY CONFUSION FOR THOSE WHO ARE WAITING TO SPEAK EITHER HERE OR REMOTELY, UM, ITEMS 71 72, 73, 80 83, 84 AND 88.
UM, WE'RE EXPECTING TO BE POSTPONED 83 AND 84.
UM, SO IF YOU'RE SPEAKING ON ONE OF THOSE ITEMS, UM, PER OUR RULES, YOU NEED TO PLEASE, UM, BE, UH, FOCUSED ON THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST OR THE POSTPONEMENT, THE QUESTION OF POSTPONING OR NOT, UH, WHEN YOU SPEAK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, I BELIEVE NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE OVER TO THE SPEAKERS AND I BELIEVE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CHANGES.
UM, SO THE CLERK IS GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ OUT NAMES, BOTH FOR IN CHAMBERS, UH, WHICH WE WILL TAKE UP FIRST.
AND THEN FOR FOLKS WHO ARE REMOTE, UM, CLERK, IF YOU COULD MAKE SURE THAT YOU READ THE ITEM THAT THEY'RE SPEAKING TO AS THEY GO, IT GETS A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING, UM, WHEN WE'RE NOT DOING THEM WITH THE ITEM.
IF YOU CAN READ THE ITEM NUMBER ALONG OR ON OUR AGENDA AS YOU GO, PLEASE.
[Public Comments (Part 3 of 3)]
SPEAKER IS FOR ITEM 69, IN-PERSON TAILOR LANG GREETINGS.MY NAME IS TAYLOR LANG AND I'M A RESIDENT NEAR DISTRICT
[03:35:01]
SIX AND AN EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION IN JOLLYVILLE.IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE PROPOSED REZONING STANDS TO HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE AFFORDABILITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AUSTIN IS NOT AFFORDABLE FOR ME.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING A MORE FLEXIBLE HOUSEHOLD INCOME THAN MOST, AND I'M STILL PRICED OUT OF AUSTIN AS A RESIDENT.
WHEN I HEAR ABOUT IN AFFORDABILITY ELSEWHERE, I THINK ABOUT THE STRUGGLE FOR HOME OWNERSHIP ACROSS ALL INCOMES, INCLUDING THOSE WITH A MORE FLEXIBLE INCOME.
I'M STRUGGLING WITH MY OWN ABILITY TO LIVE AND WORK IN AUSTIN, DESPITE WORKING FOR A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION, THAT ADVOCATES FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES HERE IN AUSTIN, EVEN SOME OF MY FRIENDS WHO WORK FOR THE CITY LIVE IN PLACES LIKE GEORGETOWN OR BUDDHA, AND HAVE TO TAKE ON THE BURDEN OF COMMUTE OF COMMUTING.
THIS DIRECTLY AFFECTS OUR ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS CITY'S TAXES, ENGAGED IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND SEND OUR KIDS TO AUSTIN'S WONDERFUL SCHOOLS.
THIS IS INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT AS DISTRICTS LIKE AISD STRUGGLE WITH ENROLLMENT NUMBERS, HEMORRHAGING STUDENTS TO FACTORS LIKE DISPLACEMENT AND CHARTER SCHOOLS DRASTICALLY AFFECTING FUNDING BY THE DEVELOPERS AND LANDOWNERS BEING SO OPAQUE WITH THEIR INTENTIONS AGAINST THE HISTORICAL BACKDROP OF BROKEN PROMISES AND MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS, DISPLACEMENT SKYROCKETS TO SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES LIKE GEORGETOWN, LIKE BUDDHA UPROOTING, OUR CHILDREN'S ESSENTIAL SENSE OF CONTINUITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD STABILITY.
MY ASK IS WHERE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ADHERE TO THE WISHES OF THE COMMUNITY, THEY AND VOTE NO ON THE REZONING CASE FOR BRAND NEW DRIVE.
AS OUR NEWEST COUNCIL MEMBER CHEETO AVAILA HAS SAID BEFORE, THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME.
OUR AUSTIN MUST BE A SAFE AND THRIVING HOME FOR THE WORKING CLASS, NOT A PLAYGROUND FOR THE WEALTHY.
THE ONLY WAY TO STAY ALIGNED WITH THESE VALUES WILL BE TO SAY NO TO THIS REZONING CASE.
UM, I AM, UH, JESSICA RODRIGUEZ ROBERTSON.
ONE OF MY ROLES IS SERVING AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
I LIVE ABOUT TWO MILES FROM THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA WHERE I'VE RENTED GOING ON FOUR YEARS.
I GOT INVOLVED WITH MY NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP BECAUSE AMONG OTHER THINGS I WANT TO HELP MY NEIGHBORS COPE WITH THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS EFFECTS.
UM, AND I AM SPEAKING TODAY TO OPPOSE THE UP ZONING IN THE BERNIE GREEDY AREA.
UM, WE ARE A DENSE IN CONCRETE AREA WITH MINORLY IMPACTFUL, GREAT GREEN SPACE.
AND I SAY IMPACTFUL BECAUSE THE GREEN SPACES IN OUR NORTH AUSTIN AREA HAVE TO WORK HARDER THAN GREEN SPACES AND OTHER PARTS OF AUSTIN.
AND WE NEED MORE THAN JUST A FEW EXTRA TREES AND VERY THIRSTY GRASS.
THERE AREN'T ENOUGH OF THESE SPACES AND WHAT WE HAVE.
AREN'T EFFECTIVE ENOUGH TO PROTECT US FROM BEING SEVERAL DEGREES HOTTER THAN OTHER PARTS OF AUSTIN DURING THE WORST PARTS OF THE SUMMER.
BUT WHAT'S MORE STRESSFUL TO ME THAN ROASTING ON MY BIKE.
WHEN I RIDE THROUGH STREETS WITH NO CANOPY, IS THAT SOONER OR LATER, MY HUSBAND AND I WILL BE AMONG THE FOLKS PRICED OUT OF OUR AREA.
I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FULFILL MY SERVICE COMMITMENT TO MY COMMUNITY OR BEGIN MANY OF THE PROJECTS I'VE BEEN LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR.
WE EXPECT OUR RENTS TO RISE AGAIN THIS YEAR QUICKLY REACHING OUR MONTHLY CAP.
UH, IF NOR AFFORDABLE OPTIONS ARE PROVIDED, AUSTIN NEEDS MORE HOUSING TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE, BUT WHERE DO LUXURY CONDOS THAT ARE PRICED OUT OF REACH FOR OUR AVERAGE MEDIAN INCOME FIT INTO THAT GOAL WITHOUT FIRM COMMITMENTS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MY HUSBAND AND I WILL CONTINUE TO WRITE INCREASINGLY HIGH CHECKS TO OUR WESTLAKE RESIDENT LANDLORD UNTIL WE CAN NO LONGER REMAIN IN OUR DUPLEX WITH THE EVIDENCE.
IS THAT HOW THE DEVELOPER OPERATES DOING THINGS LIKE EXPLOITING LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND MAKING NO VERBAL COMMITMENTS TO, FOR, UH, FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS? I WOULDN'T TRUST THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO FULFILL, EVEN AS FLIMSIEST OF PROMISES, PARTICULARLY AROUND AFFORDABILITY AND BENEFICIAL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, AUSTIN NEEDS MORE HOUSING TO MEET THE DEMAND, BUT WITH THIS, DO ANYTHING ADVANTAGEOUS FOR AFFORDABILITY IN NORTH AUSTIN OR WOULD IT OPENED THE DOOR TO MORE GENTRIFICATION FROM THE EAST UNTIL IT COMPLETES ITS MISSION AND AS UNITED WITH THE DOMAIN WHILE COMPLETELY DISREGARDING ITS NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR RAPIDLY WORSENING CLIMATE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK FOR ITEM 73, WHERE THERE IS A REQUEST TO POSTPONE, UM, RUBEN BETTIS, ITEM NUMBER 74, JOHN LOOTERS.
UM, I'M NOT JOHN LOOTERS, I'M THE APPLICANT, BUT WHERE I THINK THAT HE'S JUST HERE TO SPEAK TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON CONSENT.
[03:40:01]
STROLL, SORRY.I THINK SOME OF THEM SAY THAT THEY'RE THE APPLICANT OR THE AGENT AND THE NOTES THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE.
IF WE NEED THEM FOUR ITEMS, 77 RALEIGH CIBOLA, GOOD AFTERNOON, MARITIME AND CONS FROM MEMBERS.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON.
UH, I HAD A COUPLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
THIS REGARDS, UH, I'M UH, A RESIDENT OF NORTH AUSTIN DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM A NEW VENUE CALLED THE PITCH, THE PITCH.
UH, I HAD A COUPLE OF PHOTOGRAPHS HERE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THESE UP, BUT, UH, YEAH, THE DOCUMENTS ARE THESE SLIDES OR ARE THEY DOCUMENTS OR SLIDES? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
ARE THEY PRINTED? ARE THEY SLIDES THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED TO FISH? WHICH ONE ARE THEY PRINTED? ARE THEY SLIDES? AND THEY HAVEN'T.
WE DO NOT HAVE COPIES OF THIS PRESENTATION.
MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS VENUE CALLED THE PITCH.
UM, IT'S DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO A SOCCER STADIUM, A SOCCER FIELD, AND THEY HAVE A SPORTS.
AND THEN IF YOU MOVE INTO THE PITCH, THEY HAVE HARD LIQUOR, OUTDOOR RESTAURANTS.
AND THE REQUEST HERE IS TO LIFT THE RESCRIPT, LIFT A RESTRICTION FOR AMPLIFIED OUTDOOR MUSIC.
UM, UH, WITHOUT THESE ILLUSTRATIONS, I CAN, I CAN'T GO TOO FAR, BUT, UM, CAN WE ASK, WE HAVE CREATED HERE, EXCUSE ME.
WE HAVE CREATED HERE AT 63 SIXTH STREET TYPE OF VENUE WITH BARS, OUTDOOR RESTAURANTS.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, SPORTS ON THOR AMPLIFICATION, UM, AMPLIFIED MUSIC, OUTDOOR MUSIC, UM, AND OUR CONCERN IS THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE SPORTS AND YOU HAVE THE LIQUOR, THE RESTAURANTS, AND THIS IS ALL OUTDOORS, PEOPLE CAN WANDER AROUND FREELY AND, UH, YOU CAN THROW CHILDREN INTO THE MIX.
UH, WE HAVE A SITUATION HERE WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE A SAFETY, A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, WHICH IS VERY CLOSE BY, WE HAVE 469 HOMES DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THIS.
SO, UM, I UNDERSTAND THIS, THIS DEVELOPMENT IS A HUGE REVENUE MAKER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE OWNERS, BUT FOR THE SAFETY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A HUGE CONCERN.
AND, AND ALSO REZONING AT THIS TIME, IT'S UNFAIR FOR THE OWNERS WHO HAVE INVESTED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THIS PROPERTY WAS WHEN WE, WHEN WE BOUGHT INTO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, IT WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD THAT ACROSS, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET, UH, HARRIS, THANK YOU.
WHERE DID I GO OVER? YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
IF YOU CAN FINISH YOUR THOUGHT AND CONCLUDE, PLEASE, CAN YOU FINISH YOUR THOUGHT AND THEN CONCLUDE PLEASE? YES, I AM.
SO MY NEIGHBORS ARE ASKING THAT RESTRICTION FOR OUTDOOR AMPLIFIER USE AMPLIFIED MUSIC STAND PLACE.
THANK YOU FOR ITEM UM, IF I COULD ASK THE CITY CLERK, UM, THE PITCHES IN DISTRICT SEVEN, AND IF THERE IS, UH, SOME, IF THERE ARE SOME ILLUSTRATIONS OR SOME BACKUP THAT, UH, RALEIGH WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE TO THE COUNCIL, I WOULD INVITE HIM TO, UM, TO DO SO.
THE ONES THAT HE THOUGHT WERE GOING TO BE SHOWN, WHICH STAFF DID NOT RECEIVE, AND THAT MAY BE A CONVERSATION TO HAVE WITH HIM.
AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO IS ALSO ASKING FOR THEM.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, PAUL CLARK.
YOU CAN CONTINUE TO CALL OUR SPEAKERS THINGS FOR ITEM NUMBER 78.
[03:45:11]
ANDREW DARLING ITEM 83.THAT IS, THAT HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
WE'VE GOT TOM WALD, KRISTEN HANEY, WHICH HAS SPOKEN IN BRAD WILKINS.
ARE THERE THOSE GENTLEMEN IN THE ROOM YOU DON'T NEED TO.
SO TOM WALL DOESN'T NEED TO SPEAK ITEM 84.
IF THERE ARE ANY ON A ITEMS 85 AND 86 ITEM, 89
MY NAME IS MARIO KENTU AND WITH THE SOUTH CONGRESS CONTACT TEAM, THIS IS 47 4700 LAMAR LANE NEXT.
UM, THERE IS A PETITION THAT HAS BEEN VERIFIED FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE WERE ASKED TO RESPECT THAT, UH, VERIFICATION AND THE PETITION, AND TO DENY THE FLOM THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AND THE REZONING OF THIS PROPERTY.
THE NEAREST METRO STATION IS ABOUT 0.7 MILES AWAY.
UH, MANY TIMES I HEAR FROM, UH, COUNCIL AND FROM PLANNING COMMISSION, THE IMAGINE AUSTIN AND PROJECT CONNECT, THE AUSTIN TREE, STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, THE BIKE SCORES AND TRANSIT AND WALKABILITY IS A BIG, BIG THING FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE ON CORRIDORS THAT HAVE THESE, THIS PROPERTY DOES NOT HAVE THAT NEAR IT.
IT'S ALMOST A MILE AWAY NEXT AS YOU KNOW, THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, UH, REGULATES.
UH, SO WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS, THEY GO IN AND THEY INVESTIGATE.
SO IF SOMETHING HAPPENS WITH THIS GAS LINE, THEIR ONLY THING IS TO GO IN THERE AND, UH, DOING AN INVESTIGATION.
UH, WE ASKED WHAT IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO FOR THE ROAD CLOSURE AND OR EXPLOSION, AND WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL, ANY AND ALL ACCIDENTS.
THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN VERY HARD TO GATHER.
UH, WE HAVE NOT GOT ANYTHING SOLID FROM ANYBODY NEXT, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE CENTER OF THE PHOTO, THERE'S THE, UH, GAS LINE IN RED.
UH, AND AS YOU SEE IT TOWARDS THE END, THERE'S CONCRETE, UH, THERE IS NO BUILDING OVER, UH, THE EXISTING, UH, LINE NEXT, NO GAS LINES, UM, UNDER CONCRETE, NO BUILDINGS.
NEXT SAME THING, GAS LINES UNDER CONCRETE, NO BUILDINGS NEXT, UH, MAJOR CONDO, UH, DOES NOT, HAS NOT BEEN MOVED.
UH, THIS GAS LINE IS A MAJOR GAS LINE FROM THE OTHER ONE AS WELL.
UH, IT GOES NORTH AND SOUTH OF AUSTIN AND, UH, IT WAS NOT MOVED AND IT'S NEXT TO THIS NEXT SAME GAS LINE GOES THROUGH, UH, THIS CREEK AREA.
IT HAS NOT BEEN MOVED, GOES UNDER CONCRETE NEXT.
ED'S NO BUILDINGS, ALL CONCRETE.
I CAN NOT FIND ONE BUILDING THAT SITS ON TOP OF THIS MAJOR GAS LINE OR A GAS LINE HAS EVER BEEN ATTEMPTED TO BE MOVED IN AUSTIN.
UM, I'LL HOPE THAT YOU VOTE AGAINST THIS.
UH, THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE.
PAUL SHEPHERD, MAYOR PRO TEM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS PAUL SHEPHERD WITH LEGACY.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING ITEMS 89 AND 90.
UM, WHERE ARE THE APPLICANT AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPER, UH, FOR THE, FOR SALE 150 UNITS THAT WILL BE ON THE SHELBY PROPERTY, UM, OF WHICH 15 WILL BE AFFORDABLE AND AT 80% AND A HUNDRED PERCENT MFI, AND THIS IS VOLUNTARY WITHOUT ANY DENSITY BONUS.
UM, WE'RE ALSO PARTNERING WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, THEIR AFFILIATE HOMEBASE, TEXAS, TO ENFORCE A PRIVATE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, WHICH HAS
[03:50:01]
BEEN EXECUTED AND ATTACHED TO THE ZONING STAFF REPORT IS READY FOR RECORDING.AS SOON AS THE ZONING IS APPROVED AS A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPER IN AUSTIN, WE ARE COMMITTED TO ADDING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY IN THIS HOUSING SHORTAGE.
IN FACT, WITH HOMEBASE AS A PARTNER AND THE DAVENPORT RANCH WEST PUD, THAT WE ARE DEVELOPING THE ADDIE IN DISTRICT 10, 5% OF OUR CONDOS WILL BE AFFORDABLE AT 60% MFI.
WE HAVE MET EIGHT TIMES WITH THE NEIGHBORS SINCE 2020.
AND TO THAT END, WE HAVE ADDRESSED EVERY CONCERN THEY HAVE RACE.
SO WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE APPROVE ITEMS 8,990.
SO WE'LL GIVE US LEGACY THE PRIVILEGE TO ADD AS MUCH NEEDED HOUSING AS WE CAN IN AUSTIN.
THANK YOU, JAMES WEST, ELIZABETH MCFARLAND.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JAMES WEST ON THE PROJECT ARCHITECT FOR THE RENTAL PORTION OF THE ITEMS 89 AND 90.
AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I'M WITH TRAMMELL CROW RESIDENTIAL AND WE'RE THE DEVELOPER, UM, FOR THE RENTAL UNITS.
UM, WE'RE OUR DEVELOPMENT PLAN IS A 370 UNIT CLASS, A PROJECT.
UM, 37 OF THE UNITS ARE 10% OF THEM WILL BE DONATED OR I GUESS, UM, WE'LL BE AFFORDABLE AT 60% MFI.
AND, UM, WE'RE DOING THAT VOLUNTARILY, UH, PARTNERING WITH HOMEBASE FROM, WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
UM, IT WAS MENTIONED A SECOND AGO THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CONNECTIVITY IN THE AREA AND WE WILL BE UPGRADING THE ROADS, BOTH WEDERMEYER AND SHELBY LANE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING SIDEWALKS FOR CONNECTIVITY.
UM, AND WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO ADD TO THE HOUSING SHORTAGE HERE IN AUSTIN.
SO WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR APPROVAL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.
I'M ALSO WITH TRAMMELL CROW, RESIDENTIAL WHO WILL BE THE DEVELOPER FOR THE RENTAL, THE RENTAL PIECE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
UM, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT DO WANT TO ASK YOU TO STRONGLY CONSIDER APPROVING US TODAY, UH, ITEMS 89 AND 92 ELIZABETH POINT JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO.
THERE'S SUCH A HOUSING SHORTAGE HERE IN AUSTIN, AND THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL OFFER OVER 500 UNITS, BOTH RENTAL AND FOR SALE, AND A LARGE PORTION OF THOSE WILL BE AFFORDABLE.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOU APPROVING US TODAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS CLAYTON STROLLY, I'M THE ENGINEER FOR THE RENTAL UNITS AND I'M THE ONE THAT'S BEEN COORDINATING WITH TEXAS GAS, UH, ON THE GAS LINES.
SO WE KNOW THE NEIGHBORS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE GAS LINE.
SO WE'VE REACHED OUT TO TEXAS GAS AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THOSE GAS LINES IS ABANDONED AND NO LONGER IN USE.
THE OTHER GAS LINE IS, UH, UH, IT IS A NON-HIGH PRESSURE LINE, SO IT IS JUST A, UH, LINE TO KIND OF SERVE THE COMMUNITY SO THEY ARE WILLING TO RELOCATE IT.
UM, SO WE'VE BEEN COORDINATING WITH THEM ON THAT.
THEY'RE CURRENTLY DESIGN OF THE RELOCATION TO MOVE IT FARTHER AWAY FROM THE RESIDENCE IS INTO OR ADJACENT TO THE RIGHT OF WAY ALONG WEDA LAMAR LANE.
UM, THE, UH, LARRY BROWN WITH TEXAS GAS HAS WRITTEN A LETTER TO MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS EXPLAINING THE REGULATIONS THAT THEY FOLLOW IN THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS THAT THEY HAVE, AND THAT THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO FOLLOW ALL OF THOSE AND DO EVERYTHING THAT THE STATE REQUIRES OF THEM.
UM, WE WOULD APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S, UH, VOTE IN POSITIVE ON 89 AND 90.
[03:55:08]
NICK QUIJANO.HE'S HERE FOR QUESTIONS AS WELL.
I MEAN, IN PERSON SPEAKERS, IF, SHOULD WE PROCEED WITH REMOTE? YES, PLEASE.
UM, THIS IS LEN GALBREATH AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST CHANGING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP ON ITEM 16 AND NINE COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR PRO TEM.
YOUR NO VOTE ON THIS CASE SAYS THAT WE GROW A GREAT CITY BY IMPLEMENTING OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLANS, NOT BY AD HOC SPOT BUILDING SUCH AS THAT, WE SUPPORT BUILDERS THROUGH FORMAL PROGRAMS FOR DENSITY AND AFFORDABILITY, NOT WITH BACKDOOR SUBSIDIES TO HERE SEEKING TO UP ZONE CHEAP, LOW DENSITY LAND.
WE REQUIRE DEVELOPMENT WHERE RESIDENTS HAVE SAFE ACCESS TO TRANSIT SCHOOLS, EMPLOYMENT, FOOD STORES, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITY HUBS.
WE DID NOT ACCEPT NEW DEVELOPMENT AMONGST SUBSTANDARD INFRASTRUCTURE, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE APPEAR DESPERATE FOR ANY KIND OF HOUSING ANYWHERE WE INSIST ON EQUITY IN QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR WORKING CLASS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
THIS CITY NO LONGER DISPROPORTIONATELY PLACES BURDENS FROM THE CITYWIDE HOUSING SHORTAGE ONTO THESE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEY LACK THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL POWER TO SUCCESSFULLY RESIST.
PLEASE CONFIRM THE MESSAGE THAT WE ARE THE AUSTIN WE CLAIM AND VOTE.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE PROCEED.
I'M HERE TO ASK ON ITEM 69 AND ALSO SUDDENLY THAT YOU UPHOLD THE BALLOT PETITION, RIGHT? BUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND DENY THIS REQUEST.
THIS IS A WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR, VERY DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE PEOPLE WORK VERY HARD AGAINST LONG ODDS TO BUY A HOME AND BUILD A COMMUNITY AND THAT THEIR INTERESTS AND THEIR CONCERNS AND THEIR FAMILY ARE ENTITLED TO RESPECT JUST LIKE THE OTHER RESIDENTS.
UM, THERE THIS AREA, IF THIS CONDO MULTIUNIT IS, UH, ALLOW THIS AREA'S PROPERTY WILL APPRECIATE, AND THEIR TAXES WILL GO UP AND FRANKLY, YOU WILL TAKE AN AREA THAT IS NOT YET GENTRIFIED, AND YOU WILL ACCELERATE THE DISPLACEMENT OF THESE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.
AND THEY WILL HAVE TO LEAVE THE CITY BECAUSE THEY WILL BE UNABLE TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION IS YOU NEED TO, UH, IN MY VIEW, UPHOLD THEIR PETITION RIGHTS ALSO BECAUSE THE CITY HAS NO VIDEO ANTI-DISPLACEMENT POLICY.
OTHER THAN FOR PROJECTS IN THAT MASSIVE DISPLACEMENT, THAT'S GONNA OCCUR IN THE FUTURE.
THE CITY HAS NO POLICY TO PREVENT ANY DISPLACEMENT.
SO IT SHOULD GET THE RESPECT, THE NEIGHBORS AND THEIR WITCHES UPHOLD THEIR PETITION, RIGHT.
AND GIVE THEM A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND THE LEVERAGE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THIS WITH THE DEVELOPER.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THE DEVELOPER HAS REALLY MANIPULATED AND MISLED, UH, THE PETITION SIGNERS.
UH, YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT IT IN THE PAST.
AND FRANKLY, BY NOT RECOGNIZING THEIR PETITION, UH, RIGHT, YOU ARE ENABLING THIS TYPE OF CONDUCT, NOT ONLY HERE, BUT IN OTHER TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MY OPPOSITION IS TO ITEMS 69 AND 70, WHICH IS THE GRADING BROWNIE PROJECT.
I JUST WANTED TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION, THE LETTER IN EXHIBIT
[04:00:01]
C FROM MR. THROWER, MARCH 9TH, 2021, PAGE 14 OF 53, WHICH SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THE HALF MILE OF EXISTING TRANSIT SERVICE AS JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS PROJECT.35 CORRIDOR, ROUTE 3 92 BREAKER IS THE BUS ROUTES ALONG WITH 3 83 LAKE LANE.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ON THE LAST DAY OF EARLY VOTING, I ACTUALLY WAITED ONE HOUR IN 30 DEGREE WEATHER TO GO VOTE.
THIS IS NOT AN AREA THAT IS TRANSIT FRIENDLY AND RAIL IS 24 TO 30 YEARS NORTH OF US, 180 3, SPECIFICALLY MARCH 9TH, 2020, PAGE 29 MAY APPROACH HIM.
I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO CONTINUE WITH WILLFUL BLINDNESS THIS MORNING.
YOU SPOKE EXTENSIVELY ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS FOR LIFE CARDS.
WELL, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE NORTH OF US, 180 3 HAVE BARRIERS TO, AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE STAFF REPORT SPECIFIES THAT THIS PROJECT DOES NOT ALIGN WITH, UH, WITH THE IMAGINE AUSTIN, HOWEVER, STAFF THEN WENT BACK AND JUSTIFIED WHY YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY HAVE THIS PROJECT IT'S NOT COMPACT AND CONNECTED, AND IT DOES NOT ALIGN WITH YOUR CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN BECAUSE YOU'RE PUTTING PEOPLE OF COLOR NEXT TO NOISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION.
AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 AND THE DISPARATE IMPACTS THAT ARE CAUSED BY PROJECT CONNECT AND CAP REMAX THAT STILL EXISTS.
IT'S A 30 MINUTE TRANSFER TO THE ARBORETUM ON BREAKER LANE.
AND 2 42, THE ST DAVID'S WAS UNILATERALLY ELIMINATED JUNE 3RD, 2018.
AND THIS IS THE ROUTE THAT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL LIVE AT THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAVE TO RELY ON IT IS CAR CENTRIC AND IT IS NOT COMPACT AND CONNECTED.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT GOES TO DANCE IN, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL LOVE ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
I AM SPEAKING ON ITEMS 69 AND 70.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE SPOT REZONING AT BROWNIE AND GREEDY DRIVE.
AND I'D LIKE TO USE THIS TIME BRIEFLY TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS REZONING WOULD BE HURTFUL TO RESIDENTS IN AND AROUND THE NORTH AUSTIN AREA.
IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE PROPOSED REZONING STANDS TO HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY BY REDUCING THE GREEN SPACE AND PERVIOUS SURFACES IN THE AREA.
NORTH AUSTIN IS A REALLY HOT AREA DURING THE SUMMER AND THE ALREADY IN THE AREA SURROUNDING THIS PRODUCT LAND WAS NOT HAVING AN ABUNDANCE OF SHADE TREES THAT WOULD MAKE WALKING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMFORTABLE AND PLEASANT FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS, INCLUDING OLDER FOLKS, CHILDREN, AND PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES WALKING AROUND THE EXPOSED TO DIRECT HEAT IS A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.
THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD ADD SURFACES INTO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WOULD RADIATE HEAT BACK INTO AN ALREADY POORLY SHADED AREA, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WALKING IN THE AREA TO SEEK RESPITE FROM HEAT.
ADDITIONALLY, REDUCING THE PERVIOUS SURFACE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT INCREASING STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AREA CAN CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING AS WATER POOLS IN THE AREA WITH NOWHERE TO DRAIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS AN EXISTING PLAN AND OTHER CONCERNS THAT COULD BE PRIORITIZED LIKE TRAFFIC MITIGATION AND INCREASING AVAILABLE SIDEWALKS.
I ASKED THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IN THE COMMUNITY'S RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINE BE RESPECTED, EXISTING RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE WHILE HAVING AGENCY IN THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME JADE.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS FIRST RELIEF AND GRATITUDE THAT WE HAVE COME TO THE FINAL HEARING.
IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THIS CASE IS NOT ABOUT HOUSING.
IT'S NOT ABOUT HELPING THE HOUSING CRISIS IN ANY MANNER.
THIS CASE IS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF THE CONTINUATION OF AUSTIN, SYSTEMATIC RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION PRACTICES THAT EXPLOIT AND DISENFRANCHISED, LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR APPROVING THIS REZONING PROVES THIS UGLY HISTORY.
NOT ONLY CONTINUES, BUT IT'S CONDONED AND REWARDED IN AUSTIN AND POSES A GREAT THREAT TO UNDERMINE THE BIG PICTURE.
THIS WAS APPARENT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND MAGNIFIED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, WHEN THE DEVELOPERS HAD NO ISSUE TARGETING AN ASIAN RESIDENT TO COERCE REMOVAL OF THEIR SIGNATURE FROM THE BALLOT PETITION, KNOWING OF THE LANGUAGE BARRIER FOR THE RECORD, WE AS A UNITED COMMUNITY WITH GRATITUDE, FOR THE SUPPORT FROM GABA, WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE A VIETNAMESE AND SPANISH TRANSLATOR SPEAK TO THE PETITION, SUPPORTING RESIDENTS WITH INTEGRITY.
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO US THAT OUR NEIGHBORS UNDERSTOOD THAT AND WERE ABLE TO CONFIDENTLY VOICE THEIR STANCE.
EVERY SINGLE FACT ABOUT THIS CASE SHOWS WHY IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE AND INCOMPATIBLE IN EVERY SINGLE WAY, PHYSICALLY, AESTHETICALLY, FINANCIALLY, SOCIOECONOMICALLY, CULTURALLY, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY,
[04:05:02]
AS A REMINDER, THE REAL LIFE DOMINO EFFECT ON THE ACTUAL COMMUNITY HERE, WE'LL BEGIN WITH NEIGHBORHOOD IN COMPATIBILITY.WE AS A NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY, OUR SUBJECTIVES HAD DISPLACEMENT, GENTRIFICATION CONTINUED SYSTEMATIC RACISM, FURTHER OPPRESSION OF LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, NEGATIVE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND ADVERSE EFFECTS OF OUR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE AND SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ACCOMMODATE THE ADDITIONAL POPULATION LOAD AND A HUGE LOSS.
AND WHAT IS CURRENTLY AN AFFORDABLE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THERE STILL ZERO BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY WHO IS THIS DEVELOPMENT FOR.
IT'S NOT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S NOT EVEN FOR THE GREATER DISTRICT FOUR AREA AS NO ONE HERE WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
THE DISCUSSION OF AFFORDABILITY AND THE PROPOSAL OF 10% AT A HUNDRED PERCENT MFI AND 80% MFI IS NOT AFFORDABLE, NOR IS IT ENOUGH TO IN UNIT COUNT A THOUSAND DOLLARS YES, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON 69 AND 70.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I GET REALLY TIRED OF IT.
TIRED OF HEARING EVERYONE TALK ABOUT HOW THERE'S NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING YET.
YOU WANT TO MAKE A DECISION THAT MIGHT MAKE MY HOUSE UNAFFORDABLE.
THAT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.
UM, THIS BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, JUST WHAT THEY DID LAST WEEK WITH THE VIETNAMESE FAMILY.
THAT'S JUST REALLY SHOULDN'T EVEN BE TOLERATED AND THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN RIGHT THEN, UM, ON THE BUS SITUATION, THE BOAT, THERE ARE TWO BUSES ABOUT A MILE AWAY.
THE ONE OF THEM THAT'S ON BREAKER IS A LONG WALK MILE, WALK UP A VERY NARROW ROAD, MIDDLE SISTER, BILL THAT CAN'T HANDLE THE TRAFFIC AND THE BICYCLES THAT HAS ON IT.
UM, THIS IS GOING TO MAKE OUR STREETS MORE, UM, CROWDED.
IT'S GONNA, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO MORE FLOODING.
WE HAVE NO DRAINAGE IN THIS AREA.
A LOT OF THE STREETS DON'T EVEN HAVE CURVES.
UM, AND I MEAN THIS WHOLE PROCESS, I'VE JUST REALLY, IT SEEMS REALLY LIKE IT'S DEVELOPER RELATED.
MY VERY FIRST CONTACT WAS WITH MAUREEN MEREDITH AND SHE TOLD ME I COULDN'T, IT WAS TOO LATE FOR ME TO HAVE THE INPUT.
THANK GOD FOR JADE LAVERA WHO WAS ABLE TO STRAIGHTEN THAT OUT.
BUT, UM, YOU CAN, YEAH, Y'ALL, DON'T NEED TO REWARD THIS BEHAVIOR, UM, IN THE BILL THAT THE LAND IS STILL FOR SALE.
THEY DON'T EVEN PLAN TO KEEP THIS LAND.
I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION DIVIDED 69 AND 70 TODAY.
MY NAME IS MEAGAN
I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU ALL TODAY.
WHEN YOU SPEAK TO THE DIRE NEED FOR HOUSING IN THE CITY, WHO IS THIS HOUSING FOR RESIDENTS FROM THE GRADY BROWNIE NEIGHBORHOOD IN NORTH AUSTIN, WE'RE ABLE TO MEET WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS RECENTLY ABOUT THE CONCERNS WITH THE PROPOSED REZONING AND THESE MEETINGS RESIDENTS CLEARLY OUTLINED THEIR VISION, WHICH IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THEIR EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
THEIR VISION IS ONE IN WHICH THE BLUE COLLAR WORKERS PROTECTED FROM WEALTHY LANDOWNERS AND DEVELOPERS WHO LOOK TO MAKE SOMEONE ELSE'S COMMUNITY, THEIR PLAYGROUND.
THE CONCERNS PRESENTED WERE THAT AUSTIN NEEDS TO BE A WELCOMING CITY FOR LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE OWNED AND RENTED IN THIS AREA.
FOR TWO TO THREE DECADES, RESIDENTS ARE SEEKING REASONABLY PRICED HOMES, HOMING HOME OPTIONS FOR MIDDLE AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS WITH A FOCUS ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOMES THAT ARE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN YOUR CLASSIC HOME LIKE DUPLEXES, BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE MORE FLEXIBLE AND LESS EXPENSIVE HOUSING OPTIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS.
NOW IN KEEPING WITH THE SPIRIT OF ACCOUNTABILITY COUNCIL MEMBER, BENTLEIGH SOME OF WHAT I SAID COMES DIRECTLY FROM YOUR RECENT CAMPAIGN.
SO I ASKED WHO IS THIS HOUSING FOR, IN A MEETING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER BEN THAT RESIDENTS PROPOSED DUPLEX IS BASED ON THE CURRENT ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
THEY WERE TOLD THIS OPTION WOULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE AND UNREASONABLE YET WHEN THE CONVERSATION OF CONDOMINIUMS FOR SALE CAME UP, IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT RESIDENTS LIVING AT 20 TO 40% MFI OR THOSE MAKING $31,000 OR LESS, WHICH IS THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IN THIS AREA.
RESIDENTS WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THAT A PERSON IN THAT INCOME BRACKET COULD EVEN AFFORD THE PROPERTY TAXES ALONE.
WHAT WE SPOKE OF BLUE COLLAR, AUSTINITES BEING DISPLACED BY SOARING HOME PRICES.
YOU AND YOUR STAFF TALKED ABOUT HOW SOME PEOPLE MADE KILLINGS ON THE MARKET OR HOW OTHERS SHOULD HAVE HELD OUT FOR MORE MONEY.
BUT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SHELTER AND COMMUNITY WHILE YOU ALL SPOKE ABOUT PROFIT MARGINS AND BIG FINANCIAL COMMERCE.
SO I ASKED YOU COUNSEL, ALL OF YOU WHO
[04:10:01]
IS THIS HOUSING FOR? AND I YIELD MY TIME.SO YOU ALL CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR ADLER, WHEN YOUR PROTEIN ALTER INTO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS SANDRA
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR OF THE STAFF IS COMBINED NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, CONTACT TEAM, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL.
I AM SPEAKING ON ITEM 69 INCH 70.
THE CONTACT TEAM MET AND VOTED ON THESE CASES LAST YEAR.
AND THE AMC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MET EARLIER THIS MONTH AND VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THE MOCKINGBIRD HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD, THE CONTACT TEAM, AND THE AGENCY SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS AND RESPECTFULLY REQUEST.
YOU SUPPORT THESE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS IN THE, IN THIS AREA.
IT'S PART OF THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
THIS AREA IN OUR AREA IN DEPTH SPRINGS HAVE SIMILAR CONCERNS, WHICH INCLUDES UNPRECEDENTED GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME WORKING CLASS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR RESULTING FROM INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES, THE CURRENT RESIDENTS AND FAMILY SERVICE STABLISH LONG-TERM NEIGHBORHOOD TIE PUSHING THE CURRENT RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT WILL DESTABILIZE THEM AND CAUSE A NEW STRESSORS AS A RESULT OF BEING BURDENED WITH HAVING TO FIND NEW HOUSING YOUTH SCHOOLS AND NEEDED CRITICAL SERVICES, WHICH THEY MAY NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO IF FORCED TO MOVE OUT THE PRO THIS PROJECT AS INITIALLY PROPOSED BY THE DEVELOPER DOES NOT PROVIDE A DEMONSTRATED BENEFIT TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
PLEASE ENSURE AS HE DID DELIBERATE ON THESE CASES THAT ACTIONS TAKEN TODAY WILL NOT RESULT IN THE DISPLACEMENT OR GENTRIFICATION OF THE CURRENT RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
MICHELLE MAHIA CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.
I'M ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY CHILD FROM POOL FUND WALKING, BUT, UH, SO MY NAME IS MICHELLE
I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS AND DISTRICT FOUR WHORES SPEAKING AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT HE'S OWNING ON BROWNIE AND GRADY.
I HAVE LIVED ALONG THE NORTH LAMAR CORRIDOR FOR OVER 10 YEARS.
I HAVE SEEN THE CHANGES IN OUR DISTRICTS AND THE DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE.
TO ME, THESE PEOPLE WERE MY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, FRIENDS OF MY OWN CHILDREN, FAMILIES WHO HAVE HAD TO LEAVE OUR SCHOOLS AND THE COMFORT OF LIVING CLOSE TO A BUS LINE, SOMETIMES LIBRARY AND HEB.
AND NOW EVEN THE SOCCER STADIUM, WE HAVE SEEN A BOOM IN DEVELOPMENT IN OUR DISTRICT FOR ALONG WITH INCREASED RENT, WHICH HAS EXACERBATED THAT NEED AND LACK OF A TRUE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN HAPPENING TO US ON RUMBERGER AND METRICS AND THE SCHOOLS IN OUR AREA THIS PAST YEAR, WE LOST OUR PTA PRESIDENT TO LVN AND OTHER FAMILIES AS WELL.
AND THAT'S MY ELDEST IS HAPPILY ATTENDING THE LOCAL POOL ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE WE LIVE.
I CAN'T HELP, BUT SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE ABOUT HIS FRIENDS TODAY.
THERE IS NO STABILITY FOR GROWNUPS, BUT THERE IS NOT STABILITY, STABILITY, AND CONSISTENCY FOR OUR CHILDREN.
WHEN YOU CHANGE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU CHANGE AND MAKEUP, THE MAKEUP OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
EVERY, EVERY DECISION YOU MAKE HAS AN IMPACT.
AND SO YOU MIGHT BE SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE ON THE DIETING.
YOU AREN'T WALKING IN THE SHOES OF US FOLKS IN DISTRICT COURT, NOR OUR NEIGHBORS ON GROUNDING AND GRADING.
THERE'S SO TIME TO PRESERVE THOUGHTFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY WORK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR SOME OF US IT'S TOO LATE.
SO DO RIGHT BY BROWNIE AND GRADY.
THANK YOU, CASSIE SOLDER, GRIN.
I AM A DISTRICT NINE RESIDENTS.
I THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE MY TESTIMONY TODAY.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE REZONING AT BROWNIE AND GREEDY DRIVE.
SO ITEM 69 AND 70, UM, THIS AREA HAS BEEN NAMED AS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DISPLACEMENT AND TO EXPERIENCE ACCELERATING GENTRIFICATION BY UT AUSTIN UPROOTED STUDY.
UH, WE KNOW THAT DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT COMMUNITY BENEFITS, BRITAIN, THE DIVERSITY AFFORDABILITY AND CULTURAL RICHNESS OF THIS AREA, UM, AS A COMMUNITY, ALLY AND RESIDENTS, UM, I UNDERSTAND THE PROPOSED REZONING TO PR TO POSE NUMEROUS CONCERN.
DESPITE RESIDENTS ASKING MULTIPLE TIMES WHO THE DEVELOPER HAS NOT NAMED A SINGLE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY.
IN FACT, THEIR PRESENCE HAS ALREADY BEEN HARMFUL BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A RESIDENT WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TO UNDERMINE A VALID PETITION.
UM, AND ADDITIONAL CONCERN OF MINE IS THAT THE OWNER OWNS THE LAND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PROPERTY.
[04:15:01]
I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT COULD BE SUBJECT TO ACTUALLY BEING THREE TIMES LARGER THAN WHAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY ASKING FOR.UH, LASTLY, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE REQUIREMENTS IN THIS RECOMMENDED ZONING WILL RESULT IN VERY PRICEY UNIT.
UH, SO TO QUOTE COUNCIL MEMBER AVAILA, ONCE AGAIN, UH, OFTEN MUST BE A SAFE AND THRIVING HOME FOR THE WORKING CLASS AND NOT A PLAYGROUND FOR THE WEALTHY.
THE ONLY WAY TO STAY ALIGNED WITH THESE VALUES IS TO VOTE.
NO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION TYLER BOYKIN.
I'M UH, NOT LOOKING TO SPEAK IN LESS OR ITEMS, NOT ON CONSENT, BUT I WAS HERE FOR, UM, ITEM 85 86.
BUT GO AHEAD AND MAKE COMMENTS IF YOU HAVE ANY, THANK YOU.
WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER IN PERSON.
ALICE GLASGOW SPEAKING ON 89 AND 90 GOOD AFTERNOON.
MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER.
UM, ALICE GLASGOW REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT FOR ITEMS 89 AND 90.
I WILL BE SHORT THE CASE BEFORE YOU OR CASES BEFORE YOU, UM, RELATE TO, UM, ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ADDRESSED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'VE MET EIGHT TIMES WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORS AND THE CONTACT TEAM SINCE 2020.
SO WE'VE BEEN AT THIS JOURNEY FOR A LONG TIME DURING OUR EIGHT MEETINGS, SEVERAL CONCERNS WERE RAISED.
IN FACT, A TOTAL OF SEVEN CONCERNS.
AND, UH, A PHOTO HAS BEEN PASSED OUT TO EACH OF YOU WITH, UH, THREE EXHIBITS.
THE FIRST EXHIBIT IS A LIST OF THE SEVEN ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED.
AND, UH, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU HOW WE'VE ADDRESSED THEM.
THE FIRST ONE HAS TO DO WITH PRIVACY CONCERNS BECAUSE WE ARE JOINED SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
TO THAT END, WE ARE PROVIDING A 30 FOOT VEGETATIVE BUFFER, AND THAT IS INCLUDED AS A CONDITION OVERLAY IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE.
NUMBER TWO, THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT THE BUILDING HEIGHT.
WE WERE PROPOSING INITIALLY OUR BUILDING, ONE OF OUR BUILDINGS, WHAT AT 71 FEET TALL, BECAUSE WE'RE ASKING FOR M OF SIX ZONING, WHICH ALLOWS A HEIGHT OF 90 FEET WE'VE SINCE THEN AGREED TO LIMIT OUR BUILDING HEIGHT TO 60 FEET, WHICH IS COMPARABLE TO THE ZONING HEIGHT WE HAVE TODAY.
AND THE CS COMMERCIAL ZONING, TRAFFIC AND ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS.
STAFF HAD DEFERRED OUR TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS TO THE TIME OF SITE PLAN.
BUT WE AGREED TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THAT PREPARED AND REVIEWED WITH THE ZONING AND THEREFORE THAT HAS PROVIDED MITIGATION AND, UM, IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE TIME OF DEVELOPMENT.
AND THAT, UH, ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS THAT ARE RELATED TO, TO MOBILITY AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ROADWAY.
FLOODING THE NEIGHBORS EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT CURRENT FLOODING IN THE AREA, AND THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT OUR PROJECT MIGHT EXACERBATE THAT PROBLEM.
TO THAT END, I INVITED THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR MORTGAGE PROTECTION.
MY KELLY, WHO AND MR. KELLY, UH, TOLD THEM THAT THE CURRENT FLOODING WAS BEING ADDRESSED.
THAT AN OUR SITE WOULD HAVE AN ONSITE ATTENTION IN A POND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE, UH, THE CONTACT TEAM ASKS US TO THERE TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE ARE PROVIDING VOLUNTARILY WITHOUT A DENSITY BONUS.
WE ARE PROVIDING 37 FOR RENT AFFORDABLE FOR 40 YEARS AND 15 FOR SALE UNITS.
FOR 99 YEARS, WE ARE PARTNERING WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S AFFILIATE HOMEBASE.
THEY WILL BE OUR ENFORCEMENT PARTNER WITH THIS PRIVATE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, AND, UM, THAT COMPLAINTS.
SO YOU'VE GOTTEN PAST THE TIME HERE, BUT WE DO GIVE THE APPLICANT FIVE MINUTES WHEN WE CALL UP THE CASE.
SO LET'S HOLD OFF AT THIS POINT.
LET'S GO THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IF THIS IS THE DISCUSSION ITEM, WE'LL RECOGNIZE YOU TO
[04:20:01]
COME BACK UP AND SAY, THANK YOU, MAY I APOLOGIZE? I DID NOT INTEND TO GO OVER MY TWO MINUTES.[Zoning Consent Agenda (Part 2 of 2)]
COUNCIL, JOY HEART, AND AGAIN, THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 69 IN PA 20 21 0 0 2 6 0.01.AND THIS CASE IS OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 70 C ONE FOR 20 21 0 0 3 9.
THIS CASE IS OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION, UM, AT THE TIME OF THE DISCUSSION, WE'RE AT THE THIRD RATING, WHICH IS THE FINAL READING AND THERE IS A VALID PETITION AND OPPOSITION TO THIS REQUEST.
I'VE BEEN 71 IS THE NPA 20 20 0 0 2 1 0.02.
THERE IS A PLUS ONE REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT TO YOUR APRIL 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM 72 C ONE FOR 20 20 0 7.
SO THE FIRST ONE WAS 69 AND 70 THAT'S FOR DISCUSSION.
AND THEN THERE ARE 71 72 OFFERED HER DISCUSSION.
NO, SOME OF THE ONE IN 72 ARE CONSENT POSTPONEMENTS.
UM, SO THERE'S A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT TO YOUR 4 21 COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THAT'S WHERE YOUR MAN LOAD CASES? 71 AND 72.
ITEM 73 IS C ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 5 0.
THERE'S AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT TO YOUR APRIL 21ST COUNCIL MEETING 4 73 I'M 74 IS C1 FOR 20 21 0 1 8 2.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS ITEM 75 IS C1 FOR 20 21 0 1 8 8.
THIS ITEMS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
FIRST READING ITEM 76 IS C1 FOR 20 19 0 1 66.
THIS ITEMS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT CONSENTED, ALL THREE READINGS.
THE RELATED RESTRICTIVE COVENANT OF, BUT IS ITEM NUMBER 77 C 1 4 2 0 1 6 0 1 2 FOR OUR CA THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
THIS IS THE ITEM THAT IS IN DISTRICT SEVEN AS COUNCIL LIVERPOOL STATED.
UM, THIS IS THE ITEM WHERE THE GENTLEMEN SPOKE.
UH, THE PROHIBIT PROHIBITION OF OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED SOUND IS BEING REQUESTED TO BE LIFTED FOR 700 ACRES FOR RESTAURANT AND COCKTAIL LOUNGE USE.
BUT THE OTHER 60, 60 PLUS ACRES, THE PROHIBITION OF OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED SOUND STAYS ON THAT.
THAT PORTION, 60 PLUS ACRES, THE PROHIBITION WILL STAY ON THAT PORTION OF THE LAND.
AGAIN, THIS IS ALL HER FOR CONSENT.
OUR CA'S ONLY HAVE ONE READING.
SO THIS WOULD BE YOUR FINAL READING.
AND I'M 78 IS C1 FOR 20 22 0 0 0 2.
THIS ITEMS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE RATINGS ITEM 79 TO SEE ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 8 9.
THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM EIGHT ON 80 IS C1 4 0 2 0 1 8 3 RCA.
THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD POSTPONE REQUEST TO YOUR APRIL 7TH COUNCIL MEETING ITEM 81 IS MPA 20 21 0 0 1 1 0.01.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THE RELATED REZONING IS ITEM NUMBER 82.
SO YOU WANT FOR 20 21 0 0 3 4.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
I DON'T SAY TWO, THREE AND 84.
POSTPONEMENT ITEMS. THOSE ITEMS ARE BOTH BEING POSTPONED TO YOUR APRIL 7TH COUNCIL MEETING.
THAT'S 83 AND 84 ITEM 85 IS NPA 20 21 0 0 0 9 0.01.
THIS I KNOW THINK OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.
THE RELATED REZONING IS NUMBER 80 61 FOR 20 21 0 1 3 2.
THE SIGN HAS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS AND A NUMBER 87 TO SEE ONE FOR 20 21 0 1 7 4.
THIS SIGN HAS BEEN OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
SECOND AND THIRD READINGS I DON'T 88 IS SEE 1 4 9 9 0 0 6 9 0.01.
THERE'S A STAFF POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR APRIL 21ST COUNCIL MEETING ITEM 89 AND 90 ARE RELATED, UM, NPA 20 21 0 0 2 0 0.0 AND RUN THIS ITEMS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
I HAVE AN ID IS THE RELATED CASE.
YOU WENT FORWARD 20 21 0 0 1 5.
THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
UM, YOU HEARD FROM THE APPLICANT AGENT MS. ELLIS GLASGOW, AND THE NEIGHBORS, UM, SPOKE ON THIS.
THIS IS OFFERED FOR A FINAL READING AND THERE IS A BALLOT PETITION.
[04:25:01]
C WENT FOR 20 21 0 1 3 7.THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT.
I HAVE JUST A STATEMENT TO READ INTO THE RECORD.
STAFF OFFERS AN AMENDMENT TO PART TWO OF THE ORDINANCE TO RU TO REMOVE CONDITION, TO BE, AND TO AMEND THE RENUMBERED CONDITION, TO SEE, TO ADD THE PHRASE AND GLEN VIEW STRICT.
AND WITH THAT, I CAN OFFER THIS FOR CONSENT.
UH, NOW YOUTUBE IS ONE, FOUR H 20 21 0 1 8 0.
AND THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR DISCUSSION.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THE READING OF YOUR PHONE AND GOODS.
LET ME SEE IF I GOT THIS RIGHT.
I'M SHOWING 69 AND 70, OUR DISCUSSION 73 WAS AN APPLICANT REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT.
IS THIS THE FIRST REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT? UH, YES, I BELIEVE SO.
79 IS DISCUSSION COLD, CORRECT? RIGHT.
AND THEN, UM, 89 AND 90 ARE, YOU'RE SAYING THEY SHOULD STAY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
BUT, UM, I AM SAYING THAT CORRECT.
UM, BUT IT DOES HAVE A VALID PETITION REQUIRES I UNDERSTAND THAT.
DISCUSSION ITEMS ARE 69, 70 79 AND 92.
AND THE REST STAY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE 79 ON CONSENT AND POSTPONE IT TABLE 21ST.
THEN I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT MOTION BRIEFLY.
UM, 79 IT'S THE SPACE WITH SPRINGS.
DOES ANYBODY OBJECT TO THAT? STAYING ON CONSENT OF POSTPONEMENT UNTIL APRIL 21ST, 21ST ERIC, NO REJECTIONS AND STAY ON CONSENT WITH THE POSTPONEMENT TO THAT PLACE WHEN APPROPRIATE.
SO THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA OR ITEMS, UH, 69 THROUGH 92, EXCEPT THAT THE ONES HAD THEY'RE PULLED ARE 69, 70 AND 92, THE REST REMAINING ON CONSENT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? REMEMBER ALICE MESA EMOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND BECAUSE WE ARE KITCHEN SECONDS.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, A MAYOR PRO TEM AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
I WANTED TO JUST BRIEFLY SPEAK TO, UH, WHY I'M POSTPONING, UM, ITEM 79.
THIS IS AN PROPERTY ON SPICEWOOD SPRINGS ROAD TWO, APRIL 21ST.
WELL, I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU DIRECTLY FIRST.
UM, IF YOU REPRESENT A CASE IN MY DISTRICT IN THE FUTURE, I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO START YOUR PROCESS BY CONTACTING MY OFFICE AND SPEAKING WITH ME AT NO POINT IN THIS PROCESS, HAVE YOU EVER CONTACTED ME OR MY OFFICE, DESPITE YOUR CASE, BEING OPPOSED BY YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOUR CASE BEING OPPOSED BY THE ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION.
MY STAFF CONTACTED YOUR FIRM ON MARCH 14TH, SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH REKHA KEEPERS, WHO MAY BE YOU, WHO WAS UNABLE TO ANSWER ANY OF OUR QUESTIONS.
AND DESPITE HER SPADED COMMITMENT TO FOLLOW UP WITH US 10 DAYS LATER, WE'VE NEVER BEEN COMMUNICATED WITH BY YOUR FIRM THAT IS NOT MAKING IT ANY EASIER FOR US TO SUPPORT YOUR CASE.
AND I WILL NOT CONSIDER THIS CASE UNTIL I HAVE MY QUESTIONS ANSWER.
UM, I HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ABOUT THIS REQUEST TO UP SEWN THE BACK OF THE SITE, WHICH HAS SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS.
I MIGHT BE COMFORTABLE WITH ADDING AMU TO THE EXISTING ELO THAT MIGHT HAVE MY SUPPORT, BUT UP-ZONING THE BACK DOES NOT, AND I HAVE SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS.
UM, SO I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO POSTPONE THIS UNTIL APRIL 21ST.
UM, AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE BE IN TOUCH WITH MY OFFICE SO WE CAN GET OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND SEE WHAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE ZONING FOR THIS PROPERTY.
ARE THERE DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I'VE GOT SOME ARMOR KELLY.
I'D LIKE THE RECORD TO REFLECT ME AS VOTING.
REMEMBER IN 30, UH, AND YOU HAVE THE RECORD SHOWING THAT I ALSO VOTED AGAINST 89 AND 90.
RECORD OR REFLECT ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S OUR TURBO, THE MERIT, LIKE THE RECORD TO REFLECT MY RECUSAL ON ITEMS 72 AND 71.
I KNOW IT'S JUST A POSTPONEMENT.
WE READY TO TAKE A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?
[04:30:01]
THAT WAS A VERY BIG CONSENT AGENDA.PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND GUYS OVER HARPER.
UH, THOSE OPPOSED, I'M SHOWING THAT AS BEING, UH, UH, UNANIMOUS ON THAT DESK.
YEAH, I WAS, I WAS CHECKING MY, MY NOTES JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS AN ITEM THAT I INTEND TO VOTE NO ON.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE CERTAIN IT WASN'T ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH I WAS AT.
IN FACT, THE ONES THAT ARE BEING PULLED AT ARE STILL ALIVE.
NOW, WE HAVEN'T YET TO VOTE ON OUR 69 AND 70 AND ITEM 92.
SO WE HAVE THOSE ITEMS, UH, IN FRONT OF US.
[Items 13, 14 & 34]
THE DECK ITEMS, 13, 14 AND 34.WE HAVE, UH, THE SAFE ITEM, 52, AND THEN WE HAVE THE CRYPTO 55 AND THE BLOCKCHAIN 57.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND START AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS, I'M GOING TO CALL UP 13, 14 AND 34, UH, WHICH ARE THE, UH, UH, DAC, UH, ITEMS, COLLEAGUES.
I HAVE, UH, UH, PROPOSED A MOTION SHEET, UH, TO POSTPONE, UH, THIS, UH, THESE ITEMS 13, 14 AND 34, UH, WITH THREE, UH, DIRECTIONS, IF THERE'S A SECOND, UH, I'LL ADDRESS THAT FULL-STACK IS THAT THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.
THIS IS A HARD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A PLACE FOR THE, FOR THE DOC TO BE ABLE TO GO.
UH, AND IT COULD BE THAT THIS IS THE BEST PLACE FOR IT TO GO.
UH, BUT AS WE WERE LEADING UP TO THIS, THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS THAT WERE BEING ASKED IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I DID NOT HAVE GOOD ANSWERS TO.
UH, AND BEFORE I CAN CONSIDER THESE ITEMS, 13, 14 AND 34, I NEED, I NEED BETTER.
UH, SO I KNOW HOW TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM.
UM, I, THERE'S THE QUESTION OF, UH, LOOKING AT THE OPERATIONS OF THE, OF THE DAC.
THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MOVING TO A, UH, DECENTRALIZED OPERATION, MORE OF A DECENTRALIZED OPERATION THAT MIGHT HAVE SATELLITE LOCATIONS.
IT MIGHT HAVE MOBILE, UH, UH, LOCATIONS.
UH, AND IN THAT REGARD, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHETHER THE PROGRAMMING FOR THE SPACE THAT'S NEEDED WOULD BE THE SAME.
IF WE WERE MOVING TO A MORE DECENTRALIZED, UH, UH, LOCATION.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN OUR CITY THAT ARE BOTH DEALING WITH CASEWORKERS, AND THEY'RE DOING IT SEPARATELY.
UH, THE QUESTIONS COME UP, SHOULD THEY BE TALKING TO EACH OTHER OR WORKING OUT BETWEEN THAT MANAGER? IS THAT THE BEST WAY TO DO IT? COULD BE.
UH, BUT I REALLY LIKED THAT THE, TO HAVE YOU GET WITH THOSE DIFFERENT, UH, DEPARTMENTS ON THE CITIES HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, BUT THOSE QUESTIONS THAT RELATE TO WHERE WE'RE EXTENDING THE JURISDICTION, UH, BOTH GEOGRAPHICALLY, UM, AND AS WE ARE DOING THAT, ARE WE CHANGING THE OFFENSES OR THE CRIMES OR THE CONCERNS OR THE CHALLENGES? I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT AS IT IMPACTS THE PROGRAMMING FOR THE SPACE THAT WE NEED, WHICH WE SHOULD KNOW BEFORE WE START SPENDING MONEY ON A SPACE.
AND THAT'S WHAT 13, 14, UH, AND 34 ARE, ARE, ARE ABOUT.
WE ALSO, UH, WANTED, UH, YOU AND I JUST HAVEN'T SEEN THE REPORT BACK YET ON CONVERSATIONS WITH TRAVIS COUNTY.
UH, THE STATE OF TEXAS REACHED OUT TO US, UH, THREE MEMBERS OF THE PRESERVATION BOARD OFFERING ASSISTANCE THAT THEY HAVE A LOCATION FOR US OR IDEAS ON HOW TO DO THIS.
I, I WANT TO TAKE THEM UP ON THAT.
AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DO THAT.
WE TRIED TO SCHEDULE A MEETING.
THEY WERE UNABLE TO MEET WITH US, BUT WE REALLY DIDN'T GIVE THEM A LOT OF OF NOTICE.
UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE REAFFIRMED THEIR REQUEST TO BE ABLE TO MEET WITH US.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO DO THAT AS WELL.
UH, AND THEN THERE ARE SOME DOWNTOWN, UH, COMMISSION, UH, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT ADVISORY BOARD, THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, UH, THAT I DON'T THINK THIS HAS BEEN TAKEN TOO, BUT THIS IS KIND OF IN THEIR, IN THEIR JURISDICTION.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN.
SO THE MOTION IS TO POSTPONE THIS, UM, I'VE LEFT THIS, THE POSTPONE IT INDEFINITELY SO THAT YOU WOULD BRING IT BACK TO US WHEN YOU HAD THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS.
UM, AND SO IT'S A MOTION TO POSTPONE WITHOUT A DATE SURGEON, BRING IT BACK TO US WHEN IT WAS READY AND TO, UH, HELP
[04:35:01]
US TO ANSWER AT LEAST THESE THREE QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD NEED BEFORE I COULD VOTE.THAT'S MY EMOTIONS HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED DISCUSSION.
YEAH, I HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH, UM, UH, JUDGE, UH, MICHAEL COFFEE AND OUR PRESIDING JUDGE, UH, FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURT, UM, SHERRY STATMAN EARLIER THIS WEEK.
AND I LEARNED THAT, UM, THE LOCATION, THE CURRENT LOCATION FOR THE COMMUNITY COURT IS WORKING QUITE WELL.
AND I KNOW THAT ANYTIME WE HAVE TO RELOCATE, IT COSTS MONEY AND EFFORT AND KIND OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THINGS TOO, WHEN YOU HAVE TO DISRUPT YOUR ROUTINE AND THEN RELOCATE AND START ALL OVER AGAIN.
UM, SO PART OF THE, UH, FALLBACK AND REVIEW PIECE THAT I AM, I THINK THAT THE MAYORS, UM, MOTION IS INCLUDE IS BROAD ENOUGH TO INCLUDE THE CURRENT LOCATION.
AND IF INDEED THERE ARE A FUTURE PLANS FOR THE ONE TEXAS CENTER SITE, WHAT MIGHT WE DO TO CONSIDER, UM, THE COMMUNITY COURT STAYING THERE AND, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE DISRUPTIONS THAT INCUR IF YOU'RE IN A, UH, REDEVELOPMENT ZONE, BUT I W I WOULD LIKE TO KIND OF PURSUE THAT AS PART OF THE PORTFOLIO OF, OF WORK THAT YOU WILL BE DOING ON KIND OF THE, IN MY ESTIMATION, SORT OF A RE-IMAGINING OF THE COMMUNITY COURT.
AND I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE EVEN SOME REBRANDING AFTER THE PASSAGE OF PROP BEAT, WE ARE LOOKING AT PEOPLE NOT JUST IN THE CIRCUMSCRIBED CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT DOWNTOWN, BUT MORE BROADLY AROUND THE CITY.
AND I'M TOLD THAT THERE IS A KIND OF A TWO-STEP PROCESS THAT FOLKS WHO ARE BEING BROUGHT TO THE COMMUNITY COURT HAVE TO GO, THEY HAVE TO FIRST GO THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL COURT AND BE RECEIVED AND PROCESSED IN, AND THEN FERRIED DOWN TO THE COMMUNITY COURT, WHICH IS IF THAT'S HOW THAT'S WORKING OR WOULD WORK CONSIDERING THE JURISDICTIONAL CONSTRAINTS THAT THE COMMUNITY COURT HAS.
UM, THAT'S CONFUSING, IT'S EXTRA TIME, IT'S EXTRA, UM, RESOURCES AND ENERGY.
AND, AND I SURE WOULD LIKE TO SEE US SMOOTH THAT OUT AND MAKE THAT, UM, AND DO AWAY WITH THE TWO STEP.
SO, UM, I JUST, I WANTED TO OFFER MY SUPPORT FOR THE POSTPONEMENT, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT OF ADDITIONAL GOOD CONVERSATIONS TO BE HAD.
UM, I'D LIKE IT TO INCLUDE THE CURRENT LOCATION TO SEE HOW MUCH LONGER FOLKS MIGHT BE ABLE TO STAY THERE.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, WE CAN REVISIT THE CONCEPT OF THE, UM, VARIOUS DIFFERENT SPOTS AROUND THE CITY.
UM, I THINK THAT THAT PRESENTED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT TRYING TO IDENTIFY THOSE LOCATIONS AND WHEN YOU DISPERSE, OF COURSE, THERE'S COSTS, UM, OR HAD COSTS FOR ALL OF THOSE, THE DISPERSION.
UM, BUT MOSTLY I THINK WHAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT HERE IS KIND OF A REBRANDING OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN CALLING THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT, MAYBE REALLY THAT, THAT COURT IS SERVING THE ENTIRETY OF OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THE DOWNTOWN AND TO THAT END, I'M HOPING THAT OUR STAFF WILL ALSO BRING BACK.
AND I THINK MAYOR, THIS IS ALSO PART OF YOUR MOTION, UM, UH, REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT AND UPDATES AND, AND AMENDMENTS THAT OUR EXCELLENT STAFF WHO DO THIS WORK EVERY DAY AND DO IT SO WELL CAN BRING TO US ABOUT AMENDMENTS, TO, UM, THE ORDINANCES THAT, THAT DIRECT THEIR WORK, SO THAT IF THERE ARE SOME, UM, UPDATES AND CHANGES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN IN THIS CHANGED ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN SINCE THE PASSAGE OF PROP B, UH, LAST YEAR, THAT, THAT WE CAN DELIBERATE ON THOSE AND HOPEFULLY MOVE THOSE FORWARD.
SO THANKS MAYOR FOR BRINGING THIS POSTPONEMENT REQUEST.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BRING SOMETHING, UM, LIKE WHAT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY REPORT DOES.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO I'VE SPOKEN WITH WHO ARE SCARED ABOUT WHAT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD MIGHT BECOME OR WHAT IT MIGHT BE LIKE.
BUT AS I'VE SAID BEFORE ON THE DEUS, I'VE VISITED THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT AND THESE PERCEPTIONS ARE MAYBE NOT TRUE.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO HAS ANY INTEREST TO MAYBE GO OVER THERE AND CHECK IT OUT OR TALK TO SOMEBODY WHO WORKS THERE, REACH OUT TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE ADVOCACY WORK, BECAUSE IT PLAYS A LARGE ROLE IN ASSISTING PEOPLE, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO GET OUT OF THAT SITUATION OR ACCESS RESOURCES.
AND IT IS DEFINITELY NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I APPRECIATE THE DIRECTION THAT YOU BROUGHT FORWARD MAYOR SO THAT WE CAN EXPLORE MAYBE IMPROVING EFFICIENCIES OF THE COURT AND REALLY MAKING IT OUT TO BE THE BEST COURT.
IT CAN BE FOR THESE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
I'M GOING TO COME TO COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO TO, TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT BEFORE I DO.
[04:40:01]
IT'S EVERYONE SPEAK GENERALLY ON THE POSTPONEMENT QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN COUNCIL MEMBER WENT, THIS, UH, MINE IS REALLY A QUESTION, UM, AND WHETHER THERE'S ROOM FOR, UM, PERHAPS SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE OR DIRECTION, UH, AND THAT JUST RELATES TO THE TIMELINE BECAUSE I, IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY, I DIDN'T SEE A TIMELINE IN THE DIRECTION.AND, UM, I, I DON'T WANT TO, UH, CREATE AN EXPECTATION.
THAT'S NOT REALISTIC ON THE ONE HAND, ON THE OTHER HAND, I DO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, UM, THIS, THIS TYPE OF PLANNING PROCESS OCCUR EXPEDITIOUSLY, UH, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO THINK THROUGH, UH, THE WHAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE DECK FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
AND I W AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO, I WOULDN'T WANT TO TAKE A LONG TIME FOR THINKING THROUGH A RE-IMAGINING OR WHATEVER.
I FORGET THE WORDS THAT YOU USED.
I DO THINK THAT THE, UM, THAT THE DIRECTION TO PURSUE SOME ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS OF, OF, OF WHAT MIGHT BE THE BEST, UM, YOU KNOW, SCOPING AND MO AND APPROACH MOVING FORWARD FOR THE DECK.
I THINK THAT'S VERY TIMELY, UNNECESSARY, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT IT TO BE SO OPEN-ENDED, I MEAN, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO, TO SET AT LEAST SOME EXPECTATION ABOUT HOW QUICKLY THAT COULD BE DONE, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
I'M NOT CERTAIN WHY MAYOR, UH, IT DOESN'T HAVE A TIMELINE IN IT, OR, OR IF YOU, IF THERE'S A REASON NOT TO, OR IF THE THINKING IS THAT WE'RE NOT CERTAIN, BUT I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN DO IT WITHIN SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S REALISTIC, BUT I WOULD SAY I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND LET, UH, AS I READ, UH, COUNSELOR OVER TURBOS PUTS IN A DATE.
SO LET'S,
I JUST KNOW WE'VE GIVEN THEM DEADLINES AND THEY'VE BROUGHT IT BACK TO HIS DUTIFULLY AND THERE'S STILL BEEN QUESTIONS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TRY AND GET OUT OF THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION TO HAVE, BUT WE'LL LET COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO TEE THAT UP.
THAT'S REMEMBER WHAT THIS THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY FULL SUPPORT FOR A POSTPONEMENT, UM, AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU'VE LAID OUT OR THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU'VE PROPOSED, BECAUSE WE NEED TO INCLUDE OUR HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY OFFICE.
WE ALSO NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY COURT ADVISORY GROUP IS ENGAGED ON THE ISSUE AS THAT IS THE FUNCTION OF THEIR BOARD.
AND WE ALL HAVE APPOINTEES, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, EVERY REPRESENTATIVE FROM THROUGHOUT THE CITY HAVE A SAY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN DAK WAS FIRST FOUNDED NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO, OUR WAY OF HANDLING AND RESPONDING AND SERVING OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.
AND ESPECIALLY IN THESE LAST FEW YEARS, IN THE LAST YEAR WITH THE INCREDIBLE INVESTMENT THAT BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY HAVE MADE TOWARDS REDUCING HOMELESSNESS, IT IS TIME FOR US TO, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT AND RETHINK HOW WE DO OUR SYSTEMS OF CARE WHEN IT COMES TO SERVING OUR UNHOUSED.
AND CERTAINLY I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING SERVICES, THAT WE REALLY ARE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH ALL OF THE PARTNERS AND PROVIDERS AND WITHIN OUR SYSTEMS. AND SO I, I SUPPORT THE POSTPONEMENT.
THANK YOU, MAYER, APPRECIATE THIS DISCUSSION.
AND I THINK ONE SUGGESTION MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S GOING TO INVOLVE THE LOCATION AT SOME POINT, BUT BEFORE WE EVEN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, REALLY HAVE A WORK SESSION WITH THE COUNCIL AROUND THESE, UH, CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW AROUND THE OPERATIONS, ET CETERA.
AND SO, UH, ONE RECOMMENDATION MIGHT BE TO SET A TIME CERTAIN OR THAT WORK SESSION TO HAPPEN, UH, BE ABLE TO HAVE STAFF PREPARE, UH, WHAT THOSE THEMES AND TOPICS AND QUESTIONS THAT WE WANT TO BRING BACK TO COUNCIL.
AND WE COULD CERTAINLY HAVE THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS.
UM, BUT THEN TO WITHDRAW THIS ITEM, UM, BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKELY RESULT FROM THAT CONVERSATION POTENTIALLY A NEW, UH, UH, OCCASION AS A RESULT OR A NEW IDEA ABOUT WHAT, UH, HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK THERE'S MERIT IN THAT MAYOR, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON HAS HER MADISON.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S SOMEBODY IN THE ROOM WHO CAN SPEAK TO, UM, I HEARD A STATISTIC THE OTHER DAY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT IT'S TRUE.
UM, CAN SPEAK TO HOW FREQUENTLY PEOPLE MISS THEIR COURT DATES.
IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE ROOM WHO CAN SPEAK TO ATTENDANCE RATE? YES, PETE VALDEZ IS WITH HER GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS, PETER VALDEZ, UH, DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY COURT.
[04:45:01]
APPEARANCE RATES OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT RECEIVE CITATIONS THAT COME TO THE COMMUNITY COURT, HISTORICALLY THAT NUMBER'S AT ABOUT 50%.UH, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AT ABOUT 50% FOR THIS POT, FOR THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE THE MOST OF WHICH ARE INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, UH, COMING TO COURT, ISN'T GOING TO BE A PRIORITY FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.
THAT BEING SAID IN 2016, WHEN WE BECAME PART OF THE HOMELESS OUTREACH STREET TEAM, WE DID SO, SO THAT WE COULD PROACTIVELY ENGAGE THESE INDIVIDUALS BEFORE THEY GOT IN TROUBLE.
AND IN SOME CASES WHEN THEY ALREADY HAD CITATIONS THAT WERE DELINQUENT OR PENDING, UH, SO THAT WE CAN INFORM THEM ABOUT THOSE PENDING CITATIONS BEFORE THEY BECAME WARRANTS.
AND AGAIN, UH, TO AVOID THE ARREST.
I APPRECIATE YOU OFFERING ME THAT CLARITY CHAIR.
I'D LIKE TO, IN ADDITION TO OFFERING MY FULL SUPPORT FOR THE REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT, I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN GET BACK, UM, WOULD HELP TO ASSESS WHAT TO YOUR POINT ABOUT SATELLITE OFFICES.
IF WE HAD MORE LOCATIONS, I WONDER IF THAT WOULD HELP, UH, APPEARANCE RATES.
SO I I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT THE FOCUS SHOULD REALLY BE ON THE SOCIAL SERVICE COMPONENT OF WHAT WE DO AND NOT THE COURT COMPONENT.
UM, I SHOULD TELL YOU THAT IN, IN, UH, FISCAL YEAR 2013, WE WERE PROCESSING ABOUT 16,000 CASES, UH, COURT CASES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, UH, THE, THE WE'VE ONLY PROCESSED ABOUT 900 CASES TOTAL.
AND AGAIN, UH, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT PROACTIVELY ENGAGING THESE INDIVIDUALS, UH, BECAUSE HE GIVES US MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO WITHOUT THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE.
SO, UM, I WOULD SAY THAT IF WE WERE GOING TO A SATELLITE MODEL, THE FOCUS OF THOSE SATELLITES SHOULD BE ON CASE MANAGEMENT VERSUS CREATING COURTS THAT ARE SATELLITES.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT, UH, THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE SERVING TODAY ARE COMING TO THE COURT VOLUNTARILY, UM, THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE SEEING ABOUT 70 PEOPLE A DAY WHEN WE WERE AT TERRAZAS BRANCH LIBRARY TODAY, UH, WE'RE SEEING ABOUT 35 PEOPLE A DAY.
UH, AND ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE WALKING IN VOLUNTARILY.
THEY ARE NOT COMING THERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE COURT CASES THEY'RE GOING THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE A CASE MANAGER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES.
SO SATELLITES SHOULD NOT BE A, UH, AN INSTEAD OF A HOME BASE, A HOME BASE IS GOING TO BE NECESSARY.
AND THE HOME BASE THAT IS GOING TO BE CENTRAL AND CONVENIENT FOR THE POPULATION THAT WE'RE SERVING.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU OFFERING THAT CLARITY.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING, BUT I DIDN'T ARTICULATE IT WELL.
UM, I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DAC AND THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED AND HOW FREQUENTLY PEOPLE RELY ON THESE SERVICES.
SO I WAS THINKING IT, BUT I DIDN'T SAY IT.
SO THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THAT CLARITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU, WHEN YOU SAY A HOME BASE, DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION ON WHAT THE HOME-BASED SHOULD? WHAT IS THE MOST CONVENIENT FOR FOLKS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN, YOU KNOW, UH, NONE OF US ARE A MONOLITH, INCLUDING PEOPLE EXPERIENCING ALMOST AS INCLUDING PEOPLE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING THE POPULATION OF PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING SERVED.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MOST APPROPRIATE HOME BASE IS? WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DOWNTOWN.
UH, IT IS WHERE PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE LOCATED AND BASED ON, UM, THE LAST, UH, POINT IN TIME COUNT THAT WAS DONE BY ECHO THE CONCENTRATION OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS STILL DOWNTOWN.
SO WE SHOULD BE LOCATED WHERE THAT CONCENTRATION IS.
I WOULD LIKE TO LAY OUT MY AMENDMENT AS WELL, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.
I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN, UH, AN EXTRAORDINARILY LONG PROCESS, AS YOU SAID, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN DOWNTOWN UNTIL THE LAST COUPLE, UM, TEMPORARY LOCATIONS WHEN IT ARISES.
AND THEN THE TEMPORARY LOCATION, THE LOCATION THAT THE MANAGER COMMITTED WAS TEMPORARY AT ONE TEXAS CENTER.
UM, AND I, AND I REALLY JUST WANT TO START BY APPRECIATING YOUR WORK.
I KNOW THAT YOU SAID YOU SAW 70, 70 PEOPLE A DAY PER THE PA EACH DAY OF THE PANDEMIC.
I THINK YOU WERE ONE OF OUR VERY FEW CITY OFFICES THAT STAYED OPEN TO IN-PERSON TRANSACTIONS, UM, THROUGH THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND THE TOTAL NUMBER WAS HUGE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU SERVED.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO START BY APPRECIATING YOU, BECAUSE IN THE COURSE OF THIS CONVERSATION, AFTER, AFTER, UM, MULTI-YEAR PROCESS OF ASKING OUR STAFF TO IDENTIFY A PERMANENT LOCATION, WE'VE NOW COME AROUND TO, UM, POSTPONING THE DECISION ON THAT, BUT ALSO ASKING
[04:50:01]
TO KIND OF RETHINK THE WHOLE MODEL.SO I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THE WORK THAT YOU DO HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL, BUT, UM, IF WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT IT TODAY OR ASKING OUR, OUR CITY MANAGER TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, IT IS, IT IS NOT BECAUSE THE WORK HAS BEEN, UM, IT IS TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT AND TO MAKE IT MORE STREAMLINED, UM, OR TO BETTER, TO BETTER SET YOU UP FOR SUCCESS, BUT NOT, NOT IN MY OPINION, AT LEAST.
UM, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN ANY CONCERN ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING.
I THINK YOU'RE AN EXTRAORDINARY, I THINK YOU PROVIDE AN EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN AND TO OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AS WELL AS THE OTHERS WHO FIND THEIR WAY TO YOUR COURT, UM, WHO ARE NOT EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, BUT ARE THERE FOR CITATION RESOLUTION.
SO I'M CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF POSTPONING THIS.
I DO THINK IT NEEDS A, UM, I THINK WE NEED TO RESOLVE THIS QUESTION WHEN WE'RE ANOTHER, AND SO MINE DOES HAVE A TIME LIMIT IT ALSO.
IT ALSO HAS SOME BACKGROUND IN THE BEGINNING, IN THE BEGINNING OF THE MOTION SHEET, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE NOW STARTING TO CIRCLE AROUND TO SOME OF THE SAME THINGS WE'VE ALREADY DIRECTED.
WE'VE ALREADY DIRECTED THE MANAGER TO EXPLORE THE IDEA OF SITE SATELLITES.
THEY'VE ALREADY PROVIDED US WITH INFORMATION.
WE'VE ASKED THE MANAGER TO PROVIDE US WITH INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT COSTS AND THE BUILDING AND THE SQUARE FOOTAGE AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.
WE, THAT WE'VE ALREADY DIRECTED THE MANAGER TO PROVIDE US TO WORK WITH TRAVIS COUNTY ON POTENTIAL COLLABORATIONS.
AND I THINK THEY HAVE SOME INFORMATION FOR US BACK ABOUT THAT CONVERSATION.
WE FAILED ON TUESDAY TO HAVE THE PRESENTATION THAT I THINK WOULD HAVE ANSWERED SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS, WHICH IS FINE.
I WAS PART OF THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE IT TODAY INSTEAD OF TUESDAY.
AND IF WE'RE POSTPONING, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO DO IT TODAY EITHER, BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD DO IT.
I THINK THERE ARE POINTS OF CONFUSION, UM, ABOUT SOME OF THE SERVICES AND ALSO ABOUT SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD HELP US MOVING FORWARD.
SO MY RESUME, MY AMENDMENT, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW IT SQUARES WITH THE SUGGESTION TO DO A WORK SESSION, BUT IT DOES PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND AND THEN IT, IT, UM, IT INCORPORATES SOME OF THE WORK AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT YOU'VE ALREADY DONE SOME OF THE WORK THAT WAS BEING DIRECTED IN THE MAYOR'S AMENDMENT AND ASKS THAT THIS, THAT THIS COME BACK TO US, UM, ALSO IDENTIFYING SOME OF THE FINDINGS, UM, RESPONDING TO SOME OF THE FINDINGS AND I'M VEGETARIAN AND THE BUDGETARY NEEDS THAT WE HAD ASKED YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT LAST YEAR.
IT ALSO, I THINK IMPORTANTLY WOULD PUT THE DAC, UM, AS THE CONVENER, AS THE FOLKS WHO HAVE THE EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA, I THINK THEY SHOULD CONVENE THE FOCUS GROUPS AND NOT JUST BE A STAKEHOLDER IN FOCUS GROUPS, SOMEONE ELSE ORGANIZES, UM, AND THE INNOVATION OFFICE, I THINK MIGHT BE A GOOD PARTNER TO LEAN ON IN THOSE FOCUS GROUPS, BECAUSE THEY'VE, THEY NOT ONLY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE WORKING ON HOMELESSNESS ISSUES, BUT, YOU KNOW, AS THE INNOVATION OFFICE, IF, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS, I WOULD, I WOULD SUSPECT THAT THEY MIGHT BE, UM, A GOOD, CRITICAL, CRITICAL PARTY TO INCLUDE IN THAT TO PROVIDE, UM, SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.
BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.
I THINK THAT THE DECK WOULD BE AT THE HEAD OF HEAD OF THE FOCUS GROUP, UM, CAN BE NURSE.
AND I DID SAY, UH, AN EXPECTATION OF CONCLUDING THIS CONCLUDING THIS PROCESS WORK WITHIN THREE MONTHS, WHICH I THINK IS POSSIBLE BASED ON, BASED ON THE WORK THAT, THAT OUR STAFF HAS ALREADY DONE THINKING THROUGH THE SATELLITE OFFICES.
UM, I THINK WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN DOWN THE WAY, GOT, GOTTEN DOWN THE ROAD ON THAT CONVERSATION.
I DID HIGHLIGHT THIS IN MY MOTION SHEET BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE IF THAT'S REALISTIC OR NOT, BUT TO SOME EXTENT, I THINK YOU'VE DONE SOME OF THIS THINKING ABOUT SATELLITE LOCATIONS AND ESTIMATES OF SPACE IN THOSE SATELLITE LOCATIONS.
AND MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY USE CITY FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO, I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE WAY TO DO THE SATELLITE OFFICES, UM, EFFICIENTLY USING CITY FACILITIES THAT WE ALREADY OWN, WHETHER THOSE ARE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS OR COMMUNITY CENTERS OR LIBRARIES, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THEY REALLY BE EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT.
UM, SO THAT WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY PROVIDING THAT SERVICE ON THE GROUND TO INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED IT, UM, THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF THE CITY, OR AT LEAST REGIONALLY NORTH, SOUTH EAST WEST.
YES, WE DID START THE WORK ON, UH, LOOKING INTO WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
WE'VE ALSO, UH, FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, WE DO, WE HAVE ALREADY ENGAGED OUR ADVISORY BOARD, UH, ON BOTH THE JURISDICTION QUESTION, AS WELL AS THE FACILITIES QUESTION.
SO THEY'VE BEEN ENGAGED THE ENTIRE TIME, UH, ON BOTH ISSUES.
AND MR. VALDEZ, YOU DID SAY SOMETHING THAT I JUST REALLY WANT TO UNDERSCORE.
UM, THERE'VE BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS I THINK ABOUT WHERE THE HOMEBASE NEEDS TO BE.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MOST OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO COME IN AT LEAST FOUR WITH CITATIONS DO STILL ARE STILL RESIDING WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS WELL? THAT IS OUR EXPERIENCE BASED ON THE PEOPLE WE SEE.
[04:55:01]
I SHOULD ALSO CLARIFY THAT, UH, THIS IS FOR OUR WALK-IN SERVICES.SO, UH, WE HAVE OUR INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, WHICH ARE INDIVIDUALS, CLINICIANS THAT ARE CARRYING CASE LOADS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO HOUSING.
THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY ALREADY.
UH, SO YOU COULD SAY THAT THAT A FORM OF SATELLITES ALREADY EXISTS FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
AND AS I UNDERSTAND, AND I REMEMBER WE FUNDED SOME VEHICLES FOR YOU IN THE LAST BUDGET IN PART BECAUSE OF THAT NEED, BECAUSE YOUR CASE MANAGERS ARE OUT IN THE FIELD, AROUND THE CITY, WORKING WITH THEIR, WITH THEIR CLIENTS.
FOR EVERY CASE MANAGER THAT WE HAVE WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN CITY VEHICLE TO BE ABLE TO BE FLEXIBLE AND WORK WITH ALL THE INDIVIDUALS ON THEIR CASELOAD.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN YOU AND APOLOGIES IF I MENTIONED THIS IN OUR LAST HEARING, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EMPHASIS ON, ON THE FACT THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME THE, THE FOLKS WHO ARE WALKING IN, UM, TO THE DOCK ARE DOING SO BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND ARE DOING SO VOLUNTARILY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEEK THOSE SERVICES.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHATEVER BUILDING THEY LAND IN, UM, THAT IT BE A WONDERFUL PUBLIC BUILDING.
I HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE EMAILS WE GOT, UM, SUGGESTING THAT OUR BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC BUILDINGS SHOULDN'T BE A SITE BECAUSE IT IS HISTORIC AND BEAUTIFUL.
I THINK EVERY ONE OF OUR CITY CIVIC BUILDINGS SHOULD BE A BUILDING THAT IS THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF AND WHEREVER WE SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS, WHETHER THEY'RE HOUSED OR UNHOUSED, WE SHOULD TAKE PRIDE THOSE LOCATIONS AND MAKE SURE IT'S WELL LOCATED AND THAT IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE AND THAT IT PROVIDES A WELCOMING AND CONVENIENT SPACE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CALLED TO DO AS PUBLIC SERVANTS.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT WHEREVER YOU LAND, UM, THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING THAT, THAT WELCOMING, UM, WELCOMING, ACCESSIBLE, AND VERY HELPFUL SERVICE.
AND I DO THINK, AND I DO THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO BE DOWNTOWN, BUT I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS NOTION THAT THE, THAT THE HOME BASE MIGHT, MIGHT BE APPROPRIATELY SMALLER WITH THE SATELLITES.
AGAIN, WE'VE ALREADY INITIATED THAT DIRECTION.
AND I THINK MY EDIT TO THE MAYORS CAPTURES, UM, THAT FACET OF IT.
SO MAYOR THAT'S MY, THAT IS MY, UM, AMENDMENT I'LL NOTE, ONE OTHER POINT OF IT.
AND THAT IS THE LAST POINT, WHICH IS WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS ON THIS DIOCESE ABOUT ONE TEXAS CENTER THAT IS OUR BEST OPPORTUNITY TO GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SIGNIFICANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT.
WE SET A GOAL ON THIS COUNCIL, NOT EVERYBODY ON THE DICE NOW WAS ON THE DYESS THEN, BUT THIS, THE MAJORITY OF US WERE ON THIS DIOCESE.
WHEN WE SET A GOAL OF 20% OF THE HOUSING CREATED IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT OVERLAY BE AFFORDABLE.
AND THAT IS OUR ONE AND ONLY CITY ON TRACK.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE THAT 20% GOAL OR EVEN GET CLOSE TO IT, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO USE THAT PIECE OF CITY-OWNED LAND TO REALLY GET SOME SIGNIFICANT HOUSING ON IT.
AND THAT WAS ONE REASON WHY LAST BUDGET SITE, LAST BUDGET CYCLE, I BROUGHT FORWARD THE DIRECTION THAT YOU ALL PASSED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE MOVING FORWARD WITH GETTING A PERMANENT LOCATION FOR THE DOCK SO THAT WE COULD HAVE SOME CERTAINTY ABOUT WHEN, WHEN WE COULD START REDEVELOPING ONE TEXAS CENTER.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE POSTPONEMENT TODAY IS APPROPRIATE, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THINKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO USE ONE TEXAS CENTER, REGARDLESS OF WHAT ELSE IS THERE.
I THINK WE NEED TO GET STARTED AND GET A REAL PLAN FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON ONE TEXAS CENTER.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT IS WHY THIS IS IN HERE TOO.
IT'S INTEGRALLY LINKED TO THE DECISION WE'RE MAKING NOW ABOUT KIND OF TAKING A PAUSE ON THE PERMANENT LOCATION FOR THE DAC AND TAKING A LOOK AT SOME, UM, SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT COULD BE MADE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING US THIS AMENDMENT.
AND I THINK YOU BROUGHT UP SOME REALLY GOOD TOPICS.
I'M, I'M THINKING THAT WITH WHAT THE MANAGER PROPOSED, MAYBE THERE'S A CHANCE FOR US TO ACTUALLY SIT DOWN SOONER THAN THREE MONTHS TO REALLY HEAR BACK SOME STAFF INITIALLY, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL RELATED ISSUES ARE RAISED, UH, INCLUDING THE DOC AND HIS LOCATION.
AND I THINK IN THAT CONTEXT, WE COULD ALSO SAY, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS, UH, ONE, UH, ONE TEXAS CENTER, UH, AS PART OF THAT CONVERSATION, BECAUSE IT, IT COULD BE THAT IT HAD EDITED INTERSECTS, UH, WITH SOME MEMBERS ON THE DIES, WANTING TO KEEP THE COURT THERE.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT IT MIGHT BE A WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
YOU'VE RAISED SOME, SOME ISSUES IN HERE THAT I THINK ARE, ARE, ARE STRONG AND, AND RELATE TO THE, THE ITEM AS IT WAS, AS IT WAS, AS IT WAS NOTICED.
UM, IN FACT, MOST OF THE, UH, AMENDMENTS THAT YOU PUT IN HERE, UH, ARE THINGS THAT I WOULD SUPPORT.
UH, THE ONE THAT I WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY SUPPORTING AS IT'S WRITTEN AS AN AMENDMENT, BUT COULD
[05:00:01]
SUPPORT IN THE CONTEXT OF SETTING THE WORK SESSION IS, IS ASKING FOR THE COUNCIL TO DECIDE THAT THE PRIMARY USE OF ONE TEXAS CENTER WOULD BE FOR, FOR HOUSING, BECAUSE I'M, I'M NOT SURE WE'RE THERE YET.AND, AND HAVEN'T QUITE HAD, I THINK THE CONVERSATION HAS SET UP FOR THAT IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH, AS YOU LAY IT OUT, THE RESOLUTION THAT, UH, 2020, UH, DASH OH FOUR, FOUR RESOLUTION THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND BRINGING THAT FORWARD, UH, TALKED ABOUT, UH, ONE TEXAS CENTER AND ASKING THE STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK AT A RANGE OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
IT DIDN'T IDENTIFY HOUSING OR THE COURT OR ANY PARTICULAR BENEFIT.
IT JUST HAD A RANGE OF, OF BENEFITS.
UH, IT DID SAY THAT IT WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT BUILDING WITH SYNERGIES, WITH THE RE WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE STATESMAN TRACK.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, UH, BUT WE SHOULD CERTAINLY MAKE THAT PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
WE SHOULD HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH ONE TEXAS CENTER.
I JUST DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE READY TO DECIDE THAT TODAY.
WE REALLY WEREN'T NOTICED TO DECIDE THAT QUESTION TODAY.
UH, BUT I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO, TO LET STAFF PULL DOWN, I THINK THIS ITEM, UH, BUT TO COME BACK TO US WITH A DATE CERTAIN WHEN WE CAN HAVE THAT WORK SESSION, UH, THEN, THEN EVERYBODY ON COUNCIL CAN, CAN REACH OUT TO YOU TO, UM, UM, UH, INDICATE, UH, ALL THE ISSUES THAT, THAT WE SHOULD RAISE IN THAT FORUM.
AND THEN THERE, ONCE WE SEE THOSE ISSUES AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION, WE MIGHT HAVE A REAL GOOD IDEA, WHETHER YOU CAN COME BACK IN THREE MONTHS OR NINE MONTHS, DEPENDING ON WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ASKED TO BE SOLVED.
BUT I DO AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO THAT IF WE COULD GET A DATE CERTAIN NOW TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, UM, I THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO, TO, TO DO THAT.
I THINK I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING, BUT FIRST I WANT TO ADDRESS THE ONE TEXAS CENTER QUESTION.
SO WE PASSED A SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT VISION PLAN, WHICH SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES ONE TEXAS CENTER AS HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ALL OF OUR TOURS DISCUSSIONS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THAT SITE.
THE RESOLUTION I TALKED ABOUT THAT I BROUGHT TALKED ABOUT COMMUNITY BENEFITS, BUT IT WAS THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AS ARTICULATED IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, WHICH WAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, IN ADDITION TO OTHER USES ON THAT TRACK, WE'VE ALSO GOTTEN BACK MEMOS FROM THE STAFF TALKING ABOUT FUNDING OPTIONS FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON ONE TEXAS CENTER.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO, IF WE WANT TO PAUSE AND TAKE, YOU KNOW, A VERY CONCRETE VOTE ON WHETHER THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE CERTAINLY COULD, BUT, BUT I DO THINK THE COUNCIL HAS IN MULTIPLE WAYS AND IN MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS AFFIRMED THAT THAT WAS PART OF THE INTENT FOR ONE TEXAS CENTER.
UM, I HEAR YOUR, YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE NOTICED FOR THIS AS I LOOK OVER THE NOTICE FOR 13 AND 14, IT'S ABOUT REIMBURSING OURSELVES FROM PROCEEDS OF OBLIGATION OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
IT'S, UH, IT'S ABOUT INCREASING, INCREASING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING RENOVATIONS, NONE OF THOSE SPEAK TO OPERATIONAL ISSUES EITHER.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT BEYOND, UM, WHAT WE WERE POSTED FOR, BUT I THINK THAT'S, I FEEL LIKE I'M PRETTY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT SINCE IT'S DIRECTION AND NOT AN AMENDMENT TO AN ACTION.
UM, AND SO I'M AS COMFORTABLE WITH THE ONE TEXAS CENTER DIRECTION AS I AM WITH THE DIRECTION YOU BROUGHT ABOUT THE OPERATIONAL REVISION.
HAVING SAID THAT, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PASS THE DIRECTION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MY CONCERN IS THAT WE COULD SCHEDULE A WORK SESSION.
I HOPE WE WILL FOR OUR NEXT WORK SESSION TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
UH, BUT IF WE'RE ASKING THE, THE DAC FOLKS TO CONVENE SOME OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, TO HEAR THEIR FEEDBACK AND TO REALLY GET SERIOUS ABOUT WHAT SATELLITE LOCATIONS ARE GOING TO BE LIKE, I DON'T, I DON'T REALLY WANT THEM TO WAIT FOR THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO HAPPEN.
CAUSE I WANT TO SEE FORWARD PROGRESS AS I, YOU KNOW, AS WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGED THIS HAS BEEN MULTIMODAL, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE YEARS.
UM, AND NOW THEY'RE KIND OF BEING ASKED TO TWEAK, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR OPERATIONAL SYSTEM FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
AND SO I THINK THAT WORK SHOULD JUST BEGIN.
SO I, SO I, SO I, I HEAR WHAT YOU SAY, AND IN ORDER FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON, UH, WHETHER OR NOT TO SPEND MONEY TO USE THIS LOCATION INVOLVES A CERTAIN CONSIDERATION OF PROGRAMMING, WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THAT PLACE? UH, AND IN ORDER FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHETHER WE NEED 500 SQUARE FEET OR 5,000 SQUARE FEET, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT THAT BODY'S GOING TO BE DOING.
AND IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONSIDERING CHANGING HOW THAT BODY WORKS AND WHERE ITS CASEWORKERS ARE, WHETHER THEY'RE DOWNTOWN OR WHETHER THEY'RE, THEY'RE MORE DISTRIBUTED, THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE PROGRAMMING.
SO I CAN'T VOTE ON 13 AND 14 AND 34 UNTIL I KNOW THE PROGRAMMING AND THOSE QUESTIONS GO TO
[05:05:01]
HOW MUCH SPACE DO WE NEED AS OPPOSED TO A DECISION TODAY THAT WOULD DIRECT US TO SAY THAT ONE TEXAS CENTER SHOULD BE PRIMARILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH WE COULD CERTAINLY DO, BUT WE HAVE NEVER DONE A, THE RESOLUTION SPEAKS TO WIDE RANGE OF USES.THE WATERFRONT PLAN TALKS TO A WIDE RANGE OF USES.
IT TALKS ABOUT SYNERGIES WITH RESPECT TO ONE PARTICULAR TRACK THAT GETS CALLED OUT.
UH, WE HAVEN'T HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THOSE USES, AND I WOULD FEEL REAL UNCOMFORTABLE IF SOMEONE WANTED TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT AMENDMENT.
IF WE WERE GOING TO DECIDE THAT THIS MEETING WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT WOULD BE AN ORDER FOR SOMEONE TO AMEND THAT MOTION TO SAY, NO, I THINK IT SHOULD BE THE HOME FOR THE DAC.
AND I WOULD FEEL REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR US DOING THAT WITHOUT HAVING PROVIDED NOTICE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, IMMEDIATELY AROUND THAT BUILDING THAT WE MIGHT BE CONSIDERING THAT ONE OF THE REASONS I LIKE WHAT THE MANAGER HAS PROPOSED IS THAT IT DOESN'T REQUIRE US TO HAVE TO DECIDE THAT ISSUE BECAUSE BY PULLING THIS DOWN AND ASKING FOR A WORK SESSION THAT, UH, WE WOULD BE SETTING UP WITH A DATE, CERTAIN WHERE WE COULD BRING IN ALL OF THOSE ISSUES, WE DON'T HAVE TO DECIDE THAT, THAT LEGAL QUESTION, AND I DON'T HAVE TO RULE ON, ON WHAT LEADS TO THE POSTING REQUIREMENT, OR DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PROPOSED THE REQUIREMENT, RECOGNIZING THAT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE DISAGREEMENT ON THAT.
SO I THINK, AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE, BUT PERHAPS THIS ALSO KIND OF GETS BACK TO SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD ABOUT HOW BEST TO USE OUR CITY OWN TRACKS THAT ARE DOWNTOWN AND WHETHER OR NOT TO USE THOSE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND SO I THINK PERHAPS, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO RESTATE WHAT I SAID, BUT WE HAVE IN SO MANY WAYS IN SO MANY CONVERSATIONS TALKED ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THAT TRACK.
UM, AND I AM GOING TO HOPE THAT THERE ARE THREE OTHER COLLEAGUES OR EVENTUALLY SIX, BUT AT LEAST THREE OTHERS WHO WILL HELP ME PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN RESOLVE IT IF THERE'S ANY QUESTION.
BUT I, I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT DOES NOT DEVELOP AS JUST HIGH-DOLLAR LUXURY HOUSING.
AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO STEP UP IF WE'RE GOING TO ASK OTHER TRACKS IN THAT, IN THAT AREA TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT THAT THEY'RE DOING.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO USE OUR CITY ON TRACK TO DO THE SAME.
SO, UM, I WILL, I WILL, UM, JUST BRING THAT FORWARD SEPARATELY.
IS THERE, IS THERE AN OBJECTION AT THIS POINT ASKING THE MANAGER TO, TO CHECK IT, TO SEE IF YOU CAN, BY TOMORROW OR MONDAY, GET A DATE, CERTAIN THAT WE CAN HAVE A WORK SESSION ON THIS ISSUE.
UM, COLLEAGUES CAN GO TO THE MESSAGE BOARD OR DIRECTLY TO YOU TO SAY, THESE ARE ISSUES THAT WE WANT TO HAVE DISCUSSED.
UH, AND YOU CAN EITHER BRING THIS IN IFC HAS HARD TOE, OR YOU COULD, AND IT'S NOT A CHOICE YOU CAN DO BOTH IF YOU WANT IT TO, TO, TO SAY AS PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE DO WITH ONE TEXAS.
I'M GOING TO BRING IT AS AN IFC, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD SO MANY CONVERSATIONS, BUT CLEARLY THAT WASN'T REGARDED AS DEFINITIVE ENOUGH.
SO I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND BRING THAT AS AN IFC.
I WOULD SAY MAYOR, JUST BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POINT THOUGH, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT DELAYING.
IF WE ARE GOING TO EVENTUALLY ASK THE DAC TO CONVENE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO TALK ABOUT OPERATIONS.
I JUST WONDER IF THAT WORK SHOULDN'T GET STARTED, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, UM, ABSENT ANY DIRECTION.
AND SO JUST SCHEDULING THE WORK SESSIONS.
PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS ON, ON KIND OF THAT PLAN OF ATTACK COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
I'M FINE WITH THAT PLAN OF ATTACK, I WOULD ENCOURAGE, AND I THINK CITY MANAGER, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT THE DAC HAS THE ABILITY TO GO AHEAD AND INITIATE THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE ALL IDENTIFIED AS IMPORTANT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE THE BEST FUTURE FOR THE DAC.
UM, AND AS WELL AS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE ENTITIES THAT MAY HAVE OFFERED TO, TO LEND EXPERTISE OR, OR ALSO BE A RESOURCE FOR THEM.
SO I, I THINK I'M HEARING US SAY THAT WE'RE SETTING OUT A PATH FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THESE VARIOUS THINGS, BUT THAT THE DAC HAS AUTHORIZED TO GO AHEAD AND BEGIN THIS KIND OF ANALYSIS WITHIN THEIR OWN SCOPE IMMEDIATELY.
IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? ABSOLUTELY.
AND CERTAINLY AS PART OF EVEN BACKGROUND TO CURATING THE WORK SESSION ITSELF, THAT TYPE OF ENGAGEMENT WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WOULD BE IMPORTANT.
SO WE COULD HAVE SOME OF THAT INFORMATION AS PART OF THAT DISCUSSION.
I AGREE WITH THAT TIMING AS WELL.
IN FACT, THAT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD INFORMATION FOR YOU TO GET BACK TO THE, TO THE COUNCIL.
THERE ARE PEOPLE, PEOPLE ARE OKAY WITH THAT.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TAKE, I DON'T KNOW, IT'S NOT JUDICIAL NOTICE MANAGERIAL NOTICE OF ALL THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEEN PUT IN THESE, BECAUSE AT THE VERY LEAST WE WANT
[05:10:01]
THESE THINGS, UH, ADDRESSED, UH, COUNSELOR KELLY COUNCIL, AND THEN THE MAYOR PRO TEM.I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR IN CASE MY COMMENTS EARLIER MAY HAVE SUGGESTED OTHERWISE I AM IN SUPPORTIVE, MOVING THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT AND UTILIZING ONE TEXAS CENTER FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, IT'S JUST ENSURING THAT WHEREVER IT DOES GO, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A MISCONCEPTION THAT IT'S GOING TO MAKE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD IN AN AWFUL PLACE BECAUSE IT WON'T DO THAT AT ALL.
AND I AM STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THAT.
SO IF I CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT IFC, PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE AND LET ME KNOW.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT POINT ABOUT, ABOUT THE OPERATIONS AND HOW SUCCESSFULLY, UM, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT HAS WORKED WITH HIS NEIGHBORS AND, AND WORKED WITH OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE USING THEIR SERVICES, MAYOR PRO TEM.
AND THEN YOU GUYS GO, THANK YOU.
UM, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AND I ALSO WANT TO JUST, WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE LEASE FOR ISO AND OUR FACILITIES MASTER PLAN, UM, IN ORDER FOR US TO MOVE FROM LEASE TO OWN CENTER, LEASE TO OWN PROPERTIES.
UM, ONE TEXAS CENTER IS A LINCHPIN IN THAT PROCESS, WHETHER IT IS, UM, THE LOCATION FOR THE OFFICES OR IF IT'S THE STAGING PLACE OR WHATNOT.
UM, AND WE REALLY CAN'T LOSE SIGHT OF THAT.
WE DO NEED TO HAVE STAFF DOWNTOWN, UM, AND IT IS NOT EASY TO BUY PROPERTIES DOWNTOWN AND DO OTHER OTHER THINGS.
AND, AND I'M NOT, WE DON'T HAVE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS MY UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR PLANS DO HAVE THAT.
UM, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE CITY OFFICE SPACE THERE.
UM, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT LOSING TOUCH WITH THAT.
AND, UM, THERE WAS A QUITE AN ELABORATE PLAN OF SEQUENCING AND TIMING THAT OUR STAFF HAD BEEN WORKING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME THAT IS DERAILED BY THIS WHOLE PROCESS IN SOME REALLY SIGNIFICANT WAYS WITH SOME FISCAL IMPLICATIONS.
UM, SO I WANTED TO INVITE, UM, CEL LAVARUS OR MR. VINNY, YOU KNOW, TO COME UP AND YOU, CAN YOU PROVIDE US A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE CONTEXT THAT WE NEED TO KNOW AT THIS POINT, UM, AND THINK ABOUT AS WE GO AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION AND NOT CLOSE IT OUT, BUT I DON'T WANNA, I DON'T WANT US TO WALK AWAY THINKING WE CAN JUST MAKE ONE TEXAS CENTER, ALL RESIDENTIAL AND WE'VE SOLVED ALL OUR PROBLEMS. UM, AND YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IMPLYING THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I HEARD.
IT DOESN'T SAY THE PRIMARY USE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU MAY NOT HAVE MEANT THAT, BUT THAT IS WHAT I HEARD.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE CLEAR.
UM, SO STAFF HAVE SOME SENSE OF WHERE TO GO.
UM, BUT I WOULD JUST INVITE YOU TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT HERE.
I MEAN, THE NUMBER, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE CAN SAVE AND MOVE TO, UM, DEBT FINANCING, ET CETERA, IS PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY GIVEN OUR, OUR CHALLENGES, UM, IS PROBABLY EVEN GREATER NOW.
AND, AND IF WE DON'T MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION SOON, IT'S GOING TO COST EVEN MORE.
UH, SO MR. MANDINO, CAN YOU SPEAK TO, I APPRECIATE IT.
I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION AND I, I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A WORK SESSION TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES MORE.
I THINK THESE ARE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING IN ONE-OFF CONVERSATIONS HERE OR THERE, AND I THINK A WORK SESSION, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THEM ALTOGETHER.
CERTAINLY ON ONE TEXAS CENTER, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION WITH COUNSEL ABOUT USING THAT SITE AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT USING IT FOR NEW MUNICIPAL OFFICE SPACE AS PART OF OUR LONGTERM STRATEGIC FACILITIES GOALS OF GETTING OUT OF LEASE SPACE, WHICH IS EXPENSIVE OVER TIME AND MOVING INTO CITY OWNED SPACE.
WE'VE SEEN GREAT SUCCESS WITH THE PLANNING DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND WE'VE SEEN GREAT SUCCESS WITH THE AUSTIN ENERGY BUILDING AND TRYING TO GET ANOTHER MUNICIPAL OFFICE BUILDING OF THAT, OF THAT QUALITY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, UM, TO PROVIDE OWNED, UM, OFFICE SPACE.
SO WE CAN START MOVING OUT OF OUR LEASES.
IT'S ALL A TANGLED WEB OF HOW WE MAKE THAT WORK.
AND I'M CERTAINLY GETTING STAFF, GETTING, GETTING OUR CURRENT STAFF OUT OF ONE TEXAS CENTER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO WE CAN THEN PLAN FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT SITE IS PART OF THAT.
UM, AND SO, UH, WE ARE DOING THINGS RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE WORKING WITH AUSTIN ENERGY ON THE OLD HEADQUARTERS ABOUT HOW WE CAN USE THAT AS A TRANSITIONAL FACILITY TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF ONE TEXAS CENTER.
WE NEED TO GET THE DAC OUT OF ONE TEXAS CENTER THAT ALLOWS US TO REDEVELOP THAT SITE FOR BOTH MUNICIPAL PURPOSES AND POTENTIALLY HOUSING PURPOSES.
THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE HAVE TO HAVE WITH THE CITY OF COUNCIL, OF COURSE, BUT THAT'S DEFINITELY, WE'RE WE'RE STAFF IS, IS GOING WITH, UM, WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING ON THIS HEART.
AND I APOLOGIZE IF IT FEELS LIKE WE'VE BEEN PUSHING TOO MUCH, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE WE'VE TAKEN THE DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL.
AS RECENTLY AS THE LAST BUDGET SAYING WE WANT DAC AND A PERMANENT FACILITY BY THE, BY MAY OF 2023, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT, RIGHT? THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST LOCATION WE'VE PROPOSED TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONTROVERSY ABOUT WHERE WE RELOCATE THE DECK.
SO, YOU KNOW, I DID WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY SOME OF THE GOALS THAT COUNCIL HAS GIVEN TO STAFF
[05:15:01]
TO TRY TO, TO TRY TO GET THE DOCK INTO A PERMANENT LOCATION.PROBABLY AREN'T GOING TO BE ACHIEVABLE.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING OUR BEST TO ACHIEVE THEM.
UM, BUT IT IS ALL, IT IS ALL TIED UP.
IF WE CAN'T, UM, FIND A PLACE TO PUT THE DAC, UM, SOONER THAN LATER, THEN THAT'S GOING TO DELAY THE ABILITY TO REDEVELOP THE ONE TEXAS CENTER SITE.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S TIMING OF WHEN ALL THESE SPACES THAT WE'RE LEASING, WHEN DID THOSE LEASES END? AND I CAN ANTICIPATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EXTEND SOME OF THOSE LEASES BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, THE TIMING'S NOT GOING TO WORK OUT AS WE HAD INITIALLY ANTICIPATED.
I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO HEAR THAT IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED EQUATION OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE ALL THIS WORK.
AND I THINK A WORK SESSION CONVERSATION WHERE WE CAN TRY TO GET IT ALL ON THE TABLE.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU ARE MISSING OLIVARES WOULD LIKE US TO KNOW ABOUT THE WORK THAT STAFF HAVE DONE? AND I WOULD ALSO EXTEND THAT TO THEIR DIRECTOR OF OUR COURT.
UH, WELL, I GUESS I'LL JUST SAY, AND I'LL LET HIM SPEAK TO, BUT JUST IN REGARDS TO THE MOTION SHEET, WE EMBRACE THIS NEW DIRECTION.
WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT DOING THE WORK.
IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE DIRECTION COUNCIL HAS GIVEN US PREVIOUSLY.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHERE COUNCIL IS GOING TO LAND ON IT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S ACHIEVABLE IN THREE MONTHS.
AND I, AND I DON'T MEAN THAT TO BE CONTROVERSIAL OR DISRESPECTFUL.
I JUST DON'T SEE THAT IT CAN BE DONE.
AND AGAIN, I WOULD EMBRACE DOING IT, BUT FOCUS GROUPS ALONE.
AND I THINK FOCUS, FOCUS GROUPS ARE A RESEARCH TOOL WHERE YOU BRING IN A, AN ACTUAL PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHER WHO DOES FOCUS GROUPS.
THEY'RE NOT JUST HAVING LIKE A TOWN MEETING AND WE TALK ABOUT IT.
UH, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
UM, YOU BRING IN A PROFESSIONAL, YOU WORK WITH THEM TO DESIGN THEM, YOU SET THEM UP AND IT TAKES TIME.
AND I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THIS KIND OF CONVERSATION, BUT DOING FOCUS GROUPS WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS, STAKEHOLDERS, NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE THE CENTER FOR COURT INNOVATION, IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME.
I MEAN, IT REALLY IS GOING TO TAKE TIME TO DO THOSE.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE, THE RIGHT APPROACH.
UM, YOU KNOW, FROM THERE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ABOUT HOW THE COURT OPERATES.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME THOUGH.
AND THEN LIKE THE MAYOR WAS SAYING, ONCE WE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW WE THINK THE COURT MIGHT OPERATE BETTER OR DIFFERENTLY, THAT'LL INFORM THE SPACE WE NEED, AND IT MIGHT BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT SPACE THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT.
AND IT'S BEEN MULTIPLE YEARS JUST TRYING TO FIND SPACE FOR THE COURT AS IT CURRENTLY OPERATES.
SO I THINK THAT, I THINK THIS IS GOOD DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE, I THINK, A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME JUST TRYING TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS.
AND IF THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING IS NOT USED, I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE THOSE RENOVATIONS HAVE TO HAPPEN.
SOME OF THOSE RENOVATIONS NEED TO HAPPEN ANYWAY.
RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, PART OF OUR, OUR PLANNING, IT'S, IT'S, THAT'S A BUILDING.
IF YOU HAVEN'T VISITED, IT'S BEAUTIFUL FROM THE OUTSIDE ON THE INSIDE, IT NEEDS SOME TLC REALLY BADLY.
UH, THE ELECTRICAL IS FROM THE 1920S, THE PLUMBING'S FROM THE 1920S, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF ISSUES WITH IT.
UM, IT HAS A SPECIALIST ISSUES.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT THE 27 MILLION.
YOU KNOW, WE THINK THE BUILDING IN IT'S JUST CURRENTLY, IT'S A WONDERFUL BUILDING, BUT IT'S OLD.
IT NEEDS ABOUT $22 MILLION OF RENOVATIONS.
AND THEN IT WAS ABOUT ANOTHER 5 MILLION TO RENT A UNIT TO MAKE ADDITIONAL CHANGES FOR THE COURT.
SO, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE MUNICIPAL COURT BUILDING, WE WOULD STILL, AS STAFF WANT TO PROCEED WITH TRYING TO MOVE THE EMPLOYEES, THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES ARE IN THAT BUILDING, UM, OVER TO TLC AS PART OF OUR BROADER STRATEGIC FACILITIES, GOVERNANCE PLAN.
I'M SORRY THAT THE TOWN LAKE CENTER, THE OLD HEADQUARTERS, SORRY FOR THE ACRONYMS. UM, THAT'S PART OF OUR PLAN.
WE'RE WORKING ON THAT CURRENTLY.
UM, AND, AND, AND THIS, THE FACILITY DEFINITELY NEEDS SOME LONG OVERDUE RENOVATIONS TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $22 MILLION, EVEN IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE AND JUST GETTING IT UP TO KIND OF MODERN DAY CODE.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE THERE'S A BIGGER DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE ULTIMATELY WANT TO DO WITH THAT FACILITY, YOU KNOW, CITY, OFFICE SPACES, MUNICIPAL COURT, OR COMMUNITY COURT OR, OR CULTURAL SPACES.
I TOURED THE DECK, UH, THE OTHER DAY, UH, AND, UH, WITH, UH, THE DIRECTOR AND IT WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH OPERATIONS, BUT SIR, HOLD ON.
DO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU? I'M SO SORRY.
I WENT TO ASK ABOUT MR. OH, THAT'S TO COME UP IF HE HAD ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO ADD, BUT WE CAN COME BACK TO IT AFTER YOU'RE DONE.
UM, I'VE GOT A CREDIT ALSO, I GUESS IT'S A BUILDING SERVICES DEPARTMENT THAT, THAT YOU NEEDED TO FINISH OUT FOR THE COMMUNITY COURT ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
I AM A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY.
I'VE BEEN TO THE PRIOR, UH, ADDRESS LOCATION THERE ON SIXTH AND RED RIVER.
I MEAN, AND IT IS NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE.
IT'S IN A SPACIOUS, BEAUTIFUL LOCATION.
THEY HAVE THERE AT THE FIRST FLOOR OF ONE PART IN CENTER.
UH, UH, JUST, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED.
I WAS ALSO WITH PART OF IN MY,
[05:20:01]
MY, UH, NOT INAUGURATION, BUT MY, UH, ONBOARDING WITH THE CITY.WE WENT TO THE HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT UPON, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE SIXTH FLOOR, UH, ONE BARTON CENTER.
IT SEEMS LIKE AN EXCELLENT BUILDING.
THAT'S IN GOOD SHAPE, UH, WITH THAT YOUR ASSESSMENT, OR WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF ONE BARTON CENTER BUILDING OVER HERE? ONE TEXAS CENTER.
I'M SORRY, ONE TEXAS CENTER, ONE TEXAS CENTER.
UM, IT'S NOT A GREAT FACILITY, REALLY.
I MEAN, OUR PLAN WOULD BE TO COMPLETELY REMOVE THAT FACILITY AND TO REBUILD NEW MUNICIPAL SPACES THERE AND, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING USES THERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, RENOVATING, IT COULD ALSO BE DONE.
I MEAN, I THINK IF YOU'RE ON THE FIRST FLOOR, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A, YOU KNOW, MAYBE DECENT FACILITY, THERE'S BEEN SOME RENOVATIONS THERE, BUT, UM, WHEN YOU GET INSIDE THE BUILDING, IT'S KIND OF AWKWARD.
IT'S NOT THE MOST CONDUCIVE FOR OFFICE SPACE, SO IT'S NOT THE IDEAL FACILITY FOR WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO WITH THAT SPACE.
WE THINK, UM, A COMPLETE TEAR DOWN AND REBUILD, UM, PARTICULARLY, UM, IN LINE WITH THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT VISION AND, AND, UM, UM, STYLE OF BUILDING SOMETHING.
BUT WHAT WOULD BE OUR RECOMMENDED APPROACH? WHAT'S THE AGE OF, UH, OF ONE TEXAS CENTER.
PEOPLE ARE GUESSING THE EIGHTIES, BUT WE CAN LOOK THAT UP FOR YOU REALLY, AND NO PROBLEM.
AND, AND, AND JUST WHILE SHE'S LOOKING THAT UP BY A APPRECIATED AMERICAN TIM'S COMMENTS, I WAS GOING TO MAKE THE SAME COMMENT, UH, OF YOUR ITEM 40 SUGGESTIONS, WHERE I, YOU KNOW, I, WE HAVE, AGAIN, IN MY VIEW, AGAIN, I'M NOT A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT A PERFECTLY FUNCTIONAL, UH, OFFICE BUILDING THERE AT ONE TEXAS CENTER, UH, THAT SEEMS TO BE UNDERUSED, OR IT SEEMS TO BE LIKE, I KNOW WE'VE MOVED A LOT OF FOLKS OUT OF THERE AND IT, AND AGAIN, FROM MY NOT PROFESSIONAL POINT OF VIEW, I SURE FEEL LIKE WE COULD TERMINATE SOME LEASES AND PUT FOLKS BACK IN THERE.
AND AGAIN, I SAY THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE THREE AND A HALF PERCENT REVENUE CAMPS, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FORWARD TO TOUGH, UH, BUDGET YEARS, UH, AND, AND JUST REALLY TRYING TO PINCH EVERY PENNY WE CAN SO THAT WE CAN WORK ON, YOU KNOW, PARKS AND HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AND, UH, AND, AND CRIME PREVENTION AND ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO, UM, SO I WOULD BE AGAIN IN SUPPORT OF A, OF A DELAY TO KIND OF WORK SOME MORE OF THESE THINGS OUT AND FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
AND AGAIN, JUST ANOTHER QUICK COMMENT.
I DID HAVE, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, UH, AND JUST KIND OF GIVE A QUICK WALK AROUND.
THAT'S A GORGEOUS BUILDING, UH, FROM THE OUTSIDE, AGAIN, JUST IT'S ITS ARCHITECTURE, ITS LOCATION.
UH, I DID NOT REALIZE, UH, UNTIL I SAW THE PLAQUES OUTSIDE THE BUILDING THAT IT WAS, THAT WAS THE SITE OF THE FIRST TEXAS CAPITOL.
UH, SO IT'S AN EXTREMELY HISTORIC BUILDING.
AND TO ME, THAT SITE JUST LENDS ITSELF TO SOME KIND OF ADAPTIVE REUSE.
UH, I THINK ABOUT, AGAIN, THESE ARE NOT ON POINT, BUT THE PEARL BREWERY IN SAN ANTONIO, I THINK ABOUT THE, THE FERRY BUILDING IN SAN FRANCISCO ALONG THE EMBARCADERO THERE, UH, UH, UH, I THINK OF AN ART MUSEUM, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS A, UH, ART MUSEUM.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IN THINKING ABOUT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING IS I THINK THOSE KINDS OF USES COULD ATTRACT PRIVATE FUNDS, UH, WHEREAS OBVIOUSLY KIND OF CITY OFFICE BUILDINGS, NO, ONE'S GOING TO BE DONATING MONEY TO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO BUILD A CITY OFFICE BUILDING.
BUT I THINK WE COULD GET A SUBSTANTIAL DONATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO TURN IT INTO AN ART MUSEUM OR MAYBE A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO TURN IT INTO AGAIN, FOOD COURT IS A WRONG WORD, BUT LIKE, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF MORE CULTURAL PUBLIC VENUE.
UH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THOSE TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES.
SO CAN I JUST FINISH HEARING FROM MR. VALDEZ? OKAY, WE'LL GO BACK TO MR. VALDEZ TO, TO KIND OF CLOSE THIS OUT.
THE COUNCIL HAS REMINDED ME THAT WE'RE HAVING AN EXTENDED CONVERSATION NOW ON SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY GOES BEYOND WOODWARD.
NOTICE TO TALK ABOUT MR. VALDEZ, IF YOU WANTED TO ADD ANY FURTHER COMMENTS THAT I'M GOING TO JUST ANNOUNCE THAT THIS ITEM IS WITHDRAWN AND MANAGER, IF BY TOMORROW OR MONDAY, YOU CAN HAVE A SCHEDULE WHEN THAT WORKS, AS SHE WILL BE ON OUR CALENDARS.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS EXCEPT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PRESENTING ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU'D LIKE, THANK YOU.
THE RECORD WILL REFLECT THAT THESE ITEMS 13, 14 AND 34 WITHDRAWN MAYER.
SINCE WE, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY YESTERDAY TO TALK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA, ABOUT SOME OF HIS IDEAS.
AND I THINK HAVING CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS DOWNTOWN IS ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE.
[05:25:01]
ONGOING CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD WITH TRAVIS COUNTY TO SUPPORT THEIR ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE PALM SCHOOL, WHICH I THINK IS ALSO SOMETHING I'M GOING TO START.I UNDERSTAND WE'RE NOT POSTED FOR THAT CONVERSATION, BUT LET ME JUST SAY THAT CONTINUES TO BE A PRIORITY OF MINE.
AND I KNOW OTHERS ON THIS DIET SHARE THAT.
AND BOY, I LOOK FORWARD COUNCIL MEMBER VELA TO YOU HELPING US RAISE PRIVATE FUNDING FOR THAT.
IF, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION TRAVIS COUNTY WANTS TO GO ON THAT.
ALL RIGHT, BUT THOSE EYES ARE WITHDRAWN.
GET US A WORK SESSION, AND THEN EVERYBODY SHOULD JUST IDENTIFY ALL THE ISSUES THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIT THE NETWORK SESSION.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE MOVING THROUGH THE AGENDA.
UH, 37 WAS POSTPONED THAT GETS US UP TO 52 55 AND 57.
AND THEN BASICALLY THE TWO ZONING CASES,
[52. Authorize negotiation and execution of agreements with 17 social service agencies listed in the Recommendation for Action for community-based social services and capacity building to area youth in an amount not to exceed $6,727,158 for a 15-month term beginning July 1, 2022, with four 12-month extension options each in an amount not to exceed $5,577,331, for a total agreement amount not to exceed $29,036,482 divided among the agencies.]
52, UH, CHASM, OUR ALTAR.UM, SO 52 IS A KIND OF A BUNDLE OF CONTRACTS FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS THROUGH APH, UM, IN THE Q AND A, I ASKED, UM, FOR DETAILS ON THE 17 CONTRACTS IN TERMS OF, IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, UM, THAT WE WERE OFFERING AND WHAT THE, THE PROGRAMS WERE WE'RE COVERING, UM, IN THE PROCESS, UM, DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT FUNDING CUT TO AISD PROGRAMS FOR OUR YOUTH.
UM, ABOUT A THIRD, IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT IT, UM, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IN HERE, BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME COVID ADJUSTMENT.
UM, SO I PASSED OUT THE SHEET THAT WAS, UM, PROVIDED IN THE Q AND A EARLIER TODAY.
UM, BUT I WANT TO SHARE SOME FACTS AS I UNDERSTAND THEM AT THIS POINT.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, COUNSEL HAS CONSISTENTLY DIRECTED THROUGH OUR ANNUAL BUDGET ADOPTION AND PRIOR RESOLUTIONS, UM, THAT WE WANTED TO INVEST IN AISD, PRIMETIME, VICTORY TUTORIAL, AND PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST PROGRAMS. AND WE'VE SPECIFIED THOSE DOLLAR AMOUNTS.
AND WE'VE ALSO SPECIFIED THAT THEY SHOULD BE ONGOING AMOUNTS.
UM, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT HAS BEEN JUST OVER 1.6 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR THE PRIME TIME PROGRAM WHERE WE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM, IT WOULD MEAN A REDUCTION IN OUR HISTORICAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR ASTS PRIMETIME OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM BY A THIRD.
UM, AND THERE'S NO WAY THAT I CAN IMAGINE WHERE SUCH AN OUTCOME WOULD RESULT WOULD NOT RESULT IN A CUT OF SERVICES, UM, FOR KIDS.
AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHERE THAT WOULD NOT RESULT IN WHOLE CAMPUSES BEING REMOVED FROM THE PROGRAM.
UM, THIS WAS NOT CLEAR TO ME UNTIL WE SAW THE RESPONSES BACK IN THE Q AND A, UM, AND WE WERE ABLE THEN TO COMPARE THE AWARD AMOUNTS WITH WHAT THEY HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY BEEN AWARDED.
UM, AND I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT THE NUMBERS THAT ARE ON THAT CHART GIVE A RATHER FALSE IMPRESSION ABOUT THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CUTS TO PRIME TIME.
UM, BECAUSE LAST YEAR THEIR NEGOTIATED CONTRACT AMOUNT WAS MUCH LOWER THAN THE MOST HISTORICALLY CONSISTENT AWARD AMOUNT OF 1.6 MILLION, UM, DUE TO COVID.
SO COMPARING THE PROPOSED 1 MILLION AWARD AMOUNT TO LAST YEAR WOULD MINIMIZE HOW SIGNIFICANT A REDUCTION THIS WOULD BE AT A TIME THAT OUR CHILDREN REALLY DESPERATELY NEED THESE SERVICES.
UM, I WANT TO SAY THAT I KNOW THAT OUR STAFF SUPPORT KIDS AND OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS, AND I KNOW THEY WERE DOING THEIR BEST TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITH VERY LIMITED, LIMITED FUNDS.
UM, BUT I'M NOT ABLE TO SUPPORT AN ITEM TODAY THAT WOULD RESULT IN SUCH A MAGNITUDE OF CUTS
UM, SO I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT THE PRIMETIME AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROVIDE OUT OF SCHOOL TIME AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN AT TITLE ONE SCHOOLS.
THERE ARE ZERO SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT 10 THAT ARE SERVED BY THIS PROGRAM.
UM, SO THIS IS NOT A PAROCHIAL CONCERN.
I HAVE, IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL CONCERN ABOUT DOING RIGHT BY OUR KIDS, WHICH IS A GOAL THAT I KNOW THAT YOU ALL SHARE.
FROM WHAT I KNOW THIS PROGRAM CURRENTLY SERVES EIGHT SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT ONE, FOUR SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT TWO SEVEN SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT THREE TO SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT FIVE AND THREE SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT NINE.
UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ARRIVE AT A SOLUTION, UM, THAT GETS EVERYONE WHAT THEY WERE AWARDED THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
BUT I, I REALLY DO NEED TO TAKE SOME TIME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE CUTS TO THE ISD PROGRAMS. AND I NEED TO BE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE OTHER POTS SUCH AS OUR HARPER RESERVES THAT CAN BE USED TO MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT HARMED BY THIS, THESE CUTS.
UM I HAVE IN OUR CONVERSATIONS, WE LEARNED THAT STAFF HAS SAID THAT AISD HAS SOMETIMES UNDER SPENT THEIR AWARDS.
UM, BUT I'M NOT YET CONVINCED THAT THOSE NUMBERS MAKE THE CASE FOR THIS OUTCOME.
SOME OF THOSE UNDERSPENDS WERE DURING COVID AND OTHER YEARS THAT WERE OF A RELATIVELY SMALL MARGIN.
AND EVEN THOSE, UM, THIS AWARD MT WOULD STILL BE GIVING ASD
[05:30:01]
LESS THAN THEY WERE SPENDING ON THESE SERVICES, EVEN IN THE YEARS IMPACTED BY COVID WHEN THEY HAD THE HIGHEST DOLLAR AMOUNT OF UNSPENT FUNDS.UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE POSTPONE, UM, THIS ITEM TODAY SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS THIS FURTHER.
AND IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO JOIN ME IN THAT DISCUSSION, UH, WITH STAFF AND WITH AISD IN ORDER TO SAVE EVERYONE TIME, I THINK POSTPONING, IT WOULD BE THE BEST.
WELCOME YOUR, UM, INVOLVEMENT IN THAT PROCESS.
I'D LIKE TO POSTPONE IT JUST TWO WEEKS TO, TO THE APRIL 7TH AGENDA.
MOTION MADE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
WELL SECOND, UH, DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT COUNTS FOR A POOL.
SO THE POSTPONEMENT IS ONLY FOR THE FUNDS GOING TO PRIMETIME, OR IS IT FOR ALL OF THE, UM, ENTITIES ON THIS CHART? I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE FOR ALL OF THE ENTITIES BECAUSE YOU CAN'T.
I MEAN, I DON'T WISH TO, YOU KNOW, REDUCE OTHER CONTRACTS AMOUNTS OF MONEY, BUT I, I THERE'S SO MUCH HERE THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THAT I'M NOT REALLY COMFORTABLE.
UM, POSTPONING, JUST ONE CONTRACT AND THE ITEM IS FOR ALL 17.
WELL, WHAT I WAS THINKING IS RATHER THAN POSTPONING IT, COULD WE APPROVE IT AND THEN WORK ON THE PIECE THAT IS PRIME TIME AND FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
AND IF INDEED THEY NEED TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL BOOST OF FUNDS, THEN WE CAN, WE CAN ALLOCATE THAT.
BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOLDING UP EVEN IF IT'S ONLY FOR TWO WEEKS, UM, ALL OF THE DISPERSAL, CAUSE IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET THESE CONTRACTS NEGOTIATED OR NOT NEGOTIATED, BUT OUT IN, INTO THE F SENT OUT, RIGHT.
WE DO HAVE DIRECTOR STIR UP HERE TO SPEAK TO THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT POSTPONEMENT DR.
UM, YES, ADRIAN STIRRUP AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH.
THERE IS, UM, A PROCESS TO GET THE FUNDS DEPLOYED INTO COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, ANY TIME THAT WE COULD SAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY PROVIDING RESOURCES SO THAT KIDS CAN BE SERVED, WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
UM, ONE OTHER COMMENT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS, THESE AWARDS ARE THE RESULT OF A COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION.
UM, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE FUNDING BEING ALLOCATED TO AISD ACROSS THEIR APPLICATIONS, THEY ARE BEING AWARDED 44% OF THE TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THESE SERVICES.
SO I WOULD JUST GO BACK TO THE QUESTION TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM, IF, IF, IF THERE WERE A WAY THAT WE COULD PURSUE THE QUESTIONS THAT SHE HAS AND TRY TO RESOLVE THEM, BUT NOT SLOW DOWN THE DEPLOYMENT OF THESE FUNDS, BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE A MUCH LARGER IMPACT THAN JUST ON THE ONE FUND THAT IS BEING THAT YOU HAVE THE QUESTIONS ABOUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT THIS TO DEATH, BUT I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THE TWO WEEK IMPACT IS.
I MEAN, THESE CONTRACT DISCUSSIONS ARE NOWHERE NEAR DONE.
THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT THE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE EVEN AN, A KIND OF A GROSS SENSE FOR THE CONTRACTS WHEN WE ASKED THAT.
UM, SO I MEAN, I TH I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS THAT CAN HAPPEN.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE GIVING AWARDS TO ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND AGAIN, MY, I WOULD PERSONALLY PREFER TO FIND ANOTHER POT OF MONEY IF WE DECIDE WE WANT TO ADD IT.
BUT OUR CONCERN IS THAT THIS HAS BEEN PROVIDED AS, YOU KNOW, A LINE ITEM OF A CONTINUING AMOUNT OF MONEY SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE PROGRAMS. UM, IT IS UNCLEAR FROM THE RECORD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE THAT EVEN THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE HAD SAID, OKAY, GO AHEAD AND PUT THAT POT OF MONEY INTO THE COMPETITION.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A VOTE ON THAT.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS CLEAR IF THESE FUNDS WERE THERE.
IT MAY BE OUT OF THIS PORTION OF FUNDS, BUT MAYBE WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS IN THIS POT, YOU KNOW, IN THE FIRST PLACE.
UM, I DON'T HAVE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AISD WASN'T EVEN AWARE THIS WAS ON THE AGENDA TODAY UNTIL WE BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION.
WE WERE GIVEN AN RCA THAT DIDN'T HAVE AMOUNTS THAT WERE GOING TO THESE CONTRACTS OR WHAT WAS BEING CONTRACTED, JUST THE NAMES OF THE ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I'M GOING TO FIND ABOUT THESE CONTRACTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, I, I GUESS WE COULD, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER NEGOTIATING THE OTHER ONES AND NOT EXECUTING, BUT I, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DISCOVER IN THE NEXT TWO
[05:35:01]
WEEKS SINCE I'VE ALREADY DISCOVERED QUITE A BIT TODAY, THAT GAVE ME A LOT OF, A LOT OF PAUSE AND IT MAY BE THAT THERE'S THINGS FOR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.I DON'T KNOW IF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS KNEW THIS WAS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO GIVE AS MUCH FUNDING AS WE, TO YOUTH PROGRAMS, AND THESE ARE ALL GREAT ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, BUT SOMETHING IS, I JUST NEED MORE INFORMATION HERE AS OUR KITCHEN.
UH, I, I RESPECT THE DESIRE FOR MORE INFORMATION THAT MAKES SENSE AND ASKING FOR TIME FOR THAT.
UH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I I'M, I'M, I'M PARTIAL TO COUNCIL MEMBER POOL'S SUGGESTION BECAUSE I, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS.
UM, I HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED DOLLARS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO.
UM, I ALSO SUPPORT THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE LISTED HERE.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS A PROCESS THAT IS NOT A COUNCIL PROCESS.
IT IS A COMPETITIVE PROCESS THAT GOES THROUGH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
NOW IT IS OUR, IT IS OUR DUTY TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT PROCESS AND UNDERSTAND THE RESULTS OF IT.
AND SO WE NEED THE TIME TO DO THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR US TO JUST INTERVENE WITHOUT DOING SO BY SAYING THAT THERE'S EITHER SOME PROBLEM WITH THE PROCESS, OR WE'VE DECIDED THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR POLICY REASONS, WE WANT A CERTAIN ENTITY TO HAVE CERTAIN DOLLARS.
BUT WHAT I DON'T, WHAT I'M REALLY KIND OF UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IS, IS PUTTING ALL OF THESE AGENCIES THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS, AND THEN SAYING, SAYING WE'RE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH RESULTS WITHOUT DOING THAT BASED ON, BASED ON SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS OVER THE YEARS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO HAVE AN OBJECTIVE PROCESS THROUGH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT REALLY LOOKS AT, UM, THAT REALLY LOOKS AT, UH, YOU KNOW, CRITERIA AND RESULTS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
AND I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT MAYOR PER TIM, THAT YOU MAY BE FEELING LIKE THAT PROCESS WASN'T ACCOMPLISHED APPROPRIATELY.
THAT'S THE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD BE ASKING.
UM, AND I WANT TO ALLOW THE, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ALLOW FOR THE TIME TO DO THAT, BUT I ALSO WANT TO BE REALLY CAREFUL THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS RESPECTING THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND IF IT DOESN'T PRODUCE THE RESULTS WE WANT FOR A PARTICULAR ENTITY, THEN LET'S ADD MORE MONEY.
AND LET'S JUST SPECIFY THAT WE WANT THAT ENTITY TO HAVE MORE MONEY, BUT I'M UNCOMFORTABLE SAYING THAT THE REST OF THESE ENTITIES HAVE TO WAIT.
UM, SO I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POOL'S SUGGESTION ABOUT MOVING FORWARD, UH, WITH THE PROPOSAL FROM OUR, OUR CITY STAFF EXAMINING WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND THEN I'M HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, SUGGEST MORE DOLLARS IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE, BUT I'M VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH SUGGESTING TAKING THEM AWAY FROM ANY OF THESE OTHER ENTITIES THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
YES, I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM OUR DIRECTOR DIRECTOR SYRUP ON A TWO WEEK DELAY IN ANY IMPACTS THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF.
UM, AFTER I MADE MY FIRST STATEMENT, GOOD TO HAVE YOUR PHONE HANDY STAFF, UM, HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH ME AND BECAUSE THE START DATE FOR THESE CONTRACTS IS SET AT JULY 1ST, UM, WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THE TIMELINE IF THE COUNCIL FEELS THAT THEY NEED TIME TO DISCUSS.
SO, BUT WE, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS WRAPPED UP BY APRIL 7TH SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS, SOMETIMES IT'S LENGTHY, AND WE WANT TO GIVE THE ORGANIZATIONS THE TIME THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THE TERMS AS WELL AS THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT WE'RE REQUIRING OF THEM.
AND WITH THAT, I AM SUPPORTIVE, UH, OF A POSTPONEMENT.
I DO THINK IT'S WORTH US TAKING A LOOK AT IT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS MAYOR PRO TEM.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO JOIN YOU IN ON THOSE MEETINGS, UM, BECAUSE THIS MIGHT INFORM ANY BUDGET DIRECTION THAT WE OFFER LATER ON THIS YEAR.
I'M ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN HOW WE SOLICIT AND THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.
AND IF WE NEED TO DO THAT ON THE FRONT END, I THINK IT'S WORTH COUNCIL HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WHEN DURING THE UPCOMING BUDGET PROCESS, ESPECIALLY I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT EQUITY AND KNOWING THAT, UM, WE HAVE ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT GETTING 44% OF OUR YOUTH PROGRAM FUNDING.
I THINK THAT ALSO BEGS THE QUESTION OF EQUITY AMONGST OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, THAT WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ALSO SUPPORTING AS MANY OF US HAVE YOUTH AND CHILDREN IN OUR DISTRICTS THAT GO TO OTHER DISTRICTS AS WELL.
[05:40:01]
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MANAGER THAT, UH, AND I APPRECIATE THE COLLEAGUES THAT ARE WILLING TO, TO, TO GET IN THERE AND TO HELP DEVELOP THE INFORMATION THAT THE INFORMATION DEVELOPED GETS CIRCULATED AMONG ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AS IT'S DEVELOPED.SO THAT WE'RE ALL STAYING, UH, UH, CURRENT BEFORE I ASK IF PEOPLE ARE OKAY WITH JUST MOVING THIS TO THE SEVENTH, GIVEN, UM, THE, WHICH IS THE QUESTION I'LL ASK YOU IN JUST A SECOND, LET'S GO, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL CONCEPT NUMBER THREE, I THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON DIRECTOR STIRRUP STATEMENT ABOUT ALL OF THE GROUPS AND THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
ARE YOU INTENDING TO RE-ENGAGE WITH EVERYBODY THAT'S ON THIS LIST OR ARE WE BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING WAS, IT WAS JUST THE ONE PROGRAM THAT WAS AT QUESTION HERE.
I MEAN, I A, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO THAT.
AND IN TWO WEEKS AND B THAT'S GOING TO SEND UP A SHOCK OF, UM, LACK OF AWARENESS AND, UH, FRIGHT THROUGH ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'M GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THAT ASD JUST BECAME AWARE OF THIS.
AND, AND, UM, WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED THAT, THAT THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEAT ABOUT THIS.
SO ARE WE LOOKING AT REVISITING EVERY, EVERY ENTITY THAT'S ON HERE OR ARE WE FOCUSING ON THE PRIMETIME PROGRAM, UH, WITH AISD THAT, OF COURSE I HAVE BROUGHT BUDGET WRITERS TO EXPAND ITS ITS INVOLVEMENT IN THE MONIES THAT HAVE GONE TO THAT PROGRAM, UH, IN MY TIME HEARING ON COUNCIL.
SO OBVIOUSLY I SUPPORT THIS, SO IS IT ONE OR ALL? AND IF I MAY DIRECT TO START FIRST, I MEAN, I THINK THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE CLARITY TO COUNCIL ABOUT ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE, NOT NECESSARILY RE-ENGAGED WITH ANY OF THE, UM, AWARDEES, IF YOU WILL REALLY MAKE THAT VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD.
I WANTED TO LET DIRECTOR STIRRUP TO CLARIFY BECAUSE OUR, OUR, WE PUT THIS FORWARD AND IF THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CLARIFY THOSE QUESTIONS, DR.
SYRUP, UM, THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER.
IT IS OUR INTENTION TO ENGAGE WITH THE COUNCIL.
UM, PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE TO ALL OF THE AWARDEES.
AND SO THEY ARE AWARE OF THEIR FUNDING AMOUNTS WHILE THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
UM, SO THE SOONER THAT WE CAN WRAP THIS UP, BECAUSE I DO IMAGINE THAT NOW WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS, WONDERING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN MOVING FORWARD.
SO THE IDEA WOULD BE TO MEET WITH THE SELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS AND INFORM THEM ABOUT THE PROCESS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE AND THEN HOPEFULLY MOVE FORWARD ON THE SEVEN.
UH, YES, I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YEARS BACK, WE DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO GO AND ADOPT THIS PROCEDURE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE AND DECIDE WHO'S GOING TO WIN.
AND WHO'S GOING TO LOSE ON THESE PROJECTS THAT WE ACTUALLY DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO DO, LET OUR STAFF GO THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT.
WAS THERE A CERTAIN CRITERIA CRITERIA THAT THEY NEEDED? AND SO WE ADOPTED THAT POLICY AND, UH, UM, I'D BE VERY CONCERNED IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE POLICY.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAD, UH, ALL KINDS OF OPTIONS AT THE BEGINNING.
YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE GONE INTO WARD POLITICS, UH, THAT WAS SUGGESTED BY SOME OF THE MEMBERS PREVIOUS, PAST MEMBERS THAT THEY WANTED TO DO THAT AND JUST DIVIDE ALL THE MONEY EVENLY, LIKE, UH, LAREDO DOES THEIR CITY COUNCIL.
THEY SAID COMPLETE DISASTER, WHAT, WHAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS CONFLICT AND NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO GET THINGS DONE.
SO WE DECIDED TO JUST PUT IT ALL IN THE BIG POT AND DECIDE TO LET THE STAFF DECIDE WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST PROJECTS TO GO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION.
SO, UH, I, I BELIEVE THAT ONCE WE NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THAT'S THE AMOUNT THEY'RE GOING TO GET A, I'M SURE THAT THEY'RE ALREADY ANTICIPATING HOW TO USE THAT MONEY.
SO I'D BE VERY CONCERNED IF WE DO ANY KIND OF DELAYS ON THE PROJECT, BUT IF THE WILL, THE COUNCIL WANTS TO WAIT TO ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO, THEN I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT HAS OUR KITCHEN.
ALSO WAITING TWO WEEKS BASED ON WHAT DIRECTOR STIRRUP SAID, BUT, UM, BUT I HAVE ONE QUESTION AND THEN ONE COMMENT.
SO DIRECTOR STIRRUP, UM, IS THIS A ZERO SUM GAME IN THE SENSE THAT, UM, IF, IF, UM, IF THE WILL OF COUNCIL WAS TO ADD DOLLARS TO THESE AISD PROJECTS, WOULD WE HAVE TO SUBTRACT FROM SOMEONE ELSE ON THIS LIST?
[05:45:01]
WE WOULD HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHERE THOSE DOLLARS WOULD COME FROM.SINCE THE AGENCIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN NOTIFIED, THAT WOULD NOT BE THE PREFERRED.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF, UH, NOTIFYING ANY OF THESE OTHER AGENCIES THAT THEY'RE BEING AWARDED LESS.
I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR THE AISD PROGRAMS, IF IT'S JUSTIFIED BASED ON DATA AND ANALYSIS, UH, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THESE PROJECTS.
SO I CAN IMAGINE THAT THAT CAN READILY BE DONE.
BUT, UM, AS COUNCIL MEMBER RENTER, MARIA MENTIONED, THE PROCESS IS IMPORTANT HERE.
AND, UM, AND I WANT US TO BEAT TO HONOR THAT PROCESS.
AND I WANT US TO RESPECT THE, UM, THE PROCESS THAT OUR STAFF HAS GONE THROUGH, UH, FOR THIS ANALYSIS.
AND AGAIN, AS I SAID, AS A POLICY MATTER, I AM WILLING TO CONSIDER MORE DOLLARS BECAUSE THESE ARE CERTAINLY VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAMS THAT I'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED, BUT SO ARE THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE ON THIS LIST.
SO THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD JUST COMMENT ON, PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION TO ALL OF US.
AND IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A PROPOSAL FOR A CHANGE, I THINK IT MIGHT REQUIRE A WORK SESSION CONVERSATION.
CAUSE I'M GONNA WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE BASIS BESIDE IT.
AND AGAIN, NOT GOING TO SUPPORT TAKING DOLLARS AWAY FROM ANYONE ELSE.
SO AS YOU DEVELOP THE INFORMATION, AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE GOING TO BE, UM, AT THE FRONT LINES AND ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THAT TWO QUESTIONS.
THESE AWARDS REPRESENT THE CHANGE.
WHAT'S THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT CHANGE.
AND IF THERE WOULD BE A CHANGE TO THE CHANGE TOWARDS WHAT DOES THAT FOLLOWING FROM, UH, I MEAN AT A HIGH LEVEL, WITHOUT KNOWING ANY OF THE DETAILS OF THIS WORK, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE REALIZED THESE CON CONTRACTS IN A LONG TIME.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT EVERY TIME WE DO THIS KIND OF WORK, WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING A REAL JOB OF JUST NOT CONTINUING WITH THE PAST CONTRACTS, BUT ACTUALLY TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT OUR PRESENT NEEDS ARE.
OUR PRESENT PRIORITIES ARE WHERE THE EQUITIES ARE NOW AS COMPARED TO WHERE THEY WERE BEFORE.
SO, UH, I WOULD HOPE THAT NONE OF OUR, OUR CONTRACT DS GO INTO THIS PROCESS WITH AN EXPECTATION THAT IN THE NEXT ROUND THEY'LL BE TREATED THE SAME WAY THEY WERE TREATED BEFORE, BECAUSE THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.
UM, SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO, TO, TO SAY THAT MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU.
UM, I WANT TO JUST CLARIFY A FEW THINGS, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S NOT MY INTENTION TO CUT ANYONE OUT, OTHER PROGRAMS, FUNDING, UM, AS WE DO ALL THE TIME, YOU SOMETIMES DISCOVER SOMETHING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE CARED ABOUT AND YOU'VE WORKED ABOUT THAT.
YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO GET ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS SUFFICIENTLY IN TIME, UM, FOR A VOTE.
UM, AND YOU ASKED FOR A POSTPONEMENT SO YOU CAN, CAN CLARIFY THINGS, UM, IN THIS CASE, AND IN THIS INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TRYING TO UNPACK HOW THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS WORKED.
AND THERE WAS A PIECE OF IT THAT HAD TO DO WITH HOW MUCH MONEY YOU SPENT.
AND IT SEEMED LIKE THE FORMULA DIDN'T WORK REAL WELL FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT ABLE TO SPEND ALL OF THE MONEY DURING COVID AND THEY WERE BEING JUDGED BASED ON THAT AS PART OF HOW THEY WERE PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
AND WE COULDN'T GET ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT IT WAS, HOW THAT WORKED.
AND THEN IT WAS A HUGE JUMP DOWN, EVEN THOUGH THEIR RATING IN THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS WAS HIGH.
AND I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT PROCESS.
I STRONGLY WOULD LOVE FOR US TO FIND OUT THEIR MONEY.
I HAVE SOME IDEAS WHERE OTHER MONEY IS.
UM, BUT I COULDN'T VERY WELL COME FORWARD TODAY WITH A PROPOSAL AND SAY, YEAH, LET'S PASS THESE, BUT LET'S GIVE X MORE, UM, TO THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A FULL PICTURE, UM, OF THE QUESTIONS.
UM, BUT THIS IS A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
I'VE ADVOCATED FOR A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
THERE IS ALSO A QUESTION OF WHETHER IT WAS KNOWN, WHETHER THESE PARTICULAR FUNDS THAT WERE GOING TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THESE OTHER PROGRAMS AS AN ENTITY, AND HAS HAD DIFFERENT KINDS OF SUPPORT THAN THE OTHER PROGRAMS OVER THE YEARS IN DIFFERENT COMMITMENTS AND BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT SAID IT WAS ONGOING SUPPORT, ET CETERA, UM, IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY, UM, THAN THESE OTHERS, WHETHER THAT WAS HANDLED APPROPRIATELY.
UM, AND SO MY, MY FOCUS IN MY CONVERSATION IS ON THAT, BUT WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FAIR FOR ME TO SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DISCOVER.
UM, BUT IT IS FIRMLY MY HOPE THAT WE WILL FIND WAYS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING IF THAT IS MERITED.
UM, AND LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN SAID IT SHOULD BE BASED
[05:50:01]
ON DATA, ET CETERA, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THAT DATA AND THAT INFORMATION, UM, AND JUST, AGAIN, WANT TO REITERATE, NOT ONE OF MY SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT IS, IS A RECIPIENT OF THESE SERVICES.THIS IS NOT A PAROCHIAL CONCERN.
THIS IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE VALUE OF THESE PROGRAMS, UM, AND WHAT THEY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE KIND OF SITUATION THAT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOLS FIND THEMSELVES IN AT THIS POINT IN TIME, UM, COMING OUT OF COVID, UM, IS REALLY DIRE AND TO GIVE THEM LESS THAN THEY'VE SPENT IN THE PAST.
UM, YOU KNOW, BASED ON SOME OF THESE WEIRD THINGS, JUST, JUST DOESN'T SIT RIGHT MIRROR.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY A LOT OTHER THAN JUST TO REALLY, UM, THANK COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TEM ALTER FOR NOTING THIS, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE YEARS TO TALK ABOUT THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT WE HELP FUND THROUGH AISD.
AND, AND I REMEMBER THE YEARS WHERE THEY WERE ABOUT TO CUT CUT PROGRAMS AT MULTIPLE REAL HIGH NEEDS SCHOOLS, UM, UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE FUNDING, SOME REALLY STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF THESE PROGRAMS, I APPRECIATE THE APPROACH THAT YOU'RE TAKING TO GO ABOUT, UM, GETTING THE DATA THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT.
UM, I THINK OUR STABS ARE ALREADY WORKING TOGETHER, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, IF NOT, UM, WELL, THEY ALREADY ARE.
AND SO, UM, I'M STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF CONTINUING THIS AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, I THINK THAT, UH, I THINK IT'S A VERY VALID CONVERSATION TO HAVE ABOUT HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING SCHOOL DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN BOUNDARIES.
AND I KNOW THAT OUR STAFF HAVE PROVIDED US WITH LOTS OF THAT INFORMATION IN THE PAST BECAUSE IT, IT COMES UP PERIODICALLY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY, I'M REALLY PROUD THAT WE ARE ALSO SUPPORTING CREATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS AT MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, I BELIEVE, AND HAVE OTHER PROGRAMS AT DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UNDERSTANDING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT EACH, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICT WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS NOT IN THE SAME FINANCIAL POSITION, BECAUSE SOME ARE SUBJECT TO RECAPTURE AND SOME ARE NOT.
AND AISD HAS AN EXTRAORDINARY, I THINK THEY ARE THE, THE HIGHEST, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT SENDS THE MOST MONEY BACK TO THE STATE, UM, OF ANY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.
UM, THOUGH THEY HAVE A HIGH, A HIGH NUMBER OF AN HIGH PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO ARE REALLY, REALLY IN NEED OF THAT SUPPORT.
THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR PRO TEM, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEP.
YEAH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE.
THE VOTE IS TO POSTPONE ITEM NUMBER 52 FOR THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THERE WAS A FAIR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[55. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to conduct a fact-finding study on the adoption, use, and holding of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies by the City of Austin.]
GETS US TO ITEM 55.UH, KELLY, DO YOU WANT TO, UH, MAKE YOUR MOTION? UM, SO WE HAVE THE AMENDMENTS BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL AND COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO ON ITEM NUMBER 55.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE FOR PASSAGE OF ITEM 55 W WITH THOSE AMENDMENTS, IS THAT HOW I DO IT? OR DO WE JUST CONSIDER THE AMENDMENTS NEXT? I'M SORRY.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN DO IT THAT WAY OR YOU CAN MAKE YOUR MOTION AND THEN THEY CAN MAKE THEIR AMENDMENTS TO YOUR MIND.
WELL, I ADORE THEIR AMENDMENTS.
I THINK THAT THEY'RE VERY HELPFUL AND I WOULD LIKE TO ACCEPT THEM, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE A CLARIFICATION THAT WE'RE ACCEPTING THE MOST RECENT AMENDMENT THAT YOU POSTED TO THE MESSAGE BOARD THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE PUBLIC BANKING.
IS THAT CORRECT? COUNCIL MEMBER, TOBA COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ACCEPTING THOSE.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO INCLUDE PUBLIC BANKING AS AWARE AS, BUT NOT TO BE IT FOR THE RESULT.
BUT LET ME JUST MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE WE DID HAVE SOME VERSION CONTROL, CONFUSION.
I ACTUALLY DON'T SEE THAT PASSAGE.
AND SO I NEED TO, I NEED TO PROBABLY ADD THAT BACK IN, BUT IT WAS AS A WHEREAS AND NOT AS A, BE IT FOR THE RESULTS.
THAT'S ACCEPTABLE TO ME AS LONG AS IT'S NOT IN THE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT, UM, IN THAT IF WE HAD PUT THAT IN THE, BE IT RESOLVED, IT WOULD NOT BE GERMANE TO THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE THAT WE POSTED FOR.
CAN YOU JUST REMIND US WHICH AMENDMENTS NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL FIVE.
[05:55:26]
MY, UH, IF WE THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE IN THE BACKUP, IT'S AT THE TOP SAYS ITEM NUMBER 55 TOBO AMENDMENT WAS POSTED TODAY.I DON'T THINK I'D SEEN THAT ONE.
LET ME FIND, UM, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POOLS, UH, AMENDMENT AS WELL, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT ONE YET.
SO HAS EVERYBODY SEEN COUNCILMAN POOLS, AMENDMENT TO 55? ALL RIGHT.
SO NOW LET'S TURN FROM CATHERINE POOLS THROUGH COUNCIL MEMBER
I THINK THAT WAS SENT OUT BY THE COURT BY EMAIL AS WELL.
UM, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT TIME THAT WAS SENT OUT TO EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU FOR OUR KITCHEN MIRROR.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, THANK YOU FOR CALLING MY ATTENTION.
I DID NOTICE SOMETHING, UM, THAT IS A MISS.
SO I'VE MOVED FOR THE REASONS YOU SAID THAT IT DOES NOT, IT DID NOT FIT WITHIN THE POSTING.
I MOVED IT OUT OF THE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED AND PUT IT AS A WHEREAS, BUT AN IMPORTANT BULLET GOT LEFT OFF AND THAT IS THE ONE ABOUT THE CREATION OF THE PUBLIC BANK.
SO THE, THE, WHEREAS AT LINE 3 33 SHOULD ALSO HAVE, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE CREATION OF A DIGITAL WALLET BASED PLATFORMS, UH, PAYMENTS PLATFORM, THE CREATION OF A LOCAL COMPLIMENTARY CURRENCY, ET CETERA, THE NEXT ONE SHOULD BE THE CREATION OF A PUBLIC BANK.
IT GOT LEFT OFF, BUT IT'S JUST AWARE AS IT IS NOT A, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED.
IS IT OKAY TO KEEP THAT OFF? IT WAS MY INTENTION TO HAVE IT IN.
IT'S JUST AN, IT WAS JUST AN EDITING OR I SEE, WELL, I DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT IT AS IT IS.
AND THEN I'LL MAKE THAT AS A SEPARATE AMENDMENT.
LET'S ACCEPT IT AS IS, AND THEN YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO DO THE NEXT AMENDMENT WILL DO.
GOT TO REMEMBER KELLY MAKES A MOTION, WHICH IS HER ITEM NUMBER 55 WITH THE POOL AMENDMENT AND THE TOBO AMENDMENT AS POSTED AND SENT OUT TO COUNCIL OFFICES AT 9 57.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, SECOND SET, MOTION DISCUSSION.
DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IT FIRST? UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR THOUGHTFUL CONTRIBUTIONS.
I'M GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CITY AND EXPLORING THESE OPTIONS POTENTIALLY TO SEE WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO OR NOT.
DO I REALLY APPRECIATED, UM, THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE GOTTEN AND THE AMENDMENTS THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD.
UM, I, UH, I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER POOLS, AMENDMENTS, UH, AND HER, UH, RESEARCH REGARDING THE STANDARD OF PORES AND THE GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, UH, OFFICE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING, UH, CRYPTO, THE USE OF CRYPTO BY, UH, PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, UM, A SKEPTIC, UH, OF, OF CRYPTO.
AND GENERALLY SPEAKING OF UNREGULATED FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS, CURRENCIES THAT SAID, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT, THAT THERE IS A BIG PUSH HERE LOCALLY FOR, UH, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE, UH, THE RESOLUTION TO SEE WHAT STAFF SAYS, TO SEE WHAT THEY THINK AND TO SEE WHERE WE MOVE FORWARD FROM, FROM THIS POINT.
I, I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ON TUESDAY ABOUT FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN HELPING US UNDERSTAND THE BROADER IMPLICATIONS OF THE CRYPTO AND BLOCKCHAIN ISSUES, BUT SPECIFICALLY IN THIS INSTANCE ON 55.
UM, SO SEVERAL FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY WROTE TO MY OFFICE WITH COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON THE TWO ITEMS. AND I SO APPRECIATE THAT.
I WANTED TO SEND OUT A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COURTNEY ROSENTHAL.
SHE'S A PAST MEMBER AND CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION.
SHE WORKS AS A PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER FOR A MULTINATIONAL COMPANY IN THE BROADBAND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
[06:00:01]
SECTOR.AND SHE IS ALSO QUITE APPROPRIATELY SERVING AS THE DISTRICT SEVEN APPOINTEE TO THE LIBRARY COMMISSION.
SO THANKS FOR YOUR ESSENTIAL INPUT AND INSIGHTS.
COURTNEY, I DUG INTO THE INFORMATION THAT ADVANTAGE, YOU KNOW, OUR CFO PROVIDED FROM THE GOVERNOR, UH, GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, GFA THE FINANCE OFFICER'S ASSOCIATION ADVISES GOVERNMENT, NOT TO ACCEPT CRYPTOCURRENCY BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH RISK STATUS.
UH, THE RISKS INCLUDE THAT CRYPTO IS NOT LEGAL TENDER.
IT IS INSTEAD LIKE AN UNREGULATED AND ANONYMOUS FOREIGN CURRENCY.
IT LACKS UNDERLYING SUBSTANTIVE VALUE.
IT'S EXTREMELY VOLATILE IN NATURE, WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF PRINCIPLE AND IT'S POTENTIALLY ILL LIQUID AND FURTHER, ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.
AND I'M GOING TO QUOTE HERE CONSUMER PROTECTION RISKS REMAIN SUBSTANTIAL GIVEN LIMITED OR INADEQUATE DISCLOSURE AND OVERSIGHT.
AND TO THE QUOTE OF CRYPTOCURRENCY ASSETS, THE FINANCE OFFICER ASSOCIATION SEES CRYPTO AS VOLATILE AS WELL, SEES IT AS AN UNSTABLE PRODUCT AND NOTES THAT SUCH PRODUCTS ARE TYPICALLY NOT AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAWS AS AN ALLOWABLE INVESTMENT VEHICLE FOR GOVERNMENTS.
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THAT STATE LAWS GENERALLY DO NOT ALLOW INVESTING IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES OR EQUITIES CRYPTOCURRENCY ALSO CANNOT BE CONSIDERED A VIABLE CURRENCY FOR GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY RECEIVABLES OR PAYABLE PURPOSES BECAUSE THERE'S NO KNOWN WAY TO ASSESS ITS VALUE AND IT CAN'T BE PROCESSED THROUGH NORMAL BANKING OPERATIONS.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF VERSIONS OF CRYPTOCURRENCY ALL WITH SIMILAR AND DIFFERENT ATTRIBUTES AND RISKS, INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF LOSS THROUGH THE CONVERSION TO DOLLARS.
GOVERNMENTS CAN ONLY USE LEGAL, TENDER AND PRODUCTS BASED ON LEGAL TENDER FOR RECEIVABLES, PAYABLES, AND INVESTMENTS LIKE CHECKS AND PAYMENT CARDS.
ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS ARE, UH, ACH IS W UH, WIRE TRANSFERS AND U S CURRENCY.
AND SO ALL OF THIS FORGOING, UH, ARE THE REASONS BEHIND THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION, FORMAL ADVISORY THAT GOVERNMENTS SHOULD ABSTAIN FROM ACCEPTING CRYPTOCURRENCY FOR RECEIVABLES, USING CRYPTOCURRENCY FOR PAYABLES OR INVESTING IN THESE PRODUCTS.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, UM, BUT I WILL STEP BACK AND HAND THE MIC OFF, UH, FOR OTHER OTHER COMMENTS THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE MADE IF YOU COULD CIRCLE BACK AROUND TO ME, MAYOR FOR SOME QUESTIONS.
THAT'S OUR KITCHEN AND THAT'S WHERE ALICE, UM, I TOO, AS, UM, UH, COUNCILMAN MARIE KELLY SAID, APPRECIATE THE AMENDMENTS.
I THINK IT IMPROVES WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, AND I'M NOT, UH, I'M NOT HERE TODAY TO DEBATE THE YES OR NO OF USE OF CRYPTOCURRENCY.
THAT'S, THAT'S NOT BEFORE US TODAY.
I DON'T THINK, UM, I AGREE THAT THERE ARE LOTS AND LOTS OF, UM, CONSIDERATIONS AND, AND LOTS OF CAUTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED.
AND SO MY SUPPORT FOR THIS DOES NOT SIGNAL WHETHER I'M IN FAVOR OR AGAINST THE USE OF CRYPTOCURRENCY, WHAT IT SIGNALS IS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A FULL ON DISCUSSION AS A COUNCIL AND AN ANALYSIS BY OUR STAFF.
SO I PREFER NOT TO USE THE TIME TO DEBATE WHETHER IT'S A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING.
UM, AND JUST RECOGNIZE THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY TAKING THE AMENDMENTS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THOSE AMENDMENTS REALLY POINT OUT THE RANGE OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT, UM, AND REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE CAUTIONS AND THE CONCERNS THAT ARE OUT THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FULLY ANALYZE THAT, UH, WITH REGARD TO ANYTHING THAT MIGHT COME BACK TO US.
AND SO I THAT'S, THAT'S, I JUST WANTED TO CAUTION US TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE FACT THAT THIS IS A, A PROCESS FOR, UM, LOSSES, NOT FOR ACTION.
UH, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A FACT-FINDING MISSION, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF US HAVING THE INFORMATION COME BACK TO US AS A COUNCIL.
UM, MY BELIEF IS THAT OUR, OUR BIGGEST RESPONSIBILITY IS, IS PROPER STEWARDSHIP OF THE PUBLIC DOLLAR.
AND SO I REALLY AM APPREHENSIVE TO DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE OUR BOND RATING AND LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE LAND AND BUILDINGS AND IMPROVE ROADS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THAT'S, THAT'S, UM, I THINK A BASIC CORE FUNCTION OF, OF THE CITY PROCESS AND THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE PROVIDING TO OUR
[06:05:01]
COMMUNITY.SO I AM VERY CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT INFORMATION COMES BACK TO US.
UM, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A THRESHOLD THAT WOULD CONVINCE ME LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD, UM, THAT WE SHOULD BE TRANSFERRING PUBLIC DOLLARS INTO WHAT IS A VOLATILE AND UNREGULATED MARKET AT THIS POINT.
I'M ALSO VERY SKEPTIC OF THIS.
UM, I, I DON'T TRUST IT CORRINE.
I DO HAVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT HAS INVESTED IN, IN IT NOT TO SAY THAT, UH, UH, THEY MADE ANY MONEY OFF OF IT.
SOME HAVE, HAVE NOT, AND THE OTHER ONES HAVE SO, UH, BUT I, I'M VERY INTERESTED TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE, UH, THE BLOCKCHAIN PART OF IT.
YOU KNOW, THE, IF WE CAN ACTUALLY GET A LEDGER OUT THERE, AND THAT REALLY HELPED OUT OUR HOMELESS POPULATION AND BEING ABLE TO, UH, TO GET THEIR INFORMATION, PERSONAL INFORMATION THAT'S IN THERE, UH, IN CASE THEY END UP LOSING ALL THEIR, THEIR POSSESSIONS.
SO, UH, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THIS, BUT JUST WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT I WILL NOT SUPPORT THE BIG CORRINE PART OF IT IF IT COMES BACK AND UNLESS THEY HAVE A VERY STRONG ARGUMENT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PLUS FOR THE CITY WITH NO LIABILITY AND NO LOSS, I GUESS, FOR ME, SIMILAR TO, TO, UM, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN SAID, I'M ENCOURAGED, UH, UH, COUNCILMEMBER KELLY, BY THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE FRAMED THIS, WHICH IS A FACT FINDING MISSION.
UM, QUITE FRANKLY, I, YOU KNOW, AND YOU CAN TELL TO A DEGREE JUST BY LOOKING AT THE DEBATE THAT'S HAPPENING.
THERE'S A LOT THAT WE ALL DON'T KNOW.
UH, AND THERE'S A LOT THAT WE ALL ASSUME.
AND, UM, MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE WE'RE USING WORDS INTERCHANGEABLY THAT ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER.
UM, BUT THIS IS IN SO MANY PLACES DISCUSSED AT THIS POINT THAT US UNDERSTANDING IT, I THINK IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING.
THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE MAYBE BETWEEN INVESTING PUBLIC FUNDS IN CRYPTOCURRENCY AND RECEIVING A CRYPTOCURRENCY DONATION, UH, THAT MIGHT COME FROM A THIRD PARTY, WHICH WE'RE ARE, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO AT THIS POINT.
WOULD WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND THEN CONVERT IT INTO DOLLARS? I, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
I MEAN, THERE ARE IMPLICATIONS AND ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
THE EXCITING THING I THINK THAT YOU BEGIN TO SEE IN CRYPTOCURRENCY, UH, IS THAT IT'S DEVELOPING.
SO PUTTING ASIDE FOR A SECOND, THERE'S JUST THE PURE SPECULATION.
UH, AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, UM, I WAS APPROACHED A LOT AS, AS OTHER MAYORS WERE AROUND THE COUNTRY TO, TO, TO DO, UH, UH, CITY COIN.
AND, UM, I WAS NOT AS KEEN ON PARTICIPATING AT THIS POINT ON THE SPECULATIVE NATURE OF THIS VERTICAL TECHNOLOGY VERTICAL, AS I AM EXCITED AT THE PROSPECT OF LOOKING AT WHAT THE APPLICATIONS MIGHT BE THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED ON TOP OF THE PROTOCOLS.
I MEAN, THAT'S A REALLY EXCITING PROPOSITION.
AND, AND, AND IF IN FACT THAT CAN HAPPEN, THEN, THEN WE MAY VERY WELL HAVE TOKENS OR COINS, UH, THAT HAVE INTRINSIC VALUE THAT HAVE VALUE THAT IS NOT DEPENDENT ON SPECULATION BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S USE CASES.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT THERE YET IN AN ESTABLISHED WAY, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED.
AND THE MORE WE UNDERSTAND IT, THE BETTER WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE POTENTIAL IS MIGHT BE.
UH, WE'RE THAT CAN'T BE ANYTHING BUT A POSITIVE FOR, FOR, UH, FOR A CITY.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOUR RESOLUTION DOESN'T TELL US TO DO ANYTHING.
IT DOESN'T ENDORSE ANYTHING OTHER THAN WE SHOULD BECOME AS KNOWLEDGEABLE AS WE CAN, UH, ON THIS.
AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT TANNER, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA THEN THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
I DO NEED TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO PUT BACK THE BULLET THAT WAS X.
I THINK WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT, WELL, IT DIDN'T MATTER, BUT IT WAS BEING MOVED FROM ONE SECTION TO ANOTHER AND INADVERTENTLY THE PUBLIC BANK PIECE GOT STRUCK.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT, UM, THAT, UM, AFTER LINE 36, AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST IN THE, WHEREAS IT'S SIMPLY EXPRESSING THAT THESE ARE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
UM, AND THAT WOULD SAY THE CREATION OF A PUBLIC BANK, WHOLLY OWNED BY THE CITY, BEEN A MOTION TO AMEND THIS MOTION, DOING MAN, THE RESOLUTION.
[06:10:01]
TO A MAN CUSTOMER POOL, UH, SECONDS THAT, UM, CASPERIT SUGGESTS WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS, WILL YOU BE BRINGING AN IFC OR SOMETHING ELSE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THAT KIND OF ANALYSIS HAPPENS? MAY I THINK THAT WE PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO, BECAUSE IT'S ALSO INCLUDED AS A B IT'S INCLUDED WITHIN YOUR LINEUP, UH, IN THE B IT FURTHER RESOLVES.
IT'S, IT'S ALREADY IN YOUR RESOLUTION AS SOMETHING WE'RE ASKING THEM TO LOOK AT, EITHER IN MY AMENDMENTS OR YOURS OR BOTH, IT ENDED UP IN THAT ONE TOO.
AS WE DISCUSSED IT, I DON'T THINK IT'S WITHIN THE POSTING.
UH, THE POSTING IS ABOUT BITCOIN AND CRYPTO CURRENCIES AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE A PUBLIC BANK.
SO THE OTHER TWO THINGS, I THINK DIGITAL WALLET BASED PAYMENTS IN LOCAL COMPLIMENTARY CURRENCY PROBABLY WOULD COME WITHIN CRYPTOCURRENCY.
BUT, UM, I'M NOT SURE I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO WOULD THINK THIS, BUT I THINK THAT WHOLE POINT OF CRYPTO CURRENCY IS THAT IT DOESN'T INVOLVE BANKING.
AND I WOULD JUST SAY THAT WAS THE REASON THAT I COULDN'T SUPPORT IT WITH THE REST OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, BECAUSE LEGAL SAID THAT IT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE POSTING.
AND SO WHILE I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
IF YOU WANT TO BRING THAT FORWARD AS A SEPARATE IFC, UM, I WOULD PREFER NOT TO INCLUDE IT IN THIS RESOLUTION.
I, I, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND YOUR PERSPECTIVE, UM, AND, AND RESPECTED, I GUESS I'M STILL GOING TO PUT FORWARD MY AMENDMENT AND I, AND I APPRECIATE ALWAYS OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, EVEN WHEN, EVEN WHEN I'M PROPOSING SOMETHING THEY DON'T AGREE WITH.
UM, I FEEL LIKE WE MAY UNDER A LOT IN OUR WAREHOUSES AND SO I'M COMFORTABLE DOING SO ON THIS ONE, COUNSELOR.
KELLY, CAN I JUST ASK, BECAUSE I'M REALLY NEW TO THIS.
UM, IF WE DID PUT SOMETHING INTO A RESOLUTION THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE POSTING LANGUAGE, WHAT SORT OF CONSEQUENCES WE COULD FACE, OR IF THERE WAS ANY KIND OF PUSHBACK FROM ANYTHING, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? HOW I'M ASKING THAT? THANK YOU.
THE REASON THAT WE HAVE THE POSTING LANGUAGE AND THE AGENDA IS TO COMPLY WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, WHICH IS TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC, TO KNOW WHAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT AS THE POINT OF IT.
SO WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS FAMILIAR AND AWARE BEFORE YOU HAVE A MEETING UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT THINGS SO THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD KNOW TO COME IN AND COMMENT AND RAISE THINGS.
AND THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE ARE CAREFUL ABOUT THE POSTING LANGUAGE AND, AND TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALWAYS COMPLY WITH IT SO THAT WE DON'T GET ANY CHALLENGES THAT COME FORWARD.
I CERTAINLY WANT TO AVOID ANY CHALLENGES WE MAY HAVE.
I KNOW A COUPLE OF US DID TALK ABOUT PUBLIC BANKING ON TUESDAY.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THE CONCEPT WAS OUT THERE, BUT IT IS TRUE.
AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO BRING THAT AS AN IFC, IF THAT WOULD KIND OF EASE OUR WAY GOING FORWARD HERE.
AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE ON THIS ITEM AND GO TO THE BLOCKCHAIN AND THEN FINISH UP OUR, OUR MEETING TODAY.
WELL, MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT THE INCLUSION AND I INCLUDED IT AFTER YOU RAISED THAT ISSUE IN THE AMENDMENTS THAT I SAW TO PUT IT IN THE NEXT ONE GIVES US AN ACTIONABLE, UH, ITEM THAT THAT WOULD HAVE US, UH, UH, ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
AND MAYBE WE JUST RELY ON IT THERE, WE CAN AVOID THE CONTROVERSY HERE, MIRA.
IT'S NOT DIRECTING ANY ACTION.
I MEAN, WHEREAS THIS DON'T DIRECT ACTION.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND AND DISCUSSION COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN.
SO, UM, SO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TEMPO, IT IS IN 57 ALSO, RIGHT? OKAY.
SO IN 57 IS WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE COULD REALLY USE IT TO TAKE ACTION.
NOT CERTAIN WE HAVE TO HAVE IT IN 55.
IT MIGHT BE BEST IF WE JUST MOVE FORWARD.
THAT WOULD BE MY, MY SUGGESTION.
I WANT TO SUPPORT IT IN A WAY THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WE CAN ACT ON IT.
AND I UNDERSTAND WE CAN ACT ON IT IN 57.
I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY TO 55 WE CAN TAKE A VOTE ON THIS.
YOU WANT TO TAKE ABOUT, SHE WANTS TO TAKE A VOTE.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF INCLUDING THE AMENDMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALTAR, RENTERIA.
UM,
UH, IT IS, UH, FOR OTHERS POOL ABSTAINS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW ME CHAIR, BUT MY HAND WAS
[06:15:01]
RAISED.I WANTED TO GET SOME CLARITY FROM LEGAL BEFORE CAST A VOTE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
GO AHEAD AND ASK YOU A QUESTION.
I'VE WONDERED AS I WAS LISTENING TO MY COLLEAGUES, UM, HAVE THE DISCUSSION.
I WONDERED IF IT'S POSSIBLE FOR US TO BRIDGE THE DIVIDE.
WELL, THIS QUESTION IS PRETTY, THERE'S NOT REALLY DIVIDABLE.
THIS AMENDMENT ONLY GOES TO ADDING THAT PHRASE, UH, THE CREATION OF A PUBLIC BANK, WHOLLY OWNED BY THE CITY.
AND THE QUESTION IS, DO WE INCLUDE THAT OR NOT? IN WHICH CASE I WOULD RATHER ABSTAIN ON THE AMENDMENT, BUT SPEAK TO THE, ASK THAT QUESTION OF LEGAL FOR THE ORIGINAL ITEM, THE ORIGINAL MOTIONS.
OKAY, WE'LL GET TO THAT ON THE AMENDMENT.
YOU ABSTAIN, I COUNT FOUR PEOPLE IN FAVOR, FOUR PEOPLE AGAINST AND THREE ABSTENTIONS.
WE HAVE THE MAIN MOTION IN FRONT OF US, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE SPARE WITHIN WHICH THIS UN RESOLUTION 57 WERE BROUGHT FORWARD.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE STAFF GIVING US A SENSE OF THE IMPACT THIS WOULD HAVE ON THEIR, UM, ON THEIR WORKLOAD.
UM, I'M REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE NOTION OF US ACCEPTING PAYMENTS IN CRYPTO ANYTIME SOON.
UM, I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE A DONATION AND I PRETTY SURE THAT IF SOMEBODY OFFERED A SIZABLE DONATION IN CRYPTO TO THE CITY, WE'D FIGURE OUT A WAY, UM, TO ACCEPT IT WITHOUT, UM, THIS, THIS, UM, DIRECTION.
UM, AND RATHER THAN TRY TO KIND OF SPLIT IT, I'M JUST GOING TO STAY IN ON 55.
UM, CAUSE I, I WANT TO GIVE MY COLLEAGUES, I DON'T WANT TO VOTE AGAINST YOU GETTING MORE INFORMATION, BUT, BUT I DON'T REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE NEED TO GET MORE INFORMATION, BUT I, BUT I DO RESPECT, UM, YOUR DESIRE TO DO SO.
UM, AND, UH, DEPENDING ON WHERE THE AMENDMENTS GO ON 57, I WILL BE SUPPORTING 57 BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S REALLY ABOUT THE WEB THREE APPLICATIONS.
AND, UM, I THINK THE COMBINATION OF THE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES AND THE CITY WHO HAS A KNOWLEDGE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE COULD POTENTIALLY PRESENT SOME INTERESTING APPLICATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE CRYPTOCURRENCY, UM, REALM FOR THE TECHNOLOGY.
UM, SO I'M GOING TO BE ABSTAINING ON, ON THIS ONE.
ARE WE READY TO VOTE ON ITEMS 55 COUNTS A POOL? UM, FOR THE, THE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME REASONS THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS VOICED.
I ALSO PLAN TO ABSTAIN ON ITEM 55.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, IF, UH, IF COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FIRST AND I WOULD LIKE TO LET HER DO THAT.
I AM ALSO GOING TO ABSTAIN, BUT I WANT TO SAY, UM, HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT IN WHICH HE BROUGHT THIS FORWARD AND, AND THAT YOU, UM, NOT ONLY ADDRESS SOME OF THE OBJECTIONS AND THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION THAT YOU BROUGHT FORWARD, BUT YOU WERE ALSO OPEN AND ACCEPTING OF THE, OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT ALL OF US MADE.
I'M JUST, AGAIN, FOR MANY OF THE SAME REASONS AND SOME OTHERS, I'M JUST NOT, I'M NOT ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS.
CAN I JUST CLOSING? THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER FONTEZ FOR HELPING CO-SPONSOR.
THIS ITEM REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS WHEN WE WERE CRAFTING IT AND YOUR FEEDBACK.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POOL AND COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA WHILE YOU ARE ABSTAINING, YOU DID CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING VERY SIGNIFICANT TO THE RESOLUTION.
UM, LIKE MANY OF YOU, I'M ALSO SKEPTICAL, UM, I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER COOL EXPRESS THAT.
I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL PROVIDE US WITH MORE INFORMATION BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO WHEN THIS QUESTION CONTINUES TO COME BACK TO US, WE CAN ACTUALLY POINT TO A DOCUMENT THAT TELLS THEM WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THESE THINGS.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER, ELLISON, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR THE SUPPORT AS WELL.
UM, SO, AND I CAN APPRECIATE YOUR EXTENSION AS WELL.
HARPER, MADISON, REMEMBER UPPER MADISON.
SO BACK TO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION ABOUT, I'M HOPING TO HEAR FROM LEGAL ABOUT THE ABILITY TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION IT'S BETWEEN THE TWO, BE IT RESOLVED.
IS THAT AN, IS THAT A POSSIBILITY? YES, WE COULD DIVIDE THIS MOTION IF YOU WANTED TO DIVIDE IT.
THAT'S THE QUESTION I'M ASKING.
AND I'M LIKE VERY MUCH IF, IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LEGAL, JUST SORT OF WEIGH IN ON WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF DOING.
SO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DIVIDE? THAT'S WHERE OUR WHOLE PRODUCT BE RESOLVED.
SO THERE'S THE, THERE'S THE BEAT RESULT.
THAT'S NUMBERS ONE THROUGH FOUR, AND THEN THE SECOND BEAT IT RESOLVED THAT CITY MANAGER SHALL INCLUDE IN THE FACT FINDING STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THE CITY TO ACCEPT A DONATION OF IT.
YADA, YADA, YADA, I'D LIKE TO DIVIDE
[06:20:01]
THOSE TWO WORDS.WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A VOTE ON EACH OF THE TWO RESOLVE CLAUSE SAYS SEPARATELY.
AND WE DO THAT AS A MATTER OF COURSE, WHEN SOMEONE WANTS TO DIVIDE A QUESTION, UM, ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE FIRST PAPERS OFF OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE FIRST BEAVERS OFF PAUSE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, I COUNT, UH, KITCHEN
AND I DID, I DIDN'T SEE IF YOU RAISED YOUR HAND COUNTS MEMBER APPARATUSES.
THOSE OPPOSED, THOSE ABSTAINING ARE THE THREE, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEM POOL AND TOBO 8 0 3.
THE FIRST RESOLVE CLAUSE PASSES.
I'LL JUST TAKE A VOTE ON THE SECOND, UH, BE A RESOLVE OF CLAUSE, THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE SECOND BEAT RESOLVE CLAUSE.
UM, KITCHEN
THOSE OPPOSED TO THE SECOND PAPERS OFF CLAUSE, THOSE ABSTAINING ON THE SECOND BEAT RESOLVED CLAUSE, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM POOL.
I DIDN'T SEE HOW A COUNCIL MEMBER, UH TOVO OR UPPER MADISON WERE VOTING ON THAT QUESTION.
OKAY, SO, SO 8 0 3, UH, THE SECOND, UH, BE RESOLVED CLAUSE PASSES AS WELL.
THAT GETS US UP THEN TO ITEM, UH, 57, UM, COLLEAGUES, I WOULD
[57. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to foster an environment in Austin that supports the creation and development of new innovations, such as blockchain and other Web3 related technologies, protocols, and applications. (Part 1 of 2)]
MOVE PASSAGE OF ITEM NUMBER 57, UH, INCLUSIVE OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOLS, UH, AMENDMENT, UH, IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS SECONDS THAT, UM, I TOOK COUNCIL MEMBER.POOL'S A AMENDMENT TO THIS, UH, RESOLUTION, WHICH WAS REALLY FOCUSED, NOT ON WEB THREE MORE BROADLY, MORE GENERALLY WEB THREE A IS A BLOCKCHAIN.
IT, IT'S KIND OF, KIND OF LIKE A THREE-DIMENSIONAL SPREADSHEET, UH, IN AND OF ITSELF.
IT DOESN'T, IT'S A TECHNOLOGY.
NOW THERE ARE SOME APPLICATIONS THAT YOU CAN THEN APPLY TO THAT, THAT, THAT USE ENERGY, BUT, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM DO.
UH, UM, IT'S KIND OF LIKE HAVING A CELL PHONE THAT AT THIS POINT HAS THE TECHNOLOGY TO BE A PHONE, BUT WE JUST DON'T HAVE VERY MANY APPS FOR THAT PHONE.
AND THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT SAYS OUR CITY OUGHT TO BE ABOUT TRYING TO HELP DEVELOP IS IN OUR CITY, UH, NOT THE CITY NECESSARILY, BUT IN OUR CITY, DEVELOPING THE TECHNOLOGIES, UH, IN HOPES THAT, UH, THINGS CAN BE DEVELOPED THAT CAN IMPROVE PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF PEOPLE'S LIVES.
UH, AGAIN, UM, WELL THAT'S WHAT THIS MOTION HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, UH, DISCUSSION.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE MY TWO AMENDMENTS, UH, TO THIS ITEM.
I POSTED THEM ON THE MESSAGE BOARD IN SUBSEQUENT POSTS.
UM, THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS INSERT THE FOLLOWING AFTER LINE 39, UH, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED.
THE CITY MANAGERS DIRECTED TO ENSURE THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS RESOLUTION DOES NOT PRECLUDE NOR DEPRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS IN BASIC DIGITAL SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY NEEDS THAT SUPPORT THE CITY'S CORE FUNCTIONS.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS INSERT THE FOLLOWING LINE AFTER LINE SEVEN.
UM, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MY COMMISSIONER ON THE SCIENCE AND TECH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION RECOMMENDED, WHEREAS WEB THREE IS BEING DEVELOPED AROUND THE WORLD AS A SUCCESSOR TO WEB TWO, WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING GREATER CAPABILITIES, SECURITY, USABILITY, AND RELIABILITY THROUGH REDUCTION OF, OF SINGLE POINTS OF FAILURE.
AND YEAH, AND I, I HAD MENTORED TO MAKE THOSE PART OF MY MOTION AS WELL.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE AN OBJECTION TO THESE TWO AMENDMENTS BEING ADDED HEARING ON THOSE TWO AMENDMENTS ARE ADDED COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO MAY I HAD ALSO DISTRIBUTED, UM, SOME AMENDMENTS AND ACTUALLY SPOKE TO MOST OF THEM ON TUESDAY AS WELL.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THE LINES THERE ARE ADDITIONAL, WHEREAS IS ON 15 THROUGH 21,
[06:25:02]
I HAVE STRUCK THE WHEREAS 32 THROUGH 34 ADDED TO WHEREAS IS ON 44 THROUGH 47 AND APOLOGIES THAT 32 THROUGH 34 WAS NOT READ.AND THEN ON 60, UM, 60 THROUGH 62, THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE.
AND THEN, UM, AND THEN THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL, ADDITIONAL, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, 87 THROUGH 91.
CAN I ASK YOU A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? UM, AND I, AND I APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO, TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO EVERYBODY WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN ON THIS ON TUESDAY WAS HARD.
I WAS HAVING TROUBLE HEARING, UM, AS IT WAS COMING IN, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, I HAD TRIED TO INCORPORATE, UH, THE, THE AMENDMENTS THAT YOU HAVE IN THE VERSION THAT WAS, UH, BEFORE US NOW THE VERSION THREE, UH, IN THE FIRST, UH, TWO, OR AS, AS YOU SPEAK TO, UH, UH, DECENTRALIZED AUTONOMOUS ORGANIZATIONS, UH, DOW ORGANIZATIONS AS WE'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE SPEAK HERE TODAY.
UH, AND I AGREE THAT THAT DOW SHOULD DEFINITELY BE PART OF THE EFFORTS TO DEVELOP NEW INNOVATIONS.
UH, BUT WHAT, THE WAY THAT I HANDLED THAT WAS ON PAGE 29 TO, UH, ADD, UH, DOWS IN THE, UH, UH, DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD BE INVOLVED.
I HAVE ONLY BECAUSE I'M, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE SHOULD BE PRIORITIZING OR FAVORING DOW'S OVER.
NON-PROFITS LIKE GIVING A, WHICH IS TRYING REALLY HARD AND OTHER ORGANIZATION NOT TRYING TO PROMOTE THIS AREA, BUT THEY'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON, ON, ON, UH, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AND, UH, AND, AND, AND EQUITY OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF ORGANIZATION LIKE CAPITAL FACTORY THAT COULD LEAD TO, UH, TO INNOVATION.
UH, SO I'D REALLY LIKE THE RESOLUTION TO REMAIN NEUTRAL TO THE TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY ORGANIZATIONS WE SUPPORT.
SO IN TRYING TO, TO HIT YOUR INTENT AND YOUR DESIRE, I ADDED IT TO THE, WHEREAS HERE IN AUSTIN, CAPITAL FACTORY STACKS, DIVVY, INC WOMEN OF COLOR, DECENTRALIZED AUTONOMOUS ORGANIZATIONS, AS MANY OTHERS ARE WORKING TO EXPAND DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATION.
SO MY HOPE WAS IS THAT BY CALLING THEM OUT, WE WOULD ACHIEVE WHAT YOUR THAT'S FINE.
AND I ASSUME THE NEXT, WHEREAS I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE NEXT, WHEREAS DID YOU HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THE NEXT, WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN SEEKS TO FOSTER A SUPPORTING ECOSYSTEM FOR DALLAS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY FIRMS. THAT SEEMS TO BE NEUTRAL AS WELL.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVE TO ANY, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS COVERED BY THE BUDGET, BUT IT SAYS ECOSYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING DOWS, BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY ECOSYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CAPITAL FACTORY ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE STACKS ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE
SO MY, MY HOPE WAS IS THAT BY ADDING IT TO THAT, WHEREAS CLAUSE, UH, BECAUSE THAT TALKED ABOUT ECOSYSTEMS AND CULTURES THAT LEAD TO NEW APPLICATIONS OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES, THAT THE INTENT WAS TO INCLUDE BOTH THOSE, BUT NOT TO CALL THEM OUT, BUT TO RECOGNIZE WE WANT TO DO FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
I THINK THAT THEY CAN, I DON'T THINK I DON'T SEE THEM AS MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
SO THE, WHEREAS FROM 19 TO 21, I THINK ADDS TO IT BECAUSE IT, IT EMPHASIZES THAT WE, WE WANT TO SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT IN ADDITION TO THE ONES THAT YOU'VE JUST IDENTIFIED IN 28 THROUGH 31, WE ALSO REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CREATING A SUPPORTIVE ECOSYSTEM FOR THOSE THAT PRIORITIZE AND THAT USE COOPERATIVE AND DEMOCRATIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.
SO I DON'T SEE THAT AS IN CONFLICT WITH YOUR, WHEREAS IT ONLY IN CONFLICT IN THAT IT PRIORITIZES ONE SET OF ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR VALUES OVER THE OTHER SETS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR VALUES.
I DON'T HAVE A SPECIAL, WHEREAS CLAUSE FOR DIVVYING, WHICH IS TRYING TO ENSURE THAT IN THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT'S DEVELOPING, WE DON'T HAVE A TECHNOLOGY.
THAT'S MOSTLY, YOU KNOW, WHITE MALES THAT AT THE VERY GROUND, GROUND GRASS ROOTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY, UH, IT, IT, IT PROMOTES A DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.
I MEAN, WE JUST MAY HAVE A DISAGREEMENT.
I DON'T SEE THOSE AS IN CONFLICT AT ALL.
UM, I, I WILL WITHDRAW 15 THROUGH 18 BECAUSE YOU'VE INCORPORATED INTO 28 THROUGH 31, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THE, WHEREAS FROM 19 TO 21, BECAUSE I THINK IT JUST, I THINK
[06:30:01]
IT'S ADDITIVE.I DON'T, I DON'T SEE IT AS, UM, SUPPLANTING SUPPLANTING YOUR EARLIER POINT.
SO WE'LL COME BACK AND WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ON THAT.
UH, THERE'S A, UH, THERE'S A, WHEREAS THAT YOU'VE TAKEN OUT WHERE IT'S A CITY SUCH AS MIAMI AND NEW YORK HAVE BEGUN TO PARTNER WITH CRYPTOCURRENCIES IN THE EFFORT TO GENERATE REVENUE, AS WELL AS PROMOTE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT IN THEIR CITIES.
THAT'S A WAY, I SUPPOSE, IT'S AS A FACTUAL MATTER, IT'S, IT'S JUST TRUE.
UM, BUT, UM, BUT, UM, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO OBJECT TO YOU STRIKING THAT JUST BECAUSE IT COMES WITH BAGGAGE AND IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR PASSAGE.
I THINK IT WAS THE SAME, WHEREAS THAT WAS IN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S AND I REMOVED IT BECAUSE IN OUR CONVERSATION ON TUESDAY, OR I SUGGESTED REMOVING IT IN OUR CONVERSATION ON TUESDAY, YOU SAID THIS YOURS WAS REALLY NOT INTENDING TO FOCUS ON CRYPTOCURRENCIES AND THAT WHEREAS DID.
UM, WE COULD ALSO KEEP IT IN, BUT WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT I SUGGESTED IN COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S, BUT AGAIN, IT JUST SEEMED GREAT TO LEAVE.
IT JUST SEEMED TO TAKE IT OUT.
I UNDERSTAND I'M JUST EXPLAINING MY RATIONALE FOR, OKAY, WE'LL TAKE IT OUT JUST SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE BAGGAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
IT'S BIG STONE CRYPTOCURRENCIES.
AND THE OTHER ONE IS FOCUSED ON THAT, UH, ON THE NEXT ONE, WHEREAS BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES HAVE KNOWN POWER CONSUMPTION CHALLENGES THAT SHOULD BE RESEARCHED TO DETERMINE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY THAT LEADS TO, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN CRYPTOCURRENCY, UH, WHETHER THEY'RE TRYING TO ESTABLISH THE SECURITY ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, AND THEY'VE SET UP THE SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO, FOR THE MINING OF COINS, THERE'S A CONSIDERABLE, UM, UH, UH, ENERGY IMPACT.
UH, THERE ARE ALSO ARGUMENTS TO SAY THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO IF IT'S DONE WITH RENEWABLE ENERGIES, BECAUSE IT GIVES US SHAREABLE LOAD, WHICH IS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION.
I THINK ULTIMATELY THE STAFF NEEDS TO DO.
I MEAN, I'VE HEARD BOTH THOSE ARGUMENTS.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY THAT I TRUST THAT ACTUALLY, UH, OR IT FEELS IMPARTIAL TO ACTUALLY WEIGH THOSE TWO FACTORS.
AND I HOPE THAT'S PART OF, UH, KIND OF THE ANALYSIS OF, OF COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S RESOLUTION.
AND THEN I THINK THAT IT'S COVERED THERE SO I CAN AGREE TO WE'RE AS A 42 43, BECAUSE I THINK FACTUALLY IT'S CORRECT.
SO I HAD A CONVERSATION OR MY STAFF HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MR. CULOTTA AND WE'VE ASKED HIM TO ADDRESS THIS AND DISCUSS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BLOCKCHAIN AND CRYPTOCURRENCY, EXCUSE ME, BLOCKCHAIN AND CRYPTOCURRENCY, AND THE POWER CONSUMPTION, CHALLENGES AND POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
AND, AND BASED ON WHAT I'VE READ AND LEARNED AND, UM, YOU KNOW, LEGIONS AWAY FROM BEING AN EXPERT ON THIS, IT DOES SEEM APPROPRIATE TO INVESTIGATE, UM, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, BUT I'LL ASK MR. COOLATTA AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO, TO ADDRESS THAT.
UM, IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THIS IS MORE TIED TO CRYPTO THAN IT BELONGS IN THE OTHERS OF BELONGINGS OR BLOCKCHAIN, AND I'M READY TO START LEARNING TODAY.
UM, THE, UH, UH, WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN SEEKS TO EXPLORE HOW INNOVATIONS OF PUBLIC DIGITAL PUBLIC BANK, PUBLIC PLATFORMS, LOCAL COULD BE SUPPORTED BY WHAT THREE TECHNOLOGIES NOW, THEREFORE, AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
WHEREAS CLAUSE SAY ANYBODY OBJECT TO THAT, WHEREAS CLAUSE BEING INCLUDED, HEARING NONE.
SO I THINK THEN THE VOTES WE HAVE TO TAKE IS THE WHEREAS CLAUSE ON THE, UH, UH, THE SECOND, WHEREAS CLAUSE CONCERNING DOWS WHERE THAT ONE GETS CALLED OUT.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT ONE, MAYBE WE HAVE SOME MORE, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF DIVERGENCE ON THE, BE IT FOR THE RESULTS.
SO IN THE, BE IT RESOLVED QUESTION, YOU WERE SAYING STRIKE THE SUPPORT AND STUDY.
AND THEN THE CONVERSATION WE HAD ON TUESDAY, I WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW, IN MANY INSTANCES, THERE'S NOTHING TO STUDY YET BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TECHNOLOGIES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DEVELOPED.
AND THE PURPOSE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS RESOLUTION WAS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGIES.
ONCE THOSE TECHNOLOGIES GET DEVELOPED, AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE WHICH ONES WE WANT TO USE OR NOT USE.
AND I WOULD IMAGINE THERE'D BE A LOT OF STUDY ON THAT.
UH, BUT THE FIRST PART OF IT IS JUST TO DEVELOP THE APPLICATIONS ON TOP OF THE TECHNOLOGIES AND ON TOP OF THE PROTOCOLS, IN THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD, AS BEST AS I COULD HEAR IT, YOU WERE ASKING FOR, UH, MAYBE THERE WAS ANOTHER WORD OTHER THAN STUDY THAT MIGHT WORK.
I THINK YOU SAID AT ONE POINT.
SO I WENT BACK TO LOOK AT IT, TO SEE IF HE COULD INCORPORATE BOTH THE, UH, THE, THE, THE LANGUAGE THAT, UM, UH, YOU HAD WANTED.
AND I WAS LOOKING AT THE VERSION THREE, UM,
[06:35:06]
LET ME SEE IF I CAN FIND IT HERE.AND SO WAS TO SUPPORT THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES AND FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS AND STUDY, WHICH INNOVATIONS COULD BENEFIT AUSTINITES AND CITY GOVERNMENT.
SO MY GOAL AND PUTTING IN THAT LANGUAGE WAS TO INCLUDE BOTH THE SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES, WHICH IS WHAT I HAD AS WELL AS YOURS THEN STUDYING WHICH INNOVATIONS COULD BENEFIT, UH, AUSTIN CITY GOVERNMENT.
AND THAT I THOUGHT GOT US BOTH WHAT WE WANTED.
I THINK WHAT, WHAT IS CONCERNING TO ME IS WHAT WE REALLY MEAN BY SUPPORTING THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE TECHNOLOGIES, BECAUSE TAKEN QUITE LITERALLY YOU'RE DIRECTING THE MANAGER TO SUPPORT THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGIES THAT COULD WITHOUT LIMITATION INCLUDE THINGS LIKE SMART CONTRACTS, DOCUMENT, NOTARIZATION, CRYPTOCURRENCIES, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I'M JUST NOT READY TO SAY MANAGER GO FORWARD AND SUPPORT AND DEVELOP, SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND CREATION OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
SO YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? I THINK, I THINK MAYBE YOU DON'T MEAN IT AS LITERALLY AS IT SOUNDS HERE ON THE PAPER, BUT AGAIN, I THINK MY, MY, UM, MY PERSPECTIVE IS PERHAPS OVERLY SHAPED BY THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING ABOUT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND THE LITERALNESS WITH WHICH PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THAT DIRECTION.
SO, YOU KNOW, I D I JUST DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT, WE NOT BE TELLING THE MANAGER AT THIS STAGE TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND CREATION OF THAT LAUNDRY LIST OF, OF THINGS, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT REALLY QUITE THERE YET.
SO WOULD YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I THINK THAT'S REALLY, I MEAN, WE WANT TO FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CREATION OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES, BUT I'M NOT, I'M NOT READY TO TELL THE MANAGER THAT HE SHOULD, HE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE THINGS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? DOES THAT MEAN OUR STAFF ARE GOING TO BE DEVELOPING AND CREATING IT, OR ARE YOU, OR IS IT MORE LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE MANAGER IS GOING TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND CREATION OF THOSE THINGS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY? I MEAN, TO ME, THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
I THINK IT'S POTENTIALLY ALL OF THAT.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT COMES WITH THIS, BUT I THINK THAT GOES TO THE VERY THRUST OF THE, OF THE RESOLUTION, WHICH IS TO SAY THAT, THAT WE, THAT WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN, IN DEVELOPING THESE TECHNOLOGIES.
AND WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN, IN THAT, UM, FOSTER THE CREATION OF, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
I MEAN, IF THE STAFF, OR IF, UM, UM, THE, OUR INNOVATION OFFICE WANTED TO DO A, UM, UH, A HACKATHON TO TEST OUT THE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED WITH RESPECT TO THE, UH, DIGITAL NOTARIZATION TOOL AND THEY, AND THEY DID THAT, OR IF THEY WANTED TO DO A HACKATHON TOGETHER WITH THE PROGRAM, THAT'S HERE IN THE SUMMER WITH 10 OR 15,000 PEOPLE, I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
AND AS WE GIVE THEM THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT, AND TO ME, THAT GOES BEYOND JUST FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT OF SUPPORT, BUT YOU'VE ADDRESSED THAT IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH AND THE NEXT, WHEREAS YOU'VE SAID THE MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO CONSIDER SUPPORTING, PARTICIPATING IN OR ORGANIZING THE FACILITATING OF THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF BLOCK CHANGE THROUGH HACKATHONS, ACCELERATORS, INCUBATORS.
YOU KNOW, THAT TO ME GIVES THE MANAGER THE DISCRETION TO, I'M NOT SURE WHAT FACILITATING OF THE CREATION MEANS HERE ABOUT IT, BUT, UM, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH SAYING THE MANAGER COULD CONSIDER SUPPORTING, PARTICIPATING, OR ORGANIZING THOSE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES.
IT SEEMS TO ME A STEP, REALLY A MUCH MORE DIRECTIVE STEP IN THE PREVIOUS RESOLVED TO TELL HIM TO SUPPORT THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGIES THAT MIGHT INCLUDE CRYPTOCURRENCY.
AND TO A DEGREE, I THINK PROBABLY THOSE TO BE RESOLVED, CLAUSES, BOTH HAVE IT.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE ONE THAT SAYS THE DIRECTOR TO CONSIDER SUPPORTING, PARTICIPATING IN ORGANIZING.
I THINK THAT COVERS THAT I THINK THIS ONE, THIS ONE TRIED TO LIST THE KINDS OF THINGS.
CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T DON'T KNOW THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF COULD WE EMERGE POTENTIAL BLOCKCHAIN STUFF? WHAT ABOUT MERGING THEM? I MEAN, UM, WHAT ABOUT, UM, HAVING YOUR LANGUAGE? THE MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO CONSIDER SUPPORTING, PARTICIPATING, ET CETERA, UM, WITH APPLICATIONS THAT COULD INCLUDE WITHOUT LIMITATION THOSE AND HAVING YOUR BULLET POINTS AT THAT NEXT.
WHEREAS, SO WE WOULD ADD THEN TO THE SECOND,
[06:40:01]
THAT'D BE RESOLVED CLAUSE, WHICH IS THE FOURTH ONE, UH, WITH, UH, APPLICATIONS, UH, DEVELOPED I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS COMPONENT CAUSE THAT, THAT, THAT PICKED UP YOUR, YOUR BANKS AND, AND PLATFORMS AND THE LIKE, AND I JUST, I JUST DON'T SEE A SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE HONESTLY, BETWEEN, YEAH, I GUESS I JUST REALLY DO, BUT, BUT WHAT ABOUT HAVING, I MEAN, I COULD, I WOULD SUGGEST, I MEAN, MY ONE SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO HAVE YOUR HACKATHON PARAGRAPH AND THEN SAY, THESE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES AND FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS COULD INCLUDE WITHOUT LIMITATION THOSE RELATED TO, AND THEN YOUR BULLET POINTS.AND I THINK THAT ACCOMPLISHES IT WITHOUT DIRECTING HIM TO DEVELOP AND CREATE THEM, THESE BLOCKCHAIN, BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES AND FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS, IT'S BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES AND FINANCIAL, AND, AND THEN JUST PICKS UP THE REST OF YOUR SENTENCE COULD INCLUDE, OH, OR, UM, THESE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND FINANCIAL AND EVENT INNOVATIONS THAT BENEFIT AUSTINITES I THINK YOUR LANGUAGE ABOUT THAT BENEFITS AUSTINITES AND CITY GOVERNMENT AT BENEFIT AUSTINITES AND CITY GOVERNMENT COULD INCLUDE WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE RELATED TO BULLET POINTS COULD INCLUDE WITHOUT LIMITATION AND THEN THE LIST.
I'LL ACCEPT THAT FOR THE LIFE OF ME.
SO, SO THE, BE IT RESOLVED, THE THIRD BEER RESOLVE CLAUSE IS GOING TO COME OUT THE NEXT OF RESOLVE CLAUSE WHERE READ THE CITY MANAGER DIRECTOR TO CONSIDER SUPPORTING, PARTICIPATING IN ORGANIZING THE FACILITATING OF THE CREATION DEVELOPMENT OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES, THEIR ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS, WITHOUT LIMITATION, HACKATHONS, ACCELERATORS, INCUBATORS, CONTEST, CHALLENGES, AND PRIZES, THE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES AND FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS THAT COULD BENEFIT AUSTIN AUSTINITES AND CITY GOVERNMENT COULD INCLUDE WITHOUT LIMITATION THOSE RELATED TO, AND THEN IT HAS ALL OF THE BULLET POINTS THAT WERE UP ABOVE AND THE PRIOR BE RESOLVED, PLUS YES, VERY PROFOUND.
UM, I NEED TO GO OUTSIDE IN A SECOND, BUT, UM, IF YOU COULD JUST REPEAT THE FIRST, THE FIRST PART OF IT BEFORE YOU, LIKE JUST THE COMBINED SENTENCE, NOT THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO CONSIDER SUPPORTIVE, PARTICIPATING IN OUR ORGANIZING, FACILITATING OF THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES, UM, THROUGH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS WITHOUT LIMITATION, HACKATHONS, ACCELERATORS, INCUBATORS, CONTESTS, CHALLENGES, AND PRIZES, THESE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES AND FINANCIAL INNOVATIONS THAT BENEFIT AUSTINITES AND THE CITY GOVERNMENT COULD BENEFIT, WHICH INNOVATIONS COULD BENEFIT AUSTINITES IN CITY.
GOVERNMENT COULD INCLUDE WITHOUT LIMITATION THE BULLET POINTS.
I KNOW YOU DON'T SEE THE DIFFERENCE, BUT NOW THAT YOU SAY IT, I DO SEE, DO YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE? OKAY.
ANY OBJECTION TO THAT CHANGE BEING MADE HEARING NONE THAT CHANGES MADE.
MAY I JUST CLARIFY, YOU'RE TAKING OUT LINES 87 THROUGH 89 ON PAGE FOUR, COUNCILLOR TURBOS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TAKING OUT? I WAS BACK TO VERSION THREE.
SO I'M LOOKING AT VERSION THREE HERE, WHICH IS MINE AND REMOVING.
SO FROM 46 TO 73, YOU REMOVING THAT COMES OUT.
AND WHAT GETS PUT BACK IN IS SOME OF THAT LANGUAGE, MOST OF THAT LANGUAGE GETS PUT BACK IN, BUT IT'S BEING PUT BACK IN IT RESOLVED.
SO ON COUNCIL MEMBER, TABOS AMENDMENT LINES, 87 THROUGH 91.
HAVE YOU JUST NOT GOTTEN TO THAT YET? ARE YOU?
[06:45:03]
NO, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO IT.WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT YET.
UM, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO OUT THERE FOR A LITTLE BIT.
SO EITHER WE CAN RECONSIDER OR, UM, YOU CAN WAIT FOR ME TO VOTE.
DO YOU WANT TO, DO YOU WANT US TO STOP THIS DISCUSSION NOW? OR DO YOU WANT US TO GET UP TO A VOTE AND THEN WAIT TILL YOU'VE COME BACK? UH, THAT'S FINE.
IF YOU WANT TO GET UP TO VOTE AND HEARD OR YOU CAN VOTE AND THEN JUST RECONSIDER IT SO THAT I CAN BE SEEN ORDAINED.
I THINK THERE'S NOT A HUGE NUMBER OF FOLKS THERE, SO I THINK IT'LL BE SHORTER.
WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET IT TO THAT PLACE.
SO THE NEXT ONE IS BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES HAVE KNOWN POWER CONSUMPTION CHALLENGES, AND YOU WANTED TO HAVE STAFF SPEAK TO THEM.
WE DO HAVE, UM, 87 THROUGH 91 STILL TO RESOLVE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE ACCEPTING THAT AS FRIENDLY.
I DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT THAT AGAIN.
I IT'S, IT'S PRIORITIZING THOUSAND.
I THINK THEY'RE GREAT, BUT I WOULDN'T PRIORITIZE DOWS OVER DIVVY FOR ME, DEBUNK IS A HIGHER PRIORITY THEN, THEN, THEN THE HELL.
BUT THEY'RE BOTH HIGH PRIORITIES AS IS CAPITAL FACTORY'S PRIORITIES.
SO NOW I, I, I THINK THAT UNFAIRLY PUTS A THUMB ON THE SCALE AND I'M TRYING TO BE MORE NEUTRAL THAN THAT, SO THAT ONE WILL REQUIRE A VOTE AS WELL.
UH, SO THE FIRST VOTE WE HAVE IS THE WHEREAS CLAUSE AT 19 TO 21.
AND AGAIN, I THINK WE'VE INCLUDED DOW'S AT THIS POINT AND SHOULDN'T BE PRIORITIZING ONE FORM OVER OTHER FORMS AND I'D APPRECIATE IF IT STAYED MORE NEUTRAL.
COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO MOVES THE AMENDMENT FROM 19 TO 21.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND, PULL, AND TOBO THOSE OPPOSED.
I SAID, WE WERE GOING TO KEEP GOING THROUGH THIS AND TRY TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A VOTE.
SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE A FINAL VOTE ON THIS.
THE NEXT ONE IS, UM, I ACCEPTED YOUR STRIKE OUT ON CRYPTOCURRENCIES.
UH, THAT GETS US TO THE AMENDMENT ON 42 TO 43.
I THINK YOU HAD STAFF HERE TO SPEAK TO THAT.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. COOLATTA FROM THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER, WHETHER BLOCKCHAIN RELIES ON, ON ENERGY CONSUMPTION OR WHAT, AND I THINK IT HAS, WELL, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO EXPLAIN YOU GOT SOME MEMBER.
UM, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THE QUESTION, UH, AND, AND THE LINE OF DISCUSSION HERE, UM, ALL APPLICATIONS BUILT ON BLOCKCHAIN, UH, DO WRITE THEIR TRANSACTIONS TO, TO THE CHAIN.
ALL THOSE TRANSACTIONS HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CONSENSUS MECHANISM, UM, WHICH DOES INVOLVE ENERGY USAGE, UH, IN THE CASE OF, UM, MANY CHAINS, ESPECIALLY THOSE BUILT ON, UH, CON PROOF OF WORK, CONSENSUS MECHANISMS LIKE BITCOIN, THEY DO INVOLVE A SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION.
SO ANY APPLICATION OF THOSE REAL LAB BLOCKCHAIN IS ASSOCIATED WITH, UM, AT THIS POINT, PRETTY HIGH LEVELS OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION.
THERE ARE SOME INNOVATIONS IN THIS AREA THOUGH THAT ARE WORKING TO BRING THAT DOWN.
SO I'LL ACCEPT THAT, UH, IN THIS CONVERSATION, IS THERE, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION REQUIRED TO DO THE MINING OF COINS? UH, THEY'RE THE SAME.
THE, MY NAME POINTS HAPPENS WHEN, UM, THE CONSENSUS, UM, ALGORITHM COMPLETES ITS CYCLE ON THE BLOCK.
UH, SO, SO THEY'RE INTERTWINED.
SO I'LL ACCEPT THAT, WHEREAS CLAUSE, AND THEN I ACCEPTED THE NEXT, WHEREAS CLAUSE.
UH, IT'S THE QUESTION NOW OF STUDY AND SUPPORT, UH, YOU WANTED, EXCEPT THAT WAS THE SECTION THAT WE TOOK OUT.
[06:50:02]
AND THEN IT'S THE BE A RESOLVE CLAUSE WHERE YOU'RE WANTING TO PRIORITIZE DOW'S AGAIN, THE COOPERATIVE OF DEMOCRATIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ELEMENT.DO YOU NEED A VOTE ON THAT? THIS IS YOURS AT, UH, 87 THROUGH 91.
I'M TAKING A LOOK AT IT TO SEE IF THERE'S LANGUAGE THAT MIGHT MODIFY IT SO THAT YOU CAN ACCEPT IT.
UM, HOW ABOUT WE'LL GIVE STRONG CONSIDERATION OR A STRONG ATTENTION, SOLID ATTENTION TO, I MEAN, WE ARE A PUBLIC ENTITY AT THE END OF THE DAY.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE THEM TO, TO REALLY, UM, PROVIDE STRONG CONSIDERATION, AT LEAST FOR TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE UNDER THE CITY'S CONTROL, OR AT LEAST UNDER THE CONTROL OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE COOPERATIVE OR DEMOCRATIC MANAGEMENT.
SO BLACK, UM, STEPPING AWAY FROM PRIORITIZATION AND, AND SAYING SOMETHING, SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF THE CITY MANAGER WILL GIVE STRONG CONSIDERATION TO BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES FOR PUBLIC USE, ET CETERA.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE AT THAT STAGE ANYWAY, UM, IN TERMS OF APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION.
SO JUST THE CITY MANAGER WILL GIVE STRONG CONSIDERATION TO BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES FOR PUBLIC USE THAT ARE EITHER ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
I APPRECIATE THAT CHANGE MAKES IT BETTER FOR ME, BUT STILL I WOULD KEEP IT NEUTRAL TO THINGS LIKE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.
I MEAN, THERE ARE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PRIORITIZING DIFFERENT VALUES AND I'M UNCOMFORTABLE PICKING ONE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE CALLED OUT ORGANIZATIONS WITH DIFFERENT KINDS OF VALUE BASIS IN THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE LISTED, INCLUDING DOWS, UH, AT, UH, 35 AND 36 OF YOUR EMOTION, WHICH WAS FROM MINE AS A MEMBER OF TOVO TO ADD THE CITY MANAGER WILL GIVE STRONG CONSIDERATION TO BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES FOR PUBLIC USE THAT ARE ON THE CITY'S CONTROL, UH, OR UNDER THE CONTROL OF ORGANIZATION.
SO BIKE BY COOPERATIVE OR DEMOCRATIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, WHICH ARE INCLUDED, WHICH ARE THE DOWS OKAY.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND, PULL IT OVER THOSE OPPOSED.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND, UM, BALANCE OF THE DYESS ACCOUNTS.
REMEMBER MADISON OFF THE DYESS.
AND, UM, I REMEMBER AT THE RIO OF THAT EYES AND CALVES, WHEN WE'RE ALL THROWN OFF, THE DICE HAD PASSED, IT DOES NOT PASS.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GOING TO HOLD THIS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO COME BACK BEFORE WE VOTE.
NOW, WHILE WE'RE HOLDING FOR ME TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT, ABOUT THE ITEM, JUST GENERALLY IN ADVANCE OF MY VOTE COUNCIL MEMBER, ALL AUTHORS PULLS THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED AS PART OF THE BASE MOTION.
OR WE COULD GO TO THE ZONING CASES.
EVEN WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THOSE.
AND MAY I THINK 92 MAY BE IN HER DISTRICT.
SO THAT MAY FACTOR INTO THE ORDER WE TAKE THEM IN.
[69. NPA-2021-0026.01, Grady & Brownie Mixed Use-Approve third reading of an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 20100624-110 the North Lamar Combined Neighborhood Plan, an element of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, to change the land use designation on the future land use map (FLUM) on property locally known as 10609, 10611, 10613, and 10615 Brownie Drive; and 10610, 10612, and 10614 Middle Fiskville Road (Walnut Creek & Little Walnut Creek Watersheds) from Single Family and Neighborhood Commercial land use to Mixed Use land use. First reading approved mixed use land use on November 4, 2021. Vote: 8-3. Council Members A. Alter, K. Tovo and M. Kelly voted nay. Second reading approved mixed use land use on November 18, 2021. Vote: 11-0. Owner/Applicant: Grady & Brownie Investments, LLC. Agent: Thrower Design (Ron Thrower & Victoria Haase). City Staff: Maureen Meredith, Housing and Planning Department, (512) 974-2695.]
THANK YOU, JERRY.THANK YOU FOR HANGING WITH US AS LONG AS YOU HAVE GOOD EVENING COUNCIL, JERRY RESTAURANT AND HOUSING PLAN DEPARTMENT.
UH, JUST AS A HEADS UP BEFORE I GET STARTED, UM, ACTUALLY BOTH OF THE CASES THAT WE HAVE REMAINED TODAY HAVE VALID PETITIONS.
AND SO, UM, JUST LET YOU KNOW BEFORE WE, WELL, THAT'S FINE.
PICK YOUR WORD THAT WE MAY NEED A FULL COUNCIL.
UM, SO REMEMBER, UM, 69 IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENT IS CASE NUMBER NPA 2020 1000 126.01 OTHER RELATED ZONING CASE CASE C 14, 2020 1 0 100.
THESE ARE KNOWN AS THE, A GRADIENT BROWNIE MIXED USE CASES AS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1 0 6 0 9 1 0 6 11 161 3 AND 1 0 6 1 5 BROWNIE DRIVE, AS WELL AS 1 6 1 0 1 0 6 1 2 1 0 6 1 4
[06:55:01]
MIDDLE FISKVILLE ROAD.UM, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO CHANGE THE ZONING ON TRACT ONE FROM SF THREE TO M F TWO N P AND ON TRACK TO, UM, UM, TO LR FROM LR NP TO SEE US, UM, AND P THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION WAS TO APPROVE THE TRACT ONE, MF TWO NPS ZONING, BUT ON TRACK TO, TO NOT APPROVE THE, UM, CS, THE REQUESTED CSL, AND INSTEAD, UM, AT THE M U TO THE EXISTING LRS ZONING CATEGORY, THAT IS ON TRACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AGREED WITH THE, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UM, AND APPROVED.
UM, LRM YOU ON TRACK TO THIS CASE DID GO TO, UM, FIRST READING FROM AT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THAT WAS ON NOVEMBER 4TH, AND THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE MFQ NPS ZONING, WHICH NO ONE SEEMS TO DISAGREE ABOUT, OR THE PLAN COMMISSION STAFF DIDN'T DISAGREE WITH ON TRACK ONE.
AND THEY DID A PR AND THE COUNCIL DID APPROVE THE LRM UNP ON TRACK TO, UM, THERE IS NEIGHBORHOOD OPPOSITION IN THIS CASE, AS I STATED, UM, THERE IS A VALID PETITION AGAINST OTHER ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE EXISTING ZONING, WHICH AS I SAID, IS S3 ON TRACK ONE AND LR ON TRACK TO, UM, IN ADDITION TO ONE MORE, UM, BEFORE I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE, UH, THE INITIAL REQUEST.
UM, THE VELVET JUST IN IS THAT 29%.
AND, UH, THE APPLICANT HAS PRESENTED A LIST OF PROHIBITED CSU USES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN EXHIBIT G OF THE STAFF REPORT.
UM, TODAY I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE, THOSE PROHIBITED USES AND THAT THEY WOULD, UM, REMOVE, UM, PEDICAB STORAGE AND DISPATCH A BED AND BREAKFAST GROUP ONE AND SERVICE STATION AS PROHIBITED USES.
AND, UM, I BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD, UM, ADD BACK IN BED AND BREAKFAST GROUP TOO, AND THE DAYCARE SORTED DAYCARE SERVICES.
SO WITH THAT, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS, AGAIN, TO APPROVE THIS ZONING CASE, IT WOULD TAKE NINE OUT OF 11 COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, TO APPROVE IT.
SO I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE NOT TAKE A VOTE TILL ALISON COMES BACK ON BOTH OF THESE ITEMS, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY DISCUSS IT, UM, OF OUR TOTAL.
I HAD A QUESTION FOR MR. RUSS TOVA AND I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T FOLLOW THE INS AND OUTS OF THE CHILDCARE, WHICH IS IN, WHICH IS OUT.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD, I'D HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK WITH, BUT I THINK THAT THEY, THEY WERE, THEY HEADED ON THE, UM, TODAY IT'S ON THE LIST OF PROHIBITED, USES THE NEWS LIST THAT THEY GAVE US.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WAS ON THE LIST.
THAT'S AN EXHIBIT G OF YOUR, UH, OF YOUR BACKUP.
SO THERE'D BE PROHIBITED USE AS TAKE CARE OF LIMITED TO TAKE CARE OF GENERAL AND COMMERCIAL.
AND THAT WAS A REQUEST OF OUR, OF THE APPLICANT NAPKINS, OFFERING THAT AS A, CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME UNDERSTAND? I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE ANY NEIGHBORS ANYMORE ON THE LINE, BUT CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CONCERN WAS ABOUT HAVING DAYCARE, UM, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS, VICTORIA HASI WITH ROVER DESIGN.
UM, SO THOSE CHILDCARE USES, I THINK THAT WAS A MISTAKE THAT THOSE WERE, UM, PUT INTO THE PROHIBITED LIST.
UM, I DON'T BELIEVE WHEN I WAS LOOKING OVER AND VERIFYING THE LIST, UH, RIGHT BEFORE THE HEARING.
I DON'T BELIEVE THOSE WERE INTENDED.
I KNOW THAT THE LANDOWNERS DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS FOR CHILD CHILDCARE USES.
SO IT'S FINE TO REMOVE THOSE FROM THE PROHIBITED LIST SO THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED SAME FOR PETTY CAB DIS CAB STORAGE AND DISPATCH.
I THINK THAT WAS A MISTAKE AS WELL.
SO I, I THINK WHAT IS CONFUSING IS SORT OF THE, THE OPPOSITE EFFECT HERE.
SO THEY WERE ON THE PROHIBITED LIST THEY'RE BEING REMOVED FROM THE PROHIBITED LIST.
SO THEY WOULD BE PERMITTED USES IN THIS CATEGORY.
AND LET ME JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I WANT TO MAKE SURE, I MEAN, WE HAVE SO MANY OBSTACLES AGAINST OUR CHILDCARE INDUSTRY IN THE CITY, AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THEM ON A PROHIBITED LIST OF USES WITHOUT SOME THOUGHTFUL DELIBERATION ON IT.
SO TO BE CLEAR, IF YOU LOOK AT EXHIBIT, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S G IN THE BACKUP, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE SALMON COLORED COLUMN IS, WAS THE NEIGHBORHOODS INPUT ON THOSE PARTICULAR USES.
AND THEY SAID THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO ALLOW THEM.
THEY SAID THEY DID NOT WANT TO ALLOW CHILDCARE USES ON THIS, UM, ON, ON THIS, IN THIS DEVELOPMENT.
UM, AND THE LANDOWNER DOESN'T HAVE A DESIRE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, SO IT'S FINE TO KEEP THEM, UM, IF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WANTS THEM PROHIBITED AND THAT'S THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL, THAT'S FINE AS WELL.
LET ME JUST SAY, I KNOW WE'RE ALL ADJUSTING TO THE NEW FORMAT.
[07:00:01]
TO SORT OF HAVE ALL OF THE COMMENTARY EARLY ON, AND THEN WHEN WE'RE DISCUSSING IT, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE ANYMORE.I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ADJUST THAT EXACTLY.
BUT I WOULD REALLY, THIS IS THE KIND OF THE MOMENT WHERE I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE UP ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS TO EXPLAIN WHY CHILDCARE USES ARE NOT SOMETHING THEY WANT TO ENCOURAGE THERE, BECAUSE I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE OF REAL VALUE.
UM, NOT JUST TO THOSE WHO MIGHT COME IN AND LIVE IN THE HOUSING THAT WOULD RESULT FROM THIS ZONING CHANGE.
BUT ALSO, I MEAN, I WAS UP AT THE SITE YESTERDAY AND I'VE BEEN UP THERE IN THE PAST AS WELL.
I MEAN, THERE ARE LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF FAMILIES IN THIS AREA ON THIS STREET.
SO, AND THE CUSTOMER THAT THOSE USES WERE NOT PROHIBITED IN FIRST READING WHEN THE COUNCIL APPROVED IN FIRST READING, THAT WAS WHERE IT ADDED.
UM, LIKE TORI SAID AT THE, AT THE REQUEST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHER, THE STAFF WHERE THE APPLICANT HONESTLY IS ADVOCATING FOR PROBING THOSE USES.
BECAUSE THE APPLICANT, THANK YOU.
SO THE APPLICANT GETS FIVE MINUTES TO START OFF THE DISCUSSION WITH APPLICANT MINDSET.
AGAIN, VICTORIA POSSE WITH RUBBER DESIGN ON BEHALF OF THE LANDOWNERS OF THE SUBJECT TRACKS.
UM, THEY, YOU CAN SEE THOSE TRACKS IN THE IMAGE BEFORE YOU OUTLINED IN BLUE AND BLACK.
THEY ARE ABOUT A HALF MILE FROM BOTH THE BREAKER BREAKER LANE, AS WELL AS LAMAR BOULEVARD, BOTH OF WHICH ARE, IMAGINE AUSTIN ACTIVITY CORRIDORS AND THE SITE IS A LITTLE MORE THAN A MILE AWAY FROM THE LAMAR AND RUNDBERG, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
UM, SO YES, WE ARE ASKING A, FOR A FUTURE LAND USE AMENDMENT, UM, ON THE ENTIRETY OF BOTH ONE TRACT ONE AND TWO, TWO MIXED USE, AND WE ARE ASKING FOR, UH, A ZONING CHANGE, OR WE HAD ASKED FOR A ZONING CHANGE TO
AND THEY ARE RESTRICTED FOR COMMERCIAL ONLY DEVELOPMENT.
AND THIS IS THE 1967 DEED RESTRICTION THAT, UH, STATES THAT RESTRICTION, UH, FOR BLOCKS D N G.
AND IT IS THE REASON WHY THE FOUR LOTS ON BROWNIE LANE HAVE NEVER DEVELOPED WITH SINGLE FAMILY.
SINGLE FAMILY IS AN ILLEGAL USE FOR THESE LOTS BECAUSE OF THIS DEED RESTRICTION.
AND THEREFORE COULD NEVER GET FUNDING FOR DEVELOPMENT AS SUCH IF SINGLE FAMILY WERE LEGAL AND DEVELOPED, UH, THE SALE OF THOSE HOMES WOULD HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE HOUSES IN THE AREA THROUGH COMPARABLES FOR TRACK TWO LAND IS, IS VACANT, BUT HAS DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS THAT ALLOW FOR VARIOUS USES, SOME OF WHICH COULD, UH, GENERATE LARGER AMOUNTS OF TRAFFIC FURTHER.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE DEED RESTRICTION ALSO DICTATES THAT RESIDENTIAL LOTS CAN ONLY HAVE ONE DETACHED DWELLING UNIT BY RIGHT, THEREFORE THIS 1.8 ACRES OF LAND CAN, MAY BE THE ONLY LAND LEFT IN THIS SUBDIVISION TO ACCOMMODATE ADDITIONAL DENSITY AND RESIDENTIAL UNITS.
YOU HAVE THE DENSITY ALLOWANCES LENDING TO A MAXIMUM 70 UNITS ACROSS THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT AREA, AND WHILE 70 UNITS ON
UH, THE POTENTIAL FOR DWELLING UNITS IS DECREASED BY HALF, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY ALSO RESULTS IN A REDUCTION IN COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
WHILE WE KNOW THE SITE CAN ACHIEVE A COMPATIBLE MFR DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS AREA, THE LANDOWNER IS AGREEABLE TO STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR MF TWO ON TRACT ONE AGAIN, SO LONG AS WE CAN ACHIEVE C S M U FOR TRACK TWO, WHICH WILL LIKELY YIELD 35 UNITS GIVE OR TAKE ACROSS
[07:05:01]
THE ENTIRE SITE.SO WHILE YOU HEARD EARLIER THAT APPROVAL OF THIS REZONING WILL HURT THE COMMUNITY BY TAKING AWAY THE LAST BIT OF GREEN SPACE.
THAT STATEMENT IS MADE ON THE FALSE ASSUMPTION THAT THE LAND DOESN'T HAVE ENTITLEMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT TODAY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALSO HAS CONCERNS FOR INCREASED TRAFFIC WITH DEVELOPMENT THAT IS PROPOSED.
HOWEVER, WHEN YOU, UM, COMPARE TRIP GENERATIONS WITH THE FOLLOWING USES UNDER LR FOR THE THREE PARCELS ON MIDDLE FISCAL ROAD, YOU SEE THOSE PRODUCE DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL GENERATE FAR MORE TRAFFIC.
AND TO BE CLEAR, OUR CLIENT DOES NOT WANT TO DEVELOP THIS SITE WITH THOSE LR USES ABOVE, BUT WITHOUT SUCCESSFUL ZONING OF CS IMMU FOR TRACK TO THOSE LR USES BECOME A MORE LIKELY SCENARIO.
THIS MAP HIGHLIGHTS PROPERTIES NEARBY THAT HAVE CS OR INDUSTRIAL ZONING TODAY.
AND THEREFORE THE CS BASED DISTRICT ZONING THAT WE ARE REQUESTING ON TRACK TWO IS CONSISTENT, UM, WITH SIMILARLY SITUATED PROPERTIES IN THE AREA, THE PROPOSED CEO GUIDES DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY TO USES THAT ARE COMPATIBLE WITH RESIDENTIAL USES BOTH WITHIN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS NEARBY.
AND THIS IS A VISUAL, THIS IS MY LAST SLIDE.
THIS IS A VISUAL SHOWING HOW THE SITE IS IMPACTED BY COMPATIBILITY.
THE TRIGGERING PROPERTIES ARE OUTLINED IN YELLOW AND COMPATIBILITY WILL LIMIT ANY DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE TO AT MOST 50 TO 55 FEET ON THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE SITE I REMAIN AVAILABLE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
JUST A QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTION.
UM, THIS IS FOR THIRD READING, RIGHT? WE ALREADY, WE ALREADY PASSED IT ON SECOND READING.
CONSTANTLY RESIGN FOR THIRD READING.
UM, PREVIOUS VOTE FOR THE CASE WAS EIGHT TO THREE, AND AS I SAID, IT WOULD NEED NINE VOTES FOR IT TO PASS ON THIRD.
AND THEN DO I SEE, SECOND READING WAS APPROVED 11.
I HAVEN'T BEEN DONE, UM, EIGHT TO THREE.
SO FIRST READING, IT WAS EIGHT TO THREE.
UM, SECOND READING WAS 11 TO ZERO AND NOW WE'RE AT THIRD RING.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, MR. ROSS TOBIN, UH, WHAT GIVEN THE, THE DEED RESTRICTIONS ON THOSE A SF THREE LOTS THAT ARE CLOSEST TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD? WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE, CAUSE THEY ARE THERE, LET ME START OVER THERE ZONE
AND THEY HAVE A DEED RESTRICTION, UH, NOT ALLOWING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A, A RESIDENTIAL, NOT ALLOWING THEIR YOUTH FOR RESIDENTIAL.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, UH, GIVEN THAT SITUATION, WHAT COULD SOMEONE BUILD ON THAT PROPERTY? WELL, GIVEN THE EXISTING ZONING, NOTHING.
UM, SO THEY WOULD EITHER NEED TO, UH, HAVE THE DEED RESEARCH REMOVED, WHICH WE DID.
YOU'D HAVE TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT THAT DOCUMENT AND SEE WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR THAT.
SOMETIMES THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT OR YOU'D HAVE TO CHANGE THE ZONING TO A COMMERCIAL ZONING CATEGORY.
AND IN TERMS OF THE CITY'S OBLIGATION TO ZONE AGAIN, I KNOW THE CITY DOES NOT ENFORCE DEED RESTRICTIONS, BUT GIVEN THE EXISTENCE OF A DEED RESTRICTION AND A ZONING THAT IS INDIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE DEED RESTRICTION, UH, IS THERE ANY LEGAL KIND OF SITUATION THAT THE CITY WOULD BE IN WHERE WE'RE BASICALLY ZONING THE PROPERTY TO A, A, AN ALLOWED USE AND, AND PREVENTING ANY KIND OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY? I MEAN, IS THAT A SITUATION THAT WE'VE ENCOUNTERED BEFORE? UM, THE CITY TRIES NOT TO RECOMMEND THE STAFF.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A COUNCIL POLICY DATING BACK TO THE EIGHTIES THAT BASICALLY DIRECTED US TO NOT, UH, RECOMMEND OR TO DIRECT THE CONSOLE.
BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, YOU SAY A NON-BINDING RESOLUTION, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT TOLD THE CONSOLE WHAT TO DO TO ITSELF, BUT IT SAID TO NOT DO A ZONING CASE, DO NOT APPROVE ZONING CASES, WHICH WERE IN CONFLICT WITH DEED RESTRICTIONS, SPECIFICALLY OF THE TYPE WHERE THE DEED RESTRICTION AND RESTRICTS AT THE RESIDENTIAL ONLY, AND SOMEBODY WAS ASKING FOR COMMERCIAL.
[07:10:01]
DOCUMENT AGAIN, IT WAS FROM THE EIGHTIES, BUT IT BASICALLY SAID DON'T GO KNOWINGLY DO ZONING CASES WHERE YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE CONFLICT WITH THE DATE RESTRICTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THAT REGARD, IN THAT INSTANCE.AND WITH REGARD TO MIDDLE MIDDLEFIELD ROAD, UH, THERE IS SOME LAND TO THE EAST OF MIDDLE FISKVILLE ROAD BETWEEN MIDDLE FISKVILLE ROAD.
AND I, 35 IS THAT STATE LAND IS THAT PUBLIC LAND WHO HOLDS TITLE TO THAT CHUNK OF LAND, UM, CONCEPT NUMBER, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHICH PIECE OF LAND YOU REFERRING TO.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT LIKE ON THE ROAD ITSELF ON THE OTHER SIDE, BASICALLY BETWEEN MIDDLE PITTSVILLE ROAD AND THE ACCESS ROAD, I'M ASSUMING.
I WOULD PRESUME THAT WOULD BE THE STATES.
I WOULDN'T CHOOSE THEM IN OTHER WORDS.
SO THIS PROPERTY WILL BE THE ONLY THING BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND AT 35.
MATTER OF FACT, WHEN ON THE PETITION DOCUMENT, UM, THE STATE OF TEXAS IS LISTED AS ONE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THAT SPECIFIC STRIP, BUT I WOULD GUESS THAT IT WAS OKAY.
THIS IS EMPTY LAND RIGHT NEXT TO
UH, IT IS COMPLETELY UNDEVELOPED RIGHT NOW.
UH, AND IN FACT, THEY IT'S RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF DISTRICT FOUR.
THERE'S A SPOT WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT A CAMPAIGN SIGNS UP THERE NEXT TO, UH, UH, AT 35.
AND, UH, I'VE SEEN, WE WENT OUT THERE VERY RECENTLY TO DO THE, EXACTLY THAT THERE WAS AN ABANDONED VEHICLE, UH, RIGHT THERE, UH, IT'S ATTRACTIVE LAND WHERE THERE'S SOME DUMPING, UH, GOING ON.
SO I, I DO HAVE CONCERNS OF KIND OF LEAVING IT AS AN UNDEVELOPED LAND WOULD, UH, TEND TO PROMOTE KIND OF, UH, ABANDONED CARS, YOU KNOW, TRASH DUMPING, ILLEGAL DUMPING, THOSE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES.
UH, I WOULD JUST NOTE THAT THE DEED RESTRICTIONS, UH, AGAINST S SF THREE, REALLY PUT THE OWNER IN A PROBLEMATIC PLACE.
UH, AND I WOULD NOTE THAT FROM THE LANDOWNER'S PERSPECTIVE, FROM THE NEIGHBORS PERSPECTIVE ALSO, AND AGAIN, I I'VE HANDLED PROTESTS WITH THE TRAVIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
YOU KNOW, YOU COMPARE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, YOU COMPARE CONDOS TO CONDOS, YOU COMPARE COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL, AND FROM THE PROPERTY, FROM THE NEIGHBORS PERSPECTIVE, THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO YOUR PROPERTY TAX APPRAISALS IS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, A BRAND NEW FANCY SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON ONE OF THOSE LOTS DEED RESTRICTIONS IS NOT GONNA ALLOW IT, BUT, UH, IN OUR DISCUSSION, IN OUR DEBATE ABOUT THAT, UH, THAT I KNOW SOME FOLKS ARE LIKE, WELL, WE'D LIKE TO SEE SOME HOMES ON THERE.
UH, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN IN TERMS OF, UH, APPRAISALS.
WHEREAS THE CONDOS, AGAIN, MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, UH, APPRAISAL DISTRICT, YOU COULD NOT COMPARE THE APPRAISALS OF CONDO TO THE APPRAISALS OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, LOTS AWAY.
SO WHATEVER THE COST POINT OF THOSE CONDOS ARE, IT SHOULD NOT AFFECT THE APPRAISALS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE APPRAISALS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD BE BASED ON SIMILAR PROPERTIES, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THAT LITTLE STRETCH THERE BETWEEN KIND OF BREAKER 35 AND, AND LAMAR.
UH, SO I DON'T THINK THAT THE KIND OF THE THERE'S NO DISPLACEMENT, UM, GENTRIFICATION IS ONGOING.
UH, THE, UH, I BELIEVE, UH, THAT RECENT PROPERTY SALES IN THE AREA ARE WELL ABOVE 300,000.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME $400,000, LOTS GOING IN THE AREA.
UM, WHAT, I'M SORRY, ONE MORE QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT TO, YES.
DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE PRICE POINT FOR THE CONDOS IN THAT AREA WOULD BE? SO, UM, WITH, IN TODAY'S MARKET, A CONDO UNIT IN THIS AREA WOULD PROBABLY GO FOR WHAT IS COMPARABLE TO WHAT WE'LL PROBABLY GO FOR AROUND $350,000 WITH, WITH TODAY'S MARKET.
SO I, AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF THE HOMEOWNERS THERE ARE, UH, INCUMBENT HOMEOWNERS WHO PURCHASED FOR MUCH LESS THAN $300,000.
I MEAN, 10 YEARS AGO, THESE WERE $90,000, UH, LOTS, UH, BUT GIVEN THE SITUATION NOW, I DON'T THINK THAT THE CONDOS, THE PRICE POINT FOR THE CONDOS WILL BE THAT DIFFERENT THAN THE PRICE POINT FOR THE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
IN OTHER WORDS, NEW PEOPLE MOVING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE GOING TO BE OF ROUGHLY THE SAME MEANS, UH, AS PEOPLE PURCHASING THE CONDOS.
UH, SO I IN, WE NEED MORE HOUSING, UH, THIS IS GOING TO PROVIDE NEEDED HOUSING.
IT WILL BRING SOME COMMUNITY BENEFITS WITH IT AS WELL.
UM, AND, UH, I'M, UH, SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT.
[07:15:01]
BOAT THAT THIS ITEM, I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT, AND ALSO I NEED TO CLARIFY THE LIST.SO I I'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH AT LEAST ONE OF THE RESIDENTS WHO SAID THEY DID NOT SUBMIT A LIST OF PROHIBITED USES.
SO LET ME CLARIFY THE, WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR BACKUP AS EXHIBIT G.
THAT WAS, UM, A SPREADSHEET THAT WE HAD STARTED COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEY GAVE US OUR FEEDBACK AND THEIR FEEDBACK IS INCLUDED IN THAT SPREADSHEET.
HOWEVER, THEY DIDN'T CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS, UM, ESPECIALLY AFTER FILING A PETITION, UM, THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT ANY CHANGE IN THE ZONING AT ALL.
SO I CAN'T SAY THAT THAT IS WHAT THEIR STANCE IS AT THIS POINT.
THAT WAS THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT FROM THEM BACK IN THE FALL, UH, EARLY FALL OF LAST YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
CAN YOU TELL ME EXACTLY WHICH ARE THE DAYCARE USES THAT ARE IN EXHIBIT G PLEASE? YES.
SO IF YOU'RE REFERRING TO EXHIBIT G, WHICH IS A SPREADSHEET, LIKE A, A TABLE FORMAT, I'M SORRY.
JUST THE ONES THAT WOULD, WITHOUT ANY INTERVENTION HERE RIGHT NOW WOULD REMAIN, WOULD BE ON THE PROHIBITED PROHIBITED USE LIST THAT THE DAYCARE, I THINK IT WAS ALL OF THE DAYCARE WAS, I MEAN, I, I WOULD SAY DON'T PROHIBIT ANY OF THEM.
I MEAN, I, I PERSONALLY AGREE WITH YOU THAT I DON'T KNOW WHY DAYCARE SHOULD BE PROHIBITED.
I WAS JUST GOING TO LOOK AT THEM UP IN MY LITTLE HANDY-DANDY GUIDE HERE, BUT, UM, I, AS I RECALL YOU READING IT EARLIER, I THINK IT WAS DAYCARE COMMERCIAL GENERAL AND LIMITED.
I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT OFF THE LIST.
UM, BUT I SEE SOME OTHER HANDS UP AND THEN I DO HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR MS. HAAS.
OKAY GUYS, WE'RE AT KELLY, THE COUNSELOR POOL.
I AGREE WITH YOU COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA.
I I'D LIKE TO SEE DAYCARE BE INCLUDED WHEN I WAS AT NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.
UH, DIRECTOR WHOLE RAP HAD MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE ONLY 10 CERTIFIED DAYCARES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT WORK HOURS OUTSIDE OF REGULAR OPERATIONAL HOURS.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT IF SOMEONE WERE TO WANT TO OPEN IT UP IN THEIR HOME, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FLEXIBILITY.
UM, MS. HOUSEY, YOU WERE SAYING THAT DAYCARES ARE PROHIBITED ON THE LIST OF PROHIBITIONS, BUT MR.
SO CAN I JUST GET SOME CLARITY BECAUSE I'M HEARING THEY ARE, AND I'M HEARING, THEY'RE NOT, THAT'S SORRY.
THEY WEREN'T, THEY WEREN'T INCLUDED IN THE EXHIBIT G I WAS INFORMED, WE GOT AN EMAIL FROM MISS US THIS MORNING ASKING TO ADD, YOU KNOW, THIS NEW, A NEWER LIST.
AND SO I ASKED HER, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXHIBIT G AND THE NEW LIST, AND DAKERS WAS ONE OF THE ADDITIONS, BUT AGAIN, NEITHER THE STAFF NOR THE APPLICANT FEEL THE NEED TO PROVE THAT WAS AN APPARENTLY THAT, AND THEN I ALSO HEARD THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD DID NOT WANT CHILDCARE, BUT THEN I HEARD THAT THEY WERE FINE WITH CHILDCARE.
SO, SO STEPH HAS NO CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD REGARDING CHILDCARE OR FRANKLY, THE USES AT ALL.
RATHER JUST ABROAD BROAD ZONING CATEGORIES.
THE APPLICANT HAS TOLD US THAT THEY WERE MEETING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND APPARENTLY THEY CAME TO AGREEMENT ON SOME THINGS, BUT IN THE END OBVIOUSLY CAME TO NO AGREEMENT BECAUSE WE HAD A VALID PETITION.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, VILLA, I WOULD SUPPORT AMENDING THE LIST OF PROHIBITIONS TO REMOVE ANYTHING RELATED TO CHILDCARE BECAUSE, BECAUSE I SUPPORT HAVING CHILDCARE WHERE, UH, AS A PERMITTED USE, LET'S SEE IF THERE'S AGREEMENT ON THAT.
DOES ANYBODY OBJECT TO ACTUALLY, IS THERE A, IS THERE A MOTION TO BE MADE ON THIS ITEM? I WILL MOTION TO REMOVE, UH, DAYCARE USES FROM THE BROADER OCEAN MOVE APPROVAL OF THE MOVE TO APPROVE THE COMPROMISES WORKED OUT, I GUESS, HOW DO WE SAY THIS? YES, I APPROVE ON THIRD READING.
WHY IT WOULD BE, IF YOU WANTED TO PROVE IT, YOU'D SAY MOVE TO APPROVE ON THIRD READING AND HAVE DAYCARE.
ALL THE DAYCARE USES STRIPPED OUT OF THE PROHIBITED USES ON THE LIST THAT WE WERE.
WE NEED YOU TO SAY WHAT WE'RE APPROVING ON THIRD READING.
YOU ARE PROVING IF YOU'RE PROVING THE SAME THING, AS YOU PROVED ON SECOND READING, I THINK WE'VE GOT CRS.
YOU WOULD BE APPROVING
THE APPLICANT REQUEST WAS FOR CS AND NOW C O N P ON TRACK TO
[07:20:02]
DEVELOP PETITION SAYS WE'RE OPPOSED TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE EXISTING ZONING.SO, SO, SO WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE MOTION.
THE, THE MOTION, PLEASE ADAPT AGAIN.
IS THERE ANY LITTLE HELP? I'M NOT THAT GOOD WITH THESE DESIGNATIONS YET THE ZONING DESIGNATIONS, BUT THE MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE ON THIRD READING.
UH,
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION POOL, SECOND SIDE MOTION.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, DEVELOPER HAS, HAS EXECUTED A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WITH AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT.
COULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THAT IS PLEASE? YES.
SO THE COVENANT HAS STATES THAT 10% OF THE UNITS WILL BE A RESTRICTED INCOME.
RESTRICTED 5% OF THOSE WILL BE AT 80% MFI AND 5% WILL BE A HUNDRED AT A HUNDRED PERCENT MFI.
DOES THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT ADDRESS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE PRODUCT BECOMES RENTAL RATHER THAN OWNERSHIP? UM, I DON'T BELIEVE IT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES THAT.
UM, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS WITH THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT BEING FILED AND THE UNITS BEING BUILT, UM, THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO BE FOR SALE, I GUESS, UNTIL THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, UM, ENTITY THAT'S INVOLVED IN OVERSEEING AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE UNITS ARE, UM, CONTINUE TO BE INCOME RESTRICTED AND FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE QUALIFIED.
YEAH, WE DID GET THIS QUESTION.
I THINK WE GOT THIS QUESTION HOPEFULLY TOO YESTERDAY.
MY, MY, YOU KNOW, I THINK SINCE, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT PART OF THE ZONING, I'M JUST CONSIDERING IT AS PART OF MY DELIBERATIONS ON A DISCRETIONARY REZONING AND, YOU KNOW, OFTEN PLANS CHANGE.
AND SO IF, IF THE PLAN CHANGES FROM AN OWNERSHIP MODEL TO ONE OF RENTAL, IT SEEMS TO ME THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT DOESN'T COVER DOESN'T, UM, DOESN'T HAVE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT, WHICH WOULD BE REALLY UNFORTUNATE.
AND I THINK AS I WEIGHED ALL THE DIFFERENT FACTORS AND ALL THE DIFFERENT CONSIDERATIONS AND THE DIFFERENT CONCERNS THAT I WAS HEARING FROM RESIDENTS, THE FACT THAT, THAT THE OWNER WAS WILLING TO INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS CERTAINLY, UM, INTERESTING AND USEFUL INFORMATION TO CONSIDER WITHIN THE MIX.
I ALSO THOUGH, NO, I MEAN, IF IT'S AT THAT LEVEL, IF IT WERE RENTAL, I WOULD EXPECT THE, THE LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY TO BE MUCH LOWER, TO BE CLOSER TO 60% AT THE VERY HIGHEST, NOT 80 AND A HUNDRED PERCENT AS, AS THE OWNERSHIP UNITS ARE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, AT THIS LATE DATE, I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE GO WITH THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE OWNER IS, IS ONLINE AND WANTS TO, WANTS TO SPEAK TO WHETHER THERE WOULD BE A COMMITMENT IF, IF HE OR SHE SHIFTS TO RENTAL, UM, TO PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY.
BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING THAT INFORMATION AGAIN, IT'S NOT, I UNDERSTAND IT CAN'T BE CONSIDERED AS A, AS A MEASURE OF ZONING, BUT IT IS, UH, A POINT OF INFORMATION.
I'D LIKE AN ANSWER TO, YEAH, LET ME, UM, LET ME GET WITH THEM AND A MAN AND I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA CONCERNS.
I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S VALID, THERE'S NOTHING RESTRICTING.
I MEAN, ONCE THE ZONING IS SET, IT'S REALLY UP TO THE BUILDER TO DECIDE, YOU KNOW, WHICH WAY THEY WANT TO GO WITH THE PROJECT.
SO I DO APPRECIATE THOSE CONCERNS.
I WOULD NOTE, HOWEVER, AND JUST KIND OF IN OUR PREP FOR THIS, UH, UH, ZONING CASE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SOME OF THE COMMENTS BEFORE PLANNING COMMISSION WERE OPPOSED TO, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT, THAT THEY WERE AGAINST, UH, ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT BEFORE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, BECAUSE OF THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIVE THERE, SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.
AGAIN, THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL, THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE FIRST TWO HEARINGS.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE OPPOSITION, HOW THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN GENERAL WOULD, WOULD FEEL ABOUT THAT.
I MEAN, I WOULD COMPLETELY SUPPORT THE ADDITION OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, BUT, UH, THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS TO THAT EFFECT, UH, DURING THE, UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING.
THAT'S INTERESTING COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND THE CONCERNS THAT I WAS HEARING FROM NEARBY RESIDENTS WAS ONE OF, UM, YOU KNOW, CONCERNS ABOUT DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION.
[07:25:01]
YEAH, THERE WAS AN AUSTIN MONITOR ARTICLE THAT KIND OF COVERED THAT, HEARING THAT, THAT WHERE I THINK, UH, ONE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS ACTUALLY MY PLANNING COMMISSIONER NOW, UH, WHO I INHERITED FROM MY PREDECESSOR ASKED ABOUT THAT.UH, AND, UH, AND THERE WAS BASICALLY LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD YOU THINK WOULD THEN BASICALLY THE, I THINK THE QUESTION, IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY, WAS WOULD YOU SUPPORT IT IF IT WAS A HUNDRED PERCENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THEN THERE WAS NO, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD NOT SUPPORT.
SO, UM, SO COUNCIL MEMBER, TROOPER, UM, I KNOW THAT THERE IS A WILLINGNESS FOR THE LANDOWNER TO MAYBE IF NECESSARY EXECUTE A NEW RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT WILL INCLUDE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SCENARIO THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE ALSO WILLING TO LOOK AT DEEPER LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY WITH, UM, RENTAL UNITS.
I WOULD JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CRAFT ALL OF THAT.
AND I'VE, I'M COMMITTING THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO STAY ON THAT AND FOLLOW UP WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS, UM, TO COMPLETION.
WE HAVE A CAT SOMEWHERE FRONT THIS, I JUST WANTED TO THANK COUNSELOR VELVA FOR SHARING THAT TIDBIT OF INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED DURING PLANNING COMMISSION.
IT IS REALLY HEARTBREAKING TO HEAR THAT ANYONE WOULD BE AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.
UM, SO THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING CASE AND I VOTED AGAINST IT ON FIRST READING, UM, PARTICULARLY DUE TO THE REQUESTED CS STONING.
UM, HOWEVER, I THINK THAT THE CSU SAYS HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITED IN THE CEO TO PROHIBIT A VARIETY OF USES AND THE INCREASED DENSITY WILL FACILITATE INCOME RESTRICTED HOUSING UNITS IN THIS AREA.
UM, I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHEN I LOOK CLOSELY AT THE AFFORDABILITY, UH, LEVELS OF THE HOUSING UNITS, I STILL FIND THEM UNDERWHELMING.
UM, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A VERY CONTENTIOUS CASE.
IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED EXTENSIVELY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
AND I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VAILA IS ON THE DICE AND THE ELECTED STORE OF THAT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT, UH, YOUR MOTION TODAY, COUNCIL MEMBER VAILA, BUT I WOULD URGE THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE FUTURE, FOR A CASE LIKE THIS, I'M GOING TO NEED TO SEE A MUCH MORE COMPELLING CASE MADE FOR THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS THAT ARE BEING DELIVERED IN ORDER TO EARN MY SUPPORT.
LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
THOSE OPPOSED, SEEING IT AS BEING UNANIMOUS ON THE DYES.
[57. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to foster an environment in Austin that supports the creation and development of new innovations, such as blockchain and other Web3 related technologies, protocols, and applications. (Part 2 of 2)]
GOING BACK TO THE ITEM THAT WE WERE IN ITEM NUMBER 57 COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO, THERE WAS A DIFFERENT RESOLUTION YOU WANTED TO PROPOSE DIFFERENT RESULTS.I THINK MY FIXED TO MY INTENDED FIX TO LINES 46 ON CREATED A DIFFERENT OF ISSUE.
SO I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE RETURN TO THE MAYOR'S LANGUAGE AND SIMPLY STRIKE 55 LINE 55, WHICH IS CRYPTOCURRENCIES WITH THE ASSUMPTION AGAIN, AND THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MANAGER'S NOT GOING TO SUDDENLY, UM, BE OUT THERE DIRECTING ALL OF HIS STAFF TO CREATE AND DEVELOP ALL OF THE THINGS IN THE BULLET POINTS.
AND THEN THAT WOULD REMAIN, I'M SORRY, THE NEXT BIT FOR THE RESULT THEN ALSO WOULDN'T HAVE THE ADDITIONS CAUSE WE DON'T, WE NO LONGER NEED THEM.
SO THE THIRD RESOLVE CLAUSE WILL BE, AS IT APPEARS ON V3, EXCEPT THAT CRYPTOCURRENCIES WILL COME OUT BECAUSE IT'S ADDRESSED IN THE OTHER RESOLUTION.
AND THEN THE FOURTH BE IT RESOLVED CLAUSE WILL APPEAR AS IT IS ON PAGE ON LINE 75 THROUGH 78 IN VERSION THREE.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, THERE WERE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WERE ADDED IN, WE'RE NOT IN THAT SECTION WHERE YOU'D COMBINE THINGS.
ARE THOSE ALL STILL, THOSE, THOSE ALL ARE AS THEY WERE AMENDED.
SO YOUR, YOUR, YOUR UNPACKING, THE COMBINATION OF THE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT IS THE THIRD, BE IT RESOLVED.
AND THE FOURTH, BE IT RESOLVED TO GO BACK TO WHAT YOU HAD, BUT REMOVING THE, UM, CRYPTOCURRENCIES BULLET FROM THAT THIRD, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED.
THE THIRD BE IT RESOLVED CLAUSE APPEARS AS IT IS ON VERSION THREE, EXCEPT THE CRYPTOCURRENCIES COMES OUT OF THE LIST AND THE FOURTH BE IT RESOLVED CLAUSE GOES BACK TO HOW IT LOOKED ON.
VERSION THREE, THE CHANGES IN THE OTHER SECTIONS ARE THOSE CHANGES REMAINED.
SO ANNE SHOWED ME IN THE BACK.
THAT ONE, IT'S JUST THE UNPACKING.
[07:30:02]
YOUR YOU'RE JUST UNPACKING THE PART THAT YOU COMBINED CORRECT FROM THE THIRD AND THE FOURTH.LET'S TAKE A VOTE THOSE I'M SORRY.
I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BLOCKCHAIN AND I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE A COUPLE OF POINTS.
UM, MY SINGLE CONCERN ABOUT BLOCKCHAIN IS IT'S LACK OF CENTRAL AUTHORITY.
IT MAY BE TAMPER EVIDENT AND RESISTANCE, BUT THAT'S IT, IT'S A DIGITAL LEDGER.
IT'S ANONYMOUS AND IT'S UNREGULATED SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS REMAIN.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS.
FOR ME, THE IDEA OF A DIGITAL WALLET COULD WORK MAYBE, BUT ENSURING WIDESPREAD PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A DIGITAL WALLET DOES AND DOESN'T DO HOW SECURE IT IS AND PRINCIPALLY HOW TO ACCESS AND USE IS ESSENTIAL.
AND I DO HAVE TO RESPOND RESPECTFULLY.
AND I THINK MR. COOLATTA DID ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF, UH, BLOCKCHAIN AND ITS, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, UH, STATEMENTS BEING MADE TODAY THAT BLOCKCHAIN DOES NOT INVOLVE SIGNIFICANT CONSUMPTION POWER AND THAT IT HAS NO IMPACTS ON OUR ENVIRONMENT JUST SIMPLY IS NOT, IS NOT ACCURATE.
UH, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CLIMATE SCHOOL.
I'VE GOT A LITTLE QUOTE HERE AND I'LL END BY READING IT.
UH, THE COLUMBIA CLIMATE SCHOOL SAYS GLOBALLY BITCOIN'S POWER CONSUMPTION HAS DIRE IMPLICATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF THE PARIS ACCORD BECAUSE IT TRANSLATES INTO AN ESTIMATED 22 MILLION TO ABOUT 23 MILLION METRIC, TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS EACH YEAR, WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO THE CO2 EMISSIONS FROM THE ENERGY USE OF 2.6 TO 2.7 BILLION HOMES IN ONE YEAR.
IT'S NOT HELPFUL TO THE CONVERSATION TO PRETEND THAT THERE IS NOT SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION IMPACTS RELATED TO THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ADDRESS THEM STRAIGHT ON.
AND I LOOK FORWARD CITY MANAGER TO HAVING THOSE ISSUES ADDRESSED STRAIGHT ON.
ANYTHING ELSE? THINK ABOUT 57, THOSE IN FAVOR OF 57, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED THOSE ABSTAINING COUNTS ARE PULL UP ABSTAINS, THE OTHERS VOTING AYE.
IS THERE ANY OTHER EMOTION THAT, UH, WE WANT TO MAKE ON TODAY'S MAYBE ONLY IF SOMEONE MAKES A MOTION, SO ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION HEARING? NO MOTION.
WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF ALL OF OUR BUSINESS TODAY.
AND AT 6 29, THIS MEETING IS, EXCUSE ME.
[92. C14H-2021-0180 - Casa McMath - Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending City Code Title 25 by rezoning property locally known as 2501 Inwood Place. Applicant's Request: To rezone from family residence-neighborhood plan (SF-3-NP) combining district zoning to family residence-historic landmark-neighborhood plan (SF-3-H-NP) combining district zoning. Historic Landmark Commission and Staff Recommendation: To grant family residence-historic landmark-neighborhood plan (SF-3-H-NP) combining district zoning combining district zoning. Planning Commission Recommendation: To deny family residence-historic landmark-neighborhood plan (SF-3-H-NP) combining district zoning. Applicant: Historic Landmark Commission. Owner: Inwood Forest, LLC. Owner’s agent: Drenner Group, PC (Leah Bojo). City Staff: Elizabeth Brummett, Historic Preservation Office, Housing and Planning Department, 512-974-1264.]
ONE ADDITIONAL CASE, ANOTHER ZONING CASE THAT WE DID NOT GET TO EARLIER.YEAH, BUT THERE'S NO ONE MAKING A MOTION TO APPROVE IT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
I THINK THAT'S THE CORRECT NUMBER.
NO EMOTION ON 92, 6 29 CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.