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WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CONVENE, UH, CITY COUNCIL, UH, WORK SESSION, UH, WITH SOME ACTION.
UH, TODAY ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 2022.
WE'RE IN THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION ROOM HERE AT CITY HALL.
IT IS, UH, NINE 14, UH, AM UH, WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON IS WITH US VIRTUALLY.
UH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ELLIS, UH, NOT YET WITH US ON THE, ON THE DA, THE REST PRESENT.
UM, COLLEAGUES, UH, I'M GONNA SUGGEST THAT WE BEGIN TODAY BY TAKING THE ONE ACTION WE HAVE TO TAKE RELATED TO THE ELECTION, UH, SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT DONE AS WE'RE NOTICED TO DO.
AND THEN IT WOULD BE, UM, UH, MY INTENT TO CALL UP THE COLONY PARK TURS, UH, CUZ WE'LL LOSE SOME OF THE PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
UM, UH, TURS, UM, ICS PULLING UP THE, UM, UH, NINE 11, UM, UH, BRIEFING.
UH, CAUSE I KNOW THAT'S AN EXIGENT ISSUE FOR MANY PEOPLE.
I THINK PROBABLY ALL OF US HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH CITY MANAGEMENT, UH, ON, ON THIS ISSUE.
UH, AND THEN, UH, POLL ITEMS. UH, THERE ARE FAIR NUMBER OF POLL ITEMS, UH, TODAY, MOST OF WHICH I PULLED.
UH, BUT MOST OF THOSE, UH, PULLED ITEMS WILL TAKE JUST A MINUTE OR TWO.
I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH BASE TO DOWNLOAD SOME INFORMATION AND CERTAINLY GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO COMMENT IF THEY WANT TO.
BUT, UH, I THINK AT LEAST THE THINGS THAT I PULLED WILL GO, WILL GO PRETTY QUICKLY, UH, ON THE, UH, PULLED, UH, AGENDA.
UH, AND THEN DOUBLING BACK THEN AT THAT POINT FOR THE, UH, BRIEFINGS ON, UH, THE, UH, ANIMAL SERVICES AND ON THE, UM, UH, BICYCLE, UM, UH, TRAIL PATHWAY, UH, NETWORK, UH, ISSUE.
[A. Pre-Selected Agenda Items (Part 1 of 2)]
LET'S GO AHEAD AND START.UH, THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS TO TAKE AN ACTION ON, UH, ITEM NUMBER ONE, UH, TO PROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING, UH, THE ELECTION ORDINANCE, UH, ORDERING THE NOVEMBER 8TH GENERAL AND SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
WE'RE GOING TO ADD EXHIBITS, UH, THAT ADOPT ENGLISH AND SPANISH VERSIONS OF THE ORDINANCES, CALLING THE ELECTION, ESTABLISHING THE BALLOT LANGUAGE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM? NUMBER ONE? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MAKES THE MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOL SECONDS THE MOTION.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE A VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? LET'S TAKE A VOTE.
THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THOSE OPPOSED, I'M SHOWING IT UNANIMOUS.
UH, WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, OFF THE DIAS.
ARE THERE ANY THAT'S A GOOD, ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO, TO BE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE THIS MORNING? IT'S OUR ONE ACTION ITEM, AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYBODY THAT'S SIGNED UP.
I WANNA MAKE SURE NO ONE'S HERE.
UM, THE VOTE WAS 10, UH, ZERO WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE GONE.
LET'S WORK OUR WAY THROUGH, UM, THE, UH, ITEMS THIS
[B1. Colony Park Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone]
MORNING.LET'S BEGIN WITH THE, UH, COLONY PARK.
THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, JUST TO SET THE STAGE ON OCTOBER 21ST, 2021, UH, YOU ADOPTED A RESOLUTION, REQUESTED AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND SCHEDULE FOR CREATING A TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE FOR THE COLONY PARK PROJECT.
AND THEN ON MARCH 24TH OF THIS YEAR, YOU ADOPTED A RESOLUTION REQUESTING A FINANCING PLAN AND FUNDING SOURCE STRATEGY.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER.
TODAY'S BRIEFING IS RESPONSIVE TO BOTH RESOLUTIONS.
THE COLONY PARK PROJECT IS BEING LED BY OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND STAFF FROM ED D HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP A FINANCE PLAN AND FUNDING SOURCE STRATEGY PLAN.
I WANNA NOTE THAT ON NOVEMBER 3RD, YOU WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE CREATING TES NUMBER 20 FOR THE COLONY PARK PROJECT.
TODAY'S BRIEFING IS LED BY OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR KIM LAVAS, AND I WILL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO KIM.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNSEL, KIM LAVAS, DEPUTY CFO.
I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO BE BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING, UH, TO PRESENT TO YOU THE COLONY PARK TAX AND COMMIT REINVESTMENT ZONE PROPOSAL, UM, AS WE GET THE PRESENTATION PULLED UP.
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OKAY.UM, SO TODAY'S DISCUSSION, UH, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW ITEMS TO COVER.
FIRST, WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS PAST THIS, UH, PAST MARCH, UH, AND THE STATUS OF THE VARIOUS, UH, DIRECTION, VARIOUS DIRECTION POINTS IN THAT RESOLUTION.
UM, THEN I'LL PASS IT OVER TO, UH, SYNOVIA TO SPEAK TO THE COLONY PARK SITE AND HISTORY, AS WELL AS THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PLAN, AT WHICH POINT WE'LL SHIFT GEARS TO TALK ABOUT THE FINANCING PLAN AND THEN NEXT STEPS.
SO, SO, FIRST UP, THE RESOLUTION.
UM, THE, THE RESOLUTION CON CONCLUDED A VARIETY OF, OF DIRECTION.
UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST WAS TO BRING BACK A FINANCING PLAN TO COUNCIL NO LATER THAN THE END OF THE CALENDAR, CALENDAR YEAR 2022, WHICH WE ARE DOING TODAY.
UM, IT ALSO DIRECTED US TO BRING FORWARD THE MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO COUNSEL FOR CONSIDERATION TO PROVIDE COUNSEL AN UPDATE ON THE COLONY PARK PROJECT, SUBMITTING A FORMAL REQUEST TO TRAVIS COUNTY, AS WELL AS AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP FOR ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE TE, UM, REQUESTING DEPARTMENTS TO, TO PROVIDE, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FUNDS FOR THE AREA, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, CONSIDERING ACTIONS TO FACILITATE, UM, VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PHASE ONE REPORT AND COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES, UM, RELATIVE TO CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FRAMEWORK OF DISPLACEMENT MITIGATION.
SO THREE OF THOSE SEVEN ITEMS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, UM, AND AFTER THIS MORNING, THAT WILL WILL BE AT FOUR, UM, FOR THE MDA.
AND, UM, THE LAST TWO ITEMS, THOSE WILL COME LATER.
UM, AND, UM, I WILL, I'LL LET SI NOVIA SPEAK TO THAT AS WE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, AND I'LL PASS IT TO HER FOR THE COLON PARK SITE AND HISTORY.
SI, NOVIA HOLT REV, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THE CITY HAS HAD ALMOST A 50 YEAR HISTORY WITH THIS SITE, BEGINNING IN 1973 WHEN IT WAS ANNEXED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
BETWEEN 2001 AND 2018, WE'VE TAKEN VARIOUS ACTIONS.
WE'VE PURCHASED 258 ACRES OF THE SITE, 50, WHICH WAS DEDICATED TO PARKLAND TO CREATE THE COLONY PARK DISTRICT PARK.
WE, UH, TURNER ROBERTS RECREATION CENTER AND BEAUMONT OVERTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WERE BUILT.
WE THEN SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TO BUILD A MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING IN 2013.
AND IN 2012 THROUGH 2014, THE MASTER PLAN BY NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING WAS CONDUCTED AND TRANSITIONED OVER TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IN 2015.
AND IN 2018, BONDS WERE PASSED TO CREATE THE COLONY PARK DISTRICT POOL.
SO, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE RESOURCE GAPS THAT, UM, THIS SITE FACES.
UNLIKE TYPICAL NEIGHBORHOODS, THIS SITE EAST OF 180 3, THE CLOSEST LIBRARY IS UNIVERSITY HILL, ABOUT 2.5 MILES.
THERE IS A H HEB GROCER AT SPRINGDALE AND 180 3 AS WELL AS MILLER, BUT IT IS SOME DISTANCE.
UM, UNLIKE TYPICAL NEIGHBORHOODS, URGENT CARE IS ABOUT FIVE MILES.
UM, MEDICAL CENTER, ABOUT NINE MILES.
AND AGAIN, ROSEWOOD ZERO GOES TO HEALTHCARE CENTER, IS QUITE A DISTANCE.
AND OF COURSE, NO BANK ON THIS SIDE.
ONCE THIS DEVELOPMENT IS COMPLETE, IT WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO THESE RESOURCES AS WELL AS JOBS FOR EXISTING, AS WELL AS NEW RESIDENTS.
I WANNA TALK ABOUT WHAT THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PLAN INCLUDES, AGAIN, 208 ACRES OF CITY-OWNED LAND.
THE COUNCIL, WE THANK YOU FOR APPROVING THE MASTER PLAN PUD IN 2014, WHICH CALLED FOR MIXED USE AND MIXED INCOME RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE PUT IN MORE THAN 10 YEARS, MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF STRONG COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT FOR AN EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVED ACCESS.
THE MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT PARTNER IS COACHELLAS AND WAS SELECTED AFTER A, UM, SOLICITATION PROCESS.
WE HAVE ENGAGED THEM IN AN EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATION AGREEMENT, WHICH WE HAVE DONE DUE DILIGENCE TO, UH, ENSURE THE DEVELOPMENT AND COSTS.
AND TODAY, AS KIM MENTIONED, WE ARE GONNA BE PROPOSING A FUNDING AND PHASING PLAN FRAMEWORK.
PLANNING AND ENGAGEMENT AGAIN, THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN
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DOING THIS FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS, MORE THAN 10 YEARS.IN 2012, WE WON A SUSTAINABLE CHALLENGE GRANT TO PROVIDE PLANNING.
THE COLONY PARK TEAM CONDUCTED ROBUST COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, MORE THAN JUST SENDING EMAILS, BUT DOING DOOR TO DOOR KNOCKING TO ENGAGE THEIR COMMUNITY TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS THEY WOULD LIKE.
UH, THEY HAVE DONE VISIONING AND DEVELOPMENT, AND AGAIN, THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE MASTER PLAN DESIGN GUIDELINES, PUD ZONING DISTRICT, AND AMENDMENTS TO THE AUSTIN IMAGINE AUSTIN PLAN IN 2014, AND AGAIN, THROUGH THIS YEAR, THE CITY E D D HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH KAS AND THE COLONY PART CORE TEAM ON INPUT AND IMPLEMENTING THIS MASTER PLAN, ACCORDING TO THE EIGHT PILLARS OF NEED AS, UH, ARTICULATED BY THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT ARE THESE EIGHT PILLARS OF NEED IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMUNITY, THEIR RESOURCES THAT ARE TYPICAL IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY WANT ACCESS TO? HEALTHY FOOD RESOURCES, IMPROVE HEALTHCARE RESOURCES, MOBILITY, CONNECTIVITY, AND SAFE COMMUNITY ACCESS.
THEY WANT OPEN SPACES AND ACTIVE PARKS.
THEY WANT ECONOMIC VITALITY FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS WORKFORCE HOUSING.
ALL OF THIS TO MAKE A COMPLETE COMMUNITY.
AND FINALLY, ACCESS TO CITY RESOURCES.
AND WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? JUST A FEW STATS TO BRING IT HOME.
THE MEDIAN PER CAPITA, THE PER CAPITA INCOME FOR THIS AREA IS ABOUT 19,000 THOUSAND DOLLARS COMPARED TO, UH, WHICH IS ABOUT 50% OF THE AUSTIN METRO AREA.
THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME, ABOUT $58,000, WHICH IS ABOUT 70% OF THE AUSTIN METRO AREA.
POVERTY IS A VERY DEEP CONCERN OF THIS COMMUNITY.
19% OF THE RESIDENTS LIVE IN POVERTY NEARLY TWICE THE RATE OF AUSTIN METRO AREA.
YES, 66% OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL COMPARED TO 90% OF THE AUSTIN METRO AREA, AND ABOUT 16% OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE ATTAINED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE COMPARED TO, AND IT'S LOWER COMPARED TO THE 40% OF THE AUSTIN METRO AREA.
SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT THIS COMMUNITY WANTS AS PILLARS.
SO WHAT HAVE WE DONE IN THE E A PHASE ONE? WE'VE REFRESHED THE DRAFT MASTER PLAN.
WE'VE INCREASED THE DENSITY AND ATTEMPTS TO LOWER THE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS.
AS KIM MENTIONED, WE'RE GONNA LEVERAGE THE CITY PARTICIPATION PLAN, AND ALL OF THIS WILL RESULT IN A REDUCTION OF COSTS OF INFRASTRUCTURE OF AROUND $25 MILLION.
BUT TO ACHIEVE THIS, IT WILL REQUIRE REZONING.
SO WHEN THIS SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY IS COMPLETE, WHEN THE 208 ACRES IS FINALLY BUILT OUT, IT WILL INCLUDE 230,000 OF MIXED USE OFFICE AND INSTITUTIONAL SPACE, 130,000 OF COMMERCIAL RETAIL SPACE, APPROXIMATELY 1900 HOMES AND APARTMENTS, OF WHICH 20% WILL BE AFFORDABLE.
AND FINALLY, AT COMPLETION, THE VALUE OF $780 MILLION BACK TO THE TAX ROLE.
THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO HAVE SOME ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
AGAIN, AS MENTIONED BEFORE, IT WILL INCLUDE MARKET RATE AS WELL AS AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING JOBS IN THIS AREA, ALMOST 3000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS, UN TO 1200 PERMANENT JOBS, AS WELL AS PARKS, OPEN SPACE AND TRAILS OF OVER 53 ACRES.
AND THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL BE BUILT TO GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS.
SO NOW I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO KIM TO WALK THROUGH THE FINANCING OF HOW WE ACHIEVE ALL OF THIS.
SO NOW WE GET TO THE, THE BRASS TAX.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS? UM, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY, I, I DO HAVE SOME OVERVIEW SLIDES OF TIFS.
I KNOW THAT COUNSEL, YOU ALL ARE VERY, VERY AWARE OF HOW A TIF WORKS, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, ALL ANYBODY WHO IS WATCHING AND LISTENING IS AS WELL.
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TIF? UM, SO IT'S A FINANCING TOOL THAT TEXAS TAX CODE, UM, ALLOWS FOR THAT ENCOURAGES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN A VERY DEFINED GEOGRAPHIC AREA OR ZONE, UM, ALL OF THE FUTURE REAL OF PROPERTY VALUE FROM THAT ZONE, THE ASSESSED VALUE GROWTH IN EXCESS OF THE BASE.SO ONCE YOU ESTABLISH THAT, THE, THE TURS THAT IS THE BASE YEAR, AND ANY GROWTH BEYOND THAT IS, IS CAPTURED FOR THE, THE TURS.
UM, YOU CAN USE SOME OR ALL OF THAT INCREMENT TO PROMOTE NEW PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT IN THE ZONE.
UM, BUT YOU, YOU TYPICALLY DO THAT BY INVIS INVESTING IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
UH, ONCE THE ZONE'S TERM ENDS, ALL OF THAT REAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE PLUS, UM, THAT BASE INCREMENT RETURNS BACK TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT FOR ITS GENERAL PURPOSES.
SO IT WOULD RETURN TO, UM, THE, UH, TO THE GENERAL FUND.
AND TEXAS ONLY CITY OR A COUNTY CAN DESIGNATE A REINVESTMENT ZONE.
SO THERE ARE VARIOUS STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR TAX FINANCING.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU HAVE TO VERIFY A CLEAR AND SIGNIFICANT, BUT FOR CRITERION, UH, MEANING WHEREBY DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT IN THE ZONE WOULD NOT OCCUR SOLELY THROUGH PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
BUT FOR THAT PUBLIC INVESTMENT, UM, THAT CRITERIA INCLUDES, BUT IT'S NOT LIMITED TO, UM, THE PRESENT CONDITION CONDITIONS SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRS GROWTH.
THERE ARE SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURES, INADEQUATE SIDEWALKS, OR STREET LAYOUTS, OR THERE'S UNSANITARY OR UNSAFE CONDITIONS.
IN THE CASE OF THESE 208 ACRES, ALL OF THIS APPLIES.
UM, IT VERY, VERY CLEARLY BEATS MEETS THE BUTT FOUR CRITERIA.
UM, ONCE ALL OF THE PROJECT COSTS IN THE TURS HAVE BEEN PAID FOR, OR ANY DEBT ASSOCIATED WITH THE TOURISTS HAS BEEN RETIRED, THEN THE TERM OF THE TURS ENDS.
AND LIKE I SAID PREVIOUSLY, THE THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE RETURNS TO THE CITY FOR GENERAL PURPOSES.
SO IN ADDITION TO THE STATE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, THERE'S ALSO COUNCIL ADOPTED TIF POLICY.
UM, AND THOSE MAJOR PERVER PROVISIONS INCLUDE THAT THE PROJECT AND FINANCING PLAN MUST INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN THE PRIVATE, PRIVATE SECTOR OR ANOTHER TAXING ENTITY.
UM, THE CITY MUST INCLUDE A RIGOROUS, BUT FOR ANALYSIS AND ANY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, UM, IN THE PROJECT PLAN MUST PROVIDE FOR AT LEAST 20% OF THE UNIT UNITS TO BE AFFORDABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS AT OR BELOW 60% MFI FOR RENTAL AND 80% FOR OWNERSHIP.
AND LASTLY, ANY BONDS ISSUED TO FUND TIP DEVELOPMENT OR SUBJECT TO VARIOUS COVERAGE TEST, UM, DEBT SERVICE, RE RESERVE REQUIREMENTS, AND SO ON FOR THE COLONY PARK TUR.
UM, THE, THE ACTION, UM, THAT IS PLANNED FOR NOVEMBER 3RD WOULD ESTABLISH NOT ONLY TOURISM AND SET THE BASE YEAR FOR 2022, AND THE TERMINATION DATE WOULD BE AT THE END OF 2043.
UM, IT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH CITY POLICY BECAUSE IT WILL PROVIDE 20% AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, BECAUSE THIS IS ALL CITY OWNED LAND, THE BASE VALUE IS ZERO.
UM, AND UPON ZONE TERMINATION, WE'RE ACTUALLY ESTIMATING OVER TWO $987 MILLION OF VALUE THROUGH THIS PROJECT.
BECAUSE OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH COACHELLAS AS THAT DEVELOPER, UM, WE ARE IN, WE'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE A CASH REIMBURSEMENT APPROACH AS OPPOSED TO ISSUING DEBT TO, TO FUND THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS.
THAT MEANS EVERY BIT OF THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE COLLECTED WITHIN THE ZONE WILL GO BACK INTO IT FOR PROJECT COST.
AND, AND SO WE DON'T HAVE TO SET ASIDE ANYTHING FOR INTEREST PAYMENTS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE WITH DEBT SERVICE.
UM, WE ARE PROPOSING A 90% INCREMENT.
UM, IN THIS CASE, LIKE I NOTED BEFORE, UH, THERE ARE ZERO VALUE.
SO EVERY PENNY OF THIS ZONE IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUT FOR ASPECT.
UM, BUT WE ARE PROPOSING 90% BECAUSE THERE WILL BE, AS, AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES, THERE WILL BE NEEDS FOR PARTICULARLY WITH THE PARKS TRAILS FOR, UM, US TO BE PUTTING TOWARDS CERTAIN OPERATING COSTS TO IT.
SO WE'RE SETTING ASIDE THAT 10% TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT, UM, THOSE EXPENDITURES AND ANY, UH, ANY FTE'S, CONTRACTUALS COMMODITIES OF THE SORT.
UM, THROUGH THAT 90% INCREMENT, WE'RE ESTIMATING 81 MILLION IN REVENUE.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE IN THE EARLY YEARS, IT'S, IT'S SLOW GROWTH.
BUT AS KELLAS WILL START, UM, DOING THEIR WORK, UM, THEY DO THE, THE LAND SALES AND THE DEVELOPMENT, YOU SEE IT VERY QUICKLY PICKS UP, UM, INTO OVER $8 MILLION PER YEAR TOWARDS THE END OF THE TE.
SO THE, THE CAPITAL STACK ULTIMATELY IS NOT JUST FROM THE TERSE.
UM, THERE'S $257 MILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
UM, FIRST, THE, THE LARGEST PORTION OF THAT FUNDING WILL COME FROM THE LAND SALE REVENUE AS TAKE DOWNS OCCUR.
UM, WE'RE ANTICIPATING 155 MILLION WILL GO TOWARDS THOSE PROJECTS.
THEN WITH THE TAX AND COMMITMENT FINANCING, WE'RE ESTIMATING, AGAIN, $81 MILLION.
WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED AN ANTICIPATED $5 MILLION FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND THAT IT WILL BE ELECTION NEXT MONTH.
UM, WE HAVE MINIMIZED THAT AMOUNT SIGNIFICANTLY ON PURPOSE, UM, JUST SO WE DON'T HAVE SIGNIFICANT RELIANCE ON IT IN GENERAL.
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ALSO, IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN, IF THAT BOND PROGRAM DOES NOT PASS, IT'S, IT'S A MUCH SMALLER, UM, AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO FIND OTHER SOURCES TO SUPPORT.UM, IF THAT BOND ELECTION DOES NOT PASS, WE WILL OBVIOUSLY COME BACK TO COUNCIL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH, WITH ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS.
SO THIS WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY SORT OF SPECIAL TREATMENT.
IT WILL FOLLOW STANDARD PROCEDURES.
THAT WAS ALSO HOW THINGS WERE HANDLED, UM, IN THE MILLER DEVELOPMENT FOR ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
UM, THEN WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER $6 MILLION COMING FROM DEPARTMENT CAPITAL BUDGETS, PARTICULARLY FROM OUR WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE DEVELOPER WILL BE, UH, PROPOSING AND ADMINISTERING A PIT, A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO, TO HELP WITH, UM, CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
THE USES OF FUNDS ARE PLENTIFUL.
THEY RANGE FROM ROADWAYS TO PARKS AND TRAILS TO ELECTRIC NEEDS, DRAINAGE, WATER, WASTEWATER, GAS, AND LAND PREPARATION AND PERMITS AND SO ON.
UM, THERE IS, THERE, IN A DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SIZE, THERE ARE EXTENSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THROUGH THIS CAPITAL STACK, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ARRANGE, UM, A, A SETUP THAT WILL COVER ALL OF THOSE COSTS.
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS FUNDING IS, IS RELIANT ON, ON THE PUD.
WE WILL BE COMING BACK FOR, UM, ADDITIONAL ACTION, UM, FOR THE PUD.
SO IT FOCUSES ON REARRANGING CURRENT DENSITIES WITHIN THE AREA AND USING, UM, IT, IT'LL, IT'LL CREATE A MORE EFFICIENT LAND PLAN THAT CAN SUPPORT ALL OF THIS PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO NOVIA MENTIONED THE INCREASED DENSITY SO THAT THAT PUT AMENDMENT WILL, WILL SUPPORT THAT.
AND ACCORDINGLY, ALL OF THE, THE FUNDING BEHIND THIS.
WE WANTED TO PROVIDE ALSO JUST A ONE EXAMPLE OF THE PROJECTS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT WE'LL BE SUPPORTING, UM, BE SUPPORTED BY THIS CAPITAL STACK.
UM, IN PARTICULAR COLONY LOOP DRIVE.
THE RIGHT NOW COLONY LOOP DRIVE HA LITERALLY HAS TWO STUBS ON EACH END AND THE ENTIRE MIDDLE IS MISSING.
UM, AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THE, UM, IN THE PHOTOS, THERE'S AN AERIAL PHOTO WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT STARTS AND ENDS.
AND THEN IT'S SOME, WE WERE DOING A BUS TOUR JUST THE OTHER DAY, SO WE ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL PHOTO PHOTOS OF THE CURRENT CONDITION.
UM, FOLKS IN THE AREA HAVE CREATED THEIR OWN PATHWAY.
UM, THEY'RE TRACKING ACROSS THE OPEN SPACE, UM, WHICH IT'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL AREA, BUT IT'S NOT IDEAL BY ANY MEANS.
IT ALSO CREATES CHALLENGES FOR ACCESS OVERALL TO THE VARIOUS AMENITIES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST IN THE AREA.
SO THROUGH THE COLONY LOOP DRIVE, THE PROPOSED PROJECT, IT ADDRESSES MULTIPLE, UM, NEEDS IN THE AREA AND ALSO THE, THE PILLARS OF NEED THAT SON NOVIA REFERENCED.
SO BY COMPLETING COLONY LOOP DRIVE, IT WILL PROVIDE A MULTI-MODAL STREET THAT PROVIDES VERY CLEAR AND SAFE ACCESS TO THE RECREATION CENTER OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE PARK HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, IT, IT'LL HAVE A COMPLETE STREET APPROACH AND PROVIDE ENHANCED CROSSINGS FOR ALL THE MISSING, UM, AND OR EXISTING SECTIONS.
SO AT THIS POINT, JUST, UM, A OVERVIEW OF NEXT STEPS.
SO TODAY, OF COURSE, WE'RE HERE FOR THE, THE COUNCIL BRIEFING.
NOVEMBER 3RD WILL BE AACT TODAY RELATED TO COLONY PARK.
UM, FIRST, UH, THE, FOR THE TOURS, THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, AND THEN THERE WILL BE THE REQUEST FOR COUNSEL TO TAKE ACTION ON AN ORDINANCE THAT ESTABLISHES THE JURORS APPOINTS THE BOARD, WHICH WOULD BE COUNSEL AS TYPICAL WITH OUR OTHER TERRAS, AND ALSO APPROVES THE PRELIMINARY PROJECT AND FINANCING PLAN.
THERE WILL ALSO BE AN ITEM TO APPROVE, UM, AN AMENDMENT TO THE, UM, E A THAT'LL EXTEND THE TERM OF THAT E TO ALLOW FOR US TO NEGOTIATE WITH COACHELLAS ON THE MDA.
UM, IT WILL CONTINUE OUR PRECONSTRUCTION AND DUE DILIGENCE TASKS, AND IT WILL ALSO INITIATE THE PUD REZONING.
AND FINALLY, THERE WILL BE AN ITEM RELATED TO APPROVING OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL TO SUPPORT, SUPPORT EACH OF THESE ACTIONS.
SO AGAIN, I, I DO WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES WITH, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES, BUT IN PARTICULAR, AND CAT TELLS, BUT IN PARTICULAR, THE COMMUNITY, UM, MS. SCOTT AND ALL THE CREW THAT THEY ARE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE HERE WITH US TODAY.
THEY ARE, HAVE WAITED FAR MORE THAN PATIENTLY, AND I AM THRILLED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS TO YOU TODAY AND AGAIN ON NOVEMBER 3RD.
AND WE'RE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, OUR STAFF COULD TELLIS AS WELL AS, UM, MS. SCOTT AND NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES.
I, I UNFORTUNATELY CAN'T BE IN THE ROOM WITH YOU ALL, BUT I AM IN THE BUILDING SO I CAN FEEL ALL THAT ENERGY COMING OUT OF THE ROOM WAY UPSTAIRS.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MS. SCOTT AND MS. WRIGHT AND SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES TO, TO REALLY PROPERLY EXPRESS THE RELIEF THEY FEEL AFTER, UH, SYNOVIA.
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YEARS IN THE WAY YOU SAID IT WAS, UH, IMPACTFUL IN THE WAY THAT I HOPE YOU INTENDED FOR IT TO BE.SO I, I'D LIKE VERY MUCH IF THEY'D LIKE TO, TO INVITE THEM TO COME UP AND, AND SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH THE BODY.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
UM, THERE ARE NOT WORDS TO EXPRESS WHAT I FEEL RIGHT NOW.
UH, IT, I'M USUALLY NOT A TEARY PERSON,
THIS WAS OUR VISION, AND WE WENT ON THE PREMISE THAT, UH, THAT A PEOPLE WITHOUT A VISION PARISH AND OUR COMMUNITY WAS, AND IT STILL IS PERISHING.
AND SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE AREA THAT WE LOVE.
EACH OF US HERE COULD HAVE MOVED SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT WE HAVE STAYED THE COURSE.
AND SO THIS IS A VISION THAT WE'VE HAD.
UH, EACH OF YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A, A LETTER FROM ME EARLY THIS MORNING.
UH, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH TWO, ACTUALLY THREE MAYORS AND THREE COUNCILS TO TRY AND GET THIS DONE.
AND THIS WAS AFTER WE KNEW THE PROCESS THAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH, BECAUSE FOR YEARS WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS WAS WITH WORKING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND SO WE ARE VERY THANKFUL THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL GET US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
UH, THIS IS NOT ABOUT THOSE OF US WHO ARE HERE.
WE'RE PAST THAT STAGE IN OUR LIFE.
THIS IS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND OUR GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.
UM, WE'RE ALL TOLD THAT WHEN WE, WHEN WE COME, WE NEED TO LEAVE A BETTER PLACE.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO WITH OUR COMMUNITY, IS LEAVE A BETTER PLACE FOR EACH OF OUR CHILDREN THAT WILL REMAIN IN THE AREA.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ON WORK THROUGH THE FOG, UM, BUT WE HAVE MADE IT, WE SEE THE LIGHT AT THE TUNNEL, AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GONNA COME A TIME THAT I'M NOT GONNA BE HERE.
SOMEBODY ELSE WILL BE SITTING HERE BEFORE YOU.
AND I HOPE THAT TIME IS REAL SOON, UH,
UM, BUT I, I, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL AND WE, WE ARE THANKFUL WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF, OF THE COMMUNITY.
UH, MS. MILLER, UH, IS, AS A KID, SAY SHE'S MY RIDE OR DIE
WE, WE JUST KIND OF HELPED EACH OTHER.
WE HAVE MS. WILLIAMS, WHO HAS BEEN A, A NEIGHBOR OUT IN THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER CLOSE TO 50 YEARS.
WE HAVE THE FORMER PRINCIPAL OF LBJ HIGH SCHOOL WHO HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED US.
AND THE NEW PRINCIPAL, UM, OF LBJ HIGH SCHOOL, DR.
AND, UH, MR. TOLLIVER, WHO IS WITH THE LBJ NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHO HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED US.
AND WE'VE ALL FORMED KIND OF, OF A COLLECTIVE BECAUSE THERE'S JUST A FEW OF US THAT CAN DO THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WORKING PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND MEETINGS.
AND SO, UH, WE DID, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THIS UNTIL WE RETIRED.
I WAS AT A MEETING YESTERDAY AT THE LIBRARY, UM, STRATEGIC PLANNING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LIBRARY EAST OF 180 3.
SO WHEN, WHEN YOU SIGN OFF ON THIS PLAN, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO SIGN OFF ON TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY A COMPLETE COMMUNITY.
UM, I SAID, UM, AND BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT THAT, UM, I'M A WOMAN OF FAITH AND I WAS TAUGHT NEVER, EVER TO GIVE UP.
AND ONE OF MY SCRIPTURES IS I WAS YOUNG, BUT NOW I'M OLD.
I'VE NEVER SEEN THE RIGHTEOUS FORSAKEN OR HIS SEED BEGGING BREAD.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO STOP HAVING THE BAG.
DO YOU WANNA, WERE YOU, DID YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING MORE? UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, DO YOU MIND ALLOWING FOR A COLLEAGUE TO GO BEFORE ME? I, UM, YEP.
UNLIKE MS. SCOTT, I'M OFTEN CHEERFUL AND SHE GOT ME.
SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GIVING ME A MINUTE.
WELL, LET ME START AND GO FIRST.
I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE STAFF'S WORK ON THIS AS WELL AS, UH, THE OTHER PARTNERS.
I, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T SURE HOW YOU WERE GONNA GET FROM HERE TO THERE ON THIS PROJECT.
AND YOU HAVE, UH, AND YOU NEEDED TO, UH, BECAUSE THE BAR, BARBARA, SCOTT, AND, AND THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN A, A SUCH STRONG ADVOCATES SUSTAINED
[00:30:02]
CONTINUAL, UH, FOR, FOR SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, UH, WELL BEFORE MY PARTICIPATION ON THIS DESK.UH, BUT I WILL SAY THAT FROM THE MOMENT I ARRIVED ON THIS DESK, AND I FEEL LIKE IT WAS WITHIN MINUTES WHEN MS. SCOTT WAS EXPLAINING TO ME WHY IT WAS WE NEEDED TO GET HERE, UH, THAT HAS BEEN JUST A CONTINUAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE ADVOCATE, UH, AT A TIME WHEN FOR MANY PEOPLE, THE PATH AND THE HOPE WAS NOT APPARENT.
UH, BUT, UH, MS. SCOTT AND, AND HER COLLEAGUES, UM, JUST ALWAYS BELIEVED AND INSISTED, UH, THAT THIS PROJECT GET DONE AND GET LAUNCHED.
UM, YOU'VE BROUGHT TOGETHER SOME OF THE COMMUNITY FOLKS THAT, THAT, UH, WE HAVE ALL SEEN MUCH OF OVER TIME.
UM, I'VE GOTTEN A, A TEXT THIS MORNING FROM, FROM ASHTON C****R BATCH, UH, WHO WISHES, UH, HE WAS HERE WITH YOU.
UH, HE WAS WITH ME, UH, ON THE FIRST DAY WHEN, WHEN I OPENED UP MY OFFICE, UH, AND, AND WAS FOR ME, UH, ONE OF, UH, MY TEACHERS, UH, AND, AND, AND CONSTANT ADVOCATES.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK HIM, UH, WHEREVER, WHEREVER HE IS ALSO FOR, FOR HIS WORK.
BUT THERE WERE JUST SO MANY PEOPLE, UH, INVOLVED IN THIS.
BUT I THINK YOU WERE RIGHT, MS. SCOTT.
AS YOU TURN REALLY QUICKLY FROM THE CELEBRATION OF WHAT I ANTICIPATE WE WILL BE APPROVING ON NOVEMBER 3RD, TO RECOGNIZE THAT THAT IS JUST THE FIRST STEP, UH, AND THAT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF ACTION AND ACTIVITY THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE.
THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS THAT THE PATH IS REALLY CLEARLY DEFINED.
UM, AND NOW THAT THE PATHS CLEARLY DEFINED, IT HAS TO GET EXECUTED.
AND THERE'S NOTHING NECESSARILY CERTAIN ABOUT THE EXECUTION.
UH, SO THE ADVOCACY OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS IMPORTANT.
BUT QUITE FRANKLY, YOU HAVE MADE ADVOCACY OF THIS PROJECT SOMETHING THAT IS NOT JUST ADVOCACY COMING FROM EAST AUSTIN OR FROM THIS PART OF TOWN.
YOU HAVE TURNED THE ENTIRE CITY INTO AN ADVOCATE FOR THIS PROJECT.
AND I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND, AND EVERYONE FOR GETTING US TO, TO THIS PLACE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING FOR THIS, UH, NOVEMBER.
AND I WANT TO, TO ESPECIALLY, UH, RECOGNIZE THE LEADERSHIP OF MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, WHO SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER MANAGED TO MAKE COLONY PARK PART OF EVERY CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD ON ANYTHING.
UH, WE COULD BE PASSING SOMETHING THAT WASN'T EVEN REMOTELY RELATED TO THIS.
AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON WOULD BE RAISING YOUR HAND AND SAYING, NOW HOW DO WE PUT COLONY PARKS? GET INTO THIS
UM, AND SO, CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
THIS IS SOMETHING I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, UH, WITHOUT YOUR PUSH AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITIES, I'M NOT SURE WE WOULD BE HERE TODAY.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO, TO YOU AS WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER REN AND COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UM, THEY TAKE YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE.
UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, UH, THE REALITY IS THAT, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO EAST AUSTIN PROJECTS, THEY DO TAKE A LONG TIME.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND WE WERE DISCUSSING ABOUT CONLEY PARK, AND THIS WAS, UH, IN THE NINETIES AND THE EARLY 2000.
SO YOU, I SAID, IT'S, UH, IT'S A FACT RIGHT NOW THAT IN ORDER TO GET ANYTHING DONE IN EAST AUSTIN, IT USUALLY TAKES 25 YEARS OR MORE, YOU KNOW, BUT WE FOUGHT THE SAME BATTLE IN SOUTH THE, IN THE SOUTH DEAL DEVELOPMENT THERE, AND THE MAC, THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER.
AND IT TOOK US OVER 25 YEARS TO GET THESE PROJECTS DONE.
AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THIS FOR YEARS.
AND I WANT TO SAY TO THE CONLEY PARK RESIDENTS AND THE STAFF, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS.
UH, BUT LET'S NOT KEEP OUR GUARDS DOWN BECAUSE IT'S THE BEGINNING, IT'S NOT THE END.
SO I WANT TO SAY THAT I'LL BE HERE TO ALSO SPEAKING UP FOR YOU'ALL IF, UH, SOMETHING GOES WRONG.
I WANTED TO BOTH CONGRATULATE OUR GOOD FRIENDS IN COLONY PARK.
AND, AND REMEMBER THE EARLY DAYS WHEN WE HAD THE, UM, EASTERN CRESCENT CONVERSATIONS AND THE CONVENING OF A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY DID KIND OF START TO THROW THAT, UH,
[00:35:01]
FABRIC OUT THERE TO PULL EVERYBODY TOGETHER ON, UH, THE LONG WALK FORWARD.IT DOES TAKE A WHILE WHEN THE PROJECTS ARE REALLY BIG AND COMPLICATED.
AND, AND I HAVE TO THINK THAT, THAT THE RESULTS ARE ALL THE MORE, UM, SWEET BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT THAT THAT HAD TO BE EXPENDED.
UM, I DID WANT TO ASK JUST ONE DETAILED QUESTION OF OUR STAFF ON THE TURS.
DO WE KNOW WHEN THAT IS? WOULD THAT BE AN ELECTION OR IS THAT A VOTE OF, OF THE, OF THE COUNCIL? IT'LL, IT'LL BE A VOTE OF COUNCIL.
UM, SO ON NOVEMBER 3RD, WE'LL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN THE, THE ORDINANCE WILL BE PRESENTED FOR, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT IT.
ALSO, JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY GRATITUDE TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, TO OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS FINANCING PLAN AND TO MS. SCOTT AND THE NEIGHBORS FOR THEIR FIERCE ADVOCACY.
I'M EXCITED TO BE PART OF THIS MILESTONE MOMENT TO HELP, UH, SUPPORT, UH, THE FINANCING PLAN THAT'S COMING FORWARD.
I CERTAINLY, AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS AN EASTERN CRESCENT COMMUNITY, I KNOW THAT OUR EASTERN CRESCENT COMMUNITIES ARE, ARE BOUND TOGETHER BY SHARED VALUES AND NEEDS.
UM, I WOULD JUST NOTE THAT, UH, CERTAINLY WHEN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND PASSES, THAT I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF INCREASING THE AMOUNT, UH, FOR, FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND TO SPUR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COLONY PARK.
SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY SUPPORT FOR THAT AS WELL.
UM, I TOO AM UM, EXCITED TO SEE US TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS STEP FORWARD AND, AND CONGRATULATE THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING TIRELESSLY AND FEARLESSLY, UM, AND RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
ON THIS, I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS CUZ I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FUNDING THIS PROPERLY.
UM, SO A GOOD CHUNK OF THE FUNDS IS THE LAND SALE REVENUE.
UM, WE OBVIOUSLY OWN THE PROPERTY, BUT CAN YOU GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT ARE IN THAT AND HOW THAT'S WORKING? SO OUR PARTNER COULD TELLS, HAS RUN PROJECTIONS ON THE APPROXIMATE, UM, TRANSACTION FEES THAT WILL OCCUR FROM LAND SALES AND IT'S BASED ON THEIR FORECAST.
AND SO AS IN PREVIOUS DEVELOPMENT, UH, PROPERTY WILL BE TAKEN DOWN AND IT WILL BE SOLD AND THEN THOSE REVENUES WILL BE SPURRED BACK INTO THE DEVELOPMENT.
SO IN THE DIAGRAM IT IS, UM, THE PART THAT'S NOT THE PARK HERE IS ALL FOR SALE BEYOND THE, UM, CENTRAL HEALTH AND, AND THE ROADWAYS.
UM, AND THEN, UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE POD, UM, CAUSE I HAVEN'T, IT MAY HAVE BEEN, I DON'T THINK THAT'S POSTED YET.
FOR, FOR US, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT WE WOULD ANTICIPATE IN THE POD CHANGES? UM, INCREASED DENSITY IN TERMS OF THE LOT SIZE, THE HOME SIZE.
AND SO WE WILL NEED TO BRING BACK, UM, THAT TO COUNCIL.
IT'LL BE SOME CHANGES, BUT WE WILL HAVE MORE DETAIL ONCE WE COME BACK.
BUT IT'S BASED ON, UM, RESEARCH THAT WE'VE DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COACHELLAS.
UM, AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, WHEN YOU DO THE 90% THAT LEAVES THE 10% AND YOU MENTIONED SORT OF PARKS, BUT YOU DIDN'T MENTION PUBLIC SAFETY.
WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY? WHAT ARE THE NEEDS WITH RESPECT TO FIRE AND POLICE STATIONS IN THAT AREA? SO, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS, UM, BECAUSE THE, THE TIMING OF THE DEVELOPMENT, UM, IS STRETCHED OUT OVER SO MANY YEARS, WE, WE DO HAVE TIME TO BE ABLE TO WORK THOSE DETAILS OUT.
UM, THERE'S NOT A NEED RIGHT NOW FOR ANY ADDITIONAL STATIONS, UM, BUT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE AS THAT, AS A, IF THAT COMES ABOUT.
UM, BUT AT THIS POINT WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY THE MAIN OPERATING NEEDS WILL REVOLVE AROUND, UM, PARKS AND THEN THE, UM, ROADWAYS RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, SO THROUGH BOTH PROPERTY TAX AS WELL AS LIKE TOUGH REVENUES IN THE SORT, UM, THOSE ITEMS WILL ALL BE COVERED, UM, AS THE DEVELOPMENT, UM, PICKS UP.
AND I WASN'T ABLE TO PULL UP THE WILDFIRE HUB.
IS THIS IN A HIGH WILDFIRE RISK AREA? CUZ IT DOES RING THE CITY AND SO THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION AND WE CAN DO SOME RESEARCH ON THAT FACULTY.
AND, AND THE REASON THAT I'M ASKING IS THAT AS WE, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD THE NEXT STAGES WITH THE MASTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, UM, IF IT'S A HIGH RISK AREA, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE FOLLOWING THE, THE WEI CODE SO THAT THE BUILDINGS WILL BE HARDENED.
UM, PEOPLE SOMETIMES THINK THAT THE RISK IS ONLY IN ONE PART OF TOWN AND, AND WE HAVE A RING AROUND OUR CITY THERE, YOU
[00:40:01]
KNOW, THE, THE VEGETATION THAT LEADS TO THE POTENTIAL FIRES IS DIFFERENT, BUT THE RISKS ARE, ARE, ARE HIGH ALL AROUND MM-HMM.UM, AND WE HAVE PROBABLY ADOPTED THE WEED CODE SINCE YOU STARTED, UM, THIS PROCESS.
AND YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'VE BEEN FINDING IS THAT THE EARLIER IT'S, THE EARLIER WE ADOPT, UM, THE ELEMENTS OF THAT CODE INTO THE BUILDINGS, UM, AND INTO THE PROCESS AND INTO THE DESIGN, UM, THEN IT IS COST NEUTRAL.
UM, BUT YOU DON'T WANNA HAVE TO RETROFIT THAT INTO THE PROCESS SORT OF LATER AND SINCE, I JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT IN CASE IT WASN'T.
I LOOK FORWARD TO REVIEWING THE MATERIALS AND AND, AND MOVING FORWARD ON THIS.
I JUST, I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF CUZ I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS MOMENT.
I THINK IT CAME ON MY RADAR PROBABLY 20 16, 20 15 WHEN A LOT OF THE PUBLIC MEETINGS WERE HAPPENING, UM, TO FIGURE OUT WHO THE PARTNER WAS GONNA BE TO BUILD THIS.
AND SO IT'S ALSO SURPRISING TO SEE IT, YOU KNOW, TAKING THIS LONG.
I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THESE BIG PROJECTS NEED THIS LEVEL OF DETAIL AND THIS LEVEL OF EFFORT, UM, ON CITY STAFF SIDE AND ON THE COMMUNITY SIDE.
BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS MOMENT OVER, OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
UM, I HAVE ONE BRIEF QUESTION FOR STAFF.
DO YOU KNOW GENERALLY IF THE EXPECTED MIX OF SINGLE FAMILY MISSING MIDDLE OR APARTMENTS IS GONNA STAY THE SAME? OR IF THERE'S BEEN ANY RECALIBRATION OF THAT WITH COACHELLAS AS WE, UM, SEE THE PUD COME BACK TO US.
SO THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR N D A NEGOTIATIONS, UM, AND WE WILL BRING THAT BACK AS PART OF THE PUD.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT.
AND I WANNA, I WANNA ALSO EXTEND MY THANKS TO TO OUR STAFF FOR SEEING THIS WORK, UM, TO THIS POINT.
BUT REALLY TO EXTEND MY, MY HUGE THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN, BEEN ACTIVE ADVOCATES, UM, FOR COLONY PARK FOR YEARS.
AND YOU KNOW, THERE WERE, IT WAS A, THERE WAS A MOMENT ON THIS SLIDE THAT TALKED ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING AND THAT MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED BECAUSE THE GYM FAILED AND NO ONE KNEW THE GYM FAILED UNTIL VILMA OVERTON CALLED A COUPLE COUNCIL OFFICES, INCLUDING MINE AND INVITED US TO GO SEE THAT.
AND THE STUDENTS AT, AT OVERTON ELEMENTARY HAD BEEN PRACTICING IN PORTABLE BUILDINGS.
THEY'D BEEN HAVING THEIR PE CLASSES IN A PORTABLE BUILDING, WHICH I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO SEE AT THE SAME TIME AS WELL.
UM, AND SO THEY, THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN POWERFUL ADVOCATES FOR THE CHILDREN IN THAT COMMUNITY AND, AND THE FAMILIES IN THAT COMMUNITY FOR YEARS.
AND I APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR ADVOCACY AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR THIS NEXT WEEK AND TO SEE THIS, THIS PLAN MOVING FORWARD.
UM, I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ASSESSMENTS.
THERE'S, UH, ONE OF THE FUNDING OPTIONS ON HERE, ONE OF THE FUNDING MECHANISMS IS THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
AND IS THAT AN ASSESSMENT? CAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT'S USUALLY AN ASSESSMENT THAT WILL GO TO EVERYBODY WHO LIVES IN THAT AREA.
IS THAT ACCURATE? AND IS THERE A TIME PERIOD WHERE THAT ENDS OR IS THAT JUST IN PERPETUITY? THERE WOULD DEFINITELY, UM, BE AN END DATE TO THAT.
UM, IT, I WOULD THINK IF IT'S SIMILAR TO WHEN THERE'S, THERE'S PROB WOULDN'T WE ISSUE BONDS AND THERE'S THE LIFE OF THE BOND AND WE, AND WE PAY THOSE OFF.
SO IT WOULD BE A SIMILAR KIND OF SITUATION WHERE FOR WHERE ONCE THAT'S PAID OFF, THEN THE, THE PAID WOULD EXPIRE AND AND 10 MILLION IS 10 MILLION IS THE MA IS THE ESTIMATE OR IS THAT A MAX? UM, THAT'S JUST THE ESTIMATED NEEDED AMOUNT, UM, TO COVER THE, TO COVER THAT BASED ON THE VARIOUS FUNDING SOURCES WE HAVE IN THE STACK.
AND SO COUNCIL MEMBER FRONTEST MENTIONED, UH, POTENTIALLY MORE BOND FUNDING AND THAT THAT COULD, I ASSUME HELP REDUCE THE AMOUNT YES.
OF THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, WHICH MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL AS THIS COMES BACK TO COUNCIL IN FUTURE FUTURE MONTHS WHEN MANY OF US ARE, OR AT LEAST SOME OF US ARE GONNA BE GONE, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WORTH CONSIDERING.
SO I, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS IN THE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
ARE THEY RECEIVING THE SAME PIT ASSESSMENT AS THE OTHER RESIDENTS? OR IS THAT INTENDED? THE MULTI-FAMILY STRUCTURES WILL BE, UM, AS PART OF THE ASSESSMENT, UM, AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE'VE DONE.
BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THE AFFORDAB AFFORDABLE UNIT COMPONENTS CUZ I, I SEE YOU WILL'S TURNING, SO YEAH, WE'LL DEFINITELY, UM, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT TO SEE HOW WE CAN MITIGATE THAT.
IF PO IF POSSIBLE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
ARE THE UNITS, ARE THE FOR SALE UNITS, ARE SOME OF THOSE AFFORDABLE AS WELL? I THINK WE HAD A SLIDE ON IT, RIGHT?
[00:45:01]
THERE WOULD BE A MIX OF AFFORDABLE MULTI-FAMILY AND SINGLE FAMILY.AND SO THOSE TWO WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
SO YEAH, I WOULD, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THERE, THAT THERE BE SOME THINKING ABOUT THAT SO THAT THAT ASSESSMENT DOESN'T FALL, UM, FALL AT THE SAME RATE ONTO THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN AFFORDABLE UNITS.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HAVING A CONVERSATION AT OUR HOUSING AND PLANNING, UM, COMMITTEE MEETING ABOUT ASSESSMENTS AND HOW, AND HOMEOWNER FEES AND HOW TO, YOU KNOW, HOW TO MAKE SURE WITH OWNERSHIP UNITS, ESPECIALLY THAT THOSE DON'T, DON'T MAKE IT UNAFFORDABLE FOR SOMEBODY TO STAY IN THERE.
AND I JUST, I THINK I MENTIONED THIS TO MY COLLEAGUES, BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW AGAIN THAT THE UT LAW CLINIC IS WORKING WITH MY OFFICE ON A PROJECT THIS SEMESTER, LOOKING AT THAT AND LOOKING AT AT SOME OF THE LAWS THAT, UM, THAT, THAT RELATE TO THAT AND, AND ARE GOING TO PROPOSE US, PROPOSE TO US SOME OPTIONS.
THEY'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND CLOSELY WITH DECK AND I THINK THEY'RE GONNA PROPOSE SOME, SOME DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES FOR HOW WE MIGHT HANDLE THOSE ASSESSMENTS DIFFERENTLY.
AND SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY REALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE, UM, THINKING ABOUT THAT AT THE OUTSET MM-HMM.
THE OTHER, THE OTHER, UM, THING I WOULD NOTE IS THAT WE'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM THE MILLER UNITS THAT I KNOW, UH, DIRECTOR HOLT, ROB KNOWS, UH, IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE IN CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH TRAVIS CAD ABOUT THOSE VALUATIONS SO THAT THAT TOO DOESN'T BECOME AN IMPEDIMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR, IN OUR AFFORDABLE UNITS TO STAY IN THERE.
IS THAT PART OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE ALREADY DOING? YES, THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR, WE'VE LEARNED FROM THAT PROJECT.
SO YES, WE WILL TAKE THOSE LESSONS FOR IT IN COLONY PARK.
AND THEN LAST, MY LAST QUESTION IS ABOUT THE RIGHT TO RETURN POLICY.
WILL THAT BE, WILL THAT BE, UM, SOMETHING THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE PILOTED WITHIN OUR, OUR HOUSING THAT WE'RE CREATING WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN? AND WILL THAT BE AN ELEMENT FOR OUR AFFORDABLE UNITS HERE WHERE THERE'S A, A, A PREFERENCE FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE, UM, HAVE GENERATIONAL TIES TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ARE, HAVE EITHER BEEN DISPLACED FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN OR HAVE A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF BEING DISPLACED? HELLO, ROSIE TRU, LOVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND PLANNING.
UH, WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH ELLAS ON, UH, OUR, OUR RIGHT OF RETURN POLICY, UM, TO SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN INCORPORATE AS THEY ARE, UM, MOVING FORWARD, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO, TO SEEING WHAT KIND OF AFFORDABLE UNITS WILL BE BROUGHT INTO THE, INTO THE DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO THAT IS A POLICY WITHIN OUR AUSTIN HOUSING AND FINANCE CORPORATION NOW, CORRECT.
WITHIN OUR, OUR AFFORDABLE UNITS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S, THAT ARE NOW BEING CREATED.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD SAY EVERY DEVELOPMENT USES THE RIGHT OF RETURN.
UH, AND SO THAT'S WHY I WOULD WANNA TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL AND HOW WE COULD INCORPORATE THAT INTO, UH, HOW THEY BRING PROJECTS FORWARD.
BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO, TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION ON THAT ISSUE.
IS THERE, UM, WELL I WOULD, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REAL VALUE, ESPECIALLY, UM, ABSOLUTELY KNOWING, KNOWING THE WAY IN WHICH, UM, GENTRIFICATION HAS REALLY IMPACTED PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO STAY, ESPECIALLY IN, IN EAST AUSTIN.
AND SO I WOULD, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT, A GREAT, UM, DEVELOPMENT TO HAVE THE PREFERENCE POLICY DEPLOYED.
AND, AND TO BE CLEAR, OUR PREFERENCE POLICY IS WHAT WE UTILIZE WHEN AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION IS DEVELOPING PROPERTIES.
BUT IN THIS CASE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE, UM, BROUGHT TO US, SO TO SPEAK.
AND SO WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO, TO HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH ELLAS.
WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND AGAIN, THANKS.
HUGE THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO OUR STAFF AND MY COLLEAGUE.
SORRY, I HAD ONE MORE, UM, FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
DO WE, WHO SERVICES THE COLONY PARK AREA FOR FIRE? IS IT AN S D OR IS IT AFD? OH, IT'S IT'S CITY.
UM, CUZ I DID CONFIRM, I BELIEVE IT IS IN THE WOO, SO THAT IT'S IN THE WILD END URBAN INTERFACE.
UM, SO IT'D BE GOOD AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE RESPONSE TIMES ARE AND, AND I WILL BE MAKING SURE IN THE POD THAT IT IS FOLLOWING THE RULES FOR THE WOO.
SO JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, UM, THAT WE FLAG THAT SO THAT IT CAN BE SMOOTHER, SMOOTHER AT THAT POINT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE, YOU WANNA CLOSE THIS OUT? I'D LOVE TO THANK YOU.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF SUPER AWESOME NICE THINGS I'D LIKE TO SAY.
UM, BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT, UM, AND IN FACT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO, YOU, YOU KICKED IT OFF FOR ME WHEN YOU SAID THE THING ABOUT JUST ABOUT DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION AND SORT OF RIGHT TO RETURN POLICY.
UM, I THINK ALL THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT.
BUT IF I MAY, UM, JUST RECOGNIZING OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS, HOW MANY INSTANCES OF DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION DID NOT JUST HAPPEN.
THEY WERE 30, 20, 25, 15 YEARS IN THE MAKING.
[00:50:01]
A LOT OF FOLKS, UM, FOR WHOM, YOU KNOW, MY CONSTITUENTS PAID OFF THEIR 30 YEAR MORTGAGES BY RENTING THEIR HOMES FOR 27 YEARS AND THEN GOT KICKED OUT AS SOON AS THE, THE PROPERTY WAS VALUABLE ENOUGH.SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY GENTRIFICATION DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
IT IS A LONG, DELIBERATE STRATEGIC PROCESS.
AND WE AS A MUNICIPALITY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO STAY GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT.
AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF REACTING TO IT.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER, BEN, YOU MAKING NOTE OF HOW LONG THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN, HOW LONG SOUTH THE WAS.
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, A REAL GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT I HOPE, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR RETIREMENT THAT YOU AND MISS LAWYER AREN'T HAVING TO COME BEFORE COUNSEL TO FUSS AT US ABOUT WALTER E. LONG OR WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH FLEET SERVICES OR ANY OF THE OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN DISTRICT ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, WE'LL LANGUISH.
SO THANK YOU TO STAFF, THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY, THANK YOU TO MY PREDECESSOR AND HER PEERS WHO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR LONGER THAN I EVEN CONSIDERED MUNICIPAL POLICY, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SERVE.
UM, SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY, ALL THE THANK YOUS, UM, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT BENIGN NEGLECT IS EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM.
UM, MAYOR THAT YOU POINTED OUT THAT EVERYBODY CAME OUT FOR COLONY PARK, EVERYBODY'S BEEN HEATING THE CRY AND THE CALL AND, AND WERE VERY PATIENT WITH ME BRINGING COLONY PARK UP AND EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY MEETING RECOGNIZING THE LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE AND COMMITMENT, UM, THAT FAR TOO MANY IN THE COMMUNITY HAD TO THE PROJECT.
UM, SO I'M HAPPY, UM, BUT I'M ALSO HOPEFUL THAT WE'VE LEARNED SOME LESSONS AND THAT WE DO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SOLIDIFY THE COLONY PARK AND LAKESIDE CDC, GIVE THEM MORE POWER, OFFER THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK THEM THROUGH SOME CAPACITY BUILDING SO THAT THEY CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE AREA.
UM, THE INQUIRY THAT I MADE TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE ABOUT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS AND THAT EASTERN PART OF DISTRICT ONE, I'D LIKE TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IF IT, WHETHER OR NOT IT'D BE APPROPRIATE TO, TO DEVELOP MORE OF THOSE.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS, UM, WITH THIS BODY, THE NEW BODY, IF I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO SERVE ABOUT LAND TRUST AND ABOUT ACQUISITION DOLLARS THAT WE COULD USE RIGHT NOW TO PREEMPT GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT, TO BUILD IN SOME PERPETUAL AFFORDABILITY FROM THE START BEFORE WHAT WE KNOW IS GONNA HAPPEN.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF EAST 180 3, WE ALL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS KNOWS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE CUZ YOU WATCH IT HAPPEN IN CENTRAL EAST SUTON.
SO I'M SAYING RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF IT.
IF WE MAKE THAT COMMITMENT, THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE TOOK A HOLD OF.
IF WE DON'T MAKE THAT COMMITMENT, THEN IT IS NOBODY'S FAULT BUT OUR OWN THAT WE DIDN'T COMMIT IN 2022 TO WHAT THE FUTURE OF FAR EAST DISTRICT ONE LOOKS LIKE.
SO I WOULD BE REMISS TO NOT BRING THAT UP.
I'D ALSO, UM, LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BENIGN NEGLECT EXTENDS BEYOND GIANT PROJECTS LIKE COLONY PARK.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I VISIT REC CENTERS IN MY DISTRICT, THERE'S A REC CENTER IN BETWEEN MINE AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER'S DISTRICT WHERE WE WENT FOR A COMMUNITY EVENT.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A NET ON THE BASKETBALL GOAL, NO NET ON THE BASKETBALL GOAL.
THAT'S A HARD FACILITY WITH NO NET ON THE BASKETBALL GOAL.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW FREQUENTLY MY CONSTITUENTS COME TO ME AND TALK TO US ABOUT OUR STUDENT ATHLETES TEARING UP THEIR ANKLES AND KNEES AND OTHER PARTS OF THEIR BODIES BECAUSE OF SUBSTANDARD SUBPAR CONDITIONS FOR THEIR FIELDS WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ENGAGING IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THAT TEACH THEM ABOUT TEAM SPORTS AND BEING A TEAM PLAYER AND BEING PHYSICALLY FIT AND HEALTHY AND GETTING OUT AND GETTING FRESH AIR.
YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE GREAT, BUT IF THE FIELDS HAVE POTHOLES ALL OVER 'EM AND OUR STUDENT ATHLETES ARE GETTING INJURED, THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE COMMITMENT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE ALL OVER THE EAST SIDE ABOUT THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES THAT ARE PROMINENT AND PROLIFIC AND WE HEAR ABOUT THEM.
SO I JUST, I HOPE THAT THE EXTENSION OF THE CARE AND CONCERN AROUND THESE AREAS OF AUSTIN, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED, THAT DO SUFFER FROM BENIGN NEGLECT ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I HOPE THAT THE ENTIRE CITY OF AUSTIN SEES THIS AS OUR CHARGE AND RECOGNIZES THAT WE'RE ALL STEWARDS FOR ALL PARTS OF AUSTIN AND DON'T CONTINUE TO LET A PART OF TOWN LANGUISH AND DISREPAIR.
UM, AND SO WITH THAT SAID, I I WILL JUST SCREAM FROM THE ROOFTOPS.
I CAN'T OVERSTATE HOW EXCITED I AM, UM, TO VOTE FOR THIS ITEM.
[00:55:01]
HUGE MOMENT AND A VERY LONG EFFORT TO FINALLY BRING SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS TO A PART OF TOWN THAT FRANKLY HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR FAR TOO MANY DECADES.UM, THE COMMUNITY PULLED THROUGH, THEY CAME THROUGH, THEY FIND A WAY LIKE WE ALWAYS DO, BUT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT MOVING FORWARD, THE CONVERSATION IS GONNA CHANGE TO ACTUAL PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF WHAT IT IS THAT I HOPE WE ALL VOTE FOR.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
IT LITERALLY TOOK BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE FOR US TO GET HERE.
A GIANT THANK YOU TO COMMUNITY ADVOCATES WHO'VE BEEN PUSHING RELENTLESSLY FOR SO LONG TO OUR STAFF FOR COMING UP WITH THIS INNOVATIVE PLAN.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE TO PUT SOME EMPHASIS THERE.
SOME OF THE PRIVATE PARTNERS WE THOUGHT WE'D GET, WE DIDN'T GET SOME OF OUR, UM, OTHER ELECTED BODIES DIDN'T HELP US WHEN WE THOUGHT THEY MIGHT.
AND SO OUR STAFF, THE CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF HAD TO FIGURE IT OUT.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THEY TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT AND MADE THE COMMITMENT TO ROBUST EFFORT TO FINALLY KICKSTART WHAT WILL BE A TRULY TRANSFORMATIONAL INVESTMENT IN OUR EASTERN CRESCENT.
UM, I AM DEFINITELY GONNA HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY ABOUT THIS ITEM WHEN IT COMES BEFORE US, BUT FOR NOW, I MAY IT SUFFICE TO SAY THAT I AM OVER THE MOON, UM, WITH WHAT I SEE IN MY MIND'S EYE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS AFFECTING DISTRICT ONE SINCE I TOOK OFFICE.
UM, AND NOW THAT WE CAN PUT A BIG, BIG OLD GREEN CHECK MARK NEXT TO THIS ONE, I'M READY FOR THE NEXT AND HOPE TO GET THE SAME LEVEL OF SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT FROM OUR COLLEAGUES AND OUR AND OUR CITY.
GREAT JOB MS. SCOTT, AND TO THE OTHERS.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO AHEAD THEN.
MANAGER, WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE 9 1 1 AND THEN WE'LL GO TO SOME PULLED ITEMS. BOTH, I THINK WHILE THE FOLKS ARE LEAVING, COLLEAGUES, UH, I'VE HANDED OUT, UH, VERSION FOUR FOR ITEM NUMBER 42.
UH, THIS WAS IN RESPONSE TO, UM, UH, THIS IS THE ITEM THAT DEAL DEALT WITH, UH, OFFSETS, ENVIRONMENTALLY CONTAINS THE LANGUAGE WE INDICATED WE WOULD PUT ON WHEN WE WERE MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO.
IT INCLUDES, UH, SOME AMENDMENTS, UH, SUGGESTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR PROTE, UH, ALTER, UH, IN HER MESSAGE BOARD POST.
IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE MESSAGE BOARD POST AND WILL BE INCLUDED IN BACKUP FOR THIS, UH, ITEM ALSO HANDED OUT, UH, SOME, UH, AMENDMENTS ON THE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, RESOLUTION THAT I'M SURE WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, AND PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE'S TWO, UH, AMENDMENTS.
THERE'S ONE ON THE FRONT AND ONE ON THE BACK OF THAT PAGE ALSO POSTED.
[B3. 911 Communications Retention and Recruitment.]
OKAY, MAYOR, COUNCIL, UH, FOR THE NEXT, WE'RE GONNA HEAR A BRIEFING ON OUR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, UH, AREA.AND I JUST WANT TO BEGIN BY ASSURING YOU THAT THIS ISSUE HAS MY FULL ATTENTION AND I HAVE BEEN MEETING REGULARLY WITH OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, SENIO AND ARIANA, AS WELL AS THE CHIEF AND OUR HR DIRECTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE ADDRESSING THE IMMEDIATE CONCERNS THAT WE ARE SEEING, UH, IN THIS, UH, AREA, BUT ALSO THE LONGER TERM STRATEGIES THAT, UH, WE NEED TO REALLY RIGHT SIZE AND FIX, UH, THE SITUATION OVERALL.
UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA COMPROMISE OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY.
AND I WANT TO REASSURE YOU THAT THIS IS, UH, OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE.
AND WHEN OUR COMMUNITY CALLS 9 1 1, THEY DESERVE A RESPONSE AND A QUICK RESPONSE.
UH, BEFORE I TURNED IT OVER TO CHIEF CHICON TO START THE BRIEFING, I WANTED TO THANK OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE REALLY LED THE WAY ON THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ON THESE CHALLENGES FOR OVER A YEAR.
I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT THESE, UH, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STRATEGIES ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO REALLY ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO ADDRESS IT.
UM, BUT THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY A NEW ISSUE.
UM, BUT WE ARE SEEING, SEEING THE CHALLENGES CONTINUE.
I WANNA THANK THE CHIEF AND, AND MS. HAYES, OUR DIRECTOR OF HR, THEY HAVE REALLY PUT THEIR SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL ON ADDRESSING THIS IN DIFFERENT WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE BOTH OUR CURRENT STAFF TO STAY ON BOARD, BUT ALSO TO RECRUIT THE BEST STAFF GOING FORWARD.
I THEREFORE WANNA THANK OUR HARDWORKING STAFF.
WE HAVE INCREDIBLE, UH, FOLKS THAT WORK AT OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, UH, DEPARTMENT, AND, UH, THEY DO THE HARD WORK THAT ARE TAKING THE CALLS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN FINALLY, I'LL MAKE THIS ASK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
HOPEFULLY YOU HEAR SOME THINGS IN TODAY'S PRESENTATION THAT MAY INCENTIVIZE YOU TO APPLYING FOR THIS JOB.
WE NEED YOU, UH, WE ARE OFFERING, UH, GREAT
[01:00:01]
BENEFITS.WE'RE A STRONG COMMUNITY AND A FAMILY HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD.
UH, SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF CHICO.
UH, AND GOOD MORNING MAYOR, COUNCIL MANAGER JOSEPH, CHUCK ON CHIEF OF POLICE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN FRONT OF YOU AND TALK ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
AND JUST LIKE THE MANAGER WAS SAYING, UM, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TODAY THAT I PAINT A REALISTIC PICTURE OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SECTION, BUT ALSO LET YOU KNOW, UH, THE, ALL THE HARD WORK THAT HAS GONE IN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS INTO, UH, CONTINUING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER AND SOME OF THE GAINS THAT WE HAVE MADE DURING THAT TIME, WHICH I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT SHOULD NOT BE, UM, OVERLOOKED.
SO AS I THINK Y'ALL KNOW, WE'VE BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE GOING BACK, UH, TO 2021.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S EXTREMELY CONCERNING, UH, THAT WE'VE LOST SO MANY OF OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL AND HAVE HAD SUCH DIFFICULTY IN REPLACING THEM.
UM, I HOPE TODAY TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE STAND WITH THE PROBLEMS IN, IN, IN THE SECTION AND THEN HIGHLIGHT THE MEASURES, UH, THAT WE ARE TAKING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW, FIRST I HAVE TO START BY STATING THAT THIS, UH, ISSUE IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN OR TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, SOME OF THE REMEDIES I'M GONNA BE DISCUSSING TODAY ARE BEING TRIED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, IN OTHER BIG CITIES, BIG AND SMALL.
AND, UM, AND SOME HAVE SEEN MIXED RESULTS.
UM, THAT'S NOT AN EXCUSE, HOWEVER, FOR WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES TODAY.
AND, UH, I WANT EVERYONE ON, CERTAINLY ON COUNCIL AND IN OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT I AM VERY FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE, UH, THAT IT IS, UM, VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, TO OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, THAT WE KIND OF WRITE THE SHIFT.
AND, UM, I'M NOT GONNA ALLOW US TO COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN.
WE JUST HAD THREE OF THE BUSIEST WEEKENDS OF, UH, OF THE YEAR, UH, COMING, UH, INTO THIS WEEK, UH, TWO WEEKENDS OF AUSTIN CITY LIMITS MUSIC FESTIVAL.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THIS PAST WEEKEND WITH THE F1 RACE, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO MANAGE SUCCESSFULLY THE SAFETY FOR ALL OF THOSE EVENTS.
AND THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE AMAZING MEN AND WOMEN OF, OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, BOTH SWORN AND CIVILIAN, AND IMPORTANTLY, OUR GREAT EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION PERSONNEL THAT WORK TIRELESSLY THROUGH EACH ONE OF THOSE WEEKENDS.
UM, SO LET ME KIND OF OUTLINE WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES AND WHERE, WHERE THE ISSUES REALLY ARE.
WE'VE SEEN A STEADY DECLINE IN OUR NUMBER OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION PERSONNEL, AND THIS HAS BEEN FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, PAY HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.
I'M GONNA TALK TODAY ABOUT HOW WE HAVE ADDRESSED THAT.
I THINK THAT THE BIGGER, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIGGER ISSUES, UH, REALLY FOR OUR CITY IS AFFORDABILITY IN AUSTIN, AND THAT IS ALSO DRIVING THIS CONVERSATION AND THEN, UM, THE BURNOUT AND THE STRESS THAT COMES WITH THAT JOB.
AND WE CANNOT, WE CANNOT IGNORE THAT.
I THINK THAT FOR MANY, THEY CERTAINLY SEE A LOT OF VALUE IN THE POSITION THEY WANT TO BE THERE, BUT THE ADDED STRESSORS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPOUNDED, BECAUSE WE'VE LOST SO MANY PEOPLE, WE HAVE MANDATORY OVERTIME.
AND REALLY THE AMOUNT OF WORKLOAD FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE IN THE CENTER, UH, CANNOT BE OVER, CANNOT BE OVERSTATED, AND THAT IS CAUSING JUST ON A DAY BY DAY BASIS, A LITTLE BIT MORE BURNOUT.
SO I'M GONNA TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE MEASURES AND HOW WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT AS WELL.
UM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 50, UH, POLICE CALL TAKER VACANCIES, UH, AT THE MOMENT, AS WELL AS 22 POLICE DISPATCHER VACANCIES.
UM, THIS HAS LED TO LONGER HOLD TIMES WHEN, UM, SOMEONE IS WAITING TO HAVE AN ANSWER TO THEIR 9 1 1 CALL, AS WELL AS SOMETIMES HAVING TO DOUBLE POLICE DISPATCHERS, UH, FOR, UH, DOUBLE UP SECTORS.
UH, YOU KNOW, OUR NORMAL IS HAVING ONE DISPATCHER FOR ONE POLICE SECTOR, AND WE'VE HAD TO, AT TIMES, DOUBLE LEFT SECTORS, UH, BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DISPATCHERS.
NONE OF THESE SITUATIONS OBVIOUSLY IS IDEAL WITH REGARDS TO OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION ANSWER RATES.
UH, THE MOST RECENT AVERAGE TIME THAT I RECEIVED TO ANSWER A NINE ONE ONE CALL IS 150 SECONDS, UH, WHICH IS, UH, TWO AND A HALF MINUTES.
UH, THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY LONG TIME TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO ANSWER A 9 1 1 CALL.
THE INDUSTRY BEST STANDARD IS TO ANSWER 90% OF THE CALLS WITHIN 15 SECONDS.
AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE MET THAT STANDARD 65.5% OF THE TIME, WHICH MEANS THAT TWO OUT OF EVERY THREE CALLS THAT CAME INTO OUR CENTER WERE ANSWERED WITHIN 15 SECONDS.
SO I THINK THAT THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT, UH, THING TO HIGHLIGHT.
WE, WE CAN'T LOSE SIGHT OF THAT AND, BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE OUR STAFFING, UH, FOR ALL OF THE REASONS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, TO
[01:05:01]
MAINTAIN THAT VERY HIGH LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL SOON BE ROLLING OUT AN INFORMATIONAL, UH, CAMPAIGN RE REGARDING RECRUITING, UM, AS WELL AS AN INFORMATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON MAKING GOOD DECISIONS ABOUT WHEN THEY SHOULD CALL 9 1 1 VERSUS WHEN THEY SHOULD CALL THREE 11.SO WE'RE HOPING TO, UM, TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THAT AND, UH, HAVE PEOPLE MAKE THE RIGHT CALL, UH, BECAUSE IN THE END, THAT COULD MEAN A FEW LESS CALLS THAT ARE ACTUALLY COMING IN TO 9 1 1 AND MORE INFORMATION ON THAT'LL FOLLOW IN THE COMING WEEKS.
SO NOW THAT I'VE KIND OF JUST KIND OF AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, VERY QUICKLY, UM, TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO KIND OF TURN THE SITUATION AROUND.
MY DEPARTMENT, UM, HAS BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH DIRECTOR HAYES AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT ON ISSUES RELATED TO COMPENSATION, AND WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES.
UM, IF WE COULD, IF WE COULD PULL UP THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S, IT'S ABOUT FIVE SLIDES, VERY, VERY SHORT.
BUT I WANTED TO JUST KIND OF TALK ABOUT STRATEGICALLY WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DO, UM, TO A, AGAIN, TURN THE, TURN THE SITUATION AROUND.
IT'S KINDA HARD FOR ME TO READ THAT SCREEN OVER THERE.
SO I'M GOING TO, I BROUGHT A COPY, SO I'M GONNA TAKE A LOOK AT IT HERE.
SO THE FIRST THING I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT, UM, IS THAT WE HAVE MADE PAY INCREASES.
SO, UM, EFFECTIVE, UM, SEPTEMBER THE 25TH, UM, AS OF THAT PAY PERIOD, UM, AND BASED ON THE MARKET STUDY THAT WE HAD DONE, UH, 100% OF OUR CALL TAKERS, UH, AND 98% OF OUR POLICE DISPATCHERS WERE MAKING ABOVE THE MARKET MEDIAN.
WE HAVE RAISED THE ENTRY PAY LEVELS, UM, FOR CALL TAKER, 26% TO 2285 AN HOUR, AS WELL AS THE ENTRY LEVEL FOR POLICE DISPATCHER BY 35% TO 24 42 AN HOUR.
UM, AS I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, WE HAVE RAISED OVERALL, UM, THE OVERALL PAY FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE, UH, IN THE CALL TAKER RANGE, I'M SORRY, IN THE CALL TAKER JOB TITLE, 7% ARE EARNING A SALARY OVER THE SEVEN 75TH PERCENTILE OF THE MARKET.
AND, UM, AND FOR POLICE DISPATCHERS, UM, 31% ARE EARNING OVER THE 75TH PERCENTILE.
UM, AND WITH THE, UM, THE STUDY THAT, THAT I ASKED, UM, DIRECTOR HAYES AND H R D TO CONDUCT WITH REGARD TO COMPRESSION AND WHERE WE WILL BE HEADED IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, UM, WE WILL HAVE THOSE NUMBERS WILL INCREASE, UH, QUITE A BIT, INCLUDING, UH, ABOUT ONE THIRD OF OUR BOTH CALL TAKERS AND DISPATCHERS WILL BE IN THAT HIGHEST QUARTILE, UH, OF THE MARKET.
SO, UM, THAT, THAT I THINK DEMONSTRATES THE COMMITMENT THAT THE CITY AND, AND APD HAS MADE TO THE VALUE OF ALL THESE EMPLOYEES, UH, AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE VALUE THEM.
THEY FEEL THAT, THAT, UH, THAT SUPPORT EVERY DAY.
WITH REGARD TO WHAT CAN WE DO ON TOP OF THAT, UM, WE HAVE INSTITUTED, UH, WHAT WE ARE REFERRING TO IS A FIRST RESPONDER STIPEND.
SO, UH, FOR HAVING A TCO LICENSE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS, AND, AND, AND BECAUSE OF THAT REQUIREMENT ACTUALLY MAKES HIRING JUST A LITTLE BIT HARDER BECAUSE IT IS A HIGHER STANDARD TO MEET.
WE FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HONOR THAT.
AND WE HAVE INSTITUTED A, A $1,800 ANNUAL STIPEND, WHICH TRANSLATES TO $150 A MONTH EXTRA IN EVERY ONE OF OUR, UM, EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION, UH, PERSONNEL'S CHECK, AS WELL AS A RETENTION BONUS.
SO, UM, BEGINNING, UH, WE, WE ACTUALLY INSTITUTED THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR.
IT WAS, IT IS A $3,000 BONUS THAT'S PAID OUT OVER THE PERIOD OF ONE YEAR.
WE'VE ALREADY MADE THE FIRST PAYMENT ON THAT, WHICH CAME AT THE 90TH DAY.
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT WILL COME AT THE 180TH DAY, AND THEN FINALLY AT ONE YEAR OF EMPLOYMENT.
SO THAT, AGAIN, SHOWS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO, UM, TO HANG ON TO THOSE FOLKS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, BECAUSE BRINGING NEW, NEW PEOPLE ON IS OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT.
WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME IS THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE THERE IN THE CENTER AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO, UH, TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE FOLKS.
UH, IF I GET THE NEXT SLIDE, ALL RIGHT, WITH RE, WITH REGARD TO RECRUITING AND HIRING, UM, WE HAVE, UH, AGAIN, JUST TALKING ABOUT WE'VE, WE'VE INCREASED THE ENTRY PAY RATES, UH, FOR, FOR THOSE POSITIONS.
[01:10:01]
IN AN, INTO AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS THAT WE HAVE SEEN FOR BOTH POSITIONS.UM, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT MANY OF THOSE APPLICANTS SOMETIMES DO NOT, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW THROUGH IN THE PROCESS, EITHER ARE NOT RESPONDING TO OUR CALLS WHEN WE CALL THEM TO GO AHEAD AND GET A JOB INTERVIEW, UM, OR AT SOME POINT, AND I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS IN JUST A MOMENT, THEY FIND THEMSELVES FALLING OUT OF THE PROCESS.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WITHIN THE, THE LAST SIX WEEKS, WE HAVE HIRED MORE CALL TAKERS AND DISPATCHERS THAN WE HAVE ALL YEAR.
UM, I'VE HIRED THREE BRAND NEW, UM, CALL TAKERS.
WE HAVE TWO POLICE DISPATCHERS THAT JUST CAME OUTTA TRAINING AND ARE NOW ON THE FLOOR.
AND I HAVE TWO MORE POLICE DISPATCHERS THAT ARE BEGINNING THE TRAINING AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
SO THAT'S SEVEN NEW PERSONNEL.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT THAT IS THE MOST THAT WE HAVE HAD IN QUITE SOME TIME.
BUT THIS IS HOW WE START THIS PROCESS.
THIS IS HOW WE BEGIN TO GAIN GROUND AND, AND WE GAIN MOMENTUM.
SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS ITSELF, UH, WE'VE WORKED WITH H R D AND WITH OUR OWN STAFF, UH, LEADERSHIP STAFF AT THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER ON DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT TAKES TO PROCESS, UH, A NEW HIRE FR DOWN FROM 90 DAYS, UH, OR, OR BASICALLY 12 WEEKS DOWN TO EIGHT TO 10 WEEKS.
SO, UH, AGAIN, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE THROUGH THAT PROCESS MUCH QUICKER.
WE'VE DOUBLED THE SIZE OF OUR RECRUITING STAFF IN THE CENTER, UM, SO THAT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY, UH, ACTIVELY ON A FULL-TIME BASIS RECRUITING, AS WELL AS DOING THE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THE POSITION.
I TALKED ABOUT THE T HOLE STANDARDS, UH, TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IT IS IMPORTANT THEY HAVE TO MEET THE SAME STANDARDS AS A SWORN POLICE OFFICER TO COME ON BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE SAME INFORMATION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION.
SO THAT MEANS THERE ARE THESE EXTRA COMPONENTS, INCLUDING CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS.
UM, THERE IS A PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT, WHICH MUST BE EVALUATED AS PART OF THE BACKGROUND CHECK, A DRUG SCREENING, A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION, AND THEN FINALLY A SKILLS TEST TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM ALL OF THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF AN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATOR, TELECOMMUNICATOR.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE UNCONVENTIONAL THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE.
JUST RECOGNIZING THE TWO AND A HALF MINUTES IS TOO LONG TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO ANSWER A 9 1 1 CALL.
AND THAT IS, WE HAVE, UH, LOOKED AT THOSE WHO HAVE TCO LICENSES, UH, AND, AND HAVE THE REQUISITE SKILLS TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE, THE JOB FUNCTION OF A CALL TAKER WITHIN THE SWORN RANKS.
UM, WE SPECIFICALLY CHOSE SERGEANTS BECAUSE THOSE AT THE OFFICER, DETECTIVE, AND CORPORAL RANK ARE REALLY HELPING US TO FILL OUR RANKS RIGHT NOW, UH, ON TAKING 9 1 1 CALLS ACTUALLY IN CARS RESPONDING TO 9 1 1 CALLS.
SO I HAD GREATER BANDWIDTH TO BE ABLE TO PULL SOME SERGEANTS TO DO IT ON AN OVERTIME BASIS.
IN THE CALL CENTER, WE'VE ALREADY TRAINED 13 POLICE SERGEANTS AND, UM, THEY ARE NOW IN THE NEXT PHASE, UH, AND BEGINNING TO, TO TAKE CALLS.
AND THEN I HAVE SIX MORE POLICE SERGEANTS THAT ARE IN THIS NEXT TRAINING CADRE, UH, AND WILL BE, UH, BEGINNING THEIR TRAINING.
ADDITIONALLY, WE, WE LOOK THROUGH OUR RANKS AND IDENTIFIED THOSE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ALREADY HAD EXPERIENCE DISPATCHING, AND I HAVE A NUMBER OF THEM.
THIS SLIDE INDICATES TOO, I GOT A LATEST UPDATE THIS MORNING THAT ONE MORE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AND HAS AGREED TO, UM, TO PARTICIPATE.
SO I'M GONNA HAVE THREE OFFICERS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY DISPATCHERS THAT WILL BE GOING BACK INTO OUR CENTER TO ASSIST WITH DISPATCHING DUTIES.
SO THAT'S A, THAT'S 22 MORE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE COMING IN THAT ARE GOING TO HELP OFFSET ALL OF THOSE VACANCIES THAT I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, WITH REGARD TO RECRUITING, UH, ONE, SOME OF THE OTHER UNCONVENTIONAL, KIND OF UNCONVENTIONAL MEASURES THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ARE, UH, AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT DOWN NOW.
UH, SOME OF THE OTHER UNCONVENTIONAL MEASURES ARE, UM, AT OUR RECRUITING BOOSTS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS, WE NOW HAVE RECRUITERS FOR 9 1 1.
AND EVEN IF SOMEONE INDICATES, YEAH, I REALLY DON'T THINK I WANT TO BE A POLICE OFFICER, WELL, HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING A DISPATCHER OR CALL TAKER? THEY SHOW UP AT THE TRAINING ACADEMY AND WHEN THEY HAVE THE PHYSICAL EX EXAM TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER, UH, THERE ARE, THERE ARE SOME THAT CANNOT COMPLETE THAT EXAM, BUT THEY STILL HAVE THE HEART TO SERVE.
AND SO WE ARE, UM, KIND OF PULLING THEM ASIDE WHEN THEY FALL OUT OF THAT PROCESS AND SAYING, WE'RE HIRING IN OUR NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME AND DO THAT, YOU CAN
[01:15:01]
DO THAT AS WELL.WE, IF WE HAVE CADETS THAT FALL OUT DURING THE CLASS, UM, THEY HAVE THE OPTION, UH, SO LONG AS THEY'RE FALLING OUT FOR, YOU KNOW, A REASON KIND OF BEYOND THEIR CONTROL OR SOMETHING THAT THEY NEED TO IMPROVE UPON, UM, WE CAN RECYCLE THEM INTO A FUTURE CLASS.
BUT DURING THAT GAP, WE CAN PULL THEM IN, WE CAN RETAIN 'EM AS CITY EMPLOYEES AND MOVE 'EM OVER TO OUR NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER AND START TEACHING.
AND WE HAVE ONE CADET RIGHT NOW THAT IS DOING THAT.
SO ALL OF THESE ARE THE DIFFERENT KIND OF, I WOULD CALL THEM OUTSIDE THE BOX UNCONVENTIONAL KIND OF MEASURES THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD TO DO BEFORE, BUT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BE, UM, VERY, UM, YOU KNOW, VERY DELIBERATE, VERY INTENTIONAL ON ADDRESSING THE ISSUE.
SO FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION STAFF.
UM, THE, UH, THE, THE COMPRESSION ISSUE IS ONE THAT, UH, WE HAVE THAT I'VE HEARD, UH, CONSISTENTLY.
UH, AND, AND SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A DIRECTOR HAYES, AND WE, UM, I COMMISSIONED A STUDY THAT WILL INCREASE, UM, PAY FOR MANY OF OUR, UM, CURRENT EMPLOYEES TO ADDRESS THE COMPRESSION ISSUE.
SO THAT IS GOING TO BE BRIEFED OUT FULLY WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH AND SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED ON THE LAST PAY PERIOD OF THE MONTH.
SO THEY'LL SEE IT IN THEIR FIRST CHECK IN DECEMBER.
UM, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WILL TO SOME DEGREE, UH, IT, FOR DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES, IT WILL AFFECT THEM DIFFERENTLY BASED ON HOW MANY YEARS OF SERVICE THEY HAVE, WERE THEY ORIGINALLY ZONED BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING 'EM BACK TO THOSE ORIGINAL ZONES.
AND, UH, SO SOME WILL SEE BIGGER PAY INCREASES THAN OTHERS.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OVERALL BASED ON, UM, YOU KNOW, AS AN AVERAGE, BASED ON THE PAY ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY MADE, THE, THE EMPLOYEES IN THAT IN THE CENTER HAVE SEEN A 13.6% PAY INCREASE, WHICH IS, WHICH IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT.
I TALKED ABOUT A, WHAT A HIGH STRESS JOB IT IS.
UM, AND, AND RECOGNIZING THAT SOMETIME BACK, WE ACTUALLY PLACED A PERMANENT VICTIM SERVICES COUNSELOR IN THE CENTER, AND THAT COUNSELOR IS AVAILABLE TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES TO WORK ON BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THE VICARIOUS TRAUMA THAT THEY, THAT THEY EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF TAKING THESE, THESE CALLS OVER AND OVER, AS WELL AS PTSD, WHICH WE KNOW IS REAL.
SO WE HAVE A, A LICENSED CLINICAL COUNSELOR THAT IS IN THERE THAT CAN NOT ONLY PROVIDE COUNSELING SERVICES, BUT CLINICAL SERVICES, UH, TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE'VE REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF MANDATORY OVERTIME THAT OUR EMPLOYEES, UM, HAVE TO WORK BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IS CAUSING FURTHER STRESS AND FURTHER BURNOUT.
UM, SO AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS REDUCING THE MANDATORY OVERTIME FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE, BRINGING IN THESE ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES TO OFFSET SO THAT WE DON'T IMPACT, UM, THE, THE, THE CALL TIMES.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE'RE, WE CONTINUE TO EXAMINE HOW WE CAN PROVIDE FURTHER INCENTIVES, UM, FINANCIAL AND OTHERWISE, UH, TO OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES TO SHOW HOW THEY'RE VALUED.
I'D LIKE TO JUST KIND OF CONCLUDE MY OPENING REMARKS WITH, BY HIGHLIGHTING THAT WHILE WE HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO TALK EXTENSIVELY ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE JOB, WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF ITS IMPORTANCE AND THE SATISFACTION THAT OUR EMPLOYEES GET FROM DOING THIS JOB.
AND I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT THE, WHAT THE MANAGER SAID EARLIER, WE'RE HIRING, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE PLACE TO WORK.
AND I'M TALKING NOT JUST ABOUT THE CALL CENTER, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, I WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT I CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FULLY SUPPORTED BY COMING BACK HERE TO THIS BODY AS WELL AS, UH, TO OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE, SO THAT THEY, UM, CAN UNDERSTAND, UH, THE RIGORS OF THE JOB AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE VALUING THOSE, THOSE EMPLOYEES, UM, APPROPRIATELY.
UM, THE SATISFACTION FROM THE WORK IS THE REASON THAT OUR FOLKS KEEP COMING BACK, THE ONES WHO ARE STILL THERE, UM, UNDERSTAND THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY ARE HELPING THIS COMMUNITY, THAT THEY ARE LITERALLY SAVING LIVES BY HELPING PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THAT PHONE WITH NINE ONE ONE, AND THEY WANT TO HELP TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY IN OUR CITY SAFE.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT THEY'RE VALUED, WHICH, UM, I THINK THAT, THAT WE'VE SHOWN WITH ALL THE MEASURES THAT I'VE DISCUSSED HERE TODAY, WE CONTINUE TO DO.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM AND, UM, WE WILL NOT FAIL IN OUR MISSION TO KEEP THIS COMMUNITY SAFE.
UM, THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY OPENING REMARKS AND I'M GLAD TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
UM, THANK YOU CHIEF, APPRECIATE YOU GOING OVER ALL THIS WITH US.
[01:20:01]
AND I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IMPORTANT TO THE, TO, TO YOU, TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF AS WELL AS THE, UH, THE FOLKS THAT, UH, PROVIDE THE SERVICES FOR US.AND AS YOU SAID, THIS IS SOME, A SERVICE THEY CAN BE PROUD OF, BUT IS A VERY TOUGH, VERY TOUGH JOB.
AND I KNOW THAT THE WHOLE COUNCIL IS REALLY INTERESTED IN THIS.
SO, MAYOR, I HAVE ONE OVER ONE OVERARCHING QUESTION AND TWO SMALLER QUESTIONS OR MORE, UH, SPECIFIC QUESTIONS BECAUSE I WANNA LEAVE TIME FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO ASK QUESTIONS ALSO, CUZ I KNOW EVERYONE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.
SO, UH, TWO DETAILED QUESTIONS FIRST, AND THEN I WANT TO ASK YOU AN OVERARCHING QUESTION.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED, UM, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED SIGN ON BONUSES? I HAVE, UM, DISCUSSED WITH DIRECTOR HAYES ABOUT SIGN ON BONUSES MM-HMM.
IS THERE, UM, DO YOU ALL THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL? YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THAT EVERY MEASURE THAT WE TAKE MM-HMM.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IF, EVEN IF IT MEANS THAT I'M ONLY SIGNING A HANDFUL MORE PEOPLE, UM, I JUST SHOWED A HANDFUL THAT WE'VE ALREADY BROUGHT ON BOARD, SO MM-HMM.
UH, ARE YOU EXPERIENCING, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO ASSESS WHAT BONUSES CAN BE GIVEN? AND THE TWO PART QUESTION TO THAT IS, WHAT BARRIERS ARE YOU ENCOUNTERING TO PUT THAT IN PLACE? YOU KNOW, THE BARRIERS, UM, I THINK OUR LIE KIND OF ON THE HR SIDE AND PERHAPS ON THE COMPENSATION SIDE, FOR ME, IT'S, IT'S LOCATING THE MONEY IN MY BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.
AND AS HIGH A PRIORITY AS IT IS FOR, FOR THIS, UM, I'M LOCATING THAT MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.
SO I, I WILL, YOU KNOW, ON OUR, FOR THE, FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PART, I CERTAINLY WILL BE AT THE TABLE AND WE'LL WORK WITH, UM, WITH LEGAL, WITH COMPENSATION, AND WITH HR D TO SEE IF WE CAN CLEAR THE HURDLES.
SO, UM, CITY MANAGER, I DON'T KNOW IF HR, IF HR IS HERE, PERHAPS WE COULD JUST GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THOSE BARRIERS MIGHT BE.
AGAIN, AND MY PURPOSE HERE IS TO, TO THINK THROUGH IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU NEED FROM COUNCIL, UH, TO BE OF ASSISTANCE AS YOU LOOK AT THESE, AND ALSO TO DO THAT VERY QUICKLY.
SO IF, IF THERE ARE BARRIERS THAT ARE GONNA TAKE SOME TIME AND THERE'S SOMETHING THE COUNCIL CAN DO TO ADDRESS THAT MORE IMMEDIATELY, WE WANNA BE HERE TO PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP THAT.
SO CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE BARRIERS TO SIGN ON BONUSES? YES.
AND, AND THE TIMELINE THAT MIGHT TAKE JOY HAYES, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AS IT RELATES TO BONUSES, I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY CALL IT BARRIERS, JUST PROCESS, DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF THE BONUS, HOW IT WOULD BE PAID OUT, THE TAX IMPLICATION.
UM, ALSO FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, IF SOMEONE DOES NOT STAY FOR THE FULL PERIOD THAT YOU DEFINE THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF GETTING THOSE FUNDS BACK AND HOW WE WE ROLL THAT OUT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME TO MINIMIZE THE NEED FOR P PAYBACK.
UM, WE'VE PRIORITIZED THE 9 1 1 VIC, UM, UM, DISPATCHER AREA.
UM, AND SO AS, AS IT RELATES TO TIMELINE, AS SOON AS THE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHES THE CRITERIA, WE REVIEW THAT CRITERIA WITH LAW TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO IT.
PAYROLL ALSO HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CROSS-REFERENCING THOSE WHO GET BONUSES WITHOUT CHILD SUPPORT.
UM, AND THEY HAVE TO REPORT THAT INFORMATION TO, UM, THE STATE FOR CHILD SUPPORT PURPOSES.
THAT TAKES A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO PROVIDE PAYROLL, THE TIME TO CONFIRM WHOSE MONEY WOULD NEED TO BE WITHDRAWN BASED ON THOSE TRIAL SUPPORT GARNISHMENTS.
AND SO OVERALL, I WOULD SAY WOULD PROBABLY TAKE THREE PAY PERIODS, WHICH IS ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF FROM THE TIME WE RECEIVE IT TO THE TIME WE'RE ABLE TO, TO GET IT IMPLEMENTED AND PUT IT OUT.
SO DOES THAT MEAN IN DECEMBER, DO YOU ALL THINK? WELL, I, I THINK THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, IT, IT, WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE CRITERIA AS, AS DIRECTOR HAYES WAS SAYING, SO OVER WHAT PERIOD OF TIME DO WE WANT TO PAY THAT OUT OVER MM-HMM.
AND THEN, UM, DO WE WANT TO GIVE ONE OR MULTIPLE.
SO THOSE ARE THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
I, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE COMMITTING TO A STRONG TIMELINE RIGHT NOW AND, AND DISAPPOINTING.
BUT JUST KNOW THAT IT'S, IT'S A TOP PRIORITY.
THEN I'M GONNA ASK ONE OVERARCHING QUESTION AND THEN LET, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, I KNOW OTHERS HAVE QUESTIONS TOO, SO, SO STEPPING BACK FOR A MINUTE, UM, FROM THE BIG PICTURE I'D, I'D LIKE TO, UM, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ALL ARE PROJECTING.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU UNDER, AS YOU SAID, YOU'VE, YOU'VE HIRED, I THINK IT WAS SEVEN
[01:25:01]
MORE, AND THAT'S BEEN IN THE RECENT NUMBER OF MONTHS.SO THAT WOULD SEEM TO INDICATE THAT SOME OF THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN, OR PERHAPS ALL THE ACTIONS ARE PRODUCING RESULTS, BUT I'M WANTING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND LEVEL OF ANALYSIS HAS OCCURRED TO REALLY PROJECT WHETHER WE'RE, WHETHER WE ARE ON THE PROJECTION TO FILL THOSE VACANCIES AND BY WHEN HAVE, DO YOU HAVE THAT TYPE OF ANALYSIS DONE? AND CAN YOU SHARE THAT WITH US? YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT, I HAVE NOT ENGAGED, FOR INSTANCE, UM, OUR DATA ANALYST TO, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT KIND OF A PROJECTION.
BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS WHICH HAVE RISEN MM-HMM.
UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA DRAW A LITTLE BIT OF A, OF A COMPARISON BECAUSE WE'RE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING ON THE SWORN SIDE.
I THINK THAT IF WE'RE EVER GOING TO MAKE A, YOU KNOW, A DENT, IF WE'RE GONNA, IF WE'RE GONNA TURN THE TIDE AND REALLY START SEEING THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES DECREASE, I HAVE TO, I HAVE TO SHOW THAT I VALUE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE SO THAT THEY STAY MM-HMM.
AND THAT'S WHAT MANY OF THE MEASURES THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY.
THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN UNKNOWN, UH, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT, IT IS A STRESSFUL JOB.
IT'S A JOB THAT GIVES A TON OF SATISFACTION THOUGH.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT CONTINUE TO DO IT.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE THAT JOB A LITTLE BIT EASIER? WHAT CAN WE DO TO, TO, TO FAIRLY COMPENSATE OUR EMPLOYEES, UM, SO THAT WE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE LEAVING? BECAUSE ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THEN ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE ONLY GOING TO INCREASE AND MAKE, MAKE THE JOB EASIER FOR EVERYBODY.
WE HAVE NOT DONE THE LEVEL OF, OF ANALYSIS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, HOWEVER, OKAY.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME ANALYSIS, UM, AND BECAUSE I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IF, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE WE'RE LOOKING AT AND WHAT IS THE PROJECTION? IN OTHER WORDS, WE KNOW WE ARE, WE HAVE CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE APPLYING.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, FAIRLY LARGE DROPOUT FOR LOTS OF REASONS BETWEEN APPLYING AND HIRING AND WE NEED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF PROJECTION, YOU KNOW, ABOUT WHEN WE MIGHT GET THOSE POSITIONS FILLED OR SUFFICIENT POSITIONS FILLED TO GET BACK TO OUR, UH, TO OUR, UM, BEST PRACTICE.
AND, UM, AND SO WE, WE NEED AS A COUNCIL, AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO, TO SEE THAT.
UM, AND THEN THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TRACK AND, AND SEE IF WE'RE, UH, MEETING THOSE PROJECTIONS.
SO CITY MANAGER, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ALL DO THAT AND ASSIST THE CHIEF AND HR, CUZ I THINK HR NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED, UM, UH, TO MAKE THOSE PROJECTIONS.
SO, UH, MAYOR, I HAVE LOTS OF OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL DEFER TO OTHERS RIGHT NOW.
UM, I REQUEST THIS BRIEFING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN DUE TO ONGOING CONCERNS ABOUT THE CALL CENTER, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT THAT.
WITH THE VACANCIES AT THE RATE THAT THE CHIEF TOLD US ABOUT AN ANSWER RATE FAR BELOW THE STANDARD FOR 9 1 1 CALLS AND AN AVERAGE WHOLE TIME FOR CALLERS TO BE AT 150 SECONDS, WE'RE IN A CRISIS.
AND SO I'M THANKFUL THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE CHOSEN TO ADDRESS IT TODAY.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OPTIMAL EFFICIENCY IN A PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATION CENTER REQUIRES EXCESS CAPACITY.
AND SO A CENTER WHERE EMPLOYEES ARE ALWAYS BUSY AND CANNOT RESPOND TO THE UNEXPECTED, UM, IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.
THANK YOU FOR LAYING OUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO MOVE FORWARD TO HELP WITH THAT.
IN PARTICULAR, A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I VISITED THE 9 1 1 COMMUNICATION CENTER, I SAT WITH A CALL TAKER WHO WAS TAKING CALL AFTER CALL, CLEARLY CONTROLLING THE CHAOS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PHONE CALL.
WE HAD A SHORT MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO WORK THERE.
AND HER BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THE PAY.
DESPITE HER YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE CALL CENTER, THEY WERE NOT MAKING AS MUCH AS SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE STARTING US NEW.
SO THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH HRD TO ADDRESS THAT COMPRESSION ISSUE.
UM, I'VE READ THROUGH MANY DOCUMENTS THE CITY HAS PROVIDED US RELATED TO THE CALL CENTER, INCLUDING THE LISTENING TO THE WORKFORCE SURVEY, WHICH I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN.
UM, I NOTICED SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SEPARATED FROM THE CALL, CALL CENTER DID.
SO DUE TO A LACK OF CHILDCARE OPTIONS.
HAVE YOU EXPLORED HAVING A CHILDCARE CENTER OUT THERE AT CEC? SO, NOT SPECIFICALLY AT CEC, HOWEVER, WE ARE DISCUSSING CHILDCARE OPTIONS FOR ALL OF OUR POLICE EMPLOYEES.
UM, IT'S NOT JUST OBVIOUSLY A, A PROBLEM JUST FOR OUR CALL TAKERS.
WE HAVE POLICE OFFICERS ALSO THAT HAVE VOICED THE SAME THING AND PARTICULARLY OUR SINGLE PARENTS, THAT IT MAKES IT REALLY TOUGH WORKING SHIFT WORK, WHICH IS THE SAME THING THEY'RE DOING AT CTEC.
SO, UH, WE WOULD LOOK FOR, UM, UH, CHILDCARE, YOU KNOW, SOLUTIONS, UM, REALLY FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
IF YOU COULD KEEP US POSTED ON THAT, THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL.
AND THEN MY, MY LAST QUESTION, SO THAT I DON'T TAKE UP THE WHOLE TIME BECAUSE I COULD TALK ABOUT THIS FOREVER, UM, IS ABOUT OUR BACKUP EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTER.
I KNOW YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT THAT IN AN ABSOLUTE EMERGENCY AND EVERYTHING GOES DOWN.
UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT GOES TO SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONLY AREA IN THE STATE THAT CAN ACTUALLY, UM, TAKE THAT CAPACITY FOR A SHORT
[01:30:01]
PERIOD OF TIME.BUT HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED MAYBE SOME OF OUR OVERFLOW CALLS GOING TO ANOTHER COMMUNICATION CENTER IN THE REGION? SO WE HAVE DISCUSSED, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BACKUP CENTER IS, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE YOU SAID, WE LOSE POWER, UM, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR PHONES AREN'T WORKING AND THEY, IT, THOSE CALLS WELL ROLL OVER TO ANOTHER BACKUP, UH, FACILITY.
UM, WHETHER THAT IS SAN ANTONIO, WE'VE HAD BACKUP CALLS THAT HAVE ROLLED OVER TO WILLIAMSON COUNTY, UM, WHATEVER CENTER IT IS, THEY ALL FIND THEMSELVES IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE WE ARE.
I, I THINK I STARTED MY COMMENTS KIND OF WITH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A UNIQUE PHENOMENON TO AUSTIN AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, OTHER MAJOR CITIES ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES WITH HIRING AND RETENTION OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION PERSONNEL.
AND SO I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALREADY STRAINED AND THEN YOU, AND THEN YOU ROLL OUR CALLS, CALLS OVER WOULD PLACE EVEN FURTHER STRAIN ON THEM.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE WERE A BACKUP CENTER, I WOULDN'T WANT THOSE CALLS FROM ANOTHER JURISDICTION ROLLING OVER TO US RIGHT NOW.
WE WERE JUST THINKING ABOUT OUTSIDE THE BOX SOLUTIONS AND SO I THOUGHT I'D BRING IT UP AND I APPRECIATE YOU EXPLAINING IT TO US.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU ALSO TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ITEM FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
UM, IT, WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE EMPLOYEES THAT WE DO HAVE AT THE CALL CENTER, UM, BECAUSE THEY, THEY ARE NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT, UH, PROBABLY EVERYBODY ON THIS DAY SAYS, REACHED OUT TO, TO YOU AND OR THE MANAGER, UH, ON THIS ISSUE, UH, FOR A PERIOD OF TIME REFLECTING THE, THE ELEVATION OF THIS ISSUE IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, GENERALLY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN, UH, UH, GROW OVER TIME.
UM, GOING BACK AS EARLY AS THE SPRING WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THE, THE, THE PAY AND DOING THE ANALYSIS, UH, THAT WAS DONE IN THE SPRING, FOLLOWING UP WITH THE CHANGES THAT WE DID JUST BEFORE AND THEN DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, UH, AT THAT TIME WE WERE TOLD, HEY, LET'S WAIT TO SEE HOW THESE THINGS WORK OUT BEFORE WE GO FARTHER IN CASE WHAT WE'RE DOING FIXES THE CHALLENGE, OBVIOUSLY DID NOT FIX THE CHALLENGE.
UH, SO I THINK IT'S REAL IMPORTANT THAT WE COME BACK AND VISIT.
UM, I THINK THAT THE ACTIONS YOU'RE TAKING NOW DEMONSTRATE THE, THE IMMEDIACY AND URGENCY OF THIS, OF THIS NEED.
UM, YOU KNOW, I FOUND MYSELF LOOKING AT THE, AT THE PRESENTATION AND, AND LOOKING AT THE WORK, UH, AND SEEING THAT IT'S GOOD THAT WE WOULD BE GOING FROM 7% OF THE, THE NINE ONE, UH, UH, CALL TAKERS, UH, GOING FROM THE TOP 75%, A TOP 25% IN, IN PAY TO, UH, A THIRD.
MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHT WAS THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.
I MEAN, IT OUGHT TO BE TWICE THAT IN ORDER TO, TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE.
SO THEN I, I REALIZED THAT FOR ME, UM, AND I KNOW THAT I HAVE VIOLATED THIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS CUZ I HAVE BEEN EMAILING IN SUGGESTIONS AND THOUGHTS ON, ON HOW TO FIX IT.
UM, I DON'T WANT TO PRESCRIBE, I DON'T WANNA PARTICIPATE IN PRESCRIBING TO YOU WHAT IT IS THAT YOU NEED TO DO.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US AND FOR EVERYBODY TO GIVE YOU SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO GET THAT DONE.
UH, BUT MANAGER, ULTIMATELY YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS RESPONSIVENESS IN 9 1 1 TO THE 92ND OR THE 15 SECOND, UH, TIME.
UH, AND, AND YOU NEED TO DO WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU NEED TO DO.
AND, AND, AND FROM FROM MY SEAT HERE, I'LL CONTINUE TO TO SEND YOU SUGGESTIONS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S HELD RESPONSIBLE.
SO YOU NEED TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FIX THAT.
UH, BECAUSE IT'S NOT FIXED NOW.
I MEAN, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SUGGESTED MAKE REALLY GOOD SENSE TO ME.
UH, BRINGING IN PEOPLE THAT WE CAN PUT INTO THOSE CHAIRS WHILE YOU, WHILE YOU FILL THOSE CHAIRS MAKES REALLY GOOD SENSE.
MOVING DOLLARS, UH, TO INCREASING THE DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND MAKES SENSE.
IF THE CHIEF DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY AT HIS BUDGET TO HANDLE IT, UH, THEN I THINK IT'S REALLY, YOU NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE OVERALL CITY BUDGET, UH, AND COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL WITH A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT SAYS THIS IS THE PRIORITY NOW.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO MOVE DOLLARS HERE.
I MEAN, THE, THE CHIEF SHOULDN'T BE IN A POSITION I THINK WHERE HE SAYS, I HAVE A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THIS OR ANSWER, BUT I CAN'T DO IT CUZ I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.
CUZ THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY IN THE CITY BUDGET.
AND, AND I THINK THAT IF WE LOOKED AT ALL THE PRIORITIES SET, THIS COUNCIL WOULD SUPPORT YOU IN A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO MOVE RESOURCES FROM SOMETHING ELSE TO THIS.
UM, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU NEED TO, YOU NEED TO GET US TO THAT, THAT, THAT TIMEFRAME.
TO BE CLEAR THAT CHIEF DID NOT SAY THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE THE BUDGET FOR IT.
WE ARE JUST LOOKING AT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN
[01:35:01]
IMPLEMENT THOSE IN THE RIGHT WAY POSSIBLE.BUT I HAVE CONTINUOUSLY, UH, BOTH OF THE CHIEF AND OUR HR DIRECTOR AND THROUGH OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS THAT, UH, WE WILL EXPLORE EVERY OPTION.
WE WILL MAKE, UH, WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS NEED TO HAPPEN TO, UH, RIGHT SIZES SITUATION.
UM, FIRST I WANNA THANK OUR CALL TAKERS AND OUR DISPATCHERS, UM, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
UM, AND I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP AND SPEAKING OUT BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY UP IN, UM, RAISING THE ALARM ON THIS SINCE AT LEAST LAST SUMMER, UM, 2021, UM, WHEN WE HAD, UH, HAD A BUDGET RIDER, UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPENSATION STUDY.
UM, WE TRIED TO CHANGE, UM, THE PAY BACK THEN WE WERE TOLD TO DO A STUDY AND THAT EVERYTHING WOULD WORK OUT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS OVER A YEAR LATER AND A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE JUST GOING INTO PLACE NOW.
AND, AND I HAVE TO SAY MANAGER, THAT THAT'S FRUSTRATING.
UM, THIS IS OUR CORE RESPONSIBILITY.
UM, AND THIS IS, YES, THERE ARE, THIS IS A PROBLEM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
UM, BUT WE HAD A LOT OF LEAD TIME AND I DON'T THINK WE TOOK ENOUGH ADVANTAGE OF THE LEAD TIME.
THAT BEING SAID, I'M HEARTENED BY SOME OF THE STEPS THAT, UM, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE REALLY LEARNED IN LISTENING TO THE CALL TAKERS AND THE DISPATCHERS AND TALKING WITH OUR UNION IS THAT THIS IS ABOUT COMPENSATION, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT COMMUNICATION.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT FEELING VALUED.
UM, I SHOULDN'T BE GETTING TEXTS FROM PEOPLE SAYING WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS COMPRESSION STUDY, UM, THAT SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED TO OUR WORKERS THAT THIS IS GOING ON AND THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING IT, THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
UM, WE HAD A, YOU KNOW, RETENTION BONUSES THAT WERE LATE AND BEING PAID OUT AND NOBODY WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS COMING LATE.
UM, IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT IT WAS ADDRESSED, YOU KNOW, IN A WAY THAT MADE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY WERE VALUED.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO JUST DO A RETENTION BONUS.
UM, YOU GOTTA GET IT TO THEM ON TIME IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND YOU HAVE TO COMMUNICATE WHEN IT'S COMING.
SO I, I'M, I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO VALUE OUR EMPLOYEES, UM, BUT THAT COMMUNICATION HAS TO HAPPEN, HAS TO HAPPEN FROM THE TOP.
HR HAS TO BE, UM, ACTING AS IF THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE AND, AND, AND WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO, UM, IN THAT REGARD.
UM, I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU CAN TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT COMPENSATION STUDY AND, UM, WHAT EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO OUR STAFF? THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTEM.
SO, UM, I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE.
I THINK THAT WE HAD SOME MISSTEPS IN THE WAY THAT THE, UM, THE RAISES AND WHAT THAT WAS GONNA LOOK LIKE, THE REZONINGS PREVIOUSLY, UH, WERE ROLLED OUT AND IT DID LEAD TO CONFUSION AND FRUSTRATION WITH OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE DON'T WANNA REPEAT THAT, THAT MISTAKE.
SO AS THE, UH, COMPRESSION, UH, STUDY IS, IS FINALIZED, UH, WE WILL BE DOING WHAT WE DID KIND OF ON THE BACK END OF THE LAST ONE, WHICH IS MEETING WITH ALL OF THE MANAGERS AT THE CENTER TO FULLY BRIEF OUT, HAVE HR STAFF THERE FULLY BRIEF OUT EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT IS, AND IMPORTANTLY WHAT IT ISN'T.
SO THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT DISAPPOINTMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE MORE THAN WHAT IT WAS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THE PROCESS ITSELF AND, AND, UM, AND WHAT EXACTLY THE STUDY IS GOING TO BEAR OUT.
I HAVE NOT SEEN THE, THE FINAL, UM, DRAFT OF THAT STUDY YET.
I KNOW THAT, UH, DIRECTOR HAYES AND HER STAFF ARE WORKING, UH, DILIGENTLY ON IT.
AND, UH, AS I RECEIVE IT, THEN I WILL BE, MAKE SURE THAT IT IS COMMUNICATED TO OUR EMPLOYEES EFFECTIVELY.
I, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA UNDERSCORE THAT, UM, WE'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE COMPRESSION ISSUES AND THE NEED FOR THE INCREASES IN PAY FOR OVER A YEAR.
AND, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ADDRESSED WHEN THE COMPENSATION STUDY WENT IN, YOU KNOW, INTO EFFECT.
WE RAISED THE ISSUES, WE RAISED THEM AGAIN, RAISED THEM AGAIN.
AND SO IT IS FRUSTRATING TO NOT SEE THIS, AND I THINK IT'S FRUSTRATING, UM, FOR THE EMPLOYEES AS WELL.
UM, THEY NEED TO SEE THAT ON THE RECRUITING ASPECT.
UM, IT WAS NEWS TO ME THAT WE HAVE NOW DEVOTED RECRUITERS.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME WHAT WE'RE DOING ON RECRUITING IS BEING, UM, CONVEYED TO THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE IN THERE NOW.
UM, IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME THAT WE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEIR IDEAS AND THEIR THOUGHTS OR EVEN THEIR ABILITY, UM, YOU KNOW, TO HELP RECRUIT.
SO CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT RESOURCES ARE BEING DEVOTED TO, TO RECRUITING? SO WE HAVE FOUR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ASSIGNED FULL-TIME TO
[01:40:01]
OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER SECTION THAT I WOULD, THAT I WOULD SAY IS PART OF OUR RECRUITING SLASH BACKGROUND, UH, FUNCTION.UM, WE HAVE TWO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND THEN TWO TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES WE HAVE BROUGHT ON TO ASSIST WITH THAT.
UM, THEY ARE PLUGGED IN WITH THE C PIO EFFORT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY PUSHING A CITYWIDE EFFORT ON, ON HIRING OVERALL TO BE PART OF THAT.
UM, AS WELL AS WE HAVE, UM, DONE SOME THINGS THAT WE HADN'T HAD TO DO BEFORE, UH, AND, AND GO, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK HISTORICALLY WE'VE HAD, UM, GOOD NUMBERS OF APPLICANTS, BUT WE NEED TO INCREASE THOSE APPLICANTS.
SO WE'RE, UM, NOW ADVERTISING IN MANY OF THE TRADE PUBLICATIONS FOR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS.
WE ARE, UM, ALSO DOING THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT IS MORE TARGETED, UH, AND UH, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.
UM, AND THEN SOME OF, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE MORE CONVENTIONAL THINGS THAT WE, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, WHICH IS, UH, PRINT AND MEDIA ADS, UH, AND PUTTING THINGS ON THE SIDES, YOU KNOW, BILLBOARDS, UH, BUSES, TAXIS, AND ALL OF THOSE ARE, WE HAVE NOT INSTITUTED THOSE, BUT THAT WILL BE PART OF THE LARGER, POTENTIALLY THE LARGER OVERALL CITY EFFORT.
UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE, WE ARE OUT THERE MORE THAN WE'VE EVER BEEN TRYING TO ACTIVELY RECRUIT FOLKS AND I THINK THAT THE INCREASED NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS HAS SHOWN THAT TO SOME DEGREE THAT'S BORN FRUIT.
AND I, I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
UM, WHEN I LOOKED BACK ON THE, UH, STAFFING STUDY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY HAD LED ON US GETTING, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT REVEALED WAS THE REALLY HIGH LEVEL OF VACANCIES FOR THE NON-SWORN MEMBERS OF APD ALMOST DOUBLE WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH, UM, THE SWORN STAFF.
AND SO I THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE TO PUT IN THE INVESTMENT INTO THE RECRUITING, UM, FOR THE STAFF.
SO I DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY WANT TO, TO SEE THAT.
UM, THE LAST THING THAT I JUST WANNA FLAG IS THAT, UM, WOULD WELCOME TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT THE THREE 11 VERSUS 9 1 1.
WE'VE HAD SOME OTHER CONVERSATIONS THAT I'M NOT GONNA INTRODUCE HERE TO THE CONVERSATIONS TODAY, BUT, UM, THERE ARE SOME ELEMENTS OF THAT THAT I THINK WE STILL NEED TO FIX BEFORE WE GO OUT AND, AND DO ANOTHER, ANOTHER PUSH ON THAT.
SO I WANNA HAVE, UM, CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION.
UM, CITY MANAGER, THIS IS URGENT.
I THINK WE'VE ALL CONVEYED THAT.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, AS THE MAYOR SUGGESTED, YOU'RE, THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU AND THIS NEEDS TO, TO IMPROVE AND, AND WE NEED TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I'M TRYING TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT EXACTLY, LIKE WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS HERE.
SO YOU HIGHLIGHTED, UM, THAT YOU HAVE SEVEN, YOU'VE HIRED SEVEN NEW STAFF, RIGHT? UH, TO HELP WITH ANSWERING OUR CALLS AT.
SO HOW MUCH, BY HOW MUCH WOULD OUR WHOLE TIME DECREASE WITH THOSE SEVEN STAFF? WOULD THAT GET US? RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT TWO AND A HALF MINUTES WITH THOSE SEVEN NEW STAFF.
WHAT'S A REASONABLE EXPECTATION FOR A HOLD? I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION RIGHT NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER.
I CAN SEE IF THAT IS, IF WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT.
THAT'S, UH, AGAIN, ON THAT DATA ANALYSIS SIDE TO SEE NOW JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERY NINE ONE ONE CALL IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
SO SOME, UM, YOU KNOW, CAN BE HANDLED IN A MINUTE AND SOME WE HAVE THAT LAST MANY MINUTES AND MIGHT, MIGHT TIE OUR DISPATCHERS UP LONG.
I MEAN, I'M SORRY, CALL PAPERS LONGER.
SO, UM, THAT, THAT ANALYSIS IS A BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO CONDUCT, I THINK, BUT I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT CAN'T BE DONE.
UH, MAYBE LOOKING AT OUR AVERAGE CALL TIME, UH, THAT WE HAVE AND THEN, AND THEN APPLYING THAT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN WORK ON.
I'M TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF HOW MANY MORE STAFF DO WE NEED TO GET TO THAT NATIONAL BENCHMARK OF A 15 SECOND WHOLE TIME FOR, FOR A CALL.
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU GOING BACK TO 2018 WHEN WE WERE FLUSH, WHEN WE HAD VERY FEW VACANCIES, WE MET THAT STANDARD 90 OVER 99% OF THE TIME MM-HMM.
SO AS I, AS I SAID EARLIER, WE'RE REALLY AT ABOUT 65% OF THE TIME RIGHT NOW MM-HMM.
IF WE CAN FILL THOSE VACANCIES, WE CAN GET BACK TO THAT STANDARD.
AND SO I GUESS WHAT ARE THE OTHER ADDITIONAL SHORT TERM STRATEGIES THAT WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING SO THAT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER THE CALLS? WELL, I THINK THAT EVERY, UM, KIND OF, I I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE UNCONVENTIONAL MEASURES THAT WE'VE DONE, INCLUDING BRINGING SWORN STAFF BACK, UM, IS, IS GOING TO HELP, UH, SOME OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING NOW, INCLUDING RETENTION AND SIGNON BONUSES, RETENTION ALREADY HAVING BEEN IN SIGN ON, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, IN, IN KIND OF IN THE WINGS.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE'VE, WE'VE
[01:45:01]
NEVER HAD TO DO BEFORE.AND THAT ARE, AGAIN, I'M REFERRING TO THEM AS BEING KIND OF UNCONVENTIONAL.
UM, I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS AND, AND CERTAINLY I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF THIS COUNCIL OR ANYONE ELSE HAS REALLY GOOD IDEAS, UH, WE, WE ARE WILLING TO CONSIDER THEM.
SO, SO I GUESS AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE OUTLINED STRATEGIES FOR US, UM, AND RECRUITMENT AND ADDITIONAL AND YOU KNOW, THE PAY, BUT THAT WILL TAKE TIME, RIGHT? I MEAN THAT, THAT'S STILL WEEKS OUT BEFORE WE SEE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE ON THE FLOOR ANSWERING CALLS.
AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE IS, IS AROUND THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY HAS THEIR OWN PERSONNEL THAT ARE THERE AT CTEC ANSWERING CALLS AND I, UH, READ A NEWS CLIP THAT SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY STAFFING VACANCY ISSUES AT THE COUNTY SIDE.
ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT OR CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH HOW IS IT THAT THE COUNTY IS NOT FACING SHORTAGES VERSUS THE CITY? WELL, I THINK THAT THE COUNTY, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER THEY HAVE, BUT I KNOW IT'S, IT'S PRETTY SMALL, UH, WITH THESE THAT THEY HAVE AS COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF APD EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I SPEAK REGULARLY WITH SHERIFF HERNANDEZ ON HER STAFFING ISSUES AND I CAN TELL YOU, I KNOW THAT TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, ON THE SWORN SIDE IS STRUGGLING JUST LIKE WE ARE.
UM, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WE HAVE NOT SPOKEN ABOUT OUR CIVILIAN STAFF, BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THEY'RE NOT EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES THAT WE ARE.
SO, UM, I KNOW THEY LIKE, LIKE US PRIORITIZE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS OVER OTHERS AND HAVE TO DO THAT TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, THE SAME THING THAT WE'RE DOING.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I, THAT, THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST THAT I CAN GIVE YOU.
I THINK THAT THE COUNTY WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER.
CAUSE I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY EMPLOYEES THEY HAVE.
HAVE WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY AND HAVING THEM HELP US? I KNOW YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS GETTING THE CONSTABLES INVOLVED TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP WITH THE ANSWERING CALLS.
YOU AND I HAD A, A CONVERSATION ABOUT MAYBE THE CONSTABLES COMING IN AND DOING THE SAME THING THAT OUR SWORN STAFF IS DOING PERHAPS ON A, ON A CONTRACT BASIS.
I TOOK THAT TO, UM, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AT THE, UM, COMMUNICATIONS CENTER, AND THEY'RE CONSIDERING THAT RIGHT NOW TO SEE WHETHER THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AND IF IT MAKES SENSE TO IMPLEMENT IT.
LIKE WOULD IT BE BETTER TO SIMPLY TRAIN MORE OF OUR STAFF? BECAUSE I'VE, I DESCRIBED THE 19 SERGEANTS THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW, I HAVE MORE THAT STILL WANT TO DO IT MM-HMM.
EACH CADRE IS ONLY ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO HAVE INDIVI INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION DURING THE TRAINING.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE I CAN BRING IN A CLASS OF 30 AND TRAIN THEM ALL AT ONCE.
SO IF WE BROUGHT IT IN IN CONSTABLE DEPUTIES, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE TRAINING AS WELL, EVEN THOUGH THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE TRAINING.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE THEN IF IT'S A MATTER OF SITE OF CAPACITY, YOU'RE SAYING IT'S LIKE ROOM CAPACITY OF THE TRAINING? NO, NO, IT ISN'T THE, THE PHYSICAL SPACE.
IT IS, UM, THE, THE TRAINING IS SO INDIVIDUALIZED.
LIKE I HAVE TO SPEND SO MUCH INDIVIDUAL TIME WITH EACH PERSON GOTCHA.
THAT I CAN'T, I CAN'T DO A 30 CLASS, UH, 30 PERSON CLASS.
I'VE GOTTA DO CLASSES THAT ARE ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT PEOPLE SO THAT THEY EACH GET THE INDIVIDUAL TIME AND THE REPETITIONS AND EVERYTHING TO BE ABLE TO, TO GET THEM OUT ON THE FLOOR MORE QUICKLY.
YEAH, I MEAN, I GUESS I, MY, UH, COMMENTS TO OUR CITY LEADERSHIP AND, AND OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM IS THAT IF THERE IS, IF WE HAVE CONSTABLE DEPUTIES WHO HAVE THE TCO CERTIFICATION, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD PURSUE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM TO HELP US PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF.
UM, YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN CONTINUING TO TAP INTO OUR SERGEANTS AND, AND, AND THEIR EFFORTS.
I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE THAT CONVERSATION PRIORITIZED IF POSSIBLE.
UM, THE OTHER, UH, QUESTION I HAVE IS AROUND PAY.
SO I KNOW, UM, DIRECTOR HAYES, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE MARKET STUDY, FOR MY UNDERSTANDING DISPATCHERS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY MAKE $27 AND 54 CENTS PER HOUR.
OUR, OUR RANGE IS STILL 20, BETWEEN 22 TO 24.
UM, CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHY THE, I MEAN, I KNOW THIS IS A, AN AVERAGE FOR THE MARKET, BUT I THINK THIS REALLY ILLUSTRATES THAT IF WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS INTERESTED IN ANSWERING 9 1 1 CALLS, THEY CAN JUST WORK IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND STILL RECEIVE HIGHER PAY.
SO HAVE WE DONE ALL THAT WE CAN TO INCREASE PAY IN A WAY THAT IS COMPETITIVE WITH OUR REGION? YES.
UH, JULIA HAYES, HR DIRECTOR, YES, WE HAVE, I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES I'M ALWAYS GONNA FACE IS THE INDIVIDUAL.
IS YOUR MICROPHONE ON? I BELIEVE IT IS, YEAH.
I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO FACE IS THERE ARE GONNA BE INDIVIDUALS IN, IN, IN THE REGION THAT MAY INDIVIDUALLY MAKE MORE MONEY.
UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR TOP ZONE FOUR, WE ARE AT THE 75 PERCENTILE, BUT THAT'S ALSO BASED ON TIME AND POSITION, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE.
AND SO THERE MAY BE SOMEONE WHO MAKES MORE MONEY AND, AND THEY ARE COMPARING THEMSELVES TO PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING AT AN ENTRY LEVEL.
WE DID DURING OUR MARKET ANALYSIS.
[01:50:01]
REMIND YOU, WHEN WE, WE WERE ASKED TO DO THAT MARKET IN OCTOBER, IT USUALLY TAKES US SIX MONTHS TO DO IT.WE TRIED TO FINISH IT IN THREE SO THAT WE COULD GET THOSE PAY EVALUATED AND IMPLEMENTED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND IN DOING THAT, I SPECIFICALLY WENT BACK AND ADDED ALL OF THE SURROUNDING MSA CITIES TO THAT STUDY SO THAT I CAN ENSURE THAT WE WERE BEING AS COMPETITIVE AS POSSIBLE.
UM, THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CHIEF TO LOOK AT SOME OTHER, UH, PAY, UH, PAY INCENTIVES TO BE AS MORE COMPETITIVE.
I THINK YOU ALL DISCUSS SOME OF THOSE TODAY.
AND SO CERTAINLY AS THE CHIEF MAKES DECISIONS RELATIVE TO THOSE INCENTIVES THAT MAY MAKE US MORE AND MORE COMPETITIVE, HRD WILL QUICKLY DO THE ANALYSIS, UM, AND ADJUST AS THEY SEE FIT.
YEAH, CAUSE I MEAN, I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT IF WE ARE TRYING TO HIRE INDIVIDUALS, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A, A HUGE ISSUE.
IF THEY CAN GO TO WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND, AND HAVE THE HIGHER STARTING PAY, UM, ON THE, ON THE TOPIC OF A SIGN ON BONUS, I WOULD LIKE US TO FURTHER CONSIDER THAT.
I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY MAY, EMPLOYEES MAY ONLY BE WITH US FOR A FEW MONTHS, BUT AGAIN, IN SITUATIONS AS URGENT AS ANSWERING A 9 1 1 CALL, I IMAGINE THAT PAYING OVERTIME FOR, UH, FOR, FOR OTHER PERSONNEL TO ANSWER THE CALLS IS PROBABLY THE EQUIVALENT OF WHAT A SIGN ON BONUS WOULD BE OR SIGN ON STIPEND.
SO I, I THINK THAT, UM, FURTHER CONSIDERATION NEEDS TO HAPPEN ON THE SIGN ON EFFORT.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, THE TOPIC ON MENTAL HEALTH.
UM, REMIND, YOU KNOW, CHIEF, YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE IS A VICTIM'S SERVICES COUNSELOR ON STAFF.
I PERCEIVE SOME FEEDBACK THAT PERHAPS, UM, PEOPLE AREN'T AS COMFORTABLE, YOU KNOW, SHARING WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH WITH A PEER.
UM, AND THAT THERE USED TO BE, UM, A COUNSELOR OR AN OUTSIDE COUNSELOR OR SERVICES AVAILABLE WHERE, UM, PERSONNEL CAN MAKE APPOINTMENTS AND, UM, CAN YOU JUST SHED SOME LIGHT ON ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES? SO WE STILL HAVE THAT, I HAVE TWO, UH, COUNSELORS THAT ARE ON STAFF WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, ACTUALLY THEY'RE FALLING KIND OF UNDER THE, THE, THE UMBRELLA OF OMO NOW, THE, THE, UM, THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR'S OFFICE, UM, TO PROVIDE COUNSELING SERVICES, UM, AS PART OF, FOR ALL OF OUR POLICE EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING SO THAT, THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE CENTER.
UH, AND, AND PEOPLE CAN DO THAT.
WE HAVE OUR EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THROUGH THE CITY, UH, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING, YOU KNOW, PRIVATE COUNSELORS IF FOLKS WANT TO DO THAT.
UM, THEY STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UM, TO USE SICK LEAVE FOR A LOT OF THIS AND, AND F M L A.
SO WE SUPPORT ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO MAKE SURE WE, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE VALUING OUR EMPLOYEES AND MAKING SURE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.
UH, YOU KNOW, I I TAKE TO HEART MY COLLEAGUES SAYING THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.
SO IN LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT GOT US TO THIS POINT, I WANNA UNDERSTAND HOW CAN WE AVOID SITUATIONS LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? SO I WANNA ASK YOU, DIRECTOR HAYES, YOU KNOW, BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THE, THESE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING FOR, FOR OVER A YEAR, WHAT ARE SOME, UM, LESSONS LEARNED OR TAKEAWAYS FOR US, UM, AS POLICY MAKERS, UH, TO, TO HAVE ON OUR RADAR, UM, SO THAT WE'RE NOT IN DIRE CRISIS SITUATION LEVEL AT THIS POINT? I MEAN, WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY? WELL, I'LL SHARE, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
I'LL SHARE WITH YOU, IN THE 20 YEARS I'VE BEEN DOING HUMAN RESOURCES, I HAVE TO PUT IN PERSPECTIVE THAT THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS BEEN A, A CRISIS INTERNATIONALLY.
AND SO, UM, AS A PERSON WHO ENGAGES PUBLIC SECTOR DAILY, WE HAVE A, A, A NETWORK OF HR COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY WITHIN TEXAS, BUT NATIONALLY.
AS WE ADDRESS THESE ISSUES IN PUBLIC SECTOR, I JUST HAVE TO BEGIN WITH THE REALITY THAT I THINK THE STAFF, I THINK THE COUNCIL ARE ALL WORKING TOWARDS THE SAME GOAL OF ADDRESSING THESE CRITICAL ISSUES.
BUT OF COURSE, AS YOUR HR DIRECTOR WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ADDRESSING THIS CRISIS CITYWIDE, I WILL TELL YOU THAT EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL PROBABLY COME TO THIS TABLE AND TELL YOU ABOUT THIS CRISIS AND ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND SO TO DIRECTLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION RELATIVE TO BEING PROACTIVE, I THINK THIS CITY HAS PROBABLY BEEN MORE PROACTIVE AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK WHAT WE COULD DO TO BE BETTER IS TO COMMUNICATE MORE WITH COUNSEL, THE REALITIES OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, HOW WE'RE DOING IT.
WE, IN THE LAST YEAR, WHILE WE CERTAINLY HAVE, HAVE NOT MET THE MARK TO ALLEVIATE THESE KINDS OF ISSUES, BUT WE HAVE DONE UNPRECEDENTED WORK.
AND IN AN ATTEMPT NOT TO BURN OUT THE STAFF WHO DOES THE WORK, UM, TO ATTEMPT TO DO ANALYSIS, TO DO IT QUICKLY, TO BE FAIR AND EQUITABLE, TO ALSO LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT, TO LOOK AT INCENTIVES, WE WERE THE FIRST CITY IN TEXAS TO DO MANY OF THE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS IN MANY CITIES AROUND TEXAS ARE CALLING US.
UM, AND WE'VE GOTTEN NATIONAL ATTENTION, I'VE GOTTEN NATIONAL ATTENTION ON THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
SO WHILE I DON'T WANNA UNDERPLAY THE CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN, NOR DO I WANNA UNDERPLAY THE CRITICAL RESPONSIBILITY
[01:55:01]
THAT WE HUMAN RESOURCES AND ALL DIRECTORS HAVE IN ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES, I THINK WE HAVE TO ALSO PUT IN CONCEPT THE REALITIES OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH CITYWIDE.AS SOON AS THIS CONVERSATION IS OVER, MANY OF YOU'RE GONNA CALL ME ABOUT OTHER CRITICAL ISSUES AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS IT RELATES TO PAY.
UM, IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA, WE'VE MOVED AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD.
I THINK OUR BIGGER CHALLENGE, AND WE HAVE ALL ALTERED THE HR PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES IN AN EFFORT TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.
OUR GOAL IS FOR IT TO NOT COME TO YOU.
OUR GOAL IS FOR YOU TO NOT WORRY THAT WE, WE HAVEN'T BEEN PROACTIVE, WE HAVEN'T LOOKED FOR UNORTHODOX WAYS TO ADDRESS THIS PAY CRISIS WE HAVE.
UM, AND SO I THINK, THINK PROACTIVELY MOVING FORWARD, WE CAN BE BETTER AT COMMUNICATING YOU.
HERE'S WHAT WE HAVE PROACTIVELY DONE AS WE DO THE JOB FAIRS AROUND THE CITY.
MANY OF YOU ALL HAVE PARTICIPATED WITH US.
UM, WE NEED TO BE CLEAR HERE ARE THE JOBS THAT THEY, THAT THE COUNTRY'S HAVING PROBLEMS WITH.
AND I THINK WE DID SOME OUTSIDE ANALYSIS, AND EVEN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE CAME TO EVALUATE WHAT COULD WE DO BETTER? HOW ARE WE MISSING THE MARK? AND IN ANY ON, ON ALL OF THOSE ANALYSIS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS NOT ONLY MET, BUT EXCEEDED THE EXPECTATIONS OF TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE IN THOSE AREAS.
SO ONE, I MEAN, IT'S THE OPTIMISM THAT COMES WITH HR.
THIS IS A CRISIS, BUT OUR CITY IS DOING BETTER AND WE ARE TRYING TO DO MORE.
UH, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO A COUNCIL MEMBER IS TO BE MORE PROACTIVE IN COMMUNICATING TO YOU THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO, SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO HEAR IT IN A REACTIVE SPACE AND KNOW, AND FEEL COMFORTABLE AND MUCH MORE CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE TAKING THOSE NECESSARY STEPS TO MOVE US FORWARD AND PREDICTING WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE.
UM, RIGHT NOW, UH, CHIEF, I THINK AS WE PREDICT FORWARD, WE'RE RECOGNIZING THE, IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING WHERE PEOPLE ARE FALLING OUT, WE ARE REACHING OUT TO, UH, DIFFERENT ENTITIES IN THE CITY TO ASSIST AND PEOPLE PASSING THE TYPING TASK FASTER TO DO OTHER THINGS.
SO WE'RE CREATING SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN THESE POSITIONS SO THAT THEY CAN BE BETTER PREPARED TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE TCO RESPONSIBILITIES.
WE'RE ALSO REACHING OUT TO UNIVERSITIES, AND SO CERTAINLY IF COUNCIL SEES AND KNOWS OF ENTITIES OF PEOPLE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED PROACTIVELY TELL US THAT SO THAT WE CAN GO OUT AND REACH THOSE ENTITIES TO POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE ON THESE POSITIONS.
AND SO I, I GUESS IN TOTALITY, A MORE COOPERATIVE COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP, LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU GOT CONCERNS AND ISSUES OF WHERE WE ARE.
I'LL DO MY BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT I TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE SO THAT WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES IN SPACES WHERE IN THE MIDST OF THE CRISIS WE'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH THOSE SOLUTIONS.
I JUST ADD TO THAT COMFORTABLE JUST TO ADD TO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, I THINK WE CAN ALSO DO A BETTER JOB OF ENGAGING YOU AND YOUR NETWORKS.
UH, YOU KNOW, EACH OF YOU HAVE INCREDIBLE, UH, RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I KNOW THAT YOU ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ON AN ONGOING BASIS, AND SO HOW DO WE, UH, ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION TO HELP US RECRUIT.
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, AND WE ALL WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE, UH, INCREDIBLE, UH, CITY STAFF THAT ARE PROVIDING THESE RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY DO A BETTER JOB OF, OF USING YOU AND YOUR OWN CONNECTIONS, UH, TO HELP ALLEVIATE THAT.
I HAVE JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT, THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ASKED OR TO FOLLOW UP ON SOME EARLIER ONES.
SO CHIEF, UM, YOU SAID IN 2018, THE DEPARTMENT WAS, WAS FLUSH.
I THINK YOU USED THE TERM FLUSH.
CAN YOU PROVIDE US WITH, MAYBE NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT A SENSE, UM, IN THE DAYS AHEAD OF HOW THAT, HOW THE VACANCY, HOW AND WHEN THE VACANCIES AROSE? I THINK I HAD ASKED FOR THIS IN MY POST, UH, MY RESPONSE TO COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHENS THAT IT WOULD JUST BE HELPFUL AND MAYBE SOME OF YOU, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES MAY HAVE THAT INFORMATION FROM THE WORK THEY'VE DONE.
BUT I, I NEED TO REALLY GET A CLEAR PICTURE OF, OF WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT IT WAS BECOMING, REACHING CRISIS LEVELS.
AND, AND I, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTEN SOME FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT HOW COULD WE LET THIS HAPPEN AS A COUNCIL.
UM, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, WHO HAVE TAKEN LEADERSHIP IN THIS AREA AND HAVE RAISED THE ALARM AND HAVE DONE BUDGET MEASURES AND THINGS.
BUT I JUST WANNA UNDERSCORE THAT THIS IS, THIS IS REALLY ON YOUR SIDE OF THE HOUSE CITY MANAGER.
UM, IT IS NOT, IT REALLY SHOULD NOT BE, UM, A COUNCIL MATTER TO KIND OF KEEP UP WITH STAFFING AND TO, TO SOUND AND ALARM ABOUT THIS.
AND SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, JUST EMPHASIZE THAT, THAT THAT'S REALLY, THIS NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT, THAT, UM, YEAH, THAT, THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT SHOULD NOT TAKE A COUNCIL, A COUNCIL RESPONSE TO, TO PROMPT ACTION ON THAT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT, UM, WHAT MEASURES MIGHT BE PUT IN PLACE TO, TO LOOK AT THAT.
CERTAINLY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS DURING THE BUDGET WHEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT VACANCIES LOOK LIKE AND THE STAFFING AND THE, AND THE REQUESTS FOR FUNDING FOR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
[02:00:01]
THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, AT LEAST IN THE DEPARTMENTS WHERE IT'S REALLY REACHING CRISIS LEVELS OR HAS REACHED CRISIS LEVELS THAT THAT HAPPENS MAYBE EVERY SIX MONTHS.THANK YOU COLLEAGUES TO, FOR ADDING THIS TO TODAY'S AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION.
UM, CHIEF, THANKS FOR THE CONVERSATION ABOUT ALL THE INNOVATIVE THINGS THAT YOU AND HR ARE TRYING.
I THINK THAT'S, I THINK THAT SOUNDS GREAT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR, UM, WORK ON THAT.
I AM INTERESTED IN THE CHILDCARE PIECE BECAUSE YOU'VE, I THINK WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE PAST, AND IT'S CERTAINLY COME UP AS A NEED.
AND I WONDERED WHERE, WHERE YOU ARE IN THAT PROCESS.
UM, AND, AND IT, AND TOO, AND I KNOW THIS HAPPENED DURING COVID, MANY OF US WERE ENGAGED, OR AT LEAST SEVERAL OF US ON THIS DIAS WERE ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CHILDCARE AND THE NEED FOR SHIFT WORKERS IN OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AS WELL, TO HAVE ACCESS TO CHILDCARE SO THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE TO COME TO DO THEIR WORK FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO WE KNOW THIS IS, THIS IS A NEED THAT WAS ESPECIALLY PRESENT DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT IS, BUT IS ALSO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR SOME OF OUR CITY STAFF FAMILY, UM, YEAR ROUND.
SO HAVE YOU MET WITH SUCCESS BY SIX? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, THAT YOUR STAFF IS WORKING, WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR CHILDCARE EXPERTS TO SEE IF, IF THERE ARE SOLUTIONS THAT CAN, THAT CAN PRESENT.
UM, SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
I, I WANT US TO TAKE, UH, JUST A STEP BACK TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION BEFORE I TALK ABOUT CHILDCARE.
SO, YOU KNOW, JUST ANECDOTALLY, WITHOUT HAVING, UH, AN ANALYSIS OF EACH, FOR INSTANCE, EXIT SURVEY OF THE PEOPLE, WHAT WE SAW DURING, UM, 2019, 2020 AND, AND WHAT HAS BEEN TERMED THE GREAT RESIGNATION IS, UH, NUMBERS OF POSITIONS THAT WERE OPENING UP IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY, UM, THAT JUST PAID MORE THAN WE DID.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE SAW PEOPLE THAT WERE IN OUR CALL TAKING CENTER DEPARTING FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY FOR THE TECH INDUSTRY, UM, FOR THOSE KIND OF POSITIONS WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT THEN EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM WITH THAT, THAT BURNOUT AND STRESS.
AND SO THAT WAS KIND OF AT THE BEGINNING.
NOW WHAT WE SEE IS PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAVING BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH STAFF IN THERE TO KEEP IT EFFECTIVELY RUNNING.
SO I HOPE THAT THAT KIND OF, THAT'S VERY, THAT'S HELPFUL.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, AS, AS DIRECTOR HAYES SAID, THIS IS CLEARLY, UH, CLEARLY THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE BEEN EXTRAORDINARY AND, AND HAVE PUT LOTS OF DEMANDS, LOTS OF NEW AND ADDITIONAL AND MORE INTENSE DEMANDS ON OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT IS, IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT WE'VE SEEN AN EXODUS, UM, IN MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.
AND I, AND YOU KNOW, I CONCUR WITH MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE SAID FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, UM, AS YOU'RE PURSUING ARE REALLY VERY APPROPRIATE.
I'VE ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE OVER THERE AND, AND WORK AND LISTEN TO THE NINE ONE ONE CALL TAKERS.
AND THAT WAS BEFORE THIS RECENT CRISIS.
AND IT SEEMED LIKE AN EXTRAORDINARILY STRESSFUL, UH, AND INTENSE JOB.
AND, AND I LEFT THAT DAY THINKING, BOY, WE ARE SO FORTUNATE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO STEP UP AND DO THIS WORK, BECAUSE IT IS, IT SEEMS, JUST FOR MY VERY LIMITED VIEW OF IT, EXTRAORDINARILY, EXTRAORDINARILY CHALLENGING.
I WANNA ADD MY, MY THANKS, UH, TO ALL OF THOSE STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE, ARE PERFORMING THAT JOB TO KEEP, KEEP ALL OF US, HELP KEEP ALL OF US SAFE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ON THE CHILDCARE ISSUE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS IS ONE THAT IT'S FAIRLY NEW.
UM, AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT UNCONVENTIONAL MEASURES, UH, TO BE ABLE TO DRAW APPLICANTS TO THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND I'M, AND REALLY IT WAS A CONVERSATION THAT STARTED ON THE SWORN SIDE.
UM, AS WE ARE TRYING TO DRAW PEOPLE IN FROM OTHER, UM, MAYBE EVEN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, OTHER CITIES, OTHER STATES TO COME AND BE AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER, WE STARTED SAYING, OKAY, YOU KNOW, I, UM, THE, THE, THE STRAIGHT COMPENSATION IS ONE THING, BUT CAN WE ASSIST IN OTHER WAYS WHERE WE HAVE SEEN, YOU KNOW, UH, COST RISING, INCLUDING HOUSING? INCLUDING CHILDCARE.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO AREAS WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT, WOULD IT MAKE SENSE, FOR INSTANCE, TO BUILD A DORM.
THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ACTUALLY, UM, HOUSES THEIR CADETS FOR THE TIME DURING THE WEEK.
THEY GO HOME ON THE WEEKENDS MM-HMM.
SO, UH, WOULD THAT BE A POSSIBILITY, UM, BEFORE YOU UPROOT YOUR FAMILY AND BRING 'EM TO AUSTIN? RIGHT.
UM, OR, UH, CHILDCARE, WHICH WE'VE HEARD FROM, UH, ALL ACROSS, UH, OUR DEPARTMENT'S SWORN IN CIVILIAN, UH, IS AN ISSUE, UH, PARTICULARLY LIKE I SAID, FOR OUR SINGLE PARENTS THAT ARE TRYING TO WORK SHIFT WORK.
SO, UH, THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE STILL EARLY AND WE HAVE NOT, UH, ENGAGED SOME OF OUR EXPERTS YET.
I, YOU KNOW, I, I'LL HAVE TO GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO HOW BEST TO HELP SUPPORT THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT DOES REALLY SEEM LIKE A NEED FOR ESPECIALLY SINGLE PARENTS IN VARIOUS OTHER KINDS OF ROLES HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TOO.
MANAGER, I MEAN, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS LAST NIGHT AS, AS I WAS LISTENING TO THE STORMS AND SAW THAT THERE WERE LARGE NUMBER OF OUTAGES IN OUR AREA.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A SINGLE PARENT WORKING TO REPAIR LINES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, YOU WERE OUT LAST NIGHT AND YOU HAD TO FIND SOME SOLUTION, UM, IF YOU'RE A PARENT, SO FOR YOUR KIDS.
SO I THINK I, MY GUESS IS THAT WE
[02:05:01]
HAVE NEEDS THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE DEPARTMENT THAT MAYBE DIRECTOR HAYES CAN, CAN HELP IDENTIFY WITH, WITH REGARD TO MANY OF OUR, OUR WORKERS WHO START WORK LONG BEFORE MOST CONVENTIONAL CHILDCARE FACILITIES OPEN FROM ARR TO, YOU KNOW, TO MANY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS WHERE THEIR, WHERE THEIR DAY IS NOT STARTING AT THE CONVENTIONAL 7:30 AM DROP OFF.AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, I BELIEVE, IS WORKING ALSO ON AN INITIATIVE, UM, TO LOOK AT CHILDCARE CITYWIDE.
AS YOU ALL RECALL, COUNCILMAN FUENTES ASKED US TO GO BACK AND DO THE STUDY WITH EMPLOYEES ON WHAT THE ISSUES ARE THAT ARE MOST PREVALENT.
WE'RE ALMOST DONE WITH THAT ONE.
UM, CHILDCARE, ELDERLY CARE, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE PREVALENT ON THAT LIST AS WELL.
AND SO AS WE GET THAT REPORT, WE'LL ALSO ROLL THAT OUT AND PROVIDE YOU ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH, AND WHEN I SAY PARTNER, IT'S UNOFFICIAL, WE REACH OUT AND FIND THOSE, THOSE DAYCARE FACILITIES THAT HAVE THOSE, UH, NONTRADITIONAL SCHEDULES.
UH, A COUPLE OF THEM HAVE CLOSED, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT WERE NEAR OUR HOSPITALS THAT WERE 24 HOUR DAY CARES, UH, HOURLY DAYCARES, SO PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE FULL-TIME COMMITMENTS TO THOSE DAY CARES.
AND THOSE THAT OPEN UP PRIOR TO, I CAN ASSURE YOU, UM, UM, FROM THE ENTRY LEVEL ALL THE WAY TO TOP EXECUTIVES, WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH THE, THE REALITIES OF HOW TO GET THIS JOB DONE, UM, WITH CHILDREN.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S CONTINUING TO BE A, A PRIORITY.
AND, AND THE, THE OTHER INITIATIVES YOU ALL HAVE BROUGHT UP THAT SPEAK TO CULTURE AND CONSISTENCY, UM, GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO FINISH THAT ANALYSIS.
WE'LL NOT ONLY BRING BACK WHAT THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS ARE, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL TALK THROUGH SOME REAL SOLUTIONS AND SUPPORT THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.
UM, WE ARE EXPECTING THAT, UM, MEGAN, I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE DONE WITH THAT SURVEY.
HOW LONG FROM NOW? UH, THE FINALIZING, SO WE'RE IN A REPORT STAGE NOW, SO HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO I CAN PROVIDE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL AS TO WHAT AT THE HEART IS THE CONCERNS OVERALL FOR OUR CO OUR, OUR CULTURE, OUR WORKPLACE, AND WHAT SUPPORT SYSTEMS YOUR, YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE ASKING FOR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT DATA.
MY GUESS IS, MY GUESS IS THAT PROBABLY GIVEN, AND I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOU OR YOUR STAFF MEMBERS DURING THE PANDEMIC ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO NEEDED CHILDCARE DROP IN AND, AND EMERGENCY CHILDCARE.
YOU KNOW, MY, MY GUESS IS THAT PART OF THE SOLUTION IS PROBABLY GONNA BE FOR THE CITY TO, TO SET UP SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR EMPLOYEES JUST BECAUSE, UM, OTHERWISE WE'RE DEPENDENT ON, ON, UM, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND, AND CHILDCARE, EVEN CONVENTIONAL CHILDCARE IS A HARD, HARD BUSINESS TO BE IN.
TO SUSTAIN AND DROP IN AN EMERGENCY DOESN'T GIVE YOU THOSE, THOSE CON THOSE REGULAR CONTRACTS THAT ARE, ARE GONNA BE FINANCIALLY BENEFICIAL TO, TO KEEP, TO KEEP IT AFLOAT.
SO, AND I THINK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON THAT.
BUT I CERTAINLY CAN PROVIDE THE DETAILS OF THE INITIATIVE AND HOW FAR THEY ARE ALONG.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU AGAIN, CHIEF AND AND DIRECTOR HAYES FOR YOUR WORK ON, ON ADDRESSING THIS RE THIS CRISIS COUNCIL MEMBER
MAYOR, CAN YOU TELL ME IF THE REQUIREMENT ABOUT TCO IS A STATE REQUIREMENT OR IF THAT'S A, A LOCAL ORDINANCE? NO, IT'S A STATE LAW.
IS THAT DUE TO THE SENSITIVE INFORMATION ASPECT OF THE JOB? THAT'S CORRECT.
UH, NUMBER OF SESSIONS AGO THE, UH, THE LEGISLATURE, UM, SAID THESE ARE THE SAME.
THESE FOLKS ARE LOOKING AT THE SAME THING AS POLICE OFFICERS, WHICH IS CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION.
WE NEED TO HOLD THEM TO THE SAME STANDARD.
UM, AND COMPARED TO PEER CITIES, I KNOW THERE WAS A LOOK AT PAY, UM, BUT DO YOU KNOW IF TRAINING TIMELINES ARE A PART OF THAT OR AFFORDABILITY? WHEN WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, BEING A CALL TAKER IN AUSTIN VERSUS SAN ANTONIO, IT LOOKS LIKE PAY WAS LOOKED AT, BUT, UM, CAN YOU TELL ME ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT TRAINING TIMELINES? THAT WAS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WAS NOT PART OF THE MARKET STUDY, BUT I'M GONNA LET THE DIRECTOR SHOULD JUST STEP BACK UP.
WE DO LOOK AT THE COST OF LIVING MSA PIECE.
THAT IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT WE UTILIZE AS A COMPONENT FOR OUR ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO AS WE CAME TO YOU THIS YEAR WITH THE 4%, IT TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THAT COST OF LIVING PIECE.
THE MARKET STUDY SPECIFICALLY LOOKS AT THE JOB BASED ON SCOPE AND RESPONSIBILITY.
SO WE LIST OUT THAT SCOPE RESPONSIBILITY, WE SEND THAT OUT TO THE CONSULTANT, SENDS THAT OUT TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS AN EQUAL, UM, REVIEW OF SCOPE AND RESPONSIBILITY.
UM, AND BASED ON THAT, AND THEN WE ADD ADDITIONAL CITIES THAT WE MAY WANT TO, AS I TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT YOUR STUDY, LOOKING AT CALIFORNIA AND SOME OF THE OTHER COMPETITIVE SPACES WHERE WE KNOW THAT COST OF LIVING IS HIGHER, WE'RE TRYING TO PULL MORE OF THOSE CITIES IN.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, IF YOU REMEMBER, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FACT THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WE DID NOT ADD TO OUR ORIGINAL MARKET STUDY WAS THE LOCAL ANALYSIS.
BECAUSE THOSE CITIES ARE SMALLER.
IT CO IT SOMETIMES SKEWS THE, THE MARKET BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, ENTITIES THAT HAVE ONE TO FOUR PEOPLE VERSUS THE, THE A HUNDRED PLUS THAT WE HAVE.
SO IT DOES HAVE SOME IMPACT, UM, WITH THIS
[02:10:01]
PARTICULAR STUDY THAT WE JUST COMPLETED ON COST, BECAUSE WE LOOKED AT THAT AUSTIN MSA AREA IN ADDITION TO THOSE BENCHMARKS, LARGER CITIES AS RELATED TO SCOPE OF WORK.SO I WOULD PROBABLY SAY THIS LAST MARKET WAS MORE IN ALIGNMENT WITH LOOKING AT THOSE CONSIDERATIONS BECAUSE IT WAS A FOCUS ON THE, THE MSA VERSUS JUST THOSE COMPETITORS THAT ARE EQUIVALENT TO US IN TERMS OF SIZE AND SCOPE.
AND ON THAT, WAS THAT, UH, IN REFERENCE TO THE TRAINING TIMELINES OR JUST MORE LIKE HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO LIVE IN A CITY AND THEREFORE IS YOUR PAY COMPETITIVE? IT LOOKS AT THOSE MARKET COMPONENTS, UH, EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SCOPE OF WORK, UM, AS IT RELATES TO TRAINING.
I'LL HAVE TO YIELD BACK TO THE CHIEF IN TERMS OF HOW THAT'S CONSIDERED WITH OTHER TCO SPACES.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO WHEN YOU SAY TRAINING TIMELINE, THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO TRAIN A CALL TAKER OR A DISPATCHER? YES.
SO, UM, I'M SURE THAT MY STAFF IS FAMILIAR WITH WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE ARE DOING AND HOW, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, FORT WORTH OR DALLAS OR SAN ANTONIO TAKES TO, TO TRAIN THEIR FOLKS.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
THAT'S SOMETHING I'D HAVE TO BRING BACK AND HOW WE COMPARE.
I REMEMBER THIS CONVERSATION COMING UP WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SPENT YOUR TIME TRAINING STAYED HERE TO WORK FOR AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND SO I'M WONDERING IF THE SAME THING'S HAPPENING WITH CALL TAKERS, WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING GOOD TRAINING HERE AND THEN GOING TO ANOTHER CITY, OR IF OTHER CITIES ARE EASIER.
SO THEY'RE JUST NOT COMING TO AUSTIN.
I'M NOT, I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM.
UM, BECAUSE EVERY CALL CENTER I'M SURE DOES IT JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
UH, AND THAT'S WHY TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES THIS POINT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COULD WE BRING IN SOME OTHER FOLKS, UM, THEY STILL HAVE TO GO IN, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE A CALL TAKER SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEY STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR TRAINING.
SO SAME THING WITH POLICE OFFICERS.
UH, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR, WE HAVE A MODIFIED, UM, TRANSITIONAL OFFICER PROGRAM AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, WE'D HAVE TO YEAH, APPLY A LITTLE BIT OF ANALYSIS TO SEE WHETHER THAT'S HAPPENING OR NOT.
AND I KNOW I'VE BEEN SWITCHING, JUMPING BETWEEN TIMELINE PAY AND AFFORDABILITY OF THE CITIES.
I JUST CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COST OF HOUSING, THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION, AND THE COST OF CHILDCARE.
AND WE TALK ABOUT THIS WITH EVERY, YOU KNOW, EVERY DEPARTMENT.
AND SO THIS REALLY IS ON COUNCIL AND, AND ON OUR CONSTITUENTS TO REALLY TELL US WHAT THEY WANNA SEE, HOW WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, HERE IN AUSTIN ABLE TO AFFORD DOING THIS WORK.
UM, SO I KNOW THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT THE HR DIRECTOR OR THE CHIEF OF POLICE CAN SOLVE THAT'S ON CITY COUNCIL, BUT YOU KNOW, THESE SAME ISSUES ARE COMING UP NO MATTER WHICH DEPARTMENT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC SKILL SETS OR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUNDS THAT MAKE A GOOD CALL TAKER OR DISPATCHER THAT YOU MIGHT WANNA, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT WANT US TO CHAMPION THAT THEY NEED TO COME AND, AND SEE IF THEY'RE GONNA BE A GOOD CALL TAKER FOR YOU? SURE.
SO THE ABILITY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO, COUPLE OF THINGS JUST COME TO, COME TO MIND RIGHT AWAY, THE ABILITY, UH, AND I KNOW THAT SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ON THE CALL TAKING FLOOR BEFORE AND HAVE SEEN THAT THE COMPLEXITY OF, FOR INSTANCE, BEING A DISPATCHER.
AND EACH ONE OF THOSE DISPATCHERS HAS ABOUT SIX COMPUTER SCREENS, LARGE COMPUTER MONITORS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEM.
AND THEY'RE HAVING TO MONITOR ALL OF THEM.
THEY'RE LISTENING TO RADIO TRAFFIC, THEY'RE, UM, THEY'RE RUNNING PEOPLE FOR WARRANTS AND VEHICLES FOR STOLEN AND ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
AND SO BEING ABLE TO MULTITASK IN A KIND OF STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT IS A HUGE SKILL.
AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING NECESSARILY THAT WE CAN TEACH.
WE CAN HONE, UM, CERTAINLY AND WE CAN HELP PEOPLE TO GET THERE, BUT PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE TO SHOW THE APTITUDE FOR THAT.
A TYPING, UH, TEST IS ADMINISTERED TO SEE HOW MANY WORDS PER MINUTE PEOPLE CAN TYPE.
SO BOTH ON THE CALL TAKING AND DISPATCHING SIDE, IT'S IMPORTANT, UM, TO BE ABLE TO TYPE, UH, QUICKLY SO THAT YOU CAN MOVE ON TO WHATEVER THE NEXT, THE NEXT STAGE IS.
UM, AND ALL OF THOSE, AND, AND, UM, THE, THE DIRECTOR MENTIONED IT EARLIER, WE'RE LOOKING AT LIKE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS TO SEE CAN WE EVEN BEFORE THEY APPLY FOR THAT JOB, IF THERE'S AN INTEREST IN IT, CAN WE GET THEM INTO A PROGRAM, A CITY PROGRAM THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, BUILD THAT SKILL BEFORE THEY, BEFORE THEY ARE PUT IN THEIR APPLICATION.
I KNOW THAT'S, UM, AND MAYBE THAT'S WHAT SHE'S GONNA TALK ABOUT.
YES, THAT IS, THOSE ARE THE KIND OF SKILLS THAT ARE IMPORTANT.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, THE SKILLS ARE ONE THING, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE APPLYING THAT CAN MEET ALL OF THE, IT'S JUST A HIGH BAR, RIGHT? WHEN IT COMES TO YOU, YOU, YOU CANNOT, YOU CAN'T HAVE A CRIMINAL HISTORY, UH, COMING ON AND BEING ONE OF OUR CALL TAKERS OR DISPATCHERS.
AND SO EVEN SOMETIMES WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE MINOR OFFENSES ARE DISQUALIFIED UNDER, UH, TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO, UM, SO AGAIN, THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE STRUGGLE WITH ON BOTH SWORN AND CIVILIAN SIDE.
UM, YEAH, I APPRECIATED YOU MENTIONING THE GREAT RESIGNATION.
I KNOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN MENTIONED THAT LOTS OF DEPARTMENTS ARE, ARE SEEING THIS, AND SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ANECDOTALLY, UH, I WAS, I MET SOMEONE YEARS AGO WHO WAS PROBABLY 2019 WHO WAS A RETIRED
[02:15:01]
DETECTIVE AND JUST TALKED ABOUT THE MENTAL LOAD OF WHAT THE JOB INCLUDED AND HAVING TO DEAL WITH SENSITIVE SITUATIONS AND REALLY TRAUMATIC SITUATIONS THAT, THAT DO BURN PEOPLE OUT.SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT BURNT OUT, YOU KNOW, NOT TAKING 9 1 1 CALLS, PEOPLE THAT BURNT OUT, NURSES ARE BURNT OUT, TEACHERS ARE BURNT OUT.
UM, EVERYBODY'S BURNT OUT, LET'S JUST FACE IT.
UM, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE OBVIOUSLY WANT TO HAVE A, A FULLY STAFFED AND, AND AS QUICK OF RESPONSES AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE IN 2022 AND PEOPLE ARE STILL KIND OF REBUILDING WHAT THEIR, WHAT THEIR FUTURE LOOKS LIKE.
AND I'LL JUST CLOSE BY SAYING I APPRECIATE THE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX, REALLY TRYING TO SEE WHAT IT IS THAT CAN EITHER BE HANDLED ADMINISTRATIVELY OR IF IT NEEDS TO COME TO COUNSEL FOR POLICY OR FINANCIAL APPROVAL.
UM, I THINK THIS IS ONE THING WE OBVIOUSLY KNOW WE CARE ABOUT A LOT.
EVERYONE UP HERE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RESPONDING QUICKLY.
AND I JUST APPRECIATE YOU THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
THANK YOU REN AND COUNCIL MEMBER HAR PATERSON.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH, UH, THE, THE UNION PRESIDENT AND SOME OF THE, UH, UH, RECRUITS AND SEEMED LIKE ONE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS THEY'RE HAVING HERE IS HOUSING.
UH, AND I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE DORM CUZ UH, UH, THAT CONVERSATION ALWAYS GOES BACK ABOUT RECRUITMENT IS, YOU KNOW, THE HIGH COST OF HOUSING HERE IN AUSTIN, ANYONE KNOW EVERYONE HERE THAT'S RENT KNOWS THAT THE RENT WENT UP FROM FOUR TO $600 IN ONE YEAR THIS YEAR, WHICH IS, UH, OUTRAGEOUS.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD AND WHEN THEY HAVE TO MOVE OUT, AND I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE OVER AND OVER THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME BACK INTO AUSTIN.
YOU CAN, YOU ARE GONNA HAVE TO PAY A LOT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
AND THAT'S THE COST OF, UH, HAVING A, A SUCCESSFUL CITY THAT WE'RE HAVING.
BUT I'M VERY INTERESTED IN ON SOME OF THE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH A UNION PRESIDENT THAT THEY HAVE SOME LAND THAT'S AVAILABLE THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO, IF WE THE CITY, WOULD HELP 'EM BUILD DORMS FOR THEIR NEW RECRUITS.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT AND YOU DON'T WANNA MOVE YOUR FAMILY DOWN HERE.
SO, UH, UH, HOW WOULD THAT BE POSSIBLE? CAN, CAN THE CITY PAY FOR OR LOOK INTO WHETHER WE CAN FINANCE SOME OR DEVELOPED HOUSING FOR JUST THE RECRUITS AND NOT BE IN VIOLATION OF ANY KIND OF HOUSING RULES? APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP.
I MEAN, WORKFORCE HOUSING IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANCE TO THE CITY, BUT AS OF WE TALK ABOUT TEACHERS BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN AUSTIN, SAME WITH, UH, NURSES AND, UH, PRACTITIONERS THAT ARE IN OUR HOSPITALS.
UH, WE WILL BE HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS TRYING TO GET CREATIVE AS, AS YOU'VE TALKED THROUGH, WE HAVE A STRATEGIC, UH, FACILITIES GOVERNANCE TEAM, UH, THAT IS LOOKING IN THESE AND, AND THEY'RE PROVIDING UPDATES TO OUR AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
BUT, UM, I WILL TAKE THIS, UH, AS A QUEUE TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES EVEN MORE AND SEE WHAT OTHER, UH, CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO, UH, REALLY DEVELOP SOME WORKFORCE HOUSING FOR OUR OWN, UH, UH, STAFF.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT BECAUSE, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A BIG CONCERN OF MINES THAT WE'RE NOT BUILDING ENOUGH AFFORDABLE UNITS HERE IN AUSTIN TO MAINTAIN OUR WORKERS HERE.
AND I KEEP ON SAYING THAT SAME THING OVER AND OVER.
UH, IF WE DON'T BUILD ENOUGH HOUSING HERE AND THEY CAN'T LIVE HERE, THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE AUSTIN AND MOVE SOME AREA WHERE IT'S AFFORDABLE AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME BACK.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT'S NEEDED TO ADDRESS THOSE KIND OF ISSUES YET.
BUT, UH, UNTIL WE DO, WE NEED TO, AND EVEN IF WHEN WE DO, WE STILL NEED MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
AND IF WE COULD HELP OUT JUST ONE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY'RE WILLING TO DONATE THEIR LAND TO DO THOSE KIND OF UNITS FOR DORMS FOR THEIR RECRUITS, BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD.
YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO BRING YOUR FAMILY HERE.
AND NOW YOU'RE EITHER, YOU GOT A MORTGAGE OVER THERE OR YOU HAVE TO PAY, THEN YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR A RENT HERE, IT'S, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
SO, UH, WE REALLY NEED TO START ADDRESSING THE HOUSING THAT ISSUES FOR, FOR OUR RECRUITS.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MEDICINE.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR, BUT I, I ALMOST DON'T EVEN NEED TO SPEAK AFTER COUNCIL MEMBER BRAD TALKED, UM, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY WHEN I TOOK THAT TOUR ON THE EAST COAST AND I WENT TO BOSTON AND BALTIMORE, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT BALTIMORE WAS LOOKING AT, LOOKING AT, WAS TAKING CITY HELD ASSETS AND USING THOSE TO HOUSE CITY EMPLOYEES AND OFFERING IT AS A PART OF THE PACKAGE.
UM, SO ESSENTIALLY I ASKED, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY
[02:20:01]
CAME TO DETERMINE WHAT THE VALUE OF WAS OF, UH, UH, ALL THE STAFFING THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FILL BECAUSE OF THE COST OF HOUSING.AND THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, CALCULATING A FORMULA, YOU KNOW, SORT OF BUILDING IN THE EXPENSE OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH STAFF.
AND IT, IT CAME OUT TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS TO THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY OVERALL FINANCIALLY, IT WAS MORE EFFICIENT TO HOUSE CITY EMPLOYEES.
AND SO, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER'S POINT ABOUT GETTING CREATIVE AROUND WORKFORCE HOUSING.
UM, AND THAT GOES BEYOND, UH, OUR CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES.
ALL, ALL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL REMEMBER ME TELLING YOU ABOUT HAVING A CITY EMPLOYEE COME TO ONE OF OUR TOWN HALLS WHO, YOU KNOW, WORKS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BUT FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES IS A HOMELESS PERSON RIGHT NOW, HE'S SLEEPING ON A FRIEND'S SOFA CUZ HE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO I THINK THE, THE BROADER CONVERSATION AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR EMPLOYEES IS CRITICAL IN NATURE.
THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD THAT I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE MISSED IT, IF YOU ADDRESSED IT CHIEF, UM, THINKING THROUGH, ONE THING I WANTED TO NOTE WAS I WONDER IF ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CALL CENTER AND DISPATCH, UM, AND IF THERE IS A DISTINCT DELINEATION, I WONDER IF IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO DESCRIBE FOR THEM WHAT THAT DIFFERENCE IS.
AND THEN THE SECOND, I'M SORRY.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS GO AHEAD, MA'AM.
AND THEN THE, THE SECOND THING THERE IS, DO YOU RECALL, YOU KNOW, IN THE EARLIER DAYS AROUND COVID, UM, DR.
ESCO, WHO'S, YOU KNOW, HE DID THE CALL TO BE A, A NATIONAL RESOURCE NOW, BUT WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAD HIM EXCLUSIVELY TO OURSELVES.
HE WAS TALKING A LOT AS THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND THEN MOVING INTO HIS ROLE AROUND THE EARLY DAYS OF, YOU KNOW, OUR EXPERIENCE WITH COVID.
HE WAS TALKING A LOT ABOUT A NATIONAL RECALIBRATION AROUND DISPATCH.
I JUST SORT OF WONDER WHERE THAT NATIONAL, IT SOUNDED LIKE THIS UNILATERAL PUSH TO FIX DISPATCH ACROSS THE BOARD NATIONALLY.
I WONDER WHERE THAT CONVERSATION LANDED.
UM, JUST ANSWERING THAT SECOND QUESTION FIRST, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT LED.
UM, I HAVEN'T HAD ANY, UH, PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH DR.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS A NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO, TO PIVOT? UM, AND THEN WHAT DOES THAT PIVOT LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW, IN AS FAR AS TRAINING AND ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL THAT THAT MIGHT BE NECESSARY WOULD, I THINK IT WOULD REQUIRE SOME ANALYSIS AND, YOU KNOW, RISK, UH, VERSUS BENEFIT.
SO, UM, I'LL, I'LL CERTAINLY HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH DR.
ESCO TO SEE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT HE WAS REFERENCING WITH REGARD TO THE CALL TAKING CENTER.
UM, YOU KNOW, I REFER, SO WE HAVE THE COMBINED TRANSPORTATION AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTER THAT WE REFER TO AS CTECH, UH, FOR SHORT.
AND THAT IS, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR SHORT, WE JUST CALL IT THE CALL TAKING CENTER.
WITHIN THAT CALL TAKING CENTER, I HAVE BOTH, UM, CALL TAKERS THAT ARE ANSWERING THE 9 1 1 CALLS, UH, AS WELL AS DISPATCHERS.
THEY SIT IN THE SAME BUILDING AND ESSENTIALLY IN THE SAME SPACE, UH, WITH ONE ANOTHER.
AND, UM, AND COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, THERE'S A, THERE'S A NUCLEUS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTER, WHICH IS OUR, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND, UM, THE SUPERVISORS THAT ARE OVERSEEING THE ENTIRE OPERATION.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CALLS THAT ARE BECOME VERY LABOR INTENSIVE, UH, SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, A LARGE, UM, YOU KNOW, A LARGE INCIDENT LIKE A, LIKE A LARGE STRUCTURE FIRE OR A CLOSURE OF, OF I 35 DUE TO A LARGE CRASH.
UM, THEY CAN MOVE RESOURCES WITHIN THE CENTER TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SO THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH DISPATCHERS AND, YOU KNOW, FOR OPENING UP ADDITIONAL CHAIN CHANNELS AND DOING THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
BUT THEY ALL SIT IN THE SAME CENTER.
UM, AND THERE, THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE TRAINED ON BOTH SIDES ON CALL TAKING AND ON DISPATCHING.
UM, AND SOME THAT HAVE KIND OF GRADUATED FROM ONE TO THE OTHER BECAUSE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEIR PREFERENCE TO GO BE A DISPATCHER OPPOSED TO A CALL TAKER OR VICE VERSA.
UM, BUT EACH ONE, YOU KNOW, HAS A SKILL SET.
UM, AND, UM, BUT THEY SIT IN THE SAME, IN THE SAME CENTER.
GOT KITCHEN BECAUSE OF FUENTES.
UH, JUST TO, AND IN A CITY MANAGER, UH, A LAST QUESTION, JUST, UH, A QUESTION OR COMMENT TO ADD ON TO THE REQUEST I MADE EARLIER, UH, TO ANALYZE AND PROJECT, UM, TO ANALYZE AND PROJECT THE, THE RATE OF OUR HIRING VERSUS OUR VACANCIES.
AND GIVE US AN IDEA OF GIVEN THE PACKAGE OF THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE WORKING ON, YOUR BEST ESTIMATE ABOUT WHEN WE WILL, UM, REACH THE, THE LEVEL WHERE WE HAVE, UH, WHERE WE HAVE FILLED THOSE VACANCIES.
AS PART OF THAT, COULD YOU ALSO ANALYZE OR SHARE WITH US ANY ANALYSIS YOU'VE ALREADY DONE ABOUT THE REASONS FOR THE DROPOFF
[02:25:01]
BETWEEN PEOPLE, UM, BETWEEN PEOPLE APPLYING AND BEING HIRED? WE'VE TALKED A LOT AND IN RESPONSE TO PEOPLE'S QUESTIONS ANECDOTALLY ABOUT WHAT THOSE ARE.SO I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE SOME IDEA OF WHY PEOPLE DON'T MAKE IT FROM APPLICATION TO HIRING AND WAS, WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE TIME PERIOD THAT THAT TAKES EIGHT TO 10 WEEKS.
BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT DATA WE HAVE AND JUST UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ALL HAVE.
NOW I KNOW THERE MAY BE CHALLENGES IN UNDERSTANDING AND GETTING THAT DATA BECAUSE YOU, IN ALL INSTANCES, YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHY SOMEONE DIDN'T CARRY THROUGH, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT THOSE REASONS ARE SO THAT I CAN MATCH THAT WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT THAT.
SO, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? DOES TO THE MANAGER? WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, BUT THANK YOU.
I DID JUST WANNA ADD SOME COMMENTS ON THE CONVERSATION AROUND WORKFORCE HOUSING.
NOW I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT, UM, ATLANTA FOR A NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITY'S CONFERENCE.
AND, UM, WE RECEIVED A BRIEFING FROM THEIR VERSION OF THE, OF THE GREATER CRIME COMMISSION.
I THINK THEY'RE THE, THE ATLANTA POLICE FOUNDATION AND THEIR VERSION OF GREATER AUSTIN CRIME COMMISSION INVESTS IN WORKFORCE HOUSING.
SO THEY PROVIDE APARTMENTS FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND THEY'RE TARGETED IN, UH, CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO HAVE OFFICERS WHO ARE LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY SERVE.
SO, UM, PERHAPS THIS IS A CONVERSATION FOR US TO HAVE WITH THE GREATER AUSTIN CRIME COMMISSION ON, UM, ON ANY, UH, PARTNERSHIPS ON WORKFORCE, WORKFORCE HOUSING.
UH, THE, I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION FOR YOU, CHIEF.
I DID RECEIVE A TEXT MESSAGE THAT PERHAPS EMPLOYEES DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE LICENSED, UH, COUNSELORS.
AND SO IF WE CAN, I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM, CUZ YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE LICENSED COUNSELORS AVAILABLE.
SO WE HAVE ONE VICTIM SERVICES COUNSELOR WHO IS A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER THAT IS ASSIGNED TO CTEC.
UM, SO THAT PERSON IS KIND OF DEDICATED TO THOSE EMPLOYEES.
DURAN, TWO DIFFERENT, UM, UH, PSYCHOLOGISTS THAT WORK FOR THE CITY, WORK FOR THE, AND ARE, ARE SUPPORTING OUR POLICE EMPLOYEES, UM, THAT, THAT ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.
AND THEN THE OTHER MEASURES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AS WELL.
SO IT'S, IT'S A FEW DIFFERENT ROUTES THAT AN EMPLOYEE CAN TAKE DEPENDING ON THEIR LEVEL OF COMFORT.
WELL, I THINK THAT'S GREAT ABOUT THE PSYCHOLOGIST AND I WOULD JUST ASK IF WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE DIVISION KNOWS ABOUT THESE OPTIONS AVAILABLE.
UM, CERTAINLY THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
IF I MAY, UH, MAYOR, AND THEN ALTERNATIVE TO THE CHIEF, IF HE HAS ANY CONCLUDING REMARKS.
AGAIN, AS I, AS I STATED IN THE BEGINNING, WE OBVIOUSLY TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND YOU HAVE MY FULL COMMITMENT THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ADDRESS THE BOTH IMMEDIATE CHALLENGE AND THEN THE LONG TERM, UH, CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AREA.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE COUNSEL ON AND THE RESULTS OF THESE STRATEGIES THAT WE'VE BEEN PUTTING IN PLACE, UH, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY COME TO YOU, UH, IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OR SUPPORT OR DIRECTION.
UH, BUT WE WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT, UH, THAN BEING ABLE TO KEEP THESE RESPONSE TIMES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
I WANNA THANK OUR CHIEF AND OUR HR DIRECTOR FOR THE COUNTLESS HOURS THAT SPENT ON THIS.
THEY KNOW HOW MUCH OF A PRIORITY IS FOR OUR, FOR OUR STAFF, FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UH, AND FOR ALL, FOR ALL OF US HERE ON COUNCIL CHIEF.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE MADE A LOT OF COMMITMENTS AS THE POLICE CHIEF TO, UH, RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FOR OUR CITIZENS IS A NINE ONE ONE CALL AND SOMETIMES CAN, CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAVING A LIFE OR NOT.
UM, I I I REMAIN AS STRONGLY COMMITTED AS EVER TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING.
YES, UH, THEY TAKE TIME TO IMPLEMENT.
IT TAKES TIME TO TRAIN, IT TAKES TIME TO EFFECTIVELY RECRUIT.
BUT WE HAVE NOT, UM, KIND OF TAKEN OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.
WE ARE MORE COMMITTED THAN EVER TO MAKING SURE THAT WE, UM, CAN MEET THE CHALLENGE OF OUR GROWING CITY AND OUR GROW GROWING COMMUNITY.
AND I COMMIT THAT, THAT, UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA LET PUBLIC SAFETY FLAG, UH, BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING.
AND CHIEF, I APPRECIATE THAT MANAGER, APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, OBVIOUSLY THE CONCERN, UH, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT, UH, COUNCIL'S BEEN PUSHING ON NOW FOR OVER A YEAR.
WE'VE, DUE TO A LOT OF CIRCUMSTANCES, CHALLENGE HAS GOTTEN, UH, UH, EVEN MORE EXTREME.
I APPRECIATE THINKING OUT OF THE BOX.
UM, I IMAGINE WE'LL ALL KEEP PITCHING YOU IDEAS AND THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS.
UH, BUT AGAIN, ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU JUST HAVE TO FIX THIS.
UM, I THINK IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE IF YOU COULD GIVE THE COUNCIL, UH, AN UPDATE, UH, AT LEAST A WRITTEN UPDATE IN AND AROUND THANKSGIVING.
UH, AND IF NEEDED, THEN THE COUNCIL COULD ASK FOR ANOTHER BRIEFING, UH, UH, AT A WORK SESSION OR A COUNCIL MEETING.
[02:30:01]
UH, BUT IT MAY NOT BE NECESSARY.SO IF YOU COULD GIVE US A, A WRITTEN REPORT IN AROUND THANKSGIVING, THEN THE COUNSEL CAN DECIDE WHETHER TO, TO ASK TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE, UH, THE FIRST COUPLE WEEKS OF DECEMBER.
UH, AND THANKS TO THE, TO THE HR STAFF.
[A. Pre-Selected Agenda Items (Part 2 of 2)]
UH, COLLEAGUES, UH, UH, ON, UH, PULLED ITEMS, UH, TO, TO MOVE THROUGH THOSE.WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO AND COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE MAYOR PROTEM THAT ARE NOT HERE, JUST GOING THROUGH THE ONES I'VE PULLED HERE, SOME OF THEM QUICKLY.
ITEM NUMBER 23, UH, IS ONE OF TWO TENANT MEASURES THAT ARE SET, UH, TO, TO BE CONSIDERED, UH, ONE OF THE, UM, OR AT LEAST, UH, SETTING, UM, UH, TIMES TO, TO TALK THE, UM, UH, ORGAN ORGANIZING ONE.
I SEE, UM, UH, VELA HAS, UH, POSTED SOMETHING TO THE MESSAGE BOARD, SO I APPRECIATE THAT ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO CURE.
UH, THIS IS BASICALLY AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THAT, UH, EFA UH, A LANDLORD IS GOING TO EVICT A TENANT, UH, AS CONCERNS SOMETHING THAT'S, THAT'S CURABLE THE TENANT BE GIVEN A, A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO, TO CURE THE, THE PROBLEM IS A PRACTICAL MATTER.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT MOST ALL LANDLORDS DO, UH, ANYHOW, CUZ IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
AND BECAUSE IT MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE FOR A TENANT TO BE ABLE TO CURE, UH, BOTH FOR THE TENANT AND FOR THE LANDLORD.
UM, UH, I'M WORKING WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS NOW ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS.
I'LL PROBABLY BE PROPOSING AND POSTING, UM, UH, A RESOLUTION OF THIS THAT'S SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN WHAT THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS, UH, WANT IN THIS BY DOING THAT.
I MAY NOT PLEASE ANYBODY, UH, BUT, BUT I'LL HIT THE MARK AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE D ON WHERE I THINK THE, THE APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR US TO, TO BE IS TO BE IN, UH, TO, TO PROTECT, UH, THE CITY AND ALSO, UH, SETTING A TIMEFRAME.
WE'RE IN A RELATIVELY SHORT FUTURE, WE CAN EVALUATE IT AND DECIDE WHETHER TO EXPAND IT OR GO FURTHER.
CAN, BEFORE THIS MAYOR, ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT POSTPONING THE RIGHT TO CURE TO, TO NEXT WEEK? OR WILL THIS BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION FOR I'D LIKE TO GET IT PASSED.
UH, SO I'LL BE POSTING SOMETHING PERHAPS AS EARLY AS TODAY ON THAT.
AND REALLY THE TWO, UM, UH, THREE OPERABLE FACTORS ARE, UH, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE INDUSTRY PEOPLE WANT IT TO BE JUST, UH, VOLUNTARY AND NOT A REQUIRED, UH, RIGHT TO CURE.
UH, I SUPPORT A MANDATORY RIGHT TO CURE.
UM, SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE REQUESTED A 21 DAY PERIOD TO CURE.
UH, I'M PROBABLY GONNA RECOMMEND TO THE DIETS WE DO SOMETHING LESS THAN 21 DAYS, UH, JUST BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE, THE OPPORTUNITY CURE SHOULD EXIST, BUT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY EXTEND THAT DEEP.
UM, IN ORDER TO, TO GET SUPPORT OF SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE IMPORTANT, GOING TO LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UH, I MAY PROPOSE AN EXCLUSION TO, UM, UH, CERTAIN UNITS THAT ARE REALLY SMALL UNITS, UH, IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE INVOLVED.
UH, BUT WITH A PROVISION THAT THIS BE EVALUATED IN SIX MONTHS TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT IT ACTUALLY CREATES THE HARM AND THE PROBLEMS THAT, UH, SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THINK MIGHT EXIST.
UH, AND IF NOT, WITH AN EYE TO EXPANDING ITS APPLICATION, UH, IF PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS ARE NOT, UH, UH, GENERATED.
UH, AND THERE WAS ONE MORE THAT ESCAPES ME RIGHT NOW, AND I'LL TRY TO REMEMBER WHILE PEOPLE ARE MAKING COMMENTS.
I, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT THE AMENDMENTS THAT YOU BRING FORWARD, UM, AND CONSIDERING THEM, I'M ALSO WORKING ON AMENDMENT TO THE RIGHT TO CURE THAT IS MODELED AFTER WHAT IS BEING DONE IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS, UM, WHEN THE, UM, NOTICE IS ISSUED THAT THERE'S ALSO A, A ONE PAGER THAT'S ATTACHED TO THAT NOTICE THAT PROVIDES A LIST OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO OUR TENANTS.
UM, AND SO, UH, WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON THAT.
I'D LOVE TO WORK WORK WITH YOU ON, ON THIS, BY THE WAY, IF OUR OFFICES ARE NOT ALREADY DOING THAT, UH, BECAUSE OF, AND, UH, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, SEEING THESE ITEMS ON, UH, THURSDAY.
AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT WITH REGARD TO THE RIGHT TO, UH, ORGANIZE, WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS ON BOARD.
THE, UH, AUSTIN APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, BOSTON HOUSING WORKS, UH, THE AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS AND AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION HAVE ALL REVIEWED AND AGREED ON THE LANGUAGE.
AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK, UH, STEPHANIE TREND FROM, UH, YOUR OFFICE, MAYOR AND, AND REMI CO FROM MY OFFICE, WHO HAVE BEEN KIND OF FACILITATING THOSE, UH, DISCUSSIONS.
AND, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, TO, UH, TALKING ABOUT THE ITEM AND, AND, AND HOPEFULLY
[02:35:01]
MOVING IT FORWARD ON THURSDAY.APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND YOUR, YOUR ABILITY TO ACTUALLY FIND A, A COMPROMISE THAT, UH, PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO, TO, TO SIGN OFF ON.
WE'RE ONLY PART THE WAY THERE, UH, ON THE, ON THE CURE ISSUE, BUT I WOULD LIKE IT TO, TO, TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE OTHER ONE WAS, UH, THERE WAS A CONCERN RAISED BY SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT IF A ATTENDANT HAS THE SAME VIOLATION OVER AND OVER AGAIN, LIKE AN UNAUTHORIZED GUEST, UM, THERE OUGHT TO BE, UH, UM, A DIFFERENT RESOLUTION THAN SAYING EVERY MONTH YOU HAVE TO KICK OUT THE GUEST AND THEN THE GUEST COMES BACK.
SO IT'S THAT KIND OF THING THAT, THAT I THINK PEOPLE IN GOOD FAITH REALLY AREN'T TRYING TO DO ANYHOW.
BUT WE CAN PROVIDE FOR, FOR THAT IN THE ORDINANCE THE SAME WAY WE'RE, UH, IMPOSING THIS, UH, ABILITY TO CURE, WHICH GOOD LANDERS ARE, ARE DOING ANYHOW.
AND MAYBE SOME OTHER, UH, SMALL EDITS, BUT WE'LL GET THOSE POSTED JUST AS QUICKLY AS WE, AS WE CAN.
THE NEXT THING, UH, THAT I HAVE, I'M GONNA HOLD OFF ON THE, UH, UH, MINORITY, UH, OWNED AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE TILL, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TE IS BACK BECAUSE SHE ALSO PULLED, UH, THESE ITEMS, UM, UH, I HAD PULLED THEM BECAUSE I THINK THAT, UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STUDY, UH, IT, IT WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE, WE COULD AND SHOULD DO WITH RESPECT TO, UH, MINORITY HIRING CUZ WE'RE HITTING THE MARKS.
UH, AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY STILL A CONCERN WITH CERTAIN BUSINESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT, UH, MIGHT, UH, HELP WITH US EXPANDING THIS NOT ONLY TO SUBS, BUT, UH, GENERALS, UH, AND OR TAKING A LOOK AT WHETHER WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT NON, UH, RACE RELATED FACTORS, UH, SUCH AS, UH, UH, ECONOMICS AND OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BRING THE, THE, THE FOLKS MOST IN NEED.
UH, THE, THE FURTHER ASSISTANCE AND HELP THAT THIS KIND OF PROGRAM CAN DO.
UH, SO WE'LL DISCUSS, I'LL CALL THIS UP LATER IN CASE THAT MAYOR PRO TAM IS BACK, BUT I'D BE LOOKING AT BRINGING, UH, AMENDMENTS TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
NOT IN CHANGING THE POLICY WE HAVE NOW, MANAGER, BUT IN ASKING YOU AND THE STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND BRING THIS BACK TO THE, THE NEXT COUNCIL SO THAT THEY HAVE A, AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
UH, ON ITEM NUMBER, UH, WELL HOLD 41 CUZ COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO IS NOT HERE ON ITEM NUMBER 42.
UH, REMEMBER THIS WAS THE ONE THAT, UH, THERE WASN'T A VOTE TO NOT VOTES TO POSTPONE IT LAST WEEK, BUT I POSTPONED IT ANYHOW TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE.
TRIED TO, UH, ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED ON THE, UH, DAES, UM, UH, AND, UH, APPRECIATE THE, THE ADDITIONAL WORK FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, WHICH I THINK DOUBLY AND TRIPLE E ADDRESSES, UH, SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE WERE RAISED, CUZ I THINK WE WERE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
IT WAS MAKING SURE THAT IT ACTUALLY ARTICULATED THE POLICY WELL.
IT'S BEEN POSTED, VERSION FOUR HAS BEEN HANDED OUT.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE THE COLLEAGUES THAT ARE GOING ON THE MESSAGE BOARD TO INDICATE THE SUPPORT.
UM, AND I'D APPRECIATE OTHERS DOING THAT.
SO AS WE GO INTO THE MEETING, PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT'S BEING SUPPORTED AND OUR KITCHEN, UH, YES.
AND, AND, AND THANK YOU FOR POSTPONING IT.
IT GAVE US TIME TO, TO ADD THIS ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE TO MAKE IT CLEAR.
UM, I'LL GO ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, BUT THANK YOU.
I THINK I, I'M, I'M FINE WITH THE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE BECAUSE WHAT IT'S TELLING ME IS THE INTENT IS NOT TO, THE INTENT IS TO LOOK AT OFFSETS, UM, AND THAT IT'S VERY CLEAR, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THE STAFF UNDERSTANDS THIS.
IT IS NOT ABOUT AMENDING ANYTHING THAT WE PASSED IN THE PAST.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT RETROSPECTIVE.
AND, AND WE'VE HAVE THAT, THE LANGUAGE SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS.
IT'S NOT AMENDING, UNDERMINING, ALTERING.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE LANGUAGE WE HAVE.
WE PUT IN A WHOLE BUNCH OF 'EM.
BUT I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT WITH THAT.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND I APPRECIATE OTHERS GOING ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, BUT WAY WE CAN MOVE THROUGH THAT ITEM MORE QUICKLY THAN ON THURSDAY.
UH, THE LAST ITEM WAS ITEM 45.
UH, THIS IS PULLED ALSO BY, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, POOL RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
UH, I'VE HANDED OUT THE MESSAGE SHEET DOES BASICALLY TWO THINGS.
THE FIRST ONE WAS TO SAY, UH, UM, UM, AS YOU RECALL LAST WEEK, AS YOU RECALL, UH, SOME OF THE ITEMS IN THE, IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ORDINANCE, UH, UH, I THINK THE MOST OF US THOUGHT NEEDED TO UNDERGO A, A BROADER REVIEW, UH, TO TO MEASURE THE, THE IMPACTS, UM, SO THAT WE CAN IN FACT PASS AND ACHIEVE THE, THE REALLY SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAT ARE, THAT ARE OFFERED CUZ WE WANT TO ACHIEVE THEM.
UH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MANAGER BRINGING IN OTHER OFFICES THAT ARE NOT ENVIRONMENTAL
[02:40:01]
OFFICES, DEVELOPMENT OFFICES OR HOUSING OFFICE OR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THAT CAN SPEAK TO OFFSETS.UH, SO THAT, UH, UH, WE'RE NOT, AND NO FUTURE COUNCIL IS PUT INTO TO A POSITION HAVING TO CHOOSE.
CAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO CHOOSE.
WE DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO CHOOSE, WE THINK WE CAN ACHIEVE ALL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, THE SUGGESTIONS.
UH, AND I THINK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN A MEMO FROM STAFF THAT THERE WAS ONE THAT WAS ON SOME OF THE BIG ITEMS ON THE, ON THE, ON THE, UH, BUFFER, THE 400 FOOT BUFFER STAFF AT THAT POINT, I THINK.
AND I SENT US A MEMO SUGGESTING THAT THAT ONE ALSO BE POSTPONED.
THAT WAS KIND OF THE OPEN QUESTION.
UH, SO MY MOTION SHEET DOES THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF I STILL NEED TO DO THAT OR NOT, BUT IT WAS PREPARED BEFORE, UH, WE HAD SEEN THE MEMO FROM STAFF AND I APPRECIATE STAFF'S, UH, FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THIS.
IT ALL SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT AS PART OF THE POSTPONEMENT IT'LL GO THROUGH THAT KIND OF PHASE TWO, UH, ANALYSIS, UM, UH, THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S PART OF THE, UH, INTERDEPARTMENTAL OR STAKEHOLDER REVIEW THAT THAT HAPPENS.
AND THEN THE SECOND AMENDMENT, UH, THAT, UH, SUBSEQUENT TO WORK SESSION TODAY, I'D LIKE STAFF TO, UH, MANAGER TO GET BACK TO US IF POSSIBLE.
UH, WE HAVE, WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, THE, UH, UH, CRITERIA MANUAL, SOME OF THE CHANGES.
YOU REALLY CAN'T TELL WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE IMPACT OR WHAT IT IS WE'RE IMPROVING.
CUZ IT SAYS C CRITERIA MANUAL, EXCEPT THERE IS NO CRITERIA MANUAL YET.
SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE.
UM, WE HAD, UH, ADOPTED A PROCESS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION CHANGES, UH, THAT, UH, INVOLVED AT LEAST SOME MEASURE OF STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT AND NOTICE WITH RESPECT TO CRITERIA MANUAL.
I THINK THAT WORKED REALLY, REALLY WELL.
CUZ WHEN WE GOT THEN TO ADOPTING THE TRANSPORTATION MANUAL, THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF UNKNOWNS AND, AND EVERYBODY WAS KIND OF CELEBRATING TOGETHER.
SO THAT SECOND, UH, UH, THE MISSION CHIEF THAT'S ON THE BACKSIDE BASICALLY JUST SAYS, DO THE SAME PROCESS HERE THAT YOU DID FOR THE, FOR THE TRANSPORTATION ORDINANCE WITH RESPECT TO, UH, ADOPTING THE CRITERIA OF MANUAL.
IF THERE'S A CONCERN WITH THAT, IF YOU COULD REACH OUT AND, AND, AND, AND LET ME KNOW
UM, THE ITEM IS, IS PRETTY COMPLEX AND, UM, I THOUGHT WE WOULD ALL BENEFIT FROM HEARING A BIT OF A BRIEFING.
SO OUR UH, ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER AT KATIE COHEN IS HERE TODAY.
AND I'D, I'D LIKE TO ASK HER TO COME UP AND JUST TAKE US THROUGH WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON THIS WEEK, WHAT WE'RE NOT VOTING ON THIS WEEK, AND, UH, GIVE US AN IDEA THE LIST OF ITEMS THAT WE CAN EXPECT IN THE COMING MONTHS.
SO IF YOU'RE PREPARED, COME ON UP.
AND THEN WHILE THEY'RE, THEY'RE GETTING PREPARED, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, MAYOR, ON YOUR MOTION SHEET NUMBER TWO WHERE YOU MENTIONED, UH, IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CRITERIA MANUAL, YOU MENTIONED AMENDMENTS RELATING TO FUNCTIONAL GREEN AND GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
I THINK WE, WE NEED TO CHECK ON THAT, BUT I, I BELIEVE THOSE RULES ALREADY DO EXIST.
SO WE MAY BE ABLE TO SKIP PAST THAT, ASSUMING THAT.
AND SO THE NOTES FROM MY STAFF AFTER TALKING TO YOUR STAFF INDICATE TO ME.
SO IF IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE, THEN WE WOULD TAKE THAT OUT.
BUT CAN I, COULD I UNDERSTAND THAT, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT TAKING THAT OUT OR WHAT? WE ALREADY HAVE RULES FOR GRANT AZO.
SO THERE ISN'T A NEED TO SAY LET'S GET RULES FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY ALREADY EXIST.
SO WE JUST WANTED TO CHECK AND THIS WOULD BE ON THE BACKSIDE MOTION SHEET NUMBER THREE.
SO THIS IS THE SHORT ONE AND THE LONG ONE.
SO IT'D BE THE LEADING THE JUST, UM, I'M SURE STAFF WILL MAKE IT READ REALLY NICE.
MISS COIN AND MS. JOHNSON, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL, KATIE COIN, ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WORK SESSION TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD TO Y'ALL AND WE'VE PUT A LOT OF CONSIDERATION INTO ITEMS THAT WE'RE CERTAINLY IN SUPPORT OF GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME ON TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
UM, JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND BEFORE I DIVE IN.
IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS WE'VE ATTENDED OR BEEN POSTED FOR OVER 14 DIFFERENT BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, OR OUR LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
SO WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO TRY TO WORK WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND DO THIS RIGHT.
UM, THERE WERE INITIALLY TWO PHASES SPELLED OUT IN THE, IN THE RESOLUTION, UM, PER THE MAYOR'S REQUEST.
UH, INITIALLY WE ARE ALREADY PUNTED, UH, GREENFIELD DETENTION AS WELL AS URBAN SEE SLOPE PROTECTION TO PHASE TWO.
UM, WE PER PLANNING COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION AND LOTS OF STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK ARE SUGGESTING THAT FUNCTIONAL GREEN, UH, NOT DISINCENTIVIZING, MISSING MIDDLE GET PUSHED TO PHASE TWO OR SOONER AS WELL.
UH, AND WE WILL BE WORKING ON A TIMELINE TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHEN YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE
[02:45:01]
US BACK WITH ALL OF THESE ITEMS, UH, AND WORKING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT WE WILL CERTAINLY NEED TO WORK WITH TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.THE LAST ITEM THAT IS MOST RECENT TO BE SHIFTED TO, UM, AT LEAST STAFF SUPPORT OF PUSHING TO PHASE TWO IS PROTECTIONS OF THE COLORADO RIVER, UH, DOWNSTREAM OF LONGHORN DAM.
YOU STILL HAVE TWO ORDINANCE PACKAGES IN FRONT OF YOU.
ONE THAT INCLUDES IT, ONE THAT DOESN'T.
I'M STILL HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IF IT'S, IF IT'S USEFUL.
UH, SO WHAT'S LEFT? UM, THE FIRST THING I WANNA TALK ABOUT, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S A LONG TIME COMING.
IT'S, I WOULDN'T EVEN CALL IT A PARADIGM SHIFT.
IT'S, IT'S REALLY SOLIDIFYING AND CODIFYING WHAT BEST PRACTICES IN COMMUNITY TODAY.
SO IT'S SAYING THAT FOR WATER QUALITY COMPLIANCE, YOU HAVE TO USE GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
IN MOST SCENARIOS THERE ARE CARVE-OUTS.
UH, AND LET ME JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT'S DEFINED ALREADY.
WE HAVE CONVENTIONAL CONTROLS AND WE HAVE GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO REALLY WE'RE JUST SAYING SEDIMENT FILTRATION METHOD OF WATER QUALITY COMPLIANCE IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN ONLY USE IN VERY LIMITED SCENARIOS CUZ IT'S NO LONGER BEST PRACTICE.
WE KNOW THAT BEST PRACTICE IS TO HAVE CONTROLS THAT DO MULTIPLE THINGS, NOT JUST ONE THING.
SEDIMENT FILTRATION, CLEANS WATER.
ALL OF THESE OTHER CONTROLS PROVIDE A VARIETY OF ECOSYSTEMS, SERVICE BENEFITS.
THEY MITIGATE URBAN HEAT ISLAND.
THERE ARE ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO HAVING THESE CONTROLS BE INTEGRATED INTO A SITE AND BETTER DESIGN IN A GREENER WAY.
UH, THEY'RE BETTER FOR URBAN WILDLIFE HABITAT.
THEY'RE BETTER IN TERMS OF THE BENEFITS TO MENTAL, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY, UH, MEMBERS.
AND THERE'S SCIENCE BEHIND THAT.
UH, AND SO ALL OF THOSE CO-BENEFITS ARE A PART OF HOW I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IN A PLACE WHERE LAND COSTS AS MUCH AS IT DOES IN AUSTIN.
UM, JUST A FEW STATISTICS ON GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE CRITERIA IS ALREADY IN OUR CRITERIA MANUAL FOR THIS.
IT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIME.
IT'S BEEN DESIGNED BY ENGINEERS WHO ARE LICENSED.
IT'S BEEN, UH, USED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
SO SINCE 2013, GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE HAS EXCEEDED CONVENTIONAL CONTROLS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
AND FOR CITY PROJECTS SINCE 2007, BASED ON COUNCIL DIRECTION, WE HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZING USING GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, THE CARVE OUTS THAT EXIST FOR THIS ITEM INCLUDE IF YOU HAVE A SITE THAT'S OVER 90% IMPERVIOUS COVER, YOU CAN STILL USE CONVENTIONAL CONTROLS IF YOU HAVE A SITE THAT IS, UM, IF YOU HAVE A SITE THAT IS DRAINING MORE THAN 10 ACRES, YOU CAN USE CONVENTIONAL CONTROLS.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LARGER, MORE REGIONAL SYSTEMS. UH, AND IF YOU HAVE A SITE THAT HAS A POTENTIALLY HIGH POLLUTANT LOAD, UH, RELATED TO THAT LAND USE, YOU CAN ALSO USE CONVENTIONAL CONTROLS BY RIGHT.
YOU CAN ALSO USE AN ADMINISTRATIVE VARIANCE PROCESS IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC SITE CONSTRAINTS THAT LIMIT YOUR ABILITY TO USE GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT SAID, UH, BIOFILTRATION PONDS ARE A CENTRALIZED CONTROL THAT ARE IN THE BUCKET OF GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEY GENERALLY TAKE UP AROUND THE SAME FOOTPRINT AS A SEDIMENT FILTRATION POND.
SO IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL FOOTPRINT ON A SITE, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT SEEING A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE, UH, DIFFERENCE THERE.
UM, THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS IN URBAN WATERSHEDS WE ALSO HAVE A PAYMENT AND LIEU PROGRAM.
AND SO THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL OPTION AND WE CAN ELABORATE ON WHAT CRITERIA YOU NEED TO MEET TO BE ABLE TO USE THE PAYMENT AND LOO PROGRAM.
THAT IS ANOTHER WAY TO COMPLY, UH, WITH THIS CODE.
UM, THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS WE DID DO A LOT OF, OF WORK AND HOUSING AND PLANNING DID A LOT OF WORK TO LOOK AT THE IMPACTS OF THIS.
WE KNOW THAT FOR INSTANCE, 80% OF OUR AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED PROJECTS WOULD ALREADY COMPLY WITH THIS, UH, WITH THIS CODE.
SO WITHOUT THIS BEING ON THE BOOKS, THEY'RE EITHER DOING PAYMENT IN LIE OR THEY'RE ALREADY COMPLYING WITH GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AS BEST PRACTICE.
SO THAT'S GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
SECOND PIECE IS RELATED TO THE DRAINAGE OF SURFACE PARKING LOTS, UM, TO MEDIANS IN LANDSCAPE AREAS.
SO THIS IS A, A COMMON SENSE THING.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE CURBS THAT KEEP US FROM HAVING WATER RUNNING INTO LANDSCAPE AREAS AND MEDIANS IN PARKING LOTS.
WE'VE REMOVED A CURB REQUIREMENT.
UH, WE'VE REMOVED, UM, A STORMWATER IRRIGATION REQUIREMENT, AND WE'VE CLARIFIED THAT WE WANT THIS TO HAPPEN WHERE FEASIBLE, WHICH IS A STREAMLINING FROM CURRENT PRACTICE.
AND SO THERE IS AN EXISTING PIECE OF THIS CODE THAT TALKS ABOUT, UM, A METRIC FOR THE GOAL OF HOW MUCH STORM WATER RUNS OFF INTO THESE AREAS.
IT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY, IT'S HARD TO REVIEW.
WE'RE ACTUALLY MAKING THIS MORE SIMPLE AND ALLOWING FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY, BUT REMOVING REQUIREMENTS THAT HINDER OUR ABILITY TO DO THIS.
UH, THIRD, UH, NO IN-CHANNEL DETENTION.
[02:50:01]
UM, DETENTION BASINS THAT, OR DETENTION PONDS THAT ARE PUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A TRIBUTARY OR A CREEK.IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE ONE EXAMPLE OF THESE BEING BUILT.
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ENGINEER, AND IT DISTURBS THE ECOLOGY OF OUR CREEKS AND TRIBUTARIES IN A WAY THAT IS REALLY HARD TO GO, GO BACK FROM THIS LIMITS, UH, THE PRIVATE SECTOR FROM USING IN-CHANNEL DETENTION.
IT STILL ALLOWS US IN PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND CITY PROJECTS TO USE THIS AS A LAST RESORT IN SCENARIOS WHERE IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE.
UH, BUT THIS IS, IS REALLY JUST NOT BEST PRACTICE AND IS IN MY MIND ANOTHER CLEANUP OPPORTUNITY.
SEEING IS IT'S NOT WIDELY, IT'S NOT WIDELY USED TODAY.
ALL RIGHT, FOURTH, UM, CURRENTLY THERE'S WETLAND PROTECTIONS EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY EXCEPT DOWNTOWN.
UH, WETLAND PROTECTION FOR LADYBIRD LAKE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S PROPOSED IN THIS.
THIS WOULD, UH, EXTEND WETLAND PROTECTION TO THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE OF THE LAKE.
IT WOULD STILL EXCLUDE THE OTHER AREAS OF DOWNTOWN.
SOME OF THE OTHER MINOR CODE AMENDMENTS, UH, WERE THINGS PROPOSED DURING CODE NEXT, DURING LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE DRAFT.
UM, THEY ARE SIMPLIFICATIONS, STREAMLINING REORGS CLARIFICATIONS, UH, THINGS THAT ACTUALLY MAKE THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS CLEANER AND MORE CLEAR.
UH, ONE PARTICULAR ITEM I WANTED TO CALL OUT, WE ARE CLARIFYING THAT CISTERNS, FOR INSTANCE, DON'T HAVE TO COUNT TOWARD YOUR IMPERVIOUS COVER CALCULATIONS.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT EASIER TO DEVELOP IN A GREEN WAY.
UM, AND LAST, IF YOU WANT ME TO, I CAN EXPAND MORE ON THE COLORADO RIVER PROTECTIONS.
UM, AND I'LL JUST BRIEFLY SAY, UH, THAT THE PROPOSAL AS IT STOOD WAS TO EXPAND.
THE ORIGIN HAS HAZARD ZONE ANALYSIS TO 400 FEET FROM 100 FEET OF THE ORDINARY HIGH WATER MARK TO EXPAND THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE TO 400 FEET FROM THE ORDINARY HIGH WATER MARK.
AND THE REASON WHY WE THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT, AND I DON'T WANT TO U U UNDER, UH, SELL YOU YOU, THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, UH, IS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE ALREADY ASSETS THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED BY EROSION ISSUES.
THERE'S $60 MILLION ESTIMATED FOR REPAIRS TO FOLLOW A LANE, UM, ACCESS TO THAT, THAT IS NECESSARY FOR CRITICAL WASTEWATER AND ENERGY FACILITIES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALMOST 2 MILLION IN REPAIRS TO TILLERY STREETS.
UM, OUTFALL, UH, WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT BUYOUTS OF HOMES IN THE NORWOOD DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY NEEDING TO DECOMMISSION A POND THAT IS TOO CLOSE TO, UM, AREAS THAT ARE EROSION OR ERODING ON THE BANK.
THAT SAID, WE WANNA DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE ESP, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO GENERATIONAL WEALTH BUILDING AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF EQUITY, UH, ON EAST SIDE RESIDENTS.
AND SO THAT ENGA, THAT EXTENSION OF THAT TIMELINE IS NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK THIS IS A HUGE PRIORITY, BUT BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE WE'RE ENGAGING IN THE RIGHT WAY.
UM, EVEN, EVEN IN BEST PRACTICE.
JUST WANTED TO CLOSE BY SAYING THERE ARE A FEW THINGS BEYOND JUST THE PHASE TWO ITEMS THAT WE'VE ALREADY OFFERED, UH, TO TALK ABOUT THAT ARE, ARE LESS ABOUT CODE AND MORE ABOUT ACTIONS WE WANT TO TAKE.
SO, UM, OUR INTERNAL RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR EQUITY TEAM, AS WELL AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION CITED THE IDEA OF DEVELOPMENT OF A COST SHARING PROGRAM, UH, FOR AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENTS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO USE SOME CITY FUNDS TO HELP OFFSET COMPLIANCE WITH WATER QUALITY AND DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH LEGAL.
WE'RE WORKING WITH HOUSING AND PLANNING FOLKS ON A PROGRAM THAT WOULD HELP TO MITIGATE COSTS OF SOME OF THESE, UH, COMPLIANCE, UH, ISSUES.
WE'RE ALSO DEVELOPING SCOPE FOR A FULL EQUITY ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CODE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT.
WE'VE HEARD FEEDBACK AGAIN AND AGAIN ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENTAL REGS IN THIS CITY, AND THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT EAST SIDE, UM, PROTECTIONS IN A WAY THAT WE REALLY HAVEN'T HISTORICALLY.
UH, AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON IN ADDITION TO FOLDING ALL OF THAT INTO OUR RAIN THROUGH RIVER STRATEGIC PLANT.
SO, IN CLOSING, WHAT IS LEFT IN THIS IN, IN MY MIND, DOESN'T HAVE SUBSTANTIVE IMPACTS IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY, DEVELOPMENT COSTS, ET CETERA.
UH, I, THE GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PIECE, FOR INSTANCE, IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE BOOKS A LONG TIME AGO.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR OVER 10 YEARS.
UM, BUT WE ARE STILL VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THESE ITEMS AND WE'RE HAPPY THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING ALL THE OTHER PIECES IN, IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.
I WANTED TO, UM, CHECK WITH YOU THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPACTION AFTER CONSTRUCTION.
IS THAT STILL ON THAT LIST? UM, YES.
THE LIZ JOHNSTON WATERSHED PROTECTION.
THAT IS PART OF, UH, ONE OF THE KIND OF THE CLEANUP, UM, CHANGES.
I KNOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HOUSEKEEPING CHANGES IN HERE THAT
[02:55:01]
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO.WHEN WE SAY HOUSEKEEPING, IT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE WE'RE BEING DISMISSIVE OF IT.
BUT SOMETIMES THAT IS REALLY WHAT IS THE OIL IN THE ENGINE THAT MAKES THINGS MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT TOO MUCH FRICTION? SO WE'VE GOT A CLEANUP IN THE REDEVELOPMENT SECTION, SOME CODE LANGUAGE ON ROADWAY DITCHES AS BEING, UH, CLEANED UP.
WE'VE GOT DEPARTMENT NAMES ON WHO CAN ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVE CHANGES IS BEING CLEANED UP.
THERE'S A RESHUFFLING OF LAKE REQUIREMENTS FOR CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE SECTION THAT'S BEING CLEANED UP.
UH, CODE PERTAINING TO TRAILS IS BEING CLEANED UP.
AND, UM, ALONG WITH THE PROTECTIONS FOR WETLANDS AND THE PARKING LOT RUNOFF.
AND I THINK REMOVING THE CURBS SO THE WATER CAN ABSORB INTO THE, INTO THE LANDSCAPE IS A BRILLIANT IDEA.
UM, AND THE IN-CHANNEL DETENTION, UM, IN THE BASINS, UNLESS THERE'S A CAPITAL PROJECT WHERE NO OTHER OPTION IS AVAILABLE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TOO.
SO MARY, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THOSE IN ADDITION TO WHAT, UM, KATIE AND LIZ HAVE, HAVE MENTIONED TO, UM, HOPEFULLY EXPLAIN A LITTLE MORE FULLY ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE DO HOPE CAN BE APPROVED, UM, THIS THURSDAY.
I THINK THAT WAS REALLY HELPFUL.
AND I JUST WANNA REITERATE TOO, UM, UH, BY SUGGESTING THAT WE DO THE ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS WAS NOT ANY INDICATION THAT I DON'T RECOGNIZE THE, THE, THE BEST PRACTICES.
AND I EVEN ON THE, I MEAN THE 400 FOOT, EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD IS SOMETHING THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO DO AS A CITY DOWNSTREAM OF THE DAM.
UM, IT'S JUST URGING HERE AS AS MANAGER WE'VE DONE IN OTHER AREAS BEFORE THAT, UH, IT'D BE REALLY HELPFUL IF WE HEAR FROM, FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS TOO, UH, ON THESE IN ADDITION TO THE STAKEHOLDERS.
CUZ SOMETIMES IT BRINGS AN ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVE.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU WERE IN THE AWKWARD PLACE PRESENTING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHEN THEY WERE SAYING, CAN WE CONSIDER SOME OFFSETS? BUT, BUT YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED NATURE OF THE DIRECTION THAT THE COUNCIL HAD GIVEN CUZ IT WAS TOO, IT WAS TOO, UM, UH, FOCUSED DOWN TO, TO ALLOW THAT.
SO, UM, I APPRECIATE THE RECOMMENDATION AND I INTEND, UH, HOPE THAT WE JUST DOUBLE BACK ON THAT.
SO THE NEXT COUNCIL, UH, IF NOT THIS COUNCIL PROBABLY AT THIS POINT, THE NEXT COUNCIL, UH, IS ABLE TO, TO AFFECT THESE AS, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
BUT TO CONSIDER THINGS LIKE WITH THE 400 FOOT, THERE'S SOME PROPERTIES THAT, THAT THE BUFFER COVERS THE ENTIRE PROPERTY CUZ IT EXTENDS TO THE, TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF, OF, OF FIRST STREET.
SO IF IT'S GONNA BE A TAKING OF SOMEBODY, UH, SO WE NEED TO, TO ASSESS THAT THERE'D BE SOME PROPERTIES POTENTIAL TAKING OF, OF, OF PROPERTIES.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHERE THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PROPERTY THAT'S TAKEN BY THIS AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO, TO OBVIATE THOSE KINDS OF CLAIMS OR AT LEAST, UH, ASSIST IF WE WERE TO ALLOW TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT ENTITLEMENTS FROM THAT AREA TO SOMEWHERE ELSE ON THE PROPERTY.
BUT THOSE KINDS OF IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS, AND I DON'T MEAN NECESSARILY THOSE CUZ I HAVEN'T STUDIED THEM EITHER, BUT JUST, JUST TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO, UH, YOU AND IN THE CITY AT LARGE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT, UH, KE POOL THEN COUNCIL MEMBER 30.
SO WE WILL HAVE TWO VERSIONS IN THE BACKUP AND THE ONE, UM, INCLUDES THE PROTECTIONS THAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT AND VERSION TWO EXCLUDES THEM SO THAT STAFF CAN DO THE ADDITIONAL TIME.
AND, UM, FROM THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD SO FAR AND STAFF'S INTEREST IN DOING MORE WORK, I THINK, UM, IF, IF, IF I MAKE A MOTION, I WILL MAKE A MOTION FOR VERSION TWO, WHICH WOULD ALIGN WITH THE, UH, THE COMMENTS THAT YOU'RE MAKING.
THAT'S GREAT THAT OUR STAFF HAVE MADE.
SO IT WOULD BE VERSION TWO THEN VERSION TWO SIDE AND 45.
THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
IT GETS RIGHT OF THE, UH, THANK YOU YOUR HONOR.
I, I DO, UH, UH, SUPPORT YOUR MOTION THAT YOU MADE ON, UH, ON THE CRITICAL EQUALITY EXPANSION ON ON LONGHORN DAM.
YOU KNOW, WE, UH, I KNOW THAT THIS AREA HAD BEEN NEGLECTED FOR YEARS AND IT, AND ESPECIALLY DOWN, FURTHER DOWN FROM THE TOP, IT MEETS A LOT OF LOVE.
UH, IT'S, UH, IT WAS A BIG INDUSTRIAL SITE, A BIG INDUSTRIAL DUMP SITE SHOULD I SAY.
AND IT'S STILL BEING USED AS ONE LIKE THAT.
AND WE DO REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT CLEANING ALL OF THAT UP.
UH, MY BIGGEST CONCERN WAS MY CONSTITUENTS, AND I'VE HEARD A LOT FROM THEM HERE LATELY ABOUT THEM LOSING THEIR ECONOMIC A ABILITY AND THEIR GENERATION WEALTH THAT THEY HAVE HERE AND THEN THEIR INVESTMENT THEY HAD MADE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE HOUSES AND OWNERS HAVE BEEN THERE OVER 60 YEARS.
SO, UH, IT'S VERY ALARMING THAT WHEN, WHEN IT CAME OUT.
AND SO I'M GLAD THAT Y'ALL TAKEN THE PATH THE SECOND WAY SO THAT WE CAN GET ALL THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE STAKEHOLDERS SO, AND BOB SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION.
[03:00:01]
INFRASTRUCTURE THERE ON SOUTHERN CHAVEZ.UH, A LOT OF THAT RUNOFF IS JUST GOING DIRECTLY INTO THE CREEK AND WE NEED TO REALLY ADDRESS THAT ISSUE CUZ IT'S CAUSING A LOT OF EROSION, YOU KNOW.
AND, UH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, UH, COMPLAINTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE TYPE OF, SO, AND I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE A VERY EXPENSIVE INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY'S GONNA DO, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF GROWTH GOING IN THERE.
AND WE GOT A LOT OF POTENTIAL.
WE GOT A HOTEL THERE, WE GOT A LOW INCOME APARTMENTS THERE THAT'S GONNA BE COMING DOWN AND NO TELLING WHAT ELSE THAT, THAT, CUZ IT'S ALL REALLY, REALLY PRIME AREA THAT'S GETTING DEVELOPED.
AND I'M SURE THAT WE CAN RECOVER OUR COSTS THROUGH ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING DOWN THERE.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA.
AND, UH, I, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, WE'RE WORKING ON A HANDFUL OF AMENDMENTS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING, UH, WITH, UH, STAFF ON THEM.
UM, IT'S NOT, UH, ANYTHING MAJOR, JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE TO, UH, BUILD IN SOME FLEXIBILITY.
UM, ONE OF 'EM, FOR EXAMPLE, IS POTENTIAL CREDIT FOR A PERVIOUS CEMENT FOR THE USE OF PERVIOUS CEMENT.
UH, WITH REGARD TO, UH, UH, UH, THE, THE PERCENTAGE OF RECITE THAT'S, THAT'S IMPERVIOUS.
UM, AND, UH, I'LL BE POSTING THOSE ON THE MESSAGE BOARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO THANK STAFF, UH, SO MUCH FOR WORKING WITH US.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO REITERATE, I KNOW, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL MENTIONED IT, BUT, UH, SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THE, THE TAKING THE CURBS OFF OF THE LANDSCAPING.
I MEAN, HONESTLY, THAT SEEMS, UH, LIKE IT WOULD SAVE MONEY AND ADD ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT.
UH, A SMALL CHANGE, BUT AN IMPORTANT ONE.
UH, AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THAT FOR, FOR BRINGING THOSE KINDS OF ITEMS, UH, BEFORE US.
COULD YOU BE SURE TO POST YOUR AMENDMENT? THAT'D BE GREAT.
UH, WE STILL HAVE TO COVER, UH, AND I WOULD RECOMMEND WE DO IT AFTER LUNCH AND AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION CAUSE WE'RE GONNA DO A SHORT EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, BUT AFTER LUNCH WE'LL DO THE, UM, UH, PULLED ITEMS, THE N P V E, UH, M W V PROGRAMS, UH, ALSO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOGO'S, UH, PROPERTY, UH, IFFC, UH, THAT CHIEF'S PULLED THOSE TWO PRESENTATIONS.
BUT FIRST STAFF HAS ASKED TO, UH, SPEAK WITH US WITH RESPECT TO THE, UH, TENANT ORGANIZING, UH, UH, ISSUE AT NUMBER 25.
I'M GONNA RECOMMEND THAT WE GRAB LUNCH AND GET SETTLED IN AT 1230, UH, REMOTELY.
WE CONVEY THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT 1230 TO 1245.
UH, AND THEN LET'S RECONVENE, UH, THE WORK SESSION TO DO THE OTHER ITEMS, SAY AT, UH, AT ONE O'CLOCK.
THAT SOUND OKAY? MAYOR, DO WE KNOW WHAT TIME THE, UM, THE, THE DUTCH BIKE PRESENTATION WILL BE? UH, WE COULD LEAD WITH THE TWO PRESENTATIONS AND THEN DO THE TWO PULLED ITEMS. WE COULD DO THE TWO PULLED ITEMS AND THE TWO PRESENTATIONS.
UH, BUT, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL BE DOING IT.
I JUST DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAD A TIME CERTAIN WITH THEM.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A TIME CERTAIN, BUT I KNOW THEY HAVE A GUEST IN FROM THE NETHERLANDS.
AND SO, UM, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN LET'S, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH THAT PRESENTATION.
AND WE'LL ABLE TO DO THE PULLED ITEMS AND THEN THE LAST PRESENTATION.
SO REALLY QUICK JUST TO GO OVER THE PULLED ITEMS, 34, 35, 41.
UH, START WITH THE BIKE WAY BRIEFING, AND THEN START WITH THE BIKE WAY, THEN DO POTENTIALLY 34, 30, 34, 35.
AND THEN THE ANIMAL SERVICES 41, AND THEN THE ANIMAL SERVICES.
AND 1230 FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MAYOR, I'M SORRY, THE EXA WHAT ARE WE DOING ON EXECUTIVE SESSION? WHAT DO YOU HAVE STAFF WANTS TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT THE TENANT ORGANIZING THE TENANT, UH, DEAL ABOUT THE ORGANIZING.
WE ALSO HAD A QUESTION RELATED TO THE NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER.
WHICH NUMBER IS THAT? YOU, THAT WAS THE BRIEFING.
WE COULD I CAN, I CAN FOLLOW UP.
AND, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I CAN MAYBE SEND A MEMO OUT AS WELL.
WELL, YOU COULD SEND A MEMO OUT, THAT WOULD BE FINE.
BUT BASICALLY IT WAS FOLLOW UP ON THE FACT THAT WE HAD, THERE HAD BEEN A RECOMMENDATION MADE, OR NOT RECOMMENDATION, BUT IT'D BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE PAST, THE, UH, THE CIVILIAN POSITION.
SO, AND THAT CHANGED ALONG THE WAY, BUT WE NEVER GOT AN EX EXPLANATION ABOUT THAT.
SO IT WAS ALSO, IT WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE PULLED OUT, WE, WE UM, WE MADE THE, UH,
[03:05:01]
FORENSICS FREESTANDING.WE WERE ALSO AT, AT THAT TIME TALKING ABOUT MAKING THE CALL CENTER FREESTANDING.
AND SO WE JUST NEED AN UPDATE ON WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT.
AND JUST THE SHORT ANSWER IS THOSE CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE.
UH, WE HAVE NOT PULLED IT OUT BECAUSE IF WE DID AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF THE STATE LAW.
AND SO, UH, IT'S KIND OF A MATTER OF WHEN, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO DISCUSS THAT INTERNALLY.
WE JUST NEED AN UPDATE ON THAT.
SO I'LL PROVIDE THAT THROUGH A MEMO.
[E. Executive Session]
WE'RE NOW GONNA GO TO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP ONE ITEM PURSUANT TO 5 5 1 0 7, WHEN A GOVERNMENT CODE COUNSEL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 25.IT'S PROVING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING, UH, CITY CODE WITH REFERENCE TO TENANT ORGANIZING.
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, UH, WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'LL CONVENE REMOTELY AT 1230.
UH, AND WE'LL ENDEAVOR TO BE BACK IN OPEN SESSION AT ONE O'CLOCK.
THE TIME IS, UH, 1220 RIGHT NOW.
UM, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND RECONVENE.
WE DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 25.
UH, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND, UM, AND, AND RECONVENE.
UM, CAN YOU MAKE, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL A, UH, PANELIST? SHE CAN'T TURN ON HER CAMERA OR HER MIC SO THAT SHE CAN JOIN US.
UH, WE HAVE A QUORUM THAT'S PRESENT.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH A BICYCLE, UM, UH, ACTION, UH, PRESENTATION.
WE'RE GONNA TRY AND HIT THE PULLED ITEMS AND THEN WE'LL CONCLUDE WITH THE, UH, UM, UH, ANIMAL SERVICES PRESENTATION MANAGERS COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
[D1. Discussion on the Bike Network Buildout and ThinkBike 10th Anniversary.]
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO KICK US OFF? OKAY, GO AHEAD.I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEXT ITEM.
WE ARE CELEBRATING 10 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST THINK BIKE WORKSHOP THAT SET THE CITY OF AUSTIN ON A COURSE TO INCORPORATE KEY DUTCH MOBILITY PRINCIPLES INTO OUR VERY OWN BICYCLE NETWORK IDEAS, SUCH AS FOCUSING ON THE PRACTICAL SHORT TRIPS THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO TAKE BY BIKE AND BUILDING FOR COMFORT TO ATTRACT THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TO CYCLING.
I MYSELF HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT THE NETHERLANDS IN 2019 WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES HAS RECENTLY BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE, UH, THAT TRIP AS WELL.
WE FOUNDED INFORMATIVE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CYCLE AND WHAT THAT DOES TO MAKE A NEIGHBORHOOD A CITY AND AN ENTIRE COUNTRY MORE LIVABLE.
ONE OF MY MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES THERE WAS GETTING PASSED BY A WOMAN, I BELIEVE, TO BE 80 YEARS OLD.
AND I JUST LOVE THAT AS PEOPLE ARE MORE MOBILE AND MORE, UM, INCLINED TO RIDE THEIR BIKE IN SAFER BICYCLE NETWORK CAPACITIES, UH, THAT'S A, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK, AND JUST TO GET OUT AND BE PHYSICAL AND, AND STAY HEALTHY FOR A NICE LONG LIFE.
UH, TODAY, 10 YEARS SINCE THAT PIVOTAL WORKSHOP IN 2012 HERE IN AUSTIN, WE NOW HAVE 236 MILES OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES, BIKEWAYS AND MORE THAN 16 PROTECTED INTERSECTIONS.
I INVITE MY COLLEAGUES TO SHARE BRIEFLY THEIR EXPERIENCES AS WELL.
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR MADISON, I SEE YOU ARE HERE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THE NEXT REMARKS? AND THEN IF COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT TRIP OR ANY OTHER, UH, COLLEAGUES, UM, I INVITE THAT COMMENTARY NOW.
I, I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME REMARKS, BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO START WITH A VIDEO.
UM, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I COMMENT ABOUT OFTEN WHEN I TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE GETTING TO SEE IT.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE SEEING AND FEELING AND EXPERIENCING COMPREHENSIVE MOBILITY.
AND I REMEMBER THAT REALLY BEAUTIFUL, WELL DRESSED OUT OLDER WOMAN PASSING YOU UP, UM, DISTINCTLY.
SO
BUT I THINK, UH, CTM IS PREPARED TO SHOW Y'ALL A SHORT CLIP OF A VIDEO THAT I TOOK WHILE WE WERE ABROAD.
I JUST FOUND MYSELF PRETTY CONSISTENTLY FASCINATED BY WATCHING ALL THE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME WITH VERY LITTLE CUE.
YOU KNOW, IT, IT WAS LIKE, IT, IT WAS JUST A PART OF THE CADENCE OF HOW PEOPLE MOVE THROUGH THE CITY.
IT WAS JUST INTERESTING AND, UH, DEFINITELY INSPIRATIONAL.
[03:10:01]
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I RECOGNIZED, YOU KNOW, AS WE WERE ON THE TRIP IS HOW FREQUENTLY PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT HAVING TO MAKE THE SACRIFICE TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A CITY THAT WAS BUILT FOR PEDESTRIANS.THERE WERE A COUPLE OF INSTANCES WHERE THEY TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO SACRIFICE INVESTMENTS THAT THEY HAD ALREADY MADE ON INFRASTRUCTURE WHEN THEY REALIZED IT JUST WASN'T THE PATH FORWARD.
AND THEY CHANGED COURSE AND RECALIBRATED, AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GET OUT OF THAT.
AND I, I HOPE WE CAN TAKE SOME INSPIRATION FROM IT.
THANK YOU, YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I TOO HAVE A VIDEO RECAP OF MY EXPERIENCE, BUT I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUT MY, MY SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS FOR THAT, UM, FOR THAT RECAP.
AND IT WAS PARTICULARLY OF THE URBAN MOBILITY STUDY TOUR THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE IN THE NETHERLANDS, UH, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.
AND FIRST I WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO LILLIAN AND LISA FOR ALL OF THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR ASSISTANCE AND THEIR GUIDANCE AND FOR JUST BEING WONDERFUL HOSTS.
I JOINED OTHER, UH, US OFFICIALS ON THAT TRIP TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE IN THE, IN THE NETHERLANDS.
AND TO SEE THE CONNECTION OF WHAT IT TRULY MEANS TO HAVE A PEOPLE ORIENTED COMMUNITY, UH, THAT 10 MINUTE CITY, WHICH I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT AUSTIN SHOULD BECOME, WHERE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THEIR GROCERY STORE AND THEIR PARK AND THEIR WORKPLACE ALL WITHIN 10 MINUTES.
UM, AND JUST REALLY HAVING AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF STREET DESIGN.
I DID SEE A FAIR AMOUNT OF PARKING GARAGES, SO I FEEL LIKE
BUT IT'S EXCITING BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE PROJECT CONNECT HERE IN AUSTIN, WHENEVER THAT GETS BUILT, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE IN THAT FIRST AND LAST MILE OF CONNECTION.
AND SO TRULY THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT EXPERIENCE.
UM, I AM EXCITED FOR, UH, THE POLICY WORK THAT MY OFFICE AND I WILL UNDERTAKE IN THE COMING YEARS TO BETTER SUPPORT OUR BIKEWAY NETWORK HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND, UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THE UPDATE.
AND I, UM, I REMEMBER ONE OF THE OTHER INFORMATIONAL PIECES I LEARNED WHILE IN THE NETHERLANDS WAS ABOUT WHETHER CYCLISTS ARE TOLERATED IN A SPACE OR IF THEY'RE INVITED INTO A SPACE WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES CAN UTILIZE THIS SPACE AND KIDS CAN RIDE THEIR BIKE ALONGSIDE THEIR PARENTS AND STILL BE SAFE IN THIS PLACE.
AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT THE, SOME OF THE COMMUNITY LED EFFORTS TO PARTNER WITH PROJECT CONNECT AND ADD ANOTHER MOBILITY BOND WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.
AND SO I THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING REALLY IMMERSIVE ABOUT BEING IN THAT MOMENT AND HAVING OUR COMMUNITY AT HOME SAYING THEY WANT MORE SPACES LIKE THIS REALLY MADE ME SAY, WHILE WE'RE DOING PROJECT CONNECT, LET'S GO BIG AND ADD IN MORE OF THAT FIRST MILE LAST MILE CONNECTIVITY AND REALLY FILL IN THE GAPS.
SO WITH THAT, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO HAVE NATHAN WILKES FROM THE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND RICHARD TE A VEST, I HOPE I PRONOUNCE THAT CORRECTLY.
UM, THE CITY'S ESTEEMED GUEST FROM THE NETHERLANDS HERE TO GIVE US A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE CITY'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS PAST 10 YEARS AND WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO AS WE KICK OFF THE THINK BIKE 2022 WORKSHOP TOMORROW.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, INTERIM TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR, RICHARD MENDOZA.
I'M JUST GONNA CAPABLY HAND IT OVER TO OUR GUESTS, ESTEEMED GUESTS, RICHARD TARAS.
UM, YEAH, I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE AGAIN AFTER 10 YEARS.
WE, WE ARE SITTING IN THE SAME ROOM TO MEET YOU ALL, UH, TO START A A THING BIKE WORKSHOP 10 YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS AMAZING WORK YOU DID IN THIS CITY, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN INSPIRE FOR THE SECOND STEP.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, I WILL KICK OFF THE PRESENTATION AND REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE THIS BACK TO YOU ALL AND THE DUTCH DELEGATION HERE BECAUSE THEY GAVE US KINDA THE GIFT OF, UM, THEIR WELL FOUND WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW THEIR INTEGRATED MOBILITY SYSTEMS WORK.
AND WE LISTENED REALLY WELL, I THINK.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WE, I THINK WE MADE AN AMAZING THING HAPPEN AND Y'ALL ARE CERTAINLY A PART OF THAT STORY.
AND, UH, VERY EXCITED TO REFLECT THAT BACK TO Y'ALL AS WELL.
IS THE CLICKER WORKING? UM, OKAY.
SO WE'LL COVER THE BEGINNING IN 2012, UM, THE STORY SENSE AND THEN JUST A LITTLE PREVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE KIND OF TACKLING, UH, IN THE MIDST OF THE ATX WALK, BIKE ROLL, UH, PLAN UPDATE, WHICH INCLUDES THE BIKE PLAN AND THE ISSUES WE'RE FACING TODAY.
SO I'LL LET RICHARD TAKE US BACK IN TIME TO WHAT HAPPENED IN 2012.
SO THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE, IT'S THAT ONE SITUATION BEFORE YOU ONLY SEE SOME PAINT ON THE STREET.
[03:15:01]
IT'S, IT'S DARE TO CYCLE, DARE TO CYCLE.THE NEXT STEP IS ABLE TO CYCLE.
AND THE THIRD ONE IS IN FIGHT TO CYCLE, MAKE IT, UH, AFFORDABLE AND POSSIBLE FOR ALL HS AND ABILITIES.
SO 2012 IN, IN THE CITY WHERE I LIVE, UH, CHRIS RILEY AND, UM, A BODE WERE THERE, UH, THEY SAY IT'S VERY QUIET AND SAFE.
IT'S LIKE CYCLING IN A POSTCARD.
IT WAS NICE AND THEY WERE INSPIRED.
SO C AND BELIEVE TO US ARE VERY GOOD FROM THE US, UH, COMING TO THE, OUR DUTCH CITIES TO SEE HOW IT CAN BE DONE.
UM, SO YEAH, IT'S THE SAME TABLE THAT WAS THE CHAIR.
SO I I, SAME DAY, SAME DAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 20, BUT MORE GRAY HAIR, UH, AND TOGETHER WITH, UH, THREE OTHER PEOPLE, UH, AUK FROM THE CITY AND TOM AND ANDRE FROM THE CITY, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND.
SO THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE FROM THE CITY AND THE CONSULTANTS WHO WORK VERY HARD LAST 10 YEARS IN THIS CITY TO MAKE IT BIKEABLE FOR THE FIRST STEP.
SO SOME IMPRESSIONS OF THE WORKSHOP.
UM, HARDWORKING TWO DAYS, UM, YEAH, VERY NICE TO SEE.
AND HARDWORKING, UH, ALSO IN THE NIGHT SOMETIMES.
UM, AND WE DO THE SAME TOMORROW AND BIKE RIDING.
SO YOU HAVE SOME VERY NICE CYCLE TRACKS ALREADY AROUND THE WATER.
THE LAKE, UH, LAKE BIRD, UH, UH, YEAH, IT WAS NICE TO SEE THE, UH, CITY AND LOOK WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT CAN BE BETTER.
UM, BUT WE MADE OUR CYCLE CITIES, UH, IN 40 YEARS BETTER.
SO I THINK A HUNDRED YEARS AGO IT WAS BETTER CYCLING IN THE US THAN IN THE NETHERLANDS.
BUT NOW WE HAVE 40% OF ALL THE TRIPS IN THE CITY ARE MADE BY BIKE.
AND NOW WE ARE MAKING THE SECOND TRIP BY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ELECTRIC BIKE, THE MAYOR OF YOUR CITY, TOGETHER WITH THE QUEEN ON THE ORANGE BIKE FROM ELLA.
SO THE H UH, ALL IS IN ABILITIES, SO EVERYONE ON THE BIKE, UH, 80 YEARS, 90 YEARS.
SO, UM, UH, RESEARCH FROM THE US SAYS THAT 60% OF THE PEOPLE FROM AUSTIN WILL RIDE A BIKE ON THE PROTECTED BIKE LANE, UH, LOOKING FOR OPTIMAL MIX.
SO WE ARE INTEGRATED THINKERS AND INTEGRATED PLANNERS.
UH, SO TOMORROW WE ARE THINKING ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSIT AND BIKE.
WE ARE THINKING, UH, THE BEST PARK, UH, BIKE PLAN IS A CAR PLAN.
SO WE ARE THINKING ALSO ABOUT, UH, THE NETWORK FORECAST AND CYCLING AND WALKING TO FEED THE TRANSIT AND TO MAKE IT BETTER ON THE SHOT DISTANCES.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE TO REACH THE GOAL OF 15%, UH, UP TO TWO MILES.
AND WE HAVE 40%, BUT IT'S NOT EVERYWHERE FLAT IN THE CITY.
UH, IT'S, IT'S NICE, I THINK IT'S REACHABLE AND WE, YEAH, WE, WE ALSO SAW THE SHORT TRIPS.
YOU SEE THE MAP HERE WITH THE MOPAC AND UH, UH, INTO STATE HIGHWAY AT THE EAST AND, UH, NORTH SOUTH TRIPS BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY, ONE OF THE BIGGEST IN THE US TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
SO A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO STEP OVER FROM CAR TO BIKE.
AND YOU SEE ALSO, UH, INVESTING IN CYCLING IS ALSO GOOD FOR THE, FOR THE CAR.
IF YOU GET RID OF THE SHORT CAR TRIPS IN THE CITY, IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR THE CAPACITY OF THE STREETS AND ROADS AND FEED THE TRANSIT.
TOMORROW, ERIC WILL GIVE THE WORKSHOP ABOUT FEEDING THE TRANSIT, UH, WITHIN TWO MILES FROM EVERY STATION.
AND YOU ARE WORKING VERY HARD IN THIS CITY WITH TRANSIT LINES.
SO, UH, IN 10 YEARS WE COME BACK TO SEE, UH, ALL THE REAL LIFE THINGS.
SO THE OTHER WORKSHOP IS ABOUT ROAD SAFETY.
SO SOME INTERSECTIONS CAN BE MADE BETTER.
UM, SO WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A TWO LEVEL ROUNDABOUT WITH THE UPPER LEVEL IN RED.
SO YOU ARE ALSO USING THE RED COLOR, UH, CONF WITHOUT CONFLICTS WITH THE CAR.
SO THAT CAN BE ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS IN YOUR CITY.
SO THE CHALLENGE IS TO MAKE CYCLING, UH, CONVENIENCE, PRACTICAL AND SAFE.
UH, 10 YEARS AGO WE MADE, UH, SOME NETWORKS, SO THEY THOUGHT IT'S STRANGE TO MAKE A NETWORK FOR CAUSE.
BUT YEAH, WE ARE THINKING ABOUT INTEGRATED NETWORKS AND ALSO THE COMBINATION OF TRANSIT AND BIKE.
AND THE THING IS IN THE MIDDLE, THERE'S NO ACCESS, NO CATCHMENT AREA, AND THERE'S THE UNIVERSITY.
SO, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, YOU MAKE THE TRANSI LINES ALSO FIRE THE UNIVERSITY.
UM, AND WE HAD ANOTHER WORKSHOP 10 YEARS AGO, SOUTH MAR CORRIDOR,
[03:20:01]
UH, TO MAKE IT, UH, AFFORDABLE FOR THE PEOPLE TO CROSS THE ROAD AND CYCLING AND WALKING AND INCLUDING THE FULL, UH, RIGHT OF WAY AND ALSO SOME IDEAS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, UH, PEOPLE.SO I WANTED TO BRIEFLY COVER KIND OF WHAT WAS COVERED IN THAT WORKSHOP CUZ IT REALLY BECAME THE PILLARS OF WHAT WE TOOK ON AFTER THAT.
SO THIS IS KIND OF A FOOTNOTE, BUT, UM, RIGHT AFTER THE WORKSHOPS, THE NATIONAL COLOR FOR BIKE LANES WAS CHOSEN TO BE GREEN, WHICH I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO THAT IN CONCRETE OR ASPHALT AND MAYBE LOOKS LIKE SEWAGE.
SO THAT'S JUST A FUNNY ANECDOTE.
THIRD STREET WAS THE FIRST PLACE WE PUT THAT ON THE GROUND.
AND WITH THE TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA MANUAL THAT WE JUST ADOPTED, THAT'S NOW OUR STANDARD COLOR.
SO IN THE 2014 BIKE PLAN, WE CRAFTED THIS KIND OF POLICY PIVOT FROM THE 2009 BIKE PLAN.
IT WAS HOW DO WE HAVE THE CITY MAKE BICYCLING BETTER? AND WE FLIPPED IT AROUND TO SAY, HOW CAN CYCLING AS A TOOL MAKE THE CITY BETTER AND MEET THE CITY'S GOALS? AND THAT'S GONNA BE A BIG FOCUS OF THIS WORKSHOP IN 2022.
WE ENVISION THAT FIRST ALL AGES AND ABILITIES NETWORK, WHICH WAS PROTECTED BIKE LANES PLUS NEIGHBORHOOD QUIET STREETS, PLUS CROSSING MAJOR INTERSECTIONS.
PLUS THERE HAD BEEN TRAILS AND THEY TOLD US TO CATCH SHORT TRIPS.
SO WE, UH, I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE UNITS ON THE TOOL THAT HE SHOWED IN THE SLIDES.
SO WE MADE OUR OWN AND THIS IS WHERE THE SHORT TRIPS ARE AND WE PLANNED TO NETWORK ON TOP OF THOSE SHORT TRIPS.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT FEEDING TRANSIT.
SO THAT INNER RADIUS IS THE WALKING RADIUS AND 16 TIMES BIGGER IS THE BICYCLING RADIUS.
SO WE'RE GONNA BEND AGAIN, BE THINKING ABOUT THE PROJECT CONNECT, YOU KNOW, NORTH LAMAR, SOUTH CONGRESS ON TOPS BLUE LINE, HOW CAN WE FEED TRANSIT, UH, MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH BICYCLE RADIUS.
IN ADDITION TO WALKING RADIUS, WE ALSO LOOKED AT HOW FAST CAN WE MAKE THE CHANGE.
SO THIS WAS IN 2014, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE 2016 BOND OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT WE LOOKED AT SEIA AND THEY DID, IN THREE YEARS, THEY ACHIEVED THE MODE SHARE THAT PORTLAND, OREGON ACHIEVED OVER 20 YEARS OF INVESTMENT.
AND IT WAS BECAUSE THEY, THEY BUILT IN ALL AGES AND ABILITIES BIKE NETWORK AND THEY HAD A HUGE BIKE SHARE AND THEY DID IT VERY QUICKLY.
SO WE, WE SAID WE WANTED TO MODEL ON THAT KIND OF PARADIGM.
CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? SO WE DID AN ANALYSIS ON IF WE CAUGHT THE 15% OF SHORT TRIPS UNDER THREE MILES BY BICYCLE, WHERE THAT NETWORK WAS.
WE, WE FOUND THAT WE COULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF MOTOR VEHICLE TRIPS TO THE DOWNTOWN BY 7%.
WE LOOKED AT THAT IN, AT THE TIME, THE NORTH, UH, MOPAC, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
THE MANAGED LANE PROJECT WAS A $200 MILLION REGIONAL PROJECT THAT ALSO BROUGHT ABOUT 20,000 TRIPS, MOTOR VEHICLE TRIPS TO DOWNTOWN, UH, INVESTING IN THE WHOLE BICYCLE NETWORK, NOT JUST A PROJECT WAS VERY EQUAL IN TERMS OF COST BENEFIT IS THAT NETWORK INVESTMENT.
BUT IT ALSO CAME WITH ALL THESE OTHER ADDITIONAL BENEFITS BEYOND PURE MOBILITY.
SO DIRECT SAVINGS COSTS TO, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAVELING, HEALTH BENEFITS, CARBON BENEFITS.
SO IN THE BUILDUP TO THE 2016 BOND, THE NUMBER ONE REQUEST THROUGH THE MOBILITY ATX KIND OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WAS FULLY FUNDING THAT ALL AGES AND ABILITIES NETWORK.
SO 2016 WE VOTED AS A COMMUNITY ON 720 MILLION.
OUR MOST PROGRESSIVE AT THE TIME MOBILITY BOND.
UH, HUGE TESTAMENT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
AND THAT REALLY STARTED THIS AGE OF THE PROGRAMS WHERE INSTEAD OF NAMED PROJECTS, THESE ARE PROGRAMS AND I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT IT IN A SECOND.
AND THEN IN 2020 WE RE-UPPED THAT AGAIN AND SAID THAT WE HAD MORE TO DO AND THIS WAS A EVEN MORE PROGRESSIVE KIND OF MIX OF INFRASTRUCTURE AT 420 MILLION.
THIS CHART IS AMAZING CUZ IT SHOWS IN THE GREEN LINE THE CUMULATIVE INVESTMENT FOR BICYCLE AND TRAIL IN THE CITY'S HISTORY BACK TO 1998.
AND YOU CAN SEE IN 2016 IT ECLIPSED EVERYTHING BEFORE THAT IN 2020, BUMPED IT UP NEARLY AGAIN.
SO WE'RE ON THIS EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF TRYING TO TACKLE THIS, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WASN'T INVESTED IN.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE FOUNDATION BEFORE THAT LEAP WAS, UM, OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE GREEN LANE PROJECT, WHICH, UH, BROUGHT US THE FIRST STUDY TOURS, UM, THE THINK BIKE EVENT IN 2013 AND THE BICYCLE PLAN ADOPTION IN 2014.
AND THAT LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR US GETTING THERE.
SO THE PROGRAMS, UH, I FEEL PARTICULARLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS THE AGE OF THE 2016 AND 2020 BONDS.
SO PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF NAME PROJECTS GENERALLY, CUZ NAME PROJECTS HAVE A PLACE WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT SOME BIG ONES, BUT PROGRAMS FOLLOW THEIR PRIORITIZATION PLANS, UH, THEY'RE FLEXIBLE TO SEASONAL OPPORTUNITY.
[03:25:01]
WE COULD WRITE A HUNDRED PAGE WHITE PAPER ON HOW POWERFUL THIS HAS BEEN IN KIND OF THE MODERN AGE OF THESE PROGRAMS. IT ALLOWS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST BUILDING WITH THE PUBLIC.SO WE, UH, DO WHAT WE SAY AND, YOU KNOW, WE DELIVER THAT AND, AND WE WARRANTY OUR WORK.
AND IT ALLOWS, LIKE, THE SPECIALIZATION TO BUILD CAPACITY BUILDING IN THESE AREAS.
IT'S, IT'S VERY TRICKY TO BUILD THESE INTEGRATED MOBILITY SYSTEMS. SO WE'RE, WE HAVE A TEAM WORKING ON URBAN TRAILS, WE HAVE A TEAM WORKING ON BIKEWAYS.
WE HAVE A TEAM WORKING ON SAFE ROUTES.
WE REALLY DEPEND ON OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC PROCESSES FOR, FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST PROUD OF AND, UH, HUGE, UH, CREDIT TO LAURA DARFIELD, OUR PROGRAM MANAGER, ANIQUE BODAY, WHO CHARTERED THESE PUBLIC PROCESSES BEFORE, UH, 200 PROJECTS OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS THAT HAD PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS, 130 MILES OF STREETS.
NOT ONE OF THEM REMOVED, ALL OF THEM MADE BETTER BECAUSE WE LISTEN HARD WHEN WE TAKE IDEAS TO THE PUBLIC.
SO THIS IS A QUICK KIND OF, UH, TIME LAPSE OF WHAT THE NETWORK WAS LIKE.
SO BACK IN 20 10, 20 12, THIS IS AGAIN TO THE ALL AGES AND ABILITIES STANDARD.
SO YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO, YOUR 80 YEAR OLD GRANDPARENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO BIKE WITH YOUR 80 OLD KID.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE NETWORK IS DEEPLY FRAGMENTED.
THERE'S NOT OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO GET FROM A TO B.
SO MUELLER DEVELOPMENT FIRST SECTION IN 2012, UH, OF PROTECTED BIKE LANE, THEY'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB THERE.
I'VE, SO I'M GONNA SHARE PICTURES OF WHAT THINGS LOOKED LIKE BEFORE, WHICH SOME OF US MAY NOT EVEN REMEMBER.
SO THIS IS WEST CAMPUS, RIO GRANDE
AND THIS IS, WE GOT SOMEBODY EMOTING TO US, UH, WITH A VIDEO OF, UH, USE RATES IN WEST CAMPUS THAT LOOKED LIKE ANOTHER COUNTRY 2012 TO 2014.
YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THINGS STARTING TO COME ONLINE.
THE DRAG USED TO LOOK LIKE THIS BACK WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE.
NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THIS AND I THINK IT'S GONNA CHANGE AGAIN IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.
SO THEN WALNUT CREEK TRAIL, UH, GREAT EIGHT MILE TRAIL, THE BOARDWALK, OF COURSE, THAT WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A NAMED PROJECT.
UM, 2014 TO 2016, YOU CAN SEE THINGS STARTING.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS RIGHT WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE RESOURCE, UH, TAKE THE DUTCH ADVICE OF SPENDING MORE MONEY ON BIKES.
THIRD STREET, Y'ALL REMEMBER YOUR FRONT DOOR.
UH, THIS IS WHAT IT USED TO LOOK LIKE.
ONE IN TWO WAY FOUR AND FIVE FOR THE THREE AND FOUR LANES.
NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THIS, OBVIOUSLY 2016 TO 2018, YOU CAN SEE WE'RE REALLY STARTING TO RAMP UP THE PROGRAM.
YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO HIRE THE STAFF, BUILD THE CAPACITY, START DEVELOPING THE PROJECTS, CONDUCT THOSE PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS.
THIS IS THE BRIDGE OVER BARTON CREEK, ALONG MOPAC SOLVING A BIG BARRIER TO THE SOUTHWEST.
THIS WAS LIKE A 15 MILLION GRANT FUNDED COLLABORATION WITH THEM IN 2020.
YOU CAN SEE THE EFFECT OF THE 2016 BOND.
NOW, LIKE, UH, THE DASH LINES HERE ARE STUFF THAT'S ACTIVE BUT NOT ON THE GROUND.
UH, AGAIN, BACK IN THE MUELLER DEVELOPMENT, THIS IS ZACH SCOTT STREET, THE NEWS SECTION.
AND THEN THIS IS THE RETROFIT ON THE OLD SECTION THAT WAS, UH, FIRST BUILT 10 YEARS PRIOR.
AND ALL THE KIDS AND FAMILIES BIKING TO MAPLEWOOD ELEMENTARY.
I MEAN THE, IT'S AMAZING TO SEE A PICTURE LIKE THAT THAT WAS SENT TO US.
SHO CREEK BOULEVARD USED TO LOOK LIKE THIS.
NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THIS INTERSECTIONS, UH, WE SPEND MORE MONEY ON INTERSECTIONS THAT ARE TRICKIER.
SO WE HAVE THIS NICE GET COVERAGE AND HAVE QUALITY, HAVE OUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO.
UH, Y'ALL WE'RE A HUGE PART OF THIS ONE.
UH, BUT IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE ON CONGRESS BEFORE 2020, RIGHT?
Y'ALL TOLD US TO DO IT VERY QUICKLY AND THEN WE WERE PAINTING IT.
THIS IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE GHOST, UH, BIKE MEMORIAL AND WE'RE MAKING WORKING TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER.
TERRY ROAD DOWN IN DOVE SPRINGS.
THIS WAS A FOUR AND FIVE LANE NEIGHBORHOOD STREET WITH KIDS LIVING LIKE FRONT DOORS, 60 TO 50 TO 60 MILE AN HOUR TRAVEL SPEEDS.
AND THIS IS WHAT IT'S LIKE NOW.
MUCH CALMER, MORE APPROPRIATE STREET PLUS SALT.
BIG COLLABORATION WITH CAT METRO TO GET THIS RIGHT.
THEY SHIFTED THEIR TRACKS FOR US.
THEY MOVED THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE A LITTLE.
AND NOW THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
UH, WE GOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THAT DEVELOPMENT AS WELL, DOWNTOWN STATION.
AND IN 2020 WE BET WE MET OUR 50%, UH, ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.
BUILD OUT GOALS SIX MONTHS LATE, UM, IN THE MIDDLE OF, YOU KNOW, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC WITH SUPPLY SHORTAGES.
BUT I, I FEEL REALLY PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BEND AND RAMP UP THE PRODUCTION OF, OF ALL THOSE PROJECTS AND CONVERSATIONS, UH, TO MEET THAT.
SO FROM 2020 TO 2022, EVEN MORE PROJECTS.
[03:30:01]
JEN AND OLIN, THIS IS IN NORTH AUSTIN.UH, THIS IS AN AMAZING TRANSFORMATION.
RAIN GARDENS, PROTECTED BIKE LANES.
UH, LOTS OF GREAT RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS AS PART OF ATX WALK BY ROLE SAYING, PEOPLE JUST TALK ABOUT THIS INTERSECTION.
I KNOW Y'ALL ARE, SOME OF Y'ALL ARE WATCHING THIS ONE VERY CLOSELY.
I THINK WE HAD A PUBLIC MEETING AND THEN TWO WEEKS LATER, WE HAVE AMAZING PARTNERS THAT ARE VERY QUICK, UH, IN THE WAY THEY CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
WE WERE IN CONSTRUCTION, THIS HAD NO SIDEWALK, UM, AND SOME SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES.
THIS IS A PICTURE FROM THE EIGHTIES WHEN THE JERSEY BARRIERS WENT IN BECAUSE SOMEBODY DROVE OFF, UM, OUT THAT GUARDRAIL.
THIS IS WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR DECADES BECAUSE OF THAT INCIDENT.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO WITH OUR PROGRAMMATIC APPROACHES.
SO WE'RE NOW LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE AND THERE'S SOME EXCITING THINGS JUST TO PEEK AT.
WISHBONE BRIDGE IS THAT ALMOST 90% DESIGN RIGHT NOW.
UM, IT'S GONNA HAVE A TUNNEL TO GRA A PARK.
UM, WE DID THE SOUTH OF OUR CORRIDOR PLAN, UH, OR THE FIRST VISIONS OF IT, WHICH BECAME A REAL CORRIDOR PLAN, WHICH BECAME A HALF BILLION DOLLAR CORRIDOR PROGRAM ON NINE CORRIDORS.
AND THOSE ARE GOING TO CONSTRUCTION.
THIS IS A RENDERING FOR SOUTH AMAR CONGRESS BRIDGE OBVIOUSLY WAS IN THE, OR.
CONGRESS AVENUE WAS IN THE 2020 BOND.
SO LIKE THIS NEXT STEP WILL LIKELY BE A REALITY, UH, TAKING, TAKING WHAT Y'ALL ASKED US TO DO TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
AND THEN WITH PROJECT CONNECT, YOU KNOW, PLANNING THOSE MULTIMODAL STREETS, PLANNING HOW WE FEED TRANSIT WITH OUR PROGRAMMATIC APPROACHES IS A VERY EXCITING TIME.
SO, KIND OF WRAPPING UP HERE, THIS IS AMSTERDAM'S BIKE NETWORK.
THESE ARE ALL THE SAME SCALES.
NEW AMSTERDAM, WHICH IS NEW YORK.
UM, THEIR BIKE NETWORK AND OURS IN 2026 AND BEYOND WILL NOT BE SO DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF HOW FINE GRAIN AND, UH, THEIR QUALITY WILL BE HIGHER, WILL BE GETTING THERE.
AND JUST REALLY QUICKLY ON, UH, THINK BY 2022.
SO WE'RE GONNA, UH, THE DUTCH, I'VE HEARD IT NOW, BUT WE'LL HAVE 145 PEOPLE, COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF OF ALL DIFFERENT STRIPES, UH, CITY STAFF.
AND WE'LL GET TO TELL THIS STORY ABOUT THIS, UH, AMAZING KIND OF TRANSFORMATION AND WHERE THE KNOWLEDGE CAME FROM.
WELL LET THE DUTCH GIVE US A 2.0 WORKSHOP.
AND THE THREE WORKSHOPS THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE ON IS WITH ATX BLOCK WALK, BIKE ROLE.
WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT ALL THESE OTHER INTERSECTIONAL PLANNING ISSUES.
SO AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, UH, LAND USE, CLIMATE SHADE, LIKE THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE'RE, HOW WE CONNECT TO TRANSIT.
AND THEN INFRASTRUCTURE SAFE SYSTEMS. SO WE HAVE A VISION ZERO OFFICE NOW.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT 10 YEARS AGO.
SO, AND THE DUTCH OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD AT THE SAFE SYSTEMS, UH, APPROACH.
AND THE LAST, HOW DO WE FEED TRANSIT WITH BIKES, UH, AND, AND TO CLOSE OF COURSE A PICTURE OF A VERY FAMOUS BIKE RIDE.
I THINK THIS IS INTERNATIONALLY FAMOUS.
I WILL SAY THAT IS A REAL THING.
WHEN I WAS IN THE NETHERLANDS, EVERYONE WOULD BRING UP, OH, YOUR MAYOR RODE BIKE WITH OUR QUEEN
I'LL, I'LL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'LL JUST HAVE A COUPLE MORE CLOSING COMMENTS.
AND I KNOW THERE'S COLLEAGUES THAT MAY HAVE QUESTIONS OR OTHER STATEMENTS THEY WANNA MAKE, BUT THAT DESIGN OF THE LONGHORN DAN BRIDGE MOVED SO FAST, I SWEAR SOMEONE HAD THE PLANS IN THEIR BACK POCKET AND THE SECOND THERE WAS MONEY TO DO IT, SOMEONE JUST SAID, I'VE ALREADY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE PEOPLE MOVING FAST ON THAT.
UM, I, I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW, IT DOES TAKE COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
IT'S GONNA TAKE TEXT DOT, IT'S GONNA TAKE CAMPO GETTING MORE INVOLVED IN THIS TYPE OF PLANNING.
UM, THE CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY AND OF COURSE THE PROJECT CONNECT TEAM REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT CREATIVE WAYS TO NOT BE EXCLUDING BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS FROM THESE PUBLIC SPACES BECAUSE THE ROADS ARE PUBLIC SPACES AS WELL.
I KNOW I HAVE VERY, UH, SPECIFIC PROJECTS TO MY DISTRICT THAT PEOPLE LOVE, LIKE THE BRIDGE OVER BARTON CREEK, UM, THE VIOLET CROWN TRAIL.
AND THEN I HAVE FOLKS ALL THE WAY AS FAR AS SOUTH AS MERIDIAN, TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR EXTENDING THE SHARED USE PATH FROM SH 45 SOUTHWEST ALL THE WAY OVER TO 1826.
I, SO I KNOW WE ALL HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE CONTINUALLY COMING UP WITH GOOD IDEAS FOR THIS, THIS TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, BUT I JUST ABOVE ALL ELSE, JUST WANNA THANK LIKE OUR COMMUNITY THAT KEEPS SUPPORTING TRANSPORTATION BONDS AND MOBILITY BONDS BECAUSE WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT, UM, THEY'RE REALLY JUST IDEAS.
BUT PEOPLE ARE REALLY STARTING TO ACCEPT THAT THIS IS A SAFE SPACE FOR THEM AND THAT THEY CAN GET MORE CREATIVE WITH THEIR, WITH THEIR SMALLER TRIPS.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE PRESENTATION AND I'M HAPPY THAT YOU GATHERED THIS ALL IN ONE PLACE, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THE, THE TIMELINE.
UH, YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STAFF.
THE, NOT ONLY FOR GETTING THIS
[03:35:01]
DONE, BUT AS I RECALL WHEN WE DID THE 2016 BOND, THERE WAS A LOT OF, UH, DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW QUICKLY WE COULD GET THAT PLACED.UH, AND, AND THE COUNCIL'S INSTRUCTION WAS TO GET IT ALL DONE IN EIGHT YEARS.
AND THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T THINK THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN.
UH, BUT IT'S HAPPENING AND, AND IT'S HAPPENING PRETTY CLOSE TO THE SCHEDULE AND IT'S HAPPENING IN A WAY THAT IS EXTRAORDINARILY TRANSPARENT AND OPEN FOR, FOR EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO SEE.
I'M NOT SURE WE'VE HAD A BOND THAT COULD BE TRACKED IN REAL TIME.
THE WAY THAT THE 2016 BOND WAS, WAS SET UP.
UH, AND I THINK IT'S BECOME KIND OF THE MODEL FOR HOW WE REPORT BONDING IN, IN OTHER, OTHER DISCIPLINES.
BUT EVERYBODY HAD SOME PICTURES AND YOU HAD THE, THE, THE PICTURES, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I HAVE THREE.
I WANTED TO SHOW IF CTM COULD PULL THOSE UP.
I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE TRIP TO NORTHERN EUROPE TO DO A BICYCLE TOUR WITH, UH, UH, THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION AND WITH THE THEN MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND.
NOW THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION.
UM, YOU HAD A PICTURE, IF YOU PULL THAT ONE BACK UP.
THIS IS THERE YOU GO TO THE OTHER TWO.
UH,
THERE ARE TWO THAT SHOW THE BICYCLE GARAGE.
THERE WAS A PICTURE THAT YOU HAD, UM, IN THE, IN THE PACKET THAT I JUST WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO.
AND THERE WAS A SIMILAR ONE, THOSE TWO FOR JUST A SECOND.
UM, THE, UH, DISCUSSION WITH RESPECT TO BICYCLES AND WHETHER PEOPLE WOULD RIDE THEM IN TEXAS, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED FOR, FOR 10 YEARS SINCE IT STARTED.
AND BACK IN, IN 2012, UH, IN DOING THAT TRIP, I WAS ALWAYS TAKEN BY THE PICTURES OF WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE IN AMSTERDAM IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES AND IN THE LATE SIXTIES, UH, WHERE THE CITY WAS AS CAR CENTRIC AS, AS AUSTIN HAD THE SAME KIND OF OF CONGESTION ISSUES THAT, THAT WE HAD.
AND THERE'S NOTHING JUST INHERENT ABOUT THE, UH, THOSE COUNTRIES OR THAT PART OF THE, OF THE WORLD.
BUT WHEN A, A COMMUNITY GETS TOGETHER AND I THINK PRECIPITATED IN NORTHERN EUROPE BY SOME PRETTY TRAGIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CHILDREN, UH, TO MAKE THE BICYCLE NETWORK SAFE.
AND THEN REALIZING AS SOON AS IT BECAME SAFE, EVERYBODY STARTED USING IT.
BUT THIS IS A, A STRUCTURED PARKING GARAGE IN AMSTERDAM WITH, WITH I THINK 27,000 BICYCLES, UH, IN IT.
IF YOU GO TO THE OTHER PICTURE OF THE SAME THING, UM, IT'S JUST, IT'S AN AMAZING THING TO SEE.
I'M SURE THAT EVERYBODY SEES IT ON THEIR, ON THEIR TOUR, BUT THERE'S, UH, IT JUST GOES TO SHOW WHAT UTILIZATION LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S SOMETHING IS SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO USE.
AND THE RECURRENT THING THAT YOU ALWAYS HEAR WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT AMSTERDAM OR COPENHAGEN, UH, OR OSLO, IS THAT, THAT'S NOT TEXAS.
UM, UH, BUT AGAIN, THE PICTURES IN OSLO AND IN COPENHAGEN IN THE LATE SIXTIES AND EARLY SEVENTIES, THE TRAFFIC ON THE STREETS LOOK EXACTLY LIKE IT, LIKE IT IS IN AUSTIN.
UH, BUT YOU ALWAYS HEAR THE QUESTION THAT, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T RIDE BICYCLES IN TEXAS BECAUSE IT'S TOO HOT TO DO THAT.
NOW YOU CAN SHOW THE NEXT PICTURE CUZ I, I CARRIED THIS IN MY WALLET AND KEPT SHOWING IT TO PEOPLE FOR, FOR FOUR YEARS STRAIGHT.
THIS IS, THIS IS A STREET IN AMSTERDAM, UH, IN THE SNOW.
UH, AND, AND PEOPLE ARE OUT IN, IN, IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF MAKING SURE YOU WEAR THE RIGHT CLOTHES.
UM, BUT, BUT STILL THE SYSTEM STILL STILL STILL WORK.
AND YOU CAN TAKE PICTURES OFF, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, THE CHART THAT YOU SHOW THAT SHOWS THE LEVEL OF BICYCLE MOBILITY CHOICE BEING MADE BEING VIRTUALLY CONSTANT AT JUST OVER 1%, UH, IN OUR CITY, UH, ALL THE WAY FROM 1990 UNTIL, UH, YOU KNOW, UP TO 10, EIGHT TO 10 YEARS AGO.
AND CONTRAST THAT PICTURE WITH THE OTHER SLIDE, AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PAGE NUMBERS ON YOUR SLIDE.
ALRIGHT, WE CALLED OUT PAGE NUMBERS, BUT JUST THE, THE, THE REAL INCREASE THAT STARTED OCCURRING WITH THE 2016 BOND, AS YOU RECALL, WHEN WE DID THE 2016 BOND, UH, AND DID IT AT $720 MILLION, THERE WAS A LOT OF, THAT WAS A REALLY MOMENT OF DECISION AND CHOICE FOR THE CITY.
UP TO THAT POINT, CUMULATIVELY IN THE PROCEEDING 20 YEARS, OUR CITY HAD DONE ABOUT $632 MILLION IN BOND FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IN TOTAL, CUMULATIVELY FOR A 20 YEAR PERIOD OF TIME.
AND AS I RECALL, WHEN WE WERE DOING THE 2016 BOND, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT FIRST SHOULD WE DO IT AT ALL? AND IF WE
[03:40:01]
DID IT, WHAT SHOULD THE AMOUNT BE? AND THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THEN THAT WERE SUGGESTING THAT IT SHOULD BE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OR $150 MILLION.UM, BUT THE, BUT THE COMMUNITY AND, AND THIS COUNCIL, UH, IT'S COUNCIL AND BEGINNING OF THE TEN ONE COUNCIL, UH, ELECTED TO GO TO 720 MILLION, WHICH WAS INCREDIBLY AMBITIOUS PROJECT AT THE TIME, MORE THAN WE HAD DONE IN THE PROCEEDING 20 YEARS ALL AT ONCE.
UH, AND IT PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY, UH, IN, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE PICTURES OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THAT 2016 BOND GETS BUILT OUT THROUGH 2024, THEN FOLLOWING IT UP IN 2018 WITH A BOND, THE BOND DID 2020.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AS CHAIR OF THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE THAT YOU HAD, COUNCIL MEMBER OF KITCHEN AS CHAIR OF THE MOBILITY, UH, COMMITTEE FOR, UM, THE, THE FIRST SIX YEARS OF THE TEN ONE COUNCIL.
BUT THEN THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, THE MEMBERS THAT HAVE SERVED ON, ON CAMPO AND ON TRANSPORTATION AND PUSHED THIS AGENDA, THE MEMBERS THAT HAVE SERVED ON CAP METRO, UH, AND HAVE PUSHED THIS, UH, I THINK IT IS, IT IS CORRECT TO REFER TO THIS PERIOD AS THE, AS THE GOLDEN AGE OF MOBILITY FOR THIS CITY IN TERMS OF ADVANCEMENTS.
AND WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE BICYCLE NETWORK IN 20 14, 20 15, IT WAS ALMOST ASPIRATIONAL.
AND WE HAD PEOPLE THAT WERE BEGINNING TO SEE WHAT IT COULD BE IN PLANNING THAT STARTED.
BUT THE DECISIONS THAT WE'VE MADE ACCELERATED THE COMPLETION OF THAT FROM SOMETHING THAT WOULD'VE BEEN MAYBE INTO THE 2030S TO A PLACE WHERE 50% OF THE, OF THE, OF THE NETWORK HAS BEEN BUILT OUT AT THIS POINT.
AND THE PROJECTION IS THAT IN LATE 2025 WILL COMPLETE THE ENTIRE 400 MILES IN THE, IN THE NETWORK.
UH, IS SOMETHING TO BE REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF.
UM, WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THE TEN ONE COUNCIL AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT IT'S MADE TO THIS CITY, UH, AND CERTAINLY EVERYTHING WE DID WAS BUILT ON THE SHOULDERS OF, OF ACTIONS AND PLANNING THAT CAME BEFORE US.
BUT IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THE TED ONE COUNCIL, THE WORK WE DID WITH MOBILITY AND MOBILITY CHOICES IN ADVANCING, UM, THE, THE CITY, UM, WORKING WITH THE STAFF MOTIVATED TO DELIVER THAT TO THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY, UH, UH, REMARKABLE.
UH, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AWARDS ASSOCIATED WITH WITH THAT, WITH THAT WORK.
UH, WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT WORK AND IT'S JUST REALLY PROUD TO, TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THE MENTORSHIP THAT'S COME TO US FROM THE, FROM THE NETHERLANDS.
AND I'LL JUST CONCLUDE WITH, UH, THE PICTURE OF ME AND THE QUEEN.
AMAZING TO SEE HER GET ON THE BICYCLE, LONG DRESS HIGH HEELED SHOES, JUMPING ON TOP OF THE BICYCLE.
UH, MY STAFF, AS I EXPLAINED TO THE GROUP OVER LUNCH, WAS INCREDIBLY NERVOUS ABOUT ME DOING THAT BICYCLE RIDE
UM, AND, AND THEIR CONCERN WAS REALLY SIMPLE.
MY ONLY INSTRUCTION WAS DON'T EVER BICYCLE IN FRONT OF THE QUEEN.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT WAS, WAS THAT THEY KNEW THAT I WOULD PROBABLY FALL OFF AND WHEN I FELL OFF, THEY DIDN'T WANT ME TO DISTURB THE QUEEN AND PAUSE HER TO FALL OFF.
SO I'VE ALWAYS HAD TO STAY LIKE HALF A BICYCLE BEHIND HER FOR, FOR, FOR THAT.
AND I MANAGED TO MAKE IT, UH, THE QUEEN OF COURSE MADE IT.
UH, AND, UH, UH, SHE WAS INCREDIBLY GRACIOUS AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT A QUEEN TO, TO BE MAYOR COUNCIL OUR KITCHEN.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER 30TH, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.
AND, AND, UM, I, I'M JUST VERY PROUD OF WHAT, UM, EVERYONE TOGETHER HAS DONE, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR STAFF AND ALL OF US ON COUNCIL.
AND AS YOU MENTIONED THAT THE BOND THAT SEEMS WAY BACK WHEN NOW THAT REALLY KICKED OFF A LOT OF WHAT WE DID.
I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING MORE OTHER THAN I DO WANNA POINT OUT JUST TWO PROJECTS.
ONE OF 'EM IS THE BARTON HILLS, UM, BICYCLE WAY ON BARTON HILLS DRIVE.
AND I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT.
THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE AFTER A REALLY HORRIBLE ACCIDENT, UH, ON THAT ROAD.
UM, AND THE, THE, IT'S REALLY HELPED SLOW DOWN THE ROAD.
PLUS IT'S JUST A GREAT, UH, CONNECTION THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, TO THE, THE SOUTH AND TO THE NORTH.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT OUR STAFF DID TO GET THAT, UH, IN PLACE SO QUICKLY.
AND THEN FINALLY, I HAVE TO GIVE KUDOS TO, UM, TO COUNCIL MEMBER RENT.
[03:45:01]
FOR A LONG TIME ON THE BSRO SPUR AND I'M SO EXCITED THAT WE'RE FINALLY TO THE POINT WHERE THAT'S GONNA BE A, A, UM, MIXED USED AREA OR TRAIL AND, UM, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN AND OTHER THINGS ALONG IT.AND SO, COUNCIL MEMBER R TEARY, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR A LONG TIME AND WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER ON THAT FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND I'M PLEASED WE'RE FINALLY GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE GONNA SEE IT HAPPEN.
SO, UM, SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY.
YEAH, I, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK, UH, MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING US WITH THAT BOND ELECTION IN 2016.
AND THE VOTERS, UH, THAT CONVINCED ME TO BUY MY BIKE.
I HAVE AN ELECTRIC ONE, I'M 72 YEARS OLD, SO I HAVE BAD KNEES.
SO I BOUGHT MY BIKE AND I HAD LAST MONTH, I, I EXCEEDED MY GOAL.
I COMPLETED 4,000 MILES ON MY ELECTRIC BIKE.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR BUILDING SUCH BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE ON THE, UH, LONGHORN, UH, BIKE PATH.
WE STARTED THAT TWO YEARS INTO MY CONSOLE AND THEY CAME AND SAID IT WAS JUST A SIMPLE BRIDGE CONNECTED FROM ONE POINT TO THE OTHER.
IT'S NOT SAFE TO RIDE YOUR BIKE.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE, UH, UH, VIDEOS THERE THAT, UH, SHOW YOU THAT HOW NARROW THAT LITTLE, I HAD TO GET OUT AND WALK ACROSS THAT BRIDGE CUZ PEDESTRIANS WAS ALSO JOGGING IN THAT, BACK AND FORTH ON THAT.
AND, UH, UH, AND WHEN WE WENT TO THE VOTERS TO DO THAT IMPROVEMENT, THEY CAME BACK WITH THAT WITCH BONE.
AND I, MY, MY GOODNESS, OUR PLAN WAS ONLY GONNA BE $3 MILLION.
THIS ONE, THE VOTERS SAID, NOW WE WANT A $14 MILLION ONE.
I WAS SO HAPPY YOU KNOW THAT IT PASSED, BUT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO SEE THESE KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURES TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, SAFETY COMES FIRST FOR, FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING OUR CHILDREN.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, THAT SCARES THE PARENTS THE MOST, IS HAVING THEIR CHILDREN RIDING A BICYCLE IN A VERY UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT, THAT WE CONTINUE THAT NOW.
I FEEL SO GOOD NOW THAT KNOWING THAT EVEN WHEN I LEAVE THE DIAS HERE, THE, THE COUNCIL, THAT THERE'S GONNA BE PEOPLE PUSHING IT ON.
AND I WANNA SAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO STAY ON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH CUZ I'M JUST WAITING FOR THAT WHOLE IMPROVEMENT TO HAPPEN.
THE WALL CREEK AND, UH, ALSO THE GREEN LINE THAT'S GOING ON THE EAST SIDE AND CONNECTING TO GO VALLEY AND THAT LINE OUT THERE.
SO WE'RE PUTTING A LOT OF RESOURCES IN THERE, AND OUR GOAL IS TO COMPLETE ALL OF THOSE LINES.
IT'S, AND IT, FOR A 72 YEAR OLD MAN THAT WAS, HAD A LOT OF HEALTH PROBLEMS, IT SAVED MY LIFE.
LET ME TELL YOU ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO EVERYBODY ON BACK ROOMS THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS GREAT JOB.
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S LITERALLY A VILLAGE.
THOSE BONDS, UH, BUILT THE CAPACITY TO DO THE WORK.
THERE ARE LIKE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WORKING TO SHIFT THE WAY WE THINK AND DEVELOP OUR MOBILITY SYSTEM.
SO IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH ALL OF THEM.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S HIT SOME OF THE, UH, PULLED ITEMS AND THEN WE'LL GET TO THE LAST PRESENTATION.
UM, COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE GONE OVER, UH, SOME OF THE PULLED ITEMS, BUT CERTAINLY WE HAD SOME MEMBERS THAT WEREN'T HERE AS YOU WANTED TO RAISE ANYTHING.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 23, UM, THE ABILITY TO, TO CURE WAS THE TOPIC OF THE, OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, I ALSO INDICATED THAT, UH, AS PART OF THAT CONVERSATION THAT I WOULD BE PULLING IN THE OTHER TENANT, ONE PROBABLY WITH A COMPROMISE, UH, ON THE ISSUE OF, OF, OF ESTABLISHING THE RIGHT TO CURE.
UH, BUT HAVING LESS THAN THE 21 DAYS PROPOSED BY SOME STAKEHOLDERS, UM, PERHAPS, UH, LIMITING ITS APPLICATION TO UNITS ABOVE A CERTAIN SIZE, AT LEAST FOR SIX MONTHS TO ASSESS WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE IN FACT PROBLEMS OR CHALLENGES ALLOWING FOR FURTHER WORK AFTER THAT, IF THERE'S, UH, NOT PUTTING IN A PROVISION THAT, UH, UH, DOES NOT ALLOW THE COST SECURE TO REPEATED VIOLATIONS LIKE BRINGING IN UNAUTHORIZED GUESTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT, THAT,
[03:50:01]
THAT SHOULDN'T BE WORKING ON THE WORDING ON THAT.BUT WE'LL HOPEFULLY POST SOMETHING, UH, THIS AFTERNOON OR TOMORROW.
UM, UH, I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE THE AGREEMENT OF SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS ON BOTH SIDES, BUT MAYBE NOT EVERYBODY, BUT IT'LL BE WHAT, WHAT I RECOMMEND TO THE, TO THE DA IS AS THE SWEET SPOT.
CAN I JUST ASK FOR CLARIFICATION? I'M SORRY, I HAD TO STEP OFF THE DIAS.
I WENT TO THE, UM, AUSTIN ED FUND LUNCHEON.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER AND LAID OUT THIS PROPOSAL.
I'LL GO BACK TO THE TAPE AND, AND WATCH THAT.
UH, WE ALSO, UH, BRIEFLY WENT OVER THE, UM, UH, BALANCING DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENT, UH, ISSUE.
UH, AND, UH, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE THIS MORNING SPOKE IN FAVOR OF IT.
NO ONE IDENTIFIED ANY ONGOING CONCERNS THAT WEREN'T ADDRESSED IN THE, UH, REWRITE.
UM, AND THEN, UH, WE ALSO HIT, UH, 45 WHERE STAFF WAS RECOMMENDING, UH, THAT WE PUSH INTO THE PHASE TWO ANALYSIS, THE, UH, UH, DOWNSTREAM, DAMN DOWNSTREAM, A BUFFER.
AND I HANDED OUT, UH, AN AMENDMENT THAT I WOULD BE BRINGING AS I DID THIS MORNING.
UM, BOTH ONE AND TWO, A COUNCIL MEMBER POOL POINTED OUT THAT IN NUMBER TWO, IT DIDN'T NEED TO SAY THE GREEN, UM, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE.
THOSE ARE, THOSE REGS ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED.
SO WE'LL PUBLISH A, A V2 OF THAT MOTION.
TWO, UH, THAT TAKES OUT THE, UH, UH, UH, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.
UH, AND THAT'S HOW FAR WE'VE GOTTEN THIS MORNING.
UH, SO CAN STAFF ADVISE ME ABOUT THE RULES PROCESS? IT'S BEEN AWHILE SINCE WE TALKED ABOUT IT AS I UNDER, I'M NOT SURE, MAYOR, I HAVE TO GIVE A LITTLE THOUGHT.
MAYBE YOU CAN JUST GIVE ME ONE OR TWO LINES.
I DON'T WANNA BACKTRACK US, BUT SINCE THE RULES DON'T COME BACK TO COUNSEL, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING HERE THAT, ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT WE TAKE, WE TAKE SOME OF THESE OUT OF THE ORDINANCE PROCESS AND PUT INTO RULES? WHAT I WAS SUGGESTING WAS IS THAT IN SOME OF THE ORDINANCES WERE APPROVING THE STANDARD SAYS, SEE THE CRITERIA MANUAL.
SO IF THERE IS NO CRITERIA MANUAL, CUZ IT HASN'T BEEN DEVELOPED YET.
SO THERE'S NO NOTICE AS TO WHAT THEY WOULD BE.
SO THE QUESTIONS THAT I'M HEARING FROM PEOPLE ARE SIMILAR TO THE QUESTIONS I HEARD BACK WHEN WE WERE DOING THE TRANSPORTATION ORDINANCE.
SO WE ADOPTED AT THAT TIME A PROCEDURE FOR DOING THE CRITERIA MANUAL ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSPORTATION.
PEOPLE GOT NOTICE, UH, THERE WAS AN AIRING OF ISSUES.
SO BASICALLY ALL THAT DOES IS PULL BACK HERE EXACTLY THE SAME PROCESS WE DO THAT WORKS SO WELL IN THE TRANSPORTATION, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF TRI TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA MANUAL.
AND SO, AND AS ANOTHER PIECE OF IT, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE REQUIREMENTS WOULDN'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THE RULES ARE FINALIZED.
AND PROCESS, IT'S, IT'S IDENTICAL AS BEST WE COULD TO WHAT WE DID IN TRANSPORTATION.
AND I HAD A, A LUNCH, UH, COMMITMENT AS WELL.
UM, I WANTED TO JUST, UM, FOR 42, I DON'T, I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, THE AMENDMENTS AND THE, THE CLARITY THAT WAS ADDED, UM, WITH YOUR CO-SPONSOR AS MEMBER POOLS, AMENDMENTS.
I'M NOT SURE WHOSE WAS WHICH AND THE, THE LAST VERSION, BUT I THINK THAT ADDED A LOT OF CLARITY, WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATED.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF I'M GONNA HAVE AN AMENDMENT OR NOT.
UM, I DO WANNA THROW OUT A PARTICULAR CASE THAT I THINK IS, IS CHALLENGING WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK TO THINK ABOUT.
UM, AND THAT IS THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO HELP US TO HARDEN, UM, STRUCTURES THAT ARE IN THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT WE'RE FINDING AS WE IMPLEMENT IT IS IT IS, YOU KNOW, NOT PARTICULARLY EXTRA COSTLY AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GET INSURANCE IF YOU'RE NOT DOING THIS.
UM, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT I WANNA GIVE OFFSETS FOR MORE DEVELOPMENT IN THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE FOR, FOR FOLLOWING THE CODE TO HARDEN WHEN THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE BUILDING IN THOSE AREAS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO, AND IT IS WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT IT WOULD'VE BEEN IMPLEMENTED, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU DEFINE, DEFINE THAT.
UM, SO I'M, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW YOU HANDLE THAT ONE, BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA SUDDENLY UNLEASH A WHOLE LOT MORE DEVELOPMENT IN AN AREA WHERE WE MAY HAVE GIVEN ZONING, ASSUMING PARTICULAR CONSTRAINTS OR, UM, OTHER KINDS OF THINGS.
AND, AND I DON'T, I I'M NOT SURE HOW TO ADDRESS THAT WITHIN
[03:55:01]
THE CONFINES OF THAT.AND I THINK THERE'S ALSO STUFF THAT HAPPENS IN FLOOD PLAIN AREAS, YOU KNOW, UM, PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH WHERE THE REGULATIONS ARE NOT JUST SOME, YOU KNOW, WISH LIST OF COUNCIL.
THEY'RE REALLY ABOUT, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, AND SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK THAT YOU'VE LAID OUT HOW TO, HOW DO, HOW DO, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT? UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY MUCH PUBLIC SAFETY AT THEIR CORE.
THE RISKS IN BOTH CASES ARE EXTREME.
UM, AND WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO BE INCENTIVIZING MORE DEVELOPMENT IN THOSE AREAS JUST FOR THE SAKE OF MORE DEVELOPMENT.
SO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT.
DO YOU RAISE IT? I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT THOUGH.
UH, AND I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY COME UP WITH LANGUAGE THAT SAYS TO THE STAFF AS THEY'RE DEVELOPING THIS FRAMEWORK, UH, TO, TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT ISSUE AND TO GIVE US WHATEVER THE APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATION IS WITH RESPECT TO THOSE KINDS OF SITUATIONS.
BUT LET'S SPECIFICALLY CALL IT OUT SO THAT STAFF SPECIFICALLY HAS TO ADDRESS THAT, THAT FACT PATTERN.
OR I MEAN, OR THEY'RE NOT GOING IN AND ADDING OFFSETS IN THOSE AREAS.
I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF WORK TO, TO DO THIS.
AND, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE TRYING TO PRIORITIZE THINGS AND, AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, I'M NOT SURE THAT THE ADDED VALUE OF ADDING MORE DEVELOPMENT IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS AND COMING TO US AND TRYING TO DO THAT, UM, IS NECESSARILY GONNA BE WHERE, WHERE THAT ADDED VALUE.
SO TO MAKE ME CLEAR, INCLUDING THE ABILITY FOR STAFF TO SAY WE SHOULDN'T BE ADDING ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA RIGHT NOW, WHAT THEY WOULD COME BACK WITH, I DON'T KNOW.
AND I DON'T WANNA PRESCRIBE IT, BUT I HEAR EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.
AND I THINK WE COULD ASK STAFF IN THEIR RECOMMENDATION BACK TO US TO BE, TO, TO, TO BE MINDFUL OF EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE IDENTIFYING.
AND THEN I, UM, HAVE NOT YET HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH STAFF ABOUT, UM, VERSION FOUR AND HOW THEY WOULD IMPLEMENT IT.
AND, AND I, UM, HOPING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS TOMORROW TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND, AND, UM, APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSES ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
AND, AND PLEASE KNOW THAT, THAT IN MY QUESTIONS, I'M TRYING TO GET THIS SO THAT WE ARE PROVIDING REALLY CLEAR DIRECTION.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE HERE TO SEE THIS IMPLEMENTED.
UM, AND SO WE, WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DIRECTION WE'RE PROVIDING, UM, IS, IS CLEAR ENOUGH SO THAT IT HAS THE INTENDED EFFECT WHERE, WHERE WE, WHERE WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO PIT AFFORDABILITY IN THE ENVIRONMENT AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.
UM, SO I'LL BE LOOKING AT THOSE, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
UM, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU MAY COME UP WITH A, A WAY FORWARD FOR, FOR WOOY THAT FITS WITH YOUR FRAME.
I, I DON'T, UM, SO IF YOU WANNA MAYBE PUT THAT ON THE MESSED BOARD.
CUZ I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND NOW MY CONCERN AND, BUT I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND THE WAY YOUR, YOUR DRAFT IS WRITTEN BETTER THAN I DO.
AND SO I DON'T WANNA MESS WITH IT TOO MUCH IN THAT REGARD.
UM, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TRY TO POST SOMETHING AND, AND WHO KNOWS, I COULD SHOW UP IN, IN PUBLIC, UH, COMMUNICATIONS.
YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU MAY, BUT, BUT, BUT, UH, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME.
UM, AND THEN WHILE I HAVE THE FLOOR, UM, I JUST WANTED A FLAG FOR FOLKS, ANOTHER ITEM.
UM, SO FOR ITEM 24, I THINK, WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT FOR, UM, THE ATP NOMINEE, WE HAVE A UNANIMOUS DECISION.
WE ARE ALMOST READY TO ANNOUNCE IT.
WE'RE JUST, WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS OF DOING BACKGROUND CHECKS.
UM, AND WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THAT AND WE WILL HAVE THAT POSTED.
UM, AND, UM, I'M ASSUMING SINCE WE'RE JUST TWO DAYS AWAY, UM, THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY VOTE ON IT ON NOVEMBER 3RD INSTEAD.
UM, SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR INTENTION.
UM, BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH POSTING DATES FOR, FOR TWO MEETINGS, FOR TWO DIFFERENT BODIES, FOR THREE DIFFERENT BODIES AND, AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, BUT, UM, WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO HAVING THAT, UH, READY TO GO PUBLIC.
BUT WE, WE WOULD WANT YOU TO HAVE THE TIME TO, TO REVIEW THAT, UM, FOR THE NOVEMBER 3RD, UNLESS COUNCIL MEMBER ELSE WANTS TO ADD ANYTHING.
NO, YOU COVERED IT QUITE WELL.
I, I I WANNA THANK, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TIM AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AS WELL AS, UM, THE TWO BOARD MEMBERS FROM CAT METRO.
UM, I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO, TO GO THROUGH THE APPLICATIONS, UM, AND GO THROUGH AN, AN INTERVIEW PROCESS.
SO I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU ALL ARE GONNA MAKE TO US.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, UH, IN ORDER TO GIVE THE PUBLIC, UM, SOME TIME TO LOOK AT IT, UM, THAT WE WON'T BE VOTE VOTING ON IT ON THURSDAY.
[04:00:01]
I, DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT? UM, THAT'S CORRECT CUZ OUR INTENTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO, TO GIVE AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE.WE CAN'T REALLY GO BEYOND THE THIRD WITHOUT CREATING SOME CHALLENGES, UM, FOR THE PERSON TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE NEXT ATP MEETING.
SO WE WOULD PREFER TO VOTE NEXT WEEK.
AND IT IS MY, IT IS MY HOPE THAT, UM, WE WILL HAVE IT IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO.
AND THEN I WILL JUST ADD, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TIME TODAY AND, AND, UM, I STILL WANNA THROW OUT THE POTENTIAL NEED TO HAVE, UM, AN ALTERNATE OR SOMEBODY APPOINTED TO ATP, UM, FOR THE INTERIM WITH THE NEW COUNCIL BETWEEN DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY PERIOD.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT MAYOR, IF I MAY.
UM, I, I HEAR THAT, UM, THAT SUGGESTION MAYOR PORT TIM, I WOULD, I WOULD WANT TO ASK, UM, OUR MAYOR IF HE WOULD JUST CONTINUE BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY ONLY TALKING ABOUT A MONTH AND THAT WOULD BE THE JANUARY ATP, UM, BOARD MEETING, UH, IF THAT, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THERE IS A JANUARY ONE, BUT IF THERE IS, UM, I, I WOULD EXPECT THE NEXT COUNCIL TO MOVE VERY QUICKLY ON THAT APPOINTMENT.
SO I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO APPOINT AN INTERIM PERSON.
I WOULD WANT TO JUST ASK THE MAYOR TO CONTINUE HIS SERVICE.
UH, THAT'S MUCH BETTER TO HAVE SOMEONE.
UM, WELL OF COURSE THE MAYOR'S BEEN, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE MAYOR.
YOU'VE BEEN ENTRENCHED IN THIS AND, AND ACTUALLY A MAJOR PLAYER IN GETTING THE, GETTING, UH, PROJECT IN A PAST.
SO I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT IF YOU'RE WILLING AND ABLE, IF THERE IS A JANUARY MEETING, IF YOU WOULD CONTINUE THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO CHECK THE BYLAWS ON THAT CUZ I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THE BYLAWS LEGALLY ALLOW US TO DO THAT, WHICH IS THEY DO A CHALLENGE.
THEY, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD ALLOW THE, THE APPOINTMENT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO, UH, SO THOSE BYLAWS WOULD ALLOW THE MAYOR TO CONTINUE IF THAT WAS, UH, IF, IF HE WAS INTERESTED IN DOING THAT.
SO YEAH, NO, THOSE, THOSE BYLAWS, WE DELIBERATELY WROTE THOSE BYLAWS SO THAT IF THEY DON'T REQUIRE THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPOINT A COUNCIL MEMBER, GUYS ARE OUR POLL.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF, IF YOU COULD CONTINUE ON THAT ONE ADDITIONAL MONTH, UM, IT MAY BE A BURDEN ON WHAT YOU HAD PLANNED TO DO IN THAT MONTH.
ON THE OTHER HAND, FOR THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT, YOU'VE BEEN THERE FROM BEFORE DAY ONE, AND FOR THAT ONE, THAT ONE MONTH.
UM, IF THERE WERE ANY WAY YOU MIGHT BE ABLE, UM, TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT MEETING, I THINK THAT I, I CERTAINLY WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
LET ME CHECK, LET ME TALK TO DIANE, UH, JUST TO, BUT WE'LL SEE.
LET'S, BUT LET'S CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, AND FOR THE RECORD, I WASN'T KICKING YOU OUT.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE WERE NOT WITHOUT A COUNCIL REPRESENTATION IN THIS CRITICAL TIME.
I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE YOU WERE KICKING ME OUT COUNCIL, VERY WISE MAYOR TO CHECK WITH DIANE, RIGHT.
SO, UH, WE'LL PROCEED ON THE, UH, UH, BUT THANK YOU.
UM, THERE'S THE, UM, UM, UM, MINORITY AND, UH, WOMEN, UM, UH, ITEMS THAT BOTH YOU AND I PULLED.
UM, I HAD SAID, UH, AT A REALLY HIGH LEVEL AS WE WERE PULLING THIS TO, TO BE CONSIDERED, UH, THAT I'M SURE THERE WAS SOMEONE THAT THAT CAME AND VISITED ME AS THERE AS THERE WAS SOME PERSON VISITED, OTHER PEOPLE, I'M SURE, UH, THAT POINTED OUT THAT, UH, THIS AN ANALYSIS THAT WE'RE SEEING, UH, PURPORTS TO SAY THAT WE'RE DOING, UH, UH, A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH RESPECT TO WOMEN MINORITY, UH, HIRING BASED ON THE WAY THAT THEY DO THE, UH, ANALYSIS AND THE, AND THE COHORTS.
UM, BUT HAS RAISED THE QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING NOW TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE MOST WANT TO BE ABLE TO, TO GET TO.
UH, AND PERHAPS THERE'S A, A BETTER WAY TO, TO GET TO THE REAL NEED BY FOCUSING ON, UH, UH, FACTORS OR CRITERIA THAT RELATE MORE TO, UH, UH, ECONOMICS, UH, THAN, UH, RACE OR MINORITY STATUS.
UH, AND, AND I SAID THAT, UH, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE PASSED, UM, EVEN IN THE INTERIM PERIOD OF TIME, ASKED STAFF TO COME BACK TO THE NEXT COUNCIL, UH, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, UH, AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD BE, UH, A GOOD WAY FOR, FOR, FOR US TO, TO BE ABLE TO, UH, PROCEED.
[04:05:01]
UM, MAYOR PRO TIME.UM, I HAD ALSO PULLED THIS, AND WE DISCUSSED THAT AT AUDIT AND FINANCE LAST WEEK, AND I MENTIONED WHAT MY AMENDMENT WOULD BE.
UM, THERE, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PROCUREMENT OFFICE AND ALSO TALKING WITH, UH, THE S NBR OFFICE.
UM, AND WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS PROVIDE, UM, DIRECTION, AND I'M SORRY YOU DON'T HAVE THE FULL LANGUAGE TODAY, UM, TO, UM, EXPLORE A, ADDING A, UH, SMALL BUSINESS, SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PREFERENCE THAT WOULD BE AT THE PRIME CONTRACT LEVEL.
UM, SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS WITH OUR MW PR, AND SORRY, I NEVER GET THE INITIALS RIGHT, I NEVER GET THE INITIALS RIGHT, SO I'M JUST GONNA PRETEND I GOT 'EM RIGHT.
UM, AND SO, UM, WE NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT OUR PRIME CONTRACT LEVELS CONSISTENT WITH, UM, THE LEGAL, UH, PRECEDENTS AND WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING IN TEXAS.
UM, AND THIS WOULD BE PROVIDING DIRECTION TO BRING THAT BACK, UM, AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE COME BACK WITH OUR, OUR SUBCONTRACTING GOALS THAT ARE PART OF THE M W E PROGRAM.
UM, AND WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IS SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF THAT YOU HAVE A SMALL, UH, SMALL BUSINESS, LOCAL PREFERENCE AND YOU USE THINGS LIKE MWE OR HUB OR DBE OR THERE'S ALSO LGBTQ AND DISABILITY, UM, DESIGNATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT THERE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE THESE QUALIFICATIONS THAT MAKE THEM SMALL.
UM, AND THEN YOU CAN ADD THE LOCAL AND YOU CAN FIGURE OUT THE APPROPRIATE DEFINITION OF THE LOCAL.
UM, AND WE BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN LEGALLY DO THAT AS A NEXT EVOLUTION TO OUR PROCESS, UM, TO HELP US TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.
UM, CUZ PART OF WHAT WE'RE, PART OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THIS DATA IS A MIGRATION TO A BROADER, A BROADER AREA.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE, UM, DIRECTION FOR WHEN YOU TAKE THE NEXT STEP WITH THE DISPARITIES.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UM, PROCUREMENT ON THAT LANGUAGE AND, AND WORK WITH LEGAL ONCE WE HAVE SOMETHING CLEARER TO SHOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE QUORUM ON THIS ISSUE CUZ WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SAME THING.
IF YOU COULD SHARE YOUR WORK, I'D APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S WHAT REASON I PULLED THAT ONE.
THE NEXT, THE ONLY THE LAST ITEM THAT WE, UH, PULLED, UM, TOGO, YOU PULLED THE, UH, UH, PROPERTY IFFC.
I KNOW THAT, UM, I POSTED A REVISED VERSION ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
I CAN'T REMEMBER IF THAT WAS LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE.
UM, THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE POSTED THIS MORNING AND I JUST REALLY PULLED IT FOR QUESTIONS OR, UH, COMMENTS OR TO WELCOME, WELCOME A CONVERSATION AROUND IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, I KNOW DID SUBMIT SOME QUESTIONS.
I'M HAPPY TO TALK THROUGH THOSE IF IT SEEMS USEFUL TO ANSWER THOSE, THOSE QUESTIONS THAT SHE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE Q AND A PROCESS.
THEY WERE VERY SIMILAR TO SOME THAT THE STAFF HAVE RAISED THROUGH TIME AS WELL.
HAS THE STAFF COMMENTED ON THE, AS YOU POSTED TODAY? UH, THEY HAVE NOT.
I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING SCHEDULED.
IS STAFF GOING TO COMMENT ON THE VERSION WAS POSTED TODAY? YES.
I KNOW THAT THEY WERE GETTING FEEDBACK FROM, UH, DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND I'M HOPING TO HAVE THAT BY THE END OF THE DAY.
BUT I'LL, UH, DEFER TO ACM, PRESO, AND GONZALEZ FOR AN UPDATE ON WHEN STAFF WILL HAVE THOSE COMMENTS.
BUT WE CAN ALSO U UTILIZE THIS TIME TO, UH, TAKE FEEDBACK FROM STAFF AS WELL.
CITY MANAGER? RODNEY GONZALEZ, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
WE'VE, UH, RECEIVED THE POSTED VERSION FOUR AND IT'S OUR INTENTION TO COLLECT STAFF COMMENTS AND THEN TO SHARE THOSE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO AND THE CO-SPONSORS FOR THE RESOLUTION.
SO VERSION FOUR HAS BEEN POSTED.
CAN YOU SHARE 'EM WITH THE WHOLE COUNCIL? WE CERTAINLY CAN.
UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS YOU WANNA SHARE NOW? WHERE'S STAFF ON THIS? UM, WELL, WE ARE IS WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TOGO'S OFFICE TO SHARE OUR CONCERNS AND WE APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO AND HER STAFF ADDRESSING THOSE CONCERNS.
AND SO IT'S AN ITERATIVE PROCESS, I WOULD SAY, UH, BASED ON, OF COURSE, THE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD, THE, THE BACK AND FORTH SHARING OF CONCERNS.
AND SO I'D SAY THAT WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE CONCERNS.
ALL OF THEM HAVEN'T BEEN RESOLVED.
UM, BUT WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO AND HER STAFF'S ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THOSE CONCERNS.
[04:10:01]
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? DOES ANYONE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? I MEAN, I'LL MENTION IF I COULD TELL ONE ANECDOTE.UM, YOU KNOW, ONE CONCERN THAT I'VE HEARD, AND I APPRECIATE IT FROM STAFF, AND I WOULD WELCOME SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW TO, HOW TO IMPROVE IT.
UM, THERE ARE CONCERNS, THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS SLOWING DOWN THE PROCESS.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD SAY, AS A FRAMING, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A COUPLE, THERE ARE A COUPLE POINTS THAT I WOULD JUST, UM, THAT I MAY, I DON'T WANNA REPEAT MYSELF, BUT I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, THAT I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FRAME THIS.
YOU KNOW, TO ME THIS IS ABOUT SETTING AND PLACE A FRAMEWORK THAT ALLOWS FOR EARLY CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL, AS MUCH TRANSPARENCY WITH THE PUBLIC AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THEY CAN EVALUATE PROPOSALS AS THEY COME FORWARD.
AND REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE CONSISTENT AND FAIR PROCESSES WHEN WE'RE, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE UTILIZATION OF OUR LAND.
THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD, A LOT OF GOOD, UM, POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN PLACE ALREADY WITH REGARD TO REAL ESTATE.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO, TO BRING SOME CONSISTENCY AROUND THEM.
ONE CONCERN THAT I THINK IS AN ABIDING ONE HAS COME UP IN EVERY ONE OF OUR CONVERSATIONS, AND WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS IT BY MAKING CHANGES.
WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS IT BY OFFERING CLARIFICATION.
WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO REALLY EMPHASIZE LANGUAGE THAT EXPLAINS THE MANAGER HAS ALWAYS THE DISCRETION OF OFFERING A RECOMMENDATION TO SKIP ELEMENTS OF THE PROCESS OR TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
THAT, THAT ELEMENT OF DISCRETION WE'VE WRITTEN INTO THE, THE DRAFT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES, THAT'S ONE REASON WHY IT KEEPS GETTING LONGER AND LONGER AND LONGER.
YOU KEEP ADDING LANGUAGE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT, THAT, UM, THAT THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES.
BUT I WANNA JUST ADDRESS FOR A MINUTE THE QUESTION ABOUT, UH, THE QUESTION ABOUT TIMING BY TALKING ABOUT WINNEBAGO LANE.
THIS IS A TRACK 47 11 WINNEBAGO LANE.
IT'S HAD A LONG AND STORIED IN A LONG AND STORIED PAST, AND I'LL, I'LL SUMMARIZE IT REALLY QUICKLY.
IN 2014, PAR POSTED FOR ACTION FOR COUNCIL ACTION, UM, AN ITEM TO CREATE A DOG PARK.
THERE, THE COUNCIL, UH, TALKED ABOUT IT AND THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE CONCERN ABOUT DOING A DOG PARK THERE.
IN PART, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON ON THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME HAD A CONCERN ABOUT DOING A DOG PARK THERE BECAUSE OF ITS LACK OF TRANSPORTATION.
IT'S IN, IT'S KIND OF, UM, OUT ON, ON ROUTE TO THE AIRPORT, SORT OF OFF BURLESON AS I RECALL IT.
BEEN OUT THERE A BUNCH OF TIMES, BUT NOT RECENTLY.
IT'S NOT TOO FAR FROM OUR, FROM OUR HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE.
SO THAT, UM, ENDED THE CONVERSATION FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
SO HERE YOU'VE HAD STAFF GO THROUGH OUR PARK, STAFF SPENT, I ASSUME, CONSIDERABLE TIME AND EFFORT BRINGING FORWARD A PROPOSAL TO CREATE THIS USE ON THAT TRACK.
THAT WAS, I THINK THE FIRST CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL IS WHEN IT ARRIVED ON THE AGENDA, THAT WHOLE, ALL OF THAT WORK WAS TOTALLY HALTED, UM, AND TURNED DOWN BECAUSE OF, BECAUSE THE COUNCIL AT THE POINT THEY GOT INVOLVED, SAID, WE DON'T WANNA USE THE TRACK FOR THIS PURPOSE.
WE WANNA, WE WANNA POSTPONE IT AND CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT IT.
THAT CONVERSATION DIDN'T GET POSTPONED, IT JUST WENT AWAY IN 2016.
IT ARRIVED BACK ON OUR AGENDA.
UM, AND, AND MANY OF US WERE ON THE DIAS AT THIS POINT.
AND IT WAS A CONTRACT FOR SALE TO, UH, TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO I ASSUME HAD PARTICIPATED IN A PROCESS THAT AGAIN, REQUIRED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF STAFF TIME AND EXPERTISE AND ENERGY AND RESOURCES.
AND, YOU KNOW, OUR STAFF TIME, UM, IS A TAXPAYER RESOURCE.
SO NOW YOU'VE HAD TWO TOTAL BIG PROCESSES, UH, TO DO SOMETHING WITH WINNEBAGO LANE AND THE COUNCIL, AGAIN, IT WAS A CLOSE VOTE, BUT WE TURNED DOWN, WE TURNED DOWN THAT SALE AND INSTEAD PROCEEDED WITH A RESOLUTION I HAD BROUGHT TO CONSIDER THE USE OF THAT, OF THAT SITE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, TWO YEARS LATER, WE HAD, WE HAD TRIED TO SECURE A RELATIONSHIP WITH ART SPACE THROUGH THE RESOLUTION I HAD BROUGHT.
THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
AND IN 2018, UM, ANOTHER RESOLUTION CAME FORWARD, AND I'M FORGETTING NOW, I THINK IT WAS A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, DELIA GARZA, WHO BROUGHT FORWARD THE RESOLUTION.
IT WAS IN HER DISTRICT TO LISA TO URBAN ROOTS.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TWO TOTALLY.
I MEAN, THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF PROCESSES THAT ARE WORKING.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE LACK OF COUNCIL INPUT AT THE OUTSET ACTUALLY RESULTED IN A, IN A VERY, IN TWO VERY LENGTHY PROCESSES THAT, THAT ULTIMATELY WERE NOT, UM, HOW WE ENDED UP USING THAT LAND.
SO RESPECTFULLY, I'D SAY, UM, HAVING THAT COUNCIL INPUT AT THE OUTSET OF A REAL ESTATE PROJECT INSTEAD OF AT THE END, I THINK IS VERY VALUABLE.
UM, MAYBE I'VE ALREADY GIVEN THIS EXAMPLE.
I'VE, I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH OUR CITY STAFF, WITH OUR MANAGER SO MANY TIMES.
I CAN'T REMEMBER, HAVE I GIVEN THE OP THE, UM, EXAM? WELL, LET ME GIVE TWO OTHER QUICK EXAMPLES.
ONE IS THE AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS THAT ARRIVED ON OUR AGENDA READY FOR APPROVAL.
AND THE COUNCIL SAID, HAVE YOU DONE A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS? HAVE YOU LOOKED AT LEASING FACILITIES? HAVE YOU DONE, YOU KNOW, FIVE OR SIX OTHER THINGS? AND THAT, AGAIN,
[04:15:01]
ENDED THAT CONVERSATION FOR A WHILE.I MEAN, WE NOW HAVE AN AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS THAT IS NOT THE SAME ONE THAT WAS CONTEMPLATED THE FIRST TIME.
UM, PURCHASING LAND AROUND SAND HILL ARRIVED ON OUR AGENDA AGAIN WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL LAND AROUND THAT AUSTIN ENERGY SITE.
THE COUNCIL HAD A CONVERSATION AT THE WORK SESSION AND, AND THAT NEVER CAME BACK TO COUNCIL AGAIN.
I MEAN, WE RAISED CONCERNS AT THE WORK SESSION.
WHY DO WE NEED THIS LAND? THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THE EXAMPLES I'VE SEEN WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF, OF TIME, UM, AND EXPERTISE AFFORDED ON OUR, ON OUR STAFF SIDE, WHERE I THINK A LITTLE COUNCIL CONVERSATION UP FRONT MIGHT HAVE HELPED A VERY DIFFERENT PROCESS WAS THE ONE WITH THE C HOME PARKING GARAGE.
THERE WAS, I BELIEVE, AN OFFER.
I THINK I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS ONE BEFORE HERE, HAVE I? NO, NOBODY REMEMBERS OKAY.
WHERE, ANYWAY, THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS, THERE WERE, OKAY, THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNCIL BEFORE IT, BEFORE THAT PROCESS ADVANCED.
AND, AND THAT NEVER CAME FORWARD AS A PROPOSAL.
SO I DO THINK, I DO THINK A PROCESS, THE PROCESS WE'RE SETTING UP AND OUTLINING HAS LOTS OF FLEXIBILITY BUILT IN.
BUT IT DOES SET SOME, SOME BASIC GUIDELINES ON, ON HOW THOSE CONVERSATIONS SHOULD TRANSPIRE HERE AT THE CITY THAT I HOPE WILL BE, WILL BE IN A REALLY, UM, EFFECTIVE USE OF STAFF TIME AND RESOURCES AND COUNCIL TIME AND RESOURCES AS WELL, AND REALLY GET US ALL WORKING VERY CLEARLY AROUND A SHARED SET OF PRIORITIES AND GOALS AND CONSISTENT PRACTICES IS THANK YOU.
AND, UM, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO AND YOUR STAFF AND, AND, AND OTHER STAFF WHO'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER, UM, ON THIS RESOLUTION.
AND, UM, I'M PLEASED TO CO-SPONSOR IT.
UM, I JUST WANNA UNDERSCORE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO JUST SAID.
I, I THINK THIS IS REALLY, UM, DESIGNED TO ULTIMATELY GIVE US BETTER PRODUCTS AND TO LEARN FROM WHAT WE'VE LEARNED OVER MANY YEARS.
COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO, 12 YEARS, I THINK AT THIS POINT.
UM, AND, AND SOME, AND TO AVOID, UM, MISTAKES THAT WE'VE MADE IN THE PAST SO THAT, UM, WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE DO AVOID SOME OF THE, UM, THE CHALLENGING DISCUSSIONS AT THE END OF THE PROCESS.
AND WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE MUCH, MUCH EARLIER.
UM, I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
UM, I AM IN THE QUORUM AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COMMENTS AND, AND, UM, DIGESTING THOSE AND, AND SEEING WHERE WE, WHERE WE CAN MOVE THINGS FORWARD.
UM, I THINK IT IS AT THE PROPER LEVEL OF GUIDANCE.
UM, AND IT, IT PROVIDES, UM, A LOT OF GUARD RAILS, UM, BOTH ON THE PROCESS, BUT ALSO OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVIATE AS APPROPRIATE, UM, WHILE ARTICULATING WHY HE'S CHOOSING TO DO THAT.
SO THEY'RE NOT, IT'S NOT A QUESTION WHY THANK YOU COUNCIL POOL.
I, I DID SUBMIT QUESTIONS AT THE, THE END OF LAST WEEK AND I APPRECIATE GETTING, GETTING THOSE ANSWERS FROM STAFF EARLIER TODAY.
AND THEN I ALSO WAS GIVEN A SET OF ANSWERS, UM, FROM, FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO STAFF TOO.
BUT I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO LOOK AT THE TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF, OF ANSWERS.
UM, AND NOR HAVE I HAD TIME
UM, BUT, UH, THIS ONE ALSO HAS SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE LAST ONE, WHICH IT WAS EITHER VERSION TWO OR THREE THAT MY QUESTIONS WERE BASED ON.
AND SO WHAT I DON'T NOW KNOW IS WHERE MY QUESTIONS FALL WITH REGARD TO THIS LATEST VERSION.
AND IT'S, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, I GUESS WE COULD, WE COULD WALK THROUGH ALL THE LINES AND, AND PARSE IT AND, AND TALK ABOUT IT TODAY.
I WOULD RATHER HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STAFF SEPARATELY, UM, SO THAT I CAN DIG IN ON THE THINGS THAT I'M LOOKING AT SPECIFICALLY.
UM, OTHERS MAY HAVE DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT THEY WANNA LOOK AT, UM, INDIVIDUALLY WHAT THE SENSE THAT I HAVE FROM THIS, UM, AS IT HAS DEVELOPED.
AND I HAVE NO, I'M, I'M NOT A MEMBER OF THE SUB QUORUM AND THERE HAS BEEN NO REAL STAFF INPUT FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET UNTIL, UNTIL THIS TODAY, THESE ANSWERS TODAY.
UM, WHAT I, THE, THE IMPRESSIONS THAT I'M GETTING ARE, ARE A COUPLE, THREE THINGS.
ONE, IT'S A VERY CLEAR EFFORT, UM, AND, AND QUITE POSSIBLY, UM, A REALLY GOOD EFFORT ON, UM, MY COLLEAGUES
[04:20:01]
PART TO CREATE A FRAMEWORK AND A PROCESS FOR THESE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN PERPETUITY.UM, I, SO THAT'S ONE, ONE THING.
THE, THE NEXT THING THAT I AM, AM GATHERING FROM THE CONVERSATIONS, UM, IS THAT STAFF IS VERY, UM, UH, UNCERTAIN AT THIS POINT.
WHAT IN FACT THE ACTUAL OUTCOMES, THIS DOCUMENT, IF WE WERE TO PUT THIS INTO POLICY WOULD HAVE ON OUR OPERATIONS GOING FORWARD, OTHER THAN IT SEEMS LIKE IT ADDS LAYERS AND TIME, WHICH ALSO TRANSLATES INTO MONEY, UH, WHICH COULD INHIBIT THE NIMBLENESS AND THE AGILITY THAT THE CITY STRIVES FOR.
CUZ I WOULD NOT SAY THAT WE'RE NECESSARILY INCREDIBLY NIMBLE OR AGILE
UM, IT ALSO INTRODUCES LEVELS OF, UM, PUBLIC REVIEW AT TIMES WHERE, UM, WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN THE PAST.
AND IT MAY IN FACT NOT BE HELPFUL FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE TO DO IT, WHICH IS NOT TO SAY THAT INFORMATION CAN'T BE PUBLIC AT ALL, BUT AT CERTAIN JUNCTURES IT IS NOT NECESSARILY HELPFUL TO THE WORK THAT WE'RE TRYING, ESPECIALLY IN REAL ESTATE ISSUES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, COMPLETE.
SO I COULD DIG IN HERE TODAY AND, AND, UH, TAKE YOU ALL WITH ME
UM, NONE OF US HAVE THAT MUCH TIME, BUT I WILL CONTINUE WITH MY STAFF TO TALK WITH STAFF NOW THAT I AM ABLE TO KIND OF GET A SENSE OF, OF WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE MORE CONCRETELY.
UM, I, I ALSO, THE THIRD THING THAT I HAVE A SENSE OF IS THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE BROUGHT TO A VOTE ON THURSDAY, WHICH I, I THINK THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE I KNOW I I WON'T BE READY.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S NOT AN AFFIRMATION OF THAT.
SO THE INTENTION BY MY COLLEAGUE, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW, UM, THAT, THAT SHE DOES INTEND TO BRING THIS TO A VOTE ON THURSDAY.
I CAN TELL YOU AT THIS POINT THAT I AM EXCEEDINGLY RELUCTANT TO AGREE TO, UM, TO THIS DOCUMENT AT THIS POINT, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF IT, BECAUSE OF THE IMPACTS ON THE STAFF AND OUR PROCEDURES AND OUR POLICIES GOING FORWARD.
AND THE FACT THAT I STILL DON'T HAVE A REAL SENSE OF, OF WHERE THIS IS WHAT THIS WILL DO, IT IS STILL A WORK IN PROCESS.
SO MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO SIGNAL TO EVERYONE, UM, MY EXTREME RELUCTANCE, WHICH IS NOT TO SAY THAT THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO LOOK AT AND, AND TALK ABOUT AND DIG INTO, BUT I CAN, I, I I DOUBT THIS WOULD BE IN ANY KIND OF FORM OR FASHION THAT I COULD RELIABLY AND RESPONSIBLY VOTE ON, UH, ON THURSDAY.
OKAY, MAYOR, MAY I ADDRESS SOME, LET ME GIVE SOME OTHER PEOPLE A CHANCE TO TALK IT, BUT THEN YOU YES.
I, I'M WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POOL ON THIS, AND, UH, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO REPEAT HER TALKING POINTS IN MY OWN WAY, I WILL JUST ADD THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER POLICIES WE'RE ADOPTING AS COUNCIL MEMBERS ALLOW US TO BE RESPONSIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, WHAT MAY WORK IN ONE DISTRICT MAY NOT WORK IN ANOTHER DISTRICT.
AND IF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, FOLKS COMING TO THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS SAYING, WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT FOR THIS PROJECT AND WE WANT IT TO LOOK THIS WAY, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE THAT LEVERAGE TO, TO DELIVER PROJECTS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY IT.
SO, UM, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POOL ON ON EVERYTHING THAT SHE SAID.
I WOULD PREFER TO HAVE MORE TIME TO REVIEW IT SINCE THERE IT IS A BEEFY DOCUMENT.
UM, AND THERE'S BEEN SOME AMENDMENTS ALONG THE WAY, AND WE HAVEN'T, WE DON'T ALL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO, TO FOLLOW THE ENTIRE CONVERSATION THROUGH ALL, ALL OF THE MULTIPLE VERSIONS.
AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON SOMETHING, WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON AND WE'VE HAD TIME FOR OUR OWN CONSTITUENTS TO READ THROUGH THE MOST CURRENT VERSIONS AS WELL AND TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO US ABOUT THEM.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL, COUNCIL RIVER, JUST BRIEFLY.
I'M PROBABLY IN THE SAME PLACE.
COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUNCIL MEMBER PARALYSIS.
I JUST, I WANT KEEP IT VERY SHORT, BUT I'M, UH, SKEPTICAL, UH, THAT, THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR THIS AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THE BUREAUCRATIC ENTANGLEMENTS, UH, OUTWEIGH THE, THE, THE BENEFITS.
[04:25:02]
OKAY.COUNCIL, SO I WONDER, UM, SO I'VE, THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE PULLED IT FOR THE WORK SESSION.
IT'S BEEN POSTED, UM, FOR WEEKS IN PART TO ENCOURAGE CONVERSATIONS HERE AT, AT THE WORK SESSION.
AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S LATE IN THE DAY, AND WE STILL HAVE ONE, ONE MORE PRESENTATION, BUT I WOULD INVITE COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA, YOU TWO, UM, MAYBE SHARE SOME OF YOUR RESERVATIONS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I'VE GIVEN ONE EXAMPLE, AND I KNOW IN THE PAST WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HEALTH SOUTH, BUT QUITE A BIT OF, OF WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED TOGETHER AND IN THE YEARS BEFORE, I THINK ARE, ARE REALLY, UM, THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THEM THROUGH THE, THROUGH A PROCESS THAT IS CONSISTENT.
AND I CAN, I CAN GIVE MORE EXAMPLES, BUT I THINK I'D LIKE TO START LESLIE WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL WITH YOUR, WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.
UM, IF I MAY, LET ME SAY THAT THESE, THAT THE QUESTIONS, WELL, LET ME STEP BACK AND SAY THE RESOLUTION THAT IS BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON THURSDAY IS VERY MUCH THE SAME RESOLUTION THAT I BROUGHT FORWARD, UM, NOW TWO MEETINGS AGO, AND OR I DIDN'T BRING IT FORWARD.
I POSTED IT AND WITH THE INDICATION THAT I WAS GOING TO POSTPONE IT.
SO IT'S, AS I MENTIONED, IT'S BEEN POSTED, THIS WILL BE THE THIRD MEETING IT'S POSTED ON.
AND THE EDITS AND REVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ARE REALLY ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT THE STAFF HAVE RAISED, WHICH YOU HAVE HIGHLIGHTED MULTIPLE OF THEM IN YOUR QUESTION.
YOUR QUESTIONS ARE REALLY VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONES THAT THE STAFF, THEY'RE ALMOST, I, YOU KNOW, VERY SIMILAR IN WORDING EVEN TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THE STAFF HAVE ASKED THROUGH TIME WITH REGARD TO THE AIRPORT AND OTHERS.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT THE REVISIONS AND EDITS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS MANY OF THESE ISSUES.
AND SO PERHAPS IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO KIND OF TALK THROUGH, THROUGH SOME OF THOSE.
UM, I, I WOULD ASK THAT, UM, IF THERE ARE, LET'S SEE, SO FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE UNDER NUMBER ONE, DOES THIS INHIBIT STAFF'S ABILITY TO EXERCISE THEIR EXPERT JUDGMENT? IT DOES NOT.
WE ARE, WE ARE THE BODY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT THE ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF, OF THE CITY'S REAL ESTATE, AND IT SETS OUT A PROCESS FOR GETTING THAT COUNCIL INPUT.
AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT CONSTITUENT INPUT AND THAT'S CLEARLY VERY IMPORTANT.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING IN THIS RESOLUTION THAT WOULD UNDERMINE THAT.
WERE THERE PARTICULAR EXAMPLES THAT OF LANGUAGE WITHIN THE RESOLUTION THAT ARE GIVING YOU CONCERN? BECAUSE IT'S NOT ATTEMPTING THIS RESOLUTION DOESN'T CHANGE THAT PROCESS IN ANY WAY.
IT SIMPLY PUTS IN MORE PROCESS FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO UNDERTAKE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
IT'S JUST MORE OF ALLOWING FOR GENERAL FLEXIBILITY AND, AND REPRESENTATION AND STAFF INPUT ON, ON HOW EXACTLY EACH PROJECT MIGHT WANT TO BE FULFILLED.
I GUESS I WOULD INVITE YOU IF YOU COULD, UM, TAKE A LOOK AT, AT THE SECTIONS ABOUT COMMUNITY INPUT, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT IS, THAT IS BUILT INTO THE RESOLUTION.
IT'S NOT, IT IS NOT UNDERMINING, UNDERMINING THAT IN ANY WAY.
AND, AND AGAIN, THERE IS FLEXIBILITY BUILT IN THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE, THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE RESOLUTION.
THERE'S ALWAYS, UM, FLEXIBILITY FOR THE MANAGER TO DIVERGE FROM THE PROCESS.
UM, SO I'LL JUST CONTINUE GOING ON, UH, MAY OR WHEN YOU HAVE A MINUTE, I'LL MAKE A COMMENT AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT STAFF INPUT.
DID YOU MEAN THIS STAFF? BECAUSE MY, MY STAFF, I'VE MET WITH OUR CITY STAFF FOR HOURS AT THIS POINT.
I THINK THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT, UM, GETTING BRIEFED ON THIS BY THE STAFF.
THEY ARE HERE TODAY AND, AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT IT.
SO YOU MEANT YOUR, YOU RECEIVING STAFF INPUT OR THE COUNCIL? UH, BOTH, ACTUALLY.
AND I THINK THERE WAS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN YOU AND THE MAYOR ON THE DIAS ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
UM, SO THAT WAS A CONCERN TO ME.
AND SO THE STAFF COMMENTS, AND I WILL SAY THE STAFF DID PROVIDE THOSE COMMENTS.
UM, THEY ARE BASED ON AN EARLIER DRAFT, BUT, UM, I WOULD, AGAIN, I WOULD, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK COLLEAGUES.
MY MY STAFF HAVE WORKED EXTRAORDINARILY HARD ON THIS.
MY CO-SPONSORS ARE WORKING HARD ON THIS.
I WOULD, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR, UM, EITHER HERE OR ON THE MESSAGE BOARD,
[04:30:01]
IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC PASSAGES THAT YOU FEEL ARE NOT PROVIDING FLEXIBILITY OR SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE CONCERNS YOU HAVE, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR ME BECAUSE WE'VE, WE HAVE WORKED EXTENSIVELY.I DON'T, I DON'T THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO ASSUAGE ALL OF THE STAFF'S CONCERNS.
UM, BUT I, I WOULD SAY THERE ARE GOOD REASONS FOR ALL OF THE PROVISIONS THAT WE HAVE IN HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST GAVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE OF A PROCESS THAT, THAT UM, COULD, COULD HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, YEARS OF YEARS OF, UM, YEARS OF REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE TRACK THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED VERY DIFFERENTLY HAD THERE BEEN A CONVERSATION WITH THE STAFF, WITH THE COUNCIL FIRST.
SO, UM, NUMBER TWO, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, YOU'RE TALKING, YOU REFERENCED THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PERCENTAGE.
WE USED THE PERCENTAGE THAT CAME FROM MANDY DE MAYO IN THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND HOUSE SOUTH.
AND THERE IS VERY CLEAR LANGUAGE IN THERE, AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE CLARIFIED, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO CONFUSION THAT THAT IS INDEED, UH, SOMETHING THAT THE MAN THAT THE MANAGER CAN RECOMMEND AGAINST.
AND SO THERE'S VERY CLEAR LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT TALKS ABOUT THAT.
DO YOU WANT TO HEAR WHAT COUNCIL KITCHENS COMMENTED? SURE.
UH, YES, I, I HEAR THE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE ARE RAISING.
I WOULD URGE YOU ALL TO, TO, TO WORK WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO ON THOSE.
I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH HER ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE AND MY CONCERNS RELATE TO.
UM, NOT UNLIKE, WELL, IT'S NOT EXACTLY THE SAME CONCERN, BUT THE MAYOR PRO TIM RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, WELL, NO, I'M SORRY, I'M MISREMEMBERING THAT, BUT I THINK THAT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT, UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT, UH, THAT SOME ITEMS RELATED TO REAL ESTATE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE'RE VERY CLEAR THAT WE DON'T, THAT WE DON'T, UM, THAT WE DON'T, UM, SLOW DOWN THOSE PROCESSES.
AND I THINK SHE HAS SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE ABOUT PROCESSES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEGUN WITH CERTAIN, UH, LOCATIONS.
AND I FORGET EXACTLY WHAT ALL THOSE ARE, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO, BUT I THINK SHE'S, SHE'S, UM, ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS THAT I HAD RAISED THAT THINGS THAT WERE ALREADY IN PROCESS, UM, CONTINUE ON THOSE PROCESSES AND THAT THIS WAS MORE PERSPECTIVE GOING FORWARD.
SO I WOULD JUST URGE EVERYBODY TO, I KNOW IT'S A LONG, UH, RESOLUTION, BUT I THINK IT'S IN DESIGNED TO, TO STRIKE THAT RIGHT, THAT RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN, UM, BETWEEN, UH, GETTING, UH, COMMENTS EARLY ON AS WELL AS GETTING PUBLIC COMMENTS SO THAT WE CAN MOVE MOST EFFICIENTLY AND QUICKLY WITH THE USE OF, UH, CITY PROPERTY.
SO I THINK THAT SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM STAFF IN ORDER TO BEGIN THEIR WORK.
ARE YOU PREPARED, PREPARED TO GIVE US A REVIEW OF THIS AT THIS POINT TO EXPLAIN YOUR RESERVATIONS? SO THE REVIEW THAT WE COULD GIVE, OF COURSE, IS BASED OFF OF THE LAST VERSION THAT WAS POSTED.
WE NOW HAVE A NEW VERSION, AND SO WE'RE COLLECTING THOSE COMMENTS.
WE INTEND TO COLLECT THOSE BY THE END OF TODAY.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE IN GOOD FORM AND THEN WE CAN DISTRIBUTE THOSE TO COUNCIL TOMORROW.
UM, SO WE AREN'T PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT VERSION FOUR, WHICH IS IN FRONT OF US NOW.
UH, BUT WE CERTAINLY, UH, HAVE WORK TO SHARE COMMENTS ON VERSION THREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO.
UM, AND THEN ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER P MEMBER POOL HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT VERSION THREE, AND THOSE HAVE BEEN POSTED TO THE Q AND A, UH, BY THINK OF COUNCIL IS READY TO TALK ABOUT VERSION FOUR.
WE ARE NOT AT THAT POINT READY TO TALK ABOUT VERSION FOUR.
AND YOU POSTED YOUR COMMENTS TO VERSION THREE AS WELL, DID YOU NOT? YES.
WHEN I LOOK UP ITEM 41 ON THE AGENDA, THERE'S NO, IT'S THE ORIGINAL VERSION.
THERE'S NO VERSION THREE POSTED.
AND SO I EVEN TRYING TO FOLLOW THIS CONVERSATION, I DON'T SEE COUNCIL MEMBER POOL'S QUESTIONS THAT SHE POSED ANYWHERE WHERE I CAN ACCESS IT TO FOLLOW ALONG.
DO WE KNOW WHERE, WHERE I CAN PULL THOSE, THAT INFORMATION UP? UH, THEY ARE POSTED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
THEY WON'T BE IN THE Q AND A, I GUESS, TILL THEY RELEASE THE Q AND A.
IS THAT FROM LAST COUNCIL MEETINGS Q AND A? THIS WAS TODAY.
SO THERE WAS A Q AND A RESPONSE FILED LAST FRIDAY, I THINK THAT WAS THE INITIAL STAFF COMMENTS TO VERSION THREE, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
WHICH WAS, WAS THERE AND WAS THERE A PUBLIC POSTING OF VERSION THREE? YES, THROUGH THE MESSAGE BOARD.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO PUBLISHED VERSION THREE ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
THE STAFF DID COMMENTS TO VERSION THREE LAST FRIDAY IN THE Q AND A COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, ASKED SOME QUESTIONS SUBSEQUENTLY,
[04:35:02]
WHICH WERE ANSWERED TODAY IN Q AND A WITH REFERENCE TO VERSION THREE, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED I THINK A WEEK OR SO AGO BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBA.AND VERSION FOUR, I THINK YOU POST, POST TODAY.
AND I'LL, AND I'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I MEAN, AS I'M LOOKING THROUGH THE EDITS, YOU ASKED A QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER ABOUT THE AIRPORT.
I'VE NOW ADDED IN LANGUAGE SPECIFIC TO THE AIRPORT.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF, SOME OF, UM, I WOULD SAY MOST OF THE EDITS THAT ARE IN FOUR THAT WERE NOT IN THREE ARE ATTEMPTS TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE, THE CONCERNS THAT THE STAFF HAVE CONTINUED TO RAISE.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN REFERS TO ONE, VERY EARLY ON, I THINK IN OUR FIRST STAFF MEETING, THE STAFF ASKED IF I INTENDED FOR THIS TO, TO APPLY TO COLONY PARK, ST.
JOHN'S RYAN DRIVE, AND I SAID, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
UM, YOU'LL SEE IN THE Q AND A POST THAT THEY POSTED LAST WEEK, THEY'VE INDICATED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT, ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION.
APPLYING TO PROJECTS LIKE THAT.
I MADE IT VERY CLEAR IT DIDN'T.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOW ADDED IN VERY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE SAYING IT DOESN'T APPLY TO PROJECTS SUCH AS COLONY PARK, RYAN DRIVE, UM, ET CETERA.
SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT TAKEN ANY NEW DIRECTIONS FOR THE MOST PART.
IT'S REALLY JUST, UH, ATTEMPTING TO, TO CONTINUE TO COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE OR ALTERNATIVE UM, PROCESSES.
I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO TRY TO TRY TO MITIGATE AS MANY OF THE STAFF'S CONCERNS AS POSSIBLE WHILE STILL, WHILE STILL HAVING A, A PROCESS THAT'S CONSISTENT.
ANYTHING FURTHER ON THIS? I YES, MAY PRETEND.
UM, I WOULD JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, ASK COLLEAGUES TO READ THROUGH THE RESOLUTION.
I THINK THAT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE AND CONSULTATION WITH STAFF.
I THINK THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE RESOLUTIONS WHERE, UM, WE'VE WORKED PARTICULARLY CLOSELY, UM, WITH STAFF TO ADDRESS CONCERNS IN, IN GREAT DEPTH.
AND SO PART OF THE REASON THE RESOLUTION I THINK IS LONGER IS TO SPELL OUT THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE OBVIOUS SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE NO QUESTION FROM STAFF ON THEM.
UM, AND SO I THINK THAT WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU ACTUALLY READ IT, YOU'LL, YOU WILL SEE THAT IT IS QUITE FAR ALONG, UM, IN ADDRESSING THINGS.
WITH THAT, UH, I THINK WE'VE COVERED ALL THE BUSINESS HERE TODAY, STAFF.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE ANSWERS WHEN THEY'RE READY.
UH, AND WHAT, ONE MORE PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION ON ANIMAL SERVICES CUSTOMER KITCHEN.
AND I HAD SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO, FOR THE CITY MANAGER REGARDING, UM, THE NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER AND, UM, SOME OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF ACM AANA IS AVAILABLE TO HELP ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS OR CITY MANAGER IF WE'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THEM.
WHY DON'T YOU ERASE THEM AND THEN I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU EITHER IF I CAN DO IT BEFORE WE ADJOURN TODAY OR, UM, SEPARATELY.
COUNSEL IN RELATION TO CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OF THE NINE ONE ONE, UH, CALL TAKERS AND THE PROCESS, I THINK WANTING TO GET SOME HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE ON IT, I THINK AT ONE POINT IT WAS A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE AND THERE WAS SOME REALLOCATION OF RESOURCES, UM, WANTED TO SEE WHERE, WHAT THE STATUS WAS ON THAT.
YEAH, AND I, I THINK IT WAS MAYBE RIGHT AFTER YOU LEFT, BUT RIGHT BEFORE WE BROKE FOR LUNCH, I DID MENTION THAT I WOULD BE FOLLOWING UP WITH A MEMO THAT WOULD UPDATE THE COUNCIL ON THAT STATUS.
WE ARE STILL MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION, HOWEVER, UH, IF WE WERE TO DO THAT NOW, WE WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF THAT STATE LAW.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A STATUS UPDATE ON ALL THE ELEMENTS OF THAT.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN PULLED ME ASIDE AND HAD SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT I WANTED TO INCORPORATE INTO THAT UPDATE.
YEAH, I THINK THAT WAS IN RELATION TO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON IT.
AND MY, THE QUESTIONS I HAVE ARE NOT AROUND FUNDING.
UH, IT'S JUST MORE ABOUT, UH, MANAGEMENT OF THE, OF THE CENTER.
WANNA CALL UP THE NEXT PRESENTATION? SURE.
DID YOU WANNA ASK MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT 9 1 1? YEAH, NO, I WAS JUST GONNA ECHO, UM, UM, CITY MANAGER, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THE, THE MEMO.
I THINK THE MEMO'S A A GOOD IDEA, BUT I WANTED TO JUST, UH, DISTINGUISH THAT THERE'S TWO QUESTIONS, REALLY.
ONE QUESTION IS THE, UH, THE QUESTION OF, UH, MOVING THE, THE, UM, NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER, UH, INTO, UH, UH, INDEPENDENT AREA OUT OF THE, UH, OUT OF THE, UM, POLICE DEPARTMENT.
[04:40:01]
UH, THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I THINK THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, FUENTES IS TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT A WHILE BACK ABOUT A CIVILIAN, UM, LEADERSHIP OF THAT DEPARTMENT.SO I SEE 'EM AS TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
[B2. Update from the Austin Animal Shelter]
OKAY.OUR LAST PRESENTATION TODAY, UH, IS AN UPDATE ON ANIMAL SERVICES.
UH, THIS IS A CHANCE FOR OUR DIRECTOR AND TEAM TO PROVIDE SOME OVERVIEW OF BOTH WHERE WE'VE BEEN, UH, WHAT WHAT WE'RE, WHERE WE'RE GOING, UH, AND, AND SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UH, REALLY LED BY THIS, UH, COUNCIL.
THIS WAS A REQUEST FROM, UH, THE COUNCIL.
AND SO I WANTED TO, UH, CREATE THIS SPACE FOR OUR ANIMAL SERVICE DIRECTOR, DON BLA BLAND, TO, UH, PROVIDE THIS OVERVIEW.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, I'M DON BLAND, CHIEF ANIMAL SERVICES FOR OUR, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN.
I WANNA START TODAY WITH, UM, PRESENTATION IS THIS.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, OUR MISSION STATEMENT BEING A MUNICIPAL SHELTER, UH, WE TRIED TO ENCOMPASS ALL OF OUR DUTIES.
UH, THERE'S, IT'S SO, THEY'RE QUITE LARGE.
SO, UH, BASICALLY TO SUM IT UP, UH, OUR JOB IS TO PROVIDE A SAFETY NET FOR THOSE ANIMALS THAT TRULY NEED OUR SERVICES AND FIND OUTCOMES FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE OWNERS WHILE PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY AS THE RABIES CONTROL AUTHORITY.
AND JUST A LITTLE SIDE NOTE, UH, AUSTIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF RABIES EXPOSURES IN THE STATE.
SO THAT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ADD TO OUR LIST ON OUR SERVICES PROVIDED.
UH, WE'RE NOT JUST CONTAINED TO CATCHING ANIMALS AND THEN ADOPTING THEM OUT.
THERE'S A WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES THAT ANIMAL SERVICES PROVIDES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF TRAVIS COUNTY THROUGH AN ILA WITH THE COUNTY.
BESIDES CARING FOR ANIMALS THAT ARRIVE AT THE SHELTER, WE PROACTIVELY WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO KEEP ANIMALS IN THE HOMES WHERE THEY'RE LOVED AND CARED FOR.
ASO HAS DEVELOPED MANY INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE YEARS AND PROVIDES SERVICES THAT MANY MUNICIPAL SHELTERS, UH, DO NOT.
SO WE, WE HAVE LED THE CHARGE FOR MANY YEARS ON, ON SERVICES THAT ARE REPLICATED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE CAN BE VERY PROUD OF IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT I'M, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER CITY BESIDES AUSTIN THAT DOES THAT AND IS, UH, AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY CARE.
IF AFTER THE SHELTER IS CLOSED, YOU AS A CITIZEN, UH, SAW AN ANIMAL THAT WAS INJURED, HIT BY A CAR, YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO, UH, ONE OF OUR EMERGENCY CLINICS, AND THE CITY PAYS FOR THAT OUT OF OUR BUDGET.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, NO OTHER CITY OFFERS CITIZENS.
A LITTLE HISTORY, I'D LIKE TO START WITH, UH, ANIMAL SERVICES HAD SOME MAJOR MILESTONES.
UM, IN 2010 WAS WHEN THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE 34 POINT NO KILL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
AND AT THAT TIME, THEY PUT A MORATORIUM ON KILLING ANIMALS WHEN THERE WERE EMPTY CAGES AND KENNELS.
UH, THIS DOCUMENT PROVIDED THE ROADMAP FOR AUSTIN TO BECOME, UH, A NO-KILL CITY.
AT THAT TIME, AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER HAD A LIVE EXIT RATE OF ONLY 69%.
IN 2011 WAS WHEN ACTUALLY THE CENTER FIRST HIT THAT 90% LIVE EXIT RATE AND NO KILLERS DESCRIBED IT HAVING A LIVE OUTCOME PERCENTAGE OF 90% OR GREATER.
IT WAS, UH, AT THAT TIME ALSO THAT, UH, THE ANIMAL CENTER MOVED FROM THE TOWN LAKE CENTER ON CAESAR CHAVEZ TO THE, ALSO TO ANIMAL CENTER ON THE BETTER BETTY DUNKERLEY CAMPUS THAT WE SHARE WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
60 KENNELS REMAINED IN USE AT THE TLAC CAMPUS AT THAT TIME BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH IN THE NEW BUILDING AT THAT TIME.
SO WE WERE BEHIND THE CURVE AT THE VERY BEGINNING.
IN 2012, UH, ANIMAL SERVICE SERVICES SPLIT OFF FROM A, A, A DEPARTMENT WITHIN ANIMAL AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND BECAME OUR OWN OFFICE.
WE STILL RELY ON THEM FOR OUR PURCHASING IT AND SOME ACCOUNTING SUPPORT.
IT WAS ALSO THAT YEAR, UM, IN 2014 THAT, UH, AUSTIN ANIMAL CONTROL TRANSITION TO A SOLUTIONS BASED MODEL RATHER THAN THE TRADITIONAL, UH, MODEL THAT CATCHING DOGS IMPOUNDING THEM.
AND INSTEAD OF WE, WE TRY TO FIND SOLUTIONS ON WHY THESE ANIMALS ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND WORK WITH THOSE OWNERS TO KEEP THEM IN THE HOMES WHERE THEY'RE LOVED AND CARED FOR, INSTEAD OF IMPOUNDING THEM.
IN 2017, WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE A KENNEL
[04:45:01]
EXPANSION, ADDING 44 ADDITIONAL KENNELS, AND AT THAT POINT, UH, WE DISCONTINUED TO USE AT THE 60 KENNELS THAT WERE AT T L A.WE ALSO, AT THAT TIME, ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL PLAY YARDS FOR CUSTOMER INTERACTIONS IN 2019, UM, AFTER MANY YEARS OF HI HITTING A 96% LIVE EXIT RATE GREATER, THE, UH, COUNCIL CHANGED THE MANDATE TO A 95% LIVE EXIT RATE FOR US.
AND, UH, JUST LAST MONTH, OUR 97.68 WAS OUR LIVE EXIT PERCENTAGE FOR THE WIDTH OF SEPTEMBER.
DESPITE ALL THE SITUATIONS WE'VE HAD WITH, UH, OUR OVERCROWDING, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT THE CURRENT, UH, SHELTER IS IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO BE A NO KILL FACILITY.
WHEN IT, THERE WERE ONLY TWO SURGICAL TABLES WHEN THIS FACILITY WAS BUILT, UH, THE RECOVERY SPACE WAS ONLY FOR ONE RECOVERY KENNEL FOR SURGERY FOR A LARGE DOG.
AND THAT IS OUR POPULATION THAT, UH, WE HAVE THE MOST OF.
SO OVER THE YEARS, STAFF HAS MODIFIED, UH, THE BUILDING, UH, TO CHANGE IT AROUND TO, TO MEET THE NEEDS SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN WHAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.
CURRENTLY WE ARE EXPANDING OUR LARGE DOG SURGERY KENNELS.
UH, WE'RE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 10 KENNELS, AND THAT'S THE PROJECT THAT IS, IS ONGOING.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO MORE SURGERIES FOR LARGER DOGS AT A TIME, UH, RATHER THAN HAVING TO PIECEMEAL THEM OUT AND TRY TO FIND A PLACE TO PUT THEM.
I'D LIKE TO TOUCH BASE ON STAFFING AND VOLUNTEERING REAL QUICK.
UH, LAST FISCAL YEAR WE HAD 115 BUDGETED FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WITH TWO OF THOSE POSITIONS BEING PART-TIME.
THANKS TO THE CITY MANAGEMENT AND COUNCIL FOR ADDING SIX ADDITIONAL POSITIONS THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THAT'LL GIVE US 121 FULL-TIME STAFF.
THESE POSITIONS ARE GONNA HELP US PROVIDE SERVICE, UH, TO OUR AREA RESIDENTS.
UH, AND IT'LL ALSO BOOST OUR STAFFING CONSIDERABLY BECAUSE OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS, WE'VE ONLY RECEIVED EIGHT POSITIONS.
SO GETTING SIX IN THIS YEAR WAS, WAS DEFINITELY, UH, A MILESTONE FOR US.
WE STILL HAVE A GAP, UH, IN OUR SHELTER, IN, IN TERMS OF ANIMAL CARE TO PROVIDE THE DAILY CLEANING AND FEEDING AND BUT WE, WE SUPPLEMENT ALL OF THIS WITH, UH, 57 TEMPORARY PART-TIME POSITIONS.
AND SO FAR, 41 OF THOSE ARE FILLED CURRENTLY.
LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD, UH, WELL, LET ME START BACK AND SAY DURING THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, WE, WE LOST A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS.
THEY, THEY SELECTED TO STAY HOME, UH, YOU KNOW, AND FOR HEALTH REASONS, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT, AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY WORKING DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO INCREASE THOSE VOLUNTEER HOURS AGAIN.
UH, LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE ENDED UP WITH 43,665 VOLUNTEER HOURS.
THAT IS COMPARED TO WHEN THE FI BEFORE THE PANDEMIC IN FY UH, 19, WE HAD 34,879 VOLUNTEER HOURS.
SO WE ACTUALLY INCREASED OUR VOLUNTEER HOURS THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR OVER WHAT WE HAD DONE PREVIOUSLY BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
SO THAT, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE REALLY WORKED HARD ON AND IT, IT'S CONTINUING TO PAY OFF.
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR THINGS THAT, UH, ANIMAL CARE VOLUNTEERS DO ARE THE DOG WALKING AND THE KENNEL CLEANING WITH CATS AND THE SOCIALIZING THE CATS.
WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT HELP WITH THAT AND SIGN UP FOR THAT.
WE HAVE OTHER ROLES THAT WE NEED HELP IN THAT DON'T GET AS MUCH TRACTION, UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEERS, THEY, THEY, WE COULDN'T MAKE IT IN ANIMAL WELFARE WITH, WITHOUT THEM.
SINCE 2019, UH, ASO HAS BEEN ABLE TO CREATE MANY NEW PROGRAMS AND IMPROVE PROCESSES TO INCREASE PET REUNIFICATION WITH LITTLE OR NO RESOURCES OR HELP FROM LOCAL PARTNERS.
SOME OF THESE I'D LIKE TO SHARE.
SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ARE, UH, WE HAD CREATED, DURING THE PANDEMIC A NEONATAL NURSERY, WE TOOK ONE OF OUR OUTDOOR AREAS AND ENCLOSED THAT WE HAD NINE NEONATAL KITTEN SURGERY CARE KENNELS PREVIOUSLY.
AND THROUGH THIS EXPANSION, WE WERE ABLE TO ADD 27, UH, NEONATAL, UH, CARE KENNELS, WHICH REALLY, UH, HELPED IMPROVE OUR PROCESS.
WE HAD, UH, FRIENDS OF AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER HELPED WITH A PURCHASE OF A BUILDING WE CALL THE CADDY SHACK.
IT IS WHERE THE COMMUNITY TRAPPERS, THE TNR FOLKS THEY BRING THE ANIMALS TO, AND THEN THEY'RE GET PICKED UP FOR SURGERY AND THEN DELIVERED BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE TRAPPED FROM.
AND THAT BUILDING WAS ADDED TO OUR FACILITY CAMPUS, WHICH EXPAND, ABLE TO EXPAND THE NUMBER THAT WE COULD HOLD IN THERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE MOST PROUD OF IS,
[04:50:01]
UH, WE WERE IN THE FIRST ORGANIZ DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY TO USE THE CHAT BOT FEATURE, AND WE PUT THAT ON AS A NECESSITY CUZ WE WERE GETTING SO MANY QUESTIONS THROUGH EMAILS, UH, FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS.AND IT WAS TAKING LOTS OF, UH, YOU KNOW, STAFF TO ANSWER THESE ON A, ON AN ONGOING BASIS.
AND IT, IT IS, YOU CAN GET INSTANT ANSWERS AND IT'S VERY QUICK.
AND IT ELIMINATED ALL THAT BACKLOG OF EMAIL AND THE CUSTOMERS ARE GETTING THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE FLY.
AND THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS REALLY, UH, HELPED US, UH, WORK.
CTM DID A GREAT JOB ON WORKING, UH, WITH US ON THAT AND ADDRESSING OUR NEEDS AND COMING UP WITH A SOLUTION.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL PROGRAM, UH, CONTINUES TO DO A LOT OF WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY, WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS ON WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP KEEP THESE FAMILIES TOGETHER.
OUR STAFF WORKS WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY CALL US TO NEED TO SURRENDER AN ANIMAL, AND WE WORK WITH THEM TO FIND OUT THE REASON WHY.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO, A RESOURCE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT CAN HELP THAT ANIMAL STAY IN THAT FAMILY'S HOME WHERE IT'S LOVED AND CARED FOR? AND WE HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH THAT.
AND SOMETIMES IT'S VERY SIMPLE FIXES THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT BE A FIRST TIME PET OWNER AND THEY NOT MIGHT NEED A LITTLE HELP TEACHING THAT CAT HOW TO USE THE LITTER BOX OR, YOU KNOW, JUST THINGS THAT WE CAN SOLVE OVER THE PHONE A LOT OF TIMES.
AND SO OUR GOAL IS TO TRY TO HELP THEM.
AND IF IT MIGHT BE FOOD OR SUPPLIES, OR SOMETIMES IT'S SOME MEDICAL CARE THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM VOUCHERS FOR TRAINING OR, UH, MEDICAL SERVICES THAT, UH, SOME OF OUR FRIENDS OF AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER CAN HELP SPONSOR.
WE DID DO A PROGRAM TO, UH, PUT MICROCHIP SCANNERS, UH, WITH A PARTNERSHIP THROUGH ALL OUR AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND OUR PARKS AND RECREATION CENTERS.
SO TO TRY TO KEEP THOSE AIR THOSE PETS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THEY'RE FOUND WITHOUT COMING 20 MILES AWAY.
YOU CAN GO TO ONE OF THESE LOCATIONS AND HAVE YOUR MICROCHIP, YOUR, THE ANIMAL YOU FOUND SCANNED.
IF IT HAS A MICROCHIP, THERE'S PROCEDURES THERE THAT YOU CAN CONTACT THE MICROCHIP COMPANIES AND REUNITE THAT PET WITHOUT EVER HAVING TO MAKE THE DRIVE TO THE ANIMAL CENTER.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY HOPE THAT, UH, THE PUBLIC CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NOW THAT THE PANDEMIC IS, IS STARTING TO LIGHTEN UP AND PEOPLE ARE, ARE BECOMING MORE MOBILE AGAIN.
WE ALSO DEVELOPED A LOT OF PROGRAMS TO HELP PETS GET REUNITED.
WE HAVE A LOST AND FOUND TEXT PROGRAM THAT YOU CAN TEXT AND WE WILL SEND YOU STEP BY STEP OUR PET REUNIFICATION GUIDE THAT WE CREATED TO GET THOSE ANIMALS BACK TO THOSE HOMES.
UH, WE KNOW THAT, UM, MOST PETS ARE FOUND WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF THEIR HOMES.
SO THIS SAYING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD REALLY, REALLY DOES HELP THAT TREMENDOUSLY ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
SHELTERS ACROSS THE NATION ARE SEEING THE SAME THING THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IN TEXAS AND HERE LOCALLY AS WELL.
UH, MORE ANIMALS ARE BEING SURRENDERED TO HOUSING AND THE COST TO CARE FOR THOSE ANIMALS.
WITH, WITH THAT SERVICES, SHELTERS ARE NOT SEEING THE SAME NUMBER OF ADOPTIONS AND RESCUE POOLS THAT THEY HAD IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
UH, THIS HAS RESULTED IN LONGER STAYS FOR ANIMALS IN SHELTERS AND IT AFFECTS, OF COURSE, SHELTER CAPACITY.
UH, ULTIMATELY THESE, THESE SHELTERS HAVE HAD TO MAKE SOME VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS ON SPACE.
AND HE, HERE IN OUR, OUR LARGE MUNICIPAL SHELTERS HERE IN TEXAS, HA HAVE HAVING TO BE EUTHANIZING FOR SPACE.
AND WE HAVE NOT AT THIS POINT.
WE, WE'VE AVERTED THAT FACT, UH, BY DOING A LOT OF INNOVATIVE THINGS AND KEEPING ANIMALS IN, IN POP-UP PRS, UH, IN, IN LIEU OF DOING THAT, UH, WITH THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS ALSO A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF SPAY AND NEERS THAT COULD BE BEEN DONE DURING THAT TIME.
CAUSE THE VET CLINICS WERE, YOU KNOW, NOT DOING THE SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES THAT THEY HAD DONE PREVIOUSLY.
AND WE'VE DEFINITELY SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE PUPPIES AND KITTENS THIS YEAR.
UH, KIND OF LIKE THAT LEFTOVER FROM THAT TIME.
AND, UH, WE REALLY WANT TO SEE THOSE, UH, BE ABLE TO COME BACK AROUND AND, AND START DOING MORE AND MORE SPAIN NEUTERS IN THE COMMUNITY, AGAIN, LOCALLY, AS MANY MUNICIPAL SHELTERS, UH, WE'VE SEEN INCREASED CHALLENGES.
AND SOME OF THEM ARE THE COST TO MAINTAIN PETS, INCLUDING OUR COST AND ABILITY FOR VETERINARIAN CARE.
UH, WE'VE SEEN INCREASED SURRENDERS IN DECREASED ADOPTIONS, UH, AS THE ONLY LOCATION FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, AND IT, WE HAVE A LARGE JURISDICTION TO, TO MAINTAIN, UH, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE COULD NEED
[04:55:01]
SOME ASSISTANCE AND IT COULD TAKE THEM, YOU KNOW, 20 MILES A TRIP TO, TO ONE WAY TO GET TO US.AND THAT, UH, WITH TRAFFIC, IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, QUITE EXTENSIVE.
SO, UH, THAT, THAT IS ONE OF OUR, OUR STUMBLING BLOCKS AS WELL.
UH, THERE ARE MANY TIMES THAT WE HIT BARRIERS TO, UH, GETTING ANIMALS RECLAIMED WHEN THERE'S NO MICROCHIPS.
WE, YOU KNOW, FIND THAT, UH, WE HAVE A LOW RECLAIM RATE WHEN ANIMALS ARE IN THE SHELTER, UH, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT MICRO CHIPPED.
IF WE CAN KEEP THOSE ANIMALS THAT AREN'T MICRO CHIPPED IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE HAVE A MUCH HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF GETTING THEM HOME.
WE DID A STUDY DURING THE PANDEMIC FROM MARCH OF 2020 TO JULY OF 20 19, 20 21, THAT, UM, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT FOUND DID, FOUND REPORTS.
WE SURVEYED THOSE FOLKS AND, AND THEY SPECIFICALLY ASKED US QUESTIONS, OUR QUESTIONS, AND WE FOUND THAT 39% OF THE ANIMALS THAT WERE KEPT IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL AT FINDING THEM HOMES, FINDING THEIR HOME.
UH, OF THAT, 41% OF THEM WERE FOUND THEIR HOMES, THE, THE VERY FIRST DAY.
AND ON, ON DAY FOUR, THERE WAS STILL 16% BEING FOUND, UH, IN THEIR FINDING THEIR HOMES.
AND, AND THAT'S WHAT OUR PET REUNIFICATION GUIDE TALKS ABOUT IS THE STEPS THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW.
AND IT'S ONE OF THE MODELS THAT OUR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS HAVE USED FOR YEARS.
WE KNOW THAT ANIMALS, UH, YOU CAN KIND OF RUN THEM BACK HOME AND THEY'LL, YOU'LL FOLLOW THEM HOME.
AND, UH, WHEN YOU GET THERE, YOU CAN KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND, AND SAY, HEY, YOUR, YOUR PET'S OUT.
AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY, THEY DON'T EVEN NOTICE THAT.
BUT YOU COULD FIND OUT WHY THAT PET'S GETTING OUT AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU? AND THAT'S WHERE WE OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE.
SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES HERE AT OUR OPERATIONS, AS I STATED, WE'RE THE ONLY, YOU KNOW, ONE, ONE SHELTER LOCATION.
UH, WE'VE OUTGROWN A FACILITY THAT WAS DESIGNED TO BE, UH, NOT A NO-KILL FACILITY.
AND, AND WE WERE, YOU KNOW, SHORT ON KENNEL SPACE WHEN WE MOVED IN AT THE VERY BEGINNING.
WE'VE SEEN A DECREASE OF TRANSFERS TO OUR IN-STATE PARTNERS.
AND OUR INTAKE IS OUTPACING OUR OUTCOMES.
WHILE WE HAVE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE THE CAT ADOPTIONS, WE STILL CANNOT GET THE MEDIUM TO LARGE DOG OUTCOMES GREATER THAN THE INCOMES.
WE'RE SEEING LONGER LENGTHS OF STAY.
UH, OUR FOSTERS, UH, AND ADOPTERS ARE VERY SPECIFIC IN THE TYPE OF ANIMALS THAT THEY ARE, THEY'RE REQUESTING FOR THEIR HOMES.
AND, UM, MOST OF OUR RESOURCES ARE SPENT ON, ON CARING FOR THE ANIMALS THAT ARE IN OUR SERVICE RATHER THAN, UH, ON PROGRAMS TO HELP ANIMALS STAY IN HOMES TO REACH NO KILL STATUS.
IT, IT TAKES THE WHOLE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, AND Y'ALL ARE VERY AWARE OF THAT FOR WHAT THE AUSTIN HAS DONE THROUGH THE YEARS.
UM, BUT THE ORGANIZATION ITSELF HAS TO ADAPT IN ORDER TO SUCCEED.
OUR RESCUE PARTNERS ARE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF HELPING US STAY AFLOAT, ESPECIALLY, UH, WHEN OUR POPULATIONS SURGE.
UH, WE HAVE OVER 150 RESCUE PARTNERS, BOTH IN STATE AND OUT OF STATE THAT HELP OUR OVERALL MISSION FIND VIABLE OUTCOMES FOR THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE.
WE HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH NONPROFITS THAT SUPPORT US, LIKE OUR FRIENDS OF AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
UH, THEY PROVIDE FUNDING FOR, UH, THINGS THAT WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO.
THEY, THEY PROVIDE FUNDING FOR VOUCHERS FOR PEOPLE THAT ADOPT, UH, FOR RISK FOR, UH, BEHAVIOR ISSUES OR FOR MEDICAL ISSUES OF THE PET THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE.
UH, THEY ALSO, WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH CLASSIC CANINES THAT WILL SPONSOR MEDICAL CARE FOR, UH, ANIMALS THAT ARE ADOPTED OR FOSTERED THAT ARE EIGHT YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.
WE ALSO HAVE, UH, A PROGRAM WHERE WE HAVE OUTREACH STAFF THAT WORKS FOR THE TRANSIENT AND PEOPLE EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS, UH, ANIMALS, YOU KNOW, THEY PROVIDE SUPPLIES.
THEY SET UP APPOINTMENTS FOR SPAY AND NEUTER.
WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE VACCINATED AND, AND WHAT THEY NEED TO HAVE TO, TO MAINTAIN THEIR PET IN, IN THAT WHERE IT'S CARED FOR AND, AND NEEDS TO BE.
WE'RE ALSO, THAT'S ALSO VERY INSTRUMENTAL BECAUSE, UH, WHEN A PET DOES GET LOST, THEY'RE EASY TO REUNITE BECAUSE THEY, THEY'RE VERY AWARE OF, UH, THE PET OWNERSHIP IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THEY WORK SO WELL WITH THEM.
HELP FROM OUR COMMUNITY IS AN ABSOLUTE NEED IN ORDER TO KEEP ANIMALS AND, AND FIND HOMES FOR THEM.
UM, I, I MENTIONED THAT WE KNOW, WE, WE DETERMINED THAT WE KNOW KEEPING ANIMALS IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY IS A MODEL THAT OUR ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICERS HAVE DONE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND DURING THE, THE PANDEMIC, WE ASKED THE CITIZENS TO HELP WITH THAT, AND IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
[05:00:01]
UM, YOU KNOW, NOTEWORTHY THAT, YOU KNOW, TAKING A FEW MOMENTS TO KNOCK ON A DOOR, IT, IT, IT'S VERY BENEFICIAL.WE HAD, UH, SOME PEOPLE THAT PICKED UP A DOG OUT OF A FRONT YARD AND BROUGHT IT TO OUR SHELTER.
THANK GOODNESS IT HAD A MICROCHIP, AND WE WERE ABLE TO SCAN IT, AND WE CALLED THE OWNER, THEY WERE IN THEIR HOME.
THEY, IF THAT HAD KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, THAT DOG WOULD'VE NEVER HAD TO COME THE 15 MILES TO US.
SO THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING REALLY GOOD.
BUT IF YOU TAKE THAT EXTRA STEP AND JUST KNOCK ON A DOOR, YOU'LL PROBABLY NOT HAVE TO MAKE THAT 15, WELL, 30 MILE TRIP, ROUND TRIP.
UH, SO THAT HAPPENS QUITE A BIT.
AND WE WERE JUST FORTUNATE THAT THAT PET, UH, HAPPENED TO BE MICRO CHIPPED.
I KNOW I'VE COVERED A LOT OF INFORMATION VERY QUICKLY.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN LATE, BUT MOVING FORWARD, UH, THE ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER OFFICE, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO CONCENTRATE ON, UH, GROWING OUR FOSTER AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS. UH, WE, WE, WE DID REESTABLISH OUR CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM.
THAT THAT IS A PROGRAM WHERE VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF CHAMPION CERTAIN LONG STAY DOGS TO PROMOTE THEIR ADOPTIONS.
UH, DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT FELL OFF.
AND, UH, WE HOPEFULLY GET A LOT OF SUCCESS FROM THAT.
I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF REALLY WANTED TO BRING BACK.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF TO PUSH THEM INTO THE KENNELS.
UH, WE HAVE UPGRADED THE WIFI IN OUR KENNELS, AND WE HAVE ORDERED TABLETS, UH, FOR THE, THOSE ANIMALS CARE WORKERS TO WORK IN THE KENNELS WITH, UH, PRO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE IN THE KENNEL HELPING SOMEONE, YOU CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT DOG.
YOU COULD PROCESS THEIR APPLICATION RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO COME INTO THE LOBBY.
WE DID DO A CONSULTATION WITH A VETERINARIAN BEHAVIORIST, UH, WHO JUST LEFT LAST WEEK.
AND WERE WAITING ON THE RESULTS, UH, TO TRY TO MAXIMIZE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH SOME OF OUR, UH, CHALLENGED ANIMALS WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
AND WE'RE WORKING ON INNOVATIVE WAYS TO TRY TO INCREASE ADOPTIONS, UH, AND, AND RESCUES LOCALLY.
AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO, UH, VET OUT ALL OF THE INNOVATIVE IDEAS THAT CONTINUE TO COME FROM STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS IN THE PUBLIC TO SEE WHAT WE CAN INCORPORATE AND, UH, INTO OUR SYSTEM TO, TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE IT THE BEST THAT, THAT WE CAN TIME.
AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
UM, I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME CAPACITY ISSUES, YOU KNOW, UH, RECENTLY.
UH, AND I WAS WONDERING IN TERMS OF THE CAUSES OF, UH, THE, THE CAPACITY ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT AND, AND HOW, UH, WHAT CHANGES COULD WE MAKE FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE TO HELP, UH, ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE, THOSE CAPACITY ISSUES? THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN ARE, YOU KNOW, THE RESCUES IN OUR STATE HAVE, HAVE GOTTEN FULL THEMSELVES.
AND SO THEY WERE UNABLE TO PULL, UH, ANIMALS FROM US THAT WE HISTORICALLY HAD COUNTED ON EACH MONTH.
AND, UM, DURING THE, THE PANDEMIC, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF ANIMALS WENT INTO HOMES VERY QUICKLY AT THE BEGINNING, AND THEN THE SHELTERS ALL STARTED FILLING BACK UP SLOWLY.
AND THEN WHEN THE WORLD OPENED BACK UP, OUR SHELTER WAS ALREADY FULL.
SO, UH, FINDING ANIMALS, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY AND BRINGING 'EM TO US CONTINUED TO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT, BY THE DIRECTIVES OUT THERE, WE COULD EUTHANIZE FOR SPACE.
WE HAVE NOT, WE CHOSE NOT TO, UH, WE, IT WAS, IT WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION, UH, TO PUT THE STAFF, UH, HAVING TO KEEP ANIMALS IN CRATES AND KENNELS.
UH, IT, IT'S STRESSFUL OF THE ANIMALS AND STRESSFUL ON THE STAFF, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS, UH, WHEN, YOU KNOW, SO WE FELT THAT THAT'S THE STEP WE HAD TO GO FORWARD TO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY, UH, CAN DO IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN OTHER COMMUNITIES DO.
UH, THERE ARE COMMUNITIES LIKE PORTLAND, GIA, FLORIDA, THAT HAS, UH, AN 80% RETURN TO OWNER RATE IN THEIR SHELTER.
THEY DO MANDATORY MICROCHIPPING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY, THEY HAVE STARTED AT THE VERY BEGINNING IS, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY HERE IN AUSTIN, MOST PEOPLE THINK THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO IS TAKE THE ANIMAL TO THE SHELTER.
THEIR PHILOSOPHY HAS BEEN, THAT'S THE LAST THING YOU NEED TO DO.
I NEED TO TRY, IF I SEE A DOG THAT NEEDS SOME ASSISTANCE, I
[05:05:01]
NEED TO SEE IF I CAN KNOCK ON A FEW DOORS AND GET IT HOME BEFORE I TAKE IT TO THE SHELTER.AND SO I THINK IT'S, IT, THERE'S A LOT THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN DO IF THEY WILL FOLLOW OUR REUN REUNIFICATION GUIDELINES AND HELP US, UM, TO MITIGATE THOSE INTAKES.
UH, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF ANIMALS THAT ARE BEING SURRENDERED TO US BECAUSE OF HOUSING ISSUES.
IT USED TO, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST HAD TO PAY A MONTH AN ANNUAL PET DEPOSIT.
NOW WE'RE SEEING MONTHLY PET RENT, UH, IN, IN OUR PUBLIC HOUSING, 30 POUNDS IS THE LIMIT FOR AN ANIMAL THAT YOU CAN PUT IN PUBLIC HOUSING.
AND SO WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF STUMBLING BLOCKS, UH, BESIDES THE, THE, THE PET CARE.
WE SEE PETS THAT ARE BEING SURRENDERED BECAUSE OF SURGERIES, AND THEY'RE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE.
AND, UM, I, UH, I CAN TELL THAT YOUR UNDER CONTROL OFFICERS ARE VERY COMMITTED TO THE, THE, THE REATION.
UH, I DID A, A RIDE ALONG WITH, WITH, UH, ONE OF YOUR OFFICERS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DID RUN INTO A, A COUPLE OF DOGS, AND I THINK IT WAS THE UNIVERSITY HILLS AREA, YOU KNOW, WE WENT AND KNOCKED ON A BUNCH OF DOORS, SEE IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? ANYBODY KNOWS THE DOGS.
I MEAN, YOU COULD TELL THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, FRIENDLY DOGS THAT JUST GOT OUTTA THE BACKYARD AND WERE HAVING REALLY THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES.
UH, BUT, UH, AND SO I, AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND, AND I'M, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT INTERNALLY WITH MY STAFF AND THE MANDATORY MICROCHIPPING AND IN A MANDATORY MICROCHIPPING, NO, NO PENALTY.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, JUST MAKING SURE THAT, THAT EVERY ANIMAL THAT COMES THROUGH THE ANIMAL CENTER, EVERYBODY'S GOTTA, YOU KNOW, JUST ANNOUNCE IT, YOU KNOW, CHIP IT, THE VETS WILL, YOU KNOW, THAT WAY WHEN, YOU KNOW, YOU FIRST GET A PUPPY, YOU TAKE IT TO THE VET, THE VET'S GONNA BE LIKE, HEY, YOU REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE TO MICROCHIP OKAY, MICROCHIP IT, YOU KNOW, TO PROMOTE THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN REUNIFY.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT, UM, UH, POLICY.
AND, AND WE, WE WANNA BRING SOMETHING FORWARD WITH REGARD TO THAT.
I'LL SAY ONE THING THAT I NOTICED ON THE TOUR OF THE ANIMAL CENTER WERE THOSE, UH, DOGS, UH, AGAIN, MOSTLY YOUR BIG DOGS WITH YOUR BITE HISTORIES, UH, THAT HAD, YOU KNOW, I THINK SOME OF 'EM WERE LIKE, WHAT, 700 DAYS? OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THE ANIMAL CENTER, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME, UH, OF THE ANIMALS HAD A MULTI BITE, YOU KNOW, HISTORY HAD, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY EVEN, YOU KNOW, BITTEN, STABBED VERY, VERY, THAT'S A REAL TOUGH ONE.
AGAIN, I, I COMPLETELY SUPPORT THE, THE NO KILL, UH, SHELTER, UH, CONCEPT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, MY HEART REALLY BREAKS FOR AN ANIMAL THAT HAS BEEN IN A, YOU KNOW, IN A CAGE FOR, YOU KNOW, 600, 800 DAYS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND, AND AGAIN, FROM A RESOURCE PERSPECTIVE, I, I JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SAY THAT THAT'S A GOOD USE OF, OF, OF, OF CITY, YOU KNOW, RESOURCES TO, TO KEEP THAT ANIMAL PEN UP, YOU KNOW, TO, TO FEED IT, TO CARE FOR IT, TO, YOU KNOW, MEDICAL CARE, ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, SO, UM, AGAIN, I KNOW THERE ARE DIFFICULT CHOICES TO BE MADE, BUT YOU KNOW, I, I DO, UH, YOU KNOW, I SANCTUARIES ARE GREAT.
THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER IS NOT IN ANIMAL SANCTUARY, YOU KNOW, I, I'M, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S GOT A ROLE TO PLAY AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF, OF, UH, OF TAXPAYER MONEY.
AND, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, I THINK AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, MAKE THOSE, UH, YOU KNOW, DIFFICULT CALLS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DO IN THOSE KINDS OF SITUATIONS WHEN WE'VE GOT ESSENTIALLY AN UNADOPTABLE ANIMAL, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, I KNOW SOME FOLKS WOULD BE, WELL, THERE IS NO UNADOPTABLE ANIMAL.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF TRAINING, BUT AGAIN, THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF RESOURCES AND, AND A LOT OF, UH, OF, UH, TIME AND EFFORT PUT IN.
SO, UH, ANYWAY, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS.
I APPRECIATE THE, THE EFFORTS OF ALL THE, THE STAFF AT THE, AT THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
I KNOW THEY'RE VERY DEDICATED.
I KNOW THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DOING, UH, UH, THEIR BEST.
UM, BUT, UH, WE'LL BE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE, UH, THINKING ABOUT THAT.
AND, AND ON THAT SAME KIND OF NOTE, ANY, ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM, FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR POINT OF VIEW TOO, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT WE COULD DO HERE ON COUNCIL TO, TO HELP THE, THE, THE, THE, THE SHELTER BETTER, BETTER FUNCTION.
WELL JUST REMEMBERS NEXT YEAR IN THE BUDGET
UH, WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, UH, CURRENTLY, UH, 20 OFFICERS THAT COVER THE WHOLE CARE AREA OF TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, IN OUR, UH, JURISDICTION, AND WE JUST WERE GIVEN TO ADDITIONAL, SO THAT'S GONNA HELP US TREMENDOUSLY.
BUT JUST LAST YEAR ALONE, THOSE OFFICERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH OVER 2,500 BIKE INVESTIGATIONS.
SO THAT TAKES A LOT OF TIME BESIDES JUST THE LOOSE AND STRAY.
AND SO SOME SOMETIMES PRIORITIES THAT THE COMMUNITY, WHAT'S MIGHT BE A PRIORITY FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL.
AND THAT IS NOT IN THE WHOLE BIG PICTURE OF THINGS, WHAT OUR PRIORITY MIGHT BE, BECAUSE RABIES IS A VERY SERIOUS TOPIC.
AND SO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES, YOU KNOW, FIRST BEFORE THAT'S A PRIORITY ONE VERSUS
[05:10:01]
SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, A, A STRAY FIND MIGHT BE A PRIORITY THREE.SO, UH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, A LOT, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO A LOT MORE EDUCATION TO OUR COMMUNITY ON WAYS THAT THEY CAN HELP US OUT AND, UH, WAYS THAT WE CAN KEEP THEM SAFE.
AND YOU ARE CORRECT THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DOGS THAT, UH, I THINK THERE WAS 57 BITES, 57 DOGS ON SITE RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE BITE HISTORY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE MIGHT, THERE'S SOMEONE OUT THERE, BUT IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, HOW LONG YOU KNOW, AND HOW TO, HOW TO FIND THEM.
IT, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, LONG, LENGTHY PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I, I APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK, UH, THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, KITCHEN AND HARBOR MEDICINE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL MADISON, UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU MR. BLAND, FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU A COUPLE OF EMAILS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED THAT I'D LIKE TO GET YOUR INSIGHTS ON, AND THEN JUST GET YOUR ADVICE ON HOW WE AS A BODY CAN MOVE FORWARD, UM, WITH BEING IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT YOU PRESENTED IN SLIDE NUMBER 12 WHERE IT SAYS, BE A NO KILL IS GONNA HAVE TO TAKE A VILLAGE.
I'VE JUST SO FREQUENTLY THOUGHT, YOU KNOW ABOUT ALL THE GAPS.
AND IT DOES, DID YOU TRY AGAIN, INCLUDE ALL THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS, UM, IN WHICH CASE, SO THIS EMAIL FROM A CONSTITUENT SAYS DA DA LAST YEAR, LOTS OF ROAMING DOGS MOSTLY LOOSE, SOME OFF LEASH.
ANIMAL CONTROL IS OBVIOUSLY OVERWHELMED AND UNDERFUNDED.
I GET THOSE A LOT, BUT THIS IS THE ONE THAT CONCERNED ME.
UM, I CURRENTLY HAVE A LOST DOG SITTING IN MY BACKYARD.
ANIMAL CONTROL TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO, AND THAT I, BASICALLY, IT WAS BASICALLY ON ME, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE DOG, I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR YOU AS MY REP TO PUSH FOR MORE FUNDING AND BETTER ANIMAL CONTROLS.
OBVIOUSLY, WE RESPONDED TO HER, AT WHICH POINT SHE LET US KNOW, SHE TRIED TO TAKE THE DOG TO AAC THIS AFTERNOON.
THEY REFUSED TO TAKE HER AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THIS DOG FOR AN INDEFINITE AMOUNT OF TIME UNTIL THEY COULD MAYBE DO AN INTAKE.
I TOLD THEM I HAD NO SPACE TO DO SO AND HAD ANIMALS THAT WERE MY PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS LEAVING THE DOG THERE WITH THEM, BECAUSE SHE'S NOT MINE, THEY THREATENED TO CHARGE ME WITH ABANDONMENT.
UM, SO I WON'T GO ON, BUT I, I DO WANNA BRING UP THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST THAT I'VE HEARD OF THIS KIND OF COMMENTARY, BUT IT IS THE FIRST OF IT.
YOU KNOW, THIS EMAIL WENT ON FOR SEVERAL EMAILS, SEVERAL DAYS WITH THE SAME CONSTITUENT.
AND I AM VERY CURIOUS WHAT ADVICE YOU WOULD OFFER US WHEN WE RECEIVE THAT TYPE OF EMAIL.
AND IS THIS AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO A CONSTITUENT ATTEMPTING TO SURRENDER A DOG THAT THEY FOUND LOOSE WANDERING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD? THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TRY TO WORK ON IS, YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD ME SAY WE HAVE OUR 2,500 BITES.
UM, IF, IF PEOPLE WILL, UH, EITHER TEXT US, GO TO THE WEBSITE, LOOK AT THE PET REUNIFICATION GUIDE, AND IT, THEY'RE STEP BY STEP ON TELLING YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO DO WHEN YOU SEE THAT ANIMAL THAT IS LOOSE, UH, A A WELL CARED FAR PET IS, IS IF IT, IF IT, YOU KNOW, SKINNY INJURED PET, THAT THAT'S A DIFFERENT PRIORITY FOR US.
BUT IF YOU HAVE, YOU FIND AN ANIMAL THAT YOU SEE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE IT ISN'T THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AT SOME POINT SOMEWHERE.
SO IF YOU FOLLOW THE PET REUNIFICATION GUIDE, WE TRY TO TELL THEM TO, YOU KNOW, GO SOME, KNOCK ON SOME DOORS, WALK IT AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
A LOT OF TIMES A DOG WILL WALK YOU TO ITS HOME.
AND, AND IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A PROACTIVE APART IN TRYING TO FIND THAT DOG'S HOME, UH, YOU, IF YOU MAKE A DECISION TO TRAP THE DOG, UH, THEN IT'S, YOU KNOW, NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET TO GO HOME.
UH, AND WHAT WE TRY TO TELL YOU IS WE, WE WILL TRY TO GET TO YOU WHEN WE CAN.
OF COURSE, UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE WERE IN A SPACE CRISIS, WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE ROOM FOR ANIMALS AND WE WERE HAVING TO TELL PEOPLE, UH, WE, WE'LL PUT YOU ON THE LIST, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL GET TO YOU WHEN WE CAN.
UH, BECAUSE WE, WE, WHEN WE HAVE SPACE AVAILABLE, UH, IF, IF, YOU KNOW, 10 NOW DOGS WENT OUT YESTERDAY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE 10 IN TODAY.
UH, WE HAD ACTUALLY MAXIMIZED OUR CRATE SPACE.
WE HAD 69 ANIMALS AND POP UP CRATES.
SO THE, THE TIMING FOR HER, UNFORTUNATELY WAS, WAS NOT REALLY VERY WELL.
UH, IF SOMEONE DOES TAKE OWNERSHIP OF A DOG AND, AND OR IF YOU, IT'S YOUR OWN DOG AND YOU DO ABANDON THAT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE ANIMAL CRUELTY DIVISION WORKS ON WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, IF SOMEONE CAME TO OUR CAMPUS, WE WOULD ADVISE THEM NOT TO DO THAT.
UH, AND IF WE COULD HAVE, AND, AND I DO KNOW THAT THE CASE YOU'RE, YOU'RE MAKING REFERENCE TO, WE DID REACH OUT AND ANIMAL PROTECTION ACTUALLY DID GO TO HER HOUSE THAT AFTERNOON AND, AND PICK THE DOG UP.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE TRIED TO, UH,
[05:15:01]
GET THE CUSTOM, GET THE, THE CITIZEN'S ASSISTANCE IN HELPING US WHEN AT ALL POSSIBLE.AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S A, UM, A DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHY IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU WANT TO, THE OLD MODEL OF PICK UP ANYTHING AND BRING IT IN WAS WHAT YOU KNOW WAS, WAS BEING DONE PRIOR TO 2011.
AND WHEN YOU GO INTO NO KILLING, TRYING TO SAVE, UH, THE ANIMALS, YOU HAVE TO, TO SHIP, MAKE SOME SORT OF A SHIFT TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE, BECAUSE YOU, BOTH OF THOSE MODELS DON'T WORK.
YOU CAN'T PICK UP EVERY STRAY DOG THAT YOU AND, AND RELY ON ANIMAL PROTECTION TO TRY TO FIND ITS HOME.
UH, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S A BALANCE THAT YOU HAVE TO ACHIEVE.
DIRECTOR BLAND, I'M SORRY, I DON'T MEAN TO BE ABRUPT, BUT WHERE I AM, IT'S ABOUT TO GET LOUD.
AND SO I, REAL QUICK, I JUST WANNA FOLLOW UP THERE.
I, I HOPE VERY MUCH THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE AS MUCH CONCERN ABOUT THIS BEING OUR STANDARD IN TERMS OF PROTOCOL.
UM, I CAN'T HELP BUT IMMEDIATELY THINK ABOUT THE EQUITY ISSUES INVOLVED WITH A CONSTITUENT WHO MAY NOT HAVE DIGITAL ACCESS TO FIND THIS CHECKLIST THAT YOU MAKE REFERENCE TO A PERSON WHO MAY NOT BE LITERATE, TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THIS STEP BY STEP GUIDE THAT YOU MAKE REFERENCE TO.
AND THEN MAYBE MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE IMPLICATIONS OF INVOLVING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PEOPLE'S LIVES AS A RESULT OF THEM TRYING TO BE A GOOD SAMARITAN BRINGS ME THE KIND OF PAUSE AND CONCERN THAT I THINK WE NEED TO DISCUSS AS OUR BODY VERY SOON.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU REALLY JUST CONFIRMING FOR ME THAT THIS IS IN FACT PROTOCOL AND THAT WE HAVE NOT, IN FACT THOUGHT ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR SOME OF OUR, UM, FOR, FOR SOME OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.
THIS IS POTENTIALLY VERY LIFE ALTERING AND DANGEROUS POLICY WITH THO IF SOMEONE CALLS THREE 11 AND AND SAYS THAT THEY HAVE A STRAY DOG, UH, THEN IT IS DISPATCHED TO THE ANIMAL, UH, PROTECTION OFFICERS AND, UH, THEY DO GET A CALL BACK.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE TECHNOLOGY TO BE ABLE TO, UH, GET THE, THE PROGRAM AND WORKS THROUGH IT STEP BY STEP.
THEY WILL BE CONTACTED BY THE ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICER IF THROUGH THROUGH THE PHONE SYSTEM.
I, I, I DO APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH.
I WILL JUST SAY THAT IT IS WHOLLY INSUFFICIENT IN MY OPINION, AND I'D LIKE VERY MUCH TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS TOPIC? I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
CATHERINE KITCHEN? YES, GO AHEAD.
YES, JUST A QUICK QUESTION TO GO BACK, UM, UM, TO GO BACK TO, UH, CONVERSATION WE WERE HAVING AND, AND ALSO I WANTED TO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I SHARE THAT CONCERN THAT YOU RAISED, BUT, UM, GOING BACK TO THE EARLIER CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE CONCERNS ABOUT, UH, LOCKING ANIMALS AWAY, I THINK THAT'S A CONCERN OF MINE ALSO.
I AM WONDERING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO WORK WITH THOSE ANIMALS MORE, IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT IS NEEDED IN TERMS OF RESOURCES SO THAT WE ARE CERTAIN TO WORK WITH THEM MORE SO THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOT TO JUST CONSIDER THEM, UH, TO BE, I FORGET WHAT THE EARLIER WORDS WE WERE USING, BUT I WOULDN'T WANNA CONSIDER THEM, UM, TO BE A LOST CAUSE, SO TO SPEAK.
UM, SO WHAT DO WE DO TO WORK WITH ANIMALS AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO WORK WITH THEM MORE SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST LOCKING THEM AWAY IN GREATS? THANK YOU.
WE DO HAVE A, A ENRICHMENT PROGRAM.
UH, WE HAVE ALWAYS RELIED ON ONE OF OUR PARTNERS THAT HAS A FULL BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM TO PULL FIVE, UH, ANIMALS FROM US A MONTH.
UH, WE WORK WITH THESE ANIMALS WITHIN, YOU KNOW, THE LIMITED STAFF THAT WE DO HAVE.
UH, LIKE I SAID, WE DON'T HAVE BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
WE DO WORK WITH THEM, UH, AND TRY TO, UH, GET THEM COMFORTABLE SO THAT THEY CAN BECOME ADOPTABLE.
WE, WE TRY EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR RESOURCES.
UH, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE HAD, UH, UH, VETERINARIAN BEHAVIORISTS COME IN AND, UH, EVALUATE OUR PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO TELL US, HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO WITHIN YOUR LIMITATIONS, AND HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOST BENEFICIAL CHANGES.
SO WE ARE WAITING ON THOSE, UM, RESULTS FROM THAT.
AND I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOUR OFFICE.
SO YOU'RE, SO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A, A CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT MORE? WE DON'T HAVE A BEHAVIOR, WE DO NOT HAVE A BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM AT THE SHELTER.
WE'VE ALWAYS RELIED ON, UH, OUR RESCUE PARTNER
[05:20:01]
THAT HAS A FULL BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM TO, TO PULL THE BEHAVIOR DOGS FROM US.AND IF I REMEMBER SOME CONVERSATION, MAYBE IT WASN'T ABOUT THAT SPECIFICALLY, BUT I THOUGHT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY HAD, UH, PROPOSED SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS IN THE WORKS.
AND IN OTHER WORDS, I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS SLATED TO HAPPEN.
IT, IT LOOKS LIKE SHE PROBABLY KNOWS MORE ABOUT THIS.
SO CAN WE, UH, IF, IF I COULD REAL COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN? YEAH.
UM, I BROUGHT FOR AN ANIMAL BEHAVIORIST IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE AUDIT THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, WE AS A COUNCIL DECIDED IT WOULD BE BEST TO MAKE IT FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET FOLLOWING THE FINDINGS OF THE AUDIT.
UM, AND DIRECTOR OF BLAND, IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS WELL? YES, MA'AM, IT IS.
WE DESPERATELY NEED A ANIMAL BEHAVIORIST IN THE ANIMAL SERVICES CENTER, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT SO THAT WE CAN BRING THAT TO FRUITION.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY? I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE I DIDN'T, I WANTED TO US TO BE CLEAR THAT THAT IS, UH, A RECOGNIZED NEED AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TOWARDS, UM, AND DIDN'T WANT IT TO, TO JUST SAY THAT WE WEREN'T GONNA HAVE THAT.
UM, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THIS IS, THIS IS VERY INTERESTING.
I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS I, I, I AM ALSO SUPER CONCERNED ABOUT, ABOUT THE EXCHANGE WE JUST HAD.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION FROM YOUR CONSTITUENT.
I, I, UM, I SEE THE LANGUAGE ABOUT TAKING IN ANIMALS, UM, ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS, AND I THINK WE NEED TO PROBABLY DEFINE THAT FOR THE PUBLIC SO THAT FOLKS, FOLKS UNDERSTAND IT.
BUT I'M ALSO REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT, ABOUT, UM, WHAT WAS DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF, OF THERE POTENTIALLY BEING POLICE ACTION AGAINST SOMEBODY WHO, WELL, REALLY, MY, MY COLLEAGUE ARTICULATED THAT, SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT CONVERSATION TRANSPIRES, BUT I'M, I'M ON BOARD.
I THINK IT'S A REALLY SIGNIFICANT CONCERN I WANTED TO SAY.
UM, ALSO JUST A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE IS I'M, I'M REALLY SUPER GLAD DIRECTOR BLAND, TO SEE THAT YOU'RE OPEN AGAIN ON SUNDAYS.
UM, IT LOOKS LIKE, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE OPEN FOR ADOPTIONS AGAIN ON SUNDAYS, IS THAT CORRECT? WE ARE.
AND YOU KNOW, JUST WANTED TO SAY, I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, MORE TIME, WELL, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME OVER THERE, AND YOU HAVE INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS AND INCREDIBLE STAFF.
AND DESPITE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY IN, IN RECENT MONTHS WITH SUCH A HIGH NUMBER OF ANIMALS, THEY'RE ALWAYS SUPER HELPFUL AND JUST SUPER ENGAGED.
AND IT'S, IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLE OF A PLACE WHERE TONS AND TONS OF PEOPLE COME AS YOU'VE DEMONSTRATED WITH YOUR NUMBERS, BUT IT'S CLEAR THERE ON ANY, ON ANY GIVEN DAY OF THE WEEK, IT'S JUST, UM, ALIVE WITH VOLUNTEER SERVICES.
SO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE, THOSE OF, UM, ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK THERE, BUT ALSO THE STAFF WHO ARE JUST DOING THEIR JOBS DAY IN AND DAY OUT UNDER SOMETIMES REALLY CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES.
UM, A COUPLE THINGS I JUST WANTED TO HEARKEN BACK TO.
I, I'D SUBMITTED SOME BUDGET QUESTIONS THAT GOT ANSWERED AFTER THE BUDGET BECAUSE I SUBMITTED THEM SO LATE IN THE, IN THE PROCESS, BUT WANTED TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AS WE CONTINUED TO TALK ABOUT ANIMAL SERVICES.
AND THEN I ALSO DID SOME BUDGET DIRECTION AND THE BUDGET DIRECTION.
I THINK PART OF IT IS, IS YOU BEING HERE TODAY IS RESPONDING TO, TO SOME OF THE UPDATES, BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU DIRECTOR BLEND ABOUT A FEW OF THOSE THINGS.
AND JUST TO ENCOURAGE YOU, I, I LIKE, I'VE JUST DID THE BOT, UM, AND DID THE FOUND, YOU KNOW, THE FOUND TEXT AND THAT, THAT IS A VERY, THOSE ARE ALL VERY USEFUL FEATURES.
UM, I HAD AN EXPERIENCE A FEW WEEKS AGO WHERE, JUST AS YOU DESCRIBED, I FOUND A DOG RUNNING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, ACTUALLY LIMPING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND SEVERAL NEIGHBORS AND I GOT TOGETHER AND I WAS STARTING TO GET A LITTLE PANICKY KNOWING THAT THERE WERE NO INTAKES.
UM, BUT WE, WE WERE ABLE TO POST ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION LIST AND THEN FOUND, FOUND THE OWNER, AND IT WAS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, JUST AS YOU SAID SOMETIMES HAPPENED.
SO WE WERE GLAD TO RETURN IT TO THE OWNER.
IT NEEDED TO BE INSIDE AND NOT OUTSIDE.
UM, AT THE, SO IN MY BUDGET, IN MY BUDGET DIRECTION, I HAD ASKED FOR THERE TO BE SOME INFORMATION POSTED ONLINE AND AS WELL IN THE ANIMAL CENTER ITSELF EXPLAINING WHAT I THINK IS A SOMEWHAT OF A SHIFT IN PROCESS WITH REGARD TO STRAY HOLDS.
UM, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S HAPPENED.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S HAPPENED ONLINE, BUT IT IS.
I, I'VE WITNESSED, BECAUSE I'VE SPENT TIME THERE, I'VE WITNESSED SEVERAL, SEVERAL TIMES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN PRETTY FRUSTRATED AT NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT MEANS TO, FOR, FOR AN ANIMAL TO BE IN A STRAIGHT HOLD, STRAY HOLD, AND I'LL, I'LL USE MYSELF AS AN EXAMPLE.
UM, DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THE ANIMAL DOESN'T NECESSARILY BELONG TO THE CENTER, THEY'RE IN THE STRAY HOLD PERIOD AMID IT'S A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE THEY CAN BECOME AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION.
[05:25:01]
YOU KNOW, IN THE TIME I'VE SPENT THERE, I'VE SEEN MULTIPLE PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU CAN STILL PUT IN AN APPLICATION DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.AND, YOU KNOW, I SAW ONE MAN REALLY, REALLY FRUSTRATED AND UPSET BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE HAD WAITED TO THE DAY THAT THAT ANIMAL WAS ABLE TO BE ADOPTED.
AND IT HAD ALREADY BEEN SPOKEN FOR BY A FOSTER ORGANIZATION THAT HAD GOTTEN AN APPLICATION IN DURING THE STRAY HOLD.
SO I THINK SOME MORE, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN AND THINKING REALLY INNOVATIVELY ABOUT HOW TO, HOW TO INCREASE OUR ADOPTIONS.
AND I THINK GETTING, CLARIFYING SOME OF THAT INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC WOULD BE HELPFUL.
I ASKED A VOLUNTEER DURING ONE OF MY MANY VISITS AND, AND THAT BECAUSE IT HAD, I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS CHANGED OR IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT ALL THE VOLUNTEERS UNDERSTAND.
THEY DIDN'T, THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT EITHER, THAT YOU COULD PUT IN AN APPLICATION DURING THAT STRAY HOLD PERIOD.
THE OTHER, UM, POINT THAT I, THAT I ASKED YOU TO CONSIDER IN YOUR BUDGET DIRECTION IS HOW TO, HOW TO REALLY BALANCE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SMALL DOGS.
AND THIS TOO COMES NOT JUST FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO FROM THE EXPERIENCE WATCHING, WATCHING OTHER FOLKS GO WHO ARE PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN SMALL DOGS AND MAY ONLY BE ALLOWED TO HAVE SMALL DOGS BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION YOU DESCRIBED WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
THEY NEED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A 30 POUNDER UNDER.
UM, IN MY EXPERIENCE, THOSE DOGS, AND I, AND I, AND I CHECKED MY ANECDOTAL EXPERIENCE WITH BOTH THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE STAFF MEMBERS I'VE TALKED TO OVER SEVERAL MONTHS.
UM, AND THEY, THEY CONFIRM THAT THAT'S TRUE.
THAT IF, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ACTUAL SMALL DOGS, NOT LIKE PUPPIES OF LARGE BREEDS, BUT SMALL DOGS TEND TO BE, TEND TO BE, UM, TEND TO HAVE AN APPLICATION ON THEM PRETTY SOON AFTER THEY ARRIVE AT THE SHELTER, EVEN WHILE THEY'RE IN THAT STRAY HOLD PERIOD OF TIME.
AND VERY OFTEN IT'S FROM A FOSTER ORGANIZATION, A FOSTER AGENCY.
AND SO IF YOU'RE A REGULAR, A REGULAR PERSON, IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE SYSTEM AND DON'T GO BACK REPEATEDLY, UM, YOU MIGHT HAVE TROUBLE FINDING, FINDING A SMALL DOG, UM, IN A, IN A, IF YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AND YOU MIGHT GET FRUSTRATED.
AND I'VE, YOU KNOW, I'VE KNOWN A COUPLE PEOPLE WHO DID BECAUSE THEY KEPT PUTTING IN APPLICATIONS, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS TOO LATE.
THERE WAS ALWAYS A FOSTER, UM, ORGAN, UH, RESCUE ORGANIZATION IN FRONT OF THEM.
SO HAVE YOU DONE SOME THINKING ABOUT HOW, HOW TO BETTER MY BUDGET DIRECTION ASKED YOU TO, TO THINK ABOUT BETTER BALANCING THE OPPORTUNITIES HERE? AND LET, LET ME GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE.
I SAW, SAW A DOG, BY THE TIME I SAW IT ALREADY HAD A FOSTER, A RESCUE ORGANIZATION WHO HAD SPOKEN FOR IT A COUPLE DAYS LATER.
UM, WHEN THE FOSTER, WHEN THE RESCUE ORGANIZATION CAME AND THEY WERE ADOPTING JUST THAT ONE DOG THEY HAD DRIVEN IN FROM A RESCUE ORGANIZATION IN WEMBERLEY, UM, TO GET TO PICK UP THEIR ONE DOG.
IS THERE A WAY TO, FOR EXAMPLE, ENCOURAGE THOSE RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS? IF YOU'RE COMING TO GET ONE OF OUR SMALL DOGS, YOU'LL ALSO, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO, TO TAKE IN A COUPLE LARGER DOGS AS WELL.
AND IN PART, I'M ASKING THIS BECAUSE AS I LOOK AT IT, YOU'RE ADOPTING, I MEAN, THE MAJORITY OF THE SMALL DOGS ARE GOING TO RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, I THINK 514 SMALL BREED DOGS WERE ADOPTED.
AND DURING THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME, 664 SMALL BREED DOGS WERE ADOPTED, UM, TO RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS.
SO HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT ONE WAYS TO PRIORITIZE, UM, LOCAL FAMILIES TO KEEP, KEEP THOSE FOLKS COMING BACK? YOU KNOW, I'M CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE, ARE COMING TO THE SHELTER MIGHT BE FRUSTRATED AND WE REALLY WANT THEM TO WALK THE HALLS AND TO COME BACK AND ADOPT DOGS THERE.
AND IF THEY, IF THEY ONE, DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS OR TWO, YOU KNOW, FIND THAT THEY'RE, UM, HAVING CHALLENGES, FINDING, FINDING, UH, DOGS, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, GETTING THEIR APPLICATIONS IN THAT MIGHT FRUSTRATE POTENTIAL ADOPTERS.
AND THREE, CAN WE BETTER UTILIZE SOME OF THOSE RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS THAT APPEAR TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST IN SOME CASES AT LEAST JUST JUST ADOPTING SMALL DOGS.
CAN YOU MAKE IT PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY ALSO TAKE SOME OF THE LARGE DOGS, WHICH IS, WHICH ARE NOT THE DOGS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE DOGS COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA IS TALKING ABOUT THAT ARE IN THERE A YEAR OR MORE.
SO WE HAVE SMALL DOGS THAT ARE REALLY CHALLENGING.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A SMALL DOG FINDING ONE AND THE LARGE DOGS TEND TO BE THERE A LONG TIME.
SO HOW, HOW CAN YOU MARRY? I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
SO I, I DO, AND WE, UM, HAVE WORKED WITH RESCUE PARTNERS, UH, AND, AND SEVERAL OF OUR OUTER STATE PARTNERS HAVE ACTUALLY TAKEN SOME OF OUR LONG STAY DOGS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE, YOU KNOW, FOR 800 DAYS OR MORE.
UH, AND WE'VE, WE'VE WORKED WITH SOME OF THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE THOSE RESOURCES FOR BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION AND THINGS ON WHAT THEY CAN TAKE IN THEIR SYSTEM.
UH, WE ALSO WORK WITH THEM THAT SAY, OKAY, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE THESE TWO LARGE DOGS IF YOU WANT THIS SMALL DOG.
SO WE DO HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH SOME THAT WE DO WORK WITH THOSE TRANSPORT PARTNERS, THERE ARE SOME BREED RESCUES THAT ARE SPECIFIC FOR SMALL, AND THAT'S, THAT'S THEIR NICHE AND THAT'S ALL THEY WOULD PUT.
[05:30:01]
THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE DO, WE DID IMPLEMENT, YOU KNOW, THE PRE-ADOPTION PROCESS AGAIN, UH, THAT, UH, HAD BEEN DROPPED, YOU KNOW, YEARS AGO.SO THAT, YOU KNOW, SO PEOPLE LIKE YOU, I THINK YOU ACTUALLY, THE ONE YOU JUST RECEIVED, UH, YOU GOT IT WHEN IT'S OFF AT STRAY HILL CAUSE YOU'D PUT IN YOUR APPLICATION AHEAD OF TIME.
SO THAT IS AN OPTION THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO ALLOW PEOPLE TO DO.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID IMPLEMENT, UH, IS WE DO NOT ALLOW ANY RESCUE TO PULL AN ANIMAL UNTIL SEVEN DAYS.
SO IT HAS TO BE, UH, WITHIN OUR SYSTEM ON SEVEN DAYS THAT BEFORE THEY CAN PULL, UH, CURRENTLY OUR AVERAGE FOR A RESCUE TO PULL IS 20.7 DAYS.
THAT'S THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME THAT AN ANIMAL IS STATING THEIR AVERAGE WISE.
BUT ANY SMALL, ANY DOG THAT THEY PULL FROM OUR SYSTEM HAS TO BE ON SITE FOR SEVEN DAYS.
AND AND YOU'RE AND YOU'RE RIGHT, AND JUST SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, THAT WAS THE THIRD, THE THIRD DOG, THE FIRST TWO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY UPON THEIR ARRIVAL HAD, UH, RESCUE GROUPS HAD PUT IN APPLICATIONS.
UM, AND I JUST HAPPENED TO BE THERE.
I JUST HAPPENED TO BE THERE WHEN THAT DOG ARRIVED.
AND THEN WE WERE THERE THE NEXT MORNING TO PUT IN OUR APPLICATION.
BUT, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S, AND I LEARNED THAT PROCESS FROM SPENDING A LOT OF TIME THERE.
AND SO I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS, YOU KNOW, IT, I'VE SEEN OTHER, OTHER FOLKS LOOKING FOR THOSE SMALLER DOGS BECOME FRUSTRATED WITH THE PROCESS CUZ THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
AND SO THAT'S, I THINK PROVIDING SOME MORE EXPLANATION FOR HOW THAT HAPPENS WOULD BE USEFUL.
AND THEN I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE ADJUSTING YOUR PROCESS BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE, I THINK, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, I CONFIRM THIS WITH OUR STAFF, IS THAT THE, THE MOST HIGHLY ADOPTABLE DOGS TEND TO TEND TO BE, UM, SPOKEN FOR VERY QUICKLY, VERY OFTEN, UM, AS THE NUMBERS SHOW BY OUR RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO HAPPEN, THEN I THINK THEY SHOULD BE ASKED AS IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE DOING WITH YOUR OUT-OF-STATE DOGS TO ALSO, UH, STATE GROUPS TO ALSO TAKE SOME OF THE DOGS THAT ARE LESS ADOPTABLE MM-HMM.
UM, BUT WHAT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THE SEVENTIES? I THOUGHT THEY HAD THE SAME ABILITY.
IN FACT, THEY GET TO DO IT ONLINE.
THEY CAN, THEY CAN RESERVE THOSE ANIMALS AS SOON AS THEY COME IN ON THE STRAIN HOLD.
WE, WE, WE CHANGED OUR, UH, STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE, UH, AFTER WE HAD YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS THAT, UH, ANY RESCUE ORGANIZATION, THEY CAN'T PULL ANYTHING UNTIL IT'S BEEN ON SITE FOR SEVEN DAYS.
SO THEY, UH, THAT GIVES THE PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADOPT THOSE ANIMALS FIRST.
I CAN TELL YOU HERE RECENTLY, WE HAVE SEEN CUTE PUPPIES AND CUTE DOGS SET THERE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH NOBODY ADOPTING THEM.
CAUSE YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT ADOPTING LIKE THEY, THEY WERE, BUT UH, WE STILL IMPLEMENTED THAT.
SO THEY HAVE TO BE ON SITE SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAG THEM.
SO IT DOES GIVE THE PUBLIC THAT NOTIFICATION US.
THAT'S A VERY, THAT'S AN EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
I MEAN THAT OTHER PROCESS HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR, FOR YEARS.
THAT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
AND NOW I THINK, UM, I'M GONNA HAVE TO START VISITING AGAIN TO TRY TO PROMOTE SOME OF THOSE OTHERS.
I WILL SAY, TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO, THERE IS THE, THE CAVEAT IN THAT, SO P THAT IF IT'S A MEDICAL ISSUE THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED, THE, THE VETS CAN MAKE A DECISION TO PLEA THAT OUT, UH, BEFORE THE SEVEN DAYS IF THERE'S A RESCUE ORGANIZATION THAT WANTS TO TAKE AND TREAT THAT ANIMAL.
BUT OTHER THAN, BUT YOU NORMALLY DON'T HAVE SOMEONE WILLING WANTING TO COME IN AND IMMEDIATELY SPEND SIX OR $8,000 ON A SURGERY WHEN THEY ADOPTED A DOG.
SO THOSE RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS FOR THOSE KIND OF DOGS DO GET TO BYPASS THAT ON AN EXCEPTION BASIS.
SO THE BUDGET DIRECTION THAT WE PASS COUNCIL WAS VERY GENERAL.
IT JUST ASKED FOR LIKE WHAT THE BETTER, YOU KNOW, COULD YOU THINK ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BETTER BALANCING IT? AND SO THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING RESPONSE AND, AND YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE IT AGAIN IF IT'S NOT, IF IT'S NOT WORKING AND YOU SUDDENLY HAVE LOTS OF ANIMALS, UM, NOT GOING.
THAT'S VERY, THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.
UM, AND I ALSO NOTICED THAT RECENTLY YOU, YOU UPDATED THE DASHBOARD TO SHOW WHERE, UH, WHAT THE INTAKES ARE LIKE WITH A PIE CHART SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN VERY CLEARLY SEE, UH, WHAT LEVEL THE, THE CENTER IS AT.
SO THAT TOO, I THINK IS VERY HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC.
THAT TELLS ME THAT YOU'VE BEEN ON OUR WEBSITE SINCE YESTERDAY CUZ IT JUST PUT UP YESTERDAY.
OH, I WAS, I WAS, UM, DOING IT AS WE WERE SITTING THERE TO MAKE SURE I WAS AWARE OF ALL THE FEATURES THAT YOU WERE HIGHLIGHTING IN YOUR PRESENTATION.
WE DID PUT, UH, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY, UH, FOR OUR CATS AND SMALL DOGS AND LARGE DOGS, UH, UH, INTAKE, WHAT OUR NUMBERS ARE AND WHERE WE ARE.
SO IT, IT'S VERY EASY FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE, YOU KNOW, YOUR OVER CAPACITY ON LARGE DOGS.
BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE YOU MIGHT NEED HELP FOR ME ADOPTING OR, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I BETTER NOT SEE WHAT I CAN DO TO FIND THIS ANIMAL'S HOME BEFORE I BRING IT IN.
SO WE THOUGHT THAT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD INDICATOR TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW AND IT'S UPDATED EVERY HOUR.
AND MY LAST QUESTION IS, OR LAST SUGGESTION, YOU HAVE A GREAT MOBILE VAN.
[05:35:01]
UM, AND I, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT OUT AMONG THE COMMUNITY AND WHEN, YOU KNOW, PLEASE RELY ON THE COUNCIL AS A SOURCE.IF YOU ARE GOING OUT AS A RESOURCE, IF YOU'RE GOING OUT WITH YOUR MOBILE VAN, PLEASE LET US KNOW AND WE CAN HELP YOU PROMOTE IT SO THAT, THAT WE CAN MAYBE DRIVE, DRIVE, UM, POTENTIAL ADOPTERS THERE AND MANAGER AT VARIOUS TIMES.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT CITY DEPARTMENTS TAKING ON ANIMALS AND HAVING THEM ON SITE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE AT OUR REC CENTERS OR AT OTHER PLACES.
RECENTLY WE HAD A SUGGESTION FROM A CONSTITUENT THAT I SH I SENT ON TO DIRECTOR BLAND TO MAYBE HAVE HAVE ANIMALS ONE OR ONE OR TWO AT DIFFERENT FIRE STATIONS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST THROW THAT OUT THERE AS A POTENTIAL IDEA OF, OF CONTINUING TO THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT HOW WE CAN SUPPORT DIRECTOR BLAND AND THE ANIMAL CENTER, UM, THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND IN GETTING ANIMALS, UM, INTO PLACES WHERE THEY MIGHT ENCOUNTER FAMILIES THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING THEM.
I THINK THAT'S, UH, I THINK THAT'S OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY.
UH, JUST WANNA THANK, UH, DIRECTOR BLAND AND THE GREAT WORK FROM THE ANIMAL SERVICES, UH, AREA.
AND, UH, IF THERE IS ONE ASK, I MEAN CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE WORD.
UH, WE ARE ALWAYS ASKING OUR COUNCIL OFFICES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE AMPLIFYING THOSE MESSAGES BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE REMAIN THE, THE NO-KILL, UH, CITY THAT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD OF.
YOU'RE IN A HIGH PROFILE AGENCY,
WE'RE GONNA ADJOURN THE MEETING HERE AT 4 34, SO YOU ALL ON THURSDAY, TAKE A LOOK AROUND, WATCH A CRYING FOOD.
IT NEVER SATISFY, IT'S NEVER ENOUGH.
IN LITTLE ROOM AT CHAD MAKE YOU SEE.