Apr 13, 2023 City Council Meetings

UM, OUT OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

AAR CALLED BY ANGIE BROWER AND YVONNE WALDEN.

HI, MY NAME'S ANDREA BROWER, ANDY BROWER.

UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 48 AND I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I AM THE MISSION COORDINATOR AT CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DOWNTOWN.

WE SERVE ABOUT 75 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS EVERY WEEK.

UM, I, THE NATIONAL LIONSTONE HOMELESSNESS, UM, REP, UH, ESTIMATES THAT 20%, 20, 25% OF PEOPLE HAVE SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS,

[00:10:01]

SO THAT WOULD BE ABOUT A THOUSAND PEOPLE IN TRAVIS COUNTY THAT HAVE SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE UNHOUSED AT THIS TIME.

SO NOT ONLY IS THERE A NEED FOR THIS PILOT, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A NEED TO GO BEYOND THAT AND, AND DEDICATE EVEN MORE RESOURCES TO THIS.

WE KNOW THERE'S NOT ENOUGH HOUSING NOW AND THERE'S DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH SHELTER RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE A WAIT LIST IN ALL OF OUR SHELTERS IN AUSTIN.

UM, I SUPPORT THE HOUSING EFFORTS THAT THE CITY IS DOING, BUT I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT BUILDING A BIGGER SHELTER, MORE SHELTERS.

UM, WE CAN'T AFFORD, WE'RE NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO HOUSE EVERYBODY, BUT WE CAN GIVE PEOPLE SHELTER AND GIVE PEOPLE A BED AND CONNECT THEM TO SERVICES.

UM, THERE IS A THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T WANNA GO INTO SHELTERED.

I DID A SURVEY LAST WEEK AND, UM, 15 PEOPLE SAID IF THERE WAS A BED RIGHT NOW, I WOULD GO INTO SHELTER.

UM, SO I SUPPORT COUNCIL, UM, WORKING ON, UM, NOT ONLY THIS RESOLUTION IN THIS DIRECTIVE, BUT UM, JUST GOING AHEAD AND HELPING TO BUILD THESE AND MAKE THESE HAPPEN.

WE'VE HAD RESOLUTIONS SINCE 2018 FOR SPRUNG SHELTERS, FOR SANCTION CAMPING, FOR SHELTERS IN EVERY DISTRICT, AND IT JUST NEVER HAPPENS.

WE REALLY NEED A CHAMPION AND WE NEED A LEADER TO, TO GET THAT DONE CUZ PEOPLE ARE DYING ON THE STREETS.

UM, WE'RE A BIG CITY NOW.

WE HAVE BIG CITY PROBLEMS AND WE NEED A BIG CITY SOLUTION.

AND BIG CITY RESOURCES.

WE'RE THE, THE 11TH LARGEST CITY, UM, IN THE US HAVEN FOR HOPE.

AND SAN ANTONIO HAS, HAS A SHELTER WITH A THOUSAND BEDS.

THEY HAD 738 PEOPLE THAT WERE HOMELESS DOWNTOWN IN 2010.

AND IN 2019, SORRY, THEY HAD 141.

I RECOMMEND THAT, I THINK HAVEN HAVEN FOR HOPE IN AUSTIN IS THE SOLUTION WE NEED AND I HOPE YOU ALL WILL, UM, HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND HELP OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS IN AUSTIN.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

IF I MAY, YES.

UM, I, I HOPE YOU WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE YOUR THOUGHT.

IF NOT, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO, UM, AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

SURE, YEAH.

UM, YEAH, I, I DID, I I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE, I I, I'VE BEEN GIVING THE SAME MESSAGE FOR FIVE YEARS AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE THINKING IS TO, UM, TO GO TO HOUSE, YOU KNOW, HOUSING, BUT WE CANNOT PUT 5,000 PEOPLE IN A ONE BEDROOM OR STUDIO APARTMENT.

WE'RE NEVER GONNA HAVE THE RESOURCES.

WE KNOW THAT WE'RE SHIFTING.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING PUSHED OUTSIDE INTO THE WOODS.

SO THE LEAST WE CAN DO AS A HUMANE SOCIETY IS GIVE PEOPLE A SHELTER AND A BED IF THEY CHOOSE TO, BUT THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE THE CHOICE NOW.

SO, BUT ANYWAY, YEAH.

ALSO, I THINK THE QUESTION THAT I HAD FOR YOU WAS, I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MM-HMM.

AND THINKING A LOT ABOUT, CUZ IT'S DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO MY HOUSING PROBLEM.

MM-HMM.

AND DISTRICT ONE, YOU KNOW, UM, SOME FOLKS CALL IT URBAN REMOVAL, BUT URBAN RENEWAL.

MM-HMM.

TORE DOWN HOUSING PROJECTS AND NEVER REBUILT THEM.

EXACTLY.

WHERE'D THOSE PEOPLE GO? RIGHT, EXACTLY.

AND THEN DURING THE ERA WHERE WE TORE DOWN ALL THE STATE FACILITIES FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND MM-HMM.

AND REHABILITATION, WHERE DO THOSE PEOPLE GO? THEY LIVE ON OUR STREETS.

EXACTLY.

THEY LIVE IN THE WOODS.

SO THE PEOPLE THAT YOU THINK ARE UNPREDICTABLE AND CUZ THEY ARE, THEY'RE NOT MEDICATED AND THEY ARE NOT GETTING PROPER FACILITIES.

SO THE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE FOR YOU, AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER IT NOW, MAYBE WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT IT LATER, BUT THE QUESTION I'D LIKE TO PUT OUT IN THE PUBLIC IS, DO WE NEED TO, AS A SOCIETY, HAVE MORE PLACES FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, TO BE PERMANENTLY HOUSED, MORE INSTITUTIONS WHERE PEOPLE WILL MONITOR YOUR MEDS AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE.

AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN I THINK THAT'S THE NEXT STEP WE NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR.

LIKE, YOU KNOW, OUR MAYOR, FOR EXAMPLE, HE'S BEEN TRYING TO REACTIVATE ASH, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN STATE HOSPITAL.

WE HAVE THIS GIANT CAMPUS WITH ALL THESE EMPTY BUILDINGS DOING NOTHING.

AND I KNOW WE'RE NOT THE ONLY CITY.

SO I THINK IF YOU BELIEVE THAT, THAT'S THE PROPER COURSE OF ACTION, I WONDER IF WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS THE RALLY CRY IS LET'S OPEN UP PLACES AND SPACES FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

I AGREE WITH YOU.

I, I AGREE.

THAT SHOULD BE A SOLUTION THAT'S LOOKED AT.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT SOME PEOPLE NEED.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE, UM, THE THINKING IS LET'S HOUSE EVERYBODY, LET'S PUT EVERYBODY AS WE KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF UNFORTUNATE FAILURES IN THE PERMANENT HOUSING.

PEOPLE AREN'T READY FOR IT.

SO, UM, YEAH, I AGREE WITH THAT SOLUTION.

I AGREE WITH LOOKING AT MORE CONGREGANT, UH, CONGREGATE, UH, SHELTERS, UM, TO HELP MORE PEOPLE.

THE FACT IS WE CAN HELP MORE PEOPLE IF WE OPEN UP BIGGER.

UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY.

IT'S ONE OF OUR MOST CRITICAL ISSUES.

SO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.

YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES, MA'AM.

MM-HMM.

YVONNE WELDON, FOLLOWED BY ARMANDO MAGANA AND BILL BRYCE.

IF YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.

[00:15:02]

ARMANDO MAGANA.

BILL BRYCE, FOLLOWED BY SEAN BARON.

YES, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF BEING HOMELESSNESS.

BEING HOMELESS MYSELF.

MY NAME IS ARMANDO.

I'M FROM SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

MY COMPLAINANT IS, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH SAFE HOUSES, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN SINCE THE CLOSING IN SALVATION ARMY DOWN MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE NOTHING ALTERNATIVE, BUT, BUT THE STREETS.

I'VE WITNESSED MANY YOUNG WOMEN, BRUTAL LIFE AND INNOCENT VICTIMS OF DRUG DEALERS AND THUGS WHITE, THEY PRAY ON WHAT? HELPLESS VICTIMS WITH PROMISES OF GOOD TIMES AND FUN.

WOMEN, WOMEN MEN HAVE, HAVE DEFEND FOR THEMSELVES.

I HAVE A SPECIAL FRIEND WHO WOULD NOT MAKE IT ON THE STREETS.

SHE'S VERY DEAR TO ME.

I IMPLORE IMPLORED TO PLEASE FIND HOUSING FOR WOMEN.

I KNOW TWO OF TWO INSTANCES WHERE MY FEMALE DECIDED TO MAKE IT ON HER OWN.

ONE DAY I SEEN HER WITH A SWOLLEN RED UP BLACK EYE.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN YOUR DAUGHTER BEING ABUSED.

GOD KNOWS ALL THE ENDURANT, ALL THE END ENDURED.

MY FRIEND IS A VERY PEACEFUL SOUL.

PEOPLE OR SHOULD I SAY ANIMALS, PRAY ON INNOCENT VICTIMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TAKING TIME TO LISTEN TO SOMEONE WHO'S THERE.

PLEASE BE KIND TO EACH OTHER.

RESOLUTION.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOUSING FOR INNOCENT VICTIMS OF THE STREETS.

BILL BRYCE, FOLLOWED BY SEAN BARRON.

IN CHRIS PUGH.

SORRY, BREAK.

GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER.

I'M BILL BRYCE, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, INVESTOR RELATIONS WITH DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 48 ON TODAY'S COUNCIL AGENDA.

DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE REPRESENTS MORE THAN 1100 INVESTMENT PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

AND BY EXTENSION, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOWNTOWN EMPLOYEES, RESIDENTS, AND VISITORS THAT ENJOY, ENTERTAIN, MEET, AND CONVENE.

IN OUR DOWNTOWN, WE SUPPORT ITEM 48, CREATING MENTAL HEALTH.

DIVERSION CENTER IS GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.

TODAY, 40%.

40% OF THE OFFENDERS THAT ARE IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY JAIL ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS.

THE MAJORITY OF THOSE FOLKS COME FROM CITY OF AUSTIN JURISDICTION.

TRAVIS COUNTY IS UNFORTUNATELY THE LARGEST MENTAL HEALTH CENTER IN THE COUNTY.

THE JAIL THAT IS TODAY.

PEOPLE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT BECOME ENGAGED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE OFTEN RELEASED BACK TO THE STREETS AND QUICKLY REOFFEND AND GET IN A CYCLE OF REOFFENDING, ARREST RELEASE.

SOME ARE PUT IN THE JAIL.

IF THEY GO TO JAIL, CHANCES ARE THEY'RE COMING OUT LATER.

AND MAYBE IN THIS NEAR FUTURE WITHOUT THE ISSUES THAT GOT THE MAYOR IN THE FIRST PLACE BEING ADDRESSED AND GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM 48.

THIS IS GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.

CREATING A MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER IS GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE IT WILL SERVE.

AND IT'S ALSO IM HELPFUL TO IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY ACROSS THE CITY.

THE RAINEY STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT.

YES, SIR.

NEXT SPEAKER, SEAN BARON, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS BU AND JOSHUA GAIL.

HELLO, MY NAME IS SEAN BARON AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM 77.

UM, I'M HERE TO ALSO SHOW I, I'M, I WAS FRIENDS WITH JASON JOHN, WHO TRAGICALLY LOST HIS LIFE IN FEBRUARY AND WAS RE RECOVERED FROM LADY BIRD LAKE.

UH, MY WIFE AND I MOVED HERE IN 2020 AND WE LIVE NEAR THE TRAIL.

SINCE WE'VE MOVED HERE.

I'VE ALSO COMMENTED DOZENS OF TIMES THAT THE TRAIL IS DARK.

WE FEEL THAT IT'S UNSAFE IN MANY PLACES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AT NIGHT.

WE'VE LOST MULTIPLE LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY IN JUST THE PAST FEW MONTHS ALONE FROM PEOPLE DROWNING IN THE LAKE AFTER BEING OUT IN THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS PATROLLING AND SECURING THE RAINY STREET TRAIL AND BULKHEAD, I FEEL LIKE AT THIS POINT, SHOULD BE A NO-BRAINER FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM.

AND I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD JUST BE THE START OF IT.

AS FAR AS MAKING THE TRAIL SAFER AT NIGHT, WE FEEL THAT THE CITY, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE CITY IS POPULAR FOR ITS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS AND FOR ITS NIGHTLIFE AND FOR ITS RECREATION.

AND I'M HERE TO ENSURE THAT MY FRIEND'S LIFE WAS NOT LOST IN VAIN AND TO PUSH FOR INCREASING THE SAFETY FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEAR

[00:20:01]

CHRIS PUGH, FOLLOWED BY JOSHUA GALE AND MITCHELL, UH, GUTIEREZ.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER P I'M HERE TO, UH, SUPPORT OEM 77, UH, FOR MY SON CHRISTOPHER PUGH OR CHRISTIAN P WHO WENT MISSING, UH, NOVEMBER 16TH, UH, 2019 AND WAS FOUND ON NOVEMBER 19TH, 2019.

UH, THEY SUFFERED SOME VERY SERIOUS INJURIES AND WE NEED CAMERAS IN THE RAINY STREET DISTRICT TO, UH, START CATCHING WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH FOLKS.

UH, THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE MISSING.

THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INJURED.

THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT CAN WALK OFF AND WE STILL HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ANSWERS AS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ANY OF THESE FOLKS.

RIGHT NOW, I STAND IN FRONT OF YOU.

TWO MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED SINCE THE LAST TIME I CAME DOWN HERE AND TALKED TO YOU.

AND I'M GONNA BET THAT WE HAVE NO VIDEO CAMERA ON ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED WITH THOSE INCIDENTS.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, AND BE QUITE FRANK WITH YOU, MY SON WENT OFF THE CONGRESS STREET BRIDGE WHERE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PASSED DAILY, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PROBABLY CROSSED YEARLY.

AND THERE'S NOT ONE CAMERA DOWN THERE WORKING, NOT ONE.

SO WE REALLY NEED FOR THE CITY TO NOT ONLY ADD 'EM TO THE RAINY STREET DISTRICT, BUT YOU NEED TO ADD 'EM ALL OVER THE CITY.

I MEAN, IF PEOPLE DISAPPEAR OUTTA SIXTH STREET, WEST SIXTH STREET, ANY OF THESE AREAS THEY WALK OFF.

WHERE DO THEY GO? IF YOU CATCH 'EM AT THE END OF THE STREET, NO PROBLEM.

BUT WHERE DO THEY GO FROM THERE? MY SON WALKED A MILE AWAY FROM AROUND RAINY STREET BEFORE HE WAS FOUND, AND THAT REALLY SCARES ME THAT HE WALKED THAT FAR.

AND THE ONLY ONLY CAMERA FOOTAGE THAT WE HAVE IS ON SOUTH FIRST STREET THAT THE CITY HAD TO GO BEG OUT OF A HOTEL TO GET THE INFORMATION.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

I MEAN, IF YOU GUYS WERE RELYING ON VIDEO FOOTAGE TO, YOU KNOW, CONDUCT YOUR INVESTIGATIONS, THEN YOU NEED VIDEO, MORE VIDEO FOOTAGE ACROSS THE CITY.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

UM, AND ON TOP OF THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY SON'S AC YOU KNOW, ACCIDENT CASE REOPENED AS A NON ACCIDENT.

I'VE SAID THIS MULTIPLE TIMES.

HE GOT HIT IN THE HEAD, HE GOT HIS HANDS WERE BRUISED, HE WAS ASSAULTED.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

BUT I HAVE NO WAY APPROVING IT AND IT WAS CLOSED AS AN ACCIDENT.

I CAN'T STAND HERE AND CONTINUE TO SAY IT WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT.

IT WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT.

I NEED FOR SOMEBODY TO ADDRESS THAT AND START FACING THE REALITY THAT THESE ARE NOT ACCIDENTS.

THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, BUT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRACE IT.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PLEASE GO FORWARD WITHOUT IT.

77.

THANK YOU SIR.

JOSHUA AL, FOLLOWED BY MITCHELL GUTIERREZ AND SOPHIA BETO.

HELLO, MY NAME IS JOSH GAIL.

I AM HERE IN FAVOR OF RESOLUTION 77 IN MEMORY OF MY FRIEND JASON.

JOHN.

AS YOU KNOW, JASON WENT MISSING FEBRUARY 5TH AND WAS FOUND DECEASED NINE DAYS LATER IN LADY BIRD LAKE.

BY THE CURRENT RECORD STATES, JASON DIED OF AN ACCIDENTAL DROWNING.

I STRONGLY BELIEVE JASON WAS A VICTIM OF THE DANGERS OF RAINY STREET AND WAS A, UM, WAS A VICTIM OF THE DANGERS ON RAINY STREET AND WAS DRUGGED IF HE WASN'T.

THIS TRAGIC ACCIDENT HAS STILL HAPPENED WAY TOO MANY TIMES.

WHY I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THE CITY HAS IMPLEMENTED SO FAR.

WE HAVE STILL PULLED OUT TWO MORE LOVED ONES SINCE, MEANING OUR WORK IS NOT DONE.

THEREFORE, I SUPPORT HAVING EMS AND PARK RANGERS PATROL THE TRAILHEAD AREA OF RAINY.

THEIR PRESENCE COULD HAVE SAVED JASON'S OR JONATHAN'S LIFE.

I SUPPORT INSTALLING HALO CAMERAS.

THEY COULD GIVE US ANSWERS TO THESE MYSTERIES.

I ALSO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS TO WORK WITH THE BARS REGARDING OVERSERVING.

WITH THAT PROGRAM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE EFFORTS HELP PROTECT PATRONS FROM, UM, POTENTIAL DRUGGING BY REQUIRING THE BARS TO PROVIDE DRINK COVERS OR TEST STRIPS AND WHY THE RESOLUTION IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

REMEMBER, THERE WILL BE MORE WORK TO DO.

CONGRESSMAN DOGGETT WROTE IN A LETTER TO JASON'S FAMILY, THAT AUSTIN HAS A REPUTATION OF ATTRACTING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST.

AND JASON CERTAINLY EMBODIED SO MUCH OF WHAT IS WONDERFUL ABOUT OUR CITY END QUOTE.

SO LET'S NOT LOSE ANYONE ELSE.

THAT MAKES US GREAT.

IN 1964, AFTER A SERIES OF TRAGIC DROWNINGS, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BANNED SWIMMING IN TOWN LAKE IN 2023 AFTER A SERIES OF TRAGIC DROWNINGS, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ONLY YOU ALL CAN FINISH THAT SENTENCE.

ALL OF THE FUNDING REQUESTS THAT WE HAD MADE ARE BEING FORWARD TODAY.

AISE AZAR, FOLLOWED BY MITCHELL GUT AND SOPHIA DOLO, TRUDI COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS AVE HAR AND I SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

UH, TODAY I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 47.

I REALLY WANNA TAG COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND ALL OF HER CO-SPONSORS FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD, WHICH WOULD ALLOCATE 75 MILLION TOWARDS OUR PROJECT CONNECT ANTI DISPLACEMENT FUNDS.

OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AS A PROJECT CONNECT COMMITTEE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS REALLY INFORMED THIS RESOLUTION.

SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT

[00:25:01]

HOPEFULLY WITH SUPPORT FROM YOU ALL.

THE WAY THAT THE ITEM WAS CREATED WAS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO, AS THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LAST YEAR TO REALLY BRING IN MULTIPLE WAYS OF LOOKING AT DISPLACEMENT FROM LAND ACQUISITION DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT ALSO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED.

WE ALSO MADE MULTIPLE RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND HOW WE WISH TO SEE THE STAFF MOVE FORWARD WITH A LOT OF THESE THINGS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AS WE MOVE FORWARD, ALSO HAVING SOME FLEXIBILITY SO WE HAVE ABILITY TO COURSE CORRECT OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND THEN ALSO REALLY BE ABLE TO LOOK AT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN A VERY COMPREHENSIVE WAY.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ANYTHING FROM, UH, RENT ASSISTANCE TO DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND PROBATE PLANNING AND SO ON.

SO THE IDEA REALLY IS HOW DO WE HAVE COMPLETE SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TO REALLY STEM ANY POTENTIAL DISPLACEMENT IMPACTS OF PROJECT CONNECT AND ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FOLKS WHO WILL MORE LIKE WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO USE TRANSIT, CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE WILL HAVE TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE.

MITCHELL GUTIERREZ, FOLLOWED BY SOPHIA DE LORETO TRUDI.

HELLO EVERYONE.

UH, MY NAME IS MITCHELL GUTIERREZ AND MY LITTLE BROTHER WAS MARTIN GUTIERREZ AND I AM IN FAVOR OF RESOLUTION 77.

MY LITTLE BROTHER WENT MISSING NOVEMBER 19TH, 2018 AND WAS FOUND NOVEMBER 26TH.

AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF SEARCHING OVER 12 HOURS A DAY WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

OUR FAMILY ALSO HAD TO WAIT 90 DAYS FOR AN AUTOPSY REPORT, WHICH RULED IT AS AN ACCIDENTAL DROWNING, WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE.

MY BROTHER AND I WERE BEST FRIENDS, LITERALLY FINISHING EACH OTHER'S SENTENCES AND HE ACTUALLY LIVED WITH MY WIFE AND I, I KNEW HIM LIKE THE BACK OF MY HAND.

AND WHAT I SAW IN THAT BAR SURVEILLANCE WAS NOT MY LITTLE BROTHER.

I STRONGLY AND FIRMLY BELIEVED THAT HE WAS DRUGGED AT ONE OF THE BARS ON RAINY, AND I CAN'T PROVE IT.

THIS WAS BACK IN 2018 WHEN I BROUGHT UP HOW SAFETY MEASURES NEEDED TO BE IMPLEMENTED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

NOT ONE THING WAS DONE, NO LIGHTING, NO SURVEILLANCE, NO FENCING AND WORSE OF A HOLE.

MY FAMILY AND I FELT AS IF NO ONE CARED CUZ NOTHING WAS DONE UNTIL MORE PEOPLE DIED.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT SINCE THEN.

ACCORDING TO MY BASIC RESEARCH, THERE'S BEEN NEARLY 12 SINCE MY LITTLE BROTHER AND ONE IS TOO MANY.

THE INSTALLATION OF HALO CAMERAS AND PERMANENT LIGHTING IS NO LONGER AN OPTION.

IT'S A NECESSITY TO PROVIDE ANSWERS FOR WHAT IS TRULY GOING ON IN THE AREA.

I ALSO SUPPORT EMS AND PARK RANGERS PATROLLING THE TRAILHEAD AREA AS WELL ON RAINY STREET.

I FEEL THIS APPROACH WILL INCREASE SAFETY AND NOT ONLY FOR PROTECTION, BUT ALSO FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT.

I KNOW CUZ I'M A NURSE PRACTITIONER IN THE ICU HERE AT ST.

DAVID'S AND IT'LL HELP.

I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR CHANGE FOR MANY YEARS, BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S IN Y'ALL'S HANDS.

JUST REMEMBER TO HOLD YOUR CHILDREN TIGHT WHEN YOU GET HOME BECAUSE MULTIPLE FAMILIES LIKE MINE DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY ANYMORE AND WE DON'T BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SAFETY MEASURES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED YEARS AGO.

TWO HEBS, THE WATER BURGER THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SECURE THROUGH IMMINENT DOMAIN AND ALSO ST.

SOPHIA DE LORETO TRUK.

OKAY, THEN I AM GONNA MOVE BACK OVER TO THE REMOTE.

THERE'S UH, TWO REMOTE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE CALLED IN.

FIRST SPEAKER IS ANOVIA JOSEPH.

THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL, I'M ZNO JOSEPH.

MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN AS IT RELATES TO ITEM 36 HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

I WOULD JUST ASK AUSTIN TRANSIT DEPART TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO PRIORITIZE THE AREA IN NORTH LAMAR AND BREAKER TO MOVE THE STOP AT CHINATOWN SOUTHBOUND TO C V CVS PHARMACY, WHICH IMPACTS RESIDENTS AND DISTRICT 1 4 67.

AND I WOULD ASK ANYONE WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT ADA COMPLIANCE TO FILE A FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.

TITLE SIX COMPLAINT WITH KEVIN, GOT WESLER D OT.GOV AS IT RELATES TO NUMBER 47 ANTI DISPLACEMENT FUNDING.

I JUST WANT TO RECALL THAT OCTOBER 17TH, 2019 IS WHEN YOU REZONE 1,308 AFFORDABLE UNITS AND THEN YOU FLEW THE VOTERS WITH A CONTRACT WITH VOTERS ON AUGUST 7TH, 2020 AND ASK THEM TO RECOGNIZE 300 MILLION IN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT, WHICH ACTUALLY IS COUNTERINTUITIVE AS IT RELATES TO 51.

THAT'S THE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEM.

DO YOU HAVE SPECIFICALLY EFFECTIVENESS OF TRANSIT AS A JUSTIFICATION? I JUST WANNA CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT IN 2017 AND 2018, CAPITAL METRO UNILATERALLY ELIMINATED ROUTE TWO 40 WETLAND, WHICH IMPACTED

[00:30:01]

DAVID HOSPITAL.

I WANT TO, UH, SAY MAYOR SPECIFICALLY HOUSE BILL 3 8 99 WOULD GIVE VOTERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE AGAIN ON WHETHER TO ISSUE BONDS FOR US AND TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP.

YOU'VE LIED TO THE PUBLIC AND I WOULD ASK ANYONE WHO IS CONCERNED TO CALL REPRESENTATIVE CAPRI LEON (512) 463-0690 AND ASK HIM TO MOVE THIS BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE.

UH, REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BRYAN TOLD US THAT YOU ACTUALLY CALLED AND ASK THAT THIS BILL NOT MOVED FORWARD AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE STATE LAW APPLIES AND HOUSE BILL 2 8 40 APPLIES TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND SPECIFICALLY, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE.

NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHARD SMITH.

SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

ALL THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA IS NOT REASONABLE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ILE ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.

GOOD MORNING MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS RICHARD SMITH.

I'M A MEMBER OF AUSTIN'S BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT.

I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEMS 38 AND 43.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF A CITY COUNCIL.

ITEM 38 AND 43 ARE DIRECTED TO YOUR OBLIGATION TO KEEP AUSTIN RESIDENTS SAFE.

ITEM 38 RELATES TO AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFFING OF AN EXISTING AERIAL TRUCK AND ACQUISITION OF AN ADDITIONAL AERIAL TRUCK, AERIAL TRUCKS OR TRUCKS THAT HAVE LADDERS THAT CAN EXTEND UP TO A HUNDRED FEET.

WITH THE TALL BUILDINGS IN AUSTIN, WE NEED AERIAL TRUCKS TO PROTECT RESONANCES FROM FIRES.

ITEM 43 RELATES TO ADEQUATE AVAILABILITY TO EMS OF NARCAN NASAL SPRAY FOR REVERSING OPIOID OVERDOSES.

SINCE WE DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO STOP THE INFLUX OF OPIOIDS INDOOR CITY, THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS MINIMIZE TOTALITIES FROM OPIOIDS.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS ITEMS 38 AND 43 THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH YOUR OBLIGATION TO KEEP AUSTIN THE RESIDENTS SAFE.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.

US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

UM, MEMBERS, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION, UH, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS, ITEMS 51 THROUGH 54 HEARING NOTE.

AND BY THE WAY, UH, UH, OKAY, ITEM 54 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.

SO LET ME, LET ME ME SAY THAT DIFFERENTLY.

UH, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS 51 52 AND 53.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION HEARING NONE? UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED MEMBERS UNLESS THERE'S, I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN PUT 46 BACK ONTO THE, I'LL GET TO THAT IN JUST A SECOND.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UM, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ITEMS 55 THROUGH 58 AND THE HEARING ON THE PUBLIC ON THE RELATED ITEM NUMBER 59, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION, THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE CLOSED.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION IN HEARING NONE? THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE CLOSED MEMBERS THAT WILL NOW TAKE

[Consent Agenda]

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ITEM NUMBER 46, WHICH WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UM, SHE'S WITHDRAWING HER PROPOSED AMENDMENT SO THAT ITEM CAN BE PLACED BACK ON THE AGENDA.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT TO PULL ITEM NUMBER 47, ALTHOUGH I I HAVE NOT SEEN, UH, THE AMENDMENT THAT YOUR OFFICE INDICATES IT WANTS TO PROPOSE.

I BELIEVE THAT THE AMENDMENT WAS INCORRECTLY PUT ONTO THE MESSAGE BOARD AS FOR ITEM 46, AND SO IT WAS CORRECTLY DISTRIBUTED BY THE AGENDA OFFICE.

IF THAT IS NOT THE CASE, THEN I WILL LEAVE IT ON CONSENT SO THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH.

WELL, WHY DON'T WE DO THIS, BECAUSE I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS THAT THE AMENDMENT THAT HAS BEEN LABELED ITEM 46 IS REALLY FOR ITEM 47.

LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT THE MESSAGE BOARD.

WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? LET'S PULL ITEM 47 SO THAT Y'ALL CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO AMEND AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT.

THERE ANY ABSTENTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BY ANY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL? ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM? I SEE NONE.

SO ITEM NUM MEMBERS, ITEM NUMBER 47 IS PULLED OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ANY MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALL RIGHT, THE CONSENT.

SO ITEM NUMBER 46 GOES? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER 46 IS BACK ON.

SO IS 47.

I JUST FIGURED IT OUT.

UM, THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL INCLUDE ITEMS NUMBER 46 AND 47.

ARE

[00:35:01]

UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ SECOND.

ARE YOU SECONDING IT? I'LL SECOND IT AND THEN I WANNA MAKE REMARKS.

WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL COME TO THAT IN JUST A SECOND.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER SECONDS THE, UM, THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER.

THIS WILL BE TIME FOR BRIEF COMMENTS BY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

UM, WE'RE ALL GETTING USED TO THE, TO THE FAST PACED AND, AND THE, AND THE DIFFERENT APPROACH, SO THANK YOU.

UM, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AND COLLEAGUES.

I'M, I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE ITEM 57 ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH ADOPTS PIECES OF THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE THAT WERE DRAFTED AS PART OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE BUT NOT PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED.

THIS ITEM ADVANCES OUR EFFORTS TO FORTIFY OUR COMMUNITIES AGAINST THE THREAT OF WILDFIRE, AND THESE AMENDMENTS ARE RESPONSIVE TO A 2022 RESOLUTION THAT I AUTHORED.

THEY AND THE WUI CODE ARE MORE GENERALLY ARE A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF OUR WILDFIRE PREVENTION STRATEGY.

WILDFIRE IS ONE OF THE TOP NATURAL DISASTER RISKS IN AUSTIN.

WILDFIRE EXPERTS WARN THAT FOR AUSTIN, IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF, BUT WHEN THE INTERNATIONAL WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE CONTAINS PROVISIONS AND STANDARDS TO ADDRESS FIRE SPREAD AND ENHANCE THE DEFENSIBILITY OF STRUCTURES NEAR HIGH RISK WILDFIRE AREAS.

THE NEXT VERSION OF THE WOOEY CODE FOR AUSTIN IS IN DRAFT FORM AS WE WORK TO ALIGN OUR CODE WITH THE MOST RECENT INTERNATIONAL WOOEY CODE.

I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS OF FULLY ADOPTING THE WWE CODE.

OTHER KEY STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE AS A COMMUNITY INCLUDE EDUCATION, PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS, AND VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE WITH WILDFIRE PREVENTION BEST PRACTICES NEXT MONTH IS WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH, AND I'LL BE SHARING INFORMATION WITH HOUSEHOLDS ABOUT HOW THEY CAN BETTER PROTECT THEIR HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS AGAINST WILDFIRE, ALONG WITH SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT THEY CAN TAKE TODAY TO ENHANCE THEIR PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS FOR BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A WILDFIRE.

COLLEAGUES, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING TO RAISE AWARENESS, PARTICULARLY DURING WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH, UH, PLEASE LET MY OFFICE KNOW WE'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE THESE RESOURCES.

LASTLY, I WANNA EXTEND MY THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT'S WILDFIRE DIVISION FOR THEIR CRITICAL WORK THAT THEY DO EVERY DAY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

FOR ITEM 38, THE AERIAL LADDERS, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UH, FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD AND FOR INVITING ME TO CONTRIBUTE TO IT.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO FIRE EMERGENCIES, INCLUDING WIRE WILDFIRE AS A PARKS ADVOCATE.

I ALSO WANNA EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR ITEM 30 PES PARKS ANNUAL PROGRAMMING PLAN FOR KINGSBURY COMMONS.

AND ITEM 31, THE TRAIL CONSERVANCIES ARTS AND CULTURE PLAN FOR THE ANN AND ROY BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL AT TOWN LAKE.

I'M PROUD THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS DEVELOPED STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH MANY OF OUR PARKS NONPROFITS, INCLUDING PEACE PARK CONSERVANCY AND THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.

AND I WANNA EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THEIR WORK TO HELP OUR PARKS THRIVE.

ITEM 30 ON TODAY'S AGENDA IS THE ANNUAL PROGRAMMING PLAN FOR PEACE PARK, WHICH IS NOW FULLY IN MY DISTRICT.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE MANY FREE DIVERSE COMMUNITY EVENTS OUTLINED IN THE 2023 PLAN, INCLUDING AT LEAST FIVE EVENTS WITH ANTICIPATED ATTENDANCE OF OVER 1000 PEOPLE.

I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME IN ATTENDING PEACE PARK SQUIRREL FEST THIS WEEKEND AND SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHDAY THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND.

THERE'S A FANTASTIC CALENDAR OF FREE EVENTS AND A WHOLE RANGE OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PARK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

UH, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.

UH, SO WHEN THE CONSENT AGENDA PASSES, MY FIRST RESOLUTION ON COUNCIL WILL HAVE PASSED.

UH, AND ARE YOU ARGUING FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA OR AGAINST THE CONSENT? AND, AND I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER MENTIONED THIS OR THAT ANY OF Y'ALL KNOW, BUT I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN DISTRICT THREE IN EAST AUSTINSON.

UH, MY FAMILY, NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS HAVE SEEN THIS CITY GROW AT AN INCREDIBLE RATE, A LOT OF POSITIVE GROWTH, BUT AT THE EXPENSE OF MY COMMUNITY, THE GROWTH HASN'T BEEN A SHARED BURDEN.

FIDELITY TO THE IDEA OF AUSTIN DEMANDS FIDELITY BY ITS LEADERS TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE IDEA OF AUSTIN, THE PEOPLE THAT KEEP IN MOVING, CAN AFFORD TO SEE THE PROMISE OF AUSTIN DISPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF AFFORDABILITY HAS HAD A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CULTURE, OUR SCHOOLS, AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

WHEN I MADE THE DECISION TO RUN FOR COUNCIL, MY PRIORITY WAS AND REMAINS AFFORDABILITY.

SO THIS RESOLUTION MY FIRST, OR ONE OF MY FIRST, ARE THE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS KEEPING THAT PROMISE TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S THE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS MAKING SURE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, SINGLE MOTHERS ARE EMERGENCY SERVICE FOLKS AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FEEL THAT THEY HAVE NO VOICE IN THIS BUILDING KNOW THEY HAVE A HOME IN THEIR CITY.

[00:40:01]

THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE THAT I WANT TO THANK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS DONE.

ONE IS, UM, COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS WHOSE SAN MANZA AND POD FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN GETTING THE PROPERTY CONDEMNED AND HELPING MAKE EAST AUSTIN A SAFER AND HEALTHY PLACE.

UH, DANIEL JANZ A FRIEND FOR BRINGING THIS LOT TO MY ATTENTION WHEN I WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND MAYOR WATSON, VERSION ONE FOR HELPING EAST AUSTIN ACTIVISTS CONDEMN THIS PROPERTY IN 1999.

UM, WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK, UH, ALL THE STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUES, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, MY, UH, COLLEAGUES THAT JOINED ME ON THIS ITEM, MAYOR PROTE PAGE.

ELLIS COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER CHIEF VELA AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND MY AMAZING TEAM UPSTAIRS, UH, YUDY, LIZETTE, DORA AND JALEN FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK.

COUNCIL MEMBER, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, AND THEN I'LL COME JUST DOWN THE LINE.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES.

I WANNA BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS THAT WE HAVE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.

I'M THANKFUL TO HAVE AUTHORED TWO ITEMS THAT ACCOMPLISHED THAT.

THE FIRST I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS ITEM 38, WHICH DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO REVIEW FUTURE AERIAL TRUCKS, STAFFING EQUIPMENT, AND BUDGETARY NEEDS FOR THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND TO REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.

AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, AERIAL FIRE TRUCKS PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS BY ALLOWING FIREFIGHTERS TO ACCESS FIRES AND TALL BUILDINGS AND HARD TO REACH AREAS.

THESE TRUCKS ARE EQUIPPED WITH LADDERS, HOSES, AND OTHER TOOLS THAT WILL ENABLE FIREFIGHTERS TO QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY DIS EXTINGUISH FIRES AND RESCUE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE TRAPPED IN A GROWING CITY LIKE AUSTIN.

WITH NUMEROUS HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS AND GROWING INFRASTRUCTURE, AERIAL TRUCKS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES AND PROTECTING THE PUBLIC.

AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THIS EFFORT AS THEY GROW WITH THE CITY.

I'D LIKE TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS, COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTEZ FOR SUPPORTING ME IN THAT EFFORT.

BUT I'D LIKE TO ALSO TAKE A MOMENT AND EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER FOR HER UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND TIRELESS EFFORTS IN THE REALM OF WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS.

I KNOW YOU SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT EARLIER, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL KNOW ABOUT HER COMMITMENT TO SECURING CRITICAL RESOURCES AND ADVOCATING FOR TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS RELATED TO RESILIENCE BECAUSE IT'S MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY'S PREPAREDNESS FOR WILDFIRE EVENTS.

IN 2020, FOR EXAMPLE, BEFORE I WAS HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER SUCCESSFULLY SECURED A 35% INCREASE IN THE BUDGET FOR THE WILDFIRE DIVISION, WHICH HAS PROVIDED VITAL RESOURCES FOR FUELS MITIGATION AND DATA ANALYSIS.

FOLLOWING THAT, IN 2021, SHE ALLOCATED 1.5 MILLION IN SAVINGS RESULTING FROM THE EMS AND FIRE STATION ON LOOP 360 AND DAVENPORT.

THE DELAY ITSELF TOWARDS SPECIFIC AFD AND EMS TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS RELATED TO RESILIENCE, INCLUDING WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS, ACTIVE ATTACKER SITUATIONS AND GENERATORS.

I THINK HER SPONSORSHIP HERE ON THIS RESOLUTION WILL ALSO HELP US INCORPORATE MORE OF, UH, A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS WITH THE ADDITION OF THIS FIRETRUCK.

AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THAT.

BRIEFLY, I'D LIKE TO ALSO EXPLAIN THE SECOND RESOLUTION I'M THANKFUL TO HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD TODAY, WHICH IS ITEM 43 AND WILL APPROVE A RESOLUTION RELATED TO PRIORITIZING FUNDING AND RESOURCES TO PURCHASE NARCAN, DISTRIBUTE THE PRODUCT, AND PROVIDE TRAINING ON ITS USE.

AS WE HEARD TODAY, NARCAN IS A MEDICATION USED TO REVERSE THE EFFECTS OF AN OPIOID OVERDOSE WITH THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC AFFECTING MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING AUSTIN.

NARCAN HAS BECOME AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TOOL FOR FIRST RESPONDERS TO SAVE LIVES.

IT CAN BE ADMINISTERED BY EVEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO'VE BEEN TRAINED TO USE IT CORRECTLY AND WHEN THEY HAVE ACCESS TO IT, BY QUICKLY REVERSING THE EFFECTS OF AN OVERDOSE, NARCAN CAN PREVENT FATALITIES AND GIVE INDIVIDUALS A SECOND CHANCE AT RECOVERY AND LIFE.

I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL MY CO-SPONSORS ON THAT, BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO BRIEFLY THANK MS. RODRIGUEZ.

YOUR STORY AND TESTIMONY FROM THIS MORNING WAS TRULY POWERFUL AND I'D LIKE TO THANK HER FOR THAT TODAY.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PASSING THESE TWO ITEMS. I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

I APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION.

COLLEAGUES, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS, UM, IN SUPPORT OF SOME ITEMS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS WEEK.

I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE ALLOCATING FUNDING FOR NEW LIGHTING ALONG HOWARD LANE.

SAFETY LIGHTING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF A ROADWAY SAFETY PROGRAM.

IN FACT, STUDIES SHOW THAT LIGHTING CAN REDUCE CRASHES BY A FACTOR OF UP TO 49%.

ONE OF THE HIGHEST BENEFIT COST, UH, BENEFITS TO COST RATIOS OF AVAILABLE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

ANOTHER ITEM TODAY THAT I BELIEVE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASED SAFETY FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS IS ITEM NUMBER 45, WHICH WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE RULES ON PARKING REQUIREMENTS AT BARS.

[00:45:01]

EXCUSE ME.

THE HOPE IS REALLY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE OTHER WAYS.

ONE MORE TIME, I WILL DISCLOSE.

I USED TO MAKE FUN OF PEOPLE WITH ALLERGIES CUZ I THOUGHT IT WAS HILARIOUS FOR GROWNUPS TO HAVE ITCHY FACES AND, BUT NOW I HAVE THEM .

IT'S TERRIBLE.

SO MY BAD.

UM, ANOTHER ITEM, YOU KNOW, IS ITEM NUMBER 45, WHICH WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE RULES ON PARKING REQUIREMENTS AT BARS.

THE HOPE IS TO REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE OTHER WAYS OF GETTING AROUND WHILE AT BARS, UM, SUCH AS RIDE SHARE OR PUBLIC TRANSIT, WHICH I HOPE WE ALL MAKE A, AN ACTIVE COMMITMENT TO KEEPING MOVING FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION REGARDLESS OF WHO MAY TRY TO STALL THAT EFFORT.

UM, THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TODAY THAT WILL HELP MOVE THE NEEDLE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PREVENT DISPLACEMENT, PARTICULARLY IN MY DISTRICT AND ON THE EAST SIDE.

I HAVE LONG ADVOCATED FOR US TO LOOK AT A CITY OWNED LAND, ALL OF THE CITY OWNED LAND, AND CONSIDER IF WE CAN REPURPOSE IT TO ITS HIGHEST BEST USE.

SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 46, WHICH DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO PRIORITIZE BUILDING DEEPLY, VERY DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 4,800 BALM ROAD.

ITEM NUMBER 47, WHICH ALLOCATES THE NEXT CHUNK OF PROJECT CONNECT DISPLACEMENT FUNDS.

THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN, UM, WILL AGAIN PRIORITIZE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EXPLORE COOPERATIVE HOUSING MODELS, PRESERVE SPACES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, AND PROVIDE DOWN PAYMENT AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. SO FINALLY, ITEMS NUMBER 56 AND 59 WILL PROVIDE FUNDING ON AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT IN DISTRICT ONE, WHICH I APPRECIATE AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, AGAIN, APOLOGIZE TO ALL THE PEOPLE WITH ALLERGIES WHO I USED TO MAKE FUN OF.

I FEEL IT NOW.

KARMA HAS GOTTEN ME.

WE ARE EVEN COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

I WILL MAKE THIS VERY QUICK MAYOR.

UM, I JUST WANNA QUICKLY TOUCH ON TWO ITEMS, ITEMS 42 AND 44.

UH, THEY'RE BOTH, UH, UH, FEE WAIVERS, UH, ITEM 40 42 OUT TO DO WITH THE, UH, AUSTIN CITYWIDE OF THAT JUST HAPPENED.

UH, SO I WANT TO THANK MY SPONSORS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, HARPER MADISON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER CHLA AND COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ.

UH, AND, AND ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, CHEE VELA MAYOR, UH, KIRK WATSON AND, AND MAYOR PROTE, PAGE ELLIS FOR, FOR SHOWING UP TO THAT.

IF THERE ARE, THERE'S STILL ABOUT $990 LEFT, SO IF ANYONE WANTS TO CONTRIBUTE, UM, I WILL NOT SAY NO.

UM, AND THEN ITEM 44 HAS TO DO WITH THE AUSTIN SUNSHINE RUN.

I WANT TO THANK MY SPONSORS, UH, MAYOR KIRK WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS LESLIE POOLE AND ALISON AL ALTER AND THE MAYOR PROTE PAGE ELLIS.

UH, WE HAVE A, A CELEBRITY WHO'S AN ALUM OF THAT, UM, EVENT.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ WHO DID THAT AS A, AS AS A CHILD.

UH, AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW YEAH, CAN WE GET A, CAN WE GET A ROUND APPLAUSE FOR JOSE? UM, I, I TRIED FINDING OF A PICK OF HIM AS A CHILD AND THAT'S WHY I TEXTED YOU THAT AND I NEVER GOT THAT PICK, BUT IT MUST BE SOMEWHERE.

UH, BUT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW AUSTIN SUNSHINE.

OH, OKAY.

YOU'RE A SMART GUY.

UM, AUSTIN SUNSHINE CAMPS, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, HAS PROVIDED FREE FUN FILLED OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMPS TO KIDS IN THE GREATER AUSTIN AREA SINCE 1928.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I'M A SUNSHINE CAMP KID TOO.

OH, ARE YOU? OKAY.

NO, AND THAT IS MY FAULT.

WE ALSO HAVE HARPER COUNCILWOMAN HARPER MEDICINE.

UH, ALL SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE FOR ALL CAMPERS WHO MEET THE FREE OR REDUCED SCHOOL MEALS, INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES OR CAMPERS WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE.

SO I WANT TO THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE CHIPPED IN.

I WANT TO THANK, UH, MY PREDECESSOR, PREDECESSOR, UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER KATHY TOVA FOR, FOR STARTING THE FEE WAIVERS OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT EVENT.

THERE'S STILL ABOUT 14, UH, $1,450 LEFT.

UM, SO I INVITE ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, UH, WHO ARE INTERESTED TO CONTRIBUTE IF THEY CAN, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, WE'D LIKE TO OFFER $300 TOWARDS THAT.

ARE THOSE ALL THE COMMENTS ON MAYOR PRO 10? COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE? I'D LIKE TO ADD 250 TO THE IFTAR ITEM.

I'LL ALSO ADD 300 .

UM, LET'S NOT HAVE A FUNDRAISER DURING THE COUNCIL MEETING.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE I'M ALREADY DONATING TO OR CONTRIBUTING FEE WAIVERS TO BOTH OF THOSE, BUT I WILL ADD THAT BOTH OF MY KIDS ARE VOLUNTEERS AT THE SUNSHINE CAMP.

OH, GREAT.

GREAT.

THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION THE WAY IT WAS IN YOUR BACKUP INDICATED.

ANY OTHER FUNDRAISING OR COMMENTS, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? UM, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT MEMBERS, YOUR, YOU'RE RECEIVING A, A, A LATE BACKUP.

UH, THE, THE MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THESE, THESE ARE THE APPOINTMENTS, UH, ONE OF THE APPOINTMENTS TO

[00:50:01]

I MEAN, SOMEBODY APPARENTLY IS NOSTALGIC.

UH, THEY INDICATED THAT MAYOR ADLER WAS THE ONE MAKING THE APPOINTMENT.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING HE CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

UM, IT HAS BEEN CHANGED TO MAYOR WATSON.

UH, SO, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT APPOINTMENT, CALL MAYOR ADLER.

UM, SO WE WILL BE VOTING ON THE VERSION THAT WAS JUST HANDED OUT IS VERSION NUMBER FOUR THAT WAS JUST HANDED OUT, UH, AS PART OF THE LATE BACKUP.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? HEARING NONE, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY.

THAT WILL TAKE US

[45. Approve a resolution initiating amendments to City Code Title 25 to modify parking requirements for cocktail lounge use.]

TO ITEM NUMBER 45.

UH, THE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ FOR A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 45.

SO MOVE.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

NOW THE MEMBERS, THE WAY I'M GONNA DO THIS IS GO TO THE, THERE'S A PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND THERE'S A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY ON AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 45.

UM, SO MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN THIS.

I, IN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT, I INADVERTENTLY LEFT OFF DIFFERENT, UM, GROUPS.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THROUGH MY AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT ONE.

SO I MOVE TO AMEND LINE 49 TO ADD THE SORTATION OF THE FOLLOWING, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED WHILE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL.

THE CITY MANAGER SHALL CARRY OUT A STAKEHOLDER PROCESS THROUGH A RELEVANT CITY COMMISSION OR AN INDEPENDENT STAKEHOLDER PROCESS THAT SHOULD INCLUDE BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS.

LOCAL BAR OWNERS, AUSTIN INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ALLIANCE, TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, AUSTIN FOOD AND WINE ALLIANCE, TEXAS CRAFT BREWERS GUILD, AUSTIN YOUNG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS, TEXAS HOTEL AND LOBBY LODGING ASSOCIATION.

AUSTIN, L G B T Q, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COMMERCE, AUSTIN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

AND THEN THE NEXT COUPLE BULLETS ARE WHAT? HANG ON, HANG ON.

COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU, I WANNA GET THE AMENDMENT ON AND THEN WE CAN HAND THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, KELLY MOVES ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECOND ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.

I'LL NOW RECOGNIZE YOU ON AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.

SO IN ADDITION TO THE AFOREMENTIONED UM, ORGANIZATIONS, I ADDED THE GREATER AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE TEXAS EUROPEAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THE GREATER AUSTIN BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

TO THE LIST COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, KELLY MOVES ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE.

IT IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR COUNCIL MEMBER POOL? I WAS CURIOUS AND I THOUGHT I KNEW THE NAMES OF ALL THE CHAMBERS IN OUR, IN OUR CITY.

UM, AND THIS ONE CAUGHT MY EYE, THE TEXAS EUROPEAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

AND I, I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT, UH, THAT PARTICULAR GROUP I HAVE, THAT'S A NEW ONE FOR ME.

THEY WERE ON A LIST THAT I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE OUT AND SO I WANTED TO ENSURE THEY WERE INCLUDED.

THAT THERE IS INFORMATION ON THEIR WEBSITE AVAILABLE ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

I AM NOT ENTIRELY FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT I FELT THEY SHOULD BE ADDED BECAUSE I INADVERTENTLY LEFT OUT OTHERS AND DID NOT WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY WERE LEFT OUT.

I LOOKED AT THE WEBSITE AS WELL AND THE ONLY THING I COULD SEE WAS, I THINK IT WAS AN EASTERN EUROPEAN, WAS IT BOSNIA, MAYBE THE, OR ESTONIA.

THEY WERE INVITING PEOPLE TO LOOK AT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN EASTERN.

I BELIEVE.

I JUST, I IT IS JUST A NEW ONE TO ME.

AND I WOULD NOTE THAT OF COURSE WE ARE ALWAYS, WHEN WE, WHEN WE LOOK AT STAKEHOLDER PROCESSES AND TALK WITH VARIOUS GROUPS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE ALWAYS SAY THAT WE SHOULD INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMIT TO THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE ANY AND ALL.

UM, AND SO I GET A LITTLE CONCERNED WHEN, WHEN WE HAVE SUCH A SPECIFIC LIST BECAUSE YOU'RE BOUND TO MISS SOME PEOPLE.

UM, IF WE COULD GET SOME BETTER INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEXAS EUROPEAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD BE A GROUP THAT WE'VE MISSED FOR YEARS.

UM, BUT IF SOMEONE COULD AXN US DOWN RIGHT NOW, JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW.

WHAT'S THAT? ATX N IS DOWN, I'M BEING TOLD RIGHT NOW.

UM, BUT, SO IF WE COULD GET SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF THE AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE FOR ITEM NUMBER 45? SHOULD WE CHECK AND MAKE SURE AT T X N IS UP? BECAUSE MY STAFF JUST LET ME KNOW THAT IT'S DOWN IN THE OFFICE.

[00:55:02]

I'M SORRY GUYS.

IT'S CERTAINLY, I THIS IS MYRNA.

I SEE IT RUNNING FINE ON OUR END.

UH, CAN WE ASK STAFF TO, TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL MARK KELLY'S AMENDMENT? I'D LIKE TO HEAR THEIR THOUGHTS ON THIS UNLESS SHE WON'T SAY IT.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHO WE COORDINATE WITH, RIGHT? THE LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS? YEAH, THE STAKEHOLDERS.

I MEAN, IF, IF THOSE ARE BEEN ENUMERATED, WE'LL WE'LL COORDINATE WITH THEM.

UM, SO I'M, I'M NOT FAMILIAR.

EXACTLY.

HERE WE GO.

WE GOT SOMEBODY COMING UP CUZ I CAN BARELY, NO, I GUESS NOT.

WELL, WE, THERE'S A LIST OF 'EM.

WE'LL GO THROUGH THEM AND WE'LL COORDINATE WITH THEM IF WE CAN.

IF WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING, UH, THAT TO CONNECT WITH THEM IN A SUBSTANTIVE WAY, WE'LL CIRCLE BACK TO THE COUNCIL SAYING WHAT? I'M NOT SURE THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

IS THIS, UM, IS THIS TYPE OF DIRECTION TO STAFF HELPFUL WHEN WE PROVIDE A LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS IN SUCH A MANNER AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S THAT POSSIBILITY? WELL, ALL I, ALL I CAN TELL YOU IN HISTORY, WHEN WE WERE DOING THE LEASE WITH, UH, SETON HOSPITAL, THE COUNCIL GAVE ME 35 ORGANIZATIONS THAT I NEEDED TO WORK WITH TO COORDINATE.

AND IT WAS SPECIFIC.

AND SO IT'S, IT'S, I, IT IT IS UNUSUAL TO BE PRESCRIPTIVE, REAL PRESCRIPTIVE.

BUT HAVING BEEN HERE NOW ALMOST 60 DAYS, THERE'S A LOT OF PRESCRIPTION THAT COMES OUT OF ITEMS FOR COUNSEL.

SO I JUST WOULD SAY THAT.

MY STAFF'S, UM, AT T X N IS DOWN AS WELL.

IT, IT MIGHT BE A CITY ISSUE BECAUSE SOMEONE JUST PINGED ME WHO'S WATCHING NOT FROM CITY HALL AND THEY SAID IT'S WORKING, SO IT MIGHT, IT MAY JUST NOT BE WORKING IN THE BUILDING.

DID YOU GUYS WANT TO ADD ANYTHING VERONICA? AND DON'T BE GLIB.

VERONICA BRI, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

I WAS JUST GONNA CONFIRM THAT WE ARE USUALLY WORK WITH THESE STAKEHOLDERS AND CON CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER POOL FOR ASKING THE QUESTION ABOUT THE TEXAS EUROPEAN GROUP.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE? UH, UH, THE AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE ON ITEM NUMBER 45, HEARING NONE OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.

THAT TAKES US BACK TO AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE AS AMENDED.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NU AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 45 AS AMENDED? HEARING NONE, THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.

THAT TAKES US BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ ON ITEM NUMBER 45 AS AMENDED.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.

UM, I'D LIKE TO BE SHOWN ABSTAINING ON ITEM 45.

WELL, I SEE THE POSITIVE INTENT WITHIN THIS ITEM AND, AND I TOTALLY APPRECIATE THE RATIONALE.

I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT PRIORITIZATION WE'RE STUDYING WITH STAFF REGARDING MULTIPLE CODE AMENDMENTS.

UM, SO I HAVE AN OPEN MIND ABOUT THE ACTUAL AMENDMENT WHEN IT RETURNS TO US.

I'M GONNA BE ABSTAINING ON INITIATING IT TODAY.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

ANY OTHER COMMENT? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 45 AS AMENDED? HEARING NONE.

ITEM NUMBER 45 IS ADOPTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER BEING SHOWN AS ABSTAINING MEMBERS.

THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM

[48. Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to explore the feasibility of an interlocal agreement for the development of an Austin/Travis County Diversion Center, identify financial resources necessary to partner in developing a pilot for mental health diversion services and a bridge housing program, and provide updates to the Public Health Committee and a report to Council.]

NUMBER 48.

ITEM NUMBER 48.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEM NUMBER 48.

A, UH, MOTION TO ADOPT.

ITEM NUMBER 48, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE MOVES TO ADOPT.

ITEM NUMBER 48 IS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

UH, CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 48.

I MOVE TO AMEND LINE 90 TO ADD THE INSERTION OF THE FOLLOWING.

YOU, MA'AM, YOU COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU DON'T NEED TO READ THE WHOLE THING.

OKAY, GREAT.

YOU MOVE TO ADOPT MOVE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO ALL OF COUNSEL.

RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FROM, AND HE MOVES TO ADOPT.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO AMEND? IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO AMEND? IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO AMEND? UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND.

THAT TAKES US BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 48.

THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO ADOPT.

ITEM NUMBER 48.

IS THERE OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 48? HEARING NONE.

ITEM NUMBER 48 IS ADOPTED.

WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER 77.

CHAIR

[77. NPA-2022-0005.02 -Second Alpha .95-- Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 010927-05 the Montopolis Neighborhood Plan, an element of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, to change the land use designation on the future land use map (FLUM) on property locally known as 2404 Thrasher Lane (Carson Creek Watershed) from Commercial to Single Family land use. Staff Recommendation: To grant Single Family land use. Planning Commission Recommendation: To be reviewed on April 11, 2023. Owner/Applicant: Alpha Builders (Gino Shvetz). Agent: Rodney K. Bennett. City Staff: Maureen Meredith, Planning Department, (512) 974-2695.]

ITEM NUMBER 77.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECOND ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ.

CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY FOR A PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 77.

MAYOR.

UM, YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER.

I WAS WONDERING IF COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE HAD WANTED TO ADDRESS ITEM 48.

YOU DIDN'T INDICATE THAT I, I RAISED MY HAND FOR, I'M SORRY.

YEAH, MY APOLOGIES MA'AM.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

UH, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU FOR THE CORRECTION.

COUNCIL

[01:00:01]

MEMBER AL ALTER.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER.

YEAH, I, I'LL, I'LL MAKE IT SUPER QUICK.

UH, I, I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE, THE SPONSORS ON THIS, UH, ITEM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, VELA, RYAN AL ALTER, AND, AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED TO BRING THIS I C FORWARD AND FOR THE CITY TO PLAY A ROLE, UH, IN SUPPORTING, UH, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY AS, AS A PARTNER, AS WE MOVE TOWARDS A DIVERSION CENTER.

UH, AND I, I WANT TO THANK, UH, COMMISSIONER ANN HOWARD, UH, AND JUDGE BROWN FOR ALL THEIR WORK ON, ON THE COUNTY LEVEL AND FOR ALL THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, UH, FOR, FOR PLAYING THEIR PART.

UH, YOU KNOW, JUDGE BROWN, I THINK AS, AS STATED IT SEVERAL TIMES, AND, UH, I PROBABLY CAN'T SAY IT BETTER IF I TRIED, BUT THE SHOULD NOT BE THE LARGEST MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND, AND, AND, AND THAT IS CURRENTLY THE CASE.

UH, WE NEED TO DO BETTER BY OUR FOLKS WHO ARE UNHOUSED, UH, BECAUSE H HOUSING FIRST APPROACH IS, IS A GOOD FIRST STEP, BUT IF WE'RE NOT GETTING THEM THE, THE MENTAL HEALTH A HELP THAT THEY DESERVE AND NEED, UH, AND ANY HELP, YOU KNOW, TRUTHFULLY FROM ANY SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT HELPING THEM.

UH, SO, UM, I, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR, FOLKS, WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT'S BEING OFFERED, AND SO TYPICALLY, AND THE REASON I WOULD LIKE TO WAIT ON DISCUSSION OF THAT IS UNTIL WE GET TO THE BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION.

AND SO THAT'S, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER 77, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY HAS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT.

UH, I, I WAS HOPING TO MAKE A REALLY FAST ON 48.

I I ALSO MISSED THE, THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN WE FINISHED 48.

I WASN'T SURE WHEN, WHEN TO SAY A FEW COMMENTS ON, LET, LET'S, HOW ABOUT WE DO THIS? LET'S GET THIS, THE MOTIONS THAT WE HAVE ON THE TABLE, OFF THE TABLE, AND THEN THAT'S CORRECT.

WE'LL COME BACK.

THE CHAIR HAD RECOGNIZED COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, ON A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ITEM NUMBER 77, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, I MOVED TO ADOPT KELLY AMENDMENT ONE FOR ITEM NUMBER 77.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THE AMENDMENT? IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? HEARING NONE.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO ITEM NUMBER 77 FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.

YEAH, I JUST WANNA MAKE A, A FEW WORDS ABOUT ITEM 77, AND I'M GONNA GO A LITTLE BIT OFF SCRIPT.

MY, MY, MY, MY DAD PASSED AWAY 10 YEARS AGO, AND, AND I REMEMBER WHEN HE PASSED AWAY THAT HAVING THAT LAST OPPORTUNITY, UH, YOU KNOW, TO HUG HIM, TO HOLD HIM, TO KISS HIM, AND, AND, AND KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM, UH, AND, AND, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT SO MANY FAMILIES IN THE CITY GO THROUGH AND, AND HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THAT, THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM, AND TRUTHFULLY, THAT WE POTENTIALLY NEVER HEAR FROM WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES, AND, AND ALL THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS ANSWERS AND CLARITY AND, AND CLOSURE.

UH, AND, AND I, IT'S ALMOST LIKE LIVING GROUNDHOGS DAY WHERE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, MY, MY FIRST MONTH OR SO, WE, WE, WE HAD TO DEAL WITH, UH, JASON JOHN'S, UH, DISAPPEARANCE AND HIS TRAGIC DEATH AND HEARING MORE STORIES OF FOLKS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY SINCE JASON.

YOU KNOW, I, I, I WANT TO CLARIFY FOR, FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING, UH, AS WELL AS, AS FOLKS, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, OR, OR FOLKS IN THE PRESS THERE, THERE'S NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANY FOUL PLAY GOING ON, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON.

UH, AND, AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR, FOR THIS DIAS, UH, FOR, FOR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, JESUS GAR, ALL BY POUND GARZA, UH, AND, AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND HIS TEAM, UH, FOR BEING VERY PROACTIVE, UH, ON THIS.

BUT, BUT THERE, THERE'S, THE JOB'S NOT OVER.

THE JOB WASN'T OVER WHEN THERE WAS TEMPORARY, YOU KNOW, LIGHTING PUT UP AND, AND FENCING AND SIGNAGE, UH, THE JOB'S NOT OVER ONCE WE PASSED THIS, WHAT PASSED THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, RESOLUTION.

UM, SO I, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE ON THE DIOCESE, UM, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

UH, FOR A NEW ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION.

COUNCIL MEMBER, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 77, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM NUMBER 77? HEARING NONE, ITEM NUMBER 77 IS ADOPTED.

I APOLOGIZE IF I MOVED ON TO 77 TOO QUICKLY.

COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER.

NO WORRIES.

I'M STILL FIGURING OUT WHEN THE RIGHT MOMENT IS, BUT, UH, I JUST ALSO, UH, WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND ALSO THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR REALLY LEADING ON THE ISSUE, UH, OF THIS DIVERSION CENTER.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR JUDGE BROWN, COMMISSIONER HOWARD, COMMISSIONER TRILLIAN, THE REST OF THE COURT.

AND, YOU KNOW, ON TUESDAY WE HEARD ABOUT THE SOBERING CENTER AND HOW THE CITY AND THE COUNTY CAME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS A REAL PUBLIC HEALTH NEED AND PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION THAT RESULT IN IMPROVED OUTCOMES AND COST SAVINGS, UH, TO OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM.

AND HERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH TRAVIS COUNTY INTEGRAL CARE AND OTHERS TO DO SOMETHING, AGAIN, AS RELATES TO MENTAL HEALTH AND DIVERSION,

[01:05:01]

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PARTNER AND, AND REALLY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

AND SO I JUST WANNA TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, FOR LEADING ON THIS, AND, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHERE IT GOES.

GREAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER PUENTES.

THANKS, MAYOR.

I APPRECIATE HOW YOU ARE GETTING US THROUGH THESE MEETINGS VERY QUICKLY, BUT WE'RE MISSING OUR OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO, TO WEIGH IN.

AND THIS ONE IS A, AN OF IMPORTANCE.

I THANK COUNCIL CADRE FOR BRINGING THIS BOARD ON THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER.

UM, AND WE KNOW THAT OUR CITY HAS A TRACK RECORD OF WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES.

AND WITH THIS BIG INITIATIVE, ONE THAT THIS COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY STANDS BEHIND, UM, WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THE DETAILS OF WHAT THAT PARTNERSHIP COULD LOOK LIKE ON BRINGING A MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER TO OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY.

AT OUR NEXT PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING.

WE'LL HAVE OFFICIALS FROM TRAVIS COUNTY JOIN US WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE US, UH, YES, MORE DETAILS AND MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE, AND THAT WE AS A COUNCIL CAN ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE CITY'S COMMITMENT WILL LOOK LIKE IN, IN THAT EFFORT, UM, MAY AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.

AND SO IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS.

UH, I WILL BE, UH, WITH A FEW OTHERS LAUNCHING A, UH, A MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID INITIATIVE WITH THE COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT NETWORK THAT SAME DAY WHERE WE'RE GONNA TRY TO SKILL UP OUR COMMUNITY TO GET CERTIFIED ON MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID.

SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT INITIATIVE, AND WE, WE'LL BE SHARING MORE DETAILS OUT IN THE COMING WEEKS.

UM, BUT JUST WANTED TO OFFER THAT AS WELL.

I'LL MAKE THIS VERY QUICK.

I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO THANK THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE, UH, ALL THIS POSSIBLE.

SO I WANT TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS AGAIN, ON, ON BOTH RESOLUTIONS, UH, RELATING TO RESOLUTION 48.

YOU KNOW, WANT TO THANK ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS AT OUR OFFICE SPOKE WITH, WANT TO THANK, UH, OFFICE STAFF, UH, ESPECIALLY OUR CHIEF OF STAFF, SARAH BARGE, UH, AND WANT TO THANK, UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ANNE KITCHEN, WHO HAS BEEN VERY KIND, UH, WITH HER TIME AND HER AND HER IMMENSE KNOWLEDGE ON THE SUBJECT.

UM, AND THEN RELATING TO ITEM 77, ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, THE CO-SPONSORS, UH, STAFF, UM, ESPECIALLY SARAH BARGE, WHO ALSO VERY MUCH WORKED ON THIS, UH, RESOLUTION.

UH, AND THEN ALSO ALL THE FAMILIES THAT ARE HERE TODAY.

UM, I REALLY ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE MITCHELL, UH, JOSH AND, AND NISHA, WHO, WHO IS NOT HERE TODAY, BUT, UM, IS ALWAYS A, UH, A FRIENDLY PRESENCE THROUGH EMAILS AND, AND PHONE CONVERSATION.

SO THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND YOUR LOVE, UH, OF YOUR, OF YOUR LOVED ONES.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER.

I'M SORRY, JUST ITEM NUMBER 56.

I WANNA, UM, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOR BRINGING BOTH OF THESE ITEMS FORWARD.

AND, AND I'M A CO-SPONSOR OF 77, AND I WANTED TO JUST SPEAK BRIEFLY TO 48.

I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE WHERE THIS COLLABORATIVE CONVERSATION AS A COMMUNITY CAN GO WITH RESPECT TO THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION.

I THINK WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO MOVE AS A COMMUNITY TO A SPACE WHERE WE'RE BRINGING THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO THE RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME, UM, AND BEING ABLE TO THINK ABOUT NOT ONLY WHAT PROVIDES THE, THE BEST QUALITY OF CARE, BUT WHAT IS MOST EFFECTIVE, UM, FROM A COST AND, AND JUST AN OVERALL RESOURCE PERSPECTIVE.

UM, SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS CONTINUING AND FOR THE CITY TO BE A PART OF THAT LARGER CONVERSATION THAT THE COUNTY'S LEADING.

BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT ITEM, IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN WE'VE ADOPTED? MEMBERS WILL GO TO ITEMS NUMBER 51, 52 AND 53, THE IMMINENT DOMAIN ITEMS. RECALL THAT ITEM NUMBER 54, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY ON THE AGENDA, HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN WITH RESPECT TO ITEMS 51, 52 AND 53 BEING NON-CONSENT CONDEMNATION ITEMS. IS THERE A MOTION TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE POWER OF IMMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY SET FORTH AND DESCRIBED IN THE AGENDA FOR THE CURRENT MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC USES THAT ARE DESCRIBED HEREIN? COUNCIL MEMBER POOL MOVES ADOPTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HARPER MADISON, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEMS 51 52 AND 53 AS MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL? HEARING NONE, THOSE ITEMS ARE ADOPTED MEMBERS.

THE NEXT ITEMS ARE ITEMS 55, I'M SORRY, ITEM 59, WHICH IS RELATED TO ITEMS 56 THAT THE PUBLIC HEARINGS WE HAD ON ITEMS 56, 57, AND 58, JUST 56,

[01:10:02]

COUNCIL MEMBERS', ITEM NUMBER 56 WAS THE PUBLIC HEARING RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 59? UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEMS 55, 57 AND 58 AND THEN I'LL COME BACK TO 56 59.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON MOVES APPROVAL OF ITEMS 55 57 AND 58 AT, SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEMS 55 57 AND 58? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION? HEARING NONE, THOSE ITEMS ARE ADOPTED.

ITEM NUMBER 56 AND 59, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEMS NUMBER 56 AND 59? SECOND MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON IS THERE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

MAYOR, WE JUST NEED TO NOTE THAT ITEM NUMBER 58 IS POSTPONED TO APRIL 20TH.

UM, I WISH PEOPLE WOULD'VE TOLD ME THAT'S WHY.

THAT'S WHAT I'M, THE, THE, UM, THE MOTION TO ADOPT THOSE ITEMS ON ITEM NUMBER 58.

IT WAS A POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM NUMBER 58 AS OPPOSED TO THE SUBSTANCE OF ITEM NUMBER 58.

WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR WITH REGARD TO ITEMS 56 AND 59.

IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ITEMS 56 AND 59? TELL ME WHAT 56 IS JUST PUBLIC HEARING.

THE NEXT THING THAT WE HAVE IS A TIME CERTAIN OF 12 O'CLOCK NOON.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE ADOPTION OF ITEM 59, WHICH IS THE RELATED ITEM? HEARING NONE THE MOTION IS ADOPTED MEMBERS.

[Executive Session]

UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE CITY COUNCIL? WELL, LEMME DO IT THIS WAY.

UH, THE, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS IS NOW GOING TO GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION, UH, TO TAKE UP ONE ITEM.

AND PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 51 0 71 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 78, WHICH IS IN THE ADDENDUM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, 2023, LABOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO GOING IN TO A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEM AS ANNOUNCED? HEARING NONE, THE COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION 1:00 PM THE NEXT ITEM

[12:00 PM - Public Communication: General]

ON OUR AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENT, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, AND WE WILL FOLLOW THAT WITH LIVE MUSIC.

UM, IN THE CLOSED SESSION, WE DISCUSSED LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER 78, CITY OF AUSTIN, 2023, LABOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.

I'LL NOW ASK THE, UH, CITY CLERK IF YOU WOULD, UH, START CALLING OUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION PARTICIPANTS.

FIRST SPEAKER, SEAN GUS, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY UP TO THE PODIUM.

LET'S GO HERE.

HOW'S IT GOING? GOOD.

UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.

UH, JUST WANNA TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF DEVELOPING IN, UH, MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ASK CITY COUNCIL FOR ASSISTANCE WITH.

UH, I LIVE, UH, JUST A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY FROM THE MONOLO BRIDGE IN EAST AUSTIN.

AND, UH, THE FREQUENCY, UH, WITH WHICH UNPERMITTED, UM, LIVE MUSIC SHOWS, RAVES, PARTIES, YOU NAME IT, UH, ARE STARTING TO INCREASE, UH, IN FREQUENCY SIGNIFICANTLY.

UH, I'VE, I'VE BEEN THERE NOW FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS, AND OCCASIONALLY THERE WOULD BE, UH, SOME UNSANCTIONED UNPERMITTED ACTIVITY THAT WOULD HAPPEN ON THAT BRIDGE.

UM, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE.

IT'S, UH, GOT A COMMANDING VIEW OF DOWNTOWN.

UH, CERTAINLY, UH, CAN SEE WHY SOMEONE WOULD, WOULD, WOULD WANT TO HANG OUT THERE.

UH, HOWEVER, AS THESE PARTIES HAVE INCREASED, SO TOO HAS WHAT I FEEL THE SAFETY, UH, OF, OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, HAS,

[01:15:01]

HAS STARTED TO BECOME JEOPARDIZED.

AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF, UM, UH, I GUESS UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHO MAY BE IN CONTROL OF, OF MONITORING THIS PARTICULAR, UH, ASSET OF OUR CITY.

UH, I'VE, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT, UH, THIS IS REALLY UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS MOBILITY, UH, REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY.

UM, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY'RE PRETTY UNRESPONSIVE, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, REACHING OUT TO THEM ABOUT W WHAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS.

UM, SO JUST TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT, UM, I THINK THIS REALLY ALL CAME TO A HEAD FOR ME ON MARCH 17TH, WHEN AT, UH, 1:40 AM THERE WERE ABOUT SEVEN GUNSHOTS THAT, UH, RANG OUT JUST OUTSIDE MY FENCE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS AMIDST, UM, PROBABLY, I DON'T KNOW, 200, UH, ILLEGALLY PARKED VEHICLES.

NOT ALL ILLEGALLY, SOME ON THE STREET.

UM, BUT THERE WAS DEFINITELY A PARTY OF 350 TO 400 PEOPLE GOING ON AT THE BRIDGE AT THAT TIME.

AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD AS A NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, YOU KNOW, FELT LIKE, WELL, THIS IS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING.

UH, BUT I THINK THAT THAT PARTICULAR NIGHT, UH, IT BECAME MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE FOR, FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.

UM, SORRY.

THAT'S ALRIGHT.

UH, I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND, UM, I, I, I, I, I, I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT NOT TO HAPPEN, UH, IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.

SO I GUESS ONE OF THE MOST DISTURBING THINGS ABOUT THAT WAS THAT I DID CALL 9 1 1.

UH, AND, UH, THIS IS, LIKE I SAID, 1 40, 1 45, UH, I SAW A POLICE OFFICER ENTER INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, DRIVE DOWN TO WHERE THE, THE BRIDGE KIND OF STARTS AT THE END OF THE ROAD.

AND, UH, SORRY, MY TIME'S UP, 15 MINUTES, UH, AND TURN AROUND AND, AND, AND LEAVE.

UH, AND THE PARTY CONTINUED FOR ANOTHER PROBABLY TWO AND A HALF HOURS.

UM, THANK, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

SO, SIR, UH, IF YOU, THERE'S A COUPLE OF ASSISTANT MANAGERS RIGHT BEHIND YOU, THEY'LL GET ALL YOUR INFORMATION.

OH, OKAY.

AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

I DO, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK WHO TOLD YOU IT WAS CTR MA'S RESPONSIBILITY? WELL, THAT'S, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY.

ACTUALLY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE I CALLED TRAVIS COUNTY 1, 1 1 NIGHT.

WE, I HAVEN'T, SORRY.

SORRY.

ACTUALLY, I SEE, I SEE.

UH, I SEE OUR POLICE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE BACK THERE.

TAKE HIM TO ELISE.

OF CITY FUNDED EVENTS AT THE END OF 2023.

NEXT SPEAKER IS ARMANDO MAGAR.

MAGANA.

AFTER ARMANDO MAGANA IS BRIAN.

LEAH, IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM, FOLLOWED BY DIANA PREK.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS DIANA PROCTOR AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDING AND MY REQUEST FOR AN AN EVENT AUDIT AT THE END OF 2023.

HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS, COMMONLY REFERRED TO WITH THE SHORTHAND HOT, ARE GIVEN TO THE ARTS IN THREE CATEGORIES, THRIVE NEXUS, AND ELEVATE.

THIS YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 4.4 MILLION IS GOING TO BE SPENT UNDER THRIVE AND NEXUS BY INTENTIONAL DESIGN.

BOTH OF THESE CITY PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS WHO ARE NASCENT EMERGING CULTURAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS OR GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN DORMANT IN RECENT YEARS.

MANY GROUPS WITH PROVEN TRACK RECORDS OF DELIVERING CULTURAL EVENTS WILL NOT BE FUNDED THIS YEAR.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW BY THE END OF 2023 HOW THESE NEWCOMERS AND DORMANT GROUPS HAVE DELIVERED ON THEIR PROMISE TO CREATE EVENTS OR PUBLIC ART IN AUSTIN.

AS A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFORMATION, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS REQUIRE RE RECIPIENTS TO CREATE EVENTS AND PUBLIC ART, SUCH AS EXHIBITIONS, PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, AND CAMPS THAT INCLUDE A PERFORMANCE OR EXHIBITION THAT IS OPEN TO AND MARKETED TO TOURISTS, PUBLIC ART PROJECTS.

THE EVENTS MUST BE OPEN AND ADVERTISED TO AUSTIN RESIDENTS, VISITORS, AND TOURISTS.

I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE ONLY WEBSITE WHERE GRANT RECIPIENTS MUST POST THEIR EVENTS IS AUSTIN TEXAS.ORG/EVENTS.

THE WEBSITE OF THE AUSTIN CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU.

WE, THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, SHOULD BE ABLE TO PERFORM AN AUDIT

[01:20:01]

YOU, THE MAYOR, MANAGER, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS MIGHT ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM AN EVENT AUDIT.

4.4 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY, AND SOMEONE MIGHT WANT TO KNOW HOW SUCCESSFULLY IT WAS SPENT.

AT PRESENT, THIS AUDIT CAN'T BE DONE BECAUSE THE OFFICIAL EVENT CALENDAR IS FUNCTIONALLY FLOODED IN TWO WAYS.

SO HERE IS MY ELEVATOR PITCH.

ONE, THE EVENTS CALENDAR NEEDS THE ADDITION OF A FILTER CALLED, FUNDED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

TWO, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEARCH BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO LOCATE THE PROGRAMMER RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CITY'S EVENT CALENDAR, AND REQUEST THAT THESE TWO IMPROVEMENTS BE MADE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AUSTIN TEXAS.ORG/EVENTS.

BRIAN LEAH, JONATHAN DAVIDSON.

I'M GONNA CALL A FEW SPEAKERS THAT I'VE CALLED AGAIN, JUST ONCE AGAIN, ARMANDA MAGNA.

IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.

HELLO.

I'D LIKE TO ADD TO WHAT SEAN GUEST, THE FIRST SPEAKER WAS SAYING, I'M HIS NEIGHBOR.

UM, UH, THE EVENTS AT THE BRIDGE HAVE MORE THAN JUST AN IMPACT ON THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND HIS FAMILY AND OTHER FAMILIES THAT LIVE THERE.

THERE'S A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY AT THESE EVENTS.

AND SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN PROFESSIONALLY PRODUCED AND, AND PROMOTED THROUGH THE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, NOT WEBSITE, BUT THROUGH THE GENERAL, UH, ORGANIZATION OF UNOFFICIAL EVENTS.

UH, BUT THOSE, THOSE ARE THE EVENTS THAT HAVE GONE TILL SIX IN THE MORNING WITH GUNSHOTS AND, AND, UM, AND OTHER SORT OF ISSUES.

THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF VANDALISM ISSUES, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF SHOWS WHERE THERE'S 13 TO 15 YEAR OLD KIDS IN THE HUNDREDS USING A LOT OF DRUGS, USING A LOT OF ALCOHOL.

UH, I, I'M A PARENT OF A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, I'VE BEEN THERE WITH HIM.

UH, HE'S A STUDENT AT LASA RIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER.

UH, BASICALLY THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND A, A LOT OF THESE KIDS AT THE BRIDGE ARE, THEY'RE DOING CHICKEN FIGHTS ON THEIR SHOULDERS.

THEY'RE DOING, UH, CROWD SURFING.

YOU CAN SEE OPEN DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE.

I KNOW THAT'S A REALITY OF TEENAGE LIFE.

UH, AND I'M NOT JUDGING IT, BUT I'M SAYING THAT IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A BIG, PERHAPS UNWARRANTED CONVERSATION ABOUT WHY PEOPLE ARE ENDING UP DEAD IN THE RIVER.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS REALLY BECAUSE OF IRRESPONSIBLE DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE IN AND AROUND THE CORRIDOR OF THE RIVER.

AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT'S A BRIDGE THAT'S A HUNDRED FEET OVER THE, OVER THE WATER WITH KIDS USING MULTIPLE DRUGS, MULTIPLE ALCOHOL DRIVING IN AND OUT OF THERE.

A LOT OF THE BANDS ARE AUSTIN HIGH BANDS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF LIVE MUSIC AND COUNTERCULTURE, BUT I AM WORRIED THAT IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMETHING REALLY TERRIBLE HAPPENS.

NOT JUST TO A RESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT TO SOMEONE ON THE BRIDGE.

AND THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF OUTRAGE THAT NOTHING WAS DONE TO PREVENT IT.

AND I, I THINK THAT THERE'S MANY PROPOSALS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD, PERHAPS, UH, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY, MAYBE PARDON, MAYBE A P D I DON'T THINK IT THAT THE POLICE NECESSARILY EVEN TO BE, NEED TO BE INVOLVED IF THE ORGAN ORGANIZERS OF THE EVENTS CAN BE SPOKEN TO AS THE EVENT IS STARTING.

UM, PERHAPS LE WHEN THEY'RE SETTING UP THE GEAR, I MEAN, THEY'RE BRINGING IN HUGE AMOUNTS OF GENERATORS, LIGHTING, SOUND EQUIPMENT.

UH, I CAN SHOW PEOPLE FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE INSTAGRAM VIDEOS THAT DOCUMENT ALL OF THIS.

LIKE, IT'S REALLY, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT HYPERBOLE.

IT'S EXTREMELY CONCERNING.

AND IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPRESSIVE AND FUN TO SOME, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT IT'S, IT'S JUST DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD NEEDS TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE THIS.

THEY, I THINK, OFTEN CAN PROMOTE WITHOUT BEING RESPONSIBLE ABOUT IT.

SO, THANK YOU SIR.

BRIAN LEACH, FOLLOWED BY KATE BARROW AND SUSSAN EL MANZA.

HEY, HOW'S IT GOING? MY NAME IS BRIAN, BRIAN LEACH.

MY FAMILY OWNS 7,500 BLUFF SPRINGS ROAD.

IT'S A PROPERTY IN SOUTH AUSTIN.

I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, UH, I'VE BEEN ON THE NEWS A COUPLE TIMES, LIKE WE'RE GETTING FLOODED WITH MUD FROM THIS, UH, APARTMENTS BEING BUILT NEXT TO US SPRING VILLAS, CUZ THEY HAVE NO RETENTION POND.

IT'S BEEN IN REVISION FOR TWO YEARS.

BUT, UH, AND THEY RECENTLY SPILLED DIESEL EVERYWHERE.

AND DIESEL, LIKE YOU WENT TO THE RETENTION POND, BUT

[01:25:01]

IT ALSO BYPASSED THE RETENTION POND.

CAME STRAIGHT TO MY PROPERTY DOWN PIPES THAT IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE ANY, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING BUT NATURAL CLEAN WATER.

BUT DIESELS DOWN THERE AND IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS AND THEY CAN'T CLEAN IT UP.

THEY, THEY DON'T WANNA SCOPE THE PIPE.

THEY KEEP SAYING THEY'RE GONNA DO IT, GONNA DO IT.

BUT, SO THE DIESEL'S BEEN THERE FOR TWO MONTHS.

UH, BUT ON DECEMBER 1ST, MY ENGINEERS SUBMITTED A SIGN AND SEAL DOCUMENT.

I'VE SENT IT TO YOU A BUNCH OF TIMES, MR. GARZA.

IT, IT'S A REPORT SHOWING THAT SPRING VILLAS AND ASPEN HEIGHTS TWO APARTMENT COMPLEX NEXT TO EACH OTHER CAN'T HANDLE THE TWO YEAR STORM.

THE WATER RETENTION.

SO LIKE A TWO YEAR STORM WOULD BE LIKE 23 CFS, 23 CUBIC FEET OF SQUARE FEET OF WATER COMING THROUGH PER SECOND.

UH, IT CAN'T HANDLE 23, IT HAS TO HANDLE A HUNDRED YEAR STORM.

IT'S LIKE 144.

SO, UH, ASPEN HEIGHTS IS WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED.

NOW IT'S CALLED COURTLAND AT BLUFF SPRINGS CHANGE NAMES, BUT IF YOU LOOK UP THE RECORD, IT'S GONNA BE ASPEN HEIGHTS.

PEOPLE IN THAT PARKING LOT, THEY'VE LIVED THERE SINCE 2017.

THERE'S A HUNDRED YEAR STORM, THEY COULD DIE, THEY COULD GET SWEPT OFF RIGHT NOW TODAY.

SO, AND THEN SPRING VILLAS ISN'T OPEN YET.

IT'S ONE RIGHT NEXT TO IT.

AND INDEPENDENT OF THAT, THEY DIDN'T DO ALL THEIR BOUNDARIES.

MY ENGINEERS DIDN'T, THERE'S NO ARGUING.

OUR BOUNDARIES, THE BOUNDARIES THEY SET FOR THE WATER COMING INTO THEIR PROPERTY ARE COMPLETELY INACCURATE.

THEY WEREN'T ACCOUNTING FOR TONS OF WATER AND THEN THEY DEFINITELY WEREN'T ACCOUNTING FOR ASPEN HEIGHTS TO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE.

SO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY WANNA MOVE PEOPLE IN THERE IN THE SUMMER AND THAT'S, PEOPLE COULD DROWN THERE.

AND THEN I'M THE PROPERTY RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO IT.

THANK GOD I KNOW THIS INFORMATION.

IF THERE'S LIKE A, YOU KNOW, 25, A HUNDRED YEAR STORM, I'M GONNA HAVE TO ABANDON MY HOUSE CUZ I'LL DROWN IN MY HOUSE.

UH, PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE COURTLAND AT BLUFF SPRINGS, THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THEY COULD DROWN IN THEIR HOUSE.

UH, BUT YEAH, I, I'VE SUBMITTED THAT SIGNED AND SEALED ENGINEER REPORT FROM SAXON LOOMIS.

THEY GOT A OFFICE RIGHT OFF THERE OF SOUTH CONGRESS IF YOU WANNA TALK TO HIM.

AND IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO, WE DON'T WANNA DROWN AND DIE.

AND SO JOY DEEP BOSWAMI THE CITY ENGINEER, HE'S CONTACTED MY ENGINEERS, BUT THEN HE STOPPED TALKING TO HIM.

HE SAYS HE NEEDS TO TALK TO THE CITY LAW.

LIKE, I DON'T KNOW IF, IF YOU'RE EVEN PAYING ATTENTION TO MS. MORGAN, BUT SHE SAID HE NEEDS TO TALK TO YOU FIRST BEFORE HE CAN TALK TO US ABOUT ME DYING IN MY HOUSE.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND BEYOND THAT, LIKE WHEN I TALK TO THE INSPECTORS, THE INSPECTORS SAYING, WELL, WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH THE REVISION FROM A YEAR AGO.

THEIR IMPERVIOUS COVERS COMPLETELY OFF.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE LIKE 60% CONCRETE BUILDINGS, 40% PERCENT, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT.

AND THEY'RE BUILDING IT.

THEY HAVE ALL THIS, THEY TRIED TO USE POROUS CONCRETE, BUT THE PEST CONCRETE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL THESE, YOU KNOW, THINGS SET UP AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT.

SO THEY'RE PUTTING DOWN ALL THIS PEST CONCRETE NOT TO CODE.

MIKE MCDOUGLE SAID HE'S REJECTED IT LIKE 13 TIMES, BUT THEY'RE STILL BUILDING IT.

UH, IT'S ALMOST COMPLETELY BUILT.

WE, WE, WE WANT US THEM TO STOP BUILDING IT AND TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

AND THIS IS LIKE, AND SO THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THEY HAVE THIS PIPE THAT GOES UNDERGROUND AND IT CAN'T DRAIN.

SO THERE'S ALWAYS THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF WATER IN THIS PIPE THAT CANNOT DRAIN.

AND THAT'S THE PIPE.

AS POSTERS HAVE NATURAL WATER COMING FROM THE FOREST UNDER THEIR PROPERTY, SOMEHOW DIESEL FUEL GOT INTO IT BECAUSE THEIR GUTTERS, ALL THE WATER THAT GOES IN THEIR GUTTERS, IT GOES TO THE POND, BUT THEN IT CROSSES THIS PIPE AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE ELEVATIONS, RIGHT.

SO THEY JUST MADE IT A FOUR-WAY.

SO IT JUST, BUT YEAH, I MEAN PEOPLE COULD DIE ON BLUFF SPRINGS, OUR ASSISTANT MANAGER BACK THERE, VERONICA WILL VISIT WITH YOU ABOUT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES REVIEWS.

SAY WHAT? THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHT BEHIND YOU, KATE BARROW IS SPEAKING REMOTELY.

HI, UM, YEAH, MY NAME IS KATE.

CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YES.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE BRIDGE ITSELF WITH THESE PLAQUES.

UM, I AM SPEAKING, UM, TO FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT BOTH SEAN GUS AND JONATHAN DAVIDSON ALREADY REPORTED ON ABOUT THE INCREASE IN THE MONOPOLI BRIDGE PARTIES.

UM, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY NEW INFORMATION.

BOTH OF THEM COVERED PRETTY MUCH ALL OF IT, BUT THERE'S A SAFETY CONCERN FROM THE STANDPOINT OF JUST THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES PARKED AND WHETHER OR NOT IF THERE WERE AN EMERGENCY, I THINK THERE WOULD PROBABLY POTENTIALLY BE AN ISSUE OF AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE BEING ABLE TO ACCESS IT.

UM, THERE'S A SAFETY STANDPOINT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE INCREASED GUNSHOTS AND, UM, THEIR KIND OF RELATIONSHIP TO THE INCREASE IN THE BRIDGE PARTIES.

AND THEN THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THE SAFETY CONCERN OF THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE AND JUST THE NATURE OF THE PARTIES THEMSELVES, WHICH AGAIN, I'M NOT, AGAIN, ANY KIND OF LIVE MUSIC.

I THINK THAT THAT'S A FANTASTIC THING TO RESPOND TO KIND OF ENDORSE, BUT OBVIOUSLY IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER.

SO, UM, I JUST, ONE OF LIKE, JUST AGAIN, THE CONCERN, UM, THAT BOTH SEAN AND JOHN ALREADY BROUGHT UP.

UM, WE'RE CONCERNED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN, UM, TO THE PEOPLE ATTENDING THE PARTY, BUT WE'RE ALSO JUST CONCERNED KIND OF FOR OUR OWN SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF OUR HOME AND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THEN NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, REALLY JUST TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS FREE VENUE.

UM, AND THEY'RE CHARGING PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THEY HAVE NO OVERHEAD, THERE'S NO TRASH COLLECTION.

WE'RE GOING OUT AS A NEIGHBORHOOD AND PICKING UP TRASH AFTER THE PARTIES.

UM, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY THEY PUT UP THIS REALLY GREAT KIND OF HISTORICAL, UM, HISTORY OF

[01:30:01]

AND ALREADY A LOT OF THE PLAQUES HAVE GRAFFITI ALL OVER THEM.

AND IT'S, IT'S JUST DISRESPECTFUL.

AND, UM, WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY APPRECIATE ONE, SOME CLARIFICATION ON WHO IS ACTUALLY IN CHARGE OF THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, WHETHER IT'S THE CENTRAL TEXAS MOBILITY AUTHORITY OR YOU KNOW, WHEN A TELLS US THAT IT'S THEM AND THEY TELL US THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY JURISDICTION.

IT'S JUST CONFUSING AND WE'RE NOT SURE WHERE TO VOICE OUR CONCERNS, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE PRESENT TODAY.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

SUSAN MANZA FOLLOWED BY AMANDA CARILLO AND THEN CARLOS LEON.

GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I AM SUSAN AMANZA, DIRECTOR OF PODER.

PEOPLE ORGANIZE IN DEFENSE OF EARTH AND HER RESOURCES.

UH, AS A PARTNER OF A I S D, YOU'RE CAUSING GREAT HARM TO A I S D.

GENTRIFICATION IS DISPLACING FAMILIES FROM AUSTIN A I S D SCHOOLS.

MANY EAST AUSTIN SCHOOLS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CLOSED.

THE DEVELOPMENTS, DEVELOPMENTS THAT YOU ARE CONSTANTLY APPROVING ARE FOR ONE BEDROOM UNITS AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF TWO BEDROOM UNITS.

THE DEVELOPMENTS ARE NOT SERVING FAMILIES.

THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE OUTTA REACH FOR FAMILIES DUE TO SIZE AND COST OF UNITS.

THERE'S NOTHING REALLY AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES.

A I S D WILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER DUE TO THE LACK OF ATTENTION TO RETAIN FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY FAMILIES OF COLOR IN AUSTIN.

YOU AND MANY OF YOUR CORE BACKERS OFTEN CLAIM THAT HIGHER DENSITY RESULTS IN LOWER HOUSING PRICES AND MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS, HAS RESULTED FROM REZONING SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS TO ALLOW FOR FOUR TO SIX UNITS PER LOT ON A DIFFERENT CONCERN.

I HAVE BEEN ASKED BY THEOLO COMMUNITY TO INFORM YOU ABOUT THE THE RACIAL PROFILING OCCURRING IN THE COMMUNITY BY D P S TROOPERS.

WE HAVE MORE TROOPERS PET PATROLLING, THE SCHOOL PATROLLING THAN SCHOOLS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

MORE TROOPERS AND FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS, MORE TROOPERS AND GROCERY STORES, MORE TROOPERS AND HEALTH CLINICS, MORE TROOPERS AND PLAYGROUNDS.

PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY ARE BEING TARGETED BY D P S TROOPERS.

WE NEED AN IMMEDIATE, IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER.

DPS S TROOPERS ARE FOLLOWING GOVERNOR'S ABBOTS MANDATE BY A HARASSING THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

WE NEED AN INVESTIGATION.

WE ARE, WHERE ARE THEY STOPPING AND WHY, WHERE ARE THEY PATROLLING OF THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THEY HAVE STOPPED AND OR ARRESTED? WHERE DID THESE INCIDENTS OCCUR IN POLIS IN EAST AUSTIN? WE MAY NEED TO CALL IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE HARASSMENT AND RACIAL PROFILING OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND DPS TROOPERS AND ENCOURAGE ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND I JUST WANNA ADD THAT IT IS NOT THE LATINO OR PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT ARE ORGANIZING THOSE EVENT ON THE MONOLO BRIDGE.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR TO THE, TO THE LISTENERS THAT IT'S NOT OUR COMMUNITIES.

BUT I REALLY, I KNOW I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH CHIEF, UM, CHAON NEXT WEEK, BUT I DO WANNA BRING THIS TO, UH, YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE WE ARE BEING OVERRUN BY THE D P TROOPERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IS VERY AFRAID ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? HI, AM I? MY NAME IS AMANDA CARILLO.

I LIVE ON MCCA LANE.

I LIVE JUST A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM WHERE THE TANKS ARE CURRENTLY, UH, BEING BUILT.

IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE IT'S BEEN BUILT.

UM, WE'VE HAD LACK OF COMMUNICATION.

PROMISES HAVE BEEN BROKEN.

UM, EVERY TIME I GO OUT INTO, INTO MY YARD, I SEE THESE TANKS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT AND I WORRY, I WORRY ABOUT MY HEALTH.

I WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO ME IN THE FUTURE.

UM, THEY SAY THAT THAT, THAT PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE EAST SIDE, WE HAVE A, A LOWER LIFE EXPECTANCY AS, UM, EXPANSION.

WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE COUNCIL THAT ALLOWS A CLUSTER OF POLLUTION OF ACTIVITIES TO COME TO POOR COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THESE THINGS DO NOT GO UNNOTICED BY US.

THE AIRPORT HAS PROMISED COMMUNITY AND ENGAGEMENT AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AT ALL.

THEY PROMISED A GREEN TEAM, IT'S BEEN 12 MONTHS.

WE HAVE NO GREEN TEAM, BUT THEY HAVE HAVE THIS WONDERFUL JOURNEY WITH US, UH, TO MAKE MARKETING

[01:35:01]

TEAM.

THERE'S BEEN MUD WATER.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THAT UNTIL SEVERAL MONTHS LATER.

THERE'S LACK OF COMMUNICATION, WHICH REALLY LOOKS BAD ON YOU GUYS.

AIRPORT AGAIN, DOES NOT ENGAGE WITH US.

THEY, THEY'VE DECIDED THEY WON A $2 MILLION FENCE.

THEY DIDN'T ASK US ABOUT NO $2 MILLION FENCE.

WHAT UPSETS ME MORE RIGHT NOW, COMING TO YOU GUYS, IS THE LACK OF PROMPTNESS AND, AND TRANSPARENCY OF THE AUDIT OF YAS.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST WE'RE BEING AUDITED AT THE SAME TIME WAS HI HIDING PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TANK FARM.

THIS MAKES ME NOT TRUST MY CITY.

IT'S RUN BY CORRUPT AND DECEITFUL PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT YAS APPROVED, UM, ANYTHING THAT SHE HAS APPROVED THAT WE'RE A VIOLATION OF CODE SHOULD BE CANCELED OR DELAYED SINCE THEY WERE FRAUDULENTLY APPROVED FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND AUDIT.

I THINK THE AIRPORT STAFF IS, YOU KNOW, IS HOPING THAT WE'LL GO AWAY SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE YOUR MONEY FOR THE PRIV PRIVATE AIRLINE CONTRACTORS.

WELL, MY FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS ARE BEING EXPOSED TO ADMISSIONS TRAFFIC BY THESE TANK FARMS, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA GO AWAY.

I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO COME HERE AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM ME OF WHAT'S GONNA GO ON IN OUR WORRIES AND THE MENTAL HEALTH THAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR IN THE FUTURE.

UNDERSTAND ME, I INVITE THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COME OUT AND VISIT OUR COMMUNITY.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS GONNA AFFECT OUR MENTAL HEALTH THAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA HAVE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO.

WE WANT COMMUNICATION, WE WANT TRANSPARENCY, AND WE WANT IT NOW.

BUT MOST OF ALL, AGAIN, I INVITE ALL OF YOU GUYS TO COME OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND ENGAGE WITH US, ESPECIALLY COUNCILWOMAN HARPER MADISON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

BLESS PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO WON THE 2020 ELECTION IN A LANDSLIDE COUNTING EACH AND EVERY LEGAL LEGITIMATE VOTE ONE TIME ONLY WITH EQUAL WAITING.

NEXT SPEAKER IS CARLOS LEONE, FOLLOWED BY AUGUST HARRIS.

CARLOS LEON, FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER MAYOR WATSON 2.0, BOUNCING CRONK IN HIS CREW AND REPLACING THEM WITH YOUR LAW ABIDING LOYALISTS IS RIGHT ON CITY CLERK RIOS.

YOUR NEW HIRE, MARI PRAVO HELPED ME PROFESSIONALLY, POSITIVELY AND PROMPTLY THE WAY IT SHOULD BE AT CITY HALL CITY COUNCIL, DON'T BREATHE CLIMATE CHANGE PERIL BEFORE KEEPING ALIEN CHEM TRAILS OUT OF AUSTIN AIRSPACE PUBLIC AT LARGE BOYCOTT GALAXY CAFE, TOP-NOTCH AND SOLO EATERIES OUT OF EXISTENCE TO RIGHTLY STARVE OUT KELLY CHAPPELLE FOR WRONGLY BANNING ME.

MARCH 13TH AT GALAXY CAFE ON MESA, THE GUILTY HIGH SCHOOL WHITE FEMALE SERVER PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND VERBALLY ATTACKED ME INITIALLY WITHHOLDING MY PAID FOUR COOKIE FROM ME TO MAKE ME WAIT ON HER, THOUGH SHE HAS PAID TO WAIT ON ME.

SEVERAL MINUTES LATER SHE ASKED ME IF I HAD RECEIVED IT, THOUGH SHE KNEW I HADN'T BECAUSE SHE SAW MY ORDER NUMBER ON A STICK WAS STILL ON MY TABLE, BUT NO COOKIE, MEANING SHE TRIED GETTING MY ATTENTION AND MAKING ME ANSWER HER UNNECESSARY QUESTION TO FOLLOW HER MISLEAD, TO ACCOMMODATE AND SERVE HER.

THOUGH IT'S HER JOB TO ANSWER MY NECESSARY QUESTIONS AND FOLLOW MY RIGHTEOUSLY, TO ACCOMMODATE AND SERVE ME THE PAYING CUSTOMER IN A TIMELY MANNER ON A SLOW NIGHT IN RESPONSE TO MY FOLLOW UP EMAIL TO GALAXY IN FRONT OF YOU.

NOW, COUNSEL CHAPPELLE WRONGLY BANNED ME INSTEAD OF RIGHTLY RETRAINING OR REMOVING HER, CLAIMING I SCARED HER, MEANING SHE ALLEGEDLY CRIED, BULLIED HIM TO VILIFY ME, TO PROJECT HER GUILT ONTO ME, TO AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HER PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE WORDS AND ACTIONS THAT I RIGHTLY REJECTED.

THEN HE TRIED GASLIGHTING ME, SAYING SHE DIDN'T ATTACK ME, THOUGH SHE DID.

I WAS THERE.

I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

ADULT WOMEN STUPIDLY FEMINIST FLIRTING WITH ME, A STRAIGHT CHRISTIAN ALPHA MALE TO TRY CONFUSING AND CONTROLLING ME TO EFFEMINATE AND EMASCULATE ME IS BAD ENOUGH.

BUT WHEN MIDDLE SCHOOL MEAN GIRL GASLIGHTING AND EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION TACTICS GET REWARDED IN THE WORKPLACE INSTEAD OF PUNISHED.

TIME TO SHUT THAT BUSINESS DOWN.

GO WOKE, GO BROKE.

GOD

[01:40:01]

ONLY MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN BY MAKING AMERICA STRAIGHT MASCULINE AGAIN UNDER GOD.

TRUMP 2024.

IN JESUS NAME I PRAY, AMEN.

THANK YOU LORD AND GOD BLESS AUSTIN LAST SPEAKER, AUGUST TERRACE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TIM AND COUNSEL THE DOWNTOWN.

MY NAME IS AUGUST TERRACE.

I'M HERE AS CHAIR OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.

THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION PASSED A RECOMMENDATION.

IT IS MARCH MEETING BEFORE YOU TODAY.

UH, THAT COUNCIL SHOULD DIRECT CITY MANAGER TO CREATE A DEDICATED ANTI-GRAFFITI UNIT AND THAT IT INCLUDE A MINIMUM APPROPRIATION OF 2 MILLION TO FUND THE UNIT.

THIS MAY NOT BE ENOUGH.

FRANKLY, WE ADAMANTLY URGE COUNCIL TO PRIORITIZE THIS ITEM IN THE 20 23 24 BUDGET.

LET'S BE CLEAR, GRAFFITI IS A CRIME OF VANDALISM UNDER THE STATE PENAL CODE.

IT ARRANGES FROM A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR TO A FELONY BASED ON THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE.

IT OFTEN INVOLVES THE CRIME OF CRIMINAL TRESPASS.

IT'S TERRIBLY DIFFICULT TO CATCH THE CRIMINALS IN THE ACT.

SO THE RATE OF PROSECUTION IS VERY LOW.

THERE ARE FEW CONSEQUENCES.

NOTE THAT FOR WHATEVER GOOD THEY ARE, DIVERSION OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN LIEU OF SENTENCING.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY ACROSS OUR CITY IS BEING VANDALIZED, MARRED, AND DEFACED BY VANDALS AND VAGRANTS.

THOUGH WE SEE A VERY HIGH CONCENTRATION OF THIS VANDALISM IN DISTRICT NINE, IT INSIDIOUSLY PERVADES EVERY DISTRICT NATIONWIDE.

DAMAGE ESTIMATES RANKED FROM 12 TO 14 BILLION ANNUALLY.

PART IN BUILDING SERVICES ALONE SPEND NEARLY 1 MILLION OF OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS SPEND ADDITIONAL FUNDS, THOUGH THAT'S NOT WELL TRACKED.

THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE SPENDS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY IN THEIR P I D ALONE.

TECH DOT AND CT RMA SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THEIR FACILITIES AS WELL.

ANNUALLY.

THE DAMAGE TO PRIVATE PROPERTY IS ABSOLUTELY INCALCULABLE.

YOU CAN'T TRAVEL ANY ARTERY IN OUR CITY WITHOUT SEEING PROPERTY MARRED BY THESE VANDALS AND VAGRANTS.

THE CITY OF AUSTIN CURRENTLY HAS NO UNIFIED EFFORT TO ADDRESS THIS SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM.

PARDON THE EXCEPTION, HAS BEEN PROACTIVE THROUGHOUT OUR BELOVED PARKS WITH A DEDICATED TEAM.

BEST PRACTICE DICTATES THAT GRAFFITI BE EVADED WITHIN 24 HOURS.

VAST DAMAGE TO PRIVATE PROPERTY IS MORE OF A CHALLENGE.

FAILURE TO ABATE AND ABATE TIMELY CREATES AN ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE FOR THIS AND OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND ADVERSELY AFFECTS OUR CITIZENS AND OUR BUSINESSES ALIKE.

THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION WORKING GROUP MET WITH CITY STAFF AND STAKEHOLDERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CITY WAS DOING AND TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES MIGHT LIE.

PURE CITIES SUCH AS SAN ANTONIO HAVE VERY ROBUST PROGRAMS AND DEDICATED RESOURCES TO TACKLE GRAFFITI HEAD-ON.

AUSTIN NEEDS BOTH URGENTLY.

AND NOW WE HAVE SET OUT A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF PRIORITIES THAT YOU'LL SEE FOR THE ANNA GRAFFITI UNIT.

WHAT WE FAILED TO ADDRESS WAS AN INTERIM PLAN TO TACKLE THIS GROWING CRIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

SUMMER TYPICALLY SEES AN INCREASE IN THIS TYPE OF VANDALISM, SO IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE AN INTERIM SOLUTION WORKING WITH CITY STAFF.

WE'VE DISCUSSED THE CREATION OF A PILOT PROJECT TARGETING HEAVILY VANDALIZED AREAS OUTSIDE OF, UH, DA'S PIT.

UH, WE ASK THAT YOU DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO DEDICATE ANY AVAILABLE FUNDING TO STREAMLINE THE THREE 11 PROCESS FOR GRAFFITI REPORTING TO EXPAND EXISTING, EXCUSE ME, THIRD, THIRD PARTY CONTRACT.

NO, NO, NO, NO.

YOU DON'T GET TO DO THAT.

YOU'RE FINISHED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

BUT YEAH, I NEED YOU TO THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.

UH, MEMBERS, AS YOU JUST HEARD, THAT CONCLUDES THE NOON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE, UH, WATCHING, WE ARE NOW GOING TO SET UP FOR, UH, LIVE MUSIC.

UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA.

IT, UH, THAT WE CAN TAKE UP RIGHT AFTER THE LIVE MUSIC UNTIL A TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN ON ZONING MATTERS.

SO UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION, WE WILL RECESS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

MAYOR YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

A A SINGULAR OBJECTION.

I SEE THIS GENTLEMAN REACTING.

I WONDER IF MAYBE HE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND DIDN'T GET CALLED TWO MINUTES.

DID YOU SIGN UP TO SPEAK? WELL, NO, I DIDN'T THEN I'M SORRY.

THEN I CAN'T, I'M SORRY.

I CAN'T RECOGNIZE YOU UNDER OUR RULES.

WELL, I'M, I'M SORRY.

I, I I CAN'T RECOGNIZE YOU UNDER OUR RULES.

CAN I REACH OUT TO YOU IN YOUR OFFICE? GREAT, THANK YOU.

PLEASE DO THAT.

THERE ANY, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO RECESSING THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL UNTIL THE TWO O'CLOCK TIME? CERTAIN HEARING NONE WE'RE RECESSED UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK, BUT PLEASE EVERYBODY JOIN US FOR LIVE MUSIC AFTER IT'S SET UP.

COUNCIL MEMBER, ARE

[01:45:01]

WE'RE GONNA BE COMMEMORATING BIM BUG TODAY.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM BEN

[Live Music Ben Buck]

BUCK.

UH, BEFORE WE START, UM, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

UH, MY NAME'S BEN BUCK.

I'M FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS.

I WORK AT, UH, ANTONS RECORD SHOP, SO WE'RE REPRESENTING ANTONS TODAY.

UM, SHOUT OUT MY DAD MIKE BUCK TOO.

SO THAT'S GOOD BUCK FAMILY IN THE BUILDING.

THAT'S GREAT.

UM, HOW LONG YOU BEEN, HOW, HOW LONG YOU BEEN DOING THIS? SO I'VE BEEN BEATBOXING FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW.

SORRY, WHEN I'M, YOU KNOW, 14, 15.

I'M 25 NOW.

SO BEEN DOING IT PROFESSIONALLY FOR A LONG TIME.

FOR SURE.

WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE AND, AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROCLAIM.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS IS BLESSED WITH MANY CREATIVE MUSICIANS WHOSE TALENT EXTENDS TO VIRTUALLY EVERY MUSICAL GENRE.

AND WHEREAS OUR MUSIC SCENE THRIVES BECAUSE AUSTIN AUDIENCES SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC PRODUCED BY LEGENDS, OUR LOCAL FAVORITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE.

AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO SHOWCASE AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ART ARTISTS NOW, THEREFORE, I KIRK WATSON MAYOR, THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 13TH, 2023 AS BEN BUCK DAY IN AUSTIN IN BUCK CITY OF AUSTIN.

HOW WE FEELING? WOO.

ALL RIGHT.

IT'S AN HONOR AND PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY.

MY NAME'S BENJAMIN BUCK.

I COME FROM AUSTIN AND WE'RE HERE TO ROCK.

IT'S AN HONOR AND PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY.

MY NAME'S BENJAMIN BUCK.

I COME FROM AUSTIN AND WE'RE HERE TO ROCK.

WE FEELING GOOD? HOW Y'ALL FEELING? WE CAN END THERE UNLESS WE GOT MORE TIME.

NO, I WAS KIDDING.

STEP OUTTA STEP OUTTA HERE.

[01:50:30]

BIM BUG DAY TONIGHT AT HOLE ON THE WALL, STARTING AT 8:00 PM COME THROUGH.

IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT TIME.

APPRECIATE Y'ALL.

GOOD LUCK.

THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

UH, THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, OR THE TWO IS THE TWO O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN

[2:00 PM - Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Public Hearings and Possible Action)]

ZONING AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AMENDMENTS AND I WILL RECOGNIZE STAFF TO REPORT TO US.

YES, MAYOR COUNSEL JOY HARDEN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

UM, YOUR ZONING AGENDA BEGINS WITH ITEM NUMBER 63 C 1 14 20 20 0 1 43.

THERE'S AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR MAY 4TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 64 C 14 20 22 0 0 49.

AGAIN, APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR MAY 4TH COUNCIL MEETING.

ITEM 65 IS NPA 20 22 0 0 3 1 0.01.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 67 IS C 1 14 20 22 0 1 54.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 68 IS C 1 14 20 22 0 53.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

WE DO HAVE A FEW SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM.

ITEM 69 IS C 1 14 20 22 0 2 0 3.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT, SECOND READING ONLY.

THIS ITEM WILL BE BACK ON NEXT WEEK AT YOUR FOUR 20 COUNCIL MEETING.

AND THIS WILL ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS, UH, TO OCCUR.

AND AGAIN, THERE'S SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM AS WELL.

ITEM 70 IS C 1 14 20 22 0 1 71.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 71 IS C 1 14 20 22 0 1 3 2.

THIS ITEM'S BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

ITEM 72 IS SCENE 14, 20 22 0 0 7 0.

THIS IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS AND THAT'S THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF C S N P.

ITEM 73 IS C 14 20 22 0 0 15.

AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS, THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION OF C S N P.

CAN I, CAN I, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU COURSE, BUT ON COURSE ON 72 UHHUH , THAT HAS CHANGED FROM, UH, A RECOMMENDATION OF BEING POSTPONED TO CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

72 YES.

SPRINGDALE COMMERCIAL, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

UH, YES, THAT IS CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I GOT IT RIGHT.

UHHUH , THANK YOU.

SO 72 IS CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

73 IS CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS.

MM.

74 IS N P A 20 22 0 0 0 5 0.02 THERE IS AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR JUNE 1ST COUNCIL MEETING.

AGAIN, APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR JUNE 1ST COUNSEL MEETING.

ITEM 76 IS C 14 20 22 0 76.

THIS ITEM IS BEING OFFERED FOR CONSENT FIRST READING ONLY.

AGAIN, THERE'S SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM AND THIS IS ITEM IS COMING BACK FOUR 20.

UM, YOUR NEXT WEEK'S COUNSEL MEETING AND AGAIN FOR ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS TO CONTINUE TO BE HAD DURING THIS TIME.

AND THEN YOUR DEN ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 79 C 14 20 22 0 0 4.

AND THERE'S AN APPLICANT POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO YOUR FOUR 20 COUNCIL MEETING.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL MS. HARDEN, COULD YOU DOUBLE CHECK ON ITEM 70, THE DISTRICT ON THERE? I'M THINKING THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE DISTRICT SEVEN SHUL CREEK BOULEVARD.

I HAVE, YOU'RE SAYING IT SHOULD NOT BE DISTRICT SEVEN? WELL, I THINK IT IS DISTRICT SEVEN, BUT THE LIST SAYS DISTRICT THREE.

OH, THE COUNCIL AGENDA SAYS DISTRICT SEVEN, SO.

OH, GOOD.

SO YEAH, SO THE COUNCIL THE COUNCIL, OH, MY GUESS IS, OH, WELL IT HAPPENS.

SORRY.

UM, THE COUNCIL AGENDA IS CORRECT AND IT DOES SAY DISTRICT SEVEN, SO YOU'RE CORRECT.

LET, UH, LET ME MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT, UM, AND I'M NOT SURE WHO I'M ANNOUNCING THIS TO IF PEOPLE CAN'T GET ON, BUT, UH, AT XN IS APPARENTLY OUT AGAIN, BUT I'M TOLD THAT YOU PEOPLE CAN STILL USE THE WEBSITE LINK AND BE ABLE TO, UH, MONITOR IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

[01:55:01]

IS THAT CORRECT? GOOD.

SO, UH, IS THERE, UH, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEMS 65 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73 AND 76? FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT WANT TO TESTIFY ON THE OTHER ITEMS, YOU'LL BE ALLOWED TO COMMENT, BUT YOU'RE LIMITED TO SPEAKING TO THE MERITS OF THE POSTPONEMENT ONLY.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE ITEMS AS I READ THEM? HEARING NONE, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE OPEN.

I'LL NOW TURN TO THE CLERK FOR CALLING PEOPLE TO SPEAK TO US FOR, IS JONATHAN KENNY ON ITEM 76 THERE? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD.

NAME KENNY.

UH, AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE HERITAGE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

UH, NEIGHBORS HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE APPLICANT, UH, BUT IT CAN'T BE SIGNED BY THE ASSOCIATION WITHOUT A VOTE.

FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A MEETING ALREADY ANNOUNCED FOR MONDAY, AND COUNSEL IS MEETING AGAIN NEXT THURSDAY.

WE ASK THAT TODAY YOU APPROVE ITEM 76 ON FIRST READING ONLY SO THAT THE HERITAGE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN VOTE AND SIGN THE AGREEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR BYLAWS.

76.

AND NEXT SPEAKER, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON OVER TO, ACTUALLY, I JUST HAVE ONE MORE THAT JUST CALLED IN ZENOPIA JOSEPH.

THANK YOU MAYOR COUNSEL.

I'M ZENOPIA JOSEPH MIKE ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE MERIT OF THE POSTPONEMENT FOR ITEM 63.

THAT'S 1 2 1 21 NORTH IH 35.

I WILL JUST MAKE A COMMENT AS IT RELATES, UH, SPECIFICALLY NOT TO THE ITEM, BUT JUST TO, UH, TRANSPORTATION.

I JUST WOULD ASK COUNSEL TO CONSIDER COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE PAST AND SPECIFICALLY, UM, THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE AFTER I GOT OFF THE LINE THIS MORNING.

SO MY RESPONSE TO NATASHA HARPER MADISON IS THAT ON OCTOBER 20TH, 2021, MAYOR ADLER, AS THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, VICE CHAIR SAID, QUOTE, IT'S POSSIBLE TO GO INTO COURT ON VALID LANGUAGE.

THERE'S GONNA BE SOMEBODY WHO SAYS, HEY, WAIT A SECOND, I ONLY SUPPORTED THIS OR VOTED FOR THIS BECAUSE OF THE REPRESENTATION THAT YOU GAVE TO ME.

AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE THIS ITEM COMES BACK, BEFORE COUNSEL, AND LOOK AT THE TRANSPORTATION AS IT RELATES TO THE ITEM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO MAKE MY COMMENTS.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.

AND NATASHA, OFFER MADISON, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO TO ME, I'LL STAY ON THE LINE.

YEARLY AT AN 80 MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME OR APPROXIMATELY $29 AND 50 CENTS AN HOUR.

ALL RIGHT.

MOVING OVER TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.

WE HAVE FOLLOWED BY CARLOS AUSTIN AND PATRICIA MICHAEL, IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.

UH, MARIANNE SANCHEZ, FOLLOWED BY ADRIAN MACIAS, FOLLOWED BY VALERIE MENARD.

IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME SO THAT WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ADRIAN MESSIAS AND I LIVE ON VARGAS ROAD.

I AM THE COORDINATOR FOR PEREZ YOUNG SCHOLARS FOR JUSTICE.

I AM CONCERNED THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO LIVE INS AT THE CURRENT RATE OF YOUR SO-CALLED AFFORDABLE UNITS.

FOR A SINGLE PERSON AT 60% MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME, WHICH IS $46,000 380 YEARLY, THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE EARNING AT LEAST $22 AN HOUR TO RENT AN APARTMENT.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE EARNING 61,800

[02:00:02]

YOU NEED TO WORK TO ACHIEVE LOWER LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ONCE AGAIN, MARION SANCHEZ, VALERIE MENARD, FOLLOWED BY CARLOS PINON AND PEDRO HERNANDEZ JR.

IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.

HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS PETRA HERNANDEZ AND I AM PRE, I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE VASQUEZ FIELDS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OF MANOLOS, AND I HAVE TWO MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT ON THE EAST RIVERSIDE, UH, VARGAS OF, UH, APARTMENT UNITS.

THE 600 UNITS, FIRST OF ALL, UM, WE NEED TO LOWER LEVEL, WE NEED LOWER LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY THAT MATCHES THE MEDIAN INCOME FOR THEOLO RESIDENCE, WHICH IS 30 TO 40% IN I.

SECONDLY, THE FACT THAT APARTMENT UNITS TO THE EAST, WEST, AND NORTH ARE ALL BEING BUILT AT THE SAME INTERSECTION OF VARGAS ROAD AND EAST RIVERSIDE DRIVE.

WITHOUT A TRAFFIC TRAFFIC SIGNAL LIGHT, YOU MUST INSTALL A TRAFFIC SIGNAL LIGHT AT THAT INTERSECTION.

NEXT SPEAKER IS ERIC PAULIS, FOLLOWED BY DANIEL GIANNIS, FOLLOWED BY FRED MCGEE AND SUSANNA MANZO.

UH, THERE, BEFORE I START, HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M SUAN MANA, PRESIDENT OF MONAS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND CONTACT TEAM.

UH, THE 66 TAN EAST RIVERSIDE DRIVE ZONE IN CASE IS LOCATED IN THE MONAS COMMUNITY AND IS IN THE PROJECT CONNECTS ANTI DISPLACEMENT ZONE.

AND IN THE EAST RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR PLAN, THE PER CAPITA INCOME FROM MONAS IS 20,859.

THE MEDIUM HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS 43,000, UH, 42,344, AND WE HAVE A CHILDHOOD POVERTY RATE OF 26.4 AND 32% FOR OUR SENIORS.

UH, AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED THE EAST RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR PLAN AS A CORRIDOR, AS IS THE CORRIDOR WAS VACANT OF HUMAN LIFE.

OVER 2000 LOW INCOME AND WORKING POOR.

MOST PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE BEEN DISPLACED TO MAKE ROOM FOR NEW HIGHER DENSITY AND HIGHER INCOME WAGE EARNERS.

APPROXIMATELY 600 UNITS WILL BE BUILT AT THE 66 10 AT VARGAS ROAD, 300 OF THEM MARKET RATE, WHICH WOULD BE TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY TWO ONE BEDROOMS, AND THEN 300 SO-CALLED AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS WITH 261 BEDROOM UNITS.

THE TOTAL APARTMENTS THAT WILL BE BUILT IS FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE ONE BEDROOM UNITS, 72 2 BEDROOM UNITS AND FIVE THREE BEDROOM UNITS.

AND YOU CAN SEE AT 80% MEDIUM INCOME FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE MAKING $88,250, WHICH WE SAID THAT IS NOT TO SERVE THEM ON TOPLESS COMMUNITY.

AS AGAIN, I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT NOT MAKING ROOM FOR FAMILIES AND HOW OUR A S D IS TAKING A HIT IN LOSING STUDENTS GENTRIFICATION DUE TO NOT BUILDING UNITS FOR FAMILIES, AND OF COURSE NOT HAVING IT AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE.

HERE IS THE AMOUNT FOR 30% MFI FOR PERSONS FOR PERSONS IS 33180% FOR FOUR PERSONS IS 88,250.

IF YOU LOOK AT 40%, WHICH MOSTLY OUR PEOPLE LIVE AT 30 TO 40, AND ON TOPLESS A FAMILY OF FOUR IS 44,100 PEOPLE.

IF THIS DEVELOPMENT IS TO SERVE THEM ON TOPLESS COMMUNITY, WE NEED DEEPER AFFORDABILITY LEVELS.

WE NEED MORE TWO AND MORE THREE BEDROOM UNITS IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR PLAN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

NEXT SPEAKERS, UM, MONICA ALLEN, FOLLOWED BY JANE RIVERA, FOLLOWED BY SUSAN LIPMAN AND NOAH.

ELI, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.

UH, MY NAME IS NOE ELIS.

I'M PRESIDENT OF THE METROPOLIS PONKA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 69 66 10 EAST RIVERSIDE.

OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR WORKING

[02:05:01]

FAMILIES.

THE AVERAGE FAMILY INCOME ATLO IS ABOUT $42,000 A YEAR.

IN THIS DEVELOPMENT, THE DEVELOPERS HAVE PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 60 TO 80% MFI, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE TO BE MAKING 60,000 TO 80,000 A YEAR TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS.

UM, AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE ACTUALLY ONLY ONE BEDROOM, WHICH OF COURSE, THAT DOES NOT, UM, PROVIDE HOUSING THAT'S MUCH NEEDED FOR OUR FAMILIES.

WE NEED DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR OUR FAMILIES IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THIS MEANS HOMES FOR PEOPLE MAKING LESS THAN $50,000 A YEAR.

THIS MEANS, UH, APARTMENTS WITH TWO AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS.

UH, THIS COMMUNITY IS FACING EXTREME PRESSURES FROM DISPLACEMENT, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MAP THAT MS. AMANZA PUT UP.

AND THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT ALLEVIATE THOSE PRESSURES.

SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE STAND WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

PLEASE STAND AND ASK THE DEVELOPERS TO DEVELOPERS TO NEGOTIATE WITH US SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THIS MUCH NEEDED HOUSING AND STOP THE DISPLACEMENT OF OUR FAMILIES IN POLIS.

NEXT SPEAKERS, ALEXANDRA LOPEZ, FOLLOWED BY DIEGO CONTRERAS, FOLLOWED BY DE CARL MONEY.

AND BETSY GREENBERG.

IF I'VE CALLED YOUR NAME, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE PODIUM.

UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS KENNETH HAWTHORNE.

AND THEN LAST SPEAKER HELEN BLEICH.

ANYONE HERE? THEN THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.

MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING? PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE ITEMS AS I ANNOUNCED THEM.

HEARING NONE, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE CLOSED.

UH, MEMBERS THE CHAIR INTENDS TO TAKE THESE ITEMS, INCLUDING THE, UH, POSTPONEMENTS ON A CONSENT, ON CONSENT, UM, AND UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT ITEMS 63 THROUGH 76 AND 79? IS THERE MOTIONS MADE BY ALISON COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION? YES, PLEASE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, WE HEARD FROM, UM, A, UH, I THINK IT WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, CONCERNING ASKING FOR FIRST READING ONLY ON, OH, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT ITEM 76.

RIGHT.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT ITEM 76.

ITEM 76 IS BEING OFFERED ON FIRST READING, WHICH WAS THE REQUEST OF THE SPEAKER.

OKAY, GOOD.

SO WE WE ARE DOING THAT, YES.

FIRST.

PERFECT.