CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Meeting May 07, 1975 8:00 P.M. Council Chambers 301 West Second Street The meeting was called to order with Mayor Butler presiding. Roll Call: Present: Councilperson Dr. Linn, Councilmen Binder, Friedman, Absent: Snell, Lebermann, Mayor Butler Mayor Pro Tem Dryden 5 Mayor Butler announced that this was a Special Called Meeting of the current City Council and the Council-elect for the purpose of receiving the AUSTIN TOMORROW Goals Report. He took this opportunity to introduce the current Council members and the Council-elect. He noted that about two years ago the Council selected a program, seeking input and participation of the citizens of Austin for providing a foundation of information upon which a Master Plan could be built. The Council appointed 250 citizens to the AUSTIN TOMORROW Goals Assembly, and more than 3,500 citizens involved themselves in this program and gave more than 20,000 hours of study and consideration. Mayor Butler recognized Sheriff Raymond Frank, representatives of the Travis County Legislative Delegation, and Mr. Harry Nolen, the oldest living former Councilman. MR. DICK LILLIE, Planning Department Director, thanked the Council for their support and the citizens for their dedication. He reviewed the history of the Goals program by stating that the Goals Assembly was appointed in October, 1973, with selection being based on ten geographic neighborhood zones of about equal population; and an equal number of appointments were made from each zone. He added that appointments were based on equal representation of ethnic groups, both sexes, and all occupational levels. There was a film presentation to further review the history. 447 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS May 7, 1975 MS. JOAN BARTZ, Assembly President, took this opportunity to thank the staff of the Planning Department and Public Information for their work done in connection with tonight's presentation. She noted that prior to this meeting the members of the Assembly were honored and given Certificates of Appointment, and one member was inadvertently omitted. She recognized Ms. Carrie Yancy. Ms. Bartz and MR. ALLEN MCCREE, Assembly Vice President, reviewed the ten categories of City-wide goals: 1. Transportation a. Develop a public transportation system b. Emphasize pedestrian and non-motorized transit c. Improve facilities d. e. f. Develop a low or no-fare financing system Develop a comprehensive transportation plan Provide efficient and convenient parking in the core area 2. Open Space and Parks a. Increase the amount and types of open space b. Assure acquisition and dedication of more parkland c. Protect natural areas 3. Planning and Zoning a. Develop a new zoning ordinance b. Notification procedures for proposed zone changes should c. be strengthened Land use planning and control should extend beyond the City limits 4. Health and Social Services a. Improve planning, coordination, management, and funding of health and social services b. Expand and improve delivery of health and social services c. Safety and law enforcement programs should be improved and equitably enforced d. Expand community awareness, cultural enrichment and educationrelated programs 5. Citizen Participation and Influence a. Encourage more citizen input on all planning issues b. Require more extensive notification of proposed zoning c. changes Initiate an intensive citizen educational campaign d. Make Planning Commission more representative 448 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS May 7, 1975 6. Controlled Growth a. Control growth b. Use municipal services and policies to guide and control growth c. Promote regional planning 7. Housing and Neighborhoods a. Strengthen building codes b. Preserve neighborhoods c. Provide for the preservation and restoration of historical and significant features in the core area and improve its general appearance d. Encourage and increase residential activity and variety in the core area and preserve existing neighborhoods Reduce housing cost and encourage funding for low-cost housing e. f. Improve the quality and availability of housing Revitalize the atmosphere of the core area g. 8. Government Policy and Reform a. Change current government taxation and utility policies b. Improve intergovernmental coordination in planning for c. the future of Austin and Travis County Improve quality of development through specific controls d. Improve the responsiveness of City government 9. Pollution a. Upgrade the visual and audio quality of Austin's neighborhoods, thoroughfares, and central area environments b. Clean up the water and stabilize the volume in our creeks, streams, and lakes c. Reclaim more of the materials and energy in our solid waste d. Emphasize clean non-polluting industry 10. Employment and Discrimination a. Promote and upgrade employment b. Eliminate discrimination Ms. Bartz then presented the AUSTIN TOMORROW Goals Report to Mayor Butler and Mayor-Elect Friedman. She announced that the Goals Assembly was dedicating this document identifying Goals for Austin as a Bicentennial gift to the Nation, and she stated that the Assembly had adopted a resolution as follows: CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS- May 7, 1975 449 "...that an on-going Goals Assembly Committee be established to assist in the implementation of the AUSTIN TOMORROW Goals. This Goals Assembly Committee should be based on adequate and equal zone representation selected from active Assembly membership to work in active partnership with Planning and other City departments, boards, and commissions to develop measures and to report progress toward achievement of these goals." Ms. Bartz concluded her presentation by suggesting that when citizens were needed to serve on boards and commissions, the Council should look to this group of citizens for the help needed. She thanked everyone who had participated in this program. Mayor-Elect Friedman noted that the new Council would work together as technicians using the raw material that had been supplied, along with the citizens' ideas, hopes, and aspirations for the future. He enlisted the help of all in the next two years to see that this document that was symbolically presented becomes a reality. He submitted that not all the implementation would be easily done, and a lot would be done in controversy; however, he assured everyone that all his colleagues on the Council would face that controversy, doing what they would hope would be in the best interests of all. He believed very strongly that the Goals for Austin would make Austin the place where everyone will want to stay. He thanked the thousands who had worked on this, and he looked forward to the citizens' help and advice and criticismin the name of a better Austin. He felt that the Planning Department deserved a tremendous amount of credit from the public. He assured the audience that the Goals document would be implemented and that the citizens would be more involved in the future. Councilman Binder felt that this was a sensational document that showed a lot of "blood, sweat, and tears" on the part of the citizens. Councilman-Elect Trevino stated that this was only the beginning, and he was glad to be a part of it. Councilwoman-Elect Himmelblau thanked the Assembly and stated that she was anxious to get to work on the implementation of the program. Councilperson Dr. Linn felt that if the Council followed these citizens' directions, Austin residents would have one of the finest cities in the world. Councilman Snell solicited the citizens' support in the future, and he looked forward to working with the Goals Assembly in carrying out the program. Councilmember-Elect Hofmann felt that seeing these goals only fortified her belief that the work would be implemented. 450 _ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS May 7, 1975 Councilman Lebermann felt that the faith and challenge that the Council had and placed in the Assembly and the people of Austin in the creation of this planning document had been vindicated tonight. He congratulated the Assembly, and he looked forward to the opportunity of implementing this program. ATTEST: ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. Grau Monise City Clerk APPROVED Mayor