City Council Regular Meeting Transcript – 04/23/2020 Title: City of Austin Channel: 6 - COAUS Recorded On: 4/23/2020 6:00:00 AM Original Air Date: 4/23/2020 Transcript Generated by SnapStream ================================== Please note that the following transcript is for reference purposes and does not constitute the official record of actions taken during the meeting. For the official record of actions of the meeting, please refer to the Approved Minutes. [10:01:30 AM] >> Mayor Adler: On Thursday, April 23, 2020. This is the Austin city council meeting remotely. Let's see who is here and if they can hear. Is councilmember harper-madison with us? Not yet? What about mayor pro tem Garza? >> Garza: Here. >> Mayor Adler: What about councilmember Renteria? >> Renteria: I can hear you. >> Mayor Adler: I can hear you too. Now I can see you. Thank you. Councilmember Casar. >> Casar: I'm here. >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember kitchen? >> Kitchen: I'm here. >> Mayor Adler: [10:02:35 AM] Councilmember Fran Flannigan? >> Flannigan: Here. >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember pool? Can't hear you. Corrie or somebody we need help hearing councilmember pool. Councilmember Ellis? >> Ellis: I'm here. Can you hear me? >> Mayor Adler: I can. Thank you. Councilmember tovo? >> Tovo: Here. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. And councilmember alter? Councilmember alter was having [inaudible]. Working on that now. But she suggested that it's okay if we go ahead with [10:03:38 AM] speakers while we're helping her. Is councilmember harper-madison with us yet? One more check for councilmember harper-madison and councilmember alter. We're going to go ahead and do some of the housekeeping for this meeting. I'm going to first read in the changes and corrections. Item number 2 has been postponed to may 21. Items number 14 and 18 are withdrawn. Item number 20 is withdrawn. And it's replaced by item [10:04:38 AM] number 73 on the addendum. Item number 38 should add as sponsor mayor pro tem Garza. Item number 40 should add as a sponsor the mayor. Item number 44 has been withdrawn and replaced by item 77. On the addendum. Item 45 has been postponed to August 27, 2020. Item number 46 postponed to may 21, 2020. And item number 68 the appropriate district is actually district 6. Consent agenda, items 1 through 43 and 66 through 76. No items have been pulled at this time. We do have late backup in [10:05:40 AM] items 2, 3, 7, 14, 18, 37, 38, 40, 46, 49, 65, 66, 67, 69, 77, and updated backup on item number 22. Those are all the items. We have five speakers that have signed up to speak today. Colleagues, we're going to do this the way we have done before and the way we announced. Welcome, councilmember alter. Can you hear us? >> Alter: I can. I can't get my microphone to work. Can you hear me? >> Mayor Adler: I can hear you. You are fully participated. [10:06:40 AM] I haven't heard from councilmember harper-madison yet. >> Harper-madison: I'm here. >> Mayor Adler: Okay, great, we're all aboard. We're going to start with the speakers that have signed up and there are five and they can speak on anything other than zoning. When those speakers are done , we'll pull anything that needs to be pulled for discussion off of the consent and then we will adopt the consent agenda. After that then we will handle the discussion items. Everything on our agenda is open for us to discuss and vote on, including the public hearing which is item number 66. We can't take zoning until 2:00, so if we finish all our work before then we will stop and take a break and come back at 2:00. [10:07:40 AM] And I would anticipate that perhaps we could get that done. If not, I'm anticipating taking a lunch break about 12:00 to 1:00 depending on how our work is progressing. My understanding is that the zoning case number 65 is going to be postponed. I mention that for everybody's scheduling. I think that leaves all of the zoning matters either on consent or being postponed. And then I think there's some additional backup on item number 38. I think councilmember Casar you posted them or [inaudible]. Okay, so we're going to begin, without objection, with calling the speakers. [10:08:42 AM] The public hearing, by the way, is item number 77, but we can take that up at any time. I'm hearing an echo. If anybody has their phone next to their computer, you might want to fix that. The first speaker we have is Nick pelichiato. Is Nick here? Nick pelichiato. Okay. Let's go to -- should I be going to the next speaker, clerk? >> [Inaudible] Are not here [10:09:43 AM] either. We only have two speakers. Ethan Smith and Zenobia. >> Mayor Adler: Let me call the other names on the record so that they have their names called. [Indiscernible]. What about Ethan Smith? >> Yes, Ethan Smith. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. Mr. Smith? No? What about Audrey -- >> Mayor, Ethan Smith is here. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. Mr. Smith, are you with us? >> Yeah. Can you hear me? >> Mayor Adler: I can now, yes. Go ahead, Mr. Smith. You have three minutes. >> All righty. Good morning, y'all. Thanks for the hard work you've been doing and I hope after this they say Austin did it better than anybody. [10:10:44 AM] I'm speaking on two items and if there's only two speakers, if you want to extend my time, I appreciate it. I hope you received a letter from the U.T. Student government regarding items 39 that has to do with the urban renewal board tracts 16 and 18 and potential for redeveloping those as graduate housing goes more indepth, I know your time is taken up by more pressing matters at this time, but there will be a resolution that acts as an official letter of interest forthcoming from student government and it's meant to do something that's really [inaudible] In the urban renewal board, it has to do with the ability of a public entity to solicit an unsolicited bid outside the rfp process. The idea is to do something really cool in those lots. I also wanted to speak on the use of the bond money for creative spaces. [10:11:45 AM] I think it's wonderful that you all are trying to make an immediate impact with people that are hurting and that need relief right now. I think that this fund in particular is kind of like seed money, so when we get to round 2 and there's really back economic situation especially with venues, how are we going to rebuild that. And I think this could be a really efficient way to do that. So I was looking at how the money is spent, who the awardees are and stuff like that and the different things it can be used for, but I think rather than using the grant for rent assistance, it should really be a focus on saving it to start up new projects because we're going to need that. And that might not have been completely an anticipated need, but it was one of the things financing for property acquisition and facility improvements and stuff. And I think that money could be of good use at the urban [10:12:46 AM] renewal tracts two because we're going to loose a -- for that purpose. Operated as an art space for a long time and it's important -- it's an important space and I think it's a good opportunity. Thanks and thanks for the testing centers on the east side as well. Thank you. >> Kitchen: Mayor? This is councilmember kitchen. >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember kitchen. >> Kitchen: Just very quickly a clarification for that speaker and I would be happy to talk with you more later. Item number 40 does not use the 12 million creative space bond. So that is on a separate track so I just want to make sure you understand that. Item number 40 funding in the cap program. So please reach out to my office if you would like to understand more details, but I just wanted you to understand that we are not using the creative space 12 million bond funds for item number 40. >> Okay. Thank you. And this is councilmember [10:13:48 AM] kitchen? >> Mayor Adler: Yes. >> Kitchen: Yes. Sorry, this is councilmember kitchen. >> Thank you. >> Tovo: Mayor, I have a question? >> Mayor Adler: Mr. Smith? Does someone else want to speak? >> Tovo: Mayor, I have a question. >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember tovo. >> Tovo: Thanks so much for being with us this morning and for your testimony and for the letter that you sent, that student government sent last night. I'm trying to figure out the connection between graduate student housing and the resolution that's before us today. Is -- it's not my understanding that the university of Texas actually owns those tracts. Can you help me understand? >> That is correct. >> Tovo: What you see as the connection here between the resolution and the piece? >> The resolution, well, so it's about the nccd and the urban renewal board which I went to the urban renewal board meetings this year and that affects the zoning. Is the zoning going to be [10:14:50 AM] tapered or up zoned? Really the most important item is what happens to tract 16 and 18 and they talked about the different usages and the history, how it can benefit the community. So the idea is that U.T. Could make an unsolicited bid outside the rfp process, which you all already have authorized without making it way too complicate, you have authorized a way to negotiate with them. But they could do something there. It would need to be tied, in my view, to the whole public input process. And why is that preferable? Well, look at the history of what those tracts have developed, tracted 17 and 5 being the most recent examples. They are very generic redevelopments and I don't think they benefit the community very much. I just think, hey, can we have a process to make something cooler happen there. [10:15:50 AM] And U.T. Can bring a living learning community which is a way of dedicating it to -- you could do it either to [inaudible] Over 50% minority students or you could have a tie-in to the African-American studies, which is I think a little less likely but still possible and something that other universities do in different contexts. >> Tovo: So I love those ideas and I think they are great and we've multiple times on this dais talked about, you know, how our interest in seeing the university of Texas develop more housing. I think their housing survey showed a real need for undergraduate as well as graduate housing, and I know the university of Texas owns the land near the ballfields that was intended for graduate housing but hasn't been -- hasn't moved that project forward yet. So I guess I'm trying to understand why, you know, they do own land in the area that hasn't yet been pursued [10:16:52 AM] for housing. Is there -- has there -- has the university of Texas, as far as you know, expressed interest in the lot that are along east 11th, I mean -- >> I'll let you know I'm doing -- uh-huh. I'm doing an honors piece right now, it begins next year and it is what the thesis is defining the relationships between all the decision-makers on u.t.'s student housing. I'm going to have a really good answer for that at some point. But I don't know the answer right now. >> Tovo: Okay, great, well, please stay in touch with me office too, councilmember Kathie tovo, I represent district 9 and my staff [inaudible] And we would love to see the project move forward on the land they already own and I think it sounds like you've [10:17:52 AM] done good thinking about what those learning communities could look like. Thank you for helping me understand. >> Thank you very much. >> Tovo: Interest in these tracts on east 11th and sounds like there's -- like that's -- >> Mayor Adler: Kathy, you are coming in and out, I think. Kathy, I can't hear you if you are speaking. Okay. I think she was thanking you, Ethan, thanks for usg. >> Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Let's go on -- is Nick pelichiato on the line yet? I think he's been trying to get on. No? Is Zenobia Joseph with us? >> Tovo: Mayor? >> Mayor Adler: Yes. [10:18:54 AM] Kathy? Kathy, it looks like you are trying to speak, but we can't hear you. Can staff call in to Kathy? >> We're working on it, mayor. >> Thank you, mayor and councilmembers. Can you hear me now? >> Mayor Adler: Gentlemen, Ms. Joseph, could, you have three minutes. >> Yes, mayor, I signed up for several items not recognizing that we only had three minutes to speak to everything. As it relates specifically to item 6 and 11, they both relate to bus stop improvements. In part 88 pathways, so my question specifically about those two items related to Kramer to Braker, 801 north [10:19:56 AM] China stop. There's sidewalks installed on or about 2017, but that was a portion that needed drainage issues and there's no sidewalk 88 accessibility bean the bus stop and Braker lane. That's in councilmember Casar's area. My reason for asking that question is I'm not sure whether or not the contract covers this area. It does say drainage in one of them and they are both $1 million. I don't have a problem with the upgrades, but I do have a problem not knowing what the process is. It was 2017 when these sidewalks were installed in that area. And so if public works could speak to the process and if that's posted and also how they determine which bus stops need the Ada improvements, if they could put that online because as we know from the shelters it's not equitable and it's not transparent. There are no shelters on Braker lane. As relates specifically to the transit infrastructure, which is item number 38, I [10:20:58 AM] specifically oppose that item and the reason is because I would ask councilmember kitchen to recognize the need to comply with title 6 of the civil rights act of 1964, specifically federal transit administration circular 407.2v1 dated October 1, 2012. And there's language in the resolution that specifies this robust network. The transportation network is in southwest and southeast Austin, and it's specifically approximately $9.9 million that capital metro spent. The northeast west connectivity was eliminated so it is not transforming the lives of individuals in northeast Austin and far northwest Austin. So that resolution is disturbing. If I have time I'll gladly speak more to it. The other example I'll give you is specifically when they eliminated northeast connectivity from Walmart nor walk it saved the system 584,000 Dallas and then they [10:21:58 AM] created the improvements and that was $500,000 so it was the same half a million dollars. No new improvements in northeast Austin. The last item that I'll call your attention to specifically is item 44. That is pretty significant because it's the community participation plan. In your backup material has information that is inaccurate. It was printed on April 10, 2020 and specifies the meeting for the community development commission took place on April 14, 2020. [Buzzer sounding] If you look online, both of those meetings were canceled and so you are being asked to approve this public hearing when in fact you've got gotten input from the public. As a technicality, I need to ask, mayor, if you received the one-page document as it related to my example from the $15 million rise funding which I attached to this item to show the serving trend as relates to lack of public input. [10:22:59 AM] >> Mayor Adler: I can't speak to your letter. I've gotten a briefing from my staff that I would incorporate those issues to see -- I don't know personally whether or not that -- >> If I may, mayor, the reason I asked that question is because the online form for the public to actually submit their request to speak before you has a space at the bottom which says issue. And so in each of the issue boxes for the items that I actually signed up for, I specifically included language that I thought the council would have access to. But the reason I brought that up, if I can just give you the cdbg funds that are specifically in your plan relates to this item and would have been reviewed as part of your citizen participation plan review if it gone to the community development commission is that the federal government has three criteria, and one [10:23:59 AM] of the criteria for the community development block grant is yes, emergencies, but also for low-to- moderate income families and that would be 80% or under 80% of the area median income which is approximately $46,000 for an individual. About $46,000 for a family of four. And so I would just ask you to recognize that while the $15 million allocated under the release and state of emergency -- [multiple voices] >> I'm on item number 44 and part of the process was for community development commission to review the community participation plan which then subsequently would have this public hearing which is item number 44 today. And so part of that is to address the needs of low-to-moderate income individuals in Austin, and you rely on the federal dollars and these are issues that would have been discussed before the [10:24:59 AM] commission but the meeting did not take place on April 14. And so I put it in writing and I would just ask you to comply with the requirement to be more expansive as it relates to who receives these federal funds because they are matching dollars and you must comply. And if you are not going to be able to work with me, I'll gladly contact my congressman. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. Ms. Joseph, thank you very much. Colleagues, the last -- >> Mayor? >> >> Mayor Adler: -- Was related to item number 44 which was -- hang on one second. It's the -- that is item number 77 so it's not part of the consent agenda and we'll get to that issue later. Councilmember kitchen. >> Kitchen: I just wanted to ask our staff to provide the information or make it available publicly the information that the previous speaker requested related to the use of the dollars for bus stop improvements. I think there was a request [10:26:02 AM] for information about what areas those related to. And so city manager, I would just ask that staff make that available publicly. >> Councilmember, we'll work on that. >> Kitchen: Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: I'm going to go back and call Nick pelichiato. Is Nick available now? >> Yeah, hi, can you hear me? >> Mayor Adler: Yes, Nick, go ahead. You have three minutes. >> Thank you. My name is Nick pelichiato, a resident of the high land neighborhood and I'm speaking on item number 22 which is the pork chop removal, pork chop as you may or may not remember is the traffic island at the cornerrer Mauro and north Lamar that basically blocks drivers driving westbound on Mauro street from being able to cross Lamar safely at that intersection as well as [10:27:03 AM] blocks drivers from being able to make a left on to southbound north Lamar from Mauro street. This has been a big issue for high land residents for, I don't know, since it was installed and was one of the foundational items for the creation of the highland neighborhood association. So it's -- it's a big inconvenience for a lot of the residents of the neighborhood and it forces people to go farther away to get to points west from our neighborhood. The intersection that we have to navigate through to get around the pork chop at Anderson and north Lamar is one of the most sort of dangerous intersections in the city. It's just a really sketchy intersection where there is just oncoming traffic that has no actual stoplights or [10:28:07 AM] anything. And otherwise our neighborhood has very limited east-west connectivity as it is. There's Justin lane, which is hard to get to because of its orientation and angle and the train tracks, and then there's brentwood street, which is a smaller residential street, but that only accesses the southern part of the highland neighborhood. So, you know, as it is, I mean really the pork chop only in conveniences highland residents. Of course you can drive eastbound across Lamar on Mauro, so, you know, so it just -- it's inequitable and it really just in conveniences local traffic because of the way Mauro is oriented, there's no way that -- I mean it really wouldn't be like a cut-through street for people who aren't highland residents. There would be no reason for [10:29:08 AM] somebody driving along 183 or anything to get off and make weird u-turns to get on to Mauro street. It's really just like a local artery. For those of us who have kids that go to school over west of Lamar and everything, you know, it's just -- it's time for the pork chop to be removed. And we appreciate -- [buzzer sounding] -- Your efforts at doing this and people support for this. So thanks. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Mayor? >> Mayor Adler: Yes, councilmember Renteria. >> Renteria: Know that district 3 had to go in and give $30,000 to complete that project so that was -- run out of funds. So I was willing to give some of my [inaudible] To [10:30:11 AM] Greg. >> Mayor Adler: We have council that gets us to our agenda. The consent agenda is items 1 through 43 and 66 through 76. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? Councilmember alter nation the motion. Is there a second? The mayor pro tem Garza seconds that motion. Any discussion? Councilmember Flannigan. >> Flannigan: I just want to make a couple comments on item 2, the quarter cent funds. This was a program created before I came into this office, but we had been able to reserve a majority almost all of those quarter cent funds for the Anderson mill road project. Thankfully working with staff we were able to get that project funded without having to dip into the quarter cent funds and so having gotten that acknowledgment from staff just late last year, we very quickly engaged neighborhoods all across district 6 and held town halls, some of which ended up being virtual, and now [10:31:11 AM] today we are adopting finally a list and allocation for district 6 portion of the quarter cent funds. And I wanted to thank my staff for all their hard work and all the community and neighborhood leaders in district 6 for moving very quickly and engaging their neighborhoods and their organizations and community members in order to come up with a list that I think is going to benefit folks all across district 6. And I also want to thank commissioner Terry cook who has been a great partner in helping get county dollars in certain cases. The work isn't done, we're still collaborating with the safe routes to school program and we're still working on a pilot program in Davis spring neighborhood about traffic calming using these funds and so there's a lot more good work to come, but I'm very excited to have this item adopted today so they can get these much needed projects finally from the quarter cent into district 6. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. The record shut also node [10:32:14 AM] you were added as a sponsor to item 39. I think that was accidentally left off. Councilmember kitchen. >> Kitchen: Thank you, mayor. I wanted to make just a few quick comments on item number 38. I believe councilmember Casar wants to speak to that also. So I want to thank my co-sponsors councilmembers tovo, Casar, Renteria and the mayor pro tem Garza on this and just speak to the importance of, you know, this is really about being very strategic and very proactive so that we make sure that we align our programs and investments displacement. That we align them with our transportation planning and our work on improvements. So they really go together hand in glove and this recognizes this. It recognizes the work that our city has done on the whole range of projects related to displacement, [10:33:16 AM] including the -- included in our strategic mobility plan which points to the importance of addressing displacement at the same time that we think about where we make transit investments. So I'm very pleased and excited about this. I think it takes the work that we've been doing at the city and makes sure that we align our timing and it challenges us to think about what else we might need to do and ask the manager to bring us back options. So I also wanted to thank councilmember Casar for the [inaudible] That he has posted and I think he will speak to that, but the maps he has posted on the council message board. That's a great way for us to understand how the proposed project connect system will both address services for -- for all parts of our community as well as just illustrates the importance [10:34:18 AM] of aligning our programs and investments in a very proactive and strategic way around displacement. So -- so that's what I wanted to say and I want to thank my co-sponsors for working with [inaudible] On this. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. Councilmember Casar. >> Casar: Thank you, mayor. I do want to speak to the quarter cent item and thank mayor pro tem Garza for contributing to help get the pork chop removal done after it was passed as part of our mobility plan and also councilmember [inaudible]. It does reflect a citywide priority of getting to a place where our transportation infrastructure is well connected and serves all people. It removes the pork chop and adds a sidewalk. And I also want to speak to [10:35:20 AM] item 38, thank you to councilmember kitchen for bringing it. There are slides I think the city staff can put up that show the [inaudible]. I just want to see these maps. If not, maybe we can save it for another time. >> Mayor Adler: They are working on it. Just one more second. >> Casar: Just to frame the issue up, there are -- there's always been the question of wanting to make sure that project connect and mass transit serves people of all incomes and especially lower income people. Then there is also conversation and concern about gentrification and displacing low-income communities because you've added a really important service in that community. Obviously it's unacceptable [10:36:22 AM] for us to make such a big mass transit investment and not serve low-income people, so we have to make sure it serves low-income folks. Then we also have the challenge that I think is addressed by our action on this item and our continuous conversation to make sure those communities can stay rooted in those communities rooted and stay in place so that people can continue to have access to [inaudible]. Using the demographer's data we have staff, Stephanie trend put this gis map together, took the demographer's data and overlaid the project connect lines and I think this is really helpful. That's different about these maps and some of the others we've seen so often our maps shown of low-income people and people of color are percentage based, what percent of a census tract or zip code is African- American because from a politics and representation speaker perspective, you also want [10:37:23 AM] to know -- I'm really interested in the raw number of people that are served. Because a census tract may be in an extreme situation 100% Latino, but if there's two people living there, that's not as interesting to me as where are there 10,000 or 20,000 people living. So what's shown here is not by percentage but by raw numbers where low-income people live. And you can see that the blue, Orange and green lines all serve low-income folks, but in fact it's the important part of the Orange line and the eastern part -- and the southern part of the Orange line and the eastern part of the blue line that served the most low- income people in the city. You can see that actually those segments go through the areas of the city that have the most low-income people. If you will go to the next slide, you can see this is a graph shaded for where the most folks of color are in the city. You can see there that actually the northern part of the Orange line, that [10:38:24 AM] eastern part of the blue line and then the further edge of the green line are where the most folks of color are, but most heavily it's that part of the blue line between I-35 and the airport and then the northeastern portion of the Orange line where you have the most people of color. So all three of the lines are actually serving a diversity of communities because there's other parts where there's fewer folks of color. If you go to the next slide, you can see that broken down by African-Americans, so you can see that actually the Orange line serves the zip codes with the most African-American, heaviest part of African-American folks in that part of the city the blue line, and then there's a segment where you have another project connect line that isn't a rail line there and -- in district 1. Then if you go to the next slide, Latinos, hispanic population heavily served by, again, all three of the [10:39:26 AM] lines. And so, you know, there's been somewhat of a -- sometimes folks talking about are these lines actually serving communities of color and while there have been lots of communities of color pushed out of the city, we still have many, many folks if not the majority of people in the county inside of the city, and so these lines are serving those folks. Then to the point of the resolution, the last slide shows the vulnerability through gentrification map. It's not surprise the most folks of color are also areas mapped as [inaudible] Gentrification. So it's good that the project lines we've mapped actually hit those areas that have hit all different parts of town, hit all different communities, areas that are majority white but also majority of color, and I think what is to important about us moving forward unanimously on item 38 it shows our commitment as council to saying we want to serve those communities and we want to make sure that [10:40:27 AM] they can stay there once they get that level of service. We reject the false choice of -- the idea we can't send the lines there because it might cause gentrification, and instead that we want to send the lines to serve everyone that we can see public transit as an equalizer, as an afordability solution, as something good for everyone. And then just recognizing head on the data showing that many of those areas are susceptible to gentrification and there's something we can do about it and that we're jointly taking action to address it. So I appreciate us -- you guys indulging me, they were helpful to me, I hope they are helpful to you because I know these questions have come in so I just wanted those to be available. Thank you for taking the time and thank you, councilmember kitchen, for bringing the item. >> Mayor Adler: [10:41:27 AM] Councilmember harper-madison. >> Harper-madison: I did find those helpful. Will your office share those with all of us? >> Casar: They are post odd the message board. If you need individually, we can also show individual slides. >> Harper-madison: Those were great and I guess the other thing I wanted to say, more of a statement than a question. We really should have been thinking about this 20 years ago, but I suppose it's better late than never so I'm glad we're moving in the right direction to really take some bold steps towards transit justice. So I appreciate everybody's effort on this. >> Mayor Adler: Mayor pro tem Garza. >> Casar: Sorry. Councilmember harper-madison, I meant to chip for your help, there was that other line that's a project connect line that I didn't know if that was the manor road line or a different one that served [10:42:27 AM] that zip code of your that still has probably the highest number of African-Americans still in the central city. And so if you can -- if everybody can remind me and make sure, I think that may have been the manor road line in project connect, but let me know because I would like to be accurate. >> Mayor Adler: Mayor pro tem Garza. >> Garza: I just wanted to thank transportation department and safe routes to schools folks for we were able to fund through the quarter cent fund regarding item 22 additional sidewalks in district 2 as well as pedestrian hybrid beacons. I never thought in a million years pedestrian [inaudible] In your district would give you actual joy, but it's been great to see that safety being added throughout our city and I really -- I know that splitting up the quarter [10:43:27 AM] cent fund was slightly controversial in the beginning, but it's been really great to see these projects throughout our districts and I was happy to also help because we are -- we represent the district, but we also represent everybody in Austin, I was happy to help in district 4 to improve connectivity. One thing we have still been trying to work on that we haven't been able to quite figure out is signs for the Mexican cultural center. I don't remember where we were last, but it seems to have been incredibly difficult. You know, if you go to other cities you will see signs on ih-35 that give you directions, you know, exit here for cultural center of some sort. For some reason we've had a hard time getting that for the mexican-american cultural center. It's such a beautiful place and we need -- it would be great if we could get those [10:44:28 AM] signs and we'll continue working with transportation, but if anyone can help us, we would appreciate it. Thanks. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. Any further discussion on the consent agenda? Councilmember alter. Then councilmember tovo. Then councilmember Flannigan. >> Alter: Thank you. I also wanted to thank staff for their help in working on item 22 for the quarter cent. We have focused a lot of the funding for district 10 on our safe routes to school, one of the first districts to be reviewed with safe routes to school and I think we were able to do a lot with our funding that will dove-tail nicely with bond programs from aisd. On a recent agenda we also passed opportunity for an interlocal agreement with aid which is going to help safe routes all over the city so that we can maximize some of those dollars in conjunction with aid and [10:45:29 AM] make sure these paths sow larger pasts. I'm excited about the investments we're able to make with this funding and appreciate the staff working closely with mine over the last several years to get these projects going. Several of them are already done, so thank you. >> Pool: Mayor, this is Leslie, councilmember pool. I don't know if you can see me. >> Mayor Adler: I can, but I'll call knew a moment. Councilmember tovo. >> Tovo: Thank you, mayor. Percent first of all, sorry I lost some of you on video for the first time in any recent memory we lost internet completely at my house so I want an sure the speakers I was able to continue listening to Ms. Joseph just on my phone. I think I'm back up again and appreciate being able to rejoin. Had to reset the internet and knock my co-workers off heirloom classroom [10:46:32 AM] meetings -- their zoom classroom meetings. If I lose you again I'm here on phone and iPad so probably listening even if you can't see me. First of all, I wanted to thank councilmember kitchen for her leadership on the creative art space venue, I'm not getting the name right, about out the creative spaces resolution. I appreciate being a co-sponsor on that. I think this is a creative way to respond to the crept crisis that has obviously affected many artists and musicians. I also wanted to take time, we've spent for the most part all of our funds, all of our quarter cent funds, but I just wanted to recognize a couple community groups that were really helpful in advancing the need for the pedestrian hyper beacon in our district at oltorf and durwood, and that was the residents of lacero and our organizers. Thank you for raising that important need. That was one that I was [10:47:33 AM] really glad to be able to do. We have lots of families and children there and they are in close proximity to a grocery store and other things so having that pedestrian beacon really makes those pathways safer, so thank you to those residents and organizers for helping that. I want to thank my staff because, as I'm sure all my colleagues know, this is tremendously -- this was a tremendously complex process brought forward lots of different needs and projects from our community that different community organizations that identified some of those were feasible, some weren't, but my staff, Shannon halicore and Ashley Richardson and before that drake harden really worked very closely with residents throughout the last several years, and so thank you especially Shannon and Ashley for getting those across the finish line. And then lastly, I would like to talk for a minute and provide some additional direction for item 67. And this is the -- this is [10:48:38 AM] the recommendation from staff to use the budget reserves from the general fund to create the music disaster relief, the Austin music disaster relief fund. And I'd like to add some additional direction and just ask our economic development staff or our city manager to assure us that this will be possible. This is very similar to the direction I offered on -- when I brought forward the resolution along with my co- sponsors mayor pro tem Garza, councilmembers kitchen, alter and pool, thank you for your support on this process. I want to ask our staff to work really expeditiously on getting this money to the people who need it, to the individual musicians in our community who are struggling right now to provide for their basic needs. And so I would like to ask our staff to work with -- work very closely with our non-profit partners and come back to us with the recommendation within the next week of for a [10:49:41 AM] eligibility as well as disbursement process. I think the rise funding, which was a tremendous thing for our city to do and I thank councilmember Casar and mayor pro tem Garza for their leadership on that. One of the real terrific things about it is that it's getting that money out the door into the hands of the people who need it very quickly and I would like to ask the same be done for the Austin music disaster relief fund. I would like staff to look very quickly at the best way to do that. I believe the best way to do that is probably to partner with organizations that already have data and a real understanding of who are the most vulnerable musicians within our Austin community and to partner with them on the eligibility piece, and if it's appropriate in terms of meeting this goal of expediency to partner with an organization on that disbursement as well very similar to what has been done with the rise funding. [10:50:42 AM] So the direction I would like to add is staff work expeditiously to determine an eligibility process, especially one that helps notice the knows vulnerable and return with one week with eligibility and disbursement. I want to confirm with the city manager that that will be possible. My goal and I think it's achievable based on what I've seen happen on the rise funding is disbursements to be in process by the end of April. City manager, is that direction sufficient for your purposes, I would be happy to clarify. >> Thank you, councilmember. I think this is what we would be doing anyway. We would be moving as quickly as possible to get those funds out to those that need it the most and then if it's through partnerships to be the way to get that accomplished we will be working to make sure that those partnerships are secure. So we're happy to give an update to council on that [10:51:42 AM] process within a week. >> Tovo: Great. Thank you. With the goal of beginning those disbursements by the end of April. >> That's certainly a goal. We will make sure we can do everything and give you an update when we have that. >> Tovo: Okay. Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember Flannigan. >> Flannigan: Yeah, just one correction, mayor, you read that item 68 is in district 6. It's actually in district 7. That's item 68. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. Councilmember pool. >> Pool: Thanks, mayor. I know it doesn't look like my camera is working right now. I'm assuming the mic is working. >> Mayor Adler: Yes, we can hear you. >> Pool: That's great. Not missing anything. I wanted to make some final comments on item 22, which is the last -- I think as [10:52:43 AM] far as district 7, the last direction on how to spend the quarter cent monies. Two big projects I've got, $250,000 for pedestrian safety improvements along golf street near west Anderson lane. This has been a request from the community for quite a long time and I'm glad -- I had to move some money around in order to be able to fund that, about out that was a priority in my office. And then another project that needed to have adjustments in order to fund are the neighborhoods and the essentially safe routes to schools sidewalks project on bull creek road north of 45th street. With the advent of the grove, there's significant change to that intersection and the -- there are a lot of children living in the south [inaudible] Neighborhood and the parents are understandably concerned when they do walk to school, which, of course, they haven't been for the last couple of months, we hope [10:53:44 AM] that they will resume walking to school in the fall. But in the meantime, we'll be able to lay down sidewalks on the east side of bull creek road which will aid tremendously for the students going to highland park. I thank our staff with atd on these projects and I appreciate their determination and alignment with my office and constituents on the necessity of sidewalks along bull creek road north of Winston street. So thanks very much everybody. >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember kitchen. >> Kitchen: Can you hear me? >> Mayor Adler: Yes. >> Kitchen: Can you hear me? >> Mayor Adler: Yes. >> Kitchen: Okay. So I just wanted to briefly state on item number [inaudible], I wanted to [10:54:44 AM] thank David and the rest of the staff at EdD on working with us on the cap program, the creative safe assistance programs. I know they will be working as hard as they can to get that program -- to get dollars in the hands of artists and musicians under that program as soon as possible. I appreciate the work they've been doing to adjust the criteria under that program so it's more flexible and can [inaudible] Of the current in creating -- protecting creative spaces. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. Anything else? Two comments real fast that I would make. The first one is I appreciate the work to get the music dollars out. I think everybody on this council has been really recognizing of the importance of that industry to the community and to be [10:55:45 AM] able to add this to the immediate relief. I think it's something that is really important to all of us so councilmember tovo, thank you for bringing the resolution two weeks ago and thanks to everybody working on music -- the last several years. And then the last thing on 22, which is the [inaudible], you will recall or may not, I think I was the only no vote when the quarter penny monies came forward, and I voted no because I was concerned that the new council would devolve into a kind of award politics where we would start making decisions based on district and not make decisions based on need. In hindsight now looking at the vote, I think I'll [inaudible] And it was wrong because the council did not devolve into that place. I didn't realize the concern [10:56:46 AM] that I had but instead of a really important program I think that has enabled communities in districts to really align and build bonds and to open up communication infrastructure with council offices. So I was wrong with that vote and I'm happy to see how it was executed and the forebearance of the council to otherwise moving to [inaudible]. We have a motion and second on the consent agenda. Those in favor please raise your hand. Those opposed? I'm seeing that everyone votes aye. The consent agenda passes. That gets us to the non-consent agenda. We have two public hearings, items number 45 and 46. 45 is to be postponed to August 27. And 46 is to be postponed to 5-21. Anybody move those postponements for me, [10:57:48 AM] please? Harper-madison makes that motion. The mayor pro tem seconds that motion. Those in favor of the postponements please raise your hands. Those opposed? Unanimous. Those two items are postponed. That gets us to item number 44 which has been replaced by item number 77. That's a public hearing. We had it this morning. Item number 77 is not something that requires action, it's being postponed -- I mean it's being posted only for the public hearing without action. I will note in the record that we have taken that action. There are no executive session items in front of us today and I think that that gets us just to the zoning cases, which we cannot take up until 2:00. And so at this point, at 10:58, I will put us into [10:58:49 AM] recess with us returning at 2:00 this afternoon. To handle the zoning cases. I do not anticipate this is going to take very long. All items are postponed or on consent. Any objection? We'll come back at 2:00. [11:39:07 AM] . . . [1:55:44 PM] >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> [Music]. [Music]. [2:01:38 PM] >> Mayor Adler: Let's take roll here. Is -- Natasha harper-madison, can you see here? Say something. >> Harper-madison: Present. >> Mayor Adler: What about mayor pro tem? >> Garza: Hi, I can hear you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. Councilmember Renteria? >> Renteria: I can hear you. >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember Casar. Councilmember Casar is not with us yet. Councilmember kitchen. >> Kitchen: I'm here. >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember Flannigan. >> Flannigan: I'm here. >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember pool. >> Pool: Here. >> Mayor Adler: I still can't see you, but can hear you. >> Pool: I can see my -- I can see my thumbnail. >> Mayor Adler: I can see you. Councilmember Ellis? >> Ellis: I'm here. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. And then councilmember tovo? [2:02:38 PM] Can you hear me? >> Tovo: I can, thanks. Can you hear me, mayor. >> Mayor Adler: I can, thank you. All right, councilmember: All right. We are back to our agenda. It is 2:00. Let's move to planning and zoning. Councilmember harper-madison, you wanted me to recognize you, though, on something we had done this morning? >> Harper-madison: Yes, I did. Thank you, I appreciate it. So item number 40 went on consent and I missed it. My apologies. I have what I think will be considered a friendly amendment that I would like to bring forward for councilmember kitchen. >> Mayor Adler: Why don't you say what it is and let's see if it's friendly. >> Harper-madison: So it's in one of the last be it further resolved clauses. So -- this is my language. The city manager is directed to collaborate with members of the music and arts commission and equity office [2:03:40 PM] for obtain -- I'm sorry, can everybody mute, please? I'm having a hard time. >> Mayor Adler: Yes. Can we all mute, please? Perfect, thank you. >> Harper-madison: I'll start over. The city manager is directed to collaborate with members of the music and arts commission and the equity office to obtain input for the use of the creative -- of the create space assistance program for an Austin artists disaster relief fund to provide emergency grants to vulnerable, as defined by the music and arts commissions and the equity office. Local artists. When determining vulnerable local artists, quit distribution should be a consideration when allocating funds as well as in the directed criteria update. >> Kitchen: Can I speak to that, mayor? The intent of it I consider [2:04:44 PM] friendly. I wouldn't word it in that way because worded that way it loses some of the language that I have. And I would either add it just as a separate sentence at the end or maybe as another be it further resolved. And the other last thing to clarify is it's very, very important that this happen quickly and so I've experienced situations in the past just because of the way our staff has had to work with the various commissions that have absolutely delayed the time to get things to people. So we don't want that to happen. The other thing is it's a normal part of the process for the cap program to consult with the music and arts commission, so I think that's something that they'd be planning to do anyway. The second part of your definition related to vulnerable, what I -- I'm not as familiar with-- I don't want to -- the purpose [2:05:46 PM] of this is not to change out the cap program is administered. It's just to open up some of the eligibility requirements so there's no barrier. So I wouldn't want that to be interpreted -- I think it's what they do now anyway. I'd have to ask David Colligan with cap. It sounds like, but I wouldn't want it to be interpreted as them having to go back. So I'd have to hear that part of it again from you because I couldn't quite hear that part of what you were saying. >> Harper-madison: Sure, you bet. I'll speak to my intent. Especially with the word vulnerable, I really think that in the -- with it being just like they have with no definition, it's, you know, -- it's relative. It's -- I think it's too subjective with just the word vulnerable. Who determines who's vulnerable as defined by the music and arts commissions and the equity office. I think it gives it more of a clear-cut definition. But then the last part, [2:06:50 PM] equitable distribution should be considered when allocating funding. As in the directed criteria update. So in the be it further resolved that you have, there was an update to the criteria, but like you said, you were trying to remove barriers, in which case I think considerations around equity should also be a part of the process. I can't imagine that that would change the scope significantly, but I'd love to hear if that's the case, in which case as long as the sentiment is captured, which ultimately is considerations around equity and a definition about vulnerable. And then the last thing was you said the music and arts commissions are already considered. I would totally consider pulling this back if that's already clearly defined part of the criteria. >> Kitchen: I'd like to hear from David Colligan, but my understanding the [2:07:50 PM] last time I talked to him is that the commissions are consulted as part of this program, as part of the cap program, so -- >> Mayor Adler: Do we have David on the phone? We have [indiscernible] On the phone. >> Mayor? >> Mayor Adler: I guess they wouldn't have known -- [overlapping speakers]. >> Mayor and council? Hello? >> Mayor Adler: If someone is trying to speak -- yes, go ahead. >> Hi. This is did Rodney Gonzalez. You're exactly right. I don't think the staff had an idea that the item was coming back up. If you wanted to, we could, of course, go through the zoning items. I'm reaching out to staff right now and we could come back to this item. >> Mayor Adler: Let's do that. Zoning is not going to take us very long to we're going to be back pretty quickly. >> Absolutely. I'm reaching out to them as we speak. [2:08:51 PM] >> Mayor Adler: Great. Thank you. All right, colleagues, let's put that aside for just a second and let's do the zoning. I think that we have -- first let's start with Jerry, and Jerry take us through the consent agenda. And then we have one person to speak that we'll give a chance to speak. >> Is Jerry here? I couldn't tell if that was Jerry trying to speak or not. >> Can you hear me? >> Mayor Adler: That time I could. >> Okay. Well, the consent agenda -- the zoning agenda for today we'll start with item 49, which is case c14-2019-0152, this is a postponement request by the applicant to June 11th. Item 50 is case c14- 2019-0107.sh. This is a postponement [2:09:52 PM] request by the staff to may 21st. Item 51 is case c14-2019-0003. This is a postponement request by the staff to may 7th. >> Mayor Adler: What was the postponement to on number 49? >> 49 was to June 11th. >> Mayor Adler: June 11th. Thank you. >> Okay. Let's see, so I think I was on 51 was c14-2019- 0003. Postponement request by staff to may 7th. Related item is item 52, c14-85-288.8, rca [echo]. So 52 is a postponement request by the staff to may 7th. Item 53 is case c14-2019-0165. This is a postponement request by the staff to may 21st. Item 54 is case npa-2019-0016.01. This is a postponement request by the staff to may 21st. Item 55 is case [2:10:53 PM] c14-2019-0098. This is a postponement request by the staff to may 21st. Item 56 is case c814-2018- 0121. This is a postponement request by the staff to June 4th. Item 57 is case npa-2019-0015.02. This is a postponement request by the staff to may 21st. Item 58 is case c14-2019-0164. This is a postponement request by the staff to may 21st. Item 59 is case c14-2019-0164. This is a postponement request by the staff to may 7th. Item number 60, c14-2020-0019. Postponement request by the staff to may 21st. Item 61 is case c14-2020-0012, postponement request by the staff to June 4th. Item 62 is case c814-96-003.16. This is a postponement request by the staff to June 4th. [2:11:53 PM] Item 63 is case c14-2020-0025. This is a postponement request by the staff to June 4th. Item 64 is case c14-2019-0155. This case I can offer for consent approval on second and third readings with one addition. When we have the public hearing for this case, the adjacent property owner spoke before the council and requested a fence and the applicant this their presentation agreed to that condition so I'm going to read in an additional co for this case and that would be that an eight foot tall common fence shall be provided along the common property line prior to the issuance of certificate of occupancy. With that addition I can offer that case for consent approval on second and 3D 3dings. And finally item 65 is c14-2019-0137. This is a postponement request by the staff to may 7th. And that concludes the zoning agenda. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. We have one person on the phones to speak. Does that person want to [2:12:54 PM] speak given the actions that are being taken here? >> Thank you, mayor, councilmembers. I'm Zenobia Joseph. Yes, mayor, if I could just ask specifically about community benefits. So the two items that I have are 57, which is 5500 pecan springs road, and 62, which is pioneer crossing. And so my request specifically for the pioneer crossing, which is a property that's approximately a mile or a little more from Samsung, is for there to be some type of transit for the residents that live in that area. I know councilmember harper-madison says it's far flung Samsung, but we pay taxes too. Specifically the language in the backup material says the ordinance may include exemptions from a waiver or fees, alternate funding methods, modifications of [2:13:54 PM] city regulations and acquisition of property. But there's nothing in return for the people who live in that area, the homeowners. The other thing I will point to is that I did look at the backup material from the zoning and platting commission meeting, but there was nothing in our packet that shows what the concerns are from the neighbors. I would ask that if staff moves that information forward to you that they actually include that information so you can understand what opposition, if any, exists. As it relates specifically to the property that's on pecan springs, I just want to call your attention to what happens. This one is actually in line with the ordinance that you passed this morning, the resolution for number 38 related to displacement. This is a gentrification item. It's actually located about .8 miles from the reserve at Springdale, which is on Rogge lane and Springdale. It's south of that area, [2:14:54 PM] 51st street, and then you would get to this property. Today there's an empty lot that's adjacent to this property and it actually has a silver shelter from capital metro, but there's [indiscernible] Forestry. What I want to do is contextualize my comments by telling you about the haca property on Springdale. They eliminated the bus stop, which was 300 Rogge line. The developer actually testified twice before capital metro's public hearing for connections 2025 on November 21st, 2017. The city actually invested $41 million with this developer and he was trying to activate the area. And the reason he chose that property, it was 60% of the median family income, 60% occupied. The reason was because of the transit stop. And the point that I'm trying to make is that the gentrification and the issues related to [2:15:55 PM] displacement that's that resolution, it relates to Austin strategic mobility plan, it talked about chapter 6 that it recognized the historic inequities. These inequities occurred with cap remap. And while I certainly respect councilmember Casar trying to get the council to understand cap remap and project connect this morning, you would do the community a better service if you actually asked capital metro to show you cap remap and then the overlay, which is project connect. And I'm going to leave it there, but I want you to understand at least the comment from the -- [buzzer sounds] -- The lady who is actually -- if I could just tell you her comment, mayor, so you can have a reference. Meg Merritt is the transit consultant and she said we begin with the local bus service and this is the fundamental glue to the entire system. So it's important for you to understand the frequent network and the long range vision plan included the -- excluded the area north of north Lamar transit center. [2:16:56 PM] It's not in the vision map that was approved November 28th, 2018 by capital metro and it's important to understand that is the foundation and you overlay project connect. And there's no transit for dessau and palmer for the -- and Parmer for the property in the pioneer crossing area. That that is what needs to be recognized. It is not a system for everybody. Black people still wait 60 minutes, mayor, off of craigwood and they have no transit on Rogge except for intermittent service and it's 45 minutes in the northeast. Whereas south, east and west it's 15 minutes. Ininequitable, even for minorities. I would ask you to let me know or have Mr. Rusthoven speak to how a developer would actually get community benefits, specifically transit in this community dense area. If you have questions I'll gladly answer them at this time. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> Mayor Adler: Those are all the speakers we have on [2:17:57 PM] the planning issues. Is there [2:19:58 PM] recognize that the covid situation reduces -- produces a new need. That was what was meant by vulnerable. The existing cap program is recognized like a loss in income that might come from covid. It -- it's only recognizing an increase in rent, which is really not the situation that we are faced with. If the term is causing some concern, I can essential certainly delete that term. David Collington can speak to this, but my understanding is that he currently has as part of this process getting input from the music and arts commission, but I will let him speak to that if owes on the line. >> Okay. >> I don't know if we have him quite yet. Councilmember tovo, did you want to say something? [2:21:08 PM] >> [Indiscernible] Whether what councilmember kitchen proposed [indiscernible] With colleague? >> I do find favor with the removal of the word vulnerable. I think it's open to interpretation, which could be tricky. But I'm also -- also -- there is another part of the language that I'm attempting to introduce that specifically suggested [poor audio] The [indiscernible] Issue. Equity issue. So I'm totally happy to, if we are striking the word vulnerable. I can pull that back. >> Mayor Adler: Let's do that real fast. Is everybody okay with striking the -- >> I can't hear you, mayor. [Lots of static] So -- you can see -- is everybody okay with taking the word vulnerable out as councilmember kitchen -- [multiple voices] >> Mayor Adler: This is what we're going to do. We have an item that was passed. We need to have a motion -- [multiple voices] >> Reconsider -- >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember pool? >> Pool: I was just saying what you were about to say, [2:22:12 PM] we need to make a motion to reconsider. >> Mayor Adler: All right. Councilmember harper-madison makes a motion to reconsider. Is there a second to that motion? Councilmember Flannigan seconds it. Any objection to the motion to reconsider? Hearing none, the motion to reconsider passes. We now have this item in front of us. This item is now in front of us. Councilmember kitchen has suggested we strike the word vulnerable. Does anybody have any objection to striking that word in that place? Hearing none, that word is stricken. Is there any part of your amendment that you still wanted to urge, councilmember harper-madison. >> Harper-madison: I think councilmember kitchen and I were waiting to hear from [indiscernible] To determine whether or not consultation with the music and arts commission is a clearly defined requirement in the guidelines, in the -- >> Mayor Adler: Let's try that again. Is -- is David on the phone? [2:23:19 PM] [Static]. >> Mayor Adler: [Indiscernible]? [Static]. >> He should be calling in, just one moment. >> Mayor Adler: One moment, okay. >> Mayor, this is Veronica Briseno. David is on the line and trying to talk, but it's not coming through for some reason. So my understanding is that the plan is to work with [indiscernible] Commission that was the original plan and I would imagine that we would stick to that plan. >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember alter? >> Alter: I -- I wanted to just clarify something as one of the co-sponsors to make sure that it's clear now that we do actually have the guidance from the cares act. It's my understanding, correct me if I'm wrong, councilmember kitchen, but the idea was to be able to get this money out as quickly as possible through using an existing program that already had [indiscernible] Set up and modifying a slight criteria in the hopes that the money could get out faster. [2:24:19 PM] I just want to note that its easy to use that funds or other such funds. I think the key point right now is to get the money out, but that, you know, the city manager may decide that is best spent from the cares fund in the future. So that we continue to meet the need for which that money was originally there and address the covid concerns for creative space. It doesn't specify either one. It gives him the latitude. I just wanted to underscore that. >> Yes, councilmember alter. The -- we are using the existing program that has a well defined process that it proceeds with, we are just adding some flexibility to the eligibility to address the -- the covid crisis and to the extent that these funds are eligible for -- for cares reimbursement that's something that -- that our staff can work [2:25:21 PM] towards as we get more definition. I would expect at least some of it would be reimbursable by cares. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. Councilmember harper-madison, I think that you have heard this is something that we would be dealing with -- with their current charge. Do you still want to urge your amendment? >> Harper-madison: I didn't hear anybody say this is what they are currently doing. What Veronica said was to my understanding. I just want some explicit reassurance that that is in fact a part of the process. And that the other thing that I would like to introduce to -- in consideration, much like the funding that is going out quickly some of the other options that we have, consideration by the equity office I think would be appropriate. >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember kitchen, if it's just [multiple voices] Are you okay with just adding the language that said that -- that staff will check with -- with the equity office as well as the -- the commission? >> Kitchen: I'm not so [2:26:21 PM] much [indiscernible] And suspenders, if you are talking about consulting, yes, absolutely. >> Mayor Adler: Consulting. >> Kitchen: I think input from the music and arts commission and the equity office is certainly appropriate. >> Mayor Adler: Anybody have any objection to adding that to this amendment to this resolution? Councilmember tovo? >> Tovo: I don't have an objection. I just want to -- I just want to be clear that I think this money is valuable, especially if it can be dispatched quickly. So just underscore what councilmember kitchen said, I think it's really important that we get this funding circulating to the people who need it, really quickly. And so I -- I think it's a very good addition to have input from the equity office as well as from commissioners. But I want to be very clear and I want to ask for [indiscernible] Veronica Briseno to verify that the staff are not going to be in a position, if there's [2:27:22 PM] language added about the commission input, I want to be sure that staff are not going to wait to schedule meetings with those commissions and have it come back or have a stakeholder process. I think -- if what we're talking about is sending out a note to those commissions and asking individual commissioners to provide input as they would at any other point with the creative [indiscernible] Program funding, great. If it's going to be most -- months before we can get that input finished, then I do have a concern. Of input from the commission. >> Mayor, [multiple voices] >> Mayor Adler: Hang on hang on hang on hang on. >> I'm struggling, I just want to ask the maker of the amendments, are these posted anywhere or did they circulate with the clerk? I'm trying to understand where the additions would be in the original language. I may have overlooked an amendment sheet -- >> There's not an amendment sheet, but I'm happy to send [2:28:23 PM] you the language in the email real quick if that's helpful. >> Tovo: I would ordinarily say yes, but I'm a co- sponsor of this and I don't want to -- [indiscernible] We probably shouldn't do that. Okay. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't overlooking something somewhere. [-- Interrupting/overlapping speakers] >> Is it your intent harper-madison, that [indiscernible] They have ting convened to meet or -- >> Harper- madison: I'm just asking for a consult. So, for example, the chair of the music commission about an item on the agenda today, and it didn't require a meeting of the body in order to -- for him to relay the -- the majority wishes of the commission. >> Mayor Adler: Are you comfortable, councilmember, in reading your additional language and then adding it as a direction to councilmember kitchen's resolution? >> Harper-madison: Sure. >> Mayor Adler: Would you [2:29:23 PM] read it again so we can all hear it. >> Harper-madison: The city manager is directed to collaborate with members of the music and arts commissions, and the equity office, to obtain input for the use of the create space assistance program for an Austin artist disaster relief fund to provide emergency grants to [indiscernible] -- I guess if we are striking vulnerable, to provide emergency grants. And then I'm going to remove the language as defined by and then it would say -- actually, that's it. So we already added collaborate with music and arts commissions and the equity office. >> Mayor Adler: Anybody have any objection to that direction being given? Councilmember kitchen? >> Kitchen: I don't have any objection. I just want to clarify that that is directing and we are not amending the language of the resolution. >> Mayor Adler: That is [2:30:24 PM] correct. Anybody else object to adding that direction? Hearing none, that direction is added. May we take a vote. Those in favor of this item? >> Mayor? >> Mayor Adler: Yeah. This is Anne. Just so the record is clear, it would be -- it would be easy enough to put it in the resolution, if not, we at least want to strike the two words vulnerable, which I believe are in lines 26, and 33. >> Mayor Adler: That's right. >> If you wanted to add that language that councilmember -- just read, it would just go into line 29, the city manager is directed. >> Kitchen: I would prefer to just make it a direction. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. What councilmember harper-madison just read is going to go in as direction. But we are striking the words vulnerable. That was the first part of the conversation. As indicated by -- by the city attorney. >> Kitchen: So, mayor, I think that I'm confused. I'm confused between what you are saying and what Anne Morgan is saying. I'm talking about this as [2:31:25 PM] direction. We are not amending the resolution other than to take out vulnerable. In the two places. >> That's correct. There are two -- two elements to what councilmember harper-madison has done here. First is actually an amendment. It strikes the word vulnerable. I think it appears in two places. >> Kitchen: Right. >> Mayor Adler: There's no objection and that amendment was included. Then there's the language that councilmember harper-madison just read and that's going to be separate direction to staff. >> Kitchen: Okay. >> Mayor Adler: Motion in front of us, moved and seconded. We are considering it. All of those in favor this as amended with the additional direction please raise your hand. Those opposed. Those an obtaining? I didn't see how you voted, councilmember pool? Got it. All of us are in favor of it, that passes unanimously. I think that's all of the items on our agenda. So this meeting will be adjourned. We are going to have a [2:32:27 PM] [indiscernible] Meeting I think on Tuesday morning at 9:00 to discuss -- the issues of adapting and/or reopening the economy. And I will put up a post for everyone to read. With a -- with some of the things that I think would be helpful, if you could take a look at them before Tuesday. And then at Tuesday's meeting, we now have -- we know that Dr. Escott will be with us as well as the Dean of the medical school [indiscernible] Myers, who has been running the models. You can take a look at them before posting to the message board. Councilmember kitchen. >> Kitchen: It sounds like if I am hearing correctly, if we have suggestions or thoughts about the scope of the meeting on Tuesday, we should respond to your message board posts? >> Mayor Adler: That would be great. >> Kitchen: Okay. Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember alter? >> Alter: I just wanted to [2:33:29 PM] clarify the timing for the meeting. I have a speaking thing by that I had -- by zoom that I had told them about at noon. >> Mayor Adler: My hope -- at noon. We're going to start at 9:00 and then run to then. >> Alter: About a quarter to. That's one of the reasons that we moved it to 9:00 and not starting at 10:00. >> I didn't know about it. Thank you. >> That's okay. All right, with that, this meeting is adjourned. Everybody stay safe. Wintery weather