Housing and Planning Committee Meeting Transcript – 07/21/2020 Title: City of Austin Channel: 6 - COAUS Recorded On: 7/21/2020 6:00:00 AM Original Air Date: 7/21/2020 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. [10:05:48 AM] >> Casar: I will call us to order. It is July 21st. It's 10:04 A.M. We're meeting on the virtual dais. I'm chair of the committee, Greg Casar. I'm joined by vice-chair Ellis and councilmembers Renteria and kitchen. And we'll get started. We have three briefings today all on important stuff. The first thing is to approve the minutes from the last meeting. Is there any objection to doing that? Then by acclamation we'll approve item number 1 and move straight into item number 2, which is a briefing and our discussion on the emergency housing resources and policies for residents impacted by covid-19 and our housing strategy as it relates to covid-19. I'll let the staff move forward. Do you guys need me to do anything for the -- for your powerpoint to pop up or do you have that coming? >> I've got it on my end. [10:06:50 AM] >> Great, if you. Sorry, Mandy, I think I need to unmute you. And we are joined by councilmember harper-madison also. >> Great, thank you. This is Mandy de mayo, community development administrator for the neighborhood housing and community development. Today I'm going to go through emergency rental assistance for Austin tenants that are impacted by covid-19. And I believe I cannot control the slides, so if we could just advance to the next slide. Fantastic. >> Chair, I have one quick question. I'm very sorry to interrupt. It looks like the backup links on this item are not working, but the other items the backup links are working so, so I was hoping I.T. Could work on that while [10:07:52 AM] we're going through the slides. >> Casar: That would be great. >> Are you able to see the presentation? >> Casar: We can. We can all see it. >> Okay, perspective. Why. So today we're -- I'm sorry? >> Casar: Sorry, Mandy, I was just thanking Paige for that. >> Great. Today's agenda regarding emergency rental assistance we're going to talk briefly about the rent relief pilot program which occurred in may and we'll talk about what we're calling rent 2.0, the second iteration of the rental assistance program, program eligibility and the structure of the program and then some ancillary wraparound tenant stabilization services, our marketing and outreach strategy and then the lime line for launching the program. As y'all know, we launched [10:08:54 AM] rent, which was relief for emergency needs for tenants in early may. This was in partnership with haca, the housing authority of the city of Austin. We utilized housing trust fund dollars, so local dollars, 1.256 million in direct rental assistance. The eligibility for the program was households at or below 80% median family income who lived in the city limits, were on a standard lease and could demonstrate that they were impacted by covid-19. When the program was all said and done, we served 1,681 households. Two-thirds of those households were at or below 30% of the median family income. And we summarized the graphics on a July 8th memo that went to mayor and city council. We learned a lot of lessons in our brief time working on the rent program. We know that we provided a significant amount of relief [10:09:56 AM] for tenants, but we also learned that the program, the administration of the program, was a heavy left, an intense active program to administer. There was a short lead time for this program. We pulled it together over a couple of weeks, launched in early may. There was extensive case management that was required with a lot of back and forth between 15 unanimous and back and forth between landlords as well. We also learned that we created a pretty complicated rent calculation in terms of the relief that we would provide. And fairly complex landlord certification. So again, those are lessons learned. If we could move to the next slide. As a result of our pilot program in may, we took a little bit of a step back and we have created a comprehensive and holistic strategy to keep tenants in their homes. This includes both direct rental assistance plus eviction, prevention and [10:10:58 AM] stabilization services. The funding for the program comes from coronavirus relief funds. That's really [indiscernible] Here on the funding, plus trust funds, plus federal funding, but for non-coronavirus relief. And this is all of course based on the council of [indiscernible] Framework that was authorized last month. The funding that we have pulled together is dedicated to three primary areas. One which is the lion's share is direct rental assistance. Two is tenant stablelation services and then three is really targeted to outreach. I want to talk first, we can go to the next slide, I want to talk first about the direct rental assistance program. What does rent, this new iteration, the direct assistance, what does it look like? I will tell you it is similar to the first iteration in may, rent 1.0, [10:12:00 AM] we're calling it, but we have a focus on targeting populations and streamlining the program. Some of the improvements that we're seeing is one, continued partnership with haca, housing authority of the city of Austin. It will also be with a nationally recognized consulting firm with 25-plus years of experience administering housing choice voucher programs for large municipalities across the country, including the city of Los Angeles, city the Chicago and New York City. Another improvement we're pretty excited about is the determination that -- extremely low income households, those under 30% median family income, will be eligible for multiple months, up to three months of rental assistance, while households between 30 and 80% median family income will be visible for up to one month assistance. We are per council direction [10:13:01 AM] accepting both traditional and non-traditional leases. That is something we heard loud and clear from council, is folks living in alternative arrangements like extended stay hotels. We also decided that rather than paying up to a certain amount of rent and the tenant could pay the remainder, we'll pay the full contracted rent amount so that will be an increased rental benefit do most households and of course we have enhanced funding over a six-month period. If we can go on to the next slide. I also want to highlight in addition to our direct rental assistance what we call rent 3.0 that we're launching is the tent Nan stabilization programs, a full suite of programs and services to complement the emergency assistance. We will be serving austinites who are not yet [10:14:03 AM] displaced. Austinites who may have back fees owed, whether that is back rent or utilities or other fees, late fees. And also serving austinites who may be in some stage of the eviction process. Those services are going to be providing through contracts with local non-profit organizations and the services are going to include landlord-tenant red mediation, eviction defense services, so representation in eviction court, as well as direct funding for right to cure for households who do have back rent due, late payments due, in order to avoid eviction. We'll go on to the next slide. We want to talk briefly about targeted outreach, which we have before. We learned a lot from the first iteration of the program, who we were reaching and who we were not reaching. Again, as I mentioned previously, about two-thirds of the households served in [10:15:03 AM] the first iteration of rent in may were extremely low income, households at or below 30% of median family income. But when we look at data from the equity action team we know that African-American households, families with children are twice as likely to face eviction as white households. We also know from Austin public health that people of color and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by covid-19. Our goal is to help those reasonable accommodation renters who are the most impacted by covid-19. As a result we're doing very target the outreach for -- to communities of color, families with children, veterans and also [indiscernible]. We can go on to the next slide. I want to expand a little bit on our expanded outreach. We have developed internally a comprehensive [indiscernible] And outreach strategy. We will be releasing a [10:16:04 AM] solicitation for community-based organizations to help each underserved and underrepresented communities in creative or particular ways. Materials and outreach will be provided in multiple languages. We're working with both haca, cvr and all of the community groups to deliver a holistic response with the looming eviction crisis and economic fallout from covid-19. We go on to the next slide, which is the final slide, you will see a timeline and next steps to give you an idea of where we are and where we want to be in the near future. So right now we're finalizing contracts with haca and subcontractors that will -- that is occurring as we speak in the month of July. We're also finalizing contracts for direct non-profit providers for tenant stabilization services that will also [10:17:05 AM] [indiscernible]. We are putting out a solicitation that will be a request for applications for community outreach. That will also occur this month. We anticipate the program launch in the month of August. And one thing to note, right now we have budgeted six months of direct rental assistance. Because of the funding we'll be consequencing our funding because our coronavirus relief funds from the department of treasury need to be expended by the end of the calendar year. That doesn't mean that the program will end the end of the calendar year, it's that we will be utilizing those funding sources first and then moving on to alternative funding sources like general fund and cdbg to have less of a tight time frame. And we'll be extending the program into January -- as long as there is a need, to January of 2021. So if go to the next slide [10:18:05 AM] it really is just an opportunity for questions. We've been working hard on this over the last two months, really taking a look, a deep dive into the data for the first iteration of the rent program and looking at how we can enhance and improve and expand the program to better serve the community in the coming months. >> Casar: Thank you so much, Mandy. I appreciate everybody who has worked so hard on this. Let's go to questions. First councilmember harper-madison and then councilmember kitchen. >> Harper-madison: Good morning, thank you, chair. I appreciate you recognizing me. Good morning, colleagues. Thank you for the presentation, Mandy. I really appreciate it. You actually answered a lot of the questions that I was coming into this with, so I will just say I would love to get some additional information about the targeted outreach program, so I think I misunderstood what you originally said. It sounded like it was already happening, in which [10:19:05 AM] case I had a list of questions about how that was happening. But it sounds to me like if there's a solicitation for community orgs, it's not happening yet. Can you clear that up for me. >> Sure. So we have developed our communications team at nhcd has developed an overall strategy. We'll be doing a lot of targeted outreach internally, but we are really depending on our community partners to reach those communities that are hardest served. And that's where the solicitation comes from. We'll be launching the outreach internally and it will be bolstered by community groups as a result of the solicitation. The solicitation will go out this month. So certainly within the next two weeks. We are giving community groups a 30-day turnaround time in order to provide them ample time to assess their current capacity and [10:20:11 AM] resources resources they have access to a digital application, more access to information, more of the one on one intensive outreach. So it's really a range of services. We're asking the community groups to let us know what they think they can provide and we'll provide funding from a thousand dollars. >> Harper-madison: Okay. I really appreciate that clarification. I would like to ask respectfully that at the very least, and everybody else can obviously chime in to advocate for themselves, [10:21:11 AM] their districts and their constituents as well. But my office would definitely love to be a part of the internal and external dialogue around outreach efforts for some other reason I think there are several of us on the call who are actively engaged in some outreach and to some degree the population of some of those folks, the hard to reach populations. I know myself and Greg are doing some of the outreach efforts currently. I lit ratty have a pilot that -- owe literally have a pilot that launched yesterday in district 1 where we have a community organization going door to door and conducting a community needs assessment. So just in order to make that as robust as possible and potentially assist the effort that nhcd is going to be putting forward, I would love for us to have some conversations about exactly how it's happening and what vehicles we could possibly share, what information we might have been able to gauge in our time in. I know Greg has a lot of [10:22:12 AM] experience working with the St. John's neighborhood and those folks in the community, so I'd say now would be a really great time for us to pull our communication and outreach efforts, especially given that some of the data I've been looking at shows upwards of 28 million Americans are about to be experiencing housing insecurity. In which case I think now is the time to definitely take the resources that we have and make them stretch as far as we can. So as soon as can you put me in, coach, we definitely would like to be around that conversation around outreach. >> Thank you, councilmember. We'll have our communications folks reach out to you and your staff and we want to piggyback on whatever outreach you all are doing in your districts. We want to leverage resources. Our goal is to reach as many folks as possible and as [inaudible]. >> Harper-madison: I think that's a great idea. I think you should reach out to Farah muscadin, she's [10:23:12 AM] with the office of police oversight, but also our staff liaison for the community preparedness and communication camp. So there's a whole team, a whole tribe of folks working in communication and outreach, the production of videos, social media, etcetera, etcetera. There's a lot already happening that you could really tap into there as well. I would recommend making that connection also. >> Perfect. >> Harper-madison: I'm so happy to hear that we are addressing some of the non-traditional leases. That was one that just kept coming up for us. I am happy to hear that. I would like to hear more about cvr associates. I understand that haca only has so much in the way of bandwith around housing choice vouchers, but I would like to get a better understanding of what cbr's role is. And I think what I'll do is reach out to you offline so I don't take too much time here. The other question I have, da, da, da, you said [10:24:16 AM] something about cdbg CV and it sounded like you said an extension to January. So those funds don't have to be expended by the end of 2020 calendar year? >> That's correct. The coronavirus relief funds -- the coronavirus relief funds from the department of treasury have a hard and fast end date of December 31st, 2020. We're sequencing our funding and the majority majority of the funding is the coronavirus relief fund, but we're going to be expends those funds and saving our funds in cdbg because there was no specific timeline for it. I should also say that we'll be utilizing our local funds, our general funds for households applying who have undetermined citizenship status so we'll be dipping into the local funds to be sure that we serve the higher community, not just those with citizenship. [10:25:17 AM] >> Harper-madison: Excellent. I'm happy to hear that. The Lyft we have I have about -- the last question I have about outreach efforts or initiatives is are you working with or would it be helpful to have outreach to organization that do advocacy in the space around specific segments of populations. So I've been having some really productive conversations with a couple of organizations that do veteran advocacy and a couple of organizations that do advocacy for differently abled people. In which case do y'all already have some connections in orgs that you're working at in those segments or would introductions be helpful? >> Introductions would always be helpful. My approach is the more the merrier. I don't know if our internal contacts are the same as yours as we want to make sure that really can the solicitation that we reach as many groups as possible because we know that those community groups are the front facing groups and know they're populations better [10:26:18 AM] than we ever could. >> Harper-madison: Awesome. Thank you. Mandy, if one of our committee members is watching this right now and they're having an ah-ha moment of an organization they would like to introduce you to, how can they best reach out to you. >> They can email us or contact our main phone number. 512-974-3100. >> So that's [indiscernible]. >> You got it, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Councilmember kitchen. >> Kitchen: Thank you very much, Mandy. I wanted to just talk -- I'm very impressed with the work that are councilmember harper-madison is doing and I think she mentioned that you may be doing this also, councilmember Casar, in terms of reaching into the [10:27:20 AM] community in a targeted proactive way. So I would appreciate learning from what you're doing. There are parts of district 5 that would be very helpful for. So Mandy or if you could connect me to the right person to see if there's a way that we could learn from what's happening in these other areas and see if there's a way that we can contribute also. So if you would help me with that. >> Great. >> And then I have a question that really I'm trying to think through where we are for individuals that are really on the edge here. I know -- I like the way you talked about looking at the full continuum for folks, you know, for stabilization and rent assistance, which is all designed to prevent folks from becoming homeless. But to me it's all a [10:28:21 AM] continuum and I would like us to be thinking about our homeless population at the same time. And I know we have some different pots of money, but that's the way I think of that because instead of having -- I'm not suggesting they're siloed, but sometimes it feels like we have a bucket of approaches and funding for people with rental assistance needs and risk of becoming homeless. And over here once they become homeless they fall into another pot. I'm wanting to understand how we -- how these are coordinated in a way. So for example, our rental assistance program, what are we doing for the person who is ending up living on the streets or in a pro lodge for example who just needs their late payment on rent paid for and then they can get into housing because they have a job. [10:29:26 AM] So that's one example. And I'm just wanting to understand how this approach to rental assistance and tenant stabilization, how it's coordinated with what we're doing for people who are -- have already fallen off the cliff and are homeless, because it's all a continuum. >> Sure. Thank you for that question, councilmember kitchen, and I will say that we coordinate closely with our friends at Austin public health. And one of the recommendations from the consultants who have looked at all of our various approaches to homelessness, one of their recommendations was to take a portion of the cdbg CV dollars. You may recall we were allocated, I believe it was $4.6 million. We're taking a portion of that, only 2.6 million is going into the rent program, the direct emergency rental assistance. And the remainter is [10:30:28 AM] dedicated to people experiencing homelessness. We're using those funds in coordination with Austin public health to directly serve the population that was identified with folks who were in rapid re- housing, but their contract or their time through rapid re-housing is expiring. So we'll be layering on the cdbg CV dollars on top of that. We've been working with Austin public health on that issue. And that was presented as a part of the very complicated spending framework, council. >> Kitchen: Okay, thank you. That's very -- I really appreciate that. Does that get to -- like the example that I gave you? Or do they already have to be receiving rapid re-housing dollars? >> Those specific dollars are related to folks who are already in the rapid re-housing program. [10:31:29 AM] The example they gave was some somebody in a pro lodge and working with someone in Austin public health on directing some local funds to provide housing relief to those exiting from the pro lodges. So that is a different source, but we are keenly attuned to the needs of that population. >> Kitchen: Okay. I would like more details about the aspect of it, whoever I need to talk to about that. >> We'll get that to you. >> Kitchen: Great. I appreciate that because it's all a continuum and I'm wanting to make sure that we're going to continue -- it sounds like it's on y'all's radar screen and you're working very closely. I just don't want those to become too separate approaches so that particularly for those individuals that -- there's a range of needs that people who are experiencing homelessness and just a [10:32:29 AM] whole range of needs. Some folks experiencing homelessness, they just need a little bit of help with rent and they can get back in the house. So thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Casar: Any other questions? Mandy, I have a couple of questions. >> Sure. >> Casar: One is maybe just a request. If we could get a sense of how we're measure being covid-19 impact, that could be useful. Do you all already have a set of questions you would be asking or documentation you're requiring for the covid-19 impact? >> So we've looked at cities across the country and what they require and some of them range from some pretty intensive certifications to a simple [indiscernible]. We are trying to land on a [10:33:30 AM] sweet spot that is yet to be determined where we provide -- we provide a decent amount of documentation from monitoring perspective down the road, the federal government comes in and they want to make sure that there's [indiscernible] For folks who are impacted by covid-19, typically the first iteration of rent in may. It was simply a determination that income it dropped. And that was easy enough to provide between April and may and sometimes it was on unemployment, sometimes about the Texas workforce commission. We tried to be as flexible as possible and we will continue to try to be as flexible as possible, whether it was simple lay self-certification, which is minimum [indiscernible] Or some additional documentation to bolster is that. But we are working through the details of that in our program guidelines for this upcoming iteration of rent. [10:34:30 AM] >> Casar: As y'all get closer to landing -- thank you for the last questions and touching base with council offices that are interested could be good. My sense tending towards people being eligible, I always tend a little bit more that way, but let me know where you land on that. As far as the number of how many families you intend to serve, you have a total number you're trying to get to? Because if it was -- it was just under 2,000 for rent 1.0? >> That was 1286 households and the average amount of rent was somewhere around $765 of rental assistance for that month. The difference in the the program. >> We think we will be deserving around 2,000 households per month with this next iteration of rent. [10:35:31 AM] The difference is we're anticipating that we will be spending more per household because you will recall in the first iteration of rent we required, one, we had a ceiling of what we would provide for rental assistance. It was essentially fair market rent as developed by hud and utilities who developed that calculation. And we also required we backed out 30% of an applicant's adjusted gross income under the assumption they would pay their 30%. That is why that we think that the rent assistant amount was frankly lower than anticipated. It was only around $760. The per household amount. We believe that that will go up because in this iteration we have committed to paying the full contact rent so we are ballparking at this point and we'll be tweaking as we go, but we are [10:36:31 AM] ballparking that it will be about $1,000 per household. And some of those households 30% and below will be eligible for three months of assistance. Our goal is to serve right now we're thinking 2,000 households a month. >> Casar: 2,000 households a month and you're thinking this program runs through December. >> January. Six months. We're planning on launching in early August. >> Six months, two thousand households a month so the guess is 2,000 households. >> That would be -- keep in mind that 30% and below are going to be eligible for -- [overlapping speakers]. >> Exactly, exactly. And we would certainly want to provide for a household at 30% and below, we would want to provide that kind of -- it's not a duplication of services for federal rules. We're able to provide up to three months of rental assistance and we want to do that only for the very [10:37:32 AM] lowest of the low income. >> Understood. So the idea is if it's 2,000 and above in some cases it will be the same family each of those months because they're in such need if they're below 30% of the average Austin family. So you're going to do 2,000 times 6, that's 12,000 households, about 10 times more than rent 1.0, and probably -- might be 50% more dollars per household and that all adds up as to why the program was about 10 times bigger. >> Correct. >> Casar: And it's my sense that, yeah, the outreach should be pretty continuous then because I assume you're going to get more families than you can accommodate in month one, but then you will keep on trying to accommodate them in later months. Is that the thinking? >> That is correct. I should also point out from [10:38:32 AM] an administrative perspective, we are going to van open application process. Let's just say that the applications open August 10th. And I'm making that date up right now. But somebody will submit an application. They won't have to submit an application every month. We'll do a randomized lottery each month. And in fact if you weren't chosen for the randomized lottery, your application will carry forward. We want to make this as simple from both ends, from the resident perspective we'll keep in contact with them, once, you were chosen for the lottery, we'll need additional documentation. No, you were not chosen but we're holding your application for next month's lottery. We're trying to make it administratively easier on our end, but also the least burdensome possible on the residents' end. >> I guess a question that is the -- if we know we have enough money for all these [10:39:32 AM] families across multiple months, we obviously don't know exactly how many, but how many in a good general sense? The reason we're only going to be delivering funds to 2,000 of those families each month does that have to do with our capacity to actually cover some -- the administrative capacity to deal with the landlord and cover that rent that is a limiting factor as to why we're not doing 4,000 across three months? >> It's a combination of capacity and is certainly is -- if you think about it, somebody is actually cutting 4,000 checks or 2,000 checks and they're gathering all of the 1099 data. So administratively yes, heavy left and capacity is certainly an issue. But we're also very mindful of the fact that somebody who can pay their rent in August may not be able to pay their rent in September or October. And everything we are [10:40:33 AM] hearing from a national perspective is that, of course, depending on what happens with eviction moratoriums locally and federally, we're hearing that the fall is going to be a pretty intensive time period for folks having housing stability challenges. And so we don't want to spend all 17.75 million in September and then have an enormous need. So we're trying to be fairly conservative and spread the dollars out over this time period, recognizing that our funds need to be expended by the -- the vast majority of the months need to be expended by the end of the calendar year. >> Casar: So it's an open application period. Is the rolling or will you say, okay, for people that people apply in these two weeks, the lottery is going to run their applications? And then for people that apply these are the -- >> It will be an open application period, but the [10:41:34 AM] lottery has to occur at a point in time. So we will announce on making updates, application opens August 10th and we say the lottery occurs on the 25th of every month and that's when we do the randomized lottery and pull the folks we think we can serve and gather the additional documentation. >> Let me keep thinking about that. That is a good way to get a lot of people to apply. There might be -- it's the first time I've heard it. I'm brainstorming here and would really want -- I'll plan on talking to people who rent through rent 1.0 to figure out what works best. It might make sense if we know that month one we're going to servewe thousand a month. Month two another 2,000. So maybe alert all 4,000 of those families and say hey, you're in the half that is going to get rent paid by this month and the other half, hey, you will get rent paid by this month and so people can plan or have as much information as possible. [10:42:34 AM] What I just said, there might be good reasons that doesn't work, but I think it's really useful to hear this so we can go and talk with especially the folks that have gone and tried to sign people up. And with people that need to use these services to figure what will be most useful for them and then what's administratively possible for us. So thank you for explaining that and we might just have to get with you with whatever our thoughts might be and we'll all tie our best. -- Try our best. >> That would be great. And I think we're kind of hardening the program guidelines and the process as we are contracting over the next couple of weeks, but that is not to say we've always looked at this program as iterative. And as we see, we're not -- we're going to be constantly looking at demographics. We're not meeting people at 30% or below. We're not meeting the African-American community. We're not meeting people with disabilities. We'll be recalibrating the program as we go along. [10:43:34 AM] We are trying to be as flexible and nimble as possible, knowing that our city council has very definite priorities and we want to heat those priorities. >> Casar: Thank you for that. And overall I know this is a huge program, something the city has never been able to do before and we're coming together in this moment of crisis to make sure that nobody loses their housing because of the pandemic. It's a big goal, but it should be the goal and -- >> And I will say -- I'm sorry. I just did want to say that emergency rental assistance was something that we had contemplated. I know we had city council conversations and we certainly had internal staff conversations about emergency rental assistance. It has always been a need before any of us knew what covid-19 was. It was a need. Tenant stabilization services and [indiscernible] [10:44:36 AM] Have always been a huge need. This started and laid the foundation for what we think after we're all said and done and we never say the words covid-19 again, we know that this is going to be an ongoing issue and we want to be able to address those needs in the community. So this is really laying the foundation. >> I would add that my understanding is the justices of the peace in Travis county are working to extend the eviction moratorium. I assume the city would also extend our moratorium until at least September 30th because we don't want anybody to lose their home while we are putting the emergency housing program back online. So if this will help at times more people with many more dollars than we've ever put into the community before for rental assistance. And we need to do it before any eviction moratorium is lifted. So my understanding is that [10:45:38 AM] the moratorium should be extended so that everybody can get the help they need and a little peace of mind as it relates to their housing. Councilmember kitchen. >> Kitchen: I also understand that there may be some additional federal assistance. Obviously we don't know yet, but they're looking at -- congress is looking at an additional package that we should know about in the next, I don't know, two weeks or so. >> Casar: There's a certain senator from Kentucky who says they should be advocating to their senators to put that on the table. Councilmember Renteria. >> Renteria: Yes, Mandy. I really want to thank you for that work y'all are doing there. I June the to find out -- I just wanted to find out, how much of that money that you're allocating for the [10:46:41 AM] consistent rise? >> So none of that will be from the rise funds. Those are separate and apart. So when I did the 17-point - - there was a pie chart in the presentation. It was 17.75 million. That's a combination of general fund, which is separate from rise. This is not dipping into rise at all. Rise will be-- we're looking at it as an added resource in the community and again this is separate and apart. The rest is federal funding. 2.5 million is general fund dollars separate from rise. >> Okay. And are you planning on giving us a report on that. You can just send it to my office when you get a chance and get hold of that. I would like to see how much we're doing with that kind of money right now. >> I'm sorry, with the rise funding? >> Yes. [10:47:42 AM] >> Yes, we can certainly do that. >> Renteria: Okay, thank you. >> Casar: Is that it for this item? Thank you, Mandy. Our next item is a briefing and discussion on the homestead preservation funding and the saltillo plaza. >> Am I still on? >> Casar: You are. >> Full disclosure, we're having some technical difficulties and it looks like from what I can see I am the only nhcd staff online. Is that correct? >> Casar: I've got James may on here. Do you want me to unmute James? >> Please do. Jamie was going to do -- just so y'all know, as part of your backup, you all have [10:48:43 AM] a one-pager. This is a result of -- I think councilmember Renteria asked for just kind of an update on these funding sources maybe back in January, but you do have a one-pager detailing all of the fundings. >> Casar: All right, Jamie, you're on. >> Thank you, sir. The -- this will be very brief. I know that time is of the essence. Just responding to the briefing on the plaza saltillo transit oriented district, just a quick update, in 2019 the tax inwas increased from 10% to 20% of the assessed evaluation increase. Current balance on that fund is $2,334,462. Fiscal year 21 budget is approximately $3.4 million. Now, nhcd intends to deploy [10:49:45 AM] these funds along the parameters outlined in Texas local government code chapter 373a through our normal programs. Some of the parameters around those dollars according to the Texas local government code, funds have to be spent on housing within the geographic boundaries of the [indiscernible] And that's north of lady bird lake, east of I-35 and as far northeast as the intersection of 38th and a half and airport boulevard. Assistance has to go to households earning no more than 70% of mhi. 50% of the funds have to be served households making no more than 50% of the mfi and 25% of the funds have to be spent on householdings earning no more than 30% mfi. The plaza saltillo transit [10:50:47 AM] oriented development district is several tods that council has adopted. This general fund is generated by developers paying a fee-in-lieu of affordable housing. It's about $12 per square foot of that bonus density that they receive for being in the district. There are currently three projects under use for the district and they are anticipated to pay a anticipated fee-in-lieu totaling around $2.5 million over the course of the next three years, assuming all projects are completed as planned. Last year, August 28th, 2019, the ahfc board of directors awarded a three-million-dollar loan for the construction of the [indiscernible] Lofts. This loan was partially funded by the balance of the plaza saltillo fund at that time, which was around $1.2 million. So the current balance was plaza saltillo tod fund is [10:51:49 AM] 0. We've zeroed out that balance. However, the fy21 budget is expected to be $1.4 million, a little bit more than that. And again, we are seeing more funds coming in over the next three years with those three nonresidential developments. Since this is a local program, it's only governed by local statutory restriction and those are that housing funds have to be spent on housing and they have to be spent within no more than half a mile from the boundary of the tod. So just think of the plaza saltillo and half a mile radius we could spend the money on housing within that circle. Rental units have to be leased to households earning no more than 60% of the mfi and have to be affordable for a period of not less than 40 years and owner occupied houses have to be affordable to households earning no more than 80% mfi and have to be affordable [10:52:49 AM] for 99. And I'd be happy to answer any questions? >> Casar: Thank you. Councilmember Ellis. >> Ellis: I have one. You did say that the money for the reinvestment zone had to be used for housing. Does that apply to land acquisition or how does that relationship work in a formula like this? >> So it would have to be spent on housing as per the local Texas government code. Just like with our land acquisition dollars we would acquire the land and then either land bank it, but in this area that probably wouldn't be a wise decision. What we would do is rfp it with stipulation that they would necessarily have to be housing as part of that incorporation. If any portion of the land acquired with these funds was dedicated to commercial or mixed use or something like that, then we would have to go through a process of, okay, how much did we spend from the hprz fund on [10:53:52 AM] this land? Was there any other additional funds spent on the land that we could justify the land use as being split between residential and commercial. >> Then would other regulations like parkland dedication still apply to this or is that exempt because of the reinvestment zone rules? >> I would have to look into that. I'm not sure if parkland would qualify or if we would have to pay ourselves back as well. >> I was curious about that. Obviously things like floodplain would work. Maybe send it to my office and we'll take a look at it offline. >> Absolutely. >> Casar: Councilmember Renteria. >> Renteria: Yes. Basically that area around the asl seeio development is pretty landlocked and the land is pretty expensive, [10:54:53 AM] but we do have a lot of non-profit, and the housing corporation, they're sitting on a lot of empty lots that are in need of funding. And we also have the condos from haca -- not haca, but habitat that's in need of funds. So there's a lot of need there. And blackland is another one that is sitting on property that's in need of funding. So their competing for this housing and there's a lot greater need now than funding. I encourage the staff to look at these groups because they are sitting on vacant lots that housing can be on there. [10:56:01 AM] >> Casar: Any other questions? I had one. It's kind of inspired by the idea of the transit partnership and the [indiscernible] Being established there. I know what we've been doing is slowly collecting funds and doing them and -- for housing in a really expensive area. That's clearly getting something like tall la Vera lofts done or some of the projects that councilmember Renteria described is a great way to do that. You have to wait several years for essentially the funds to replenish. But since we have kind of a more dedicated stream of dollars apart from the fee-in-lieu there is a dedicated tax that is from this area going into this fund. Could we look into the potential of revenue bonds out of ahfc where we could [10:57:02 AM] get money faster because we know we will get the dollars over the next 20 or 30 years? Have we looked into that? That's generally how the transit partnership is thinking of working because it has a dedicated tax stream issuing revenue bonds early. Is that something that we could potentially on do with this? >> That's definitely something that I think that Rosie and Rebecca would want to talk about. But as far as deploys these funds, we would push them out as quickly as we possibly can for any applicant that is within the service area. If we wanted to. >> Revenue bonds or pre-done those developments, we would push it through the rdhd program the same way. >> Let's think about that. I hadn't thought of that now because we're talking about the transit partnership, but as Pio mentioned this has [10:58:07 AM] already been gentrified so much, but it's only getting more expensive. That if we could issue revenue bonds off the revenue stream, you might be able to get more affordability now than if we have to wait five or six years for the bucket to replenish. >> So councilmember Casar, this is Mandy de mayo. We would have to look at how the HPD tirz was set up and we would have to look at state statute, but I am not sure that the tirz is like a standard tif that you can bond off of. I don't believe that allowable, but that is certainly something that we will contemplate and we'll get back to you about that. We want to look at as many creative-- anything that is legally allowable, any creative solutions to really front load fronting and provide more robust funding for affordability. >> Casar: And we've [10:59:10 AM] probably already checked, but saying last time just in case because if we need to rip of a contract with ahfc to fully dedicate the money or something like that, and I bring it up because I remember when we set this up early under 10-1 and it's really great to see that money go into the fund and they get put to use building housing right now as we speak. So thank you all. Anything else? >> Renteria: You know, Greg, what you're saying is that if it's not possible we can always go back and ask our representative, put it on our legislative package to maybe amend the tif so that we can -- well, that will be a good thing to look [11:00:11 AM] into and come back, Mandy, and let us know what we need to do. If it's not possible maybe we can convince our state legislators, especially Eddie passed this one 12 years ago. So he probably could amend this also so that we could go out and borrow money because there's a big desperate need. We do have all those non-profits that are sitting on these empty lots and the need is there. There's more need for funding than there is available. >> So councilmember, we will look into that. We will get back to you and it may require some sort of legislative fix. At this point we're really not sure but we will take a look at it and get back to you all. >> Renteria: Thank you. >> Casar: All right. I think it's our last briefing of the day. I'm going to try to close this out by 11:20. [11:01:12 AM] I don't know if that's doable, but if not then I'll pass the chair to the vice-chair and if I have to step off at 11:20. And Ms. FBI he will low, you're on. >> This is Rebecca giello. Can everybody hear me okay? >> You're on. >> I am with the neighborhood housing and community development department and I'm here to give an overview of our fiscal year 20-21 annual action plan. The action plan as a reminder serves as our grant application to hud each year. We are on a five-year consolidated plan and each year we bring our grant application to council so that you can have really a reaffirmed snapshot of what we'll be doing with our federal funds. The federal dollars are specifically for the formula [11:02:14 AM] grants. And I don't see the presentation up. I don't know if that's problematic or not. I'm happy to pause until we get that or you may be able to see it and I just can't. Here we go. You can advance the slide, please. So we have four formula grants we'll be reviewing today. And those are the community development block grants, the home investment partnership fund, housing opportunities for persons with AIDS, and the emergency solutions grant. And if you want to advance the slight that would be great. We can keep going through that. A little bit about the process. Again, we have five years in our consolidated plan. That's a five-year strategic plan. And then we are on year two of the five years. [11:03:14 AM] And so we're in our first current action plan. And what we'll be bringing to you on July 30th is year two of five. And then every year around December we submit to hud our consolidated annual performance and evaluation report, which provides the community, hud and our council, with the accomplishments and overall -- an overall look at how we serve the community through those federal dollars. You can advance the slide actually through the transition slides. I notice in the transition in a virtual meeting the slides are a little awkward, so I apologize for that. This particular slide really just talks through the investment categories, and the investment categories are in specific areas of investment. And again, we're really only [11:04:15 AM] looking at the federal dollars. We will in the next couple of slides in a moment break down how important the local funds are to our investment portfolio, the infusion of the general obligation bonds is game changing for community development and housing and so we want to always talk through how the community has really enriched the portfolio of our services and programs through providing those local dollars. So again these investment category amounts are just looking at the four formula grants for fiscal year 20-2021. And starting with homeless assistance, you know our investment in homeless assistance is significant, but again the 1.8 is really just talking through the four formula grants and how we'll be utilizing these dollars. That in our department is really funding the tenant based rental assistance [11:05:19 AM] program. If you go to right in the center the special needs are our public services contracts and those are serving mental health services for at-risk youth, childcare services, services for seniors. And those contracts will be administered beginning this next year by the Austin public health department. This is a significantly excellent partnership with Austin public health because they will be able to take a look at those investments through the lens of their overall portfolio for social services and these contracts will be competed beginning in probably around fiscal year 22 so that there is a holistic approach to our social services and how we're funding those even with the community development block grant funds. To the right top row is our community development assistance. The bulk of these dollars will be going to a workforce [11:06:21 AM] development initiative, and this will be a partnership with the economic development department. I want to acknowledge and thank David Culligan who is on the line with us today should there be questions related to this partnership. However, what we found when we went through our needs assessment, through the consolidated plan, is as much concern and prioritization from the community around job creation and employment stabilization services as we did obviously with housing. And so we looked at the community development block grant as an opportunity to meet the needs that we were hearing and through the last year and a half have worked with the economic development department to formulize how we can deploy the community development block grant dollars in partnership still through the opportunity and affordability outcome area, but in deep partnership with [11:07:22 AM] our colleagues at EdD. So second row to the left is our housing development assistance program. I won't spend too much time on this slide because the next slide will go into more detail. Again, that program portfolio has been infused with local funds. We still do have a small amount in there of federal dollars, which assists our community development -- community housing development organizations or what we know as chodos. Homeowner assistance specifically is a number of our home repair programs. I will note that our home repair programs for fiscal year 21 are level funding. We are not decreasing funding in there and there's a slide that goes into more detail so I won't spend much time on that. Renter assistance is primarily our tenants rights services and that is level funding as well. I will note, however, that a [11:08:23 AM] lot of the coronavirus funding made available through congressional appropriations which Mandy has just gone through in detail hazel evacuated significantly our tenants' rights services and our tenant stabilization services so we feel, you know, that the increased dollars in investment in that area made available through rent is going to be an excellent leveraging point for this service area. And finally our home buyer assistance, this primarily is our down payment assistance program. And we have seen a steady increase in the pipeline of activity there and so that too is level funding. If you can advance to the next slide. Really wanted to just be sure that we talk through two key highlights. Often times when we talk about our programmatic portfolio I know this is a focus on the federal dollars, but we really just [11:09:23 AM] want to highlight how the local dollars are leveraging those federal funds. And so as you can see here with almost $59 million allowing for the housing developer assistance and three primary categories, rental, ownership and land acquisition, the general obligation affordable housing bond program is working beautifully with those local dollars, but also a small part of our federal funds do go there. Next slide. And finally our home repair services for seniors, wanted to just highlight that we are utilizing our federal dollars as we have for a number of years, and we have the six million dollars in G.O. Repair, which has rounded out our programmatic portfolio for home repair programs quite nicely. This is again the G.O. Repair program is seeing level funding as is all of [11:10:24 AM] the activities noted on that slide. Next slide, please. I wanted to take just a few minutes on the capacity building for workforce development. Again in partnership with the economic development department and these funds will support workforce development training opportunities to up skill and reskill furloughed or previously furloughed workers. This is obviously an area of need, particularly as we are responding to continued relief work due to covid and households that are impacted and adversely impacted by covid-19. And the economic development department is working to round out a statement of work and will be working with non-profit communities as well as likely workforce solutions to administer these dollars. And again, should there be questions at the end of the [11:11:24 AM] presentation, we have David who has been instrumental in lifting this particular area and will be lead in working with us in this particular area again funded with roughly two million of community block grant dollars. Next slide, actually you can just move through the transition slide as well. I wanted to really just give you -- this is outside of the federal dollars that energy the action plan, just a stress point there that what we will be bringing to council July 30th is just related to the four formula grants noted in gray where this slide is noting. The blue, however, is cares act funding -- I'm sorry, can you go back just one to the chart where -- thank you very much. Cares act funding that is assisting us on a number of fronts in our deployment of dollars both in the Austin [11:12:26 AM] public health as well as housing. So so you can see there in gray our formula grants that you will be acting on July 30th, but they are deeply leveraged with the blue, which is the cares act funding. Those are being programmed as hud is making those dollars available. So this is a little -- it's not necessarily confusing, but from a timing perspective we have those traunches of dollars in blue moving to you all as hud is making them available. And that is why through a number of the past council meetings over the course of the last several months you all have been approving budget amendments both for the housing department as well as the Austin public health. Those are key dollars helping us lift programs either intact or create new programs to get relief and recovery dollars out to the community. [11:13:26 AM] And the next slide is just additional details about where those specific activities have been funded with what we call CV, which is coronavirus dollars. You will see the funding source on the right. Again, these are outside of our formula grants. These are coronavirus supplemental dollars being made available by hud. And interestingly you see the emergency solutions grant, esg, the administering department is Austin public health, and it says cv1 because hud is now making another allocation available. And I believe Austin public health has an amendment to their budget coming to you all also on July 30th that will be cv2, which is the coronavirus second allocation to emergency solutions grant.. Final slide really is just an action plan timeline we [11:14:27 AM] want you all to know. Again, we've been working through the amendments as hud dollars are coming available. We are here today July 21st, and then July 30th, there will be a public hearing on the action plan with an action item noted on the same day on the agenda so that we can submit this particular grant application to hud no later than August 15th. With that, we just really -- this was a -- we wanted to give you just a -- a glance at what is coming to you on your agenda. For July 30th, and we are happy to answer questions here in between and certainly we will be available to you July 30th. There's a number of ways to engage with us around this issue. They are noted there on the slide. And -- and available for questions now or in the future. We recognize your time today ends in five minutes. [11:15:28 AM] >> Casar: Thank you. I know we will continue to be hearing about this as it comes up. Councilmember harper-madison and then vice chair Ellis. >> Harper-madison: I promise to keep it really short. I only have one question. Around the community development block grant, I heard workforce development and I heard the number $2 million. Is that accurate? >> Yes, ma'am, that is. >> Harper-madison: So I do have a question about an additional measure of consideration. And whether or not it would be eligible under those -- under the parameters with which we could use those dollars. It's around financial literacy. >> Community development block grant funds, I believe there is eligibility for financial literacy. And so -- so I want to answer your question by saying the eligibility would be there under cdbg and under the two million being looked at for workforce development, we would love to engage with you to [11:16:28 AM] understand a little bit more about your thoughts there, so that we can determine whether or not the -- the current statement of activity or scope being contemplated is responsive. >> Harper-madison: I appreciate that. Just to give you sort of a quick look into what my concerns and considerations are, as we are rightfully handing people real dollars, which they need and as we are rightfully helping people to prepare by way of workforce development and sort of retooling their skill sets, et cetera, I just am very concerned about, one, predatory lenders, you know, the pawn shops and pay day lenders are jumping right now. The second point of consideration and concern there what to do with financial literacy in like budgeting tools, how to -- people are accumulating date right now, amassing debt, how to help walking people through making the determination when and where [11:17:29 AM] to apply a finite amount of dollars, you know. I know that there are just a lot of folks who don't entirely understand the implications of -- of percentage rates. And don't entirely understand the implications of choosing to pay one bill over another or how to evenly disburse a limited amount of funds or which ones to give up because they don't affect your credit. Really, I just think now is an ideal time to dive in and be having some delivery of this type of education to folks who, you know, oftentimes aren't getting it otherwise. And they need it now more than ever. >> So this is beautifully timed. I truly appreciate your comments because we are rethinking how to deploy our financial empowerment programs through what we have called housing as a matter for a very long time. And, you know, if there's [11:18:30 AM] silver linings in the pandemic at all it is because it has really put pressure on on program administrators to rethink how to reach people in a market responsive way, as well as meet them where they are. So we're looking at our housing as a matter class and the curriculum currently. And looking at how to retool that. Not only in the way we are deploying it, but in the curricula itself. So thank you very much. We are absolutely willing to -- to, you know, work with you a little bit more to be sure that your thoughts are informing those new program guidelines. And look forward, actually, to deploying the program in a way that makes sense, not just in this pandemic, but in our market context things do change. And so appreciate those comments and we'll take them into consideration going forward with that. >> Harper-madison: Awesome, I would like that very much. One last thing that I would leave you with, I saw on the [11:19:31 AM] dec website they go so granular as to talk people through like car buying. If you make this much money, this is what you can afford to purchase with a car -- oftentimes it was basically saying you can't afford a $500 a month care payment. This is what you can afford when you buy a car. Your apr needs to be this or less. I want us to get really, really granular. As you are talking about curriculum, I definitely want to be a part of the conversation and there's some organizations that we're already working with that I know would also enjoy being a part of that dialogue in helping people move forward in the most empowered and independent way as possible. Thank you, Rebecca, I appreciate it. >> Absolutely. That is excellent. And I'll end by saying we do envision a solicitation and so we will absolutely get with you to better understand the different organizations that might be interested in knowing when that solicitation will be deployed. >> Casar: Vice chair Ellis, I'm going to pass the chair to you so you can ask your question, wrap up the meeting and adjourn it, [11:20:32 AM] because I have to go. But I appreciate all of the work that this committee and the staff are doing to -- to, one, pull folks out of homelessness and protect them during the pandemic and then, two, to prevent thousands of people from falling into the same circumstances because we can see how fragile people in our community's economic condition really is during covid-19. So thank you for what you are doing and we'll do everything that we can to keep people in their homes at this time. Thanks. >> Ellis: Thanks, chair. My comments are not really a question but I wanted to reiterate that the census is currently going on. When we talk about the allocation of federal funding according to the census, it is very important that you fill out yours and remind your neighbors to fill out their census while it's still going on because it helps us with infrastructure, housing allocations, other sorts of federal funding to make sure that everyone in the community is getting their fair share of assistance. [11:21:33 AM] The other one is to make sure that during this time, during the pandemic, when we are meeting remotely, that you need to check out the -- the council meeting agenda and look at the clerk's office recommendations for signing up to speak. There's a lot of people who are used to being able to sign up the morning of that meeting and things have changed a little bit since we're all trying to make things work remotely. And you will have to sign up the day before, I believe. So if you want to provide comment during the public hearing on this action plan, we very much want to hear what you have to say. You just may need to do a little bit of planning ahead of time to make sure that you are registered with the clerk's office and they know how to route you to our public comment process. Are there any more questions or comments before we adjourn? I know we still need to ask if there's any other future items we want to discuss at the next meeting. But I wanted to make sure that we had all of our questions and comments addressed on item no. 4 before doing that. Looks like we're good. [11:22:34 AM] All right. Well, make sure to chat with me or Greg if you have other items, councilmembers, to put on the next agenda. With that, it is 11:22, I will adjourn this issue of the housing and planning committee. [Adjourned]. 11:22 A.M. [1:00:23 PM] >> Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you for joining us for this remote meeting of the cap metro board of directors. Appreciate the board and &-ústaff members who are able to join us here in the virtual meeting room. And I understand we're streaming this meeting live on the cap metro website. Before we get started, just a couple of the usual reminders, so that everyone can be heard and so that we don't get an echo or in my case frequently little white dogs in the background, I would ask everyone to please put your microphone on mute when you're not speaking. Also because not everyone will be visible at all times, I'll be asking each board member for a verbal vote of aye or nay when the action comes on the items. We have a lot to get to today so we'll get our meeting started. It is Monday, July the 20th and our time is 12:03. Since we have last been [1:01:25 PM] together board colleagues, I'm very sorry to report that we have lost an additional two members of our team to covid and we've had a large number of folks who have tested positive. So I just want to stop for a moment and recognize the heroic efforts of our frontline people who are out there continuing to move people between their homes and work or their homes and health care or their homes and education. I notice we're still getting 40,000 people a day, and unfortunately as a consequence to some degree of that, then our own folks have tested positive. So I'd like to now before we get into the substance of our meeting, just have a moment of silence for our colleagues. And I won't mention names because I don't think we've asked for permission to share, but let's just take a moment of silence here in [1:02:26 PM] recognition of our employees who lost their lives to covid. Thank you very much. On a happier note, our first item today is the recognition of an important milestone for cap metro and many of our colleagues at cap metro. As of July the first of this year, cap metro has served our community for 35 years. And we'd like to recognize some members -- some special members of the cap metro family. The employees we're about to recognize have been here since the very beginning and [1:03:28 PM] some even before with the Austin transit system. They've all been a great part of our success and some names that you will recognize from prior recognitions on a number of things. It's especially gratifying to be able to call out the names of these employees because all of you are frontline workers who have kept the system moving during the challenges of this global pandemic. You've been moving Austin and your long service to capital metro, moves me and moves our board members. Each of the employees we're about to call out has received a service pin for their years of service, some gift cards and a little trophy as a thank you for their long-standing commitment to capital metro and to our larger community. Ed, if you will pull up the presentation we'll go through the names of these great employees. While he's doing that I hope all of you are able to watch [1:04:29 PM] and your family members see as well how much we appreciate you. I'm going to read the list of names. Sylvia Garza Warren, here since 1985. Rene guirjardo since 1985. Rafael, been here since 1985. George Franklin bus operator, here since may of 1985. Cassandra Lee, bus operator here with us since may of 1985. Next page Gilbert Lee bus operator here with us since may of 1985. Pete baez, bus operator since us with April of 1985. Jeffrey store, mechanic since April of 1985. [1:05:30 PM] Pearl Jackson, deputy city manager of carts here since April of 1985. And John Malone, bus operator with us since March of 1985. Next slide, please. Mel cor gallon vin here with us since July of 1984. Maria Dell va Cruz a bus operator since November of 1984. Gary [indiscernible], with us since July 1983. Arthur morio, with us since December 1985. Dave marsh, general manager carts, December 1983. Next slide, please. Wayne Risby, bus operator with us since November 1982. Juanita cardeno, bus operator isn't September 1982. Lupe Mendoza, master [1:06:32 PM] mechanic with us since December 1981, 39 years. Paul torres, master mechanic with us since October 1981, 39 years. Armando estran, with us since April 1981, 39 years. Mr. Risby that I mentioned earlier, 38 years, and Ms. Cordona, 38 years. Pretty spectacular. Next slide, please. Charles devia, 41 years. Mt Louis, bus operator since March 79, 41 years. Joel mason, bus operator since February 1977, 43 years. Edward swan, bus operator since February 1974, 46 years. Is that it? [1:07:37 PM] >> Chair, could I ask you a question? >> Sure. >> I think you may have mentioned this before, but this is an impressive number of people how many are are we talking about who have been with us more than 35 years? >> 24. >> 24? >> Yes. >> How about a remote round of applause for these folks who have really been the cornerstones of capital metro. [Applause]. >> I might be stretching a little bit, but some of these people have been driving for cap metro longer than I've been alive or something like that. >> Wow. >> A couple of them beat me [1:08:40 PM] to that! >> Really fantastic. I sure wish we were able to be together and hopefully when we get back together again we can have everybody and have a proper celebration. But in the meantime a tip of the hat to all of you. We're really proud of you and very grateful for your service. Thank you. >> Next, normally we would be taking up public comment, but I understand we did not have anybody sign up to speak today so we're going to move on to our advisory committee updates. Mr. Banks, are you with us somewhere, and if so, what kind of suit are you wearing today? >> Oh, it's-- I'm tame today, I think. Let me get my camera on. If I know how to use technology I could do better. Here we go. Tame, just a gray jacket, red shirt. Hopefully you are having a good Monday morning. >> Hold on one second. Ed, I don't think we need [1:09:42 PM] the presentation up unless -- all right. We want Yanez in all of his full glory. >> I appreciate that. Yeah, so for access we own over -- let me pull up that agenda. Access they went over the 30th anniversary, Ada anniversary, what we'll be doing, martin presented that to them and let them know what our plan was to celebrate the Ada as well as cap metro's anniversary. Andy Murphy gave a vehicle update on the new wheelchair securement systems that we'll be having in the vehicles. The two new ones we're trying out that are in some of the vehicles already. Of course there's another grocery update and wi-fi program update to let them know you about the going. And I was slated to do the project connect update and Dave was outland they got it as well, a project connect update. And we were invited to go [1:10:43 PM] and do a presentation to aunt council for the blind on the project connect, which we did this past Saturday that went very well. Once again, they're a very important community for us and want them to understand how the Ada project connect will be, as well as just what's going to be happening so we want to make sure we were addressing them and encourage them to invite us to more meetings of other groups as well. For csac, Dave came and gave a red line update. That was a request from csac, they had some questions about the red line and just wanted to know, one, how project connect was impacting that, and two, just where it was as far as the improvements that we're doing so they got updated about that as well as the downtown station. Sam gave an update on our good hands program. They had been hearing bits and pieces of it, but they got the totality of it from Sam. And Dave was also there so he gave a project connect [1:11:44 PM] update to csac as well. And that was pretty much it for those committees. >> Thank you. Did you send Randy to your barber or vice versa? >> Randy referred me to his. >> All right, very well. Next we'll go to board committee updates. Finance committee did not meet this month. I think campo was on summer recess, so chair Travillion would you like to give that update? >> Forgive me for not wearing a red shirt. We actually met on the 15th. We had a good meeting. You will see that we initially had four action item but one was pulled for a little more research so we put two items on the agenda today, both much them are engine for consent. We also had a discussion on [1:12:46 PM] our proposed budget and security and emergency updates. So everything was in order and we passed our action items to the committee today. >> Thank you, chair Travillion. The board will now move to our consent agenda. We've got three items. Before I read them are there any members of the board who wish to have any removed from the consent agenda and have that considered on the action agenda. Hearing none I will plow ahead. The three items are approval of the minutes from the June 10, 2020 and June 22nd 2020 board meetings. Number two, approval of a contract extension with mtm inc. For metro action third-party functional a assessments. And number three is approval of a contract with illuminator technology group for the purchase of vehicle video systems. [1:13:51 PM] Any -- advice having read those, the chair will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> So moved. >> Motion by commissioner Travillion. Is there a second? >> Second by Stratton. >> Second Terry Mitchell. >> We have a second by member Stratton. Thank you. I'll do a roll call vote if you don't mind. Commissioner Travillion? >> Aye. >> Member Stratton? >> Yes. >> Councilmember kitchen? >> Yes. >> Vice-chair Garza? >> Yes. >> Councilmember Renteria? >> Yes. >> Member Mitchell? >> Yes. >> Mayor hill? >> Yes. >> And cooper is eye as well. So -- cooper is aye as well so the motion carries. We'll next take up our action items, starting with [1:14:51 PM] an item for the approval of a contract for the quadrennial performance audit services. Mr. Fulmer, would you like to take us through that? >> Yes, sir. Good afternoon, board members, president Clarke, my name is Terry Fulmer and I'm the vice-president of internal audit. I'm seeking approval of a resolution authorizing the president, CEO or his designee to finalize and execute an contract with weaver Tidwell L for performance audit services for a period of 180 days in an amount not to exceed 180,000, 6 then dollars. Capital metro is required to undergo a performance review once every four years under section 441.454 of the Texas transportation code. A third-party audit consulting firm is required to be contracted to perform this independent and objective review. We issued an rfp back on April 1st and we received seven proposals for this [1:15:54 PM] work. The transportation code has two purposes for this review. Number one, to provide necessary information for the performance of oversight functions by state and local officers, and number two, to provide capital metro with the necessary information to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations and maintenance functions. [Indiscernible]. Compliance with applicable state laws, including the transportation code. Number two is benchmarking a performance indicators against other transit agencies such as operating costs for passenger, operating cost per revenue mile, on time performance, fare recovery rate and several other metrics. The third and final area of the scope of the review, and is the main focus, is the administration and management of the authority. The timing and report distribution for this project with weaver and Tidwell will be -- will complete the review by the [1:16:55 PM] december-january time frame and create an audit report covering the required areas under Texas transportation code. This report will be issued to the cap metro board together to cap metro's response to the recommendations. A copy of this report and the authority's response to the report is required to be sent to the following seven government authorities: The Texas state governor, the lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, each member of the legislator whose district includes a territory in the authority, the Texas state auditor, the county judge of each county having tear another in the authority and finally, the presiding officer of the golfing body of each municipality having territory in the authority. I will plan on presenting the final results of this review to the February 2021faa committee meeting as well as the February board meeting. I want to thank the maintains of the procurement department for the good work done in performing the [1:17:55 PM] solicitation which represents savings of $65,000 over what was paid in the 2016 quadrennial review. That concludes my presentation. Please let me know if you have any final questions before you vote on this contract. >> Thank you, Terry. Questions for Mr. Fulmore? Any questions? Very well. The chair will entertain a motion then with respect to action item number one, approval of a contract with weaver and Tidwell L for quadrennial performance audit services. Is there a motion? >> So moved, Terry. >> Motion by member Mitchell. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Seconded by councilmember Renteria. Thank you. Any discussion? No discussion? Well then, we'll move to the vote. Commissioner Travillion? [1:18:55 PM] >> Aye. >> Member Stratton? >> Aye. >> Councilmember kitchen? >> Yes. >> Vice-chair Garza? >> Yes. >> Councilmember Renteria? >> Yes. >> Member Mitchell? >> Yes. >> Mayor hill? >> Yes. >> And cooper is an aye as well so the motion carries 8-0, but thank you Terry and members of the procurement team for making that happen. >> The next item is number 2, approval of an extension to an aisle la with Austin community college for student and employee transit passes. Reinet, the floor is yours. >> Good morning, chair cooper, board members, president and CEO Clarke. Can you all hear me okay? >> Yes. >> I'm reinet marneweck, the CEO of capital metro. [1:19:55 PM] I'm here today to ask for your approval of the resolution to authorize the president and CEO or his designee to extend an interlocal agreement with Austin community college for student and employee transit passes. As you may remember, a capital metro and ACC entered into an interlocal agreement in 2018 that established a fixed fee as fair payment for ACC students and employees to use our transit services. The new agreement was very successful and for the 12 months ended fiscal year 2019, ACC ridership increased by 20%. This is the annual extension of that agreement as well as accommodation for the impact of covid-19 and the reduction in the utilization of their services due to the pandemic. [1:20:55 PM] This agrement stipulates that for the months of April and may of 2020, capital metro will not invoice ACC consistent with cap metro's waiver of fares for all customers during that period. Then due to very low ridership it also establishes a pay per ride arrangement for the months of June 2020 through December 2020. And then the fixed fee of 36,215 per month will resume from the months of January 2021 through August of 2021. Note that the fixed fee is escalated every year as per the producer price index. For this year that increase was 1.3%. A copy of the interlocal agreement is also in your packet. Do you have any questions? >> Questions for [1:21:58 PM] Ms. Marneweck? No questions? Very well, the motion then is that -- let me read the motion and ask if anybody wants to make it. The draft motion is resolved that the cap metro board of directors -- I'm sorry, that the president and CEO or his designee is authorized an interlocal agreement with Austin community college for student and employee transit passes that establishes a pay per ride arrangement for paratransit, rail and fixed route services for the months of June 2020 through December 2020 and that establishes for the months of January 2021 through August 2021 a flat fee for paratransit, rail and fixed route bus services of $236,232 per month. Does anybody want to make that motion, please? [1:23:01 PM] Member kitchen? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by commissioner Travillion. Discussion in. I just want to say kudos to our team for continuing this relationship. I think it is one that has been very beneficial for both of us and there was a period of time when we did not have this sort of relationship with ACC and I think we're doing a lot of good for the community and I think having a partnership with ACC is very valuable to us and is especially helpful to the young folks making their way through ACC. So this has been I think an important contributor to our ridership, and please if we can accommodate the change in circumstances and continue this agreement. If there are no more [1:24:02 PM] comments or discussions we'll move forward with the vote. Commissioner Travillion? >> Aye. >> Member Stratton? >> Aye. >> Councilmember kitchen? >> Yes. >> Vice-chair Garza? >> Yes. >> Councilmember Renteria? >> Yes. >> Member Mitchell? >> Yes. >> And mayor hill? >> Aye. >> Cooper is an aye as well. The motion carries, thank you. Next we have action item number 3, approval of a contract with kpmgllp for consulting services. It's a good day for accountants at capital metro. >> Good afternoon then. This is reinet marneweck, cfo of capital metro. I'm here today to ask for your approval of the resolution to authorize the president and CEO or his designee to finalize and execute a contract with [1:25:06 PM] KPMG, llp for enterprise resource planning or Erp consulting services for a base period of one year and one 24-month option period in an amount not to exceed two million $381,291. Just to give you some background, cap metro currently uses capital dynamics 2012 as our aarp system which is no longer being actively updated by the vendor. Mainstream support for this by the vendor is expected to end by 2021 and we are seeking out third-party support until the system can be replaced. As part of the state of the good repair program, it is imperative to replace this mission critical system that is at the end of its useful life. [1:26:06 PM] The new system is expected to eliminate short comings that currently exist and add critical features that will improve efficiencies. Staff does not have the expertise to require and implement a system of this complexity and a consultant will be needed to guide us through the selection and implementation process. No sbe goal is assigned to this procurement due to the limited contracting opportunity for professional services of this technical nature. However, our office of diversity will be working with KPMG on the commitment of their subcontractor, netty systems consultant, a certified sbe in Texas that is identified as their subject matter expert in the transit industry. This procurement was done using the request for proposal method and evaluation team determined that the proposal from KPMG, [1:27:07 PM] llp was the best value for the authority price and other factors considered. The contract is a fixed price contract and the term of the contract is one year for that base year of a $1,049,611, and one 24-month option period of $1,331,000 for a total price of two million $381,291. Does anyone have any questions? >> Questions for reinet? Councilmember Renteria? >> Can you let me know when -- how long of after life does -- I'm assuming it's a software package, isn't that correct? >> Yes, it is a software system and your life could [1:28:09 PM] be almost indefinite if you procure the correct system that is continually upgraded. So many of the tier 1 solutions that's out there like Oracle and sip, if you regularly upgrade the system and you stay with the latest version, you can use that system many years. With dynamics this version that was procured back in I believe 2013, it was implemented -- it started in 2015, is the onpremise solution and Microsoft is no longer expanding that system. They have moved to a cloud solution, but for us to migrate to the cloud version would be the same as doing a complete new installation of the new system and considering the limitations that we have experienced with Microsoft dynamics, we prefer to do a procurement and to evaluate all the [1:29:11 PM] systems that are available on the market so that we can implement a system that can last us a really long time. Because the Erp implementation is a very lengthy and costly process to go through. >> Okay, thank you. >> Stratton, did you have a question? >> >> Yes. Just spit balling it on average, do you happen to have an idea of what an enterprise planning resource planning system costs. >> It could be anywhere from for our size agency, I'm estimating anywhere from two to three million. What this consultant will be able to do for suss they will be able to do -- help us do an alternative analysis and a needs assessment to identify that we get a best fit system that will work for happy happy's existing size as well as post project connect when we may be a much bigger [1:30:12 PM] agency. >> And did I understand from reading the information in the board packet that as part of their option period for years two and three that gets us up to that 2.381-million-dollar mark that we can also utilize the option to have them help us to implement whatever that we decide to bring on board? Whatever they recommend would be an appropriate solution for us that obviously would be a different contract, they could be -- we could have them stick around to use their expertise to help us and their staffing and training to help us make it happen? >> Yes, the option period in year 2 and 3 is to help us through the implementation and to represent the agency to ensure that the firm or the company that was selected to implement the system, that they are following the specifications and delivering on their [1:31:13 PM] promises. >> Okay. >> Sand this money right now, would this be coming out of our budget for fiscal year 20 or would this ultimately be coming out of fiscal year 2021 funds? >> This is a procurement that the dollars are over three years and we did budget for it in the five-year capital improvement plan. >> Thanks reinet. Appreciate it. >> Member Travillion? >> All right. I understand the difficulty of going from a current system to a cloud-based system. And what I'm interested in, and I know sometimes it is easier to shore up an existing system, rather to embark on another cloud-based system. But what I'd really like to know and we work through year one is looking at the cloud-based systems which are most compatible to this [1:32:14 PM] system, and to think about and cost out what a data migration would actually require in terms of operational steps, but in terms of cost as well. So that when we look at the option period we can decide whether it is good to continue tin to invest in our current system or identify the type of cloud-based system that we might want to migrate to. So to begin the comparison of what we get for staying where we are, if there are significant cost savings versus what the functionality of a cloud based system which might enhance our ability to find, manage and use data. So I just want to make sure that we are conducting that side by side analysis in [1:33:17 PM] year one so that as we get to year two we can give you more direct feedback on the direction that we ought to take. >> Yes, we will evaluate all those options during the evaluation phase. I just need to point out that this system cannot be upgraded. It's no longer being updated by Microsoft and mainstream support for this is also expected to end in October 2021. So we don't have the option to upgrade the system. We have the option to migrate to their cloud version of diagnostics, but we've been told that that is in scope almost the same as implemening a Erp system. But that would definitely be one of the options that we would be evaluating is to go from the on premise solution to the cloud solution, while we also explore the functionality and features [1:34:19 PM] of other systems that is available. Some of the shortcomings that we've had with dynamics is that it hasn't been able to process our grants, so grant administration is still being done in excel. We were still not able to use its accounting project module with our projects. So with the current Erp system, a lot of the current work is still being done in excel around the system. And when we look for a new Erp system, we're looking for a system that can -- that has a very robust capital projects module as well as a grants module. >> I want to make sure that we also give particular emphasis to data ownership and data security. If it is a cloud solution, you know, where will the data be housed and who owns [1:35:20 PM] it. Does cap metro own it, or does the company own it? Terms of accessibility and the need to managing security as well. >> Yes. Our I.T. And legal department are very much on top of data ownership and security issues when we do I.T. Type procurements. >> All right, thank you. >> Other questions for reinet? Very well. The motion -- the draft& motion is be it resolved that the president and CEO and his designee is authorized to finalize and execute a contract with kpgm, llp for enterprise resource planning consulting services for a base period of one year and one 24-month option period in an amount not to exceed $2,381,291. Is there a motion? [1:36:22 PM] >> Question, Mr. Chair. I tell you what, I'll make the motion and then ask the question in the question period. >> Molestation by commissioner Travillion. A second? >> Second, member Stratton. >> Member Renteria beat you to the punch. [Laughter]. >> Okay. Commissioner Travillion? >> Okay. I just want to make sure that we will have the assessment and input to the general direction or staff's recommendations for the direction of the contract adds we consider going into -- as we consider going into an option period. >> I agree with what board member Travillion is saying. Please keep us posted on this and what the -- what -- if we pass this what KPMG, [1:37:23 PM] the contractor, what their results are, so we can be in the loop on this and make decisions on what direction we're going as part of the project management workflow and direction on this so that we're symptom still in the loop on this project and something it this massive that impacts the system for years and years. >> We can certainly do that. And of course we can update you once we've completed the alternative analysis and what we have identified as the best fit. But when the actual Erp system is selected, that would also be a procurement that would be coming in front of the board for approval. >> And commissioner Travillion's question, the question as to whether within the first year we would have the recommendation and whether the option periods would be dealing with the implementation of the [1:38:26 PM] recommendations. Impervious cover so that we have the recommendations before the -- >> So that we have the recommendations before the time in which we go into a potential option period? >> Yes, we can do that. >> Other questions? >> If there are no other questions or-- any discussion? Then we'll move forward with the vote. Commissioner Travillion? >> Aye. >> Member Stratton? >> Aye. >> Councilmember kitchen? >> Aye. >> Vice-chair Garza? >> Yes. >> >> Councilmember Renteria? >> Yes. >> Member Mitchell? >> Yes. >> Mayor hill? >> Yes. >> Cooper is any as well. The motion carries 8-0. Thank you. Thank you, reinet. Reinet, you're up as well for agenda item number 34, [1:39:26 PM] approval of a contract with bytemark, inc. To upgrade our capital metro existing fare system. >> Good afternoon again, reinet marneweck, cfo of capital metro. This presentation on customer payment systems is in support of the resolution to finalize and execute a contract with bytemark, inc., to upgrade capital metro's existing fare system in an amount not to exceed six million. It is with great pleasure that I am presenting to you today exciting new customer payment system upgrades that will allow our customers additional fast and easy ways to pay their fares. This includes being able to tap and pay with their phones or with cap metro smart card or with their NFC bank credit cards. This will also expand our [1:40:27 PM] contactless payment methods during the pandemic through the use of our bus onboard validaters that are currently being installed on all our buses on all of our doors. This will also be able to Wrigley roll out equitable payment solutions like fare capping with the first pilot planned for this calendar year. This is just to remind you of the vision that was previously presented to you in October 2018 and again in July 2019. As we have been developing fare strategies vision and implementation plan. The only item that's new is on the top that we've updated the vision to add healthier options as a key part of the vision because of the impact of covid-19. Next page. >> We engaged [indiscernible] As our fare [1:41:28 PM] strategy consultant working on our fare strategy. They spent several actions with us on site to discuss existing fare capabilities and also met with stakeholders to identify what the issues were as well as what fare programs we want to offer in the future and what our customers are asking for. I also provided information on what other transit agencies are doing and what the capabilities are of new fare products and which fare systems would be scalable enough to meet the demands of project connect. We found that to build a system from the ground up would be costly and time consuming and that there is no single vendor that has a completely rolled out fully integrated account-based fair system for an agency of our current size that is also scalable. Some of the bigger vendors out there have developed [1:42:30 PM] components of the system and then act as the is system integrator to integrate with the other fare systems. Building a system from scratch has some pros and cons and we examined those extensively before determining that our best alternative was to leverage the investments we've already made and upgrade the bytemark fare system we already have in place. The foundation is there and bytemark has built the payment architecture platform based on their selection for the Columbus smart city grant and we will be able to take advantage of that and the investments we have already made. To upgrade the existing system will cost significantly less and can be done much quicker than buying a new system. Next page. This depicts our existing fare systems that already [1:43:30 PM] are provided by bytemark or integrated with bytemark. These symptoms will be integrated into the bytemark accounting banking system as depicted by the piece in the middle. The item circled in yellow are existing products that will be upgraded and the two items in green will be new features that I will explain in more detail in my subsequent slides. For the past year we've been practicing on our fare strategy and initiatives ABC are already underway. Initiative a is the mobile app upgrades that we launched last summer and this summer. We also have the ticket vending machines that are currently under testing. And the bus onboard validator expansion that will start the installation this summer and will continue through the winter. [1:44:30 PM] Item number B is what we are here for today. And in item number C is already contracted with bytemark to integrate the mobile app for B cycle and pickup use. Then this procurement has five phases as depicted on this road map as phase 1 through five and I'll describe them more in subsequent slides. And then item number six is the replacement of the cash fare box and vaulting system that are also at end of life for which we will do a procurement in 2021. Next page. So just to explain more about what is an account based backing system, bytemark already has an account based system, but since the cap metro system is currently ticket based, the ticket is associated with the account and the [1:45:31 PM] ticket is validated by the fare system to check if the fare has been paid. By switching from ticket validation to account validation because account based backing system in the cloud. So in the mute your phone or your smart card will identify your account and through the account based backing system it will determine whether you have prepaid or whether you need to be charged. Next page. This first page of the development is very exciting and it is projected to be deployed this calendar year. It will enable cash to be loaded on to the mobile cap metro app wallet and this will allow more customers to use their phone for contactless payment of fares. It will also enable fare capping on the mobile phone whereby customers can pay [1:46:32 PM] for single rides and then when the fare cap level is reached they can ride for free for the rest of the period. This provides discounts to customers who are not able to buy a period pass upfront, but can earn it as they ride. You can look at the example on the screen how users would be able to track their progress towards earning a free pass. We are also evaluating a pilot program with this to offer fare capping to low income customers and will be working with the community to define how that pilot will work. On more on this to come later this year. Next page. Phase 2 is the upgrade of the customer web portal so that it interface with the accounting banking system and where customers can hang their accounts. Next page. [1:47:35 PM] Phase 3 is estimated to make 12 to 15 months from notice to proceed and will deliver most of the exciting new features. We'll have a capital metro branded smart card that will be available at an extensive retail network that includes stores like seven 11, family dollar, dollar general, CVS and many more. Customers with use cash or credit card to load funds on to this smart card and with this card they can just cap against the bus onboard validator and do contactless payment of their fare. If they want they can register their card on the customer web portal to benefit from various fare programs. Or if they want to stay anonymous, they don't need to register their card and they can still load cash on to the card and use that to ride. This phase also enables the full account-based fare [1:48:35 PM] capping that will then be available on all of our fare systems. Please note that this procurement is for the technology that would enable fare capping. That will be a fare policy change and will require extensive community engagement and board participation and approval. Xt page. Another impressive feature will become available in phase 4 and will take the longest to deploy. This will enable any customer that has an NFC enabled bank credit card in their wallet to use that card, tap it against the bus onboard validator and pay their fare. So if you have a look at your credit cards in your wallet and if it has that little bolo your card, then that card is already NFC enabled. [1:49:37 PM] Next page. The base year of the cost of the contract is 2.4 million and then there are four option periods over an additional three years plus a contingency with a total not to exceed of $6,021,346. So in summary this system upgrade will quickly offer our customers the latest available technologies for payment systems while all expanding our contactless payment options for the health and safety of our customers and bus operators. This will also enable us to quickly offer fare capping to our low income customers and offer more fast and easy ways to pay. Do you have any questions? >> Questions for reinet? None? >> Yes. >> Member Stratton. [1:50:40 PM] >> Reinet, thank you so much. I appreciate what you and your team have done doing this. I know we've been looking at this for a knowledge time. It's been an ongoing project. I want to clarify something here. The system integrator approach that y'all were looking at, I want to tie this back to our previous discussion in somewhat of a way with the enterprise resource planning. If we want with the new integrator, my previous discussions is offline with you is that would be like taking -- like -- it would be like starting over from scratch and building out something completely new. And it would cost a factor of like potentially a five or 10 time factor of of what we've got right now with bytemark. But the difference is [1:51:42 PM] bytemark right now, we still have the ability to continue the upgrades, to continue the plug-ins, to continue taking the system itself and upgrading it and making it work for our needs as we grow as a system. It's going to be able to grow with us. Is that fund mentally the difference? A system integrator you can go out and buy something out of the box, but it's more for these bigger systems and it costs a heck of a lot more and you have to build it from scratch. But with what we've got now we still have the ability and flexibility to continue these incremental upgrades, age all these things you just said at a fraction of the cost? >> That is correct. As reflected with our current mobile app that we've had since 2014, but have continually upgraded to be integrated with more systems and to stay current, [1:52:42 PM] there account based backing system will have an open architecture with open api's that can easily be implemented with any new transport parking initiatives that are available. So we believe that this is capable and adjustable per our needs. >> So for the long-term period of this contract, six million -- it's going to cost six million dollars. You're talking we can get all of these different things whereby if we went the other route we would have to start basically from scratch and it could cost us anywhere from -- you know, we'll be looking at maybe what, double, triple, quadruple even the cost of that to get essentially the same thing, but we'd have to start over? >> Yes. So in this contracted the base year is 2.4 million. If we were to go with the system integrator, the factor would be many [1:53:44 PM] multiples of that to buy a complete new system. Then you would also have to replace things like -- that you already have, for example, the integration that we already have, working on pickup and for -- what we're working on for the tvm's, integration with the onboard validaters, all of those integrations will need to be redone. To the new system. >> This sounds like an amazing return on investment for us and a great fiscal management policy for us as an agency going forward, that for only six million we get all that compared to what the other options are. I think it's wonderful and I appreciate you bringing this to us today as a board to make this decision. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Other questions for reinet? None? The draft motion is be it resolved by the cap metro [1:54:44 PM] transportation authority board of directors that the president and CEO or his designee is authorized to finalize and execute a contract with bytemark, inc. To upgrade cap metro's existing fare systems for the 21% contingency in an amount not to exceed $6,021,346. Do I have a motion? >> So moved, Mr. Chairman. >> Motion by member Stratton. Is second? Second by councilmember Renteria. Thank you. Any discussion? Members? >> I have a question. Sorry if I missed this. It said the presentation says to minimize cash. Is there still an option to take cash? >> We believe with our demographic we will always offer cash as a method of payment. We have the ticket vending machines at the route platforms for cash and on the buses we have the fare boxes, but those fare boxes [1:55:45 PM] are at end of life so in 2021 we'll be doing a procurement to we place the fare boxes. What we want to do is minimize cash and offer our cash customers a method of getting cash on to the phone so that they can also benefit from contactless payment during this pandemic. >> Yeah, okay. I just wanted to -- there's some unbanked people, but I wanted to make sure they had optioned. This is really exciting. I've been at cities where you can just tap your credit card and it's so much more convenient and especially when you're in a new city trying a new system. It's one less thing to have to figure out. I'm excited about this. Thank you for the presentation. >> Thank you. >> Other discussion? Comments? >> I want to add my thanks. We've been talking about doing fare capping I know as long as president Clarke has been here and that we'll [1:56:45 PM] have a get benefit for a lot of folks in our system and it's nice to see us building out the capabilities and continuing to leverage the assets we already have. So I'm proud of what y'all are doing here. Commissioner Travillion? You're muted. >> Still muted. >> Working on it. I pushed it about 12 times. I just want to say that board member Garza's point was a really good point. I think that for convenience sake and I think for the direction technology is taking us that this is an excellent process. I just want us to make sure that we regularly inquire about how we can make it easy for people who are unbanked because that is the [1:57:50 PM] reality in our community and I want to make sure that we don't lose site and we are -- lose sight and we can always asking questions to make it easier for folks who have trouble with electronic banking processes. So I support the item. I just want to make sure that we keep that part of our community in our processes and programs as well. >> Yes. We are very conscious of that and an additional feature for unbanked would be that they can go to an extensive retail network and use cash to load on to a smart card and then with that card they can benefit -- they can benefit from various fare programs and tap and pay with that card on the bus validaters in order to have contactless payments. >> Okay. Thank you. >> If I can just add one more, as we roll out this system, and I'm sure y'all [1:58:51 PM] are thinking about it, but just in case. Make sure that we have like psa's in Spanish language on radio and TV. I know the community that I represent they're unbanked because they're sometimes undocumented so they're afraid of government, which they have every right to be. So if we can make sure we're spreading the message in different languages to reach those people that this might affect? >> Yes. The app currently have a Spanish ability and we'll be cognizant to make sure that we communicate with the entire community as we finalize this and roll it out. >> Other comments or discussion? Very well. We'll call roll for a vote now. Commissioner Travillion? >> Aye. >> Member Stratton? >> Aye. >> Councilmember kitchen? [1:59:57 PM] >> Aye. >> Vice-chair Garza? >> Yes. >> Councilmember Renteria? >> Aye. >> Member Mitchell? >> Yes. >> Mayor hill? >> Yes. >> Cooper is an aye as well. The motion carries 8-0. Thank you reinet and thanks to everybody on staff. A lot of work that went into this. Nice to see us moving forward in this-- on this front. President Clarke, something you wanted to add? >> I want to extend my thanks to the staff as well. It's finance team, the I.T. Team, operations, procurement, a lot of individuals and departments were involved in this over the last quite frankly two years, we still have other components to go, but this is a pretty good program where someone would see the outcome, not realize that it's like an iceberg. 90% is behind the scenes to get to the part of actually moving like an app or something else forward, and I just really want to thank the staff. [2:00:58 PM] They did just a fantastic job on this, so thank you. >> Thank you all. Next item has been pulled and that is the discussion of the development agreement with broadmoor. I think negotiations are not to the point where they're ready to present that. Just FYI because one of my colleagues got engaged by broadmoor relative to this project, I have recused myself from this item so I won't be -- I'll ask staff here to keep me out of any conversations and likewise at the law firm. So when that comes up I won't be participating. The next item on the action item agenda is number 6, approval of an Ila with the city of Austin to co-invest and co-manage the Austin bike share program. Chad balance lintine has our presentation. >> Good afternoon, members of the board, chair cooper, president Clarke. I'm Chad balance lintine, [2:02:00 PM] the president of defined response and mobility. Looks like we have a powerpoint here. So I'm here to seek approval of a resolution to finalize and execute an interlocal agreement with stint. Again to co- invest and to co-manage the Austin bike share program for a four-year term with three one-year options in an amount not to exceed $2,250,000. Next slide. So this is a great pip effort that really takes on the existing B cycle system and maximizes its potential. It's a continuation of our bike share conversation we had in may if you recall. This is really the final steps. The final push. We're excited about it. The partnership will kick off with a rebranding of metro bike in the fall. The partnership is important for capital metro and the city of Austin because it fits well within the goals of the Austin strategic mobility plan as well as project connect. So let's just talk some [2:03:00 PM] general quick overview of it. Mobility as a service. So Maas. It's the idea of moving people regardless of the mode, and we know that there's really a strong link between bikes and transit so we wanted to acknowledge that and offer expanded mobility to the community and this is a perfect example of mobility as a service. Also it's an important element to expand the electric assist bikes. We really have seen how they are very successful and we wanted to expand the number of bikes we have on the streets. We want to keep the existing footprints of the existing program and really expand it to a wider community. We do realize that the existing bike share program is very well loved so we don't want to tinker with that. We just want to expand it and make it better. So again, this is a four-year base is what we're looking at here. And the overall idea is that the city of Austin and cap metro are coming together to [2:04:03 PM] share financial and programmatic support for this new metrobike program. Next slide. So at cap metro we do a great job of operating all of our bus, rail and demand response services through a contracted service providers. So this partnership builds upon that strength that we already have and it brings the city of Austin into the fold by sharing the oversight, support and the planning functions. The service provider, in this case will remain the existing non-profit, bsa or bike share of Austin. They've done a great job of managing the program, bike share of Austin has, since day one of the program. And they are ready to work with us on expanding the program into the future. The initial governance structure brings everyone into the fold. This will likely adapt over the years of the partnership, but we really thought it was important that everyone was involved at the oversight level right now. The governance structure prepares cap metro and the city of Austin for investing in the program, expanding its reach and then demonstrating a clear [2:05:03 PM] commitment to mobility options for our community. The next slide. There we go. So metro -- like I said, metro bike is scheduled to launch in the fall. And here's what you should expect. The rebranding of the bikes and the stations, likely keep some mention of the B cycle program. So metro bike by B cycle so we don't lose our existing customers. We're looking at permanent acquisition of at least the 200 ebikes that we have on loan right now if not additional bikes as we do this major rollout. We are also integrating the metrobike service into our app through shared planning. So you can plan a trip on a bike and a bus. It will plan it from origin to destination, including both modes. And then also we're going to be bundling bike and transit passes in our app, so you will be able to go in, our customers will be able to go in and buy a one pass for a [2:06:04 PM] bike and transit, trail make one transaction and they'll be able to have access to both services. So the fall launch will be our first round of many for the metrobike service area expansion and we're really excited about it. It's a really big deal we think. And the city of Austin agrees we've been working very closely with the city of Austin and the department of transportation. And it's really -- it's more than just rebranding existing system. We really envision it to be a highly visible program that allows us to really partner in a new way with the city and make big changes in how people get around the community. So again, we're really excited about this interlocal agreement and this partnership with the city and at this time I can take any questions. Next slide. >> Questions for Chad? Ann? >> Let's see. I have a couple of questions. So -- or just some comments [2:07:06 PM] and questions. So the expansion of the service area, whenever it becomes possible to do that,-I think it would be interesting to look throughout more parts of the city. B kick has tended -- B cycle has tended to be more in the downtown and east part of the city, but it hasn't had much of a reach in terms of throughout the city. So I'm hoping there's an intention to try some other parts of the city. Is that leak a future activity or something you're looking at now in terms of expansion? >> So for expansion we look to do some quick expansions for this fall rollout. We're going to be also looking at the new 3.0 bike hubs so we're going to be putting out some new stations. We'lling testing those. [2:08:06 PM] But a significant expansion of the reach along transit corridors and in areas where we know we need transit or we have pockets of need, we're also going to be coordinating that with the city's bike way and with the active mobility group to make sure that we're connecting to transit as well as bike infrastructure and those kinds of things and then we'll also be looking at income and we'll be looking at other pieces along that line. So we'll be engaging a planning consultant to help us dig in further and make a really good cohesive approach to expansion for the program with equity being a big piece of it. >> Can you -- will you be bringing that back to us at the point where you've identified areas for expansion so that we can help understand what it's looking like in maybe appropriate areas when your consultant thinks through that? >> Yeah, we can bring that too as well as if we're looking at potentially a [2:09:06 PM] further view as well. So like a pretty near term plan as well as a five plus year plan. So we could definitely bring that back and get feedback. We will also be doing a lot of public outreach surrounding those as well. >> Okay. Because I'd like to talk with you further about that. There's been conversation over the years that this could be useful in parts of town where it's more like -- more like the circulator concept in the sense that there are parts of town where it could be helpful for people to get to a bus stop, for example, that's further south, for example, which is the area I'm most family with. And B cycle was never able to expand that far and was really more central city. So when you get to that point I'd love to have a conversation with the people that are thinking that through. So I'm also curious about the oversight committee. I'm assuming you're talking in terms of staff from [2:10:07 PM] the -- staff from the city and staff from cap metro? Is that what that slide meant? >> That's correct, yes. So it would be two staff from the city of Austin and two from cap metro. >> Okay. And I'm sorry, bsa non-voting person is that the B cycle program right now or who is that? >> So that's the non-profit that runs the program. So we wanted them to have a seat at the table because we wanted to understand the history and make sure that we included that as we moved forward. >> Okay. I wanted to confirm that's what you meant. And rebranding, I would just second what you said in terms of retaining in some way the B branding. I agree with the rebranding as metro bike, but it's been known for a long time as B cycle and you said there's a group of people who use B cycle who will want to recognize that that's what [2:11:08 PM] this is. So I think it's important to find a way to include that. >> We will do that for sure. >> >> Other questions for Mr. Ballantine. >> Councilmember Renteria? >> I don't have a question, I have a comment. You know, ever since I've been on the board, we've been trying to figure out how to use the B bike, and I really want to thank Chad for coming up with this solution. This is a great program and as you know, I'm an electric bike rider, so I know us old folks, you know, we need some assistance, you know, when we're riding our bike. So I really want to thank you for this milestone that we are finally reaching and I'm looking really forward and I'm excited about seeing [2:12:10 PM] this program be very successful. >> Thank you, councilmember member. >> Questions for Chad? Member Stratton. >> Yes, really I just wanted to echo, kind of say ditto to what board member kitchen said. Looking at my community, looking at northwest and northwest Austin around district 6 and around the lake line station, it's my -- I've got to be honest, I mentioned this in the may meeting, I was not familiar with the b-cycle program simply because I had not been around it enough. I didn't realize it had been as successful as it was mainly because I live up here. Avery ranch where I live, it is literally as close to downtown Austin to city hall as it is to Williamson county courthouse where we also do governmental business so I was not as [2:13:10 PM] familiar with the program. I've been very glad to hear about how successful it has been. It apparently has an awful lot of core clients that use this. You don't want to lose those by rebranding, I think that is critical and important as board member kitchen said. I would like to see it grow if that's the case in terms of service for first mile, last mile. I would imagine that in some areas just like chairman cooper has said, in some cases and it's not practical to put a 40-foot bus in a neighborhood. In some cases it may not be practical to put a shuttle in a neighborhood, but we could put these bicycles there and at very reduced costs compared to the cost of putting a bus would be. I would rage you, Chad, to look at as part of this looking up here in my neck of the woods as well. Because I know for me, I have to drive -- would have to drive to the red line station from Avery ranch, my [2:14:12 PM] neighbors do, I guess I could theoretically purchase a bike, but just knowing that program might be there as a resource, folks might use it. I don't know. It might be worth throwing that into some sort of feasibility study as we're looking into the first mile, last mile sort of thing. I just kind of wanted to thank you for that and just make sure that -- that as we're going forward with this, that is the intent, that this is -- this is still going to be this last mile focus is going to be in kind of this integration is kind of the direction that we're going with this and not just this downtown corridor, but looking at other ways we can incorporate this to other parts of the city where it is feasible and could be cost effective. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you, member Stratton. Other questions for Chad? [2:15:15 PM] Very well, then, our draft motion is resolved with the cap metro board of directors authorizes the president and CEO or his designee to finalize and execute an interlocal agreement between cap met throw and the city of Austin to co-invest in and co-manage the Austin bikeshare program for a four-year term with three one-year options in an amount not to exceed $2,250,000. Motion by councilmember kitchen. Is there a second? Seconded by board member Mitchell. Any discussion, members? No discussion, then we'll turn to our roll call vote. Commissioner Travillion? >> Aye. >> Member Stratton. >> Aye. >> Councilmember kitchen. >> Aye. >> Vice chair Garza. >> Yes. >> Councilmember Renteria. >> Yes. [2:16:16 PM] >> Board member Mitchell. >> Yes. >> Mayor hill. >> I'm a no on this one. >> And cooper is aye, so the motion carries 7-1. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next up is action item 7, approval of a contract with the center for transportation and the environment for technical assistance in support of electric bus implementation. >> Good morning, chairman cooper, president Clarke, board members. I'm here to seek the approval of a resolution authorizing the president and CEO or designee to accept an offer from transportation for the environment for technical assistance in support of our electric bus program. The contract will begin immediately or upon approval. Through the year with two [2:17:18 PM] contract periods lasting -- or contract extension options for one year. As you know, our electric bus program has been funded by -- partially funded by ftes, low and no emission grant program. Next slide, please. And in 2019 we received $2.6 million, and in 2020, just recently, we received another $2.26 million. The first grant allowed us to purchase or the incremental cost difference to purchase four 40- foot electric buses and two 60-foot electric businesses which are on their way, as well as the charger and technical assistance. The 2020 grant will allow us to purchase four 6 0-foot [2:18:19 PM] buses or the incremental cost goes beyond our original four 40-foot buses that they will be replacing. Next slide, please. In this grant, it's kind of unique. The fta allows us to choose going into the grant our project partners. And it is a competitive process, it's one of the only grants, it's not the only grant that allows that competitive purchase agreement requirements to be met through the grant process. So we are able to name both the vehicle provider and the technical assistance provider in the grants, and for both those grants in 2019 and the 2020 grant we chose the center for transportation and the environment as our technical service provider or assistance provider, and new fly eras the vehicle provider for this. And this contract again is to support the 2019 grant. [2:19:22 PM] Next slide, please. Cte or center for transportation and environment has partnered with numerous transportation agencies on the low no emission grant or other implementations. They were a partner with us when we had the pilot fuel cell bus, and they also were the lead on helping us with the workshop that we put on in 2018 when we very early kicked off the grant -- or the program for electric buses. Next slide, please. So for this grant or for this contract we're asking cte to do three tasks through this contract and one is to continue to look at charging alternatives. We are about ready to turn on our first phase of the electric bus depot at north [2:20:25 PM] ops, but we'll continue to look at the most efficient way of charging those as technology improves. We'll also be looking at implementing and transitioning from the few buses that we currently have and as we extend the purchasing and expand the bus fleet, so we'll be looking at how to assess and plan for deployment of the additional buses as we expand the fleet. We'll also be helping or they will help us with developing our key performance indicators and our metrics for measuring success of the grant or of the fleet deployment. Next, please. This contract will begin in August 20. The contract is for about $169,000 is actually what the offer is for and we'll [2:21:27 PM] develop an additional contract for the 2020 award. Next grant -- or next slide. Thank you and I'm open for any questions that you might have about this contract. >> Thank you, rob. Questions for Mr. Barawski? >> Mr. Chairman? >> Mr. Stratton. >> My understanding is this cte partnership was a prerequisite in terms of us receiving the grant from the federal transit administration to pursue the purchase of the electric buses. Is that correct? >> Fta allows for us to choose and select providers. In most of the ones that most successful grants have partnered with a technical partner beforehand. So it's not a prerequisite, but they did -- they do recommend choosing someone, [2:22:28 PM] especially in the early stages of electric bus implementation. >> But in this particular case, when we submitted our application, we submitted the application with cte designated as the partner for this? >> Correct. >> Okay. So basically the funding for the -- the award -- the grant aword from fta was contingent upon us being partnered with cte because that was who we submitted the grant application identifying as our partner. Correct? >> Correct. The grant was awarded with cte, yes. >> Okay. So we have to approve this, then, in order to move forward with -- I mean I guess what I'm asking you, what is the ramification of the board not approving this contract with cte? >> We -- as far as I understand, we would not be able to go forward with the [2:23:29 PM] grant. Or we would have to renegotiate with fta. >> Okay. That's what I thought you were saying. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. >> Other questions for Mr. Barawski? Hearing none then, the draft resolution is be it resolved by the capital metropolitan transportation board of directors the president and CEO is authorized to execute a contract for technical teens in support of electric bus implementation to capital metro and the fta low and no emission bus grant awarded in 2019 for term ending September positive 30, 2021, with a one- year option and amount not to exceed $169,691. Do I have a motion to that effect? [2:24:29 PM] A motion by member mitcher. Is there a second? Second by vice chair Garza. Any discussion? No discussion. Very well, then, we'll move to the roller coaster vote. Commissioner Travillion. >> Aye. >> Member Stratton. >> Aye. >> Councilmember kitchen. >> Yes. >> Vice chair Garza. >> Yes. >> Councilmember Renteria. >> Yes. >> Board member Mitchell. >> Yes. >> Mayor hill. >> Yes. >> And cooper is aye as well. The motion carries 8-0. Thank you. That concludes our action item agenda. Thank you very much, thank you staff for those preparations. Good progress today. We have three discussion [2:25:31 PM] items starting with a fiscal year 2021 budget update from our finance department. Reinet, I think that means you are back with us again. >> I have a quick question. >> Go ahead. >> I have a public safety meeting at 2:00 that I'm going to have to step off at some point. Is the executive session not happening today? Is that what you said? I just want to make sure I know what I'm possibly missing. >> Executive session is happening, what is not happening is the conversation with broadmoor related to the station that they are developing. >> And what is the executive session topic? >> The executive session topic is a legal discussion related to the atp, Loa and corporation and bylaws, as I understand it. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. [2:26:34 PM] >> And vice chair Garza, I will -- I'll have to stay on this for the executive committee meeting so I'll try to join the public safety committee meeting when we finish here. >> Mr. Chairman? >> Member Stratton. >> Would it be possible for us to go into executive session now so that we can still keep all of our members and then come back to go -- to finish up with the discussion items? >> We can do that. We'll have to -- we had it sort of lined up so that we would have all the staff presentations together and then we get out of this link and into the next link. Staff may want to pipe in here. Randy, if the logistics of that are difficult. >> I just hate to -- it sounds like we've got a pretty important item in executive session. I would hate for us to lose our vice chair on that one. [2:27:34 PM] Or any member, for that matter. >> Randy, you are muted. >> I'm sorry. If that's what the board would prefer, we're happy to exit out of this. We have to go to the other link. I'll defer to Carey, we would have to come back obviously to the regular public session. If that's what you would like, you can walk us through the steps. >> I think that would be better. Thanks for that suggestion, Eric. >> I'm fine with that. Carey, any suggestions as to process? It could be that we have everybody shut down these links. Should we log out or just turn off audio and video? >> We usually log out is what we do on the council. We just log out, log into the other one. When we finish that one, we log out and log back. >> Ed, please confirm that is feasible under the way we have the system set up today. [2:28:47 PM] >> Just to clarify, was the second link provided in the original calendar meeting? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So chair then, if you would go to the wording on calling the executive session. >> Board members, I ask now that you log out of this meeting and use the second link in today's meeting to get yourself into our executive session virtual meeting room. The board will now go into executive session under chapter 551.071 for consultation with an attorney for legal advice related to local government corporations. The time >> We are now out of executive session and back into our main meeting. [2:29:47 PM] We have four members and don't have a quorum, but we won't be taking any action for the remainder of the meeting. Our next item is a discussion item and that is an update on the fiscal 2021 budget development. Reinet? You are up again. >> Good afternoon, board members. Are you able to hear me? >> Very well, thank you. >> This is reinet marneweck. The cfo of capital metro. And today's budget presentation is just a brief summary of what we presented at last week's board committee meeting. If you missed the committee meeting or would like a more detailed briefing, then please respond to Ed's invitation to a one-on-one briefing session. Next page. So looking at the calendar, we have been working on the budget since early at the start of this year. We do zero based bottoms up [2:30:49 PM] budgeting process and now we have the budget balanced and pulled together and it's just 20th for the presentation to the board of directors. Next page. In August and in September we will do our public outreach and feedback and hope to have board approval for the budget on September 28th at the board meeting. Next page. I'm pleased to let you know that the proposed budget is structurally sound and balanced, and this is due to many years of sound fiscal management and fiscal control. At this point we still believe that the C.A.R.E.S. Act funding of 101.9 million will be adequate to cover the reductions in revenue and the additional expenses that we are incurring due to the pandemic. The goal for fiscal 21 budget is to stay flat to the fiscal 2020 budget in [2:31:51 PM] order to be fiscally constrained. We are also projecting a gradually improvement in sales taxes that will get us back to monthly collections by September of 2021. The proposed budget also meets our operating reserve requirements and assumes that we will continue to allocate 10 million per year in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021 to the capital expansion fund to fund project connect lines. Next page. This table shows our operating expenses by major category. Under Lyft is 2019 actuals compared to when we forecast 2020 will end, compared to the fiscal 2020 budget. And in the fiscal 2021 proposed budget. [2:32:51 PM] With the increase or decrease between the two budgets. In the bottom left you can see that our operating expenses are expected to decline by 12 million. And that is mostly because the project connect related spending are moving to the capital budget. It does include in 2021 still one million in operating expense for project connect for the period November, December, January for costs that are not capitalizable, but that is the significant variance that's causing our overall expenses to decline year over year. Next page. Looking at our revenues, you see the decline from 2020 budget to the proposed budget for '21 is a decline of 29.7 million. This is mostly due to the reduced sales tax and fare revenues caused by the [2:33:52 PM] pandemic. As well as a reduction in capital [inaudible] Due to the downtown station and PTC grants that are mostly drawn down in fiscal 2020. Next page. This is the proposed five-year capital plan of 75.8 million for 2021 and then over five years it totals 261.8 million. The 2021 capital budget is a significant reduction. You may remember that in 2020 the capital budget was 112 million. So this is proposing a 36 million reduction in the budget down to 75.8 million for fiscal 2021, and this reduction is mostly due to no bus purchases scheduled for fiscal '21, as well as reduced spending on the downtown station and PTC year over year. You will also see that we [2:34:53 PM] have project connect there as a separate line item of 11.8 million for some initial startup costs and spending for the planning process for the project connect lines ahead of the creation of the Austin transit partnership for the lgc. Next page. We're very excited to be able to continue with our electric bus program, and the five-year cip includes 71 electric trance I it buses to be purchased between fiscal 21 and fiscal 25 for a combined spending of 74.7 million. This also has related infrastructure expenses for the expansion of our north operation site as well as the charging infrastructure to charge those buses. We are pleased that we have already received 8.3 million [2:35:54 PM] in grants for fiscal year 2020 with another 20 million in grants for the years 2022 through 2025, and we continue to pursue all electric bus grants as they become available. Next slide. So from my earlier presentation you will be aware that we have an exciting new system, fare system upgrade that will allow our customers to tap and pay with their NFC bank credit Ards or with their phones or with a cap metro smart card that will be available, easily available at retail outlets across the area. This will expand our contact list payment methods during the pandemic through the use of our bus on ward validators that are currently being installed on all of our buses and on all of the doors. We will also be able to quickly roll out equitable payment solutions like fare [2:36:54 PM] capping with the first pilot planned for this calendar year. Next slide. The downtown station is on track to be completed in fiscal '21 with the spending of 9.9 million programmed in the proposed budget. Next page. Positive train control will also come to an end in fiscal '21 for the installation. The total budget 73 million of which we received grant funding for 30.7 million. We are on track to obtain certification in August of 2020 for the December 31st deadline for 2020. Next page. I previously talked that we have a budget that is flat as what we're calling the recession budget. [2:37:55 PM] We have identified items that we would like to do in the event that an economic recovery occurs earlier, and this is some of those things that we are identifying for our recovery budget, but in the event that the economy was to recover quicker than what we estimated, we will come back to the board and ask for a budget amendment. Next page. So in conclusion, to talk about the next steps we have the August and September public outreach, and we will update the committees both at the August and the September meeting if there are any changes in the budget. We most likely in August will be presenting some of the early lines being launched for project connect that we will be using capital expansion funds to fund those lines and we'll be giving you more information about that in the August update. Thank you and do you have [2:38:56 PM] any questions? >> Questions, board members, for reinet? I don't hear any. Thank you so much, reinet. >> Thank you. >> Our next discussion item is pandemic recovery and improvement plan update from sharmilla. Welcome. >> Thank you, chairman cooper, president Clarke and board members. Good afternoon. This is my third presentation on the pandemic recovery and improvement plan, and this is our July monthly update on the topic. And I just wanted to kind of talk a little about, I know you had a long meeting so I would like to go through this as quickly as possible. I just wanted to remind everyone this also includes our proposal for August service changes, but those are temporary service adjustments in eyes of fta and in light of our current situation. And I will be covering that [2:39:57 PM] toward the end of the presentation.-next slide, Ed. So recovery philosophy remains the same. You've seen this, the care program has gained ground and being known as the care program. It's no longer our pandemic recovery process. The fundamentals of that remain the same. It's the focus is on creating a safe place for our staff and customers and then applying our resources equitable and wisely through the process and relying on data for our decision-making which I will be talking about how we are doing that in our service planning process and operationalizing that. And then ten continuously evaluating our resolve and adapting that in moving forward. Next slide. On the topic of creating safe places, the masks are being provided for customers in need. I wanted to point out that in June we -- when we [2:41:00 PM] reintroduced fare it was as follow-up to the installation of operator safety barriers and we were fare free in [inaudible] And then we had workforce aid passed for the unemployed in June. So continuing that forward, we will keep our focus on safety. We are in the process of reviewing hand sanitizers and installing that on buses. Contactless fare payment system, reinet talked about it today how that is a safer and healthier options and we are in the process of starting with the phase 1 pilot in the time frame that she shared with all of you. And this ties entirely again in our four focus areas of pandemic recovery and improvement. Next slide, please. On the topic of applying resources wisely and equitiably, I just want to talk about, I mean through the financial plan updates and C.A.R.E.S. Act update, reinet mentioned that we are [2:42:00 PM] drawing C.A.R.E.S. Act fta grant for covid-19 operational revenue shortfalls. We also have taken a hoard look at our budget and the updates were give to you and some of the highlights in the last month are decision on our senior management team and executive management team deciding on salary freeze and flattening our staffing levels in our recession budget of fy-20 21. Contactless fare payment system is very exciting opportunity for all of us. This was already in the works, but we are focusing on that to again make it a safer and healthier experience for both our customers and staff. Next slide, please. On the topic of relying on data for our decision-making, this is where we are putting a lot of our service planning resources to review boarding data daily and weekly to identify ridership trends. Our social distancing impacts on our physical [2:43:02 PM] capacity and then we are adjusting and coordinating with occ to offer buses to address that. Vehicle capacity with social distancing, that remains one of our focus. We are also continuing with ridership modeling with U.T. In session and we understand they are coming back with a hybrid learning model where some of the classes would be offered in person, but some of the larger classes would be mostly offered through online. We are also providing tiger this with our revenue forecasting that reinet would be using. Reinet's financial group would be using for fy-20 21 and the rest of the fy-20 20 budget forecast. Our ridership for June was 22 million. You may recall this is& consistent with our last month. We also had about the same range, about 1.2 million [2:44:03 PM] riders for all our modes, so this tells us that we are as community spread and covid is still continuing on, we are still seeing reliance on our riders, our essential workers are using our services, and we are focusing on transit dependence and keeping our eye on equity considerations for our riders. Next slide, please. So these are our major influences in August service levels. I mentioned about the ridership forecasting model, but the model takes into account a lot of different variables, the areas we put a lot of emphasis on. One of them is our state and local government orders. We looked at stay-at-home orders, the reopening phase 1, 2 and 3 reopening and any rolling back that occurred since then. University of Texas at Austin, U.T. Austin's plan for fall, we are taking that into consideration in [2:45:03 PM] proposing our August service plan. And then aisd we're in continuous discussion with them and we understand that the first three weeks of school would be entirely on line and then they are going to be reviewing to see whether it's going to be a hybrid of in-person and online training. And we're continuing our conversations to incorporate that into our service levels. Next slide. This is to give you a reminder what our service looked like during covid. We reduced service, bus and rapid reduced about 20% in our modified Sunday schedule and then our express and rail were reduced about 50%, and U.T. Routes were suspended at full, so 100% suspension. Our ridership through covid, our system lost about 60%. This is a generalized estimate in some weeks, on some weeks on some -- there are certain segments we had higher than that. [2:46:03 PM] We had retained anywhere between 40 to 45 to up to 50% of our riders. Express and rail, however, lost most of our riders, most of their riders, and university routes were fully suspended. This essentially provides a contextual framework for what the August service would look like. They are still thinking of August as sort of an early stabilization model, but we are very much in this covid-19 pandemic where fta does not require us, and I just wanted to remind you all we are not required to go through the process for a full-service change -- that a constitutional-service change would but these are all considered temporary service adjustment, but we're still doing our due diligence and going through the process to see where exactly our resources are applied and how they're best utilized both through the ridership process and through [2:47:04 PM] continuous adjustments. Next slide, please. So these are the -- this is the overview of our proposed fall service changes. I say proposed because we need to remain agile and we need to continue to following what's happening on the ground and incorporate any changes on the ground. So we are recommending continued frequently so select routes. Examples of those are route 1, route 7, 20, 300 and like 801, 803, some of the expresses that are popular and they're generally -- they are generally heavily used routes. And those are the ones that would have most impacts from social distancing and where we would have to put in additional buses to accommodate demand. And specifically if UT comes back in session we expect there's going to be residual impact on top of social distancing on those routes. We are looking at increasing our span of service, [2:48:05 PM] specifically in the evening for weekdays to take it to midnight and Saturdays up to 11:00 P.M. And this is essentially to account for our peak has shifted. And it's review Tenley shifting -- routinely shifting, but the known unknowns as we've talked about, they are very much a variable that we need to continue to monitor and we cannot make decisions on -- at this moment. We are resuming university routes. I talked about that. And except for route 640 and some frequency adjustments, university routes are coming back. Metro rail would see an increase in reduction -- sorry, an increase in service, and then we'll have adjusted running times. We will make some minor adjustments based on lower ridership and less congestion. Fliers and express, they would remain at its continued reduced service levels. Flyer is about about 50% and [2:49:07 PM] express at 25% and those are the routes that have lost most ridership and the riders are most likely to work from home. Again, in summary, I would like to say that our proposed fall service changes essentially reflects our value for care program and our focus on equity. We are focusing on our local routes, routes that serve essential workers, transit dependent and where the greatest need exists at the moment, and will continue to do that and support those routes. Next slide, please. In addition to that, I just wanted to mention just touch upon this too -- these two items regarding care that one would be a web page. We added a care page on our website. Our work is reflected on that page and the other, the one on the right, is a sample dashboard that very much -- we're in the process [2:50:08 PM] of refining it. And here you would see ridership are -- our social distancing impact on our service scenario and then our metro access trips as well as the meals that are being served. So we would provide updates on those on our care dashboard moving forward. It hasn't gone live yet, but it's very close to getting to that point. Next slide, please. And in conclusion I want to kind of continue our commitment to talk about our commitment to operator, staff, customer and community safety. We continue to remain agile and equitable in our recovery planning. And we're focusing on our intermediate term restoration and growth, but keeping our eye on where the needs exist mostly now. And along the lines of the long-term considerations, you heard from reinet from the system update and customer technology updates [2:51:10 PM] that are being considered right now. I will be coming back to you with likely updates and we presented the plan to you in June. So any comments on that please feel free to reach out to us. And with that I would conclude and open up for any questions. >> Thank you. Sharmella, any questions? >> Mr. Chairman? >> Eric, go ahead. >> Yes, I just wanted to check and see, has any thought been put into -- or two things. One, how flexible are we on making adjustments on the flight to that schedule? I realize this is really a moving target in many ways. Just within last week -- I'm in Leander ISD and we went from literally within I guess it was the past week, went from an all or nothing choice where you had to choose virtual or in person, to we're going to be doing, [2:52:11 PM] you know, all virtual for the first thee weeks to now it looks like we're going to be doing all virtual for the first four weeks and then tea saying we have the option of exercising potentially up to the next four weeks. This is constantly evolving. How quickly are we able to pivot and adjust those schedules accordingly based on what we project might be our service need or what the public health crisis, the numbers are looking like for covid and still being able to provide for that kind of baseline 40,000 that we're seeing is kind of being used by really the -- by the essential workers and our key community users? >> So the plan, the proposed plan elements that you see are with those 40 to 45,000 essential workers with the key trips in mind. K and when you mention how the time frame, the projected time frame for how long it could take for us to kind of incorporate some of these major changes that [2:53:14 PM] aid or UT may -- any changes to their plan, how that could impact our service. I would kind of refer back to what we were able to do during covid-19, when covid-19 hit in mid March, we were able to implement our service change within a week. And that is with adjusting the schedule, being able to operationalize that. And at that time we were actually reacting -- it was a crisis response situation. And now we have gotten used to we have put in place the mechanism. We have a ridership forecasting model that takes into account all of this input and being able to address that. I would say here Roberto Gonzalez, whom you know very well, and his team, is phenomenal. We are exceptional. They are -- their ability to understand the -- understanding of the system, being able to come up with a good plan and operationalize [2:54:16 PM] that to see and cue buses, -- and queue buses, I have full service in that. I -- I have full confidence in that. I hate to put a time frame in there, but I would say within a span of a week we are able to take -- overcrowding is getting adjusted within a span of a week if not sooner. So I have full faith that we would be able to adjust that and acclimate in time. >> As a follow-up to that have we considered or been looking at the numbers specifically on metro rail in terms of either plexing it up or potentially scaling it back? I know right now we're frantically trying to finish up work on positive train control, working with Dave deck's team over in rail operations. Has there been any consideration looking at numbers there if we feel like the numbers are so -- are so low that it might potentially be of benefit to a cost savings and also to a project management savings [2:55:17 PM] to go back to just shutting the rail down entirely, knowing that we're not cutting down the use of riders because as we've done before, riders could still shift over to those metro express buss that we have now picked up and are using. Have we looked into that just as kind of a -- is that necessary? >> I would say that we have not looked into shutting down rail. We have actually looked at the possibility. Atc was able to move forward in the last couple of months significantly so we were able to take advantage of the so-called downtime there. But in fall we are going with our skid and it is -- with our schedule and we would have likely different serviceman dates done, less congestions, nptc work. We are remaining completely open, but I would have Randy [2:56:18 PM] chime in on whether we have considered if we would be shutting it down. At this point we have not. >> Okay. >> -- Actually, that was my contact was loose on my left eye. Bits been driving me crazy all meeting, that's what the faces are. >> You're choked up by this. >> Exactly. Very emotional today. So we haven't looked at that. Instead what we're trying to do is trying to maximize getting projects done on the red line. Like most transit agencies around the country that run rail, we're all trying to say, hey, what maintenance activities, upgrades, capital projects could we get done? Most all those programs fall under dttie. Dottie brought her whole team together. We have a red line optimization plan and the idea is how to accelerate some of the capital programs that are already funded and how to join projects together. So we have things like grade crossings, we have some undercutting work. We have some signal block work. All these kinds of things that David and his team are [2:57:19 PM] working on. And with Ken they can do double tracking. We'll be bringing back this broadmoor project to you next month for sure. We're thinking through mckalla and how that may work as well. It's all about maximizing that. As far as the costs, most of the costs are ticketed -- most of the costs are fixed. Sister isn't costing us an atypical amount of money. We have to do the inspections and staff anyway. We have larger people to keep people social distancing. We're obviously not furloughing or laying off any employees. We're actually doing a lot of training, a lot of PTC work, a lot of other capital projects so when we come back we want to actually have the rail line operating to the best possible level for the customer. Overall I think the team is actually managing it really well. >> Thanks for the update. I appreciate it, both of y'all. >> Thank you. >> Other questions? [2:58:19 PM] A sharmella, I think I missed and was distracted, but with regard to the fall service changes and the normal process that we're going through, say again how we're handling the temporary changes versus the fall -- the usual service changes where we put the U.S. Stuff back in. -- The UT stuff back in. >> As far as covid-19, the fta has provided updated guidance on the service changes, how to respond to that, any title six implication. Title six, a public hearing requirements and so forth. So these are -- given the fact that we have to be so agile and these are considered temperature service adjustments, not full service changes as you would typically -- we typically had three times a year. So these are treated different from that. And on -- and fta is not requiring board approvals or [2:59:19 PM] public hearings in -- to implement this temporary service adjustments. However, though, in our case we are focusing more on local routes that are more focused on arrishes of greatest need. -- On our areas of greatest need. That's where our transit workers, essential workers are all taking that survey. So with that we do not anticipate any title six implication on our changes. And the service where we are continuing with service reductions, are expressed in fliers and just based on the nature of changes, based on the duration of the changes and how agile we need to be, that fta that the requirements for covid-19 apply to these and these are considered certain adjustments, not major changes. >> So in terms of the the usual fta title sex sort of meeting that we need to have [3:00:21 PM] that may encompass express buses did you say and something else? >> Express and fliers. >> Fliers, okay. >> And title six circular, that 4702 requirement, there are does not apply to temporary service adjustments, but we are being very mindful and we are not looking at the letters of the law when we are putting service out there, we're essentially using the data at hand to see where the ridership exists, who relies most on our service. So we feel the recommendations we are making are sound on grounds of title 6, people would not have any title six implications. >> Good. Thank you very much. And thank you to all the staff for I think doing an excellent job responding to the crisis, being nimble, solving a whole bunch of problems that didn't exist four months ago, R, helping our community with the food piece, but more importantly [3:01:21 PM] getting 40,000 workers in and out of the city everyday. We're proud of what you've accomplished. >> The thanks goes to our service planning and operation team and frontline workers, but thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Next we'll have Donna Simmons with an update on diversity, inclusion and equity. >> Good afternoon, chairman cooper, board members and president Clarke. I'm hearing a little bit of an echo. Are y'all hearing it? >> I think bit. I think we're good. >> I am capital metro's evp of administration, but more importantly for the presentation I'm going to make today I am our diversity and inclusion officer and I'm really honored to have that role. I want to ask you to indulge me for just a couple of minutes before I get into how we intend to implement our diversity, equity and inclusion program to talk a little bit about why this work is important to me [3:02:23 PM] because I truly do believe that even if I knew every element of how, it wouldn't -- I wouldn't be able to provide effective leadership to this program unless I have a really -- a really important and strong why as to why this work is important to me. So I went to high school in prince Edward county, Virginia. It was a county that refused to integrate before brown versus board of education.& and because of that even when -- because of that history, when I went to high school at the public high school there in the mid '70s, the community and the school system were still very much segregated. And about 85% of the students were black. So I was in the minority in that school. And I never felt like I didn't belong and I never felt like there were any barriers to my success in that environment. I realize that is probably not often the case when [3:03:25 PM] others are the minority in any kind of environment. Because of that experience, you know, I feel like I really have both the opportunity and the obligation to do as much as I can with our capital metro employees and workforce as well as our programs in the community that will be part of our program as well to remove any barriers that might exist both from an employee perspective and from a community perspective. So with that I'll go ahead and get started with some additional information about our program. So as can you go ahead and go to the next slide, I'm going to start talking about definitions. What do we mean when we say diversity, equity and inclusion. Diversity is about who is at the table that describes a group of people by a variety of characteristics, including race, age, gender, ability, status, nationality and even mental well-being. [3:04:25 PM] Equity is more about what are the barriers to getting to and remaining at the table. It's the work of challenging and responding to bias, harassment and discrimination so that outcomes are not predicted by any aspects of an individual's identity. Inclusion really is about answering the question, does everyone feel welcome and belonging at the table. It's creating an environment that brings people together and harnesses diverse perspectives to benefit all. Next slide. So I'm sure you've seen this slide all over our buildings, the guiding principles. Everything the guiding principles are about also encompasses a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and I think if we follow these guiding principles, both in the way that we work and live, that we will be making a big contribution to our diversity, equity and [3:05:27 PM] inclusion program. Next slide. I wanted to give you a little bit of information on what our thinking is about the structure and governance of our program. We intend to create a diversity, equity and inclusion council that will have participation from various different components. We've already formed a steering committee with representation from various capital metro departments, from our service provider leadership as well as a Tu leadership and also intend to add some frontline representation on that steering committee. We're also going to ask for participation from partners like representation from our access committee and from csac. And then also create a community advisory group. This part of the structure is still in development and we're actually going to be asking for board member suggestions on members of the community who would be [3:06:27 PM] valuable to us in providing representation on that advisory group. So I would be reaching out via email and inviting any of to you give me a call to provide suggestions on members of the community who could fulfill that role. The main role for the advisory group would be to at the beginning, as we kick off more of the program to provide input on the charter and the goals and then along the way with periodic meetings probably around quarterly to provide reports back to that advisory group and to have them really hold us accountable for what we've said our goals are and how we're measuring our success. And then we also have a champions network that will include employee resource groups and volunteer champions from each department to assist us with implementing the program throughout the organization. Next slide. [3:07:28 PM] Program elements, we're looking at from two perspectives. One is from the workforce perspective, our employees and that includes recruitment and retention, mentorships, workforce development and training and ongoing communication, flexible benefits and work-life balance. From a community perspective that includes our vendor diversity programs and also developing a mentorship program to provide additional resources to grow our sbe and dbe. Community engage. , Very important how we design and deliver our service and amenities so that there is equity throughout the community. Project connect is a big piece of that as we move forward with that program as well and I'll talk more about that a little bit a later in the presentation. And partnerships and sponsorships that we have with community [3:08:30 PM] organizations. Next slide. In the october-november time frame I'll be coming back to the board to do a pretty deep dive on our diversity of staff and vendors so that we're looking at the entire fiscal year of 20, but I want to just - of 2020, but I want to give you a snapshot of what the board saw in November of last year. The only difference here, the main difference is that we're comparing to the population of the Austin transportation statistical area, not just the workforce availability. So in the Austin area, male and female is about 50/50. With the capital metro staff directly, it's pretty similar that 48% female and 52% male for our service providers there's not as much representation of females because the majority of those positions are operations and maintenance positions, but there's certainly some work that we [3:09:31 PM] could assist them with there to improve that representation. Looking at the minority representation on our staff, again, this is in comparison to the population. If we were just looking at it from the perspective of workforce availability we exceed the availability in every minority group and looking at it overall in comparison to the population, capital metro's family of employees is minorities comprised about 73% of our staff. Compaed to about 48% of the population in the Austin area. Next slide. This is just a snapshot of where we are with payments to our dbe's and sbe's so far in 2020. It's looking at 10 months so it's not exactly an apples to apples comparison to [3:10:33 PM] fy'18 and 19, but just for the 10 months into this fiscal year that we are, we have already exceeded the fy2018 payments and it looked like we're on track to also exceed it for fy19. And then when I come back to the board in -- later in the year, we will have all of fy2020 to compare and we'll provide additional information not just on payments, but also where we are on commitments and contracts with sbe's and dbe's. Next slide. I wanted to go over what some of the major components of our framework are. Certainly with our leadership support and values and guiding principles around everything that we do and the program and also in consideration of how it impacts our strategic plan, starting with [3:11:34 PM] establishing responsibilities for implement indication of different elements of the program and how we will hold ourselves accountable for that, developing very specific goals and activities, ensuring that we're integrating elements of the program into each department's business plan objectives. Developing what our measures much social security would be and how we'll continually evaluate that. Education, training and communication with our staff as well as the community. And looking at policies and processes to ensure that there are not -- not unintentional barriers in the way that we work and provide service. Next slide. The goals of the program, we were again looking at at an employee and a community perspective so from employee our goal is to have a workforce that is broadly reflective of the community and we're already in really [3:12:35 PM] good shape as far as meeting that goal. Second to identify and address barriers within our organizational systems, third to attract and retain a talented workforce that is skilled at working in an inclusive and respectful manner. Both with each other and in the community. And forth to create or revise our processes, policies, practices, plans and programs so that we're meeting the diverse needs of our employees and those we serve. Next slide. Our community goals are pretty similar. First one, though, is to ensure equitable service and amenity 26 to the community. Second to identify and address barriers within organizational systems. Third to continue our contributions to community progress and to enhance that as it affects inclusion and [3:13:35 PM] equity. Fourth, similar to with employees to looking at employees, processes, etcetera, to ensure that we're delivering service that meets the diverse needs of our customers. Next slide. Our action plan by September, our plan is to have the diversity, equity and inclusion council finalized, have the membership structure for that in place, and along with that to adapt a charter. By October to be building momentum by completing a gap assessment and addressing any gaps that we have identified. We will be doing some enhanced equity training with our employees and then finalizing the plan. By January 2021 after the successful project connect vote, a big part of that program will be to develop a [3:14:39 PM] dbe program to provide greater opportunities for dbe's and sbe's and part of of that to include as I mentioned earlier mentoring efforts so that as part of project connect we are making contributions to long-term economic benefits and skill building opportunities for small and minority businesses. By March of 2020, have our -- as we're establishing our diversity, equity and inclusion practices, we will have our metrics for measuring success in place and be evaluating those continuously. We will have multiple diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in place. And that is also the time when we will provide an updated title six program to the federal transit administration. 2021 and onward, continuous assessment and improvement, because I don't know that we will ever -- this is not [3:15:39 PM] work that you ever really complete. But with the goal of having diversity, equity and inclusion embedded in our culture -- next slide. This slide is about board engagement and guidance and what we're inviting to you do related to this program. So one I mentioned is provide suggestions for members of our community advisory group. To continue your engagement with key community stakeholders that is so important in equity and diversity work. And then finally to challenge us to view any recommendations or actions that we bring to the board through a diversity, equity and inclusion lens. Next slide. Thank you for enduring my long presentation at the end of a long board meeting. I'll be happy to answer any questions. [3:16:39 PM] >> All right. May I -- >> Donna, thank you. Commissioner Travillion, go ahead, please. >> Okay. Two things. Number one, as we go forward, I think one thing the community is going to be looking at as we talk about investing in the entire system, people are going to ask the question how is the system investing in the community? You know as I do that when the original disparity study was undertaken by the city of Austin and the city worked together, the county a little bit, all of the public entities, cap metro was a leader in that involvement and in that engagement. And I want to say this constructively, this city needs cap metro to be the [3:17:42 PM] leader that it was when the discussion about mbe's, dbe's, sbe's was broadened to the city. I think that we have an opportunity to demonstrate to the community that we understand how to work with, recruit, engage businesses that can work in the commodity codes that we need them and that we will be joined at the hip. This is an area of expertise for me. I won't just ask and fuss. I will volunteer and work. But this is absolutely critical as we move forward into a new normal and a new paradigm that we are truly working together to build opportunity for people who live in this city to work with cap metro. [3:18:44 PM] So I will pledge to you that I will work hard with you, but I am looking for the outcomes that come from a project plan that understands where business is in this city.>> Of course. And really I do appreciate that. We will take advantage of your expertise and your support. >> Thank you, commissioner. Other questions? Member Stratton? >> Yes. I just -- Donna, first again thank you for the presentation and keeping us updated on what's going on here. Question I was thinking of, I think this is rather timely given the circumstances [3:20:21 PM] . The mayor mentioned this last week, mayor Adler did. As you've been working on this and your team has been working on this, have you had any intersection or across at all with the mayor or interacted or seen the report from his institutional racism or inequities task force report? >> I think if you could put some support into identifying some concerns and some problems and putting together some actual -- potentially -- really actionable ideas on addressing issues of systemic inequities and equity within our community that some long-term problems within our community. That would be great if I figure -- if cap metro could partner along with that so that we're not just reinventing the wheel. And also I think that there's some great thought leaders that -- and community activists that were involved in that as well. I also want to commend you as well in mentioning this that as part of this project [3:21:22 PM] and process, you're mentioning the involvement of the access advisory committee. Sometimes I feel that what can get lost in our discussion of equity is not just issues of color or of race, but also is issues of disability. And I'm very pleased to see that cap metro is looking to make an investment in that as well. And I think that our system also has in the past been trying to make an effort involved in that as well with things that we've done to help individuals, whether it's using metro access. I know we've got a program that has partnered up with individuals with disabilities to help them learn how to utilize our system as well. So I think this is -- this is a great, great start. I look forward to wonderful things coming from it. And if there's anything that we as board members can help [3:22:22 PM] to continue to advance the ball down the field and if -- again, if there are any names that you all would like from us to help as your -- as you're wanting to create this advisory committee, please let us know if there's some way that we can advise you on that. And just keep up the good work and thank you for the update here today. Appreciate T. >> Thank you. >> Other questions? Very good. Thank you again, Donna. Thanks for continuing to, as member Stratton, move the ball down the field here. Lots of work to be done. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Last but not least, the newly shorn president Clarke. >> [Laughter]. >> Thank you, chair and board. I'll make it pretty fast. Thank you for all your time. I know it's another long meeting with a lot of competing interests with everyone. As always I want to thank the staff, both the staff that was presenting [3:23:23 PM] materials here today or involved in those different projects or initiatives that got to the board today. As you all know, the volume of work that staff has been doing the last few months, quite frankly, the last few years has been just amazing and I'm just really proud of them and grateful for such a good team that we have. And I appreciate you approving a little of effort that they've put forth today. Also, of course, I always want to thank our frontline staff. The men and women out there that are doing a great job moving our community through still a very challenging time and they're doing it with grace and professionalism and safety as a core value and serving the community that needs it the most. So kudos to them. I was going to take a minute to review the next steps to project connect, but I think the big one to highlight is next Monday we have a joint work session, and we'll be talking there about the framework for Austin transit partner, the lgc between the [3:24:24 PM] board and city, as well as staff making a final recommendation on an investment package for the board and the council to agree upon ideally to move a program forward. Capital metro through it's capital and long range financial plan and the city through a potential transit referendum. Very exciting times that will be next week. And then work towards August 7th of finalizing Austin transit partnership -- formalizing that partnership and our version of a contract with the voters and the city's contract with the voters to move the program to an actual referendum. So lots of work to do. Very little time left and I know a lot of you are involved and been spending a lot of time on that. So thank you. Last thing I'll mention, we have an intern in the government relations department, Jordan Mckee. And shes great. She came out of UT and so -- [3:25:28 PM] and Eric and wade. Now that vice-chair Garza is off we can have a whole hook party here. -- Hook 'em party here. >> We could have a hook 'em party with her here! [Laughter]. >> Jordan came to us from UT and she applied for and won a the American public transportation association has a scholarship fund for educational expenses, and she won what's called the business member board of governors Walken memorial scholarship and that's for the first CEO who was here at cap metro back in 1985. So the 35th anniversary all comes full circle. But she won this and it will cover her educational expenses. I think it's up to $11,000. So she's a grad student at UT school of architecture and regional planning and she's been doing a great job for us here. [3:26:29 PM] Hopefully she's even watching this. She keeps track on all the other government units in the area and what's going on to make sure our whole gr team is connected. So I just thought it would be great to -- to end our really good meeting on knowing that one of our cap metro interns has received a national scholarship based on all the work she's doing here and to continue her education training. So with that, chair and board, that's all we have. And again, thank you for all the time you're committing to cap metro. >> If I could say one thing, bravo, Randy, because a lot of kids find their way to public service and find their way to management by working as interns. And I was an intern in my first job. It creates tremendous opportunity to be around a great group of professionals, and when you can find dollars on the other side of that, that's really important. I'd really love for us to focus on young students who [3:27:31 PM] want to be transportation professionals, working with you and figuring out what transportation really is. >> Thank you. Good comment. So we've had interns, we've actually expanded our intern program. And our real goal would be moving through in project for internships could really accelerate because the variety of skill sets and professional expertise needed in different trades is pretty amazing. So that is a big component we'd like to -- and it builds the worse of the future obviously. Great comment. >> Excellent, excellent. >> Thank you, president Clarke. Kudos to her and it's also a reflection, I think, of the -- of atpha's view of the work going on here at cap metro. So appreciate R. Appreciate that recognition to her and indirectly to us. Thanks again finally to staff for what you're doing everyday to move folks and to do it safely. Thanks to leadership because I know you all have been [3:28:33 PM] working around the clock as we enter the home stretch of getting this package after years and years. We're three weeks away from knowing what will be on the ballot in November. And I know that an awful lot of work has been done and the pace is just getting more and more intense here at the final hours. To all of my colleagues on the board, thanks for the long meeting today, but the next three weeks we will really earn our substantial pay. And have a lot of good work to do to get this project polished up and put in front of the public. So let's take a personal oath to do a good job over these next three weeks that we have and really get the right set of deliverables on the ballot. [3:29:38 PM] And finally, everybody let's stay healthy and safe out there. Wear your darn mask. It matters. Thanks, everybody. Unless there's anything else, we'll stand adjourned at 2:12 P.M. Thank you all. [6:02:14 PM] Chair, that is correct, applicant postponement to August 18th. >> Great, thanks. Then B 2 rezoning, c14-2020--0060, Avery lakeline offered for consent. B 3 rezoning, c14-2020--0061, this old world -- this old wood rezoning, that is offered for consent. B 4 rezoning, c14- 2020--0066, concordia residence hall pda amendment offered for consent. Then B 5, C 8 j-2018-0167.1 a, add a tcad Ison section [6:03:15 PM] 5, offered for consent. And B 6, redivision, C 8-2020-0038-0 a, charro estates resubdivision of lot 15, offered for consent. B 7 final plat from approved preliminary plan, C 8-2018-0165.1 a, cascades at onion creek east, phase 1. That is offered for consent. And -- and B 8, C 8-2018-0171.1 a.sh good night ranch, phase 2. That is offered for consent. And then B 9, is -- is final [6:04:18 PM] plat, C 1-2020-0090.0 a, manchaca road apartments district 5. That is offered for consent -- that is offered for consent for disapproval for reasons. And -- and is it okay if I just read into the record that the -- that the zoning and platting commission recommends disapproval for the reasons as reflected in exhibit D of the staff report? Will that suffice, Andrew? Chair, that is correct. >> Great. Then actually not on here is B 10. And B 10 is an addendum and -- and there it is. And that is a site plan extension B 10 [6:05:19 PM] spc-99-2019. -- 2019-a and then xt 5, Hyde park Baptist church quarries multi-use facility, also offered for concept. Before I on-- consent. Before I say anything or before we make a motion, is there anybody online who wishes to speak on any of the items that are on the consent? Essentially all of the zoning cases and plat subdivisions are on concept. Is there anybody who wishes to speak? Hearing none, we will take a motion for closing the public hearing and the consent agenda. Is there a motion? Chair, I move that we close the public hearing and accept the consent agenda as just read. And the minutes. [Indiscernible] Modified. >> Second. >> Second. >> Chair: Okay. The second by? Motion by commissioner -- [6:06:20 PM] sorry, commissioner Evans and seconded by commissioner Duncan, I assume? All those in favor? And -- and please raise your hands. Some people I'm still not seeing. So what -- in fact, on my little thing, I am just seeing I'm not seeing commissioner denkler and that is very strange. I have been muted and unmuted, I'm trying to get back in. Here we go. >> Chair: Okay. Everybody else raise their hand and then commissioner denkler just give us an affirmative call. >> I have a quick question, though. Does the consent agenda include the disapproval on the site plan, number 9 -- as stated in the exhibit, [6:07:20 PM] attached to the exhibit? >> Chair: Yes. >> Great. So motion passes for the consent agenda. And that was very quick. And now we are on to the - - the presentation and commissioner Ana Aguirre? >> We need to put on the record that commissioner ray joined us as well. >> Yeah, thank you, and commissioner denkler. Commissioner bray and denkler have joined us. Thank you commissioner for pointing that out. >> Just to clarify, this is commissioner king, they did vote for the consent agenda as well, is that correct? >> Chair: Yes, I saw commissioner bray and denkler did. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Now on to C 1 briefing on the merger of the neighborhood -- neighborhood and community development [6:08:21 PM] and -- neighborhood and community -- actually, neighborhood housing and community development and planning and zoning department into the housing and planning department as proposed in the city manager's fiscal year 2021 budget submittal. The presenter, we really appreciate it, is Rodney Gonzalez, assistant city manager. Rosy truelove director of neighborhood housing and community development and Jerry rusthoven, assistant director, interim lead, planning and zoning department. So thank you very much. >> Thank you, chair, this is Rodney Gonzalez, can you all hear me from. >> Yes. >> Okay. Great. I appreciate it. And yes as you pointed out, Rosie truelove and Jerry rusthoven are on the call as well. Thank you for asking us to come and provide a briefing. What I intend to do is go over the goals and the benefits that will be derived from the proposed [6:09:23 PM] merger. Planning and zoning and neighborhood housing and community development. Starting with overall goals, you know, the goals that have been set out are to deliver city services in a more efficient manner. To look at opportunities of where we can see positions, through the mergers, that could be used in other units. And also to look how we can use this as an opportunity to further support various city initiatives, including, of course, strategic direction in 2023. I will start off by saying that we organizations are not new to the city organization. If you've been with the city for any lengths of time, you have seen departments be created, you have seen departments be merged, you've seen offices be created, et cetera. Over the course of the last 10 years, we've had a number of city departments and offices working aggregated with various reorganizations and new structures [6:10:24 PM] developed. The change that comes with reorganization can be difficult to absorb. Because change represents a new way of doing business. That new way of doing business has to be implemented and has to be embraced in order for it to work out. I can assure you that in work -- I've been working very closely with Rosie and with Jerry to make sure that this is a lasting change, that this isn't something that is temporary in nature but something that represents a new way of doing business. And with regard to changes that have been proposed under the economic opportunity and affordability umbrella, these are not the only changes that have been recommended through the budget process. There are some permitting changes that are being recommended to dsd, mainly absorbing some other permitting functions across the city. Those would be music permitting and license agreements from real estate [6:11:24 PM] services and small self permitting and as -- well, yes, it's all self permitting under Tara. This isn't the only change that is recommended within the budget. With regard to outcomes, let me start off by saying all the division and program areas from both functions are to be retained. They are not going to be eliminated. The -- the outcome, of course, that we are looking for is a more coordinated planning and zoning and housing and community development. Within the city. That is beneficial to all austinites. Merger will allow for a more inclusive planning process, that's focused on advancing equity and preventing displacement. And the merger of both departments will bring together community focused divisions and activities to more equitablely and efficiently deliver comprehensive planning and housing to the community as a whole. Through this merger we do intend to create a new unit [6:12:25 PM] that is focused on displacement prevention and neighborhood preservation. And through the merger, of course, we hope to enhance capacity to create and preserve current affordable housing, to develop and deploy complete community development programs, and proactive prevention to show that we're focused on the needs of Austin's most vulnerable. Several benefits that we intend to achieve are enhancing our support for strategic direction 2023, in particular the economic opportunity and affordability outcome. By providing more capacity for complete community comprehensive planning and for displacement prevention programming. We also hope to add capacity to implement the strategic housing blueprint. And [indiscernible] Capacity for more inclusive community based planning to define, evaluate and update our shared aspirations now and in the future. [6:13:25 PM] And, of course, with this [indiscernible] Planning, it will provide greater capability for Austin as we evolve over time. The total budget of the combination of both departments is $108.1 million with the total number of positions of 120 positions. And I'm sorry that I can only participate by phone. You know, I certainly would like to participate on video conference with the committee. But that's okay. I wanted to provide a high-level overview and, of course, then -- then both -- all three of us, Jerry, Rosie and myself are available for questions. I do also want to ask Rosie and Jerry if there's anything that they might want to contribute as far as the overviews is concerned? >> Hi Rodney, this is Rosie [6:14:25 PM] truelove, I wanted to make sure you guys can hear me. >> I can. >> I think that you covered the points that I wanted to cover, I will remain available to answer questions. >> Thank you. And Jerry? Jerry or -- or not? Jerry, are you planning to say anything? If not, we'll just go on to -- to -- I will ask assistant city manager Gonzalez, do you have anything further to say? Rodney? >> That is -- that is the gist of the presentation, chair. >> Chair: Okay. Thank you. >> This is Jerry rusthoven. Sorry, I forgot to unmute. I agree with what Rosie said. I think Rodney covered the highlights and I'm available if you have any questions. >> Okay. Thank you so much, Jerry. [6:15:28 PM] And thank you, assistant city manager Gonzalez and -- and now any -- any comments or questions from - - from us? And Jim? >> Thank you, much. I put together a -- a couple of slides. [Indiscernible] Are you all there? Do you have access to them? Thank you. First of all, let me start out by saying I want to thank assistant city manager Gonzalez for his he was and -- and I -- I will be the first one to say that merging in this area is long overdue. [6:16:28 PM] So that's not -- my comments are not directed toward doing it, it's how we do it, because I think it's probably one of the most important things that I have seen the city address. In some time. The first thing that I want to comment on -- thank you -- is the structure. That has been proposed. The three individuals who have been designated to lead it have shown by their past performance the value and contributions to the city. So nothing in my comments should take away from that. But I do want to comment -- what I do want to comment on is that there is a strong redundancy in the three that bother me greatly to take on a -- the total management hierarchy of this [6:17:32 PM] organization. Let me highlight this. First of all, most of their experience has been here in the city of Austin. All of the experience of two of the three. Second of all, all of their education has been here in or near the city of Austin and all -- and government and business. And third of all, all the expertise is in non-housing, planning, I mean, areas, it's been all purchasing, pr and communications. So while that aspect I think -- we have a strong redundancy there. It's almost like we have cloned three people and are putting them in there. Click the next button. What bothers me about this is that -- none of their experience has been anywhere else. They don't really know any other way of doing things, other than the city of Austin. I think we all know while we're great, there are other places that have been -- have implemented the -- the methods of what I want to call growth management, [6:18:33 PM] sometimes putting us all under one umbrella. And the -- there is nobody that has had any education in planning, zoning, permitting, no expertise in planning, zoning, permitting. Which is a very important piece of this whole puzzle. The second part is -- that -- that look at the performance. It didn't click. Next one. There we go. So -- so the only way we really have to look at performance, I'm not even going to go back to -- to the performance indicator that we are all struggling through trying to forget, that's the Zucker report, which was five years ago, which really took a strong look at our entire growth management program and told us -- about 500 different issues, what we need to address. But I'm just looking at the four audit reports that the auditor did on these four departments in the last four years. Four years ago we had an [6:19:33 PM] affordable housing. I won't go into a lot of detail, but they are available for you to look at. But they have probably -- the audits that I'm referring to, or the housing, community development and permitting departments, are probably the harshest audits in each city department that we've got in Austin city government. Let me go to the next one, because I tried to summarize it. So I'm looking at the personnel that -- the manager that -- has opted to assign to this new department. All three directors, none of them have any planning and zoning experience, education or expertise. I mean, add to that, one more time there, please. You add to that, that -- for the departments they have been out managing for the last four years, this is a summary, you go back and read the reports. [6:20:33 PM] They have been highly criticized for not establishing goals and strategies, not maintaining reliable databases, not monitoring staff performance, not [indiscernible] Proper expenses, setting [indiscernible] And timelines or targets. I think this is too important of a function. I'm talking about planning, zoning, housing, all of these things that we're talking about to take the chance that this department would not be able to fulfill what the city needs. Click one more time. It all -- I think raises a very critical question for the city. The city manager. Is this the growth management team that we want to turn the future of one of the nation's fastest growing and economic [indiscernible] Cities over to? Click. If not, then maybe the city manager should go back to the drawing board. Now, I'm going to end my comments with an illustration that I found because I think it's [6:21:33 PM] appropriate. Believe me right now I -- the shoes are the least that I would like to be in is our city manager's. But -- but we -- Austin is at a pivotal point, we all know that. Right now the manager's office and the city council have their hands full with some of the worst crisis we have, whether it be the virus, whether it be police, whether it be homelessness, whether it be transportation, taxation. I mean, I -- I couldn't -- I've worked for cities for 60 years and I'm -- sometimes I think that maybe all of the ills that I have seen in my 60 years have collectively fallen upon Austin, Texas at this time. So I think it is even more important that we not screw up this -- this reorganization. We need to make sure that we've got the right pegs in the right holes and we need to move forward with reorganization. As I said at the start, I agree 100% with Mr. Gonzalez [6:22:33 PM] that a reorganization is appropriate. But we need to do it in the right way and put the right people in place. And I -- I do thank them for bringing it up. So that's my two cents for the day. Thank you for listening. >> And first -- I'll actually -- go ahead, Mr. Gonzalez? Gonzalez sure. And I want to thank commissioner Duncan for his comments. I truly appreciate it. And I certainly appreciate all of your years of experience. In this field and in this arena and I couldn't agree with him more about the prioritization of these two functions right now in -- in the place that we're at. And -- and offer a clarification, if I could, commissioner Duncan. The two departments that would be merged are neighborhood housing and planning and zoning. I know that your slides [6:23:34 PM] referenced development services. That is not part of the merger. So I just wanted to offer that clarification that the merger does not in any way, shape or form include development services. So I'm not sure if that might help with some of the comments. As far as the executives are concerned, the executives will remain as Rosie, Rebecca and Jerry rusthoven. You didn't include Jerry in that slide, but Jerry is, of course, an executive team member and will remain. The merger will allow us to have an additional executive who it's my intention to do just what you talked about, to fill it with the knowledge and experience and expertise that we need in comprehensive planning. That will compliment the staff that is already present. But I did want to mention that the merger will allow us to bring on board an additional executive position in addition to what [6:24:34 PM] we have with Rosie and Rebecca and Jerry. I will ask rosey or Jerry if there's anything that they wanted to comment in that regard? [Multiple voices] >> This is Jerry. I don't know if I could add any more to what you just said. You know, we are still working on the -- on the reorganization of the department, what the org chart would look like. We are kind of in the process right now of going over that with the management of both departments. >> And the only other thing that I would offer just by way of clarification, I know that commissioner Duncan you referenced years of experience of the individuals. Specifically myself and Rebecca and what you haven't noted on there is the time that had been spent by both of us in the housing department. And so for me, I've been with the housing department [6:25:35 PM] for four years. And I think Rebecca has been there for at least 10. While my expertise at the city of Austin before that was in [indiscernible] In the city manager's office have been with the housing department for five years and she's been with the housing department for 10 -- I'm sorry, for four years and with the housing department for 10. Just by way of clarification. I've been the director of housing for four years and she -- has been the deputy for the length of time that I've been in the department and was the assistant director before then. >> Okay. Thank you very much for responding. Are there any other [background noise] Comment from the peanut gallery? Commissioner king? >> Yes. This question is for -- for director Gonzalez. [6:26:35 PM] I mean assistant city manager Gonzalez. I'm sorry about that. But -- or the other staff that's there. I understand that the rental repair I mean the housing repair program in the neighborhood housing and community development department is going to -- the budget is being proposed to be moved out of that -- of that bucket this year, the funding this year and moved into -- into homelessness. So because there have been problems with the -- with I guess the rental I mean the repair program having contractors not doing a good job and there's been problems with that program and I think that was referenced in one of the audits that commissioner Duncan mentioned. But I wonder how is that kind of problem going to be addressed? I don't I'm concerned that the solution is to take the money away from rental repair which people need more than ever, to prevent displacements and help them right now. I understand homelessness is [6:27:36 PM] important, too, it's a crisis as well. But I don't think the solution is to simply move the money out of that bucket. Why not fix the underlying problem which is a problem with the repair program itself? And not take that funding away. We need to solve the problem. So can y'all comment on that and how you would address that problem now and going forward into the proposed merger? >> Sure, I've got this. >> Thank you, Rosie. >> So, first, what we are doing in the action plan for federal dollars for the coming fiscal year [echoing] The dollars from prior period that we were not able to spend on our home repair program. So we are not defunding anything. For next year, they will still have the same allocation going into the next year. We are just recognizing those dollars were not able to be spend due to covid and not being able to go into people's homes to repair [6:28:38 PM] them. So we are moving them to help with capital expenditures for homelessness. Moving forward, those programs are still [indiscernible] Funding in the next fiscal year and we hope to have them be in much better shape. We have had a lot of improvements actually over the last couple of years on our home repair programs. The audit that was referenced was a number of years ago and I think but for the challenge of covid right now, we would not be doing the action that we are doing. So I think that those programs are -- are in actually really good shape. And we are actively working with our home repair coalition at the city that exists in Austin and doing what we can to continue to even work on homes from the exterior. While keeping what we know is a vulnerable population safe and protected from the illness. >> Thank you, Rosie. Commissioner king, thank you for your comments and -- and [6:29:38 PM] it has been something that Rosie and the staff have focused on, the home repair program. In getting in much better shape than it was in previous years. I commend them for the work. What Rosie mentioned is with regards to the federal funds and that's where we will get this money from, there are strict timelines with which we have to spend it. So by shifting over to homelessness, we can actually spend the dollars in capital much sooner than we can actually get into the home repair programs because, as Rosie mentioned, getting into homes right now for repairs is complicated due to covid. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Chair: Okay. Any other questions? Commissioner ray? >> Hey, thank you for that presentation. It's very informative. My question relates to the real scarcity of affordable housing that we have in our city. As we all know, we really [6:30:40 PM] can't build enough of it. Even the projects that we do approve often take so long to build that we are really wondering if we can address the scale of the problem at the rate at which, you know, we're capable of building. So I just wanted to hear your thoughts about how with the improved coordination of this department, how we improve the permitting process for affordable development. >> So the proposed merger doesn't necessarily involve the permitting process for our affordable development. However, we do work very closely with the folks at development services to ensure that we're able to remedy any permitting issues that might be happening for our affordable development. We actually have a position that is dedicated to kind of just serving in that ombudsman type of capacity with our, for our affordable developments. I agree, you are absolutely [6:31:41 PM] right. We need to increase the capacity and number of income-restricted housing units that we have in Austin and we're doing that by sending the [indiscernible] Affordable housing bond program and trying to learn those dollars and stretch them as far as we possibly can to increase the number of units. But it's a much bigger problem than what we are going to be able to do with the current funding level that we have. So we look to, you know, our partners all across Austin to help with creation of more affordable housing. >> Commissioner ray, this is assistant city manager Gonzalez. If I could, on the permitting, I know that we have made really good strides, most recently as you may recall, councilmember Casar pushed through what we called the affordability unlocked resolution. Rosie quickly assembled a team of various city departments to implement that. That's, of course, helping to bring more housing on board. More affordable housing in [6:32:41 PM] particular. About three and a half years ago, we implemented what we call the expedited billing plan and review program. Which is also -- has also helped our affordable housing partners get their projects permitted and underway quickly. So I feel like we've made some really good strides in that regard. I know that I personally have worked with hoca, with foundation communities, with a number of other affordable housing partners to understand and try to figure out how we can get these projects through the site plan process and through the building permitting process faster. We are always going to work with them because we've made great strides, but I want to ensure that we get this affordable housing on the ground and open as quickly as possible. So I do believe by merge [6:33:42 PM] knowledge these two -- merging these two departments it will help with our planning efforts. Also mindful that development services which is under my purview as the assistant city manager, that we are always looking for ways to continue to speed up the site plan process and the building permit process for our affordable housing project. >> Thank you, any other questions? Commissioner den, then I will go to commissioner Aguirre. >> This is for Mr. Gonzalez. Are you saying that you plan on hiring a new department head that has experience in planning, because we don't have an org chart or a backup and -- and I do know plan -- housing is just a piece of planning. [6:34:47 PM] If you have training in urban planning, you get training in -- in all sorts of processes. And those include -- housing and zoning and site plans and subdivision and transportation and utility knowledge. You get extensive experience in that. So am I understanding your intention is to put a new head in that has that kind of experience? Without an org, I'm not clear what -- who is going to be in charge. >> Thank you for your question, commissioner. Rosie truelove will be the director of the merged department. And so she's currently the director of neighborhood housing. And so the executive or the -- the director will be Rosie truelove. When I mentioned the other executives, Rebecca and Jerry, they are the executives who will also be in the department. [6:35:48 PM] We will have an opportunity to create what would be a -- a fourth executive. When you count Rosie, Jerry, Rebecca, we will have an opportunitto create a fourth executive position that will likely be an assistant director position. And that's where we are looking to bring on the experience and expertise. When I say bring on, of course, you know, there is -- this is an opportunity for -- for folks internal to the city of Austin who may have that expertise or external as well, you know. I don't want to make any commitments yet as to -- as to the recruitment process because we've got a lot of talented folks across the city. Who might find this as an opportunity. But it will be a position where we want to have this experience in as well. >> Commissioner denkler? [6:36:49 PM] You've got to turn on -- I'm going to step away to -- I've got to let somebody out. Commissioner denkler - - >> I'm sorry. >> Mr. Gonzalez, I think that you are missing my point then. You basically are putting the director of neighborhood housing in charge of both planning and housing. So say there's an issue with zoning. Is the ultimate tie breaker the head of the department who doesn't have any background in planning, isn't an engineer? She is an -- I'm not speaking to -- I guess that's what I'm concerned about. Is you having the -- the department and your structure is in essence elevating one piece of planning over every other aspect. [6:37:49 PM] And I don't think you've got it right. I'll be real blunt. I think there's some benefit to having the coordination. I think there have been times when the two departments haven't communicated very well, where the information isn't shared. Frankly, I bet you I could ask what the order of process is for affordable housing. Do you get the zoning first or do you get the application in for smart housing? I'm going to get a different answer from housing than I'm probably going to get from -- from the planning department. Why isn't the head of this department someone with experience in planning. >> Once again, thank you for your concerns, commissioner. In looking at the merger, of course, when I look -- what I look at is the executives [6:38:52 PM] from both departments. And how do we preserve -- as I mentioned earlier, preserving what we have. And I -- I have full faith and confidence in both Rosie and Jerry and Rebecca in that regard. And I can understand your concern about, you know, one decision goes to the highest level, which is the director position, et cetera. I can tell you that -- that, you know, the decisions like that aren't made in a vacuum. They are made with all of the information in front of every individual. And -- and yeah. So I mean I would say that that -- that is my response is that I'm looking at the merger with the executives that are currently in their seats and trying as much as possible to keep those [6:39:52 PM] intact. >> Okay. Then commissioner Aguirre? >> Yes. My question is directed towards Mr. Gonzalez, the assistant city manager. To what [indiscernible] Your presentation I heard a reference to equity and displacement. I did not hear a reference to gentrification. To what degree are you going to include the equity office in this process? >> Commissioner, if I can maybe just ask a clarification. Are you asking about, like, do we include the equity office in the merger or do you -- do you mean like in the work that we do? >> In the work that you do in regards to data, to evaluate, how effective, you know, things are -- you know, the equitability of the services that need to be provided or planning, housing, all of that. To what degree is the equity office going to be included? I see sometimes different city departments working in [6:40:54 PM] silos and I feel that there -- it's important for -- for them to share the information and, you know, sometimes look at, you know, from a different perspective. What is being, you know, what is the goal and is that goal being met and especially in regards to equity then -- and I'm worried that maybe gentrification is not adequately addressed. >> I appreciate that question. I'm going to lean on Rosie to get the answer. Maybe I can start with the high level. The equity office has gone through a number of equity assessments for various city departments. I believe housing has already been through their equity assessment. As with any assessment you learn things in going through it. The equity office is a strong partner in the work that we do. We always look towards the equity office to help us in the work. And to guide us in community conversations, as we do our work. Especially in the areas of [6:41:56 PM] gentrification and displacement. So when you -- when you first talked about -- what we talk is about anti-displacement. And when we talk about that, I think we probably almost collapse the two, anti- displacement and gentrification. We certainly are in tune with both of those. And our attempts at the merger are to address both of those situations. Rosie, is there something else that you might be able to add about the work that you and housing have done in particular with the equity office? >> Sure. We have actually had what feel like is a strong partnership with the equity office as we've been -- going through the implementation of the strategic housing blueprint and now I'm talking about specifically the housing department and we'll talk about how that can come into play with housing and planning. They have been strong collaborators and partners of ours as we have worked through multiple different [6:42:57 PM] [indiscernible] Courses, most recently the -- the anti-displacement and gentrification task force that was chaired by Raul Alvarez and [indiscernible]. We included a position in last year's budget in the housing department to specifically work on displacement prevention and gentrification issues. And to implement the strategic housing blueprint and a lot of the recommendations that came from that task force we brought in actually [indiscernible] Jackman as a temporary employee to serve in a program management capacity to help us build our displacement prevention and gentrification mitigation program. And I'm looking toward the merger of the housing and planning department to be able to shine a stronger light on the work that's being done there and to help bolster that. With additional staffing, ideally, and with -- with a place of prominence to work across all of the activities that are happening in the planning department and in [6:43:58 PM] the housing activities. So it's -- it's kind of -- it's -- this is going to be a great opportunity to really elevate an issue that we recognize and have heard from many constituency groups as being something that needs to have a prominent place. And so we're looking through this merger to be able to help accomplish that. And the equity office, again, will continue to be that strong partner. We meet with them regularly and, you know, every opportunity we have to collaborate with -- with Brian and Kelly and their team we do. And have found that to be a great advantage of ours. >> Chair, may I ask a clarification question? [6:45:00 PM] >> Chair? >> I am -- >> Okay. Now, yes. Okay. [Laughter]. Man. I -- a bunch of windows just opened up. Yes. Please go ahead. Sorry. I was looking for my own questions. >> Yes. Chair, I just wanted to ask if I could clarify this new or this -- reference was made to a position that's going to be focused on displacement and gentrification and, you know, we've had what's called a homelessness czar appointed. Will this displacement gentrification position what level will it be at? What kind of prominence, what kind of budget will they have? Can we please clarify that. We've had data earlier from the I team, here at the city of Austin I team that shows over 232 households are at risk of displacement, it's a big issue that needs really billions of dollars. I want to see how funded this position and this role is going to be and what budget it will have in the [6:46:00 PM] new department. >> Sure. The level of employee that I'm looking at is basically as high as you can get, but -- without being an executive. So the title would be one that doesn't exist yet in the city. It would be a displacement prevention officer. And I'm trying to think of someone that -- that -- for -- a relative level that it would be comparable to. But I'm -- that you guys would be familiar with the title or position, I'm coming up short. But it's a high level position that's not an executive. My hope is to get a team of, a robust team, I think probably start at -- at five or six ftes and while I don't have a strong answer on the budget yet, I can say that we are still working on what that looks like. But we are looking at dedicating [indiscernible] In the housing trust fund next year to -- to work on displacement prevention [6:47:04 PM] programs. And tenant stabilization problems, that's on top of the emergency rental assistance program that we are implementing right now that's part of our covid response which is the 15 million-dollar program that the displacement prevention staff is informing the creation and operation of that program. >> There was a little glitch in the audio. Did you say 5 million next year would be available? >> That's -- that's -- we're finalizing our programming of our dollars in the housing trust fund, but that is the ballpark of what we are looking at. If that shifts up and down, you know, over the next week, then forgive me for that. But this is -- this is, you know, my goal is to have this be a high level position that we will be -- will be able to engage not only across housing and planning department, but able to engage across the city to ensure that -- that [6:48:04 PM] the work that the city of Austin does is being [indiscernible] Displacement prevention one. This will be a valuable member of my leadership team and it will be a competitive process to ensure that we get the right person in the job. >> Yes. And may I just say, I really appreciate the information tonight and the -- the effort to merge these two departments and I agree that, you know, it needs to be done in the right way and but I do thank you for being here tonight and providing this information. >> Yeah. I definitely agree. Commissioner Ana Aguirre? >> It looks like you wanted to follow-up. Tiny one by two inch -- >> Thank you. I really am concerned. I really want to emphasize there's a difference between gentrification and displacement and what I kept hearing was displacement prevention officer. It's important to stress that gentrification also needs to be equally considered in this -- you [6:49:05 PM] know, in this, you know, process. So I think it's very, very important. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Commissioner Duncan? I think commissioner Evans had his hand up before me. >> I'm sorry. Commissioner -- commissioner -- commissioner Evans, my apologies. All of my [indiscernible] >> That's all right. >> My comment is very short. I just want to support what commissioner denkler brought up. I think that it's imperative that -- that this whole operation be led by somebody who thoroughly understands the planning process. We are the victim in the city of not properly applying, not properly planning for such a long time. And I think that without having somebody on board [6:50:05 PM] that's -- that's trained and capable in that area, is just going to lead to more of the same. >> Commissioner -- thank you and I actually want to follow up with that. But commissioner Duncan? >> Did somebody else have their hand up? Because I -- I just -- okay. Let me -- there's several things that have been said. I think that -- what we are doing here is extraordinarily important. And I just don't want to see us screw it up. All right? I hate to go back in history, but merging and reorganizing, man do I know. When I came to work for the city of Austin in 1984 they totally made the reorganization and I inherited pieces of seven different departments. So I am a veteran of knowing about reorganization, I think that's a good way of going. It's just important to put the right pieces in the right place -- the right pieces and the right players [6:51:05 PM] in place or you're just spinning your wheels. All right? This is not something that should be done manager -- almost referred to as a vacuum. It is definitely not something that should be done in the back room. It needs to be done with full transparency and with full implications and understanding of what the long-term effects can be. I'm going to say something. We've got -- Austin is fortunate. We're a city that attracts people, quality people, we have damn good employees in the planning department. They are very down in the bowels some of them are frustrated. I hate to hear this because I spent my whole career as a planner. But I heard one of them say several months ago, that planning is no longer that relevant. We ought to change our name to the scheming and real estate roulette department. When it gets down to that type of level, I'm [6:52:05 PM] embarrassed. I'm embarrassed for the citizens. For the city. I'm embarrassed for the -- for the process that is convoluted. I'm frustrated. I really am. I apologize for showing some emotion. But I don't think we're heading in the right direction. I think -- okay. We talk about hiring. Okay. I mean, I'm sitting here listening to -- it's been over a year since the director of planning retired. Nothing has been filled. I found out a month ago we lost one of our best, in our personal opinion, Ryan Robinson our chief demographer. 60 years ago I started my career in the job Ryan Robinson just retired from. It's an extremely important position. I don't see any -- I -- I -- as I said earlier, I am sympathetic with the city manager's office. I know they are juggling a lot of balls right now. [6:53:06 PM] But it is imperative this be done right. If it's not, don't do it. I would rather have the -- the -- jumbled disjointed situation right now that we have got than putting it over into a department that has not shown the highest of management skills. Okay? Five years ago I was criticizing when I was chair of the -- of the committee citizens advisory committee on codenext, god forbid however long ago that was, I was frustrated because nobody had any idea of how many dwelling units or programs, affordable units had generated. That's five years ago. This is 2020! We still have no idea. That is not good management. Somebody is dropping the ball. And a while ago we were talking about hiring somebody, I heard the manager, somebody said go out and look for some good [6:54:06 PM] ones. He said we've got them right here in town. There's nothing wrong with what we have in town. But there's nothing wrong with the rest of this country. We are the only city, with -- without a team certified planner. The Fort Worth, a certified, has a master's degree in planning, experience in planners, knows how to hire planners. Austin is not heading in that direction. I know -- this is not the -- the thing to show emotion on. But it is important. It's important to the citizens of the city. We probably wouldn't have a lot of the problems that we have today if we had been doing planning all along. We are a -- where is our [indiscernible] Planning program? It's not going anywhere. Look at the programs that are pushed by the side. We've got problems in river city. And it's somebody -- somebody that knows what the [6:55:07 PM] hell they are doing takes charge, we're not going to solve it. And I really am embarrassed because two of my colleagues, Mrs. [Indiscernible] Ramirez are also certified planners, and -- and I -- the future is good. Okay. And it's going to be good in Austin, but somebody needs to start making some major changes. Start listening to the entire community and not just the one percenters. I'm going to shut up. Thank you for listening. >> Okay. Anything else that -- if not, I'm going to build on this thing about what -- what commissioner Duncan said and his presentation last time on dick Lilly and I thought, okay, that was a great presentation about a visionary planner to head up the -- and I thought, where [6:56:07 PM] is -- writes our dick Lilly and why aren't we looking for a dick Lilly right now? People do want to come to Austin, as other people have pointed out. And I think it's especially important now to have a dick Lilly because -- because we are -- and I think we should focus back on planning. Because, as commissioner Evans has reinforced and commissioner denkler said, it's all -- we are not being planned right now and planning is more than housing. It's transportation, it's open space, it's resiliency, it is so many things and I think the other way to look at it is if you are adding housing in, then why not add parks? Then you have this just mega department. So let's go back to being purist and having people who plan in the planning department, and you hear me complain all the time here where we -- we approve a subdivision and I'm like, well, where is this and we're -- especially on the [6:57:11 PM] outer regions, zap is really seeing areas that take -- are bearing the brunt of a lack of a planning process. And I want to see planning, I want to see amenities, and I want to see the whole city taken care of. And - - and so -- so that's -- especially one other thing that I'm going to say and that is it's related -- we are the center of a growing region. And I've heard about other cities in other areas, planning departments or their chief planner joins a regional planning team, and they are trying -- working on planning transportation and the -- and just the whole area as much as they can do, even though they are different municipalities. I think we should be doing the Austin planner and the planning department should be reaching outward and looking at the big metropolitan area as best as they can, given constraints of other municipalities, but [6:58:11 PM] working, trying to come up with a vision for the whole area with the other municipalities. And I think this merger is sort of a step backwards. But that is my take on it. >> May I just -- is that yes. >> May I just chime in. I want to put my voice on the record as sharing the concern about the leadership of this new proposed merged department. And that we do need to really look seriously at bringing in certified planners and -- and having a planning expert lead that department. And the other thing is that - - if we -- you know, what is the budget for small area planning? How much is in the budget? And I -- what I'm concerned about is that the proposed land development code in that city-wide zoning map is going to take the place of planning. That's going to be the plan for our city. And that worries me greatly. So that's not the planning that we're talking about right now. [6:59:11 PM] The long-range planning, the small area planning that we need. And so I -- I'm going to add my voice to this concern about the proposed leadership for this department and the lack of -- lack of planning expertise in that leadership. I'm not picking on any particularly person, they are fine individuals here. It's not personal whatsoever, but it's about what's best for our city, thank you. >> Chair: Okay. Any other >> Any other hands raised? Commissioner denkler and commissioner ray. >> I, too, want to reinforce the fact that -- I think Bruce expressed it more clearly than I did. When you put the housing piece in charge, I'd say a bunch of our cases are commercial. Ha-ha. And so probably 40% to 50%, you just have to have that [7:00:13 PM] overall perspective. Um, and I really hope that you will reevaluate this and not just respond to the noise and the politics and the like. Because there are processes that I think even after audit in task forces that still aren't resolved, ie, what comes first? You are applying for the affordable house, do you get the zoning or the smart certification? But one of the comments that Mr. Gonzales, you made, is y'all wanted to focus more on long-range planning, and one of the things that I discovered in trying to do a little research for our budget amendment is we lost -- the planning department lost of one of the positions they had devoted to long-range planning. So I think we have to look at [7:01:14 PM] this real comprehensively, lots of cities focus more in planning. Lots of people have master plans that add or require infrastructure assessments as part of your planning processes. I think we take a step back and really look at this a little more. That's it for me. Uh-huh. >> Ok. Commissioner ray. >> Um, so, echoing previous comments from my fellow commissioners, kind of around the themes of sustainable regional growth and need for long-range planning, I want to ask y'all about plans to coordinate housing and transportation investments. In November, voters have the opportunity to approve what will be hopefully a transformational investment in a mass transit system. And I am curious about how [7:02:15 PM] this new department will coordinate with your partners at capital metro to really plan for a coordinated, affordable housing and transit strategy so we don't waste that opportunity. Um, so, I wanted to see if that's part of the long-range planning, and how you can anticipate responding to hopefully that valid item passing in November. >> [Inaudible, multiple people speaking] >> Yeah, absolutely. Rosie, certainly alluded to the work she's done with the transportation department, at city of Austin, as well as cap metro. In fact, you know, we just -- Rosie was just part of a response to a concern with regard to displacement the -- I think it is also connected to a question with project connect. Rosie and the team had been [7:03:17 PM] very in tune with regards to the project and to the concerns of displacement. Yes, Rosie, if you can fill in, please, that would be great. >> Yeah, sure. I mean, we have been actively working with the folks in the city that are working on project connect as well as cap metro. I share personally the concerns about [?] And one of the priorities that we're using as part of our criteria and strategy for deploying the land acquisition bond associated with the $249 million housing bond is so we can foresee where the different lines are going through project connect and potentially acquire property and ensure there is affordable housing along those corridors. So it is something we're actively involved in, we will continue to be actively involved in that. And and ever-increasing [7:04:18 PM] capacities as we get closer to the commission of the project. >> And I thought I saw a hand up. Um ... If not ... Then, um, I just had just one other -- this was -- this is a more detailed question. I mean, I'm Sil -- still. I'm concerned but I was hoping to see a little more in this presentation tonight, like what are your goals, what are going to be your metrics and organization chart as commissioner denkler pointed out. So I was wondering what your time line is for putting this all together and having it accessible to the public to review? >> Thank you, commissioner. We're in the process of putting that together. Of course, we do it in concert with corporate human [7:05:18 PM] resources. I envision we should have that maybe another two weeks or ? That we could of course make it public. So I'm hoping for that. That way, it can also help with answering questions and resolving concerns. We can certainly -- we will certainly endeavor to get that done quickly. So that way, that can contribute to the objectives that we're intending to pursue with this merger. >> Thank you. Then I have a question about what is the time line for filling the city domography demographer. And what are you planning on doing -- what's the plan there? >> [Indiscernible]. >> Thank you. >> Sure. Chair, we are working on [7:06:18 PM] filling that position. The city has implemented a hiring freeze due to the economic situation. However, I am asking for an exception to that to free up that position for us to be hired. It is going through the process right now and being reviewed by the human resources department to get that exception. >> Ok, thank you. >> And with the exception we'll post the position. >> One key component is Ryan was heavily involved in the census, so Jerry and I have had this discussion before. It is going through the process initially of human resources and budget and then it will make its way to myself. But Jerry and I had talked about the importance of the position. >> Ok. Thank you. Are there any other questions? Commissioner Duncan. >> I just wanted to thank the manager for correcting me on the organization. [7:07:18 PM] The only information I officially had was an article read in the Austin monitor by Jill Clifton. In that article she did include the services as part of the organization. Tonight, I think you clarified that is no longer. I would like to add, I don't see anything wrong with development services in port of the reorganization. It depends on how you reorganize it. It is the extension that touches the most people in the development community. They need to be tied with a good planning and housing function. It is not what you are trying to do, it is how you are doing it that is bothering me. I didn't realize you had changed the rule. Or maybe Ms. Clifton was wrong in the article, that you were not including your old department, Rodney. Thank you for straightening it out. >> Ha-ha-ha. You're welcome, commissioner, thank you for your comment. And thank you to the entire [7:08:20 PM] commission and chair for comments. If I could leave parting comments, I would say that [audio skipping] Is critically important. I wouldn't be proposing the merger if I didn't think we could actually come out with a better planning for the city of Austin. Currently, we do planning, of course, not just within the planning and zoning department, we do planning in the housing department, we do planning in transportation. We do planning in a number of different functions throughout the city. These are two of our key areas that do the planning. Of course, housing and the long-range comprehensive planning. And I really do think that by merging the two, and I believe this -- that ultimately, we're going to end up with a much stronger focus on planning and how we account for the growth of the city. Yes, we do have growth in commercial areas. [7:09:21 PM] We are striving a lot of that is the influx of new residents to Austin as well as the natural internal growth. And so for me, having these two departments merge would definitely link the work that they've been doing in silos, communicating with each other, but in silos. And I really do think we'll end up with a stronger planning overall for the city of Austin. >> Ok. Um, any final questions? And if not -- well, thank you very much, assistant city manager Gonzalez and Rosie and Jerry. Really appreciate it. This was very informative. And definitely -- also thank you for taking our hard and probing questions and really just very much appreciate it. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you all. [7:10:22 PM] Have a great weekend. >> Happy weekend. >> Ok. Bye-bye. >> Bye. >> Thank you. >> And any thoughts amongst ourselves? If not, commissioner Evans. >> Getting a little ahead of myself here, but our next item on the agenda is to discuss the budget recommendations? >> Yes. >> And those budget recommendations were looked at without this merger that we're seeing. I would like to suggest that we postpone any action on that until we put something together as a commission regarding our approach on this. >> I think that's -- I think that is a great idea. I mean, exactly because -- I'm going to shut up. Yes, absolutely. Yes. [7:11:22 PM] Commissioner bray? >> I think someone else had their hand up first. Do you want to postpone action on the budget recommendations until next meeting? Is there a problem with the time line there? I thought we were up against like it coming up really quick? >> I think our impact from those recommendations is such that we would be better served by making a cohesive statement. >> I guess I'm concerned a little bit that -- most of the recommendations don't appear to me to be -- there might be a couple, but I feel like we could edit those. I don't feel like -- you know, David and Allen can comment on this because they did most of the drafting. But I don't know if this is -- [7:12:22 PM] like, I would be concerned about losing time on some of the other things that aren't relevant to the merger. >> [?] >> Yes, the terms of the time line here. I have the time line, the budget adoption time line is a budget input meetings on the 23rd. Which is Thursday. And the 30th of this month. Then work sessions on the 20th and 4th of August. And adoption is August 12. This is the critical time when they are taking all the recommendations, really formulating and trying to finalize the budget. So what I would suggest is that -- the budget recommendations aren't specific to this merger. I can't see anything in it the recommendations that are out there right now that would be inconsistent with things we talk about tonight. But what I would -- I do concur with commissioner Evans about that we need to make a [7:13:23 PM] statement, I think, there is a commission on the proposed merger. Yes, there will be potentially budget components to that particular, you know, effort if we undertake it. But that is what I would suggest, is that we continue on with the budget recommendations we have right now, tonight, and then we have this item on the merger on the agenda for next meeting, so we can formulate a response or some kind of statement. >> Ok. Commissioner ray and then commissioner denkler. >> Chiming in here, I would agree that time is really of the essence if we want these comments to be received during the public input process. To address some of the concerns, though, it would be possible to slightly tweak the recommendation such that the ones we have for nhcd and the recommendations for planning and zoning could be all under one recommendation for the [7:14:25 PM] proposed housing and planning department. Other than that, I feel as if coming up with more fine -- like higher resolution recommendations for a department that is yet to exist is almost a different question. And one which would require more thought and time that we have before the end of this public involvement process. >> And commissioner, I forgot -- I thought -- commissioner Evans. >> How about this? How about before those two bullet points on the two different departments, the neighborhood housing community development and planning and zoning that we just insert a simple statement that zap has just been made aware of the plans to merge these and while we're in support of the potential merger, we would like to strongly suggest -- [7:15:28 PM] [background chatter] >> That the department be led by an accredited planning professional. >> I -- ok. Commissioner, I was wondering if maybe we should do a little bit more thorough weighing in on the proposed merger, and I like that idea. I like that idea but maybe flesh it out. Have a little bit of time to flesh it out. So that is just my thought. >> Commissioner denkler would like to speak. And she's now back. >> Yes, she's back. Go ahead. >> If they mute me one more time I'm going to scream. I'm the only person here that has worked at city hall as a council aide. This will be timely if everything is done at once in two weeks. We don't have to be part of the public hearing process. [7:16:29 PM] We can be taken up at any time before they act on the budget. We have time to do this in two weeks. I was a little distressed to hear that we lost our long-range planner in the planning department. And now I'm hearing we don't have Ryan Robinson. I think our budget recommendations have to tie into the merger as it stands. So I would prefer that we hold off. Trust me commissioner ray, trust me Mr. King, we will be fine if this happens in two weeks and we get a little more information. I will tell you, stormwater mapping has been mapped out. That work apparently was completed. But I really think we ought to be waiting two more weeks and get a little more detail. You just have to have somebody heading that department who [7:17:29 PM] understands the processes. So ... That's it for me. >> Commissioner king. >> Well, you know, I understand, you know, that this is sort of a last-minute kind of thing that has come into our perspective here and we do want to weigh-in on this, but the later we weigh into the process, the less likely I believe that we're going to have an impact because as it is closer and closer and closer to the final vote. It is hard to make changes as you get further down the process. The time line down here. Now, you know, so if we are going to delay this budget recommendation for two more weeks, I would ask that the commissioners who are wanting to make a response to this, that they provide that input so we can compile it and get it back to everybody in time to review it. You know, we have feedback. We asked for feedback of this [7:18:32 PM] budget we're looking at right now. We did get feedback from one commissioner in a timely manner. We need other feedback, yet it is coming up. That feedback needs to come in earlier so we can get it compiled and out to all the commissioners so when we do convene to review it, we all have that information we're looking at, we can be more effective, because we're going to be here discussing this if we do it in two more weeks, we will be discussing the same issues again. The wording that we want to put into the updated budget recommendation related to this merger. I would just ask that the commissioners really provide concise input about what they would like to add to this or edit in this budget recommendation so we can get it out, get it compiled and be efficient at the next meeting and get this budget recommendation done. >> Ok. Commissioner bray. >> I think I say commissioner [7:19:33 PM] ray's hand up first. >> Ok, commissioner ray. Sorry about that. >> Thank you. I have some draft language to throw out there if people are receptive to passing something tonight they think could encapsulate what we have done so far. Can I get head nods as to whether or not that is something we're willing to entertain? >> Yes. >> Ok. In addition to the recommendations we already have, let's include a new section that says something to the effect of with the proposed merger of the planning and zoning and neighborhood housing and community develop departments as the housing and planning department, zap recommends senior leadership with [stammering] Senior leadership with extensive national level experience as a planner, senior leadership with experience as a demographer and an emphasis on long-range [7:20:35 PM] planning and small area planning. >> I see heads nodding. Commissioner Evans. >> I just wanted to comment, I support that. I think that that is clear and concise, easy to put in. If you are agreeable, I would like to see it put before the two bullet points. >> I agree. I think that is really good. >> Clarify, this is on the budget recommendation item. >> Ok. Good point. [Laughter] >> Why don't we go to -- items from the e1. Discussion and possible action on the city budget recommendation, sponsors, commissioners ray, and king. >> And I do support commissioner ray's proposed wording there. And also commissioner Evans to putting it at the beginning. That is fine with me, too. [7:21:40 PM] Quick question. We're posted to ask on the city's budget recommendations, we're not posted to necessarily weigh-in on the merger. Can you repeat the language, so I can make sure as parliamentarian that we're not running into any issues with open meeting? Or -- Ellen, commissioner ray, can you rephrase -- resay that language one more time? >> Sure. So ... >> It fits in with the budget, right? >> Right. So what I have got is, with the proposed merger of the planning and zoning and neighborhood housing and community development departments, zap recommends senior leadership with extensive national experience as a planner, senior [7:22:41 PM] leadership with experience in demography, and an emphasis on long-range planning at the senior level. >> Commissioner king. >> I have a suggestion to add to that. Maybe we can say it be proposed. The proposed merger of the two departments in the proposed budget. That way we're tying it to the budget. In the proposed budget. Because the merger will have budgetary impacts in the proposed budget itself. So that way, it can directly connect it to the budget. >> Ok. >> So the wording would be ... The proposed budget for the proposed merger of the two departments. We recommend, in the proposed budget of the proposed merger that we recommend senior and [7:23:42 PM] planning leadership. Or senior leadership with planning, demography, small and long-range planning expertise. >> Commissioner bray. >> Can I make a suggestion? There is a share content button. I was wondering if we can get -- I wonder if commissioner ray can share her content so we can look at it as making amendments, that might be helpful. >> Give me one second. [Chuckling]. >> I also want to know if this works, just a curiosity thing. [7:25:06 PM] >> Ok. Commissioner bray, can you repeat what this feature is. >> If you unmute, you hit video and square with an arrow, it says share content. You probably can use that to show on your screen the language you have drafted. >> It would sure be nice if we could have some training as our resolution suggested. >> Ha-ha. >> As I said, I kind of want you to do it to see if we can make this work, because it would be nice to see if we can use this feature. >> Yeah, I agree. I think it is a great idea. Oh, great! Thank you. Thank you, commissioner bray. And thank you commissioner ray for being the Guinea pig. [7:26:28 PM] Congratulations. Should we have any more discussion or do we want to have a vote on including this in the recommendation? Commissioner Aguirre. >> Is there going to be a provision regarding small-area planning? And do we want to say senior leadership with national experience as a demographer or keep that as is? >> What would you -- actually, commissioner Aguirre, what would you recommend? Or do you -- >> It is just I thought I heard in the original proposal when commissioner race ray was submitting it, I thought I heard hear make a reference to small area planning. Unless I didn't hear [7:27:28 PM] correctly. >> I agree, I can commissioners hand up, I apologize if I don't call on you. I will call on people I see. Commissioner Duncan. >> My comment, on the demographer, I would like to say senior leadership. I don't know if it will come out right. Ryan Robinson is one of, I think, an outstanding employee. We won't be able to fill his shoes, I can tell you right now, immediately, in fact, I'm almost embarrassed to say when I had his job 60 years ago, that is when I was out of school. He knew the city and documentation. We just need that to be filled. The second part, I agree with commissioner Aguirre, I agree, small range planning is critical. We have imagine Austin, that needs to be updated, that is true. It gives the overarching plan [7:28:29 PM] work. We need to get to a level -- we see this every day where we don't have the planning guidelines for zoning. And I see that commissioner ray has added small-area planning. That is all I have to say. Let's don't lose out on a real good demographer because they don't have a national reputation. That could be from one that is come asking from Austin -- coming from Austin. I didn't mean to criticize our local talent. And the demographer would probably be someone that knows Austin and has experience. >> Ok. And thank you commissioner ray for doing all of this. And how does it work for you all commissioners? I apologize. I cannot see everybody at this point. >> It is really tough to juggle this. [7:29:29 PM] The only concern -- I appreciate the suggestions on the language. The only point I was trying to make is I really do think the director of this merged department should be have the national level planning experience. I'm very hesitant about using the word "Senior level" because then we'll just get another assistant director, hah! I think the concern I heard everyone raising tonight is that we need a comp hencive review at the top -- comprehensive review at the top, people that understand the need for housing, commercial properties, how it integrates with every other department. I'm very hesitant to use the language senior level planner with national experience. I could see them literally [7:30:31 PM] adding another assistant director when the point is that is probably where the head of the department should be. So my thoughts again. Uh-huh. >> Commissioner Evans, do you have your hand up? >> I did. That first bullet point where it says "Senior leadership" that we just take out the word "Senior leadership" and that the director of this department be someone with extensive experience as a planner. >> I think that is an excellent idea. That is what we heard from -- I mean, that just lays it out there. I think that's great. >> [Chuckling]. >> Apologies that I couldn't see anybody before. [7:31:32 PM] Now I figured out how to change my windows. Commissioner ray. >> All right. Just to reiterate the language that is being shared currently, hopefully encapsulates our discussion, including recent feedback to emphasize that the director should have extensive experience as a planner. The demographer will be senior level and the long-range and small-area planning will be emphases with positions at the senior level. So if my fellow commissioners think that this is a good summation of our discussion tonight, I would like to propose that we add these recommendations to the existing budget recommendations as the first bullet point above the [7:32:37 PM] recommendations for nhcd commissions and planning. >> All right, commissioner Evans. >> Second. >> Ok. Motion by commissioner ray. Seconded by commissioner Evans. Any further discussion? Oh, great! And all those in favor, please raise your hands. >> I'm raising my hand. I can't see -- >> There you go. >> That's great.. Ok. Thank you very much. That was -- did everybody -- is there anybody against? Ok. Then any abstaining, I have to ask. Is it unanimous. Thank you so much. And thank you for working on the budget and then, so that's that. And items from the commission. So I assume we're done with e1. And e2 is discussion and possible action about land development code. Anything from you commissioner Duncan? [7:33:37 PM] Nothing from me. Nothing -- anybody from anything? And future agenda items. And believe me, I had actually called up Ryan Robinson to ask him about his presentation that we had asked him for a long time ago. When I heard that -- he told me he was no longer working, I was a little surprised. So he retired June 30th, we won't make him an agenda item, I will say thank you to Ryan Robinson for being our demographer. And committee reports. Anything -- I know there were some committees that were going to meet. Codes and ordinances joint committee didn't meet. Ok. Commissioner king. >> O -- I'm just -- [chuckling] [Inaudible, multiple people [7:34:37 PM] speaking] >> Incidentally, you did not give commissioner Ramirez two votes? I saw two hands waving on her screen. >> Ha-ha. >> Back to the serious business. Our codes and ordinances did meet. We had a great discussion on the street impact fee with information transmitted to the council. I think the most important part was one of our members was elected to be the vice chair. Mr. Ramirez, congratulations. Where did she go? I don't see her on the screen. >> Thank you. [Inaudible, multiple people speaking] >> Too distracting. >> Congratulations. Oh, yeah. Congratulations to taking a leadership role in that on the codes an ordinances and ordinances committee. And how about comprehensive plan joint committee? [7:35:38 PM] >> Nothing to report. >> Ok. And then the small area planning joint committee? >> We don't -- we haven't had a meeting. Our next meeting is in August. >> Ok. Great. And I feel like -- oh, actually this isn't an agenda item, I guess, but I want to follow up with our resolution, and I will plan to do that and see if we get any training. Thank you to commissioners bray and commissioners ray for stepping us a little bit further into the technology. And commissioner bray? >> I don't know if this would be an agenda item, I wonder if we can take five minutes at some point to go through the futures as a group. I have like some ideas about raising hands for speaking and things like that. So would y'all be down with that? Does that need to be an agenda item at some point? [7:36:40 PM] >> Um, yeah, absolutely. I mean, or if you just want to shoot me a note. Commissioner king. >> I'll cosponsor that with an agenda item. We'll just be practicing. That would be very beneficial and useful for us. >> Ok. That sounds good. It will be an agenda item. And anything else? If not, we're are -- we can call it a night. Thank you very much. [Adjourned] [9:07:55 PM] >> Casar: I will call us to order. It is July 21st. It's 10:04 A.M. We're meeting on the virtual dais. I'm chair of the committee, Greg Casar. I'm joined by vice-chair Ellis and councilmembers Renteria and kitchen. And we'll get started. We have three briefings today all on important stuff. The first thing is to approve the minutes from the last meeting. Is there any objection to doing that? Then by acclamation we'll approve item number 1 and move straight into item number 2, which is a briefing and our discussion on the emergency housing resources and policies for residents impacted by covid-19 and our housing strategy as it relates to covid-19. I'll let the staff move forward. Do you guys need me to do anything for the -- for your powerpoint to pop up or do you have that coming? >> I've got it on my end. [9:08:58 PM] >> Great, if you. Sorry, Mandy, I think I need to unmute you. And we are joined by councilmember harper-madison also. >> Great, thank you. This is Mandy de mayo, community development administrator for the neighborhood housing and community development. Today I'm going to go through emergency rental assistance for Austin tenants that are impacted by covid-19. And I believe I cannot control the slides, so if we could just advance to the next slide. Fantastic. >> Chair, I have one quick question. I'm very sorry to interrupt. It looks like the backup links on this item are not working, but the other items the backup links are working so, so I was hoping I.T. Could work on that while [9:10:00 PM] we're going through the slides. >> Casar: That would be great. >> Are you able to see the presentation? >> Casar: We can. We can all see it. >> Okay, perspective. Why. So today we're -- I'm sorry? >> Casar: Sorry, Mandy, I was just thanking Paige for that. >> Great. Today's agenda regarding emergency rental assistance we're going to talk briefly about the rent relief pilot program which occurred in may and we'll talk about what we're calling rent 2.0, the second iteration of the rental assistance program, program eligibility and the structure of the program and then some ancillary wraparound tenant stabilization services, our marketing and outreach strategy and then the lime line for launching the program. As y'all know, we launched [9:11:01 PM] rent, which was relief for emergency needs for tenants in early may. This was in partnership with haca, the housing authority of the city of Austin. We utilized housing trust fund dollars, so local dollars, 1.256 million in direct rental assistance. The eligibility for the program was households at or below 80% median family income who lived in the city limits, were on a standard lease and could demonstrate that they were impacted by covid-19. When the program was all said and done, we served 1,681 households. Two-thirds of those households were at or below 30% of the median family income. And we summarized the graphics on a July 8th memo that went to mayor and city council. We learned a lot of lessons in our brief time working on the rent program. We know that we provided a significant amount of relief [9:12:03 PM] for tenants, but we also learned that the program, the administration of the program, was a heavy left, an intense active program to adminier. There was a short lead time for this program. We pulled it together over a couple of weeks, launched in early may. There was extensive case management that was required with a lot of back and forth between 15 unanimous and back and forth between landlords as well. We also learned that we created a pretty complicated rent calculation in terms of the relief that we would provide. And fairly complex landlord certification. So again, those are lessons learned. If we could move to the next slide. As a result of our pilot program in may, we took a little bit of a step back and we have created a comprehensive and holistic strategy to keep tenants in their homes. This includes both direct rental assistance plus eviction, prevention and [9:13:06 PM] stabilization services. The funding for the program comes from coronavirus relief funds. That's really [indiscernible] Here on the funding, plus trust funds, plus federal funding, but for non-coronavirus relief. And this is all of course based on the council of [indiscernible] Framework that was authorized last month. The funding that we have pulled together is dedicated to three primary areas. One which is the lion's share is direct rental assistance. Two is tenant stablelation services and then three is really targeted to outreach. I want to talk first, we can go to the next slide, I want to talk first about the direct rental assistance program. What does rent, this new iteration, the direct assistance, what does it look like? I will tell you it is similar to the first iteration in may, rent 1.0, [9:14:07 PM] we're calling it, but we have a focus on targeting populations and streamlining the program. Some of the improvements that we're seeing is one, continued partnership with haca, housing authority of the city of Austin. It will also be with a nationally recognized consulting firm with 25-plus years of experience administering housing choice voucher programs for large municipalities across the country, including the city of Los Angeles, city the Chicago and New York City. Another improvement we're pretty excited about is the determination that -- extremely low income households, those under 30% median family income, will be eligible for multiple months, up to three months of rental assistance, while households between 30 and 80% median family income will be visible for up to one month assistance. We are per council direction [9:15:09 PM] accepting both traditional and non-traditional leases. That is something we heard loud and clear from council, is folks living in alternative arrangements like extended stay hotels. We also decided that rather than paying up to a certain amount of rent and the tenant could pay the remainder, we'll pay the full contracted rent amount so that will be an increased rental benefit do most households and of course we have enhanced funding over a six-month period. If we can go on to the next slide. I also want to highlight in addition to our direct rental assistance what we call rent 3.0 that we're launching is the tent Nan stabilization programs, a full suite of programs and services to complement the emergency assistance. We will be serving austinites who are not yet [9:16:10 PM] displaced. Austinites who may have back fees owed, whether that is back rent or utilities or other fees, late fees. And also serving austinites who may be in some stage of the eviction process. Those services are going to be providing through contracts with local non-profit organizations and the services are going to include landlord-tenant red mediation, eviction defense services, so representation in eviction court, as well as direct funding for right to cure for households who do have back rent due, late payments due, in order to avoid eviction. We'll go on to the next slide. We want to talk briefly about targeted outreach, which we have before. We learned a lot from the first iteration of the program, who we were reaching and who we were not reaching. Again, as I mentioned previously, about two-thirds of the households served in [9:17:11 PM] the first iteration of rent in may were extremely low income, households at or below 30% of median family income. But when we look at data from the equity action team we know that African-American households, families with children are twice as likely to face eviction as white households. We also know from Austin public health that people of color and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by covid-19. Our goal is to help those reasonable accommodation renters who are the most impacted by covid-19. As a result we're doing very target the outreach for -- to communities of color, families with children, veterans and also [indiscernible]. We can go on to the next slide. I want to expand a little bit on our expanded outreach. We have developed internally a comprehensive [indiscernible] And outreach strategy. We will be releasing a [9:18:12 PM] solicitation for community-based organizations to help each underserved and underrepresented communities in creative or particular ways. Materials and outreach will be provided in multiple languages. We're working with both haca, cvr and all of the community groups to deliver a holistic response with the looming eviction crisis and economic fallout from covid-19. We go on to the next slide, which is the final slide, you will see a timeline and next steps to give you an idea of where we are and where we want to be in the near future. So right now we're finalizing contracts with haca and subcontractors that will -- that is occurring as we speak in the month of July. We're also finalizing contracts for direct non-profit providers for tenant stabilization services that will also [9:19:12 PM] [indiscernible]. We are putting out a solicitation that will be a request for applications for community outreach. That will also occur this month. We anticipate the program launch in the month of August. And one thing to note, right now we have budgeted six months of direct rental assistance. Because of the funding we'll be consequencing our funding because our coronavirus relief funds from the department of treasury need to be expended by the end of the calendar year. That doesn't mean that the program will end the end of the calendar year, it's that we will be utilizing those funding sources first and then moving on to alternative funding sources like general fund and cdbg to have less of a tight time frame. And we'll be extending the program into January -- as long as there is a need, to January of 2021. So if go to the next slide [9:20:13 PM] it really is just an opportunity for questions. We've been working hard on this over the last two months, really taking a look, a deep dive into the data for the first iteration of the rent program and looking at how we can enhance and improve and expand the program to better serve the community in the coming months. >> Casar: Thank you so much, Mandy. I appreciate everybody who has worked so hard on this. Let's go to questions. First councilmember harper-madison and then councilmember kitchen. >> Harper-madison: Good morning, thank you, chair. I appreciate you recognizing me. Good morning, colleagues. Thank you for the presentation, Mandy. I really appreciate it. You actually answered a lot of the questions that I was coming into this with, so I will just say I would love to get some additional information about the targeted outreach program, so I think I misunderstood what you originally said. It sounded like it was already happening, in which [9:21:13 PM] case I had a list of questions about how that was happening. But it sounds to me like if there's a solicitation for community orgs, it's not happening yet. Can you clear that up for me. >> Sure. So we have developed our communications team at nhcd has developed an overall strategy. We'll be doing a lot of targeted outreach internally, but we are really depending on our community partners to reach those communities that are hardest served. And that's where the solicitation comes from. We'll be launching the outreach internally and it will be bolstered by community groups as a result of the solicitation. The solicitation will go out this month. So certainly within the next two weeks. We are giving community groups a 30-day turnaround time in order to provide them ample time to assess their current capacity and [9:22:18 PM] resources resources they have access to a digital application, more access to information, more of the one on one intensive outreach. So it's really a range of services. We're asking the community groups to let us know what they think they can provide and we'll provide funding from a thousand dollars. >> Harper-madison: Okay. I really appreciate that clarification. I would like to ask respectfully that at the very least, and everybody else can obviously chime in to advocate for themselves, [9:23:18 PM] their districts and their constituents as well. But my office would definitely love to be a part of the internal and external dialogue around outreach efforts for some other reason I think there are several of us on the call who are actively engaged in some outreach and to some degree the population of some of those folks, the hard to reach populations. I know myself and Greg are doing some of the outreach efforts currently. I lit ratty have a pilot that -- owe literally have a pilot that launched yesterday in district 1 where we have a community organization going door to door and conducting a community needs assessment. So just in order to make that as robust as possible and potentially assist the effort that nhcd is going to be putting forward, I would love for us to have some conversations about exactly how it's happening and what vehicles we could possibly share, what information we might have been able to gauge in our time in. I know Greg has a lot of [9:24:19 PM] experience working with the St. John's neighborhood and those folks in the community, so I'd say now would be a really great time for us to pull our communication and outreach efforts, especially given that some of the data I've been looking at shows upwards of 28 million Americans are about to be experiencing housing insecurity. In which case I think now is the time to definitely take the resources that we have and make them stretch as far as we can. So as soon as can you put me in, coach, we definitely would like to be around that conversation around outreach. >> Thank you, councilmember. We'll have our communications folks reach out to you and your staff and we want to piggyback on whatever outreach you all are doing in your districts. We want to leverage resources. Our goal is to reach as many folks as possible and as [inaudible]. >> Harper-madison: I think that's a great idea. I think you should reach out to Farah muscadin, she's [9:25:20 PM] with the office of police oversight, but also our staff liaison for the community preparedness and communication camp. So there's a whole team, a whole tribe of folks working in communication and outreach, the production of videos, social media, etcetera, etcetera. There's a lot already happening that you could really tap into there as well. I would recommend making that connection also. >> Perfect. >> Harper-madison: I'm so happy to hear that we are addressing some of the non-traditional leases. That was one that just kept coming up for us. I am happy to hear that. I would like to hear more about cvr associates. I understand that haca only has so much in the way of bandwith around housing choice vouchers, but I would like to get a better understanding of what cbr's role is. And I think what I'll do is reach out to you offline so I don't take too much time here. The other question I have, da, da, da, you said [9:26:23 PM] something about cdbg CV and it sounded like you said an extension to January. So those funds don't have to be expended by the end of 2020 calendar year? >> That's correct. The coronavirus relief funds -- the coronavirus relief funds from the department of treasury have a hard and fast end date of December 31st, 2020. We're sequencing our funding and the majority majority of the funding is the coronavirus relief fund, but we're going to be expends those funds and saving our funds in cdbg because there was no specific timeline for it. I should also say that we'll be utilizing our local funds, our general funds for households applying who have undetermined citizenship status so we'll be dipping into the local funds to be sure that we serve the higher community, not just those with citizenship. [9:27:24 PM] >> Harper-madison: Excellent. I'm happy to hear that. The Lyft we have I have about -- the last question I have about outreach efforts or initiatives is are you working with or would it be helpful to have outreach to organization that do advocacy in the space around specific segments of populations. So I've been having some really productive conversations with a couple of organizations that do veteran advocacy and a couple of organizations that do advocacy for differently abled people. In which case do y'all already have some connections in orgs that you're working at in those segments or would introductions be helpful? >> Introductions would always be helpful. My approach is the more the merrier. I don't know if our internal contacts are the same as yours as we want to make sure that really can the solicitation that we reach as many groups as possible because we know that those community groups are the front facing groups and know they're populations better [9:28:25 PM] than we ever could. >> Harper-madison: Awesome. Thank you. Mandy, if one of our committee members is watching this right now and they're having an ah-ha moment of an organization they would like to introduce you to, how can they best reach out to you. >> They can email us or contact our main phone number. 512-974-3100. >> So that's [indiscernible]. >> You got it, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Councilmember kitchen. >> Kitchen: Thank you very much, Mandy. I wanted to just talk -- I'm very impressed with the work that are councilmember harper-madison is doing and I think she mentioned that you may be doing this also, councilmember Casar, in terms of reaching into the [9:29:28 PM] community in a targeted proactive way. So I would appreciate learning from what you're doing. There are parts of district 5 that would be very helpful for. So Mandy or if you could connect me to the right person to see if there's a way that we could learn from what's happening in these other areas and see if there's a way that we can contribute also. So if you would help me with that. >> Great. >> And then I have a question that really I'm trying to think through where we are for individuals that are really on the edge here. I know -- I like the way you talked about looking at the full continuum for folks, you know, for stabilization and rent assistance, which is all designed to prevent folks from becoming homeless. But to me it's all a [9:30:28 PM] continuum and I would like us to be thinking about our homeless population at the same time. And I know we have some different pots of money, but that's the way I think of that because instead of having -- I'm not suggesting they're siloed, but sometimes it feels like we have a bucket of approaches and funding for people with rental assistance needs and risk of becoming homeless. And over here once they become homeless they fall into another pot. I'm wanting to understand how we -- how these are coordinated in a way. So for example, our rental assistance program, what are we doing for the person who is ending up living on the streets or in a pro lodge for example who just needs their late payment on rent paid for and then they can get into housing because they have a job. [9:31:34 PM] So that's one example. And I'm just wanting to understand how this approach to rental assistance and tenant stabilization, how it's coordinated with what we're doing for people who are -- have already fallen off the cliff and are homeless, because it's all a continuum. >> Sure. Thank you for that question, councilmember kitchen, and I will say that we coordinate closely with our friends at Austin public health. And one of the recommendations from the consultants who have looked at all of our various approaches to homelessness, one of their recommendations was to take a portion of the cdbg CV dollars. You may recall we were allocated, I believe it was $4.6 million. We're taking a portion of that, only 2.6 million is going into the rent program, the direct emergency rental assistance. And the remainter is [9:32:35 PM] dedicated to people experiencing homelessness. We're using those funds in coordination with Austin public health to directly serve the population that was identified with folks who were in rapid re- housing, but their contract or their time through rapid re-housing is expiring. So we'll be layering on the cdbg CV dollars on top of that. We've been working with Austin public health on that issue. And that was presented as a part of the very complicated spending framework, council. >> Kitchen: Okay, thank you. That's very -- I really appreciate that. Does that get to -- like the example that I gave you? Or do they already have to be receiving rapid re-housing dollars? >> Those specific dollars are related to folks who are already in the rapid re-housing program. [9:33:36 PM] The example they gave was some somebody in a pro lodge and working with someone in Austin public health on directing some local funds to provide housing relief to those exiting from the pro lodges. So that is a different source, but we are keenly attuned to the needs of that population. >> Kitchen: Okay. I would like more details about the aspect of it, whoever I need to talk to about that. >> We'll get that to you. >> Kitchen: Great. I appreciate that because it's all a continuum and I'm wanting to make sure that we're going to continue -- it sounds like it's on y'all's radar screen and you're working very closely. I just don't want those to become too separate approaches so that particularly for those individuals that -- there's a range of needs that people who are experiencing homelessness and just a [9:34:37 PM] whole range of needs. Some folks experiencing homelessness, they just need a little bit of help with rent and they can get back in the house. So thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Casar: Any other questions? Mandy, I have a couple of questions. >> Sure. >> Casar: One is maybe just a request. If we could get a sense of how we're measure being covid-19 impact, that could be useful. Do you all already have a set of questions you would be asking or documentation you're requiring for the covid-19 impact? >> So we've looked at cities across the country and what they require and some of them range from some pretty intensive certifications to a simple [indiscernible]. We are trying to land on a [9:35:37 PM] sweet spot that is yet to be determined where we provide -- we provide a decent amount of documentation from monitoring perspective down the road, the federal government comes in and they want to make sure that there's [indiscernible] For folks who are impacted by covid-19, typically the first iteration of rent in may. It was simply a determination that income it dropped. And that was easy enough to provide between April and may and sometimes it was on unemployment, sometimes about the Texas workforce commission. We tried to be as flexible as possible and we will continue to try to be as flexible as possible, whether it was simple lay self-certification, which is minimum [indiscernible] Or some additional documentation to bolster is that. But we are working through the details of that in our program guidelines for this upcoming iteration of rent. [9:36:38 PM] >> Casar: As y'all get closer to landing -- thank you for the last questions and touching base with council offices that are interested could be good. My sense tending towards people being eligible, I always tend a little bit more that way, but let me know where you land on that. As far as the number of how many families you intend to serve, you have a total number you're trying to get to? Because if it was -- it was just under 2,000 for rent 1.0? >> That was 1286 households and the average amount of rent was somewhere around $765 of rental assistance for that month. The difference in the the program. >> We think we will be deserving around 2,000 households per month with this next iteration of rent. [9:37:38 PM] The difference is we're anticipating that we will be spending more per household because you will recall in the first iteration of rent we required, one, we had a ceiling of what we would provide for rental assistance. It was essentially fair market rent as developed by hud and utilities who developed that calculation. And we also required we backed out 30% of an applicant's adjusted gross income under the assumption they would pay their 30%. That is why that we think that the rent assistant amount was frankly lower than anticipated. It was only around $760. The per household amount. We believe that that will go up because in this iteration we have committed to paying the full contact rent so we are ballparking at this point and we'll be tweaking as we go, but we are [9:38:38 PM] ballparking that it will be about $1,000 per household. And some of those households 30% and below will be eligible for three months of assistance. Our goal is to serve right now we're thinking 2,000 households a month. >> Casar: 2,000 households a month and you're thinking this program runs through December. >> January. Six months. We're planning on launching in early August. >> Six months, two thousand households a month so the guess is 2,000 households. >> That would be -- keep in mind that 30% and below are going to be eligible for -- [overlapping speakers]. >> Exactly, exactly. And we would certainly want to provide for a household at 30% and below, we would want to provide that kind of -- it's not a duplication of services for federal rules. We're able to provide up to three months of rental assistance and we want to do that only for the very [9:39:39 PM] lowest of the low income. >> Understood. So the idea is if it's 2,000 and above in some cases it will be the same family each of those months because they're in such need if they're below 30% of the average Austin family. So you're going to do 2,000 times 6, that's 12,000 households, about 10 times more than rent 1.0, and probably -- might be 50% more dollars per household and that all adds up as to why the program was about 10 times bigger. >> Correct. >> Casar: And it's my sense that, yeah, the outreach should be pretty continuous then because I assume you're going to get more families than you can accommodate in month one, but then you will keep on trying to accommodate them in later months. Is that the thinking? >> That is correct. I should also point out from [9:40:39 PM] an administrative perspective, we are going to van open application process. Let's just say that the applications open August 10th. And I'm making that date up right now. But somebody will submit an application. They won't have to submit an application every month. We'll do a randomized lottery each month. And in fact if you weren't chosen for the randomized lottery, your application will carry forward. We want to make this as simple from both ends, from the resident perspective we'll keep in contact with them, once, you were chosen for the lottery, we'll need additional documentation. No, you were not chosen but we're holding your application for next month's lottery. We're trying to make it administratively easier on our end, but also the least burdensome possible on the residents' end. >> I guess a question that is the -- if we know we have enough money for all these [9:41:40 PM] families across multiple months, we obviously don't know exactly how many, but how many in a good general sense? The reason we're only going to be delivering funds to 2,000 of those families each month does that have to do with our capacity to actually cover some -- the administrative capacity to deal with the landlord and cover that rent that is a limiting factor as to why we're not doing 4,000 across three months? >> It's a combination of capacity and is certainly is -- if you think about it, somebody is actually cutting 4,000 checks or 2,000 checks and they're gathering all of the 1099 data. So administratively yes, heavy left and capacity is certainly an issue. But we're also very mindful of the fact that somebody who can pay their rent in August may not be able to pay their rent in September or October. And everything we are [9:42:41 PM] hearing from a national perspective is that, of course, depending on what happens with eviction moratoriums locally and federally, we're hearing that the fall is going to be a pretty intensive time period for folks having housing stability challenges. And so we don't want to spend all 17.75 million in September and then have an enormous need. So we're trying to be fairly conservative and spread the dollars out over this time period, recognizing that our funds need to be expended by the -- the vast majority of the months need to be expended by the end of the calendar year. >> Casar: So it's an open application period. Is the rolling or will you say, okay, for people that people apply in these two weeks, the lottery is going to run their applications? And then for people that apply these are the -- >> It will be an open application period, but the [9:43:41 PM] lottery has to occur at a point in time. So we will announce on making updates, application opens August 10th and we say the lottery occurs on the 25th of every month and that's when we do the randomized lottery and pull the folks we think we can serve and gather the additional documentation. >> Let me keep thinking about that. That is a good way to get a lot of people to apply. There might be -- it's the first time I've heard it. I'm brainstorming here and would really want -- I'll plan on talking to people who rent through rent 1.0 to figure out what works best. It might make sense if we know that month one we're going to servewe thousand a month. Month two another 2,000. So maybe alert all 4,000 of those families and say hey, you're in the half that is going to get rent paid by this month and the other half, hey, you will get rent paid by this month and so people can plan or have as much information as possible. What I just said, there [9:44:42 PM] might be good reasons that doesn't work, but I think it's really useful to hear this so we can go and talk with especially the folks that have gone and tried to sign people up. And with people that need to use these services to figure what will be most useful for them and then what's administratively possible for us. So thank you for explaining that and we might just have to get with you with whatever our thoughts might be and we'll all tie our best. -- Try our best. >> That would be great. And I think we're kind of hardening the program guidelines and the process as we are contracting over the next couple of weeks, but that is not to say we've always looked at this program as iterative. And as we see, we're not -- we're going to be constantly looking at demographics. We're not meeting people at 30% or below. We're not meeting the African-American community. We're not meeting people with disabilities. We'll be recalibrating the program as we go along. We are trying to be as [9:45:44 PM] flexible and nimble as possible, knowing that our city council has very definite priorities and we want to heat those priorities. >> Casar: Thank you for that. And overall I know this is a huge program, something the city has never been able to do before and we're coming together in this moment of crisis to make sure that nobody loses their housing because of the pandemic. It's a big goal, but it should be the goal and -- >> And I will say -- I'm sorry. I just did want to say that emergency rental assistance was something that we had contemplated. I know we had city council conversations and we certainly had internal staff conversations about emergency rental assistance. It has always been a need before any of us knew what covid-19 was. It was a need. Tenant stabilization services and [indiscernible] Have always been a huge [9:46:44 PM] need. This started and laid the foundation for what we think after we're all said and done and we never say the words covid-19 again, we know that this is going to be an ongoing issue and we want to be able to address those needs in the community. So this is really laying the foundation. >> I would add that my understanding is the justices of the peace in Travis county are working to extend the eviction moratorium. I assume the city would also extend our moratorium until at least September 30th because we don't want anybody to lose their home while we are putting the emergency housing program back online. So if this will help at times more people with many more dollars than we've ever put into the community before for rental assistance. And we need to do it before any eviction moratorium is lifted. So my understanding is that [9:47:45 PM] the moratorium should be extended so that everybody can get the help they need and a little peace of mind as it relates to their housing. Councilmember kitchen. >> Kitchen: I also understand that there may be some additional federal assistance. Obviously we don't know yet, but they're looking at -- congress is looking at an additional package that we should know about in the next, I don't know, two weeks or so. >> Casar: There's a certain senator from Kentucky who says they should be advocating to their senators to put that on the table. Councilmember Renteria. >> Renteria: Yes, Mandy. I really want to thank you for that work y'all are doing there. I June the to find out -- I just wanted to find out, how much of that money that you're allocating for the [9:48:48 PM] consistent rise? >> So none of that will be from the rise funds. Those are separate and apart. So when I did the 17-point - - there was a pie chart in the presentation. It was 17.75 million. That's a combination of general fund, which is separate from rise. This is not dipping into rise at all. Rise will be-- we're looking at it as an added resource in the community and again this is separate and apart. The rest is federal funding. 2.5 million is general fund dollars separate from rise. >> Okay. And are you planning on giving us a report on that. You can just send it to my office when you get a chance and get hold of that. I would like to see how much we're doing with that kind of money right now. >> I'm sorry, with the rise funding? >> Yes. [9:49:50 PM] >> Yes, we can certainly do that. >> Renteria: Okay, thank you. >> Casar: Is that it for this item? Thank you, Mandy. Our next item is a briefing and discussion on the homestead preservation funding and the saltillo plaza. >> Am I still on? >> Casar: You are. >> Full disclosure, we're having some technical difficulties and it looks like from what I can see I am the only nhcd staff online. Is that correct? >> Casar: I've got James may on here. Do you want me to unmute James? >> Please do. Jamie was going to do -- just so y'all know, as part of your backup, you all have [9:50:51 PM] a one-pager. This is a result of -- I think councilmember Renteria asked for just kind of an update on these funding sources maybe back in January, but you do have a one-pager detailing all of the fundings. >> Casar: All right, Jamie, you're on. >> Thank you, sir. The -- this will be very brief. I know that time is of the essence. Just responding to the briefing on the plaza saltillo transit oriented district, just a quick update, in 2019 the tax inwas increased from 10% to 20% of the assessed evaluation increase. Current balance on that fund is $2,334,462. Fiscal year 21 budget is approximately $3.4 million. Now, nhcd intends to deploy [9:51:53 PM] these funds along the parameters outlined in Texas local government code chapter 373a through our normal programs. Some of the parameters around those dollars according to the Texas local government code, funds have to be spent on housing within the geographic boundaries of the [indiscernible] And that's north of lady bird lake, east of I-35 and as far northeast as the intersection of 38th and a half and airport boulevard. Assistance has to go to households earning no more than 70% of mhi. 50% of the funds have to be served households making no more than 50% of the mfi and 25% of the funds have to be spent on householdings earning no more than 30% mfi. The plaza saltillo transit [9:52:54 PM] oriented development district is several tods that council has adopted. This general fund is generated by developers paying a fee-in-lieu of affordable housing. It's about $12 per square foot of that bonus density that they receive for being in the district. There are currently three projects under use for the district and they are anticipated to pay a anticipated fee-in-lieu totaling around $2.5 million over the course of the next three years, assuming all projects are completed as planned. Last year, August 28th, 2019, the ahfc board of directors awarded a three-million-dollar loan for the construction of the [indiscernible] Lofts. This loan was partially funded by the balance of the plaza saltillo fund at that time, which was around $1.2 million. So the current balance was [9:53:54 PM] plaza saltillo tod fund is 0. We've zeroed out that balance. However, the fy21 budget is expected to be $1.4 million, a little bit more than that. And again, we are seeing more funds coming in over the next three years with those three nonresidential developments. Since this is a local program, it's only governed by local statutory restriction and those are that housing funds have to be spent on housing and they have to be spent within no more than half a mile from the boundary of the tod. So just think of the plaza saltillo and half a mile radius we could spend the money on housing within that circle. Rental units have to be leased to households earning no more than 60% of the mfi and have to be affordable for a period of not less than 40 years and owner occupied houses have to be affordable to households earning no more than 80% mfi [9:54:55 PM] and have to be affordable for 99. And I'd be happy to answer any questions? >> Casar: Thank you. Councilmember Ellis. >> Ellis: I have one. You did say that the money for the reinvestment zone had to be used for housing. Does that apply to land acquisition or how does that relationship work in a formula like this? >> So it would have to be spent on housing as per the local Texas government code. Just like with our land acquisition dollars we would acquire the land and then either land bank it, but in this area that probably wouldn't be a wise decision. What we would do is rfp it with stipulation that they would necessarily have to be housing as part of that incorporation. If any portion of the land acquired with these funds was dedicated to commercial or mixed use or something like that, then we would have to go through a process of, okay, how much did we spend from the hprz fund on [9:56:00 PM] this land? Was there any other additional funds spent on the land that we could justify the land use as being split between residential and commercial. >> Then would other regulations like parkland dedication still apply to this or is that exempt because of the reinvestment zone rules? >> I would have to look into that. I'm not sure if parkland would qualify or if we would have to pay ourselves back as well. >> I was curious about that. Obviously things like floodplain would work. Maybe send it to my office and we'll take a look at it offline. >> Absolutely. >> Casar: Councilmember Renteria. >> Renteria: Yes. Basically that area around the asl seeio development is pretty landlocked and the land is pretty expensive, [9:57:01 PM] but we do have a lot of non-profit, and the housing corporation, they're sitting on a lot of empty lots that are in need of funding. And we also have the condos from haca -- not haca, but habitat that's in need of funds. So there's a lot of need there. And blackland is another one that is sitting on property that's in need of funding. So their competing for this housing and there's a lot greater need now than funding. I encourage the staff to look at these groups because they are sitting on vacant lots that housing can be on there. [9:58:09 PM] >> Casar: Any other questions? I had one. It's kind of inspired by the idea of the transit partnership and the [indiscernible] Being established there. I know what we've been doing is slowly collecting funds and doing them and -- for housing in a really expensive area. That's clearly getting something like tall la Vera lofts done or some of the projects that councilmember Renteria described is a great way to do that. You have to wait several years for essentially the funds to replenish. But since we have kind of a more dedicated stream of dollars apart from the fee-in-lieu there is a dedicated tax that is from this area going into this fund. Could we look into the potential of revenue bonds out of ahfc where we could [9:59:10 PM] get money faster because we know we will get the dollars over the next 20 or 30 years? Have we looked into that? That's generally how the transit partnership is thinking of working because it has a dedicated tax stream issuing revenue bonds early. Is that something that we could potentially on do with this? >> That's definitely something that I think that Rosie and Rebecca would want to talk about. But as far as deploys these funds, we would push them out as quickly as we possibly can for any applicant that is within the service area. If we wanted to. >> Revenue bonds or pre-done those developments, we would push it through the rdhd program the same way. >> Let's think about that. I hadn't thought of that now because we're talking about the transit partnership, but as Pio mentioned this has [10:00:14 PM] already been gentrified so much, but it's only getting more expensive. That if we could issue revenue bonds off the revenue stream, you might be able to get more affordability now than if we have to wait five or six years for the bucket to replenish. >> So councilmember Casar, this is Mandy de mayo. We would have to look at how the HPD tirz was set up and we would have to look at state statute, but I am not sure that the tirz is like a standard tif that you can bond off of. I don't believe that allowable, but that is certainly something that we will contemplate and we'll get back to you about that. We want to look at as many creative-- anything that is legally allowable, any creative solutions to really front load fronting and provide more robust funding for affordability. >> Casar: And we've [10:01:17 PM] probably already checked, but saying last time just in case because if we need to rip of a contract with ahfc to fully dedicate the money or something like that, and I bring it up because I remember when we set this up early under 10-1 and it's really great to see that money go into the fund and they get put to use building housing right now as we speak. So thank you all. Anything else? >> Renteria: You know, Greg, what you're saying is that if it's not possible we can always go back and ask our representative, put it on our legislative package to maybe amend the tif so that we can -- well, that will be a good thing to look [10:02:18 PM] into and come back, Mandy, and let us know what we need to do. If it's not possible maybe we can convince our state legislators, especially Eddie passed this one 12 years ago. So he probably could amend this also so that we could go out and borrow money because there's a big desperate need. We do have all those non-profits that are sitting on these empty lots and the need is there. There's more need for funding than there is available. >> So councilmember, we will look into that. We will get back to you and it may require some sort of legislative fix. At this point we're really not sure but we will take a look at it and get back to you all. >> Renteria: Thank you. >> Casar: All right. I think it's our last briefing of the day. I'm going to try to close this out by 11:20. [10:03:20 PM] I don't know if that's doable, but if not then I'll pass the chair to the vice-chair and if I have to step off at 11:20. And Ms. FBI he will low, you're on. >> This is Rebecca giello. Can everybody hear me okay? >> You're on. >> I am with the neighborhood housing and community development department and I'm here to give an overview of our fiscal year 20-21 annual action plan. The action plan as a reminder serves as our grant application to hud each year. We are on a five-year consolidated plan and each year we bring our grant application to council so that you can have really a reaffirmed snapshot of what we'll be doing with our federal funds. The federal dollars are specifically for the formula [10:04:21 PM] grants. And I don't see the presentation up. I don't know if that's problematic or not. I'm happy to pause until we get that or you may be able to see it and I just can't. Here we go. You can advance the slide, please. So we have four formula grants we'll be reviewing today. And those are the community development block grants, the home investment partnership fund, housing opportunities for persons with AIDS, and the emergency solutions grant. And if you want to advance the slight that would be great. We can keep going through that. A little bit about the process. Again, we have five years in our consolidated plan. That's a five-year strategic plan. And then we are on year two of the five years. And so we're in our first [10:05:24 PM] current action plan. And what we'll be bringing to you on July 30th is year two of five. And then every year around December we submit to hud our consolidated annual performance and evaluation report, which provides the community, hud and our council, with the accomplishments and overall -- an overall look at how we serve the community through those federal dollars. You can advance the slide actually through the transition slides. I notice in the transition in a virtual meeting the slides are a little awkward, so I apologize for that. This particular slide really just talks through the investment categories, and the investment categories are in specific areas of investment. And again, we're really only looking at the federal [10:06:25 PM] dollars. We will in the next couple of slides in a moment break down how important the local funds are to our investment portfolio, the infusion of the general obligation bonds is game changing for community development and housing and so we want to always talk through how the community has really enriched the portfolio of our services and programs through providing those local dollars. So again these investment category amounts are just looking at the four formula grants for fiscal year 20-2021. And starting with homeless assistance, you know our investment in homeless assistance is significant, but again the 1.8 is really just talking through the four formula grants and how we'll be utilizing these dollars. That in our department is really funding the tenant based rental assistance [10:07:26 PM] program. If you go to right in the center the special needs are our public services contracts and those are serving mental health services for at-risk youth, childcare services, services for seniors. And those contracts will be administered beginning this next year by the Austin public health department. This is a significantly excellent partnership with Austin public health because they will be able to take a look at those investments through the lens of their overall portfolio for social services and these contracts will be competed beginning in probably around fiscal year 22 so that there is a holistic approach to our social services and how we're funding those even with the community development block grant funds. To the right top row is our community development assistance. The bulk of these dollars will be going to a workforce [10:08:28 PM] development initiative, and this will be a partnership with the economic development department. I want to acknowledge and thank David Culligan who is on the line with us today should there be questions related to this partnership. However, what we found when we went through our needs assessment, through the consolidated plan, is as much concern and prioritization from the community around job creation and employment stabilization services as we did obviously with housing. And so we looked at the community development block grant as an opportunity to meet the needs that we were hearing and through the last year and a half have worked with the economic development department to formulize how we can deploy the community development block grant dollars in partnership still through the opportunity and affordability outcome area, but in deep partnership with [10:09:29 PM] our colleagues at EdD. So second row to the left is our housing development assistance program. I won't spend too much time on this slide because the next slide will go into more detail. Again, that program portfolio has been infused with local funds. We still do have a small amount in there of federal dollars, which assists our community development -- community housing development organizations or what we know as chodos. Homeowner assistance specifically is a number of our home repair programs. I will note that our home repair programs for fiscal year 21 are level funding. We are not decreasing funding in there and there's a slide that goes into more detail so I won't spend much time on that. Renter assistance is primarily our tenants rights services and that is level funding as well. I will note, however, that a [10:10:31 PM] lot of the coronavirus funding made available through congressional appropriations which Mandy has just gone through in detail hazel evacuated significantly our tenants' rights services and our tenant stabilization services so we feel, you know, that the increased dollars in investment in that area made available through rent is going to be an excellent leveraging point for this service area. And finally our home buyer assistance, this primarily is our down payment assistance program. And we have seen a steady increase in the pipeline of activity there and so that too is level funding. If you can advance to the next slide. Really wanted to just be sure that we talk through two key highlights. Often times when we talk about our programmatic portfolio I know this is a focus on the federal dollars, but we really just [10:11:31 PM] want to highlight how the local dollars are leveraging those federal funds. And so as you can see here with almost $59 million allowing for the housing developer assistance and three primary categories, rental, ownership and land acquisition, the general obligation affordable housing bond program is working beautifully with those local dollars, but also a small part of our federal funds do go there. Next slide. And finally our home repair services for seniors, wanted to just highlight that we are utilizing our federal dollars as we have for a number of years, and we have the six million dollars in G.O. Repair, which has rounded out our programmatic portfolio for home repair programs quite nicely. This is again the G.O. Repair program is seeing level funding as is all of [10:12:32 PM] the activities noted on that slide. Next slide, please. I wanted to take just a few minutes on the capacity building for workforce development. Again in partnership with the economic development department and these funds will support workforce development training opportunities to up skill and reskill furloughed or previously furloughed workers. This is obviously an area of need, particularly as we are responding to continued relief work due to covid and households that are impacted and adversely impacted by covid-19. And the economic development department is working to round out a statement of work and will be working with non-profit communities as well as likely workforce solutions to administer these dollars. And again, should there be questions at the end of the [10:13:32 PM] presentation, we have David who has been instrumental in lifting this particular area and will be lead in working with us in this particular area again funded with roughly two million of community block grant dollars. Next slide, actually you can just move through the transition slide as well. I wanted to really just give you -- this is outside of the federal dollars that energy the action plan, just a stress point there that what we will be bringing to council July 30th is just related to the four formula grants noted in gray where this slide is noting. The blue, however, is cares act funding -- I'm sorry, can you go back just one to the chart where -- thank you very much. Cares act funding that is assisting us on a number of fronts in our deployment of dollars both in the Austin [10:14:33 PM] public health as well as housing. So so you can see there in gray our formula grants that you will be acting on July 30th, but they are deeply leveraged with the blue, which is the cares act funding. Those are being programmed as hud is making those dollars available. So this is a little -- it's not necessarily confusing, but from a timing perspective we have those traunches of dollars in blue moving to you all as hud is making them available. And that is why through a number of the past council meetings over the course of the last several months you all have been approving budget amendments both for the housing department as well as the Austin public health. Those are key dollars helping us lift programs either intact or create new programs to get relief and recovery dollars out to the community. [10:15:33 PM] And the next slide is just additional details about where those specific activities have been funded with what we call CV, which is coronavirus dollars. You will see the funding source on the right. Again, these are outside of our formula grants. These are coronavirus supplemental dollars being made available by hud. And interestingly you see the emergency solutions grant, esg, the administering department is Austin public health, and it says cv1 because hud is now making another allocation available. And I believe Austin public health has an amendment to their budget coming to you all also on July 30th that will be cv2, which is the coronavirus second allocation to emergency solutions grant.. Final slide really is just an action plan timeline we [10:16:34 PM] want you all to know. Again, we've been working through the amendments as hud dollars are coming available. We are here today July 21st, and then July 30th, there will be a public hearing on the action plan with an action item noted on the same day on the agenda so that we can submit this particular grant application to hud no later than August 15th. With that, we just really -- this was a -- we wanted to give you just a -- a glance at what is coming to you on your agenda. For July 30th, and we are happy to answer questions here in between and certainly we will be available to you July 30th. There's a number of ways to engage with us around this issue. They are noted there on the slide. And -- and available for questions now or in the future. We recognize your time today ends in five minutes. [10:17:35 PM] >> Casar: Thank you. I know we will continue to be hearing about this as it comes up. Councilmember harper-madison and then vice chair Ellis. >> Harper-madison: I promise to keep it really short. I only have one question. Around the community development block grant, I heard workforce development and I heard the number $2 million. Is that accurate? >> Yes, ma'am, that is. >> Harper-madison: So I do have a question about an additional measure of consideration. And whether or not it would be eligible under those -- under the parameters with which we could use those dollars. It's around financial literacy. >> Community development block grant funds, I believe there is eligibility for financial literacy. And so -- so I want to answer your question by saying the eligibility would be there under cdbg and under the two million being looked at for workforce development, we would love to engage with you to [10:18:35 PM] understand a little bit more about your thoughts there, so that we can determine whether or not the -- the current statement of activity or scope being contemplated is responsive. >> Harper-madison: I appreciate that. Just to give you sort of a quick look into what my concerns and considerations are, as we are rightfully handing people real dollars, which they need and as we are rightfully helping people to prepare by way of workforce development and sort of retooling their skill sets, et cetera, I just am very concerned about, one, predatory lenders, you know, the pawn shops and pay day lenders are jumping right now. The second point of consideration and concern there what to do with financial literacy in like budgeting tools, how to -- people are accumulating date right now, amassing debt, how to help walking people through making the determination when and where [10:19:36 PM] to apply a finite amount of dollars, you know. I know that there are just a lot of folks who don't entirely understand the implications of -- of percentage rates. And don't entirely understand the implications of choosing to pay one bill over another or how to evenly disburse a limited amount of funds or which ones to give up because they don't affect your credit. Really, I just think now is an ideal time to dive in and be having some delivery of this type of education to folks who, you know, oftentimes aren't getting it otherwise. And they need it now more than ever. >> So this is beautifully timed. I truly appreciate your comments because we are rethinking how to deploy our financial empowerment programs through what we have called housing as a matter for a very long time. And, you know, if there's [10:20:38 PM] silver linings in the pandemic at all it is because it has really put pressure on on program administrators to rethink how to reach people in a market responsive way, as well as meet them where they are. So we're looking at our housing as a matter class and the curriculum currently. And looking at how to retool that. Not only in the way we are deploying it, but in the curricula itself. So thank you very much. We are absolutely willing to -- to, you know, work with you a little bit more to be sure that your thoughts are informing those new program guidelines. And look forward, actually, to deploying the program in a way that makes sense, not just in this pandemic, but in our market context things do change. And so appreciate those comments and we'll take them into consideration going forward with that. >> Harper-madison: Awesome, I would like that very much. One last thing that I would leave you with, I saw on the [10:21:38 PM] dec website they go so granular as to talk people through like car buying. If you make this much money, this is what you can afford to purchase with a car -- oftentimes it was basically saying you can't afford a $500 a month care payment. This is what you can afford when you buy a car. Your apr needs to be this or less. I want us to get really, really granular. As you are talking about curriculum, I definitely want to be a part of the conversation and there's some organizations that we're already working with that I know would also enjoy being a part of that dialogue in helping people move forward in the most empowered and independent way as possible. Thank you, Rebecca, I appreciate it. >> Absolutely. That is excellent. And I'll end by saying we do envision a solicitation and so we will absolutely get with you to better understand the different organizations that might be interested in knowing when that solicitation will be deployed. >> Casar: Vice chair Ellis, I'm going to pass the chair to you so you can ask your question, wrap up the [10:22:39 PM] meeting and adjourn it, because I have to go. But I appreciate all of the work that this committee and the staff are doing to -- to, one, pull folks out of homelessness and protect them during the pandemic and then, two, to prevent thousands of people from falling into the same circumstances because we can see how fragile people in our community's economic condition really is during covid-19. So thank you for what you are doing and we'll do everything that we can to keep people in their homes at this time. Thanks. >> Ellis: Thanks, chair. My comments are not really a question but I wanted to reiterate that the census is currently going on. When we talk about the allocation of federal funding according to the census, it is very important that you fill out yours and remind your neighbors to fill out their census while it's still going on because it helps us with infrastructure, housing allocations, other sorts of federal funding to make sure that everyone in the community is getting their [10:23:39 PM] fair share of assistance. The other one is to make sure that during this time, during the pandemic, when we are meeting remotely, that you need to check out the -- the council meeting agenda and look at the clerk's office recommendations for signing up to speak. There's a lot of people who are used to being able to sign up the morning of that meeting and things have changed a little bit since we're all trying to make things work remotely. And you will have to sign up the day before, I believe. So if you want to provide comment during the public hearing on this action plan, we very much want to hear what you have to say. You just may need to do a little bit of planning ahead of time to make sure that you are registered with the clerk's office and they know how to route you to our public comment process. Are there any more questions or comments before we adjourn? I know we still need to ask if there's any other future items we want to discuss at the next meeting. But I wanted to make sure that we had all of our questions and comments addressed on item no. 4 before doing that. [10:24:39 PM] Looks like we're good. All right. Well, make sure to chat with me or Greg if you have other items, councilmembers, to put on the next agenda. With that, it is 11:22, I will adjourn this issue of the housing and planning committee. [Adjourned]. 11:22 A.M.