City Council Regular Meeting Transcript – 07/30/2020 Title: City of Austin Channel: 6 - COAUS Recorded On: 7/30/2020 6:00:00 AM Original Air Date: 7/30/2020 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. [10:03:44 AM] >> Mayor Adler: All right. We have a quorum. Hi, Leslie. We have a quorum. Today is Thursday, July 30th, 2020. This is Austin city council meeting. It's been handled virtually. Changes and corrections, colleagues, we have item number 5 is postponed until August 27 of 2020. The public hearing on item number 8 will be opened but then continued until August 27, 2020. We have some items that have been pulled off the consent agenda. Today's consent agenda is items 1 through 5 and 70 and 71. Items 1, 2 and 3 on the consent agenda can't be heard until after the public [10:04:47 AM] hearings, which are 14, 15 and 16. We have late backup in items 5, 8, 14, 16, 18, 30, 34, 36, 63 and 69. I don't know if you all have seen the message board post. We have hundreds of speakers to speak today. So it's the intent -- I was going to go over the -- Alison, do you have something before I go over the order of the day? >> Alter: Yeah, there was one item I thought was postponed but I wanted to check so I can make sure I do my additional homework. That was item 10 on central health. >> Mayor Adler: I show item 10 being postponed until August 27. >> Alter: Okay. >> Mayor Adler: Is that correct, Andrew? >> I believe, but give me a minute to confirm. [10:05:49 AM] >> Mayor Adler: If it's not, come back and let us know, please. So colleagues, we have tons of speakers signed up to speak today. If we -- ten hours of speakers. So every speaker today is going to get one minute to be able to speak. We're going to call the non-zoning speakers beginning this morning. We'll call the zoning speakers this afternoon. We're going to do this by groups. There's one item that we have to act on so that posting can be put in the newspaper today by 2:00. That's item number 70. So we have taken all the speakers that signed up to speak on item number 70 and we have put them in the first batch. So all those speakers will speak. When we're done with the first batch, hopefully [10:06:49 AM] before lunch, about two hours, we will consider and vote on item number 70 so that that can be posted. At noon we're going to take a break for lunch. We'll come back and do executive session at 1:00. We'll come out of executive session and then we will hear the zoning speakers. That will not include the applicants themselves who will be considered with their case when their case gets called up. We then have another batch of speakers on the initial items, non-zoning speakers from 3:00 to 5:00 and if we have gaps because of the [10:07:49 AM] batches before we're going to consider the zoning items in those gaps because we will have finished all of our zoning speakers as of 3:00. So we can fill in the gaps. We can also fill in with the public hearing issue -- fill in quickly because there are no speakers signed up to speak or just one speaker signed up on the alcohol question that we had, and we have one other one that I can't remember that I'll remind you. But we have a couple things to do during the gaps. We're not going to be able to do the consent items until all the speakers have spoken because people have signed up obviously to speak on items. So when we are done with the last batch, then we can then consider and vote on the balance of items that are on [10:08:50 AM] the agenda. Hopefully at that point we'll have the zoning cases [inaudible]. Does that make sense? It's consistent with the posting. All right, we're going to go ahead and get started on the first batch of speakers. That will include all the speakers that signed up to speak on item number 70. We have the service I think that is helping us again with this process. For the public, we have the clerk helping us with this. Are you ready? [Inaudible] >> Mayor Adler: That doesn't sound good. If the clerk is speaking, we can't hear. [10:09:56 AM] >> Mayor, can you all hear me? >> Mayor Adler: Very faint. >> Okay, one second. How about now? >> Mayor Adler: We got you now. >> Okay, great. Sorry. For all the speakers currently in queue, if you haven't already, please press zero. The first speaker is Michael fosum. >> Hello, can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. Q.my name Michael fosum and I live in south Austin. Oil opposed to property tax increases. We're already hit by the covid-19 virus, the economic shutdown and so on. And any property tax increase we can avoid, we need to do that. It would be much better if we simply open our [10:10:57 AM] businesses and get our economy rolling again, and that would provide money for the city to operate and also for the citizens to feed their families and do the things that they need to do, send their kids to school, et cetera. Thank you. >> Amy crazeman. >> Hello, this is Amy. Can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Okay, great. Good morning, mayor Adler and councilmembers. I'm here to talk about the budget. And I want to urge everyone to consider the roll of policing and be able to reimagine what protection of the community would be. And I think it's time to outline a plan for economic and political justice that includes greater investments [10:11:58 AM] in schools and communities based on priorities that have developed by black communities. Everyone is aware of the history of police, why they started and how they -- how they continue to operate. And how they -- policing is not following any type of Brady doctrine and training, anti-bias training, implicit, explicit, if not all trained police behavior. [Buzzer sounding] It is not -- is that the one minute? >> Mayor Adler: That is. Thank you very much. Next speaker. >> Thank you. >> Eric Nelson. >> Hello? >> Eric Nelson if you are on mute, please unmute. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Hi. I'm here to advocate for [10:12:59 AM] Casar budget amendments 1, 2 and 3 to divert money from police into affordable housing, public support systems, and I also support item 117 to transform the empty Home Depot and gentrifying St. John's neighborhood into affordable housing and parks. We do not need police in the modern concept of policing was invented by the British only several hundred years ago to micromanage and suppress the people they colonized and exploited. Designed from the ground up to be engines of economic racial violence and they do this by christmasalizing inequality and austerity. This popular up rising will not end until all 400 million is redirected into public care for the black, brown and working class people of Austin. The campaign of racist terrorism and violent suppression waged by the police will not end until completely abolished -- [10:13:59 AM] [buzzer sounding] >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. >> Stephanie villa villavillenueva. >> Hello, can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Hi, I live in district 3 represented by Pio Renteria. I am calling to urge reject any budget proposal that does not defund the Austin police department by at least 50% and divert those funds to real solutions like the rise funds, the equity office, Austin public health and low-income housing. Leaders in other U.S. Cities are modeling what it looks like [inaudible] To their constituents and take bold steps towards safety for the community. And it's time that you do the same. We feel and the rest of the council support defunding [10:15:01 AM] Austin police by at least 50%. Thank you. >> Bennett burk. >> Hello, Bennett burk, resident of district 9 and I'm calling as a member of the Austin [inaudible] To implore you to to reduce the budget of police department by at least 50% and redirect that funding into other services like public health. Which is especially important right now and housing for the many unhoused members of our community. APD has brutalized black people and people of color and need to have funds taken away with the eventual intent to abolish and create a world where policing isn't necessary. I would like to commend councilmember Casar for his three amendments and note my support of those. Thank you. >> Gregory doom. [10:16:04 AM] >> Hello, city council, mayor Adler. I'm a black man living in district 4. I understand the easier choice to do what's comfortable, what's middle of the road, what's palatable, however this isn't the time for this. This is the time to stand up and be the community leaders you are elected to be. I ask each of you reject the budget proposal until at least $100 million from the Austin police department is moved to community organizations that will be a short-term solution in the right direction in dismantling the systemic and institutionalized racism that plague this city and our nation. I'm not willing to give up on this city. I ask each of you do to work to make it safer for us. Dr. Martin Luther king, Jr. Said when we are all complicit -- sorry, we are all complicit when we tolerate injustice. I ask will you be complicit. As representative John Lewis said, now is your time to let freedom ring. [10:17:04 AM] Thank you. >> Nicole houseman. >> Good morning, city council. My name is Nicole houseman. I'm calling about the police budget. Austin is the fastest growing metro area in the country from 2010 to 2019. Our population is increasing, we have officers retiring at a greater rate than before. We have 58 officers that have retired so far this year. Delaying more than one academy is detrimental to the safety of the citizens of Austin. We need more detectives for aggravated assault and homicide due to the increase in violent crime. Now is not the time to take away positions on the bomb squad or focus on demolishing APD headquarters. Please make changes to the academy so it's a priority. We can continue to train officers and make our city [10:18:06 AM] safe. Thank you. >> Lauren burns. >> Good morning. My name is Lauren burns and I am a resident of district 5. I'm calling to add my voice to those who are dissatisfied with the budget. I have seen many proposed solutions to restructure and reallocate funding from APD towards more efficient and equitable solutions. Thank you for this continued effort to lift the budget up, to be the moral document we need. Two programs that I find particularly urgent are ems and the office of violence prevention. In the face of covid, ems has taken on additional duties of humanitarian aid and social services in addition to, would go the front lines of a pandemic. Additional hiring could quickly facilitate these services by converting existing part-time ambulances into full-time ambulances. We're also seeing increased domestic and gun violence due to the strain of the [10:19:10 AM] pandemic. Preventive measures or on the backed end with tragedies. Thank you for your time. >> Jeffrey Hanna. >> Hello there, can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> You can hear me? >> Mayor Adler: Yes, go ahead. >> Okay. I am calling in to say that the budget proposed by the city manager should be rejected. The -- it does not defund APD on the scale of at least 100 million, and until the proposed budget does, I do not believe it is appropriate to pass. I do appreciate the city councilmembers who have been giving work to reallocate, actually find a way to reallocate the money, and I see you and I hope to support you in the future. Those of you who have not, [10:20:12 AM] who have not really interacted on this issue with your constituents, I see you as well and I will work to have you voted out. Thank you for your time and good-bye. >> Michelle Edwards. >> Mayor Adler: Couldn't hear you. >> Michelle Edwards. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Okay. Hello, my name is Michelle Edwards and I'm speaking on the proposed budget as well. I'm a mom and sociologist and resident of city council district 5 and allergies aside, I really like living in Austin, but I know my experiences here as a white woman with my own home and with a job with benefits during covid, I know my experiences are not shared by all. Due to systemic racism and classism, low- income communities and communities of color have not experienced the same Austin I have including in their experiences with the police and their experience with gentrification like the [10:21:13 AM] proposed changes to montopolis. In support of the demands of communities of color united, I'm asking you to defund APD by 50%. I support the amendments I've seen already by councilmember Casar and encourage you not to just move the departments around but instead invest our community's money on real solutions like the rise fund, the equity office, Austin public health and low-income housing. [Buzzer sounding] It's been investing in our city. Thank you. >> Rebecca Johnston. >> Good morning. I'm a resident of district 10 calling to oppose the budget in its proposed form and in support of reallocation of at least 50% of the APD budget into public services and I strongly support all of councilmember Casar's amendments. I think adc and other local organizations are made your jobs much easier by providing evidence why this [10:22:13 AM] would improve community safety and well-being. I know you have that evidence so I'll speak personally. The easiest way I can make clear how broken APD is now, if there is some emergency, I don't feel like I can call the police and I don't feel like that because I've seen how the likelihood of this police force introducing harm into a situation is high. More overthe likelihood of this police form protecting is low. I think our community got a tragic lesson with the murder of Eric foster whose killer released back on to the street and with is video of Mike Ramos who was hunted down and -- [buzzer sounding] -- We will continue to demand better for as long as it takes. Thank you. >> Zach Angland. >> Good morning. My councilmember is Kathie tovo. My pop priority is real public safety. [10:23:15 AM] I'm demanding we divest at least 100 million from APD -- more effective as addressing the non-violent and non-criminal matters police have spent time addressing. I urge city council to begin by adopting councilmember Casar's amendments, removing internal affairs from APD, police shouldn't be the one to investigating their own misconduct, removing forensics to be performed by independent scientists, and reallocating funds from coming year's cadet classes toward preventive and public safety programs that are non-militant. Humans simply cannot be effective an at doing the overly broad range of work. Police error will not end -- the last thing people need is respond with a gun or combat training. Safety and wellness in our community -- [buzzer sounding] -- Not throwing hundreds of millions into the block hole [10:24:15 AM] of crime response and I yield my time. >> Eliza Epstein. >> White resident, district 1. APD released a tape of Mike Ramos' murder. .6% of calls between June 19, 812019 and June 2020 were related to violent crime. 40% of calls categorized as responsive. Meaning peeping calling 911 to report things that seem out of the ordinary. These calls are motivated by safety and most common by fear. The response call Mike Ramos ended in murder. Structures must change because our supposed reality at resources are good but must include restructuring. Police need to be removed from any role that prevents violence and harm. Councilmember Flannigan's suggestion to deconstruct APD headquarters could be [10:25:16 AM] good, should provide reparations, but could serve -- shield police from the spotlight. Rise funds, equity office, Austin public health, low-income housing. [Buzzer sounding] -- Manley has to go. Thank you. >> Cameron berry. >> Good morning, council. I'm a resident of district 8 and I want to take a moment to acknowledge we have a virtual room of highly qualified people. It is an honor to be here by your side and have a voice in crafting this budget. At the same time, we've made it through seven months of a [inaudible] And at the end of the day we're all humans. Our instinct was to cling to what we know and play it safe. But this monumental shift in the social contract and what we know to be true at a fundamental level is asking us to step into something. 2020 is bringing us new information and illuminating [10:26:16 AM] what we've historically passed over. Now giving us an opportunity to pivot. Now is the time to become bigger than our fears and try something radically different on the road less traveled. At this moment with these brilliant minds, we can make history and create a budget that the city has never seen before. We can make mistakes but only if we move forward. Council, support pool and Casar's idea for APD cuts. [Buzzer sounding] Thank you. I yield my time. >> Angel estepon. >> Good morning, everybody. I'm a general manager at title max. My office is located in north Lamar in councilmember Casar's district here in Austin. I'm here this morning to speak to you to vote no on item 4, which is the ordinance that severely [10:27:16 AM] restricts short-term lending. Passing this ordinance will hurt all of our under served communities [indiscernible] Desperately needed. In my six years I've worked in this company, I've met people every day that are in real need and I've encountered stories of people that have real need. These people come into my office looking to help their child pay for tuition, to buy books, maybe unexpected medical bills. They are trying to avoid eviction. These are real people with real stories and I'm concerned that if you do not vote no on this item, that they will not have a place to turn to. [Buzzer sounding] Thank you. >> Jasmine Harrison. >> Hello, my name is gentleman's mine and I'm a resident of district 1. Thank you all very much for [10:28:16 AM] your time. I'm here to reject cronk's insulting budget proposal. I demand all three of councilmember Casar's budget amendments are adopted and that the council continue to redistribute money from APD's budget to black and brown communities in Austin until the demands for at least a 50% cut for APD funding are met. I would like to now directly address my fellow white folks on the city council. Mayor Adler and Spencer cronk. Austin's black, brown, indigenous have been -- of this racist system, it is our duty to listen to the citizens of color and the black lives organizations in Austin who have experienced this abuse and presented us with solutions and take action to make real systemic change. Don't say black lives matter unless you are ready to invest real money do dismantling racist institutions -- [buzzer sounding] -- Thank you. [10:29:17 AM] >> Mattie brat. >> Hi there. I live in district 9. I'm calling this morning to urge you to vote no on any budget that defunds APD less than $100 million and to adopt Casar's three amendments. APD leadership doesn't cooperate with the office of police oversight. The Tatum report showcased the culture of racism and homophobia and no changes have come from it. Everything that we've tried so far isn't working. APD refuses to cooperate so it's time to do something about it. Please vote no on any budget that defunds APD less than $100 million, and if cronk won't do it, fire him. Adopt Casar's three amendments. Thank you. >> Will plunsnik. [10:30:18 AM] >> Hello. I'm a member of district 7 and I am calling to speak on item 17. I'm also demanding that the police budget be reduced by 100 million and reallocated to other services. I would like to emphasize this is not about, like, retribution against the police or anything of that nature. This is about trying to get at the root of the problem. And help our communities thrive. I would like to commend councilman Casar for his -- for his three amendments and I highly support them and urge you to adopt those amendments, but that's about $40 million, we still need 60 million more, and thank you guys for listening. Have a good rest of your day. >> Casey Hanson. [10:31:22 AM] >> Good morning. My name is Casey Hanson. I live in Austin, Texas in district 4. I'm also a member of the austin-travis county policy board. The blue policy board passed a food and equity recommendation in may of this year which was a budget request to allocate sufficient funds for achieving equitable structures and racially equitable outcomes by investing about $250,000 to the building of the regional food policy planning process. We also want to establish an equity tool kit and screening tool for the evaluation of food access work. When you all eat lunch today during your break, please consider those who do not grow their food, who do not have the money to feed their families, cannot distribute food or goods due to covid-19 and/or cannot sell their prepared food to feed our community and their own families. We can reallocate funds to things that matter to people who will improve health and make lives better. Thank you for your [10:32:23 AM] consideration. >> Zach slosberg. >> I'm Zach calling from district 9 to demand city council reject any budget that doesn't defund the police department by at least 50% and move that money towards services of community care like public health and affordable housing. I applaud councilmember Casar's amendments for a more vast distribution of resources. It's easy to forget each of us is a person and citizen of Austin whose distance and powers are greater but needs Andes are no less important just because we are on this end of the phone. That's why you hear us overwhelmingly asking for a city budget and city that's deeply overinvested in harm and under invested in care to use this incredible moment to reimagine itself as a place where the police don't receive more money than every social service combined. Thank you. [10:33:29 AM] >> Pat Val trellis. I live in district 9. I support councilmember Casar's amendments and supports to APD's budget that would transfer money to other areas and other departments of the city budget. However, I do not have enough information to an exact amount. I also request the following. I request that you analyze dog calls to 311 and the rise equity measures to ensure that equalized services are provided in districts 1, 2, 3, 4, the districts with the most loose dog calls. I also request the animal shelter charge differentiated fees for animals leaving the shelter when intact versus when sterilized and that you use these funds from these fees that are charged to fund neighborhood centers to distribute vouchers for [10:34:30 AM] low-income pet owners for spay-neuter services and for vet services. [Buzzer sounding] Thank you. >> For all the speakers on the line, if you have not pressed zero, please do so now. Thank you. Grace Hanson. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> My name is grace Hanson and I'm a resident of district 5 calling in to speak on the city budget. Manager cronk's proposed budget is an insult to everyone in Austin who have been advocating for police reform. I urge you to reject any budget that does not cut APD funds at least 50% and support the three amendments by councilmember Casar. [Inaudible] Show that less than one percent of 911 calls during this time was [10:35:31 AM] for violent crime. Any argument that we need the current levels of police funding to combat violent crime is baseless. Activism is like science fiction. You have the opportunity to imagine a better future. City council you have the opportunity to do that right now. Imagine what the city could do with 50% of the police budget. Thank you for your time. >> Brandon Keeton. >> Hi. I am a journalist who is attacked by Austin pd and direct witness to Garrett foster's murder. APD did not stop that from happening. And the point of police is not to stop violent crime. Now, it doesn't make any sense to me that we have [10:36:31 AM] people with guns going into situations where there are people without guns in the first place. That's how people die, okay? You guys have an opportunity here to change the course of history and start to dismantle the police state, which is a big deal. We have fascism happening in Portland, people are being put into unmarked vans. Refuse any budget that does not cut APD's budget by at least half. Okay? It's time. We have to move forward as a society and we can do things better. We have to inhavees in things that stop crime before it happens. Crime happens whenever people are desperate. [Buzzer sounding] From being December spate -- desperate in the first place you can stop crime. >> Jesse Pendergrass. >> From district 7, member of Austin dsa. I'm speaking on the budget. The amendments proposed by council are a step in the right direction and I [10:37:32 AM] support the amendments that remove internal affairs, forensic and other offices from -- and functions from APD to remove their control over the tools that can hold them accountable for harming people. However, we need to reduce the overall footprint of policing in this city and redirect funding to things like the rise fund, ems and other public safety alternatives. Splitting the department into micro services that aren't explicitly called APD and then claiming that funding is being cut from policing doesn't go far enough by itself. Continue the hard work to cut money sent to the police. Redistribute more money to unarmed public safety programs. In particular, suspend all future cadet classes indefinitely so we can remove the footprint of armed punitive police and move to eventual abolition of this racist institution. You cannot reform -- [buzzer sounding] -- The original purpose of this department. Thank you. >> Steven fox. [10:38:35 AM] >> Hi, my name is Steven fox, I'm from district 9. Hearing all the evidence that bloated police budgets do not improve public safety and APD spends an overwhelming amount of time on things other than public safety and that APD is unwilling to subject themselves to any scrutiny [inaudible] Killing citizens or launching chemical weapons at protesters. Just think about this a slightly different way. Imagine that you are Elon Musk planning to build a new factory in Travis county and looking to hire a security team. First they are not to be held in any way responsible for killing the employees. Well, you know, it's a pretty dangerous job and probably only be a few a year. Okay, well, we're committed to racial justice. How is your record on that? Well, we refuse to answer any questions and have created a culture of fee such that none of our [10:39:36 AM] security guards will answer any questions either. That's troubling -- [buzzer sounding] -- We can fire you. Good luck with that. Reduce the APD budget by at least 100 million. Thank you very much. >> Anna Stewart. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> My name is Anna Stewart. I'm a former educator, mother and member of district 1. In the last week since the first budget hearing, Garrett foster killed in the street peacefully protesting for black liberation. May he rest in power. The response was let the killer go o&m after -- home after being interviewed. That sends a message to the community. When APD quietly interviews and releases an armed white man who murdered someone and endangered the lives of many others in front of countless [10:40:37 AM] witnesses, that sends a message to the community. Chief Manley and Ken Cassidy chose messages to send to the community. Garrett foster was looking for confrontation and found it. This is dangerous rhetoric that echo's trump's calls for violence. [Buzzer sounding] This is not what it looks like to keep a city safe. I support Casar and defund by 50%. >> Zachary Kent. >> Hi, good morning. Thank you for your time. Zach Kent, I live in district 9. I'm calling to once again ask city council to reject any budget proposal that does not cut at least 100 million from APD and to reinvest those funds in the social services and programs that will make our city safer, more livable and more just. [10:41:38 AM] Specifically I'm asking council person tovo, mayor Adler and rest of council to support the amendments already proposed by councilmembers Casar and pool and sponsor additional amendments that would move funds from APD and invest instead in community led violence and intervention program, stable long-term affordable housing and Austin public health. Finally, we need to create more opportunities for participate posterior budget processes. Chief Manley must resign. I look forward to your leadership. Thank you. >> Erro ll Schweitzer. >> I would like to see defunding of APD 50%. I believe Manley should be fired. I'm here to speak in support of local [inaudible] In alignment with the recommendation passed on June 12 by the austin- travis county policy board. Covid-19 has revealed a [10:42:39 AM] woefully under resourced and undeveloped local food system in terms of planning and coordination. I've been in the food industry over 25 years. Recommendation 2002-00612-4cvi for 2021 we're asking allocate for two minimum full-time positions and funding the regional planning process and equity tool kit and screening tool to evaluate food access where it's specified for food equity recommendation passed in may by the policy board. I urge you to allocate city funds to strengthen our local food system. I yield my time. [Buzzer sounding] >> Tom Smitty. Please unmute. >> Good morning. This is Tom Smith or Smitty [10:43:39 AM] and I will be speaking on item 69 after 2:00. Thank you. >> Emma barker. >> My name is Emma barker and I live in district 5. I support the cuts and reorganization ideas laid out by pool, Casar and Flannigan and ask you put those ideas on an implementation. A budget is reflection of a city's values. Last week's session the we fund fools, direct calls and emails and today's session, Austin citizens are saying loud and clear our values are not reflected in a budget that spends $100 million more on police than emergency medical services, housing, libraries, parks and public health combined. As city manager's cronk's budget does. You have two options. Defund APD by $100 million [10:44:41 AM] and use that money for trams that address community leads or be voted out of office next time you are up for reelection. I urge you to take the first option. Thank you and yield my time. >> Mayor, we have the network is down. If you can give us a few minutes. [10:45:43 AM] Hello? We're back. The next speaker is Ty hivanky. >> Hi. Can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Okay. I'm calling to support removing 100 million from the police budget and starting with Casar and pool's amendments. One area can go to health services, we can mimic Miami's mental health court which reduced recidivism to 25%, saved the county 12 million per year and lowered the jail population. We can send money to the mental health diversion docket in our county. Or to creating a similar program in city courts. Crisis centers and emcot. When services are adequately funding, they put mentally ill people -- the alternative is mentally ill being unable to access -- [10:46:46 AM] they get jailed and cycle through the streets and wound the justice system. We need services to break the cycle. [Buzzer sounding] >> -- Doesn't make us safer. Thank you. >> Adina laybrand. >> Hi, everyone. I am here to also support the item number 17 of moving more money away from APD's budget. I recognize that Spencer cronk's move for taking 20 million away is already than we've ever done in the past so I want to acknowledge that, but as you heard from everyone on the call today that your people do not believe that is enough. Me personally I've never been involved in local politics like I have today. The reason being that my heart hurts every time I hear and have to see -- in [10:47:48 AM] our country about the violence and how people are disproportionately affected by systemic race immaterial. I know you do your research on things about the budget, but do your research on how systemic racism affects America. I think I just can't express enough how much it feels like now is the moment to really make a lasting impact -- [buzzer sounding] -- And I think the budget is one of the first actions to really do something that will change the course of systemic racism and I know APD isn't the -- always the enemy, but I do think that they uphold this longstanding tradition of having a police system that doesn't work for everyone. Thank you. >> [Indiscernible] Herrera. >> Good morning. I work in district 7. I am speaking today to ask you to vote no on item 4. [10:48:50 AM] I am district director for title max. Thanks to this company I can tell you I love what I do because we help people. Recently [indiscernible] A food truck. Unfortunately because of the pandemic he [indiscernible]. Thanks to us he was able to pay his employees and keep the business open. Me and the customers I serve and vote no and it will keep helping people in the city of Austin. Thank you for your time. >> Seneca Savoy. Seneca Savoy? Please unmute. [10:49:56 AM] Ann Kool. >> Hello? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Can you hear me? I live in district 9 in Austin. I'm calling to speak on item 17, the budget. Like will callers I believe the over $400 million allocated to the Austin police department is unacceptable and dangerous use of funds. APD has been given many chances to reform practices and nothing has changed. Following their plain to cut APD's budget and move money to programs for equitable housing and covid-19 funds is the only just solution. I'm encouraged buoy the proposal in councilmembers say star -- Casar and pool. I want to emphasize this is a starting place. At citizens and voters we are watching the amendments you propose and the votes you pass. Listen to your constituents calling for more just budget. Fund an equity office and -- for a population deeply affected by covid-19. This is important and necessary to Austin. Thank you. [10:50:59 AM] >> Carol Guthrie. >> This is Carol Guthrie with afscme local 1624 and I'm speaking on the budget item 17 concerning the civil rights department. This is a new department that y'all are trying to put together. We do not want this department to answer to the law department because all of the best practices show that if you create a civil rights department, it answers to city manager, deputy city manager, employees at the city of Austin need a place to go where they can be heard when they are discriminated against, harassed and retaliated against. So we hope that you will include the city employees in being able to access the civil rights office and that you will not keep it [10:52:01 AM] answering to the law department. Employees do not want to sue you. They want a resolution. They want to be heard. And we believe this is the place for that to happen. And we would like your support on that. Also, -- [buzzer sounding] -- Please keep in mind there are a number of civilian workers who provide support and many, many different areas. So be very careful when you start cutting specific programs because those are civilian workers. Thank you for your time and have a great day. >> I'm calling to support [10:53:04 AM] the amendments put forward by councilmember pool and Casar. While I think unfinished, a good point in the direction and I think that's a great baseline for the budget. Last week I said that there were people who are willing to die for these changes, right? Risk their lives. It's very important to acknowledge somebody has and as soon as they did, the elected representative of our police union went on national television and essentially told the entire country that he got what he deserved. That is not a coincidence, that is a representative, someone who is elected by our police union. Who expresses over and over the desire for impunity. Who hid racism at the top of the department from investigations. [Buzzer sounding] Somebody who should not be in charge. This is the culture that we have and if we introduce a new cadet class we will row produce it over and over again. 100 million is the baseline. I support up to 50%. I believe you are doing the hard work to put you on the [10:54:05 AM] right side of history. I urge you to do so. Thank you. >> Classy Mitchell. >> This the Kathy Mitchell. Can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Hello? >> We can hear you. Go ahead. >> Hello? >> Mayor Adler: Yes, Kathy, go ahead. >> Great. Thank you. Sorry about that. I was going to speak to some specifics around 911 that I think I want to go a little bigger. I have very little time and y'all have heard from me a lot. I want to speak generally to support the proposals that have been put forward by Casar and pool. I'm here on behalf of just liberty and we believe that both of those proposals are the direction that we need [10:55:06 AM] to go immediately. So there's a short-term and then there's a longer term. On the slightly longer term, I would like to support what you've just heard about the number of civilian employees that can be reorganized and I want to point out that you will be hearing from the Austin justice coalition today and they have done a very careful job of thinking about the civilian employees. [Buzzer sounding] I want to speak to several transfers that I -- am I done? >> Mayor Adler: Yes. >> Okay. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Okay. >> Andrew Maynard. >> My name is Andrew, district 8. I held me my tongue when the council passed the homeless ordinance -- except for city hall. When councilwoman harper-madison pushed for [10:56:07 AM] investigation into APD for racism animal practice, I assumed it was retaliation against chief Manley for his opposition to the camping ordinance. I would like to apologize for that assumption. It is clear APD is in need of reform. APD should not be allowed to use riot shotguns. Massive trauma trueing chest wounds. Defunding is not the solution. The APD needs correct equipment such as shields to ensure public safety. Kidding budget does not ensure that. When angry mops show up as they did at city manager's cronk's house and the mayor's, a larger force must go present to prevent chaos. By defunding the police and removing the police -- [buzzer sounding] -- "The Wall Street journal" form of malicious. Break the police unit and ensure a safe Austin for [10:57:07 AM] all. Thank you. >> Matt Gordon. >> Hello, I live in district 8. I'm an educator and lived in Austin my entire life. I would like to genuinely thank the council and mayor writ large. I will take this minute on the proposals made last week with regards to defunding and rerouting APD's budget. In short, I whole hardly support councilmember Flannigan's proposal to break up APD into five smaller departments. I hope that an outside source can be used to vet the proposal once it is finalized. I support councilmember Casar and councilmember pool's proposal to shut down the police academy for a year until the proper vetting can be completed. I support councilmember [10:58:07 AM] Casar's to shift internal >> Finally, a calendar to approve future budget amendments is something I support. I understand that time is short and doing everything quickly is going to be worse -- [buzzer sounds] Remain accountable and transparent as you do that. >> Samantha Meyer. >> My name is Samantha Meyer and I'm a mental health professional in district 9. I am calling to advocate for cutting APD's budgets by at least 50% and investing in real solutions to reduce harm in our communities. I just want to say that [indiscernible] After seeing that video of Mike Ramos being killed. This video shows the [10:59:08 AM] suffering that APD [indiscernible]. I want to say that [indiscernible] That is invisible that we don't see and this is the suffering of folks that we lie on under cutting city programs to get by so homeless folks, folks with mental illness and families that can't pay their rent in the middle of this pandemic. I want to defund police to the degree that we do we make the choice to give money to the men that killed an innocent man on video, instead of supporting the millions of austinites for their suffering that we cannot see. Please listen to the calls from your community to reimagine public safety. [Buzzer sounds] >> Elizabeth gray. >> [Indiscernible] And citizens in pursuit back in 19 '90. [11:00:08 AM] Austin taxpayers have invested hugely in community policing the past few decades and [indiscernible] The structure and [indiscernible]. All we have is poor and margin alized people and criminalized for being poor. We need to [indiscernible] Funds for alternative punishment and policing. There are actions we can take that do not require renegotiating the [indiscernible]. Military exercises. We shop stop overtime pay and [indiscernible] Forfeiture or at the very least direct those funds towards programs in health and housing. Thank you. >> Chaz Moore. >> Hey. Good morning, y'all. I'll be quick. [11:01:08 AM] First I want to say Natasha, amazing job yesterday and amazing job to all of you for passing the ordinances that are helping us get to this title that we claim of being the most liberal city in the south. Councilmember pool, councilmember Flannigan and councilmember Casar, however many times and ways people say it, I really appreciate all of you. It's taking us in the right direction. Again, just to give a Hamilton [indiscernible], history is looking at you. It is looking at you. I know you are moving towards the right direction. Please check your email because we showed you how we got to 100 million and we hope you take that into consideration. Also we support the 50% cut, but 100 million has to be the floor and I think we can get there. Y'all have fun today. [11:02:08 AM] >> Alex Cogan. >> My name is Alex and I live in district 4. I want you to imagine a city that doesn't operate on fear, but instead on support and compassion. I want to remind you that safety doesn't equal police. Police are reactionary. They don't prevent crime from happening, they show up after it happens. Crime prevention starts with funding social programs so we need to reallocate at least $100 million from APD by dissociating them from the 911 call center, eliminating police overtime and instead use that money to fund more than one clinician to answer crisis calls can, deploy crisis counselors and medics for other non-criminal calls. Imagine a city safe for everyone regardless of race, disability and zip code. You don't have to try too hard because you're hearing the solutions from thousands of constituents and councilmember pool, Casar and Flannigan. Real solutions are here. Approve them and reject cronk's insulting budget. [11:03:09 AM] Thank you. >> Ana defritz. >> Good afternoon, councilmembers, my name is Ana defritz. I live in [inaudible]. [Garbled audio]. Communities of color united's demands. We had a specific recommendation that when it comes to reimagining how sexual assault and domestic violence victims are treated, that you look to experts in the field. There are some specific dynamics related to the abuse of power and control that are rooted in white supremacy and patriarchy that will not be addressed [11:04:11 AM] with adequate housing and adequate food alone. We emphasize that we need to house people first, and when we reimagine sexual assault and domestic violence responses. [Buzzer sounds] Thank you for your time. >> Amanda Cavazos. >> Hi there mayor and council. My name is Amanda. I'm a resident of district 1. I'd like to thank my councilwoman Natasha harper-madison for her leadership on the issue of police oversight reform and I'm testifying today to oppose the budget in its current form. I think that the police need to be defunded by at least 50%. They've shown an unwillingness to be accountable to the community members, which is why I support budget amendments by Casar, pool and especially Flannigan. I think we need a dramatically different vision of what policing [11:05:13 AM] looks like in this city. And like other callers have said, I support efforts to redirect those funds towards social services. We need more ambulances, we need more parks, we need more pools. We do not need more police. And I think they've shown a real willingness to drag our city into the national spotlight in the most toxic way. Right now people think that Ken Cass day and Brian Manley are Austin and I am very upset that they are the public face of our city. [Buzzer sounds] We need to live up to our highest values. I want to echo support for afscme's demands to removal the civil rights office from the direct control of the law enforcement. Workers like they mentioned do not need law departments to handle grievances -- [11:06:15 AM] [indiscernible]. >> Warren Berkeley. Warren Berkeley, please unmute. >> Hi. Warren Berkeley. I am with Austin justice coalition, and I speak in support of pool and Casar and Flannigan's ideas for divesting and defunding and reallocating funds. The cops don't need their horses, they don't need the motorcycles. They don't need their stockpile of munitions to brutalize us in the streets. The crime lab is trash, internal affairs is a scam. Thank you. >> For all the speakers who are on the line, if you haven't already pressed zero, please do so now, thank you. [11:07:19 AM] Clemente aguilara. >> Hello. I live in south Austin in councilmember Renteria's district. I'm a general manager for [indiscernible] With a company for two and a half years. This company has allow medicine to stay employed during this pandemic. My biggest joy is that I'm able to meet customers' needs by [indiscernible] Homes everyday. Our customer base are people that don't have the means of traditional financing, either don't have bank accounts, don't have social securities or things of that nature. I recently had a customer whose mother passed away. She needed money right away. She couldn't wait for approval and didn't have a bank account. We were able to help her right away and get her mother buried the way she deserved. I can say confidently that we help people everyday who are behind on rent, behind on emergency bills. Just an example like with their loved ones. So the [indiscernible] [11:08:20 AM] Unrealistic terms, if it passes I am worried that it will be taking [indiscernible] [Buzzer sounds] Thank you. >> Karen machette. >> Hello. I'm the chair of the austin-travis county food policy board and a d7 resident. I'm here to speak in support of the investment and what was passed in may and June by the Austin food policy board. Covid-19 has revealed an undeveloped food system in terms of planning and coordination. Thousands of our neighbors in Austin and surrounding areas now face unprecedented experiences with food insecurity. New research suggests food insecurity has doubled among Texas families. The investment and budget of the city should reflect our values as a city. Food inshut should be [11:09:20 AM] unacceptable. For the fiscal year 2021 budget we are asking for programming in two specific ways. One, adding a minimum of two full time equivalent positions and investing 2 twist thousand dollars in the regional food system planning process and the equity toolkit and screening tool [indiscernible]. [Buzzer sounds] This is an opportunity for Austin to be a leader for urban food policy. The food policy board recommendation and a summary document have been sent to you. Thank you. I yield the rest of my time. >> Keith Schneider. >> Hello, my name is Kate Schneider and I live in district 9. I want to thank the council for budget amendment that have already been put forward. I ask you all to sign councilmember Flannigan's proposal and implement that can the budgettory cuts also proposed by councilmembers Casar and pool. APD resists accountability. [11:10:21 AM] They are not subtle about their concept for human rights and democratic institutions. Ken Cassaday went on TV this week and said he's battling with you. While other cities operate on shoestring budgets, APD has endless resources. We need to have equity and safety following the recommendations in the memo by Austin justice coalition. Under the shadow of the pandemic with rising housing costs and rampant unemployment the need for a robust social safety net is in more need than ever. We need to create a city where they are unnecessary. Thank you. [Buzzer sounds] >> Angela Benavides Garza. >> Hi. Did you call Angela? I'm having a hard time hearing you? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Thank you. [11:11:22 AM] Hi. Thank you, mayor and city leaders. Natasha harper-madison rocks, thank you for what you passed through yesterday. City councilmember, you make us so proud. I want to give the city support during these unprecedented times. I want to -- I don't watch the news, but I was out there when the gunshots went off over the weekend. And the police department saved a lot of innocent people over the weekend. Thank you so much for that. Greg Casar thank you for your work, sir and how you're trying to add amendments here that will be working for the greater good of people. Leslie pool thank you for your work, thank you for your work all of you. I just want to take a moment to commend you for taking that situation in the front lines who were actually on the ground. There was a lot of innocent kids out there that could have gotten hurt and I am calling for a curfew until we can get some of that under control. A lot of that is happening at nighttime when the lights go down. Thank you so much. [11:12:22 AM] That's my time. Have a great one. >> Alyssa walker. Hi. My name is Alyssa walker. I live in district 9. I'm speaking today to urge the council to cut at least $100 million from APD. I support councilmember Casar's and councilmember pool's amendments to do this in part by canceling cadet classes for the next year and moving internal affairs and forensics lab out of the police department. I ask the council to take these steps with the budget in order to create a safer Austin. Thank you. >> Ann Lish. >> My name is Ann, I'm white, I live in district 5 and I'm a member of district 5 for black lives. Today I'm calling on city leaders and especially [11:13:23 AM] councilmember kitchen to defund the police budget for real solutions for public safety, health and well- being. Councilmember kitchen, we need you to take action. We need you to reallocate city funds pursuant to the demands of communities of color unit, the Austin justice coalition and grassroots leadership. We need you to demand that cronk relieve Manley as chief of APD. If cronk refuses we need you to insist on cronk's termination. We need you to demand investigations of officer Taylor and other police responsible for violence and discrimination against black and brown austinites. We nd you to work on your whiteness and confront the ways your policies and leadership have not addressed racism. You do not have our support in district 5 until you take bold action for change. Thank you. >> Chris harshburger. >> Mr. Mayor and city councilmembers, I am a downtown business and property owner and I'd like to register my opposition to proposal to fund the Austin [11:14:26 AM] downtown pid to an assessment of ten cents cents per $100 of property value. During the current pandemic and the uncertainty of when it will end, spending $10 million, most of which is intended to be raised by this assessment, is unlikely to accomplish any of the identified goals for the use of these funds. If the money for downtown pid is being raised through a special assessment of downtown property owners, it appears that the city does not have enough money in its regular budget for its purpose. If a city cannot find the funds in its regular budget for its project, it is clearly not a priority. There is no reason to further burden downtown property owners with an additional tax at this time when they can least afford it. Finally, the goals of the public improvement district are vague at best and completely unnecessary at worst. For example, what does broadly addressing the needs of people experiencing homeless entail and how does it relate -- [buzzer sounds] To the millions of city already spends on this issue and why does the city need a [11:15:30 AM] carefully curated brand strategy given the more substantive problems it faces. Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you this morning. I'll yield the balance of my time. >> Matthew fox. >> Hello. My name is Matt fox and I'm a resident of the far southside of district 5, a member of district 5 for black lives and my councilmember is Anne Clark. I would like to speak against the current proposed budget and first I would like to voice my cuts for the ideas laid out by pool and Casar as well as by Flannigan. I support Austin justice coalition's call to cut the APD by a minimum of $100 million and one of the ways we can begin that reallocation is FBI looking into APD's parks unit and their investment into the parks and recreation. As it stands the APD parks ought is one lieutenant and 10 officers per shift and in an interview, an APD admitted that in the parks most of the crimes are just [11:16:30 AM] crimes of opportunity. This does not actually warrant police intervention. The budget allocation could easily go to parks and wrecks operating expenses. Austin calls itself the city within a park so let's keep our parks safe with civilian personnel who are more than capable and trained for these roles. [Buzzer sounds] >> Shelly egger. >> I'm a member of the Austin gun violence task force and co-author of the report submitted to the council. We want to address the gun violence epidemic, beginning with the black and brown individuals and communities harmed the most. This approach requires that council divest funds from punitive and systems that inflict trauma and drive gun violence and invest in intervention and healing that our city needs. I am encouraged that several councilmembers have embraced our recommendations to [11:17:31 AM] establish and fund an independent office of violence presentation to lead the citywide culture shift. As a member of the task force I want to make sure clear that the recommendations from the Austin justice coalition and other organizations are not born out of emotion or the heat of the moment. They are nationally accepted best practices and evidence-based strategies to address the root causes of violence. I and other members of the task force stand ready to advise council as we build a new public safety system recognizing that none of us are safe -- [buzzer sounds] >> Joy chevelier. >> Good morning. I'm a resident of d7 and [indiscernible] In d3 and a member of the Austin Travis county food policy board. I am calling to urge acceptance of the may and June recommendations of our food policy board. Budget is just currently lopsided towards our feeding programs ph and doesn't really strike at the problem in central Texas. We have no resiliency, nor [11:18:32 AM] long-term plan for a robust food ecosystem that addresses production, food transformation, supply and distribution, which is the focus of the office of sustainability. Both of the budget requests the two fte and two [indiscernible] For the committee's process are towards that long-term goal of supporting a framework for better food purchasing and out of the food system planning process towards the creation of a food system department within the office of sustainability, not in aph to lead the planning and implementation of a just regional food system that recognizes there's more than farms and restaurants, but a need for the rest of that system to exist in order to give us a system that. [Buzzer sounds] Also have a mechanism in place when things are more challenging like under covid-19, urging you to consider the recommendations that we put in front of you guys from the food policy board and you have those documents with your staff. Appreciate all the work this council does. Thank you guys so much. [11:19:36 AM] >> Alicia Wigle. >> I live in district 9, I'm a human rights commissioner for the city and I am here to support the cuts and reorganization ideas laid out by councilmembers pool and Casar and ask that they be immediately drafted as budget amendments. I also support councilmember Flannigan's proposal for reorganizing our public safety division and ask y'all to fast track those ideas for implementation. I've also already spoken about my desire to fire chief Manley per a recommendation that the human rights council -- human rights commission submitted to council on June 9th. We were unable to make a formal recommendation on the recent killing of Garrett foster, due to timing, but I'm speaking on behalf of several commissioners in saying that it's completely unacceptable what the Apa [11:20:37 AM] president Cassaday's recent remarks in light of Garrett's death. So, you know, we just need -- [buzzer sounds] It's not serving our people. I think y'all have heard enough people to understand that at this point. So let's make these budget cuts and actually come up with a way to protect our citizens and our communities and build trust between the people of Austin and our leadership again. Thank you so much. >> Laura Jorgenson. >> Hi. I am a owner in district 7 and I pay about 15% of my annual income towards property taxes this year. This year with covid it will most likely be more. I'm not here to complain, I am happily going to give you may my money once again if you will do the job of showing us that you can put that money back into the community where it belongs. So I'll give you 15% of my income if you work to defund APD by 50% or more. I strongly support Greg [11:21:40 AM] Casar's amendment put forward and I love Jimmy Flannigan's Flannigan's idea to replace [indiscernible] That will serve the communities that have long been tried by the police in this city. I am encouraged to see my own councilmember, Leslie pool, working to find those solutions and to find the avenues to defund APD and I urge you to please continue to move forward, do whatever you can to defund by as much as possible. If you do you will have my vote and my feet on the ground to help you this fall. But we saw this week with the murder of Garrett foster making [indiscernible]. [Buzzer sounds] Please do your job, thank you. >> Hannah young. Hannah young, please unmute. >> Hi. [11:22:40 AM] I'm a resident of district 3. The current budget is not a reflection of the citizens in Austin who have been showing up in the street and at these meetings for the past few months. It is your responsibility to -- as elected representatives of your constituents to have made their wishes loud and clear to defund APD by 50%. Reform does not work. We deserve services that actually work towards improving our city and not punishing or corralling our homeless communities and communities of color. Thank you. >> Ana Perez. >> My name is Ana Perez. I difficult in district 1. I'm a member of can dsa and the policy compliance of communities of color from the UT school of public affairs. I believe y'all when you say you are committed to ending anti-black, anti-poor policing in our city by [11:23:41 AM] defunding the police. Your past decision to decriminalize homelessness and demand paid sick leave for working people tell me you're listening and the amendments tell me you are listening. I support councilmember Casar's amendment as a starting point to defunding APD, especially delaying cadet classes indefinitely. Support ems services who are asking you for three new ambulances and hazard pay during a global pandemic. Invest more than 2.7 million in mental health first response, community paramedics and mobile outreach crisis team. We need 24 services, but not at the expense of already overburdened workers. Invest in more affordable housing in Austin. 17 million in rental assistance is great, so is the need for housing assistance, eviction counseling and services for the unhoused. We're living in a political moment -- [buzzer sounds] Black lives matter. Murals on the street are great, but it's not enough. We don't need a cure few. [11:24:42 AM] We need a council who denounces fascist police in the community. Defund police by 50%. >> Emily garrick. >> Thank you. Emily with the Texas fair defense project. Last week you heard about #defund and this week the city released results from its own survey which also had over 91% of responds to divest APD. This is from the results after recent professional poll of Austin voters. Only five% of black respondents reported feeling safe around police as compared to 45% of white respondents. This is because of the violence the police are capable of endorsing. Garrett foster's killing was [11:25:42 AM] effectively [indiscernible] By APD. Most austinites support divestment including police lay justifies and cutting police services. Cutting overtime pay, I want to voice our support for councilmembers, pool, Casar and Flannigan's proposal for the budget. Thank you. [Buzzer sounds] >> Susana woody. >> Hi, my name is Susana woody. I'm the president of the del valle community coalition. I'm calling to ask city council to help close the disparity gap for east Travis county. By funding specifically the Ross road construction as well as place a moratorium on any new housing project developments. There's been a huge migration in Travis county that people refuse to see. [11:26:44 AM] People that lived in west Austin are slowly moving east, which is causing gentrification in historically known areas such as east Riverside, Cesar Chavez and mlk. Instead of putting housing in an area that's known to be affordable, please put housing back into areas and bring back the black and Latino residents. Do not put them in an area that has no viable transportation, no city parks, no recreational centers and roads that have not been developed and upgraded in decades. Please bring back the community that was displaced back to Austin. Please fund the del valle area -- [buzzer sounds] Thank you. >> Nathan Lish. >> My name is Nathan. I live in district 5. I'm a member of d5 for black lives. I'm here to support the demands of community colors united, grassroots leadership and Austin justice coalition to defund the Austin police department [11:27:45 AM] by 50% and invest the money in real solutions. In other words, the rise fund, the equity office, Austin public health and low income housing. Solutions that begin to remedy long-standing inequities faced by communities of color in Austin. Councilmember kitchen, I'm glad you could join us this morning. I ask that you please be anti-racist. Please do the work to educate yourself and realize how policing in this country is an embody meant of white privilege culture. It is a systemically racist institution at its core. Reallocating funds from the police to other communities. In addition we need chief Manley to be fired, Kristopher Taylor to be fired and others that have caused lives to be lost. Black lives matter. >> Victoria Newman. >> >> On behalf of title max of Texas I speak against item four for two reasons. [11:28:46 AM] First the proposed ordinance telehealths to eliminate statutory businesses in Austin despite a clear need for these credit products. Secondly it fails to understand that the Texas finance code is unconstitutional. To the first point, Austin has made numerous attempts over the last several years to regulate cabs and now cso's out of business. This has led to costly litigation for the city. However there is nothing contained in the document that justifies this overreach and even if this ordinance is well intentioned it is unconstitutional and preempted. Austin cannot propose laws that conflict with state law. This conflicts with the Texas finance code and it also places cso transactions that the legislature chose not to do. The city's admitted attempt to get around the Texas attorney general's opinion goes too far. Further the ordinance infringes upon. [Buzzer sounds] [11:29:48 AM] I ask you to vote no and consider working with the industry on an alternative that focuses on improvement to the existing cab ordinance. This process has been marred by a general lack of transparency and we would love to have a relationship with Austin outside of a courtroom. >> Beck Bieber. >> Can everybody hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> All right. Well, my name is beck beaver and I'm calling in sol dare DI for a 50% decrease in the policing budget. The solution is not to slap an armed and hostile band-aid over Austin's deep set racism. Stop with the murder of black and brown citizens and put that money back into reparation and services. Desegregate Austin schools. Home our homeless population. Decriminalize drug use. These are a few options of what we can do with that money. I don't have time to list all of them. [11:30:49 AM] I support Greg Casar's three proposed changes to the police budget. To finish out, chief Manley must be out for the killing of citizens under his watch and if this is refused then Spencer cronk must be fired. Thank you. I yield the rest of my time. >> Dominic salverra. >> Hello, my name is Dominic. I'm a member of Austin dsa and a criminal defense attorney. City manager cronk's proposed budget is offensive to everyone who has been gassed, beaten or killed by APD and those of us who want to live in a world where APD is held accountable for their violence. Please understand what we are fighting for. The community in which black and brown people can exist without fear of being targeted, beaten and killed by law enforcement. If the police really saw their role as protecting and [11:31:50 AM] serving the community, then when the community tells them that we are tired of their racism and brutality, they would listen instead of shooting and gassing protesters. You have the ability to do more than just pay lip service to end the racism and violence by APD. You can make a tangible difference by decreasing APD's budget by 220 million and investing that money in our community to achieve true public safety. Thank you. >> Shane Johnson? >> Hello. >> Mayor Adler: Go ahead. >> Thank you. Shane Johnson. I live in district 3 and my parents live in district 7. I want to first off thank councilmember Casar's pool and Flannigan for their amendments and suggestions. And I want to say not only [11:32:52 AM] should we not be using armed officers to do emergency traffic responses, which is a big waste of money, but in general we need to dramatically stop patrols from this department if there's a patrol department. [Indiscernible] Of racial profiling, horrific racism in APD stops, tickets and arrests while on patrol. Black people are eight percent of the Austin population. 37% of the traffic stops and 25% of arrests. Also APD racist patrolling targets black and brown east Austin. A small baby set is cutting and reindicating the seven-million-dollar budget from the motorcycle unit, however we still need to reallocate as much as possible from patrol in order to divest from at least 50% of the APD budget. We must divest from -- [buzzer sounds] >> To all the speakers, if [11:33:52 AM] you have not pressed 0, please do so now. Did you. The next speaker is Heather Jones. >> My name is Heather and I live in district 9 and I'm calling to support defunding APD by at least $100 million. I was the victim of violence several years ago and had a negative experience with the officers who responded. One of them made an inappropriate comment about the nature of my assault and then later that night that same officer texted me inappropriately on my personal number and said that he could, quote, unquote, help keep the big bad Wolfe away. This was shocking and violating on a night that was already traumatic for me. In contrast, the victim services counselor who was present was well trained handy me process and safety plan, which was crucial. Victim services is later helped me break my lease so I was able to leave an unsafe situation. I would have been better off if only victim services had responded since APD ended up making me feel less safe and [11:34:54 AM] causing more harm. I hope we could reallocate money to first responders who are actually trained to help people in crisis. Thank you and I yield the rest of my time. >> Jeffrey clements. >> Hello. Hi name is Jeffrey. I'm a student at huston-tillotson and resident in district 3. I'm calling for the moral courage from the council and city manager to reimagine police that puts us on the path to an abolitionist future where police are dunk. That's why I'm in the 100-million-dollar cut by the Austin justice coalition and the decentralized measures put forth by pool, Flannigan and Casar. It will not cover up their complicity in real crimes against society such as the murder of Garrett foster and Mike Ramos may they rest in power. The measures will restore the faith and trust and power to the people of our community and do what we [11:35:54 AM] have not had the counselor to do before. Thank you. And I yield my time. >> Amen DI Applewhite. >> Hello, can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Hello? >> Mayor Adler: Yes, go ahead. >> Hi. My name is amenity Applewhite and I am a city employee here speaking in a personal capacity as a district 1 resident. I am speaking on behalf of communities of color united at their request. Dcu has chosen not to attend these public hearings for two reasons. First, the hearings are not truly accessible to people impacted by inequities because of the issues many of us have outlined including long waiting periods on the phone impeachment have to work and take care of their children and many people can't keep their phones on because they are paying by the minute. As a result, many people are shut out of this process. Second, ccu members are [11:36:54 AM] prioritizing disporting people facing imminent evictions and struggling to ensure basic resources and childcare for their families. These immediate needs are more urgent than these hearings because the city has not yet met the needs of struggling Austin residents. Ccu's demands have been clear for you for years and they have been circulated again during this budget process. [Buzzer sounds] Members of undoing white supremacy Austin have signed up to read their open letter into the record. Thank you. >> Larry Beckham. >> Hi. Larry Beckham here. In montopolis district 3. I'm a proud member of the Austin demographic socialists of America. Again, I'm calling to demand that the city council approve a budget that [11:37:54 AM] defunds the police by 50%. We need more public and mental health first responders, housing programs and social services. Poverty is not a crime. Homelessness is not a crime. Mental illness is not a crime. The cuts by Spencer cronk are misleading and insulting. Last week I learned the need for better support for our first responders with more ambulance, more medics and hazardous duty pay. Hear them. Austin can lead the nation in the new policing paradigm. Do not sustain the status quo. That is Latin for the mess we're in. And justice for Mike Ramos and Garrett foster. >> Greg Bosley. [11:39:00 AM] >> Good morning, my name is Greg. I'm a resident of district 3 and a member of Austin dsa and dsu. Thank you for the councilmembers who proposed amendments to defund APD by $100 million, while spending $400 million for police in a cycle of criminalization and poverty for our most vulnerable and the continued destruction of black and brown communities in Austin. We need to cut the police budget in half at least to make room for programs that actually work. Instead of a pipeline to jail, debt and despair, we need one for housing jobs and health. That means a massive investment in [indiscernible] Housing, it means shelters with social services like mail drops, food, clothing and health care workers. We need an army of mental health first responders and outreach teams, direct cash payments, drop in health centers, on demand health fights, needle exchanges. A need to be located in gentrified neighborhoods. 100 million is a start, but it's not even close. We need big ideas. [11:40:00 AM] [Buzzer sounds] Deplatform Brian Manley, give us a multi-racial, socialist Austin. Thank you very much. >> Carrington Kai. >> Hello. My name is Carrington and I live in district 4. I'm calling to urge all city councilmembers to reject any budget proposal that does not defund APD by at least 50%, while diverting these funds to real solutions, Austin public health, ems and low income housing. I'm also demanding five million a year be given to the gun violence task force for the next five years. I demand that you also adopt all three of Casar's amendments, to cut the cadet classes since Austin police training has been found to be extremely racialized and needing a heavy revamp. Two, move internal affairs out and move the forensics [11:41:02 AM] lab out. The U.S. Should be the safest country in the world and it is far from that. Austin's police budget has increased every year while we see no better outcomes in public safety. It's time to defund. Black lives matter. >> Kency Gomez. >> I'm a resident of district 7. Councilmember pool, I'm so glad to see you [indiscernible]. Address the pervasive impacts of systemic racism in Austin with several good stips this wreak. This specific proposed city budget for APD gives a small reduction achieved by not filling vacant positions and really does nothing about the underlying problem. It continues to require our APD officers to respond to way too many calls that are not a good use of their time or our tax dollars and it simply gives them fewer colleagues to do that same [11:42:02 AM] work. I am deeply troubled by the many residents of APD, including the violent attacks on peaceful protesters. A high school student was one he have them. The lengthy delay in the video of the death of Mike Ramos, with heavy edits from APD. And finally the way that chief Manley handled the death of Garrett foster over the weekend where he unilaterally decided not to charge the suspect despite that the homicide occurred in front of dozens of witnesses. [Buzzer sounds] He deserves an investigation into his death. We are asking you to completely rethink thousand Howe this department operates in Austin. Until there's new lip at APD, I do not believe that's possible. Go deeper, dig deeper. This process will not go away on its own. >> Andrea Abel. >> >> Hello. My name is Andrea Abel. I'm a member of the austin-travis county food [11:43:03 AM] policy board. I'm also the executive director of farm share Austin, a food and farming non-profit that runs the city of Austin's fresh for less mobile markets and curbside delivery food access program. I'm here to speak on the fy2021 budget in terms of a 250,000-dollar investment in the local food system as outlined in the food policy board's unanimously passed may and June recommendations. The funding would go toward two items. One, an inclusive regional food system planning process and two, an equity toolkit and screening tool to evaluate food access work. The covid pandemic has magnified the many fractures that have already existed in the local food system that require and deserve comprehensive and equitable treatment. As a food access service provider in Austin's eastern crescent, we see the inequitable and unacceptable hurdles that so many in our community face on a daily basis to put healthy affordable food on their table. [Buzzer sounds] [11:44:12 AM] >> Carlos Leon. >> First and foremost, gracias for letting me speak to item 17. Do not budget city money to address racism as a city health basis. Abortion, which should be defunded and legally terminated is a public health crisis. Racism and did he verse racism are public safety threats because all lives matter. Do not budget for racial equity or racism reparations, Biden's recovery election platform. Because their definitions are fluid, unending and justifying the means, constructs, wrongly rewarding race over competence. Instead, mandate racial preparation minimums for public decision making bodies like the police chief's executive team. Ensuring people of color get requisite experience and expertise to be hired for top positions on the merits, not color of skin. Equity empowerment through [11:45:14 AM] competence focused capacity building that's not colorblind, but reality responsive -- [buzzer sounds] Stop the pain. Not embrace, amplify or be controlled by it or use it to control others. Gracias. >> Courtney santana. >> Hi. This is Courtney with the survive to thrive foundation. I appreciate your time this morning. I'm calling regarding the APD budget and the reallocation of funds to APD victim services. I sent city council a four-point plan detailing these details on Wednesday and I asked that you strongly consider those points. Thank you for your time and the consideration this morning. >> Caitlin Mcclune. [11:46:18 AM] >> Mayor Adler: Yes, go ahead. >> Hello? Good morning, mayor and councilmembers. My name is Caitlin. I live in district 4. I'm calling to fully support the cuts and reorganization ideas laid out by Flannigan, pool and Casar and ask they be drafted as budget amendments. It makes excellent steps in the workforce. The work police don't need to do and it makes sense to raise the current downtown police headquarters rather than investing and rehabbing it. I would also like to talk about strategies for reducing the APD budget, specifically for APD's motorcycle unit. We have the largest police motorcycle unit in the state of Texas, according to the city's website, most of their services overlap with the Texas department of transportation's hero program. Why are we spending money for duplicate services? Motorcycles are also used as escorts and at funerals and parades and other special events. Why do we need heavily armed police for these events. We don't need over 70 police [11:47:19 AM] officers on BMW motorcycles. [Buzzer sounds] It is one small baby step towards enacting a budget reduction in a way that does not compromise our community's safety. In addition, city manager cronk's claim of defunding APD by [indiscernible] When the budget was 150,000. People of Austin are watching and we are not fooled. We inshift upon -- [indiscernible]. Thank you for your time. >> Zenobia Joseph. >> [Inaudible]. >> Zenobia Joseph. >> I think she's speaking [11:48:19 AM] and we just can't hear her maybe. I can't something. >> Ms. Joseph, please be sure to unmute. >> Cassidy Davis. >> Hi, y'all, this is Cassidy Davis. I am a resident of district 9. I've been in Austin for 10 years and I'm in public health and policy researcher. I believe that Austin has this Progressive promise in the city, and right now it's not living up to that. And if anything, I am happy about the steps in the right direction with yesterday's items passed by councilmember harper-madison and then also really in support of councilmember harper-madison pool, Casar [11:49:20 AM] and then also Flannigan's amendment. However, if you want to live up to this Progressive policy promise, then we need to do three things. We need to cut APD's budget by 50% and we need to take those funds and invest in real on solutions, which include the rise fund, the equity office, Austin public health and the low income housing. And in order to comply with state law, city manager cronk you did demote and then fire and then replace chief Manley who has led the department with white supremacy and white dom intensity norms in taking the lives of black and brown people. There are a member that black lives truly do matter. Thank you. >> [Indiscernible]. [11:50:31 AM] >> Audrey Ashburn. >> >> I wanted to ask the clerk for Ms. Joseph, I know she's had trouble on multiple occasions accessing the online. Can we call her back? >> We do do that, councilmember. >> Alter: Thank you. I was not aware of that with the new system. Thank you. >> Audrey ash burn? >> Hi. Can you hear me? Hello. >> Go ahead, please. >> All right. I'm sorry about that. My name is Audrey ash burn. I live in district 10. Hi, Alison. I'm for the civil rights office being the ones to handle investigations of retaliation, harassment and discrimination complaints. Those complaints should be taken to an impartial city [11:51:32 AM] manager or a high level executive to be reviewed. I've worked for the city of Austin aquatics division for six years and I was a Barton springs lifeguard and lifeguard instructor. I was wrongfully fired in January without any Progressive discipline in place and this is because temporary employees in Texas operate under right to work. Even though my job is anything but temporary. >> Hello. >> Hello? >> Professional is how our full-time employees are expected to manage their staff. [Indiscernible] Advocating the city council for higher pay, holiday pay and things like [indiscernible] Swim wear for lifeguards. [Buzzer sounds] Professional is the last word I would use to describe the experience. I did not get a meeting. -R wouldn't look into my case and I did not get impartial investigation and floss conflict resolution. [11:52:32 AM] The aquatics division has gone unchecked for too long, operating in the shadows. I'm saying this because I don't want anyone to have to go through what I went through and this needs to be dunnest another hard worker who lives their job gets a fair fighting chance against an entrenched bureaucracy. Thank you. >> Zenobia Joseph. >> Thank you T mayor, councilmembers. I'm Zenobia Joseph. And thank you, councilmember alter. I actually did get a call back and I was also on the line. I wanted to ask a technical question, mayor, if I can, before my time starts? Can you just tell me who is responsible for ensuring that the backup material reflects the testimony from the planning and zoning and platting commission for members to review before you hear the cases? >> Garza: The mayor is off the dais. [11:53:32 AM] I believe it's the city manager's office. >> Okay. So mayor pro tem, I would just ask that you recognize that the backup materials for today's meetings, they don't include my testimony from the planning and zap committee meeting. So if you could take that into consideration and consider perhaps postponing those items that are for fm969 and mlk area. As it relates -- [inaudible]. >> Please continue. >> I'm going to ask councilmember alter to recognize -- [buzzer sounds] [11:54:38 AM] >> Ms. Joseph, either please continue or we're going to have to disconnect you again. >> Okay. Am I speaking? >> Yes. >> Mayor Adler: Yes, we can hear you. Please go ahead. >> She just told me to be disconnected. Okay. If you're hearing me, then what I'm trying to say as far as item 70, which is the project connect increase in ad valorem taxes, I oppose that because it was a July 19th -- July 16th 2019 federal oversight hearing specifically related to federal transit separation with about 40% of projects and you are preed cadeing the program that you're increasing the property taxes on the federal share of the project being about 45%. I want the taxpayers to understand that there will be a shortfall based on the pandemic and that they will probably have to have a second election in order to fund the area that's north [11:55:40 AM] of U.S. 183 because it's 24 to 30 years projected out and they're only asking November third to fund the first phase of the project. As it relates to defunding the police, councilmember pool, I want you to recognize the need to actually restore the bus that goes to St. David's in your area, which is approximately $945,000 and can be funded now. As it relates specifically to councilmember tovo, I would ask you to recognize the need to supplement the market rate apartments -- not apartments, but the condos and townhomes in the opportunity Zones so people who earn 80% area median family income can live there, specifically on in fact. I would also mention that I do not support the equity office of funding -- [indiscernible]. Craigwood and colony park, 60 minutes is what black people wait compared to six minutes to UT and 15 minutes southwest and central. And they've been silent. These cost overruns I want you to understand as it relates to project connect, [11:56:40 AM] just the study alone started at one million dollars and it increased to 7.8 million and the city of Austin gave capital metro -- >> Ms. Joseph, your time has expired please wrap up. >> So the last thing I would say, mayor, respectfully and council -- [buzzer sounds] Thank you so much. If you have -- >> Audrey ash burn. >> Can you hear me? >> Did you already hear me about police and civil rights? I think I already spoke, but -- >> We did not hear your comments. Please restate your comment. [11:57:41 AM] >> Well, I work for the city of Austin for six years and I was a Barton springs lifeguard and lifeguard instructor. I was wrongfully terminated in January without any Progressive discipline in place. This was because temporary employees in Texas operate under right to work. Even though my job is anything but temporary. And when certifying lifeguards the word professional was used a lot to describe your work, and full-time employees were expected to manage professionally. However, after advocating the city council for higher pay, holiday pay and two swim wear I was wrongfully terminated for arbitrary and capricious terms. Professional is the last word I would use to describe the experience. I did not get a meeting and hr did not look into my case. There was no conflict resolution. The aquatics division has gone unchecked for too long. They are operating in the shadows. I am saying this for anybody who lives their job and gets a fighting chance. [Buzzer sounds] [11:58:42 AM] We would like to be heard. Hopefully get a meeting of some sort. Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Hi. My name is Larissa [indiscernible]. I live in district 1. I'm talking today about ideas for reducing the A.P.D. Budget for next year. I know that defunding sounds scary to a lot of people but there are services provided by the police that can be safely transferred to unarmed agencies and entities. One of these is traffic emergency response. We don't need police with cutting edge weaponry responding to fender benders and stalled vehicles. Txdot already has a hero road assistance program. It's a patrol service program to keep our roadways clear and assist motorists in need, relocating vehicles to [11:59:42 AM] safety, providing traffic and lane control, assistanting first responders at crash sense. Why do we need heavily armed police officers duplicating the same services already offered by the state? This is a step in the right direction and will not compromise our community's safety. [Buzzer sounding] I want to support the idea [indiscernible] Council member's Flannigan, pool, and Casar and ask that they be put into amendments immediately. Thank you. >> [Indiscernible] Silva. >> Hi. My name is [indiscernible], I'm a resident of district 9. I demand the city council approve a budget that defunds A.P.D. By $100 million and instead invests in public services to keep communities safe. I urge you to support the restructuring ideas by council member Flannigan, specific cuts proposed by Leslie pool and Greg Casar as a start. Thank you very much pool and Casar to do what's right. [12:00:43 PM] I demand to invest in public health, neighborhood community development, ending homelessness, harm reduction, food access, and ems. As a Latina, I don't feel safe with A.P.D., neither don't black austinites. Only 5% of black exponents feel safe, compared to la% of white respondents, no surprise there, they continue to do so through practices such as proactive policing, racial profiling, driven by cost-based fee, white people aren't safe either. He police have been well-equipped to brutalize protesters, exercising their rights -- [buzzer sounding] -- Underfunded and understaffed. Fund community, not police. >> Lauren ardle. >> Hi. Thank you for your consideration of adjusting the proposed [12:01:43 PM] budget to redirect funds from A.P.D. To real solutions. We would like you to consider the k-9 unit which would give you almost $1.3 million for the other budget priorities we've been discussing. This dates back to slavery as dogs were used to hunt slaves, terrorize and hurt people. Studies show the use of police dogs continue to have a disparate impact for black communities. Putting animals in danger, no human should be expected to tolerate a dog mauling without trying to stop it, even if killing the dog. Alerts have consistently shown alarmingly high error rates, some exceeding 50%. Researchers and critics have expressed doubt over dogs' ability to will a Earth their handlers consistently and there's concern about how handler relationships are compromising results. There's minimal oversight of dogs' actual performance. I hope you'll consider [12:02:45 PM] this -- [buzzer sounding] -- And thank you for your time. >> Chandler grande. >> Hi. My name is Chandler gandy. I'm a lifelong resident of Austin, Texas. I've mostly been in district 4, go Greg Casar, and I'm looking forward to shaking things up down here. I'm here to talk about the budget. As a survivor of domestic violence and childhood and adulthood, I want money spent on policing to be redirected towards resources that protect women from these situations. As a child of a poor drug addict, my mom needed support from her community, not punishment. As an adult who works with young people with disabilities, I worry about the fact that nearly half the people murdered by police are disabled or mentally ill. I don't view defunding of police as a punishment to wrongs they have done but as a bold and compassionate reimagining of how we deal with troubles of society. Thank you, and [12:03:46 PM] [indiscernible] To Mike Ramos. >> Sidney Buehler? >> Hello? Can you hear me? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Okay. Black lives matter. Hi. My name is Sidney. I'm with district 8. I'm calling on behalf of scare Austin. Now is the time for you to show yourself. We don't want state support, we need real support. Are you going to stand with us or quiet, which means [indiscernible] Terrorist attack, [indiscernible] Murder was released on the street thanks to chief Brian Manley. Step down, chief and Spencer cronk. We will continue fighting. I am begging you, please, please, he was such a good human, he didn't deserve this. Why, city council, I'm asking with my deepest concern. Are your hands tied? I know you want some meaningful reason. If your hands are tied, just tell us, please tell us how we can help you. [12:04:48 PM] All I'm asking, we are trying, we are showing up, please, we are right here. We will help you untie your hands if they are tied so we can reach the change we need. Please, tap into your empathy, cut A.P.D. Funding by 100 million, [indiscernible] -- [buzzer sounding] >> Thank you. Please identify these officers with [indiscernible] Police brutality covering their badges. Arrest [indiscernible] For Jarrett foster. I yield my time. >> Fran [indiscernible] Moray. >> I'm calling today the express my support to defunding the A.P.D. By at least 100 million. I'm urging all the council members, particularly my council member tovo, to please support council member Casar's amendments. I'm currently trained to work in sexual domestic violence hotline for Travis county. I still have a lot to learn. One of the scenarios I'm spending the most time preparing for is the call I will frequently receive of a survivor who's [12:05:49 PM] trapped with their abuser and needs helping. All of our emergency shelters in Travis county are at capacity and I'm preparing for the countless conversations I will have in which I will tell the survivor that they may not have access to emergency housing for days, weeks, and sometimes months. Councilmembers, this is unacceptable. This is one of the many reasons this council needs to pass the amendment council member Casar is proposing, defund the police and add to community shelter. Police officers are more likely to perpetrate intimate partner violence [indiscernible] -- [buzzer sounding] -- Investments in education prevents deaths and many other types of violence. City council members, I'm not just asking you to pass these amendments and defund the A.P.D. By at least 100 million, I am begging you. People's lives depend on your decision. Thank you for your time. >> Emily [indiscernible] [12:06:56 PM] >> Hello. My name is Emily sawyer and I'm a resident of district 4. Now that we've acknowledged that racism is a public health crisis, let's create a budget that communicates that acknowledgment and operationallizes community focused solutions. Defund and reallocate to support housing, education, ems, and the list goes on. I support the proposed amendments made thus far by councilmembers Casar, pool, and Flannigan. The reorganizations proposed are extremely important, particularly an independent crime lab and independent investigations of police misconduct. We need to spend money on professionalizing the work that police officers neither need to do nor are trained or equipped to do well with the best interests in mind of the communities long terrorized by policing. Chief Manley must resign. Pause cadet classes. It is clear that A.P.D. Clear cannot lead well and do not support the [12:07:56 PM] who you knowty of all our city's residents. Thank you. >> [Indiscernible] Grant. >> This is Rico, district 3, item 17. I saw Garrett foster's murder via livestream. They ran six blocks to the crime scene and responded over five minutes faster than ems. A.P.D. Said his gun was never fired, eyewitness said gun was never raised, A.P.D. Refuses to arrest a murderer. Released a man who claims to killing him. Who does A.P.D. Actually protect and serve? If the police can't prevent crime when they're literally present on the same block and won't file charges against a confessed killer, why do they receive 40% of our city's funding? I support Casar's proposed amendment to remove ia and forensics from A.P.D. And independent departments. If they won't investigate a murder why would we trust them to investigate [12:08:57 PM] themselves? Vote no on any cut that's not at least half. I was going to request the rest of my time as a moment of silence for Garrett. But now I don't have that option. [Buzzer sounding] >> James Casey. >> Hello. Can you hear me? >> Mayor Adler: Yes. Go ahead. >> Hello. My name is Ken Casey. I'm a husband, grandfather, an engineer, living in district 5 with council member kitchen, is my council member. I'm a member of [indiscernible], I'm a member of district 5 for black lives and member of the dsa. I support the demands of community of color united coalition against racism, grassroots leadership and Austin coalition to defund the A.P.D. And allocate that money to urgent priorities to the city. I want to speak to some [12:09:58 PM] recent proposals from the councilmembers. I lieu I can the proposals, and most of them, I think a lot of them don't go into specifics, but some of them appear to be just kind of shuffling around broken pieces of the current police department. Moving things into civilian control, if those civilian agencies actually have control, would be wonderful. A plus on, you know, getting forensics out into independent control. A plus on getting rid of any kind of contribution to the homeland security goons running -- [buzzer sounding] -- Overall, what's missing in these appropriation is allocation of more financial resources for real solutions, direct cash payments to people impacted by can covid-19 crisis, the equity office to keep the city on track for ending systemic racism, Austin public had he let to provide robust public health services, such as local covid-19 test processing, so we [12:11:00 PM] can begin to climb out of this hole we dug ourselves, and low-income housing especially for [indiscernible] -- >> Speaker, your time has expird. Please wrap up. >> State governments >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much, sir. Thank you. >> Are there any speakers in the queue, if you haven't pressed zero, please do so now. Thank you. Okay, mayor, that was the last speaker. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. Thank you. Colleagues, we're going to now consider item number 70. We also have two items that we can postpone quickly, 10 and 11, and then we also have two items that -- the alcohol item and annexation item, no one signed up on and we might be able to handle those quickly as well. We're going to begin with [12:12:00 PM] item number 70. We're now going to take up, related to the maximum proposed property tax rate for council to consider in setting the date, time, and location of the tax rate hearing after which council will adopt -- at which council will adopt the actual tax rate. State law now requires the city to of a hearing, if the city needs more revenue to operate during the upcoming fiscal year than it needs for this fiscal year. Additionally, if the city needs more than the 3.5% above the current year's operations and maintenance tax rate, it must call an election so voters can approve the additional funds. Item number 70 is setting the maximum proposed tax rate for council to consider. Under the new statutes, if the city is going to consider a tax rate that is more than the rate that would bring in no new revenue for operations and maintenance than this year's tax rate, council must hold a roll call [12:13:02 PM] vote and a hearing before adopting the rate. The voter approval rate is 44.60 cents per hundred-dollar valuation. Council may also choose an even higher rate and seek approval from the voters for that rate. To do this, council must also call a tax rate election. The rate the city communicates to tell us public via newspaper and internet notice is the maximum council wants to approve for the upcoming fiscal year. Council can choose to go lower but can't go higher than what is noticed to the public. Under state law, a vote on the motion to adopt a maximum proposed tax rate that the council will consider requires a roll call vote. The rate needed for project connect is consistent with our earlier conversations, the 8.75 cents per [12:14:03 PM] hundred-dollar valuation. This will mean that the total maximum tax rate project connect -- including project connect is 53.35 cents per hundred-dollar valuation. Council, if there's any discussion, we would have that now otherwise, will there be a motion and a consideration of the maximum tax rate? Council member Flannigan. >> Flannigan: Thank you, mayor. As I talked about in the joint meeting on Monday, I have some concerns with other proposals that we have -- that we adopted yesterday that come back to us next week, that with the vote today, we will be precluded from entertaining those options as it relates to active transportation in a tax rate election alongside with project connect. I'm prepared to support the motion today unless there were others that wanted to join with me in wanting to still leave that option open, which we could do by adopting a [12:15:05 PM] higher max tax rate today, and then adopting the final tax rate as we will anyway, next week. But if no one wants to entertain that solution, I will still support the max tax rate today. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. Anyone else want to speak? Okay. I will entertain a motion to adopt the resolution setting the proposed -- >> Kitchen: Mayor? I had my hands up. You may not -- >> Mayor Adler: I didn't see that. Council member kitchen? >> Kitchen: I just have a question and clarification for the public. When you speak to the 53.35 cents, that includes what level for the city budget? Because you spoke to the 8 cents .75 cents for project connect, but does that contemplate the three and a half percent? >> Mayor Adler: The total voter approval rate includes -- including the three and a half percent increase is 44.60 cents, as we stated earlier. >> Kitchen: Uh-huh. >> Mayor Adler: Voter approval rate. And to that, you then add [12:16:09 PM] the 8.75 cents per hundred-dollar valuation, to get a total to 53.35 cents per hundred dollars. >> Kitchen: Okay. I just wanted to clarify that because it is my intention to keep our base city budget at the 3.5%. My intention, that's what I support. >> Mayor Adler: Is there a motion -- council member pool? >> Pool: If I could just to echo what council member kitchen said, I, in some of the conversations we've had, I have also been working hard to keep our general fund tax rate to 65% per hundred-dollar valuation, and I appreciate that we're able to do that today. I also appreciate that [indiscernible] We are having for project connect is on the lower end, not the upper end, and I think that recognizes that concerns in our community, both in support of expanding our transit system for the future, which I think is [12:17:10 PM] necessary and also acknowledging that we have fiscal constraints and financial stressors in our community at this time, I think we are finding a good balance between both of them. Thank you, everybody, for your hard work and also to staff. >> Mayor Adler: Council member alter? >> Alter: Thank you. I want to just acknowledge that relative to other cities, we are in a very strong financial position, given the events that we have been experiencing with covid, et cetera, and that follows, from the work of council, but also of the work of our financial policies, and I want to acknowledge how hard our staff worked over the course of the year in the anticipation of getting us to the 3.5%, and also how we, you know, were able to leverage our good governance to be able to weather this storm and still stay there without [12:18:14 PM] buyouts, et cetera. I think THAs really important to recognize at this time. We are setting the max tax rate today, as I understand it, the 44.60 cents is at the 3.5% approval rate. The balance for project connect is part of what the maximum tax rate could be, but council is not imposing that tax; we will be proceeding to offer an opportunity for our citizens to vote to move forward with the transformative transportation plan, but it will be up to the voters whether that portion of the taxing happens or not. Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. Is there a motion to approve the proposed maximum property tax rate that the council will consider for fiscal year 2020-2021 at 53.35 cents [12:19:17 PM] per one-hundred-dollar valuation? Mayor pro tem makes that motion, seconded by council member Casar. Any further discussion? We have a motion and a second to adopt a maximum property tax rate of 53.35 cents per 100-dollar valuation for the council to consider, adopting for 2020-2021 budget and tax rate hearing in August. Will the city clerk please call the roll, as is required by state law, so that each council member's vote can be recorded. >> Mayor Adler. >> Mayor Adler: Yes. >> Mayor pro tem Garza. >> Garza: Yes. >> Council member harper-madison. >> Harper-madison: Yes. >> Council member Renteria? >> Mayor Adler: Couldn't hear you. You're muted. >> Renteria: Yes. Can you hear me now? >> Mayor Adler: Yes. Thank you. >> Council member [12:20:19 PM] Flannigan? >> Flannigan: Yes. >> Council member kitchen? >> Kitchen: Yes. >> Council member alter? >> Alter: Yes. >> Council member Casar? >> Casar: Yes. >> Council member pool? >> Pool: Yes. >> Council member Ellis? >> Ellis: Yes. >> Council member tovo. >> Tovo: Yes. >> Mayor, it passes. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. The motion to adopt the maximum tax rate of 53.35 cents per hundred valuation for council passes for the fiscal year 2020-2021, passes unanimously on a vote of 11 to 0. Colleagues, we're now going to set the dates for council to actually adopt the property tax rate for this resolution, we also need to include the date, time, and location for the hearing, after which the council will adopt the fiscal year 2020-2021 property tax rate. The proposed time, date, and location is [12:21:20 PM] August 12th, 2020. Due to the pandemic, we will be conducting most of the hearing virtually. However, the statute requires that the hearing take place in a building open to the public. Therefore, in order to practice safe social distancing, the hearing will be held at the palmer events center starting at 10:00 A.M., with consideration and voting to continue to August 13th and 14th if it's needed. Council may appear, as it has been doing, that is virtually. However, if people want to come and be physically present in the building to speak, the city will have the space for them to do that. I will now entertain a motion to set the time, date, and location as proposed at the Parmer special events center, beginning at 10:00 A.M., August 12th, continuing on the 13th and 14th as needed, to hold the hearing and adopt the fiscal year 2020-2021 [12:22:20 PM] property tax rate. Is there a motion? Council member harper-madison makes the motion. Council member pool seconds the motion. Is there any discussion? Let's take a vote. Those in favor, please raise your hand. I'm seeing that it is unanimous on the dais, everyone voting. This motion passes on a vote of 11 to 0. Colleagues, while we're here and before we break for lunch, the items 10 and 11 are on our agenda. Is there a motion to postpone these items till August 27th? Mayor pro tem makes the motion, seconded by council member harper-madison. Any discussion? Those in favor, please raise your hand. Those opposed? Unanimous on the dais, those two items postponed. Let's see if we can quickly take care of the annexation items, the applicant is here to [12:23:21 PM] answer questions if it's needed. Jerry, you want to lay this one out? >> Jerry rusthoven, planning and zoning department. We'll have to first take an action on item 7 before we do item 6. 7 is to conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance adopting the second amendment to the 5200 Mckinney falls parkway annexation agreement to release tract Q from the agreement. Quick explanation, this is an agreement going back to the days when annexation did not require the owner's consent. The city entered into an agreement with this property owner that we would not annex the property, as long as it is used for cultural use. Use -- for agricultural use. She is wanting to use it for non-agricultural use to we want to [indiscernible] This agreement. >> Mayor Adler: Is there a motion to approve item number 7? Council member Renteria makes the motion. The mayor pro tem seconds it. Any discussion? [12:24:23 PM] Those in favor, please raise your hand. Those opposed? It's unanimous on the dais. That passes. Is there a motion to approve item number 6? >> Mayor, if I could, I need to read it into the record real quick if I could. Item 6, conduct a public hearing and approve ordinance for annexation of approximately 56 acres located in Travis county, located 5200 Mckinney falls parkway, authorize negotiation and execution of a written agreement with the owner of the land for provision of services. >> Mayor Adler: Is there a motion to approve item number 6? Mayor pro tem makes the motion. Council member harper-madison seconds. Any discussion? Those in favor, please raise your hand. Those opposed? It's unanimous on the dais. Item number 6 passes. >> Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: All right. Colleagues, we also have the applicant here on number 19. This is similar to several others we handled in the past. Do we want to try and take this at this point? We've been through the issues before but people think we need more time to discuss this at [12:25:24 PM] length. This is the waiver from the 300-foot minimum separation distance, business selling alcohol and a school. Okay. Is there a motion to approve item number 19? Council member Ellis makes the motion. Council member Renteria seconds it. Is there any discussion? Then let's take a vote. Those in favor of 19, please raise your hand. Those opposed? The mayor pro tem and council member tovo voting no, the others voting aye, this item passes 9 to 2. Colleagues, it is 12:25. We're going to take a recess at this point, and then we will go into executive session. And I'm not sure that I actually have a script [12:26:24 PM] for this one, Ann, so you might want to help me. On this, are we just doing the November 2020 election issue today? >> Yes, mayor, it's item 21, it's a legal issue regarding item 21, which is to discuss the legal issues related to the November 2020 election. >> Mayor Adler: And the section of the code that concerns legal matters is -- >> 551.071. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. So it is 12:26. How about if we meet at 1:15, is that too soon for people to gather back? Does it need to be 1:30? Can you do 1:15? All right, 1 '15 we're going to meet in executive session to take up that item as described. And as soon as we're done with that, we will come back, hopefully to start our first batch of speakers as close to 2:00 P.M. As we can. That's when they'll be arriving. With that, at 12:27, we are headed into executive [12:27:25 PM] session at 1:15. [City council in recess] [1:06:15 PM] [ >>> >> >>> [Music] [1:17:04 PM] >> >>> >> >>> [2:47:57 PM] >> Mayor Adler: We are out of executive session. While we were in executive session we considered legal matters related to -- was it 21? >> 21, the November 2020 election. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. It is 2:48 and colleagues, what we're going to do now is call the batch 2, which is the planning and -- the zoning speakers. I do want to say that, as I understand it on number 69, there's been some progress towards an agreement with at least one of the neighborhoods. Council plans to only vote on first reading today. There's going to be two lead speakers, one from the neighborhood and one from the applicant. They are going to lay out the details and they should be speaking soon. Those points will also be read into the record at the first reading vote, which is all that's going to happen now is approval on first reading. So if there's anyone on the [2:49:04 PM] line that no longer needs to speak, you can hang up to indicate that you don't need to speak. So colleagues, we're going to open it up now for zoning people to speak, and I guess we're trying to get those -- clerk, are we trying to get those two earlier rather than later to speak? Smitty and Dave Hartman? >> Yes, mayor, we have them Reid. >> Mayor Adler: Let's start with them and it may mean some of the other people who signed up don't need to speak on first reading. Let's open up the public speakers. >> Kitchen: Just whenever you are ready, you know, maybe that's after the speakerser but whenever you are ready I will make a motion and be reading some of that stuff into the record that's been agreed to. >> Mayor Adler: We'll do that, but we're not to any kind of motions. [2:50:04 PM] We'll be governorred by the batches. -- Governed by the gaps. Let's start with speakers. Go ahead. >> Good afternoon, mayor and council. This is David Hartman. Can you hear me? >> Mayor Adler: Yes, go ahead. >> This is David Hartman on behalf of the applicant on the zoning case and I primarily want to thank Smitty Smith and the rest of the board leadership on their working with us and suggesting that we modify our plans to cluster most of the taller development towards south first street and then transition down to closer to second -- two stories adjacent to the residential neighborhoods, which I believe has resulted in an even more science active design and sensitive project than we initially proposed. Also I wanted to thank councilmember kitchen for her leadership in helping us organize and develop and [2:51:06 PM] coordinate that modified transition zoning and I'll stop and be available for questions. We have several members of the project team available if you need to ask questions. >> Mayor Adler: That sounds good. I think we have Smitty next. Tom Smith. >> Good afternoon, mayor and councilmembers. My name is Tom Smith or Smitty and I come to you as a member of the board of the noels of slaughter creek homeowners association. I'm here today to talk about the proposed 750-unit apartment complex across the road from Aiken high school. And our neighborhood is to the west of that and surrounded on the west and north sides by slaughter creek. Our position has shifted from opposed to neutral because of the negotiations going on and they have been [2:52:06 PM] very fruitful in the last couple months and I want to thank both the applicant and Ann kitchen and her staff for helping us get along and come to some sort of a possible solution to this. Our community has been concerned about three things. Cut-through traffic that might even danger our kids, the site plan and the biggest and tallest units looming over our neighborhood, and then the possibility of increasing flood water that would get into slaughter creek and then onion creek and increase flooding downstream. And I think we've come to some possible solutions to these problems. In the first and second time this was set for this agenda, we've had over 110 people from our neighborhood and surrounding communities who have been signed up to speak in opposition and we're now saying we're neutral at this point. [2:53:06 PM] If there are others on this call from our neighborhood, please, if you can, don't speak. We think we're at a point where we're going to try and get this through on consent and we'll have another opportunity on the 27th to bring up any differences that remain and change our mind if we would want to do that. Now, first, the biggest issue for our neighborhood is cut-through traffic. We're in between 1626, which is a major thoroughfare on the southern edge of the city, and first street that goes past Aiken high school. And our little neighborhood if connected through this apartment complex would likely become a major shortcut. Our estimate is we would have 800 cars a day in the morning and evening rush hours cutting through, and recently we did an experiment and just 100 cars fills up half of our neighborhood. If you can imagine them being stuck at a light trying to get out on to 1626 in the evening. [2:54:08 PM] 1626 is one of the worst backed-up areas in the city, and if construction occurs on that area, the pressure to cut through our neighborhood will be even worse. Threatening our kids and elders. Two weeks ago we had a young woman who ran off a curb and smashed into not one but two backyards and clipped a porch under one of them. Now, councilmember -- [buzzer sounding] -- Kitchen has a solution which is a connection of the Wayne Riddell loop. I want to say we moved the big apartment complex, agreed to a dark sky system and reduced impervious cover in working the developer. Here's the big thing I want to bring to your attention. We have asked the developer to do something to help reduce the impact of climate change. And this is the first time in our knowledge that any [2:55:09 PM] developer has done that. They have agreed to a series of green storm water initiatives that would capture runoff and create a series of Swales and berms and rain gardens to keep the water on site and not increase the runoff downstream. And the most important they've agreed to a standard of increasing the amount and capacity of retention and detention facilities by 10% to deal with the future impacts of expected increased torrential rains that would probably overwhelm and increase the existing systems and increase flooding downstream. They deserve a lot of credit for taking this first step and I want to say to this council this is an opportunity by adopting the standard to announce it as an interim standard for all future complexes until such time as the city manager comes back with a proposal that takes into account all of the existing studies on this. I want to thank the developer for working with us and I want to thank our community for standing up and saying we don't want it [2:56:11 PM] and then have the sentence to say we've got a good deal and we're anxious to see if we can make this work for our community and for the developer. And thank you and thank councilmember kitchen for your time on this issue. >> [Inaudible] >> Mayor Adler: One minute each. >> Chris Riley. >> Hey there, mayor and council, this is Chris Riley, I'm representing Jay Redding in an effort to get his property zoned. Not aware of any opposition to this. I'm just here to answer any questions in case anything comes up. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. Thank you. We're going to be calling the zoning cases in gaps of our batched speakers. Sorry about the [2:57:12 PM] inconvenience associated with that. Next speaker. >> Madelyn Hirsch. >> Hi, this is Madelyn Hirsch, a traffic engineer with wgi. I worked on the traffic study for the applicant and I'm also here to answer any questions. Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. If you are here to speak as an applicant on an item, we're going to -- when we call up that item, we're going to give applicants the chance to speak at the time we call up that item. Next speaker. Go ahead. >> Michelle Teague. >> [Inaudible]. >> Michelle Teague. [2:58:18 PM] John Joseph. >> Mayor Adler: Go to the next one. >> We're trying, mayor. It frozen. Hold on one second. Lorraine Atherton. >> Hello, this is Lorraine. I'm here to speak on item 53, which is a rezoning from cs to cs 1. On south Lamar. I've been asked to consolidate three letters of opposition, one from Dave piper, president of the zilker neighborhood association, I think it's in [2:59:19 PM] your backup. Bill Neil, a resident on page 12 of your backup, and myself. My main point is that the site itself is inadequate for the existing uses and so it makes no sense to upzone it for more intense uses. The driveway is not up to code and there is no way around it because the site is too small and has no other access. That is also the essence of Dave piper's point number two. Dave's first point concerns the foundation community's project next door. [Buzzer sounds] Needed to move forward with 110 units of permanent supportive housing. Zoning for more intense alcohol use adjacent to permanent supportive housing is simply inappropriate. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. Thank you. That's the allotted time. Thank you. >> Annie Gunn. [3:00:22 PM] >> Hello. >> Yes, go ahead. >> Mayor Adler: You have one minute. >> Good afternoon councilmembers, my name is Annie Gunn. I grew up in the montopolis area and I live on Kemp street. I'm here to support any neighbors and community leaders speaking against the upzoning of 508 Kemp. It is part of a coordinated effort of developers trying to change the zoning at once that would have a profound negative impact on our community in a short amount of time. Nobody wants this for many reasons, an explosion of traffic, environmental threat to the park and preserve below temporary street, but more pressingly it is a linchpin for this community's survival. Speculators have their eyes on montopolis, our neighborhood. It's not simplistic to say what happens with this property today will either kick off a domino effect of rapid placement and gentrification and the other developers use this as precedent. Or if you listen to us you [3:01:23 PM] can preserve historic, tight knit communities and one that our city should be proud to protect. As strong as the community is the balance is fragile here. [Buzzer sounds] Offering home ownership to people people from diverse walks of life. Developers can play within the rules, but can't [indiscernible]. Or offer us token requests of community benefits that we don't want and didn't ask for. So it's really simple. We ask that you listen. We're saying no, our community leaders like Susan a in a have been working for decades to defend this boundary and no means no. Come to our community, talk to the leaders here, work within the rules. You will be embraced. But ask us what we'd like to see. The montopolis contact team and all the neighbors and community members here have lots of ideas that would fit our neighborhood beautifully. Thanks for your time. >> Mayor Adler: Clerk, if [3:02:23 PM] you could keep track of the time, I can't hear so if you could let them know when their minute is over. >> Okay, thank you. >> Hi. My name is Peter. I live with my partner and our baby on Kemp street a few blocks away from the proposed properties that are being up zoned in montopolis. I'm writing to oppose the zoning changes, calling in to oppose the zoning changes. And to point out that uprooted Austin recommends seven lessons to make a difference in displacement. One is put community voices at the center and ensure vulnerable residents have a meaningful role in identifying needs and prioritizing use. That hasn't happened. The supposed community benefits that are proposed for 508 Kemp are not something that the neighborhood has asked for or want. No one wants a playscape. Roadway roadway is right here. There's already a playscape across the street that nobody uses. I hope you will consider the [3:03:23 PM] very real effects of gentrification and displacement. 508 Kemp street, our beloved neighbors, [indiscernible] Will be displaced by this. I've heard them say they would like to stay. I think that would be possible -- [buzzer sounds] Expired. >> Jen Margolis. >> Thank you. I'm Jen and I'm an east austinite in district 1 testifying today against the proposed upzoning of montopolis, represented on the council agenda as item 28, 58 and 57. This has to [speaking rapidly] Found that montopolis is a threatened neighborhood and one that should be protected from [3:04:24 PM] gentrification and displacement. Montopolis residents have building vibrant community on their own after systemic racism met decades are being told their community is valuable only if that is salable to developers. I urge the city to work with the residents of montopolis to listen to their priorities for city investments. Austin must not a city for not just today who can afford the shiny new residents, but for the working place and black and Latino residents who have built communities that matter. Thank you. >> David king. >> Can you hear me. >> Yes, go ahead. >> Hello. Can you hear me? >> Mayor Adler: Yes. >> Hello? Thank you. I'm speaking on item 28, 508 Kemp street upzoning. The university of Texas uprooted study indicates that the census tract in which this property in the montopolis neighborhood is [3:05:25 PM] located is experiencing dynamic gentrification with significant demographic change and a vulnerable rating of most vulnerable. Low income families, families of color and small community based businesses in montopolis are being displaced and replaced primarily by higher income white families with high end businesses. Gentrification and involuntary displacement of communities of color are immoral and racist. In council approves this upzoning in montopolis one of the most gentrified neighborhoods in the eastern crescent it will give developers the chance to greenlight neighborhoods and immorally displace communities of color, low income families, low community based businesses in the eastern crescent. Please deny this zoning request. [Buzzer sounds] >> Shirley Masterson. >> I'm speaking on the [3:06:26 PM] placement of the restaurant on cull lien. We are a small community and we really don't want this restaurant in our backyard when there are plenty of spaces across the street in south park meadow shopping center. Thank you for your concern. >> Kristopher brown? >> Could you repeat the name? >> Kristopher brown. >> Yes. This is Kristopher brown. I am here to speak on item 28, 508 Kemp street in my capacity as a member of the board of directors of the ecology action of Texas, which is the oldest environmental non- profit in Austin and the owner of circle acres, a 10-acre preserve next to the sun property between the property and 508 Kemp street. On that property over the last 10 years ecology action [3:07:28 PM] has affected a more or less complete remediation of the 10-acre brown field on the former landfill site that was the most polluted site in montopolis. That is now a thriving nature preserve in the public. Still the landfill cap has noticeable quantities of method lean and a and a cocktail of other chemicals. This was first created by municipal negligence and we think the upzoning and. [Buzzer sounds] >> Speaker, your time has expired. Thank you. >> Jonathan Davidson. >> Hello. My name is Jonathan. I have lived around the [3:08:28 PM] corner on this site for item 28, 508 concern street. I'm very opposed to this upzoning and any upzoning in montopolis as it would include condemnation of land that would make people unable to own the property that their own houses are on. It would homogenize the architecture that exists in this neighborhood and this is a very diverse neighborhood, a diverse neighborhood economically as well as racially. And some of us do have more resources than others in this neighborhood. But we're close. We have become close friends with our neighbors here in montopolis and we are going to do what we can to use our resources to help drive what we want and not what they want in this area. [Buzzer sounds] [3:09:41 PM] >> I'm calling for items 42 and 43 and I believe those items are postponed? I'm just verifying that. Otherwise -- >> Garza: I'll be asking for a postponement, Ana. >> Thank you. I just wanted to be sure. >> Okay, thank you. >> Susan haambright. >> Hello, good afternoon, council. My name is Susan and I am speaking on item 52, rezoning of the property for the restaurant restrictions on Cullen lane. I was involved in the 2007 zoning commission process that led to the restrictions that are on the property today. Since that time we have trusted that the rulings would protect our neighborhood from intruce stiff neighborhood such as a fast food restaurant and that was the whole purpose of getting the restriction in the first place. [3:10:41 PM] We are frankly frustrated to be back here fighting this issue since we did trust in the process. Staff has submitted to you my longer comment that I didn't have time to say today and I hope you consider those before ruling. The heart of the matter is that this rezoning would hurt our neighborhood because of the type of development that is planned. It will be 240 feet away from the nearest home is irrelevant and in the comments I sent to you I set out what fro fort feet looks like in real life. The most relevant issue is the impact the fast food restaurant frying chicken until 3:00 in the morning seven days a week would have on our neighbors. We ask that if you cannot vote no, you please postpone this. [Buzzer sounds] >> Stephanie lindhome. >> Hi. My name is Stephanie and I'm the owner at 9121 [indiscernible] Circle. I share a backyard fence [3:11:43 PM] with the property at slaughter and Cullen. As someone who will be near the grease pit smells and garbage, I am against fast food restaurant being in the neighborhood. This removal -- there are several reasons why you should vote against the removal of restaurants from the prohibited list. The first being that there's so many businesses that could fit into the criteria for the property off Cullen and slaughter that would not have the disruptive side effects that come with a restaurant, including but not limited to odors, exhaust from cars, traffic, disruptive nose from the squawk box and from people screaming at the squawk box. The second is that removing one item from the list sets a precedent for this to happen again and I personally would be very devastated to see the protections this neighborhood works so hard for to be disregarded in the future because of this one action now. [Buzzer sounds] [3:12:50 PM] >> Elizabeth Carson. Clarson. >> I'm a school teacher in Austin community college for last 10 years and this is my first home purchase in Austin after living in over 14 places in the city. When I bought my house last year I was counting on that there weren't going to be any more restaurants built so close, even though there's a Chick-fil-A that we smell all the time, dumpsters that we hear. The response was that. I urge you guys to listen to the neighborhood. No one wants this raising cane's. And a property being split up later on and then sold to an outside investor, you know, answers the question [3:13:51 PM] what kind of development do we want? We want sustainable, intentional and social justice at the forefront. 40% of fast food workers live in poverty. [Buzzer sounds] >> Thank you. Your time has expired. Misha? >> Yes. My name is Misha. I would like to introduce myself. I'm a 38-year-old white male. I am speaking on item 28, the montopolis rezoning. In 2009 I purchased one of the first condos on Rainey street and lived through the transformation of that neighborhood over the next decade. In 2014 I purchased the vacant lot at 312 Kemp street and built a home the following year. I was drawn to the neighborhood by its unique location. In addition to registering my opposition to the rezoning request and support for my community's position I would like to remind that [3:14:51 PM] you in 2018 city council determined the historic montopolis Negro school important enough to purchase and preserve the property. This 85-year-old building sits within eyesight of the proposed upzoning, which would permanently alter the character and feel of the neighborhood. I'm concerned that much is a mexican-american cultural center and the Rainey street district today is bordered by buildings and neighborhoods with fewer and fewer mexican-americans and so too about the former Negro school be surrounded by a higher demographic -- [buzzer sounds] >> Thank you, speaker. Your time has expired. >> Thank you. >> Jason Lucio. >> Gene councilmembers, my name is Jason. I'm a resident of drew and I live in -- of district 2 and I live in dove springs. I'm speaking against postponement of items 42 and 43. The applicant has pushed the contact team to contact quickly on this case because there is some funding deadline thing to meet. [3:15:52 PM] Their funding is not really my concern, but we had to rush to address our safety concerns as a neighborhood because the applicant told us and told the planning commission that they needed this to be heard on today's agenda. We asked at that time for a 60-day postponement before the planning commission and the applicant objected. And because they are the ones that rushed us to absorb all the information and rushed us to make a decision based on their timeline, I argue that there should be no need for postponement and if the item is not postponed I would like to definitely speak to the merits of the case. Thank you. >> Eric Paulus. >> Hell row. I'm the director of ecology action of Texas. We oppose the rezoning of 508 Kemp street when shares a border with a preserve. Our concerns with this rezoning are many, including the planning process moving forward during the most serious health crisis of our life times. Neighbors were forced to meet face to face in order to complete the valid [3:16:52 PM] petition that is before you today. It clearly demonstrates the neighborhood is adamantly opposed to the rezoning here today. We have shared with the staff the concerns and how it has the fail creature of the poorly constructed cap over the landfill. Most of your offices did not return requests for a quick meeting to hear our concerns, yet you did meet with the developer's lobbyists. The study highlighted this very neighborhood specifically. Those recommendations gave you a few strategies you can employ here today. Specifically look at part 4, goal 4a, 4b and D and see how it's failing you right now. Your own studies warned you that this would be the rapid are displacement of long time residents. [Buzzer sounds] >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Ron thrower. [3:17:57 PM] >> Mayor, councilmembers, Ron thrower here. I believe all of our items are postponed. We are here only if there are questions. Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Malcolm Yates. >> Hello. This is Malcolm Yates. I am the chair of the roc contact team and I'd like to -- this is for item 44. And I wanted to let everyone know that the roc contact team has voted to approve and support this zoning change request and neighborhood plan amendment with the understanding that the city is going to work with the developer to create the recreational use easements for a trail extension. I have put in some backup [3:18:57 PM] materials and that is our request that city council request of the city manager to allocate the resources to create this recreational use easement. Thank you. >> Theresa boyar. >> >> My name is Theresa and I am here for item 37, Jackie Robinson. I'm just here to answer any questions or concerns that the council might have. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. Go on to the next speaker. >> Zenobia Joseph. Ms. Joseph, please unmute. [3:20:01 PM] >> Ryan Kinney. >> Hi. My name is Ryan Kinney. I am a homeowner at 91 [indiscernible]. I oppose this change in the zoning rules. When we purchased our house two years ago we were under the impression that restaurants would not be allowed to be built behind our home. Because we know how much that could hurt our home values. And if we had known that the council was going to turn their back on the original decision, we never would have bought a home here because of how it will negatively impact our lives our day-to-day life and also our ability to resell our home. >> Noe alias. [3:21:05 PM] >> Yes. I'm calling on item 28, 508 Kemp. Can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Yes. I am calling to oppose the upzoning of 508 Kemp street. As we know, the developer wants to build high priced townhomes or condos and I would like to say that in montopolis growing up here I know that we do not need high priced condos or townhomes. We need affordable housing. We have a community that has an mfi of $31,000, so even affordable housing at 80%, 60%, 70%, we cannot afford that. So I would like to see this lot and other large lots in our community be purchased by the community and build high quality single-family homes for our residents so they will not be displaced so they can stay living in their community and close to their families, to their friends where they grew up. Thank you so much. [3:22:06 PM] [Buzzer sounds] >> Victoria Hasse. Victoria Hasse, please unmute. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead, please. >> I'm here on behalf of thrower designs to answer any questions. All of our cases have been proposed, as Ron thrower stated, but we're here to answer any questions related to the postponement request. Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Michelle Teague. >> Hi. This is Michelle Teague. I'm here to talk about item 28, 508 Kemp. [3:23:06 PM] We're asking that council please honor the valid petition opposing the upzoning of 508 Kemp in the montopolis neighborhood. As a homesteader here, it's been my experience that the current zoning is the backbone of this community. We were a diverse community, we're united, we do not need condos or townhouses. We need affordable housing. We currently have three upzoning cases on our -- on one street alone and five within a half mile radius. Dozens of developers seeking upzoning in this directly marginalized community build resentment and divide. And there are others waiting in the wings for what is decided here today. So we believe density as a tool inherently weakens the voice of the existing neighborhood. It skews the majority at an accelerated pace. [Buzzer sounds] Thank you for the time. [3:24:07 PM] >> Thank you very much. >> Zenobia Joseph. >> Thank you, mayor, councilmembers. I'm Zenobia Joseph. My comments are specifically related to item 31, 3500 pecan springs. I'm neutral on the item. There will be 25 condos. Two are affordable. I'd still like on to know what the area median family income is. It doesn't address the mid block crossing even though route 300 is frequent. And it says historically and culturally insignificant or not applicable. If you know the area, it's 51st street. And Springdale. As it relates to item 32 I would ask the record to reflect my comments are neutral there. My written testimony on on page 18. As it relates to item 33 it is an out of cycle project and it's actually on fm 969. I oppose that project and would ask that you consider [3:25:08 PM] there's an sprinkle problem with the area and staff never looked at it. Cypress creek -- semiconductor when that project was before council, you actually had information from the fire department and so I'm not sure what. [Buzzer sounds] I would ask you on 62 to postpone to out of cycle. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. Next speaker. >> Mayor, that concludes the speakers for this batch. We have one applicant on the line, Michael galdini. All the other speakers, if anyone is still in queue and you haven't pressed zero, please do so now. Michael galdini. >> Yes, mayor and council, thank you. It's Michael galdini on behalf of the applicant on 54, 55, 56. There should be a postponement request on this so I'm just here in case there are any questions. [3:26:08 PM] And that's it. Thank you very much. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. Jerry, do you want to walk us through the consent on zoning. >> Sure, mayor. The first items that we have are items in which the public hearing is closed. That items item number 26,, item 27. This is also offered for 20 approval on second and three readings. Item 28, which you heard several speakers speak about, which is item c-14-2020-0038, which is the case on Kemp street, we just received a postponement request from the applicant on that to have it postponed to August 27th. That's item 28. Item number 29 is case c-14-2020-0040. This is a case that was not recommended by the zoning and platting commission and not recommended by the [3:27:09 PM] staff. We did discuss this case on Tuesday during the work session. This is the applicant's request is for gr zoning. And if the council would like to approve the gr zoning we can leave that case on consent per the applicant's request. >> Mayor, you're on mute. >> Mayor Adler: Sorry. Are you saying that's a discussion item, 29? >> No, I'm saying that we can leave it on consent if the council would like. We can approve the applicant's recommendation to gr zoning. We did discuss the case on Tuesday and I explained why the staff was not supporting it, but if the council would like to approve the request we can just leave it on consent. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. Councilmember Flannigan? >> Flannigan: I think we're just doing first reading today so we can do first reading on gr on consent and then we can get the details worked out. >> Mayor Adler: It will stay on consent, first reading. >> Item number 30 is case [3:28:10 PM] c814-2018-0121, the schlotsky's pud. This is a postponement request by the applicant. Item 31 is case knapp-2019-0015.02. This is a postponement request by the applicant to August 27th. Item 32 is case c- 14-2019-0164. This is a postponement request by the applicant to August 27th. Item 33, case Knapp 2020-0015.01, this case I can offer for consent approval on all three readings. Item 34 is case c-14-2020- 0017, I will offer this case for consent approval on all three readings. Item number 35, npa2019-0016.01. Related item is item number 36, case c-14-2019-0098. Mayor and council, on this case we do have a valid petition. However no one signed up to speak and I believe the reason for that is that [3:29:11 PM] there is an agreement that has been worked on out between the applicant and the neighborhood. The the agreement is included in your backup as exhibit G in the backup for this item. Mostly it relates to fencing, buffers and a few uses. So I would recommend that we approve both those cases on first reading only. And we leave the public hearing open to let the final terms of the agreement be worked out. So that's items 35 and 36 will be for first reading only. Item 37 is case c-14-2019-0107. Sh. I can offer this case for consent approval on all three readings. Item number 38 is case c-14-2019-0152; a postponement request by the applicant to August 27th. Item 39 is case pa2018-005.01, this is a postponement by the staff to August 27th. Item 40, case c-14-2019-0029, this is also [3:30:11 PM] a postponement request. Related to the code amendment you postponed earlier today. Item number 41, npa2019-003.01, this is a postponement request by the staff to September 17th. Item 42 is case npa2016-0014.01. This is a postponement request by mayor pro tem Garza to August 27th. Item 43 he, related case, crown-2017-0010, also a postponement request by mayor pro tem Garza to August 27th. Item 44 is case npa2017-0021.01, I can offer this for consent approval on first reading only. Related case is item 46, which is case c-14-2019-0167. I can offer this for consent approval on first reading. Mayor, I'd like to point out for both these cases they were recommended for disapproval by the staff and the commission. The reason I'm offering them for consent is the applicant [3:31:11 PM] has amended the request to match what the applicant and the staff were agreeing to. Item 46 is case c- 14-2020-007. This is a postponement request by the staff to August 27th. Item 47 is case c-14-2020-00 up there, this is a postponement request by the applicant to August 27th. Item 48 is case c-14-2019- 0108, postponement request by the staff to August 27th. Tim 29 is case npa2019-0015.01, this is a postponement request to August 27th. Item number 50, case c-14-2020-0022, this is postponement request by the applicant to August 27th. Item 51 is case c-14-2020-0058, this case I can offer for consent approval on all 3D easyings. Item 52 is case c-14--2019-0162, this is the slaughter and Cullen item that a couple of speakers spoke of earlier. I can offer that for consent approval on first reading or [3:32:13 PM] if there's a council that would like to -- if there's a councilmember that would like to pull that item. If not -- >> Mayor Adler: Wait, wait. I think councilmember pool is pulling that item. >> Garza: I was trying to pull it. >> Mayor Adler: Okay, mayor pro tem. 52 is pulled. >> Got it. Item 52 is case c-14-2020-0049. We did have one speaker on this item. I can offer is for consent approval on first reading only. >> Mayor Adler: That was 53? >> Yes, 53, I'm sorry. >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember kitchen? >> Kitchen: I can leave it on consent, you about I need to make a comment. Can I do that right now? >> Yes. Okay, my comment is I'm fine with proceeding on consent for first reading, but before second reading I will be working with the parties to work towards a limitation related to the sound level to align it with what's going on around that property. [3:33:14 PM] >> Mayor Adler: Okay. >> So moving forward, item 54 is case c-14-2020-0029, this is an indefinite postponement request by the staff. Item 55 is case c-14-2020-0030, this is a postponement request by the staff August 27th. Item number 56 is case c-14-2020-0039. This is a postponement request by the staff to August 27th. Item 57 is case c-14-2020-0044, this is a postponement request by the staff to August 27th. Item 58 is case c-14- 2020-0023, I can offer this case for consent approval on first reading. Item 59 is case c-14-85-288.56rca. This is a postponement request by the staff to August 27th. Item 60 is case c-14-2020-0050. This is withdrawn from your agenda and nod action is required. Item 61 is case [3:34:17 PM] c-14-2020-0041, this is also withdrawn from your agenda. No action is required. Item c-14-2020-0057, this item is also withdrawn, no action is required. Item number 63 is c-14-2020-0035. This case, mayor, I would like to read in the case that Mr. Riley spoke of earlier, I would like to read in a couple of other conditions that were agreed to. And those are to add the additional prohibited uses of bail bond services, liquor scales, outdoor entertainment, cocktail lounge, [indiscernible] Services and they are working on a private agreement related to prohibiting outdoor amplified sound. I would like to add those conditions into the record. And that case is ready with that for consent approval on all three readings. Item 64 is case npa-2020-0017.01. This is a postponement request by the neighborhood to August 27th. The applicant is in agreement. Related case is item 65, [3:35:19 PM] also a postponement request by the neighborhood to August 27th. Related to the 2 cases above is item 66, case c-14--2020-0016, postponement request by the applicant to August 27th. Item 67 is case c-14-- 2019-0159. This is a postponement request by the staff to August 27th. Item number 68 is case c-14- 2019-0043. I can offer this for consent approval on all three readings. And finally, item number 69 is c- 14-2019-0129, which is the Riddell case. I can offer that for consent approval on first reading. I believe councilmember kitchen would like to [indiscernible] >> Do I understand, Jerry, that everything is on consent with the exception of item 52? [3:36:20 PM] >> Mayor? >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. Councilmember kitchen. >> Kitchen: Is this the time to do it. I have some things to read up to 69, which can can stay on consent for first reading. >> Mayor Adler: That sounds good. But Jerry, you said that everything was on consent except for 52, is that correct? >> That's correct. And a couple of them we're leaving the public hearing open, including this one we're about to speak of now. >> Mayor Adler: And the ones we left the public hearing open is the ones that you identified that way when you went through and introduced those, is that correct? >> That's correct. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. We're going to let Ann read into our comments and then I'll come back to you, Leslie. >> Kitchen: This is on item number 69, which is going on consent on first reading. As you heard earlier from both the applicant and from Smitty, the parties have reached agreement, and they're continuing to work out details, so they're working towards a finalized private restrict. There will be more specific [3:37:21 PM] details added to the ordinance and a public restrictive covenant. I'm going to highlight a few of those key points. As you heard, there's a creation of development standards that will graduate intensity across the tract to transition across the tract to greater height on south first. Infrastructure improvements to ensure that there's adequate sidewalks, bike lanes, traffic calming, tdm and traffic access that will benefit new residents as well as the neighborhood and safe access to Akins high school. Developer has agreed to contribute to traffic calming measures. There's a narrowing of the vehicle right-of-way on Wayne Riddell to slow vehicular speeds. That's the safety component. And add a two-way like lane buffering include vegetative buffering at areas nearest the pool. Zap has recommended and the staff has agreed upon standards to narrow the pavement cross-sections for the extension of Wayne Riddell. As you heard earlier, [3:38:21 PM] there's inclusion of green storm water infrastructure and 10% adjustment in flooding calculations to accommodate increased runoff due to climate change. The next one there's an opening -- you know, that addresses the concerns at 1626. So opening up the Wayne Riddell loop connection, which will be open, but it's contingent upon our -- it's upon completion of a signal at the intersection with 1626. And then Wayne Riddell loop would not be used to access the site by construction traffic. There's a -- I'm not going to read all the details on this because it's in your backup, but we've been working with representative good win and our watershed department to clarify issues and concerns raised regarding potential flooding. So watershed protection department is working on analysis related to the regional storm water management program. And analyses of flood [3:39:21 PM] events. So there's details related to that in the backup. And the bottom line there is that the city would not approve an asmp application. If either of these analyses indicates the proposed development would increase flood heights in slaughter creek or onion creek. So just in closing then, and again, the details are in the backup. And the details will be in a restrictive covenant when this comes back to us on second and third reading. I want to add my thanks to what was said earlier both to the developer and the neighbors that both have been working very hard to move forward to reach agreement. And there has been significant progress on all of the three areas that Smitty had indicated that there were concerns for the area. And so I won't take your [3:40:22 PM] time up with any more details, but the additional details are in the backup. So again, the developer and Smitty have done an excellent job in working through all these things. And I also want to thank our watershed department and our transportation department for their work with the neighbors and the developer to reach agreement on this. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. Thank you. Councilmember pool. >> Pool: Can you go back to item 45? I wanted to check vmu on that? Are you recommending it with or without and what was the position of the fire department? >> Councilmember, the mu request was withdrawn, which was the source of our opposition, therefore that's why we're recommending approval. >> Pool: Very good. Thank you so much. >> Mayor Adler: Colleagues, the consent agenda is items 26-69, [3:41:23 PM] except for 52. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? Councilmember kitchen makes the motion, [indiscernible] Seconds it. >> Kitchen: Mayor? >> Mayor Adler: Councilmember Flannigan and then I'll come back to you. >> Flannigan: I want to be shown voting no on item 50. It's hard to talk if y'all don't mute. >> Mayor Adler: Mute your phones, please. >> Flannigan: Thanks. I want to be shown voting no on item 53. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. Councilmember Renteria. >> Renteria: Yes, mayor -- >> Mayor Adler: Can you get closer to your microphone? >> Renteria: Yes, mayor, I want to just make a comment on item 28, which is on Kemp. These lots that were -- that we're discussing and postponing, they're selling for $400,000 plus. [3:42:28 PM] One has a house that's being abandoned and they overlook the city of Austin. It's on a cliff and it's a beautiful site. So whoever gets put in -- whatever gets put in there, I want to let the people know you're going to have a multi-million-dollar home there. I'm sorry to tell you that, but that's what's going to happen to those properties there. I went and inquired four years ago, three years ago on one of the lots there, and they said that he was selling it for $440,000, and I said why? He said, well, you've got a- million-dollar view over downtown Austin. And that's what's going to happen there. So whatever the community decide, whether they want more housing there for -- if it's one affordable unit or if it's a multi-million-dollar home. That's up to them. I want to let people know about it. Y'all have an option now. [3:43:28 PM] The applicant is going to come and try to work with y'all. And if it's not, this is what's going to happen to that lot, to those lots there. Thank you, mayor, for letting me speak. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you, councilmember. Mayor pro tem. >> Garza: I just wanted to briefly speak on -- it's a postponement, but it was 42 and 43, because I know some constituents are listening. That's an affordable housing project for 55 and older, and I understand some of the concerns. I agree it's not the best entrance and exit on a substandard road. I'm hoping you can get to some kind of agreement because I'd hate for the opportunity -- I've pushed back against putting these out where there's no access to grocery stores and when we have opportunities to put them closer to things, it's a good thing, but at the [3:44:29 PM] same time this is a location where there are no sidewalks. You couldn't walk out to walk anywhere. You couldn't even walk to a bus station -- a bus stop. So I know that this has been an ongoing case. I really hope that we can get to some kind of agreement, especially when we're in desperate need of affordable opportunities in our city. And then you said, mayor, that the last item was 52? And if we can -- unless there's any -- unless -- I don't know what Leslie wanted to discuss. I was just going to ask to postpone that and if the neighbors are listening, it's my understanding that the applicant did try to reach out to the neighborhood and sit down with you, and that the neighborhood did not want to do that. So I would plead with the neighborhood to talk to the applicant. There may be ways to mitigate. Slaughter is a corridor. [3:45:31 PM] It's always -- I have such distinct parts of my district. One part of my district is begging for amenities and restaurants and then another part is saying we don't want anymore. And so, you know, slaughter is one of our main corridors. I know there's a lot of things already there. But maybe there's a way to mitigate. And if -- I haven't made up my mind. I'm still listening to the concerns, but at least sit down because even if I vote no on this doesn't mean that the rest of the council is not going to support it. And I would hope that we're in a place where if it gets approved, we've mitigated any of your concerns as much as possible. So I would ask for 52 to be placed back on consent with the postponement and asking the neighborhood to please sit down and meet with the applicant. >> Pool: Just to clear it up, I had not raised my hand on 52. >> Mayor Adler: Okay, thank you. [3:46:31 PM] >> Mayor, if I may? I just heard from the applicant on that case based on the discussion that the mayor pro tem just had, and the applicant is okay with the postponement. I presume to August 27th. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. It will show that way on the consent then. Councilmember kitchen. >> Kitchen: I wasn't sure, but the public hearing is left open on 69, correct? >> That's correct. >> Mayor Adler: Okay, colleagues, everything is on consent on the agenda. Anybody else want to say anybody before we take the vote? It's been moved and seconded? Those in favor of the consent agenda please raise your hand? Those opposed? It's unanimous on the dais. All the zoning matters are handled. >> Tovo: Mayor, mayor. It's Kathie tovo. >> Necessity. >> Tovo: Two clarifications. Prior to making the vote I incident tended to make a [3:47:31 PM] comment, but I wasn't able to get your attention. I have filed an affidavit with the city clerk for recusal for item 63. I think I had my camera off. I I am recusing on 63 and voting on the rest. >> We will consider that made properly before vote because I could not see. >> Tovo: Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. I'll ask again, those in favor -- anybody want to change their votes? I'm announcing the vote the consent agenda passes with the notations that the councilmembers have made. All right -- thank you, Jerry. Good job. All right, colleagues, that gets us to the next batch that we have. These are people that wanted to speak between 3:00 and 5:00. These are the public hearing speakers. It's other than zoning matters. [3:48:33 PM] Clerk, are you ready to start recognizing speakers? >> Casar: Mayor, before they start doing that, I want to let the speakers know I have to reorganize something in this room for a second, so I'm here and listening, but my camera is just off. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. >> Okay. To all the speakers, if you have not already pressed zero, please do so at this time. The first speaker is Christina flackowits. >> Hi. My name is Christina. I'm here representing Texas campaign for the environment. We speak directly with constituents five days a week and have members in all of your districts. Racism shows up in many ways in our community and as an environmental group we want to highlight the fact that across the country waste and polluting facilities tend to be sighted in or near communities of color. Here is the landfills near the airport and in northeast Travis county and are in areas that are much more racially diverse than much of Austin. Polluting facilities impact people's health and well-being. In the city budget racism [3:49:34 PM] shows up in the underfunding of things that would bring many austinites to public health, affordable housing, relief for families struggling from the effects of covid-19 and the cleanup of polluted sites within our community. Cuts to our overbudgetted police department for things like militarized weapons and vehicles as well as mental health resources by police will reallocate funds to the programs that help members of our community. Please use the budget document as your immediate opportunity to reset priorities -- [buzzer sounds] ... We can't count on the police -- >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. >> Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Alexandra watt sins? -- Watkins. >> Hello. Good afternoon, councilmembers. I wanted to speak today in support of councilmembers Flannigan, Casar and pool's proposal to cut from the APD budget. I'm a child of the suburbs so even though I grew up the daughter of a single mother [3:50:35 PM] of five, I had access to resources that my community had invested for my family. I did not feel the desperation of hunger or the pull of time despite my family's situation. My community imagined a different life for me than the one of poverty might otherwise have dictated. Is the Austin that this council imagines where we defund resources that help lift people out of poverty or one where we accept that criminality is a feature of particular demographics? Is our top priority responding to faulty burglar alarms and false 911 calls against people of color? Is it one where we pour $400 million into an agency that polices a town, but refuses to police itself? That cannot bring justice because of untested rape kits. That releases killers of peaceful protestors and that commits more violent crimes than the citizens do. Currently despite having one of the lowest violent crime rates for a city our size, [3:51:37 PM] police kill about 10 per 1,000 people. These statistics show Austin is not a haven for violent criminals, but the police's behavior and the proposed budget even with a slight cuts do not reflect that. I urge you to consider whether the budget proposed reflect Austin as you imagine it. If not I feel confident that this council can align budget to reflect the Austin we can imagine, the one we would like to live in. Thank you. >> Myueda draha. >> Hi. I am a constituent in district 10. I am also part of the process for the Austin community climate plan update. And I am here today to urge council to defund the Austin police department by 50% in accordance with the demands of communities of color and grassroots leadership and instead invest in the rise [3:52:37 PM] fund, Austin public health and low income houses. The solutions will finish to remedy the long-standing inequities faced by communities of color in Austin, inequities perpetuated by the city. Make reparations for inequities that have been perpetuated due to past actions like the 1928 master plan and part of this is taking money away from an institution that is known to be harmful to these groups and put those monies into institutions that will help those communities, especially in the face of covid-19. I also ask -- [buzzer sounds] >> Ruben Clemente senior. >> [Indiscernible]. I have been the one communicating in front of you all with the citizens communication and under the [3:53:38 PM] title of police brutality. I have been complaining about police for over 13 years. I have been complaining to the police oversight, monitor/oversight for over 10 years and it's unfortunate that [indiscernible]. When it comes to the police. But I'm also complaining because even though I haven't had a complaint specialist from the police monitor from almost two years, which I have requested it, and I still don't have one, which I can understand because I'm constantly being harassed by the police even today, just like last month on June 17th in which I found my windshield smashed. There is something wrong here and it needs to be corrected. The police are not held accountable for their actions. And also people like myself [buzzer sounds] The police are themselves above the law here in Austin [3:54:40 PM] unfortunately. Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Natalie Goodnow. >> Did you say Natalie? >> Yes. >> Okay. I'm here to speak in support of communities of color to reduce the APD budget by 50% and invest instead in real solutions like the rise fund, equity office, Austin public health and low income housing. I anticipate it's going to be a long journey to get us to where we need to be and eventually to the abolition of the Austin police department. So each time I testify, I am choosing to dedicate my testimony to a member of my family whose life has been cut short due to racism. Today I'm Latin in a, I've [3:55:40 PM] lived in Austin my whole life. Today I dead kite my testimony to my -- dedicate my testimony to my cousin Edward. He died shortly before his 35th birthday. That's how old I am now. Like the uncle I spoke about last time, he was not a dangerous person. He lived in poverty, struggled with addiction. [Buzzer sounds] If if he left behind two young kids. We need to do better. >> Thank you. >> Lindsey la grange. >> I was at the protest Saturday when a car ran a red light and accelerated into the crowd. I heard a loud noise when we assumed was the driver hitting someone. I ran over to help when the driver starting firing at us. Police arrived in two to three minutes, but ems were still not there when I left the crime scene 14 minutes later. Garrett was still lying in the street bleeding when I left. Seven days ago ems begged you for more funding and ambulances. [3:56:41 PM] And five days ago I watched someone die as a result of a delayed ambulance. We give APD so much money and I am genuinely failing to see how they contributed here. APD did not prevent the crime from happening nor did they arrest the murderer who turned himself in. At the press briefing APD reported the shooter's account as fact and created a false narrative that was shared internationally. I'm traumatized and exhausted and Ken Cassaday is on CNN saying that we asked for this. I demand that you defund APD by 50%. Thank you. [Buzzer sounds] >> Ish kundwalla. >> Hello? >> Go ahead. >> Hello? Can you hear me? >> Mayor Adler: Yes. >> Okay, thank you. I've lived in Austin since 1998 and have been a resident of east Austin [3:57:41 PM] district 1 for over a decade now. Thank you, councilmember harper-madison for your leadership and hard work on my behalf. I thank you for listening. I want to express migrate of the current budget as it stands. I don't think it reflects the overall desires of my community and even after a tense and lengthy and it was something I felt I needed to do so when I sit down in the fall with my students I can be next to them say compelling public testimony and town hall discussion, adequate and appropriate cuts were not made to the funds disproportionately reward the APD. I'm [indiscernible]. It was an eye opening exercise and gave me a lot of insight as to the various ways that our money is spent. I had no idea how much of our city's budget was dedicated to policing. And this is the first time I've given this much personal feedback and energy to this process. It won't be my last. If 2020 has taught us anything it's that we must reimagine what public safety looks like and restructure our institutions to reflect that vision. [Buzzer sounds] [3:58:45 PM] We need to turn all of those structural changes and -- >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Tarran hodges. Pool >> Karen hodges. >> Hello? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Hi, council. My name is Karen and I'm from the second district and currently living in the 7th, and I come before you today in regards to item 17, the proposed budget that city manager Spencer cronk released on the 13th is misleading, insulting, ignores the demands of the community organizers and public testimony, while falsely claiming to reimagine public safety. Do not pass a budget that does not deduct at least 200 million from A.P.D., in addition, I encourage the city council to pass budget amendments 1-3 while investing that 200 million divested from A.P.D. And real solutions which Casar has proposed. A.P.D. In investing in our community, especially the communities which [3:59:45 PM] have been harassed by the police. I call on you to radically reorient our budget providers, to provide services and stability to those who are especially vulnerable in our city, but I would also include investing into Casar's proposed item number 117 -- [buzzer sounding] -- In regards to the St. John's community. Thank you for your time. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Beverly Lazar. Ar beverlylaza please unmute. >> Okay. >> Dehadad. >> Good afternoon. My name is Andy hidad and I live in district 9. I appreciate the actions [4:00:46 PM] taken yesterday in our city, but let's take it further. I'm calling today to urge council to route funding away from A.P.D. The police and the city have shown us time and time again that they are against the people of Austin. We must make a change. City council, you must show us that you are on the side of the people by passing a budget that works for the people you claim to serve. The Austin justice coalition has released a detailed spreadsheet showing exactly how to cut [indiscernible] From the police budget. [Indiscernible] It is your job to listen to us. We demand that you reinvest in the community. Thank you. >> Madison Gordon. >> I'm like many others regarding the city budget. Austin is known as the point of the arrow that leads Texas into the future. Now is one of the times that we must prove that Austin is a place for change and take a step [4:01:46 PM] forward. I'm supporting Austin justice coalition and many others to demand the defunding of Austin police department by 50%. Indiscriminate use of force and lack of sensible community solutions is behind us, there's no need for the systemically broken and ineffective policing of the past. Austin must be ahead of the curve, [indiscernible] In the city we love to claim to be. We can welcome all the tech companies and software engineers we want. If we do not take care of our community first, this city will remain counterfeit, touting progression and development, while continuing to fail its citizens. Defunding A.P.D. And putting that money back into community protections that make sense [indiscernible] [Audio is cutting out.] >> Mayor Adler: Would you get closer to your microphone? >> Did you hear any -- >> Mayor Adler: Yes. We just lost you right at [4:02:47 PM] the end there. >> Okay. My formal statement was that defunding A.P.D. And putting that money back in our community protections makes sense -- I'm sorry -- putting that money back into community protections that make sense is what keeps Austin looking forward -- [buzzer sounding] -- And the beginning of the future that our grandparents think of and a future that I dream of for my grandchildren. Thank you very much. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Ann bedour. >> Hi. My name is Ann bedour and I'm director of the fair financial services project at Texas apple seed and resident of district 7. I appreciate the opportunity to speak in support of item 4. [Indiscernible] Petty auto title loan businesses. It's necessary in response to a [4:03:47 PM] November 2019 Texas attorney general opinion to ensure decreasing harmful predatory lending practices in our city. These target the hardest hit about I the pandemic, including communities of color and low-income Austin families. Texas has some of the weakest in the nation with average annual percentage rates that often reach 500% apr or more and too many people getting caught in a harmful and high cost ongoing cycle of debt. We're also seeing sharp increases in car repression by auto title loan operations. In the first quarter of good, car repos related to auto title loans were up more than 25% in the Austin area -- [buzzer sounding] -- A concerning trend in this time. I urge you to support this ordinance and [indiscernible] >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Richard crenweldge. >> Hello. Richard [indiscernible]. [4:04:49 PM] I'm in district 1 and behavioral teacher in Austin area schools. I'm presenting information in regard to item 17. We continue to urge the council to divest a hundred million from A.P.D. And reinvest this money for effective methods of dealing with our communities less fortunate. A.P.D. Has a horrible track record, for example, in dealing with the mentally ill, and generally speaking, the mentally ill are 16 times more likely to be killed by police, according to a peer review study by the treatment advocacy group. A.P.D. Killed my friend, for example, while he was suicide ago, a three-time war veteran and member of special forces group. Tim rice, rest in power. He was also a member of the local lgbt community. He was shot with a less lethal round and tased. [4:05:53 PM] A mental professional would have been far mosquitotive in this situation. [Buzzer sounding] Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Jordan Stewart. Jordan Stewart, please unmute. >> My apologies. Can you hear me now? >> Mayor Adler: Yes. >> Okay. Sorry. Good afternoon, mayor and council. My name is Jordan student, a resident of district 9 and Austin [indiscernible], speaking in support of the amendments to reduce a.p.d.'s funding by a hundred million dollars. I support grassroots leadership demands nor larger 50% reduction, defunding social services to meet needs of austinites in face of economic uncertainty. The status quo of spending 40% of our budget on A.P.D. Is absurd. The police only spend 40% of the time actually responding to violent crime. We spend 40% on the budget that killed Mike [4:06:53 PM] Ramos and contradicts their stories. Even his mother has a chance to see it. While protesting, sending both to the hospital with brain injuries, kept arresting austinites for marijuana possession six months after the city council told them to stop. [Indiscernible] Reached a protest, Ken casaday explained the murder victim Garrett foster on Twitter after A.P.D. Let his admitted killer walk, and just today A.P.D. Told protesters to stay out of the street -- [buzzer sounding] Austinites are paying A.P.D. To wage war on us. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. >> Thea pozil. >> Hi. My name is Thea, I'm resident of district 1 and I will be reading the first portion of communities of color united's message to city council and the record. There will be several parts due to time constraints. Communities of color united calls to A.P.D. To dismantle A.P.D. And find [4:07:53 PM] real solutions. City manager Spencer cronk, mayor Steve Adler, there was an abolitionist perspective on the city budget. Year after year, an equity focused lens to advocate for the community with policy making failures. The unjustifiable Austin police department budget. [Indiscernible] Showed up with community members including children and elders, with food, interpreters, in tow, but now [indiscernible] Because of the pandemic. We demand Spencer cronk and the elected officials of the city of Austin put statements of community support into action by adopting a bold city budget for reallocation. [Buzzer sounding] Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Beverly Lazar. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. Go ahead, please. Beverly [4:09:03 PM] Lazar? >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. Please proceed. >> My name is Beverly Lazar and I'm -- represent district 8 in the Austin justice coalition. I'd like to start by giving kudos to Greg Casar and council member pool and from then. I'm asking that their proposals immediately be drafted as budget amendments. Also, we need an independent crime lab and an independent office of police monitor. City manager cronk's claim of defunding A.P.D. By $11.3 million from a reduction from the 2020 city budget was actually $150,000, is not [indiscernible]. It did not just fall off the turnip trump. Truck. People with watching [4:10:05 PM] today and hundreds of emails that have been sent to you. We insist on [indiscernible] Distribution of many away from A.P.D., a reduction of at least 50%. [Buzzer sounding] Thank you so much. >> Beth Santiago. >> Hi. I am a -- can you hear me? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Cool. I'm a resident of district 9 and I'm calling to say that I think we should defund A.P.D. And fund our community instead. With Austin police department takes up 40% of the city's budget. 8% of that budget could be used to end all of homelessness in Austin, and I think that's a much better use of the money. Thank you. >> Lance walmueller. >> Austin needs to be [4:11:08 PM] provided for. Not policed. At this point, I just wish I knew what I could say to convince y'all. More historical analysis? Philosophical critique? More statistic, what if I shared a personal anecdote of police wrongdoing? How much proof of institutional racism do you need? How much phrasing of abolish the police? How much will it take? I'm asking what more might convince you to have the same courage that Garrett foster had? The same dedication to black lives? The same righteous over anger injustice. Defund A.P.D. And invest in our communities by hundreds of millions. Raise A.P.D. Headquarters. Lastly, to address my council member Alison alter, our district 10 is the whitist in the city and we have the highest median family income. We need to do more [4:12:08 PM] equivocating. Do more. >> [Indiscernible] >> Council member, my name is [indiscernible], I'm a city of Austin employee in parks & recreation, I'm also a member of the [indiscernible] 1624. I want to thank Spencer cronk for enhancing the budget for enhancement pay for central employees, also reallocate funding from A.P.D. To create a civil rights office and also towards parks & recreation. There's still systematic racism going on, belong to the community [indiscernible] And belong to the hispanic community. Thank you. >> Christopher picks. >> Hi. [Indiscernible] I live in district 8 and I'm calling with Austin [indiscernible] By council member Casar, Flannigan, and pool. [Indiscernible] [4:13:08 PM] [Audio is cutting out.] $100 million [indiscernible] >> Mayor Adler: Can you get closer to the microphone? >> Sure. Sorry. Is that better? >> Mayor Adler: Yes. Much better. >> All right. Like I was saying, the housing crisis we are heading into is completely unprecedented, and if we continue to prioritize funding a department that has repeatedly blamed victims of violence and refuses to help people to secure housing during a national housing crisis, it will ruin the city I grew up in. Do the right thing. Defund A.P.D. Fund community. Thank you. >> Nadi Selby. [4:14:09 PM] >> Hello? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Sorry, my name is Madison Selby. I'm an Austin resident in district 9. I was born and raised in Austin and witnessed firsthand how A.P.D. Has failed over and over again to protect and serve residents of Austin, especially residents of are enclose. I'm speaking today to support the demands of communities of color united and grassroots leadership to defund A.P.D. By at least 50% and invest THA money in real solutions, which include the rise funds, Austin equity office, Austin public health and low-income housing. These solutions are first steps to remedying longstanding inequities faced by the people of color in Austin. The public comment process is inaccessible to most members of groups directly impacted by budgeting inequity. Many of these people do [4:15:10 PM] not have paid time off and face other barriers to participation in this process. I'm asking the city council to recognize the failures of the system and -- [buzzer sounding] -- Take immediate action to make it more accessible to these communities. Defund A.P.D. Thank you. >> Charlotte Calvin. >> Good afternoon. My name is Charlotte Calvin and I live in district 6. As our city miles per hour the loss of Garrett foster, our police chief Brian Manley, Manley talked about rising homicide rates in our city and asked us to [indiscernible]. Less than 1% of officer time is spent on violent crime. If A.P.D. Is enable to prevent crime with a budget of $434 million, it's time we looked towards other solutions. Policing doesn't make Austin safer and proved actively harmful to our marginalized communities, as we saw in recently [4:16:12 PM] released footage of Ramos's murder. I ask to remove a minimum of $100 million from A.P.D. And support the amendments drafted by councilmembers Casar, Flannigan, and pool. We must reinvest those funds to real solutions by communities of color united. Any reduction to a.p.d.'s budget less than a hundred million sends message our community is not worth investing in and lives of so many do not matter. Thank you. [Buzzer sounding] >> Ariana Ruben. >> Hi. My name is [indiscernible] Ruben and I live in district 9. I'm calling to urge that you address any budget proposal that does not cut the Austin police department's funding by at least 50%, and some of that money into ems, Austin public health, affordable housing, the equity office, to address economic assistance, [4:17:13 PM] there's so much that you can do with that money. Other cities have actually listened to their constituents and are starting to make historic changes to positions of power, and it's time that we do the same. We are at a crossroads and I'm asking that you hold the well-being of all austinites over the harmful status quo that clearly only benefits and safeguards rich and white lives. I'm asking that you help Austin be on the right side of history and start to defund A.P.D. It's really crazy how much we've been talking about this. I've heard all of -- most of the accounts in these meetings, and really, like everyone is asking for this, and when you don't do that, you are just not -- you're not doing your job, so - - [buzzer sounding] -- Please redesign the budget. Thank you so much. >> Jenny Thomas. >> Good afternoon. My name is Jenny Thomas, and I'm a resident in district 3. I'm here to urge all city council members to reject Spencer cronk's budget [4:18:13 PM] proposal. As many of our peers have spoken about last week and today, your constituents overwhelmingly reject this budget and any future budget that does not defund A.P.D. By at least a hundred million dollars. A reminder to all of you on council, you represent your constituents and we will remember how you voted for this budget proposal. Listen to your constituents. And for those city council members who have somehow yet to wake up to the systemic racism that exists even in our city, which many consider to be a Progressive city, I hope this weekend opened your eyes. A white supremacist purposely drove into a crowd of people, protesters, and murdered Garrett foster. From there the people who are meant to protect and serve released this murderer back into our community. This institution has proven time and time again, if they do not have the community's best interest at heart, and it's ultimately built on a platform that allows systemic racism to exist. [Buzzer sounding] [Indiscernible] Cancerous ideas for Minneapolis and brought them to our city and we have spoken up to [4:19:13 PM] let you know that they are not welcome here. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Courtney Harris. >> Hello? Can you hear me? >> Mayor Adler: Yes. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Okay. Hi. Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to listen to calls today. I'm Courtney Harris. I live in district 5 and I'm calling today to urge you all to reject any budget proposal that does not defund the Austin police department by at least 50%. Again I'm echoing the other callers who are following the lead of communities of color united and grassroots leadership Austin. These funds need to be diverted to real solutions, including the rise fund, the equity office, Austin public health, low-income housing, and so much more. The leaders in other U.S. Cities are modeling what this looks like, so we ask that you listen and follow the lead of councilmembers who are pushing hard for this agenda for health and safety of our [4:20:15 PM] communities, particularly our black and brown community members in Austin. Thank you. >> Nicholas Acosta. >> Hi. My name is Nick Acosta. I live in north Austin civic association, in district 4. I'm calling to command to defund the police department by 50%, instead, invest that money in social services, jobs, affordable housing, public health, and direct economic assistance. I particularly want to draw attention to pool's proposals and council member Casar's amendments 1, 2, and 3. Particularly amendments 1 and 3, which called to remove internal affairs and forensics from A.P.D. Because I don't believe that foxes should guard hen houses. They don't have the tools to address homelessness, [4:21:16 PM] addiction, in our community. In a pandemic and recession, Austin needs more money -- needs the money currently funding A.P.D. For public health, mental health, first responders, and social services that support people who need help instead of criminalizing them. [Buzzer sounding] -- To protest the demonstrations. Thank you. >> Olivia Ott. >> Good afternoon. I'm Olivia Ott here in support for the resolutions brought by pool, skidmarks and [indiscernible]. I want to address [indiscernible] The idea that somehow violent crime is dangerously on the rise in Austin. This is an interpretation of incomplete data. Publicly data from January to June '19, to 2020, overall crime has gone down, reduced by 4.2%. Looking at violent crime, we see a slight increase from 700 -- 1727 to 1819, [4:22:22 PM] or 92 individual cases in a city of nearly a million people. Came to the population has increased. So the increase of actual violent crime rate is only about 3%, or again, 92 individual cases. This is nowhere near the figures that A.P.D. And groups like greater Austin crime commission throw around as a scare tactic to try to distract you from the fact that overall, Austin remains a very safe city. For those [indiscernible] -- [buzzer sounding] -- One of the things making it unsafe is A.P.D. Thanks four time. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Kiki. >> I'm here from district 3 speaking on item 17. I'm asking you to please reimagine public safety, defund A.P.D. By 50% and use those funds to create social and mental health programs that will effectively reduce crime. How are we supposed to feel safe when workers [4:23:22 PM] such as Austin police department president Ken casaday and [indiscernible] Support and mock the murder of black lives matter protesters Garrett foster? You expect us to trust there will be an honest investigation of this murder by A.P.D.? We don't trust the police. You can protect and serve -- you can't protect and serve without compassion. I urge you to be brave as leaders we need you to be on the right side of history. We need you to do things now that will make you prime examples of what it's like to lead a fair and adjust community. Please start by getting rid of Spencer cronk and especially chief Manley. It's time for a paradigm shift. Thank you. I yield my time. >> [Indiscernible] >> Hi. My name is [indiscernible] And I'm here today as a district 1 are not asking that you defund A.P.D. By no less than $100 million and relocate those funds in community health and safety initiatives. I've had conversations with police officers -- [4:24:23 PM] can you hear me? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Okay. Should I start over? >> No. Just continue. >> I have had conversations with police officers who have patrolled in some of the most overpoliced communities in district 4 for upwards of 20 plus years. What I've learned through my conversations with them, there have been no sustainablehanges made to the issues these communities face. This is the problem, straight from the mouths of the officers themselves and the evidence and proof are there, we need to reimagine community is a safety. Please keep your word, mayor Adler, you signed a national grassroots leadership pledge and you're about to support policy that [indiscernible] Police brutality and hold police accountable. We're limited by law in creating policy, you committed to advocate for policies that chief real accountability. Please keep your word and do not use your power to uphold the militarized police state. Justice for Mike Ramos, Garrett foster, black lives matter -- [buzzer sounding] -- And the [indiscernible] Continue. Thank you for your time. >> Robert Boler. [4:25:23 PM] >> Hi. I'm Robert, I live in district 4. And I wanted to speak about policing. I know defund the police as a phrase must be pretty scary. But by now, it's clear that they're acting Bo of acting Bo of abovethe law and that's just not right. The online budget tool we went through is a big eye on opener. How much money A.P.D. Gets, a hundred million, 200 million, we would clearly still have a functioning police force to be able to move these services they're doing a poor job with into other departments. Austin's big innovation, we just won the Tesla bid, we have an innovation office, we have a service lab that can bring stakeholders together to address issues like this. The city is innovated around waste management, homelessness, other stuff, concepts for [4:26:24 PM] public safety that this activist community has -- has brought to the table. [Buzzer sounding] They're ready to budget and pilot. Thank you. >> David Whitworth. >> Hi. This is David Whitworth. I'm speaking on items 5 and 8, street impact fee. The only argument we are hearing for this is that state law only allows user fees be applied to building permits. But this is flawed. It is flawed because infill reduces vehicle miles traveled, be particularly that reduces [indiscernible]. Planning commission tried to clean it up but there were concerns. Planning commission is trying to incentivize the right kind of development and disincentivize the wrong kind but I don't think this is the intent of this item, or the correct vehicle to do so, no matter how much they tweak, single new mansions will not pay this fee. Abandon this. I don't think you can fix [4:27:24 PM] this. We only add a fee to the more affordable, denser housing products that we need. This goes against our goals. Henry horn has worked on this since 2017 and they did what they were paid to do but don't cave into momentum. Dsd staff can barely keep up now. [Buzzer sounding] This is 10,000 fee with waivers and exemptions is too much to manage. Nobody will remember where it came from, and it will do more harm to housing than good. Thank you. >> Maggie stern? >> Hi. My name is Maggie stern. I live in district 7. I want to start by joining the public comment process remains inaccessible by many folks, especially those inequalities [indiscernible]. Support the demands of communities of color united and grassroots leadership to defund the Austin police department which repeatedly terror ices black austinites and invest in starting real [4:28:28 PM] solutions, by funding Austin public health and low-income housing. The city has [indiscernible] While enacting violence among communities of color. It is past time to begin to remedy these inequities which means taking action beyond platitudes, starting by defunding A.P.D., immediate action identified by Austin justice coalition, such as the hiring freeze, ending police recruitment in schools and the explorers program, and cutting unnecessary [indiscernible] Including [indiscernible]. Thank you. >> Rod Norcross. >> My name is rod Norcross, I represent the consumer service lines of Texas, trade association for businesses testifying on item number 4. Every loan made in Texas since January 1st, 2012, has been tracked by the state. We now know what works and what doesn't work. The original credit access business was packed in June of 2011. [4:29:29 PM] We urge you to reconsider today's amendments and appoint a task force to consider changes that would make the ordinance more flexible for consumers. Claims that there would be a tsunami of title loans during the pandemic have proved untrue. The proposed amendments, along with the original ordinance, are diametrically opposed to the federal cfpb's new small dollar loan rule and research which are used for smaller installment payments to make things more affordable for consumers. This ordinance has been in litigation for six years -- [buzzer >> Martha welds. >> Hello? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Thank you. [4:30:33 PM] My name is MI and I live in district 3. I would like to speak on item 17. I ask that you reallocate 50% of APD's budget to rise, the relief and the state of emergency fund and to other human services departments. The majority of our city's budget should be going to homelessness and housing services. The public health initiatives and to ems services. On the morning of July 13 there were zero ambulances available in south Austin. During a global pandemic. Adler says racism is a public health crisis but y'all have done nothing to address this crisis in the city's budget. Invest in housing and healthcare that the people in this city incontestably need. The violence and gross negligence displayed by APD is appalling. The fact that Garrett foster's murder has not been charged for [4:31:35 PM] his crime -- [buzzer sounds] Please reallocate $250 million from APD to the services people need. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Hanna Mclellan. >> My name is Hanna and I live in district 5. I am urging you to defund APD by 50%. Divert those funds to the rise fund, Austin public health and low-income housing. We know the current funding for the Austin police department is 50% of the city's budget but APD has also received external grants like the Riverside togetherness project which has increased policing. Let's talk about the Riverside togetherness project where Ramos was murdered by the Austin police department. We will not ignore the choices that APD are making. The banner on the side of the Austin police department is a [4:32:35 PM] joke and a lie. We are not safer together when police officers brutalize the community that is fighting for justice. Please choose to fund the community and not policing. It is your choice to decide the legacy that you leave in the city. We are fighting and we need you to listen. We need your integrity, we need you to represent everyone. We must rebuild and restructure the systems in our community to ensure the safety and the well-being of the constituents. [Buzzer sounds] Leaders in other cities are modeling what it looks like to listen to their constituents. It is your time to do the same. Defund APD by 50%! Thank you. >> Meagan graham. Meagan graham, please unmute. >> Yes, hello. I'm Meagan graham. I'm a licensed master social worker and I reside in district 7 and have lived in Austin since 2007. Good afternoon, mayor and council members. Thank you for the opportunity to [4:33:36 PM] voice my opposition to the proposed Austin city budget and the Austin police department allocation. As many people have called in and given arguments for defunding APD's budget, I'll likely be echoing a lot of what has already been said. I fully support the grassroots leadership recommendation and defunding the Austin police department by at least 50% and diverting those funds to real solutions including the rise fund, the Austin equity office and Austin public health initiative and including low-income housing. I also support that communities of color united and they are also calling for a decrease in the Austin police budget. They sort of highlight how the public health department is only 7.8% of the general spending budget. I also support Greg Casar's amendments 1, 2, and 3 and just want to highlight how the backlog of, you know, [4:34:36 PM] forensics -- [buzzer sounds] That is greatly affecting sexual assault survivors in Austin. Thank you for your time and please listen to the citizens. >> Gabby Padilla. >> Hello. I urge the city council to defund the Austin police department by at least 50%. Defunding the police will not disrupt order in the city despite what propaganda claims. Funds should be reallocated to new and existing departments, specifically 24/7 unarmed mental health response teams. Victim services for economic and PTSD recovery. New departments specifically dedicated to black and Latino neighborhoods and business resources, free housing for homeless populations, removal from APD from aisd schools and an increase in ems and public health budgets. In regards to our bomb squad, no need to fear a hypothetical future. We experienced a white male terrorist use bombs to murder [4:35:37 PM] two black men in 2018, Anthony stevenhouse and drelen mason. APD failed to disarm the terrorists without incident. If any credit is to be attributed it would go to the roughly 500 FBI and ATF agents called in to help local law enforcement. Please defund APD by 50%. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Jennifer Myers. >> Hi, can you guys hear me? >> Mayor Adler: Yes. >> Okay. Hi, my name is Jennifer Myers. I live in district 1. And I'm calling to voice my objection to defunding the police. I think reform is in order and reform is going to cost money. And the police officers are men and women, they're human beings of different ethnicities and backgrounds and they're being vilified. [4:36:37 PM] And when they have a most difficult job. And social workers would need guns to handle some of these things. We would be making a new band of cops. So my suggestion is to use the money for reform within the department. Thank you very much for listening. >> Belisia blefno. >> Hi there. I live in district 9. I urge y'all to defund APD by 50% and invest in the community. Ideas laid out in the real solutions set forth by communities of color united. The end goal is to abolish the police and this is not a radical idea. The U.S. Police institution is less than a century years old. [4:37:37 PM] After slavery they were then enforcing Jim crow laws. Police were never meant to protect the people. Five years ago at 19 the officer in charge of my sexual assault case said it was my fault it happened and the jury would never believe me so I dropped the case. Just this past weekend they let Garrett foster's murders free after a couple of hours and they hold peaceful protesters in there for longer. Council, stand with the people or we will vote you out. I yield my time. >> Roseio Sigler. >> Hi, I'm calling from district 9 to comment on [indiscernible] And processing. The tragic death of Garrett foster should not be treated as an example in which to applaud the actions of APD. Something that was done by Mr. Manley in very poor taste but rather be treated as an example of how police have failed the citizens in their communities. [4:38:37 PM] Garrett was exercising his second amendment right to bear arms and he did so as a security member of the protest. If the police department had been acting as members of our community and created a safe space for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights to peacefully protest, citizens would not feel the need to arm themselves for protection, yet here we are. We continue to funnel money into a system that is not working. Try something different. Listen to the people and invest in the community. APD's unwillingness to -- [buzzer sounds] Is unacceptable. I sent two videos of APD behavior. They are acting like unruly fraternity -- >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Kathleen Houlihan. Kathleen Houlihan, please unmute. >> Sorry. This is Kathleen Houlihan and I'm a lifelong austinite in district 9 here to speak against [4:39:38 PM] item 17 on the agenda. It is my fourth time talking to y'all and I'm going to show up every time to tell you the same thing. Defund APD and refund the community and meet the full 50% reduction by the end of the calendar year. The Austin justice coalition shows exactly how [indiscernible] And defund the police in Austin and I suggest you take your amendments and add it to their restructuring to get you to the $200 million your community is demanding. As y'all are talking about amendments I ask that you please make sure you look at this through an equity lens [indiscernible] Will just lead to ten times the problem. How will you ensure the system is representative of people of color? How will you make sure they receive the treatment necessary to remove harmful conditioning that leads to police brutality? Also I heard you reduce funding for the library and public health. Are y'all listening to your community? You know -- [buzzer sounds] It must come from APD. [4:40:43 PM] >> To all the speakers in queue, if you haven't already pressed zero, please do so now. Thank you. Catherine rovinski. >> Hi. I'm a district 5 resident. In 2017 I was involved in a traffic stop in northeast Austin. My car was completely surrounded by police officers. There were five cars, ten officers. The officer who came to speak to me told me I was stopped because I didn't stop fully behind the white line of the stop sign. He also told me that he didn't like Austin because there are too many immigrants and he suggested that I should move to Williamson county where he lives. Just for reference, I'm white. I didn't think that stop or those tactics were okay. I'd like the council to implement policies that will prevent Austin residents from being singled out for bad treatment by police. I think we have a few amendments currently proposed that would be [4:41:43 PM] helpful. I think planning and proposal for oversight of the specific patrol function would be helpful. Casar's proposal to delay the cadet class, and pool's proposal to investigate the Austin regional intelligence center would be helpful. I support those three amendments. Thank you. [Buzzer sounds] >> Larkin tacket. >> Hi, my name is Larkin tacket. I'm a small business owner, chair of the temple social justice and advocacy committee and I live in district 9. I'm here to supported [indiscernible] By 50% and invest money in the rise fund, the equity office, Austin public health and low- income housing. A lot of us white austinites like to see ourselves as forward thinking and talk about being Progressive but too often we fail to match our language with labor when it comes to race and equity. [4:42:44 PM] In a powerful book about immigration included an interview with Texas civil rights activist Austin Kirk who was denied admission to the U.T. Austin graduate school. [Indiscernible] Basically yes whites recognize what the system was and probably did not have the courage to behave in ways that were consistent with their own beliefs. Defunding APD by 50% is your chance to act on your beliefs. Thank you for your time. >> Todd hitner. >> Hi. [Indiscernible] City council was quick to pounce on APD condemning all police officers for the actions of a few. City council says APD's policies are to blame. Chief Manley should be fired or [4:43:44 PM] resign. What about Jonathan Aguilar? He was a manager from free birds that was stabbed to death by a transient out on a personal recognizance bond in January of this year. Was his death also the result of bad policy? Should y'all resign? With that said, I support APD's budget as proposed by the city manager. If you would like to cut the budget, start by using -- not using your personal security detail that's provided by APD. Put your money where your mouth is. Thank you for your time. >> Lynn hillman. >> Hi, my name is Lynn hillman. I have 25 years working in criminal justice and I'm here to tell the city council you can't let the fox guard the henhouse and I'm asking you to support the idea of taking internal affairs out of APD. It worked for the internal revenue service when they established in the late '90s the inspector general tax administration and it can work for APD as well. You need a separate set of attorneys with the authority to [4:44:44 PM] go before the grand jury. We need a separate set of investigators who are not investigating the people they're working with. I have seen too many bad cops ride to retirement after they did something that was get a regular person fired. It's time we bring the same standards to internal affairs. The fox ain't guarding the henhouse. It's eating the eggs. Thank you. >> Sarah sendy. >> Hello. Hello. My name is Sarah sendy and I have lived in district 9 my entire life. I am here to ask that the APD [indiscernible] Amendments to the police department budget and look forward to further amendments that will help the community. I'm not sure if you all saw the Ken Cassidy interview but it was awesome and people like him should not be in power. Body cams do not work. [4:45:45 PM] A 2016 [indiscernible] Increase in deaths of civilians and the Harvard civil rights and civil liberties law review found that Chicago has seven out of the eight it can't wait reforms in place. Therefore we need to reevaluate the whole system. I'm asking that we rethink the idea of police in Austin and defund APD by at least $100 million. Black lives matter and thank you for your time. >> Betty wiltman. >> Hi. Hello? >> Go ahead. >> Hello. Can you hear me? >> Mayor Adler: Yes, go ahead. >> Hi. My name is Betsy and I worked for the city for the past 12 years. This is on item 17. I have gone to hr with questions on employee policy for advice on handling situations when I believed violations of city policies had an adverse effect on my work and the morale of the [4:46:46 PM] rest of my team. I have been advised by hr that filing a formal complaint was the best solution. On many occasions hr was not as impartial as they should have been. I believe there needs to be a grievance process where everyone can be assured of an impartial hearing of the facts. The entire process needs to be fair and equitable to both sides and everyone needs to feel safe that that is what will happen. For this reason, complaints cannot be directed to fellow staff members. There's a good chance the hr person right report to or work with the person or management team involved in the complaint. That is a huge conflict of interest, real or perceived, a conflict that erodes trust in the whole process. I request the civil rights office and not hr be responsible for investigating -- [buzzer sounds] Complaints -- >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Shannon Iverson. >> Hi. Greetings, mayor and council members. My name is Shannon Iverson. [4:47:48 PM] I'm a homeowner in district 1. I'm also speaking on item 17, like many of my neighbors. I moved to Austin in 2007 for a ph.d. Program at U.T. And I have lived on the east side of Austin ever since then. During that time I have watched my neighborhood change extremely rapidly from a majority black and brown neighborhood to a neighborhood that's increasingly limited to affluent whites like myself. I think we need to collectively do everything we possibly can to halt the systemic processes that make life more difficult for our black and brown neighbors to live comfortably, safely, and peacefully. And I see it the most fundamental of those issues is the right to live without fear of death or harm to your body. Unfortunately, that has not been what the APD is doing. To put it bluntly, our police force will not stop murdering our citizens so I think it's time to take away that power and instead invest a majority of our [4:48:49 PM] police budget -- [buzzer sounds] Such as low-income housing, crisis counselors, medics, and an armed traffic officers. Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Leah mcillroy. >> I'm calling to urge that you reject any budget proposal that does not defund the Austin police department by at least 50% and diverts those funds into real solutions like the rise fund, the equity office, Austin public health and low-income housing. Leaders in other cities are modeling what it looks like to listen to their constituents and take both steps towards real safety for their communities and it's time for you to do the same. I'm echoing the demands and eas of grassroots leadership and Austin justice coalition and I also think that there's nobody -- everyone that I talked to who opposes defunding, I haven't talked to anybody who actually seems to have an [4:49:49 PM] understanding of what it means. And I think that these organizations, communities of color and Austin justice coalition have provided resources for reading and education on their social media sites and their websites and I think those are great resources. Anyway, thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Michael Luxembourg. >> Hi. Yeah. I'm calling in, I'm a district 4 resident and I'm wanting to say it's just become obvious that the APD is to be defunded by at least 50%. A lot of the complaints about the idea of defunding assume that crimes happens for no reason when it obviously happens because [indiscernible] And having an occupying military force in the city doesn't help. At recent protests I have been shot and beaten by APD. [4:50:50 PM] I think any group that assumes that's an appropriate reaction is probably not one we should put in charge of defending the people of our city. That's pretty obvious. Defund APD by at least 50%. Thank you. >> Nathan grades. >> Hello. This is Nathan graves. I'm a member of Austin democratic socialists of America and I'm speaking to defund Austin police department by at least 50%. I think we have to understand that the Austin police department is both racist and politicized. When protests around reopening Texas were happening, armed people were in the city and the police basically let them do what they wanted to do. But unarmed protesters against police brutality were brutalized by police and also a person who was exercising his second [4:51:50 PM] amendment right was murdered in the street and the head of the Austin police association who claims to speak for cops said that he was just looking for a confrontation and the murderer was released. I think what we have to realize is the police no longer apply the law, if they ever did. They do not apply the law apolitically and they do not apply the law equally across all of our -- [buzzer sounds] So we need to defund APD. Thank you. >> Marcus Rosen. >> Hi. Can you hear me? >> Mayor Adler: Yes, go ahead. >> Hi. Howdy, hello. I want to speak directly to those who oppose the idea of reimagining public safety in our city. Crime doesn't exist in a bubble. Ignoring the root cause of crime, which is desperate people living in desperate situations. Make our community safer by focusing our communities, not criminalizing poverty. No one thinks all crime is going [4:52:51 PM] to disappear overnight. We don't know where all this is headed but we are working towards making Austin a city where nobody is targeted by an inherently bigoted policing system. Has this ever really occurred to you in the first place? Open your mind to new ideas. The systems we have in place are obviously not working. Thank you and stay safe. >> Gregory fox. >> Good morning. Sorry. Good afternoon. My name is Gregory fox. I have lived in Austin my entire life. I grew up and graduated from Anderson high school. My parents and family still live here. I love living in Austin. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. The greater Austin crime commission has reported that Austin is currently experiencing a crime wave. In the first half of the year in the midst of a pandemic we're seeing a 64% increase in murder, [4:53:51 PM] 50% increase in rape, and most of the categories have also gone up. Statistics should be alarming to anybody but especially to you, mayor and council, who we have elected to make the best decisions for our city. These statistics should be a warning for all of us that something needs to be done. APD is short stand up and not allowed cadet classes to keep up with our officer attrition and the growth within Austin. I ask that you give every support you can to the Austin police department to address this increase in crime and keep our citizens safe in all parts of Austin. The idea that in the face of this crime wave there's talk of defunding any portion of APD is crazy to me. If there are any specific laws or policies that need to be updated, I ask you to focus your energy there. APD officers are charged with -- [buzzer sounds] >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Julia Atkins. >> [Indiscernible] From APD [4:54:54 PM] towards alternative forms of public safety including mental health care. My brother has schizophrenia and has been hospitalized and the system has failed him in many ways. [Indiscernible] In the 2020 budget to respond to mental health crisis calls. It's a step in the right direction. In the past we have had as many as five APD vehicles respond to our calls, fires blazing, which is a waste of money. My brother has been handcuffed and placed in the back of a squad car and once was even thrown in jail. Please continue to increase funding for programs like mcot instead of APD. The social services net for the mentally ill is broken and follow up has been spotty at best. Integral care was awarded a grant. This is great but the grant is just $1 million per year for four years. That is not enough funds. We need more funding for doctors. There aren't enough psychiatrists willing to accept seriously mentally ill patients and medicaid. [4:55:55 PM] If they have any insurance at all. [Buzzer sounds] >> Mary means. >> Yes. Hello. I just want to make sure you can hear me. >> Yes, go ahead. >> Okay. So first thank you to the council members who have listened to us so far for calls to defund APD and reallocate those funds to social services. Keep going. We can do this. I support Casar's amendment. This weekend we had another terrifying example of how APD is ineffective and how ems needs serious support. During the pandemic we need a bolstered ems. We also need better housing and direct relief. Crime is coming from poverty and mental health issues. You don't fix those things with police. Let's just keep going, guys. [4:56:56 PM] Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Frank nesher. >> Hi. My name is frank and I am from district 1. I'm calling as a member of the dsa and Texas state employees union. I am calling in support of Greg Casar's amendments, Jimmy Flannigan's amendments, and council person pool's amendments. I'm also asking that we continue to invest in affordable housing, increase the operating budget to fund programs that prevent displacement and help community members understand tenant rights, as well as the housing program's operating budget especially related to rental assistance. It's just not enough. Thank you very much for your time and I hope you have a great day. Thank you. [4:57:59 PM] >> For all the speakers in queue, if you have not pressed zero, please do so now. Thank you. Jennifer mcfar land. >> Good afternoon. My name is Jennifer Mcfarland, city of Austin employee, proud member of district 4. Good afternoon. I offer support for funding for the civil rights office. Seven years ago I stood before you and asked you to imagine a black female employee being labeled a malcontent, a troublemaker for standing up for her rights. I asked you to imagine being looked over and refused the opportunity to advance because of the color of her skin. City of Austin employees deserve a civil rights office with external oversight that can objectively investigate all claims where employees can be complete faith that they will be heard and given due diligence. [4:59:00 PM] I did not receive due diligence until I sought justice in an eeoc complaint. I was lucky to be heard and found an acceptable remedy. Others are not as fortunate. A civil rights office with external oversight -- [buzzer sounds] And trust in the city of Austin. >> Whitney Evans. >> Hello. My name is Whitney Evans. I'm a resident of district 3. On Monday, July 27 I pulled over to record a traffic stop where three APD officers pulled over three black men. [Indiscernible] Violated my personal space without warning, grabbed my wrist, twisted my arm behind my back and slammed me into the ground. Delgado forced me into handcuffs and hitting my phone out of my hand. APD has no desire to learn deescalation tactics. [5:00:00 PM] Delgado physically assaulted me without cause. His education and the entire education of APD was [indiscernible] The APD induce terror and they harm the citizens they claim to protect. I demand the immediate defunding of the Austin police department at least 50% because I know that they do not care about the safety or well-being of our community. I along with many other austinites have the bruises, cut skin and trauma to prove it. Thank you. [Buzzer sounds] >> Austin Sims. >> My name is Austin Sims. I live in east Austin in district 1. I'm calling today to demand the Austin city council to approve a budget to defund the Austin police department by 50% [indiscernible]. [5:01:04 PM] Encountering mental health crises. Of the top 15 most populous U.S. Cities, Austin has the highest mental health shootings [indiscernible]. Armed police do not fix homelessness. Homes do. Despite talk of funding for housing, the overall nominal increase of 17% in the housing budget actually represents only 85% cut from the community development program. [Indiscernible] Crisis response units. We have seen police respond violently to public criticism. We know from the city's own analysis that APD racially profiles. [Buzzer sounds] >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Julia Von Alexander. >> Hi. My name's Julia [lapse in audio] [5:02:12 PM] >> Julia, are you still on the line? Crystal Ericson Collins. Crystal Ericson Collins. Please unmute. >> Sorry. Less than 1% of calls to 9-1-1 are for violent crime but it is what we fear the most. We inflate our police departments in the belief they will keep us safe. The police arrive after a violent crime has occurred. If you were there with us Saturday night you know that they were a block away telling peaceful protesters but could not prevent the murder of Garrett foster. In between calls, police [5:03:12 PM] officers engage in routine patrol driving around looking for a crime being committed. That is like having fire trucks driving around randomly looking for fires. Patrol is inefficient. Worse, it is tantamount to stop and frisk, racial profiling with a vehicle. Thank you council persons for your proposals that move us away from a punitive approach. Please make the amendments. I urge you to reallocate $220 million from the APD to programs that are real solutions, sufficient income, low-income housing, and transparency and accountability through the equity office. Thank you. [Buzzer sounds] >> Julia Alexander. >> Hi. Sorry about that last time. I'm a resident of district 9 and I will be reading the next portion of the communities for color united open letter to city council. Now is the time to transform our city government and make these financial commitments to making Austin a truly livable city instead of incremental or merely [5:04:15 PM] symbolic allocation as they have done in the past. We demand at least a 50% reduction, approximately $225 million of the Austin police department budget and are calling for abolishing APD in the next four years. Currently the APD budget receives 40% of our general fund, roughly $450 million each year and that's larger than Austin public health, Austin public library, Austin parks and rec and the medical services funding combined. APD has continued killing innocent people of color and leads the nation in killings of people experiencing mental health crises. In less than a year we have seen silva and Ramos murdered by APD. Enough is enough. [Buzzer sounds] Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Rhonda Rutledge. >> Thank you, mayor Adler and [5:05:17 PM] Austin city council members. I'm the executive director of sustainable food center. In the city budget I fully support the Austin Travis county food policy board's recommendation funding for food and equity. To quote the board on which I served in its original years, we must invest sufficient resources to understand, dismantle and remake our food system into one that is economically and racially just and puts the workers in small businesses who have been negatively impacted at the center of the process. This will require reallocating sufficient staffing as well as a $250,000 investment for the items outlined in the recommendation. Without much needed and strategic food planning with an equity focus and significant investment, the employment, health, and food gaps we're seeing now will only continue to widen throughout this coronavirus response and during the next emergency. Thank you for your time and your commitment to the city of Austin. >> If there are any speakers in [5:06:17 PM] the queue that have not pressed zero, please do so now. Thank you. Mayor, that concludes all the speakers. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Never mind. We just got one in. Sorry. >> Mayor Adler: That's okay. >> Yvonne Cortez flores. >> Real quick, listening to the people of Austin, these taxpayers standing for accountability and social justice [indiscernible] Is profound and I'm proud to hear them while I was waiting to speak. I'm the president of [indiscernible]. I'm calling on behalf of item 17. The city of Austin should provide a fair system for its employees when it comes to civil rights issues at the workplace. As opposed to a courtroom on taxpayers' dime. When it comes to employees subjected to discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. [5:07:17 PM] The city of Austin needs to deliver with an equity factor when it comes to responding, mitigating, and more importantly preventing workplace discrimination. Specifically who the civil rights office reports to should exude an atmosphere of good faith and equality. Please avoid any probable depiction of simply protecting management and not employees with this new office. Thank you for your time. >> Deborah -- sorry. Deborah Edwards. >> Yes. Thank you. My name is Deborah Edwards. I'm a 69-year-old retired elementary school teacher living in district 7. I'm speaking in opposition to the proposed budget. I was shocked to see that 40% of the city's current operating budget goes to the Austin police department and very little goes to critical community services like low-income housing and public health. I have been further shocked and dismayed to learn about the many people of color in Austin and [5:08:19 PM] other cities who have been killed by the police with no significant consequences for these police actions. In addition to that, we have seen the aggressive battle-ready stance that the Austin police have taken towards peaceful protesters in our city. Apparently not paying attention to any of these concerns, the Austin city manager proposed a budget for the next fiscal year which does not begin to address the problems of way too much money given to the police department and way too little for critically needed services in our city. I strongly support the changes to this budget proposed by council members Greg Casar and Leslie pool and I hope you will defund APD by 50% and fund real solutions. Thank you for your efforts and thank you for this opportunity to speak. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> If there are any additional speakers in the queue, please press zero so that you can be admitted to the call. [5:09:27 PM] >> Mayor, can we have five minutes to see if we can get a couple people back on the line? >> Mayor Adler: Okay. Go ahead. I'm actually real impressed on how you have done. This meeting started seven hours ago and we're eight minutes off. In case anybody is keeping track, we're going to do the next two -- we're going to go to dinner and come back at 6:00. Let's see if we have any more speakers come up. But 6:00 to 8:00 is the next batch. And then the last batch of speakers from 8:00 to 10:00. The items that are still available in front of us are 1 and 14, 2 and 15, 3 and 16. [5:10:29 PM] Those are the three pids. Item 4 is the credit service issue. Item no. 5 and no. 8 are the street impact fee questions. Those are going to be postponed until 8-27. That gets us into the public hearings. Several of them were just public hearings with no action to be taken. 9, 12, 13, 17, and 72. The only one that needs action is going to be no. 18. That's all we have. We can't take up those items until after the speakers speak, although there's one item that I think we may be able to take up, because all the speakers signed up for. >> Mayor, we've got one speaker, Joshua cade . >> Mayor Adler: Okay. [5:11:31 PM] >> I struggle to find a defense for an agency with no public oversight and a democratic government [indiscernible] Despite public's opinion and this lack of oversight has allowed a racist status quo to exist in APD for decades. APD has proven to be violent, poorly trained, and overpolice communities of color. Their budget is staggering. It's 14 times the size of the budget for housing and planning and nearly 90 times the budget for small and minority owned business resources. These are two agencies that already exist to help the marginalized people that APD terrorizes. A 50% cut of APD's budget could double all of these things combined. Housing and planning, Austin public health, emergency medical services, and small and minority business resources. I urge you to consider a 50% cut and to put most of those funds into existing agencies to help minority communities. Thank you so much. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. [5:12:40 PM] Is that our last speaker? >> If there are any speakers in the queue, please press zero. Okay. We've got one more. >> They're not in the batch three list. Let me check the speakers. >> Speaker with the number ending in 3598. >> This is reverend Joseph parker. >> Go ahead, sir. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Thank you, mayor and council members. The city's proposed budget includes continuing to pay the salaries and the benefits of the presidents of the Austin police and fire unions when they are using their time working exclusively for the unions, even during times when they are adversarial and not in the best interest of Austin's taxpayers. That means, for example, that we pay the police union's president when he unashamedly asked our [5:13:40 PM] police officers to stop actively enforcing crimes, all crimes, and when he unapologetically and unashamedly said that a black black lives matter protester that was killed got what he was looking for. This is not in the best interest of the city of Austin and its taxpayers. Please do not include the salary benefits for these union officers during the times they are working for and serving their unions and their interests and not the taxpayers'. Thank you. >> If there are any speakers in the queue, please press zero. [5:14:42 PM] Mayor, that concludes all the speakers. >> Mayor Adler: Sounds good. Colleagues, comments. We will be in recess until 6:00. We'll come back and do the next batch. See you then. [5:38:06 PM] [ ♪ Music playing ♪♪ ] Recess. [ Recess ] Music playing. >> Austin city council on July 30th, 2020. Austin city council on July 30th, 2020. >>> >> July 30th, 2020. [5:39:10 PM] Austin city council on July 30th, 2020. >>> >>> July 30th, 2020. Austin city council. >>> [5:41:33 PM] [Recess] [5:58:55 PM] Austin city council, July 30th, 2020. >>> >>> >>> [6:03:18 PM] >> Mayor Adler: Let's see here. I see one, two, three -- four of us. Is mayor pro tem here? Leslie? Okay. We have a quorum. Today is still July 30th, 2020, 6:03. We are going to be hearing now from the next group of speakers. Council, we have so many speakers today we're going from 10:00 to 10:00, mostly with speakers today. Everybody has one minute. That will take us now through the group that is noticed to speak between 6:00 and 8:00. Go ahead. >> Okay. The first speaker is Leticia [6:04:20 PM] walker. >> Good evening, I'm Leticia walker, representing district 1 and all of Austin negatively affected by budget decisions. I'm absolutely in support of a people that is for and about the people, especially back people. Spencer, your proposal is insulting, we appreciate councilmembers Poole,. Casarfor your amendment ... Altogether 80.6 million in structural changes and proposed cut from Poole's office are almost enough to reach our demand of 100 million to even half deducted from APD. Education is not priority in this budget,ut we want to discuss our ideas with you. I can imagine a community without cops, but can you, council? Can you imagine an Austin where homeless people find a place to stay. Not with the budget or via [6:05:25 PM] the fiscal plan ----[buzzer] -- We will get people in there and vote you out to set people that will help change the budget to match our values. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. >> Hello, I'm diandr Evans. Removing internal affairs from APD. The over of police oversight is a joke. Police misconduct should not be investigated by police officers. Austin P.D. Needs to take intentional effort to restore the trust of its community and able to keep us safe. We cannot do that while they are their own judges and jurors. Thank you for my time. >> Melia moss. >> Councilmember harper-madison. >> Harper-madison: I would just like to take the opportunity to clarify about the office of police oversight. Those are not police officers. >> Thank you. [6:06:27 PM] Next speaker. >> Melai -- >> Hi, I'm -- yes, I'm melai moss, a homeowner in district 5. I would like for the budget to be cut and for the city funds that handle emergency services to be restructured the plans by Flannigan, Poole and. >> Casar: Are -- this system isn't working or all of us would not have shown up here to tell you that. Not only are there big issues like police literally killing people, but reputation of Austin police is that folks don't expect them to even meet the bare minimum. My bike gets stolen, that thing is gone. I get raped and I know next to nothing is going to be done about it. People get killed, murderers aren't held accountable. The police have had more than enough money for more than enough time to learn to do the job right and they have proven they are just bad at it. Please give that money to the people who can use it [6:07:27 PM] more effectively, like community development programs, mental health and housing projects. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next speaker. >> Kyle Harmon. >> We demand that no less than 50% be cut from the police budget, we will not settle for .03% cuts. In fact your city won't rest until black lives are safe and not terrorized. The police don't keep people safe. In fact, the police target harm and murder black and brown people. The police force is an institution that was created to keep black people oppressed literally born [indiscernible]. In the last six months, only 1% of police calls were about violent crime, only 20% were about any kind of crime. The budget [indiscernible] Will protest videos on the 14th. How interesting is it to you that the police know they are terrorists and are personally waiting to release these videos to protect their funds. Last time we asked Manley to [6:08:28 PM] resign or cronk to fire him. He has not done that or in any way enacted that. If you can't get your act together, you should go, too. >> Hi, I'm [indiscernible] Kline, I live and vote in district 4. I'm a reference librarian and I have worked for the city of Austin for over nine years. Thank you, manager cronk, for including the two percent cost of living increase in the proposed budget. I support the new civil rights office, it is important this office handles city employee reports of harassment, discrimination and retaliation currently investigated by the city's human resources department. We deserve an impartial office to investigate our concerns. And the current proposal hrd would still handle these. The new office should report to a city manager or executive. Not to the city attorney's office. To ensure the office is impartial. The attorney's office has [6:09:28 PM] proven over and over to the [indiscernible] Management not employees, enable accountability, safety and the process by making sure staff can clearly address their complaints directly to the civil rights with no involvement by the city's [indiscernible]. Thank you for your time. >> I'm Jen I will be read the open letter to the city council, therefore we demand that the city divest from APD's murder policing and invest in real solutions that will actually keep us safe, strengthen our collective community and mitigate the violence toward or black and brown communities by racist city policies. Choosing real solutions would improve the lives of Austin most vulnerable [6:10:30 PM] communities ... Now is the time for meaningful action on the part of our city manager and our city council and in the midst of a pandemic a public health department is iOSLY underfunded, our cities most impacted reeling from job loss and impending evictions while continuing low income housing is being abandoned ... Resulting in the displacement of our most vulnerable communities. We are in this position because city council has time and time again approved the overinflated overinflated--[buzzer] -- >> Hello, tonight I'm asking council to support the Casar, Poole and Flannigan amendments to tip to identify cuts to the APD budget until the reduction totals $250 million in total. A survivor of abuse who [6:11:31 PM] recognizes an area of ways in which police have inadequate response to poverty, homelessness, lack of healthcare and the violence of our community connected to these things. When I was a kid police were called to my home often. The arrival was followed by a temporary deescalation in my parents fight ... Does not require armed police. What did not follow these visits was change, because the police arrived with handcuffs and guns, not counseling, not temporary housing, not accountability without violence. To invest in community safety is to arm survivors with options that do not require us to choose which members of our families we keep safe. I'm asking for your courage so also children and struggling families with see their parents helped and healed rather than locked in cages or left to flounder in generational trauma, thank you. >> Kathryn [indiscernible]. [6:12:32 PM] >> Hi, my name is he Kathryn, I live in district nine. Like so many other people I'm called to support what is proposed by councilmember's Casar, Flannigan and Poole. These work to make Austin safer and more just. They deserve the council's complete support. The footage released this week of Mike Ramos's death provides horrific proof of the need to dramatically restructure APD and rethink public safety. APD's blatantly mishandling of Garrett foster's death is another example of a corrupt culture that lacks accountability. That was just this week. Members of the council especially councilmember tovo, I urge you to adopt these resolutions and do not think that is enough. I urge each of you to work towards that 200 million reallocation. It will make our city safer, stronger, more just. Thank you for your time. [6:13:34 PM] >> Jane Vaughan Alexander. My name is Juan Vaughn Alex an center, district 8. I am a nurse. Police are being asked to perform in areas that they are minimally trained in. And -- and what they are trained in is for criminal situations. In the 1960s, when emts were just starting to go to accidents, police [indiscernible] Their jobs were being threatened. Rebelled. Even though emts were saving lives. Police were unable to do. I feel the same situation is where we are now. People in mental health, drug abuse, social services, family violence -- are much better suited to go to these situations. Therefore, I feel the police budget should be reduced by 50%. To pay for these better [6:14:36 PM] suited services. That will serve the communities. I refer you to the freedom house ambulance service podcast. I feel that will show how police need to be--[buzzer] -- new budgets reassigned. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. >> Amelia Lindell. >> Hi. I'm a member of district 7 and I'm calling today for a 50% budget cut for the Austin police department and the reinvestment of those funds back into our community. Austin justice coalition has provided the data that shows us that APD is not worth the money that we spent on them and that those funds, rather than being used for public safety have been used to terrorize black and brown austinites, to shoot protesters and murder people. True public safety would see the plus budget cut by at million- one hundred million, but ideally more than that [6:15:36 PM] and reinvested in emergency medical services, violence prevention, affordable housing, food access. I support the call from ajc to eliminate police overtime and sweep all existing [indiscernible] As well as councilmember Casar's amendment to freeze cadet classes. If you think black lives matter, defund the police and while you are at it, fire chief Manley. >> Richard Franklin. >> I'm [indiscernible] Texas, I'm coming to you from the land of the ignored and forgotten del valle. I'm not in favor of defunding the police. I'm in favor of dismantling and restructuring the safety of our community. [Indiscernible] The interview on CNN should tell you that limits can't be fixed. If the police can target individuals, they obviously have too much time and money on their hands. In the del valle area ... You have increased our need. Del valle needs $8 million [indiscernible] Extension, that the city has never done, del valle needs $20 [6:16:36 PM] million for a library and recreational centers. Del valle needs $600,000 for after school programs and parent involvement specialists. We also can talk about next year needing a pool out here in the same area. Remember, you can't arrest your way to a safe and secure and more prosperous community. You must invest real dollars. If the police continue to target individuals, they have way too much time and money on their hands and they don't need it. Time to move on. Thank you. >> Calvin [indiscernible] >> Hello, I'm a district 7 resident against the proposed 2020-2021 budget that doesn't allocate enough funds away from the Austin police department. The APD is a dangerous organization that puts Austin communities in harms way instead of protected them and should be defunded by far more than 11.3 million. It's a disservice to the current moment and potential for overwhelming positive change in the way we think about and provide safety for our communities. Especially considering a [6:17:37 PM] significant portion of these cuts are put back into the department. I join organizations in calling for 225 million of the APD's budget to be reinvested in the people of Austin and the health and well-being of a community do more for its safety than policing. In order to thrive, those living in Austin need resources, opportunities and the knowledge that their council wants and will help them to succeed. Not ticket, bail and court fines and time in jail. I ask the councilmembers to help their communities and defund the Austin police. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Martin Harry. >> Last Saturday, Garrett foster was shot and killed. We don't have all of the facts yet, but some councilmembers have used the incident to condemn what they call senseless gun violence. If it was in self-defense and justified, calling it senseless is a knee jerk and [6:18:38 PM] demagogic response. The protest was presumably against the police and the police maintained their distance to give them space. Had they been a greater presence, perhaps protesters would not have found the need to arm themselves. If the -- when shots were fired protesters scattered the police ran towards the danger not from it, to protect those protesting against them. This selflessness and professionalism should be respected and praised. Instead we have politicians sitting in the comfort of their home or office talking about the blowing up the home of APD. We need new leadership. Thank you. >> Caitlynn young. >> Hi, my name is caitlynn young. And I'm -- I live in district 10. And I'm an artist and teacher with aid. And like many others in this [6:19:38 PM] meeting, I'm calling with concerns over the current budget proposal. As Austin is in the throes of this global pandemic, I cannot believe that we are currently setting aside enough funding both in public health and housing. Austin currently has a crisis of a lack of affordable housing and economic impacts of covid, more families struggling to make rent, buy groceries, et cetera. I believe a 50% cut to the Austin police department will free funds to really allocate to supporting our communities in many different efforts. Thank you for your time. >> Benjamin Steele. >> Benjamin Steele. >> Hi. My name is Benjamin Steele, I live in district one. I want to support councilmembers Flannigan, Casar and pool as a start to the budget conversation. I would like to see a [6:20:41 PM] reallocation, last week I shared with you about the time I called mental health emergency services for a loved one had to choose between an hours long wait walking a person to the hospital or calling APD. That loved one is a person of color and I could not help see what could have happened if I had involved APD this week when I watched the video released of the murder at the hands of city employees. I ask that the budget be reallocated so I can work with someone who knows what they are doing, rather than armed police officers. I'm asking for the budget to reflect my needs and those of my friends and loved ones. I'm asking for a budget that rethinks so-called public safety and makes it live up to its name. Thank you for your time. >> Rebecca Kennedy. >> Hi, my name is Rebecca Kennedy, I'm a resident of district 1. I will be reading the fourth portion of community of color united open letter to the city council. City council has supported [6:21:43 PM] minor police reforms and hyper visible symbolic gestures in order to avoid making a deeper connections of how other city policies and practices such as prioritizing real estate developers over low income residents, and defunding public health perpetuate violence against black and brown communities. Now is the time to acknowledge that policing -- "Policing" does not keep us safe. It never has, it never will. Firing or demoting police chief Brian Manley is fine but does not get to the root of the issue. We must dismantle APD and create a new city infrastructure that offers support and mediation in times of crisis versus threats of violence. Safety comes when people have dignified, liveable wage jobs, housing that is truly affordable, accessible transportation, equitable and beautiful public spaces and culturally congruent health and wellness services. This is the role of a city government. [6:22:43 PM] We must invest--[buzzer] -- thank you. >> Michael conte. >> Hi, I'm calling I'm a resident of district nine, calling in opposition to the budget. And in favor of funding and dismantling APD. Over the last decade, the Austin police department has led major cities in the united States in shootings of people experiencing mental health crisis. Over a third and up to 40 or 41% of APD shootings have been shootings of people experiencing mental health crises. It's time to take the guns away, time to take the money away and reinvest in real solutions, reinvest in mental health solutions and invest in housing in a city that's constantly talking about our problems with [6:23:43 PM] gentrification and it's time for the city management to react to all of these calls and react to the council. Thank you. >> Jennifer Pennington. >> Hello, can you hear me. >> Yes. >> Okay. Hello, my name is Jennifer Pennington, born and raised in Austin and a current resident of district 2. I have been thinking about my interactions with police over the span of my lifetime here. [Rapid speech] Recent mailbox vandalism. In each of these situations all the police did was file a report and tell me not to expect anything. They [indiscernible] Nothing, they resolved nothing. At the same time Austin police have perpetrated harm against our communities of color. The ajv [indiscernible] About APD's culture of service just backs up my personal experiences, less than 1% were for violent [6:24:45 PM] crimes. 26% for non-criminal calls entirely. I'm here to ask council and the city manager why is so much of the city's funding going to the police department when they are not helping citizens. We have been doing the same thing for decades and have the same problems. We must defund APD by 50% to fund services in more appropriate agencies. Public health and emergency services should be responding-- [buzzer] -- To health crisis calls. --[Buzzer] --. >> Thank you. >> Kathryn fish. >> No. >> We are running everybody through one minute. I apologize. Go ahead. >> I strongly oppose funding the police. There are roughly 55,000 new austinites every year. This increase in population with no increase in police has directly correlated with an increase in crime from 2008 to 19 aggravated assault cases are up 15%, auto theft up 21%, vehicle [6:25:45 PM] burglary up 11%, 28% slower police response since 2011. New York City cut their police department budget on June 30th. In one month, there has been an increase of 130% in shootings. 118% in burglaries and 51% in auto theft. This is a prime example of how defunding the police leads to a much more dangerous city for all ... Significantly the highest number on record. This should be a clear sign citizens feel unsafe with the direction this country is headed. I, too, strongly agree that police reform is necessary. After securing funding for training, staffing and proper equipment, we can focus on efforts to bring the reform that will help -- both officers--[buzzer] -- -- >> Michelle Malet. >> Good evening. I'm Michelle Malet, a small [6:26:45 PM] business owner, native austinite and working group member representing district 1. All of the black people in the Austin area. Absolutely in support of budget that is for and about people of color. Especially black austinites. The working group has taken a unique focus on the next budget and believe Spencer that your proposal was useless. We heard pool Flannigan and Casar ... Reconstructing APD is a separate department and removing them from [indiscernible]. Altogether 80.6 million from pool's office are almost enough to reach our demands of 100 million to even have the deducted from APD. Felons have no positive gain, but we want to be heard and discuss our ideas with you. I can imagine a community -- I can't imagine a community without cops, but can you, council? Can you imagine an Austin where black women feel [6:27:46 PM] empowered not with this budget--[buzzer] -- equity office and the office of police oversight with much more than 1.5 million. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Bethany Carson. >> Good evening, my name is Bethany Carson, I live in district 4. I'm here in continued support for the demands of grassroots leadership and communities of color united. Proposes by councilmembers Casar and pool are a good start for divestment, but none makes the deep cuts we need to APD and reallocate funds to real solutions. Funding for basic needs, health and housing, has long been denied their basic needs by the city. We must divest not only for APD but also from the mentality of responding to public health and safety issues through policing. We can't simply shift [indiscernible] On top of money to civilian [6:28:46 PM] departments charged with doing exactly the same tasks held under APD and expect that to lead to greater safety. We must first and foremost divest [indiscernible] And invest in the resources that communities of color are telling us makes them safer. With that groundwork, we can then follow their lead to build long term responses to violence outside of [indiscernible] Frame works. Thank you. >> Sarah Mathis. >> Hi, my name is Sarah Mathis. I am a constituent of district 1. I listened last week as constituents called asking for change, immediate, tangible, financially backed change. Presumably you listened, too. I want to commend the Austin justice coalition who put together a proposal that cuts $100 million from APD. I want to commend the communities of color united. [6:29:48 PM] The demands have not changed. The amendments brought to this budget are good, but not nearly enough. Not enough. They are not enough. If you respect listening to the demands of the community, we have to ask who are you listening to? I'll say it again, support real solutions. Rise funds, equity office, Austin public health, low income housing. That's all. >> Lauren Jackson. >> Hi, my name is Lauren Jackson. I live in district 9 and I've lived in Austin for 16 years. Police departments are a unique public entity that could act with immunity and still get massive budget increases. Other public departments and agencies regularly get budget cuts just because. The city's pattern of increasing funding for APD and vastly overfunding the department compared to other city departments is incentivizing that behavior. By continuing to allocate the most funding to APD, we [6:30:50 PM] aren't holding them accountable for their racist and sexist work environment, their inability to process a backlog of race can it, disparity violence against black and brown community, [indiscernible] Hospitalized several people and most recently letting a killer go. Also rewarding bad behavior of the Austin police association whose president spreads misinformation, shows an unwillingness to work cooperatively with council and has no regard for the greater Austin community as demonstrated by his cruel comments for Garrett foster. Reducing police violence will require several policy changes at the local--[buzzer] -- thank you. >> Kevin Welch. >> Dear representatives of the council, my name is Kevin Welch, a district 8 resident and current president of the [indiscernible] Austin, I spoke to you at last week's public input session to [6:31:51 PM] express my opinion regarding the current proposed budget for the city of Austin laid before the council by city manager Spencer cronk. I'm calling again to register my opinion. In support I support pool, Flannigan and Casar's proposal. I want them immediately turned into budget amendments. These three proposals ... [Rapid speech] Only the beginning of a long conversation reform process that I and the citizens expect the council to engage in over the next several months as we shift at least $100 million from APD to other civil services. But I would also like to remind the council no APD officers have been -- chief Manley will not charge them, he needs to be denoted. If cronk won't do that, cronk needs to be replaced as well. [Rapid speech] For the actions of their officers. I and my fellow citizens will continue to watch the council's action and make sure that real reform [6:32:55 PM] is ----[buzzer] -- >> Brian corlesky. >> Hi, this is Brian corlesky, I live in district 9. Calling today to -- to say that we need to approve a budget that cuts the Austin police department by at least 50%. We could -- we could put this money towards so many other good things. Ambulances, you know, like -- like not just not harming people. Saw the footage of Mike Ramos the other day and -- everyone involved needs to be fired. Everyone involved in that. It's -- it's just beyond the pale. I yield my time. >> Akash kataria. >> Hello, I'm a homeowner in [6:33:57 PM] district 2 and I demand that you defund APD by 50% and fire chief Manley. It is bizarre that APD is able to detain and jail journalists on bogus charges, but allow the perpetrator of a homicide freedom tearoom the streets. The murder of gar rate foster is the third time that APD has allowed a vehicle to drive into a crowd of protesters to cause harm with immunity. The police association president even celebrated his death on social media. It is hard to ignore that APD may have had a hand in the death of Garrett foster. At what point does APD use our tax dollars to keep the city safe and not for their own personal vendettas. We demand the removal of chief Manley and reallocation of funds to services that actually help the community and keep Austin safe. Thank you. Impugningty. >> Marlene. >> Good evening, mayor, city [6:34:57 PM] council members and city manager. First, thank you for working so hard to not increase the city's operating budget. I wanted to address two quick points with the council. I am here to speak as one who is against the defunding, divesting, restructuring of our police department. I believe those measures will only reduce the number one priority for the city, which is our safety. I am concerned these proposals would add bureaucracy and waste rather than quip our police department to work more effectively. Finally I'm concerned these attempts at best deal with the symptoms rather than the cause, which I think we all would like see. I'm grateful for the protection afforded to us due to the department. Thank you for the increased support for animal welfare in our city. I look forward to our city shelter returning to precovid intake procedures so those dollars can help the population they were intended to help. Thank you so much for your time. >> Sarah Lopez. [6:36:00 PM] >> [Indiscernible]. District 7. I work for [indiscernible] Texas choice, a [indiscernible] And I've had an abortion. Rather than providing a safety net for families and pregnant folks at the start of the pandemic, state leaders chose to exploit the crisis to push their own anti- abortion agenda. Just as before, people did everything that they could to action the abortion care they needed. Abortion [indiscernible] Continues to do everything we can to help make it help. Our people are resiliencent but we need council to take actions. A budget is a moral contract. And last year city council made history by sending logistical support for Austin residents seeking abortion care. People are out in the streets all day every day ... Communities free from state sanctioned violence. We are calling for the defunding and dismantling of APD and for funds to be reallocated to the health and safety of our communities, which includes [6:37:01 PM] abortion care. Thank you. >> Sabina [indiscernible]. Please unmute. Genevive [indiscernible] >> Hi, it's unfortunate that everyone is only given one minute to discuss something as important as where you will be investing our tax dollars, like this proposed budget it feels like a slap in the face. I demand we defund the police department by at least 50%, invest in community based resources like healthcare and affordable housing. Shame on anyone trying to justify Barrett foster's murder by spreading misinformation. [Indiscernible] Have come out in full force because police decided to put on a narrative based on the [6:38:01 PM] murderer's testimony. We don't trust APD to conduct investigations on their own officers. We don't trust APD to bring justice to the officer that's have ravaged our community. We don't trust APD to keep us safe. [Indiscernible] When protests started while APD terrorized homeless people. Rest in peace and power, Mike Ramos, Javier and our local hero Garrett. We haven't forgotten about every unwarranted act of police violence during recent protests, I yield my time. >> Hunter funk. >> Good evening, district 4 resident. Echoing what so many have called for, to see further funding reallocated from APD. I support all suggested amendments, especially regarding internal affairs, my main take away was the overkill of sending eight cops to do the job for two and resulting escalation. Multiple speakers mentioned [6:39:02 PM] Austin mental health police shooting rate is abysmal. I would like to shout out councilmember Casar 117 for the former Home Depot property. Nowhere else is -- [rapid speech] Sitting side by side with vacant lots and generation homes of [indiscernible] Families. This community deserved real amenities not increased cop presence and our use of land ought to inspire rather than demoralize. In closing, congratulations to mayor pro tem Garza ... Thank you all for your time. >> Sabina [indiscernible] >> Can you all hear me? >> Go ahead. >> Hello? Okay. Thank you. Yes, my name is Sabina, I live in district 1. I want to applaud the [6:40:03 PM] leadership of Natasha harper-madison in getting the council to acknowledge and declare that racism in Austin is a public health crisis. I'm asking the council to make that declaration meaningful with real, measurable action putting the demands of communities of color united and grassroots leadership to defund Austin police department by at least 50% and invest that money in real solutions ... Solutions that begin to remedy long standing inequities on communities of color in Austin. [Rapid speech] This is completely inaccessible to most people, but especially those directly impacted by policing and budget inequities and do not have flexible work hours, consistent phone or internet access. City council needs to recognize the failures of this comment process and take immediate action to make it more accessible to we can have a just and democratic process. Thanks. >> Sarah sailor. [6:41:04 PM] >> I'm Dr. Sarah sailor, an educator, I live in district 3. I'm speaking in solidarity with just -- I ask the council to defund the APD by 50%, I support proposals by the Austin justice coalition and communities of color united to support alternatives for violence prevention, emergency response, and survivor support. Including the rise fund, affordable housing, and food access. I'm grateful for the small steps councilmembers have taken for the more accountable police force and I challenge you to implement more meaningful systemic changes to make our city safer and more just. Thank you. Jamie Foley. I'm speaking today to [6:42:05 PM] express my full support of pool, Flannigan and Casar's support. The 1 constitution district tan quillty, general welfare and liberty. This is not what marginalized people live in, in our society. Our society has made it to -- [rapid speech] Intrinsic value, the most important place that we can recognize this is in our own communities. These three amendments will be great strides in giving care, compassion, dignity deserved by all of the people of Austin. This also goes for those seeking justice from our corrupt system. Further I would like to express my sole support of divesting of the police budget, expansion of community safety, especially the deployment of mental health workers to the mental health [indiscernible]. Chief Manley and the department have shown their disregard for the experience and demands of the people over and over again. The police association have gone so far as to claim that -- that race baiting in response to calls for racial justice, this is a gross misuse of power--[buzzer] -- [6:43:07 PM] embarrassment to the city of Austin. >> [Indiscernible]. Kim height. >> I'm calling from district 1 to pointer attention to the detrimental impact on our community resulting from APD's involvement instigating violence. I saw a young man who appeared unwell, unresponsive, because he was also a black man, I thought do I risk his life by not calling or risk his life by calling. When a neighbor called 911 anyway the police were the ones to respond. I don't think his health and safety was restored when he was arrested. Fund by diverting no less than 50% from the APD budget into alternatives to policing like public and mental health, [indiscernible] Housing and the violence prevention office to name a few. For those worried about violent crime we have safer communities when everyone has access to healthcare, support and positions to thrive. We have a ways to go on not [6:44:09 PM] calling police on people of color. Fund your community's wellness and safety, reduce harm, black lives matter, thank you. >> Sabrina Ellis. >> Hi, my name is Sabrina Ellis. I'm a current resident of district 9, a future resident of district 3. I'm calling to urge that you reject any budget proposal that does not defund the Austin police department by at least 50%, put those funds towards real solutions, like rise fund, equity office, Austin public health and low-income housing. [Indiscernible] I urge you to look at the evidence. Look at who is being arrested, terrorized and killed by the police and ask yourself,, whose safety is being prioritized? Leaders in other us cities are modeling what it looks like to listen to their constituents and take full steps toward real safety for all of their communities and it's time for you to do the same. Show Austin you want the best for our communities of color, low-income families, [6:45:13 PM] homeless communities, lgbt communities and any other communities being marginal lionsed. Black lives matter, black trans lives matter. I yield the rest of my time. >> Christina barber deallis. >> Hi. My name is Christina barber. Calling on behalf of district 9. As many of the individuals who are have called today, I want to propose that we continue pushing for work towards eliminating at least $100 million worth of the budget for Austin police department. Garrett foster's death was clearly a visual of how black individuals have to arm themselves and their allies have to arm themselves to be able to be protected in the city. The Austin police department is not performing that job for people of color, so we have to make sure that we allocate the funding so that individuals can prosper in this city. Thank you. [6:46:14 PM] >> Sharon Mcray. >> Hi, I'm Sharon Mcray. I've been living in Austin for 23 years in district 5. Since the talk and devoting to defund police the homicide rate in Austin has gone up 64%, that is huge. We are at homicide number 28 compared to last year of 2019 of 32. 32 for the entire year. 11 of these 28 homicides have occurred over the last two months. I would like to read the names of the deceased but I don't have enough time. But they are more than numbers. 63% of these 11 homicides were people of color. That is a direct result of the mayor and city council's policy and voting to defund the police. You have given the impression that we are as a community no longer care about enforcing the law, giving a green light to criminals. Homicides are not the only crime that is up. Rape is up by 50%, auto theft up by 30%, building theft up by 24% along with [6:47:14 PM] robberies at 16%, aggravated assaults of 14%, arson of 9% and burglaries of 8%. --[Buzzer] -- refund our police with smart police reform. Thank you. >> Jesse Bradford. >> Hi, my name is Jesse Bradford. I'm a resident of district 1. I'm calling to urge the city council to follow the recommendations with groups such as ajc, ccu and the thousands of citizens who have put their lives on the line and now have even lost their lives to go out in the street and bring your attention to the issue of police violence. The fact that the president of the Austin police association was publicly state that a recent murder victim, Garrett foster, was looking for confrontation shows the rotten core of the APD that must be gouged out. You do that by stripping their budget and replacing them with services that actually helps people and [6:48:15 PM] are not rooted in racism and warrior culture. Follow the recommendations of ajc to cut the APD budget by at least $100 million right now. Thank you. >> Laura Templeton. >> Hello. My name is Laura Cantu temple ton, I live in district 10. I have lived in Austin 35 years and I never thought that I would see a proposal made by a city council as much as I fear harm inflicted by dangerous criminals. Cutting police funding is [indiscernible] Irresponsible. Our population increases daily. Crime in every category has increased. Murder is up 64%, with the highest number of murders in councilmember Casar's district 4. Councilmember Garza's district is a close second. Auto theft is -- building theft up 24%, statutory rape up [indiscernible] Percent. The majority of austinites are responsible, hard [6:49:16 PM] working, law abiding citizens who understand the need for law and order. According to a recent poll 53% of residents say Austin is going in the wrong direction. The majority of Austin residences want reform, not defunding. If the proposal put fort by this council to deconstruct our ----[buzzer] -- >> Cheva Watson. >> >> Sorry, can remain? I'm Travis Watson, working group admin represents districts one, two, three, [6:50:16 PM] four, seven, 10, every black man who was ever ignored and denied and told that he couldn't. I'm in support of a budget only supported by the people. We have taken a unique -- I threw that in the trash, Leslie, Jimmy Greg, I agree with a lot what you said. [Rapid speech] Remove them from 7th street. Altogether 81 million in structural changes and cut from Leslie's office are still short of our demand by 100 million. Even half deducted from APD. I reviewed all said document. I will never [indiscernible] I have always dreamed of a community without cops. But can you? I have waited 22 years in this city for equity and justice. The fiscal accident plan is inadequate. Can you imagine an Austin where black men and women can find success without conforming to whatever you are doing in the past? Not with this budget. Fund the equity office. Fund the opo today. They do much more than a million and a half. [6:51:17 PM] --[Buzzer] -- Certified by grants specifically made for us when we can make impact instead of giving APD more use their money to create solutions against the school to prison pipeline, schools without police. Move 58 million immediately into the rise fund for direct cash assistance because me and many of my brothers and sisters, we need it. We are terrified in this city. If you don't listen to us, Spencer, Natasha, all of you, page, I will make sure that your candidacy will sink to the ground. Because you have not listened to us. We will get somebody in there as well as the mayor to change the culture and match our values. You know me. I know you. Just do it for the people. Not for yourself. Learn something from the losses that the people have already endured. You have heard me. You have heard me clear. I look to talk to you again. I will email you tonight. I've got your number. You've got my -- you've got my name, you got my email. I've got your number. We want justice in this budget. Spencer, I took -- racism with you -- [multiple voices] Listen to the people. [6:52:17 PM] >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Bobby Mac. Hey, good evening, I'm Bobby Mac, business owner, working group member representing district one and all of the districts affected by these budget cuts. Along with the working group we reviewed this budget and we believe certain suggestions were biased. Spencer that budget was undermining and not impactful. We appreciate councilmembers with productive amendments and having separate [indiscernible] Reconstructing APD in its entirety, including the union when promotes the blue wall of silence. The 80.6 million in structural changes and proposed cuts are almost enough to reach 90% of your callers, 100 million. We know from recent data shared by councilmember Casar, violent crime only makes up .6. Don't try to include the statistics from the recent [6:53:19 PM] riots, which might happen again if the voices aren't heard. The total incidents in Austin are less than 6,000, Austin isn't as criminal as we think. Additional cuts are needed. Security can can be performed ---- [buzzer] -- adequate funding and community is involved in hiring, we do not want someone in the office that doesn't understand the needs of the community, same goes for the replacement of the police chief. We need community involvement in selecting candidates that have a moral compass, not just one looking to check off other box on their list. Money allocated for mothers and children, because the availability is -- >> Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Audrey go. >> Hi, can you hear me?? >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Okay. My name is Audrey Gow, a [6:54:22 PM] resident in district 9, zip code 78705. Thank you for hearing our testimonies today. Despite the Austin police department having the highest per capita rate of fatal police shootings involving persons experiencing a mental health crisis in the country and being more likely to use injury causing force against drivers they pull over, city council has repeatedly voting to fund the police department in the hundreds of millions annually. I stand with the communities of color united demand to cut APD budget by at least 50% and reinvest these funds into real solutions. Rise fund, the equity office, Austin public health and low-income housing. Cutting APD by 100 million only removes the excess from their heavily padded budget. If the Austin city council actually served its constituents, especially its most vulnerable citizens, they need to show it. Invest in programs that strengthen their community, not cause more violence. Thank you. >> Nan Kirkpatrick. [6:55:23 PM] >> Hi, I'm Nan Kirkpatrick, I'm [indiscernible] With a non-profit organization that helps young people exercise their reproductive rights in Texas. [Indiscernible] Due process deeply appreciates the $150,000 provided for abortion access, logical support during last year's city of Austin budgeting process. This funding is currently allowing us to not only continue providing support to our clients from Austin as they navigate a difficult system to access abortions, a system made difficult by oppressive state laws, but this funding it also allowing us to create partnerships with other organizations to improve support for young people seeking abortion in Austin. As youth our combine often experience lack of resources and support as they get to and from judicial bypass proceedings as well as abortion appointments. We provide wrap around care to not only ensure they can receive judicial bypass to obtain abortion care but all the way through after their abortion appointment. Covid-19 adds one more [6:56:24 PM] barrier for young people who might seek an abortion, when makes the help we provide with the funding all the more vital--[buzzer] -- >> Ashley >> Ashley Hamilton. Ashley Hamilton, please unmute. >> Good evening, I'm Ashley Hamilton from district 7. A black mother, working group member, representing black Austin and all of east Austin. I am for a budget about the people, especially black mothers. Do you know in Austin area hospitals we die at 274% rate higher than white mothers. The working group has taken a unique focus on the next budget and believes that expense ers your plutonium is ineffective. We appreciate pool, Flannigan and Casar and removing forensics there [6:57:25 PM] APD. Removing them from 7th street, 86 million in changes and cuts from pool's office are almost enough to reach our demand of 100 million. Black mothers and black people are not the priority in this budget. We want to discuss our why did you with. Can you imagine an Austin where black mamas are safe and protected? Not just in domestic violence situations not in this budget. Fund the equity office and [buzzer] >> Thank you for your comments. >> Erica Galindo. >> >> Good evening, my name is Erica Galindo. Austin as an equity and racism problem made worse by the funding of social servicing and the overfunding of police [6:58:27 PM] department. We need to parent children in safe and healthy environments, live free from state violence. We're asking the city to reallocate funds from the police by freezing hiring and capping the fiscal 2021 cadet classes. We want to include expanded funding for rise, housing and public health including support for abortion access. We specifically would like to request that the city continue the program that provides logistical support for austinites creating abortion care created last year and raise that funding to $250,000. We are so is proud that this council made history last year by being the first city to create a critical program and support families more than ever as covid-19 has only pushed abortion care further out of reach for austinites struggling to make ends meet. [Buzzer]. Thank you for your time. >> Justin green. >> My name is Justin green. [6:59:28 PM] I live in district 9 in Travis county. I'm with Austin dsa. First of all I would like to thank councilmember Casar, Flannigan and fool for heir amendments well -- speaking in support of these amendments as a starting point by cutting Austin police department's budget of $250 million with a goal of abolishing this fundamentally racist institution. Money defunded from police should be given to first responders, ems services and housing. Manley must go, but let's be real, whoever replaces him would be just as bad. Shame on Ken Cassaday for continuing to be a worthless human being and jumping online meetly after the murder of Garrett foster to attempt to justify it. Justice for Garrett, for Brad and for Javier and all the other black and brown lives cut short by supremists in uniform. >> Kelly Rios. [7:00:36 PM] Kelly, please unmute. >> >> Hello. My anymore is Kelly, I'm a resident of district 4. I would like to voice my thanks in support for councilmembers Casar, pool and Flannigan's proposal for reducing the budget of APD. Aimed I would like to see them become amendments. I would like it cut by at least $100 millions. I support councilmember alter's call for increased ems funding, but I think we should award the full nine million dollars in funds for the Austin ems association. They need our support not only during the current global pandemic but as we move forward as a city. I would like to especially emphasize the importance of adding more community health paramedics which is only list add a potential investment. While attending a district 4 town hall I was impressed by the work that chp's have put into guaranteeing essential health care for the homeless [7:01:36 PM] community especially with covid-19. There is the proper party that should be handling the health needs of the homeless population not the police. Therefore they should receive more resources to continue and expand their work. Thank you for your time. >> Maura Kinney. >> Hi, my name is Maura and I'm a resident of district 4 and I will be reading the conclusion of communities of color's open letter to council. Austinites are dreaming of an equitable and just for our elders, for us and for our children. The city is possible. Everyone has a role to play. We demand a divestment from policing and investment in real solutions. That concludes communities of color united's open letter to city council. Thank you. >> Cynthia Cassidy. >> Hello. Hello? [7:02:36 PM] >> Yes, go ahead. >> Okay. I live in district 4, which I just learned was the murder capital of our city. I've lived there for 15 years. When I move to that area I would hear that APD helicopter fly overhead after gunshots quite regularly. And I would think well, the police are doing their job, thankfully. Sadly I rarely hear that helicopter, but I do hear gunshots. I've been an Austin residents for the last 35 years. I'm sick and tired of the leadership and sickened that you won't will be to those of us who contributed to this city for decades. You have let what was once a tool turn into this current state. Police patrols are needed in my district. Defunding will only make matters worse. Property crime has increased, violent crime has increased. Defunding police will cut an even more deeply into community policing, something that I think is secretly needed. It's really hard to hurt someone. If you have known him since [7:03:37 PM] he was eight years old. These relationships need to be for-profittered, not severed. One interesting point that has been raised many times is [buzzer] >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Suki Mcmahon. >> >> I'm the board chair and strategic director at the Austin justice coalition and I live in d9. First I want to thank councilmember harper-madison for her leadership yesterday on those items, focus on racial equity in Austin. So we've come to a crossroads in our city where one path is paved in punitive exceptionalism towards black APD brown bodies and the other is unpaved with promise and first of all I want to say that agency support the cuts and the reorganization proposals offered by councilmembers pool, Casar and Flannigan. Including the dismantling of APD and the demolition of [7:04:37 PM] the police headquarters and repurposing that property for black economic mobility and I look forward to that discussion when that's done. Safety and community responsibility and community resilience and that's what safety is. That's what justice is. Please take into consideration ajc's proposal for an additional 100 million in cuts and transfers from APD and let's get going. Thank you. [Buzzer] >> Adele arst. >> I'm Adele with our lady of Guadalupe catholic church speaking on behalf of [indiscernible] Interfaith. We have emailed each of you our detailed list of budget priorities which I will highlight here. Invest heavily in proven community policing models, [7:05:39 PM] adequate funding of the office of police oversight, officer recruitment from communities of color and raise equity training for all trainees and officers. [Indiscernible] For living wage workforce training and continued funding for after school programs and parent support specialists. Ensure covid-19 testing with an emphasis on rapid results for everyone. Contact tracing and ppe. Continue financing of the rent and rise program. Address homelessness through increasing case workers, overnight shelter space and permanent supportive housing. [Buzzer] Thank you. >> Vinet Shaw. >> Hi there. I'm from district 9, a student at UT Austin and the chief of staff of our student government. UT students believe that APD's behavior has been criminal and we stand in [7:06:39 PM] solidarity with the demand to defund the police by at least 50% and invest in real solutions such as public health, emergency response, affordable housing and violence intervention programs. APD's wrap sheet includes failing to comply with the city's freedom cities policies. The tragic murder of Austin residents. The use of access sieve force, rubber pull let's going protesters. The injuring of several others. And the release of Garrett foster's murderer. Black lives matter, defund and dismantle APD or students will vote you out. Thank you for your time. >> To all the speakers in queue, if you have not pressed zero please do so at this time. Thank you. Alison Garro. >> Hello. My name is Alison. I've been a small business owner for 10 years and a homeowner in district 1. With so many austinites out of jobs right now and [7:07:39 PM] resources becoming even more scarce as this pandemic wears on, it is more important than ever that we be investing in the communities hardest hit and those are our communities of color. As Austin declared yesterday,ism ray is a public health crisis and we've seen this play out over and over on how the most important programs that support the communities are repeatedly underfunded while the corrupt police department takes the lion's share of the budget. I don't feel safer knowing that our police are answering distress calls of people who might be experiencing a mental health crisis armed to the teeth. I don't feel safer seeing police harass homeless people who may be suffering from addiction problems. I don't feel safe seeing police use violent militarized tactics against peaceful protesters and I don't feel safe knowing that police often use unnecessary and deadly force during routine traffic stops. [Buzzer] Divesting APD by 50%. [7:08:39 PM] Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. Next speaker. >> Dorothy minke. >> Hi. My name is Dorothy and I like many own a home in district 7 and like hundreds of other people last week and this week, I am calling tonight to urge you to dismantle the Austin police department. I support the amendments proposed by pool, Casar and Flannigan and I look forward to you voting yes on these budget proposals. We must continue to make amendments to the budget that gets us to the 50% budget cut for Austin police department and divert funds to real solutions that make our city an awesome place to live, like the rise fund, Casey office, Austin public health and low income housing. And I stand with and urge you to keep listening to ccu, ajc and grassroots [7:09:41 PM] leadership. We are lucky to have these organizations here in and I'm excited about a vision for a city budget that centers black and brown lives in our city because it helps make all of us thrive. Thank you. I yield my remaining time. >> Thank you. >> Brent Mitchen. >> Hi. This is Brent. I am a native austinite and a resident of district 10. Thank you all for your service. I appreciate it. I am against reducing the budget to cut police. I think that if you look at the numbers of all of the different violent crimes that are up between murder, statutory rape, auto theft, robberies, all of these are increased. I think that our councilwoman, councilmember alter, has some great ideas in terms of sending officers -- I'm sorry, looking at other departments to respond to the call to [7:10:42 PM] things like fender bender, noise complaints, traffic direction for events, etcetera. But I don't think that with the increase of the other -- of the other -- [inaudible]. >> Mayor Adler: We lost the speaker. >> We will reach out to him. [Buzzer]. >> Montana Steele. >> Hi, my name is Montana and I'm a resident in district 9. I am voicing my support of the proposals presented by councilmembers Casar, Flannigan and pool and I demand that these proposals become amendments to the budget and deeply appreciate these councilmembers' efforts to support making Austin more equitable and to destruct the inherently [7:11:42 PM] racist policing system. I'm demanding that the ems proposal be funded at nine million dollars. At district 9 callers before me have said we're calling on councilmember tovo to represent our voice to support these amendments. Austin justice coalition has done an incredible amount of work to illustrate exactly how at least $100,277,302 can be divested from APD and we allocated to other services. You are citing flawed and superficial research and have shown your racism and your privilege. The research plan for how to defund the police and the impacts on our community have been so clearly presented before you and to ignore it or to be willfully ignorant is to have violence against underserved members of our community. Thank you. >> Sarah Bentley. >> Good evening. My name is Sarah. I'm a native austinite, [7:12:42 PM] resident of district 1 and work in public health. First, kudos to councilmember harper-madison for getting the amendment passed declaring racism a public health crisis in our city. Now it's time to walk the talk. I request the council immediately turn the proposals put forth by councilmembers Casar, pool and Flannigan into budget amendments. Specifically I support defunding APD by at least 50% and fully funding ems, Austin public health, low income housing and the equity office. [Speaking Spanish]. [7:13:49 PM] [Buzzer]. >> Larry Moore. >> Hello. Thank you for listening to me tonight. I am strongly against any cuts in aunt police department. I think that it is extremely important, especially with violent crime up, that no alternative recommendations are going to prevent crime. Theyre only going to be responsive after the crime is committed. If there are more it riots coming up, then I want the council to tell downtown business, downtown residents, south by southwest, acl and formula one that there lives are not important. All lives matter, including police officers who have not yet been able to be heard and present their case as it should be with proper justice. Do not expect those with [7:14:50 PM] concealed permits to shoot up dramatically because people will not feel safe and alternative housing will not protect them from violent crime. Thank you. >> Katie darckert. >> Hi, I'm calling from district 9 and this speaking process needs to be accessible and clearly communicated to your speakers. Instead you fail to let us know beforehand how long we will have to speak, leaving us unable to prepare and effectively communicate. This is oppressive and part of the problem. Real da indicating 50% of APD's budget is about believing in your community and what they are capable of given the proper resources. It is about making sure that Austin ems has enough. It's seeing that we have the ability to end homelessness with 38 million. It's acknowledging that you were wrong for previously approved budgets: [Rapid speech]. The community can support itself with better public education and public health. Council, impress us with your ability to follow through. If you truly believe racism is a public health crisis, [7:15:51 PM] you will be bold and defund APD by 50% and fire cronk. Your claims are meaningless without action. If you became a politician to be anything less than bold and courageous you are here for the wrong reasons. Love and support your community, defund APD, fire cronk. [Buzzer]. >> Brent Mitchen. >> Hey. This is Brent. I'm so sorry, I was speaking to you before and then my call got dropped. I'll just use just a few seconds here to say that I think that there's a much better way for us to use our police officers without actually cutting those positions and so I hope and encourage you all to think about that. Thank you. >> Eddie egura? >> My name is Roy. I'm a resident of district 5 [7:16:53 PM] and I'm a paramedic employed by the city of Austin. I'm not calling as an employee, but as a concerned citizen in support of councilmember alter's amendment to add needed resources to ems. I want to thank the other councilmembers for supporting this amendment. Ambulances are badly needed to a lot of the others of the city and I'm concerned that the strained ems system is not able to meet its response time and not able to provide the excellent service that the citizens of Austin come to expect and deserve. Ambulances are badly needed for years now and with the current covid-19 pandemic ems is struggling even more. Despite the excellent service ems provides, I think the daily mental and physical stress placed on the medics is taking a dangerous toll and think the leaf in the form of four ambulances will help alleviate the workload. [Rapid speech]. Including the homeless and immigrants. Ems is often called for mental health calls, substance and alcohol abuse and welfare checks for our homeless neighbors. We have one of the best systems in the world. Let's add more resources to it so we can help those in [7:17:53 PM] need. [Buzzer]. Thank you for your time. >> Tammy [indiscernible]. >> Hello. My name is animal I'm an Austin community member in district 7. I want to say to my council representative Leslie pool, I see you, appreciate you for stepping up for the last budget hearing for cuts and reapproval from APD. I support a combination of what you and councilmember Casar have proposed and believe it is a step in the right direction for the city of Austin. But again I want to stress that it is just a start. Abolition is the end, abolition is the answer. I also once again urge all of you to listen to communities of color united, grassroots leadership and ajc, as well as your constituents calling for a better support for our city. Not those calling in about homicides and crime waves, refusing to do any research about how APD actually spends their time and our tax dollars. If you want crime to go away [7:18:54 PM] we need to provide for our people, not kill and cage them. Cronk, fire chief Manley. Rest the power from those we have lost, justice for those and continue to fight. Thank you. >> Danielle Gutierrez. >> I'm a native austinite representing district 2. Absolutely in support of a budget that is for communities of color in Austin. You have the opportunity to be on the right side of history and the solution is so simple. As long as you involve humanity and equity in your decision making. The working group has taken a unique focus on the next budget and believes that Spencer's proposal was unaccessible. We heard pool, Flannigan and Casar in their amendments because they have listened to us. Remove internal affairs and forensics from APD. Reconstruct APD into separate departments and altogether 80.6 million in structural changes and proposed cuts from pool's office is almost enough to reach our demand of [7:19:55 PM] 100 million. APD as their own code of secrecy, so third-party organizations will help end institutional racism and hold police accountable for their crimes against the people of Austin. We demand a new method of policing. I can assure -- I'm sorry, I can envision the community without cops, councilmember, can you. Can you envision a community where Latinas feel at ease. [Buzzer]. Fund equity office and police -- I'm almost done. With what -- >> Thank you, speaker. Your time has expired. [Overlapping speakers]. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> George Garcia. >> Good evening. I am George Garcia, a district 7 homeowner. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I support the demands of communities of color, Austin justice coalition and grassroots leadership to reallocate 50% of APD's [7:20:56 PM] budget and invest the money in real solutions, the rise fund, equity office, Austin public health and low income housing. These solutions will begin to remedy long-standing inequities faced by communities of color. I'm also here because this comment public process is inaccessible for most individuals or the communities most affected. I ask the council to recognize it and take action to make it accessible. I support the proposals put forth by councilmembers pool, Flannigan and Casar. I thank them for their thoughtful amendment. I call attention to the proposal to set up a body independent of APD to investigate instances of alleged police misconduct and hope this includes provisions to bring an end to the impunity now granted to officers. They are all too aware that they are shielded from being held accountable for racism [indiscernible] [Buzzer]. I also hope -- >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. >> Austin graham. [7:22:01 PM] >> One Austin, safer together. Was Anthony Evans safer as he walked away from from APD with a mouthful of blood and refused a ride to the hospital from an officer. Were Justin and Brad safer in a hospital bed? Having grown up in Austin I believed it was one of the most Progressive cities in the country and I was proud. It turns out it's one of the most economically segregated cities in the entire country being rapidly gentrified off your watch. You washed the graffiti one side in a day and do nothing to the bridge to east. We have a city manager who is a disgraced civil servant from Minneapolis who allowed a culture of police violence and murder to perpetuate leading to the murder and execution of George Floyd. You knew that Derrick Sheldon was a ticking time bomb, Spencer. Read the Tatum report. The president of our police union is a lying pig who [7:23:01 PM] calls for police to strike because they can't use weapons of war on civilians. [Buzzer]. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. Next person. Thank you. >> Delma [indiscernible]. >> I'm with [indiscernible] And in support of the continuation and increase in funding for practical support for abortion care and for defunding the APD. When advocates came to council last year with with a creative solution to address systemic barriers to abortion care we would never have imagined that a year later we would be in the middle of a public health crisis of this magnitude that has supposed the cracks in every single one of our broken institutions. What we did know is that marginalized people will be the most impacted in the face of any disaster. And we have a vision to prepare for those times. Abortion is a safe and simple procedure but it's inaccessible for many and the extremist state leaders wasted no time in using the pandemic as an opportunity [7:24:02 PM] to block access to abortion care for hundreds of austinites. Racism and police violence are also public health issues. I know that this council believes it because they declared it via a resolution. While resolutions are symbolic, these times require action. And an action that Austin can take right now is defund APD by 50% and reallocate -- [buzzer] >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. >> Katherine Mcardle. >> My name is Katherine and I live in district 9. I'd like to focus my testimony on the misconception that APD's budget has grown in proportion to population growth or has any correlation to crime rates. In the last five-year's we've seen the police department raise by 18 percent while Austin's population has only increased by about six percent. [Rapid speech]. By looking at publicly available datasets on crime [7:25:02 PM] in Austin we see in the last five years the rate of violent crime has stayed the same. Contrary to what fear monkers have said. In 2015 the violent came rate was 3.6 per thousand people and in 2019 it was 3.7. So we've been funneling more and more money into APD over on the years without getting better results to public safety. And that's because more money to police doesn't actually help improve public safety. I urge council to incorporate into this year's budget the proposals laid out by pool, Casar and Flannigan so the city can make an investment in the outcomes we want and not meet the self-motivated demands of the police union. Thank you. >> Chelsea Luis. >> I'm Chelsea of district 9. I'm calling in in strong opposition [inaudible] To the budget proposal and in support of immediately defunding APD by a bare minimum of 50%ment we're talking about 11-million- dollar cut to APD budget with millions of that going back into APD to pay [7:26:03 PM] for record-keeping, training and oversight. If my employers had to hire teams of people to teach me how to do my job, make sure I'm not a white supremecist and make sure I didn't kill anybody on the clock they would wonder what I'm bringing to the table. If they can't murder the citizens they serve with their existing 400-million-dollar budget where is the threshold for failure? It's time to recognize the costs and move forward with a new solution. I implore you to immediately defund APD by 50% and invest instead in low income housing, social services, public health and mental health crisis response. I also want to address the lack of accessibility inherent to this forum. As long as the community feedback you're receiving is limited primarily to white homeowners, you will never have the insight required to act on the communities you represent. Finally I want to address my councilmember Kathie tovo. I want to remind you it's larger than just the Hyde park neighborhood association. >> Sheree [indiscernible]. [7:27:04 PM] >> I live in district 7. I challenge all councilmembers to support all of the proposals to amend the budget. We need fully funded alternatives that will reduce harm. It's great that y'all voted that racism is a public health crisis. I need y'all to understand that the police are a racist institution and you cannot reform racism. Getting to the 100-million-dollar mark or even the 200-million-dollar mark is not the finish line, it's the starting point. Continue the good work, Casar, pool and Flannigan. Thank you. >> Sweet Gwendolyn. >> Hi. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Hi. I am calling from district 3 to voice my support for councilmember Casar's amendments and every other proposal that involves reallocating police funding into community safety programs. I would also like to search and rescue approximately thank councilmembers Casar, harper-madison and Flannigan for their noteworthy leadership on these issues. [7:28:05 PM] With my remaining time if it is possible I would like to ask city manager cronk a question that I feel would better inform the conversation we are having if he would answer. Ideally now or at least publicly in the very near future. We are living in an unusual situation and we're absolutely no one has the ability to fire the chief of police. However, the city manager does have the ability to demote him back to his last position on the force. Outside of the lack of confidence in his ability to perform his job and calls for him to resign coming from both the city council and the majority of all callers due to his handling of the protests, he also knowingly promoted a vocal racist and open homophobe to the highest levels of APD. I would appreciate ant explanation as to what his reasoning is for keeping him on the job. Thank you. >> Lauralee swbrick. [7:29:07 PM] >> Hello, can you hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Hi. I'm engaged in this process. We're building a budget based on growth and assuming that people will stay here. My recommendation is that we spend less on the entire budget because when violence comes here, then people will move out. And there will be less revenues. What's best for Austin? Spend less. Violence is coming, especially as we continue on the trajectory we're on of having a lowered police presence. In this scenario, people will believe they can do evil and get away with it. The violence is coming. Spend less. What's bad for Austin? We all want justice? Justice isn't primarily accomplished by less dollars to the police department. The real solution is much more difficult than just cutting the police force budget. Decrease the entire city budget by 10% across the board and prepare for the [7:30:07 PM] loss of people living in the city of Austin. Because many people will move out of Austin once violence comes. And Austin becomes less safe place to live and work. [Buzzer]. >> Chelsea Crawford. >> >> Good evening. My name is Chelsea. I'm a resident of district 3 and the chief operating officer for save the food Austin, a non-profit that picks up fresh food everyday from local grocery stores and puts it directly in the hands of families and individuals who need it. We're calling in support of reallocating at least $100 million from the police budget for public health health and human services to support our communities of color. The city is lacking resources for those hungry and for fools that keep people from falling into homelessness. By diverting money from APD for things like weapons and vehicles mange many other things mentioned today, we can put the money that assist those with food insecurity. Austin has a staggering food [7:31:09 PM] insecurity rate at 17% as compared to the national average of 12%. With more resources less people go hungry. Unemployment is covid-19 is ex-as sass certify baiting food insert and we need to prioritizing these funds. Based on a team of volunteers who donate 7,000 pounds of food every week with the city's support we can do so much more. Thank you. >> Vincent Luke. >> >> Hi. My name is Benson Luke. I'm an anesthesiologist and resident of district 1. I'm calling to voice my concerns about the budget proposal. I believe we should reallocate funds from the police and reinvest it to build our community. As a health care community working in hospitals we treat problems and a lot of these are preventable by providing proper education and appropriate resources. The same concept can be applied here. Let's use the the money to fix the issues in our community now and also build a better system that benefits our community. [7:32:11 PM] Also, militarizing our police doesn't make our community safer. It turns them into soldiers. Their mentality changes. You can see everyday how that has turned out. We don't need soldiers in our streets, period. Thank you for your time. Fix to all the speakers in queue, if you have not pressed zero please do so now. Thank you. Jamie zapata. >> My name is Jamie and it's part of my job on a capital defense team, I review police investigations. Some of tonight's speakers really understand -- misunderstand crime and what police do. Police don't stop crime, they don't drop out of the sky like the avengers and stop a robbery or halt a statutory rape. They show up later, they make a report, maybe investigate, maybe not. Maybe they decide they don't like the victim and they let the perpetrator go. Last week I watched a [7:33:11 PM] Goodman die in the street because he showed up for a marginalized community. His killer got to go home and relax while the cops investigate. Why is that? Why did cops celebrate his death on Facebook? Why did Cassaday blame a victim for his murder? The department is rotten at its core. We need to defund APD by 50% and spend that money on programs proven to reduce involvement in crime. Thanks. >> Brittany flattley. >> Good evening, everyone, my name is Brittany. I'm here tonight speaking on behalf of measure as the chief communications officer and most importantly my friends and my community. First off, measure is grateful to councilmembers Casar and everyone who sponsored the work to empower a new vision for the St. Johns neighborhood. We were happy to be supporting organization of [7:34:12 PM] that community driven work and believe it's a testament to who Austin aims to be. While there's so much positive progress happening through resolutions such as that one and the many that councilmember harper-madison just got passed, the work needed to create a budget for the people that protects all people is incredibly important to measure right now. That said we cannot support the draft city budget as proposed. Through this budget Austin will finally have the opportunity to show and demonstrate its commitment to transformation and anti-racism. Our data analysis confirmed a few things. Number one, Austin's rate of police violence are disproportionately impacting the black and brown community and it's getting worse over time. Number two -- [buzzer] >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Julia Moen. [7:35:12 PM] >> Hi. My name is Julia and I live in district 7. The great job [indiscernible] Said we do not want our freedom gradually, but we want to be free now. That is what their constituents are demanding. I'm calling to ask you to divest from the APD by at least 50% and reinvest those funds into the real solutions that keep constituents safe. The safest communities have the most resources, not the most police. Also a soon to be district 4 constituent I would also like to express my support for councilmember Casar's item number 10 sun plan for the Home Depot. Thank you so much. 117 plan. >> Rachel manning. >> Good evening. My name is Rachel. I'm a social worker and a resident of district 1. I support the proposals from Casar, pool and Flannigan's offices this week, but they are only first steps. We need deep changes like those addressed in the letter from united communities of color this evening. Earlier this month a friend [7:36:13 PM] called me as he tried to figure out how to help someone in crisis on his front lawn. I called friends who worked in homeless services and social social securities and in mental health care, but even when there was no danger or urgency, we couldn't find a non-police intervention. The fact is that for the last 30 years we've funded the police instead of the programs that address racism, intergenerational poverty in our society. We need new systems, but we can't did it while relying on the old one. This is a moment that deserves nothing less than bold action as we begin to leave behind the oppressive tools of the past. City council, please listen to the wisdom from communities of color united, grassroots leadership and the Austin justice coalition. Defund the police by 50% and defund real solutions instead. Thank you. [Buzzer]. >> Jessica Johnson. [7:37:13 PM] >> Hi there. My name is Jessica, I'm a resident of district 9, an attorney with [indiscernible] And a black austinite. I'm very much in support of councilmember pool, Casar and Flannigan's proposals and ask that these proposals are drafted into budget amendments as soon as possible. I'm also in support of Austin justice coalition cuts of $100 million called for in spreadsheet shared with all councilmembers. There are two options, to be anti-racist or to be racist. To be anti-racist means to make yourself uncomfortable. It's taking concrete steps to listen to black voices and lead the charge in standing up against the lack of transparency and white supremacist practices of APD knowing you will invite attacks and vet triol from people afraid of progress and equity and doing it anyways. I am grateful to councilmember harper-madison, pool, Casar [7:38:13 PM] and Flannigan in this regard and hope that my councilmember tovo will follow suit. [Buzzer] >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Andrea banks. >> Good evening. My name is Andrea. I'm a native austinite, professional working group member representing district 2. Absolutely in support of a budget that is about and for communities of color, especially black and Latino people. The working group has taken a unique focus on the next budget and believes expenses that your -- Spencer that your proposal was subpar. We appreciate councilmembers pool, Flannigan and Casar in their amendment because they heard us. We removing internal affairs and forensics from APD, reconstructing APD into separate Democrat departments and removing them from seventh street and the proposed cuts from pool's office are almost enough to reach our demand of 100 million to even have deducted from the APD. [7:39:14 PM] They have their own call to secrecy and third-party organizations can be the transparent alternative to replace ai and even the records management system. I can't approximate imagine a community without cops, can you, council? Can you imagine an Austin where black men and women feel safe not just from APD but from your decisions? [Buzzer]. >> Chris Harris. >> Hi, I'm with Texas apple seed. Our analysis performed in conjunction with some other groups helped form the basis for ajc's proposal to cut 100 million from APD this year. Support as a preliminary steps, the amendments from Casar, pool and Flannigan and hope to continue the conversations with you all about how we push towards and past $100 million in cuts. [7:40:15 PM] The callers citing statistics about short-term [indiscernible] And specific types of crime are unbeknownst to them making the case to divest from APD and invest in the community. While ultimately non-predictive, if these were indicative of anything, it's not that police is harmful since it hasn't happened either here or in New York is that when people are struggling to make ends meet, put food on the table, a roof over their head and meet their needs, we happen to [indiscernible] Because of the economic recession we're under because of the global pandemic. Poverty, that is what's driving what we refer to as crime. [Buzzer]. The only solution is to punish that poverty is to put into programs and support efforts to help lift and keep people out of poverty. >> Thank you. Your time has expired. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Carolyn Washington. [7:41:16 PM] >> >> Hi. My name is Carolyn Washington and I am a member of the working group. And I am for defunding the Austin police department by at least $100 million. That money can be well -- reallocated to other programs such as our health care, schooling systems, housing programs, and assistance for austinites that are having hard times with this global covid-19. There's lots of other things that we can do with the money once it's reallocated that will be a positive impact for austinites and black austinites, and most importantly, I do support Flannigan, pool and Casar. Thank you. I yield the rest of my time. >> Thank you. >> Alfhie Johns. >> Hi. [7:42:19 PM] Mayor, at this point, I think -- thank you for taking this call, but you were accountable for the death of Derrick for-profit -- Garrett foster. You've allowed the lawless to run rampant through through city. I'm 100% for divesting of APD. At one point do we think that crime will decrease and shifting funds for housing and public health. How does that help decrease crime. In fact, we can look at new York, Seattle, Portland, where we can see an increase of crime. You are deliberately hurting the people of Austin, especially those of low income and high minority areas. We must stand up, denounce the crimes being imposed on to Austin by the riots, not the protests. We also add -- also add funds to educate our community of the law. Put money towards the community policing. I proposal an increase of funding to improve policing methods, community policing with all neighborhoods and funding to improve equipment. Also, something to look at is reforming our justice [7:43:21 PM] system, our judges make sentencing. It's their opinion. We should look at how they sentence. Austin was once looked at as one of the best departments in the nation. Instead we're pushing it and making it a city of crime and a place where no one wants to live. Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Cynthia Vasquez. [Overlapping speakers]. >> Cynthia Vasquez. >> I'm here. >> Go ahead. >> Hi, my name is Cynthia and I'm representing gave, go Austin Vietnam most Austin as a school sector orger. First I would like to take a second to let you know that we must reconsider the format of these meetings, especially regarding the budget. There is not much we can say in a minute. However, I would like to let y'all know that I do support item number 17 and when we discuss equity, we need to discuss more in-depth direct cash assistance. [7:44:21 PM] And instead of negotiating what we need to do to reopen schools, we need to provide stability and allow our families to stabilize themselves before asking schools to reopen. Please put in more money to the rise fund. Put money directly into the hands of our community. We need $58 million just to start the stabilization of our families. Please put more money into that equity fund and allow our families some comfortableability before we have to make decisions about health equity. As a mother impacted by this I am not sending my child to school until we're provided the stabilitylation that we need at home. [Buzzer] >> >> For all the speakers in queue, if you have not pressed zero, please do so at this time. Thank you. Lucas Zuniga. >> Mayor Adler and councilmembers, good evening. 24 6:00 the opportunity to speak tonight. We would like to express [7:45:22 PM] our strong support for the item 4 on the agenda tonight, to encourage fair lending in our city. This measure is essential to assure the protections that exist in our city against [indiscernible] Payday and lending practices continue to be effective and enforceable. As members of the mayor's task force and finance and banking, and industry working group, we urge you to support item 4 and consider the additional recommendations from our working group that we believe would make a real defense in closing the gap in our city, building economy and building opportunity for all austinites. Thank you so much. >> Dana Eaton. >> Hi. My name is Dana strong, and I am a resident, lifelong resident of the city of Austin, currently work work in district 10. I'm here to support the demands of communities of color united and [7:46:23 PM] grassroots leadership to reduce the Austin police department budget by 50 percent and reallocate that money towards real solutions, the rise fund equity office, Austin public health and low-income solutions. Solutions that begin to remedy longstanding inequalities faced by communities of color in Austin. To reiterate, we need to be supporting housing, public health and wellness, education, food security, transformative and restorative justice and child use the development. These are priorities of mine and I'm going to be watching to see how you guys decide to handle this. Thank you. >> Sarah [indiscernible] Calderon. >> Good evening. I'm a homeowner calling from district 2. I've been using my own money to fix the sidewalk in front of my house, using my own money to donate to medical funds for the victims of police violence, while the police can't even keep track of how many rounds they're shooting at us. I'd like to support the proposed cuts but I ask [7:47:24 PM] that you go further to defund A.P.D. By at least 50% and reallocate money to ems, fund the equity office, public health, and housing. The status quo of A.P.D. Seems to be [indiscernible] Consequences for committing violence against taxpayers that create their budget. We've tried training and tools and those things have not kept A.P.D. From killing the residents they purport to protect. We need change. Fire Mike Ramos's killer, Christopher Taylor, fire officers who committed acts of violence against protesters, officers [indiscernible], many other speakers have said these things better than I have. I appreciate how much time and energy y'all invest in hearing us speak. Austin is calling for change. I hope y'all see that -- [buzzer sounding] >> Paige Alexandria. >> Hi. My name is Paige [7:48:24 PM] Alexandria. I reside in council member Ellis's district, I'm a member of the advisory board for the Austin abortion fund that helped me pay for my abortion four years ago. I needed an abortion and I experienced extreme barriers to getting the care I needed, the same barriers Austin residents continue to face every day. As a result of state restrictions and the implications from covid, lack of child care from school closures. I shared my story last year when the city council made history after approving the first of its kind, I hope the council will continue this funding and increase the amount to 250,000 because abortion [indiscernible] Essential health care, and the growing support to access abortion because of covid is clear. I'm echoing the community to defund the A.P.D. And reallocate that funding towards practical support for abortion by canceling the cadet classes. Rapid rapid access to --[very rapid speech]. We must reallocate additional funding from the police department. [7:49:25 PM] State leaders continue to fail us, it's clear it's up to our local officials to protect the health and safety of the austinites. I yield the rest of my time. Thank you. >> If there are any other speakers in queue, please press zero now. Mayor, that was the last speaker. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. Colleagues, it is 10 minutes till 8:00. Do we want to take a ten-minute break? We'll come back here at 8:00. Let's do that promptly. We have one batch of speakers to go, and then we have the items then that we need to move through. Won't take us that long. But here it's 7:50 and we're going to be in recess for ten minutes until 8:00. [7:50:26 PM] [Recess] [8:01:13 PM] >> Mayor Adler: Already. It is 8:00. We have a quorum. So we're going to pick back up with speakers. You can go ahead and start. >> Okay. The first speaker is Alexandria messenger. >> Hi. My name is Alex messenger. I'm a resident of district 6, and I'm calling to support the proposals by council member ask you a, defunding A.P.D., real indicating that money to more useful places, to my opinion. I also wanted to take this time to ask -- also reallocating funds to fund a practical support for abortions. $250,000, really not that much money, especially in comparison with a.p.d.'s current budget. And, frankly, that could go to help a lot more [8:02:16 PM] people than I think the police have been doing for a very long time. Lots of people struggle to find transportation, to get to abortion appointments. You have to take two days off work to go to two completely unnecessary appointments -- [buzzer sounding] -- That's going to be the state law. And frankly, that money could be better used for public health rather than with A.P.D. Thank you. >> Victoria Tatum. >> Hi. My name is Victoria Tatum. I'm a resident of district 9, and I'm also calling in to support council member Casar's three amendments. I am also supporting the reduction of the A.P.D. Budget by a hundred million, specifically ajc's Austin justice coalition's plan to defund it by a hundred million. I think those proposals are all firmly aligned with what the community is calling for and what [8:03:16 PM] the values of our city really are. And specifically, I'd like to speak to the smart move of moving forensics out of A.P.D. I'm a biochemistry student, so scientific integrity and forensic science specifically, I think, would be better served by community citizen scientists, and I think that would end up being more aligned with the mission of forensic science in bringing, you know, real convictions in real crime cases, as opposed to leaving it under A.P.D. Where it might have more conflict of interest, potentially. So I'll yield the rest of my time -- [buzzer sounding] >> James Junius. >> Hello. Hello, city council, I'm a resident of district 9, and I am in support of Greg Guernsey's budget amendments. [8:04:16 PM] Yesterday we reached the horrific number of 150,000 Americans dead from covid. We're losing what is the equivalent of my former high school dying every day. The covid is taking on our community here in Austin, why are we still funding dogs. I can't help but think how much these resources do investing in civilian long-term solutions in our communities. In the middle of a nationwide pandemic, I hope that my city councilmember, Kathie tovo, consider moving a budget to help our essential ems workers, already underfunded as is, and already -- and also access -- more readily available access to, Bo. I continue to voice my support for the $100 million ajc -- thank you for your time. >> Hi. My name is Alexander [8:05:17 PM] Anderson, I'm a resident of district 5. Like to comment to the 2021 budget. Although the budget is a tiny step in the right direction to defund the Austin police department and alternative safety and health services, the reduction in the over $400 million budget of A.P.D. Is not even close to being enough. I strongly urge y'all to recalculate and reallocate more funding to public health programs and beyond. The $11 million decrease is only about a two and a half percent dress in a.p.d.'s budget. This is not enough by any stress of imagination, I urge you to defund A.P.D. By at least 50%, or $200 million, place more funding into public safety, public health, affordable housing, ending racism in Austin. If the Austin city council actually cares about the health, safety, and future of its residents, y'all will do the right thing and correct this proposed budget to actually defund the Austin police department. Thank you. [8:06:18 PM] >> Amanda wood. >> >> Mayor Adler: Hold on one moment, please. >> Harper-madison: Thank you. I apologies for interrupting. I just want to say it's suppertime here, I want to be listening but you don't want to watch me cook fajitas, so I'm going to turn off my camera but I am listening. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. Thank you, council member. Why don't you go ahead. >> My name is Amanda wood, I'm a resident of district 9 -- hello? >> Mayor Adler: Go ahead. I'm sorry. >> Thank you. I'm Amanda, resident of district 9. I'm calling because I support calls to divest from A.P.D. And reallocate funding to promote community health and safety. I'm grateful to councilmembers Casar, Flannigan, and pool, and I look forward to seeing my council member tovo and others commit to divesting to a police department who's doubled down on white supremacist [8:07:18 PM] practices, as shown in treatment of Mike Ramos, a black man in his car, and and a man admitted to murdering him with a bullet when his arms were raised. He fled for his life but was gunned down. If he had lived he would have been charged with evading a motor vehicle. Days ago, Garrett foster was killed for expressing his report of black lives. According the media the driver turned his car specially into the ground. [Buzzer sounding] I reject this double standard and I'm asking our city council -- >> Thank you, speaker. Next speaker, please. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Tracy Clark. >> Hi. Yes. This is Tracy Clark, district 10, and this is regarding council member Casar's item 17 proposal. 1 and 3 seem viable to [8:08:20 PM] me, if they can minimize job losses to Austin taxpayers by privatizing this and outsourcing it. Regarding item number 2, real indicating funding from the cadet class to a variety of other services, first of all, in February, KVUE did a report that we were already 180 officers short, and at that time 50% of austinites felt unsafe to walk the streets of Austin. Our unemployment rate has risen to 7.6% from 2.6% last year, as unemployment rates go up, so does crime. Our travel budget, I mean in Austin in 2018, $80.2 billion was directly allocated into Austin by travel. So we want visitors to feel safe enough to travel here, to cut the cadet class will leave Austin with a lower police presence and coverage and will demorales current officers. [Buzzer sounding] We don't want individuals to take laws into their own hands because the response time is low or [8:09:23 PM] nonexistent. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. Thanks for participating. >> Genevieve kat Orr. >> Hi. I live in city council district 5. I'm here today to support the demands of communities of color united and grassroots leadership to defund the Austin police department by 50%, and invest the money in real solutions, the rise fund, the equity office, Austin public health and low-income housing, to remedy longstanding inequities in Austin. I believe access to health care including abortion is a better way to ensure community wellness and safety than policing police enforcement. That's why I'm can go the city council to fund the $250,000 budget amendment for logistical support for abortion care. Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Barbara [indiscernible] >> Hello. My name is Barbara Sally. I'm from lost creek, in council member Ellis's [8:10:24 PM] district 8. I support specific targeted reform to the police department but cannot support your plan to pull 100 million out of a.p.d.'s budget and slash the number of officer positions. A.P.D. Is way understaffed as it is. I believe the majority of Austin police officers, including chief Manley, are doing a good job. I'd like to see A.P.D. Fully staffed and given the resources they need. I'm against how you cancelled the 2020 academy cadet class and for example how an earlier council pawned off a helicopter on A.P.D. It was so weak they couldn't fly two officers and gear, half tank of gas. They had a helicopter built in 1959 to carry more weight. Give A.P.D. The resources and officers they need, then expect close to perfection from them. But until then, it's not fair to hit them when they're down, understaffed, underpaid, and undersupplied. Thank you. >> Vicky Deweese. [8:11:24 PM] >> Hi. This is Vicky Deweese, from district 10, I'd just like to say that words matter. They inspire confidence or provoke fee. Regarding A.P.D., if you mean reallocate funds, don't say defund the police. If you mean A.P.D. Headquarters building is outdated and can't be refurbished in a cost effective manner, don't say let's blow it up. Don't leak statements to the press that minimizing the bomb squad that serves central Texas, council had experts who say we need more officers and better training, particularly mental health training. Listen to the experts, no matter how hard you try, neither council nor the public safety committee can become experts in a matter of weeks. Keep the city manager, please do not go to the strong mayor system, we need checks and balances, we need police substations to reduce response times for community policing to work. Please keep the zoom format in the future, it's more inclusive, not everybody can protest or attend live meetings. Thank you for setting times for the call. Since many people don't [8:12:25 PM] have time to stay in queue for a council call the entire day. Thank you very much. >> Mayor Adler: Council member Flannigan. >> Flannigan: I would just encourage the public, as usual, when you are reading stories in the media, be sure to check your sources and do your best to differentiate between headline and a quote because the things that were described were actually not said by myself or any of my colleagues. They were misrepresented quotes. They were headlines by the media. Thank you. >> Thompson bertron. >> Hi. My name is Thompson bertron and I live in district 5. 40,000 Austin residents completed this year's budget survey. 89% of the residents who voiced their opinion on the budget called to reduce A.P.D. Funding. 58% of them called for severe reduction to a.p.d.'s funding. Yet by the criteria established in the very same study, the proposed budget does that constitute a significant [8:13:26 PM] change to a.p.d.'s budge. Your community is calling you to action. Please represent us. I support the 100 million cut to A.P.D. Proposed by the Austin justice coalition. The money you proposed spending on A.P.D., against the community's wishes, could do so much good in this city. Instead of spending money to send armed officers to uproot homeless people's attempts to build themselves shelter, we could use that money to provide them with stability and resources they need to get back onto their feet. Instead of funding armed officers to confront people experiencing mental health crisis, we could hire and train people to guide others peacefully out of a difficult situation. [Buzzer sounding] Didded I yield the restdid -- I yield the rest of my time. >> [Indiscernible]. >> Hi. My name is [indiscernible]. I'm a resident of district 2 and I was born and raised here in Austin, Texas. [8:14:26 PM] I witness the disproportionate use of police force against people of color and failure of A.P.D. To protect black lives, the lives of friends, neighbors, and school mates for 27 years now. Thank you, council member Madison, for your resolution to crime racism and the public health crisis that it is. City manager cronk, you say your budget meets the crisis head on and you claim to adjust changes, but in reality your proposed budget is an insult to that claim. I urge you to reject any budget that does not defund the Austin police department by at least $100 million and redirect these funds to community solutions focused on economic and racial inequity. I urge you to support council member Casar's budget amendments as a start. We are at a pivotal point in history, you will be remembered for the actions you take or fail to take. If you are not ready to listen to your people, ready to enact drastic change in what you agreed is a crisis, what are you doing? [Buzzer sounding] >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Monica Guzman. [8:15:30 PM] >> Good evening. I'm Monica Guzman, policy director for gave. Yesterday council declared racism a public health crisis. Powerful step bus one lacking a plan in funding. Take the next step. We imagine public safety by asking the community, especially black and Latino communities, what public safety means to them. Almost one-third of the city manager's proposed 11.3 million reallocation of A.P.D. Stays within A.P.D. We urge council to equitably reallocate funds from A.P.D. And other sources to increase funding for those critical needs that will support better public safety and health equity. Invest in our parks, invest $250,000 for lighting in districts 1-5. Invest needing funding for Austin's eastern crescent parks for language appropriate programming, as well as neighborhood, stakeholder input, including [indiscernible] For the walnut creek land acquisition located in [indiscernible]. Invest at least 30 million nor programming to address demonstrative [indiscernible] In the most impacted communities [8:16:30 PM] during this pandemic and after. Invest at least 50 million to the -- [buzzer sounding] -- Defund through the equity office, making it easy for impacted residents to seek and retain financial support. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. Thank you. >> Dana Rickman. >> Hello. My name is Dana Rickman. I'm a licensed social worker and resident of distct 7. I want to thank council member Casar, Flannigan, and my own council member pool for their proposals and urnal you to make them into amendments. I'm glad to hear you're listening to your constituents and we need to go even further. Ajc has done some incredible left leg work with their suggestions to get to a hundred million in cuts and where to put it. We need to start there and keep going. I grassroots leadership and use that money. [Indiscernible] Connect families for resources for food, housing, [8:17:32 PM] physical and mental health care. It's insufficient, effectively nonexistent, particularly in the area of affordable housing. This is before the pandemic hit. It's a shame, council could end homelessness for between 29 and $38 million, you have chosen to increase a.p.d.'s budget by almost twice that, 68 million in the last five years. You have a chance to fix it. Homelessness and lack resources [indiscernible] There's only so much that positive work can do. We need money and need to defund A.P.D. [Buzzer sounding] >> Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Jennifer Hecker. >> Hi. I'm a native austinite, long had of time resident of d1, city of Austin employee and proud [indiscernible] Member. I've lived all over Austin and witnessed our city'd disparities and community investment firsthand. Injustice has deep roots in our city. It also shows us that crime has been declining for decades and that police rarely prevent violence, recover stolen property, or apprehend rapists. I stand with Austin [8:18:33 PM] justice coalition, communities of color united, and grassroots leadership, in demanding gnat city redirect funds from A.P.D. This budget cycle, and invest in real solutions, including the rise fund, equity office, Austin public health, and low-income housing. I support amendmes proposed by Casar, Flannigan, and pool. Funding should be redirected at every opportunity to services that support people and communities like mental health, first responders, ems, public libraries, and services that address food and security. Also, an impartial office to address concerns and complains. [Buzzer sounding] The city manager, not the city attorney. Thank you. Please help us create a beautiful world. >> Chelsea Bramer. >> Hi. I live in district 1 and I support the call to defund A.P.D. By at least [8:19:33 PM] 50%. The proposal given by cpu, ajc, and grassroots leadership offer real solutions to refund our community and take care of all the humans that live here, not just white privileged once. Fire Spencer cronk and Brian Manley and replace them with some that understand the black and brown community. Update the city's infrastructure to provide equitable use by all. A lack of sidewalks and curb cutouts anywhere in this city is completely unacceptable and creates barriers for youth and citizens with disabilities. Please, stop relying on property tax increases to fund projects around the city. For those of us actually living in our homes and not renting them as strs, it is practically impossible to maintain our homes with the constant increasing property taxes and ridiculous appraisal values, when commercial buildings downtown are underappraised. [Buzzer sounding] [8:20:35 PM] You are [indiscernible] Out of the city. Corporations must pay their fair share. >> Glennnis wolf. >> My name is Glennis wolf. I have lived in district 10 for the last 21 years. I support reform, but I oppose the cutting of cops as the answer. I think we must never confuse effort with results. Everyone starts off supporting changes before they first define what is the result we're seeking. Instead, the starting point should always be, what is the goal we want to achieve? Change is never the goal. Effective action is always the goal. I don't see any description of effective action taking place in these proposed changes. I see only effort to do something different without a laser focus on what is success. Cutting funding is not the way to make something better because cutting [8:21:35 PM] funding just may make something worse. Let's start with, what is not working? Where do we need improvement? How do we accomplish our end goal? It may require reducing funding or increasing funding. It may require spending money more effectively. [Buzzer sounding] But action must be tied to the goal we intend to achieve. We must define our goals first. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Scott Cobb. >> Hello. My name is Scott Cobb. I live in district 10, and I'm currently a lifeguard at Barton springs pool. And I'm urging you to use the upcoming budget to eliminate the differences between regulated employees and temporary employees. I've been a temporary employee continuously on the payroll since 2016 as are all lifeguards, work year-round. Lifeguards have worked as [8:22:35 PM] social employees during the entire covid-19 crisis. We've risked our health working outside [indiscernible] As managers we deserve paid holiday pay, accrued vacation time, access to purchase dental insurance through the city. We also need job protection, as civil servants, municipal civil service commission. We can currently be fired at will, fired for the next incident, no matter now minor. 26 lifeguards wrote a letter to mayor Adler to urge pools remain closed even though we knew we might be fired for speaking to the media. We thought it was more important to speak out to save lives, rather than stay quiet and save our job. [Buzzer sounding] >> Because of the covid crisis, I urge you to vote 30 hours a weak requirement for health insurance -- >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Robert foster. >> Hello. My name is Robert foster. [8:23:36 PM] I'm a district 9 resident. I was also there on Saturday providing traffic security at the event because A.P.D. Then was not there, and pretty hard [indiscernible] The last week [indiscernible]. I think this Flannigan proposal would be something that [indiscernible] Happening, Casar's proposal is also very reasonable, and I unfortunately got interviewed about the attack from a journalist who's doing that report on this, and apparently these attacks are just increasing. So as long as the protests continue, looks like right wingers will drive cars to the protests. As soon as we do reform, the sooner we can keep these attacks from happening again. So I fully support defunding, and [indiscernible] At this point. [Buzzer sounding] We can do better in [8:24:37 PM] Austin. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Michael [indiscernible] >> Good evening. I'm a resident of district 9. As the city council, as city manager, and as the mayor, what you've been asked for in these hearings is very clear. You've been asked to correct the injustice carried out by the police against Mike Ramos, seek charges against officers responsible for his death, and remove chief Manley. And now you're being asked to seek justice for the death of Garrett no foster and charges against his killer. You are asked to reallocate over a hundred million dollars of a.p.d.'s budget and you know where it needs to go. Much of the hard work has already been done by your community, by the Austin justice coalition, and the local supporters of the black lives matter movement. Precedent for change is being set by contemporaries in Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, in D.C., you have a lot of catching up to do. You can start by passing [8:25:39 PM] the A.P.D. Budget cuts put forth by councilmembers Casar, Flannigan, and pool, then you can continue by immediately adopting the A.P.D. Budget cuts proposed by the Austin justice coalition, millions more [indiscernible] Our city. [Buzzer sounding] Kathie tovo, I urge you to watch the Mike Ramos video, join us in the streets and defund the police. >> Jessica weaver. >> Hi. My name is [indiscernible] Weaver and I live in district 9, I'm a native austinite. I'm also here today to support the demands of the communities of color united and grassroots leadership teams to defund the Austin police department by at least 50%, and invest the money in real solutions, which stand for the rise fund, the equity office, Austin public health, and low-income housing. Solutions that all began to remedy wrong standing inequities faced by communities of color in Austin. This work is critical, particularly at this time when communities of color are bearing the burden of [8:26:41 PM] failing infrastructure and nonexistent safety nets. I'm also here because this public comment process is inaccessible to most members of the groups who are directly impacted by policing and budget inequities and do not have flexible work hours, consistent phone access, or face other barriers to participation. I ask that city council recognize the failures of this comment process and take immediate action to make it more accessible to these communities. Thank you. [Buzzer sounding] >> Brian register. >> Hi. This is Brian register. Defund the police. Councilmembers Casar, pool, and Flannigan have some solid police rebudgeting proposals with numbers, please integrate those and adopt them. Austin justice coalition has more substantial numbers, partial plan, replace attend to it. Let me mention one place where you can cut, property crime. Austin like other major [8:27:41 PM] cities has low arrest rate for vandals and thieves. This is not a complaint about A.P.D. The officer arrives, [indiscernible] That is it. This is not a police task, it's a bookkeeping task. The commercial burglary and metal theft unit, for instance, does not need to be within the police force, armed officers are not necessary to do work in property crime. [Very rapid speech] This would be more than sufficient. Council member Flannigan and ajc propose putting a million dollars into a trauma center, and I suggest dealing with property crime is more like dealing with trauma of installment and partially independent of police, that will save us a lot of money and probably some lives. [Buzzer sounding] -- They should do their jobs, we need justice for Garrett foster. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you very much. >> Elizabeth gerbrick. >> Hi. My name is Elizabeth [8:28:43 PM] gerbrick, I'm calling from district 9. I echo the demands of reducing A.P.D. Budget by at least 50%, diverting those funds to real solutions, really only takes way $150,000 from a.p.d.'s, [very rapid speech] In the past three months alone has seen murders Mike Ramos, shooting him in the head, fire chemical weapons into crowds and [indiscernible] For supporting black lives. Not to mention the previous violence the police department has perpetrated against black and brown austinites. I don't know how you sleep at night knowing you continue terror and public health during a pandemic. You don't deserve peace. You work for us, citizens of Austin, at the police department, not the police association, [indiscernible], we lost the majority of your vote to increase the budget on June 4th [indiscernible] What. We get to tell you when you're doing a bad job, when you're leer is lacking, right now it is. For those calling for further reductions, go fatty. For the rest of you, do your job and defund [8:29:43 PM] A.P.D. [Buzzer sounding] >> Mayor Adler: Thank you.. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> For all the speakers in queue, if you have not pressed zero, please do so now. Mark Ruben. >> Hi, my name is mark, I'm from district 2. As a resident of Austin for the last 10 years I care deeply for the citizens and community here and you should too. Police do not stop crime. They respond to it. And all too often make a criminal out of undeserving people who are simply desperate and poor. Police commit crimes too. Police cannot be held accountable for their wrongdoings if they are investigating themselves. Crime is a direct result of inequality. The real stop to crime is provide abilities in the community. The police only perpetuate the cycle of desperation and increase inequality. Police do not help this issue. They Donnell contribute to it by rounding up modern day [8:30:45 PM] slaves. This has always been the fix of police in our country since the constitution's inception. I urge you to acknowledge history and act on the right side of it by funding communities and accountability instead of supporting the forces which tear our community apart. Make the police obsolete. Thank you. [Buzzer]. >> Lee Christie. >> Hi, my name is Lee and I live in district 3 and like so many callers today I want to see a significant funding reallocation from the APD. The other community -- to other community services. I've noticed firsthand APD violence in 2015 when six officers pinned an unharmed black man to the ground in my neighborhood who was clearly having a mental health crisis. After an hour the police finally called ems to transport the plan. APD were clearly not suited to respond this this and so many other situations. Since the pandemic began we [8:31:48 PM] think businesses, schools, hospitals and families adapt to the necessities of the new world. It is not unreasonable to expect large rapid change to the Austin police department, now that the city has woken up to its systemic racism and inequality and police brutality. I want to live in a city that's a model to this country. A city that may have the appropriate resources to respond to my own brother who was shot and killed by police when he was having a mental health crisis two years ago. Thank you for your time. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Andy green. >> Hi. This is Andy green. I'm a resident of district 9, Kathie tovo's district and I would ask the city council make a motion to have any judgments or vs and civil suits brought against the city by police misconduct be deducted directly from overtime salary, leadership salary and any type of bonus from the city police budget. Civil judgments are intended to enforce corrective behavior from the losing [8:32:50 PM] side of a court case and right now when the court system finds the police at fault the postponement is borne by the tax power as opposed to those who cause the brief grievance due to their misconduct. Taking it from overtime would be a strong gent for that behavior. -- Strong incentive for that behavior. An outside audit could look at the expense of for example maintaining the APD aviation program to determine what percentage applied actually accomplish the tasks or mission that could not have been accomplished without helicopter -- [buzzer]. ... Still keep a lot of the critical -- >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. Thank you. >> Emma chevelier. >> Hi. Emma here, resident of district 9, Kathie tovo's district and I'm here to support and boost the [8:33:52 PM] demands articulated by the communities of color united, Austin justice coalition and grassroots leadership. Defund APD now by 50% and reinvest in solutions mapped out by the [indiscernible] Organization. I also support Casar's amendments as well. Today we've heard an overwhelming support as well as the past couple of months to defund APD and reinvest in our communities. Council, I hope you're listening to us. I'm here with a full heart speak to go a council of people who I know also have hearts, human to human. You have a wealth of proposed solutions from your communities and councilmembers. Use these to implement real progress starting now. The people of Austin are engaged and paying attention now more than ever. We've seen shown up to engage with you, council, and to be part of the solution-oriented dialogue. Listen to us, Kathie tovo, Adler and all the other district reps. We hired you, we elected awe and we pay your paychecks. [Buzzer]. Please listen to us and do the right thing, be on the [8:34:53 PM] right side of history. Black lives matter. Reimagine Austin. Defund APD now. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you. >> Alex windsland. >> Good evening. I'm a resident of district 9. I support the budget amendment proposed by councilmember pool to cut unfilled APD positions overtime and unnecessary budget items and to reinvest those funds in an independent forensics lab, victim services and other services. I'm also in favor of councilmember Casar's proposal and councilmember Flannigan's proposed reconstruction of APD. I would like to call out the Flannigan and pool's proposal [indiscernible] On the council message board. Reimagining public safety to reduce the number of armed officers responding to on falls why we are not needed is not only desired, but possible. As the proposed amendments and research groups show. In 2020 we face racism, [8:35:53 PM] covid-19 and other public health crisis. So let's take preventive measures. Fund neighborhood housing and community development, slowly fund ems at the amount of nine million requested by the union sufficient for more glances and ftes. [Indiscernible]. [Buzzer]. Situations that guns make worse. Thank you. >> Jasmine Patel. >> Jasmine Patel, please unmute. >> Good evening, my name is Jasmine. I live in councilmember tovo's district. And I support the communities of color united proposal, removing 50% of APD's budget and investing in the rise fund, equity office, Austin public health and low income housing, not just affordable housing, but low income housing. Tomorrow marks exactly one [8:36:54 PM] year since [indiscernible] Had a mental health crisis andyed up dead within Austin hour from APD's gunshots. Councilmember tovo, he too was your constituent and I would hope that you would want justice for him and all of you would want to prevent that from happening again. Apparently not because we've seen Enrique and Mike die at the hands of APD. The last thing I want to say is it's extremely hurtful to see Spencer cronk laugh at people [indiscernible] Who have a right to protest before he delivered his speech to unveil his incredibly disappointing budget. As we know he's from Minneapolis and he must have been complicit in the police violence there. And we hired him here? Someone said he was a disgraced civil servant from Minneapolis and I agree. [Buzzer]. ... I don't know how any of you can deal with him in good faith. Yikes. Thanks. >> Michael garmako. [8:37:58 PM] >> Thank you, yes. I'm a resident of district 8, a homeowner, and I wanted to encourage councilmember Ellis to support the demands of communities of color united, grassroots leadership, ajc, dsa and all of the groups that are coming forward with serious proposals thinking about how we can move money from the violence workers at APD into community-enhancing activities such as mental health, first response, more ems, more homeless services, supporting the amendments from Casar, pool and Flannigan. In particular that are reimagining elements of APD that we can move under civilian control. I think we should cut the budget by at least half. And I think we should look at dismissing the person who will not dismiss the person who will never criticize Ken [8:39:00 PM] Cassaday. Cassaday is embarrassing our city -- [buzzer] -- With his words and it's time to see them all gone. Matured thank you. >> When I pay my monthly city of Austin bill I am asked to pay for assistance for parks and libraries and school energy loss. As a tax paying citizen of the city I am being asked to donate on top of my taxes because these are not supported. The proposals to move internal affairs and forensics out of APD and delaying cadet classes would have $40 million to put towards those services as well as mental health, victim services and so on. It's time to invest upstream and community based programs that will prevent violent crime as well as serve our unhoused community. We support razing the APD [8:40:04 PM] headquarters to be a space that will address historical and economic inequities in the black community rather than having a landmark of violence against that community. If Spencer cronk can't figure out how to defund APD, it's time to defund cronk. Coalition atx! >> Kirk Rasmussen. >> My name is Kirk. I am a partner at the Austin offices of Jackson walker and I represent populous financial group which owns and operates the ace cash express stores. Item 4 on the agenda would restrict innovation and force a one-size-fits-all loan on all consumers without regard to the consumer circumstances or needs. The amendment will harm the consumers amendmenting to protect by installing a four structure by requiring a leverage payment mechanism or car title. My client offers a full my amortized installment loan spread out over four [8:41:05 PM] installments, there by reducing the size of each payment and reduces the flexibility to bayou penalty. Case does not require a leverage payment mechanism or receive a personal check or ach authorization to debit the borrower's account by default. No collateral or other form of security is required. This eliminates of risk of vehicle repossession mentioned and eliminates nsf fees or overdrafts. Ace estimates that consumers have saved over five million dollars as a result of its unsecured installments. We encourage you to have a task force instead of passing the ordinance. Thank you. >> Nikia Winfield. Please unmute. >> Good evening. My name is Nikia Winfield, I'm from district 7. I'm calling today in support of defunding the police, [8:42:07 PM] supporting Greg Casar's amendment and seeking balance in the budget around policing and trauma. I would like to propose that you move 50% of APD's funds to pay for the real resolution that ccu has recommended as well as trauma recovery centers to combat the extensive mental trauma that APD is causing to residents of Austin, Texas. Just this year APD have shot Michael Ramos to death, shot a peaceful protester in the face, shot a boy, tear gassed protesters repeatedly and shot into crowds of people seeking aid, all things that will have trauma and brutal lies people. And now there's the additional trauma of knowing that Austin police officers here are trying to make Austin a beacon for white supremists to come through and attempt a vehicular manslaughter or barring that just shoot us to death. [Rapid speech]. Find some real solutions the community will start to heal. Please start with Ken Cassaday's salary. Thank you. [Buzzer]. [8:43:07 PM] >> Jacob palmer. >> Howdy. I'm speaking as a resident voter in district 8 and a board member for the Austin ems association. I am not speaking today as a clinical specialist for Austin ems. I'd like to thank councilmember alter and the councilmembers who have co-sponsored the ems amendment which funds some of our staffing and ambulance requests. I continue a plea to add funds converting at least two demand units to 24 hours as well. I'd also like to see councilmembers involved placing these units and facilities conducive if property [indiscernible] And housing, ensuring the health care heroes aren't put in the back of a crowded fire station or clap rated parking garage. Thank you for standing up for the health and safety of austinites. Ems will answer the call, tip of the spear, helping as many people as humanly possible. >> Carly Miller. [8:44:12 PM] >> Good evening. My name is Carly. I'm a resident of district 3. I want to voice my support on the proposal by councilmember pool, Casar and Flannigan and ask that they immediate meadely be drafted -- immediately be drafted as amendments. It is extremely important and a matter of best practice. I ask that you consider an rise fund crime lab that's free of blatant bias and steeped in transparency. If you reference the latest report, you can clearly see this concept is not new and that an independent crime lab would ensure appropriate scientific expertise and oversight and a better chain of command that is separate from investigate sieve departments in APD. Most importantly, it would ensure we don't repeat errors of the past and create a better outcome of justice. Thank you. >> Kelly [indiscernible]. [8:45:13 PM] >> My name is Kelly. I'm from district 5. Communities of color are not communities with more police. They are communities with greater access to resources. For this reason I stand in solidarity with Austin black and brown community members and asking that our city council hit APD's recommended $100 million from APD. These funds can be reinvested in resources for Austin community members such as the real solutions detailed by communities of color united and grassroots leadership. APD has shown through the murder of Mike Ramos, the poor handling of the murder of Garrett foster and the violent response to black lives matter protests that they are ill equipped to meet the needs of the Austin community. Please, die vest from racist violence against our Austin community and invest in the things that actually create safe, healthy and connected communities. Thank you. >> Laney Gonzalez. [8:46:17 PM] >> Hi. My name is Laney and I live in district 9. I am in support of councilmember Casar's amendments and support Austin justice coalition, ccu and grassroots leadership. We need to defund the police department by at least 50%. It's been made clear that APD does not protect and serve our city. They injury protesters, put over 2,000 rape kits on blog and released the person who murdered Garrett foster this past Saturday. They continually abuse the budget. Please restructure the budget and bring justice. Thank you. I yield the rest of my time. >> Jessica rollson. >> Hello city council. My name is Jessica. I have made Texas my home for eight years and I live in district 9. I support the significant reduction of the APD budget and would like to see these funds redirected to access root causes and real solutions. Recent tragedies are the tip [8:47:17 PM] of the iceberg of a long history of injustice and a lack of safety net in Austin. We need to invest in healing, light, vitality of our community, specifically low income housing, transportation, health care and education. I'd like to see an Austin where everyone has access to non-punitive forms of support and connection to the resources they need. Where instead of eliminating and imprisoning people who don't conform, we work towards thriving communities through accountability and supportive conflict resolution. What does policy based on mute Alty, love and support look like. Instead of investing in surveillance, policy patrolling and punishment, let's invest in children and schools and in keeping families together. [Buzzer]. Buzz be brave. Make progress. -- Just be brave. Make progress, thanks. >> Mayor Adler: Thank you so much. >> Ebony trice. [8:48:28 PM] Ebony trice. Please unmute. >> Cara besin. >> Hi, my name is Cara and I'm calling to ask for the complete defunding of the Austin police department. I see the budget as a moral document and unfortunately as the budget stands now, it is revealing the city's values of white supremacy. I think if Austin wants to be a beacon of progressivism as it likes to advertise itself to be, I think it needs to take a hard look at its budgets and see what it's truly invested in. I think if we want a safe and thriving community we need to invest in housing, we need to invest in how. I find it laughable at best and offensive most likely that our budget at the end of the pandemic or entering a pandemic is investing in [8:49:29 PM] the police rather than the things that keep us safe. Ebony trice. >> Hi, can you hear me? Can you guys hear me? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Hi. This is ebb by. I'm a community leader and a working group member representing colony park, district 1, and all people in Austin undisturbed and ignored. I'm [indiscernible] And for the people, especially black people, and homeless people. The homeless group as Haney a unique focus on the next budget and Spencer, your proposal was useless. We appreciate councilmembers pool, Flannigan and Casar in their amendment. Remove internal affairs and forensics from APD, reinstruct APD into separate departments and removing them from seventh street. [8:50:31 PM] All together 80.6 million in structural changes and proposed cuts [overlapping speakers] Are almost enough to reach out and demand 100 million to even half deducted from APD. Homelessness is not a priority in this budget, but we want to discuss our ideas with you. Can you imagine an Austin where homeless people find a place to stay? Not with this budget or the fiscal action plan in item 18. Fund the equity office and the office of police oversight ors [buzzer]. Help black businesses that are -- >> Thank you. Your time has expired. >> Sarah axe. >> Hi. My name is Sarah. And I'm a mother and long time resident of district 1 and formerly the food access coordinator in public health. ... The community wide call to reduce APD's budget by [8:51:32 PM] 50%. The city's budget should reflect our values as a community. Yesterday you decided racism -- you declared racism a public health issue, yet this budget offers an insignificant reduction to APD's budget, despite flagrant racism and no accountability. The notion which has been pushed on this council that a city incentivized grocery store will fix our city's food access challenges is uninformed and irresponsible. I'm asking you to fund the regional food system planning process and equity toolkit and screening tool [rapid speech]. Passed in may of this year by the food policy board. The council's support would create a framework for local food sovereignty in Austin. Thank you. >> Hannah Alexander. >> Councilmembers, my name is Hannah, staff attorney for [indiscernible] And I live in district 9. I'm testifying against item [8:52:37 PM] 17. [Garbled audio]. The city must invest in a real solution outlined by so many other callers. Please listen to our community's demand. Significantly decrease the current funding levels for APD and redirect those resources to community services that will actually keep our community safe. At the very least keep the promise you made last month when you unanimously voted to direct the city manager to cut Austin police department APD's budget by at least $100 million. We prefer and urge you to reject any budget that does not go further to cut fully 50%. Black lives matter. Thank you. >> If there are speakers in queue who have not expressed zero, please do so now. Thank you. Savannah Shanks. >> I'm here to ask you to defund the police by 50%. The amendments from Casar and support Flannigan's proposal to redestruct [8:53:37 PM] police operations. I would also like to propose that when cutting funds from APD as I'm sure you will do also take a look at complaints against individual officers and launch further investigations into complaints that are racist, violent or sexual in nature. I also suggest investigating any officer who fires their gun. These investigations should be done by a group independent of APD. I imagine there will be positions eliminated after these investigations. Do not fill them. I am also asking that police chief Manley be demoted or fired and if not [indiscernible] Of Spencer cronk's severance badge. I am ashamed of the way our police have waived and the remarks of Ken Cassaday. Help me be proud of our city again. I am excited to see how this budget will elevate Austin and I hope that y'all are able to get the self care you need after these long days. Thank you for your time. I concede my time. >> Cole Wilson. [8:54:39 PM] Cole Wilson, please unmute. >> Good afternoon council and mayor. Thank you very much for your time this evening. Thank you very much for your time during this unprecedented crisis. I'm calling to join the chorus of voices asking for reallotment of funds from APD to community health and community service oriented city services. I like many others support councilmember Casar's budget amendment and would like to say again, I appreciate your public service, your time and your commitment to the city. I apologize for not mentioning at the beginning of my testimony that I am a proud member of district 7 under councilmember pool. Thank you, councilmember pool, and thank you for your office's support and communication through this process as I am testifying for the first time in front of city council. I hope that that -- that my civic engagement in this moment speaks volumes of my commitment to change and I [8:55:40 PM] hope that you all will hear my voice and the voices of this chorus I'm joining. Thank you again for your time and I appreciate your service. [Buzzer]. >> Jessica Lehman. >> Jessica Lehman, please unmute. >> Hi. I'm Jessica, associate state director of outreach and advocacy for aarp Texas. I'm here today to support agenda item 4, which updates the credit access business ordinance. Aarp cares about this issue because it is estimated that one in five payday lender borrowers are age 50 or older and that figure does not account for the countless older Texans who have helped their children and grandchildren break free from the high cost loans. We're back today because of an attorney general's ruling for the unreasonable limits in your ordinance. [8:56:42 PM] Aarp supports the ordinance because it closes the loophole while preserving Austin residents to credit under terms that gives them a reasonable chance to succeed in their load. Aarp thanks city council for their continued attention to this important issue. Thank you so much. >> Mia harogochi. >> I'm a resident of district 9. [Rapid speech]. And last year I was in a car accident. The police showed up and stayed about 45 minutes, but [rapid speech]. Which was no more than five minutes. Because both cars were in the shoulder they didn't need to direct traffic. On average Austin police spend nearly an hour expanding to traffic calls every month. There is no need for this done by APD. $4.4 million could be invested in the civilian traffic management division and similar reallocations are also possible for virtually everywhere in the [8:57:42 PM] department. [Rapid speech]. I call on the council to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to its community by rejecting institutions in violence against black and brown bodies and investing in solutions that send us towards a peaceful solution. I yield my time. >> Trevor vosver. Trevor, please unmute. >> Caroline Pendelton. >> Hi. I'm Caroline and I'm calling today as a resident of district 3 in opposition to the current budget proposal. I ask y'all to reject any budget that falls sort of defunding APD by at least 50% and instead reallocates the funds to low income housing, community health, libraries and services for [8:58:44 PM] [indiscernible] And victims of domestic violence. I also ask for any programs [rapid speech] Are not subject to the oversight of the police department. Earlier today APD's official Twitter account urged protesters to stay safe by getting out of the roadway. They did this after a man drove into a crowd of protesters and murdered Garrett foster. They have a flagrant attempt for whose who want to hold them accountable. Please take the first steps towards defunding APD, fire Brian Manley, abolish the police union. >> Claire sadolski. >> Hi. My name is Claire. I'm a resident of district 10. I'm calling to defund APD by at least $100 million and reallocate those funds to community and public health services. It makes no sense to me to [8:59:44 PM] have a militarized police force with a budgets of a small country fully funded to use weapons banned by the Geneva convention on peaceful protesters. Justice for Garrett foster, Mike Ramos, Brad Ayala, all the nameless people antagonized by police and all the protesters injured by tear gas and rubber bullets during a pandemic. Do we have a full count of out protesters injured by police during the protests? Community safety and violence prevention has never been successfully accomplished by police. I witnessed APD's inability to help a survivor of sexual assault firsthand. I've worked in domestic violence advocacy for eight years. I'm calling for myself and not on behalf of any organization. I helped a woman late at night on the side of the road. [Buzzer]. I stopped my car and helped her call 911. >> Thank you, speaker. Your time has expired. [9:00:50 PM] Haven Trahan. >> [Multiple voices] [Unmuted back ground conversation]. Haven Trahan. >> Oh. Hello. >> Yes, go ahead. >> I am haven from district 5. And on Saturday I watched my friend die. And quite frankly, it is disgusting that after he put himself in front of a gunman that drove through the crowd to hear Ken Cassaday have the guts to stand up and stay that he deserves it and the police are supposed to stop violent crime!!?? Are you kidding me!!?? [9:01:50 PM] And you won't give any money to the homeless. They're out there every night with us. I know one homeless guy who is worth every single officer! Every one on the force! The internal affairs people they don't do anything! It is unbelievable that you guys will not even consider defunding an organization that is consistently proving itself to be inadequate and harmful, not just harmful, murder Russ to the people of Austin. Despicable. Ann kitchen, I am one of your residents. Find out how to make homelessness end. Please get in touch with me. I emailed you and we will get this done. This is just ridiculous, guys. Ridiculous. >> Thank you, speaker. Your time has expired. >> Kadesha Aleem. >> Hi. I'm a resident of district 7, I'm calling for the [9:02:51 PM] defunding of APD by 50% and eventually dismantling it. Also I want to make a comment on a caller's fear-mongering statement earlier that violence is coming. But sadly violence is already here with the Austin police department who are causing harm to black an brown communities. Therefore I'm in support of pool, Flannigan and Casar's proposal for the removal of forensics from APD and for it to be run by independent scientists and for the removal of internal investigations from APD because APD should not be investigating itself. We need to rethink how we help black and brown communities instead of entrapping them in the cycle of poverty currently being perpetuated by APD. We need to understand that crime is related to poverty and a lack of resources. Austin -- I mean, aristotle said poverty is the parent of crime. Therefore it's only logical for us to fund social service programs and not militarization of our [9:03:52 PM] community. [Buzzer]. ... Currently from APD and provide reparations for families that were displaced due to gentrification. Thank you. >> For all the speakers in queue, if you haven't pressed zero, please do so now. Thank you. Tim Arndt. >> Good evening mayor and council, my name is Ken. I live in the Hancock neighborhood. In the past community has asked the police to provide services that are better provided by new city departments outside of APD or ngos. As a start I ask you to reallocate funds for forensics and internal affair investigations away from the police department budget. I trust you will do what is necessary to move funds away from the proposed APD budget to achieve outcomes we want. Next, we must do what is necessary to change the [9:04:54 PM] culture of APD that toll rates racism. Thank you. I yield back my time. >> Cassidy Nordstrom. >> Hello. So Finland recently eliminated homelessness and in doing so they ended up saving money. From what I've heard it would take about, what, $25 million to end homelessness in Austin altogether? We can do that with one 17th, less than a sunth of the current APD budget. The police budget in this city is 40% of the general fund. That's a lot of money that could be used to save lives in other ways. I know that it seems very heroic to go out there with a gun saying I'm a soldier for the people, I'm going to protect people from violent crime, but the vast majority of the time when a violent [9:05:55 PM] crime takes place, the police don't show up in time to stop it. They document what happens, or the same thing when somebody shoplifts, when somebody -- when somebody calls and voices a complaint. We don't need armed guards showing up for that. There are really -- there are much better solutions to most problems that we have. And honestly, there are people dying. [Buzzer]. ... Like starving in the streets. People don't have homes, people don't have food, don't have health care. These are all things that we can use our general fund for. >> Thank you, speaker, your time has expired. Trevor vossburg. >> Hello. I'm Trevor. I'm a district 7 resident. City council has declared racism is a public health crisis and has said they have no confidence in current APD leadership to implement policies to address racism. Why does the current APD [9:06:57 PM] leadership still in place? Why is the council not treating this with urgency. Why do you retain a manager not following the budget. I am speaking in support of the measures by pool, Flannigan and Casar, as well as the Austin justice coalition to move functions from APD to civilian departments that can better address racism. Move dispatch, traffic management, mental health crisis response, forensics, investigations, all to their own civilian departments apart from APD. I've been a victim of property crime this last year and they didn't investigate -- didn't need to investigate it with an armed officer. It was someone homeless and needed to feed themselves. It woulding better to spend the funds on homelessness than expanding APD. >> If there are any speakers -- [buzzer]. >> If there are any speakers in the queue, please press zero now, thank you. [9:08:02 PM] Mayor, that concludes all the speakers. >> Mayor Adler: Colleagues, those are all the speakers we have. We have some items we need to move through on the agenda. Items 1 and 14 relate to the south congress pid. 14 we conducted a public hearing and then we consider an ordinance setting the assessment rate. Is there a motion to close the public hearing and approve the resolution setting the assessment rate? Items number 14 -- 1 and 14? Moved by councilmember alter. Is there a second? Councilmember Ellis. Any discussion? Councilmember Flannigan. >> Flannigan: I'll be shown voting no on item 1. As in the previous year I'm [9:09:02 PM] not comfortable with their proposed budget equally splitting four ways. It doesn't seem like a full analysis. So I'll be shown no on 1, but I'll still support the assessment. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. With that said, those in favor of 1 and 14 please raise your hands. Those opposed? Those -- everyone voting in favor? Note the no vote from councilmember Flannigan. Councilmember tovo, you're voting aye on both? I can't hear you? Are you voting aye on both of them? >> Tovo: I am, thank you, mayor. >> Mayor Adler: Okay, thank you. And councilmember harper-madison votes yes on both as well. So was that all of us? >> Yes, mayor. >> Mayor Adler: It was, okay then. 10-1 and 11-1. Similarly is there a motion to close the public hearing on item number 15, the east [9:10:04 PM] sixth street pid? And then to approve the assessment -- items 15 and 2? Is there a motion? Councilmember Casar makes the motion. Is there a second? Councilmember Ellis seconds. Any discussion? Councilmember Casar. Those in favor please rise your hand. Those opposed? It's unanimous on the dais, those two items. Let's go then to the next item. This is the downtown pid. Again, it's to -- this is items 3 and 16. 16, to close the public hearing. We're going to consider the ordinance setting the assessment rate. Also approving the assessment roll. And the resolution for the assessment. Is there a motion? Councilmember harper-madison makes the motion. Is there a second? Councilmember Ellis seconds. Any discussion? [9:11:04 PM] Those in favor raise your hand? Those opposed? I think we're all in favor. I can't see councilmember tovo. Are you good with this? >> Tovo: Yes, mayor, I am. I'm not sure why my video keeps going off, but yes, I am in favor. Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. You wanted to be sure. All right. That gets us through those. The next one is item number 4, which is the credit services issue. Is there a motion to approve item number 4? The mayor pro tem makes the motion. Seconded by councilmember harper-madison. Any discussion? Those in favor please raise your hand? Those opposed? That one is unanimous on the dais as well. It passes. That gets us then to the street impact fees. This item is postponed to -- the public hearing is open. We're going to leave the public hearing open on [9:12:06 PM] number -- it jumped back up. Street impact fee 8-27 is postponed as well as the associated number 5. Both postponed to 8-27. Next item is number 9. This was a -- yes, councilmember alter? >> Alter: I just want to make sure we're doing that right on the street impact fees because I think technically we had to have the hearing today. So I think we -- I think one of the items was just left open [indiscernible] And left open and the other one was postponed. >> Mayor Adler: I think that was number 18 that we had to leave open. >> Alter: Sorry if I'm -- >> Mayor Adler: I'm seeing both eight and 18 now. >> Alter: I thought there were two you items for the street impact fee and one was just a hearing and one was the item. >> Mayor Adler: Okay. So it's both of them. So item number 5 we start the public hearing -- item number 5 is postponed to 8-27. Item number 8 is the public hearing that is going to be left open. [9:13:06 PM] And it's going to be continued to 8-27. >> Alter: Thank you. >> Mayor Adler: Okay? Then on item number 9, there's no action needed. That was just a public hearing that we held. On the arr fees, is there a motion to close the public hearing? Councilmember tovo makes the motion. Seconded by councilmember alter. Are there any objections to this item arr closing the public hearing? Hearing -- yes? >> Casar: I don't have an objection, but just raising that I may have some questions for staff on this. No objection to closing it, but I want to flag it. >> Mayor Adler: Sounds good. >> That's item 12 so the record is clear. >> Mayor Adler: Item number 12 and the public hearing is closed without objection. Item number 13 is the Austin water rates. Is there any objection to closing the public hearing? [9:14:07 PM] Hearing none on item 13, the public hearing is closed. Item number 17 is the budget hearing. There is no action to be taken on that. We just heard testimony. Item number 18, this is also the city action plan for hud. We're going to leave the public hearing open and -- and pick this up again for consideration on August 27th. That leaves us then with item 72, Austin energy rates. Is there any objection to closing the public hearing? Hearing none, the public hearing is closed on item number 72. I think those are all the things that we have before us on the agenda. Is that right? Okay. I think we have another work session coming up next week on the budget. [9:15:07 PM] There will be no speakers. That will be taken for that. And I think the next time that the public has a chance to speak on the budget is on August 12th. When we pick that up at the public hearing. Any further matters before we adjourn the meeting tonight? Hearing none, this meeting is adjourned at 9:15 P.M. Y'all take care.