City Council Regular Meeting Transcript – 01/26/2023 Title: ATXN-1 (24hr) Channel: 1 - ATXN-1 Recorded On: 1/26/2023 6:00:00 AM Original Air Date: 1/26/2023 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. [10:00:14 AM] Good morning. Everybody will now call to order the city council of the city of Austin, Texas. It is 10 o'clock a M. We are meeting in the city council chambers at city hall. Members we have all members of the council that are present in person. And I will now read, changes in corrections. Into the record. Well as soon as I find them. Yeah. Here we go. Item number one. We will prove the minutes of the Austin city council. Please delete the phrase budget adoption of August 17th 2022. So it reads approved the minutes of the Austin city council regular meeting of November November 15th 2022 special called of November 21 2022 work session of November 29 2022. Special cold of November 30 2020 to delete the words regular meeting of December 1 [10:01:16 AM] 2022 so that reads November 30 2020 to work session of December 6 2022 regular meeting of December 8 2022 special called of December 21 2022. And regular meeting inauguration of January 6 2023. Items 4, 10, 21 and 22. Should read January 18 2023 recommended by the water and wastewater commission on a seven oh vote with two absences and two vacancies. Items 67 and eight January eight should read January 18 2023, recommended by the water and wastewater commission on a 60 vote with commissioner pen recusing, two absences and two vacancies. Items 45 46 withdrawn will [10:02:17 AM] return at a future date with updates. Item number 60 should read postponed to February. 9 2023. Item number 61 should read withdrawn. Item number 62. You should read postponed to February 9th 2023 2023 at their 22.2 o'clock pm time certain request to postpone related zoning cases. Items number 71 number 72 to February 9 2023 will be made. Next items that have been pulled off the consent agenda. Item number. 53 has been pulled by the mayor. Item number. 55 has been pulled by council member Fuentes. Members are there any other items to be pulled from the consent agenda? Hearing none. No other items will be pulled. Are there any members of the council that want to record an abstention or [10:03:18 AM] recusal from the consent agenda? Hearing none. I'm sorry. Yes. Remember Harvard harper-madison. I'd like to stain from item number 41. Thank you. Are there any other abstentions? Members are there any member of the council that wishes to be shown as voting? No on a consent agenda item. Yes council member Kelly like to be shown as voting. No. One item 54. Alright council membership, Kelly will be shown as abstaining on item number 41 voting no on item number 54. Are there any other items that any member of the council wants to be shown as abstaining, recusing themselves or voting nodes? Members were getting ready to take up the speakers of and before we do [10:04:18 AM] that. I wanted to in a in a way, that's kind of transparent. Talk about what I'm hoping to do, but I didn't want to do it at the very first meeting as we move forward, but I'm working with the city clerk's office so we can review in and how we hear from public speakers, both remotely and in person. And by the way, I'm open to any suggestions for many of the council members or the public. On ways to improve the flow of the council meetings while ensuring that we have a robust public testimony. For today's meeting. We're going to hear from the speakers as it's been recently done. The first group of speakers will have the opportunity to testify. Now they will speak on consent and non consent agenda items. The speakers who have signed up for zoning agenda items will be called after two o'clock we're at two o'clock, each speaker will have two minutes the public communication speakers at 12 o'clock will continue to have [10:05:18 AM] the three minutes under our rules. I'm hopeful that we can create a public input process so that speakers are able to speak at the time of the item. The city clerk and I are going to work with our vendor who helps with the remote calls to see how we can accommodate that on the remote callers and those testifying remotely. But I intend to try to start this practice with the in person speakers at the very next meeting. What I mean by that is if they're speaking on a specific item, they will be allowed to speak at the time we call up the item. Of course, I want to be clear if it's more convenient for the speaker to address the council at the beginning of the meeting like we're getting ready to do instead of at the time specific when it's called, they'll be able to do that. And I'll tell him I want I would love to experiment with other ways to assure good public input. And like I said a minute ago, I'm very open to ideas. Council member Kelly while I appreciate [10:06:18 AM] that very much and think that we can improve our public comment, perhaps you could call the nose and abstentions after we receive public comments, so that in case there's input from the community where often I will vote no or abstain from items I can consider that beforehand. Good suggestion. Thank you. We'll do that and I'll do it today. We'll start that today. So let's go to the speakers. If the clerk will please begin with the remote speakers. Then we will go to those that are here in person. Yes mayor. The first remote speaker is Jason rondeli speaking on item 55. Good morning. My name is Jason Kendall and the former business leader in Austin, who's been involved with child care for the past decade. Thanks for having me the resolution listed on item 55 of your agenda is designed to provide stoning and city see accommodations provide removed barriers to new childcare facilities here in Austin. It's sponsored by council members [10:07:20 AM] Fuentes, Alison alter Velasquez harper-madison, as well as mayor Watson. I'm here to encourage the council to overwhelmingly passed this resolution. The childcare industry was struggling prior to the pandemic, and then one in a child care sites permanently closed during the pandemic. At the same time, the Austin metro area population has grown considerably, and today the child care industry is unable to support the community. Let me give you an example. At mainstream schools and nonprofit in district five that serves about 100 at risk children ages 0 to 5. The wait list. That means spring is more than 600. 600 today, and that's it one child care provider. And across Austin. There are tens of thousands of families who are unable to find care for their children and are therefore unable to return to the workforce. This is especially difficult for low income families. So this resolution resolution won't make the [10:08:20 AM] problem go away, but it's a step in the right direction to build a childcare sector that properly supports our communities. I want to thank you for supporting this passage. And I wanna thank you for your time. Thank you, sir. Mayor that is all the remote speakers we currently have. So I'm gonna switch over to the in person list. Thank you very much. First in person speaker is Nicole Netherton for item 54. Good morning. My name is Nicole Netherton on the executive director of Travis audubon. I'm here to applaud you for the inclusion of the resolution in agenda number 54 to ask you to please pass this and other sensible measures to protect biodiversity in our communities. Travis audubon is Austin's oldest conservation organization founded in 1952. We are concerned about birds, not just [10:09:21 AM] for the joy that they bring, but because they are bellwether species and ecosystems and birds are telling us that we are in a crisis since 1970 alone community science data show we have lost an alarming 25% of North American birds, which is three billion birds in the past 50 years. Birds are just one example of declines matched or exceeded by other species, especially insects. Humans have a bad habit of seeing ourselves as above or in charge of nature instead of being a part of it. It turns out that the system is a circle, not a pyramid, and our survival depends on everything else. We are currently playing a dangerous game of jenga, and we don't know when the removal of one more peaceful cause a collapse. Austin includes some of the most diverse, most fascinating ecosystems in the world. And I invite each of you to join me on a nature walk this spring to experience this firsthand. Humans are putting pressures on the environment in ways that are hard to [10:10:22 AM] understand, much less predict, because ecology is complex. Everything in the system is affected by our choices. So I applaud you for considering the ways that the 23 targets from the kunming Montreal global biodiversity framework might be implemented in Austin's environmental policy plans. Protecting 30% of land and water , restoring degraded habitat and waterways, increasing access to nature space. All of these goals will make Austin a better place for its residents, human and otherwise. So let's do these things. I ask you to please think of yourself as a part of the natural system when you make decisions for us. Please consider our environment and its complexity just as you might consider the people you served. I hope you passed this resolution in 1954. Thank you. Thank you, Mr Nelson. Next speaker on item 54 is Craig Naser after Mr Naser is Desi tusk, Alyssa. [10:11:28 AM] Hello Austin city council and welcome to 2023. My name is Craig Naser and the conservation chair of the lone star chapter of the Sierra club. This quote is from the writings of Dr John Waldman, a professor of biology at queens college. Every generation takes the environment and encounters during childhood as the norm against which it measures environmental decline in later life. With each ensuing generation, environmental degradation generally increases but each generation takes that degradation condition as the new norm. Scientists call this phenomenon shifting baselines or generational amnesia and as part of a larger and more nebulous reality, the insidious ebbing of the ecological and social relevancy of declining and disappearing species. Keeping this quote in mind. What have we lost in Austin over the past 13 years. Although the black capped [10:12:29 AM] vireo has been de listed as an endangered species, they are now much harder to find around Austin than they used to be. The last scissor tailed flycatcher north Austin disappeared with the development of the Q two stadium at the Mccullough site. One can no longer hear chuck will's widows calling in walnut creek metropolitan park on a summer's night. There are a whole lot less bug splats on my car windshield as I head west into the hill country on a spring evening. Little green hair and so virtually disappeared from our urban streams. There are fewer great horned owls hooting on cool winter nights since suburban neighborhoods the list goes on. Here's a quote from the writer Wendell berry. We have lived our lives. By the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world. We have been wrong. We must change our lives so that it will be possible to [10:13:30 AM] live by the contrary assumption that what is good for the world will be good for us. Thank you, Mr Naser. Does he just Alyssa 1954, followed by Roy Whaley. Good morning, everyone. My name is Daisy cycles. I'm a junior at St Edwards university studying political science, and I'm also an intern with environment Texas , a nonprofit advocacy group that aims to make our world a greener and healthier place for all. I'm here today to speak in support of artem 54 the importance of biodiversity. Thank you, council member Paul for bringing this resolution for it. It's very much needed. We share our planet with countless incredible creatures from the grizzly on the ridge line to the B and the meadow from the wolf in the forest, the butterfly in our backyard, but the sad reality is that America's wildlife is on the decline in 2021 23 species were removed from the endangered species act , not because they were saved, [10:14:32 AM] but because they're gone. In addition to losing individual species, the number of animals is dropping bird populations have declined by three billion in North America. Since 1970. That's more than one in four birds having disappeared from our skylines. It's the result of habitat loss. Pesticide use insect declines, climate change and more. Our planet has clearly shown us that something is wrong . Science has been showing us what causes this wrong too, and its us but we already knew that it's time just like the Earth to show each other in our planet that we care and not just say that we do. Austin is already taking critical steps to protect biodiversity, including protecting endangered golden cheeked warblers and the Barton springs salamander, but we need to do much more. Not everyone in positions of influence are taking accountable actions towards protecting the environment. Our country didn't get into this agreement, and that's why you brought it forward. So we need to be a part of the conversations that we are [10:15:33 AM] allowed to have a say in and that's me speaking with you, and you speaking with the rest of the council members and getting this past forward and taking out the initiative. Thank you. Thank you. Roy Whaley for item 54, then Jessica Cohen. Howdy y'all. My name is Roy Whaley and I am the chair of the often regional group of the Sierra club. Dr newer is the state chair for the state conservation community. And I want to thank ah! Council member pool not only for bringing this forward but growing and learning more and taking often to this. I also want to thank all of the co sponsors. Council member mentos and, council member quandary and council member Alison alter, and I know we're probably going to start getting a little bit of confusion with all the altars. [10:16:34 AM] You know? Perhaps Natasha, you can change your name to harper-madison. Alter. And liven things up. Anyway thank you very much for this. I don't need to say much, because so much has already been said. This is one of the most important things we can do is to protect ourselves and to protect the next generations and the next generations, and the environment. It is and I will say this later the environment touches everything. It touches every decision we make, you know hundreds of years ago. Before the audubon society was established. We had our coal miners, they always kept a canary. In the coal mine with them, and it's not because they were audubon society members are wanting to be. They knew that when that canary started having trouble they were in trouble. So [10:17:35 AM] we have to consider this. And see how important this is again . Thank you. Council member pool and thank you for all of you because I'm sure you're all going to vote to support this. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr Whaley. Jessica Coen fried and 54, then the Anthony Correo. Good morning, everyone. It's so great to see you all my name is Jessica Cohen. I am the vice president of the Austin environmental Democrats. Like to start by briefly welcoming the new members. It was a pleasure getting to meet all of you during your campaigns, but now the real work begins. I'll keep it brief since Roy pretty much covered everything. I'm speaking in favor of item 54. I want to thank council member pool and the co sponsors of this resolution, and I'd like to voice my appreciation. A council [10:18:35 AM] in general for prioritizing the environment so early in the new year. This is huge deal to me, campaign season may be over, but our commitment to the environment isn't look forward to continuing our work with y'all and, keeping Austin, a leader and being a steward amongst cities of our environment. Thanks. Thank you, Mr Cohen. Anthony Correo fried and 55, then Ryan nil. Hey council. First time up here. I've never never done this before. I don't have a prepared statement. All I have is my story to tell. My wife and I started down the path of trying to create a childcare center. With my oldest daughter. She was seven and then the pandemic it and fortunately we couldn't do that. We had twins and then started looking for childcare, and we hit some of the same obstacles that everybody else is [10:19:36 AM] facing, right? A lot of unavailability. Huge wait lists on affordability. It's a big problem here in Austin, so we decided to become part of the solution and we tried to open our own center. So, quite a property. Got all of the renovations done. Got everything set up. And then found out that, it's pretty difficult to open a childcare center here in Austin. We didn't realize I'm in contact with the number of daycare owners, and they all say the same thing. We don't we don't open in Austin, we open around rock or Kyle buddha. We just don't open in Austin's. It's pretty difficult to do business there. And I'm so thankful that councilwoman Fuentes has this bill on on on the resolution on the docket because it's much much needed. Just to give you guys a, idea of costs. Conditional use permit, which is required if you're in a residential space. Costs in the tens of thousands of dollars just for the permitting fees to the city. On top of that, you [10:20:36 AM] got to find an engineer to do a full site plan. Austin's growing tons of builders, tons of builders are, they're doing great things here, but you can't find an engineer to save your life. So that's difficult if you're a small business owner. And then on top of all that you have to find somebody to help you with the permits. If you're not a land developer yourself if you're not used to that whole process. You're talking about tens of thousands of dollars to an engineer. You're talking about tens of thousands of dollars to somebody else to help you with the permitting process and tens of thousands of dollars to the city. So my mom. She graduated as a as a kindergarten teacher and I try and put myself in a mindset of her if she wants. If she retired, she wanted to open a small school. There's no way she could do it. So thank you, counsel for the resolution on the on the docket and, appreciate you guys. Thank you, sir. Ryan nil for item 55, then Brad Landy. Hello my name [10:21:36 AM] is Ryan nil. I recently became a dad. I put my son in daycare for the first time two weeks ago. And he's in daycare right now and, like the former speaker said it's difficult to find childcare. We only found three places that we thought were suitable. The closest one which we could walk to was a 30 minute walk instead, we drive 15 minutes, so I think increasing the areas where they're allowed. Would be excellent and add to the affordability of the childcare services. I want to echo what the previous speaker said about the C U P. I looked into see ups when I was when I support cooperative housing. I won't get too much into the difficulties because I think he did an amazing job explaining it. But I can suggest recommendation, which is bring back the minor use permit, which was in code next, which is an administrative approval rather than a political approval, and so it ends up being less time consuming. Also I think that we [10:22:37 AM] should just completely remove the parking requirements in the childcare centers. I know they've been reduced. But if we can remove the parking requirements, you can have more kids on the site unless cars increasing the affordability but also as a city we really pride ourselves on our outdoor spaces , our parks, our greenbelts, and I think, having more outdoor spaces instead of parking lots for childcare centers will breed healthy lifestyles and encourage the people who are going to use these great amenities in Austin. So once again, I want to thank councilor Fuentes and the rest of the council for bringing this item and supporting affordable childcare. Thank you. Thank you. For item 82 Brad Landy. Good morning, everybody. My name is Bradley named chief. Jolly go. Fire department. I am here in support of agenda item 82. Honestly, I'm just here to [10:23:38 AM] answer any questions and may come up from that item. And if there aren't any, I'll set back then. Quick simple and easy. Thanks very much. Appreciate your service. Thank you. Mayor that concludes all the in person , but we do have another individual that called in remote call that speaker now Zenobia Joseph, speaking on item 41 43 45 46 48. Thank you, mayor council. I'm Zenobia Joseph. My comments specifically related to item 41 is to request that you tabled this item. That's the $600,000 for the I've along and Austin stabilization fund. Well I certainly do support that you have funding for elbow and sammaritano. I just want to call it here. Attention that African Americans are six times more likely to experience homelessness, and they're white. Counterparts and that's actually according to the July 1st 2022 echo study. I just want you to [10:24:38 AM] recognize that it would be helpful if you would find a fiscal agent. That's an African American community. And my recommendation is holy cross catholic church. They're neutral and they have a just faith. Social justice ministry. I want you to recognize as well that elbow and summary tunnels profile on Kut back in June 1st 2020 specified that they served 93% of their clients are low income, but they are Latino and Latino and Spanish speaking immigrant communities and Austin they've been established for about 30 years. But, holy cross catholic church has been established and has a Texas historical marker since 1936 so they're trusted person people in the community. I just want you to recognize as well that African Americans and north east Austin wait 60 minutes for the bus that's 10 times longer than their white counterparts. And it's about 2 degrees hours to get the album and summary Connell. That's funding, however , does not go directly to the [10:25:38 AM] tenant. It has to go through the fiscal agent, for volunteer legal services are Texas real grand legal aid? And they only served trl a only started into the news that earn about $24,000 . So you have a huge gap, which means that you will never eliminate 3000 people that are homeless because they will continue to cycle. I'm asking that you actually conductor award session with the lawyers, justice of the peace county and also with the city and I was just I did send you a memo. I hope the first got it to you and just want you to recognize that Travis county commissioners court allocated $6.3 million with this, for the lawyers, on November 1st 2022 so there should not be a gap in services issue table. Decide. Thank you. Sb items of your welcome. Thank you have any questions? I'll gladly answer the medicine. Thank you very much. There that [10:26:38 AM] concludes all the speakers that we have thank you, percent to council member Kelly's good suggestion. I'll ask. Is there anybody that after public testimony wishes to be? Shown recusing themselves abstaining or is a no vote. Or wants to change the vote that they've already recorded. Okay, very good. Member of the chair intends to take up the consent agenda by unanimous consent, obviously minus the at the items that were have been pulled. The unanimous consent will include and recognized the abstention by council member Kelly and the no vote by council member Kelly. The abstention is on item number 41. The no vote is on item number 54. Prior to taking action. I will recognize council members for very brief remarks regarding any of the consent items. Mayor pro tem. Thank you, mayor. You're keeping your track [10:27:39 AM] record of getting us through things very smoothly, so I appreciate that the items that I wanted to briefly highlight item number two is about utility service regulations, and it talks about installation of socket mounted transfer switches, which is, I think it's something that's going to help us with our climate and resilience. Efforts as we make sure that we have the appropriate resources being managed through our utilities. I don't number four talks about water quality protection land in southwest Travis county in northeast hays counties, and so I'm excited to see that this is being updated since the last plan was done about 12 years ago or 10 years ago, so I'm really excited to see, the benefits that we continue to achieve through our water quality protection lands and how we can make sure that we're a true leader. On protecting endangered species, as some of the folks have spoken to earlier today and making sure that we're leading by example on climate change and resilience, efforts and then item number 52 is a 2023 [10:28:40 AM] transportation alternatives. Set aside program. There is some good, detailed information that we had asked in the Q and a. So for folks who have that window open. There's a very good detailed map towards the very end of that document that, we asked a couple of questions of the transportation department to ensure there was not going to be duplicative efforts with the work that text dot is doing a long 3 60 for shared use paths. And so you can see that delineated map and the backup for questions and answers. To make sure that we are only filling in some of the gaps that would not happen otherwise, and I think this is a really important safety measure, not only for bike and pedestrian safety because we know there's a lot of cyclists in town that utilized 3 60. We want to make sure that we have good, safe and accessible opportunities for people to stay physically fit and achieve their goals as cyclists in town, so if you are curious about seeing that map, there's some really good, detailed information from transportation. But I'm supported, too. I'm excited to support this consent agenda [10:29:40 AM] today. Thank you, mayor. Pro tem , council member Kelly. Thank you for the recognition. Mayor. Item number 82 is for the creation of vsd number 13 and for the jolly villa fire department. Many of you know that I spent a lot of my formative years volunteering at the jolly Ville fire department , and it is unique to district 16 that we jolly villas, not in district six, but the little islands of the E T. J a and the mud are surrounded by the city of Austin. And so he S D 13 is proposed for the purpose of providing emergency medical services. In response to any emergency situation in accordance with the authority granted to emergency services districts under chapter 775 of the Texas health and safety code . E S. D 13 will not provide any services already provided by E S . D one and the proposed creation of usd. 13 will not impact service delivery or operations for Austin, Travis county M S or Boston fire department. As such being as [10:30:40 AM] unique as it is district six with those little pockets that aren't serviced by the city of Austin. Everything that happens in those areas really affect the people that live there. Anything that happens in the city of Austin, and so I'm pleased to have been talking with some of those residents about how encouraged they are by the creation of this overlay. With our approval today and the consent agenda. It will then go to the Williamson county commissioners court. For further approval. And on item number 41. It authorizes $600,000 from the HPD capital budget, which is funded from various fees and from the city's taxpayer funded general fund for vulnerable households, regardless of their covid 19 status, as you may have heard earlier, I did vote no on that item, and I want you to know that we are now out of the pandemic, and people are back to work. And my no vote is a question of whether or not it's the proper use of taxpayer funds or if it could be done differently, so thank you very much for the recognition. Mayor council member harper-madison. [10:31:40 AM] Thank you. I appreciate it. Good morning. Everybody wanted to make some comments on agenda items number 42 44, 45 6 and 47 . My brief comments include specifically the city's continued partnership with a I S D on after school tutoring and shared open space and, critical funding for health and human services. Services providers like safe in this variety center and not my seventh grader. Sorry, partnerships like these, that the city has established over time are examples of how much greater the impact are limited tax dollars and resources can be when we're collaborating with others. In addition to those items that park space conversation with asd facilities is at least another one or two bond packages, and the funds will be providing to safe and the sobriety center will provide hope and support to those who may have otherwise been forgotten or worse, frankly , placed under the bright spotlight of an ignorant and overly oppressive justice system [10:32:41 AM] . So I really appreciate all the diversion work and lastly, thank you, ai, Steve. Thank you save and thank you to all the social workers and people who work in as public employees that are looking out for us, rather than just looking away. I'm super proud to support these items and look forward to future collaborations like these. Thank you. Mayor, council member. Government pool. Thanks mayor. I wanted to lay out quickly. The importance of item 54 recognize and thank my co sponsors. Council members Alison alter Vanessa Fuentes and so Kadri for their early support and thank members of the public for coming to offer their support for this item today. Thank you all so much. This passage December. My staff and I attended the 15th conference of parties to the united nations convention on biological diversity. In Montreal. The conference was tasked with creating a plan focused on preserving [10:33:42 AM] biodiversity and ecological health. The plan is called the kunming, Montreal global biodiversity framework, and the framework has 23 environmental environmental targets. Biodiversity is essential for the health and well being of our planet. It plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems and provides a range of benefits to humans, including clean air and water and healthy natural food. While international conferences like 15 are important. Cities have the power to implement policies that can make a real difference, and it is important for us to take action and to be leaders in this area, and with that said, I hope you will all support this resolution are a vote on this item today advances our work and I am so proud. To live in a city and to be part of a council that [10:34:43 AM] leads in these really important ways. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, council member. Alright. I'm sorry. Qadri. Thank you, mayor. And good morning, everyone. I just want to quickly touch base on item. 54 55. I want to thank council member pool and her and her staff. For working on this resolution for approaching our staff, you know, meant a lot to me and I just want to applaud, relation to item. 55 council member Fuentes and her staff on leading on this very important issue and being a voice for families, all families in Austin and my only ask is that I could, you know, hopefully be able to co sponsor item 55. But yeah, that's it. Thank you. Councilor and item 55 was pulled. So, we'll bring that up after we do this. It's gonna be for clarity purposes. I want to announce that as indicated member of the chair intends to [10:35:44 AM] take up the consent agenda by unanimous consent. Is there any objection to the adoption of the consent agenda? Hearing none. The consent agenda is adopted, with council member Kelly being shown as abstaining on item number 41 council member Kelly being shown as voting no on item number, 54. Members. It is just after 10 30 10 36. So what? I would suggest that we do is that we recess, the meeting of the Austin city council so that we can call to order the meeting of the Austin housing finance corporation. Is there any objection to recess in the Austin city council meeting so that we can convene as the Austin housing finance corporation? Hearing none the motion is adopted in the city council is in recess. I will now call to order the Austin housing finance corporation board of directors. It is January 26 2023 10:36 A.M. We're meeting in the [10:36:45 AM] city council chambers at Austin city hall. Now, asked staff to give us a walk us through the hfc agenda. Good morning, Mr president, vice president board of directors. My name is James may I'm the housing and community development officer for the housing and planning department to walk you through your Austin housing finance corporation board agenda real quick. We got four items before you. The first is approval of the minutes from the December 1st and December 8th board of directors meeting. The second item is a resolution to induce or approval inducement resolution for an application for private activity bonds for stage at Franklin park. That is located at 4500 knuckles crossing road. The last two items are to set public hearings for issuance of private activity bonds to two separate properties . One is the libertad Austin at Gardner, which is an hfc partnership. And the second is would weigh square, which is located at 1700 Terry road. I'd be happy to answer any questions now for all of these concepts. [10:37:47 AM] Cancer, wrote Allison alter. Thank you have a question for our city attorney do we need to appoint the hfc board before we can vote? Since we have a new members. I thought you'd done it already. But perhaps shaking. Correct me, Kathleen general councilor general counsel's office under the bylaws for the housing plan inspiration boards , ultimately appointed when his members are elected into office because I know there are other boards that we have to the change. I just want to make sure we were in order. And the same goes for the officers as well. Great. Thank you. Council members are I mean, directors? Are there any questions of our staff? Members of these these items have been offered as part of a consent agenda. Is there any item that director would like to remove from the consent of Egypt? Hearing none of the offered as a consent agenda. [10:38:48 AM] I'll ask the clerk is there anyone signed up to speak on these items? No mayor, we have no speakers. In that case members of again the president intends to take up this. These items back on the consent agenda by unanimous consent. Is there is there anyone wishing to be recused? Or show an abstention or a no vote on the consent agenda. That being the case is there any objection to the adoption of the motion, which is which is to adopt the consent agenda for a hfc hearing? None the motion is adopted and all of the agenda items are adopted. Thank you very much. Remembers is there any objection to adjourning the meeting of the Austin housing finance corporation? Hearing none. The motion is adopted and we are adjourned. That will take us back to I'll call back to order the Austin city council to take up the regular meeting members. [10:39:48 AM] There were two items pulled from the consent agenda. Item number 53. And item number 55. Item number. 53 was. Dealt with our boards and commissions, and there will be two parts to this. The first will be the council committees and intergovernmental entities appointments. The second will be nominations and waivers and those are instances where someone has been nominated by a member, and the appointment of that will then be made by a vote of the full council. You have laid back up on the second part of this and in your late back up and I'll read it. In the record. It is an appointment by , nomination by council member Ryan alter to the parks and recreation board of Stephanie Bazan. With that being said, let me explain what I think we want to do on this. Everybody first [10:40:49 AM] of all, let me say thank you and yes, council member alter. Let's see. Can I say quick? Is this the moment now or is it later when we get to your position? All right, thank you. And I'm assuming I know what what which which one you want to talk about? So correct me if I end up messing that up, but here, here's one of the way I think we are right now. Is that through the message board and the work session that we had earlier this week. We are in a position where every intergovernmental entity appointment and every council committee appointment. We know what those would be with two exceptions. The council committee suggestions. In the housing and planning committee. We have council member harper- madison, his chair and council member, Ryan alter his vice chair, and then we have four people. Four people that. [10:41:52 AM] Have you indicated that willingness of desire to be on there, but we can only have three or becomes a committee of the whole. So unless there's somebody willing to roll off and say that now what we will do is we'll draw lots and the way we will do that is the four members Ellis qadri, vela and Velasquez will draw numbers one through four and number four will be the person that is an alternate or off. Back committee. With regard to intergovernmental entity appointment suggestions. The only one that needs to be dealt with is the Austin city of Austin. Hey I S D and joint county and Travis county joint committee again, we can only appoint three council members. There are four people that have indicated an interest so we will do the same drawing of lots on that one. Let me ask. Is there anyone that wishes to be pulled off either one of those two committees or entities? But that [10:42:53 AM] being said yes. For my me the joint committee who are the members for that one again? The joint committee. I got it right here. The joint committee is. Council member, Alison alter council member Fuentes, council member of Alaska's and council member, Ryan alter. Thank you, mayor. I think recognizing especially customer of Alaska's is, direct service within the school system, and no council member Ryan alter has, many policy proposals related to our school district and in city Boston. Coordination I would be willing to roll off that board. Thank you, council member. So now that and I will be members. I'm gonna read all these into the record here in a second, but just for your notes or records, that means that the joint committee of the city of Austin, a. I S D and Travis county council member, Alison alter council member Velasquez and [10:43:53 AM] council member Ryan alter. That leaves the housing and planning committee and just for the record. The four that we will have draw lots will be mayor pro tem Ellis council member qadri, councilman reveillon and council member of Velazquez. Do we have the we have the bucket. Yes Alison alter mayor. I was wondering where we landed with the regional affordability. I rolled off of that so that the affordability committee would now have or I volunteered to step off of that. So that we I wouldn't need to draw lots and so that would now be council member, Fuentes council member Velasquez, council member harper- madison council member, Ryan alter as an alternate. Madam clerk. Mayor. Yes I'm [10:44:55 AM] sorry. Mayor protein. Well she's handing those out. I just want to comment that I think it's a good problem to have that too many people want to serve on housing and planning. This is not a problem. This is not a flaw. I think this is a feature and the good news is we can count up to four. So we know how to get there. It's promising. So, mayor pro Tim, if you draw first council member qadri council member vela and then pounds from liberal glass kits. All right. Three. Council member qadri. One. Council member of Ella. All right. So council member so. The housing and planning committee will be council member harper-madison as [10:45:55 AM] chair. Council member Ryan alter as vice chair. Mayor pro Tim Ellis, council member qadri and council member Velasquez. Councilman ravello can conserve as an alternate, whether it's not an alternate such committee so that we can all attend the meetings that we want to thank you. Council members. For purposes of emotion and for the record, and this is this will be provided in writing to the city clerk's office. Let me read through the committees that will be voting on and the membership. Audit and finance council member Alison alter chair council member pool vice chair council member Fuentes, council member Kelly council member Ryan alter. Austin energy utility oversight committee council member pool chair council member Kelly vice chair committee and the committee of the whole Austin water oversight committee council member pool chair [10:46:56 AM] council member Alison alter vice chair council member Ryan alter and council member Jose Velasquez. Public health can interrupt you. I didn't want to serve as vice chair. Okay? I thought that we had agreed that that that would happen that way . You know, I had said that I didn't want to serve as vice chair. The work session. Alright members. There was some discussion about having a council member Ryan altar serve as vice chair, it would make him advised chair of two committees . I'm gonna just look around and see if anybody objects to that happening, and we'll just plug that in because all I gotta do is just change. One letter from our eight or. Very good. I'm sorry. I misunderstood your council member. So the Austin water oversight committee will be council member pool as chair council member Ryan alter is vice chair council member Alison alter and council member Velasquez. Public health [10:47:57 AM] committee council member Fuentes as chair council member of Alaska's as vice chair. Council member, Kelly council member qadri and marah Watson. Housing and planning committee council member harper-madison as chair. Council member, Ryan alter is vice chair. Mayor pro Tim Ellis. Council member qadri council member, Velasquez. The mobility committee mayor pro Tim Ellis, chair council member qadri vice chair council member Fuentes, council member harper-madison council member Kelly public safety commission committee. Mayor Watson, chair council member Kelly, vice chair council member of L. A vice chair. Council member harper-madison and council member qadri. The intergovernmental entities appointments. Austin firefighters relief and retirement fund, marah Watson. Bc cpt coordinating committee council member pool. Community [10:49:00 AM] action network board of directors council member Fuentes. Capital area council of governments, general assembly assembly council member Kelly, council member of Ella and mayor Watson. On the executive committee council member, Kelly clean air coalition mayor pro Tim Ellis is vice chair and members recall that through council member Kelly's service on the executive committee. She ends up serving on two advisory committees in that role. Campo. Mayor pro Tim Ellis. Council member Alison alter council member harper-madison council member Fuentes and mayor Watson is an alternate. I'm counting on you all being on time and always there at metro council member pool. Council member vela. Employees retirement system board of trustees council member pool the joint committee of the city of Austin, a. I. S D and Travis county council member, Alison alter council member of [10:50:01 AM] Alaska's and council member, Ryan alter. The clean air force board of directors, mayor pro Tim Ellis. National league of cities all council khan street council member qadri police retirement fund council member Kelly the regional affordability. Council member Fuentes, council member of Alaska's council member, harper-madison and council member, Ryan alter is an alternate. Sobriety center council member of Ella the Colorado river floodplain coalition mayor pro Tim Ellis. Texas municipal league board of directors, mayor Watson us conference of mayors, mayor Watson visit Austin. Council member qadri and mayor Watson. Psychiatric services stakeholders group council member harper-madison and marah Watson. The hate crimes task force council member, Alison alter council member Fuentes council member qadri. The [10:51:03 AM] criminal justice coordinating council council member of vela. The Austin transit partnership board, mayor Watson and the board of workforce solutions of central Texas. Mayor Watson before I call for a vote yes, council member Kelly thank you because there are two vice chairs being proposed for the public safety committee meeting . I was wondering how you wanted to handle in your absence the rotation of council member of L. A. And I sharing that role. Well what I'll do is before the first one. I'll flip a coin, and that will be the first one and the next one will be on the rotation. That sounds great. And then I just wanted to mention briefly, as far as the intergovernmental entities appointments I was notified yesterday, binational legal cities that I was appointed to the public safety and crime prevention committee. Federal advocacy. Thank you. Thank you for your service on that. Are there any other comments? Or questions. In that case, the [10:52:04 AM] mayor pro tem moves that we adopt the intergovernmental empties appointments and the council committees. As I have just read them in. A copy of this will be made available to the clerk. That motion was seconded by council member pool . Is there any objection to the motion? Hearing no objection to the motion. The motion is adopted unanimously. Thank you. And thanks for all of your work on that members yes, council member. I do have a question there was an appointment to the arts commission. For the district one office. It was there yesterday. And apparently not there today. The arts commission. You you did commissions. And so, council member alter had, an appointee. So you're talking about the appointments that will now be made. I don't know why that dropped off. I'll find out for you, and we appreciate that. We need to thank you. Thank you. I appreciate that. So members that takes care of the council committees and intergovernmental entities. I indicated to you [10:53:04 AM] that there was a second part of item number 53. That's nominations in waivers and you had in your backup material. As I have already read an appointment to the parks and recreation board by council member Ryan altar of Stephanie Busan. And. My notes show that in the counselor harper-madison. And I don't know whether this is the one you're thinking of, but that in the light back up it shows for the art commission. Catherine and I'm gonna mispronounce by you correct, referring to be voting on that, so that's on. That's but it was . I don't know what happened that you saw, but it is in its enlightenment. Thank you. You also saw the original exactly right. Appreciate it. Council member Ryan alter. Think I'm the super late backup? Yeah that's that's characterized. Well I just wanted to say a quick word [10:54:05 AM] about my appointment, you know? One of the first large tasks we have here is appointing. Members to the roughly 60 commissions that we have and the one that that I brought us today. I really want to highlight because it's it is a special one to me. I consider the parks board to be key body that advises this council. It's one of our oldest boards and commissions and has included a lot of noteworthy individuals who given a great deal to our community, and so this one, though, is special because of the who and Stephanie Bazan is native austinite. Mom, community leader and someone who has proudly served south Austin throughout her career. She's graduated graduate leadership. Austin president St Ed's alumni association currently serves on the steering committee for Austin community foundation hispanic impact fund. And the board of the junior league, but really more than than that. I [10:55:07 AM] got to know her. Who she is and her heart or our community throughout the campaign over the past year, and just she is someone who cares so deeply about not only south Austin, but this city and its future and so I saw this as a wonderful opportunity for her to continue that service, and I know she is incredibly excited to do it, and I am excited that she's willing to do it. So I just, wanna give her a special welcome and tell her. I look forward to working with her in this capacity and thank you all for taking a moment. Thank you, council member. Oh so the motion will be two approved. The list of nominations, two boards and commissions. An item number 53. Is there any objection to the approval of all of the [10:56:08 AM] nominations to the boards and commissions that are listed in item number 53, including those that are in the late backup? Hearing no objection. The nominations are approved. Thank you all council. That will take us to item number 55 members of the way I would like to proceed on this for clarity, purposes, transparency in hopefully, efficiency is I'm going to recognize first, the. Sponsor of item number 55. To lay out the proposal, and then I'm going to go in order. We have a number of with three. I think proposed amendments. What I will do. What I will do is we will take up the main motion, like have that laid out and then I will go in order that I received the amendments and this is the way I received them. I'm just doing it for clarity purposes and that will be council member. Kelly then [10:57:09 AM] council member of Velazquez and then council member vela. We will vote on each amendment if there is a motion to amend and we will adopt the amendment. Or not first. If we end up adopting an amendment, then we will come back to the main motion and we will vote on the main motion as amended. So with that explanation, council member Fuentes thank you, mayor. Colleagues and very excited to bring forward my first policy. I have C for 2023. It's really focused on at its core. It's focused on addressing affordability. We heard from several of our community members today, talking about how hard it is to find high quality, accessible childcare and how costly it is to build childcare centers in the city and to expand childcare centers. And so this policy is looking at. How can we reduce zoning barriers? Regulatory barriers? Set up a fund so that if an operator wants to open up a childcare center in a child care desert [10:58:09 AM] that they have their fees, waived or have financial assistance, and this policy came out of recommendations from our city staff and also through a working group led by including United Way Kathie macoris, who did sign up to testify earlier but was unable to, but I just want to acknowledge her incredible leadership and expertise in this issue area. So again, I firmly believe that everyone in Austin every single neighborhood should have access to high quality child care that it should be accessible and affordable in this policy really is rooting is rooted in that and I want to thank my co sponsors. Mayor Watson council member Alison alter council member Natasha harper-madison and council member Jose Velasquez for your support and councilor qadri also as a co sponsor, and I want to give a special shout out to Sophia morales in my office for her strong leadership on this issue area. So with that I moved to adopt item 55. Fuentes moves to adopt item number 55 seconded by council [10:59:09 AM] member Alison alter. Oh will now call on council member Kelly, who I understand has councilor harper- madison on behalf of my colleague. It happened to me earlier to our computers have decided to sign to restart themselves. I have paper, though , so I believe I can do that. And, I moved to amend item 55 to read as follows. Add a new five after line 1 14 to read the program should include provisions that support public safety professionals such as police, fire, M S and 911 and 311 call takers and dispatchers with childcare services and resources, and each member should have a copy of this in front of them. Members you've heard the proposed amendment is there? Are there any questions of the author of the proposed amendment? Councilman Ryan alter . Have a quick question. I think this is wonderful. I'm I'm just trying to understand functionally is this saying we're going to look at those [11:00:10 AM] daycare centers who have children of these particular and types of employees and prioritize them or what? I just want to better understand the goal, and I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to reach out to you before and ask you. That's okay. My intent is just to ensure that these, groups of individuals who work for our city are included in the process . It is by no means to prioritize that, but I have heard concerns. Throughout those specific departments, especially at 911 that they do need support services related to childcare, and I thought that this would be a great fit with council member Fuentes. Bringing the item forward makes Lawson thanks any other questions of the author of the amendment council member harper-madison. You know, that just made me think about my time being married to an Austin firefighter. We needed overnight childcare. Hft works 24 hour shifts, so I wonder if there's some opportunity for consideration specifically there with that amendment. When my hope is there's one in the my hope is that that would be a consideration for those specific [11:01:11 AM] departments as they do work off schedule hours that that would be looked at in particular. I wonder mayor do you think we need to say that explicitly in the amendment, or is it assumed, please, please read the amendment. Add a new five after line 1 14 to read five. The program should include provisions that support public safety professionals such as police, fire, ems and 911 and 311 call takers and dispatchers , childcare services and resources. I think I think that covers exactly what you're asking about. Thank you. Mayor pro Tim. Have a bit of a question. I'm not sure if this is for the author or potentially the city manager or other staff. But does this does this come with a fiscal impact for providing it? Or is it just saying, let's figure out a pathway to ensure that this is not being overlooked? Manager. Referred to that that the author , but how? I just heard the interpretation of the last question it was to consider and to look at the way that those stakeholders will be included, [11:02:12 AM] so it would be more in the development of the program itself. That's my intent as well. Okay that's that's great, and I'm certainly supportive of trying to make sure that our first responders have access to these types of services. I also can't help but wonder if there might be other folks in different departments that also run into this need, and so I would hope it would be understood to not be exclusive of other departments and I can amend it if that's necessary. But if it's understood that they should also be included them if that's if that's your will, then we would need to have an actual amendment and not just an interpretation. Of that amendment, as we're sitting here on the dais for training for no other reason, transparency purposes, so if you want to amend the amendment we're going to need to actually amend the amendment. What if I verbally amended on the fly? Just to say that support public are, including but not limited to public safety professionals. My pro team. If she wants to offer [11:03:15 AM] the ship. We do not have emotion yet. I purposely did that so there could be things but but but an oral amendment like that. Unless we want to make put it in writing and make that the amendment that we will take the motion on. So if she we're not again. We have not taken a motion on the amendment for just this reason. But we can't do it just orally. Okay? Yes, council member. I just want to, highlight for our city staff that I believe there has been a resolution that was brought forward by councilor bruto bow or perhaps, than council member Delagarza around childcare for city employees and particularly included offering child or, additionally included child offering childcare dream city council meetings, so I feel like there might already be some precedent set in some policy for us to look back on regarding childcare services for city employees. Can't remember Alison alter. I just want to flag that [11:04:19 AM] I know that United Way is working. On this issue of nontraditional childcare and has partnered with our urban institute to do some studies. And I know we extended an invitation to at least chief Jacqueline to look at some of the needs for first responders, so just wanted to provide that additional background that some of that work is going on. We also funded some work in that regard when we funded the childcare items, within that within the rpf. Alright so I asked if there were questions and now we're getting into motions and discussion. So I'm going to ask for him because we've gotten to that point. I am going to ask for emotion. Council member Kelly moves to amend I do have an actual mechanical question. Can I before the motion? I want to get the motion on. I'll recognize you for a question about how the motion they're not going ahead. If. They're pro Tim's desired change. Is included in council member Kelly's motion, as she reads it, understand, [11:05:20 AM] mechanically probably apologize . I said that would be the way we could get that in there now, but that would be if council member Kelly wants to make that part of her motion. Council member Kelly moved that we amend item number 55. Council member. Will you read the motion that you're making? Yes. I moved to amend item number 55 to read as follows adding new five after line 1 14 to read five. The program should include, but not be limited to provision that support public safety professionals such as police, fire, E. M S and 911 and 311 call takers and dispatchers with childcare services and resources. So members. You will note that after the world word include, I added, but not be limited to and that is not available on the day as I made that change while making this motion. Members you've heard the motion. Is there a second? Is [11:06:21 AM] there a second by council member pool? Discussion on the motion to amend is there any additional discussion? Is there any objection to the motion to amend hearing none. The motion to amend is adopted. The next item is a motion to amend. From council member Velasquez. So I have I have an amendment have to amend my amendment. Would you like me to read it first, and then add the many think that'd be the best. Okay. Alright. It's for item 55 at a new line one C and one D after line, 98 to read , the city manager shall establish criteria for equitable grant distribution throughout the city with a focus on establishing childcare facilities in the 31 zip codes considered childcare desserts. One D the city manager shall ensure that grant funding is prioritized for childcare facility employers that offer their employees a living wage as [11:07:21 AM] set by the us department of labor or the minimum wage, as established by city ordinance. The. If I might ask a question about that is that does that include what you wanted to amend on your amendment? No, sir. Why don't you notice you left out the word city on the last line? Was that intentional? No, okay. So it would read city minimum wage is established by city ordinance. Would you tell us? What's your amendment to the amendment is okay and we're not by the way. It's not really an amendment amendment. I'm just trying to get a motion that has a complete motion on your two men. Okay the city manager showing ensure that the grant funding is prioritized for childcare facility employers that offer their employees a living wage as set by the us department of labor or the city of Boston minimum wage as established by city ordinance, whichever is higher. By the way [11:08:27 AM] , when we're doing it this way, it makes it difficult for transparency purposes. We will need to make sure that the clerk has a clear copy of what it is we're doing, but for purposes of reading in the record of if I might council member. One D the motion to him if he if he makes a motion to amend it will include an item one C as he read it, and as you have it in your on your yellow sheet. And then in one day, it will read the city manager shall ensure that grant funding is prioritized for childcare facility employers that offer their employees a living wage as set by the us department of labor or the city of Austin. Minimum wage as established by city ordinance, whichever is higher. Yes sir. Mr. Mark, are there any questions just questions with regard to the his motion to amend council member alter. Is living wage the same thing as [11:09:27 AM] the labors. The department of labor is minimum wage. There's a difference. Correct published this separately. Alright, I'm unfamiliar. So I was wondering any other questions. Council member of Alaska's moved to amend item number 55 as it's been read into the record by council member Velasquez in the mayor. Is there a second seconded by council member Fuentes? Is there any discussion on the item? Is there any objection to the motion to amend item number 55 by council member Velasquez? Hearing none. The motion to amend is adopted. That will take us to council member vela recognize council member of L. A for a motion to amend. Thank you, mayor. I'm offering my amendment there's aversion to that law had suggested change that essentially mirrors council member Fuentes language on this item. My amendment would take [11:10:28 AM] the parking requirements from half a space per employee to eliminate the parking requirements for childcare centers. The. As a practical matter. Most of these places are going to have parking but when if they, for example, only have one space they would be required to add an additional space that's a cost to the child care facility that is competing for outdoor space for the child care center. Typically childcare services or have a very low number of employees. A lot of family owned and managed childcare centers. So and then, of course, the you know the parking needs generally speaking are pretty minimal. You know, I have, I have three kids and very , very familiar with daycare operations. And typically, you know again, there's folks that go and, you know, drop off in the in the morning and go and [11:11:30 AM] pick up in the afternoon. So it's not a situation where a bar restaurant where you know there's a lot of people kind of coming and going throughout the day. And in order to maximize the affordability of childcare in order to maximize the number of locations where we can locate these types of childcare facilities. I would like to eliminate the parking requirements in the offer it believe that the friendly amendment well, I'll think that if it's friendly, I'll take it as a second, for clarity purposes. First of all, I want to ask everybody questions, but before I do that, for clarity purposes, the amendment would be to amend line 67 through 69 so that it would read. Eliminate parking requirements for childcare services that mirror daycare services general and daycare services commercial. That's correct that. Are there any questions of the author of this amendment pool? I support the change, and I recognize that there's a difference between what would be provided by the [11:12:30 AM] daycare center and what the city might require. Okay so we're not going to force the matter. I do have some questions, and just maybe I'm looking for some assurances relating to people with disabilities. And would there be a provision of 80 a parking at all in consideration when we when we approved that the daycare centers I would. That's a excellent question, and I would ask our city attorney. It would. I don't want to definitely wonderful fill any and all a D a requirements. And the not looking to eliminate any Ada requirements. So the attorney. So Trish link is coming up to answer the question. Art division chief for Trish link with a lot. Department council member. The stuff that we've done previously we have eliminate parking requirements, but maintained the accessible requirements and so we can do that here, and if [11:13:31 AM] counsel would like to make it express we can say eliminate non accessible parking. Requirements and the accessible would be the parking spaces that comply with the a. D. A may I ask a question? Yes. 88 is a federal program isn't a D or R O so wouldn't parking requirements for people with disabilities always be required? Regardless. So. We have some complex provisions in our code related to that, so to the extent that they're required anyway, they would be still required, but we eliminate a parking requirement. I'm not sure how many spaces they would need to have fair enough. So and your your recommendation and apologizes to add the word non accessible on the motion so that it would be eliminated non accessible parking requirements. Correct. Mayor council member I'm open to that and would be happy to [11:14:31 AM] accept amendment. In that regard. Council member of L. A moves that we amend item number 55. So that on items 60 I'm sorry lines 67 through 69. It will read as follows eliminate non accessible parking requirements for childcare services that mirror daycare services general and daycare services commercial. It is seconded by council member Fuentes. Remember harper-madison. Okay good deal. Thank you. Is there any discussion with regard to the motion to amend by council member of Ella? Yes councilor point us. Thank you, captain rubella for bringing this forward. I do think that the topic of parking requirements is one that we should have much more broadly. Throughout several of the different uses within our land development code, and I look forward to having that conversation as a dais in the coming months and then again just want to reiterate that the focus here is around explaining access to childcare services as a way to address affordability, [11:15:33 AM] and so I just want to make sure that that part doesn't get lost in the discussion. And thank you very much for the motion. It's an excellent item, and I'm excited to see it pass. Yes kills member harper- madison. Thank you, mayor. I'll be brief. I just wanted to thank both of my colleagues for bringing these items forward. I think council member Fuentes. You know, we've had this discussion before about affordability that child care. It's one of the primary cost barriers that people experience and I really appreciate that. We're starting 2023 out, recognizing that removing barriers for essential elements for our constituents. Requires us being bold and innovative. So thank you. Council member Bella for taking the first bold step in 2023. Appreciate it members. We have three amendments to item number 55 that have been adopted . Are there any other amendments to be offered on Adam number 55? Hearing none. I'll return to the main motion and the motion is to adopt item number 55 by council member Fuentes as amended. Is [11:16:36 AM] there any objection to the motion to adopt? Actually for purposes of clarity? Council member Fuentes moves that we adopt item number 55 as amended. And it's seconded by councilman Ryan. Is there any objection to the motion? Here I'm sorry. Protein no objection. Just a procedural question. I have a handout from council member Fuentes and wanted to make sure that this was included in it. Okay perfect. Yes his his his part of the original, so we're voting on the main motion as amended. Is there any objection to the main motion item number 55 as amended. Hearing none. The motion is adopted. Congratulations. That was good work. Members that will take us to item number 58. And with respect to item 58 being a non consent condemnation item. We [11:17:37 AM] would need a motion to the effect that the city council of Austin authorizes the power of the use of the power of eminent domain to acquire the property set forth and described in the agenda for the current meeting for the public use, described their end. Is there a motion? Motions made by council member pool seconded by the mayor pro tem is there. Is there any discussion or questions on the motion? Seeing none. I'll ask the clerk with my understanding. There is no public testimony on this item. Correct no public testimony. Members. The motion is. That the city council of Austin authorizes the use of the power of eminent domain to acquire the property set forth and described in the agenda. In this for this current meeting for the public uses that are described there in is there any objection to the motion? Hearing [11:18:40 AM] none. The motion is adopted on item number 58. Members. We have an issue. And that is. We're out of things to talk about until noon. Record executive session. So, yes. Can I make a motion to recess and that would be that that's it. You're reading my mind. Here's what until noon. Excuse me, because what we'll do is we'll come back in at noon and promptly at noon, and we will reconvene for public testimony and for music. And then we will also keep in mind. We will also have the two o'clock zoning cases. The motion has been made to recess. Is there any objection to the motion hearing? None were in recess until 12 o'clock noon. Thank you. Council members. [11:25:07 AM] You hit a bank, you know? Get your little you down. Found out was just the full name. Wrong road. You wrong time. But no, I gotta go. Much on that. Careful. I know I [11:26:08 AM] never will. No crime. Watch my hands. All upon change. No, I never around. Never. Er [11:27:08 AM] about little old time. What I might have left behind. Keep on . [11:28:55 AM] Do you rank, you know? Let you down. I found out was whole name. Wrong time. But no body count. Go. Careful place to stay. And I [11:29:55 AM] never will. No crime. What? My hands. The wheels here. You never milk. I never Wright. Never. Were [11:30:56 AM] about little old time. What? I might have liver. Keep up. [11:37:29 AM] To a bit. Story. I only want my. Him. Just my. Reach them. [11:39:30 AM] I have come. From my I got neither. Wow. [11:41:43 AM] Something tells me I'm in love with maybe. And my obliquely I'm a wow. I've got this feeling hanging. Tommy. Like them falling over. Somewhere. Oh, me. To find your way. Schmalbach. I had fun. Just. Revenue are. It's not hard. Stedman. Over. No. No. [11:43:18 AM] I loved you long enough to know. Like them falling over. Herbal and your somewhere. Romy. So to find your way. Back. It's not that fun. Rebel you are. We're men. No. I'm over. [11:45:00 AM] Okay, y'all. Luna. I agree. Man. I'm not food. Going. And you. Rail. [11:46:11 AM] They are. [11:56:36 AM] Trouble. I won't. Oh, my back door. Oh, down. I'm gonna take my. Go after leaving. I'm gonna rock. Trouble in my. Oh, my back. And someday we. [11:57:46 AM] But. Mary there had. Moving the . I don't know. Yes. How. Thank you along the way. [11:58:51 AM] Taken alone. Chicken. I don't wanna interrupt, but if you will find your seats, we're gonna start in one minute. [12:00:13 PM] Tele town hall. I just want to check that you can hear us here in chambers. What was that? [12:01:16 PM] Alright. I'll call back to order the Austin city council. After a recess, we're going to go to general public communication before the I just want to make clear to folks items 60, 61 62 either withdrawn or postponed. So if somebody is here to speak on that we did that at the very beginning of the meeting, and I just don't want there to be any confusion. So with that we will go to general po, our 12 o'clock general public communication and I'll ask the court to please call our speakers. Thank you, mayor. We don't have the one remote speaker yet, so I'm gonna go ahead and start with in person. Robert, but tally. Thank you very much. It's a pleasure to be here. I actually pronounce it but I growing up, it was pronounced battle. So when I talked to the city council in [12:02:16 PM] Maynard, I pronounce that battle. But when I talked to the planning and zoning committee, I pronounce it but I so I pronounce it but I with you guys. It's a pleasure to be here amongst these newbies and, young idealists. That really want to make some changes here. Now there's a bocce ball coming around here. There's a little one. It's called the Pelino. There it is. Yeah. And the larger ones sometimes called the bull. Each team has four of the big balls. You roll the little ball. You try to get as close as you can. The other team roles until they get one closer. Once they get one closer, it flips back to the other team goes back and forth. You hit the balls. You bounce off the walls. It goes back and forth. But he is the second most popular sport in the world next to soccer as far as people actually playing. I started a league in Santa Rosa. In 2009. Now it has 600 people playing in at 600. They have five quarts. They play every night of the week. I learned in [12:03:18 PM] St Helena town of 4000 people. That has nine courts. They have 800 people playing. They play every night of the week. Plus, farmers market on Friday mornings. This is some of the history that's me up on the left their role in the first ball. In the top of St Helena, Santa Rosa, and then kind of working your way around toward the lower left there in the middle is triangle park. That's in Zoe's district. Have you been there? I guess I'm not supposed to interact so sorry. Hold hold that thought. Okay, if you go to the next slide, please. This is triangle park right here. That was a started back in. I believe it's about 2007. Now. This is interesting, because for one thing, this is a private public park. Now you think about that? It sounds like this is a great deal. We're going to get these private people to mow the grass. But what happens is that's all they do. What happens is you're [12:04:19 PM] turning your lively public park into an open space. Now when the developers come in, of course, that's not what they're saying. They have a different song and dance. In the original agreement. The developer was going to put in first class amenities they were gonna do first class maintenance. They haven't changed the brick in like 10 years, and they were gonna do lively public engagement. To me with these two bochy courts you're seeing up there. That means we have bochy league. But this design is totally inadequate for doing that. All the people have to go out to the sides and into the street instead of into the central area. Now I designed this. And I gave it to the parks and records a cap proposal the citizens action thing. I'm like, so disappointed. I can't tell you guess what? They came back and said they said, well, you know what? The commercial people don't want to invest in this. And neither does the residential people. That's what I told them. [12:05:19 PM] I've been telling that for five years, they don't want to spend any money on it. Surprise. They also don't really want us in there playing. Because then they'd have to empty the trash can three times a week instead of once a week. Oh my god with us. Thank you. Pardon me. That's it. Yes, that's three minutes. Gosh I had like another half an hour. Well that's why that buzzer goes off. At least there's no hook. So anyway, I sent you guys a letter. If you check that out, and let's figure out a plan to get this happening. Thank you. Richard Victorian. Richard Victorian audits in the public interest. Mayor Watson and state senator you wrote and passed senate bill 15 15 the 290 million incentive for formula one racing. That was early 2009 later in 2010. When [12:06:20 PM] formula one was announced, Austin was caught unaware. We know from land transactions from business formation from open records from interviews that the idea of constructing a formula one race track was well underway by 2008. Senate bill 15 15 made 22 changes to the special events law, it added. Formula one second and central to the stadium finance mechanism. You changed what had been one off payments. Events like the super bowl and the olympics to multi year support mechanism. You understood you intended you knew the proceeds from senate bill 15 15 would be used to finance the multipurpose sports and entertainment facility known as the circuit of the Americas. Your bill. Your law was a Trojan horse head inside a stadium deal. Benefiting a billion dollar hedge fund profit capital on the billionaire red Mccombs and Mccombs partners. The circuit of America was built. But taxpayers Texas taxpayers paid for it. $290 million to be [12:07:22 PM] scraped straight out of state cash using a trust fund mechanism, which kept the transaction from budget riders. Senator Jane Nelson, who's bill you change did not vote for your bill. Senator Nelson was on senate finance. She chaired senate finance very likely, senator Nelson knew what you were up to. Our interest all along has been transparency and accountability. Austin voters citizens, especially east Austin , del valley, L. Elroy were caught completely unaware in may 2010 a year before at the end of the 2009 session, you did not announce formula one as a legislative accomplishment. Announcer racetrack was coming to central Texas. To the contrary, you hit industrial scale tourism from your constituents. In 2011 and 2012 and enduring and during last year's mural campaign, I asked for time which you avoided today. I'm at the public public podium. Asking who brought it to you? Senate bill 15 had a lot. I [12:08:25 PM] mean a lot of political push as it sped through committees in both the senate and the house. Was it profit capital? I was a governor Perry. Was it? The macombs organization? Was it controller combs. Or was it all for assembled which gave this Dundee or Russian the door rather than a bums rush out. I was in an Richards economic development arm when she appointed you to their control board mayor if you if I had brought this stinker to governor Richard she would have fired disposed 20 years later in 2009 , her appointee evidently found himself working for a different governor for another party or so it appears. Who brought you the idea of changing the state special events fund. Thank you. Robin Ross. [12:09:29 PM] Mayor and council members. Thank you for the chance to visit with you. About the cold weather shelter program. For the house putting up the right document. My name is robin Ross. I am not a social worker. I'm a concerned citizen and a frequent volunteer with the open door program at university methodist church, where we provide food, clothing and now bus passes to people who are living on the street. I realized that the 11 of you don't directly oversee the cold weather shelter program. But ultimately you are in charge. This program is our shelter of last resort for people who have nowhere else to sleep in really bad weather. It may be the difference between life and death for some of our most vulnerable austinites. So we all should be invested in its success. I understand the shelter was opened last night. I signed up to speak regarding the program's operation in December. And we experienced multiple nights below 20 degrees. The communication about this event was not adequate. Although forecasters were projecting [12:10:29 PM] these low temperatures by at least Sunday, December 18th the city did not announce the opening of the shelter. Or update the shelter hotline until Wednesday, the 21st in the morning. Until this time, the city's message was we activate shelters when it's 32 or below. Forecast is that it's going to be 15 degrees, but we can't say until the morning of whether we're going to open the shelters. It was like a weird, unnecessary riddle. As you know, the homeless population can be hard to reach and hard to convince to go to shelters. Many of these folks don't have phones. Three people that I had in depth conversations with on the Wednesday morning did not know about the program, and one of them did not even know that the cold weather was coming at all. So I have two suggestions to improve communication. One as has been mentioned in the media when the forecast is clearly known in advance, make the call early. Commit to opening the shelters on a specific day and give your social workers your ems personnel and your [12:11:30 PM] volunteers time to share the information with their communities. And to let members of the public like myself get on an email alert list so that we can receive information about the shelter and share it in our neighborhoods. So a social worker friend of mine shared the city's template poster. Which came from public health, and so I filled in the information. And made copies and attached it to the bus stop benches in my neighborhood. There are people who will help you out and share the information if you can get it to us in time and in advance. The resource recovery. Pro department has a program called the zero waste block leader where people sign up to become the go to person for recycling information in their neighborhood. This would be a good model for public health to use to disseminate cold weather shelter information. I've already made the suggestion to Greg Mccormick and I would love to see it happen. They'll have a lot on your plate and a lot of responsibilities. But I ask you to please keep the needs and the most vulnerable austinites at the forefront of your mind, even as you deal with all these other complexities, especially the new [12:12:30 PM] members. Thanks a bunch. Thank you, mayor Watson. If I could please, miss Ross, I just want to let you know that I appreciate you coming here today. I actually have an item I intend to bring forward on the next council agenda related to cold weather, but also we've changed it. So it's extreme weather. We're awaiting one final co sponsor on that, and so hopefully that will bring about some changes that you spoke about so I appreciate you coming today. If you'll connect with my office would be happy to share it with you. Thank you appreciate, quintus? Yes. Thank you. Thank you for joining us today and for sharing your experience or really our community experience during extreme weather events, and I just want to highlight for our city manager that as part of our response system, we have community members who want to be part of our efforts. Notify our community at large. And, this last extreme weather event that we had in December came to my attention that there's still not a coordinated system in place for Dell valley residents, and I know that it is a is a [12:13:30 PM] challenging coordination because it's city and county. And so I just want to bubble up the conversation of ensuring that that information really does reach out to our eastern crescent neighbors and that we don't disclose our communities in that effort. Thank you. Thank you for thank you for your testimony. Appreciate it. Ruben Rivera clement. Unfortunately, they have to be here. Because you know who you're looking at. The person had been harassed 18 years. And I tend to email to my council member. The city manager, your sister, city manager and newly elected mayor. About what I'm going through. It has been. I've [12:14:33 PM] actually last year I finally complained against police chief Joseph check on. Seems I can't get a hold of his officers, name or badge. I went after him. As well as his commander, Jason Bryant. And I did that last year. But just as typical as all the other cases, what I found complained to my third complaint specialists because I've been found a complaint for over decade. And I don't understand this police department. This past Friday, the 20th found my second complaint against chief Joseph chico. Since I can't get a hold of his men. I can go to the top dog of that police department. And city manager knows who I am. He was there in August, the 19th as well as the 18, which I gave a letter to chief when he was interim chief. And when I put that letter on that table, I told him everything on that letter and [12:15:34 PM] willing to stay under oath in a court of law. And guess what happened? Absolutely nothing. And I'm not just talking about harassment. I'm talking about criminal acts of a serious nature. If you want to look more into it. Check out my first citizens communication. April 26 2018 that's when I was here, and there were three assisted police chiefs. I found out later to, chief Manley that to start being assistant police chief. And I told the truth. And I'm always gonna tell the truth, no matter what, but this has to stop. And I want to make this clear because when I reported it to my third complaint specialists and this is about second complaint. First one didn't go nowhere. You know, internal failed. Yes they called me. But it's only for the commander and two of the lieutenants. Out there in the real world. That you guys probably never see. This people that fear the police. They are [12:16:35 PM] afraid of the police department. And you know how terrible this things. I even hate saying because the police are the ones that's supposed to keep us safe. And my kids going, kids. They all live here. So you need to look at this because it's not situation just going to be as bad as I hate to say this. What happened in Memphis? This needs to change. Chacon. Neither. You need to hold his officers accountable. He need to do something. I'm expected to city manager do something, but I hate to tell you have nothing, nothing. Definitely the assistant city manager. Anyway I don't want to come here no more if I do it because I got more complaints. Thank you, sir. The next speaker is remote. It's Katy, Hendrick turner. Hi. Can you all hear me? Yes. Oh [12:17:38 PM] fantastic one. Thank you all for your service. My name is Katie fendrich turner and I am just a volunteer for the city, and I'm extremely grateful that volunteers can provide their time to help at animal services , specifically, the Austin animal center. And I wanted to invite you all to take a closer look at animal services. You each are likely to have many constituents in your district. To use the services of Austin animal center and entities that the city has contracts with, such as emancipated and often humane society. In volunteering for the city at the Austin animal center of noticed a couple of things and I wanted to share those with you all today and to see if any of you all are interested in helping make our city great when it comes to the Austin animal center, and if so , if you could either raise your hand or have your policy aide [12:18:40 PM] reach out to me, there's a large group of city volunteers who would love your leadership. On this and specifically in terms of what I've noticed. Is that it might take a good citizen in Austin up to six months. To get a low cost spay neuter appointment at a manta pet. Perhaps the city could set up a mass Spain neuter day every 3 to 4 months. That rotates through different districts. Given this . Two is there's models of other cities that the city of Boston could look at. To try and address some of the some of the challenges we have. And if you look at Cisco, for example, where it is not legal to own and unaltered pit bull mix perhaps that is something that we could consider in our city and just to help with the overpopulation of large dogs that we currently have. And when we look to the [12:19:42 PM] budget process that's coming up this summer. Perhaps. There might be an interest in increasing funding for the neighborhood level program, especially in certain districts like D two, for example, I think that could be quite helpful to constituents in certain areas. Again if your if your office is interested in helping make our city great when it comes to the Austin animal center. I think there's a lot of volunteers. At the shelter that would appreciate your leadership, so feel free to either raise your hand or reach out to me and thank you for your time. Daniel just since. This is my first time here. I hope it's my last. I sent an email yesterday. It's changed [12:20:43 PM] radically doing my research the past since Monday and I'll start with the last bullets at the end of it. Hopefully you have this. I would like I'm here because of property taxes, and I want to make Austin more affordable. And it could start with a I S D robin hood. To me. It's Jesse James. Not robin hood. How could Dallas and Midland and Houston be so poor that combine they pay less than a I S D. Hopefully you'll use your, expertise, experience and work with the state on that. Austin city council. Gave themselves a 40% pay raise. In the fall. Yeah ignored me in the summer about T cad. The Travis county [12:21:44 PM] assessment. I've owned property. Since 1980. And twice it was bumped up $50,000 for the lot. This past year, it went from 350,000 year. 39.3% increase kind of jive with the 40% pay increase you got. There is so much screwed up with the teak, their opera computer operations. Now. The other side shows the email that was, ignored. By the council. I got one back from my representative eight, which basically told me to go enjoy swimming at dick Nichols pool. To marry that's telling go jump in the lake. Alright. And. I appreciate what I have, in the seventies. I saw I smell the [12:22:48 PM] been Joe dishes of Korea in the eighties, I watched Turkish women doing laundry by hand. Riverside. This past summer, I took my dogs for a walk. I saw a homeless have vacated. Homeless, encampment. In the green belt next to the library and over by the pool, and I felt threatened. I simply because I was solo. Shouldn't be that way at home. And like I said, I hope I don't have to come back. Please you have all my information. I got dreams of documentation. There's the email and then what's downloaded here with the texting from T cad? All right. Please call me and resolve those three [12:23:48 PM] issues at the end. Deborah Miller. Hi and welcome back. My name is Deborah Harmon Miller. I'm a mental health advocate and author. For the last year. I've been researching the transit system here in Austin. I write my next book. Debbie does Austin by wheelchair. I'm doing a column I'm a columnist for the challenger on mental health advocacy. I'm also a subject matter expert with the healthy Williamson county coalition because of my work in mental health. Last year, I was watched his advocates begged for bus passes all summer long while there was an F T. A grant available with $300 trillion that could have been applied that no one asked for in the city. It wasn't part of project connect. It would pay the rent of addicts who are considered disabled is hidden under the seniors mobility grant with from the Bidens administration. To help seniors. Get back out. This I have been doing a research [12:24:49 PM] study. It's called the blue apple express, and I would like funding for I don't need a local match, but I need you to apply for it. During the pandemic. Medicare decided to only approve foreign made wheelchairs for people because I thought they would never go back outside. They're stuck with those for five years. Now we're sending fire trucks to pick them up because they fall apart within a month. The end. We they're they're not even safe to drive on the street, the ones that we used to have a crash test approved. And right now, you can get one without a prescription off of Facebook for $50 there coming to south by southwest right now, we only have far trucks to rescue people who break down in a wheelchair. And the handicapped system of for bus system here. We have only purchased busses that will hold one wheelchair at a time. The people that purchased the wheelchairs that the purchase the busses never got in a wheelchair and got on the bus. The wheelchairs don't fit inside the busses. They can't be strapped down. It. If it's a [12:25:51 PM] Karen thought we buy things for other people thinking they can return them if they don't get caught busses that don't fit. We bought transportation. It doesn't fit we bought unsafe. Transportation devices for the disabled, telling them that there are no good. They have no future. They should all stay home and do nothing. And that is not our life. I ask you to please consider my program the blue apple express where we would have qualified mhp S that would go out and be supported through Uber and lift right now to be trained. And with 88 vehicles during south by southwest to a to retrieve these wheelchairs that are all coming to town. Thank you for your time. And good luck. I hope to work with you challenge you on March 8th per to meet me at the bus at the train station at the transit center lake line and ride the train with me for Leslie day and let's look talk about looking at what it looks like to sit. As a person with a mobility challenge and use the bus system 1 to 1 and let me [12:26:51 PM] show you, Austin from a wheelchair. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Thank you, Debbie for your presentation. I really appreciate it. And thank you for the accompanying packet. What I'd like to say is well, certainly I should defer to the chair. But you know, we have a mobility committee. And I think this is an item that we could bring to the mobility committee. But I would also, who's do you know your council member is what district you're in. In the northwest part of Austin that is interested in Williamson county , where we have no mental health care. We have no transportation to doctors. And, I don't know who my representatives. In fact , I could not vote because I could. I think you just across the highway from me on research . Actually, I live on high medal, so yeah, and I live on Anderson road wanting to meet with you. Yeah so, yeah, I was just gonna say I walk office. Thank you. I'll work with I would like very much to work with your your council member. And see what it is that that we [12:27:51 PM] can do to elevate your program. I think it's applicable not just to people with mental health issues or disabilities, but, we had the opportunity recently to visit an organization that does workforce development training and one of their largest issues was getting their students to school. So they're they're issuing Uber and Lyft vouchers. And so I think, alternative. You don't have to come back up. I think alternative transportation is an issue that we should address across the board. On their app where I could call for a wheelchair lift with them, but there's no one that will respond to the call because it costs more for an 88 vehicle. It costs more for gas, and so we don't have driver's sign up if there was a program where we gave them money to get their vehicle and driver get an 88 vehicle instead of just an ordinary one because they can't charge extra lights against a lot. It's not fair to disabled people to charge extra for a ride. That's why we have no writer. Thank you. I appreciate that information. [12:28:51 PM] We'll be in touch. Thank you. Thank you. Silver white mountain. Hello city manager, mayor and council. I'm here because of the new blood on council. There are a few things I didn't like about your predecessors, and I don't want it repeated. Seven council members were talking, texting, eating and leaving when citizens we're here, speaking on the topic of their choice. Council members were on ego trip. I had to bring them down off their pedestal because one by one council members would get up and leave and not come back a lot of the time. There would be two council members left up there. I was shocked. I guess there are a lot of yes, people on staff who were not brave enough to let them know I'll disrespectful it was and how ugly it looked. Therefore I had to bring it to the attention that I wanted every council member seats filled they took it upon [12:29:53 PM] themselves to solve it. So every time he council member got up to leave, run to the restroom, a staff member was ready to sit in that seat, so all the seats would be filled. Then one day pets alive or the animal center was here promoting the adoption of animals. About three or four council members are wandering around in chambers with kittens and puppies. Taking pictures. Don't get me wrong. I don't have anything against pets alive. Or the animal center, but it was really disruptive when speakers were trying to be heard. One speaker even said that he was being upstaged. For those reasons. I feel extra curricular activities should be added to the agenda to allow time for them for their enjoyment. All those in favor say aye, aye. The eyes, have it. This last comment on my speech. I have to give credit to my ghost rider. He's great with Logan speeches and advertising gimmicks and since I'll be 68 on Tuesday and I feel bad sometimes because I'm in my element. I could soon be out of [12:30:53 PM] this world. So kudos to taking care of business enterprises. Since I stopped time, I'd like to thank the mayor or talking to the voters taking pictures and all the while smelling after taking the oath. He was full of energy and spirit, and I think he may just have beat out the council members and staying the longest or at least, was one of the ones who stayed the longest mingling with the public. Well, he was the first one back after break, too. I noticed that Vanessa Fuentes Paige jealous zo quadrant Natasha harper- madison remained well into eight o'clock. Other states. Others started on the wrong foot by leaving early. Forgive me if you stayed until eight. And I didn't notice you tried really hard to notice everyone that was here. I may have missed someone. Thank you. Thank you and happy birthday next week. Cairo de Angeles. I want to start by [12:32:00 PM] thanking the city council mayor for taking an oath to the constitution. Because of their desire to serve the community. As I have learned from one of my mentors, retired judge Bob Perkins. Longstanding mistakes can be corrected. With the help of city council. Judge Perkins has told me about the great adversity to the correction of the spelling of Menchaca road. I learned a failed lawsuit was filed against the city of Austin because they decided to correct the misspelling of the name Menchaca. Similar to judge Perkins worked as a taxi driver. While in law school. I work in the transportation industry while studying to be a civil rights attorney. Similar to Jose Antonio man, Chaka. My family name was changed by the army. I am a member of at least two different minority groups, Italian Americans and disabled Americans. I have a very personal and extensive understanding of at least two civil rights laws, the fair [12:33:01 PM] housing act and the Americans with disabilities act. I'm here today on behalf of the Texas show for our coalition. The Texas chauffeur coalition should survey shows that 99% of the current petty cab operators want to expand the number of pedicab operating authorities in Austin. The metro cycle pedicabs owner has stated the current moratorium on pedicab operating authorities, which created because he felt his company was not making enough money. That law is contributing to the issues with transportation, affordability and accessibility . Our city is currently facing together, we can re imagine transportation, affordability and accessibility in our city to make it more inclusive tomorrow. I want to thank the mayor and city council and everyone in attendance for their time. Thank you, sir. Roy Whaley. [12:34:07 PM] Howdy, y'all. My name is Roy Whaley and I have the privilege of serving of the chair of the conservation committee or the often regional group of the Sierra club, and it's good to see so another familiar faces back and it's good to see the new faces on the dais. So. This is my first time speaking at service from this communication , but not my first. I've got frequent flyer miles down here. They often regional group is a part of the lone star fear or club and Dave Cortese and fire three years or over tilting at windmills at the capitol right now. And that's a subgroup of the national theater club that was founded by John Muir in 18 93. I wasn't there when it was founded. Now then there is no decision that any of y'all will make that doesn't have an [12:35:09 PM] environmental component to it. Every decision you make will have some sort of environmental component. There is not like there's any district and often that doesn't have an environment. And so everything. Is touched by the environment. The national fear club. Is recognized for their work on endangered species protection, and we are here to and I'm proud of that. It's real clear to me and has been that and often one of the most endangered species we have here. Or the poor. The people without representation. And we need to work for all of us. And I hope that you will do that because clean air and dirty air, clean water and dirty water. It just doesn't care who you are. You know, the impact is the same on the rich and the [12:36:10 PM] poor. Not really people of color. And it doesn't care if you're Miller female or what gender you are, how you identify it doesn't matter about your ethnicity. It just doesn't care. It impacts. Everybody doesn't matter if you live on balconies just below mount Bonnell or Prak lane, just below the red bluff, preserve and used often and I'm very proud of the work Sierra club did working with the neighbors over there to get that put into a preserve. So this is my ask. This is what I ask of you. The Austin Sierra club is ready to work with each and every one of them. We want to work on environment, mental issues. We're not always going to agree, but we're we agree we should be working together. And we are ready to do that. So. [12:37:10 PM] Another thing I want to say, well, I have the time. It was thank you for increasing the time allowed to speak. For general, you know, for the general public, go ahead and bump it up to three minutes. You know, I just said, little bit of what I had to say. And I had three minutes. And you were here. You know the reason we can still swim and Barton springs because we kept you all here all night. I was not here for that. But thank you for your testimony . You were here for a lot of that was nice to see the new faces. And I'm counting you in on that. I appreciate that. Thank you. Very mayor that concludes all the speakers we have for noon. Public communication. Thank you very much. Members you just heard the announcement that includes, the 12 o'clock citizen communication . We're going now going to go to our music presentation. And when [12:38:11 PM] we finish with the music presentation, we're going to be ahead of schedule. So we please be here so that we can have a motion to recess until two o'clock when we take up the zoning and neighborhood plan amendments. So with that we will go to alright. Well I'll just do you okay? Good I'm happy to do that, is there any objection to at the end of the music recessing the Austin city council until a time certain of two o'clock? Pm hearing no objection after the conclusion of our music presentation, city council will be recessed until two o'clock P M. We will reconvene thank you all. [12:46:05 PM] Man. Right? Well you've had a paste Wright. I'm very pleased that we have with us today. Big wise brass band. Big wise brass band is, as you can already tell the frenetic and very energetic , band where there's a party wherever they play. So let's party here in city hall. It was formed for members of the west lake high school's band program. And the band has played to the music lovers of Austin for nearly eight years now, in addition to playing iconic Austin venues such as Antone's, the continental club and the moody amphitheater. The band is also represented Austin at international jazz festivals in Guatemala and Costa Rica. They play an eclectic mix of traditional New Orleans standards. Funky originals, and they've collaborated with a variety of Austin art artists such as the beatbox king, Ben [12:47:07 PM] buck and India. Heavy hitters nightcap whether it's a second line wedding on lake Travis, the Austin hot sauce, first of all, or just a rocking house party. Big wise aims to invite the listener on a wild ride through its brassy confections and hard hitting rhythm section. And it's my pleasure. This is the first day I get to proclaim this pretty big deal. And I'm glad it is. I'm glad it's you all whereas the city of Austin, Texas, is blessed with many creative musicians whose talent extends to virtually every musical genre. And whereas our music scene thrives because Austin supports good music, produced by legends are local favorite favorites and newcomers alike. And whereas we are pleased to showcase and support our local artist now therefore I Kirk Watson, mayor of the live music capital of the world, do hereby proclaim January 26 2023 [12:48:08 PM] big, wisest brass band a ladies and gentlemen, big, wisest brass band. Ready. 222 4. MM hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Investigate mhm mhm. Hmm hmm. Hmm. Mhm hmm. Hmm. Mhm MM hmm. Hmm. MM hmm [12:49:10 PM] . Big wow. Meeting higher. Come on , hmm. Push up. Mhm. MM hmm. Down. People want more. Hmm. Hmm hmm. Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm hmm. Hmm hmm. Hmm hmm. Hmm hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm hmm. MM hmm. Hmm hmm. Hmm. Hmm hmm, hmm hmm. Hmm [12:50:21 PM] . Hmm hmm, hmm. Hmm. Hmm hmm, hmm, hmm hmm. Wow that hmm. Hmm hmm. Lion. People want more . MM hmm. Hmm. Hmm hmm hmm. Hmm. MM hmm. Hmm hmm. Hmm. Hmm. MM hmm. [12:51:22 PM] MM hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Right hmm. Good good. MM hmm. Hmm hmm, hmm hmm, hmm hmm. First. Mhm. Big wise brass band. So, tell us where you're playing. Alright so we're playing at, barn allows February 10th playing fat Tuesday, February 20 versus central machine wars. Come one, come all. There you go. Let's let's let's support them and say thanks for what they've done here today. Thank you. [1:49:55 PM] Crazy yeah. Doing, man. Yeah how much to save me? That said that you. Never know how bad. Okay . Yes. And job. Don't ever change. [1:50:59 PM] Air to be content all ways you'd better. See through these days. What thing? You never do that make. My so. This day . No. To change anything, hmm. Yeah. Don't ever change anything [1:52:12 PM] . Yeah, you too. Days. One thing. Yes. [1:54:42 PM] Second round. Doubt. Is all. MM hmm. Crashed too. [1:57:57 PM] Mhm. Everything I had. Alone. Yeah I know. I'm not the one union. And the heart. Give me everything. What I promise you. Now get you everything I have. MM. Onyx and pain. [1:59:00 PM] It don't do me. Don't do me any good. This time, alright? Wow. [2:00:11 PM] I'll call back to order the Austin city council. This is for two o'clock times certain related to zoning and neighborhood plan amendments. Public hearings and possible action we're going to hear from and just a moment from speakers on the consent consent speakers , but before we do, I would like to invite staff to come up and please read into the record the pool and or postponed items so that any speakers that are registered for a postponed items can be made so you'll know we're . You want. We're not. We're moving that off and your time if you are speaking on a postponed item will only be to speak on the merits of the postponement. Thank you. Thank you. Mayor joy harden. What the housing and planning department. So, as you stated, I will be reading the postpone items. Items number 63 64 related Springdale commercial , and there's a step postponement request to your March 23rd council meeting. 66 [2:01:13 PM] is 1 to 1 to one north age 35. There's an applicant postponement request to your February 9th council meeting and I'm 67 500 dfw road. African postponement requests to your February 9th council meeting. And I'm 68, Burlington and Ben white. There's a staff postponement request to your March. 9th council meeting. 71 is Brodie restrictive covenant of limit. Postponement request by council member Ryan altar to your February 9th council meeting. The related rezoning. Brodie is item number, 72 again postponed a request by council member Ryan altered to your February 9th meeting. In the last post woman item on this agenda item 77. That's the Westgate tower rezoning. There's a postponement requests by council member qadri to your February 9th council meeting, so all these items are consent postponements and, if someone is signed in to speak to those that would just be speaking to the merits of the postponement. Like you stated, thank you very much members. With regard to items 71 [2:02:14 PM] 72 that council member Ryan alter request to be postponed. You'll recall that there was a corresponding item item number 62. That was postponed earlier in the day when we were when I was talking about changes and corrections to the agenda. I just wanted to call that to your attention and for the record is there any objection? Postponement of the items that have been read. Including the dates certain. Hearing none. The postponements are granted. Does anybody want to speak to the postponements? Alright good deal , mayor. Ryan alter his now or later, but clearly it's now, I just wanna talk real quickly about the birdie of pad kind of wine. I'm looking to postpone it for two weeks. You know, I know [2:03:14 PM] that when we're dealing with things of this scale developments of the scale that we always want to get it right. But for something like this, where it's located in such an environmentally sensitive area, I want to be doubly sure. And so I know there are a lot of feelings and opinions about this project. And I just want to have a little more time to listen to the community and I have had the chance to go and meet with the neighborhood association. I've had a chance to knock on some doors in the in the neighborhoods and hear what what they're thinking. But I just really want to dive deeply into the environmental impacts, both to Barton creek, the greenbelt and. Being over the Edwards aquifer recharge zone. Just want to look at that a little more closely. The affordability impacts of this, and the mobility impacts. How it relates to project connect and other things we're trying to do so just a little extra time to make [2:04:16 PM] sure it's exactly how we want it to be. So thank you. Council member members, I got the motion and a vote before we ask for people to come up and talk. And so, I want to make sure that if anybody wants to speak on the postponement, they have the ability to do that. If so, if we have people that come and speak on the merits of the postponement, and we want to change your mind on one of these items at that time, except a motion to reconsider. But until that time I'll hold off on that. Apologize would you like to tell us who wants to talk? Yes mayor . The first speaker is speaking remotely on items 74 Cynthia Johnson. Hello this is Cynthia Johnson, and I'm, a resident of the south boggy creek neighborhood. Job and I would like to speak about the C 14. [2:05:18 PM] Dash 2021. The zero woman 233 zoning case. And I had been maybe with some of the neighbors. And we have some concerns about this development. Our number. One concern is that development is right on top of the south, boggy creek recharge zone. And. I live on the creek on the other side of Dittmar. It's one of the only green spaces left and this part of Austin. And we're concerned about the environmental impact. And also the impact. On flooding of our houses. Because. Some of the houses in the neighborhood in the last two big quads, which [2:06:18 PM] I think was 2000. 6 13 and then 2016. That was the onion creek flood. South body creek came up to the back of our houses. And that's pretty close. And so. With this huge development going in the end. We're really afraid of that. Flooding impact and we're concerned about flooding abatement. As well as the environmental impact we've already had. Loss of so much green space. And while life here in this area of south Austin, which has been rapidly underdevelopment and so we also have one of the largest shopping centers in central taxes south part that we feel like we have. A lot of choices with commercial [2:07:20 PM] enterprises and businesses. And addition. Thank you, ma'am. Mar is a small street. Yeah Johnson . I'm sorry, but your time has expired. We appreciate your testimony. Mayor. That's all the remote speakers I have right now, so I'm gonna switch over to in person. Can I can I ask you to not do that right now? Can we can we wait one second, but I'd like to do and I don't know whether this is the way it's been done in the past, but I'd like to ask miss harden to come back up and go through the consent items so that I can open a here public hearings on all of those consent items and they would be in the testimony would then be part of that so that we'll have a clean opening and closing of the public hearings. Is that all right? Good. Thank you. [2:08:23 PM] So many or did you want me to read? All the items into the record or. I would like for you to put consent agenda and play, okay? So, you're. You're zoning agenda begins with item number 63 which is C 14 2022 0070 and, as noted, this is being offered for step postponement to your March. 23rd council meeting item. 64 C 14 2022 0015. Again, this item is being offered by a staff house moment. March 23rd council meeting item. 65 is in P a 2022 10.3 this silence being offered for consent as first reading only item 66 is C 14 2020 0143 this item has been offered as an applicant postponement to your favorite February 9th council meeting. 67 [2:09:23 PM] is seen 14 2022 0049, this sign is being offered as an applicant postponement to your February 9th council meeting. Item. 68 mph. 2022 21.2, this is a step postponement your March 9th council meeting and I'm 69 is M P a 2022 00 to 9.1. This item is being offered for consent. First reading only item seven. Related, rezoning case item seven D C. 14 2022 0094 design is being offered for consent on first reading, and I'm 71 is the one for our beat. 1033 R. C a again this is, council member ran alter postponement to your February 9th council meeting the related rezoning the 814 2021 0099. Postponement by customer Ryan alternative. There were ninth meeting. I am 73 14 2022 [2:10:26 PM] 0153, the son was being offered for consent on all three readings. Item. 74 is an item that's being offered for consent to all three readings, which is the 14 2020 21 0123. I can read the motion or I can come back and do that. What is your preference? Mayor please go through and then come back and we'll okay, special attention. I don't okay. Before okay? I don't 75 is C 14 2022 0135. This is items offered for consent on all three readings. I don't 70 61 4 2022 0137. This item is being offered for consent on all three readings. 77 C 148 2022 0073. This is being offered for postponement by council member qadri to your February 9th meeting. 78 14 2022 0211, the final spin offered Parkinson and all three ratings 79 is in P a 2022 00 to eight point oh, two. [2:11:27 PM] This item is being offered for consent and all three readings. 80 is 2021 10.1. Is being offered for consent on all three readings and lastly and I'm 81 to 14 2021 0191 silence being all report consent on all three readings and know that you'll need to still hear from speakers. So any item that I have offered for consent. Of course, any council member knows that they can pull that item after they hear from the speaker's discussion. We're going to do that. Based on the suggestion I had this morning after we've had any testimony. I will then ask if anybody has something they want to pull. But I want to go back to 74 members . 70 for what you heard every item is offered on consent number. 74 has a proposed amendment by council member Fuentes. So it asked that you lay out the amendment. The way the way I intend to deal with that is if it's still part of [2:12:27 PM] the consent agenda, I will read it as item number, not remember 74 passing as amended so that we'll have a record on that. Please go ahead. Of course. So it is a men part to dps follows. And as the end of part two D. The sentence excluding the 72 ft at the southern property line, where peaceful hill line is peaceful hill lane will intersect with a future right away extension of their most drive westward. And then a man part two F S follows striking the beginning and adding a building or structure on track one and located in height limit area one may not exceed the height limit shown on exhibit deep track one height limit exhibit. A building or structure on track one and located the height limit area, too. May not exceed the height shown in exhibit D track, one height limit exhibit and then three at [2:13:29 PM] a new section 12 part two to read as follows. All commercial uses are prohibited uses within 70 ft of the western property line on track one and then lastly, exhibit D shall be a minute to add an additional height limit area. And to depict height limit area one and height limit area too. And with that, and after your boat, this is still offered for consent on all three readings with that amount. Are there any questions before I opened the public hearing? Questions of staff. Thank you very much. Thank you. Open the public hearing on the zoning consent agenda as it was offered by staff. And now if you don't mind, please call folks that want to testify. Yes mayor. The first speaker is Heather hubs on items 65. [2:14:30 PM] Revising and improving the holly neighborhood plan could be an extremely impactful step in solving the ever so prevalent housing crisis in Austin. Hello I am Heather hubs, and I'm, a 16 year old physics student at the university of Texas at Austin. I began my educational journey this spring semester and from only being in Austin for less than a month, I have already directly seen the effects of gentrification in single family zoning through volunteering. I have had the opportunity to speak with and interact with the homeless population in the city . While doing this, I discovered that some, if not most of the homeless individuals are employed or a student who can simply not afford housing. Particular individual I spoke with lived out of their car with their pet because they simply could not afford Austin rent. If we already begin to see the impact of displacement and gentrification without change, the effects will only worsen if times if items such as 65 do not get approved in the future, Austin will be fully unaffordable and people will be displaced two areas. So just stand markets and Kyle, Texas, where the rent is nearly half of [2:15:30 PM] the price of the rent in Austin. Displacement of individuals are also affected by higher transportation costs in a lower quality of life. Single family zoning and higher housing costs often lead to rapid declines in diversity of cities. I bring this to the council today in hopes that the value and well being of Austin citizens will be considered. I'd also like to bring the age of the land use code into consideration. The land use code was written in 1984, making the code almost three times my age. I believe that the land use coach should be seriously revised to conform to today's housing needs and address the housing crisis in Austin and surrounding areas. With the approval and revision of the 22 year old Hollywood neighborhood, holly neighborhood plan we would steer in the right direction of solving our housing crisis. Thank you. Thank you. So how old you say you were university? Congratulations to you and thank you for being here with us and providing your testimony. Mister mayor. May I? Yes echo your sentiment. Thank you for being here. And it's [2:16:31 PM] interesting to me that after a month in Austin, you're already presenting for us at the podium. Something tells me we're gonna see a lot of you and I look forward to it. Awesome. We're happy to have you have you here? Thank you. Yes, ma'am. John stokes for item 74. Hi. My name is John stokes. I've been a member of the peaceful hill preservation society since I moved to peaceful hill, which was nine years ago. Object to consent on the following reasons. There was an outstanding prc, which is not been negotiated. With anybody on peaceful hill lane. And there needs to be time to do that, because they're quite contentious issues. So we're recommending that this be read, [2:17:32 PM] approved on first reading but held off on final approval until 2nd and 3rd reading to give us a couple of weeks, which would be the next council meeting. To work out these issues. There's just too many loose ends here, too. Do this all in one consent. So there's a couple of outstanding issues. One is the treatment of the natural vegetative buffer. There is disagreement about that. There's also, unaddressed at this point construction issues such as construction time location of construction vehicles. Parking of construction vehicles, paths of construction vehicles. These are all things that need to be nailed down before we have a final. Reading so I would just ask you to, hold off on that. I think that the only way the applicant will be encouraged to meet us halfway on some of these things, as if they have another two weeks to think about it. Thank you very much, and I'll answer any questions at this time. Thank you, sir. Appreciate [2:18:32 PM] your time and being here. Sam borrows item 74. Okay thank you . Margaret Valenti item 74. Afternoon mayor mayor pro tem my name is and council members. My name is Margaret Valenti and I live on peaceful hill lane. I'm speaking today as a representative of the peaceful hill preservation association on this case number C 14 2021-123. My neighbors and I call this project of 43 43 acre peaceful hill lane, peaceful hill Burt hill lane south congress project. I thank you for the [2:19:33 PM] opportunity to speak, and I'd like to thank my neighbors. John stokes, Rene petty, John. Sam barrows. May I borrow and the many others who have been involved in discussions regarding this project for 18 months, however, over the last 48 hours we've been working very closely with council member of Fuentes and her staff. To work out resolution and clarity on some remaining outstanding items Johnstone has mentioned. One of them a private, restrictive covenant. That address is a 30 ft vegetate undisturbed vegetative buffer. Along the western property line property line of track. One a prc has not been presented to us. However it has been presented to a neighborhood association that's half a mile away from the property who is not engaged with us. It's we don't understand why the prc has been presented to a different neighborhood association. This neighborhood [2:20:33 PM] association does not buffer the project tracked. It's not a long, peaceful hill is not alarmed south congress avenue so it's kind of a curiosity to us why the applicant agent has not come to us with prc. So that's an outstanding item that we're still trying to get resolved. I know the council member just read into the record. A number of issues that we discussed, but I'm unclear on one of them, which was correction of the ordinance language. Do you want to dress that was fast? It always feels that way, doesn't it does? Yes. Thank you. And thank you, Maggie for testifying. I'll ask to be here with my team to come down real quick, so she can have a conversation. Okay? I appreciate that. Thank you very much. Thanks for your time and welcome. Welcome back mayor Watson and to the new mayor's council members. Welcome to city hall. Yeah. Thank you. Mayor. That was all the in person we have. But we do have one more [2:21:36 PM] remote color that just called in the nobody. Joseph for items 69 70. Thank you. Mayor council, Zenobia Joseph. My comments are specifically related to comments that are in Heather Chapman. Staff report. I'm specifically referring to comments by 20 year resident rob Halverson, where he talks about the traffic in the area and the fatalities. So he's concerned about the inability of pedestrians to cross Cameron road safely. And I just want to remind you that earlier today you actually discussed the capital metro board appointment and they're respectfully. I just want to refer. I think this is relevant. That the senate bill 1263 sponsored by you and 81st session. Specified that two members would be appointed by city of Austin. Only one of those members must be an elected official, and the other person could be a citizen. Someone [2:22:38 PM] who's a transit dependent writers, so I would ask you to recall that vote and allow the public to give input on that appointment and the reason it's relevant to this particular cases because according to Mr Halverson, he mentioned but accidents, injuries and fatalities over the years, and he also mentions if you look at his October 28th 2022 Gmail in the back of materials that they've been crashes in his yard as well. And so I want you to recognize that that area is unsafe. And I have advocated relentlessly to try to get the 801 southbound chinatown stopped close. That is Watkins has been deaf. To what I've said tone depth councilman report has been tone deaf, and so I would ask you not to take my word for the dangers in this area, but to actually do a little road trip yourself. Park your cars. Take a walk on Cameron little. I was actually on Cameron road crossing with the lady and her [2:23:39 PM] son. She was using her walker and he was looking at the countdown and said, mom, come on, let's go. And so I just want you to recognize that it's dangerous. I would also ask the staff to be transparent. I know that three of the 23 units will be 60% area median income. Well what will the area median income be for the rest? I would just point to you, the St John's property is about one mile away , and that's 526 years. Joseph jungle recall to find that 1928 thank you. Speaker expired at the time if you have any questions thank you. Sorry. That concludes all the speakers we have for zoning. Thank you very much. And thank you to all the speakers. Members. Is there any objection to closing the public hearing on the items listed on the zoning consent agenda? Hearing none. The public hearings are closed on the zoning consent agenda. Members is there anyone that wishes to pull an item from the consent [2:24:40 PM] agenda? Hearing none. The items will stay on the consent agenda members. We have anyone that wishes to show an abstention or recusal from the consent agenda. Seeing none are there any members of the council who wish to be shown voting no on the consent agenda. Again. The chair here is none. So the charity intends to take up this consent agenda by unanimous consent. And that will include that we will not include any recusals abstentions or no votes. Is there any objection to adopting the consent agenda? Hearing none . The consent agenda is adopted with no no votes. Can I was gonna go to next? Anybody would like to make some very brief remarks. Thank you. First, I'd like to think our residents from district to who testified today, both in person and over the phone. I know that this [2:25:41 PM] particular zoning case has been, in the works for 18 months and has been a topic of conversation amongst our neighborhoods. And so I just want to appreciate everyone's time that they volunteered to be part of this process to have a say in the changes coming to the area, so I just want to share my gratitude with them and then also for the record, I didn't want to read in, some direction. That the extension of foremost drive and the intersection of foremost drive and peaceful hill lane will comply with the transportation criteria manual design criteria and will apply best practices for speed mitigation and intersection, safety. Thank you. Any other comments on the consent agenda. Alright members there being no further business to come before the Austin city council at this regular meeting of the Austin city council. Without objection , we will be observed adjourned . If there is objection, feel free to stay. Is there any objection hearing? None. We are [2:26:42 PM] adjourning mayor pro tem. This is not an objection, but you set the bar too high, and I'm afraid you'll never be able to clear it again. I appreciate your sentiment with that without objection. We are adjourned.