City Council Regular Meeting Transcript – 3/23/2023 Title: ATXN-1 (24hr) Channel: 1 - ATXN-1 Recorded On: 3/23/2023 6:00:00 AM Original Air Date: 3/23/2023 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. [10:00:48 AM] Good morning, everybody I'll call to order the meeting the regular scheduled meeting of the Austin city council, it is March 23rd 2023. It's 10 o'clock in the morning. We are meeting at in the city council chambers at Austin city hall. And what I'll do members is I wanna first kind of tell you and tell the public the order that we will be going in for today's meeting so that we can move efficiently and people will know what's up. We're going to hear the consent and non consent speakers. And we'll hea both those in person and virtually although we'll start with the virtual speakers. We will then go to the consent vote withef comments from members. Let me announce, by the way, I need to ask the clerk I know we have a council member that wants to be here remotely, and I don't see her on the [10:01:49 AM] screen. Correct R a V staff is working directly with her. Okay very good. And so let me just announce I should have done this at the very beginning. We have, a quorum and we have one person that's going to be watching around me, and that's remotely or participating remotely, and that's council member Alison alter and all announce when I look up and see her on the screen. I'm sorry. Let's go back . We'll go to the consent vote with brief comments from members. We will then take non consent items on the public hearings on 50 65 66 take up the associated item to the to the public hearing. On item number 67. We will close the public hearing and take immediate action on those items. I want to clarify something so that everybody knows what we're doing with regard to speakers. Anyone registered to speak on a public hearing and the associated idle [10:02:50 AM] 65 66 67. Will be heard during the consent speakers. Because we're just gonna roll right into those. And so we're just gonna take those all together. So if someone has signed up to speak on 65 66 or 67, you'll be called as part of the consent speakers and members. What I will do is when we go to those speakers. I will open the public hearing on those at that point in time, depending upon what time in the morning it is. We'll recess the regular meeting and called the Austin housing and finance corporation meeting to order following that we will call the Austin housing public facility corporation meeting to order well, here's from speakers will , if any, will act and we will adjourn those meetings separately. Then we will take up. The items that have been pulled from the consent agenda. And I'll call out those here in just a minute. At noon, we'll hear public comment will have the live music and at two P.M. [10:03:52 AM] We will take up zoning, speakers, discussion and action. I'm going to read the corrections, the changes and corrections into the record. Item number 11 is withdrawn. Item number two mark should read March 2020 23, recommended by the electric utility commission on a 60 vote with commissioners Bowen virtual hadn't and Juncker absent and one vacancy item number 20 is withdrawn item number 28 should read March 15 2023, recommended by the downtown commission on a 7 to 0 vote. Adam 64 postponed to may 18 2023 at their two o'clock pm time certain request to postpone related zoning cases. Items 74 number 75 to may 18th 2023 will be made. Item number 79. A valid petition has been filed and opposite opposition to this zoning request. Items that have [10:04:56 AM] been pulled off the consent agenda. And after we have speakers, I will ask again if there's anyone that wants to pull additional items, but I want for the record people to know the items pulled off the agenda. Item number 25 pulled by council member qadri item 56 pulled by council member pool item 57. Pulled by mayor Watson . Item number 58 was pulled by mayor Watson. But members it will be offered back on consent. With version two. A small change was made and you all have had a copy of version two so 58 will actually be on consent as version to item number 60 pulled by mayor Watson and item number 84 pulled by mayor Watson. For it so that. The ones I pulled or so that I know there are amendments that are going to be offered and I want to make sure they're pulled so we can offer [10:05:57 AM] those amendments. Before we start. Are there any questions from members of the council? Madam clerk. How close are we? If you know to having the other council member available? I've reached out to the manager to contact her directly and assist her. Okay? I don't know. Well, that's fair answer. Okay, well, then we're going to start with oh, good. Great timing. Casper. Ralls, can you hear me? Yes I can hear you. Thank you. Thank you. Just so you know all you've heard all you've missed is me reading so you've just missed my voice, and I know that's something we all want to hear. But so we're now up to the speakers. Members I'm going to open the public hearing on itemsnumber 65 66. The first group of [10:06:59 AM] speakers will have the opportunity to testify on consent and non consent agenda items and in the public hearing on 65 66, the speaker signed up on other zoning items will be called upon at two o'clock. Each speaker will have two minutes minutes. Madam clerk turn it over to you. First speaker is Sanjay shah qadri speaking on item 11. Yeah, I just, I mentioned I manage speed businesses, Jason to the candlewood. In district six. My vote is obviously withdrawn that item. Do you need to pay the bills and repair that building? However, I just want to mention that doesn't include all the other repairs. That would be needed to the candlewood. There [10:08:02 AM] was extensive damage to the doors, tp walls. Cables. Steve often spent. 9.55 by the candlewood. Ah then, now the cost to repair the water clean up. And then obviously the, prepared from the vandalism, which probably will be about hmm . Another million dollars. And then that's before the million and a half renovations. And then obviously there's 24 7 security since last may. Things like this hotel is getting pretty expensive. I know that Travis county did a partnership with the other one foundation spent three million only three million and they'll be able to help 200 people. So and the word is about at least 10 times the amount of with less result. I just want to [10:09:05 AM] highlight media cost the hotel strategy. Thanks. Thank you, sir. And council members. In the changes of corrections, you'll note that item number 11 has been withdrawn. Madam clerk. Next speaker is William bunch speaking on item 42. Mr bunch, please on mute. Okay I'll go to in person speakers, speaking on the merits of the withdrawal are Sharon Blythe and rupaul Chaudhry on deck? [10:10:08 AM] Assuming Suren blight is not yours, so good morning, mayor and council I know item 11 is withdrawn and I wasn't for or against it. I just wanted to highlight few things. So if I have your permission, I would like to speak on it. The council's heart isn't in the wrong place. The homeless issue needs time care and attention, but the solution they have selected is in the wrong place. All of these locations are too far and lack the wraparound services that keep people from relapsing into homelessness, and that is the goal, a real solution that has permanent results for those that find themselves in these tragic solutions. Roof doesn't magically solve any of the underlying issues. If it did, we would see these exact program succeed in other cities. That is not what the data shows us. Compassion cannot be our Achilles heel when determining the course of action. These people experiencing homelessness need us to get it right, not programs because it does the bed [10:11:10 AM] minimum of making us those that have housing feel better. That should never be the end goal. Thank you so much. Next speaker is Kevin Welch on deck is Chris Harris, both speaking on item 25. Ladies and gentlemen council . My name is Kevin Welch. I'm the current president of the board of the F. F. Austin, a digital civil liberties advocacy group here in Austin. You may remember me from last year I discussed with many of you who are on thuncil the time around our cities alp policy. I'm here to encourage you to postpone voting on item 25. Well I agree that the acts on upgrade contract puts us in a difficult position. I actually believe that dash cams can be a useful tool for accountability when they're implemented correctly. But there's there's a lot of questions about implementation. We still don't have official policy from a P D complyingh the alps resolution that was [10:12:10 AM] released last year. We also don't have the feedback from the office police oversight yet and furthermore, we have not really had community input. One of the community put sessions was canceled due to the ice storm. The other gods embalmed, so we haven't heard from the citizens on this yet either. It's a complex issue, and I encourage you to postpone and gather more data and evidence, especially because acts since the data. To evidence dot com which means or it can get a hold of it, which means all the risks around prosecution for abortion, immigration status and gender affirming care. We all discuss last year are very present. We don't have any clarity if there is a firewall on the data, so I encourage you to the delay and new council members encourage you to reach out to E F F Austin. If you have any questions on this issue, thank you for your time. Next speaker is Chris Harris on deck is Wallace Lundgren. Gas Pena. [10:13:19 AM] If she's called your name when she calls your name. If you're on deck, you're following somebody. Please make it wait your way to the front seat so that we'll know you're here and we don't miss you. So what? Madam madam clerk, Mr Lundgren's here so after Mr Pena testifies, we should go back to him. Thank you. Ready. My name is Gustavo Pena, native east austenite. 23 27, east fifth street, united States Marine Corps, Vietnam veteran I'm over here to speak on. Sorry. Kirk. What was that number number? 46 number 46. Okay number 46? Yeah. It has to do with negotiation of amendment to agreement with Austin independent school district to provide programming for youth ending more funding. Yeah I don't think I used to be a teacher at a school in Austin community college community schools. You don't know what it [10:14:19 AM] means to have somebody help you out when you are poor. So that is a good item right here. And I'll leave it at that because I think you all have wisdom. Hopefully. To know what is right from wrong that we need this to pass it, so I have another agenda item. I guess you call me up when it's ready. Okay all right to the other one is, yeah. The other one is also about the firefighters, association contract, so I'll leave it at that. That's all I have to say. But one thing, Kirk, let me tell you something. Special agent. So you have somebody over here disrespecting me over here. Who? Every time I come over here, I don't like that. I have been here more times than they have or you or anybody else here. So I, you know, earn respect already. So when I talk to you, I'm gonna need to have a meeting with you, Jesus. Because this this is your purview right here. I am not to be profiled anymore. I'm not gonna put up with it. So [10:15:19 AM] I'll meet. I'll set up a meeting with you. Next speaker is Wallace Lundgren on items 23 on deck is Chris Harris, speaking on item 25. Good morning. I'm here to speak on Adam 23. I like to read it real quickly. This contract will provide. Training to Austin public health in restorative justice practices. Th is prioritizing building its organizational capacity to develop policies, procedures and programs that purpose focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. Continuation of that work is to enhance manager and supervisor skill sets around managing conflict in the workplace related to race, equity and social justice in a restorative and constructive manner. Life new restorative justice. We'll [10:16:22 AM] support a ph and developing an organizational structure, structure and practice that will enhance programs and services through data analysis. So the problem we're addressing yes, Austin public health is discriminatory, racist and not inclusive. The solution is to train managers. To train these people not to be like that. The cost is $324,000 the first year and 60,000 every year thereafter. Researched as much as I could track record of life in new and I don't want to be unfair, but all I could find was a tax line. I think you have three choices. I think you can study this further. You can turn it down completely. Are you gonna prove it? But I studied it for three days and I can't find anything that would not make me want to go further into the company. And the end result of [10:17:23 AM] what's going to happen after we give them $324,000. I heard years ago that religion and patriotism or the last two refuges of a scoundrel. I think that we might want to include diversity, equity and inclusion. Thank you. Chris Harris on deck is Salinas. I fried? 60. I'm here on item 25 without just say , doctor Sherwin patent and came patent that would like the new their their contributions to the community are unassailable. So I support life and, item. 25 he's a contract for, upgrading the dash cams the fleet to the fleet. Three across the entire patrol fleet as well as unmarked vehicles. Back in September, myself, along with a very large [10:18:25 AM] coalition of groupsadade our opposition and concerns with particularly the opr technology that will be integrated into these dash cams. Very known, this council passed the policy and its efforts to try to address many of those concerns. We have not seen a new policy from a P D that's Goin to govern the use of these dash cams. Of these a opr enhanced dash camps. We understand that the office of police oversight is also working on the policy related to these, in the absence of a policy governing the use of this technology again technology that you heard from many people in this community, those of you who are on this council back in September had a lot of concerns about, it would be foolhardy to approve this at this at this juncture, so at minimum, you all should wait until you have the policy in front of you. That's gonna govern how this new technology is. Used before you apove a $17 million contract. I know a lot of those years are optional, but almost $4 million are not optional, to implement [10:19:26 AM] tech again that you don't actually have a policy from a P D about how they intend to use it. And again in response to a lot, a lot of community concern . The other final point. I just raiseshat the that that, agreement that you all? That resolution you want passed back in September was $444,000. Now I understand. This is being integrated into the overall upgrade of your dash cams across the whole patrol fleet. But this is an almost $4 million contract . So please tell me how 143 $4000 agreement for a opr turns into $4 million. Thank you. Selena me? I'm sorry. I just wanted to thank you, mayor. I just want to ask our city manager if he could look into where we're at with the policy on the license plate. Readers will do that to make a note of number 25 has been pulled. So there'll be an opportunity for further discussion. Thank you, Mr ayers. Selena I speaking on item 16. Just for the record, [10:20:36 AM] mayor. We've tried to reach out to William bunch, and he is not answering. But we are going back to the remote speakers. Zenobia Joseph. Speaking on items 50 to 65 66 67. Thank you, mayor council. Zenobia, Joseph. My comments will be narrowly focused on items 65 the public hearing or respectfully there your methodology for public hearings is about as clear as mud, housing and urban development draft action plan specifies the smart housing policy as Mario T. I would just like to remind counsel that stands for safe mixed income except accessible. The reason we placed and transit oriented. That policy, however, has not been updated since 2008. And so what I want to call your attention is that it also [10:21:37 AM] specifies that implementing the displacement mitigation strategies and I want you to recognize that the actions you continue to take do not comply with the fair housing act of 1968. You are resegregating often and you're record if I in the 1928 land, which does not affirmatively further fair housing, specifically west of mopac is 80% area. Median income you may recall for west the loopy site as a private, restrictive covenant for 80% area median income. African Americans earn about $42,000 and hispanics earn about $50,000, which is below that threshold. I would also call to your attention that the Burlison project again you had a speaker earlier mentioned these sites are far east and west. If you have any questions, I'll gladly answer them at this time, and that's my time. That concludes [10:22:38 AM] all the speakers. Thank you members. We will now go to the consent items, so I want to ask. Are there any other items that any member would like to pull off of consent? Yes council member Fuentes mayor. I would like to keep on consent, but I did want to offer that I have direction on item number 40. That's the Austin public library strategic plan. I submitted direction. It was part of backup that was impaled on yesterday Wednesday, so I just want to make a note that make a note for members. Thank you. Any other items that somebody would like to pull from the consent agenda? May I believe it's been 25 25 has been pulled again. Item 25 56, 57, 60 and 84 will not be voted on as part of the consent agenda item 58, which was pulled from the consent agenda is back on utilizing version two of that emem. Is there anybody that [10:23:39 AM] would like to be shown abstaining from a vote on any of the consent items? Is there anyone that would like to be recused? We'd like to recuse themselves from voting on any of the consent items. Are there any S? No on any of the consent items. Yes Tim, I don't have any . I just noticed council member Kelly was off the diets, and she just may want some things read unless she's back to clarify those later. I've looked that direction too. That's why I saw you. Do we have any of her staff here? Well, I'll tell you what if she would like to record a no vote will allow her to if without objection, will allow her to record a no vote after she returns. Members. Is there any objection to the adoption of [10:24:39 AM] the consent agenda as red? Hearing none. The consent agenda is adopted. Members we will now close the public hearings on items mayor council member I was an altar has a question. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Council member, please. I made a missed it, but I had wanted to make up. Sorry. I can't hang on one second council member alter. Is there a way we can makitit where she can be heard? You hear me now? Yes. It's that loud enough. Yes. I had wanted to make a comment on the consent agenda. Yes, please feel free. Thank you , so I wanted to comment briefly on items 46 47, which are funding for prime time and the victory tutorial programs with Austin sd, through our partnership with Austin asd councils funded the prime time program, which provides out of school time and enrichment programming for kids, a title [10:25:39 AM] one schools since its inception. During the 2021 2022 school year , the prime time after school programs served 3634 students the 27 schools participating in primetime schools are designated as title one schools. In the fall semester of 2022 74% of students served by prime time where economically disadvantaged over 45% of the students are identified as having limited English proficiency and 16% of the students served by the program qualified for special education services. The pandemic has made it clear that our community depends on our public schools for far more than education. We rely on schools for a meal programs, childcare, extracurricular Richmond and much more. I would like to give a B big thanks to Austin eyes D empowered, awesome public health for these contracts and to express appreciation for our strong partnership with our local schools. It's never been more important to support one another. Investments in our communities, children have cascading social and economic benefits for generations. Last [10:26:39 AM] year, I sponsored direction to restore funding to theseprograms and then co sponsor council member topas budget amendment and direction to add funding to these contracts and also provide direction to staff that these contracts eventually become a part of the city's based budget. In response to that work. I'm really pleased to see these items on our agenda today, and I look forward to strengthening our partnership with a I S D and other I S D S even more in the coming years. And if any of my colleagues are interested in further supporting this work, please be in touch with me. Thank you. Thank you. Council member council member pool. I want to just to make some quick comments on item number three that our city clerk had brought and I wanted to thank the city clerk for bringing the item it clarifies lobbyist reporting dates and other immediate requirements before the next reporting deadline. There are some further additions. That I think are needed. Based on the last audit report my staff is working on those amendments with the city [10:27:40 AM] auditor and the legal department , in collaboration with council member Ryan alter and his staff . When those changes are ready, they'll go through the ethics review commission and then be reviewed by the audit and finance committee. And these changes include adding virtual meetings to the reporting requirement. And crafting a standardized method of reporting those changes should be ready in the coming weeks for the clerk to bring to the commission and to the audit and finance committee. Thank you. Thank you. Council member council member, Ryan alter. Well, she she jumped right where I was going. I was just gonna talk about item three. But I appreciate your work on this and look forward to working more on it in the future. Thank you. Cancer member qadri thank you, mayor. I'd like to talk about item 59 members, which I'm honored to bring forward as my first resolution today. Ah celebrating and building on the city's development of the equity based preservation plan. My resolution [10:28:41 AM] direct staff to look further into the city's incentive programs. For historic properties and bring back their recommendations with the plan. Historic preservation has an important role to play in Austin for affordability and equity. Like with any incentive program , we have to ensure our preservation incentives are crafted appropriately for the public benefit received in trade off for going that revenue for our city and our schools. I appreciate the feedback and support provided by our amazing housing and planning staff. The legal department planning commissioner of S as her preservation on Austin and then my co sponsors, council member, Ryan alter chaveleh mayor, pro temp, a jealous and council member, Jose Velasquez, and I really want to thank, I think we can all agree on the diet. Everything that's that's possible is possible due to stop I very much want to thank my staff from from from Sarah barge to tabular to Kayla Pritchard to [10:29:43 AM] Natalie Deller and preset mehmood. Thank you guys for taking a chance on me for working in the craffice. That is district nine, and I'm looking forward to doing a lot of other great work, so I look forward to seeing the final draft. Of the equity based preservation plan and working to initiating staff's recommendations. Thank you. Because remember, Fuentes, thank you. First and foremost on a congratulate counselor qadri on passing his first resolution. Congrats. I haven't voted yet. Oh I thought we was without objection. So colleagues I also wanted to provide my gratitude to counselor Ryan alter. And this day is for the items that we have before us focused on burying our power lines. This came as a result of the most recent winter storm that we went through and understanding that it's on us to create a more resilient Austin, these pair of politics before us, you know is that next step in the process for us to explore ways to how we [10:30:43 AM] can bury our power line, so I just want to thank everyone for their support on these items also want to give a special thanks to Mike tremble in the corridor office for his input and expertise, as well as Austin energy. And Jason Lopez in my office for his shepherding of this legislation and want to thank my co sponsors, council members, Ryan alter chief novella and Paige Ellis and those are what I want to say. Thank you. Can't remember. Kelly thank you and I do apologize for stepping off the dais for just a moment. I understand that you took abstentions and no votes asked for the okay. I'd like to be shown as abstaining from items 23 45. I am pleased to see that item. 11 was withdrawn from the agenda. There were several questions that my staff and I had related to that and we did get some clarity. But I just real for a moment. Want to let the community know that on that item? 78,000 out of the total. 78,628 out of the total amount [10:31:46 AM] on that item was specifically for pecan gardens, and it's necessary due to recent water damage, and I understand the importance and transparency of the item, and I want to reassure residents that their concerns are being heard. I do look forward to this item coming back to the council for approval due to the nature of the items so that we can ensure that pecan gardens is set up properly for the community to be able to utilize in the manner twitch council has approved and then I also want to thank council member Fuentes for version two of item 58 for including my proposed amendment in that I appreciate that very much. Thank you. Oh, Tim. Thank you, mayor. There's a couple items on this agenda that I'm really excited about. And I will hold my comments about the polled items for later. But the public library strategic plan, looking at ways to expand the ability for people to enjoy our local public libraries, something that is near and dear to our hearts in district eight. A lot of [10:32:47 AM] folks know that our Hampton branch library is the only public facing meeting room that southwest Austin has that that the city owns. So it's really important that we treat that library well, it's already undergone a few repairs in the last couple of years, but I just recently learned that it is the second most frequented library in the a P. L system. And so we're really proud about how much that library services the families in our community item. 41 is parks and recreation department renovations, so we're excited to see zilker clubhouse renovations as well as the Barton springs bathhouse moving forward. We know those spaces are really important to folks who go into zilker park and 42 is an extension of an agreement or adding money into an agreement for the violet crown trail extension. We're always appreciative of the hill country conservancy and their stewardship of the natural environment, especially in southwest Austin. And so we are very excited to see the next steps moving forward. And 51 is for a cat metro in our local [10:33:47 AM] agreement to improve accessibility to bus stops. And so I know there's always a lot of conversation about how to improve accessibility and where to spend the dollars and so I look forwa T to continuing to advocate for district date bus stops and helping make sure people have access to public transit in southwest Austin. Thanks. Thank you. Memrsrs is there. Are there any objections to the adoption of the consent agenda? Yes, councilman Alison alter. I apologize. I just realized that for item 50. I had some outstanding questions on L a, and I'm wondering if those will be able to be answered today or not, you know, there's a time sensitivity. This is the L. A with the county. But one of the questions had to do with the effective date. I'm not sure that that one can wait. We will. So maybe we should pull that we pull that item and we'll try to come back to it later in the day. Are there any other items [10:34:49 AM] that anyone wants to pull or comment on? That being the case is there any objection to the adoption of the consent agenda? Hearing none. The consent agendas adopted with councilor kelly being shown as abstaining on items 23 45. Is there any objection to closing the public hearings on out of 65 66 hearing ? None those public hearings are closed. We will now take up item number 67. Which is the affiliated item to 65 66. Is there a motion? Council member available moves approval of item number 67 is there a second? Seconded by council member qadri. Is there any objection to the motion? Hearing none. The motion is adopted. Members we will, without objection, we will recess the meeting of the Austin city council. And I now call to order the board of directors of [10:35:50 AM] the Austin housing finance corporation. It is March 23rd 2023. We're convening at 10:35 A.M. We're convening in the city counciambers at Austin city hall. Our first call on the staff to walk us through the hfc agenda. Good morning, Mr president board of directors. My name is Jamie may I'm the housing and community development officer for the house complaining department. We have one item on your agenda today. This is to approve a resolution appointing in establishing the terms of the board of director the directors of the boards for 23 nonprofit corporations. These are the 23 non private corporations that own our partnership deals. Everything from Aldridge 51 in Mueller, too. Seabrook square, which is just outside of Mueller and other other properties. Not near Mueller. I offer this on consent. Members of anyone have any questions of staff. Are [10:36:52 AM] there any speakers on this item? Yes mayor. One speaker Zenobia, Joseph. Miss Joseph. Miss Joseph, please on mute. She's on the line. She's just not responding. Miss Joseph, if you're on the line, would you please mute and you have the opportunity to testify on this Austin housing finance corporation. Item number one. Okay we will go to item number one, remember the president of the board intends to take this up as a consent item. There was anyone, want to be shown as [10:37:53 AM] recusing themselves or abstaining or voting no council member Kelly abstaining, please . Alright, council member, Kelly will be shown as abstaining. I want to make sure that those that are I'm not missing those that are, observin remotely. We have two council members doing that, and that's council member alter and council member harper-madison do any of you. Either of you want to be shown as voting, no abstaining or recusing yourself very good. How to entertain a motion to adopt the consent agenda, which is hfc item number one is that motions made by councilor Fuentes seconded by board member of vela, is there any objection to the motion? Hearing none. The motion is adopted with council member Kelly be shown voting no without objection. They also housing finance corporation. Border directors meeting is I'm sorry, Mary said I voted no, I abstained. Thank you. Correct. Thank you apologize for that. [10:38:56 AM] Without objection, the Austin housing finance corporation and finance corporation border directors meeting is adjourned. It is 10 38. 10 39 am I will now call to order the Austin housing public facility corporation meeting at 10:39 A.M. Staff good for us again. Yes, sir. You have two items on this agenda. This is to approve the minutes from your seventh member 29th 2022 meeting and to approve an inducement resolution for a Scala nueva, which is a property at, developed by general G N. D. C Guadalupe neighborhood development corporation is 114 units, 86 of which are affordable at 50% median family income. And it also has a total of 12 3 bedroom units. This is a private activity bonds 4 $30 million and I offer this on consent. Thank you. Madam clerk. Do we have any speakers that have signed up to speak to the [10:39:57 AM] border directors of the Austin housing public facility corporation. No there are no speakers for the H P. F. C. Thank you. Members of the president intends to take up. This is a consent agenda. Are there any are there any members of the board that wish to be shown recusing themselves abstaining from the vote or voting no on either of the two items. All right, look up and make sure I'm covering those that are virtually with us. Do you wish to be shown? Okay, everybody's good. They're very good. Is there a motion to adopt the consent agenda of the Austin housing public facility corporation meeting? Council member board member pool makes the motion seconded by board member Ellis. Is there any objection to the motion? Hearing none. The motion is adopted without objection. I adjourned the Austin housing public facilities corporation meeting and it is 10. I'm sorry, council member board member alter Alison alter. I was waiting until you [10:41:01 AM] had recessed you'd gone back. Sorry. I was adjourning the Austin housing public corporation meetings so that we could go back to the council meeting. Which would you like to comment on I just wanted to let you know that I got the answer to my question for item 50 and I would like to move passage of that at the appropriate okay, then I when I get us back, that's the first thing we'll do I. That's why I was saying I was waiting till Renteria. I want to make sure we're clear without objection. We're adjourning the Austin housing public facility corporation meeting. That meeting is adjourned. I now call back to order. The Austin city council. It is 10:41 A.M. And I'll recognize council member Alison alter for emotion. Thank you. I was able to get my questions answered for the L a for item 50 with the county and I will move approval. Please 2nd 2nd by the mayor pro Tim, is there any objection to the [10:42:01 AM] motion? Hearing none. The motion is adopted. Thank you, council member. Members that will take us to count to item number 25. We're gonna go to the pool, the items that have been pulled and we'll go in the order of 25 56 57, 60 and 80 for mayor, mayor pro tem wanted to flag that item . 84 council member Ryan altars on power lines has a version three that incorporates my amendment that was circulated earlier, so I don't know if that when we can just do at some point. We need to have a policy or a mechanism where we're if we're going to amend, we go forward with the amendments. If we're not going to amend, we go with the versions, but it really would make it easier if we do that. Not on the dais and we go. But if there's a version three, I haven't seen it. I have seen the amendments. We've got a little [10:43:05 AM] time before we get to this. So if somebody has a version three that they would like to make available then let's let's get version three out there, otherwise I'll just come back back to it as an amendment. It has been circulated, but I understand the need for time to review. Yes, huh. It's not yet in backup. It's not and I'm told it's not yet in backup. So if we get to 80 for one, I'll probably do is just do it the way we were going to do it, which is an amendment. I appreciate everybody trying to make these where it's easier, but it's not that much eieier. When it happens as we call up the island. I think I pulled up item number 25. So now we're at item number 25 council member qadri. Thank you, mayor. I would just like to bring forward staff to get clarification on item 25 if I can. Yes, counselor. Yes sir. [10:44:11 AM] Could you clarify how the item today item 25 would work in conjunction with the resolution that was passed? Last September . Yes sir. Sir my name is Sheldon asking lieutenant with the police technology unit for the dais. I'm not sure if everyone's familiar thank you for this opportunity to talk to you today. So with respect to item number 25 the awesome police department, working in conjunction with the ctm public safety unit. It is currently trying to replace approximately 450 older in car camera systems , which are the Panasonic arbitrator systems, and what we're trying to do is replace that technology with the latest technology are iteration. If you will. That's that's offered by axon fleet. Three that system does, in fact, have helped technology built into it. But we, the police department are not planning to turn that feature on at this point. Because we recognize the fact that the council has set forth in the resolution in fy 23. The [10:45:11 AM] requirements that we have got to abide by. We're in the process of working through that. And so we are planning to come back to council to talk to you all about Al pr. And turning that functionality on, but this particular replacement would be to focus on again. The aging fleet of the 450 vehicles that I spoke about. Got it. So I'm sorry. Just if I'm if I'm getting this right, so acts acts on services. I know they work directly with evidence .com. And that connection to normally not be turned off. So that's correct , sir. It can't the axon to evidence .com cannot be turned off. That's correct. But the lpr feature that's built into the fleet. Three systems can be turned off at a global level, and it will only be managed at a global level. The individual officers do not have and will not have the functionality, the ability to turn it on and off. So I guess my concern is that [10:46:11 AM] evidence com provides evidence on demand for any law enforcement agency who pays for bouquets them so it could be eyes it could be dps, etcetera. Do you understand that to be true as well? Also the evidence .com platform itself is the digital evidence management system that the Austin police department has access to per contract. And our evidence does , in fact, go into that system. Evidence is only shared in the event that we authorize it to be shared. Yes, sir. Well yeah. What I understand is that if anyone pays for it, it could it could be shared. Anyone pays for it, so yeah, it's on demand for any law enforcement agency who pays for it. Right but the evidence for the Austin police department wouldn't be shared unless we approved the sharing of yes, sir. Yes so I mean, I just you know that I've just based off of that. There's just some contradicted to the data sharing regulation requirements from the resolution about you know, candies. Cameras be used to prosecute things in cases of abortions, immigration status. [10:47:13 AM] You know, if you know, etcetera, etcetera, so I mean, these these are just I guess my concerns when it comes to this. So what I'd like to do, at least for the time being is just to call for a postponement just to figure out how to make sure that item 25, which is what we're taking up today is compliant. Fully and properly with last year's resolution, I know it's been mentioned by speakers. It's very important to take in to taking public council member, was talking. I was informed earlier. I think it's important for you have the policy that we're gonna be using for this, so I would like to have the opportunity to get that policy completed, reviewed by assistant manager mills and then have it reviewed with the council so you'd understand what we're doing before we bring this item back. Yeah, that that works. Yeah, qadri. I'm going to recognize your statement as a motion to postpone item number 25. Is there a second that motion? Second by councilman Puentes council member Kelly I'm just curious to know if us postponing [10:48:14 AM] this item will create any problems with negotiating the contract or any delay would prevent us from being able to move forward in any way. Potentially has adverse effects . Mom the fleet, obviously at the Austin police department is constantly aging, and some of those vehicles are pulled off line because of collisions and or mileage reasons. Every year, the police department purchases approximately 100 vehicles, so when those new vehicles can to the police department, we have to equip those vehicles and part of that equipment is, of course , the in car camera systems themselves, so there is the potential for it to have an adverse effect. Our intention, of course, was to upgrade. To the fleet three system because that's again the next iteration of this technology. It's unclear to me as as I stand here today, whether or not there is another option, so, yes, it could have an adverse effect. Okay and then it was my understanding that the draft alp policy was shared during the community input sessions held about Al prs. Is that correct? It was ma'am. [10:49:16 AM] There were two community input meetings that were held. The police department chief. Greenwalt has been working directly with the Joyce James group, as well as the officer, police oversight. To finish that policy. It's not quite done yet , but there has been significant progress in the completion of that. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. And then for the council member who motion to postpone I was wondering if you could clarify when you'd like to postpone until yeah. I mean, just, you know, I think it's important what inter manager Garza said. To get us there's an echo. To get us the policies. First of all I learned just a few months ago there was a policy that's not complete yet. So I'd likeoo find out exactly what it is. That policy can be finished, notwithstanding that it may have been shared with people in the community 1st 2nd with all things I mean, in terms of adverse impact. When we don't replace vehicles when we don't there's lots of things we do. Has some risk and there's some risk in this, but it's not an [10:50:16 AM] unacceptable risk. Thank you. That's where Bela just briefly, so this contract is really more about the replacement of the dash cams. It's not directly related to the alps. That's correct. That's correct, sir. Okay? Ah and I mean I just for reference in the backup. It says that and not limited to implementation implementation improvement of an automated license plate reader, you know, so that's where that caught our Tention. And that's where we're coming from. We're like, wait a second. We haven't you know, seen the policies. We haven't seen anything else attached to this. And then the other question that I had ah! The funding for this also is not related to the can't remember the amount but you know, with the 300,000 or 100, 70,000 or so that was directly linked to the lpr program. Are we talking about two separate, budget [10:51:17 AM] items? Totally separate, sir. Yes, sir. Okay I just wanted to clarify that. Thank you. Yes, sir. Thank you. Mayor, pro Tim. Just clarifying. Did we pick a date? Are we saying two weeks I was going to do is, asked that in order to allow for time. I want to make sure that it doesn't create a compromise for the city manager. I was going to ask that counseling qadri amend his motion to set a time certain or a date certain of April 20th. But I want to make sure before we do that the city manager feels comfortable with that date . That should be enough if we get a chance to visit in circle with each other. Yes sir. Absolutely so as a council member, qadri moves to amend his main motion to set a date certain of April 20th it's seconded B councilor pool. Is there any objection to the amendment to the motion? Hearing none. The amendment is adopted [10:52:17 AM] that will take us back to the main motion, which is a motion to postpone this item number 25 until April, 20th. 2023 is there any objection to that motion? Hearing none. The motion is adopted. Thank you. Council item number 56 recognize council member Kelly mayor. Thank you for recognizing me. My micron. Okay, mayor. Thank you for recognizing me before I make a motion. I've heard some concerns from colleagues regarding this resolution, and I'd like to allow for more time for discussion and debate. Therefore I'd like to make a motion to postpone this item to a later council meeting. I will make a message board post today and I'd like to give the opportunity for the members who have concerns to voice their concerns and reply to that post and I strongly encourage they do so. Additionally because I plan to bring back this resolution again for another council meeting for a full vote. I intend on pulling this item for work session for public discussion with my colleagues to ensure that all concerns input regarding this [10:53:17 AM] em or worked out in a public setting. I trust that my colleagues will give me the courtesy to provide me with all the information I need so that all of their concerns and answers to their questions are satisfied before a vote. Asthma. Kelly moves to postpone item number 56 to April 20th. I'll second that motion. Is there any discussion or objection to the motion? Hearing none.hehe motion is adopted and I remember 56 is postponed until April 20th I don't number 57. Item number, 57 was pulled for purposes of allowing potential amendments. Jasmine Ryan alter recognized I moved to adopt. I remember 57. Is there a second seconded by [10:54:18 AM] council member pool council member Kelly, you're recognized for potential amendment. Yes thank you. And thank you for bringing this forward council member Ryan alter. I moved to amend line 39 as follows. It, says services department. I add the Austin code department and then it says it Austin transportation department. Etcetera. Motions made by a council member, Kelly to amend item number 57 you've heard the amendment. Is there a second to the amendment, seconded by council member Ryan alter the maker of the main motion? Is there any objection to amendment number one by Kelly? Hearing none. Amendment number one is adopted, will now go back to the main motion as amended council member. We have we have the main motion as amended. I'm sorry. You're right. Council member Alison alter. I apologize. You have a you have a second proposed second amendment members. I think the amendment sheet that you received it has in the upper right hand corner [10:55:20 AM] item number 57. The motion sheet says motion to amend item 72, T it is item number 57 where she is, and I'll turn it to her . But I want to make sure everybody has it in front of them if they want to. She's amending. Beginning online's 47 48 council member, Alison alter, I apologize. Thank you. And I appreciate you catching that that clerical air there, so I would like to make a motion and then the second I'll speak to it online's 47 48 identifying the most challenging issues for staff and industry and implementing criteria. Manuals would like to add the words for public and private projects, including but not limited to the city of Austin projects and you members. You've heard the motion by council member Alison alter to amend item number 57. Is there a second to that motion, seconded by council member Ryan alter, the maker of the main motion recognize council member Alison alter to speak on the amendment. Thank you. So for some city projects. We've also [10:56:22 AM] had challenges, moving forward with development because we have , types of projects that don't fit into the norm, whether they're park projects or mobility projects. Some of those instances we've initiated, code changes to address them, but as part of our long range plan that we adopted for the parks department, we identified this as one of the challenges that the parks department had was. Some of their projects didn't fit into the normal type of criteria. So I want to make sure we address that. We've also worked overtime to assist some of our fellow public. Entities with their projects. We have a I S D with a very large bond that they're implementing, and I want to make sure that those voices are included and those issues are addressed through any kind of, group that would be looking at these issues. Thank you. Council member members. You've heard the description that the motion to amend this will be the motion to amend made by a council member, Alison alter. [10:57:23 AM] It's been made and seconded. Is there any objection to the motion to amend hearing none. The motion to amend is adopted. Now we'll go back to the main motion with the two amendments on it, the main motive for Ryan altered you wish to be heard on the main motion as amended. Yes, please. And I just wanna thank god. You know, we have spent a lot of time talking about the land development code in the challenges there, and I know we'll spend a lot more time talking about that. But often we forget about the administrative piece and how these how the code is actually implemented. And so I am excited here that we are able to look at what components of implementing our code are actually making housing more difficult to build. And more expensive and so I want to thank Ben for my staff for his hard work on this. You know, this is something that is going to have real impacts for people and I'm excited that we're moving forward. So with that I move [10:58:23 AM] adoption. Members you've heard the main motion. It's a motion to adopt the most as amended the item as amended. Is there any objection to the adoption of the motion of as amended hearing? None. It's adopted. Members that should take us to item number 60. And I recognize the mayor pro Tim on item number 60. Every time you want to make a motion I move. Passage of items. 60 pro Tim moves adoption of item number 60 is their second to the motion, seconded by council member qadri mayor recognizes council member Kelly for a proposed amendment. Thank you. So you may have seen that I had an amendment to items 60 in the amendment. I would like to, actually on the dais change. Moving it to line. 52 instead of lines 43 44. So I apologize for that. That was a suggestion from legal and, it would read. If I [10:59:29 AM] might interrupt you, you moved to amend your motion would be to amend place this at lines say that again. 52 instead of lines 43 44. That was a suggestion from legal because it would flow more smoothly. And it would read . The city manager is directed to utilize findings from the assessment in the ongoing effort to update the capabilities of D and E M S facilities and report back to the public safety committee every six months with regular updates. Just flows better there. So what's your what you're attempting to do. Is it line 50 to add the words and report back to public safety, the public safety committee every six months with regular updates. Yes, I think it's very important that we continue to utilize our that's not what I was asking. I want to make sure because we're changing lines that we know where we're at. Thank you. What you're doing is line 52 remains as it is. With only the addition of a comma and [11:00:30 AM] report back to the public safety committee. Every six months with regular updates. Is that correct? Thank you members. You've heard the motion to amend. Is there a second? Second about council member Ryan alter. Is there any objection to the amendment proposed amendment hearing? None the amendment is adopted that will take us back to the main motion, which is to adopt item number 60 as amended . Is there any objection to the adoption of item number 60 as amended hearing? None item number 60 is adopted. As amended that takes us now to item number 84. Members you have been provided a version number three. That version number three purports to have as part of it. The proposed amendment that. The proposed amendment that mayor pro tem Ellis was going to [11:01:31 AM] offer. Recognize council member Ryan alter on that and to make a primary motion that is the only change in version three or incorporating those amendments from the mayor pro tem. And with that I move adoption. Is there a 2nd 2nd by the mayor pro Tim? Is there any objection to the adoption of the item? It's not item number 84 version three. Hearing none. Item number 84 is adopted. Americanized make. I just want to thank both counselor Fuentes, but also council member pool, your office working with mine on getting this right and making this happen. I really appreciate your work on that. So I just want to thank everybody who was involved in this. Is there any objection to the main motion hearing? Now? It's adopted. Thank you. Members. I believe thatcompletes. All of the work we [11:02:39 AM] can complete until we have a time certain of 12 o'clock, at which point we will have general citizens communications and, the music and then we will have a two o'clock time certain on our zoning items. Without objection . We're in recess until 12 o'clock. Yes I just wanted to take a moment of personal privilege and just share an exciting update that we learned this morning. I want to share my gratitude to your interim city manager has his Garza and acm Veronica Briseno. Last year, I brought forward policy that looked forward that looked at exploring. And expanding our paid parental leave policy. We currently have six weeks paid parental leave to this morning we received a memo from our city administration notifying us that city workers will have eight weeks paid parental leave by April. 4th I believe this year and will have 10 weeks by October of this year and will [11:03:41 AM] haveweeks by October of next year, so we are going to double the amount of paid parental leave available to city workers really proud of that policy. I want to thank everyone for their support and just wanted to share my gratitude. Thank you. Thank you. But. Without objection. We're in recess until noon. Thank you all. [12:00:06 PM] Good. Afternoon, everybody. I will call back to order the media regular meeting of the Austin city council. We have a quorum present, and a couple of people are withs virtually right now we have a council member harper-madison and council member Kelly with his virtually and so we're here for our times, certain 12 o'clock citizen communications and I will public communications and I will recognize the city clerk. The first speaker is, Claire Hirsch kind. [12:01:07 PM] Mr mayor. My city council members. My name is Claire. Her skin. I live on hollow creek drive. In the Barton hills area. During the freeze this past February. Barton hills got its power back. In three days, except for hollow creek dry. Hello creek drive was without utilities of any kind for six days and nights. The reason for this is the crews that repaired Barton hills. Failed to repair a breaker. That would have restored power to our street. The list that I've sent out to you. Shows. All of you. The dollar amounts of food. Food loss. And that's just to the [12:02:09 PM] homes. I was able to walk to. The total at the bottom of the first page of the list. Yes, staggering. We are not asking for money. Or food vouchers. Or compensation for work loss. Or hotels. We simply want. To go one month without having to pay a utility bill. Because. We lost a vital resource. And we are still paying for it. He did it for covid. Why can't they do it for us? We are hardworking people. And. We pay our bills [12:03:10 PM] regularly. I called Austin silly utility. Company and they told me that the only people that could help me for you. You're our last hope. Please use your powers. To give hollow creek. One month. Without having to pay a utility bill. Compare that two. The amount of money lost. In food. It's just a drop in the bucket. I thank you for hearing me out. Next speaker is Alex stranger. [12:04:23 PM] Yeah what up council? I'm coming at you from the afterlife. Last week, I was in a bit of a scooter accident. See MM me and my boys. We were on rainy street during south by southwest at this totally awesome vip event that I paid about three gs for anyway, I had like 10 white clubs. And just like any other night on rainy street. I happened the scooter with like me and a whole bunch of my homies and bro. It was lit. We were doing donuts on south congress. We took this on. I 35 bro even took this thing on mopac. We're driving on the left lane against the traffic at three A.M. When boom next thing you know, I'm in the afterlife. Like bro. I wake up and this giant gorilla named harambe. He's trying to cuddle me. I mean , honey, it was actually a very comforting experience. And I'm not gonna lie. I'm not even mad anymore, guys. You know first I was like, Yo, y'all gotta do something about these scooters. People are dying on these things every day. People like me. We're out here. We're getting turned up. Well and [12:05:25 PM] truly were drinking. White clouds are taking zanny's you know, and we're on these things. But like oh, the afterlife is lit. You know, like I'm literally on my way to a party right after this, all right, and listen, the notorious B. I G sends his regards by the way. But anyway, I just want to let you guys know you guys are really doing a fantastic job with the scooters and everything yell are doing so please keep it up. And I just want more friends in the afterlife. Thank you. Ethan Smith. You forgot your phone. Hey, you forgot your phone. Good. Get afternoon. So I think I signed up to talk about the Brackenridge tracked. It's a [12:06:26 PM] very kind of esoteric topic, but I keep spending my time talking about it because I think it is the greatest opportunity for affordable housing that this council will face. And, and it's like, it's hard to publicize for that reason. But and it has to do with being able to work with the university of Texas. And the model that I basically come up with as a land swap. This is what I did my thesis research on partly I studied how the university of Texas makes decisions pertaining to housing and equity policy over the last 25 years. But basically you guys have land and all your district and you're like, how can we get this land to work for affordable housing? And I think that you could trade land for a lease extension on perhaps the golf course in the biology lab. Not because you particularly want or care about the preservation in those spaces. I hope you do. But that was really not the angle. I was coming at this at all, but just as a store of value and [12:07:27 PM] that on the other side, you would give land currently owned by the city of Austin to the university of Texas with the stipulation that it must be developed as student housing. Because I've heard council members dating back say, oh, man, I wish we could get the university of Texas to build housing. And I think that you could really do it. Based on that. What else? What else? Yeah I guess I could talk about the rfp process for track, 16 and 18 of the urban renewal board. I think that there should be something called an institutional provider of affordable housing that we would need a new city definition for what that would be, and that it would be based historically to say, well, Huston Tillotson would qualify as an institutional provider. Affordable housing because when I talked to their vp Wayne knocks 2019 just before the pandemic. He told me that room and board meals paid to live on [12:08:28 PM] Houston, tillerson was $479 a month with your utilities, so I would be willing to bet that dating back several decades. Huston Tillotson has been an institutional provider affordable housing and could if that definition existed in the city. Could that be a part of the rfp for? Urban or no board check. 16 particularly could that be something that wound up developed as a dormitory? I think student housing is great for equity. If you're looking at something, where you put a lot of public funds into it, because the same people can't just baby guard it. You know, I don't really agree with. Well, we're gonna ascribe some value that will give a developer rebate because they're providing housing that they will sell at 80% the median family income, which is of course $110,000 that that why are we giving them a rebate just so that they can make them ends meet and they can make their profit for that. But if you have a building that last 50 years how many students per [12:09:28 PM] unit can you really do? Thank you so much. Daisy Roberts. Mr mayo Mr mayor. Oh, yes, I'm sorry, council member. It's okay. Thank you. I appreciate it . The less speaker. His name is Ethan. Even I was just wondering because you were generous enough to share it with me. I wonder if you should share your dissertation. With the other members of the council. I think you have really good ideas, and I think there's something that we can extract from that. But they should all see what you share with my office. So if you would be so kind as to share it with the rest of the council and our interim manager, thank you. My thesis is available at the website forward thesis .com. MM. And it's the subtitle the title is forward in the subtitle is if I can get this on campus housing expansion as an anticipatory model for a post students for [12:10:30 PM] fair admission equity commitment at the university of Texas, which means there's some likelihood that affirmative action will be overturned. Yes, sir. Have a great day. Thank you. Thank you. Daisy Roberts. Jodi's Emel. On deck is sorry, Sarah vaillant. Good afternoon council members, mayor and city manager. My name is Jody Zimmel. And I'm here today to speak about the unheard housed persons camping in the west Bouldin creek greenbelt, which is in my neighborhood. In July of 2022, the city's homeless team was able to clean up our green belt. And relocate the unhappiest persons who were living there. Regrettably there was no follow up by the city to keep new persons from moving in. And now the number of people living there has increased and dense ified into even larger group in camp mints. These people live [12:11:32 PM] outdoors on public land. They live without sanitation facilities. They live with open fires and fuel power generators and voluminous amounts of trash. Our green belt has drug dealers and small businesses stole inks selling stolen bicycle parts. These activities are illegal. I expect the city of Austin to enforce the laws that have been adopted by our cities. Voters. That protect the safety and rights of all austinites who used this city owned land. For 30 years, the Bouldin creek neighborhood association bcn, a volunteer organization has maintained and helped improve the parks and greenbelts in our neighborhood. The city, along with the neighborhood has worked together in the past. To create a desirable green space in the city's core for all austinites to enjoy. But our green belt is now unsafe. Polluted and no longer accessible to all austinites. I'm asking you to take action. Because these [12:12:33 PM] people are living in conditions that are not safe or sanitary. We are not housing the housing persons who live in our city. And allowing these living conditions to continue on city land is unacceptable. We appreciate the city staff who have reached out to us, especially the homeless team. And our city council members. Oh and the mayor's office. We really appreciate it, and we want to continue working with the city. To find a solution to this issue and to stop the cycle of moving are a house neighbors from one part of town to another. I want to acknowledge that other neighborhoods in the city are also experiencing this issue. Please help ll. Find a sustainable solution that respects the work we have done in the past. And to go forward and keep the screen space is safe, clean and accessible to all of us. Thank you for your attention. Thank you. Sarah vaillant. No. Jessica you have my presentation. If you can just [12:13:34 PM] click through, please. All right. Thank you. Council members, Mr mayor, I live across from the west Bouldin creek greenbelt for some time now a group of homeless people have been living in this section of the green belt. I wrote you a letter several weeks ago about the multi faceted impact this has had. I hope you've received it. If not, it is in this handout that I've sent in. Yesterday my neighbor and I walked through the green belt as you can see from the pictures that people have built huge structures, destroyed the natural habitat and barricaded their encampments. When you say there are people camping in the green belt, this evokes an image of a person in a tent. However, what is happening is much, much more than that. The pictures do not show the extent of the size scale or damage to the 17 acre preserve. I spared you the image of the latrine but know that human waste is draining into the creek and from there into lady bird lake while walking through , we met a woman named brandy brandy has been homeless for three years. Her husband lost his job during covid, and [12:14:35 PM] they could not pay rent. She's doing everything right applying to the relevant agencies and two years ago was told that it would be one year until she gets housing. She's still lives in the green belt. Of course, the situation in our neighborhood is not unique. You cannot go one day in Austin without seeing people who desperately need help. We can sit back and say with greatsitivity that life isn't fair unless advantage are destined to their lot in life. But in the other people's problems are other people's problems and should stay there. But we know that isn't true. Desperate people do desperate things to survive, steal anything that they might be able to resell or use among the stolen goods I have seen sold out of the green belt or a propane tanks, a child's bicycle of families, dog. Some sell drugs, some use drugs. And it seems every day I hear about one of my neighbors being assaulted or house robbed violence in the community increases as the instability for the least among us increases. The violence and [12:15:36 PM] the greenbelt is astonishing. I can hear screaming from my living room if I'm not screaming as loud as the screaming that I'm hearing that no one is going to help. It is not acceptable that people live this way. It is immoral and inhumane. It is not acceptable that our community bears the brunt of these people's desperation. My community is here with me today . It is not acceptable and this is a crisis. Council members. Mr mayor, you hold the soul of Austin in your hands. This is not perhaps why you ran for office but is nonetheless true. Austin be known as a safe place that had has opportunities for everyone and doesn't leave the least among us behind. Will often be known as it is now the American city that has a third world slum among million dollar streets. Thank you. Thank you. Qadri yeah. I just want to make a quick comment. I really do appreciate meeting with B B. C. N a meeting in having the [12:16:37 PM] opportunity to speak with Jodi in Sarah and I appreciate their correspondence with our office. You know, I think Sarah kind of summed it up. Really? Well it says a lot about us as a city. You know, this city that's thriving in all other aspects. That people are suffering and suffering and these encampments and we need to do better. So you know, I'm thankful for the work working with, acm Bruce mills and a lot of the issues that you emailed me about Sarah and will continue to work with y'all's neighborhood association. Thank you, council member. Jessica narrow. On deck is Sally hockey. It's John Jacques Jacques. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Jessica Nero Macarthur and I'm, the executive director of blue lapis light. After the recent, list of a thrive recipients was released from the economic development [12:17:37 PM] department. I researched information on the awarded applicants. I will say blue abyss. Light did not apply for thrive. We didn't apply because the rules excluded us the same rules that should have excluded some of the applicants that were awarded. What happens to these organizations after they lose thrive funding in two years. In the thrive guidelines. One of the requirements was an organization had to be a five oh one C three for at least five years. At least seven of the awardees did not meet that qualification. That means seven organizations that did meet that qualification were not awarded. Some of the seven organizations have not even been a five oh one C three for one year. Several of them established in 2022. Some of these organizations, along with others on the list, have not produced any events or work , notably since 2018 or 2019 have no websites, websites under construction or, in one case, an unusual unusable website have no social media presence or have not updated their social media [12:18:38 PM] since 2015 16 18 19 respectively . Several do not have board or ststaff information on their websites during the application review process. All of these things should have been noted by panelists in the first round and the second round. Why were they not excluded from funding a well known Austin community member reached out to us to let us know she had contacted a lot of the new awardees on the list and did not receive a response back at all about upcoming events. To find out about five oh one C three status is or how to donate . Several of these organizations are probably primarily educational and have little or no performing arts component, which to my understanding is a requirement for hot funds. I have spoken with several other groups in the Austin area that didn't play in fact, apply for thrive. Neil Carson off with groundwork music project teaches music in schools and creates performances for kids that do not have access to the arts. These families cannot afford music classes and programming [12:19:39 PM] for their kids. Neil is barely surviving without city funding and is unsure how to move forward. He cannot afford an administrator. He needs to pay his teachers more than he can't with the loss of close to 40 K an annual funding from the city , it has a major effect on his organization. The previous match requirements helped him make find other sources to allow them to hire someone. To help him with his organization. Piper and frank from rancho Allegra and I have spoken a couple of times over the last couple of weeks following their media coverage they're having to reduce their festival hiring half of the musical acts that they normally would. This is a loss of work and paid contracts in the Latino community, a direct impact of the loss of city funding. This is a group that met all the requirements but somehow were not chosen to be awarded. Halloween's gold shared with Sally that she's somehow thank you. Thank you, ma'am. You're welcome. Thank you appreciate your comments. Sally. Good [12:20:45 PM] afternoon. My name is Sally Jacques and I'm the founder and artistic director of blue lapper. Slights acclaim site specific aerial dance company. I know the city is besieged with major issues facing our community. But I'm requesting you to please not let the cultural contract process be put on the back burner. If the eligibility requirement for submitting an application to thrive. Was that the organization over five oh one C three and seven of those funded did not have this status and one person that leads to organizations with funded twice . What's the policy on this? None of these applicants should have been accepted into the process in the first place, and because of it, it eliminated other applicants that were legitimate. The rules were established by the city staff, and then we're not followed through by them. And a travesty of what should have been if their process happened. I'm requesting the city council to look into this and determine how funding for next year proceeds. [12:21:47 PM] And determine how the situation that occurred can be remedied. We are also in the dark as to how these applicants were scored . And who were the panelists? There is a reason that the national endowment for the arts and the Texas commission on the arts have panels on eac the different art forms. So may I suggest we reinstate this model? 36 out of 154 applicants with funded in thrive. In the previous application process well over 500. Applicants were awarded funding in this current three tiered model. The total amount of applicants funded will be around 200 devastating the arts community. The next round of funding elevate during may has put applicants from different artistic disciplines into one pool, along with opening funding to five surrounding counties, as well as for profit businesses. We are able to apply to those five [12:22:48 PM] counties. So why are they applying to us? Elevate Paul of applicants will be astronomically larger than the front thrive. Pool of applicants. And we no longer have faith in the city staff to execute these programs fairly, especially with elevate coming in may question whether this program will be distributed equitably and fairly and who and what the panel is skills and qualifications are over the past few years when addressing our concerns to the city staff filling in surveys speaking at meeting the last survey showed that the average rating was 1.86 out of six stars regarding the city's plan for cultural funding . The city staff response to that survey was the same people were filling out and whining. The truth is, we are dynamic, creative and inspirational group of artists and organizations whose passion for their work is being undermined. The cultural contract department followed the city's mandate to focus on diversity and equality. As a mixed race person, east Indian [12:23:49 PM] Iraqi and why I suggested to be a part of a group working on this and was told I had been heard of. Thank you much. What does experience thank you very much. Appreciate your comments. And you being here. Thank you. Thank youquestion to clarify pool. Mr Jacques hi I just wanted to how are you? I just wanted to check and make sure I was hearing correctly. Did you say that the funding was being provided to entities outside of the city of counties. Is it because people live outside of the city of Austin, but they perform in the city of Austin. It is because they are outside and perform outside. I cannot answer that. Because the communication has been it wasn't clear. Okay but as far as I know, outside. Thanks and that's definitely something we will get an answer to appreciate it. Thank you, Mr mayor. Thank you. [12:24:53 PM] Baldomero frank Jr. Mr Maran officials due to a back injury and a throat injury. I'm gonna have to allow our communications director to read a statement that I prepared. I mean, no disrespect. It's just the way things are. Well, thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Baldomero queer and the executive director and co founder of rancho la Brea, five. Oh one C three nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving promoting quantum [12:25:53 PM] music. We're a grassroots organization born right here in Austin. We have no paid staff and we are we present Austin's only large consulting music festival. The ranchers agreed to hold the music festival. I want to invite all of you to the festival the week the weekend of April 28th will be at central machine work, which I believe is in district three giddy ups, which is in an E. T J and stubs, which I think is either in denial or D 11. I'm not sure the details in line up will be on our website soon and it's free admission. This festival almost didn't happen due to the restructuring of cultural arts funding, and the mess that thrive turned out to be. It would have been the first time in 30 years that rancher that Austin did not present a festival around Cinco de mayo. Rhonda Allegra is one of the many organizations turned away from this first phase of grant funding. We didn't even get a fun for panel review for reasons we'll never truly know this is shocking to us. Music is as cultural as it as it gets. Particularly when it comes to the concept of cultural ratio, which is what the grant intended to ease the effects of when I think of music. I think of family, I think of my parents, my tia's Mateos, my brothers and [12:26:54 PM] sisters, most of them gone. I can see them on the dance floor places like rock and in the top hat, alcohol, Alito, the casino ballroom, the green spot and all the cantinas on sixth street, fiesta gardens, most importantly, at every family gathering large and small, most of these places are gone due to gentrification and changing times. Aside from family gatherings, there's only one venue that hosted monthly tardy Otto, which is an afternoon dance. There are no weekend dances like there used to be in Austin. Just our festival once a year. This is culturally ratio. When I look at the list of grantees, I applaud cultural arts for attempting to fund more diverse projects, but this was a blind spot. I would be complaining even if it weren't my festival, which I built with the help of close friends and family 11 years ago. Well the new grants focused on racial and ethnic identity is a completely missed the mark on culture in this instance. His culture is the culture of generations of Mexican Americans. It is culture born in south Texas over 100 years ago, it is working class culture. It is a soundtrack of the east side, along with tejano music to is asking culture. It should always be funded by the city of Austin. Always thank goodness our friends, families, rangers bands. We've hired [12:27:55 PM] Texas commission on the arts and local media outlets understood that and helped us raise the money that we needed. Thank goodness we signed for signed up for amplify although we didn't meet our goal, amplified, provided us the opportunity to raise what we could so that we're not dead in the water. We are disappointed and, frankly confused. The readers and panelists didn't think that was worth funding. So we will work harder to make sure that everyone knows what Ronaldo is and knows its importance in legacy in Austin. We will apply for future fundings funding opportunities through cultural arts. But after this experience, we will regard it as unreliable. We have communicated our concerns about the process to the department. We hope things go more smoothly in the future. And we have heard from many of our colleagues in the arts community, thanking us for speaking up and going to the media about this in order to save our festival. Many are suggesting an audit of the thrive grant process, which we support as well. Thank you. Thank you. Mayor that concludes all the speakers. Thank you, members that that concludes our public communicationereriod. The [12:28:55 PM] next thing we're going to do is have our live music. We are not scheduled for action items until the time certain of two o'clock. So I invite everybody to stay. Join us as we were gonna be setting up for live music and join us for the live music. But unless there's an objection Catherine recorder. Yes please just wanted to make a quick comment today is the 1st 1st day of Ramadan, which will last for 30 days. It's the month of fasting from sunrise sunset. So I just want to wish anyone whether they're tuning in or the work of the city happy Ramadan, and then our office will be doing a proclamation on April 20th. As Ramadan concludes and in the east holiday is starts. So thank you. Thank you. Indeed so unless there's objection and without objection of the city council of Austin, Texas, will be in recess until two o'clock, [12:29:56 PM] but please hang around and participate in our live music. We are recessed. [12:38:09 PM] Preserving. And perpetuating as part of that I am pleased. To read this proclamation. Be it known that were as the city of Austin is blessed with many creative musicians whose talent extends to virtually every musical genre. And whereas our music scene thrives because Austin audiences support good music, produced by legends are local 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 March 23rd 2023 as chulita vinyl club Austin day in Austin, Texas. And I also and I would like to invite council member of Velazquez up who has knows these folks has a relationship with them and ask him to say a few words. And he [12:39:09 PM] also has a proclamation. I just wanted to say thank you to everybody that helped organize this, and especially the chulita . As who for coming out. They've always always always stepped up for the community. Anytime we were doing something to fundraise when we were fighting against children in cages, they stepped up to help us host a fundraiser. They believe they've done about three of my birthday parties. Maybe that were fundraisers for Latin litas. I just wanted to say thank you. The language on the proclamation is the same as you read, so I won't bore anybody with reading it again. We just want to celebrate chulita van club day in Austin, Texas, and thank you for coming out. All yours . Okay? [12:40:18 PM] Baby. Not being Ghana's videos. Denise, Ghana's. Premier. Take the law seen my Lana. Linda's baby. Ayla. Steak. [12:41:37 PM] Bye. Love. Hey hey, hey. By the . Bye. MM hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Mhm. Hmm. Hmm. [12:42:50 PM] Mama. Hold up [12:46:57 PM] Donald. Thank you. Get us all the scoop squeeze in. Squeezing right here. Sure. Thank you very much . Yeah city council will be in recess until two o'clock, at which time we'll take up zoning items. Thank you all. [12:48:06 PM] Yes take [2:00:05 PM] call back to order the regular meeting of the Austin city council. It is two o'clock P. M and it is the 23rd and we are still meeting in the city council chambers. We will take up our two o'clock. Pm time certain zoning and neighborhood plan amendments, public hearings and possible actions along with those, I'll call on staff remembers the way we'll do. This is after she has gone through the various things. I will open a public hearing on, a group of the items. We will call for the public hearing closed the public hearing vote on what will I anticipate being consent agenda and then we will take up item 82 . So you have the floor. Department. Zoning agenda begins with item number 70 which is C 14 2022, 0070, and there's a [2:01:06 PM] step plus moment request to your April 13th council meeting. The related case to item 70 as items 70 once you went for 2022 0015 against F postponement request to your April 13th council meeting, and I'm 72 is np a 2022 0005. Staples vomit request to your April 13th council meeting. The related rezoning cases, item number 73 C 14 2022 0114 against apple's one request to your April 13th council meeting and I'm 74 is C one for our 81033 R C. A that's the Brodie oaks. Restrictive covenant amendment in there is an applicant postponement request to your may 18th council meeting. And the related rezoning is im 75 88 14 2021 0099 again. Applicant postponement request to your may 18th council meeting. Items 76 61 4 2022 0142 the applicant [2:02:10 PM] postponement request to your may 18th council meeting and that is the berganio property. I know we have some speakers here, so I just want to make clear that that's an applicant postponement request to your may 18th council meeting. I am 70 71 4 2022 0167 . This item is being offered for consent on all three readings. 78 C 14 2022 0173. This item has been offered for consent on all three readings. Items 79 14 2022 0076. There's a postponement request to your April 13th council meeting by council member qadri. I don't, number 80 mph. 2022 15.7 S H is being offered for consent on all three readings. The related rezoning is number 81 C 14 2022 0122 point H again the sinus being offered for consent on all three readings item 82. It's C 14 2022 0168 and this will be a [2:03:13 PM] discussion item and that concludes the reading of just the zoning agenda. Councilor pool I just wanted to check with miss harden on item 81. This says consent first reading only , but I think you said all three readings. We have gotten the ordinance. You should have received a copy because we're so good. And so the ordinances I stipulate how good you are. So the ordinance we're done and prepared and approved, so we can't offer that for consent on all three readings. Thank you for the question. Thank you, so the consent agenda that would be items 70. Postponed 71 postponed 72 postponed 73 postponed 74 postponed 75 postponed 76 postponed 77 consent on all three readings 78 consent on all three readings. 79 postponed. Item 80 consent on all three readings and item 81 consent on [2:04:15 PM] all three readings will now open the public hearing on all of those items that I just read on the consent agenda. And I'll turn to the city clerk to see if there are any is there anyone signed up to speak on the consent items if you are signed up to speak on the consent item , and it's postponed under our rules, you are allowed to speak as to the merits of the postponement, but we will take you up on the substance of it at the next meeting, where been postponed to madam clerk. Hmm. Will Goodwin. For items 64 all the ststponed items. On deck, Peter Hess. Lorraine Atherton. Roy whaling. Glenn Maguire. Scott fair. James Mickler. [2:05:17 PM] Catherine key. Theresa Clark. Betsy Greenberg. J. Farrell. Can Hawthorne Carl money. Paula brown. Jill parish. Maxwell Stine comb. Helen plastic. And on item 82 is Mohammed rahmi. I haven't opened on 82 yet, but but let's find out if he's here. I was gonna take up 82 separately. It appears that he is here. Okay I'll take that up with the council will take that up right after we finished the consent agenda. Was that the list? Yes, mayor. That's it very much. Is there a motion to adopt the consent agenda as red? Made [2:06:17 PM] by the mayor, pro Tim seconded by council member Fuentes. Is there any objection to the adoption of the consent agenda as it was red? Here. Okay. Hang on. No I back up. Okay so if we could hold off on 80 so that we can get it distributed? Yes bragged on ourselves and we have a little problem, but I will get that fixed. As we take of 80 to keep. Fair enough. I think we need to table is it item 80, can we table item 80 let me work on it. Now. Here's what we'll do. Let me ask you this. When would you want to postpone it until. I [2:07:23 PM] would like to postpone it for two minutes. We have the ordinance has to be distributed and we have it. It just has not been passed out. The mayor pro Tim moves to amend her previous main motion to withdraw item number 80 from the consent agenda. The maker of the second council member Fuentes. Second the motion to amend is there any objection to the motion to amend hearing none. The motion to amend is adopted that will take us back to the main motion, which was to adopt the consent agenda is red, remembering that we are now taking item 80 off of the consent agenda. Is there any objection to the passage of the consent agenda is red. Hearing none. The consent agenda is adopted. That will take us to item number 82. Yes mayor. I'll just play this out. This is item 80 82. Is case number C 14 2022 0168 jolly bill Oakes liquor cabinet, and this is located at [2:08:23 PM] 12 0 to 9 and 12 041 jolly bill rode the requested from limited office L. A district zoning to commercial liquor sales. Cs one district zoning. The staff recommendation is to deny the request it didn't comply with the jolly Ville area study, and there was also additional cs one very close in proximity and the staff zoning and planning commission move this forward with no recommendation. I don't that council member altar has a motion that she would like to make. So defer back to you, mayor. Thank you very much members of their any objection to opening the public hearing on item number 82. Seeing none. We will open the public hearing on item number 82. Madame Clark. We had somebody that wanted to talk . Yes, Mohamed brahmi. G afternoon. Hi. Hello. I am next [2:09:30 PM] door to that property in question here. I got a piece of property and I requested it. Zoning change last year. For, hello. To it. G R M you but the city they staff they recommended. To be like Lomu, because of there is some rules and regulation in the book, Fauci for new zoning. I agreed with that. I prayed for it, and I got it. That particular zoning day recommended they had no objection and even forward and now my next door neighbor. Is requesting. Scs one zoning for, hello. And the idea is they're trying to put. Licorice store slash. Smoke shop. Smoked, [2:10:31 PM] launched things in the nature. My property. I already have any smoke shop. I got the hook about in the I have a tenant W does that, and as far as the liquor store goes right there immediately in the same location. The reason established liquor store. Called liquor cabinet. And. We did a lot of work in our property and visit a lot of things to stay within the rules and regulation. Which was adopted. So many years ago, but that doesn't change the fact that since it's so many years ago, he was adopted. It shouldn't be implemented and in the commission meeting. I was talking to them. But unfortunately nobody could come to your conclusion. Thank you, sir. I apologize, but your time [2:11:33 PM] has expired. Okay, right. Thank you for being here with us, though. Thank you. Yes I wanted to adjust the gentleman if I could, sir. Council member Alison alter, would like to say something. You can keep your seat unless you just need to respond to Kozma or alter said she wanted to address you for a moment. Sir we're gonna hopefully be working moving forward today only on first reading, which will give us some additional time to have some conversation if you want to reach out. To my office. Kirk Cadena Mitchell. Staff me for land use and we'd be happy to talk with you about the zoning case. We hadn't heard from you before, so we'll be happy to have that conversation. The district 10 office. Thank you. Thank you. Council member. And thank you, sir. For being here, madam Clark. Is there anyone else wishing to speak at the public hearing on item number 82. No mayor, that's all the speakers. We have. Is there any objection to the closing the public hearing on item number 82 [2:12:34 PM] hearing none. The public hearing on item number 82 is closed. Chair recognizes council member Alison alter for emotion. Thank you, mayor. Colleagues item. 82 is a zoning case in my district , and I'd like to move approval of my motion, which has been posted and distributed. And if I get a second, I'll speak briefly to my motion. I moved to pretty van first reading only the applicants request for commercial liquor cells. Yes one district zoning with the following conditional overlay, cocktail lounges, vehicle storage use and alternative financial services. Business use are prohibited uses on the property. Council member harper-madison ru seconding the motion, or do you wish to speak council member harper- madison seconds the motion? I'll recognize council member altar for any comments on the motion. Thank you, so colleagues. This case is not supported by staff, and it did not receive a recommendation from our zoning and planning commission. My motion would approve the applicants request along with a few prohibitions. I understand [2:13:34 PM] the applicant to be amenable to these prohibitions. The motion would be in first reading only as there is no ordinance for us to prove due to lack of an affirmative recommendation from our land use commission. Essentially this motion would allow for the liquor store use that the applicant is requesting, but it would prohibit cocktail lounges and a few additional uses that were suggested by the applicant. I believe this will be a fair compromise in this situation, and I hope we can adopt this motion today and if any further concerns or questions arise, such as those that were raised by the gentleman that we just heard from, we can address them by or before this case comes back for final approval. Thank you. Is there any further discussion? Is there any objection to the motion? Hearing none. The motion is adopted. Thank you. Council member alter. We will go back to item number 80. Please come forward. Thank you. We can now pass. I don't number 80 in P a 2022 15.7 S. H on all three, reads mayor pro [2:14:36 PM] Tim moves adoption of item number 80 on all three readings. You did it before. I sure do. Thank you. Council member Fuentes, who seconded it before she's back to second and again. There any objection to the adoption of item number 80 on all three readings as laid out by staff and supported the motion. Hearing none. Item number 80 is adopted. Remembers I believe that completes the work on our agenda for the Austin city council without objection, we are adjourned. Thank you all very much.