City Council Regular Meeting Transcript – 3/21/2024 Title: ATXN-1 (24hr) Channel: 1 - ATXN-1 Recorded On: 3/21/2024 6:00:00 AM Original Air Date: 3/21/2024 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. [10:00:13 AM] good morning everybody. It's 10:00 in the morning on March 21st, 2024, and I will call to order the regular meeting of the Austin city council. We are meeting in council chambers, which is located in city hall at 301 west second street in Austin, Texas. And we have a quorum of the Austin city council present. I want to walk through quickly the order for the day, we will hear from I'll read corrections into the record here in just a second, and then we will hear from consent speakers on the consent agenda, both virtually and in person. And we will go to a consent, a vote on the consent items immediately thereafter, with, brief comments from the council members related to the consent agenda. We will then, depending upon the time, either go to excuse me, recess the city council meeting and go to a meeting of the board of directors of the Austin housing finance corporation, or we will [10:01:13 AM] finance corporation, or we will go to the non consent items, members, for purposes of, the day, the only pulled item right now is item number 24. And that's because item number 24 needs to be taken up at the same time, we take up item number 48, which is a zoning item which is set for a 2:00 time certain. So what you should anticipate is that after we complete the zoning matters, I'll call back up item number 24. At that time, like I said, we will then go. We will also have the non consent items members. Those non consent items are public hearings. And we will have public hearings on those items 44 through 47. We will close the public hearings and we will take immediate action. I want to clarify again that if you're here to speak on a public at a public hearing or one of the non consent items, you will be called up at that time. However, if it is more convenient to you to be, part of [10:02:15 AM] convenient to you to be, part of the consent agenda or speak at that point in time, then feel free to let us know that. But I would ask that you let the city clerk know that, and we will work to accommodate you, after we finish that, hopefully we'll be close to our noon time certain, which is our general public comment. We will do that. We will recess and have live music, and we will, at 2:00, take up zoning items. At this time, I will read into the record changes and corrections to the agenda for Thursday, March 21st, 2024 on item number 33. Sponsor should be added. Mayor Kirk Watson and council member Vanessa Fuentes. Item number 31 has been withdrawn and it's been replaced with addendum item number 67. Item number 69. An should add as a sponsor. Mayor Kirk Watson board and commission actions. Item number two should read. March 18th, 2024 recommended by the electric [10:03:18 AM] 2024 recommended by the electric utility commission on a 7 to 0 vote with commissioner Alvarez off the dais and three vacancies, item number 2nd March 19th, 2024. Recommended by the resource management commission on a701 vote, with commissioner caesarius abstaining, chair stone and commissioner scafiddi absent and one vacancy on items number three, number four, number five and number 11. It should read March 13th, 2024 recommended by the water and wastewater commission on a 7 to 0 vote, with four absent. Members that will take us to the consent agenda and I will turn to the city clerk, to call on speakers, both start with, virtual and then go to, those that are in person, please. Thank you. >> First, we have William bunch on items three, five, six, seven, ten, 22, 30, 36, 39 and [10:04:21 AM] seven, ten, 22, 30, 36, 39 and 41. >> Yes. Good morning. It's bill bunch from silver springs alliance. I'm just going to limit my comments to speak in opposition to item five. The fee in lieu for water reuse, our water situation is getting rather dire, having these projects done sooner rather than later is absolutely critical. And the way to do that is to require actual participation in on site, reuse or hooking up to the city's purple pipe system, and as we all know, fee and Lou just, basically dodges the actual goal and delays and postpones it. So please delete this and require actual water reuse on site and if not on site, hook up to the city [10:05:25 AM] site, hook up to the city system. Thank you for your consideration. >> Our next speaker is Zenobia Joseph, speaking on items 1219, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 63, 64, 65. >> Thank you. Mayor, council. I'm Zenobia Joseph. My comments are specifically related to item 12. It's the community engagement. $700,000 contract. I I am in opposition to this item because it the outcomes for African Americans have not changed in 20 years or more. And I would just ask you to recognize that if you have $700,000 to spend to try to reach the African American community and other minorities, that it would be wise to ask us what we need. I would ask you to withdraw item number 26. That's the public health item. It's asking for $60,500 for the university of Texas science [10:06:26 AM] university of Texas science center at Houston. Nd I just want to call to your attention your September 14th, 2023 council action required for 12 month extensions at $20,000. And this actually is asking for three times that amount with no transparency. Just in the backup as it relates specifically to item 27, which is the work source item for child care. I just want you to recognize specifically that Tamara Atkinson, on October 25th, 2022, told Travis county commissioners court that she received $54 million for child care, which was an increase over the past years. So I would ask you to withdraw this item as well, and to actually ask Adrian Sturrup to show you how much money has been allocated for child care as it relates specifically to the safe routes to school. I would just ask you to include bus stop shelters for all of the schools, especially in northeast Austin, [10:07:27 AM] especially in northeast Austin, Mcbee, and walnut creek as well. And as it relates specifically to I 35, I just want to say my opposition to the captain's ditches is specifically because I think if you're going to connect east and west, then that land needs to be used for African Americans to have some type of housing and downtown Austin alliance. >> Thank you. Speaker time has expired. >> Thank you, miss Joseph. >> That concludes remote consent speakers. We'll move to in person with Brad Massengill on items 21 and 36 with Gus Pena and Tom Ramsey junior on deck. Brad Massingill. >> If your name has been called, please make your way to the front, even if it's that it's been called where you're on deck so that you'll be prepared to, give your comments, please call their names again. >> Brad Massingill, Gus Pena, Tom Ramsey Jr. Next we have Pedro Villalobos, lobos, Isaac [10:08:28 AM] Pedro Villalobos, lobos, Isaac dill, Carol gum-free. If your name has been called, please move to the podium. State your name. Moving on. We have Susana Almanza, Miranda campos, Carlos pinon. >> If your name is called, please make your way to the front. >> Next we have Valerie Menard. Pedro Hernandez Jr, Carmen Yanez , Monica Guzman. >> Okay. Miss Guzman indicates she's speaking on the aafc agenda. >> That concludes in person. Speakers. All names have been called. >> All right, I'm gonna try one more time if anybody's names been called. I'm sorry, sir, but your your name wasn't called. If your name has been called, please make your way to the microphone. All right. That [10:09:28 AM] microphone. All right. That members. That concludes all of the speakers that have signed up to speak on the consent agenda, the chair will recognize a motion to adopt the consent agenda. It's made by council member qadri, seconded by councilmember Allison alter, is there discussion with regard to the consent agenda? Remember, the only item that's been pulled is 24, and we will take that up later. Is there any other item anybody wishes to pull? Is there anyone wishing to be shown as abstaining from a vote on the consent agenda as read? Yes. Council member Kelly, thank you for pointing that out. >> Thank you, I appreciate your recognition. I would like to be shown abstaining from 65 and 33. Please >> Thank you. And council member and council member harper-madison. I'll as you know, I do my best to look up and pay attention. But if I miss you, don't hesitate to cry out. So I don't. So I don't miss you. Council member harper-madison do [10:10:30 AM] Council member harper-madison do you Ave anything you want to add? Okay. Anybody wishing to be shown as recused themselves from vote on the consent agenda. Anyone wishing to be shown voting no on the consent agenda. All right, without objection, the consent agenda is adopted, with council member Kelly being shown as abstaining on item number 65 and item number 33. I'll now recognize council members for brief comment on the consent agenda, mayor pro tem pool you're recognized, followed by council member Ryan alter and then council member Kelly mayor. >> Thanks so much. And colleagues, I wanted to speak to item 39, which is the initiative that I'm bringing here today, on green infrastructure in the face of a warming planet. And with temperatures rising, extreme weather, as we know, is becoming more common. And the city must act to mitigate these impacts for today and for future generations. Tree lined streets and other types of green infrastructure offer a natural [10:11:32 AM] infrastructure offer a natural solution to combat the urban heat island effect, providing much needed shade and cooling for our city landscape and essential to this landscape are our trees, trees encourage walking and cycling and make it so much nicer when we're out of doors, tree lined roadways and shaded sidewalks. Walks are welcoming and welcoming. Landscape apps add to our day to day enjoyment and sense of place , tangible and intangible. Our feeling of home and community trees make our city better, and we, as we keep pushing to build a city that is resilient, equitable and sustainable, we acknowledge the decisions we're making today are shaping the Austin of tomorrow, and I want to see a whole lot more trees in our future with a strong and healthy urban canopy offering shade and shelter throughout this city. With this item, we're [10:12:32 AM] this city. With this item, we're going to get there. This item prioritizes planting street trees within Austin's public rights of way. As the resolution sets forth, it will clarify the requirements and determine the best approach to manage our rights of way holistically. To allow and sustain needed and necessary green infrastructure for all future right of way projects. So I want to thank a few people. I want to thank my green infrastructure co-sponsors, council members Ellis Ryan, altar Velasquez and harper-madison for joining me on this item. And I understand council member qadri, did you want to add your name, I would be honored to add my name, and I'm honored to have you add your name. >> Without objection, council member qadri will be added. >> I also want to thank the department staff who worked through many competing city needs to find this shared vision. And these folks are [10:13:32 AM] vision. And these folks are committed to operation rising and sustaining these new approaches. I want to thank a couple private citizens. Janet Mccann and Kevin Howard, for daylighting this issue last fall and working with my team over the past six months. While we did everything we needed to do to make this happen today and to the many supporters, my thanks, the supporters in the nonprofit and business sectors who also see the intrinsic and actual value of our green infrastructure, who are cheering for our trees and how they make our city a more livable space. This is an important initiative, mayor, and I am so pleased to see it launched today. >> Thank you. Thank you for your leadership, mayor pro tem, I'll recognize council member Ryan alter, followed by council member Kelly and then council member Alison alter. Thank you very much, mayor. >> I just want to thank mayor pro tem pool for her leadership on this item. It really is critical for our city and our local climate. You know, as I [10:14:35 AM] local climate. You know, as I look out the windows here, what stands out to me are these beautiful trees that we see along our roadways. And that should be the norm. We should see that everywhere in this city. And so I know you put a lot of work into this, and I really appreciate that. So I just want to thank you for your work on that. I also want to thank Austin energy as it relates to item eight, for going out and figuring out how we can create more demand response within our community. You know, when done right, demand response and only reduces electric usage by commercial or residential customers. It also saves them money. So it's a win win for everybody. I'm really excited. Eid, the path that Austin energy is taking on this and looking forward to how we as a city can make sure that we maximize our participation in this in the future. So I appreciate their work and thank you very much. >> Thank you. Council member, council member Kelly, followed by councilmember Allison alter and then councilmember Fuentes. >> Thank you. Mayor. I want to [10:15:37 AM] >> Thank you. Mayor. I want to thank council member Velasquez for bringing item 35 forward today. It asks the city manager to assess the effectiveness of the emergency closure and bad weather pay procedure and report back to council. We have the best employees in the city of Austin who often work on our worst days, and since my time on council, we've seen freezes, tornadoes and floods. And in those instances, our committed city of Austin personnel were always there for us and we should support them accordingly. So thank you for this item. I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor if possible. Without objection. >> Without objection, council member Kelly be shown as a sponsor. >> Thank you, I also want to thank council member Alison alter for including me as a co-sponsor on item 36, which directs the city manager to explore a community wildfire protection plan. This resolution will ensure that our kwp, the community wildfire protection plan, is updated to comprehensively address the critical areas of our wildfire protection strategy. As many of [10:16:37 AM] protection strategy. As many of you know, district six, which I represent, has some of the most heavily forested regions like the balcones, canyonlands and this is why I support crucial initiatives like this item that work to ensure the health and safety of our community. I've actually spent this entire week. You can see I'm virtual now, with fire chiefs from across the state of Texas at the Texas fire chiefs conference, they invited me to speak at their conference and wildfires and the wildland urban interface are a focus of what we're discussing this week. And I'm so thankful for the city council ensuring this is at the forefront of our discussions, I look forward to the city manager's briefing on any unmet needs, in the budget for our wildfire protection planning. And I look forward to working with council member Alison alter in the budget to ensure that this is, taken care of. So thank you so much, council. And with that mayor, I yield. >> Thank you very much. Council member. Council member Alison [10:17:37 AM] member. Council member Alison alter, followed by council member Fuentes and council member Velasquez. >> Thank you, we're gonna probably be doing more speeches than we. We heard from the from the audience today. This is one of those agendas that has a lot in there, several of us have been working on, different items that are part of this, and, you know, we can't cite all of them, but it do our staff work hard on a lot of these items, and it is important for us to, to recognize them, when we vote. So I want to talk about several different items, thank you, council member Kelly, for acknowledging the work on the community wildfire protection plan. I'm really pleased to be able to support items 22 and 23 from staff and thank my colleagues for supporting my resolution for item 36. All of these are related. As council member Kelly said to the community wildfire protection plan update we created our current plan in 2013 and unanimously approved it the year after, this was a response to the catastrophic fire in the [10:18:38 AM] the catastrophic fire in the Austin area in 2011. We learned from that event that we have a real need to be proactive and preventive when it comes to wildfire, and that is no less true today. After ten years, it is time to identify new goals and objectives for the kwp to continue to effectively guide our wildfire efforts. We have actually accomplished most of the goals that were in that plan, in terms of approach and strategy, and we need to rethink regionally how we are going to take the next steps to protect our community. The very first line of the briefing paper of the 2014 version, which is our current plan, says wildfire is everybody's fight that has been a very important motto for me in my work on wildfire prevention. Ann, and I think it acknowledges the need for planning within and across departments and across the region. This is not just something that the fire department has to pay attention to. What item 36 does is really, ask the city manager to empower [10:19:40 AM] ask the city manager to empower our departments to play an essential role in this plan, and not just the fire department. We've also asked that this plan be incorporated into the imagine Austin comprehensive plan, and its successor, as well as related city plans that touch on this, such as urban forest pre plan and the hazard mitigation action plan. The more that we as a community and that includes our individual residents, can acknowledge that wildfire is everybody's fight, the better we're going to be prepared for protecting our community. So thank you to my colleagues and staff for your continued actions that recognize this importance, please, that we have received a grant that we're accepting as well as collaborating with Travis county on this, I'm going to jump around a little bit here on topics, but I want to thank council member Fuentes for bringing forward item 38, which proposes changes to our employee benefit program, and I'm pleased to co-sponsor this. This is one of many steps we've been taking to ensure that we improve our employee benefits and make Austin an employer of choice, [10:20:41 AM] Austin an employer of choice, while I fully support this resolution, I do want to take a moment to speak about an outstanding issue that relates to employee benefits and being family friendly. When we adopted six weeks of paid parental leave for all sworn employees, we did not address the original challenge that was raised by our female firefighters, namely, the need to provide an adequate amount of leave to accommodate the physical recovery after childbirth and be physically ready to return to work. According to the city's current policies. Birthing firefighters are expected to return to work on the first day. They might have just been cleared to start exercising. This is problematic on many levels, and today I simply want to flag this issue. I've been talking with the city manager's office and I appreciate, the initial talks, but I did want to acknowledge this as we adopt, another item related to making, improving benefits, that this is something that we really need to see a solution for if we want the city to be considered a supporter, [10:21:42 AM] to be considered a supporter, supportive employer, item eight, which my colleague, council member Ryan alter, mentioned, focuses on demand response program from Austin energy. And I want to say that I'm glad to see this particular item coming forward, among the many recommendations that came out of the electric utility commission's working group for the Austin energy generation plan, demand response is a key strategy, this is something that we need to move forward with, for both residential and commercial customers. Good demand response programs can reduce load serving entity resource requirements in peak and grid stress hours, increase electric operational flexibility and reduce wholesale market prices, and reduce total utility, resource and capital costs. Demand response in our community is underutilized and under compensated, and so I'm really pleased to see that we are fighting funding this type of investment, which will identify ways that we can expand that. And I hope that as we move forward with the generation plan [10:22:42 AM] forward with the generation plan process, that this will be a key element of what we look at. And then finally, again, switching to a totally different topic, I want to I highlight item 28, which our staff have been working on for quite some time, which relates to various child care contracts, these are increasing direct access to child care, providing critical training to early childhood staff, funding culturally competent education for parents, and promoting school readiness for low income children. We know that we as a community see the benefits from these types of investments, especially when they directly reach the parents and the children in what we call a two generation approach, it's not only a moral imperative that we fund these programs, but a financial imperative as well, these investments do make our families, workforce and economy stronger. And I want to thank Austin public health for their work on these agreements. And I look forward to seeing the good work that will come from these partnerships. I know these organizations are really thankful for our support, which allows them to help many more children and families. Thank you. [10:23:43 AM] you. >> Thank you. Council member. We have council member Fuentes, then council member Velasquez, then council member harper-madison and last will be closing us out. Council member vela. Council member Fuentes. >> Thank you. I thank you, councilmember alter. We certainly covered all of the good items we have on today's consent agenda. I'm very excited about one in particular, which is about expanding health coverage for city employees when it comes to fertility care and foster care assistance. This is an area that builds off of work from our former mayor, Steve Adler, and his team. Michael Mcgill was instrumental in leading this effort and take a look at other cities, other counties, and their health coverage options. And what we found is that this really is an area where the city of Austin stands to lead, and offering this as a benefit for city employees. I also want to mention, I believe afsme is here. They were not able to speak today, but they do. They are in support of this item, so I'm excited for us to move forward in reducing barriers and obstacles for families who want to expand their family. And this [10:24:45 AM] to expand their family. And this also will ensure that the city of Austin is a competitive employer as well. So I thank everyone for their support today . >> Thank you. Councilmember. Councilmember Velasquez, followed by councilmember harper-madison Ann and then councilmember vela. >> Thank you, mayor, colleagues, it is a great day in Austin, Texas, and I am excited about a number of items on the agenda, with item 35, the council will prioritize the welfare of our employees by implementing comprehensive safety procedures and equitable compensation, by ensuring that by ensuring that our employees feel supported, we lay the foundation for sustained excellence in serving our community. This responsibility begins with safeguarding the well-being of our committed employees who serve as frontline responders during crisis and calamity. Thank you to my co sponsors, council member Fuentes , council member vela, council member Ryan alter for their support. And I'd also like to express my appreciation to the dedicated members and leadership of afscme for, for their consistent advocacy on behalf of [10:25:48 AM] consistent advocacy on behalf of our union family. Thank you to our hr leadership for their ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of life for our city employees. Thank you. To my, to the district three chief of staff for all of her hustle on this item and for, hustling on behalf of our employees. Lisette Melendez to Cedric baker, Carlos Vera and Jared Mendez of our guardrail crew, south district and to Jeremy Morris, Thomas, oreste, Giovanna, Giovanna rasgado and Robert Gomez of the asphalt crew, south district. And to all of our transportation and public, public works crews. I got your back, on item 65, I am thrilled to see this monumental opportunity come to council. This is a significant moment for district three, and I am grateful to be a part of it. The purchase of, Tokyo electron property allows us to prioritize housing needs of the hard working austinites who keep this city, going, including our first [10:26:49 AM] city, going, including our first responders, teachers, and other public servants. Simultaneously. It offers an avenue for locally owned businesses to thrive in our community. And it will be adding upwards of 1100 units of housing to an area that has been ravaged by displacement and unaffordability, while allowing us to keep our ambitious commitments made to the community. With the 2017 strategic housing blueprint one of the greatest aspects of this acquisition is that we are the drivers and with intentionality, discipline and thoughtfulness and a focus on accessibility and inclusion, we can leverage this opportunity into creating a vibrant, affordable, transit friendly community that sustains , ably serves the needs of many, and works to, to mitigate the impacts of displacement as we move forward with this development, I will keep affordability and deep affordability and meaningful [10:27:50 AM] affordability and meaningful local community benefit at the forefront. And that is the is my commitment to our community. And last but definitely, definitely not least, item 33 Austin has become a an attractive culinary destination because of the diversity of people not only from Austin, but those that came to Austin and were inspired to entrepreneurship by way, by way of a food truck. Food trucks are are a central component of the culture of Austin. Small and micro businesses are the lifeblood of the Austin economy, and we can never underestimate how necessary food trucks and their owners are to the story of our great city. They serve as incubators for small businesses and offer aspiring entrepreneurs tirz a low overhead first entry point into Austin's vibrant food scene. Consider iconic Austin latinx female owned establishment like veracruz tacos, which started as a humble food truck in east Austin and [10:28:50 AM] food truck in east Austin and has since blossomed into a thriving enterprise employing numerous austinites and enriching our community. And others, though not yet iconic, provide a necessary income to support our Austin families. Today, we are clearing numerous antiquated and tedious hurdles for small and micro business owners with a major emphasis on time and money, both both of which can exist on extremely slim margins. In the food truck universe. This item not only helps us modernize our processes, but it also makes the process more accessible, inclusive, and equitable by ensuring culturally proficient language accents access to be considered throughout the permitting process. If we want to remain a vibrant hub of culinary innovation and entrepreneurship, then it's time for us to reevaluate our permitting procedures and explore more cost effective, efficient and equitable alternatives that support, rather than hinder, the growth [10:29:50 AM] rather than hinder, the growth of our local food truck industry. I want to thank the, our district three policy advisor, Victoria hall, for all of her diligent work on this item, which started over a year ago. I'd like to thank my co-sponsors, mayor Watson, council member harper-madison, council member vela, council member qadri, and most recently council member Fuentes for their support on this item and muchisimas gracias a mis hermanas. Leszek Y Reina de veracruz. Tacos Y mis hermanos de desnudo Sergio Y Juan por todo Su apoyo Y ideas. And with that I say let them cook. >> Thank you. Council member. Council member harper-madison followed by council member vela. >> Thank you for your recognition, Mr. Mayor. And I'd like to thank my colleagues for, for offering so much support for one another today. That's mostly what I wanted to do as well, so I have some brief remarks on a few items from our consent agenda today. I'm excited for us [10:30:51 AM] agenda today. I'm excited for us to pass item number 29 regarding the interlocal agreement with aid. It represents a significant investment in improving our city's mobility infrastructure, specifically around our schools, our children, and our families should always feel safe and well connected to their schools before, during, and after school hours by investing in sidewalk construction, pedestrian crossings, we are committing to our responsibility as a city to enhance safety, accessibility and connectivity with our communities, additionally, I'd like to extend a thank you to all of my colleagues on the dais for your work on several initiatives. I'm going to be repeating some of the things, some of my colleagues have expressed, but I think it's well worthwhile, with item number 35. Thank you, council member Velasquez, for leading a resolution on prioritizing the well-being of our essential employees, assessing the effectiveness of our emergency pay procedures is, I think it demonstrates our commitment to supporting those who serve our [10:31:52 AM] supporting those who serve our community, especially during challenging times. It's important that we ensure our workforce needs are always met and that their efforts are recognized. And I'd like to highlight mayor pro tem pool's initiative on item number 37 regarding a forward thinking approach to urban planning that integrates green infrastructure to continue to promote sustainability and working towards our climate equity goals, lastly, I'd like to express my excitement for item number 31. The submittal for a state infrastructure bank loan to fund the I-35 captain stitch project, securing financial assistance for this project is crucial for us to most effectively address congestion and improve connectivity in our city. This week, my staff came across an article that listed the top 30 streets to visit in the world right now and I was very honored to see that right here in the heart of district one and the African American heritage cultural district, that east 11th street was named number three in the nation. So [10:32:53 AM] number three in the nation. So seeing an 11th and 12th street cap included in the project will be a huge win for our local businesses and for mobility in the area. And frankly, for finally having a true east west connectivity. Thank you to staff for all your work on this historic I-35 project and for your presentations during work session, thank you again to all my colleagues, city staff. Let's keep doing the work, y'all. Thank you mayor. >> Thank you, councilmember vela, thank you mayor, first off, I would ask to be a co- sponsor on item 39, mayor pro tem pulls item. I think that's just an excellent item. And be beyond just the street trees. I think a more thoughtful and holistic look at how we're using the right of way and making sure that that that we're taking advantage of all those opportunities. I just think that's a great item. And I would like to be shown to the co-sponsor without objection. Thank you. And, then briefly, we have, an item, item 34 on today's agenda, again, I'm [10:33:55 AM] today's agenda, again, I'm co-sponsoring with, council member pool. The, we've passed the equitable, transit oriented development, and that's going to be coming back to us. But within that at crestview, there was already an existing tod, and item 34 would essentially harmonize the current crestview tod with the, the tod. That's moving forward, excited about that? That's going to create a lot of housing opportunity and it's going to make that area just look and feel ultimately a lot better. And again, I've got to thank, mayor pro tem pool and her staff for working very closely with me on this item and thank the, the planning department as well for all, all their work on it, and then finally, I want to reiterate, council member Velasquez comments with regard to the purchase of the Tokyo electron property on east Riverside. That is a big chunk of land. It's [10:34:56 AM] is a big chunk of land. It's going to fulfill a lot of different needs that the city has, and it's going to be right next to a transit stop for project connect, the opportunity for deeply affordable housing in that area is tremendous, I'm very happy that the again, credit to the city manager, to city staff for jumping on that opportunity and snatching up that property, because we can do a lot of good with that property . Thank you mayor. >> Thank you. Council member. Anything else? Council members on the consent agenda. Thank you all very much, members with that, and without objection, we will recess the Austin city council, meeting at 10:35 A.M, and I will now call to order the board of directors of the Austin housing finance corporation. [10:44:11 AM] Members, I call back to order the, city council. The regular schedule meeting of the Austin city council on March 21st. It is 10:44 A.M, that we will next go to our non consent items, which are public hearing items. Members I will call up item number 44, without objection, the public hearing to item number 44 is now open, and I'll turn to the city clerk. >> We have no speakers on item 44. >> Members, there is no one signed up to speak on item number 44. So without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 44 and the chair will entertain a motion to adopt item number 44. Motion is made by council member Fuentes. It is seconded by council member qadri . Is there discussion with regard to item number 44? Hearing none. With that, without objection, item number 44 is adopted, we will now go to item number 45. And without objection , we will open the public hearing on item number 45. I'll turn to the city clerk's office. >> We do not have any speakers [10:45:13 AM] >> We do not have any speakers for 45 at this time. >> Members. There's no one signed up to speak on item number 45. >> So without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 45. Councilmember qadri moves adoption of item number 45. It is seconded by council member Ryan alter. Is there any discussion with regard to item number 45? Without objection, item number 45 is adopted. We'll go to item number 46. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 46. And I'll turn to the city clerk. >> We do not have speakers on 46. There is no one signed up to speak on item number 46. >> So without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 46. Council member qadri moves adoption Ann. It is seconded by council by council member Ellis. Is there any discussion with regard to item number 46? Hearing none without objection. Item number 46 is adopted. Item number 47, without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 47. >> We have Richard suttle signed up for item 47. >> Mr. Suttle, are you wishing [10:46:15 AM] >> Mr. Suttle, are you wishing to speak on item number 47? >> That concludes our item 47, without objection, there's no one else signed up to speak, and Mr. Suttle is not present. Is there any? Without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 47. Councilmember qadri moves. Adoption is seconded by the mayor pro tem. Is there any discussion with regard to item number 47? >> Mayor pro tem, I just wanted to make a couple of comments. If I could, because this is really important. This is the creation of a research and science subdistrict for the north burnet gateway plan. It's responsive to Austin as an emerging national life sciences hub. This is such an exciting prospect for our city. It's supported locally by community partners like Austin community college, opportunity Austin, the university of Texas, and many health care providers. I'm partial to the north burnet gateway area. Of course, it is the central jewel in district seven, but it is further [10:47:17 AM] seven, but it is further envisioned as a regional destination and as such a jewel for central Texas and beyond the north burnet gateway, regulating plan. Like all of our live work and play areas, needs continual care and attention to respond to the opportunities and challenges of Austin and the region. So this is not the first amendment to the plan and nor will it be the last. Such updates are a matter of course, to ensure a benefit to the workers, residents, businesses, the transit system and to our city as a whole. So I'm grateful to have this moment, mayor, to appreciate the support over the years of my council, colleagues, staff, planning commissioners and the community to secure the future for this area. Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor pro tem. Any comments? >> Without objection, item number 47 is adopted, members, that takes us to our 12:00 time. Certain, but it ain't 12:00. So, [10:48:18 AM] Certain, but it ain't 12:00. So, without objection, the city council of Austin, Texas, will be in recess until 12:00. When? We will take up our 12:00 time. Certain, which is general public comment, members, it is 1048. Without objection. We are in recess here we go. Good afternoon [12:00:30 PM] here we go. Good afternoon everybody. It's 12:00 noon. And on March 21st, 2024, I will call back to order the Austin city council, we have, a 12:00 time certain which is our general public communications, members and public. What I anticipate we will do is we will go with our 12:00 time certain when that is completed, we will, recess, have our excuse me, our live music, and I anticipate that, when we recess, we'll recess until our 2:00 time. Certain as we begin this general public communication, I want to make a couple of comments about the rules of the council meeting, and what activity will not be permitted, during the general public communication, people may not speak out of turn. You may criticize a public official, but you may not use personally derogatory or disparaging remarks. You may not defame [12:01:30 PM] remarks. You may not defame another person, use obscene language, or use abusive language that is likely to incite people or breach of the peace. You may not make threats of violence against another person or otherwise disrupt the orderly conduct of the meeting, such as screaming comments or yelling comments out of order from wherever you might be in the chambers. Also so that we can make sure that all members of the public have a safe and efficient access to what the council might be hearing and what witnesses might be saying. You may not sit or stand in the aisles or otherwise obstruct the exits or emergency exits. If you wish to display a sign or a flag or prop or other object, you must do so in the designated area, which is in the back of the chamber of the council chambers, you may not hold up signs in your seats, and I see a couple of signs that probably [12:02:32 PM] couple of signs that probably already violate that, including not not paying attention to me, but I'll point out a sign, those signs need to be lowered if you're going to be in the seats. Or you can go to the back of the chambers because we don't want to block other people's view, and you may not even know you're doing that. So that's why we, ask that you not do it at all. Items need to measure no more than 23 by 28in, rectangular in a rectangular area. You may not obstruct the view of other members of the public who are seated in the seating area, as I've just indicated, and there may not be demonstrations at the podiums. So if the speaker is called on to speak, that speaker may be at the podium, but you may not have others accompanying that speaker at the podium. So if the rules are violated and I'm not anticipating they will, but I want to make sure everybody's clear. If the rules are violated, you will be asked, may be asked to leave the chambers and your time may be [12:03:33 PM] chambers and your time may be cut short at the discretion of the chair. So with that, thank you all very much for listening and following those rules. I'll turn to the city clerk's office to call those who have signed up for our general public communication. >> We will begin with our remote speakers. Our first speaker is Nazar D'aw. >> Good afternoon everybody. My name is nizar Doha. I am zakariah Doha. Father, the young man that got stabbed in the city of Austin in February the 4th. The reason my son was stabbed is an act of, crime, of a malicious man. That saw a Palestinian flag and a fire. And my son took. He tried to take action against the civil rights that we have to [12:04:35 PM] civil rights that we have to participate in or we were participated in. City of Austin. Thank god my son survived it. And I really thank everybody that call and check up on my son and gave the support to us. And that's why I expected really from the city of Austin. People and the city council and everybody in the United States to do this is what we stand for. Stand with humanity and stand with the oppressed. This action, unfortunately, came a retaliation of what happened in gaza when an action was taken from hamas against, Israel. Israel retaliated violently against a civilian people. They were they were anything that [12:05:35 PM] were they were anything that have absolutely nothing to do with this. This action is not justifiable. It is exactly like I am. If I reacted to what what happened to my son and went into the city of Austin and tried to take action to revenge for whatever that madman that have done to my son, this will not be acceptable by any laws or any other human being. And this world. And that's exactly what we call for a ceasefire to show everybody that the United States of America, that the people of the United States is standing with the oppressed, is standing for what's right. No individual and no other country can take action by their own self to retaliate against armed action. This is not acceptable, not by [12:06:35 PM] This is not acceptable, not by the United States and not acceptable by the international community. And I really feel there is a huge disconnect between the city of Austin city council members and the people of Austin. If the people of Austin is recorded, maybe did not have enough time to explain for you exactly the history of what happened. >> Thank you. Speaker. Yes, thank you very much. We will now move to in person. First, we have Valerie Menard with Omar ghaznavi on deck. >> When your name has been called, if you just come forward. Welcome. There you go. Hear me? Yes. [12:07:40 PM] Hear me? Yes. >> Okay. >> Please go. >> Okay. Good afternoon, mayor and council members. I am the project director for Boulder's Colorado river conservancy and a voter in district one. Today, I want to talk about gentrification, because if you ask the working class from east Austin, they will tell you that it is their biggest problem. Community members are going from being upwardly mobile homeowners to renters and unhoused, and policies like home will accelerate that and accelerate gentrification. So as we see in this first slide, to give a bit of history, I know the master plan east and west Austin placing communities of color next to polluting industries on the east side. Decades later, west Austin was designated as the watershed protection zone, while east Austin became the desired development zone. So what does that mean for what's happening in 2024? There's been [12:08:40 PM] happening in 2024? There's been a long history of disinvestment in east Austin, leading to cheaper land that developers, investors, etc. Now want to develop to make massive profit. Home will help with that. Massive profits don't come from building affordable housing, which is why developers don't and won't build it. Home offers no incentive or requirement, so to claim that it will increase the number of affordable units is illogical and untrue. In case I wasn't clear, this is how gentrification came to Austin. It began with a history of disinvestment in the eastern crescent that produced low land cost. In the eastern crescent that equaled higher profit margins for developers. Add to that, deregulate of the market, including up zoning policies like home and finally building market rate luxury housing in the eastern crescent that [12:09:40 PM] the eastern crescent that developers that destroys low income homes and drives up property taxes. When deregulation happens, there is an increased potential for profit margins and then an increased risk of displacement. City council is passing a policy to let investors and developers build market rate. Luxury housing, displacing our black and brown communities. That this is not just merely conjecture, but facts based on robust research and policies like home accelerate gentrification. And we've seen it happen in east Austin, where affordable single family housing used to exist. Home will deny working class austinites a sense of security. The dream of home ownership, and a chance for upward mobility for themselves and their children. This will be homes legacy. We've already seen it happen to east Austin. Please don't move forward with home, but instead rethink it. Thank you. >> Omar ghaznavi with nabiha [12:10:42 PM] >> Omar ghaznavi with nabiha hassan on deck. Your name has been called and you're on deck. >> Please come forward. Thank you. >> Yeah. I'd like to start by saying that any Arab descending person who gets up here to speak in support of the Palestinian people does so with a certain degree of fear. We have fear of retaliation, fear of being doxed fear that we're going to be labeled supporters of terrorism and fear that we're going to be labeled anti-semitic. And I just want to correct this constant and stupid mislabeling and challenge everyone in this room to simply pull your phone out and look up the definition of the word semitic. It is impossible for me or any other Arab descending person to be anti-semitic. When the blood in our bodies is literally semitic, our people come from the same exact soil and we are native to the same land. We continuously call reference to October 7th, when in reality, the present issue here stems from a problem that started in 1948, when America and the United Kingdom outwardly rejected surviving [12:11:42 PM] outwardly rejected surviving victims of the holocaust from entering this country. It is wildly ironic that after 166 days, 40,000 tons of explosives used, 70% of all of the structures destroyed, and over 30,000 civilians slaughtered, that we constantly see getting killed in the palms of our hands on these screens. We have jewish holocaust survivors older than the state of Israel calling for a cease fire. Yet our own government somehow does not get the message because we are too drunk on the wealth of the war economy. If the Israeli government was concerned at all with the safety of hostages, they would not have utilized two times the destructive force that was used in Hiroshima to try to bring them to safety. In case you need a reminder that ended a World War, there has been no evidence whatsoever that a strategic deployment of tactical forces to neutralize specific targets and secure any hostages was ever a top priority for the Israeli government. There is, however, overwhelming evidence that women, men and children are being subjected to slaughter at the expense of taxpayer dollars [12:12:43 PM] the expense of taxpayer dollars to test experimental weaponry on a civilian population, to my jewish brothers and sisters in this room and across the world, and to the people in government here and beyond, we're simply asking you to be on the right side of history this time. And in addition to demanding the release of hostages, demand a cease fire. This only works when we listen to each other. And this only works when we call for peace. Thank you. >> Nabiha hassan with hamza Saeed on deck. >> Members of the council. My name is Nadia hassan and I'm a resident of district six. 165 days of genocide. 45,000 people murdered. 15,000 children slaughtered and 25,000 orphaned. Has not compelled you in is apparently not enough to compel you to call for a ceasefire resolution that releases hostages on both sides. It is not lost on us that none of the white members of this body are [12:13:43 PM] white members of this body are supporting this resolution. So in an effort to appeal to you, I'm bringing you stories of children that look like you in hopes that maybe, maybe you will just change your mind. This is five year old faisal faisal Al khalidi with his blond haired, light skinned blue eyes. The Israeli occupation forces stormed vessels home in the middle of the night, dragged his parents out and executed them and seven members of his family in front of him. His pregnant mother, seven month pregnant mother, was shot by Israeli soldiers in the stomach. Faisal is now an orphan. Next slide please. This fadi Fathy is starving, 30 plus children and counting have already died of starvation in gaza. Next slide please. Sidra Matar. Sidra died of bombs of excessive gas and bombs that suffocated her. Bombs that were funded by my and your tax dollars. Next slide please. Five year old. Sorry four year old four year old Sasha Janet us funded Israeli occupation forces using internationally banned chemical weapons did this to her [12:14:43 PM] chemical weapons did this to her fragile face and body when they bombed the refugee camp that she was displaced to a refugee camp. She was displaced in a refugee camp with her injuries, she was forced to flee from her father from al-shifa hospital, which the iaf is currently attacking. As I stand here and speak again to the white members of this council, I could not tell you the color of her skin or her hair because the Israeli air attacks on her have made it impossible for me to determine. But I urge you, please consider her humanity. Just the same. Murray Watson you've called efforts to pursue the ceasefire resolution as divisive. I'm not sure what part of opposing genocide and not murdering, murdering children is you find decisive, divisive, but one difficult things can be divisive . Granting women the right to vote was divisive. The civil rights movement was divisive, but real leaders worked through it. We are urging you, please take leadership here. Secondly, you use this as a smokescreen. This issue is actually not [12:15:44 PM] This issue is actually not divisive. Six months of polls have confirmed again and again that overwhelming majority of Americans, including your constituents here in Austin, are supporting a ceasefire. In fact, a February 2024 poll conducted by the institute of social policy and understanding showed that even American Jews are more likely to support a ceasefire than not. So if there's anyone causing needless division here on something that has a broad agreement and support, it is you. Mayor Watson, do those opposing the ceasefire resolution? We are not the only ones who will not forget history will judge you. Israel's genocide in gaza is being documented in unprecedented, unprecedented ways. And when you're asked down the line what you, with your privilege and power did in the 10th largest city in Austin, all you'll have to say is that you chose to oppose a resolution that ends the mass slaughter of children. Cease fire. Now >> Haam Sade Escott Bremer, under. >> If your name is if your name has been called, please make your way to the front and to the podium. >> Haam hamzah said. With Scott [12:16:44 PM] >> Haam hamzah said. With Scott Bremer on deck. >> If your name has been called, please make your way forward. >> Scott Bremer with Susana Almanza on deck. >> Good day, Austin city council. My name is Scott Bremer. I've been here in the Austin area for six years. I love Texas, I love Texas barbecue. I love Texas football, and I've enjoyed being able to see you. The Austin city council, at work over these last few weeks. I also happen to have a Texas Laci dog state dog of Texas. I'm totally into this Texas thing. I want you to know I'm also a third generation United States marine. I've spent a lot of my life building missile defense and over six countries, and that includes three years in Israel. I'm presently a cybersecurity executive, and it is with all of that cumulative experience that I'd like to say that there are some other choices that you could consider for than a cease [12:17:44 PM] could consider for than a cease fire resolution. There are other things that can get us on the path towards something good for members of my family have been hostages in gaza. Three of them survived. One of them did not. I actually learned that my family member died while I was sitting in this room one month ago. When I got up to leave that day, to go be with my family, a voice in the room said, you know, because they were looking at one of my signs, you know, your family could come home if you would agree to a cease fire. There's a lot of problematic elements to that idea. Again, for members of my family have been hostages. You have seen my family. They are international news. They have appeared in not one but two terrorist videos. I use the word terror deliberately. They have been in a hamas abduction video, and they have been in a Palestinian islamic jihad hostage video, where our 12 year old was held at gunpoint and made to say some specific things. I need the council to understand. There are more [12:18:46 PM] understand. There are more combatants at stake in this entire situation than you may realize, and some of them take pride in being extremist. 36,000 attacks, 36,000 rockets, mortars, artillery shells or bombs from drones and balloons have come from gaza in the last 20 years. If you want to average that out, that's five attacks per day over the last 19 years. It is very difficult to live in that kind of an environment, I can call myself with legitimacy, a world class expert in missile defense. This has to stop. These rocket attacks have to stop. Rockets are unguided. They are indiscriminate weapons. Instead of a cease fire resolution, which we do all want to get to, there are some paths that you could take on that way you could call for the release of hostages. You could call for the release of Thai hostages. There's still ten of them. You [12:19:46 PM] There's still ten of them. You could call for medical care to get to the hostages. You could call for the red cross to be allowed to see the hostages. If you want to be impartial, you could say, let the red cross see prisoners of war as well. You could also call for voting rights for gazans. Yes I'm available for any questions you may ever have. Thank you. >> Next speaker is Susana Almanza, with Chaz Moore on deck . >> Susana. Welcome, miss. The voice of peace. >> Excuse me, but I have my time. Okay and now you can start the clock. Mayor Cesar Chavez was born March the 31st, 1927, in yuma, Arizona. Cesar Chavez was a Latino farm worker, labor leader, civil rights activist [12:20:49 PM] leader, civil rights activist and crusader for social change. Chavez was co-founder of the united farm workers, which advocates for better wages and safer working conditions on American farm lands. Cesar Chavez is more than a symbol and a role model for farmworkers and the chicano Mexicano community. Cesar Chavez demonstrated the need for all working people to support those who are oppressed and exploited, working for dignity on the job and in the community. Increasing democratic rights for working people, challenging the powerful and defense of the powerless. Austin residents have celebrated the life of Cesar Chavez and his selfless dedication for farm workers and workers rights, economic justice, civil rights, environmental justice, peace, nonviolence and empowerment of the poor and disenfranchized. As Cesar Chavez once said, we have a power that comes from the justice of our cause. So long as we're willing to sacrifice for that cause, so long as we [12:21:50 PM] that cause, so long as we persist in nonviolence and work to spread the message of our struggle, then millions of people around the world will respond from their heart and in the end, we will overcome the annual Cesar Chavez March will begin at 10 A.M. Saturday, March the 30th at parque Zaragoza. The annual Cesar Chavez March awards dinner will be held Saturday, March the 30th at 6 P.M. At the montopolis recreation center. But there will be honoring Amanda Hassell, Marion Sanchez, Valerie Menard, Marie guitérrez, Ana Aguirre, Francis Acuna, Monica Guzman, Sharon and Kim Patton, Jordan palmer and Ana Batalla. Viva la huelga! Viva la causa K, viva Cesar Chavez! And may we have a ceasefire and peace in the world. Thank you. >> Next we have Chaz Moore with Francis Acuna on deck. Good morning, city council community [12:22:54 PM] morning, city council community members and fellow advocates for justice. I stand before you today with a heavy heart, with the weight of injustice. But also with the fire of conviction. The situation in gaza, the ongoing genocide perpetuated against the Palestinian people, demands our immediate attention, our unwavering solidarity, and our fiercest advocacy for peace. As an advocate, as an activist dedicated to the dismantling of systems of oppression, it is imperative that we recognize and confront the brutal reality faced by Palestinian brothers and sisters. For too long, they have endured unimaginable suffering, their lives torn apart by violence, displacement and the relentless onslaught of occupation. In the images and stories emerging from gaza are not just stats, are not just stats or headlines. They are the cries of mothers mourning their children, the anguish of families torn apart, and the resilience of a people refusing to be erased from history. We cannot turn a blind eye to their suffering, nor can we remain silent in the face of injustice. It is time for us as a city, as a community, to take a stand for peace, for justice, for humanity [12:23:55 PM] peace, for justice, for humanity . We must call upon our elected officials to adopt a cease fire resolution, to demand an end to the bloodshed, and commit actively working, and to commit actively working towards a just and lasting solution in the crisis in gaza. But our solidarity cannot end with words alone. We must also take concrete actions to hold those responsible for the atrocities in gaza accountable. This means divesting from companies that profit from the occupation and refusing to remain complicit in the oppression of Palestinian people, and advocating for policies that promote peace, equality and human rights for all. I know that the past may seem daunting and that the forces of injustice may seem insurmountable, but we cannot afford to lose hope, to lose faith in our ability to create a better world, our solidarity, our resilience, and our unwavering commitment to justice are the sparks that will ignite the flames of change. So I urge you, members of the Austin city council, to listen to the voices of your constituents, to heed the calls for justice echoing from every corner of our city. Stand on the right side of history. Stand with the people of gaza, and stand for peace. In the words of the great Nelson [12:24:56 PM] the words of the great Nelson Mandela, it always, it always seems impossible until it's done. Let us prove that peace is possible, that justice is achievable, and that love will always triumph over hate. And before I go, I just want to point out the fact that, this resolution, that calls for a cease fire also asks for the hostages to be free. Right? So I think it's important that as you listen to people that are coming up here talking about don't do a cease fire, they haven't even read the resolution. They haven't talked to the people that are asking you to do the resolution. Right. And I, I can't I can't leave without saying this. I think it is telling that the people that are here advocating for their brothers and sisters that are being slaughtered across the sea are still humane enough to ask for the hostages to be free, so yeah, I'll leave it at that. Thank you sir, our last speaker is Francis Acuna. >> Carlos pinon, followed by [12:26:03 PM] >> Carlos pinon, followed by Francis Acuna. Your name has been called. Please come forward . >> I have slides, so please don't start my time until they go out. Thank you. Good afternoon, mayor Watson. Members of city council. My name is Carlos pinon, and I'm a program coordinator at Boulder today, I want to share a bit about who's profiting from gentrification in Austin and why middle class and rich people who aren't from the eastern crescent are pushing for home phase two. Because I'd like to be clear, community members whose families set roots here that have remained over multiple generations are strongly opposed to these upzoning efforts that only bring luxury development and displce longstanding communities. Who supports the home initiative? If you remember the demographic of the people who spoke in favor of home at the October and December council meetings, it wasn't those born and raised in east Austin. Rather, it was the homeowners from central and west Austin who won't suffer the negative impacts of displacement at the hands of upzoning. Likewise, the organizations you see on this slide are pushing for the construction of more market rate and luxury housing because they will make more money. It's apparent to our communities that investor backed developers are [12:27:03 PM] investor backed developers are behind this initiative. One organization that's been a strong proponent is Texans for reasonable solutions, which was founded by San Francisco tech billionaires Nicole and Luke Nosek. What else have these self-proclaimed pro housing billionaires funded? As you can see here, they donated significant money to the save Austin now pac, which banned camping and deeply hurt our unhoused neighbors here in Austin. It's also important to point out that the initial draft of the home resolution cited research backed by the mercatus institute as proof of why this is a good policy. The mercatus institute is a libertarian and conservative think tank funded by the Koch brothers, who are infamous conservative funders that made their fortune from oil. If you are a city council member who calls yourself a Progressive, perhaps consider if and why the policies you're imposing onto your city. Align with what conservative think tanks peddle. Lastly, I want to share that the Liam movement was started by rich white yuppies in tech and developers in San Francisco to disrupt tenant organizing with the knowledge that deregulation would never help low income tenants of color at the bottom of the market. As stated by Alexander Ferrer, a planner and researcher at the la based tenant advocacy organization called strategic actions for a just economy. Nimbyism has since its [12:28:04 PM] Nimbyism has since its conception, been a promise that we didn't need to redistribute anything. We could just make more property. The yimby movement, which should be renamed yes, in your backyard since you never really see its proponents come from minoritized communities, is a pro gentrification trickle down housing agenda that harms working class residents? Under the guise of this form of housing is a solution for us all. That's why big, real estate and tech companies love yimbys. It's quite easy to pretend you're doing a good thing in engineering a deregulatory framework that you profit from and purport to provide housing, but only for those who can afford to adjust to the market to whims. Anthony Damiano, a housing researcher at the center for urban and regional affairs who found in 2020 that new builds in Minneapolis increased rents by 6.7% in lower priced housing, while slightly decreasing rents in high priced units nearby, puts it succinctly enacting policies like home is akin to throwing a pebble in the ocean, compared to the scale and scope of the need. The quotes have cited today come from an article published last week in the new republic by Michael Friedrich, who debunks yimby ism, a movement so cozy with the real estate and the right wing, and who states that the solution [12:29:06 PM] and who states that the solution to the housing crisis is political and economic, not a matter of technocratic tweaks. I'm sure you've heard time and time again, the community can bring the very solutions you need to you community land trusts and overlay on the eastern crescent to protect it from luxury development that displaces long time residents and actually building deeply affordable housing at 30 to 50 mfi. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Francis Acuna Francis Acuna. >> That concludes our noon speakers. >> Thank you very much. Members. That concludes the speakers for our, 12:00 time. Certain general public comment with out objection. We will be in recess until 2:00. But, we will now set up for live music, have our live music. Without objection. We are in recess also known as Ann by his fans. [12:42:05 PM] also known as Ann by his fans. As birdlegg. Birdlegg is an award winning blues harmonica player, a writer, a vocalist, and a man. He's been quoted as a natural performer with boundless energy and enthusiasm, and that was written up in living blues magazine. And he has a strong following in the Austin area. >> He was born in Pennsylvania. He relocated to California, where he began performing with some of the best bluesmen in the Oakland San Francisco area. People like sonny Rhodes, masala, Talbot, Haskell, Kool papa Sadler, and Mississippi Johnny waters. He's currently based in Austin, and so birdlegg and the tight fit blues band appear regularly at places like the skylark lounge, green hall, fat cat lounge, places like that. He's appeared at festivals including the eastside kings festival, the San Francisco blues festival, blues masters at the crossroads, lucerne and blues at sea, as well as [12:43:08 PM] blues at sea, as well as international venues traveling yearly to Brazil, Spain and scandinavia. He was named blues harmonica player of the year by the bay area blues society, and he was nominated for an Austin music award in 2021. He's recorded three albums his self-titled 2013 album was two votes away from securing a grammy nomination. Ladies and gentlemen, it's my distinct pleasure to introduce you to birdlegg and the tight fit blues band. Take it away. >> This is an original song, by the way. Well, I see joy in your lips. [12:44:23 PM] Well, I see joy in your lips. Take your hands up off your head . I said join your lips. Take your hands up off your hips. Cause you know. Good. Well, I ain't about to live like this. Yeah. You always raising sand. And you fill my life with misery . Are you always raising sand. And you fill my life with misery . You gotta learn how to smile now. Cause I'm about to set you free. Now I done told you once I ain't about to tell you twice. Come on with the town, y'all. I done told you once I ain't about to tell you twice. Yeah. You [12:45:24 PM] to tell you twice. Yeah. You gotta learn how to smile. Now. Put some happiness in my life . [12:47:12 PM] . Now I done told you once. I ain't about to tell you twice. Better clear now. Ain't told you what's there. I ain't about to tell you twice. Yeah. You gotta learn how to smile. Now put some happiness in my life . I done told you once. I ain't about to tell you twice. Now, I didn't tell you was that I ain't [12:48:14 PM] didn't tell you was that I ain't about to tell you twice. Yeah. You gotta learn how to smile. Now. Put some happiness in my life I said join your lips. Take your hands up off your head. Join your lips. Take your hands up off your hips. Y'all know how you do it. Cause you know well I ain't about to live like this. But you know good. Well I ain't about to live like this. Now you know good. Well I ain't about to live like this. Thank you. Thank you very much. [12:49:17 PM] Thank you. Thank you very much. Blues man, won't you come over here real quick? >> Let me talk. Come over here with me. >> I've been summoned. >> Yes, because I want to do something nice. Got a couple of our Austin city council members here with us, council member Ellis and council member Fuentes are here. And as I have pointed out many times, one of the great things about being in Austin is the live music folks like you. And so I get to make a special proclamation along with these council members today, be it known that whereas the city of Austin, Texas, is blessed with many creative musicians whose talent extends to virtually every musical genre, and whereas our music scene thrives because Austin audiences support good music, good music produced by legends, our local favorites and newcomers alike. And whereas we are pleased to showcase and support our local artists. Now therefore, I, Kirk Watson, mayor [12:50:18 PM] therefore, I, Kirk Watson, mayor of the live music capital of the world, Austin, Texas, do hereby proclaim March 21st, 2024 as birdlegg day in Austin, Texas. Congratulations, sir. >> Thank you. >> Tell us where now? I announced when I was introducing y'all some of the places you play, but if somebody wants to hear you in the next couple of weeks, where can we see you? >> Go to the skylark lounge next Saturday. Saturday a week from now. Second Saturday of the month. >> Second Saturday of the month. Skylark. >> The dates. But I know it's the second Saturday. >> You and me both. I can count up to two. I can count up to two. I get to one and a half I like I like the way you do it. Ladies and gentlemen, let's give another round of applause to birdlegg. >> Thank y'all very much. And a special thanks to the city of Austin. They didn't have to do this. They just did it. >> They do a good job. >> I'm glad I was playing. When [12:51:20 PM] >> I'm glad I was playing. When you're doing it. I appreciate that, man. Thank you. Thank you. >> We need a picture. Oh, yeah. Y'all come up and get in the picture with us. And everybody, it's 2:00. I will [2:00:23 PM] And everybody, it's 2:00. I will call back to order the Austin city council, on March 21st, 2024. We have been in recess, but we are now ready for our 2:00 time. Certain which our zoning. Well, actually, before I do that, we do have a 2:00 time certain. But members I've been told during our recess that on item number ten, we did not have, all of the backup posted the way it should have been posted. So the mayor pro tem moves that we reconsider the vote by which item number ten was adopted. Councilmember Velasquez seconds that motion. And if there's no objection and without objection, item number ten, is to be reconsidered. The mayor pro tem now moves that we adopt item number ten, and it is seconded by council member Velasquez. Is there any discussion? Councilmember alter. Yes, I let me pull up item number ten. Yes, that's what it [2:01:24 PM] number ten. Yes, that's what it is. Buti want to I was going to read it in the record, approve a resolution finding the use of competitive of the competitive seal proposal method of contracting as authorized by subchapter D, chapter two two, six nine of the Texas government code is the project delivery method that provides the best value to the city for the Ulrich water treatment plant. Inherently safer disinfection, conversion project, the note was that E wb goes will be established prior to the issuance of the solicitation on that. The resolution was not in the backup. Any other discussion without objection, item number ten has is adopted. Now we will go to our 2:00 time certain. And I've lost miss Hardin. I knew I shouldn't have done anything else. There she is. Alright mayor and council, I'm Julie [2:02:28 PM] mayor and council, I'm Julie harden with the planning department. Your zoning agenda begins with item number 48, c-1 for 2023 0005. This item will be offered as consent on all three readings with the motion by council member Alison alter, that has been distributed and the applicant is in agreement with the additional conditions outlined in the motion sheet. And I just want to state I know, mayor, this morning you said you'll take 24 after the zoning agenda, but I do want everyone to know 24 is related to this item, and it's the settlement agreement, I know and members, what I intend to do is get us through all of the zoning items, and then we will take up item 24. Okay >> Thank you. Mayor. Item 49 is c-1 for 2023 0150. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 50 is c-1 for 2023 0149. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 51 is c-1 for 2023 0121. This item is offered [2:03:28 PM] 2023 0121. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 52 is c-1 for 2023 0131. This there's an indefinite postponement request by the applicant for this item. Item 53 is c-1 for 2023 0050. This item is being offered for consent first reading only to include the amendments in the motion sheet that's been distributed. Item 54 c-1 for 2023 0049. Again this item is being offered for consent first reading only to include the amendments, in the motion sheet that's been distributed. And these two items, both 53 and 54, will be brought back for second and third reading considerations at your April 4th council meeting. Item 55 is I'm sorry 5050 702 at 53 and 54. Did I say the wrong number? >> You did 50. You meant 55 and 50. Why don't you 53 and 50 consent on first reading? Only with the amendment that [2:04:30 PM] with the amendment that everybody has in front of them. 54 is consent on first reading only with the amendment and motion sheet that everybody has in front of them. >> And then 53 and 54 will both be brought back at your April 4th meeting. Fourth. Yeah. Thank you, thank you, item 55 is npa 2023 0015.04. There is a postponement request by council member harper-madison to your April 4th council meeting. The related rezoning is item 56 c-1 for 2023 01170117. Again postponement request by council member harper-madison to your April 4th council meeting. Item 57 is c-1 for 2023 0143. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 58 is npa 2023 0018.05. This item is being offered for consent on all three readings. The related rezoning is item 59 c-1 for 2023 0122. This item is being offered [2:05:30 PM] 0122. This item is being offered for consent on all three readings, just to note, staff did not recommend this item, but the planning commission did recommend the applicant's request. So what is moving forward on all three readings is the mfcc six mp. Item 60 is npa 2023 0020.01. This item is being offered for consent at second and third readings. The related rezoning is item 61 c-1 for 2023 0043. This item is being offered for consent. Second and third readings. Item 62 is c-1 for 2023 0096. This item is being offered for consent, second and third readings and then moving on to your addendum. Item 71 is c-1 for 2023 0044. This item is being offered for consent. Third reading, this case does have a related npa which is item 73 on your agenda. Item 72 is c-1 for 2023 0046. This is being offered for consent. Third reading item [2:06:31 PM] for consent. Third reading item 73 npa 2023 0020.03. This item is related to 71 and is being offered for consent. Third reading item 74 is npa 2023 0023.02. This item is being offered for consent. Third reading and the related rezoning is item 75 c-1 for 2023 0107. This item is being offered for consent. Third reading. And this concludes the reading of your agenda. Of course, this is at your discretion. And mayor, we do have speakers. >> I'm sorry. >> And we have speakers. >> Yes. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, members, I'm going to ask for a motion first. So we have a motion out, and then we'll hear from the speakers, the consent agenda will be. And I'll read it quickly, item 48. All three readings with the motion sheet that you have in front of you that was originally submitted by council member Alison alter. 49. All three readings 50. All three readings 51. All three readings 52. And indefinite postponement 53. First reading only with, [2:07:32 PM] 53. First reading only with, with the motion sheet that you have in front of you. And 54 first reading only with a motion sheet in front of you. Those will be brought back. Brought back on April 4th, 55 and 56, postponement to April fourth, 20 2457. All three readings 58. All three readings. The related item is 59. All three readings mf six, mp 60 is second and third reading 61 is related that second and third reading, 62 is second and third reading, 71 is third reading. It is related to 73, which will also be on third reading. Item 72 is third reading, 74 is on third reading, and the related item 75 is on third reading. Is there a motion ? Motion is made by council member qadri, seconded by council member Ryan alter. I'll now ask the city clerk to. In the motion is to adopt. Ask the city clerk to call on the speakers. >> Okay. We do not have any remote at this time. We'll start with Dewey Poteet on items 24 and 48, with Zenobia Joseph and Lee Edwards on deck. [2:08:34 PM] Lee Edwards on deck. >> Thank you. Sir, please state your name for the record, and feel free to tell us what you think. >> Thank you. My name is Dewey Poteet, mayor Watson members of the council. I appreciate you all hearing me out on a matter of great concern to me and my neighbors, you're being asked to approve a zoning change which will result in a hotel being hotel and restaurant being placed between two residential neighborhoods, with no adequate protection against noise. My concern is noise. We live directly across 2220 two inches mill creek, from where this new hotel will be. And, when I first showed up to the zoning and planning commission to express my concern about limiting noise, outdoor noise, I can just imagine them having. Well, there is an outdoor pool envisioned for Wright directly across. Be able to see it from my backyard about 2 or 300ft away, kids playing. I love kids, but generally they generate about [2:09:36 PM] generally they generate about 85db of noise, there is. When I first appeared before the zoning and planning commission to express my concerns here, I was approached by a member of, one of the homeowners associations who had negotiated restrictive covenants with the developer and said, oh, we've got predictions, projections on noise in here, 75 decibel limit, and I, thinking that was inadequate. I went and talked to my neighbors and said, we really need a restriction on outdoor amplified noise, you'll have an exhibit here first. You can see highlighted in pink. This is where I and my neighbors live, directly across the road from the development. My house is the one that's most right on the peak there. And so we would be the closest residential neighbor to this property, to this new hotel, the courtyard people will also be very close, about the same distance, but they have a lot of buffers of one there up over the hill. And [2:10:37 PM] one there up over the hill. And they got a lot of vegetation, a lot of big trees between there. We have nothing but a valley between us. Now this is being presented. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. And this is going forward on consent. Thank you. >> Speaker. Next speaker is Zenobia Joseph with Lee Edwards, Mario Cantu and ray Collins on deck. If your name has been called, please go to the podium and state your name before you begin. >> Your name has been called. Please come forward. >> Zenobia Joseph Lee Edwards Mario Cantu, and ray Collins. My name is ray Collins. I chair the South Bend neighborhood plan contact team and I'm speaking on item 62. Today. I'm returning to our exhibit a we received by email on March 3rd and will present the items unrelated to [2:11:38 PM] present the items unrelated to saint David's hca healthcare's defects. I've already covered orally and in writing all these items are negotiable, but rather than negotiating, the applicant insists that the contractual relationship hca healthcare entered into with the episcopal diocese of Texas when the diocese formed saint David's foundation as part of the purchase price is adequate. This is not a true statement. Southwood bicyclists recognize the value of saint David's hca health care planning. A bike lane on the west side of the hospital could. This easement would be available to the city to make the connections to bike route 35 and Bergstrom spur on the south and safe passage under Ben white to the north and into the Glendale neighborhood. Also under the heading of multimodal transport and because of connections of neighborhood officers to capital metro, the [2:12:38 PM] officers to capital metro, the connect contact team recognized the value of saint David's hca healthcare providing bus passes to their employees and propose it as a community benefit. After interviewing the principal of saint Elmo's elementary and being well aware of the effect of Austin's heat on the students , the contact team proposes that saint David's hca healthcare provide ten pergolas to shelter 25 students each during outdoor activities, like wise, the principle is to stress that the condition of the school soccer field using the term ankle breaker to describe its condition. >> I'm sorry sir, but thank you. Your time has expired. >> That concludes nunes or I'm sorry. 2 P.M. Speakers. All names have been called the last part again. At this time, all the names have been called. >> Okay, great. Thank you. I [2:13:39 PM] >> Okay, great. Thank you. I just didn't hear you appreciate that. Members. That's all signed up to speak on these items, this is being offered as a consent agenda. Is there any discussion related to the consent agenda? Yes. Councilmember vela and I will ask in a moment for abstentions, recusals and no votes. But, councilmember Bailey, you're recognized for discussion. Are you on? If you are, maybe you weren't meant to speak. Yeah, yeah. No. Go ahead, say tlk. Talk to us. All right. He'd come forward. Can you, councilmember Velasquez, could you see about your microphone? Yeah okay. Would you pass that over? Can you get that to him? >> Oh, we're bringing a wireless mic to councilmember vela. [2:14:40 PM] mic to councilmember vela. >> Oh, he'll start singing now. >> Can can I walk around the room? Yeah. >> That's right. Yeah that's what I was worried about. Yeah >> Never give me the mic like that. >> I can see the look on your face as you saw them coming towards you, I just had a couple of questions. If the development is going to be on, Berkman and I've been discussing with the transportation department a potential traffic improvements, traffic safety improvements on Berkman. And I was just wondering if you could, go through some of the proposed, analysis and improvements that transportation is looking at, thank you. Council member, good afternoon, mayor and council. Utpal baruah, interim assistant director, Austrian transportation and public works department. So a council member, since the last discussion in the last city council meeting, we had gone back internally and discussed a lot of options. And one of the question was about some of the improved Eid crossing across Bachman drive. And we looked into several [2:15:41 PM] And we looked into several intersections. One of them being, Bachman drive and pattern intersect. And we from transportation and public works had actually done a signal warrant analysis at that intersection a few years back. And that intersection is warranted for signalization. And the next step is how do we find funding? So we looked into some of the funding options. And one of the options was to use the street impact fee fund. So that's one of the options. But we need some supplemental funding to fully design and construct the signal. And we are looking into the options, how we can fully fund that signal. And once we are able to identify the supplemental funding, we will go into design of that signal and hopefully construction in the next year or so. And the other intersections that we looked into was, shafiq Rosie and Bachman drive. I think currently that is, a pedestrian signal or a fb. And the questions or the [2:16:42 PM] a fb. And the questions or the requests from the neighborhood was to convert that to full signal. So we are looking into that, signalization. And from tpww, we are going to initiate data collection this fall and eventually, conduct a signal warrant analysis. And the other location that we looked into was at northridge, intersection with Bachman drive. And we are also going to do the data collection this fall. So that we can assess if there is going to be a warrant for a pedestrian signal or a fb altogether. Other, coming fall, we are going to do an open house in the in the Windsor park community, just so that we can get feedback from the community and move forward with this analysis and potential improvements. >> Thank you very much. I really appreciate that. And I just want to say I think I misspoke there actually. Item 74 and 75, not, 49 and, and 50, appreciate transportation, public works, efforts on this. I know the [2:17:44 PM] efforts on this. I know the community will be very happy to hear. And just to give a little bit of context, you know, Bachman drive between 290 and 50 first, has one stoplight in the entire, stretch right there. And the speed limit is 30mph, when you go north of Bachman drive, where a northeast high school is now, multiple stop signs, I think it's the 25 mile per hour speed limit when you go south of Bachman, drive into the Mueller neighborhood, 25 mile per hour speed limit, and you've got a stop sign. Like every other street. So again, I, I'm, I'm glad that that there's such emphasis and focus on traffic calming on Bachman drive in Mueller and then north of Windsor park. But again, the folks in Windsor park kind of we have noticed that. And there's a real desire to calm traffic to make sure that there are safe crossings. And I think those additional stoplights, I mean, the one at Patton is warranted. I will I will be pushing for [2:18:45 PM] I will I will be pushing for that, and I'll see what I can do to get that, that funding. And then the one at suffolk and roggy also would be extremely helpful. But thank you very much to, to transportation and public works. I really appreciate the efforts and look forward to seeing the analysis that you do, later this year. >> Thank you, councilmember, and thank you, mayor and council. >> Do I have to give up the mic now? >> Yeah. You're no longer recognized. Thank you. Council member. Any further discussion on the consent agenda? All right. Is there anyone wishing to be shown abstaining from a vote on the consent on any of the items on the consent agenda? Anyone wishing to be shown recusing themselves from a vote on any of the items on the consent agenda, anyone wishing to be shown voting no on any items on the consent agenda, councilmember alter. 1559. Anyone else? Very well. Without objection, the consent agenda is [2:19:45 PM] objection, the consent agenda is adopted with councilmember Allison alter being shown voting no on item number 59. Members that will take us back to item number, agenda item number 24, which we needed to take up after we had taken up item number 48, which was just adopted. And, I'll entertain a motion with regard to item number 24. Motion is made by councilmember Ryan alter to adopt item number 24. It is seconded by council member Ellis. Is there any discussion on item number 24? Without objection? Item number 24 is adopted, members are being no further business to come before the city council of Austin, Texas, at this regular scheduled meeting on March 21st, 2024. Without objection, the city council is now adjourned at 2:20 P.M. Thanks, everybody Well, thank you.