City Council Regular Meeting Transcript - 4/10/2025 Title: ATXN-1 (24hr) Channel: 1 - ATXN-1 Recorded On: 4/10/2025 6:00:00AM Original Air Date: 4/10/2025 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. [9:59:56 AM] You're watching a meeting of the Austin City Council Council members minute. One more minute. >> Well, good morning everybody. It's 10:00 on April 10th, 2025. And I'm going to call to order [10:00:56 AM] And I'm going to call to order the meeting of the Austin city council. We're meeting in the city council chambers, which are located in city hall at 301 west second street. You may wonder why this person is hovering over my shoulder. I have asked her to come up so that we can start this meeting on a very cheerful note. Although there's some disappointment, of course, that we are having the last meeting where Mirna Rios will be our city clerk, but she is retiring, and I wanted to bring her up here so we could start off this meeting. >> Oh. >> By saying something nice about her and giving her these flowers and I just want to for those that don't know, you hear her voice from time to time as she's calling folks out, calling out names, or if you have a petition drive or you're somehow engaging specifically with the clerk's office, but you may not know that really so much of the work of city hall a that we do the business that we do, she is [10:01:57 AM] the business that we do, she is a key P of. And I just want to mention a couple of things. First of all, she's been with us for 23 years, 23 years. And that's a that's a pretty special thing. And it deserves applause. You're right. Think about all that she does. I just mentioned the kinds of things that she's involved in. She's involved with not only the meetings that we have, but involved with municipal elections. She's involved with the management of our boards and commissions, support services, records and information management, and countless petitions that may come through. She has been recently very highly complimented by one of our council members, who council member Siegel, who has some special experience when it comes to petitions. And I've heard him and that's all we'll say. But I've actually heard him that we've all heard him say very clearly that Austin, Texas, because of Mirna, is kind of the [10:02:58 AM] because of Mirna, is kind of the gold standard for how those, those, those are dealt with and handled. So we're we appreciate that. Keep in mind that part of the time that she's been clerk was also dealing with covid and the pandemic pandemic. And she helped work through that at a time when nobody knew what we needed to do or how to go about doing anything. And she helped the city get through that, including the creation of hybrid council meetings and the solutions that go along with that. I've mentioned elections. What she does with campaign finance reports and expanding our e-filing system, what she's done with the petitions. We've talked about creating a new council voting history on the open data portal. The work with the boards and commissions. And I want to say she has done the work that me what it means is the Texas municipal clerks association has received consistently the achievement of excellence award, honoring our [10:03:59 AM] excellence award, honoring our clerk's office, adherence to federal, state and local statutory requirements. So I didn't this is her last meeting. She is retiring officially at the end of the month. We're going to take a vote at some point today on her replacement. And but but in any event, I just couldn't imagine us not starting this day without sg a special and deep thank you to Mirna Rios. >> Thank you. Thank you Mary. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you all for honoring her. So now we'll go back to I've called the meeting to [10:05:00 AM] I've called the meeting to order. We're going to point out that typically this is where I say that in the order of the day, I'm going to at some point read changes and corrections into the record. But it just so happens that on this day when Myrna is Myrna's last meeting, there are no changes in corrections. So we members, we've hit perfection. So without objection, we will adjourn. In any event. So we won't do that. But then we're going to go to our consent agenda in just a minute. We will have the consent agenda. Speakers we will go through that. After that, we will have some discussion and brief comments from council, and we will vote on the consent agenda as close to 1030 as we can. I will recess the meeting of the Austin city council, and I will call to order the board of directors meeting of the Austin housing finance corporation, and we will conduct that meeting when that meeting is over. We'll adjourn it. By [10:06:01 AM] is over. We'll adjourn it. By the way, members on the consent agenda, there have been no items pulled from the consent agenda. There have been no items pulled on item number 31. However, I want to point out that there is a new version for the motion that I will take on. The consent agenda will include on item 31, version four. We will go to the non consent items. We have an eminent domain item. We will take it up and then we will go to the public hearings. Those public hearings are items 36 through 4536 through 45. We will conduct the public hearings and act, if you will remember, on all of those items. We've previously held a public hearing. This will be the second public hearing because of the what the what they relate to. And we will then vote on them. My intention would be that as we take the item up, we will conduct the public hearing and [10:07:03 AM] conduct the public hearing and then we will have the vote. My guess is that we will reset. We will not recess. We will take up our noon time certain right at noon. We've got something special today. Typically we recess for live music, but today we're going to hear from our poet laureate. I anticipate that what we will do is we will recess. However, after the 12:00 time, certain that typically is about 1230 to 1235. It might be a little earlier today, and then we will recess probably until 1 or 110, but I'll announce that at the time. And then of course, at 2:00 we have our zoning as a time certain item. So, members, that's the order of the day. Without objection, what we will now do is we will go to the consent agenda. Since, as I've pointed out, there are no changes and corrections to read into the record. And we will go to the consent agenda, and I will turn to our city clerk. Remember, there's nothing been pulled. So I will turn to our city clerk and she will [10:08:03 AM] city clerk and she will hopefully help us through this and has the experience to do it well. Thank you very much. Again. >> Thank you all. The first speaker is bill bunch. I am speaking for item number five. >> Mr. Bunch. >> Yes. Can you hear me? >> Yes we can. >> Thank you. Good morning. Mayor. Council members, thank you for your service to our community. Bill bunch here with save our springs alliance. Long time resident of district five. I'm speaking, I guess, in favor of this item, which is to assign. It looks like for a second time, a $5.4 million contract to finish building the zilker park maintenance barn replacement. I just wanted to point out that if you look at [10:09:04 AM] point out that if you look at this memo, it highlights yet another folly in zilker park. And there have been many with the zilker train situation and the zilker park vision plan being at the top of that list. On this one, they cut down a whole bunch of trees. When they started the construction, and then that's been delayed and delayed and delayed for years now. As is laid out in your supporting memo. They didn't need to do that. They could have chosen a different site close by that would have functioned just fine for the maintenance barn replacement. And for the life of me, I don't know why our parks leadership did not do that. So I'm hoping for the best with our new parks director and just wanted to put this on your list [10:10:05 AM] wanted to put this on your list for recognizing that we've had real, serious problems in managing our flagship and soul of our city park, zilker park. Thank you. >> Mr. Bunch, you are also registered for item number 14. You get two minutes. >> Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Bill bunch again. Item 14. This is to approve $5,000 payment from Texas gas service to build a temporary gas line and easement, allowing that across city watershed protection lands on the Barton springs Edwards aquifer recharge zone. Down just north of the sh 45 corridor. I just wanted to point out that, [10:11:10 AM] just wanted to point out that, you know, $5,000 doesn't even cover the cost of your staff messing with this. That's that's a ridiculously small sum. You shouldn't be giving away the farm here. Keeps raising everybody's rates. And not cooperating with the community on different programs. And I just would hope that if you're going to approve this and clearly it looks like you are, that you would demand some honest and dt compensation for both the temporary construction easement and the much longer term. But still, they're saying temporary easement for the gas pipeline. Thank you for your consideration. >> Next item is members is item number 16. And so officially I want to call up legal because that relates to a lawsuit [10:12:11 AM] that relates to a lawsuit settlement and have legal make a presentation to us. >> Good morning. Mayor, mayor pro tem council members. I'm assistant city attorney Isabel, and I'm here today to recommend that you approve a settlement payment in a personal injury lawsuit that appears on your agenda as item number 16. We recommend that you approve a payment of $110,000 to settle the Ada Michelle Lewis for C of Austin lawsuit. This lawsuit relates to a December 2022 car accident involving a transportation and public works vehicle, where miss Lewis seeks payment for her injuries. In exchange for the payment, plaintwill release any and all claims against the city from the accident and will also dismiss her lawsuit filed in the district court of Travis county. The law department recommends that you approve payment based upon these terms. I'm available for questions. >> Great. Thank you very much. Members. Do you have any questions of legal counsel? We appreciate that. Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Okay. Now we go on to item [10:13:13 AM] >> Okay. Now we go on to item number 27. Zenobia Joseph. >> Is here. >> Okay. Item number 30, holly reed and bill bunch, which is remote, and I'll go back to him. Is miss reed here? Bill bunch, item 30. >> Yes. Good morning. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Am I up or is holly up? >> You're up. >> Okay. Thank you. Bill bunch, district five, save our springs alliance. Speaking in favor of the nomination of Ted Eubanks to the parks board. I hope that y'all will recognize that mister Eubanks is an incredibly [10:14:16 AM] Eubanks is an incredibly experienced, knowledgeable expert in park and landscape planning and conservation. He's done a lot of work in Austin and across the country. He's exactly the kind of person that we need on the parks board. Someone who's willing to do the do the work, do the diligence, and provide honest and well informed input and recommendations to the council. He's been nothing but professional through this entire process, and I hope that you will recognize that. Council member duchen, as all the council members, should have the support of their colleagues when making appointments to our boards and commissions. Unless somebody can really put intthe public record a solid reason for why the person has some serious [10:15:16 AM] why the person has some serious issues that would disqualify them from such a nomination. I've heard nothing. Nobody I know has heard anything to that effect. That that mister Eubanks is not a fantastic person to be serving on our parks board. Thank you. >> Back to in person, robin. Rather, Richard Bremer, Chris flores and Carlos Leon. >> Good morning. Mayor, mayor, mayor, pro tem and council members. My name is Richard Bremer. I'm a 35 year resident of the city of Austin. I currently reside in district six. I would like to speak to you in support of all of the board and commission nominees under consideration by you today. I recognize the difficulty of you have in [10:16:18 AM] difficulty of you have in finding qualified members to serve in these roles. There are well over 50 boards and commissions, and each has at least 11 members. Some of these nominees have outstanding levels of expertise, and the city is fortunate that they are willing to serve at no expense to the city, volunteering their time and occasionally under outside pressure to help enrich the lives of the city's citizens of Austin. The process by which these volunteers arrive on this list is unique. They fill out questionnaire applications online, interview with the nominating council members, their staffs, and at times are recommended by their peers in the community. Some must fill out financial disclosure forms which can be intrusive into their personal lives. However, in this way, we allow every citizen of Austin the opportunity to provide their skills, expertise and wisdom to the council in the tough decisions they make governing an Austin. I hope the process by which we select members of boards continues. Boards and [10:17:19 AM] boards continues. Boards and commissions continues to be at the discretion of the council member making the nominations, and is not complicated by a complex vetting process that requires the approval. The approval by narrow and vested interests. Thank you. Mayor, mayor, pro tem and council members for your time and hard work governing this city. I certainly appreciate it. Have a great day. >> If your name has been called to speak on item 30, please make your way to the podium and state your name for the record. >> Good morning esteemed elected people. My name is Chris flores of district ten. I am a daily swimmer at Austin's pools and a member of friends of deep eddy, a nonprofit which supports the oldest pool in Texas. I'm speaking in favor of item number 30 of Mr. Eubanks nomination to the parks board. He has significant experience in all facets of park business, but I [10:18:20 AM] facets of park business, but I think his work on historical preservation and telling the stories of how our parks came to be will be invaluable to our city. Telling the stories of prior generations makes us revere these beautiful spaces even more. When we learn of the sacrifices and the investments of the citizens who preceded us. Thank you. >> Carlos Leon and robin rather. >> Sorry, Carlos. Leon, first and foremost, gracias. Adios for letting me speak to item 30. Approving new library commission members. Help them meet last week, but your follow up action is needed. April's denial of physical access to library rooms have been out of compliance with city superseding rules for public use of city properties since August 2023, resulting in [10:19:22 AM] since August 2023, resulting in APL allegedly issuing and enforcing at least 186 system wide ktns without authority to do so, blatantly violating the fundamental first amendment right to receive information in person at the public library. Though APL said December 31st there Ken policy has been recently reviewed, updated and is awaiting sign off for finalization. City clerk has not posted a proposed rule changes for 30 days of public comment required by city code 1-22. Because interim director Terrell has not submitted it to the city clerk. Is that because Terrell refuses to sign off on them, or because interim city attorney Thomas refuses to certify them? Which city code? One. 2-4 b3 requires before Terrell can submit them to the city clerk. Is Thomas holding them up because they need to be further [10:20:22 AM] because they need to be further revised to be legal? If so, is that because Terrell gave Thomas revisions she knew would fail? So Terrell can continue ignoring you, your rules, and your city code until you forget about it. Or is Thomas not doing her job? Terrell never talks about this. During her monthly report to the library commission, though she can and should, showing she should not be director. Use the diagnostic tree in front of you that I gave you for this meeting to direct Terrell and Thomas. Now, in Jesus name I pray. Amen. >> Okay, moving on to item number 31. >> Good morning everyone. My name is Elizabeth Carey. I live and work in district nine. I support item number 31 for a safer sixth street and beyond. [10:21:22 AM] safer sixth street and beyond. My emphasis is on the word beyond because I live in south Austin and currently my neighbors and I are affected by an after hours bar in our neighborhood. It is impairing my quality of life. Everything from my professional work life, social life and home life have suffered since October when this bar relocated here from downtown. The disruption of loud music at two in the morning rattles my old house and keeps my family awake until it closes at 530 in the morning, when I'm ready to start my day. In speaking with code compliance officers and police officers, I have learned that these after hours bars are operating in neighborhoods throughout all throughout our city and affect residents well beyond the downtown boundaries. We greatly need a 24 over seven year round public assembly code enforcement team to address these after hours bars and other public safety concerns throughout our city. I look forward to your consideration and approval of [10:22:23 AM] consideration and approval of item number 31. Thank you for your time. >> Now we go to in person for item 31, Greg Smith. Zenobia. Joseph. >> Thank you very much for your time. Good to see you guys. My name is Greg Smith. I am the president of the Bouldin creek neighborhood association, and I am here in support of item 31. We really appreciate the opportunity to. Have this resolution in the new version expand way past sixth street as as Liz just indicated. The west part of our our neighborhood is, is being highly affected by an after hours club that needs some attention. So I'm requesting that we somehow have some direction on what you would like [10:23:24 AM] direction on what you would like for us to do so that we can move, you know, a solution forward to the quality of life that Liz mentioned, just not 30s ago. Thank you very much for your time and we really appreciate any help we can get in the future. Thank you. >> Oh, Clark, could I Mr. Smith, I think you have my number, but.so feel free to shoot me a text and we can set up a meeting about the after hours club. Thank you. Yep. Thank you. >> Okay, on T item number 63. Adrian Macias. That concludes all of the consent speakers. >> Thank you. Colleagues we have our mayor is currently off the dais. So with that, we'll go over our consent agenda. There was no items pulled from our consent agenda. Can I get a [10:24:25 AM] consent agenda. Can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? Councilmember qadri, followed by councilmember harper-madison will now move forward for discussion and comments on the consent agenda as presented. Yes. Councilmember alter. >> Thank you very much. I would just like on item number 33, council member Velazquez brought this item. It is a fee waiver for the 24th annual March for Cesar Chavez. And I would like to also add $134.07 tlp bridge that gap. >> Thank you sir. >> Councilmember qadri followed by. >> Oh, I was just adding some money to. >> I'm sorry. Okay, I apologize. I was dealing with something that involved the legislature there in town. >> No worries. >> I apologize. Go ahead. >> Council. >> I've done it. I just just need a. Ruling. You did? I moved [10:25:26 AM] need a. Ruling. You did? I moved to add 100 for it. You're for it? I moved to add $134.07 to item 33. >> Without objection. That is. That is granted. Thank you. Council member. And I again, I apologize. It was city business I was doing. Alright. So council member qadri followed by council member Siegel. >> Great. Thank you mayor. I just wanted to quickly touch on item 31 and thank all the speakers who have come today. You know, I'm, you know, sixth street, the sixth street historic sixth street district has long served as a vibrant cultural and entertainment hub for residents and visitors alike. But the district has also experienced serious challenges related to public safety, particularly during peak weekend hours. And we need to be honest that the status quo is unacceptable, inexcusable and something that must be dealt with. I'm thankful for the hard work that mayor Watson and staff have led on the ongoing pilot, and now I believe the city needs to take this opportunity to add new tools, new data, and new revenue so that we can revitalize there and curtail the incidences of [10:26:27 AM] and curtail the incidences of violence, underage drinking, overserving and safety hazards that put patrons, workers and first responders at risk. Item 31 works to collect data and metrics from the sixth street pilot program for multiple departments related to public safety, transportation, and economic development. It strengthens public safety by taking the first steps to implementing a full time pace team to provide year round overnight inspections and rapid response to code and safety violations, something that has been a standing recommendation for over a decade now. It also looks to create an entertainment license for establishments serving alcohol past midnight, allow city to combat bad actors that repeatedly caused or host some of the worst behavior that we see on sixth street. Because at the end of the day, austinites deserve a safe, vibrant, and fun sixth street that works for residents and visitors alike. Whether you're grabbing brunch with friends in the morning or catching live music in the evening. I look forward to continuing to work with the dais with APD, the da [10:27:27 AM] with the dais with APD, the da and all our departments in this data driven initiative to see a new, inclusive day for old sixth street. Thank you. >> Thank you. Council member. Council member Siegel followed by councilmember Velazquez and then harper-madison. >> Thank you mayor. I just want to address council member Velazquez. Item 33. I want to chip in $150 on the permit. And if y'all could add me as a co-sponsor. >> Without objection, council member Siegel will be added as a co-sponsor and give money. >> While we're doing that. If anybody else wants to toss more money at. >> Me. >> You're welcome to take it. >> A good way to buy yourself a sponsorship, right? >> I feel like that may be coming. >> Say that again. >> I feel like that may be coming. But put put me at the end of the comments if no one else picks up that remainder. >> All right. Council member Velazquez, then council member harper-madison. >> Yeah. I was too busy making jokes. Forgot what I was. I forgot what I was. >> About to us, man, talk to us. >> So item 21 colleagues, I think it's incredibly important that we take any chance that we [10:28:30 AM] that we take any chance that we can on the dais to highlight the many organizations that the city funds that are doing life saving boots on the ground work in our communities. Today, I want to highlight communities for recovery, and I'm excited that we can support them. Item 21 funds communities for recovery. They collaborate with partner organizations to provide peer support recovery services that are helping prevent opioid overdoses here in Austin, Texas. Thank you. >> Thank you. Councilmember. Councilmember harper-madison followed by council member Ellis. >> I don't know if it's the time on the dice and the institutional knowledge, if council member Ellis is clairvoyant, but she was right. I's coming. You already know. I'd like very much to be supportive. So whatever it looks like after the last couple contributions, I don't have a calculator. >> So I'll pass my hat around here a little bit. Okay. We'll be good. >> Excellent. So our staffs will get in touch. But I'd like very much to be in support. >> Thank you, councilmember harper-madison. Without objection, she'll be added. And we'll let councilmember Velazquez prepare invoices. Councilmember Ellis. [10:29:30 AM] Councilmember Ellis. >> Well, since there's no more fee waiver to add, I'll just ask to be added as a co- sponsor. >> Without objection, council member Ellis will be added as a co-sponsor. Any other discussion with regard to the consent agenda? Any other discussion? Yes. Councilmember Laine, please. >> I just thank you for the opportunity to highlight a couple of items. I wanted to express support for item number 15, which is the formation of hazard mitigation action plan committee to lower flood insurance rates in the city. Lowering these costs is critical, and I was very happy to see how we have included representation across the entire five county area. And I wanted to highlight that. Thank you. I also was very, very pleased to see on the consent agenda number 27, which is an interlocal agreement with pflugerville ISD for new pre-kindergarten classrooms. As families have continued to move outward from [10:30:31 AM] continued to move outward from the central parts of the city of Austin, it is really important to address the needs of our Austin students who are served by other ISD's, and I love seeing this on the agenda for pflugerville. Item 28 is another school district related program. It is truancy mitigation. This is really a critical, critical issue as our youth have been dealing with a mental health crisis. Truancy attendance has been an issue both for our schools and our students, and I'm very happy to see the city supporting the efforts to mitigate the impacts of truancy. I do hope that we can look at in the future expanding this program to include school districts beyond aid, including districts like Round Rock ISD, pflugerville ISD, and del valley ISD. I also would like to express my strong support for the revisions to item number 31, a resolution that provides direction regarding the sixth street safety plan pilot. I echo many of council member qadri [10:31:32 AM] many of council member qadri comments. I also really want to highlight and state my appreciation for the willingness of both the Austin police department and our transportation department to take limited risk that is necessary to test ideas through pilot programs. Excuse me. I love to see pilot programs as a method to learn, and then carry our lessons learned forward into our policy development. I really appreciate the ongoing engagement of multiple types of stakeholders, so that we can develop a solution that really allows for the use of this district at different times of day, for different purposes, and maximize our sales tax revenue, among other things. Thank you so much. Oh, and then finally, I would like to express my happiness and cosponsoring the appointment of Erica Brady as our new city clerk, replacing Myrna Reynoso Rios. I really apiate our outgoing clerk's efforts to build a staff where we can promote from within, and [10:32:32 AM] we can promote from within, and I'm so happy to see that happening in this case. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Further comments. And that's where I was going to I'm very glad you brought that up. Council member. I T we ought to all take a moment. It was. It's great to congratulate the retiring city clerk, but with this vote, we will also be appointing a new city clerk. And that's Erica Brady. For those that don't, I'm not going to run through her entire resume, but something that council member Laine said that I know is appreciated by this entire council is part of the good work that the outgoing clerk has done, is creating a path for people to be promoted into these very, very important jobs. Through training and otherwise. And so it's really very cool that we're able to appoint somebody who has been in that job for over a decade, or has been in that office for over a decade, and has actually been serving as the deputy city clerk for the office of city clerk. As part of that job, she has [10:33:32 AM] part of that job, she has overseen and streamlined the daily operations the technical operations team, the elections team, the finance team, the administrative support team. She's been a key part of that office. So while it's on the consent agenda, I think the council unanimously feels that we're making a very good appointment here today. And so, Erica, assuming things go well in the next 30s. Congratulations to you. So let's see if they do. Is there anyone wishing to be shown abstaining from an item, including item 63, which is Erica's item? Anyone wishing to be shown abstaining from any item on the consent agenda? Council member Ellis. >> Yes, mayor. I'm going to abstain on the parks appointee for d10 on item number 30. >> All right. >> Okay. Thank you. Hang on one second. Council member harper-madison. [10:34:33 AM] harper-madison. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. No abstentions or no's. But I did want to take an opportunity to. It was serendipitous that this morning I was talking with. There's a community member. His name is Nick turner. He's been hosting an event. Some of y'all, actually, I'm looking at chambers. Not one of y'all has ever been to jump on it, but it's an annual hip hop festival that's been hosted in Austin by an east side born and raised resident who's been hosting it out at Walter E long. And I couldn't help but notice last time I was there. Y'all, if you've not been to Walter long, it's a regional park over 3000 acres right here in Austin, Texas on the east side. And it's hot and there's not a lot of shade. And we need grass. It needs investment. And so the truth of the matter is, it's so fantastic that he reached out today and said jump on it. Wants to sponsor Walter E long, metropolitan park. What do we need to do? And then today I get to tell y'all that we're going to take a moment to highlight item number 17 today, which accepts a $1.5 million grant from Texas parks and wildlife department. The grant was [10:35:35 AM] department. The grant was contingent upon the city making a matching contribution. And we did it. And that's so phenomenal and so fantastic. And I just wanted to take a moment. My mom says all the time, everybody needs something to look forward to. And I think, you know, with a week like this week was having something to look forward to, makes it a little bit easier. And so I wanted to share that with y'all. This phase one at Walter E long, it focuses on critical infrastructure upgrades. It brings safer roads, defines parking Ada compliant access, and it restores utilities to the restroom. Restores y'all heard that right? That might not sound glamorous, but for folks who use the park regularly, that work is going to make a big difference in safety, comfort, and dignity. And I think it's high time we start investing in safety, comfort and dignity and far east Austin. I also want to say that thanks to this grant, we're also able to do something super exciting and add a new play area again. Go visit Walter long and see the current play area. You'll applaud audibly, including both traditional and nature based playgrounds, to better serve our northeast Austin families and [10:36:36 AM] northeast Austin families and kids who deserve beautiful, engaging spaces to play and explore. Lastly, I want to thank our parks and recreation department for the hard work they continue to do. The folks who work out at Walter long and make it the best it can possibly be, with sort of some disinvestment, disinvestment historically, and underinvestment currently. They still do the work and show up and make make sure people enjoy their experience. So thank you to our parks people. There are a lot of good things that are finally, finally coming down the pipeline for that region of Austin, and I look forward to seeing it come to fruition both during my time here on the dais and after. When I'm a civilian and truly a menace. Thank you. >> Councilmember. >> Yeah, I'm not abstaining from anything, but I appreciate councilmember Laine for making the kind comments. I also wanted to thank Mirna for all her hard work, congratulate on her retirement, and I appreciate the countless times I knock on the door and someone opens the door and you answer my many quess. Eric, I'll be doing that with you. Unless. Unless somehow the vote doesn't happen. Yeah, and you know. [10:37:38 AM] Yeah, and you know. >> You may run her off if you keep talking. >> And though I'm a proud, you know, graduate of UT, one of my masters is from Texas state. So it's nice to see a bobcat take the reins at the clerk's office. So thank you. >> Thank you. Council member. Anyone else wishing? Mayor pro tem. >> Yes. I just also wanted to share my gratitude to Mirna Rios for her service. Outstanding dedication to the city of Austin. She is the first Latina to serve as our city clerk and has done a tremendous job. And so really just want to extend my gratitude. Thank you. >> Excellent. Thank you. Anyone wishing to be shown abstaining other than council member Ellis on the vote, that she's indicated anyone wishing to be shown recusing themselves from a vote on any item on the consent agenda. Is there anyone wishing to be shown voting no on an item on the consent agenda with that? Hearing none. The consent. Without objection, the consent agenda is adopted, with council member Ellis being shown voting and abstaining from the vote on the council appointments on item [10:38:39 AM] the council appointments on item number 30. With regard to the d10 appointment to parks and recreation, that completes the consent agenda. Thank you, council members. With that, without objection, we will recess the meeting of the Austin city council at 10:38 A.M. I will call back to order the Austin city council regularly [10:44:51 AM] Austin city council regularly scheduled meeting at 10:44 A.M. Members, we will go Tom number 34, which is an eminent domain item. Item number 34 is an eminent domain I are there any speakers signed up on item number 34? >> There are no speakers on item 34. >> Members. There are no speakers on item number 34. So the chair will accept a motion on item number 34. That being a nonconsent condemnation item, that the motion will be to the effect that the city council of Austin authorizes the use of the power of eminent domain to acquire the property set forth and described in the agenda for this current meeting, and for the public use described therein. Councilmember vela makes the motion as read. Is there a second, seconded by council member Ellis? Is there discussion on the item? Without objection, item number 34 is adopted with the motion as read and made by council member vela and seconded by council member Ellis. Members that will take us to the public hearing items. The first item we will take up is [10:45:52 AM] first item we will take up is item number 36 members, you will recall. And before we start items 36 through 45, let me say again, these items were previously all heard at a public hearing because there changes to the codes in the way the changes are made. They require two public hearings before we vote on them. This is the second public hearing on each of these items, thus allowing us to take a vote on these items today. Item number 36. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 36, the public, where there is no objection. So the public hearing is now open, and I will turn to the city clerk. >> There are no speakers for item 36. >> Members. There are no speakers on item number 36. So without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 36. The public hearing is now closed and I will entertain a motion on item number 36. Council member harper-madison [10:46:53 AM] Council member harper-madison moves approval of item number 36. It is seconded by council member Ellis. Is there discussion? Hearing none. Without objection. Item number 36 is adopted. Members that will take us to item number 37. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 37. The public hearing is now open and I'll turn to the city clerk. >> There are three speakers. Mayor Emily Blair has time donated by Hannah Garcia. Is Hannah here? Okay. Thank you. Emily gets four minutes. And on deck is Lindsay Haynes. >> Good morning. Mayor, council members and city staff. My name is Emily Blair, and I'm here today speaking in opposition to item 37 on behalf of the Austin apartment association and our [10:47:54 AM] apartment association and our members, large and small rental housing providers who provide and operate proudly and manage rental housing here in Austin. First, I want to really sincerely thank council offices, the code department, the mayor's staff for meeting with us in recent months on these items. We really appreciate your willingness to listen and engage in meaningful dialog around the proposed changes to the international property maintenance code, the ipmc. I would also like to thank council member vela for helping to address one of our long standing concerns regarding the lack of a consolidated objective compliance manual. We're really grateful for your leadership and encourage the council to codify its use in the future so that inspections are consistent, transparent and understandable to both renters and housing providers alike. We come to you today with shared goals and real concerns. The safety and well-being of our residents are top priorities for both you and rental housing providers. We are asking today for balance, a commitment to fairness, clarity and lawful enforcement that [10:48:55 AM] and lawful enforcement that supports responsible owners and small businesses that are trying to do the right thing. We understand the intent behind the proposed requirement to ensure ththat every every habitable room has access to a refrigerator. Although we want renters to be as comfortable as possible in their Hom the realities of older construction limit what can realistically be provided. While the proposed ordinance does not mandate central ac, it does require cooling in every habitable room and many older buildings, especially those built before 1970, were not designed with modern hvac systems in mind. These properties often rely on alternative yet effective cooling methods such as window units, mini splits, other cooling methods,nd 1 or 2 rooms in some older properties. For those buildings, retrofitting each and every habitable room to meet the new standards could be financially devastating. Property owners may need to spend thousands of dollars per unit, which could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars per apartment [10:49:55 AM] of dollars per apartment community, to bring them into compliance entirely. These costs are especially burdensome for small, independent property owners who don't have large capital reserves. Inevitably, those costs do impact tenants, either directly or indirectly, and such the loss of affordable housing stock. If owners are forced to sell. It's important to note that property owners already have an obligation to make repairs to conditions that materially affect the health and safety of residents, including ac repairs as required by the Texas property code. So what we're asking for today is a grandfathering provision for buildings built prior to 1970 that use those alternative cooling systems. It does not lower the bar. It simply gives property owners time and flexibility to move towards this goal without undermining affordability. I'd also now like to address another pressing concern, one we've sought to remedy through a proposed amendment to section 105.3 of the ipmc. Local adoption simply clarifies what is already established under state law that [10:50:57 AM] established under state law that multifamily property owners are entitled a right to repair reported maintenance issues that may arise in occupied dwelling units under chapter 92 of the property code, landlords must remedy conditions needing a repair and attendance unit, and these it's important to know these are those reported by tenant within a reasonable time. They must repair. The law exists for a reason. The property managers don't enter occupied units on a daily basis. They aren't coming into a renters home to open closet doors, test bathroom fans, inspect windows every day, every week. This not only would be invasion of privacy, but also be logistically very challenging and not clearly not the type of landlord tenant relationship anyone would want. That's why the law gives tenants the rights and responsibility to report issues, so that the landlord has safe harbor of time in which to make their repair. The issue arises when some city inspectors. >> I'm sorry, but your time has expired. Great. Thank but thank you and thank you for all your comments. [10:51:57 AM] comments. >> Hannah Garcia. Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry you had your four minutes. >> Okay, so. >> Give her another two minutes because she did have the two minutes donated. >> She did. But she already. >> She had she had the full four there. Right. So that time is up. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Lindsay Haynes. >> Good afternoon, mayor and council members. My name is Lindsay Haynes, and I'm a property owner and manager and past president and proud member of the Austin apartment association. I arguably one of the most experienced property managers of the Austin's repeat offender program, and well known with Austin code for taking care of older Austin properties, older properties, in other words, the naturally occurring affordable housing that is so vital to our workforce in Austin. Many beautiful, well- maintained, older communities are on the repeat offender list unnecessarily. Today, I urge you to support the [10:52:58 AM] Today, I urge you to support the Austin apartment association's proposed amendments to the international property maintenance code. As property managers and owners, our property, our top priority is ensuring that residents feel safe, comfortable and well cared for in their homes. These amendments are designed to clarify and standardize the code for property managers, residents and code enforcers, making it more transparent and equitable for everyone. We're asking for your support in amending section 105.3 right of entry to prevent inspections from soliciting inspectors from soliciting and violations from tenants who didn't even report to code enforcement prior to the inspection. This change just logically gives property managers a fair opportunity to address concerns before a violation. Additionally, we propose giving inspectors the authority to extend the compliance deadline beyond 90 days for properties that have recently changed ownership. New owners often inherit issues and face delays due to permitting or contractor availability. I took over a community in February, and my very first act was to check the open violation paid to [10:53:59 AM] check the open violation paid to open fines and contact the assigned code enforcer to assure him that we would resolve the three minor violations we did. Same week, I received no response and instead I got 70 violations dated two days later on a really nice little property, slowing down service to residents and my chance to graduate from Rosie. None of these were life safety. Most were cosmetic in nature at the property transition. The 90 day window just isn't simply enough to handle capital projects, scopes, and the permitting requirements. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> Thank you very much. We appreciate you being here. >> Mr. Mayor. >> That concludes all the speakers. >> Speaker. >> Councilmember Madison. >> I, ma'am. >> Councilmember harper-madison has a question for you. >> Not even a question necessarily. I was just going to ask you to not leave the building. I'm going to send my staff down to talk to you. I'd love to get more in your perspective. >> Thank you, thank you. >> Thank you. Councilmember. Those are all the speakers and members on item number 37. I'll entertain a motion to approve. Well, hang on a second. Without [10:54:59 AM] Well, hang on a second. Without objection, we'll close the public hearing on item number 37, and the public hearing is now closed. That being said, mayor pro tem moves that we approve. Item number 37. It is seconded by council member Velasquez. Is there discussion with regard to the item? Mayor pro tem. >> Thank you. Thank you, colleagues, for your consideration on this item. This item includes an amendment that I brought forward more than a year ago that was inspired and motivated by a legislation that representative Cheryl Cole brought forward at the state legislature around requiring air conditioning in in all homes and knowing that we had austinites who were experiencing extreme heat conditions and knowing, just like we have heating requirements for all property owners, we want to ensure that we were able to pair it with air conditioning as well. This requirement is not unique to Texas. There are other Texas cities that have this. And so we I'm very pleased to see this move F forward and to actually see it through fruition. So I just want to appreciate your support and consideration for this item. >> Thank you. Mayor pro tem [10:56:01 AM] >> Thank you. Mayor pro tem councilmember vela. >> Thank you. Mayor. Just wanted to mention that one of the items that the Austin apartment association had recommended, we're not going to be able to get into this for technical reasons, but was a comprehensive code book, essentially where we compile all of the code elements in one document to make it easier for folks to understand. I will be addressing this later. I just wanted to mention that other cities have done this. We don't have it. And I do hope that, you know, here, during this next year I'll be able to bring an item. >> Thank you. Councilmember. Further discussion. This is with regard to item number 37. Motion's been made and seconded. Without objection. Item number 37 is adopted. Members that will take us to item number 38 which again is another. The second public hearing on item number 38. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 38. The public hearing is now open. I will turn to the [10:57:01 AM] now open. I will turn to the city clerk and ask for speakers. >> Okay. >> Paul, robin's speaking on item 38. >> Counsel, can you hear me? >> Yes, sir. >> Counsel, I'm Paul robins. I serve on the city's resource management commission. At the last council meeting, I expressed support for the revised energy code, and I again urge you to pass it. I also, again urge you to begin a separate building code amendment to require heat pump water heaters in new all electric houses and apartments. In the ten year period between 2013 and 2023. Austin energy added about 24mw of summer peak demand from all electric water heaters in the residential sector. The people that suffer the most from this are lower income, captive [10:58:01 AM] this are lower income, captive customers who live in all electric apartments. They have limited choices about where they live. They're not going to invest in a building they do not own, and would not have the money for such investment anyway. It makes no sense for Austin energy to support construction of a new gas power plant while ignoring this continuing and growing problem. Again, I ask you to pass the proposed energy code, but add a code amendment to require heat pump water heaters and. Can run its course. And these and new units could have heat pump water heaters required and maybe 6 to 12 months. Thank you for your attention. >> Thank you. >> That concludes all the [10:59:02 AM] >> That concludes all the speakers on 38 members. >> That concludes all the speakers on item number 38. So without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 38. The public hearing is now closed and the chair will entertain a motion. With regard to item number 38, council member harper- madison moves. Adoption is seconded by council member I. Is there any discussion with regard to item number 38? Hearing none. Without objection. Item number 38 is adopted. Members. Item 39 is also a public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 39. The public hearing is now open and I will turn to the city clerk. >> Carol Phillipson. Brad Knowles and Craig Nasr. If your name has been called, please make your way to the podium and state your name for the record. >> Please come forward. >> Good morning. My name is Carol Phillipson. I'm with district ten. I'm neutral on the [11:00:02 AM] district ten. I'm neutral on the fire code. I wonder how many of you council members and city staff live near an endangered species habitat, or have had a fire wise evaluation to learn how to mitigate wildfire risk to your home by the disregard you have had for eliminating a unnecessary wildfire risk. A cell tower being built too close to an endangered species habitat. I would think very few live close to an endangered species preserve, nor have had a fire wise evaluation as a chairman for the gesture fire wise committee. It made me more aware of the wildfire risks around my neighborhood and throughout Austin. Witnessing a 100 foot monopole built only 19ft from the balcones canyonlands preserve frightened me as there is nowhere for it to fall. Burning embers. Yet it was approved because no code was established to stop it. Every new welfare threat should be addressed as it presents itself, not by a schedule, especially one as dangerous as this. Why does Vicki Goodwin recognize this new wildfire threat? To mitigate it for herself and her constituents by submitting house bill 4038, yet you and your city [11:01:03 AM] bill 4038, yet you and your city staff choose to ignore it. As leaders of our city, you two were elected to do the best for your constituents by adding this amendment to wui and fire code, you will be protecting our endangered species, their critical habitat, and mitigating this new wildfire risk to yourselves and thousands of austinites living near the 33,000 acres of vcp or other endangered species preserved throughout Austin. Remember, this amendment will only affect specific locations, only a critical habitat for endangered species. Justice Jones, formerly of AFD wildfire division, now with icc, agrees this new threat is real and is for Vicki amendment to icc government relations who track and work with icc pertinent legislation. Why does justice Jones and icc recognize this new risk? And city staff does not? No one plans an accident, but is imperative to plan to prevent one by adopting new code to create a safety distance of twice the height of the cell tower must be from an endangered species habitat. Remember, it's not if there will be a wildfire, it's when. [11:02:03 AM] it's when. >> Thank you very much for being here and the number of times you've been here before. We call up the next speaker. Before we have, we bring up the next speaker the other day at the public safety committee. This issue wasn't brought up in the same way where there wasn't anybody that came and testified. But I asked the question of one of our fire, high level fire personnel about whether or not the because you keep saying we don't care. And that's, that's frankly just not true. And I'm going T say it that way. But the truth of the matter is there are certain limitations on what cities are able to do. And those limitations sometimes require that there be state legislation passed in order to allow us to do certain things. And I'm very thankful that that representative Goodwin has filed a house bill 4038, because that would allow for certain types of [11:03:03 AM] would allow for certain types of things to occur. But if we don't have the authority to do it, then we can't do it. And we were told at the at the public safety meeting just the other day that it would require legislation for us to be in a position to do that. And I don't want to pass this without calling that out so that you will know, since you all have taken so much time and you're obviously so passionate about it and concerned about it, I think that that's legitimate. So if we have somebody from fire that can answer that question, I would appreciate them coming forward. Chief, could you address that? >> Ma'am? How you doing? Thank you for your time and your question. Joel baker. Austin. Sir. Madam mayor, could you repeat the question again? >> Yeah, the question the issue is whether or not we have authority to do a regulation along the lines of what she has requested we do, or to amend the code in such a way that would do what she wants us to do? Or is that one of the things where we don't have the authority by way [11:04:05 AM] don't have the authority by way of regulation? It's been either we didn't have it or it's been taken from us by other legislation, and that would require some form of legislation before we would be in a position to do it. >> Yes, sir. That is such an important question. And in order for me to make sure I get all the facts right, I like to take that question back to my team, give us an opportunity to do some research and bring you the facts back to this diocese. Make sure we have it right. That's a very important question. And the Austin fire department and stakeholders will make sure we do the right thing for everyone. So I'm just requesting more time to do more adequate research on it. >> Well, okay. Check with the presenter at the public safety committee just the other day because she answered the question pretty directly. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you. Thank you chief. Thank you ma'am. We appreciate your being here. >> Okay. >> Good. >> Could you call the next speaker? >> Sure. Brad Knowles and Craig Nazar. >> Mr. Naser is. I'll call his name, but he sent an email [11:05:07 AM] name, but he sent an email indicating he wasn't going to be able to be here today. But, Mr. Naser, if you're here, make your way down. Yes, sir. >> So, my name is Brad Knowles. I'm in district ten. I realize the discussion that we just had on this subject, but I would like to go ahead and make my presentation here. Officially, I am neutral on agenda item number 39 for reasons I will explain later. But first, I would like to express my gratitude to our district ten council member, Marc duchen for all of his dedicated efforts in this area. That said, and with all due respect, I do not believe that these proposed proposed code changes go far enough. Changing weather patterns are increasing the risk of wildfires in response to these extreme conditions and growing threats, new building codes are necessary. For example, cell towers should not be built too close to endangered species habitats as they could collapse and harm these protected areas to reduce the risk of wildfires, [11:06:07 AM] to reduce the risk of wildfires, it is essential to maintain a drop zone that extends at least twice the height of a cell tower from high risk areas, such as endangered species. Habitats. Austin has many endangered species reserves, with thousands of nearby homes. As wildfire risks increase, the improvements you're planning on to update wildland urban interface and fire codes need to be need to include an amendment that aligns with representative Vicki Goodwin's house bill 438, which updates the local government code to require this safe zone. While I am not a lawyer, I believe that building cell towers too close to endangered species habitats without considering this risk may lead to increased liability for wildfire related damages. This could include the cell developer, carrier, property owner and the city for negligence. Remember, it's not if there will be a wildfire, but when. Thank you very much. >> Thank you sir. Appreciate your patience. [11:07:07 AM] your patience. >> That concludes all the speakers for 39. >> That concludes all the speakers on item number 39. So without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 39. The public hearing is now closed. And I will entertain a motion with regard to item number 39. Council member alter moves. Approval of item number 39 is seconded by council member vela. Is there discussion without objection? Item number 39 is adopted with councilmember harper-madison temporarily off the dais. Members. We will now go to item number 40. That's also a public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 40. The public hearing is now opened on itemumber 40. And I will turn to the city clerk. >> Megan bedollo. Skyler Costello. Henry Valdez, and Carl graddick. If your name has been called, please make your way to [11:08:08 AM] called, please make your way to the podium and state your name for the record. >> If your name's been called, please come forward. Your name called. Please, please come forward and tell us what you think. >> Hello council. My name is Henry Valdez and I'm in favor and I live in district eight. Also been a 20 year Austin residence, and I'm here to speak in favor of the adoption of erc 2024, appendix B, L hempcrete construction as a citywide technical code alongside the erc 2024 hempcrete is an insulation material made with non thc hemp stalks, which is grown here in central Texas. The insulation is a carbon negative and highly fire resistant. It has received a perfect score of zero on the astm e119 fire resistance test. As a result, this material is in [11:09:08 AM] As a result, this material is in alignment with Austin's climate equity plan to build resiliency and decarbonize our city. Erc 2024, appendix B, L hempcrete construction clearly lays out a rigorous standard operating procedures for construction assemblies, as well as mixing and installing the bio material. These procedures protect the consumer of the bio material by enforcing proper methods. I personally have been involved with the hemp building industry for a long time. I'm here as a local real estate agent, and I have seen the benefits that this type of building material can help resolve. A lot of the issues we have in terms of mold issues, fire resistant issues, and just higher quality construction. So currently, the city of Austin has permitted several hempcrete homes using the cassie alternative method pathway. If the erc 2024 appendix is adopted, there will be a more clear path for permitting. There will also be stricter standards and oversight in these hempcrete projects that [11:10:10 AM] in these hempcrete projects that will elevate the quality and viability of our hempcrete projects within the city and beyond. My clear ask is that the council, the council is in favor of adopting the specific appendix when the rest of the 2024 codes are adopted. Thank you for everything you do. >> We appreciate you. Thank you. >> Good morning. My name is Carl Grech. I'm a general contractor. Our company acquired the first hempcrete. >> Sir, I hate to interrupt you, but you might want to speak closer to that microphone. >> Okay. >> Speak closer. >> Yeah, please. >> Hello. My name is Carl gradick. I'm a general contractor. Our company acquired the first hempcrete permit issued by the city of Austin. This is after going through a special permitting application and supplying documents to support our product. Everything went well until we asked for our final electrical inspection. And [11:11:10 AM] final electrical inspection. And there was a hold put on our permit. And so there was a question about our product and what was what we were doing and, and the basis of our product. So our the homeowner being a hemp cannabis lobbyist and up onll this, was able to push forward to getting our permit opened up again. But this was taking her expertise and knowledge and background to acquire that. And partially because we had already acquired a permit. So I'm asking the city of Austin to approve this motion to support of us going forward with this sustainable green building. >> Thank you sir. >> That concludes all the speakers. >> All right, members, that concludes all the speakers on item number 39. Item number 40. And without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 40. The public hearing is now closed. I'll entertain a motion with regard to item number 40. Councilmember Velazquez moves approval of item [11:12:11 AM] Velazquez moves approval of item number 40. It's seconded by council member vela. The motion has been made. I will now recognize councilmember harper-madison members. Council member harper- madison has a motion to amend item number 40. You have had that in your backup, and I'll recognize councilmember harper-madison for harper-madison amendment number one. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate it. I actually don't have my amendment pulled up at the second. Does anybody need me to refer to it, or can I just say that I move that. >> We the for purposes of our record, the amendment would be a motion by council member harper-madison to amend the residential code to adopt appendix B that applies to hemp Crete. Council member harper-madison moves adoption of the amendment. It is seconded by council member Siegel. Members. The discussion is on the motion to amend. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. Without objection. Harper-madison amendment number one to item number 40 is approved. That will take us back to the main motion, which is item number 40, as amended by harper-madison motion to amend [11:13:12 AM] harper-madison motion to amend number one. Is there any discsion? Council member. >> Harper no discussion, sir. >> There being no discussion without objection. Item number 40, as amended, is adopted. Thank you all. Thanks. Members. That will now take us to item number 41. Item number 41 is also a public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 41. The public hearing is now opened, and I will turn to the city clerk. >> Bill bunch, registered to speak remotely, but he is not online for item 41. So we'll go to in person Taylor Jackson, Carol Phillipson and Brad Knowles. >> If your name's been called, please come forward. >> Excuse me. Good morning, I'm Taylor Jackson, I'm the CEO for the home builders association of [11:14:12 AM] the home builders association of greater Austin. And here just bringing up our concerns about the wildland urban interface. Wu Huy code updates specifically. Specifically, specifically. Excuse me. The local amendments and the updated map. However, I do want to be clear. We do support the approval of the 2024 base code for both the wui and the iyc. However, the hba I requesting a postponement for the adoption of the wui map and local amendments. The hba, of course, commends the city's proactive wildfire preparation, preparatory preparedness. And we highly recommend a postponement because there's not accurate account for how the updates will impact the cost of housing. And we're, you know, the mapping of wui and the methodology does vary. So a postponement of the [11:15:15 AM] vary. So a postponement of the wui local amendments and the proposed map would result in a study of outlining the detailed risk data that is current, more current for the city and existing properties. Avoid using any arbitrary measurements of distance of wui areas. With any outdated risk data. And also possibly allow the city manager to direct a develop a more comprehensive fuel mitigation plan for the city of Austin and also, of course, ensure more balanced approach that protects residents, mitigates wildfire risks and does not create barriers to housing. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> If your name has been called, please come forward. Thank you for being here. >> Hello, I'm Carol Phillipson, district ten, and I'm neutral on wui. Update wui and fire codes [11:16:16 AM] wui. Update wui and fire codes affect each other in many ways. Therefore their alignment is extremely important, especially when it applies to wildland wildfire risk management. Updating wui and fire codes is critical. However, a new wildfire risk is ignored. Cell towers being built too close to endangered species. Habitats. Cell towers are electrical installations. They can and do catch fire and or fall. Pictures do not lie. As we all know, time is of essence to control wildfire. A safe distance from an endangered species habitat twice the height of the tower will prevent it from falling into the endangered species preserve. This safe distance gives time for electricity to be cut before water can be used to extinguish the fire. Time for firefighters to prevent the fire from reaching the preserve, and most important time for residents to evacuate. House bill four 4038 submitted by Vicki Goodwin establishes that safe time and distance. Why would the city of Austin not want to create the same safety zone? This new amendment will not prohibit cell towers from being built next to endangered species habitats. It only [11:17:17 AM] species habitats. It only requires a safe distance from them. Therefore, it will not affect the majority of cell tower installations. I have written and spoke many times here. As you've said, at committee meetings, city departments and to city staff without action. With the increased heat plus drought, the chance for wildfire is more imminent than ever. So every risk, no matter the amount, must be taken seriously and prevented. It is up to you to update city codes to protect us all, including yourselves, from this new wildfire risk. So I implore you to add new amendment to wui and fire codes to align with house bill 4038. Remember the old saying, better to be safe than sorry. Do you not agree? >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hello again. My name is Brad Knowles from district ten. And again, I am officially neutral on agenda item number 41. For reasons I will explain. Fstst, again, I would like to express my gratitude to our district ten council member, Marc duchen, for his dedicated efforts in this [11:18:18 AM] his dedicated efforts in this area. Thaid, and with all due respect, I don't believe that these proposed code changes go far enough. Blazing wildfires and steep canyons create dangerous challenges for firefighters, delaying their crucial response time. But cell towers near the wui and endangered species habitats are a new risk. Vicki Goodwin's bill, house bill 438, offers a solution establishing vital safety Zones between cell towers and endangered habitats twice the height of the cell towers. This proactive measure helps ensure falling towers won't threaten endangered species habitats, and will reduce the risk of causing wildfires that could make thousands of families homeless here in Austin. Insurance giants nationwide, allstate, travelers, triple a and state farm are taking note, refusing coverage in high risk areas. Stand against unnecessary risks. We need safer cell tower placements to protect our communities and [11:19:20 AM] to protect our communities and wildlife. Today, it is your responsibility to update wui and fire code to include the safety zone as Vicki Goodwin's bill establishes. Remember, it's not if there will be a wildfire, but when. Thank youery much. >> Thank you. >> That concludes all the speakers members. >> That concludes all the speakers on item number 41. So without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 41. The public hearing is now closed. I'll entertain a motion with regard to item number 41. Motion made by council member qadri. It is seconded by council member Ellis to adopt item number 41. Members I have a proposed motion that I have that you have in your backup, and I put on the message board. I don't remember when I put it on the message board, but it's been there. It's been there for a day or two. And so I would I would move and just for the record, and so people will know is it directs the manager to present a report to the city [11:20:21 AM] present a report to the city council regarding the implementation of the 2024 wildland urban interface code on an at least an annual basis. And it also requests direction. Direction to explore options to increase voluntary retrofitting of existing residential structures. To advance mitigation of wildfire risk. This is consistent with the way we've been approaching some of the major changes we've made over the past couple of years. I would move adoption of Watson amendment number one to item number 41. It is seconded by council member Siegel. Is there any discussion on Watson amendment number one to item number 41? Council member Laine. >> I just wanted to express my strong support for this direction, which is so important to facilitate data driven public safety policy. Wildfire mitigation is a complex issue that requires both study and communication across departments and jurisdictions, and I'm really grateful for your leadership on this topic. >> Thank you very much, council member. Further discussion and I'll take all that kind you want. Further discussion? Hearing none [11:21:23 AM] Further discussion? Hearing none without objection. Watson amendment number one to item number 41 is adopted. That will take us back to the main motion, which is item number 41 as now amended. Council member duchen. >> Thank you, mayor. And I want to just make a couple of comments. I know we heard some feedback on this, but first, I want to obviously thank all the people that got us this far to help prepare the code on the city staff and commissions. I know we've heard many times before, even in the last couple of weeks, from reports of the public safety committee, but we are still the number fifth city in the country for homes that have high wildfire risk. And anecdotally, in terms of our office and our district, tis by far the number one issue. We get calls and concerns about we've had numerous public meetings, and this is always the very first issue that gets raised. What are we doing. How can we support the community? [11:22:24 AM] can we support the community? What can we do to help prepare and prevent wildfires? And so my hope is that supporting the extended map, that's a key feature of the code update is has a number of positive benefits, including reinforcing to the community that we understand as a city and as a council. The importance of wildfire risks, and that this indicates to them, and I hope, conveys to them that there is important priority and also education attached to being part of what's N going to be the new ember zone and the essentially expanded map. Again, we've heard from from the fire department and other speakers in the past. Three main reasons from Carrie Stewart just last week. Three main reasons we see homes burned during a wildfire. Wright there's radiant heat. There's direct flame contact. But overwhelmingly, the major [11:23:24 AM] But overwhelmingly, the major reason is from the ember cast, which is apparently about 90% of what causes the structure ignitions. And that can extend for miles. And I believe that map represents that risk factor. And I think, again, conveying that risk factor to homeowners that may be included in the new map is going to be important for their education and the proactive steps they can take on preparedness. I also want to address a couple of things that we heard in the course of getting community feedback on this. There were concerns about how this would impact people's insurance. We visited with Paul martin from the national association of mutual insurance companies, who spoke at last year's wildfire symposium here, and his organization strongly supports communities adopting these updated wui codes. And really, anything that they can do to help reduce the risk of wildfire congregations, the insurance companies, interestingly, don't look at the wui code as a risk classification. They've already [11:24:24 AM] classification. They've already are using their own data to understand homeowner insurance risk. Instead, what we're discovering is they are viewing the wui actually positively. They applaud the cities that are taking proactive steps to adopt the latest versions. So in his view, quote wui codes help not hurt homeowners. And when we went back and did some additional research last year, year, excuse me, we found that this was also supported by the Austin housing department affordability impact statement from last August, which also said this may help homeowners maintain their insurance coverage. Again, an issue that we get a lot in the district is people being stealth uninsured from their insurers or having premiums go through the roof. So my hope is that there's actually a benefit here with this code update. And to build on that. We also visited with Michael Newman from the insurance institute of building and home safety. He's an expert on wind, hail and wildfire. There was another issue that was raised regarding [11:25:25 AM] issue that was raised regarding concerns around vegetation not keeping foundations moist. And it turned out from his perspective, the soil expansion issue that was cited as a concern is really relating to the foundations. Five foot zone. In fact, he cites a recognized A&M engineer who says you can use 3 to 5ft of concrete apron as a protective measure, which is very much compatible with the noncombustible zone zero. And just to close to say a couple other things. There's still a little bit more work to do. And this is the part that I feel like we have additional opportunities. We still have more folks that need size assessments. And my hope again, is that this expanded zone and cast zone is a way to try and educate people about those resources that we do offer through AFD and through their communities that we are trying to very much work to find other solutions that other cities and states, and including grants for [11:26:26 AM] states, and including grants for home hardeni and other preparatory. And that's one reason I appreciated the mayor's amendment to instruct the city manager to explore some of those options, and I'm happy to work with them to share the information that we've found thus far in the west coast and Colorado. We also want to make sure that we are trying to take every step that we can for community building. It's kind of fascinating to me that this is really one of the few, maybe only disasters wildfire, that is, that requires neighbors to actually work together for enhanced safety. And so we've seen in the west coast already, with even the most recent wildfires, that the communities that work together are able to preserve their neighborhoods at a much higher rate than those that are not. And so my hope is this this is a way to actually create community engagement, our communities around this issue and just in general. That said, there's still some more work to do. Also, on coordinating the land management piece of this. We're working on a pilot in the parks to try and get some of the dead and down that's still been [11:27:26 AM] dead and down that's still been down there from the winter storm over two years ago, but making sure that we can get Austin water, Austin energy part AFD, hesam, and any non-profits in the space that can also help support with fuel mitigation and land management efforts to make sure that we've got a good coordination and schedule for getting this work done. And then finally, I'm looking forward to the update. The community wildfire protection plan that I'm hoping this is an opportunity to enhance this year as they go through that process for not just an overall plan for Austin, but even a regional plans or local plans that can address acute wildfire. And some of the dicts, particularly in west Austin, where we have the topography, where we've got the wind, where we've got the factors that make us at a higher risk than perhaps central Austin in some other places. So with that sai very much looking forward to passing this, including with the mayor's amendment. Thank you all. >> Thank you, council member. Further discussion. Members. The motion is to adopt item number 41, as amended. Without [11:28:26 AM] 41, as amended. Without objection. Item number 41, as amended, is approved. Thank you all. That would that will take us to item number 42. Item number 42 is also a public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 42. The public hearing is now opened on item number 42. And I will turn to the city clerk. >> John, Martha, Josh hollub and Christina kayani. >> Good morning, mayor Watson and honorable members of the city council. My name is John Motta, and I'm the senior director of field services for the international association of plumbing and mechanical officials, commonly referred to as iapmo. As a licensed plumber and representative of iapmo, I'm here to testify in support of item 42, which would adopt the 2024 edition of the uniform plumbing code and item 44, which [11:29:27 AM] plumbing code and item 44, which would adopt the 2024 edition of the uniform mechanical code. I Atmos uniform codes are developed through an inclusive process that adheres to rigorous standards set by the American national standards institute. This ensures that industry expertise, not the influence of special interests, guides their development. The 24 editions of the uniform codes include enhanced efficiency provisions, technological advancements, and modernized methods that can provide significant benefits to Austin. Since 1970, the uniform codes have served the city's residents, delivering the highest standards for health, safety, and quality. Their continued adoption will uphold these protections for every austinite. Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony, and I'm available to answer any questions that you may have. >> Thank you sir. We appreciate you being here. >> Thank you. >> Good morning, mayor Watson, and honorable members of the [11:30:27 AM] and honorable members of the city council. My name is Josh hollub. I'm a licensed master plumber. My family and I own and operate modern plumbing and air conditioning as a service and construction company that is based out of Pasadena. But we're blessed to do projects all over the state. Currently, actually, the jet fueling station right over here at the austin-bergstrom international airport. I also serve as a board member of the plumbing, heating, cooling contractors association, a trade organization representing skilled trade professionals. As a licensed master plumber, I'm here to testify to support in support of item 42, which would adopt the 2024 edition of the uniform plumbing code and item 44, which would adopt the 2024 edition of the uniform mechanical code. I support continued adoption of these codes because they are developed through an inclusive process, a process that ensures that the industry experts and expertise guide their development, not the influence of special interests. Additionally, the advanced [11:31:28 AM] Additionally, the advanced provisions in these updated codes will improve system efficiencies, enhance safety standards, and better equip our industry to meet the evolving challenges of sustainability and climate resilience. The updates reflect the latest technologies and advancements and best practices, ensuring both consumers and the environments benefit from safer, more efficient plumbing and mechanical systems. Thank you for the opportunity to provide my comments. I am available for any questions you may have. >> We appreciate you being here. Thank you very much. >> Christina can. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> That concludes all the speakers. >> Members. That concludes all the speakers on item number 42. So we will, without objection, close the public hearing on item number 42. The public hearing is now closed, and I will entertain a motion with regard to item number 42. Motion is made by council member Siegel, seconded by council member harper-madison to approve item number 42. Is there discussion? Hearing none. Without objection. Item number [11:32:30 AM] Without objection. Item number 42 is approved. That will take us to item number 43. A public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 43. The public hearing is now closed. I'll turn to the city clerk. >> There are no speakers on 43. >> Members? There are no speakers on item number 43. So without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number the public hearing is now closed. The chair will entertain a motion to approve item number 43. It's made by council member vela, seconded by council member discussion. Hearing none. Without objection. Ite number 43 is adopted. That will take us to item number 44, a public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 44. The public hearing is now open and I will turn to the city clerk. >> John Mata. Josh Holub and Christina canning. >> Are you Mr. >> About the yields? Does anybody else wish to speak? This name has been called. Very good. They're yielding their time on that. Are those the only speakers signed up? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Members. Those are the only speakers that have signed up to speak in favor and in favor on that item. Without objection, we [11:33:32 AM] that item. Without objection, we will. We will close the public hearing on item number 44. The public hearing is now closed. The chair will entertain a motion to adopt item number 44. Council member Laine moves approval of the second by council member Velasquez. Is there discussion? Hearing none. Without objection. Item number 44 is adopted. That will take us to item number 45. A public hearing. We will, without objection, open the public hearing on item number 45. The public hearing is now open on item number 45. And I'll turn to the city clerk. >> Okay. Now we'll go remotely to Justin Lanier speaking on 45. >> Good morning, city council and mayor Watson. I'm Justin Lanier, a district nine resident policy director for the university tenants union and a graduate student of public affairs at the lbj school. I'm in support of item 45. With the adoption of the motion that I'm expecting to be brought B district nine. The motion would initiate a study of the impacts [11:34:33 AM] initiate a study of the impacts of borrowed light and housing, including health, safety, affordability and design feasibility. And it would be it would return stakeholder informed policy recommendations by October of 2025. I hope you will support the motion. During the previous public hearing on the code update, I, a couple other leaders of the union and numerous other community members asked for you to significantly curtail the practice of borrowed light new developments of housing. Since then, we've worked closely with district nine as well as district four and a number of other subject matter experts in the city, including architects, affordability advocates, developers and academics engaged on this issue. In these conversations, it's been made abunda clear that there is a need for more information to make a well-informed and effective policy response. As a policy student, I completely understand the need for good information to understand the complexities of issues, and I am encouraged by the fact that the motion prioritizes engaging with tenants and completing research to understand the impact of borrowed light on their well-being. As a policy student, [11:35:33 AM] well-being. As a policy student, I also understand that studies can be a path for things to get shelved, and for that reason, I'm really pleased that d9 has discussed with city staff and the American institute of architects how we could expedite is process and deliver findings and recommendations by October of 2025. You and I all know this as quick as far as policy goes, so thank you. I hope you will support this motion being brought by district nine, which will provide the city of Austin the information necessary to act on the issue of borrowed light. And lastly, I want to give a big thank you to all the stakeholders who seriously engaged with students like me on this issue. Process benefited from it. Above all, thank you, Melissa Bieler for working so hard on this over the last few weeks. >> Thank you sir. >> Now we go to in person, got Skylar Costello, Chris Gannon, Greg Anderson and Connor Kenney. If your name has been called, please make your way to the podium and state your name for the record. [11:36:33 AM] the record. >> Just come on. If there's an empty mic, it's yours. >> Okay. Hi, this is Chris Gannon. I'm an architect and housing advocate with aia Austin. I want to thank the mayor and the city council and all of the council aides and the fire department and all the city staff who worked so hard on the technical codes this cycle. These are complicated codes, and I commend everyone who dug in. I work with these codes every day, and I still frequently get them wrong. And no one knows that like the dsd. I'm looking at you, Todd, because they get to review all my plans. I'm here to support council member vela's amendment to legalize five storey single stair apartment buildings in Austin, and the amendments to study what may be needed to build these higher and bigger for the ibc 2027 code cycle, and to track how many of these are built in our community. I think there's also an opportunity to follow the icc floor modification eat24 and [11:37:33 AM] floor modification eat24 and require elevators only at five stories, which would allow for a type five, a four story building to be built at the most affordable rates. This would help our affordable housing with four units on the ground floor are Ada requirements would be well met. I'm excited to see what these buildings bring to our city. They promise to provide new options and better housing for our families to try to stay in the city. They offer finer grained urbanism, promoting better walkability and more interesting streetscapes, and they're at the scale that can be tackled by our local developers. I believe these will be of the safest buildings on the market. The staff's amendment has been well deliberated and is in an excellent place. We are national leaders in smart house smart housing policy. Again, I've spoken with folks from Colorado to Oakland who are all watching what we do here very closely. I'm excited to see this pass. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good morning council. My name [11:38:34 AM] >> Good morning council. My name is Connor Kenny. I'm with capital a housing. We are builders of housing for our middle class, working class and indigent neighbors. Thank you for your continuing efforts to use every tool possible to keep housing affordable in Austin. We strongly support the amendments offered today to make single stair more achievable for builders, including council member Bayless. Main amendment. It's hard for a building nerd like me to not get overly excited when I tell you I'm being temperate in saying that this is the future of middle class and working class housing for families in the city, sprawl will still provide single family homes for families, and 50 years from now, there will still be single family homes in the city for families who can afford them. But working class and most middle class families will not. The harsh realities of geometry mean that multi-bedroom stacked units are pretty much only possible on corners, in double loaded buildings, and there are only so many building corners to go around to build homes for families. Single stair easily allows two, three and four bedroom apartments and condos that family needs. So this [11:39:34 AM] that family needs. So this change will allow us to continue to add family homes in the city as our city continues to densify and add land value, especially along our transit corridors. This is the key for keeping Austin a city for families and keeping our city schools full. It will also take years for industry to start building more than a handful of these, which should give all stakeholders plenty of time to make any adjustments to procurement or other adjustments that need to be made to deal with the changing landscape of our city. Thank you. >> Thank you mayor. >> I don't see the other speakers. And that concludes members. >> That concludes all of the speakers on item number 45. So without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 45. The public hearing on item number 45 is closed. Members. Before I take a motion, let me say that how I'm thinking about. We will proceed on this because there's a several moving parts. What I thought we would do is we will take the main motion. Then I'm going to [11:40:36 AM] motion. Then I'm going to recognize council member vela for a motion to amend. Following that, I will recognize council member alter because he has a motion to amend the amendment. So before we vote on councilmember vela motion to amend, I'll recognize council member alter. After that, I will recognize council member Laine because she has a motion to give direction with regard to a study. I will then recognize council member Ellis with regard to a motion to amend related to an annual report. And then I'm going to recognize council member qadri because he has a motion to amend related to borrowed light. And that sets a little bit outside those previous motions to amend. So without objection, that's the direction I would go. That being said, I will now entertain a motion to approve item number 45 made by council member vela, and it is seconded by council member Velasquez, council member vela. I will now recognize you on vela motion to amend item number 45, number one. [11:41:37 AM] number one. >> Thank you very much, mayor. I offer my motion to amend the code to allow single stair buildings. And just to briefly describe it. This amendment would allow a building with a single staircase running up the middle. Elevators would also L be required. It would limit the number of units to four units per floor, and the overall size of the. The floor plate for an individual story would be at 4000ft S. It includes some safety provisions that are designed to make sure that it is a habitable aafe building, and I offer the amendment. >> Is there a second to second by council member Siegel. So vela motion to amend number one is moved and seconded. Discussion with regard to the motion to amend. All right. I'll now recognize council member [11:42:38 AM] now recognize council member alter for alter amendment number one to vela amendment number one. >> Thank you very much. So this looks at the floor plate of these buildings and trying to recognize that we don't just want studios or one bedrooms. But as one of the speakers mentioned, you know, we want to be able to create this housing in the central city for families as well. So changing that floor area from 4000 to 5000, to try to allow that flexibility to have more family friendly housing. >> Council member alter moves to amend vela amendment number one with alter amendment number one. Is there a second to the motion? Seconded by council member qadri. Members. The discussion is on alter motion to amend number one. It's the motion to amend vela. Number one, is there discussion with regard to alter amendment number one? Hearing none without objection. Alter amendment number one to vela. [11:43:39 AM] amendment number one to vela. Amendment number one is approved. That will take us back to vela amendment number one, members, as amended. Members, this is to amend item number 45. Yes. Council member duchen. That's where I was headed. So the discussion is on vela amendment number one, as amended to item number 45. Council member duchen. >> Thank you. Mayor. First, I want to acknowledge the tremendous work that council member vela and his staff and many others have poured into helping us better understand this issue. That said, I was hoping to. If he's here, ask chief Viars a couple of questions regarding response times, which is a concern that I've. >> Good morning again. >> Shaw baker, Austin fire chief. Yes, sir. Your questions. >> Thanks, chief. I wanted to [11:44:42 AM] >> Thanks, chief. I wanted to ask you to remind us kind of the trajectory of AFD response times in the last few years, and kind of what your target is and where where we've been headed, really, for the last 5 or 10 years. >> Asking a question about response time. Before I talk about response time, let me just add that the members of the Austin fire department, who are very committed and dedicated to providing safety for the city. These firefighters, they do come to work every day and put themselves in harm's way. And response time is an important part of that, because the mission of the fire service all across America, especially here in Austin. The primary mission is to save lives and property. And that's why response time is so important. Now, according to the national fire protection association 1710 code. It states that the response time for the first arriving engine on the scene should be between 4 and 6 minutes. The full alarm [11:45:45 AM] minutes. The full alarm assignment with all the engine trucks come should be within eight minutes. Currently, over the last 3 to 5 years, the city of Austin and fire department. We have not been making our response time citywide, although the city leadership has done a very great job. I would say in providing us with the resources we need, such as additional fire station and fire apparatus. The challenge is that the city of Austin population is continuing to outgrow the resource for the fire service. And the traffic and the population is causing us some challenges, which we're going to make opportunities here soon. In meaning response time. So again, the response time, according to nfpa 1710, the first arrival unit should be there within four minutes. In some areas we are making the response time. According to nfpa 1710 46 minutes. In other areas we're not. But citywide, we are not able to make the response time. Now again, why is 4 to 6 [11:46:46 AM] time. Now again, why is 4 to 6 minutes so important? If you think about the steel I-beams that are used in construction, the steel I-beam 100 foot steel I-beam with a span approximately 9.5in per 100ft at a temperature of about a 1000 degrees, and that 9.5in expansion of the steel I-beam, when heated, is enough to push the walls out. Now, by the time the fire department gets there to provide our tactics and strategies to put water on the fire, we're going to rapidly cool those steel I-beam and then they're going to contract. In some cases, upon a certain condition, that expansion and contraction of the steel I- beam can cause the walls to collapse and other challenges. Another reason it's so important to get on the scene and begin our initial fire protection within 4 to 6 minutes, because the gusset plates that are used in construction to build roofs for truss roof construction, the [11:47:47 AM] truss roof construction, the gusset plates will elongate at 800°f and they will fail at 1000°f. And once one part of the trusted fail in a roof construction, the whole roof will collapse. Keep in mind, when you start having collapse in the building, we have firefighters and civilians inside. Trying to escape and firefighters trying to put the fires out. Another challenge and the reason why we should have the four minute response time, 46 minute response time. Because now these constructions, the furniture, a lot of foam, a lot of plastic is putting off all these gases and you have civilians inside the residents who are sleeping or who may be trapped. And then they inherited all these toxic fumes along with that. At about 1100 degrees fahrenheit. Everything inside the building catches on fire at one time. Now, that whole room contact had flashover. And [11:48:48 AM] contact had flashover. And there's several other reasons why the 4 to 6 minutes response time is so important to the fire service. Now, I want to let everyone know that the Austin fire department, we are working as hard as we can to meet those response time, and this is a perfect opportunity now for me to thank council and city manager again, the budget office, for approving those two additional areas, because that's going to help us in reaching some of the goals of the 46 minute response time, to reduce those hazards to the firefighters and to reduce those hazards to the residents. I forgot to add something to medical calls. The brain cells began to die between 46 minutes. So we need those firefighters on the scene so we can provide the basic life support to get oxygen to the blood, to the brain cells. And also to provide the ads, the automated external defibrillators, to shock their heart so that person can have spontaneous and get back, leave the hospital and get back to a healthy life. [11:49:49 AM] healthy life. >> So in summary, there's significant benefit for every minute that expires for you to get there earlier rather than later. >> Every second is important for us in the fire service to get there. >> So what is the current response time, that average response time from AFD? Right now. >> I believe the average response time citywide is about ten minutes and 30s. I think it's citywide. That's correct. >> And where was it, say, 5 or 10 years ago? >> Come on, talk to. >> Rob byers, chief of staff. So in 2012, our response time was sub eight minutes. But over the past 13 years, as the chief has already shared that the city has outpaced the growth of the fire department. And to where are now response time citywide on average is 10.5 minutes, as chief said. >> And I know that, as you said, and I'm grateful that we've added two ladder trucks and are [11:50:50 AM] added two ladder trucks and are working on staffing one of them. Do you have a sense of how many ladder trucks we might need? >> Yes, sir. We need at least five additional area truck. Keep in mind. When chief Bartz started 20 years ago, 25 years ago, the city of Austin had 75 high rise buildings and we had 13 area trucks. And now today, the city of Austin have 250 plus high rise buils. And we still have 13 area trucks. So an additional five trucks will help us get closer to that Marc of meeting the needs of the nfpa 1710 response time. I don't know. Mid rises is. Yeah, sure, sure. >> You've made the point. So a high rise is anything that's above 75ft. >> Typically considered six stories or higher. >> Mid rises are up to five stories in height. >> Are just short of 75ft back. It was actually 30 years, chief. I'm older than that. The back in [11:51:52 AM] I'm older than that. The back in 1995, mid rises were an uncommon thing in the city of Austin. We're now 800 plus on those citywide. So those speak to the challenges that the benefits of having additional aerials will help us to support the response time and life safety. The chief already discussed. >> And in terms of one last question, in terms of trying to actually bring down those response times and the things that we can do, and considering our economic forecast for the next five years, do you think it's a realistic that we can acquire those ladder trucks? If you had to take a guess at that and be knowing the staffing and knowing the acquisition cost of them and be even beyond the ladder trucks in terms of traffic or other issues that we also might have to address in terms of response times. Are there other things we might have to go work on as a city to bring those down? >> A couple of things. It takes approximately 18 to 36 months to [11:52:53 AM] approximately 18 to 36 months to get a new area truck built. The supply and demand all over the country right now seems like it appears that every fire department in every city, every state, is trying to order areas, trucks. And so it's taken between 18 and 36 months to get those trucks. I think the answer to your question, sir, is to a couple of things. One thing is in order for us to get the area's truck, like I said, it's going to take time to even get them ordered and built, and then it's going to take us 6 to 8 months to hire the personnel staffing wise. So it's not like if the city council say, you know, fire deparent will go to an area truck, stop them today. We're not able to do that. We just don't have the trucks. We don't have the personnel to do it. Those additional trucks. But I think working with the city manager office and the budget office, we can come up with a plan to address those needs of the areas apparatus. Now, as far as the response time, again, one [11:53:55 AM] as the response time, again, one thing we are working on is make sure that when that alarm bell ring, our members are on those fire apparatus 60s or less, to help us get outhe station to run those calls in a safe manner. Working with the Austin transportation department. They are working on what's called the traffic light system, the preemption device, to help us meet some of the response time preemption device. Were notified the drivers to get out of the way because the fire truck is coming. Come and help us control the traffic light. And that's going to enhance our response time, I believe, as well, once we get that up and running full steam. And also we're working on our accreditation process. So if we're going to have fire chiefs from other parts of the country, it's going to come in and make recommendations to us and help us analyze what we're doing good and what we're doing bad and what we need to improve on. So having a set of outside eyes from the center for public [11:54:56 AM] from the center for public safety, excellent credit accreditation department team, come in and help us come up with some tactics and strategies on meeting those response time goals. >> Thank you so much for helping me get clarity on that. Thanks for your work. >> Yes, sir. >> So I just want to add a couple other points. That give me pause about these amendments. One is that I worry that we are not always using comparable cities when we're looking at the data. I know again that there's been a lot of work looking at Seattle and other places. But I worry a place like Seattle, a lot of rain, a lot of aerial fire trucks. They have a requirement for special windows. I believe they've got hydrants in most of their blocks. You know, my guess is they're probably at a moderate risk. And here in Austin we have hot and dry weather. We've got, as the chiefs mentioned, 13 staffed aerial trucks that we've had since 95. With some more in the pipeline. But it sounds like that pipeline is longer than I [11:55:57 AM] that pipeline is longer than I thought. We don't have the same window requirements. And so my guess is we'd have significantly higher risk here. And that's separate from the wildfire risk that we talked about during the code discussion. I thought it was particularly interesting that Seattle's fire department actually opposed statewide legislation in Washington state regarding single staircase, because they thought that Seattle's approach and safety measures may not be appropriate for other Washington state cities. I also want to add that, you know, council member vela staff points to a pew study on this issue that has a lot of great information in it. One thing that we've been struggling with, and we've met with architects and affordable housing developers and different folks to better understand this issue, is how this is actually going to generate the affordable housing in these peer cities and how that's worked. But what was interesting in that pew study, and I've shared it with you all, is it lists the response times for 100 peer cities. And what I was surprised to find was [11:56:58 AM] was surprised to find was roughly their response time is about five minutes. Generally speaking, in New York it was 3.7 minutes. And so it concerns me that our target time is eight minutes. It doesn't even fit on that chart. And that's eight minutes. 90% of the time. We got a report. I believe, at the public safety committee that, you know what, nine years ago it was 83%. Today it's a lot less. That target of eight minutes. So my fear is that if we aren't keeping up with our ladder trucks and plus the other contextual factors of more traffic and more buildings, more construction, we have things that are not so easy to fix. Regarding making sure that we can adequately respond to issues that might need to be increasingly addressed with this kind of housing. In fact, I think chief baker reported about a week ago at public safety [11:57:59 AM] a week ago at public safety committee that more dense housing and high rises have made it difficult to keep up. And one thing we also looked at was the origin of the campaign around single staircases. And we found that our analysis was it's largely funded by, I think, one tech billionaire from California. So I'm just kind of wary about the origin of how that works and how we're taking advice from folks that are out of state that are not thinking about the contextual issues with Austin. We've heard also from APD that there may be other scenarios that we may not be thinking about active shooters, for instance. And so I've shared APD response time data, which is also trajectory in the wrong direction. So I worry about our our ability to respond to different kinds of emergencies there. And then finally I've got we've tt with aia also here, and we've got a letter from them from last month indicating their wholehearted support for the single staircase provided quote, [11:58:59 AM] single staircase provided quote, provided that the concerns of our emergency response community are addressed, including, if necessary, the allocation of resources to update response equipment to ensure these buildings can be safely served. So my hope is that we can work together to make sure we are adequately responding to the life safety issues surrounding these amendments. One other thing that I think I tried to include is the last page of the packet that I shared, which is the standard of coverage difference between 2018 and 2024. And I'm wondering whether there's any appetite for limiting this area in the census tracts that we do know have good response times, and we do know we can adequately serve, and that won't be life safety issues. Because I can tell you from at least looking at this map in my district, there are there are definitely places where there are less than 50% success rate for getting to that eight minute Marc. So that's the origin of my concern, and I hope that we can have a discussion [12:00:00 PM] that we can have a discussion around how to potentially improve that going forward. Thank you. >> Members. It's we've reached noon. And so what I'm going to suggest that we do is reset. We not not recess but we stop the discussion on this item. My hope had been that we would get this amendment done. But instead what let's do is let's go to our 12:00 time certain of public communication. But I anticipate we will do is finish this at about 1225, roughly based upon the number of people that have signed up to speak. When we finish at 1225, what we will then do is recess until 1:00. We will recess until 1:00, and we wi come back to take up this item. So with that, madam clerk, I'm going T turn to you and we will go to our 12:00 time certain, which is public communication. >> Sure. First speaker is Sandra Cullen, followed by zainab Haider. Natalie khalis, Henry, Troy or Troy and silver white [12:01:03 PM] Troy or Troy and silver white mountain. If your name has been called, please make your way to the podium and state your name for the record. >> Sandy Culhane. >> Thank you. Please proceed. >> Hi, my name is sandy Culhane, and I have been a city of Austin lifeguard. >> If we can minimize conversations as people are exiting the chambers. We do have a speaker providing public comment. Thank you. >> Hello, my name is samhain and I have been a city of Austin lifeguard continuously over the last four years, as well as a level two lifeguard instructor and open water lifeguard at Barton springs, and last summer served as an open water head lifeguard. I offer my own positive experience as a city of Austin lifeguard, as we do not have a designated spokesperson. First, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you to Austin for having such an amazing offering of 34 public pools, and for enriching and saving lives through the recreation, swim lessons, lifeguard training, and [12:02:04 PM] lessons, lifeguard training, and lifeguarding itself. Thank you for the increases in pay that you've offered us as lifeguards, which is drawing more competitive and qualified lifeguard trainees. I myself encourage and recruit family and friends to join our ranks and believe that the training we offer provides lifelong skills. In fact, some of us have provided life saving first aid assistance as good samaritans while off duty. Our training is important. This is a great place to work for all people in all stages of life. As lifeguards, we are professionally trained and held to standards for the way we watch the water while on stand. Respond to varied first aid scenarios and we are expected to act professionally in all aspects of work. This is reinforced in our lifeguard classes and weekly in-service training, and we treat everyone, patrons and fellow lifeguards alike, with respect. In my experience, our managers and aquatics team address any reports of inappropriate behavior swiftly. As a whole, we have an enthusiastic team of trained lifeguards ready for a busy summer, and I appreciate [12:03:05 PM] busy summer, and I appreciate the hard work of my coworkers, managers, auditors, and higher ups in aquatics and pard, for whom I only have the greatest of respect. As a Barton guard, I come to work each day, rescue ready, and like other year round guards, I've had my share of rescues. We don't keep individual counts, but we were in excess of 300 rescues at Barton springs in 2024, and over 30 ems emergencies, and we will likely exceed that number in 2025. We train on a weekly basis and complete annual open water training, and pass a series of physical tests biannually to retain our certifications. Finally, we want our patrons to remember the crown jewel of Austin in a positive light, even after they've been rescued from a distressed or drowning situation. Some of my favorite quotes from patrons as I've rescued them, and I'm swimming them on my red tube to the deck, are. I really don't know how Michael Phelps does it. I've also been told, how did you know I needed help? You were here so quickly. Thank you. And they [12:04:05 PM] quickly. Thank you. And they don't pay you enough. Thank you so much. I wake up and show up to help people every day and to learn from those around me, whether at Barton springs or elsewhere. I believe this is a shared perspective among all of my friends currently guarding, or formerly or presently leading in our aquatics division, and I thank you for recognizing our worth and for supporting us. We can't all have a voice to share our passion, but I came here today to offer mine. Thank you. >> If your name has been called, please make your way to the podium. Zainab. Haider, Natalie, kels, Henry toy and silver white mountain. >> Council members. Free speech is not only under attack in the usa and Texas, it is being completely eroded. Where the previous administration worked to malign activists. This current administration is [12:05:05 PM] current administration is employing more fascist tactics. Mahmoud Khalil is a student at Columbia university who was arrested on March 8th, and Mahmoud has since been detained. They threatened to revoke his green card. His wife is nine months pregnant. His crime. Political speech. Negotiating on behalf of student protesters at Columbia. Rumaisa ozturk is a phd student at tufts university with a student Visa. Two weeks ago, she was detained by a large group of men on the sidewalk in plain clothes and thrown into an unmarked van. Her only crime was writing an op Ed critical of genocide. Did you know there have been 300 student Visa revocations over the past week in this country? More than 60 here in Texas. The trump and musk administration just announced that they will now be monitoring social media for antisemitism. Remember, this is the administration that essentially outlawed dei that employs white nationalists, that's run by Elon Musk, who we [12:06:06 PM] that's run by Elon Musk, who we all saw give a Nazi salute. So we know this is not about inclusivity, being anti-hate or protecting Jews. It is a weaponization of the term. And when we look at the new redefined definition of antisemitism by the trump and Abbott administrations, it is any critique of Israel, the country criticizing the policies of a foreign government is now being redefined as a hate crime. We know calling critique of Saudi Arabia islamophobia would be ridiculous. So will we allow outlawing critique of Israel and its policies? These orwellian tactics need to be questioned by people in power like you. Will you allow them to continue to strip our civil liberties away? There is a famous quote by martin niemöller written after the holocaust, which goes first they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was [12:07:06 PM] did not speak out because I was not a Jew. And then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me. In 2025, it looks like this. First they come for the Palestinians. But you didn't speak up because you're not a Palestinian. We have just heard of two students here at UT who have had their Visas revoked. Trump and musk are now thinking of ways to strip citizenship next, as a punishment for involvement in protests against what the un is investigating as a genocide, where more than 60,000 people have been killed, mainly women and children, by us made bombs given to Israel. Do we have the right to speak against this? How will you protect the students? How will you protect me? And do you intend to protect us? You need to take action. You need to clarify. The definition of antisemitism is unrelated to political. >> Thank you. >> Ma'am. >> And declare this. >> Thank you. >> You're. Thank you. >> Natalie. Natalie cowley tells [12:08:07 PM] >> Natalie. Natalie cowley tells Henry toy and silver white mountain. >> If your name, please. If your name has been called, please feel free to come forward. Just state your name for the record. >> Hey y'all, it's me again. Silver white mountain. You know, stop signs, yield signs, and red lights are just a suggestion. Now, while y'all are safely in here, it is out of control. Out there on the streets, roads and highways of Austin. People are moving in at a rapid rate, and some are bringing in their bad driving habits. Presently, not much. Not too much is being done. I just pulled three employees at city hall once that it has taken them two hours to get home. One said he just got hit by a red light runner and the other one was still talking while I was trying to make my way in here. I took some drawings about constructing an upper deck down sou I-35, [12:09:07 PM] upper deck down sou I-35, exactly where this construct, where the construction has been going on for the past year or so. I took it about 2 to 3 decades ago, though I did add that it should be utilized mostly for emergency vehicles to get where they were going in a hurry. I guess it took them that long to find the drawings, or some felt it was not needed until now. I predicted major traffic problems, diseases, pollution, long lines everywhere, and immigration growth. Why actually didn't predict it? This experience I use my experience. People ask me how do you predict? It's just the experience that I have. I did have all this printed up on a T shirt. Since no one would touch this topic with a ten foot pole 30 years ago. I have plenty of live witnesses, though. Some have passed. You see, I'm a contractor a closer I solve problems where I get paid. I'm giving you all a lot of stuff for free. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Mayor. All the speakers have been called. [12:10:08 PM] been called. >> All right. Miss Kay's Mr. Toy, I agree with you, members. That concludes the 12:00 time. Certain public communication. And so what we will do is we will recess the Austin city council. Folks, typically this is where we recess and we have live music, but we have something special today. And that is we're going to have our poet laureate. And then we will reconvene at 1:00 promptly. So we will reset without objection. The city council of Austin, Texas, is in recess at 12:10 P.M. Until 1:00 pm so that we can hear from our poet laureate. Hi everyone. Good afternoon. My [12:15:52 PM] Hi everyone. Good afternoon. My name is Vanessa Fuentes, mayor pro tem here in the city of Austin. And I'm very proud to be here today to recognize Austin's first poet laureate. This policy is one that is deeply personal for me because it is community driven. It was actually brought forward from a constituent of mine, kb Brookins, who did a lot of advocacy, a lot of organizing around this, really wanted to make sure that Austin established our program, ensure that we're uplifting our creative arts and doing so much for cultural arts in, in our city. And so I just want to give a shout out to them and for their hard work, because they were really instrumental in us bringing forward this policy, making sure we passed it as a program of Austin public library and to ensure that we have the necessary funding. So with this is my honor to introduce Zell Miller the third. He is a poet, a theater artist, and a creative force known for his thought provoking works that explore [12:16:53 PM] provoking works that explore identity, culture and the human experience. With a passion for storytelling and performance, Miller has made a significant contribution to the arts, particularly in the realms of poetry and theater. In 2004, he was voted the best poet writer and by the Austin chronicle, and in 2017 he was inducted to the Austin arts Austin arts hall of fame. A little shout out for that. His poetic work is deeply influenced by his personal experiences in the broader social and political landscapes. He has toured nationally and internationally. As a performer, he has opened for legendary artists like Nikki Giovanni and the last poets. Zell's poetry often weaves together elements of history, race, and emotion, creating powerful narratives that resonate with audiences. As a theater artist, he has utilized his unique voice to craft performances that challenge conventional boundaries and encourage reflections on societal issues. [12:17:53 PM] reflections on societal issues. Miller's approach to both poetry and theater is marked by an intense focus on language, rhythm, and the connection between the artists and the audience. His performance style taught him to mentor, was taught to him by his mentor Laurie Carlos, and is steeped in the jazz esthetic. Whether performing on stage or sharing his written work, he brings a raw and genuine energy to his art, drawing viewers into the intimate spaces he creates with his words and movements. An open book. Miller loves to say that his greatest creations are his children. Zell the fourth and Mali, and his relationship with his amazing partner Ashley Miller. With that, please help me welcome Austin poet laureate Zell Miller, the third. >> Quincy one two. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Oh, man. Thank you, thank you, thank you. All right, we're gonna do, like, a two pieces. Make the not hot bright with these sync. I sent decibels rider of the thunder. I make the Earth quake like I'm Hannibal. [12:18:54 PM] Earth quake like I'm Hannibal. Equalization in the balance of my mother's eyes. When I submit the wisdom, I give space for the sun to rise. And I'm skipping amethyst rocks across the surface of the sun. Toward my oxygen crops. In the light side of Mars. I watched them satellites close because they sent the Earth to be a rock. And what a rock star. I lace instruments and sounds with subliminal freedom. And I vacation on Pluto and solstice, anticipate parabolic curves in unison. I am the what was before, before, before, before, before. Solomon translated my songs, I used to whistle it to him before he touched the Earth's ground. Bound by rosary beads of Jupiter. Sacred stones, we moan in unison to the rotation of the T sun. I keep my time ship idle. I slip between matter because of my gray matter I ship shape the hollow drums a piece of my soul. It stirs every time we come I'm looking to reshape these dead trees. I give them new life. With new inscriptions and new moralities and new dimensions. And we sanctify the blessings of [12:19:54 PM] And we sanctify the blessings of deep breath. I taught the wind how to race. Running water, stationary position. I wait on these in the tip of the drink so I can be poisoned. Like I said, I taught the wind how to race. I said, running water in stationary position. I'm waiting on thieves in the temple to drink so they can be poisoned. Overcoming death is easy when you understand what you are living for. I moon trace amongst your face. Retrieve my identity. In the south places of your smile I find divinity. The passion comes in threes I'm the pleasure principle. To these moment. When you're quiet, stare. It says a novel to me. And I am on again. And I am on again. And I am witness to the night. Cousin to the silence. Sister to the sun. We be the penetration of the. Drum and the conversations. They're happening over fizzling cocoa beans, me and saggy jeans and questions you in comfortable fabric and perfection and stroking the inside of your hand. Ashley, I [12:20:55 PM] inside of your hand. Ashley, I have no choice but to say are a man in the morning stirs in your eyes? Is the sunrise vampire I be. But we sleep in noisy times. Because warriors, poetic warriors can only be conquered by truth and withheld. In your kiss, Ashley is the correctness of god, and it is there that allows me to rest easy to you. Be a meditation unto thyself. Be a meditation unto thyself. Be the second letter of the alphabet, a verb, a process, a noun, a reminder that when things get heavy or heated that you can just be, you can be in the space between it all. You can find a moment to take a breath before you speak. But [12:21:57 PM] breath before you speak. But remember, no matter what comes out of your mouth, you must always be unapologetically you. Be clear that you are never alone, that you are a piece of a jigsaw puzzleaiting to be found and trust the universe. She will always find you. Be ready for the real reality. Be clear that you are loved, that you are needed and you are worthy. And all we will ever ask of you is that you be yourself. But if you don't feel like that, then we want you to be and we will honor that. But you can be loud, be sad, be happy, be depressed, be the beat, be the second beat to somebody's heartbeat. Be bold. Be terrified. Be calm. Be confused. Be the boom and the bap. Be the kick in the drum. Be the bass and the line. Be the guitar and the solo. Be the body politic. Stand on both sides of the aisle. Be a pronoun or not. Be your dreams and not somebody's [12:23:00 PM] your dreams and not somebody's vision for you. Be the vessel and the spirit and the push for yourself first. Then blast that energy out into the universe. Be the basketball bounce and the ankles breaking. Be the one that stands up and says, free palestine. Be your own high five. Dance. When the world is singing. Stand up and speak out against violence done to those who walk in the shadows. Be the boss and the employee. Be the meek and the strong. Be a spectacular somebody that helps a somebody spectacular make it to the next moment. And when you have said all that you can say, when you have done all that you can do. Dear one, when the moon decides to rise, then we need you to be still. Be calm, be dream filled, be recharged because. When the sun decides to smile, we need you to be up. We [12:24:01 PM] smile, we need you to be up. We need you to be willing. We need you to be ready. And we need you to be able and capable for the fight. Because you deserve it. Because you, dear one, you were handcrafted by the creators placed here in this moment so that your light can illuminate our future. So we need you to be here and not be gone by your own hand. We need you to be. It is a meditation unto thyself. It's the second letter of the alphabet. It is a verb, a process, a noun. Be a meditation unto thyself. Be a meditation unto thyself. Help me out. I'm going to say be y'all. Say a meditation unto thyself. Be a meditation unto thyself. >> Be a meditation on thyself. Be a meditation on thy self. Be [12:25:04 PM] Be a meditation on thy self. Be a meditation on thyself. >> A meditation, a meditation, a meditation, a meditation, a meditation. Meditation. >> Incredible. >> Can we have our poet laureate back over here with special recognition? Thank you. That was incredible. And you know, now that we have officially established the poet laureate, they will be able to travel around our city for the next few years and represent our city and do performances. Where can we catch you next? >> So Monday, April 14th we will be having a celebration at the library. Central library starts at 6 P.M. Then I'll be doing a [12:26:05 PM] at 6 P.M. Then I'll be doing a workshop for the gab festival for the library on April 26th Saturday >> Very nice. Wonderful. Thank you. Well, we have on behalf of our colleagues here, we wanted to share this proclamation, be it known that whereas poet laureate positions have existed in cities, states and countries since the 1600s, to be stewards of poetry in the communities through programs that positively impact the general public. And whereas, the library foundation has led a successful youth laureate Pio youth poet laureate program to identify and uplift young writers since 2021, as part of the national youth poet laureate program, with support from the Austin public library. And whereas, the Austin city council, in determining that the public would benefit from an official poet laureate who uses poetry as a way to promote literacy across the city and to integrate poetry into the fabric of Austin's history, politics and culture, issued a resolution directing the city manager to [12:27:05 PM] directing the city manager to establish the adult poet laureate program, to be housed in and managed by the Austin public library department, and whereas, the Austin public library worked with the economic development department, the library commission, the arts commission, and other local literary organizations and community members to develop the program selection criteria. And whereas, the Austin public library saw applications from qualified local poets and received 40 such submissions, this committee has named its choice for Austin's first ever poet laureate. That's right. And whereas Zell Miller, the third, has lived in Austin since he was four years old, is a member of the Austin arts hall of fame, was voted by the Austin chronicle as the best poet in 2004, and is an active member of Austin's poetry and theater communities. And whereas, Zell has built a career fostering inclusivity among diverse communities, and as poet [12:28:05 PM] communities, and as poet laureate, will collaborate with local literacy programs, organizations, schools, and libraries to expand access to poetry. And whereas Zell Miller. Serving the city from April 2025 through April 2027, we'll have the mayor do the honors. >> Great. Thank you. Now, therefore, I, Kirk Watson, mayor of the city of Austin, Texas, on behalf of the entire city council and the citizens of the city of Austin, Texas, do hereby proclaim April 10th, 2025 as Zell Miller, the third day in Austin, Texas. >> Thank you for txdot. >> Thank you, and thanks for standing over there. >> Yeah, yeah. You can't get him to sit down. Good afternoon, everybody. It's [1:00:14 PM] Good afternoon, everybody. It's 1:00 on April 10th, 2025 and I will call back to order the regular scheduled meeting of the Austin city council. And we're meeting in council chambers. We have a quorum of the council. Present members. The first item that I want to take up is I want to go. What we're going to do is we're going to go back to item number 45. And the first item, first issue with regard to item 45 that I want to take up is I want to recognize council member alter for a motion to reconsider the vote by which we passed his motion to amend vela number one. I'll let him explain that, but I'm going to recognize him for a motion to reconsider. Council member alter. >> I move to reconsider the vote by which we adopted council member Ryan alter. Amendment one. >> And why don you explain what the purpose of that is? >> Sure. So a little bit of a mix up with the versions here. What we ultimately worked on with staff was that still being [1:01:16 PM] with staff was that still being able to have that more family friendly floor plate, but studying there, there are multiple pieces of the technical code that are impacted. And so getting staff to work on this issue for the next round so that we can kind of better understand all the moving parts. >> So members, the impact of this motion will be twofold. One is it will strip the amendment from council member vela amendment number one to item number 45. And then I will recognize council member alter. After I recognize council member Ellis. Remember I said I would recognize councilmember Laine, council member Ellis, and then councilmember qadri. I will recognize council member alter between council member Ellis and zo qadri so that he can take up something related to this, this aspect of it for the motion that he intended to make. Motion is to reconside the vote by which alter amendment number one to [1:02:16 PM] alter amendment number one to vela amendment number one was adopted. Is there a second second by council member Velasquez? Is there discussion? Without objection, the motion to reconsider is adopted with the mayor pro tem temporarily off the dais. Members. That has the impact of stripping alter amendment number one off of vela. Amendment number one, is there any further discussion on vela amendment number one? At this point? All right. Without objection, vela amendment number one, without the amendment. I'm just doing this for clarity purposes without alter amendment number one is without objection. It is adopted with the mayor pro tem temporarily off the dais. I will now recognize council member. Mayor pro tem voted. I bet she voted in favor of that. Yes. Let the mayor pro tem be shown voting in favor of that. [1:03:19 PM] shown voting in favor of that. That vela amendment. I recognize councilmember Laine. >> Thank you, mayor. Like one of our public commenters this morning, I am being intemperate in my excitement about the more affordable, smaller scale, community oriented housing options that these changes open up for families living in Austin as their household size grows. With respect to some of the fire safety concerns that we heard earlier, I also must mention and do appreciate that the front doors of units in these single stare buildings will be closer to stairwells than is the case in the larger scale, mid-rise, multifamily buildings that are already widespread in Austin. And I do not. I do not support restricting access to this building type based on census tract. This option should be available to all of Austin. With that, I'd like to offer a motion directing the city manager to explore the feasibility of allowing single stare buildings up to 75ft in height. This should include meaningful stakeholder engagement and a thorough study of key considerations like fire safety, egress, affordability, and design. With this study, I'd [1:04:20 PM] design. With this study, I'd also like to see an update on how the current five story requirement has played out, what's worked wel and where there may have been challenges. The goal would be to have these findings findings brought back to council with enough time for thoughtful consideration before we take up the 2027 code members. >> Councilmember Laine moves to amend item number 45. You've heard the motion is seconded by council member vela. Is there discussion with regard to Laine motion to amend number one? Councilmember vela. >> I just wanted to thank council member Laine for bringing the item. You know, we've we limited it to five stories. We've limited the floor plate, floor plate to 4000ft S. We're trying to be very deliberative and cautious as we move forward. And I look forward to seeing where we can go from here. But, you know, like I said, we're trying to be very, very cautious and move very carefully. That said, I think we do need to look at what are the possibilities once we kind of digest these ial round of [1:05:20 PM] digest these ial round of changes. Thank you very much. Councilmember. >> Thank you. Councilmember vela further discussion. Councilmember Laine, do you wish to close or have you said your piece? >> I'm good. >> Thanks. Okay. Very good. With that being said, without objection, Laine amendment motion to amend item number 45. Laine. Motion number one to amend item number 45 is adopted. That will take us to council member Ellis. You're recognized for a motion to amend. >> Thank you. Mayor. Yes? I put up an amendment on the message board yesterday and it includes direction to the manager to provide an annual report. And we are hoping that that report will include the number of single stair buildings permitted citywide and per council district, the number of single stair buildings that get their certificate of occupancy, both citywide and by council district, and a breakdown of the size of units, square footage, number of bedrooms, also citywide and by council district. And so I think this is [1:06:20 PM] district. And so I think this is just a good assessment for us to understand. Are we meeting the goals that we're trying to achieve here as we talk about adding units and especially family friendly units, trying to make sure that we are able to reflect on the success of this program and calibrate at any point in time, if we feel like we're off the Marc. >> Members. Council member Ellis moves approval of Ellis amendment number one to item number 45. Is there a second second by councilmember qadri? Is there discussion? Without objection? Ellis. Amendment number one to item number 45 is adopted. Chair now recognizes councilmember alter for a motion to amend item number 45. >> Thank you very much, mayor. This is what you alluded to just a moment ago. This is that study, similar to councilmember Laine, of how we can incorporate a larger floor plate that allows for more family friendly units when we take this back up next time. >> Members, for clarity purposes, this is in your backup as council member. Ryan alter [1:07:21 PM] as council member. Ryan alter one version two. So it shows it as one v2 council member alter moves approval of Ryan alter one v2 to item number 45. It is seconded by council member Velasquez. Is there discussion? Without objection? Alter amendment number one. Version two is adopted. That will now take us to council member qadri. >> Thank you mayor. In front of you all you guys should have a motion sheet for qadri amendment number one for further direction on borrowed light. And I have some, some things to say about it, but I'll say it after we get a second. >> Is there a second to the motion? Seconded by council member Velasquez? Councilmember, let me let me ask if there's discussion. And on this other than council member zo qadri councilmember qadri, you're recognized to lklk about it and close and great. >> And I'll try to make it as quick as I can. Thank you. [1:08:22 PM] quick as I can. Thank you. Mayor. We've been listening to numerous stakeholders on the borrowed light issue brought brought to us during the public hearing by the university tenants union. We appreciate the students bringing this to our attention and the real concerns residents face in their housing choices here in Austin. We've also heard some good, some good cases for other types of households where borrowed light provides a quality option. And while there may be some changes in the building code we could make to improve access to light and air at this time, there's simply not enough time to really understand this potential unintended consequences. If we were to move forward on that. In for us today outlines information we need not only from staff, but from all our stakeholders in our community that I believe we need before this council can move forward on the borrowed light issue. I'm really grateful for the assistance of our professional staff and all our stakeholders in helping us get to this point, and once again, I'm really thankful to the university of Texas students, especially the university tenants union. Really thankful for Melissa and our and the d9 staff who have been who have been just such an important [1:09:25 PM] have been just such an important voice on this issue. So I think in the coming months, we can make a more informed decision to continue moving forward on on our affordability and quality goals here in the city of Austin, Texas. And that's it. >> Thank you. Councilmember members. That will the motion has been made and seconded by council member zo qadri on qadri. Number one, motion to amend number one to item number 45. Without objection, qadri. Amendment number one to item number 45 is adopted. Members that will now take us back to the main motion on item number 45. And that is to adopt item number 45 as it was amended by the vela amendment, the Laine amendment, the Ellis amendment, the alter amendment, and the qadri amendment. Discussion on the main motion, as amended. Before we take a vote. >> Councilmember qadri, I just want to thk councilmember vela and his staff and all the advocates who are here today for all their work on this. >> Thank you. Further discussion, councilmember vela. >> And I want to throw that [1:10:25 PM] >> And I want to throw that right back at council member qadri. The windowless bedroom issue is actually very complex and tricky, and I think he and his staff handled it extremely well. I also wanted to take just a moment to say that I am so cited to pass the single Sara code amendment today. This is an important step in making Austin a more affordable, livable, and walkable city. Single stair buildings have a good safety record in other cities where they are allowed, and this item includes strong safety provisions. These buildings are limited to four units per floor, which means the stairs to exit in an emergency are just steps from your front door. We've added enhanced sprinkler systems and protected stairwells as an extra layer of fire protection. I appreciate the work that the fire department has done on this item and take their concerns very seriously. We must ensure that as the city grows, the fire department's capabilities keep up with that growth. While I believe we are in a good place with this amendment today, this is going to be an iterative process. I look forward to working with both the fire department and the development community to find ways to further refine these rules to improve livability, [1:11:26 PM] improve livability, affordability, and safety. I have a lot of people to thank for helping get this item across the finish line. First, I have to thank the community for their support on single stair. I don't believe anyone on council was aware of this issue before last ar, and we would not be where we are today without the advocacy and support of the American institute of architects, Austin chapter and Ora on this item. Thank you to Zach, to parker, to felicity, to Adam for your tireless advocacy and a special shout out to Chris Gannon, who has M W with me and my staff more times than I can count, thanks to Bob nix, also from the Austin firefighters association, for spending so much time with me and my staff to help us understand fire safety in taller buildings. Thank you to dsd and the fire department, others in the fire community for working with me, my staff and the community on this item. I know council is not usually this engaged on a technical item like this, and I appreciate their help and guidance. And thank you to [1:12:28 PM] guidance. And thank you to council members Ellis, alter, Velasquez and qadri for co-sponsoring the initial resolution that put this item in motion. And of course, thank you to council member Laine, council member Ellis and council member alter for their amendments that will guide us into the next steps of this discussion. Thank you to everyone. Really appreciate your guidance and your support. >> Thank you. Councilmember. Further discussion. Yes, councilmember Velazquez. >> Yeah, mayor, I we've heard a lot from the community over the past few weeks about single star developments, and this item will help to diversify our housing supply and increase the number of multifamily multi bedroom family units in our multifamily developments. And adding this type of flexibility and development is yet another crucial step that this diocese is taking to address our affordability challenge challenges. I want to thank and commend my colleague, councilmember vela and his team for spearhding this, and I'm happy to add my voice with council members alter, Laine, qadri and Ellis, who have all been very vocal about getting this done. >> Thank you. Councilmember. [1:13:28 PM] >> Thank you. Councilmember. Further. Councilmember harper-madison. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I appreciate it. Yes, I'd like to add my voice to the strong support for this item as well. And then unrelated, I missed the vote on item number 39 earlier. I know we can't I don't I'm not asking for us to reconsider it. I was just going to say for the record, I would have voted yes, but I didn't. >> Miss it. Well, we'll come back to that after the after we finish this. Thank you sir. Further discussion on this item. All right. In that case, hearing none without objection. Item number 45, as amended, is adopted on a vote of 10 to 1, with councilmember duchen being shown voting no. Congratulations. Everybody congratulate. Councilmember harper-madison. What item were you referring to that you weren't here? >> It was item number 39. >> Members. Council member harper-madison moves that she be shown voting in favor of item number 39. That addition will not change the outcome of the vote. Is there a second second by councilmember Siegel? Is [1:14:28 PM] by councilmember Siegel? Is there any objection? Hearing none without objection that that motion is adopted and councilmember harper-madison will be shown voting in favor of item number 39. >> Thank you. Colleagues. >> Members. The next item on our agenda is the 2:00 time. Certain. So without objection, the Austin city council will be in recess until promptly at 2:00. We are in recess well. Hello, everybody. It's [2:00:03 PM] well. Hello, everybody. It's 2:00 on April 10th, 2025, so I will call back to order the Austin city council for our 2:00 time certain which are zoning items, and I will recognize miss harden. >> Thank you, mayor and council. I'm joy harden with the planning department. Your zoning agenda begins with item number 40 6c1 for 2024 0112. This item is being offered as a postponement request by council member vela to your April 24th council meeting. Item 47 is c14 2024 0113. Again, postponement request by council member vela to your April 24th council meeting. Item 48 is c14 2024 0114. This item is being offered as a postponement request by council member qadri to your April 24th council meeting. Item 49 is c1484022 rca. This item is being offered as an applicant. Postponement request to your April 24th council meeting. Item 50 is NPR 2024 0008.02. This item is being offered as a [2:01:04 PM] item is being offered as a neighborhood postponement request to your may 8th council meeting. The related rezoning is item 51 c14 2 0107. Again, neighborhood postponement request to your may 8th council meeting. Item 52 is NPR 2024 0008.01. This item is offered for consent first reading only and will be returning for second and third reading consideration at your April 24th council meeting. The related rezoning is item 53 c14 2024 0111. Again, this item is being offered for first reading only and returning for second and third reading consideration at your April 24th council meeting. Item 54 is NPR 2023 0005.01. This item is being offered as an applicant postponement request to your April 24th council meeting. The related rezoning is item 55 c14 2024 0015. Again, applicant postponement request to your April 24th council meeting item 5661 for 2024 0158. This item is being offered for [2:02:06 PM] This item is being offered for consent first reading only, and will be returning for second and third reading consideration at your April 24th council meeting. Item 57 is c14 2024 0184. This item is being offered for consent on all three readings, but I do have a motion sheet and that motion sheet reads. Amend the draft ordinance to add a new part two and part three as follows. And remember the remaining sections according part two the property within the boundaries of the conditional overlay combining district established by this ordinance is subject to the following conditions. The following uses are prohibited. Uses on the property. Agricultural sales and services. Commerc plasma center. Communication services. Convenience stores. Equipment repair services. Exterminating services. Pawnshop services. Campground. Commercial off street parking. Construction. Sales and services. Electric testing. Equipment sales. Indoor crop production. Vehicle storage. Part three. Except as specifically restricted under this ordinance, the property may be developed and used in [2:03:06 PM] be developed and used in accordance with the regulations established for general commercial services. Cs based district on track one and the commercial liquor sales cs one based district on track two. The mixed use combining district on track one and two and other applicable requirements of the city code. And again with that motion sheet, this item is offered. Item 57 is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 58 is c1 four 2024 0167. This item is being offered for consent on all three readings. Item 59 is c1 four 2025 0021. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 60 is c1 four 2024 0124. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 61 is c1 four 2024 0164. This item is being offered for consent. Third reading item 62 is c1 four 2024 0181. This item is being offered as a neighborhood postponement [2:04:06 PM] as a neighborhood postponement request to your April 24th meeting, and the applicant is not opposing this request. This concludes the reading of the neighborhood plan and zoning agenda. And as always, this is at your discretion. >> Thank you, Mr. Garden members. You have any questions of miss harden or want her to? Yes. Councilmember vela. >> I just want to double check on item 56, miss Hardin, is that for first reading only or for. >> First reading only? >> 56 is first reading only. >> Got it. >> Thank you. Thank you. Any further questions? All right, members, I'm going to read the consent agenda and call for a motion. And then we'll ask for any speakers items 46, 47, 48 and 49 would be a postponement to April 24th, 50 and 51. Postponement to may 8th, 52 and 53 on first reading only. That will return on April 24th for second and third reading. 54 and the related 55 postponement to April 24th. 56 first reading only to return on April 24th for [2:05:06 PM] only to return on April 24th for second reading 5757. I'll call out separately that that would be on all three readings, but remember the miss Hardin read a motion sheet that would be a part of the motion on consent. 58, 59 and 60. All three readings, 61 on third reading and 62 a postponement to may 22nd. Chair will entertain a motion. I'm sorry. >> For 62. It is a neighborhood postponement to April 24th. >> I'm sorry I wrote it down wrong. A neighborhood postponement to April 24th. Members, you've heard the consent agenda. It's been read. Is there a motion to adopt the consent agenda? Motion made by council member qadri. Seconded by council member harper-madison. Madam clerk, I will now hear. We will now ask you to help us with the speakers. >> Okay. For item number 46, marina Martinez. She is remote. >> Just to make sure. For her. Marina something. Hold on. Just [2:06:11 PM] Marina something. Hold on. Just one more spot. >> Marina, please unmute. She's on the line, mayor. But she's not. >> Okay, please go to the next. >> One we don't have. She's the only speaker on item 46. >> We'll come back to her if she. >> Item number 47. On the merits of the postponement, Brad Massingill. >> Hey, y'all. Brad Massingill from district three. We seem to be a little bit today here. As there's a bunch of DV 90 on on [2:07:12 PM] there's a bunch of DV 90 on on the agenda today. In case anyone missed it, these are this 90 foot tall vertical mixed use buildings with the nominal bonus for the city that is of a affordable, affordable housing. Item 47. This DV 90 is at 704 east 53rd street, and it's located in the Tannehill watershed in district four. I'll be back. >> Let me try again with marina Martinez for item number 46 on the merits of the postponement. Marina. Marina. If you are muted, please unmute your cell phone. I'm going to move on to item number 48 to speak on ee [2:08:13 PM] item number 48 to speak on ee merits of the postponement. Brad Massingill. >> Thanks for the postponement. These need a lot more work. I this one's at a 5210 Breunig avenue. It's in the boggy creek watershed in district nine. I have to say that these db9's, there are so many of them now that the one in my neighborhood, the site plan review, our reviewer has 30 others of them, 30 of them. For any neighborhood to be involved in this. And actually. Get the machines of development to workforce, it's really hard. These people are overworked and we're piling more and more work on them and on these watersheds. So thanks for the postponement. [2:09:14 PM] the postponement. >> For the next item. Speaking on the merits of the postponement and registered remotely is Michelle Ramos. But he has not called in, as well as Brad Massingill. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Massingill. Are you going to talk on this one too? Yes. All right. Please step to the microphone. >> Just letting people at home know where these are at. There's nine of them on the agenda today, so chances are one one could be in your neighborhood. This is a twofe this is where basically a future land use map change is being conflated with the zoning change that the two in my, in my humble opinion, shouldn't be happening at the same time. It's forcing things down the neighborhood's throats. This one is at 2600 mlk, and it's in the boggy creek watershed. [2:10:15 PM] watershed. >> Next item is. Brad Massingill. >> I think I might have mixed up my db9. Is there so many of them? That that 51. Was it 2967 Maynor road. Y'all didn't catch me either. Which is? And that's that that one's it's in two watersheds as as well as two districts in boggy creek and the Tannehill watersheds and districts one and nine and then 52 and 53. That's the one that's in on mlk. So sorry about the mix up. >> You are also registered on item 53. >> That's the that's the same. The same case. That's 52 is the future land use map alteration [2:11:15 PM] future land use map alteration 53. That's the db 90. >> So moving on to item number 54 on the merits of the postponement, Susana Almanza. Alexia Leclerc, Valerie Menard, Aubrey Langston, Adrian Macias, Mariana Sanchez, Pedro Hernandez, Carlos pinon, and Brad Massingill. >> Your name has been called. Please come forward so we can see whether or not you're here to testify. Mr. Massingill, go ahead and take the microphone. >> All right. We got we got one south of the river now. This is 54 and 55 we're talking about. It's another future land use map change and a db 90. This one's at 1600 montopolis fairway. It's [2:12:15 PM] at 1600 montopolis fairway. It's in the country club east watershed. That's over. Kind of by the Riverside ACC campus in district three. >> Okay, moving on to item number 55 on the merits of the postponement, we've got Susana Almanza, alexia Leclerc, Valerie Menard, aubreygston, Adrian Macias, Marion Sanchez, Pedro Hernandez, Carlos pinon and Brad Massingill. >> If your name's been called, please come forward. Mr. Massingill, it's your microphone, apparently today. >> Yeah, it should be obvious. There's a bunch of these, and it's kind of nothing, but it seems like y'all's job lately is just to. Pass db 90. So basically this is a this is I just mentioned this when I'm conflating the two because you all are 54 and 55. They're basically being made to be the [2:13:17 PM] basically being made to be the same item. In our neighborhood, whenever they altered the future land use map, it took a chunk of our neighborhood away from us and gave it away to developers, basically. And that's what's happened. That's what happens here when they happen. At the same time, the neighborhood has no choice. Once the future land use map is altered, it's a whole other process to get it back. It's gone forever. So I think it's wrong to do these at the same time. I think they should be done separately at separate hearings and all that. But again, thanks for the postponement. >> You're also registered on 56, Mr. Massingill. >> Get it. Getting a running tally. These 85% impervious cover monstrosities being put up all over town. This one is at 2100 polaris avenue. It's in the [2:14:18 PM] 2100 polaris avenue. It's in the little walnut creek watershed in district four. >> For item number 58, Brad Massingill and Bryan Bedrosian. >> Mr. Mayor, members of the council, thank you for hearing from me today. My name is Bryan Bedrosian. I am the chair of the north loop neighborhood plan contact team. The project in question is at airport and Koenig. This has long been marked in our neighborhood plan as being a site for a future urban center in our neighborhood. We are here to support the db 90 zoning request on behalf of the applicant. We feel that it is, at minimum, the zoning that we would want on these sites. We are actually asking the applicant to consider more entitlements for height and density on these sites. We are in active, friendly negotiations with the developer on these sites. They have been a great partner in the development of this area that is currently a Ford dealership that we look [2:15:19 PM] Ford dealership that we look forward to becoming a new part of our neighborhood. I just wanted to go on the record and let everybody know about that. Thank you very much. >> Appreciate you being here. >> On item number 60 is Brad Massingill. >> This is number eight of today's DV 90. This one's at 1109 south Lamar. It's west Bouldin creek watershed in district nine. It's right on a very popular south Boston neighborhood. Another 85% impervious cover in a very small watershed. >> You are also registered on item 61, as well as Selene Rendon and Zenobia Joseph. >> Go ahead, Mr. Massengill. Item 61. Miss Joseph, you start making your way down. >> I'm going to pass that one. >> Okay? >> And, Selene Rendon. >> Please come forward. [2:16:19 PM] >> Please come forward. >> Thank you. Mayor. Council, let me just preface by saying you engaged in viewpoint discrimination this morning. I was on the line and I did send an email, so I appreciate you acknowledging the email as specifically to item 61. I just want you to know that club Corona is on north Lamar. It's pictured in front of you specifically. This is about my opposition is related to project connect, which is on pages four and seven. Talks about transit. I want you to remember mayor on December 17th, 2018, you testified before capital metro in support of project connect. You will see that the original map starts south of us 183. And when Austin transit partnership adopted its new map, it will also only go up to south of us 183, the crestview station. So it is disingenuous that chito vela didn't have staff sherry to update her plan in backup to [2:17:22 PM] update her plan in backup to accurately reflect that this is not an extension of project connect. So I oppose the falsehoods and have showed you what I am opposed to. If you go to the next slide, you will see there is no connectivity, although once again, Sherri slide put falsehoods in the backup material. Respectfully it's falsity. Mayor, you're shaking your head. If you look here, this is the access point from club Corona. It is not Ada compliant if you're in a wheelchair, walker or cane. If you have a baby in a stroller, you cannot get to the services on north Lamar. You cannot get to chinatown. I recognize that you may be tired of me saying these things, so pictures do tell the story for themselves. Drainage issues. There's no connections. May 7th, 2024 your own staff stated to the urban transportation commission that [2:18:23 PM] transportation commission that there is no funding in that area. >> Thank you. >> Do you have any questions? I'll answer them at this time. >> Appreciate you being here. >> You're welcome. >> Hello. Celine Rendon, district eight,rgrganizer of community powered atx. I really meant to sign up for 62, but don't want to waste the time I have. That's very limited. As you all know, today we're hearing a bunch of cases and we're calling for a postponement becaust's just not enough time to make the actual negotiations we need with developers. I want to reference the aero case that worked out successfully in both both favors and compromise between the residents and developers. So we really urge you all to listen today to the really powerful testimonies that we've organized on for weeks in a short span amount of time against these zoning regulations called itod and db 90, and how these are not at all for low income residents, and that we really need to stop [2:19:24 PM] and that we really need to stop the displacement of our renters and to demand more protection for them, more, more protection from them. Like, this is your job. This is your job to listen to us people coming out of here that aren't getting paid, but you are. And to be disregarded is just totally disrespectful. Many of these cases are just one of many examples of how the pro developer narrative to build more is being used to justify the displacement of working class and poor black and brown communities. These programs are just giving developers more entitlements in exchange for building a small amount and getting nothing back of actual low income housing development. And we see this with the db 90 cases that we're getting a net loss of affordable housing. And as vocal Texas called out yesterday, this housing is not affordable for the people that need it most. And so this is the reality of the impacts of trickle down, supply side housing theory that ignores the lived experiences of low income black and brown residents. And we really are calling on y'all [2:20:25 PM] we really are calling on y'all and as community leaders to resist the housing insecurity, displacement and homelessness that profit driven development creates to a truly address the housing affordability crisis. We need to stand with the residents for community driven development like the equity overlay. >> Thank you. >> I'm going to I'm going to try. >> Oh thank you I appreciate it. I actually have been trying to get in touch with you all. When we started getting emails about the equity overlay, but there was never any indication of how to get in touch with leadership. So now that I see you, I would like very much to be in communication with you. Catherine, over there in that, like tomato dress, works with the district one team. And so we'll get your your information. I'd love to be in touch. Thank you. >> We've been in touch with the Atlanta. >> Thank you. Yeah, just. >> Marina Martinez on item 46. >> Hi. Yes, thank you for your time. I'm actually here today to express deep concerns regarding [2:21:25 PM] express deep concerns regarding the ongoing gentrification in our city. This is not new. These are many things that have come forth to speak on when we see the disproportionate support provided to our developers, often ae expense of long standing residents and the community stability. When these developers receive more support and incentives than the residents, you begin to see the emergence of systematic struggles and crisises. Again. This ranges from displacement, loss of culturalntity, economic inequality. These consequences are not abstract. They are real, and they're deeply detrimental, detrimental to our communities. Again, I have testified on my personal experiences. I feel like this council is not listening and they're not caring. This council needs to not only uphold their duty to the people of this city, but to strengthen their commitment to equity, accountability and long term sustainability. It is critical that higher standards be set for these developers. Standards that prioritize affordable housing, [2:22:27 PM] prioritize affordable housing, community engagement, and transparent benefit to existing residents. Again, this is not just a matter of policy, it's a matter of justice. We must ensure that the development does not come at the cost of displacement and that growth is inclusive, not exclusive. The council must live up to its commitments and make and take meaningful action to protect the fabric of our neighborhoods. Again, this is not the first time we spoke on this. This is pertaining to many of these items, and I am urging you to please listen to your community. Thank you. >> Moving on to item number 62 and speaking on the merits of the postponement is Alexandra Yost, remote speaker. >> Hi, my name is Alexandra Yost. I'm a physician assistant here in Austin. I moved here in 2015 and started at the bottom of the medical ladder as an er techni at Dell children's medical center. I was working 40 hours a week, making $4 above [2:23:28 PM] hours a week, making $4 above minimum wage, and was still not able to afford my roach infested shared apartment without help from my parents. Since then, the affordable housing situation in the city has not improved. Housing is that is actually affordable to those making less than $25,000 a year. Like I was. Less than a thousand deeply affordable housing units have been built since 2018. These are housing units for people who are doing cpr on your child in the er, or taking care of your elderly family member in the nursing home. These units are necessary for housing the working class families that are providing vital services to our community. They deserve to live here. They deserve to afford rent in Austin. They deserve to not have to choose between rent or eating. If you vote to rezone acacia cliffs apartments, you are voting to dip hundreds of working class families. You are voting to worsen the affordable housing crisis in our city, and you are voting to worsen homelessness in Austin. I asked the council to vote to postpone this case until may 22nd, so the residents have time to negotiate and find financing for affordable housing units. [2:24:29 PM] for affordable housing units. Please protect these vulnerable families that are so important to our city. Thank you. >> Next speaker is temitope olujobi, speaking on the merits of the postponement. >> Afternoon. My name is Tammy and I am a renter. As a renter, I, like many of us, know how it feels to have no equity the apartments we renters pay the mortgage for, and no voice in the decisions that the landlords and property investors make with our aments. That is why I am in solidarity with renters all over Austin, but especially today with the folks at acacia cliffs who have requested to postpone the vote to may 22nd, not April 24th. The acacia cliff renters deserve to have a say in what happens to the apartments they've lived in for years, just like all renters do. We renters are the ones who actually need and use the apartments, not the landlords who only own the building to make a profit. I took some time to do some [2:25:31 PM] took some time to do some research on the folks that own acacia cliffs. Turns out it's this dude named Michael Austin who. Represents price realty corporation. Price realty corporation owns thousands of apartments all over Texas. Without exaggeration, do we think that Michael uses and rents all of them? No, of course not. Michael lives in a millionaire's mansion somewhere in Dallas. He and his other millionaires and his corporation don't need or live in acacia cliffs, so why should they get to demolish it? And why should they get to displace the residents without making sure they stay after the demolition? Because his corporation's name is on some paper somewhere that says he owns the building. Price realty corporation couldn't even own these apartments without renters paying their mortgages. So I'm going to end with this by saying the rezoning that is happening to acacia cliff residents is unjust, and it can only be fixed not by begging city council, but by organizing our collective power as renters with tenant unions, we should follow in the steps of Casey tenant union in Kansas City, [2:26:32 PM] tenant union in Kansas City, Missouri, and the Omaha tenants union in Nebraska over the years have had major victories for renters. We should unite all across Austin to put unbearable pressure on these corporate landlords like price realty corporation. Because divided we beg, but united we bargain. Thank you. >> Hello, James. >> Good afternoon everyone, and thank you for your time. My name is James. I am a community organizer here in town as well as a musician and speaking to request a postponement of the proposed redevelopment of the cliffs until may 22nd. This is essentially a demolishment of 290 deeply affordable market units. Rent of one bedroom and two bedrooms that range from 700 to 1300, to be replaced with up to 84 affordable units starting at 1100 for just one bedroom. [2:27:34 PM] at 1100 for just one bedroom. This is going to result in 200 plus net loss of affordable units. This is a request for a 1 to 1 replacement of the affordable units. Request a robust tenant relocation assistance on then the tenants terms, and given these tenants a lot of time to be able to figure out what the next step is, the changes that are happening in rent is not in any way, shape or form reflected on high prices of people's salaries or income or anything like that. And the city has to do everything to protect affordable housing that still remains in Austin. Thank you for your time. >> Carmen Lianes. >> Good afternoon, council. I'm Carmen Lianes in district nine. Also looking out for the supply of our affordable housing stock [2:28:34 PM] of our affordable housing stock because as you all know, we have a crisis in inadequate supply of our of our housing units. We don't have a shortage of supply of housing, as you can see. But the market, the submarket that these renters are experiencing is very different from th market that is influencing long term financial investments. You have an opportunity here. We have so many tens and hundreds of millions of dollars of funding we're supposed to be using for housing. I just saw the newest $5 million community investment release. There's so much money to bring to the table and stakeholders, and if you only postpone for two weeks, we will set them up for failure. But if you give this community a month or six weeks, we can actually come up with a capital stack that returns an investment to these landowners and doesn't lose you. 290 units of housing that exist for people at 30 to [2:29:36 PM] that exist for people at 30 to 45% median family income. You're not producing anything like that. If you allow this developer to externalize the costs and give us two weeks to come up with a new investment plan for them as volunteers, it's nearly impossible. Whereas you as a council can actually create the space for us to set a new precedent and set new kinds of development for all of the replacement of apartments, you know, wants to happen, we could actually preserve and protect and find new investment models and show people that they can redevelop without absolutely eliminating the working class, especially in high opportunities like this one, which feeds into the new L.C. Anderson high school. This is on a UT line. You can bring UT into this, so please postpone but postpone till may 22nd so we can actually come up with a solution. And those of us who signed up opposed to. >> This development has expired for. Ileana Medrano. >> Hi, my name is Liliana [2:30:43 PM] >> Hi, my name is Liliana Medrano and I'll be reading a resident testimony today. Dear Austin city council members, my name is Eric Gomez and I'm a resident at acacia cliff. I respectfully request excuse me, I respectfully request that you postpone item 62 on the agenda until may 22nd to allow the residents time to determine the full impact of rezoning on our lives and to research our rights as tenants. Acacia cliffs is unique in that it offers apartments for affordable price. The rents are skyrocketing in Austin, and to find a one room apartment for $1,000 is impossible unless you want to live really far west. Excuse me. For that reason, I chose to bring my family to live here. Safety was our main concern and we were overjoyed that we could afford this rent. Supermarkets, a library, post office and a park are all within walking distance. If we're evicted, where can we find a similar location at an affordable price? I ask our city council members to please think of us, the tenants and our rights. The entire nation suffers from a serious dearth of affordable housing. Please don't add to it. Please fight for us. Please give [2:31:44 PM] Please fight for us. Please give us time. Give us time to at least present our arguments for rezoning plan and work to a better plan to negotiate a better plan that fairly takes into account the residents who will be displaced. Thank you so much for your time. >> C. Deirdre Deardorff. >> Hello, I am calling in opposition. My name is Carly Deardorff and I am a resident of district seven. I work closely with communities and leaders to imagine a more equitable, more equitable systems. And today I'm simply here as a neighbor. I'm reading a statement from Joe, a resident of acacia cliffs. But afternoon council members, my name is Joe and I live in the acacia cliffs neighborhood. I'm speaking today to express my opposition to the proposed rezoning due to its potential traffic impact on our community, we're already dealing with significant congestion, especially with two schools [2:32:44 PM] especially with two schools operating nearby, introducing higher density housing without a thoughtful, actionable traffic plan is not only shortsighted, it's unsafe. If the city is planning to zone for more residents, where is the plan to improve the infrastructure to support that growth without meaningful solutions in place? This change risks creating dangerous conditions for children, families and everyone in our neighborhood. I respectfully request that you postpone this decision to may 22nd, allowing time for a thorough traffic study and transparent discussion. Our community deserves thoughtful planning, not rushed approvals. Now, this is me again. As someone deeply invested in how we build for the future, this moment matters. Let's not just move quickly. Let's move wisely and with care for the people that are most affected. Thank you for your time. I yield the rest of my time. >> We'll now move to in person. Speakers Susana, Almanza, alexia Leclerc, Valerie Menard, Aubrey Langston, Marianne Sanchez, and Pedro Hernandez. And again, this [2:33:46 PM] Pedro Hernandez. And again, this is on the merits of the postponement. >> Please speak to the merits of the postponement, if you will. >> Good afternoon, mayor Watson and council members. My name is alexia and I'm an environmental justice and housing justice organizer with Beaudet Ed and community power atx. Thank you to the neighborhood postponement for item 62. Although may 22nd would have been better, the postponement is needed because of the postponement is needed. I've spent the past week knocking doors and talking to 30 plus residents at acacia cliffs, and it is very clear that the families, disabled folks and graduate students living there cannot afford to be displaced. There is no comparable rent in the area, and graduate students don't qualify for income restricted housing despite making very little money. We need additional time to negotiate a better deal. That is why the tenant association has been asking for a postponement to may 22nd. We have the strategies, but we need more time. Acacia cliffs currently has 290 naturally occurring affordable units, 1 to 2 bedrooms that are between 800 and 1200 a month. The proposed rezoning in case would demolish these 290 affordable units, and even with a db 90 requirement of 70 affordable units, it would [2:34:47 PM] 70 affordable units, it would cost 500 more than what they currently pay. This is a net loss of affordable housing. I will repeat that again. This is a net loss of affordable housing. The residents need time to negotiate for more affordable units. We already have a housing affordability crisis with 6000 plus unhoused folks in Austin and continuous worsening gentrification and displacement. Therefore, we cannot be destroying existing affordable housing without replacing them. We need to postpone this case because the city shouldn't be approving zoning cases for developers to profit. In fact, that would be contract zoning, which is illegal. The city's resources. 190 units of a naturally occurring affordable housing is not in the best interest of the residents or our city. We cannot just say people over profit. We have to practice it. And so we are looking forward to negotiating with for a better deal for affordable housing. We cannot be setting a precedent that it is okay to destroy naturally existing affordable housing for profit. Thank you so much. >> Carlos pinion. Monica Guzman [2:35:48 PM] >> Carlos pinion. Monica Guzman has time donated by Rita Thompson. Is Rita here? Thank you. Monica gets four minutes. Aliciaorres. >> Thank you, Rita, for the donated time. I don't think I'm going to need it, since we're only speaking to the merits of the postponement. Good afternoon. I'm Monica Guzman, the policy director. We stand in support of the acacia cliffs tenant association. Opposition to the proposed development as it is. We thank you for postponing this case, though it needs to be postponed for at least a month. It's understandable to hope for a development. Excuse me. Tenant developer agreement in advance of today's council meeting. However, more time is needed since negotiations do not happen overnight and it's not unusual for negotiations to experience challenges from aligning [2:36:48 PM] challenges from aligning schedules of all involved parties due to work, personal commitments and or personal health issues up to and including developer or developer agent refusing to negotiate. We urge you to allow time to negotiate a more equitable solution for the proposed development from 1 to 1 replacement of the affordable units instead of a net loss of over 200. Incredibly affordable market affordability of 290 units need that 1 to 1 replacement, exceeding the minimum perntage of affordable units. I have stood here I. First present and past as well as people on this side of the dais. They speak about it as if it's saying at most at maximum. It says at minimum there shouldn't be fear of going ahead and remembering to protect your constituency, especially those who are vulnerable. And in districts that have little or zero affordability, we need to [2:37:50 PM] zero affordability, we need to have more than just 10% or 12% of the units. That 1 to 1 replacement is really needed. There also needs to be basically resulting the different positive aspects that can come from a negotiation resulting in a win win situation, as well as negotiating a more robust tenant relocation assistance package. I realize one is already in there. I don't have the details in front of me, but it can be bigger and it can be better. And in communication with council member duchin's office and his staff, we've referenced the negotiation that was done for the arrow Riverside tenants back in December. That's a better package, but even that one is just still a starting point. And as stated by Carmen Lianes, there's plenty of housing in Austin. We have tons of it. Yes, it takes time to build. Yes, it costs money, but we don't have the affordability that is desperately needed. And when it comes to apartments, before I forget, I' longtime renter. I've been a renter for more than 30 years. I was born and raised [2:38:51 PM] 30 years. I was born and raised in this city. I know what it is to struggle to look for something you can afford. And when you're already facing other issues such as low income, lack of affordability, it just makes it that much harder and that much scarier. Not knowing where you may end up at the end of the month or even th next week, and something else that I feel that council needs to be reminded is Austin. More than half of the city's population are renters. We should have more say. We should be listened to more actively than just the homeowners or the property owners. Last I checked, roughly 55% of this city are renters of commercial apartment complexes, duplexes, triplexes, you name it. But we are renters. We have a right to stand here, to be heard and to have others share our stories. You need to be listening to the renters, the ones that are usually written off by too many people. Thank [2:39:53 PM] off by too many people. Thank you. >> Michelle Scott manning has time donated by Jonathan Scott. Is Jonathan here? Thank you. Michelle gets four minutes. Following. Michelle is Harrison hall. >> Good afternoon, I'm Michelle manning Scott and I'm a resident of district seven. And I'm taking a statement here reading a statement here on behalf of a resident of acacia cliffs apartments. Dear Austin city council, my name is chastity. My four year old and I have been tenants here at acacia cliffs since June of 2024. I spent a lot of my late teens and early 20s facing setback after setback, while looking for housing options that I would be able to afford. I was raised in a small town about an hour north of here, but with limited [2:40:53 PM] of here, but with limited employment options. I had to look to Austin to build a future. In 2018, I found an entry level job and a career field that I loved here in Austin. This job opportunity began as a way to get my foot in the door, but has turned into a long term career I am committed to. For over three years, I made the two hour round trip commute five days a week, but after my daughter was born, that long daily commute became unsustainable for both of us. I took a leap and moved closer to work with a roommate, but that situation eventually fell apart. We were suddenly left with very few options sleeping on a couch in an overcrowded house, staying in a hotel, or scrambling to find affordable housing. We spent two months sleeping on a couch in an overcrowded house, while I scrambled to find a place for us to go. We spent two months sleeping on that couch while I searched desperately for a safe place to live. Acacia cliffs was the only complex I could find where I was approved. It became our safe haven. Not only is it one of the few naturally occurring affordable housing options in the area, but [2:41:53 PM] housing options in the area, but everything we need work, daycare, groceries is within a two mile radius. As a single mother working one, sometimes two jobs and receiving no child support, I've applied for low income housing and government aid, but I don't qualify. Families like mine rely on communities like acacia cliffs to survive and thrive. Now, with the threat of demolition, I'm once again being forced to consider leaving my home, my daughter's stability, and the center I've worked so hard to find, so hard to build. That's why I'm asking you to please postpone the vote on the acacia cliffs agenda item. Our tenants association deserves time to negotiate fair terms with the development company. Terms that will not leave families like mine with nowhere to go. We are not just statistics. We are your neighbors. We are hardworking, contributing members of this community, and we are asking for the dignity of being part of this conversation. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, chastity. Chastity. Acacia cliffs residents. I will. [2:42:53 PM] Acacia cliffs residents. I will. I will also add that as a resident of district seven, I'm very familiar with this neighborhood. I shop over at that H-E-B over there and I want you all to consider, too, the makeup of the neighborhood and the fact that many of the people that are probably living in this apartment apartment complex are servicing the businesses that are surrounding it because they're within walking distance, there are many. There are mechanics, there are gas stations, there are convenience stores. There's the grocery store, there's the post office. So many places where lower income people have places to work. And if they have a nice place that they can live within walking distance, that also diminishes their ability to, like, have to spend money on things like cars and take that into consideration when you're thinking about this. This needs to be really historically looked at. This is something the city has been responsible for doing and in the past. And I just think we need to really very carefully consider what [2:43:54 PM] carefully consider what decisions we make now and in the future. Thank you so much for listening and for your consideration. >> Harrison hall, followed by Vienna camerlengo, who has time donated by Betsy Greenberg. Is Betsy here? Thank you. Vienna gets four minutes. Following Vienna is Bethany Carson. >> Hi. Good afternoon. Thank you, Betsy, for donating your time. This is my first time up here. I like that some of you are actually looking at me. I feel like I'm being heard. I appreciate your time today. I would like to start. As I said, I'm Vienna and I am a resident there at acacia cliffs. I recently moved in, but I've I've known of the property for a while. It's a great property and a really nice spot as it's been called a high opportunity area of Austin. Right? I've lived in Austin all my life. I happen to be a relocation coordinator and [2:44:55 PM] be a relocation coordinator and specialist for affordable housing, so it is bizarre that this is happening to me personally. I come at it from two angles. I actually have a little script here that I don't I can't even begin to look at, because I have a very personal experience to this. First of all, as a relocation specialist, I see the implication that people and the hardship that people go through when they are displaced. Okay, fortunately, the type of relocation that I do, I have the opportunity to really help people find replacement housing. Okay. If you can replace a one for one, then that effect of like going, you know, having almost the experience of going homeless is removed. And that is a huge burden removed from a resident when they go through this. So my professional experience is if you have a developer who is willing to listen and willing, willing, willing to come to the [2:45:55 PM] willing, willing to come to the table and meet you halfway partway creative way that the outcome is good for all parties. So now going on to just say that I'm urging council members here to please postpone the vote for this item 62 of rezoning acacia cliffs to may 22nd, giving us enough time to meet as residents to consider what it is that would be beneficial to this population. As it has been pointed out, most of them are under 30%. Again, in my professional experience, what that means is that the 70% that this developer is offering under the db 90 is not going to help acacia cliffs residents, okay? It'll help other people who make more money and who can afford those rents. But the current residents are not going to benefit from that. So that's the first thing. The second thing, though, is that I walked into a [2:46:57 PM] though, is that I walked into a meeting with the developer, with council member duchen just yesterday, and I was really excited because I really feel like there's an opportunity in Austin at this moment to look at affordable housing, not by design, but by nature. And that's what acacia cliffs is. Okay, I understand the little bit that I do know about db 90 that it is supposed to, you know, help on the density and on creating more housing for a city. And that's a great thing. If it doesn't, if you actually can support all of the population that lives at in these units. Okay, I want to just point out that allowing the rezoning of acacia cliffs without careful consideration from you, from you, all of the catastrophic negative effects that you know financially are going to occur from removing [2:47:57 PM] going to occur from removing this type of affordable housing. It's going to set a precedence for the rest of that neighborhood. At this moment, as a relocation specialist, I decided that I should just go ahead and see what the comps look like. I did not do a thorough job because that's not what I'm doing with this. Okay, over, over. Just an overview. It is extremely expensive to replace. So I just. >> Ask your time. >> Thank you for your time and I just ask you for to postpone. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good afternoon. My name is Harrison hall. I'm currently a resident at the acacia cliffs apartments, also one of the representatives for the tenants association that was formed in the past week in response to agenda item 62. I want to begin by stating that I'm decidedly against item 62 and ask that the council either vote against it or defer their decision until the city council meeting, scheduled to take place on may 22nd. Our council member is Marc [2:48:57 PM] 22nd. Our council member is Marc duchen, who I want to thank for making himself available on several occasions this week to speak with me and other tenant representatives as we expressed our concerns. His office also arranged for us to speak directly with representatives of the developer managing the demolition of our home, though I am very appreciative of that opportunity, I found it extremely discouraging. The developer's representatives made it clear that they would be providing our tenants only the minimum protections and allowances that the law explicitly states that they absolutely have to. They don't see any reason to do more than that. And that is because you, the members of this council, have not yet given them a reason to do more than that. The postponement of this zoning change to may 22nd would encourage the developers to return to the negotiation table, this time with the motivation to consider doing more than the bare minimum for the people they're pushing out of their homes. I believe a compromise that more fully assists our tenants facing displacement can still be found, but only if we postpone long enough to give our [2:49:57 PM] postpone long enough to give our tenants the time and the developers the inclination. I thank you. >> Angelina Alanis, followed by max Hawkins Horstmann, who has time donated by shaylin rounds. Is shaylin here? Thank you. Max gets four minutes. >> Good afternoon, city council. Mayor. My name is Bethany Carson. I'm a resident and renter in district four, and I'll be reading testimony of residents today, honorable mayor and city council members. My name is Linda Ruiz, and I've been living in acacia cliffs for about two years. I moved here from south congress, where my older apartments increased rent from 1100 to 1361 for a one bedroom apartment due to new management. It took me four months to find this community. I'm single and I don't make enough to afford rent higher than 1100, but I don't qualify [2:50:58 PM] than 1100, but I don't qualify for affordable housing either. Affordable apartments are becoming extinct by the minute, especially when wages don't increase with the rent prices. This apartment complex is great for walkability and easy access to the grocery store, doctors, and shopping center. I work downtown and prefer to take public transit to work. The convenience of the bus line is essential. Since traffic is horrible in Austin, it will be financially hard for me to move again, since I will need to use a mover and find an apartment that is safe and close to a bus line. I don't have the option of moving out of Austin. I did not receive notice of the demolition of the apartments. I found out by volunteers knocking on our doors and not the actual apartment complex. I'm voting against item 62 on the agenda, and I hope city council will find will work to find solutions and prevent this from happening to other apartment complexes in the future. The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. And that's a quote by Franklin D Roosevelt. Respectfully, Linda Ruiz. And then the second resident that [2:51:59 PM] then the second resident that I'll be reading. Hello, my name is Jillian Roberts, and my fiance and I have been living at acacia cliff since December 2022. We moved from the Dallas area to be closer to my parents for their support. While I've been struggling with an array of health issues over the past three years, I've been a full time wheelchair user over the past few years due to my health concerns. In addition to being a cane user due to my blindness, living in Austin granted us not only the ability to live closer to my parents for easy get togethers. >> I'm sorry, but your time has expired. Thank you, thank you. >> Hello, my name is max Horstman. I'm a resident and renter in district nine, and I'll be reading testimony today from an acacia cliffs apartment resident. My name is David land and I'm a current resident atacacia cliffs apartments. My council member is Marc duchen. First, I would like to distinctly state that I am against item 62. This complex sits on a hill with a cliff side and is on a side street off of [2:53:00 PM] and is on a side street off of far west. The entrance faces west towards the jewish center and does not really support a commercial entrance. Please do not rezone this apartment complex. Second, if a vote is required, I ask that the vote be delayed until the may 22nd city council meeting. We as residents were telling me that the complex was going to be demolished. The acacia cliffs front office claimed they knew nothing about it and that we shouldn't worry about it. A week later, we formed a tenants association to consolidate all our concerns. Apologies, to consolidate all our concerns. Okay. After meeting with the developer, we learned that the developer would only comply with what was in the law or guidelines. He was not negotiating. To me, this implies that they already have the council votes to be to get this rezoning approved. How can that be? The list presented to the developers was quite reasonable, considering the time given to the tenants association to [2:54:00 PM] the tenants association to develop it. Wouldn't it be beneficial to everyone to come to an equitable understanding? The developer is pushing for 90 zoning mixed commercial residential is my understanding. They want to put a 90 foot tall complex here, more than 700 new units. If that happens, all of the current residents will be forced to move to where even if they say that 70 or 80 of the units will be affordable, they will not be. The rent on each unit will be 300 to $400 higher, which makes them unaffordable to the current tenants. So again, where are we to go? Sure, a few residents will find places that they can afford, but the majority will have major problems. This is probably the only apartment complex in district ten that has naturally occurring affordable housing. That's approximately 270 units, and at least that many individuals and families living here. Why would you eliminate this from district ten? Right now, the apartment complex blends into its surroundings, putting a 90 foot tall building here. What an eyesore that will be. You'll be able to see this building from east Austin and downtown, if not even west of [2:55:00 PM] downtown, if not even west of the ridge that this area sits on. Third. In the end, this rezoning is just a simple money grab. The value of the property most likely doubles, if not more so. If this property is worth 100 million after rezoning, it will be worth 200 million. Additionally, the city of Austin will probably grant some kind of tax deal or discount. Again, please vote against item 62. If that vote must occur, please delay the vote until may 22nd. That gives the residents time to plan and respond appropriately. If this development does not start for two years, what's the hurry? Is the developer just trying to silence all opposition? Sounds very familiar to what's happening at the federal level. Thank you for your time and attention. David Laine okay. >> Thank you. >> Austin wells, Rosa Gutierrez, and Roy Whaley. >> Hello. Good evening, city council members. My name is [2:56:00 PM] council members. My name is Austin wells. I am a student at Austin community college, a member. Then I'm here today because the last affordable housing complex in district ten where I currently live is facing demolition. Right now my apartment is 12 1200 a month, one of the last reasonably priced options in this district. I had to get approved for a two bedroom unit on my own income, working three internships and a food service job, all while being a full time student so that my mother could live with me. Due to her rental history, she cannot qualify for a lease herself. Technically, this means I am violating my lease, but the situation speaks to a much larger issue. Affordability in our city is in a crisis, with the proposed demolition of acacia cliffs. My mother and I, along with many others, face an uncertain future. This is not just about one building this, it's aattern of displacement that prioritizes development profits over the people who have built their lives here. As a student leader at ACC, I have [2:57:01 PM] student leader at ACC, I have helped organize town halls for city council elections even while even sorry about even when we struggled to get high student turnout, your faces were broadcast across all 11 ACC campuses. You benefited from that visibility. Yet today I stand here feeling disappointed. The council I helped elect has become pro-development at the expense of the people. Postponing this demolition would be a failure to act fast. Tracking it would be even worse. The proposed seven story condo served developers, not the residents, being pushed out. This council must take a hard look at zoning changes and their direct impact on Austin's diversity, affordability and sustainability. Council member Marc duchen, I specifically urge you to recognize that your district includes not just the wealthy, but also those who rely on affordable housing. Your leadership should reflect a commitment to all your constituents, not just those with financial influence. I call on every member of this council to do the right thing, not just the easy or political convenient thing, support the demands of [2:58:03 PM] thing, support the demands of our tenant association and postpone the vote to may 22nd and no earlier. >> Your time has expired. Roalson Gutierrez, followed by sol praxis and has time donated by Barbara Mcarthur. Is Barbara here? Thank you. >> Good afternoon, council members. April 8th marked my one month of moving into apartment 1130 at acacia cliffs. I moved from Benson, Arizona to beautiful Austin to be closer to my grandkids. I'm a single and fixed income retiree. It took me three months to find this community. I was able to check off the priorities on my list of what I was looking for, primarily affordability, security, proximity to doctor's offices, and all the all the services that is that we can enjoy around acacia cliffs. It was expensive moving here from Arizona, renting a trailer, a hotel midway, Arizona to Austin [2:59:03 PM] hotel midway, Arizona to Austin upfront, moving expenses at acacia cliffs, and many more upfront expenses that are still pending though finally, being with my grandkids will always trump all of these expenses. It will be a tremendous financial hardship for me. If I were to move again and so soon, I seriously doubt that I will find another community apartment community that has the same items on my list of priorities, beginning with affordability and security. Therefore, I respectfully request to please postpone the item 62 to my may 22nd. Thank you. >> Hello. Good afternoon, I'm sol praxis, district three. I'm going to read a resident statement continuing Gillian Roberts from earlier. I've been a full time wheelchair user over the past few years due to my health concerns. In addition to being a cane user due to my blindness, living in Austin granted us not only the ability [3:00:04 PM] granted us not only the ability to live closer to my parents for easier get togethers, but has also made it much easier to get to my doctor's appointments with their help, which they would not be able to do if I still lived three hours away due to my specific health concerns. It's also important to have my parents nearby in case I fall and injure myself while my fiance is at work. I've not been able to work over the past few years due to my health either, which has left my fiance to be the sole provider for our housing and other living. In addition to the cost of my appointments and procedures, the only reason we've been able to stay in Austin with my network of medical specialists and my parents support while only my fiance works, is due to the affordability of acacia cliffs apartments, Austin is in an expensive city that would not be able to afford to. I would not be able to afford to stay in despite our needs to if we were having to leave due to the demolition of the acacia cliffs apartments, it's important to have access to more affordable housing for families like mine and so many others by demolishing one of the most affordable housing communities in the city, countless families [3:01:04 PM] in the city, countless families would be displaced with few options left available to them, whether they be students new to town or limited income for any number of other reasons. In my case, it's important for this property to remain affordable so my fiance and I can remain with my medical team and the support my parents give us while we navigate my health journey. The residents in this community need to have access to more affordable housing that's far from abundant in the city, which would be further stripped from us if acacia cliffs were to be demolished and rebuilt. Even the 10 to 12% of affordable units that would be required to be made available in the new setup would be well beyond the budget of families such as my own. We need our needs to be seen and taken under serious consideration. Rather than the profit a new apartment set up would bring. And now I'll read another resident statement moment. Good afternoon, council members. My name is Amy and I'm here today as a mother, a neighbor and proud resident of acacia cliffs. Growing pains are natural, natural, part of any city's story. But true growth doesn't leave people behind. It [3:02:05 PM] doesn't leave people behind. It makes us stronger, more connected and better equipped to face the future together. My family lives at acacia cliffs alongside friends, neighbors and children who deserve to have their voices heard. We're raising babies here, we're building lives here. And while change is inevitable, I believe it should help us, not hurt us. Austin is now home to some of the most powerful and influential people and companies in the world, and with that power should come responsibility. The responsibility to protect the very people who make this city great. Yes, we can build new things. Yes, we can create more opportunities and prosperity, but not at the expense of the families who are already here the workers, the parents, the children, the heart of this city to keep the heart of the city beating. It's okay to fix what's broken or to start fresh when needed, but only if we keep our spirit alive. That means keeping our communities together, keeping people safe, protecting the soul of Austin even in the midst of change, even in the storm of progress, we don't have to tear down our people to build up our skyline. We can rise together, honoring the people who have shaped the city while [3:03:06 PM] who have shaped the city while welcoming, thoughtful, inclusive growth. And finally, I'm respectfully asking for a postponement of this decision until may 22nd so that there's time to negotiate, to listen, and to find real solutions that support everyone in this community, especially the families of acacia cliffs. All I'm asking is that you give our families, and especially our children, the chance to stay, the chance to thrive, the chance to become the future leaders of this city they call home. Thank you for your time, your service, and your dedication to the people of Austin. I hopee can look back on this moment knowing we chose to build a city that values its people as much as its progress. So those are very powerful resident statements. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read them. I want to add that. The developer really needs to get signals from you all that they have to come back to the table with more. Otherwise, this community is going to keep showing up and is going to make this a serious problem over the coming months. >> Next speakers are Halima [3:04:07 PM] >> Next speakers are Halima foster, Jill Mccafferty, Brad Massingill, Chris Paige and Jenny Grayson. >> Your name has been called Mr. Massengill. Come forward if you're going to talk. Mr. Paige, please come forward. >> Hey y'all just just so everybody at home or or anybody here realizes this is this is a little a little pocket of affordability just west of mopac and far west. If you think of all that expensive housing up there, this is a little oasis. I'm going to read a statement from jack bright, who's an acacia resident. Hello, my name is jack bright. I've been a resident at acacia cliffs for two years and just signed my lease for a third year. I urge the council to support us in our need for items we are [3:05:08 PM] need for items we are requesting. While this apartment complex is aging, the life of the complex and the quality of life of the tenants is directly affected by the maintenance placed into the building. I have witnessed a drop off in the upkeep of maintenance and the responsiveness to such requests in my time here, from poor resurfaced bathtubs and showers, quite literally just painted over to inadequate responses to cockroach infestations that are site wide to black mold and poorly executed repairs when they do occur, maintenance and repair texts have stated pressures from management about budget pressure to either put off, repair or do an alternate repair an alternate repair that is not the same quality. While I support the solution in the form of. Thank you. At tenant at tenants in Austin as a whole, respect the protests that these [3:06:09 PM] respect the protests that these last remaining pockets of naturally occurring affordable housing. >> One person at the podium, please. Thanks for the assist, supporting and agreeing to the request that we have put forward, we feel would be a gesture of support from for the community that will be displaced and adversely affected by the removal of this natural occurring affordable income. This construction of such a large and disrupting building to this neighborhood and its skyline. >> Thank you, Mr. Massengill. Mr. Paige. >> Number one, I'd like to say ank you to the district ten office for facilitating a lot of conversations to this point. But number two, I'm greatly disappointed at the applicant's unwillingness to do anything but stonewall. This is basically a case study in the adverse outcomes that are likely within our current code. You all have cocouraged lots of new building [3:07:11 PM] cocouraged lots of new building without any kind of density bonus, with the expectation that this will eventually filter into affordable housing. So what are you encouraging today when you have filtered affordable housing? There's not a single density bonus program in the city that achieves affordability rates at 30 to 40% mfi. The applicant in our negotiations, has suggested that it would cost $68 million to recreate the affordability that the site currently provides. So by allowing the demolition and redevelopment of the site without the 189 lost affordable units, that will be the net negative of affordable units. With this change, you are externalizing a $68 million cost to the city at a time of great financial austerity. The tenants have shown admirable, I guess, strength, endurance, just an [3:08:14 PM] strength, endurance, just an incredible aptitude to learn all this, you know, legal jargon very quickly. And they've advocated incredibly well. But in the process, the applicant has also suggested that there's 2700 units that are in this area that are likely to, you know, potentially face the same outcome. They're saying that the area can already absorb the displaced residents. Well, if that's the case, then what's the justification for db 90? Throughout our conversation yesterday with the applicant, we constantly heard about the need to deliver returns for investors. We have simultaneously heard that there's enough affordable housing in the area. I don't believe that's true, but that makes this contract zoning. >> Thank you sir. >> Jill Mccafferty Jenny Grayson, your names have been called. Please, your. Please make your way to the podium. >> Well, I'm not sure I saw my name on the screen, but I didn't [3:09:15 PM] name on the screen, but I didn't hear it. >> What is your name? Okay. Go ahead. You have two minutes. >> Hi guys. I am going to be speaking for a couple of the residents, and I have two statements. Hopefully I can get through them both. My name is Halima. I'm in district three. Thank you for the neighborhood postponement. And this first statement is by neighbor Lynn lugo. Thank you for the neighborhood postponement to April 21st. Although the community has asked for the case to be postponed to may 22nd, the community is negotiating with the developer and it needs more time. I will now read the statement showing the complexities of the negotiations and the need for the postponement. Hello, hello. Good afternoon. By means of this letter, I would like to state my reasons why we do not agree to have our to leave our home. The rent is in accordance with our income at this time. The apartments are comfortable or and are in a good location. We do not think it is fair that after looking for a place where we feel good, now we have to [3:10:15 PM] we feel good, now we have to leave. I moved here because my son's school is nearby and in times of emergency, like when my car is not working, I can walk to important places like pharmacies and also the supermarket and other things. We also have rights to enjoy these advantages due to the location of the residents, it is difficult to find something similar and moving again requires another investment and it is not easy to do. Please gentlemen, help us and ladies, help us improve the residents. But do not ask us to leave. I think we can reach an agreement. Thanks for your understanding. And the second statement. My name is Kelly Cephas and I am a resident of acacia cliffs apartments. We moved here February 28th of this year from a small town in east Texas. The economy there was very difficult, so finding a place to live here was an uphill battle. Every step of the way there has been struggle, but now having a roof over our heads has given us the stability we so desperately needed. Even though we are still working hard to improve our [3:11:17 PM] working hard to improve our lives and build a better future for our daughters, we can do so now with a roof over our head. It took us months to find a place that fit within our budget, and even then, we barely qualified. >> Thank you. >> Thank you mayor. >> All the speakers have been called. >> Thank you members. That concludes all of the speakers on the consent agenda. We have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. Let me ask if there's anyone that would like to abstain from a vote on any item on the consent agenda. Yes. Council member Siegel. >> Mayor, if you could help me with the procedure, but I would like to make a motion to extend the postponement of item 62. >> Then what? What we'll do is. I'm glad you brought it up. Before we get further into that, what we can do is we can recognize that as a motion to amend the motion on the consent agenda, or you can move and I would recognize a motion to [3:12:19 PM] would recognize a motion to divide the question and pull that out and pull that off of the consent agenda. But since we already have a motion on the floor, we I'd want to do it that way. But a motion to amend would be just fine. Then the vote would, with the first vote the council would take would be on the motion to amend, and that would extend it to may 22nd. If that passes, then we'd go back to the main motion on the consent agenda as amended, and it would be for the 22nd. Thank you, mayor. So you're recognized for a motion if you would like, but I see people standing in the will probably need to hear from some people about why we came up with the April date. >> Okay. Thank you mayor, but I would like to move to amend the consent agenda to amend the postponement until may 22nd. >> Is there a second to the motion? The motion is Siegel motion to amend the main motion, which is the consent agenda. Motion to amend it to postpone item number 62 so that it would [3:13:20 PM] item number 62 so that it would be a neighborhood postponement, not to April 24th, but to may 22nd. The second by council member. Velasquez. We're going to have discussion. We will have discussion on the motion to amend. Let me ask, is miss harden, would you come forward real quickly? >> Thank you. >> I just want for clarity purposes for the council, the consent agenda as you originally presented it indicated. And by the way, my notes had indicated it was still may 22nd. But then you indicated, corrected me and said it was April 24th. Would you describe how we got to April 24th? May 22nd? >> Yes, absolutely. So the neighborhood did do an original request to may 22nd. I've been speaking with council member [3:14:21 PM] speaking with council member duchin's office. They had mentioned that they were amenable to the neighborhood postponement request, but they would they would support it to April 24th. And that is what I move forward with. >> Okay. >> And the applicant was in agreement. There was a disagreement with the applicant. I think y'all saw that yesterday. The applicant was in agreement with the two week postponement. And I think that the applicant probably wants to speak to. >> My guess is that's going to be fair. Let me ask if there's any other questions of miss harden on the motion to amend. All right, Mr. Whalen, I'll recognize you for two minutes to speak to this item and the and speak to the motion to amend. >> Sure. Michael Whalen, on behalf of the applicant, we did send out a notice about the hearing back in February when [3:15:21 PM] hearing back in February when the first hearing was going to occur and that it was being rezoned. Also indicated in that notice that demolition was more than two years away. We then promptly upon councilmember duchen arranging a time to meet, met immediately and promptly continued to make ourselves available. The reality on the ground right now is the. Amount of affordable housing that can be provided under db 90 is what we're prepared to comply with, comply with all the policies that passed in 2024. There aren't going to be any facts that change. The one thing I guess obviously you can do is deny the zoning to mf3, and then it'll be redeveloped as mf3. So nothing's going to change. We'll make ourselves available, continue to make ourselves available with the good facilitation of council member duchen, two weeks will be more than enough, in my opinion, to get something done. But a six week delay is not going to get anything done in my opinion. I [3:16:24 PM] anything done in my opinion. I think it will actually harm the ability to keep people focused and get something done. So I would encourage you to keep it to where we had agreed to. After the request was made. And that's kind of where we are. And I know there's another meeting may 6th in between the two as well. >> Hang on one second. Questions? Council member alter. >> Yeah, I was we've on this one. And you know, it's a tough one because of a lot of the arguments we've heard here today. But I think it's important to mention or for you to help us understand. You touched on it a little bit there, but what is more financially beneficial for the developer? Is it to redevelop it as an mf3 or to redevelop it as a db 90? >> I have not run the numbers on that. I mean, we're going to figure out the markets are challenging right now, as you [3:17:24 PM] challenging right now, as you well know. In fact, getting a certificate of deposit is just about a little bit better currently with no risk. Nevertheless, if they are forced to do mf3, which is what they have right now, then they just rebuild 290 units with no income restriction. And you know, obviously, as you heard, some of the speakers talk about filtering, you know, within 15 years, 20 years, it will you'll start having naturally occurring affordability. You just won't have 650 units that are beginning to decrease in price. You'll have 290, you'll have much less. And you won't have any on day one. You'll have you won't have the 78 on day one. >> Yeah. And I'm just concerned, you know I think delays postponements are appropriate when, when we think things will change. Right. The neighborhood has asked for a postponement and they'll get it as they should. When a neighborhood asks for a [3:18:26 PM] When a neighborhood asks for a postponement. In this particular instance, I worry that there's a perverse incentive for the developer to say, we're just going to redevelop this mf3. We're not going to have not only not going to have any affordable housing, but it's in there beneficial and financial interest to do so. And as I've said it before, 0% times anything is always less than 10% times something. And so if we can't stick to the own policies that we have put in place, the rules we've put in place, why will anybody come to us and say, this is, you know, what we propose to do, and with it bring some affordable housing? I think you have to have some level of consistency. We passed a policy. This adheres to that policy. I don't like the outcome. I think it's great to have the affordable housing we have. But if we just drag our feet and then say, okay, no more, we get [3:19:28 PM] then say, okay, no more, we get nothing from a public benefit perspective other than maybe 1 or 2 years of this being available and then it being torn down and there be no affordable housing. So that's that's just a concern I have with us dragging this out. I think we need to just make a decision one way or another, and it's not going to be aeel good decision, I think, no matter what. But it's going to be a decision we have to make. >> Thank you. Councilmember. Councilmember harper-madison, to speak on the motion to amend. >> Yes, sir. Actually, I was going to speak to my colleague's comments. I really appreciate that very much. And one of the things that we do as advocates is we negotiate and take risk. But as a cautionary tale, I've watched a lf these fights. I've been on this side for a little bit of the time. But the truth of the matter is, all seven of my siblings, my mama, all 19 of nieces and nephews all live in income restricted or naturally affordable housing. [3:20:28 PM] naturally affordable housing. I'm from here, y'all. I go here from the projects, like when you cast the projections up here. At least miss me because it's not lost on me. That said, though, I have watched communities fight this fight and lose. And so the cautionary tale I'd like to extend is something along the lines of figuring out how to make compromise work. Like my mentor says, when compromise goes well, everybo feels like they lost something. And that sucks when what you lose is your house. So again, not lost on me. I'm not being insensitive. I'm being direct and candid. So candidly, officer. The highway and the community as they should, as you always should always stand up for yourself. Always fight for your family. Always fight for your community. Every time. Always advocate. However, hollering into the ethers, screaming to your detriment, offending people with [3:21:29 PM] detriment, offending people with whom you should probably be developing relationships. The cautionary tale I'll extend is my neighborhood adjacent neighborhood association group fought with this developer so hard for so long that the developer not only extended some of the things that heould have given them that they asked for, and he said okay to.y pushed him so hard that he didn't give nothing. He built what he could build by right. He didn't have to ask city council for nothing. He built what he could build by right. And it's the biggest, ugliest, no amenities. Having structure off of the access road in between my house and city hall, he had this beautiful, you know, sketch, what do they call it? Rendering of what it was going to look like. He was going to let the neighbors use the pool, the fitness room. He's going to build a grocery, all that. When the fight went so far that he was at this part at this point, to my colleague's point about if you're not going to get [3:22:31 PM] about if you're not going to get anything more, you fought as long as yould fight, and now it's time to move on to the next one, because the truth of the matter is, there will be more. That's it. I understand the fight. I'm here for it, I feel it. It happened to my sister at country club creek. She's disabled, by the way. Frontal head, frontal lobe, head injury. A disabled woman did not know she was going to need to move. She was with family elder care hawk. She's got all these people who advocate for her. But even then, she got no notification of her apartment complex being sold. And we went through this as a family. I know people who live in y'all's apartment complex. I am one of your community members. It just so happens that I'm also sitting on this side of the room sometimes. All that to say, I say fight. I also say fight smart, fight with strategy and do so in recognizing when to stop. And that's really important. And I think it's something that I appreciate all of the knowledge that's being shared with you all by people with a lot of institutional knowledge who know [3:23:31 PM] institutional knowledge who know the game, who know how to get stuff down done in this town. And they're teaching y'all well. But I think, for what it's worth, you're going to recognize it at some point. It's always going to be a compromise. It's almost never a straight W. So keep up the good fight, y'all, and I'll do my best to support efforts in this city to protect naturally occurring affordable housing. And I would be willing to support that postponement. Additional postponement even if we didn't get more. Just so, if for no other reason, the folks that are being directly impacted have more opportunities to talk and plan. Sometimes when I'm talking to my community members, I'm not saying you're going to win this fight. I'm saying, nah. Between the taxes and the speculators and the this, this is not going to go in your favor, I can tell you right now. That said, though, when people have time to plan and prepare, so put things in place and get yourself ready, I'd rather have that than not, is what I'm [3:24:33 PM] that than not, is what I'm trying to say. Is that ideal? Nah. But are most things? No. In which case, I really wish y'all luck in advocating for yourselves, and I'd like very much to make sure that y'all know the district one office is always open. From a lived experience perspective, I might be the only council member who's experienced homelessness. I might be the only council member who's had to pa something. I might be the only council member who's dealt with justice, involvement, CPS, you name the thing, I am the direct living product of cyclical poverty. I live it, I know it, my family lives it, my family knows it. Nothing that you have to say to me about the results of cyclical and generational poverty, marginalization and white supremacy is ever lost on me. So when you cast your eyeballs. You're not getting it. Do me a solid try to skip this big black face up here. It's the only one it's not hard to miss. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> Thank you. Councilmember duchen. >> First I want to say I [3:25:34 PM] >> First I want to say I appreciate my colleagues. Council member, alter council member Natasha harper-madison for weighing in on this. They've got obviously more experience than I do with these kind of cases. And so it's valuable to get their perspective. And that's useful in this case because this is sort of uncharted territory for me in the district ten team here. And we are trying to navigate. Our goal was to try and make sure there was a sense of urgency around this, both for all parties, including us. We've got things that we still need to go investigate with neighboring property owners with potential capital solutions. Et cetera. My fear was to get pushed us out six weeks and then come back here and not have any progress, and then push it out another six weeks, all while having a worst case scenario that councilmember alter laid out, which is that the developer just takes their toys and goes builds the minimum five Wright. That said, I'm happy to defer to the collective wisdom of the diocese here. And if there's a sense that giving folks more time here, knowing the consequences that may happen is the right call here, [3:26:36 PM] is the right call here, obviously happy to back that move. I just want to make sure that there's urgency on all parties here to come to some kind of conclusion and not just extend this out indefinitely, because there are other stakeholders here. Obviously, the folks here in the room and the community that live there are the most deeply impacted. But there's also the neighborhood. There's also other neighbors here and the owners and so on that I wan to make sure that we are approaching with equal respect. So that was my goal here. And again, looking forward to whatever the outcome of this is. >> Councilmember Siegel. >> Thank you, mayor. And I also want to thank councilman alter. Councilwoman harper-madison, you know, you all have been on here longer than me, of course. And I do recognize the very tough situation we're in. I also want to thank the representative of the applicant, Mr. Whalen, you know, for negotiating in good faith. I guess my hope here is that you can work with this newly formed tenant association to see if we can get a little bit more. I really want to respect the tenant association [3:27:37 PM] respect the tenant association for what you're doing. Your testimony was very powerful, and just you coming together in this way shows a lot. And given that there's 990 units there, I think it is going to do a little bit of work. It's going to take a little bit of work for you all to get together and organizeyour demands and figuring out what's possible. And so that was why I was inspired to push for a little bit more time so that that you can internally have a process to come up with a strategy and to negotiate in good faith with the applicant and see if you can come back on may 22nd with a better deal. So I look forward to that. >> Council member Ellis. >> Thank you. Mayor. I just wanted to add my voice to the conversation. I really appreciate the remarks that everyone's making and the input that we're hearing today. I also am kind of worried if we extend things too long. You know, there may be one meeting in the next two weeks, there may be one meeting in the next six weeks. And I want to make sure that there's an incentive for conversations to take place and for folks to be able to make sure that their voices are heard. In this process. I also, [3:28:37 PM] heard. In this process. I also, I may be the only renter on this dais, so sometimes I have to remind people that I myself am a renter. My rent goes up every year. The apartment that I lived in before I moved in 2018 423ft S, and it was built in the 1970s. And I have also lived through what it's like to have failing water infrastructure and ac that broke twice and had to be replaced. So I understand there's also a realistic expectation of when some of these older buildings because let's face it, the 1970s, 1980s wasn't necessarily a golden moment of the best and most beautiful apartments that that the world has ever seen. But it's necessary that we have older apartments to make sure that people can afford to have a roof over their head and one that works for their family. But I know that at some point I've got some apartments in my district, too, that are struggling with this. The cost of repairing and maintaining these apartments could end up making rents go up, too, and that's a reality for some folks [3:29:39 PM] that's a reality for some folks that are trying to maintain these older units. And so it is definitely a struggle as I try to think about what is the future for those apartments in my district, and certainly appreciate council member duchen trying to go through this very methodically, I think I'd prefer for us to revisit the conversation sooner rather than later, just so there's an urgency to the conversation, but certainly want to make sure that folks are weighing all of their options and making sure their voices are heard. >> Councilmember qadri. >> Yeah, thank you. Mayor. You know, I just want to echo what councilmember Ellis just said and comments that have been made by councilmember Ryan alter. I need to get used to just saying alter at this point. But, you know, I'm I'm in favor of postponement. I just I just worry about what a66 week postponement looks like. You know, I think we need, you know, the time and the due diligence and all that. But I'm just I'm just a nervous person, I guess, by nature, as someone who is a former, you know, renter themselves, I'm no longer in the [3:30:39 PM] themselves, I'm no longer in the in the renter club unfortunately. But you know, I district nine I think might have one of the highest concentrations of renters in the city. So, you know, we've heard from folks in our own district about certain situations. So I'm, I like I said, I favor postponement. I'm not fully there on the six week. So I'll probably sorry, I'll probably abstain from council member Siegel's motion. >> Members, I'm going to ask for a vote on the Siegel motion to amend the consent agenda for item number 62. For the record, because we don't have anything in writing because of the way this has been done, the motion to amend would be to extend the neighborhood postponement to may 22nd from what the original consent agenda item was, which was April 24th. So from April 20th 4th to may 22nd, all those in favor of the motion to amend from April 20th 4th to may 22nd, [3:31:40 PM] from April 20th 4th to may 22nd, raise your hand. All those opposed, raise your hand. I'm sorry, councilmember harper-madison, are you voting? >> I was in I just I put it down. >> Very good. Thank you. All those opposed raise your hand. All those abstaining. Well, I didn't get 11, so hang on. All those opposed? Councilmember duchen, how are you voting? Okay. I'm sorry. Let me try this one more time. All those in favor say I. I mean, raise your hand. Up. Okay. All those opposed? All those abstaining. All right. The there being six [3:32:41 PM] All right. The there being six eyes. And I'm going to read these to make sure I've got this rit.t. Those being Siegel harper-madison Velasquez vela Laine and the mayor pro tem there being two no's, alter and Watson there being two abstentions, qadri and duchen. Did I miss somebody? I knew I wasn't getting to 11, I just didn't know how I wasn't getting there. And so Ellis is also shown as a no. So alter Watson Ellis noes abstentions, qadri and duchen there but there being six eyes, three noes, two abstentions. The motion to amend carries that will take us back to the main motion, which is the consent agenda, with the change to item number 62, which allows for a neighborhood postponement to may 22nd. Discussion on the main motion, which is the consent agenda as amended. Councilmember vela. [3:33:43 PM] Councilmember vela. >> Switching gears here, excuse me, I just wanted to thank Brian Bedrosian, the president of the north loop neighborhood association, for coming in to testify on item 47. That is another db9 project that's going to be going up on the corner of airport. And Koenig very excited about it. Unanimous support of the neighborhood. Looking forward to see it. This is an underused industrial area that should be blossoming, blossoming into a lot of apartments and shops and different things. And I really appreciate his help, not just with this case, but with a number of other cases where he has really spent a lot of time talking, shepherding everything through the to get to, you know, situations where the contact team is in unanimous support, the diocese, the amount of support. So I just wanted to note that item and also thank Ryan for all his work as a neighborhood association president. >> Thank you. Any further discussion? I'moing to ask for [3:34:44 PM] discussion? I'moing to ask for abstentions. Anybody want to be own abstaining on the consent agenda, as amended? Anyone wishing to be shown recusing themselves from a vote on any item on the consent agenda, as amended? Anyone wishing to be shown voting no on one of the items on the consent agenda, as amended. Hearing none without objection, the consent agenda, as amended, is adopted. Members. There being no further business to come before the Austin city council at this regularly scheduled meeting of the city council. Without objection, we are adjourned at 3:35 P.M.