City Council Regular Meeting Transcript – 5/8/2025 Title: ATXN-1 (24hr) Channel: 1 - ATXN-1 Recorded On: 5/8/2025 6:00:00AM Original Air Date: 5/8/2025 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. >> Good morning everybody. It's 10:00 am on may 8th, 2025 and i will call to order the meeting of the austin city council. This is a regular scheduled meeting. We are meeting at 301 west second street in austin, texas, which is the city hall, and we're meeting in city council chambers. And we have a quorum of the austin city council. Present members briefly. I'll run through the order of the day. I'm going to shortly read changes and corrections into the record. We will then go to our consent agenda. Prior to the consent agenda being voted on. We will have people that have signed up to speak on consent agenda items. Right now, no items have pulled, no items have been pulled from the consent agenda. If you wish to be a speaker, if you wish to say something about the consent agenda, please let me know so that i'll be able to call on you in an appropriate order around 1030, or as close to 1030 as we can do it. I will recess the austin city council meeting, and we will call to order the board of directors meeting of the austin housing finance corporation. At some point. We will then go to consent items. We have three items that are coming to us from council committees. Those are 43, 44 and 45. We have two eminent domain items. We will also take up public hearings on item number 49. That is a public hearing. There's no action on item number 49 and items 50 and 51. The public hearings on items 50 and 51 have been postponed. Item 50 has been postponed to may 22nd, 2025, and item 51 has been postponed to june 5th, 2025. At noon, we will take up general public communication. We will recess at the end of that. So around 1230 to 1235 we will recess the austin city council meeting and we will have live music. When we recess, we will recess to approximately 110 at 2:00. We have our time certain with regard to zoning items. Members, i will now read changes and corrections into the record. Item number four. Item number four is withdrawn. Item number 13 is postponed to may 22nd, 2025. Item number 24 is postponed to july 24th, 2025. Item number 50 should read. When public hearings are taken up, this item will be postponed to may 22nd, 2025. That's what i just indicated. Item number 51. When public hearings are taken up, this item will be postponed to june 5th, 2025. Item number 78 is withdrawn. Members. Those are all of the changes and corrections to be read into the record. So that will take us to our consent agenda. And i will ask that the city clerk begin the process of calling on people to speak on the consent agenda. >> yes, mayor. We will take in-person speakers first and on item number one, selena rendon. >> let me ask, is miss rendon here? Miss selena rendon? Selena rendon okay. >> item number two selena rendon. For item three. Also selena rendon. We will now go to remote speakers. We have paul robbins on item number five. >> council. Good morning i'll make this as simple as possible. I'm in complete support of the item to fund water pipe water service line repairs. My only comment is meant to be constructive. In the future, i would ask that you. Consider trying to establish an in-house construction team to do this in order to save money. Thank you. >> thank you, miss robbins. >> for items five through 14. Selena rendon. >> miss. Miss rendon here. Selena rendon on items five through 14. All right. We'll go to item 15. >> we have selena rendon as well. On item 15 carol phillipson. You will have two minutes. >> hello. My name is carol phillipson i'm with district ten. I'm speaking on the community wildfire protection plan. It's 11 years old. It's definitely needs to be updated. Adding new potential wildfire risks like cell towers too close to endangered species habitats. As you all recall, at the april 11th city council meeting, i was told that sara cell tower risk would be discussed april 17th. Captain myers called and told me that several departments were discussing the cell tower issue, and that a response from the city hall was not too far in the near future. April 23rd, i called captain myers, telling him i had not heard from staff. April 20th 6th april. Captain myers texted me that rob trevino would call me april 28th. No contact as of today. May 1st i sent you mayor watson vicki goodwin's speech and talking points for the hearing on house bill 4038, may 6th. I emailed you and other staff sharing the interest on next door 8500 people read cell towers or wildfire risk? I also read that i was concerned that the austin fire department believes that because there are already two wildfire risks homes and power lines, that it's okay to add a third wildfire risk a cell tower built too close to endangered species habitat with no safe place for it to fall. As chairperson of the justice committee, i was taught that the way to reduce any fire risk is to reduce the ways it can start. Cell towers may be infrequent, but they do occur. They are devastating to thousands of surrounding homes because of the difficulty controlling the fire, due to the steep terrain and little access to fight the fire. Wildfire is everyone's battle, so says the community wildfire protection plan. So when does city council start? >> ma'am, we don't set up, so we do this. But because i have we have communicated before. >> yes. >> there are limitations on what the city is able to do in terms of regulation, including if we were, i believe, if we were in a situation where we regulated the cell tower, where they couldn't put a cell tower in a certain place, as you request, that. >> is not what i request. You can put it there. It just has to be a safe distance from the endangered species habitat. >> well, that means if you can't put it in a certain places, right, that's. Otherwise it would be not, according to you, a safe distance. That is the reason i believe, that representative goodwin is actually carrying legislation which would allow for different types of protections, and i think that's the answer. We'll have to see what happens with that legislation. But we hear you. We appreciate you taking the time to be here and your passion. But there are certain limitations that the legislature has put on cities. So thank you very much for being here. Okay. >> for item 15, william bunch. For item 16, celine rendon. For item 17. Zenobia. Joseph. Item 17 as well celine rendon. Item 18 william bunch. Item 18 celine rendon. Item 19 zenobia joseph. >> is she supposed to be calling in? >> she is supposed to be remote, but we have not received. >> her, but have not received a call. Okay. Yes, sir. >> same thing with william bunch as well. >> yes. >> item 19 celine rendon. Item 20 william bunch. Item 20 brad massingill. Item 20 celine rendon. Item 20 roy whaley. Item 21 celine rendon. Item 22 celine rendon. >> let me pause right there and ask again, is miss rendon in the chambers or within the sound of my voice and wants to talk on these items? Celine rendon. Okay. >> for item 23. Zenobia. Joseph. For item 23 celine rendon. For item 24. Speaking on the postponement. Zenobia joseph, as well as the postponement, selena rendon for items 25 through 40 celine rendon. For item 41 michael bullock. You have two minutes. >> thank you. Michael bullock, the president for the austin police association. And i just wanted to take a couple of minutes, one to thank mayor watson and council, everyone that joined on this item. We started working last year with representative cole and sarah eckhardt to designate a portion of fm 969 as a memorial highway in honor of officer andy traylor, who was killed in the line of duty. Responding to a 911 call, and his his wife was unable to be here today. But she did ask me to relay to you that this is important to her as well. From the aspect of it gives her her kids a little piece of him to see. Every time we drive that road. It's the least his kids deserve. After losing their father far too young, and andy was a phenomenal officer that was very well loved with the department, very committed to this community, to this city, and in doing what was right and to protecting its citizens. So we greatly appreciate both the representative, the senator, mayor, council, all of y'all, for helping us to get this done, as it is an important part to remember the sacrifice that he made to both the city and to all the officers who served here with them, and that still remember his legacy and are doing their very best to carry it on. So we would ask for y'all to support it. And again, thank you, mayor watson and everyone else for helping make this happen. >> for items 41, 42 and 77, celine rendon. Mayor. That concludes all of the consent speakers. [10:12:45 am] speakers. >> Thank you, members. That concludes all the people that have signed up to speak on the consent items. Let me ask, is there any item that anyone would like for us to pull from the consent agenda in that case is I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as made the motions made by council member Velasquez, second by councilmember qadri. Is there anyone I'm going to call for discussion in just a second, but I want to start with, is anyone wishing to abstain from any item on the consent agenda as council member, council member, go ahead. >> I wish to abstain on item 14, please. >> Councilmember duchen will be shown abstaining on 14. Councilmember Siegel. >> Thank you mayor. I'll abstain on item number eight, please. >> Councilmember Siegel is abstaining on item number eight. Anyone else wishing to be shown abstaining on an item? Anyone wishing to be shown recusing themselves on one of the consent agenda items. All right then, let's go to discussion. Councilmember Siegel, you're [10:13:45 AM] Councilmember Siegel, you're recognized. >> Thank you, mayor, and I'll just briefly outline a couple of ideas I have about the consent agenda. I'm abstaining on item number eight, even though I myself was a former americorps member. As a teacher back in 99. My concern here is that there's basically a separate category of city workers that are paid less than our established living wage. And I know this is a larger question that some of my colleagues have been working on, including council member alter relating to contractors and making sure they're paid at the same wage standards. And I want to support that effort. But today I'm abstaining from this item. Item number 28 is an exciting progression of the austin-travis county food plan implementation. I'm really excited to seeing this work move forward. Food insecurity is a really critical issue in the city, and this plan creates a visionary, collaborative and comprehensive approach to building just and sustainable food systems. So I really look forward to supporting the food plan in the days ahead, including hopefully through our [10:14:46 AM] including hopefully through our capital expenditures, the office of climate action and resilience has identified a program where we can identify and acquire land for food farms, which I want to support. And also this whole process has a district seven component. Joy chevalier is the chair of the food policy board. She's someone who really cares about this work, and I want to thank the mayor for reappointing her. Also want to acknowledge doctor desmar Walkes, who in item 31, we're reappointing as the health authority. I really want to congratulate her. She's been a rock for Austin and Travis county through a lot of challenging times, including the covid pandemic. I actually got to work with her when we were making sure that local area school districts can continue to have masking policies during the covid pandemic, and her testimony helped helped actually win a court case that allowed for multiple school districts to have those policies, probably saving lives and definitely protecting our health. So I want to congratulate doctor walks and that's it for me. Thanks, mayor. >> Great. Thank you, [10:15:46 AM] >> Great. Thank you, councilmember members. Before I call on other members for discussion, you know, we always ask our legal staff to make presentations on items related to settlements. And we believe through that today. And I should have done that. So let me call on law to come forward and make a presentation on items 26 and 27. I even saw him sitting out there and thought about this and then blew it. So it's all yours, man. >> Thank you mayor, greatly. Assistant city attorney on item number 26, we recommend that you approve a payment of $90,000 to settle the Carolyn Nelson versus city of Austin lawsuit. This lawsuit relates to a may 2022 fall causing injury on city property. In exchange for the payment, miss Nelson will release any and all claims against the city from the incident and will also dismissed with prejudice her lawsuit filed in the district court for Travis county. The law department recommends that you approve payment based upon these terms. And then item number 27. I'm [10:16:48 AM] And then item number 27. I'm here today to recommend that you approve a payment of $550,000 to settle the Jessica Arellano versus city of Austin, et Al. Lawsuit. This lawsuit is related to the officer involved shooting, which occurred on January 5th, 2021, and miss Arellano seeks payment for her injuries stemming from this incident. In exchange for this payment, miss Arellano will release all claims against the city and any APD officers from any and all claims arising out of the January 5th, 2021 incident. She will also dismissed with prejudice the lawsuit she filed in the united States district court for the western district of Texas of Texas. The law department recommends that you approve payment based upon these terms. >> Members. Any questions of staff? Thank you sir. Thank you. Council member Velasquez, followed by council member Ellis and then council member harper-madison. Council member Velasquez. >> Thank you. Mayor. Sorry I was distracted for a second. Colleagues I wanted to touch on [10:17:50 AM] Colleagues I wanted to touch on item number 32. I'm excited to see additional funds going to the Texas harm reduction alliance on the agenda this week. As I mentioned before, it's based in district three. The Texas harm reduction alliance does amazing life saving work. It's a drop in center with a drop in center, street outreach team and much more. I'm just happy to see that we're sending some additional funds their way so they can continue saving lives in and around the city. >> Thank you, thank you. Council member. Council member Ellis, followed by council member harper-madison and council member duchen. >> Thank you mayor. I wanted to speak very quickly to item number 18 and 35. These are regarding some road improvement projects and school Zones around bowie high school. And I really appreciate staff sitting down with the academic director, some of the parents that lead the booster clubs and the student co-president. In the past two weeks, we've been able to have some really meaningful conversations, and so I'm pleased to hear that slaughter Laine in front of bowie high is eventually going to be receiving a speed limit. And that wolf trap, which is item number 35, is already slated to have those [10:18:51 AM] is already slated to have those improvements. I think school safety, especially for students, is really important to me. And so I'm thankful that we've been able to unpack some of the conversations around how and when we designate for these areas around schools. Bowie high school, in particular, has athletic fields across the street. So they really see this as, you know, a wide road going through their campus. And so I appreciate staff being flexible with us and sitting down and listening to the folks who came and advocated for that. We were able to have some really great conversations, and I'm happy to see these items moving forward today. >> Thank you. Councilmember. Councilmember harper-madison, followed by councilmember duchen. And then the mayor pro tem. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor, thank you. I just wanted to say today's a really special day for team d1 and let you guys know we're going to have some some special visitors joining us from la Porte, Texas today to give a proper sendoff to somebody who's given us everything he's got to the city of Austin. John Lawler is going to be receiving a distinguished service award today. In addition to that, I just really wanted. [10:19:52 AM] just really wanted. >> To council member harper-madison, if I might interrupt you, you're cutting out and I don't know whether that's on our end or on your end. >> Trouble with my audio earlier, but I hear y'all just fine. Can you hear me? Okay. Now? >> No, you're you try it again. Try it. Try getting a little closer to the microphone and see if that helps. >> How about now? >> Well. >> How about now? Is that better, Mr. Mayor? >> Repeat what you just said. >> I was saying that I wanted to acknowledge that we're going to have some special visitors joining us at in chambers today from la Porte to give a special sendoff to John Lawler. Can you hear that part? >> We heard we heard that. And we're looking forward to the folks from la Porte helping helping us celebrate. Lawler. But you're still cutting out and we might ask somebody to. >> It's fine. Thank you. >> Great. I'm sorry about that, councilmember. Councilmember duchen, followed by the mayor pro tem. >> Thank you. Mayor, I want to speak really briefly on items 14 and 15. 14 is a technology [10:20:52 AM] and 15. 14 is a technology contract with ctm. Our vendor has declared bankruptcy. There are some curiosities I've got about this contract, and I think in general, I just like to continue to raise the profile of some of the technology issues we're having, as well as some of the opportunities we have to generate some efficiencies in this space. We've got 900 it workers across the city, and my hope is that we can work together to be able to create some opportunities for better agreements with some of the vendors that we've got. We've got departments that often use the same vendor but don't even know it or have subscriptions to the same services. So my hope is that going forward, we can work on these technology contracts to council and come up with some, hopefully, as we're in a place of financial constraints and opportunities. Item 15 is our speaker noted, is the update to our community wildfire protection plan. That's essentially our strategic plan for wildfire protection and prevention, and I'm really looking forward to that. Within a year of the contract being executed, that will get an up to [10:21:54 AM] executed, that will get an up to date plan. Our plan is over a decade old. Things have changed here. Our risk factors have increased, insurance has changed. We've got we just voted on an expanded wui map that is going to impact folks. So I'm really hopeful that our updated plan is going to give us new direction about how we continue to make sure Austin is safe and prepared for wildfires going forward. >> Thank you. Councilmember duchen mayor pro tem, followed by council member Laine. >> Yes, thank you. Mayor. Colleagues, just want to echo councilmember Siegel's comments on the food plan item. This is an item that I'm very proud to see move forward, and I love that it is moving forward with our community in mind. By working with Travis county to identify a nonprofit organization to help us implement the food plan. That's incredible. You know, as we know, there are many families in our community that struggle with food insecurity and knowing how important this is to many of us who live in areas that are food deserts. I think this is this not only is a priority of our city, but I love that it's moving forward with community [10:22:55 AM] moving forward with community values in mind. And I know this issue is also equally as important to councilmember harper-madison. So just wanted to highlight that and also wanted to bring attention to the armadillo water tank item this, there's an item on our agenda that moves forward on working with an artist to install artwork around that water tank. This is going to be an incredible visual piece for south austinites in the armadillo neighborhood, so I'm really pleased to see this item move forward. And for us to have artworks all over our city. >> Thank you. Thank you, mayor pro tem councilmember Laine followed by councilmember vela. >> Well, thank you. I will echo my colleague's comments about the challenges of food insecurity. I see this as well in areas many outlying areas of Austin where transit is tough. And I love to see this type of access to food be brought closer to where these people live and can access it. I also wanted to comment briefly on number 28, the improvements to slaughter Laine. I am so pleased to see this roadway, this busy [10:23:56 AM] this roadway, this busy arterial, get be safer for our students who are trying to get to school again. I think we've done a lot of work as a city to increase safety in neighborhood roads, and I hope that we will carry forward to looking at those situations where these busy arterials where there are speeding fast speed limits, our students have to use them to get to school because there aren't alternatives. So I welcome this as an example of that. And finally, on item 41, I appreciated Michael bullock's comments and also wanted to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of senior officer Lewis Traylor, who sacrificed so much for the city of Austin. I'm glad to hear that the measure we're voting on today is a small comfort to his loved ones, and I want to thank Apa president bullock for speaking on their behalf. Thank you also, mayor Watson, for the opportunity to cosponsor this memorial vote. >> Thank you. Thank you, councilmember. Councilmember vela, followed by councilmember qadri. >> This is off consent, but I just wanted to say a happy [10:24:57 AM] just wanted to say a happy birthday of sorts to Austin energy. 130 years ago, Austin energy was founded a very, very wise decision from the leaders of Austin in 1895. And the voters who approved, really, a groundbreaking idea of a municipally owned electric utility. It was a great decision in 1895, one that we still benefit from today. That utility that was started 130 years ago is now, in my humble opinion, the best electric utility in the country, with some of the highest rates of renewable energy generation, low rates, good, excellent customer service. Just proud to have them as part of our city. Thanks to all the employees of Austin energy that work so hard to keep the lights on in this beautiful city. Just thank you and looking forward to the 150th [10:25:58 AM] forward to the 150th anniversary, and then the 200th and the 300th. It's really an institution that helps our city in so many ways. We recognize them this morning, and I just wanted to make sure and recognize them from the dais. Thank you all for all your hard work. >> Thank you for doing that. Council member. And for the record, that was a couple of years before I was mayor of the first time. Councilmember qadri. >> Thank you, mayor. I want to thank council member vela, council member Fuentes, and council member Laine for joining me this morning as we give a proclamation for Asian American pacific islander heritage month. So just want to wish everyone a happy aapi month. >> That's great. Thank you. Any further discussion with regard to the consent agenda. All right. Is there anyone wishing to be shown voting no on any item on the consent agenda? Councilmember harper-madison, if you'd please turn back on, if you. Yeah. There you are. Great. All those within. Without objection, the consent agenda is [10:26:59 AM] objection, the consent agenda is adopted with council member duchen being shown abstaining on item 14 and council member council member Siegel being shown abstaining on item number eight. Thanks members that will now take us to item number 43. We're going to we're going to take up items from council committees. Item number 43 is from the audit and finance committee. And I would move as chair of that committee to approve an amendment to the zero waste advisory commission bylaws to remove the organics management committee. This was voted on unanimously by the audit and finance committee, seconded by council member alter vice chair of the committee. Is there any discussion? Go ahead and call the name. >> For item 43. We have Celine Rendon. >> Celine Rendon. Celine Rendon. All right. Those are all the people signed up on that item. Right. Members. Any discussion? Hearing none. Without objection. Item number 43 is adopted. Item number 44 also comes from the audit and finance committee. And [10:28:00 AM] audit and finance committee. And as chair of that committee, I would move that we approve the resolution reappointing kavita Gupta and John Humphreys for terms of three years to the municipal civil service commission. It is seconded by the vice chair of the committee, council member alter. Let me turn to the clerk's office. >> For item 44. Celine Rendon. >> Celine Rendon. All right, members, those are all the people that signed up to speak on item number 44 in any discussion. Hearing none. Without objection. Item number 44 is adopted. Item number 45 comes to us from the public health committee. I recognize the mayor pro tem as chair of that committee. >> I move approval of a resolution appointing Lori casulo to fill a vacancy on the sobering center local government corporation board of directors. >> Motion has been made by the chair of the committee, mayor pro tem, to approve the resolution. It is seconded by council member qadri. Call the name. >> Celine Rendon. >> Celine Rendon. All right. Any discussion on item number 45? [10:29:04 AM] discussion on item number 45? Without objection, item number 45 is adopted. Members, we will now go to item number 46 and 47 members. These are eminent domain items. I'll call for the public testimony before I call for a motion on those 46 and 47. >> For both items. Celine Rendon. >> Celine Rendon. All right, members, that's all the people who signed up on items 46 and 47. So with respect to items 46 and 47, these are both nonconsent condemnation items. The motion that the chair will recognize is to the effect that the city council of Austin, Texas, authorizes the use of the power of eminent domain to acquire the properties that are set forth and described in the agenda for this current meeting. For the public uses that are described therein. Is there a motion motion made by council member alter? Is there a second, seconded by council member vela discussion on items 46 and 47. Without objection, items number [10:30:04 AM] Without objection, items number 46 and 47 are adopted members. Without objection, we will recess the meeting of the Austin city council at 10:30 A.M. I will now call back to order the regular meeting of the Austin city council at 10:34 A.M. Members, we will now go to item number 49, which is a public hearing. This. Remember, remember, this is a public hearing that does not require action. But we are to conduct the public hearing. And I will turn to the city clerk. Without [10:35:11 AM] turn to the city clerk. Without objection, we will open the public hearing. The public hearing is now open, and now I'll turn to the city clerk. On item 49, we have Celine Rendon. >> I bet we don't. Celine Rendon, Celine Rendon. All right. >> Also on item 49, we have Zenobia Joseph who's making her way in right. >> Now, miss Joseph. Oh, I see her. >> No, not that one. It should [10:36:38 AM] >> No, not that one. It should be most current 49. You don't see 49. That's the one. Thank you. Mayor, council. I'm Zenobia Joseph. My comments are specifically related to 49 as it relates specifically to the item before you. I just want you to recognize that it's approximately $70 million that you are receiving overall from the department of housing and urban development. However, in backup, it does have the citizen participation plan. I just want to call to your attention that Mandy Demayo circumvented that requirement. When this plan went before the community development commission, she actually ran out the time and there were no recommendations given to her. She unilaterally actually used [10:37:39 AM] She unilaterally actually used the 15% of the public services childcare. But I want you to see and I do respect that you are happy about slaughter Laine. This is a representative district seven, Micah area. Up at the top you will see that that 15% could easily have been used for connectivity and safety. There is no pedestrian hybrid beacon in north Lamar, north of us 183 by the metropolitan park. Walnut creek metropolitan park, but down below you can see in central Austin on 46th street there are two pedestrian hybrid beacons. It is safe. If you go to the next slide, you will see this is the area where Donald Norton was killed. There is still no sidewalk and you have received over $47.5 million for safe routes to schools. So if you care about the students getting to school safely, not your ordinary school is on the left side. You can't see it in the picture, but I want you to know [10:38:40 AM] picture, but I want you to know it was on or about January 30th, 2016 when Mr. Norton was killed. And I would ask you to recognize that there's more that can be done with the funding that you have received from hud. It is disingenuous. And I want you to recognize, as always, that your inequities violate title VI of the civil rights act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. And I would ask Mandy Demayo to resign. >> Thank you, miss Joseph. >> That's it. >> Those are all the people who sent members. Those are all the people who signed up to speak on the at the public hearing for item number 49. So without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 49. The public hearing is now closed. Members, we will go to item number 50. But as has been indicated and read into the record, item number 50 is being postponed to may 22nd, 2025. I'll ask. I know we have somebody that had signed up to speak, so I'll ask that their [10:39:41 AM] speak, so I'll ask that their name be called to see if they want to speak to the merits of the postponement. >> For item 50. Selena Rendon. >> Selena Rendon. All right, members, there are no people signed up to speak on item number 50 as to the merits of the postponement. That item will be postponed to may 22nd, 2025. Item number 51 will be has been read into the record will be postponed to June 5th, 2025. But I'll ask if there's anyone that has signed up to speak and wishes to speak to the merits of the postponement. And I see, Mr. Hersh. So apparently that's the case. Why don't you go ahead and call the names? >> Yes. For item 51, speaking to the merits of postponement, Stuart Hersh, you have two minutes. >> Mayor and members of the council, Stuart, Harry Hersh, stu from district two. I'm hoping that this postponement will allow us to have a conversation about the university neighborhood overlay in June concerning specifically two items the accessibility standards of smart housing, [10:40:41 AM] standards of smart housing, which helps serve some of the poorest among us, and also the reasonably priced standards of smart housing that link to the university neighborhood overlay that create a different standard than what is usually discussed at council, which is income restricted, reasonably priced, really hits the poorest among us, and I'm hoping that we'll be able to deliberate on that between now and when this item returns to both the planning commission and to you all. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> For item 51. Speaking to the merits of the postponement. No. Elias. Brad Massingill and Celine Rendon. >> Are any of those three people here. Okay. >> That's all the speakers. >> Those are the members. Those are all the speakers on item number 51 to that could speak to the merits of the postponement. So item number 51 will be postponed to June 5th, 2025. Members. The next item on our agenda is set for a 12:00 time [10:41:43 AM] agenda is set for a 12:00 time certain. And that's public communication. So we will need to recess until 12:00 for members of the public and the council. What we will do is we will come back in promptly at 12:00. We will have public communication. I anticipate that that will take until 1230 to 1235. The council will recess at that point in time until 110, so that we can have live music and then, well, actually, we will not recess until 110. We will recess until 2:00, because the next item on our agenda is a 2:00 time certain. So what will happen is we'll come back at noon, we will have public comment. We will recess at the end of the public comment until 2:00 pm. Without objection, the Austin city council is in recess until 12:00 noon. It is 10:42 A.M. Thanks, everybody. It is 1202 on may 8th and I will [12:02:15 PM] It is 1202 on may 8th and I will call back to order. The Austin city council. Our first item, the item we have on the agenda is a 12:00 time certain. And that's a general public communications. So I will turn to the city clerk. >> Our first speaker will be Irby foster. You have three minutes. >> Honorable mayor Watson. City councilors. Mr. Broadnax Irby foster, district two. I want to ask for the council's help with freeway street lighting outages. Austin energy has not acted in good faith to completely and thoroughly repair freeway street lighting outages. Next, I need help in changing the 311 process to not allow Austin energy to close 311 requests until those repairs are completely repaired. Austin energy has not acted in good faith. A year has passed from my first complaints, and they're still refusing to make the difficult repairs at all, even though they repeatedly promised those repairs. Repairs like conduit breaks, wire shorts or pulling new wire for dark underpasses have not been [12:03:16 PM] underpasses have not been completed. Txdot has even approved quick fixes for them, like running overhead wires to get the lights working sooner. However, the Austin energy electric system field department continues to act and refuse to act in good faith. The department has not been honest with me about what they plan to do. They promised repairs and don't do them or the outages continue for months and in some cases now two years. Poles along our freeways have been knocked down for over a year and not repaired. The department closes the 311 requests that we submit, saying the repairs will be scheduled only to let months pass without action. All while freeway and non-vehicle fatalities continue to increase in the nine major freeways in the city. I brought this issue before you last year during budget, then again in September. And in October, I spoke before the Austin energy oversight committee, as well as shared the status of the lingering outages. In an April 27th letter to mayor Watson and Mr. Broadnax. Recently, I reported nearly 100 more outages to 311, only to have those tickets all closed [12:04:18 PM] have those tickets all closed again. Freeway lights work like Christmas lights. Most of them, I'll say. Freeway lights work like Christmas lights. So when one goes out, they all go out. When a pole is hit, they all go out, or the wires with the 480v are exposed along the freeway for more theft or injury. Fatalities, outages and theft are why it's so important that I take these repairs seriously. The knockdown poles, underpass lights, and section of freeway lights, including the underpass for I-35 at 290, where we've had two murders in the last six months, and main lanes of I-35 downtown are still out a year later. Even though my 311 tickets and in face to face meetings with Vicki, they said those repairs would be scheduled. He needs to do more to begin repairs to the difficult outages. They need to immediately change their process to repair the knockdown poles quicker. And the oversight committee, I would ask for your help to step in and stop the practice of closing the 311 requests without remedy. I asked council for your help to communicate. What am I asking [12:05:19 PM] communicate. What am I asking for? Communicate to city staff, Austin energy and partners like txdot and CMT that dark freeways are not acceptable ever, and they're a priority for us. Mr. Mayor, thank you. >> Appreciate you being here. Thank you. >> Next we have James Davis. You will have three minutes. >> Good afternoon. My name is James Davis with J.D. Davis, construction, honorable mayor Watson and city council, appreciate your service to the city. I've been in construction for 30 plus years. I built embassies in Moscow, Russia. Hospitals in Ontario, Canada. Data centers here in Austin, Texas. All $100 million plus projects. I'm an infill builder now in Austin, currently with 18 to 20 homes in all phases of construction, from procurement design on the market almost exclusively single family single unit properties upgraded to single family three unit properties under the home initiative, which has been very beneficial to the city regarding [12:06:20 PM] beneficial to the city regarding new homes coming to the market, tax base and jobs created. I want to share a minute, a praise and a minute of opportunity for improvement. Austin home initiative has been great for Austin. It seems like that's all we've been doing since it passed. There have been significant challenges in regard to infrastructure upgrades needed with timing and cost, as Austin energy has done a magnificent job responding to our needs from intake, design and construction. The responsive Austin energy design is very informative. They teach us on site with job site visits, what's necessary for potential energy upgrades before we even purchase lots. They help us with budgeting and scheduling. Austin energy construction has stepped up. They work Saturdays to get us new lines run, pole set and transformers replaced and upgraded. A.E. Has responded to our request since expressing our needs and concerns a few weeks ago. To facilitate better communication with A.E, we joined the Austin infill council as a medium sized business and we as a team, plan to continue [12:07:20 PM] we as a team, plan to continue to help solve problems through that body. The concern I'm bringing to this group is the cost associated with these upgrades to the infrastructure. As builders, we have costs, we have schedule and we have quality, and we can only control two of those three. This can vary from project to project based on what's currently in place. And sometimes it's a $0 and no schedule impact. And other times these infrastructure upgrades can cost 15 to $20,000 and months of delays. We build houses typically under three months, four months, and if there are upgrades needed, we bear the full brunt of that cost both time and schedule and cost. Excuse me, we just happen to be next in line needing power. An example as a 25 kva transformer, power can power roughly five homes. If we add more to this infrastructure load by adding more square footage and additional homes that are bigger, we need to upgrade transformers to a 50 kva which can support 15 plus homes. The first person needing the power is me, which gets the full force of the design and the [12:08:21 PM] of the design and the construction costs for these upgrades and the schedule impact currently again 4 to 6 months, causing us to completely miss windows for real estate market opportunities and additional interest payments, which can be north of $20,000 a month per project. So I want to propose a suggested solution. We recommend a group of intelligent people be convened and coordinated to better understand how this cost and schedule can be equitable and expedited. Thank you very much. Thank you for your service. Appreciate you being here. Yes, sir. Thank you. Appreciate what you're doing. Thank you. Sir. >> Our last speaker is Allie Hoffman. You will have three minutes. >> Hello. Council members. So I'm from Austin. I'm a UT student. I say I'm from Austin because it's kind of a rarity these days. I just wanted to say that I'm from Texas, Jews for democracy, and I've experienced a lot of anti- semitism in Austin public schooling. It's just an unfortunate fact. But this [12:09:22 PM] unfortunate fact. But this session I found myself at the capitol doing something I thought I'd never do, which is actually arguing against the anti-semitism bills that are going up in the Texas legislature right now. There are several of them, and they all use a very misguided definition of anti-semitism, called the ihra definition of anti-semitism. And I actually spoke personally to the man who drafted that definition of anti-semitism. And he agreed with me that they should never be used to define what speech is and isn't. Okay. I say this just because with the recent sort of intimidation tactics we've seen used by the governor towards, you know, the city of San Marcos and a few other, you know, Texas senators and stuff. It kind of mirrors what we saw with hb 2127, the death star bill, which was ruled unconstitutional. And I just wanted to highlight that, you know, right under our noses, there's this fight kind of going on about what speech is and isn't okay. And I'd really [12:10:23 PM] isn't okay. And I'd really appreciate it if Austin could take some sort of stance that would make it clear to UT students who are really valuable members of our community, the professors that teach them, just really everybody that kind of a almost a free speech sanctuary city, in a way. I think that would be a really important move. I understand that there's a lot of political maneuvering that has to happen around that, but I would just appreciate it. I think it would keep jewish students safer because this whole, you know, political attack on free speech, it's kind of putting the onus on jewish students. It's making us look like we want to stifle speech rather than answer it. And I think that endangers us further. And then there's also, you know, the backdrop of all these really horrendous deportations going on. And yeah, I would just really appreciate if Austin could take a strong stance on that. And I would appreciate your support in that. I yield my time. Thank you. >> Thank you. [12:11:23 PM] >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Members. >> Those are all the people that have signed up to speak at our two 12:00 general public communication time, certain the next item on our agenda is set for a 2:00 pm time. Certain. So without objection, we will recess the meeting of the Austin city council, and we will reconvene promptly at 2:00 pm for the time certain zoning matters. Without objection, we're in recess at 12:11 P.M. >> Good afternoon everyone. John [12:29:52 PM] >> Good afternoon everyone. John Gaar, a native of Louisiana, has called Austin his home for the last 23 years. He is a self-taught guitarist and vocalist with three albums of original songs recorded and released. John picked up the guitar at age 13. In Louisiana. He steeped himself in many different musical tastes and styles, from rock, rhythm and blues, serious blues to cajun, country and zydeco. Before graduating high school, he'd already landed steady work at a local nightclub in his hometown. By 1980, John was holding down four nights a week shows with his older brother, singer songwriter Burton Gaar, and famed zydeco artist rockin Sidney of don't mess with my toot toot fame. From there, John went on to went on the road for two years with an eight piece rhythm and blues group touring the south and southeast. In 1984, he started doing regional and national tours with Louisiana phenomenon, miss Molly and the passions. His first show with Molly was at the fabulous Antone's on Guadalupe, and he also played the very first south [12:30:53 PM] also played the very first south by southwest with Molly. In 2003, John and his wife Sandra relocated to Austin, Texas. John always loved Austin. After years of touring through the city while on the road with other bands, so it just made sense to move to Austin. In 2003, John released bittersweet success, his first record, which was selected for America's best independent artist program and award nationwide distribution at target stores. In between touring regionally and playing in Austin, he had a chance to do a show with the wonderful and unbelievable miss Lavelle white. After the first show with miss Lavelle, he became a vocalist and guitarist with her for many years. John also began performing with malford milligan that began a long run of performances with malford as a member of his band and as a duo. In late 2018, Garza third album, roll like that, launched with the world premiere of the same title. The roll like that video also took home top honors by winning an independent music award honoring the year's most exceptional artist at their [12:31:54 PM] exceptional artist at their ceremony in New York City in June 2019. So, without further ado, John Gaar. >> Got in the car. Neighbors got [12:32:54 PM] >> Got in the car. Neighbors got the cat. Got a full tank of gas with the luggage on the rack. So much full of coffee coolers, jam packed and stoppin for nothing. Let's get a flight. Daddy got the wheel. Mama's got the map. So we just roll like that. Heading down the highway. Feelin mighty fine. Ain't in no hurry. Got plenty of time. I'm Goin down to Louisiana. Just to visit the folk. I'll be there in time for supper. Let the good times roll. Daddy got the real mama's got the map. You know we just roll like that. We're gonna have a party here. We gonna have some fun. Gonna have a real good time. Still be dancin when the [12:33:55 PM] time. Still be dancin when the sun up. Pack up the car. We got to hit the road. Load up the poodles. We got to get back home. Heading back to Austin. We gotta get back where? We're keeping it weird. And that's just a fact. Daddy got the wheel. Mama's got the map. Oh, just roll like that. We're gonna have a party. Yeah, [12:35:14 PM] We're gonna have a party. Yeah, we're gonna have some fun. Gonna have a real good time. They'll be dancing when the sun comes up. Pack up the car. We've got to hit the road. Load up the poodles. We got to get back home. Heading back to Austin. We've gotta get back. Well, we're keeping it. Well, tonight. It's just a fact. Daddy's got the will. Mama's got the map. Oh, we just roll like that. Daddy got the wheel. Mama's got the map. You know, we just roll like that. Daddy got the will. Mama's got the map. You know? Oh, yeah. We rolled. Because we roll like that. Oh, lord have [12:36:19 PM] roll like that. Oh, lord have mercy. No, we just roll like that. Hey. >> That was fantastic. Can you tell people where we can find you on social media? >> You can find us on Instagram at funky foot. >> 59. I believe it is. And if you just look for John Gaar and spell the name right, you can find everything. It's G a R. >> Fantastic. And do you have another show lined up in Austin where we can see you? >> I think we're playing. Where are we at next week? Next week? 17th. >> 17th at Siegel. >> Yeah, we'll be at c- boy's on the 17th Saturday. >> Fantastic, fantastic. Love that venue. >> 8:00. >> Go see boys. All right. I will go ahead and read this [12:37:19 PM] will go ahead and read this proclamation. Now, be it known that whereas the city of Austin, Texas, is blessed with many creative musicians whose talent extends to virtually every musical genre, and whereas our music scene thrives because Austin audiences support good music by legends, our local favorites and newcomers alike. And whereas we are pleased to showcase and support our local artists now, therefore, I pay jealous. Joined by my colleagues, mayor pro tem Vanessa Fuentes and council member Ryan alter on behalf of Kirk Watson, the mayor of the live music capital, to hereby proclaim may 8th, 2025, as John Gaar day in Austin, Texas. >> Know you're the future. Yeah. Good afternoon everybody. It is [2:00:05 PM] Good afternoon everybody. It is 2:00 on may 8th, 2025 and I will call back to order the Austin city council. We now have an item on the agenda that is for our 2:00 time certain. So we are going to begin. >> Good afternoon, mayor and council. I'm Eric Thomas with the planning department. Your zoning agenda today begins with item number 52 nhpa 2024 0005.01. This item is being offered as a request for indefinite postponement by the applicant. The related rezoning is item number 50 3c1 for 2024 0099. Again, this is a request for indefinite postponement by the applicant. Next is item 54. >> Can I interrupt you right there. And just I want to say for the record, those two items, there were a number of people that had signed up to speak on those two items, but those two items are going to be indefinitely postponed as part of the consent agenda. The motion that I will take will be [2:01:05 PM] motion that I will take will be for those two items to be indefinitely postponed. So I just want to make sure that if you're here to speak on those items that you understand, that's where we are on them. Sorry to interrupt you. Please go ahead. >> Thank you. Item number 54 is npa 2024 0008.02. There is a request from the neighborhood for a postponement to June 5th meeting. And we do have speakers here for this and the related zoning item. However, the neighborhood previously requested and was granted a postponement request from your April 10th council meeting to today. There have been multiple meetings facilitated by the district one council office, in which the neighborhood council staff and city staff from various departments have worked to address the neighborhood's concerns. With that, we are offering it today as consent, first reading only and returning on may 22nd for second and third reading consideration. So with that, the related rezoning is item number 55, C one for 2024 0107. Again, we have a neighborhood postponement request your June 5th meeting. But we are offering it today for consent first reading only to allow the case to move forward in tandem with continued [2:02:06 PM] in tandem with continued discussions in this item. Would also return for second and third reading consideration at your may 22nd council meeting. Item number 50 6c1 for 2025 0024. This item is offered as a postponement by staff to your July 24th council meeting. Item number 57 is c14 2025 0028. S H. It's offered for consent on all three readings with the following motion sheet. Amend part two of the draft ordinance to remove commercial off street parking as a prohibited use. And with that again this item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item number 58 is npa 2023 0002.01. This item is offered as an indefinite postponement request by the applicant. There are two related rezoning items. The first is item number 50 9c1 for 2024 0010. This is also offered as an indefinite postponement request by the applicant. The next rezoning item, which is also related to item 58, is item number 60 C one. For 2024 0017. Again, applicant or indefinite [2:03:06 PM] Again, applicant or indefinite postponement request by the applicant. Item number 61 is npa 2022 0005.01. This is offered as an indefinite postponement request by the applicant. The related rezoning item is number 60 2c1 for 2022 0107. This is also being offered as an indefinite postponement request by the applicant. Item number 63 is npa 2025 0019.02. This is offered as a staff postponement to your June 5th council meeting. The related item is number 64. C20 2024 010. Again, postponement by staff to your June 5th meeting. Item number 65 is C one for 2024 0165. This item is offered as a postponement request to your may 22nd council meeting. This is the second postponement request from the neighborhood, but the applicant is not opposed to the request. Item number 60 6c1 for 2024 0169. This item is related to the previous case, item 65, and it is also being offered as [2:04:07 PM] and it is also being offered as a postponement request to your may 22nd council meeting. The next three rezoning items are related, so beginning with item number 67, C one for 2024 0112, this is a postponement request from council member vela to your may 22nd meeting. The related item is number 60 8c1 for 2024 0113. This is also a postponement request from council member vela to your may 22nd council meeting. The next related item is item number 60 9c1 for 2024 0114. And this item has a postponement request from council member qadri to your may 22nd council meeting. Moving on, the next seven items are all related, beginning with item number 70 C one for 2025 0010. We did receive a letter of support from the neighborhood for this case and the next six related items, and that can be found in your backup. With that, this item is being offered as consent. Second and third readings. The next item which again is related is item number 71 2020 C one. For 2025 0014 [2:05:08 PM] 71 2020 C one. For 2025 0014 this is being offered for consent. Second and third readings. The next related item is item number 70 2c1 for 2025 0012. Again consent second and third readings. The next related item is item 70 3c1 for 79 019 rc T. This is a public restrictive covenant termination, so it only gets one reading. And with that it is being offered for consent. The next item is item number 74. C14 2025 0015. This is offered for consent. Second and third readings. The next related item is item number 75. C14 2025 0017. Again, consent, second and third readings and the final related item is item number 76. C14 2025 0016. This is also offered for consent. Second and third readings. This concludes the reading of the agenda. And of course, all of this is at your discretion. >> Thank you. Members, I'm going to read the consent agenda into the record and seek a motion and [2:06:09 PM] the record and seek a motion and a second on the consent agenda. Before we go further, so let me read the I will entertain a motion for the following items 52 and 53. An indefinite postponement 54. In related item 55. Consent on first reading only. 56. Postponement to seven 2457. Consent on all three readings subject to the motion sheet that was already read into the record 58, 59 and 60. Indefinite postponements 61 and 62. Indefinite postponements 63 and 64. Postponement to 65, 65 and 66. Request for postponement until on both instances to may 22nd and the applicants not opposed 67, 68 and 69. Postponement to may 22nd, 70, 71 and 72. Second and third [2:07:13 PM] and 72. Second and third readings 73. It only requires one reading, so it would be on consent for the restrictive covenant termination 74, 75 and 76 consent on second and third readings. Is there a motion? Motion made by council member Segal, seconded by council member Ellis members? We will now go to public testimony again. Again, if you're here to testify, let me point out that if you're here on 52, 53, 58, 59, 60, 61 and 62, those are the motion is that those be postponed indefinitely. So if you're going to give your comments, they need to be limited to the merits of a postponement. But they're going to be postponed indefinitely, indefinitely if the motion passes 63 and 64. Or is also postponement, 65 and 66 are [2:08:16 PM] postponement, 65 and 66 are postponements 67, 68 and 69 are postponements. With that, I will turn to the city clerk and ask for your help as we go forward on public comment. >> Yes, on item 52, we have no Elias with time donated by Monica Guzman. You will have four minutes to speak on the merits of the postponement. >> This is on the merits of the postponement. Please, please keep your comments to that. >> And may I ask, may I speak on item 62 and 63? That's also on the consent. >> When they are called up. >> When they are called. Okay. Thank you. >> But again it's on the merits of the postponement. >> Thank you. All right. Good morning, Austin city council. Mayor. My name is Noah Elias. I'm from montopolis. I'm in district three. I'm here to speak on item 52 and 53, the Saxon acres case. So the community supports the indefinite postponement. So we want a chance to speak directly with the developer and explore [2:09:18 PM] with the developer and explore solutions that serve our neighborhood. If you read the staff report, you'll see that the city staff recommends against granting this upzoning. Why? Because the property is at the end of a dead end street. It's surrounded by homes and this development will increase traffic. And this development simply does not belong in this area. It's also worth noting that the developer has already received an upzoning in 2020. They went from sf three to sf six and they haven't built anything. And now they're asking for another zoning change. So this looks less like a plan to build housing and more like an attempt to increase land value. >> So you favor the postponement? >> Yes, sir. So this development, we believe that it's speculation. And the community sees right through that, that process. So we've already seen other developments along this area, like right next to Allison elementary. And [2:10:18 PM] to Allison elementary. And usually they talk about an increase in student population. But Allison has not seen any student population increase based on these developments. So sorry. So the new residents are often higher income residents. They don't send their kids to our school. So that's not community that causes displacement. So what I'm here to say is that the community urges the city council not only to postpone this case, but also think about how these zoning cases cause displacement and what these developments are really for, and what impact does it have on schools and families and our neighbors. So what we need to do as the city council as a city is we need to sound the alarm on displacement. We need to sound the alarm on unaffordable housing, and we need to sound the alarm on policies that allow developers to profit without real accountability. So if you're offering bonuses. >> Marc duchen, we need action. Next. >> Would you please. [2:11:19 PM] >> Would you please. >> Marc duchen we need action. Next. Stand up. >> Please come to order. >> Next, stand up to the developers. Brett Marc duchen. >> Please, please. >> Stand up to the. >> With that members. Without objection, the city council will be in recess until 2:30 P.M. Please. It's 2:30 P.M. On may 8th, and I [2:30:18 PM] It's 2:30 P.M. On may 8th, and I will call back to order the Austin city council after a brief recess and turn to the city clerk for additional speakers on item number 52. >> Yes, we have Marianne Sanchez, Susana Almanza, and Pedro Hernandez. >> If your name is called, please come forward. I don't see anybody coming forward. Go to the. >> Valerie Menard, Carlos pinon. Aubrey Langston. >> If your name's been called, please come forward. Please go ahead. >> Marc. Verastegui. Franck. Mario. Jenny Grayson. Brad. Massingill, Celine. Rendon. >> This is item number 52, which is the consent agenda. Motion is for an indefinite postponement. Yes, please. So please speak [2:31:18 PM] Yes, please. So please speak only to the merits of the postponement. >> Understand? And I appreciate the indefinite postponement. I think almost 50 people signed a petition against this. So to not change the neighborhood plan. Just so everybody at home knows what we're talking about. This was at 318 Saxon and six 328 Miranda. And it's in the country club east and the Colorado river watersheds in d3. And I know the neighborhood appreciates the. >> Thank you. Please go to item 53. >> For item 53. We have no alias Marianne Sanchez. Susana Almanza, Pedro Hernandez. Valerie Menard. Carlos pinon. Mary verastegui, Franck Mario. [2:32:21 PM] Mary verastegui, Franck Mario. Jenny Grayson, Brad Massingill, Celine Rendon. >> If your name has been called, please come forward. If you know you're going to testify, you might just hang up front. If you're not going to testify, let us know that in advance. >> Just so we're clear, that item 52 is for the future land use map alteration in 53 is for the zoning change. So I just wanted to. >> Well thank you. Please go to item 54. >> For item 54. We're going to go remote. We have Jessica Negley speaking on the merits of the postponement. >> Item 54 is on the consent agenda for first reading. It may be that she seeks a postponement, but she can speak on as on the merits of the matter. [2:33:23 PM] matter. >> Jessica, please unmute. Please. >> Can you guys hear me? >> Yes we can, thank you. >> Yeah. So I just wanted to echo my neighbors in the Austin heights neighborhood association and request just a first reading so we can really make sure that this project is done with affordability and the community in mind. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> We have Jim walker on item 54. Jenny Grayson. You have two minutes. >> If your name's been called, please come forward. >> And Jim walker was at cherrywood neighborhood association. We are adjacent to this case across Maynard road, but still very much active in the tod that this is being carved out of. My point is only [2:34:23 PM] carved out of. My point is only to that, and I think within this postponement period, it would be great for, I think, staff to look more deeply at what the precedent is being set with carving out this property from a tod in an older tod. It's largely built out, but it's still there for a reason. There are two new metro rapid lines crossing there. With the all the attention that went into the north Lamar south congress of small area plans and updating those as small area plans. I think that kind of view would be warranted in this case as well. So hopefully that can be looked at within the postponement period. Thank you. >> Daniela vela. She has time donated by Monica Guzman for a total of four minutes. >> Good afternoon, mayor and council members. My name is Daniela valle. I live in Austin heights, a deeply rooted neighborhood at the gateway to east Austin. I'm here today to [2:35:24 PM] east Austin. I'm here today to ask you that you only grant a first reading for items 54 and 55 regarding 2967 manor road. I stand before you not in opposition of housing. We are a community that welcomes growth. We ask for thoughtful, intentional planning, not a rush to rezone most complex pieces of land in our district without fully understanding the impact. This property sits at the edge of multiple overlapping crisis crises. Flooding is already a reality for five homes. Nearby residents sandbag their doorsteps, families brace every time it rains, and now a 50 foot building threatens to act like a wall, pushing water fast and hard into places that cannot take it. Watershed knows this. They've said it themselves. The site deserves more time and more care. Traffic is another major concern. The manor and airport intersection is already dangerous. There have been fatalities. Emergency vehicles struggle to navigate it. And yet [2:36:26 PM] struggle to navigate it. And yet this project proposes just one entrance and exit right into the chaos. That's not planning. That's playing with lives. And then there's affordability. We're not asking for luxury. We're asking for homes or people can actually live in. Right now, only the minimum is being offered that won't cut it. We need a deeper affordability commitment, especially for the essential workers, the teachers, the restaurant staff and seniors who already call this place home. I want to share something personal. Just last week, we spoke with a 93 year old black neighbor, someone who's lived in Austin heights her entire life. She told us how much she loves her home, but also how afraid she is. Her taxes keep rising, her street keeps changing, she told us with tears in her eyes. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to stay. That's what this vote means. That's who it affects. We've also been in direct contact with traffic control and watershed, and both have acknowledged how [2:37:26 PM] have acknowledged how complicated this site is. They understand the stakes. They agree this process needs more time, more collaboration, more dialog. But none of that is possible if we charge ahead today. This case is actually historic. This is the first case to be removed from a tod district if approved. It sets a precedent and we yet have not a big we don't have a big picture vision, no plan to integrate this into the broader neighborhood. Every other case around us has had more holistic planning. Why not this one? On top of it all? Today we lose John Lawler and will be left with a cast of three temporary appointees. That means we're starting all over mid-process with no one really in our corner. And yet, even now, we're not digging in our heels. We're working in good faith with our design to shape this project into something we can all be really proud of. But we need more time. And the only way we can get that time is if you grant this first reading only today. We're not against growth. [2:38:27 PM] today. We're not against growth. We're against doing it blindly. We want a future that lifts everyone, not just those who can afford to displace others. I'll end up with this. Our community is really strong, and we're united, and we are willing to do whatever it takes to protect the soul, the safety and the future of our neighborhood. Please stand with us today. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. And the motion? Is that it? Be on first reading only. >> For item 54. Ginny Grayson, Vincent calzone, Brad Massengill. >> Welcome. >> Hi. My name is Vincent calzone. I'm the homeowner at 2939 moss street, just around the corner from the proposed zoning change. And I'm part of the Austin heights neighborhood association. I'm here today mainly to ask you to only hear a first reading of items 54 and 55. We're asking for more time, [2:39:28 PM] 55. We're asking for more time, both so we can work with the developer on a plan that is appropriate for our neighborhood and the intersection, and also so city council can fully consider the implications of db 90 and a tod. Not only is a db 90 carve out and a tod unprecedented, this particular development would be at the airport and major intersection, which is lacking in both vehicle and pedestrian infrastructure. Urging city council support a small area plan for this intersection before any intensification of development. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Item 54. Of course, it's another. >> Future land use map case. As they're mentioning before, it's a to change the T O D into a multi-use area. I totally [2:40:28 PM] multi-use area. I totally support the neighborhood. This. This is a Burt reading this on the first reading only. This is at 2967 manor road at boggy creek and Tannehill branch creek. And it's worth noting, as the previous previous speaker was talking about the flooding issue here. Later cases today are going to be talking about building up a lot of impervious cover in the Tannehill branch watershed, which is right upstream from this. It's not going to help. So taking all these piece by piece is doing the watershed a disservice, inasmuch as there's a cumulative effect from all of these projects and it's affecting our neighborhoods. So I support the first reading only. >> Next we have Joseph Turrentine. Celine Rendon. On item 55. We will move to remote [2:41:34 PM] item 55. We will move to remote speakers. We have Jessica Negley. Jessica, please unmute. >> Hi. Yes, I actually already spoke, but spoke just kind of echoing the neighbors that you just heard from requesting a first reading only. >> Thank you. >> We have Daniella vela with Monica Guzman donating time. >> Do you wish to speak on this item as well? >> That'll be four minutes. >> These two items are related, so anything I've said previously. Echo again. First reading please and thank you. >> Thank you. >> Jenny Grayson. Vincent calzone. >> Read speak or waive your he's he's waiving his time. He spoke previously on item 54. Thank [2:42:35 PM] previously on item 54. Thank you. >> Brad Massingill. >> And just briefly item 55 is for I guess, a db 90 overlay zone, which I'm not sure if I've heard of that before. The whole zone that can be just automatically db 90. That's a concern. >> Thank you sir. >> For item 55 Joseph Turrentine. Celine Rendon. For item 56 Celine Rendon. 57 and 58 would be Celine Rendon. Item 59 Brad Massingill. >> This is an indefinite postponement. >> Yeah. And I another agreement. This is a good a good [2:43:35 PM] agreement. This is a good a good thing to do. Item 59 is a. A south plot of this db 90 thing. It's and it's at at 112 Medina 1005 east second and 105 San Marcos in the walnut creek south watershed. >> Don't go too far. >> Item 59 Celine Rendon. Item 60 Brad Massingill. >> Item 60. Apparently it's the north edition of the same. Db 90 thing at 112 Medina 1005 east second and 104 San Marcos. And this is in D three. >> Item 60. Selena. Rendon. Item 61 no. Elias. 61. Monica Guzman. [2:44:38 PM] 61 no. Elias. 61. Monica Guzman. >> She's waving her speaking. Thank you, miss Guzman. >> Item 61 Mary Ann Sanchez. 61 Adrian Macias. Item 61 Susana Almanza. Pedro Hernandez, junior. Item 61 Valerie Menard. Carlos pinon, Aubrey Langston. Mary verastegui. Franck Monroe. Jenny Grayson. Brad Massingill, and item 61. >> Again with the separation of the future land use map from the [2:45:39 PM] the future land use map from the next case 62, which will be db 90. This is at 400 vargas and 6520 lynch Laine, and that's in the country club east and the Colorado river watersheds. And in district D three and support the indefinite postponement on that one. >> Last person for item 61 is Selena Rendon. Item 62 no alias. Monica Guzman. >> Good afternoon. I'm Monica Guzman, policy director of GABA go. Austin. Vamos, Austin. I'm also here wearing my other hat. Just a district for resident. While it is good to hear about the indefinite postponement, I [2:46:41 PM] the indefinite postponement, I want to speak as other others have regarding the density bonus 90 cases, this one and how you can see what's going on with acacia cliffs. It's meant to address housing needs, but the affordability that comes with it is not deep enough. It's only going to serve to displace folks when development is done in more vulnerable communities such as montopolis. So thank you, council member duchen for what you posted on the council message board yesterday, and we hope that the rest of council will walk with him and make that change. Find a way to improve living conditions, improve buildings, make them healthier, more habitable without displacing the people who need that low rent. I know what it is personally to walk in those shoes and what a struggle it is. We need you to lead the way so that it can be done to protect people, protect naturally [2:47:41 PM] people, protect naturally affordable housing, or if it's a case of rent. Finally, after 20 years, people can't wait 2030 years for the rent to go down. That means increasing the people living under bridges and on the corners. One is not the answer to the other. You got to find a way to make both work. Thank you. >> Thank you. Marianne Sanchez on item 62. Adrian Macias. Susana Almanza, Pedro Hernandez, junior. Valerie Menard. Carlos pinon, Aubrey Langston. Mary verastegui. Franck. Monroe. Ginny. Grayson. Brad Massingill. >> Monica. Height. That. I'd [2:48:43 PM] >> Monica. Height. That. I'd like to echo. What? What Monica was saying a little bit. Austin used to be known as the biggest small town in the country. Totally friendly place. People could come and feel welcome here. And we flip the script and now we're like the smallest big town. We're just busting at the seams. And the people that are getting affected by this are our low income residents and our working poor. The people that actually make the city work. And if we're not taking into account where they're living now and what they're paying now and their access to public services now, and enshrine that into some kind of code that reflects what I think is the value of Austin, at least the old values of Austin and not some new replacement shiny facelift that we don't actually need, you know? So I on all of these, I [2:49:45 PM] know? So I on all of these, I think the db9's are out of sync. And of course, you all know I'm, I come here every week. I'm not just doing it for my health. I could be doing other things. But just to let you know, y'all know that me and several people that I know are watching y'all and y'all are being held accountable for this in the long term. So don't throw everybody out with the bathwater. Thank you. >> For items 62 through 67 Celine Rendon. Brian Bedrosian on item 67 speaking on the merits of the postponement. >> Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, the council. My name is Brian Bedrosian. I'm the chair of the north loop neighborhood plan contact team. I'm just here to thank council members qadri and vela for permitting the postponement of this case. We are in active negotiations with [2:50:45 PM] are in active negotiations with this developer on this case, and we are actively working to be back in front of you on the 22nd. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Thanks for what you're trying to do. >> Mr. Bedrosian. You're also signed up for 68. Would you like? Okay. >> Thank you sir. >> Brian Massingill on item 68. >> Again. Just so folks know where these things are, it's in district four at a 704 east 53rd street in the Tannehill branch watershed. And I support the postponement. >> Item 68 Celine Rendon. Item 69 Brad Massingill. >> Another db 90. And this one is at five 5210 bronin this [2:51:47 PM] is at five 5210 bronin this one's in district nine and it's on the boggy creek watershed. And again support the postponement. >> Item 69 Selena Rendon, item 70 Brian Bedrosian. >> Once again, Brian Bedrosian, chair of the north loop neighborhood plan contact team. I'm speaking on items 70 and 76 and this will count for all those. I just want to thank councilmember vela's office for assisting us in the negotiations on this project, as well as the developer, united properties, for all the work they've done in negotiating with the neighborhood on this, we support the zoning cases. We appreciate your consideration of these cases, and thank you for letting us be before you today. >> Thank you for future reference. Councilmember vela really likes a loud whistle when you're complimenting him. >> For item 70, Brad Massingill and Selena Rendon. [2:52:47 PM] and Selena Rendon. >> All these all these projects 69 through 76, they're all in a triangle basically prescribed by I-35 airport and Caney Laine. This one is at 605 east 56th street. And again, it's in the Tannehill branch watershed in d4. A lot of concrete going on in this section, as far as I can tell. I'm not sure if there's a an overall plan for this. And my concern with how all this singular but one single project is going to tie in with the infrastructure over there. So support this, support the postponement. >> For item 71, we have Brian Bedrosian, Brad Massingill and [2:53:49 PM] Bedrosian, Brad Massingill and Celine Rendon. >> Go ahead, Mr. Massingill. >> All right. Item 71 something they call parcel C. It's in d4 as well at 5500 martin in the Tannehill branch watershed. >> Thank you, Mr. Bedrosian. Okay. Thank you sir. >> For 72, we have Brad Massingill and Celine Rendon. >> Okay. This is a item 72. It's something called parcel D. It's 701 and 703 east 55th street. And again this is in the Tannehill branch of watershed in d4. >> On 73 we have Brad Massingill and Celine Rendon. [2:54:52 PM] and Celine Rendon. >> I guess this is having to do with restrictive covenant there. And again this is part of the postponements I support that. >> 74 Brad Massingill and Celine Rendon. >> Item 74 is at 5509 martin and 707 east 56th street. It's on something called parcel E, and again, it's another db9 that's in the Tannehill branch watershed in d4. >> Item 75 Brad Massingill and Celine Rendon. >> And this is something called parcel F, so that might be appropriate I don't know. This is at 713 east 56. And the combined addresses on middle [2:55:54 PM] combined addresses on middle Fisk bill road are 5502, 55, oh eight, 55, 22.5. And again, that's in the Tannehill branch watershed in d4. >> Our last speaker on item 76 is Celine Rendon. >> Miss Rendon, I don't think she's here. All right, members, that concludes all of the people that have signed up to speak on the 2:00 time. Certain we have a motion and a second on a consent agenda as it was read. Let me ask, is there anybody wishing to pull an item from the consent agenda after public testimony? All right. Is there anyone wishing to be shown abstaining on the consent agenda? Anyone wishing to be shown recusing themselves from a vote on any item on the consent agenda? Anyone wishing to be shown voting no on any item on the consent agenda. Any discussion. Okay, council member duchen. [2:56:58 PM] Okay, council member duchen. >> I just want to draw our attention very quickly to the string of six developments. I think these are councilmember district four developments, and only because I've seen a parallel happen in some other places, and I'm specifically referring to what triggers a traffic impact analysis. There's, I think, a combination about 1500 units. When I look at the EPA smart growth trip generator meter, that comes out to something like over 9000 trips per day. I know the limit is 2000 to trigger a tia, but I just want to bring to our attention that it might be valuable going forward to think about in these cases where we've got multiple parcels and multiple developments happening, the same geography, it might be worth figuring out. Is it worthwhile to have something that triggers more comprehensive analysis for traffic? That's all. >> Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember. Councilmember Siegel, did you have your hand up? >> Thank you. Mayor. Yes, I just [2:57:59 PM] >> Thank you. Mayor. Yes, I just wanted to actually on the items 7376. This looks like a very strong project to convert car lots with, by the way, 100% impervious cover to an area that's gonna have a lot of housing. This is a neighborhood that has very rich transit access. We've got the ACC highland campus and a growing array of amenities. So I just want to thank councilmember vela for leading on this, your staff, pfor all the work and for collaborating with the community, because I've heard a lot of good things about your work with the neighborhood to push this forward. Thank you. >> Yes, councilmember vela. >> You took the words right out of my mouth. Councilmember Siegel. Everything that he said, plus, I've got to thank Mr. Hartman, who's the agent on the property. And just to give a little bit of context, they had vmu two and then it was struck down in court. And so it's been a long, difficult journey. But I really appreciate Mr. Hartman and both Brian and Steve for all the time and effort. They're volunteers. They they do this just because they live in the [2:58:59 PM] just because they live in the neighborhood and they love the neighborhood. And I think we've gotten to a really good place. But again, I just really appreciate the time and effort that they put in. And I also wanted to say that on on item 67 and 68. I appreciate Leah abajo, and that was a postponed. But I think we're going to we're going to get to a good place again. The same people involved, different agent. But Brian and Steve and the north loop neighborhood association have generally been extremely attentive to all things that are happening around there, and flexible and willing to work and getting the kinds of, of concessions that are pro walkability, pro quality of life, you know, understanding that the neighborhood is going to turn, but wanting to make sure that the positive elements are contained within the plans and really enjoyed working with with everybody involved and just glad to see these projects moving through. >> Thank you mayor. Great. Thank you for saying that. Councilmember. Any other discussion? Hearing? None. [2:59:59 PM] discussion? Hearing? None. Without objection. The consent agenda on the zoning items, items 52 through 76 is adopted members. There being no further business to come before the Austin city council at this regularly scheduled meeting of the Austin city council. Without objection, we are adjourned at 3:00 pm.