City Council Meeting Transcript – 7/24/2025 Title: ATXN-1 (24hr) Channel: 1 - ATXN-1 Recorded On: 7/24/2025 6:00:00 AM Original Air Date: 7/24/2025 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. [10:00:05 AM] You're watching a meeting of the Austin City Council Council members Broadnax. >> Good morning everybody. It's 10:00 in the morning on July 24th, 2025, and I will call to [10:01:06 AM] 24th, 2025, and I will call to order the regular meeting of the Austin city council scheduled for today's date. We have all of the council members present, and we are meeting in city council chambers at city hall, located at 301 west second street in Austin, Texas. Members and members of the public. The order that we're going to go in today in a general fashion is in just a minute. I will read changes and corrections into the record. We will then go to our speakers for what is the consent agenda. No items have been pulled from the consent agenda. And so we will hear from the public on those items. We will then have discussion remarks from council. If you want to be heard on the consent agenda, please let me know that I've heard from one of you that wants to be. And I know that is not enough. Yeah, and not not not right now. That's why I put out the message board post. So we have a day to do that anyway if you want to do that. Oh. Are you alright. The manager is on fire today. You [10:02:09 AM] manager is on fire today. You okay? Okay. That was weird. Those of you all can't see that. That was very weird. The plug sparked really badly. We're done. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. With with no objection. We're adjourned. Hopefully. Hopefully. That is not a sign of the day. We will then at around 1030 or as close to it will not be at 1030, just because the number of speakers we have signed up on the consent agenda. But as nearly as we can, I will recess the meeting of the office of city council, and we will go into a meeting of the board of directors of the Austin housing finance corporation. We will then go to items that are non consent items and that includes eminent domain items, a variety of public hearings that we have, some of which are related to specific agenda items. We will at noon we will have pause [10:03:10 AM] at noon we will have pause wherever we are. And at noon we will have the 12:00 time certain which will be general public communication and music members. The way we will do that is that at noon we will hear from the public, the public, on public comment. We will recess at around 1230 or 1235. That usually lasts until 1230 or 1235. We will recess until probably around 110, and that way we will also have live music. We will come back for zoning items at 2:00, which is also a time certain with that, unless there are questions, I will go to the changes and corrections and read those into the record on item number 20. It should read council districts five, eight and ten on items 42, 72, 113 and 121. It should be those items should be withdrawn 4272, 113 and 121. So if you're [10:04:13 AM] 4272, 113 and 121. So if you're here, by the way, to speak on those items or you're listening in and you're going to participate remotely, 4272, 113 and 121 have been withdrawn. Items 49 and 108 are postponed to August 28th, 2025. Council meeting item 199. I'm not going to read the whole item, but the funding aspect of it should read. Funding $100,000 is available in the delete the words operating budget and replace it with social services budget so that it reads. Funding colon $100,000 is available in the social services budget of the homeless strategy office. Items 117 through 119 are withdrawn and replaced with items 177 through 179 on the addendum. Item number 122 should add as co-sponsors. Council [10:05:16 AM] add as co-sponsors. Council member duchen. Council member Krista Laine Laine. Council member Paige Ellis. Council member Jose chito vela. Council member Mike Siegel. Members. Those are all the changes and corrections to be read into the record. So with that, we will now go to the consent agenda and the items on the consent agenda. And we will hear from speakers before I call on the city clerk to start doing that. If you're here in person and wishing to give input to the council on any of these items, what will happen is the clerk's office is going to call several names in a row, 3 to 5 names at one time. Please come forward. We have we've changed the format a little bit to make it easier for you all, and to make it easier for people to be prepared for their their testimony. And the way we can do that is please come up. And if there's an empty seat in front [10:06:16 AM] there's an empty seat in front of a microphone, take it. And when somebody if the microphone is available, go ahead and begin. When you finish your testimony or finish your comments, you don't need to stay seated there. You can get up and leave. And if somebody else's name has been called, please come forward. But we're asking people to do it in part out of respect for people that might be speaking after you, because you give your testimony and you may go home or go back to doing what you would otherwise be doing. And this allows for some greater efficiency and is helpful to the people that follow you as well. So with that, I will turn to the city clerk and ask that you help us navigate this process. >> Thank you mayor. First item is number two, Rachel Roberts. Followed by item three, Zenobia Joseph. >> Miss Joseph, if you're if you're here, please make your way forward. Please go ahead. >> Hi. Thank you, honorable [10:07:20 AM] >> Hi. Thank you, honorable council members, and thank you for allowing me to speak today. My name is Rachel Roberts. I am a resident of Austin, Texas, and I am the owner of fresh plant shop and we are here today to discuss getting a waiver for an alcoholic permit for our new plant, shop and wine bar located on 5003 airport boulevard here in Austin, and we are also speaking later at the zoning part of the meeting. This is a new location that we have already taken over, and the issue with the alcohol license is related to the proximity we have to ridgetop elementary school, and we will be getting all the support from our neighborhood, which we've submitted letters from the school, as well as the north loop neighborhood association. And we are in proximity on [10:08:23 AM] And we are in proximity on airport boulevard of several other establishments that are directly next door to us, that currently are restaurants that serve alcohol. So we are just trying to fit in with that that's already been zoned, and we hope that you guys can consider our waiver. And again, we will be part of the zoning section later. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Mayor. Do you mind if I ask a quick question of the owner? >> Sure. Councilmember harper-madison. >> The waiver that you seek, you said alcohol license. Is it? Would the second location for flourish continue to just be wine or wine and liquor? >> It is no, not not liquor, just wine. And then there's food and there's a retail shop. >> So 51% of the business is food. Yes. Like other bars. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. [10:09:24 AM] >> Okay. >> Next item number 18 William bunch Adam king. >> Go ahead okay. >> Thank you. Council members. My name is Adam king and I'm a law clerk this summer at save our springs alliance. I'm speaking to today to support item 18. Because communication and transparency are never bad things. And in furtherance of the goals of communication and transparency, we also ask that the council consider making these permit applications available to the public. If these documents are available to city staff, they should be public record in a way that's easy to track and accessible. Individualized public information requests won't work if the project is hidden from public view in the first place. This item envisions efficiency and cooperation for these permit applications, and the council should be proactive in making [10:10:25 AM] should be proactive in making public engagement efficient as well. Please consider making these permit applications trackable and available to the public. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Bunch. >> Yes, bill bunch, executive director, save our springs alliance. I just want to support what Mr. King just said. This permitting process for the balcones canyonlands plan, where developers pay into a fund to help us acquire the preserve lands that we still need to complete the plan. This is cooperatively managed between the city and the county. It's been a great program. Absolutely. Y'all should be sharing this information efficiently between the two governmental entities, but this should be a public database so that everybody can see it. And that should be a very simple thing for you to do. So again, just really urging you to add that transparency component to this item. >> Next item 19 William bunch [10:11:26 AM] >> Next item 19 William bunch Bobby Levinsky. >> Chris Chen. >> Thank you. Mayor and council Bobby Levinsky, attorney for silver springs. Item 19 is a $59 million loan for the walnut creek water wastewater treatment plant expansion, part of a larger project expected to reach $1 billion. There's at least $75 million allocated for this project in this year's proposed budget. The debt financing of this expansion has already led to significant water rate increases for customers to cover these capital costs. In fact, it was the primary driver of the recent water increases in last year's budget. Although some state requirements have triggered the need for expansion planning, there is no mandate for an expansion of the scale nor the construction of the project to proceed immediately by by prioritizing water conservation initiatives, the volume of wastewater required, sorry by. Sorry. By prioritizing [10:12:27 AM] sorry by. Sorry. By prioritizing water conservation initiatives, the volume of wastewater requiring treatment can be reduced, potentially delaying or even avoiding the need for an expansion of this magnitude. So if the city council is concerned about the burden that you're putting on taxpayers for this year's budget, including a potential TRE, one of the ways you could avoid the those costs on residents immediately would be to delay this project and push it back further in the timeline. Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor. Council members bill bunch also with save our springs alliance. Just to add a little bit on here, this is a $1.1 billion project overall to expand the walnut creek wastewater treatment plant. That is not an urgent project. And given the budget realities you're facing, it really should be postponed with perhaps one exception. One component of the project is to [10:13:28 AM] component of the project is to add some flood protection for the sewer plant. Obviously that's important. We don't want flood damage to the facility, and the details on that should be paid attention to, but we are never going to need an expansion of this scale because there's simply not enough water out there for our future of the city to convert into 25 million gallons a day, more of sewage to go into this plant. And that's what y'all have already approved moving forward on. But it's early in the process. You need to call time out and redirect this money, or lower the rates and fix our leaky pipes. Thank you. >> Item number 20 William bunch Bobby Levinsky. >> Thank you, mayor and council, this is Bobby Levinsky with save [10:14:28 AM] this is Bobby Levinsky with save our springs alliance. Item 120 is a temporary suspension of the proposed water and wastewater rate increases by aqua tex for the customers that are served within the city of Austin's jurisdiction. You have a letter in your email boxes penned primarily by our newest, one of our newest attorneys to be Beatrice Anderson. She is studying for the bar right now so she can be here. Good luck to her next week, but we wanted to highlight this item for you because aqua tex has a long history of violating groundwater permits, waste, wasting water through leaky infrastructure, and failing to comply with both local and state regulations. Over the past five years, they have pumped nearly double their permitted groundwater allotments in the Wimberley area and wasted through unrepaired leaks a volume of water that is equivalent to what is needed to keep Jacob's well flowing. It has dried for several years. Instead of fixing their systems, they have fought enforcement efforts and refused to pay over [10:15:28 AM] efforts and refused to pay over $500,000 in fines. Worse, environmental violations have led to raw sewage spills and permit violations across central Texas, all while customers continue to suffer from high bills and unreliable service rate hikes have not resulted in better infrastructure or service from aqua on a system wide basis. Austin's residents deserve better, and we urge you to suspend these rates and for you to, as local leaders, speak out and join the regional conversation. And considering whether this is an entity that should continue to be providing service in the Austin area. Thank you. >> Yes, thank you. Mayor. >> Council members, we appreciate that this is on the agenda. We support it. Suspending the rate increase for this aqua tex rate, water and sewer rates in a small area that's within your jurisdiction. Just to underscore what you heard from Mr. Levinsky, alcatel [10:16:29 AM] heard from Mr. Levinsky, alcatel is a $17 billion for profit water company. They're a bad actor. They're directly responsible for Jacob's well going dry for extended periods of time because of their excessive and illegal pumping in the Wimberley area, they have been exceeding their permits from pumping. The permits issued by the Barton springs Edwards aquifer conservation district, doing direct harm to Barton springs and other wells people, depending on that water source. And we absolutely appreciate that you're calling time out on this and looking to oppose this rate increase. It should be actively opposed. And please do cooperate with hays county, city of Wimberley and others in the region who are suffering this same game of aqua tex and wanting ever more rate increases [10:17:31 AM] wanting ever more rate increases while delivering incredibly poor service and violating permits. Many of those permits. Thank you. >> Item number 27 Paul Robbins. On deck is item 29, William budge. And item 31, William bunch. >> Mr. Bunch, if you're going to speak on those items, please come forward. Mr. Robbins floor is yours. >> Council. I serve as vice chair of the resource management commission. This will be the third rate increase proposal from Texas gas service in about a year's time. If they receive this, rates will have gone up 132% in a ten year period. It is my opinion that the company is asking for this rate increase now, to preempt it as an issue in the upcoming franchise renewal next year. At our last [10:18:33 AM] renewal next year. At our last meeting, members of our commission individually commented on and made seven recommendations related to the rate case. Given time, I will report on five of them. Slide a quorum of our commission recommends the following. We agree with city staff to oppose the consolidation of the service area for purposes of a statewide rate that will raise Austin gas prices once again. Second, we agree that with city staff to oppose the outrageous regressive rate structure that's being proposed, where the more you use, the less you pay per unit. This discourages conservation and hurts the poor. Three we are skeptical of the increase in surety payments to people who cannot pay their bills, at least the way it is proposed. We would like to see a dollar per dollar [10:19:33 AM] like to see a dollar per dollar match from company shareholders. Transparency for program funding, development of an outreach program, and assurance that the funds collected from Austin would be spent in Austin. Fourth, we support full capital recovery fees for line extensions and hookups. I offer my own opinion that Austin water collects capital recovery fees for treatment plants, as well as approach mains, which is a good strategy. >> That's. Thank you, Mr. Bunch. >> Yes, bill bunch, save our springs alliance district five. This item number 29 is to issue $291 million in certificates of obligation debt. You have a couple of other large debt items following this. On all of these we simply ask that you postpone action on this and incorporate [10:20:36 AM] action on this and incorporate it into the budget, because it should be this sort of huge debt obligations, especially since they're not voter approved, they're certificates of obligation. This needs to be looked at in the context of the budget. And as with the walnut creek wastewater treatment plant, $1 billion project projects that are in these baskets of debt obligations that are not urgent or not priority should be considered for postponement. This is also important because right now, as you know, municipal borrowing rates are at record high. Y'all should be talking about that and seriously considering it. And then we have. Phenomenal uncertainty around what are these things, these big projects really going to cost with tariffs, with supply chain issues, with workforce issues, with climate change, weather [10:21:39 AM] with climate change, weather disasters, heat waves, flooding in particular, all of these big ticket spending items that commit our city for years, decades and in, in essence, are permanent decisions really need some scrutiny from y'all. You can't just sit there and just rubber stamp this stuff. As much as you'd like to do that, please show some leadership, some common sense, and some responsiveness to the fact that we're in a different world than we were in just a few years ago. Thank you. >> Mr. Bunch. Did you want to speak on 31? >> I think I covered it, thank you. >> Item number 37, William bunch. And then item number 41 truelove. Derek. >> Please say 41 again. >> 41 Trueba. Derek. >> Members. Item number 35. When [10:22:42 AM] >> Members. Item number 35. When I indicated a minute ago that no items have been pulled, council member duchen has pulled item number 35. So if you're and then we do have a speaker on 35, we'll take it up later. >> On item 37, which is a $706,000 expenditure for a floating dock on the north shore of lady bird lake near Camacho recreation center. We're not necessarily against this, but it should be noted that this dock got a whole lot bigger than what's actually in the park master plan. There wasn't close scrutiny of this item by the parks board. There should be. And for this and all of our other big ticket items, there really should be some competitive bidding and some transparency and some information in your backup about how do we get to this particular recommendation. Was there actually competitive bidding? If there was, what were those other [10:23:44 AM] there was, what were those other bids, and why is this one being singled out for y'all to approve large spending items? This one's not enormous, but $706,000 for a dock is real money, especially when it comes to our parks budget. So please look at it carefully. Thank you. >> I have Monica Guzman on the line for item 43. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> I'm passing uncommenting. >> I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. I can hear your voice. I didn't understand what you said. >> She said she was passing on comment. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> I'm going to move on to item 54, Daniela silva. And then item 58, William bunch. [10:24:45 AM] 58, William bunch. >> I'll pass on to. >> Mr. Bunch is indicating he's going to pass on 58. Miss silva, you have the floor. >> Item 61 Zenobia Joseph. >> Good morning, mayor and council. My name is Daniela silva. I'm a resident of district three, and I'm just here to talk about the drone dogs that are being considered. I just would like to read out loud their description from safeway inc's website, which is a system to help security practitioners create safer facilities with live video monitoring, remote tele operations, daytime nighttime cameras, automated charging and more. It's using artificial intelligence and immediate software upgrades to do these types of surveillance. And I understand that right now that is not the intention of council, but there is a lot of concern around what kind of services this technology could be used for in the future if it is [10:25:47 AM] for in the future if it is adopted. So I'm asking that council postpone this item to add language that if this technology is to be adopted, it will never be used for doing any kind of surveillance or in lieu of community policing, that it will not incorporate any kind of artificial intelligence video monitoring, nor will it ever be equipped with any kind of item that could potentially harm a person. There are several concerns that folks from the no powers coalition have expressed, mostly in that it could potentially harm people, especially if it is not being controlled by a person on the back end, as these can be set to operate automated in an automated file or in an automated way. And finally, another concern that a member had was that they noticed that [10:26:48 AM] had was that they noticed that y'all are potentially reducing fire crews from 4 to 3, which wound up getting people killed in Houston and violates osha, and asking, do these dogs make us safer than firefighters? We think they don't. Thank you. >> Thank you mayor, council I'm Zenobia Joseph as it relates specifically to item 61. That's $23.7 million for the airport corridor. And I just want to acknowledge that chito vela council member actually acknowledged sidewalks. And this is an example of wasted funding. I want you to recognize that in district four at Gus Garcia, every Saturday morning, individuals are sitting on the floor, sitting on the ground because the bus stop shelter was not even replaced there. So I want you to recognize as well in district seven, and you've seen the videos, the images before. I want you to recognize that there is no sidewalk there. So to the member in district seven, Mike [10:27:49 AM] member in district seven, Mike Siegel, I would ask you to recognize that this is an item that needs to be tabled and that you need to look at the prioritization of all of the corridor programs, because, respectfully, this discriminates against the people who are north of us. 183 so my comments, as they always are in the context of title six of the civil rights act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin. It is deeply disturbing to me because council member chito vela, as you know, is an immigration lawyer, and I want you to recognize that the area north of us 183 north Lamar transit center, Rosenberg north Lamar is the immigrant gateway to the city. And so what I want you to recognize is that this is an equitable as it relates to these terracotta sidewalks. Red sidewalks will just say colloquially is basically red sidewalks equate to red lining. And I want you to recognize that all the way down airport boulevard, there's red sidewalk painted all the way next to the [10:28:50 AM] painted all the way next to the railroad track by in-n-out burger, where you can't even build anything. And there is a shelter there. So chito vela, I would invite you to come to Gus Garcia this Saturday so that you can actually see for yourself pregnant women, immigrants, African Americans getting food from the food pantry, sitting on the ground. If you have any questions, I will gladly answer them at this time. And Mike Siegel, I would ask you to follow up to. Thank you. >> Item 87 Ben Livingston, Tamara Scott, Laura Templeton, Rita Thompson. >> If your name has been called, please come forward and find a chair. Thank you. Anyone of you can begin. [10:29:52 AM] Anyone of you can begin. >> No, you go ahead. Okay. Good morning. Mayor, council members Laura Templeton, former downtown commissioner. I urge you all to reconsider the multibillion dollar expansion of the convention center. For years, this facility has operated at a financial loss. Even before the pandemic, from 2015 to 2019, the convention center ran annual operating deficits, averaging nearly $12 million a year. In 2021 alone, it brought in just 6 million in revenue, while spending 62 million. These are not just short term pandemic anomalies. The truth is, the center has never turned a profit. When you include construction debt and full operational costs, you are now proposing to double down literally with a multi-billion dollar rebuild, hoping that bigger will fix a fundamentally broken business model. But projections show the expanded center may not break even until [10:30:52 AM] center may not break even until 2033 or later. If ever, over 70% of hot funds will be tied up for nearly 30 years to pay off the center's debt. The money should rightfully support the true tourism engines of Austin or arts or music, local businesses, parks and our people. Let's be clear this expansion isn't about profitability or what's best for Austin's economy and her people. It's about subsidizing a loss making loser operation that benefits a narrow slice of the economy and a handful of special interests. We need a pause. We need transparency, and we need a serious public conversation about whether this is the wisest use of taxpayer backed funds in a time of economic uncertainty. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> My name is Ben Livingston, district five. I speak with deep, deep respect for this forum and deep respect and deep concern for how and where you're [10:31:52 AM] concern for how and where you're steering our city. Poring over $5 billion of our hotel occupancy tax money into a convention center while Austin's real tourist draw its music, arts and parks is left with crumbs. That's not vision, that's selling out the very people who voted for you to serve to greedy corporate lobbyists at a cost of $130 million a year. For the next 30 years, I thought I'd I never thought I'd see an Austin city council following such anti-democratic playbook of shutting out the public, bypassing oversight and funneling public funds to private deals behind closed doors. You're tearing down not just buildings, but trust, process and the soul of this city. Real leaders don't dodge accountability behind legal loopholes. I just removed a sculpture that I created for the convention center that you're tearing down right now, a building that south by [10:32:53 AM] building that south by southwest, your biggest customer said was perfectly adequate. Meanwhile, San Diego just opened a hotel and convention center on the ocean for $1.3 billion, one fifth of what you plan to bury in a hole downtown for a tanking industry. More than 18,000, soon to be more than 20,000 of us artists, musicians and small business owners, lifelong neighbors. All Austin voters have signed a petition for one simple thing a public vote on this. Please stop spending the people's money that's not yours to spend. Halt this project and let the citizens of Austin vote on it. Do the right thing. Listen to your constituents for a change before our petition makes you do it. Thank you. >> Tamara Scott. Also district five. I'm really just hoping [10:33:54 AM] five. I'm really just hoping that you guys will consider putting this to a vote. A convention center is not future. It's not looking forward. It's a business model that is old, it's tired, and I think that the people should be able to vote on this. This is a huge commitment. Until 2020, 2055. And you guys just tore down a convention center that was perfectly usable, that also wasn't even paid for yet. So why would you commit us to double down, like Lauren said, to something that just doesn't work? It's never worked. So thank you for your time and I hope that you make the right decision and let us vote on this. Thank you. >> We need to go on number. [10:34:55 AM] >> We need to go on number. >> Sorry. Continuing along with 87 William bunch. And he has time donated by George Godwin. Are you here? Okay. Four minutes after Mr. Bunch is Victoria Cuthrell. And they have time donated by Lee Ziegler. Lee, are you here? Thank you. Okay. Also four minutes and then after will be Fabian rey. >> Thank you. Mayor, council members bill bunch with save our springs alliance district five. Also asking you to put a halt to spending yet more money that we don't have to waste on a convention center. That so far, you're refusing to let voters have a say on this specific item. Is another $25 million increase on a project management contract for the convention [10:35:55 AM] contract for the convention center. And if you read the backup, it says to do an environmental site assessment. Seriously, we're doing environmental site assessment at this stage when you've already been demolishing what we have and spending money to build a giant new one. Environmental assessments you do at the beginning to help you figure out if the project even makes sense environmentally, socially and financially to help you make better decisions environmentally, socially and financially to look at options. And we're doing environmental site assessment now with this $25 million increase. This shows how utterly and completely irresponsible you're being with our money. This started under the previous mayor. It had some legs. Pre-covid, there was some vague business case to be made [10:36:56 AM] vague business case to be made for it at that time. But the whole world has changed over the last six years and it's now on your plate and you can't just this off. The voters are going to hold you accountable for this, and you have the obvious course of action. When we expanded this convention center in 1998, mayor Watson put it on the ballot and we voted for it based on the information then that it was a good bet. It never panned out. It never met even half of its projections. The whole industry is busted, and this is now a $5 billion waste of money. And you're refusing so far to let us even have a vote. We have a petition in the field. It's going to be finished. It's going to force it onto the ballot. Probably won't be on the ballot until may, but [10:37:58 AM] be on the ballot until may, but you all need to do the right thing now. I mean, this is as anti-democratic as it comes. 20 years ago, you would have never imagined committing $5 billion of our public revenues without having the voters have a say on it. Did democracy somehow change since then? It's changed horribly in other arenas, but it's changed right here. Your silence, your refusal to even ask questions, have a public dialog, engage and listen to your speakers and ask questions. Speaks volume. You don't care about the democratic process. You care about the moneyed interests. The insider lobbyists, the construction firms, the engineering firms, the architecture firms that will put the $2 billion up front in their pockets. The Wall Street bond traders that will take [10:38:59 AM] bond traders that will take their chunk, and the luxury hotels downtown that will capture the tiny little bit of public benefit that would come from this. It's time to say no. Say no to this $25 million today and put this on the ballot with us and call time out until the voters have a say. Thank you. >> Our new superintendent. >> At pflugerville ISD promoted student leadership, effective communication and collaboration skills. I brought this vision into Connally high school's environmental science class. We realized when it came to balancing environmental interests with government authority, we had to address resistance, resilience, and role models. Along with the madness at a national level, my students began to evaluate the city of Austin council members and their handling of the convention center. Over 150 students [10:40:00 AM] center. Over 150 students responded to an artistic expression of whether or not they approved of the almost paid for convention center being torn down and rebuilt. Only three responded in favor of spending $3 billion for the convention center. One of my students opposed to the demolish drew a TRE with a banner stating, don't leave us out of the speeches. With the convention center in the background, the students message conveyed that nature and cultural tourism are as just important to the Austin economy. Another class focused on the difference between a black hole of wasted money versus a magic hole, where building estimates didn't change with time. That magic hole has proven to be true, as the estimates for the next convention center now stands at $5 billion. For the next year, students will evaluate the term a mockery, a mockery of democracy, and determine which lawmakers are role models for hearing the voice of the people conducting environmental studies before [10:41:01 AM] environmental studies before making plans of destruction and reconstruction, and making an effort to balance the negative cost of opposing sides. The more reasonable price tag of a convention center located in the circuit of Americas area, is a way to put a positive spin on our concepts of democracy, a collaboration of both economies and environment. We urge city council members to deny item 87 request of funds for project management until an environmental study first occurs. We also urge council members to put a hold on the rebuilding of the convention center until item 96 is presented to the public for voter approval. Thank you for hearing our voices. >> Hello, my name is Fabian rey. I am an artist. I've been living in Austin for the past ten years. I'm here to ask you guys to let us vote for the convention center. I think we could come up with so many great [10:42:02 AM] could come up with so many great ideas for those six blocks. Honestly, we should have like a conversation about it. Let us be part of it. Because we have a studio. I have a studio on the east side. It's called something cool studio. We've been there for eight years. You know, being an artist here is not an easy task. I'm truly asking you guys to let us vote on on the convention center and let us help you guys do something cool with it. Maybe a very cool art district could be born in this place instead of wasting so much money on it. I wanted to say hi to all of you. I don't know most of you, I just know. So which left? Just right now. And Jose, which both of them have been in my studio. And I am here because I love this city. I feel that we are always trying to come here and fight for what we need. And instead of you guys come to our [10:43:04 AM] instead of you guys come to our spot and listen to our what we need. So we need you guys to let us vote. We need you guys to be cool. We need you guys to be more austinites than ever, and to look at us as a as an ally, not a person that has to come here and ask for you guys to let us vote on what we owe you owe us this. You need us to let us vote on this issue. We are part of this city. We are what drives this. People come to this city because of art and music, and I'm here to let you guys know that I love doing it and I want to keep doing it. But you guys need to help us out, that's all. Thank you very much. Thank you for your time. That's it. >> Moving on to item number 96, William bunch. And Mr. Bunch has time donated by George Godwin and Lee Ziegler. We. Are you here? Okay. I just want to make [10:44:09 AM] here? Okay. I just want to make sure. Thank you. Six minutes for Mr. Bunge and then Betsy Greenberg and Michael Whalen. >> Thank you, mayor and council members, for your service to our community. Bill bunch with save our springs alliance. This is a convention center that I speaking personally support. And we urge you to move forward with this. Specifically, it's calling you to do some legal gymnastics to help the circuit of the Americas folks build a convention center out at the racetrack, where there's also an amphitheater and entertainment district, and now they're going to build a giant resort hotel. This is the model for convention centers. And this is not a small convention center, 460,000ft S is what your backup says. The [10:45:10 AM] what your backup says. The Gaylord private convention center resort company just opened a new one in San Diego, ten miles outside of downtown, so not downtown. The whole project 1.35 billion for the convention center. Even bigger, 480,000ft S, 1600 room resort hotel. The public put in 275 million out of the 1.4 billion. So compare that to what y'all are rushing into over $5 billion of public money. There's no private buy in. If the fairmount and J.W. Marriott really wanted this bad, shouldn't they pay for it like they're paying for the bulk of it? Other places, other places which are going to outcompete you in this shrinking industry? I mean, seriously, do you want to go to a convention on the beach in southern [10:46:11 AM] on the beach in southern California or in a giant hole underground in downtown Austin? Tough choice. I mean, seriously, you can't defend this. You really can't. So let's let's have a convention center out at coda where it makes sense, where it can be built for a fraction of the money and built mostly by private investment dollars like we're seeing elsewhere. And there's a Gaylord, as you all well know, outside of Dallas in grapevine, Texas. It's been very successful also that also competes. Now, you have one sentence in this backup memo from your staff saying that a convention center out at the racetrack will not compete with your downtown convention center hours that you're foisting upon us so far and not giving us any voice in because they target different markets. Seriously, that's so beyond absurd and [10:47:14 AM] that's so beyond absurd and laughable. There's one convention center industry. It's shrinking, and it's going to compete. Just like the expanded office center. Offices in the fairmont are already competing and taking smaller events away, left and right. The moody center at UT, it's a convention center. Also, it's taking business. Y'all are sleepwalking through this. The whole industry is changing. This is a disaster. It's an anchor around the neck of this community. It's a betrayal of the arts and parks, transportation, all of our other needs that could be funded directly or indirectly through the hot tax. Now, y'all want to fall back and argue that, oh, we're boxed in. It has to be used for a convention center. That is a lie. It's a straight up lie. And you're already doing [10:48:15 AM] up lie. And you're already doing gymnastics with some of this money to help fund homelessness has nothing to do with tourism. To use what's designated under the statute as convention center money to support the live music fund. That's great, I love that, but it demonstrates that you can be creative with this money and fit under the law. If you can call convention center money, live music fund money. Again, this is corruption. Your stone face, your refusal to even talk about this, to even think about it, your refusal to give the voters a right to vote on it like you directly and freely did in 1998. Murray Watson. You can hide behind a state law that says you don't have to let us vote on it, but is that what [10:49:15 AM] vote on it, but is that what good Democrats do? Is that what Progressives do? Is that what people who care about democracy, who care about having respecting your constituents? Or do you only respect the lobbyists? You only respect the people who write the maximum $450 check to your campaign contributions, who write even bigger checks to independent PACS and bankroll you, or give you second jobs. There's only one way to explain this, and it's corruption. And people are going to figure it out. So this is going to be on the ballot. It's better that y'all put it on the ballot and stop stonewalling and stop wasting our money. In the interim. We let's look at this. This doesn't have to be a convention center. It could be a Guggenheim museum. It could be something truly inspiring like [10:50:16 AM] something truly inspiring like other cities are doing all over the world. Please wake up. Thank you. >> Thank you, thank you. Mike Whalen, on behalf of Rita speaking in favor of item 96, I'd like to take a moment to speak to the mechanics of this item. The city's formal involvement in this development is required by state law, but it is simply practical involvement, and it is nominal. It's more of a procedural technicality. What the statute requires from the city is threefold one a technical designation as a qualified project, which you approved back in March. Two, the dedication of a nominal amount of hot funds that would only be generated by this qualified project, also approved in March, and three for the city to hold the municipality. That's what the statute says to hold the title to the land under the hotel and the conference center [10:51:17 AM] hotel and the conference center structure itself for a period of ten years. The latter item is what you're voting on today. The city's ownership of the hotel, land and conference center improvements is the final condition for Rita to be eligible to receive a temporary rebate on state taxes, only state taxes. No money is being spent to purchase the property. It is simply a transfer of title to comply with the state statute requirements. That's it. Rita will construct and manage the qualified project, and at the end of the entitlement period, ownership will revert back to Rita and the state rebates will terminate. The city is not giving tax incentives to Rita. It is not responsible for the construction, management and maintenance of the facilities. The development will pay property taxes to local jurisdictions just like anyone else. The site plans will go through staff, environmental, utility, traffic and safety reviews just like anyone else. I also want to note that the conference center is not a competitor to the downtown convention center. The meeting space at the Rita conference center convention center will be [10:52:18 AM] center convention center will be three and a half times smaller than the downtown convention center. The actual usable space will be between 170 and 180,000ft S. Its target demographic are organizations that are much, much smaller, and that will be mostly out there. Obviously, if you have any questions, we're available. >> Mayor, before I continue with the next item, I understand there might be a presentation on item 102. >> On item number 102 members, item number 102 regarding a potential legal settlement. So we will ask for a presentation from our legal counsel. >> Good morning. Mayor, mayor pro tem council members. I'm acting litigation division chief Sarah Schaefer. I'm here today to recommend that you approve a settlement in a personal injury lawsuit that appears on your agenda as item number 102. We are recommending that you approve a payment of $100,000 to settle the Dallas Spencer versus city of Austin lawsuit. This lawsuit relates to an October [10:53:19 AM] lawsuit relates to an October 2nd, 2023 car accident involving an Austin water department vehicle where plaintiff Mr. Spencer seeks payment for his injuries. In exchange for the payment, Mr. Spencer will release any and all claims against the city from the accident and will also dismiss his lawsuit, which was filed in the district court of Travis county. The law department recommends that you approve payment based on these terms, and I'm available to answer any questions if there are any. >> Thank you very much. Members. You have any questions of counsel? Thank you. >> Moving on to item 105, Roig Whaley, Zenobia Joseph, bill bunch. >> If your name's been called, please come forward and take a chair. >> Howdy y'all. My name is Roy Whaley. It's good to see you back on the dais. I hope you enjoyed your break and ready to [10:54:19 AM] enjoyed your break and ready to get back to work. Before I get started on 105, I'd just like to mention. The need to show appreciation for our friend that just passed away recently, doctor Spellman and I hope there will be a ceremony by someone here at the city, and that you will also include Jackie Goodman I think these are two giants here in the city of Austin, and I would like for y'all to show your appreciation for them. So on the quorum, which is the main thing, I'm wanting to talk about being as how I violated the quorum in the past, and I did apologize for that at that meeting. And then later in writing to everyone, I would like to see a definition and of decorum what you will consider [10:55:20 AM] decorum what you will consider decorum, not the state of Texas, but what the city of Austin will consider a violation of decorum and the follow up action. If there is a violation of decorum, will that speaker be required to leave that meeting? Will they be banned from future meetings and commission meetings? And I'm not the only one that has done this, but. But anyway, I would like to see a better definition of that. And I also want to. Take a chance on violating decorum by complimenting this side of the dais, who typically listen to speakers or at least visibly listen, as opposed to the other side that rarely makes eye contact. >> Thank you mister. [10:56:20 AM] >> Thank you mister. >> Thank you very much. >> Miss Joseph. >> Thank you mayor council. I'm Zenobia Joseph. As it relates to item 105, your rules changes. I would just ask you to recognize. I do appreciate that you're complying with state law to change your policy, but I would ask you to table the rest as it relates to the staff recommendation that you allow us or require us to submit our presentations in advance. That is burdensome. Mayor, I would ask you to recognize Rachel and I this morning had a conversation about just giving the flash drive to staff before we enter. That is a compromise. If you're going to put us on a strict diet. So to say, I would ask that council not post late backup because the cut off for speakers that are remote is at noon, which means any late backup disenfranchizes the individuals who are speaking remotely or would like to comment on what you have posted late. So I would ask you to recognize the need to have some parity as it relates to the actions that you take and what you're requiring of the public. [10:57:21 AM] you're requiring of the public. I would also ask you to recognize the need to allow speakers who are remote to actually donate time. You have a vendor, the vendor can disconnect us, so they certainly can ask the person if both of them are online so that you can have some parity as it relates to the sitting here in council chambers, I would ask you to recognize that you took down the rules, and we are not even able to sit on the floor in the back, even though we're not impeding the exit or anything like that. I would ask you to put it in writing so that we can sit and squat, just like we do at the capitol, because we're not impeding the process. And I would thank you for putting the timer in front of us. It shows that you can actually act expeditiously when you choose to do so. And so those are my comments. And I would ask you to recognize that not everyone has access to a phone. And when you require the person to give the digits, they could be at the library, they could be at goodwill, Norwood. And unhoused people don't have phones sometimes too, and our senior [10:58:22 AM] sometimes too, and our senior citizens don't. So please address these and table the rest of the items except for what's legislatively required. >> Thank you. Mayor. Council bill branch, save our springs alliance on item 105, which is amending your city council meeting rules of procedure primarily to comply with new state law that requires additional, more advanced notice. This is a great public in the government. In the sunshine statute passed by our Republican dominated state legislature. Imagine that. And we appreciate your goodwill in moving expeditiously to come into compliance with this earlier notice requirements. So the bulk of it is good. Miss Joseph said more than I was [10:59:23 AM] Joseph said more than I was going to say. She paid close attention to this. The additional burden that you're putting on the community to participate is completely unnecessary and is yet another indication of your hostility to having the public participate in your decision making. You don't want to hear from us. That message is loud and clear over and over. It's clear partly with what you're doing right here, making us sit down. Now we're lower down. You're looking down on us. You can hide the fact that you're staring at your phone instead of paying attention. When we stood up in the podium, we have dignity. There's one of us. We're closer to you. We're on your level. Looking at you eye to eye. This is. This is going backwards. And it's not an accident. Just like miss Joseph said, you do positive things. The timer is great and you do horrible things. Both of them. None of [11:00:26 AM] things. Both of them. None of these aren't by accident. You're making choices. Make. Please. Make better choices. Thank you. >> On remote is Monica Guzman. This is 105. Next up is 106 Zenobia Joseph. >> Good morning, mayor and council. I'm Monica Guzman, policy director at Garza. Go, Austin. Vamos. Austin. We support item 105, version two. We want to speak to the submission of electronic presentations by pm the day prior to the council meeting. We appreciate the need for procedural updates to streamline processes, so the average resident may not have the ability to do so. Council has been flexible in allowing the community to share the electronic presentations the day of the meeting. Upon council approval, we request you continue to provide that flexibility. Thank you. >> Item 106 Zenobia Joseph. [11:01:26 AM] >> Item 106 Zenobia Joseph. >> Thank you mayor council, I'm Zenobia Joseph. This is the lgbtq Dia item. It's specifically specifies 2025 world conference for lgbtq and criminal justice professionals. And you're allocating $300,000. I just want to call to your attention the letter from secretary Duffy, specifically April 24th, 2025. My opposition is not to individuals. It is to the process and the policy set by the federal government. He specifies whether or not described in neutral terms, any policy, program or activity that is premised on a prohibited classification, including discriminatory policies or practices designed to achieve so-called diversity, equity and inclusion in quotes or die end quotes. Goals presumptively violates federal law. Yet you, this entire council have ignored the language. In the secretary of transportation's letter. I [11:02:28 AM] of transportation's letter. I would ask you, mayor, to recognize as well, African Americans are six times more likely than our white counterparts to be homeless. We have the worst outcomes. It's been that way. You have acknowledged it, and I would ask you to disclose whether or not you have provided this amount of money for a conference for African Americans. I'm not talking about the African American cultural heritage district. That's approximately the amount of money that you've given them. But for our conference, this is discriminatory because you're cherry picking which organizations to help. I would ask you to recognize as well, once again, as my comments always are, are in the context of title six of the civil rights act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin. And I would ask you to recognize that secretary Duffy's letter also includes title six. And so one of the things that you should do as city manager is to scrub all of the policies and recognize where you are violating title six and specifically diversity, [11:03:29 AM] six and specifically diversity, equity and inclusion. If you have any questions, I'll answer them at this time. >> Speaking on the merits of the postponement for item 108, William bunch, Philip Wiley, and Zenobia Joseph. >> Please go ahead, miss Joseph. >> Thank you, mayor and council. This is the imagine Austin $3 million item. I would just ask you to recognize that it is certainly a good idea to postpone this item. And I would ask the city manager to actually tell us or ask the audit department to give that information to the city manager as to how many of these plans we have actually funded in the last decade or over the last two decades, because that information would inform this particular item. I would ask you to recognize as well, that you continue to ask us to recognize the shortfall, the $33 million. But this is an example of where perhaps we could save some money and use that towards some social [11:04:30 AM] and use that towards some social service programs that are being cut. We don't need another study, mayor. And every department that has briefed the 2026 bond advisory task force has stated that you are leading with racial equity, yet your 2023 Austin strategic mobility plan walk bike, road amendment on page 37 specifies an acknowledgment of discriminatory practices. And on March 4th, 2021, I would just remind you that you apologize to African Americans for intentional discrimination. So we don't need another plan for you to tell us what you already know. You are not leading by racial equity, and if this is what's called a fee effect, then it is this mayor. Because what you are leaving for your granddaughter is a segregated city. And I get it. A leopard doesn't change its spots. The city was segregated when you were mayor the first time, and it's still segregated today. I would ask you to postpone this item and to actually save the $3 million and use it for the services that are [11:05:30 AM] use it for the services that are needed. I see you looking at the clock. I have 17 seconds, but I'm finished. If you have any questions, I'll gladly answer them at this time. >> Bill bunch again. Save our springs alliance district five. Also urging you to nix this $3 million expenditure to update the imagine Austin comprehensive plan. Certainly, that's a worthy thing to do. But before you raise taxes, before you shortchange urgent needs in light of, you know, federal funding cuts to the arts, to parks and conservation, to a whole range of things, not just cuts in funding directly to the city, but to other entities that provide important services. This is not a priority in this budget [11:06:31 AM] is not a priority in this budget matter. Yeah, we'd love to update things that get stale, but if you want to do that, what's really stale is the decision by the mayor Adler council to commit billions of dollars to a new convention center that was made pre-covid, and the whole world has changed. Austin has changed. The circumstances have changed. The price tag has added a few billion since then. If you're going to revisit a plan, that's the plan to revisit, please save this $3 million. Thank you. >> Item 112 Zenobia Joseph. And then item 114 Carlos Leon. >> Shryock, if you please come forward. Please begin. >> Thank you. Mayor. Council. [11:07:37 AM] >> Thank you. Mayor. Council. This item is specifically the federal highway administration. $10 million for safe streets and roads for all. I cannot emphasize enough the discriminatory practices and how you are baking discrimination into the infrastructure of the city, chito vela said at the work session that maybe we should be waiting until the 2026 bond election. I would submit to you that you need to look at the monies that you've already received from the federal highway administration, the approximate $300 million that you've received through pass through funds from txdot, and recognize once again that you will not see multi-modal mixed use development in the area that is northeast north of us 183 and specifically as it relates to the sidewalks, you will see a plain gray sidewalk at Harris elementary where I went last night. The construction was done with the old green bus stop [11:08:40 AM] with the old green bus stop shelter. Rusty as it is in place. They just poured the concrete slab around it, but once again, remember circle C, it was 1.8 million or so that was being spent for the two way bike lanes. You have mixed use development. I would submit to you that the 5050 mode share is simply a proxy for race discrimination, because you are not building mixed use development, you're not building safe roads and streets in the area north of us 183 so once again, and I appreciate Mike Siegel's staffer coming to me, but I would ask Mike Rogers and the staff to just go walk. Let's just go walk so you can see for yourself. I don't think you would take your child to school. As Natasha harper- madison acknowledged, when I showed you the dark area of copperfield elementary, where there is not a safe route to school, it is not safe roads for all. It is discriminatory. It is south of us. 183. >> Thank you Joseph. Mr. Leon. [11:09:41 AM] >> Thank you Joseph. Mr. Leon. >> Sorry, Carlos. Leon. First and foremost, gracias a dios for letting me speak to item 114. Do not negotiate with cap metro's vice president of bus operations and maintenance, miles turpin. June 5th. I was on my way here to testify before you when turpin targeted me in person at a rapid bus stop, physically and illegally obstructing me from boarding to prevent me from getting here. He said I was banned from city council, falsely speaking for you to gaslight me. He told me I would no longer be writing cap metro without cause to ban me. Five days later, he allegedly emailed subordinates a picture of me and wrote Carlos de Leon is not allowed to board with his luggage, blatantly disregarding Texas transportation code 451 .001. Part four defining mass transit as the transportation of passengers and hand-carried packages or baggage of a passenger. He refers to me, [11:10:42 AM] passenger. He refers to me, Carlos Leon as Carlos de Leon, to illegally discriminate against me in practice, but against de Leon on record. After I blew the whistle to cap metro's board, turpin allegedly used subordinates to try limiting me to two on board bags. Another lie because neither cap metro's code of conduct nor Texas transportation code chapter 451 mandates a two bag limit. Because cap metro is a public common carrier by statute and law, turpin's words and actions above the rules and law echo APL interim director Hannah Terrell, still not following your superseding rules for public use of city properties. Rule six H, which I reminded you of June 5th. More on that next. In Jesus name I pray, amen. >> Item 115 Carlos Leon. >> Zo Carlos Leon. First and [11:11:47 AM] >> Zo Carlos Leon. First and foremost, gracias a dios for letting me speak to item 115. Thanks to your appointments, your library commission is meeting monthly. I have repeatedly testified in person to them and appeal interim director Hannah Terrell. How your superseding rules for public use of city properties rule six H limits denying physical access only to the library branch, where an alleged qualifying violation occurred. Nonetheless, Terrell continues issuing ktns banning patrons for one year from all 20 APL locations without authority to do so. Disobeying you counsel. Her insubordination goes beyond city limits because receiving information in person at the limited public forum library is a fundamental first amendment right. Her fifth and 14th amendments and constitutional case law. Substantive due process forbids Terrell from denying that fundamental right [11:12:49 AM] denying that fundamental right unless the infringement is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest. Though keeping libraries peaceful is a compelling state interest, banning someone from all APL branches is not least restrictive, meaning Terrell fail the strict scrutiny test. In contrast, your rules denying physical access only to the library branch where an alleged qualifying violation occurred is least restrictive, passing the strict scrutiny test. Therefore, per city code 235j, I am requesting the city auditor investigate Terrell's alleged violations of personnel policy and law, including insubordination. Dishonesty, unacceptable personal conduct, unacceptable job performance, and policy violation defined by rules. Punish turpin and Terrell with a new APL director asap. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. >> Item 122 Monica Guzman. She [11:13:51 AM] >> Item 122 Monica Guzman. She is online. >> Good morning, mayor and council. I'm Monica Guzman, policy director at Garza. We appreciate council member qadri office reaching out to Garza about support for this resolution. You know that our communities include many on the margin include many who are in the crosshairs of racism, xenophobia, bigotry, and now impending authoritarianism. We're in this fight with diverse communities and multiple languages every day. What we need now more than this resolution, is for you to fully fund the office of equity and inclusion, especially the undoing racism workshops. We want undoing racism fully funded because these activities regularly bring directed, directly impacted communities. In the conversation with city representatives in a safe and liberated space and with context. City leaders, including departmental leadership, gain a [11:14:51 AM] departmental leadership, gain a deeper understanding of how racism, xenophobia and their intersection with class and gender are disproportionately impacting austinites safety and well-being. That interaction and networking catalyzes real action and outcomes, reducing harm to these communities and building a broader base of supportive allies, including those with institutional authority, to change how we prepare and respond to oppressive forces and individual hate. That is how you prevent and reduce hate crimes with broader understanding, strategic relationships, and collaboration. Restore funding to these workshops. Today, the antidote to hate is critical love in action. >> Thank you. Item 123 Tabitha fa. >> Hi, my name is Tabitha fa. I'm speaking on behalf of the civil engineer for this project. Paige Dawson, engineers. And we [11:15:52 AM] Paige Dawson, engineers. And we are in support of item number 123 on granting the waiver for this project. The pieces are an awesome project. We believe this development will be incredibly beneficial to the city of Austin and its residents, and a team of hard working individuals here today need your help to make it a reality. I'd like to give the rest of my time back to council. Thank you. >> Item 123 Jennifer Franklin. >> Hi there. My name is Jennifer Franklin. I am also speaking on behalf of the civil engineer for this project with Pichette Dawson, engineers, in support of item number 123 on granting a waiver for the project. This is a great project, and we've been working out with the church on our side for nearly two years now. As you mentioned, we feel like this project will be incredibly beneficial to the city and its residents. Thank you for your time and I'll donate the rest back to council. [11:16:55 AM] donate the rest back to council. Thank you. >> Moving to in-person speakers for item 123. I also just wanted to note that item 121 was withdrawn. Lynn Williams item 123 Jason Haskins item 123 Carolyn Albert Donovan and Jennifer cox. >> Hi, my name is Lynn Williams and I'm the executive director of home aid Austin. And on behalf of homemade Austin, I respectfully submit this comment in support of item number 123, which would approve a waiver for the payment into the water mitigation fund required under 25 827 redevelopment exception in the water supply, rural water supply and water supply. Suburban watersheds for our peace lutheran housing project. This project, in partnership with the peace lutheran church, wave everybody and foundation [11:17:56 AM] wave everybody and foundation for the homeless, will provide only temporary the only temporary housing shelter for families with children who are experiencing homelessness in our community. These units are designed not only to provide safe, stable homes, but also to offer access to services that help families rebuild and thrive. Under 25 827, the option for exemption will, if we meet all seven requirements, is to pay into the water mitigation fund, which started in 2008 at a $15,000 per acre redevelopment cost, with 7% annual interest being added every year over the last 17 years. The fee in 2024 until October 1st of 2025 is now $47,382 an acre, while our project is only occupying 3500ft S of the 5.8 acre property, we are required to include all of those 5.8 acres into our calculations, which results in a $274,816.92 water mitigation fee. Our total project for this, our total [11:18:57 AM] project for this, our total budget for this project is 1.2 million. So as a nonprofit builder, every dollar saved on redevelopment costs allows us to put more funding toward community housing and long term residential support. We request this waiver be would significantly reduce costs and help bring this high impact, community based project to life more efficiently and affordably. We remain committed to sustainable, responsible development practices and have designed this project with water quality and environmental stewardship in mind. Thank you for your continued leadership. I went over. You go. >> Council members. Mr. Mayor, thank you for this opportunity. My name is Carolyn Albert Donovan. I'm the pastor of peace lutheran church in district six, speaking in support of item 123 as well, pertaining to the redevelopment of a small portion of our property, to build those four units of transitional housing on our church campus that Lynn spoke about. This project is the product of years of deliberation and work and discernment, the generosity and [11:19:59 AM] discernment, the generosity and partnership of many within and beyond our faith community has helped us be brave enough to undertake a pretty ambitious building project for a small congregation, and this is a full circle moment today to, in some ways, a conversation with then councilmember Jimmy Flanagan years ago helped us clarify this current vision in partnering with foundation for the homeless to help our neighbors facing housing insecurity. We had worked with the foundation for years before and have a long standing dedication to housing work, but it has taken a new shape in these years as we dedicate resources to building a permanent location for families in transition. With the added partnership of home aide who spoke on behalf of. While our small scale contribution is not the most common or flashy housing solution, we do believe it is a crucial part of the puzzle in creating a wide network of housing support across our city, and if you can be our partner in making this project possible by passing this agenda item, we think it may help other faith communities and organizations see similar small, but very important opportunities [11:21:00 AM] but very important opportunities for them to be part of this work too. We've already had conversations with others who want to try something like what we're doing. It's very exciting. Like many others here today, our commitment is not just to our unhoused neighbors, but to our whole natural world. We are undertaking this project in such a way as to ensure that environmental conditions on and around our campus will be improved by this redevelopment. Passing this agenda item is, rest assured, not an escape from accountability of that work, but will actually facilitate it. There are a bunch of us here today. We got to kind of wave before. We didn't want to fill up the comment period with lots of repetition, so we just want to wave and say hello and thank you for being so committed to this work. Thanks. >> Good morning, council members and mayor. Thank you for the opportunity to share for our project of building transitional family housing. My name is Jennifer cox. I am the congregation president of peace lutheran church in district six. I am here to speak in support of consent agenda item 123. Our property of five plus acres [11:22:02 AM] property of five plus acres currently is home to three buildings and 150 oak trees. Our design process made sure that all the trees will remain while we remove one building, and use that same footage to replace it with an environmentally responsible home for families in transition. We are grateful for the support of our project has been receiving from the community. Donors have come from all areas. Amplify Austin campaign corporations, other churches, and many individuals. Now we are asking for your support to approve item 123 on your agenda. Your approval to do so will reduce the financial barriers to get us to the completion of this project. Your support will align with the city's strategic priorities and conservation, resource management and community development. Thank you for your consideration in making this effort become a reality. >> Thank you. >> My name is Jason Haskins. I'm [11:23:03 AM] >> My name is Jason Haskins. I'm the architect for the project and an expert on our local codes and processes. This waiver is necessary because of a accident of unusual conditions. This project is in the etj and this waiver be administrative. If we were in the full jurisdiction, it's the only case I know where the etj is more restrictive than the full jurisdiction. Also, if we were building a house, a single family house of the same size, we would not be here. The waiver would not be required. We could redevelop as normal. So this is yet another case where missing middle and lower income housing is discriminated against compared to luxury single family housing that is next door. This is as has been mentioned, we are we are not only redeveloping the same impervious cover square footage, we are adding water quality and rainwater retention to the site to improve the [11:24:03 AM] to the site to improve the condition of the watershed, even as even with the waiver in place as is required by the criteria for the for the waiver, which are all met. So I thank you for your consideration, and let's continue to work to make our systems equitable for people who are not in single family luxury housing. >> Thank you. Thank you all. >> Miss Joseph requested to speak on item three. She was not here earlier when we called. >> So while she's making her way down, let me say to the item we just heard about, well, I don't want to jump to a conclusion about what might the vote be? I think the vote we're also saying thank you for your use of your property, your use of your passion, your use of your money to help out on something that's so important to all of us. So thank you all very much, miss Joseph, you have the floor. >> Thank you. Mayor, council. I'm Zenobia Joseph. I wanted to speak on item three. That is specifically the $2.9 million in [11:25:04 AM] specifically the $2.9 million in total that you're actually passing today as it relates to the austin-bergstrom international airport, I would ask the city clerk to change my position from neutral to against. It took me hours to figure out what you're actually voting on, which is why you don't have any transportation slides. Today, I want you to take a look at item three specifically. That's $546,000. Initially, I was just going to make a comment and appreciate that African American Brian Joseph was actually being awarded these funds. But when I went closer into the details, the June 16th, 2025 presentation to the arts commission actually, excuse me, asked one question. The $80,000, is that one time funding or is that per year? So the people who are actually doing the art for the nine restrooms are burdened to actually go out and get community input. They get the one and done. But it is unclear why you are actually continuing $546,000 to four artists for [11:26:07 AM] $546,000 to four artists for these. The area for the children and two lounges. Next slide. I just want you to recognize that there are more questions than answers. How much were the panelists paid? Do you pay the voting and non-voting panelists who determined up to $500? And does the city of Austin pay any of the panelists? It is unclear. That is the information I found in the arts commission website. Go ahead. Next slide. Specifically as it relates to Mr. Joseph, I appreciate his work. However, his work appears to mirror more of the vibrancy for the children. It says right here this is misleading. Mobility lounge. It is not framed that way in the other materials. It is for the accessibility people with disabilities. And it says that his work may have potential. It may potentially empower people with disabilities. So I would ask you to take a look at this process. I appreciate director means, but it is opaque. Thank you mayor. >> That concludes all speakers [11:27:09 AM] >> That concludes all speakers for consent. >> Thank you, members. That concludes all the speakers that are speaking on consent. For the record, I want to point out again that item number 35 has been pulled. I'm sorry. Okay. So item number 35 has not been pulled. Did we have any speakers on item 35? >> Mayor, would it be possible for me to speak before they depart so they can hear my statement on this as well? I don't know if that's possible. >> I'm sorry. I'm not sure what you just asked me. >> Peace. Lutheran folks, would you be able to stay until I speak so I can also thank you. Thank you. Okay. Or if I could go now. >> We got to get a motion and a second. Is anybody signed up on 35. >> One speaker. >> Okay, then we need to we're going to put item 35 back on the consent agenda. And would you please call that speaker? >> Yes. Zenobia Joseph. >> Members. What we'll do is we [11:28:25 AM] >> Members. What we'll do is we will have speakers. And if you wish to be heard on the consent agenda, please hit your lights. I'll know that and be able to go in some form of order. We will take that take up comment. We'll get a motion. And a second after miss Joseph speaks on the consent agenda. And then we will take comments and council member Laine, you'll be the first one. I'll call because you let me know beforehand, miss Joseph. >> Thank you. Mayor. I appreciate you taking me out of order. And council members, I'm Zenobia Joseph. I just wanted to make a comment specifically as it relates to the Texas one center. That is my opposition. It says that it's potential redevelopment. But you provide emergency services for the unhoused, and you're moving this facility to north Lamar. Well, actually, to 3300 north E 35. I just want to thank Kimberly Olivares, who actually gave me information which is far more thorough than what you're voting on. And she actually says that you have three components that you're working on that's not transparent for the public. It [11:29:26 AM] transparent for the public. It says that you're going to continue to use the space not for emergency housing, but then it also says and back up that it's for services. So which is it? She also mentions that it's a real estate asset and you're doing some planning analysis. That part I get and this predevelopment work, it does seem to me, mayor, that you are simply going to vacate this space so that you can redevelop it. I would just remind you that the developers pay a fee in lieu of affordable housing downtown. December 17th or so. February. Excuse me, 2020 Terri Gruca. Actually, before she retired from KVUE, did an investigative story, the domain, the downtown area, these density bonuses, they're really just a proxy for race discrimination because you do not allow low income individuals, unhoused individuals to live in these in these facilities. So I want you to recognize that it is it's disturbing to think that you're going to vacate the Texas one center and move it to I-35. Is [11:30:26 AM] center and move it to I-35. Is there a bus line there? I'm not really sure. It doesn't say. And so it's really unclear. I would ask you to clarify in just a table the item as opposed to voting it out because the information is not in backup. And so I thank you for that, but I'm not sure what happened to item 42. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> That's all. Speakers. >> All right. Members, is there the consent agenda? We've heard from all the speakers on the consent agenda. The chair will entertain a motion to adopt the consent agenda made by council member Ellis, seconded by council member qadri. Now we will go to discussion and public comment. Councilmember Laine followed by council member qadri. >> Thank you, mayor, and thank you very much everyone who's come from peace lutheran. It is so wonderful to see you here in city hall. After we first met with a few of you about three months ago. So great to see this coming forward. I'll go ahead and give my full comments now. I [11:31:27 AM] and give my full comments now. I really do want to also express my heartfelt thanks to homemade, the nonprofit that began supporting peace lutheran about two years ago in the development of the peace family housing project, which, as you have heard, is a vital transitional housing initiative. On 620 adjacent to district six, in the etj, where all the surrounding homes, many of the surrounding homes are district six. The church initiated this project in response to issues with homelessness back in 2021. I'm the third council member who has represented this district since they began these efforts. I'm so thankful to homemade to joining the effort two years ago, long before I was in office. And I'm proud that three, 3 to 6 months since we first met. We're here on consent agenda with strong support from the mayor, and I anticipate from the council. So very pleased to help with that. And we'll also be taking these [11:32:28 AM] And we'll also be taking these lessons forward on a policy level to hopefully help others. Thank you. That was those were my comments on item 123. I have a couple other that I want to make as well on 120, which relates to the FAA and air traffic controllers in Austin, which was sponsored by our mayor pro tem. I just thank you, mayor pro tem Fuentes, for leading this effort that urges the FAA to comprehensively address air traffic controller staffing and operations at Austin's airport. I'm very happy to co-sponsor this initiative and work with your team so that as our airport continues to grow, we move towards being a model of efficient and safe travel for residents and visitors alike. It's a big effort, but it's very needed. Thank you. Item 122 relates to we all belong. I also absolutely want to voice both my co-sponsorship and thanks to council member qadri for this resolution that restructures the hate crimes task force. From an external partnership to a city led model under the equity and inclusion office. With all of the community engagement, reporting and transparency that [11:33:29 AM] reporting and transparency that are essential to the success of the effort. As recently as the last few months, I have heard from multiple district six families with young children, all members of the same community within our larger community of Austin. And I'm not referring to neighborhoods, although they are in the same neighborhood who had been experiencing a pattern of harassment over many months while walking and biking on Austin streets and sidewalks in their own neighborhood. I've seen similar troubling incidents in and around district six every year that I've lived in my current home, which is well over a decade. In in Austin and Travis county, and each cluster of incidents impact has impacted different specific communities with questions about how best to have a positive impact on the situation. So taking action in this area has been on my mind for a long time, and I so welcomed and appreciated council member qadri resolution as an important step in the right direction for our city that demonstrates our collective commitment to making a life free [11:34:30 AM] commitment to making a life free from harassment and violence a reality. For more of us here in Austin, thank you very much. >> Thank you. Councilmember. Councilmember qadri, followed by councilmember duchen and council member Velazquez. >> Thank you, mayor. Before I get into my comments on item 122, I also wanted to, you know, address something that had been mentioned by one of the speakers. Just remembering all the good that former council members before us have done in the city. Those that are, you know, no longer with us. And we lost councilmember Riley a few months back. We lost councilmember Goodman a few months back, and then and then losing councilmember Spellman. So, you know, all their families and you know, we're here. We are all their all their work. I was really excited and looking forward to bringing forward item 122, which is which is before everyone on this on this consent agenda to kind of restructure the hate crimes task force and a little bit of a history lesson. The hate crimes task force was first established in 2010 after a series of hate crimes against our lgbtqia+ community. You [11:35:32 AM] our lgbtqia+ community. You know, we did a lot of really good work with it. But, but, but, but I saw gaps, especially in the political climate that we currently live in, where so many folks are afraid and feel unwelcomed, whether it be our immigrant communities who who, you know, who are who are generally scared and are generally, you know, threatened, you know, whether it be our communities of faith, you know, whether you be Muslim or jewish, you know, representing UT, hearing from, you know, students of both faiths. And it feels like whether I'm in one part of west campus or another, you know, hearing from students who whether they're afraid to wear, you know, a head garment because of, of, of hate speech that they've dealt with or they're afraid to wear, you know, a necklace with a religious symbol, you know, we can't and we should do better. And, you know, the highest amount of hate crimes in terms of like, what community it's affecting in the city are black austinites. And I think that, you know, you know, [11:36:35 AM] think that, you know, you know, whether it be our black community or our religious communities or queer communities or immigrant communities, I do think it's the city's responsibility to step up, because unfortunately, we have a state government that hasn't stepped up in decades and continues, you know, after winter storms and after natural disasters rather than, you know, do the work they attack and vilify. You know, already communities that are that are afraid. And we have a federal government that god knows what they do half the time. So I do think it's a responsibility. It's an onus on us to do more, because I do believe that we are a city that is deeply caring, that is deeply loving, that is there for one another. And regardless of who you are and what you believe or who you love or where you came from, this this city should be safe. And you should feel like you have somewhere, somewhere to go. So I appreciate the city manager for dedicating funding during a tough budget cycle. And just to kind of give a recap of what [11:37:36 AM] kind of give a recap of what we're trying to do with this item with revamping the hate crimes task force, we're looking at creating an intergovernmental committee on hate crimes. We're looking at getting a hate crimes web portal, a community engagement notification program, training and protocols, and having better data and transparency. And, you know, I do believe that we all belong here in the city. Do I do believe Austin is no place for hate. And I think this item does a good job in accomplishing all of that. So I want to thank councilmember duchen, who had brought forward an amendment that we incorporated in version two. I appreciate working with his office on that. I appreciate Sarah Bartz from my office who worked like night and day and night and day. And when I say night and day, I was getting texts from Sarah around midnight and after I don't sleep. So for me, it wasn't, you know, wasn't was not an issue. And, and I so do appreciate all my colleagues for, for co-sponsoring it. Council members Laine Siegel [11:38:36 AM] Council members Laine Siegel vela the mayor pro tem Fuentes, councilmember de Jose Velasquez. Ryan, councilmember. Alter. Councilmember. Duchen. Councilmember Paige. There are two more spots if anyone wants to co-sponsor. But but but I so appreciate the support and I'm really looking forward to this this new revamped hate crimes task force doing a lot of good for the community for, for, for many, many years. >> Thank you. Councilmember, thank you for your work on that. Councilmember duchen and councilmember Velazquez. Councilmember colter. >> Thank you. Mayor. First, I want to just like my other colleagues, briefly acknowledge the service of our former council members, Spellman and Goodman. I feel like we're always building and working off of their efforts. I want to call attention to a couple of items quickly, but first, I wanted to see I'd originally pulled item 35. I understand that there's we found the description a little bit confusing relative to the Q [11:39:37 AM] bit confusing relative to the Q and a response. I want to see if we can briefly call miss Olivares up to sort out that brief confusion. Is that possible? >> Okay, we're trying to get to the 12:00 time certain, and. >> I think she can clear it up in, like, a minute. >> Let's hope. >> I'll be very Kim Olivares, director, financial services. So it appears that with the below the line detail on I-95, we attempted to make sure make it clear that the three projects are separate and unrelated, but it appears that we were unsuccessful with that. The. There is a feasibility work to help us make longer term plans related to our city housing. There's another project related to downtown property analysis, and then there's another project with all of our facilities, space planning for the facility or the building that we now own at 3300 north I-35. So they are all wholly separate, unrelated, and also, [11:40:37 AM] separate, unrelated, and also, when it comes to the community court functions at one Texas center, we have not identified a new home for them whatsoever. That is a definitely going to be a much more in-depth process. But the other office functions at the center are eligible to move to 3300 north I-35. >> Thank you, miss Olivares. So very briefly, a couple items. One, I want to thank councilmember qadri for item number 122. Like him, I think there's a lot of work to do here to make sure that we're addressing the needs of hate in our community. My concern is that the data is clearly trending in the wrong direction, and I get a lot of anecdotal requests to our office about different incidents that are happening, whether it's bullying at school, whether it's graffiti, everything that you can imagine. So I feel like we've got to do a better job here using the talent and resources and the hate crimes task force, which I'm optimistic that this item will help us do and just in general get better [11:41:41 AM] and just in general get better data to the public. The original intent, I believe, between the we all belong program was to make sure that we had good community engagement with community groups across the city, and want to make sure that we have a solid place and plan going forward. To do that, I want to touch on item 27, which regards the Texas gas. And really, this is just flagging for us that. That this is an item that is a de facto like everything else we're touching on in the budget over the couple of weeks, this is a de facto fee that people are paying. That over 200,000 Austin families pay, that we've got a unique opportunity next year to make sure that we can have a really thorough discussion about exploring all options and vendors as we revisit that process. And that contract, which happens once in a generation. And then the other last thing I'll touch on is just thanking staff for their efforts. I think there's at least seven items on our current agenda, where we are using grant dollars from a variety of [11:42:41 AM] dollars from a variety of nonprofits, state and federal groups. So I feel like we're being increasingly industrious and making use of other people's money. And this is incredibly appreciative, at least on my end, given the constraint, the financial constraints that the city is currently facing. Thank you. >> Thank you. Councilmember. Councilmember Velasquez, followed by councilmember alter and then councilmember Siegel. >> Mayor, does that mean I don't get the rest of the 18 minutes till the 12:00? >> I may hold up? >> No, I was just joking. I. Colleagues, I wanted to highlight a couple of items. Item 103 I'm excited to see grant funds for our city's libraries on the agenda this week. The this Texas state library and archives commission special grant special projects grant is going to support nature based programing at libraries across Austin. New storywalk installations will be introduced at libraries in district three, and that will bridge gaps in environmental learning and [11:43:42 AM] environmental learning and outdoor engagement. I'm so proud of the work our libraries and librarians do, the services they provide, and I'm excited to see these installations in district three. Item 111. This item allocates funding to the organization jail to jobs. Agreements like these affirm our commitment to community violence intervention and youth programs that transform lives and help us re-envision how we approach social justice. Thank you. >> Thank you, councilmember, councilmember alter, councilmember Siegel, and councilmember vela. >> Thank you so much. I just want to take a quick moment to highlight item 16. This is the battery storage item. I want to thank Austin energy for their work on this item. You know, this was one piece of a very large conversation we had around the resource and generation plan. And if we are going to be able to have a 100% renewable, carbon free generation here by 2035, this is a big step towards [11:44:42 AM] 2035, this is a big step towards that. So just want to send my kudos. I see the E team out there. Thank you all so much for moving this forward. And I'm really excited to see where this goes. >> Thanks. Council member. Council member Siegel followed by council member vela. >> Thank you mayor. And I want to echo councilmember alter's comments about the battery rfp. This is very exciting. Adding 100mw of utility scale battery storage. We also have news that there might be a second applicant that can add maybe 40mw more. And this is a huge step towards resilience as a community. It keeps us on track for our climate goals and really shows how as a city, we can take strong action on climate. Even though the federal government is attacking climate programs. So I really appreciate all the work of our utility. I want to really congratulate peace lutheran church for item 123. This seems like a great project for transitional housing. And thank you, council member Laine. I would like to be added as a co-sponsor. Mayor, I'd like you to Marc me as voting no on item 54, which is the drone dog item. [11:45:44 AM] 54, which is the drone dog item. And then finally a couple fee waivers. 177 that's the Texas state employees union lobby day. I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor and contribute $240 to the fee waiver. Thank you, council member qadri for supporting this item. And also, item 178 the Bangladeshi Eid celebration. I'd like to be added as a co- sponsor and contribute $465 towards the fee waiver. And thanks again, councilmember qadri. >> Without objection, councilmember Siegel will be shown as a co-sponsor of the three items that he mentioned. Councilmember vela followed by councilmember harper- madison. >> Thank you, mayor. Again, just to echo council member Siegel's comments about the 100 megawatt contract, that's very exciting to see Austin energy move toward battery storage. And they've done it, I think, in a very thoughtful and deliberative manner. And I appreciate everybody there and all the work that they do. It's really a big step. I also just wanted to highlight a couple of other items. Item 60 are going to be sidewalks along burnet, [11:46:45 AM] sidewalks along burnet, essentially on the d4 d7 border pushing into d10, I believe, and a good chunk of burnet is going to get some very important sidewalk improvements all the way up to 183, I believe. And then I also wanted to highlight item 100, which is the city supporting a affordable housing in district four. It's on Clayton Laine. This was actually one of the first items that I dealt with when I came on to council. There was an old apartment complex there called the old homestead, and the family had owned it for a long time and they were ready to sell. And we were dealing with the potential displacement of about or so people. Tough case, especially to walk in on the middle of. But we were able to get all the tenants their assistance and get them relocated. And now that property almost three years later, is on [11:47:46 AM] almost three years later, is on the verge of turning into 227 affordable units at different levels of affordability. But it's a really big accomplishment. It's right next to a really good bus line. There's a grocery stores in the area. It's a really good project. They got some tax credits and the Austin finance housing, Austin housing finance corporation also pitched in some money. So I just wanted to highlight that I think sometimes these good works just kind of sneak by on the agenda. But this is just another example of the city continuing to build its stock of affordable housing. Thank you all very much. >> Thank you, councilmember. Councilmember Madison. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I appreciate it. I also wanted to acknowledge some of the things that are on the consent agenda that directly benefit the 46mi S in over 100,000 people in district one, that I get the opportunity to represent up here. One of the things is whisper valley, a public improvement district project that long term infrastructure financing is for 7500 homes in [11:48:47 AM] financing is for 7500 homes in far east Austin. It's a commercial development with no cost to taxpayers. For those of you who don't know, whisper valley is a really interesting development. They're approaching our etj and the limited purpose jurisdiction there. A completely sustainable community and use geothermal for energy production for a lot of their projects, a lot of other sustainability measures. Greywater capture and solar. And in the developed within the development, you know, you might have heard me talk about Agro hoods and talk about agriculturally centered housing development, and they're working towards that goal. So I really am proud of having whisper valley be a part of our considerations. We also have the Indian hills public improvement district, aka a pid. That annual update keeps bond payments on track, basically for major east Austin developments, which really ensures that our infrastructure is delivered [11:49:47 AM] infrastructure is delivered privately and not public funded. Not publicly funded. Item number 61, our airport corridor sidewalk. I really appreciated the comments that you had about sidewalks. Council member vela has those projects. You know, it means so much to we talk about mobility from the perspective, I think sometimes of folks who have easy access to cars or want to ride in a car, as opposed to be a multi-modal human in a major metropolitan city and have multiple options. And sidewalk infrastructure is one of those things that's, you know, undervalued, but definitely needed. So our airport corridor, sidewalk and bikeway contract. This accelerates long overdue mobility and safety upgrades along airport boulevard, especially in the underserved areas with mwbe and WBE goals met item number 88. Land acquisition on Johnny Morris. That secures the land that we need to build safer streets and trails in east Austin through a fair and appraised value acquisition. Lastly, the last two item number 100 Cameron [11:50:49 AM] two item number 100 Cameron highline affordable housing bonds. This will deliver 227 deeply affordable homes with no city liability, and prioritizes families most at risk of displacement. Item number 101 hud action plan submission. This unlocks $14 million in federal funding for affordable housing, homelessness services, HIV, and AIDS support through public driven plans. And lastly, item number 105, council rules updates. I appreciate that we're taking the opportunity to modernize some of our procedures that reflect reflect state law, and that it also gives us an opportunity to recognize, I think one of our speakers said earlier, you know, it's a different Austin, it's a different municipality. So recognizing that some of the things that we continue to do, because we've always done them aren't what we should continue to do. So I appreciate that we're going to that we're going to continue to take a look at and have our procedures be living protocol. So there's always room for adjustments. And then I lied to you. My bad. The last, last one. Item number 108. [11:51:49 AM] last, last one. Item number 108. Imagine Austin. This update launches the first full update in over a decade to build an equity centered, climate smart vision for the city's future. One of the things I had the opportunity to do this morning was give a proclamation for black earthwise leaders. There aren't a lot of folks who look like me in this room, but for th folks who look like me in this room, if and when you go to events or go to do advocacy around sustainability, environmentalism, conservation, you probably the only one in the room who looks like you. It tends to be a very, very not diverse space. And so having the opportunity to recognize those leaders who do look like me and have the same principles around earthwise stewardship was a great opportunity, and I really appreciate that we're moving headfirst into our climate smart vision planning. Our most recent inclement weather related tragedies. You know, to our neighbors and the hill country. That's just one more reminder of [11:52:51 AM] That's just one more reminder of how we have to advance our climate reality plans, planning, protocol. Resilience. It's another reminder we're not ready. And so my heart goes out to those folks. By the way, item number 117. This fee waiver, it reimburses APD $850 in fees for Texas state employees. Unions lobby day on April 9th, 2025. They served us. And so I'll leave with that and hope that we have one more opportunity to. One more opportunity today, during the course of our proceedings, to answer the question that Mr. Bunch posed, which is what does decorum look like? Why don't we just be the example of it? Thank you guys. >> Thank you. Councilmember harper-madison members. Those are all the people we have asking to be heard. There being no further discussion, let me ask if anyone council. I have [11:53:51 AM] ask if anyone council. I have council member duchen being shown as abstaining on item number 37. Is there anybody else that wish to be shown abstaining on another item? Anyone wishing to be shown recusing themselves from a vote on any item on the consent agenda? I have council member Siegel voting no on item number 54 and council member duchen voting no on 87. Is there anyone else wishing to be shown voting no on an item on the agenda? That being the case, and there being no further discussion without objection, the consent agenda is adopted with council member duchen being shown abstaining on 37. Council member Siegel voting no on item 54, and council member duchen being shown voting no on item number 87. Members. Before we go to the 12:00 time, certain, there are a couple of items that we can take care of. I think in pretty rapid fashion. Let's pull up item number 124. Item number 124 is an eminent domain item. Let me ask if there's anyone signed up to speak on item 124. >> There are no speakers members. >> There are no speakers on item number 124. So the chair will [11:54:52 AM] number 124. So the chair will entertain a motion with respect to item number 124. Why are you raising your hands? Okay. One second. The motion will. The motion will be on item 124. This being a nonconsent condemnation item, that it 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 the current meeting for the public use that is described therein. Councilmember qadri moves adoption is seconded by council member vela. Is there discussion? Hearing none. Without objection. Item number 124 is adopted members. What we will then what we will do next is we will go to item number 127 members. Item number 127 is a public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 127. The public hearing is open. Is there anyone signed up to speak? >> There are no speakers. >> There are no speakers on item 127. So without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 127. The public hearing is now closed. The chair [11:55:53 AM] hearing is now closed. The chair will entertain a motion to adopt the ordinance. Is there a motion? Motion made by council member Laine. Second by council member harper- madison. Is there discussion on the motion hearing none. Without objection, the motion is adopted and item 127 is adopted. Members that will take us to item number 128, which is also a public hearing. I will without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 128. The public hearing is now open. I'll turn to the city clerk for speakers on item number 128. Without objection, we will close the public hearing on item 128. The public hearing is closed and the chair will entertain a motion. With regard to the consideration of the ordinance, the mayor pro tem moves approval. It is seconded by council member Ellis. Is there discussion? Hearing none without objection. Item number 128 is adopted with councilmember Laine being temporarily off the dais. That will take us to item a related item to 128. And that is item 140. Item number 140 is not a public hearing, but it is an [11:56:57 AM] public hearing, but it is an ordinance approval. The motion is to would be to approve an ordinance under 140. Is there a anybody signed up to speak on 140? >> There are no speakers for 140. >> There are no speakers. So I'll entertain a motion. With regard. Mayor pro tem moves approval of item number 140. It is seconded by council member qadri. Is there discussion? Hearing none. Without objection. Item number 140 is adopted with council member Laine temporarily off the dais. Members that will take us to item number 138. Number 138 is also related to an ordinance. Is there any is there anyone signed up on item number 138? >> There are no speakers for 130. >> There are no speakers on item number 138. So the chair will entertain a motion. The mayor pro tem moves approval of the second by council member qadri. Is there any discussion? There being no discussion without objection, item number 138 is adopted with councilmember Laine temporarily off the dais. [11:57:57 AM] temporarily off the dais. Members, we will now go back to item number 133, which is a related item to item number 138. It is a public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 133. The public hearing is now open and I'll turn to the city clerk. >> Thank you. Mayor, we have two speakers, Philip Wylie and Kimberly Levinson. >> Kimberly Levinson representing the downtown. Austin neighborhood association. I won't take up much of your time. I just want to say I support this, and I want to give a shout out to the da for all the hard work they do for downtown. >> That's all. >> Thank you very much. Good testimony. Who was the other speaker? >> Philip Wylie. >> And he's and he's going to do even better. He's he he one upped you on that okay. He's waiving his time on that. Are there any other speakers on item [11:58:58 AM] there any other speakers on item number 133? >> That's all speakers members. >> Those are all the speakers on item number 133. So without objection, we will close the public hearing on 133. The public hearing is now closed and the chair will entertain a motion. Motion is made by the mayor pro tem, seconded by council member qadri for approval of the ordinance. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. Without objection. Item number 133 is adopted. Members that will take us to item number 139. And I'll we'll call up item number 139 and I'll turn to the city clerk. >> There are no speakers. >> There are no speakers on item number 139. So I'll entertain a motion with regard to item number 139, mayor pro tem moves approval. It is seconded by council member vela. Is there discussion? Hearing none. Without objection. Item 139 is adopted with council member Laine temporarily off the dais. Members, we'll go to item number [12:00:02 PM] Members, we'll go to item number 137 and that is a public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 137. The public hearing is now open. I'll turn to the city clerk. >> There are no speakers. >> There are no speakers on item number 137. So without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 137. Public hearing is closed. Council member qadri moves approval of the resolution. It's seconded by council member Ellis. Discussion. Hearing none without objection. Item number 137 is adopted with council member Laine temporarily off the dais. Members, that takes us to 12:00, which is our time certain of for general public comment we will do is we will take up our time, certain general public comment and at at the end of that we will recess until 1:00. We do not have music this week informed. There won't be music, but we will still recess at the end of public comment until 1:00, and we'll come back promptly at 1:00. So I'll turn to the clerk. [12:01:03 PM] to the clerk. >> Thank you. Mayor Allen del valle, Jorge Reyna, Ruben Rivera, Clemente senior, silver, white mountain. >> Can you please call the names one more time? >> Yes. >> Allen Demling, Jorge Reyna, Ruben Rivera, Clemente senior. Silver, white mountain, Tasha. Billet. >> If folks can remain quiet as you exit, that would be helpful. Thank you. Yes. Please go ahead. Yes. Please proceed. Anyone can start. [12:02:03 PM] start. >> Jorge. >> Okay. >> This is first. >> Time I'm doing this. Hello, I'm Jorge Reyna. Say hello to the city manager, mayor and city council. I'm here to point out just a concern for the crosswalk. Pedestrian safety. Because my experience is squeaky wheel gets the grease, the loudest voice gets heard. And it's better to have a microphone than a loud voice. And we need people to be using when they use the crosswalk to be safe, of course. So I have the personal perspective and a personal experience of a 40 year old pedestrian that mainly crosses the streets and intersections at the crosswalk. I looked into it. The right turn on red went into effect in the 1970s. I believe that was before my time. So what I've seen is when it was a rule, you know, people would stop at [12:03:04 PM] you know, people would stop at the red light or stop sign, look both ways and then cross. I mean, not cross, but drive. Now it's become a suggestion, you know, like it's an it's an like an idea, like, hey, you should stop at the stop sign or stop red light. And then now it's become optional. Well, we can choose to stop at the red light or the stop sign. And then now it's become a preference. I don't like stopping at the red light. You know, and then so I just think it's more of like, I don't know, we should probably bring more attention to like, hey people, you need to stop at the red light, stop at a stop sign, look left and right, not just left, because somebody could be crossing from the right. Because I've had some close calls where some people are just looking on the left. It's clear. And then I'm crossing on their right, but they don't look on the right. And that's just an example. But me being here to it'll get into [12:04:08 PM] me being here to it'll get into people's minds that you need to stop at a red light stop sign, respect it because it's not just a law for there's many reasons, you know, it's safety. And some people forget because we got new drivers and they need to be reminded why we have certain laws and rules. Thank you. >> Mr. Reina. Do you know, did you mention which district you live in? >> Two. >> Okay, great. Well, I will have someone from my. If you can hang out for a little bit, I'll have someone from my team come down to chat with you, if that's okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you, thank you. >> Hello, everyone. >> Silver white mountain here again. I'm here to put my fingers and everyone's pie. Since I'm knowledgeable, I've got a wide range of interests and skills. I couldn't bring a real pie in here, so just imagine I'm holding a few pies [12:05:09 PM] imagine I'm holding a few pies in here, and I'm going to put my fingers all over it. And this is a nice cherry pie, and I'm putting all my fingers in it. Previously, I've requested for something to be done about red light runners. They need to be ticketed. The city and APD have lost control and it is almost optional now. So now I'm going to have to keep coming back here every time I get an opportunity. Just like Andy Dufresne starring Tim Robbins in the movie shawshank redemption, he had to send a letter to the state senate every week for six years until they got tired, and they decided to send him some funds for books. He broke them. Then he decided to send two letters a week. Then he got more funds. Then he received money for a library to build in prison. I'm going to keep coming here. I'm going to send letters, calls, texts and maybe some smoke signals to get this one done until y'all get tired of me and do something about it. It's called the nibbling away tactic. [12:06:10 PM] called the nibbling away tactic. I'm never going to stop. Where's the mayor? Thank you, mayor and city council for not abandoning your positions with all we dish out at y'all. Most of y'all remain patient, neutral, and don't show your real temperament or your real feelings. Or just look down. Some of y'all I see two of you are really paying attention, or I don't know what the others are looking at, y'all spongebob or something. When the going gets tough, y'all get going. Unlike some people who get paid when the job is easy. If y'all seen over there in the media and then something drastic happens and they are forced to resign because they didn't know how to handle the big problem or were not properly trained. And to Mr. Siegel, I don't appreciate you bashing the federal government. That's my employer. Thank you. >> Sorry, I'm very nervous. My [12:07:12 PM] >> Sorry, I'm very nervous. My name is Tasha billet. I am a resident in district one, and I'm actually here to talk about a traumatic experience that I believe exposed some serious gaps in our city's animal protection response and to urge urgent reform to keep residents and pets safe in our community. On June 26th at 4:30 P.M, I was taking my black lab for a walk around our block, and a neighbor's dog escaped their fence and immediately lunged at us to protect my dog. I stepped in between her and the attacking dogs, with one latched onto my right arm, the other onto my left, and I began screaming for help in the middle of the street. Eventually, the owner came out of their back door and asked what the dog what my dog did to provoke this attack. When I told her I'd be calling 911 and filling out a police report, she shrugged and said, go ahead. While her daughter proceeded to shove their dogs back into the hole in the fence that they came from. At the time, I didn't have [12:08:15 PM] from. At the time, I didn't have my cell phone on me, so I ran back to my house, which was less than a block away from my husband, to call 911, desperate for help, and only to be told that unless the situation was life threatening or still in progress, that no one would be dispatched, and that we needed to call 311. As a result, no police report was filed and nothing else was done. We contacted 311 and reported and filed a report with animal protection, choosing to pursue a dangerous dog designation. What followed was an unbelievable maze of missed calls, unclear procedures, and a lot of finger pointing. We later discovered that this wasn't the first attack. Another woman and her dog were attacked too. Just two hours after me, and then connected me with a third woman who had filed three previous complaints about the same dogs, none of which were acted upon, and this issue has been documented since April of 2024. After repeated outreach, we [12:09:15 PM] After repeated outreach, we finally spoke with an officer who said that the dogs needed to be quarantined due to Texas law for 240 hours. But she continued to confirm that animal protection was not allowed nor capable of picking up these dogs. The dogs remained at home, quarantined, unmonitored and untreated, with an additional animal abuse complaint abuse complaint against them. No one could confirm whether the dogs were vaccinated, if the fence would be prepared, or if any additional steps would be taken. We were only told that we would expect contact on July 7th with the quarantine results. After an oss officer finally called me back, he told us that the dog in quarantine was healthy. However, when asked about the second dog that had attacked me, I assessed the health can. The health concern was made through a video call. So this officer determined through a video call with the owner that the dog was healthy, with no qualifications and no additional feedback. We were told that their apology is we [12:10:16 PM] told that their apology is we were told. >> Thank you miss billet. If acm Carbajal. If you're able to connect with her, our assistant city manager will be able to connect with you offline here shortly. I thank you all so much. >> I said I get better and better. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is remote Maria de segunda Segundo. >> Hi everyone. Good afternoon. My name is doctor Maria del Carmen and I'm here to respectfully request your support for $106,000 budget allocation and funding for a full time program supervisor for academia cuauhtli, academia cuauhtli cuauhtli means and nahuatl, which is an indigenous language. Eagle academy. It is a nationally recognized, community rooted language and cultural revitalization program, serving serving third to fifth grade students in the Austin independent school district. Since 2014, we have offered free Saturday classes in the Mexican, [12:11:17 PM] Saturday classes in the Mexican, American and tejano studies taught by Spanish and master dual language teachers. Our mission is to honor our community's cultural heritage, foster social justice, and reclaim our collective identities and pursuit of educational freedom. I've had the privilege of serving with academia cuauhtli for the past six years, first as a volunteer, then I was a program coordinator during my doctoral studies, and now I'm a volunteer researcher again, and I have been with academia cuauhtli since 2017. During this time, we've grown our program from 35 students to over 300. I co-developed our summer indigenous stem program, lead outreach efforts that reached over 400 families annually, and coauthored five peer reviewed research articles highlighting the program's impact. This funding will allow us to sustain and grow our offerings, including our Saturday escuelita school summer programing, which focuses on indigenous math, science, arts and mexico. Our research team of 11 scholars and teacher [12:12:18 PM] 11 scholars and teacher professional development, parent workshops and leadership pathways for bilingual teachers. Thank you. >> Going back to in person, we have Angela Valenzuela, Emilio zamora, and Miyoshi Bailey. >> Yeah. Thank you. Doctor Emilio won't make it today, unfortunately. But thank you so much. Just so happy to talk always about academia. Cuauhtli. We've spoken with a number of your offices already. You should have something in your inbox, and we appreciate your support for the 106 K budget that is part of the mcps budget. Because we are partnered with the Mac, we're moving into our new space in at the Mac. Now that phase B will be completed, hopefully by day of the dead when the big celebration is happening there, we again are a language and cultural revitalization revitalization project, and we've served quite a number of schools over 11 years now that [12:13:19 PM] schools over 11 years now that we've been in existence. We are greatly in need of funding now that we're moving into our new space. In particular, we ask for your support for the full time cultural arts education supervisor position. That position will offer program oversight, operations and management for the different components. We have a Saturday school. We have a bilingual dual language teacher development program itself called la collaborative cuauhtli, a curriculum development parent development, and as mentioned, a summer program. We've offered coding. Right now we're teaching the mayan abacus right now today as our our first, you know, like approach to offering that research and evaluation, outreach, compliance and reporting. We have big dreams. We want to create a bilingual dual language laboratory for central Texas teachers. We've already discussed this with the district. I mean, maybe at some point become an alternative [12:14:20 PM] point become an alternative certification program. We are in desperate need for our bilingual dual language teachers. And what we find is that we have real holding power. Once we bring these teachers into our sphere, they they remain not only with us, but in the district. It costs over 30, around $30,000 to replace one teacher. Why not? Let's just try and work together to retain them to begin with. If I have any more time. Doctor Anthony Martinez's research shows that children, compared to others in their same classrooms, who had academia cuauhtli as an intervention, have higher achievement and higher attendance. It's stunning the research. But I mean, we know we know the difference that we make, but it's kind of cool to have quantitative data that now, you know, can speak to broader audiences who are wondering about what value we might add, even though we are confident in the value that we add, we've also become a pathway into phds and master's degrees within the [12:15:20 PM] and master's degrees within the college of education at the university of Texas. Some are now teaching in universities, and so we just add so much value, and we're glad to be part of the Mac. But, you know, we're semi-autonomous. We come from the grassroots. So thank you for your support. Gracias. >> Yes. >> Please proceed. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Hi, I'm Miyoshi Bailey. I'm here today. I was going to discuss the misuse of home, the local homeland security resources, and a lot of misuse of. Funding. I think I don't work for the city, but I'm a person that's having to live out here. And I'm seeing how things are being structured and organized. And you can you can tell that there's some type of misuse or some type of something going on. There's a lot of spyware, spyware, malware being used not just with the city of Austin, but many other entities outside of the city of Austin, [12:16:22 PM] outside of the city of Austin, where I what I've noticed when I use the city computers, I noticed that my information is being compromised, and I paid attention to certain certain patterns. That's leading me to speak the way I'm speaking in reference to city within the city, some city management. And also I want to bring up issues in reference to, like the homelessness situations. Does the city even take any type of accountability for some of the people that's being forced to be homeless versus the people that are the reasons for their homelessness? Like what I'm saying, there's a lot of targeting, a lot of black balling going on and no one's no one's addressing it. I think it's important. Also, when y'all have these meetings for this type of meeting, y'all should wait until 12:00 where everybody's gone, where they can't hear what what needs to be said because some things need to [12:17:23 PM] said because some things need to be addressed. I also feel like the city of Austin, not just the city of Austin, need to be investigated federally investigated, because there's a lot of stuff going, a lot of underhanded going on. And another thing, there was some money that was funded into the old Salvation Army building that they knew shouldn't have even been opened. That compromises people's safety, their health. And y'all are running operations that are not even able to supply the needs of the individuals that lives at that shelter, and it needs to be investigated. Now, when I try to contact the proper authorities to investigate the city of Austin, I need the city of Austin to quit, quit, quit. Literally like monitoring what I'm doing and intercepting any emails that I need to be sent to federal so the proper investigation can go on since it's not being handled appropriately. Within the city of Austin, I have been targeted and I'm being blackballed and [12:18:23 PM] and I'm being blackballed and literally being forced to be silenced. I'm having to come up here and I wish the mayor was here so I can ask him some questions, and eventually I'll be able to speak to him. Since none of these people have managed to schedule for me to speak with him, because it's important. I need to know if he has anything to do with is what happened to me. Now I don't I can't speak for everybody else, but I know I've been forced to live a certain way and I don't appreciate it. And none of y'all know what it feels like to be in a situation I'm in, or anybody else that's going through what I'm going through. Y'all see here, and y'all just look. But y'all don't know. So it needs to be addressed. >> Thank you. >> Mayor pro tem. All the speakers have been called. >> Thank you colleagues. That concludes our public communication. >> Mayor pro tem. Yes, there's one gentleman I think his name was called earlier. >> Okay. >> Is it Allen Demling? >> No, I think it's Mr. Rivera. >> Ruben Rivera. Clemente, please come on up. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Any one of these? [12:19:28 PM] >> Any one of these? >> Well. >> Anybody know who. >> I am? And I'm tired of coming here. And I want to appreciate chito vela for not walking out on me. And eventually the mayor did it last time. I'm tired of being terrorized by, you know, this police department that I have complained over and over again. And before I forget, I got another letter for chief Lisa Davis, which I'm going to leave it here to whoever sees her first. I've been to three public safety meetings. The last two was to tell these officers, stop terrorizing me. Stop vandalizing my car. You know, and actually, I included the details on that. So chief can either do it or do like she been doing. I've been confronted. Five police chiefs. Six if you're talking about the one that showed up over there across the hall, and I'm tired of [12:20:28 PM] the hall, and I'm tired of complaining, this doesn't make sense at all. How this police department can can just. I don't even know what it is, to be honest with you. Mayor Watson is a witness that I confronted two police chiefs here in this auditorium. He's a witness to that. And you already seen that I have. I've. I've been complaining so long, and I'm tired, you know? And the thing about it, they're lying about me. And I got a name for them, and I'm just going to flat out say it. This. This is the organized crime unit, but I renamed them after 20 plus years of being terrorized. I'm calling them the ISIS and Taliban unit of Austin police department. And those officers that conducted in a manner unbecoming. I'm calling them the Osama bin laden of Austin police department. And chief Henderson knows she knows who I am. Do you think I really like being here? I don't, but I want the same thing you guys are [12:21:30 PM] want the same thing you guys are having where you can go home and relax and take it easy, watch TV. I'm not having that. I'm getting bang in the wall behind me and the person below me. Even though they showed me the multiple individuals and I record them like I supposed to. Just like the attorneys told me. And just like that one person, executive assistant police chief Manley, told me. And that's what I've been doing. But what he didn't want me is the retaliation. Well, he didn't warn me was how vindictive this police department is, and most of all, how they cover from the leadership of this police department. I have complained to the to the commander who my understanding, he retired already. Two of the three lieutenants, one of them retired when I started complaining about it when I got the information. I have a long list of contacted basically all police officers more than anything, and I don't want to be going through this. The only reason why I'm here, [12:22:31 PM] The only reason why I'm here, just like the last two visits to the. I hope I don't have to come back. >> Thank you for your testimony. >> Mayor pro tem. >> That is all. >> That is it. >> Okay. >> All right, colleagues, that concludes our public communication. As was mentioned earlier, we will stand in recess until 1 P.M. Austin city council will stand in recess until I mean you. [12:59:51 PM] I mean you. Oh, yeah. I was going to have them raised for the fellowship. Okay. Okay. >> Good afternoon everybody. It's 1:00 on July 24th, 2025, and I will call back to order the city council of Austin, Texas, for this regular meeting. Members of. The first thing I want to take up is council member Laine had to be temporarily off the dais as we took up items 124 127, 128, one 4133, 138, 139 and 137. She would like to be shown voting in favor of each of those items. It will not change the outcome of the vote that was taken by the council. And so with that, I'll entertain a motion. Motion is made by council member alter, seconded by mayor pro tem. There being no discussion without [1:00:53 PM] being no discussion without objection, she will be shown voting in favor of each of those items with council member qadri and council member Siegel off the dais. Members that my plan would be to go to. One item that was related to something we've already passed, but it had a speaker, and that's why I didn't take it up as we were trying to manage the time and then go to the next thing. Once we take that up, we will then go to. But the item I would like to take up now is item number 134. And I will turn to the city clerk for speakers. >> Kimberly Levinson. >> Let's see if you're on a roll. You did real well earlier. >> Another short and sweet. Yes. This is something that, as the downtown Austin neighborhood association president, we strongly support and we are strongly in favor of stream realty's work also. So thank you very much. [1:01:56 PM] very much. >> Thank you. Members. There are no other parties that have signed up to speak on item number 134. Mayor pro tem moves approval. It is seconded by council member Ellis. Is there discussion? Without objection. Item number 134 is adopted with council member Segal and council member qadri temporarily off the dais. Now, members, without objection, we will recess the meeting of the office of city council in order to take up the board of directors meeting of the Austin housing finance corporation. Without objection, we are in recess at 1:02 P.M, and I now call to order the board of directors meeting of the Austin housing finance corporation for July 24th, 2025 at 1:02 P.M. We have a quorum of the board of directors present. We are meeting at city hall in the city council chambers at 301 west second street in Austin, Texas. And I will ask miss Demayo to give us a presentation. >> Thank you. Mandy Demayo Austin housing finance [1:02:57 PM] Austin housing finance corporation, you have four items on today's agenda. I'll go over them briefly and then offer them on consent. The first is authorizing staff to move forward with the formation of a nonprofit corporation, a sunset ridge nonprofit corporation, and to authorize all of the associated legal documents, including the. Including the ground lease and allowing us to be the general contractor for this 440 approximate 444 unit property in d8. I will remind you that hfc, authorized in February of 2024, authorized an $8.85 million loan through the rental housing development assistance program. The item number two is authorizing the creation of a general contractor nonprofit corporation. Item number three is approving a resolution to authorize afc's ownership in the sunset ridge [1:04:00 PM] ownership in the sunset ridge development, which again is a 404 approximate 444 unit development and d8 on southwest parkway. I will note that this was originally on your June 5th hfc agenda. It was postponed in order to ensure that we complied 100% with newly passed state legislation. Hb 21, which you'll find in the backup for this item. You will find the required documentation in order to comply with hb 21. Item number four is authorizing us to proceed with a new policy for the creation of nonprofit corporations, whereby the nonprofit board of directors will not be named by name, rather named by title. So those are the four items. I'm happy to answer any questions, and I offer all four of those on consent. >> Thank you, board members. You have it. Yes. Member alter. >> Just one question. The item that you were having to make compliant with hb 21 was that [1:05:01 PM] compliant with hb 21 was that around the bedroom mix. >> So hb 21 is new legislation that governs housing finance corporations. And it did a couple of things. One was it outlawed the use of traveling housing finance corporations. So out of jurisdiction housing finance corporations. The other thing is that it required that prior to approval of hfcs entering into development, general partnership developments that we present to the public and demonstrate the public benefit that is demonstrated by this development and in this case, the requirement, the legislative requirement is that at least 50% of the benefit, the tax abatement, at least 50% of that goes toward rental reductions. So the affordable rent will achieve at least 50% of the tax abatement that is [1:06:02 PM] of the tax abatement that is being sought in this case. And you'll see in the backup that our development, the proposed development is estimated by the third party that the proposed development will achieve much more than that. 72% of the rent reduction will go toward rent relief for our low income tenants. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions, members? I'll turn to the city clerk for speakers on the consent agenda. >> For item one. Zenobia. Joseph. >> Thank you. Mayor. Council. There's actually a slide. Number three is. So the third slide actually [1:07:10 PM] So the third slide actually shows you the formation. And that was just my opposition. Once again, these all item go together one, three and four. But I'll just preface by saying this is the area that you're talking about. And while Mandy Demayo just mentioned the reduction for low income individuals, this is for people who earn $100,000 out of touch with reality. Your own data from 2020, when you actually surveyed the minority chamber, specified that African Americans earn approximately $42,000, hispanics earn approximately $50,000. You may have updated your data since then, but there's certainly not making $100,000 for 120% area median income. So it is certainly disingenuous and I have asked her to resign before. I want you to look at the area specifically on the right here, and you will see this is the southwest Austin area that I [1:08:10 PM] southwest Austin area that I continue to talk about in Paige Ellis district, where the bus runs empty for 2.9 boardings an hour. If you'll just go to the third slide, I'll just show that I actually, it's the formation that I'm in opposition to because once again, I realize this is actually a financing mechanism, but it lacks transparency. There's nothing posted online, so the public has no way of knowing exactly what tools are being used and how this is beneficial to us. I would ask that you actually adopt some type of process or policy to ensure that these nonprofits that you continue to create actually have to post something online so that we know when they meet and what they're doing. If you have any questions, I'll gladly answer them at this time. >> Thank you, miss Joseph. >> You're welcome. >> She's also signed up on items three and four. Is that correct? >> Correct. Mayor. >> You are welcome to speak on those items if you would also like. >> Sure. If the clerk will just go to the second slide. I've said many times today. And thank [1:09:11 PM] said many times today. And thank you, mayor directors, I'm Zenobia Joseph. Once again, I just wanted you to see the stark contrast. In the inset. You will see adobe middle school. This is not what you're going to see in southwest Austin. I want you to see this is airport boulevard. This is what you may see there. I want you to recognize as well as it relates specifically to southwest Austin, the housing authority of the city of Austin also has property in this area for 80% area median income. Once again, that is above the threshold. So it would be helpful for Mandy Demayo to clarify for the public when it says 80% or 120% area median income. If a person has to actually earn that amount, or if it's up to that amount, because as it stands, the 30% area median income, individuals who are chronically homeless, those properties in southwest Austin do not currently house those individuals. This property [1:10:13 PM] individuals. This property specifically in comparison, all on the rail line. Mayor, I will just remind you here at highland village, which was a property from the housing authority of the city of Austin, it's 80% area median income. On December 17th, 2020. My Gerber, who is the secretary for the board, Austin pathways nonprofit. He actually said the reason that there's not lower income is because the interest in the area didn't want to serve lower income people. So if you go back to the first slide, once again, you will see the bus runs empty for 2.9 boardings an hour to convict hill black people wait 60 minutes for the bus, ten times longer than southwest central Austin. And this is an example of what I'm talking about. The subsidy is over $20 for the white people. It's $2.50 to ride the bus round trip. But yet Paige Ellis remains silent and engaged in viewpoint discrimination. >> You're entitled to speak on item number four. >> So number four specifically, [1:11:15 PM] >> So number four specifically, mayor. And thank you, directors, is to remove the names of the people who are on these boards and replace it with the titles. Earlier, you had council member qadri mentioned transparency when you started the audit and finance committee hearing. Mayor, you mentioned transparency. I find this to be opaque. Unless I'm missing something, I'm not sure why the names would be removed. You have names for boards and commissions that are transparent, and this is a nonprofit. They're already not having the meetings. They don't have any members. So it seems to be a bad precedent as it relates to simply having them remove their names. I don't know how the public would even know who's on the board and what it is that they're doing. Oftentimes people do change positions internally, and the public would have no way of knowing that. I would ask you in the backup, however, if there is [1:12:16 PM] the backup, however, if there is something transparently posted online that you actually include that it is disturbing. This is a bad precedent. And so that is my opposition. The items all pretty much run together. But when I tell you that African American Africans are the ones that are disservice, and our brothers and sisters who are at community first village waiting two hours in their wheelchairs, it is because the investment continues to go in the areas where white choice riders live. And this is a clear example of white privilege. So I will close with my comments in the context of title six of the civil rights act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. And just remember, mayor, this does not affirmatively further fair housing. So it is in violation of the fair housing act of 1968 as well, because you continue to concentrate poverty as opposed to complying with your smart policy, which is mixed income. If you have any questions, I'll gladly answer them at this time. >> Thank you, miss Joseph. >> Thank you mayor. >> That concludes all speakers members. [1:13:17 PM] members. >> That concludes all the speakers that have signed up to speak on the consent agenda for the Austin housing finance corporation board of directors meeting. I'll entertain a motion with regard to the consent agenda. Council board member Ellis moves approval. It is seconded by mayor pro tem members. Is there anyone wishing to abstain from any item on the consent agenda for the Austin housing finance corporation board of directors? Anyone wishing to be shown recusing themselves from a vote on the board? Is there anyone wishing to be shown voting no on any of the items? Any discussion? Hearing none. Without objection, the board board agenda is adopted as a consent agenda. Members. That concludes all of the business of the Austin housing finance corporation for this meeting on July 24th, 2025. Without objection, we are adjourned at 1:14 P.M. Thank you. I will thank you all. I will now call back to order the council meeting for the Austin [1:14:17 PM] council meeting for the Austin city council. It is 1:14 P.M. On July 24th. Members. Council members Siegel and qadri missed a vote on the motion to show council member Laine voting yes on a number of items and on item number 134. They would like to be shown voting in favor. I would move that they be shown voting in favor of those two items. It is seconded by mayor pro tem. Is there any objection? Without objection, the motion is adopted. Members, we will now go to item number 135. Item number 135. That is a public hearing. And I will without objection, we will open the public hearing. The public hearing is open and I'll turn to the city clerk. >> Thank you. Mayor Richard sutil, who signed up for item 135. >> Mr. Sutil. >> Mayor, members of council, I'm here on behalf of the applicant on this. First of all, [1:15:18 PM] applicant on this. First of all, happy tequila day. It's happy. National tequila and international tequila day meets the criteria for a waiver and has support of the school community. And we hope you'll approve it. Thank you. >> Anybody have questions that they can ask of him? Okay. That was your one shot, guys. Anybody else signed up? >> That's all the speakers for 135 members. >> Those are all the people that have signed up to speak on item number 135. Without objection, we will close the public hearing. The public hearing is now closed. Council member Ellis moves approval of the request for the waiver. It is seconded by council member qadri. Is there discussion? Without objection. Item number 135 is adopted. We will now go to item number 136. And it's a public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing. The public hearing is now open and I will turn to the city clerk. >> Thank you, mayor, for 136, I have Eileen Mcguinness and Rachel Roberts. >> If you're here, please come [1:16:19 PM] >> If you're here, please come forward. >> Hi. Thank you, council and mayor for hearing me speak today. I am Rachel Roberts. I am the owner of flourish plant shop and wine bar and we are again seeking an alcohol waiver from the city. Our business is on airport boulevard and it is a beautiful retail shop with a very low key lounge that will be serving wine, beer and food. We are trying to create a positive addition to the neighborhood that will serve the community. This will be an improvement to the current state of the building and the surrounding area. We. Have the support full support of ridgetop elementary, which is the school that is in [1:17:19 PM] which is the school that is in proximity. Ridgetop is within sight of our establishment, but not proximate by walking distance as you would need to cross airport boulevard, the red line tracks and Clarkson in order to get to the school. So we are pretty far removed. Our next door neighbors to this location operate as a restaurant and they serve alcohol. They also share a patio with us. This stretch of airport boulevard has other food and beverage locations with the same alcohol licenses. We have letters from ridgetop elementary and the full support with letters of from the north loop neighborhood association and other business owners. In this stretch of airport boulevard, we are expanding from our current just plant shop to offer the food and beverage, as well as the retail. We were not aware that this [1:18:22 PM] We were not aware that this alcohol license would be an issue, and we were assured our zoning was adequate. We signed a lease and we were ready. >> To go. >> Thank you. Thank you for your consideration. >> Those were the only speakers for 136. >> Very good. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Members. That's concludes all the speakers on item number 136. So without objection we will close the public hearing on item number 136. The public hearing is now closed and the chair will entertain a motion with regard to item number 136. Oh, I'm sorry, councilmember vela has a question. Let's do that before we get a motion. >> Just a very. >> Quick question for the speaker. Is this the old tamale house location on airport boulevard? All right. That was my only question. It's great. That place has been empty for way too long, and I'm really glad to see life coming back to that spot. >> That sounded like a motion by councilmember vela to approve item number 136, seconded by councilmember qadri. Is there discussion with regard to item 136? Without objection, item number 136 is adopted. Item [1:19:23 PM] number 136 is adopted. Item number 126 is a public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 126. The public hearing is now open and I will turn to the city clerk. >> Thank you. Mayor Victoria Haas, John Hildreth. John, are you here? Yes. You have time donated by Diana ball and frank Gordon. Are both of you here? >> Gordon's here. >> Okay. Four minutes. >> Then four minutes. >> To donate my time. Excuse me. Somebody has left. >> Who donated time? There's another volunteer to donate time. >> That's. Well, that's not the way we do that. But what we'll do is you're signed up to speak. >> Yes, sir. >> We. While he is speaking, if you'll go over and get that taken care of with the clerk, then we'll make that happen. So, Mr. Hill, you'll have six minutes. >> Thank you, mayor Watson. [1:20:25 PM] >> Thank you, mayor Watson. Council members, thank you for the opportunity to appear today. And thank you for your commitment to public service and passion for a better Austin. My name is John Hildreth. I'm a member of the board of directors for the Cambridge tower council of owners. Cambridge tower is a residential and commercial building located at 1801 lavaca street. We've been a part of that neighborhood for 60 years. I've not been a part of it for that long, but I've been there for more than 32 years. As an owner, our concerns that I will express and the and some of the other owners who are here are really based on our lived experience in that neighborhood. We are opposed to the request by the applicant to increase the floor to floor to area ratio [1:21:25 PM] floor to floor to area ratio entitlements that have been requested under the density bonus program. We're opposed because the added density will exacerbate existing problems and create whole new problems in traffic congestion, pedestrian, cyclist safety in that neighborhood. Our concerns as owners extend beyond what we will focus on today, but I do want to focus exclusively on those matters affected by the increased density that is a part of this proposal. We're opposed to approving this increased density until the following can be achieved. A thorough traffic analysis and impact report, along with a feasible mobility plan that can be prepared and [1:22:26 PM] plan that can be prepared and reviewed. Secondly, a proposal highlighting the routing for valet parking to and from the proposed development hotel. Second, a third a proposal including a timetable and responsible parties for cost to adapt the existing alleyway for use as the sole point of egress for hotel guests, visitors, valet attendants, shuttles, rideshares, taxi and delivery trucks and finally, an analysis of the proposed pedestrian changes for accommodating future growth. The particular block in question on west mlk between lavaca and Guadalupe has been a troubled block in terms of mobility and safety. For all the years that I have lived at that location because of the odd configuration, as we have grown as a community, the traffic has [1:23:28 PM] as a community, the traffic has increased and we're in the midst of more change and evolving change, which without this proposal most certainly will increase. Vehicular, cyclist and pedestrian traffic in that neighborhood. We are not a group of residents and owners who are opposed to all change. We have embraced a lot of change, and we have seen a lot of change in that neighborhood. But when we see a proposal that is that provides perfectly foreseeable problems. Before the existing problems are addressed, we want to rise and object and ask this council to require the kind of analysis and proposals which will prevent those things from [1:24:28 PM] will prevent those things from happening. The proposal projects that there will be one point of ingress off of west mlk between lavaca and Guadalupe, occupying a part of what is now a dedicated left turn Laine from west mlk south onto Guadalupe, and the egress will be into an alleyway behind at the south end of this property onto either lavaca, which is where Cambridge tower exists and where the alleyway is barely more than ten feet wide, certainly not wide enough to accommodate two way traffic, and problematic even for trucks that will try to utilize that location or the exit at the Guadalupe end would require traffic to cross a dedicated sidewalk. Cyclist [1:25:29 PM] dedicated sidewalk. Cyclist Laine, bus Laine for capmetro and then making a left turn on what is already a curve in Guadalupe. We know from our lived experience that not just at rush hours or when there are events that are occurring, the heavily trafficked area, when drivers get stuck, they get agitated. And when they do that, they act out. They act out in reckless behavior that can endanger pedestrians, other drivers, cyclists. And I will admit, they lay on their horns. And I don't mean by a little bit, but in a way that creates more misery than anyone should have to endure. We know this because for many years there. >> I'm sorry, but your six minutes has expired. [1:26:30 PM] minutes has expired. >> Okay? >> Thank you very much, Mr. Hildreth. >> Continuing on for 126, Judy Gordon, Margaret Anderson, Michael Anderson, Philip Wiley and Kimberly Levinson. >> If your name's been called, please come forward and go ahead and take a seat. And that way we'll know you're here. But you can feel free to go ahead. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Mayor and city council members. I'm honored to be here. And I would like to commend you for your service. It is so important. I want to just go on with what John Hildreth just told you. My husband and I live in Cambridge towers. We've been there for Cambridge tower knows we've been there for almost three years. We live on the west side of the building, kind of in the middle, and we overlook that [1:27:31 PM] the middle, and we overlook that alley. And maybe I should send y'all pictures of cars that try and get through there and can't, but that is just never going to work, and there's no way to widen. It just isn't. So that's our main objection. This this traffic is going to be horrendous. Could I just ask how many of you have been to Cambridge towers besides councilman qadri, who came to speak to us and the mayor? Anybody ever been there? Has any. Okay. Mr. Vela, has anybody been to that corner of. >> Every day, every day. >> Every day. So you can see how congested it can get. They've got to come up with another plan because this one isn't going to work. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Ma'am, could you state your name for the record? >> Judy Gordon? [1:28:32 PM] >> Judy Gordon? >> Thank you. >> Feel free to go next. >> Good afternoon. Council members Victoria Hassey with thrower design on behalf of the landowner and the developer. I just wanted to point out that we are here asking for 3 to 1 F.A.R. This project has been reviewed through the site plan process, achieving up to 8 to 1 far. So what we're asking for from you is this additional 3 to 1 F.A.R that will allow a 13 story hotel to come forward. This project is going to bring significant improvement to the pedestrian environment compared to what exists today. Today, as you can see in the image before you is a nearly 70 foot driveway. It has zero zero amenities for any pedestrian walking by, and it's very auto centric. So this development is going to bring significant improvement to that. The project has been found to be substantially compliant with the urban design guidelines, and it will encourage transit use as [1:29:33 PM] will encourage transit use as this property or this project will not include any parking as part of the development. So I'm available if you have any questions. We do hope we have your support for this additional far. I have heard from many sources that university of Texas university neighborhood overlay all. All of this or the university neighborhood could use some additional hotels in the area. So I'm here if you have any questions. >> Thank you, thank you. Yes, ma'am. >> Kimberly Levinson, representing the downtown Austin neighborhood association. We support this project. We believe that it fits in very well with the amenities that we need, that we support a Dana of going to four times today's current downtown size for residents. And these types of developments help to enable that, especially because this does not have parking. You're actually going to have a less traffic intensive use here because people will either simply be dropped off or they'll take a bus over. We [1:30:33 PM] they'll take a bus over. We think that it will substantially improve the pedestrian environment, and we also think that it fits in well with the city's plans to go to 50 over 50 mode share ride mode, share by 2039. We think projects like this without parking, that are near transit on corridors are a huge help to that. So we would hope that you will support this project. Thank you. >> Thank you. Yes, sir. >> My name is Philip Wiley. I've lived downtown for 33 years, but I won't pull rank I've also lived within a block of mlk, and I consider this area to be part of my immediate neighborhood. First of all, I'd like to say I support imagine Austin, partly because of the kind of discussion we're having here right now. There's a lot of education that needs to take place in the community as far as why we need to do what we need to do. I'd also like to give kudos to whoever was involved [1:31:35 PM] kudos to whoever was involved with pulling the city center plan concept together. Brilliant idea. Excited to see see it play out. This site is essentially in the city center, the center of the city center, or within a couple blocks of it. I brought this to you not to get kudos for taking a bus, but because I don't usually take a bus and I took one down here today. My preferred mode is walking. Today I came down here and knew that between Guadalupe and lavaca, which is where this is, is the spine of the transit system for the metro. And I walked down and I could see a bus a block from me just pulling out, and another bus pulled out, and I didn't panic because there will be another bus right away. Within two minutes I was on another bus. I don't know if people [1:32:36 PM] bus. I don't know if people appreciate how rich the transit is in this area, but in my professional planning opinion, there should be no height limit here. We should be allowed to put 1000 foot tower up. We should encourage it. We should applaud anybody who has the vision and do something like that. And thank you all for your service and welcome back. >> All speakers from 126 have been called members. >> That concludes all the speakers on item number 126. So without objection, we will close the public hearing on item 126 and the public hearing is now closed. Before I call for a motion, let me ask if anybody has any questions of staff or anyone on this item. All right. I'll entertain a motion with regard to item number 126. Council member qadri moves approval of item 126. It is seconded by council member vela. [1:33:39 PM] seconded by council member vela. Is there discussion with regard to item one? The motion without objection. Item number 126 is adopted with council member alter and council member Velazquez temporarily off the dais. You vote and I all right with councilmember Velazquez. Councilmember alter will be voting I on item 126, and council member Velazquez is temporarily off the dais. Thank you. Members, that will take us to item number 129. Item 129 is a public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 129. The public hearing is now open and I will turn to the city clerk. >> Thank you for item 129 Rita Thompson, William bunch. >> If your name's been called, please come forward. >> Bobby Levinsky. And is Roy Whaley here. He is. Yes. He [1:34:44 PM] Whaley here. He is. Yes. He donated time to Mr. Levinsky. So four minutes. >> Mr. Levinsky, why don't you begin, or Mr. Bunch? >> Okay. >> Item 120. I'm sorry, Bob Levinsky. Silver springs alliance item 129 is the council approval of a site plan for the convention center, which is admittedly a bit of an odd provision considering the hyper technical review that's required for site plans, but I suspect this provision was put in the code because of the damage that the old convention center did to the urban form of downtown damage that this new facility doesn't fix. From the higher level policy perspective, there are several reasons why this proposed site plan is bad. It fails to adequately restore the downtown grid. It creates additional dead space without active pedestrian uses along the on the downtown streets that we need active, and this land would be more ideally used for housing opportunities and to expand the tax base in addition to the waste of money of it. However, the site plan approval is also [1:35:46 PM] the site plan approval is also out of sequence here because there are uncleared reviewer comments. Many of the drainage and floodplain comments in the staff report remain unresolved, especially regarding waller creek and the Waterloo greenway. Staff review shows that the plan still lacks a complete erosion hazard analysis and the risk of channel erosion from the proposed outfall is not fully addressed. The way that this item is posted, it's unclear what waivers to the code are being requested and approved. There is a kind of vague see below reference in the in the staff report, and then there's a bunch of different attachments that discuss a bunch of different potential waivers on different topics. For example, it's not clear whether this item includes a waiver to the city's drainage and utility criteria. Approving this plan. Now, before these analyzes are done and the staff comments are cleared is premature, and we would encourage you to not vote for its approval. >> Mr. Bunch. [1:36:47 PM] >> Mr. Bunch. >> Before Mr. Bunch goes. He has time donated by Tamara Scott. Is Tamara here? >> Yes. >> Okay. Four minutes. >> Yeah. Four minutes. Thank you. Mayor. >> Council members bill bunch with save our springs alliance speaking against this proposed approval of a convention center site plan for the new project. You don't really even have a site plan in front of you to approve. You have some lengthy backup. But as Mr. Levinsky referenced, it's asking for waivers. But those aren't described whatsoever. You have 40 plus pages of some staff comments that refer to documents that aren't in the backup and are not linked in the backup, so I'm guessing not a single one of you has actually looked at any sort of drawings that give you [1:37:47 PM] sort of drawings that give you any sense whatsoever of what the site plan would be. I think for that reason, the notice is improper and your actions would be improper if you do actually look at that through that 40 pages of backup and staff comments. Repeatedly, the headline little comment says cleared. Like the problem that had been identified in a previous set of staff comments had been addressed and taken care of. But then you actually read the text under those comments at one after another, after another, and it makes it clear that it's not cleared. The headline is false. It says this has not been resolved. It says it does not comply. And this is repeatedly. And we aren't talking about little, you know, the color of the paints wrong. We're talking about floodplain [1:38:48 PM] We're talking about floodplain analysis, stormwater management, repeated problems over and over. Things are not clear. Waivers are not clear. Plans don't comply. That's for the utilities. This is way premature, as is the entire project. Once again, you have no business going forward on this. It's the whole thing is a farce. It really is. This is six blocks. Now, since you did go forward with the with the demolition of the convention center, we have that should. Let's find that silver lining. Let's see that as a blessing. We now have six blocks of land we own, publicly owned. And there's no law or logic that says it has to be a convention center that we don't need, and that will just hemorrhage money for decades. Let's do something different and inspiring. Let's have a public discussion about [1:39:48 PM] have a public discussion about the best use or uses, and it should be mixed. It should integrate. The one good thing about the convention center project is restoring the historic waller street grid and creating a vibrant urban area. Potentially you don't do that with a convention center. You do that with a mixed set of uses. And that's what the UT plan called for pre-covid and what got scrapped. This is a single use project. You have now a giant convention center still. Yes. There's a street grid. Yes. You're hiding it in a giant hole that probably has enormous environmental and financial implications that you don't know. But let's step back and think about this. I mean, the landmark out there that people everybody know about. The Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain, it put the city on the map. It's [1:40:49 PM] put the city on the map. It's enormous. Tourist driver and it's loved by the community. We need something like that. Thank you. Mr. And you have that opportunity here. >> Betsy Greenberg, Fabian rey. >> You're waving your time. Miss Greenberg's waving your time. >> Hey. Hello. My name is Fabian rey. I am here, I got actually, I'm an artist from the city of Austin, and I'm here to say to please give us the chance to vote for this convention center again. The only council member that has been in my studio in the east side is Jose. He's a great guy and I love him. And I invite all of you to come to my studio, look at it, see what we [1:41:51 PM] studio, look at it, see what we built without a cent from the city, out, out of love. That's what bill is talking about. Let's build something that we are proud of with this. Six blocks in the middle of our city. I don't think we need a huge, another huge building that is used five times a year. Let's do something that we are proud of that makes us be more inspired in this city that brings people, that gets people hooked, with this city, that brings art and love and things that we really need. I don't think we need another construction. I don't think we need another monster of concrete. I think we need like a, I think we need stuff that inspire people. So people come to Austin and be inspired. Like has been doing it for years. [1:42:52 PM] has been doing it for years. I've been here for ten years and I have a painting in this building and I'm super proud of it. So I want to still be proud of my city. That's why I'm here. And I beg you guys to help us and to let us vote. That's all. Thank you very much. I love you, Jose. I love you so say hi to your wife. Thank you. Goodbye, mayor. >> That's all the speakers for 129 members. >> That concludes all the speakers on the public hearing on item number 129. So without objection, we'll close the public hearing. And the public hearing is now closed. The chair will entertain a motion with regard to item number 129. Is there a motion with regard to item number 129, council member Ellis moves approval of item number 129 is seconded by council member vela. Discussion with regard to item 129. Without objection, item 129 is adopted. Members. Council member Velasquez had to be temporarily off the dais when we voted in [1:43:52 PM] off the dais when we voted in favor of item number 126. He would like to be shown voting in favor of item number 126, and his vote being added will not change the outcome of the vote. I would move that. We show council member Velasquez voting in favor of item 126. It is seconded by council member Ellis. Is there objection? Without objection, council member Velasquez will be voting in favor of item number 126. We will now go to item number 130, which is another public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 130. The public is now open and I will turn to the city clerk. >> Connie temple. Connie, are you here? She has time donated by Merriman Smith. Okay. Four minutes, followed by Paul Robbins and Richard suttle. >> Good afternoon, mayor Watson [1:44:55 PM] >> Good afternoon, mayor Watson and council members. My name is Connie temple, district nine, and I am here on behalf of the Austin city lofts owners association, or as we call it, acl. This first photo. Where did it go? There we go. In this first photo, acl is the building on the left, just east of the west fifth street bridge over shoal creek. 506 west avenue is adjacent to our property on the north side. During the memorial day flood of 2015, the water was so high that the sidewalk guardrails on the bridge were completely covered by water. The proposed apartment tower would be 49 stories, with over 350 residential units situated on the banks of shoal creek, located mid-block with access only onto west avenue. In contrast, acl's building has 14 stories and 82 residential units. Located on the corner of [1:45:56 PM] units. Located on the corner of west fifth street and west avenue, with access to both streets is the sides, not. The slide show is not going. We're still stuck on the first one. There we go. To be clear, acl is not opposed to development of 506 and 508 west avenue in a manner that is appropriate for land that is located wholly within Austin's regulatory 25 year and 100 year floodplain. However, this high density residential development as proposed, creates a threat to public safety not only for occupants but notably for emergency response providers, as the nearest safe area is approximately 300ft from the parking garage entrance. As humans, we are all fallible. We don't always make the best decisions in an emotionally charged situation. In this slide, you can see that 506 and 508 west avenue are on Austin's floodplain map. The 25 year plain areas floodplain areas are [1:46:57 PM] plain areas floodplain areas are dark blue, and the 100 year floodplain areas are light blue. During a flood event, people may attempt to exit the building to pick up children, family members, or enter the building seeking a safe home. The safety of home. While the tower's first finished floor would be three feet above the 100 year floodplain, watershed's summary of findings in 2024 noted that the depth of the 100 year floodplain at the tower's garage street entrance is nearly nine feet, with the velocity of three feet per second. In full disclosure, acl's building was the recipient of a floodplain variance over 20 years ago. We now know that climate change is increasing flood risks in Texas, bringing warmer temperatures that cause more water to evaporate from the land and oceans, leading to heavier rainfall. It is fair to say that we now know much more about climate change and flood risk than we did over 20 years ago, [1:47:57 PM] than we did over 20 years ago, given the recent tragic flood events. Heartbreakingly so, the noaa atlas 14 rainfall study significantly changed the understanding of flood risk in the Austin area. Published in 2018, this study shows south central Texas, also known as flash flood alley, is more likely to experience larger storms with more intense rainfall than previously thought. The recent flood events in central Texas have proven this forecast from 2018 to be frighteningly accurate. Acl respectfully requests that you deny the extension of these floodplain variances. Further, we hope that council will place a moratorium on building in the 25 year floodplain until the data being gathered in watershed's floodplain. Study update is completed and published. We thank you for your time and attention to this important matter. >> Thank you very much. >> Moving on. Rita Thompson, [1:48:57 PM] >> Moving on. Rita Thompson, Bobby Levinsky, and Roy Whaley, you're still here? Yes. His time donated four minutes for Mr. Levinsky and then Betsy Greenberg. >> You're already called. >> Thank you, mayor and council, Bobby Levinsky, save our springs alliance. What miss Connie said was amazing. Everything that she said is absolutely true. For this, I'll be really short and just add that part of addressing climate change is accepting the reality that every lot is not well suited for development, and floodplains especially, are not well suited for residential development. When this site experiences flooding again, the residents will be stuck in stuck in place and emergency vehicles will not be able to reach them. It's a scenario that can be easily avoided by just saying no to this item. Thank you. >> Miss Greenberg. >> Thank you. My name is Betsy Greenberg. I live in district [1:49:58 PM] Greenberg. I live in district nine. A year ago I watched the hearing for this floodplain variance in real horror. Really? To think that you would give a floodplain variance in a location that's so well known for flooding. But a year later, you have the ability to make this right. And hopefully the lessons learned from recent tragic floods would help you realize that floodplain variances are not a good idea. Thank you. >> Bill bunch. And he has time donated by Tamara Scott tomorrow. Scott. >> She's not here anymore okay. >> And two minutes then. >> Yeah. >> Thank you bill bunch save our springs alliance district five. I won't repeat too much of what you already heard. Yeah, this this site is just extremely well [1:51:00 PM] this site is just extremely well known for incredibly high flood risk. That's reported shown to you very clearly by the neighbors. In in in this day and age, especially after what happened 4th of July, I would hope that that y'all would think about this again. I know that some of you have never, ever voted against an armed bruceton brown lobbied project, and maybe this might be the first one. These these cases present a clear issue. Are y'all climate change deniers or not? Or do you put greed ahead of basic public safety and common sense and compassion for the people who will live in this city in the [1:52:02 PM] will live in this city in the future? So please, please think about at least one of these agenda items today. Thank you. >> Mayor. That's all. Speakers for item 130. >> We have somebody standing up. >> Sorry. Mr. Subtle, please. I've called your name. >> Go ahead. >> I'm sorry I got in line. I thought this will be quick. I'm Richard Zell. I'm here on behalf of the applicant today. Today? The question before you is, is not the granting of the variance that was already deliberated on and granted a year ago. It had a deadline on it to get a building permit within a year. And as most of us know, you can't even get a site plan done in a year. And we've been diligently pursuing the site plan, and we're down to legal documents and then get the building permit. And what's before you today is just an extension of time to allow this applicant to finish out the work that he started when the variance was first granted a year ago. So we hope if you have any questions about the process, let me know. [1:53:04 PM] about the process, let me know. But we're hoping that you can let the process play out now. He's spent a ton of money on permitting and engineers and site planning, and there is no adverse impact on the on the floodplain. And we just need a little more time to prosecute the permits. Thank you. >> Okay. I believe that is. >> Members there being no other people signed up to speak at the public hearing on item number 130. Without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 130 and the public hearing is now closed. The chair will entertain a motion with regard to item number 130. Is there a motion? Motion is to approve item 130 made by council member harper-madison seconded by council member vela. Discussion. Yes. Council member duchen mayor. >> Is it possible to ask a question of watershed? >> Sure. Council member duchen you have the floor. >> Thank you. My question is my understanding is watershed protection department has recommended approval this amendment. Can you help me [1:54:04 PM] amendment. Can you help me understand the logic behind that in relation to some of the testimony that we heard today? >> Yes. For the original floodplain variance request a year ago, staff recommended denial, and that recommendation was due to the fact that we didn't think it was appropriate to put that level of density in the floodplain. The variance was approved by council and several conditions were placed on that variance, one of them being that the original design was two feet above the 100 year floodplain. Now this one of the conditions is to make it three feet above the floodplain. That in and of itself reduces flood risk. On the merits of the extension only we're recommending approval because the flood risk information that's used to design this development is going to remain unchanged until mid 2027. So if the floodplain, if the floodplain risk data were changing next month, we would [1:55:05 PM] changing next month, we would not be recommending approval. But it's going to be at least two years until that data is available. And we can use it to start regulating development within the floodplain. Again. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you, thank you. Council member duchen members. The motion has been made and seconded without further discussion and without objection, the item number 130 is approved. Members that will take us to item number 131. >> I'm sorry. >> I'm sorry. >> I told your staff I would like to be marked abstaining on the last item. >> Okay. I'm sorry I didn't have that listed. So on item number 130, the motion was made and seconded. Item number 130 is approved with council member Siegel being shown abstaining on item number 130. All right. We'll now go to item number 131, which is also a public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 131. The public hearing is now open and I will turn to the city clerk. >> Paul Robbins. Rita Thompson, [1:56:06 PM] >> Paul Robbins. Rita Thompson, Douglas herling. Roy Whaley. If your name has been, you can go ahead and come to the podium. >> Please, please come forward if you when you hear your name, please come forward and pick a chair if you're going to speak. Please go ahead. >> Hi, my name is Doug hurley, and I'm the homeowner of 209 rey boulevard in district nine. And me and my wife are here today to respectfully request your approval of permit. 2020 404 8136 and the associated variance when we purchased this property in 2017. >> As first time home buyers, the detached and partially converted garage was already present. We have documentation in front of you showing the garage is original to the house, and was converted before we moved in. Since acquiring the home, we've made no structural changes to the garage and has not been converted into an occupied residential building. It has been used primarily as a home office and for storage. The [1:57:06 PM] home office and for storage. The city approved our remodeling permit for the main house, and we invested significantly to complete the work in good faith, and the renovation was entirely interior and focused on making the structure safe and sound. Now, at the final stage, our occupancy authorization is being held up due to this accessory structure, which was never part of the initial scope of our permit. This is causing an undue hardship. Despite our efforts to comply with all city requirements, we've we would have never undertaken this renovation if it meant that we'd be penalized for a structure that's been here for seven decades, and that we currently use responsibly. The north loop neighborhood is undergoing rapid change. We're near and support new developments along Lamar. Koenig and airport are an area focused on density and growth. We're doing nothing here that will exacerbate any problems in the floodplain, but we are surrounded by development that has and will contribute to increased runoff and reduced water quality. Our property was barely in the floodplain when we closed on it in 2017. The [1:58:07 PM] closed on it in 2017. The floodplain didn't exist formally when the house or garage were built. We aren't creating some new issue for Austin to deal with, but we do respectfully ask that the council recognize that this garage, as is a preexisting non-conforming structure under city code. And to approve our permits, we can move forward with our house, live our lives, and continue growing with Austin. Thank you for your time and your consideration. Happy to take any questions. >> Thank you sir. Mr. >> Good afternoon, Roy Whaley. I can't help but think about July 4th. I can't help but think that so many of the people that are no longer with us, that were impacted one way or the other, were not in the floodplain at that time. Climate change is real. This is a an area I'm very familiar with. I ride through there quite a bit. I'm not able to ride through there when we're [1:59:09 PM] to ride through there when we're at a high flood stage though, because I have seen the roads covered with water there. I certainly feel for the individual that is wanting to improve his property. My concern would be we're not going to be responsible. I hope the city will not be responsible for his insurance on this, but I would expect that if there is flooding that it's not going to just impact him. And I would just. I'm getting a picture in my mind of when I have seen this flooded before. And so it just brings me back to climate change and the fact that you really need to start thinking about climate change. You know, typically I come in here and talk about the lake level at lake Travis. Well, we don't really have a problem [2:00:12 PM] we don't really have a problem with that right now because of climate change, because of the floods, because of the people that were negatively impacted. So I did not speak about the issue where I donated my time to Mr. Levinsky, that that is a no brainer to me. But I will give up the rest of my time. I'll actually wish the gentleman well with his project and I hope it works out for him. Thank you, thank you ma'am. >> Bobby Levinsky, Betsy Greenberg, and bill bunch. Did Tamara Scott return? Okay, Mr. Bunch, just have two minutes, then. >> Thank you, Bobby Levinsky. Silver springs alliance item 131 is a consideration. Another floodplain variance to convert a garage into a livable space. This living space would be located entirely within the 25 year floodplain of waller creek. I remember back when the city of [2:01:15 PM] I remember back when the city of Austin was giving out floodplain variances fairly regularly, and I remember getting the no. No letter from FEMA cautioning that it could affect Austin's floodplain rates. So the I think it was then mayor Lee Leffingwell and councilmember Martinez led on putting an end to that practice. And so you stop seeing them come up as as much. I don't really want to lean too hard into what happened recently with the with what happened on July 4th, because there are differences there. But I think the commonality is that you shouldn't be putting bed pillows in floodplains. It's a dangerous proposition, and it's easily avoided by just not using that space as residential. Thank you. >> Miss Greenberg. Mr. Bunch, are you going to speak? Okay. >> Can I say I don't like the remodel? No. Where we have to sit. But anyway, my name is Betsy Greenberg. I live in district nine, and I'm opposed [2:02:16 PM] district nine, and I'm opposed to floodplain variance, particularly in the 25 year floodplain. It doesn't mean it only floods every 25 years, which is fairly often. It's much more often than that. And we all know it's much more often than that. And this council really shouldn't be approving floodplain variances like the levee swale council. Thank you. >> That's all speakers for item 131 mayor members. >> That concludes all the speakers on in the public hearing on item number 31. Without objection, we'll close the public hearing on item 131. The public hearing is now closed. The chair will entertain a motion with regard to item 131. Is there a motion? Council member duchen moves approval of item 131 is second by council member qadri is there discussion? Yes. Mayor pro tem. >> Thank you. If we could have someone from watershed share with us because I see here in the backup there's a denial of this variation request. And if they could speak to that denial. >> Thank you. Mayor, mayor pro [2:03:18 PM] >> Thank you. Mayor, mayor pro tem and council members Kevin Shunk, Austin watershed protection. Our recommendation for this variance is denial. And I will I'll break it down into the three major variance requests that they're making. One is to the freeboard requirement how high the building is above the floodplain in Austin. That's there required to be two feet above the floodplain according to FEMA minimum rules. They have to be at the elevation of 100 year floodplain. This building is 1.5ft below the 100 year floodplain. A freeboard variance is significant. It's not something that we've done in the 20 years I've been doing this. The variance to the to the variance to the freeboard requirements would be significant to FEMA when they come for our next visit, which happens every 3 to 5 years. So I just I'm very much stressing the fact that the freeboard variance is important. And the another one that I think is very important is the structural certification. What that means [2:04:19 PM] certification. What that means is that the building is built, designed, and it's going to be in touch with flood waters. And a structural engineer analyzes it to say, you know what? That building is not going to go anywhere when the flood waters come. What we don't want to happen is for debris, houses, sheds, etc. To be whisked away in the floodplain and cause damage downstream. So it's very important. And again, it's a FEMA minimum requirement to make sure that a home, the building structure has structural certification before it is approved in the floodplain. The last variance is the safe access variance. And quite frankly, there's no way that this property can meet that requirement because they're completely in the floodplain in addition to the road outside of their house. So there's in the backup. I talked a little bit about the hardship conditions, and there is a hardship condition only for the safe access variance, but not for the [2:05:19 PM] access variance, but not for the freeboard or the structural certification variance. So the denial is overall, but it comes in those pieces as I as I separate as I talked about. >> Thank you. Mr. Scott. Can you remind us that we just improved our crs rating? Is that right? >> We approved our crs rating 6 to 12 months ago. I don't know exactly when it was, but yes, we're now a class five. >> And as such, we were able to give even deeper discounts to austinites on their flood insurance. >> That's correct. >> So if we were downgraded in our rating, that would have an adverse impact on flood insurance policyholders. >> That's correct. >> Thank you. And then the other question I have, and I'm not sure if you could speak to this or someone from law, but my office also inquired about whether or not we have if the city has any ability to require disclosures for units that are being rented, so that so that renters are aware if they would be living in a unit or a housing rental that would be located in [2:06:19 PM] rental that would be located in a floodplain, can we regulate or add mandate disclosures? >> Good afternoon. Erika Lopez, assistant city attorney. So one of the conditions, city code requires that as part of the building permit, the property owner records a drainage easement. The drainage easement will exclude the footprint of the house and the garage, but the drainage easement will serve be recorded in the real property records and serve as a notice to the buyer that there is floodplain in the area. So it's not the we're not regulating the private contract between the buyer and the seller, but we are regulating the construction of the building. So that does put the onus on the buyer to investigate. >> To on the buyer to investigate. Okay. >> That's correct. >> All right. No further questions on my end. >> Thank you. Mayor pro tem councilmember duchen. >> Thank you. I've got a question for or two questions [2:07:20 PM] question for or two questions for watershed. One is notice that most of the conditions were either partially met or not met. How common is it for us to approve these kind of variances under those circumstances? Do you have a sense of that? >> Well, when we create the responses to the conditions, whether they're approved, approved, partially approved or met, I should say, and then not met, that's based on our technical analysis of the request itself. And if it's a situation of a request that we feel this should be approved, but under the rules that can't be administratively, then we might see those conditions being met, which would support a our opinion that it might it should be approved. And our recommendation in that case might be approved vice versa. If it's a situation where there's some issues, we'll just say, and we don't think it should be approved, then those remarks, the remarks to those conditions are going to be. Suggesting that [2:08:20 PM] are going to be. Suggesting that staff doesn't approve that particular item of that request. And it states the reason why. And that's that information is provided for you in making the final decision for the variance request. >> Okay. Thank you. Second question is you make mention of the freeboard requirements several times in the backup and the document you provided as part of backup. Can you expand on what that is? >> So freeboard is an an amount above the 100 year floodplain that a building has to be built. FEMA's minimum standards are that buildings have to be built at the floodplain elevation, zero feet above the floodplain. The city of Austin standards go above and beyond to provide added protection, and our regulations require that a building be built two feet above the 100 year floodplain. As I said earlier, the current garage conversion on this property is 1.5ft below the 100 year floodplain. >> Okay. Thank you. [2:09:22 PM] >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Councilmember vela. >> Thank you. Mayor, I just want to be clear. Both the home and the garage are preexisting. So, Mr. Shunk, a couple more questions. I just want to be clear, to understand what the situation is here. The both the main house and the garage are preexisting, and both of them are completely within the floodplain. The 25 year floodplain. >> I don't think they're both entirely in the 25 year floodplain, but they're entirely in the 100 year floodplain, for sure. Okay. And the house and the garage, well, let me say the garage. The previous owners started to convert the garage to a habitable, habitable space. The current owners have finished that process, and now we have the finished structure. [2:10:23 PM] the finished structure. >> And but this entire neighborhood is essentially within the 100 year floodplain. I mean, the walnut creek is, is right there. I look on the map of 209 Zell rey and I mean basically the entire north loop neighborhood, or at least big chunks of it, are within the 100 year floodplain. >> It's a significant floodplain, yes. >> Yeah. And they're not. So the only way to become compliant would be essentially to destroy the house and elevate it one way or another to the three feet above the 100 year floodplain that often requires. Is that correct? >> So can you say that. >> Again, the only way for that property to be compliant? Let's put the grandfathering aside for a second and just say, if we did want to get a compliant structure on there, they would have to rebuild the house and then elevate it, for example, on a pier and beam or something like that. That would be three feet above. In other words, there's no way for the current property to become compliant. You would have to essentially [2:11:25 PM] You would have to essentially destroy and rebuild a house. >> So building permit application and this variance request are only have to do with the garage conversion, not the main house at all. >> So the garage though is it is it any larger than it was before. >> It to our in our analysis it does not appear that it's any larger than it originally was. >> So they're taking a garage on the back corner of the property and turning it basically from a garage into some kind of like finishing it out, drywall, you know, whatnot to use as an office or a study or whatever the case is in practical terms. Again, I'm getting away from the technical knowledge, but but that's essentially what they're doing, right? >> Right. Yes. >> They're not adding any impervious cover to the property. >> No. >> Thank you very much. Welcome. >> Further questions. Members. The motion is to approve item number 131. What I'll do is ask those that are in favor of item number 131, if you'll raise your hand, if you raise your hand. [2:12:26 PM] hand, if you raise your hand. Those opposed, please raise your hand. You abstaining okay. Members there being four in favor. Councilmembers harper-madison, Laine, vela and qadri there being. Six in opposition, those being council member Ellis, the mayor pro tem, councilmember Velasquez, councilmember alter, councilmember duchen, and the mayor and councilmember Siegel abstaining. The motion fails. That will now take us. So the so the variance is not approved. The ordinance is not approved. [2:13:28 PM] The ordinance is not approved. That will now take us to item number 132. Item number 132 members is also a public hearing. And therefore, without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 132. The public hearing is now open and I will turn to the city clerk. >> Rita Thompson. William bunch, Roy Whaley, Betsy Greenberg. >> If your name has been called and you want to say something, please come forward. >> Mr. Bunch has time donated by Tamara Scott. Did she return? No. George Godwin. Okay, just two minutes. This is. >> Just for European. Okay. >> Thank you. Mayor, council members bill bunch with save our springs alliance here. Also [2:14:29 PM] springs alliance here. Also speaking against this Austin tourism public improvement district or hotel pid funding plan for this next year. This is another revenue stream that's primarily designed to flow again into the convention center and its exploding budget. That's less obvious in this particular year, since we don't have a convention center. And so more of those funds could be directed to marketing attractions and supporting hotels that are not downtown and adjacent to or very close to the convention center. I would hope that those of you who are not district nine or the mayor would engage this process [2:15:29 PM] mayor would engage this process a little more constructively and proactively to support culture, arts and parks funding and support your hotels. The smaller ones, the rank and file ones that aren't the big, giant luxury hotels downtown, the ones who control the hotel lobby and support tourism and your community in your districts. We have amazing places. We're losing them. They're struggling. This revenue stream. If the city really did partner with the governing board of the hotels that you're working with on this revenue stream, that's where the money really should go. It should not be flowing into the black hole of downtown. Thank you. >> Roy Whaley. I'm for tourism [2:16:31 PM] >> Roy Whaley. I'm for tourism in Austin. But let's let's look at the different things that will draw tourists to Austin. And I agree, if you watch the movie and I hope you do the magic hole as we build the convention center, that's not tourism. Yes, it brings people, but in my business I'm aware and the other people in my business are aware that conventions are dying. So yes, to tourist dollars going to all of Austin, all the areas of Austin and protecting what we already have. And I'm just going to give a shout out real quick to Roy Guerrero park. Without Barton springs. It's still, if it had Barton springs, it'd be hands down the best park in Austin. But those cool waters make a big [2:17:33 PM] But those cool waters make a big difference. But we need to be putting more money into real improvements on on places like Roy Guerrero without changing it substantially. Thank you very much. >> My name is Betsy Greenberg. I live in district nine, and I'd like to see money for tourism to be used for things other than just the convention center, which really doesn't benefit the city. I hope you will reconsider. Thank you. >> That's all. Speakers for 132 members. >> That concludes the speakers for the public hearing on item number 132. So without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 132 and the public hearing is now closed. That being said, I'll entertain a motion with regard to item number 132. That's not. Motion's been made by the mayor [2:18:42 PM] Motion's been made by the mayor pro tem. It is seconded by council member alter discussion. Without objection. Item number 132 is adopted with council member Ellis temporarily off the dais. Members, we will now go to items related to zoning, and I will ask miss harden to come forward and or whoever is going to do that and make a presentation to us. >> Go for it. >> All right. Thank you, mayor and council. I'm joy harden with the planning department. Your zoning agenda begins with item number 141 c14 2025 0024. This item is offered for consent on [2:19:43 PM] item is offered for consent on all three readings. And I will note that we do have some opposition speakers that live in this development that will be speaking to this request. Item 142 is npa 2024 0023.01. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. The related rezoning is item number 143 c14 2024 0180. Again, this item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 144 is c1484022 rca. This item is offered as an applicant postponement request to your September 11th council meeting. Item 145 is npa 2024 0020.01. This item is offered for offered as a postponement request by mayor pro tem Fuentes to your August 28th council meeting. The related rezoning is item number 146 c14 2024 0168. Again, this is offered as a postponement request by mayor pro tem Fuentes to your August 28th council meeting. Item 147 c814060109 .03. This item is [2:20:44 PM] c814060109 .03. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 148 is c14 2024 0151. This is being offered as a postponement request by council member Laine to your August 28th council meeting. Item 149 is c14 2024 0112. There is a neighborhood postponement request and it is the neighborhood's first request. However, council member vela has requested a postponement numerous times of this item to allow for additional time for him, his staff, neighborhood and applicant to have further discussions. So this item is being offered for consent for second and third readings. Item 150 c14 2024 0113. Again, there's a neighborhood postponement request, but this item is being offered for consent. Second and third readings. Item 151 is c14 2024 0114. This item is being offered as an applicant. Indefinite postponement item 152 is npa 2024 0008.02. This is being [2:21:45 PM] 2024 0008.02. This is being offered for consent. Third reading. The related rezoning is item number 153 c14 2024 0107. Again, this is offered for consent. Third reading with the following motion from council member harper-madison. And that motion reads. Amend the ordinance to include a conditional overlay on the property with the following conditions. 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. Automotive rental. Automotive repair services. Automotive sales. Automotive washing of any type. Bail bond services. Building maintenance services. Campground. Commercial off street parking. Construction. Sales and services. Convenience storage. Drop off recycling collection facility. Electronic prototype assembly. Electronic testing. Equipment repair services. Equipment sales. Exterminating services. Funeral services. Monument. Retail sales. Outdoor entertainment. Pawnshop services. And with that [2:22:47 PM] Pawnshop services. And with that again this item is offered for consent. Third reading item 154 npa 2025 0025.01. This item is offered for consent at all three readings. The rezoning is item number 155. C14 2025 0038. Again, this item is offered for consent on all three readings and a 156 is npa 2024 0018.02. This item is offered for postponement by council member vela to your August 28th council meeting. The related rezone is item number 157 c14 2024 0152. Again, postponement request by council member vela to your August 28th council meeting. Item 158 is npa 2025 0027.01. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. The related rezoning is item number 159 c14 2025 0026. This item is offered for consent on all three ratings. Item 160 ac814 2008 [2:23:47 PM] ratings. Item 160 ac814 2008 0165.01. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 161 is c14 2025 0042. This is offered for consent on all three readings. And I just want to clarify that this case was heard before the planning commission, rather than the zoning and planning commission as identified on your agenda. And again, this is offered for consent on all three readings with the planning commission's recommendation, which moves forward. Item number 162 is c14 2024 0159. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 163 is c14 2024 0170. This item is offered for consent on all three readings with the following motion which reads. Amend part four D of the draft ordinance to remove townhouse residential from the list of uses to which the 75 foot wide building setback shall apply, including including townhouse residential. In the list of the following [2:24:47 PM] In the list of the following uses was a neighbor and again this is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 164 is c14 2025 0041. This item is offered for consent at all three readings, with the following motion from council member Laine, which reads approve this item for multifamily residents. Limited density mf one district zoning on all three readings. This will remove the conditional overlay and again this is offered for consent in all three readings. Item 165 is seen one four 2025 0002. This item software for consent on all three readings. Item 166 is c14 2025 0044. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 167 is c14 2025 0037. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 168 c14 2025 0035. This item is offered for consent on [2:25:47 PM] item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 169 is c14 2025 0011. This item is offered for consent on all three readings and 172 c14 2025 0025. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 171 is c14 2025 0043. This item is offered for consent on all three readings with the following motion, which reads. Amend part two of the draft ordinance to include the following additional prohibited uses. Club or large club or large college and university facilities. Communication services. Communication service facilities. Community events. Community garden. Community recreation. Private community recreation. Public hospital services. Limited pet services. Plant nursery. Printing and publishing. Private primary educational facilities. Private secondary educational facilities. Safety services, theater. Urban farm. And with that again this item is offered for consent and all three readings. Item 172 c14 2025 [2:26:48 PM] readings. Item 172 c14 2025 0050. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. Item 173 c14 2025 0003. This item is offered for discussion and it is ready for all three readings. Staff is opposed to the applicant's amended request of industrial zoning. The planning commission did recommend the request. Item one 741 four 2025 0039. This item is being offered as an applicant. Indefinite postponement. And lastly, item 175 is the one for 2025 0063. This item is offered as a neighborhood postponement request to your August 28th council meeting. This concludes the reading of the zoning and neighborhood plan amendment agenda. As always, this is at your discretion. Thank you. >> Thank you, miss Hardin. Members, you have any questions of miss Hardin at this time? >> I'm sorry. >> Y'all heard that. >> I'm sorry. Oh, my gosh, I need to learn how. >> To hit that hit that mute button. Okay, members, I'm going [2:27:48 PM] button. Okay, members, I'm going to I'm going to quickly read the consent agenda, and then we'll go to speakers on the consent agenda items 141, 142 and 143 are on all three readings, 144 at 145 and 146 are postponements. 144 would be to September 11th, 145 and 146 to August 28th, 147 on all three readings. 148 postponement to August 28th, 149 and 1/52 and third readings 151 and indefinite postponement 152 on third would be on third. Reading 153 with the motion sheet read by. Miss Hardin would be on third reading 154 and 155. All three readings 156 157 postponement to August 28th 158 159 160. All three readings 161 will also be on all three readings. Miss Hardin has noted a posting error and she read that into the record. 162 all [2:28:48 PM] that into the record. 162 all three readings. 163 all three readings with the motion sheet read by miss Hardin. 164 all three readings with the motion sheet that was read by miss Hardin. 165 166, 167, 168, 169, and 170. All three readings 171. All three readings with the motion sheet that was read into the record. 172. All three readings, 174 indefinite postponement and 175 postponement until August 28th. I'll entertain a motion. Motion made by council member vela, seconded by council member harper-madison. I'll now turn to the clerk for comment. Public comment on the consent agenda as read. >> Thank you mayor. We'll start with remote speakers for item 141. I have Brad Massingill. Mr. Massingill, are you there? [2:29:53 PM] Massingill, are you there? >> He doesn't seem to be. >> In person for item 141 I have Jed Taylor, Jennifer, Derek, Sophia Vitela, Quentin Mantella, Kimberly bacon, and Judy pittsford. >> Good afternoon. >> We'll start here and we'll just go that direction, if that's okay. >> Thank you. >> Good afternoon. My name is Jed Taylor. I'm in strong support of my wife, Kim bacon, and her business, little lion salon. Kim has worked as a hairstylist for 20 years in Austin. She's built a trusted, low, low impact business and brings peace and professionalism to the new south Austin south Lamar location where she's at. It's a calm studio, little lines, a calm, a point and only studio with no walk in traffic, no noise and no disruption to the surrounding area. Kim typically works alone, seeing just a handful of clients per [2:30:53 PM] just a handful of clients per day, four days a week. The salons water usage is minimal. Laundry is done completely off site. There's no dishwasher, the shower is completely unused. It's a low impact space, as I mentioned before. And to eliminate illustrate this, we've documented several days of summer with photos showing a consistently quiet parking lot and plenty of available spaces. I don't know if those slides are up, but we do have 3 or 4 slides for them. Unfortunately, getting to this point has come at a significant cost. We were initially advised by city staff to withdraw our application and pursue a rezoning instead. That decision has cost us over $25,000 in application fees, legal support and site plan revisions, none of which were refunded or credited towards the rezoning process. We've been trying to follow the rules at every step in this process with the city, but the shifting guidance has left us in a deep financial strain just for the chance to bring Kim's business into full compliance. Kim chose this space for simplicity, privacy and connection to her [2:31:54 PM] privacy and connection to her longtime clients. We're not asking for a big change. We're simply asking for the city to recognize a respectful, woman owned business that already belongs here. Thank you. >> Hi. Thanks for the opportunity to speak. My name is Kim bacon. I'm the owner of little line salon, and I've proudly worked in Austin, Texas as a hairdresser for over 20 years. I began my career in a busy live work studio downtown, where I operated a high traffic salon for 17 years. Eventually, I made a very conscious choice to transition to a quieter, more intimate setting, both for my clients and for myself, which brought me to south Lamar. Little lion hair salon is a private appointment only studio. We don't accept walk ins or generate foot traffic. I see a maximum of five clients per day and I work alone the majority of the time. One additional stylist works part time on alternate [2:32:55 PM] works part time on alternate days and the salon is closed three days out of every week. Parking has never been an issue. I have one reserved parking space that was included with my lease, and I share 14 additional overflow overflow spaces with the other businesses at 2525 south Lamar boulevard. My clients are all given clear instructions about where to park, and many of them use public transportation or ride share. Due to our convenient location on the major bus route, no client has ever been towed, and photos clearly show that parking remains readily available, especially on weekends when we do the bulk of our business and when most other businesses are closed. I currently hold a five year lease and intend to renew it when the time comes. Little lion is also a clean beauty salon, which means we use only nontoxic, environmentally conscientious products. We don't offer services like artificial nails or perms, or any treatments that create fumes. There is no added [2:33:55 PM] create fumes. There is no added strain on the utilities because we don't live in the building. We don't use showers, laundry machines, dishwashers or cooking appliances. All of our laundry is done off site. I chose this space to provide a. >> I'm sorry. That's okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Would you like to go next, please? Yes. We'll just go this direction. Just state your name for the record, please. >> My name is Judy arts. Pittsford. I put my maiden name in there just in case y'all knew some of my ancestors. But don't hold that against me. I am an Austin austinite, born and raised. Unfortunately, at my age they have torn down the hospital and many other buildings. However, I want to thank you for your service. I worked at IBM and retired from IBM, and then I served at a state and local government as a technology director, so I absolutely respect the job you do. I used [2:34:59 PM] respect the job you do. I used to have to go in front of the county commissioners, and it is a very difficult job to. >> Oh that's easy. >> Oh no. Yeah, well, it is easy. It's true. I do know the city has a lot more to do than this county, but it absolutely was fun. But anyway, moving on to sweet Kim. What I'm here today to talk about is to support fairness and to support the Progressive way in which you are handling my city. I go back to when I was a teenager and had to stop at 70 miles an hour. I don't know if anybody in here did that on I-35. The first interstate here. We appreciate we owe austinites. Appreciate you taking care of our city. One of the things that has been a benefit to me, as well as small businesses and have brought small, more small businesses, is the progression you did when you used ground floors for services? I support that. I don't always [2:35:59 PM] I support that. I don't always support change. My husband wants me to move to mason, Texas, where there's a little ranch and only 3000 people, and that ain't going to happen because I got to talk to a few more people. So I support Kim's shop, and the obvious reason is that at 80 years old, with what I'm working with, she allows me to get out and not scare anybody, so to speak, to the parking. I have never and I go frequently because at 80 years old, guess what? You're going to go frequently to? >> Ma'am, I apologize, but you're. >> But I got. Oh, I don't want to quit. Yeah. >> Well, you you did. You did fine. Thank you. >> Anyway, I ask you to support her. >> Thank you. >> Here we go. >> Hi. My name is Jennifer. Derek. I'm not sure I can top Judy, but. >> I'm not sure I'd go after that. >> I'm sorry. Unfortunately, I have to speak after her. So I've known Kim for about 20 years. And this is not the first salon [2:36:59 PM] And this is not the first salon that I visited. With that I visited Kim, and the previous one was also in a mixed use building, meaning commercial downstairs and residential upstairs. So she's familiar with this setup, and she is familiar with telling people and showing people where to park. And she has always been very clear about where we are to park so that we're not in someone else's parking space. Her salon is also on a bus route, so somebody wants to use that. It would be very easy. It does not smell like a salon. Whenever I visit Kim, I'm there for about two and a half to three hours, and I'm the person sitting in the chair with the stuff on my head and under the heater and whatnot, and I never smell anything. If I can sit there for 2.5 hours, that means that there's not a bad odor. There are other building, I'm sorry, other businesses in the buildings of this resident of this address. They are real estate. Some are real estate related. There's an architect I know there was [2:38:00 PM] architect I know there was previously an art studio, a photographer, maybe a decorator, something like that. So there are people coming and going besides just from the salon, which her salon is a you have to have an appointment. There are no walk ins. She has plans to stay in that space as long as possible, especially after the stressful and expensive rezoning process. And the last thing I want to say is that the property is between the beautiful but very busy Matt's el rancho parking lot, some three story townhomes, and to get to it, you drive through the Walgreens parking lot and past Hattie B's. I only bring this up to point out that she's surrounded by businesses and multifamily. >> Thank you. Were you two wanting to speak? >> Yes, yes. >> I was. I'll tell you what, if you don't mind, if you'll free up the chairs, we'll have others get there too. Thank you very much. Go ahead please. But the [2:39:01 PM] much. Go ahead please. But the other two that want to speak, please come forward and take a seat. >> I'm truelove Derek. I'm here also to speak on behalf of Kim. Actually, most of my points have already been made, but I would like to reiterate that it's a boutique style, quiet, classy zoning. I mean, it's very inviting. The current zoning would actually allow for medical offices or administrative offices or certain professional offices, which would require probably, I'm sure, more employees and more people coming and going. So actually, what she's got is a pretty quiet location. She was very careful to let us know where we can park and where we cannot park. And I some of the I heard a complaint, the possibility of as many as 32 people. I'm going to tell you, it takes a lot longer than 15 minutes to get this beautiful. [2:40:02 PM] minutes to get this beautiful. And I can promise you there is no way she could do that many people in a day. So I would like to say Kim is a rule follower and she is very classy and it is a really nice establishment. So thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Whoever wants to go next. >> Would you mind if I stand? >> No. Please do whatever you want. I'll dance. >> I'll dance a jig. >> Yeah. Within reason. >> Okay. >> Thank you all, everybody. The staff here, behind the scenes staff. I really appreciate it. I this is an unfortunate situation for this applicant. This property does have a restrictive covenant on it. There is no medical allowed. If y'all look it up there is restrictive covenant. I believe that was done back in before the property was built. And that was in conjunction with the south Lamar neighborhood association. All this tenant has to do is fulfill the certificate of use permit, and they could be in this space [2:41:04 PM] and they could be in this space by changing the zoning. What's going to happen is it's going to create spot zoning. They let y'all know there's 14 parking spaces extra. That's for 50 people. That includes 15 businesses, 35 residents. And so I'm the direct neighbor next door. And we never have parking. I understand that that's going to be allowed and it's permitted if they do their due diligence and get the certificate of use permit. And I'd ask that y'all postpone this, get legal to look at it, chat with the neighborhood association planning commission. They said that they reached out to neighborhood association. They're behind them. That's not the case. I reached out to Barton hills neighborhood association. They had never heard of it and nor did they heard of it. They weren't going to get involved. South Lamar neighborhood association hadn't heard anything about it. They haven't reached out to any of the neighbors. I don't have a problem with them doing their due diligence, doing the certificate of use permit and being there, but they're [2:42:06 PM] being there, but they're violating city code. They didn't do their due diligence. All they would have had to done is reach out to the city of Austin to inquire about a certificate of use, in order to find out if they could even be in that space, and they wouldn't have had to spend $25,000, however much, if they would have just done their due diligence and checked with the city. But again, this is purely just an oversight certificate of use permit is all that's needed for them. >> Thank you sir, can you state your name for the record please? >> Yes, my name is Quinton Eric vitella. I, my wife and I own the space directly next door to this unit. >> Thanks. Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Sophia Vitela and I have known this space for over 18 years. A 2525 south Lamar space and kind of just rehashing what was previously said. All that was needed was a certificate, use of permit, and there's ultimately going to be having this idea of rezoning the [2:43:07 PM] having this idea of rezoning the whole entire area in which you only needed one exclusive permit to even be needed. We see that this creates a plethora of other problems and legalities that this would ultimately lead to. We said previously spot zoning, which would ultimately get other neighbors involved. I know we have been in this space for 18 years. In this one cherry picked image of a empty parking lot is not the case all of the time. We often see during special events such as south by southwest or acl, and all of the other times in which Austin is so busy, especially on south Lamar, we see continuous violation of people parking where they're not supposed to. And as said previously, we may they may have conveyed this story that there is a lot of parking spaces. But you have to remember how many residents are actually or businesses are actually here using these spaces. This creates a large amount of displacement [2:44:07 PM] a large amount of displacement for the people who are actually living here and businesses. And that actually complied with this certificate. Use of permit. As said previously, all you actually need is this permit in creating this zoning creates a large amount of other legal issues. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> We're going to try Mr. Massingill again. Brad Massingill, item 141. >> Hello? >> Yeah. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can please go ahead. >> Okay. Sorry, I accidentally signed up for 141, so I have no opinion or the other. Apologize. >> Mr. Massingill, I have you for I have you for 142. Do you want to speak on item 142? >> I do want to speak on 142. >> Okay. Please go ahead. >> Okay. Is everyone sorry I'm [2:45:09 PM] >> Okay. Is everyone sorry I'm not there. Y'all in person, but here I am, a disembodied voice speaking again about db9. Here's here's another one. Items 141 and 143 are related. 142 is, of course, the alteration of the future land use map to allow for 143 to change the zoning of the lot to a db9. And this is located at 1211 east 52nd street. And it's in the again, another one in the Tannehill branch watershed. We're starting to really pile these up over there. And that's in the district court. That's all I have to say right now. Thanks. >> Moving on to item 147, Bobby Levinsky. And then Steven wise [2:46:11 PM] Levinsky. And then Steven wise and Brian Bedrosian for item 149. Orlowski cassie. >> Thank you. Mayor council Bobby Levinsky Xavier springs alliance item 147 is an amendment to the lakeshore pud. This is a really important one to speak to because there are no affordable housing provisions in the proposed amendment, and part of that is the history with the lakeshore pud itself. So back in 2007, when this was approved, it predated the pud ordinance that, you know, today. So it didn't that ordinance didn't have affordable housing provisions. If you look back on the first reading of that lakeshore pud, it actually would have required that 10% of 80% of most of the housing would have been affordable. That provision was removed partially by concerns from the law department predating the pud ordinance, and there was a vague commitment to [2:47:13 PM] there was a vague commitment to record a restrictive covenant on the site to enforce affordable housing provisions. I'm not sure if that was done or not, and it would not affect this property which is being added to the pud so that that restrictive covenant voluntarily commitment should be extended to any additions to the hud itself. I really want to highlight that this was a property that had 750 units for mostly families. This is one of those census tracts that actually lost population in 2010, because those families were displaced. And to date, I think we only have 632 new units on the site. So we're still at a net deficit for housing on this site. And there is no strict requirement for income restricted housing. You have the tools now with the current ordinance to require that any density bonus provisions are attached to affordable housing. That's section 2.5 of the hud code. I would encourage you to attach it with this amendment and revisit the lakeshore pud, and have them do come back with [2:48:13 PM] and have them do come back with a density bonus program that requires on site income restricted housing. Thank you. >> Please go ahead. Whoever wants to go next, just identify yourself. >> Hello, my name is Brian Bedrosian. I currently serve as the chair of the north loop neighborhood plan. Contact team. Mr. Mayor, council, thank you for letting me speak today. We had asked requested a postponement at the previous meeting, which was initiated by council member vela. Thank you for that. To permit us time to negotiate with the with the applicant on this process. That negotiation on the restrictive covenants were drawn up and those were presented to the neighborhood association a week ago. The tight timeline on this resulted in a pretty messy voting sequence in my neighborhood. As a result of our the limitations in our bylaws. But we did hold a vote, and the motion did pass to support the restrictive covenants on the [2:49:14 PM] restrictive covenants on the first two properties, which would be case 0112 and 0113. I would like to say that we as a neighborhood feel that hard work, leading with kindness and seeking reasonable compromise has been the methodology that we've used to help shepherd development in our neighborhood. Senate bill 840 has obviously undermined the ability for neighborhoods to have those conversations with owners and developers. And as a result, one of the cases on this that was included originally in this was pulled by the applicant. We still support the applicant's zoning on these properties and do want these to move forward. But we would like to express how important it is that having a say on all these properties is critical to the success of us being able to help shepherd our neighborhood into the future. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Good afternoon, mayor and council members. My name is Steve wise. I'm the deputy chair of the north loop neighborhood planning team. I'm speaking [2:50:14 PM] planning team. I'm speaking today in my personal capacity. I participated in the negotiations concerning the zoning request for this. Jim. Discount auto proposals I fully support chair Brian Bedrosian's statement of support and my comments apply to both items. 149 and 150 approving the zoning request would provide several benefits, including fulfilling the neighborhood's decades long mixed use aspiration for the sites, incentivizing the relocation of the auto auto salvage operation, and industrial use. No longer best for this location and most fundamentally supporting the city's strategic goals of ensuring abundant housing, improved streetscapes, and neighborhood retail. Negotiations were not without challenges and disappointments, especially senate bill 840 and its impact on item 159. Nonetheless, in my opinion, approving zoning request and [2:51:15 PM] approving zoning request and concert for one of in concert with the team's restrictive covenants provides the best outcome for 159 and 150 and will benefit the neighborhood in the city. And in closing, I would like to thank council member qadri and vela extensive use of their staff to help us in technical matters. Thank you. >> Thank you all. Yes, councilmember vela. >> Just one. I got a couple of quick questions for y'all. First of all, thank you so much for all the time and effort. I know this has been a very delicate and tricky negotiation. And then we have that sb 840 kind of, you know, change things. And as a result, you know, one of the properties, they don't need to rezone any more. The other two, we are still moving forward with db 90. But there I understand there's a restrictive covenant that has a bunch of very kind of neighborhood friendly amendments. Is that the situation basically? [2:52:15 PM] situation basically? >> That's absolutely correct. We've negotiated a number of elements in the restrictive covenants that seek to enhance the quality of the streetscape along our namesake boulevard, to ensure we're going to still get some affordable housing out of the projects, to focus on family oriented housing. Several environmental related things. >> Yeah, well, I very much appreciate it. I very much appreciate both of your hard work. And, Brian, Timothy told me that, that you even delayed a vacation to come in, and I. >> Very much I'll be the thrill of going above and. >> Beyond, but I really appreciate that all the time. And also working on behalf of the applicant, I just want to know, and we've discussed this before, that in the past when the neighborhood has kind of walked away from a good deal, they got a subpar development that I think folks regret to this day. So I think it's very much a once bitten, twice shy, better to negotiate some very positive changes to the property that will protect kind of peace and quiet and, and the general [2:53:17 PM] and quiet and, and the general vibe of the neighborhood than to just go naked and let them do whatever they need to on these properties. So again, I just wanted to say thank you. I'm supporting these. And it's been, I think, the seventh or eighth time this has been on the agenda. I appreciate the neighbors that are saying, like, you know, one more time, but I mean, we've been working on this for months and months and months, and I think we're this is the best we're going to do. And I'm not going to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. So again, thank you all very much. >> Well, thank you, councilmember vela, and for your you and councilmember qadri staff's involvement. And I've said it, I think pretty much every time you've been here, but we really appreciate the level of work you all put trying to find a good result. So thank you all. >> Appreciate that. Thank you. >> For item 150 I have online Brad Massingill. And then Steven wise and Brian Bedrosian. >> If you're going to we have somebody on the line y'all know okay. Mr. Massingill, please go [2:54:19 PM] okay. Mr. Massingill, please go ahead. >> Hi. It's me again. Yeah. I mean, I appreciate all the work that Brian does over there in that neighborhood. This is probably one of the few areas where db9 does make a lot of sense, since there was so much parking lots and whatnot up in that neighborhood to begin with. But I still would like folks at home to know where these are at. You know, over there on that 753rd. But basically the Tannehill branch watershed. I know, I know, I've talked a bit to Brian and to council member vela about protecting that some. I'm hoping that y'all are. Going to go over the top to figure out a way to naturalize that creek there and turn it into something that's not going to be a threat to east Austin when all that vertical mixed use is in place. So that's that's my $0.02. [2:55:19 PM] So that's that's my $0.02. >> Thank you sir. >> For 151. It's been postponed with Steven wise and Brian Bedrosian like to speak to the postponement. >> They're not speaking to that. >> Okay. 152 Brad Massingill. >> Again, and this is one this one is at 2967 manor road. And we're over there in the in the we're two watersheds. I mean, Tannehill branch watershed drains into the boggy creek watershed. So. This this just keeps coming up. Tannehill branch. Tannehill branch. So I want you all to have that in your mind of what we're doing here in the future. If we have problems with that, we're going to know the root of this problem. So. That's that. Thank you. [2:56:19 PM] you. >> Item 152 Daniela vela. >> Good afternoon, council members and mayor. My name is Daniela vela and I am here representing the Austin heights neighborhood association. First, thank you all for giving us just enough time to create thoughtful guardrails for the first ever case in a tod zone, right at the intersection of manor and airport. Over the past nine months, we revived a neighborhood association organized from the ground up and gathered a valid petition. One we chose not to file as a show of good faith and proof of what our community stands for safety, affordability, street vibrancy, and a lot of care for our creek. We push hard for deeper affordability, affordability. While there's more work to be done, we understand the broader housing needs. As a homeowner, I recognize the privilege of living in a tod. I actually don't own a car, and I value the life that this kind of urban [2:57:20 PM] life that this kind of urban planning affords. So I'll leave you all with this question. Who was a tod designed for, and do we think the people it was designed for can actually live here and benefit from it? And hey, don't let my young looks fool you. I've worked in housing for nearly ten years through an architecture firm that designs both award winning affordable and market rate communities. So please take me as your ally in this next chapter, one that prioritizes thoughtful, inclusive growth for our neighborhoods, our district, and our city. >> Daniela, I have you signed up for 153 as well. Would you like to speak on that? Yes. >> So every coin has two sides. And if the intention of this process was to wear a community down, one that has consistently shown up in good faith, working to better our shared environment, I'll say this plainly. You guys have succeeded. For five months. We've worked tirelessly, tirelessly on this restricted [2:58:21 PM] tirelessly on this restricted covenant which have we have actually agreed to. But let me remind you, I have two jobs and this one has actually become a third. Just last week we received a confirmation from the lobbyist that our design via text that her client was willing to agree to our most critical item, a traffic safety mural facing airport boulevard. A meaningful and meaningful symbolic and practical gesture for one of Austin's most dangerous intersections. When we asked for the legal language to finalize this agreement, the draft arrived just three days before today's meeting. Then last night, I received a call saying the developer had suddenly decided to remove the mural altogether. Everything else was fine, she said. Just not that one thing that you guys really asked for. And when we reviewed the rc legal language, we saw how carefully the language had been watered down, full of loopholes that weakened the very protections we fought for five months. And tirz idea of good faith has turned into empty gestures, made only after becoming confident that this council would probably vote yes [2:59:22 PM] council would probably vote yes regardless, and the mural was eventually reinserted, yes, just hours before this meeting. But by then the message was clear delay, erode, exhaust, then close the door on negotiation. This is not new. The same tactic was used on June 3rd. Let's also remember who bought this land and that their the way their team has chosen to engage in this process is questionable. Austin deserves better than this kind of engagement with its communities, and to any new neighborhoods out there, good luck. >> Brad Massengill item 153. >> I. I totally concur with everything I just heard. These are I had the similar experience with our neighborhood, and I know other neighborhoods as well, that our requests for assistance are met, but only at the 11th [3:00:25 PM] are met, but only at the 11th hour, with no real way for us to engage our constituencies on the changes, let alone the sincerity of the offers, were being extended to us by the applicants. And again, boggy creek, Tannehill, branch creek. Thanks. >> Mr. Massengill, I also have you signed up for item 154? Do you want to speak on that item? >> Sure. This is a the oak hill apartments. 5526 west 290, in the Barton creek watershed in d9. This is this is the 154 is the flume alteration portion of the show where y'all changed the future land use map to allow for [3:01:26 PM] future land use map to allow for item 155, where you changed the zoning to db 90, which would be, as far as I know, the first db 90 over there in the creek watershed. So that's something for everyone at home to think about. >> Thank you. >> Lee Ziegler 154. >> Lee Ziegler, can you hear me? >> Yes we can. >> Okay. This is Lee Ziegler, chair of the oak hill planning neighborhood planning contact team in regarding items 154 and 155. Slide one please. Is that up? Yes. >> Yes we can. There's a slide up. >> Yes, we can see it. [3:02:27 PM] >> Yes, we can see it. >> Thank you. We support responsible development at this site, preferably as recommended by staff with a few caveats. Keeping in enforcing the existing conditional overlay for no automobile services seems quite appropriate. If you take a look at my slide and. >> Next slide, please. >> Walking to service. Hello, walking to services as well as enhanced bus transit schedules that would benefit and enable occupants remains a significant problem, despite a nearby bus stop. Slide three please. Most concerning with development is exacerbation of area flooding with potential creek contamination arising from relaxed standards. Slide four. Over half of the property lies in the critical water quality zone. Also in the drinking water protection zone. Slide five. Please, please confirm no variances or exceptions to the sos ordinance and particularly [3:03:28 PM] sos ordinance and particularly no fee in lieu for water quality measures within development, as well as adherence to 15% impervious cover. Slide six. The land is flat and the creek is not deep rainfall. Flash flood effects should be determined at least by. Lidar t2d modeling. Slide six that I believe this is number the second. Slide six this site and perhaps others downstream retained on site sewage facilities or septic tank. Additional property backing up to this site from along southwest parkway already have grandfathered exemptions from water quality treatment and some drainage to Ganes creek. This low area of the hill country has a recent history of residential flooding with. >> Thank you very much. >> So strict. 154 Bobby Levinsky. >> Bobby Levinsky silver springs would be really short here. [3:04:28 PM] would be really short here. Agree with what Lee Ziegler was saying. The main here we're we're neutral on this zoning ordinance. What really, I want to put on record is that we wouldn't be supportive of redevelopment exception on this property. We need to get compliance with the sos ordinance. 50% impervious cover. If you're going to go up, you can go in. Thank you. >> Item 155 Bobby Levinsky. Okay. Also. >> He's waving on 155 for the record. >> Thank you. 155 Brad Massingill. >> Yeah, I'm upset. What I have to say. Thank you. >> What did he say? >> Lee Ziegler 155. >> Yes, I'll continue in with my slides. Is well, the slide number seven. If you can pull it up. It's up. Detention, retention requirements. Hello? >> Okay. I was just telling you it. [3:05:29 PM] it. >> Was up. >> Detention, retention. I'm sorry. >> Just keep talking. >> Are necessary with no water quality exemptions and including safeguards against septic areas and existing buried hazardous waste. Finally, despite numerous applications and allocations for nearby increased housing, existing commercial height on west highway 290 is rarely above four stories. Hence a need for limitations on mechanical noise and lighting at higher elevations to reduce impact to neighbors as requested, particularly as the trade off for requested reduced commercial on the first floor. If that is deemed appropriate by council. I'd like to mention we do have several cases that have gv90, and we have a building nearby, or one that will be built up to 100ft as a change in codes and ordinances. I do want to thank you for your dedication and consideration. Goodbye. >> Thank you. [3:06:31 PM] >> Thank you. >> Item 156 Brad Massingill. For the merits of the postponement. My apologies. >> Mr. Massingill. >> Yeah, hello. I was just wanting people at home to know what we're talking about here. It's apparently changing the zoning up there from 60ft to 160ft up in the air. >> This is on the merits of the postponement, sir. >> It's on postponement. >> Yes, this is on speak on the merits of the postponement, please. You forward or against it? >> Well, I'm for the postponement. >> Very good. Thank you. >> For 150 mayors. >> The postponement for item 156 Zenobia Joseph. >> Thank you mayor council. I'm [3:07:49 PM] >> Thank you mayor council. I'm Zenobia Joseph speaking on the merits of the postponement of item 156. I support the postponement and just want to ask staff to bring forth additional information. So that is what the slide deck is for. If you look at the slide, you'll see this is the area that's being considered, but I won't speak to the area. I would just ask that the assistant city manager, Mike Rogers, get the staff to give him an update on the corridor in its entirety, and then he can understand the sidewalks in that area. And specifically, I wrote down the name from urban transportation commission, Eric bailly. Next slide. I just wanted to provide the context and ask once again, as I've asked in the past for an overlay. So I would ask chito vela council members, since this is his item, to actually get an overlay that shows all of the area median income on the corridors that will serve the light rail, including this corridor, and just wanted to provide you the slide that shows exactly what the 80% area median [3:08:52 PM] exactly what the 80% area median income is, as well as 120% area median income, and the income for African Americans at $42,000. Next slide. I just want to remind you, mayor, December 17th, 2018 is when you testified before capital metropolitan transportation authority. The rail system does start south of us. 183. You testified. So you're aware of that. North of us 183 is where your etod equitable transit oriented development then included north Lamar transit center, which I believe is fraud, trying to get something of value through willful misrepresentation. Next slide. I just wanted to remind you this is the federal transit administration criteria for the capital investment grants. And density is one of the criteria. Based on our criteria on land use. But I just want you to see and I hope to walk the corridor with the assistant city manager and Mike Siegel. Staffer, council member. This is what I see. If you have any questions, I'll gladly answer. [3:09:52 PM] I'll gladly answer. >> Them for the merits of the postponement. On 157 Zenobia Joseph. >> Thank you mayor council, I'm Zenobia Joseph. You can go to the next slide. I just want to provide a little context, mayor, just so you understand, I do support the postponement. But again, I just want you to recognize where the investment has been. And I think pictures express exactly what I see. But you may not. It's actually in the area. Here is a university of Texas at Austin student housing before the housing was ever built. Specifically, you see that the shelter was in place. If you look at the bottom, that is the dark area I mentioned earlier on route 392 north of us 183. That's the breaker bus, but you have placed over 400 units or so on. Breaker in our senior citizens and Collingwood have lost their transportation. So the system is inequitable and it violates title six on the right. I just want you to see east Riverside, even though that's actually on the corridor. I just want you to recognize this is what you're [3:10:54 PM] recognize this is what you're doing to individuals who are unhoused. This is hostile architecture. And respectfully, I get that you don't want people sleeping at the bus stops, but putting these little slates there, that's not an equitable solution. So I just wanted the council to see what I see. I think that's the end of the slides. But you can push the button just to see, and you can just go back to the first slide. So they know the area that we're talking about. It's a pretty disturbing mayor. I know you often hear me talk about title six of the civil rights act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin. Therefore, I would ask you to get the data so that you can see what I see, and maybe you would understand. The rail system will terminate at Hyde park, which was developed exclusively for white people 1889 to 1924. And I will bring forth the slide that shows that there is not now and never will be, negroes for neighbors in Hyde park. If you have any questions, I'll gladly answer them at this time. You're [3:11:56 PM] answer them at this time. You're welcome. >> Brad Massingill Mueller. It's a postponement on 157. >> I've already said what I had to say, but I totally concur with miss Joseph. >> Okay. Thank you. Item 160 bill bunch and Bobby Levinsky. >> Bobby Levinsky, silver springs alliance this is another planned unit development within the south central waterfront district. We are against the continued use of the planned unit development ordinance in this area. I do want to note that this is one of the few pods that have come forward that actually use the pod affordable housing provision, so that's good. So kudos to staff on that. I will say though though you are reducing the setback and so [3:12:56 PM] reducing the setback and so you're giving away free space there. And so you should probably attach the affordable housing provisions to that free space as well. But the other element I just want to highlight with pods is when we had the ordinance downtown, it was a free alternative. It was a free get out of affordable housing, free provision, and it was used continuously. It took council stopping the ordinance to get some income restricted housing generated through the downtown density bonus program. That's happening here. Again with ordinance. We need council to act on it. If you look at the only comparable area where you've set a firm affordable housing goal, so 20% is what set for south central waterfront, 25% was for Miller. Miller happened because there was a strong regulating plan, and it was required. If you continue to allow people to get out of it, it's not going to happen. And this is going to become an area where only the wealthy can afford to live there. There's an opportunity with the south central waterfront to require income. Restricted housing density bonuses are the only tool really that you have under state law, so use it. Thank you. >> I don't see Mr. Bunch. [3:14:02 PM] >> I don't see Mr. Bunch. >> Okay then for item 166 I have Brad Massingill. >> Ma'am, is your name been called? >> No, we're on 161. >> Okay. Miss Guzman is here and she indicates she signed up on one. >> She did. She signed up as remote. I did not realize she was here in person. >> Okay. >> I don't know, Brad. >> Are you still there? Did you want to speak on item 166? Monica, please come on down for one. 61 is. Do is it due Caro as well? Yes. Okay. Please come on down. >> Yeah. >> You signed up remotely, so they thought you were remote. And then when you weren't there. >> And we checked in the change in. >> Well, okay. That's okay. >> Good afternoon. Mayor and council members. I am Carol [3:15:02 PM] council members. I am Carol Dubois. I live in north central Austin in district four, and I have been a member of the neighborhood association of that area since the 1980s. I've also been a member of the naca contact team for at least 10 or 15 years. Our neighborhood is a great place to live, but it does have some problems. We have met with Jim Wittliff, the agent for the owner applicant, Mr. Abdul Patel, at the property in question. We shared our concerns. Since the property is in a known hotspot for crime, we made it clear that we didn't want a retail or convenience store making possible the sale of carryout alcoholic beverages. We were assured that this was for a restaurant with patio seating. At the may 27th planning commission meeting, contact team member Melinda schiera, one of my neighbors, and chair Monica Guzman shared concerns based on communication with community [3:16:05 PM] communication with community leaders in other neighborhoods where Mr. Patel owns or helps with convenience stores. In the end, the planning commission made a substitute motion ensuring that there would be no carryout alcohol sales and that alcohol consumption is restricted to on site at the restaurant, with indoor and patio seating. We received confirmation that the developer does not plan to oppose this recommendation should the developer change his mind. However, at any time we request notification in writing and give us time to notify our community, we appreciate having the time to meet with Mr. Wittliff and communicate with the developer. We want to underscore the importance of zoning notifications and allowing time for committees to work with the developers to initiate negotiate a win win. Thank you so much for your time. >> Thank you, miss Guzman. >> Good afternoon, mayor and council. I'm Monica Guzman, chair of the north Austin civic [3:17:05 PM] chair of the north Austin civic association contact team. I've lived in the neighborhood in other parts of the area for 11 years and have ties to NASCAR. Going back more than 40 years, we've been in communication with the developer. They heard our concerns regarding the carryout alcohol sales, and as miss Dubois said, we support the planning commission's substitute motion for community commercial conditional overlay, neighborhood plan zoning and the addition of general retail sales convenience as a prohibited use and food sales as a conditional use since it ensures the no carryout alcohol sales and restricted consumption on site. Now, the developer confirmed that he doesn't plan to oppose the recommendations and should they change their mind? We are asking for and expect appropriate notification in writing and sufficient time to notify and discuss with the naga community. And when we say change his mind at any time up to and including in case they appeal. Whatever decision you may make here that runs contrary to where we stand. I also [3:18:07 PM] to where we stand. I also support with Carol said Mok is a beautiful, diverse neighborhood and like all neighborhoods, it's not without challenges. We welcome and support businesses to our community, especially those that are active community members who participate in festivities, as well as work with neighborhood leaders on improving the quality of life for all who live, work and play there. We appreciate having time to meet with the agent and communicate with the developer. And just as you heard miss Dubois say, miss Vanessa Mr. Sorry, I can't remember Brian's last name now. Sorry, Brian, we want to underscore the importance of notifications and time for the communities to work with the developers to negotiate a win win. I also want to thank planning staff sherry Sowards for the assistance she has provided along the way, as well as council member vela's policy advisor Timothy bray. He was of assistance at the planning commission meeting as well. Thank you. >> Thank you mayor. >> That concludes all the [3:19:07 PM] >> That concludes all the speakers for the consent zoning agenda. >> Thank you very much, members. As you heard, that concludes the speakers on the consent agenda. Let me ask if there's anyone that wishes to be shown abstaining on the consent agenda. Anyone wishing to be shown. Yes. Councilmember duchen. >> I wish to be shown abstaining on 141. >> I'm sorry I couldn't hear you. >> Neither could I. >> I did my best. I was holding that in. >> Bless you. >> Bless you. >> Did you have the mic on for that? >> I'm sure the speakers are appreciative. Yes. Yeah. That's it, Mr. Massengale, did you hear that? Mr. Duchen? >> Abstain on 141 152 153. >> Okay. 141 152 and 153. Councilmember Ellis. >> I just had two quick clarifying questions for. >> Staff. >> But I just we can do that now or later. >> I'll come back to you if you don't mind. >> Perfect. [3:20:08 PM] >> Perfect. >> Anyone else wishing to be shown abstaining? Anyone wishing to be shown recusing themselves. Okay. With that being said, councilmember Ellis, I'll recognize you. >> Thank you. I appreciate the recognition. I'll try to keep this fast. I just wanted to double check. I believe this is for item 154. Miss Ziegler that spoke to us was talking a bit about the water quality and drainage. So I just wanted to confirm that by approving this today, we're not giving any variances to sos regulations or drainage regulations. It will all be in full compliance with our current environmental standards. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> If they you're not approving it now. Now once they get through site plan and if they come back, but you'd have to approve it. But this rezoning is not approving any variances, any sos minimization, nothing of the sort. >> Thank you. That would be a very different conversation. >> That'd be a different yes. >> Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Councilmember. Councilmember Siegel. >> Thank you. Mayor. Just a brief comment in favor of item 172, which is basically an item from our local restaurant fund [3:21:10 PM] from our local restaurant fund to San Miguel to add a brunch facility, and we have staff support on this item. I want to thank the applicant for working with the neighborhood, and I also want to highlight that fonda San Miguel has gotten eight best of Austin awards by the Austin chronicle, including best Mexican restaurant and best place to take your parents. Of course, they don't want to cause any fights with other districts with great Mexican restaurants, but I did want to invite folks to check it out if you haven't been there yet. Thank you. >> Good. Is anybody wishing to be shown voting no on any item on the consent agenda? Councilmember duchen. 147 147. Seven okay. Thank you, councilmember duchen. You'll be voting no on 147. Anyone else? Is there any further discussion on the consent agenda as read? Yes. Councilmember duchen. >> Would it be possible in relation to 152 153 to talk to the developers or the applicant's representative? >> Sure. [3:22:10 PM] >> Sure. >> Just I have a quick question regarding the testimony that we heard. >> Do we have the applicant's representative for items 152 and 153? >> Victoria Hassey with thrower design on behalf of the landowner. >> Councilmember duchen has a question. >> Thank you. Very quickly, we heard testimony that there was a lot of back and forth happening in the last probably couple of days leading up to this. There were a lot of reversals after months of negotiation. Can you speak to any of that process? >> I can yes, we had a lot of yes, a lot of back and forth that has spanned over the course of the last six months and even most recently down to this morning. We've had a lot of back and forth. I think there were some maybe miscommunications or misunderstandings in terms of specific details of language. In the private agreement, there was general support for the mural, but when it came down to looking [3:23:11 PM] but when it came down to looking at the specific details of that, that is when the landowner developer had some hesitation and was the reason for the last minute changes in that. But I'm happy to say that we ultimately did get there. But that was the reason for the last minute changes. >> Okay, so you eventually arrived at it. It just went from no to yes to no to back to yes. >> That's correct. >> Yes. All right. Thank you. >> Any further discussion with regard to the consent agenda? Hearing? None. Without objection. The consent agenda will be adopted with councilmember duchen being shown abstaining on items 141, 152 and 153 and being and council member duchen being shown voting no on item number 147. All right, members, that will now take us to item number 173. Miss harden, would you come forward? >> Sure. [3:24:20 PM] >> Sure. >> This is this is a discussion item. Would you please lay out the discussion item. And my specific question to you is going to be is this a discussion item requiring that we have a presentation and have the five minutes and have it back and forth, or is it or is it one that we can discuss it, get a motion and then move forward? >> The latter mayor. >> That you then you don't need to say anything more. I'm what I'm going to do unless you object, is I'm going to recognize council member qadri to lay out the item unless you would like to lay out the item, and then we'll call on councilmember qadri. >> I'd like to lay it out just to speak to the staff's opposition. >> That's very good. >> Thank you. Thank you. So this is item 173 on your agenda, which is case number c14 2025 0003 located at 1135 1137 1139 1141 1143 west sixth street and 503505507509 and 511 wall [3:25:23 PM] 503505507509 and 511 wall Street. The property is roughly 1.19 acres. The request is from C, smu, comp and smu V comp to ly pdr mp. The site is currently developed with multiple office buildings and has access to both west sixth street to both west sixth street. The applicant is requesting lpddr mp to develop approximately 297 residential units, with approximately 20,968ft S of retail space. The planning commission recommended the applicant's request of lpddr mp and added community recreation, public and private, as an added community, recreation, public and private as conditional uses. Staff recommended the applicant's original request of ksmu db 90 mp, which would have permitted a maximum of 90ft across the site in exchange for a provision of city monitored affordable housing. The applicant's amended request of lpddr mp would permit [3:26:24 PM] request of lpddr mp would permit a maximum of 120ft with no density bonus. Staff is fundamentally opposed to the expansion of limited industrial service or Lee zoning at this location. The proposed development would consist of a mix of residential and commercial uses, and is not industrial in nature. There is no industrial zoning along west sixth street, and approving this request could set a precedent of allowing industrial industrial based zoning to proliferate. Not only this area, which is proximate to downtown and a residential historic district, but throughout the city. Existing LAPD zoned properties in this area are concentrated along the south of west fifth street. These properties were almost exclusively zoned ly before receiving the pda combining district, and as such, the respective rezonings represented a positive change in the zoning. A few isolated cs to lpda requests have occurred [3:27:25 PM] lpda requests have occurred along west fifth street quarter. The. These requests were far lower heights, which today could be permitted using the density bonus programs combined with commercial, not industrial, zoning districts. These few cases receive staff support as they were submitted prior to the creation of our current density. Bonus options. Approval of this rezoning request would permit an additional 60ft of height without the provision of any community benefits, such as affordable housing, that could be required by zoning ordinance or monitored in any way by the city of Austin. Thank you. >> If I might ask a question about that. Members. I think what you just described, and we've talked about this before, what I think you just described is one of the difficulties that we currently have with our density bonus program, and that is that it's it lacks, I was going to say, the flexibility necessary to have some sort of [3:28:27 PM] necessary to have some sort of agreements made where a neighborhood might support something that allows for much greater density than what is currently there, maybe even a surprising amount of density. But you can't do it because it doesn't fit into our density bonus program, which has been determined, I think, by by the council to be pretty rigid. And so what's left in this case is the group, the neighborhood can reach an agreement with the developer, but it involves a type of zoning that staff just doesn't want to put in a certain part, certain area. And that in this case is industrial. But it all comes back to the fact that right now, our density program, in order to continue to work, is probably going to require some greater flexibility. It just doesn't currently have. And that's one of the things that when the count that the council was looking for, when it asked for there to be an evaluation of db 90 and looking at how we might approach that, is that correct? >> That is correct, mayor. Yes. [3:29:27 PM] >> That is correct, mayor. Yes. >> So in essence, part of the disagreement here is that there doesn't seem to be disagreement between staff and others that we sure wish we had some way to reach a good compromise that the neighborhood and the developer would go along with, but it just doesn't fit in our rigid system. And so we don't want you using what would fit because it has the word industrial involved. >> And this is not an industrial zoning, correct? >> Okay. Thank you. Councilmember qadri Katy. >> You you said you said it better than I ever could. >> Okay. >> But but I will still say something. >> Please. >> A there's never a dull moment in district nine. So. And I'm sure Joe knows that. But I just want to thank staff for all their hard work on this case. I understand their opposition to it, but as the mayor has already kind of let out, has already laid out. There's no real alternatives in this case that [3:30:28 PM] alternatives in this case that all parties agree on. You know, my office isn't thrilled about the zoning we've come for this case. It's a symptom of a larger issue of a broken code. But our office and myself is committed to working with everyone to get better tools in place. We're grateful for the work that's been done between the neighborhood and the applicant to get a great project that provides more housing and affordable housing to this area. So the motion sheet that I passed is to amend the ordinance for the case to align with the applicant's agreement with the neighborhood. So it's on behalf of the applicant and the neighborhood. They're on the same page with this. So I'd like to move qadri motion sherry number one. >> Members you have in front of you the motion sheet that council member qadri put out. The motion is made by council member qadri to adopt that motion, and it is seconded by council member Velasquez. I'll turn to the city clerk and ask if we have anybody signed up to speak. >> Yes, mayor. We have one speaker, Philip Wiley. >> I didn't see. [3:31:29 PM] >> I didn't see. >> Philip Wiley. >> 173 Philip Wiley I don't believe so. >> That's all the speakers. >> All right. Thank you. And I and I want to be clear with my questions to miss harden. I also appreciate the level of thought and detail and effort that's going in to trying to work within this rigid system. I don't want anybody to take that. I was negative in any way in that regard. It's just we have we have something we're working on and it's a work in progress. And I and I understand the position of staff. And we ask you to be clear with us on things like that. So I want to be clear about that. Members are is there any further discussion with regard to item number 173? Any further discussion? Hearing none without objection. Item number 173 is adopted. Thank you. Members, a couple of things before we. That concludes all of [3:32:30 PM] before we. That concludes all of the agenda for this regular meeting. But because I want to make sure people know what's going on with regard to the budget. And I can't imagine us having a meeting where we don't say the word budget. I want to, again, quickly run through what's what's getting ready to happen next Tuesday, July 29th. There will be a budget work session, and that begins at 9:00 in the morning on Thursday, July 31st. There will also be a budget work session. We will hold a public hearing on the budget at 3:00 pm, and also on the 31st. We will set the maximum tax rate on Monday, August 4th. That is when proposed budget amendments and budget fifc are requested by 6:00 pm on that date. August 5th is currently set aside as a date for us to have a budget work session and then August 7th at 9 A.M. By the way, August 5th is [3:33:30 PM] A.M. By the way, August 5th is at 9:00 and August 7th is also at 9:00. And that will be another budget budget work session that we'll have. That day is the day we will go over the proposed budget amendments and proposed budget ifcs. And then Wednesday, August 13th through Friday, August 15th is currently posted and set aside so that we can take up the budget and adopt a budget at that time. If we need all three days members. With that being said, we have no other business to come before the Austin city council at this regular meeting of the Austin city council on July 2425, 2025. So, without objection, I would ask that the council adjourn today in honor of former Austin city council member bill Spellman, who I was fortunate enough to serve with back in a previous life in 1997 to 2001, and or at least during that period of time. And then, [3:34:33 PM] that period of time. And then, of course, council member Spellman, after having served that a term during that period of time, was back then, it was three year terms. He came back and he served another term on the Austin city council. He was, as I have been quoted saying here recently, one of the things that I really enjoyed about bill is bill never was. He never got hot, he never got agitated. He was always a teacher, and he always came at it like the professor that he was at the lbj school of public affairs. He touched a whole lot of lives. And he he passed. A couple of you have said today that we all kind of stand on other people's shoulders. Bill's shoulders were way up in the air. Real tall guy. But we did. We all have stood on his shoulders as well. And so I would ask that when we adjourn today, we adjourn in honor of former council member bill Spellman. And without objection, we are adjourned at 3:35 P.M. Thank you