City Council Regular Meeting Transcript – 11/5/2026 Title: ATXN-1 (24hr) Channel: 1 - ATXN-1 Recorded On: 11/5/2026 6:00:00AM Original Air Date: 11/5/2026 Transcript Generated by SnapStream ================================== Please note that the following transcript is for reference purposes and does not constitute the official record of actions taken during the meeting. For the official record of actions of the meeting, please refer to the Approved Minutes. [9:59:08 AM] Good morning, everybody. It’s 10:00 in the morning on Thursday, November 5th, and I will call to order the Austin city council for this regular meeting of the Austin city council. We have a quorum of the city council present. We are meeting in the city council chambers that are located in city hall at 301 west second street. And I guess it's great that we have a meeting because nothing else has happened this week. And that way we have something that we can we can work on. With that being said, let me talk about the order of business today. What I'll do in a moment is read changes and corrections into the record so that we have that as part of our record. We will then go to our consent agenda. Members, I don't have any items that have been pulled from the consent agenda. [10:00:46 AM] However, I want to point out that in your backup you have a draft ordinance on item number three that is a version two on item number 24. There is also a version two. So when we take up the consent agenda, it will be with those items being a part of the motion. And anyway like I said, there's no items been pulled. I'll ask if there's any items that anybody wants to pull at this point in time. And I don't know of any. We will then go to consent items. We have an item referred from a council committee. We have eminent domain, and we have a couple of public hearings at around 12:00. And by the way, I do anticipate that we will probably recess before the 12:00 time, certain. And then we'll come back for our 12:00 time certain. And then at 1230 or thereabouts, we will recess. After we've done the public communication at 12:00, we will have music, and we'll come back at 2:00 for our 2:00 time certain, which are zoning, zoning items. With that being said, unless there's some questions or comments by members of the council, I will then read changes and corrections into the record. [10:01:56 AM] The item number 28 is withdrawn. Item number 28 is withdrawn. Item number 29. When the public hearings are taken up, this item will be postponed to November 19th, 2026. Item number 29 is going to be postponed until November 19th, 2026. As I've indicated, item three has a version two, and item 24 has a version two. With that members, we will go to the consent agenda, and I will turn to our city clerk to ask them to start calling names of people that are here to speak on those items. [10:02:36 AM] >> Thanks, mayor. We'll start with item number two. Craig nazer, Anna Aguirre, Susana Almanza, Zenobia Joseph, John Davidson, and Bobby Levinsky. Please. [10:02:50 AM] >> If your name has been called, please come forward and grab a microphone. And we. And all we ask is that you state your name for the record before you begin speaking. [10:03:05 AM] >> Craig. Nazer, Austin. Sierra club. Well, good morning. On a day when the skies are truly blue. Austin now has a friend of mine in both the governor's mansion and the senate. It's a good day. The mysterious tirz number 21. That brings up images, to paraphrase a recent song of a bunch of dogs heads sniffing each other's butt fours. What has to be to very non transparently read the backup to find out. That's actually what item two is about. And here the environmental community was thinking we might still get affordable housing and real parkland in the dog's head. So what little money is left after handing so much back to the developer could actually support that in the development itself. But no, without parkland, the dog's head can call up the Austin police to legally and categorically exclude all homeless from any of the open space. Well, here's a little ditty I learned in my dei infested grade school in the 1950s. Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame with conquering limbs astride from land to land. Here at our sea washed sunset Gates shall stand. [10:04:21 AM] A mighty woman with a torch. Whose flame is the imprisoned lightning. And her name, mother of exiles. From her mild her mild eyes command the air bridged harbor that twin cities frame. Keep ancient lands. Your storied pomp cries. She was silent lips. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless. Tempest tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Let's do this right, please. Thank you. [10:05:05 AM] >> Thank you. Please. [10:05:07 AM] >> Hi, my name is John Davidson, district three. On this dogs had item. I would like to first just point out that I believe this to continue the obfuscation of the dogs head process by calling it number 21. I think it should have been included as the dogs head so that people can know about that. The other thing is, I'd just like to simply ask that. I think that it would make sense for any one of you to just just ask to table this item until the validity of the tirz is decided upon. And third, I think that just putting money into slush funds, putting money aside into slush funds from questionable tirz fundings is not a good way of making you all feel better about yourselves for making a bad decision back in may. I think that these funds can often serve the needs of big money, big tech and big developers much more than they serve the people of Austin. And I think that the obvious, desperate need for money in Austin is the whole reason we're in this mess in the first place. And when you start spending that money on certain things before it even starts coming in, I think that's a little bit dangerous. [10:06:29 AM] Parks are great and affordable housing is great. But we were asked by this same city council to support the zilker vision plan at a massive cost. And if that is parks enhancement that is referred to in this, then I want nothing to do with that. And I think the affordable housing money spent the 600 million or so in the last ten years. I would like to see a little bit more very low income housing instead of just the semi affordable housing that the developers end up building. Thank you. [10:07:10 AM] >> Mayor and council. Bobby lavinsky, saber springs alliance item two is an item to earmark funds from the dogs. Head tirz towards two earmarked funds, one for parks and one for affordable housing. This item reminds me of when a kid spilled something on a rug and then panics. Instead of cleaning it up and telling their mom about it, they move the rug around to hide it under the couch. The real issue with the dogs head is that the council waived parkland dedication requirements and did not guarantee on site affordability. So to make up for this, this item earmarks funds to pay for community benefits that should have already been embedded in the agreement. And it's more of a talking point than any real, real action. You could generate the same funding by simply allocating a set percentage from the general fund for both purposes. That's already within your authority, and you don't need this tirz or this item to do it. A better approach would be requiring parkland dedication on the dogs head property, as would apply to any other property in the city or even the county, and to set a numeric requirement for deeply affordable housing on the dogs head property. My hope is that Tuesday teaches us a lesson that we shouldn't be locking in legislative authority for 45 years because things can change, it can get better. And I hope that in the near future, we're talking about increasing county authority for development and water quality standards. Please stop doing rush deals that prevent the next generation from doing better than we are today. Thank you. [10:09:10 AM] >> Moving on to item 14. Zenobia Joseph. [10:09:14 AM] >> Miss Joseph. I don't see her here, miss Joseph. [10:09:18 AM] >> Also for item 19 Zenobia Joseph, number 20, Nicole Netherton and Richard Craig. [10:09:39 AM] >> Good morning, mayor Watson and council members. My name is Nicole Netherton and I'm the CEO of peace park conservancy. I'm here today on behalf of our staff and board to express our strong support for item 20 and approval of our phase plan. The phase plan gives more operations and maintenance responsibility to the conservancy north of Kingsbury commons. The city, the conservancy and the community each are essential to our partnership, and together we provide a stronger foundation for the park by leveraging philanthropic resources, hands on stewardship and meaningful engagement to the people who love peas. Our operations team is in the park every day and can respond quickly to maintenance and visitor needs. Ppc also coordinates volunteers, provides free community programing, and creates opportunities for connection for visitors from every Austin zip code, an active park is a safe park and consistent staff presence is key to our success. As we expand our responsibilities throughout the park, we recognize that we must grow our capacity and we have a plan to do that. We have already budgeted for additional operations staff in fiscal year 27, with further staffing anticipated in 28. We'll also expand volunteer opportunities and eagle ecological restoration efforts. Financial sustainability is also essential to this expansion, and our board and leadership team are focused on maintaining a balanced budget, growing our endowment and continuing to build financial and philanthropic support. I also want to underscore that this phase plan does not ask the city for any additional funding, but instead helps offset costs and reduces April workload. The value of our partnership is demonstrated in the park itself itself. The parks board agrees that we are ready to move from Kingsbury commons to the entirety of Pease, and they unanimously recommended approval of the phase plan at their October 26th meeting. Six years of success in Kingsbury commons provides a model for how a nonprofit partner can help deliver consistently high standard of care for a district park. Thank you for your continued investment in Austin's park and for your confidence in peace park conservancy. Please support item 20. [10:11:44 AM] >> Thank you. [10:11:45 AM] >> Good morning, mayor Watson and council members. My name is Richard Craig, a resident of district ten, and I'm here in strong support of item 20, approving the peace park conservancy's phase plan. In 2008, I founded trees for peace, which morphed into the peace park conservancy. We were volunteers who saw that Austin's first park needed restoration and stewardship beyond what the city could provide. We always dreamed that one day the conservancy would have the capacity to care for the entire park, and I'm thrilled that day has arrived. Peace park is an Austin treasure, and the success of the conservancy in the lower park at Kingsbury commons demonstrates what a partnership between the city, private philanthropy and a committed community of neighbors can accomplish. This phase plan extends the success throughout the park north along the shoal creek greenbelt in Lamar. It brings additional resources, enhanced levels of maintenance, ecological stewardship and community engagement without asking the city for additional funding. As Austin grows, protecting our parks become increasingly important. I believe peace park conservancy has earned the trust of the city, and this thoughtful plan provides a path to care for peace park for many generations to come. I urge you to vote yes on item 20. Thank you. [10:13:01 AM] >> Thank you. We appreciate you all being here and your service. Thank you. [10:13:07 AM] >> For items 21, 22 and 23. I have Zenobia Joseph. [10:13:13 AM] >> Miss Joseph. Miss Joseph. Okay, mayor. [10:13:19 AM] >> That's all. Speakers for consent. [10:13:22 AM] >> Council members, as you hear there those that completes the speakers on the consent agenda. I'll ask again. Is there anyone wishing to pull an item from the consent agenda? I will now entertain discussion on the consent agenda. Mayor pro tem, you're recognized. [10:13:38 AM] >> Thank you. Mayor, I just wanted to make a couple of comments. Number 14, item 14 is a land acquisition for a new park at the western edge of district four, very close to Ramberg and metric. This is an area with a lot of apartments, a working class area that does not have a park in close distance to a lot of those apartments. It's going to be great to see park here, and it's also going to improve mobility from those apartments to the west and create some safe biking and walking options. Very excited to see this move through. Number 20, I just wanted to congratulate the peace park conservancy. I think they've done a great job with the Kingsbury commons area. Very sorry to see the troll go down. But now extending their assistance to the rest of the park to the north of Kingsbury commons. Peace park is just a gorgeous park. And really appreciate your help in maintaining it as a beautiful park. And then finally, item number 22 is an agreement to with txdot to essentially fund a an express bus Laine across I-35 from essentially kind of manor road through to Dean Keaton. This is an important, a small but important segment. [10:15:08 AM] Capital metro has the 837 express bus that it runs right through there. It comes from colony. Colony park through the Mueller neighborhood and right through the the university of Texas. That's going to be a important connection there to make sure that we have high quality transit, to make sure that people can get from northeast Austin to the university of Texas and downtown. Again, the small but important segment in making sure that the busses run quickly and people can get where they need to be in a safe, quick and affordable way. Thank you mayor. [10:15:45 AM] >> Thank you, mayor pro tem. I should have asked for a motion to approve the consent agenda. And the mayor pro tem makes that a second by council member zo qadri. Again, the motion includes the items that are in the backup on item three, a, version two, and item number 24 of version two. So motion's made and seconded to adopt the consent agenda as read. Councilmember zo qadri, you're recognized, followed by councilmember duchen. [10:16:09 AM] >> Thank you mayor. I just want to make a few remarks starting off with item 22. I'm really thankful for the work that dpw staff has done around the Dean Keaton transit betterment project. I'm really proud of the work that the city is doing in partnership with capmetro to improve transit reliability and making sure that we have the best transit system here in Austin, and also making sure that we achieve our safety and climate goals and making sure that we have good, resilient, reliable transit. And I'm also eager to work with txdot moving forward. And just in a few short months, our new state government, to make sure that, you know, we continue to build on the work that we've done. So it's a new day in Austin and in Texas for transportation item 24. I want to give all the flowers to councilmember Laine on bringing this item forward. We've had many discussions, and I see through her work on this item just how much she believes in small, local owned businesses and folks that keep Austin the unique, funky, creative city that it is. You know, small businesses are an essential part of what makes Austin Austin an economic development goes way beyond just attracting large companies. [10:17:16 AM] It's about uplifting the companies that make Austin the city that it is. So we need to continue to invest in local restaurants, independent retailers, creative spaces, a neighborhood, businesses that create jobs and make Austin unique, activating vacant and underutilized commercial space is an opportunity to strengthen our neighborhoods, increase foot traffic, and support vibrant commercial corridors while while complementing existing businesses. So I look forward to continuing working with staff folks in our small business community, council member Laine and others to make sure that we continue to do right by those that make Austin so special. [10:17:49 AM] >> Thank you. Thank you, councilmember zo qadri councilmember followed by councilmember Laine. [10:17:54 AM] >> Thank you mayor. I want to touch on two items this morning on item 20. I want to thank the peace park conservancy for their extraordinary work maintaining and improving one of Austin's most important and oldest green spaces. I would love for this to serve as a model to other parks and also other park organizations and park advocates for how to collaborate and ensure that our parks are well maintained for future generations. And then I'm going to vote no on item two. This item codifies an amendment that I voted against during the last set of dog's head votes. It's clearly well-intentioned and maybe good policy, but I'm still concerned that losing flexibility with how remaining tax revenue is allocated could prove a problem for the future and future council. So I wouldn't want to see priorities like emergency services move to the back of the line. Thank you. [10:18:43 AM] >> Thank you, councilmember. Councilmember Laine. [10:18:46 AM] >> Thank you mayor. [10:18:47 AM] >> Thank you, councilmember qadri, for your comments. I also want to highlight item number 24, which is the buydown rental assistance program. I want to take a moment to highlight this item, which directs the city manager to create a buydown rental assistance program for local, small or legacy businesses. This is this item is meant to complement Austin's current economic development offerings. The place based enhancement program is comprehensive in its offerings, and I want to thank council member Siegel for his amendment to ensure that this new program aligns with our current programing. This. Ifc is about growing our local small business footprint in the highest traffic areas of Austin, where there. They are also high opportunity areas. One of the trigger words we've been hearing a lot recently is private equity. It's not just our favorite childhood chains that are vulnerable to private equity or outsider influence, our local favorites and emerging small businesses are also too often victims of these forces. Our hope is to create another valuable tool to strengthen and protect our local business community. Thank you to my sponsors, council members Velasquez, Fuentes, harper-madison and qadri. We look forward to working with Austin economic development to see what city staff come back with for our first test case, and we really hope to learn from the experiences with this test case and ultimately to expand this program into a longer term offering. So we have another valuable economic development tool, especially for our small and emerging local businesses, which also deserve a chance to conduct business in the highest opportunity, highest traffic areas of Austin. And, and this program will also, I hope, help people from all areas of Austin to see their favorite local businesses in the central parts of Austin and the highest traffic parts of Austin. So thank you for your work, economic development team and my sponsors to ensure that all of us see those businesses that make us proud to call Austin home in the highest traffic areas of Austin. Thank you so much. [10:20:45 AM] >> Thank you, council member members. There being no further discussion on the consent agenda as read, let me ask, is there anyone wishing to abstain from a vote on any item on the consent agenda? Anyone wishing to recuse themselves from a vote on the consent agenda? I have council member Velazquez and council member duchen voting no on item number two. Is there anyone else wishing to be shown voting on no. On an item on the consent agenda? [10:21:11 AM] >> I would like to be shown voting no on two and 24. [10:21:14 AM] >> All right. The record will reflect that. Councilmember Velazquez and councilmember duchen are voting no on item two, and councilmember duchen is also voting no on item number 24. There being no further discussion. Without objection, the agenda is adopted, with councilmember harper-madison absent. For the record, councilmember harper-madison will be absent today. I will not may, but I'm not going to promise that. I will always call that out. So for the record, any vote that we take today, councilmember harper-madison, will be shown as voting, as being absent from that vote members. That takes us now to our non consent items. The first item on the agenda is item number 26. And we have speakers signed up on item number 26. [10:22:04 AM] >> Item 26. I have Monica Guzman. [10:22:11 AM] >> Good morning. Excuse me. Sorry. There you go. Good morning. I'm Monica Guzman, Garza policy director, speaking on item 26 when manager Broadnax and his team, quote, engage stakeholders, unquote. We request community based organizations and residents with lived experience of displacement are included in those engagement efforts. And that that efforts include working with the equity division to ensure equitable representation of both of those groups. We urge you to ensure protection of naturally occurring affordable housing. Or a 1 to 1 replacement of affordable units when existing noaa and income restricted housing is facing redevelopment. And also, you know, looking at the update will address the substantial lagging in housing for those earning 30% and below median family income, according to the strategic housing blueprint scorecard for 2018 to 2023, Austin's only produced 426 units. That's 2.13% of a 20,000 unit goal. So we really look forward to to see that change, that there would be more protections for tenants, for housing and opportunities for the low income, working class residents in Austin's eastern crescent and other parts of the city. Thank you. [10:23:43 AM] >> Thank you. [10:23:45 AM] >> Allison, for item 26. Zenobia. Joseph. That's all for item 26, mayor. [10:23:54 AM] >> Thank you members. That completes the people signed up to speak on item number 26. As indicated, this is an item that is referred to the council from a council committee, the housing and planning committee. However, there is. So what I'm going to do is I'm going to get a motion, and we have two potential amendments to that motion. Councilmember Siegel serves as the vice chair of that committee. The chair is absent. So, council member Siegel, I'll recognize you to make a motion with regard to this, and then we'll take up the other item. [10:24:27 AM] >> Thank you. Mayor. So moved. [10:24:29 AM] >> Council member Siegel, as vice chair of the committee, moves to adopt item number 26. It is seconded by the mayor pro tem. As I indicated, members, we have two proposed amendments to this. One is by council member alter. The other is by councilmember duchen. Councilmember alter. I'll recognize you first on your proposed motion. [10:24:47 AM] >> Thank you very much. Excuse me. We posted a message board about this, but a lot of this just some documentation of prior plans that are prior council resolutions that are going to form the blueprint, but also trying to do a couple things within this as it's being developed, especially looking regionally, you know, with our regional partners, whether that's the county or others understanding that the decisions they make will also impact the housing stock and the housing decisions people make in this area, as well as just looking at some other policies, whether that's how we fund the housing trust fund or what we are doing in our housing world as it relates to homelessness and getting that type of housing built. So just a few extra considerations as the housing department is going through this motion or this process. We've worked with them on this, and I think it will just help create a a fuller blueprint as we move forward. [10:25:52 AM] >> Council member alter moves to amend item number 26 with alter motion number one. It is seconded by council member Ellis. Is there any discussion on the motion alter motion to amend number one, hearing none. Without objection. Alter motion to amend item number 26. Number one is adopted with councilmember harper-madison absent. That will now take us to duchen proposed amendment. It's labeled motion sheet two, but that's just to confuse me. So I'll recognize council member. Am I calling the right the right one? Okay. Councilmember duchen, you're recognized on your motion to amend item number 26. [10:26:36 AM] >> Thank you, colleagues and mayor, I this item. Is in relation to. Well, first, I'd like to thank councilmember alter for including Noah in his in his amendment. And this sort of builds on that. So regarding the strategic housing blueprint, this expands on the reporting that that blueprint would include going forward. One of the things that I've learned is that what you measure know, and we need to be measuring the effect of displacement, not merely in terms of neighborhood cohesion and gentrification and units bill, but also from a simple economic perspective. We've approved zoning changes to developments that result in a net loss of affordable housing, even with the participation of our density bonus programs. And that's because of that loss of naturally occurring affordable housing. And the subsidized units we know are going to be more expensive to build than the original units destroyed. So I know it's hard to capture those kind of stories in a spreadsheet, but I'd like to encourage Austin housing to find ways to count Noah and provide an account of their reservations and losses, especially when the demolition of those properties is associated with participation in in our city programs. And, and with that, I, I move approval of motion two. [10:27:56 AM] >> Very good. Councilmember duchen moves approval of duchen motion to amend item number 26. Is there a second? Is there a second? I'll second the motion. Is there discussion on the motion to amend councilmember alter. [10:28:12 AM] >> I have just 1 or 2 questions, and the first one is for councilmember duchen. I just want to understand in number two and number three, you you say the number of units, but number one, it's the number of naturally occurring affordable housing units. So are is two and three also natural occurring affordable housing units, or is that just any unit that is destroyed, whether it's a noaa unit or not? [10:28:36 AM] >> You're correct. It's meant to move. It's meant to build on number one and imply naturally occurring affordable housing. [10:28:44 AM] >> Okay. I just want to make sure that that's clear as this is being developed as well. And then my other question is for the housing department is really just on the administrability of this. I, I share your intent and I think it's, you know, measuring things. We can't make good decisions if we don't have the data. But can we get these data? Like, can we know the number of units destroyed in the process of developing here in the city? [10:29:19 AM] >> Rachel Tepper with the, with Austin housing. So we do through our tenant notification and relocation ordinance, we already track, you know, the multifamily developments with five or more occupied units or the rezoning of five or more mobile homes. How so? We we have that can report on demolitions that fall within that, you know, criteria. I think, you know, a lot of times we lose housing because leases aren't renewed. And then over time, when the property is finally demolished, there's nobody living in it yet or anymore. And so that is a little harder to track. But as far as, you know, demolitions that do have residents in them, we can absolutely track that. And I think we'll be exploring other ways to do so, as long as the language is still kind of exploratory for how we can go beyond what we already have. [10:30:23 AM] >> Okay. I just as you work through this, you know, I think it's important to make sure we don't just put a number without the context, right? If, if it was going to be however many units that are being replaced, what the alternative is in terms of they could just go to zero, right, for some other non council action. So just the context is important here, but I appreciate it. [10:30:52 AM] >> Mayor pro tem. [10:30:54 AM] >> Thank you mayor. And another quick question for staff. And I've had a number of situations in district four where we have uninhabitable apartment complexes that have been abandoned, that are really unlivable, that honestly, we've been trying to actively get torn down because of the dangers, fire and otherwise of the, you know, kind of continued leaving the property there. We do related to that, we are not tracking that, I guess, other than in demolition permits, would that be the source of data potentially for this type of, of reporting? [10:31:43 AM] >> Yes. So for if there are people living in those units and there's five or more units in that property, then through the tenant notification and relocation ordinance, we do track that and there's notification requirements that you all passed a couple of years ago. So that that's where we come in and, and have that information. [10:32:11 AM] >> All right, I appreciate that. [10:32:13 AM] >> And again, I just wanted to make sure that there's context here because some of the the units that are destroyed, they may not be occupied. And they may be, for example, counted toward the the study of, of housing units that that are, are, are destroyed. But some of them are not, you know, they've outlived their useful life and they're not livable or inhabitable. Again, I think that's still information that that could be used and understood in the context of, of understanding our housing situation. But I do think we should be clear about that. You know, where this is not kind of somewhere that anybody would want to live anymore at this point, and they just need to go. So thank you. [10:32:59 AM] >> Thank you. Councilmember duchen, to close on your motion to amend item number 26. [10:33:04 AM] >> Thank you, mayor, I think these are good questions. And I think our our goal would be to work with staff to make sure that we can get the kind of information that would be helpful for making sure that we've got a more useful. Blueprint progress report going forward. And scorecard. I mean, one of the challenges that I saw, and hopefully you all saw the the noaa memo that came out, I think two weeks ago. And one of the interesting things that I caught was that we were measuring, I think, 28,000 units last year. We went through this process, and now we're measuring, I think, 68,000 noaa units. And so this is a substantial part of our inventory. And to the extent that we can understand what's happening in that space. I mean, the other thing that's interesting in that report is that this is a this is an issue that more or less affects the entire city, all of our districts, all my district has, I think, at least four precincts that have a tremendous amount of noaa, noaa units in them. And I would imagine most of your districts have that, too. And so understanding what's happening in those spaces, I'm hoping, is going to give us a clearer picture about how to make smart and meaningful housing decisions in the future. So that's all I've got. Thank you. [10:34:10 AM] >> Thank you, councilmember members. The vote is on duchen motion to amend item number 26 as clarified with the questions have been asked. Is there any further? No further discussion? Without objection, I'll be okay. [10:34:28 AM] >> I'll be voting no. [10:34:29 AM] >> Then. Let me let's let's go ahead. And for those in favor, please raise your hand. Those opposed, raise your hand. You voted yes. Okay. The vote being eight in favor, two opposed. And councilmember Harper Madison absent and the two voting no are councilmember zo qadri and councilmember Siegel. The motion to amend is adopted. Members, that takes us back to the main motion on item number 26, as amended. This will be item number 26, as amended. Is there any further discussion on item number 26 as amended? Hearing none without objection, item number 26, as amended, is adopted with councilmember harper-madison absent. That will take us to item 27 and 28 members. Items 27 and 28 are both eminent domain items. Let me turn to the city clerk and ask for her to call speakers. [10:35:33 AM] >> There are no speakers, mayor members. [10:35:35 AM] >> There are no speakers on items number 27 and number 28. So with respect to items 27 and 28, those. You're right about that. Item number 28 is withdrawn, and I apologize. I had not put that in my personal notes. Item number 28 was wrong. So this is with respect to item number 27 alone. Item number 27 is a non consent condemnation item. The motion that I will accept is a motion that the city council of Austin authorizes the use of the power of eminent domain to acquire the property that's set forth and described in the agenda for this current meeting, for the public use that's described therein. Is there a motion to that effect? The mayor pro tem makes that motion is seconded by. Everybody's tired from Tuesday. Everybody must be really tired. Tuesday must have worn everybody out. Council member Ellis makes the second on the motion. Motion is to approve item number 27. As I read the motion. Is there a discussion? Hearing none. Without objection, item number 27 is adopted. Members that will now take us to items 29 and number and item 30. Item number 29 is postponed to November 19th, 2026. But I'm going to go ahead and open the public hearing and call for any speakers who wish to testify on the merits of the postponement. [10:37:03 AM] Without objection, the public hearing on item number 29 is opened and the public. So I'll turn to the city clerk. [10:37:10 AM] >> There are no speakers for 29. [10:37:12 AM] >> In that case, we will. Without objection, close the public hearing on item number 29 with the merits of the postponement alone, and that is now closed. We will now go to item number 30. It is also a public hearing. Without objection, we will open the public hearing on item number 30. The public hearing is now open and I'll turn to the city clerk. [10:37:31 AM] >> I have few speakers for item 30. Bob. Damien. [10:37:40 AM] >> Bob, Damien here, civil engineer on the project. Nothing to add. [10:37:45 AM] >> Okay. Thank you. [10:37:47 AM] >> And then Jennifer Hanlon. That's all speakers for item 30. Mayor. [10:37:56 AM] >> All right, members, you've heard that all the speakers for the public hearing on item number 30. Without objection, we will close the public hearing on item number 30. The public hearing is now closed. Is there a motion with regard to the action? Council member duchen moves approval of item number 30. It is seconded by council member Laine. Is there discussion on item number 30? Without objection, item number 30 is adopted with council member harper-madison being absent. Members. That completes all of the agenda that we have available to us before our time. Certain of 12:00 pm, which is our public communication. So what we will do is we will recess until 12 12:00 for our time. Certain public communication, as I indicated before, what will happen is we will take that item up. I anticipate that item will be completed around 1230, at which point we will go to our live music, but we will be in recess at the end of the public communication, and we will be in recess until 2:00. I'll announce all that again when we get to that point in time. But without objection, the Austin city council is in recess at until 12:00 pm. It is 10:38 A.M. Thanks, everybody. [12:01:49 PM] good afternoon everybody. It's 1201 on Thursday, November 5th, and I will call back to order the Austin city council. We're at our noon time certain. And that is our public communication opportunity. And I will turn to the city clerk. [12:02:02 PM] >> Thank you, mayor Richard Victorian ward Tisdale, David Campbell, Paul Robbins, please come on down and take a seat at the podium. If your name's been called, just state your name. [12:02:16 PM] >> Please come forward. David. David Campbell. I'm sorry, what's your name? Yeah. She has not called your name yet. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Robbins. We'll go ahead and start with you, and then we'll work our way down the aisle there. [12:02:46 PM] >> Council, during public discussion of the recent vote for Austin energy to purchase a natural gas power plant, it was said that it was illegal for the city council to disclose how each member voted. And if the context of this statement was correctly related, then you have been blatantly misinformed. Slide. Here is a clause from the Austin city charter. Article seven, section 11, which states all revenue bonds issued by the city shall first be authorized by a majority of the qualified electors voting at an election held for this purpose, and this includes bonds for electricity, water and wastewater. Slide. If you check Austin's election history website, you will see public approval used to be routine. In fact, during the mayor's first term in 1998, he personally voted to place $398 million of water and wastewater revenue bonds on the ballot. This is equivalent to $799 million today. Austin's legacy power plants, including the original hydroelectric dam built in the 19th century Seaholm power plant a few blocks away from us. [12:04:18 PM] Holly, decker, fayette and much of the south Texas project were all voter approved. Now, it might make good business sense to keep the terms secret if you are still negotiating on a price. But should the council choose to, you can make the negotiating terms public as well. In bond elections in the past, the bonds were often stated as a maximum not required expenditure and if the contract for the power plant purchase is now been signed, then there's no excuse not to make them public. Slide the vague estimate of $1 billion is about $610 million more than these generators cost only three years ago. Slide. This is the equivalent of 1200 extra dollars for every person in the Austin energy service territory. [12:05:18 PM] I wonder aloud if a hamster on a treadmill could generate more cost effective electricity. In closing, if there was an election to approve bonds to finance the new gas plant, it might get approved. If the election was to spend $610 million extra, the measure would likely be trounced. Thank you. [12:05:38 PM] >> Thank you, Mr. Robbins. Mr. Tisdale. [12:05:42 PM] >> Mayor. Mayor. Excuse me. Mayor, council members. My name is ward Tisdale. I am with the ati accelerator executive director. I'm really here just to promote our program because we're in the recruiting process for the accelerator, which is a three month program. It teaches austinites about their city government. Mayor, you've been a speaker every year that we've had it. And council member Fuentes went through our program in 2020. Many others have spoken. It's it's really for people to get informed about their city so that they can be better citizens. Secondly, folks that want to be on a board or commission often go through the program to learn more information so they can serve better. And some of us, some of the graduates, including council member Fuentes, have actually run for council, and we're nonpartisan. We're just there to to serve a public service for the community. We are recruiting through November 30th. It's a three month program starts in January. They learn about the city from a to Z soup to nuts, public safety, utilities, the budget and so forth. They also class members, and we usually do between 20 and 30 a year, get a mentor, which is typically a current or former elected official, or someone who has inside knowledge of how the city works. And then we close with a competition where each person gets a three minute platform on why they would be the best council member for their district. And then we have a final event debate style event in April. So anyway, I do survey the class every year, every every year. It's been at least a four out of five. And most people give it a five out of five. So I'm just here to promote it. I would love if I know council members have communications with your constituents. Going to email you a little blurb that I've sent to other organizations. If you could just let people know that it's open. We have an information happy hour at Greenwalt green light social on the 18th. Our website is H accelerator.org. We're also on. [12:07:54 PM] >> A little slower. [12:07:55 PM] >> I'm sorry. [12:07:56 PM] >> Say what you just said a little bit slower so people can find your website. [12:08:00 PM] >> At accelerator.org. Yeah, sorry, I speak a little fast sometimes. We also have a presence on Facebook, Instagram and, and linkedin. So applications closed on 30th. Please get the word out and I appreciate the time. [12:08:16 PM] >> Thank you. And thanks for inviting me to be at this year after year. I think we're trying to work out my calendar right now so I can be there again. And, and it's for those that might want to know, it's a txelerator dot org, a T accelerator.org, correct? Thank you. [12:08:38 PM] >> Thank you mayor. [12:08:39 PM] >> Appreciate you. Yes, sir. [12:08:41 PM] >> My name is David Campbell. I live on burns meadow. I'm in district four. I've been there for 30 years. Policies and practices should be in place that foster an unqualified, positive response and relationship between our law enforcement and the community. It should go both ways. Experience and research shows that the presence of non-uniformed law enforcement officers in the community can often sow distrust and create confusion. It is counterproductive, and it's dangerous. On Thursday, October 15th, at about 245, I turned on to golden meadow, about 1000ft from my home, and I encountered one man running. Then I saw two men apparently emerging, emerging from a dark vehicle. They chased him and they were wearing Molly plate carriers. As I got to do a better angle, I could see that the vehicle did have blue and red lights. I can purchase those blue and red lights. The Molly plate carrier and a police patch for about $60 off of Amazon. When I got closer to the vehicle, I saw that there was a bicycle crushed under the front of the bicycle front right wheel of the vehicle. A second unmarked car arrived within about two minutes. I never saw a marked APD vehicle. About ten minutes later, I looped through the apartment complex. I went within 20ft of multiple. What I presume to be law enforcement officers. I could not identify their agency. They told me it was not an immigration enforcement action. I later found an incident report on the APD website. From 1000ft. I can identify my waistbands. I can identify recycling. I can identify trash. I can identify composting from 100ft. I can read a serial number on the front of my trash cans. That I cannot identify an APD officer. [12:10:30 PM] After ten minutes of interaction with a constituent, I find unacceptable and I find it dangerous. That a bike was crushed and the use of violence to apprehend someone whose crime was fleeing, I find unacceptable. Within an hour of that event, bastrop notified the community that there was someone in their area impersonating a law enforcement officer. So I had been put in the situation not very far from what other people in a different parking lot were. Where I did have law enforcement, they did not, but they were all armed and they were all dangerous. Ten days later, two unmarked vehicles with sirens and lights blocked a neighbor's driveway for a brief period. I wasn't fast enough to get my camera, but I saw that they were wearing Molly. When they left, I tried to get their license plates. The license plates were covered with both a color and a distortion cover, so that I couldn't see what their license plate was to record it. I find these unacceptable law enforcement actions in my community. Thank you. [12:11:37 PM] >> Thank you, mayor. Mayor pro tem. [12:11:41 PM] >> I just wanted to mention, I'll get my staff down here to talk to you about the details, if you don't mind waiting. Just a minute. Thank you. [12:11:48 PM] >> Thank you. [12:11:49 PM] >> David. Kevin Harrison held Philip Fitzgerald. [12:12:04 PM] >> Mister Kevin, we'll start with you. [12:12:06 PM] >> Sorry about earlier. Just. [12:12:07 PM] >> That's all right. [12:12:08 PM] >> Sometimes people miss your name up. You just want to make sure that's accurate. You know. [12:12:13 PM] >> I certainly understand. No problem at all. We're glad you're here. [12:12:16 PM] >> Yes, sir. Thank you. I had come up with this idea. Last time I was here. I was overhearing someone mention that someone needs to go over there. Some sort of energy sort of person look into it. So I was like, energy, equitable energy, equitable homes where you have initially increased the equity about ten, $10,000 because when you have a low pressure water housing, it drops the equity about $10,000. So what I would suggest is increasing the water pressure without using waiting for the water to build up to for pressure by installing pumps that would increase slightly the electric bill. But you would alleviate that with having instant instantaneous flash heaters, which would alleviate $200 a year off the water and gas. So you would eventually have an equitable home. That's more that would stay at $10,000. And with no low water pressure and heat for pennies on the dollar. And that's what I wanted to bring to your attention. That's something that that could be done as a waste management for less water usage, waiting for the water to come pouring out of the sink for half an hour for the water pressure builds up, but a water pump on there and then, as well as building up the tanks and the gas, like to keep keep them heated so we lower the lot of the emissions. [12:13:51 PM] I would say with the usage of the waste of it could be potential waste by making them energy equitable, equitable homes. So that's that's what I had. [12:14:02 PM] >> Appreciate you being here. Thank you very much. [12:14:04 PM] >> You're welcome. [12:14:06 PM] >> Yes, sir. [12:14:11 PM] >> Hi. Philip Fitzgerald, district one. When we talk about the cost of living crisis in Austin, we're often describing a battle that isn't really being evenly fought, nor is the stress being evenly shared. And we hear constantly about rent and mortgages. But for many working austinites, the real breaking point isn't really what's what's in their living room. More so it's it's what's parked in their in their driveway. And the average new car loan has skyrocketed to $45,000 in this country, and that forces austinites to shell out almost $800 a month just for the ability to drive to work. That's nearly $10,000 a year. And right now, what we're seeing is parents are having to choose between keeping a roof over their children's head or keeping that car that gets them to their to their paycheck. And many on this council tend to champion transportation options. But when we look closely at what those options are, they're often just private options like Uber and Lyft and waymo and now cyber cab. But how does a $35 one way ride help working people in Austin? And the truth is, it doesn't. Sadly, for decades in this city, public transit riders have been treated as an afterthought. And a perfect example of that is in 2009, the city operated about 400 busses, but we. Fast forward to this year with 225,000 more people. Since then, and we only operate about 415 busses. And over that time we managed to build skyscrapers and expand our tax base. But we also asked historic communities, especially on the east side, to bear the the growing burden of traffic and school closures and hyper growth and five story apartments. Yet the rewards of that growth has never really been shared with those people that we asked to make those sacrifices. And it really doesn't have to be that way. If we look at any world class city, which I'm sure a lot of you have been to larger cities, reliable and frequent public transit is a lifeline to thriving communities. And what we could see in Austin, by aggressively expanding the number of busses on our streets, we could lift that $10,000 annual car payment or car fee off of people's backs and replace it with a $500 a year cap metro pass that would put over $9,000 back into austinites pockets, back into the pockets of people that make the city run like our teachers, like our, our, our tradesmen and industry workers. And with thankfully, new leadership at the state level, I strongly feel that the the era of excuses in this city are over. [12:16:52 PM] It's time to start pushing large public programs and getting. Making a city that's more affordable for people we can't waste, or. We can't have people wasting 25 minutes at a bus stop, including over here downtown, while their children wait at home. Nor can we continue to tolerate job opportunities being limited due to lack of car ownership or because of obscene rideshare prices. [12:17:13 PM] >> Thank you, thank you. [12:17:15 PM] >> I have one more speaker remote bubbles sandcastle. [12:17:26 PM] >> Good afternoon. Hello. Hi. I'm bubbles from district three. I appreciate the work you've been doing on everything I'm reading today. I'm here with just a few specific hopes. First, I'd love to see a strong data center ordinance finished this year, including requirements for closed loop cooling, public reporting of water and energy use, and real limits on noise, light, and heat. My energy bills have already gone up dramatically, so please make sure data centers pay their full share of the grid upgrades they need, rather than allowing residents to continue to rise. I support causing large approvals until an ordinance is in place. Another thing I'm really worried about right now is the potential existential risk of the ai race. Far too many researchers from the big ai companies are warning us that ai poses serious extinction level risks, and that the best way to improve those odds is to slow down. Many of them have the same recommendation, powerful regulations and a global treaty to make sure the world slows down together. So I'm asking you to give ai safety and oversight the same weight in the city's legislative priorities that you give climate change. Several of the researchers have put together a great recommendation@ai- 2040.com. I highly recommend reading it. [12:18:51 PM] Regarding immigration, I'm deeply disturbed by what I'm doing. I want an immigration system that is humane and accountable. I hope you'll restore and grow funding for deportation. Legal defense, better. Safe to call and expand public reporting to all of APD's contacts with ice. And finally, as a queer person, I've been feeling less welcome in this state over the past year, and I'm hoping that will turn around given the election results. The rainbow crosswalk was meaningful visibility, and it made me feel a great sense of belonging here. The new historical marker is a good start, and I'd really like to see often make an even grander gesture. I love the idea of a fourth street plaza, and I think the district markers recommended by your two plus commission would be a great first step. I also really appreciate your work on gender inclusive restrooms, and I'd love to see the conversions funded in the next budget or a future bond. Thank you. [12:19:49 PM] >> Thank you mayor. [12:19:51 PM] >> That's all speakers. [12:19:52 PM] >> Members. That concludes our 12:00 time. Certain. The next item on our agenda is set for a time certain of 2:00 pm. And that is the our zoning matters. So without objection, the city council will be in recess until promptly at 2:00 pm. It is now 12:20 P.M. And we're in recess. Everybody hang around because we will have live music and then we'll see everybody at 2:00. Thanks. [2:00:05 PM] I’ll call back to order the Austin city council. It's 2:00 pm and we will take up our zoning items. Miss Hardin. [2:00:12 PM] >> Thank you, mayor and council. I'm joy Hardin, interim assistant director with Austin. Planning your zoning and neighborhood plan amendment agenda begins with item 31npa20260026 .01. This item is offered for consent on all three readings. The related rezoning is item 32 C one for 2026 0030. Again, this item is offered for consent on all three readings and your last item is number 33 C one for 2026 0057. This item is offered as an applicant. Postponement to your November 19th council meeting. This concludes the reading of the zoning and neighborhood plan amendment portion of your agenda. And as always, this is at your discretion. [2:00:54 PM] >> Members. Any questions? That being the case, the chair will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. It's made by the mayor pro tem seconded by council member Siegel. Let me look to the city clerk to call on any speakers. [2:01:05 PM] >> Thank you. Mayor. We have one speaker on item 31, Zenobia Joseph. [2:01:10 PM] >> Miss Joseph, miss Joseph. All right. [2:01:14 PM] >> And another speaker on item 32. Also, Zenobia. Joseph. [2:01:17 PM] >> Is Joseph. All right? That concludes all the speakers. Correct. Members, that concludes all the speakers on the consent agenda. Is there anyone wishing to be shown abstaining from any vote on the consent agenda? Anyone wishing to be shown recusing themselves on the consent agenda? Anyone wishing to be shown voting no. In that case, without objection, the consent agenda is adopted. And with council member harper-madison absent, there being no further business to come before the city council, the city council is adjourned without objection at 2:01 P.M. Thank you.