Closed Caption Log, Council Meeting, 08/17/00

TODAY IS AUGUST 17, 2000.

>> ... A GRATEFUL HEART. HELP US AS THE LEADERS AND THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY TO SHARE YOUR BLESSINGS WITH ALL OF YOUR PEOPLE, LEAD US THROUGH THIS DAY OF CHALLENGE THAT WE MIGHT HAVE YOUR VISION AS OUR VISION. GIVE US THE COURAGE AND THE WISDOM, THE STRENGTH, THE COMPASSION AND THE UNDERSTANDING TO LIVE OUR BEST INTENTIONS INTO YOUR REALITY. BLESS OUR EFFORTS IN OUR MOST HOLY NAME. AMEN.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AMEN. REVEREND, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AT THIS TIME I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCILL. THIS IS A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCILL. IT IS AUGUST 17TH, 2000. WE ARE MEETING IN THE BOARD ROOM AT THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY HANCOCK BUILDING LOCATED AT 3700 LAKE AUSTIN BOULEVARD. BEFORE WE GET TO THE OTHER ITEMS, LET ME READ THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS TO THE THURSDAY AGENDA. ITEM NO. 28 IS RECOMMENDED BY THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD. ITEM NO. 29 IS POSTPONED UNTIL AUGUST 31ST, 2000. POSTPONED UNTIL AUGUST 31ST, 2000. ITEM NO. 45 IS ON SECOND READING. ITEM NO. 45 IS ON SECOND READING. ITEM NO. 46, SECOND READING. ITEM 48 RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. ITEM 49 RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. ITEM NO. 50, RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. ITEM 59, RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. ITEM NO. 92 SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LISTED UNDER THE ITEM ACTION ON PUBLIC HEARING. THERE IS NO PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM AND IT CURRENTLY IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEMS THAT ARE SET FOR A TIME CERTAIN, AT 1:30, GENERAL CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. AT 4:00, ZONING CASES, ITEMS 72 THROUGH 82. AT 5:30, LIVE MUSIC AND PROCLAMATIONS. AT 6:00, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: ITEM 83, 84, 85, 86 AND 87. ITEM 83 IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY. ITEM 84 IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR TRANSPORTATION, CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT. ITEM 85 IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR RECREATIONAL FATAL AND DEFERRED PARKS MAINTENANCE. 86 IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACES THROUGHOUT THE AUSTIN AREA AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LAND THROUGHOUT THE AUSTIN AREA. AND ITEM NO. 87 IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO SUPPORT LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING. THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING, THE REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 3RD H. 3RD 2000. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> SO MOVED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE BRIEFINGS, WITHOUT OBJECTION, LET'S GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND SEE IF WE CAN'T LET PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA GO BACK TO WORK. THE ITEMS THAT I HAVE PULLED, I'M GOING TO CALL OUT THE ITEMS THAT I HAVE PULLED, 14, 15, NOT THAT I HAVE PULLED, BUT MY NOTES INDICATE ARE PULLED. 14, 15, 25, 32, 45, 48, 49, 50, 92, AND THEN 93, WHICH ARE APPOINTMENTS -- I'M SORRY, 92 IS NOT PULLED. 92 IS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. 93 IS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO THE CONSENT AGENDA WOULD BE 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46 ON SECOND READING, 47, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 92, AND 93 AND THE APPOINTMENTS ARE ARTS COMMISSION, NORMA GARZA. PLANNING COMMISSION, SYLVESTER GARZA JUNIOR. POLICE RETIREMENT BOARD, COUNCILMEMBER DANNY THOMAS, APPOINTMENT BY CONSENSUS. SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION, MICHAEL RIZDON. ARE THERE ITEMS THAT CAN BE ADDED OR NEED TO BE TAKEN FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALL RIGHT. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ. IS THERE A MOTION?

>> SO MOVED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ. SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. DISCUSSION. WE HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, I DID HAVE A QUESTION ON NO. 47, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT THIS -- TAKING THIS ACTION DOES NOT IN ANY WAY IMPEDE OR REMOVE ANY CITY REGULATORY AUTHORITY. IT'S THE -- ALLOWING THE ANNEXATION OF 312 ACRES INTO WCID NO. 17.

>> NO, SIR, IT DOES NOT.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. ON ITEM NO. 26, WE HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM NO. 26. THEODOREOSERILANKA, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SORRY?

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU ARE EUGENE RYAN HEART. IS PAM RYANHEART HERE? YOU WILL HAVE UP TO NINE MINUTES IF YOU NEED IT. AND IT'S YOUR TIME

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL, MR. RHINEHEART WILL BE SPEAKING ON ITEM 26.

>> YES, I'M SPEAKING ON 26. THIS IS AN APPROXIMATE FOR LIFETIME EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT POWER PLANTS HERE IN THE CITY. THE TITLE OF THE PROJECT IS IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF FLAWS IN POWER PLANT COMPONENTS, AND I THINK THE KEY WORD HERE IS IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF FLAWS WHICH WILL BE PERFORMED BY INSPECTORS. WE WILL BE MAKING A PRESENTATION BRIEFLY WITH SOME VIEW GRAPHS AS SOON AS WE GET IT GOING. OR I COULD PROBABLY JUST SPEAK OFF THE CUFF. IF ANYONE COULD HELP HIM ON THIS. WE RAISED SOME QUESTIONS ON THIS BID BEFORE IT -- BEFORE IT BECAME ACTIVE AND THEN DURING THE BID PROCESS OR THE REVIEW PROCESS, IT'S ACTUALLY NOT A BID, IT'S A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICE CONTRACT WHERE WE DO NOT CONSIDER MONEY AT THIS POINT IN TIME. WE LOOK FOR THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSONS. PRIOR TO MY RECEIVING THE BID EVALUATION TABLE THAT WAS RELEASED I BELIEVE LAST WEEK, I SUGGESTED THAT THREE THINGS SHOULD BE PERFORMED ON THE BID EVALUATION. YOU SHOULD CHECK ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PERSONNEL BASED ON SOME PRIOR HISTORY THAT I'VE SEEN IN INDUSTRY. THAT WOULD BE A GOOD STEP TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS QUALIFIED TO THE SAME CRITERIA. THE SECOND STEP WAS -- NOW I THINK WE CAN -- JUST GO TO THE SECOND PAGE. THESE ARE THE ITEMS THAT I SUGGESTED THAT THE REVIEW COMMITTEE CONSIDER WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING AT THESE BIDS. AND THIS WOULD BE FOR ANYBODY INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT. AT THE TIME I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE WERE ONE OF THE TOP GROUPS. ITEM NO. B, IT WAS OUR INTERPRETATION FROM THE PRE-BID MEETING THAT ALL PERSONNEL WOULD BE CERTIFIED TO A NATIONAL STANDARD. THE INSPECTION PERSONNEL. AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A FEW WORDS I'M GOING TO THROW AROUND, BUT THEY ARE NOT REALLY THAT ENGINEERING SPECIFIC. ASNT LEVEL 3 MEANS A PERSON HAS TAKEN A NATIONAL EXAMINATION IN A METHOD TO EXAMINE PARTS WITHOUT DESTROYING THE PARTS. THAT'S NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING. IT'S X-RAY ULTRASOUND. ALL THESE OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU HAVE LISTED IN THE R.F.P. ARE -- OR RFQ, AND OUR COMPANY ADHERES TO A NATIONAL STANDARD AS DO MANY OTHER GROUPS. SO I SAID THAT AS A MINIMUM SO THAT YOUR PROGRAM WOULD HAVE THE MOST CREDIBILITY POSSIBLE YOU SHOULD HAVE EVERYONE CERTIFIED WITH THAT STANDARD AS A BARE MINIMUM. THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF OTHER QUALIFICATIONS THAT YOU NEED. IN EACH OF THE METHODS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO USE TO INSPECT THE POWER PLANT. THIS IS POTENTIALLY CONTROVERSIAL, AS WE KNOW, SITUATIONS SURROUNDING AGING POWER PLANTS, I THINK WE NEED TO START THESE PROGRAMS WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE CREDENTIALS FOR EVERYBODY WORKING ON THESE POWER PLANTS SO THERE IS NO AVENUE FOR CRITICISM AT SOME LATER DATE. AND WE KNOW THAT THERE OCCASIONALLY ARE PROBLEMS WITH AGING POWER PLANTS. WE ARE WORKING IN AN AREA WHERE SOME OF THE DEFECTS ARE DUE TO THE AGING PROCESS AND ARE PROBABLY NOT KNOWN AS TO WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO BE. THAT'S THE REASON FOR HAVING THIS CONSISTENCY. IN THE BID YOU REQUIRED THAT PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS BE ON BOARD THE PROJECT. THAT'S ALL TRACEABLE TO OUR NATIONAL BOARD -- I MEAN OUR STATE BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS. -- YOU REQUIRED THAT THE PERSON HAVE A R STAMP FOR REPAIRS. THAT'S ALL TRACEABLE TO NATIONAL STANDARDS AND STATE STANDARDS. WE ASSUMED IN THE MEETING, WE ASKED -- I ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION. IT WAS OUR IMPRESSION THAT THE CITY ANSWERED YES, ALL PERSONS WOULD BE CERTIFIED BY TAKING THE NATIONAL EXAMINATION. UNFORTUNATELY NO MINUTES WERE MADE OF THE PRE-BID MEETING AND IT WAS NOT RECORDED. WE WENT ON THE TRACK THAT THAT WAS THE APPROACH TAKEN. NOW THERE'S CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THAT OPINION THAT WAS GIVEN AT THE PRE-BID MEETING. WE STILL BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT ANYONE WORKING ON THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE CERTIFIED AS A LEVEL 3 IN THE METHODS THAT YOU HAVE NAMED IN THE PROPOSAL. AND THAT WAS MY FIRST -- THAT WAS ONE OF MY MAJOR COMMENTS ON THE BID. THE SECOND ONE, SINCE THIS WAS A CRITICAL PROJECT, I FELT THAT THE EVALUATION TEAM SHOULD AT LEAST SPEND MAYBE AN HOUR WITH THE TOP FOLKS AND LOOK AT THEIR CREDENTIALS. LET THEM MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION. THE BID ITSELF, I THINK IT'S VERY HARD TO JUDGE THE OVERALL QUALITY AND APPROACH OF A COMPANY TO THIS LIFETIME ASSESSMENT PROJECT WITHOUT AT LEAST TAKING TIME TO TALK TO THEM. THOSE ARE THE THREE KEY POINTS THAT I POINTED OUT BEFORE I SAW THE EVALUATION MATRIX. AND NOW I THINK IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO DO THAT. WE'RE LISTED AS NO. 3. WE'RE ONE-HALF POINT BELOW NO. 2, WHICH IS THE WAY THE NUMBERS WORK OUT. BUT THE TOP THREE BIDS ARE ACTUALLY RATHER CLOSE. THE DECIDING FACTOR OF ALL THE BIDS IS THE AMOUNT OF PREVIOUS WORK DONE FOR THE CITY. THAT'S THE SIX POINTS, AND I'LL POINT THOSE OUT. WE RECEIVED -- BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD A PROJECT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT TEAM WORKING ON THE AUSTIN-BERGSTROM AIRPORT FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. WELL, THAT AMOUNTED TO PROBABLY ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS. SO WE RECEIVED ONE POINT PER YOUR EVALUATION CRITERIA. YOUR EVALUATION CRITERIA SAYS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS IF YOU RECEIVED CERTAIN AMOUNTS OF MONEY, YOU DON'T RECEIVE THE FULL AMOUNT. AND IT VARIES FROM SIX TO ONE. MY OPINION WAS THAT YOU PUT THAT IN THERE, SOMEONE PUT IT IN SO THAT GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVING LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FROM THE CITY WOULD THEN HAVE SOMEWHAT OF A HANDICAP ON FUTURE BIDDING AND WOULD -- THE MONEYS ALLOTTED TO THESE VARIOUS GROUPS WOULD BE MOVED AROUND. BUT WE HAVE A LITTLE GLITCH HERE. THE TOP GROUP, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED ON THEIR $600,000 A YEAR PROJECT SIX YEARS AGO, AND THEN THEY RECEIVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING EACH YEAR AFTER THAT CONTRACT. SO THEY WERE THE GROUP THAT HAS RECEIVED THE MOST FUNDING OF ANY GROUP SIMILAR TO OURS IN THIS CITY OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, AND ARE STILL FUNDED. SINCE THE COUNCIL ACTION, AND I'M NOW JUST TRYING TO PARA PHRASE THE ANALYSIS FROM THE -- I THINK IT'S THE CONTRACTS DEPARTMENT OR THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, ALL THE MONEY PAID TO THEM DID NOT COUNT TOWARD THEIR POINTS. THEY RECEIVED A FULL SIX POINTS, ONLY THEY WERE THE LARGEST BENEFIT -- [BUZZER SOUNDS] -- OF MONEY FOR THIS -- FOR THESE TYPES OF PRONGS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SIR, I'M SORRY TO INTERPRET YOU, BUT YOUR NINE MINUTES HAS EXPIRED.

>> OKAY. WELL, I THINK JUST CLOSING UP THAT AT LEAST AS A MINIMUM WE WOULD LIKE TO LET'S SAY PULL THIS BID AT THIS TIME AND AT LEAST HAVE THE EVALUATION GROUP COME OUT AND SEE US, TALK TO THE TOP THREE GROUPS AND THEN MAKE A FINAL DECISION THAT MAYBE INCORPORATES SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT I HAVE HERE OR REVAULT THE BID.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL, ON AGENDA ITEM NO. 5 3RX ELLIOTT HOUSE, ARE YOU HERE? MR. HOUSE? HE HAD SIGNED UP IN FAVOR AND HAD INDICATED HE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE HE NEEDED TO SPEAK UNLESS THERE WAS SOMEONE AGAINST ITEM 53. AND ITEM 53 IS STILL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ? COUNCIL, THERE IS AN ADDENDUM ALSO, AND I APOLOGIZE, ITEM NO. 94 AND 95 SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. MY MOTION MAKER IS NOT HERE RIGHT NOW. OKAY, LET'S WAIT ON 94 AND 95, AND I'M GOING TO PULL ITEM NO. 39 FOR A MOMENT UNLESS -- OKAY. ITEM NO. 39, WHAT WE NEEDED TO IS HAVE CLARITY THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS CANCELLING THE SEPTEMBER 14TH MEETING WHICH IS ALREADY CANCELLED AND ALSO CANCELLING SEPTEMBER 21ST.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WHAT I'LL DO IS JUST ASSUME THAT THAT WAS THE MOTION AND THE SECOND AND LEAVE ITEM NO. 39 ON, BUT IT WOULD CANCEL THOSE TWO MEETINGS. YES, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR, LET'S PUT 45 BACK ON THE CONSENT. IT'S BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. I'M GOING TO ASSUME, UNLESS THERE IS A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ITEM NO. 45, THAT COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS WOULD CONSIDER THAT TO BE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AND COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, DO YOU CONSIDER THAT TO BE A -- AS MAKER OF THE SECOND.

>>WYNN: YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ITEM 45RX PUT 45 BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. IT WOULD BE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO YOU. ITEM NO. 94, COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS SPONSORED SO I'M GOING TO ASSUME HE CONSIDERS THAT TO BE FRIENDLY TO PUT BACK ON. COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>WYNN: YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ITEM 95, I FAILED TO READ THAT. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, DO YOU CONSIDER THAT TO BE FRIENDLY TO PUT BACK ON.

>>THOMAS: YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

>>WYNN: YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SO THE CHANGES WOULD BE 49 39 WILL BE THE 14TH AND THE 21ST. 45 WILL BE ON CONSENT. AND 94 AND 95 WILL BE ON CONSENT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD EVEN WITH THOSE CHANGES? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. WITH THAT, MR. CITY MANAGER. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU FOR BRIEFINGS ON THE 2000-2001 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS.

>> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, WE HAVE FOR BRIEF PRESENTATIONS ON THE BUDGETS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, FZ FUTRELL WILL DO AN OVERVIEW OF THESE DEPARTMENTS. THEN WE'LL FOLLOW WITH POLICE, FIRE AND MUNICIPAL COURT AND THEN THIS EVENING YOU HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC WITH RESPECT TO THIS ISSUE AND LET ME TURN IT OVER TO TOBY.

>> LET ME START BY GIVING YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE COMMUNITY SCORE CARD BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE A CRITICAL PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE AS YOU MAKE BUDGET DECISIONS IN THIS PROCESS. WE BEGAN USING THE COMMUNITY CORE PART IN 1997 AS A WAY TO GAUGE HOW WELL CITY SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FROM CITIZENS. WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL, CITY, COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION WRX THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD, WITH THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR REINVENTING GOVERNMENT AND LOCALLY WITH THE SUSTAINED [INAUDIBLE] PROJECT FOR HAYS, TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY. THE SCORE CARD FOCUSES ON GIVING YOU FOUR PIECES OF INFORMATION. THE FIRST IS IT ASSESSING THE PRIORITY THAT CITIZENS PLACE ON THE SERVICE. THE SECOND IS IT TELLS YOU HOW SATISFIED CITIZENS ARE WITH THAT SERVICE. THIRD, IT GIVES YOU TREND INFORMATION OVER TIME. WE COMPARE AGAINST OURSELVES. ARE WE DOING BETTER AND BETTER EACH YEAR? OR HAVE WE LEVELED OFF? OR ARE OUR RESULTS DROPPING? AND FINALLY IT COMPARES EFFICIENCY AND INPUT MEASURES WITH OTHER CITIES. WE BENCH MARK OURSELVES AGAINST OUR CITIES. NOW, THIS INFORMATION IS NOT PERFECT. THERE ARE FLAWS IN TRYING TO COMPARE SOMETIMES. IT'S NOT EXACTLY APPLES TO APPLES, BUT IT IS GOOD INFORMATION, IMPORTANT INFORMATION, AND IT'S IMPORTANT IN OUR METHODOLOGY FOR HOW WE FOCUS ON RESULTS THROUGH BUSINESS PLANNING. I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I CAN DO FOR YOU IN GIVING YOU AN OVERVIEW IN PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE SCORE CARD INFORMATION IS TO SHOW YOU THE RED FLAGS. SO AS I MOVE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY SCORE CARD, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING TO POINT OUT TO YOU. A RED FLAG WOULD BE WHERE A CITIZEN RANKS A SERVICE VERY HIGH IN PRIORITY. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM. BUT YOU HAVE HAVE A LOW SATISFACTION RANKING. OBVIOUSLY IF YOU HAVE A HIGH PRIORITY, BUT A HIGH SATISFACTION LEVEL, WE'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. BUT WHERE YOU HAVE A HIGH PRIORITY AND LOW SATISFACTION, THERE'S -- THERE ARE YOUR AREAS FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT. ANOTHER RED FLAG I'M GOING TO TRY TO POINT OUT FOR YOU ARE DECLINING RESULTS OVER TIME. IN GENERAL, FOR PICKUP SAFETY, WITH ONE EXCEPTION, WHICH I WILL TALK ABOUT LATER, THE PRIORITY IS VERY HIGH AND THE SATISFACTION IS HIGH TO MODERATELY HIGH. OVERALL WE'RE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB IN PUBLIC SAFETY. NOW, HOW WE'VE ORGANIZED THE PRESENTATION --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION. WHEN YOU SAY HIGH TO MODERATELY HIGH, WHERE ARE YOU DRAWING LINES ON DEFINITIONS?

>> IN THE MID TO UPPER 80'S. IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT AS YOUR KID'S REPORT CARD, WHEN YOU ARE AT A MID B AND ABOVE, YOU ARE MODERATELY HIGH TO HIGH. WHEN YOU ARE IN THE 90'S, YOU'VE MADE AN A, YOU ARE HIGH. WHEN YOU ARE FALLING INTO THE LOWER ATE EERX YOU ARE BEGINNING TO DROP IN THOSE RANKINGS. AND OF COURSE THIS IS THE COMMUNITY SCORE CARD ACTUAL DOCUMENT, IT SHOULD SPELL OUT MOD ODDOLOGY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AND EVERYBODY HAS BEEN HANDLED ADD COPY OF THAT.

>> YEAH. SO HOW WE'RE GOING TO ORGANIZE THE PRESENTATION FOR YOU TODAY IS BASICALLY FOR EACH DEPARTMENT WE'RE GOING TO SEGMENT EACH DEPARTMENT. SO FOR POLICE WE WILL START WITH THE KEY BENCHMARK INFORMATION. THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, THE CHIEF WILL COME UP AND GIVE YOU THEIR BUDGET PRESENTATION AND THEN WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR COUNCIL Q AND A AND THEN MOVE TO THE NEXT DEPARTMENT. FOR THE COMMUNITY SCORE CARD FOR POLICE, THERE ARE -- THERE IS AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC IN POLICE. AND SO I'M GOING TO JUST SAY UP FRONT WHAT WILL STAND OUT TO YOU IN THE SCORE CARD INFORMATION. AUSTIN HAS THE LOWEST GENERAL FUND BUDGETED EXPENDITURES PER CAPITA OF THE OTHER FOUR MAJOR TEXAS CITIES THAT WE BEJ MARKED AGAINST. SO WE'RE SPENDING LESS MONEY OUT OF GENERAL FUND ON POLICE. WE HAVE THE SECOND LOWEST RATIO OF OFFICERS PER THOUSAND IN THESE SAME BENCH MARK CITIES. I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHEN I'M MAKING THESE STATEMENTS, I'M COMPARE HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, FORT WORTH AND AUSTIN BECAUSE DALLAS ANSWERED SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, BUT DID NOT REPORT ON ALL OF THEM SO THERE'S NOT A COMPLETE COMPARISON ACROSS THE BOARD. BUT FOR HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, FORT WORTH AND AUSTIN, WE DO. SO LOWEST BUDGETED EXPENDITURES, SECOND LOWEST RATIO OF OFFICERS PER THOUSAND, AND THE HIGHEST RESPONSE TIME. NOW, THAT WOULD BE A RED FLAG TO ME ON THE FRONT END THAT WE MAY HAVE SOME ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT HERE. BUT LOOK AT WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PICTURE IN THE BENCH MARK, AND THIS IS UNUSUAL. YOU HAVE THE LOWEST VIOLENT CRIME RATE OF THOSE CITIES. OON I'LL BE GOING THROUGH EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALLY, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE OVERVIEW. YOU HAVE THE LOWEST PROPERTY CRIME RATE OF THOSE CITIES. YOU HAVE THE LOWEST TRAFFIC FATALITIES FROM THOSE CITIES. AND YOU HAVE FROM YOUR CITIZENS A REPORTED FAIRLY HIGH LEVEL OF SATISFACTION WITH SERVICES. SO WITH WHAT WE HAVE, WE ARE DEPLOYING AND UTILIZING IT IN A WAY THAT'S GETTING YOU GOOD RESULTS AND A RELATIVELY HIGH LEVEL OF SATISFACTION. THE ONLY NOTE I REALLY WANT TO MAKE ON THE EXPENDITURE CHART, WHICH IS THE FIRST CHART THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU, IS ALTHOUGH WE ARE THE LOWEST IN GENERAL FUNDED EXPENDITURES PER CAPITA, FOR HOUSTON AND SAN ANTONIO, AND HERE'S WHERE THE DATA ISN'T PERFECT. HOUSTON AND SAN ANTONIO HAVE INCLUDED THEIR MARSHAL EXPENDITURES IN THEIR BUDGET, ONE REASON THEIR BUDGET MAY BE HIGHER THAN OURS. IN AUSTIN OUR MARSHAL BUDGET IS IN MUNICIPAL COURT. THIS IS WHERE IT GETS DIFFICULT TIMES WHEN YOU ARE BENCH MARKING AGAINST OTHER CITIES THAT YOU ARE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES, BUT STILL WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST EXPENDITURES PER CAPITA. THE NEXT CHART SHOWS BASICALLY THE PRIORITY AND SATISFACTION LEVEL AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS THAT ON AVERAGE THE PRIORITY IS 87%, HIGH PRIORITY, AND IN SATISFACTION, IT'S 82% AVERAGE, A MODERATELY HIGH. THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES FOR CITIZENS WERE EMERGENCY POLICE RESPONSE AND 911. THE LOWEST BEING [INAUDIBLE] ENFORCEMENT. UNDER THE LARGEST AREA FOR IMPROVEMENT IS COOPERATION OF POLICE AND ADDRESSING NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS, WHICH GOT A 77%. ON YOUR NEXT SLIDE WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS HOW PEOPLE -- HOW SAFE DO PEOPLE FEEL IN AUSTIN. AND IT COMPARES, WALKING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DURING THE DAY AND WALKING AT NIGHT. WALKING DOWNTOWN DURING THE DAY AND WALKING AT NIGHT. THE PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS FEELING SAFE WALKING ALONE IN AUSTIN DURING THE DAY HAVE REMAINED HIGH. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE]. LOWEST VIOLENT CRIME RATE, THE LOWEST TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND A HIGH SENSE OF SATISFACTION BY THE CITIZENS IN OUR SERVICE. AND SO CHIEF, IF YOU WILL COME UP TO JOIN US, WE WILL GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET AND OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTION AND ANSWER WITH THE COUNCIL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AND CHIEF, I HAVE MENTIONED TO YOU THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO BE INTERESTED, WHEN MS. FUTRELL LAYS THAT OUT OF WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF OFFICERS PER THOUSAND, THAT'S WHERE -- I THINK MANY TIMES -- AND I HEARD THE WHOLE REPORT AND UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE REPORT AND WHERE THE SATISFACTION GENERALLY IS WITH THE COMMUNITY, ALSO WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF VIOLENT CRIME AND TRENDS WE'RE SEEING IN THAT REGARD, THOSE ARE VERY, VERY POSITIVE THINGS. BUT SOMETIMES -- AND I THINK IT'S TYPICALLY PEOPLE THAT JUST FIND THEMSELVES, THAT CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE CURMUDGEONS OR THEY NEED TO BE CRITICAL AND THAT'S WHAT THEY ENJOY DOING, BUT MAYBE IT'S NOT. MAYBE THAT'S AN UNFAIR STATEMENT. BUT MANY TIMES WHAT THEY SEIZE ON IS THE IDEA OF NUMBER OF POLICE PER THOUSAND AND THAT BECOMES KIND OF A SIMPLISTIC POINTED OF REFERENCE TO BANG ON EITHER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE CITY, EVEN THOUGH OTHER GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT AS PART OF WHAT YOU DO HERE TODAY YOU ADDRESS SOME OF THAT.

>> MR. MAYOR, IN FACT IT MAY BE BENEFICIAL FOR ME TO JUST DO THAT FIRST OFF.

>>MAYOR WATSON: GOOD.

>> SO I DON'T FORGET. CLEARLY, I THINK FOR DECADES THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS PER THOUSAND HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT OF A YARDSTICK FOR POLICE FUNDING, FOR PROVIDING SERVICES. BUT WE'VE LEARNED THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT YOU HAVE AS OPPOSED TO HOW YOU UTILIZE THEM. FOR INSTANCE, IN THIS BUDGET THERE -- WE'VE BEEN GIVEN A NUMBER OF CIVILIAN POSITIONS. THE HIRING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE CIVILIANIZED PROGRAMS WILL RESULT IN A SAVINGS OF 22 -- THE EQUIVALENT HOURS SAVED OF 22 OFFICERS. SO WHEN WE HIRE A CIVILIAN TO TAKE A CRIME REPORT, NON-EMERGENCY CRIME REPORT, WHEN YOU ADD UP ALL OF THE TIME THAT THEY SAVE OUR PATROL OFFICERS AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS, IT EQUATES OUT TO 22 ADDITIONAL BUDGETED -- OR NON-BUDGETED POSITIONS IN TIME. A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS ALSO UTILIZE OFFICERS IN, SAY, ANSWERING 911 TELEPHONE CALLS WHERE WE UTILIZE CIVILIANS. MANY, MANY DEPARTMENTS UTILIZE THEIR OFFICERS FOR ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE EITHER CIVILIANS DOING OR FUNDED PARKS AND RECREATION TO DO OR HEALTH SERVICES ARE DOING. AND YOU FUNDED THOSE POSITIONS AND THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB WITH THOSE. JUVENILE PREVENTION, JUVENILE COUNSELING AND WORKING WITH KIDS. SO WE COME UP EVERY YEAR, AND THIS IS MY 13TH YEAR AS CHIEF OF POLICE AND EVERY YEAR I ASK THIS QUESTION, IS THERE A MAGIC NUMBER. IN REALITY THERE IS NOT. IT IS IN REFERENCE TO HOW YOU FOCUS YOUR ORGANIZATION AND HOW YOU UTILIZE YOUR SWORN RESOURCES. AND WE BELIEVE THAT THIS BUDGET ALLOWS US TO ACHIEVE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT GOALS NEXT YEAR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. AND I DON'T MEAN TO GET YOU OFF TRACK, BUT THAT LEADS TO -- AND THAT'S VERY HELPFUL AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU VIEWS SAID. BUT ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT -- WHAT YOU JUST SAID. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I WANT TO FIGURE OUT IS WHY WE CAN SHOW GOOD NUMBERS ON DECREASED VIOLENT CRIMES AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS, WHERE WE'RE HEADED. THE ONE THING THAT WAS INDICATED IN THE INITIAL PRESENTATION WAS RESPONSE TIME. HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO NUMBER OF POLICE PER THOUSAND, IN YOUR OPINION.

>> I WOULD -- I BELIEVE OUR RESPONSE TIME IS TOO HIGH, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE TAKING -- WE'RE DOING SOME THINGS INTERNALLY THAT WILL LOWER THAT RESPONSE TIME. I WOULD BE -- I WOULD CAUTION THOSE WHO WOULD USE THAT CHART AS A YARDSTICK FOR MAKING DECISIONS, FOR INSTANCE, WE KNOW THAT IN SOME CITIES THAT SUBMIT DATA TO ICMA THAT THEY TAKE THE HIGHEST -- THE HIGHEST RESPONSE TIMES AND THEY THROW THEM OUT IN THEIR CALCULATION BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THE OFFICERS GOT TO THE SCENE, HE JUST FORGOT TO PUSH THE BUTTON TO TELL THE DISPATCHER HE IS AT THE SCENE OR IN THE EXCITEMENT FORGETS TO TELL THE DISPATCHER. IN SOME DEPARTMENTS IN CALCULATING RESPONSE TIMES, IF AN INDIVIDUAL COMES INTO TO STATION AND FILES A REPORT IN THE STATION, THEY CONSIDER THAT A ZERO RESPONSE TIME. SO YOU CAN SEE IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE LOPING OFF YOUR LONGEST RESPONSE TIMES AND YOU ALSO CONSIDER WALK-IN TRAFFIC OR TELEPHONE REPORTS AS ZERO RESPONSE TIMES, THERE IS AN ADJUSTMENT. WE BELIEVE THERE IS SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO EXPEDITE THE HANDLING OF THE CALLS AND COMMUNICATIONS. AND THE DISPATCH OF THOSE CALLS. AND OVER THE LONG RUN I THINK THAT WE'LL MAKE SOME FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN THAT RESPONSE TIME.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. THAT'S VERY HELPFUL. COUNCIL, AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS NOT PRESENT TODAY. I NEED TO STEP OFF THE DAIS FOR A MOMENT AND DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY AS I STEP OFF THE DAIS, I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER TO TAKE THE GAVEL, AT LEAST CONTRUCTIVELY OR SYMBOLICALLY AND SO I'M GOING TO DO THAT FOR JUST A MOMENT. EXCUSE ME, CHIEF. THANK YOU.

>>SLUSHER: DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE, CHIEF?

>> YES, SIR. IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT'S MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND SERVE AUSTIN'S DIVERSE COMMUNITY SO THAT THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS FEEL SAFE AND ARE SAFE. OUR VISION IS TO BE THE SAFEST CITY IN AMERICA. OUR GOALS ARE TO REDUCE THE OCCURRENCE OF VIOLENT CRIME, REDUCE THE OCCURRENCE OF PROPERTY CRIME, IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO LIVE IN AUSTIN, IMPROVE EFFICIENCY THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND IMPROVE EFFECTIVENESS AND PROFESSIONALISM THROUGH TRAINING. THOSE ARE THE SIX GOALS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. SOME OF THE KEY RESULTS BY WHICH WE'VE ASKED TO BE JUDGED BY IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REDUCING PROPERTY CRIME AND VIOLENT CRIME, WHAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO IS REDUCING THE INCIDENCES OF VIOLENT CRIME BY 5%. THAT'S MURDER, RAPE, ROBBERY AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS. WE'RE ALSO FOCUSING ON REDUCING PROPERTY CRIME BY 5%, THAT IS BURGLARY, THEFT AND AUTO THEFT. WE'VE COMMITTED OURSELVES TO WORKING WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS IN REDUCING TRAFFIC FATALITY RATE BY 8% AND REDUCING RESPONSE TIME BY 30 SECONDS. AND WE WANT TO INCREASE CITIZEN SATISFACTION IN ADDRESSING NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS BY 3%. OF COURSE, WE ALSO WANT TO ACHIEVE 100% STAFFING, WHICH WILL MAINTAIN 1.9 OFFICERS PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS. THE PROPOSED BUDGET SUMMARY HAS FOUR PARTS. WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT MAINTAINING FULL STAFFING, HAD IS 1.9 OFFICERS PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS; MAKING OFFICER DEPLOYMENT EFFECTIVE. THIS GOES BACK TO HOW YOU UTILIZE YOUR RESOURCES. ENHANCE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS. MAINTAIN FULL SWORN STAFFING. A.P.D. IN FISCAL YEAR 2000 AT 99% FULL STAFF. WE HAVE TWO CADET CLASSES SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER 2000 AND ONE CADET CLASSES THAT BEGINS IN MARCH OF 2001. SO WE WILL HAVE THREE CADET CLASSES THIS BUDGET YEAR. FULL STAFFING FOR POSITIONS ADDED IN THIS -- NEXT FISCAL YEAR WILL BE ACHIEVED BY SEPTEMBER 2001. I MIGHT ADD THAT ONE OF THOSE THREE CADET CLASSES WILL BE WHAT WE CALL A MODIFIED CLASS WHERE WE'LL BE HIRING EXPERIENCED POLICE OFFICERS WHO WANT TO COME TO AUSTIN. MAINTAIN 1.9 OFFICERS PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS. IN THIS BUDGET WE'RE ADDING 26 SWORN POSITIONS AND WE'RE REDEPLOYING FROM NON-ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS TO ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS, EIGHT ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS. THOSE WILL BE ASSIGNED AS FOLLOWS. STREET RESPONSE WILL -- THERE WILL BE 14 OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO THOSE. AS YOU KNOW, CENTRAL WEST DID NOT HAVE A STREET RESPONSE TEAM. THEY WILL BE RECEIVING ONE. WE'LL ALSO BE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO STREET RESPONSE IN CENTRAL, EAST AND SOUTHEAST. THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAM, THE DISTRICT REPS ARE ASSIGNED TO ASSIST PATROL OFFICERS IN PROBLEM SOLVING. IT HAS BEEN A WELL RECEIVED AND VERY EFFECTIVE PROGRAM. WE'LL BE ADDING TWO TO THAT PROGRAM. ONE WILL GO TO NORTHEAST, ONE -- WHICH IS THE WEED AND SEED AREA, AND ONE WILL GO TO NORTHWEST. OUR NARCOTIC ENFORCEMENT OF OUR ORGANIZED CRIME REMAINS A PRIORITY. WE WILL BE CREATING A NEW TEAM, NARCOTIC ENFORCEMENT TEAM, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE AREA COMMANDS IN DEALING WITH OPEN-AIR DRUG MARKETS AND NEIGHBORHOOD PROBLEMS. WE CONTINUE, ALTHOUGH WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE SERVING OF FELONY WARRANTS, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A BACKLOG OF APPROXIMATELY 250 FELONY WARRANTS. IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY WE WILL BE ADDING TWO INDIVIDUALS TO FUGITIVE APPREHENSION TEAM FOCUSING ON FELONY EE EE THE SERVICE OF FELONY WARRANTS. TRAFFIC CONTROL. TRAFFIC IS A HIGH PRIORITY WITH THIS DEPARTMENT. WE ARE ASSIGNING EIGHT OF THE NEW POSITIONS AND THOSE THAT ARE BEING REDEPLOYED TO TRAFFIC FUNGZ. SIX WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE MOTORS, WORKING IN THE AREA OF COMMAND AND WE'LL BE ASSIGNING TWO MOTORS TO THE HIGHWAY ENFORCEMENT TEAM. AS YOU ARE AWARE IN THIS PAST YEAR WE'VE BEEN UTILIZING THE AIRCRAFT, THE PD AIRCRAFT TO ASSIST US IN CATCHING SPEEDERS, AND WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT WE NEED TO ASSIGN MOTOR OFFICERS TO THE HIGHWAY ENFORCEMENT TEAM BECAUSE MANY OF THE SPEEDERS THAT THE AIRPLANE IS CLOCKING ARE EXCEEDING 90 TO 100 MILES PER HOUR. AND IT'S SOMETIMES VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE SEDANS TO CATCH UP TO THEM. SO WE'LL BE INCREASING THE HIGHWAY ENFORCEMENT TEAM BY TWO AND THOSE WILL BE TWO MOTORS. VIOLENT CRIME HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FOCUS AND IT REMAINS ONE OF OUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES. WE WANT TO INSTITUTE HOMICIDE COLD CASE TEAM WHICH WILL REQUIRE TWO ADDITIONAL DETECTIVES. TECHNOLOGY HAS COME TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN NOW SUCCESSFULLY, WE BELIEVE, PROSECUTE MANY OF THE UNSOLVED HOMICIDES. WE ALSO HAVE SEEN A SURGE IN ROBBERIES. WE THINK THAT THAT SURGE HAS BEEN DENTED SOMEWHAT BY THE RECENT ARRESTS OF A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS. HOWEVER, WE ALSO SEE THE NEED TO ADD ONE MORE ROBBERY INVESTIGATOR TO CENTRAL INVESTIGATIONS. MAKING OFFICER DEPLOYMENT EFFECTIVE. WHAT WE ARE PROPOSED, GRANT FUNDED INITIATIVE RETURNS EIGHT OFFICERS TO CRIME FIGHTING INITIATIVES BY USING NON-SWORN PERSONNEL FOR FUNCTIONS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE POLICE AUTHORITY. WE ARE LOOKING AT A PLAN THAT WOULD RETURN SIX OFFICERS CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO RECRUITING TO ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS. CIVILIZING THE ABANDON VEHICLE UNIT, ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS, AND ALSO THE ALARM UNIT. CONTINUING WITH MAKING OFFICER DEPLOYMENT EFFECTIVE, THIS BUDGET CONTAINS 35 NON-SWORN POSITIONS WHICH WILL BE APPLIED TO TASKS THAT WILL FREE UP OFFICERS. AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, THE HIRING OF THESE 35 INDIVIDUALS WILL INCREASE OUR EFFICIENCY AND OPERATION, BUT ALSO FREE UP THE EQUIVALENT TIME OF 22 POLICE OFFICERS. IT'S LIKE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 22 POLICE OFFICERS BY DEPLOYING THESE 35. WE'LL BE ADDING 10 PEOPLE TO THE 911 CENTER. OUR FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION TECHNICIANS, TO IMPROVE OUR SUPPORT FOR DETECTIVES AND SOLVING CRIME, WE'LL BE ADDING FIVE. THE FIELD REPORT WRITING UNIT, THESE ARE CIVILIAN CRIME SCENE TASKS THAT WE HAVE IN -- TECHS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE DISPATCHED TO NON-EMERGENCY, GENERALLY PROPERTY CRIME TO HANDLE REPORTS AND COLLECT EVIDENCE. CORRECTION OFFICERS, WE'LL BE ADDING NINE. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE FACE IS DURING PERIODS OF THE DAY AN OFFICER MAKING AN ARREST IN NORTH AUSTIN HAS TO TRAVEL ALL THE WAY TO THE CENTRAL BOOKING FACILITY AND BOOK HIS PRISONER. OUR HOPE IS THE NINE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WILL ALLOW US TO SAVE APPROXIMATELY 15,000 PATROL HOURS BY PICKING UP THOSE ARRESTIES AND TRANSPORTING THEM TO CENTRAL BOOKING. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE].

>> WHAT ARE THESE OTHER COMMANDS IF THEY WERE NOT ORIGINALLY --

>> YES, SIR. WHAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE THREE AREA COMMANDS IN THE EAST SUBSTATION. AND WE HAVE FUNDS TO REBUILD THAT FACILITY. SO ONE OF THE AREA COMMANDS, CENTRAL EAST, AS WE SPEAK, ARE MOVING TO THE FACILITY AT MUELLER AIRPORT. IT USED TO BE THE OLD LAW ENFORCEMENT BUILDING AT MUELLER AIRPORT THAT'S BEEN REHAND AND THEY'LL BE MOVING TO THAT LOCATION: THE TWO SOUTH AREA COMMANDS WILL BE MOVING FROM THE SPRINGDALE LOCATION TO THE SOUTH SUB IN MARCH OF NEXT YEAR TO THE SOUTH FACILITY. THAT WILL ALLOW US TO LEVEL THAT FACILITY AND BEGIN CONSTRUCTING A CRIME LAB AND CENTRAL EAST POLICE FACILITY THAT'S DESIGNED TO BE A MOVE OPEN FACILITY IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR COMMUNITY POLICING PHILOSOPHY.

>>ALVAREZ: AND SO THESE THREE OTHER -- I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DOES THE AREA COMMAND CORRELATE TO THE OTHER SECTORS.

>> THOSE ARE OLD SECTORS ACTUALLY. YOU COULD EQUATE CHARLIE SECTOR TO WHAT IS NOW CALLED CENTRAL EAST.

>>ALVAREZ: AND THAT'S ONE COMMAND?

>> THAT IS ONE COMMAND. AND THAT HAS ABOUT 200 PLUS SWORN AND ABOUT TWO DOZEN CIVILIANS ASSIGNED TO IT. SO MAYBE WHEN YOU GET IN THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE PART TIME, ABOUT 250 PEOPLE PER AREA COMMAND, GENERALLY SPEAKING.

>>ALVAREZ:. OKAY. BUT THIS IS WHERE ALL THREE COMMANDS HAVE BEEN LOCATED, YOU KNOW, FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME? WAS THERE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED THAT PUT THESE OTHER COMMANDS IN THAT SUBSTATION, I GUESS?

>> IN 1998 WHEN WE DECENTRALIZED INTO THE SIX AREA COMMANDS, WE KNEW THAT THE SOUTH SUBSTATION WAS ON SCHEDULE GOING TO BE BUILT. SO WE PRIDE ALL THREE AREA -- COMBINED ALL THREE AREA COMMANDS INTO WHAT YOU MIGHT REMEMBER AS CHARLIE SECTOR OPERATING OUT OF. SO WE PUT THEM OWL IN THERE FOR ABOUT A YEAR, A YEAR AND A HALF, KNOWING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO OUT SOURCE THOSE WHEN THE SOUTH SUB WAS CONSTRUCTED AND FINISH AND WHEN WE GOT THE BUILDING AT MUELLER.

>>ALVAREZ: OKAY. I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I NOTICED IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE BUDGET. THE OTHER THING HAS TO DO WITH THE POSITIONS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO ADD TO THE DEPARTMENT BOTH SWORN AND NON-SWORN. AND WE HAVE THIS I GUESS STANDARD WE'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN, WHICH IS THE 1.9 SWORN OFFICERS PER THOUSAND POPULATION. IS THAT WHAT 26 NEW OFFICERS GETS US TO, 1.9, OR DOES IT GET US TO A HIGHER STANDARD?

>> NO. USING POPULATION FIGURES FROM CITY HALL, THE 26 OFFICERS WILL ALLOW US TO MAINTAIN THE 1.9.

>>ALVAREZ: OKAY. SO IT WOULDN'T PUT US ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT TARGET THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE?

>> CORRECT.

>> WELL, WITH ONE CAVEAT. IT DOESN'T IN TERMS OF RAW OFFICERS, BUT IF YOU HEARD ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE CIVILIAN OFFICERS ON THE STREET AND GIVE YOU THE EQUIVALENT HOURS OF 22 OFFICERS. SO ALTHOUGH THIS BUDGET KEEPS YOU AT THE 1.9, IT GIVES YOU MORE PERSONS PER OFFICERS ON THE STREET.

>>ALVAREZ: I UNDERSTAND THE DISTINCTION, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO GET TO NEXT, WHICH IS I KNOW WE'RE FREEING UP SOME -- SOME ADDITIONAL OFFICERS INTO THIS GRANT PROGRAM, CIVILIZATION, IS IT? AND THROUGH ADDING ON -- PROPOSING TO ADD ON 35 NON-SWORN POSITIONS, AND THAT'S WHERE THE 22 ADDITIONAL OFFICERS WOULD BE FREED UP THERE. I GUESS WHAT I'M WONDERING IS DO WE HAVE A GOAL IN TERMS OF HOW MANY OF THESE OFFICERS WE'RE TRYING TO FREE UP AND THEN WHERE DOES ADDING ALL OF THESE ADDITIONAL -- NOT ADDING THEM, BUT TRANSFERRING THESE SWORN OFFICERS SO THEY CAN DO ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES, PUT IT IN TERMS OF THAT GOAL? WAS THERE A NATIONAL STANDARD THAT SAYS YOU SHOULD HAVE SO MANY NON-SWORN FTE'S AND SO MANY SWORN OFFICERS?

>> NO, THERE REALLY ISN'T. WHAT WE DO, COUNCILMEMBER, IS THAT EACH BUDGET YEAR WE LOOK THROUGH OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AND WE DETERMINE WHAT POSITIONS WE HAVE SWORN OFFICERS IN THAT WE COULD EITHER ELIMINATE THE TASKS OR CIVIL EYES THEM WITH AN EXISTING PERSON OR TRY TO GET AN ADDITIONAL PERSON IN OR CIVILIAN IN THE BUDGET. THE BENEFITS OF THAT ARE CLEARLY THAT IT TAKES A YEAR FOR US TO HIRE AND TRAIN A POLICE OFFICER AND THEN THERE'S CONTINUED TRAINING, SO EVERY POSITION THAT WE CAN BRING INTO AN ENFORCEMENT POSTURE AND HIRE A CIVILIAN AT LESS COST, LESS TRAINING NEEDS, IS AN ADVANTAGE FOR THE CITY. SO EVERY YEAR WE DO THAT. AND THIS YEAR WE'VE IDENTIFIED FAIRLY DRAMATICALLY EIGHT POSITIONS. THESE POSITIONS ARE -- HAVE BEEN HELD BY SWORN OFFICERS FOR DECADES AND SO IT IS A DRAMATIC SHIFT IN THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT HOW TO DO OUR JOB.

>> THIS IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL STANDARD, SO THIS DOESN'T GET YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, BUT ICMA REPORTS, SMALL CITIES, LARGE CITIES ALIKE AVERAGES IS OUT SO THE AVERAGE OF ALL REPORTING ENTITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THROUGH THE PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT PROJECT IS 1.84 PER NOUS. BUT IN THERE ARE SMALL CITIES, LARGE CITIES, CITIES WAY LOWER THAN THAT AND HIGHER THAN THAT, SO IT DOESN'T REALLY GET YOU TO A PROFESSIONAL STANDARD.

>>ALVAREZ: OKAY. AND I'M JUST -- AGAIN, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE NATIONAL STANDARDS IN ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS WLRX IT BE POLICE, FIRE, E.M.S., AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING AGAIN IF WE HAVE A GOAL IN TERMS OF THIS TRANSITION WE'RE ABOUT TO MAKE OF FREEING UP SOME ADDITIONAL OFFICERS SO THAT THEY'RE INTO THE ENFORCEMENT AREA AND ALSO TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE OTHER GOALS OR THE OTHER AREAS WHERE WE MIGHTLESS WANT TO BE IMPROVING OR INCREASING OUR ABILITY TO MEET THOSE NATIONAL STANDARDS AS WELL. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD COME UP WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SOME KIND OF TARGET FOR WHAT -- SO THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS WE WANT TO FREE UP THROUGH CIVILIZATION -- CIVILIANIZATION. SO IT SORT OF RELATES TO THE ISSUE OF INTOOK TO GO A CERTAIN DEGREE BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A DELAY IN OUR ABILITY TO USE THE NEW FACILITY. AGAIN, THAT'S A DECISION THAT HAS YET TO BE MADE, BUT I KNOW THAT PUTS A STRAIN ON OUR CURRENT OPERATION IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADMINISTER THE CENTRAL BOOKING FACILITY IN THE CURRENT LOCATION. SO I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK AND IF THAT HAS ANY BUDGET -- ANY BUDGETED RAMIFICATIONS.

>> I'LL LET THE ASSISTANT CHIEF MIKE MCDONALD RESPOND. HE'S WORKING ON THAT PROJECT.

>> GOOD MORNING. CURRENTLY WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE COUNTY TO DISCUSS THE TRANSITION GOING TO THE NEW FACILITY. THE LAST REPORT IS WE FELT THAT THE FACILITY WOULD BE READY IN EARLY DECEMBER OR INTO EARLY JANUARY. IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS JUST MAINTAINING OPERATIONS. SO IF WE WERE -- IF COUNCIL WAS TO MAKE THIS DECISION THAT WE WERE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE COUNTY, WE DON'T LOOK FOR ANY INTERRUPTION OR ANY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE OR ANY TIME ADDED TO THIS -- THE OFFICERS' RESPONSIBILITY OR IMPACT THEM IN ANY WAY IN TERMS OF THE WAY THEY PROCESS ARRESTEES. AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE LOOK LOOKING FOR NOW REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE COUNTY OPENS THE FACILITY IS IF COUNCIL MAKES THE DECISION THAT WE GO FORWARD AND THERE'S NO INTERRUPTION THAT WE MAKE A DECISION PRIOR TO THEIR ACTUALLY MOVING INTO THE PHYSICAL FACILITY.

>>.

>>ALVAREZ: MY QUESTION IS NOT -- WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THAT DECISION EVENTUALLY, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT DECISION, BUT IN THE MEANTIME WHILE WE'RE STILL -- MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE MOVING OVER TO THAT FACILITY AT SOME POINT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADMINISTER THE BOOKING THERE AT THE CURRENT SITE, SO I'M ON DERING HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK. ARE WE GOING TO DO IT OURSELVES, ARE WE GOING TO CONTRACT IT OUT?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE DECISION. I THINK IN TWO WEEKS YOU WILL HAVE -- AT LEAST I'M TOLD BY THE 31ST WE WILL BE READY TO HAVE THE CONTRACT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN US AND THE COUNTY FOR US TO BASICALLY AS A BOOKING FACILITY AT THE FACILITY THAT'S BEING BUILT. THE MONEY IN THE BUNLT IS AVAILABLE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ENTER INTO THAT AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY, THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR PHYSICAL YEAR 01. IF THE DECISION WERE TO BE MADE TO GO TO A DIFFERENT SITE, WE WOULD HAVE TO ASSESS WHAT THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THAT, WE NEED TO ADD ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THE BUDGET TO DO THAT. OUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO MOVE TO THE FACILITY AT THE COUNTY, THE NEW FACILITY. WE'LL HAVE THAT IN TWO WEEKS. I THINK WE'VE HAMMERED OUT THE AGREEMENT, SOMETHING THAT WE THINK IS ACCEPTABLE AND FAVORABLE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

>>ALVAREZ: OKAY. THANK YOU. AND ONE LAST THING RELATES TO THE WORK OF THE POLICE OVERSIGHT FOCUS GROUP AND SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THAT. AND I WAS JUST WONDERING ABOUT I GUESS FUNDING FOR I GUESS CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE FACILITIES. I GUESS THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THAT ADVISORY BOARD AND ALSO THE POLICE AUDITOR, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS RECOMMENDED IN THE REPORT AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVEN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT THROUGH MEET AND CONFER, BUT IT SEEMS IT'S MORE PRACTICAL TO ME AS WE -- IF WE PUT THEM IN THERE ANTICIPATING THAT THEY MAY BE BACK, AND THEN IF THEY DON'T GET APPROVED, THEN TAKE THEM OUT AS OPPOSED TO NOT PUTTING THEM IN THE BUDGET ANLD THEN LATER IF WE DO COME TO SOME AGREEMENT ON THESE ISSUES TRYING TO SQUEEZE THEM IN SOMEHOW. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE DO? IS THERE A USUAL WAY WE HANDLE THESE KIND OF THINGS?

>> THIS IS A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL IN THAT IT HASN'T HIT THE OTHER MEET AND CONFER PROCESSES QUITE THE SAME, BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WE WERE INTENDING TO DO. WHEN WE BRING BACK A NEGOTIATED CONTRACT TO THE CITY COUNCILL, THERE WILL BE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. THERE WILL BE COSTS TO THE WORKFORCE, TO THE LABOR SIDE, AND THERE MAY BE SOME COSTS OF IMPLEMENTING SOME PROGRAMS. AND SO ONCE WE KNOW WHAT ALL OF THAT IT IS AND IT IS COSTED OUT, WE WOULD BRING THAT ENTIRE PACKAGE TO YOU WITH COSTS AND A WAY TO FUND THEM. SO THE DILEMMA IN TRYING TO PUT SOMETHING IN NOW WHEN COUNCIL GAVE US THE INSTRUCTIONS TO GO TAKE OVERSIGHT INTO MEET AND CONFER IS THAT WE WOULD BE JUMPING AHEAD BEFORE WE HAD GOT TONE WHAT THAT FINAL PROCESS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND WHAT IT WOULD COST. SO RIGHT NOW IT'S INTENDED TO COME BACK TO YOU IN WHOLE WITH THE ENTIRE MEET AND CONFER COUNTY WITH COSTS ASSOCIATE WD IT. AND YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT FUNDED IN THE BUDGET NOW.

>>ALVAREZ: AND IT JUST STRUCK ME BECAUSE WE ARE PROPOSING TO ADD 26 NEW OFFICERS, 35 NON-SWORN FTE'S AND ADDING A POLICE AUDITOR. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT -- IN TERMS OF THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT OR INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING, IT DOES SEEM LIKE IT WOULD HAVE THAT BIG OF AN IMPACT. BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IN TERMS OF JUMPING AHEAD.

>> I GUESS ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS WHILE WE WERE IN THE HEAT OF NEGOTIATIONS TO JUMP AHEAD AND FUND SOMETHING THAT HASN'T COME OUT YET ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE'VE TRIED TO KEEP THE BARGAINING TABLES SORT OF OPEN FOR HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING YOU THE WHOLE PACKAGE TOGETHER WITH THE COSTS. BUT CERTAINLY WE CAN LISTEN TO YOU IF THERE'S A DIFFERENT WAY YOU WANT TO APPROACH IT.

>> WELL, THAT'S --

>>ALVAREZ: WELL, THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS. THERE'S A LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

>>SLUSHER: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

>>WYNN: THANK YOU. THESE REPORTS ARE HELPFUL. DO WE TRACK THE AVERAGE AGE OR TENURE OR TURNOVER OF OUR OFFICERS?

>> YES, WE DO.

>>WYNN: AND IS THERE -- WHAT DO THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE? ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT IT, SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT?

>> NO. I COULD PROBABLY ILLUSTRATE IT BEST, IN THE PAST TWO YEARS WE'VE ANTICIPATED, I BELIEVE, 40 RETIREMENT. IN NEITHER OF THOSE YEARS HAVE WE ACTUALLY HAD A TOTAL OF 40 RETIREMENTS. OF COURSE, THAT'S ONLY ONE WAY A PERSON LEAVES THE DEPARTMENT. WE DO HAVE ON OCCASIONS PEOPLE THAT DETERMINE THAT THEY WANT TO CHANGE THEIR LIFE-STYLE AND THEY'LL LEAVE, BUT THE TURNOVER RATE IN THE DEPARTMENT, I CAN'T GIVE IT TO YOU OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. IT IS NOT A CONCERN AT THIS POINT. QUARTERBACK.

>>WYNN: I HAVE HEARD COMMENTS ABOUT THE LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE OR AS WE TRIED TO MAINTAIN A FORCE IN A TIGHTENING LABOR MARKET, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE LEVEL, FRANKLY, OF THE OFFICERS.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S A CONCERN FOR US ALSO. I CAN RECALL WHERE AN ASSISTANT CHIEF WENT TO ONE OF THE BRIEFINGS AND THERE WAS ABOUT 18 OR 19 OFFICERS THERE. AND HE ASKED HOW MANY OF THOSE UNIFORMED PAROLE OFFICERS WERE -- PATROL OFFICERS WERE BEAT OFFICERS AND ONE HAND WENT UP. THEY ALL HAD LESS THAN FIVE YEARS. WE KNOW THAT YOUNG INEXPERIENCED OFFICERS SOMETIMES MAKE MISTAKES, NEED MORE SUPERVISION AND NEED TRAINING. IF YOU REMEMBER BACK EVEN BEFORE I CAME IN 1997, THE CITY COMMITTED ITSELF TO INCREASING THE SIZE OF ITS FORCE. AND SO AS A RESULT OF THAT AND NOT NECESSARILY AS A RESULT OF RETIREMENT AND PEOPLE LEAVING, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST TWO AND A HALF THREE YEARS, THE EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF OFFICERS ON THE FORCE HAVE LED TO THIS POOL OF OFFICERS, UNIFORMED PATROL OFFICERS THAT DO NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT -- AND BY SIGNIFICANT, OVER FIVE YEARS -- BECAUSE, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN YOU CHRIS THE NUMBER OF DETECTIVES, THOSE ARE -- INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DETECTIVES, THOSE ARE PROMOTED OUT OF PATROL INTO DETECTIVES AND THOSE ARE USUALLY YOUR MORE EXPERIENCED OFFICERS. AND WE ARE LOOKING AT SEVERAL WAYS THROUGH MEET AND CONFER THAT WILL ENCOURAGE OFFICERS TO REMAIN IN PATROL, WHICH BEARS ABOUT 75% OF OUR EFFORTS IN CRIME FIGHTING AND ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF OUR EFFORTS IN CRIME SOLVING. SO IT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE BACK IN PATROL.

>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THAT IN THE MEET AND CONFER DISCUSSIONS THAT HOW DO YOU HAVE A CAREER PATH THAT LET'S SOMEONE KAY STAI IN PATROL AND MOVE SO WE CAN KEEP SOME MATURITY IN PATROL.

>>WYNN: I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO SEE THOSE STATISTICS, WHATEVER WE HAVE AS FAR AS TRACKING TURNOVER, TENURE, ETCETERA. THEN LASTLY, WITH THE THREE CLASSES THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED, TWO CAD DAT CLASSES IN OCTOBER AND ONE IN MARCH, I BELIEVE IT WAS, ARE WE PLEASED WITH THE RECRUITING TO FILL THOSE CLASSES? ARE THE CLASSES FULL, IF YOU WILL? AND HOW -- WHAT'S OUR PROCESS AND WHAT'S OUR PLAN TO JUST MAKE THOSE RECRUITS -- MAKE SURE THE RECRUITS ARE HIGH QUALIFIED AS POSSIBLE?

>> BOOKS ARE BEING WRITTEN BY POLICE RECRUITING NOW. WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY THAT HAS FULL EMPLOYMENT WHEN IT DROPS AS LOW AS IT IS. SO WE'RE COMPETING AND THE COMPETITION IS INTENSE. PLUS WE SET SOME RATHER HIGH GOALS AS FAR AS WOMEN AND MINORITY RECRUITMENTS. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEET MY EXPECTATIONS AS FAR AS CLASS SIZE. THE ONLY CURRENT PROBLEM THAT WE'RE RUNNING INTO IS ENCOURAGING EXPERIENCED POLICE OFFICERS TO COME TO AUSTIN. WE HAVE ONE CLASS OF WHAT WE CALLED MODIFIED CLASS FOR EXPERIENCED POLICE OFFICERS. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SOME THINGS IN MEET AND CONFER THAT WILL ENHANCE OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS. WE ALSO -- WE'RE ALSO CONSTANTLY STREAMLINING OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS, LOOKING AT THE STATISTICS. ARE WE GOING TO PLACES WHERE WE ACTUALLY RECRUIT PEOPLE? OR IS IT A WASTE OF TIME FOR OUR RECRUITERS? AND SO WE ARE TRULY BEGINNING -- AND I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME THINGS THAT WILL BE APPROVED IN THE MEET AND CONFER PROCESS, AS WELL AS SOME CHANGES THAT WILL ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO BRING PEOPLE ON TO THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> AS PART OF MEET AND CONFER WE TAKE A LOOK CLOSELY AT MARKET AND WE DO THAT RANK BY RANK, MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM. SO ONE OF THE HOT SPOTS IN MARKETS RIGHT NOW IS ENTRY LEVEL POLICE OFFICERS. SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT AND BRINGING BACK TO YOU IN ORDER TO BE COMPETITIVE. IT'S PARTICULARLY ON A MINIMUM AT THE ENTRY LEVEL.

>>WYNN: YOU KNOW --

>> I WOULD MAKE ONE POINT. AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS TO BE SOME MODIFICATION. WE HAVE, I THINK, DEVELOPED A PLAN THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT NEXT YEAR. IT'S GETTING BETTER, GETTING MORE PEOPLE TO COME AND APPLY AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY MINORITY FOLKS, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT HOW WE TRAIN THOSE THAT COME. AND I THINK THAT GOES HAND IN HAND. SO I SOMETIMES REMIND MY STAFF THAT A SCHOOL TEACHER STARTS OUT AT LESS THAN 30,000 AND IN ESSENCE A FOUR AND A HALF YEAR DEGREE BY THE TIME THEY GO THROUGH TEACHER TRAINING. THEY JOIN BECAUSE THEY WANT TO WORK WITH KIDS AND THEY WANT TO HELP KIDS. THE MILITARY STARTS YOU OUT AT -- I KNOW IT WAS ABOUT $35 WHEN I JOINED IT, BUT THEY GET PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY THAT -- WANT TO BELONG TO THAT ORGANIZATION. SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT IN A LOT OF DEPARTMENT -- AND A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING THIS NATIONWIDE, A GOOD LOOK AT HOW WE GO OVER RECRUITS, HOW WE CAN BRING THEM ABOARD,. AND CERTAINLY PAY IS ONE OF THE ISSUES, BUT I ALSO THINK THERE'S FILLING -- FEELING THAT YOU BELONG TO SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY SPECIAL. AND I THINK THE MILITARY DOES A GREAT JOB AT THAT AND I THINK THE TEACH PROFESSION SOME PROFESSIONS THAT DON'T PAY REALLY WELL DOES A GOOD JOB. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT WHOLE SCENARIO.

>> JUST AS A NOTE, OVER THE YEARS THE POLICE DIVERSITY IN RECRUITING AND IN THEIR RANKS HAS BEEN A REAL SUCCESS STORY. I'M VERY PROUD OF THOSE NUMBERS.

>>WYNN: THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

>>THOMAS: I WANT TO COMMEND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR PRESENTATION AND EXCELLENT JOB THAT THEY'RE DOING. ONE QUESTION. ON THE COMMUNITY RECONCILIATION, I SEE THAT YOU DID PUT POLICE OVERSIGHT AT 20,000. ARE YOU ESTIMATING WHAT THAT MIGHT COST AS FAR AS FUNDING?

>> THAT SLIDE DEPICTS THE COST OF THE CAMERAS AND THE TAPES AND THE STORAGE FACILITY, AND THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 620 THOUSAND. WE DID NOT HAVE A NUMBER FOR THE OVERSIGHT WHICH WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO COUNCIL AT A LATER DATE.

>>THOMAS: OKAY. THANK YOU.

>>SLUSHER: I HAVE A QUESTION. YES, CHIEF, REALLY I HAVE TO SEE THE OFFICERS ADDED ON THE TRAFFIC SAFETY. WE ALL KNOW THAT'S A PRIORITY. AND THERE HAS BEEN QUITE A BIT ON IMPROVEMENT IN THE TRAFFIC FATALITY RATE HAS GONE DOWN. I KNOW THAT WAS ONE OF YOUR CONCERNS WHEN YOU FIRST GOT HERE, THE PEOPLE BLASTING BY YOU ON MOPAC AND RUNNING RED LIGHTS. IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME THERE'S ALSO BEEN A DECREASE IN RED LIGHT RUNNING. THAT'S JUST FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE. IS THERE ANY WAY TO QUANTIFY THAT OR KNOW IF THAT'S THE CASE?

>> I CAN TAKE A LOOK AT OUR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AND DETERMINE WHAT THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AS FAR AS RUNNING RED LIGHTS, WHERE THAT RANKS AND THE COST OF THE TRAFFIC COLLISION, I CAN GET BACK WITH THOSE STATISTICS TO YOU.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SEE THAT ON TAILGATING. I KEEP BRINGING THAT UP. AS FAR AS OUR DRIVERS AROUND TOWN, I HADN'T SEEN A DROP IN THAT BY MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. I WAS WONDERING -- I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEW OFFICERS THAT ARE GETTING ADDED FOR TRAFFIC WON'T JUST BE FOCUSED ON SPEEDING, BUT HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT THE OVERALL AGGRESSIVE DRIVING AND TRAFFIC SAFETY.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID BEGINNING LAST YEAR AND IT HAS CONTINUED INTO THIS YEAR IS TO UTILIZE THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL IN OFF-RUSH HOUR, PICKING ON THOSE FOLKS THAT WANT TO DRIVE NOT ONLY AT HIGH SPEEDS, BUT ALSO DRIVE RECKLESSLY AT HIGH SPEEDS. AND OUR EFFORTS IN JULY, WE I SHOULD BE 8,000 CITATIONS WITH THAT PROGRAM -- WE I SHOULD BE 8,000 CITATIONS IN THAT PROGRAM. AND WE MADE A NUMBER OF ARRESTS FOR WHAT WE CALL DRIVING STUPIDLY, BUT EXACTLY WHAT YOU MENTIONED. E?z CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON IT AND WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT IT IN THE PRESS AND YOU PLAN ON GOING TO SCHOOL AND TALK ABOUT IT TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. AND WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO GET COLLEGES TOGETHER SO THAT THEY WILL TALK TO THEIR STUDENTS ABOUT IT. BUT IT IS A PROBLEM AND ISSUING CITATIONS IS NOT THE ONLY ANSWER. IT'S A BIG IMPORTANT ANSWER FOR US, BUT THERE IS ALSO EDUCATION AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN THAT.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT, BOTH THE OVERALL APPROACH AND THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND THE WIDER APPROACH IN TRYING TO EDUCATE FOLKS AND JUST REMIND PEOPLE ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS RECKLESS DRIVING CAN BE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER. CHIEF JUST PROVIDED US A REPORT, LET ME GET THAT REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCILL THAT DOCUMENTS SOME OF THE -- NUMBER OF CITATIONS AND THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS WE MADE. AND THE PLANE IS CALLED, JUST FOR REFERENCE, APD 1. AND YOU'VE ALSO GOT A NUMBER OF DANGEROUS SEMI TRAILER TRUCKS OFF THE ROAD AS A RESULT OF THAT PROGRAM?

>> I THINK WE STOPPED ALMOST 200 FUKZ, WHICH -- FUKZ, WHICH NEARLY 50% WERE NOT ALLOWED TO MOVE AFTER WE STOPPED THEM BECAUSE OF HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS ON THE TRUCK.

>>SLUSHER: 50%?

>> NEARLY 50%.

>>SLUSHER: SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S AN INCREASE IN SAFETY, BUT IT'S ALSO RATHER DISTURBING TO THINK THAT THERE WERE THAT MANY TRUCKS ROLLING THROUGH TOWN THAT DON'T MEET THE SAFETY STANDARDS.

>> AND BY THE END OF THE MONTH THE NUMBER OF TRUCKS WE WERE RED LINING HAD BEEN REDUCED TO ALMOST ZERO. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THOSE BAD TRUCKERS WEREN'T TO, BUT THEY CERTAINLY WEREN'T DRIVING THROUGH CONSTITUENT. AND ADD TO GO THAT IS THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH THE TRUCKING ASSOCIATION THROUGH -- TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS THROUGH ENFORCEMENT, OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORT. SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM, INSPECTING SOME OF THE TRUCKS AND TEACHING THEIR OWN TRUCKS HOW TO INSPECT THEIR TRUCKS. SO OVERALL I THINK THAT AUSTIN HAS ESTABLISHED A REPUTATION AMONG THOSE WHO DRIVE UNSAFE TRUCKS THAT WE DO IN FACT ENFORCE THE LAW HERE AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THAT.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHIEF.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE TO FIRE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: CHIEF, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO FOR US.

>> THE VERY FIRST SLIDE THAT YOU WILL SEE UP THERE ON THE SCORE CARD IS GOING TO BE A COMBINED FIRE AND E.M.S. STATISTICS. AFTER THAT I WILL MOVE ON TO -- TO FIRE SEPARATELY. THE REASON IS THAT AUSTIN HAS A SEPARATE FIRE AND E.M.S. SERVICE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: CAN I SPRUPT YOU REAL QUICK? YOU PROBABLY DID THAT, BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE FOR PURPOSES OF THE COMMUNITY THAT'S LISTENING, WE JUST HAD THE BRIEFING ON POLICE. AND IN THE SCORE CARD ON POLICE, IT INDICATED THAT IT WAS A PRIORITY OF THE PUBLIC WITH THE NUMBER 87. AND IT INDICATED SATISFACTION BY THE PUBLIC WITH AN 82.

>> YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SO IF YOU GO BACK TO WHERE YOU SFARTED EARLIER TODAY, IT INDICATES THAT THIS IS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY, IN FACT, THE ONLY ONE HARANGUED HIGHER THAN POLICE WAS THE FIRE -- THAT RANKED HIGHER THAN POLICE WAS THE FIRE AND E.M.S. IN TERMS OF PRIORITY. AND IT ALSO INDICATES WHEN YOU LOOK -- YOU PLAY WITH GAPS THERE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT WOULD BE RED FLAGGED. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PRIORITY RANKING AND THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RANKING IS A NEGATIVE FIVE, WHICH INDICATES THERE'S ROOM TO WORK. BUT --

>> BUT VERY CLOSE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: BUT VERY CLOSE. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THIS NEXT PART, AND YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS, BUT FIRE AND E.M.S. HAD A PRIORITY RANKING OF 91, WHICH WAS THE HIGHEST. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT FIRE, E.M.S. AND POLICE, PUBLIC SAFETY REALLY DID RANK THE HIGHEST. AND, OF COURSE, HEALTH ALSO HAD AN 87. SO IT'S UP THERE TOO, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECTS OF THAT.

>> JUST LIKE YOU WOULD EXPECT, PUBLIC SAFETY RANKS HIGH AS A PRIORITY IN COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WHAT IS THE GOOD NEWS HERE IS THAT WE ALSO HAVE A HIGH SATISFACTION RATING IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARENA. THAT'S THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR SCORE CARD. SO MOVING ON TO FIRE, YOUR FIRST STATISTIC THAT I HAVE UP THERE FOR YOU ON THE SCORE DARD IS GOING TO BE A COMBINED FIRE AN E.M.S. NUMBER. AND ONCE AGAIN LET ME EXPLAIN THAT OUR SYSTEM IS SEPARATE, WE HAVE SEPARATE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SEPARATE E.M.S. SERVICES, THE CITIES, HOWEVER, WE WERE BEING BENCHMARKED AGAINST IN OUR SCORE CARD INITIATIVES HAVE INTIEND FIRE AND E.M.S. SERVICES. SO ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO BREAK OUT THE SCORES ON MOST OF THE OTHER AREAS, WITH ONE PROBLEM AREA WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER, JUST FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES, THE FIRST CHART SHOWS YOU THAT AUSTIN HAS THE HIGHEST GENERAL FUND BUDGETED EXPENDITURE PER CAPITA FOR COMBINED FIRE AND E.M.S. SERVICES OF THE OTHER FOUR MAJOR TEXAS CITIES THAT WERE THAT WERE REPORTED ON THIS. YOUR NEXT SLIDE TAKES YOU RIGHT INTO PRIORITY AND SATISFACTION. NOW, HERE'S WHERE I HAVE GONE ON AND SEPARATED OUT, UNLIKE YOUR SCORE CARD DOCUMENT, I HAVE SEPARATED OUT FIRE, BROKEN OUT INTO THREE DIFFERENT AREAS FOR PRIORITY, THE AVERAGE FIRE PRIORITY RATING WAS A 90, WITH THE HIGHEST BEING OBVIOUSLY FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES. SORT OF THE MEAT -- BREAD AND BUTTER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE SATISFACTION IS AN AVERAGE 93. SO HERE IS A SCENARIO WHERE HIGH PRIORITY, HIGH SATISFACTION AND EVEN A SATISFACTION LEVEL HIGHER THAN THE PRIORITY. SO WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB HERE. YOUR NEXT SLIDE SHOWS A KEY PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THAT IS FIRES CONTAINED TO ROOM OF ORIGIN OR BASICALLY CONTAINING THE SPREAD OF THE FIRE OUTSIDE THE ROOM IN WHICH THE FIRE STARTED. NOW, THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE A LITTLE ANOMALY, SO I WANT TO EXPLAIN IT TOUCHLT I THINK IT HAS CAUSED SOME CONFUSION. YOU WILL SEE THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S A JUMP IN THE PERCENT THAT WE BELIEVE WE CAN CONTAIN TO THE ROOM OF ORIGIN. AND THAT REALLY IS CAUSED BY TWO THINGS. ONE, AND I WANT TO GIVE THIS COUNCIL AND THE PAST COUNCIL CREDIT, ONE IS FOR THE INVESTMENT YOU'VE MADE IN NEW FIRE STATIONS. WITH THE COMPLETION OF A NEW NUMBER OF NEW FIRE STATIONS, IT HAS GIVEN US THE ABILITY TO GET MORE QUICKLY TO A SCENE AND FOR CONTAINING THE FIRE TO THE ROOM OF ORIGIN. BUT THE SECOND IS DUE TO A METHODOLOGY CHANGE. WE WERE REPORTING -- SOMETIMES I THINK WE ARE PENALIZED IN THE ICMA PERFORMANCE INITIATIVE BECAUSE WE ARE VERY BOY SCOUT IN HOW WE REPORT OUR NUMBERS. WE DON'T DROP OUT OUR HIGHS AND LOWS. WE REALLY SORT OF GIVE EVERYTHING TO THOEDZ NUMBERS AND SOMETIMES WE DO OURSELF A DISSERVICE. AND HERE IS ONE WHERE WE WERE DOING OURSELVES A DISSERVICE. WE WERE PUTTING CONTAINING THE FIRE TO THE ROOM OF ORIGIN IN THE CONTEXT OF EVERY FIRE YOU WERE RESPONDING TO, EVEN A FIRE THAT DIDN'T HAVE A ROOM OF ORIGIN, FOR EXAMPLE, A BRUSH FIRE OR A DUMPSTER FIRE. SO THE REASON YOU SEE ONE -- ONE OF THE REASONS YOU SEE THAT BIG SHIFT IS WE ARE NOW REALLY JUST GOING TO BE COMPARING THAT TO STRUCTURE FIRES, WHERE THERE IS A ROOM OF ORIGIN. YOUR NEXT SLIDE GETS YOU TO RESPONSE TIME. THE PERCENT OF CALLS WITH A RESPONSE TIME UNDER FIVE MINUTES, AND THAT'S YOUR HORIZONTAL BAR GRAPH THERE, IS THE BEST PERFORMANCE AMONG ALL OF OUR COMPARISON CITIES, AND IT IS BETTER THAN THE ICMA AVERAGE OF 70%. NOW, RESPONSE TIME IS A STRUGGLE AND RESPONSE TIME IS A STRUGGLE BECAUSE THE CALL VOLUME OF CALLS IS GOING UP. AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THAT WE'RE HOLDING RELATIVELY STABLE SOME DECREASES, BUT RELATIVELY STABLE WHEEL WE GET A FAIRLY DRAMATIC INCREASE IN NUMBER OF CALLS. SO THAT'S A GOOD PERFORM PANS PERFORMANCE CONSIDERING THE INCREASE IN CALLS. THERE'S BEEN A 42% INCREASE IN CALL VOLUME SINCE 1997. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID IN MAKING A LOOK AT THIS IS TRY TO IDENTIFY WHY THAT INCREASE IN CALL VOLUME. AND THERE'S REALLY SOME VERY INTERESTING NUMBERS HERE, AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO DO A LITTLE MORE WORK ON OVER THIS NEXT YEAR. BUT OBVIOUSLY OUR POPULATION IS GROWING. WHEN POPULATION GROWS, BECAUSE FIRES ARE FIRST RESPONDER ON MEDICAL, IE, SOMETIMES TRAFFIC INCIDENTS, TRAFFIC INCIDENTS AND RESPONSE TO THAT HAVE BEEN INCREASING. WITH THE DROUGHT YOU'VE HAD A FAIRLY DRAMATIC INCREASE IN BRUSH FIRES, 75% OVER LAST YEAR. THAT HAS REALLY BUMPED THE CALL VOLUME. MEDICAL CALLS ARE CHRISING. BUT ANOTHER ONE THAT I THOUGHT WAS VERY, VERY INTERESTING WAS WHAT THEY HAVE LABELED PUBLIC SERVICE CALLS. THESE ARE NON-EMERGENCY CITIZEN CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE THAT ARE REALLY NOT MEDICAL OR FIRE RELATED. WHERE OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS SERVING AS KIND OF YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE ASSISTANT TEAM OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT INCREASE IS 42%. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO LOOK AT OVER THIS NEXT YEAR IS WHAT MAKES UP THOSE CALLS AND WHERE ARE THOSE GAPS OUT IN THE SERVICE THAT MIGHT BE BEING PICKED UP SOMEWHERE ELSE THAN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR, COULD I ASK A QUICK QUESTION? I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT THE 3 IS 1 SERVICE THAT SOME OF THE CITIES ARE PUTTING IN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHICH IS IS AS EASY TO REMEMBER AS NINE 1-A AND IF IF YOU HAVE A CAT IN THE THREE TROOE YOU DO 311, AND IF YOU'RE HAVING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, YOU GO WITH 911. WHAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO GET THAT KIND OF SERVICE GOING IN AUSTIN?

>> I COULD HAVE SCRIPTED THAT QUESTION FOR YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING IT. ACTUALLY, 311 IS GOING TO BE STARTED THIS UPCOMING YEAR. WE HAVE APPLIED FOR A GRANT ON 311. WE SPENT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TRYING TO DESIGN AND PLAN FOR IT. CHIEF MCDONALD WITH APD IS TAKING A LEAD ON FRYING TO PUT THAT IN PLACE WECHLT HOPE IT'S GOING TO HELP US IN A VARIETY OF AREAS, NOT JUST ON OUR 911, TAKING A LOAD OUT OF OUR 911 SYSTEM, BUT I HOPE POSSIBLY WITH PUBLIC SERVICE CALLS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE LAST CHART THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU INVOLVES A NUMBER OF FIRE DEATHS PER THOUSAND AND THE TOTAL INCIDENTS PER HUNDRED THOUSAND. ON NUMBER OF FIRE DEATHS PER 100,000 IN 1999 WERE WELL BELOW THE 1998 LEVEL AND THEY ARE BELOW THE ICMA AVERAGE OF 1.121. TOTAL FIRE INCIDENTS IT IS BELOW THE AVERAGE AND THE FOURTH LOWEST AMONG OUR COMPARISON CITIES. SO JUST IN SUMMARY BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO THE CHIEF TO GIVE US OUR OVERVIEW, ONCE AGAIN IN PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU HAVE A DEPARTMENT WITH A HIGH PRIORITY, BUT ALSO A HIGH SATISFACTION LEVEL AND SOME PRETTY GOOD TREND INFORMATION. WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB HERE.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL. I'M GARY WHITE, CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I HAVE SOME PEOPLE HERE WITH ME THAT WORKED HARD ON THIS BUDGET THAT ARE HERE TO HELP ME. ONE IS JUSTIN MEYER, HE'S THE FINANCIAL MANAGER FOR THE DEPARTMENT. THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND THERESA READY, WHO IS A FINANCIAL ANALYST READY TO HELP WITH QUESTIONS. BUT I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE 2000-2001 BUDGET YEAR. IN ADDITION TO THIS OVERVIEW, THOUGH, WE DO HAVE DETAILS OF THIS BUDGET ACKNOWLEDGED THE POLICY BUDGET PAGES FROM 120 TO 126 AND VOLUME I, PAGES 381 TO 437. THE BOTTOM LINE ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS THAT THIS BUDGET PROPOSES 72.6 MILLION DOLLARS AS OPPOSED TO THIS CURRENT YEAR BUDGET, WHICH IS SIX.7 MILLION DOLLARS. -- 66.7 MILLION DOLLARS. THIS BUDGET PROPOSED THAT THERE BE 9'55 SWORN FIRE SFIETERS POSITIONS A OPPOSED TO THIS YEAR'S, WHICH HAS 937 AUTHORIZED. AND THEN WE HAVE NON-SWORN POSITIONS IN THIS BUDGET OF 128, UP SIX FROM 122 LAST YEAR. THIS DESERVES A FOOTNOTE, THOUGH. 60 OF THOSE CIVILIAN POSITIONS ARE WHAT ALLOWS US TO HIRE CIVILIAN CAD ETCETERA AND WE DO HAVE SOME EMPLOYED RIGHT NOW, BUT WHEN THERE'S NO CLASS, THEN THESE NUMBERS DROP BY 60. MY BUDGET SPRENTION DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS, EACH ONE REPRESENT -- PRESENTATION IS DECIDED INTO THREE PARTS, ONE IS GROWTH AND INCREASED DEMAND FOR SERVICE, ONE ON OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS FOR MINORITIES AND WOMEN AND THE THIRD ONE IS FOUR-PERSON, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN DETAIL LATER. ONE OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT I WANT TO SHOW AGAIN THAT COME OUT OF THE COMMUNITY SCORE CARD IS THE CHART THAT SHOWS THE AMOUNT OF GROWTH. THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES OF MY BUDGET PRESENTATION, THAT GROWTH HAS GROWN DRAMATICALLY FROM 1998 AND THE RESPONSE TIMES HAVE GONE DOWN SOME AND FLUCTUATED SOME, BUT STAYED MOSTLY LEVEL, DESPITE THE AMOUNT OF GROWTH THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING. AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I THINK THIS IS HAPPENING IS BECAUSE SINCE 1998 WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OPEN FIVE NEW FIRE STATIONS. ONE OF THEM IS OUT AT 620 AND 183, ONE IS IN HARRIS BRANCH WITH WE REOPENED A STATION THAT HAD BEEN CLOSED BECAUSE THEY HAD DN DISANNEX AND CAME BACK, ONE OUT AT ANDERSON MILL, ONE IN OAK HILL AND ONE AT FOUR POINT, WHICH IS 2222 AND 620. ADDING THESE NEW STATIONS ALLOWS US TO HAVE MORE UNITS AVAILABLE OUT ON THE PERIMETER WHERE RESPONSE TIMES ARE LONGER AND ALLOWS US TO CUT THOSE RESPONSE TIMES DOWN DRAMATICALLY. ALSO UNDER THE HEADING OF GROWTH AND INCREASED DEMAND FOR SERVICES WE HAVE A SERIES OF THINGS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET. ONE OF THEM IS FULL YEAR FUNDING FOR FIREFIGHTERS FOR STATION 40, WHICH IS THE SPICEWOOD SPRINGS STATION A COUPLE OF BLOCKS OFF 183. ALSO WE HAVE CADET FUNDING FOR 17 CADETS FOR FIRE STATION 42, WHICH IS HARRIS RIDGE, ALMOST IN PFLUGERVILLE. IT ALSO PROVIDES SOME FUNDING FOR RADIO COVERAGE WHICH WILL UPGRADE WHAT WE HAVE NOW AND KEEP US GOING UNTIL WE CAN GET THE NEW 800 TRUNKING RADIO SYSTEM ONLINE. SOME MORE ITEMS THAT ARE FEATURED IN THE BUDGET IS THE SECOND YEAR OF OUR MEET AND CONFER CONTRACT FOR WAGES AND BENEFITS ARE IN THIS BUDGET ACKNOWLEDGED IT ALSO INCLUDES SOME PAY INCREASES FOR PAID PERFORMANCE FOR OUR NON-SWORN PERSONNEL. ANOTHER MAJOR FEATURE IS WE AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS EXPERIENCING BECAUSE OF GROWTH IS EXPERIENCING YOUNGER AND YOUNGER MEMBERS THAT ARE INEXPERIENCED AND WE'RE ALSO EXPERIENCING A DROP IN FIRES, SO OUR ABILITY TO GET EXPERIENCE FROM FIGHTING FIRES IS DIMINISHING. SO ANSWER THAT WE HAVE IN THIS BUDGET TO PURCHASE A LIVE FIRE TRAINING BUILDING WITH WE HAVE A STRUCTURE WE CAN SET ON FIRE OVER AND OVER AND PUT THAT FIRE OUT TO GET THAT EXPERIENCE LEVEL BACK UP AGAIN. AND WE HAVE MONEY FOR UPDATING OUR RECRUITING TEST FOR ENTRANTS. AND OUR -- IN OUR CAPITAL BUDGET WE HAVE SOME ITEMS THAT COME UP THIS YEAR. ONE IS FOR FUND FOG A FIERND E.M.S. STATION, NUMBER 43, WHICH IS THE DEL VALLE STATION ACROSS FROM BERGSTROM AIRPORT. WE ALSO HAVE FUN MUN TO BUY THE SITE FOR THE FIRE STATION 74, WHICH WILL BE IN CIRCLE C, AND WE HAVE MONEY TO UPGRADE 11 FIRE STATIONS TO ADD WOMEN'S LOCKER FACILITIES, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE ARE SOME OF OUR STATIONS THAT ARE NOT WELL SUITED FOR WOMEN FIREFIGHTERS. AND THERE IS SOME MONEY TO BUY EQUIPMENT THAT ALLOWS US TO GET THROUGH TRAFFIC LIGHTED INTERSECTIONS QUICKER AND SAFER WITH OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES. THE SECOND ISSUE I WANT TO BRING UP IN THIS BUDGET HAS TO DID WITH OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS. AND OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS ARE POINTED MOSTLY TOWARDS TRYING TO INTEREST MINORITIES AND WOMEN INTO COMING INTO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE BIGGEST REASON IS BECAUSE, AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THE PIE CHARTS, WE ARE 81% CAUCASIAN, 5.7% AFRICAN-AMERICAN, 12.7% HISPANIC AND ABOUT ONE% OF ASIAN AND OTHER. WE ARE ALSO 94% MALE AND SIX PERCENT FEMALE. WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS, WE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THOSE PERCENTAGES. AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE HAVE SOME ITEMS IN OUR BUDGET THAT COVERS SOME INCREASED RECRUITING EFFORTS. ONE OF THESE ITEMS IS THAT WE ARE INCREASING OUR RECRUITING STAFF TO 12 FROM THE 25 THAT WE USED THIS LAST YEAR. WE'RE ALSO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF RECRUITING BLIFTS THAT WE DID ABOUT THIS TIME LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO GET 1700 CONTACTS TOGETHER AND WE ARE TRYING TO WORK THOSE NAMES AND SEE IF WE CAN INTEREST ANYONE IN COMING IN. WE HAVE A NEW CONTRACT PROVISION THAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE AN ENTRANCE EXAM THAT MORE CLOSELY MIRRORS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ENTRANCE EXAM, WHICH HAS SH SOME SUCCESS HERE LATELY. AND WE'VE ALSO GONE IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES, ONE OF THEM IS TRAVIS COUNTY EFD AROUND THE PERIMETER OF AUSTIN, WHO IS WORKING TO CERTIFY PEOPLE TO BE FIREFIGHTERS FOR THEIR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY'RE TARGETING SOME OF THE MINORITY COMMUNITIES AROUND THE SUBURBS OF AUSTIN. WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH THEM SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO RECRUIT SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE CERTIFIED, THAT ALREADY HAVE A FEEL FOR THE FIRE SERVICE. WE ALSO WANT TO TRY TO PARTNER WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WITH THEIR ROVING LEADER PROGRAM, WHICH GOES TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TRIES TO CONVINCE THEM THAT GOOD THINGS CAN HAPPEN FOR THEM IF THEY'LL STAY IN SCHOOL AND GET AN EDUCATION, AND WE'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF THAT PROGRAM AS WELL. THE THIRD PORTION OF MY PRESENTATION IS ABOUT FOUR PERSON STAFFING. AND I THINK I PROBABLY NEED TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS. IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE FOUR TO SIX PEOPLE ASSIGNED TO EVERY TRUCK, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF VACATIONS AND SICK LEAVE AND UNPLANNED ABSENCES, WE HAVE TO PICK A POINT AT WHICH WE WILL PAY OVERTIME TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN LEVEL OF STAFFING ON EACH OF THESE VEHICLES. THE POINT THAT WE HAVE PICKED IS WHEN THE UNIT GETS DOWN TO THREE, WE WILL PAY OVERTIME TO MAINTAIN THOSE THREE PEOPLE ON EACH OF THOSE TRUCKS. AND THAT'S WHAT WE CALL THREE-PERSON MINIMUM STAFFING. FOUR-PERSON MINIMUM STAFFING WOULD BE AN UPGRADE TO WHERE WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO PAY OVERTIME TO MAINTAIN FOUR PEOPLE ON EVERY FIRE TRUCK. THE REASON THIS IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE BACK IN 1993 AUSTIN FIRE CHIEF BILL ROBERTS DID A STUDY HERE IN THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COMPARE THREE-PERSON STAFFING TO FOUR-PERSON STAFFING. HE DESIGNED SOME FIRE GROUND TASKS AND REQUIRED THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS TO DO ALL OF THE TASKS AND THEY WERE TIMED AND THEN THEY WERE CHECKED FOR THEIR PHYSICAL CONDITION AND HOW WELL THEY DID THE JOB. AND WHAT HE FOUND OUT FROM THAT STUDY IS A FOUR-PERSON TEAM A 58% MORE EFFICIENT AT DOING FIRE GROUND TACTICS THAN THE THREE PERSON TEAM. HE ALSO FOUND THEIR PULSE RATE WAS LOWER AND THE AMOUNT OF OXYGEN THEY HAD TO CONSUME DUE TO THE TASKS WAS LOWER. OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE NATION HAVE ALSO DONE THESE STUDIES AND COME UP WITH SEVERAL REPORTS. BECAUSE OF THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL NATIONAL STANDARDS THAT NOW RECOMMEND THAT FOUR PEOPLE BE ON EVERY FIRE TRUCK. THE HISTORY OF THIS INITIATIVE IN THIS DEPARTMENT IS BACK IN THE '93-'94 BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL, THEY SUPPORTED THE FOUR-PERSON INITIATIVE BY ADDING 28 FIREFIGHTERS TO THE DEPARTMENT. THE NEXT YEAR IN '94-'95, THE COUNCIL ADDED 17 MORE. THE TOEINGTS THAT WAS NEEDED BACK IN 1993 WAS AROUND 100 FIREFIGHTERS. SO WE'VE HAD PARTIAL FUNDING FOR TWO YEARS, BUT THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY FUND FOG THIS INITIATIVE SINCE 1995 AND THERE'S NOT ANY PROPOSED IN THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR. THE METHOD THAT CHIEF BILL ROBERTS WANTED TO USE TO STAFF UP TO FOUR-PERSON STAFFING REQUIRED THAT EVERY SINGLE VEHICLE HAVE ONE MORE PERSON ADDED TO MAKE FOUR. HOWEVER, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS TO GET TO THAT KIND OF RESPONSE, AND SOME OF THEM ARE LESS EXPENSIVE. THE FOUR-PERSON STAFFING WHERE YOU ADD 100 FIREFIGHTERS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE YOU COULD COME ACROSS. THERE ARE OTHER WAYS DO IT, SUCH AS A BALANCE OF OVERTIME AND FIREFIGHTERS, WHICH YOU USE LESS FIREFIGHTERS AND A LITTLE MORE OVERTIME, WHICH COSTS LESS. AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT I'M WORKING ON CALLED TASKFORCE STAFFING. THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO PUT FOUR FIREFIGHTERS ON EVERY SINGLE COMPANY STATION WHERE THERE'S ONLY ONE TRUCK IN THE STATION. MAKE SURE THERE'S FOUR THERE. BUT IN STATIONS WHERE THERE'S MORE THAN ONE TRUCK, WE WOULD MAKE SURE THERE WAS A MINIMUM OF SIX AT THAT STATION. THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE FOUR ON EVERY TRUCK AT A MULTI COMPANY STATION, BUT IT WOULD MAKE SURE THAT SIX PEOPLE ARRIVED AT THE FIRE, WHICH IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF FOUR-PERSON STAFFING. AND THAT AGAIN CRUISE REDUCES THE COST. SO THERE ARE SEVERAL OPTIONS WE CAN GO SHOULD WE WANT TO CONTINUE THIS INITIATIVE, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT I OFFER UP TO YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANY QUESTIONS?

>>WYNN: YES, CHIEF. ON THE FOUR-PERSON STAFFING, CURRENTLY DO WE HAVE STATS THAT SHOW ARE WE AT -- ARE WE ON AT AVERAGE 3.75 ACROSS THE CITY OR IS IT -- AND I PRESUME THIS PROBABLY FLUCTUATES DURING THE YEAR. IF THAT'S AN ELEMENT OF OUR LACK OF REACHING FOUR PERSONS PER TRUCK IS VACATION OR SICK TIME, I SUSPECT IT'S PROBABLY LOWER IN THE SUMMERTIME, PERHAPS, WHEN WE MIGHT HAVE MORE FIRE CALLS THAN WE MIGHT BE IN THE WINTERTIME. SO DO WE HAVE STATS THAT SORT OF SHOW OUT HOW THAT FLUCTUATES DURING THE YEAR AND HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO FOUR PERSONS ON A CITYWIDE BASIS NOW?

>> WE HAVE MORE FIREFIGHTERS THAN WE NEED FOR THREE-PERSON STAFFING. AND WE'VE HAD THESE ADDED IN THE PAST BUDGETS. SO WHAT WE END UP DOING IS EVERY SHIFT WE HAVE OUR BATTALION CHIEFS REPORT TO US THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THEY HAVE, AND WE CALL IT A SHIFT COUNT. SO EVERYDAY AT NOON WE GET A NUMBER REPORTED TO US THAT TELLS US HOW MANY UNITS ARE STAFFED AT FOUR PERSON. LAST YEAR OUR AVERAGE WAS 13. WEEX HAVE 53 TRUCKS IN THE CITY AND IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TASKFORCE STAFFING, THAT WOULD MEAN WE WOULD NEAT TO GET TO 27. SO WE HAVE AN AVERAGE SHIFT[M GET TO 27 IF WE WERE DOING TASKFORCE STAFFING. IF WE WERE DOING THE FULL FOUR-PERSON STAFFING FOR EVERY SINGLE FIRE TRUCK, IT WOULD BE 53.

>>WYNN: AND IF THAT WAS TH#a GOAL OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COUNCIL AND THE BUDGET PRIORITY, IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL YEARS, I PRESUME, TO GET THERE? AND WHAT WOULD BE A PLAN TO GET US TO FOUR PERSONS?

>> IT WOULD. IF WE WERE GOING TO DO THE FULL PROGRAM THAT WAS FOR EVERY SINGLE TRUCK, RIGHT NOW WE NEED 115 FIREFIGHTERS. WE WOULD NEED A COUPLE OF YEARS TO TRAIN THAT MANY NEW FIREFIGHTERS.

>> AND THAT'S 115 PLUS SOME OVERTIME IN THAT CALCULATION. AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, ABOUT FOUR TO FIVE MILLION DOLLARS FOR THAT PROGRAM. SO IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT TO GET TO THE PURE FOUR-PERSON STAFFING FROM WHERE WE ARE TODAY. AND THAT'S -- AND THAT'S USING CALCULATING SORT OF WHAT THE SICK VACATION USAGE IS RIGHT NOW IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN IT IS FOR THE AVERAGE CITY EMPLOYEE.

>>WYNN: OKAY. AND A RELATED ELEMENT TO THAT, WHAT IS YOUR PERCEPTION OF THE LINE FIREFIGHTER? DO THEY LIKE THE ABILITY TO HAVE THEi$ OR NOT?

>> THEY LIKE THE IDEA OF FOUR-PERSON STAFFING. THEY STILL HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT WE'LL GET THEM SOME DAY AND THEY ALSO LIKE THE IDEA OF GETTING OVERTIME. THEY LIKE BOTH IDEAS.V

>> IN FACT, I THINK ONE THAT'S THAT'S IMPORTANT. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT FOUR-PERSON STAFFING. I THINK THAT ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT HERE ISc EXPECTATION. I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD ABOUT THE COMMITMENT TO FOUR-PERSON STAFFING, SO I WENT TO LOOK FOR THE COUNCIL RESOLUTION AND THE COUNCIL ORDINANCE. AND WHAT I FOUND WAS BUDGET DOUMENTZ. SO WHAT HAPPENED IS IN '93 WITH THE STUDY AND THEN AGAIN IN '94, THE COUNCIL THROUGH THEIR BUDGET DECISION BEGAN SOME PARTIAL INVESTMENT TOWARD IT, BUT AFTER 1994 IT WAS NEVER FUNDED AGAIN. BUT THAT EXPECTATION HASNi STAYED OUT IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND SOe1 ONE OF THE FLEM MAS HERE IS IT'S A FAILED EXPECTATION FOR FIREFIGHTERS. THEY BELIEVE THERE WASiNHp COMMITMENT THAT WAS MADE TOWARD IT, MOVEMENT TOWARDS IT, AND THEN IT WITH STOPPED.

>> WELL IT, MAY BE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO I JUST HEARDfa THAT THERE ARE NATIONAL STANDARDS NOW AND THERE'S OBJECTIVE NATIONAL CRITERIA FOR WHY THERE SHOULD BE FOUR-PERSON STAFFING, NOT JUST INTERNAL EXPECTATION OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>> THE NATIONAL FIRE ASSOCIATION AND OSHA RECOMMEND FOUR PERSON STAFFING AS A STANDARD. BUT I WILL TELL YOU IN THE MAJOR CITIES IN TEXAS, NONE OF DOING IT. WHEN ASKED DO THEY TREKT PREKT IT WITH OVERTIME, HOUSTON, DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO, ALL NO. CHECKING NATIONALLY, IT MAY BE -- IT IS BECOMING A STANDARD FOR NFPBA AND OSHA, BUT IT NOT A PRACTICE YET. IT'S EXPENSIVE.

>> AND AS A MATTER OF THE WAY WE DISPATCH, AND GARY CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, YOU SELDOM ARE DISPATCHING ONE UNIT TO A FIRE. YOU'RE DISPATCHING MORE THAN ONE UNIT. SO IN ANY GIVEN WORK THAT WE'RE DOING A SPECIFIC STRUCTURE OR A SPECIFIC LOCATION, YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE UNIT THAT'S THERE AND YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL THAT ARRIVE THROUGH OTHER MEANS. AUSTIN HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT IN THE NUMBER OF FIRE STATIONS. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT OUR RATE OF SPOBS IS KEPT AT A CONSTANT, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN TERMS OF CALLS AS WELL AS POPULATION IS THAT WE'VE MADE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN FIRE STATIONS, MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN DALLAS, MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN FORT WORTH AND MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN HOUSTON. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATED DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE, SECOND ONLY TO PLANO, AS I UNDERSTAND.

>> YOU ALSO HAD THE HIGHEST GENERAL FUND PER CAPITA OF ALL COMPARISON CITIES IN FIRE AND E.M.S.. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE THAT MIGHT HELP ALSO TOWARDS THIS. [TECHNICAL PROBLEMS, PLEASE STAND BY].

>> TOWARDS THIS PROGRAM OF FOUR PERSON. AND I PRESUME EACH YEAR IT HAS COME UP, I PRESUME THAT EACH PRIOR COUNCIL HAS HAD DEBATES ABOUT THAT ISSUE AND FOR WHATEVER REASON LEFT FIVE OR FOUR BUDGET THERE HASN'T BEEN FUNDING.

>> THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

>> BUT NO FUND FOG FOUR YEARS.

>> AND I WILL TELL YOU IN RETEEN TRIPS OUT TO A FIRE STATION IT COMES UP EVERY TIME. IT IS CLEARLY AN EXPECTATION AND AN ISSUE WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

>>ALVAREZ: I WANT TO ECHO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT COUNCILMEMBER WYNN RAISE $AND JUST TO -- I GUESS AS A CITY AND PARTICULARLY OUR COMMITMENT TO THAT GOAL AT SOME POINT AND FIGURE OUT, AGAIN, HOW WE CAN MEET SOME OF THESE NATIONAL STANDARDS THAT ARE OUT THERE JUST AS WE ARE IN THE POLICE AND SOME OF THESE OTHER AREAS. SO -- BUT I THINK COUNCILMEMBER WYNN COVERED THAT GROUND PRETTY WELL. BUT I DOPT TO COMMEND THE DEPARTMENT FOR -- [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE]fmcNi

>> I THINK IF YOU WERE REALLY GOING TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHETHER YOU JUST DO A STRAIGHT PER SIZE OF FOUR VERSUS HOW WE DO IT, I THINK A MORE VALID COMPARISON WOULD BE DUE THE CALCULATIONS THE WAY WE NORMALLY SEND UNITS INTO A FIRE, HAVE THEM DO THE DEPLOYMENT WITH THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT SHOW ON THE SCENE TO DO THAT, THEN LET'S DO THOSE CALCULATIONS TO SEE IF IN FACT THERE IS ANY DIFFERENT -- MARKED DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WAY WE RESPOND WITH MULTIPLE UNITS AS OPPOSED TO JUST FOUR PERSON STAFFING. I WOULD SUSPECT YOU WOULD HAVE STATISTICALLY SOME DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS.

>> IT COULD BE TRUE BECAUSE THE STUDY WAS DONE BASED ON ONE TRUCK FIGHTING A FIRE.

>> AND THAT'S NOT HOW WE DO IT.

>> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. ON YOUR RECRUITING EFFORT, I SEE THAT YOU WANT TO ADD THE [INAUDIBLE]. WHAT ARE OTHER TYPICALLY EFFORTS ARE YOU TALKING TO GET MORE OF A [INAUDIBLE].

>> THIS LAST RECRUITING SESSION WE JUST FINISHED THIS WEEK AND THE FOCUS OF THIS PARTICULAR RECRUITING DRIVE WAS TO GO TO MILITARY BASES. WE LOOKED INTO OUR RECORDS AND FOUND THAT WE HAVE OUR BEST RESULTS FROM MILITARY BASIS SO WE THREW EVERYTHING WE HAD INTO MILITARY BASIS. WE ALSO HAD THE CONTACTS LIST WE GOT LAST FALL WHEN WE DID THAT RECRUITING LIST. WE HAD 1700 NAMES OF PROSPECT I HAVE PEOPLE. AND WE CANVASSED THAT WHOLE LIST AS PART OF OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS AND WE DID THAT OVER A THREE-MONTH PERIOD. IT ENDED JUST LAST WEEK.

>> WORKING ALSO WITH THE MINORITY ASSOCIATIONS IN FIRE AS WELL AS THE VICTIMS ASSOCIATIONS, WE'RE HOPING TO DO MENTORING AND EFFORTS AMONG THOSE SUB-ASSOCIATIONS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO INCREASE RECRUITING. WE JUST RECENTLY PUT TWO MORE CARS AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE RECRUITING UNIT TEAM. WE HAVE DONE SOME BRAINSTORMING WITH A.P.D. RECRUITING. IT'S NOT AN EXACT MATCH, THE MOTIVES AND MARKET ARE NOT EXACTLY THE SAME, BUT WE HAVE DONE SOME OF THAT WORK TO SEE WHERE CAN WE GET BEST PRACTICES TO GET BETTER RESULTS.

>>THOMAS: THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, THEN COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>WYNN: ONE QUICK FOLLOWUP PERSON TO THE FOUR PERSON STAFFING AND MULTIPLE TRUCKS GOING TO MOST FIRES. DO WE HAVE THE STATISTICS THAT SHOW, YOU KNOW, HOW OFTEN ONE TRUCK RESPONDS TO A FIRE AND/OR EVEN IF THERE IS ATTEMPT TO GET MULTIPLE TRUCKS THERE, HOW LONG PERHAPS WOULD THE FIRST ARRIVING TRUCK BE AT A FIRE?

>> HOW LONG WILL IT BE THERE OR HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET THERE?

>>WYNN: WELL, IF IT'S AN ELEMENT OF A RGT NOT TO HAVE UNIVERSAL FOUR MEN STAFFING, FOUR PERSON STAFFING IS THAT WE HAVE -- INEVITABLY THERE WILL BE SEVERAL TRUCKS AT A STRUCTURE FIRE, DO WE HAVE THE STATISTICS THAT WOULD SHOW HOW LONG THE FIRST ARRIVING TRUCK IS THERE --

>> ALONE.

>>WYNN: -- ALONE.

>> I THINK WE CAN GET THAT. I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME.

>> WE WILL GET THAT. ALL OF THE QUESTIONS YOU ARE ASKING WE WILL GET OUT TO EVERYBODY SO EVERYBODY SEES THE SAME RESPONSES.

>>WYNN: THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: JUST ONE FINAL QUESTION. I WAS JUST WONDERING, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE STATISTICS ON OVERTIME, I GUESS THAT'S PART OF OUR STRATEGY FOR FULFILLING I GUESS AT LEAST A THREE PERSON STAFFING, THEN WHAT -- HOW MUCH DO WE PAY OUT IN OVERTIME OR IS THAT ON THE BUDGET? THERE'S JUST TOO MANY NUMBERS HERE AND I HAVEN'T PINPOINTED IT.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE THIS YEAR, THIS BUDGET YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO PAY OUT ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN OVERTIME ALTOGETHER.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE'RE MOVING ON TO E.M.S., EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN ON THE CHART THAT LED OFF ON THE FIRE DISCUSSION THAT COMBINED FIRE AND E.M.S. WE HAVE THE LARGEST PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE OF OUR COMPARISON CITIES IN OUR FIRE AND E.M.S. SERVICES. SO WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT THAT WE MAKE, AND THESE ARE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, THESE ARE NOT JUST -- THESE ARE NOT NECESSARILY SAYING IT IS ALL IN CAPITAL VERSUS PERSONNEL. NOW, ON THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SIDE, HERE YOU HAVE LITERALLY THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS. YOU HAVE A PRIORITY RANKING OF 97% FOR EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICES, WHICH IS THE PURE E.M.S. PRIORITY RANKING. AND YOU HAVE A SATISFACTION RATIO OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED AND THE RESPONSE TIME ON AN AVERAGE OF 95%. THIS IS -- THESE ARE GOLDEN NUMBERS FOR YOU. THIS IS A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY WITH THE CITIZENS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IT HAS A STORLD NARL HIGH SATISFACTION RATE FOR WHAT THEY DO. YOUR NEXT SLIDE TALKS ABOUT RESPONSE TIME. THE E.M.S. PERCENT OF RESPONSE TIME IS UNDER 11 MINUTES. IT'S PROJECTED TO INCREASE IN FISCAL YEAR 2001 FOR PRIORITY 1 CALLS. THAT'S THE PERCENT OF CALLS THAT COME IN UNDER THAT NUMBER. THIS IS A MEASURE THAT IS -- AND WHEN I SAY A PRIORITY 1 CALL, I'M TALKING ABOUT A TRUE EMERGENCY CALL, A LIFE THREATENING CALL. THESE ARE THE ONES YOU WANT TO GET THERE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE. THIS MEASURE IS BECOMING SORT OF THE STANDARD AMONG URBAN E.M.S. PROVIDERS. AND WE HAVE DATA THAT GOES BACK TO 1998 WHEN WE BEGAN CATEGORIZING CALLS IN THIS FASHION. THE NEXT ON THE SORT OF HORIZONTAL BAR CHART, AND THIS IS A VERY PROBLEMATIC CHART. AND LET ME TRY TO EXPLAIN WHY. YOU WILL NOTICE THAT FIRE AND E.M.S. ARE BROKEN OUT SEPARATELY ON THIS CHART. THE REASON IS THAT FIRE SERVES AS OUR FIRST RESPONDER FOR MEDICAL. SO THE TRUE NUMBER HERE WOULD ACTUALLY BE SOME COMBINATION BETWEEN THE E.M.S. NUMBER AND THE FIRE NUMBER. BUT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ABLE TO COLLECT THE DATA THAT WAY YET, I'M HAVING TO SHOW IT TO YOU SEGMENTED OUT. MY INSINGT IS THAT WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO -- INSTINCT IS WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO COMBINE IT, AND THAT'S PART OF YOUR NEW CASH SYSTEM WILL ALLOW US TO CAPTURE, THAT YOU WILL FIND THAT WE WILL HAVE A BETTER RANKING HERE IN THESE COMPARISON CITIES, BUT RIGHT NOW I CANNOT GIVE THAT TO YOU. AND THE EXPLANATION IS THAT IN SOME CASES FIRE IS NOT DISPATCHED. E.M.S. WILL BE THE FIRST ON THE SCENE. AND IN OTHERS, FIRE IS THE FIRST RESPONDER WITH E.M.S. FOLLOWING. SO IT IS REALLY SOME BLENDING OF THESE TWO NUMBERS. AND SO TRULY I THINK THIS MEASURE IS GOING TO BE BETTER REPORTED WHEN WE HAVE THE NEW SYSTEM UP. YOUR NEXT CHART IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT MEASURE. IT'S ONE WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF. THIS TALKS ABOUT THE PERCENT OF CARDIAC ARREST PATIENTS THAT WITH A PULSE DELIVERED TO A MEDICAL CENTER, SO SOMEONE HAS GONE INTO ARREST WITHIN WE HAVE DELIVERED THEM IN THE BEST POSSIBLE CONDITION FOR SURVIVAL TO A MEDICAL CENTER. WE ARE WELL ABOVE THE ICMA AVERAGE OF 18% AND WE ARE THE FIFTH HIGHEST AMONG ALL OF OUR COMPARISON CITIES, AND BECAUSE THIS IS AN E.M.S. STANDARD, MORE NATIONALLY USED, YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A WIDER NUMBER OF COMPARISON CITIES TO COMPARE OURSELVES AGAINST. SO WE ARE AT 26% VERSUS THE ICMA AVERAGE OF 18%, AND THIS IS AN INCREASING NUMBER FOR US. SO ONCE AGAIN JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW HERE, THIS IS -- YOU HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT IN YOUR FIRE -- COMBINED FIRE AND E.M.S. SYSTEM, AND IN E.M.S. VERY SPECIFICALLY AN EXTRA ORDINARILY HIGH RANKING AMONG CITIZENS AND VERY HIGH CITIZEN SATISFACTION RATE. WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR TEAM TO GIVE YOU THE OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET.

>> MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, GOOD MORNING, I'M THE INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR AUSTIN ELS AND THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY E.M.S.. I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BACKBONE OF THE BUDGET PROCESS RICHARD HARRINGTON CHIEF OF STAFF AND HEATHER COX OUR ACTING FINANCIAL MANAGER. JUST A BRIEF COMMENT BEFORE RICHARD GOES THROUGH THE SPECIFICS OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET. E.M.S. ARE THE THREE PUBLIC SAFETY ENTITIES HAVE A UNIQUE COMPONENT IN THAT WE PROVIDE AMBULANCE TRANSPORT SERVICES NOT ONLY WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN BUT BY INTERLOCAL WITH TRAVIS COUNTY AS WELL. AND OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ATTENTION PAID TO THAT RELATIONSHIP. COUNCIL, TWO COUNCIL TWO YEARS AGO CHARGED WITH CHARGING US IN CREATING A UNIFIED SYSTEM SO A LOT YOU WILL SEE IN OUR EVOLVING PERFORMANCE MEASURES IS MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION AS CHARGED BY COUNCIL TO CREATE THAT UNIFIED SYSTEM. SO I'LL ASK RICHARD HARRINGTON TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGETARY HIGHLIGHTS.

>> GOOD MORNING. THE E.M.S. 2000, 2001 PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE DETAIL PAGES CAN BE FOUND ON PAGES 110 THROUGH 118 AND ON PAGES 313 AND 378 IN VOLUME ONE. NEXT YEAR'S PROPOSED E.M.S. OFFERING BUDGET OF 24.6 MILLION CONTINUES TO SPANNED SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND COUNTY. SOME OF THE KEY SERVICES SUPPORTED ARE 17 CITY OF AUSTIN AMBULANCE STATIONS, 7 AMBULANCE STATIONS OUTSIDE THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE E.M.S. COMMUNICATION CENTER AND THE STARFLIGHT PROGRAM. TOTAL REVENUES ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE 1.1 MILLION OVER THE CURRENT ESTIMATE OF 13.5 MILLION. THIS ADDS 39 NEW EMPLOYEES TO THE AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY E.M.S. SYSTEM. THIS BUDGET ALLOWS E.M.S. TO IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES DESPITE SUBSTANTIAL CALL VOLUME GROWTH AND INCREASING TRAFFIC CONGESTION. THE MICANDA PARK STATION WILL BE REOCCUPIED DURING THE LAST HALF OF THE FISCAL YEAR THROUGH THE HIRING OF TEN PARAMEDICS AND THE PURCHASE OF NECESSARY OPERATING CAPITAL. THE ORIGINAL CREW FROM THIS STATION WAS RELOCATED IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR TO THE FOUR POINTS E.M.S. FIRE STATION IN ORDER TO BETTER SERVE BUSIER, NEWLY ANNEXED AREAS. IN PREPARATION FOR THE WEST AUSTIN STATION SCHEDULED TO BECOME OPERATIONAL IN DECEMBER 2001, 10 PARAMEDICS AND THE NECESSARY CAPITAL WILL BE HIRED AND PURCHASE UNDERSTAND JUNE OF NEXT YEAR. THIS SCHEDULE ALLOWS SUFFICIENT LEAD TIME FOR IF 10 PARAMEDICS TO COMPLETE THE NEW ACADEMY PRIOR TO THE NEW FACILITY BEING COMPLETED. SIX COMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS WILL BE HANDLED TO HANDLE -- HIRED TO HANDLE THE GROWING NUMBER OF CALLS. FOUR OF THESE POSITIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE GENERAL FUND PORTION OF THE BUDGET AND TWO ARE INCLUDED IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY REIMBURSED FUND. THE ADDITIONAL STAFF WILL IMPROVE THE HANDLING OF EMERGENCY TRAFFIC AND PROVIDE BETTER MEDICAL SELF-HELP TO CALLERS. CAPITAL REPLACEMENT FUNDS ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET TO REPLACE AGING DISPATCH CONSULTS COMMUNICATION CENTER, EMERGENCY RADIOS, COMMUNICATION NETWORK BACKBONE REPLACEMENT AND CRITICAL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT. THE BILLING OFFICE WILL ALSO ADD SIX EMPLOYEES TO BETTER SUPPORT PATIENT CLAIMS AND IMPROVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR SERVICES. TO EFFECTIVELY CAPTURE PATIENT REVENUES, INDIVIDUAL PATIENT CLAIMS REQUIRE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WORK TODAY THAN THEY DID TWO YEARS AGO. WITH THE CHANGES IN MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT PURSUANT TO THE BALANCED BUDGET ACT IT HAS BECOME COMMON FOR THE MAJORITY OF CLAIMS SUBMITTED BY AUSTIN E.M.S. TO MEDICARE TO BE DENIED. THUS NECESSITIES FURTHER DOCUMENTATION AND CLAIM REFILING IN ORDER TO GET CLAIMS APPROVED AND PAID. MANY HMO'S AND PPO'S ARE ALSO DENYING SIGNIFICANT MORE INITIAL CLAIMS THAN THEY DID PREVIOUSLY. WE ANTICIPATE WITH THE ADDITION OF THESE SIX NEW EMPLOYEES AT A COST OF $248,000, AN ADDITIONAL $1.1 MILLION CAN BE GENERATED TO THE GENERAL FUND. STATE LEGISLATION EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST OF NEXT YEAR REQUIRES ALL E.M.S. SERVICES TO USE INTRACONVENIENT USE EQUIPMENT DESIGNED TO MINIMALIZE BLOOD BORNE PAT GENERAL RISK TO HEALTH CARE WORKER. INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET IS $71,000 NECESSARY TO PURCHASE NEW EQUIPMENT THAT WILL BRING AUSTIN E.M.S. INTO FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS. THE AUSTIN E.M.S. CPR FIRST AID ACTIVITY IS THE SECOND LARGEST AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION TRAINING CENTER IN THE STATE. IN CASE YOU ARE CURIOUS, THE LARGEST IS THE CENTER THAT PROVIDES TRAINING TO ALL THE MILITARY AND ARMED FORCES WITHIN THE STATE SO I DON'T THINK WE CAN COMPETE WITH THEM. CURRENTLY ONE INDIVIDUAL AND A PART TIME TEMPORARY COORDINATE THIS ACTIVITY FOR US. THIS BUDGET CONVERTS TO TEMPORARY POSITION -- CONVERTS A TEMPORARY POSITION TO A SECOND COORDINATOR POSITION. IN ADDITION TO WHAT I'VE ALREADY HIGHLIGHTED THIS BUDGET INCLUDES FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT A BILINGUAL PAY PROGRAM FOR UNIFORMED STAFF. THE CURRENT BUDGET HAS CALLS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING SERVICES TO TRAVIS COUNTY IN BOTH THE GENERAL FUND AND IN A SEPARATE TRAVIS COUNTY REIMBURSED FUND. FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR WE PROPOSE COMBINING ALL TRAVIS COUNTY COSTS OTHER THAN ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY REIMBURSED FUND. TO ACCOMMODATE THIS WE'VE TRANSFERRED 21 POSITIONS TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY REIMBURSED FUND. 10 OF THE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED ARE FOR THE CREW OF THE HUDSON BEND, SOON TO BE LOCATED TO LAKEWAY STATION AND THE REMAINING 11 ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STARFLIGHT PROGRAM. THIS MOVE CONSOLIDATES ALL THE TRAVIS COUNTY DIRECT COSTS INTO A SINGLE FUND. THE EXPANSION OF SERVICES IN TRAVIS COUNTY THAT BEGAN TWO YEARS AGO CONTINUES WITH THIS BUDGET THROUGH THE ADDITION OF A 7TH COUNTY UNIT WHICH INCLUDES 10 PARAMEDICS PLUS CAPITAL EQUIPMENT. THIS UNIT WILL OPERATE FROM A STATION IN JONESTOWN. THIS NEW STATION ALONG WITH THE TWO COMMUNICATIONS STATIONS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, PLUS A COMPUTER SUPPORT POSITION ARE INCLUDED IN THE YOU HAD FUND. OF COURSE THIS FUNDING IS CONTINGENT UPON APPROVAL OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DURING THEIR BUDGET PROCESS. IN ADDITION TO THE KEY MEASURES THAT TOBY MENTIONED BRIEFLY EARLIER, E.M.S. REALLY MEASURES SIX THINGS, WHICH YOU SEE ARE THESE SIX. THE NUMBER OF PRIORITY ONE LIFE THREATEN -- WHICH ARE LIFE THREATEN CALLS, AND THAT'S DETERMINED BY THE MEDICAL PARTY DISPATCH WHICH WE ARE A CERTIFIED CENTER OF AND WE WENT TO THAT STANDARD TWO YEARS AGO. THE OTHER ONE IS A WORKLOAD ISSUE. THE INCREASE OR DECREASE ON NUMBER OF AMBULANCES DISPATCHED. THE MEASURE OF THE CARDIAC SURVIVAL RATE AND WHAT WE CALL PROCESSING TIME. WHAT THIS IS, THIS IS THE INTERVAL BETWEEN WHEN A CALLER ACTIVATES 911, GETS AN E.M.S. COMMUNICATIONS MEDIC AND AN AMBULANCE IS DISPATCHED. WE MEASURE THE INTERVAL FROM THE -- THE INTERVAL FROM AMBULANCE ARRIVAL ON THE SCENE TO DEPARTURE FOR CATEGORY 1, NON-TRAUMA PATIENTS AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RATINGS. THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES CORRELATION BETWEEN TWO OF THE KEY MEASURES. I NEED TO MAKE ONE CORRECTION TO THIS GRAPH. IN THE 1999-2000 ESTIMATE WE SHOW 88% COMPLIANCE. WHEN WE SUBMITTED THIS GRAPH WE DIDN'T HAVE JULY'S PRIORITY 1 DATA AVAILABLE. NOW THAT WE DO, WE'VE CHANGED OUR FORECAST TO -- THIS 88 SHOULD BE 8% ESTIMATE FOR NEXT YEAR OR NO CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. EVEN THOUGH CALL VOLUME CONTINUES TO INCREASE, IN FACT, JULY OF THIS YEAR WAS THE BUSIEST EVER FOR AUSTIN E.M.S. WITH ALMOST 7,000 RESPONSES. YET THE PRIORITY 1 COMPLIANCE RATE WAS 92.17% FOR LAST MONTH. NEXT FWRAF IS REFLECT I HAVE OF SOMETHING I KNOW IS VERY DEAR AND NEAR TO DR. ROCK'S HEART SO I THINK IT'S ONLY FITTING THAT HE EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.

>> THE FINAL GRAPH IN YOUR PACT IS OUR OWN CARDIAC ARREST STATISTICS AND YOU HEARD TOBY DESCRIBE THE IMPORTANCE OF RETURN OF SPONTANEOUS CIRCULATION OR GETTING A PULSE BACK IN PATIENTS WHO ARE IN CARDIAC ARREST. THAT SENDS AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SYSTEM'S SYSTEM REASON TO EXIST, TO TRY AND REVIVE THAT PATIENT POPULATION. THERE ARE SEVERAL POINTS TO MEASURE SUCCESSES IN THAT REGARD AND THE GOLD STANDARD IN ESSENCE IS A PATIENT WHO LEAVES THE HOSPITAL ALIVE, WHO CAN WALK HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL AND RETURN TO A NORMAL FUNCTIONING. AND OUR CARDIAC ARREST SURVIVAL TO HOSPITAL DISCHARGE STATISTICS SUGGEST THAT WE ARE ABOUT 12% IN 97-98, DROPPED TO 9.3 IN '99. OUR ESTIMATE FOR THE UPCOMING -- OR FOR THE PAST YEAR WAS 10% ESTIMATE, FOR THE CURRENT YEAR IS 10%. AS WITH THE DATA THAT RICHARD JUST PRESENTED, THERE IS SOME SUGGESTION THAT THAT NUMBER MAY ACTUALLY BE HIGHER. WE WON'T KNOW FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BECAUSE WE'VE INTRODUCED A NEW DRUG. BUT THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT WE CAN USE AS A MEDICAL SYSTEM TO MEASURE ALL COMPONENTS OF THAT CHAIN. JUST AS A NOTE, THE NATIONAL PUBLISHED AVERAGE FOR SURVIVAL TO HOSPITAL DISCHARGE IN CARDIAC ARREST WHO HAVE VERSE IN THE 2.5 TO 3% RANGE. SO WE'RE SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE THAT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND THAT CONCLUDES AND WE OPEN UP FOR QUESTION AND ANSWERS ON E.M.S..

>>SLUSHER: ANY QUESTIONS ON E.M.S.? COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: I HAD A QUESTION JUST GENERALLY ABOUT THIS TRAVIS COUNTY REIMBURSED FUND AND WHAT I GUESS THE MONEY THAT WE PUT IN THAT FUND GOES TO SUPPORT.

>> WHAT THIS FUND IS, THIS PROVIDES ALL THE DIRECT COSTS OF SUPPORTING THE -- WILL BE 7 AMBULANCES NEXT YEAR, THE STARFLIGHT PROGRAM, FOUR COMMUNICATIONS MEDICS THE COUNTY HAS PAID FOR AND STRUNTION CENTER, COMMAND DISTRICT, SUPPLY STAFF AND A FULL-TIME RECRUITER AND THREE INDIVIDUALS. THE WAY THIS WORKS, AT LEAST FOR THIS YEAR, AND WE HAVE HAVEN'T NEGOTIATED A LOCAL FOR NEXT YEAR, WE ANTICIPATE IT WORKING WE GIVE THE COUNTY THE SAME COSTS THAT WE PUT IN OUR BUDGET FOR, SAY, A NEW STATION AND PROVIDING SERVICES FOR A STATION COST AND THEN THEY REIMBURSE US ON A MONTHLY BASIS FOR THAT. THE WAY THEY ARE DOING THAT NOW IT'S TWO-FOLD. ONE IS A DIRECT PAYMENT OF $165 A MONTH WHICH PAYS FOR STARFLIGHT ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD AND ONE COUNTY AND WE BILL THEM FOR DIRECT COSTS FOR THE ADDITIONAL FIVE UNITS THAT WERE PLACED IN SERVICE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. ACTUALLY THE LAST 10 MONTHS. AND SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS PUT THIS IN ONE FUND SO ALL THE TRAVIS COUNTY NUMBERS ARE IN ONE SPOT. FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE EXPENDITURE CHART THAT TOBY SHOWED EARLIER, ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE REAL HIGH IS WE TAKE OUR BUDGET, THERE'S $2 MILLION IN THE EFMS BUDGET THAT SUPPORTS -- GENERAL FUND BUDGET THAT SUPPORTS TRAVIS COUNTY, BUT IT'S LUMPED IN SO IT'S GOING TO RAISE THE COST OF SERVICE PER CAPITA FROM E.M.S..

>>ALVAREZ: SO THE MONEY IN THAT FUND IS MONEY WE PUT IN THERE OR THAT WE GET FROM TRAVIS COUNTY TO PUT IN THERE? THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO --

>> I'M ASSUMING THAT THE CITY ALLOCATES THAT MONEY AND IT'S REIMBURSED.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>>ALVAREZ: OKAY. AND RELATED TO THAT IS THIS TRANSFERRING THE STARFLIGHT AND THE HUDSON BEND AMBULANCE TO THE -- TO THAT FUND I GUESS, THE TRAVIS COUNTY REIMBURSED FUND.

>> WHAT WE'RE DOING IS JUST TRANSFERING THOSE 11 POSITIONS -- 21 POSITIONS IN THE GENERAL FUND THIS CAREER INTO THIS NEW FUND. cN THIS YEAR INTO THE NEW FUND.

>>ALVAREZ: THE OTHER ISSUE IS I DID NOTICE, AT LEAST IN THE EARLIER VERSION OF THE POLICY, INCREASE OF FOUR FTE'S IN COMMUNICATIONS DATA TO GET CLOSER TO THE NATIONALLY RECOMMENDED STANDARDS. SO WHAT EXACTLY -- I MEAN IS THE STANDARD AND HOW CLOSE ARE WE?

>> WE REALLY -- THAT PUTS US -- THE ORIGINAL BUDGET PROPOSAL HAD THE CITY PUTTING IN FOUR AND THE COUNTY PUTTING IN FOUR, WHICH WOULD HAVE GOT US TO WHERE WE WANTED TO BE. THAT'S NOW BEEN PARED DOWN TO FOUR FROM THE CITY AND THE COUNTY SO WE'RE STILL TECHNICALLY TWO SHORT IN OUR GOAL.

>>ALVAREZ: AND THAT'S JUST OUR GOAL, AGAIN, ARE WE TRYING TO MEET --

>> THAT'S BASED UPON -- THERE REALLY ISN'T A TRUE NATIONAL STANDARD, BUT THE NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS EMERGENCY SOCIETY HAS A BENCH MARK OF HOW MANY PERSONNEL YOU SHOULD HAVE IN AN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER BASED UPON UNITS MANAGED AND CALLS RECEIVED. AND THAT'S THE BENCH MARK WE USE.

>>ALVAREZ: AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER STAFFING STANDARDS THAT -- AGAIN, THAT WE TRY TO ACHIEVE OR THAT WE --

>> WELL, WE STRIVE TO HAVE TWO PARAMEDICS ON EVERY AMBULANCE. BUT THERE REALLY IS NO STANDARD WITHIN OUR INDUSTRY. IN FACT, THERE'S REALLY KNOW STANDARD ON THE LEVEL OF COMPETENCY. SOME SYSTEMS HAVE EMERGENCY TECHNICIAN BASIC AND PARAMEDICS, SOME HAVE A INTERMEDIATE AND IN AUSTIN WE GO WITH THE HIGHER STANDARD WHICH IS TWO PARAMEDICS.

>>ALVAREZ: AND THEN FINALLY, I NOTICE THAT IN THE SCORE CARD, COMMUNITY SCORE CARD, THE -- I GUESS THE MEASURE THAT WE ARE USING IS RESPONSE TIME UNDER EIGHT MINUTES, AND THEN IN YOUR PRESENTATION -- I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO PRESENTED IT, THAT PART, BUT THE MEASURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS 11 MINUTES.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE ICMA, THEY ACTUALLY ASKED THAT QUESTION THREE WAYS. YOUR RESPONSE TIME UNDER FOUR MINUTES, UNDER SIX MINUTES, AND UNDER EIGHT MINUTES.

>> AND THAT'S FOR ALL CALLS.

>> THAT'S FOR ALL CALLS. AND WE ANSWERED THAT -- IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS SOME PEOPLE FILTER OUT SOME OF THE RESPONSES. WE KNOW SOME OF THESE OTHER SYSTEMS HAVE DONE THAT. WE ANSWERED THE QUESTION HONESTLY. WE TOOK ALL CALLS, AND UNDER MEDICAL PRIORITY DISPATCH WE HAVE A CODE 1 LEVEL WHICH IS NOT LIFE THREATENING SO WE DON'T SEND A CREW, AND WE ALSO CUE CALLS. THERE CAN BE LONG CALLS FOR A HANG NAIL OR SOMETHING. THOSE ARE INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBER. WITHIN OUR INDUSTRY REGRETFULLY THERE IS NO UNIFIED RESPONSE STANDARD NATIONALLY.

>> BUT THEN THE SECOND CHART, AND I KNOW THAT WAS CONFUSING, I SPENT SOME TIME WONDERING HOW TO TALK ABOUT THAT. THE SECOND CHART IS JUST FOR PRIORITY 1 CALLS UNDER 11 MINUTES, WHICH IS COMING -- THE URBAN STANDARD. SO YOU COULD COMPARE THE TWO.

>>ALVAREZ: OKAY. GREAT.

>> COUNCILMEMBER, IF I COULD JUST ADD TO THAT, THE 11 MINUTE RESPONSE INTERVAL WAS SOMETHING THAT THE MEDICAL SOCIETY AND THIS COMMUNITY ENDORSED BECAUSE OF THE PARTNERSHIP OF A VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS IN PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR SOME COMMUNITIES TO HAVE THAT RESPONSE INTERVAL REQUIREMENT FOR AN AMBULANCE IF THE INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR FIRST RESPONDERS WAS NOT IN PLACE. WE'RE FORTUNATE IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE PATIENT NEEDS, THAT KIND OF A RESPONSE INTERVAL IS VERY APPROPRIATE FOR EMERGENCY CARE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>>ALVAREZ: SO THEN THE 11 MINUTE MEASURE IS FOR PRIORITY 1 CALLS IS WHAT --

>> CORRECT.

>>ALVAREZ: OKAY. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

>> ALL RIGHT. AND WE COME TO THE LAST, DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT IS MUNICIPAL COURT. AUSTIN HAS THE SECOND HIGHEST GENERAL FUND BUDGETED EXPENDITURES PER CAPITA FOR MUNICIPAL COURT SERVICES OF THE OTHER FOUR MAJOR TEXAS CITIES. ONCE AGAIN, WHEN I TALK ABOUT WHERE YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE DATA, MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID IN ORDER TO TEST THIS NUMBER IS WE CALLED THOSE CITIES AND WE ASKED QUESTIONS LIKE ARE YOUR SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDED IN THIS NUMBER? DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION SYSTEMS STAFF? CENTRALIZED OR DECENTRALIZED? WHERE ARE YOUR MARSHALS? AND ONE OF THE ANOMALIES THAT CAME OUT OF OUR SECONDARY CALLS TO BE SURE WHAT WE WERE COMPARING WAS THAT BOTH HOUSTON AND SAN ANTONIO, WHO ARE BELOW US IN HIGHEST GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES PER CAPITA TAKE, DO NOT HAVE MARSHAL EXPENDITURES. IN BOTH OF THOSE THE MARSHALS ARE FUND UNDERSTAND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND NOT LOADED AS PART OF THIS. SO TO HELP YOU PUT SOME MITIGATING THOUGHTS TOGETHER AS YOU SEE THESE NUMBERS, THEY ARE SORT OF THE BEST WE CAN DO, BUT THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS PERFECT OR RIGHT ON TARGET. WE HAVE HAD A BUDGET INCREASE OF OVER 12% SINCE 1998 IN MUNICIPAL COURT. YOUR NEXT SLIDE SHOWS YOU SATISFACTION AND PRIORITY. AND THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT POLICE, FIRE AND E.M.S.. AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, PAYING YOUR TICKET IS NOT ALWAYS RANKED THE HIGHEST PRIORITY WHEN CITIZENS ARE SURVEYED. [LAUGHTER] SO THE AVERAGE PRIORITY -- OR, YOU KNOW, YOUR INTERACTION WITH THE COURT SYSTEM. SO UNDER PRIORITY IT HAD A FAIRLY LOW RANKING OF PRIORITY. ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR THIS TIME OF REGULATORY ENTITY. IT'S AT 48%. ON THE OTHER HAND, AND HERE'S YOUR GOOD NEWS, ONCE AGAIN YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO BE REAL HAPPY AFTER THEY'VE HAD TO GO PAY A TICKET, SO HOW SATISFIED ARE THEY GOING TO BE WITH THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE? HERE YOU HAVE A 79. AND SO HOW DO YOU GAUGE THAT 79? IS THAT A GOOD NUMBER FOR MUNICIPAL COURT OR IS THAT A POOR NUMBER? SO WHAT WE DID IN ORDER TO GET A BETTER FEEL, AND I BRING THAT UP TO YOU BECAUSE IF FIRE OR E.M.S. HAD A 79%, I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT. IN BOTH OF THOSE CASES SOMEONE IS TO THE RESCUE. YOU WOULD EXPECT YOUR SATISFACTION TO BE HIGHER. SO WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS AND GOT SOME OF THEIR DATA. AND THEY REPORT A NUMBER ON CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SATISFACTION, AND THAT NUMBER IS AVERAGED AT 74%. SO IF YOU PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE -- ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A LOW PRIORITY RANKING FROM OUR CITIZENS, WE HAVE A FAIRLY HIGH SATISFACTION LEVEL WITH OUR CITIZENS WITH OUR MUNICIPAL COURT SERVICES AT 79%.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS TO ME WAS IF YOU DID KIND OF THE GAP MATRIX, YOU KNOW, PLUS OR MINUS, THAT IS THE HIGHEST POSITIVE GAP.

>> YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WITH A GAP OF 31.

>> AND YOU ARE RIGHT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME SHOW THAT I DO MATH.

>> AND IT'S ACTUALLY THE ANOMALY. AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT. AND THE LAST CHART SIMPLY SHOWS YOU THAT THE SATISFACTION LEVELS HAVE FLUCTUATED SINCE 1994, AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CHANGE THAT'S HAPPENED TO THE COURT OVER THAT TIME PERIOD AND I'M ASSUMING THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH OUR FLUCTUATING SATISFACTION LEVEL. AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR TEAM THAT IS GOING TO COME UP AND PRESENT THE BUDGET. AND I TELL YOU WHAT, WHY DON'T -- SINCE WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE COMPONENTS BETWEEN MUNICIPAL COURT, I'LL GO AND MOVE AWAY SO THAT JUDGE MCKEE CAN STEP UP.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT MUNICIPAL COURT'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. I'M RELATIVELY NEW HERE. I DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT WITH PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, BUT I HAVE CLARK HAMMOND, WHO IS THE FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR MUNICIPAL COURT IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY INDEPTH QUESTIONS. WE ALSO HAVE PRESIDING JUDGE EVELYN MCKEEE THAT WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE PROJECTS AND PRIORITIES FOR THE JUDICIARY AND STACY SHORTER WHO WILL TELL YOU ABOUT PRIORITIES FOR COMMUNITY COURT. IN GENERAL, THE GENERAL OFFERING BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR SHOWS THAT REVENUE WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS IT WAS THIS YEAR. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR EXPENDITURES. IT IS SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME WITH LESS THAN A $50,000 INCREASE. GENERALLY THAT INCREASE INDICATES THAT WE'VE ABSORBED ALL PERSONNEL INCREASES, ONE EXPENDITURES HAVE BEEN VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED. WE'VE HAD A SLIGHT INCREASE IN COMMUNITY COURT WHICH STACY WILL ADDRESS SHORTLY. SO NARD TO MEET OUR TARGET BUDGET WE HAD TO CUT FIVE POSITIONS. OUR FTE'S HAVE INCREASED FROM 178.75 TO 173.75. THE GOOD NEWS, HOWEVER, IS THAT IN GOING THROUGH OUR BUDGET, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY SAVINGS THAT WILL ALLOWS TO RETAIN ALL FIVE POSITIONS. WE WON'T HAVE TO CUT ANYTHING FROM MUNICIPAL COURT FOR NEXT YEAR. BUT THERE WILL BE A BUDGET MODIFICATION COMING TO YOU WITH THIS FOR THE $204,000. SO WE WERE FORTUNATE IN THAT CASE. I WOULD NOW LIKE TO TURN THIS OVER TO STACY SHORTER WHO WILL ADDRESS COMMUNITY COURT.

>> THANK YOU, REBECCA, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. JUST REAL BRIEFLY WE HAVE A --

>> YOU MAY WANT TO TURN THAT MIC ON.

>> AND I THOUGHT I SPOKE LOUD. WE HAVE BRIEFLY A PIE CHART ON THAT REFLECTS WHAT WE HAVE FOR COMMUNITY COURT. COURT SERVICES IS NEW TO THE COMMUNITY COURT, IT'S THE JUDGE AND THE TWO CLERKS DEDICATED TO COMMUNITY COURT THAT WILL NOW BE REALLOCATED FROM MUNICIPAL COURT AND IN THE COMMUNITY COURT BUDGET SO THAT'S A REALLOCATION. THE NEXT COMPONENT REPRESENTED IS COMMUNITY SERVICE. THE PRINCIPLE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE IS A VERY IMPORTANT ONE FOR THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY COURT TO RESTORE THE COMMUNITY BACK TO THE HARM THAT WAS ACTUALLY DONE. CURRENTLY WE OPERATE AT ABOUT A 90% COMPLIANCE RATE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE. THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR COMMUNITY COURTS IS ABOUT 75% SO WE'RE WELL ABOVE AVERAGE IN THAT. THE BANCH MARKING IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT BECAUSE AT THE TIME WE OPENED OCTOBER 1ST OF 1999 WE WERE THE FOURTH COMMUNITY COURT IN THE NATION AND THE FIRST IN TEXAS SO WE DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF DATA TO COMPARE TO. THERE ARE NOW 16 OPERATIONAL COMMUNITY COURTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SO WE HAVE A BETTER STANDARD TO GO BY. AFTER TEN MONTHS OF OPERATION WE HAVE OVER 16,000 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE LOGGED INTO THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN AREA. FOR THE REHABILITATION SERVICES, THAT'S THE LARGEST CHUNK OF OUR PURPOSE FOR BEING THERE AND THAT'S BASICALLY TO TRY TO OFFER FOLKS TO CHANGE SOME LIVES. WE CURRENTLY OPERATE AT ABOUT A 45 TO 50% COMPLIANCE RATE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY VERY HIGH. THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS ABOUT 25%. IT'S VERY HARD TO GET THESE A PEOPLE TO FACE THEIR ADDICTIONS AND CHANGE THEIR LIVES. BUT THE RAETION SERVICES, WE ARE STILL KIND OF BENCH MARKING THAT. WE HAVE A MUCH BETTER IDEA NOW, TEN MONTHS IN OPERATION OF JUST WHAT THE NEEDS ARE OF OUR CLIENTS. FOR THE COMING YEAR WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN DOWNTOWN FOR ALL OF THE CITIZENS. WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND EXPAND THE REHABILITATION SERVICES, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WEFP A MUCH CLEARER IDEA. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH INCORPORATED AS WELL AS SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND DRUG TREATMENT AVAILABLE. THE REALLOCATION OF THE COURT SERVICES STAFF AND THE NEW DACC FACILITY ON SIXTH STREET, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS TO GET TO A FACILITY OFF SIXTH STREET SO WE CAN KIND OF SPREAD OUT AND EXPAND THE SERVICES WE'RE OFFERING IN COMMUNITY COURT. AND WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO JUDGE MCKEE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: JUDGE?

>> GOOD MORNING. I'M EVELYN MCKEE PRESIDING JUDGE OF MUNICIPAL COURT. I'M GOING TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE JUDICIARY ASPECT OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT BUDGET. THIS IS PROBABLY THE LEAST GLITZY ASPECT OF THE COURT, BUT WE ARE THE LAST STOP. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, TO AMEND DRIVING HABITS AND ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO FACE DURING THIS YEAR IS THE THE PROVISION OF MAGISTRATION SERVICES AT THE NEW TRAVIS COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER IF THAT IN FACT IS WHAT OCCURS. THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE THAT IF WE DO THAT, THE MUNICIPAL JUDGES WILL PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AT THE NEW CENTRAL BOOKING FACILITY. THAT WILL TAKE A JUDGE OUT OF OUR BUILDING COMPLETELY DAY AND AT NIGHT. WE CAN PROVIDE THAT SERVICE WITH NO INCREASE IN THE BUDGET. HOWEVER, I DO EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE SOME UNANTICIPATED OUTCOMES OF THAT NEW ENVIRONMENT, AND PERHAPS WE WILL HAVE A DIMINISHMENT OF SERVICES IN OUR 7TH STREET BUILDING, AND WE WILL KEEP LOOKING AT THAT VERY CLOSELY TO -- AND PERHAPS COME BACK TO YOU AND -- LATER IN THE YEAR TO SEE IF YOU WISH TO ACCEPT THAT DIMINISHED SERVICE OR LOOK AT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL JUDICIAL HOURS. THE TRANSLATION ENHANCEMENT, WE DO PROVIDE LANGUAGE TRANSLATION FOR DEFENDANTS. WE HAVE SOME INCREASE IN -- SOME INCREASE IN COSTS THERE. THIS YEAR WE WILL HAVE THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WITH THE MOVEMENT OF COMMUNITY COURT TO THEIR OWN LOCATION. THE NEW CENTRAL BOOKING FACILITY AND OUR 7TH STREET LOCATION. CURRENTLY ALL OF THAT OCCURS IN THE SAME BUILDING. SO WITH THOSE MOVES, WE WILL HAVE SOME INCREASES. AS FAR AS LEGISLATIVE CHANGES GO, WE WILL BE MONITORING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WORKING CLOSELY WITH INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS OFFICE. AS YOU KNOW EVERY YEAR THERE'S A NUMBER OF CHANGES THAT COME FROM THE LEGISLATURE FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, ET CETERA. THANK YOU.

>> AND THAT BRINGS US TO SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, THE PRIORITIES FOR THE REMAINDER OF MUNICIPAL COURT. WHICH IS TO IMPROVE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. WE ARE ESTABLISHING A BACKLOG TASK FORCE THAT WE ARE HOPING THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE IF NOT ELIMINATE BACKLOG. WE WILL ALSO BE INCREASING WARRANT CLEARANCE AND PUTTING MEASURES IN TO SPEED UP CUSTOMER SERVICE IN THE BUILDING. WE ARE INTEND TO GO IMPROVE ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH -- INTENDING TO IMPROVE ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH. WE WILL WORK EVEN HARDER ON FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULES. WE ARE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. WE'LL CONTINUE OUR PAY FOR PERFORMANCE INCREASES. AS FAR AS LEGISLATIVE CHANGES ARE CONCERNED, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE LIAISON TO PURSUE OR SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WILL ENHANCE OR PROVIDE NEW REVENUE SOURCES OR BE ABLE TO HELP US INCREASE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE STRIFB SUPPORT TO THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT AND I THINK OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY WHERE WE'RE WORKING HARDEST TO IMPROVE THE COURT'S EFFECTIVENESS WITH TECHNOLOGY. WE ARE PLANNING TO INTERFACE WITH OTHER DATA BASES TO HELP US INCREASE WARRANT CLEARANCE SO WE CAN FIND PEOPLE BASICALLY. ENHANCE OUR IVR SYSTEM SO PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR CITATIONS OVER THE PHONE WITH CREDIT CARDS. WE'RE LOOKING AT AND HOPEFULLY LAUNCHING AN INTERNET PAYMENT SYSTEM. WE WILL CONTINUE OUR PROGRAM WITH THE HAND-HELD TICKET WRITERS AND WE WILL SHORTLY BE WOMANNING BACK AND TALKING TO YOU ABOUT A PILOT PROGRAM FOR A WORK IM MAINLYING PROCESS. MOST OF THESE ITEMS ARE BEING PAID FOR OUT OF OUR TECHNOLOGY FUND. IN ADDITION TO THE GENERAL FUND, MUNICIPAL COURT HAS TWO ADDITIONAL FUNDS. THE TECHNOLOGY IS FINANCED BY A FOUR DOLLAR FEE AND THAT SHOULD BRING IN REVENUES IN EXCESS OF $242,000. THE PROJECTS I JUST DESCRIBED COULD COST UP TO $425,000. WE ALSO HAVE A SECURITY FUND THAT IS FINANCED BY A THREE DOLLAR PER CONVICTION COURT COST. THIS WE ARE ANTICIPATING TO BRING IN OVER $448,000, AND OF THAT WE'LL BE SPENDING $438. AT THIS TIME IN THE PAST WITHIN AND HE CONTINUE TO FINANCE FOUR MARSHAL POSITIONS OUT OF THIS FUND TO PROVIDE SECURITY IN AND AROUND THE BUILDING. WE ALSO HAVE TWO SECURITY GUARDS AT MUNICIPAL COURT FOR 24-HOUR SERVICE. WE HAVE SECURITY GUARDS AT THE SOUTH SUBSTATION AND WE HAVE INCREASED OUR EXPENDITURES SOMEWHAT FOR NEXT YEAR TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE NEW COMMUNITY COURT WHEN IT MOVES TO SIXTH STREET. THAT'S BASICALLY OUR PRESENTATION FOR THIS YEAR. WE WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU AND WE'RE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: JUST REAL QUICK, ON THE COMMUNITY COURT, I THINK YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A REALLOCATION OF COURT SERVICES. IS THAT -- IS THAT -- YOU ARE MOVING IT, IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING OR ARE YOU JUST MOVING THE MONEY.

>> BASICALLY WE'RE JUST KIND OF MOVING THE MONEY AND THE EMPLOYEES JUST SHOW UP IN COMMUNITY COURT. IT'S STILL THE SAME JUDGE AND THE SAME CLERKS THAT HAVE BEEN PERFORMING THOSE SAME DUTIES.

>>ALVAREZ: SO WE'RE MOVING THE MONEY AND THE FACILITY OR ARE THE FACILITIES STAYING IN THE SAME PLACE?

>> WELL, THE MONEY AND EMPLOYEES ARE ACTUALLY MOVING ON PAPER AND THEN THE FACILITY, THE ACTUAL PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY MOVING OUT OF MUNICIPAL COURT. WE WERE HOUSED THERE TEMPORARILY SO THAT WE COULD OPEN ON OUR TARGET DATE OF OCTOBER 1ST, AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A FACILITY, THAT WAS ALWAYS KIND OF THE CHARGE TO FIND A FACILITY SO WE COULD EX UP AND DOWN AND HAVE MORE SERVICES ON SITE.

>>ALVAREZ: BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE YET?

>> YES, ACTUALLY WE HAD COUNCILMEMBER APPROVAL ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND IT'S ON SIXTH STREET NEXT DOOR TO THE CITY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.

>>ALVAREZ: GREAT. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.

>>SLUSHER: I JUST WANTED TO THANK JUDGE MCKEE FOR NOTING -- FOR PAYING ATTENTION TO TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUES AND NOTING THAT AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON THAT EVERY DAY AND LARGELY WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC NOTICE. WHATEVER YOU DO ON THAT IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SHOW UP IN THE NEWSPAPER, BUT IT WILL SAVE LIVES AND PREVENT INJURIES AND I WANTED TO TAKE NOTE OF THAT AND JUST -- AND THE WHOLE PRESENTATION WAS VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AND I THINK ACTUALLY IT HELPED CLEAR UP -- WHEN COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER ASKED THAT QUESTION EARLIER OF THE CHIEF ABOUT HIS ANECTDOTAL OBSERVANCE OF RUNNING STOPLIGHTS, I PERSONALLY SUGGESTED HE WAS RUNNING MORE STOPLIGHTS. THAT'S ALL BEEN CLEARED UP TO SO --.

>>SLUSHER: I'M GLAD THAT YOU CLEARED UP ANY WRONG IMPRESSION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL -- I'M SORRY. MS. FUTRELL? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. SHE'S GOT THAT LOOK ON HER FACE.

>> NO, NO, THAT'S IT. WE'RE DONE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL, THAT COMPLETES ALL OF THE BRIEFINGS ON THE OPERATING CAPITAL BUDGET THAT WERE SCHEDULED FOR TODAY. IT IS ABOUT 20 UNTIL NOON. LET ME ASK ON THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED, COULD YOU QUICKLY GLANCE AT THOSE AND SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY ITEM THAT YOU THINK IS JUST A QUESTION OR TWO FOR STAFF THAT WE COULD TAKE UP AND THEN WE WILL RECESS TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, IF WE CAN LET STAFF GO HOME ON SOME OF THOSE ITEMS -- NOT GO HOME, BUT WHEREVER THE CITY MANAGER WANTS THEM TO GO. [LAUGHTER].

>> I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE I WANT TO BE.

>> MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>WYNN: I HAD PULLED ITEM 14.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AND I TOLD THE PEOPLE ON ITEM 14 IT WOULD NOT BE BROUGHT UP BEFORE NOON.

>>WYNN: OKAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I THINK SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE GOING TO BE HERE LEFT AND I WOULD HATE TO CALL THAT ONE UP. ITEM 15 DOESN'T HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, COULD WE TAKE UP ITEM NO. 15?

>>THOMAS: YES, MAYOR. I JUST NEEDED A QUESTION ANSWERED, THE OVERALL PLANNING FOR HOLLY FROM STAFF.

>> LET ME ASK CHUCK MANNING.

>>THOMAS: PLANS, I MEAN.

>> CHUCK MAN CITY MANAGER IN BACK AND TO COME UP SHORTLY. LET ME START. WE'VE HAD A FA NO, MA'AM NOL AMOUNT -- PHENOMINAL AMOUNT OF GROWTH AND ENERGY DEMANDED FROM OUR UTILITY. I THINK WHEN THE ORIGINAL WAS ADOPTED BACK IN '95, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US HAD ANTICIPATED THAT LEVEL OF GROWTH AND I THINK THE NEW PROJECTIONS, EVEN WITH THE UNITS THAT COME ON LINE NEXT MAY AND THEN THE NEW POWER PLANT THAT COMES ONLINE A YEAR LATER, WE'RE STILL SHOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SQUEEZE FRD AN ENERGY STANDPOINT AND I'LL HAVE MR. MANNING ELABORATE ON THAT, BUT THIS UNIT CONTINUES TO BE CRITICAL FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND THE LOADS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, BUT MR. MANNING MAY WANT TO ADD TO THAT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT, MR. CITY MANAGER. THE LOADS DOWNTOWN ONCE THEY APPROACH 1500 MEGAWATTS, HOLLY BECOMES A VERY CRITICAL PLANT IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT. WE WILL NOT KNOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS WHAT THE TOTAL TEXAS GENERATION MARKET LOOKS LIKE, AND WE NEED TO CONSIDER THOSE RESOURCES IN OUR RESOURCE PLANNING. WHAT PLANTS ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE, WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO BE AVAILABLE, AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO MEET SERVICE REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE CITY. WE ANTICIPATE BY 2003 KNOWING WHAT IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE, WHO IS COMMITTED, WHERE THOSE PLANTS ARE, AND WHAT THE IMPORT CAPACITY OF THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IS WITHIN THE STATE SUCH THAT WE WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THAT. SO WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION TODAY TO STATE EXACTLY WHEN THAT ANALYSIS WILL BE DONE, BUT WE THINK CERTAINLY BY 2003.

>>THOMAS: OKAY. ALTHOUGH YOU SAID ABOUT THE DEMAND, I GUESS THERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION I NEED TO KNOW. WHAT ABOUT THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF HOLLY?

>> WE BELIEVE HOLLY IS AS SAFE AS ANY PLANT IN THE UNITED STATES.

>>THOMAS: ALL RIGHT.

>> WE MAINTAIN THAT PLANT, WE PUT ANNUAL -- WELL, WE HAVE OUR STAFF THERE. WE WOULDN'T HAVE 57 OR 58 EMPLOYEES AT A LOCATION THAT WE DIDN'T THINK WAS VERY TOTALLY SAFE.

>>THOMAS: OKAY. THIS BOILS DOWN TO THE LAST QUESTION.

>> OKAY.

>>THOMAS: WHAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AND I KNOW WE'VE GOT A DATE OF 2005, IF HOLLY PLANT IN THE NEAR FUTURE PLANNING MOVING HOLLY PLANT, CLOSING HOLLY PLANT DOWN.

>> THERE ARE NO PLANS BETWEEN NOW AND 2003 FOR ANY ACTION AT HOLLY. BETWEEN 2003 AND 2005, WE CAN EVALUATE WHAT CAN BE DONE BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND TECHNICALLY FOR HOLLY OR TO DISPLACE HOLLY. BUT THERE'S NOTHING CERTAINLY BETWEEN NOW AND 2003 TO MAKE THAT, EVEN WITH THE ADDITION WE'RE ADDING A BRAND NEW 180 MEGAWATT PLAN THAT WILL BE ON LINE. WE'RE ALSO ADDING A 230 MEGAWATT PLANT. NEITHER OF THOSE TWO PLANTS WILL DISPLACE THE REQUIREMENT FOR HOLLY AT THIS TIME. BUT, OTHER PLANTS IN THE STATE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP US BY THEN. BUT RIGHT NOW THAT'S NOT AN OPTION FOR HOLLY.

>>THOMAS: OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> YES, SIR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: KMDZ.

>>ALVAREZ: YEAH, FIRST IT'S A COMMENT ON THE SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD HOPE THAT HOLLY IS SAFER THAN MOST PLANTS BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I KNOW YOU SAID IT'S AS SAFE AS ANY OTHER PLANT IN THE COUNTRY. AND THE OTHER THING IS I KNOW THAT -- OR MAYBE YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO ME IN TERMS OF HOLLY PLANS FOR GENERATION OR HOW MANY YEARS IN ADVANCE WE PLAN FOR GENERATION SOURCES AND SOURCES OF POWER.

>> YES, SIR, THOSE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS. TYPICALLY WE HAVE A TEN YEAR HORIZON THAT WE LOOK AT THE PLANNING. BUT IN THAT PLANNING WE HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, THAT IS ERCOT, WHICH IS THE RELIABILITY COUNCIL OF TEXAS, LOOKING AT NOT ONLY POWER REQUIREMENTS BUT THE TRANSMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND HOW THE STATE SUPPORTS, WE'RE ALL INTERCONNECTED AND EACH UTILITY AND SEGMENT OF THE STATE SUPPORT EACH OTHER. SO WE'RE ALL LOOKING AT THAT PLANNING HORIZON. DEREGULATION HAS SOME IMPACT ON US BECAUSE NO LONGER ARE THE TRADITIONAL UTILITIES IN THE STATE DOING THE GENERATION PLANNING. SOME OF THOSE UTILITIES AREN'T ABLE TO SERVE MORE LOAD THAN THEY HAVE TODAY. SO THERE'S A NEW ENTITY CALLED INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS THAT ARE ALSO PLANNING INVESTMENTS AND ADDITIONAL PLANTS. SO WE BRING ALL OF THOSE PLANNED ADDITIONS NOT ONLY OF OUR ASSETS BUT OTHER ASSETS, INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS AND ET CETERA AND USE THOSE IN OUR FORECAST OF AVAILABLE ENERGY AND HOW WE MIGHT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, OR ARE WE GOING TO ADD CAPACITY OURSELVES. SO THAT'S ALL INTEGRATED.

>>ALVAREZ: I THINK MY REAL QUESTION WAS HOW MANY YEARS IN ADVANCE DO YOU PLAN FOR -- YOU KNOW, WHAT TIME FRAME ARE YOUR PLANS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF POWER GENERATION OR YOUR PROJECTIONS? IS IT FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS?

>> THE FIRST FIVE YEARS ARE FAIRLY SOLID, WHICH TAKES US OUT TO 2005. BEYOND THAT WE LOOK AT ECONOMIC ANALYSIS. WE TRY TO DO A TEN YEAR FORECAST. TO PROBLEM WITH THAT TEN YEAR FORECAST IS ALL OF THE NEW INCREED YENTSZ THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT INTO IT. OUR FORECAST WE BELIEVE IS SOLID FOR A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD AND IT'S LESS CLEAR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS DEPENDING ON HOW THE ENERGY MARKET UNFOLDS. BUT WE TRY TO DO THAT ON A TEN YEAR HORIZON.

>>GARZA: COUNCILMEMBERS, ARE YOU ALSO ASKING HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE US TO CONSTRUCT A NEW PLANT?

>>ALVAREZ: WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING TO. NOT SO MUCH TO CONSTRUCT A NEW PLANT, BUT AGAIN IF WE'RE FORECASTING OUT TO 2005 NOW AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS POLICY RESOLUTION THAT SAYS BY 2005 HOLLY SHOULD BE CLOSED, THEN I THINK WE SHOULD AT LEAST BE LOOKING AT TWO SCENARIOS FOR PROJECTING WHERE OUR POWER IS GOING TO COME FROM, ONE WITH HOLLY AND ONE WITHOUT HOLLY. I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT WITH YOU ABOUT THAT.

>> RIGHT. WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT. AND AGAIN, THE UNKNOWN IS WHAT'S HAPPENING BETWEEN NOW AND 2003. YOU KNOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY BUILDING WHAT THEY ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING, ET CETERA.

>> SO I CAN UNDERSTAND, I THINK WHAT WE CAN DO IS COME IN AND VISIT WITH YOU ABOUT ONE SCENARIO THAT WOULD SHOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN AND THE LEFPT OF TIME YOU WOULD NEED FOR THE CITY -- LENGTH OF TIME FOR THE CITY TO DO SOMETHING, THAT IS, CONSTRUCT AN ADDITIONAL 230 MEGAWATT PLANT ABOVE THE ONE THAT COMES ON LINE IN 03, WHAT THE COST IS, ET CETERA. SO YOU SEE WHAT THAT EXPENSE IS. THE THING MR. MANNING IS SAYING THAT'S DIFFICULT FOR US IS BECAUSE THE INDUSTRY IS KIND OF IN FLUX RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GENERATION IS ACTUALLY GOING TO COME ON LINE AND GIVE TEN GROWTH IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST US TO GO OUT AND BUY POWER. IT'S ABOUT 400 PLUS MEGAWATTS THESE UNITS PRODUCE FOR US DURING THE PEAK TIMES IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. WHETHER THAT'S EVEN GOING TO BE AVAILABLE, WHAT THE COSTS WOULD BE IF IT WERE AVAILABLE.

>> WE WILL BRING THOSE TO YOU AND THAT IS THE QUESTION. IN ADDITION, WHERE DOES THE ENERGY COME FROM AND HOW MUCH CAPITAL TRANSMISSION, YOU ALSO HAVE TO BUILD WIRE TO DISPLACE THAT ENERGY. SO WHEREVER IT COMES FROM IT HAS AMPLE CAPACITY TO GET TO WHERE IT'S NEEDED. SO THAT WHOLE PLANT IS BEING DEVELOPED RIGHT NOW.

>>ALVAREZ: AND I GUESS JUST TO TIE IT INTO THE ITEM THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY CONSIDERING, AGAIN, IF WE KEEP INVESTING IN WHAT IS A VERY OLD POWER PLANT, AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO START TO LOOK AT WHETHER IT'S MORE EFFICIENT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY AND THAT'S WHY THIS DISCUSSION CAME UP AS PART OF THIS ITEM BECAUSE WE'RE APPROVING SOME ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE OF SOME OF THE UNITS OR EQUIPMENT THERE.

>> RIGHT. AND IN TERMS OF AGE OF POWER PLANT, IT'S A RELATIVELY YOUNG POWER PLANT. TYPICALLY A POWER PLANT IS 40 OR 50 YEARS. THEORETICALLY IT'S AT MIDDLE AGE.

>> THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE WORSE. [LAUGHTER].

>>MAYOR WATSON: ARE YOU READY? MOVE APPROVAL? COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS MOVES APPROVAL ON ITEM 15. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM NO. 15. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, ITEM NO. 25, I'M ASSUMING IS THE SAME DISCUSSION.

>>THOMAS: IT WAS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: DO YOU MOVE APPROVAL?

>>THOMAS: MOVE ATROOFL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'LL SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM 25. ITEM NO. 32, I HAD -- MY NOTES INDICATED IT WAS PULLED OFF THE AGENDA, BUT THE REASON WAS BECAUSE MAYOR PRO TEM GOOD MAN WHO WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE SO I WOULD KPER TAKEN A MOTION TO POSTPONE. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES.

>> THAT'S THE 31ST?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES. I'M SORRY, THE 24TH? I TOOK A MOTION ON 31ST. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECONSIDER. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED, SAY NO. WE RECONSIDER ITEM -- THE ITEM AND THE POSTPONEMENT. THE MOTION WOULD BE TO POSTPONE UNTIL 24TH. MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS SECONDS THE MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. THAT'S 24. I'M JUST GLANCING, I THINK THAT PROBABLY PUTS US IN THE BEST SHAPE BEFORE LUNCH, I'LL I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECESS THE COUNCILMEMBER WHICH WILL BE TO ENGAGE IN PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH OUR ATTORNEY PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO RECEIVE ADVICE FROM LEGAL TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING LEGAL ISSUES. CIRCLE LAND CORP. VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN, CAUSE NO. 97-13994 IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT. GORDON DUNAWAY AND ELI GARZA VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN, CAUSE NO. 97-12434 IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT. THIS LITIGATION CONCERNS DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS APPLICABLE IN THE BARTON SPRINGS ZONE. ALSO LEGAL ISSUES CONCERNING A SETTLEMENT PROPOSAL FROM APPELLANT THL RANCH, LTD., STEINER RANCH, IN F.M. PROPERTIES OPERATING CO. VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN, CAUSE NO. 98-0685 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS, AND LEGAL ISSUES CONCERNING A RELATED PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FROM THE OWNERS OF THE STEINER RANCH DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE POSTED FOR TWO OTHER ITEMS TO TAKE UP IN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO 551.071 BUT WE WILL NOT BE DISCUSSING THOSE ITEMS. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. IS THERE A SECONDED? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE RECESSED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE WILL BE RECESSED UNTIL 1:30 P.M. IF, HOWEVER -- WE MAY NOT BE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THAT ACTUAL PERIOD OF TIME. IF WE RESES OR ADJOURN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION BEFORE 1:30 P.M. I WILL COME IN AND MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT WE'RE OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. BUT WE WILL BE RECESSED UNTIL 1:30 P.M.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AS SOON AS THERE IS A QUORUM I'M GOING TO CALL THE COUNCIL TO ORDER SO IF YOU ARE SIGNED UP FOR CITIZENS COMMUNICATION, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY INTO THE CHAMBERS. THAT'S GETTING A HUGE REACTION. THE SOUND OF MY VOICE JUST CAUSES PEOPLE TO MOVE. [LAUGHTER] FOR CITIZENS TO EXPECT THAT WRITTEN AGREEMENT TO BE FOLLOWED, TO BE HONORED? IS IT REASONABLE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO HIRE AND PAY EMPLOYEES TO WORK AT A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION? IS IT REASONABLE FOR THE CITY TO SPEND $5,000 A MONTH RENT, PLUS UTILITIES, PLUS EMPLOYEES' SALARIES FOR THE OPERATION OF A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION? IS IT REASONABLE TO EXPECT CITY EMPLOYEES EMPLOYED AT THE DAY LABOR SITE AND THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO ADHERE TO THE WRITTEN AGREEMENT MADE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS? IS IT REASONABLE? DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO THE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS TO AGREE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO PROVIDE A WORKER-MANAGED SITE AND THEN TO HIRE AND ASSIGN STAFF WHO ARE NEITHER RESPONSIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD NOR TO THE DAY LABORERS? WHEN SEVERAL OF DAY LABOR BOARD MEMBERS ARE PAID CITY STAFF, HOW DOES THIS REFLECT THE WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR A WORKER-MANAGED SITE? WHEN NONE OF THE WORKERS ARE REPRESENTED ON THE BOARD, HOW IS THIS A WORKER-MOGD SITE? WHEN AFTER 12 MONTHS OF BOARD MEETINGS ONLY THREE WORKER CON SEN US REPORTS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED, HOW DOES THIS REFLECT A WORKER MANAGED SITE? WHEN NEIGHBORS ATTEND DAY LABOR BOARD MEETS AND WITNESS REPEATED DISRESPECT OF LABORERS BY CITY PAID BOARD CHAIRMAN, IS THIS WHAT THE CITY COUNCILLMEMBERS WANT NEIGHBORHOODS TO EXPECT AS A RESULT OF MAKING A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY? THE CONSTANT LACK OF ORGANIZATION AND LACK OF PREPAREDNESS BY THE CITY PAID BOARD CHAIRMAN AT THE DAY LABOR BOARD MEETINGS, IS THIS WHAT THE CITY COUNCILLMEMBERS WANT NEIGHBORS TO KNOW ABOUT WORKING WITH THE CITY? WHAT ARE CITIZENS AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS TO THINK WHEN THE CITY PAYS $15,000 TO A UNIVERSITY RESEARCHER FOR AN ILL-DEFINED R. DEFINED EVALUATION OF THE DAY LABOR PROJECT? THIS IS AN EVALUATION THAT IS INCOMPLETE. IT DID NOT HAVE PRIOR APPROVAL BY THE DAY LABOR BOARD MEMBERS IN TERMS OF ITS SCOPE. AGAIN, IS THIS WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL WANTS? NOW THE DAY LABOR BOARD IS BEING ASKED TO APPROVAL SPENDING EVEN A LARGER AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO COMPLETE THE EVALUATION OF THE DAY LABOR PROJECT REPORT. IS THIS THROWING GOOD DOLLARS AFTER BAD? DOES THE PROJECT AND ITS MANAGEMENT -- [BUZZER SOUNDS] -- REFLECT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE CITIZENS CAN COUNT ON?

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MA'AM. CHRISTOPHER COLVIN, GUS PENA, SUSANNA ALMANZA.

>> HELLO, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR, I'M FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT MARTHA WARD IS FROM, THE MORNING SIDE RIDGETOP, WE ARE NEXT TO THE DAY LABOR SITE, AND I HAVE A FEW FOLLOWUP COMMENTS TO THE TWO PREVIOUS SPEAKERS. THE QUESTIONS THAT MS. WARD ASKED, THE STATEMENTS THAT MR. PEREZ MADE ARE NOT EXAGGERATED AND THEY CAN BE DOCUMENTED AND WE NEED TO COME BACK LATER THIS MONTH WITH FULL DOCUMENTATION OF THESE. I'LL CITE ONE INCIDENT FROM ONE BOARD MEETING WHERE I WAS WITNESS TO THE BOARD CHAIRMAN SILENCING A WORKER WHO IS SPEAKING BY SAYING THESE PEOPLE MUST LEARN HOW TO MAKE A PRESENTATION. EVIDENTLY NO ONE IS BOTHERING TO INSTRUCT THEM AND NO ONE WILL ALLOW THEM TO REPORT UNTIL THEY DO. PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS BOTH THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE WORKERS THAT COME TO YOU. WE ARE THE TWO AFFECTED CONSTITUENT EVEN CYST AND WE MAKE AN EFFORT TO LEAVE OUR JOBS TO COME TO YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY SHOULD BE A SIGNAL THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS DAY LABOR SITE AND I ASK YOU TO LOOK INTO IT MORE. I HAVE WRITTEN EACH OF YOU A LETTER, MAYOR WATSON WAS KIND ENOUGH TO RESPOND, HE SENT A FOLLOWUP REPORT AND I HAVE RESPOND TO DO THAT FOLLOWUP REPORT. I BELIEVE HIS ASSURANCES CANNOT HOLD WATER, BUT I THANK HIM FOR THE EFFORT TO TRY TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS. A REFERENCE HAS BEEN MADE TO THE KEELLY REPORT, THE STATESMAN HAD A GLOWING ARTICLE ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL THE SITE WAS ACCORDING TO THE KELLY REPORT. LET ME REMIND YOU THIS REPORT HAS NEVER BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD, THE BOARD NEVER SIGNED A CONTRACT BY THE REPORT. THE STUDY WAS INITIATED WITHOUT APPROVAL OF THE BOARD BY THE BOARD CHAIRMAN GIVING APPROVAL CLAIMING REPRESENTATION FOR THE BOARD, WHICH HE DID NOT HAVE. THAT THE SITE -- THAT THE REPORT HOWEVER DEFECTIVE IT IS DOES SAY THE SITE IS NOT BEING RUN ACCORDING TO PLAN WHICH WAS IN AGREEMENT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IT WOULD BE RUN ACCORDING TO PLAN SO IT'S IN VIOLATION OF ITS ORIGINAL AGREEMENT. THAT THAT REPORT DOES SHOW CONFLICTING STATISTICS, BUT DOES SHOW CRIME INCREASE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN ASKED -- WHEN I ASKED THE CITY REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THIS, THEY ALLUDE TO DO AN AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT. I ASKED MY DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HE SAID HE CANNOT SHOW ME THE REPORT BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED. SO I CANNOT ACCEPT THE ASSURANCES OF THE CITY THAT THE CRIME IS BETTER BECAUSE THE AUSTIN POLICE SAY SO BECAUSE THAT REPORT IS BEING HELD CLASSIFIED. I THINK THESE ARE SOME SYMPTOMS THAT INDICATE THERE IS SOMETHING SCREW REHERE L. HERE AND I ASK YOU TO LOOK INTO IT. TO ASK FOR MORE INFORMATION, WHO HEAR OUR SIDE, BOTH THE WORKERS AND THE NEIGHBORS, SO THAT WE CAN REPRESENT TO YOU THE SITUATION AS WE FIND IT. LASTLY, I ASK YOU TO RESPECT THE DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUENCIES WHO SEEM TO HAVE A SMALL VOICE HERE AS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM MR. PEREZ AND MS. WARD THAT IS CORRECT IS THE NEIGHBORS AND THE WORKERS. WE ARE THE MOST INVOLVED IN THIS SITE. THE WORKERS LOOK TO IT FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD, THE NEIGHBORS LIVE NEXT TO IT. BOTH ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE SITE-[BUZZER SOUNDS] -- WE ARE DEEPLY DISTURBED BY THE BOARD, BY THE MISMANAGEMENT AND BY ITS IMPACT. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. MR. PENA, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT MS. CONNER -- ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM TOO? MR. PENA, ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM?

>> NO, SIR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND LET US TAKE A QUICK BREAK AND HAVE MS. CONNER SPEAK TO THE LAST THREE SPEAKERS AND THEN I'LL CALL ON YOU AGAIN.

>> OKAY. I DON'T MIND THIS TIME, MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND TALK.

>> I NEED TO GET THEM HOME. THANK YOU. MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, GOOD AFTERNOON, GUS PENA, PRESIDENT OF EAST AUSTIN CONCERNED HISPANICS. THIS IS MY CHILD WHO ONE DAY WILL BE RUNNING FOR MAYOR, WILL BECOME THE FIRST HISPANIC MAYOR IN THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN. MAYOR, WE HAVE -- AND COUNCILMEMBERS, WE HAVE SOME ISSUES HERE WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR LOW INCOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE NEED TO BRING TO THE TABLE. EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT HOMEOWNERSHIP, RENTAL UNITS, WHICH IS FINE. WE ALL SUPPORT THOSE ISSUES. WE WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT THOSE ISSUES. BUT KNOWING IS TALKING ABOUT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE. BEFORE A PERSON AGAIN CAN QUALIFY TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE A HOME, THAT PERSON NEEDS TO BE IN SOME SORT OF HOUSING. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING WILL IN FACT BE RELEVANT FOR THAT TYPE OF SITUATION. BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT, WORK, AND THEREFORE QUALIFY TO PURCHASE A HOME. WE NEEDED TO A LOT MORE OF THAT HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. I DON'T SEE THAT MOVEMENT. NO. 2, I WAS VERY PROUD AND EXCITED THAT MARK HAZELWOOD OF THE CHAMBER APPROACHED ME ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO AND ASKED ME TO WORK WITH THE CHAMBER ON HOUSING ISSUES. IT IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE IN ORDER TO DO THAT. WE CAN EDUCATE THEM, AS HE SAID, AND THEY WILL EDUCATE US ON ISSUES OF TRANSPORTATION, ET CETERA. BUT WE WILL BRING TO THE TABLE AND EDUCATE THEM ON THE PROBLEMS AND THE ISSUES FROM THE GRASS ROOTS LEVEL AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. NO. 2, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT HAS HAPPENED, VERY I'M VERY EXCITED, IS THAT FORMER H.U.D. SECRETARY HENRY CISNEROS WILL BE STARTING A HOUSING INITIATIVE NOT ONLY IN AUSTIN BUT IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS. I WORKED ON HIS FIRST MAYORAL CAMPAIGN, VERY PROUD TO HAVE DONE THAT, WILL DO IT AGAIN FOR ANY KIND OF POSITION HE RUNS FOR. WE'RE STANDING HERE WILLING AND ABLE TO HELP HIM OUT IN ANYTHING THAT WE CAN BECAUSE I THINK HOUSING IS VERY IMPORTANT ALONG WITH TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER ISSUES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. ALSO, LET ME SUM UP BY SAYING I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE THIS COMPANY'S NAME, BUT I'LL GIVE IT A SHOT. MCNETTY MACNET: THE DEAL IS STILL IN THE PROPOSED STAGE. THE PROPOSED CAMPUS COULD STILL OVER INTO THE SITE MUCH ELDERLY HOUSE WILL. I THINK WE HAD ENOUGH OF FAST TRACKING ISSUES. LET'S START THINKING ABOUT THE POOR, THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED. MORE THAN JUST PUSHING A COMPANY, TALKING ABOUT IT. LET'S GET EVERYBODY TO THE TABLE R NOT JUST SOMEBODY TO THE TABLE BECAUSE WE IN IN THE COMMUNITY DO HAVE A STAKE SO I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT SOME OF -- ALL OF US, WHOMEVER WANTS TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE BE ALLOWED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS. I DO KNOW ABOUT PROPRIETARY ISSUES, I'M A FORMER FEDERAL INVESTIGATOR, BUT INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY IN SOME OF THESE ISSUES. HOUSING WE NEED IT, BUT DON'T ENCROACH -- [BUZZER SOUNDS] -- ON THE ELDERLY HOUSING OR THE DISABLED. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: NOW MS. CONNER. MS. ALMANZA, YOU WILL FOLLOW MS. CONNER.

>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FIRST OF ALL, REALLY I DON'T NORMALLY DO THIS BUT I THINK I HAVE TO TAKE POINT OF PRIVILEGE IN DOING THIS. I DON'T MAKE A HABIT OF USING A TERM THOSE PEOPLE. I DON'T LIKE TO BE REFERRED TO THAT WAY AND I CAN ASSURE YOU I NEVER USED THOSE TERMS IN TERMS OF REFERENCE OF INDIVIDUALS AT THAT SITE. THE WAY THE ORGANIZATION IS SET UP, THE ORGANIZATION THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL INCLUDES REPRESENTATION OF BOARD SHE IT INCLUDES THE CITY OF AUSTIN REPRESENTATIVE, A.P.D. REPRESENTATIVE, AND AFL-CIO REPRESENTATIVE, TRAVIS COUNTY, REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM I-35 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MORNING SIDE RIDGETOP ASSOCIATION, AND THERE'S ALSO AN AT LARGE MEMBER AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS WHICH ARE OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT WERE A PART OF THE BOUNDARY AS A PART OF THE ORDINANCE ITSELF. AND THAT'S THE ACTUAL REPRESENTATION. I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE LABORERS BEING REPRESENTED ON THE BOARD. AS YOU KNOW, AND I'VE ACTUALLY BRIEFED MAYBE ONE OR -- ONE NEW COUNCILMEMBER, BUT WE NEED TO BRIEF OTHERS, THE MODEL THAT WE'RE USING IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MODELS THAT WAS USED IN CALIFORNIA. AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THOSE ARTICLES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE FOR YOU IN TERMS OF HOW IT WORKS. THE INPUT FROM THE WORKERS ACTUALLY COMES FROM THE CENSUS REPORT. YOU HAVE A ORGANIZER WHO ACTUALLY REPORTS THROUGH THE CITY WHO HELPS ORGANIZE THE WORKERS ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY HOLD DISCIPLINE COMMITTEES, REGULAR WORK COMMITTEES. AND A CONSENSUS REPORT IS SUPPOSED TO BE GIVEN TO THE BOARD MONTHLY. IT IS TRUE WE'VE NOT HAD A CONSENSUS REPORT EVERY MONTH. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY REASONS IN TERMS OF THAT. WORKERS HAVE NOT EITHER HAD ISSUES TO BRING BEFORE US OR WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET A CON SEN US REPORT BECAUSE THE THEME IS IT IS IN FACT A CON SEN US REPORT. ALSO THE BOARD DID NOT WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAVE CITIZEN COMMUNICATION. THEY THEN ESTABLISHED CITIZENS COMMUNICATION AND THEN WE SPENT PROBABLY HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF OF THE MEETING GOING THROUGH CITIZEN COMMUNICATION. THEY THEN SET UP GUIDELINES AND ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT CITIZEN COMMUNICATION WHICH MAY HAVE NOT BEEN COMMUNICATED, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND BEEN DIFFICULT, IS THAT AN HOUR BEFORE THE MEETING STARTS, WE DO CITIZEN SIGNUP. IT IS RESTRICTED TO SIX INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN SIGN UP AND SPEAK FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES. WE HAVE IN FACT HAD WORKERS WHO COME AND SPEAK, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A CONCERN ARE THEY IN FACT SPEAKING FOR WORKERS OR ARE THEY IN FACT SPEAKING FOR THEMSELVES. WHAT WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT IS THAT THE WORKERS COMMUNICATION, AND THIS IS A REAL SENSITIVE ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHTS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN PICKUP FORUM AND HAVE ASKED THE WORKER FOCUS ON ISSUES THEY INDIVIDUALLY HAVE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE BOARD. BUT MOST OF THE CONCERNS FROM THE WORKERS COME FROM THE CONSENSUS REPORT. ONE OF THE OTHER ITEMS I THINK IS THE KEL KREE REPORT. THE KELLY REPORT WAS IN FACT AUTHORIZED, THE EXPENDITURES AUTHORIZED BY THE BOARD, WE CAN REFLECT THAT IN A MINUTE. THE BOARD HAD A PRESENTATION I BELIEVE IN MAY BY MR. KELLY. JENT THAT WE HAVE HAD I GUESS POSTED SEVERAL AGENDA ITEMS TO DISCUSS HOW THAT REPORT OR NOT NECESSARILY THE REPORT IS JUST DATA. BASED ON THAT DATA THE BOARD IS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL IN TERMS OF THE SUCCESS OF THE SITE. WE'VE ESTABLISHED A SUBCOMMITTEE. IT'S ACTUALLY HEADED BY WILL BOZEMAN, TO BEGIN TO DISCUSS WHAT GIVEN THAT DATA, CONCERNS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS THAT THE BOUNDARIES IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE SURVEYS THAT WERE DONE MAY HAVE BEEN TOO LARGE AND THEY WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE DIRECT IMPACT NEXT TO THE CENTER. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DISCUSS THAT ACTION ON MONDAY AT OUR BOARD MEETING. THAT HAS BEEN ASKED TO BE POSTPONED UNTIL THE NEXT MONTH. BUT THERE'S A SUBCOMMITTEE OF STAFFERS AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A REPORT FROM THE BOARD TO THE COUNCIL SOMETIME SOON.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THIS IS FOR THE COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS. COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.

>>SLUSHER: MS. CONNER, IT SEEMS TO ME MAYBE THERE -- SINCE IT'S A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS UNDER WHICH THE CENTER IS GOVERNED THAT MAYBE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DISAGREEMENTS, BUT THE CENTER IS BEING RUN BY THE WORKERS AND THE CITY IS PROVIDING BOTH ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

>> THE CITY IS PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE WORK. IF YOU GO OUT THERE, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE LISTS ARE IN FACT RUN BY THE WORKERS. WE HAVE TWO WORKERS THAT ARE PAID, AND I THINK ONE OF THE REFERENCE WAS CITY PAID WORKERS WORKING THERE. WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING UP UNTIL LAST MONTH WITH A TEMPORARY SITE SUPERVISOR WHO WAS IN FACT PAID BY THE CITY AND ACTUALLY OUR PART TIME PERSON IS PAID BY THE CITY AND SOME OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE -- WHEN THE BUDGET WAS APPROVED ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AGO. PRETTY MUCH IF YOU GO OUT THERE, AND I INVITE YOU ALL TO COME TO THE SITE AND SEE HOW IT ACTUALLY OPERATES AND WORKS IN TERMS OF THE WORKERS. THEY ARE GETTING PLACED. THEY ARE GETTING WORK. I DO BELIEVE WE ARE PROBABLY GETTING TO A POINT IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF WORKERS COMING TO THE SITE, THAT NUMBER HAS STEADILY INCREASE FRD AN AVERAGE OF I THINK ABOUT 138 TO PROBABLY 180 TO 200 RIGHT NOW, AND NOT EVERYONE IS ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO PLACED. WE NEEDED TO SOME ADDITIONAL MARKETING IN TERMS OF GETTING OTHER EMPLOYERS TO COME TO THE SITE.

>>SLUSHER: AND THE CITY IS ALSO FINANCIALLY INVOLVED IN GETTING THE CENTER STARTED.

>> YES.

>>SLUSHER: AND I SEE CHIEF MCDONALD IS HERE. COULD YOU COMMENT ON THE CRIME RATE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE THE CENTER WENT THERE?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. ASSISTANT CHIEF MICHAEL MCDONALD. WHAT WE'VE NOTICED IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE OF REPORTING OF CRIME, BUT THE TYPES OF CRIME WE WOULD NORMALLY RESPOND TO, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, VAGRANCY, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, WE HAVEN'T HAVEN'T NOTICED AN INCREASE IN THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ENCOURAGE, WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAM AND WHAT WE ENCOURAGE IS THE REPORTING OF CERTAIN TYPES OF CRIMES. SO AND IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO THE CRIME INFORMATION IN THAT AREA, THE REPORT THAT THEY WERE REFERRING TO FROM THAT BOARD, THE DATA REGARDING CRIME, THEY RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO IF THE GENTLEMAN WOULD MEET WITH ME AFTER THE HEARING HERE, I'LL ENSURE THAT HE WILL GET INFORMATION IN TERMS OF THE CRIME IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA. WITH REGARDS TO THE STING OPERATION, OUR GOAL IN THE STING OPERATION, IT'S NOT APPREHENSION. IT'S JUST PREVENTION AND GET FOLKS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE. SO WHAT WE DO PRIOR TO DOING ANY TYPE OF STING OPERATION IN ANY OF THE AREAS IS THE DAY BEFORE WE FLOOD THE AREA WITH LEAFLETS REMINDING FOLKS OF WHAT THE -- YOU KNOW, WHAT THE ORDINANCES ARE AND THE LAWS ARE TO TRY TO GAIN COMPLIANCE. AND AGAIN, ANY STING OPERATION WE DO IS, AGAIN, JUST TO TRY TO SUPPORT COMPLIANCE, BUT THE GOAL IS NOT NOT APPREHENSION.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. THANK YOU, CHIEF.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: I HAD A QUESTION OF MS. CONNER. I KNOW WE HAD A DISCUSSION RECENTLY ABOUT THE SITUATION THERE AT THE DAY LABOR SITE AND YOU DID MENTION THAT THERE WERE SOME VACANCIES THAT WERE COMING OPEN ON THE BOARD OR --

>> YES. THE CENTER ITSELF ACTUALLY JUST COMPLETED ITS ONE YEAR OF OPERATION AND THIS MONTH OF AUGUST COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY TO APPOINT OR REAPPOINT BOARD MEMBERS. CURRENTLY WE DO HAVE AT LEAST ONE OFFICIAL RESIGNATION AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ON BOARD MEMBER WHO HAS ACTUALLY HAD SOME ATTENDANCE ISSUES THAT YOU COULD REPLACE THOSE TWO, AND THEN THERE'S REAAPPOINTMENTS THAT COULD OCCUR BY THE COUNCIL.

>>ALVAREZ: OKAY. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO BE CONSIDERING?

>> YES.

>>ALVAREZ: RELATIVELY SOON SO HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A WAY OF -- AGAIN, I GUESS WHAT WE'LL HOPE TO DO IS MAKE SELECTIONS AND ENSURE THERE IS BETTER REPRESENTATION OF THE WORKERS AND IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE I KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD INTERESTS ARE -- YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME REPRESENTATION THERE, BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS MODEL AND SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW WE CAN GO ABOUT, AGAIN, STRENGTHENING I GUESS THE VOICE OF THE WORKERS. BUT THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU, MS. CONNER, CHIEF, APPRECIATE YOU. SUSANNA ALMANZA FOLLOWED BY SYLVIA HERRERA AND THEN DAN ELGIN.

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES. SYLVIA HERRERA, THEN MR. DE LEON.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SYLVIA HERRERA, HEALTH COORDINATOR FOR POE DER, ALSO A MEMBER OF THE GOVALLE AREA NEIGHBORHOOD AND A MEMBER OF SEVERAL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS IN THE GOVALLE AREA. I WOULD LIKE TO RESTATE AND ADDRESS MY INITIAL COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE SEVERAL YEARS AGO RELATED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS AND THE ZONING CASES AND THE EAST AUSTIN OVERLAY, CASES THAT WE WERE WORKING ON A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. WE HAD INITIATED THOSE ZONING CASES AND GOING BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THOSE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, THE RESIDENTIAL USE OF PROPERTIES THAT WERE ACTUALLY ZONED INDUSTRIAL. AND WE WERE REALLY MAKING CHANGES FOR THOSE INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS WAS INTRODUCED, WE WERE TOLD THAT THAT WOULD HAVE TO COME TO A HALT OR THAT WOULD BE PUT ON HOLD FOR US NOT TO CONTINUE THAT PROCESS. THE OTHER COMMITMENT THAT WAS MADE AT THAT TIME WAS THAT THE EAST AUSTIN OVERLAY WOULD REMAIN, BUT WHAT HAS OCCURRED IS THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN GETTING NOTE IF I KWATION ON SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES cN NOTIFICATION ON SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN EAST AUSTIN OVERLAY. SO AGAIN, WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL AREAS, RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS NEXT TO -- TO INDUSTRIAL AND PROPERTIES THAT ARE DAMAGING AND DETRIMENTAL TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS. I BRING THIS -- ALL THESE ISSUES TOGETHER TO SAY THAT AS A RESULT OF THIS, WE'RE STILL NOT ADDRESSING THE HOUSING ISSUES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SORT OF PUT ON HOLD BECAUSE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS. WE'RE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE HOUSING. WE'RE LOSING HOUSING BECAUSE OF THE PROPERTY APPRAISALS. WE'RE LOSING PROPERTY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE -- THE WHOLE PROCESS REALLY HAS COME TO A HALT. AND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS, AGAIN, THE RESIDENTS ARE EXPRESSING THAT CONCERN ON HOUSING ISSUES. AND YET IT SEEMS TO BE THAT IT'S ALREADY A SET AGENDA IN TERMS OF WHAT THE CITY HAS IN MIND FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO I JUST WANT TO BRING US BACK TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS STILL ISSUES OUT THERE, THERE'S STILL THE EAST AUSTIN OVERLAY THAT NEEDS TO BE ENFORCED. WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE THAT NOTIFICATION PROCESS IN PLACE. THAT COMMITMENT WAS MADE TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND TO THE EAST AUSTIN RESIDENTS. [BUZZER SOUNDS] BUZZ. SO I ASK YOU TO LOOK INTO THAT AS A WAY TO PROTECTED OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. MR. MARCOS DE LEON.

>> MEMBERS OF THE CONCILIO --. [SPEAKING IN SPANISH]. THE EAST TOWN LAKE CITIZENS. [SPEAKING IN SPANISH].

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. MS. ALMANZA FOLLOWED BY DAN ELGIN. THEN JOSE QUINTERO.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILLMEMBERS, MY NAME IS SUSANNA ALMANZA, I'M WITH PODER, PEOPLE ORGANIZED IN DEFENSE OF EARTH AND HER RESOURCES AND I'M HERE TO SAY THAT THE ORDINANCE NO. 00040681, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 25 OF THE CITY CODE RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COMBINING DISTRICT DOES NOT BRING ANY PROTECTION TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I MAKE THIS IN REFERENCE TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST WHEN NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS WORKED TO PROTECT THE RAIN FORESTS AND THE JUNGLES IN SEVERAL AREAS, WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THAT WITH GOOD INTENTIONS OF PROTECTING IT, WHAT THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT WAS THE THOUSANDS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THEY DISPLACED FROM THE RAIN FORESTS IN THOSE JUNGLES. SO EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE LOOKING WITH GOOD INTENTIONS, THE DISPLACEMENT OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CAME ABOUT AND THAT'S WHAT THIS ORDINANCE IS GOING TO DO. THIS ORDINANCE COULD ALSO DISPLACE THOUSANDS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE BARRIOS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW MOVED INTO WHAT WE CALL THE URBAN RESERVATION AS WE WERE RELOCATED FROM WEST, SOUTH, NORTHWEST, SOUTHWEST TO EAST AUSTIN AND NOW OUR LAND HAS BECOME PRIME TARGET FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF.COMS, DESIGN COMPANIES, HIGH END HOUSING, CONDOMINIUMS AND SO FORTH. AND AUSTIN HAS MADE THIS PLANNING PART OF THE SMART GROWTH INITIATIVE. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IT HAS NOT DONE IS THAT IT HAS NOT INSTITUTED THE TOOLS TO PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN THE PLANTS PLANS. THE PEOPLE WORKING ON PLANS ON COULD BE THE VERY PEOPLE THAT COULD GET DISPLACED. SO WE BRING FORWARD TO YOU BECAUSE WE THINK THAT THE PLAN SHOULD PROMOTE COMMUNITY STABILITY AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR NEED INVESTMENTS AND BENEFITS FOR EXISTING RESIDENTS. PODER FEELS THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE WILLING TO COMMIT THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO MAKE THE PROGRAM EFFECTIVE. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROGRAM HAS BEEN PUT ON PLAYS WITH LIMITED RESOURCES AND INTRICATE DEPARTMENT SUPPORT T AREAS INCLUDED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN SHOULD NOT BE INSTITUTED UNTIL TOOLS THAT PROTECT THE EXISTING TOOLS ARE PUT IN PLACE. HERE ARE SOME OF THE TOOLS. REZONE TO SINGLE-FAMILY USE. HUNDREDS OF HOMES IN EAST AUSTIN ARE ZONED LIMITED INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL SERVICES MUCH REZONE THESE PROPERTIES TO MATCH THEIR SINGLE-FAMILY USES. COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS. LAND IS PURCHASED AND SET ASIDE FOR COMMUNITIES TO DECIDE THE USE OF ANYTHING FROM PARKS TO HOUSING TO SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. INCLUSIONARY ZONING AND HOUSING CONTROL, SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING MUST BE INCREASED AND PROTECTED THROUGH INCENTIVES TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ABATEMENT AND TAXES -- ABATEMENT OF TAXES AND FEES FOR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXPANSION AND SERVICES TO NEIGHBORHOOD AND SUPPORT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN. [BUZZER SOUNDS]. FINDING FUNDING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, PROVIDE A PROGRAM TO ASSIST SMALL BUSINESSES WHICH ARE RENTERS TO BECOME OWNERS AND ASSIST THEM IN --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MS. ALMANZA. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: I KNOW THERE'S SOME OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE TOO, BUT I DID WANT TO -- I MEAN THERE IS AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY ON THIS ISSUE THAT WILL MOST LIKELY BE POSTPONED. I DON'T THINK WE CAN DISCUSS FOR HOW LONG, BUT I KNOW YOU WERE RAISING SEVERAL CONCERNS.

>> WELL SHE I REALLY JUST HAD THREE MORE RECOMMENDATIONS. BUT IF THE MAYOR --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WELL, YOU KNOW HOW THE RULES WORK HERE AND --

>> WELL, I ALSO KNOW THAT MRS. CONNER TALKED AND I'VE SEEN IN THE PAST WHERE THE COUNCIL WILL ASK QUESTIONS AND PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: CERTAINLY. AND IF COUNCIL WANTED TO DO IT THAT WAY, AND MS. CONNER IS A STAFF PERSON THAT THE COUNCIL SPECIFICALLY ASKED TO COME UP. YOU ARE NOT IN THAT POSITION.

>>ALVAREZ: CAN YOU READ THOSE LAST THREE?

>> OKAY. TAX BASE SHARING. CITIES AND COUNTIES MUST SHARE PROPERTY AND SALES TAXES TO STOP THE [INAUDIBLE] OF LAND USE. CITY AND COUNTY HOUSING FUND. BUILDERS WHICH ONLY BUILD HIGH END HOUSING MUST CONTRIBUTE TO A HOUSING FUND THAT SUPPORTS BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS COULD BE DONE WITH PERMIT FEES. AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DISTRICT, CREATE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DISTRICT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AREA. FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS. NUMEROUS FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES TO PROVIDE GRANT FUNDS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN ADDITION TO HOUSING. THESE FUNDS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> HELLO, I'M DAN ELGIN AND I'M IN THE NORTH FIELD NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT BY THE DAY LABOR SITE KNOWN AS FIRST WORKERS CORPORATION. I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. I WAS THERE ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO I THINK NOW AND WHILE I WAS THERE IN THE AFTERNOON I DIDN'T SEE THE RULES OR THE WORKER LIST POSTED CLEARLY. AND THAT'S -- THAT'S ONE THING THAT I DIDN'T NOTICE UNTIL AFTER I LEFT, BUT I THINK IT SUGGESTS SOMETHING ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT THE DAY LABOR SITE. NOW, THE CITY COUNCILL DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPOINT EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS TO THE BOARD AND I THINK WITH SOME OF THE THINGS BROUGHT UP TODAY THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO GET A BETTER PERCEPTION OF WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING THERE ON THE BOARD. I HAVE A LETTER THAT WAS WRITTEN BY A COLLEGE INTERN HERE IN AUSTIN THAT MADE IT TO A RECENT BOARD MEETING AND SHE SAYS I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT AND OUTRAGE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S TREATMENT OF ITS DAY LABORERS. WHEN THE DAY LABOR SITE WAS MOVED TO ITS PRESENT LOCATION THE WORKERS WERE PROMISED THE RIGHT TO SELF-GOVERN AND A VOICE AND VOTE IN THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. THE MOVE WAS NEGOTIATED ON THOSE TERMS, BUT THE BOARD'S CONDUCT AT THE JULY 17 MEETING CLEARLY ILLUSTRATED THEY HAVE FAILED TO FOLLOW THROUGH. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' HOSTILE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE PEOPLE ATTENDING THE MEETINGS TO PREVENT THE WORKERS FROM TRULY HAVING A VOICE. SPANISH SPEAKERS WERE ONLY ALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK INCLUDING TRANSLATING TIME AND SPEAKERS WERE REPEATEDLY INTERRUPTED AND SCOFFED. FURTHERMORE BOARD MEMBERS TALKED AMONG EACH OTHER SOLELY IN ENGLISH, WALKED OUT AND TURNED THEIR BACKS TO SPEAKERS. HOW CAN WE EXPECT THIS BOARD TO REPRESENT THE LATINO WORKERS FAIRLY. ON THAT NOTE, I THINK SOMETHING ELSE TO NOTICE IS THAT IN THE -- IN THE APRIL ORGANIZERS REPORT, IT SAYS THAT THE ORGANIZERS SELECT THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE DAILY WITH HELP OF THE WORKERS, AND THIS IS THE COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CENTER. IT'S MADE UP OF THE WORKERS. AND IN THE ACTUAL RULES OF THE -- OF THE FIRST WORKERS SITE, RULE NO. 32 SAYS THAT WE WILL ASSIGN FIVE DAY LABORERS WHO ARE SERIOUS, HAVE A GOOD RECORD AT THE CENTER AND WHO ARE NOT DRUG ADDICTS OR PRACTICING ALCOHOLICS TO PARTICIPATE AS THE DAILY DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, THE DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE WILL DEAL WIT. I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHERE THE WORKERS WERE EXPECTING TO HAVE CONTROL AT THE SITE AND YET WHEN THINGS GET GOING AT THE SITE EVERY DAY, THEIR CONTROL GETS LESS AND LESS AND LESS. AND SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW ARE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T WANTING TO GO BACK TO THE DAY LABOR SITE AND WHAT THEY ARE WANTING TO DO IS FIND A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GET WORK AND HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THEM. AND, YOU KNOW, FURTHERMORE I THINK THAT HAVING THE BOARD REDONE, REASSIGNING THE BOARD -- [BUZZER SOUNDS] -- WITH 51% WORKER REPRESENTATION WOULD BE HELPFUL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. ELGIN. MR. QUINTERO. JOSE QUINTERO. JOSE QUINTERO. ROBERT DONLEY.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL, MAYOR. MY NAME IS ROBERT DONLEY, MEMBER OF THE EL CONCILIO AND I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE -- OF THE PLANNING THAT IS GOING ON AND THE -- THROUGHOUT EAST AUSTIN AND ALSO THE FEARS THAT THE PEOPLE OF EAST AUSTIN THAT ARE JUST NOW BARELY LEARNING WHAT THE PLANS ARE ARE TERRIFIED OUT OF THEIR WITS BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT AWARE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IN FACT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE PLANNING THEIR OWN DEMISE AS A MATTER OF SPEAKING. BUT ESSENTIALLY LIKE IT'S BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE ARE NO SAFEGUARDS FOR THE HOUSING, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE CESAR CHAVEZ PLAN, THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE SECTION THERE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND THIS -- THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING FOR A COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL FOR THE POOREST OF FAMILIES HERE IN AUSTIN. AND FIND THEMSELVES AGAIN IN A MODE OF BEING DRIVEN OUT OF THEIR HOMES IS VERY SCARY. AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY READ ARTICLES LIKE THE LAKE SIDE APARTMENTS THAT ARE IN THE PLANS OF BEING DEMOLISHED AND THEN THE MAYOR STATING THAT THE FUTURE OF -- A FUTURE OF THOSE RESIDENTS HOUSE CITY MANAGER IN THE HANDS OF THE DEVELOPERS IS VERY SCARY BECAUSE AS I REMEMBER, AS I SEE IT, I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ELECTED TO THIS COUNCIL ARE PRIMARILY ELECTED FOR THE -- TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS AND THE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE THE LEAST PROTECTION WHICH ARE THE POOREST AND TO FIND THAT THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS DELEGATED TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT OF DEMOLISHING THESE PLACES FOR THEIR HOMES IS -- IT'S VERY SAD. BUT LIKE WE HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE BATTLES FOR MANY YEARS AND WE KNOW THE AGENDAS AND WHERE THEY ARE TAKING US AND BECAUSE WHAT YOU SHOULD IMPLEMENT IS A DISTRICT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN THAT AREA WHICH WE DON'T HAVE. AND WE SHOULD ASK THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE A HEART TO LOOK INTO THESE MATTERS AND TRY TO BRING THIS ABOUT IN THE BEST WAY THAT YOU CAN. AND I ASK THOSE OF YOU TO LISTEN. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: IS IT ON NOW?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES.

>>ALVAREZ: LIKE I SAID, THERE IS AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA LATER ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHICH I DO BELIEVE WILL BE POSTPONED SO THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO TALK SO I JUST LET YOU KNOW WE ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN PROTECT SOME OF THE RESIDENTIAL USES THROUGH LAND USE POLICY, HOW WE CAN BETTER DEFINE WHAT WE MEAN BY MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT. THESE ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED. AND ALSO AGAIN, HOW CAN WE ENCOURAGE THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT IS GOING TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY, THE TYPE OF COMMERCIAL BENEFIT THAT IS GOING TO BRING JOBS AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESS -- SERVICES THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN AS FAR AS THE HOUSING PART, AGAIN, PART OF THIS IS HOW CAN WE ENCOURAGE, FOR INSTANCE, SMART HOUSING, WHICH, YOU KNOW, ITSELF IS -- HAS A COMPONENT THAT SAYS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THE DEVELOPMENT HAS TO BE AFFORDABLE AND IT'S KIND OF AN INCLUSION ANTERIOR ZONING, BUT IT'S A VOLUNTARY TYPE OF PROGRAM. AND LATER TODAY WE'LL BE TALKING MORE ABOUT OUR -- FOR THE HOUSING AND STRATEGIES AND HOW WE CAN PROTECT -- HOW WE CAN PRODUCE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALSO PART THAT HAVE IS GOING TO BE HOW CAN WE PROTECT PARTICULARLY FOLKS OF LIMITED MEANS FROM THE EVER INCREASING PROPERTY VALUES THAT WE SEE WHICH MAY BE MORE OF A LEGISLATIVE ISSUE, BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS AND LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN COMPLIMENT OR UNDERTAKE SOME ACTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO STRENGTHEN WHAT THE PLAN DOES. AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE IN THE SPIRIT OF PLAN AND HAVING WORKED ON THE PLAN MYSELF. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE SPEAKING ON GENERAL CITIZEN COMMUNICATION T NEXT ITEM WILL BE ITEM NO. 14. FOR STAFF THAT MAY BE WATCHING AND LISTENING, ITEM NO. 14 WILL BE THE NEXT ITEM. AFTER ITEM NO. 14, WE WILL THEN GO TO ITEMS 48, 49 AND 50: BEFORE WE GO TO ITEM 14, AND I CALL THAT ONE, LET ME, COUNCIL, INTRODUCE SOME FOLKS WE HAVE WITH US. WE HAVE ABOUT 18 STUDENTS HERE WITH US AND IF YOU WOULD STAND, THEY ARE FROM OGNODI SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT HIGH SCHOOL IS LOCATED IN OUR SISTER CITY IN JAPAN OETA CITY. SOME OF YOU HAVE VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT AND THE FACT IS THAT IT'S ONE OF OUR LONG STANDING SISTER CITIES. THE SISTER CITY -- THAT RELATIONSHIP ACTUALLY THIS YEAR WE WILL CELEBRATE ONE DECADE OF HAVING A SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT CITY AND WE TOOK A GRAUP IN MAY OF THIS -- A GROUP IN MAY OF THIS YEAR WHERE THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE MAYOR THERE AND BE A PART OF THE EXCHANGE WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DOING HOME STAYS, THEY ARE STAYING IN DIFFERENT CITIZENS IN AUSTIN'S HOMES AND THEY ARE AT AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL AND LBJ HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPATING IN OUR EXCHANGE AND WE ARE VERY PLEASED YOU ARE WITH US. THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STAY WITH US ALL AFTERNOON, BUT I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL TIME TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND BEING A PART OF THE SISTER CITY PROGRAMS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]. TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, ARIGATA. [LAUGHTER]. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM NO. 14. LET ME RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS OR COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, THE FOLKS WHO PULLED THE ITEM.

>>WYNN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY BEFORE WE START SUSING THIS, THIS CONTRACT I SUPPORT. IT'S IN COMPLIANCE WITH CITY ORDINANCES. IT WAS THE LOW BID OF THREE RECEIVED. SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING IT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EITHER CITY STAFF OR PERHAPS -- I DON'T KNOW IF MR. RICK GREEN MIGHT BE HERE FROM WASTE MANAGEMENT, BUT JUST THAT THE -- THAT THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD BE CONTINUING AND BE ONGOING AND PERHAPS LET'S TRY TO SCHEDULE, YOU KNOW, PERIODIC MEETINGS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND IF THAT'S -- I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE PAST AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND WOULD SUPPORT THAT IN THE FUTURE.

>> YES, SIR, MR. COUNCILMAN, I AM RICK GREEN AT WASTE MANAGEMENT AND I JUST WANT TO REINFORCE THE FACT IT IS OUR CONTENTION TO CONTINUE ON WITH THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS THAT WE HAVE STARTED OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.

>>WYNN: GREAT. I'M AWARE THAT THE BID PROCEDURE THAT WENT OUT DID KNOW HAVE THAT IN THE BID PACKAGE, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR OFFERING TO DO THAT IN ADDITION TO THE CONTRACT PARAMETERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.

>>THOMAS: YEAH, I ALSO SUPPORT IT, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I DO WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT I NEED -- ANYWAY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS DETERMINED HOW TO PROTECT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN THE EVENT OF THE NGI REPORT FAILS. NATIONAL GUARANTEED INSURANCE.

>> WE'VE -- I BELIEVE THAT'S -- IT'S A LITTLE OUT OF DATE INFORMATION. AT THIS.IN TIME THE FINANCIAL ASSURANCE THAT WE PROVIDE TO TNRCC AS A PART OF OUR PERMIT TO OPERATE IS PROVIDED THROUGH A SURETY BOND AND NOT THE CAPTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT WAS ONCE THE MECHANISM USED IN THE PAST. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I DON'T BELIEVE TNRCC ALLOWS OR RECOGNIZES THAT CAPTIVE INSURANCE OPTION AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE ANYMORE UNDER THE RULES. SO WE DO PROVIDE THE FINANCIAL ASSURANCE THROUGH A SURETY BOND. THERE IS A TRUST AGREEMENT, STAND-BY TRUST AGREEMENT IN BACK UP OF THAT SURETY BOND AND THAT'S THE PRACTICE THAT WE USE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS IN AUM THE LANDFILLS THAT -- IN ALL THE LANDFILLS THAT WE OWN OR OPERATE. OKAY. MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES.

>>THOMAS: I MAKE A MOTION THAT WASTE MANAGEMENT -- TO COMMIT IN WRITING A LONGTERM MONITORING PROGRAM OF THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE UNIT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: REPEAT THAT SO I CAN WRITE IT DOWN.

>>THOMAS: I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMIT IN WRITING A LONGTERM MONITORING PROGRAM OF THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE UNIT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AND LET ME ASK A QUESTION. IS THE MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THAT ADDITION --.

>>THOMAS: ADDITION TO THAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSION. LET ME ASK A QUESTION OF STAFF AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE SPEAKERS. BUT IS THAT A PART OF WHAT IS REQUIRED WITH THIS RESOLUTION?

>> YES, COUNCIL, MY NAME IS SUE BREWBAKER, PURCHASING OFFICER. I THINK THE MOTION BEFORE YOU IS SOMETHING THAT IS EXTRANEOUS TO THE BID DOCUMENTS THAT WERE ISSUED. WE DID NOT ISSUE THIS BID WITH ANY OF THAT KIND OF REQUIREMENT. IF IT'S SOMETHING I THINK THAT WOULD BE VOLUNTARILY AGREED TO BETWEEN BOTH PARTIES, IT CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING WE COULD PUT IN A CONTRACT. IT WAS NOT -- NOT EVER ISSUED WITH THAT INTENT, HOWEVER.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT.

>> AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATE IS REQUIRING. I KNOW THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR THAT KIND OF MONITORING SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S PART OF YOUR PERMIT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WHERE DON'T WE DO THIS, LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE PEOPLE SPEAK. THE MOTION THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION WITH THE ADDITION OF A COMMITMENT IN WRITING FOR LONGTERM MONITORING. BUT -- AND WHAT WE'LL DO IS I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM AND THEN WE CAN GO INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND THEN ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE OF STAFF. JOYCE BEST. JOYCE BEST.

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>MAYOR WATSON: MS. BEST SIGNED UP IN OPPOSITION AND ASKS THAT WE PLEASE PULL THIS ITEM PENDING TNRCC RESPONSE TO WASTE MANAGEMENT, NING'S TESTING AND UNTIL WASTE MANAGEMENT CONSENTS TO MORE LONGTERM MONITORING. PAM GIBLIN.

>> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS PAM GIBLIN, I'M AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING WASTE MANAGEMENT. AS WE INDICATED, WE ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AND WITH THE TNRCC ON THIS MONITORING ISSUE AND REALLY -- AND REALLY KIND OF AWAIT SOME GUIDANCE FROM TNRCC ABOUT HA THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO ADDRESS LONGTERM MONITORING MIGHT BE. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A 10-ACRE INDUSTRIAL UNIT WITHIN A 290-ACRE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE UNIT SO THERE IS ABUNDANT PROTECTION ALREADY THERE FROM ALL OF THE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE PERMIT REQUIREMENTS WHICH WE ARE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH. AND WE ARE COMMITTING TO WORK WITH YOU AND WITH THE TNRCC AT LOOKING AT THIS QUESTION OF ADDITIONAL MONITORING, BUT WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE MEANINGFUL MONITORING THAT IS DRIVEN BY THE SCIENCE AND NOT JUST SORT OF MONITORING FOR THE SAKE OF MONITORING. SO I MEAN THAT WOULD -- THAT'S REALLY THE APPROACH THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE AND LET THE TECHNICAL PEOPLE FROM YOUR STAFF, THE TECHNICAL PEOPLE FROM THE TNRCC AND OUR FOLKS WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO COME UP WITH THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS ADDITIONAL MONITORING IN ADDITION TO WHAT IS ALREADY IN PLACE AS A RESULT OF THE PERMITS FROM THE TNRCC.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. GIBLIN? THANK YOU. KATHLEEN KERR. AT LEAN KERR SIGNED UP NOT NEEDING TO SPEAK, BUT WAS AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. MS. KERR, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK?

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. AND YOU ARE ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT. OKAY. ENGLISH TREK.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TREK ENGLISH AND I LIVE IN WALNUT PLACE. WE HAD REQUESTED THROUGH WILLIE RHOADES FROM SOLID WASTE SERVICES THAT THEY COMMIT WASTE MANAGEMENT TO AN AGGRESSIVE MONITORING PLAN FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS. AND WHAT I'VE JUST HEARD RIGHT NOW THAT THEY WANT TO DO MONITORING FOR THE SAKE OF SCIENCE RATHER THAN FOR THE SAKE OF MONITORING, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HA THAT MEANS. IS IT DOUBLE SPEAK? I'VE NEVER HEARD IT. WE WANT MONITORING FOR THE SAKE OF SCIENCE ALSO. THE SITE IS THE SITE OF POLLUTION FOR WALNUT CREEK AND UNLESS WE DO A STRONG MONITORING PROGRAM OF THAT LITTLE 10-ACRE SITE THAT SHE POINT OUT, WE WILL NEVER KNOW. WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT CHEMICALS WERE FOUND IN THE SITE, IN THE BORINGS, HAD BEEN PRESENT IN THE WELLS WAY ON THE PERIMETER, NOT ONLY THE PERIMETER OF THE UNIT, ON THE PERIMETER OF THE WHOLE LANDFILL. SO SOMETHING IS MOVING BECAUSE WE'RE FINDING CHEMICALS, AND MS. CLARK WILL ADDRESS THIS MORE IN DETAIL. MY PROBLEM IS -- AND I HAVE STUFF PREPARED SHE BUT I'M JUST GOING TO AD LIB. MY PROBLEM IS WE HAD MEETINGS WITH THEM AND THEY HAD PROMISED US. ACTUALLY WE CAME TO A STANDSTILL IN JANUARY AND THEY SAID, OKAY, WE CAN'T HAVE ANY MORE MEETINGS UNTIL WE GET INTO THE FIELD AND WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS DOWN HERE AND THEN WE'LL GET BACK WITH YOU GUYS AND TELL WHAT YOU THE CONDITIONS OF THE FIELD IS AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE AS TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO AND WHAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO. WELL, THAT NEVER HAPPENED. JANUARY WAS THE LAST DATE. THEY WENT INTO COMPLETE SILENCE. WE WERE NEVER ABLE TO MEET WITH THEM AGAIN UNTIL JULY WHEN SUDDENLY WE HAVE TEAM -- JD CONSULTING WHICH WE HAD NEVER MET BEFORE. THESE PEOPLE JUST SHOWED UP, UNKNOWN TO US. WE HAD WORKED WITH OUR CONSULTANTS, TWO OTHER COMPANIES, AND SOME EXPERTS FROM THE WASTE MANAGEMENT. BUT THESE PEOPLE WE DIDN'T KNOW. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE, WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND WAS, HOW GOOD THEY WERE, WHAT INPUT DID THEY HAVE IN ACTUALLY KNOWING THE SITE. DID THEY GO ON THE FIELD? WE DON'T KNOW THAT. ALL THEY DID WAS REVIEW PAPERWORK. AND SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THAT REPORT BECAUSE INTHIS THEIR PAPERWORK THEY USE A MAP THAT DATES FROM 1988 AND DOESN'T SHOW ANY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OR EXCEPT FOR ONE. IT DOESN'T SHOW APPLIED MATERIALS, HARRIS BRANCH, CHIMNEY HILLS, IT DOESN'T SHOW THE DAY CARE CENTER, IT DOESN'T SHOW ANYONE LIVING WITHIN HALF A MILE OR A MILE FROM THAT LANDFILL. SO I'M QUESTIONING JUST EVEN THE BASICS. WHAT TYPE OF INFORMATION DID THESE CONSULTANTS ACTUALLY STUDY OR REVIEW TO COME UP WITH THIS REPORT? AND SO -- [BUZZER SOUNDS]. I AM CONCERNED THAT AFTER THIS WE WILL NOT HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN. WE HAD TO -- I'M FINISHED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE].

>> IN THE -- THERE IS A REFERENCE TO THE GROUNDWATER, SURFACE WATER CONNECTION. THEY SAID IT WAS INDICATED THAT THERE IS NOT A CONNECTION BECAUSE THE SURFACE IS 20 FEET HIGHER THAN THE GROUNDWATER FLOW. THE DRAINAGE DITCH THAT THIS WAS APPLYING TO TO THE SOUTH OF THE INDUSTRIAL SITE WAS RAISED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET BY WASTE MANAGEMENT BY PUTTING MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IN THE DRAINAGE DITCH AND CAPPING IT. THIS WAS A VIOLATION OF THE PERMIT. IN THE CROSS-SECTION MAPS THAT ARE IN THE REPORT, THERE ARE OTHER -- THERE IS OTHER EVIDENCE OF VIOLATIONS OF THEIR PERMIT. THERE WAS TO BE NO MUNICIPAL WASTE OR OTHER WASTE WITHIN 50 FEET OF IT. THEIR CROSS-SECTION MAPS SHOW MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE OVER INDUSTRIAL WASTE AND ALSO WITHIN 50 FEET OF IT. I REALLYh:u HAVE TO QUESTION THEuec CREDENCE OF THE REPORT. [BUZZER]. -- BECAUSE OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE REPORT AND THE BACK -- CONTRADICTIONS IN THE REPORT AND THE MATERIAL IN IT. AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MIGRATION THAT IS NOT DOCUMENTED IN THE REPORT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. DAN PIKA?

>> MY NAME IS DAN PIKA AND I LIVE IN CHIMNEY HILL TOWNHOMES, CHIMNEY HILL NORTH IS BEHIND US. AND I WOULD LIKE TO TELL MR. RHODES, ALTHOUGH WE NOT IN WHOLE, ARE IN PART IN THE CITY LIMITS, SO WE ARE VESTED HERE AND DID HE WE DO HAVE AN INTEREST, OUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION DOES TO REPRESENT ALL OUR TOWNHOMES. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, IT CONCERNS ME THAT SO LITTLE CREDENCE IS GIVEN TO SWAC RECOMMENDATIONS. I'VE BEEN IN ON THIS FOR OVER TWO YEARS. AND SWAC IS A COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE THAT DEVILS INTO THIS AND TRIES TO FIND ANSWERS AND TELLS THE CITY COUNCILL WHAT TO DO. AND CITY STAFF FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS TENDS TO IGNORE WHAT SWAC DOES. AND Y'ALL WANT CITIZEN INPUT AND PARTICIPATION, AND WHEN IT'S IGNORED, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY BAD. I THINK IT REFLECTS ON THE ENTIRE CITY. NUMBER THREE, TNRCC HAS NOT GIVEN A REPORT OF THE WMI INVESTIGATION. SO US LAYMEN ARE TRYING TO GO THROUGH THE REPORT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TNRCC TO GIVE US GUIDANCE FROM THEIR REPORT. AND LASTLY, SINCE THIS THING WAS POSTPONED FOR TWO WEEKS SO THAT YOU COULD CHECK INTO THE FINAL -- THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THIS THING, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT THE AUSTIN LEGAL COUNSEL HAS TO SAY ABOUT THEIR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. WHO BACKS UP THE SURETY BONDS? WE HAVEN'T GOT THAT ANSWER, BUT HOPEFULLY LEGAL HAS. THEY'VE HAD TWO WEEKS TO FIND IT OUT. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM AUSTIN LEGAL COUNSEL YET. THE REMAINDER OF MY NAME I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO MR. ENGLISH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU HAVE ANOTHER MINUTE AND 15 SECONDS.

>>. [INAUDIBLE].

>> IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO ESTABLISH ANY KIND OF CONTACT WITH THAT PARTICULAR BUSINESS BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING TO SOMEONE NEW THAT DOESN'T KNOW THE SITE. HOWEVER I WILL BRING OUT THAT THE LAST PERSON WHO POINT IT HAD OUT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST FAMILIAR WITH THE SITE. BUT THE OTHERS, YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO START FROM ZERO AND EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO THEM. AND WE'RE BACK TO THE SAME THING WHERE SOMEBODY ELSE COMES IN AND YOU CAN NEVER HAVE A CONTACT PERSON. THAT'S ALL VI TO SAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: I THINK THE WHOLE COUNCIL SHARES THE CITIZENS' CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL POLLUTION MIGRATION. WE ALSO HAVE A SITUATION THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH STATE PROCUREMENT LAW AND WE NEED TO GET THE SERVICE TAKEN CARE OF. AND WE HAVE A RESOLUTION FROM THE SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION THAT RAISES SOME LEGAL ISSUES. SO I WANTED, ONE, THE CITY MANAGER TO SPEAK TO THE SWC SOLUTION AND -- DID I SAY CITY MANAGER? CITY ATTORNEY.

>> I'M READY TO PRACTICE LAW IF NEED BE.

>>SLUSHER: YOU ARE READY TO JUMP IN THERE, I COULD TELL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: HE IMMEDIATELY PUNCHED A LITTLE RED BUTTON AND HE WAS READY TO.

>>SLUSHER: IT WAS A LAWYER BUTTON? SO THE CITY ATTORNEY SPEAK TO THE SWC RESOLUTION AND ALSO THE CITY ATTORNEY OR MS. BRUBAKER, DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING SPEAK TO HOW COULD WE ACHIEVE THE SPIRIT AND GOAL OF COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS'S MOTION AND STILL STAY WITHIN STATE PROCUREMENT LAW?

>> LET ME TELL YOU THAT THE ATTORNEYS AND MY STAFF DO WORK WITH MR. ROSE'S APARTMENT AND WERE AAWARE OF THE CONCERNS RAISED BY IT. -- I'M SORRY. AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE AGENDA QUESTIONS THAT CAME THROUGH. AND BELIEVE ME, IF WE HAD THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS SOME EXPOSURE AND CONCERN THAT YOU NEEDED TO BE ADVISED OF, WE WOULD HAVE SO ADVISED YOU. WE ARE NOT CONCERNED. WE DON'T SHARE THE CONCERN OF SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS --

>>SLUSHER: SO YOU DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR THE CITY?

>> WE DON'T THINK THAT THE RISK IS SO SIGNIFICANT THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE ANY CONCERNS.

>>SLUSHER: WHAT ABOUT ACHIEVING COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS'S GOAL OF -- DID HE SAY CONTINUED MONITORING; IS THAT CORRECT, COUNCILMEMBER?

>> I THINK ON THAT ISSUE TO COMPLY WITH PROCUREMENT LAW WE'RE GOING TO NEED -- I'LL JUST REPEAT WHAT MS. BRUBAKER SAID. IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WASTE MANAGEMENT AND THE CITY CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT ON SO IT'S VOLUNTARY ON THEIR PART, THEN THERE'S NOTHING TO PROHIBIT THAT TYPE OF AN AGREEMENT CALLING FOR CONTINUED MONITORING TO TAKE PLACE. I'M NOT SURE -- I SPOKE WITH MS. GIBLIN AND SHE'S CERTAINLY CAPABLE OF SPEAKING TO HER CLIENT, BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME DETAILS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT BEFORE THEY WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE THAT AGREEMENT.

>>SLUSHER: I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST IF MS. GIBLIN, I BELIEVE I HEARD HER TO&Un SAY THAT WASTE MANAGEMENT IS WILLINGs AND WANTS TO DO THE LONG-TERM MONITORING OUTLINED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, COULD WE THEN -- LET'S SAY WE HAVE A REPORT BACK IN TWO TO THREE WEEKS ON IF WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT ON THAT. IS THAT A POTENTIAL SOLUTION TO THIS?

>> YES. I MEAN, FROM OUR STANDPOINT, SIR, COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, IT WOULD BE -- IF WE CAN GET THIS APPROVED TODAY AND GET ON WITH IT, WE COMMIT TO WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF AND WITH THE TNRCC IN COMING BACK AND REPORTING ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM MONITORING. WE WANT TO WORK WITH Y'ALL AND GIVE YOU ALL THE SATISFACTION AND SECURITY THAT WE FIRMLY BELIEVE IS THERE AT THE SITE AND WE WILL WORK WITH YOU ON THE DETAILS OF LONG-TERM MONITORING. BUT AS I SAID -- USUAL SLUSH GO AHEAD.

>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T IGNORE THE BODY OF EXPERTISE THAT THE TNRCC HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH SITES LIKE THIS. WE PLUG THEM INTO THE DECISION MAKING ON THIS. AS I SAID, YOU'VE GOT OUR COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL WORK WITH YOULuW ON A GROUND -- ON A LONG-TERM MONITORING PLAN, BUT AS I SAID, WHAT I WOULD HE -- WE WOULD LIKE DO IS MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONTRACT APPROVAL TODAY AND THEN IF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US TO COME BACK IN A FEW WEEKS ON THE DETAILS, WE WILL DO THAT.

>>SLUSHER: AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO KEEP IN MIND IF THAT IS IN COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS'S -- HE MAY HAVE SOME OTHER IDEAS OR DEFINITELY WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS, BUT I WOULD REMIND YOU THERE ARE SOME LEGITIMATE CONCERNS ON THE PART OF THE NEIGHBORS AND SOME FEARS THAT IF WE APPROVE THE CONTRACT AND THEN NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN.

>> AND WE'RE VERY, VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT AND WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE OF WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, OF HAVING A TRANSPARENT PROCESS WHERE THE WORK PLANS ARE LAID OUT BEFORE THE COMMUNITY, THE RESULTS ARE LAID OUT BEFORE THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT LONG-TERM FROM HERE ON OUT. WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING CONTINUED MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND JUST ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON THE FINANCIAL SECURITY, IN ADDITION TO THE SURETY BOND WHICH IS WITH A THIRD-PARTY STAND ALONE, VERY SOLID COMPANY, WASTE MANAGEMENT ITSELF IS 133 ON FORTUNE 500, HEAD QUARTERED IN TEXAS, AGAIN, COMMITTED TO THIS STATE, NOT GOING ANYWHERE. IN ADDITION TO THAT WE HAVE LIABILITY INSURANCE, POLLUTION LIABILITY INSURANCE. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED IN A LETTER TO MR. WORD TO INDEMNIFY THE CITY. SO YOU'VE GOT LAYER UPON LAYER UPON LAYER OF PROTECTION. AND AS I SAID WE ARE COMMITTED TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, WE ARE THIT KMITED TO THIS CITY AND AS I SAID, WE WILL WORK WITH YOU IN ANY WAY TO HAVE YOU COME TO THE POINT OF CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE AT THAT THIS IS A SAFE SITE.

>>SLUSHER: SO YOU WOULD THEN AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF WASTE MANAGEMENT WOULD DISAGREE WITH SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION'S CONCERN THAT ANY USER OF THE ACL SITE EXPOSES THAT USER TO LIABILITY?

>> YES, SIR. I THINK THAT ALL OF THE VARIOUS LAYERS OF SECURITY AND ASSURANCE THAT WE'VE GOT IN THIS THING, WE HAVE INDEMNIFIED Y'ALL. YOU WILL NOT HAVE LIABILITY.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: BASED UPON THAT, LET ME SEE IF I CAN MOVE THIS TO A POINT. I'M GOING TO WITHDRAW MY SECOND TO THE MOTION THAT REQUIRES THE ADDITION TO IT, BUT IF AS PART OF THE MOTION THERE'S DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CONTINUE WORKING WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT ALONG THE LINES OF THE COMMITMENT WE JUST GOT ON THE RECORD FROM THEIR ATTORNEY, THEN I'D BE WILLING TO SECOND THAT MOTION. BUT I'M GOING TO WITHDRAW MY SECOND AND ASK IF THERE'S -- DO YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR MOTION OUT THERE IF THERE'S A SECOND.

>>THOMAS: I DO WANT TO KEEP MY MOTION OUT THERE. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT AND I COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK, BUT MY TERN IS -- MY CONCERN IS FOR THE CITIZENS. AND THE CITIZENS REALLY WANT TO BE ASSURED THAT YOU WILL KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THEM AND DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO. IT'S OBVIOUS THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF COMMUNICATION OR A LACK OF CONFIDENCE. MY CONCERN IS TO THE CITIZENS BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO WORK WITH US. IT WOULD BE IN YOUR INTEREST, BUT IT'S ALSO IN THE BEST INTEREST TO WORK WITH THE CITIZENS THAT SURROUND IT. AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE BREAKDOWN IS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE A SECOND TO COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS'S MOTION?

>>GRIFFITH: MAY I ASK THE COUNCILMEMBER A QUESTION ABOUT MS. MOTION?

>>MAYOR WATSON: SURE.

>>GRIFFITH: THERE WAS A SUGGESTION THAT A REPORT CAN COME BACK IN I THINK IT WAS TWO WEEKS ON WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE. DOES THAT GIVE YOU ANY COMFORT IN TERMS OF GOING FORWARD WITH IT TODAY.

>>THOMAS: TWO WEEKS FOR THE MONITORING?

>>GRIFFITH: YES, TO PRESENT A PROGRESS REPORT AND HOPEFULLY A PLAN. WOULD THAT BE REALISTIC? WOULD THAT MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT THE WHOLE THING?

>>THOMAS: WOULD THAT BE REALISTIC?

>> IF I MAY RESPOND, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I THINK WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THIS POINT IS TO AGREE TO A MONITORING PROGRAM. THE DETAILS OF THAT PROGRAM ARE WHAT WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR INPUT FROM THE TNRCC ON. SO THE MONITORING PROGRAM, THE COMMITMENT TO MONITORING IS CERTAINLY -- IS CERTAINLY THERE.

>>GRIFFITH: IS ALREADY THERE.

>> WE'VE STATED THAT TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN WE MET WITH THE COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION. THE COMMITMENT IS THERE. WITHIN TWO WEEKS CERTAINLY WE CAN HAVE THAT IN WRITING AS FAR AS THE COMMITMENT TO MONITOR. AGAIN, THE DEGREE OF THE MONITORING PROGRAM I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD STILL LOOK TO THE TNRCC FOR GUIDANCE. WE'RE NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT TIMING ON GETTING THAT RESPONSE BACK FROM THEM WOULD BE AND I DOUBT IT WOULD BE WITHIN THE TWO WEEKS.

>>GRIFFITH: SO YOU COULD MAKE A STATEMENT IN WRITING OF YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE MONITORING AND THEN WHAT WOULD BE THE OUTSIDE ESTIMATE OF TIME WHEN YOU COULD HAVE THE DETAILS AFTER THE TNRCC REPORT COMES IN? COULD YOU ESTIMATE HOW LONG THAT MIGHT TAKE? GIVEN WHAT TNRCC IS GOING TO TELL YOU.

>> I'M NOT SURE IF I COULD ESTIMATE THAT. IT WOULD BE DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF DETAIL WE GET BACK FROM THM AS WELL AS OUR INTERNAL COMMENTS.

>>GRIFFITH: FOUR MONTHS, SIX MONTHS?

>> CERTAINLY WITHIN SIX MONTHS I WOULD SURELY THINK THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE. HOPEFULLY SHORTER THAN THAT.

>>GRIFFITH: SO IF WE HAD A PLAN WHERE IN TWO WEEKS WE HAD WRITTEN COMMITMENTS, WE'RE GOING TO DO A GOOD MONITORING SYSTEM, AND THEN IN SIX MONTHS WE COULD KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT WOULD BE TECHNICALLY. IS THAT A REALISTIC THING?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>>GRIFFITH: COUNCILMEMBER, DOES THAT HELP YOU HAVE MORE COMFORT WITH GOING WITH IT TODAY?

>>MAYOR WATSON: THE MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT WITH A REPORT COMING BACK IN SIX MONTHS.

>>THOMAS: SIX MONTHS. AND TWO WEEKS ON HIS WRITTEN --

>>GRIFFITH: A WRITTEN COMMITMENT OF WE'RE GOING TO MONITOR, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD AND IT'S GOING TO BE RELIABLE AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY LIABILITY. AND THEN IN SIX MONTHS THE TECHNICAL DETAIL.

>>THOMAS: CORRECT.

>> AND IF I MIGHT ADD AS PART OF THE PROCESS OF THE MONITORING PROGRAM WOULD BE AN ISSUE THAT WE WOULD BRING IN FRONT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS IT WITH THEM SO WE WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF PROGRAM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE IT'S FINALIZED.

>>GRIFFITH: OKAY. AND COULD WE HAVE A REPORT ON -- THAT SAME REPORT IN SIX MONTHS ON WHAT THE DETAIL IS?

>> YEAH.

>>GRIFFITH: WITH THAT I WOULD SECOND THE MOTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS MAKES THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION WITH AT TWO WEEKS WASTE MANAGEMENT COMING BACK WITH A WRITTEN COMMITMENT REGARDING THE MONITORING AND WITH IN SIX MONTHS A REPORT BACK REGARDING THE STATUS. OKAY. AND IT'S SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. ANY FURTHER --

>>GRIFFITH: I DON'T THINK IT WAS REPORT ON THE STATUS IN SIX MONTHS. I THINK IT WAS ACTUALLY PRESENT A PLAN IN SIX MONTHS, NOT JUST A STATUS REPORT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT'S WHAT I MEANT. I DIDN'T SAY IT WELL. I'M GLAD YOU CLEARED THAT UP. FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: -- STATE LAW IN YOUR OPINION?

>> YOU'RE APPROVING THE CONTRACT AND YOU'RE ACKNOWLEDGING BASICALLY THE OFFER THAT WAS MADE BY -- YOU'RE APPROVING IT BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE OFFER THAT'S BEEN MADE BY WASTE MANAGEMENT, AND THAT IS TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN COMMITMENT TO MONITOR WITHIN TWO WEEKS AND TO PRESENT A PLAN ON HOW THAT MONITORING WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED AND DETAILS NO LATER THAN SIX MONTHS. AND THAT IS --

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

>> I THINK EVERYBODY IS HERE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. THEN MS. EDWARDS, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.

>> MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, MR. CITY MANAGER, IN 1995 THE STATE OF TEXAS DECLARED A SURPLUS PROPERTY, APPROXIMATELY 22 ACRES IN THE AREA BOUNDED BY LAMAR, 45TH STREET KNOWN AS THE TRIANGLE. IN 1996 THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF MHMR AS GUARDIAN OF THE LAND ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH SIMILAR CORRELLTY SERVICES TO DEVELOP A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS OPPOSED THE PLAN, WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REJECTED BY THE CITY BECAUSE OF ITS DESIGN AND USE. THE CITY INTERVENED TO HELP WORK OUT A SOLUTION FOR THE PROJECT THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS. THE STATE, THE CITY, THE DEVELOPERS AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THE STATE HIRED AN URBAN DESIGN CONSULTANT TO WORK WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THROUGH A SERIES OF SESSIONS WITH ALL PARTIES INVOLVED DEVELOPED A NEW PLAN. SATURDAY OF THIS WORK A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT RATING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL ON THE SMART GROWTH MATRIX HAS BEEN CREATED. IT CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY 155,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL, 50,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE AND 650,000 SQUARE FEET OF RESIDENTIAL SPACE. IN THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR, THE REALTY SERVICES SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO BUILD A RESIDENTIAL PORTION OF THIS DEVELOPMENT. THE LARGE AMOUNT OF GREEN SPACE AND AMENITIES APPROVED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD STAKEHOLDERS CREATES A PROJECT THAT IS NOT ECONOMICALLY FINANCIAL -- IS NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE WITHOUT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. CASER MORRIS AND ASSOCIATES WAS ASKED TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS. KMA'S FINDINGS INDICATE THAT THE PRICE FOR THE LAND IS REASONABLE, THE EXPECTED RATES OF RETURN ARE REASONABLE AND THE ESTIMATED COSTS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND OVERHEAD ARE REASONABLE. THEY STATE THAT THE DENSITY ON THE SITE IS MODERATE AND THE LEVEL OF PARKS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES APPEARS HIGH. IN SUMMARY, KMA CONCURS THAT THE PROJECT HAS IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED CONFIRMS THE NEED FOR SUPPORT TO MAKE THE PROJECT FINANCIALLY VIABLE. BEFORE YOU FOR YOUR APPROVAL IS A PROPOSED CITY CONTRIBUTION OF 7,570,2 $57. THE AGENDA BACKUP MATERIAL PROVIDES AN ITEMIZATION OF EACH OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS. I WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO READ THEM ALL, HOWEVER, SUMMARIZED INTO SPECIFIC CATEGORIES THEY ARE THE FOLLOWING: FEE WAIVERS. FEE WAIVERS WILL INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SITE PLAN REVIEW, BUILDING, ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING PERMIT FEES, WATER AND WASTEWATER INSPECTION FEES AND TAPS, TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATION PARTICIPATION FEES AND TEMPORARY USE OF RIGHTS OF WAY FEES NOT TO EXCEED 8 48,000 7 $43. COSTS OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER I WANT PROOCHLS IN THE AMOUNT OF 1,605,853 DOLLARS. CITY IMPROVEMENTS NOT TO EXCEED 70,000 $300. CONTRIBUTION TRANSFERS FOR REGIONAL FLOOD CONTROL, STREET LIGHTING AND STREET PLANNING AND THE RIGHTS OF WAY IN THE AMOUNT OF 762,5 $80 AND GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS IN THE AMOUNT OF 4,2 82,000,7 $51 FOR PUBLIC STREET CONSTRUCTION AND THE PURCHASE OF 5.9 ACRES OF LAND TO BE DEDICATED AS PARKLAND. CONSTITUENT BY SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT BENEFITS IN SEVERAL WAYS. NUMBER ONE, AS INDICATED BY THE SMART GROWTH MATRIX, THE PROJECT IS A MODEL FOR URBAN MIXED USE DESIGN. THE PROJECT IS PEOPLE ORIENTED AND INCLUDES LIVE WORK SPACE, SHOP, RESTAURANTS, A GROCERY STORE AND PARKS. NUMBER TWO, SIM CORE AND POST HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS FOR A POSSIBLE PARK AND RIDE LOCATION ON SITE AND A FUTURE LIGHT RAIL STATION ADJACENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT. NUMBER THREE, THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE AT A MINIMUM FIVE PERCENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. NUMBER FOUR, THE PROCESS USED TO DEVELOP THE USE AND DESIGN OF THIS PROJECT CAN ALSO BE USED AS A MODEL. NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WERE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE URBAN DESIGN CONSULTANT DEVELOPED A PROJECT THAT WAS OF AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS CLEARLY EVIDENCED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR PERSONAL TIME TO WORK WITH THIS PROJECT FOR OVER FOUR YEARS. AND NUMBER FIVE, THE PROPERTY IS UNDEVELOPED, STATE OWNED LAND IN THE MIDDLE OF AN URBAN SETTING CURRENTLY PRODUCING NO REVENUE. THE PROJECT WILL ADD APPROXIMATELY 100 MILLION DOLLARS OF ASSESSED VALUE TO THE TAX ROLLS AND WILL GENERATE ADDITIONAL SALES TAX REVENUE ESTIMATED AT OVER $300,000 PER YEAR. THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. BOTH TOM OF SIM CORRELLTY AND MR. COLLINS ARE HERE SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THEM. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THE WAY I WOULD SUGGEST WE PROCEED IS WE TAKE UP 48, 49 AND 50 TOGETHER. AND WHAT I'LL DO IS GO AHEAD AND CALL ON PEOPLE TO SPEAK UNLESS YOU WANT SOME SORT OF ADDITIONAL PRESENTATION. WHAT I WOULD DO IS I WOULD JUST REITERATE SOMETHING -- I WOULD REITERATE TWO OR THREE POINTS. NUMBER ONE IS YOU WILL RECALL THAT WE WENT THROUGH A VERY SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME WITH THE STATE WHERE THERE WERE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES MADE BOTH IN THE PROCESS THAT WAS VOLD FOLLOWED IN AN EFFORT IN A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT THAT WE WORKED OUT ONE NIGHT AT THE SPECIAL LAND BOARD. I KNOW I'M NOT CALLING THAT THE RIGHT THING. WHAT'S THAT CALLED, SPECIAL BOARD OF REVIEW. WHAT'S THAT WORKED -- WE GOT THAT WORKED OUCHLT THEN WE GOT TO A POINT WHERE WE HAD A PLAN. AND IT STILL HASN'T -- THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TWO YEARS DOWN THE ROAD REALLY AND WE'RE BACK AT THAT. IT'S GONE THROUGH A VERY LENGTHY PROCESS WITH A LOT OF CHANGE. THE SECOND THING I WOULD POINT OUT IS THAT AS WE DEAL WITH SMART GROWTH AND TRY TO ADDRESS IT, WE HAVE -- I THINK THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL DID A GREAT JOB OF PUTTING THE CONCEPT OF SMART GROWTH OUT THERE AND ON THE TABLE. CREATING THE GEOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS THAT NOW ARE COMMONPLACE IN THE DISCUSSION, THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE AND THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE. BUT FRANKLY, WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS TO POINT TO WHERE YOU HAVE URBAN PLANNING NEAR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DEMONSTRATE HOW SMART GROWTH CAN ACTUALLY ENHANCE AND HELP NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS. MOST OF OUR SUCCESSES ARE HELPING THROUGH OUR SMART GROWTH MATRIX MAJOR EMPLOYERS FIND LOCATIONS IN THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE. THIS IS POTENTIALLY ONE OF THOSE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO POINT TO AS A WAY THAT WORKING WITH NEIGHBORHOODS YOU ACTUALLY CAN HAVE, I'M GOING TO SAY THE NASTY WORD, DENSITY AND STILL DO IT IN A WAY THAT ENHANCES AND PROTECTS NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS. THE THIRD THING I'LL SAY QUICKLY BEFORE WE GET INTO SPEAKERS IS THAT ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HAS BEEN RAISED IN THE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE LIGHT RAIL IS WHETHER IN FACT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS WE'VE -- AS WE HAVE RAIL WILL BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH NODES OR TRANSIT STOPS IN A WAY THAT INCREASES DENSITY BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU HAVE RAIL. WHAT I'VE SAID FROM TIME TO TIME ON THAT IS THAT, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF DENSITY WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING THE RAIL ANYWAY. I THINK IT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL IN MY OPINION WITH THAT LEVEL OF DENSITY. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IS TRUE YOU DON'T DO DENSITY FOR DENSITY'S SAKE BUT YOU CAN DO THIKZ WITH DENSITY THAT WOULD ENHANCE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THIS MAY BE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAN DO GOOD WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WILL ALLOW FOR RAIL -- TRANSIT NODES TO ACTUALLY BE BENEFICIAL TO THE NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS AND ENHANCE THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THIS MAY BE ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES. SO I MENTION THAT JUST AS A REMINDER OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH. AND THEN LET ME START CALLING OUT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP. SUSAN AL MAN IS A? SHE SIGNED UP AGAINST AND SAID NO TO CORPORATE PRIVATE DEVELOPER'S WELFARE. KATHY ECHOLS, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK?

>>. [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION FROM ANYBODY THAT HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK BECAUSE THE RULES ARE THAT YOU SPEAK IN THE ORDER THAT YOU SIGNED UP. AND WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS HAVE ANY OBJECTION FROM ANYBODY TO THAT. IS THERE ANYONE THAT OBJECTS TO US DOING IT THAT WAY? ALL RIGHT. WITH NO OBJECTION, WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME THE ORDER AND EVERYBODY WILL GET THEIR THREE MINUTES THAT WAY.

>>. [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: SO YOU DON'T HAVE THIS WORKED OUT. I TELL YOU WHAT, I THINK WE'D BE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM ANYBODY NOW.

>> MY NAME IS JENNIFER BICKERS AND I'M ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD STAKEHOLDER REPRESENTATIVES. WE BELIEVE THE PROJECT YOU SEE TODAY IS EXTRAORDINARY. NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A PLAN THAT WE'RE ALL PROUD OF, BUT THE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS WE USED TO CREATE THE PLAN COULD BE CONSIDERED A MODEL FOR THE FUTURE. THERE ARE LOTS OF HERE ROSE IN THIS STORY. FIRST I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR THE EXCELLENT WORK THEY'VE DONE IN EVALUATING THE PROJECT. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL FOR ITS LEADERSHIP BACK IN 1998 IN DENYING ZONING TO SIMCOR'S FIRST STRIP MALL PLAN. COUNCILMEMBER'S GRIFFITH, SLUSHER, GOODMAN AND MAYOR WATSON, YOUR SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY THEN SET THE STAGE FOR AN INTENSE AND SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION THAT PRODUCED A BETTER PROJECT. THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE PROJECT IS MATCHED ONLY BY THE TRANSFORMATION AND THE THINKING OF THOSE INVOLVED. BACK IN 1997, MANY NEIGHBORHOOD FOLKS SAID NO TO DEVELOPMENT. THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD WORK ON THAT SITE WAS A PARK. BUT THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH AND THE PUBLIC CHARRETTE SHE SPONSORED, WE LEARNED ABOUT HOW A NEIGHBORHOOD COULD ACTUALLY BE CREATED ON SITE. NOW WE ARE HERE SUPPORTING A DEVELOPMENT THAT CALLS FOR ALMOST A MILLION SQUARE FEET. MAYOR WATSON, YOUR LEADERSHIP AT THE STATE'S SPECIAL BOARD OF REVIEW LED TO ACTION BY THE BOARD THAT WAS UNPRECEDENTED IN ITS RESPONSIVENESS TO LOCAL CONCERNS. RATHER THAN OVERSIDE RIDE THE CITY, THE BOARD, WHICH THE BOARD HAD THE AUTHORITY TO DO, THE BOARD SUPPORTED THE CITY'S POSITION AND PUT INTO PLACE THE PLANNING PROCESS THAT INVOLVED ALL STAKEHOLDERS ON EQUAL GROUND. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEVELOPER, NEIGHBORHOODS, CITY AND STATE WORKED TOGETHER WITH PETER CALTHORP, A NATIONALLY KNOWN ARCHITECT TO DESIGN A PROJECT THAT FITS EVERYONE'S NEEDS. HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS WORKED IN WORKSHOPS AND THEY RECEIVED A STANDING OWVATION AT THEIR FINAL PRESENTATION. NEIGHBORHOOD REPS ALSO CREATED A COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP WHICH WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND INITIALLY MET WEEK LE. WE TOOK COMMUNITY INPUT FROM THOSE MEETINGS BACK TO THE STAKEHOLDER TEAM. EVERY TIME THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR SHIFT IN THE PLAN, WE HAVE HELD A COMMUNITY ADVISORY MEETING TO GET A VOTE ABOUT HOW TO PROCEED AND UNDER WHAT CONDITION. WE ALSO ORGANIZED A TRIP UP TO DALLAS THAT WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SO WE COULD VIEW POST PROJECTS THERE. ON JULY 18TH ON THE HEELS OF THAT TRIP WE MET TO DISCUSS OUR IMPRESSIONS. AT THAT MEETING THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO SUPPORT THIS PLAN. SUPPORT HAD TO DO WITH A CONFIDENCE IN POST, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT THE GREEN SPACE WOULD BE CITY OWNED AND STREETS CITY DEDICATED. OUR LONG HELD HOPES -- [BUZZER]. -- FOR CREATING A NEIGHBORHOOD INSTEAD OF A COMMERCIAL STRIP MALL SEEM TO HAVE COME YOU TRUE. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. MRS. BERRY?

>> HI. I'M CLAIRE BERRY AND I THINK I'M THE ONLY COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE, SO TO SPEAK, THAT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. AND I'M HONORED AND PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO CONTINUE TO THE END. I WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE AREA OF THE TRYING WILL AND ALSO ON BEHALF OF -- TRIANGLE AND ALSO ON BEHALF OF 20 OR 30 PEOPLE THAT WERE IN PLANNING COMMISSION ON TUESDAY NIGHT THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON. AND BASICALLY I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR HANGING IN THERE WITH US AND FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT IN THIS WAY. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. I'D LIKE TO GIVE THE REST OF MY TIME TO KATHY ECROLS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES AND 16 SECONDS.

>> I PROBABLY WON'T NEED ALL THAT, BUT -- ESPECIALLY SINCE THE MAYOR HAS KIND OF PREVIEWED SOME OF MY COMMENTS. I'M KATHY. I'M ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES TO THE TRIANGLE STAKEHOLDER GROUP AND I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT WHY THE TRIANGLE PROJECT IS IMPORTANT TO THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE. FOR ME A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FEATURE IS THE PROCESS. AS YOU'VE HEARD, THE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED WITH A VERY HIGH DEGREE OF COMMUNITY INPUT. WE'VE SHOWN THAT WHEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, NEIGHBORHOODS, THE CITY, THE STATE AND DEVELOPERS CAN WORK TOGETHER DOM UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WE ALL CAN LIVE WITH, IN FACT, WITH A PRETTY NICE PROJECT. THE PROCESS THAT LED TO THIS PROJECT COULD AND SHOULD SERVE AS A CITYWIDE MODEL FOR PLANNING A MAJOR PROJECT THAT HAVE IMPACTS ON NEIGHBORHOODS. THE PROJECT ITSELF ALSO COULD AND SHOULD SERVE AS A MODEL. AS A RESULT OF THE COLLABORATIVE PLANNING PROCESS, WE TRANSFORM THE TRIANGLE PLAN FROM A RETAIL DOMINATED STRIP MALL WITH BIG BOX RETAIL BUILDING, MASSIVE PARKING, A 13 SCREEN MOVIE THEATER AND LESS THAN TWO ACRES OF GREEN SPACE TO A LIVEABLE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH REAL PARKS AND REAL STREETS. THE CURRENT PLAN HAS MORE DENSITY, ABOUT 20 TIMES AS MANY RESIDENTIAL UNITS. IT HAS ABOUT THREE TIMES AS MUCH GREEN SPACE, A FRACTION OF THE SURFACE PARKING, A REDUCED TRAFFIC IMPACT AND WILL GENERATE TWICE THE PROPERTY TAXES. MORE IMPORTANTLY IT SERVES AS A MODEL OF A URBAN MIXED USE PROJECT THAT IS PEDESTRIAN AND TRAFFIC FRIENDLY PERMITTING PEOPLE TO LIVE, WORK, SHOP AND ENGAGE IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ALL IN THE SAME AREA. THE PROJECT WOULD INVOLVE MUCH NEEDED HOUSING IN THE CENTRAL CITY ALONG FUTURE TRANSIT CORRIDORS. AS YOU KNOW VERY WELL, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS BEEN SEEKING TO INCREASE THE DENSITY OF CENTRAL CITY NEIGHBORHOODS AS A WAY OF AVAIDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE CENSUS AND SPRAWL. SUCH PROJECTS OFTEN DAMAGE THE INDEGREE RATY OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND ARE OPPOSED BY RESIDENTS. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A DENSE URBAN PROJECT THAT AS A RESULT OF PUBLIC INPUT ALSO INTEGRATES WITH AND PROVIDES AMENITIES FOR SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. RESIDENTS OF THE SITE, OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AND FROM ACROSS THE CITY WILL ENJOY WALK WING THEIR CHILDREN, SHOPPING, EATING, MEETING FRIEND OR JUST HANGING OUT IN THE PROJECT. FURTHERMORE, THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE AT LEAST FIVE PERCENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BELIEVE IT OR NOT THE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BEG FOG IT FROM THE BEGINNING. THE INCLUSION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A MODEST AMOUNT, SETS A GOOD PRECEDENT FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THIS INCREASINGLY EXPENSIVE CITY. THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE TRIANGLE PROJECT REPRESENTS NOTHING SHORT OF A VISION OF AUSTIN'S FUTURE OR AT LEAST WHAT WITH YOUR HELP COULD BE AUSTIN'S FUTURE F THIS PROJECT IS SUCCESSFUL, OTHER SUCH PROJECTS ARE LIKELY TO FOLLOW. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THIS THIS TRANSFORMATION HAS COME AT A COST TO ALL PARTIES. EVERYONE HAS HAD TO GIVE SOMETHING. THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ACCEPTED HUGE INCREASES IN THE DENSITY OF THE PROJECT. A MAJOR CONDITION IN THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT THE INCREASED DENSITY WAS THAT THE OPEN SPACE BE PRESERVED, MAKING THE PARKLAND TRULY ESSENTIAL TO THE PROJECT. MHMR HAS GIVEN AMONG OTHER THINGS ACCEPTING DELAYS THIS THE PAYMENTS AND AGREEING TO KEEP THE OPEN SPACE. SOMETHING THEY WERE UNWILLING TO CONSIDER EARLIER. THE DEVELOPERS SAY THEY'RE TAKING A LOWER RETURN THAN THEY USUALLY ACCEPT. NOW THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS BEING ASKED TO CONTRIBUTE ALSO THROUGH A SMART GROWTH PACKAGE. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE MAYOR SAID, SMART GROWTH CAN BE USED TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS PROJECT HAS OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENTS FROM A NUMBER OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS NEAR THE PROJECT AND AROUND CENTRAL AUSTIN, INCLUDING PRESENT WOOD, NOR FIELD, HYDE PARK, ALTA VISTA, HERITAGE AND EASTWOOD. THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD'S COUNCIL HAS SUPPORTED THE PROJECT AND WE'VE ALSO GOTTEN SUPPORTS FROM NEIGHBORHOODS ALL OVER AUSTIN. THIS MORNING SOMEONE FROM THE SOUTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SENT TO ME AN E-MAIL SUPPORT THAT SHE SENT TO ALL OF YOU. THIS SUPPORT IS BASED ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROJECT, HOWEVER, WITHOUT AN INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD VISION FOR THE TRIANGLE WILL NOT BE REALIZED. THE STATE WILL PURSUE ALTERNATE USES FOR THE LAND WHICH COULD VERY WELL RESULT IN A STATE OFFICE COMPLEX ON THE PROPERTY, A STATE THAT DOES NOT BENEFIT THE CITY OR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. PLEASE AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THESE FUNDS FOR THE TRIANGLE PROJECT. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. MS. MOFFETT?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME NAME IS SUSAN MOFFETT AND I REALIZED DRIVING DOWN HERE TODAY THAT MY CHILD WAS IN KINDERGARTEN WHEN I CAME DOWN TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND HE STARTED THIRD GRADE LAST WEEK. SO IT'S BEEN A LONG HAUL. AND I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH AND GOODMAN AND SLUSHER FOR THEIR INVALUABLE SUPPORT ON THIS. WE REALLY ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN HERE WITHOUT YOU. AS WE'VE NOTED, THAT WAS A HARD PROCESS, BUT WE, THE NEIGHBORS, THE CITY, THE STATE AND THE DEVELOPERS WORKED TOGETHER AND WE CAME UP WITH A GOOD PLAN. WE'RE BACK HERE TODAY TO ASK YOUR HELP IN MAKING THAT PLAN A REALITY. IN COLLEGE I MAJORED IN STUDIO ART AND MY AREA OF CONCENTRATION WAS SCULPTURE. WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING ONE OF ANY SIZE, YOU START WITH WHAT'S CALLED AN ARMATURE. THE ARMATURE IS THE FRAMEWORK THAT GIVES STRENGTH AND FORM TO YOUR FINISHED PRODUCT. IT'S LIKE A SKELETON. IT UNDERPINS THE WHOLE THING. AND IT'S CRITICAL TO GET IT RIGHT. IF IT'S MISS SHAPE HE EN, IF IT'S WEAK OR NOT THERE, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW GREAT YOUR FINISH IS, WITHOUT THE ARMATURE EVENTUALLY YOUR PIECE IS GOING TO COLLAPSE. I THINK CITIES ARE LIKE SCULPTURES IN THIS REGARD. YOU NEED A STRONG ARMATURE IN PLACE BEFORE YOU START TO BUILD. IN THIS CASE WE'RE BUILDING A PIECE OF CENTRAL CITY FROM SCRATCH. I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN OUT STATE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THERE, IT'S DIRT AND GRASS. IT'S GOT TO BE BUILT AND PLANNED FROM THE GROUND UP. AND TO DO THAT, WE NEED A STRONG ARMATURE, WE NEED THE SKELETON OF A WORKING NEIGHBORHOOD. PERMANENT STREETS, PERMANENT GREEN SPACE, PERMANENT WATER AND WASTEWATER. NOW, THERE ARE SOUND FISCAL REASONS TO APPROVE THE TRIANGLE. IT'S GOING TO ADD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE TAX BASE AND BIG AMOUNTS IN SALES REVENUES, BUT TO ME THE MOST IMPORTANT TO VOTE FOR IT HAS TO DO WITH BUILDING COMMUNITY. THIS PROJECT WILL CREATE ALMOST 800 NEW HOUSING UNITS IN THE CENTRAL CITY, ROUGHLY 40 OF WHICH WILL BE TARGETED FOR FAMILIES EARNING BELOW 80% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME. IT WILL STRENGTHEN AND CONNECT OUR EXISTING STREET GRID, BUILDING A USABLE NETWORK OF CROSS STREETS ACROSS WHAT IS CURRENTLY A 22 ACRE BLANK SPOT IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR CITY. IT WILL PRESERVE GREEN SPACE, IT WILL BUILD OUR TAX BASE, IT WILL CREATE A NEIGHBORHOOD. OBVIOUSLY A PROJECT OF THIS SCOPE IS DELICATELY CALIBRATED. IT SNEEDZ A COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD. ABSENT THAT COMMITMENT THIS CHANCE PROBABLY WON'T COME AGAIN. MOST LIKELY THE SITE WILL CONVERT TO STATE USE, WHICH WILL BE A TRACT OF STATE OFFICE BUILDING THAT BRING TRAFFIC TO THE AREA, BUT GIVE NOTHING IN RETURN, NO HOUSING, NO FUNCTIONAL CROSS STREETS, NO TAX REVENUES. EACH OF YOU IS A THE DIAS TODAY BECAUSE WE, YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, HAVE VOTED TO TRUST YOUR JUDGMENT. WE TRUST TO YOU PLAN FOR OUR CITY'S FUTURE. PLEASE VOTE TO SUPPORT FUNDING FOR THE TRIANGLE AND TO HELP BUILD A STRONG, HELL ANY, PERMANENT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OUR CENTRAL CITY. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU.

>> I'M LOUISE AND I'M THE VICE-PRESIDENT FOR THE ALTA VISTA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AN ASSOCIATION THAT WAS FORMED AS PART OF THE RESULT OF THE TRIANGLE PART CONTROVERSY. MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WERE PEOPLE WHO WORKED WITH THE TRIANGLE PARK ISSUE. WE ARE ONE OF THE CLOSEST RESIDENTS FOR THE TRIANGLE BECAUSE WE'RE PROBABLY A LITTLE LESS THAN THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM IT. AND IN A RECENT SURVEY THAT WAS CONDUCTED ON MONDAY, WE ASKED THE RESIDENTS WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF THE DEVELOPMENT FRX THEY APPROVED IT IT OR DISAPPROVED IT. AND THE RESULT OF THAT SURVEY IS THAT 65% OF THE RESIDENTS OF ALTA VISTA, WHICH IS LOCATED BETWEEN LAMAR AND MEDICAL PARKWAY, 45TH AND 38TH, THE RESULT OF THAT SURVEY IS THAT 65% OF THE NEIGHBORS APPROVE OF THE CURRENT PLAN. AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, THIS IS DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT FROM BEFORE WHEN THERE WERE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO DID APPROVE OF THE PLAN. BUT THEY'VE SEEN THE NEW DEVELOPMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AND THEY LIKE WHAT THEY SEE. I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE LAST PEOPLE TO EXPECT TO LIKE THIS DEVELOPMENT. I'VE GOT A REAL SOFT SPOT FOR GREEN SPACE. AND WHEN I WENT TO THE LAST MEETING TO FINALLY APPROVE THIS PLAN, I -- I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME WITH IT. BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT THE PLAN I HAD TO ADMIT, EVERYTHING THAT ANY OF US HAD ASKED FOR HAS BEEN PUT INTO THIS PLAN. WE'VE ALL HAD TO MAKE COMPROMISES, BUT TO A LARGE DEGREE WE HAVE BEEN LISTENED TO. AND THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE THERE TWO YEARS AGO, OUR SLOW BEGAN AS NEIGHBORS OF TRIANGLE PARK WAS LISTEN TO YOUR NEIGHBORS. THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT THE ENTIRE PROBLEM, THAT NOBODY WAS ASKING US WHAT WE WANT. NOBODY WAS LISTENING TO US WHEN WE SAID WHAT WE WANTED. BUT THEN SUDDENLY STAY STATE BOARD OF REVIEW MEETINGS, THANKS TO MAYOR WATSON, THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, BEVERLY GRIFFITH, EXCUSE ME, ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE BEING LISTENED TO AND WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER INSTEAD OF AGAINST EACH OTHER. AND THAT'S A PRETTY AMAZING THING CONSIDERING THAT WE HAD A PETITION WITH OVER 6,000 SIINGTSD ON IT. AND YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU'VE GOT 6,000 PEOPLE TO START WORKING TOGETHER IN ESSENCE. I'VE WATCHED THESE PEOPLE TURN THEMSELVES INSIDE OUT TO WORK WITH US, LISTEN TO US AND TO GIVE US WHAT WE WANT. AND WHEN PETER CALTHORP GAVE US ALL A SURVEY THE NIGHT THAT -- THE FIRST TIME WE TALKED TO HIM AND ASKED US WHAT DO WE WANT AND THE TWO MAJOR ISSUES THAT CAME UP WERE, ONE, RESIDENTIAL AND TWO, GREEN SPACE. WELL, WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF THAT NOW. EVERY TIME -- ALMOST EVERY TIME WE HAVE SAID THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN'T HAVE THERE OR THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO HAVE THERE, WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS GOTTEN EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE WANTED, BUT EVERYONE HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO GIVE EVERYONE AS MUCH OF WHAT THEY WANT AS IS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. WE ASK FOR GREEN SPACE, WE GOT IT. WE ASKED FOR HOUSING, WE GOT IT. WHEN WE EXPRESSED A DESIRE FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING, WE GOT IT. THERE IS VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE CURRENT PLAN -- [BUZZER]. -- THAT I CAN CRITICIZE AND I HOPE YOU WILL APPROVE OF IT. THANK YOU.

>> MY NAME IS JEFF. I'M PRESIDENT OF THE HYDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY AT THE GENERAL MEETING THIS PAST WEEK TO SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR THE REMAINING COUPLE OF MINUTES OUT OF MY BACK POCKET. THIS MODEL THAT I HAVE OBSERVED ON THE GROUND IN DALLAS AND I HAVE READ ABOUT IN OTHER CITIES HAS A LARGE SMALL BUSINESS COMPONENT, INDIVIDUALLY LOCAL OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE MODEL ARE INVOLVED IN THIS. BUT WHERE IT REALLY HITS ME HOME IS THE PUBLIC PARK ASPECT OF IT. IN THE MODEL THAT IS ON THE GROUND AT LEAST IN ADDISON AND HAS BEEN DESCRIBED TO ME, THERE IS A PUBLIC PARK WHICH THEY HAVE PUBLIC ART SHOWS. FOLKS, I STARTED OUT ON A BLANKET ON THE DRAG AND THEN I WENT TO THE SAMI SHOWS AND THEN I GOT INTO THE CHRISTMAS BAZAAR. AND FRANKLY I WAS ABLE TO SELL 250 TO $300,000 A YEAR FOR ABOUT 18 YEARS. I HAD TO GET OUT OF IT BECAUSE I HAD TO TRAVEL ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND MY CHILDREN ARE GOING TO HIGH SCHOOL AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PLACES, NOT ENOUGH VENUES FOR ARTISTS, POTTERY, PAINTERS, JEWELERS IN AUSTIN AND THIS MODEL OFFERS THAT AND IT REQUIRES CITY PARTICIPATION. AND I THINK THIS WOULD HELP INDIVIDUAL MICROENTERPRISE FROM ALL OVER THE CITY. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR. JIM WALKER SIGNED UP IN FAVOR. FRED MUNICIPAL NOS SIGNED UP IN FAVOR. DON SMITH FOR AND SAYS THE TRIANGLE IS SMART GROWTH AT ITS BEST AND THE CURRENT PLAN IS A RESULT OF THE IMMENSE EFFORT ON THE PART OF MANY PEOPLE. WILL BOSEMAN SIGNED UP FOR. BOB HUINGLY IS HERE AND AVAILABLE TO SPEAK AS A RESOURCE WITNESS. CHRIS ALLEN? TISSUE WILLIAMS? DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? YOU'LL FOLLOW WILL ALLEN.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHRIS WILLIAMS. THERE'S A COMMON THEME TO MANY OF THE DECISIONS YOU'RE FACED WITH TODAY. YOU'RE ABOUT TO DEFINE WITH A SMALL NUMBER OF VOTES WHAT OUR CIVIC DUTIES ARE. I'M HERE TO HELP YOU MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR AUSTIN'S VUT FOOUT. IN ORDER TO KEEP POST PROPERTIES INVOLVED IN THE TRIANGLE DEAL, CITY STAFF CLEVERLY CREATED THE PARKLAND PURCHASE AND OTHER PLANS FOR YOU TO TO CREATE A LEGAL MEANS FOR SUBSIDIZING THE DEVELOPMENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE NORMAL INCENTIVES. AT TUESDAY NIGHT'S PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, THEY DESCRIBED THIS WORK AS FLEXIBLE, FLEE THINKING AND CREATIVE IN COMING UP WITH THE SOURCE OF THIS MONEY. HE WENT ON TO SAY, I DO WISH THE CITY COULD BE AS CREATIVE ON WHAT I SEE AS SOME OTHER PRESSING NEEDS AROUND THE CITY. I CAME INTO THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS ALL OVER AUSTIN WERE SHUT DOWN THE SAME WEEK THIS DEAL SURFACED. I WAS OUTRAGED BECAUSE EVERYDAY THE CITY TELLS SIT TENS TO GET IN LINE AND BE PATIENT FOR A VARIETY OF THOSE NEEDS THAT HE REFERRED TO. ON TUESDAY NIGHT THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER AL ALMANSA TALKED ABOUT HER OUTRAGE FOR FUNDING TO HEALTH SISTERS. YOU KNOW THERE ARE PRESSING NEEDS IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY. WITH TODAY'S VOTE YOU'RE DECIDING IF DEVELOPERS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE HEAD OF THAT LONG LINE. CITY STAFF HAVE DEFENDED IT BY TELLING US THAT THE MONEY IN QUESTION IS PARK MONEY, THAT IT'S NOT TAKING FROM THE PARKS DEPOSIT. THAT'S THE SAD EVIDENT PART OF THIS. IT'S CLEAR TO ME NOW THAT WITH THE POLITICAL WILL OF THIS COUNCIL IT'S EASY TO FIND LARGE SUMS OF MONEY FOR ANYTHING. IT'S DISCOURAGING TO IMAGINE THE GOOD THAT COULD BE DONE WITH THAT POWER IF WE WEREN'T USING IT TO CREATE HANDOUTS FOR DEVELOPERS. THE SIMPLE QUESTION OF PRIORITIES. THE BACKERS OF THE SUBSIDY WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT BECAUSE THE PROJECT WILL GENERATE TAX REVENUE. WOULDN'T IT BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE CITY TO INVEST IN ENHANCING THE EXISTING COMMUNITY FIRST? SHOULDN'T WE HAVE GREAT PARKS, HEALTH CENTERS, LIBRARIES, ETCETERA, BEFORE WE BECOME REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS. BESIDES, IN THE HOTTEST REAL ESTATE MARKET IN THE NATION, DOES ANYONE BELIEVE THAT POST NEED A HANDOUT TO PULL THIS PROJECT OFF? IT WILL BE EXPENSIVE TO BUILD AND IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO FINANCE DUE TO THE LENGTH OF THE LEASE, BUT NO ONE HAS SAID IT WON'T BE PROFITABLE IN THE LONG-TERM. IF THE STIPULATES TO EXPERT THIS DEVELOPMENT, WOULDN'T IT BE MORE REASONABLE FOR US TO BE TALKING ABOUT A LOAN OR LOAN GUARANTEE INSTEAD OF A HANDOUT? THIS SHOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT DISCUSSION BETWEEN YOURSELVES AND THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN. WE'RE AT A CROSSROADS IN THIS CITY AND WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE. DO WE WANT TO BECOME A GREAT CITY OR A BIG CITY? IT'S EVIDENT THAT WE CAN'T ACCOMPLISH BOTH STATEMENT. RIGHT NOW THE CITY'S SMART GROWTH PROGRAM IS IN DIRECT COMPETITION WITH THE THINGS THAT MAKE CITIES GREAT, PARKS, LIBRARIES, POOLS, HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY. ALL OF THOSE ITEMS WILL HAVE TO BE NEGLECTED IN ORDER TO PAY FOR SMART GROWTH. BUZZ BZ I URGE YOU TO WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR CIVIC PRIORITIES. THINK ABOUT THE LEGACY YOU WILL LEAVE BEHIND. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MS. WILLIAMS, BEFORE YOU SPEAK LET ME SAY ONE OTHER THING ABOUT THIS. THERE'S A BIT OF DIFFERENCE WITH REGARD TO THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY THAN MAYBE SOME PEOPLE KNOW. AND MAYBE WE TOO QUICKLY GLOSSED OVER THE ENORMOUS HISTORY. WE HAVEN'T -- YOU MAY WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO BECAUSE THEY'RE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THEY'RE HERE TO HELP YOU. AND THEY'RE HERE TO HELP YOU. AND ACTUALLY, I MEAN THAT AS A JOKE BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER DEWHURST AND THE WORK HE'S PUT INTO THIS. BUT ONE THE THING THAT'S TRUE IS IF THE CITY DOESN'T HELP WITH THE SMART GROWTH ASPECT OF THIS AND JUST SAYS FINE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS YOU WON'T HAVE ANY REAL PLANNING PROCESS IN MY OPINION. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL YEARS OF THAT AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET A DEVELOPMENT THERE. AND MY GUESS IS THAT SOME OF THE FOLKS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE DEAL WITH THE SWIMMING POOL AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU SAY IT GOT YOU PROMPTED TO GET INVOLVED IN ALL THIS WILL BE --

>>. [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: GOOD. THEN YOU KNOW THAT ONE OF THE REAL REALITIES IN THIS IS THAT IF WE DON'T HELP MAKE A SMART GROWTH PROJECT OUT OF THIS, IT WILL BE WHAT THE STATE WANTS TO MAKE OUT OF THIS. AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE HERE AND HAVE PARTICIPATED AND HAVE COME UP WITH A PROCESS AND A RESULT THAT BENEFITS ALL OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, I PROMISE YOU THERE WILL BE MORE PEOPLE DOWN HERE TELLING US -- TELLING ME WHEN IT COMES TIME, GO AHEAD AND VOTE AGAINST IT AT THE BOARD OF REVIEW. I'LL BE ONE VOTE, PARTICULARLY AFTER THIS KIND OF PROCESS. SO I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR BECAUSE THOSE GUYS IN FRONT OF YOU MIGHT HELP YOU GET IT. MS. WILLIAMS?

>> BEFORE I START MY THREE MINUTE, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT TWO PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT HERITAGE OFFICIALLY COULD NOT BE HERE AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY FOR THE PROJECT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU.

>> TELL LOW, I'M TISH WILLIAMS AND I'M FROM HERITAGE. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO PASS ON THIS PROJECT AT TRIANGLE. THIS IS ACKNOWLEDGE IMAGE ACTIVE, EXCITING AND CITY ENHANCING PLAN. IF I HAD MY DRUTHERS, I WOULD ASK FOR WAY LESS RESIDENTIAL AND WAY MORE RETAIL. BUT I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH COUNSEL ABOUT THIS PROJECT AS WELL AS CHANGE IN DENSITY FROM THE SF-3 SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING TO DUPLEX. THERE IS STRONG INTENT ON THE PART OF COUNCIL TO DENSE IF I THIS CITY AND TO PUT THROUGH FAVORED PROJECTS, BUT AS SO OFTEN IN THE PAST, THERE IS LITTLE OR NO SOCIAL BACKUP IN MY OPINION FROM COUNCIL TO AMEAL LOWER RATE THESE NEW PROJECTS. FIND MONEY FOR TRIANGLE PARK IF YOU WILL, AND I HOPE YOU DO, BUT NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND POOLS SHOULD NOT BE ONLY MAINTAINED, BUT MAINTAINED WELL, PARTICULARLY AS THE CITY DENSEFIES. IF IT'S FOUND, IT MUST BE FOUND FOR THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE OF INNER CITY COUNCIL. CITY ORDINANCES NEED TO REFLECT THE NEW PROJECTS. THERE IS A FRONTIER MENTALITY IN THIS TOWN RATHER THAN A DENSE URBAN MENTALITY IN ORDINANCES. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE CHANGES. ONE, A NEW THINKING ON NOISE. NOISE DECIBEL LEVELS ARE HIGH TO POINT OF PAIN IN INNER CITIES. THE MUSIC CITY IS NOT THE ONLY -- THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS NOT THE ONLY INHABITANT OF THIS TOWN.

>> TWO, AN ORDINANCE TO MONITOR LANDLORD NEGLECT. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR RENTER DESTRUCTION, WHETHER IT BE DRUG DEALS, TRASH OR LOUD PARTIES. KANSAS CITY MISSOURI IS STRICT ON LANDLORDS. WE CAN BE TOO. WE NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE NEED AN OMBUDSMAN AT MUNICIPAL COURT TO PUT US THROUGH THE UNTIED DINESS OF THE COURT. WE HAVE IN HERITAGE HAVE HAD CASES IN LAW BREAKERS GO ON TWO YEARS WITH NO RELIEF. FOUR, AN ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS INDUSTRIAL IMPACT ON RESIDENCES RATHER FROM TRASH, NOISE OR PARKING. FIVE, A POLICY TO ENCOURAGE LIGHTING ON PROPERTY SO THAT PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE LIGHTING RESPECTFUL OF PROPERTY BOUNDARIES RATHER THAN THE PRISON YARD GLARE THAT TURNS NEIGHBORHOODS INTO ZONES. IF THE CITY COUNCILL WILL DENSE DENSEFIES IN THIS CITY, HAVE THE CITIZENS SUPPORT US TO HAVE AN ORDER LE AND HUMANE CITY RATHER THAN A ZONE OF TRASH, PRISON LIGHTS, PARTIES, AGING BUILDINGS AND INDUSTRIAL GENERATORS. THANK YOU. AND BEFORE I LEAVE I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE TOM TORTLE, KENT DOLL LIENS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE FINEST MEN. THEY'RE JUST WONDERFUL. [BUZZER].

>>MAYOR WATSON: Y'ALL HAVE GOT TO SAY SOMETHING NOW. [LAUGHTER]. ON ITEM 49, SUSANA ALMANSA SIGNED UP WITH THE SAME THING. WILL BOSEMAN FOR. ON ITEM 50, JIM WALKER SIGNED UP FOR AND WILL BOSEMAN SIGNED UP FOR. THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS. COUNCIL, AT YOUR PLEASURE -- WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND WE DO IS TAKE UP EACH ITEM INDIVIDUALLY SO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A VOTE ON THESE ITEMS. THE FIRST ONE I'LL BRING UP IS ITEM 48 STLCHLT A MOTION?

>>WYNN: MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. IS THERE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM ABSENT. ITEM NUMBER 49, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>>WYNN: SO MOVE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION IS TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS S THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: WELL, SOMEBODY SAID THAT THE CITY IS BEING NIMBLE HERE, AND I HAVE TO AGREE. AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THE CITY IS FREQUENTLY CRITICIZED FOR BEING. AND I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK IT'S A CRITICISM, BUT IT'S TRUE THAT THERE CERTAINLY IS SOME CREATIVITY GOING IN TO THIS FINANCING ARRANGEMENT. AND IT HURTS A LITTLE BIT TO HAVE TO SHELL OUT THIS KIND OF MONEY TO MAKE THIS PROJECT A REALITY. AFTER ALL WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THAT THE MAYOR HAS DESCRIBED VERY WELL AND I WON'T ATTEMPT TO DESCRIBE MYSELF THAT AFTER ALL THAT I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS TODAY. I NOTICE THAT HAD ONE THING I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BY WAS THE SURVEY -- WHAT DID YOU HAVE, 65%? HOW MANY FOLKS IS THAT? WHAT KIND OF SAMPLING?

>> I WOULD SAY ABOUT 150.

>>SLUSHER: THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE BECAUSE ONE THING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT AND I IMAGINE WILL STILL HAPPEN IS THAT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF STRUGGLE AND NEGOTIATION AND THEN CLOSE TO UNANIMOUS ON IT TO HAVE MR. OWE ON THE DEVELOPER AND THE NEIGHBORSES COMING IN, THEY CAME INTO MY OFFICE TOGETHER TO TRY TO PERSUADE ME TO VOTE FOR THIS AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THAT BECAUSE WE OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T START OUT TOGETHER. SO ONE THING THAT'S COME OUT OF THIS IS THAT THE NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT DENSITY AND QUITE A LOT OF DENSITY, AND THEY'RE ALSO WANT -- THEY WANT THE RAIL LINE TO COME THROUGH THERE. THAT'S AN IDEAL PLACE FOR DENSITY AND TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WON'T GET MANY OPPORTUNITIES. IN A WAY THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR CENTRAL CITY DEVELOPMENT AT BOTH THE TRIANGLE AND THEN AT MUELLER. AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL EVER GET THOSE KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES AGAIN. SO I THINK THIS IS REALLY THE PRICE OF CONTROLLING OUR OWN DESTINY. AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THE NUMBERS ON THAT SURVEY FOR ONE REASON BEING THAT I'M CONCERNED. ONCE THIS STARTS -- ONCE CONSTRUCTION STARTS THERE AT THE TRIANGLE, WE'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING, HAIR JUST PAVING EVERYTHING -- THEY'RE JUST PAVING EVERYTHING. THERE WAS A LETTER IN THE STATESMAN YESTERDAY SAYING THIS IS THE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. AND I CAN CERTAINLY SEE HOW SOMEONE WOULD GET THAT IDEA FROM LOOKING AT THE DOWNTOWN SKYLINE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS OR THE SITUATION IS THAT WE HAVE AROUND 20,000 PEOPLE A YEAR MOVING HERE AND IT BEEN GOING ON FOR THE ENTIRE DECADE OF THE 90'S AND SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN. I FRANKLY WISH IT WOULD SLOW DOWN AND I THINK PROBABLY A MAJORITY OF OUR CITIZENS ALSO HOLD THAT VIEWPOINT. BUT IT'S NOT SLOWING DOWN. THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT, SO WHAT WE FACE ON THE COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS WHO LOVE THE CITY SO MUCH AND ARE SO INVOLVED IN TRYING TO PROTECT IT, WE'VE GOT TO PUT THOSE FOLKS SOMEWHERE AND IT JUST MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE TO TRY TO FIT AS MANY OF THEM AS POSSIBLE INTO THE CENTRAL CITY AND THE EXISTING CITY'S DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE RAURN HAVE THEM SPRAWL OUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRYSIDE WHICH DAMAGES THE TAX BASE, DAMAGES THE ENVIRONMENT AND CONTRIBUTES VERY HEAVILY TO OUR TRAFFIC, TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS. SO IF ALL THOSE REASONS I'M GOING TO BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS. LIKE I SAID, I THINK IT'S JUST A PRICE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY TO BE IN CONTROL OF OUR OWN DENSITY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ? [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE] OF YOU YESTERDAY, BUT I DID NOTICE YOU HAVE SEVERAL SPACES, YOU HAVE THE -- YOU CALL THE NORTH PLAZA THERE AND THE CENTRAL PLAZA AND THEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU CALL THE TRIANGLE SQUARE SO I'M NOT SURE IF WE'RE IN THE TROOING.

>>MAYOR WATSON: PART OF THE REASON THIS TOOK SO LONG IS IT TOOK SO LONG TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EVERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT.

>>ALVAREZ: AGAIN, I HAD SPOKEN TO SOME FOLKS ABOUT IT, IF YOU COULD DO SOMETHING UNIQUE, ARTISTIC, CULTURAL, HISTORIC OR SOMETHING THAT HAS A UNIQUE FLARE IN ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS AND IN SO DOING MAKING IT A REAL DRAW FOR THE CITY WHEN PEOPLE COME TO TOWN, LIKE WE TALK ABOUT TOWN LAKE BEING THE JEWEL OF THE CITY, WELL, WE COULD MAKE THIS INTO A JEWEL OF THE CITY IF WE TO IT RIGHT. SAME THING FOR ROBERT MUELLER. AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF OPEN SPACES THERE WHERE WE COULD CONCEPTLY COME UP WITH SOMETHING TO MAKE IT ANOTHER JEWEL, THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY, AND FINALLY, WITH THE PRAIRIE GRASS GOLF COURSE, IF INDEED THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PASSES WHERE WE COULD WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, THE DEVELOPER OF THAT PROJECT TO PROVIDE ACCESS TORE PUBLIC FACILITIES, AGAIN, THAT WILL CREATE SOMETHING UNIQUE AND INCREDIBLE AND SPECTACULAR FOR THE CITY. I REALLY DO THINK I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORT IT AS WELL BUT I DO WANT TO WORK WITH YOU SO THAT AS WE DO GROW, WE DO RETAIN AND CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE UNIQUE CHARACTER THAT IS AUSTIN, TEXAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

>>GRIFFITH: I DON'T KNOW OF ANOTHER PROJECT THAT HAS EVER BEEN IN AUSTIN THAT HAS CAUSED -- HAS BEEN THE KIND OF CATALYST FOR LEARNING THAT THIS ONE HAS. THE TRIANGLE, THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE HAS RAISED THE LEVEL AND THE BAR OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEWEST URBAN DESIGN PRINCIPLES, AND I THINK THE STANDARDS SET HERE WILL CHANGE -- ALL THE STANDARDS IN THE CITY FROM NOW ON, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR -- ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT AND THOSE WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE LEARNING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS GAINED. THAX A LOT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANY OTHER COMMENT OR DISCUSSION ON ITEM 49? ONE THING I'LL SAY REAL QUICKLY ABOUT HOW THIS MAY END UP BEING OF BENEFIT FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BEYOND SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTING AND SPEAKING PRETTY HE WILL KWEPTLY ON WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE DOING WITH REGARD TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL HAD BEGUN A SERIES OF THINGS, AND BY THE WAY, I THINK LATER TODAY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ IS GOING TO BE SPEAKING AND HE HAS PUT OUT A MEMO ON A NUMBER OF ITEMS RELATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THIS HAS A AFFORDABLE HOUSING HOUSING COME PON HE WANT. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IS FOLLOW-THROUGH, AN URGING, PUSHING, IF YOU WILL OF SOMETHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS THE CONCEPT THAT UNDERUTILIZED AND UNUSED PROPERTY OF THE CITY USING A DATE SAY OF JUNE 197, THAT WE ARE NOW PUTTING ON TO THE TAX ROLLS IN A WAY THAT IS RETURNING TAX INCOME IS ONE WAY THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND. OF COURSE CARE HAS TO BE TAKEN THAT WHEN YOU PUT INCENTIVES INTO A SMART GROWTH OPPORTUNITY THAT THE CITY GETS A RETURN ON ITS INVESTMENT. BUT THIS IS A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT HAS NOT BEEN RETURNING ANYTHING ON THE TAX ROLLS, SO IT IS CONCEIVABLE THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ'S CONCEPTS OF THE WAY WE CAN DO THINGS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THE PROPOSAL WE'VE HAD ON THE TABLE NOW FOR A COUPLE WEEKS, ABOUT 40% OF THE INCREMENT IN TAXES THAT COMES FROM SOME OF THE PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN UNUSED COULD GO INTO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND. THIS MAY BE ANOTHER EXAMPLE. AND AGAIN, WE NEED TO GET A RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT WE'RE MAKING IN ORDER TO MAKE THE SMART GROWTH WORK, BUT THIS MAY BE ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE CAN PULL SOMETHING OFF. SO WITH THAT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 49 SAY AYE. OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM ABSENT. ITEM NO. 50, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MOTION IS TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. IS THERE A SECOND?

>>WYNN: SECOND.

>>MAYOR WATSON: DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM NO. 50. CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY THAT SPENT SO MUCH TIME ON THIS, AND I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND WITH -- I TEASED YOU A MINUTE AGO, BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS. I WANT TO SAY A PARTICULAR THANKS, AND I HOPE YOU WILL COMMUNICATE IT TO HIM, ALTHOUGH I'M SURE HE'S WATCHING RIGHT NOW -- [LAUGHTER] -- COMMISSIONER DEWHURST. HE AND I HAVE MET TOGETHER, HAVE BEEN ON THE TELEPHONE TOGETHER MANY, MANY TIMES AND HE HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN THIS PROCESS AND VERY ACCOMMODATING AND SO PLEASE SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO COMMISSIONER DEWHURST. COUNCIL, UNLESS I AM MISTAKEN, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN WORK ON UNTIL OUR 4:00 TIME CERTAIN. SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECESS THE CITY COUNCILL UNTIL 4:00 P.M. MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE IN RECESS. AND BY THE WAY, BEFORE WE COMPLETELY RECESS, MR. TERKELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND YOUR GOOD HARD WORK.

>> THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US. C14-00-2007.

>>WATSON: THE NEXT ITEMS WE'LL TAKE UP WILL BE ZONING HEARINGS WHICH ARE ITEMS NO. 72 THROUGH 82. DO WE HAVE STAFF PRESENT?

>>MAYOR WATSON: ARE YOU ALL READY?

>>GLASCO: GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. ALICE GRASS KO CITY STAFF TO PRESENT ZONING CASES FOR TODAY. AND I WILL -- I WILL --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MS. GLASCO.

>>GLASGO: I WILL START OFF WITH ITEMS THAT ARE FOR CONSENT. ITEM 72 IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSION ITEM. I'M JUST GOING TO POINT THOSE OUT, THAT WAY YOU KNOW WHY I'M KEEPING THOSE ITEMS. 73 AND 74 ARE INTENDED FOR DISCUSSION. SO IS 75. OUR FIRST ACTION ITEM WILL BE 76 WHERE WE HAVE A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST TO AUGUST 31ST. THIS IS ZONING CASE C14-00-2007, ITEM NO. 76, THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST WAS TIMELY, THE OWNER IS OUT OF TOWN AND COULD NOT BE PRESENT TODAY SO WE WOULD RECOMMEND POSTPONEMENT TO AUGUST 31ST. ITEM NO. 77, CASE NO. C14-00-2031 LOCATED ON OLD SAN ANTONIO ROAD, THE ZONING CHANGE IS FROM INTERIM RURAL RESIDENTIAL TO MF 2, WHICH STANDS FOR MULTI-FAMILY 2, LOW DENSITY. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT FIVE-DAY FORECAST 2 WITH A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY OVERLAY AND OTHER CONDITIONS. THIS CASE IS READY FOR ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM NO. 78 IS A DISCUSSION ITEM. ITEM NO. 79 IS A CONSENT ITEM. CASE C14-00-2094 LOCATED AT 14018 U.S. HIGHWAY 183 NORTH. THE REQUEST IS FROM DR, WHICH STANDS FOR DEVELOPMENT RESERVE, THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING GR, COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL ZONING, AND THAT REQUEST IS RECOMMENDED TO YOU BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH CONDITIONS. THIS CASE IS READY FOR FIRST READING ONLY. ITEM NO. 80, WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT. THE REQUEST IS TIMELY, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL. THE POSTPONEMENT REQUEST IS FOR 60 DAYS. THE ORDINANCE, IT'S UP TO COUNCIL TO DECIDE TO POSTPONE EITHER 0 DAYS OR 60 DAYS. THE ORDINANCE ALLOWS NO MORE THAN 60 DAYS FOR FIRST -- EACH ITEM. ITEM NO. 81 IS CONSENT ITEM, CASE C14-00-2019. THIS IS A REQUEST AT 9000 THROUGH T 100 WALL STREET FROM INTERIM RURAL RESIDENTIAL TO PERMANENT RURAL RESIDENTIAL THIS. CASE IS READY FOR ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM NO. 82, CASE C14-00-2110, LOCATED AT WILSON PARKE AVENUE AND MUIR PARK PASS. THE CHANGE IS FROM INTERIM RURAL RESIDENCE TO PERMANENT RURAL RESIDENTIAL. THIS CASE IS READY FOR ALL THREE READINGS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE POSTPONEMENT AND CONSENT ITEMS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL, THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE ITEM 76, POSTPONEMENT TO 8-31-2000. ITEM 79 -- I MEAN ITEM 77 ON ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM NO. 79 ON FIRST READING. ITEM NO. 80 A POSTPONEMENT FOR 60 DAYS. ITEM NO. 81 ON ALL THREE READINGS. AND ITEM 82 ON ALL THREE READINGS. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.

>>GRIFFITH: I SEE DAN ROBERTSON FROM AISD. COULD I ASK YOU ONE QUESTION ABOUT 77 THAT I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>>GRIFFITH: HOW DO YOU ESTIMATE HOW MANY CHILDREN WILL BE GOING TO SCHOOL FROM A MULTI-FAMILY PROJECT?

>> BASICALLY --.

>>GRIFFITH: IS THERE A FORMULA?

>> YES. BASICALLY THERE ARE TWO THINGS. THERE'S A FORMULA THAT I USE THAT BASED ON CENSUS DATA THAT HAS BOTH A PER BEDROOM AND A TYPE OF BEDROOM SO YOU CAN LOOK AT HOW MANY ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR BEDROOMS. AND IT ALSO HAS AN ALL UNIT ESTIMATE WHICH I USUALLY USE UNLESS THERE ARE AN INORDINATE NUMBER OF THREE AND FOUR BEDROOMS. THAT ALL UNIT ESTIMATE IS ABOUT A SIXTH OF A STUDENT PER UNIT. AND IN ALL EXCEPT TAX SUPPORTED APARTMENTS IT IS A GOOD ESTIMATOR OF WHAT MULTI-FAMILY WILL PRODUCE. IN THE CASE OF TAX SUPPORTED UNITS, WHAT I USUALLY DO THERE IS USE COMPARABLES IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH BECAUSE THOSE GENERALLY WILL HAVE A HEAVIER NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THAT KIND OF A UNIT.

>>GRIFFITH: ARE THOSE METHODS TURNING OUT TO BE CORRECT AND HAS IT BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE THAT THAT IS HOW MANY STUDENTS SHOW UP?

>> YES, MA'AM, AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH IT DOESN'T MATCH WITH PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION, BUT I SUPPOSE IT WON'T COME AS ANY SHOCK TO PEOPLE ON THE DAIS THAT PEOPLE'S INTERESTS SOMETIMES HAVE AN EFFECT ON THEIR PERCEPTIONS. BUT THE -- I HAVEN'T -- I'VE BEEN DOING THESE ESTIMATES FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS, AND I HAVEN'T GONE BACK AND CHECKED IN ALL CASES, BUT I HAVE CHECKED IN SEVERAL PRETTY FORMIDABLE CASES, ALONG METRIC DRIVE, ALONG STASSNEY, ALONG WILLIAM CANNON AND THE RECENT ACTIVITY ALONG MOPAC, AND THE GENERAL ALL UNIT ESTIMATE VERY RARELY UNDERESTIMATES. IT STILL CONTINUES TO OVERESTIMATE, WHICH IS WHAT YOU WOULD WANT IT TO DO. SO IT'S STILL CONSERVATIVE.

>>GRIFFITH: THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL, LET ME MAKE ONE REAL QUICK CHECK. ON ITEM NO. 80, WE HAVE SEVERAL TEAM THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT IT APPEARS THAT MOST PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP, MANY HAVE SIGNED UP WANTING THE POSTPONEMENT. SOME HAVE SIGNED UP AGAINST. IT IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TO POSTPONE FOR 60 DAYS. LET ME ASK IF ANYONE FEELS THE NEED TO SPEAK, IF THAT'S THE MOTION. IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM NO. 80 WITH THE MOTION BEING TO POSTPONE IT FOR 60 DAYS. ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED, SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ. COUNCIL, THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO ITEM 72. LET ME JUST SAY FOR THE RECORD, ITEM 72 DOES NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. ITEM 73 AND 74 DO. AND THEY ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TOGETHER. SO WE MAY WANT TO JUST TAKE THOSE UP TOGETHER. SO ITEM NO. 72.

>>GLASGO: MAYOR, SINCE YOU JUST INDICATED THERE IS NO ONE HERE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR ITEM 72, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THE STAFF -- WELL, ACTUALLY -- WELL, I SHOULD PROBABLY TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT. THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS IS TO SIMPLY DROP THE INTERIM AND ASSIGN IT PERMANENT RESIDENTIAL ZONING. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS DENIAL. TWO WEEKS AGO YOU HAD THE CITIZENS APPEAR TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU INDICATING CONCERN OF THE ZONING BEING FILED, AND THIS CASE IS INDICATIVE OF THE DIRECTIVE YOU GAVE US TO INITIATE ZONING TO DRP THE INTERIM SO THAT IN THE EVENT THERE IS OPPOSITION TO A HIGHER INTENSIFICATION IN ZONING, THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY OR PEOPLE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO FILE A PETITION TO REZONE. THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THOSE CASES WHERE IF YOU DROP THE INTERIM, IT WOULD PROVIDE THOSE UNITS WITHIN 200 FEET THAT ABILITY SHOULD THEY WANT TO EXERCISE THAT PARTICULAR PROVISION. SO THOSE ARE YOUR OPTIONS ARE TO DROP THE INTERIM AND GRANT PERMANENT RR AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF, OR DENY THE PERMANENT CONVERSION AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON CONSENT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AND I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU -- GIVE ME THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

>>GLASGO: STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO ZONE THE PROPERTY RURAL RESIDENTIAL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM NO. 72? MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. DISCUSSION? THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. IS THERE ANYONE WIRKING TO BE HEARD ON ITEM 72? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM 72. ITEM NO. 73.

>>GLASGO: MAYOR, ITEM 73 AND 74 ARE RELATED CASES. WE WILL PRESENT THEM JOINTLY. THIS IS CALLED THE INTERPORT REZONING CASE. THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND ITEMS 45 AND 46 RELATE TO ANNEX OF THIS PROPERTY. SEVERAL YEARS AGO THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY CAME TO THE CITY TO DISCUSS WHILE PURSUING CONVENTIONAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS PROPERTY, AND IT APPEARED GIVEN THAT PROXIMITY TO THE AIRPORT THAT IT WAS -- IT WOULD BE IN OUR INTERESTS IN ATTRACTING TAX BASE THAT WE WOULD -- WE SUGGESTED TO THE OWNER TO CONSIDER SEEKING ANNEXATION AND ALSO A ZONING CHANGE THAT WOULD THEN GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTROL LAND USES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE APPLICANT. AND TO THAT END THE APPLICANT WENT AHEAD AND FILED A REQUEST TO BE ANNEXED AND BE ZONED ACCORDINGLY. THE PLAN THAT THE APPLICANT HAD CONTEMPLATED THEN WAS REAL AINDUSTRIAL PARK AND SOME MOBILE HOMES. AFTER SEVERAL VISITS OF VISITS WITH THE APPLICANT WE WERE ABLE TO CONVINCE HIM THAT WHILE AN INDUSTRIAL PARK WAS A GOOD IDEA, HE ALSO CONSIDERED SOME MIXED USES AND DROPPED THE MOBILE HOME COMPONENT AND ADDED SOME MULTI-FAMILY TO HAVE A TRUE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT OFFERS SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR INDUSTRIAL USES, RETAIL AND RESIDENTIAL. SO WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU IS A ZONING CASE THAT ENCOMPASSES APPROXIMATELY 651 ACRES. THE REQUEST IS AN OVERALL ZONING DISTRICT OF LIMITED INDUSTRIAL WITH A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT AREA AGREEMENT. THE PDA IS AN OVERLAY THAT IS ALLOWED BY THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE BY WHICH YOU CAN COMBINE WITH A SPECIFIC ZONING DISTRICT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, LIMITED INDUSTRIAL, BY MODIFYING CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE ALLOWED OR LIMITED BY THE CODE. FOR EXAMPLE, HEIGHT CAN BE ADJUSTED UPWARDS, SQUARE FOOTAGES CAN BE MODIFIED. DENSITIES CAN BE MODIFIED. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THE OVERALL LIMITED INDUSTRIAL ZONING WITH THE MODIFICATIONS WOULD ALLOW FOR REARRANGEMENT OF USES SHOULD THERE BE A NEED FOR A DEVELOPER THAT MIGHT WANT TO LOCATE AT A DIFFERENT SPOT. THE MAP WE HAVE BEFORE YOU IS GOING TO SHOW YOU WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED VERY GENERALLY, AND THEN THE APPLICANT WILL GET TO THE SPECIFICS. AS I INDICATED, THE PROPERTY IS NORTH OF -- NORTHEAST OF THE AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED RIGHT HERE. THE SUBJECT TRACT IS RIGHT HERE IN THE BLACK UNDERLINE TRACT. THE OVERALL TRACT IS BEING PROPOSED FOR LIMITED INDUSTRIAL, WHICH WOULD ALLOW OFFICE, RETAIL AND MULTI-FAMILY. THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT AREA AGREEMENT OVERLAY WOULD REALLY PROVIDE FOR FLEXIBILITY OF DEVELOPMENT WITHIN. WITHIN THAT DEVELOPMENT YOU HAVE PROHIBITED USES, ALLOWED USES, HEIGHT LIMITATIONS, SETBACKS AND ALSO THE TYPES OF USES THAT WOULD BE ALSO PROHIBITED OTHER THAN JUST ALLOWED. I WILL SUMMARIZE FOR YOU WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED TO YOU VERY BRIEFLY IN THAT CHART THAT SHOULD BE PASSED OUT TO YOU IN YOUR BACKUP. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED ZONING LI-PDA WITH GR, COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL USES, FOR TRACT 1 WITH CERTAIN SETBACK REQUIREMENTS. FOR TRACT 2, THEY RECOMMENDED LOOIPD LI-PDA AND ALLOWED THAT TO HAVE COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL USES WITH REQUIREMENT RELATING TO HEIGHT, VEGETATIVE SETBACKS AND RIGHT-OF-WAY RESERVATION AND DEDICATION. FOR TRACT 3, THAT IS YOUR MULTI-FAMILY TRACT THAT IS ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER, THE ACREAGE THERE IS 56 ACRES. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION WAS TO GRANT LI-PDA WITH A MODIFICATION THAT ALLOWS FOR MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT. SO THE ENTIRE 659 ACRES WILL BE ZONED LIMITED INDUSTRIAL WITH AN OVERLAY THAT ALLOWS THOSE MODIFICATIONS, YOU ARE BASICALLY ALLOWING A IMPORTATION OF USES INTO THAT DISTRICT, SIMPLY PUT REALLY. SO WITHIN THAT DISTRICT WE ARE ALLOWING MULTI-FAMILY USES ON TRACT 3. FOR TRACT 5 THERE ARE USES THAT WILL BE ALLOWED UNDER THE INDUSTRIAL USES. AND FOR TRACT 6, EXCEPT ALONG THE -- THE RIVER OR THE CREEK, YOU WILL HAVE LIMITATIONS ON JUST UTILITIES AND THE REST OF TRACT 6 WILL BE DEVELOPED AS ALLOWED UNDER THE LIMITED INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT. I WILL PAUSE HERE AND LET MR. PETE DWYER GIVE YOU A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF PROPOSAL AS HE HAS LAID IT OUT FOR US. THANK YOU.

>> AND MR. DWYER, HAVE YOU FIVE MINUTES.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. GLASCO. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, I HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED SOME TIME, DANNY BURNET AND DAVID ARMBRUST. BUT I WILL TRY TO BE BRIEFLY.

>>SLUSHER: SO YOU WANT TO ADD THAT ON TO YOUR PRESENTATION TIME?

>> PLEASE. NOT THAT I WILL NEED IT ALL.

>>SLUSHER: WOULD YOU SET THE CLOCK FOR 11 MINUTES SHE BUT HE'S GOING TO FINISH UP BEFORE THAT.

>> YES. THANK YOU. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCILL, MY NAME IS PETE DWYER. I'VE BEEN A DEVELOPER HERE IN AUSTIN FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS. MY FIRST CONTACT WITH THIS PROPERTY WAS IN 1996. THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN IN THE SAME FAMILY'S HANDS SINCE THE YEAR OF 1871. AND SO THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A DEVELOPER. WE CONSUMMATED A PURCHASE IN 1998, ONLY AFTER WE HAD COME IN AND HAD A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WITH SOME OF THE LONG-STANDING CITY COUNCILL MEMBERS AND MANY, MANY MEETINGS WITH STAFF. THIS PROPERTY, THERE WAS ANALYSIS DONE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOTTEN TO YOU YET, BUT IN RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBER'S QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S THE DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE INTERPORT AND THE PDA, THERE'S A TABLE THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS. IN YOU LOOK AT THAT, YOU CAN SEE THE PROPERTY THAT WE'RE CHALLENGED WITH IS ESSENTIALLY LIKE THE ROBERT MUELLER REDEVELOPMENT. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY, IT'S OUT NEAR THE AIRPORT. WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THE USES ARE GOING TO END UP BEING. THE WAY WE HAVE APPROACHED THIS IS FROM A NUMBER OF LAYERS. ONE IS LAND USE LAYER. AND MAYBE IF I CAN ADDRESS THAT FIRST. WHY NOT A TND, WHY A PDALI? THE ANXIOUS IS WE DID NOT WANT TO RECREATE THE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING ISSUES AROUND THE MAJOR AIRPORT THAT GOT US IN TROUBLE WITH ROBERT MUELLER AIRPORT TO BEGIN WITH SO WE DO NOT HAVE A DETACHED SINGLE-FAMILY COMPONENT IN INTERPORT AND THAT MADE IT REALLY HARD TO WORK WITH UNDER THE TND. ALTHOUGH YOU CAN SEE BY LOOKING AT THAT TABLE, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF MIX OF USES. WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE AND WORK AND RECREATE ALL IN THE SAME VICINITY WITHOUT HAVING TO GET INTO THEIR CARS. HOWEVER, WE CAN'T REALLY IGNORE THE FACT THAT ALL OF THE VARIOUS ALTERNATIVES OF SH VIRTUALLY GO RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THIS PROPERTY AND IN EVERY CONFIGURATION SO WE DO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT TRANSPORTATION COMPONENT TO THIS AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IS BUILT UPON THAT. I HAVE TWO OTHER PROJECTS, AND THEY ARE SHOWN IN THE LITTLE PACKET THAT I GAVE OUT TO EVERYBODY APPROXIMATELY THREE PAGES IN BEHIND THE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF THE SITE. WE HAVE A 1400 PROJECT CALLED COTTON WOOD AND ANOTHER CALLED WILD HORSE AND AS A COME PONT ENT OF WILD HORSE WE FOR SOME TIME HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO EXTEND INTO THIS AREA OF THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE CONNECT ACTIVITY TO WHAT WE CALL THE EXTENSION OF THE PARMER LANE TECHNOLOGY CORRIDOR. PARMER LANE RIGHT NOW IS BEING EXTEND TO DO INTERSECT 290 FROM THE NORTH, AND WHETHER IT IS IN A SPECIFIC PARMER LANE EXTENSION OR IN AN EXTENSION OF THE NOW WE THINK PROPOSED AND BLESSED EAST LAKE ROUTE OF STATE 130, MAYBE BY BUILDING THE ACCESS ROADS TO IT FIRST, TYING IN TO 973, WHICH IS A STRAIGHT SHOT DOWN TO BERGSTROM GIVES ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS IN THAT BEAUTIFUL PARMER TECHNOLOGY CORRIDOR A STRAIGHT SHOT TO THE AIRPORT BEFORE WE GO TEAR UP 183. SO WE THINK THAT CONNECTION IS A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THIS PROPERTY. THE NAME INTERPORT IS A DRIF ACTIVE OF THE INTERNET AND THE AIRPORT AND WHAT WE THINK THE FUTURE OF E-COMMERCE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN SEVERAL YEARS NEAR BERGSTROM. WE ALL KNOW HOW FAST THE CARGO GEN BUSINESSES ARE GROWING OUT THERE. A LOT OF IT IS JUST IN TIME SHIPPED OVER TO THE AIRPORT THROUGH AIR FREIGHT AND WE WANT TO BE THERE. WE HAVE COMPLETED A TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS AFTER EXTENSIVE STUDY OF THE AREA. WE HAVE TAKEN AIRPORT GROWTH INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL AS ROADWAY GROWTH AND INTERPORT'S DESIGN AND BLESSED BY STAFF TO WORK WITH PERIMETER AT-GRADE IMPROVEMENTS FOR UP TO ABOUT HALF OF ITS GROWTH AND THEN WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA LOOKS LIKE. THE OVERALL PROCESS THAT INTERPORT IS GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE REQUESTED ANNEXATION AND THIS COUNCIL AND THE PRECEDING COUNCIL HAVE CONSIDERED OUR ANNEXATION REQUEST AND APPROVED IT ON FIRST READING ONLY. WE'VE HAD OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. RIGHT BEHIND ANNEXATION, LIMITED PURPOSE ANNEXATION IS THE PDA ZONING COMPONENT. RIGHT BEHIND THAT WE HAVE FILED A SUBDIVISION COMPONENT ON 230 SOME ODD ACRES OF THE 650 ACRES, AND SO WE'RE COMING IN WITH SEQUENTIAL APPROVALS. WE'VE REQUESTED CITY WATER, CITY WASTEWATER AND WILL DEVELOP UNDER -- WITH THE FEE EXCEPTIONS THAT ARE CONTAINED WITHIN THE PDA, ALL OF THE EXISTING CITY CODES. WE'VE HAD SOME QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL AND STAFF ABOUT WATER QUALITY. WE HAVE SEVERAL LARGE WATER QUALITY ISSUES. ONE DEALS WITH THE COLORADO RIVER. IF YOU APPLY THE CWO, WHICH IS BASICALLY A HILL COUNTRY ORDINANCE, TO THE COLORADO RIVER AND YOU LOOK AT SOME ZONES OF THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE RIVER IS SO SIDE, YOU NEVER EVEN GET TO THE BANK BF YOU HAVE A CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE. SO WE'VE BASICALLY AGREED WITH STAFF THAT THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE WILL GO 100 FEET FROM THE BANK, WHICH IS A DEFINED AREA, WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ANYBODY WADE OUT INTO THE RIVER, AND THEN THE WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE BACK FROM THAT WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING TO OTHER AREAS OF THE SITE, IT HAS ALMOST TWO MILES OF SOME BEAUTIFUL ZONES OF ONION CREEK WITH BIG CYPRESS TREES AND DEEP SWIMMING HOLES. WE HAVE PROPOSED TO DO SOME BURMING TO CONTAIN THE FLOODPLAIN OR REALIGN THE FLOODPLAIN SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME MORE SIGNIFICANT SETBACKS THAN WOULD BE REQUIRED UNDER THE ORDINANCE, AND ALSO RECLAIM SOME DEVELOPMENT LAND NOT UNLIKE WHAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S PLAN IS FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE SOUTH AUSTIN TREATMENT PLANT. WE HAVE ASKED FOR AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD HAS BLESSED FOR THE ABILITY TO TRANSFER DENSE ADVERTISE WITHIN THAT WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE SINCE YOU BASICALLY HAVE SOME AREAS IN THE WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE THAT ARE PLOWED FARMLAND, BACK AND FORTH WITH CERTAIN IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS THAT WE WILL NOT EXCEED. AND EVENTUALLY WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS A LARGE SETBACK ALONG ONION CREEK, DEVELOPMENT BEHIND THE FLOODPLAIN RECLAMATION AND THEN SOME DEVELOPMENT, SOME FAIRLY INTENSE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLORADO RIVER. AND A LOT OF TIME HAS BEEN SPENT WITH STAFF, MEMBERS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE OF THE REST OF THE COLORADO RIVER MIGHT BE AND WHAT WE WOULD SEE IS, YOU KNOW, MINUTES FROM THE AIRPORT SOMETHING THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE TOWN LAKE. AND SO WE'VE ASKED FOR THE RIGHTS TO GO IN AND DO THAT. SO TO THE EXTENT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE MIXED USE, WE'VE TAKEN QUITE A BIT OF CARE TO LOOK AT WHAT THE FUTURE GROWTH ALONG THE RIVER WOULD BE, ALONG THE CREEK, FLOODPLAIN MODIFICATIONS. WE THINK THAT WE'VE SUBMITTED A VERY GOOD PLAN. STAFF HAS DEDICATED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK AND BASICALLY WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MR. DWYER. I FORGOT TO READ OUT THE NAMES. DAVIE BURNET. DANNY, I'M SORRY. DONATED HIS TIME TO MR. DWYER AND DAVID ARMBRUST. AND THERE IS NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON THESE ITEMS SO MR. DWYER, I'M ASSUMING THAT SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS AGAINST, YOU ARE GOING TO WAIVE YOUR REBUTTAL TIME.

>> YES, I WILL. I'M HERE FOR Q AND A AND ANYTHING ELSE I MIGHT CONTRIBUTE.

>>SLUSHER: BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTION AND ANSWER, MS. GLASCO, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. ANY OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: QUESTION FOR MS. GLASCO. WELL, I GUESS IT COULD BE FOR EITHER, BUT BE USELY WE JUST APPROVED THE ANNEXATION TODAY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. ANNEXATION ON SECOND READING ONLY.

>>ALVAREZ: IS IT CUSTOMARY ON THE SAME DAY YOU DO THE ANNEXATION AND COME BACK WITH THE PDA TO APPROVE THAT OR WHAT IS THE TYPICAL PROCESS OR IS THAT NOT UNUSUAL?

>>GLASGO: IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO -- TO DO THE INDIVIDUAL REQUEST FOR ANNEXATION WHERE YOU HAVE THE OWNER REQUESTING ANNEXATION BEFORE YOU CAN CONCLUDE THE ZONING, THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT, THAT THEY CAME IN IN TANDEM, THAT THEY WANTED TO BE ANNEXED IN ORDER TO HAVE THE LAND USE CONTROLS IN PLACE. AND IN ORDER FOR YOU TO ACT ON THE ZONING, WE HAVE TO CONCLUDE ANNEXATION, SO FOR TODAY WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, EARLIER YOU APPROVED ANNEXATION ON SECOND READING ONLY. WE'LL BE COMING BACK FOR THIRD READING AND AT THE SAME TIME WE'LL BRING THE ZONING CASE BACK FOR SECOND AND THIRD READINGS. TODAY THE ZONING WOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR FIRST READING ONLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT ANNEXED THE PROPERTY. THAT WAY THE LAW DEPARTMENT WILL KNOW WHAT IT IS TO DRAFT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. ONCE YOU ACT ON IT, WE'LL KNOW WHAT TO WRITE FOR CONSIDERATION ON SECOND AND THIRD READING.

>>ALVAREZ: THANK YOU. AND THE REST ARE PROBABLY FOR MR. DWYER. MR. DWYER, I GUESS MY QUESTIONS ARE JUST REALLY WHAT IS INTENDED TO OCCUR AT THIS PARTICULAR SITE. I MEAN I'M LOOKING AT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS -- I GUESS IT'S GENERAL RETAIL ALONG THE HIGHWAY AS WELL AS SOME MULTI-FAMILY UP CLOSER TO THE RIVER, AND MOST EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL OF SOME -- YOU KNOW, OF SOME TYPE. I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE PROPOSING TO DO ON THIS SITE.

>> THE -- THE QUICK, HONEST ANSWER TO THAT IS WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THE MARKET HOLDS TODAY. AND I IN MY EXPERIENCE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SO MANY, MANY OF THESE LARGE PLANS WHERE YOU EX PENNED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY TO TRY TO SITE PLAN THE ENTIRE SITE AND THEN THE FIRST GUY THAT COMES ALONG AND SAYS WELL, CAN I DO THIS, SO YOU HAVE TO AMEND ALL THE SITE PLANS. SO WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO ADOPT IS A VERY FLEXIBLE PDA AGREEMENT. IT'S A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY FOR THE LAND USES THAT WE THINK ARE APPROPRIATE, AND WE'VE TAKEN THE LI SECTION OF THE ZONING CODE AND WORKED WITH STAFF AND COME UP WITH A WHOLE ADDITIONAL BAG OF PERMITTED USES, AND IN GENERAL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TWO VERY MINOR ISSUES, WHICH ONE IS A HEIGHT QUESTION THAT WE HAVE AND THE OTHER ONE IS -- WHAT'S THE OTHER ONE? THE LAND USES ALONG 71. WHAT THE STAFF HAS WANTED TO DO IS ENSURE A RATIO OF THE MIX OF USES, WHICH WE THINK IS APPROPRIATE. THE WAY THAT WE'VE TRIED TO HANDLE IT IS, FOR EXAMPLE, STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED A STRIP ALONG HIGHWAY 71 OF BEING GR USES. WE'RE NOT SURE THAT REALLY SOLVES THE ISSUE WHICH IS WE WANT ALL THAT TO AESTHETICLY LOOK VERY NICE. WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE TRUCK LOADING DOCKS AND FUEL TANK FARMS ALONG THERE. A, THAT'S NOT OUR STYLE. B, YOU KNOW, WE'VE AGREED TO A LOT OF THE VERY HEAVY INDUSTRIAL USES, ANY INDUSTRIAL USES WITH CHEMICALS OR THINGS THAT MIGHT BE ENVIRONMENTALLY INSENSITIVE, TO NOT ALLOW THOSE ANYWHERE ON THE PROJECT. WHAT WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO DO IS RETAIN ENOUGH FLEXIBILITY IN THIS PLAN TO DO LOFTS OVER WAREHOUSES, IF YOU WILL. THAT'S WHERE WE KIND OF BREAK DOWN WITH STAFF IS HOW DO YOU CREATE A DOCUMENT TODAY THAT REALLY ALLOWS YOU TO RESPOND TO THAT. AND IN THE PACKET, AND THIS SHOWS YOU HOW -- I DON'T THINK ANY OF US REALLY KNOW KNOW WHAT THE AIRPORT AND THE CON ACTIVITY AND SH-130 IS GOING TO DO OUT THERE BECAUSE A WEEK AND A HALF AGO I WAS CALLED BY AUSTIN ENERGY TO A MEETING AND THEY BASICALLY SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN ACCELERATE YOUR SUBDIVISION ON INTERPORT BECAUSE, BY THE WAY, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A ENRON POWER PLANT RIGHT BEHIND YOU AJAY SENT TO OUR PROPERTY LINE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD YOUR ROAD AND WATERLINE SO WE CAN GET THERE BECAUSE WE NEED THE GENERATOR OPEN BY MAY. SO WE'VE TRIED TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT PROTECTS THE CORE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, GIVES THE CITY ANNEXATION AND CONTROL OVER THE PROPERTY AND RETAINS ENOUGH FLEXIBILITY ON OUR SIDE TO DO A TRUE MIXED USE PROJECT. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE].

>> WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT AND FEEL LIKE WITH ALL THE WORK WE'VE DONE WITH STAFF WE DO HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT DOES PROVIDE FOR PEACEFUL CO-HABITATION OF CERTAIN USES THAT ONLY FIT UNDER THE LI CLASS.

>>ALVAREZ: AND I KNOW WE'RE ONLY APPROVING IT -- WE'RE PROPOSING TO APPROVE IT ON FIRST READING, SO THERE WILL BE TIME TO WORK THROUGH IT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT WITH YOU ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND I HAVE A COUPLE MORE TO RAISE, BUT THAT'S ONE THAT I WANTED TO JUST HIGHLIGHT.

>> A GOOD QUESTION.

>>ALVAREZ: AND IT STUCK OUT WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT IT. THE OTHER THING IS AT LEAST IN THE INITIAL PROPOSAL IN OUR BACKUP HERE THAT THERE WERE SOME INDUSTRIAL USES RIGHT UP AGAINST -- WELL, ABUTTING THE COLORADO RIVER ALMOST, BUT THEN I SEE IN THIS OTHER PLAN YOU GAVE US THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A BIT OF A GREEN BUFFER WITH A WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE AND THE -- WHAT DO YOU CALL IT, CWTZ.

>> THE WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE.

>>. [INAUDIBLE].

>>ALVAREZ: I'LL JUST DO IT THIS --

>> I'LL JUST DO IT THIS WAY.

>>SLUSHER: WE DON'T LIKE PEOPLE TO NEAL DOWN WHEN THEY COME UP HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT. NO PUN INTENDED. THERE IS AN EXISTING STREET RIGHT HERE THAT GOES BACK TO THE SOUTH AUSTIN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, AND THAT STREET PRETTY MUCH IS ON THE HIGH BLUFF OF THE COLORADO RIVER. WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO, AND A SUGGESTION THAT WAS BORNE FROM EARLY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LCRA. THE LCRA WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER ORIENTED BECAUSE, AS THEY SAY, THE MORE YOU GET PEOPLE TO USE AND APPRECIATE THE RIVER, THE MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THINK ABOUT HELPING CLEAN IT UP AND KEEP IT AS A LONG-TERM RESOURCE. SO IT WAS SUGGESTED TO US WHAT ABOUT YOUR THREE -- YOU'RE THREE MINUTES FROM THE AIRPORT. WHAT ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE A BOARDWALK WITH A JOE'S CRAB SHACK WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL THE COLORADO RIVER IS. SO THAT'S HOW WE'VE DONE. WE PULLED FALL WELL BACK FROM WHAT WE CALL OLD FALL WELL TO NEW FALL WELL. AND THEN ON A STRIP THAT'S PRETTY MUCH LIMITED BY THE PAVEMENT AND THEN BEHIND THAT DEVELOP USES ALONG THE RIVER THAT MIGHT INCLUDE RESTAURANTS, A HOTEL, CONDOS OR MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL UNITS, SO WE REALLY HAVE KIND OF A MIXED USE.

>>ALVAREZ: AND THE PART THAT'S NOT IN GREEN, IS THAT THE PART --

>> THE PART THAT'S IN DARK GREEN IS THE CREDIT CELL WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING THERE. THE WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE IS THE AREA WITHIN WHICH WE CAN HAVE NO MORE THAN 50% IMPERVIOUS COVER, AND THEN THE WHITE AND BEYOND IS JUST HANDLED BY THE REGULAR CWO APPLICATIONS WHICH CAN GO AS HIGH FOR SOME REASONS AS HIGH AS 60% FOR SOME MULTI-FAMILY AND 80% FOR INDUSTRIAL.

>>ALVAREZ: SO AT LEAST THE -- SO YOU'RE NOT PLANNING TO DO ANY OF THE LIMITED INDUSTRIAL OR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ALONG THAT?

>> NO, NOTHING THAT WOULD HAVE AN EMISSION OR A DISCHARGE OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD PUT US UP WITH A WATER QUALITY ISSUE.

>>ALVAREZ: OKAY. THAT'S REASSURING THEN. THE OTHER THING IS I DID NOTICE THAT YOU ESTABLISHED SOME PROTECTIONS THERE FOR ONION CREEK AS WELL. AND HOW DOES THAT DIFFER? IT LOOKS MORE PROTECTIVE, I GUESS, THAN THE COLORADO RIVER.

>> AND THAT'S CORRECT. AND SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT THERE WITH US AND SOME OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS, IT REALLY IS A BEAUTIFUL RESOURCE. AND WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT NOT AD NAUSEAM, BUT EXTENSIVELY WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF WE COULD DEVELOP A RESOURCE DOWN HERE THAT THIS DARK BROWN LINE REPRESENTS WHERE WE PLAN ON DOING OUR FLOODPLAIN RECLAMATION BERM. AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS SOMETHING THAT IS THREE TO FIVE FEET TALL. IT'S SHOWN IN SCALE ON THESE TWO CUT AWAYS OVER HERE. THIS IS A -- THIS IS A BLOWUP OF THIS PORTION OF THE SITE RIGHT IN HERE. AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE, AND I HOPE YOU CAN SEE IT, IS WE'LL TAKEN A CROSS-SECTION HERE, A, AND A CROSS-SECTION HERE, B. IN THE A CROSS-SECTION HERE, FROM HERE TO HERE, YOU CAN SEE THE CREEK, YOU CAN SEE THESE ARE PEOPLE IN PERSPECTIVE ON A TRAIL. AND THEN WAY OVER HERE, THAT'S IN A PERSPECTIVE OF OUR WATER QUALITY BERM. IT'S THREE FEET TALL, SO IT'S ALMOST A NOTHING. WITHIN HERE THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF LAND THAT'S AVAILABLE, AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DO IS PEOPLE ACCESS ORIENTED, PARK TYPE USES. BEHIND THE BERM WE WANT THE ABILITY TO COME IN AND USE IT EVEN IF IT IS IN A LITTLE SLICE OF A WATER QUALITY TRANSITION ZONE, SINCE IT'S BASICALLY CULTIVATED CORN FIELD RIGHT NOW, WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP IT WITH THE PDILA STANDARDS.

>>ALVAREZ: OKAY. THE THOSE WERE THE MAIN ISSUES I HAD, JUST A MIX OF USES AND THEN THE IMPACT ON THE COLORADO RIVER AND N ONCREEK. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT WITH YOU, I GUESS, BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT TIME.

>> SURE. WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO WITH THE POWER PLANT THAT WE HAVE GOING OUT THERE AND THE AVAILABILITY, THE READY AVAILABILITY OF CITY WASTEWATER, WE HAVE TWO TUNNELS THAT GO TO THE TREATMENT PLANT. AND THE WATER LINE THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO BRING BACK TO THE POWER PLANT SO THEY HAVE FIRE FIGHTING CAPACITY AND WHATNOT, WILL HAVE A CONVERGENCE OF FANTASTIC INFRASTRUCTURE HERE AND SO MAYBE WE'LL KEEP SOME OF THOSE COMPANIES FROM GOING OUT WEST AND WE CAN PUT THEM OVER HERE AND THEY'VE GOT A GREAT RESOURCE, THEY'VE GOT GREAT CONNECTNESS AND THEY'RE IN THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS.

>>ALVAREZ: THANKS A LOT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THIS ITEM. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON 73 AND 74. MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE CLOSED ON 73 AND 74. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 73. MOTION IS TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. THIS WILL BE ON ALL THREE READINGS. I'M SORRY?

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR? --

>>MAYOR WATSON: FIRST READING ONLY?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU'RE DODGING AROUND THAT.

>> POINT OF CLARIFICATION, MAYOR. WHILE YOU WERE OUT, ITEM 45 WAS TO ANNEX THIS PROPERTY ON SECOND READING. IT'S NOT IN THE CITY LIMITS YET.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I APOLOGIZE. I WAS ON A ROLL.

>> THE APPLICANT WAS REQUESTING CONSIDERATION. THERE WERE TWO ISSUES THAT HE WAS ASKING FOR CONSIDERATION WHERE THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PLANNING COMMISSION AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION. THERE'S A HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT THAT THE APPLICANT WANTS A HEIGHT OF 75 FEET FOR TRACTS ON 71. I THINK THOSE ARE TRACTS ONE AND TWO, MR. DWYER?

>> YES.

>> AND THEN ALSO THE SECOND ITEM WOULD BE TO ALLOW INDUSTRIAL USES FOR THE TRACTS ALONG HIGHWAY 71. STAFF WAS RECOMMENDING JUST AN ALLOWANCE OF RETAIL USES ONLY AND NO INDUSTRIAL USES, BUT THE APPLICANT IS ASKING FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION IS TO ALLOW RETAIL AN INDUSTRIAL USES, EXCEPT THOSE THAT ARE PROHIBITED IN THEIR DOCUMENT.

>> AND WE CAN BRING THAT BACK WITH SPECIFIC LANGUAGE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. AND THERE IS -- WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO APPLICATIONS, THE 73 AND 74. AND I THINK IT'S STAFF'S DESIRE AND OUR DESIRE TO COMBINE THOSE INTO ONE AGREEMENT, ONE PDA THAT HANDLES ALL THE PROPERTY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER.

>>SLUSHER: I HAD A FEW QUESTIONS, MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME ASK, BECAUSE WHAT IS THE -- I WANT CLARIFICATION ON YOUR MOTION. WHEN YOU MOVED TO APPROVE, WHERE DOES -- WHAT ROLE DOES WHAT MS. GLASCO PLAY IN THAT?

>>ALVAREZ: WE HAVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND WE HAVE THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION?

>> CORRECT. WE'RE OFFERING THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO YOU, BUT THAT'S --

>>ALVAREZ: THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING.

>> THE APPLICANT IS ASKING THAT YOU MODIFY THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION IN JUST TWO AREAS, AND THAT WOULD RELATE TO HEIGHT AND USES ALONG 71. AND THAT WOULD BE TO ALLOW THE HEIGHT ON TRACTS ALONG HIGHWAY 71, AS YOU SEE THE MAP IN FRONT OF YOU, FOR TRACTS ONE AND TWO TO GO UP TO A HEIGHT OF 75 FEET AS OPPOSED TO 60. AND THEN TO ALLOW RETAIL AND INDUSTRIAL USES WITHIN THOSE TRACTS ALSO.

>>ALVAREZ: WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT TIME, COULDN'T WE? DO WE NEED TO DO IT NOW?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, WE COULD. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: YES. MR. DWYER AND MS. GLASCO, I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS TOO. BUT I'M HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THIS. THIS IS RIGHT ADJACENT TO THE NEW AIRPORT. I GUESS NOT THAT NEW ANY MORE, BUT IT'S ADJACENT TO THE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. AND SO I'M WONDERING WHY WE'RE LOCATING RESIDENCES THERE.

>> WITH REGARD TO THE MULTI-FAMILY?

>>SLUSHER: YES. I REALIZE IT'S NOT SINGLE-FAMILY, BUT STILL THAT'S PEOPLE LIVING THERE. AND I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE PLANNING TO DO THAT.

>> WELL, WE -- THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. AND WE ARE ABLE TO HANDLE THE ISSUES OF NOISE BECAUSE BEFORE -- I MAPPED EVERY PIECE OF PROPERTY BEFORE THE AIRPORT WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION OUT THERE AND PICKED THIS ONE BECAUSE IN ALL THE FLIGHT PATTERNS WE ARE OUT OF THE FLIGHT PATTERNS, WE'RE OUT OF THE NOISE ZONE OF ALL DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES. SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, THIS IS A GOOD APPLIES PLACE TO DO IT. WE FEEL STRONGLY FROM A DEMOCRAT DPRAFK STANDPOINT THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE TIED IN -- DEMOGRAPHIC STANDPOINT THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE TIED TO THE BUSINESSES OUT HERE SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A CHOICE TO LIVE HERE. AND BY HAVING NO SINGLE-FAMILY, BUT MULTI-FAMILY, WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BRING IN PROFESSIONAL MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPING MULTI-FAMILY AROUND AIRPORTS. CERTAINLY THERE ARE MANY, MANY OTHER DEVELOPMENTS AROUND NEW AIRPORTS AROUND THE NATION RIGHT NOW THAT ARE MUCH CLOSER THAN THIS SITE. SO WE THINK THAT WE'VE COVERED ALL THOSE BASES. AND WE THINK IT'S AN APPROPRIATE USE TO HAVE A TRUE MIXED USE PROJECT. WE THINK THAT WE CAN COVER ALL THE ISSUES.

>>SLUSHER: AND THESE ARE RENTER OCCUPIED? IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES.

>>SLUSHER: SO THAT WOULD BE -- YOU WOULD THEN HAVE TO DETERMINE THE MARKET. I DON'T WANT TO CREATE NEW NEIGHBORHOODS OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO MOVE THE AIRPORT.

>> AND THEN HAVE IT BE A CONFLICT, RIGHT. THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE THE LI-PDA VERSUS THE TND BECAUSE WE DID NOT WANT TO HAVE A DETACHED SINGLE-FAMILY, BUT I THINK IT'S VERY POSSIBLE FROM A DESIGN STANDPOINT TO DESIGN MULTI-FAMILY STRURZ WHERE YOU CAN DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES. AND WE DON'T THINK WE'RE REALLY IN A NOISY NEIGHBORHOOD ANYWAY.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. AND I AM A STRONG PROPONENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO JUST PUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SAY, NEXT TO INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ WAS RAISING OR IN THE -- BY THE AIRPORT OR HAVE EXCLUSIVELY BE AFFORDABLE. WHAT KIND OF PRICE RANGE ARE WE LOOKING AT AND IS THERE GOING TO BE A FAIRLY WIDE RANGE THERE?

>> YES. WE THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A VERY WIDE RANGE. IF YOU LOOK AT HOW ON THIS MAP WE HAVE SOME THAT GO ALL THE WAY UP TO THE RIVER. OBVIOUSLY THOSE WILL BE SOME OF THE MORE PRICEY UNITS. AND THEN WE PULLED THEM BACK ALONG TO GET THEM AS FAR BACK FROM HIGHWAY 71 AND 130 AND THE AIRPORT AS WE CAN, BUT WE GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THE RIVER PART THAT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET AND ULTIMATELY WE WANT TO HAVE THE AMENITY PACKAGE TIED IN. SO WE THINK WE'LL HAVE A RANGE. THE STANDARDS THAT ARE IN THE PDLI RIGHT NOW ARE MF-3 SO WE CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO DO SOME TRULY AFFORDABLE STUFF AND MAYBE SOME DAY WE CAN HAVE A LIGHT RAIL OUT THERE AND THEY WON'T HAVE TO GET IN THE CAR.

>>SLUSHER: GOOD IDEA. I WANT TO ASK MS. GLASCO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND YOU MAY WANT TO ADDRESS THEM AFTER SHE GETS DONE. THIS IS A NEGOTIATED PDA. IS THE DEVELOPMENT COMPLYING WITH THE WATER QUALITY REGULATIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE?

>> THIS WILL COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT WATER QUALITY REGULATIONS EXCEPT FOR THE ITEMS -- THE IMPERVIOUS COVER THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS LOOKED AT TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE THE APPROPRIATE SETBACKS.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS NOT IN THE AREA WHERE WE DRAW OUR DRINKING WATER, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO -- WE DON'T WANT TO POLLUTE THE RIVER ANYWHERE AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO POLLUTE THE RIVER AND SEND TO DOWN TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN BASTROP. SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR THEY'RE COMPLYING WITH THAT. AND MR. DWYER, I WILL PROBABLY WANT TO COME OUT THERE AND LOOK AT IT BEFORE A FINAL READING ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, AND SO THIS QUESTION MIGHT NOT BE FEASIBLE, BUT I WAS THINKING WILL THERE BE ANY WAY TO WALK THROUGH THE WHOLE DEVELOPMENT TO GET DOWN ALONG THE RIVER? BECAUSE YOU KNOW AT THE AIRPORT THERE IS ACTUALLY A TRAIL THAT GOES THROUGH THE AIRPORT THAT WAS DESIGNED AS PART OF THE NATURE AND CHARACTER. YOU'RE NOT FAR AWAY. I MEAN, I GUESS IT'S CONCEIVABLE SOMEBODY COULD UTILIZE THAT. AND PLUS THE PEOPLE ON YOUR -- IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE LIVING THERE.

>> THE QUICK ANSWER TO THAT IS I'VE ALREADY BEEN OUT TO THE SITE WITH A BUNCH OF MEMBERS OF THE ERB WITH BETTIE BAKER AND JUDY PLUMBER TALKING ABOUT THE RIVER AND ONION CREEK. AND YES, I THINK IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING ASSET. WE CERTAINLY WOULD HOPE THAT FUNDS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO DO SOME SORT OF TRAIL IMPROVEMENT DOWN THE COLORADO RIVER FROM ITS ENTIRETY, FROM THE COLORADO CROSSING PARK ALL THE WAY DOWN. AND YOU'LL FIND US EAGERLY WILLING TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. I THINK THAT WOULD BE NEAT.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU. AND I WANTED TO SAY WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU IN THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE.

>> THANK YOU. LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>>SLUSHER: ALL RIGHT. [LAUGHTER].

>>SLUSHER: LET'S VOTE THEN.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM ABSENT. ITEM NUMBER 74, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>>ALVAREZ: MOVE APPROVAL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION IS TO APPROVE ON FIRST READING THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND WE'LL WORK BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING. SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM NUMBER 74. ITEM NUMBER 75.

>> MAYOR, WF WE GET TO ITEM 75, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO CLARIFY. MAYOR, BEFORE WE GET TO THE NEXT ITEM I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT ITEM 72 WAS ON FOR FIRST READING FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING. WE DID NOT CLARIFY THAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT'S RIGHT. LET ME ASK A QUICK QUESTION BEFORE WE GO ON TO 75. WELL, I'LL LET YOU GO TO 75.

>> YOU'RE READY TO GO TO 75?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES. I WAS TRYING TO SPEED THINGS UP, BUT I'VE DECIDED I WON'T BE ABLE TO PULL IT OFF, SO I'M NOT GOING TO TRY.

>> IT MAY NOT TAKE VERY LONG. I THINK WE REALLY HAVE JUST ONE ISSUE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

>> ITEM NUMBER 75 IS CASE NUMBER C-14-99-2059 KNOWN AS THE BAURLE RANCH. SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL, PROBABLY MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, THIS IS A TRACT WE ANNEXED DURING THE 1997 ANNEXATIONS. AND THE PROPERTY IS NOW UP FOR SALE FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. IT'S APPROXIMATELY 200 -- 523 ACRES. THE ZONING IS BEING CHANGED FROM AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT TO SINGLE-FAMILY-2. THE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WILL BE ANYWHERE FROM TECHB HUNDRED AND 800 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. MR. TERRY MITCHELL IS GOING TO BE THE DEVELOPER OF THIS SUBDIVISION. THE ZONING IS RECOMMENDED. THE ZONING IS NOT THE ISSUE AT ALL, HOWEVER, ONE AREA OF CONCERN HAS TO DO WITH CONNECTIVITY, WHICH STREETS SHOULD BE CONNECT FRD THIS RANCH THROUGH EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS. WE HAVE SEVERAL STREETS THAT ARE PROPOSED AND SINCE THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES REGARDING TRAFFIC AND CONNECTIVITY, I'M GOING TO JUST SIMPLY STOP HERE AND LET MR. ZAPALAC JUST GO AHEAD AND FOCUS ON WHAT THE CONNECTION IS THAT IS PROPOSED BY THE DEVELOPER, THE NUMBER OF CONNECTIONS, WHERE THEY GO, MAINLY FOCUS ON TRAFFIC IMPACT, HOW TRAFFIC IS GOING TO BE DISPERSED FROM THE SUBDIVISION TO ELSEWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND FOCUS ON ONE CONNECTION, WHICH IS NAMELY SQUIRREL HOLLOW TO BRODIE LANE. AND I'LL LET MR. ZAPALAC JUST PICK UP FROM HERE.

>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. THE SUBJECT TRACT IS LOCATED IN THE VICINITY OF SLAUGHTER LANE, BRODIE LANE AND MANCHACA ROAD. BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO ANY OF THESE MAJOR ARTERIAL STREETS. ALL THE ACCESS TO THE SITE IS THROUGH EXISTING RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. ALSO ON THE MAP TO POINT OUT FOR CONTEXT, THE LOOP 1 MOPAC IS LOCATED SOME DISTANCE TO THE WEST OF THE SITE AND PROPOSED SH-45 EXTENSION WILL GO FROM LOOP 1 DOWN TO FM 1626, WHICH EXTENDS DOWN INTO HAYS COUNTY, JUST TO GIVE YOU A BROAD CONTEXT OF THE AREA. LET ME MOVE TO THE OTHER MAP NOW. THERE ARE TWO VERY SIGNIFICANT FLOODPLAINS THAT CUT THROUGH THE PROPERTY AND DIVIDE IT INTO THREE DISTINCT SEGMENTS. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING SEVERAL CONNECTIONS TO EXISTING ROADS ON ALL SIDES. THE MAIN POINT OF DISAGREEMENT IS THE CONNECTION TO SQUIRREL HOLLOW DRIVE, AN EXISTING STREET WHICH CONNECTS OVER TO BRODIE LANE. THE APPLICANT IS RESTRICTED BY THE CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS INTO HAVING ONLY ONE CROSSING OF THE FLOODPLAIN, AND THAT IS PROPOSED TO BE LOCATED HERE NEAR THE SITE OF AN EXISTING CROSSING. THE STAFF FEELS THAT THE CONNECTION TO SQUIRREL HOLLOW IS VERY CRITICAL IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE DISPERSAL OF TRAFFIC AND TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES. IF THE CONNECTION IS NOT MADE TO SQUIRREL HOLLOW, THIS ENTIRE SEGMENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT WILL BE ISOLATED AND WILL HAVE ONLY ONE OUTLET, AND THE LENGTH OF THAT SINGLE OUTLET WILL BE OVER 4,000 FEET. AND IT WILL SERVE ABOUT 250 HOMES. THE TRAFFIC THAT WOULD BE GOING OUT SQUIRREL HOLLOW WILL BE DIVERTED TO OTHER STREETS AND WE FEEL THAT MOST OF THAT TRAFFIC, BECAUSE IT IS LIKELY TO BE HEADING UP TOWARDS MOPAC BOULEVARD, WILL FILTER THROUGH THE EXISTING STREETS AND END UP ON LYNN SHIER ROAD TO GET UP TO SLAUGHTER LANE. LYNN SHIRE HAS ABOUT 30 HOUSES ABUTTING IT AND ABOUT 30 OF THOSE TAKE DIRECT DRIVEWAY ACCESS. THE DEVELOPMENT CODE SPECIFIES A DESIRED LEVEL OF TRAFFIC ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS, LIKE LYNN SHIRE AND SQUIRREL HOLLOW IT SETS 4,000 VEHICLES PER DAY AS THE MAXIMUM DESIRABLE LEVEL AND IT STATES A PROJECT SHOULD NOT BE APPROVED IF IT WILL CAUSE THE PROJECT TO EXCEED THE DESIRABLE LEVEL. IF THERE IS NO CONNECTION TO SQUIRREL HOLLOW, WE ESTIMATE THAT LYNN SHIRE WILL CARRY APPROXIMATELY 5,000 VEHICLES PER DAY, SIGNIFICANTLY IN EXCESS OF THE 4,000 DESIRABLE LEVEL. IF THE CONNECTION IS MADE TO SQUIRREL HOL LOERX THE TRAFFIC ON LYNN SHIRE WOULD DROP SOMEWHERE FWLOE 4,000, SOMEWHERE AROUND 3900 TRIPS PER DAY. THE TRAFFIC ON SQUIRREL HOLLOW WOULD BE AROUND 2,000 TRIPS PER DAY, WELL BELOW THE 4,000 LEVEL. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 20 HOMES THAT WILL ABUT SQUIRREL HOLLOW WHEN THE EXISTING APPROVED SUBDIVISIONS ARE BUILT OUT, BUT ONLY ABOUT 10 OF THOSE HAVE DIRECT DRIVEWAY ACCESS. THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOES HAVE SOME LEGITIMATE CONCERNS OVER THE IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT OVER ON BRODIE LANE. IN 1997 BRODIE WAS CARRYING ABOUT 18,000 TRIPS PER DAY AND ITS CAPACITY IS ABOUT 16,500. ALTHOUGH THE ABUTTING PROPERTY IS MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL, BRODIE LANE IS DESIGNATED AS A MINOR ARTERIAL IN THE CITY'S TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND THAT UNLIKE MOST OF THE OTHER RESIDENTIAL STREETS IN THE AREA WHICH ARE LOCAL OR COLLECTOR STREETS. THE APPLICANT HAS AGREED TO MAKE A NUMBER OF INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS AT SLAUGHTER LANE AND BRODIE, AND AT SQUIRREL HOLLOW AND BRODIE, WHICH WILL MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF THE SITE TRAFFIC. THE LEVEL OF SERVICE WOULD BE D AT SLAUGHTER LANE, WHICH EQUATES TO AN AVERAGE DELAY OF ABOUT 50 SECONDS PER VEHICLE, AND A LEVEL SERVICE C AT BRODIE LANE AND SQUIRREL HOLLOW, A DELAY OF 20 TO 35 SECONDS. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE PLANS TO CONSTRUCT SH 45 BETWEEN -- BETWEEN MOPAC AND FM 1626, WHICH WILL DIVERT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC WHICH PRESENTLY COMES UP FROM HAYS COUNTY AND CUTS THROUGH BRODIE LANE UP TO SLAUGHTER TO GET TO MOPAC. THE CURRENT PLANS CALL FOR COMPLETION OF THIS SEGMENT BY THE YEAR 2007. THE COUNTY ALSO EXPECTS TO EXTEND FREIGHT BARKER LANE, WHICH IS LOCATED RIGHT HERE AND PRESENTLY END AT BRODIE LANE. EXTEND IT FROM BRODIE OVER TO SH 45. THIS -- THE COUNTY HAS ALLOCATED FUNDS TO DO THE DESIGN WORK ON THIS SEGMENT RIGHT NOW AND HOPES TO INCLUDE IT IN A FUTURE BOND ISSUE AND HAVE IT COMPLETED ABOUT THE SAME TIME THAT SH 45 IS COMPLETED. THAT IS A SUMMARY OF THE ACCESS ISSUES ON THIS SITE. THE FIRE CHIEF, I BELIEVE, IS HERE ALSO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>>WYNN: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>WYNN: YOU SAID ON THE TRAFFIC GRADING OF SQUIRREL HOLLOW AND BRODIE WOULD BE A C OR IS A C CURRENTLY?

>> IT WILL BE A C AFTER THIS PROJECT IS BUILT. IT'S CURRENTLY PROBABLY AN A. WIN WITHIN AND THEN YOU SAID --

>>WYNN: THE INTERSECTION OF SLAUGHTER IS RATED A D.

>> SLAUGHTER AND BRODIE.

>>WYNN: WHAT DOES SLAUGHTER AND BRODIE RATE TODAY?

>> IT'S CURRENTLY E IN THE MORNING PEAK HOUR AND F IN THE EVENING PEAK HOUR. THE APPLICANT HAS AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME TURNING LANES THERE THAT WOULD IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE.

>>WYNN: TO?

>> TO A D.

>>WYNN: OKAY. THANK YOU.

>>SLUSHER: MR. ZAPALAC? COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: YES. THE CHART I HAVE SHOWS BRODIE COULD BECOME A CHALLENGE. IT SAYS THE DESIGN CAPACITY IS 16,500 TRIPS A DAY, AND WITHOUT SH 45 THAT IT'S GOING TO GO TO 31,500, WHICH WOULD BE ALMOST DOUBLE THE CAPACITY. AND EVEN WITH SH 45 IT'S GOING TO GO TO 21,000. ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO DEAL WITH THAT PARTICULAR AREA? CAN WE START THINKING NOW HOW TO -- HOW TO MANAGE THAT LOAD OF TRAFFIC?

>> WELL, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF POSSIBILITIES. AT THE PRESENT TIME BRODIE LANE IS INCLUDED IN THE CITY'S TRANSPORTATION PLAN TO BE UPGRADED TO A FOUR-LANE DIVIDED ROAD IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER, RECENTLY THE CAMPO PLAN, AS THE NEW PLAN WAS ADOPTED, IT WAS DOWN GRADED TO A TWO-LANE ROAD. AND THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF OPPOSITION IN THE AREA TO WIDENING IT TO FOUR LANES, BUT THAT IS AN POSSIBILITY. THE PLAN WILL BE COMING TO YOU IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED AT THAT TIME. ANOTHER POSSIBILITY IS THAT THE 21,000 VEHICLES THAT WERE SHOWN TO VALVE ON STATE HIGHWAY 45, THAT'S ASSUMING ONLY A TWO-LANE ROAD ON SH 45, WHICH IS ALL THAT'S FUNDED RIGHT NOW. ANOTHER POSSIBILITY WOULD BE TO LOOK AT FOUR LANES ON SH 45 IN THE FUTURE. THE PROJECTION OF THE 21,000 CARS ON BRODIE LANE COMES FROM SOME PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF THE BARTON CREEK TRAFFIC IMPACT -- TRAFFIC ANALYSIS THAT -- THE CITY IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING. AND THAT DOES ASSUME COMPLETION OF ALL THE APPROVED DEVELOPMENTS IN A LARGE AREA HERE. SO IT MAY BE SOME TIME BEFORE THAT ACTUALLY OCCURS, BUT CERTAINLY IT IS VISIBLE TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT AT THIS TIME. -- ADVISABLE TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT AT THIS TIME.

>>GRIFFITH: SO YOU SEE THAT AS A LOOMING ISSUE.

>> DEFINITELY, YES.

>>GRIFFITH: THANK YOU.

>>SLUSHER: ANY MORE QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

>>ALVAREZ: YEAH. I GUESS GENERALLY I WAS INTERESTED IN WHAT OUR RULES ARE IN TERMS OF HOW MANY ACCESS POINTS A SUBDIVISION SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE I KNOW ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED WAS WHETHER YOU COULD LIMIT ACCESS ALONG THAT BRIDGE ACROSS THE CREEK. AND I THINK YOU ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS ADVISABLE, SO IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT ISSUE JUST IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR RULES ARE AND WHY THERE COULDN'T BE JUST ONE ACCESS POINT OR COULD THERE? I'M NOT CERTAIN.

>> ESSENTIALLY OUR RULES SAY THAT A BLOCK SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN 1200 FEET IN LENGTH, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE A CROSS STREET ABOUT EVERY 1200 FEET. AND -- BUT THERE ARE OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE CASE OF TOPOGRAPHIC CONSTRAINTS, SUCH AS THE FLOODPLAIN HERE WHERE YOU CAN'T HAVE CROSSINGS EVERY 1200 FEET. SO THE BOX MAY EXCEED THAT LENGTH. AN ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT IS THAT A SINGLE OUTLET STREET SHOULD NOT EXCEED 2,000 FEET UNLESS A VARIANCE IS OBTAINED FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE FACTORS. THERE IS NOT AN ABSOLUTE RULE THAT SAYS YOU SHOULD HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF KEBSS. THIS SUBDIVISION DOES HAVE APPROXIMATELY EIGHT CONNECTIONS TO EXISTING STREETS, WHICH IS MORE THAN MANY SUBDIVISIONS HAVE, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS THAT WITH THE TOPOGRAPHIC CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAVE HERE AND THE TRAVEL PATTERNS, OUR CONCERN IS THAT THE TRAFFIC ON LYNN SHIRE WOULD EXCEED THAT LEVEL OF 4,000 TRIPS. SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT ENTER INTO PLAY. THERE'S NOT A HARD AND FAST RULE ABOUT HOW MANY ACCESS POINTS YOU SHOULD HAVE, IT'S THE COMBINATION OF SEVERAL FACTORS.

>>ALVAREZ: AND THEN WHAT ARE THE FUTURE -- I KNOW SQUIRREL HOLLOW DOES NOT CURRENTLY EXTEND INTO THE TRACT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. IT TERMINATES AT THE WESTERN EDGE, ALTHOUGH THERE IS SOME RIGHT-OF-WAY IN PLACE.

>>ALVAREZ: AND THEN YOU CAN'T EXTEND SQUIRREL HOLLOW ANY FARTHER BECAUSE YOU GET INTO THE -- IS IT THE CREEK AREA?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. THE FLOODPLAIN DOES EXTEND UP THERE AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN ENVIRONMENTAL VARIANCE TO CROSS THE CREEK THERE.

>>ALVAREZ: ALL RIGHT.

>>SLUSHER: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: MR. ZAPALAC, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF STREETS THAT GO FROM THE SUBDIVISION TO MANCHACA THAT HAVE BEEN GETTING SOME FOCUS LATELY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WHAT'S YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THOSE TWO?

>> ONE OF THOSE IS CALLED LYNN BROOK, AND IT'S A VERY NARROW STREET RIGHT NOW. IT'S ONLY ABOUT 20 FEET WIDE. THERE ARE ABOUT A DOZEN HOUSES, VERY LARGE LOTS THAT FRONT ON THAT STREET. THE APPLICANT HAS PUT TOGETHER A PHASING PLAN TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE RESIDENTIAL STREETS IN THIS AREA AND HAS AGREED TO PHASE THE DEVELOPMENT SO THAT TRAFFIC IS NOT EXCEEDED ON ANY ONE OF THOSE STREETS. AND AT SUCH TIME AS THE TRAFFIC ON LYNNBROOK DOES INCREASE TO A CERTAIN LEVEL, THEN THEY HAVE AGREED TO HELP WIDEN THAT STREET.

>>GRIFFITH: SO THERE IS A PLAN.

>> THERE IS A PLAN, YES, ON LYNNBROOK, THERE IS.

>>GRIFFITH: THANKS.

>>SLUSHER: MR. MITCHELL, ARE YOU READY?

>> COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR MR. ZAPALAC? WHAT INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS, IF ANY, COULD BE DONE AT SQUIRREL HOLLOW AND BRODIE?

>> THE MAIN PROBLEM THERE IS THE SOUTHBOUND LEFT TURN MOVEMENT. IT IS AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF SERVICE WITHOUT ANY IMPROVEMENTS, BUT TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OPERATIONS WE FEEL IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE TO TAKE THE TRAFFIC THAT IS INTENDED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN YOUFT MAINSTREAM AND CORRECT A SOUTHBOUND LEFT TURN THERE AND THE APPLICANT HAS AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.

>>WYNN: AND HAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOLKS SEEN THAT AND UNDERSTOOD THAT IN NET OF THEIR OPPOSITION?

>> WE DID DISCUSS THAT IN A MEETING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES ON MONDAY, YES.

>>SLUSHER: MR. MITCHELL, ARE YOU READY? MR. MITCHELL, LET ME SAY BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, I THOUGHT COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH RAISED AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE JUST FOR FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING, THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT THAT IS LARGELY IN THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE, BUT IT'S RIGHT ON THE BORDER OF THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE, THE AQUIFER, THE EDWARDS AQUIFER BARTON SPRINGS ZONE. SO WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT, IF THE CONNECTIONS COULD GO TO THE EAST, THEN YOU WOULD NOT BE PUTTING MORE TRAFFIC ON TO A ROAD THAT GOES OVER THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE AND THEN PUTTING PRESSURE IN FOR AN EXPANSION OF THAT ROAD. AND THAT WOULD ALSO MAKE THE NEIGHBORS IN SHADY HOLLOW HAPPY. SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT. AND IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THIS AS PART OF YOUR PRESENTATION, THAT'S FINE, BUT YOU PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE YOUR PRESENTATION PREPARED. YES, AND CAN YOU USE THE MIC. YOU'VE GOT FIVE MINUTES.

>> MY NAME IS TERRY MITCHELL. I AM WITH MILBURN HOMES. MILBURN HOMES IS THE PROPOSED DEVELOPER OF BAURLE RANCH. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT, JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND, FOR 15 MONTHS, FROM 15 MONTHS MINUS THREE DAYS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDS ON A PARK. WHEN WE PUT THE PROPERTY UNDER CONTRACT THEY CONTACTED US AND SAID HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT A PARK? AND IT TURNED OUT THAT BOTH OF OUR VISIONS WERE VERY SIMILAR AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING SINCE THEN. TODAY THE PROJECT AS IT STANDS TODAY IS APPROXIMATELY 670 UNITS ON 525 ACRES OF LAND. THE S.O.S. LINE -- THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO BE FULLY COMPLIANT WITH S.O.S. REGULATIONS WITHOUT VARIANCES AND ALL OTHER APPLICABLE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS. THE ACTUAL S.O.S. LINE RUNS IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT ACROSS HERE AND THEN THERE ARE SOME CONTRIBUTING ZONES IN THIS AREA THAT HAVE THE 25% IMPERVIOUS COVER, BUT IS IT DOES COMPLY WITH THOSE REGULATIONS. THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO BE -- OUR START OFF AND FOCUS WAS TO ATTEMPT WHAT WE WOULD TERM A SMARTER GROWTH PROJECT. CLUSTERING THE DEVELOPMENT RATHER THAN DOING LARGE LOTS AND USING THAT EXCESS OPEN SPACE TO CREATE OPEN PARKLAND AVAILABLE FOR ALL. WE FOLLOWED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS ONE AREA HERE, WE WERE FOLLOWING THE CONNECTIVITY, NO CUL-DE-SAC DESIGNS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS APPROVED, IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED BY THE CITY. WE THINK THOSE GUIDELINES HAVE A LOT OF MERIT WITH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES TO KEEP THE SPEEDS AS SLOW AS POSSIBLE. ALSO, THE OTHER COMPONENT THAT WE BELIEVE IS APPROPRIATE, ESPECIALLY IN DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS, IS MAKING THE PROJECT MORE PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED. WHEN WE MET WITH TANGLEWOOD FOREST, THEY WANTED PEDESTRIAN ACCESS HERE. SO WE PULLED BACK THE DEVELOPMENT IN THAT FASHION. WHERE THE DEVELOPMENT FRONTS ON IT IT'S ATTEMPTING TO DO AS MUCH ACCESS FROM THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES AS POSSIBLE,. THE SINGLE LOADED ROADS WILL PROVIDE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 350 PARKING SPACES TO ACCESS THE PARK AND MAKE IT USABLE. WE DID FOLLOW -- AND THE KEY ISSUE I WOULD SAY, AND I MUST -- WE HAVE HAD MANY, MANY MEETINGS WITH THE SHADY HOLLOW HOA AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CORDIAL AND CONSIDERATE AND I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH THEM. THE KEY ISSUE, AND I HOPE I'M NOT MISSTATING IT FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW, IS THIS CONNECTION AT SQUIRREL HOLLOW. I HAVE STATED AND I STATED AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND I THINK I'VE STATED IN CORRESPONDENCE TO YOU THAT OUR PROJECT WORKS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THIS CONNECTION IS MADE OR NOT. IT DOES FROM FIRE SAFETY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES AND CONNECTIVITY TO THE PARK, THE SOUTH AUSTIN YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION, THERE'S NOTHING FINALIZED, BUT THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO PUT IN A REGIONAL SOCCER COMPLEX PREDOMINANTLY YOUTH ORIENTED. THEY'RE NOT PLANNING LEETED FIELDS, BUT TO SERVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. FOR THAT REASON THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE FOLKS PLANNING THE PARK HAVE TALKED ABOUT THEY WOULD PREFER THE CONNECTION, BUT IT IS -- THE PROJECT WOULD WORK WITHOUT IT. AND WITH THAT IN MIND, WE HAVE SAID OURSELVES WE WOULD HONOR WHATEVER DIRECTION THE COUNCIL WANTED TO TAKE WITH REGARD TO THIS PROJECT. WE DO UNDERSTAND SHADY HOLLOW'S CONCERNS. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING TRAFFIC AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, AND IT IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE AND WE RESPECT THAT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. WE'VE GOT SOME SPEAKERS ON THIS. CINDY NETTLES. AND MS. NETTLES WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JIMMAN TO BE FOLDED BY THOMAS BRYAN.

>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS --

>>SLUSHER: GOOD EVENING.

>> MY NAME IS CINDY NETTLES AND I'M A BOARD MEMBER ON THE SHADY HOLLOW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AND I HAD A HARD TIME THINKING ABOUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY TO YOU TODAY BECAUSE THREE MINUTES ISN'T A LOT OF TIME, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE SAID. I DON'T THINK VERY WELL ON MY FEET, SO IT'S GOING TO BE REPETITIOUS, SO BEAR WITH ME. SHADY HOLLOW IS A NEIGHBORHOOD OF APPROXIMATELY 6,000 RESIDENTS AND 1400 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES LOCATED ALONG BRODIE LANE SOUTH OF SLAUGHTER. ALTHOUGH WE ARE PRESENTLY COUNTY RESIDENTS, VERY SOON, WE ARE TOLD, WE WILL BE CITY VOTERS. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A PLEZ SANT, CORDIAL WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. THAT WE HOPE WILL START HERE TONIGHT.

>>SLUSHER: DOES THAT INCLUDE THE ANNEXATION PROCESS AS WELL?

>> I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE SO. 10 YEARS AGO YOU COULDN'T FIND TWO RESIDENTS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHO COULD AGREE ON WHETHER THE SUN WOULD COME UP THE NEXT DAY. TODAY YOU'VE EACH RECEIVED ABOUT 800 CARDS AND LETTERS FROM OUR RESIDENTS, ALL ASKING YOU TO CONDITION THE ZONING OF THE BAURLE TRACT ON NO ACCESS TO BRODIE. WE HAVE TO THANK YOU FOR UNITING US, I GUESS. WE HAD ALSO HOPED TO PRESENT A VALID PE TETION, BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS ADVISED US THAT BECAUSE WE ARE COUNTY RESIDENTS, WE ARE UNABLE TO DO THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE PROPERTY OWNERS OUT THERE. BASICALLY THERE'S TWO CONFLICTING PRINCIPLES THAT ARE AT WORK, LIVEABILITY AND INNER CONNECTIVITY. THE STAFF HAS FOCUSED ON YOUR NEWMAN TRA OF INNER CONNECTIVITY AND FOR SOME STRANGE REASON, SOME OF US OUT THERE ARE LOOKING AT LIVEABILITY AS THE ISSUE. WE'VE TRIED TO WORK WITHIN THE SYSTEM. AS TERRY MITCHELL SAID, WE'VE HAD EXTENSIVE MEETINGS WITH HIM. AND I NFER THOUGHT I WOULD HEAR GOOD WORDS ABOUT A DEVELOPER COME OUT OF MY MOUTH, BUT HE'S BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT MEETING WITH US AND THE STAFF HAS BEEN MORE OF A PROBLEM AND IT'S ALL BEEN THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, AS YOU KNOW. TO US IT JUST SEEMS LOGICAL THAT THE TRAFFIC FROM THIS TRACT BE DIRECTED TO MANCHACA ROAD, WHICH IS UNDER UTILIZED AND KEPT OFF OF BRODIE, WHICH IS ALREADY OVER CAPACITY AND A REAL PROBLEM. MR. ZAPALAC FOCUSED ON THE CONNECTION TO LYNN SHIRE WHICH GOES OUT TO SLAUGHTER. OUR CONCERN WAS LYNN BROOK WHICH GOES OUT TO MANCHACA ROAD. THE PROJECTIONS THAT MR. ZAPALAC PROVIDED YOU, WITHOUT -- EVEN WITHOUT SH 45, BRODIE IS GOING TO CARRY 31,500 VEHICLES PER DAY. AFTER SH 45 IS OPENED, IT WILL CARRY ABOUT 21,000 VEHICLES PER DAY. ITS CAPACITY IS 16,500 VEHICLES. IT'S GOING TO BE AT 127% CAPACITY, IF I DID MY ARITHMETIC RIGHT. [BUZZER]. CAN I JUST CONCLUDE QUICKLY?

>>MAYOR WATSON: VERY QUICKLY.

>> QUICKLY, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO CONDITION RET ZONING SO THERE'S NO ACCESS TO BRODIE. IF YOU CAN'T RIEND IT IN YOUR HEARTS TO DO THAT FOR US, WOULD YOU AT LEAST DELAY THE CONNECTION UNTIL SH 45 IS OPENED AND GIVES US AILTION BIT -- A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF ON BRODIE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. MR. MANN? FOLLOWED BY THOMAS BRYAN?

>> MY NAME IS JIM MANN. I'M SORRY, DID I INTERRUPT? I LIVE IN THE SHADY HOLLOW COMMUNITY. AND I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DISCUSS HERE IS REALLY A MATTER OF COMMON SENSE. THERE ARE ACADEMICS, STATISTICAL STUDIES THAT CAN BE DONE ON THIS WHOLE QUESTION AND THEN YOU CAN LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN REALITY ON THE GROUND. FOR INSTANCE, WE HAD A DISCUSSION OF WHAT LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT SQUIRREL HOLLOW AND BRODIE WAS AT, AND I UNDERSTOOD IT WAS PROPOSED AS AN A CURRENTLY AND POSSIBLY IT WOULD BE REDUCED TO A C IF THIS INTERSECTION OR THE CONNECTION WAS MADE. THE DIFFICULTY I HAVE WITH THAT IS THAT IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE REALITY THAT IF THIS CONNECTION IS MADE AT THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MOST CONGESTED, THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF BRODIE LANE. WE'RE GOING TO BE INTRODUCING TURNING TRAFFIC AT THE WORST POSSIBLE LOCATION. THIS IS A STREET WHERE YOU HAVE MIXES OF HUNDREDS OF GRAVEL TRUCKS, MANY, MANY SCHOOL BUSES THAT SERVICE THREE SCHOOLS, AND THEN INNUM RABL AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC COMING FROM HAYS COUNTY. SO THE STATISTICAL STUDY REALLY DOESN'T ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. BRODIE SIMPLY IS A DANGEROUS ROAD. AND THE QUESTION IS DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO PUT A MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THIS SITUATION AS OPPOSED TO WHATEVER MINUTE EXTRA POTENTIAL CONCERNS WE WOULD HAVE FOR LIMITING THIS ACCESS. IN ATTEMPTING TO REACH A COMPROMISE ON THIS WE PROPOSE THAT WE LIMIT ACCESS UNTIL SH 45 WAS COMPLETED HOPING THEN WE COULD DO A STUDY REALLY TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS THE IMPACT, WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF NOT HAVING THE ACCESS. WE CAN SEE WHAT THE IMPACT OF SH 45 IN REDUCTION OF TRAFFIC. WE CAN ALSO SEE WHETHER OR NOT IT MADE A DIFFERENCE IF WE HAD ACCESS TO THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT ON BRODIE. SH 45 IS CURRENTLY FUNDED. THE COUNTY IS IN THE PROCESS AND MOST OF THE WAY THROUGH PURCHASING THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH A DONE DEAL. AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT A DELAY OF THREE OR FOUR YEARS IN MAKING THIS CONNECTION WOULD BE THAT SIGNIFICANT AN ISSUE. ONE OTHER QUESTION CAME UP EARLIER ABOUT WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO THE WHOLE TRAFFIC PROBLEM IN THIS AREA? AND ONE SUGGESTION WAS FOUR LANING BRODIE. FOUR LANING BRODIE IN THIS AREA WOULD MAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD MORE DANGEROUS. IT WOULD MAKE THAT ROADWAY MORE DANGEROUS. THE REAL SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS THE INTRODUCTION OF SH 45 IN CONJUNCTION WITH FREIGHT BARKER LANE GOING ALL THE WAY OVER TO MANCHACA ROAD AND IT WILL PROVIDE A ROAD GRID. YOU WILL HAVE A NORTH-SOUTH CORRIDOR ON SH 45. YOU WILL HAVE A NORTH-SOUTH CORRIDOR ON MAN SHACK ROAD. BOTH WILL BE LARGE, MAGNIFICENT ROADS. AND FREIGHT BARKER IS INCLUDED IN THE PLAN AS A DIVIDED FOUR-LANE ARTERIAL, SO YOU WILL HAVE MAJOR ROADS CONNECTING AS A GRID THAT WE DO NOT HAVE CURRENTLY. [BUZZER].

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. MANN. THOMAS BRYAN? AND THEN VALERIE BRISTOL AND SHAUN COMPEL.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M PRESIDENT OF THE WILD WOOD KELLY WOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WHO IS LOCATED 50 YARDS OUTSIDE OF SHADY HOLLOW TO THE NORTH AND 50 HOIS HOLDS MUST EXIT ON TO BREED LANE FROM THE WEST, THE ONLY ACCESS TO THOSE STREETS. I'M ASKING YOU TO LISTEN TO THIS SMALL VOICE THAT HAS SO FAR GOTTEN LOST IN THE FLOOD. ALTHOUGH WE'RE JOINED AT THE HIP WITH SHADY HOLLOW AND ITS POSITION, I'M ASKING YOU TO LOOK AT OUR POSITION WHOSE RESIDENTS MUST GO TO BRODIE AND TURN LEFT TO GO NORTH. AS MY HOUSE LOOKS ON THE INTERSECTION OF SQUIRREL HOLLOW AND BRODIE AND AS I'M RETIRED, I DID A LITTLE SURVEY LAST NIGHT ON THREE DIFFERENT DAYS. BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 6:30 AND 8:30 IN THE MORNING, 3,800 VEHICLES PASSED THROUGH SHADY HOLLOW, SQUIRREL HOLLOW AND OUR STREETS. ADD TO THAT THE SDAIRBL TRAFFIC FROM BAURLE TRACT, LET'S SAY ABOUT 700 VEHICLES IN THE MORNING, THAT'S 45 HUNDRED VEHICLES. ONCE AGAIN, THINK OF US TRYING TO TURN LEFT. AND IT'S WORSE IN THE EVENING. IF YOU CAN'T SEE YOUR WAY CLEAR TO THINK ABOUT US DOWNSTREAM OF SHADY HOLLOW AND LIMIT THE ACCESS AS YOU'VE DONE IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS SPEED BUMPS, TRAFFIC CIRCLES AND AREAS SUCH AS RAINY STREET, DAWSON, MAKING STREETS ONE WAY SUCH AS EAST CESAR CHAVEZ, THIS REQUIRES DOING NOTHING TO PROTECT THE TRAFFIC FLOW THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD. AND IF YOU CAN'T SEE YOUR WAY TLEER CLOOER TO SAY -- CLEAR TO SAY NO TO THE STREET, AT LEAST DELAY IT UNTIL WE HAVE SOME OTHER ALTERNATIVES. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR. VALERIE BRISTOL AND THEN SHAUN COMPTON AND DEBBIE PETERSON.

>> MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO PURELY COMPLIMENT MR. MITCHELL AND THE MILBURN COMPANY TO THEIR WONDERFUL WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING WITH US ON THIS PARK. IT'S 310 ACRES. IT WILL BE SPECTACULARLY BEAUTIFUL ALONG THESE TWO WEEKS WITH LARGE TREES, SOCCER FIELD AREAS, WHICH WE BELIEVE EVENTUALLY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE SOCCER ASSOCIATION WILL WANT TO PUT THERE. AND SO WE'RE DELIGHTED THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS. IT WILL MAKE FOR A VERY UNUSUAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE SENSE THAT THE HOMES WILL BE VERY CLOSE TO THE PARK, BUT THE PARK ALSO WILL PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE ENTIRE AREA FOR ALL THOSE OTHER PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OTHER NEIGHBORS. SO I JUST WANTED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO COMPLIMENT YOU. AND ALSO I WANTED TO SAY HOW HAPPY I AM TO HAVE RETIRED FROM THE TRAFFIC BUSINESS. [LAUGHTER].

>>MAYOR WATSON: NOW YOU'VE GONE TO RUBBING IT IN. SHAUN COMPTON?

>>. [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: DEBBIE PETERSON?

>> MY NAME IS DEBBIE PETERSON AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF SHADY HOLLOW HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, BUT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT ROLE IS ANY ROLE AS A MOTHER FOR TWO CHILDREN, ONE OF WHOM IS A STUDENT AT BAILEY MIDDLE SCHOOL. BECAUSE WE LIVE WITHIN THE TWO MILES, MY DAUGHTER CAN, IF IT TRAFFIC WOULD ALLOW, WALK TO BAILEY MIDDLE SCHOOL OR BE ALLOWED TO WALK TO BAILEY MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND BECAUSE OF HOW DIFFICULT THE TRAFFIC IS AND HOW MANY CARS ARE IN THERE IN THE MORNING, WE CHOOSE TO CAR POOL. I DON'T THINK THIS SITUATION IS NECESSARILY GOING TO CHANGE. THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT IN HAYS COUNTY AND I DON'T EXPECT THAT TO STOP ANY TIME SOON. BUT WHAT I DO HOPE IS THAT IN THOSE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE SOME CONTROL WE CAN LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CARS THAT WOULD BE COMING ON TO BRODIE, AND THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL CERTAINLY DO THAT. WHEN MR. ZAPALAC I THINK WAS TALKING ABOUT ACCEPTABLE, THAT WORD RANG IN MY MIND BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE YOUR LIFE AND LIVING CAN BE ACCEPTABLE. AND FOR US A SHADY HOLLOW AS RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORS OUT THERE, THE TRAFFIC ON BRODIE RIGHT NOW CERTAINLY IS NOT ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT I WOULD CALL ACCEPTABLE. IF YOU GO OUT THERE IN THE MORNING AT ABOUT A QUARTER TO EIGHT, YOU CAN WAIT SEVERAL LIGHT CHANGES TO GET THROUGH AND BE ABLE TO GET ANYWHERE NEAR GETTING ON TO SLAUGHTER LANE. ONCE AGAIN TO ECHO WHAT JIM AND CINDY AND OTHERS HAVE SAID, IF YOU DON'T CHOOSE TO LIMIT THIS ACCESS COMPLETELY, PLEASE DELAY IT UNTIL SH 45 HAS BEEN BUILT AND WE CAN EVALUATE THE TRAFFIC. WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE SH 45 A REALITY AND DON'T WANT TO REGRESS BY ADDING ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC TO BRODIE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. MR. MITCHELL, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES OF REBUTTAL, BUT MR. COMPTON HAS DONATED THREE MINUTES IF YOU NEED IT, SO YOU WILL HAVE SIX MINUTES.

>> MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS, I REALLY HAVE NOTHING TO ADD. IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER. I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE HOA AND THE CITY FOR WORKING SO HARD TO TRY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. THANK YOU.

>>WYNN: MR. MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. MITCHELL, I THINK COUNCILMEMBER WYNN HAS A QUESTION. IN.

>>WYNN: A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ONE IS REALISTICALLY WHAT WOULD BE YOUR BUILDOUT SCHEDULE FOR 700 TO 800 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES?

>> THREE TO FIVE YEARS, GENERALLY SPEAKING.

>>WYNN: AND --

>> IT COULD BE LONGER, BUT GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THAT WOULD BE A MORE ACCURATE -- IF YOU LOOK AT IT OVER 10 YEARS, IT'S FIVE TO EIGHT. IF YOU LOOK AT IT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, IT WOULD BE THREE TO FIVE.

>>WYNN: RIGHT. SO IF STATE HIGHWAY 45 GETS BUILT AND THE CURRENT TIMING IS 2007, THAT'S NOT DRAMATICALLY LONGER THAN THE COMPLETION OF THIS SUBDIVISION.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>>WYNN: OKAY. THE SECOND QUESTION IS IF THE LONG-TERM GOAL WOULD BE TO TRY TO DISCOURAGE CONNECTIVITY AND ACCESS TO BRODIE LANE, YET STILL TRY TO MAINTAIN REASONABLE BLOCK LENGTH AND NOT HAVE THIS PRETTY DRAMATIC 250, 300 HOME AREA OF YOUR SUBDIVISION WITH ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT, FROM AN ENGINEERING STANDPOINT, FROM A COST STANDPOINT, I KNOW WE HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL RULES ABOUT IT, BUT THE COST OF A SECOND BRIDGE BACK ACROSS THE FLOODPLAIN, IS THERE A SCHEME WHERE WE CAN SOMEHOW CREATE REASONABLE CONNECTIVITY WITH THAT CENTER PART OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YET DIVERT THE TRAFFIC BACK TOWARDS MANCHACA.

>> WE LOOKED AT THAT ISSUE AND THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT IT. BUT THE LIMIT OF THE DISTANCE IS 1200 FEET OR SOMETHING BEFORE YOU CAN HAVE ANOTHER ONE. THE MORE CRITICAL ISSUE IS THIS THE S.O.S. CONTRIBUTING ZONE AND IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT -- THE SPAN GETS A LOT LARGER AND MORE EXPENSIVE. WE'RE ESTIMATING THAT THIS BRIDGE HERE WILL BE SOMEWHERE IN THE 700 TO $900,000, AND THIS ONE OVER HERE IS PROBABLY SIGNIFICANTLY MORE. AND THAT'S A CHALLENGE FOR US GIVEN THE REDUCTION IN DENSITY THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.

>>WYNN: RIGHT. THAT'S ALL THE MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MR. MITCHELL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR. FOR THE STAFF, MS. GLASCO. DO WE HAVE ANYONE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? I'M SORRY, CHIEF, I DIDN'T SEE YOU. I'M GOING TO ASK THE CHIEF A QUESTION.

>>SLUSHER: CHIEF, IF WE WERE NOT TO ALLOW THE CONNECTION TO SQUIRREL HOLLOW, WOULD THAT CAUSE YOU CONCERNS?

>> IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE TO FIRE PROTECTION THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE IN A CONGREGATED AREA HAVE TWO SEPARATE AREAS TO GET AWAY FROM A HAZARD. AND THAT'S TRUE OF ANY LARGE BUILDING WITH A PUBLIC ASSEMBLY AREA, THERE NEEDS TO BE EXITS APART FROM EACH OTHER. IT'S TRUE FOR A COMMUNITY. I LOOK AT THIS AS BEING THREE SEPARATE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I LOOK AT IT TO SEE IF EACH OF THESE THREE HAVE TWO MEANS OF GETTING OUT. AND I DON'T MEAN ON THE SAME END, I MEAN AS FAR AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AS THEY CAN BE. SO CONSIDERING THE TIME LINE THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED, IF THIS CONNECTION AT SQUIRREL HOLLOW IS NOT MADE RIGHT AWAY, THEN I WOULD RECOMMEND IN MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION THAT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD NOT BE BUILT RIGHT AWAY. AND I DO THAT FOR THE SAKE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE LIVING THERE. AND I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS TO YOU MY CONCERN FOR THE FACT THAT THEY WILL BE SURROUNDED BY WILD LAND INTERFACE WHICH COMPOUNDS THEIR FIRE HAZARD.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. DO YOU HAVE ANY -- AND YOU'RE NOT A ROAD DESIGNER. YOU SEE WHAT'S PROPOSED AND SEE IF THAT WORKS.

>> NO, I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THAT, BUT I DO KNOW IF WE RESPOND TO THIS AREA WE WILL HAVE UNITS COMING DOWN BOTH BRODIE AND MANCHACA TO RESPOND TO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEY WILL NEED ACCESS FROM THE BRODIE SIDE.

>>SLUSHER: THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING TO. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANOTHER WAY THAT WENT OUT TO WHERE THE FOLKS MORE LIKELY GO OVER TO MANCHACA, BUT THEY STILL HAD TWO WAYS OUT. WOULD THAT MEET YOUR CONCERNS?

>> IT WOULD CAUSE US SOME DELAY FROM THE UNIT THAT ARE COMING FROM THE BRODIE LANE SIDE. THE DOOER LANE FIRE STATION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME ASK A QUESTION WHILE YOU'RE UP THERE. I RENEER THAT THERE WAS A TIME -- WE WERE LOOKING AT THE DELL JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER AND THERE WAS A DESIRE THAT THERE NOT BE ACCESS OFF ONE OF THE ROADS. AND I'M GOING TO FORGET SOME OF THE DETAILS OF IT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS CONSIDERING AT THAT TIME TO MEET SOME NEEDS, AND I THINK SOME OF THE NEEDS WERE EMERGENCY NEEDS, WAS THE IDEA OF SOME SORT OF GATE, SOME SORT OF EMERGENCY TYPE GATE THAT COULD BE UTILIZED. AND LET ME THROW OUT THAT IDEA. AND MR. MITCHELL, I KNOW YOU'RE LISTENING TO THIS. THE IDEA THAT YOU GO AHEAD AND PUT THE ROAD THERE, BUT IT IS NOT AN ACCESS ROAD FOR THE PUBLIC TO USE, BUT IT WOULD BE AN ACCESS ROAD FOR YOU AND E.M.S. TO USE IF IT WAS COMING IN AND NEEDED THAT SORT OF EMERGENCY GATE. WOULD SOMETHING LIKE THAT WORK?

>> I THINK THAT WOULD BECAUSE MY WHOLE POINT HERE, WELL, IT WOULDN'T SATISFY BOTH OF MY CONCERNS. IT WOULD SATISFY THE CONCERNS FOR FIRE EGRESS, BUT IT WOULDN'T GIVE THE OCCUPANTS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD A SECOND WAY OUT. SHOULD THE HAZARD BE IN THIS AREA OF THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE TRAPPED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THEN LET ME BACK UP. IS THERE A WAY TO USE A GATE THAT HAS -- SO IT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE USED BY THEM IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, BUT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE?

>> WELL, THAT WOULD SATISFY MY CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY COULD MAKE IT OPERABLE WITHOUT OUR ASSISTANCE, THEN THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO START MOVING OUT OF THERE BEFORE WE GET THERE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ONE OF THE CONCERNS WOULD BE TO MAKE IT OPERABLE AND DECLARE TRAFFIC AN EMERGENCY AND USE IT THAT WAY, BUT I THINK WE COULD BE IN A POSITION TO MONITOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS OPPOSED TO -- I THINK THE CITY WOULD BE IN A POSITION. BUT IF WE WERE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY GATE THAT COULD BE KNOCKED DOWN FOR PURPOSES OF INGRESS AND EGRESS OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES FOND FOR PEOPLE ESCAPING A BAD SITUATION, YOU WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT?

>> I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE IF THESE PEOPLE HAD TWO WAYS TO GET OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT FIRE UNIT HAD ACCESS FROM THE BRODIE LINE SIDE. MAYOR MAYOR I GOT YOU. THANK YOU. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE]

>> PEOPLE LIKE BEING ON CUL-DE-SACS AND ESSENTIALLY THIS IS A LARGE CUL-DE-SAC, SO THAT HAS ITS OWN BENEFITS IN THE SENSE WHEN A BUYER ASKS WHAT THE TRAFFIC IS GOING TO BE ON THIS ROAD WE SAY YOUR NEIGHBORS AND THAT'S IT BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO GET HERE OTHER THAN POTENTIALLY TO THE PARK AND THE ACCESS. FROM OUR STANDPOINT IF THAT WAS THE COUNCIL'S DECISION, WE COULD LIVE WITH THAT. I WOULD ASK THAT WE NOT CONSTRUCT IT AS A COLLECTOR ROAD TO THE SIZE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO CARRY 4,000 PLUS TRIPS A DAY BECAUSE IT WON'T DO THAT. AND IT WOULD SIMPLY BE AN ACCESS POINT FOR FIRE SAFETY AND SUCH LIKE THAT. JUST AS -- TO MITIGATE THAT, QUITE FRANKLY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WHAT THAT MIGHT LET US DO TOO IS GET DOWN -- 45 IS THERE. IT'S ALREADY BUILT.

>> CORRECT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME ASK A FAVOR OF EVERYBODY ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING. IF WE COULD START DOING THE PUBLIC HEARING OVER AT THIS PODIUM SO THAT I CAN GO AHEAD AND HAVE PEOPLE SET UP FOR OUR 5:30 PROCLAMATIONS AND LIVE MUSIC, AND THE COUNCIL THEN DEBATES THIS, IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PEOPLE CAN BE OVER THERE AND WE MAYBE CAN DO TWO THINGS AT ONCE. COUNCIL, I'LL I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. MR. ZAPALAC, YOU HAVE HOVERED AROUND THE MICROPHONE AND I'VE EVEN MOVED YOU AND YOU ARE STILL HOVERING SO DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?

>> YES, MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A GATED ACCESS. IN THE CASE OF THE DELL JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, THAT WAS A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY AND WE HAVE ALLOWED BARRICADES LIKE THAT IN PRIVATE DRIVEWAYS AND STREETS, BUT NOT ON PUBLIC STREETS. SO THAT --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SO WE WOULD HAVE TO BE IMAGINATIVE, CREATIVE AND NIMBLE, WHICH FRANKLY WE'VE BEEN CRITICIZED FOR BEING NIMBLE ONCE TODAY, SO WE CAN BE CRITICIZED AGAIN. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 75.

>>WYNN: MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE ZONING BE APPROVED FOR THIS TRACT, THAT WE DIRECT CITY TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO WORK OUT THE PLAN FOR A -- A LIMITED EMERGENCY ACCESS POINT NORTH OF THE SQUIRREL HOLLOW.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE A SECOND?

>>SLUSHER: WOULD THAT BE ON FIRST READING?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, THIS IS ON FIRST READING. SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM NO. 75. THANK YOU ALL AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING DOWN HERE. COUNCIL, AT THIS TIME I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECESS THE COUNCIL MEETING SO WE MIGHT DO PROCLAMATIONS AND LIVE MUSIC. THE RECESS WILL BE UNTIL VERY SHORTLY AFTER 6:00. WHAT WE WILL THEN DO IS WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM NO. 78 AT 6:00. I WOULD ASK IF THERE IS ANY WAY TO WORK OUT ITEM NO. 78 DURING THIS RECESS, PLEASE FALL OVER YOURSELVES TO TRY TO DO THAT. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION RECESS. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE RECESSED.

>>WATSON: WELL, FOLKS, WE HAVE -- WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROCLAMATIONS AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR LIVE MUSIC, BUT I WAS RECENTLY REMINDED OF A PROGRAM THAT -- THAT I DID LAST YEAR THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN AND WAS A GREAT PROGRAM AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHY WE DIDN'T DO IT THIS SUMMER WHEN THE KIDS WERE OUT OF SCHOOL, BUT I GOT THIS GREAT LETTER FROM GIBRON SHEPHERD AND HE TOLD ME HE WAS COMING TO TOWN, GOING TO BE IN AUSTIN TO VISIT FAMILIES AND SPENDING TIME WITH HIS FAMILY AND HIS -- IN HIS UNCLE'S OFFICE FOLLOWING HIM AROUND AND LEARNING WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A LAWYER AND HE JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE MAYOR. I'VE SHIELDED HIM FROM MOST OF THAT. [LAUGHTER]. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID IS WE SAID, YOU KNOW, LAST SUMMER WE HAD MAYOR FOR A DAY. AND WHAT WE DID IS WE INVITED YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO COME DOWN AND BE MAYOR FOR A DAY AND HELP ME WITH THE PROCLAMATIONS AND LIVE MUSIC AND THE WAY WE USED TO DO IT BECAUSE OF A COUPLE OF DIFFERENCES IS WE WOULD CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. TODAY HE'S GOING TO HELP ME CALL A COUPLE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS TO ORDER. BUT I WANTED TO -- I THOUGHT WHY NOT, WHY NOT START THAT AGAIN. WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING TOGETHER A PROGRAM WE'LL BE DOING WITH OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS WHERE WE WILL HAVE ON A REAL REGULAR BASIS ONE OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY BE MAYOR FOR A DAY. BUT BECAUSE GIBRON ASKED FOR THIS AND GAVE ME -- REMINDED ME OF WHAT WAS A FUN THING WE DID, I AM PROUD TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION. BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT I KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM GIBRON SHEPHERD AS MAYOR FOR A DAY IN AUSTIN. [APPLAUSE]. AND I CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THAT NINE-YEAR-OLD GIBRON IS IN FOURTH GRADE AT DIXIE CANYON ELEMENTARY IN CALIFORNIA AND CONSIDERS SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES HIS FAVORITE STUDIES. IN RECOGNIZING IS IN THE GLEE CLUB AND GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM FOR DRAMA AND HAS BEEN INVITED TO BE A MEMBER OF DRAMA WORKS, A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA TO REHEARSE AND PERFORM IN A REAL THEY ARE TER, AND IN REALIZING HE ALSO ENJOYS PLAYING NINTENDO, ROLLER BLADING AND BEING A BIG BROTHER, WE ARE PLEASED TO HONOR HIM AS MAYOR FOR A DAY AND WISH HIM WELL IN HIS EDUCATIONAL AND THEE AT TRI CAL PURSUITS AND IT'S SIGNED BY ME, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TTION. CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE MAYOR FOR A DAY. [APPLAUSE]. ANY OF YOU GUYS -- HE IS GOING TO HELP WITH THE PROCLAMATIONS AND LIVE MUSIC. LET'S START WITH THE LIVE MUSIC. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IN AUSTIN IS EVERY WEEK WE HAVE A MUSICAL PERFORMANCE BY SOME OF OUR AUSTIN PERFORMANCES. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE INNER SPACE COME TO POP SOUNDS OF THE COSMIC DUST DEVILS WITH A COLLECTION OF OVER 40 ORIGINAL SONGS AND COVER TUNES, THE DEVILS HAVE BEEN ENTERTAINING FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE HILL COUNTRY SINCE 199. THEY ARE FRONT BY KEVIN HIGGINS WHO HAILS FROM EL PASO BUT NOW CALLS HIN HIS HOME. JOHN IS ON BASE, BARBARA HEADS UP VOCALS AND PERCUSSION AND KENNY PLAYS DRUMS AND PERCUSSION. BY THE WAY, DON'T ASK ME HOW HE SPELLS THAT NAME. [LAUGHTER] ON VOCALS AND GUITAR IS HILLARY, WHO IS ACCOMPANIED BY MARK. AND ON THE ACOUSTIC -- HE'S ON THE ACOUSTIC AND ELECTRIC GUITARS. FROM LIVE VENUES FESTIVALS TO RADIO AND TELEVISION, THE NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED GROUP OFFERS GOOD, HONEST MUSIC TO EVERYBODY. SO I AM PROUD TO PROCLAIM AND SAY BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS, THAT I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MAYOR OF THE DAY, HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 17TH, 2000, AS COST MIM DUST DEVILS DAY IN AUSTIN AND I CALL ON ALL CITIZENS -- YEAH. [APPLAUSE]. AND I CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THE MANY OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE LOCAL MUSIC COMMUNITY TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTIN'S SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY, AND IN RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF ARTISTS WHICH FURTHER AUSTIN'S STATUS AS THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, IT'S SIGNED BEE MY AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND I'LL CALL ON THE MAYOR FOR THE DAY.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN -- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE COSMIC DUST DEVILS. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: SING US ONE AND TELL US WHERE WHERE YOU ARE PLAGUING.

>> TONIGHT WE'RE AT THE SOXON CLUB. THE 25TH, NEXT FRIDAY, WE'RE AT GINO'S AND BACK AT THE SAXON CLUB. TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION WE BROUGHT A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WELCOME TO AUSTIN. IT WILL GROW ON YOU. [LAUGHTER]. IN HOR WAYS THAN YOU -- IN MORE WAYS THAN YOU KNOW. AND YOU PLAY TONIGHT START AT 9:30?

>> YES, SIR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WELL, I'M SURE WE'LL BE DONE. [LAUGHTER]. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE COSMIC DUST DEVILS. [MUSIC PLAYING]. [SINGING].

>>MAYOR WATSON: YEAH, THE COSMIC DUST DEVILS. [APPLAUSE]. GOOD JOB! THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE].

>> DON'T BE AFRAID TO WIELD YOUR POWER TODAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IS SHERRY HERE? CHERIE, I'M SORRY. [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>MAYOR WATSON: SHE WILL TALK. KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT I KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 2000 AS BREAST FEEDING AWARENESS IN AUSTIN AND CALL ON ALL CITIZENS IN JOINING ME TO RECOGNIZE THIS YEAR MARKS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY ON THE DECLARATION ON THE PROTECTION AND IMPORTANCE OF BREAST FEEDING TO INFANT AND MATERNITY HEALTH AND ACKNOWLEDGING THIS THEME OF THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION, MOTHER'S MILK, DON'T START LIFE WITHOUT IT, WHICH EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BABIES THIS HEALTHY BEGINNING, SIGNED BY ME, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND IS IT CHERIE?

>> CHERIE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. I'LL LET YOU SAY IT. [LAUGHTER]. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE].

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR WATSON. THE AUSTIN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS CELEBRATING WORLD BREAST FEEDING DAY THIS AUGUST 24TH BY RECOGNIZING OVER 50 AREA EMPLOYERS WHO ARE MOTHER FRIENDLY WORK PLACES. THESE ARE AREA EMPLOYERS, SOME OF THEM ARE LARGE CORPORATIONS AND SOME OF THEM ARE PRETTY SMALL BUSINESSES. TO NAME A FEW, TARGET STORES, THE AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, AND EVEN OUR OWN CITY OF AUSTIN WATER AND WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT, MOTOROLA, AND SOME SMALLER OFFICES SUCH AS THE DENTAL OFFICE OF MARK CAVITIER, VALDEZ REMODELING AND KAY'S HALLMARK. THESE EMPLOYERS HAVE SUPPORTED AUSTIN FAMILIES BY ALLOWING THEIR EMPLOYEES TIME AND SPACE TO EXPRESS MILK WHILE THEY ARE AT WORK. THEY RECOGNIZE THAT HEALTHIER BREAST FED BABIES ARE ASSOCIATE WITH LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS AND FEWER DAYS ABSENT FROM WORK. SUPPORTING BREAST FEEDING HELPS TO REDUCE EMPLOYEE TURNOVER AND CAN ALSO BE A RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE. WE WILL RECOGNIZE THAT'S EMPLOYERS THURSDAY, AUGUST 24TH AT THE EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER FROM 2:30 TO 4:00. THANK YOU EMPLOYERS FOR SUPPORTING AUSTIN FAMILIES AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THIS WONDERFUL PROCLAMATION. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME ASK, IS ELSA POTTER AND/OR GREGORY -- I'M GOING TO MISPRONOUNCE THAT LAST NAME. HAREDIA. ARE EITHER ONE OF YOU HERE. BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 2000 AS INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CULTURE AND LANGUAGE MONTH IN AUSTIN. AND I CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THAT THE IICL STANDS FOR THE DISCOVERY AND CELEBRATION OF BROTHERHOOD THROUGH SMALL GROUP CULTURAL SHARING, IN RECOGNIZING THAT THE IICL AND ITS STUDENT BOOSTER CLUB AT TEXAS A&M KINGSVILLE HAS SERVED AS A VOICE FOR WORLD PEACE AND INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING SINCE 1994. AND IN RECOGNIZING THAT THE IICL HAS EXTENDED ITS SCOPE TO INCLUDE THE TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY AREAS TO SERVE THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WISH TO WORK FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE, AND IT'S SIGNED BY ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, SO I'M PLEASED TO PROCLAIM AUGUST 2000 AS INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CULTURE AND LANGUAGE MONTH. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER WILL PROVIDE THE NEXT ONE.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU. MAYOR, APPRECIATE IT. DO YOU WANT TO COME UP AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT IS HERE? WELL, IT'S -- AUSTIN IS A VERY DIVERSE CITY. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THAT. AND AUGUST 2000 IS GOING -- IS GOING TO BE INDIA MONTH IN WHICH WE'LL RECOGNIZE THE CULTURE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDO-AMERICANS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND I'LL READ THIS PROCLAMATION AND THEN LET SOME FOLKS TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING UP. BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT I -- THAT KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUSTIN 2000 AS INDIA MONTH IN AUSTIN AND CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THAT THE INDO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN OUR CITY HAS BROUGHT IN A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERTISE AND MADE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS IN ALL AREAS OF SOCIETY INCLUDING EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, TECHNOLOGY, HOSPITALITY, GOVERNMENT, RETAIL AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE, AND RECOGNIZING THAT INDO-AMERICANS HAVE A RICH AND DIVERSE CULTURAL HERITAGE WHICH IS BECOMING A PART OF AUSTIN CULTURE AND IN CELEBRATING ALONG WITH THEM THE INDEPENDENCE DAY OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST DEMOCRACY, INDIA. AND WHY DON'T YOU COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS. [APPLAUSE].

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR WATSON AND THE CITY COUNCILL ON BEHALF OF THE INDO-AMERICAN SOCIETY OF COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN, AND WE'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED THE SUPPORT THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY YOU ALL TO THE INDIAN COMMUNITY AND SINCE I HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, I WOULD LIKE TO APPEAL TO YOU TO PROVIDE US SOME HELP AND SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT -- IN TWO AREAS, ONE OF THEM BEING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN ASHA COMMUNITY CENTER IN AUSTIN SO THAT WE CAN ESSENTIALLY FACILITATE THE PRESERVATION AND SHARING OF OUR CULTURE WITH THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY AS WELL AS TO BASICALLY PROMOTE MORE CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND SO FORTH IN AUSTIN. THE OTHER AREA THAT I WOULD LIKE TO APPEAL TO YOU IS TO PROVIDE REPRESENTATION FOR ASIANS ON THE CITY GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS ON THE COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN DO EFFECTIVELY WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE -- IN PROMOTING THE ASIAN ECONOMY AS WELL -- I MEAN THE AUSTIN ECONOMY AS WELL HERE IN AUSTIN. SO AGAIN, THANKS A LOT FOR PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY. I WOULD EXTEND THAT INVITATION TO YOU FOR THE ONGOING AND UP COMING ACTIVITIES ALL INDIA MONTH. WE'RE HAVING A SPICE WEEK WHICH ENDS ON THE 19TH. YOU CAN GO TO AN INDIAN RESTAURANT IN THE AREA AND BY PARTICIPATING, THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING TOWARDS THE CHILDREN'S CAUSE. WE HAVE AN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION ON THE 19TH AT WEST LAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN FINALLY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A DANCE, FOLK DANCE IN FRONT OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING WHERE THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DANCE AS WELL. SO THANKS A LOT AND THANKS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. THOSE -- I'M SORRY. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PROCLAMATION AND LIVE MUSIC. WE WILL CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER MOMENTARILY. AND THE FIRST ITEM WE WILL TAKE UP WILL BE ITEM NO. 78 AT THAT POINT.

>>WATSON: COULD I GET EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION? ARE YOU READY?

>> UH-HUH.

>> I CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER AND I CALL THE ORDER -- I CALL TO ORDER THE PUBLIC HEARING ON NUMBER NO. 78. I RECOGNIZE MS. GLASCO.

>> ALL RIGHT!

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK OUR MAYOR FOR THE DAY. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MS. GLASCO.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM SHEPHERD.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT'S RIGHT.

>>GLASGO: FOR ACKNOWLEDGING ME.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU.

>>GLASGO: ITEM 78 IS CASE NO. C14-00-2047. THIS CASE IS LOCATED AT 900 FWROF BOULEVARD. THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY ZONED SINGLE-FAMILY 3 AND THE APPLICANT IS SEEK TO GO CHANGE THAT TO G.O., WHICH STANDS FOR AGAIN OFFICE, FOR TRACT 1, TRURL RESIDENTIAL FOR TRACT 2, AND FOR TRACT 2 AND 3. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO YOU IS TO GRANT MULTI-FAMILY 1 WITH A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY OVERLAY. I'LL JUST BRIEFLY TELL YOU WHY THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS MULTI-FAMILY 1. THIS AREA WAS PART OF A 1985 LAND USE STUDY DIRECTED BY THE CITY COUNCILL THEN IN 1985 TO TRY TO PROVIDE A BALANCE OF LAND USES IN THE AREA. THAT RECOMMENDATION LOOKED AT WHAT ZONING OUGHT TO BE IN THE FUTURE AND THE FUTURE IS HERE FOR REZONING FOR THIS PROPERTY. AND UNDER THE EXISTING MONTOPOLIS AREA STUDY, THAT STUDY RECOMMENDS THAT THIS PROPERTY BE ZONED SINGLE-FAMILY 6, WHICH WOULD ALLOW TOWN HOMES OR CONDOMINIUMS. THE PLANNING COMMISSION UPGRADED THAT ZONING TO MULTI-FAMILY 1 SIMPLY BECAUSE THE MULTI-FAMILY 1 ZONING DISTRICT PROVIDES FOR ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY IN DESIGN SO THAT ONE CAN ACHIEVE A FEW MORE UNITS THAN THE SINGLE-FAMILY 6 ZONING DISTRICT THAT STAFF RECOMMENDS. I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT THE APPLICANT ISN'T REALLY SEEKING OFFICE ZONING, NOT MULTI-FAMILY. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT YOU DO HAVE AN EXISTING LAND USE STUDY THAT WAS ACCEPTED BY THE CITY COUNCILL IN 1985 THAT REALLY SETS IN STATE AS TO WHAT THE POSSIBLE DESIRABLE LAND USES OUGHT TO LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE. REALIZING THAT OBVIOUSLY CONDITIONS CHANGE OVER TIME AND THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY CHANGE OVER TIME. SO THE REQUEST BEFORE YOU IS FOR OFFICE ZONING, AS I JUST CALLED OUT FOR DIFFERENT TRACTS, AND THAT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHICH IS TO GRANT IT FOR MULTI-FAMILY UNITS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR APPROXIMATELY 239 NET UNITS. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I'LL PAUSE HERE FOR QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT. IF NOT, WE'LL PROCEED TO THE APPLICANT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION RIGHT NOW? COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>WYNN: SORRY TO MISS THIS EARLIER, MS. GLASCO, THE LETTER WE HAVE FROM THE SOUTH MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION APPEARS TO BE IN SUPPORT OF THE APPLICANT'S OFFICE ZONING; IS THAT CORRECT.

>>GLASGO: THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS CORRECT.

>>WYNN: OKAY. AND THE ACTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD LAND USE PLAN IN QUESTION IS THE MONTOPOLIS --.

>>GLASGO: 1985 LAND USE, CORRECT.

>>WYNN: OKAY. THANK YOU.

>>GLASGO: THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE'LL HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT.

>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M JIM BENNETT, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE ZONING CHANGE REQUEST THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU. AS MS. GLASCO INDICATED, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WAS BASED ON THE '85 MM PLAN, AS COUNCIL KNOWS SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAS BEEN A -- THERE WAS A CHARRETTE AND A MONTOPOLIS NEW PLAN WAS ADOPTED THAT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED, HOWEVER. THAT PLAN DOES NOT INCLUDE THE AREA WEST OF GROVE BOULEVARD AND THE NEW MONTOPOLIS PLAN. WE HAVE MET WITH SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PEOPLE AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE IN YOUR BACKUP MATERIAL, INCLUDING THE ONE JUST RECENTLY GIVEN TO YOU FROM THE SOUTH AUSTIN MONTOPOLIS ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS THE CROSSING GUARD HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS FROM THE SOUTHEAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE, AS WELL AS FROM LINDA WATKINS ON THE RIVERSIDE FARMS ASSOCIATION. SO WE HAVE MET WITH SEVERAL STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS AREA AND AS A RESULT OF THAT THOSE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO SEE MULTI-FAMILY ZONING ON THE TRACT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND I BELIEVE YOU WILL FIND THAT IN THE WRITTEN BACKUP. SO CONSEQUENTLY WE'RE LOOKING AT AN OFFICE ZONING. THE TRACT IS BROKEN UP IN THREE PARTS. TO THE NORTH IS AN EIGHT ACRE TRAVIS COUNTY WHICH IS ADJACENT TO A SPORTSPLEX OWNED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT IS DEVELOPED NOW WITH BALLFIELDS AND PARKING LOTS AND LIGHTS. THAT TRACT, WHICH I BELIEVE IN YOUR BACKUP IS IDENTIFIED AS TRACT 2, CONSISTS OF 4.468 -- 4.469 ACRES. WE HAVE AGREED WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS TO LIMIT THE IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THAT -- I'M SORRY, ON THAT FOUR ACRES TO A MAXIMUM IMPERVIOUS COVER OF 8,000 SQUARE FEET. IN DOING THAT, WE ALSO ARE AGREEING NOT TO BUILD ANY BUILDINGS ON THIS TRACT 2, THE FOUR ACRES. THE IMPERVIOUS COVER THAT WE PROPOSE MIGHT BE FOR PICNIC TABLES AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS TO THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE USING THE OFFICE BUILDING. SO THE CONDITIONAL OVERLAY COULD PROHIBIT ANY BUILDINGS ON TRACT 2. THE MIDDLE PORTION OF THE TRACT IS TRACT 3, BY THE CITY STAFF MAPS, AND THAT IS 8.921 ACRES THAT'S IN THE FLOODPLAIN THAT IS WOODED AND IT WILL BE MAINTAINED AS RURAL RESIDENTIAL, WHICH ESSENTIALLY DOESN'T ALLOW ANY DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA AT ALL. THAT LEAVES US WITH A BALANCE OF THE TRACT OF 14.73 ACRES. THAT 14 ACRES IS ADJACENT TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS LOCATED IMMEDIATELY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF OUR SITE. AS YOU TRAVERSE DOWN GROVE BOULEVARD TO RIVERSIDE DRIVE, YOU DO HAVE SOME TENNIS COURTS ON THE EAST SIDE OF GROVE, YOU HAVE SOME -- HAVE YOU THE SAFE HOME AS WELL AS SOME ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES FOR THAT FACILITY AND SOCIAL SERVICE FUNCTIONS. THERE ARE SOME TENNIS COURTS AND SOME MULTI-FAMILY. WE FEEL THAT RELATIVE TO THE RESIDENTIAL ISSUE, IT'S BEEN THE EXPERIENCE I THINK IN THE CITY'S ENFORCEMENT PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH HAVING HOUSES IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO A SPORTS COMPLEX WHERE AT NIGHT THE BALL GAMES ARE GOING ON, THE LIGHTS AND THE TRAFFIC AND THE NOISE AND THE FANS. WE ARE -- AND THIS WOULDN'T ELIMINATE ANY OF THOSE CONCERNS AND WE ARE ONCE AGAIN NOT PROPOSING ANY DEVELOPMENT ON THAT TRACT SAVE AND EXCEPT THAT SMALL PERCENTAGE. THE MONTOPOLIS STUDY WAS A '85 STUDY AND A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THAT AREA AND PERHAPS THAT STUDY MIGHT NEED TO BE ADJUSTED. THERE ARE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS IN EFFECT OR THAT ARE BEING WORKED ON CURRENTLY SUCH AS THE SOUTH MONTOPOLIS ASSOCIATION HAS A PLAN WHICH, ACCORDING TO THEIR DIRECTOR, WOULD INCLUDE THIS AREA. I'M NOT SURE WHOSE AREA IS GOING TO END UP CLAIMING OWNERSHIP OF THIS OR PERHAPS SEVERAL ASSOCIATIONS. BUT FOR THE PEOPLE THERE THAT'S INVOLVED WITH IT, THE MAJORITY SEEM TO NOT WANT ANY MORE MULTI-FAMILY. I WILL BE AVAILABLE SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SUSANNA ALMANZA FOLLOWED BY BILL GREIF AND THEN LINDA WATKINS. MS. ALMANZA.

>> MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILL, I'M SUSANNA ALMANZA WITH PODER, AND WE HAD FOR A LONG TIME BEEN LOOKING AT THIS PARTICULAR AREA. IT'S ALL ZONED SINGLE-FAMILY, AND IT IS ADJACENT TO THE COLORADO RIVER PARK AREA. NOW, THIS DID COME UP BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND MULTIPLE FAMILY FOR THIS PARTICULAR AREA. I MYSELF AT THE TIME WAND IT TO REMAIN SINGLE-FAMILY BECAUSE IT IS A BEAUTIFUL SETTING UP THERE THAT IS ADJACENT TO THE COLORADO RIVER PARK AREA. I'VE BEEN JUST IN COMMUNICATION JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO WITH MR. GREIF AND HIS AGENT ABOUT THEM WILLING TO DEDICATE TRACT -- THE REMAINING TRACTS THAT ARE TOWARDS THE COLORADO RIVER FOR NOT BEING DEVELOPED. AND SO AT THIS TIME I DON'T FEEL LIKE I CAN MAKE A DECISION BECAUSE, FOR ONE THING, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS COULD BE THAT IT GO BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BECAUSE WHEN IT WENT BEFORE US, IT WAS ALL FOR G.O., FOR GENERAL OFFICE. AND SO PEOPLE COULDN'T SEE ZONING 28 ACRES UP THERE GENERAL OFFICE, AND SO I DON'T FEEL -- OUR STAND WAS LEAVING IT SINGLE-FAMILY THROUGH OUR MEMBERSHIP THROUGH PODER, BUT I FELT LIKE ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES COULD BE -- WOULD BE TO SEND THIS BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. THANK YOU. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE].

>> THESE PEOPLE OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME AND IN THESE MEETINGS DID INDICATE THAT G. O. WOULD BE A GOOD USE, THAT THERE'S NOT GOOD OFFICE SPACE IN THIS AREA. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT INDICATED A DESIRE NOT TO HAVE FURTHER MULTI-FAMILY. I GUESS THEY WERE AS ADAMANT ABOUT THEIR SUPPORT OF GO AS THEY WERE ADAMANT ABOUT THEIR OPPOSITION TO MULTI-FAMILY. SO WHEN WE WENT BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IT REALLY WAS KIND OF A SURPRISE TO ME THAT IN THE FACE OF WHAT WAS UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR THE GO O. FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY CAME BACK FROM THE MULTI-FAMILY. I BELIEVE THAT AS IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE TIME, IT WAS DELINEATED SO THAT THE TRACTS BELOW THE HILL WOULD BE FREE OF DEVELOPMENT AND WOULD BE ACTING AS A TRANSITION INTO THE COLORADO RIVER PARK, WOULD REMAIN WITHOUT COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THOSE TRACTS. BASICALLY ABOUT HALF OF THE WHOLE TRACT WOULD REMAIN THAT WAY AS A INTREEN SPACE AND AS AN AMENITY FOR THE OFFICE BUILDING. SO WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME REFLECTED THE DESIRE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A USE WHICH WOULD BE A GOOD USE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE WOULD ASK YOU TO APPROVE THIS GO ZONING FOR IT. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. CHRIST. LINDA WATKINS.

>> GOOD EVENING. I'M LINDA WATKINS, I'M WITH THE RIVERSIDE ROADS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I'M ALSO HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CROSSING CAR DEN HOMES ASSOCIATION AND SOUTHEAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE. WE DID MEET WITH THE DEVELOPERS AND EXPLORE THEIR PLANS FOR THIS TRACT AND WE AGREED IT WOULD BE A GOOD USE. IT'S DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE ACC CAMPUS AND GROVE IS SORT OF A DEADENED ROAD. IT'S NOT -- THERE'S NOT REALLY A WAY OUT THERE. WE FEEL IT'S AN APPROPRIATE USE AND WE GAVE THEM A LETTER OF SUPPORT. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU GRANT THEIR APPLICATION, AND IF YOU CAN'T GRANT THEIR APPLICATION, THEN LEAVE THE PROPERTY AS IT IS, WE DO NOT -- I THINK THAT MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT OF THIS TRACT IS APPROPRIATE. THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE PROPERTY THEY'VE AGREED TO LEAVE RELATIVELY UNDEVELOPED AND THE BLUFF IS NOT SUITABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT AT ALL, SO IT WOULD BE ZONED RR. WE THINK THEY HAVE A GOOD PLAN AND WE SUPPORT THAT AND WE ASK THAT YOU GRANT THE APPLICATION AS FILED OR NOT DO ANYTHING. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. I'M SORRY. YOU GOT REBUTTAL TIME. MOTION TO RECONSIDER BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER. I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES REBUTTAL. I APOLOGIZE.

>> THAT'S QUITE ALL RIGHT, MAYOR. I DON'T THINK WE REALLY HAVE ANY REBUTTAL THAT WE'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AFTER WE WENT TO ALL THAT TROUBLE? GO AHEAD.

>> HOWEVER, WE WOULD LIKE FOR COUNT TO TAKE NOTE OF THOSE CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE AGREED TO WITH THOSE NEIGHBORS LIMITING THE DEVELOPMENT TO A MAXIMUM OF 400,000 SQUARE FEET, 60 FEET TALL BUILDING. THE FAR -- THE IMPERVIOUS COVER ON THE NORTHERN TRACT OF FOUR PERCENT OUT OF 4 POINT SOMETHING ACRES AND THAT NO BUILDINGS BE BUILT ON THAT NORTHERN TRACT. SO IN YOUR CONSIDERATION AFTER HAVING WORKED FOR THAT LONG PERIOD OF TIME IF YOU DO TAKE THOSE CONDITIONAL OVERLAYS INTO CONSIDERATION, I'D TRACT TWO WHERE THERE WOULD BE NO BUILDING?

>> YES, MA'AM. THERE'S THAT'S ADJACENT TO THE SPORTS COMPLEX. WE FELT THAT PERHAPS THE OFFICE BUILDING MIGHT HAVE SOME PICNIC TABLES, SO WE -- THE 8,000 SQUARE FEET OUT OF THE FOUR ACRES IS A MINIMAL AMOUNT.

>>GRIFFITH: I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. AND NO BUILDINGS ON THAT TRACT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR. MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SATISFY NO. MOTION CARRIES. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 78.

>>GRIFFITH: MOVE APPROVAL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. DISCUSSION? MS. GLASCO IS GOING TO CLARIFY.

>>WYNN: JUST CLARIFICATION, THIS IS APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION OF THE GO FACILITY?

>> THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO ASK.

>>GRIFFITH: YES.

>>WYNN: THAT'S MY SECOND.

>>SLUSHER: WITH THE RESTRICTIONS AS AGREED TO BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT MR. BENNETT MENTIONED?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, WITH THE RESTRICTIONS MR. BEN KNIT MENTIONED IS THAT YOUR MOTION?

>>WYNN: YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM NUMBER 78. THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NUMBER 83, A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2000-2001 PROPOSED BUDGET ON PUBLIC SAFETY. MR. CITY MANAGER, DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING THAT WAS SAID THIS MORNING? JIMMY CASTRO FOLLOWED BY JOHN KUNKEL AND MARY ROWE ALESHIRE. MR. CASTRO, ARE YOU HERE? FOR THOSE THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE CHAMBERS WE HAVE CALLED TO ORDER THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2000-2001 PROPOSED BUDGET REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY. FOLLOWING THAT WE WILL HAVE THE HEARINGS ON THE BOND -- PROPOSED BOND PACKAGE.

>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR WATSON, COUNCILMEMBERS AND MR. GARZA. I DO HAVE THREE TRANSPARENCIES TO SHOW YOU THIS EVENING. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON MY OWN HALF, THE MILLWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN SOUTH AUSTIN. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE FLING PROPOSED BUDGET RECOMMENDATION. FIRST, THE CITY OF AUSTIN E.M.S.. THIS FIRST SLIDE SHOWS THE CITY OF AUSTIN E.M.S. PROPOSED BUDGET. E.M.S. RESPONSE TIME IS IMPACTED FROM THE MOMENT A 911 CALL IS INITIATED. A TOTAL OF 620 THOUSAND DOLLARS AND 10 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, FTE'S ARE USED TO STAFF THE STATION. A TOTAL OF 5 23,000 DOLLARS AND FIVE NEW FTE'S ARE INCLUDED TO OPEN NUT WEST AUSTIN E.M.S. STATION. THE WEST AUSTIN E.M.S. STAILTION CONSTRUCTION IS TO BE COMPLETED IN THE FALL OF 2001. IN ADDITION, THE INFORMATION SYSTEM DEPARTMENT HAS REQUESTED FIVE FTE POSITIONS AND SEVEN NEW FTE POSITIONS BE INCLUDED FOR A TOTAL COST OF 7 $22,000. -- $7 22,000. SECOND, THE CITY OF AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE SECOND SLIDE SHOWS THE CITY OF AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT PROPOSED BUDGET. INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS FUNDING THE CADET CLASS TO STAFF THE HARRIS RIDGE STATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $349,000 AND FUNDING FOR THE SPICEWOOD SPRINGS FIRE STATION IN THE AMOUNT OF 9 AND SEVEN FTE'S ARE INCLUDED IN THE COST. THIRD, THE CITY OF AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE THIRD SLIDE SHOWS THE CITY OF AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT PROPOSED BUDGET. THIS ALSO INCLUDES ADDING 26 NEW SWORN POSITIONS. THE GENERAL FUND COST FOR THESE 26 OFFICERS IN FISCAL YEAR 2001 WILL BE $8009,000. IT INCLUDES 1,TLIRX THOUSAND DOLLARS IT TO INCLUDE NEW FTE. IT INCLUDES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THE OPENING OF THE SOUTH SUBSTATION. FINALLY, THE TOP TWO PRIORITIES OF ANY ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICIAL IS THE HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY OF ALL ITS CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY ITS MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM. THANK YOU, MAYOR WATSON. MAYOR.

>> GOOD EVENING. A YEAR AGO I SPOKE TO YOU ALL ABOUT THE APD ALARM UNIT, A UNIT YOU HEARD REFERRED TO BRIEFLY IN STANLEY KNEE'S PRESENTATION THIS MORNING. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT IT AGAIN THIS YEAR. TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORIES, THE APD ALARM UNIT IS ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE THAT UNDER SEVERE FINANCIAL PENALTIES IMPOSES UPON HOMEOWNERS THE BURDEN OF PAYING A FEE TO REGISTER THEIR HOME ALARM SYSTEMS WITH APD. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN PLACE NOW FOR ABOUT 11 YEARS. LAST YEAR WHEN I SPOKE TO YOU AFTER IT HAD BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 10 YEARS, I WAS ASTONISHED TO LEARN THAT THE FALSE ALARM RATE AFTER 10 YEARS WAS 99%, AN INCREDIBLE WASTE OF TIME ON THE PART OF APD OFFICERS. ALTHOUGH I EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS, Y'ALL LISTENED POLITELY AND PROCEEDED TO RAISE THE FEE BY 66%. IN SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS WITH ASSISTANT MANAGER MARCIA CONNOR IT BECAME OBVIOUS WHY THE FALSE ALARM THING WAS AS LARGE AS IT IS. THERE'S NO IS SPOIRT. THIS UNIT CONSISTS MERELY OF NAMES ON A COMPUTER. IN THE PAST YEAR THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT TO UPDATE THOSE RECORDS TO SAY WHO CAUSES THE ALARM. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, YOUR PREDECESSOR ASKED A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION A YEAR AGO, WHO WERE THE PEOPLE CREATING ALL THE FALSE ALARMS? YOU KNOW WHAT, SIR? HE COULDN'T GET AN ANSWER. IT'S A YEAR LATER AND I'M NOT SURE YOU COULD EITHER. NOW, I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH STANLEY KNEE'S STAFF AND HIS CHIEF OF STAFF PERSON FOR BUDGET PURPOSES HAS A RECOMMENDATION WHICH I APPLAUD. HER VIEW THAT SHE SHARED WITH ME AND I CONCUR WITH IS THE BULK OF THE FALSE ALARMS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE WASTE OF MANPOWER COME FROM A RELATIVELY SMALL SOMEBODY NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE SYSTEM. HER PROPOSAL INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET IS A SMALL LITTLE NOTE IS TO PUT IN PLACE A REBATE PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T CAUSE FALSE ALARMS. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT WON'T WORK. AND IT WON'T WORK UNLESS AND UNTIL THE I. S. FOLKS CONTINUE TO DO SOME PROGRAMMING TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER TO MAKE THAT ANALYSIS POSSIBLE. NOW, LAST YEAR I WAS TOLD BY ACM CONNOR THAT THE REASON WHY THAT PROGRAMMING HADN'T TAKEN PLACE FOR 10 YEARS WAS BECAUSE THE I. S. FOLKS WERE BUSY WORRYING ABOUT Y2K. THEY HAD A LOT OF WORRIES BEFER 10 YEARS. SO I HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR Y'ALL. THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF JUST LISTENING TO ME POLITELY AND RAISING THE FEE, MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT. WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THE FEE DOWN TO A NOMINAL ONE DOLLAR? AND GIVE CHIEF KNEE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THE APPROPRIATE PRIORITY ON GETTING THE I. S. SUPPORT REQUIRED TO FREE UP HIS OFFICERS TO DO THE KINDS OF WORK HE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS MORNING AND USE HIS OFFICERS MORE EFFECTIVELY. [BUZZER]. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE IT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. KUNKEL. MARY ROWE ALESHIRE? MARY ROWE ALESHIRE? SHE WROTE THAT IF SHE WAS NOT HERE TO READ THE BACK OF HER CARD. PLEASE APPROVE THE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD TO STOP POLICE BRUTALITY. PLEASE FUND THIS BOARD. CITY MANAGER PUT NO MONEY IN THIS BUDGET FOR THE CITIZENS BOARD. PUT THE $500,000 ANNUALLY BACK IN. SCOTT TUPIN FOLLOWED BY SCOTT HENSON AND THEN ANNE DELANO?

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP AND SPEAK. I STAND UP IN FAVOR OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET AS PRESENTED TO YOU TODAY. AND I WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE COUNT TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS THAT THE FIRE CHIEF HAS PUT INTO HIS BUDGET CONCERNING FULL PERSON STAFFING AND RECRUITMENT. THE FOUR-PERSON STAFFING INITIATIVE HAS BEEN AROUND. WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARD THAT FOR WELL OVER A DECADE WITH THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCILL. WE HAD A COUPLE OF YEARS WHERE WE IMPLEMENTED PARTS OF THE FOUR-PERSON STAFFING INITIATIVE AND THEN DUE TO BUDGET PROBLEMS BACK IN THE EARLY 90'S WE STOPPED FUNDING THAT INITIATIVE. AND I'M GLAD TO SEE NOW THAT CHIEF WARREN HAS PUT THAT BACK INTO HIS PROPOSAL. WE VIEW THAT AS AN EFFICIENCY AND ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE WITH FIREFIGHTERS. THERE ARE NATIONAL STANDARDS OUT IN EFFECT RIGHT NOW. OSHA HAS A TWO IN TWO OUT STANDARD OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY HEALTH AND ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS A NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION HAS THE NFPA 1500 THAT RECOMMENDS FOUR FIREFIGHTERS PER APPARATUS. WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER STANDARD, A NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION STANDARD, 1710, WHICH IS IN THE WORKS RIGHT NOW LOOKING FOR APPROVAL. THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE A PROFESSIONAL PAID FIREFIGHTER STAFFING INITIATIVE, AND THAT WILL MANDATE FOUR PERSONS PER APPARATUS. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THE AUSTIN FIREFIGHTERS AND AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT BE ON THE FOREFRONT AND BE PROGRESSIVE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND GET OUT IN FRONT AND PUT ON BOARD FOUR PERSONNEL. WE VIEW IT AS A SAFETY MEASURE FOR THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN AS WELL AS THE FIREFIGHTERS. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO TALK A SECOND ABOUT OUR RECRUITMENT INITIATIVE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN SOME GREAT STRIDES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PERSONNEL IN OUR RECRUITMENT DEPARTMENT. WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO, BUT I THINK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS MAKING A GOOD INITIATIVE WITH INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL WE HAVE TO DO THE RECRUITING. WE'VE GONE FROM A DEPARTMENT THAT HAD TWO OR THREE RECRUITERS NOW TO HAVE 12 DOWN THERE FULL TIME. WE CAN ALWAYS USE MORE. THE IDEA IS TO RECRUIT THE BEST POSSIBLE CANDIDATES AND ALSO TO TRY TO COMPLY WITH THE DIVERSITY QUESTIONS THAT THE CITY COUNCILL ALWAYS WOULD LIKE THE DEPARTMENT TO ASPIRE TO. I THINK IF WE TIE IN THE FOUR-PERSON STAFFING ISSUE ALONG WITH RECRUITMENT, WE'RE HIRING MORE MEMBERS, WE HAVE A GREATER ABILITY TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WAY AND I HOPE THAT THE CITY COUNCILL WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AS PRESENTED. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. LET ME JUST SAY THAT HILTON CROCKER, IS HE HERE? OKAY. YOU WERE GOING TO GET SOME TIME DONATE FIRE DEPARTMENT YOU NEEDED IT. THANK YOU. SCOTT HENSON, FOLDED BY ANNE DELYAON. AND HILTON CROCKER SIGNED UP FOR -- REPRESENTING THE AUSTIN ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS. AND THEN MIKE MARTINEZ WILL FOLLOW HIS DELYANO.

>> MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS, I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN UP HERE SINCE THE NEW FOLKS HAVE ARRIVED, SO I WANT TO SAY WELCOME, CONGRATULATIONS, GLAD TO HAVE YOU. I'VE SAID THIS TO PEOPLE LEAVING, I DON'T KNOW WHY ANYONE P WANTS THIS JOB, BUT YOU'VE GOT IT, SO GOOD LUCK. I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING VERY NARROW AND THAT'S THE POLICE OVERSIGHT FOCUS GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE LACK OF -- THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT IN THE PRESENT POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET OR IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET GENERALLY. I WAS HERE THIS MORNING AND HEARD MS. FUTTRELL'S EXPLANATIONS THAT THIS WAS PART OF THE MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT. THAT THIS IS SOMEHOW GOING TO BE OFF THE BUDGET SOMEHOW. I BELIEVE -- I'LL PARAPHRASE IT. SHE SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT WE'LL COME TO YOU AT THE END OF THE PROCESS AND TELL YOU WHAT THE NUMBER IS AND WE'LL COME WITH YOU WITH A WAY TO FUND IT. FRANKLY, I'M VERY ATTEMPTED TO BELIEVE HER THAT'S THAT'S WHAT BASICALLY HAPPENED LAST TIME. WE CAME BACK FROM THE MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT AND JUST WENT AND FOUND THE MONEY. HOWEVER, LAST TIME THAT WAS 27 MILLION DOLLARS. AND THE ESTIMATES ON THE POFG AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATIONS IS ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, SMALL POTATOES COMPARED TO WHAT A LIKELY RAISE MIGHT BE. BUT IT SEEMS ODD TO ME THAT THERE'S THAT KIND OF MONEY JUST SITTING OUT THERE SOMEWHERE THAT'S NOT IN YOUR BUDGET. I MEAN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IF THE CITY CAN JUST PULL THAT OUT OF THE HIP POCKET SOMEWHERE THAT -- WHERE IS THIS MONEY THAT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET? IF I WAS A FIDUCIARY THAT WERE THE QUESTION I WOULD BE ASKING. SINCE I'M NOT I CAN ONLY TRUST THAT Y'ALL ARE TAKING CARE OF THINGS BEHIND THE SCENES AND YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AFTER THOSE KIND OF DETAILS, BUT I DO HOPE THAT YOU REMEMBER -- THAT YOU HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO DO THIS POLICE OVERSIGHT, THAT IT IS GOING TO NEED TO BE FUNDED. AND WHEN THE TIME COMES I HOPE ALL OF YOU WILL FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT. I HAVE ONE OTHER QUICK THING TO SAY. I WAS HERE THIS MORNING AND MR. .

>>WYNN:, I HEARD YOUR COMMENTS ASKING ABOUT THE CADET CLASS SIZE AND WHETHER ALL THOSE WERE FULLY BEING IMPLEMENTED.

>> I WANTED TO JUST VOICE -- AND I THINK CHIEF KNEE MENTION THIS HAD SLIGHTLY. I WANT TO VOICE SOME CONCERN JUST TO LET YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD BE AWARE. WHENEVER THERE'S NEW CADET CLASSES LIKE THIS, SEVERAL IN A ROW -- AND I WAS GLAD TO HEAR ONE WAS GOING TO BE VETERANS. THERE'S A LOT OF EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT THOSE ARE TIMES WHEN THERE'S INCREASED CASES OF POLICE MISCONDUCT, INCREASED PROBLEMS BECAUSE YOU HAVE YOUNG OFFICERS WHO DON'T HAVE THE SEASONED VETERAN APPROACH THAT THE OLDER OFFICERS DO. A LOT OF THE COPS THAT AREN'T GOING TO MAKE IT BUST OUT IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS AND IF THEY HAVE MISCONDUCT PROBLEMS THAT'S WHEN IT HAPPENS. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GO AHEAD AND IMPLEMENT THE POLICE OVERSIGHT IN THIS TIME THAT WE'RE EXPANDING THE POLICE FORCE AND THAT'S JUST AN IMPORTANT THING TO WATCH OUT FOR. I'M GLAD THAT YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. HENSON. ANNE DELYON NO. AND THEN MIKE MARTINEZ AND THEN JAMES W.B.E..

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU AND WELCOME TO THE NEW MEMBERS. I'M VERY HAPPY YOU'RE HERE. I'M HERE TO ASK PLEASE DON'T LET THE POLICE OVERSIGHT FOCUS GROUP RECOMMENDATION FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS. ON JUNE 8TH YOU UNANIMOUSLY PROPOSED -- UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO GET THE RECOMMENDED POLICE OVERSIGHT FOCUS GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS WITH STAFF IN MEET AND CONFER PROCESS. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE CITY MANAGER CAME OUT WITH THE BUDGET AND AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 72 IN BLACK AND WHITE WERE THE WORDS THAT NO FUNDS ARE BUDGETED FOR THE PROPOSED OVERSIGHT FOCUS GROUP SPECIFICALLY. SO -- THEY'VE GIVEN AN EXPLANATION THAT THEY WILL COME BACK AND MEET AND COUNTER AND IT WILL BE IN THAT CONTRACT. AND I'M ASKING YOU TO WATCH THAT AND MAKE SURE IT'S IN THERE. I ALSO THINK THAT MEET AND CONFER NEEDS A BIT OF FINE TUNING. THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND TIME THAT THE CITY HAS GONE THROUGH THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE LABOR CONTRACT. IT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY THREE YEARS. IT'S TOO LATE NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATIONS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A FRIENDLY SUGGESTION THAT MAYBE NEXT TIME THE CITY COULD COME TO THE TABLE AND SAY TO THE POLICE FORCE, OUR FIRST ITEM IS THAT THIS NEGOTIATION NEEDS TO BE FINISHED BY THE TIME THE CITY BUDGET GOES INTO PLACE. SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY BUDGET THE MONEY THAT YOU GUYS ARE REQUESTING THAT YOU NEED AS A RAISE. AS SCOTT SAID, THE CITY HAD TO FIENT 27 MILLION DOLLARS SOMEHOW LAST TIME AFTER THE BUDGET. AND IF THE CITY CAME TO THE TABLE AND MADE THAT A CONDITION OF BARGAINING, THEN WE COULD PLAN OUR BUDGET AROUND THE CITY AND THE POLICE OFFICERS AND THE RAISES THEY WANT AND THE SALARY INCREASES. IT'S AN OPEN NEGOTIATION TABLE, SO YOU CAN BRING THAT AS A TERM AND CONDITION TO YOUR TWO TWO-TO YOUR NEGOTIATIONS. SO THAT'S MY FRIENDLY SUGGESTION. AND STANDING WHERE I AM I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IF THE OVERSIGHT FOCUS GROUP IS NOT PART OF THE BUDGET AND IT'S GOING TO BE IN MEET AND CONFER, THEN WHY WAS IT IN THE BUDGET? WHY DID IT SPECIFICALLY STATE IN THE BUDGET THAT THERE'S NO MONEY FOR THE PROGRAM? SO IT'S JUST CONFUSING TO ME. PLEASE EACH ONE OF YOU ENSURE THAT CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT IS IN PLACE AS RECOMMENDED IN THIS LABOR CONTRACT. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND TO FINISH, I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE WORDS OF BILL SPELMAN, TO PLAN IS HUMAN, TO IMPLEMENT IS DEFINE. AND I KNOW THIS THIS COUNCIL IS DEFINE. THANK YOU. -- DIVINE, THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FLAT RI USED TO GET PEOPLE ANYWHERE. MIKE MARTINEZ AND JAMES W.B.E. AND RYAN COPE. MIKE MARTINEZ SIGNED UP FOR FOUR-PERSON STAFFING ON EVERY TRUCK AND ENGINE. JAMES W.B.E.. MR. W.B.E.? GREAT. IS RYAN COKE HERE? YOU WILL FOLLOW WILL WEBB, AND THEN KATHY MITCHELL.

>> I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE POLICE OVERSIGHT FOCUS. AS RECOMMENDED BY THE POLICE OVERSIGHT FOCUS GROUP AND UNANIMOUSLY ACCEPTED BY THE COUNCIL ON JUNE 8TH, I THINK THIS IS A MODEST BUT MEANINGFUL STEP TOWARDS GREATER POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY. AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS IT BE A WIN-WIN DEAL. IT MIGHT EVEN BE FEWER DOLLARS FOR THE POLICE OVERSIGHT THAN THERE IS CURRENTLY FOR CIVIL SUITS THAT RESULT IN POLICE CONDUCT. BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE TWO POINTS. ONE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY RELATIVE TO THE BUNLT. APPROXIMATELY ONE PENNY OUT OF EVERY $40 WOULD GO FOR THIS PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. NUMBER TWO IS ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THIS SORT OF ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM IS NEEDED OR GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY NEEDED, I WOULD ASK ANYONE WHO DOES NOT THINK THAT GREATER KOUBLTED IS NEEDED TO LOOK INTO THE FACE OF RODNEY WICK WAR'S MOTHER AND ASK HER THAT QUESTION. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: RYAN COKE?

>> HI. I'M HERE TO SAY THAT I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THE BUDGET AS IT STANDS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE POLICE OVERSIGHT FOCUS GROUP IS NOT BEING FUNDED. AND I REALIZE THAT IT IS A BIT EARLY TO GET TOO OVERLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, BUT I WANT TO SAY SINCE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT IF YOU PASS THE POLICE FOCUS GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS AND DON'T FUND IT, I THINK THAT'S A BIGGER INSULT TO THE COMMUNITY HAVING MADE THEM GO THROUGH ALL THIS TROUBLE TO EXPRESS THEIR POINT OF VIEW AND COME UP WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND I HOPE EVERYBODY HERE IS COMMITTED TO POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENDING POLICE MISCONDUCT. AND IT WILL ENSURE THAT THE POLICE OVERSIGHT GROUP, THE AUDITOR AND THE CIVILIAN PANEL WILL BE FUNDED IN FULL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. KATHY MITCHELL.

>> I THINK I'M PRETTY MUCH COVERED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE YOUR --

>> BY THE PREVIOUS --

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES. I APPRECIATE YOUR DISCRETION. SHE SIGNED UP AGAINST AND SHE HAD THERE IS NEED TO BUDGET MONEY FOR POFG. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL, THOSE ARE AUMENT PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2000-2001 PROPOSED BUDGET REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING OR WILL BE WATCHING, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET AND THERE WILL BE A STAFF BRIEFING NEXT WEEK AND LET ME ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO ILLUSTRATE THAT.

>> NEXT WEEK WE HAVE THE CULTURAL SERVICES THAT THE COUNCIL WILL BE HOLDING A HEARING ON. THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION SHORTLY AFTER 9:00 O'CLOCK AS WE GO THROUGH EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS, THAT IS LIBRARY, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, PARKS AND RECREATION. STEP UP HERE.

>> I READ TWO OF THE LIPS. I'M JC PRESS SCOTT. I WORK IN THE BUDGET OFFICE. NEXT WEEK WE SHOULD BE LIBRARY, PARKS, PCSD AND --

>> THAT'S PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDES THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING.

>> RIGHT. THAT IS INCLUDED IN THAT. AND HEALTH.

>> HEALTH. AND MAYOR, THAT WILL BE WHAT WE WILL HAVE AS PART OF THE HEARING NEXT WEEK.

>>.

>>MAYOR WATSON: VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THE NEXT WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING -- WE'LL GO INTO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS REGARDING THE POTENTIAL ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. THERE ARE FOUR PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED WITH REGARD TO THOSE ITEMS. AND THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND FOR TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENTS.

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE TAKE ALL THE HEARINGS ON THE BONDS AS ONE BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ON THE BALLOT. SO I WOULD MOVE TO DO THAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE VARIOUS PROP SITIONS?

>>SLUSHER: THEY WILL BE SPEAKING ON VARIOUS PROPOSITIONS, BUT I THINK IT WILL SUFFICE AND PREVENT REPETITION. AND ALSO I JUST HAVE THE FEELING, JUDGING FROM THE WEEK WE'VE GONE THROUGH, THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE QUITE A BIT OF COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BE FRESH FOR THAT, AS ALERT AS POSSIBLE. AND I THINK THAT THE EARLIER THE HOUR THE BETTER AND THE BETTER WE'LL -- BETTER BALLOT WE'LL GET.

>> THE MOTION WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD -- ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE DIFFERENT PROPOSITION ONS ON THE BALLOT AND INDIVIDUAL VOTES, WE WOULD HAVE ONE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BOND PACKAGE. AND WHAT I WOULD DO IS AS I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION IS I WOULD CALL ON PEOPLE FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WOULD GO ON THE BOND PACKAGE. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THEN WHAT I WILL DO IS I WILL CALL OUT YOUR NAME AND IF YOU SIGNED UP ON MORE THAN ONE ITEM, PLEASE GIVE YOUR OVERALL VIEW WHEN I CALL IT. DON'T EXPECT TO BE CALLED BACK ON ANOTHER ITEM BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE JUST ONE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BOND. TERRY MELA? MELLE? MELLE. TERRY MELLE HAS SIGNED UP FOR ITEM -- ON ITEM NUMBER 44, WHICH IS TRANSPORTATION. ANNE DELYANO, SHE HAS SIGNED UP ON ITEMS 84 THROUGH 87 FOR. SCOTT HENSON? HE HAS SIGNED UP FOR --

>>GRIFFITH: THOSE FOLKS ARE HERE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: BUT HE SIGNED UP AND SAID HE DIDN'T WISH TO SPEAK.

>>GRIFFITH: WHAT ABOUT ANNE? DID SHE --

>>MAYOR WATSON: SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T WISH TO SPEAK.

>>GRIFFITH: OKAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SCOTT HENSON HAS SIGNED UP FOR AND SAYS PLEASE INCLUDE HOUSING AND PARK BONDS WITH EQUAL WEIGHT AS ROAD BONDS. MAC PIKE? HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BOBBY BARKER, WHO IS NOT SPEAKING, BUT ENDORSES PROPOSED 150 MILLION DOLLAR BONDS FOR TRANSPORTATION WITHOUT IT BEING DILUTED BY OTHER INITIATIVES. JEFF NASH IS FOR ITEM 84 UNDILUTED TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVE. SHANNON SMITH IS FOR TRANSPORTATION BONDS. MR. AUSTIN IS FOR TRANSPORTATION BONDS. MARK HAS HE WILL WOOD, FOR ITEM 84. RICK GRUN MARN, FOR ITEM 84. MR. BISCODO IS FOR AND HE SUPPORTS THE 450 MILLION DOLLARS GOING TO TRANSPORTATION TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS. GEORGE COVER? CRX HE HAS SIGNED UP FOR 84 THROUGH 87. ROBIN RATHER HAS SIGNED UP WISHING -- MR. COVER, YOU WILL FOLLOW MIKE PACK. MR. PIKE, GO AHEAD. I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO FOLLOW YOU AND GET THEM ON DECK.

>> MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS MAC PIKE AND I'M HERE NOT ONLY REPRESENTING MYSELF SZ A DOWNTOWN HOUSING DEVELOPER, BUT ALSO THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE STREET SCAPES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. I'M HERE IN FAVOR OF THE 150 MILLION DOLLAR BOND PROPOSAL TO BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT WITH HEAVY EMPHASIS ON TRANSPORTATION. FOR THIS CITY TO BE ABLE TO FLOURISH AND CONTINUE TO ENJOY OUR PARKS AND TO CREATE ALSO MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BE MOBILE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE REGION AND THEREFORE I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THIS COUNCIL PLACE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER A BOND INITIATIVE THAT HEAVILY FAVORS AND IS NON-DILUTED TOWARDS TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. MR. COFER. WHILE YOU'RE COMING UP, IS ROBIN RATHER HERE.

>> SHE'S WALKING IN THE BUILDING, MR. MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. BOBBY BARKER HAS INDICATED THAT SHE WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING AND I CALLED OUT HER CARD. SO MS. BARKER, IF YOU WILL COME UP, YOU WILL FOLLOW MR. COFER AND IF MS. RATHER COMES IN, SHE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK.

>> MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL, MY NAME IS GEORGE COFER. I'M HERE SPEAKING AS AN INTERESTED CITIZEN AND NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ANY ORGANIZATION. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE BALANCED LIVEABLE CITY PACKAGE, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, PARKS, OPEN SPACE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT JUST AS THE COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS HAVE UNITED IN THE PAST TO PUT A BALANCED PROGRAM ON THE BOND PACKAGE AND THEN TO PASS THOSE BONDS AND TO KEEP THE THREE LEGS OF THE STOOL IN PLACE, THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY AND THE EQUITY, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD DO SO AGAIN. POLL AFTER POLL LOCAL, STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL INDICATE STRONG SUPPORT FOR MOBILITY, PARKS, OPEN SPACE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ALL THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN ADDRESSING WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS. I URGE YOU PLEASE TO SUPPORT ALL THE PROPOSITIONS AND LET'S GO TO THE POLLS IN NOVEMBER AND AGAIN BE A GREAT CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR, MAY I ASK MR. COFER SOMETHING? MR. COFER, THERE ARE VARIOUS AMOUNTS BEING DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF MATCHING MONEY FOR PARKS AND OPEN SPACE. AND YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH THAT. AND I WANT TO ASK YOU IF YOU THINK THAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY HAS SOME IMPACT, SOME CRITICAL IMPACT ON HOW MUCH YOU COULD GET AS A MATCH. WOULD A HIGHER NUMBER OR A LOWER NUMBER BE BETTER FOR MATCHING PURPOSES?

>> COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A HIGHER NUMBER FOR BOTH PARKS AND OPEN SPACE WOULD GIVE US MORE LEVERAGE AND MORE OPPORTUNITY AT BOTH THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IF THE CONSERVATION REINVESTMENT PROJECT PASSES. IT PASSED CONGRESS OVERWHELMINGLY A FEW MONTHS AGO. IT PASSED OUT A SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES. THE SENATOR'S COMMITTEE AND THE U.S. SENATE. THE MARKED UP COPY ACTUALLY LOOKS PRETTY GOOD AND HAS STRONG SUPPORT. IF THOSE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE TO TEXAS AND IN TURN AVAILABLE TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES, WE NEED TO GET IN LINE FOR THAT MONEY WITH THE LARGEST FIGURE POSSIBLE. JUST AS WE HOPE TO LEVERAGE OUR ROAD MONEY, I KNOW THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEVERAGE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE MONEY.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT LOCAL INVESTMENT? DO YOU THINK IF WE HAD, SAY, 40 MILLION DOLLARS THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT SOME LOCAL FOLKS MIGHT GET INTERESTED?

>> I HAVE SPOKEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS BOTH WITH AN ORGANIZATION -- LEADERS OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE OF THE AUSTIN IDEA NETWORK, THE GROUP THAT EVOLVED OUT OF THE HIGH-TECH 360 SUBMIT CONFERENCES. I BELIEVE THEY MAY HAVE SENT MAYOR AND COUNCIL A LETTER ON AUGUST 9TH INDICATING THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR DESIRE TO MATCH, TO BE INVOLVED. AND I'VE ALSO SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL OF THE LARGER FOUNDATIONS AND THEY'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THEIR DOLLARS. FOUNDATIONS NOW ARE MANDATED TO GIVE AWAY CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THEIR CORPUS EACH YEAR AND THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO APPROACH THOSE FOUNDATIONS. THE MORE WE HAVE AVAILABLE, THE MORE THE MATCH WILL BE.

>>GRIFFITH: SO YOU THINK 40 MILLION WOULD GET US MORE THAN, SAY, 10-15.

>> I THINK WE'RE MORE LIKELY WITH 40 MILLION TO GET MULTIPLE MATCHES. THE LARGER NUMBERS I THINK WILL BE MORE ATTRACTIVE TO DONORS, YES.

>>GRIFFITH: ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH A TEXAS -- YOU MENTIONED TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE. PART OF THIS LIVEABLE CITY PROPOSAL HAS A MILLION A YEAR TO HOPEFULLY MATCH PARKS AND WILDLIFE MONEY. THERE'S -- THEY HAVE A PROGRAM WHEREBY YOU CAN APPLY TWICE A YEAR FOR $500,000, BUT IT HAS TO BE NEW MONEY. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT PROGRAM?

>> YES, I AM. AND I'VE MET WITH THE DIRECTOR OF TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, ANDY SAN SO MANY, AND HE BELIEVES THAT IF WE CAN GET SOME NEW MONEY AND COME FORWARD WITH A PROPOSAL THAT WE WOULD STAND A VERY GOOD CHANCE -- IN FACT, WE TALKED TO HIM LAST YEAR AND SO WE ALREADY HAVE THAT DIALOGUE GOING. EXCUSE ME, GO AHEAD.

>>GRIFFITH: MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT HAS TO BE NEW MONEY, THOUGH. YOU CAN'T MATCH WITH SOMETHING YOU ALREADY HAVE DONE.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>>GRIFFITH: SO THAT MATCHING MONEY COULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT THERE WITH MR. SAN SANSOM'S ORGANIZATION.

>> ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT PROGRAM YOU'RE MENTIONING WAS RELATIVELY NEW. IT WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE LEGISLATURE ONE OR TWO SESSIONS AGO. SO WE COULD GET IN ON THE -- IF WE HAD THE NEW PLUN TO APPLY TO THAT PROGRAM.

>>GRIFFITH: I THINK THERE ARE TWO OF THEM. THERE'S THE NEW ONE AND THEN THERE'S THE OLD ONE THAT WE HAVE BEEN BENEFICIARIES OF FOR MANY YEARS. SO I THINK NOUP WE'LL HAVE TWO PARKS AND WILDLIFE MATCHING OPPORTUNITIES INSTEAD OF JUST THE ONE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, IF I MAY, THE OTHER PROGRAM THAT TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE MAY SOME DAY ADMINISTER IS A STATEWIDE PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE CALLED TEXAS, OUR TEXAS WITH A BROAD COALITION OF LANDOWNERS, CONSERVE VISIONISTS, FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN MEETING FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND WITH SOME FOLKS FROM SOME PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS HAVE DONE A LOT OF GROUNDWORK AT THE LEGISLATURE. THIS PROGRAM WOULD BRING LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PARKS, OPEN SPACE, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, RURAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION PROGRAMS MODELED ON THE PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY AND FLORIDA, BOTH LED, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, BY REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS, WHITMAN AND BUSH RESPECTIVELY. IF WE CAN GET TEXAS OUR TEXAS PASS UNDERSTAND THIS SESSION OR NEXT SESSION, AGAIN, WE'VE GOT TO BE IN LINE WITH BIG CHUNKS OF NEW MONEY TO GET AUSTIN AT THE HEAD OF THE LIST OR CENTRAL TEXAS, GET THIS REGION IN LINE FOR THOSE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

>>GRIFFITH: WELL, CERTAINLY LEVERAGING IS A BIG THEME OF THIS LIVEABLE CITY BOND PACKAGE. AND YOU HAVE EXPLAINED WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE 40 MILLION SO THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE IS NOT JUST ONCE OR TWICE, BUT MANY TIMES. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THIS. FRTS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. ROBIN RATHER? WHILE SHE'S COMING FORWARD, ANTHONY EDWARDS HAS SEEND UP FOR AND SAYS ON -- ON ITEM 84, BUT SAYS LIVEABILITY IS MORE THAN TRANSPORTATION. LEEANN BRUNSON HAS WRITTEN, VOTE FOR FULL FUNDING OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACES. PLEASE YES TO REDUCING TRAFFIC CONGESTION. NO TO UNNEEDED ROADS. ROKTED SNYDER HAS SIGNED UP AGAINST. MAT MATHIAS? HE SIGNED UP FOR. LIEN NEIGHBORS? SHE HAS SIGNED UP NOT SPEAKING, BUT FOR. AND SAYS STRONGLY SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION ONLY. MARY SCOTT NEIGHBORS? SHE SIGNED UP FOR AND YIZ STRONGLY SUPPORT UNDILUTED 150 MILLION DOLLAR BOND PROPOSAL FOR TRANSPORTATION ONLY. BILL BUNCH? YOU WILL FOLLOW MS. RATHER. DICK CALLER MARN? YOU WILL FOLLOW MR. BUNCH. MS. RATHER?

>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'M HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF TWO ORGANIZATIONS. I'M A VICE-PRESIDENT WITH THE HILL HUNDRED CONSERVE SI. WE HAVE OFFERED TO MATCH UP TO 50 MILLION DOLLARS WITH PRIVATE DONATIONS FOR OPEN SPACE. THE AUSTIN NETWORK IS A NEW GROUP OF HIGH-TECH CEO'S WHO ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO HELP SOLVE SOME OF AUSTIN'S PROBLEM. ALONG WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF ACTIVELY, WE'VE IDENTIFIED OPEN SPACE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AIR QUALITY AND PROTECTION AS THE HIGH PRIORITIES FOR HIGH-TECH CEO'S. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SAY I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO DIVIDE A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF DOLLARS AMONG SUCH IMPORTANT PRIORITIES. I THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL TO USE ITS WISDOM TO BALANCE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY. EVERYBODY HERE HAS SPENT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. TONIGHT IT'S ABOUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'M THE FIRST ONE TO SAY THAT MOBILITY IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR US. EVERYBODY KNOWS WE NEED MONEY FOR ROAD. I'M NOT HERE TO SAY WE DON'T. I AM HERE TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF CITIES THAT HAVE GREAT ROAD, AUSTIN, LA, SAN JOSE. NOBODY WOULD TRADE PLACE WATER AND WASTEWATER THEM IN A SECOND. ROADS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT THEY DON'T FEED THE SPIRIT, THEY DON'T FEED THE SOUL AND THEY'RE NOT WHAT MAKES AUSTIN AUSTIN. SO I'M HERE TO SAY IN THE DEPTHS OF MY HEART, PLEASE LOOK THROUGH YOUR CONSCIENCE, LOOK DEEP. THIS IS A TIME FOR BOLD ACTION. THIS IS A TIME FOR BALANCING AND THIS IS A TIME FOR SIGNALING TO THE COMMUNITY THAT ROADS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT SO IS WHAT IT IS THAT MAKES AUSTIN IMPORTANT ALL OF US.

>>GRIFFITH: COULD I ASK MS. RATHER A QUESTION? MS. RATHER? COULD YOU STAY FOR JUST A SECOND? YOU MENTIONED AN ORGANIZATION OF HIGH-TECH EMPLOYERS THAT YOU'RE CONNECTED WITH.

>> YES.

>>GRIFFITH: DO THEY HAVE QUITE A FEW EMPLOYEES IN THIS MARKET NOW?

>> WELL, I'D SAY THEY HAVE NOT ONLY A FEW EMPLOYEES, BUT I THINK IN ALL -- WITHOUT GUILT TRIPPING ANY OF US, THE HIGH-TECH MARKET IS PARTIALLY WHY WE HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS. I THINK HIGH-TECH IS A GREAT THING. I'VE BEEN IN HIGH-TECH FOR 20 YEARS, BUT THE BOOM IS FUELED BY HIGH-TECH AND THE FUELING OF THE AUSTIN NETWORK AND THE GROUP THAT I BELONG WITH IS IT'S TIME FOR THE HIGH-TECH FOLKS TO SHOW UP AND REALLY BE PART OF HOW WE SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OPEN SPACE.

>>GRIFFITH: DO YOU THINK IF WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY OF MATCHING FOR LAND ACQUISITION THAT SOME OF THOSE FOLKS MIGHT COME FORWARD AND PARTICIPATE?

>> WELL, THERE'S NO QUESTION. AS GEORGE MAY HAVE MENTIONED, IN MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD -- AND WE'RE MEETING WITH HIGH-TECH FOLKS PRETTY MUCH EVERYDAY. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MOTIVATED BY A REAL DEEP NEED TO DO SOMETHING, BUT ALSO TO DO SOMETHING REALLY SMART WITH THE DOLLARS THEY HAVE TO SPEND IN THE COMMUNITY. AND ANY TIME YOU CAN MENTION THE WORD MATCHING, IT'S A BIG MOTIVATOR, IT'S A BIG ATTENTION GETTER AND IT MAKES OUR JOB ABOUT A THOUSAND TIMES EASIER.

>>GRIFFITH: THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. BUNCH. AND THEN BEFORE MR. CALLERMAN COMES UP, FOR SOME REASON I KEEP SKIPPING OVER MS. PARK BARKER. WILL YOU PLEASE JUMP UP WHEN MR. BUNCH FINISHES SO I DON'T DO IT AGAIN. MR. CALLERMAN, YOU WILL FOLLOW MS. BARKER.

>> THANK YOU. I BELIEVE MS. JOYCE CONNOR HAS GIVEN ME THREE MINUTES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MS. CONNOR, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU WILL HAVE UP TO SIX MINUTES IF YOU NEED IT, MR. BUNCH.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I'M BILL BUNCH. I'M THE EXECUTIVE TREKTER WITH THE SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE. I'M HERE TO URGE YOUR FULL SUPPORT FOR THE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE BONDS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED. ALSO ALSO, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONDS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED. AND TO URGE YOU TO RETHINK THE ROAD BOND PACKAGE. LET ME START WITH THE LAST VERSE. I SENT YOU A LETTER EARLIER THIS WEEK ASKING THAT YOU RECONFIGURE THE ROAD BONDS AS CONGESTION REDUCTION BONDS SO THAT OTHER PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS OUR REAL CONCERN, WHICH IS MOBILITY AND IS CONGESTION AND THAT'S WHAT WE AGREE ON SO THAT PROJECTS THAT ACTUALLY ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES CAN BE FUNDED. MANY ROADS DO NOT REDUCE CONGESTION. MANY OTHER ROADS MAY REDUCE IT MINIMALLY, BUT OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE OTHER POSITIVE BENEFITS, LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S LOCATED NEAR A MAJOR EMPLOYMENT CENTERS, CAN DO FAR MORE FOR US IN MOBILITY AND CONGESTION REDUCTION AND BUILDING ROADS. [APPLAUSE]. I'M REALLY SURPRISED THAT THIS COUNCIL IS TRYING TO BUY INTO A STORY THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY FOR ROADS. I GAVE YOU THE STUDY FROM -- BASED ON TEXAS TRAFFIC INSTITUTE INFORMATION. IT'S VERY SOUND INFORMATION. WE BUILT ROADS FASTER THAN ANY OTHER MEP AREA IN THIS COUNTRY EXCEPT FOR TUCSON IN THE 15 YEAR PERIOD FROM '82 TO '96. 107% INCREASE IN LANE MILES. DURING THE SAME TIME OUR POPULATION ONLY GREW BY 63%. WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU? BUILDING ROADS DOESN'T REDUCE CONGESTION. CONGESTION HAS GOTTEN WORSE. SO LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES. IF WE WANT TO BUILD ROADS FOR ROAD WARRIORS, THEN LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT THAT. AND ALSO LET'S TELL THE PUBLIC WHAT ROADS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THERE IS NOT ONE PIECE OF PAPER BACKUP MATERIAL ON THIS BOND PACKAGE OUT THERE. THIS IS SUCH AN YOU ARE JANT EXPENDITURE THAT WE HAVE TO NEGLECT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE CARE ABOUT. AT LEAST TELL US WHAT PROJECTS ARE SO URGENT AND WHY THEY COST 150 MILLION. THE INITIAL OFFERING WHEN THIS WAS FLOATED IN THE PAPER, IT WAS 75 MILLION. HOW DID IT GO FROM 75 TO 150? THE ONLY ARGUMENT I'VE HEARD OF WHY GREEN COUNCILMEMBERS WHO WERE ELECTED AND WHO I KNOW PERSONALLY IN THEIR HEARTS SUPPORT PARKS AND OPEN SPACE AND SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS THAT IT MIGHT ENDANGER THE VOTE ON LIGHT RAIL. THERE'S NO INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THAT. THE POLLING INFORMATION DOESN'T SUPPORT THAT. THERE IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHT RAIL THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO JUDGE LIGHT RAIL ON ITS OWN MERITS. THERE'S ARE SEPARATE PROPOSITIONS. ANY KIND OF BLEEDING BETWEEN THOSE ISSUES IS SO MINIMAL NOW, AND BY ELECTION DAY IT WILL BE NONEXISTENT. EVERYONE IS GOING TO JUDGE THESE PROPOSITIONS ON THEIR OWN MATTERS. THE OPEN SPACE, JUST LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CAN REDUCE CONGESTION EVEN MORE THAN ROADS. HAVE YOU LOOKED LATELY AT HOW MANY 10S OF THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL CARS WILL BE DUMPED ON MOPAC IF THE STRATUS LAND AT CIRCLE C GETS BUILT OUT, IF THE BRADLEY DEAL GETS BUILT OUT? IF OTHER DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTHWEST GETS BUILT OUT? WE COULD BUY-DOWN DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS FOR LESS THAN THE OVER 200 MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S IN CAMPO RIGHT NOW TO CONTINUE PAVING THE AQUIFER. THESE POLICIES ARE BACKWARDS. WE HAVE SPENT ENOUGH TAXPAYER DOLLARS PAVING THE AQUIFER, PAVING THE HILL COUNTRY. NOT INCREASING CONGESTION. I MEAN, NOT REDUCING CONGESTION, BUT INCREASING IT. CAMPO IS PROPOSING OVER 200 MILLION MORE. PLEASE CORRECT OR AT LEAST MINIMALLY BALANCE THESE FAILED POLICIES AND THE POLICIES IN A CONTINUE TO INTO THE FUTURE. -- CONTINUE TO FAIL INTO THE FUTURE. THERE ARE A LOT OF SIT TENS HERE WHO CARE VERY DEEPLY AND WHO ARE HERE AND NEED YOU TO LISTEN AND NEED YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS, NOT JUST BASED ON SOME OTHER DEALS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE SOMEWHERE ELSE. IN CONCLUSION, I JUST WANTED TO SAY SPEAKING PERSONALLY ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SO LITTLE ACTION, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE NOT ONLY CAN YOU ACT, BUT YOU CAN GIVE THE COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE AND SHOW HOW DEEPLY THIS COMMUNITY SUPPORTS FUNDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO AT LEAST PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND LET PEOPLE DECIDE, JUST LIKE YOU'RE PROPOSING TO DO WITH THE ROADS, JUST LIKE YOU'RE PROPOSING TO DO WITH LIGHT RAIL. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: MS. BARKER, FOLLOWED BY DICK CALLERMAN AND THEN BARBARA JOHNSON. MS. BARKER?

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS BOBBY BARKER. AND THE REASON I NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU VERY BRIEFLY IS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE TASKFORCE OF MAJOR EMPLOYERS, WHICH A RESOLUTION WAS HANDED OUT TO YOU EARLIER TODAY. THE TASKFORCE OF MAJOR EMPLOYERS REPRESENTS 41 COMPANIES IN THIS COMMUNITY. THAT 41 COMPANIES KBOO OVER 100,000 EMPLOYEES IN THIS COMMUNITY. THE TASKFORCE OF MAJOR EMPLOYERS VOTED THIS WEEK TO SUPPORT YOUR -- THE ISSUE BEFORE YOU TODAY, WHICH IS TO PLACE 150 MILLION DOLLARS ON -- TO BE DEDICATED SOLELY TO ROADS. AND THAT IS THE POSITION THAT THE TASKFORCE OF MAJOR EMPLOYERS ENCOURAGES YOU TO TAKE THAT POSITION. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I COULD LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S WHO I'M REPRESENTING TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR, MAY I ASK SOMETHING?

>>MAYOR WATSON: SURE. COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.

>>GRIFFITH: MS. BARKER, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED THAT 100,000 EMPLOYEES ARE IN THOSE COMPANIES THAT YOU REPRESENT. I WONDER HOW MANY -- HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS THERE ARE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THEIR FAMILIES AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU CONSIDERED THAT PART OF THE BALANCED PACKAGE THAT'S BEING PROPOSED HAS 35 MILLION DOLLARS IN PARK DEVELOPMENT FOR EAST AUSTIN PARKS, STRICTLY ALL EAST OF I-35. ARE THERE EMPLOYEES THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA?

>> I DON'T HAVE A SCATTER MAP OF ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK FOR THOSE 41 COMPANIES, SO I COULDN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION. I CAN TELL YOU FOR EMPLOYEES THAT WORK FOR MY COMPANY, YES, I DO HAVE EMPLOYEES LIVING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

>>GRIFFITH: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S PART OF THIS BALANCED PACKAGE IS A LARGE REGIONAL SOCCER COMPLEX. DO YOU SUPPOSE THERE ARE ANY SOCCER PLAYERS IN THOSE 100,000 EMPLOYEE FAMILIES? THERE MAY BE.

>> YES, MA'AM, ABSOLUTELY.

>>GRIFFITH: COLONY PARK WOULD GET A RECREATION CENTER, A SWIMMING POOL, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, AND WALNUT CREEK METROPOLITAN PARK, WHICH IS VERY CLOSE TO ABOUT 10 OF THE MAJOR EMPLOYERS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITHIN EASY LUNCH WALKING DISTANCE, THEY WOULD HAVE A RECREATION CENTER, BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAILS. PERHAPS THE BALANCED PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER FOR THOSE 100,000 EMPLOYEES?

>> AND COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH IF I COULD JUST RESPOND TO THAT. AS YOU KNOW, I PERSONALLY, SPEAKING PERSONALLY, I HAVE A REAL STRONG COMMITMENT TO OUR PARKS AND OUR COMMUNITY. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE TASKFORCE OF MAJOR EMPLOYERS.

>>GRIFFITH: OF COURSE.

>> FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE OF THE MAJOR TASKFORCE OF MAJOR EMPLOYERS, THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THAT VERY MUCH INCLUDES PARKS. IT ALSO -- HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF THAT'S BUSINESSES. WE NEED TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE TASKFORCE OF MAJOR EMPLOYERS' POSITION IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR PRIORITIES, TRANSPORTATION IS SO HUGE TO OUR BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO MOVE GOODS AND SERVICES AND PEOPLE SAFELY, QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY THAT I KNOW IT'S A VERY HARD DECISION, BUT THIS ORGANIZATION SAID WE NEED TO SAY PRIORITY FOR THIS BOND ISSUE, THIS BOND INITIATIVE NEEDS TO BE TRANSPORTATION TODAY, DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T AGREE WITH THE BALANCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY. AND THE PRIORITY IN THE BALANCED PACKAGE IS 55.5% ROADS. SO THE PRIORITY IS VERY CLEAR. IN THE LAST BOND ELECTION WE HAD 50% FOR ROADS, WHICH GOT US STARTED, GOT US GOING. MOST OF IT WAS RENOVATION. THIS TIME IT'S 55.5% ROADS. SO CERTAINLY THE PRIORITY IS CLEAR.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MS. BARKER. MR. CALLERMAN?

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE 150 DOLLAR TRANSPORTATION BONDS AND THE FACT THAT 55% ARE FOR NEW ROADS. AND I THINK THAT'S A MUCH, MUCH TOO HIGH A PERCENTAGE. NEW ROADS WILL ENCOURAGE SPRAWL OUTSIDE OF TOWN IN ALREADY ONE OF THE MOST SPRAWL-CHALLENGED CITIES IN THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE NEW ROADS THAT ARE SOMETIMES JUSTIFIED TO SOLVE CONGESTION PROBLEMS. WELL, MICHAEL OLECK, WHO IS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR CAMPO HAS SAID DOZENS OF TIMES, NOTHING IS GOING TO SOLVE CONGESTION. CONGESTION IS A WAY OF LIFE. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS CONGESTION NEVER KILLED THE CITY -- NEVER KILLED A CITY. CONGESTED CITIES SURVIVE AND THRIVE, WHAT KILLS CITIES IS THE CURE. MORE ROADS, MORE ROADS. NOW, THERE ARE SCORES OF CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE ON THEIR LAST LEGS, NOT BECAUSE THEY HAD CONGESTION, BUT BECAUSE THEY SPENT TOO MUCH MONEY ON ROADS AND SPRAWLED SO THAT THEIR DOWNTOWNS ARE LOSING POPULATIONS AND LOSING ECONOMIC VITALITY. NOW, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN OUR DOWNTOWN WE HAVE 15 CRANES PUTTING UP NEW BUILDINGS WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LIVE AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WORK. NOW, THEY HAVE TO GET TO WORK AND THEY HAVE TO GET HOME, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET HOME AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO WORK WITH NEW ROADS, THEY'RE GOING TO GET THERE WITH PUBLIC TRANSIT. IF WE DON'T PUT IN NEW ROADS, WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE LIKE IN 10 YEARS? YOU'RE GOING TO GET UP IN THE MORNING, YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO WORK AND SCHOOL, THE KIDS ARE GOING TO GO TO VISIT GRANDMA ON SUNDAYS. PEOPLE WILL REPRODUCE. LIFE WILL BE NORMAL. AND I HAVE NO DOUBT MAY MY MIND THAT IT WILL BE BETTER IF WE DON'T SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON NEW ROADS. SPEND MONEY WHERE WE NOUR RIRB THE CITY PARKS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SIDEWALKS. AUSTIN PRACTICALLY HAS NO SIDEWALKS. BIKE LANES. ALL THE THINGS THAT NEWER RIRB THE CITY, DON'T SPEND MONEY ON POISON. POISON IS NEW ROADS. PLEASE, CHANGE THE PRIORITIES AROUND. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: BARBARA JOHNSON SIGNED UP NOT SPEAKING, BUT FOR ITEM NUMBER 84. ELIZABETH WILLIS? IF YOU WILL PLEASE COME FORWARD. CINDY NETTLE SECHLT SIGNED UP NOT SPEAKING, BUT FOR ITEM NUMBER 84. SARA TIDDY SIGNED UP FOR ITEM NUMBER 84. JIM MANN SIGNED UP AND SAID MORE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. MR. BOIT SIGNED UP. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? YOU WILL FOLLOW MS. WILLIS. AND THEN ROBIN STALLINGS: WELCOME, MS. WILLIS.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SIDEWALKS AND DICK CALLER HAN CERTAINLY GAVE A GOOD -- CALLERMAN CERTAINLY GAVE A GOOD INTRODUCTION TO ME. WE'RE ALWAYS HEARING ABOUT HOW SPECIAL AUSTIN IS, AND THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS IN WHICH IT IS A SPECIAL CITY, BUT IT ISN'T FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT LIVE NEAR THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WHETHER IT'S NORTH, SOUTH, EAST ARREST WEST. THOSE ARE THE OLD COMMUNITIES THAT THOUGHT EITHER A HORSE OR A CAR WERE THE ONLY WAY TO GET ANYWHERE. AND THEY WERE LEFT WITHOUT SIDEWALKS FOR THE PERSON WHO WANTS TO LIVE THERE WITH A FAMILY, WITH CHILDREN THAT CAN PLAY SAFELY OUTSIDE. THERE'S NO WAY IN ALL THE SPRAWL OF THE INNER CITIES ADJOINING THE BUSINESS SECTION. WE SAY THAT THIS WAS LEFT OUT FROM THE BEGINNING, THE GROWTH. IT WAS A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE 40, 50, 60 YEARS AGO IN THESE AREAS AND WE'VE GOTTEN CROWDED AND PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN ARE TRYING TO HAVE SOME FAMILIES THERE AND GIVE UP. WE CAN'T HAVE THE COMPACT CITY WHEN THERE ARE CHILDREN THAT HAVE NO PLACE TO RIDE THEIR TROY AIKMANS, TO BE SAFE OUTSIDE, TO PLAY. WE NEED SIDEWALKS WITH THAT WONDERFUL SAFETY STRIP ON THEM SO IF THE TROY AIKMAN RUNS OFF, THEY'RE NOT -- TRICYCLE RUNS OFF, THEY'RE NOT THROWN IN THE STREET. AND THE SAME THING IS THE SAME REQUIREMENT FOR THE ELDERLY. WE FIND THAT THE 85 TO 90 AGE GROUP IS NOW SUPPOSED TO BE THE FASTEST GROWING. AND SOME OF US THAT HAVE COME UP THAT FAR LEARN THAT WE NOT ONLY NEEDED GOOD FOOD, BUT WE NEEDED EXERCISE. AND IT'S KEPT US GOING SO THAT WE AREN'T BID RIDDEN, BUT THOSE PEOPLE WHO STILL GO BACK TO THE TIME WHEN YOU'VE GOT 65 TO 70 AND YOU GAVE UP AND SAT, AND THEN ALL KINDS OF TROUBLES COME ALONG. I CAN SAY ALL THIS BECAUSE LAST OCTOBER I WAS 90 AND THAT'S MUCH LONGER -- [APPLAUSE].

>> THAT'S MUCH LONGER THAN ANYBODY IN MY FAMILY THAT I KNOW OF HAS EVER LIVED. AND I CAN ONLY GIVE CREDIT BECAUSE NOT ONLY HAVE I AS A PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE PRACTICED GOOD EATING -- [BUZZER]. MR. MAYOR, PLEASE LET ME STAY ON.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MA'AM, I'VE GOT ABOUT 150 PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SPEAK.

>> I KNOW YOU HAVE, BUT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALSO CANCELLED. LET ME TALK FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO DONATE YOU TIME, I'LL LET YOU DO THAT.

>> I'LL DONATE IT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WHAT'S YOUR NAME.

>> MOTHER LOVE. YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU HAVE THREE MORE MINUTES.

>> THANK YOU. WE MUST BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE PERSONS WHO HAVE HAD SFROEKZ, WHO AREN'T WELL AND THEY HAVE -- STROKES, WHO AREN'T WELL AND THEY HAVE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES IN THIS INNER CITY BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS SAFE. NOW, I HAVE WALKED FROM -- ALL ALONG ON THAT NORTHWEST PART OF THE -- UP TO ABOUT 35TH STREET, BUT WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO FIRST STREET ON UP -- I'M ON 12TH STREET WEST OF MOPAC. AND BETWEEN THAT AND GOING TOWARD TOWN, THE STREETS ARE IMPOSSIBLE. THEY'RE SO NARROW THAT THERE'S PARKING ON BOTH SIDES AND A CAR CAN BARELY GET THROUGH, BUT THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN BE SAFE ON THEM. WE MUST HAVE SIDEWALKS WITH THAT SAFETY STRIP SO THAT THE ELDERLY, IF THEY HAVE A WHEELCHAIR THAT MIGHT SLIP OUT TO THE STREET WITHOUT SOME SAFETY STRIP ON THE SIDE. IF YOU ARE WITH A CRUTCH, A WHEELCHAIR, ANYTHING THAT THEY MIGHT SLIP OR THE VERY YOUNG WITH THEIR TOYS THAT THEY COULD GET OUT, AND AND WE MUST HAVE SOME WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN LIVE DOWNTOWN. YOU CAN'T HAVE A COMPACT CITY AND KEEP THE SPRAWL FROM GOING ON UNLESS YOU HAVE SAFE PLACE FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. SO THAT THEY CAN BE OUTSIDE AND BE HEALTHY. WE TALK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS LOVELY TOWN OF AUSTIN, BUT IT ISN'T PROVIDED FOR FOR THE OLDER PART OF TOWN, AND WE NEED IT. LAWS HAVE BEEN MADE THAT REQUIRE THE SIDEWALKS FARTEDZ OUT IN THE CITY, BUT NOT FOR US WHO ARE THERE. IT BECOMES MORE EXPENSIVE TO THINK OF HAVING THOSE SIDEWALKS. EVERYDAY THAT IT'S PUT BACK AND I FEEL VERY MUCH THAT THE AMOUNT THAT THE HOMEOWNER IS NOW EXPECTED TO DO IS NOT FAIR CONSIDERING ALL THE NEGLECT AND THE FACT THAT WHENEVER THERE IS SOME MONEY ALLOCATED FOR SIDEWALKS IN THE PAST WHEN A BUDGET GETS TIGHT, IT'S TAKEN FROM SIDEWALKS. PLEASE BEGIN TO KNOW HOW VITAL THIS IS FOR THE LOVELY CITY THAT AUSTIN CAN BE NEAR THE TOWN AS WELL AS FARTHER OUT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MA'AM. [APPLAUSE]. JEP BOYT. RYAN COKE SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 84. STEVE BERLINE SIGNED UP FOR 84. MS. FAITH SIGNED UP FOR 84, 85 AND 86 AND SAYS FOR THE BOND PACKAGE PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBERS GRIFFITH, ALVAREZ AND THOMAS. KATHY MITCHELL SIGNED UP AGAINST MORE MONEY FOR PARKS. NO, WAIT. SIGNED UP AGAINST ITEM 84 AND WRITES, MORE MONEY FOR PARKS, LOW INCOME HOUSING, PARKS MAINTENANCE, LESS MONEY FOR ROADS. CLARK HANCOCK IS FOR 84, 85, 86 AND '87. MARY ANNE NEELY FOR 84. RICK WHITELY FOR 84. HOWARD FAULK ENBURG, YOU WILL FOLLOW ROBIN FAULINGS. MR. BOIT.

>> THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM PRESIDENT OF AUSTIN METRO TRAILS AND GREEN WAYS. WE ARE A LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT'S DEDICATED TO BUILDING A METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION NETWORK OF GREENWAY AND TRAILS AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION BONDS. AND IN PARTICULAR WE'RE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF SPENDING SPENDING 15%, 20 MILLION DOLLARS OF THE PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION BONDS ON BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS AROUND THE TOWN. MS. WILLIS SPOKE TO THE NEED WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE TOWN FOR SIDEWALKS TO ASSIST ALL OF OUR CITIZENS IN GETTING AROUND TOWN AND GIVING THEM TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES. WE ALSO NEED THIS MONEY TO COMPLETE SOME OF OUR IMPORTANT PROJECTS, LIKE THE LAMAR STREET PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AND THE GREAT STREETS SIDEWALK PROGRAM. WE ARE ALSO HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED PARKS AND OPEN SPACE BONDS. WE SUPPORT THE CITY APPROVING 55 MILLION DOLLARS FOR PARK BONDS, MONEY THAT CAN BE SPENT ON -- FOR SOCCER FIELDS AND FOR SWIMMING POOLS. AS WE'VE SEEN THIS SUMMER, OUR SWIMMING POOLS NEED OUR SUPPORT AND NEED OUR HELP. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD OUT OUR DESTINATION PARKS. AS COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER AND THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WHO WERE HERE IN 1988 REMEMBER, THERE WAS SOME QUESTION THEN WHEN THE DESTINATION PARKS ISSUE WAS PROPOSED ABOUT HOW LITTLE MONEY WAS APPROVED AT THAT TIME TO BUILD OUT THESE PARKS. NOW IS THE TIME, NOW IS THE TIME TO BUILD OUT THESE PARKS AND APPROVE THE MONEY TO DO THAT OR GIVE THE SIT TENS THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPROVE THAT MONEY. A GROWING POPULATION, A GROWING POPULATION IN AUSTIN DEMANDS ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION AND IT DEMANDS ADDITIONAL PARKS. AND OUR PARKS ARE SUFFERING AND NEED THE SUPPORT. FOR TOO LONG DURING THE LONG YEARS OF THE BUST, THE PARK BUDGET WAS DISCOUNTED WHILE OTHER NECESSARY SERVICES WERE GIVEN AND SUPPORTED IN THE BUDGET. NOW IS THE TIME TO FUND THE PARKS. WE SUPPORT SPENDING 40 MILLION DOLLARS FOR OPEN SPACE BOND TO PROTECT BARTON SPRINGS AND THE AQUIFER. THE 15% IMPERVIOUS COVER REQUIREMENT AROUND THE S.O.S. ORDINANCE MAY PROTECT THE SPRINGS, BUT WE NEED TO BUY LAND TO DO THAT. DURING THE DEBATE OVER THE GARY BRADLEY AGREEMENT SHOWED US HOW FAR WE ARE TO BARELY STAYING UNDER THAT 15% CAP AND IT'S CLEAR THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE IT IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET MUST NOT OUT THERE AND BUY THE LAND NOW AND BUY IT NOW BEFORE IT'S TAKEN AWAY AND PAVED OVER. NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR PROSPERITY TO SUPPORT BONDS FOR A LIVEABLE CITY. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU MR. BOYD. COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: YOU MENTIONED OUR PARKS ARE SUFFERING. I THINK YOU WERE PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND THE NEED FOR RESTORATION, AT LEAST PARTIALLY. PART OF THE BALANCED PACKAGE INCLUDES 10 MILLION DOLLARS FOR RENOVATIONS FOR EXISTING PARKS. APPARENTLY THIS SITUATION IS GETTING BETTER BY THE WEEK. BECAUSE TWO WEEKS AGO WE WERE INFORMED THAT BY -- BY OUR LOCAL MEDIA THAT THERE WAS 66 MILLION DOLLARS IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. WELL, THE SOURCE OF THAT WAS NOT GIVEN. AND THEN TODAY WE HAD ANOTHER REPORT THAT SAID IT WAS 57 MILLION DOLLARS IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. SO AT THIS RATE, WE WON'T HAVE A PROBLEM FOR VERY LONG. BUT WE REALLY DO. AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S 10 MILLION DOLLARS ON THIS BOND PACKAGE. PART OF THE 55 THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. THAT WILL BE FOR RENOVATION. AND OUR PARKS DIRECTOR, WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN ROOMENT, BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE, -- IN THE ROOM, BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE, IS IDENTIFYING THE MOST CRITICAL MAINTENANCE NEEDS. THEY WILL SURELY INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE SWIMMING POOLS THAT HAD TO BE CLOSED BECAUSE OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE LAST SUMMER. THAT WAS A DISTURBING THING TO HAVE HAPPEN WHEN IT WAS 106 DEGREES. SO PART OF THE BALANCE IN TERMS OF THIS PACKAGE IS TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND TO ADDRESS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY MOST CRITICAL NEEDS WITH 10 MILLION DOLLARS IN RENOVATION MONEY. DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD HELP?

>> YES, COUNCILMEMBER, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE 10 MILLION DOLLARS AS PART OF THE 55 MILLION DOLLAR BOND PACKAGE, AND IT IS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE THESE PARK MAINTENANCE EXPENSES HAVE BEEN DEFERRED SO LONG THAT THEY'RE NOW BASICALLY KPREERBT DEPRECIATED COSTS AND SO IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE MAKE THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AT THIS TIME. FOR -- TO REPLACE THESE FACILITIES THAT IT BECAME TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AND IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE DO THAT NOW.

>>GRIFFITH: APPARENTLY SOME OF THEM, LIKE THE POOLS, HAVE GOTTEN TO BE A CAPITAL ITEM AND CAN ONLY BE ADDRESSED WITH BONDS AND SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS BEING PROPOSED. ALSO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO ADDRESS AN ONGOING WAY, EVEN AFTER THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS DONE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, AS YOU REFERRED TO EARLIER, GET THAT BUDGET WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. SO WE DON'T GET IN THE SHAPE AGAIN. THANKS FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING AND WHAT AMTG IS DOING FOR THE CITY.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS, MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ROBIN STALLINGS? TO BE FOLLOWED BY HOWARD FAULK ENBURG. IF YOU WILL BEAR WITH ME. ROBERT CORBIN? YOU WILL FOLLOW MR. FAULK ENBURG.

>> HELLO MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMBINING THESE SO WE COULD ADDRESS THEM ALL AT ONCE AND IT IS A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT FOR OUR TIME AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE ONLY MAKES SENSE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE OTHER BONDS. THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT VAGUE. I HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH LIKE THERE HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING DISTRIBUTED AND I'M SURE THAT IT'S MORE THOUGHT OUT AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET HOLD OF ANY INFORMATION YET THAT EXPLAINS HOW THAT 150 MILLION WOULD BE SPENT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE STICK WITH SOME OF OUR PREVIOUS GOALS OF SPENDING 15% ON BICYCLES, BIKE LANES AND PEDESTRIAN LANES. I'M A REAL ESTATE BROKER AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A HOUSE RECENTLY FOR SOMEBODY IN SOUTH AUSTIN WHO IS MOBILITY IMPAIRED. HE'S IN AN ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR. WELL, IT'S -- YOU LOOK AT SIDEWALKS A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY. AND TRYING TO FIND A PLACE WHERE HE COULD ACTUALLY GET A A BUS STOP, WE HAVE THESE WONDERFUL HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE BUSES. BUT IF YOU TRY TO PHRASE BACK FROM THE BUS STOP TO ANY HOUSES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, MOST OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS. THERE'S NOT APPROPRIATE CURB CUTS, THEY ONLY HAVE SIDEWALKS ON ONE SIDE. IT'S NOT JUST AFFORDABLE ABILITY PROBLEM, WHICH IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE IN AUSTIN HOUSING RIGHT NOW, BUT WE HAVE AN ACCESSIBILITY PROBLEM. AND IT'S ABOUT TIME WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING MORE ROAD, WE'LL NEVER BUILD OUR WAY OUT OF CONGESTION, WE ALL KNOW IT. WE MUST BE PRETENDING IF WE THINK ANYTHING ELSE. BUT WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY. AND WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT SAFETY. WE JUST HAD A CHILD DIE A FEW WEEKS AGO TRYING TO GET TO A LIBRARY OVER AN IMPOSSIBLE TO CROSS ROAD EVEN FOR THE ADULTS, MUCH LESS FOR A 13 OR 14-YEAR-OLD CHILD. AND IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT WE TAKE THIS MONEY AND WE I AM PREMENT A MARSHAL PLAN FOR BICYCLES, BIKE LANES AND SIDEWALKS SO THAT WE HAVE A SAFE ACCESSIBLE CITY. AND THAT WILL DO MORE FOR THE 41 MAJOR EMPLOYERS' EMPLOYEES, ALONG WITH SOME SOCCER FIELDS THAN ALL THE ROADS IN THE WORLD TO MOVE GOODS. IT'S IMPORTANT. I'M A BUSINESS GUY, I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING AINL TO MOVE GOODS, BUT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT OUR PEOPLE. IF WE MOVE ALL OUR POOR PEOPLE OUT TO THE SUBURBS, WE HAVE DEFEATED ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THIS COUNCIL AND THIS MAYOR HAS DONE ON SMART GROWTH. I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO IT NOW AND SHOW THIS BALANCE. AND IT SHOWS WHAT WE STAND FOR AS A CITY. AND IF WE GIVE THE CITIZENS A CHANCE TO VOTE. THIS IS NOT ASKING YOU ALL TO SPEND MORE MONEY, THIS IS NOT ASKING FOR A TAX INCREASE. I'M NOT FOR INCREASING TAXES RIGHT NOW AND I KNOW THAT WOULD BE A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO SELL POLITICALLY. IT'S ALWAYS HARD IN TEXAS. BUT WE DO HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A STATEMENT AND FOR THIS COUNCIL TO LEAVE A POSITIVE MARK ON WHERE THEY STAND FOR THINGS LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT'S BEEN GETTING A LOT OF TALK AND NOT MUCH ACTION -- [BUZZER]. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. FAULK ENBURG, FOLDED BY ROBERT CORBIN. CLIFF DAVIS. IS HE HERE? ALL RIGHT. YOU WILL FOLLOW MR. CORBIN. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE]

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH MORE NEED BE SAID ABOUT THAT EXCEPT TO TELL YOU THAT WE FEEL QUITE STRONGLY THAT THIS SORT OF FUNDING IS NECESSARY. WE'RE ON THE FRONT LINES AND GETTING STATE FUNDING AND WE KNOW WHAT THE BAR IS NOW IN TERMS OF WHAT WE MUST TAKE TO TRY TO GET STATE HELP TO BUILD A ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED BY OUR GROWING CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED, I BELIEVE, COPIES OF THE RESOLUTION. I HAVE ADDITIONAL SIGNED COPIES AND I'LL ATTEMPT TO DISTRIBUTE THEM WHEN WE FINISH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: IS IT MR. FAULKENBERG?

>> YES, IT IS.

>>ALVAREZ: YOU MENTIONED THE $150 MILLION BOND PROPOSAL. I WAS WONDERING IF ARROW HAS TAKEN A POSITION ON THE LIGHT RAIL PROPOSAL.

>> WE HAVE NOT AT THIS POINT. I HEAD OUR TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE WHICH CONSIDERED THAT ISSUE MOST RECENTLY IN OUR MEETING MONDAY A WEEK AGO. ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE OF ARROW IS LEE WALKER, THE CHAIR OF CAPITAL METRO. WE WILL NEXT CONSIDER THAT ISSUE ON THE 11TH OF SEPTEMBER, AT WHICH POINT I EXPECT US TO TAKE THE POSITION ON LIGHT RAIL. AS A MATTER OF POLICY, ARROW HAS SUPPORTED MULTI MOLS TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS.

>>ALVAREZ: THAT -- I ESSENTIAL CERTAINLY HOPE THEY WOULD. THANK YOU.

>> COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.

>>GRIFFITH: YES. THE -- YOUR THEME OF MATCHING WITH THE ROAD MONEY IS SO IMPORTANT. ALL THREE OF THE PIECES OF THE BALANCED PACKAGE HAVE HEAVY MATCHING APPEAL AND COMPONENTS. SO THANKS FOR, AGAIN, REMINDING US THAT MATCHING IS THE BIG THEME FOR ALL THREE. THANKS.

>> THANK YOU, MEMBERS.

>>SLUSHER: ROBERT CORBIN. [APPLAUSE].

>>SLUSHER: FOLLOWED BY CLIFF DAVIS.

>> I ONLY HAVE ONE THING TO SAY REALLY AND THAT'S THAT YOU CANNOT SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY ON PARKS AND OPEN SPACES AND SO IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD EVEN LIKE TO SEE THE FIGURE THAT I'VE SEEN THROWN AROUND, $55 MILLION, $40 MILLION INCREASE. THAT'S IT. [APPLAUSE].

>>SLUSHER: MR. DAVIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TERRY BRAY, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BRUCE NUNN.

>> THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CLIFF DAVIS AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF AUSTIN AS A BOARD MEMBER AND CHAIRMAN OF OUR TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. I TOO WAS HERE TWO WEEKS AGO. AT THAT POINT WE HAD A RESOLUTION FROM OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. TONIGHT I'M HERE TO PRESENT A RESOLUTION FROM OUR BOARD STRONGLY SUPPORTING THE $150 MILLION TRANSPORTATION BOND INITIATIVE. THIS INITIATIVE AND OUR SUPPORT CALLS FOR SUPPORTING OUR MULTI-MODAL PLAN AS PUT FORWARD BY THE CAMPO LANGUAGE RANGE PLAN. WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF EVERY ELEMENT OF THAT PLAN THAT INCLUDES HIGHWAYS, PEDESTRIAN AND SO FORTH. SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR INITIATIVE ON THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. THANK YOU.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. TERRY BRAY DOESN'T WISH TO SPEAK. IS FOR ITEM NO. 84. BRUCE NUNN DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, SUPPORT MORE PARKS, OPEN SPACES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PAUL ROBBINS. AFTER MR. ROBBINS WILL BE RICHARD -- NO, RICHARD RIDINGS DOESN'T WANT TO SPEAK. MR. ROBBINS, ARE YOU HERE?

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>> WHAT DO WE WANT?

>> HOUSING!

>> WHAT DO WE WANT IT?

>>SLUSHER: COULD WE HAVE ORDER?

>>SLUSHER: MR. ROBBINS.

>> THANKS FOR THE INTRO, GUYS. [LAUGHTER]. [APPLAUSE]. COUNCIL, FIRST I WANT TO SUPPORT THE OTHER PARTS OF THE BOND PACKAGE. ROADS ALONE DO NOT BUILD A CITY. BUT I'M ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND AND HOW IT WILL PAY FOR ALL THESE BONDS UNLESS WE HAVE A SOLID TRANSFER FROM THE CITY'S ELECTRIC UTILITY. AND WE ARE NOT BEING ALLOWED TO SCRUTINIZE IT. DO ANY OF YOU ALL REMEMBER, CITIZENS, THAT THE CITY IN THE CITY CHARTER THERE IS A PROVISION THAT SAYS THAT WE MUST VOTE -- ALL THE CITIZENS GET TO VOTE ON ELECTRIC UTILITY REVENUE BONDS. DO YOU REMEMBER? OKAY. SOME OF US REMEMBER. AND LET ME ALSO SAY THAT MOHAN ROU IS HERE AND HE'S DONATED HIS TIME TO ME. MOHAN?

>>SLUSHER: DO YOU ARE YOUR NUMBER, WHAT SPEAKER YOU WERE?

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>SLUSHER: OKAY.

>> THE FACT IS WE'RE NOT BEING ALLOWED TO VOTE ON THE NEW POWER PLANTS THAT ARE BEING BUILT RIGHT NOW, AND IF THESE NEW POWER PLANTS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE, IT COULD JEOPARDIZE THE UTILITY'S PROFIT AND ITS TRANSFER TO THE GENERAL FUND AND THE BONDS THAT WE'RE DEBATING TONIGHT. THE CITY ELECTRIC UTILITY UNDER GUIDANCE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL IN LATE 1996 DECIDED ON A POLICY TO SIMULTANEOUSLY KEEP RATES THE SAME WHILE LOWERING COSTS. AND RIGHT NOW APPROXIMATELY ONE OUT OF EVERY SIX DOLLARS THAT YOU PAY IN YOUR ELECTRIC BILL IS GOING INTO THIS SPECIAL FUND. A DEBT DEFEASANCE FUND. THE CITY TO DATE HAS COLLECTED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THREE OFTEN 400 DREAD MILLION DOLLARS IN THIS FUND AND CURRENT ABOUT $200 MILLION OF IT IS -- $212 MILLION IS SITTING IN THE BANK COLLECTING DUST AND INTEREST. AND THIS ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WAS TO BUY DOWN THE DEBT SO WE COULD BE MORE COMPETITIVE IF THE CITY DECIDED TO DEREGULATE ITS UTILITY. BUT IN FACT THE CITY HAS DECIDED INSTEAD TO USE IT FOR NEW POWER PLANTS. AND THEY ARE BY PASSING VOTER SCRUTINY. SOME OF THESE NEW POWER PLANTS MIGHT BE BUILT FOR LESS MONEY, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT. WE'RE NOT REALLY BEING CONSULTED. SOME OF THESE NEW POWER PLANTS COULD BE DISPLACED WITH CO-GENERATION, CONSERVATION OR SOLAR ENERGY, BUT WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE'RE NOT BEING CONSULTED. THESE NEW POWER PLANTS DIRECTLY AFFECT THE HOLLY STREET CLOSURE. YOU ALL MAY REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE CITY OF AUSTIN POWER PLANTS SITTING ON THE EDGE OF AN EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD CAUSING A GREAT DEAL OF HAVOC IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. THE NEIGHBORS WANT THEM REMOVED. AND HOW IS THIS DEBT DEFEASANCE FUND, HOW ARE THESE NEW POWER PLANTS GOING TO AFFECT THAT CLOSURE? WE DON'T KNOW, WE'RE NOT BEING ALLOWED TO VOTE, WE ARE NOT BEING ALLOWED TO SCRUTINIZE IT. I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO CORNY ON YOU, I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO GREAT HEIGHTS OR DEPTHS OF POLITICAL OR TOR. IT'S BEEN SAID BY BETTER ORATORS THAN ME, BUT ALL THE FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS WE LIVE WITH NOW WERE HARD FOUGHT AND HARD WON. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE HAD IN OUR CITY AS A TRADITION THAT IS BEING ROBBED FROM US. I WATCH ELECTRIC UTILITY ISSUES, I'VE COME HERE TONIGHT TO TELL YOU AND THE STUDIO AUDIENCE MY PERCEPTION OF WHAT'S GOING ON. PLEASE BE AWARE OF THIS. PLEASE GET INVOLVED. PLEASE DEMAND THAT THE CITY START LIVING UP TO THE SPIRIT OF THE CITY CHARTER AND ALLOWING US TO VOTE ON OUR ELECTRIC UTILITY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MR. ROBBINS. THE NEXT SPEAKER --

>> AND BY THE WAY, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE THREE OF YOU COUNCILMEMBERS ALVAREZ, GRIFFITH AND THOMAS BALANCING THIS BOND PACKAGE.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MR. ROBBINS. RICHARD RIDINGS DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK BUT IS FOR ITEM 84. CAROL SWICKER DOESN'T WANT TO SPEAK, IS FOR ITEM 84. I'M SORRY I BUTCHERED THE NAME, BUT I CAN'T READ IT. BEN BENSON FOR 84, DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. MARCELLA MARTINEZ DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, IS FOR ITEM 84. PATRICK GOETZ. HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MARY ROCAMORA. THE NEXT ONE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK WOULD BE MARGO CLARK. IF YOU WOULD MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MICROPHONE. OKAY, MR. GOETZ, WELCOME.

>> I'M SORRY.

>>SLUSHER: GO FOR IT.

>> I CHECKED MY CALENDAR BEFORE I CAME IN TODAY TO MAKE SURE MY ARGUMENT WAS GOING TO BE IN SHAKY GROUNDS AND SURE ENOUGH IT IS THE YEAR 2000. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS WHY ON EARTH ARE WE USING 1950'S SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS YEAR 2000 PROBLEMS. IN 1950 THE SOLUTION TO EVERY PROBLEM WAS TO MOVE OUT OF THE CITY INTO THE SUBURBS AND THAT REQUIRED BUILD LOTS OF NEW ROADS AND NOW WE'RE LIVING WITH THE CONS KWENZ. AND THE PROPOSED SOLUTION ON THE TABLE TONIGHT IS MORE OF THE SAME. LET'S BUILD MORE ROADS. I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S GOING TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS T DEVELOPMENT PATTERN IN AUSTIN IS MIMICKING WHAT HAPPENED IN SILICON VALLEY. IS THAT WHAT WE WANT? I WORK IN THE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY AND HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS WHO LIVE IN SILICON VALLEY AND HATE THEIR LIVING ENVIRONMENT. THEY DON'T LIKE WHERE THEY LIVE, THEY LIVE THERE BECAUSE THEIR JOB IS THERE. IS THIS WHAT WE WANT FOR AUSTIN? I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THIS ROADS PACKAGE HAVE THEIR HEAD IN A BOX. THEY'VE GOT A HAMMER AND EVERY SOLUTION TO THAT PROBLEM -- EVERY SOLUTION TO EVERY PROBLEM BECOMES A NAIL. I'VE GOT A NEWS FLASH, PEOPLE WHO LIVE WHEREIN A MILE OF WHERE THEY WORK AREN'T PART OF THE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM. THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS IS BY INVESTING IN A SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GET AROUND WITHOUT HAVING TO GET INTO AN AUTOMOBILE. THIS MEANS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, BIKE LANES, SIDEWALKS, AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL IN-FILL DEVELOPMENT. SO NOW I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT IN-FILL DEVELOPMENT. THE FOLLOWING QUOTE WAS IN THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE ON JULY THIS YEAR. IT WAS A QUOTE FROM A DEVELOPER BY THE NAME OF BILL HOWELL AND HE SAYS WE'RE RESOLVING PROBLEMS FOR DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS DONE 40 YEARS AGO. THE CITY IS PUTTING THAT ONUS ON US AND STILL ASKING US TO COME TO TOWN. WHAT HE IS SAYING IS THAT DEVELOPERS ARE PAYING FOR BAD WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT POLICIES OF THE PAST. IN OTHER WORDS, BECAUSE OF THE FACT WE DIDN'T BUILD PRORP WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE PAST, DEVELOPERS NOW ARE NOT ABLE TO DO IN-FILL DEVELOPMENT. INSTEAD OF FIXING THE PROBLEMS HE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND GETTING ON WITH IT, WHAT WE DID WAS WRITE A 500 PAGE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE WHICH IS SO CONVOLUTED AND MIND BOGGLING INSANE THAT NOBODY CAN AFFORD TO DO IT IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, RIGHT? SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT BEFORE WE SPEND MONEY ON ROADS, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT SOME OF OUR OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS. THE BOND ISSUE BEFORE US PROPOSES WE SPENT $150 MILLION ON TRANSPORTATION OF WHICH MAYBE $100 MILLION GOES TOWARDS ROAD AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT ROADS THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. THIS IS LIKE BORROWING MONEY TO BUY A NEW CLACK WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY TO FIX THE TOILET THAT BACKS UP ALL OVER YOUR LIVING ROOM EVERY DAY. IF THIS WERE A HOUSE, IT WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE. I WANT TO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT. [APPLAUSE].

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU. MARGO CLARK. MARRY ROCAMORA IS AGAINST ITEM 84. DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. HECTOR ORTIZ DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. HE IS FOR ITEM NO. 84. MAHAN ROU DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, IS FOR ITEM 84. AMY STRONG IS FOR ITEM 84. CHRIS MC FADDEN IS FOR ITEM 84. SAYS PLEASE ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES IN OUR COMMUNITY. JOHN LANDERMIEIR IS FOR ITEM 84. MS. CLARK.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARGO CLARK, I'M THE STATE DIRECTOR FOR THE LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND. BUT I'M HERE PRIMARILY TONIGHT TO SPEAK AS A CITIZEN OF AUSTIN. MY FAMILY MOVED HERE IN 1955 AND I'VE LOVED AUSTIN PRETTY MUCH ALL MY LIFE. I'M NOT GOING TO TALK FOR VERY LONG. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SOME QUICK POINTS. AND THE FIRST ONE IS THAT THIS BOND HEARING THAT WE'RE HAVING IS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PUTTING THESE BOND ISSUES ON A BALLOT FOR THE PUBLIC TO VOTE ON. THAT SEEMS LIKE A FAIRLY SIMPLE DECISION. LET THE PUBLIC DECIDE WHERE THEY WANT TO INVEST THE CITY'S MONEY, BECAUSE IT IS THE CITY'S MONEY, AND I JUST -- I JUST -- IT SEEMS ODD TO ME THAT THEY DON'T EVEN WANT TO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT IT. MY ORGANIZATION AND -- HAS DONE POLLING ON THE ENVIRONMENT, AND SO HAVE -- IN THEIR OWN WAY THE ELECTIONS IN AUSTIN. EVERYTHING SHOWS THAT PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IN THIS TOWN, THAT THEY ARE A PRIMARY CONCERN. AND I THOUGH THAT TRAFFIC IS A BIG PROBLEM. TRAFFIC CONGESTION IS A BIG PROBLEM IN AUSTIN. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME. BUT THE FACT IS THAT SHRINKING OPEN SPACE AND HIGH HOUSING COSTS AND DEGENERATING PUBLIC PARKS AND TRAFFIC ARE ALL PARTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH IS ACCELERATED GROWTH, AND OUR COUNCIL WORKED VERY HARD TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF OUR RAPID GROWTH IN THIS CITY. I JUST WANT TO -- I JUST URGE YOU TO, FOR ONE THING, GIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY THE $150 MILLION FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IS GOING TO BE GOING FOR. IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ROAD CONSTRUCTION, YOU NEED TO TELL PEOPLE WHERE YOU ARE PLANNING TO BUILD THESE ROADS. I DON'T WANT TO SEE A LOT MORE ROADS LEADING OUT OF AUSTIN AND INTO AUSTIN, WHICH ISN'T -- STUDY AFTER STUDY SHOWS THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A ROAD SOLUTION TO CONGESTION, TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION. IT JUST DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. WE HAVE AN INCREASING POPULATION, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE CARS, AND BUILDING MORE ROADS SO PEOPLE CAN PUT THEIR CARS ON THEM IS NOT THE ANSWER TO CONGESTION. AND ACCORDING TO SOME INFORMATION THAT I GOT FROM COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH'S OFFICE TODAY, THE OTHER PART, THE BALANCED PART OF THE BOND ISSUES WOULDN'T REQUIRE ANY INCREASE OF TAXES. AND I READ THAT IT WOULD MEAN CONTINUING OUR ONE CENT TAX FOR A FEW MORE YEARS. [BUZZER SOUNDS] WHAT IS RELATIVELY A FEW MORE YEARS.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MS. CLARK. YES, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.

>>GRIFFITH: MAY I STRAIGHTEN THAT OUT? ACTUALLY IT WOULD NOT, THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS. WE CAN HAVE THE BALANCED PROGRAM. WE CAN HAVE SOME ROAD -- A LOT OF ROAD INVESTMENT, AND WE CAN HAVE $55 MILLION WORTH OF EAST AUSTIN RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND WE CAN HAVE $40 MILLION WORTH OF OPEN SPACE MATCHING MONEY. WE CAN DO IT ALL. YOU SAID WITH NO TAX INCREASE, AND ALSO LIGHT RAIL DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY TAX INCREASE, SO WE CAN DO ALL THREE OF THE LEGS ON THE STOOL. WE CAN DO ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENT, AND EQUITY AND LIGHT RAIL, ALL OF THAT WITH NO TAX INCREASE. YOU MENTIONED QUALITY OF LIFE. THAT IS THE QUALITY OF LIFE PACKAGE.

>> WELL, CERTAINLY IN THIS TIME OF BOOM IN OUR TOWN AND IN OUR COUNTRY IN GENERAL, THIS IS THE TIME TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY OF EQUITY IN HOUSING AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE IT SHE WE MIGHT AS WELL USE IT NOW BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER IN THE FUTURE.

>>GRIFFITH: THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, JUST TO CLARIFY, THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT IS BEING PROPOSED, THE BALANCED PROGRAM, PRESUMES THAT WE STOP DOING -- ADDING THE ONE CENT A YEAR. IT PRESUMES WE DON'T DO THAT. NOW, LATER COUNCIL MAY DECIDE TO, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE PRESUMING THAT DOESN'T CONTINUE.

>> GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO AT LEAST VOTE ON IT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>>SLUSHER: MIKE CONNER DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. IS AGAINST ITEM 84. DAVE SULLIVAN. DAVE SULLIVAN. DAVE SULLIVAN AND DAUGHTER IRIS ARE FOR MORE BIKE MONEY AND PEDESTRIAN MONEY. REDUCED VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED, MR. SULLIVAN SAYS. CHRIS RILEY. MR. RILEY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY HOR SAY GUERRA. IF YOU COULD MOVE TOWARD THE MICROPHONE WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. I AM CHRIS RILEY, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND I'M ALSO AN OFFICER OF AUSTIN METRO TRAVELING GREENWAYS. I WANT TO VOICE TWO QUICK CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSALS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. FIRST WITH REGARD TO THE TRANSPORTATION BONDS. I WOULD URGE YOU TO CONSIDER SHOOTING FOR AT LEAST THE 15% BENCH MARK THAT CAMPO HAS FOR ALTERNATE TRANSIT FUNDING. THIS SEEMS LIKE A REASONABLE THING TO SHOOT FOR. THIS BICYCLE FACILITY IN THIS CITY ARE INADEQUATE AS ARE ALL KINDS OF OTHER ALTERNATIVE TRANSIT THINGS AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY -- IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING MONEY ON TRANSIT, THAT'S REALLY THE PLACE TO GO. THE SECOND CONCERN I HAVE RELATES TO THE WHOLE QUESTION OF TAGGING ROADS AS THE MAIN PROBLEM. ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO JANE JACOBS WARNED AGAINST THE DANGER OF JUST SEIZING UPON ROADS AS THE REAL CRISIS THAT CITIES HAVE. IT'S A NATURAL TENDENCY BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS THAT AUTOMOBILES HAVE ARE SO MUCH EASIER TO COMPREHEND THAN THE PROBLEMS CITIES HAVE THAT PEOPLE HAVE. THIS COUNCIL HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS TOWARDS GETTING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT EXACTLY THOSE NEEDS ARE. AND WHAT WE NEEDED TO AS A CITY. WHAT DIRECTIONS WE SHOULD BE GROWING IN. WHAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD -- WHAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS NEED. WHAT OUR PEOPLE NEED. WHAT ARE REAL HUMAN ISSUES. I WOULD URGE THE COUNCIL TO KEEP FOCUSING ON THOSE OTHER -- ON THOSE OTHER NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AND NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THEM BY JUST GOING FOR THE EASY FIX OF THROWING MONEY AT ROADS. I WOULD URGE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT A BALANCED BOND PACKAGE. THANKS. [APPLAUSE].

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU. MR. GUERRA. HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TOM HATCH.

>> THANK YOU, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MR. SMITH, APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT I'M BEING GIVEN TO SPEAK TO YOU. I WANT TO MAKE A POINT THAT MS. LETICIA WAS HERE AND SHE SAID I COULD HAVE HER TIME IF IT'S AGREEABLE.

>>SLUSHER: MS. RENTIERA, ARE THEY IN THE AUDIENCE? I'M SORRY, THEY HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO GIVE TIME.

>> SHE WAS HERE, BUT SHE MENTIONED --.

>>SLUSHER: IF SHE'S NOT HERE, UNDER OUR RULES SHE CAN'T GIVE TIME.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT EVER SINCE THE A PREVIOUS MAYOR WAS THE MAYOR OF THIS CITY, THAT SOME OF YOU PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN SOME PARTS OF THE CITY. IF YOU WASN'T IGNORANT, I WOULD NOT BE HERE. BUT SOME OF YOU, INCLUDING THE PARK LADY, MS. GRIFFITH, WENT TO ZARAGOSA PARK AND THEY -- YOU KNOW, FOOD AND MUSIC, BUT THERE IS NO SIDEWALKS LEADING TO ZARAGOSA RECREATION PARK. THAT IS ONE OF THE OLDEST PARKS IN THE CITY. THE NAME WAS CHANGED BECAUSE IT WAS KIND OF EMBARRASSING TO HAVE A MEXICAN PARK THERE SO THEY NAMED IT ZARAGOSA. MOST OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS BEHIND THERE ARE SOME OF THE OLDEST PARKS THAT ARE OWNED BY THE [INAUDIBLE]. THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT 60 YEARS. IN SOME OF THEM, NO EMPTY LOTS WHATSOEVER. JUST HOMES AND CHILDREN AND PEOPLE LIVING THERE. [INAUDIBLE] YOU CANNOT WALK ON IT. LUMPS AND HOLES AND [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE IT IS NEGLECTED AND PEOPLE CONTINUE TO USE THAT AREA BECAUSE THE CITY DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT IT. SO YOU KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT SIDEWALKS, I AM ECHOING THAT. IT IS VERY PAINFUL TO SEE THE PEOPLE-FOR ME TO SEE THE LITTER IN THE STREETS BECAUSE THERE IS NO SIDEWALKS. SO IF THIS ONE PARK -- I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MAKE A PRIORITY OF WHAT YOU WANT TO USE THE MONEY FOR. DON'T USES IT TO BUILD ANY MORE ROADS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS, YES. ON THESE PROPERTIES OF THE PEOPLE ALREADY PAID, THE KIDS, EIGHTH CENTS TO BUY A SNOW CONE, EIGHTH CENTS TO BUY A HAMBURGER. 60 CENTS. EVEN THE CHILDREN PAY TAXES. SO YOU SEE I LIKE TO HELP YOU AND VOTE FOR IT, BUT I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION OR THE SPECIFIC INFORMATION AS TO WHERE IN EAST AUSTIN -- EAST AUSTIN IS 12, 14 TIMES THE SIZE OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN. WHEN YOU SAY EAST AUSTIN, YOU CAN GO TO THE NEW PARKS THAT YOU ARE BUILDING IN EAST AUSTIN AND CONTINUE TO FORGET THE OLDEST PARKS. [BUZZER SOUNDS].

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. TOM HATCH. [APPLAUSE]. THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE KATHERINE STARKS. GOOD EVENING, MR. HATCH.

>> THANK YOU. 29 YEARS I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN, IT'S A PRETTY INCREDIBLE PLACE. I'VE BEEN ACUTELY AWARE OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR ABOUT 29 YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. IT'S WORSE THAN A CRISIS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY. THIS WONDERFUL ECONOMY. I'M AN AVID SUPPORTER OF THE LIGHT RAIL. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF IT BEING PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. IMAGINE IF YOU WILL A LIGHT RAIL THAT'S IN PLACE 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD AND IT'S REACHING OUT TO OUR BOUNDARIES AND THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT ARE RIDING IT ARE THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN OR THE INNERCITY. THAT WOULD BE A REAL TRAGEDY. PLEASE SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE INNERCITY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE].

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JOYCE -- ARE YOU DONE, MR. HATCH?

>> IF THERE'S A LITTLE TIME LEFT, MATT MATHIAS MISSED HIS TIME. IF I HAVE TIME LEFT I WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO HIM. MATT MATHIAS.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. IF HE WOULD COME ON UP, PLEASE.

>> I APOLOGIZE FOR DELAYING YOU AND MISSING MY EARLY CALLING. I'M HERE IN TWO CAPACITIES AS A NATIVE AUSTINITE AND AS THE PRESIDENT OF ACRES AUSTIN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SOCIETY WHO LAST YEAR ALREADY RECOGNIZED AND BEGAN SUPPORT ROAD BONDS. WE ALSO SUPPORT THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE IN AUSTIN, AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING IN HOUSING AND OUR PARKS HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FAR TOO LONG. BUT WE WANT YOU TO REALIZE THAT THE SUPPORT THAT THIS COUNCIL AND MAYOR HAS GIVEN AT THE TEXAS DOT HEARINGS HAS BEEN UNPRECEDENTED IN THE PRIOR SIX YEARS AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT AND WE WANT TO YOU HAVE ALL THE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO HELP THIS COMMUNITY TO REMAIN VIBRANT, BECAUSE AS COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKERS, WE HEAR FROM EMPLOYERS WEEKLY THAT ARE CONSIDERING MOVING FROM THIS LOCATION BECAUSE OF LOSS OF MOBILITY. AND WE WANT TO YOU HAVE ALL THE TOOLS SO PLEASE GIVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY WITH THESE BONDS. THANK YOU.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MR. MATHIAS. IS KATHERINE STARK, IF YOU COULD COME TO THE MICROPHONE. JOYCE CONNER DONATED HER TIME TO BILL BUNCH. VIRGINIA IVY DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. BALANCE THE BOND, MAKE AUSTIN A LIVABLE CITY. GARY DUGGER DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. IDENTIFY YOUR CLIENT IF HE IS A LOBBYIST. HE'S FOR A LIVABLE CITY. MS. STARK, ARE YOU HERE, MS. STARK? IS NOT HERE. SHE IS FOR ITEMS 84 --

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>SLUSHER: WOULD YOU PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE? LAURA BEARLINE SAID TRANSPORTATION BONDS ONLY. WE ARE IN CRITICAL MODE WITH REGARD TO ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION. MARY GAY MAXWELL IS FOR NO. 84 AND NO. 85.

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>SLUSHER: OKAY, WELL, YOU ARE WELCOME TO SPEAK. YOU HAD CHECKED THE BOX NO. SO IF YOU WOULD BE READ YOU I TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE.

>> MY NAME IS KATHERINE STARK, DIRECTOR OF THE AUSTIN TENANTS COUNCIL AND WE DO LANDLORD-TENANT ISSUES AND FAIR HOUSING. THE PURPOSE OF THE AGENCY IS TO ASSURE SAFE, FAIR, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL, AND I VERY MUCH AM IN SUPPORT OF THE BONDS FOR THE HOUSING EFFORT. WE NEED ANY HELP WE CAN GET. THE CRISIS IN HOUSING HAS BEEN BUILDING LONGER THAN THE CRISIS IN ROADS, I THINK. AND IF PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY ROADS THERE ARE, WE WON'T HAVE PEOPLE LIVING HERE BECAUSE THEY AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO TO AFFORD TO LIVE HERE. I HOPE YOU THINK VERY HARD OF PUTTING THE ISSUE OF HOUSING TO THE FOREFRONT AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. MS. MAXWELL, COULD YOU COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE PLEASE. NEXT SPEAKER AFTER MS. MAXWELL WILL BE ROGER BAKER. IF YOU COULD MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MICROPHONE PLEASE.

>> COUNCILMEMBERS, I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I SUPPORT THE ENTIRE BOND PACKAGE. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO HAVE 84 TRANSPORTATION WITHOUT ALL THE OTHER BONDS WITH IT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING ON THIS BALANCED BOND PACKAGE, AND YOU HAVE EVEN LOST YOUR VOICE FOR US AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE].

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU. MR. BAKER, IF YOU COULD COME TO THE MICROPHONE. LET ME READ A FEW CARDS BEFORE YOU GET STARTED. LAURIE SWAN DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, IS FOR ITEM NO. 84 REPRESENTING THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF AUSTIN. RECA. LORETTA COOPER DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, CHECKED THE BOX NEUTRAL. I SUPPORT MONEY ONLY FOR TRAFFIC ENHANCEMENTS CONSISTENT WITH NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING. I SUPPORT MORE MONEYS DIRECTED TOWARDS BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN LANES AS WELL AS LIGHT RAIL. MORE PAVEMENT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE SOLUTION. GREG THOMPSON DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. SAYS I FAVOR INCLUDING MAXIMUM ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR BARTON SPRINGS, HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS OR LOW INCOME AND AMPLE FUNDING FOR PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE AND MASS TRANSIT IN THE BONDS FOR NOVEMBER. I DON'T FAVOR BUILDING WIDER OR MORE ROADS. MICHAEL TRENSAMATAL DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, IS FOR THE HOUSING BOND ISSUE. MELISSA BYRON DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, IS FOR ITEMS 84 GLUE 91. MELISSA WEEDMAN DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, IS FOR ITEMS 84 THROUGH 87. MICHAEL WEEDMAN DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, IS FOR ITEM NO. 84. LEE, I BELIEVE IT'S VASIAK IS NEUTRAL. SAYS I SUPPORT SPENDING 95 MILLION OF THE BOND DOLLARS ON PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, 25 MILLION ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I DON'T SUPPORT THE ROAD BONDS UNTIL PROJECTS ARE PUBLICLY IDENTIFIED. MR. BAKER.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE LIGHT RAIL BOND, AND I'VE BEEN A LIGHT RAIL ADVOCATE FOR MANY YEARS. AND I THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THAT A CONSERVATIVE CITY LIKE DALLAS THAT CAN SEE LIGHT RAIL FIRSTHAND CAN STRONGLY SUPPORT IT TOO. I SUPPORT A BALANCED BOND PACKAGE WITH LOTS OF PARKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CORE CITY. AND I THINK YOU OUGHT TO BEEF UP THE PORTION OF THE BOND PACKAGE THAT -- THAT PROVIDES INFRASTRUCTURE INSIDE THE CITY. PARKS WOULD BE GOOD. I THINK YOU SHOULD GO EASY ON THE LAWS THAT AFFECT THE HOMELESS, AND I THINK WE NEED A LIVING WAGE IN AUSTIN THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT PEOPLE SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE --. [APPLAUSE]. -- TO LIVE INSIDE THE CENTRAL CITY. I THINK THAT A BALANCED TRANSPORTATION BOND PACKAGE WOULD KEEP THE ROAD MONEY FOCUSED ON BUILDING AND MAINTAINING ROADS, AND NOT ONLY ROADS, BUT BIKE PROJECTS AND SIDEWALKS AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH A COMPACT CITY AND SMART GROWTH. SO I THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO FOCUS ON AN INTEGRATED SORT OF PACKAGE TO -- OF INFRASTRUCTURE INSIDE THE CITY AND I THINK THE CURRENT PACKAGE SHOULD BE IMPROVED SO THAT IT KEEPS ALL OUR TAX MONEY INSIDE THE CITY. FOR TOO MANY YEARS WE'VE ALLOWED CITY TAX MONEY TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE SUBURBS LIKE FOR M.U.D.S AND ROADS THAT I THINK THAT -- THAT WE OUGHT TO KEEP THE MONEY INSIDE THE CITY, AND I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT TO TURN OVER A BLANK CHECK TO CAMPO TO FUND ROADS OUTSIDE THE CITY BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO WITH IT. THEY PRIMARILY REPRESENT ROADS OUTSIDE THE CITY AND AUSTIN'S REPRESENTATION ON CAMPO IS VERY SMALL. AND I THINK PARTICULARLY NOW IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS WE CAN SEE ENERGY PRICES CREEPING UP. THIS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS TO GIVE MATCHING MONEY FOR ROADS FAR BEYOND THIS TERM OF THE CITY COUNCILL NOW, BUT GOING TEN YEARS INTO THE FUTURE WHEN ROADS MIGHT NOT EVEN BE THE BEST SOLUTION -- WELL, RIGHT NOW WE BUILT ALL THE ROADS THAT WE CAN AND WE'RE STILL DROWNING IN CONGESTION. I THINK ROADS ARE A QUESTIONABLE SOLUTION, BUT PARTICULARLY THINGS LIKE THIS THAT WOULD TURN OVER MONEY FOR ROADS THAT WE HAVE NO PRIORITIES ON THAT WOULD SERVE, YOU KNOW, TOLL ROAD AREAS IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND STUFF LIKE THAT. I THINK WE OUGHT TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY STAYS INSIDE THE CITY AND LET'S PUT A LOT ON PARKS AND LET'S SUPPORT LIGHT RAIL, SO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>> COUNCILMEMBER?

>>SLUSHER: YES.

>>GRIFFITH: COULD I -- ROGER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TONIGHT. COULD I CLARIFY ONE THING? NOW, IN TERMS OF LIGHT RAIL AND CAPITAL METRO. YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT BONDS AND LIGHT RAIL. THE GOOD NEWS IS WE ARE NOT BEING ASKED TO APPROVE ANY BONDS FOR LIGHT RAIL. SO THAT'S PART OF THE GOOD NEWS OF THE LIVABLE CITY PACKAGE WHICH IS YOU CAN HAVE LIGHT RAIL, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, YOU CAN HAVE ROADS, YOU CAN HAVE HOUSING.

>> RIGHT, I AGREE. TRANSIT -- THE LIGHT RAIL IS FULLY FUNDED, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY, THAT'S JUST APPROVAL. BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT. THANK YOU.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. [APPLAUSE]. DENNIS MARSH DOESN'T WISH TO SPEAK, SAYS SPEND MORE MONEY ON HOUSING, PARKS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, PLEASE, THANKS. KAREN ASCOT, ARE YOU IN THE AUDIENCE?

>> THAT WAS QUICK. GOOD EVENING, I'M KAREN ASCOT RENTING THE SIERRA CLUB. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. WE SUPPORT A BALANCED BOND PACKAGE. WE DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO SEE FULL FUNDING FOR THE PARKS AS WELL AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE POINTS HAVE BEEN MADE ALREADY TONIGHT, BUT I'LL JUST REITERATE BRIEFLY I HOPE. FOR ONE THING IF THE POOR PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY, YOU'VE GOT MORE TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL OUT IN THE SUBURBS. WE THEY'D TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE, FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING HOUSING FOR THEM MORE CENTRAL TO TOWN. I HEARD ON THE NEWS RECENTLY THAT THERE'S A PROJECTION THAT THERE WILL BE 85,000 NEW PEOPLE IN THIS REGION BY THE END OF 2001. I THINK THAT'S VERY CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO PLAN AHEAD IN TERMS OF OUR PARKS AND OPEN SPACE AS WELL. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE KNOWN FOR. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE LOVE ABOUT AUSTIN AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE STILL HAVE THAT IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE HAVE DOUBLE THE POPULATION. AS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION BONDS, WE WOULD URGE YOU TO PUT -- SERIOUSLY CONSIDER PUTTING 20% INTO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FUNDING. ROBIN STALLINGS MENTIONED EARLIER IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO ACTUALLY GET AROUND SAFELY ON THE SIDEWALKS. I'VE NOTICED THAT MANY TIMES AND I'M NOT IN A WHEELCHAIR. BUT I'VE NOTICED IT'S VERY DIFFICULT IN PLACES TO ACTUALLY HAVE A CLEAR PATH. SOMETIMES I'M ON MY BIKE WITH THE DOG AND THAT'S PRECARIOUS TOO. IF I'M ON A BUSY ROAD AND THERE'S A UTILITY POLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK, IT MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT. AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE BEING IN A WHEELCHAIR AND HOW HARD THAT WOULD BE TO GET TO A BUS STOP. WE REALLY NEED TO WORK ON THAT AND IMPROVE ALL OF THOSE FACILITIES SO THAT ALL THE CITIZENS CAN GET AROUND WHETHER THEY ARE DRIVING A CAR OR NOT. AND WHETHER THEY CHOOSE NOT TO DRIVE A CAR. SO PLEASE THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT INCREASING THE PERCENTAGE TO 20%, 15 AT A MINIMUM FOR THE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FUNDING. AND ALSO I WOULD URGE YOU TO PUT THE BOND LANGUAGE SUCH THAT THE TRANSPORTATION BONDS CAN BE MORE FLEXIBLE, NOT MERELY FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION BUT FOR WHATEVER IT IS -- IT BECOMES CLEAR WE NEED IN THE FUTURE, TEN YEARS FROM NOW IT MAY NOT BE JUST NEW ROADS. YOU'VE HEARD IT ALREADY TONIGHT, I THINK ALL THE STUDIES THAT ARE OUT THERE, THE NEW STUDIES, THE PROGRESSIVE RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES, INDICATES THAT SIMPLY BUILDING NEW ROADS DOES NOT EVER EASE CONGESTION AND WE'VE GOT TO HAVE ALTERNATIVES. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT MONEY IS FLEXIBLE AND THAT WE CAN USE IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE. SO PLEASE SUPPORT A BALANCED BOND PACKAGE FOR THE LIVEABLE CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE].

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MERCHANDISE ASCOT. DENNIS CARTWRIGHT DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF ROAD BONDS. WILL BOZEMAN. MR. BOZEMAN. AFTER MR. BOZEMAN, GARY FARMER DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, IS FOR NO. 84. AND THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE RICKY BIRD.

>>.

>> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS WILL BOZEMAN. I SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL. DRAWING BACK EARLIER TODAY WITH THE CONSIDERATION OF THE TRIANGLE, WE SAW THAT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS CAN SHOW CONSIDERABLE VISION IN ENSURING THE FUTURE OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. AND I THINK I SEE THAT COMING FORWARD WITH CONSIDERATION BEING GIVEN BY NOT ONLY NEIGHBORHOODS BUT BY LARGER SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY WITH THIS BOND PACKAGE. NEIGHBORHOODS CAN SUPPORT A LIVABLE AND BALANCED BOND PACKAGE, AND I URGE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ADDITION OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACE PROPOSITION AS WELL AS HOUSING. SPECIFICALLY, ON TRANSPORTATION, WE SHOULD ALSO SEEK TO PUT IN PLACE CRITERIA THAT WILL REQUIRE THE ENTIRE PACKAGE TO BE CONSISTENT WITH NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, THANK YOU FOR THE CRY TEAR THAT YOU'VE ADVANCED, THAT THE CITY WOULD MAINTAIN CONTROL OF WHERE THE FUNDS INVOLVED WITH STATE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE SPENT, THAT FOR THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE, DESTINATION PARKS AND OTHER CRITICAL AREAS OF OUR CITY, THAT WOULD MAKE IT -- THEY COULD ONLY BE USED AND AUTHORIZE $BY A VOTE. A SOCIAL EQUITY ANALYSIS IS NEEDED. THIS IS SPECIFIC TO THE POINT I RAISED ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY OF CONTRIBUTING PROPERTY TAX FUNDS TO STATE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION FUNDS THAT ARE OTHERWISE SUPPORTED BY GAS TAXES, USERS FEES. AGAIN, THANK YOU. GO ONE STEP FURTHER AND LEVERAGE COA FUNDING OF STATE PROJECTS TO MAKE THEM BETTER, TO CREATE GOOD PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE ENVIRONMENTS, GREAT STREETS AND THE KIND OF LANDSCAPING, THE KIND OF PLACES THAT WE HAVE ON SO MANY ROADWAYS IN CENTRAL AUSTIN THAT WERE BUILT BY THE TEXAS HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT 50 AND 70 YEARS AGO. I DO BELIEVE THAT PARKS AND OPEN SPACE SHOULD BE ADDED. COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ADVANCING THIS. WE BELIEVE IT IS A CRITICAL NEED AND A MATTER OF EQUITY THAT PARKLAND THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ACQUIRED IN EAST AUSTIN BE DEVELOPED SO THE COMMUNITY CAN MAKE USE OF IT. ADDITIONALLY ON HOUSING, I THINK THE SAME THING IS THERE. WE DO NEED TO BOOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PROBABLY IN THE COMING WEEKS I WILL BE COMING BACK TO YOU WITH I THINK A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS THAT A AND C HAS DEVELOPED IN -- WITH A RANGE OF OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NEW MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS MAKING THEM PART OF THE SOLUTION. [BUZZER SOUNDS] I WILL CLOSE ON THAT. A AND C'S ENDORSEMENT OF THE BOND PACKAGE THAT WILL BE UNDER CONSIDERATION IN THE COMING MONTHS WILL BE CONTINGENT UPON GETTING THE BALANCE AND MAKING THIS A LIVE ABLG BOND PACKAGE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>> I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE HONORABLE CITY COUNCILL. IT OCCURS TO ME THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS FLUCTUATING IN AUSTIN. IT'S IN A STATE OF TRANSITION. OUR MAYOR IS A DYNAMIC POLITICIAN. IN SOME WAYS HE'S A DISTINGUISHED LEADER. IN OTHER WAYS HE TENDS TO WADE IN WHERE OTHERS FEAR TO TREAD. [LAUGHTER] I WANT TO STATE THAT I TOO SUPPORT LIGHT RAIL. I BELIEVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF ALL THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN. WE HAVE TO HAVE A HIGHER WAGE, ESPECIALLY A LIVING WAGE. THIS HAS BEEN MENTIONED. IT HAS NOT BEEN GRACED BY THE PRESENCE OF THIS COUNCIL AS YET. I HOPE YOU TEND TO TAKE IT UP AT SOME POINT IN TIME. TO BE SPECIFIC, THE THINGS THAT I OPPOSE ABOUT THE PACKAGE ARE THE SPRAWLER ROADS. THE THINGS THAT SCARE ME THE MOST ABOUT THE PACKAGE, THE TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE ARE THE SPRAWLER ROADS. SPECIFICALLY THE PROJECT KNOWN AS SH-130 EAST IS GOING TO DUMP A 549,000% INCREASE OF OIL AND GREASE INTO THE WATERSHEDS OF EAST AUSTIN. THESE ARE WILLBARRINGER, GILLELAND, HARRIS BRANCH, DECKER AND ELM. YOUR OWN FIGURES SHOW THIS. THE REASON THEY WEREN'T SPECIFIC WITH THE PERCENTAGES IS BECAUSE THEY TEND TO BE SO ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH. [LAUGHTER]. I HAVE ALWAYS SPOKEN TO THE CITY COUNCILL ABOUT SH-130 EVER SINCE THE CONSIDERATION OF A EASTERN ROUTE WAS MENTIONED BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD SUPPORT SPRAWL. TO ME, THE MAJOR ROUTE THAT IT IS GOING TO SUPPORT THAT ARE BEING FAVORED ARE POXES, THEY ARE POISONOUS, THEY ARE GOING TO REALLY WREAK HAVOC. WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER SPRAWLER PHASE LIKE WE DID WHEN THEY BUILT 360 AND MOPAC. WHAT HAPPENED ONE WEEK AFTER THE TTA ANNOUNCED OH, YEAH, WE WANT TO MOVE IT EAST. GUESS WHAT? SOMEBODY WANTS TO BUILD A $65 MILLION LUXURY APARTMENT WITH TWO 18-HOLE GOLF COURSES. I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY THE CITY OF AUSTIN OF AUSTIN WHO THINKS WE NEED MORE GOLF COURSES, MUCH MORE MORE LUXURY HOUSING. WE DON'T NEED THIS. [APPLAUSE]. THEY ALSO WANT A $4 MILLION SUBSIDY. GUESS WHAT FOR? WATER AND ELECTRICITY. [BUZZER SOUNDS]. WE SHOULD NOT SUPPORT SPRAWL ROADS. SORRY, DARYL. [APPLAUSE].

>> PLEASE TURN YOUR MIC ON.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU. BARBARA MC MILLAN DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. IS FOR ITEMS 85 THROUGH 87. JEFF WOODRUFF DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. SAYS THE LOWEST -- IS FOR ITEM 87. IT'S THE LOWEST TOTAL BOND PACKAGE IN 10 YEARS. ERIC ANDERSON. FOLLOWING ERIC ANDERSON WILL BE STEVE BEERS. AFTER MR. BEERS, M. ELAINE GARRISON.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE. THIS IS A MAP THAT WAS PRODUCED FOR THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION HEARING ON REVIEWING T-21 PROJECTS, OF WHICH IS ONLY AUSTIN PROJECT WAS THE CROSS BICYCLE GREENWAYS AS WE CALL IT, IT WAS APPLIED FOR T-21 FUNDS, THE CROSS-TOWN BIKE WAYS. AND IT ALSO INCLUDES A NUMBER OF OTHER PROJECTS. SOME FUNDED, OTHERS PLANNED, OTHERS PROPOSED. SUCH AS GREAT STREETS, THE LAMAR, TOWN LAKE BICYCLE-PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, THE SECOND STREET PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY -- THANK YOU, TOBY. THE SECOND STREET PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY RETAIL MALL. WEST BOULDIN CREEK TRAILS, TOWN LAKE BOARDWALK. BLUNN CREEK TRAIL IS NOT ON THE MAP. OBVIOUSLY THE WALLER CREEK FLOOD DIVERSION TUNNEL IS ON THERE. WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO RED RIVER, WALLER CREEK. SHOAL CREEK. AND THAT'S JUST THE CENTRAL CITY. ON MONDAY NIGHT AT THE AUSTIN CYCLING ASSOCIATION MEETING, AND IF I COULD HAVE AN ASSISTANT -- WELL, FORGET IT. WE'LL JUST DO IT THIS WAY. I'LL HOLD IT UP. I'M SORRY.

>>SLUSHER: WILL SOMEONE VOLUNTEER TO HELP MR. ANDERSON?

>> JUST HOLD THAT UP, PLEASE. THANK YOU. KAREN KRUG FRER THE AUSTIN METRO TRAILS AND GREENWAYS SPOKE BEFORE THE AUSTIN CYCLING ASSOCIATION ON MONDAY. IN ATTENDANCE WERE SOME OTHER FOLKS DOING OUR PROJECTS IN AUSTIN. AND WHAT WE STARTED TO DO IS JUST PUT ON SOME BOLD GREEN LINES IN OUR BRAND NEW THIRD EDITION AUSTIN BIKE MAP. OF WHICH THE CROSS-TOWN GREENWAY WAS PRIND ON THIS EDITION AS WAS THE TOWN LAKE HIKE AND PIKE BRIDGE AT LAMAR AND A FEW OTHER IMPROVEMENTS LIKE THE WEST END FIELD PARK TRAIL EXTENSION AT THE TOP OF JOHNSON CREEK. THE BOGGY CREEK TRAIL RECONSTRUCTION. AND WHAT WE STARTED TO DO, WE STARTED TO THINK WHAT KIND OF TRAIL FACILITIES, BIKEWAYS, PATHWAYS, GREENWAYS, NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTORS WOULD WE LIKE TO SEE FUNDED AND BUILT OVER THE NEXT 10, 20, 50 YEARS. AND 50 YEARS IS BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A REALLY HUGE PROJECT IN SOUTH AUSTIN, THE SOUTH AUSTIN GREENWAYS PLAN, THAT WOULD PUT GREENBELTINGS ON WILLIAMSON CREEK, SLAUGHTER CREEK AND ONION CREEK CONNECTING UP WITH WALNUT CREEK ACROSS THE COLORADO RIVER. AND THERE'S BEEN A PROPOSAL, YOU'VE ALL PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT IT, OF MAKING SHOAL CREEK AND WALNUT CREEK AND THE CROSS TOWN GREENWAY INTO A LOOP TRAIL. [BUZZER SOUNDS] AND I GUESS I'M OUT OF TIME. ADD MUELLER AIRPORT AND ADD --.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MR. ANDERSON.

>> WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT AND I URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR 20% OF THE TRANSPORTATION FUNDS.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MR. ANDERSON. APPRECIATE IT. MR. BEERS, ARE YOU IN THE HOUSE? OKAY.

>> YES. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, FOR STANDING UP FOR A BALANCED BOND PACKAGE. I HAVE A -- I HAVE A CONCERN WITH SOMETHING THAT I READ IN THE PAPER TODAY SAYING, WELL, COUPLE OF THINGS. BUT THE ONE I WANT TO FOCUS ON IS WHERE IT'S SAYING HERE THAT HAVING A BALANCED MEASURE WILL TIE THE HANDS OF FUTURE COUNCILS FOR THE NEXT DECADE BY ISSUING TOO MUCH DEBT. SEEMS LIKE ALL THIS IS DOING IS PUTTING AN AUTHORIZATION ON THE BALLOT ASKING THE VOTERS TO PASS AWFUL IT. AND THEN IT DOESN'T TIE THE HANDS OF ANY FUTURE COUNCIL. IT DOES NOT MANDATE A TAX INCREASE. THOSE FUTURE COUNCILS WILL DECIDE THE MIX AND THE SIZE AND THE TIMING OF EACH BOND ISSUE AS IT COMES UP ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. IN FACT, THIS IS AN INVERSION OF REALITY BECAUSE IF YOU-MITT THE PARKS AND THE HOUSING BONDS, YOU ARE TYING THE HANDS OF FUTURE COUNCILS BY SAYING THAT THE ONLY THING THEY CAN BORROW MONEY FOR ON A TIMELY BASIS IS THE ROADS IN THIS TOOLBOX. LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT TOOLBOX. THERE'S NO ASSURANCE THAT THE MONEY WILL ONLY BE SPENT IN THE CITY LIMITS. WE GOT REASSURANCE THAT IT WOULDN'T JUST BE TURNED OVER TO CAMPO, THAT THE COUNCILS OF THE FUTURE WOULD AT LEAST BE ABLE TO VOTE ON EACH THING AS IT COMES UP. AND THERE'S ALSO NO FLEXIBILITY IN IT DESPITE THE RHETORIC ABOUT IT BEING A BALD TOOLBOX, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS ONLY ONE TOOL IN IT, PAVEMENT. IT'S ALSO A COORDINATED TRIPLE HILT ON CITY OF AUSTIN TAXPAYERS BECAUSE IT'S FUNDED BY THESE BONDS, BY -- LAID ON CAPITAL METRO AND FINALLY BY I BELIEVE TRAVIS COUNTY WILL BE ASKED AT SOME POINT TO CHIP IN. AND NO ASSURANCE THAT THE MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS TO BENEFIT US. IT'S UNCON SHUNABLE IN A CITY THAT IS HAVING THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE'RE EVEN TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING OMITTED, MUCH LESS -- YOU KNOW, I'M EMBARRASSED THAT IT'S THE SMALLEST ITEM PROPOSED. [APPLAUSE]. DON'T THROW THAT OVERBOARD. THE AREAS WITH THE WORST LENGTH EVEN GO COMMUTE OVER THE DECADE OF THE '80'S WERE THOSE REGIONS WITH THE HIGHEST HOUSING COSTS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS FOLKS LIVE WAY THE HELL OUT OF SAN FRANCISCO IN ORDER TO DRIVE IN BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO OR SAN JOSE. AND IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME THING HERE WITH PEOPLE LIVING IN TRAILERS IN SMITHVILLE AND DRIVING IN HERE AND THAT IS NOT SMART GROWTH THAT IS CORRECT IS NOT A VIABLE TRANSPORTATION --.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU.

>> WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE].

>>SLUSHER: ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE NOW MOVING INTO THE CARDS FROM THE OTHER -- FROM ITEMS 85 THROUGH 87, SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME DUPLICATION. I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO REMEMBER. IF THERE IS A MISTAKE MADE AND WE CALL SOMEONE TWICE, THAT YOU WOULDN'T SPEAK TWICE. [LAUGHTER] I'M SURE EVERYONE CAN COMPLY WITH THE HONOR SYSTEM ALTHOUGH I THINK WE'LL REMEMBER EVERYONE. JOHN KUNKEL. I DON'T THINK MR. KUNKEL HAS SPOKEN YET. COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ THINKS MAYBE YOU DID SPEAK. [LAUGHTER].

>>SLUSHER: THAT WAS ON THE BUDGET.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. I I AM NOTHING IF NOT PERSISTENT. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF THE INCLUSION OF ANY ADDITIONAL PARK FUNDS. ANYTHING OVER AND ABOVE WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. LET ME TELL YOU WHY I'M AGAINST IT. I WANT TO GO BACK TO AN ANALOGY I USED WHEN I FIRST MET SOME OF YOU OLD-TIMERS DURING THE ANNEXATION HEARINGS. THERE WERE SOME VERY WISE WORDS OUTSIDE A KINDER GART EVEN'S TEACHER'S ROOM. EVERYTHING I NEED IN LIFE I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN. FOLKS, SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION FOR EVERYBODY. YOU WILL LEARN THAT YOU CAN'T GO TO YOUR PARENTS AND SAY, "I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BUY THAT THING, GIVE KNEE A TEN YEAR ADVANCE ON MY ALLOWANCE." THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING IF WE USE UP ALL OUR BONDING CAPE BLT. YOU LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN THAT IF YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF YOUR TOYS AND YOU GO TO MOM AND DAD AND SAY, "I NEED SOME MORE TOYS," THEY SAY TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE. THAT MEANS WE OUGHT TO MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT PARKS BEFORE WE GO OUT AND PAY MORE MONEY TO BUY MORE PARKS. AND BY THE WAY, WE OUGHT TO PAY FOR OUR CURRENT PARKS OUT OF TAXES, NOT BONDING THINGS. AND IF THAT REQUIRES MORE TAXES, SO BE IT. AT LEAST WE'LL KNOW WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR. BUT THE NOTION OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND BONDING TO PAY FOR MAINTENANCE IS KIND OF LIKE GETTING A SECOND MORTGAGE TO BUY A LAWN MOWER. YOU LEARN YOU DON'T DO THAT WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP. WHAT I HAVE SAID MAY RAIN ON SOME PEOPLE'S PARADE IN THIS ROOM, AND IF THAT OFFENDS THEM I'M SORRY. AND COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, I KNOW YOUR HEART IS IN THE RIGHT SPOT, BUT THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME. ANOTHER COMMENT I WOULD MAKE TO YOU ALL, YOU'VE HAD SOME SPEAKERS FROM ORGANIZATIONS UP HERE WHO HAVE SUGGESTED TO YOU THAT IF YOU DON'T GO ALONG WITH THEIR POINT OF VIEW ON PARKS AND OTHER AREAS, YOU MAY BE DISINCLINED TO SUPPORT THE REST OF THE BOND ISSUE. THE OTHER THING MOST PEOPLE LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN WAS WITH A BULLY, YOU CALL HIS BLUFF. AND I THINK YOU WOULD DISCOVER THAT MOST PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN BELIEVE THAT OUR BIGGEST SINGLE PROBLEM TODAY IS TRANSPORTATION. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW GOOD THE PARKS ARE IF YOU CAN'T GET TO THEM, THEY ARE NOT REALLY VERY GOOD. SO I WOULD REMIND YOU THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS YOU LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN, AND MAYBE IT'S TIME TO REMEMBER THEM AGAIN. ALL OF US. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MR. KUNKEL. JIM WALKER DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. IS FOR ITEM 85. AND JUST FOR FOLKS WATCHING AT HOME, ITEM 85 IS CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND DEFERRED PARKS MAINTENANCE. MARY ARNOLD. MS. ARNOLD -- SKIP CAMERON SIGNED UP AFTER MS. ARNOLD. HE DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. HE SAYS PLEASE HELP US RECOVER OUR PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES TO SUPPORT TODAY'S POPULATION. ANTHONY EDWARDS IS FOR ITEM 85. SAYS LIVEABILITY IS MORE THAN TRANSPORTATION. CINDY NETTLES DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, IS FOR ITEM 85. SONIA SANTANNA DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. SAYS WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR PARKS AND ALL PARTS OF THE CITY TO KEEP OUR CITY A LIVEABLE CITY. ROBERT INSIDER IS FOR ITEM 85. DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. BILL BUNCH HAS ALREADY SPOKEN. WE ALL AGREED ON THAT. SHAWN KELLY DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. IS FOR THE ENTIRE BOND PACKAGE. SHAWNA NORTH TON DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. IS FOR ITEMS 85, 86 AND 87. KAREN HOFFMAN DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. FOR ITEM 85. WE NEED TO INVEST HEAVILY IN MAINTAINING OUR BEAUTIFUL PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. AND THEN DICK PIERCE DOES WISH TO SPEAK. IF YOU COULD MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MICROPHONE. WELCOME, MS. ARNOLD.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCILL, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER FUTRELL. I'M GLAD TO BE HERE THIS EVENING. JUST A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE BONDS. I WAS VERY PRIVILEGED TO SERVE IN 1998 AS A MEMBER OF THE CITIZENS BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THAT WAS A VERY DIVERSE GROUP REPRESENTING MANY, MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THIS CITY, RESIDENTS FROM ALL OVER, RESIDENTS FROM OLD AREAS AS WELL AS NEWLY ANNEXED AREAS. WE MET FOR MANY MONTHS AND STRUGGLED OVER OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NOVEMBER '98 BOND ELECTION. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REMIND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCILL THAT THAT BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED SPENDING MORE MONEY FOR PARKS AND OPEN SPACE THAN WAS IN THE FINAL BOND BALLOT. WHEN OUR RECOMMENDATIONS GOT TO THE CITY COUNCILL, THEY WERE KIND OF ADJUSTED SO THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION, LESS MONEY FOR PARKS AND OPEN SPACE. NOW YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP ADDRESS THAT LITTLE DIFFERENCE THERE. I DO SUPPORT THE BONDS FOR THE OPEN SPACE, THE LAND ACQUISITION, THE RENOVATIONS TO THE PARKS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARKS. THERE ARE SOME DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ITEMS THAT DO QUALIFY FOR BOND SPENDING. NOT THAT I'M OPPOSED TO SPENDING ORDINARY REVENUE FOR THAT, BUT I THINK THAT THE CITY STAFF HAS SOME CRITERIA FOR HOW LONG SOMETHING LASTS, AND I THINK SOME OF THOSE REN NATIONS WILL LAST -- RENOVATIONS WILL LAST LONG ENOUGH TO QUALIFY FOR BONDING IF THAT IS THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO USE OUR FUNDS. SO IF THE COUNCIL APPROVES PUTTING ANY BONDS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, I CERTAINLY DO SUPPORT PUTTING ON BONDS FOR MORE THAN ONE PURPOSE. WE'RE LOOKING FURTHER INTO THE FUTURE THAN WE WERE ALLOWED TO DO FOR OUR NOVEMBER '98 BOND ELECTION, WHICH WAS JUST A FIVE-YEAR LOOK. NOW WE'RE LOOKING FURTHER INTO THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE GREAT GROWTH. AND I WOULD -- I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT ON THE TRANSPORTATION BONDS, IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT USING SOME OF THAT MONEY FOR ROADS, I CERTAINLY DO HOPE THAT YOU CONSIDER YOUR OWN SMART GROWTH MATRIX, WHICH IS ONLY FOR PROJECTS IN THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M REALLY ENCOURAGED TO SEE ALL THE PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT. [BUZZER SOUNDS] AND HAVE ENJOYED LISTEN TO GO THE DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS. THANK YOU. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE]. CLER.

>> BUT WITH THE BUDGET CRUNCH IT WAS DECIDED THAT SINCE THOSE PROJECTS WERE GOING TO BENEFIT FUTURE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN THAT IT WAS WORTH PAYING IT OUT OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.

>>GRIFFITH: CERTAINLY THE ROAD INVESTMENT THAT WE MADE IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS -- WAS THE MAJORITY OF THE MONEY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU. AND MS. ARNOLD, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT YOU WANTED US TO FOLLOW OUR SMART GROWTH PRINCIPLES. AND YOU PROBABLY HADN'T SEEN THE COVENANT THAT I'VE PROPOSED FOR THIS, SO I THINK SOME OTHER -- I THINK SOME OTHER FOLKS HADN'T, SO I'LL JUST READ THEM OUT TO YOU. AND I'M GOING TO PROPOSE THESE AS AMENDMENTS TONIGHT FOR THE COVENANTS TO BE DEVELOPED. WE DON'T HAVE TO APPROVE THEM TONIGHT. WE JUST HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT FOR THE COUNTY DEADLINE FOR THE BALLOT, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THEM TO YOU, BECAUSE A KUM OF PEOPLE HAVE ALLUDED TO THIS. THEY WOULD BE THE CITY REMAINS CONTROL OF WHERE FUND ARE SPENT. NO MATCHES FOR NEW ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE OR RIGHT-OF-WAY IN THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE UNLESS THE ROAD IS AUTHORIZED BY AN ELECTION. NO MATCHES FOR ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE OR RIGHT-OF-WAY THROUGH THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S PRESERVES UNLESS THE ROAD IS AUTHORIZED BY AN ELECTION. NO MATCHES FOR ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE OR RIGHT-OF-WAY THROUGH THE CITY CITY OF AUSTIN'S DESTINATION PARKS UNLESS THE ROAD IS AUTHORIZED BY AN ELECTION. THE CITY STAFF WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON EACH PROPOSED MATCH, INCLUDING AN ANALYSIS OF THE TAX AND SOCIAL EQUITY IMPLICATIONS FOR CITY OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS. OKAY. MR. PIERCE? AND LET ME READ OUT A FEW MORE CARDS. I THOUGHT I SAW THE MAYOR COME BACK IN. GO AHEAD, MR. PIERCE.

>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DICK PIERCE. I'M WITH THE AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS AND IT'S MY HONOR TODAY TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO BE HERE TO REPRESENT THE MEMBERS OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL OR E CORE. THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE AGE 16 TO 27. MOST OF THEM ARE FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES IN AUSTIN. THEY JOIN OUR PROGRAM FOR A YEAR OF COMMUNITY SERVICE. IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN BUILDING TRAILS, IMPROVING PARKS, DOING EROSION CONTROL IN CREEKS AND WORKING ON THE PROPOSITION WITH PARTNERS IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITY AND THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT. OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING GREEN, OPEN AND PARK SPACE IN AUSTIN AND THEY'D LIKE VERY MUCH TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK IN THIS AREA. RECENTLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WERE WORKING ON THE TRAIL IN THE BULL CREEK WATERSHED AND ALSO WORKING ON THE DEDICATION OF THE WILLIAMSON CREEK TRAIL BACK A MONTH OR SO AGO. YOU MAY RECOGNIZE SOME PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE. WE APPRECIATE REPRESENTATIVE GRIFFITH COMING OUT AND OPENING THAT WITH US THAT DAY. OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE COMMITTED TO THE PARKS AND THE TRAILS AND THE GREEN SPACE AND THE ENVIRONMENT OF AUSTIN AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF THEM TO SUPPORT THE BOND ISSUE FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE PARKS. THESE ARE REAL STAKEHOLDERS. THEY'RE OUT THERE EVERYDAY, INCLUDING TODAY, 105, 102 KEEPS THEM OUT THERE. THIS IS MUCH NEEDED MONEY FOR MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS OF THE PARK. WE'VE HAD PARKS -- WE'VE HAD A GREAT DEAL IN AUSTIN ABILITY TO ACQUIRE AND SPEND A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY ACQUIRING PARKS AND PARKLAND AND OPEN SPACE AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT THIS BOND ISSUE IS TALKING ABOUT MONEY TO IMPROVE THOSE PARCELS AND TO PROVIDE NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRAILS AND TO MANAGE THOSE PARCELS. SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. WE HAVE HOPED FOR AND PETITIONED ALSO THAT THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED WITH THE YOUTH OF AUSTIN BECAUSE WE THINK THIS IS A WIN-WIN-WIN SITUATION. OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HELPING TO IMPROVE THESE PARKS, AND I THINK THIS BOND ISSUE TO PROVIDE TRAIL FUNDS AND MAINTENANCE FUNDS WILL HELP US THERE A GREAT DEAL. SO WE'RE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THAT. SO THEY SUPPORT THE PARK IMPROVEMENT BONDS INVESTMENT IN AUSTIN AND SIMULTANEOUSLY PARKS AND INVESTMENT IN YOUTH AND IN THE BEAUTY OF OUR CITY. THANK YOU. WE'RE ON FOR TWO SPEAKERS, SO I COULD HOPE TO JUST SUMMARIZE HERE ALSO. ANOTHER PROGRAM IN AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS IS THE CASA VERDE BUILDERS. SO WE'RE SIMULTANEOUSLY HERE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF AFFORDABLE AND LOW INCOME HOUSING. WE'VE BUILT OVER 40,000 HOUSES IN EAST AUSTIN AND I'D LIKE TO BRING A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AFFORDABLE AND LOW INCOME AND HOPE THAT THE BOND ISSUES CAN MAINLY ADDRESS -- BUZZ THE MAIN ASPECTS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WELL WITH KNEES YOUNG PEOPLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: JIM MANN SIGNED UP NOT SPEAKING AND WRITES MORE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. JEB BOYD SIGNS UP IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER 85. ROBIN STALLINGS IN FAVOR OF 85. RYAN COKE SIGNED UP FOR 85. DAVID COBB, HAVE YOU SPOKEN? DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY. PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MICROPHONE. NELSON LENDER? YOU WILL FOLLOW MR. COULD BE. DAVID DAVIS HAS SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 85. WELCOME MR. COBB.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. HONORABLE COUNCILMEMBERS, I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO SPEAK TO YOU. I COME OUT TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE THIS A GREAT CITY. ROADS ARE IMPORTANT. ANYONE THAT HAS TRIED -- TRIED YEARS AGO TO TRAVEL ON BEN WHITE OR ON RESEARCH AND HAS TRIED RECENTLY WILL SEE THE ROADS THERE ACROSS TOWN HAVE HELPED A LOT. ON PARKS, WE NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY PARKLAND ALONG WALNUT CREEK IN EAST AUSTIN. 50 YEARS AGO IF COUNCIL HAD HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE WILL TO BUY THE PARKLAND ALONG ZILKER PARK -- I MEAN ALONG BARTON CREEK FROM ZILKER PARK GOING OUT AND HAD PURCHASED THAT LAND, THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE NOW AND PLANNED TO BUY THE LAND ALONG WALNUT CREEK, WE WOULD NOT HAVE A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE CURRENTLY WITH BARTON SPRINGS. I URGE YOU TO PURCHASE THIS LAND. THIS IS SOMETHING YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WILL BLESS YOU FOR IN THE DECADES TO COME. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO IN 20 OR 30 YEARS. I DID NOT EXPECT TO SEE THE HOMELESS HERE TONIGHT. AND I MUST SAY, WE MUST TAKE CARE OF THEM. WE MUST HAVE PLACES TO LIVE. WHEN YOU GO INTO WHAT PEOPLE NEED AND THE FIRST NEED BEING THAT YOU WANT AIR, HOUSING AND SHELTER IS VERY HIGH ON THE LIST. AND WE MUST HOUSE OUR PEOPLE. WE MUST TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE. AND THEN THIS CITY CAN BE THE GREAT CITY THAT AUSTIN WAS BORN TO BE. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. COBB. NELSON LENDER?

>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY -- I'M NELSON LENDER. I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN AND ALSO AS AN INSPIRED CITIZEN TONIGHT. I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH AND ALSO COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO PUT FORTH THIS PROPOSAL. IT IS BOTH INCLUSIVE AND ENCOURAGING. I ALSO THINK IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT MAYOR WATSON, NEW COUNCILMEMBER WYNN AND COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER HAVE CHOSEN TO FLOAT THE PROVERBIAL TRANSPORTATION ISSUE AT THIS TIME. MAYOR, YOUR NOTION THAT TRANSPORTATION IS REALLY THE MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE CITY IS BOTH INTRIGUING AND BOTH AMUSING BECAUSE LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS CITY IS AN ISSUE OF SURVIVAL. IT'S NOT AN INCONVENIENCE. WHEN I THINK OF TRAFFIC I'M THINKING ABOUT BEING INCONVENIENCED. IF YOU CAN'T PAY THE RENT TOMORROW OR YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH MARKET THAT HAS INCREASING PRICES AROUND THE CITY, THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE'S LIVES. BUT IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE TO SIT IN TRAFFIC AND THINK, IT'S REALLY A LUXURY COMPARED TO OTHER PROBLEMS IN THIS CITY. SO IT HARDLY COMPARES TO THE POLITE OF FOLKS WHO ARE BOTH GOOD AND DECENT WHO CAN'T SURVIVE IN THIS NEW ECONOMY THAT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT, THIS NEW ECONOMY THAT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF BEING HUMANE. MANY FOLKS IN THIS TOWN HAVE BEEN LOST IN THIS HIGH-TECH SHOULD HAVE FELL. WE CAN -- SHUFFLE. WE CAN ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SOCIAL EQUITY, CONSERVATION AND PARKS AT ONE TIME. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN AND/OR ISSUE. WHY CAN'T WE ADDRESS IT SIMULTANEOUSLY? OUR MIND WORK THAT WAY. I FEEL THAT THE GREATEST RESOURCES IN THIS CITY IS OUR PEOPLE. [APPLAUSE]. UNTIL WE ACCEPT THE FIGHT THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE A RESOURCE, NOT A REFERENCE POINT, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TREAT PROBLEMS AS SYMPTOMS AND, GUESS WHAT, WHEN YOU TREAT THE SYMPTOMS, THEY KEEP RECURRING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. ROBERT CORBIN ALREADY HAS SPOKEN IS MY MEMORY; IS THAT RIGHT? ROBERT CORBIN SIGNED UP FOR 85. MARGO CLARK SIGNED UP FOR 85. MARIE LANGUAGE, MARIE LANGUAGE, HAVE YOU SPOKEN? OKAY. PLEASE COME FORWARD. BRUCE NUN, FOR MORE PARKS, OPEN SPACE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. DAVE DOBBS, FOR ITEM 85. TANNER ROGERS FOR ITEM 85. MARK ROGERS FOR 85. CAROL ZWIKKER? FOR 85. WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND TALK WHILE I FIGURE OUT HOW TO READ THIS NEXT NAME.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARIE LANING. I'M A MEMBER OF AUSTIN METROPOLITAN TRAILS AND GREEN WAYS. FRIEND OF THE PARK AND MY LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD PARK COMMITTEE, GREAT HILLS PARK COMMITTEE. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE PARK BONDS, ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THOSE PARK BONDS. MY SPECIAL INTEREST IS NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. I THINK THAT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD HAVE A PARK OR ACCESS TO A PARK FACILITY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR RECREATION, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR CHILDREN, FOR RENEWAL OF ADULTS, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS PROVIDE THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR PARK FACILITIES ARE THE ONLY PLACE NEIGHBORS HAVE TO GATHER. AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S WHERE OUR SENSE OF COMMUNITY BEGINS. I THINK IT IS VERY ESSENTIAL THAT WE BRING THE PARKS IN EAST AUSTIN UP TO PAR WITH THE REST OF THE CITY. [APPLAUSE]. I ALSO -- BECAUSE I'M VERY INVOLVED WITH MY NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, I WORK VERY CLOSELY AND ONGOINGLY WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT MAINTENANCE DIVISION. I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT THEY LACK STAFF AND MONEY. IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF DOING DAILY MAINTENANCE, WHICH THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY TO DO, THEY ARE SO FAR BEHIND IN THEIR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE THAT THEY WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO CATCH UP UNLESS THEY HAVE A LARGE INFUSION OF FUNDS. SO I'M ASKING YOU PLEASE TO DO THAT. SO POSSIBLY THE DAY-TO-DAY MAINTENANCE CAN BE ON A HIGHER LEVEL. RIGHT NOW THOSE OF US THAT ARE INVOLVED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO KA JOEL OUR NEIGHBORS TO COMING OUT AND HELPING AND DOING THE THINGS THAT THE MAINTENANCE PEOPLE CANNOT DO. I WOULD ALSO LIKE YOU TO SUPPORT THE ACQUISITION OF PARKLAND. TO ME WHAT I SEE HAPPENING HERE IN AUSTIN, I SEE A LAND SALE GOING ON. WE'VE ALL BEEN TO SALES WHERE THEY SAY BUY NOW. IF YOU DON'T BUY IT NOW, IT'S GONE. WHEN IT'S GONE, IT'S GONE. AND I FEEL THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN AUSTIN WITH OUR LAND. IF WE DON'T FWIE BYE IT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF 10 YEARS FROM NOW TO BUY IT. IT WON'T BE THERE. MAYBE CONDITIONS WILL BE BETTER, BUT THERE WILL BE NO LAND TO BUY. AND SO MAYBE THIS IS NOT THE IDEAL TIME, BUT PLEASE BUY THE LAND NOW AND SAVE IT FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS WHOLE NAME, BUT THE FIRST NAME WE THINK IS MARASELA AND SHE HAS SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 85. JEN SCOTT FOR 85. MARIE FOR 85, KEEP AUSTIN A LIVEABLE CITY. HEKT TER OR ADVERTISE? HECTOR OR ADVERTISE DIDN'T SIGN UP WISHING TO SPEAK OR WHETHER HE'S FOR OR AGAINST OR NEUTRAL. MR. REYO SIGNED UP FOR 85. AMY STRONG FOR 85. MIKE CONNOR FOR 85 AND WRITES, PLEASE BALANCE THE BONDS. PAUL ROBBINS FOR 85. JOYCE CONNOR, FOR 85. GARY DUGGER, FOR 85. MR. ROBERTSON, FOR 85. LA NETA COOPER WRITES PLEASE SUPPORT BONDS TO SHORE UP OUR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND PARKS. THEY ARE SORELY IN NEED OF UPGRADING AND REPAIR. ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ASSETS ARE OUR PARKS. PARKS WERE CONSIDERED AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF SMART GROWTH. SMART GROWTH INCENTIVE SHOULD NOT BE JUST FOR DEVELOPERS, BUT FOR ALL OUR CITIZENS. IT'S A SIMPLE QUESTION OF EQUITY. GLEN GABWA FOR ITEM 85. AND -- 85 THROUGH 87. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO RIGHT NOW -- THAT TAKES US THROUGH ALL THE PEOPLE, I BELIEVE, THAT HAVE SIGNED UP ON 84 AND 85. WHICH IS HALFWAY THROUGH -- WOOF GOT 86 AND 87 TO GO. BUT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, JUST TO MAKE SURE I HAVEN'T -- IN DOING IT THIS WAY AND IN CALLING OUT NAMES AND SOMETIMES I WORRY THAT WHEN THERE'S A PAUSE AND I CALL OUT A NAME AND SOMEONE MAY NOT HEAR IT. LET ME TAKE A QUICK PAUSE AT THIS POINT. I THINK I'VE GOT THREE OR FOUR CARDS OF PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS AND HAVEN'T BEEN CALLED. AND THEN I'M GOING TO ASK IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT'S SIGNED UP ON 84 AND 85 THAT HASN'T BEEN CALLED IF YOU WILL COME FORWARD. NOW, I HAVEN'T CALLED 86 YET AND I HAVEN'T CALLED 87, SO -- I'M JUST ASKING ABOUT 84 AND 85 RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO BE FAIR TO SOMEBODY THAT MAY HAVE SIGNED UP ON THOSE AND SOMEHOW WE MESSED UP AND DIDN'T GET THEM CALLED. SO FIRST IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WAS -- THAT SIGNED UP THAT FEELS LIKE MAYBE I DIDN'T CALL YOUR NAME OR YOU DIDN'T HEAR. OKAY. WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD AND WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD. AND THEN IS JEREMY MESUR HERE? OKAY. YOUR NAME HASN'T BEEN CALLED, HAS IT?

>>. [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. I'LL HOLD THAT. THAT'S ONE OF THE CARDS I WAS CONFUSED ABOUT. FINE. AND THE SAME THING WITH YOU?

>>. [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. THAT HELPS. MR. BLIZZARD? MR. BLIZZARD?

>>. [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: WHAT? IT SURE DOES. I'M SORRY. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE ALL THIS OUT. ELAINE GARRISON? YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING EITHER, RIGHT? ARE YOU MS. GARRISON? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL THEN MAYBE WE ONLY SCREWED UP A LITTLE BIT. WHY DON'T YOU STEP UP AND YOU WILL BE THE NEXT SPEAKER.

>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MARK. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GREATER AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I MAY HAVE INADVERTENTLY CHECKED THE NON-TESTIFYING BLOCK, SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME. I APPEARED BEFORE YOU A FEW WEEKS AGO TO ENDORSE THE 150 MILLION DOLLAR TRANSPORTATION BOND ISSUE THAT'S BEFORE THE COUNCIL. I WOULD LIKE TO RESTATE THAT I COMMEND THE COUNCIL FOR SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING THIS ISSUE. AFTER HAVING INTENSIVELY STUDIED TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE CHAMBER FEELS VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS IS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY ISSUE. IT ACTUALLY IS A LEGACY ISSUE THAT IS MOST LIKELY TO MOST GREATLY AFFECT OUR CHILDREN AND GRND CHILDREN AND WE APPLAUD THE FOCUS THAT YOU'RE BRINGING TO THIS ISSUE AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL FAVORABLY CONSIDER THE TRANSPORTATION BOND. SECONDLY, HOWEVER, AT THE LAST MEETING YOU INQUIRED AS TO WHAT THE CURRENT STATUS WAS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S STUDY ON LIGHT RAIL. AND TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU MAY BE INTERESTED, LET ME JUST BRIEFLY SAY WHAT THE CHAMBER HAS COME OUT ON TODAY, EARLIER TODAY. FIRST OF ALL, AS YOU'LL RECALL, WE FORMED A BLUE RIBBON LIGHT RAIL TASKFORCE TO STUDY 10 STRATEGY QUESTIONS CONCERNING LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT IN THE CAPITAL METRO COPY THAT WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER REFERENDUM. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MEETINGS AND EIGHT PUBLIC SESSIONS WITH OVER 700 PAGES OF TESTIMONY, THE TASKFORCE DELIVERED ITS PAPER TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THIS MORNING WITH A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT FINDINGS. WE DELIVERED TO YOUR OFFICES EARLIER TODAY A COPY OF THE LIGHT RAIL TASKFORCE REPORT AND THAT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WEBSITE. I WON'T TAKE YOUR TIME THIS EVENING TO RESTATE THOSE FINDINGS BECAUSE I THINK YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, ALTHOUGH I'D BE VERY HAPPY TO DO THAT IF YOU WISH. BUT I'D LIKE TO GO ON JUST TO SAY THAT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ALSO ACTED IN TERMS OF STATING A POSITION WHICH WE THOUGHT WAS VERY IMPORTANT ON THIS CRITICAL ISSUE. AND BASICALLY WITHOUT LAYING A LOT OF FOUNDATION, GIVEN THE TIME CONSTRAINTS, LET ME SAY THAT THE CHAMBER CAME OUT VERY STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF THE CAPITAL METRO LIGHT RAIL PROPOSAL AS PART OF A MULL PI BALANCE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE THINK IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT WE THINK IN TERMS OF RAIL AND ROADS. WITH A BIG EMPHASIS ON THE WORD AND. I THINK IN THE PAST WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO DIVIDE UP IN WIN-LOSE TYPES OF EFFORTS WHICH SOMETIMES LEAD TO LOSE-LOSE TYPE RESULTS AND WE THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND EMBRACE THE FACT THAT WE NEED BOTH RAIL AND ROADS. AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR A BALANCED APPROACH. IN THIS CONTEXT WE ISSUED A CHALLENGE TO CAP METRO AFTER COMMENDING THEIR BOARD FOR STEPPING FORWARD TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL MONIES FOR HOV. WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH LEE WALKER AND LEE WALKER SHORTLY AFTER OUR PRESS CONFERENCE HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE -- [BUZZER]. MA.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

>> ACTUALLY, I HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT DONATED TIME AND IF YOU WILL GIVE ME 30 SECONDS AND I'LL STOP.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I JUST NIED YOU TO FINISH THE SENTENCE, THOUGH.

>> WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING GREAT PROGRESS.

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, I HAD A QUESTION FOR HIM. MR. HAZELWOOD, I HAVE LOOKED THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY -- I HAVEN'T LOOKED THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, BUT WE'VE BEEN SORT OF TIED UP DOWN HERE AND I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO READ THROUGH MUCH OF THE REPORT. AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I'M VERY PLEASED THAT THE CHAMBER HAS COME OUT AS YOU PUT IT STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THE CAPITAL METRO'S LIGHT RAIL PROPOSAL. I THINK THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR THIS REGION. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE -- YOU TALKED ABOUT CHALLENGING THE METRO BOARD TO COME UP WITH MORE FUNDS FOR THE REGIONAL PLAN, BUT THE CHAMBER'S SUPPORT, STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE LIGHT RAIL PROPOSAL ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, THAT IS NOT CONTINGENT UPON ANY FURTHER ACTION BY THE BOARD. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS YOU ARE ASKING THE BOARD IN FUTURE YEARS TO 64 THE BUDGET AND TRY TO -- SCOUR THE BUDGET AND TRY TO FIND MORE FUNDS FOR OTHER REGIONAL PROJECTS.

>> WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE'VE APPROACHED IT FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT WE BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE BOTH ROIDZ AND RAIL. WE THINK THE PLAN NEEDS TO BE BALANCED. AND SO OUR VIEW ABOUT THAT IS PREDICATED ON FINDING MORE MONEY TO ADDRESS ROAD PROJECTS. WE ISSUED THE CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE THINK THAT THERE IS A SOURCE THERE THAT NEEDS TO CONTRIBUTE MAYBE MORE TO EFFORT, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THE WAY WE APPROACH IT IS A VERY CAN DO TYPE APPROACH AND WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT THIS CHALLENGE CAN BE MET. WE'VE ACKNOWLEDGED THE CHALLENGE AND WITH THAT I THINK WE'RE OFF TO A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO ADVANCING BOTH ROADS AND RAIL IN THIS REGION.

>>SLUSHER: RIGHT. BUT I'M -- I'M FINE WITH THAT IN FUTURE YEARS, BUT -- CAPITAL METRO HAS ALREADY HAD SOME VERY RESPECTED, REKNOWNED FINANCIAL COMPANIES LOOK AND RELOOK AT ITS FINANCIAL PLAN. AND THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE 91 MILLION THAT'S GOING TO GO INTO THE REGIONAL PLAN FOR HOV LANES, INCIDENT MANAGEMENT, PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SUPPORT IS NOT CONTINGENT UPON THE BOARD HAVING TO GO BACK AND FIND THIS MONEY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE SCRUBBED THOSE NUMBERS A LOT AND, AS I SAID, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHOM I THINK YOU RESPECT, WHO YOU DO RESPECT VERY MUCH HAVE COME UP WITH THAT FIGURE. AND THEN WITH THAT -- WE'VE HAD OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE VERY WELL RESPECTED COME IN AND COME UP WITH BASICALLY THE SAME FIGURE. SO I JUST WANT TO GET A LITTLE CLARITY HERE SO WE CAN MOVE DOWN THE ROAD OR THE TRACK OR BOTH, I GUESS.

>> WELL, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE BOTH. AND IT MAY BE THE WAY I COULD ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION IS MAYBE TO BORROW UPON SOME OF MY EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO THIS POSITION IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY. AND THAT IS WHEN WE ASK PEOPLE IF THEY CAN DO SOMETHING AND AS A MATTER OF HUMAN NATURE WE USUALLY COME UP WITH A LOT OF REASONS WHY WE CAN'T DO IT, BUT WHEN WE RESOLVE WE SAY THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO SOMEHOW WE'RE CREATIVE AND EFFICIENT AND FIND WAYS TO DO IT. AND IN TALKING WITH LEE, HE AND I BOTH BELIEVE THAT WE CAN WORKING TOGETHER FIND ADDITIONAL MONIES NOT ONLY IN CAP METRO, BUT WE ALSO SAY THAT HE NEED TO CHALLENGE BOTH THE STATE AND VARIOUS FIVE COUNTIES IN THIS AREA TO IDENTIFY MORE MONIES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN CAMPO AND WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT THAT THIS CAN BE DONE.

>>SLUSHER: AND I TALKED TO CHAIRMAN WALKER TODAY TOO AND HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT HE HAD PROMISE ORDER ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE TO LOOK FOR MONEY IN FUTURE BUDGETS, BUT HE WASN'T UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CHAMBER WAS MAKING THAT SUPPORT FOR RAIL CONTINGENT UPON THE BOARD GOING BACK. AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET AN ANSWER ON THAT IF I COULD. AND THAT IF -- WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO GET AN ANSWER ON THAT. AND IF YOU DON'T -- I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF WE'RE -- YOU'RE ASKING THE METRO BOARD DO THAT NOW. LIKE WHAT NUMBERS YOU'RE SPEND DPENDING ON WHERE THAT FIGURE IS COMING FROM.

>> THE WAY I THINK ABOUT IT IS I WOULDN'T EXPECT THE CAP METRO BOARD TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THEY'VE CURRENTLY DONE, WHICH IS TO FOCUS ON THEIR KEY MISSION, WHICH IS BUS TRANSIT AND LIGHT RAIL. AND TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT'S THOUGHTFUL AND CONSERVATIVE, BUT YET AT THE SAME TIME I THINK THAT WE'RE BOTH STRUGGLING TO FIND FUNDS TO HANDLE WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THE CAMPO 2025 PLAN. AND RATHER THAN WORK AT CROSS PURPOSES WITH EACH OTHER, WE'VE RESOLVED TO WORK TOGETHER. AND WE DIDN'T SAY IT WAS CONTINGENT IN OUR PRESS RELEASE. WE SAID IT WAS A CHALLENGE THAT'S BEEN ACCEPTED AND TO ME THAT'S THE FORMATION OF A PARTNERSHIP TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET IT DONE. AND THE CHAMBER IN EMBRACING THIS POSITION DIDN'T DO SO BY SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE WANT, NOW YOU GO GET IT. WHAT WE SAID IS THIS IS WHAT WE NEED, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. AND I WOULD APPLAUD CHAIRMAN WALKER IN THAT HE SAID OKAY, LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND WE'VE ALREADY LAID PLANS TO START DOING THAT. SO I WOULD JUST SAY THAT OUR POSITION IS PREDICATED ON HAVING A BALANCED ROAD PLUS RAIL TYPE POSITION. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE ON PATH TO DO THAT.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AS PARTNERS AND WORKING TOGETHER THAT WE START OUT BY UNDERSTANDING WHAT EACH IS ASKING OF THE OTHER. THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. HAZELWOOD AND I'M SORRY -- I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS HAD A QUESTION.

>>THOMAS: YES, MR. HAZELWOOD, RIGHT?

>> YES, SIR.

>>THOMAS: HAS THE CHAMBER EVER CONSIDERED IN PUTTING THE SAME EMPHASIS ON THE OTHER DIFFERENT BOND PACKAGES WE ARE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER HERE? HAVE YOU EVER TOOK ANY STEP TOWARD THAT AS FAR AS HOUSING AND OPEN SPACES AND RECREATION?

>> COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, FIRST OF ALL, AS YOU RECALL, THE OVERRIDING MISSION OF THE CHAMBER IS TO ENHANCE THE LIFE OF CITIZENS IN THE REGION BY FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS NOT ONLY ON THE ECONOMY, BUT ALSO THE ENVIRONMENT, EQUITY, EDUCATION AND A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS. IN THE CASE OF TRANSPORTATION, WE HAVE SPENT THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS FOCUS ODD THIS ISSUE AND FEEL THAT A LOT OF TREMENDOUS THOUGHT HAS GONE INTO IT, WHICH IS WHY WE ENDORSED THE COUNSEL'S CONSIDERATION OF THIS 150 MILLION DOLLAR BOND PACKAGE. IN FACT, IN THAT REGARD WE MOST RECENTLY ANNOUNCED ANOTHER COMMITTEE THAT'S BEEN FORMED TO ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION TO MANAGEMENT AND SOLUTIONS TO ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND ENHANCE MOBILITY. ON OTHER ISSUES SUCH AS SOCIAL QAERKTS THE CHAMBER HAS OFFERED THREE PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH PROFESSOR MARSHAL AND OTHERS ON SOCIAL EQUITY. WE HAVE A GROUP THAT'S WORKING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON AIR QUALITY. SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT ALL THESE ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT. AND IN FACT, AS YOU LOOK AT OUR LIGHT RAIL TASKFORCE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED IS THAT LIGHT RAIL IS A TOOL TO ACCOMPLISH THE VISION FOR AUSTIN IN THE FUTURE. AND ONE OF OUR FINDINGS WAS WE THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO DEFINE IN A VERY COGENT WAY WHAT THAT VISION IS. AND WE SEE IT INCLUDING A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN, GREEN SPACE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND A HIGH QUALITY OF LIVING. WHAT WE'RE REALLY SAYING HERE IS WE NEED TO FOCUS OUR PRIORITIES NOW ON TRANSPORTATION, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULDN'T CONCURRENTLY ALSO WORK ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHER THINGS. BUT AT THIS POINT THAT'S IN THE EARLY STAGES OF OUR THOUGHT PROCESSES AND SO WE HAVEN'T MADE AS MUCH HEADWAY ON THAT, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON THOSE ISSUES AS WELL.

>>THOMAS: THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. I'M SORRY IF WRE FOULED UP ON CALLING OUT NAMES.

>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCILMEMBERS, STAFF. MY NAME IS SCOTT JOHNSON AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I CAN FULLY SUPPORT THE TRANSPORTATION BONDS IF THEY HELP ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, ONE IS TO REDUCE VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED, WHICH WILL HELP REDUCE AIR POLLUTION. SECONDLY, PROMOTE SAFETY AND ACCESS FOR BOTH BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS BY FUNDING 20 MILLION DOLLARS OR PREFERABLE 15% OF THE TOTAL BOND PACKAGE, WHICH WOULD BE 22,$500,000 AS WELL THIRD, FUNDING WOULD BE FOR THE AUSTIN AREA WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AND PERHAPS THERE'S A MECHANISM THAT WE CAN PUT IN PLACE FOR HELP ASSURE THAT. LET'S SEES THE OPPORTUNITY AND TRY TO TARGET 15% OR LEVERAGE THAT EVEN MORE TO ENSURE BIKE AND PED SAFETY AND ACCESS. ' THE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE INITIATIVE, I FULLY SUPPORT THAT, ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD LOOK CLOSELY AND TRY TO DETERMINE HOW WE CAN SPREAD THE MONEY OVER OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY THAT ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE OTHER THAN JUST THE BARTON CREEK WATERSHED, WHICH I LIVE IN. I FULLY SUPPORT FUNDING THAT WOULD BE TARGETED FOR ECO LODGELY SENSITIVE AREA IN THE BULL CREEK WATERSHED OR OTHER WATERSHEDS IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE CITY, THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE. REGARDING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BONDING INITIATIVE, IT'S CERTAINLY A NEGLECTED NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S BEEN GIVEN SOME -- IT'S BEING ADDRESSED IN PART BY THE COUNSEL'S ACTIONS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT DOES REQUIRE A MAJOR FUNDING SOURCE FOR US TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN SET UP AND PLANS PRODUCED BY THE COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK AND OTHER HOUSING GROUPS THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE THIS EVENING. I WOULD FOREMOST ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT A BALANCED BOND PACKAGE THAT SUPPORTS THE THREE E'S, ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND EQUITY. SO WE CAN KEEP UP WITH SOCIAL SPENDING, WHICH IS AN AREA OF OPPORTUNITY FOR US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: YES. LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT THE BOND LANGUAGE FOR THE LAND ACQUISITION IS NOT RESTRICTED TO ANY PARTICULAR WATERSHED AND CERTAINLY N ONCREEK AND BULL CREEK AND THE OTHER TREASURES ARE VERY MUCH INCLUDED.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. ITEM NUMBER 86. JIM WALKER SIGNED UP FOR. ROBERT HAIRS? I DON'T THINK YOU'VE SPOKEN TONIGHT. MARY ARNOLD SIGNED UP FOR. SKIP CAMERON SIGNED UP FOR AND WRITES, PLEASE PASS THIS SO WE CAN LEVERAGE THESE FUNDS. PLEASE ALLOCATE HALF TO NORTHWEST WATER QUALITY. I THINK WHAT HE MEANT WAS DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE. ANTHONY EDWARD SIGNED UP FOR AND WRITES AGAIN, LIVEABILITY IS MORE THAN TRANSPORTATION. CINDY NETTLES FOR. WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD, MR. HEIRS.

>> ALL RIGHT. MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCILMEMBERS, STAFF, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BOB HEIRS. I'M THE MANAGING PARTNER OF THE SHIELD RANCH. I ALSO SERVE ON THE LAND ACQUISITION COMMITTEE OF THE HILL CONDITION CONSERVE VANT SI. HOWEVER, I'M SPEAKING HERE AS A CITIZEN OF AUSTIN. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SPOERD SUPPORT FOR A BALANCED BOND PACKAGE. I SUPPORT LIGHT RAIL AND I ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR ROAD. I SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HUSING AND I SUPPORT PARKS AND OPEN SPACE INITIATIVES ON BOTH SIDES OF I-35. MY OWN ROOTS ARE IN THE WATERSHEDS CONTRIBUTING TO BARTON SPRINGS, SO I HAVE A PARTICULAR CONCERN FOR PROTECTING WATER QUALITY AND OPEN SPACE IN THIS REGION. I RECOGNIZE AND APPLAUD THE REMARKABLE LEADERSHIP THAT THIS CITY HAS SHOWN IN ITS COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THIS RESOURCE. I APPRECIATE THE CONCERN EXPRESSED BY SOME ON THIS COUNCIL THAT IT IS TIME FOR OTHERS TO STEP UP TO PLATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THIS EFFORT. AS YOU KNOW, THE HILL COUNTRY CONSERVE VAN SI HAS MADE AN EXTRAORDINARY COMMITMENT TO RAISE PRIVATE DOLLARS FOR IT AND I AM FULLY CONFIDENT WE WILL SUCCEED. BUT PROTECTION OF THE BARTON SPRINGS ZONE AND THE EDWARDS AQUIFER REQUIRES AN ONGOING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL SHOULD CONTRIBUTE STOORBLLY TO AN EFFORT OF THIS SORT AND IN TIME THEY WILL AS POLITICAL LEADERS LISTEN TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS'S GROWING STANDS FOR THE PROTECTION OF OPEN SPACE. THAT DAY WILL COME, BUT IT MAY BE TOO LATE. TODAY THE DESIRE AND THE POLITICAL WILL TO PROTECT THESE RESOURCES EXISTS HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY. BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC BOOM, BECAUSE OF THE INTENSITY OF REAL ESTATE SPECULATION, BECAUSE OF THE FINITE NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION PROPERTIES, THE PROTECTION OF THESE WATERSHEDS MUST HAPPEN NOW. IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SECURE MEANINGFUL LASTING PROTECTION FOR WATER QUALITY AND OPEN SPACE AS THIS COUNCIL WORKING WITH PRIVATE AND OTHER PRIVATE PARTNERS WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP AND A ROLE IN THE FORM OF PUBLIC DOLLARS FOR OPEN SPACE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: YES. MR. HEIRS, YOU ARE A LIVING EXAMPLE, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN TERMS OF CONSERVATION. NOBODY HAS DONE ANY MORE, I THINK, IN THIS MARKET THAN THE HEIRS TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN PUBLIC DOLLARS AND PRIVATE DOLLARS COME TOGETHER. THERE'S 40 MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S BEING PROPOSED -- FOR MATCHING AND FOR LEVERAGING. YOU'RE WITH THE HILL COUNTRY CONSERVE VAN SI. DO YOU THINK THAT THAT KIND OF COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR COULD INSPIRE SOME OTHERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR?

>> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK IT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS BOOST TO BUILD ON THE WORK THAT'S BEEN COMPLETED IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

>>GRIFFITH: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. HAIRS. AND THANK YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR YOUR MARVELOUS GENEROSITY. LAP. [APPLAUSE]. MS. SAN TAN IN A HAS SIGNED UP FOR. ROBERT SNYDER, FOR ITEM 86. BILL BUNCH FOR 86. KAREN HOFFMAN WRITES FOR AND BARTON SPRINGS IS FULL OF ALGAE AND BUILDINGS ARE GOING UP EVERYWHERE. PLEASE KEEP AUSTIN GREEN, CLEAN AND OPEN. JIM MANN WRITES MORE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. JEB BOYD WRITES FOR AND WRITES FOR A LIVEABLE CITY. ROBIN STALLINGS, FOR. RYAN COKE, FOR. DAVID DAVIS, FOR. GALE ROTHE? HAVE YOU SPOKEN?

>>. [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: I CAN'T EVEN SAY THE WORD. PLEASE COME FORWARD. DAVID DAVIS IS FOR 86. ANNE GALLOWAY IS FOR PARKS, OPEN SPACE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PLEASE VOTE FOR A LIVEABLE CITY. THANK YOU. ROBERT CORBIN FOR. MARGO CLARK, FOR. MARIE LANING, FOR. SUPPORT A LIVEABLE CITY. BRUCE NUN, MORE PARKS, OPEN SPACE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. DAVID DOBZ, FOR. CAROL ZWIKKER, FOR. MS. MARTINEZ, FOR. MARY ROCOMORO, FOR. HECTOR OR ADVERTISE, FOR. AND WRITES LET'S KEEP AUSTIN A LIVEABLE CITY. PLEASE BALANCE THE BONDS. AMY STRONG, FOR. MIKE CONNOR, PLEASE BALANCE THE BONDS. PAUL ROBBINS, FOR. JOYCE CONNOR, FOR. GARY DUGGER FOR AND FOR A LIVEABLE CITY. MS. ROBERTSON, FOR. MR. RENTERIA, FOR.

>> I'D LIKE TO SPEAK.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SORRY. HAVE YOU ALREADY SPOKEN?

>> NO.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THEN YOU WILL BE FOLLOWING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

>> SURE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GALE. I'M HERE WITH MS. LAW SON. WE'RE ON THE BOARD OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY GARDENS. AND FIRST OF ALL I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THE SUPPORT THAT THE CITY HAS GIVEN TO US IN THE PAST AND CURRENTLY. WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE BALANCED BOND PACKAGE AND WE'RE SPECIFICALLY INTERESTED IN THE ACQUISITION OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACES, PARTICULARLY IN EAST AUSTIN. AND IN ADDITION WE ASK YOU TO INCORPORATE BOTH URBAN AGRICULTURE AND COMMUNITY GARDENS DENZ INTO THE PLANNING OF THIS LAND ACQUISITION. I JUST WANT TO SHARE A COUPLE OF FACTS WITH YOU. FIRST OF ALL, ON AVERAGE A FOOD ITEM TRAVELS 1400 MILES BEFORE IT GETS TO YOUR PLATE. AND THERE ARE A LOT -- THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON OUR ROADS BRINGING IN FOOD THAT WE COULD GROW LOCALLY. SECOND, THE BLACK LAND PRAIRIE REGION, WHICH INCLUDES EAST AUSTIN, BUT NOT WEST AUSTIN, IS A VERY RICH AGRICULTURAL AREA AND IT'S ONE OF THE 10 MOST THREATENED AGRICULTURAL REGIONS IN THE COUNTRY. ANY HOPE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS OR ANY COMMITMENT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS TO A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON INCREASING THE URBAN AGRICULTURAL -- URBAN AGRICULTURE AND COMMUNITY GARDEN. AUSTIN COMMUNITY DPAR DEN STANDS READY TO SUPPORT ANY EFFORT TO INCREASE THAT PRESENCE IN THE CITY.

>> LIVING IN EAST AUSTIN, ONE THOUGHT CAME TO MIND TO ME. I'VE BEEN LIVING IN EAST AUSTIN IN MY OWN HOME FOR 50 YEARS. SINCE 1950 WHEN WE MOVED OVER THERE. AND DO YOU KNOW I HADN'T GOT A SIDEWALK YET? [APPLAUSE]. ANYWAY, WE REALLY SUPPORT -- WE NEED THESE BONDS, SURE. WE NEED EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THE MONEY SO THAT EAST AUSTIN GETS MONEY. WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO STAND UP AND SAY, I CAN GROW ME SOME COLLARD GREENS. I NEED TO GROW SOME MUSTARD GREENS. I WON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE STORE TO BUY THAT. [BUZZER].

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY. [APPLAUSE].

>> THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WELL DONE. THANK YOU. MR. REN TEAR REI CAN'T.

>> MAYOR, I MIGHT NEED SOME MORE TIME AND I HAVE DAVID RENTERIA HERE THAT'S WILLING TO GIVE ME HIS THREE MINUTE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. YOU WILL HAVE UP TO SIX MINUTES IF YOU NEED IT.

>> I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF EAST AUSTIN. I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM MARTIN JUNIOR HIGH. I'M ALSO THE PRECINCT CHAIR OF 438, WHICH IS SANCHEZ, ELEMENTARY. I'M ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE UNITED EAST AUSTIN COALITION. LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY. THIS IS -- WAS FEBRUARY THE SEVENTH, 1987 WHEN WE HAD OUR FIRST BOND ELECTION. AND LET ME QUOTE YOU ON WHY UNITED EAST AUSTIN TOOK ON THIS ISSUE 15 YEARS AGO. IN FACT, OCTOBER SECOND WILL BE OUR 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF SUPPORTING (SPEAKING SPANISH (LET ME READ A SECTION OF THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN'S EDITORIAL PAGE. IT STATES A SINGLE MOTHER WITH FOUR CHILDREN LIVING IN SOUTH AUSTIN NEAR ST. EDWARD'S UNIVERSITY, SHE IS A LICENSED VOCATIONAL NURSE AND WORKS AS AN INSTRUCTOR OF NURSING AIDES, HER PROBLEM IS NOT A LACK OF WORK, BUT THE APARTMENT SHE RENTS TAKES HALF OF HER TAKE HOME PAY. SHE SAYS SHE CAN'T WORK TWO JOBS BECAUSE OF HER RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER CHILDREN. THERE ARE SUBSIDIZED RENTAL UNITS THROUGHOUT THE AUSTIN HOUSING AUTHORITY, BUT NONE ARE AVAILABLE. THIS WAS 13 YEARS AGO. LET ME TELL YOU, SHE NO LONGER LIVES HERE IN AUSTIN BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE. AND WE LOST A VALUABLE PERSON BECAUSE NOW SHE'S A NURSE THAT WE REALLY NEED HERE IN AUSTIN AND THROUGHOUT TEXAS, THE NURSING SHORTAGE. LET ME ALSO READ ARNOLD ROSEN FELD, HE SAID, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROPOSAL AUSTINITES WILL VOTE ON SATURDAY ISN'T PERFECT. NOTHING IS. THE PROPOSAL WON'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS TOO BIG. IT'S MERELY A BEGINNING, A GOOD HEARTED ATTEMPT TO GET SOME ROOFS OVER THE HEAD OF SOME PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM. IF WE CARE ENOUGH, THERE WILL BE MORE PROPOSALS IN THE FUTURE. THAT WAS A 22 MILLION -- 22.5 MILLION BOND THAT DIDN'T GET PASSED. THIS IS ONE -- I MEAN, THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. WE WILL NOT STOP. I'M LIVING IN EAST AUSTIN. MY NEIGHBORS LAST MONTH HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY WERE RENTERS AND THE HOUSE GOT SOLD AND THEY COULDN'T AFFORD FOR BUY THE HOUSE. THEY'VE LIVED THERE FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AND HAVE BEEN TRYING HARD TO SAVE TO BUY A HOUSE. MY NEIGHBOR THAT LIVED FOUR HOUSES DOWN FROM HIM, HE HAD TO LEAVE SIX YEARS AGO BECAUSE HE COULDN'T AFFORD TO BUY THE HOUSE, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS WORKING FULL TIME, BUT WITH A FAMILY OF FOUR THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO GET A MORTGAGE. WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOSING A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORS BECAUSE THEY AREN'T ABLE TO RENT -- TO BUY A HOUSE, AND THE RENTAL PROPERTY IS SO EXPENSIVE NOW IN EAST AUSTIN THAT IT'S BEING SOLD RIGHT UNDERNEATH THEM AND THEY'RE HAVING TO MOVE OUT FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY. SOME ARE TALKING ABOUT MOVING TO LOCKHART, OTHERS ARE MOVING AND BUYING A TRAILER HOME OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS SO THEY CAN AFFORD. WE'RE LOSING PEOPLE THAT LIVED THERE ALL THEIR LIVES, AND WE NEED -- WE NEED CONSTITUENT TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO THIS BECAUSE -- WE NEED THE CITY TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO THIS BECAUSE AS WE BUILD ALL THESE HI-RISE BUSINESSES HERE DOWNTOWN, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE ALL OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE HAVE IN EAST AUSTIN. AND I HOPE THAT WHEN WE COME AGAIN NEXT MONTH WITH OUR CESAR CHAVEZ PLAN THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THAT PROPOSAL IS GOING TO HELP A LITTLE BIT IN EIGHT FORDABLE HOUSING ARENA. AND I HOPE THAT AS OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS COME UP THAT Y'ALL WOULD SUPPORT THESE KIND OF HOUSING PLANS THAT ARE COMING UP AND THAT REALLY AL CATS SOME MONEY TO THIS PROPOSAL. SO I URGE THE CITY COUNCILL TO PUT THE BONDS ON THE BALLOT. ALSO, I JUST WANT TO SAY HI TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOW AT MY HOUSE WATCHING THE CITY COUNCIL -- [APPLAUSE]. AND JACKIE AT THE OTHER CONVENTION. WE HAVE TWO TV'S SET UP, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE LOOKING TO THE VERY END. SO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU IT MAKES MY HEART FEEL GOOD TO SEE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT DOESN'T CLEAN OUT THEIR GARAGE AS OFTEN AS I DO AND THEY'VE STILL GOT SIGNS FROM BACK IN 1987. PASTER LANDS?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. MAYOR AND TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS, THE STAFF. WE HAVE A MAJOR PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, BUT MANY OF US DO NOT FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM IS TRANSPORTATION. WE BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM IS HOUSING, A LACK OF HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND UNDER EMPLOYMENT. DISPROPORTIONATE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES HAVE CAUSED THE EAST AUSTIN AREA TO SUFFER. EACH TIME THERE'S EVER BEEN ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT PARKS, RECREATION FACILITIES, ETCETERA. RECENTLY THIS MORNING I READ IN THE NEWSPAPER WHERE SOMEONE SAID THAT THERE WAS -- THIS BOND PROPOSAL WOULD PERHAPS END UP BEING TOO MUCH DEBT. I BELIEVE THAT THAT TOO MUCH DEBT STATEMENT WAS A VERY ARROGANT AND INSENSITIVE STATEMENT AND DID NOT APPRECIATE THE LONG WAIT THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN EAST AUSTIN FOR SOMEONE TO FINALLY SAY, LET'S MAKE A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN PURCHASING LAND FOR PARKS, RECREATION AND, OF COURSE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I'VE COME -- I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY REPRESENTING MYSELF, BUT ALSO AS A PASTOR OF THE GREATER CALVARY BAPTIST HURCH CHURCH AND A PERSON SEARCHING ON THE EAST SIDE COALITION. WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING IN AUSTIN. WE LOVE THE CITY, THIS IS OUR HOME, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE RICH GET FEWER AND MOUR AND THE POOR GET POORER AND MORE AND MORE. AND AND THERE'S SOMETHING NOT RIGHT ABOUT THAT. WE SEE DUMB GROWTH WHENEVER YOU START TO SEE THINGS PUT ABOVE PEOPLE. PLEASE RECONSIDER, THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE TAKEN THE POSITION THAT WE SHOULD NOT INVEST IN PARKLAND, WE SHOULD NOT INVEST IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE SHOULD NOT INVEST IN RECREATION. LET'S RECONSIDER THAT. WE WANT TO COMMEND COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS FOR THEIR POSITION OF STANDING UP IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO MUCH PRESSURE TO TRY TO MOVE THEM FROM THE POSITION THEY'VE TAKEN. WE DO NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE DO NEED TO BUY THE LAND, WE NEED PARKS AND RECREATION. RIGHT NEW IN NORTHEAST AND IN EAST AUSTIN, THE ROLES FOR THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING INTO CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, TYC, THE COUNTY -- THE WHOLE BIT, FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WE FIND THAT THERE'S NO END TO NEWS BEING SPOKEN. BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DOING THINGS THAT'S GOING TO PREVENT THAT, WE SEEM TO ALWAYS COME UP WITH SOME REASON WHY WE CAN'T MAKE THE INVESTMENT. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IF YOU DON'T INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF EAST AUSTIN, NORTHEAST AUSTIN, THEN THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN HAS A LOT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT BECAUSE A GREAT CITY IS KNOWN FOR HOW IT IMPLEMENTS ALL OF -- POLICIES TOWARDS THOSE WHO ARE UNDERPRIVILEGED AND WITHOUT MORE THAN THOSE WHO HAVE. SO I'M HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE TO DO RIGHT THING, INVEST IN THIS AREA. WE NEED YOU TO INVEST IN THIS. [APPLAUSE].

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.

>>GRIFFITH: REVEREND LANDS, I'D LIKE TO OFFER A COUPLE OF DETAILS ON THE EAST AUSTIN RECREATIONAL FACILITIES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED IN THIS BALANCED BOND PACKAGE AND SEE IF YOU THINK THAT THOSE INVESTMENTS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. AND WOULD ADDRESS SOME OF THE THINGS YOU JUST MENTIONED. YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH WALNUT CREEK METROPOLITAN PARK.

>> VERY MUCH SO.

>>GRIFFITH: WHAT WOULD BE ON THE BOND PACKAGE, THE BALANCED BOND PACKAGE WOULD BE A RECREATION CENTER AND BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAILS FOR WALNUT CREEK METROPOLITAN PARK. ALSO, COLONY PARK IS INCLUDED. AND I KNOW YOU KNOW COLONY WELL.

>> AS A MATTER OF FACT, COLONY PARK HAS BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END OF ALL THE NEGATIVES OF THE CITY AND VIRTUALLY NONE OF THE AMENITIES. THERE'S NOTHING FOR KID TO DO IN COLONY PARK.

>>GRIFFITH: WELL, WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING WITH THE BALANCED PACKAGE IS A RECREATION CENTER, A SWIMMING POOL AND A PLAYSCAPE AT COLONY PARK. CAP CLAP.

>> EXCELLENT. EXCELLENT.

>>GRIFFITH: IS THAT THE KIND OF THING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU SAY WE NEED THESE FACILITIES?

>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU PAY NOW OR YOU PAY LATER AND IT'S GOING TO COST YOU A LOT MORE LATER.

>>GRIFFITH: ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AND MOST ATTRACTIVE ACTIVITIES FOR OUR YOUTH NOW IS SOCCER. AND EAST AUSTIN IS VERY, VERY LIGHT ON SOCCER FACILITIES. AND WHAT THIS BOND PACKAGE WOULD PROVIDE IS A BIG REGIONAL SOCCER COMPLEX, ALONG WITH BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAILS AND PLAYSCAPES IN SOUTHEAST, IN THE -- IN THE BIG SOUTHEAST DESTINATION PARK. IS THAT AN AREA THAT COULD USE THESE FACILITIES?

>> ABSOLUTELY. BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE YOU TO ENCOURAGE THAT CULTURALLY THERE ARE GROUPS THAT PREFER SOCCER, BUT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT I DEAL WITH LIKE TO PLAY BASEBALL. SO WE NEED TO HAVE SOME BASEBALL COURTS IN THE AREA. THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO THE HOOP. AND YOU CAN'T GO TO THE HOOP ON A SOCCER FIELD. WE NEED THE SOCCER FIELDS, BUT WE NEED SOME BASEBALL COURTS AND WE NEED SOME AREAS THAT THEY CAN ROUGH IT UP.

>>GRIFFITH: SOUNDS GOOD FOR ME. [APPLAUSE].

>> THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, PASS STORE. LIEN NET COOPER WRITES, PLEASE VOTE TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT. AS WITH THE PARKLAND IT IS A COMPONENT OF SMOETED. THIS MONEY WOULD BE WELL SPENT TO PROTECT THE HEALTH. CHRISTOPHER STERLING LANDS? HE SIGNS UP FOR. RICHARD LANDS? HE SIGNS UP FOR. MS. DAY? SHE SIGNS UP FOR. POJ ROJER MITCHELL SIGNS -- ROGER MITCHELL SIGNS FOUP A BALANCED BOND PROPOSAL, PREFERABLY WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PARKS, OPEN SPACES, BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITIESES BUT NO MORE ROAD OR ROAD LANES. SUSANA ALMANZA, HAVE YOU ALREADY SPOKEN TONIGHT.

>> I SURE HAVE NOT.

>>. [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT'S PROBABLY WHEN YOU SAW ME.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I KNEW I HAD.

>> I'M MS. ALMANZA. AND I AM VERY, VERY GLAD THAT THE STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED A WAY OF SECURING AN ADDITIONAL THREE MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND THAT CAN BE USED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AS EQUITY CONTRIBUTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS. I AM HAVE GLAD THAT THEY FINALLY FOUND THIS MONEY, BUT THIS IN NO WAY SHOULD STOP THE 25 MILLION BOND MONEY FROM BEING PUT ON THE BALLOT FOR THE PEOPLE TO VOTE ON. I AM ALWAYS AMAZED AT HOW THE CITY FINDS MONEY WHEN THEY DON'T WANT SOMETHING ELSE DONE. AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD PUT THEM BOTH ON. WE SHOULD GET THE THREE MILLION, PLUS I DON'T THINK THIS IS A BALANCED BOND PACKAGE. 150 MILLION AND 25 MILLION FOR HOUSING? WHERE IS THE BALANCE THERE? I'M SORRY, BUT I DIDN'T GO THAT FAR IN MATH, BUT I CAN COUNT 55 MILLION, 40 MILLION AND 25 MILLION AND 150 MILLION, WHERE IS THE BALANCE IN THAT BOND PACKAGE? I THINK IT SHOULD BE REVERSED. 150 MILLION FOR HOUSING AND 25 MILLION FOR ROADS. [APPLAUSE]. THAT'S WHERE IT SHOULD BE. SOMEBODY GOT IT BACKWARDS HERE. IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT EQUITY, LET'S BE UP FRONT ABOUT EQUITY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY EQUITY IN HOUSING. THERE IS NO EQUITY IN HOUSING. WHEN THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE RUNNING, WHERE IS THE EQUITY THERE. -- ARE RENTING, WHERE IS THE EQUITY THERE. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 150 MILLION IS FOR HOUSE HOUSING AND THE 25 MILLION IS FOR ROADS. WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO WITH NO HOUSING? WE DON'T NEED MORE ROADS. WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE ROADS. WE NEED PEDESTRIANS. WE NEED THOSE NATURE TRAILS THAT WE NEED TO BE WALKOGTHAT I KNEW AS A LITTLE GIRL. THERE WAS NO PAVEMENT WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL. IT TOOK US A LIFETIME TO GET OUR PAVEMENT. AND WHEN WE DID, WE GOT DISPLACED. SO WHAT'S THE USE OF HAVING MORE ROADS IF IT'S DISPLACING MAJOR COMMUNITIES. IF IT IS PUTTING US IN A TOXIC DONUT HOLE WITH ALL OF THESE ROADS COMING AROUND US. SO I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT IT. DON'T BE AFRAID TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT. LET'S TAKE THAT THREE MILLION ALSO, BUT LET'S ALSO MAKE IT MORE MONEY ON THE BOND FOR HOUSING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THERE'S THE BALANCE, THE BALANCE BETWEEN HUMANITY AND THE BALANCE BETWEEN OUR RESOURCES. AND THAT ISN'T ABOUT PAVING OUR ENVIRONMENT. IT DOESN'T MEAN ABOUT SUFFOCATING MOTHER EARTH WITH MORE AND MORE CEMENT. THERE IS A BALANCE BETWEEN HUMANITY AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND WE NEED DO IT. SO PLEASE DON'T SAY THIS IS A BALANCED BOND PACKAGE BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING BALANCED ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: MS. JONES? SHE SIGNED UP FOR. RICHARD FAWAL? HE SIGNED UP AND WRITES, TRANSPORTATION AND LIGHT RAIL ARE TWO IMPORTANT THREADS IN AUSTIN'S FUTURE, BUT THE BONDS OFFERED FOR PARKS, OPEN SPACE AND HOUSING COMPLETE THE FABRIC OF AUSTIN'S FUTURE. WE NEED THE COMPLETE FABRIC TO GUARANTEE A LIVEABLE CITY. SUPPORT A BALANCED BOND PA KNOWLEDGE. SOME MEMBERS OF COUNCIL MAY DISAGREE WITH THE BOND PROPOSALS, THAT'S OKAY. BUT I I AM PATIO PLOOR YOU TO PUT THEM ALL ON THE BALLOT AND STATE YOUR CASES AND LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE. GILBERT GUERRERO SIGNED UP FOR AND SAYS PLEASE SAY THIS, I WILL NEVER RIDE LIGHT RAIL. [LAUGHTER]. AND HE SIGNED UP AGAINST, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO -- ROSS SMITH SIGNS UP AGAINST AND SAYS AT THE BOTTOM, TRANSPORTATION BONDS ONLY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SORRY. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

>> THANK YOU. I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. WE DO NEED MORE MONEY FOR HOUSING, WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR PARKS, BUT THIS ELECTION IS NOT THE RIGHT ONE TO TRY AND GET IT. MR. BUNCH QUITE AWHILE AGO SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF WE CAN EDUCATE PEOPLE, INSTRUCT THEM ON WHAT'S GOING ON AND THEY'LL VOTE AND DO THE RIGHT THING. IN A MAYOR ELECTION THAT MAKES SENSE. IN AN OFF YEAR BOND ELECTION THAT MAKES SENSE, BUT THIS ELECTION IS NOT TAKE IS PLACE IN A VACUUM. IT'S TAKING PLACE IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOVERNOR ON THE BALLOT WHO IS GOING ON BRING IN WEALTHY AND ANTI-TAX VOTERS FROM ALL AROUND THE SUBURBS WHO ARE GOING TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE NUMBERS ON THAT BALLOT AND THROW UP THEIR HANDS AND SAY, OH, MY GOD, I CAN'T AFFORD THAT. I WANT MY TAXES TO GO DOWN. I DON'T WANT THEM TO GO UP. IF YOU LOAD UP THE BALLOT, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS RUN THE RISK OF ALL OF THEM GOING DOWN IN FLAMES. NOT JUST THE HOUSING AND THE PARKS, BUT LIGHT RAIL AND THE ROADS AS WELL. ROADS MIGHT PASS, BUT THE REST ARE PROBABLY GOING TO FAIL. NOW, SOME PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S BETTER TO TAKE A SHOT AT IT AND FAIL THAN TO NOT TRY AT ALL. WELL, THEY'RE WRONG. BECAUSE IF IT FAILS THIS TIME, IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH HARDER TO GET THEM PASSED THE NEXT TIME BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE THEM WOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT AND SAY THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN RESCREKTED BY THE VOTERS. THEY'RE DISCREDITED. WHY SHOULD WE BRING IT UP AGAIN? AND THEN YOU PEOPLE WILL BE THE LOSERS AGAIN. THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT ELECTION TO TRY AND PASS THESE BONDS. SO I ASK ONLY KEEP THE TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE]

>> THERE ARE MANY CHILDREN AND MANY PEOPLE THAT I KNOW OF PERSONALLY BECAUSE I SPEAK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS SITUATION. THERE ARE THREE AND FOUR FAMILIES LIVING TOGETHER IN MOBILE HOMES. THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING IN SHACKS. JUST TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE, TO SCRATCH OUT A LIVING. AND I AGEE WITH THESE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT EQUAL WAGE, EQUAL HOUSING. THERE IS NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN. I KNOW THAT TRANSPORTATION IS AN ISSUE, BUT PEOPLE ARE REALLY SUFFERING HERE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF CHILDREN. PAT FORGIONE, I DON'T KNOW HOW HE'S GOING TO DEAL WITH THE CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO ARE SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS BECAUSE THEY ARE CHILDREN WHO DO NOT LIVE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME. THEY HAVE TO MOVE. THEY ARE BEING EVICTED, THEY ARE BEING SHUFFLED AROUND. I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE TRY TO FIND MORE MONEY FOR PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE IN A PLACE AND HAVE A COMMUNITY AND BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE PARKS THAT THERE ARE. I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED THE OPEN SPACES AND THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT THE AQUIFER. BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN AUSTIN ARE THE RESOURCE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WHO ARE BUNCHED UP IN MOBILE HOMES OR ANYWHERE THAT THEY CAN FIND TO HAVE A LIVING, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS FAIR AND I THINK THE CITY REALLY NEEDS TO LOOK AT MAYBE EVEN CAPPING RENT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEONE WHO EARNS ENOUGH MONEY THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD HOUSING CAN'T FIND IT BECAUSE RENT IS SO HIGH. IT IS SO HIGH. YOU HAVE TO LIE ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU MAKE, YOU HAVE TO LIE ABOUT HOW MANY CHILDREN YOU HAVE, AND YOU BETTER NOT HAVE A PET BECAUSE YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE DEPOSIT ON YOUR PET. I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE PRETTY TIRED AND PRETTY SCARED. AND I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO REFLECT ON THE CITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP THE CITY GOING? THE PEOPLE THAT COLLECT TRASH, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CARPENTERS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING ROOFING? WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND I AGREE WITH THE LADY WHO SAYS THIS IS NOT AN EQUAL BOND. THIS IS NOT. WE NEED TO REALLY ADDRESS. I'M WILLING TO HELP. I THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO ACCESS THE PEOPLE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME TOWN HALL MEETINGS ON WAYS TO CLEAR THIS UP AND MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MA'AM. [APPLAUSE]. SYLVIA HERRERA. SYLVIA HERRERA. WE'RE ON ITEM 87 NOW. SIGNED UP FOR. SUSANNA ALMANZA SIGNED UP FOR, HOUSE THE POOR WORKING POOR. ROBERT DONLEY. ROBERT DONLEY. MR. DONLEY SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 87. IS A SERENA KNOW RENT REAR I CAN'T SIGNED UP FOR. FRANCIS MARTINEZ. FRANCIS MARTINEZ SIGNED UP FOR AND WRITES WE NEED HOUSING. MEDIUM INCOME. ROBERT DONLEY SIGNED UP FOR AND WRITES THIS TIME WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING MORE THAN WE NEED LIGHT RAIL. ANTHONY EDWARDS SIGNED UP FOR. SAYS LIVEABILITY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN TRANSPORTATION. NO, LIVEABILITY IS MORE THAN TRANSPORTATION. BULL BUNCH SIGNED UP FOR. DAVID DAVIS FOR. DICK PIERCE. DICK PIERCE. YOU HAVEN'T SPOKEN, HAVE YOU?

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. DID I FOUL UP?

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. DID I RUN PAST YOU? I APOLOGIZE. COME ON UP. AND YOU ARE PAUL SHUERE. YOU WILL SPEAK AFTER HIM.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M DAVID DAVIS. I MOVED TO AUSTIN 30 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH. AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF AUSTIN. I LOVE AUSTIN. I'M NOT REAL PROUD OF A LOT OF THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN HAPPEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 10, 12, 15 YEARS. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN ISSUES SURROUNDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS FOR 15 YEARS IN THIS TOWN. I'VE GOT A QUESTION TO ASK. I DON'T REALLY EXPECT ANYBODY TO ANSWER IT, BUT I'VE WONDERED HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE HAVE HAD TO MOVE AND WHAT IT'S COST THEM WHEN THEY'VE HAD TO MOVE. WHEN MY SON WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE HAD TWO OR THREE FRIENDS, I GUESS, THAT OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR MOVED TWO TO THREE TIMES. EVERY TIME THE RENT WENT UP, THEY HAD TO MOVE. YOU COME UP WITH SECURITY DEPOSIT, THE FIRST MONTH'S RENT, YOU COME UP WITH -- YOU LOSE TIME FROM WORK. SOMETIMES YOU LOSE EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE YOU -- YOU WERE OFF FROM WORK WHILE YOU ARE HAVING TO MOVE. I DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE EVERY SINGLE DAY. I WORK WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE. THREE QUARTERS OF THE CALLS I GET ARE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE ON THE VERGE OF LOSING THEIR HOUSING. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WE'VE GOT IN THIS TOWN. WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT JUST BLOWS MY MIND TO THINK ABOUT THE SUFFERING THAT IS GOING ON OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. EVERY DAY.

>> EVERY DAY.

>> WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS TOWN. IN MY MIND, IT'S THE BIGGEST SINGLE ISSUE THAT WE -- THAT'S FACING US. YOU KNOW. WE TALK ABOUT -- ABOUT HOW PROUD WE ARE OF THE ECONOMY WE'VE GOT IN THIS TOWN. IT'S BUILT ON THE BACKS OF WORKING PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO RENT OR TO OWN A HOUSE. [APPLAUSE]. I WONDER HOW MANY COMPANIES IN THIS TOWN COULD RUN IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE ANSWERING THE TELEPHONES, TAKING OUT THE TRASH, CUTTING THE GRASS, LOADING AND UNLOADING, YOU KNOW, ON THE LOADING DOCKS. WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS, SERIOUS PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, WE NEEDED TO THE $3 MILLION THAT I'VE HEARD KICKED AROUND HERE COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, WE NEEDED TO IT EVERY YEAR. WE NEEDED TO AT LEAST A 25 $25 MILLION BOND ISSUE. I'VE HEARD TALK THAT, WELL, $25 MILLION WORTH OF BONDS IS FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. WELL, IF WE DON'T PLAN FOR HOUSING, WE'RE GOING TO LIVE -- WE'RE GOING TO LIVE WITH WHAT WE INHERIT. WE SHOULD HAVE DEALT WITH THIS PROBLEM 15 YEARS AGO. IF WE HAD BEEN DOING PLANNING, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE PROBLEM WE'VE GOT TODAY. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. SURE. IS ZACHARY LYNN HERE? YOU WILL FOLLOW MR. SURE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND PATIENCE. YOU KNOW, SOMEONE ASKED MEL BROOKS WHAT HIS DEFINITIONS OF COMEDIEN TRAGEDY WERE. HE SAID COMEDY IS WHEN SOMEBODY SLIPS ON A BANANA PEEL AND BREAKS THEIR NECK. TRAGEDY IS WHEN THEY GET A PAPER CUT. [LAUGHTER] WELL, THAT'S THE WAY WE SEEM TO BE DEFINING THINGS HERE. WE DEFINE TRAGEDY AS WHEN WE HAVE TO SPEND ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES GETTING TO WORK OR AN EXTRA FIVE MINUTES LOOKING FOR A PARKING PLACE. AND WE DEFINE COMEDY WHEN ANOTHER WORKING PERSON LOSING THEIR APARTMENT TO RISING RENTS. OR WHEN A HOMELESS PERSON CATCHES PNEUMONIA FROM EXPOSURE. OR WHEN ANOTHER COUPLE ABANDONS MARRIAGE PLANS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING AND MEDICAL CARE. AMONG MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS THAT ARE IN RETAIL OR SERVICE INDUSTRIES, THE IDEA OF ANY NOTICE FROM A LANDLORD, THE PROBLEM IS INCREASING RENT, JUST STRIKES THEM WITH ABSOLUTE TERROR. THEY'VE GOT NO PLACE TO GO ANYMORE. WE SIMPLY HAVE TO HAVE SOME PERSPECTIVE. I'M ALL FOR IMPROVING TRAFFIC, BUT WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS. ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, THAT'S THE FIRST STEP. NOW, THE SECOND STEP IS TO RECOGNIZE, WELL, THIS CRISIS ISN'T NECESSARY, IT'S NOT INEVITABLE, IT'S NOT INTRACTABLE. I GREW UP AND SPENT HALF OF MY ADULTHOOD THAT DIDN'T HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS TO TAXATION, UNIONIZATION, WAGE LEGISLATION, BUILDING CODES, CITY PLANNING, SUBSIDIES, EVERY WORKING PERSON HAD A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS FROM AFTER WORLD WAR II TO THE 1980'S. I'M VERY PROUD OF MY ANCESTORS. I CAN'T SAY THAT THEY WERE HIGHLY EDUCATED OR PROFESSIONAL. MY PEOPLE WERE SEWING MACHINE OPERATORS, SHOE REPAIRERS, TAILORS AND CASHIERS. YET THEY ALL OWNED DECENT PLACES TO LIVE AND PLACES LIKE -- IN PLACES LIKE KANSAS CITY, DALLAS, NEW YORK AND AUSTIN. UNWISELY, IN THE REAGAN YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT MOVED AWAY FROM SUBSIDIES AND SUPPORT FOR UNIVERSAL HOUSING. WHAT'S WORSE, THE GOVERNMENT KEPT AND INCREASED SUBSIDIES FOR THE RICH. I'M NOW TOLD AUSTIN HAS 30,000 MILLIONAIRES. THE TAX OFF-SETS AND DEDUCTIONS WE GIVE EACH OF THESE PEOPLE, WE GIVE SUBSIDIES OF 50,000, 100,000 OR MORE PER YEAR IN HOUSING. YET THIS SUBSIDY TO 30,000 MILLIONAIRES IN AUSTIN WOULD CONSERVATIVELY BE A BILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS A YEAR. FOR SOME STRANGE REASON WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT THIS UNDERMINING THE CHARACTER OF THE WEALTHY OR CREATING DEPENDENCY OR OTHER SUCH RIGHT WING THINGS. NOBODY KNOWS THAT I KNOW OF TALKS ABOUT FAITH BASED ALLOWANCES FOR THE RICH. WE SUBSIDIZE -- [BUZZER SOUNDS].

>>> SUBSIDIZE MANSIONS AND WE IGNORE POOR PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR ROOR PATIENCE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. SURE. [APPLAUSE]. MR. LYNN.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCILMEMBERS. I KNOW IT'S LATE. I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION AND YOUR STEADFASTNESS TO THESE ISSUES. I AM THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS AND WE HAVE BUILT 50 HOMES IN EAST AUSTIN. WE CONTINUE TO BUILD HOMES. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADDRESS --. [APPLAUSE]. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF WHAT COUNCIL AND WHAT THE CITY HAS AS RESOURCES. I WOULD LIKE TO COME TO YOU WITH GOOD NEWS. I'M VERY PLEASED THAT THESE INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN DEFINED IN THIS PARTICULAR BOND PACKAGE. JUST KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME CRITICAL FACTORS IN LEVERAGE AND IN MATCHING WHICH ARE TERMS THAT ARE BEING USED AND BANDIED ABOUT ALONG WITH THIS TOOLBOX. LET ME JUST ASSURE YOU THERE ARE RESOURCES THE CITY HAS NOW THAT WE ARE WORKING BOTH WITH PAUL HILGERS AND MATT POWELL TO TRY TO FREE UP. THERE ARE MANY, MANY PIECES OF LAND, PARCELS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS SURPLUS PROPERTIES. WE HAVE AN ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE FOR HAROLD COURT AREA THAT COULD BE IN EFFECT. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE CIRCULATED THOSE PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP. AND LET ME JUST TRY TO THROW OUT THAT IN -- IN USING THE MONEY AS WE LOOK AT MATCH AND LOOK AT LEVERAGE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE COUNCIL TO GIVE DIRECTION, THAT AS THE BOND COVENANTS GET DROWN TO DIRECT THOSE MONEYS AWAY FROM FEDERAL FUNDS AND USE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS THAT CAN MATCH THOSE DOLLARS AND LEVERAGE THOSE DOLLARS BUT DO IT WITH WORKFORCE TRAINING OF YOUTH AND CAPTURE THOSE CITIZENS OF OUR ECONOMY WHO WILL NOT OTHERWISE TURN TO OTHER ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS CRIME, BUT BE RECAPTURED IN A TRAINING PROGRAM. BY DOING THAT, IT BEGINS TO BUILD ON A TRIPLE WIN AND I THINK THAT IN THE MOST RECENT ARTICLE PAUL HILGERS WAS QUOTED IN THE CHRONICLE AS TALKING ABOUT THAT. WE'RE DOING THINGS IN EAST AUSTIN LIKE BUILDING STRAW BALE HOUSES. WE RESEARCHED NEW TECHNOLOGY AND WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE OUR LEVERAGE WE RECEIVE FROM FEDERAL, LOCAL, STATE MONEYS AND WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO PARTNER WITH YOU. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE TRY AND FIND THOSE PARCELS OF LAND. WE HAVE LISTS AND LISTS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET THROUGH. SOMEBODY MADE THE STATEMENT EARLIER WE DO NOT -- NOBODY IN EAST AUSTIN DOES IN-FILL DEVELOPMENT. WE DO IN-FILL DEVELOPMENT AND WE DO IT SUCCESSFULLY. WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO IS TO PLEASE JOIN WITH US TO HELP US LIBERATE THOSE LANDS, HELP US LIBERATE THOSE RESOURCES THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE. LET'S LEVERAGE THAT WITH THE BONDS PACKAGE THAT YOU ARE PUTTING TOGETHER AND LET'S BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND LET'S ALSO DO IT IN A SMART WAY. WE'VE GOT BUILDERS IN EAST AUSTIN AND I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHO THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE, BUT WE DON'T USE MACEITE TO BUILD A HOUSE. WE UNDERSTAND WE MIGHT HAVE SOMEONE IN A 300 TO 400 MORTGAGE MONTHLY, THAT HOUSE WON'T LAST THE WEATHER CONDITIONS. PLEASE TRY TO FIND QUALITY BUILDERS LIKE OURSELVES. WE ARE A FIVE STAR RATED BUILDER BY H.U.D. AND OUR HOMES UTILIZE THE ECONOMY OF WEATHERIZATION AND OF NOT PROVIDING INEFFICIENT ENT BUILDING. [BUZZER SOUNDS] PLEASE HELP PARTNER WITH US TO MAKE THIS A SUM SES FULL PROGRAM AND I WISH YOU LUCK. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: ROBIN STALLINGS SIGNED UP FOR. BRUCE RODENBORN, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN JOYCE PULLMAN. DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT. PLEASE COME FORWARD. ROBERT CORBIN FOR, DAVE DOBBS, HAVE YOU ALREADY SPOKEN? MR. DOBBS FOR. CAROL SWICKER. HAVE YOU ALREADY SPOKEN? ALL RIGHT. THEN YOU WILL FOLLOW MS. PULLMAN.

>> HI, I'M BRUCE AND I WORK AT THE AUSTIN TENANTS COUNCIL. I'M GLAD THAT YOU ARE HEARING THESE STORIES ABOUT THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT'S SOMETHING THAT -- THAT I AND THE OTHER STAFF AT THE TENANTS COUNCIL HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR PROBABLY SIX YEARS OR SO NOW. WE'RE GLAD THIS IS FINALLY COMING TO LIGHT. IT'S NOT AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT OFF UNTIL LATER. I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO CLOUD THE ISSUE FOR PEOPLE. I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION. I THINK THEY WILL SUPPORT THESE INITIATIVES ON THEIR OWN MERIT AND I DON'T THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOST ON THEM WHAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEANS TO THE CITY. AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO BE REALISTIC AND PRAGMATIC ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT HOUSING. WE CAN EITHER DECIDE THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, LIFE IS UNFAIR AND PEOPLE AT OR BELOW 50% OF THE MFI, THOSE ARE WORKING PEOPLE PRIMARILY, IT INCLUDES ELDERLY AND DISABLED, LIFE IS NOT FAIR AND THEY WILL HAVE ON SPEND 60, 80% OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING. AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THIS CITY COUNCILL BELIEVES AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN BELIEVE THAT EITHER. I THINK THAT WE TRULY BELIEVE THERE ARE SOLUTIONS OUT THERE. THERE IS A NUMBER OF NON-PROFIT DEVELOPERS LIKE THE AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS THAT WAS JUST UP HERE, THEY DO A GREAT JOB, THEY BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEY BUILD GOOD QUALITY HOUSING. THE TOOLS ARE THERE. THE MONEY IS NOT. THAT'S WHAT IS NEEDED. WE NEED TO SUPPORT, WE NEED TO PUT THE 25 MILLION MINIMUM ON THE BOND BALLOT. BUT -- AND I DON'T WANT 3 MILLION OUT OF THE GENERAL REVENUE FUND, I WANT 10 MILLION EACH YEAR. THAT'S HA THE AUSTIN HOUSING TRUST HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR THREE YEARS. THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE. THIS IS AN ISSUE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, WE FORMED THAT COMMITTEE THREE YEARS AGO AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH CITY COUNCIL AND TRYING TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE. OTHER CITIES HAVE CREATED TRUST FUNDS. CITIES SIMILAR TO US LIKE SEATTLE, PORTLAND, BOULDER. THEY ARE FACING THE EXACT ISSUES. THEY'VE FOUND PUBLIC MONEY FOR THIS. AUSTIN NEEDS TO DO THE SAME THING. I MEAN EVERYBODY DESERVES A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE. WE NEED -- BUT FURTHERMORE, WE ALSO NEED TO FIND THE PROPER OVERSIGHT MECHANISM FOR THE ALLOCATION OF THIS MONEY SO THAT IT DOES GO TO THE GOOD BUILDERS AND NOT THE BAD ONES. THE AUSTIN HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES TRUST IS CREATED A PROGRAM BY TALKING WITH HOUSING ADVOCATES AND WITH NATIONAL EXPERTS ON HOUSING TRUST FUNDS. THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA. THESE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, TESTED AND A GOOD WAY TO DEAL WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK SERIOUSLY AT THE PROPOSAL THAT AUSTIN HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES TRUST HAS PUT TOGETHER. AND CONSIDER THAT WHEN YOU ARE DECIDING HOW TO SPEND THIS MONEY. AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO INCLUDE IT ON THE BOND BALLOT, AT LEAST 25 MILLION, AND AT LEAST 10 MILLION A YEAR FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. JOYCE PULLMAN AND CAROL SWIKER.

>> THE FIRST THING I WANT TO ASK IS THE NEXT TIME WE DO THIS CAN WE HAVE THIS ISSUE MAYBE BE THE FIRST ISSUE RATHER THAN THE LAST ISSUE.

>> YEAH!

>> I AM REALLY TIRED. [APPLAUSE]. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL HERE BECAUSE THIS ISSUE REALLY MATTERS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE AND IT MATTERS BECAUSE WE SEE HOW IT IMPACTS PEOPLE'S LIVES. I READ THE PAPER THIS MORNING AND I FEEL LIKE I'M FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE, THAT THE DECISIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE HERE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I CAN SAY THAT ANYBODY ELSE HASN'T ALREADY SAID. I CAN ONLY TELL YOU THAT I KNOW OF FAMILIES THAT ARE LIVING IN CARS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO RENT IN AUSTIN. AND THEY ARE STILL SENDING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL AND THEY ARE STILL -- SOME OF THEM ARE STILL GOING TO WORK AND TE LIVE IN A CAR. I CAN BARELY GET OUT OF BED IN MY HOUSE. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO THIS. AT THE SAME TIME I WAS TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE IN A SHELTER YESTERDAY AND THEY TELL ME THEY ARE GETTING MORE FAMILIES, TWO PARENT FAMILIES IN WHICH ONE OF THE PARENTS IS WORKING. THEY ARE COMING TO THE SHELTER BECAUSE, AGAIN, THEY CANNOT AFFORD HOUSING. THIS IS NOT A CITY THAT I THINK WANTS TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. I WORK FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND I CAN TELL THAW MY VISION OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS THAT IT FILLS THE GAPS THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR CANNOT FILL. THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS NOT GOING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND PROVIDE HOUSING FOR VERY POOR PEOPLE. THAT IS THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT. AND I ASK YOU, AGAIN AS I DID THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, WHEN YOU CONSIDER YOUR FUNDING OPTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ASK THE QUESTION HOW MANY PEOPLE BELOW 50% OF MEDIAN INCOME WILL THIS FUNDING MECHANISM SERVE. BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY MECHANISMS TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SOME WILL NOT REACH THE VERY POOREST. SO BE SURE AT LEAST THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ARE AGREEING TO BEFORE YOU AGREE TO IT. AND I ASK YOU, PLEASE, TO CONSIDER THE POOREST PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WHO CAN'T BE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE TIRED TOO. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: CAROL SWIC KEFMENT R. cN SWIKER.

>> HI, I WORK AT THE CAPITAL AREA HOMELESS ALLIANCE. WE OPERATE THE ARCH RESOURCE CENTER AND A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES LOANS TO SINGLE PEOPLE AND FAMILIES TRYING TO GET INTO HOUSING. WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE FAMILIES AND SINGLE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING FULL TIME, OFTEN TWO PARENT FAMILIES WORKING FULL TIME WHO AREN'T ABLE TO GET INTO HOUSING. THEIR RENTS GO UP, THEY ARE OUT ON THE STREETS AND THEY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. LAST FRIDAY WE GOTTEN CALLS FOR THAT PROGRAM. WE'RE OUT OF MONEY FOR IT AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT DO WE HAVE A LOTTERY TO FIGURE OUT WHO GETS HOUSING? IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING SHOULD BE A LOTTERY SYSTEM. EMERGENCY SHELTERS AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS ARE GETTING BACKED UP WITH PEOPLE WHO COULD BE IN PERMANENT HOUSING IF THERE WERE ANY. PEOPLE WHO NEED THOSE SERVICES AREN'T ABLE TO GET INTO THAT AND WE'RE SEEING A BOTTLENECK IN OUR SUPPORT SERVICES. I UNDERSTAND THAT TRANSPORTATION IS GETTING TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM IN AUSTIN AND IT AFFECTS THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE. BUT HOUSING NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY BECAUSE THAT'S A BASIC NEED FOR PEOPLE IN AUSTIN AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THAT BOND. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: PATRICK SIGNED UP FOR. RICHARD TROXELL. MR. TROXELL, WHILE YOU ARE COMING FORWARD I'LL READ A FEW MORE CARDS. CAROLYN CAMBRIDGE, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK?

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. MAKE SURE THAT -- MAKE SURE WHEN I READ THROUGH THE CARDS I DON'T READ MS. JUAN'S CARD BECAUSE OF SOME CONFUSION WHERE THE CARDS WERE PUT, THAT YOU CALL IT TO MY ATTENTION. OKAY? BRENDA CURAN. SHE SIGNED UP FOR. HEATHER WAY. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? YOU WILL FOLLOW MR. TROXELL. MR. MOROU, YOU WILL FOLLOW HER. MR. TROXELL, WHENEVER YOU ARE READY.

>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS RICHARD TROXELL. I AM PRESIDENT OF HOUSE THE HOMELESS. HOUSE THE HOMELESS -- WHOA!

>> HOUSE THE HOMELESS IS AN ORIGINAL MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING OPPORTUNITY TRUST AND FULLY SUPPORTS THE ENTIRE PLATFORM CALLING FOR BOND MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> YEAH!

>> WE ALSO SUPPORT MONEY FOR PARKS AND SOME DOLLARS FOR TRANSPORTATION. BUT CLEARLY THIS MUST BE A BALANCED BOND INITIATIVE. INCORPORATING ALL THREE ISSUES. THE HOMELESS CITIZENS OF AUSTIN ARE SIMPLY THAT, HOMELESS. AND THERE ARE TWO COMPONENTS THAT KEEP US THAT WAY. ONE IS A NEED FOR A FAIR LIVING WAGE AND THE OTHER IS A NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WHAT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING? WELL, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, IT'S MINIMUM WAGE IN THIS COUNTRY IS $5.15 AN HOUR. THAT'S THE BOX THAT WE'RE BUILT INTO. WE CANNOT MOVE BEYOND THAT. IF $5.15 AN HOUR, THAT MEANS WE GET 12,000 DOLLARS A YEAR, YOU DIVIDE 12,000 DOLLARS A YEAR TO A MONTH AND IT'S A THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH. YOU YOU INSERT INTO THAT THE NATIONAL STANDARD THAT YOU SPEND NO MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF YOUR INCOME ON HOUSING, THAT'S $333 A MONTH. WHEN I KNOCK ON AN APARTMENT COMPLEX (KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK) AND I SAY I NEED HOUSING AND I'M A MINIMUM WAGE WORKER, I NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET HOUSING AT $333. [APPLAUSE]. IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN AND SUPPORT OUR BOOMING ECONOMY, WE NEED ENTRY LEVEL SERVICE WORKERS. CLEANING SERVICE WORKERS, FOOD SERVICE WORKERS, DAY LABOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS. AND AS FOR THE HOMELESS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS JUST ISSUED A REPORT THAT 40% OF THEM WORKING, WELL, IN AUSTIN IT'S 84%. BUT THEY ARE NOT EARNING ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS HOUSING. THIS -- THIS, -- THIS BOND MONEY MUST BE USED TO CREATE OPEN MARKET RENTAL HOUSING AT $333 A MONTH, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS OF AUSTIN. AND PEOPLE ARE ON THE VERGE OF LIVING ON THE STREETS OF AUSTIN. PEOPLE WANT TO WORK, PEOPLE NEED TO WORK, AND PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK. BUT THEY NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT $333 A MONTH. BECAUSE WE'RE IN THIS FEDERAL BOX. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR A HANDOUT. WE ARE CITIZENS -- [BUZZER SOUNDS] HAROLD, DO I HAVE TIME?

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON] WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR A HANDOUT. BUT WE ARE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN. AND WE PAY SALES TAX JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. AS AUSTIN CONTINUES TO PROSPER AT AN UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL, YOU CANNOT ALLOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW MINIMUM WAGE EMPLOYERS TO LEGALLY YET INADVERTENTLY CREATE HOMELESS IN OUR CITY. WE MUST CREATE MINIMUM WAGE HOUSING AT $333 A MONTH TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM NOW. CLEARLY WE NEED A UNIVERSAL LIVING WAGE THAT TAKES US UP TO THE LEVEL TO AFFORD HOUSING IN THE OPEN MARKET. BUT UNTIL THAT DAY, WE'RE HERE THIS DAY. WE ARE ON THE STREETS, BUT WORKING. TODAY. A FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE OF $5.15 AN HOUR DICTATES THAT WE -- IF WE ARE GOING TO ACCESS HOUSING, AND WHAT'S MORE MORAL THAN WORKING A 40 HOUR WEEK AND BEING ABLE TO PUT ON ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD? IT DICTATES $333 A MONTH. WELL, WE ARE, THANKS TO THE MAYOR, AT A POINT IN TIME THAT WE HAVE BOND MONEY. WE HAVE MONEY RIGHT NOW, AND WE HAVE A WAY TO PUT THIS PACKAGE TOGETHER. TO DEAL WITH THIS. OUR POOR WORKERS WHO RIDE THE BUS DESERVE THE SAME KIND OF CONSIDERATION AND SUPPORT AS THOSE OTHER WORKERS WHO WILL RIDE LIGHT RAIL. THIS IS -- WE'RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER. THIS MAYOR IS THE MAYOR OF ALL THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN. [APPLAUSE]. THIS COUNCIL IS THE COUNCIL OF ALL THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN. [APPLAUSE]. HOUSE THE HOMELESS! THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. TROXELL. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE].

>> YOU GUYS ARE GREAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MS. WADE FOLLOWED BY WALTER MOREAU.

>> MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION ESPECIALLY AT THIS LATE HOUR IN THE EVENING. IT'S ALMOST 10:00. I'M HERE AS A CITIZEN OF THIS COMMUNITY WHO IS EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AS A STAFF ATTORNEY AT LEGAL AID OF CENTRAL TEXAS, I HAVE A FILE UNDER A IN MY FILING CABINET THAT IS LABELED AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND THAT FILE IS THIS THICK. IT'S FILLED WITH ARTICLES THAT HAVE BEEN RUNNING IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN AND THE AUSTIN KRAN CAL TORE OVER THREE YEARS NOW ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. IT'S FILLED BY STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE BY H.U.D., BY NON-PROFIT AGENCIES, BY OUR OWN TASK FORCE THAT HAS BEEN CREATED BY THIS CITY ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN THIS CITY. BUT IF I WERE TONIGHT TO CREATE A FILE ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE SOLUTIONS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED THAT REALLY GET AT THIS PROBLEM, THAT FILE WOULD BE EMPTY. AND IF AS SOME FAMOUS COUNTRY SINGER SAID, THAT IS A CRYING SHAME.

>> YEAH!

>> IT REALLY IS. BUT TODAY YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU A SOLUTION THAT GETS AT THIS PROBLEM AND THAT'S THE PROPOSAL THAT'S BEEN PUT FORTH BY THE AUSTIN HOUSING OPPORTUNITY TRUST. [APPLAUSE]. AND I URGE YOU -- AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT TO PUT $25 MILLION ON THE BALLOT FOR BONDS ON THE BALLOT. SECOND, I URGE YOU TO FUND NOW, NOT 2002, NOT 2005, I URGE YOU TO FUND NOW, TODAY, THIS MONTH, THIS YEAR $10 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR FAMILIES EARNING 50% OR BELOW THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME. THE WORKING POOR OF THIS COMMUNITY. [APPLAUSE]. AND FINALLY I URGE YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS AND MAYOR, TO FIND A DEDICATED SOURCE OF REVENUE THAT WILL FUND EVERY YEAR $10 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO WORKING POOR -- TO WORKING POOR OF THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: WALTER MOREAU.

>> IT'S TIME FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF AUSTIN TO HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO FIND THE MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WHEN CS. C OR THE TRIANGLE DEVELOPERS OR INTEL COME KNOCKING ON THE DOOR AND SAY WE NEED TO FIND FIVE OR TEN OR 15 MILLION NOW OR WE'RE JUST -- WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO LOCATE THIS THIS CITY, WE MAY HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER TOWN, WE ACT. WE FIND THE MONEY. AND WE ACT FASHION. WE DON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME DEBATING IT. WHEN THE CAB DRIVERS AND MAIDS AND WAITERS AND TEACHERS AND POLICE OFFICERS AND JANITORS KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND SAY LOOK, WE NEED HELP WITH HOUSING COSTS OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF THIS TOWN, THE ANSWER THAT WE GIVE IS, WELL, LET'S PLAN IT A LITTLE BIT. LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. LET'S DEBATE. WE HAVE SOME FINANCE TOOLS. THEY ARE LOANS, SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO DEBT AND TAKE A LOAN AND MAYBE SAVE AN INTEREST RATE POINT. BY THE WAY, WE'RE BUILDING GREAT BIG WIDE ROADS OUT OF TOWN TOO SO IF YOU DO HAVE TO LEAVE, THERE'S AN EASY WAY TO GET OUT. [LAUGHTER]. [APPLAUSE]. IT'S GOING TO TAKE BIG MONEY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT. AND AS HEATHER SAID, THIS IS IS THE MONTH, THIS IS THE TIME TO PRESS THE STAFF, TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE MONEY IS. TO GO VISIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS. TO -- TO LOOK AT DEVELOPMENTS AND LOOK AT HOW THE FINANCING IS ARPGD AND FIGURE OUT WHERE ARRANGED AND FIGURE OUT WHERE THE EQUITY CAN COME FROM. THE DEBT TOOLS DON'T MATCH THE MONEY AVAILABLE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WHEN WE CAME TO YOU AND STRUGGLED WITH THE STAFF TO FIND A MIMDZ FOR OUR SOUTHWEST TRAILS PROJECT, WE FOUND SIX DOLLARS OF MATCH FOR EVERY DOLLAR FROM THE CITY. IT CAN BE DONE, BUT GETTING THE DOLLAR OUT OF THE CITY WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PIECES IN THE WHOLE EQUATION. IF YOU PUT THE EQUITY UP, THE PRIVATE MATCH WILL BE THERE AND WE CAN DO MORE HOUTIONING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME -- HOUTIONING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME -- HOUSING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU.

>>GARCIA: THANK YOU. I WASN'T SURE IF YOU WERE GOING TO MENTION THAT MILLION THE CITY WAS ABLE TO FIND TO HELP YOUR ORGANIZATION BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT'S ALL RIGHT SHE I WAS JUST MAKING A COMMENT. YOU HAD YOUR THREE MINUTES. [LAUGHTER] DENNY HAYWARD JUNIOR. ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK, SIR?

>> I GUESS.

>>SLUSHER: WELL, IT'S UP TOE. -- UP TO YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. GOOD EVENING PANEL. MY NAME IS BENNY HAYWARD. I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I'M ONE OF THE HOMELESS PEOPLE BECAUSE I LIVE HERE IN AUSTIN. I USED TO LIVE ON A BRIDGE FOR TWO YEARS. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ASK THAT YOU TURN AROUND AND USE THIS MONEY WISELY AND HELP -- IN HELPING US, THE HOMELESS PEOPLE OF AUSTIN. ME PARTICULARLY BECAUSE I SERVED YOU AND WHEN IT CAME TIME TO WORK FOR YOU, I CAME TO AUSTIN AND WORKED FOR 16 YEARS. NOW I'M UNABLE TO DO THE JOB THAT YOU WISH FOR ME TO DO EVEN THOUGH I WISH I COULD, I CAN'T THE EIGHT HOURS OR 16 HOURS I USED TO PUT IN. BUT THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT AT THIS POINT. THE POINT THAT I LIVED UNDER A BRIDGE FOR -- FOR THOSE TWO YEARS BECAUSE, ONE, I WAS UNABLE TO AFFORD HOUSING BECAUSE IT TAKES TWO JOBS IN ORDER FOR ME TO LIVE IN MY ONE APARTMENT, YOU KNOW, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE THAT SAME PROBLEM. IN ORDER TO LIVE IN AUSTIN, I WATCHED AUSTIN GROW ITS MANY BUILDINGS AND STUFF AND WHAT IS IT, IT TAKES TWO JOBS IN ORDER TO STAY HERE IN AUSTIN. MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME UP HERE WITH ME HAVE MOVED ALREADY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T WORK TWO JOBS OR THEY CAN'T WORK, PERIOD. AND THE COST OF AN APARTMENT NOWADAYS HAS JUST ROCKETED SKY HIGH THAT A PERSON THAT WORKS DAY LABOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT OR GOES OUT AND JUST MOWS LAWNS FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS CAN'T EVEN AFFORD AND THINK ABOUT HOUSING WHEN HE HAS TO THINK ABOUT HIS BELLY TO FILL AND STUFF LIKE THAT, GETTING BACK AND FORTH TO GO TO WORK. CONSIDERING ALL OF THAT, HOW DO YOU TURN AROUND AND BALANCE OUT OR BUDGET OUT A HOUSE OR APARTMENT OR AN EFFICIENCY. YOUR EFFICIENCY ALREADY COSTS US $500 A MONTH. SOMETHING I BARELY MAKE RIGHT NOW. THAT TAKES UP ALL MY CHECK RIGHT THERE. IF I TURN AROUND AND CONSIDER AN EFFICIENCY WITH THE MONEY I GET NOW, I'M BROKE. I WILL STARVE TO DEATH. I WOULDN'T HAVE MONEY FOR MY MEDICAL. FORGET IT. I WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE DREAMS TO THINK ABOUT VACATION LIKE PERHAPS SOME OF YOU OR MANY PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE GONE ON VACATION. FUNNY, I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF ONE. YOU KNOW. I MEAN IT'S JUST -- I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'VE GOT CONGESTION ON THE STREETS. I SEE THAT. I LIVE BY I I MEAN I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PARKS NEED WORK WITH TOO AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT YOU'VE GOT A REAL BIG ISSUE WITH PEOPLE LIVING UNDERNEATH YOUR NEWLY BUILT HIGHWAY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO PUT UP THERE AND YOUR PARKS AND OPEN SPACES, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE UP UNDER THERE.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: JOHN --. [YELLING].

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU. JOHN DEMAS. HOLD ON JUST A SECOND. JEFF FREEMAN. JEFF FREEMAN, YOU ARE THE NEXT SPEAKER. IS MR. FREEMAN HERE? OKAY. CLIFF JOHNS. YES, SIR. OKAY. AND MR. JOHNS WILL BE MARY BECK. OKAY, MR. BEMIS. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, SIR.

>> GREETINGS EVERYONE. I'M JOHN BEMIS, I'M HOMELESS AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE HUMAN BEINGS NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE. WE'RE NOT EXPENDABLE OR DO PEOPLE BELIEVE WE ARE. IF NOT, THEN HELP US. YOU'VE KNOWN OR WILL KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO BE HOMELESS, JUST PAY THE RENT AND NO OTHER BILLS, SLEEP IN YOUR APARTMENT AND NEVER USE THE SHOWER, TOILET, SING, KITCHEN, REFRIGERATOR, BLENDER, ET CETERA. TRY DOING THESE THINGS WITHOUT AN APARTMENT. THAT'S THIS NICE VERSION OF IT. I'M NOT GOING INTO THE UNPLEASANT TRIS OF HOMELESS. I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS THEM. I WOULD JUST LIKE YOU ALL TO PLEASE ALLOW ALL OF US AND THOSE NOT PRESENT TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY FUNDING US EQUALLY INTO THIS PACKAGE. IT ALSO SAYS ON OUR MONEY IN GOD WE TRUST. I'M TRUSTING GOD TO TRUST YOU TO MAKE FAIR CHOICES FOR ALL OF US. THANK YOU.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MR. BEMIS. [APPLAUSE]. GO AHEAD, MR. JOHNS.

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. AND THOSE WHO SHOWED UP FOR OUR CAUSE. THIS PICTURE DEPICTS A PERSON THAT YOU MAY THINK IN YOUR MIND LOOKS LIKE A BUM WHO IS STEALING A SHOPPING CART AND TO ME HE LOOKS LIKE AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR WHO IS TRYING TO KEEP FROM STEALING AND ROBBING YOUR HOUSE WHEN YOU ARE NOT HOME. I WORKDAY LABOR EVERY DAY. I GO OUT THERE, I WORK LABOR ON NORTH LAMAR AND I'M THERE 5:30 EVERY MORNING WHICH I WILL BE TOMORROW MORNING AND I ALWAYS AM GRATEFUL FOR ANY WORK THEY CAN SEND MY WAFMENT MY PROBLEM IS I PAID MY TAXES ON A DAILY BASIS AND I NET ABOUT $38 A DAY. AND I'M SURE THAT A NUMBER OF YOU SPEND THAT MUCH ON DOING LUNCH. AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE ANYWHERE ON THAT KIND OF MONEY. I CAN'T EVEN GET IN A MOTEL ROOM EVERY OTHER NIGHT OR SOMETHING AND HAVE FOOD TO EAT. I -- BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE HOUSING, I HAVE TO EAT PREPARED FOOD. SO THERE'S ANOTHER HIGH COST. IF WE GO TRY TO GET A COUPLE PEOPLE TO GET A MOTEL BY THE WEEK, WE HAVE TO LIE AND WE HAVE TO TELL THEM THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON STAYING THERE BECAUSE WE CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO DO THAT. AND YOU ARE STUCK WITH LIVING WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH IN COMMON WITH AT TIMES TOO. AND I REMEMBER BACK WHEN THE NEW CONVENTION CENTER WAS FIRST BUILT IN -- AND AUSTIN PROMISED US THAT THE JOBS WOULD TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF HOMELESS PEOPLE, THAT THEY COULD GO THERE AND LOOK FOR WORK, AND IT SURE DIDN'T COME TRUE, BUT BROWN & ROOT CAME OUT OF HOUSTON, TEXAS AND TOLD US WE WEREN'T WELCOME AND TO GET SOMEWHERE AND WE DIDN'T GET THOSE JOBS. NOW TODAY AT DAY LABOR I WANT TO TELL YOU YOU SAY, OKAY, WELL, IF YOU HAVE THE HEART OR SOMETHING YOU CAN SAVE THAT $2500 YOU GOT TO PUT DOWN FOR FIRST, LAST DEPOSITS, SECURITY THIS AND THAT, ELECTRIC AND PHONE AND BLAH, BLAH, BUT WHEN WE GO OUT ON A LOT OF THESE JOBS, THESE -- YOU WOULD BE AMAZED AT HOW MANY OF THE CONTRACTORS ARE COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN AND DOING THESE BIG REMODELS AND STUFF AND THEN THEY GET TO THE HARD PART OF THE JOB AND THEY WILL CALL FOR FOUR OR SIX GUYS LIKE MYSELF TO COME OUT THERE AND WE'LL GET A FOUR HOUR TICKET OUT OF IT BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVE US HUMP ALL THE DIRTY STUFF AND TELL US THEY DON'T NEED US ANYMORE. SO WE'RE NOT EVEN GETTING EIGHT HOURS HALF THE TIME. EVEN IF I WAS, IF I WAS GETTING MY EIGHT HOURS FIVE DAYS A WEEK, THEN I GOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE WEATHER, BECAUSE IF IT RAINS THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX DAYS OUT OF THE MONTH, I'M STUCK OUT WITHOUT RENT. OKAY? AND I'M LIVING ON THE STREETS RIGHT NOW AND I JUST WANTED TO COME HERE AND IMPRESS UPON YOU THE HEART THAT WE PUT BACK INTO THIS CITY. I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1970, AND I TRY TO HOLD MY HEAD UP HIGH AND BE HONEST WITH THE PEOPLE I DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS AND PUT IN A GOOD HARD'S DAY WORKS AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED SO PLEASE TOUN CONSIDER THAT. THANK YOU.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. JOHNS. [APPLAUSE]. BEFORE -- BEFORE MS. BETH STARTS, COUNCILMEMBERS, IT'S 13 MINUTES AFTER 10 AND UNDER OUR RULES WE NEED A MOTION IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE MEETING PAST 10:00.

>> SO MOVED.

>>GRIFFITH: SECOND.

>>SLUSHER: MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH TO CONTINUE THE COUNCILMEMBER MEETING PAST 10:00. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED, SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES 5-0 WITH THE MAYOR OFF THE DAIS AND MAYOR PRO TEM ABSENT. MARY BETH AND BEFORE YOU START, MS. BEST, HARRY O'LEARY, I MAY BE WRONG ABOUT THE FIRST NAME. OKAY. AND AFTER MS. O'LEARY, I CAN'T READ THE FIRST NAME. SCOTT.

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>SLUSHER: ANDRE. THANK YOU. MS. BEST.

>> GOOD EVENING, MY A NAME IS MARY, MY NAME IS BEST, I'M A RESIDENT HERE IN AUSTIN. I'VE LIVED HERE FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AND I HAVE BEEN VERY BLESSED WHILE LIVING IN THIS FAIR CITY. I'M A NATIVE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SO WE KNOW WHAT UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING IS LIKE. I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD FRAME OF REFERENCE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I CAME TO AUSTIN TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM THE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY AND UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING. OH, WELL. I THINK IT FOLLOWED ME. I'M WITH THE LIGHTHOUSE RECOVERY NETWORK. I'M THE FOUNDER AND ONE OF THE TEAM MEMBERS. WE ARE A GRASS ROOTS TEAM EFFORT THAT WORK AGAINST ADDICTIONS OF ALL TYPES FRX HOMELESSNESS, HUNGER AND POVERTY. OUR MOTTO, JUST SO YOU BECOME FAMILIAR WITH US, IS HELPING OUR FELLOWS ONE PERSON AT A TIME. IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE THE ONE THAT DOESN'T HAVE A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD THAT DAY FOR YOU TO HAVE HOUSING. IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT IF IT'S SOMEONE THAT YOU LOVE OR ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS OR FELLOW CO-WORKERS. WHAT WE DISCOVERED IN OUR LOCAL CIRCLES HERE IS THAT POVERTY DOESN'T HAVE ANY PREJUDICES. HOMELESSNESS DOESN'T HAVE ANY PREJUDICES. IT WILL TAKE ANYONE FROM ANY ECONOMIC BACKGROUND. IT WILL TAKE YOU WITH ANY QUALIFICATIONS, NO QUALIFICATIONS AT ALL, AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS MISS WORKING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. AND YOU TOO CAN BE HOMELESS. BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD ANY OF US HAD HOMELESS. WE'VE HEARD TALK THIS EVENING ABOUT THE WORKING POOR. THERE'S A LOT OF US IN AUSTIN. I PERSONALLY AND MY SOCIAL DISABILITY, I LIVE ON $833 A MONTH AND I'M VERY BLESSED. MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH. BUT ON THAT $833 A MONTH, I 42% OF MY INCOME TO SHARE AN EFFICIENCY APARTMENT WITH MY BROTHER. HE MAKES $7.35 AN HOUR AND WE CAN HARDLY AFFORD THE APARTMENT. HE WORKS GRAVEYARD. I DON'T WORK, BUTTED I HAVE TO VERY QUIETLY LIVE AROUND HIM SO THAT HE CAN SLEEP DURING THE DAY AND GO OUT AND WORK FOR $7.35 AS A SECURITY GUARD. THAT MEANS NEITHER ONE OF US ARE HOMELESS. BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE REPRESENTED TODAY THAT ARE HOMELESS. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT, NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR ME TODAY, BUT WHAT OUR ORGANIZATION IS DOING FOR THIS CITY TO GIVE BACK. WE HAVE ONE CHARTER IN MIND AND THAT'S TO RAISE FUNDS THAT DON'T HAVE ANY GOVERNMENT STRINGS ATTACHED TO THEM. THAT DON'T TELL US HOW TO SPEND THEM. THAT LET THE PEOPLE GOVERN THE CONSUMER, THE PERSON, WHETHER IT'S HOMELESSNESS ISSUE, WHETHER IT'S HUNGER, POVERTY OR THE FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. THESE ARE THE OTHER THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH HOMELESSNESS OR COULD CAUSE HOMELESSNESS. SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE GLOBALLY. WE BENEFIT HOUSE THE HOMELESS INCORPORATED, I PROUDLY HAVE WORKED WITH RICHARD TROXELL FOR SEVEN YEARS WHEN HE FIRST HELPED ME NOT BE HOMELESS BY HELPING ME GET SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY. [BUZZER SOUNDS].

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S THE BEST WE CAN DO FOR TODAY. THANKS.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MA'AM. MS. O'LEARY FOLLOWED BY MR. SCOTT, FOLLOWED BY JESUS CHRIST IT SAYS.

>> OH, HE'S HERE! HE'S HERE! JEEZ!

>>SLUSHER: COUNCILMEMBERS, WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM. ON WE GET ANOTHER COUNCILMEMBER OUT HERE? MR. SHOCK, WOULD YOU HOLD THE CLOCK UNTIL WE GET A QUORUM? OKAY. HERE WE GO. GO AHEAD, MS. O'LEARY.

>> THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE SO THAT I CAN SHARE WITH YOU MY HOPES TO HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. I WORK WITH THE HOMELESS FULL TIME EVERY DAY. I SEE THE NEEDS, I HEAR THE DREAMS, AND I KNOW THAT MOST OF THEM WANT SUCCEED. SOME NEED EDUCATION, SOME NEED HEALTH CARE, AND SOME NEED JUST THE BASICS. I HAVE STRUGGLED MANY TIMES TO FIND HOUSING OR TO ASSIST CLIENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE. THERE IS A SEVERE NEED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I SEE PEOPLE DAY IN AND DAY OUT WORKING MINIMUM WAGE JOBS. IT IS NOT EASY TO SURVIVE AND AFFORD A PLACE IN AUSTIN ON $5 AN HOUR. IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAVE MONEY WHEN YOU HAVE TO LIVE DAY BY DAY WITH NOWHERE TO SLEEP. THERE IS ONLY ONE SHELTER IN TOWN. I KNOW THAT THE WORKING HOMELESS WOULD LOVE TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN IF THERE WAS A PLACE AVAILABLE THAT THEY COULD AFFORD. SOME HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING AND KEEPING A JOB BECAUSE THEY ARE EXHAUSTED FROM WANDERING THE STREETS TOO TERRIFIED TO SLEEP. BEING HOMELESS IS A MAJOR CRISIS AND I HOPE THERE IS A SOLUTION. THESE PEOPLE ARE BARELY CRAWLING WHILE MOST OF US ARE WALKING TALL. CAN WE WORK TOGETHER TO OVERCOME THIS HURDLE? FINANCIAL SUPPORT COULD HELP BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. THIS COULD BE THE STEPPING STONE TO SUCCESS FOR MANY. REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE ON SOUP LINES WITH POTENTIAL. AND I'M COMMITTED TO HELPING THESE PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES BECOME PRODUCTIVE, RESPECTED AND INDEPENDENT CITIZENS OF OUR CITY. ONCE AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO HELP THE HOMELESS AND TO HELP THIS TOWN. CAN WE PLEASE WORK TOGETHER TO HELP? [APPLAUSE].

>> THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU ARE MS. -LEERY; IS THAT CORRECT? COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER? OKAY. ANDRE SCOTT. WELCOME, SIR.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS ANDRE SCOTT. THANK YOU MAYOR, THE REST OF THE PANEL. THERE I HAVE BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW THIS PICTURE RIGHT HERE. THE PICTURE THAT YOU SEE OF A HOMELESS PERSON. NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES HERE TODAY ABOUT THE RAIL SYSTEM, ABOUT THE PARKS AND THE HOMELESSNESS. NOW, THE PARKS ARE FINE AND THE RAIL SYSTEM IS FINE, BUT NOW IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE HOMELESS SITUATION DUE TO THE FACT OF THE HIGH INCOME LEVEL THAT THIS CITY IS STRESSING DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT'S BECAUSE OF THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY HAS TAKEN OVER THIS CITY BY SETTING THEIR OWN PRICE QUOTAS ON HIGH PRICED RENT, THEN AS THE PANEL BACK HERE OF YOU ALL, YOU ALL ARE GOING TO SEE THIS IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS. YOU ARE GOING TO SEE PEOPLE PUSHING A BASKET AROUND FOR THE SIMPLE FACT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND NO HOUSING. WHAT WE REALLY NEEDED TO IS -- WHAT I BELIEVE IS WE REALLY NEED TO FIND OUT A GREAT WAY TO ADDRESS THIS FACT. NOW, THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS FACT THAT I KNOW OF IS TO PLACE UP THE MINIMUM WAGE. $5.15 AN HOUR. WE CAN'T SURVIVE ON $5.15 AN HOUR. I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE DUE TO THE FACT OF THE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY IS COMING HERE TO AUSTIN. I PRAY THE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY -- PRAISE THE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY. I'M AN EX POLICE OFFICER OUT OF NEW ORLEANS. I USED TO WORK FOR THE SHERIFF'S POLICE DEPARTMENT OUT THERE. I WAS A MOTORCYCLE CYCLE PATROL. I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR A YEAR. I USED TO WORK FOR BUTLER CONSTRUCTION IN LAKEWAY, TEXAS. AND DUE TO THE FACT OF AN INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE WITH MY SUPERVISOR WHO PRAISE GOD HE'S IN HEAVEN NOW, IT FORCED ME TO LEAVE WHERE I WAS LIVING AT AND I'M LIVING AT THE BUNK HOUSE DOWNTOWN. I'M PAYING $200 A MONTH FOR A BUNK HOUSE WHERE I HAVE TO SHARE A MAT ON THE FLOOR WITH SOMEONE. AND THAT'S NOT -- THAT'S NOT RIGHT. BUT I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN CAN FOR RIGHT NOW. THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY.

>> ALL RIGHT! [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. SOMEONE SIGNING UP WITH THE NAME -- AND USING THE NAME JESUS CHRIST. IF THAT'S THE NAME YOU ARE USING TONIGHT, WILL YOU GET THE CHANCE TO TESTIFY. BUT I'M REAL INTERESTED TO SEE WHETHER YOU ARE HERE. [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE IT IS A LONG NIGHT AND I'M A LITTLE WORRIED THAT YOU'VE SHOWN UP. [LAUGHTER].

>>SLUSHER: DID THEY WRITE ANYTHING ON THE BACK?

>>MAYOR WATSON: DEFINITELY FOR. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE].

>>SLUSHER: IS HE FOR THE ROADS? MAYOR, WAS HE FOR THE ROADS? WAS HE FOR THE ROADS TOO?

>>MAYOR WATSON: DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE ROADS. ACTUALLY, IT IS ITEM 87. WELL, -- WELL, LET'S MOVE ON. JEREMY MIZZUR. JEREMY MIZZUR SIGNED UP FOR. JOHN HINTERBURGER. HE IS COMING FORWARD. DEMETRIUS KING.

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. DAVE SULLIVAN AND EYE RIGS BOWMAN. -- IRIS BOWMAN. ARE EITHER OF YOU FOR? THEY ARE FOR AND SAY SUPPORT A LIVEABLE CITY. MS. WONG, YOU WILL FOLLOW MR. HINTERBURGER. GO AHEAD.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'LL KEEP IT VERY BRIEF. I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GREAT PATIENCE. I'M JOHN HINTERBERGER, THE TEXAS LOW HOUSING INFORMATION SERVICE. EVERY DAY I ANSWER THE PHONE AT MY OFFICE AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE LEVEL OF PHONE CALLS THAT WE GET FROM PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN TRYING TO FIND HOUSING IS OVERWHELMING AT THIS TIME. I KNOW THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL CARES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WANTS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK IT IS VITAL THAT WE HAVE $25 MILLION OF EQUITY THROUGH A BOND PACKAGE. I DON'T THINK THAT A CONTINUED STREAM OF FUNDS, WHILE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, IS GOING TO DO THE TYPE OF SIGNIFICANT WORK WHICH WE NEEDED TO. THE LAST TIME AUSTIN TOOK A SERIOUS ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM WAS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF OUR THEN CONGRESSMAN LYNDON JOHNSON IN 1938 WHEN WE BUILT THREE PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IN EAST AUSTIN. IT WAS A COURAGEOUS EFFORT. THERE WAS A MEETING MUCH LIKE THIS ONE TONIGHT IN THE OLD AUSTIN CITY HALL, CITY COUNCILL CHAMBERS DOWN WHERE YOUR OFFICES ARE TODAY. AND IT WAS AS THERE IS HERE TONIGHT, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME OUT. AND CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON GAVE A SPEECH CALLED THE TARNISH ON THE VIOLET CROWN. IN THAT SPEECH HE SAID THAT THIS CITY CAN NEVER BE TRULY PROUD OF ITSELF UNTIL IT HAD PROUD PROVIDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE WORKING PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY. HE MADE A CHALLENGE, STOOD UP AS A LEADER. THE TOWN HAD A VERY CONTENTIOUS PUBLIC ELECTION ON VOTING FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FIRST BONDS AND THE MONEY TO BUILD THE THREE PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IN EAST AUSTIN. IT PASSED. I BELIEVE WE'RE AT THIS TYPE OF WATERSHED MOMENT AT THIS TIME. THIS CITY WILL SOON BE IN THE POSITION OF CITIES LIKE PORTLAND AND SEATTLE AND SAN FRANCISCO, CITIES WHERE THE WORKING CLASS CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES ANYMORE UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING BOLD. WE NEED TO STAND UP. WE NEED THE LEAPER SHIP THAT WE HAD IN 138. THAT TYPE OF LEADERSHIP. I ASK YOU, PLEASE, LET'S BE BOLD, LET'S DO THE RIGHT THING. LET'S VOTE FOR THE BONDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. K. C. WONG, YOU WILL HAVE UP TO SIX MINUTES IF YOU NEED IT. SET THE CLOCK FOR SIX MINUTES.

>> HI, GOOD EVENING. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. HOPE YOU ARE NOT AS COLD AND HUNGRY AS MY SON. I'M BASICALLY A HEALER AND -- AND A ENTERTAIN R AND MY SON DOES STANDUP COMEDY SINCE I WAS FIVE AND HE DID IN THIS COUNTRY -- I MEAN AUSTIN AND I WANT TO DO A REAL SHORT SONG BECAUSE THE -- WE'RE LEAVING FOR ALASKA, I'M TAKING HIM TO GO AROUND THE WORLD AND FOR THE EXPERIENCES WE'VE HAD IN AUSTIN AND I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU THE STORY AND I HOPE WILL HELP AUSTIN TO GROW. AND THE SONG IS CALLED UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. [SINGING. ]. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE].

>> WE CAME TO AUSTIN IN '97 AND WE WERE HOMELESS. RATHER, WE WERE LEASELESS BECAUSE MOTHER EARTH IS MY HOME FOR THREE MONTH BECAUSE WE HAD A NO RENTAL HISTORY HERE IN AUSTIN. AND EVEN THOUGH WE SPENT FIVE YEARS IN TAIWAN AND EIGHT YEARS IN ANOTHER PLACE, AND HE REMEMBER ONE NIGHT I WAITED UNTIL THE POLICE CAR LEFT AND I CARRIED MY SON -- AT THE TIME HE WAS EIGHT AND HE WAS 65 POUNDS, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE STEPS AND ALL THE WAY TO THE CLIFF. AND IT WAS FIVE IN THE MORNING AND THERE WERE SEARCHING LIGHTS LOOKING FOR US AND LUCKILY I HAD THE SHEETS AND THEY DIDN'T DISCOVER US. IT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS TRAUMA FOR MY SON TO GO THROUGH. AND THEN I PAID MORE THAN $12,000 AND RENTED A PLACE OUT A SOUTH LAMAR FOR TWO YEARS. AND WE WERE WRONGFULLY, ILLEGALLY EVICTED TWICE. MORE THAN ONCE, TWICE. AND THE PRECINCT 3, I BELIEVE HIS NAME IS JOHN DAVIS, I REMEMBER 18 HOURS BEFORE MY COURT AND I SAW HIM MEETING WITH MY LANDLORD AND HIS WIFE IN THE ROOM. THE ONLY REASON I KNOW THEY WERE DOING IT ILLEGALLY BECAUSE MY LANDLADY DUCKED. SHE DUCKED WHEN SHE SAW ME. AND OKAY, I'M NOT HERE TO CALL NAMES, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. EVEN THOUGH I WROTE THEM DOWN. AND AFTER NINE AND A HALF MONTHS FROM THE SUMMER OF '99, WENT THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS AND CHRISTMAS UNTIL THE END OF JUNE OF THIS YEAR WE WERE HOMELESS. AND JUST NOW WE BOUGHT A TRAILER PARK AT SHADY GROVE. AND THE SECOND DAY WE STARTED BEING THREATENED TO BE EVICTED BY THE MANAGER. WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE OWNER, WHICH SHE HAS A TOOMEY ROAD IS AFTER THEIR FAMILY NAME. WITH HER PERMISSION SHE ALLOWED HER MANAGER TO HARASS US, SHINING FLASHLIGHTS 11 AT NIGHT THROUGH OUR WINDOWS IN THE TRAILER. AND HE'S THREATENED MY SON WITHOUT MY PRESENCE TO EVICT US BASED ON ALL THE LITTLE THINGS THAT HE ALLOWS OTHER PEOPLE TO DO IN THE PARK, BUT WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO IT. FOR SIMPLE THINGS LIKE HANGING BATHING SUITS AND TOWELS ON THE BACK OF THE TRAILER.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. LORI O'MALLLY.

>> WE'LL BE BACK.

>> I WAS CALLED EARLIER. IF I COULD BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK.

>>MAYOR WATSON: DID I SKIP OVER YOU AND GO TO SOMEONE ELSE?

>> YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I APOLOGIZE. PLEASE.

>> MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILL. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. I ADMIRE YOU FOR STAYING SO LATE HERE. ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS I LIKE ABOUT BEING IN AUSTIN IS THE DEMOCRATIC TOWN AND THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A TOWN WHERE EVERYONE'S WELCOME, AT LEAST ON ITS FACE. BUT I THINK THERE'S KIND OF A HOR RABL CONTRIBUTION HAPPENING HERE. AND THAT IS THE CITY COUNCILL WILL GO OUT OF ITS WAY TO OPEN BIG BUSINESS HERE LIKE SAMSUNG, DELL, BRING THE MONEY, BRING THE JOBS HERE, WE'LL BRING THE ROADS AND BUILD THE PARKS AND THINGS YOU LIKE. AND THAT'S GOOD. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH MONEY COMING TO AUSTIN, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH JOBS COMING TO AUSTIN. INDEED THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE CITY'S PUBLIC INTEREST. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE BRING THESE KINDS OF JOBS TO TOWN AND YOU'RE CREATING A HOUSING MARKET THAT'S OUT OF CONTROL. WE HAVE SPIRALLING RENTS, WE HAVE HOME OWNERSHIP PRICES ARE BEYOND THE ROOF. WHERE THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT A LARGE PORTION OF THE PEOPLE THAT USED TO LIVE HERE NO LONGER CAN. AND IN CERTAIN WAYS THE LOW INCOME PEOPLE, THE POOR PEOPLE OF AUSTIN ARE BEING PRICED OUT OF TOWN. I REMEMBER I WAS ONCE TALKING WITH A JANITOR AT A BAPTIST CHURCH SOMEWHERE DOWNTOWN. WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT LIVING IN AUSTIN. AND HE WAS SAYING, IT'S REALLY EXPENSIVE HERE. I MEAN, WHERE ARE THE BURGER FLIPPERS AND THE JANITORS GOING TO LIVE? AND I SAID WELL, I DON'T KNOW. AND HE SAID, WELL, IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PAY PEOPLE $15 AN HOUR TO FLIPBURG OTHERS OR SWEEP THE FLOOR.

>> I WAS LIKE YEAH THAT'S THE WAY THINGS ARE. SADLY THAT IS THE WAY THINGS ARE AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU GUYS TO CHANGE IT SO IT NO LONGER HAS TO BE THAT WAY AND WE CAN TRULY BE A DEMOCRAT ACCURATE TICK SMALL D TOWN. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. LORI O'MALLLY? I'M SORRY. SHE SIGNED UP FOR. MR. SIING MONDAY. SIGMOND.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK REAL QUICKLY ON 86. I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY PASSED, BUT I WON'T TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME. AS PART OF THIS BOND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER INCLUDING FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY GARDEN SPACE AND SMALL SCALE URBAN AGRICULTURE. AUSTIN -- AS AUSTIN SPRAULZ MORE AND MORE, MORE AND USABLE FARMLAND IS DEVELOPED. AND I'D LIKE TO QUOTE A USDA REPORT FROM 1998 STATING THAT TEXAS IS THE SECOND STATE IN THE U.S. MOST RAPIDLY LOSING FARMABLE LAND, IE SPECIFICALLY THE BLACK LAND PRAIRIE. THE MORE ROADS YOU BUILD, THE MORE LAND IS DEVELOPED OUTSIDE OF TOWN, SPECIFICALLY 45 AND SH 130 WHICH ARE OUTSIDE OF TOWN AND RIGHT THROUGH FARMABLE LAND. COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECTS AND SMALL SCALE URBAN AGRICULTURE IS A VERY EASILY ATTAINABLE SOLUTION TO ACCESS TO NUTRITIONAL FOOD IN LOW INCOME AREAS. STEWARD SHIP RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LAND AND GOOD USES OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES. AND IT ALSO TAKES ONE SEASON TO SEE RESULTS. SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER THAT AS A GOOD SOLUTION. [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: KAREN KROFT? SHE SIGNED UP FOR. SCOTT JOHNSON? HE SIGNED UP FOR. I THINK -- I'M SORRY. COME FORWARD. GET. GO FOR IT.

>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE HOUSING BONDS. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE MADE A NUMBER OF VERY GOOD POINTS. I THINK WHAT I WANT TO GO BACK TO IS THAT YOU IN THED THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WEARING RED IN THE AUDIENCE THIS EVENING. AND I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN WE STARTED THE AUSTIN HOUSING OPPORTUNITY TRUST COALITION, WE LOOKED AT THE ACRONYM AND WE SAID IT'S A HOT IDEA FOR AUSTIN AND WE THOUGHT IF WE ALL WORE RED THIS EVENING THAT WE WOULD SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR THE HOUSING BOND AND FOR HOUSING PROGRAMS IN GENERAL. AUSTIN HOUSING OPPORTUNITY TRUST COALITION PROPOSED SEVERAL THINGS. ONE OF THEM WAS GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. AND ALSO WE PROPOSED THAT WE SET UP A DEDICATED STREAM OF REVENUE THAT WOULD BRING IN 10 MILLION DOLLARS EACH YEAR FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE NEED THAT MONEY. IT'S PLAIN FROM THE TESTIMONY THAT WE'VE HEARD TESTIMONY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE MINIMUM WAGE JOBS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED A FEW PROMOTIONS BEYOND THAT THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING IN AUSTIN. THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE HEARD OF THAT ARE ON SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS. I HEARD YESTERDAY OF A MAN WHO IS AN ELDERLY MAN, HE LIVES IN THE LOBBY OF A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY BECAUSE HE CAN'T FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN WHO CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING. WHEN WE STARTED THE AUSTIN HOUSING OPPORTUNITY TRUST COALITION, WE CAME TOGETHER TO FIND WAYS THAT GOT BEYOND THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE. WE DON'T GET ENOUGH MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR PUBLIC HOUSE SECTION SECTION EIGHT OR CDBG. WE DON'T DO ENOUGH WITH MORTGAGE REVENUE BONDS OR OTHER INSTRUMENTS TO REACH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DEALING WITH HOUSING PROBLEMS ON A DAILY BASIS. WE KNEW THAT WE NEEDED TO DO WHAT OTHER PROGRESSIVE CITIES IN THIS COUNT