Closed Caption Log, Council Meeting, 03/22/01

>>MAYOR WATSON: THE METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH. REVEREND, WE'RE VERY PLEASED YOU'RE WITH US. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. WE ARE FILLED WITH GRATITUDE, OH, GOD, FOR THE GIFT OF THIS BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY. WE THANK YOU FOR THE SIGNS OF NEW LIFE AND HOPE AND PROMISE THAT SPRING FORTH AROUND US EVERYWHERE AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING HERE. WE THANK YOU FOR THE HEART OF THIS GREAT CITY AND THE WAY IT BEATS WITH DETERMINATION TO PRESERVE THE VALUES THAT MAKE THIS A SOMETHING AND UNIQUE PLACE. THE VALUES OF JUSTICE AND COMPASSION, OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AND CARE FOR ALL OF YOUR CREATION. WE THANK YOU FOR THESE FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF THIS CITY AND WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THEM WITH DISCERNMENT AND WITH WISDOM THAT THEY MAY BE GOOD STEWARDS OF ALL OF THESE VALUES. IN ALL THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE ON OUR BEHALF. WE PRAY IN ALL OF YOUR MANY SACRED NAMES, AMEN.

>>MAYOR WATSON: REVEREND, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHEN WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE CITY COUNCILL PRESENT, I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IT IS THURSDAY, MARCH 22ND, 2001. THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA WILL BE THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING, MARCH EIGHTH, 2001. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MOTION IS TO APPROVE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. IS THERE' SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? [INAUDIBLE]. THE MOTION CARRIES ON MOTION NUMBER ONE. COUNCIL, LET'S GO -- LET ME READ TO YOU CHANGES IN CORRECTION TO THE AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER 2 IS POSTPONED INDEFINITELY. ITEM NO. 5 HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER 7 AND 8 ARE POSTPONED INDEFINITELY. ITEM NUMBER 14, IF YOU GO TO THE END OF THAT IT SAYS RECOMMENDED BY BOARD OF, THAT SHOULD SAY RECOMMENDED BY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS. RECOMMENDED BY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS. AT OUN 1:30 CERTAIN, ITEMS 49 THROUGH 54 WE NEED TO ADD ONE PERSON, AND THAT IS JENNIFER GALE. ITEM NUMBER 64, CHANGE -- LET ME READ. C 14 OO 22119, PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND CHAPTER 25 O 2 OF THE CITY CODE BY REZONING PROPERTY TO DAKOTA LANE. GO DOWN TO WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT THE PK RECOMMENDATION, WHICH IS THE FIFTH LINE DOWN. PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO GRANT, DELETE LO-CO AND PUT G. O.-CO, DELETE LIMITED OFFICE AND PUT GENERAL OFFICE. CONDITIONAL OVERLAY COMBINING DISTRICT ZONING WITH CONDITIONS FOR TRACT ONE AND DELETE GO-CO THERE AND PUT LO-CO. ITEM NUMBER 67, AGAIN GO DOWN TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION. IT SHOULD READ PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION, TO GRANT, PUT THE WORD IN GRANT LO-MU. ITEMS THAT ARE SET FOR A TIME CERTAIN AT 1:30 P.M., GENERAL CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. :30 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. 4:00 O'CLOCK THE ZONING ITEMS 55 THROUGH 67. 5:30 LIVE MUSIC AND PROCLAMATIONS AND 6:00 O'CLOCK ITEM NUMBER 68, A PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND CHAPTER 25-4 OF THE CITY CODE RELATING TO THE SUBDIVISION OF LAND. COUNCIL, BY THE WAY, ON SUM IT BE 68, THAT PUBLIC HEARING, BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH SO MANY DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND HAD A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HEARINGS, MY RECOMMENDATION IS GOING TO BE THAT WE SET ASIDE AN HOUR FOR THAT PUBLIC HEARING. WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY IS 40 MINUTES AND HAVE 20 MINUTES OF SIDE, BUT WHAT WE COULD DO IS 30 MINUTES ASIGH AND JUST ANNOUNCE THAT NOW AS A RECOMMENDATION SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ORGANIZE WITH REGARD TO THAT SO WE CAN GET A GOOD CLEAN PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT ITEM. WE ARE NOT ACTING ON THAT ITEM TODAY. IT IS JUST A PUBLIC HEARING. BUT THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE A GOOD CLEAN PUBLIC HEARING AND HAVE 30'S MINUTES ASIDE. WITH THAT LET ME GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE CONSENT AGENDA -- I'LL TELL YOU WHAT LET DO. BEFORE WE GO TO THAT LET ME GO TO A PREVIEW OF ITEMS FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING AND SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: YES, MAYOR. THE -- WE'RE MOVING FORWARD RAPIDLY ON OUR TRYING TO CATCH UP ON YOUR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IN THIS REGION. AND ONE BIG PART OF THAT ARE THE FUNDS THAT ARE COMING FROM CAPITAL METRO IN THE QUARTER-CENT TAX, THE 91 MILLION THAT CAPITAL METRO IS PUTTING INTO REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, AND THAT INCLUDES 20 MILLION THAT IS GOING TO BE FRONT LOADED FROM THE BUILD GREATER AUSTIN PROGRAM, THE CITY'S SHARE OF THAT. AND THE CITY MANAGER HAS PUT OUT A MEMO ABOUT WHERE STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED FOR THIS TO GO, BUT I THINK THAT MEMO HAS MORE THAN WOULD BE FUNDED BY THIS AND OUR OTHER -- AND OUR 150 MILLION IN BONDS. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, AND I'LL POST THIS FOR NEXT WEEK, IS FOR THE MANAGER TO DEVELOP A PROCESS UNDERWHICH WE WILL AWARD OR DECIDE WHERE THIS MONEY GOES. AND INCLUDING THAT THERE'S 15% OF IT THAT'S GOING TO -- 15% OF THE QUARTER-CENT TAX IS GOING TO GO TO BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN USES, JUST LIKE HAPPENS WITH CAMPO. AND THE OTHER PART WE'RE LOOKING AT NORTH MOPAC. AND WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE OF IS WE DON'T END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE WE JUST HAVE COUNCILMEMBERS PUT ON DIFFERENT ITEMS AND THEN WE HAVE TO DECIDE ON THEM INDIVIDUALLY RATHER THAN LOOK AT THE PACKAGE AS A WHOLE. SO I WOULD PROPOSE SOMETHING FOR NEXT WEEK TO INSTRUCT THE CITY MANAGER TO VERY QUICKLY DEVELOP A PROCESS LIKE THAT. AND ALSO I WANT TO SAY RIGHT NOW THAT FOR -- PROBABLY OUT OF THE BTA FUNDS I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING TAKING SOME OF THAT MONEY AND FINISHING THE LAMAR PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE BRIDGE, IT IS VERY LEAST BET G.T.E.ING IT OVER CESAR CHAVEZ BACK TO WHERE IT HOOKS UP WITH LAMAR. AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE FOR OUR CITIZENS. I THINK THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE USE OF THAT MONEY. SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THAT USE OF IT, BUT I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD GO THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR NEXT WEEK?

>>ALVAREZ: YES, THANKS, MAYOR. NEXT WEEK WE'LL BE BRINGING FORWARD WITH COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER AND KMOMZ THE -- KMZ KMZ -- -- YOU MAY HAVE READ ABOUT OR SEEN IN THE NEWS LAST WEEK AND THE RESPONSE TO THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN VERY GREAT FROM THE COMMUNITY BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE. AND AGAIN, THE ONLY ROLE THAT -- FROM THE CITY'S POINT OF VIEW THAT WE SEE AT THIS POINT WITH THIS PILOT PROJECT WHICH TARGETS THREE HOMES IS THAT WE WILL BE ASKING FOR THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT TO WAIVE BUILDING PERMIT FEES AND SO WE WILL BRING THAT TO THE COUNCIL NEXT WEEK FOR CONSIDERATION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM?

>>GOODMAN: THANKS, MAYOR. I HAVE A RESOLUTION FOR DIRECTION TO THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT OR PLANNING DEPARTMENT, I'M NOT SURE WHAT ITS NAME IS OR WILL BE BY NEXT WEEK, FOR A PILOT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT FOR THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND AUSTIN LE BRACK'S FOLKS FOR SHOAL CREEK AND THAT WOULD BE OUT OF THE EARMARKED 500,000 DOLLARS THAT WE HAD FOR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE SHOWING MOTIVATION AND TRYING TO GET RESOURCES OF THEIR OWN.

>>MAYOR WATSON: CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOUR OFFICE -- .

>> YES, SIR, THREE QUICK THINGS. WE'LL HAVE THE GREEN BUILDERS REPORT BRIEFING NEXT WEEK. WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE PARK INITIATIVE THAT COUNCILMEMBER WYNN BEGAN. WE HAVE A LEASE ARGUMENT WITH THE ARTS CENTER STAGE. WE STILL HAVE THIKZ THINGS TO WORK OUT, BUT WE HAD IT ON FOR THE 29TH. WE PUT THAT AS A TARGET TO GET IT DONE AND COMPLETED AND FINE WILLLY THE VERY ROUTINE ITEMS THAT MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN HAD TALKED ABOUT A MINUTE AGO TO BECOME OFFICIAL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

>>WYNN: I'LL BE WORKING AGAIN THIS WEEK TO -- ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER TO HELP US TRY TO DEFINE HOW WE GO OUT AND MATCH PRIVATE SECTOR FUNDING FOR OPEN SPACE ACQUISITIONS. AS EVERYBODY REMEMBERS THIS PAST NOVEMBER THE VOTERS APPROVED ABOUT 13 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION BONDS CONTINGENT ON FINDING PRIVATE SECTOR MATCHES. THE HILL COUNTRY CONSERVE VANT SI, ONE OF -- AN OBVIOUS PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNER HAS ORGANIZED THEIR FUND-RAISING TEAM AND EFFORT AND SO COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER AND I WILL BE COMING FORWARD WITH SOME DEFINING RESOLUTION IN ORDER FOR THEM TO MOVE FORWARD ON THEIR FUND-RAISING.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

>> JUST THE ONE WITH COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM AND IT'S BEEN VERY PRODUCTIVE AND WE WANT TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP IT MOVE ON.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK Y'ALL. LET'S GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. COUNCIL, LET ME READ THE ITEMS THAT I BELIEVE HAVE BEEN PULLED FIRST. SEVEN AND EIGHT, WHICH I INDICATED HAVE BEEN POSTPONED INDEFINITELY. ITEM NUMBER 12 HAS BEEN PULLED. ITEM NUMBER 14, ITEM NUMBER 16, ITEM NUMBER 34, 41 AND 42, 47 HAS BEEN PULLED. AND WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THAT, IS BRING IT UP WHEN WE BRING UP THE ZONING ITEMS AT THE 4:00 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN. WITH THAT LET ME READ THE PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA. 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40. 43, 44, 45, 46 AND 48. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ. MOTION IS MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. LET ME ASK FIRST IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT HAS BEEN READ? YES, MA'AM? ARE YOU FOR IT OR AGAINST IT? ALL RIGHT. DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT? OKAY. [LAUGHTER]. WE'LL SHOW YOU IN FAVOR. ANYONE ELSE THAT INDICATES THEY WANT TO TALK? [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, MY INDICATION IS THEY WERE PUT BACK ON THE AGENDA. ALL RIGHT.

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: ON NUMBER 11 I WANTED TO HAVE A SHORT BRIEFING FROM MR. HEIGHTS. I CAN EITHER PULL THAT OR HE CAN DO IT NOW SEEING IT'S LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES. WE CAN DO IT EITHER WAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE'LL DO IT THAT WAY AND LEAVE IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. WITH THAT -- IF THERE'S NO ONE WISHING TO BE HEARD, ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, LET ME MAKE ONE COMMENT BEFORE I CALLED UP ABOUT HYDE. ON ITEM NUMBER 48, WHICH IS ALSO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THIS IS A MAJOR STEP IN THE REGION. THIS RELATES TO THE AIR QUALITY OF THE REGION. COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE BEEN BRIEFED BEFORE ABOUT THE WAY WE'RE TRYING TO APPROACH THIS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO IS WE CREATED -- I BROUGHT TOGETHER SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM THE FIVE-COUNTY REGION. I'VE ALSO INVITED THE COUNTY JUDGES FROM TWO OTHER COUNTIES, FAYETTE COUNTY AND MILAM COUNTY, GILLESPIE WAS INVOLVED IN THAT, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE NO ONE IS ASKING GILLESPIE COUNTY TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT. IT'S FAYETTE COUNTY. MAY YET AND MILAM COUNTIES TO ALSO BE PART OF THIS GROUP. THIS GROUP HAS CREATED A TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE IT'S THE FIRST KIND OF TECHNICAL ADVISEMENT COMMITTEE WE HAVE HAD IN AUSTIN OR IN CENTRAL TEXAS FOR THIS SORT OF ACTIVITY. THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS CHAIRED BY DR. ALVAREZ OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE AND JOE GISELMAN, WHO IS ONE OF THE DIRECTORS OF TRANSPORTATION AT TRAVIS COUNTY. AND THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS COME TOGETHER WITH A SERIES OF ITEMS TO BE MODELED, TO DO SCIENTIFIC MODELING BECAUSE OUR GOAL IS TO CLEAN UP THE AIR. BUT TO CLEAN UP THE AIR IN A WAY THAT IS THE MOST FLEXIBLE, GETS US THE BIGGEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK, IT IS THE LEAST RESTRICT ACTIVE IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES, BUT CLEAN UP THE CARE TO MAKE OUR AIR HEALTHY. WE ARE MOVING IN A PRETTY RAPID CLIP TO GET THAT DONE. BY THIS RESOLUTION WE'RE WE ARE NOT COMMITTING TO WHAT THE APPROACH WILL BE, BUT WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE'RE GOING TO INDICATE OUR DESIRE TO GO INTO WHAT ARE CALLED AN O 3 FLEX PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CLEANING UP THE AIR EVEN THOUGH WE MAY NOT HAVE YET BEEN DECLARED NON-ATTAINMENT BY THE ENVIRONMENT AL PROTECTION AGENCY. NOW, I'VE BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH E.P.A.. THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, JUST SO THE PEOPLE WILL KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF THE GROUP ARE THE OR THE COUNTIES ANYWAY ARE WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND ROUND ROCK, THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK. TRAVIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, HAYS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS, CALDWELL COUNTY AND THE CITY OF LOCKHART AND BASTROP COUNTY. IN OUR MEETINGS IT HAS BEEN INDICATED THAT EVERY ONE OF THOSE JURISDICTIONS IS GOING TO PASS THE SAME RESOLUTION. ONCE ALL THESE -- AND SOME OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN PASSED DURING THIS WEEK. TRAVIS COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, IS POSTED FOR NEXT TUESDAY. ONCE THOSE PASS WE WILL PUT TOGETHER A COMPLETE RESOLUTION WITH ALL OF THOSE ENTITIES INVOLVED AND WE WILL SEND THAT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. SO THIS IS -- THIS IS A FIRST FOR THIS REGION AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS VERY BENEFICIAL. MR. HYDE?

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M MIKE HITES, ACTING DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND WATERSHED PROTECTION. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME DETAILS OR BULLETS ON THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE SAN ANTONIO ORDINANCE AS PERTAINS TO ASBESTOS TOSS ABATEMENT AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN. IN SAN ANTONIO THEIR ORDINANCE REQUIRES THAT ALL ILLEGAL ASBESTOS REPORTS TO BE REPORTED TO HEALTH DEPARTMENT. OUR ORDINANCE WILL DO THE SAME. WE WILL NOT ISSUE PERMITS WITHOUT THE ASBESTOS SURVEY AND WE WILL DO THE SAME. CITY PROPERTY REQUIRES ASBESTOS CONTROL WITH SAN ANTONIO. WITH US IN 1992 WE HAD A BOND ELECTION TO FUND ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PROJECTS. THE CITY HAS EXISTING POLICY AND PUBLIC WORKS REGARDING PURCHASES, SALES OR DEMOLITION OF BUILDINGS. AND WE'RE GOING TO REINFORCE THE EXISTING CITY POLICY IN THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE. THERE'S NO COST FOR THE CITY ON EITHER ONE OF THESE, SAN ANTONIO OR AUSTIN. THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION TO DO A SURVEY OF A MINIMUM OF 600 DOLLARS, AND THAT'S A SURVEY THAT FINDS IF THERE'S ASBESTOS PRODUCTS IN THE STRUCTURE. TIME ADDED TO CONSTRUCTION IS THREE DAYS AND THREE WEEKS AND THAT WOULD BE THE SAME WITH US. THEIRS DOES NOT ADDRESS OTHER MATERIALS, MATERIALS OR PRODUCTS BEING INSTALLED. WITH OUR PROPOSED ORDINANCE, WE WILL PROHIBIT ASBESTOS PRODUCTS OR MATERIALS FROM BEING INSTALLED IN ANY NEW OR RENOVATED BUILDING. WE WILL ALSO HAVE A FINE IN PLACE OF 2,000 DOLLARS WHICH WOULD BE -- WHICH WOULD INVIOLATE ANY OF THE PROVISIONS IN THE ORDINANCE. AND ONE CHING IS WE WILL REQUIRE FEDERAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. THERE IS FEDERAL LAW IF YOU BUY OR SELL A COMMERCIAL BUILDING, IT SHOULD BE OR MUST BE FREE OF ASBESTOS. AND IF PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND WE HAVE A STATEMENT THAT REFLECTS THAT, WE WILL ACCEPT THAT. SO WE EITHER NEED THAT OR WE'RE GOING TO NEED A SURVEY. AND WE'RE PROPOSING -- WE'RE ASKING THAT THE EFFECTIVE DATE BE 120 DAYS FROM THE SIGNING OF THE ORDINANCE. AND WITH THAT I'M READY FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW, MAYOR. THE ONE THING THAT CONCERNS ME, IF YOU COULD MAYBE BEFORE THE HEARING LOOK INTO THIS AND BE READY TO TALK ABOUT IT AT THE HEARING IS AT INDIVIDUAL HOMES WHERE THERE MIGHT BE A REMODEL TAKE PLACE AND THERE'S SOME ASBESTOS IN THERE, WE MIGHT JUST BE LOOKING AT EDUCATION THERE, BUT THAT'S AN AREA THAT CONCERNS ME. AND PERHAPS YOU COULD LOOK AT WHAT THE STATE OFFERS AND THE CITY OFFERS AS FAR AS INFORMATION AND JUST BE THINKING ABOUT A WAY WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DID THAT BETTER.

>> THERE IS ONE AREA, COUNCILMEMBER, WHERE WE DO HAVE SOME EXEMPTIONS. NOW, LET ME GO OVER THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT WILL BE GOOD TO SHARE THAT WITH EVERYBODY. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO A BUILDING OWNED BY THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THIS ALSO TIES IN TO WHAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS CURRENTLY BEING PROPOSED. ALSO AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY WHICH IS ALSO WHAT THEY HAVE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND A SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING OR A RESIDENTIAL USE WITH FOUR OR FEWER UNITS. AND IT'S A BUILDING OR ANY PORTION OF A BUILDING THAT A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, REGISTERED ARCHITECT OR CITY, COUNTY OR STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL DETERMINES TO BE STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND AND IN DANGER OF IMMINENT COLLAPSE, OBVIOUSLY. AND A MANUFACTURING FACILITY WHERE IT HAS LIMITED ACCESS TO ITS WORKERS. SO THOSE ARE THE EXCEPTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE IN SAN ANTONIO AND WE'RE PROPOSING THE SAME.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

>>ALVAREZ: YES. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING GETTING BACK TO US QUICKLY. WE DIDN'T GIVE YOU MUCH TIME AND I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE QUICK WORK ON THIS. AND ONE THING I WAS GOING TO ASK IS I KNOW THAT EARLY ON IN THE SESSION, BECAUSE OF THE EXPOSURE THAT THIS ISSUE HAD RECEIVED THAT THERE WAS SOME LEGISLATION INTRODUCED. DO YOU KNOW HOW WHAT WE'RE DOING COMPARES TO THAT LEGISLATION?

>> WE'RE TRYING TO -- THE ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS TO BE IN LINE WITH THAT LEGISLATURE SHOULD IS PASS. FOR INSTANCE, THE STATEMENT ABOUT NOT ALLOWING ASBESTOS MATERIALS TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE BUILDING IS THE SAME LANGUAGE THAT THE STATE IS USING. SO WE THINK THAT IF WE ADOPT OURS AND THAT THEY SHOULD ADOPT THEIRS, WE'RE GOING TO BE COMPATIBLE.

>>ALVAREZ: BECAUSE I REMEMBER THEY WERE ALSO USING THE SAN ANTONIO ORDINANCES AS A MODEL AS WELL. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND FOR AGAIN HELPING US TO DEAL WITH THIS VERY SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE THAT WE'RE FACED WITH HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? ON ITEM NUMBER 34, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH HAS INDICATED THAT CAN BE PUT BACK ON THE AGENDA.

>>GRIFFITH: YES, SIR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT?

>>GOODMAN: YES.

>>WYNN: YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ITEM 34 WILL ALSO BE BACK ON CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON ITEM 34 THERE'S BEEN PREVIOUSLY PULLED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THE COUNCIL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT WILL TAKE US TO BRIEFINGS, ITEM NUMBER 3 IS A STATUS OF TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION CONDITIONS.

>> MAYOR, WHAT I'D LIKE TO -- WITH YOUR PERMISSION IS TO GO WITH ITEM NUMBER 4 FIRST.

>>MAYOR WATSON: CERTAINLY. ITEM NUMBER FOUR WILL BE A BRIEFING ON LONG RANGE WATER TREATMENT CAPACITY PLAN.

>> CHRIS, IF YOU'LL IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE HELPING YOU WITH THE PRESENTATION ON SO THE COUNCIL WILL KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

>> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CHRIS LIPPE, I'M THE DIRECT EITHER OF THE WATER AND WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT. WITH ME IS JANE RAZOR WHO IS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE TREATMENT FACILITY AND ALSO HELPING ME IS SARAH CLARK, WHO IS A REGULATORY MANAGER WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED A GREAT DEAL VERY DIRECTLY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF RULES AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO WATER TREATMENT. THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS TO PRESENT INFORMATION, STATUS AND A DISCUSSION OF OPTIONS RELATED TO AUSTIN'S LONG RANGE WATER TREATMENT PLANT CAPACITY. IN THE WAY OF BACKGROUND, THE TILT UP DATES ITS LONG RANGE PLANS FOR FACILITIES FROM TIME TO TIME AS WE DO WE UPDATE CURRENT AROUND PROJECTED WATER NEEDS AND OUR CAPACITY IN WATER TREATMENT PLANTS TO MEET THESE NEEDS. WHEN WE LOOK AT TREATMENT PLANTS CAPACITY NEEDS, WE EVALUATE VARIOUS OPTIONS, INCLUDING EXPANSIONS AT ANY EXISTING PLANT, AS WELL AS THE ADDITION OF NEW PLANTS. WE'RE AT THAT POINT NOW IN OUR CONTINUING PLANNING PROCESS. AND TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL INCLUDE A DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM, THE EXISTING AND PROJECTED WATER DEMANDS. AND THOSE NEEDS INCLUDE BOTH REGULATORY AND GROWTH DEMANDS. AND THEN FINALLY, KEY OPTIONS UNDER REVIEW TO MEET THESE NEEDS ALONG WITH THE SIGNIFICANT PROS AND CONS THAT NEED SOME ADDITIONAL STUDY. THE TWO PLANT SITES THAT WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON TODAY ARE THE GREEN WATER TREATMENT PLANT LOCATED AT CESAR CHAVEZ AT SAN ANTONIO STREET DOWNTOWN. AND THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT FORSYTHE LOCATED HERE FM 2222 AND 620. AND AT THIS POINT LET ME TURN IT OVER TO HER FOR THE PRESENTATION.

>> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. YOU'VE RECEIVED PACKETS WITH A COPY OF THE PRESENTATION WE'RE GIVING TODAY AS WELL AS SOME FACT SHEETS CONCERNING THE MICROIAL DISINFECTANT RULE, MORE IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION OF TREATMENT AND MEM BRAIM TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY AND A SITE MAP OF THE TREATMENT PLANT FORSYTHE. IN EXPLAINING THE ISSUES OF THE TREATMENT CAPACITY, WE HAD TO DEAFFUL INTO SEVERAL OTHERS. THOSE THAT WE HAD TO CONSIDER AND COVER FOR YOU TODAY ARE THE REGULATORY IMPACTS, THE WATER SOURCE OPTION, TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY, LAND SITES AND COSTS. AS ON OVERVIEW OF OUR EXISTING SYSTEM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS AN INTEGRATED AND VERSE STILL POTABLE WATER SYSTEM. WE HAVE THREE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS, OVER 2800 MILES OF DISTRIBUTION MAINTENANCE AND LINES, SERVING MORE THAN 175,000 METERED CUSTOMERS. OUR CURRENT CAPACITY IS 2 50 MILLION GALLONS HER DAY AND WE'RE IN PRELIMINARY DESIGN RIGHT NOW TO CHANGE THE YOU WILL RICK WATER TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH WILL GIVE US A CAPACITY OF 310 MILLION GALLONS BY 2005. FOR FUTURE CAPACITY, THOUGH, SINCE THE LONG RANGE PLAN IN 1994, WE'VE KNOWN THAT THE NEXT CAPACITY IF THE GREEN WATER TREATMENT PLANT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OFF LINE IS REQUIRED IN 2010. IT CANNOT COME OFF LINE WITHOUT THE YOU WILL RICK WATER TREATMENT PLANT BEING 160 MILLION GALLONS A DAY. WITH OUR DEMAND CURVE YOU CAN SEE THAT THE RED LINE SYMBOLIZES THE WATER DEMAND, WHICH IS BASED ON HISTORICAL TRENDING AND ASSUMPTION ASSUMPTIONS FOR GROWTH. THE SOLID BLUE LINE IS THE CURRENT SYSTEM CAPACITY WHILE THE DOTTED BLUE LINE IS WHERE WE MEET FUTURE CAPACITY. THOUGH THE NEXT CAPACITY IS NEEDED IN 2010, WE LIKE TO SEE THAT CAPACITY BE ONLINE BY 20109 SO WE HAVE ASSURED RELIABILITY WHEN WE NEED IT IN 2010. LIKEWISE THE CAPACITY NEEDED IN 2018, WE WOULD LIKE THAT CAPACITY ONLINE BY 2017, HENCE THE DARK GREEN SOLID LINES ARE PRIOR TO WHEN THE NEEDED CAPACITIES ARE. WITH PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION WE WILL NEED TO BEGIN THIS OCTOBER FOR ANY OPTION THAT WE CHOOSE. ONE OF THE FIRST ISSUES IN LOOKING AT THIS IS THE REGULATORY ISSUE. PREPARING US FOR THE NEXT CAPACITY IS THE REGULATORY, AND IN PARTICULAR THE STATE'S TWO MICROBIAL. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU MORE SUMMARY, BUT THERE ARE DETAILS ON FACT SHEET. THE RULE IS PART OF THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT. IT WILL BECOME FINAL IN MAY OF 2002. AS PART OF IT WE WILL BE REQUESTED TO -- WE WILL BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM TWO YEARS OF TESTING OF OVERALL WATER FOR PRESENCE OF CRIP TOW SPOR RIDDIUM. IT IS A MICROORG GISM. IT'S BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR CAUSING SEVERE GAS STROE INTESTINAL ILLNESS, WHICH CAN BE HAVE FATAL TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS. BASED ON THE TWO YEARS OF TESTING IT WILL BE DETERMINED WHAT LEVEL OF CRIP TOW SPOR RIDDIUM WE WILL BE REQUIRED TO MEET PER FACILITY. WE COULD END UP WITH A DIFFERENT REQUIREMENT AT EACH PLANT. IF A CRYER LEVEL OF REMOVAL IS REQUIRED AT THE GREEN WATER TREATMENT PLANT, IT WILL BE NEEDED TO TAKE OFF LINE AS IT EXISTS TODAY. -- EXISTED TOES. THE BY PRODUCT RULE, WE WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE'VE BEEN AWARE OF THIS, THE UTILITY HAS HAD REPRESENTATION ON THE REGULATORY NEGOTIATION THROUGH SARAH CLARK. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, BEING AWARE OF WHAT WAS COMING DOWN, WE HAVE BEGUN STUDIES EARLY ON. A FEW YEARS AGO WE DID PILOT TESTING OF OZONE AND MEMBRANES WER CURRENTLY IN THE STUDY ON THE USE OF ULTRA VIOLET LIGHT FOR INACTIVEVATION OF CRYPTO SPOR RIDDIUM. AND WE ARE DOING THAT IN LIEU OF THE FILTERS IN THE PLANT. IN OTHER WORDS, WE SUBSTITUTE THE EXISTING NEED I CAN'T FOR MICROFILTRATION. THESE STUDIES WILL PROVIDE US WITH INFORMATION ON THE BEST AND MOST COST EFFECTIVE METHOD TO MEET THE REGULATION SHOULD WE BE REQUIRED TO REMOVE OR ACTIVATE CRYPTOSPORIDIUM. ONCE IT'S DETERMINED WHAT LEVEL OF REMOVAL IS MET, IT REQUIRES THREE YEARS LATER, BY THE YEAR 2007 FERMG ALL OF OUR FACILITIES MUST BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS RULE. UNFORTUNATELY WE WON'T KNOW THE LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE WE NEED TO MEET BEFORE 2004. THE WATER SOURCE CONSIDERATION, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE PLANTS ON TOWN LAKE AND LAKE AUSTIN, BUT WE HAVE WATER RIGHTS ALSO TO LAKE TRAVIS. IT'S ALWAYS IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO CHOOSE THE WATER SOURCE WITH THE HIGHEST WATER QUALITY. TOWN LAKE AND LAKE AUSTIN ARE IMPACTED BY URBANIZATION. THEY'RE IN URBANIZED AREA AND THE RUNOFF FROM THE RAIN EVENTS HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. LAKE TRAVIS IS A MUCH LARGER LAKE. IT'S IN A LESS URBANIZED AREA. DUE TO ITS VAST SIZE IT CAN BUFFER AGAINST CHANGES. WE DON'T SEE AS MANY SINGLE CHANGES IN LAKE TRAVIS, NOR DO WE HAVE AS MANY IMPACTS FOLLOWING A RAIN EVENT. THE TREATMENT OPTIONS WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS TODAY ARE BOTH CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT AND THE MEMBRANE TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY. CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT IS A MULTI STAGE TREATMENT PROCESS CURRENTLY USED AT OUR PLANTS IN AUSTIN. IT IS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT SCHEME AT THIS TIME FOR BOTH CAPITAL COSTS AND LMN COSTS. THIS PROCESS WITHOUT ADDITIONAL TREATMENT, THOUGH, WILL NOT PROVIDE CRYPTOSPORIDIUM ACTIVATION AND REMOVAL. IT WILL NOT MEET THE RULE. IT REQUIRES A GREATER LAND AREA THAN THE MEM BRAIN TO ACCOMMODATE THE TREATMENT BASIN. THE BREM BRAIM TECHNOLOGY, THE MEMBRANE TREATMENT WILL REMOVE CRYPTOSPORIDIUM. IT WILL HAVE A SMALLER FOOTPRINT. IT DOESN'T HAVE AS MANY BASINS. TO REPLACE EXISTING TREATMENT, AN INTEGRATED MEMBRANE SYSTEM WOULD BE REQUIRED. THIS WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN IN ORDER TO MATCH OUR EXISTING WATER QUALITY. IN THIS WE WOULD EXPERIENCE AS MUCH AS A 65% HIGHER ONM COST AND CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT. A WASTE STREAM IS ALSO CREATED WHEN WE GO TO THE INTEGRATED MEM BRAIN SYSTEM. WHEN WE GO TO REVERSE OSMOSIS, WHICH WOULD BE REQUIRED, IT CAN GENERATE UP TO A 10% OR AROUND A 10% WASTE STREAM. AND THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON US. ONE IMPACT WOULD BE ON THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM BECAUSE THE PROPOSAL WOULD SEND THIS TO SANITARY SEWER, SO WE WOULD NEED TO ENLARGE OUR COLLECTION SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE RECEIVING TREATMENT PLANTS TO ACCOMMODATE THAT FLOW. THE OTHER IMPACT WOULD BE ON OUR RAW WATER REQUIREMENTS. ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS TO MEET A 50 MILLION GALLON PER DAY END PRODUCT WE WOULD HAVE TO WITHDRAW 55 MILLION GALLONS FROM THE REMAINING STREAM. THIS WOULD IMPACT OUR RAW WATER PURCHASES TO LCRA. WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT SOONER THAN WE EXPECTED. OUR TWO SITES TODAY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, BECAUSE THE CITY OWNS -- THE UTILITY OWNS THE TWO PROPERTIES, IS THE GREEN WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FORSYTHE. AS CHRIS SAID EARLIER, THE GREEN WATER TREATMENT PLANT IS LOCATED AT -- BORDERED BY SAN ANTONIO STREET, CESAR CHAVEZ STREET, SHOAL CREEK AND HALFWAY BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD STREET. IT EXISTS ON FIVE AND A HALF ACRES. DUE TO THE LIMITED SIZE, THE OPTIONS OF THE GREEN WATER TREATMENT PLANT WAS EXPLORED STRICTLY WITH THE CONCEPT OF THE TREATMENT PLANT. IT CAN ONLY ONLY -- DUE TO LIMITATION OF A DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. TO GO HIGHER WOULD REQUIRE A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS OF SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 70 TO 80 MILLION DOLLARS. EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD MAKE THE INITIAL COSTS OF THE GREEN LOWER, BUT THE 30-YEAR NET PRESENT VALUE IS GREATER DUE TO HIGHER ONM COSTS AS WELL AS THAT THIS OPTION DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE NEXT WATER TREATMENT PLANT, IT JUST DELAYS IT. A MEMBRANE BRAIM PLANT WOULD PERMIT A SMALLER FOOTPRINT ALLOWING REDEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA AS WE'RE SEEING THERE NOW. IT WILL STILL BE AN INDUSTRIAL OPERATION THOUGH IN A DENSELY POPULATED DOWNTOWN HEAR. PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING AND DESIGN WOULD NEED TO BEGIN THIS OCTOBER. AS A MEM BRAIM FACILITY THERE WOULD BE THE 10% WASTE STREAM THAT WOULD BE GENERATED. THE TREATMENT PLANT FORSYTHE IS LOCATED IN THE FOUR POINTS AREA BY RURAL ROUTE 620 AND FM 2222. WITH THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT FORESIETEDZ, THE SITE THAT WE HAVE IN THE FOOTPRINT CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO A 300 MILLION GALLON A DAY TREATMENT FACILITY, GIVING THE BENEFIT OF OPTIMIZING COSTS THROUGH ECONOMY OF SCALE WITH STAFFING AND ENERGY. THIS SITE WOULD RECEIVE WATER FROM LAKE TRAVIS, WHICH IS A HIGHER QUALITY SOURCE WATER. UTILIZING A CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT FACILITY IS THE LEAST COST OPTION FOR THE 30-YEAR NET PRESENT VALUE. THIS IS BECAUSE ONCE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN PLACE FOR INITIAL CONSTRUCTION, THE EXPANSION FOR 2018 WOULD BE MUCH CHEAPER. AND IT ALSO HAS A LOWER ONM COST. THE UTILITY PURCHASED THIS LAND SITE IN 1984 AT A COST OF ABOUT 16 MILLION DOLLARS. THE LAND IS IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA. BEING AWARE OF THIS, THE UTILITY HAS ALREADY DONATED 139 ACRES OF THE 240 ACRES TO THE BALCONES CON ONLAND PRESERVE. LAKE TRAVIS AND THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT FORSYTHE ARE AT A HIGHER ELEVATION, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE LOWER ENERGY COSTS IN PUMPING AND DISTRIBUTING THE WATER THROUGHOUT THE CITY. BUT AGAIN, PRELIMINARY DESIGN WOULD NEED TO BEGIN THIS OCTOBER. IN A COST COMPARISON, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE BLUE LINE REPRESENTS BUILDING AT THE GREEN WATER TREATMENT PLANT SITE WITH A MEM BRAIM PLANT TO MEET THE 2010 CAPACITY AND THEN A CONVENTIONAL PLANT AT THE 2018 CAPACITY, WHICH IS THE SECOND BULLET IN THERE. THE BLUE -- THE RED LINE REPRESENTS MEETING THE 2010 CAPACITY NEEDS WITH A CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT PLANT AT WATER TREATMENT PLANT FORSYTHE AND EXPANDING BY ANOTHER 50 MILLION GALLONS A DAY TO MEET THE 2018 CAPACITY NEEDS. WHAT WE SEE FROM THIS IS THE INITIAL COST OF THE GREEN SITE FOLLOWED BY THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT FORSYTHE ARE CHEAPER, BUT OVER THE 30 YEARS THEY BECOME HIGHER AND VICE VERSA WITH THE PLANT FORSYTHE. FOR CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, WE KNOW WE NEED TO BEGIN PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING DESIGN THIS FALL, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE BENEFIT AND KNOWLEDGE OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THE REGULATORY IMPACTS. IF WE WANT TO KNOW, WE WILL NOT -- IF WE PATE WAITED TO FIND OUT, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MEET THE CAPACITY NEEDS IN THE TIME FRAME THAT WE NEED. SO IN ORDER TO BEGIN NOW, WE ARE PROPOSING TO INVEST RIGHT NOW IN PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING AT BOTH SITES. THE BENEFITS TO THIS IS ALL THE DOLLARS AND ALL THE INFORMATION YOU RECEIVE TODAY ARE BASED ON ASSUMPTIONS BEING MADE AND THEN THE BEST COST ANALYSIS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTIONS. GOING INTO PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING WOULD ALLOW US TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT CAN BE DONE AND WHAT CANNOT BE DONE GIVEN OUR FACILITY AND OUR WATERS. AND WE WOULD HAVE A BETTER COST ANALYSIS. IT WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO BEGIN MEETING WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS FOR BOTH OPTIONS TO IDENTIFY ALL CONCERNS GOING IN. WE WON'T LOSE TIME IF WE HAVE TO SWITCH PLANS LATER. BY PROCEEDING WITH THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MEET THE TIME LINE NEEDS FOR THE NEXT CAPACITY. WHILE MAKING THE CRIENL DECISIONS -- THAT WILL ALLOW US TO MIKE THE FINAL DECISION ON THE BEST INFORMATION AND DATA AVAILABLE. AND THAT'S THE -- CONCLUDES THE BRIEF I HAVE I HAVE. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS? YES, COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

>>ALVAREZ: I WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE COMPARISON OF PROJECTED COSTS, THE ONES WHERE YOU SHOWED THE NET PRESENT VALUE: AND THEN UNDER ONE OPTION IT SAYS GREEN WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND WATER TREATMENT PLANT NUMBER 4. AND THEN UNDER THE OTHER OPTION IT'S JUST WATER TREATMENT PLANT NUMBER 4. SO IT SHOWS THAT OBVIOUSLY THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT NUMBER 4, THE NET PRESENT VALUE IS LOWER. OVER THE LIFE-SPAN THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, LIKE 25 YEARS. BUT WHAT I'M WONDERING IS IN TERMS OF CAPACITY HOW DO THOSE TWO COMPARE IN INCREASED CAPACITY?

>> ON BOTH OF THESE IT PROVIDES FOR 50 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY BY 2010 AND 50 MILLION GALLONS A DAY ADDITIONAL IN THE YEAR 2018. BECAUSE THE GREEN WATER TREATMENT PLANT IS LIMITED TO ONLY A 50 MILLION GALLON A DAY CAPACITY BECAUSE THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM RESTRICTIONS, WE WOULD THEN HAVE TO BUILD THE NEXT 50 MILLION GALLONS IN A NEW FACILITY, AND THIS ONE WE'RE SENDING THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT 4 SITE IN 2018. THE SAME COMPARISON FOR BOTH.

>>ALVAREZ: BUT THEN WE COULD ALSO AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT 4 THEN WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXPAND OR INCREASE OUR CAPACITY BY ANOTHER 50 MILLION, I ASSUME.

>> RIGHT. THE SITE CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 300 MILLION GALLONS A DAY. OUR AGREEMENTS RIGHT NOW WITH LCRA IS TO WITHDRAW ONLY 150 MILLION GALLONS A DAY. BUT THE NEXT EXPANSION WOULD BE PLACED ON THAT SITE. AND BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY GOT YOUR PUMP STATION AND THE TRANSMISSION SIZED FOR THE 150 MILLION GALLONS, IT'S A LOWER COST TO EXPAND.

>>ALVAREZ: SO UNDER BOTH PTION ONS WE GET 50 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY BY 2010 AND 50 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY ADDITIONAL BY 2018?

>> YES, SIR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: YES. TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THIS FITS IN WITH OUR OUR -- AFFECTS OUR SMART GROWTH POLICIES OF THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE AND THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE. BECAUSE THIS PLANT, THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT NUMBER 4 IS PRETTY FAR OUT IN THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE. AND, OF COURSE, THE ONE MAIN REASON WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT IT IS FOR THE WATER QUALITY, BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT IF YOU BUILD THIS OUT HERE, IT WILL CREATE MORE SPRAWL. SO TELL ME THE DEPARTMENT'S THINKING ON THIS.

>> BECAUSE OUR WATER SYSTEM IS TOTALLY INTEGRATE, ANY WATER WE PRODUCE AT ANY OF THE PLANTS WE CAN TRANSPORT TO WHEREVER IT IS NEEDED. AND BECAUSE IT IS THIS IS A HIGHER ELEVATION WE CAN GET IT TO ANYWHERE IN THE CITY AT ACTUALLY A LOWER RATE FOR ELECTRICITY. IT WOULD MINIMIZE THE PUMPING COSTS. YOU HAVE BETTER QUALITY. RIGHT NOW ALL OF OUR WATER TREATMENT PLANTS ARE ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN BECAUSE THAT'S THE BETTER QUALITY QUALITY. IT'S UPSTREAM OF THE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND WE TRY TO BE AS FAR UPSTREAM AS THE CREEKS AND STUFF THAT ARE DISCHARGING INTO THE LAKES.

>>SLUSHER: SO FAR AS HOW THAT AREA GROWS TO BE DETERMINED BY THE CITY'S OTHER -- THE REGULATORY POLICIES RATHER THAN THE UTILITY POLICIES AND THE DEPARTMENT'S THINKING IS HAVING THIS PLANT IN THAT AREA DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT AREA NECESSARILY IS GOING TO GET MORE URBANIZED?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. THE INTENT OF OUR PLANS IS TO PROVIDE THE CAPACITY OF THE WATER WE NEED TO ANYWHERE WITHIN THE CITY. IT'S NOT INTENDED TO SUPPLY JUST FOR A LOCAL AREA. FOR THE WHOLE CITY.

>>SLUSHER: THANKS. THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. THE NEXT ITEM WILL BE THE BRIEFING OF THE STATUS OF TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION CONDITIONS.

>> MAYOR, AUSTAN LIBRACH WILL DO THIS PRESENTATION. CLER MR. LEBROCK HAS BEEN DELAYED IN TRAFFIC IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. NO, HERE HE IS, I'M SORRY. HE WASN'T.

>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, GOOD MORNING. WE ARE HERE THIS MORNING TO PROVIDE YOU A BRIEFING ON TRANSPORTATION UPDATE ON THE DOWNTOWN JAM AS WELL AS RESPOND TO QUESTIONS OF MAYOR PRO TEM JACKIE GOODMAN, HER REQUEST SOMETIME AGO AS PART OF THIS PRESENTATION. AND COMMANDER JUAN GONZALES FROM APD WILL BE PROVIDING A PRESENTATION ON THOSE ANSWERS. AND AUSTAN LIBRACH WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION ON THE DOWNTOWN JAM. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE OTHER STAFF RESOURCES HERE, RESOURCE PEOPLE IN THE EVENT THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. COMMANDER GONZALES?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COMMANDER, WELCOME?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, AGAIN, MY NAME IS AUSTAN LIBRACH. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLACHBING AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND PLANNING AND DESIGN DEPARTMENT. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU FIRST THIS MORNING WITH MY COLLEAGUE THE COMMANDER ABOUT SOME QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILMEMBER GOODMAN RAISED ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I THINK, REGARDING IF YOU WILL WHAT THE CONGESTION LOOKED LIKE. WE HAVE PICTURES OF IT. WHERE IS IT? CAN WE DESCRIBE IT? WHAT'S GOING ON IN AUSTIN IN TERMS OF CONGESTION AND CONGESTION MANAGEMENT AND IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND RESPONSE TO COLLISIONS AND THAT SORT OF THING. SO I'D LIKE TO -- AS MARCIA CONNOR INDICATED, GO THROUGH THAT FIRST AND THEN COME BACK AFTER THAT AND AFTER THE COMMANDER IS FINISHED, THEN TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AN UPDATE OF THE DOWNTOWN JAM OR THE DOWNTOWN SITUATION, IF YOU WILL, IN TERMS OF CONGESTION IN DOWNTOWN: THE FIRST SLIDE HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE THIS ON YOUR -- THAT YOU CAN SEE. IS AN INDICATION OF -- FROM CAMPO OF THE TRAFFIC VOLUMES ON THE MAJOR ROADS IN AUSTIN. AND THIS IS ONE SNAPSHOT OF WHAT CONGESTION LOOKS LIKE. WE SEE -- AND I THINK IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT INTERSTATE LOY 35 HAS GOT THE BROADEST LINE, MEANING IT'S GOT THE MOST TRAFFIC VOLUME. AND THEN THERE'S MOPAC AND U.S. 183. AND THEN THERE ARE OTHERS IN THE SYSTEM THAT WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH. IN THE CASE OF INTERSTATE 35, IT HAS OVER 250,000 VEHICLE TRIPS PER DAY. MOPAC ABOUT 150,000. AND IH-35 -- I MEAN, 183 ABOUT 180,000. NOW, IF -- THE NEXT SLIDE INDICATES HOW THAT THAT'S CHANGED OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS OR SO. NOT QUITE A WHOLE DECADE, BUT LOOKING IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE SLIDE, AND WE'VE LOOKED AT IT IN 1990, 1994 AND 1998, HOW THAT VEHICLE -- THOSE VEHICLE TRIPS HAVE CHANGED OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME. IF WE LOOK AT, SAY, INTERSTATE 35, IT'S GONE FROM 75,000 TRIPS IN 1990 TO 140,000 IN 1998. ALMOST A DOUBLING. U.S. 183 SPECIFICALLY AT DUVAL HAS GONE FROM 70,000 TO 140,000. AND MOPAC AT 183 HAS GONE FROM 70,000 TO 150,000. I THINK THE CENSUS HAS INDICATED THAT OUR POPULATION HAS INCREASED BY ALMOST 40 TO 45%. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME, OVER THE LAST DECADE. AND HERE YOU SEE TRAFFIC ON SOME OF OUR MAJOR ROADS HAS DOUBLED, HAS INCREASED BY TWICE THE AMOUNT OF OUR POPULATION. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GENERALLY SEEING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IS THAT TRIPS AND TRAVEL ON OUR ROADS INCREASES EVEN FASTER THAN POPULATION. AND FOR SURE OUR POPULATION HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE LAST DECADE. SO HAS OUR TRAVEL AS A RESULT OF IT. SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS WHAT YOU CERTAINLY COULD EXPECT, A CITY THAT'S GROWING AS FAST AS WE'RE GROWING IS GOING TO EXPERIENCE CONGESTION PROBLEMS LIKE THOSE SHOWN IN THAT CHART. ANOTHER SNAPSHOT OF WHERE CONGESTION IS AND WHAT IT'S LIKELY TO BE, IS IF YOU WERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THIS MAP DOES AND WHERE THE MAJOR EMPLOYERS ARE IN THE AUSTIN AREA. THOSE MAJOR EMPLOYERS ARE SOURCES OF TRIPS. THEY ARE TRIP ENDS AND THEY ARE TRIP SOURCES. IT'S WHERE PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY GO TO WORK AND THEN COME HOME FROM WORK. SO THAT ROADS THAT TIE IN TO WHERE THOSE MAJOR SOURCES, MAJOR EMPLOYERS ARE, ARE ALSO LIKELY TO BE WHERE OUR CONGESTION WILL BE FOUND. AND WHILE WE'RE SHOWING HERE SOME OF THE LOCATIONS, NOT ALL LOCATIONS OF THE MAJOR EMPLOYERS, I THINK IT'S AN INDICATION FOR US TO LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN AUSTIN AND WHERE THAT CONGESTION IS MOVING AND SHIFTING TO OVER TIME. SPEAKING OF LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE, CAMPO HAS DONE AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE EMPLOYMENT IS LIKELY TO BE LIKE IN THE YEAR 2025. AND THAT'S DENSITY OF EMPLOYMENT. AND IT SHOWS THAT DENSITY SPREADING OUT OVER THE MAJOR ROADS, I-35, 183 AND SO FORTH, PRETTY MUCH THE WAY IT IS NOW, BUT IN GREATER CONCENTRATION, SO THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AN EVEN -- EVEN A GREATER PROBLEM THAN WE HAVE TODAY AS MORE AND MORE EMPLOYMENT, MORE GROWTH OCCURS IN AUSTIN AND MORE EMPLOYMENT ALONG THOSE MAJOR CORRIDORS. THIS PARTICULAR MAP DOESN'T REALLY SHOW I THINK ANY DENSITY, IF YOU WILL, OF EMPLOYMENT ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 130. STATE HIGHWAY 130 PRESUMABLY WILL BE BUILT 25 YEARS FROM NOW AND THERE WILL BE SOME PRESSURE AND SOME GROWTH ALONG THAT CORRIDOR, NOT REALLY SHOWING UP IN ANY GREAT DEGREE AT THIS POINT, BUT I THINK IT WILL AS TIME GOES ON. THEN ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT TRAFFIC PROBLEMS IN THE AUSTIN AREA IS WE HAVE DONE IN 1998 THROUGH A CONGESTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS PROGRAM, WE'VE DONE ANATIONAL NATIONAL SIS, AND I THINK YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE IN THE PAST. WE HAVE LOOKED AT 240 DIFFERENT INTERSECTIONS IN THE AUSTIN AREA. WE FOUND THAT FOR THE A.M. PEAK, WHICH THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE SHOWS, 24% OF THOSE WERE CONGESTED DURING THAT PEAK PERIOD. THAT GIVES US THEN OBVIOUSLY A LIST FROM WHICH WE CAN WORK TO BEGIN TO PUT FORTH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT DEAL WITH ALLEVIATING THE CONGESTION AT THOSE INTERSECTIONS. THE SAME THING WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE P.M. PEAK. IT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, THE SAME 240 INTERSECTIONS, BUT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE CONGESTION IN THE P.M. HOURS, 25% OF THOSE ARE SHOWN TO BE CONGESTED DURING THE P.M. PEAK. SO THIS AGAIN IS ANOTHER SNAPSHOT, ANOTHER PICTURE OF WHERE CONGESTION IS, WHERE IT OCCURS IN THE AUSTIN AREA.

>> THE TOP 10 TRAFFIC COLLISION LOCATIONS ARE SHOWN THERE WITH RED ILLUSTRATING THE FIRST FIVE AND YELLOW SHOWING THE NEXT FIVE. OF THE SECOND FIVE YOU WILL NOTICE THOSE ARE MAINLY IN THE NORTH PART OF TOWN. SLIDE ILLUSTRATED HERE SHOW THE CITY AND WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED WITH THE MAJOR ARTERIAL ROADWAYS LISTED SHOWN. AGAIN, TOP FIVE ARE RED, YELLOW, THE NEXT FIVE IN BLUE ARE THE THIRD SET. THE TOP 25 TRAFFIC COLLISION LOCATIONS WITH MORE STREETS SHOWN IN THE MAP. THEY ARE PRETTY EVENLY DISTRIBUTED, I BELIEVE. THE TOP 25 TRAFFIC COLLISION LOCATIONS WITH A SOUTH VIEW, RIGHT DOWN 35, BEN WHITE, AND RIVERSIDE. TOP 25 TRAFFIC COLLISION LOCATIONS WITH A NORTH VIEW. ALONG 35, LAMAR, PARMER. THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE TRAFFIC -- I'M SORRY, TRAFFIC CITATIONS ISSUED AT THESE COLLISION LOCATIONS. NOTICE THAT I-35 AT BEN WHITE WAS THE MOST ACCIDENT-PRONE INTERSECTION. WE ISSUED 3,000 RED LIGHT TICKETS THERE AS PART OF OUR ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM. WE ISSUED OVER 4,000 TOTAL TICKETS, OTHER TYPES OF TICKETS. THIS IS IN YEAR 2000.

>>MAYOR WATSON: BY THE WAY, THAT IS ALSO THE INTERSECTION THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON WHERE THREE -- I'M THINKING ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO THE CITY OF AUSTIN PUT UP MATCHING FUNDS IN ORDER TO GET TXDOT TO PUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING INTO THE PROJECT TO EXPEDITE THAT PROJECT. RIGHT NOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN. THE CITY OF AUSTIN THROUGH THE CITY COUNCILL PUT UP THE MONEY TO GET IT EXPEDITED. IT HAS NOW BEEN EXPEDITED AND WHILE IT'S A PAIN RIGHT NOW, THAT SPOT WHERE -- OR THE GREATEST NUMBER OF COLLISIONS ARE OCCURRING, THE GREATEST NUMBER OF TRAFFIC CITATIONS ARE BEING ISSUED IS ALSO UNDER AN EXPEDITED PROCESS TO BE FIXED SO THAT TRAFFIC WILL FLOW BETTER, YOU WILL HAVE GREATER MOBILITY AND LESS CONGESTION.

>>GOODMAN: MAYOR, COULD I ASK -- WHEN YOU SAY RED LIGHT, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT JUST PLAIN RUNNING A RED LIGHT?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>>GOODMAN: NO OTHER KIND OF --

>> YES, MA'AM. THOSE ARE THE RED LIGHT SAY TATIONSS. WE HAD OTHERS ISSUED FOR MAYBE NO ISSUE OR DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT PROBABLY WENT ALONG WITH THE RED CITATIONS.

>> THIS BAR GRAPH SHOWS HOW AUSTIN COMPARES AS FAR AS ACCIDENTS PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS. NOW, THIS IS 1999 DATA AND DPS IS JUST NOW RELEASING THIS DATA. WE GOT IT A LITTLE AHEAD OF TIME. BUT WE'RE THE SECOND HIGHEST IN THE STATE BEHIND HOUSTON AS FAR AS ACCIDENTS PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS. FATALITIES, PER 100,000 RESIDENTS, WE'RE AT 9.9, WE'RE ONE OF THE LOWEST, IT'S STILL INTOLERABLE AND WE'RE WORKING FOR THAT, BUT YOU CAN SEE WHERE DALLAS, HOUSTON AND FORT WORTH EVEN ARE HIGHER THAN WE ARE. AS FAR AS FATALITIES PER HUNDRED THOUSAND. INJURY ACCIDENTS PER A THOUSAND RESIDENTS, THESE ARE ACCIDENTS WHERE THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER CLAIMS SOME KIND OF INJURY AND WE'RE KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE THERE. THE NEXT GRAPH SHOWS NON-INJURY ACCIDENTS PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS AND WE'RE LEADING THE PACK IN THAT ONE. AND NON-INJURY ACCIDENTS ARE FENDER BENDERS SUCH AS ALSO HITTING SOMEBODY FROM BEHIND, MAYBE AT SOME OF THESE INTERSECTIONS WHERE CONGESTION IS HIGHEST. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: WELL, I WAS WONDERING WHEN WE HAVE THE TOP TRAFFIC COLLISION LOCATIONS, HOW DOES THAT BREAK OUT FOR NON-INJURY VERSUS INJURY OR FATALITY? DO WE HAVE THAT?

>> I'M NOT SURE, BUT THE ACCIDENT -- THE FATALITY ACCIDENTS HAPPEN ALL OVER TOWN. THE NON-INJURY MAINLY OCCUR AT THESE HIGHEST ACCIDENT-PRONE INTERSECTIONS OF WE HAVE VERY FEW FATALITIES THAT HAPPEN RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTIONS.

>>GOODMAN: AND DO WE HAVE BROKEOUTS ABOUT OTHER THAN RUNNING A RED LIGHT, THE KIND OF SUCCEEDING PRIORITIES OR SUCCEEDING COMPARISONS AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT ELSE BESIDES RED LIGHTS?

>> AS FAR AS TRAFFIC CITATIONS?

>>GOODMAN: YEAH, WHAT DO PEOPLE DO THE MOST OTHER THAN RUNNING RED LIGHTS THAT CAUSE ACCIDENTS?

>> THEY FOLLOW TOO CLOSE. THEY RUN STOP SIGNS, FAIL TOUR YIELD RIGHT-OF-WAY. THEY SPEED. SPEED WAS THE MAIN FACTOR IN MOST OF OUR FATALITIES. THAT WAS THE HIGHEST FACTOR IN FATALITIES.

>>GOODMAN: OKAY. AND DO YOU ALL KIND OF DO THIS FAIRLY ROUTINELY, AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A TRANSPORTATION PLANNING DEPARTMENT OR AREA BEFORE, BUT IS THE -- IS THE PLAN THEN TO COORDINATE WITH MR. LIBRACH AND PUBLIC WORKS IN ORDER TO TRY TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEM?

>> YES, MA'AM. WE WORK TOGETHER PRETTY MUCH. OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE ENFORCEMENT IS OUR BABY, I GUESS, AND THEY -- WE HAVE THE SAME DATA THAT WE USE TO ALLOCATE OUR RESOURCES.

>> I THINK YOU TOUCH ON SOMETHING, THERE IS NO QUESTION IN A LOT OF WHAT WE CAN DO WE CAN COORDINATE BETTER THAN WE'VE BEEN DOING AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD HERE WE WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN'T USE SOME OF THIS TECHNOLOGY AND SOME OF THIS INFORMATION TO DO A BETTER JOB OF PICKING WHERE WE WANT TO SPEND OUR RESOURCES.

>>GOODMAN: THE OTHER THING, MAYOR, THAT I WANTED TO ASK A.P.D. WAS BACK A WHILE THERE WAS A PLAN TO EXPAND THE PUBLIC INFORMATION EFFORT IN ORDER TO TRY TO GET PSA'S ON TELEVISION, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS. AND I KNOW THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THE BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THAT THOUGHT. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE CONTRACT WE HAD RECENTLY, BOUGHT THE CITY MANAGER WAS GOING TO SEE IF THAT CONTRACT COULD BE EXPAND TO DO COVER THE NEEDS OF A.P.D.. DO YOU KNOW THE STATUS OF THAT PROJECT?

>> I DON'T, MA'AM. CHIEF.

>> NOT SPECIFICALLY. WE'VE -- YOU KNOW, WE HUNG OUR SIGNS OUT FOR A DWI CAMPAIGN AND THE MOVING CAMPAIGN WE'VE HAD TO EXPRESSWAY. AS FAR AS ANYTHING NEW FROM THERE, WE HAVEN'T.

>>GOODMAN: ON THURSDAY MORNING OF COURSE ALL OF THIS IS ALWAYS FRESH IN MY MIND HAVING TRIED TO GET FROM ONE SIDE OF TOWN TO THE OTHER THROUGH THE TRAFFIC, BUT TRULY IT'S AN AMAZING THING WHEN SOMEBODY USES THEIR TURN SIGNAL, AND ESPECIALLY IF THEY USE IT IN TIME TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. AND I SEE NEAR ACCIDENTS ALL THE TIME. SO THE REASON WE'RE NOT HAVING THEM IS NOT BECAUSE THE DRIVER IS SO GOOD BUT BECAUSE THE FOLKS BEHIND THEM HAVE GOOD BRAKES. THEY MAKE QUICK MOVES, WHICH I KNOW IS VERY HARD TO ENFORCE BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE TO JUST BE RIGHT THERE ABLE TO PULL THEM OVER. QUICK MOVES WITHOUT THE SPACE AND WITHOUT THE SIGNALING TO DO IT. SO I'M THINKING ONLY A FAIRLY VISUAL PSA IS A GOOD TOOL TO BE ABLE TO USE FOR SOME OF THESE FOLKS, YOU KNOW, LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT THAT LITTLE LEVER IS ON THEIR CAR AND WHAT YIELD MEANS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO MARSHA, SINCE JESUS IS NOT HERE, CAN WE MAYBE TRY TO FIND A WAY TO DO THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT LEADS TO THE ROAD RAGE AND THE DELAYS THAT CAUSE PEOPLE TO RUN THE RED LIGHTS. OR AT LEAST HAS SOME SMALL PART.

>> YES, I DO -- I DID TAKE THAT DOWN AS A NOTE. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHOWS UP IN TERMS OF THE INTERSECTION FOR WHERE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS, A LOT OF THOSE INTERSECTIONS, AT LEAST TWO OR THREE, ARE ON OUR PRIORITY LIST FOR FUNDING FROM CAPITAL METRO TO HAVE IMPROVEMENTS MADE AT THOSE INTERSECTIONS AS WELL.

>>GOODMAN: DO WE BY ANY CHANCE HAVE A WAY TO BREAK OUT WHO COMMITS THE ACCIDENTS BY AGE, PERHAPS? AND TIME. TIME OF DAY.

>> WE'VE DONE THE SURVEY, JUST COMPLETED IT ON 77 TRAFFIC FATALITIES FOR 2000.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WOULD YOU MOVE THE MIKE IN FRONT OF YOU?

>> AND WE HAVE THAT DATA -- WE HAVE THE 500 MAJOR SERIOUS COLLISIONS WE HAD LAST YEAR, WE ANALYZED THAT. WE JUST FINISHED ANALYZING THE 77 FATALITIES. I HAVE TIME OF DAY, WEATHER FACTORS, THE TOP FOUR REASONS WHY THEY HAPPENED. EVERYTHING IS IN THERE. AND AS WE BROKE THEM DOWN OF COURSE IT WAS THE DWI, WHICH WAS DOWN ONLY 32% OF OUR FATALITIES INVOLVED ALCOHOL, WHICH IS REALLY DOWN FROM WHERE WE WERE BEFORE. OUR DWI STEPUP HAS BEEN HELPFUL. AND FAILURE TO YIELD RIGHT-OF-WAY, MOSTLY THE RED LIGHTS AND SPEED. TAKING ABOUT 80, 80% OF ALL THE FATALITY ACCIDENTS WE HAD IN AUSTIN LAST YEAR. TIME OF DAY IS 9:00 TO 3:00 IN THE MORNING. THERE'S LESS CONGESTION, PEOPLE CAN BUILD UP THE SPEED AND WE HAVE THESE FATALITY COLLISIONS. BUT WE LAID ALL THAT OUT BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED TO DO ANALYZE WHAT IS GOING ON AND OF COURSE WE WERE WORK TO GO TRY TO PUT TOGETHER OUR OWN TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CAP METRO AND-OTHER PEOPLE TO TRY TO GET GOING. HOPEFULLY WE'RE DOWN THE ROAD FURTHER ON THAT AND TRY TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

>>GOODMAN: TXDOT, DO THEY CONSULT WITH US?

>> THEY ARE GOING TO BE PART OF IT.

>>GOODMAN: I WAS THINKING OF WILLIAM CANNON AND THE EXIT ENTRANCE. THAT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD TO WORK ON. THERE WAS ONE MORE THING. WELL, THE KIND OF INFORMATION YOU JUST TOLD ABOUT THAT YOU HAVE THE DATA, IS THAT IN SOME FORMAT WHERE WE CAN ACCESS IT?

>> YES, MA'AM. YEAH.

>> WE'LL MAKE COPIES.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANYTHING FURTHER?

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.

>>GRIFFITH: THANK YOU. JUST AS A LAYPERSON, IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE NUMBER OF MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS THAT HAPPENED WOULD CORRELATE IN A POSITIVE WAY WITH NUMBER OF -- THE INCREASE IN CERTAINLY OFFICERS DOING THAT KIND OF WORK. WHAT'S THE -- SAY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WHAT'S THE INCREASE IN MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS?

>> THEY'VE STEADILY GONE UP. LAST YEAR WE LEVELED OUT A LITTLE BIT. THEY'VE GONE UP. ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS, WE HAVE THE TXDOT FUNDING STEP PROGRAM IS FOR RED LIGHTS, TAKE OUR TOP TEN INTERSECTIONS WHICH THE ONES COMMANDER GONZALES ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE ON THE LIST THAT WE WORK. SOME OF THEM TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK, ALMOST A DAILY BASIS. BUT THOSE CITATIONS ARE UP AND OUR EMPHASIS HAS BEEN ON THE HAZARDOUS CITATIONS AND NOT NECESSARILY THE --.

>>GRIFFITH: ABSOLUTELY. COULD WE CORRELATE THAT, SAY, OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS WITH THE INCREASE IN NUMBER OF OFFICERS AND SEE WHAT THAT CORRELATION IS?

>> SURE. THAT WON'T BE A PROBLEM.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANYTHING FURTHER?

>>GOODMAN: MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: I HAD FORGOTTEN, MR. LIBRACH, BEFORE YOU CAME IN OR YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN LISTENING, AN ITEM THAT I'M GOING TO BRING FOR OUR NEXT MEETING HAS TO DO WITH -- REMEMBER THAT $500,000 WE EARMARKED FOR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE INNOVATIVE AND TRYING TO BRING MORE RESOURCES TO THE STABLE? WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS START A PILOT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT WHERE PUBLIC WORKS FINDS THE WAY TO INTERACT WITH YOUR PLANNING, AND I WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD SHOAL CREEK, THE THREE MILES OF SHOW CREEK FOR THAT FIRST PILOT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION. I THINK THAT THE LESSONS WE FIGURE OUT AND LEARN THERE CAN BE USED VIRTUALLY ALL OVER THE CITY, BUT IT'S A GOOD BICYCLE CORRIDOR AND IT'S ALSO A NEIGHBORHOOD COLLECTOR AND ALL THAT. AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ASKED THAT WE LOOK COMPREHENSIVELY AT THAT. PUBLIC WORKS REALLY DOESN'T HAVE THE -- THE FORUM IN THEIR WORK PROGRAMS TO DO THAT. SO I GUESS YOU ALL CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO MERGE ALL THAT, BUT I'M GOING TO BRING THAT NEXT WEEK BECAUSE THE BICYCLE THING AND THE WAYS TO DO THAT HAS CAUSED SORT OF A CONFLICTING AND SOMETIMES CONFRONTATIONAL ARENA THERE. AND I SEE MR. EATON IN THE AUDIENCE, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK HIM TO VOLUME TOR TO WORK ON THAT AND THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE COULD TAKE IT AS A PROJECT. SO THAT'S ONE THING IN ALL THIS MIX.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANYTHING ELSE?

>>WYNN: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>WYNN: I GUESS THIS IS MR. LIBRACH. I'M CURIOUS THAT WE AS A CITY ARE REACHING OUT TO SOME REGIONAL PARTNERS OR CAPITAL METRO OR A.P.D. OR OTHERS. HAVE WE CONSIDERED OR ANALYZE TOUCHDOWN POSSIBILITY OF JUST BETTER PUBLIC AWARENESS? WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS LITERALLY A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE NOW ARE -- WE DO NOW HAVE, YOU KNOW, 50% MORE POPULATION THAN ONLY TEN YEARS AGO. YOU KNOW, ET CETERA. I'VE BEEN TO A FEW CITIES AND A FEW FOREIGN COUNTRIES WHERE THERE'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SORT OF BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN, MORNING RUSH HOUR TALK SHOW P.R. CAMPAIGN, ESSENTIALLY FOR FOLKS -- SOME OF US WHO HAVE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH, WE STILL THINK WE ARE DRIVING AROUND IN THE 197 0S IN AUSTIN AND WE'RE NOT. AND TO SOME DEGREE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PUBLIC PRACTICES AND HABITS ARE A BIG PIECE OF HOW WE CAN ULTIMATELY BEGIN TO ADDRESS LARGER TRAFFIC ISSUES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER, I AM AWARE OF PROGRAMS THAT EXIST THAT REALLY ARE ORIENTED TOWARDS INFORMATION ABOUT AIR QUALITY AND AIR QUALITY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN -- HAVE HAD BILLBOARD CAMPAIGNS AND PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS WHICH ARE OBVIOUSLY TRANSPORTATION RELATED. BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF AT THIS POINT CAMPO OR ANYBODY ELSE THAT HAS A REGIONAL CAMPAIGN OR ANY OTHER CAMPAIGN THAT'S SPECIFICALLY DEALING WITH WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE AUSTIN AREA OVER THE LAST, SAY, DECADE AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK INTO AND GET BACK WITH YOU ON.

>>WYNN: OKAY. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANYTHING ELSE?

>> IS THERE A P.R. CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATED WITH THE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PROJECT WE'VE BEEN WORK ON WITH CAPITAL METRO?

>> ABSOLUTELY THERE IS. THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN DEDICATED TO IT AND WE ALSO ARE GOING TO BE DOING THE MANAGEMENT. IF THOSE FUNDS ARE APPROVED THROUGH COUNCIL OR ACCEPTED, WE'LL BE DOING ACTUAL INSTANT MANAGEMENT STUD THAT I BRINGS IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY, THE WHOLE CORRIDOR OF I-35, BUT WE BELIEVE THE EDUCATION AND WHAT COUNCILMEMBER WYNN TALKED ABOUT IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKING -- FOR THE WHOLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT DEALS WITH TRAFFIC. IT'S A KEY COMPONENT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

>> MAYOR, I HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OH, GOOD. [LAUGHTER].

>> THIS -- AS I INDICATED AT THE OUTSET, I WANTED TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES WITH COUNCIL TO BRIEF YOU -- GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE STAND WITH SPECIFIC CONGESTION PROBLEMS IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS CONGESTION ALL OVER THE REGION, AS I HAVE JUST SHOWN YOU IN SOME OF THE SLIDES AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, BUT THERE IS A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN WITH ALL THE ACTIVITY THAT IS OCCURRING IN DOWNTOWN. I WOULD LIKE TO -- THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES AND THERE ARE SOME UPDATES WITH REGARD TO WHAT WE'RE DOING DOWNTOWN THAT IS A FOCUS THAT FOR ME AND FOR THIS NEW DEPARTMENT AND I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO GO THROUGH THAT WITH YOU. THE FIRST SLIDE YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE IN THE LAST UPDATE THAT YOU RECEIVED ON DOWNTOWN IN OCTOBER. AND THIS SLIDE SHOWS YOU WHAT A CURRENT CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY THAT'S GOING ON IN DOWNTOWN. DOWNTOWN I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CBD FROM ROUGHLY LAMAR ON THE WEST AND I-35 ON THE EAST AND THE RIVER ON THE SOUTH AND MLK IN THE NORTH. AND IN THIS AREA WE HAVE SHOWN HERE MAYBE 15 OR MORE DIFFERENT STRUCTURES, DIFFERENT BUILDINGS THAT ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW THAT ARE AFFECTING STREET CLOSURES. THEY ARE NECESSARILY CLOSING WHOLE STREETS, BUT THEY MAY BE CLOSING BECAUSE OF THAT CONSTRUCTION A LANE ON R MORE. AND THIS IS A SITUATION THAT IS ONGOING, IT'S KNOTS GOING TO CHANGE PROBABLY FOR THE NEXT YEAR TO 18 MONTHS. IN ADDITION TO THESE THERE MAY BE SOME NEW BUILDINGS THAT WILL BE STARTED AS SOME OF THESE THAT ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION ARE COMPLETED. IF YOU LOOK THEN AT THE NEXT SLIDE I'VE SHOWN YOU IN ADDITION TO THE STREET CLOSURES OR PROJECTS THAT AFFECT STREET CLOSURES THAT ARE CONSTRUCTION, THERE ARE ALSO PROJECTS OF THE CITY, UTILITY PROJECTS, THAT ARE AFFECTING STREET CLOSURES. CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A -- TWO 24-INCH CHILLED WATER LINES THAT ARE NEAR THE C.S. S-CITY HALL COMPLEX THAT ARE EFFECTING STREETS IN THE AREA AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER, A 66-INCH LINE CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT. SO THOSE AS WELL. THEN IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: PART OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE DOING -- IN OUR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, IN DOWNTOWN, THAT IS ARGUABLY IF NOT IN FACT THE OLDEST PART OF THE CITY. AND SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS SOME OF THE OLDEST IN THE CITY. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S OCCURRING IS WHILE THERE IS CONSTRUCTION GOING ON, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND GOING AHEAD AND REPLACING OLD, DILAPIDATED UTILITY STRUCTURE SO THAT IT WON'T BREAK IN THE FUTURE, IT WON'T CREATE DIFFICULTY WHEN IT BREAKS, OR WHEN IT GETS TO A POINT WHERE IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, WE DON'T GO BACK IN AFTER CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN OCCURRED AND TEAR UP ROADS A SECOND TIME. ISN'T THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. SO THAT IS CERTAINLY A COMPONENT OF WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING IN DOWNTOWN. IN ADDITION, AS THIS EVEN MORE DETAILED SLIDE SHOWS YOU, IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN, OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS THOSE YELLOW LINES SHOWING THERE THE COMMUNICATION LINES IS WHERE WE EXPECT FIBER COMPANIES LIKE Z-NET TO BE INSTALLING FIBER. SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF STREETS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THOSE INSTALLATIONS JUST AS THERE HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR. AND THAT WILL CONTINUE AND WE SEE THIS HAPPENING OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. THE 66-INCH WATERLINE WILL MOVE FROM BLOCK TO BLOCK AS WE COMPLETE VARIOUS PORTIONS, WE MOVE TO THE NEXT BLOCK. SO THAT WILL BE CONTINUING OVER THE NEXT PERIOD AS WELL. IN ADDITION TO REPLACING OLDER LINES, WE HAVE WITH THE AUSTIN ENERGY'S CHILLED WATER PLANT, THEY ARE PROVIDING CHILLED WATER TO SOME OF THE BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN, AND THEN IN ORDER TO DO THAT THEY HAVE TO BUILD THOSE -- TAKE THOSE LINES FROM THE PLANT TO THOSE PARTICULAR BUILDINGS. SO THAT ALSO IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT DOWNTOWN. ON THIS MAP WE ALSO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE LINES THAT THE MARRY THINK IS REFERRING TO ALONG CESAR CHAVEZ, THERE WILL BE A 24-INCH WATERLINE THAT WILL HAVE TO BE INSTALLED. HOPEFULLY BY THIS JUNE, WHICH WILL AGAIN SAUCE SOME DISRUPTION. THERE ARE SOME STORM WATER LINES THAT HAVE TO BE REPLACED AS A RUT OF THE S C.S. AND CITY HALL PROJECTS. I'VE SHOWN AS AN IN SET ON THE LEFT EDGE OF THIS SLIDE, I JUST WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT WE WILL BE STARTING THE BARTON SPRINGS ROAD PRONL WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. AND THAT ALSO WILL AFFECT THE -- IF YOU WILL, AN ACCESS POINT INTO AND OUT OF DOWNTOWN AND WILL BE A CONSTRICTION FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME AS WELL. SO I THINK THAT, AS I INDICATED EARLIER, THAT I THINK THINGS ARE GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE THEY GET BETTER. BUT I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO GET BETTER AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS YOU SOME OF THE PICTURES OF SIMPLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WITH SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION IN THE STREETS -- EXCUSE ME -- DOWNTOWN. THAT SOME OF THIS CONSTRUCTION LITERALLY FORCES US TO CLOSE A ROAD. WE REALLY DON'T HAVE AN OPTION IN SOME CASES TO LEAVE EVEN A LANE OPEN WHILE SOME OF THIS EXCAVATION AND OTHER WORK IS OCCURRING. BUT IF WE TAKE --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WHY?

>> WELL, THE REASON I THINK THAT -- HOPEFULLY IT SHOWS HERE IS THAT THE -- IN THE CASE OF THE 66-INCH WATERLINE, IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THAT IT TAKES --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS IF YOU ARE GOING TO FIX A LINE THAT IS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, THERE IS NO WAY TO DIVERT TRAFFIC AROUND THE BIG HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

>> SOMETIMES THERE IS, AND WHERE THERE IS WE WILL ATTEMPT TO LEAVE A LANE OPEN. BUT WE'RE -- IN SOME CASES, ANYWAY, FINDING THAT WE MUST CLOSE THE ENTIRE ROAD. IT'S JUST A SAFETY PROBLEM TO LEAVE AN OPEN HOLE THAT CLOSE TO TRAFFIC. SO WHERE WE CAN WE DO. IN SOME CASES --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IT'S NOT AN ARBITRARY CLOSING OF A ROAD BECAUSE IT WOULD BE MORE CONVENIENT. IT IS THAT YOU'VE GOT TO GET UNDER THE ROAD TO DO THE WORK THAT BRINGS ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE, WORK AND DO THE THINGS THEY DO IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT.

>> THE NEXT -- I HAVE ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE SLIDES THAT TAKE YOU OVER TIME OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS AS WHAT WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN IN THE KRZ, CITY HALL DISTRICT AREA. THIS FIRST MAP SHOWS YOU THE CLOSED STREETS THAT ARE CLOSED AS OF TODAY. AS WELL TAKES DETOURS AND WHAT -- HOW MANY LANES ARE OPEN. I'VE INDICATED ON THE SLIDE WHAT THE REASON FOR THE CLOSURE IS. AND IN -- FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHILLED WATERLINE HAS CAUSED US TO CLOSE THE GUADALUPE FROM SECOND TO THIRD. THE CHILLED PARTY PLANT ITSELF HAS CAUSED US TO CLOSE THIRD STREET FROM NUECES TO SAN ANTONIO. AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF OTHER CLOSURES ON THIS MAP THAT WE ARE REALLY UNHAPPY ABOUT. WE REALLY FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN DOWNTOWN AND WE DON'T -- AND WE WANT TO CHANGE THIS AS RAPIDLY AND QUICKLY AS WE CAN. I'VE INDICATED IN A COLOR CODING ON THESE MAPS THAT I HOPE YOU CAN FOLLOW WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE LANE CLOSURE IS SHOWN IN I BELIEVE BLUE, TWO LANES IN GREEN, AND WITH A HOLE -- THE WHOLE ROAD IS CLOSED IN ORANGE AND IS A LITTLE WIDER. WHAT WE EXPECT OVER TIME, VERY QUICKLY NOW, IS FOR US TO OPEN UP THOSE ROADS AND AT LEAST OPEN UP TO PARTIALLY TO TRAFFIC. I'LL SHOW YOU HOW THAT INFOLDS OVER TIME. THE NEXT SLIDE TAKES YOU TO ANOTHER FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS FROM NOW AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME THE CHILLED WATER LINES WILL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND THE WATER PLANT WILL BE COMPLETED. WE'RE ASSUMING INTEL IS -- WE WILL OPEN THAT ROAD NEXT TO INTEL ON NUECES AND --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THERE'S SOME NEWS.

>> AND I SUSPECT THAT THAT WILL STAY OPEN FOR A WHILE. THE AUSTIN MUSEUM AND ARTS BUILDING WILL BEGIN THEIR CONSTRUCTION SO WE WILL HAVE A CONSTRICTION THERE AS WE RESTRICT ONE LANE AROUND THE ART MUSEUM AREA. SO WHILE THAT WILL BE AN ADDED CONSTRICTION, WE WILL BE OPENING UP SOME OF THE ROADS IN JULY. THE NEXT SLIDE TAKES YOU TO NOVEMBER, ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS FROM TODAY. AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR CHANGE FROM WHERE WE ARE -- OUR PREVIOUS PRESENTATION AND UPDATE TO YOU BACK IN OCTOBER, WE ARE -- WE ARE EXPECTING THAT WE WILL OPEN ALL THE ROADS, AT LEAST TWO LANES NRX THE ENTIRE C.S.C. COMPLEX BY NOVEMBER. THAT WE WILL HAVE THE TUNNEL COMPLETED, WHICH IS A TUNNEL THAT CONNECTS THE THREE C.S.C. BUILDINGS WHICH IS DONE IN THE STREETS, AGAIN, IT'S NOT ARBITRARY, IT'S DONE. YOU CAN'T DRIVE IN THAT AREA UNTIL THEY ARE BACKFILLED OVER THAT TUNNEL. SO THAT WILL BE FINISHED WITHOUT SOME UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES IN NOVEMBER AND WE WOULD EXPECT, ALTHOUGH IN SOME CASES IT'S GOING TO BE A BUMPY RIDE THAT IS CORRECT WE WILL HAVE ALL THE STREETS OPEN AT LEAST TWO LANES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IF I MIGHT INTERRUPT WITH REGARD TO THAT REAL QUICKLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAD BEEN CONTEMPLATED AT ONE POINT IN TIME WAS THAT KNOWING THE TUNNELS WERE GOING TO BE BUILT, THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME ABILITY TO OPEN THE STREET FOR A WHILE, THEN CLOSE THE STREET AND OPEN THE STREET, YOU KNOW, CLOSE THE STREET WHEN YOU NEED TO DO CONSTRUCTION, OPEN THE STREET AT DIFFERENT TIMES. WHAT -- WHY WAS THAT NOT ULTIMATELY THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE AND THE DECISION WAS JUST TO CLOSE THE STREET?

>> I THINK THE DECISION WAS MADE TO CLOSE IT OVER THE PAST YEAR FOR SAFETY REASONS. I THINK WE FELT LIKE THAT IF WE COULD ESTABLISH A DETOUR, AND WE ALSO ANALYZED THAT DETOUR WITH OUR CONSULTANT, WHM, WHO INDICATED TO US IT WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE THREE-LANE DETOUR AROUND THE WHOLE AREA IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC MOVEMENT THAN IT WOULD BE TO HAVE TWO LANES OPEN. IN FACT, IT'S MORE FISH DOESN'T HAVE A THREE-LANE DETOUFRMENT SO WE CONSIDERED THAT AND STUDIED THAT. WE ALSO FELT LIKE FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE TO CONSTANTLY BE CHANGING THE DIRECTIONS TO THE COMMUTER AND THE DRIVER ABOUT WHICH LANE IS OPEN, WHICH ISN'T WOULD BE HAZARDOUS. SO CERTAINLY WE COULD HAVE. WE COULD HAVE KEPT IT THAT WAY AND WE COULD HAVE OPENED -- COULD HAVE OPENED AND CLOSED. THE DECISION WE FELT WAS THE BEST DECISION UP TILL TODAY WAS TO KEEP THAT CLOSED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. THE OTHER THING ABOUT THE TUNNELS THAT GOT REPORTED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AS IT WAS A BRAND-NEW THING. THAT COUNCIL WAS DECIDING ON TUNNELS AND MY GOODNESS, THAT'S -- I GUESS FRONT PAGE NEWS. THE FACT IS, THAT WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL VOTE BACK WHEN THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WAS MADE AND THAT WAS WHEN ALL THE DECISIONS -- A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS WERE MADE. SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING BRAND NEW PEOPLE ARE JUST COMING UP WITH EACH THURSDAY; IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. THE TUNNELS HAVE BEEN THERE, AS YOU SAY FRRX THE BEGINNING. AND THEY AFFECT NOT ONLY --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYBE SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THEM, BUT -- AND THAT MAY BE USE NEWS BECAUSE OF THAT, BUT IT'S NOT NEW STUFF, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. WE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I ALWAYS THOUGHT NEWS MEANT NEW, BUT MAYBE IT DOESN'T.

>>GOODMAN: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: CAN I ASK AUSTIN, SPEAKING OF BUMPY RIDES, BOTH LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY, ARE WE PLANNING TO DO THINGS FOR THE DETOUR ROUTES, AND THE ONE IN PARTICULAR I'M THINKING OF THAT I THOUGHT COULD MAKING FIXED A LITTLE BY US TEMPORARILY IS YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE HEADING SOUTH AND YOU HAVE TO DOING-LEG TO FOURTH BEFORE YOU CAN GET BACK ACROSS TO CESAR CHAVEZ AND HOW THE RAILROAD TRACK THERE --

>> YES.

>>GOODMAN: -- EVERYTHING JUST SORT OF GOES DOWNHILL IN A LITTLE SLOPE AND AS YOU DRIVE IN THE LEFT LANE YOU CAN FEEL YOUR TIRES KIND OF IS A READING AS YOU DO THAT. SO ARE WE PLANNING TO DO OVER THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION FOR THESE THINGS GO IN AND DO SOME TEMPORARY EVEN GO OUT OF THE DETOUR ROUTES? TO MAKE THEM A LITTLE BETTER?

>> WE'RE CURRENTLY -- THE CURRENT ROUTE NOW IS BACK TO THIRD STREET SO YOU ARE NOT RIDING ON FOURTH STREET ANYMORE, BUT WE HAVE REQUESTED FROM STREET AND BRIDGE TO GO OUT AND FIX THOSE POLL HOLES AND SOME OF THE RAILROAD TRACK CONCERNS.

>>GOODMAN: I DIDN'T GO THAT WAY YESTERDAY.

>> IT JUST CHANGED.

>>GOODMAN: OKAY. WELL, IF ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT COMES UP, BECAUSE WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DOING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BIG METAL LIDS, THEY WERE VERY DIFFICULT TO TRAVERSE UNTIL WE BUILT THEM UP A LITTLE BIT. AND THE POTHOLE KIND OF THINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE AT PEAK HOURS TRYING TO DO THOSE LITTLE DOG LEG CURVES, IT WOULD BE NICE IF IT WAS SMOOTH. SO THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON THEN TO THE NEXT SLIDE WHICH TAKES YOU ANOTHER PERIOD OF TIME OUT TO AUGUST OF 2002. AT THAT POINT MUCH OF THE WORK AROUND CITY HALL WILL BE DONE AND THE LANES ON GUADALUPE AND LAVACA WILL GO FROM TWO LANES TO THREE AT THAT POINT. WE WOULD EXPECT THAT BY THE TIME WE GET TO AUGUST OF 2002, A LOT OF THIS CONSTRUCTION WILL BE DONE. THE GREAT STREETS STUDY WILL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. AND SO WILL THE MOBILITY STUDY. BOTH OF THOSE WILL HAVE BEEN MRITD. AND WE WILL BE AT THAT -- COMPLETED. WE WILL BE BE AT THAT POINT IN TIME IN A POSITION, IF NOT SOONER, TO TALK ABOUT COUNCIL -- TALK WITH COUNCIL ABOUT ULTIMATELY WHAT DIRECTION YOU WANT TO STREETS, HOW WIDE THE SKAUX, OTHER CHANGES OF THAT SORT ONCE MOST OF THIS CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THEN THERE IS ONE FURTHER MAP IN THIS SERIES THAT LOOKS EVEN FURTHER OUT BEYOND 2002. WE EXPECT THAT MORE CONSTRUCTION DOWNTOWN. MET LIFE HAS COME AND BEGUN TO TALK TO US AT THE CORNER OF COLORADO AND CESAR CHAVEZ ABOUT A BUILDING THEY ARE CONSIDERING BUILDING. WE EXPECT INTEL AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD TO FINISH THEIR PROJECT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>> I'M SORRY?

>>MAYOR WATSON: NOUBL HOLDING BREATH.

>> NO. WE WE WILL LEAVE THE ROAD OPEN THERE. C.S.C. WILL PRESUMABLY START AND COMPLETE THEIR THIRD BUILDING IN THAT TIME FRAME. SO WE STILL WILL HAVE DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION GOING ON FOR SOME YEARS INTO THE FUTURE IN THIS AREA THAT WILL CAUSE US SOME CONSTRICTION AND BEFORE WE FINALIZE THE ROAD BED AND FINALIZE THE WIDTH OF THE SIDEWALKS AND ALL THAT SORT OF THINGS, IT WILL BE SOME PERIOD OF TIME DOWN THE ROAD. BUT I WANT COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A GREAT AMOUNT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON, AS YOU OBVIOUSLY ALREADY KNOW, AND THIS WILL TAKE A NUMBER OF YEARS TO COMPLETE. LOOKING AT THE SAME SORT OF PICTURE IF YOU MOVE EAST OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE PICTURES ARE THE SAME SORT OF THING, YOU'VE GOT SOME SITUATIONS WHERE YOU'VE GOT WATER LINES, AGAIN, THE BIG 66-INCH LINE IN THIS INSTANCE, THE PICTURE ON THE UPPER RIGHT, WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP ONE LANE OPEN. IT WASN'T SITUATED SUCH THAT WE HAD TO CLOSE THE ENTIRE STREET. AND I THINK OUR INTENT IN THE FUTURE AS WE GO THROUGH MORE OF THESE CONSTRUCTION AND CLOSURES IS TO LEAVE TRAFFIC OPEN EVEN IF IT'S JUST ONE LANE WHERE WE CAN. THE SLIDE THEN, A SERIES OF SLEEDZ SHOWING WHAT YOU IS HAPPENING AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER. THERE IS EX KA SKRATION THAT HAS TO TAKE PLACE FOR THE PARKING GARAGE JUST AS THERE IS AROUND CITY HALL WHERE THE PARKING GARAGE IS NOT JUST UNDER CITY HALL SHE BUT IT GOES OUT INTO THE STREET TO GIVE US MORE PARKING SPACE UNDERGROUND. ANOTHER REASON WHY YOU NEED TO CLOSE SOME OF THOSE LANES. AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING I THINK WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER PARKING GARAGE. OVER TIME, MOVING TO GO APRIL OF 2001, ANOTHER MONTH, WE WILL HAVE FINISHED PART OF THAT 66-INCH WATERLINE AND BEGIN TO MOVE EAST ON FIFTH STREET BETWEEN RED RIVER AND SABINE SO THERE WILL BE SOME CLOSURE FOR THAT PURPOSE. AGAIN, IN MAY OF 2001, ANOTHER SHIFT, THE 66-INCH WATERLINE WILL FINISH ON ONE STREET AND MOVE TO THE NEXT. WE WILL HAVE SOME CLOSURE ON TRINITY AS A RESULT OF THAT WATERLINE AS WELL. APRIL OF 2002, WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE EVERYTHING OPEN. THERE WILL BE SOME -- PERHAPS SOME CLOSURES AS A RESULT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL CONSTRUCTION. BUT BY AND LARGE THE AREA AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER WILL BE COMPLETE BY THAT PERIOD OF TIME. I WANTED THEN JUST TO CONVEY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY WE CLOSE STREETS, THE QUESTION THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY ASKED. THERE'S A LIST OG THIS NEXT SLIDE OF SOME OF THE FACTORS WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. I THINK THAT WE LOOK AT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CONSTRUCTION AREA OF THE BUILD ITSELF. YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE ITS NEEDS. WE PROVIDE -- WE KNOW THAT THAT CONSTRUCTION AREA BUILDING HAS TO PROVIDE DELIVERY OF MATERIALS SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A WAY THAT IS SAFE FOR BOTH THE COMMUTER AND FOR THE DELIVERY TRUCKS TO GET IN AND OUT AND TO NOT JAM UP THOSE TRAVEL LANES AND CAUSE ACCIDENTS. WE NEED -- IN SOME CASES, A STAGING AREA FOR MATERIALS. I THINK WE HAVE BEEN PERHAPS SOMEWHAT LENIENT WITH RESPECT TO USING AREA FOR STAGING IN THE PAST AND WE WANT TO TIGHTEN UP ON THAT IN THE FUTURE. OVERALL, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE DO IS SAFE FOR WORKERS AS WELL AS THE MOTORISTS. WE DON'T WANT TO PUT THE WORKERS WHO ARE WORKING ON THESE BUILDINGS IN HARMS WAY AS WELL. AND WE WANT TO TRY TO IN MEETING PROJECT DEADLINES DO WHAT WE CAN IN WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPERS TO HELP THEM TO MEET THEIR DEADLINES FASTER SO THAT WE CAN GET THOSE ROADS OPEN SOONER. AND THEN WE LOOK OBVIOUSLY AT EMERGENCY CONDITIONS. THERE IS A PROCESS WE GO THROUGH, IT'S NOT REALLY ALL THAT FORMAL, IT'S NOT ALL THAT WELL THOUGHT OUT AT THIS POINT ACTUALLY, BUT THERE IS A PROCESS WE GO THROUGH THAT IS SIMILAR TO WHAT IS DONE IN OTHER CITIES. FIRST WE LOOK AT THE DISTRICT IMPACTS, WHEN SOMEBODY COMES TO US AND WANTS TO CLOSE A STREET, WHETHER IT'S PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY OR ONE LANE, WE LOOK AT THE SITUATION, WHERE ARE WE IN TIME. WHAT WE MIGHT AGREE TO DO TODAY MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE WOULD HAVE AGREED TO DO SIX MONTHS AGO OR SIX MONTHS IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF OTHER CONSTRUCTION, OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON. AND WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A GREAT CRYSTAL BALL ABOUT WHEN DEVELOPERS ARE GOING TO COME TO US AND ASK FOR SPACE AND AREA TO DO THEIR CONSTRUCTION. SO WE LOOK AT THE PROJECT DURATION, WE LOOK AT OTHER CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULES BY OUR DEVELOPERS WHO HAS BEEN TO BE IN THE DISTRICT OR AREA AT THE SAME TIME. THEN WE MOVE ON TO THE PROJECT NEEDS, AS I'VE JUST DESCRIBED, THE STAGING, DELIVERY AND SITE RESTRICTIONS. AND FINALLY WE SIT DOWN AND WORK WITH EACH DEVELOPER ON THE SOLUTIONS. WHETHER THERE IS SOME WORK THAT CAN BE DONE TO ADJUST THE WORKING HOURS OR WHETHER WE CAN SHIFT THE TRAFFIC BY RESTRIPING, WE LOOK AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF SOLUTIONS THAT MIGHT WORK SHORT OF CLOSING THE STREET. AND STREET CLOSURE IS REALLY THE LAST RESORT. NOW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ACTIONS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN TO MINIMIZE IMPACTS ON TRAFFIC DOWNTOWN THAT I WANTED TO JUST REMIND THE COUNCIL OF. ONE IS THAT WE HAVE -- WHEN WE DO A CLOSURE, EVEN IF IT'S A PARTIAL CLOSURE, WE'LL GO IN AND REEXAMINE THE TIMING OF DOWNTOWN SIGNALS, TRAFFIC SIGNALS. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE IMPACT OF THAT CLOSURE ON THE REST OF THE SYSTEM DOWNTOWN. AND WE READJUST THE TIMING OF THOSE SIGNALS TO HELP TRAFFIC GET THROUGH DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THERE IS A CLOSURE AND THERE IS A BOTTLENECK. WE'VE CREATED THIS DOWNTOWN JAM SITE ON THE WEB. WE'VE LOOKED AT SOME OTHERS RECENTLY AND I'LL SHOW YOU PICTURES OF OTHER WEBSITES THAT ARE BETTER THAN OURS AND WE HOPE TO REALLY IMPROVE ON OURS, BUT WE HAVE A WEBSITE THAT LISTS FOR EVERYBODY THE KINDS OF ROAD CLOSURES THAT ARE GOING ON. WE DO A JOB OF MONITORING THE SITES TO MAKE SURE THAT DEVELOPERS ARE NOT BLOCKING LANES THAT THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO AND WE'RE ABLE TO OPEN LANES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE ALSO MINIMIZE ANY ADDITIONAL CLOSURES TO THE AREA, TO THE EXTENT WE CAN. THERE ARE SOME EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, THERE ARE SOME SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE THE FIBEROPTICS FOLKS AND OTHERS WHO ARE IN -- IN OUR AREA THAT WE WEREN'T NECESSARILY AWARE OF IN ADVANCE. SOME MORE ADDITIONAL ACTIONS THAT WE'VE TAKEN, WE'VE DECIDED TO PROHIBIT DAYTIME CLOSURES IN THE CBD BEGINNING PAST -- THIS PAST APRIL OF 2000. EXCEPT WHERE THERE ARE NOISE PROBLEMS. SO THAT WE'RE NOT ALLOWING CONSTRUCTION TO OCCUR DURING THE DAYTIME. WHERE THERE IS A CLOSURE THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE CRANES OR FOR WORK THAT HAS TO HAPPEN, WE TRY TO PUSH THAT TO THE EVENING HOURS THAT ARE OFF PEAK. WE'VE ESTABLISHED A DOWNTOWN PROJECT COORDINATION TEAM. WE'VE STABBED A COMMUNICATIONS ROUTE COMMITTEE. SO OUR COMMUNICATIONS HAVE BEEN INCREASED SO THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH ALL OF THAT. LET ME MOVE ON. I THINK YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THESE. WE RESTRIPED FOURTH STREET TO ACCOMMODATE THE SITUATION WITH THE MERCHANTS ON FOURTH STREET DURING THIS PROBLEM. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PERIOD OF CLOSURES IN DOWNTOWN. MOVING ON THEN, STATUS OF RECOMMENDATIONS. LAST OCTOBER WE MADE A PRESENTATION TO YOU AND TALKED TO YOU ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE DOING. AND THEY WERE IN THREE DIFFERENT AREAS. ONE, REGULATORY INITIATIVES. WE REALLY HAVE, AS I THINK I'VE INDICATED, HAVE BEGUN TO TICKET AGGRESSIVELY WHEN WE HAVE DOUBLE PARKING DOWNTOWN. IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD 300 TICKETS FOR DOUBLE PARKING AND THEN IN THIS LAST MONTH WE HAD OVER 550. WE'VE BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE IN TRYING TO MOVE TRAFFIC THROUGH AND GET RID OF THE DOUBLE PARKING. IN TERMS OF ROADWAY MODIFICATIONS, WE LOOKED AT PROHIBITING LEFT TURNS ON CONGRESS, BUT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO REALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. WE HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH CAPITAL METRO ON RELOCATING SOME OF THE BUSES TO COLORADO AND BRAZOS. AND THAT IS UNDER DISCUSSION. AND OF COURSE WE RESTRIPED FOURTH STREET. THEN FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVES THAT IS CORRECT NEEDS A GREAT DEAL MORE WORK. WE'VE BEGUN AT THIS POINT TO GIVE SOME PRIORITY TO COMPANIES THAT ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN JOINT TRERCHLING, BUT WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO SOME MORE WORK IN THAT AREA. THE PROGRAM COMPARISON IS WHAT I WANTED TO END WITH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AND IF I MIGHT JUST BEFORE YOU GO INTO THAT, LET ME FOCUS ON THAT FOR JUST A SECOND. I GET SOME CONTACT FROM PEOPLE THAT SAYS IT'S REALLY ONLY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE CONSTRUCTION IN YOUR DOWNTOWN AREA ROADS GET CLOSED. AND LANES GET CLOSED. AND I, FRANKLY, HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN KNOWING, AND AS YOU KNOW, HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION WHAT DO OTHER CITIES DO AND ARE WE COMPLETELY OUT OF LINE, AND FRANKLY, HOW DO YOU BUILD SOME OF THESE BIG BUILDINGS IN A DOWNTOWN AREA WITHOUT CLOSING LANES, HOW ARE THEY DOING IT IN THE OTHER CITIES THAT I KEEP GETTING TOLD IS HAPPENING. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO EMPHASIZE AS PART OF THAT IS BACK WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TRYING TO ALLOW FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT NOT OVER THE AQUIFER BUT INSTEAD BRINGING IT INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA, ONE OF THE THINGS WE IMMEDIATELY REALIZED WAS THAT IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO BUILD IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA IN SOME INSTANCES, AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IS TRUE IS BECAUSE IF YOU ARE BUILDING OUT, OUTSIDE OF A CONFINED AREA LIKE THE COUNT DOWNTOWN AREA, YOU CAN SPREAD THINGS OUT AS YOU BUILD. BUT IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO -- YOU CAN'T SPREAD OUT VERY MUCH IF YOU ARE BUILDING IN A CONFINED AREA LIKE THE DOWNTOWN. BUT AS WE'VE STARTED DOING SOME OF THESE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, I'M HEARING FROM A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WE'RE ODD BALL AND THAT OTHER CITIES ARE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT CLOSING LANES AND WITHOUT CLOSING STREETS. SO I THINK PART OF MY COMPLAINING ABOUT IT IS THE REASON WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THIS AND I WANT TO PUT AN EXCLAMATION MARK ON IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. WE HAVE LOOKED AT THREE OR FOUR OTHER CITIES AND WE CAN LOOK AT OTHERS, BUT I WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION HOUSTON, THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA AND NEW YORK CITY. AND WE'VE EXAMINED THEM AND TALKED TO THEM ABOUT WHAT DO THEY DO WITH CONSTRUCTION, AND THOSE ARE BIG CITIES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND SIMILAR ISSUES THAT WE HAVE. AND THEY GO THROUGH A SIMILAR PROCESS THAT WE DO. THEY LOOK AT THE DISTRICT IMPACT, THEY LOOK AT THE PROJECT NEEDS, AND THEN THEY COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS. AND IF I FIRST SHOW YOU THIS SLIDE, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SEE IT, IS THE WEB PAGE FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND WHAT IT SHOWS LAST WEEK, AS YOU PULL OFF THE WEBSITE AND AS WE'VE CAPTURED IN THIS IMAGE, IN RED ARE ALL THE CLOSED STREETS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, AS A RESULT OF CONSTRUCTION. AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOU -- IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE SOME SKIGLY RED LINES WHERE THEY ARE PERMANENTLY CLOSING STREETS IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. BUT SOME OF THOSE ARE NOT FULL CLOSURE YOU, SOME ARE LANES, BUT FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES THERE IS A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF CLOSURES AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS MAP GOING ON RIGHT NOW TODAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. THE WEBSITE IN FORT WORTH IS THE NEXT SLIDE, AND IT ISN'T QUITE AS VISUAL AS THE HOUSTON WEB PAGE, AND WE WOULD HOPE TO COPY THAT HOUSTON PAGE IF WE CAN. BUT THE WEBSITE IN FORT WORTH SHOWS YOU A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CLOSURES. PARTIAL CLOSURES, FULL CLOSURES, SPECIAL EVENT CLOSURES, CLOSERS THAT ARE BEING DONE BY TXDOT. ON AND O CLOSURES FOR PARADES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CLOSURES THAT ARE HAPPENING JUST LIKE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN FORT WORTH AND IT'S REALLY I THINK THE BEST WE CAN TELL NO DIFFERENT THAN HOUSTON AND NO DIFFERENT THAN AUSTIN. FINALLY, LOOK AT NEW YORK CITY. AGAIN, THEIRS IS NOT AS VISUAL AS SOME OF THEM. BUT THIS IS THE FIRST OF 15 PAGES ON THE NEW YORK CITY WEBSITE OF CLOSURES. OF COURSE IT'S QUITE A BIG CITY AND THEY HAVE MANY, MANY, MANY CLOSURES AND THE 15 PAGES WE LOOKED AT DID NOT INCLUDE THE CLOSURES FOR CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, WHICH IS A WHOLE OTHER WEBSITE. WHAT WE DID IS WE WENT THROUGH AND ON THIS LAST SLIDE CONSTRUCTED A MAP OF THE CLOSURES JUST IN MANHATTAN AND WHAT YOU SEE IS THE ORANGE DOTSZ ARE 28 OF THE 43 ROAD CLOSURES IN MANHATTAN AS OF TODAY. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CLOSURES IN MAN AT THAT TIME TAKEN, SPECIFICALLY FOR UTILITIES, THERE ARE CLOSURES ALSO FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, AS WE HAVE. SOME OF THESE ARE, AS WE FOUND OUT, ARE FULL CLOSURES OF STREETS, AND SOME OF THEM ARE JUST PARTIAL LANES. BUT EVEN IN MANHATTAN WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS FOR DECADES, THEY STILL HAVE CLOSURES AND THEY HAVE CLOSURES APPARENTLY ALL THE TIME. SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION AND WE WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

>>GOODMAN: LET ME ASK YOU ONE THING. BACK WHEN I FIRST ASKED IF WE COULD HAVE THIS BRIEFING, I ALSO WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE STATUS OF THE TRANSPORTATION TEAM WOULD BE. NOW THAT WE'RE ALMOST REORGANIZED, DO WE HAVE THOSE FOLKS ON HAND?

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT I THINK TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET THIS LAST YEAR, AND I HAVE HIRED FROM WITHIN ONE PERSON AND HAVE HIRED FROM TXDOT, AS A MATTER OF FACT, ANOTHER TRANSPORTATION PLANNER. SO WE HAVE FILLED THOSE TWO POSITIONS BY IN THE ONE SENSE MOVING UP ONE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN ON THE STAFF FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND WE WILL REFILL THAT -- HER POSITION WITH ANOTHER PERSON. SO WE'VE CREATED AND FILLED THOSE TWO POSITIONS AS OF THE -- THE PERSON FROM TXDOT STARTED YESTERDAY.

>>GOODMAN: OKAY. SO THEY HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO GET INTO ANY PROJECTS YET.

>> CORRECT.

>>GOODMAN: OKAY. WELL, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE -- AND I DON'T KNOW IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT THE ONE THING THAT WE CAN'T GET AROUND EVEN THOUGH WE TRY TO CONTROL THE ROUTES AND THE FLOW DOWNTOWN IS THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES, AND THEY POP UP IN THE MIDDLE OF STREETS THAT MAYBE IS OUR -- OUR ALTERNATIVE ROUTE OR WHAT HAVE YOU. AND I KNOW WE'RE PUSHING THE ENVELOPE AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND MAYBE COULD PUSH IT A LITTLE MORE, BUT WE REALLY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHEN, WHERE AND HOW LONG THOSE FOLKS CUT THE STREETS. RIGHT?

>> WELL, I THINK TO BE HONEST THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS WE COULD DO THAT WE HAVEN'T QUITE GOTTEN TO DO AT THIS POINT WITH REGARD TO THOSE UTILITY CUTS. I THINK THERE ARE SPRERMENTS GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY WHERE A LOT OF CITIES ARE FINDING THIS PROBLEM AND WE NEED SOD TODD MORE RESEARCH IN THAT AREA AND BRING THAT TO THE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION. IF THERE ARE SOME SOLUTIONS ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT GET THESE UTILITIES TO WORK JOINTEDLY WITH US OR SOME MECHANISMS WHERE THERE IS SOME MINIMIZEING OF CUTS THAT OCCUR IN THOSE STREETS OVER TIME. AND I THINK WE STILL HAVE TO DO OUR HOMEWORK IN THAT AREA.

>>GOODMAN: AND -- WELL, WITHIN OUR SYSTEM WE HAVE QUITE A NUMBER OF VERY DIFFERENT KINDS OF ISSUES TO DEAL WITH, AND SO I'M HOPING OUR TRANSPORTATION TEAM, OUR EXPERTS WILL BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY DO SOME PLANNING BUT SOME TROUBLE-SHOOTING. AND AS WE DEAL WITH, ESPECIALLY IF ONE KNOWS TXDOT AND HAS CONNECTIONS THERE. BECAUSE ON THE FREEWAYS, AS I'VE BEEN TRAVELING AROUND OTHER PLACES IN TEXAS AND OTHER PLACES, IT'S TRUE THAT MOST CITIES OUR SIZE HAVE MORE THAN THREE LANES. IN THEIR FREEWAYS AND THEY ARE INTER REGIONAL. IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT MOST CITIES DO NOT HAVE ALL THE NAFTA TRUCK TRAFFIC COMING RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF TOWN. SO UNDERSTANDING THE CONDITIONS ARE KIND OF RIPE FOR THEIR BEING TOO MANY CARS GOING TO TOO MANY OF THE SAME PLACES AT THE SAME TIME ON THE SAME SQUARE INCH OF PAVEMENT, STILL, THOUGH, WHAT I DON'T FIND IN OTHER CITIES IS A WRECK ON EVERY ROUTE. AND HERE I DO. AND IN FACT WHEN WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE MORNING CONGESTION GETTING HERE EVERY THURSDAY WITH ALL OUR FOLKS TLRX IS ALWAYS, -- FOLKS, THERE IS -- ALMOST ANY ROUTE YOU CHOOSE HAS ITS OWN WRECK AND IF YOU ARE LISTEN TO GO THE RADIO TO THE ROAD CONDITIONS, THEY WILL TELL YOU NOBODY IS MOVE OG I-35 SOUTH, THERE IS A WRECK AT X, NOBODY IS MOVING ON 183, THERE IS A WRECK AT X. NOBODY IS MOVING ON MOPAC. WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THAT IS, BUT THERE MUST GO A WRECK SOMEWHERE. IN OTHER CITIES, MAYBE THE CONDITIONS ARE A LITTLE BETTER, BUT THEY JUST DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THAT AMOUNT OF WRECKS, SO I JUST REALLY THINK THAT I CAN'T REITERATE ENOUGH THAT WE NEED TO HELP FUND A REALLY GOOD PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN ON RULES OF THE ROAD, JUST BASIC SAFETY OF THE HIGHWAY ISSUES AND RULES OF DRIVING. FOR BICYCLISTS AS WELL. BECAUSE SOME OF -- SOME OF THE BICYCLE MOVES DOWNTOWN WHEN YOU HAVE ROUTES GOING LIKE WE DO ARE EASY FOR A BICYCLE TO MANEUVER, IN FACT HARD FOR THEM NOT TO MANEUVER, BUT THAT ALSO ADDS A LITTLE MORE RISK TO ALL THOSE DOING LEGS. AND THEN THE OTHER -- DOG LEGS. THE OTHER ISSUE I WANTED TO REMIND YOU OF AND I TOLD YOU EARLIER WHAT I WANTED TO TRY TO DO AND I THINK WILL SERVE WELL WITH OTHERS IS ACTUALLY GET A PLANNING PROGRAM TOGETHER WITH IMPLEMENTATION AS VERY MUCH A PART OF THE GOAL AND A TIME FRAME TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW KNOW TO START NEW PARADIGMS, NEW SIGN AGE -- I HATE THAT WORD, SIGNAGE, THAT YOU DO THROUGH KIND OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN STRIPING AND PAVEMENT AND TEXTURE AND CURBING AND WHAT HAVE YOU AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO DO SHOAL CREEK BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING SO LONG TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT KIND OF ISSUES THAT WHAT WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER IS NOT ENOUGH OBVIOUSLY AT THE MOMENT WITH TXDOT AND CAPITAL METRO, MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME IMPROVEMENTS GOING JUST FOR OUR AREA, BUT SINCE WE ARE SO BEHIND THE TIMES, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE INITIATIVES IN ALL THOSE AREAS OF ROADWAY AND TRANSPORTATION CONDITIONS BEGIN. SO THAT WAS-THAT'S MY PLEA. TO PUBLIC WORKS AND TO -- WHAT IS YOUR DEPARTMENT GOING TO BE CALLED?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE CALLED, UNLESS YOU DECIDE TO CHANGE IT, TRANSPORTATION, PLANNING AND DESIGN. TPAD IS WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING AS A NAME.

>>GOODMAN: OKAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: BOY, THAT'S JUST SO EXCITING.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> I THINK WHAT I MEANT THERE IS IN THE CASE OF THE CBD, YOU'VE GOT ALREADY PLANNED PROJECTS THAT ARE ABOUT THIS START, AND NOT ONLY THE CBD, BUT ACROSS -- .

>>SLUSHER: BARTON SPRINGS YOU MEAN IN PARTICULAR?

>> BARTON SPRINGS ROAD IN PARTICULAR. IS THAT WHEEL WE'RE TRYING TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS AND THE ROADS IN ONE PLACE, YOU'VE GOT NEW CONSTRUCTION STARTING IN OTHER PLACES.

>>SLUSHER: WHY WOULD WE SCHEDULE IT LIKE THAT? WHY WOULDN'T WE SCHEDULE IT WHERE WE PUT THAT OFF FOR A WHILE UNTIL WE OPEN UP ANOTHER ARTERY RATHER THAN NARROW OR CLOSE ANOTHER ONE?

>> YOU'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT BARTON SPRINGS?

>>SLUSHER: THAT'S THE ONE YOU MENTIONED.

>> THAT'S THE ONE I MENTIONED. I WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION, NOT TO -- NOT NECESSARILY TO PUT IT OFF, BUT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THAT IS -- JUST ANOTHER AREA OF THE CITY WHERE -- THAT AFFECTS DOWNTOWN WHERE WE EXPECT TO DO SOME WORK. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT CAN BE PUT OFF. WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTAGES MIGHT BE, BUT WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AND GET BACK TO YOU.

>>SLUSHER: I THINK WE SHOULD ALL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT. AS I REMEMBER, THAT WAS THE ONLY EXAMPLE YOU CITED AS EVIDENCE THAT IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER?

>> I THINK OVERALL IN GENERAL OUR POPULATION IS STILL GROWING AND OUR RATE OF AUTOMOBILE USE IS GROWING FASTER THAN THE POPULATION RATE. SO I THINK IN THAT RESPECT, I THINK I HAVE TO SAY, COUNCIL, THAT CONGESTION IS LIKELY TO GET WORSE EVEN THOUGH WE'RE DOING ALL THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN, AS I SHOWED IN THOSE SLIDES, TO IMPROVE THE ROAD SYSTEM IN THE AUSTIN AREA.

>>SLUSHER: ALL RIGHT. I GUESS I GAVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DRIVE HOME THAT POINT. ONE THING I WOULD -- PETER, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT?

>> COUNCILMEMBER, PETER RIEK, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. AS YOU PROBABLY RECALL, COUNCIL HAS ALREADY AWARD THE THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR BARTON SPRINGS ROAD. THERE ARE SOME ELEMENTS IN THERE, SUCH AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL DRAINAGE FACILITIES THAT ARE NECESSARY JUST TO ALLEVIATE EXISTING PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE NUMBER OF ACCESS POINTS INTO THE DOWNTOWN IS GOING TO INCREASE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, BUT TRAFFIC VOLUME CERTAINLY WILL, SO BARTON SPRINGS IS AT THE BRING OF FAILURE, ALREADY HAS FAILED IN MANY SECTIONS. WE NEED TO MAKE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS TO THE ROAD, NO MATTER HOW WE SLICE AND DICE IT. AND IT'S BETTER TO DO IT NOW THAN IN FIVE YEARS WHEN THE VOLUME ON THE ROAD IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE EVEN HIGHER THAN IT IS NOW.

>>SLUSHER: I'D TILL STILL LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT A LITTLE FURTHER, BUT YOU MADE SOME GOOD POINTS. BUT JUST TO WRAP UP, MAYOR, MR. BLOCK, I APPRECIATE YOU SHOWING THESE WEB PAGES FROM HOUSTON AND NEW YORK CITY BECAUSE THROUGH OUR E-MAILS, I THINK THAT MIGHT BE WHAT YOU'RE RESPONDING TO HERE, WE GET FAIRLY WIDESPREAD CLAIMS THAT HOUSTON DOESN'T CLOSE LANES OR STREETS AND THAT NEW YORK CITY DOESN'T CLOSE LANES OR STREETS FOR THEIR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. AND IT SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR THAT THAT IS UNTRUE, THE ONE -- SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT TO MY ATTENTION. AND ALSO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF CARS ON THE ROAD. I CAN'T HELP BUT POINT OUT THAT IN MY VIEW THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE BUILDING A NUMBER OF NEW ROADS AND CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS, AND I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, AND WE WERE JUTION TALKING ABOUT THAT EARLIER TODAY, BUT I THINK THE CITY AND THE REGION IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT ALL WITH JUST ROADS, AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED RAIL. AND I WAS READING IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE YESTERDAY THAT THEY'RE GETTING READY TO CLOSE TWO LANES ON MAIN STREET AND THEY WILL LEAVE ONE OPEN EACH DIRECTION, BUT TWO IN EACH DIRECTION BETWEEN THE ELEVATED AND THE BLODGETT IN HOUSTON BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING READY TO START CONSTRUCTION ON THEIR LIGHT RAIL PROJECT. SO IN THE FUTURE, I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO USE THEM AS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE THAT'S NOT USING MULTIPLE MEANS OF DEALING WITH THEIR TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. ITEM NUMBER 12, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: YES, SIR, THANK YOU. COULD WE PLEASE HAVE A QUICK STAFF REVIEW OF WHAT THE SITUATION IS NOW WITH THE OLD ORIGINAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE PROPOSAL THAT'S BEFORE US?

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME REMIND COUNCIL, THIS ITEM WAS PASSED ON FIRST READING AND WE HAVE IT ON SECOND READING ONLY.

>>GRIFFITH: RIGHT. THIS WOULD JUST BE A QUICK REVIEW SO EVERYBODY WILL KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS IS C-14--2017. THIS IS FOR SECOND READING ONLY. THE REASON WHY WE'RE BRINGING THIS BACK FOR SECOND READING ONLY IS TO ADDRESS A QUESTION THAT WAS RAISED BY COUNCIL AT FIRST READING ABOUT THE ACTION TAKEN BY PLANNING COMMISSION. WE HAVE SINCE SPOKEN TO THE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE MAKER OF THE MOTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM. AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN ERROR IN THE MINUTES AND THAT THE MINUTES SHOULD HAVE REFLECTED THAT PRIOR TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE OFF SITE ACCESSRY PARKING THAT THERE WOULD BE AN OFFICE OR RESIDENTIAL USE CONSTRUCTED BEFORE THAT PARKING USE WAS ESTABLISHED. THE SECOND REASON FOR BRING THIS BACK TO SECOND READING ONLY IS THAT THERE WERE SOME AGREEMENTS MADE BETWEEN -- AMONG THE FIVE RIVERS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS AND THAT THEY WERE NOT MADE KNOWN TO THE COUNCIL AND PART OF THE FIRST READING ITEM AND THAT TO BRING THOSE ITEMS BACK. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ORIGINAL AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS STILL OPPOSED TO THIS REZONING APPLICATION. I KNOW THAT THEY'RE HERE IF YOUR DESIRE IS TO HEAR FROM THEM, PROBABLY SPEAK TO THOSE POINTS. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT.

>>GRIFFITH: YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE MAY BE AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS NOT BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION?

>> THE AGREEMENT WAS NOT BROUGHT AND KNOWN TO COUNCIL, I THINK, THAT -- BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS AND FIVE RIVERS ASSOCIATION. I DON'T THINK THAT WAS ARTICULATED TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS.

>>GRIFFITH: THE COUNCIL -- SO DOES DOES -- DID PLANNING COMMISSION KNOW ABOUT THAT.

>> I THINK THEY WERE AWARE OF THE GENERAL CONCEPT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS ACTUALLY IN WRITTEN FORM.

>>GRIFFITH: IS IT NOW?

>> YES. IT'S IN YOUR BACKUP.

>>GRIFFITH: GOOD.

>> AND THE PARTIES HAVE AGREED.

>>GRIFFITH: FOR BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, COULD WE HAVE A QUICK RUNDOWN OF WHAT THAT AGREEMENT IS?

>> YES. THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL USES THAT WERE AGREED TO THAT THE G. O. WOULD BE LIMITED TO ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS OFFICES AND SUPPORT SERVICES, COMMUNICATION SERVICES, MEDICAL OFFICE, PERSONAL SERVICES, PROFESSIONAL OFFICES. THAT THE OFF SITE ACCESSORY PARKING, THAT THAT WOULD BE PROVIDED IN REGARDS TO THE PROPERTY AT 1900 AND 1904 RIO GRANDE AND THAT THE LIMITED NUMBER OF SPACES WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR AT 803, 807 WILLIAM CANNON OR WEST MLK. THAT THE RESIDENTIAL USE TO BE LIMITED TO CONDOS OR APARTMENTS LIMITED TO -- UNDER THE CURRENT AUSTIN REQUIREMENTS AND THAT THE PROPERTY SHALL BE DEVELOPED ACCORDING TO CERTAIN SCHEMATICS WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR BACKUP AND THAT ALONG WITH THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AT 1900 RIO GRANDE AND 1904 KNEE I DON'T GRAND THERE'S AN EXISTING RETAINING WALL THAT WILL REMAIN AT THE CURB LINES AN STEPS THAT WILL GO UP AND DOWN REPLACED BY A RAMP TO MEET ADA STANDARDS. THESE ARE OFF SITE FROM THE REQUEST THAT'S BEFORE YOU. ALSO, THAT THEY WORK TO MAKING SOME CHANGES TO LIGHT STANDARDS AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.

>>GRIFFITH: SO THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH OLD ORIGINAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY'RE NOT INVOLVED IN THAT AT ALL. THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THAT.

>> THAT WAS -- YES.

>>GRIFFITH: THAT WAS BETWEEN OTHER PEOPLE.

>> THAT AGREEMENT WAS MADE WITH THESE OTHER ASSOCIATIONS.

>>GRIFFITH: GRIF WITH OTHER SHOETIONS. SO DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY HERE FROM OLD ORIGINAL THAT COULD TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE A POSITIVE SOLUTION?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU WILL IF YOU WILL COME FORWARD. TYPICALLY KE DON'T DO THIS ON SECOND READING, BUT WHAT I WAS HOPING TO DO WAS MET G.T.E. A MOTION OUT AND IF COUNCIL HAD DISCUSSION AS NEEDED, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY AND THEN Z IF I CAN'T GET A MOTION SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

>> I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF. I APPRECIATE IT. I'M FAMILIAR WITH THIS RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, ALTHOUGH IT HAS SOME FEATURES NOW THAT ARE NOT IN THE COPY THAT WERE CONVEYED TO ME. I THINK YOUR POINT, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, IS APT, NAMELY, THIS IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS, WHICH IS A GROUP OF PROPERTY OWNERS NORTH OF MLK, AND FIVE RIVERS, WHICH IS AND HAS BEEN A RELATIVELY DORMANT GROUP JUST TO EAST OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. BASICALLY WORKING OUT DETAILS SUCH THAT THEY'RE HAPPY WITH THE PROPOSED PROJECT FOR WHICH THIS REZONING IS BEEN PASSED, MAINLY THE REMODELS THE MANSION AND THE ATTIC BEHIND IT. AND WE WERE NEVER UNDER ANY ILLUSION THAT THE BUSINESS OWNERS OF THE UNIVERSITY AREA, BEING THE AREA NORTH OF MLK, WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE PARKING WHICH THEY NEED IN THEIR DISTRICT PUT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S THE PROBLEM. SO OUR OPPOSITION IS MORE FUNDAMENTAL THAN JUST THE DETAILS OF WHAT SORT OF PARKING LOT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, WHAT SORT OF STREET LIGHTS ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE THERE. WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH 113 PARKING SPACES PUT IN OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD TO SERVICE A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS OUTSIDE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, ACROSS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. AND LET ME JUST REITERATE, THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN WHICH THIS PARKING IS SUPPOSED TO GO. EVERY STRUCTURE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, SAVE SAVE ONE, WHICH IS A BUILDING IBM BUILT IN ABOUT 1960 DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, EVERY SINGLE STRUCTURE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS EITHER RESIDENTIAL OR A SMALL BUSINESSLIKE A LAW OFFICE THAT'S RUN OUT OF WHAT USED TO BE A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE, EVERY SINGLE STRUCTURE. WE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD DON'T JUST TALK THE TALK ABOUT MAINTAINING HISTORIC STRUCTURES, WE WALK THE WALK. WE HAVE SEVERAL HISTORIC HOMES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. EVERY 10 YEARS WE HAVE THE HERITAGE HOMES TOUR COMES THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PICKING OUT DIFFERENT HOMES TO SHOWCASE. WE LIVE THIS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. SO I DON'T THINK WE CAN BE PAINTED AS OPPOSED TO THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. WHAT WE ARE OPPOSED TO IS BECOMING A PARKING LOT FOR AN HISTORIC STRUCTURE ACROSS MLK. AND IT'S AN HISTORIC STRUCTURE WHICH WE HAVE MADE SACRIFICES FOR RECENTLY. ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS KNOWN AS THE FAULKNER CENTER, DOLORES FAULKNER AIM CAME TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASKING THAT WE ALLOW RESIGNING OF THREE HOMES ALONG MLK SO SHE COULD PROVIDE A PLACE FOR RELATIVES OF PEOPLE IN HER TREATMENT CENTER TO STAY WHEN THEY'RE IN TOWN VISITING HER PATIENTS. WE WENT ALONG WITH THAT. WELL, DOLORES FAULKNER'S BUSINESS DIDN'T GO THE WAY SHE THOUGHT IT WOULD. THOSE THREE HOMES WHICH ARE JUST WEST OF THE SUBJECT SITE, WERE ALLOWED TO GO TO SEED. ONE OF THEM IS NO LONGER THERE. IT WAS DEMOLISHED. THE OTHER TWO BECAME A BED AND BREAKFAST, WHICH IS NOW WORKING WITH THIS REZONING PETITIONER AND HAS BEEN SOMETHING OF A BURDEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN ITSELF. THE HOMEOWNER BEHIND THE BED AND BREAKFAST FOUND THAT IT COULD NO LONGER BE OWNER OCCUPIED AND IT'S NOW RENT RENTAL PROPERTY. YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE BUSINESS OF COUNCIL IS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, NOT MAKE PROBLEMS. AND WE THINK THERE'S A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY SEEM TO HAVE IN WANTING TO REDEVELOP THE MANSION AND THE ATTIC BEHIND IT. AND LET ME OUTLINE THAT. EVERY TIME I'VE HEARD A PRESENTATION ABOUT THIS PROJECT, AND THAT'S TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO YOU PEOPLE ON MARCH EIGHTH IN FIRST READING, IT WAS STATED THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING BUILT ON THIS SITE OF THE MANSION AND THE ANNEX. OUR CONVERSATION WITH CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION AND FORMER MEMBERS DON'T SEEM TO COME AWAY WITH THE SAME NOTION. THEIR ATTITUDE IS THAT THE ANNEX IS THERE, WHICH WAS BUILT IN THER 80'S, HAS ALREADY RUINED THE REAR VISION OF THE MANSION AND THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING BEING CONSTRUCTED BACK THERE. OUR SOLUTION IS YOU ALLOW THEM, SUPPORT THEM BY NOT ALLOWING THIS REZONING SUGGEST THAT MAYBE THAT SITE CAN BE SELF-SUFFICIENT. PERHAPS THEY CAN BUILD ON THE SITE OF THE MANSION AND THE ANNEX THE PARKING THEY NEED TO SERVE THOSE STRUCTURES AS THEY ARE BEING REDEVELOPED. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY WHICH IS AT MLK AND WEST? IT'S ALREADY MF-4. WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. LET IT BE DEVELOPED IN MF-4.

>>GRIFFITH: IS ANYTHING ELSE IN THE OLD ORIGINAL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS THE ACTIVITY ONE PLACE AND THE PARKING ANOTHER PLACE? IS THERE ANYPLACE ELSE THAT HAS OFF SITE? I CAN'T THINK OF A PLACE IN THE -- IN THE CONFINES OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WHERE THERE IS OFF SITE ANYPLACE ELSE.

>> NO, NO. EVERY STRUCTURE IS EITHER RESIDENTIAL OR IT'S A LOCAL OFFICE LIKE A LAW OFFICE OPERATING OUT OF A HOME. THEY'VE HAD TO PUT THEIR PARKING ON SITE.

>>GRIFFITH: AND THE PARKING IS SELF-CONTAINED AND YOU BRING THEM IN, YOU PARK THEM.

>> RIGHT.

>>GRIFFITH: ESSENTIALLY.

>> YEAH. BRIF GRIF SO THIS WOULD BE -- .

>>GRIFFITH: SO THIS WOULD BE WHAT'S SOMETIMES CALLED A WEDGE OR A BLOCKBUSTER SITUATION.

>> WE REALLY FEEL LIKE IT IS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROVIDING OFF SITE PARKING FOR SOMETHING OUTSIDE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. ONE THING TO BUILD A PARKING LOT FOR SOMETHING YOU'RE DOING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I MEAN, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS MAS SIEVE WITH 113 PLACE, THAT WOULD BE BAD ENOUGH, BUT IT TO SERVE A FUPTION IN A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT OUTSIDE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>>GRIFFITH: WELL, I THINK NOBODY IS ARGUING WITH THE FUNCTION. IT'S PROBABLY A VERY GOOD FUNCTION. WOULD YOU HAVE -- WOULD YOUR ASSOCIATION HAVE ANY PROBLEM IF THE PARKING WERE LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN OLD ORIGINAL, SELF-CONTAINED AND PROVIDED FOR ON SITE?

>> WELL, IF YOU'RE ASKING DO WE HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE SITE AT MLK AND WEST BEING DEVELOPED WITH ITS CURRENT ZONING, PROVIDING THE PARKING ON THE SITE FOR THE CURRENT ZONING, WE HAVE NO PROBLEM AT ALL. WE WOULD JUST LIKE THINGS TO SAY STAY THE WAY THEY ARE.

>>GRIFFITH: IF THAT STINT HAPPEN, THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME THAT AN OFF-SITE -- .

>> YES.

>>GRIFFITH: EVER OCCURRED?

>> YES.

>>GRIFFITH: IS THAT WHAT BLOCKBUSTER MEANS?

>> I GUESS YOU COULD PUT IT THAT WAY, YES.

>>GOODMAN: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM?

>>GOODMAN: COULD I ASK IF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT TO DO, I WOULD RATHER NOT SINCE I ONLY HEARD ABOUT THIS STUFF YESTERDAY, TRY TO DO IT TODAY. WOULD YOU CARE FOR A MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS SO THAT YOU ALL COULD TRY TO WORK OUT WHAT MIGHT BE AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION?

>>GRIFFITH: I WOULD SECOND ONE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO POSTPONE. LET ME JUST SAY THAT TYPICALLY -- AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE INPUT, BUT TYPICALLY WHAT WE DO ON SECOND AND THIRD READINGS IS BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING, IS THE COUNCIL TRIES TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT AND IF COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT CLAIM IT UNFAIR TO HAVE ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER JUST TO HAVE A DIALOGUE ABOUT SOME ITEM. SO A POSTPONEMENT HERE MIGHT WORK OUT WELL UNDER THE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS MOVED AND COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH HAS SECONDED TO POSTPONE FOR TWO WEEKS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES, COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

>>THOMAS: THERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE FROM STAFF. COULD YOU TELL ME HOW MANY PARKING SPACES ARE PERMITTED FOR MF-4 VERSUS THE G. O.?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE USE. IF IT'S FOR TYPICAL OFFICE ON THE G. O., THE TYPICAL PARKING REQUIREMENT IS ONE PER 300. IN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE, IF IT'S A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE, LIKE AN ATTORNEY OR ENGINEER OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, IT'S ONE TO 200. WHILE A MEDICAL OFFICE IS ONE TO 200. IF YOU'RE SPEAKING OF SOMETHING BUILT UNDER MF-4 AND IT WAS AN APARTMENT, LET'S SAY IF IT WAS AN EFFICIENCY, ONE SINGLE UNIT OURND 400 SQUARE FEET, IT WOULD BE ONE PARKING SPACE PER UNIT. IF IT'S A ONE-BEDROOM AND YOU GO INTO 1.5 SPACES PER UNIT. SO THERE'S NO EASY RATIONALE TO COMPARE THE TWO, IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE PROPERTY IS BEING USED FOR.

>>THOMAS: ALSO, HAVE THEY ESTIMATED HOW MANY PARKING THEY WOULD NEED TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT, TO SUSTAIN THIS PROJECT?

>> THAT I'M NOT SURE OF THE SIZE OF THE PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL OFFICE USE PROPOSED. PERHAPS THE OWNER OOZE REPRESENTATIVE COULD SPEAK TO THAT.

>>THOMAS: THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONEMENT PONY? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES. THAT ITEM WILL BE POSTPONED FOR TWO WEEKS WHEN IT WILL BE BROUGHT UP AND IT WILL BE FOR SECOND READING ONLY AT THAT TIME. ITEM NUMBER 14, COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

>>WYNN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS PRESENTATIONS RECENTLY ABOUT THE CONTINUUM CARE OR THE BROADER CONCEPT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH SOCIAL SERVICES, PARTICULARLY THE HOMELESS HERE IN AUSTIN. AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE HOMELESS PLAN HAS BEEN A DOWNTOWN FACILITY. AND I CLEARLY RECOGNIZE THE CRITICAL NEED FOR EXPANSION OF BED SPACE AND CARE FOR THE HOMELESS IN OUR CITY, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF FACILITY DOWNTOWN, BUT I'M HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME COMING TO TERMS WITH THE PRICE TAG ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. IT HAS EFFECTIVELY AND -- AND ACTUALLY, PRECISELY DOUBLED FROM 3.9 TO 7.8 MILLION DOLLARS SINCE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO. I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS BESIDES BED SPACE IN THIS FACILITY, BUT THE NET RESULT IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT 7.8 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET FOR 100 BEDS, AND KEEPING IN MIND THAT THESE BEDS ESSENTIALLY ARE COTS ON A CONCRETE SLAB, 78 THOUSAND DOLLARS PER COT SPACE ON A CONCRETE SLAB. SO WITH MY CONCERNS FOR THE PRICE TAG, YOU KNOW, I'M STRUGGLING WITH THIS. NOW, I'LL SAY THAT I'M HESITANT TO VOTE AGAINST IT BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HEARD OR SEEN A SPECIFIC DETAILED ALTERNATIVE TO THIS PROJECT. THERE ARE OTHER PROPERTIES AND OTHER PEOPLE WITH OTHER IDEAS THAT ARE OTHER ELEMENTS OF WHAT CAN AND SHOULD BE DONE, BUT NO DETAILED ALTERNATIVE IS BEFORE ME. SO I -- I ALSO STRUGGLE WITH VOTING NO AGAINST THIS. BUT ULTIMATELY JUST BASED ON THE PRICE TAG OF 78 THOUSAND DOLLARS PER BED SPACE, I AM GOING TO OPPOSE THIS ITEM.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: YES. IS MS. DUNKERLEY -- YES, HELLO. CAN YOU HELP US WITH WHY THE -- THAT TOTAL COST CHANGE MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED? I KNOW YOU CAN PARK CARS FOR -- AT 500 SQUARE FEET PER CAR FOR 75 HUNDRED DOLLARS. EXCLUDING LAND.

>> LET ME TELL YOU A BIT ABOUT SOMETHING YOU ALL ALREADY KNOW. THE IDEA OF A DOWNTOWN SHELTER HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. AND I KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL INSTRUCTED US TO GO FORWARD AND NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT ORIGINALLY WITH THE SALVATION ARMY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DOWNTOWN SHELTER. THAT PARTICULAR DEAL WAS A VERY DIFFERENT DEAL THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY. IN THAT TRANSACTION WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO IS THAT THE SALVATION ARMY WOULD PROVIDE THE LAND AND THE CITY WOULD COVER THE ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST, WITH THE SALVATION ARMY THEN PICKING UP ANY COST OVERRUNS ABOVE THE ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST. YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS THAT WE'VE BEEN THROWING AROUND, THE 3.9 MILLION, PROBABLY WERE DONE AT LEAST TWO YEARS AGO. SO HAD WE BEEN ABLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT, THE 3.9 NUMBER WOULD HAVE BEEN SLIGHTLY HIGHER. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ESCALATED BY A COUPLE OF YEARS' WORTH OF INCREASES IN THE CONSTRUCTION MARKET. SO EVEN IF YOU SAY 4.2 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT IS STILL A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE PAYING TODAY. BUT AGAIN, REMEMBER, THE SALVATION ARMY WAS GOING TO PROVIDE THE LAND. THAT DEAL DID NOT COME TO PASS. WE DID NOT REACH AN AGREEMENT ON HOW THE CENTER WAS TO BE OPERATED. SO WE REALLY CAN'T LOOK BACK AT WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT WE HAVE NOW OR WHAT WE COULD HAVE IN THE FUTURE. WHAT WE WILL HAVE, IF YOU ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL THAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY, IS -- IS WE HAVE LAND THAT WE'RE PURCHASING, SO WE'LL OWN THE LAND. WE WILL OWN THE FACILITY. AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE SHELTER ALONG THE GUIDELINES THAT THE CITY WILL PROPOSE. SO WE'LL ACTUALLY BE OWNING AN ASSET. NOW, THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAVE GONE UP NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE INFLATION IN THE CONSTRUCTION PRICING, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE -- SINCE CONSTITUENT'S DOING IT, WE ARE ALSO ABIDING BY THE GREEN BUILDER PROGRAM, WHICH ADDS ABOUT 600,000 TO THE COST. WE'RE ALSO PARTICIPATING PARTICIPATING IN OUR OWNER CONTROLLED INSURANCE PROGRAM WHICH ADDS ABOUT 300,000 TO THE COST. WE'LL GET THAT BACK HOPEFULLY ON THE BACK END IF WE HAVE A GOOD SAFETY RECORD, JUST LIKE WE WILL RECOVER FUTURE MAINTENANCE COSTS RELATED TO THE GREEN BUILDERS PROGRAM, AGAIN ON THE BACK END. SO I THINK, COUNCILMEMBER WYNN IS CORRECT IN THAT THE CITY ITSELF IS SPENDING MORE THAN WE WOULD HAVE UNDER THE OTHER SCENARIO, BUT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE WOULD HAVE SPENT -- IF YOU COUNT THE LAND VALUE OF THE SALVATION ARMY CONTRIBUTION, WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT HIGHER. I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS WHAT COULD WE DO NOW? WE COULD GO LOOK FOR ANOTHER SITE TO BUILD ANOTHER SHELTER. AND IF WE WERE TO DO THAT, WE WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOME VERY BASIC ISSUES. NUMBER ONE, WE DON'T HAVE A SIGNED SALES CONTRACT LIKE THE ONE WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY. WE WON'T HAVE FUNDING FROM HUD FOR THAT DESIGNATED SITE. WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES, GO THROUGH ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES OF A POTENTIAL SITE, ASK HUD TO MOVE THIS MONEY WE HAVE FOR THIS FACILITY OVER TO THAT SITE. WE'VE HAD THIS -- WE'VE HAD SOME 3. -- 2.6 MILLION OF THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PROJECT IN OUR LETTER OF CREDIT FOR SOME THREE YEARS, AND HUD IS GETTING VERY IMPATIENT WITH US FOR NOT SPENDING IT. THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE WE WON'T HIT OUR SPENDING RATIO THIS YEAR AND I KNOW IF WE TRIED TO MOVE A SITE, WE CERTAINLY WOULDN'T HIT IT AT THAT POINT. SO I THINK -- AND THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT WHEREVER WE GO WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE ZONING. SO YOU HAVE THE ZONING ISSUES, YOU HAVE THE MONEY ISSUES AND YOU HAVE THE IDEA THAT WE DON'T HAVE A SIGNED SALES CONTRACT IN HAND. SO THOSE WOULD BE AT LEAST BARRIERS AND NOT ON OWE YOU KNOW, BARRIERS THAT COULDN'T BE OVERCOME, BUT VERY TIME CONSUMING THINGS TO CHANGE. I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION. I'VE KIND OF STORY, WHICH IS WHAT I ALWAYS DO, BUT COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, IF YOU COULD BE MORE SPECIFIC, I'LL BE GLAD TO TRY TO RESPOND.

>>GRIFFITH: YES, MA'AM. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING MORE SPECIFIC. OKAY. LET'S START AT THE TOP.

>> OKAY.

>>GRIFFITH: LAND COSTS, THAT'S LINE ITEM 1. THEN WHAT ARE THE OTHER LINE ITEMS OF THAT COME TO THE TOTAL THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED? LINE BY LINE.

>> OKAY. LINE BY LINE, AND I'LL ARE HAVE TO TRY TO REMEMBER THIS. I HOPE MY FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE CAN HELP ME. 1.5 MILLION FOR LAND.

>>GRIFFITH: OKAY. I'M WRITING AS FAST AS I CAN.

>> 1.5 MILLION FOR LAND. 600,000 FOR THE GREEN BUILDER PROGRAM. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE -- .

>>GRIFFITH: 600,000 FOR THE GREEN BUILDER PROGRAM.

>> THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT COUNCIL HAS APPROVED WHICH IN THE LONG-TERM WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR THIS BUILDING BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE A SAFER, HEALTHIER BUILDING, BUT IT DOES ADD FRONT END COSTS TO THE PROJECT. WE HAVE SOME 300,000 THAT WE'VE PUT IN FOR A SMALL KITCHEN, WHICH WAS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL. ABOUT 300,000 FOR OUR ROLLER OWNER INSURANCE PROGRAM. WHICH AGAIN, IF WE HAVE A GOOD SAFETY RECORD, WE WOULD GET REFUNDS ON THE BACK END OF THE PROJECT, BUT THESE ARE FRONT END COSTS THAT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER.

>>GRIFFITH: MS. DUNKERLEY, EXCUSE ME, WHAT IS THAT?

>> IT'S THE PROGRAM THAT THE CITY HAS WHERE WE BUY THE INSURANCE ON THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OUT OF OUR MONEY RATHER THAN HAVING THE CONTRACTORS BUY INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE. WE SET UP A SAFETY PROGRAM FOR THE PROJECT AND THEN AFTER THE SAFETY PROGRAM IS COMPLETE, WE -- IF WE REACH A CERTAIN -- MAINTAIN TO CERTAIN LEVEL OF ACCIDENT LOSS, ETCETERA, WE WILL GET A REFUND FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR THAT GOOD SAFETY RECORD. BUT THAT COMES MUCH LATER AFTER THE PROJECT IS OVER AND AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO ON ALL OF OUR CITY PROJECTS OR ALL OF OUR LARGE CITY PROJECTS. THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS, IF SOMEBODY HAS THAT NUMBER FOR ME. I THINK IT'S LIKE 5 POINT SOMETHING MILLION. OKAY. WHAT ARE WE UP 'TO NOW? SOMEBODY'S ADDING THAT UP TO ME.

>>GRIFFITH: WE'VE ABOVE SIX. THE BIG ONE YOU JUST HIT, WHICH IS CONSTRUCTION. WHO CAN HELP US WITH WHY A SLAB COSTS FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT IS NOT A CORRECT CHARACTERIZATION.

>>GRIFFITH: I'M SORRY. THAT'S ALL I KNOW ABOUT IS IS -- OWE THEY TOLD ME A SLAB.

>> IT IS NOT A SLAB. IF YOU LOOK WHAT'S IN THE BUILDING, YOU'VE GOT THREE COMPONENTS TO THAT STRUCTURE. YOU HAVE A LARGE DAILY RESOURCE CENTER SYMPTOM SIM TO WHAT WE HAVE AT OUR PRESENT SITE AS FAR AS SIZE AND SPACE. WE HAVE A HEALTH CLINIC OF ABOUT 2200 TO 2300 SQUARE FEET. AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SLEEPING FACILITIES, YOU HAVE RESTROOMS, YOU HAVE SHOWERS, YOU HAVE A LAUNDRY FACILITY, YOU HAVE A KITCHEN. SO IT IS A -- IT'S A MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING. IT IS NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, A SLAB.

>>GRIFFITH: HOW MANY SQUARE FEET IS IT?

>> YOU'VE GOT ABOUT 27,500 SQUARE FEET IN THE BUILDING AND 95 HUNDRED SQUARE FEET FOR PARKING.

>>GRIFFITH: AND 9500 FOR PARKING. SO HOW MUCH A FOOT FOR CONSTRUCTION IS THAT AND HOW MUCH PER PARKING SPACE?

>> TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST IS ABOUT 5.6MENT -- 5.6. WE'LL HAVE TO GET THAT.

>> AND JUST SO THAT THE NUMBERS DON'T GET MEMORIALIZED FOREVER. WE WERE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT THE LAND. THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE CONSTRUCTION COST IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE ESTIMATED THREE YEARS AGO. WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE ESCALATORS FOR THAT SO THAT YOU HAVE THAT. THE OTHER THINGS IN TERMS OF THE CONTRACT EXISTED WHICH MS. DUNKERLEY INDICATED A FEW MINUTES AGO, IN THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT, THE ARRANGEMENT WE HAD HOPED TO ENTER INTO, THE CITY WAS PROTECTED AGAINST THE ESCALATION BEYOND A CERTAIN POINT AND THE SALVATION ARMY WOULD PICK THAT UP. BECAUSE WE WERE UNABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT, WE HAD TO GO TO A DIFFERENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO FUND THE CONSTRUCTION AND THAT INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO BE FUNDED BY THE CITY. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IF YOU LOOKED AT THIS AS A SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON IN TERMS OF WHAT IT WOULD COST IN OUR COMMUNITY, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE FUNDING PART OF IT AND THE SALVATION UNDER THE OLD AGREEMENT WAS GOING TO FUND PART OF IT, BUT THE OVERALL EXPENSE TO THE CITY WAS SOME NUMBER. AND I WOULD DARE SAY THAT THE VARIATION WOULDN'T BE DOUBLE. IT WOULD BE SOME FACTOR OF IT, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE DOUBLE.

>> SO MS. DUNKERLEY, THE REASON I'M ASKING ABOUT CONSTRUCTION COSTS IS BECAUSE THAT'S THE BIG ONE. THAT'S THE 5.6 OUT OF 7 SOMETHING. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING ABOUT THAT ONE. AND PART.

>> AND PART OF IT, LIKE I SAID, INCLUDES A KITCHEN THAT WAS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL ONE BECAUSE THE SALVATION ARMY WAS GOING TO PROVIDE THAT.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYBE WE NEED A BREAKDOWN OF 5.6 BECAUSE THAT'S THE BIG ONE. AND I'LL UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT'S ON THE TABLE TODAY IS TO BUY THE LAND. BUT IMPLICITLY, THE WHOLE THING IS ON THERE BECAUSE IF YOU BUY THE LAND, THEN YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH OBLIGATED TO GO AHEAD WITH THE 5.6 AND THE WHOLE PROGRAM.

>> WELL, I HAD THEM LAST WEEK AND I DON'T HAVE THEM WITH ME TODAY. DAVID DOESN'T HAVE IT IN HIS FILE. YOU'VE GOT AN ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING COSTS IN THERE, YOUR ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND THESE OTHER COSTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE CITY AND THE ADDITIONAL KITCHEN IS AN ADDED UNIT THAT WAS NOT IN THE FIRST PLAN. SO THOSE ARE THE COMPONENTS. AND I CAN SHARE THAT WITH YOU A FEW MINUTES IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO.

>>GRIFFITH: AND THE REASON I'M ASKING ABOUT THAT IS BECAUSE IF WE BUY THE LAND, THEN WE MAY BE -- .

>> OH, I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

>>GRIFFITH: WE MAY BE LEFT-HANDEDLY APPROVING THE WHOLE 7 MILLION.

>> WE'VE ADDED IN SOME CONTINGENCIES THAT WERE NOT THERE IN THE FIRST -- FIRST COST. WE PUT APPROXIMATELY -- I WANT TO SAY 600,000 AS A CONTINGENCY NUMBER. IF WE DON'T RUN INTO ANY CONTINGENCY IES, THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT WILL NOT BE USED. AND THAT'S PROBABLY THAT DIFFERENCE THAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT WAS NOT IN THE FIRST ONE.

>> BUT COUNCILMEMBER, I THINK THAT -- .

>> YES, THIS IS WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR. LET ME JUST GO OVER THIS TO GET TO THE 7.8 MILLION. THE ARCHITECT AND ENGINEERING, AND WE ALREADY HAVE THOSE FOLKS UNDERCONSTRUCTION -- UNDER CONTRACT. IS 626,000. AND I CAN GET YOU ALL A COPY OF THIS. THE SURVEY IS 9,000. THE GEOTECHNICAL TESTING IS 25,000. INSPECTIONS, 20,000. THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COST IS 4.9 MILLION. THE DAVIS-BACON WAGE MONITORING CONTRACT IS 53,000. THE LAND ACQUISITION IS 1.5 MILLION. AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THESE MISCELLANEOUS COSTS. SOME OF THESE I MENTIONED THAT TOTAL 652,000. AND THAT INCLUDES THE ROSET, THE CONSTRUCTION CONTINGENCY OF ABOUT 250,000, AND THE MISCELLANEOUS PROJECT CONTINGENCY OF ABOUT 150,000. AND THAT ADDS UP TO THE 7.8 MILLION. NOW, BREAKING DOWN THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF RIGHT AT FIVE MILLION,. THE SHELTER IT'S 12 IS 3,520 THOUSAND. THE COVERED PARKING IS 3 22,000. UTILITY RELOCATION IS 82,000. THE KITCHEN AND THE KITCHEN FIXTURES ARE 255,000. DEMOLITION, 18,200. THE ENERGY PROGRAM THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER IS RIGHT AT 500,000. THE SITE WORK IS 219,000. AND THE ADA ACCESSIBLE PASS IS 15,000. SO THOSE ARE THE COMPONENTS. AND I WILL BE GLAD TO GIVE THAT TO YOU.

>>GRIFFITH: OKAY. GOOD. SO NOW THE BIG ONE IS THE FIVE MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION.

>> YEAH. THAT FIVE MILLION, AS I BROKE IT DOWN, IS 3.5 FOR THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHELTER.

>>GRIFFITH: AND HOW MANY FEET THAT?

>> THAT'S 27,000500 -- 27,500 FEET. COVERED PARKING 3 22,000. THAT'S 932 SQUARE FEET AND THAT'S AT -- .

>>GRIFFITH: WHAT'S THAT PER SPACE?

>> I DON'T HAVE THE PROJECT MANAGER HERE. I CAN'T TELL YOU. I JUST KNOW THE TOTAL NUMBER. ANYBODY KNOW HOW MANY PARKING SPOTS THAT IS? BUT IT'S 95 HUNDRED SQUARE FEET, 35 DOLLARS A SQUARE FOOT COST. THEN THE UTILITY RELOCATION VAULT IS 80,000. KITCHEN FIXTURES, 255,000. THAT'S KITCHEN AND THE FIXTURES. DEMOLITION, 18,000. THE GREEN BUILDER REQUIREMENTS, RIGHT AT 500,000. SITE WORK, LANDSCAPING AND SCREEN WALL ADDS UP TO 219,000. AND THEN THE ADA ACCESSIBLE PASS IS 15,000. AND THOSE ARE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ADD UP TO THAT ALMOST FIVE-MILLION-DOLLAR CONSTRUCTION BUDGET.

>>GRIFFITH: THANKS A LOT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER 14. THE MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES APPROVAL. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER? LET'S GET EVERYBODY HERE TO VOTE. THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE. MOTION IS MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. -- YOU HAVE MORE DISCUSSION?

>>GRIFFITH: JUST ONE MORE. COST PER BED COMES OUT WHAT? IF YOU DIVIDE THE SEVEN MILLION BY 100?

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT WOULD NOT BE A FAIR WAY OF DOING THAT SINCE YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS IN THE BUILDING. IF ALL THE BUILDING HAD WERE CONCRETE BEDS, THAT MIGHT BE A FAIR WAY TO DO IT.

>> IF YOU WANT TO DO LIKE COUNCILMEMBER WYNN DID AND JUST GET A RATIO OF WHAT THE BED PER TOTAL CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE ACCURATE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO GET COST PER BED, YOU WOULD TAKE THE 3.5 MILLION, WHICH IS THE ACTUAL OR -- YEAH, 3.5 MILLION ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHELTER, DIVIDE THAT BY 100 AND YOU GET ABOUT 35,000.

>>GRIFFITH: 35,000. MAYOR MARRIED AND THAT'S ASSUMING YOU HAVE NO KITCHEN, YOU HAVE NONE OF THE OTHER FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF AN ONGOING THREE-YEAR PROCESS THAT SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS WERE INVOLVED IN BACK WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THE PROCESS WITH VARIOUS GROUPS TO HELP DECIDE WHAT WE WOULD NEED IN A SHELTER. AND AS PART OF THAT, THE DECISION WAS MADE SOMETIME AGO THAT WE NEEDED A SHELTER AND WE NEEDED AT LEAST ONE DOWNTOWN FACILITY AS PART OF THIS. IN ADDITION, AT THE ORIGINAL TIME WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, WE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT HAVING MORE BEDS INVOLVED. THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT. AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT NOW ARE SAYING IT PERHAPS IS TOO MUCH MONEY PER BED ARE SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED IN VARIOUS GROUPS THAT HE HAD SAID WE OUGHT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BEDS. BUT WE'VE DONE THAT. SO THE BEDS HAVE NOW BEEN REDUCED. THE POINT IS -- AND BY THE WAY, WE EVEN WENT FORWARD. TODAY WE'RE JUST VOTING ON THE PURCHASE OF LAND. BUT WE EVEN WENT FORWARD AS A UNANIMOUS COUNCIL AND WITH THE VOTE TO CONDEMN THIS PROPERTY TO MAKE THAT PROCESS MOVE FORWARD. ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES, OF COURSE, WITH THIS PROCESS IS WITH GETTING A HOMELESS SHELTER AND MEETING SOME OF THE NEEDS OF OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN THAT WE TEND TO EACH TIME TRY TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE, GRANTED THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY. SADLY, I THINK WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE OVER TIME THE CITY WILL FIND ITSELF SPENDING MORE AND MORE MONEY ON THE NEEDS OF SOME OF THOSE WHO ARE THE LEAST FORTUNATE AMONG US. ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF THAT MIGHT BE THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE WHERE WE FOUND OURSELVES PUTTING ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR MHMR BECAUSE OF STAG NATION IN THE FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS. MORE AND MORE CITIES AND URBAN CENTERS ARE BEING CALLED UPON TO PROVIDE THE KIND OF SOCIAL SERVICES THAT USED TO BE PROVIDED IN OTHER WAYS, OR AT LEAST YOU COULD BE BETTER SUPPLEMENTED IN OTHER WAYS. AND, MAN, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS A LONG TIME. AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO MOVE. WE'VE NEEDED TO MOVE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. AND SADLY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PULL THAT OFF. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: WELL, MAYOR, YOU SAID A LOT OF THINGS I WAS GOING TO SAY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE HAD IT CLEAR WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY IS VOTING ON THE PURCHASE OF THIS LAND FOR A SHELTER. AND THAT'S BEEN IN THE PROCESS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT DOES NEED TO BE DOWNTOWN, THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE GOING AROUND TO VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY -- THE CITY DID THAT BACK IN 1985. IT WAS VERY UNPLEASANT PROCESS AND ENDED UP BACK DOWNTOWN. AND MR. WRATH BURGER IS NODDING BECAUSE HE REMEMBERS THAT VERY WELL, I KNOW.

>>MAYOR WATSON: HE WAS ONLY ABOUT 25 AT THE TIME. [LAUGHTER].

>>SLUSHER: THAT'S TRUE, AND I WAS JUST A SMALL CHILD MYSELF. [LAUGHTER]. BUT I THINK WE DO NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS TODAY. AND IF THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THE BUILDING IS GOING TO COST OR IDEAS ABOUT HOW THERE MIGHT BE SOME SAVINGS, THEN WE HAVE TIME TO DEAL WITH THAT. AND I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF, AND IN PARTICULAR MS. DUNKERLEY FOR THE HARD AND PRODUCTIVE WORK ON THIS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER WYNN AND COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH BEING SHOWN VOTING NO. ITEM NUMBER 16, COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>> WELL, THERE'S NO ONE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS? I'M GETTING E-MAILS ABOUT PEOPLE COMING DOWN.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'VE GOT ONE CARD FROM ROBERT SNYDER.

>>SLUSHER: WHY DON'T WE HEAR FROM HIM.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. SNYDER?

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M HERE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF THE CIRCLE C -- SLAUGHTER CREEK CENTRAL PARK. AND MY INITIAL CONCERN ABOUT THIS WAS ONE OF PROCESS. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS NOT CONSULTED OR NO ONE SOUGHT OUT OUR OPINION OF IT IN ANY WAY. I CHECKED WITH SOME OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE AREA AS WELL AS THE OAK HILL ASSOCIATION NEIGHBORHOODS AND I FOUND A SIMILAR PATTERN, THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THERE. BUT AFTER I DUG INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE A I BECAME A LITTLE BIT MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACTUAL APPLICATION ITSELF. THERE ARE SEVERAL WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE MISLEADING AND INACCURATE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE IN THE REQUEST. THERE IS AN IMPLICATION THAT AROUND 400 ACRES OF LAND WAS DONATED BY DEVELOPERS, AND AFTER LOOKING INTO THAT, I FOUND THAT OF THE 450 ACRES THAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE PARK, ONLY ABOUT 50 ACRES WAS ACTUALLY DONATED BY A DEVELOPER

>>> DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES AND IN A DONATION ITSELF TO BE PART OF A DEFAULT SETTLEMENT ON A LOAN. THE REMAINING 400 ACRES THAT ARE IN THE PARK WERE ACTUALLY DONATED BY EARLY POLLY BROOKS OR THE SLAUGHTER CREEK PARK FOUNDATION. IT WAS NEVER PART OF THE DEVELOPER AND IN FACT I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE AGREEMENT AND THE INTEBT TO DONATE THE LAND BY MS. BOOKS AND THE SLAUGHTER CREEK PARK FOUNDATION WAS WELL ESTABLISHED BEFORE MR. BRADLEY OR CIRCLE C HAD ANY RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS PROJECT AT ALL. I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER EITHER ALTERNATIVE NAMES OR PERHAPS LENG INC. THIS PROCESS A LITTLE BIT MORE. I REALIZE THAT YOU'RE DOING THIS AS PART OF YOUR OBLIGATION UNDER THE BRADLEY AGREEMENT WHERE YOU HAVE TO HEAR A REQUEST FROM THE CIRCLE C HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION TO CHANGE THE PARK NAME, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT EVEN WITH THAT, YOU STILL SEEK INPUT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THIS ANYTHING THAT TO ME -- TO ME AT LEAST ANYTHING THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE SLAUGHTER CREEK NAME AND MAYBE A REFERENCE TO THE CRERL C CIRCLE C RANCH WHERE THERE IS IN HISTORICAL TIE TO THE LAND TO BEGIN WITH WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE AND DESIRABLE ALTERNATIVE I THINK YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THAT. BECAUSE I THINK THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS TALKED ABOUT A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD SAY CIRCLE C RANCH AND PUT THE WORD RANCH IN THERE SO THAT IT SAYS CIRCLE C RANCH METROPOLITAN PARK AT SLAUGHTER CREEK OR ON SLAUGHTER CREEK. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THAT WOULD BE AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE. ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS RAISED IN THE PROPOSAL WAS FOR GEE GRAPH KEL CORRECTNESS. AND I BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE SLAUGHTER CREEK METRO PARK AT CIRCLE C RANCH AS AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED -- IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED. SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO SEE DONE IN ANY CASE IS THAT SOME KIND OF RECOGNITION BE GIVEN TO THE FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY DONATED THIS LAND. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE INCORPORATED IN THE PARK NAME, BUT MAYBE SOME KIND OF PLAQUE IN THE PARK RECOGNIZING THAT THE LAND WAS DONATED BY MS. BROOKS OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: SURE, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: AS ONE WHO WAS A PARKS BOARD MEMBER WHEN THIS PARK WAS ORIGINALLY NAMED, THE POLICY IN TERMS OF NAMING PARKS IS JOG RAFFY GEOGRAPHY SPACE. AND THE REASON THIS PARK WAS NAMED SLAUGHTER CREEK METROPOLITAN PARK TO BEGIN WITH WAS BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO SLAUGHTER CREEK AND BECAUSE THE PARKS BOARD AND THE STAFF WANTED TO MAKE IT REALLY CLEAR THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC PARK, THAT THIS WAS CITYWIDE, IT WAS FOR EVERYBODY. AND I THINK -- AND AN OPTION WE COULD CONSIDER WOULD BE TO USE SLAUGHTER CREEK METROPOLITAN PARK AT CIRCLE C RANCH, WHICH WOULD GET -- WHICH WOULD HONOR THE POLICY AND THE TRADITIONS OF NAMING PARKS AFTER THE GEE GRAPH KEL BASIS FOR THEM, AND ALSO HONORING THE RECOGNITION OF A SPECIAL -- A SPECIAL INTEREST FROM ONE PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD. ALSO, THE IDEA OF INCLUDING SOMETHING IN THE PARK WITH MS. BROOKS' NAME ON IT ALSO MAKES SENSE. SO I WOULD MOVE THAT WE HONOR THE TRADITION AND THE POLICY OF PARK NAMING, PLUS THE NEIGHBORHOOD, CIRCLE C NEIGHBORHOOD, AND USE SLAUGHTER CREEK METROPOLITAN PARK AT CIRCLE C RANCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. WE HAVE ONE OTHER PERSON SIGNED UP, BUT ACCORDING TO OUR RULES THEY SIGNED UP AFTER THE LAST SPEAKER. AND I'LL JUST INDICATE THAT SUSAN HOOVER IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND INDICATED SHE WAS FOR THIS ITEM. I APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE. COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH MOVES -- LET ME MAKE SURE I'VE GOT THE MOTION. THE MOTION IS TO RENAME THE PARK SLAUGHTER CREEK -- SLAUGHTER CREEK METROPOLITAN PARK AT CIRCLE C RANCH. IS THERE A SECOND?

>>GOODMAN: MAYOR, I'LL SECOND IT FOR DISCUSSION JUST BECAUSE I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THIS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. MAYOR PRO TEM?

>>GOODMAN: WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL IDEA TO SAY CIRCLE C RANCH ON SLAUGHTER CREEK. I WAS ALSO ON THE PARKS BOARD AND THE REASON WE GOT INTO THAT POLICY POSITIVE FOR NAMING IS NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF GEE GRAPH KEL POINT, BUT SO THAT PEOPLE WHO LOOKED AT THE NAMES OF THE PARK COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT PART OF TOWN THEY WERE HEADED FOR. AND THERE IS ALSO -- ALSO A DESIRE WHEN POSSIBLE TO NOTE THE HISTORY. CIRCLE C SUBDIVISION IS NOW -- WAS A MUD, IS NOW PART OF THE CITY, SO I WOULD REALLY NOT GET INTO ANYTHING NIG THIS SOUNDS ACRIMONIOUS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE CITIZENS NOW. CIRCLE C RANCH RELATED TO EVENTS AT MARDI THE FIRST SOURCE OF LAND FOR THIS SUBDIVISION FOE THE SUCK SUCCEEDING MUDS, BUT IT WAS ALSO PART OF SOUTH AUSTIN HISTORY. AND I THINK MAYBE THAT MOLLY WOULD LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED IN THAT WAY, WHICH, OF COURSE, WE DO ON MOST PARKS ANYWAY WHEN WE HAVE SOMEONE TO HONOR. AND THE MEMORY, SUCH AS ZILKER. I'M NOT SURE IF WE AREN'T GETTING INTO SO MANY SEMANTICS, LOOPS AND HOOPS HERE THAT WE'RE FORGETTING WHAT THE REASON WAS FOR GOING TO GEE GRAPH KEL NAMES. CIRCLE C RANCH IS A PART OF AUSTIN AND SOUTH TRAVIS COUNTY'S HISTORY, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY WE REALLY WANT TO TRADE AROUND JUST SO WE DON'T SAY CIRCLE C FIRST OR SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW. SLAUGHTER CREEK IS A LONG, LONG CREEK. IF YOU JUST SAY SLAUGHTER CREEK METROPOLITAN PARK, NO ONE WILL HAVE A CLUE WHERE YOU'RE TELLING THEM. IT IS ON SLAUGHTER CREEK. AND SO I DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SAYING CIRCLE C RANCH I THOUGHT THAT HIT ALL BASES, OFFENDED NO ONE, WAS ON NO BRAINER AND SO THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME ASK THIS: DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND -- AND I'LL JUST POINT OUT ONE THING SINCE WE DO HAVE TWO FOLKS THAT WERE ON THE PARKS BOARD. WE ALSO HAVE A CURRENT PARKS BOARD LOOK AT THIS. AND THE CURRENT PARKS BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND IT TO US. DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION OF CIRCLE C RANCH METROPOLITAN PARK ON SLAUGHTER CREEK, ADD THAT WORD?

>>GOODMAN: I WILL, MAYOR, JUST BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE LOGICAL WAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THERE IS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION WHICH IS CIRCLE C RANCH METROPOLITAN PARK ON SLAUGHTER CREEK. IS THERE A SECOND TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION?

>>THOMAS: SECOND.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. DISCUSSION ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, ON THE -- AS FAR AS THE PARKS BOARD APPROVING IT OR RECOMMENDING IT, THAT'S TRUE, RECOMMENDING IT IS WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA. LET'S SEE, I'M GETTING -- TO CIRCLE C METROPOLITAN PARK. THEY DID RECOMMEND THAT. I THINK SOME OF THE INFORMATION IS NOT CORRECT THAT THEY DECIDED ON. AND IT'S STATED IN THE BACKUP AS MR. SNYDER POINTED OUT THAT CIRCLE C DEVELOPERS THAT DEDICATED THE LAND TO THE CITY, I THOUGHT THAT WAS MS. BROOKS. AND SO THAT CONCERNS ME THAT THE PARKS BOARD DIDN'T HAVE THE ACCURATE INFORMATION AND EVEN THE INACCURATE INFORMATION IS IN OUR BACKUP. SO THAT'S PART OF MY CONCERN IN SUPPORTING THAT RECOMMENDATION AND HAVING RESERVATIONS ABOUT SUPPORT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AS I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS DOING, SHE'S TRYING TO DEAL WITH THAT BY PUTTING THE WORD RANCH IN.

>>ALVAREZ: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

>>ALVAREZ: I'M GOING SUPPORT THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION BECAUSE IT SEEMS PRETTY SIMILAR, IF NOT IDENTICAL, SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE. AND FIRST -- AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IN COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH'S MOTION ABOUT RECOGNIZING THIS GROUP, SLAUGHTER CREEK PARK FOUPTION FOR DONATING LAND BY INCLUDING IN THE PARK A VISIBLE SYMBOL SUCH AS A PLAQUE OR ANOTHER MARKER RECOGNIZING THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE PUBLIC. SO I OFFER THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM, DO YOU CONSIDER THAT FRIENDLY? COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, DO YOU CONSIDER THAT FRIENDLY? WHAT WE'RE DOING TO DO IS IT GIVES FURTHER ASSURANCE THAT THERE IS SOME RECOGNITION.

>>SLUSHER: DOES THIS MEET WITH WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, MR. SNYDER, AS FAR AS THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS? YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MORE DISCUSSION. THAT'S -- I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO DRAG THIS OUT MUCH FURTHER, FRANKLY, BUT -- .

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT'S PART OF THE REASON I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE NAME, BECAUSE I KNEW THE MAYOR PRO TEM WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT AND HE INDICATED THAT WAS OKAY. LET'S HEAR FROM -- .

>> COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, THAT WOULD ADDRESS OUR CONCERN. I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO SEND IT BACK, YOU KNOW, FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. I MEAN, I THINK THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES THAT'S AVAILABLE IF THE COUNCIL FEELS SO, BUT EITHER ONE OF THE SUBSTITUTE MOTIONS WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO US. I PERSONALLY PREFER THE SLAUGHTER CREEK METRO PARK AT CIRCLE C RANCH. I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS -- TO ME AT LEAST IN MY OPINION IT'S A MORE APPROPRIATE NAME, BUT THE THING THAT I FEEL IS IMPORTANT IS THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE HISTORICAL NATURE OF WHERE THIS PARKLAND CAME FROM TO BEGIN WITH, THE CIRCLE C RANCH. AND I ALSO THINK, AS I SAID EARLIER, THAT IT'S IMPORTANT ALSO TO RECOGNIZE MS. BROOKS AND THE SLAUGHTER CREEK PARKS FOUNDATION FOR DONATING THE MAJORITY OF THIS LAND.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND SO THEY'RE -- MS. HOOVER, DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITH THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION? I FIGURED WE'D LET MER SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE SHE GOT RULED OUT ON A TECHNICALITY.

>> I JUST -- IT'S A SUBSTITUTE MOTION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>>MAYOR WATSON: CIRCLE C METROPOLITAN PARK ON SLAUGHTER CREEK.

>> THAT'S PERFECTLY WONDERFUL AND EVERYONE WOULD BE HAPPY WITH THAT. WE DID GO THROUGH THE PARKDZ BOARD, WE WENT THROUGH THE PARKS SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE PARKS BOARD TWICE. WE WENT TO THE PARKS BOARD TWICE. WE DID HAVE A LONG DISCUSSION. IT'S PROBABLY NOT REFLECTED IN THE MINUTES ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HEARD HERE TODAY, BUT THAT WOULD BE COMPLETELY ACCEPTABLE TO THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AND THEY'D BE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE.

>>SLUSHER: SO UNDER THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION WE WOULD HAVE ALL THE SURROUNDINGS NEIGHBORHOODS IN ACCORD AND WE WOULD BE HONORING MS. BROOKS AND WE WOULD BE NAMING IT AFTER THE RANCH INSTEAD OF ONE PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING BOTH SIDES AS FAR AS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THIS PARK WERE PART OF THE RANCH; IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME ASK ONE QUESTION TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COMPLETELY SURE. THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AGREED TO PAY THE NEW COST OF PARK SIGN. I'M ASSUMING THE SIZE OF THE LETTERS AREN'T GOING TO TAKE MAKE A DIFFERENCE? MAYOR PRO TEM?

>>GOODMAN: THE REASON I WENT FOR CIRCLE C RANCH FIRST ON SLAUGHTER IS BECAUSE THE CREEK STILL EXISTS AND IT IS ON SLAUGHTER CREEK. BUT THE RANCH IS NOT TECHNICALLY THERE ANY MORE THE WAY IT WAS. SO TO SAY AT CIRCLE C RANCH WOULD BE SENDING SOMEBODY POSSIBLY ON A WILD GOOSE CHASE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FAIR ENOUGH. ANY DISCUSSION?

>>THOMAS: WAS IT CIRCLE C -- .

>>MAYOR WATSON: CIRCLE C RANCH METROPOLITAN PARK ON SLAUGHTER CREEK. I ACTUALLY LIKE THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S CIRCLE C RANCH METROPOLITAN PARK ON SLAUGHTER CREEK, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO -- LOCATED IN TRAVIS COUNTY. BUT I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT ALONE. [LAUGHTER]. FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.. OPPOSED SAY NO.

>>GRIFFITH: NO.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH BEING SHOWN VOTING NO. THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEMS 41 AND 42. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER PULLED THOSE. COUNCILMEMBER, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT THIS.

>>SLUSHER: I DON'T MIND.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. HERE COMES MR. RIEK. THAT'S GOOD. WHAT I WANT TO DO IS TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT ITEMS 41 AND 42 BECAUSE HAD COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER NOT PULLED THEM, I WAS GOING TO PULL THEM. BECAUSE THEY BOTH REPRESENT -- BOTH OF THESE ITEMS REPRESENT WHAT ARE GOING TORE RATIFICATIONS APPLYING TO THE PIPELINE LEAK IN THE ULRICH TRANSPORTATION MAINS ACHBLTED THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF COVERAGE ABOUT THIS AND SOME QUESTIONS HAVE COME UP ABOUT THE LEAKS. BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE TODAY IS THAT THESE ITEMS WOULD REPRESENT APPROVALS FOR THE FUNDING OF WORK THAT HAS ALREADY BEGUN ON THIS MAIN. AND NOT ONLY HAS IT BEGUN, BUT IT'S CONTINUING ON THE MAIN. WE'VE HAD SOME PRELIMINARY FINDINGS. AND THESE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS APPEAR TO INDICATE THAT THE PIPELINE LEAKS MAY BE DUE TO THE RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF MATERIALS THAT TYPICALLY AND NORMALLY WOULD BE USED TO BUILD A WATER MAIN LIKE THIS. HOWEVER, I WANT TO BE REAL CLEAR. THAT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED CONCLUSIVELY. WHAT I WANT TO STRESS -- WHAT'S GOING ON HERE TODAY, AND THAT IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO DISCUSS WHO MIGHT BE TO BLAME FOR THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE ESTABLISHED IN DUE TIME. AND LET ME ASSURE EVERYONE THAT IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS, IT IS GOING TO BE PURSUED. WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF MONEY, A LOT OF ENERGY, AND I THINK APPROPRIATELY SO, TO ASSURE THAT THIS WATER MAIN WILL BE DONE -- THIS TRANSPORTATION MAIN WILL BE DONE IN THE RIGHT WAY. AND WE WANT TO -- IF THERE ARE SOME PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF LEAKS, WE WANT TO PURSUE THE REASONSES FOR THOSE LEAKS AND WE ARE GOING TO BE OUT FRONT OF THAT, AND WE ALREADY ARE. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TODAY, THOUGH, IS ENSURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FIX ANY OF THE PROBLEMS AS WE DETERMINE THEM. LET ME TALK ABOUT THAT. SOME QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED AS TO A PERCEIVED GRAS. DISCUSS ACQUISITION AND I WANT TO USE THAT WORD PERCEIVED DELAY IN TAKING ACTION ON THIS MATTER. THE FACT THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT APPROVING FUNDING FOR WORK THAT'S ALREADY OCCURRED COUNTER THAT ARGUMENT. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A DELAY. BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF HISTORY UP TO THIS POINT SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS WILL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE]

>>MAYOR WATSON: ... NEXT WEEK THERE WILL BE SOME ADDITIONAL WORK, SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL WORK TO BE DONE TO TRY TO REACH A DETERMINATION ON THAT. AGENDA ITEM 41 SEEKS TO FUND THE EMERGENCY CONTRACT THAT'S ENTERED INTO WITH THE INDEPENDENT ENGINEER IN EARLY JANUARY. EARLY LAST MONTH, BASED UPON SOME INITIAL REVIEWS OF THE LEASE, STWAS DETERMINED THAT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REPAIR WORK EVEN BEFORE THE ASSESSMENT IS COMPLETE. AGAIN, LET ME BE CLEAR. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ASSESSING WHY THOSE LEAKS HAVE OCCURRED. WE ARE VERY -- WE WANT TO BE OUT FRONT ON THAT, BUT EVEN BEFORE THOSE ASSESSMENTS ARE COMPLETE, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH REPAIR WORK. AGENDA ITEM NO. 42 SEEKS FUNDING FOR THE WORK WHICH BEGAN IN LATE JANUARY. NOW, THE QUESTION NEEDS TO BE ASKED, AND SHOULD BE ASKED, AND WE ARE ASKING IT, WHY WAS IT SO IMPORTANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ASSESSMENT AND THE REPAIR WORK EARLY. AND THE FACT IS, IF WE'RE GOING TO ERR, WE WANT TO ER AND THE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN THE ERR MUST BE ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION. SURE, MAYBE ONLY TWO LEAKS HAVE BEEN DETECTED AND MAYBE THAT'S ALL THERE IS GOING TO END UP BEING, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES. THE FACT IS WE HAVE TO MANAGE THE RISK AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE AXZ -- TRY TO TO DO WITH ACTIONS WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN AND ARE CONTINUE TO GO TAKE. I WANT TO ASSURE EVERYONE IN MY DISCUSSIONS, INCLUDING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND OTHER STAFF, THAT TAKING THE ULLRICH TRANSMISSION MAIN OFF LINE FOR REPAIRS HAS NOT IMPACTED DRINKING WATER SERVICE DELIVERY. BUT CONSTRUCTION OF THE 72-INCH WATERLINE WAS EXPEDITED TO INCREASE TRANSMISSION CAPS TO IT THE NORTHERN AREAS OF AUSTIN. AND AS A RESULT, WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THE MAIN REPAIRED AND RUNNING AGAIN BEFORE WE HIT A REALLY WARM SUMMER AND THOSE SUMMER TEMPERATURES AND WATER USAGE SKY ROCKETS, WHICH WE KNOW IT DOES IN THE SUMMER. EVERY SUMMER WE FACE THE POTENTIAL WE COULD GO INTO SOME SORT OF WATER RATIONING AS WE HAD TO DO LAST SUMMER THAT. POTENTIAL STILL EXISTS FOR THIS YEAR, WITH OR WITHOUT THE ULLRICH TRANSMISSION MAIN IN SERVICE. BUT BECAUSE THE ULLRICH LINE WAS BROUGHT ON LINE TO HELP INCREASE CAPACITY IN THE FIRST PLACE, WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE. SO RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO FOCUS ON PREVENTING POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. WE BELIEVE WE OWE THAT TO THE COMMUNITY AND ULTIMATELY WE'RE GOING TO ESTABLISH RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THE TASK AT HAND NOW IS TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF. AND IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF AND I'M SURE WE'LL HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS DONE RIGHT, THAT WE'RE OUT IN FRONT OF IT AND WE NOT ONLY FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE, BUT GET THE PROBLEMS REPAIRED SO THIS LINE SERVES THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE INDICATED WE WANT TO SERVE. SO THAT -- LIKE I SAY, COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, I WAS GOING TO PULL THIS OUT IF YOU HADN'T AND I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING ME SPEAK TO IT BUT I WILL CALL ON YOU NOW IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, I THINK YOU MADE VERY SIGNIFICANT POINTS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK THAT AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT WE EXAMINE THE CITY'S PROCEDURES TO SEE AND EXAMINE THEM VERY CLOSELY TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY HOL CYST OR PROCEDURES THAT WE USE -- POLICIES OR PROCEDURES THAT WE USE THAT COULD BE IMPROVED THAT MIGHT HAVE HEADED OFF SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS. ONE THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS THE INSPECTION OF THE MATERIALS BEFORE THEY GO IN THE GROUND, HOW WE WENT ABOUT THAT AND OTHER POLICY ON THAT TO SEE IF THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED -- I SEE A GENTLEMAN BACK THIS SHAKING HIS HEAD, BUT SIR, OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THE RATEPAYERS' DOLLARS ARE WELL SPENT. AND IN THIS CASE IT APPEARS THAT THERE HAS BEEN -- WE'RE HAVING TO EX PENNED FUNDS TODAY THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO EXPEND UNDER THE CONTRACT. AND SO THAT'S A VERY SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE TO THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN TO MAKE SURE THAT, AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE REPAIR THE PROBLEMS, DELIVER THE SERVICES THIS PIPELINE IS SUPPOSED TO DELIVER, AND THEN LOOK AT HOW WE MAKE SURE TO PREVENT THESE SORT OF PROBLEMS FROM OCCURING IN EVERY WAY THAT WE CAN IN THE FUTURE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEMS 41 AND 42.

>>SLUSHER: SO MOVED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. LET ME RECOGNIZE THE CITY MANAGER.

>> COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, WE WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD DO UNDER THIS SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT ANY TIME WE CONFRONT OR HAVE A PROBLEM THAT OCCURS LIKE THIS, THERE IS -- IT IS PRUDENT FOR US TO EXAMINE OUR OWN PROCESS TO INSURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN SO WHEN THINGS GO INTO THE GROUND THEY MEET CERTAIN STARNTS, CRITERIA TO AVERT THIS KIND OF SITUATION FROM HAPPENING. IT'S ALSO INCUMBENT UPON US TO LOOK AT WHAT KINDS OF THINGS IN TERMS OF ENGINEERING PRACTICES THAT WERE DONE THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO IMPROVE ON AND WE LEARN FROM THIS AND THAT IS CERTAINLY OUR INTENT IN TERMS OF THIS EVALUATION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION?

>>GRIFFITH: YES, MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.

>>GRIFFITH: CERTAINLY I SHARE KMFRB'S CONCERN, BUT LOOKING FORWARD FROM NOW AHEAD, MY BIG CONCERN IS ABOUT SAFETY. THIS PIPE IS SIX FEET ACROSS. IT IS A HUGE THING. IT'S, LIKE, FOUR MILES LONG, AND THE VOLUME AND THE WEIGHT AND THE POWER OF THE WATER COMING THROUGH THAT PIPE IS OF A CONCERN IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF PLAN GOING FORWARD IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT IS GOING TO CHECK PERIODICALLY, REGULARLY FROM AN ENGINEERING STANDPOINT TO SEE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS PROTECTED. AND I'LL BE FOR THIS PART OF THE PROGRAM TOO THAT'S IN THIS ITEM.

>>GOODMAN: MAYOR? ACTUALLY I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING SIMILAR TO COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM FOLKS SINCE READING ABOUT THE PAPER ARTICLE ON THIS AND HEARING ON TV, BUT WHAT THEY MOSTLY SAY TO ME TOO IS THAT THEY HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE UTILITY WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO IT, THEY TAKE FOR GRANTED OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ADDRESSED ALL PROBLEMS AS THEY'VE COME UP IN THE PAST. SO THEY HAVE, I THINK, GREAT TRUST IN OUR UTILITIES COMMITMENT TO GO OUT AND FIX WHATEVER IS WRONG. AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION THEY ALWAYS ASK IS, OKAY, IS IT JUST THE JOINTS? ARE WE SURE THE LINES ARE OKAY? SO I JUST WANTED TO PASS THAT ON BECAUSE I KNOW SOMETIMES YOU DON'T EVEN GET THE JOINTS FROM THE SAME PLACE YOU GET THE PIPE. BUT THAT WAS THE QUESTION THAT EVERYBODY ASKED ME AT THE END AFTER BEING SURE TO TELL ME THEY KNEW WE WOULD GO FIX IT AND THEY HAD FULL TRUST.

>>GRIFFITH: YES, AND MARRY AGREE WITH THAT. WHAT I HOPE WITH SEE IS THE PLAN FOR CHECKING ON THOSE MATTERS THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM BROUGHT UP IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, HOW REGULARLY, WHEN, WHERE AND HOW WILL THE CHECKS BE DONE GOING FORWARD. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO THAT AND WILL DO THAT. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE THE PLAN.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THERE BEING -- THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOPDZ. MOTION CARRIES ON 41 AND 42. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION RELATED TO REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.072 TO DISCUSS ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY AND DESTINATION PARKS AS AUTHORIZED UNDER PROPOSITION 2 OF THE NOVEMBER 1988 BOND ELECTION. AND TO ENGAGE IN PRIVATE CONSULTATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071 OF THE TEXT GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES CONCERNING PROPOSED LEGISLATION IN THE 77TH LEGISLATURE. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. NOTHING'S CARRIES. WE ARE RECESSED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. FOR THOSE PAYING ATTENTION, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ITEMS SCHEDULES UNTIL 1:30 WHEN WE HAVE GENERAL CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS. IF WE FINISH THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THE DISCUSSION DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, I WILL COME OUT AND ANNOUNCE IN PUBLIC THAT WE HAVE TERMINATED THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL WILL REMAIN IN RECESS UNTIL 1:30 P.M.

>> BARBARA FORD. [INAUDIBLE].

>> ARE PLEASED AND ANXIOUSLY WAITING TO SEE THE NEW NIGHT SHELTERS BECOME A REALITY. WE NEED THESE SHELTERS TO BE A HOME FOR THE HOMELESS, NOT JUST TEMPORARY HELP. MANY HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE FOR THE CITY COLISEUM TO CONTINUE TO BE IN OPERATION. ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE TOO OLD FOR THE CIRCUS, IT COULD BE USEDS A SHELTER AT OUR -- AND OUR ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DINNERS. I HOPE MY CONCERN FOR THE HOMELESS HAS NOT PUT ANYBODY OUT TOO MUCH. LAST OF ALL, I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL CONTINUE TO GO HIGHER IN OFFICE. THANK YOU, MAYOR WATSON.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MS. FORD. HICK HALL TO BE FOLLOWED BY MIKE ALEXANDER AND THEN SUSANA ALMANZA.

>> HELLO, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS.

>> HELLO, SIR.

>> I'M A MEMBER OF THE BOULDIN CREEK PLANNING TEAM, I TRIED DISCUSS THIS WITH YOU BEFORE. I'M GOING TO DO A LITTLE CRITIQUE ON THAT NOW, MEANT TO HELP, NOT TO HURT. THE BOULDIN CREEK PLANNING SURVEY AS IT STANDS NOW IS A TOOL FOR SMART GROWTH GENTRIFICATION. IT'S USED FOR THE GENTRIFICATION OF AUSTIN'S CENTRAL CORE NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS RESULTS IN LONG-TERM RESIDENTS BEING FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES, THAT HAPPENS WHETHER THEY OWN THEIR HOMES OR RENT. SMART GROWTH GENTRIFICATION OCCURS WHEN CITY HALL STARTS A PROGRAM OF MASSIVE DENSE INDICATION ALONG TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT CORRIDORS. THE BOULDIN CREEK PLANNING AREA IS SURROUNDED BY FOUR TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT CORRIDORS AND BISETTLEED BY ANOTHER. MAYOR WATSON AND JESUS GARCIAZA ARE PUSHING THE SMOULT REZONING MATRIX IN THE BOULDIN PLANNING PROCESS THROUGH THE CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT. PRO SMART GROWTH BOULDIN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEMBERS AND THEIR HIGH TECH POLITICAL SUPPORTERS ARE USING THE INTERNET DIGITAL DIVIDE TO KEEP BOULDIN'S CREEK ETHNIC MINORITIES, THE POOR, DISABLED, ELDERLY IN THE DARK. WHO BUILT THE SMART GROWTH.ORG WEBSITE? THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY HIRED A CONTRACTOR TO BUILD THAT AND THE CONTRACT GAVE IT A .ORG DOMAIN NAME TO HIDE THE EPA'S INVOLVEMENT. IN 1999 THE EPA GOT CAUGHT BY SENATOR ROBERT BIRD WHEN IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE EPA WAS PROVIDING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD WEBSITES THAT CLEARLY PRESENT A ONE-SIDED VIEW OF SMART GROWTH PLANNING ON THE INTERNET. WHO WAS THAT CONTRACTOR HIRED TO BUILD THE SMARTGROWTH.ORG WEBSITE. THE ICMA HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED IN PORTLAND, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE MECCA FOR SMART GROWTH PLANNING. WHO IN AUSTIN IS A -- AUSTIN IN A MEMBER? JESUS GARCIAZA. A PRESENT MATERIAL IN NOVEMBER OF 1999? JESUS GARCIAZA. THERE ARE NO LARGE GROUPS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES IMPORTANT IN LIVING IN CENTRAL CITY NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT IS NOT THE CASE IN AUSTIN. OLDER AND SAVVY RESIDENTS HAVE NO AGREEING THAT AGREEING TO SMART GROWTH, SMALLER LOT REZONING, WHEN THEY DO THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY SETTING THEMSELVES UP FOR RAPIDLY RISING PROPERTY TAXES. TAXES THAT THEY CURRENTLY STRUGGLE TO PAY. IT IS CLEARLY NOT ETHICAL TO USE FEDERAL TAXES AND CITY TAXES WE ALL PAY TO INITIATE EXPERIMENTAL SMART GROWTH PLANNING, WHICH IS DIRECTED TOWARDS REMOVING LOW INCOME RESIDENTS FROM THE SECURITY OF THEIR SOUTH AUSTIN HOMES. NORMALLY I TRY TO BE A LITTLE HUMOROUS, I DIDN'T START OUT WITH A JOKE, BUT I PLUG THIS BUMPER STICKER, DON'T BLAME ME I THINK I VOTED FOR GORE. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL, THANKS FOR HAVING THIS COMMUNICATION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, ALWAYS LEAVE THEM LAUGHING, MR. HALL. MIKE ALEXANDER.

>> HELLO. IF IT'S OKAY, I PREFER NOT TO HAVE CLOSEUP SHOTS. I'VE BEEN HAVING A REAL SERIOUS PROBLEMS, EXTREME BARKING DOG PROBLEM NEXT TO MY HOUSE. I WANTED TO SHINE SOME LIGHT ON IT. BASICALLY A FRONT YARD GUARD DOG SITUATION FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES. THEY AREN'T GUARD DOGS AS YOU MIGHT THINK, EXTREMELY VICIOUS AND VOCAL TOWARDS ANYTHING THAT MOVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT STARTED BACK IN OCTOBER OF 1999, POLICE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT ON IT, WHICH I DID. I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO, BUT BY THE TIME MAY CAME AROUND IT WAS TOO INTOLERABLE I FILED A COMPLAINT. WAITED A FEW WEEKS TO GOOD TO HAPPEN, FILED ANOTHER ONE, ANOTHER ONE, BETWEEN MAY AND JANUARY I FILED PROBABLY A TOTAL OF 8 COMPLAINTS I BELIEVE NOW. NOT ONE OF THEM HAS COME UP TO A JUDGE YET. I CAN ACCEPT THAT IT TAKES TIME FOR SOME OF THIS STUFF TO HAPPEN. IT IS A VERY EXTREME SITUATION, I COULD HAVE FILED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS BY NOW. IT'S REALLY THAT SERIOUS. BUT NOW A FEW WEEKS AGO, AFTER SIX HOUR STRETCH OF VERY EXTREME BARKING, I FELT LIKE IT WAS TIME TO FILE ANOTHER ONE, SO I COULD KEEP DOCUMENTING THE SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM, I WASN'T EVEN ALLOWED TO FILE A LEGAL AND LAWFUL COMPLAINT. THEY TOLD ME I SIMPLY CAN'T FILE ANY MORE COMPLAINTS ON THE SITUATION. THEY SAID A FOUR COMPLAINT LIMIT IS A POLICY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT, YOU KNOW, I CAN ACCEPT THAT IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET THINGS HANDLED. I SHOULD AT LEAST BE ABLE TO CONTINUE FILING COMPLAINTS AS LONG AS THE SITUATION IS SEVERE AND CONTINUING TO LET THESE DOGS BARK ALL OF THE TIME. IT'S LIKE TELLING A POLICEMAN AFTER FOUR SPEEDING TICKETS, YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO FILE TICKETS OR AFTER ASSAULTS. IT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT I HAVE BALANCING OUT JUSTICE. THIS IS A VERY EXTREME AND DELIBERATE SITUATION. AND THE LAWS ARE PUT ON THE BOOKS I FELT LIKE JUST TO ADDRESS SITUATIONS LIKE THIS. I WANTED TO SHINE SOME LIGHT ON THE SITUATION, ASK THAT I AT LEAST BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE FILING COMPLAINTS AS LONG AS THE SITUATION EXISTS. I BROUGHT SOME TAPE, I FIGURED THAT I WOULDN'T BE QUITE SO MELLOW DRAMATIC ABOUT SHOWING HOW BAD IT IS, BUT THAT'S ALL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WILL YOU VISIT WITH HIM? TELL YOU WHAT, IF YOU WILL VISIT WITH HIM AND -- THANK YOU.

>> SURE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SUSANA ALMANZA, FOLLOWED BY RAMON MALDONADO AND THEN WILLIAM J THOMAS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M SUSANA ALMANZA WITH PODER, TODAY I AM GOING TO JUST BRING SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED HORSE RACETRACK AND GAMBLING CASINO IN THE MONTOPOLIS AREA. IF YOU GO AHEAD -- HEADING EAST ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE, AS SOON AS YOU CROSS RIVERSIDE, THERE'S VARGAS, THE NEXT STREET IS FRONTIER VALLEY. THAT 100 ACRES IS RIGHT OFF OF FRONTIER VALLEY, PRACTICALLY BACKING UP TO PALM HARBOR HOMES. IT'S 100 ACRES OF LAND, ALREADY ZONED SINGLE FAMILY. IN OUR MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING, WE HAVE VOTED TO KEEP THAT SINGLE FAMILY. AS A MATTER OF FACT THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCREPANCIES IN THAT PLAN BECAUSE WE VOTED FOR MIXED USE, MULTIPLE FAMILY, SINGLE FAMILIES IN SEVERAL OF THOSE TRACTS THAT ARE NOW SAID TO BE COMMERCIAL AND SO THERE WILL BE A BIG MEETING THIS COMING SATURDAY AT THE DELORES CHURCH FROM 1:00 TO 3:00, HOPEFULLY IF WE CAN COME TO SOME CONSENSUS WITH THE BUSINESS PEOPLE AND ABSENT LAND OWNERS, THE COMMUNITY, THEN THIS PLAN WILL GO EASILY THROUGH. BUT WE ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE WAS A FEESIBILITY STUDY THAT WAS ORDERED AND THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PRESENTATION TODAY, BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY HAD TWO PRELIMINARY FINDINGS. IN THOSE FINDINGS THEY TELL US THAT THIS LAND IS NOT GOING TO BE FEASIBLE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THERE'S GASOLINE PIPELINES THERE, A UTILITY EASEMENT AND THE NOISE. WELL, AS WE ALL KNOW THERE, IS PIPELINES THROUGHOUT AUSTIN AND ESPECIALLY EAST AUSTIN AND SOUTHEAST AUSTIN. AND SO ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M HEARING ABOUT LAWS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT UP TO BE ENFORCED THAT NEVER HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP BEFORE. AND THAT REALLY SEND A FLAG FOR OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE HAS THAT TELLS US IS THAT SOMETHING IS HAPPENING SO THAT TO BLOCK US KEEPING THIS 100 ACRE SINGLE FAMILY BECAUSE WE HAVE ALSO SAID IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FEDERAL MONEY TO JUST GO FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE CAN BE PARTNERSHIPS, THERE CAN BE LAND TRUSTS, THERE'S A -- COMBINATIONS OF THINGS THAT THEY CAN USE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS LAND BECOMES SINGLE FAMILY. BUT ALREADY WE ARE HEARING FROM STAFF PRELIMINARY FINDINGS, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FEASIBLE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE ARE VERY, VERY CONCERNED THAT OUR PLAN, TOO, WAS HELD UP BASED ON THIS FEESIBILITY STUDY FOR 100 ACRES OF TRACT. WE KNOW THAT IN NOWHERE IN -- IN WEST AUSTIN WOULD THEY ALLOW A HORSE RACETRACK AND A GAMBLING CASINO NEXT TO SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AREA. SO WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT WE ARE -- WE ARE GOING TO PUT A CALL OUT TO ANY ATTORNEYS LISTENING OUT THERE OR ATTORNEYS, STUDENTS WHO ARE PLANNING TO FINISH UP THEIR LAW, TO HELP US OUT IN THIS SITUATION IN CASE IT GOES FORWARD, IN CASE THEY DECIDE TO TRY AND CHANGE THIS LAND AND IN CASE THEY TRY TO STOP GETTING -- US FROM GETTING ANY FEDERAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO BUILD HOUSING OUT THERE. I THINK THAT THIS IS A CASE BECAUSE OF THE RESOURCES IN MONT WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING, BUT WE ARE GOING TO CALL FOR HELP ON THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I HAD ALSO HOPED TO ACQUIRE THAT LAND FOR SINGLE FAMILY. SO WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR MEETING, CAN YOU TALK TO ME LATER AND TELL ME WHAT KIND OF THINGS WERE DISCUSSED BECAUSE I WAS THINKING EVEN WITH THE PIPELINE OR ANY OTHER FEATURE THAT MAYBE WOULD PRECLUDE A LARGE AREA OF S.F. DETACHED, MAYBE WE CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE GARDEN HOMES IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO CLUSTER THEM IN SORT OF SMALL NEIGHBORHOODS TO MAKE A LARGER NEIGHBORHOODS. SO IF ANYBODY TALKS ABOUT THAT THAT -- THANKS SUSANA. RAMON MALDONADO? AH THERE YOU ARE, THANK YOU.

>> [SPEAKING IN SPANISH]

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, DO YOU WANT TO RECAP? AL ALZHEIMER'S SURELY, MR. MALDONADO SPEAK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS. HE MENTIONED HIS CONCERN ABOUT THESE PROCEEDINGS NOT BEING TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH BECAUSE THE DECISIONS WE MAKE OBVIOUSLY AFFECT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, SO BECAUSE THERE IS A COMMUNITY OUTLET THERE THAT ONLY SPEAKS SPANISH, THEY ARE BEING ALIENATED FROM WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. DEMENTION THAT APPARENTLY AISD MIGHT TRANSLATE THEIR MEETINGS, SO HE CITED THAT AS AN EXAMPLE OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY THAT IS TRANSLATING THEIR MEETINGS. HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO TRANSLATE INFORMATION INTO SPANISH ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY AND HE MENTIONED -- AND THAT THE INFORMATION BE MADE EASY TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF TIMES VERY TECHNICAL INFORMATION. SO THAT THAT KIND OF INFORMATION BE PROVIDED IN SPANISH AND IT WOULD BE PROVIDED IN A TIMELY MANNER BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO TRACK DOWN THAT INFORMATION IN SPANISH, THEN THE MEETING OR THE DECISION THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HAS ALREADY PASSED. AND SO HE ALSO SPOKE ABOUT -- ABOUT HIS OPPOSITION TO THE HORSE TRACK THAT'S PROPOSED FOR MONTOPOLIS AND HE SAYS THAT COMMUNITY NEEDS HOMES AND NOT A HORSE TRACK. THAT WAS THE GIST OF IT, I THINK.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. MAYBE WE CAN LOOK INTO WHAT TRANSLATOR OR WHAT BY LINKAL NOTIFICATIONS WE SEND OUT, WHERE WE COULD MAYBE ENHANCE THAT. WILLIAM J. THOMAS. FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER GALE. MR. THOMAS?

>> I AM WILLIAM THOMAS FROM THE NORTH AUSTIN AREA. I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON THE SUBJECT OF BANDIT SIGNS. WE HAVE A MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE THAT PROHIBITS THE POSTING OF ANY SIGNS FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES EXCEPT VERY SPECIFIC APPROVED. BANDIT SIGNS WERE DESCRIBED IN THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY SUN ARTICLE, I HAVEN'T COINED THAT PHRASE, AND THEY REFER TO SIGNS ADVERTISING VINYL SIDING, WEIGHT LOSS, WORK IN YOUR OWN HOME, MORTGAGE, CHEAP MORTGAGES, ET CETERA. THE ONE BIG PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THOSE SIGNS IS IF YOU HAVE -- IF YOU CALL THE NUMBER LISTED, NONE HAS A NAME, NONE HAVE AN ADDRESS, YOU GET SOME NUMBERS IN CALIFORNIA OR ON THE EAST COAST. YOU HAVE MERCHANTS THAT ARE NOT DOING BUSINESS IN THIS STATE, BUT THEY ARE SEEKING TO TAKE, OBVIOUSLY INFLUENCE THE GULLIBLE. WHO WOULD FOLLOW THE DICTATE OF A SIGN TO EARN $1,000 A WEEK SITTING AT HOME? IF THAT WAS TRUE, THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE A TRAFFIC PROBLEM BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD BE SITTING IN THEIR HOMES EARNING THAT SORT OF MONEY. THEY ARE UP FOR MONTHS AT A TIME, THEY CONSTITUTE SIGHT POLLUTION, THEY ARE ILLEGAL, SUBJECT TO A POSSIBLE $500 PER SIGN FINE UNDER THE CITY ORDINANCE. THAT'S NOT ENFORCED. WHY? GEORGETOWN, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS A POPULATION OF ABOUT 30,000. THEY HAVE 3 PEOPLE ASSIGNED TO REMOVAL OF ILLEGAL SIGNS. WE ARE A CITY OF 650,000, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST CENSUS, WE HAVE ONE PERSON FROM THE ZONING DEPARTMENT WHO IS CHARGED WITH ENFORCING SIGNS. ONE WAY TO HANDLE THE PROBLEM WOULD BE TO DO WHAT THEY HAVE IN ISSUING TICKETS TO PEOPLE PARKING IN HANDICAPPED ZONES, WHICH IS ALSO A SUBJECT OF INTEREST TO ME. BUT THE CITY BY ORDINANCE HAS STATED THAT OTHER THAN CITY EMPLOYEES CAN ISSUE TICKETS IF THEY GO THROUGH A ONE-DAY TRAINING SESSION. THEY DO NOT, WHEN THEY ARE ISSUING TICKET, BECOME EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY. WHY NOT PASS A SIMILAR ORDINANCE AS TO SIGNS? REMOVING A SIGN THAT IS POLLUTING, THAT IS ILLEGAL? AND NOT RESULTING IN THE THREAT OF ARREST FOR THEFT OR CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY TO CITIZENS WHO ARE SEEKING TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE TOO CHEAP TO DO IT? WE SPEND ALL SORTS OF MONEY DOWNTOWN, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE PEOPLE LIVING OUT IN THE OUTLYING AREAS WHO ARE PAYING MOST OF THE BILLS? WE ARE IGNORED. THERE ARE -- THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT OF ZONING ORDINANCES IN THE COMMUNITIES. IT'S ALL DOWNTOWN. AND I WOULD DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE, A, THAT THE CITY AMEND THE BUDGET, WHICH IS COMING UP FOR CONSIDERATION, TO ADD MORE PEOPLE TO ZONING ENFORCEMENT; AND I WOULD BE HAPPY -- [BUZZER SOUNDING].

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU, MR. WILLIAM, I THINK WE KNOW WHAT YOU WANT US TO LOOK AT. MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT OUR PILOT PROGRAM TO THE DISABLED PARKING. SINCE IT'S HARD TO GIVE SOMEBODY A TICKET IN CALIFORNIA. MAYOR, JENNIFER GALE IS OUR LAST SPEAKER.

>> MAYOR WATSON, MAY I HAVE A COUPLE MORE MINUTES?

>>MAYOR WATSON: NO, MA'AM.

>> HI AUSTIN, CANDIDATE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS, MAYOR KIRK WATSON, COUNCILMEMBERS, RAUL ALVAREZ, MY MAYORAL OPPONENTS, JACKIE GOODMAN, BEVERLY GRIFFITH ... MY NAME IS JENNIFER GALE, CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR OF OUR HOMETOWN AND AISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES. NEXT TO OUR HEALTH, PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR GREATEST PRIORITY FOR WELL-BEING. THAT WAS LAST -- LAST WEEK THAT WAS THE IMPRESSION IN A FAILING ECONOMY YOU FOUND 22% MORE OF OUR MONEY TO PAY FOR A MASSIVE RAISE FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS AND IN THE SAME BREATH UNDERMINE THE CONFIDENCE IN THE COUNCIL, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT BY AGREEING TO HAVE THE CITY MANAGER OF AUSTIN, A BUREAUCRAT, CREATING ANOTHER LAYER OF GOVERNMENT TO HIRE AN AUSTIN POLICE MONITOR AND TO CHOOSE THE MEMBERS OF THIS CITY'S MANAGERS, POLICE REVIEW BOARD. THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND THE CITIZENS POLICE REVIEW BOARD WAS TO FIND A GROUP OF AUSTINITES NOT A.F.L.ATED WITH THE GOVERNMENT LOOKING INTO MATTERS AFFECTING THE PROPER CONDUCT OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. YOU ALREADY KNEW THIS WAS THE PURPOSE OF CREATING AN AUSTIN CITIZENS POLICE REVIEW BOARD. THIS COUNCIL HAS LIED OR MISLEAD THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN ABOUT FINDING AUSTINITES INDEPENDENT OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ IS THE ONLY MEMBER WHO VOTED AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE AND IS NOT PART OF THIS VEHEMENT ADMONISHMENT OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCILL. WE KNOW YOU ARE A FORMER AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER AND THAT GIVES US AN EXCUSE TO BRUTALLY HURT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE ALLEGEDLY REPRESENTING, I CAN SEE THE PEOPLE LOOKING TO YOU FOR HELP, SIR, WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S POLICE REVIEW BOARD YOU ARE GOING TO SAY TO THEM YOU HAVE GOT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE I CAME FROM. I'M A FORMER MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT WAS MY DUTY TO DESTROY ANY HOPE YOU MAY HAVE HAD FOR JUSTICE IN AUSTIN. AND I THINK THIS WOULD SEVERELY DAMAGE THOSE RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. AND THAT'S WHY I UNDERSTAND COUNCIL WOMAN BEVERLY GRIFFITH ABSTAINING. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SHOW A VERY POOR, SORRY, A VERY POOR PICTURE OF WHERE THE NEW CITY HALL IS GOING TO BE. THE -- THE -- THIS AREA HERE ALONG HERE IS WHERE THE NEW CITY HALL IS, FAR AWAY FROM THE BANK IN FRONT OF THIS RIGHT HERE IS THE FIRST STREET BRIDGE. THE FIRST STREET BRIDGE WILL BE BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE WATER. AND WHAT -- WHAT I PROPOSE IS THAT WE MOVE THE CITY HALL OVER THE BANKS OVERLOOKING THE WATER SO THAT WE CAN SEE THE WEATHER COMING THROUGH SO CYCLISTS CAN BIKE UNDERNEATH, COME UP, ENJOY OUR CITY COUNCILMEMBER MEETINGS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AUSTIN.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MS. GALE. COUNCIL, THE NEXT ITEMS THAT WE HAVE SCHEDULED ARE FOR A TIME CERTAIN. SO -- THAT WILL BE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND WE DO IS RECESS UNTIL AFTER WE HAVE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECESS. MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. THE CITY COUNCILL OF AUSTIN IS IN RECESS. AT 3:30 P.M., I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND WE WILL TAKE UP THAT BUSINESS. THE NEXT TIME I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCILL WILL BE AT 4:00 P.M.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THIS IS THURSDAY, MARCH 22ND, 2001, WE ARE MEETING IN THE BOARD ROOM OF THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY, HANCOCK BUILDING, 3700 LAKE AUSTIN BOULEVARD. COUNCIL YOU HAVE A NOTICE OF THAT MEETING AND AGENDA, ITEM NO. 4, AHFC NUMBER 4 HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M MATT POWELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSE HOUSE. FIRST ON THE AGENDA, AHFC ITEM NO. 1 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE HOUSE HOUSE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF DECEMBER 14TH, 2001.

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME ASK THIS, COUNCIL. WE HAVE THREE ITEMS THAT ARE UP. ONE IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, THE NEXT IS THE -- RESOLUTION TO CONVERT $23 MILLION PRIVATE ACTIVITY VOLUME CAP BOND AUTHORITY THAT HAS BEEN RECEIVED TO THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT WITH -- WITH AN EMPHASIS TO ELIGIBLE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS THROUGH A PROGRAM FOR ASSISTANCE FOR AISD AND CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES. THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY REFERRED TO GENERALLY AS THE SCHOOL TEACHER POLICE OFFICER, FIREFIGHTER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER HAD INDICATED IN A PREVIOUS -- AT A PREVIOUS MEETING THAT AS PART OF THIS HE WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SEE US BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON CHILD CARE WORKERS. I THINK THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED WITH YOU RIGHT, MR. POWELL?

>> YES, SIR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SO IN THE FINAL MATTER IS TO A RESOLUTION TO ELECT A SECRETARY/TREASURER TO THE AHFC FOR A TERM EXPIRING JUNE 15TH, 2003. -- 2003, I WILL TAKE A NOMINATION ON THAT. IS THERE ANY REASON WE COULDN'T DO ALL OF THIS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I WILL TAKE A NOMINATION ON AHFC ITEM NO. 3.

>> THE BOARD RESOLUTION INDICATES A -- OR RECOMMENDS BETTIE DUNKERLY TO BE THE TREASURER, REPLACING JOE CANALES.

>> THE NOMINATION WILL BE FOR BETTIE DUNKERLY WITH JOE CANALAS AS ALTERNATE?

>> NO HE WAS PREVIOUS, BETTIE WOULD REPLACE HIM.

>>MAYOR WATSON: BETTIE DUNKERLY WOULD BE THE SECRETARY TREASURER. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO US TAKING UP ITEMS 1, 2, 3 ON CONSENT. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MANAGES TO PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> SO MOVE.

>> MOTION MADE BY BOARD MEMBER WYNN, SECONDED BY THE VICE-PRESIDENT. ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON ITEMS 1, 2, 3? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES ON AND THE THREE ITEMS ARE PASSED ON CONSENT. I WILL ENTERTAIN A NOTHING TO ADD JOURB THE MEETING OF THE HOUSE HOS. ANY DISCUSSION? WE ARE ADJOURNED THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE CALLED BACK TO ORDER AT 4:00.

>> THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IT'S ALL YOURS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS, ALICE GLASGO, CITY STAFF TO PRESENT ZONING CASES TODAY. WE WILL START OFF WITH CONSENT ITEMS, IF I SKIP AN ITEM, IT MEANS IT'S A DISCUSSION ITEM. THE FIRST CONSENT ITEM IS ITEM NO. 57, CASE C 14-2000-2062 THE BENNETT TRACT LOCATED ON EAST 11TH STREET, THERE IS A DESIRE FROM COUNCIL TO POSTPONE THIS CASE TO APRIL THE 19TH AND THAT WOULD AFFECT THE -- MAYBE I SHOULD REPHRASE, THIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH ITEM NO. 47. ITEM NO. 58, CASE C14-00-1256, LOCATED IN 9303 DAM RON ROAD.

>>MAYOR WATSON: HANG ON ONE SECOND. IF YOU DON'T MIND. I'M GOING TO DO THIS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY. ON ITEM NO. 57, SINCE IT IS RELATED TO ITEM NO. 47 AND IT'S A POSTPONEMENT OF THREE WEEKS, THAT'S BEEN WORKED OUT AND AGREED TO; IS THAT RIGHT?

>>GLASGO: YEAH, APRIL THE 19TH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SORRY, APRIL 19TH. COUNCIL, IF YOU DON'T MIND, LET'S TAKE UP ITEMS 57 AND 47 AT ONE TIME AND JUST RIGHT NOW AND GET THAT DONE SO THAT WE TAKE THEM UP TOGETHER, HAVE IT OUT OF THE WAY, THEN WE WILL GO BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY SHAKING THEIR HEADS, I JUST SEE NODS, THAT'S BEEN WORKED OUT; IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANYBODY OBJECT TO THAT? OKAY. WITH THAT BEING SAID, ITEM NO. 57 AND ITEM NO. 47, I WILL CALL BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS UP. THE MOTION WOULD BE TO POSTPONE UNTIL APRIL 19TH. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GRIFFITH: SECOND.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. GREG, MR. GUERNSEY, I'M SORRY, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE -- WHAT'S THE QUESTION?

>>GLASGO: 47 IS AN EXTENSION OF THE MORE TOMORROW. MORATORIUM.

>>GLASGO: WE WERE GOING TO GET TO IT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THE MOTION IS TO POSTPONE ITEM NO. 57 AND EXTEND THE MORATORIUM UNTIL APRIL 19TH.

>> NO, MAY 6TH ACTUALLY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: NO, IT WAS APRIL 19TH.

>>ALVAREZ: THE ORIGINAL -- GO AHEAD.

>>GLASGO: MAYOR, THE --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE APRIL 19TH, WHICH IS WHAT I ORANGES NEAL CALLED OUT?

>>GLASGO: MAY I CLARIFY? THE ZONING CASE AND THE MORATORIUM ARE DIFFERENT IN THAT THE MORATORIUM EXPIRES LATER ON.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I SEE, YOU ARE RIGHT.

>>GLASGO: GIVES YOU ENOUGH TIME IN CASE YOU NEED TO POSTPONE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M GLAD I TOOK THIS UP OUT OF ORDER. SURE MADE IT A LOT CLEARER.

>>GLASGO: YOU DID FINE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. ITEM NO. 57 WILL BE -- I'M GOING TO TAKE THEM UP INDIVIDUALLY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I THINK THEY JUST WITHDREW THEIR MOTION AND SECOND. ITEM NO. 57 WILL BE TO POSTPONE UNTIL APRIL 19TH. IS THERE A MOTION?

>>GRIFFITH: EXCUSE ME, DID YOU SAY THAT 57 WAS TO POSTPONE OR TO DO THE MORATORIUM?

>>MAYOR WATSON: 57 IS TO POSTPONE

>>GRIFFITH: OKAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ITEM NO. 57 IS A POSTPONEMENT UNTIL APRIL 19TH, IS THERE A MOTION?

>>GOODMAN: I WILL MOVE THAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION FROM THE MAYOR PRO TEM. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY

>>GRIFFITH:. -- SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. NUMBER 47 WILL BE TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM UNTIL MAY 6TH, MOTION MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM NO. 47 WITH COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS VOTING NO. OKAY.

>>GLASGO: WELL, THAT WENT VERY WELL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YEAH, IT WENT GREAT. THANK YOU ALL. MS. GLASGO, ITEM NO. 58.

>>GOODMAN: MAYOR, WAIT, WAIT. BEFORE I'M SORRY WE WENT THROUGH THAT SO QUICKLY. WHAT I HAD ASKED COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND ALVAREZ TO CONSIDER IS DURING THIS POSTPONEMENT OF DECISION ON LOOKING AT THE COMPROMISES AND/OR BOTTOM LINES, THAT THEY ALSO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS AS WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE TO, FAIR WITNESS, FACILITATOR, MEDIATOR, LEASE SON FROM COUNCIL, WHATEVER. I THINK THAT WILL GIVE EVERYBODY A LITTLE MORE REASSURANCE, INCLUDING THE COUNCIL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FAIR ENOUGH.

>>GOODMAN: THEY BOTH SORT OF AGREED TO THAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YEAH, I'LL BET.

>>THOMAS: DID COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AGREE?

>>ALVAREZ: CERTAINLY I'M WILLING TO VISIT WITH FOLKS AND FIND OUT WHERE EVERYONE IS COMING FROM, SEE IF WE CAN'T FIND SOME COMMON GROUND BEFORE IT COMES BACK TO US. I CERTAINLY COMMIT TO DO THAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SURE THE MAYOR PRO TEM DIDN'T MEAN TO PUT ANYBODY ON THE SPOT. EVERYBODY CAN MAKE THEIR DECISIONS DURING THIS INTERIM PERIOD OF TIME. ITEM NO. 58.

>>GLASGO: ITEM NO. 58, CASE C14-00-2156 LOCATED AT 9303 CAMERON ROAD. THE CHANGE IN ZONING IS FROM SINGLE FAMILY 3 TO CS, WHICH STANDS FOR GENERAL COMMERCIAL SERVICES. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE APPLICANT'S WITH OTHER CONDITIONS. THE CASE IS READY FOR FIRST READING. ITEM NO. 60, THERE'S A REQUEST TO POSTPONE TO APRIL THE 19TH BY THE APPLICANT. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S OPPOSITION BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE POSTPONEMENT. SO WE CAN PROBABLY COME BACK TO THAT. LATER ON, MAYOR. ITEM NO. 61, CASE C14-00-2201, THERE'S A REQUEST BY THE APPLICANT AND IT'S SUPPORTED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO POSTPONE TO APRIL THE 26TH. SAME WITH ITEM NO. 62 TO POSTPONE TO APRIL THE 26TH. ITEM NO. 63, CASE C14-00-2218, LOCATED AT 6514 MCNEIL ROAD, THE CHANGE IN ZONING IS FROM INTERIM RURAL RESIDENTIAL TO GO, WHICH STANDS FOR GENERAL OFFICE. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST WITH OTHER CONDITIONS. THIS CASE IS READY FOR ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM NO. 64, CASE C14-00-2219 LOCATED ON DAKOTA LANE, THE CHANGE FROM RURAL RESIDENTIAL AND SINGLE FAMILY 1 TO GENERAL OFFICE FOR BOTH TRACTS. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION IS TO BREAK THOSE TWO TRACTS INTO TWO AND GRANT LO-CO LIMITED OFFICE WITH A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY FOR TRACT 1 AND GENERAL OFFICE WITH A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY FOR TRACT 2. WITH OTHER CONDITIONS. AND THIS CASE IS READY FOR ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM NO. 65, CASE C14-00-2238, LOCATED ON SOUTHWEST PARKWAY, THE CHANGE IN ZONING IS FROM MULTI FAMILY 2 WITH A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY TO LIMITED OFFICE. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS LIMITED OFFICE WITH A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY AND OTHER CONDITIONS. THE CASE IS READY FOR FIRST READING. ITEM NO. 66, CASE C14-00-2250, LOCATED AT 5350 BURNET ROAD. THE CHANGE IS FROM CS GENERAL COMMERCIAL SERVICES TO CS-MU. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS CS-MU WITH A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY AND OTHER CONDITIONS. THE CASE IS READY FOR ALL THREE READINGS. ITEM NO. 61, CASE C14-00-2260 [SIC] LOCATE ODD EAST SEVENTH STREET, THE CASE IS FROM SINGLE FAMILY 3 TO GENERAL COMMERCIAL SERVICES FROM A MIXED USE COMMERCIAL COMBINING DISTRICT. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TOYS GRANT LIMITED OFFICE WITH A MIXED USE COMPONENT, THIS CASE IS READY FOR FIRST READING. THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE CONSENT ITEMS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE ITEM NO. 58 FIRST READING, ITEM NO. 61 A POSTPONEMENT TO APRIL 26TH, 62 A POSTPONEMENT TO APRIL 26TH, 63 CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS, 64 CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS, 65 CONSENT ON FIRST READING, 66 CONSENT ON ALL THREE READINGS, 67 CONSENT ON FIRST RIDING. IS THERE A MOTION?

>>GOODMAN: SO MOVE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION MADE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ?

>>ALVAREZ: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: I DID WANT TO MAKE -- PULL ONE OF THOSE ITEMS AT LEAST AND THEN GET CLARIFICATION ON 60, WHICH IS THE ONE ON FLETCHER STREET. I KNOW THERE'S SOME FOLKS HERE FOR THAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: 60 HAS BEEN PULLED.

>>ALVAREZ: IT HAS BEEN PULLED, OKAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I DID NOT CALL THAT OUT AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, BECAUSE THERE'S DISPUTE OVER WHETHER OR NOT THERE OUGHT TO AN POSTPONEMENT.

>>ALVAREZ: THEN 67, I WAS GOING TO TRY TO BRING THAT UP FOR A DISCUSSION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. LET ME ASK THE MAYOR PRO TEM IF SHE CONSIDERS IT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO PULL 67 OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA?

>>GOODMAN: MORE OR LESS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER WYNN DO YOU CONSIDER IT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO PULL 67 OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA?

>>WYNN: [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. THE CHAIR RULES IT'S OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA, THAT IT'S A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO PULL IT. ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL?

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.

>>SLUSHER: 65 IS FIRST READING; IS THAT CORRECT?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES.

>>SLUSHER: ON NUMBER 58, THAT'S FIRST READING AS WELL?

>>MAYOR WATSON: ITEM NO. 58 IS FIRST READING.

>>SLUSHER: WOULD YOU -- I AGREE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION MINORITY ON THAT, SO SHOW ME VOTING ON.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND ON ITEM NO. 58 COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER WILL BE SHOWN VOTING NO. THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO ITEM NO. 55. COUNCIL, SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW, ITEM NO. 55 AND 56 WERE ZONING ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE AGENDA A COUPLE OF TIMES. BUT BECAUSE, AS YOU WILL RECALL, THE LAST COUPLE OF THURSDAYS HAVE BEEN LATE, BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF HEARINGS, THESE WERE ITEMS THAT GOT POSTPONED UNTIL LATE AND SO THE FOLKS THAT WERE HERE TO BE HEARD ON THOSE ITEMS VOLUNTARILY PULLED THEM DOWN SO THAT WE WOULDN'T BE HERE EVEN LATER. SO THE COMMITMENT WAS MADE THAT SINCE THEY HAD PULLED THOSE DOWN, THAT THEY WOULD BE HEARD FIRST. SO WE WILL GO IN THE ORDER OF 55 AND 56.

>>GLASGO: MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS, ITEM NO. 55 IS CASE C14-00-2263, LOCATED AT 7300 STATE HIGHWAY 71 WEST. THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY ZONED CS WITH A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY THAT PROHIBITS SEVERAL USES. THE PROPERTY HAS 20 ALLOWED USES UNDER THAT ZONING CATEGORY. ONE OF THE USES THAT WAS PROHIBITED IS AUTOMOTIVE WASHING, JUST VERY SIMPLY PUT THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE EXISTING ZONING, WHICH IS COMMERCIAL SERVICE WAS A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY AND MODIFY THAT CONDITIONAL OVERLAY BY ALLOWING ADDING IN THE USE THAT IS BEING SOUGHT, WHICH IS AUTOMOTIVE WASHING. THAT'S THE CHANGE IN THE REQUEST. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO YOU WAS TO DENY THAT REQUEST. AND THEREFORE THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TO SUPPORT THE CHANGE IN ZONING.

>> MS. CROCKER?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU BOTH ARE ON.

>> THANK YOU, MY NAME IS SARAH CROCKER, I AM HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT THE APPLICANT IN THIS APPLICATION. AS MRS. GLASGO STATED THIS SITE IS ALREADY ZONED CS. [INAUDIBLE].

>> THE SITE IS LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN GREEN, IT IS LOCATED JUST TO THE WEST OF THE Y IN OAK HILL. IT IS IN THE BARTON SPRINGS ZONE, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT IN THE RECHARGE AREA. IT IS IN THE ZONE, BUT IT IS MONTH NOT IN THE RECHARGE AREA. THIS SITE WAS PLATTED AND SITE PLANNED IN 1991 FOR A GRASS PLANT NURSERY. AND I HAVE A COPY OF THAT PARTICULAR SITE PLAN RIGHT HERE, ALTHOUGH IT IS UPSIDE DOWN. THIS PARTICULAR SITE WAS NEVER BUILT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE SINCE WE WERE SCHEDULED FOR COUNCIL LAST IS WE DID SUBMIT TO STAFF ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A 1704. WE DID NOT RECEIVE AN OFFICIAL DETERMINATION, BUT IT WAS THE -- IT WAS THE OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE THAT SHOULD THIS SITE COME IN FOR THIS USE OR ANY OTHER, THAT IT WOULD RECEIVE A 1704 DETERMINATION IN ALL PROBABILITY BACK TO 1991. MY CLIENT, AND HIS ARCHITECT, BASICALLY WHEN THEY FILED THIS CASE, THEY CAME IN AND THEY DID ALL OF THE RIGHT THINGS. THEY WENT AND MET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THEY TALKED TO ALL OF THE SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS, AND BASICALLY THEY GOT THE SUPPORT OF -- OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THEY DID THEIR PLANS, THEY VISITED WITH EVERYBODY. THE SCENIC BROOK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, I THINK THAT YOU HAVE A COPY OF IT IN YOUR BACKUP, STATE THAT THEY WOULD NOT OPPOSE THIS CASH WASH AS LONG AS IT WAS CONSTRUCTED TO BE BUILT IN THIS MANNER, MORE OF A RESIDENTIAL KEEPING MASON AREA WITH THE GABLED ROOF. THEY -- MY CLIENT, THE GENTLEMAN WHO IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BUILD THIS PROJECT, OWNS AND OPERATES CAR WASHES ALL OVER AUSTIN. WHEN THEY WENT TO PLANNING COMMISSION UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF THE INFORMATION I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY WAS NOT MEANTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. I THINK HAD IT BEEN PRESENTED TO PLANNING COMMISSION THE OUTCOME MAY HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT. CAR WASHES AS A GENERAL RULE HAVE BEEN VIEWED AS POLLUTERS, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THEY ARE GENERALLY EXCLUDED FROM THE PERMITTED USE LIST. AND SINCE THEY HAVE RETAINED ME, I WENT OVER AND VISITED AND SPENT SOME TIME WITH ALL OF THE FOLKS AT THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE DEPARTMENT AND FOUND OUTLET A LOT OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CAR WASHES SIMPLY AREN'T TRUE. CAR WASHES ARE REQUIRED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS PART OF THE EPA RULES TO STALL A GREASE INTERCEPTOR, THIS IS CONNECTED INTO THE SANITARY SEWER. IT IS NOT CONNECTED AND NONE OF THE RUNOFF GOES INTO THE STORM SEWER WHICH IS COMMONLY BELIEVED. THESE INTERCEPTORS ACTUALLY WORK AND MUST WORK TO THE SAME LEVEL THAT A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE IS HELD TO. IN OTHER WORDS THE TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS OR TSS CAN'T EXCEED 200. THAT'S THE SAME AS IT IS FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE. THE WATER IS THEN AFTER IT GOES INTO THE INTERACCEPT TORE, DISCHARGED AND TAKEN TO THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT. ALL OF THESE INTERACCEPT TORES HAVE A SAMPLE PORT ON THEM TESTED BY THE INDUSTRIAL WITH WAIST DEPARTMENT AND IF -- IF THERE'S ANY EXCEEDING OF THAT TSS OR THOSE LEVELS THERE ARE FINES THAT CAN BE ASSESSED, THEY COULD ACTUALLY COME OUT AND SHUT THAT PARTICULAR FACILITY DOWN UNTIL THEY FIND OUT WHAT THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS. IN ADDITION TO THIS, MY CLIENT INSTALLS LARGE MUD PITS INSIDE EACH ONE OF THE CAR WASHES AND THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THEY WERE LIKE FOUR FEET DEEP, FOUR TO EIGHT FEET DEEP. BASICALLY YOU HAVE THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PROTECTION FOR ALL OF THE RUNOFF IN THESE CAR WASHES, INTO THE DRAINS, THEN IT GOES INTO THE MUD PITS, IT'S THEN TAKEN TO THE INTERCEPTOR, THEN IT GOES TO THE SANITARY SEWER. SO THE MISCONCEPTION THAT ALL OF THE RUBOFF FROM A CAR WASHINGS INTO EITHER A THE POND OR INTO THE STORM SEWER SIMPLY ISN'T THE CASE. THE OTHER THING THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED IS THAT OAK HILL, AS YOU KNOW, IS RECENTLY UNDERGOING ROADWAY EXPANSION WITH THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT. THE ONLY SELF SERVICE WAR CASH IN OAK HILL IS BEING LIMITED OF CONDEMNATION. THERE IS A -- ONE OF THOSE CAR WASHES WITHIN A GAS STATION -- GAS STATION WHERE YOU CAN PULL IN AND RUN IT THROUGH. THERE IS ONE OF THOSE, BUT NO SELF SERVICE CAR WASH IN OAK HILL ANY LONGER F.YOU DON'T HAVE THESE KINDS OF FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE, WHAT DO THEY DO? THEY ARE GOING TO WASH THEIR CAR IN THEIR DRIVEWAY OR IN THE STREET AND ALL OF THE CHEMICALS, RUNOFF, GREASE, EVERYTHING THEY USE TO CLEAN THE CAR IS GOING TO GO RIGHT DOWN INTO THE STORM SEWER WHICH IT WHERE WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE. THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP MY PRESENTATION, THANK YOU.

>>WYNN: MAYOR PRO TEM?

>>WYNN: MS. CROCKER, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FRANKLY THE DEBATE AT PLANNING COMMISSION REALLY DIDN'T FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF A CAR WASH. I'M -- I'M LED TO BELIEVE THAT REALLY THE DEBATE FOCUSED ON I GUESS THE PATRONS OR SOMEHOW, YOU KNOW, NOT ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS, NEGATIVE ASPECTS APPARENTLY OF A SELF SERVICE CAR WASH. CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT? IS THAT TRUE?

>> WELL, MY CLIENT COULD PROBABLY ANSWER THAT BETTER. I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS MS. BAKER SUGGESTED WAS THAT THEY HAVE A 24 HOUR ATTEND DLANT ON THE SITE. I'M NOT AWARE OF A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CLIENTELE OR THE PATRONS THAT MIGHT COME TO THIS PARTICULAR KIND OF USE. PAUL? NO. NO.

>>WYNN: THANK YOU.

>> HE'S TALKING ABOUT PATRONS. YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE CLIENTELE THAT MAY COME TO THIS PARTICULAR KIND OF A FACILITY?

>>WYNN: I WAS TOLD APPARENTLY THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT OF THE SELF SERVICE CAR WASH -- I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHY THERE WAS A NEGATIVE VOTE AT PLANNING COMMISSION. I WAS ASSUMING IT WAS BASED ON SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES LIKE MUD PITS OR THE FALSE PERCEPTION THAT PERHAPS THE WATER GOES INTO THE STORM SEWER, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THAT IN FACT WASN'T THE DEBATE. IT WASN'T THE RATIONAL FOR THE DENIAL.

>>GOODMAN: IF I COULD JUMP IN.

>> PLEASE DO.

>>GOODMAN: HI, MAYOR. I THINK ORIGINALLY THE REASON FOR THE PROHIBITED PARTICULAR AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES WAS ENVIRONMENTAL. AND NOT EVEN THINKING TOO MUCH ABOUT CAR WASHES BECAUSE THEY WERE STARTING TO BE COMPLETELY NO DISCHARGE AT THAT TIME. BUT WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT, WHICH I THINK YOU WERE IN THE NOTES FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS THE MENTION OF HOW SOMETIMES FOLKS TEND TO HANG OUT AT A PLACE LIKE A CAR WASH AFTER HOURS.

>> YOU ARE CORRECT MAYOR PRO TEM. I'M LOOKING AT THE MINUTES. THE ONLY THING IT TALKED ABOUT PATRONS WAS COMMISSIONER BAKER'S COMMENT WHICH I WAS REFERENCING EARLIER, CAR WASHES SEEM TO DRAW GROUPS IN THE EVENING, ACTIVITIES NOT RELATED TO CAR WASHES. SHE SUGGESTED THEY BE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN ATTENDANT ON THE PREMISES. BUT IN THE MINUTES THAT WAS THE ONLY REMARK THAT WAS MADE ABOUT PATRONS WERE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO A CAR WASH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE ONLY HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. MR. WYATT, DO YOU NEED TO SPEAK?

>> YES, I DO.

>>MAYOR WATSON: PLEASE COME FORWARD. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THIS ITEM? ANYONE ELSE THAT MAY NOT HAVE SIGNED A CARD WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THIS ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ALL RIGHT, MR. WYATT.

>> I AM TREY WYATT, I'M AN AUSTIN BORN RESIDENT, BARTON SPRINGS SWIMMER. I HAVE SERVED THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS A PRESIDENT OF THE XERISCAPE, ON THE COUNCIL OF TEXAS, ALSO THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY. I'M THE FOOL THAT DID THE ZONING ORIGINALLY, PROBABLY DIDN'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO PLAN IT FOR A LANDSCAPE NURSERY AND TO GET THAT I HAD TO GET CS-CO -- OR CS ZONING TO DO AN AGRICULTURAL USE. I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE STUCK WITH GR, BUT AT THE TIME I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO BE MOVING THE GRASS BUSINESS THERE, BUT NOW I'M ON 290 WEST AND THAT'S WHERE I HAVE MY BUSINESS. THIS PROPERTY IS IN THE MIDDLE OF -- IT'S A FIVE ACRE TRACT ORIGINALLY, THERE'S 1.95 ACRES SEPARATED FROM IT. THREE ACRES DOWN THE WAY THAT ARE -- I MEAN IT'S 800 FOOT OF FRONTAGE BASICALLY ON THIS PROPERTY ON 290 WEST. THIS IS THE ONLY USE THAT I CAN IMAGINE THAT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON WATER QUALITY. JUST LIKE MS. CROCKER WAS SAYING, THERE'S A LOT OF APARTMENTS IN THOSE AREAS. WE ARE GETTING READY TO LOSE OUR CAR WASH THAT WE HAVE NOW. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW THIS AREA OF TOWN, BUT THE CITY, THERE'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY OF SOME CITY ELEMENT HANGING OUT, I HAVE PROBLEMS AT SOME OF MY BUSINESSES UP BY A GROCERY STORE WHERE WE HAVE PANHANDLERS AND THINGS. THE BIGGEST THING THAT I WOULD SAY IS WITH -- IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS THING, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS WHEN THE CAR WASH IN OAK HILL GOES AWAY, ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE APARTMENTS ON MONTERREY OAKS, WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER SPRAYOFF CAR WASH WITHIN PROBABLY TWO OR THREE MILES OF THIS AREA BECAUSE I DO BUSINESS OUT THERE, HAVE FOR 17 YEARS. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THOSE PEOPLE, THE BIGGEST POLLUTION THING THAT WE ARE FIGHTING WITH OUR WATER QUALITY ISSUE IS PHOSPHORUS, TYPICALLY THAT COMES FROM ANIMAL WASTE, IN EAST TEXAS WE ARE HAVING A BIG PROBLEM UP THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN WITH THE LITTLE BRAZOS RIVER, ALSO FROM DETERGENTS FROM CAR WASHES, I MEAN FROM CAR WASHES BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WASH THEIR LAUNDRY IN THEIR DRIVEWAY, BUT THEY WASH THEIR CAR. THEY DON'T WASH THEIR DOG, WELL, THEY MAY WASH THEIR DOG. BUT ANYWAY THE BOTTOM LINE IS ALL OF THE RUNOFF IS GOING INTO THE STORM SEWER F.WE DON'T HAVE THIS, THE PEOPLE THAT WASH THEIR BOATS COMING FROM LAKE TRAVIS, THEIR CATTLE TRAILERS COMING FROM DRIPPING SPRINGS ARE BASICALLY JUST GOING TO WASH IT OFF WITHIN THE EDWARD'S AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE I'M FIGURING. SO -- SO WHAT I AM SAYING IS THIS ACTUALLY SHOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE, I MEAN A POSITIVE NET EFFECT ON THE WATER QUALITY FOR THAT AREA. AND -- AND AS FAR AS THE ZONING GOES, WITH NO AUTO USES, WHAT WAS DONE IN '91 OR '92, IS WE HAVE A BUNCH OF USED CAR LOTS IN OAK HILL. AND THAT'S WHAT THEY REALLY DIDN'T WANT ANY MORE OF AT THAT TIME. THAT WAS -- IT WAS A REAL WEIRD SITUATION, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO ME BECAUSE I WANTED A NURSERY THERE. [BUZZER SOUNDING] NOW, MR. --

>> THANK YOU, MR. WYATT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: APPRECIATE IT. MS. CROCKER YOU ARE ENTITLED TO REBUTTAL IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED IT. ALL RIGHT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY GRIFFITH OR WYNN OR SOMEBODY. ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, OPPOSED NO. MOTION CARRIES, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. COUNCIL, WHAT'S YOUR WISH? DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THIS OR JUST DOES SOMEBODY HAVE A MOTION? WIN WIN I WILL --.

>>WYNN: I WILL MOVE APPROVAL OF STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION TO APPROVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, IS THERE A SECOND?

>>ALVAREZ: SECOND.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. ANY DISCUSSION?

>>GOODMAN: YES, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ABOUT THE ISSUE THAT WAS RESPONDED TO, IN FACT, TO MS. BAKER'S QUESTION OF THE PLAYING, THAT WAS ABOUT SECURITY. THAT THERE WOULD BE A -- WOULD BE A 12 HOUR SECURITY SET UP? AM I TALKING TO -- IS THERE SOME OTHER KIND OF SECURITY, SOME DIFFERENT KIND LIKE A CRUISE BY OR SOMETHING THAT COULD BE --

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>GOODMAN: OR OPERATIONS COULD BE STOPPED AND.

>> MY NAME IS PAUL DENUCHI, I'M THE DEVELOPER. AT ALL OF MY CAR WASHES WE HAVE A DIGITAL CAMERA SECURITY SYSTEM THAT CAN BE VIEWED OFF-SITE. IN ADDITION WE ALWAYS ASK THE POLICE TO -- TO MAKE NIGHTLY ROUNDS THROUGH THERE.

>>GOODMAN: OH, OKAY. OKAY. WELL, I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THAT. BUT ACTUALLY I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS BECAUSE THERE WAS THE CO, AND AS HAS BEEN SAID A COUPLE OF TIMES, IT DIDN'T REALLY HAVE MUCH TO DO WITH CAR WASHES, I'M SURE, BECAUSE EVEN THEN THEY WERE STARTING TO BE TOTALLY NON-DISCHARGE AND RECYCLING EVERYTHING AND CATCHING ALL OF THE TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS, ALL OF THAT, BUT THAT WAS AGREED TO ORIGINALLY AND -- AND I DON'T KNOW FOR ME AT MY ADVANCED AGE, NOW 11 YEARS DOESN'T SEEM LONG ENOUGH TO BE -- FOR THE SITUATION TO HAVE CHANGED ENOUGH. SO --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. -- COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: YES. IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD DO 24 HOUR ON-SITE? YOU DO HAVE SECURITY ON SITE 12 HOURS? RIGHT? WHAT -- I -- LET ME ASK THIS OPEN ENDED. WHAT'S THE PROGRAM FOR SECURITY FOR THE 12 HOURS?

>> THAT IS AN ATTENDANT WHO IS WORKING WITH THE AUTOMATIC CAR WASH AND CLEANING FACILITY, JUST LIKE THE ONE THAT YOU AND I ARE INVOLVED WITH ON FIFTH STREET

>>GRIFFITH: ON FIFTH STREET. WHAT HOURS ARE THOSE 12 HOURS?

>> WELL, IF IT'S NOT A RAINOUT, IT'S BASICALLY 7:00 TO 7:00.

>> 7:00 TO 7:00.

>> THE FACILITY IS OPEN AFTER THAT.

>> IT'S WHAT AFTER THAT?

>> OBVIOUSLY THE FACILITIES ARE OPEN 24 HOURS.

>>GRIFFITH: BUT THERE'S NOBODY, NO ATTENDANT FROM 7:00 P.M. TO 7:00 A.M..

>> NO, WE DO NOT HAVE AN APARTMENT OR ANYTHING AT THESE BUSINESSES.

>>GRIFFITH: IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE COULD DO SECURITY BETWEEN 7:00 P.M. AND 7:00 A.M.? SINCE IT'S OPEN.

>> BEING A 25 CENT QUARTER BUSINESS, WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THAT WORK UNLESS WE RAISED OUR RATE SUBSTANTIALLY. OUR CAR WASH ASSOCIATION WE DO DISCUSS THAT BECAUSE DONNA DUKES, IF YOU REMEMBER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, HAD -- DAWNNA DUKES HAD BROUGHT UP A BILL IN THE SENATE TO REQUIRE THAT. IT WAS DEFEATED. BUT -- BUT THE COST RAMIFICATIONS FOR THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COULD THAT

>>GRIFFITH: HOW MUCH OF -- WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE INCOME FROM YOUR CAR WASH IS -- COMES IN BETWEEN 7:00 P.M. AND 7:00 A.M.?

>> IN THE SUMMER, IT'S QUITE HIGH BECAUSE OF OUR HOT WEATHER IN AUSTIN. BUT WINTER MONTHS IT'S PROBABLY LESS THAN 10%.

>>GRIFFITH: IN THE WINTER MONTHS. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT'S OPEN FROM 7:00 P.M. TO 7:00 A.M. WITH NO ATTENDANT. IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN. NOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN. I HAD AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE SAND PIT, WHICH I HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE IN. SO I THINK THAT'S TAKEN CARE OF. THE PRESIDENT SAFETY CONCERN IS NOT YET.

>> COUNCIL WOMAN GRIFFITH, IF I COULD, WE ARE ONLY UP FOR FIRST READING TODAY. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DO IS PERHAPS VISIT WITH MR. DENUCHI, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF FACILITIES HE'S GOT ON SITE AND PERHAPS BE ABLE TO COME BACK WITH A -- WITH A SECURITY PLAN OF SOME TYPE FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING. IF I COULD DO THAT.

>>GRIFFITH: A PLAN FOR 24 HOUR SECURITY?

>> WE CAN -- THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN DISCUSS WITH HIM. I THINK HE'S RIGHT. I THINK THAT IT MAY BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE 24 HOUR PAID HUMAN BODY SECURITY. BUT WE -- IF YOU CAN TELL ME ABOUT THE HOURS THAT YOU ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT AS FAR AS FROM A SECURITY STANDPOINT, IF IT'S DURING THE EVENING HOURS OR IF IT'S DURING THE DAY

>>GRIFFITH: RIGHT. AND HE DID SAY IN THE WINTERTIME AT LEAST 10% OF THE BUSINESS IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

>> RIGHT. IT'S REALLY -- REALLY SLACKS OFF DURING THE WINTERTIME. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT. I DON'T THINK IT'S FINANCIALLY FREEZIBLE FOR HIM TO HAVE 24 HOUR -- FEASIBLE FOR HIM TO HAVE 24 HOUR AROUND THE CLOCK SECURITY. IF YOU COULD GIVE ME INSTRUCTIONS ON THE HOURS OF THE DAY THAT YOU ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT TO HAVE A PHYSICAL PRESENCE THERE

>>GRIFFITH: I HOPE THIS IS NOT AN INVASIVE QUESTION. HOW MUCH DOES AN ATTENDANT COST?

>> WELL, YOU CAN COUNT ON IT WOULD COST MINIMUM WAGE, OTHER THAN THAT I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO ME RIGHT NOW.

>>GRIFFITH: DID OUR OUR APPLICANT SAY HE WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR WASH ON FIFTH STREET?

>> I BELIEVE HE DID.

>> WHAT'S THE ADDRESS?

>> 1516 FIFTH STREET

>>GRIFFITH: I'M GOING TO NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF.

>> OKAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER BEING SHOWN VOTING NO. ITEM NO. 56.

>>GRIFFITH: MAY I SHOW MYSELF AS --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU ARE SHOWN RECUSING YOURSELF, ITEM NO. 56.

>>GOODMAN: MAYOR, I DIDN'T ACTUALLY SAY ANYTHING, SO I GUESS THAT I SHOULD BE ABSTAINING.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. THIS IS FIRST READING, --.

>>GOODMAN: THIS IS FIRST READING, RIGHT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: PARTICULARLY SINCE EVERYBODY IS DROPPING OFF. FIRST READING ONLY. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER IS SHOWN VOTING NO. MAYOR PRO TEM IS SHOWN ABSTAINING. AND COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH IS SHOWN RECUSING HERSELF. MS. GLASGO, ITEM NO. 56.

>> ... AND I'LL RESPOND TO QUESTIONS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. WHEN YOU COME FORWARD, LET US KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ALSO ABOUT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

>> MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PRO TEM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS RICHARD BURRATTI AND MY FAMILY OWNS THIS PROPERTY LOCATED AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THORNBERRY ROAD AND HIGHWAY 71 EAST. WE ARE IN FAVOR OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. WE WERE IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH ALL ASPECTS OF IT. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS PROPERTY MEETS THE PURPOSE OF INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL ZONING THAT SHOULD BE LOCATED ON MAJOR ARTERIALS AND HIGHWAYS. THE -- COUPLE THINGS. WHEN THE HIGHWAY IS EXPANDED, THIS PROPERTY WILL NO LONGER HAVE HIGHWAY FRONTAGE. IT WILL ONLY HAVE FRONTAGE ROAD FRONTAGE. AND WE FEEL THAT THE 25-FOOT VEGETATIVE BUFFER ON THE FRONT WILL DECREASE VISIBILITY FOR THOSE BUSINESSES AND IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR A FRONTAGE ROAD. WE ALSO FEEL THAT THE SETBACK REQUIREMENT, WHICH IS FOUR TIMES THE CODE MANDATED COMPATIBILITY SETBACK, IS -- DON'T FIT THE APPLICATION FOR THIS PROPERTY. DOUBLING IT, GOING TO 50 FEET, WE FELT WAS APPROPRIATE. AND THE -- WITH RESPECT TO THE C.S. ZONING VERSUS THE GR, IN ALMOST EVERY CASE WE ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE GR ZONING, BUT WE THINK THIS LOCATION LENDS ITSELF TO SOME TYPE OF WAREHOUSING OR FREIGHT FORWARDING GIVEN ITS LOCATION TO THE AIRPORT. AND WE WOULD LIKE YOUR APPROVAL OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. BURRATTI AT THIS TIME? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THIS ITEM? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON ITEM NO. 56? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? COUNCIL, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. IS THERE A SECOND?

>>ALVAREZ: SECOND.

>>MAYOR WATSON: DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. COUNCIL, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION -- WITH REGARD TO ITEM 56. COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: I MOVE APPROVAL OF STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION IS BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ TO APPROVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON ITEM NO. 56. LET ME ASK A QUICK QUESTION. MS. GLASCO, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT CAN BE PASSED ON ALL THREE READINGS? DO YOU HAVE THE ORDINANCE?

>>GLASGO: NO, WE DO NOT HAVE AN ORDINANCE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT PASSES ON FIRST READING ONLY. ITEM NO. 59.

>>GLASGO: ITEM 59 IS CASE NO. C14- -- 00-2160. THIS CASE IS LOCATED AT 810 AND 812 CAPITAL COURT T APPLICANT IS SEEKING CHANGE FROM SINGLE-FAMILY 3 TO MULTI-FAMILY 2 WITH CONDITIONAL OVERLAY OVERLAY. THE PARTLY CLOUDY RECOMMENDATION IS DENY THE REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT. STAFF, ON THE OTHER HAND, DOES RECOMMEND THE ZONING CHANGE. I'LL LET THE APPLICANT MAKE THE PRESENTATION AND STAFF WILL RESPOND TO QUESTIONS.

>> MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, MY NAME IS MIKE MCHONE. I REPRESENT THE OWNERS, WHICH IS DAN DAY. I WOULD REACH BACK HERE AND GET MY SPEECH FOR YOU. THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED ON A SMALL STREET IN NORTH AUSTIN JUST NORTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF 51ST AND LAMAR AND GUADALUPE. IS A STREET THAT HAS, AS YOU SEE IN YOUR PACKET, A LARGE AMOUNT OF STATE DEVELOPMENT AROUND IT. THE EAST END OF THE TRACT WHICH RUNS TO LAMAR IS ALL COMMERCIAL. THE SITE IS JUST NORTH OF THE APPROVED TRIANGLE PARK. AT VACANT TRACTS OF LAND, THEY'VE BEEN VACANT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. ADJACENT, AS YOU CAN SEE BY YOUR ZONING METABOLISM IN YOUR PACKET, ADJACENT TO COMMERCIAL CAR USAGE ON BOTH THE -- ACROSS THE STREET, THE EAST END OF THE PROPERTY AND THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, ALL COMMERCIAL. AND IT IS ZONED SF-3. WE WOULD LIKE TO BUILD ACCORDING TO THE STAFF -- IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION A MF 2 PROJECT RESTRICTED TO FOUR UNITS. WHEN THE OWNER FIRST APPROACHED ME HE ASKED THAT HE BE ABLE TO BUILD SOMETHING LIKE A DUPLEX. THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO. AS YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, WE WOULD BUILD FOUR DOORS. WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL ON THE SITE OF BUILDING THIS PROJECT WITH A SITE PLAN THAT WOULD BE -- MEET THE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS. CAN THEY SEE THAT? NOT VISIBLE. SORRY. SO IT WOULD BE A FOUR DOOR BRICK FRONT, WINDOWS, PARK IN FRONT. IT WOULD SOLVE ALL THE PARKING, HAVE A COMPATIBILITY BUFFER, AS REQUIRED, AND ONLY BE FOUR UNITS ON THIS SITE. THE PROPERTY IN THE AREA, IT'S A 1916 SUBDIVISION. ONE BLOCK LONG. CUL-DE-SAC. WITH MIXED ZONING AND MIXED USE. PREDOMINANTLY THE REMAINING HOUSES ON IT HAVE BEEN -- ARE RENTAL PROPERTIES. THERE ARE A FEW PROPERTY OWNERS. THE PLAN IS TO BUILD THIS AND SELL THESE AS TOWN HOME UNITS SIMILAR TO MANY OF THE TOWN HOME UNITS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. HOPEFULLY IT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE -- AND WE BELIEVE IT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE SMART GROWTH EFFORTS OF THE CITY ON URBAN INFILL. AND WOULD BE AN ADDITION, A POSITIVE ADDITION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS THAT ARE -- EXIST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE FEEL THAT BY BUILDING THIS PROJECT WE STOP THE ENCROACHMENT OF THE COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE ZONING INTO THE AREA BY BUILDING A NICE RESIDENTIAL ADDITION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE HAVE MET WITH THE NEIGHBORS. WE HAVE SOME OF THEM THAT HAVE COMPLIED WITH AND SUPPORT US. WE HAVE SOME STILL THAT DO NOT. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM DO SUPPORT US. AND YOUR LETTERS IN YOUR PACKET REFLECT THAT SUPPORT. I WILL LET THE OPPOSITION SPEAK AND THEN I WILL HAVE SOME COMMENTS IN CLOSING. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. MART I, WILL YOU LOOK AND SEE WHO SIGNED UP?

>> I'M SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU ALL WERE STILL LOOKING TO SEE WHO ELSE WAS SIGNED UP.

>>GOODMAN: I HAVE DANIEL DAY, CHRISTIAN FLAT AND ERIC HIGHSAW. WAS THAT YOU?

>> NO.

>>GOODMAN: ARE YOU ANY OF THOSE?

>> I'M KRISTIN FLAT. ZM OH, I'M SORRY. THOSE ARE THE THREE CARDS THAT THAT WOULD BE THE ORDER OF SPEAKING. DANIEL DAY, MR. DAY, IS DONATING HIS TIME.

>> MR. DAY IS THE OWNER AND HE IS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE AT 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON. HE HAS TO PICK UP HIS KIDS AT DAY CARE SO HE SIGNED UP TO GIVE ME HIS TIME IF I NEEDED IT, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>> KRISTIN, YOU ARE THE FIRST, AND THEN AIR HYZOG. IS HE HERE? HE CAN BE READY.

>> WE ALSO HAVE A THIRD SPEAKER THAT JUST CAME IN. HE MUST HAVE JUST SIGNED UP. CURTIS BARKER.

>>GOODMAN: DID YOU SIGN A CARD?

>> NO, I DIDN'T. [INAUDIBLE].

>>GOODMAN: JUST SIGN A CARD AND WE'LL STICK IT IN HERE AND YOU WILL BE -- THANK YOU.

>> WE'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL OF THE MEETINGS AND WE ALWAYS COME UP SO LATE SO WE WERE SURPRISED HOW FAST THIS CAME UP. I'LL GET STARTED BY SAYING -- I'M NOT THE GREATEST SPEAKER SO I HAD TO WRITE IT OUT. I WANT TO START OUT BY SAYING WE WERE NOT OPPOSED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAND AT 810 AND 812 CAPITOL COURT. WE WELCOME THE IDEA OF SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, COMPLETING THE STREET BEING BUILT THERE, BUT WE THINK THESE LOTS ARE TOO SMALL TO DOUBLE THE CAPACITY OF LIVING SPACE FOR MANY REASONS WHICH ARE UNIQUE TO A NARROW NON-THROUGH STREET. PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY LIVE THERE, WE'RE THE ONES THAT DEAL WITH THIS DAY TO DAY AND IF YOU HAVE NEVER LIVED ON A NARROW STREET THAT'S A DEAD END YOU MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN THIS WAY. OUR DESIRES IS THAT THE OWNER WOULD BUILD ONE HOUSE PER LOT AS ALLOWED UNDER THE PRESENT ZONING. CAPITAL COURT IS A NARROW STREET AND THE RAFK IS ALREADY PRETTY HEAVY. THE COMMERCIAL TRUCKS OFTEN BLOCK AND SOMETIMES THESE SAME TRUCKS GET STUCK WHEN THERE ARE TOO MANY CARS PARKED ALONG THE SIDES OF THE STREET BLOCKING EVEN MORE TRAFFIC FROM ENTERING OR EXITING THE STREET. CONCENTRATING MORE HOUSING AND MORE PEOPLE ON THESE TWO LOTS WOULD IN WAY CREATE A BUFFER AS ALLEGED BY THE OWNER BETWEEN THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL ZONES. IT WOULD ONLY INCREASE TRAFFIC JAMS. IN ADDITION TO TRAFFIC, WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT PARKING FOR THESE ADDITIONAL PROPOSED UNITS. EVEN IF THERE WERE RESTRICTION PUT ON HOW MANY CARS ALLOWED PER UNIT, AND THE PARKING LOT THEY PLAN TO BUILD, THERE'S STILL THE QUESTION OF FRIENDS AND VISITORS AND WHERE THEY WILL PARK. THE PROPOSED PLAN FOR REZONING WOULD INCLUDE A PARKING LOT WHICH WOULD HELP BUT IT WOULD CREATE ANOTHER ONE RELATED TO DRAINAGE. THERE IS ALREADY A DRAINAGE PROBLEM WITH THESE PROPERTIES. THE NATURAL FLOW OF THE BROWNSTONE APARTMENTS DIRECTLY NORTH OF CAPITAL COURT DIRECTS ITS EXCESS RUNOFF ON TO THESE LOTS. AFTER A HEAVY RAIN THESE LOTS ARE FILLED WITH TWO TO THREE INCHES OF STANDING WAER AND SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCE THIS IN THEIR YARDS. FMF 2 ZONING WOULD RACE THIC FROM THE 45 ALLOWED UNDER THE SF-3 ZONING. FROM THE PLANS WE VIEWED, WHICH THEY ARE NOT IN STONE, THEY HAVEN'T PRESENTED US ANY PLANS OF WHAT THEY ACTUALLY PLAN TO DO. THEY'VE GIVEN US IDEAS OF OTHER PROJECTS THEY'VE DONE. SO FROM THE PLANS WE VIEWED, THE PAVEMENT WOULD BE EXTENSIVE. AND IT WOULD LEAVE ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF GREEN SPACE TO ABSORB DRAINAGE, THEREFORE DIVERTING WATER ELSEWHERE CAUSING FLOODING ALREADY NOTICEABLY AT THE EAST END OF THE STREET. THE RESIDENTIAL PART OF CAPITAL COURT HAS BEEN ZONED SF-3 FOR REASONS WE ARE CONSENT AND AGREE WITH. CAPITAL COURT IS A NIR NARROW STREET WITH NO ALLEYWAYS OR ANY OTHER OUTLET TO LAMAR, A BUSY STREET. AND IN THIS -- [BUZZER SOUNDS]. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. AND THE THIRD SPEAKER IS CURTIS BARKER. THANK YOU.

>> HELLO, I'M IRK HYZOG. I WOULD LIKE TO PICK UP WHERE KRISTIN LEFT OFF. OUR STREET IS A SMALL STREET AND IT OPENS ON TO LAMAR WHICH IS OUR ONLY ENTRANCE OR EXIT. IT'S HALF A BLOCK MAYBE SOUTH OF THE LIGHT AT 51ST STREET. IF YOU ARE TAKING A LEFT OFF OUR STREET THE ONLY CHANCE YOU HAVE IS PRETTY MUCH WHEN THERE IS A RED LIGHT AT 51ST. SO IF WE INCLUDED FOUR MORE UNITS ON TWO LOTS, WHICH IS ALREADY OVERCROWDING AND UNCHARACTERISTIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT WOULD BE THE CHANCE OF EIGHT MORE RESIDENTS ON OUR BLOCK WITH EIGHT MORE VEHICLES DRIVING THEIR CARS TO WORK. AND IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN GOING NORTH OFF OUR STREET. AND THEN YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THERE'S NOT A TURN-AROUND UNTIL YOU ARE ALREADY TO 45TH STREET. SO FOR US TO HAVE A TURN-AROUND TO GO RIGHT, TO GO NORTH, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO AT LEAST SEVEN TO TEN BLOCKS TO DO THAT. I THINK OUR STREET IS ALREADY PRETTY MUCH FULL TO CAPACITY. YOU KNOW, IF THEY CHOOSE TO DEVELOP THESE OTHER TWO SMALL LOTS WITH SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES, IT WOULD PROBABLY STILL BE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR OUR STREET, BUT AT LEAST IT WOULD BE CHARACTERISTIC AND CONTINUING WITH THE ZONING THAT'S ALREADY EXISTS. I DON'T REALLY SEE -- THE PLANNING COMMISSION ALREADY DENIED THIS AND I DON'T REALLY SEE WHAT MR. MCHONE HAS SAID THAT WOULD MAKE THIS TYPE OF REZONING A BENEFIT TO THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE ON CAPITAL COURT. AND ALSO IF THEY WERE TO BUILD EXPENSIVE TOWN HOMES THAT WERE NOT CHARACTERISTIC WITH OUR STREET, THAT COULD CHANGE THE PROPERTY VALUE AND TURN THE PROPERTY TAXES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON OUR STREET, WHICH IT'S NOT A WEALTHY TOWN HOME STYLE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S A SINGLE FAMILY HOMEWORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THOSE ARE JUST A FEW POINTS I WOULD LIKE TO ADD. I'LL LET CURTIS SPEAK NOW.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU.

>> I'M CURTIS BACKER. I LIVE ON CAPITAL COURT, WHICH IS WITHIN EYESIGHT OF THE TWO LOTS WHICH THEY PLAN ON DEVELOPING. AND REALLY I'M HERE JUST BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED. I MEAN WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY DEFINITE PLANS GIVEN TO US WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, WHICH SHOW THE TYPE OF BUILDING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PUT THERE. EVERYTHING IS VERY TENTATIVE. YOU KNOW, SF-3, SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES WOULD BE FINE. MOST OF THE NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE ON THE STREET AGREE THAT A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME ON BOTH THESE LOTS WOULD BE WONDERFUL. I MEAN IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN HAVING THE EMPTY LOTS THERE. AND MIKE AND DANIEL DAY THEY WANT TO BUILD THESE MONSTROSITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THERE AND MOST OF THE NEIGHBORS DISAGREE WITH THAT. AND ALSO, THERE IS A PROBLEM AS WAS MENTIONED BY KRISTIN AND ERIC THAT THE DRAINAGE ON THOSE TWO LOTS IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE. WHENEVER IT RAINS, THERE'S TWO OR THREE INCHES OF STANDING WATER ON THE LOTS. AND THAT WILL HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED WHETHER IT STAYS SF-3 OR MF 2 BECAUSE IT'S REALLY A PROBLEM AS IT STANDS. AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I WANT TO STATE THAT WE'RE NOT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT. I MEAN WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOME NICE THREE-BEDROOM, TWO-BATH HOMES GO IN THERE. AND BEYOND WHY THAT CAN'T BE -- I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT CAN'T BE DONE. THANK.

>>GOODMAN: THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT I HAVE CARDS FOR. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO HAD WANTED TO SIGN UP AND SPEAK? THEN I'LL ASK FOR REBUTTAL.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. WE WANT TO BUILD A NICE PROJECT. WE WANT THIS TO BE A NICE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. AND LOOKING AT THE RISK INVOLVED AND THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THE SITE, WE DECIDED THAT IT COULD NOT BE DEVELOPED BASED UPON THE FACT THAT I'LL PASS AROUND PICTURES NOW, WHAT WE HAVE ACROSS -- THESE ARE THE LIGHTS AT NIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, BESIDE, US DOWN THE STREET TO THE EAST OF THE INTRAMURAL FIELD. BUT THE AREA, TO TAKE THE RISK AND TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT THE NEIGHBORS INDICATE, WHICH ARE THE DRAINAGE, THE LACK OF PARKING, MOST OF THE HOUSES -- AND IF FACT THAT THERE IS NOT A TURN-AROUND SPACE. BY DEVELOPING ON THE LOTS THAT WE ARE AT WITH A DRIVEWAY IN, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A TURN-AROUND SPACE PRIOR TO GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN THE CUL-DE-SAC. WE WILL PROVIDE ONSITE PARKING FOR OUR RESIDENTIAL USES. WE WILL PROVIDE THE BUFFER. BECAUSE IT IS ZONED FIVE-DAY FORECAST, WE WILL HAVE TO GO -- MULTI-FAMILY, WE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH A SITE PLAN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. THAT WILL REQUIRE THAT WE DO THE EXPENSIVE -- DEAL WITH THE EXPENSIVE PROBLEM OF HANDLING THE DRAINAGE THAT EXISTS AS A PROBLEM FROM THE RUNOFF ON THE APARTMENTS TO THE NORTH OF US. IF WE DO NOT HAVE A SINGLE-FAMILY -- IF WE HAVE A SINGLE-FAMILY ONLY DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO SITE PLAN. THEREFORE WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH THE ENGINEERING AND DEAL WITH THE DRAINAGE. BECAUSE WERE WILLING TO DO THAT, AND IT IS A PROBLEM FOR NOT ONLY THIS TRACT BUT OUR NEIGHBORS AND WE WANT TO SOLVE IT FOR EVERYONE, WE HAVE AGREED TO ENTER INTO A COVENANT WITH THEM THAT WE WILL SOLVE THAT PROBLEM AND TAKE CARE OF THE DRAINAGE. AND BE ABLE TO FIX THAT PROBLEM, PARK ALL OF OUR CARS, MOST OF THE CARS ARE DOUBLE PARKED ON VERY NARROW DRIVEWAYS FOR THE OTHER HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE ALREADY EXISTING DUPLEXES, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT ON DUPLEX-SIZE LOTS. WE DO NOT WISH TO DO THAT. WE WISH TO HAVE THE PROPER ZONING FOR WHAT WE WANT TO BUILD. WE PLAN TO BUILD PROPERTIES THAT RANGE IN PRICE FROM ABOUT 160 TO 170 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THESE ARE 1400 SQUARE FOOT UNITS APPROXIMATELY. THAT'S ALL THE LAND THAT'S THERE. THEY WILL BE IN THE AVERAGE PRICE, AS YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN TUESDAY'S PAPER, OF 156, 7 WAS ABOUT THE ROUND NM OF THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A HOME IS. SO WE ARE BUILDING HOMES THAT ARE AVERAGE PRICE IN THE INNERCITY ON LAND THAT IS VACANT, THAT ALREADY HAS UTILITIES THAT IS CORRECT IS SERVING AS A BUFFER BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORS, THE C.S. ZONING AND THE SF 36789 URGE YOU TO SUPPORT IT. STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU.

>>ALVAREZ: QUICK QUESTION.

>>GOODMAN: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: YOU DID MENTION DO MREKZ AND THIS TYPE, BUT YOU DIDN'T WANT --

>> CAN'T DO DUPLEXES BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE 50 SQUARE FEET OF LAND. THE DUPLEX REQUIRES 7,700 SQUARE FEET. RATHER THAN ASK FOR A -- YOU CAN'T ASK -- THIS IS THE ZONING THAT ALLOWS US TO BUILD THE DUPLEX KIND OF UNITS. BUT THAT'S -- SO WE HAD TO GO TO THE MF 2. BUT RESTRICTED TO THE FOUR UNITS.

>>WYNN: MAYOR PRO TEM?

>>GOODMAN: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>WYNN: ACTUALLY I HAVE A MOTION, BUT THEN I PRESUME IF I GET A SECOND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT, A DISCUSSION POINT.

>>GOODMAN: I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS TOO.

>>WYNN: MOVE APPROVAL OF STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

>>GOODMAN: THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A SECOND?

>>THOMAS: SECOND.

>>GOODMAN: SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>WYNN: THANK YOU. THIS IS A SITUATION THAT, FRANKLY, THIS COUNCIL HAS HAD A COUPLE OPPORTUNITIES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS TO ADDRESS, AND I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT PERHAPS WE HAVEN'T DONE THE BEST JOB WE COULD HAVE. THESE ARE TWO SINGLE-FAMILY LOTS THAT ARE SURROUNDED ON THREE SIDES BY COMMERCIAL. THERE WOULD BE A VERY LEGITIMATE REZONING CASE IN THE FUTURE IF SOMEBODY WERE TO COME FORWARD AND WANT THESE PROPERTIES ZONED COMMERCIAL. THEY ARE SURE ROUBED ON THREE SIDES BY COMMERCIAL. AND ALSO WE HAVE THE SITUATION WHERE WE'VE HAD BEDROOM RECENTLY WHERE WE HAVE COMMERCIAL BUTT UP AGAINST SINGLE-FAMILY. SF-3 OR EVEN 1. AND THAT I THINK IS INAPPROPRIATE. THE REASON WHY WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ZONING CATEGORIES ON THE BOOKS IS IN FACT FOR US TO FIND APPROPRIATE BUFFERING BETWEEN GENERALLY SINGLE-FAMILY AND MORE INTENSE USES. MF 2 IS ONE OF MANY APPROPRIATE ZONING CATEGORIES THAT CAN ACTUALLY BUFFER COMMERCIAL, JUST SINGLE-FAMILY. IN THIS CASE I THINK BY APPROVING THE REZONING TO MF 2 WE ACTUALLY STOP THE POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL CREEP. THIS OBVIOUSLY WILL BE A HEAVILY INVESTED MULTI-FAMILY PROJECT. IT'S NOT LIKE THIS SITE WILL THEN BE PURCHASED FOR COMMERCIAL AT SOME LATER POINT. SO-AND THEN LASTLY, I THINK THE ISSUE OF WE NEED MORE HOUSING UNITS IN OUR CENTRAL CITY. THIS IS A GOOD CENTRAL LOCATION. ULTIMATELY WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE, THERE'S GOING TO BE FOUR UNITS BUILT OVER TWO LOTS. THAT APPROXIMATELY EQUIVALENT TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO ALL OVER THE CENTRAL CITY BY ALLOWING GRANNY FLATS AND GARAGE APARTMENTS. ESSENTIALLY WE ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO CREATE A SITUATION WHERE WE GET TWO UNITS ON A SINGLE-FAMILY LOT WITH THE GARAGE APARTMENTS AND GRANNY FLATS PROCEDURES. SO ESSENTIALLY WE ARE TRYING TO GET IN MANY, MANY CASES, MANY, MANY AREAS, TWO UNITS ON A SINGLE LOT. SO ESSENTIALLY WE ARE -- BY DOING THIS, AND I THINK IT'S A VERY LOW DENSITY MULTI-FAMILY, WE GET FOUR UNITS ON TWO LOTS. WE STOP THE POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE COMMERCIAL CREEP INTO THIS EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD. AND MF 2 CAN BE USED HERE VERY APPROPRIATELY AS A BUFFER BETWEEN COMMERCIAL ON THREE SIDES, BUTT UP AGAINST A SINGLE-FAMILY. SO I'M VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME CLARIFY THE MOTION. COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, WE NEED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I'M ASSUMING YOUR MOTION IS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN APPROVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

>>WYNN: THANK YOU. YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNTY, WAS THAT YOUR SECOND? -- ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION STAFF, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW -- OH, GEORGE IS HERE. THANK YOU. RELATIVE TO THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE ABOUT THE STREET CAPACITY, IS THIS STREET AT CAPACITY? OFTENTIMES WE THINK A ROAD IS REALLY OVERLOADED AND THE CAPACITY, THE DESIGN CAPACITY IS MUCH LARGER THAN WE HAD EVER DREAMED.

>> COUNCILMEMBER, THE -- I'M SORRY, MAYOR PRO TEM, THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE IS THAT THE CURRENT TRAFFIC IS ABOUT 3500 TRIPS PER DAY. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S BASED UPON AN ACTUAL COUNT OR JUST AN ESTIMATE. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF COUNTS ON SMALL STREETS LIKE THIS SO THAT MAY SIMPLY BE AN ESTIMATE BASED UPON TYPICAL TRIP GENERATION FACTORS. IF THAT NUMBER IS CORRECT, IT WOULD BE A FAIRLY HIGH VOLUME FOR A STREET OF THIS TYPE. THERE WAS NO -- THE CAPACITY REALLY WOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE ABILITY OF CARS TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. THE STREET CAN HANDLE THAT VOLUME OF TRAFFIC, BUT THE INTERSECTION IS THE LIMITATION AND WE DID NOT HAVE A TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS IN THIS CASE SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT INFORMATION. THE -- IN THE CURRENT SF-3 ZONING WOULD BE EXPECTED TO GENERATE ABOUT 20 TRIPS PER DAY. AND THE APPLICANT'S IF IT'S LIMITED TO FOUR UNITS WOULD BE NOT MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT. IT WOULD BE PERHAPS 30 TO 35 TRIPS PER DAY. SUE THERE WOULD NOT BE A BIG DIF FRENS IN THE TRIP GENERATION.

>>GOODMAN: OKAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT, DO WE HAVE A REGIONAL DETENTION POND AROUND THIS AREA ANYWHERE? AND WE NEED TO REFRESH FOR SOME FOLKS THE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS ABOUT RUNOFF AFTER DEVELOPMENT VERSUS BEFORE DEVELOPMENT, PLUS IMPROVEMENT ON THE DRAINAGE AND THAT'S WHAT LED ME TO THE DO WE HAVE A REGIONAL DETENTION.

>> THIS IS CLOSE TO THE TRIANGLE TRACT AND I KNOW IN THAT CASE DISCUSSION WAS TO CREATE A POND THAT WOULD CATCH ADDITIONAL WATER. I DON'T THINK THERE'S A REGIONAL DETENTION FACILITY CLOSE BY. BUT WE CAN CONFIRM AND VERIFY THAT AND COME BACK FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING. I CAN RESPOND TO YOUR SECOND QUESTION, BUT TYPICALLY WHEN DEVELOPMENT OCCURS, IF YOU TAKE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS UNDEVELOPED, THAT THE INTENT IS WHEN A SITE PLAN IS DESIGNED, THAT THE RUNOFF IS NO MORE THAN IT WAS BEFORE DEVELOPMENT. SO WHAT HAPPENS, WHEN YOU PRESENT A DEVELOPMENT, THE AMOUNT OF WATER, THE QUANTITY OF WATER CAPTURED THAT GOES INTO A POND, THE WATER IS RELEASED AT THE SAME REASON IT WOULD FALL AND BE RELEASED PRIOR TO DEVELOPMENT. SO THAT'S WHAT THE DETENTION POND WOULD DO AT THE TIME OF SITE PLAN DEVELOPMENT.

>>GOODMAN: WELL, AND MAYBE BEFORE WE GO FOR ZONING, THE OWNER OR THE APPLICANT CAN BRAINSTORM AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY ENHANCEMENT WITHOUT -- I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU WILL HAVE ROOM FOR A POND EXACTLY, BUT THERE MAY BE SOME WAY TO REROUTE OR TO SLOW DOWN THE FLOW, THE VOLUME. HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THAT AT ALL YET?

>> I MIGHT RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION, MAYOR PRO TEM. WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF ENGINEERING AND I'VE CARRIED AWAY MY DRAWING, BUT IN THE SETBACK, WE WILL BE SETTING THE PROJECT BACK ON THE PROPERTY AWAY FROM THE STREET. WE HAVE A VERY SMALL WINDOW OF ABOUT 40 BY 80 THAT WE WILL HAVE TO BUILD IN THE BUILDING SITE. THE FRONT OF THAT, WHICH IS ON THE DOWNHILL SIDE AND COMMERCIAL SIDE, THERE IS ROOM AROUND AN EXISTING PECAN TREE THAT WE PLAN TO SAVE ON THE SITE THAT WOULD BE USED FOR A DETENTION POND AS REQUIRED UNDER THE SITE PLAN PERMIT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH FOR THIS PROJECT. SO THAT -- BUT WE WON'T GET TO THAT UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE HAVE A ZONING CASE THAT ALLOWS US TO GET THERE.

>>GOODMAN: MAYBE BETWEEN NOW AND FINAL READING YOU CAN MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND GET THEIR INPUT ON WHERE THE FLOW COMES, WHERE THE STANDING WATER COMES FROM AND MAYBE YOU CAN WORK OUT AT LEAST CONCEPTUALLY.

>> MR. DAY HAS JOUBD US AND WE HAVE -- JOINED US AND WE HAVE SUBMITTED A FILE TO GO IN THE FILE FOR THAT PURPOSE.

>>GOODMAN: THERE'S ONE MORE THING I WOULD LIKE YOU ALL TO CONSIDER. IT HAS TO DO WITH AT ANESTHETICS AND DESIGN. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE IS SOMETHING OF THE THE CULTURE AND CHARACTER OF A NEIGHBORHOOD EVEN WHEN DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS ON VACANT LOTS OR WHAT HAVE YOU. CAN YOU TALK WITH THEM ABOUT ANY KIND OF DESIGN ASPECTS, MATERIALS OR DESIGN TREATMENT?

>> WE PLAN TO DO THAT. IT IS A FAIRLY ECLECTIC NEIGHBORHOOD NOW. AND WE WILL PLAN TO DO THAT. THERE ARE TWO OR THREE TWO-STORY BUILDINGS ALREADY ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE'S DETACHED GARAGE APARTMENTS THAT ARE -- I MEAN GARAGES WITH A UNIT LIVING ABOVE THEM THAT ARE THERE. SO WE WILL ABOUT DOING AND TRY TO MAKE A NICE, APPROPRIATELY DESIGNED PROJECT.

>>GOODMAN: WELL, OKAY.

>> AND WE WILL MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AGAIN BEFORE SECOND AND THIRD READING.

>>GOODMAN: GREAT. WELL, I PLAN TO VOTE ON FIRST READING FOR THIS, BUT I WOULD BE REALLY CURIOUS TO KNOW ABOUT THE DRAINAGE AND THE CULTURE AND THE CHARACTER ASPECTS BEFORE I VOTE FURTHER.

>> WE WILL DO THAT.

>>GOODMAN: THANKS, MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION?

>>GRIFFITH: YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.

>>GRIFFITH: THANK YOU. I'M READING THE BACKUP FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION. COMMISSIONER HEIMSTAFF SAID HE BELIEVES THAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE NEGATIVE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT SAYS, "IF THIS IS EVER AN ILLUSTRATION THAT LONG, NARROW CUL-DE-SAC LOT SUBDIVISIONS HAVE PROBLEMS, THIS IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN." I KNOW HE'S NOT HERE, BUT WHAT DID HE MEAN BY IF THERE WAS EVER AN ILLUSTRATION OF WHY YOU DON'T DO CUL-DE-SACS, THIS IS IT. AND HE WAS THE PERSON WHO MADE THE MOTION TO DENY.

>> MY BEST ATTEMPT AT THAT MOTION OR DISCUSSION WOULD RELATE TO YOUR THROUGH STREETS, WITH YOUR CUL-DE-SAC OBVIOUSLY THE STREET DOES NOT GO THROUGH. AND THIS RELATES TO THE PROPOSAL THE PLANNING COMMISSION FARDED TO YOU REGARDING THE SUBDIVISION AMENDMENTS THAT SPEAK TO REQUIRING OR OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE TO DEVELOPERS AT INITIAL DESIGN STAGE OF SUBDIVISIONS TO DESIGN TO THE MOST EXTENT POSSIBLE THROUGH STREETS THAT DOT NOT TERMINATE WITH A CUL-DE-SAC THIS. IS AN EXAMPLE IF YOU HAVE A CUL-DE-SAC AND THE STREET DOES NOT GO THROUGH, I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT HE WAS SPEAKING TO GRIL I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER REFERENCE TO TRAFFIC I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ABOUT. IT SAYS THE NEIGHBORS WERE CONCERNED WITH PARKING FOR THE PROPOSED UNITS EVEN IF THERE WERE A RESTRICTION PUT ON AS TO HOW MANY CARS WOULD BE ALLOWED PER UNIT, THERE IS -- THERE ARE ALWAYS ALSO FRIENDS AND FAMILY COMING IN AND OUT, AND WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO PARK? IT WAS STATED THAT IT WOULD ALSO CREATE A PROBLEM WITH THE DRAINAGE, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS ALREADY A PROBLEM. AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE ALREADY TWO TO THREE INCHES OF STANDING WATER ON THIS PROPERTY WHEN IT RAINS HEAVILY. DO WE HAVE ANY VERIFICATION THAT THAT IS THE SITUATION OR JUST ANECDOTAL FROM FOLKS WHO LIVE AROUND THERE?

>>GLASGO: WE CAN CHECK THIS WITH THE WATERSHEDS -- WATERSHEDS DEPARTMENT TO FIND OUT WHETHER THERE IS A RECORD OF CONCERNS REGARDING STANDING WATER, AND WE CAN RESPOND TO THAT WHEN WE COME BACK FOR SECOND AND THIRD READINGS IN RESPONSE TO MAYOR PRO TEM'S QUESTION REGARDING THE EXISTENCE OF A REGIONAL DETENTION POND IN THE AREA, IF ANY. SO WE CAN DO THAT. NOW, PARKING, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE MULTI-FAMILY ZONING, A SITE PLAN WILL BE REQUIRED AND WITH A SITE PLAN THE APPLICANT HAS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THERE IS ENOUGH CAPACITY FOR ONSITE PARKING. SO THE FACILITY, THE FOUR UNITS NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH PARKING ON THE SITE OR SEEK A VARIANCE FROM THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT TO RELIEF THEM OF THE NEEDED PARKING. OBVIOUSLY IT'S HARD TO LIMIT PARKING FOR VISITORS. WHILE YOU MAY HAVE THE REQUIRED PARKING ONSITE EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU MAY HAVE AN OVERLFOW AND THOSE WHO VISIT HAVE TO PARK ALONG THE STREET, AND THAT IS A RESTRICTION THAT WOULD BE HARD TO ENFORCE.

>>GRIFFITH: I UNDERSTAND IT WOULD BE HARD TO ENFORCE. I'M ALSO LOOKING AT A LETTER FROM THE BRENTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. IT SAYS, "WE ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH SEVERAL NEARBY HOMEOWNERS WHO FEEL THE LOTS IN QUESTION ARE TOO SMALL FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. WE SUPPORT THE HOMEOWNERS ON CAPITAL COURT WITH THEIR EFFORTS TO DEFEAT THIS ZONING REQUEST." IS BRENTWOOD THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THAT APPROPRIATELY COMMENTS?

>>GLASGO: I'M LOOKING THROUGH MY LIST OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND I -- THERE ARE SEVERAL. BRENTWOOD IS ONE OF SIX NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT CLAIM BOUNDARIES TO THIS TRACT.

>>GRIFFITH: IS IT CLOSE? I GUESS I SHOULD GET --.

>>GLASGO: IT WOULD BE CLOSE BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE BOUNDARIES. THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY IS INCLUDED HAD THE OVERALL BOUNDARIES FOR THAT AREA.

>>GRIFFITH: FOR BRENTWOOD?

>>GLASGO: CORRECT.

>>GRIFFITH: TELL ME ABOUT THE ON AGAIN, OFF AGAIN VALID PETITION. I NOTICE HERE THAT THE -- THE NEIGHBORS ARE SHORT IT LOOKS LIKE .6666 ADD INFINITUM PERCENTAGE TO HAVE A VALID PETITION. AND AT ONE TIME HAD ONE. AND NOW THEY ARE .666 OF A PERCENTAGE POINT OFF OF -- SHORT OF THAT.

>>GLASGO: THAT'S CORRECT. THERE WAS A WITHDRAWAL AND THAT BROUGHT THE PERCENTAGE BELOW THE 20% THAT IS REQUIRED TO MAKE IT VALID.

>>GRIFFITH: THAT'S PRETTY CLOSE.

>>GLASGO: YES, IT IS.

>>GOODMAN: ARE THERE MORE QUESTIONS OF ALICE?

>>ALVAREZ: HI A QUESTION OF MR. MCHONE. THIS IS A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT ELEMENTS TO IT AND I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THIS, BUT THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT INTERESTING -- OR KIND OF AN INTERESTING DECISION HAS TO DO OBVIOUSLY WITH THE COMMERCIAL ON ONE SIDE, MULTI-FAMILY ON THE BACK SIDE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM MENTIONED IS ABOUT TRYING TO KEEP WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE PROPOSED DESIGN, I MEAN HAVE YOU THE FOUR UNITS ACROSS THE FRONT THAT WAY WHICH DOESN'T REALLY RESEMBLE ANY KIND OF SINGLE-FAMILY KIND OF DEVELOPMENT. BUT WHAT I'M WONDERING, DID YOU CONSIDER LIKE DOING FOR TWO OF THE UNITS FACE THE STREET AND TWO OF THE UNITS MAYBE ARE IN THE BACK SO IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE SOMETHING THAT IS MAYBE LARGER THAN IT IS.

>> WE WILL EXPLORE ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS. WE ARE -- WE'RE TRYING TO PRIORITIZE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE WANT TO TRY TO SOLVE. THE DRAINAGE WE THINK IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN EXPRESSED TO US BY ALL THE NEIGHBORS AS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO SOLVE. SO WE WILL BE WORKING AND ADJUSTING OUR SITE PLAN BASED UPON SOLVING THE PRIORITY OF PROBLEMS, THE DRAINAGE, THE -- AND THE PARKING AND THEN THE DESIGN ELEMENTS. WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE HERE IS A CONCEPT DESIGN OF THE TWO-STORY BUILDING, WALK-UP WITH PARKING IN FRONT. AND WE WILL TRY TO DO THAT. I BELIEVE WE HAVE CONVINCED THE MAJOR PROPERTY OWNER THAT HAD SIGNED THAT PETITION TO SUPPORT US. I UNDERSTAND HE'S NOT HERE TODAY, BUT WE WILL ALSO HAVE THAT INFORMATION IN YOUR FILE FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.

>>ALVAREZ: THANKS.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, THEN MAYOR PRO TEM. COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, THEN MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GRIFFITH: OKAY. I AM COMPLETING SUPPORTIVE OF INFILL AND OF THE NEED TO HAVE -- TO HAVE MORE DENSITY IN THE CENTRAL CITY. I KNOW THIS AREA PRETTY WELL. I AM UP AND DOWN LAMAR QUITE A BIT AND QUITE FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THESE PROPERTIES THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED. WE NEED TO HAVE SOME EQUITY WITH THE DENSITY THAT WE'RE LOADING IN AND I KNOW THIS AREA AND THEY ARE DOING THEIR PART IN TERMS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE PER SQUARE FOOT ARE GOING TO BE THERE AND WHEN THE TRIANGLE GOES IN THEY WILL BE DOING EVEN MORE OF THEIR SHARE. THE DRAINAGE IS A CONCERN. THE PARKING IS A CONCERN. THE TRUCK TRAFFIC THAT I KNOW IS THERE IS A CONCERN. THE VALID PETITION BEING SO CLOSE IS ALSO A CONCERN. AND THE DESIGN. SO I'LL NOT BE -- I'LL BE GOING WITH THE BRENTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD SORTION AND THE NEIGHBORS AND NOT ON THIS ROUND BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: THANKS, MAYOR. I'M COMING AT IT FROM THE SAME ANGLE ONLY WITH A DIFFERENT VOTE. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS IF IN BETWEEN NOW AND SECOND AND THIRD MEETING -- READING, SORRY, THE DEVELOPER AND HIS REP CAN MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD -- ARE YOU ALL MEMBERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION? OR ARE YOU -- OH, GOOD. THEN MAYBE THERE CAN BE A MEETING WHERE EVERYBODY IS THERE AND TALK ABOUT THE DRAINAGE ISSUES, NO. 1, BUT ALSO THE APPEARANCE, THE AESTHETICS, THE DESIGN ISSUES. BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND THAT'S PART OF OUR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY ISSUES AS WELL. CHARACTER AND CULTURE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. SO AT THE TIME OF SECOND AND THIRD READING, MAYOR, COULD WE MAYBE ALLOCATE A THREE-MINUTE SLOT AT THAT TIME FOR A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO TELL US HOW OR WHAT OR WHETHER ANY DISCUSSIONS WERE FRUIT FULL? BECAUSE FOR SECOND AND THIRD READING, WHICH IS WHEN IT BECOMES FINAL, THIS TIME IN BETWEEN WILL GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW IF WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH PASSING IT OR NOT. FIRST READING DOES NOT PASS IT. THANKS, MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE'LL DO THAT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH VOTING NO. ITEM NO. 60. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, ON ITEM 60 THE APPLICANT HAS ASKED FOR A POSTPONEMENT AND THAT IS OPPOSED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IS THIS A FIRST REQUEST FOR A POSTPONEMENT?

>>GLASGO: THIS IS THE SECOND REQUEST. I BELIEVE FROM THE APPLICANT. AND THE APPLICANT'S AGENT IS UNABLE TO BE HERE. HE HAD ASSUMED THAT THE CASE WOULD BE POSTPONED AND HE'S NOT HERE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WHO IS HERE IN OPPOSITION? I'M GOING TO APPEAL TO YOU. SINCE WE'VE GOT AN APPLICANT WHO IS NOT HERE, IT PUTS -- I KNOW IT'S AN INCONVENIENCE TO YOU ALL, BUT IT PUTS THE COUNCIL IN KIND OF A BAD SITUATION WHERE WE WOULD ONLY BE HEARING ONE SIDE OF THE CASE.

>> MAY I SPEAK AGAINST THE --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WELL, YOU ARE GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO DO THAT. MY QUESTION IS IF WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT IF NOBODY IS HERE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE TAKING ANY ACTION. MY GUESS IS THAT AS A MATTER OF FAIRNESS, IF THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION AND THE APPLICANT IS NOT HERE, THAT AS A MATTER OF FAIRNESS THE COUNCIL IS NOT GOING TO WANT TO HEAR ONE SIDE AND VOTE ON SOMETHING. WE TYPICALLY TRY TO HEAR BOTH SIDES. SOME OF -- SOME ACCUSE US OF NOT LISTENING, BUT WE TRY TO HEAR BOTH SIDE. WHY WOULD THE APPLICANT FEEL SO SELF ASSURED THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE A HEARING?

>>GLASGO: I'M NOT CERTAIN ABOUT THAT AT ALL. THERE IS A VALID PETITION AND IT ASKS FOR ADDITIONAL TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE ASPECTS OF THE PETITION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FOLKS, WHAT I'M GOING TO SUGGEST, AND IF THERE IS OBJECTION FROM COUNCIL, I'LL HEAR THAT, IS THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY SPECIFICALLY TALK TO THE APPLICANT BY TELEPHONE OR IN PERSON AND ASSURE THAT THE APPLICANT BE HERE NEXT WEEK AND TAKE THIS UP AS THE FIRST ITEM NEXT WEEK ON ZONING. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO US HANDLING IT THAT WAY? YES, MA'AM.

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>> I TOOK THE DAY OFF BECAUSE I WANT TO BE REPRESENTED HERE AND IT'S REAL HARD FOR ME TO THAT AND IT'S A REAL BURDEN ON MY -- [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE'LL BE HAPPY -- I'M SORRY?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE RULES THAT --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WELL, SPECIFICALLY WE CALL A PUBLIC HEARING, WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. BUT IF -- YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE HERE NEXT WEEK?

>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC ON].

>>MAYOR WATSON: WITH EVERYBODY'S PERMISSION, WHY DON'T YOU MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION. WE WILL CONSIDER THAT AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE'LL CALL ATTENTION TO IT NEXT WEEK. IF THE APPLICANT IS NOT HERE, THEN -- MA'AM, YOU WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED THE SAME WAY IF FOR SOME REASON YOU WEREN'T HERE. WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD AND WE'LL HEAR THAT AND PROVIDE YOU YOUR THREE MINUTES AND THEN WE WILL MOVE TO POSTPONE THIS FOR ONE WEEK. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND SPEAK.

>> I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. I'VE NEVER SPOKEN AT A COUNCIL MEETING. I'M VERY UNFAMILIAR WITH YOUR SYSTEM, BUT I FEEL FORTUNATE TO BE GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I KNOW MY-CLARK THOMAS AND MY BOSSES WILL BE QUITE THANKFUL AS WELL. I DON'T REALLY HAVE A PREPARED -- ANYTHING PREPARED, BUT I WILL SAY THAT JUST TO MAKE A FEW GENERAL POINTS. I THINK OUR BLOCK IS VERY SHORT. WE LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS VERY DIVERSE. IT'S MADE UP OF MOSTLY RATHER SMALL SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND STREETS. FLETCHER IS A VERY SHORT BLOCK. WE ARE CLOSER TO THE SECOND STREET SIDE, BUT IT'S SO SHORT THAT THAT REALLY PUTS US WITHIN ONLY A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET OF THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION. AND THAT'S PRETTY CLOSE, YOU KNOW, PROXIMITY. I THINK MOST OF THE HOMES ARE PROBABLY AROUND 1200 SQUARE FEET. THAT'S PRETTY SMALL TOO. WE'RE -- I THINK THAT ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS TO MAKE AGAINST THIS, I'M NOT AGAINST PEOPLE DEVELOPING THEIR PROPERTY. I'M NOT AGAINST BUSINESSES GOING FORWARD WITH PLANS THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO, YOU KNOW, THEIR CUSTOMERS AND TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT WE ALREADY HAVE TWO BUSINESSES ON THE END OF OUR STREET, OF OUR VERY SHORT BLOCK. WE'VE GOT A CAR WASH AND WE'VE GOT A CAR REPAIR SHOP T CAR WASH IS ON OUR SIDE AND IT'S COMPLETELY IMPERVIOUS COVER ALREADY. THERE'S A SMALL BUFFER OF GREENERY BETWEEN THE HOUSE THAT'S IN QUESTION AND THE CAR WASH AND THE BACK PARKING LOT OF LITTLE MEXICO, AND I THINK IF YOU CLOSE THE BACK OF THAT PROPERTY OFF AND USE IT AS PARKING LOT OR WHATEVER, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MAJOR IMPERVIOUS COVER SITUATION GOING THERE WITH NEXT TO THE NEXT FAMILY RESIDENCE AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU USE IT FOR A PARKING LOT, YOU ARE GOING TO GET A LOT OF WHAT YOU GET WITH CARS, EXHAUST AND OIL AND DRAINAGE AND ALL THAT STUFF. THAT'S GOING TO MAINLY BE HEADING INTO OUR PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M AGAINST THIS KIND OF ENCROACHMENT ESPECIALLY IN THIS SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD SETTING, PARTLY BECAUSE I THINK IT WORKS AGAINST THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF SMART GROWTH. I MEAN I THINK WE NEED TO INCREASE, NOT DECREASE THE -- AS SOMEBODY EARLIER PUT IT, THE INFILL OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES WITHIN THE CITY. ESPECIALLY WITHIN A PLACE LIKE WHERE WE ARE WHICH IS PRETTY CENTRAL CITY EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A LITTLE BIT SOUTH. WE'RE PRETTY CENTRAL COMPARED TO SUBURBIA NORTH AND SOUTH. I THINK WHETHER OR NOT IT TURNS OUT TO BE A PARKING LOT SITUATION, I DON'T WANT TO SEE THE ENCROACHMENT OF TOO MUCH IMPERVIOUS COVER AND MORE BUSINESS USAGE INTO OUR SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD SETTING. ALREADY WE'RE RIGHT ON TOP OF THE FIRST STREET CORRIDOR AND THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF ALONG THERE ALREADY THAT ALSO -- ALSO FINALLY, WE HAVE A YOUNG FAMILY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE FAMILY PRESENCE THERE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL CONSIDER THAT SINCE YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO BE HERE NEXT THURSDAY.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING. WHAT I WAS PLAY WG FOR A MOMENT WAS BECAUSE THERE IS A VALID PETITION AND WE HAVE SOME COUNCILMEMBERS THAT HAVE A RULE ABOUT HOW THEY WILL VOTE ON VALID PETITIONS, BUT IT'S ONLY 22% SO IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH. WHEN DID THE VALID PETITION COME IN?

>>GLASGO: THE PETITION HAS INCREASED SINCE YOUR LETTER. TO 27%, ALMOST 28. AND --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WHEN DID IT COME IN?

>>GLASGO: ON TUESDAY. FOR THE ADDITION. BUT WE'VE HAD THE FIRST PART OF THE PETITION CAME IN EARLIER, BEFORE THE SECOND TIME AROUND. I DON'T THINK I HAVE THE IMPACT DATE HERE, MAYOR, BUT WE CAN GET IT TO YOU.

>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, IT WAS VALIDATED ON TUESDAY AT 22.3%. THERE WERE ADDITIONAL NAMES THAT WERE ADDED YESTERDAY AND IT'S GONE UP TO 27. IN ADDITION WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE BOLD INCREEK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN WRITING THAT THEY WERE OPPOSED AS WELL. I THINK THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF ADDING NAMES TO THE PETITION. SO THE NEXT TIME WE COME BACK NEXT WEEK --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT'S THE QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED TO COME BACK NEXT WEEK. COUNCIL, HERE'S ANOTHER OPTION. AND THAT OTHER OPTION IS THAT I GO AHEAD AND CALL THE PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE WE'RE NOT CERTAIN WHY THE APPLICANT IS NOT HERE AND IT IS A SECOND REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT. BASED UPON OUR PAST EXPERIENCE WITH REGARD TO VALID PETITIONS AND HOW COUNCILMEMBERS VOTE, THERE WOULD BE NO NEED TO PUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR OTHERS THROUGH IT AGAIN NEXT WEEK IF IN FACT -- IT WOULD JUST BRING EVERYBODY DOWN HERE TO SAY NOW THAT EVERYBODY IS HERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO FORWARD WIT. I GUESS WHAT I'M DOING IS I'M GOING TO SHIFT MY RECOMMENDATION AS A MATTER OF FAIRNESS AND I'LL RECOMMEND THAT WHAT WE DO IS GO AHEAD AND LET ME CALL THE PUBLIC HEARING. I'M NOT GOING TO ASK EVERYBODY TO TALK. AND THEN WE JUST VOTE ON THE ITEM. IS THERE OBJECTION TO THAT?

>>GOODMAN: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: NOT EXACTLY OBJECTION BECAUSE I THINK A CLEAR SIGNAL CAN EASILY BE SENT TO THE APPLICANT, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT, BUT GIVEN THAT IT WAS THE SECOND POSTPONEMENT REQUEST, THAT'S WHAT DOES GIVE ME COMFORT. ZOOF OKAY. WITH THAT I'M GOING TO CALL C14-00-2180 THE PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND CHAPTER 25-2 OF THE AUSTIN CITY CODE, THE PROPERTY LOCALLY KNOWN AS 607 FLETCHER STREET. WE HAVE HAD ONE PERSON SPEAK AND I WILL CONSIDER THAT PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? MA'AM, WE'RE GETTING READY TO VOTE IN YOUR FAVOR. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: YEAH, THE ONLY THING I WAS GOING TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF COUNCIL IS THAT OBVIOUSLY BY TAKING ACTION NOW, THEN THAT PROHIBITS THE APPLICANT FROM COMING BACK WITH ANY KIND OF PROPOSAL FOR -- WHAT IS IT 180 DAYS OR -- 18 MONTHS? IS THAT --.

>>GLASGO: THERE'S A PENALTY FOR THE APPLICANT EITHER WAY. WHETHER HE IF HE WITHDRAWS THE APPLICATION OR YOU TURN IT DOWN, HE CANNOT FILE A SIMILAR REQUEST FOR 18 MONTHS. ADDS ARIZONA SO REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE VOTE IT DOWN OR --.

>>GLASGO: CORRECT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. I'M SORRY, I NEED A MOTION. I NEED A MOTION.

>>GOODMAN: CLOSE --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE'VE ALREADY CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A MOTION?

>>GOODMAN: MOTION TO DENY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM NO. 60. AND IT IS DENIED.

>>GOODMAN: MAYOR, FOR CLARIFICATION, FOR THE APPLICANT FOR CLARIFICATION, ALICE, MAYBE REAL QUICK IN CASE HE WATCHES THIS RERUN, YOU CAN EXPLAIN ABOUT IF HE WERE TO HAVE A DIFFERENT ZONING REQUEST.

>>GLASGO: WE WILL EXPLAIN THAT, WE'LL CALL THE APPLICANT AND LET HIM KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND EXPLAIN THE EFFECT OF THE PENALTY FOR THE ACTION. ZOOF OKAY.

>>GOODMAN: THANKS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU CAN TELL YOUR FOLKS AT THE LAW FIRM APPARENTLY YOU DID SUCH A FINE JOB THAT -- ITEM NO. 67. COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. IS LET ME CALL THE HEARING. C14-00-22670. COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: THIS IS A ZONING ITEM ON EAST 7TH STREET AND I WAS WONDERING, ALICE, COULD YOU JUST GIVE US -- THE OVERVIEW OF WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED?

>>GLASGO: THE APPLICANT IS CHANGING FROM SINGLE-FAMILY 3 TO GRMUCO WHICH STANDS FOR COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL MIXED USE WITH A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY OVERLAY. THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION IS AN ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATION WHICH IS LIMITED OFFICE WITH A MIXED USE COMPONENT TO THE CASE. AND THAT PROPOSAL IS CONSISTENT WITH -- OFFICE USE AN ON POSE TO DO RETAIL USE THAT. WOULD BE THE MAIN DIFFERENCE.

>>ALVAREZ: MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATION FROM PLANNING COMMISSION DOES NOT NECESSARILY ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO DO WHAT HE INITIALLY INTENDED SO I WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT TO SEE, MR. HERNANDEZ, TO SEE HIS PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THIS IS PULLED FOR A DISCUSSION ITEM. WHY DON'T WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY MR. HERNANDEZ AND WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND VOTE ON IT. MR. HERNANDEZ.

>> YES, THANK YOU. YES, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROPERTY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. YOU KNOW, ACQUIRING IT AND CLEANING IT UP. THERE WAS A NUMBER OF ABANDONED BUILDINGS ON THERE. I HAVE CLEANED ONE UP TLAN IS ONE LEFT AND IT'S STILL SITTING AND WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO USE IT UNDER MY PROPOSAL. BUT WHAT I WAS WANTING TO DO WITH THIS SITE AND I DID BEFORE I WENT FORWARD ON THE ZONING RECOMMENDATION, WE DID SPEAK WITH ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY SUPPORTED A MIXED USE FOR THIS PROPERTY, A RETAIL OFFICE AND THEY ENCOURAGED I DO SOME KIND OF RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT AND IT WAS ALL VERY APPEALING TO ME WHICH I TOTALLY SUPPORT AND MOVE FORWARD ON IT AND AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO OPPOSITION AT ALL THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. AND AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION ONE PERSON SPOKE THAT THEY DID NOT WANT A -- THE TERM THEY USED WAS A HIGH MAINTENANCE USE LIKE AUTOMOTIVE SALES OR WHATEVER. AND BEING A LITTLE INEXPERIENCED THEY ASKED WHAT COULD -- YOU KNOW, I WAS EXPLAINING TO THEM THAT MY USE WAS MORE OF A LITTLE COFFEE SHOP, SANDWICH SHOP, I HOPE TO HOUSE MYSELF, I'M A REAL ESTATE AGENT, IN THIS LOCATION AND I HAVE SOME OFFICE AREA. SO THAT IS WHERE THE DISCUSSION WENT AND -- BUT I WOULD LIKE A RETAIL COMPONENT BECAUSE I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE AN ATTRACTIVE USE. I'M ABOUT A HALF A BLOCK FROM HUSTON TILLOTSON AND JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND I THINK A RETAIL COMPONENT LIKE I'M HOPING TO PUT IN, EITHER A COFFEE SHOP OR SANDWICH SHOP WOULD BENEFIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS, IF YOU GO DOWN 7TH STREET EAST OF I-35 THERE IS NO COFFEE SHOPS OR SANDWICH SHOPS. THERE ARE SOME RESTAURANTS. AND I WOULD HOPE TO MAKE THIS LITTLE BUILDING COMPUTER FRIENDLY WHERE THEY POSSIBLY CAN COME IN. BY MARKET ON THE RETAIL COMPONENT IS THE STUDENTS FROM THE HUSTON TILLOTSON AND THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

>>ALVAREZ: AND WHAT KIND OF ZONING DO YOU NEED NOD TO DO A COFFEE SHOP OR SANDWICH SHOP?

>>.

>>GLASGO: YOUR GR ZONING IS ONE THAT PERMITS IT OUT RIGHT WITH AN ONLY USE. SO THAT WOULD BE THE -- WHAT HE IS REQUESTING WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE DISTRICT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. HERNANDEZ. ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THIS ITEM? HEARD SHERD? HEARD SNERD? HEARD SNERD? KEEP IN MIND ORIGINALLY THIS WAS SET ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ENTERTAIN 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. COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: I'M GOING TO MAKE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE APPROVE THE STF RECOMMENDATION FOR THE GRMU BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR ARTERIAL AND THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT MR. HERNANDEZ IS TALKING ABOUT DO -- THE KIND OF COMMERCIAL AND MIXED IN WITH RESIDENTIAL AND POSSIBLY SOME OFFICE ARE SOME THINGS I WOULD THINK WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IN THAT CORRIDOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON FIRST READING. SEKED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. THEN MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GRIFFITH: MR. HERNANDEZ, COULD I ASK YOU ONE QUICK QUESTION? WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING SOUNDS VERY POSITIVE FOR THE WHOLE AREA. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A HUSTON TILLOTSON COLLEGE MASTER PLAN FOR THE AREA. HAVE YOU SEEN THAT?

>> I'VE NEVER HEARD OF IT. THAT QUESTION WAS ASKED OF ME AND I'VE ASKED AND I HAVEN'T HEARD OF A MASTER PLAN. I DO A LOT OF -- I AM A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AGENT AND I DO A LOT OF BUSINESS IN EAST AUSTIN AND HAVE I NOT HEARD THAT.

>>GRIFFITH: MAY I SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT?

>> I WOULD BE GLAD TO DO THAT. I HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: BETWEEN NOW AND SECOND AND THIRD READING, WHAT I'M HOPING IS THAT JOHN CAN THINK OF CONCEPTUALLY ONLY ACCESS ISSUES THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED AND MAYBE FRONT STREET SIDE BUFFERING FOR THE LADY WHO I THINK WAS THE ONE WHO CAME TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND MAYBE THAT'S WHAT SHE MEANT BY MAINTENANCE. SO MAYBE THERE IS ACCESS THAT COULD BE CONCEPTUALLY WORKED OUT SO YOU COULD TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN ALLEY BEHIND US WE COULD USE THAT TO BUFFER THE STREET ACROSS THE STREET.

>>GOODMAN: IF IT'S WIDE ENOUGH. I WAS JUST WANTING TO KNOW ABOUT A THIS.

>> WE HOPE TO USE THAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM 67. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECESS -- LET ME GO BACK ON ITEM NO. 47. -- 57. ON ITEM 57, JONATHANLY ON A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IT WOULD GO BACK THROUGH -- OR IT CAN GO BACK THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION. BECAUSE OF THE TIMING SITUATION WE HAVE SET UP IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS SOME LEVEL OF CONSENSUS ABOUT IT JUST COMING STRAIGHT BACK TO THE CITY COUNCILL. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ALONG THOSE LINES.

>>THOMAS: SO MOVED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. FOR CLARITY, STAFF IS BEING DIRECTED TO BRING IT BACK TO THE CITY COUNCILL. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECESS THE CITY COUNCILL FOR OUR LIVE MUSIC AND PROCLAMATIONS.

>>WYNN: SO MOVED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE IN RECESS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FOLKS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR OPERATIONS AND OUR LIVE MUSIC. AS I HAVE BEEN -- OUR PROCLAMATIONS AND LIVE MUSIC. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE TO DO, I HAVE EXPLAINED TO PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE A PROGRAM IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WHERE WE PROCLAIM EACH WEEK ONE OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY MAYOR FOR A DAY. THE WAY WE DO THAT IS WE HAD A COMPETITION, IF YOU WILL, WHERE WE ASKED YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER CENTRAL TEXAS TO WRITE ESSAYS ON WHY THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE MAYOR FOR A DAY. AND THEY WERE JUDGED IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, IT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO DO THAT. LET ME TELL YOU, WE GOT A LOT OF GRACE ESSAYS, IT WAS VERY HARD TO DECIDE WHO ALL GOT TO BE MAYOR FOR A DAY. THIS WEEK I'M PROUD TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION, STEP OVER HERE WITH ME. BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT I, KIR WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HERE BY PROCLAIM SARAH GAS I CAN'T AS MAYOR FOR A DAY IN AUSTIN. I CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THAT 10-YEAR-OLD SARAH IS IN FIFTH GRADE AT MOLLY DAWSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LIKES SCIENCE, SURFING THE INTERNET, CAMPING AND LEARNING ABOUT WILD ANIMALS. IN RECOGNIZING THAT AMONG HER FAVORITE THINGS ARE BIKE RIDING AND ICE SKATING, PLAYING WITH HER FRIEND JASMIN, ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT AUSTIN. IN RECOGNIZING THAT SARAH WANTS TO BE MAYOR FOR A DAY TO HELP LIMIT DEVELOPMENT OVER THE EDWARD'S AQUIFER, TO GET TO KNOW AN IMPORTANT PERSON, THE REAL MAYOR, THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY WHY SHE GOT PICKED, [LAUGHTER], BUT FLATTERY GETS YOU A LONG WAY, TO LEARN HOW TO BE MAYOR. SHE PROMISES TO WORK HARD AND BE A GREAT ASSISTANT. WE ARE PLEASED TO HONOR SARAH GARCIA AS MAYOR FOR A DAY AND ENCOURAGE HER TO CONTINUE HER INTEREST IN HER CITY AND ITS ENVIRONMENT TO WORK TOWARD HER GOAL OF MAYBE BEING MAYOR MORE THAN JUST ON ONE DAY. IT'S SIGNED BY ME, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, I'M PROUD TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MAYOR FOR A DAY, SARAH GARCIA. [APPLAUSE] PRESENCE PRESENCE AS I SAID, SHE'S GOING TO HELP ME WITH T PROCLAMATIONS AND SO LET'S GO TO THAT. OUR LIVE MUSIC TODAY, WE HAVE A REAL TREAT. OUR LIVE MUSIC IS KING DADDY'S TRAVELIN' CIRCUS AS PART OF KING DADDY'S TRAVELIN' CIRCUSES YOU HAVE STEVE, SONNY BISHOP, KEVIN, HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE THAT, STEADILY, ROB JONES, DAVID HIGHFILL. WITH FOUR SONG WRITERS AND VOCALISTS THEY HAVE CREATED A SOUND OF THEIR OWN. THEIR CURRENT PROJECT IS A SELF TITLED CD WHICH CAN BE PURCHASED AT WATERLOO AND TEENAGER RECORDS. IT'S WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT OUR MAYOR FOR A DAY IS GOING TO START WITH PROCLAMATION FOR ME.

>> BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT I, SARAH GARCIA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR TODAY DO HERE BY PROCLAIM MARCH 22ND, 2001, AS KING DADDY'S TRAVELIN' CIRCUS DAY IN AUSTIN.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN US 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. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, KING DADDY'S TRAVELIN' CIRCUS.

>> MAYOR, MAYORETTE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THANK YOU MUCH. I ALSO WANT TO SAY JOEY BORG IS IN THE BAND PLAYING LAP STEEL FOR US, HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY IT. [MUSIC PLAYING] (music) IF I SEE YOU TOMORROW, WILL YOU STILL REMEMBER ME? (music)(music). (music) IF I PLAY YOU A LOVE SONG, WILL YOU PLAY IT BACK TO ME? (music)(music). (music) ALL I EVER NEED IS YOU. (music)(music) (music) ALL I NEED TO MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE. ALL I'LL NEED, ALL I WILL EVER NEED IS YOU (music)(music). (music) WELL, IF THE SUN STOPS SHINING TOMORROW. (music)(music) (music) AND THE SKY FADED OUT TO BLACK. (music)(music) (music) IF THAT LIGHT SHINING IN YOUR WINDOW (music)(music). (music) WILL BE THERE TO BRING ME BACK. (music)(music) (music) ALL I'LL EVER NEED IS YOU. (music)(music) (music) ALL I'LL NEED TO MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE. (music)(music) (music) ALL I'LL NEED, ALL I'LL EVER NEED IS YOU (music)(music). (music) IF I HURT YOU, I'M SORRY. (music)(music) (music) MADE YOU CRY I'M SORRY, TOO. (music)(music) (music) DON'T KNOW THE REASON I DO THE THINGS I DO. (music)(music) (music) BUT I KNOW, YES, I KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU. (music)(music) (music) THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT PASSES (music)(music). (music) OR A NIGHT I DON'T DREAM OF YOU (music)(music). (music) DEEP INSIDE I'M SO LONELY (music)(music). (music) BABY, ALL I'LL EVER NEED IS YOU. (music)(music) (music) ALL I'LL EVER NEED IS YOU. (music)(music). ALL I'LL NEED TO MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE. (music)(music) (music) ALL I'LL NEED, ALL I'LL EVER NEED IS YOU (music)(music). (music) ALL I'LL EVER NEED IS YOU. (music)(music) (music) BECAUSE YOU MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE. (music)(music) [APPLAUSE]

>>MAYOR WATSON: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, KING DADDY'S TRAVELIN' CIRCUS DAY. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU MUCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WHERE CAN WE HEAR YOU.

>>> WE ARE PLAYING TONIGHT ATROPHY'S, OPENING UP FOR FREDDIE AND THE SHAKING APOSTLESES. MONDAY AT 6:00 PLAYING ATROPHYES AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU A WHOLE LOT. YOU ALL HAVE A NICE EVENING. PRESENCE PRESENCE PRESENTS PRESENTS

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> YEAH, THIS IS OUR MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THIS IS OUR MAYOR FOR THE DAY, SARAH GARCIA.

>> BOB TEMPLE, PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.

>> THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SO YOU CAN HELP ME ACCEPT THAT. OKAY?

>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

>> GO FOR IT.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> MAYOR WATSON AND MAYOR GARCIA, MY NAME IS RON BARTLES, THE STATE MARKETING MANAGER WITH TIBH INDUSTRIES. WITH ME TODAY IS MR. BOBBY TEMPLETON, A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNOR'S APPOINTED TEXAS COUNCIL ON PEOPLE -- ON PURCHASING FROM PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE STATE USE PROGRAM. STATE-WIDE, THERE ARE OVER 170 COMMUNITY REHABILITATION PROGRAMS THAT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM ARE EMPLOYING OVER 5300 TEXANS WITH DISABILITIES THAT ARE EARNING OVER $18 MILLION IN WAGES. IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THERE ARE NINE OF THESE COMMUNITY REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, SOME OF -- I KNOW THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THESE. AUSTIN TASK, GOODWILL, HELPING HANDS, TRAVIS ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND, VAUGHAN HOUSE, RELIEF ENTERPRISES, EASTER SEALS, BRC AND PCSI. WE BEGAN WORKING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN 1990. AND I NEED TO DIGRESS FOR A MOMENT AND -- AND LET YOU ALL KNOW WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THAT TIME. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE A -- A THREE-MINUTE PRESENTATION TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCILL AND IT ALLOWED THAT TO GO TO SIX AT THE TIME. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT WAS THE NEXT DAY I WAS IN THE PURCHASING OFFICES AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S REQUEST TRYING TO WORK TO SEE IF WE COULD REALLY EMPLOY INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THE FIRST MEETING I HAD OUTSIDE OF THE PURCHASING OFFICE OCCURRED AT A LITTLE DAM CALLED WOOD HOLLOW DAM. WITH A CITY ENGINEER, A COUPLE OF STAFF PEOPLE FROM STORM WATER MANAGEMENT, MYSELF AND THE DIRECTOR OF EASTER SEALS, THAT LID TO A CONTRACT THAT EMPLOYED -- THAT LED TO A CONTRACT THAT EMPLOYED TWO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. TODAY WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE HAVE OVER 16 CONTRACTS, EMPLOYING OVER 140 INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS A LEADER IN THE STATE. IN FACT WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT THEM A TOP 10 CUSTOMER AWARD AND I'M GOING TO CARRY THAT A STEP FURTHER AND SAY THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN THE YEAR 2000 WAS THE THIRD RANKED CUSTOMER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IN EMPLOYING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH THE STATE USE PROGRAM. WE'VE HAD TREMENDOUS COUNCIL SUPPORT. WE'VE HAD TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER. THE CITY PURCHASING STAFF AND I CAN'T NAME ALL OF THE PURCHASING STAFF, BUT I WILL MENTION SUE BRUBAKER AND EDDIE CLARK HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE AND EXCELLENT TO WORK WITH. THE DEPARTMENTS WE ARE -- WE STARTED OFF WITH ONE DEPARTMENT. WE NOW WORK WITH 8 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY. WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND WORKING WITH THE PROGRAM. THIS IS NOT A WELFARE PROGRAM. I CALL THIS A WORK-FARE PROGRAM. THE CITY HAS CONTRACTS THAT THEY MAKE AVAILABLE AND DISABLED PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO PERFORM THESE CONTRACTS AND IT BECOMES A WIN-WIN SITUATION. EVERY DISABLED PERSON EMPLOYED ON THESE CONTRACTS HAS THAT OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A GOOD LIVING WAGE, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR VIABLE FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT, THEY ARE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN AND WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM AND ASK THEM WHO THEY WORK FOR, THEY DON'T SAY EASTER SEALS OR GOODWILL, THEY TELL YOU THAT THEY WORK FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN. WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE JOB THEY DO AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE VERY PROUD THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS STEPPED TO THE FOR FRONT AND GIVEN THESE INDIVIDUALS THIS OPPORTUNITY. FOREFRONT AND GIVEN THESE INDIVIDUALS THIS OPPORTUNITY. FOR THAT WE COMMEND YOU. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE BOBBY TEMPLETON TO PRESENT THE AWARD PLAQUE TO THE MAYORS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE JUST A COUPLE OF THE CRP FOLKS THAT WERE ABLE TO COME DOWN. RYAN BULLOCK FROM GOODWILL INDUSTRIES, DAVID STRASKI FROM EASTER SEALS, ANDY COLE FROM AUSTIN TASK WANTED TO BE HERE BUT HE HAS HIS CREWS OVER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS CLEANING ALREADY. ALSO INTRODUCE TIM SULLIVAN WHO IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM TIBH TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN. AND MARY RICHTER FROM THE TIBH AUSTIN OFFICE. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. BOBBY TEMPLETON.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RON. MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR GARCIA, IT'S A GREAT PLEASURE ON MY PART TO PRESENT FROM THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON PURCHASING FROM PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND TIBH INDUSTRIES TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN APPRECIATION FOR THEIR DEDICATED SUPPORT OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF TEXANS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH THE TEXAS STATE USE PROGRAM, THE TOP 10 CUSTOMER AWARD FOR THE YEAR 2000. PRESENTED THIS 22ND DAY OF MARCH, 2001. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME JUST SAY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION. IT IS -- IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THE DEFINITION THAT YOU JUST MADE BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOU THAT YOU HAVE AN AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL THAT IS DEDICATED TO THE PROPOSITION REPRESENTED BY THIS RECOGNITION. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE A CITY STAFF THAT IS DEDICATED TO ASSURING THAT THAT POLICY IS CARRIED OUT EVERY DAY AND AS I HAVE SAID MORE THAN ONCE WHEN I HAVE BEEN STANDING AT THIS PODIUM, THE CITY STAFF PUTS THE WORD SERVICE IN PUBLIC SERVANT AND MAKES SURE THAT THINGS LIKE THIS ARE TRUE, I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK TO YOU THE CITY STAFF. [APPLAUSE]

>> HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> MARY, DO YOU WANT TO START HERE?

>> BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT I, SARAJEVO I CAN'T GARCIA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR TODAY DO HERE BY PROCLAIM MARCH 31ST, 2001, AS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF GIRLS START GIRLS TECHNOLOGY CENTER IN AUSTIN.

>> WE CALL ON AND YOU ARE CITIZENS TO JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING THAT GIRL START IS AN AUSTIN BASED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROMOTING MATH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-RELATED SKILGS FOR GIRLS. IN RECOGNIZING THE GIRLS TECHNOLOGY CENTER OPENED LAST YEAR TO TEACH WEB PAGE DESIGN, ROBOTICS, DESK TOP PUBLISHING AND INTERNET RESEARCH. AND IN RECOGNIZING THAT GIRL START OFFERS PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS ALL OVER TEXAS IN ADDITION TO AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS AND SUMMER CAMPS AT THE AUSTIN TECHNOLOGY CENTER. WE CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING GIRL START ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE TECHNOLOGY CENTER AND ON THEIR COMMITMENT TO HELPING GIRLS DEVELOP THE SKILLS AND SAVVY TO COMPETE IN TODAY'S HIGH TECH ENVIRONMENT. SIGNED BY ME, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ON BEHALF OF MAYOR GARCIA AND ME BOTH, WE ARE HAPPY TO PRESENT THIS TO RACHEL.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>> I REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD FOR GIRL START. I REALLY WANT TO THANK MAYOR WATSON AND MAYOR GARCIA AND THE COUNCIL FOR -- FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT TO GIRLS AND TO EMPOWERING GIRLS IN TECHNOLOGY. I HOPE THAT EVERYONE HERE, ESPECIALLY MAYOR GAS I CAN'T, I KNOW MAYOR WATSON IS GOING TO ENJOY JOINING US AT GIRL START FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION NEXT SATURDAY JOINING US AND THE POWER PUFF GIRLS.

>> THE POWER PUFF GIRLS ARE GOING TO BE THERE.

>> WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>>MAYOR WATSON: IF ANYBODY HAS A SCHEDULE, THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULE, WE ARE GOING TO DO THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, IN MEDICAL MORE YUM, WE ARE GOING COME -- MEMORIUM, WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT LAST IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHY WE ARE MOVING OVER THINGS. LESLIE AND JIM, COME ON UP. BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS, THAT I KIRK -- THAT I, SARAH GARCIA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR TODAY DO HERE BY PROCLAIM MARCH 22ND, 2001, AS [INAUDIBLE] COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE DAY IN AUSTIN.

>> WE CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING THAT THANKS TO THE WORK OF THE COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE AND OUR CITIZENS RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCURATE CENSUS DATA TO OUR COMMUNITY, AUSTIN ENJOYED A HIGHLY ACCURATE COUNT. IN RECOGNIZING THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE CAMPAIGN BY PROVIDING BILLBOARDS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, BANNERS ON CAPITAL METRO BUSES AND ASSISTING WITH THE MULTI CULTURAL CENSUS DAY CELEBRATE AT PLAZA SALTILLO. IT PAVED THE WAY FOR OUR AREA TO GET AN ADDITIONAL SEAT IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND FOR TEXAS TO GET TWO ADDITIONAL SEATS IN CONGRESS. WE ALL CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN NEWS THANKING THE CENSUS 2000 COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE FOR ITS EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT AUSTIN BENEFITED FROM AS COMPLETE AND ACCURATE A CENSUS COUNT AS POSSIBLE. SIGNED BY ME, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ON BEHALF OF ME AND MAYOR GARCIA, WE ARE PROUD TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION TODAY. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY RECOGNIZE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, PEOPLE WHO AREN'T. MEMBERS OF THE COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE, IETA DOUGLAS, WILL BOZEMAN. OTHER MEMBERS DOCTOR CHARLES AKINS, VERY HELPFUL, DAVID EARL WITH AISD, JENNIFER KIM WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN REACHING OUT TO THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, YVONNE LEMON, SIMON WAS VERY MUCH A GROUP EFFORT. SOME OF THE CITY STAFF IN PARTICULAR WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE JIM DIMWITTY, BRYAN ROBINSON, THESE MAPS AND PROBABLY A LOT OF THE ONES YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IN THE NEAR FUTURE COURTESY OF RYAN, JOE GEORGE WHO USED TO BE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE MAYOR AS WELL AS THE CITY MANAGER JESUS GARZA. THE GLUE THAT KEPT I.T. ALL HELD TOGETHER, LESSLY LAWSON, THANK YOU, LESLIE THAT WAS FUN. A COUPLE OF QUICK HIGHLIGHTS, 67% RESPONSE RATE WHICH MET OUR GOAL. 1990 RESPONSE RATE WAS 62% PLUS FIVE, VERY COMMENDABLE, VERY -- I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS UNUSUAL OR ON THE.

>> ONE OF ONLY A QUARTER OF THE CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> ONLY A QUARTER OF THE CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY MADE THEIR PARTICULAR GOAL, THAT'S -- CONSIDERING THAT WE GREW BY 41% MAKES THAT GOAL EVEN MORE KIND OF UNBELIEVABLE. WE ALSO GOT MUCH MORE DIVERSE, WHICH THE MAPS AS THEY COME OUT WILL SHOW EVERYBODY. THANK FOR YOU THE RECOGNITION AND IT WAS FUN AND WE WILL SEE YOU IN 10 YEARS. [LAUGHTER]. ALL RIGHT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>>GOODMAN: OKAY. HI. OUR NEXT OPERATION IS FOR REACH OUT AND READ DAY. I'M JUST GOING -- OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FOR REACH OUT AND READ DAY. I'M GOING TO DO AN INTRODUCTION FOR THE MAYOR TO READ THE PROCLAMATION. WHEN I WENT OVER TO THE CLINICS AND SAW THIS PROGRAM IN ACTION, IT WAS SO EXCITING. THE KIDS WHO HAD COME IN TO DO SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE LESS THAN PLEASANT REALLY HAD A GOOD TIME WITH THE -- WITH THE BOOKS AND MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO THEM AND IT CHANGED THE FEEL OF THE WHOLE WAITING AREA ENTIRELY, ENORMOUSLY. IT WAS JUST SO NEAT WATCHING PARENTS WITH THEIR KIDS AND GETTING THE BOOKS, THEY WERE ALBRIGHT COLORED AND GREAT BOOKS. I WAS SO IMPRESSED THAT WE WERE DOING THAT AND I'M SO GLAD THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO. SO WITH THAT, LET ME OFFER OUR MAYOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM. GO AHEAD. BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS, THAT I, SARAH GARCIA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR TODAY DO HERE BY PROCLAIM MARCH 30TH, 2001, AS REACH OUT AND READ DAY IN AUSTIN. AND CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THAT REACH OUT AND READ IS A NATIONAL PEDIATRIC LITERACY PROGRAM WHICH TARGETS CHILDREN AGED 6 MONTHS TO FIVE YEARS DURING THEIR MEDICAL CHECKUPS AND RECOGNIZING THAT REACHOUT AND READ PROVIDES THE CHILD WITH A NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK, PLUS A PRESCRIPTION FOR THE PARENT TO READ TO THEIR CHILD ON A REGULAR BASIS. AND IN RECOGNITION -- RECOGNIZE THANK REACH OUT AND READ WAS IMPLEMENTED AT THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OF AUSTIN, LAKE TRAVIS COUNTRY IN 1999 AND SINCE HAS DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 3,500 BOOKS TO THIS -- TO THIS ADVANTAGE -- TO DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN IN OUR AREA. I CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING REACH OUT AND READ ON THIS INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO ENCOURAGING PARENTS TO READ TO THEIR CHILD AND ON THE ENDORSEMENT, THE PROGRAM HAS RECEIVED FROM FIRST LADY LAURA BUSH WHO MADE REACH OUT AND READ ONE OF HER EDUCATION INITIATIVES ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: GOOD JOB. [APPLAUSE]

>> WE ARE HERE ON BEHALF OF LITERACY AND I THINK THAT YOU HAVE REALLY HEARD IT TODAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: DIDN'T SHE DO A GOOD JOB?

>> WONDERFUL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M PROUD OF HER.

>> BOTH YOU MAYORS AND MAYOR PRO TEM JACKIE GOODMAN, ON BEHALF OF THE NEWLY ORGANIZED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION CALLED CAPITAL AREA REACH OUT AND READ, I'M HERE TODAY TO ACCEPT THIS HONOR ALONG WITH TWO OF THE PEOPLE, WONDERFUL PEOPLE, AMERICORPS VISTA MEMBERS, [INAUDIBLE]. [APPLAUSE] THEY ARE REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE -- MUCH OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. ALSO TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, WE WANT TO INVITE YOU TO A VERY SPECIAL CELEBRATION ON MARCH THE 30TH AT THE CONNOLLY GUERRO SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER, IT WILL BE FROM 1:00 TO 2:30. AT THAT TIME WE WILL CELEBRATE THE DISTRIBUTION DURING THIS PAST YEAR OF OVER 3500 BOOKS TO YOUNG CHILDREN. ALONG WITH THE PRESCRIPTIONS GIVEN TO THEM BY THEIR PEDIATRICIAN. WE WILL ALSO BE RECOGNIZING MANY OF THE PROFESSIONALS, VOLUNTEERS, ORGANIZATIONS, I WANT TO PARTICULARLY HONOR THE LOCAL -- THE LOCAL QUANAHS CLUBS, I'M VERY PLEASED TO TELL YOU AS A ROTARIAN THAT ROTARY IS BEGINNING TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS, ALSO. THIS RECEPTION DAY OR RECOGNITION DAY IS BEING SPONSORED BY THE ORGANIZATION GUITARS AND CADILLACS. LET ME AS A PEDIATRICIAN JUST SAY THAT THIS IS I THINK ONE OF THE MOST WELL THOUGHT OUT PROGRAMS TO HELP YOUNG FAMILIES BEGIN TO READ TO THEIR CHILDREN AND HELP THE YOUNG CHILD TO APPRECIATE BOOKS. AT SIX MONTHS OF AGE, THE CHILD IS GIVEN A BOOK, WHEN THEY HAVE A WELL CHILD VISIT. NOW THE BOOKS ARE USUALLY PRETTY STOUT BOOKS, A SIX MONTH OLD WILL MOSTLY JUST CHEW ON IT. BUT AT LEAST THEY ARE HOLDING A BOOK, BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE WHAT BOOKS CAN DO. AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROGRAMS THAT -- THAT WILL HELP LITERACY, THE BEGINNING OF LITERACY THAT I'M AWARE OF AS A PEDIATRICIAN. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO -- WE ARE GRATEFUL, TOO, TO MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN FOR HAVING COME TO THE CLINIC, SEEN IT IN OPERATION. AND WANTED -- ONE OF THE FIRST COUNCILMEMBERS TO DO THAT. I THINK AT THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER LAST YEAR. SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF COUNCILMEMBER DANNY THOMAS AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS GRACIOUSLY SERVED AS OUR SPOKESPERSON IN A 30 SECOND PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT WHICH IS BEING PRODUCED BY KXAN TV. OUR FIRST SHOWING OF THIS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE AT THE REACH OUT AND READ DAY ON MARCH THE 30TH. THANK YOU, AGAIN, MAYORS, JACKIE, FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SURE THING.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION, THERE'S APPARENTLY SOME CONFUSION, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE OF THE TIMING THAT -- PLEASE COME UP HERE. THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THIS -- THIS PROCLAMATION WILL ASSURE THAT THE OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE SHORTLY. BUT BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS, THAT I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM INTERNATIONAL WEEK WITHOUT VIOLENCE, APRIL 2ND THROUGH 8TH, 2001, IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL WEEK WITHOUT VIOLENCE AS A PROGRAM THAT STARTED 6 YEARS AGO TO -- TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR US TO ACT IN A NON-VIOLENT MANNER. IT ORIGINALLY STARTED AT LANIER HIGH SCHOOL AND EACH YEAR HAS BEEN -- LANIER HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN THE FOCUS, INCLUDING WITH A MARCH IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN TO CALL ATTENTION TO OUR NEED TO LIVE WITHOUT VIOLENCE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WHILE WE DECLARE EACH YEAR A WEEK WITHOUT VIOLENCE, EVERY WEEK OF EVERY YEAR WILL BE WITHOUT VIOLENCE. I'M VERY PLEASED TO MAKE THIS PROCLAMATION. WE HAVE WITH US SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM LANIER HIGH SCHOOL TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THEM TO SAY A FEW WORDS. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND MAYOR SARAH GARCIA, AND THE CITY COUNCILL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND EFFORT FOR HELPING US RAISE FUNDS FOR PREVENTION SO THAT WE WON'T HAVE ANOTHER TRAGEDY LIKE COLUMBINE OR SAN DIEGO HERE IN AUSTIN. [APPLAUSE]

>> WE WANT TO INVITE YOU TO OUR PEACE ASSEMBLY ON APRIL THE 6TH AT LANIER AT 9:15 A.M., PLEASE DO JOIN US, THANKS. [APPLAUSE]

>> AND WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INVITE -- EXCUSE ME, INVITE YOU TO OUR MARCH WITHOUT VIOLENCE ON APRIL 7TH AT 9:30 A.M. AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE GUEST SPEAKERS THERE WHICH WOULD INCLUDE ARU GANDI, AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON WILL BE THERE. THANK YOU TO MAYOR GARCIA. [APPLAUSE]

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU ALL.

>>GOODMAN: THIS NEXT AWARD IS A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD AND ALTHOUGH IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO BE ABLE TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE THEM, IT'S ALSO USUALLY KIND OF A SAD EENVENT BECAUSE YOU ARE TELLING THEM THIS SINCE THEY ARE MOVING ON AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE DOING ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT YOU HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO EXPECTING FROM THEM. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO NOTE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEMBERS ARE HERE, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT, AND IF YOU ALL WOULDN'T MIND COMING UP HERE, TOO. OH, JOYCE, RIGHT. OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE SO CRITICAL TO THE WORK WE DO AS A CITY BECAUSE THOSE CITIZENS PUT IN COUNTLESS HOURS AND HARD, HARD WORK TO HELP US WITH POLICY DECISIONS AND HELP US WITH SOME OF THE ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH WE NEED FOR SOME OF OUR WEIGHTIER QUESTIONS. THE PERSON THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HONOR TODAY, GEORGE AFTER VARY, IS PART OF THE FAMILY THAT -- GEORGE AVERY IS PART OF THE FAMILY OF THAT'S GIVEN AUSTIN AN AWFUL LOT. HIS SPOUSE PUT IN A GREAT NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE CITY'S PARK DEPARTMENT AND DID SO MUCH TO MAKING US A PRESERVATION, A PRESERVE SYSTEM THAT WE CAN REALLY CROW ABOUT AND I'M SAYING LEE. [LAUGHTER]. SO BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, I FIGURE THEY HAVE GIVEN US A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND EFFORT WORTH GOOD MONEY. AND I KNOW WE UNDERPAID YOU, LEE, I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. WE FOR SURE UNDERPAY THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD, WE DON'T GIVE THEM ANYTHING. BUT THEY DO GIVE US SO MUCH. WE CAN AT LEAST GIVE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO THOSE FOLKS WHO DO SO MUCH. AND WHAT I THINK THAT I WILL DO, BECAUSE I KNOW MAYOR GARCIA CAN READ THIS JUST AS WELL AS I CAN, IS OFFER HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO ONE OF OUR REALLY UNSELFISH AND HARD WORKING CITIZENS.

>> FOR HIS UNTIRING EFFORTS AND UNSELFISH SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY DURING HIS 11 YEAR TENURE AS A MEMBER OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AND MORE THAN TWO YEARS AS ITS CHAIRMAN, GEORGE AVERY IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACLAIM AND RECOGNITION. WE APPRECIATE HIS STRONG VOICE ON BEHALF OF AIR AND WATER QUALITY ISSUES, TREES AND -- AND DRAINAGE FUND FOR THE BALCONES CANYON LANDS PRESERVE. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE HIS EFFORTS TO [INAUDIBLE] ENVIRONMENTAL CEREMONY AND HIS CAREFUL SCRUTINY OF BUDGET AND CIP PROPOSALS. PRESENTED THIS 22ND DAY OF MARCH, AD, 2001. [APPLAUSE]

>>GOODMAN: MAYBE BEFORE WE LET BUZZ HAVE THE MICROPHONE, THERE'S ANOTHER PRESENTATION THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL. AND IF STAFF WOULD COME UP.

>> I'M JODY HAMILTON WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT. WE WANT TO PRESENT GEORGE WITH A SMALL TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION FOR HIS ADVOCACY ON OUR BEHALF FOR -- IN OUR MANY INCARNATIONS OVER THIS GREAT LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK BUZZ FOR -- FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO THE STAFF OF OUR DEPARTMENT. AND MANY OF US GREW UP WITH BUZZ AND HE HAS BEEN QUITE A -- A FRIEND AND MENTOR TO US ALL. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT WE GIVE SO MANY PROCLAMATIONS, THE MORE PROCLAMATIONS WE GIVE IN THIS CITY AND LESS RANCOR WE HAVE IN THESE CHAMBERS, I THINK IT'S A FINE TESTAMENT TO THE CITY THAT WE HAVE. I THINK PROCLAMATIONS ARE EXCELLENT. I HAVE ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF -- [LAUGHTER] -- OF DIALOGUE. I HAVE SOME TIME DONATED TO ME BY THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, SO I'M SURE THAT YOU WILL STILL BE SITTING HERE WHEN I -- WHEN I GO THROUGH THIS. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THE RECOGNITION. AFTER 10 YEARS ON THE BOARD I DO LIKE BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE COUNCIL. WE -- MY WIFE AND I ARE MOVING TO A -- TO BASTROP. JUST DOWN THE ROAD OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND THERE IS -- THERE WE ARE GOING TO ENJOY OUR RETIREMENT. BUT I WANT TO THANK A FEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE, I THINK, NOT ONLY IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD, BUT IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, I WANT TO THANK PAM HURT AND JESSICA CHRISTIE FOR ENCOURAGING ME TO JOIN THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD. I WANT TO THINK MAYORS COOK, TODD, AND.

>>GOODMAN: FOR THEIR APPOINTMENTS OF ME TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD. AND I WANT TO THANK THE CURRENT BOARD, PARTICULARLY TIM JONES, JOYCE CONNOR AND LEE LEFINGWELL FOR WORKING IN UNITY WITH ME ON SO MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES. I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT BOARD. IT'S SAD THAT I HAVE TO LEAVE AT THIS TIME. I WANT TO THANK CITY STAFF MEMBERS, THE ONE THAT'S HAVE MADE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE AND THEIR DEDICATION TO THE ENVIRONMENT, JOE CALABRESE, PAT MURPHY, LESS TULL, MITTSZY COTTON, JODY HAMILTON, AUSTIN LIBRACH, ROGER DUNCAN. I KNOW THERE'S MANY MORE THAT I'M LEAVING OUT, THIS IS THE ONES THAT I CAME UP WITH SO FAR. I WANT TO THANK FORMER BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE IMPRESSIONS THAT THEY HAVE MADE, MARY ARNOLD, CRAIG SMITH, FRED BLOOD, JACK GOODMAN. MOSTLY I WANT TO THANK THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS AND CITY COUNCILL THAT WERE WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE MADE BECAUSE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AND MYSELF ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THEIR WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN AND TO COOPERATE AND FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE MAKE. IT'S -- IT'S EASY ENOUGH FOR US TO SIT THERE EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY AND ARGUE AMONG OURSELVES AND MAKE DECISIONS, BUT OUR DECISIONS ARE ONLY AS IMPORTANT AS THOSE THAT ARE WILLING TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE MAKE. I THANK THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS AND COUNCILMEMBERS THAT LISTENED. LASTLY I WANT TO THANK MY WIFE FOR THE PATIENCE. SHE PUT UP WITH ME SERVING ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD THESE ALTERNATE WEDNESDAYS. I THANK CHANNEL 6 FOR CARRYING ME ON THE -- ON THE CHANNEL 6 SO THAT SHE COULD CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS ACTUALLY AT THE BOARD MEETINGS. [LAUGHTER]. THAT WAS A GOOD COMFORT TO HER AS WELL. OF COURSE I LEAVE WITH SADNESS. HAVING SERVED ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD OVER WELL NEARLY 11 YEARS, IT'S BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF US SHOULD KEEP IN MIND A SAYING THAT I LEARNED ONE TIME AND THAT IS THAT IF YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM. AND I WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO PROTECTING AUSTIN'S ENVIRONMENT AND THAT'S WHAT I DEDICATED MYSELF TO OVER THIS LAST DECADE. I WAS REMINDED THAT WHENEVER I STAND UP HERE AND HAVE THE ATTENTION OF THE CITY COUNCILL AND CHANNEL 6, THAT I SHOULD LOBBY OVER SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO ME, SO I WANT TO ONCE AGAIN REQUEST FULL FUNDING FOR WATERSHED PROTECTIONS BUDGET WHEN THEY COME FORWARD TO YOU. AND FULL FUNDING FOR THEIR C.I.P.'S. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE FUND THAT DEPARTMENT AND ITS NEEDS. I'M GOING TO MISS AUSTIN. I'M GOING TO MISS SERVING, I'M GOING TO MISS ALL OF THE FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCE IT IS THAT I HAVE MADE IN DOING MY DUTY AND I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT IF AND WHEN YOU SHOULD ANNEX BASTROP, I WILL BE RAID TO COME BACK TO WORK FOR YOU. [LAUGHTER]. [APPLAUSE] READY TO COME BACK TO WORK. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE]

>>ALVAREZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR WATSON AND MAYOR GARCIA, GOT A CERTAIN RING TO IT. BUT WE WON'T GO INTO THAT I GUESS. [LAUGHTER].

>>MAYOR WATSON: DON'T START RUMORS.

>>ALVAREZ: THAT'S RIGHT. I HAVE THE HONOR OF HONORING SOME FOLKS HERE WHO ARE DOING SOME GREAT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY, REACHING OUTLET TO FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN -- IN THE ADVANCING THEIR OWN EDUCATION AND SO I'M REAL -- REAL HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. WE ARE WORKING -- THERE'S A FEW ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT CALLED LONGHORN LEADERS DAY. AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF -- COUPLE OF ORGANIZATIONS FROM U.T., THE KAPPA DELTA K-EYE SORORITY AND SIGMA -- CHI SORORITY AND A FRATERNITY HAD HE THEY WORK WITH THE LOCAL CHAPTER HERE TO BRING ABOUT 300 STUDENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY, LOW INCOME AND MINORITY STUDENTS TO U.T. TO TO COME IN AND JUST KIND OF LEARN ABOUT THE WHOLE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, WHAT IT TAKES TO -- TO -- AGAIN TO GET THERE, TO MAKE IT THROUGH. SO THAT'S ALWAYS GREAT. THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS THAT WE FACE IN TERMS OF US GETTING INTO HIGHER EDUCATION AND SO JUST EVEN GETTING PEOPLE ON THE U.T. CAMPUS AND THEN WALKING THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS OF WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THERE,, I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT, I THINK, IS THE ROLE THAT THESE FOLKS TAKE IN TERMS OF SHARING IN THEIR SUCCESS, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR AND HAVE NOW COMMITTED TO SHARE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN IN THEIR SUCCESS TO HELP OTHERS ATTAIN THAT SAME LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT. SO I DO MY HATS OFF TO THEM AS WELL. BUT FOR NOW I'LL GO AHEAD AND LET THE MAYOR GARCIA GO AHEAD AND READ PART OF THE PROCLAMATION AND I WILL READ THE OTHER PART. BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS, THAT I, SARAH GARCIA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEXAS FOR TODAY DO HERE BY PROCLAIM MARCH 31ST, 2001, AS LONGHORN LEADERS DAY IN AUSTIN.

>>ALVAREZ: AND MAYOR GARCIA CALLS ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN HER IN RECOGNIZING THAT U.T.'S KAPPA DELTA CHI SORORITY AND SIGMA: FRATERNITY IS SPONSORING THE CONFERENCE FOR 300 STUDENTS OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES, MOST OF THEM MINORITIES, IN RECOGNIZING THAT THE CONFERENCE WILL PROVIDE COLLEGE ADMISSION AND FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION AND WILL PRESENT STRATEGIES FOR A SUCCESSFUL PATH TOWARD HIGHER EDUCATION AND GRADUATION. AND IN RECOGNIZING THAT THE SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS ALSO WILL BE AWARDING FOUR $500 SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND THESE. AND I CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS ON THEIR COMMITMENT TO HELPING QUALIFIED STUDENTS NO MATTER WHAT THEIR RACE OR INCOME, TO LEARN HOW THEY CAN ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF COLLEGE EDUCATION AND IT'S SIGNED BY KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SO LET'S HAVE A HAND FOR LONGHORN LEADERS. [APPLAUSE]

>> HI, I'M AMANDA, PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR LONGHORN LEADERS DAY WITH CAPITA DELTA CHI. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CITY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ FOR HELPING US GET OUT THIS PROCLAMATION AND GETTING OUT THE WORD TO THE COMMUNITY, ALSO MAYOR KIRK WATSON FOR SIGNING OUR PROCLAMATION. CAPITA DELTA KHI AND SIGMA LAMD BETA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HISPANIC WOMEN'S NETWORK OF TEXAS FEEL THAT IT'S A HUGE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY TO GO AHEAD AND HELP GET STUDENTS INTO COLLEGE, COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, FINANCIAL AID, S.A.T. PREPARATION. SO LAST YEAR WE DID IT. ALSO THIS IS OUR SECOND ANNUAL, WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN WITH -- WITH THE SIGMA LAMDBA BETA. WHAT WE PROVIDE IS A THREE TIER STEP PROGRAM WITH THE COMMUNITIES AS THE HISPANIC WOMEN'S NETWORK AND THE HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION TO HELP US AS COLLEGE STUDENTS FOR US TO HELP HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. Y'ALL ARE ALL INVITED OUT IF YOU HAVE ANY STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED WITH TARGETING FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES THIS YEAR TO PLEASE COME OUT TO OUR LONGHORN LEADERS DAY ON MARCH 31ST. I'M SORRY. THAT'S IT. WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE WHO IS HERE, LUPE IS THE STATE BOARD OF HISPANIC WOMEN'S NETWORK. DENA CHAVEZ IS MY LOGISTICS CHAIR. MR. DIAZ IS MY SPONSORSHIP CHAIR ALONG WITH GABRIELLE, CESAR AND CHRIS ARE ALSO ON THE BOARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON:.

>> OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD AND IT'S A -- IT'S A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT DISTINGUISHED AWARD BECAUSE IT IS ONE THAT WE ARE PRESENTING IN MEMORIAL. AND THERE ARE TIMES IN THE LIFE OF OUR COMMUNITY WHERE WE BEING DAY TO DAY, WE FEEL SECURE, WE FEEL SECURE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT EACH MORNING OR EACH EVENING, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, ARE OUT ON THE STREET WORKING TO PROVIDE US WITH PROTECTION. MANY TIMES THOSE OF US WHO GO ABOUT OUR DAY TO DAY BUSINESS, WE TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT THAT IS OCCURRING. PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY WHAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED IS THAT WHILE THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT SERVING US, THEY ARE OUT THERE TO -- TO PROTECT US, THEY ARE AT RISK. AND IN THIS CASE, WE ARE HERE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION BECAUSE WE WANT TO SHOW OUR RESPECT FOR A 12 YEAR VETERAN OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHO WHILE PROTECTING US, AND SERVING US, PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE AND LOST HIS LIFE. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR THE FAMILY OF KEITH RUIZ TO JOIN ME AND THE SHERIFF UP HERE, THEN I'M GOING TO CALL ON THE SHERIFF TO SAY A FEW WORDS. WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN US.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I CALL ON SHERIFF FRASIER.

>> THANK YOU MAYOR WATSON. I HAVE WITH ME TODAY SOME VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE. I HAVE BERNADETTE RUIZ, KEITH'S WIFE AND THEIR THREE SONS, KEITH'S PARENTS, MR. AND MRS. RUIZ AND ALSO KEITH'S BROTHER AND SISTER. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HONORING THIS PERSON. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL EVER GET EASY. THE REALITY IS -- IS THAT -- ALL OF THE PEOPLE UP HERE'S LIVES WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. AND THEY HAVE LOST A HUSBAND AND A FATHER AND A BROTHER AND SO MANY OF US HAVE LOST A FRIEND. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK -- EXCUSE ME -- THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY AND TRAVIS COUNTY COMMUNITY AND PARTICULARLY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, CHIEF KNEE AND HIS PEOPLE WERE OH, SO SUPPORTIVE. AND I -- I PARTICULARLY WANT TO POINT OUT AND MENTION SERGEANT LIZ MURROW AND LIEUTENANT JIM OLEARY AT THE HOSPITAL THE NIGHT THAT KEITH WAS KILLED, I LOOKED UP AND THERE WAS JIM AND HE IS A PERSON WHO I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR. AND WHO IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE WHO WORK WITH HIM KNOW THAT HE'S AN ABSOLUTE ROCK, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY HE IS ALWAYS -- HAS SO LONG BEEN IN CHARGE OF DEALING WITH THIS TYPE OF DUTY. WHEN I SAW JIM, I KNEW THAT HE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT THROUGH THIS. SO I THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE. I APPRECIATE THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF KEITH AND RECOGNIZING HIS FAMILY. AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE THERE, LIKE WE WILL BE, FOR HIS FAMILY. THANK YOU.

>> THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD READS FOR BEING A DEVOTED HUSBAND AND LOVING FATHER OF THREE SONS, WHO ENJOYED THE OUTDOORS AND COACHED T BALM AND BASEBALL, FOR BEING A COURAGEOUS 12 YEAR VETERAN OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, FOR GIVING HIS OWN LIFE WHILE CARRYING OUT HIS DUTY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR CITIZENS. HE WAS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION. IN MEMORIUM, KEITH GEORGE RUIZ PRESENTED THIS 22ND DAY OF MARCH, AD, 2001, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCILL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND SIGNED BY ME, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. AND IT SAYS DEATH IS NOT EXTINGUISHING THE LIGHT, IT IS PUTTING OUT THE LAMP BECAUSE THE DAWN HAS COME. WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. FOR THE SERVICE AND FOR -- OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE SERVICE THAT -- THAT KEITH RUIZ PROVIDED OUR COMMUNITY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> LET ME SEE IF I CAN DO THIS. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN THERE FOR ME AND MY KIDS. FOR MY FAMILY. TO MY SWAT FAMILY. TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FAMILY. AND THE FAMILY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY. EVERYONE HAS MADE THE MOST HORRIBLE TIME OF MY LIFE I GUESS BEARABLE IS THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT. IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. BUT I THINK WITH EVERYBODY'S HELP, WE WILL -- WE WILL STRIVE TO GO FORWARD. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> I, TOO, THINK I CAN DO THIS. GEORGE AND I FEEL VERY BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE HONOR AND THE PRIVILEGE AND THE JOY OF BEING KEITH'S MOM AND DAD. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT -- THAT KEITH DIED A HERO. HIS FAMILY IS HERE TO TESTIFY THAT DEPUTY SHERIFF KEITH RUIZ LIVED A HERO. [APPLAUSE]

>> I JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO IS -- WHO HAS DONE ALL OF THE GOOD TO MAKE US FEEL BETTER. WE COULDN'T HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS ORDEAL WITHOUT ALL OF IT, ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYONE. [APPLAUSE]

>>MAYOR WATSON: I WANT TO THANK OUR MAYOR FOR THE DAY. SHE HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB. I THINK EVERYONE WILL AGREE THAT MAYOR GARCIA PRESENTED HERSELF WELL TODAY AS MAYOR FOR A DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW ABOUT SUCCESSFUL FOLKS LIKE MAYOR GARCIA IS THAT THEY ARE GENERALLY SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE THAT LOVE THEM AND HELP NURTURE THEM AND TEACH THEM. AND SO WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK THE MAYOR TO DO, BEFORE WE BREAK, IS I'M GOING TO ASK HER TO INTRODUCE SOME FOLKS THAT SHE HAS HERE WITH US, SO WE CAN SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM, WE CAN THANK THEM AND LET THEM KNOW HOW PROUD OF YOU WE ARE. OKAY?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO TELL MY DAD AND MY MOM TO COME UP HERE. AND MY BROTHER.

>>MAYOR WATSON: TELL US THEIR NAMES.

>> MY DAD'S NAME IS ISHMAIL GARCIA, MY MOM'S NAME IS MARGARITA GARCIA AND MY BIG BROTHER IS ISRAELI GARCIA. [APPLAUSE] ISRAEL GARCIA. AND I CAN'T FORGET MY TEACHERS. THE PERSONS THAT HELPED ME IN MY LEARNING, SO I WANT TO THANK MS. RILEY. [APPLAUSE] MR. GANER. AND, OF COURSE, MY FIFTH GRADE TEACHER, MR. RUHARDO. [APPLAUSE]

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET'S GIVE ONE MORE BIG HAND FOR OUR MAYOR FOR THE DAY, SARAH GARCIA, SHE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB. [APPLAUSE] [THE CITY COUNCILL IS IN RECESS].

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'LL RECOGNIZE MR. LIBRACH AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> MY NAME IS AUSTIN LIBRACH, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THIS TOPIC THIS EVENING. THIS IS ACTUALLY AN ITEM THAT IS COMING TO YOU I THINK SPONSORED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT I DO WANT TO LAY OUT SOME OF THE BASIC OVERVIEW FACTS OF THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THIS SINCE THE END OF 1998. IT'S BEEN ABOUT THREE YEARS. IN THE MAKING TO COME BEFORE YOU WITH THIS -- I GUESS AT THIS POINT TWO DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS. WE HAVE -- I THINK HAVE REALLY HAD A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLANNING COMMISSIONS OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME. THEY'VE DONE AN AWFUL LOT OF WORK WITH RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS. THEY'VE ESSENTIALLY PICKED UP WHERE THE COUNCIL LEFT OFF WITH SMART GROWTH AND THE SMART GROWTH PROGRAM AND TOOK A VIEW TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE SUBDIVISION CODE TO DETERMINE WHERE IN THE SUBDIVISION CODE THEY COULD FIX SOME PROBLEMS THEY FELT EXISTED THAT WERE CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH SPRAWL AND PROBLEMS THAT -- WITH MOBILITY THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED IN A DIFFERENT WAY. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS JUST TAKE YOU THROUGH A FEW SLIDES THAT SHOW YOU HOW THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE WORKS VERSUS THE KIND OF DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE THAT WE THINK IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT IS BEFORE YOU WOULD BE PREFERRED. IN THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BASICALLY SUBDIVISIONS. IN THE MORE RURAL AREAS OF AUSTIN, YOU HAVE TYPICALLY LONG BLOCKS, YOU HAVE FREQUENT DEAD END STREETS, AND YOU HAVE POORLY CONNECTED STREET NETWORK. IN THE PREFERRED DEVELOPMENT PATTERN, THE KIND PATTERN THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE STAFF ARE BOTH RECOMMENDING TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION, YOU ARE GOING TO GET SMALLER BLOCKS, FEWER DEAD END STREETS AND MORE FREQUENT STREET CONNECTIONS. IN THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE, YOU'VE GOT SOME DISADVANTAGES WITH THE TYPICAL SUBDIVISION LAYOUT. AND THE LAYOUT IS REALLY MOST OF WHAT THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE IS ABOUT. YOU'VE GOT LIMITED CHOICES OF ROUTES. AS YOU ARE GOING THROUGH A SUBDIVISION EITHER DRIVING OR WALKING, THE -- THERE'S A TENDENCY FOR THOSE LOCAL TRIPS TO REQUIRE THE USE OF AN ARREST TEARIAL BECAUSE THERE IS FEWER CONNECTIONS TO THE ARTERIAL AND TO GET FROM ONE SUBDIVISION TO THE NEXT YOU ARE ALMOST REQUIRED TO GET OUT AND USE AN ARREST TEARIAL AND YOU MUST BE IN YOUR AUTOMOBILE. THE RESULT OF THAT, THERE ARE FEWER OPPORTUNITIES FOR WALKING AND BIKING TRIPS. AND YOU HAVE NOR CONGESTION ON THE ARTERIAL. THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE ALSO WE THINK TENDS TO INCREASE THE WALKING DISTANCE FOR TRIPS AND YOU GET MORE OF A DISCONNECTED NETWORK. IN THE PREFERRED DEVELOPMENT PATTERN, YOU ARE GOING TO GET MORE MULTIPLE ROUTES, IT'S MORE OF A GRID SYSTEM, MORE LIKE SOME OF THE OLDER SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT IN AUSTIN WHERE YOU HAVE MORE INTERCONNECTIONS, MORE OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE CONGESTION. IN THE PREFERRED DEVELOPMENT PATTERN YOU ARE GOING TO GET MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EASIER ACCESS TO BUSES. THE-MOVING ON TO THE BENEFITS OF STREET CONNECTIVITY AND JUST TO REVIEW THIS SLIDE, THE KEY BENEFITS WE THINK OF THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS THAT IT POTENTIALLY INCREASES THE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, IT REDUCES TRIP LENGTH, AND VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED, IT POTENTIALLY REDUCES CONGESTION ON ARTERIALS, IT PROVIDES AIR QUALITY BENEFITS, IMANI PROOFS THE EFFICIENCY FOR UTILITY SYSTEMS AND IMPROVES ROUTSZ FOR SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING PICKUP. THERE ARE SOME DISADVANTAGES FROM SOME OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THIS MIGHT BE USED ARE GOING TO CAUSE A GREATER INCREASE IN THE COST OF DEVELOPMENT, AND THERE IS GOING TO BE THE OPPORTUNITY OF COURSE I THINK FOR SOME ADDITIONAL CUT-THROUGH TRAFFIC. SO YOU'VE GOT SOME ADVANTAGES AND A FEW DISADVANTAGES TO THE KIND OF PROPOSAL THAT IS BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION. THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID SOME RESEARCH, AS I INDICATED EARLIER ACTION AND THEY LOOKED AT ABOUT 11 DIFFERENT CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE LOOKING AT CHANGING THEIR SUBDIVISION CODE TO CONSIDER ADDING THE KINDS OF CHANGES THAT IN FACT ARE HERE TONIGHT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. AND IF WE GO NOW TO THE SLIDE THAT SHOWS YOU THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION AND THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, BASICALLY THE STAFF IS RECOMMENDING AN OPTION THAT IS BASED ON INCENTIVES. WE ARE SAYING THAT INSTEAD OF MANDATING THESE KINDS OF CHANGES TO THE SUBDIVISION CODE, WHICH IS WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS RECOMMENDING, WE'RE SAYING THAT IT SHOULD BE DONE ON A MORE OF A VOLUNTARY BASIS WHERE THERE IS AN OPTION, A CHOICE ON THE PART OF THE DEVELOPER TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO DO IT. WE'RE RECOMMENDING A SERIES OF INCENTIVES TO MAKE THE CHOICE ONE THAT THE DEVELOPER IS LIKELY TO MAKE, BUT ONE THAT HE HAS TO MAKE BASED ON A CALCULATION OF WHETHER THERE IS A FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO THAT DEVELOPER TO MAKE IT. WE THINK THAT'S MORE CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY IN WHICH OTHER SMART GROWTH INCENTIVES PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS AND IT FITS MORE WITH THAT. WE ALSO THINK THAT IT'S MORE CONSISTENT WITH THE NOTION THAT -- THE COST OF HOUSING IS A CONCERN AND RATHER THAN MANDATING THESE CONTROLS, WE SHOULD LET THE MARKETPLACE WORK ITS WILL AND ALLOW FOR SITUATIONS WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE MORE COSTLY TO IMPOSE THESE KINDS OF REGULATIONS, THAT INSTEAD GO WITH AN INCENTIVE APPROACH WHICH CAN REDUCE THE COST OR OPTIONLY NOT INCREASE THE COST BY NOT HAVING TO PICK EITHER OF OPTIONS. THE -- IN ADDITION -- AND I'LL JUST REVIEW FOR YOU QUICKLY AND NOT SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME ON THIS. THE WAY IN WHICH THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM WOULD WORK IS IT WOULD HAVE BASICALLY THE SAME OUTCOME AS THE MANDATED PROGRAM, BUT THE KINDS OF INCENTIVES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WOULD BE TO NARROW THE STREETS, NARROW -- SHORTEN THE BLOCK LENGTHS OF STREETS IN SUBURBS, REDUCE THE RESIDENTIAL STREET WIDTH, AS I'VE INDICATED, AND ALLOW FOR A REDUCED MINIMUM LOT SIZE, WHICH WOULD BE AN INCENTIVE TO THE DEVELOPER TO GET MORE LOTS IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT FOR DOING THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. REDUCING FRONT SETBACKS SO THAT THEY HAVE -- THEY CAN HAVE SMALLER LOTS AS A RESULT OF THAT. POSSIBLY LIMITING IMPERVIOUS COVER -- OR GIVING SOME IMPERVIOUS COVER ALLOWANCES, POSSIBLY DOING DEVELOPMENT WAIVERS AND EXPANDED AND EXPEDITED REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS. WE THINK THERE IS A WHOLE HOST OF INCENTIVES THAT COULD BE BROUGHT TO BEAR TO THIS KIND OF AN ORDINANCE THAT MAKE AN INCENTIVE APPROACH WORKABLE. WE HAVE NOT APPLIED THE INCENTIVE APPROACH TO THE TND ORDINANCE THAT THE COUNCIL PASSED ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO. IT SIMPLY IS SITTING OUT THERE FOR USE BY DEVELOP HEERS AND HASN'T BEEN USED. WE THINK THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT ONE AND THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE IN THAT WE'RE PROPOSING VERY SIG NANT INCENTIVES FOR CONSIDERATION. LET ME LEAVE IT AT THAT OTHER THAN JUST TO REITERATE THAT IN TERMS OF THE CONTENT OF WHAT IS BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION, I THINK BOWS THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE -- BOAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE STAFF ARE IN AGREEMENT, IT IS HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE ORDINANCE WHERE I THINK THERE IS SOME DISAGREEMENT AND I THINK THAT THE AGREEMENT ABOUT THE CONTENT MAY EVEN EXPAND TO OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY. I THINK THIS HAS BEEN WORKED THROUGH VERY WELL OVER THESE PAST THREE YEARS WITH THAT COMMUNITY. BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. LIBRACH. DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. LIBRACH AT THIS POINT? LET'S GO FORWARD WITH THE HEARING AND WHAT WAS SUGGESTED WAS THAT WE SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALLOW FOR A ONE-HOUR HEARING ON THIS WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR 30 MINUTES A SIDE. MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WE FOLLOW OUR RULES, BUT JUST GO 30 MINUTES A SIDE AND THEN THE ORDER I WOULD GO IS I WOULD GO THROUGH THE CARDS, GOING WITH THOSE WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF THE CHANGE IN THE CITY CODE FIRST FOR 30 MINUTES, AND THEN GO TO THOSE WHO ARE IN OPPOSITION FOR 30 MINUTES. IS THERE A MOTION?

>> SO MOVED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. SO WITH THAT, LET ME ASK, BECAUSE AS I SEE MS. ROLLINS MOVING TOWARD THE MICROPHONE, WHAT IS YOUR SUGGESTION, MA'AM?

>> WOULD YOU MIND IF WE CHOSE OUR OWN ORDER?

>>MAYOR WATSON: NO, AS LONG AS IT'S 30 MINUTES.

>> THANK YOU.

>>WYNN: MAYOR, I GUESS A TECHNICAL QUESTION. WILL THIS BE IN FAVOR OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OR THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION OR HOW -- WHAT'S THE --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WELL, WHAT I WAS JUST SUGGESTING THAT WE'LL HAVE ONE -- CHANGES TO THE IDEA OF CONNECTIVITY I GUESS IN A GENERAL SENSE AND LET THEM DECIDE HOW -- IF WE HAVE SOMEBODY AT THE END OF THIS THING THAT JUST IS IN AB INJECT OPPOSITION BECAUSE THEY ARE FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, WE'LL PLAY IT BY EAR AT THAT POINT.

>>WYNN: OKAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL YOURS.

>> FOR THE RECORD. I'M ROCHELLE ROLL INNINGS. I SAT ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION FROM 1997 TO 1999. I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE STARTING INITIATIVE OF THE THIS ORDINANCE AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. I WAS HOPING THAT THIS ORDINANCE WOULD HAVE COME BEFORE YOU ALL BEFORE I HAD MY SECOND CHILD WHO IS NOW ALMOST TWO, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE. I'M STILL HERE. AND I'VE STILL BEEN WORKING ON IT. THIS ORDINANCE WAS PASSED -- THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION WAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN 1999. AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF HOW THAT GOT STARTED AND WHY. I'M SORRY I DON'T HAVE A NICE POWER POINT FOR YOU. I HAVE PEN AND PAPER, I HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THIS AND THIS WILL WORK.

>> TIME IS TICKING.

>> I USUALLY HAVE THIS TURNED THE OTHER WAY. IS THIS ON?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YEAH.

>> AS YOU KNOW, THE PLANNING COMMISSION SEES HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF SUB DWIGTSZ EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT, SUBDIVISION AFTER SUBDIVISION AFTER SUBDIVISION MUCH WE SAW QUITE A FEW BEFORE WE STARTED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO WITH SUBDIVISIONS. WHAT WE WERE SEEING AND I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE MACRO LEVEL HERE. START OFF WITH A TWO-LANE ROAD. GET ONE LITTLE POD SUBDIVISION OFF OF IT. A FEW WAYS IN, A FEW WAYS OUT, HEAVY RELIANCE ON THE MAJOR ROAD DOWN HERE. INSIDE THIS POD LOTS OF DEAD END STREETS. YOU KNOW HOW THEY LOOK. COME ALONG A LITTLE LATER, ANOTHER POD. AGAIN, LOTS OF DEAD END STREETS AND CUL-DE-SACS AND A LACK OF CONNECTIVITY. THEN SOME MORE ON THIS SIDE. AND PRETTY SOON THIS STREET ISN'T GOING TO BE A TWO-LANE STREET ANYMORE. IT'S GOING TO BE A FOUR-LANE STREET AND THEN A SIX-LANE STREET AND THEN IT'S GOING TO BE PARDON ME THEIR CHILDREN HAVE TO CROSS TO GET TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WE SAW A PROBLEM WITH THIS PATTERN. WE DIDN'T FEEL THAT ONCE YOU SET UP THIS BASIC PATTERN, THERE WAS ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR MIXED USE OR PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. WHEN YOU HAVE A PATTERN LIKE THIS, YOU CAN'T PUT-CAN'T PUT RETAIL UP HERE IN SUBDIVISIONS. AND THE ONLY PLACE YOU ARE GOING TO PUT RETAIL IS DOWN HERE ON THIS ROAD THAT IS GETTING WIDER AND WIDER AND HAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC SO WE'RE GETTING BIG BOX RETAIL, STRIP MALLS, WE'VE LOST ANY ROADS UPON WHICH WE COULD POSSIBLY ZONE FOR SMALLER TYPE BUSINESSES. AND WE WANTED TO CREATE THAT AND WHEN WE FIRST STARTED WE HAD NO IDEA HOW TO CREATE THAT. AND WE MET WITH TRACY WATSON, AUSTIN LIBRACH AND ALICE GLASCO AND THEY ALL AGREED WE NEED TO DO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. WE STARTED MEETING IN SUBCOMMITTEE ON A WEEKLY BASIS AND WE FIRST STARTED BY LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAD IN OUR OWN LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND FOUND THERE WAS A REQUIREMENT FOR 100 FOOT BLOCKS AND THAT WAS A LIMIT ON THE BLOCK LENGTH WHICH WOULD STAB SOME DEGREE OF CONNECTIVITY AND A LIMIT ON THE LENGTH OF CUL-DE-SAC STREETS TO 2,000 FEET. BUT THESE REQUIREMENTS WERE OFTEN IGNORED, VARIANCES AND WAIVERS WERE OFTEN PROVIDED. EVEN THE STANDARDS WE HAVE WERE LARGELY UNEVEN FORCED. AT THE SAME TIME, THE COUNCIL FUNDED A STUDY TO BE DONE BY U.T. STUDENTS THAT LOOKED AT OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY THAT HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED STANDARDS. PORTLAND, BEAVERTON, FORT COLLINS IN COLORADO, HUNTERS IN CAROLINA, MIDDLETOWN IN DELAWARE, ORLANDO IN FLORIDA HAVE ALL BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS SAME ISSUE. AND THE PREDOMINANT METHOD THAT THEY CHOSE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WAS BLOCK LENGTHS, DEALING WITH BLOCK LENGTHS. THE METRO GOVERNMENT IN OREGON, THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT DID A STUDY, THEY USED THE MOLDZ FOR FORECASTING REGIONAL TRAVEL DEMANDS AND COMPARED THE RESULTS OF VARYING THE LEVEL OF CONNECTIVITY IN FIVE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THEY FOUND THAT HIGH LEVELS OF CONNECTIVITY IMPROVED TRAFFIC FLOW IN ARREST YEARIALS AND CALDWELL COUNTY THE OPTIMUM IS ONE CONNECTION EVERY 330 TO 530 FEET. NOW, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS, HYDE PARK HAS AN AVERAGE BLOCK ENT OF 300 FEET. SO IT'S ONE FOOTBALL FIELD. 600 FEET THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS PROPOSING IS TOO FOOTBALL FIELDS. IT'S REAL APRETTY LONG BLOCK GIVEN THE STUDY LOOKING AT THE OPTIMUM LEVEL AS 330 TO 530 FEET, 600 IS PRETTY LOOSE. AND WE CAME UP WITH 600 WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF STAFF. THEY LOOKED AT ALL OF THE INNERCITY NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE EAST SIDE TO THE WEST SIDE, TRAVIS LIGHTS INCLUDED AND FOUND THAT ON AVERAGE ALL THESE NEIGHBORHOODS COULD MEET A 600 FOOT BLOCK LENGTH. SO WE HAD SOME IDEA WHAT THAT MEANT TO US. THAT IS WHY WE OPTED FOR VOTING IN FAVOR OF 600. I'LL LET DAVE SULLIVAN CONTINUE FROM HERE. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN MY DRAWING.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU ARE GOING TO NEED TO MOVE YOUR UNFRIENDLY DRAWING.

>> OH, SORRY. I'M BEING TWO PLACES AT ONCE. I'VE GOT TO GET RID OF THIS ONE TOO. I THINK YOU WILL ALL RECOGNIZE THIS PATTERN PERHAPS A LITTLE BETTER THAN MY DRAWING BECAUSE MY ARTISTIC ABILITY. THIS IS A TRADITIONAL SUBDIVISION OFF A STREET R OFF A ROAD, TWO LANES AT THIS POINT IN TIME. SOME DAY TO BE FOUR, SIX LANES WIDE. YOU CAN SEE IT'S NOT GOING TO CONNECT. WHEN THERE IS GOING TO BE A SUBDIVISION NEXT TO IT, IT'S NOT DESIGNED IN A WAY TO CONNECT TO THE NEIGHBORING SUBDIVISION. AND THIS PATTERN OF LAND USE IS NOT A PATTERN THAT'S EFFICIENT. IT'S IF I HAVE CONSULT FOR FIRE, EMERGENCY RESPONSE WITH A FEW WAYS IN AND OUT OF THE SUBDIVISION, IT'S EXPENSIVE FOR THE CITY FOR TRASH COLLECTION. IT'S GOT THE HEAVY RELIANCE ON ARTERIALS WHICH ARE SUBSIDIZED BY THE CITY. IT'S NOT A VERY EFFICIENT LAND USE PATTERN, DIFFICULT TO SERVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. I BELIEVE YOU ALL RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CAPITAL METRO ENDORSING THE CONCEPT OF IMPROVING CONNECTIVITY. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND AGAIN I'LL LET DAVE CONTINUE FROM HERE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS DAVE SULLIVAN, I SIFRB ODD THE CITY OF AUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION FROM 1995 TO 1999 AND ON THE SMART GROWTH TASK FORCE IN 1998. WHAT I'M SHOWING IS SOME DATE THAT THAT COMPARES THE AMOUNT OF DRIVEING IN THE AUSTIN AREA TO THE POPULATION IN THE AUSTIN AREA. THE REASON I'M SHOWING THIS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE -- YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE AMOUNT OF CONGESTION THAT IS IN THE AREA AND THE FACT THAT AUSTIN IS NOW RATED AS ONE OF THE WORST OR THE WORST CITY OF ITS SIZE IN THE UNITED STATES AND PART OF THAT IS EXPLAINED BY THE FACT POPULATION GROWS AT AN ANNUAL RATE OF ABOUT 3% A YEAR. BUT VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED GROWS AT A RATE OF MORE THAN 4% A YEAR. IN THE TIME THAT IT TOOK AUSTIN'S POPULATION TO GO UP 50%, THE AMOUNT OF DRIVING IN THE AREA DOUBLED. WENT UP 100%. AS A RESULT, WE HAVE GREATER CONGESTION AND IF WE WERE GOING TO SOLVE THAT CONGESTION SIMPLY BY BUILDING ROADS ON A PER CAPITA BASIS CITIZENS WOULD HAVE TO SPEND INCREASING AMOUNTS FROM YEAR TO YEAR. SO PART -- THAT'S PART OF WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS CONNECTIVITY ISSUE. I WANT TO GIVE YOU A FEW EXAMPLES WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AROUND THE CITY WE -- FIRST OFF LET ME SAY WHAT THIS ORDINANCE IS ABOUT IS ABOUT THREE THINGS. THE ORDINANCE IS ABOUT-I DON'T THINK WE REALLY DELINEATED THIS, BUT THE ORDINANCE IS ABOUT THE 600-FOOT BLOCK LENGTH ISSUE. THE ORDINANCE IS ALSO ABOUT WHEN CUL-DE-SACS ARE ALLOWED, THAT CUL-DE-SACS MUST BE CONNECTED TO SOME OTHER STREETS. FURTHERMORE, THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS ON GATED COMMUNITIES. I HAVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES THAT SHOW THE NEED FOR THIS CONNECTIVE. REMEMBER, THIS SUBDIVISION CASE RIGHT HERE IN EASTERN TRAVIS COUNTY, EARLY ON IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHERE IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH IS ONLY CONNECTED AT ONE POINT TO MLK. YEAH, EAST MLK, AND TO THE NORTH TO LOYOLA LANE. IN BETWEEN IT HAS LIMITED CONNECTIVITY. WHEN WE APPROVED THIS I PREDICTED THIS WOULD BECOME A FUTURE IMPOVERISHED AREA BECAUSE WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO APPROVE IT, BUT SECONDLY BECAUSE IT WAS ISOLATED, IT WOULD BECOME THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE PROPERTIES COULD BECOME RUNDOWN AND THEY WOULD BE FAR REMOVED FROM POLICE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES AND I WOULD NOT CONSIDER THIS TO BE SMART HOUSING. ONE OF THE POINTS YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM STAFF I BELIEVE IS THEY HAVE CONCERNS THAT OUR CONNECTIVITY RAISES COSTS. BUT IF YOU TOOK A SUBDIVISION LIKE THIS AND INCREASED ITS CONNECTIVITY THERE WOULD BE FASTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE SO IT WOULD BE SAFER. YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO -- CHILDREN WOULD BE ABLE TO WALK TO SCHOOL TO REDUCE THEIR PARENTS DRIVING. THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD BE ABLE TO BICYCLE SO THERE WOULD BE ABLE TO CUT DOWN ON TRANSPORTATION COSTS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF THIS AROUND THE CITY. I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO GREAT DETAIL TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THEM. I HAVE EIGHT EXAMPLES. THE POINT IS IN EACH CASE THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY, FOR INSTANCE, TO CONNECT -- LET ME GO TO MY OTHER ONE. I LIKE IT BETTER. GO TO LIVING COLOR. MY FIRST NIGHT ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN 1995, WE HAD THE LARGEST ZONING -- THE LARGEST MULTI-FAMILY ZONING CASE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WESTERN HEM MISS FEAR HERE ON REATTA TRACE OFF RESEARCH BOULEVARD OF THE ALL THIS AREA NOW IS APARTMENTS. THERE WAS A STREET OVER HERE THAT WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN CONNECTED SHE BUT DEVELOPERS SOUGHT A VARIANCE BASED ON COMPLAINTS FROM THE NEIGHBORS. THE PLANNING COMMISSION GRANTED THE VAR GANSZ BUT REQUIRED A PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION. THE SAME KIND OF THING THIS ORDINANCE WOULD REQUIRE. WHEN IT CAME TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THE NEIGHBORS OBJECTED EVEN TO A PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION AND THE CITY COUNCIL BACKED DOWN ON IT. PART OF WHY WE'RE TRYING TO PUT THIS IN THE ORDINANCE IS TO INSTITUTIONIZE THIS. SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME UP ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. WE FEEL IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO OVERCOME THE TYPE OF ECONOMIC SEGREGATION THAT OCCURS WHEN PEOPLE ARE SEQUESTERED OFF IN APARTMENTS OR SEQUESTERED OFF FROM RESIDENCES. AND THAT'S A SEVERE NEGATIVE ELEMENT TO THE CITY. I WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC POINTS AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ANOTHER SPEAKER. IF I CAN HAVE THE LIGHTS. CITY STAFF WILL COMMENT ABOUT THIS -- HAS COMMENTED ABOUT THE INCREASED COST FOR THIS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA THAT I SHOWED THERE ABOUT DRIVING IN THE CITY, THE AVERAGE AUSTINITE DRIVES 20 MILES PER DAY. AT 25 CENTS A MILE, WHICH IS IS A LOW ESTIMATE FOR HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO DRIVE, THAT TRANSLATES FOR A HOUSEHOLD OF TWO DRIVERS INTO $3650 A YEAR SPENT ON TRANSPORTATION. NEAL PIERCE IN A OP ED PIECE PUT THAT FIGURE AT THE $7,000 TO $9,000 RANGE SO HIS ESTIMATE WAS MUCH HIGHER. SO I BELIEVE I'M GIVING A VERY CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE THERE THAT THE AVERAGE FAMILY WITH TWO DRIVERS SPENDS ABOUT $3600 A YEAR IN TRANSPORTATION COSTS. IF THROUGH A COMBINATION OF BETTER SUBDIVISION DESIGN AND MORE MIXED USE ZONING WE CAN REDUCE THE AMOUNT PEOPLE DRIVE BY ONLY 10%, THEN OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD WE'LL RECOUP, THE AVERAGE FAMILY, $1,000. OVER A SIX-YEAR PERIOD, $2,000. YOU MAY HEAR THAT $2,000 FIGURE AS THE UPPER END OF THE INCREASED COST PER LOT. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THE INCREASED COST PER LOT TO THE PURCHASER WILL BE RECOUPED THROUGH DECREASED TRANSPORTATION COSTS. IF THERE IS A QUESTION WITH MY NUMBERS I WOULD ASK STAFF TO LOOK INTO THAT. THE POINT IS WE BELIEVE THERE ARE EXTERNAL THINGS THAT WILL BE CAPTURED, COST OF DRIVING, COST OF POLLUTION, COST OF DECREASED SECURITY BECAUSE OF THE LONGER TIME FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES TO RESPOND. THAT WILL ALL LEAD TO REDUCED COSTS IN THE LONG RUN WITH THIS ORDINANCE. THE LAST POINT I WANT TO BRING UP IS THAT THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL POINTS TO FOUR POOR SUBDIVISIONS DESIGN IN AMERICA SINCE WORLD WAR II AS ONE OF THE CAUSES OF DECREASED HEALTH IN AMERICA AND INCREASES IN OBESITY. MUCH SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN WALK TO SCHOOL NOW THAN FORMERLY DID. FEWER PARENTS LET THEIR CHILDREN WALK BECAUSE OF INCREASED TRAFFIC. IF WE PROVIDE SAFE STREETS, MORE CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO WALK, TO DO TRIPS OR BICYCLE TO DO TRIPS. I'M REMINDED OF THE CASE WHERE ONLY ONE ROUTE WAS AVAILABLE TO GET TO A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND AS A RESULT OF THE FACT THAT ALL THE TRAFFIC WENT ON THAT ONE STREET, THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT CONSIDERED CLOSING THAT STREET TO BICYCLES BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO DO THAT. AGAIN, INCREASING THE AMOUNT THAT PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE TO REACH THAT SCHOOL. HAD THAT SCHOOL BEEN PLACED IN THE CENTER OF A GRID PATTERN OF STREETS WITH MULTIPLE ROUTES AVAILABLE TO REACH THAT SCHOOL, THEN THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A QUESTION. I COULD TALK ON THIS SUBJECT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BECAUSE I'VE WORKED ON IT FOR THREE YEARS, BUT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ANOTHER SPEAKER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE MORE WORDS BEFORE KENT BUTLER SPEAKS. AGAIN, AS TO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING HERE, THIS PATTERN WOULD HAVE SOME MORE STREETS IN IT. IDEALLY. OKAY? IT'S NOT A STRICT GRID. 600-FOOT BLOCK, AGAIN, THE LENGTH OF TWO FOOTBALL FIELDS. THERE WERE ISSUES ABOUT INCREASED COSTS WHICH KEN IS GOING TO SPEAK TO. THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN TRYING TO ADDRESS THE COST ISSUE, WE CREATED A VARIANCE PROVISION FOR STEEP SLOPES AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES AND OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE STREETS IN A 600-FOOT PATTERN. YOU CAN GET A VARIANCE, AN ADMINISTRATIVE VARIANCE, YOU CAN ALSO GET ONE FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A LORNG STREET. WE ALSO NARROWED THE STREET AS MUCH AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD CON SENT TO. THE STREET PROPOSAL FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED NARROWING THE STREETS FOR ALL CATEGORIES OF STREETS. I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT EUGENE, OREGON HAS GONE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 18 FEET FOR SOME OF ITS STREETS WHICH IS MORE NARROW THAN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS WILLING TO SIGN OFF ON. IF THEY CAN DO IT THERE, WE CAN PROBABLY DO IT HERE. IF WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS COST ISSUE AGAIN, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE WIDTH OF THOSE STREETS. I'M GOING TO LET KENT BUTLER ADDRESS THE DETAIL IN MORE ISSUE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MS. BROWN, WOULD YOU MAKE SURE MS. ROLLINS'S DRAWING IS PUT AS PART OF THE RECORD SO WHEN PEOPLE LOOK BACK TEN YEARS FROM NOW THEY WILL UNDERSTAND WHY WE DID IT THAT WAY.

>> I WAS GOING TO DRAW. NOW I DECIDED NOT TO.

>>MAYOR WATSON: GOOD.

>> I'M KENT BUTLER. I'M ON THE FACULTY AT COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING PROGRAM AT U.T., SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE. I WAS NOT PART THAT HAVE U.T. STUDY THAT WAS REFERRED TO EARLIER. I'M HERE ON MY OWN BEHALF. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY QUESTION THAT WE ALL WANT A MORE LIVEABLE CITY AND A MORE DESIRABLE CONNECTIVITY IN STREETS. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ANTAGONISM AND CONFLICT OVER THIS ISSUE, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT WHERE WE WANT TO GO, IT'S ABOUT HOW WE IMPLEMENT IT AND WHAT THE RESULTS LOOK LIKE. I DID ON MY OWN BEHALF LOOK AT WHAT WAS DONE BY A TASK FORCE LOOKING AT CAN'TER BARRY TRAILS AND STEINER RANCH AND I VISITED BRIEFLY WITH MR. ERWIN WHO WINDSOR LOCKS WITH KB HOMES. THAT'S NOT MY HOME BUILDING COMPANY BY THE WAY. AND LEARNED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SPRINGFIELD SUBDIVISION THAT WAS REVIEWED BY HIM AND OTHERS AS WELL. I TOOK MY OWN -- OF MY OWN LIBERTY, I LOOKED AT THE CANTERBURY TRAILS PROJECT AND MADE SOME DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE ECONOMICS COMPARED TO WHAT THE TASK FORCE DID. THE REASON I DID THAT WAS THAT IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE TO EVALUATE A POLICY ISSUE LIKE THIS BY TAKING AN EXISTING PROJECT AND THEN TRYING TO RETROFIT IT. IT'S AS IF YOU TAKE A PERSON WITH ONE HAND TIED BEHIND HIS BACK AND ASK THEM TO DO A TWO-HANDED JOB. ALL I DID WAS MAKE A COUPLE OF ADJUSTMENTS TO WHAT THE TASK FORCE DID BY TAKING A FRESH LOOK AT IT, KEEPING THE SAME LOT SIZE, AND THEN MAKING THE ASSUMPTION THAT THAT PROJECT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN THE FIRST PLACE, SPECIFICALLY BY WALLING OFF CHAPEL LANE FROM ANY CONNECTIONS AT ALL, AND THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT BY MAXIMIZING PROFIT AND MINIMIZING ACCESS, IT WAS AN EXTREME CASE OF EXCLUSIVITY IN THAT KIND OF A PROJECT DENSITY. IT WAS NOT ONE TO COMPARE TO HA THE NEW ORDINANCE WOULD DO UNLESS YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT THE EXTREME CONDITIONS WOULD GENERATE. TO COME UP WITH THE COST OF THIS NEW ORDINANCE AS COMPARED TO AN EXTREME CASE WAS FUNDAMENTALLY UNFAIR. I MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS. I'LL BE HAPPY TO GO OVER THEM WITH YOU OR YOUR STAFF. I HAVE SOME NUMBERS I CALCULATED. I WANT TO GIVE YOU JUST A SUMMARY. COMING UP WITH A SLIGHT MODIFICATION TO WHAT THE TASK FORCE DRX I FOUND THAT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AT THAT TIME WHICH INCLUDED NARROWER RIGHT-OF-WAY, NARROWER STREETS AND THE SMALLER LOT SIZES OF 5,000 SQUARE FEET, WOULD INCREASE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER UNDER THE PLAN THAT I DID BY 40,000 SQUARE FEET UNDER THE NEW PLAN. IT DOES INCREASE IMPERVIOUS COVER. IT WOULD INCREASE THE COST BY $330,000. BUT THE NUMBER OF LOTS YIELDED WITH THE MODIFICATIONS I MADE WENT UP TO 389 LOTS WHERE IT STARTED WITH 357. THE TASK FORCE BROUGHT IT UP TO 379, BUT I WAS ABLE TO BRING IT UP TEN MORE LOTS WITH SIMPLE MODIFICATIONS THAT ANY URBAN PLANNER WOULD QUICKLY SAY AND CERTAINLY CITY OF AUSTIN LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE WOULD SAY THAT'S FINE, IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE REQUIREMENT. THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW NOW. AND IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE DESIREABILITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE NET RESULT WAS THE COST PER LOT GOT CHEAPER BY $32 A LOT. YOU ARE GOING TO SEE NUMBERS TONIGHT OF ANYWHERE FROM $600 TO $1900 TO $2500 PER LOT INCREASE. QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T DOUBT THESE NUMBERS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WERE USED. MY NUMBERS WERE SCIENCE, BUT THEIR NMS ARE SCIENCE. YOU ARE HEARING SCIENCE VERSUS SCIENCE. I'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE MY ASSUMPTIONS, BUT I THINK THE CORE ASSUMPTION IS IF WE LOOK AT A NEW PROJECT AND NOT RETROFIT OLD PROJECTS THE NOT COST IS NOT GOING TO BE ANYWHERE NEAR THE KIND OF VALUE INCREASES PER LOT THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. NOW, I WANT TO MAKE ONE OTHER POINT AND THAT IS THAT THE PROPOSAL BY THE STAFF, MANY OF WHOM ARE MY COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS, PEOPLE I'VE WORKED WITH AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, I THINK THEIR INTENTIONS ARE WELL MEANING, BUT I THINK THE IDEA OF INCENTIVES, WHICH I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT IN MANY CASES IS FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG IN THIS CASE. LET'S AGREE WE WANT TO HAVE SMALLER LOT SIZES. LET'S AGREE WE WANT TO GO DOWN TO 5,000 SQUARE FEET LOTS. I'M WORKING WITH CITIES ALL OVER CENTRAL AND NORTH TEXAS WHO HAVE MUCH SMALLER LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS. LET'S NOT PENALIZE THE DEVELOPER TO HOLD THEM TO IT 5700 SQUARE FOOT LOT UNLESS THEY AGREE TO CONNECT THE STREETS MORE. LET'S NOT REQUIRE THEM TO BUILD MORE PAVEMENT AND WIDER RIGHT-OF-WAY AND CONSUME MORE LAND WITHOUT ANY TAX BASE GAIN UNLESS THEY AGREE TO WHAT IS GOOD, WHICH IS CONNECTIVITY, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. TO ME I HATE TO USE THIS METAPHOR, IT'S LIKE DANGLING FOOD IN FRONT OF A HUNGRY PERSON AND SAYING IF YOU WANT TO FOOD YOU NEED TO, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW THE RULES OF ETIQUETTE OR SOMETHING. IF IT'S RIGHT TO HAVE MORE CONNECTIVITY AND TO HAVE SMALLER LOTS AND TO VERY CLOSER BUILD TO LINES, AND ALL THE THINGS YOUR STAFF ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS ORDINANCE, LET'S NOT MAKE IT INCENTIVE, LET'S MAKE IT A FREE OFFER FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO USE THOSE. AS FAR AS WE CAN GO THE BETTER. I THINK OVERALL THE PROPOSAL BY THE STAFF AND BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION BOTH ARE SMALL FOOTSTEPS IN THE DIRECTION WE NEED TO GO IN TERMS OF INCREASING LIVEABILITY. AND TO USE REGULATION IS NOT THE BEST, BUT I THINK WE'RE SEEING THE RULE RATHER THAN THE EXCEPTION GOING TO OTHER WAY AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN AS ECONOMISTS CALL IT MARKET FAILURE WE NEED TO STEP IN AND MAKE SOME REDRESS OF WHAT OUR CITY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES TO DO IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE].

>>ALVAREZ:: YOU ARE ASSUMING A SMALLER?

>> NARROWER STREET WIDTH, NARROWER RIGHT-OF-WAY WIDTH. IT DOES INCREASE THE LAND AVAILABLE, THE YIELD FOR THE NUMBER OF LOTS IN A PROJECT, I THINK SOME OF THE STUDIES THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT TONIGHT DID NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT WHEN THEY MADE THEIR CALCULATIONS. IF WE ARE GOING TO BE FAIR, OBJECTIVE, A RIGOROUS STUDY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHAT THE RULES OFFER, NOT EACH MAKING OUR CASE TO STRETCH OUR POINTS. I MAY BE GUILTY OF STRETCHING SOME POINTS, TOO. I DON'T THINK BUT I WILL BE THE FIRST TO SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO EXPOSE MY ASSUMPTIONS TO OTHERS TO LET THEM TEAR IT APART. I KNOW THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THE OTHER STUDIES.

>> I DID LOOK AT THE EXAMPLES, SOME OF THE STATISTICS, THEY DID POINT TO A HIGHER IMPERVIOUS COVER, I WILL ASK THAT QUESTION AGAIN OF WHOEVER MAY HAVE WORKED ON THAT. BUT IN YOUR CALCULATIONS, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IF YOU ARE NARROWING THE STREET, THEN YOU HAVE LESS IMPERVIOUS COVER AND SO -- I GUESS THAT I AM WONDERING WHY --

>> WHY IT WENT UP.

>>> WHY THE IMPERVIOUS COVER GOES UP, WE ARE NARROWING THE WIDTH.

>> I KNOW THERE'S MORE STREETS --

>> THAT'S WHY IT GOES UP, IT WENT UP BY 40,000 SQUARE FEET OVER THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT OF 393,000 SQUARE FEET. SO IT WENT UP BY 10%. WHICH IS A TRADEOFF. THERE'S NO QUESTION.

>>ALVAREZ: OKAY. THANKS.

>> MY NAME IS STEVE RODGERS, I'M A CITIZEN, NOT AN EXPERT ON URBAN DESIGN. I'M AN URBAN DWELLER, I GUESS I'M AN EXPERT ON THAT. THE -- I DO A LOT OF WALKING AND I -- I'M AWARE OF LACK OF SIDEWALKS, LACK OF ABILITY TO GET ACROSS STREETS. AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SITUATION OF GETTING STUCK IN A CUL DE SAC. THE CONNECTIVITY ISSUE, IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE YOUR FEET AS TRANSPORTATION OR A WHEELCHAIR FOR TRANSPORTATION, BICYCLE PROBABLY FOR TRANSPORTATION, YOU WILL -- A CAR WILL GO LET'S -- AT LEAST 10 TIMES FURTHER AND FASTER THAN YOU IN A GIVEN AM OF TIME, A LOT MORE THAN THAT, REALLY, IF THE CONNECTIVITY OF THE ROADWAYS WAS SUCH THAT PEOPLE HAD TO GO FIVE MILES OUT OF THEIR WAY, YOU WOULD HAVE A TERRIBLE SYSTEM OF ROADWAYS, EXACTLY THE SAME REASON, LACK OF CONNECTIVITY IN THE PATHS THAT YOU CAN TAKE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO WALK SOMEPLACE IS A BIG PROBLEM. MAKES IT SO YOU CAN'T GET ANYBODY. SO I -- I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT THIS IDEA IS BEING PROPOSED. AND I REALLY THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. I ALSO THINK THAT -- THAT IF YOU DON'T ENFORCE IT SOMEHOW, THE NEXT SUBDIVISION OVER DECIDES NOT TO DO IT. THROUGH WHATEVER 7 MEANS. YOUR CONNECTIVITY IS BROKEN. WHEN YOU CAN OPT OUT OF CONNECTIVITY YOU DON'T HAVE CONNECTIVITY. SO YOU NEED -- IT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A WAY WHERE IT REALLY HAPPENS. IF YOU CAN OPT OUT, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO IT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CONNECTIVITY. THE EXAMPLES OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN THAT EVERYONE SAYS ARE VERY GOOD TO GET AROUND IN HAVE GRIDS. THAT'S WHAT THE CENTRAL CITY LIKE HYDE PARK AND A LOT OF THE AREAS THAT ARE KNOWN TO BE EASY TO WALK OR BIKE IN, ARE GRID SYSTEMS WITH COMPLETE CONNECTIVITY. SO -- SO THANKS.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. SIX MINUTES, 17 SECONDS.

>> MAY WE RESERVE THAT FOR A RESPONSE?

>>GOODMAN: HOLD THE CLOCK FOR A MINUTE WHILE WE THINK. WE DIDN'T REALLY DECIDE ABOUT THIS. COUNCIL, DO YOU WANT TO JUST LET THEM HAVE THE 30 MINUTES IN WHATEVER.

>>MAYOR WATSON: [INAUDIBLE]. MICK.

>>WYNN: ASTHMAER OF THE MOTION, I AGREE WITH THAT.

>>GOODMAN: OKAY. USE IT NOW.

>> OKAY.

>> COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS BOB PATTERSON, I ALSO AM A FACULTY MEMBER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS REGIONAL COMMUNITY PLANNING PROGRAM. I AM SURE TO SUPPORT IN -- SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS PROPOSAL, I WOULD LIKE TO READ A PASSAGE TO YOU THAT MAY SOUND FAMILIAR. PICTURE THIS, A CITY OF DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS, TREE-LINED STREETS FEATURING SLOWER TRAFFIC AND FEWER CARS ON THE ROAD, NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ENCOURAGE WALKERS AND BIKISTS WITH CITIES THAT PROVIDE BUFFERS BETWEEN PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLES, MIXED DEVELOPMENTS, CAFES, DAYCARE CENTERS, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND TOWNHOUSES, ACCESSIBLE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MAKE WALKING AND OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION SAFE AND CONVENIENT. THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM CHAOS TO COMMON GROUND. I WOULD URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THIS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO PUSH FORWARD AND IMPLEMENT 15 YEARS OF CITIZEN BASED PLANNING EFFORTS IN AUSTIN. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP. ALSO FROM THAT REPORT, I'M -- JUST TO PARAPHRASE, WE LEARNED THAT WE REPRESENT A CONSENSUS OF COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS ACTIVISTS WHO LEARNED THROUGH EXPERIENCE THAT THE STATUS QUO BENEFITS NO ONE IN THE LONG RUN. WE SAW A SHARED SENSE OF DISSATISFACTION WITH THE STATUS YOUR, A READY WILLINGNESS TO DO WHAT WE COULD TO CHANGE IT. THE CITIZENS PLANNING IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE, AS YOU GO THROUGH THOSE REPORTS, WE FIND MULTIPLE REFERENCES TO THE TYPES OF -- OF DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE WOULD PREFER THROUGH VISUAL PREFERENCE SURVEYS, THROUGH MULTIPLE CITY-WIDE CHARETTES. THE COMMUNITY VISION PROJECT IN 1995, 1996, COUNCILMEMBER GOODMAN WAS THERE WITH US AT THAT, INVOLVED HUNDREDS OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS AND DESIGN PROFESSIONALS. WE HAD 60 DESIGN PROFESSIONALS COME TOGETHER AT THE END TO DEVELOP PRINCIPLES BASED ON THAT EXPERIENCE. PRINCIPLE 4, FROM THE COMMUNITY PROJECT, STATED EMPHASIZE DESIGN FOR PEOPLE RATHER THAN CARS. THE HIGH CONNECTIVITY NEIGHBORHOOD IS ONE THAT WILL DO THAT FOR YOU. THE ALTERNATIVE WILL NOT. WITHIN THAT, WE SPEAK TO THE ISSUE ENSURING CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN PLACES, PLACES BETWEEN OFFICES, HOUSES, SHOPS, PUBLIC SPACES, ENSURING CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN PLACES FOR PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS AND DRIVERS. IN MANY WAYS THIS GETS TO THE HEART OF THAT VERY POPULAR PASSAGE THAT PROFESSOR JERRY CONN IN PASADENA, THE FIVE MINUTE POPSICLE TEST. THE CONNECTIVITY ALLOWS FOR THE CREATION OF DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS WHERE NEIGHBORHOOD RETAIL, IT'S A STEP, NOT ALL, BUT A STEP THAT IS PART OF GETTING TO THAT DEVELOPMENT PATTERN THAT WE HAVE ALL TALKED ABOUT. IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE THAT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE TO THE VAGUE GARIES OF INCENTIVE BASED APPROACH. WE NEED IT IN OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. THOSE 11 CITIES QUOTE UNDERSTAND THE REPORT, THAT AUSTIN L.B.J. BRACK REFERENCED IN HIS POWER POINT PRESENTATION -- L.B.J. BRACK REFERENCED IN HIS POWER POINT. THEY ALSO ALL FACED SIMILAR QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF COST BENEFIT. AS WE NARROW THE STREETS DOWN, MAKE FOR SOME OTHER PROVISIONS, IS IT REALLY AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING QUESTION HERE, REALLY A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE? WHEN YOU DO THE COST BENEFIT FRAMEWORK, YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE BENEFITS LISTED BY AUSTIN LIBRACH, IS THAT SOMETHING WE WANT TO LEAVE TO CHANCE? I FOUND IT INTERESTING WHEN AUSTIN MENTIONED THAT THE T AND D ORDINANCE WASN'T AN INCENTIVE BASED. WE'VE HAD THAT ON THE BOOKS, WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF ACTIVITY AS YOU WELL KNOW. BUT WE ACTUALLY DID HOLD A CHARETTE WHERE WE DID A MARKET BASED ASSESSMENT. THE IDEA WAS BY THE END OF THAT WE WOULD SHOW WHAT WE HAD DONE IN THAT CODE WAS SOMETHING THAT THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY WOULD RESPOND IN. IN SEVEN YEARS IT HASN'T. AGAIN, I'M SKEPTICAL. THE QUESTION OF SOCIAL EQUITY AND FAIR GROWTH HAS BEEN RAISED. THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING QUESTION. I BELIEVE DR. BUTLER HIT IT ON THE NAIL. I THINK THAT THERE'S WAYS THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AND DEPENDING ON YOUR ASSUMPTIONS YOU MAY GET VERY DIFFERENT RESULTS. FROM AFFORDABILITY STANDPOINT, THERE'S ANOTHER DIMENSION TO CONSIDER IS WHAT AN AUTO DEPENDENT RESIDENTIAL PATTERN MEANS FOR THE LOWER INCOME COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN. WITHOUT ACCESSIBILITY, YOUR CHOICES ARE CONSTRAINED YOU MUST BE AUTO DEPENDENT. LAST WEEK DR. KELLY CLIFTON DEFENDED HER DISSERTATION LOOKING AT EAST AUSTIN LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, NORTH AND EAST. ONE OF THE INTERESTING FINDINGS WAS THAT IN MANY OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TO PROVISION THEIR HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE BASICS OF FOOD, MEDICINE, OTHER NECESSITIES. THEY ARE CHOOSING AUTO OWNERSHIP BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE. IN LIEU OF IN SOME CASES FOOD FOR THE FAMILY. TRULY STAGGERING RESULTS. YET TO GET TO WORK AND TO FUNCTION IN THIS CITY, WHEN YOU HAVE AUTO DEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS WITHOUT THE CONNECTIVITY, THIS IS A CHOICE THAT IS -- NOT REALLY A CHOICE, BEING FORCED UPON THEM BECAUSE THAT'S THE DEVELOPMENT PATTERN IN WHICH THEY LIVE IN.

>>GOODMAN: ONE MINUTE.

>> AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE, LAST YEAR I SERVED ON A NATIONAL APA PANEL LOOKING AT THE CONNECTIVITY ISSUE. MEMBERS OF THOSE CITIES THAT HAVE ADOPTED THIS, REQUIRED THIS, WERE THERE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE. THEY SAID THE -- THEY SAID THE COST BENEFITS WERE WEIGHED BY CITY COUNCILLS AND OVERRIDING CLEAR THAT CONNECTIVITY SERVES SO MANY OVERRIDING PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GO FORWARD WITH IT. THEY HAVE ADOPTED THEM. WE HAD 50 CITIES PRESENT AT THAT SESSION TO LEARN ABOUT IT THAT ARE ALSO EXPLORING THIS ISSUE. THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION IS INTERESTED IN PROVIDING MORE AND MORE INFORMATION TO THESE CITIES BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE IT AS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. IT'S A CORE PRINCIPLE FOR THE CONGRESS IN NEW URBANISM, A CORE ELEMENT OF SMART GROWTH AS ESPOUSED BY THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE. I URGE YOU TO GO FORWARD WITH IT, THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: 10 SECONDS. 9.

>> THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: 7, 6.

>> 7 SECONDS LEFT?

>>GOODMAN: 3, 2, 1. OKAY, FOR THE OTHER SIDE, YOU HAVE GOT ACTUALLY 42 MINUTES WORTH OF SPEAKERS AND 307 MINUTES. SO SHOULD I JUST WALK THROUGH -- GO THROUGH AND THE LAST SPEAKERS NOT GET TO SPEAK UNLESS THEY TRADE, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION?

>> MAYOR PRO TEM, MAY WE ORDER OURSELVES, ALSO? WE WON'T TAKE MORE THAN 30 MINUTES.

>> OKAY. GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M JANICE CARTWRIGHT, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF AUSTIN. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL HAVE ADOPTED A RESOLUTION THAT WAS DELIVERED TO YOU EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT SUPPORTS STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE ORDINANCE BEING PRESENTED TONIGHT. RECA SUPPORTS AN OPTIONAL WITH INCENTIVES SUBDIVISIONS STREETS ORDINANCE, INCENTIVES COULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE REDUCED MINIMUM LOT SIZES, IMPERVIOUS COVER ALLOWANCES AS WELL AS EXPEDITED REVIEW. OTHER RECA MEMBERS WILL ADDRESS YOU IN THEIR TESTIMONY EXPLAIN THE IMPRACTICALITY OF A MANDATORY ORDINANCE, WE HAVE HAD ALSO HAD A NUMBER OF OF THE RECA MEMBERS ADDRESS YOU IN WRITING. WE CO-SPONSORED A CHARETTE IN 1999, IN THAT CHARETTE TWO EXISTING SUBDIVISIONS WERE REDRAWN USING THE PROPOSED MANDATORY ORDINANCE. THE RILT? THE RESULT WAS THAT TO COMPLY WITH THE MANDATORY ORDINANCE, EVEN ASSUMING ALL VARIANCES ARE GRANTED, THE END COST OF A HOUSE WOULD BE INCREASED. THE COST TO A HOME BUYER IS INCREASED BY TWO TO $3,000. PER HOUSE. AS A RESULT OF SIDEWALKS, STREETS AND UTILITY LINES. AND THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST ATTRIBUTED TO OVERHEAD AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT. WHEEL RECA EMBRACES THE TRADITION OF TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN STANDARDS AND WHAT THEY HOPE TO ACHIEVE. WE BELIEVE THAT A MANDATORY ORDINANCE WILL INCREASE VARIANCE REQUESTS. IT WILL ENCOURAGE SPRAWL. IT WILL INCREASE IMPERVIOUS COVER, DECREASE DENSITY AND INCREASE THE COST OF A NEW HOUSE. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE THAT WILL ALLOW BUT NOT MONDAY DATE -- MANDATE DEVELOPERS TO DEVELOP IN A WAY THAT PROMOTES THE DESIRED CONNECTIVITY WHILE ALLOWING FUTURE AUSTIN HOMEOWNERS TO CHOOSE THE AMENITIES THAT THEY DESIRE. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS PETE WINSTEAD, I'M VERY PRIVILEGED TO THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE RECA STATE COUNCIL IN THE YEAR 2000. LET ME SAY THIS, I THINK THE GOALS HERE OF THESE ORDINANCES ARE TO BE ADMIRED AND SOUGHT AFTER. I THINK ONE SPEAKER SAID IT ON THE OTHER SIDE, IT'S REALLY HOW WE GET THERE. I'M VERY PROUD FRANKLY TO SAY TO YOU TONIGHT THAT THE RITA COUNCIL SUPPORTS THE CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT OPTIONAL PROGRAM WITH INCENTIVES, I'M GOING TO REPEAT IT. THE [INAUDIBLE] STATE COUNCIL OF AUSTIN SUPPORTS THE CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO GET THERE. JANICE SAID IT ALL VERY WELL. WE THINK THAT WE HAVE DONE SOME STUDIES OF THIS. AND FRANKLY YOU CAN ARGUE NUMBERS, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO DID THE CHARETTE AND TOOK THE TND TYPE STANDARDS AND APPLIED THEM TO THE TWO NEIGHBORHOODS, CANTEBURY TRAILS, STEINNER RANCH, ARE THE PEOPLE WHO BUILD IT EVERY DAY AND HAVE TO PUT A PENCIL TO IT, MAKE IT WORK. AS YOU HEARD JANICE SAY, THE COST PER HOUSE GOES UP $2 TO $3,000 PER HOUSE. MAYBE YOU CAN MAKE IT UP IN EASIER TRAVEL AND CONNECTIVITY. BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU THE ISSUE TODAY IN AUSTIN IS CAN THE FAMILY AFFORD TO GET IN THAT HOUSE? $3,000 MORE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON A MORTGAGE WITH SOMEBODY AT INCOME LEVELS THAT WE WORRY ABOUT IN AUSTIN. TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS ORDINANCE INCREASES THE COST OF HOUSING, IT GOES CONTRARY TO THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE THAT WE ARE ALL WORRIED ABOUT. I LOVE THE CHARGE ABOUT TRANSPORTATION. I LIVE THAT ISSUE EVERY DAY IN THIS TOWN. BUT LET ME TELL YOU THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRANSPORTATION CHART YOU SAW. PART OF THAT ISSUE, IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY THAT LOT IN AUSTIN, YOU HAVE GOT TO GO TO BASTROP. IF YOU ARE A POLICE OFFICER OR A SALARY IN AUSTIN, TO BE ABLE TO FIND GOOD HOUSING. EVERY MORNING YOU THEN LEAP IN YOUR CAR AND DRIVE DOWN 71 IN FRONT OF OUR NEW AIRPORT TO GET TO WORK. THAT IS A TRANSPORTATION COST. ANYWAY, MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER, IT SEEMS TO ME WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT IN AUSTIN. GIVEN WHAT WE DO HERE EVERY DAY. MORE SPRAWL IS GOING TO OCCUR. ON CONNECTIVITY, MOST OF WHAT I HEAR IN THIS CHAMBER IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAYING PLEASE DON OPEN UP THAT STREET, PLEASE DON'T CONNECT THAT GROUP THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK ASKING YOU FOR THE SPEED BUMPS TO SLOW DOWN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE USING MORE CONNECTIVITY. THAT SEEMS WRONG TO ME. ANYWAY, I THINK WE HAVE SAID IT. THE STATE COUNCIL SUPPORTS THIS. WE HAVE MET WITH EACH OF YOU ON IT. I WANT TO SAY ONE THING IN CLOSING. I WANT TO COMPLEMENT THE STAFF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN WHO LITERALLY HAS WORKED ON THIS WITH US FOR TWO YEARS OR MORE STUDYING THIS ORDINANCE AS IT'S BEEN OUT THERE. AUSTIN LIB BRACK, GEORGE ADAMS AND OTHERS. I THINK THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I'M PAUL LENAHAN, ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS IN AUSTIN FOR 22 YEARS, HAVE HAD ENGINEERS, DEVELOPERS, STAFF BEAT ME OVER THE HEAD TRYING TO MAKE THESE SUBDIVISIONS WORK. I DON'T THINK THAT I DISAGREE WITH DAVE SULLIVAN ON THE CONNECTIVITY, MAKING THINGS MORE SUITABLES FOR BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS. IN THE '80'S WE WERE FORCED TO DO 44 FOOT COLLECTORS AND BUILD THESE THINGS, A LOT OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEING NOW IS WHAT THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT WANTED. AND MANDATED. BUT AFTER THREE YEARS OF WORKING WITH GEORGE ADAMS AND AUSTIN LIBRACH AND BEING ON THE CHARETTE TEAM, THE FIRST THING THAT POPPED UP IS THE LIST OF VARIANCES THAT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO START COMING TO THE CITY STAFF AND ASKING FOR WHEN I WANT TO CROSS THE STREET, GET ON SLOPES THAT ARE IN THE WAY, WHEN I -- WHEN THERE'S A TREE IN THE WAY THAT I WANT TO WORK AROUND THAT'S PROTECTED, WHEN THERE'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURE WE ARE TRYING TO SAVE OR WHEN THE NEIGHBORHOODS COMING UP AGAINST ME, I'M TRYING TO MAKE IT COME ON CONSENT, BUT THEY ARE FIGHTING ME BECAUSE I HAVE THE STREETS CONNECTED. EVERY SUBDIVISION THAT I HAVE EVER DONE, I HAVE CONNECTED THE STREETS, COME TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE NEIGHBORHOODS BALKED, IN A LOT OF CASES THE STREETS NEVER WENT THROUGH BECAUSE REALLY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE COUNCIL, JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO SAY NO, WE WANT THAT STREET TO GO THROUGH. EVERYTHING NOT HYDE PARK. IT'S NOT ALL FLAT. EVEN IF IT WAS, I DON'T CONSIDER THIS GOOD PLANNING. CONSEQUENTLY I THINK THE THREE STRIKES AGAINST THIS THING IS MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER, BECAUSE OF CONNECTIVITY YOU CAN EASILY HANDLE THAT. WITHOUT THE IMPERVIOUS COVER BY DOING PEDESTRIAN LINKAGES. YOU HAVE LESS DENSITY BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE INTERCONNECTION, MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER, LESS LOTS ON THE GROUND. SO CONSEQUENTLY THE IN FILL STRATEGIES ARE MORE TOUGH TO DO, YOU HAVE -- THEN IT COSTS MORE TO PUT THESE BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE STREETS TO BUILD, MORE UTILITIES TO BUILD, MORE INNER CONNECTIONS TO BUILD, YOU LOSE A LOT. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THIS WHOLE THING IS BLOCK LINK AND THE DEFINITION. IF WE CAME IN AND YOU HAD -- YOU COULD PUT FOUR HOUSES THAT ARE OVER HALF ACRE IN SIZE ON THE END OF A CUL DE SAC, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BUILD A CUL DE SAC IF I CAN ONLY PUT FOUR LOTS ON IT. IF YOU MAKE THE DEFINITION OF BLOCK LINK CHANGE, YOU CAN PUT FOUR HOUSES ON EACH SIDE, HAVE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION TO THE OTHER SIDE, OTHER CUL DE SAC AT THE OTHER END, KIDS CAN GO BACK AND FORTH FORTH, PLAY BASKETBALL, PLAY IN THE STREETS, YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC BLOWING THROUGH. I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, THAT CUL DE SACS ARE GOOD. THE FIRST THING TO SELL IN A SUBDIVISION. I DON'T THINK 44 FOOT WIDE STREETS. SMALLER STREETS ARE GOOD. YOU HAVE TO WORK ON HOW TO DO THE INNER CONNECTIVITY. ALSO THREE YEARS AGO, FOUR YEARS AGO NOW I WORKED WITH TRAVIS COUNTY ON SETTING THE BLUE BOOK SO OUR TRANSPORTATION STANDARDS MET THEIRS. NOW THAT WE HAVE GOT THE BLUE BOOK AND EVERYTHING IS WORKING GOOD BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND CITY, NOW WE WANT TO GO CHANGE OUR RULES ALL OVER AGAIN, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO TO A SUBDIVISION IN THE ETJ, WHICH MOST OF THEM WILL BE, YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS RUNNING THROUGH DIFFERENT MANUALS, ALSO WE DON'T HAVE THE MANUALS WRITTEN FOR THESE TYPE OF STANDARDS YET. THAT'S PROBABLY THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS HAVING WITH IT. ALSO YOU FORGET THAT CREEKS ARE USED FOR INNER CONNECT ACTIVITY. A LOT OF KIDS, A LOT OF PEOPLE USE CREEKS, HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS ALONG CREEKS TO CONNECT AND GET THROUGH DIFFERENT PORTIONS, BEST PLACE TO RIDE YOUR BICYCLE IN MY OPINION. SO AFTER WORKING WITH THE STAFF, I RECOMMEND YOU TO PLEASE GO WITH THE OPTIONS, THE MANDATES ARE PUTTING US INTO MORE OF A REGULATORY BOX. AND INSTEAD OF ALLOWING FOR GOOD DESIGN ALTERNATIVES AND THAT WE CAN DO DESIGN ALTERNATIVES THAT ALLOW FOR CONNECTIVITY.

>> COUNCIL AND STAFF, BILL HOWL, SMALL DEVELOPER, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW WE SPECIALIZE IN URBAN IN FILL REDEVELOPMENT SITES. IF -- OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO GO WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, NOT MAKING THIS MANDATORY. PART OF THE PROBLEMS ARE THAT WHEN WE COME INNER CITY TO DO TRACTS, THE ROADWAY CONNECTIVITY IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE'S SMALL TRACTS. WE WOULD BE AGAIN IN ANOTHER SITUATION THAT WE FACED WITH SEVERAL OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS SITTING NOW ON NUMBERS OF VARIANCES, WAIVERS, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VARIANCE AND WAIVER. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID ARE -- ARE NUMBERED THINGS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNED ME ABOUT MR. SULLIVAN'S NUMBERS, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT DOUBLING THE DRIVE TIMES, THE BIGGEST REASON FOR THAT IS THE CLOSEST LAND THAT'S BIG ENOUGH TO DEVELOP IS FURTHER AWAY. WE WORKED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND HAVE TALKED ABOUT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS DOING A NEW URBAN ORDINANCE. WE HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO THAT YET. NOW WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL. MANDATORY ORDINANCE. AND WE ALREADY KNOW THAT DOESN'T WORK. BECAUSE WE HAVE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL ORDINANCE TODAY AND WHEN YOU COME TO DO URBAN IN FILL OR YOU COME CLOSER INTO TOWN, YOU ARE LOOKING AT DOZENS OF WAIVERS, SEVERAL VARIANCES. UNDERSTAND, I DON'T OPPOSE THE STAFF AT ALL. CONNECTIVITY OF STREETS, PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY ARE ALL GREAT THINGS. I WAS HERE TWO MONTHS AGO WITH EXACTLY THAT PROBLEM WITH A VALID PETITION AND GUESS WHAT, GUYS? CONNECTIVITY WASN'T EVEN AN ISSUE. COUNCIL JUST VOTED NO. WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME LATITUDE IN THESE THINGS. WE HAVE WORKED WITH COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, COUNCILMEMBER GOODMAN, MS. GRIFFITH. IF YOU INCENTIVE BASE IT, TYPICALLY THEY ARE GOING TO GO WITH THAT, IN THIS CASE GRID STREETS IS THE THING OF TODAY AND MOST OF THE NEW SUBDIVISIONS ARE CLOSER TO GRID THAN WE'VE EVER HAD THEM. BUT MAKING THINGS OF THIS NATURE MANDATORY WHERE IT BECOMES SUBJECTIVE AT STAFF AND THEN THE CURRENT COUNCIL POLICY HAVING TO DO WITH NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THAT WHEN THEY HAVE A VALID PETITION AND WE ARE STUCK WITH AN ORDINANCE THAT WE CAN'T GET OUT OF. I DON'T THINK THAT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL MANDATORY ORDINANCE IS THE WAY WE FEED TO BE GOING. AS LOOKED AT, WE DO PROJECTS IN MANY CITIES OF THE SAME NATURE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOKED AT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES, HOW THOSE HAVE BEEN HANDLED. THEY HAVE MANDATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SOME STATES. THEY HAVE SINCE GOTTEN RID OF IT. THE REASON IS IT WAS MANDATED. WHEN THEY WENT BACK TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, SAID, HEY GUYS THIS IS WHAT WE NEED, THESE ARE THE INCENTIVES, THEN THEY GOT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS KIM BLAKER. I WAS APPOINTED OR ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERED TO BE ON THE TASK FORCE WHEN IT STARTED THREE YEARS AGO, WAS A MAJOR PARTICIPANT IN THE CHARETTE. I APPLAUD THE CITY STAFF, ESPECIALLY GEORGE ADAMS AND HIS TIRELESS EFFORTS AND AUSTIN LIBRACH, THEIR OPENNESS TO LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS OF THE STAKEHOLDERS HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE SOMETHING PAUL INDICATED, TOO. IT'S A CURRENT THEME. WE ARE NOT OPPOSE ODD THIS ORDINANCE, TO THE MANDATORY ADOPTION, THROWING OUT DECADES OF EXISTING CODES. LET'S GET THIS ORDINANCE IN PLATES AS AN OPTIONAL ORDINANCE, END SENT ACTIVIZE IT, DRAW THE PEOPLE IN THAT DIRECTION. INCENTIVIZE IT. THERE WAS A GOOD DEAL OF DISCUSSION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE ORDINANCE AS PROPOSED RIGHT NOW INCREASES IMPERVIOUS COVER AND DECREASES DENSITY, SOMETHING THAT I THINK THE CITY HAS BEEN DISCUSSING. THEY DON'T WANT TO DO. THEY WANT TO GO OPPOSITE THAT. WE WANT TO DENSE PHI AREAS, DECREASE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER, PULL IF. AFFORDABILITY IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ISSUE. WHETHER IT'S TRANSPORTATION RELATED. THE PROBLEMS WOULD REDUCE THE OVERALL DENSITY, POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF LAND THAT GETS DISTURBED, WILL INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF ROADS PUT ON A PROJECT. EXCAVATIONS, BASE, ASPHALTS, TRADITIONAL CURVES, WILL INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF DRAINAGE UTILITIES. PROBABLY WILL INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF WATER AND WASTEWATER THAT HAS TO GO IN, WILL MOST ASSUREDLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER. IN ALL OF THOSE INSTANCES WHERE WE ARE INCREASING, HOW CAN ALL OF THOSE ITEMS BE MORE, MORE, MORE, YET THE ORDINANCE NOT IMPACT AFFORDABILITY. THE COSTS CAN'T BE EQUAL TO WHAT THEY ARE RIGHT NOW. WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT CANTEBURY TRAILS, THAT WAS A SUBDIVISION LOOKED AT THE IN DESIGN CHARETTE. HAPPENS TO AN SUBDIVISION I DEVELOPED AT MILBURN HOMES. THE CITY HIRED TWO SEPARATE DESIGN PLANNING PROFESSIONALS. THE STAKEHOLDERS WERE THERE AND THEY PARTICIPATED ON THESE PLANS. I PARTICIPATED ON THE STEINER RANCH PLAN. THAT DESIGN WASN'T A RETROFIT. IT WAS A BRAND NEW DESIGN USING THE CODE AND CRITERIA OF THIS ORDINANCE. IT LOOKED AT USING A PAVEMENT WIDTH OF 28 FEET FOR THE LOCAL REGULAR STREETS AND 30 FOOT RIGHT-OF-WAYS. INSTEAD OF 30 FEET. IT LOOKED TO THE COLLECTOR ROAD OF 34 FEET INSTEAD OF THE 36. IT HAD THE MAIN ENTRYWAY. THEN ROADS THAT WERE ONLY 20 FEET OF PAVEMENT IN THERE. IN THE END, THE T AND D PLAN HAD 15,000 LINEAR FEET OF STREET VERSUS THE APPROVED PLAN THAT HAD 11,000 LINEAR FEET OF STREET. OVERALL INCREASE IN IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE OF 126,000 SQUARE FEET. THREE ACRES. WE DID GAIN MORE LOTS. THERE WAS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. BUT THE COST FOR GAINING THOSE MORE LOTS WAS $1950 SPREAD OUT EVEN OVER THE ADDITIONAL LOTS. STEINER RANCH WAS MOST WORSE. DONE OVER IN TOPOGRAPHICALLY CONSTRAINED WEST AUSTIN, THAT ENDED UP BEING ABOUT 26-2700 PER LOT. TO DRIVE THE POINT HOME, TEXAS A&M TEXAS A&M REAL ESTATE CENTER DID A STUDY ABOUT AFFORDABILITY ISSUES. IN THAT STUDY THEY SAID FOR EVERY $1,000 INCREASE WE HAVE IN THE PRICE OF HOUSING, YOU CUT OUT 28,000 TEXANS' ABILITY TO AFFORD THAT HOUSE. IN CLOSING I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE RETROFITING AREAS. WE DO HAVE GRID SYSTEMS HERE. I LIVE UNDERSTAND A COMMUNITY THAT LIVED THAT WAY. PEOPLE ARE LIKE WATER, THEY ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THAT PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE, IF THOSE SYSTEMS WORKED SO WELL, THEN WHY ARE WE GOING BACK AND RETROFITTING COMMUNITIES LIKE BOULDIN CREEK, HYDE PARK, WESTERN TRAILS. IT BECOMES A SOCIAL ISSUE. I THINK THERE'S A GOOD COMPROMISE WE CAN FIND IN HERE, BUT AGAIN I WOULD GO BACK AND REQUEST THAT YOU LOOK AT THIS ON AN OPTIONAL BASIS WITH INCENTIVES FOR DEVELOPERS. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU, 12 MINUTES, 15 SECOND, STOP THE CLOCK.

>> EXCUSE ME, WASN'T TO REMIND THE FOLKS THAT WE CAN HEAR BACK IN THE BACK, DON'T BE OFFENDED BY OUR ABSENCE.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. 12 MINUTES, 48 [LAUGHTER].

>> GOOD EVENING, I'M [INAUDIBLE] CHAVEZ, HERE REPRESENTING THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF AUSTIN. I THANK THE COUNCIL FOR LETTING ME ADDRESS THEM ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. IN LIGHT OF THE INTERESTS THAT RECA, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, I HAVE TO ASK WHAT ARE THE REAL JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THIS ORDINANCE. PROPONENTS HAVE NO REAL TANGIBLE EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT THIS ORDINANCE WILL DO WHAT IT END TO DO. AFTER MANY HOURS OF PERSONALLY TALKING TO PLANNERS AROUND THE CUB WHOSE CITIES HAVE SOME CONNECTIVITY STANDARDS, MANY OF THE CITIES THAT ARE DISCUSSED IN THE U.T. STUDY DISCUSSED EARLIER, I CANNOT FIND ONE STUDY DONE ON AN ACTUAL SUBDIVISION ON THE GROWN. ONE STUDY DONE ACTUALLY DEVELOPMENT ON THE GROUND REGARDING THE IMPACT OF THEIR CONNECTIVITY STANDARDS. THE BEST ENDORSEMENT OF SUCH STANDARDS CAME FROM ONE PLANNER WHO TOLD ME, YEAH, YEAH, I THINK THEY WORK PRETTY GOOD. SO THEY MENTIONED THE PORTLAND STUDY. WHICH WAS A MODELING STUDY, BUT AGAIN WAS NOT DONE ON AN ACTUAL SUBDIVISION OR DEVELOPMENT ON THE GROUND. I WOULD LIKE TO APPLY THE SAME STANDARD THAT DR. BUTLER APPLIED TO THE STEINNER RANCH EXAMPLE. MAYBE THAT WAS AN EXTREME EXAMPLE OR AN EXTREME CASE. THAT LEADS TO THE QUESTION WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? WHAT IS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR ESSENTIALLY LOCKING THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITES OUT OF THE HOUSING MARKET WITH NO REAL EVIDENCE THAT IT WILL EVEN WORK? YET AN OVERWHELMING BODY OF EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT IT WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS NEGATIVE IMPACT. MORE IMPORTANTLY WHY ARE WE PUSHING A STANDARD THAT WAS REJECTED OVER 60 YEARS AGO BY THE FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE IT WAS DEEMED TOO CHROSLY, TOO DANGEROUS FOR TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIANS AND ACCORDING TO THE STUDY THAT WAS PUBLISHED, I QUOTE HERE, THE OLD STANDARD OF GRID STREETS SOMEWHAT LIKE YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY DID NOT HAVE, A COMMUNITY EFFECT. I QUOTE. THE FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION ABANDONED THOSE STANDARDS FOR WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE TODAY. NOW, I'M SURE THAT YOU ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THIS STUDY, THE COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK'S THROUGH THE ROOF AFFORDABLE HOUSING STUDY DONE IN 1999. THIS UNMASKED THE HOUSING CRISIS IN AUSTIN .... THIS COUNCIL HAVE PUT INTO MAKING HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE F.YOU PASS THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU TODAY, THEN I SUGGEST ALL OF THOSE IN THE CHAMBER WHO WERE HERE ON THAT DAY YOU PASSED IT MIGHT AS WELL BRING YOUR MARSHMALLOWS, WE CAN PRETTY MUCH BURN THIS STUDY AND PUT ALL OF ITS IDEALS AND SUGGESTSES OUT THE WINDOW. PLEASE DO NOT PLACE AN UNDUE, UNWARRANTED FINANCIAL BURDEN ON NEW POTENTIAL HOME BUYERS. DO NOT LOCK THE HARDEST WORKING AUSTINITES OUT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DO NOT RETREAT FROM YOUR PROMISE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR STANDARDS THAT AS FAR AS WE CAN SEE DO NOT -- HAVE NOT BEEN PROVEN TO WORK IN PRACTICE. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING, I'M SCOTT SMILELY, A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER HERE IN AUSTIN. YOU HAVE HEARD THIS WILL CREATE SMALL, I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHY. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A LOT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITATIONS ON ALL OF OUR WATERSHEDS IN AUSTIN. WHEN THE NEW, IF THIS ORDINANCE WAS IMPLEMENTED IN MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER REQUIRED UPON A PER HOUSE BASIS, MORELAND WILL BE CONSUMED, THEREFORE THIS ORDINANCE WILL CREATE SMRAUL. ADDITIONALLY A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT THAT WILL HELP SOFTEN THIS ORDINANCE ARE ELEMENTS NOT IN THE ORDINANCE, THINGS LIKE LOWER -- NARROWER STREETS, SETBACKS ALONG THE STREETS, THEY ARE NOT IN THE ORDINANCE. ALL WE HAVE IS A THREE VERY BASIC ELEMENTS IN THIS CORNER ORDINANCE. ANOTHER ASPECT THAT WILL INCREASE CONSTRUCTION COSTS FOR THESE PROJECTS IS THE INCREASED REQUIREMENT TO CROSS OUR LITTLE SMALLER TRIBUTARIES WITHIN OUR DRAINAGE BASINS. THE ORDINANCE DOES ADDRESS CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES, DOESN'T REQUIRE YOU TO CROSS THOSE EXCEPT FOR WITHIN THE ORDINANCE PROVISIONS, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF STREAMS THAT ARE SMALLER THAN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONES THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE CROSSED IN THIS ORDINANCE. BY DOING THAT YOU ARE GOING TO INCREASE THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF THAT DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND ALSO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DISTURBING MORE AND MORE OF THOSE NATURAL TRIBUTARIES. I WOULD URGE YOU TO ADOPT THIS AS THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION WITH THE INCENTIVE.

>>GOODMAN: 8 MINUTES 40 SECONDS.

>> I'M HANK SMITH, A MEMBER OF THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED HERE. THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE WITH THIS IS AUSTIN IS A UNIQUE PLACE TO LIVE. THE REASON IT'S SO UNIQUE IS BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSITY THAT WE HAVE IN ALL ASPECTS. ONE OF THOSE IN THE WAY WE LIVE OUR SUBDIVISIONS ARE LAID OUT. WE HAVE A COMMUNITY EFFECT. EACH SUBDIVISION STANDS ON ITS OWN. ONE OF THE BIGGEST VARIANCES THAT COME BEFORE THIS PLANNING COMMISSION, THIS CITY COUNCILL, TIME AND TIME AGAIN IS THE INTERCONNECTIVITY ISSUE. WHILE IT'S BEING PROPOSED BY THE STAFF AND THE CITY, THE END RESIDENTS DON'T WANT IT. THEY DON'T WANT THE NEXT SUBDIVISION COMING THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD TO DRIVE THROUGH TO THE NEXT NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY ARE WILLING TO DEAL WITH THEIR INTERNAL ISSUES ON THEIR OWN BASIS. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PROMOTE INTERCONNECTIVITY WHEN THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN DON'T WANT THAT. WE DO A LOT OF ENGINEERING WORK AT STEINER RANCH. THERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF TOPOGRAPHICCAL CONSTRAINTS, A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW YOU TO PUT IT ON THE GROUND IN THE FRAMEWORK OF CERTAIN AREAS. ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT TOUGH LOOK AT WHEN YOU DEVELOP A SUBDIVISION IS WHAT THE TERRAIN, WHAT IS THE FEATURES THAT ARE OUT THERE, CRITICAL, BLUFFS, RIM ROCKS, CANYONS, CREEKS, A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS THAT TOUGH LOOK AT. YOU NEED THE FLEXABILITY TO WORK AROUND THOSE ISSUES WITHIN THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE NOW. I THINK THE INTERCONNECTIVITY IS IMPORTANT. I THINK ALL OF THE ISSUES IN THAT ORDINANCE ARE IMPORTANT, I THINK THERE ARE SOME CASES WHEN THAT SYSTEM WILL WORK WITH WELL. THE INCENTIVES CAN BE LAID OUT TO WHEN YOU HAVE A AREA THAT MAKES SENSE YOU CAN DO IT, DO IT AFFORDABILITY. I DON'T KNOW MANDATING WORKS. I THINK A MANDATORY ORDINANCE IS THE WRONG APPROACH TO HAVE RIGHT NOW. THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES, PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO THEM. I WILL LET OUR OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE TIME.

>> 6 MINUTES.

>> I'M CAROL KENIG, A PLANNER WITH CARTER AND BURGESS, ALSO A PLANNER WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR 8 YEARS. I BELIEVE THAT THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS IS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS, COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT. I AGREE THAT CONNECTIVITY OF TRANSPORTATION ROUTES IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF WELL PLANNED COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDES POSITIVE CIRCULATIONS FOR VEHICLISTS, CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS, IT CAN REDUCE AIR POLLUTION AND PROMOTES SMART GROWTH OBJECTIVES PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL. PROFESSIONALS TRAINED IN THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING A SUBDIVISION MUST CONSIDER MANY FACTORS, INCLUDING SITE CHARACTERISTICS AND REGULATORY RESTRICTIONS. AS YOU WELL KNOW, THE PLANNING JURISDICTION OF AUSTIN IS CHARACTERIZED BY A WIDE RANGE OF LANDSCAPES IN TERMS OF TOPOGRAPHY, VEGETATION, HYDROLOGY AND HISTORICAL PROPERTY BOUNDARIES, JUST TO MENTION A FEW. THE CURRENT PROPOSAL FOR CHANGES TO THE SUB DIVISION ORDINANCE GOES BEYOND PROMOTING CONNECTIVITY OF TRANSPORTATION ROUTE AND INTERLOPES INTO THE REALM OF DESIGN. IN THE SPIRIT OF SMART GROWTH THE CITY COUNCILL SHOULD BE PROMOTING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS RATHER THAN DICTATING DESIGN. SHORTENING BLOCK LINKS TO THOSE THAT CURRENTLY EXIST IN MANY AREAS OF THE CENTRAL CITY IS SIMPLY NOT APPROPRIATE TO SUB BAN AREAS. THIS REQUIRES IMPERVIOUS COVER THAT CAN NEGLECT ACTIVELY -- ... BY BOTH DEVELOPERS AND THE THE CITY. INSTEAD OF APPROVING AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ONLY FURTHER BOG DOWN THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS WITH VARIANCES, I WOULD SUGGEST ADOPTING THE INCENTIVE BASED ORDINANCE THAT PROMOTES SMART GROWTH OBJECTIVES AND ENCOURAGES CREATIVE DESIGN SOLUTION THAT'S INCLUDE GOOD CIRCULATION PATTERNS, PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATE TO SITES. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU.

>> I'M HARRY SAVVY, I WORK FOR THE TEXAS CAPITOL AREAS BUILDERS ASSOCIATION. PEOPLE VOTE ON THIS ISSUE EVERY DAY, THEY DO SO WITH THEIR WALLETS, EVERY TIME THEY BUY A HOUSE. WHEN A MUNICIPALITY TRIES TO AFFECT MARKETS AND BUYER CHOICES I THINK THAT THEY OUGHT TO HAVE A VERY SOLID PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY OR WELFARE REASON. IT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE THERE'S REALLY NO SCIENTIFICALLY DOCUMENTED BENEFIT TO MANDATING THIS CHANGE. THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION STUDY TO SHOW EVEN MODEST STRIP REDUCTION WAS THE ONE REFERENCE UNDERSTAND PORTLAND. THAT STUDY ACTUALLY ENDED UP REPRESENTING TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES THAT WOULD HAVE THE NET EFFECT OF OFFSETTING ANY OF THE BENEFITS FROM REROUTING TRAFFIC OFF OF MAJOR ARTERIALS. WE HAVE YET TO SEE ANY PROJECT THAT CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY DESIGNED UNDER THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE. WITHOUT FIRST GRANTSING VARIANCES, BE THEY VARIANCES BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR ADMINISTRATIVE VARIANCES. I HI THAT IT'S A LEGITIMATE QUESTION TO ASK IF IT IS EVEN -- EVEN IF IT IS LEGAL, IS IT PROPER TO ENACT A SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE WHERE NO PROJECT CAN COMPLY. OR AT LEAST NOT COMPLY WITHOUT A VARIANCE. IS IT FAIR OR PROPER TO FORCE EACH AND EVERY PROJECT TO HAVE TO OBTAIN A VARIANCE, MEANING THAT THAT PROJECT IS GOING TO BE SUBJECT TO THE DISCRETION OF ONE OR TWO INDIVIDUALS, EVEN IF THAT IS TO MEET THE INTENT OF THE ORDINANCE. THE ONLY STUDY OF THIS PROPOSAL WAS THE CHARETTE THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN BEGIN IN THAT CHARETTE THERE WAS THE ASSUMPTION OF VARIANCES BEING GRANTED TO JUST START THE PROCESS. I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AGAIN SHOULD NOT ENACT AN ORDINANCE WITH WHICH NO PROJECT CAN COMPLY. THE CITY STAFF RECOGNIZES THE RADICAL AMOUNT OF CHANGE THAT THIS ORDER HAS RECOMMENDED AND AS A RESULT SUGGESTED THAT IT BE ADOPT ODD A VOLUNTARY BASIS. THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS. ANOTHER SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO SEEK IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BROADER GOALS BY DIRECTING, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST ONE ASPECT, SUCH AS IMPROVED CONNECTIVITY. BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT, WHAT IS CRITICAL AS WE BEGIN TO ESTABLISH A TRANSITION PERIOD DURING WHICH BUILDERS, DEVELOPERS CAN TEST ANY NEW APPROACH WHERE THE MARKETS CAN BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND AND THAT SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE COMMITTING OR REQUIRING THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO COMMIT THE LARGE AMOUNTS OF CAPITOL ASSOCIATED WITH ANY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PROJECT. I'VE GOT JUST A MINUTES OR TWO LEFT, I BELIEVE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A COUPLE OF TIMES, MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS IN RESPONSE TO THE INITIAL SPEAKERS. I ESSENTIAL ABUTT RIATA OR MAY NEIGHBORHOOD DOES. I DID NOT SIGN PETITIONS OR PARTICIPATE IN OPPOSING THE CONNECTIVITY, BUT THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF EXAMPLES OF CONNECTIVITY, WE SEE IT EVERY DAY WHERE AGAIN IT WAS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE, LIGHTSSEY ROAD, THE EXTENSION OF BARTON SKY WAY. ANYONE WHO LOOKS AT 45TH AND F STREET THINKS THAT A DESIRABLE CORNER TO LIVE ON, I WOULD CHALLENGE THEM TO SAY THAT. IT'S INTERESTING TO TRY AND TURN LEFT ON 38TH AND A HALF. I -- THE COMMENT ABOUT THE SUGGESTION THAT YOU COULD DECREASE TRIPS BY 10%, AGAIN, I FIND THAT FAR FETCHED. MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAPPENS TO BE AGAIN VERY NEAR A STORE THAT WE USE FREQUENTLY, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THERE'S NO WAY WE ARE GOING TO REDUCE OUR TRIPS BY 10%. THE COMMENT ON WALKING TO SCHOOL. THE HEALTH OF WALKING TO SCHOOL I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT MANDATORY BUSING HAS HAD SOME EFFECT ON THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE WITH A COMMENT THAT WHEN LOOKING AT THE ORDINANCE, WEIGHING THE COMMENTS BEING MADE, THAT SOME WEIGHT BE GIVEN TO THOSE FOLKS WHO ACTUALLY DO IT, WHO ACTUALLY PUT THEIR OWN CAPITAL AT RISK IN ORDER TO MAKE THESE PROJECTS HAPPEN, THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: 42 SECOND. I -- HE ALMOST DID YOU IN THERE TERRY.

>> LET ME APOLOGIZE FOR SENDING YOU SUCH LONGWINDED MEMOS TO TALK ABOUT THESE THING, MY MAJOR CONCERN TO SPEAK TO YOU WITHIN 30 SECONDS IS TO MY CONCERN ABOUT THE WIDTH OF THE STREETS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A DICHOTOMY OF WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED, WHETHER IT'S ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, 26 OR 28, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. BROUGHT A COUPLE OF OF PICTURES. THIS IS MY FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, IT'S PEMBERTON. 34 FEET WIDE [BUZZER SOUNDING] 35 FEET WIDE, 24 FEET WIDE.

>>GOODMAN: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>> JOT JOHNSON CAME IN TO LATE TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE, HIS CARD IS IN HERE, IN FAVOR. WE HAVE MICHAEL VOTICKE, HE'S NEUTRAL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT'S WHERE I WAS HEADED. I'M GOING TO NOW ASK THAT YOU -- THAT YOU PLAY WITHIN THE RULE AND IF YOU DIDN'T SPEAK, EITHER FOR OR AGAINST BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T PART OF THE PRESENTATION, YOU HAVE SOMETHING UNIQUE TO SAY, IN FACT YOU ARE FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT HERE, THEN WE ARE GOING TO GIVE A COUPLE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. BUT I ASK YOU TO BE FAIR AND HONEST ABOUT IT. IS THERE ANYONE THAT FEELS THE NEED TO SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE SOMETHING WAS NOT SAID. PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> HI, I'M MIKE VOTICKE. I'M HERE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION. I THOUGHT EVERYONE WAS GOING TO LAUGH -- I THOUGHT DARYL WAS GOING TO LAUGH.

>>SLUSHER: I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT YOU WERE NEUTRAL ON SOMETHING.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE ARE GETTING READY TO FIND THAT OUT FOR SURE.

>> ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER, IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO TO THE NARROWER STREETS, WHAT I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK AT IS ONLY PARKING ON ONE SIDE, BIKE LANES ON THE OTHER. AS A CONSIDERATION. IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO THAT. I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NARROW STREETS FROM A SAFETY POINT OF VIEW FROM PARKING WITH CHILDREN RUNNING OUT ON STREETS. THESE ARE ISSUES THAT I THINK THAT I SHOULD ALL KEEP IN MIND. WHEN I SAY NEUTRAL I'M GOING TO BRING IT IN ON BOTH SIDES. I ALSO BELIEVE ALL OF YOU COUNCILMEMBERS, HEARTLY SUPPORTED, ARE FOR SMART GROWTH, LOW DENSITY AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND I THINK THAT THOSE ISSUES HAVE TO COME OUT FOREMOST IN THIS, I DON'T THINK THAT YOU ARE CONCENTRATING ON THOSE. I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE WITH ANYBODY'S NUMBERS, BUT HOW MUCH CAN IT ADD TO A LOT. EVERYBODY HAS AGREED IT'S GOING TO ADD TO A LOT WHICH IS GOING TO HURT THE COST OF HOUSING. I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT. THE INCENTIVES IDEAS BY STAFF, I THINK THERE'S VERY GOOD MERIT TO THEM. YES, I AM A DEVELOPER. AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE ORDINANCE THERE'S A THING WHERE WE HAVE TO DO CONNECTIVITY TO OPPOSING NEIGHBORHOODS. WELL, ON THREE OCCASIONS I HAVE TRIED TO DO IT AND THEN THEY SIGNED A VALID PETITION AND I'M NOT ALLOWED. SO I JUST THINK IT'S AN OXYMORON THAT YOU ARE GOING TO PASS AN ORDINANCE THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORHOOD MAKES A VALID PETITION YOU SUPPORT THE VALID PETITION. IT ISN'T ALWAYS THE DEVELOPERS DOING THINGS BAD. SOMETIMES THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARISE. JUST TRYING TO GET YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT ISSUES. IF WHEN YOU DO AN ORDINANCE KEEP ALL OF THAT IN MINE, THAT WAS MY POINT. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT -- THAT CAN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT WITHOUT SPEAKING. COUNCIL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. DISCUSSION IN HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES, THE APPROXIMATING HEARING IS CLOSED, THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCILL AS THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN, MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE, OPPOSED NO. MOTION CARRIES, WE ARE ADJOURNED THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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