Closed Caption Log, Council Meeting, 05/03/01

>>MAYOR WATSON: WED BE LED TODAY IN THE INVOCATION BY THE REVEREND LYNDON RODGERS OF PRINCIPE DE PAZ CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

>> LET US PRAY. [SPEAKING IN SPANISH] WE PRAY FOR JUSTICE, FOR PEACE AND FOR MERCY. [SPEAKING IN SPANISH]. GRANT US OH, GOD THAT WE BE GOOD STRAW WARDS OF THE RESOURCES AND THAT WE -- STEWARDS OF THE RESOURCES AND THAT WE REMEMBER THE DISEND FRANCHISED OF OUR CITY. [SPEAKING IN SPANISH] WE PRAY AND ASK YOUR BLESSING ON MAYOR KIRK WATSON, THE MAYOR PRO TEM JACKIE GOODMAN, ON OUR COUNCILMEMBERS, DARYL SLUSHER, RAUL ALVAREZ, BEVERLY GRIFFITH, WILL WYNN AND DANNY THOMAS, OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND OUR CITY MANAGER JESUS GARZA. WE ALSO PRAY FOR ANDY MARTIN. AND WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US WILL STRENGTH TO LEAD AS YOU WOULD HAVE US LEAD. [SPEAKING IN SPANISH] OH, LORD, COME BE WITH US AND GUIDE US. FOR WE KNOW THAT WITH YOUR PRESENCE, IT WILL BE AS YOUR WORD SAYS, THAT THE GLORY OF GOD WOULD BE UPON THE CITY, AND YOU WILL GRANT US TO WORK THINGS MUCH MORE THAN WE CAN EVER ASK FOR, OR EVEN THINK OF. AND THIS CITY WILL BE FILLED WITH YOUR PRESENCE. BY JESUS CHRIST, [SPEAKING IN SPANISH], IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST WE PRAY, AMEN.

>>MAYOR WATSON: REVEREND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WILL CALL THE CITY COUNCILL TO ORDER AT 9:ON 20. AT 9:20.

>> I WILL CALL THE COUNCIL TO ORDER, A REGULAR MEETING, MAY 3RD, 2001, MEETING IN THE BOARD ROOM AT THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY, HANCOCK BUILDING, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 3700 LAKE AUSTIN BOULEVARD. LET ME ANNOUNCE SOME CHANGES AND CORRECTS. TO THE GO DID A. ITEM NO. 14, IT SAYS APPROVE AN ORDINANCE WAIVING CERTAIN FEES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND RIGHTS OF WAY. GOES ON FURTHER. ON THE EAST BY SAN MARCOS STREET, PARENTHESES, DELETE THE WORD "THE" SO IT JUST READS ROBERTSON HILL, CLOSE PARENTHESES. ITEM NO. 23, ON ITEM NO. 23, DELETE THE FIRST BIT DOWN TO THE PARENTHESES, SO THAT -- WHERE IT STARTS WITH AVERY RANCH PLATS, AND GOES DOWN TO A STATEMENT JURISDICTION IN THE AVERY RANCH DEVELOPMENT, SO THAT IT JUST GIVES RIVER PLACE BOULEVARD, PARENTHESES, APPROXIMATELY NINE ACRES. A COUPLE OF OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS. IF THERE IS NOT AN OBJECTION FROM COUNCIL, BECAUSE WE HAVE STARTED THE OZONE SEASON, WHICH IS WHEN THE -- THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN BECAUSE OF THE SUMMER HEAT AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF AIR EMISSIONS, MOST PARTICULARLY CAR EMISSIONS RESULT IN OZONE POLLUTION IN THE CITY, AND BECAUSE OF OUR CITY STATUS WITH REGARD TO POTENTIAL NON-ATTAINMENT, IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION OF COUNCIL, WE WILL BEGIN -- WE WILL START NEXT WEEK AT THE MAY 10TH MEETING, ALL COUNCIL MEETINGS WILL BEGIN AT 10:00 A.M.. THIS IS BEING DONE FOR AIR QUALITY REASONS. SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE CARS OF PEOPLE AND COUNCILMEMBERS AND OTHERS COMING TO THE COUNCIL MEETING AT THE PEAK HOURS. THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THE CITY IS TRYING TO SET AN EXAMPLE ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN DEAL WITH THE OZONE. SO FROM HERE ON OUT, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION OF COUNCIL, THE MEETING OF MAY 10TH AND THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER WILL BEGIN AT 10:00 FOR AIR QUALITY REASONS AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT SCHEDULE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. ON ITEM NO. -- WELL, ITEM NO. 2, THE PRESENTATION BY AN TROUN PREDOCK, THAT WILL OCCUR -- ANTOINE PREDOCK, THAT WILL OCCUR SOMETIME THIS AFTERNOON, BECAUSE OF FLIGHT SCHEDULES AND PEOPLE ARRIVING, THAT WILL OCCUR SOMETIME MID AFTERNOON, MY GUESS IS SOMEWHERE 3:00 TO 3:30 AREA. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO DIRECTLY TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE 5, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 25, 28, 29, THOSE ARE THE ITEMS TAKE HAVE BEEN PULLED, ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT BE PUT BACK ON OR NEED TO BE PULLED? THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 ON SECOND AND THIRD READING, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, WITH THE -- WITH THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS THAT I JUST READ, 24, 27, ITEM NO. 26, BY THE WAY, IS -- IS SET FOR A TIME CERTAIN. IF I HAVE FAILED TO MENTION THAT A MINUTE AGO. 27 WILL BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND ITEM NO. 48, IF WE HAVE APPOINTMENTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN -- I'M NOT SURE THAT I HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF ME. THAT'S NOT PUT 48 ON CONSENT FOR RIGHT NOW. THAT WILL BE THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION?

>>WYNN: MOVE APPROVAL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, OPPOSED NO. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS PASSED. COUNCIL, WHAT I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE TO SPEAK ON VARIOUS ITEMS, I WON'T BE PROBABLY GOING DIRECTLY IN THE ORDER THAT'S IN THE AGENDA. I WILL BE TRYING TO -- TRYING TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND WE DON'T TAKE UP THING THAT HOLD FOLKS UP. I'M GOING TO GO TO ITEM NO. 16 AND I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>WYNN: THANK YOU, MAYOR, ITEM NO. 16 IS OUR SELECTION OF AN ARTIST FOR THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PART OF THE NEW EXCITING CITY HALL PROJECT. I DO HAVE A MOTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE, BUT I SUSPECT THERE ARE FOLKS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THOSE FOLKS, PLEASE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME CALLED DONNA ORDAIN IN A FRES-HANSON. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, CHECKED THAT NO BOX, DIDN'T WANT TO SPEAK. THIS PERSON SIGNED UP AGAINST. I APOLOGIZE. MARK -- OH, BUT WRITES AS ONE OF THE FIVE ARTS PROFESSIONALS ON THE AIPP PANEL TO SELECT THE ARTIST TO THE COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY HALL ARCHITECT, I URGE YOU TO OVERTURN THE ARTS COMMISSION SELECTION AND INSTEAD SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SELECTION PANEL. OUR PANEL MET FOR THREE DAYS AN REVIEWED WORK BY OVER 65 ARTISTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND INTERVIEWED THREE FINALISTS FOR ONE HOUR EACH. ALL ORDINANCE PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED BY THE AIPP OFFICE AND APPROVED BY THE ARTS COMMISSION. THE CITY COUNCILL NEEDS TO ENSURE THAT A FAIR, RESPECTED AND EVEN HANDED PROCEDURE BE FOLLOWED TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE CITY AND ITS ARTS PROGRAM. THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED AUSTIN BASED ARTISTS TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE CONTRIBUTION TO OUR CITY. MARK HOLZBACK SIGNED UP AGAINST. WRITES I URGE YOU TO OVERTURN THE AUSTIN ARTS COMMISSION SELECTION AS THE ARTIST FOR THE NEW CITY HALL AND INSTEAD SUPPORT THE ARTS IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL OF RECOMMENDATION ARTIST ARTIST MEL ZIGLER. ALL ORDINANCE PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED AND APPROVED BY THE ARTS ARTS COMMISSION. THE APP REVIEWED THE WORK, RESUMES AND CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS TO REACH THE RECOMMENDATION. MR. ZIGLER IS THE ARTIST FOR CITY HALL. SUE GRAVES AGAINST, WRITES AS A MEMBER OF THE SELECTION PANEL TO CHOOSE THE ARTIST TO CHRAB BRAT WITH ANTONE PREDOCK ON A PUBLIC ART PROJECT, WAS AS AN ARTIST PROFESSIONAL IN AUSTIN AND AS A CITIZEN, I AFFIRM THE PANEL SELECTION OF MEL ZIGLER, PROCEDURELY THE PANEL FOLLOWED ALL APPROPRIATE CITY OF AUSTIN GUIDELINES AND ORDINANCES, THE GROUP DELIBERATELY THOUGHTFULLY AND DILL AGAINLY DURING THE ENTIRE PROCESS. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO AFFIRM THIS FAIR AND PROPER PROCESS. BRUCE WALENSEK.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I SERVED AS AN ARTS COMMISSIONER AND ALSO WAS ASKED BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER TO SERVE AS A CHARACTER ADVISOR FOR THE NEW CITY HALL PROJECT. THE CALL FOR ENTRIES OF THE SELECTED ARTISTS MUST HAVE A STRONG DESIRE TO EXPLORE AUSTIN'S MANY LAYERS, GEOLOGICAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL IN ORDER TO REFLECT THE FABRIC OF THE BUILDING IN THE PLAZA AND IN THE ART WORKS THAT MAY BE COMMISSIONED. THE IDEA IS TO -- TO HAVE A CITY HALL THAT THE CITIZENS REALLY LOVE. I CAME TO THE COUNCIL MECHANIC LAST TIME PREDOCK SPOKE. I LISTENED VERY CAREFULLY TO EVERY COUNCILMEMBER SAID. I LISTENED VERY CAREFULLY TO THE TAPES ON TV, BATCHED IT FOUR OR FIVE MORE TIMES SO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING. I SAT THROUGH THE SELECTION PROCEDURE. ALTHOUGH THIS WAS THE CALL -- THE CONTEXT, THAT THE SELECTION SHOULD BE IN WHEN I HEARD THE DELIBERATION, THIS WAS NOT THE CONTEXT IT WAS DELIBERATED. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE AN ARTIST WHO CAN WORK WELL WITH THE ARCHITECT TEAM. BOTH THE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE AND MR. PREDOCK'S REPRESENTATIVE CAME OUT FOR NOBUHO, SO DID THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY MANAGER'S DEPARTMENT. THIS WAS NOT HEARD. OUR ADVISORY GROUP ALSO CAME OUT STRONGLY IN -- ALTHOUGH WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK AT THAT MEETING FOR NOBUHO. WE FELT THAT SHE WAS TRULY A PEER OF MR. PREDOCK. WE ALSO FELT THAT SINCE THE DELIBERATION AND INSTRUCTIONS WERE NOT REALLY IN CONTEXT, THAT THE PROCEED WAS NOT FOLD. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE GOING TO COME UP WITH THE SOLUTION THAT YOU ARE IN THE SAME CONTEXT THAT CAME DOWN BY COUNCIL, IF YOU WANT COUNCIL TO BE PLEASED. WE SERVE THE CITY OF AUSTIN THROUGH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THAT'S ALL. YOU ALL SAY SOMETHING IMPORTANT, WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. SO I URGE YOU, SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ARTS COMMISSION. AS I SAY THIS, I ALSO NEED TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE. I SERVED ON ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL WHEN THIS WAS DEVELOPED. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAD A PART IN. I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE WAY IT HAPPENED, BUT I STILL HAVE PRAISE FOR THE PROGRAM. NO ONE WORKERS HARDER THAN MATTER THAT PETERS. I THINK THE PANEL HAS GOOD INTENTION. MARTHA. HAVING AN ART TIS WHO IS EAGER AND EXCITED ABOUT THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF AUSTIN, JUST LIKE IT SAYS A STRONG DESIRE, WE GOT ONE WITH NOBUHO NAGASAWA. THANK YOU.

>> AND HE WOULD BIT WYNN WRITES I OPPOSE THE ANATION OF DUE PROCESS. AIPP FOLLOWED ALL PROCEDURES RESPECTFULLY AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD BE RESPECTED AS WELL. JILL BEDGOOD. IS SAND DID A FUDORICK HERE, YOU ARE WISHING TO DONATE YOUR TIME TO JOHN YANCY? OKAY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT -- I'M A -- I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE ARTIST SELECTION PANEL THAT WAS THEN VOTED ON BY THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL UNANIMOUSLY AND AGREED TO. I DISAGREE WITH THE AUSTIN ARTS COMMISSIONFUL I FEEL THAT THEY PROCEDURELY WERE INCORRECT IN THEIR VOTE FOR THE ALTERNATE ARTIST. ON APRIL 16TH, THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL WROTE THE ARTS COMMISSION AND ASKED FOR THEM TO JUSTIFY THEIR OVERTURNING OF THE SELECTION PANEL'S DECISION. WE HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY JUSTIFICATION REASONS WHY THEY DID NOT SUPPORT THE -- THE ARTIST SELECTION PANEL AND THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL RECOMMENDATION. I WILL READ INTO THE RECORD THAT IT STATES THE ARTS COMMISSION SHALL REVIEW THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL ON THE BASIS OF PROCEDURAL MATTERS TO ENSURE THAT THE PROSPECTUS AS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION WAS APPROPRIATELY RESPONDED TO THROUGH THE SELECTION PROCESS. IN THE EVENTS THAT THE COMMISSION HAS QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SELECTION PROCESS, THOSE QUESTIONS SHALL BE REFERRED IN WRITING BACK TO THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL FOR CLARIFICATION. WE HAVE ASKED FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT FROM THE ARTS COMMISSION. I WANT THE BEST WORK FOR AUSTIN, THIS IS NOT ABOUT AESTHETICS. THIS IS ABOUT PROCEDURAL RECOMMENDATIONS. AND I SUPPORT THE ARTIST SELECTION PANEL AND I SUPPORT THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PROCESS. AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. JOHN YANCY. MR. YANCY YOU WILL HAVE UP TO SIX MINUTES IF YOU NEED IT. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I WANT TO SPEAK TODAY AS BOTH AN ARTIST, ART PROFESSOR AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL OF WHICH I SERVED FOR ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF YEARS. IN THAT TIME I BECAME VERY AWARE OF THE PROCESS, HOW IT WAS IMPLEMENTED. THE CARE THAT WAS TAKEN TO SELECT SPECIALISTS WHO HAVE AN EXPERTISE IN PARTICULAR PROJECTS AND IN PARTICULAR VENUES AND OBJECTIVES WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC ART. THESE INDIVIDUALS TAKE GREAT TIME TO REVIEW ARTISTS, TO REVIEW QUALIFICATIONS TO REVIEW PROPOSALS WHEN THAT IS PART OF THE PROCESS. GENERALLY THE PROCESS WORKS VERY WELL. IN MY EXPERIENCE, THE PROBLEMS THAT OCCUR WHEN THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THESE SPECIALISTS ON THE SELECTION PANEL AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL ARE OVERRIDDEN BY THE AUSTIN ARTS COMMISSION, OFTENTIMES FOR REASONS THAT ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE OVERSEE GO OF THE PROCESS. THE COMPLICATION THAT ARISES IS THAT THE ARTS COMMISSION, AS YOU KNOW, HAS A BROAD PURVIEW OF THINGS THAT THEY MOST OVERSEE, A FAR MORE GENERALIST EXPERTISE. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE EXPERTISE OFTENTIMES TO OVERRIDE THE SPECIALISTS IN THE FIELD WHO MAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. WHEN THAT OCCURS THE PROCESS BECOMES SIDETRACKED. IN MANY WAYS IT INJURIES OR IMAGE, BOTH WITH REGARD TO LOCAL ARTISTS AND IN THIS CASE WITH THE NATIONAL SEARCH WITH REGARD TO OUR IMAGE AS A CITY, AS A NATIONAL CITY, A CITY THAT IS GROWING, A CITY THAT IS ESTABLISHING A BROADER IDENTITY. I'M FAMILIAR CERTAINLY WITH MEL ZIGLER, I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL COMMISSIONS THAT HE'S RECEIVED IN TERMS OF PUBLIC ART VENUES. HE'S A HIGHLY RESPECTED INTERNATIONAL ARTIST WHO WORKS VERY WELL WITH ARCHITECTS AND THAT I AM AWARE OF ESTABLISHED SEVERAL COLLABORATIVE INDEPENDENT PROJECTS WITH ARCHITECTS AND THE SCHOOL OF ACCIDENTURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. HE IS VERY WELL SUITED TO DEAL WITH ARCHITECTURAL TEAMS TO COLLABORATE, SO ON. IN THIS INSTANCE, THIS WAS A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION VERSUS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. MEANING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE ARTISTS AND TRYING TO SEE WHAT IN MANY WAYS IS GOING TO CREATE A GREAT WORK OF ART FOR THE NEW CITY COUNCILL. OFTENTIMES WE HAVE HEARD AGAIN THIS MORNING THE NOTION OF NATURE AND CHARACTER. IN MANY WAYS WHEN YOU PUT OUT A NATIONAL SEARCH FOR AN ARTIST, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IN THAT GESTURE IS THAT YOU ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THE EXPANDING IDENTITY OF THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF AUSTIN. YOU ARE NOT ATTEMPTING TO CODIFY A STATIC NOTION THAT SOMEHOW REPRESENTS OR SYMBOLIZES A NATURE AND CHARACTER. AUSTIN IS GROWING, AUSTIN IS EXPANDING. AUSTIN'S NATURE AND CHARACTER ISING EVER-MOVING AND GROWING ORGANIC KIND OF PROCESS AS HE ALL KNOW. THE PROCESS OF PUTTING OUT A NATIONAL SEARCH, INCREASES THE STATURE OF THE PROCESS, PROCESS, IT BRINGS IN ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, IT ACKNOWLEDGES AND PROVIDES A SIGNAL TO THE ARTS COMMUNITY THAT AUSTIN WANTS TO CREATE A WORLD CLASS WORK OF ART. IN SO DOING, THAT MEANS THAT THERE MUST BE A BROADER KIND OF A DEFINITION OF SERVING THE [INAUDIBLE] CHARACTER ISSUE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO DWELL ON THAT TOO MUCH. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS GO BACK TO THE PROCEDURE. THE PROCEDURE THAT IS ESTABLISHED UNDER THE ORDINANCE, UNDER THE AIPP ORDINANCE IS FOLLOWED DUTYFULLY, FOLLOWED CONSCIOUSLY, THE EXPERTS THAT MAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE SELECTED CAREFULLY, THEIR DELIBERATIONS ARE THOROUGH AND REFLECT THEIR EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD. SHOULD BE RESPECTED. THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL, I CAN SAY THIS PERSONALLY, THE PRIMARY DISAPPOINTMENTS, WHEREVER THERE WERE DISAPPOINTMENTS WERE WHEN THE CARE OF THE PROCESS, THE TIME THAT IS IMPLEMENTED AS CITIZENS WHO CARE ABOUT THE IDENTITY AND ART STIS STICK GROWTH IN AUSTIN ARE OVERRIDDEN BY INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO MAKE THAT JUDGMENT. OFTENTIMES THE REASONS GO BACK TO -- TO ISSUES OUTSIDE OF THE ART, THE QUALITY OF THE ART, THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS. I URGE THE CITY COUNCILL TO -- TO -- TO HOLD BACK ANY RECOMMENDATION ON THIS. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS WORTHY OF MORE REVIEW, SO THAT THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN AIPP AND THE ARTS COMMISSION ON THIS ISSUE CAN BE CLARIFIED AND YOU CAN RECEIVE A CLEARER RECOMMENDATION TO VOTE ON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR. THOSE ARE ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

>>WYNN: THANKS, MAYOR. THIS ISSUE IS A VERY SPECIFIC CODE PHIED ORDINANCE DRIVEN PROCESS. THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES IS A PROCESS BY WHICH THE CITY SPENDS TAX DOLLAR MONEY ON ART, OBVIOUSLY IN OUR PUBLIC PLACES, IN OUR PUBLIC BUILDINGS. FUNDED BY A ONE PERCENT OF CONSTRUCTION BUDGET OF NON-TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, AS AN EXAMPLE ONE PERCENT APPROXIMATELY OF THE CITY HALL BUDGET WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR THE -- FOR THE ART IN THAT PROJECT. SINCE WE ARE SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR ART, ART BEING A VERY SUBJECTIVE PIECE OF OUR LIVES, WE HAVE A VERY STRUCTURED, VERY RENOWNED PROCESSES IN OUR AIPP ORDINANCE AND PROCESS. OUR ARTS COMMISSION IS A VERY BROAD GROUP OF FINE FOLKS WHO DO A NUMBER OF ARTS RELATED THINGS FOR THIS COUNCIL AND FOR OUR CITIZENS. THE AIPP PIECE OF IT IS A RELATIVELY SMALL PIECE ACTUALLY OF THE OVERVIEW THAT OUR ARTS COMMISSION HAS. BUT BECAUSE WE ARE SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS, ON ART IN OUR PUBLIC PLACES, WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM THAT IN FACT TAKES THAT DECISION AND -- AND ASSIGNS IT TO A PANEL OF HIGHLY REGARDED ART PROFESSIONALS. WHAT OUR ART COMMISSION DOES FOR US AS COUNCILMEMBERS IS THEY REVIEW, ONE, THE PROCESS AND THE PROCEDURES THAT ARE SET UP BY THE AIPP PANEL, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO IDENTIFY THE ARTIST, WHAT -- WHAT WILL BE THE TIMING OF THIS, WHAT WILL BE THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS, ET CETERA. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY REVIEW THE INDIVIDUALS WHO -- WHO ARE CHOSEN TO BE THOSE PANELISTS. THEY IN FACT LOOK AT AND MAKE SURE FOR OUR TAXPAYER DAUGHTERS THAT IN FACT WE HAVE HIGHLY REGARDED PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED ART PROFESSIONALS SERVING ON THAT SELECTION PANEL AND IN FACT DON'T HAVE IT GO TO THE ARTS COMMISSION, DON'T HAVE IT GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE IN FACT BECAUSE IN FACT I DON'T THINK WE ARE TRAINED ENOUGH TO MAKE THE DECISION FOR OUR ART IN PUBLIC PLACES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE AIPP PANEL, WHICH IS APPROVED BY THE ARTS COMMISSION, AS WAS THE PROCESS PRIOR TO THE SELECTION, THEY HAVE FIVE -- THEY CHOSE FIVE PEOPLE. I HOPE THAT I DON'T EMBARRASS ANYBODY AND MY PRONOUNCE THE NAMES. WE HAVE THE CHIEF CURATOR FOR THE AUSTIN MUSEUM OF ART, WE HAD THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION, WE HAD A -- AN ARTIST MANAGER FROM THE SOUTH DALLAS CULTURAL CENTER, OBVIOUSLY, IN DALLAS, WE HAD A WORKING ARTIST AND ART PROFESSOR IN TRANSMEDIA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND WE HAD A CHOREOGRAPHER AND DIRECTOR AND PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. SO THEY -- THEY HAD A VERY SPECIFIC HIGHLY REGARDED TRAINED FOLKS TO MAKE THIS DECISION. AND THE DECISION WAS MADE. I WILL TELL YOU THAT I -- THAT I DON'T KNOW EITHER ARTIST. AS FAR AS I KNOW, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A PIECE OF ART WORK CREATED BY EITHER ARTIST. AND I DON'T CARE TO. THAT'S NOT WHAT -- WHAT MY ROLE IN THE ART AND PUBLIC -- ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PROCESS IS. [INAUDIBLE] IT'S THE ROLE OF THE ARTS COMMISSION. WE ARE IN AUSTIN ARE BLESSED WITH A STAGGERING AMOUNT OF ARTISTIC TALENT AND CREDIBLE ARTISTIC PROFESSIONALS IN THIS TOWN WITH A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS. IN FACT WE ARE DRAMATICALLY SPANNING THAT IN SEVERAL AGENDA ITEMS TODAY, HELP THAT PROCESS AND CONTINUE THE FURTHERANCE OF OUR CULTURAL ARTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO BASED ON THAT AND BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE AIPP PROGRAM GUIDELINES, THE ARTS COMMISSION WAS INDEED TO REVIEW THE OUTCOME OF THE ARTIST COMMISSION PROCESS AND APPROVE THOSE PAN YELL -- PANELISTS, ALL OF THAT OCCURRED, RECOGNIZING THAT ONE PERSON'S ART IS ANOTHER PERSON'S JUNK AS IS COMMONLY SAID, I WANT TO RESPECT THE PROCESS AND THE HIGHLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS THAT MADE UP THAT PROCESS AND IN FACT I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT THE COUNCIL AWARD THE CONTRACT TO THE ARTIST, I THINK IT WAS MR. MEL ZIGLER CHOSEN BY THE AIPP ARTISTIC PANEL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE AIPP PANEL OF MEL ZIGLER. IS THERE A SECOND? I WILL SECOND THE MOTION. DISCUSSION?

>>GOODMAN: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: MAYBE I HAVE BEEN WRONG ABOUT THE PROCESS ALL THE TIME. SOMEWHERE IS THERE WRITTEN THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE RECOMMENDATIONS AS A COUNCIL DIRECTLY FROM THE ART SELECTION PANEL OR AIPP OR IS IT, AS WE DID WITH THE AIRPORT, WHERE THE ARTS COMMISSION LOOKS OVER ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND MORE FOCUSED RECOMMENDATIONS, TAKES ALL OF THE FACTORS INTO ACCOUNT, MAKES THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION TO US?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

>>WYNN: ACCORDING TO STAFF'S ANSWER TO SOME OF MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, I WILL TELL YOU I'M NEW TO THIS, THIS IS MY FIRST ARTISTIC SELECTION IN THE AIPP PROCESS, ACCORDING TO -- THIS IS FROM -- FROM STAFF -- ACCORDING TO AIPP PROGRAM GUIDELINES, THE ART COMMISSION IS TO REVIEW THE OUTCOME OF THE ARTIST SELECTION PROCESS BASED ON PROCEDURAL MATTERS. IN FACT AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, MAYOR PRO TEM, IN ADVANCE -- IN ADVANCE OF EVEN THAT AIPP PANEL SELECTION, THE ARTS COMMISSION APPROVES IN THIS CASE UNANIMOUSLY THE PROCEDURE SET IN PLACE, THE FROZE THIS INDIVIDUAL ART SELECTION -- THE PROCESS FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL ART SELECTION AND THOSE HIGHLY QUALIFIED PANELISTS, SO ACCORDING TO STAFF THEY REVIEW THE OUTCOME BASED ON PROCEDURAL MATTERS. BASED ON MY READING OF THE MINUTES, MY INTERVIEWS OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED, THE PROCEDURES IN FACT WERE FOLLOWED PERFECTLY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM?

>>GOODMAN: I THINK PROCEDURAL MAY BE SUBJECT TO INTERPRETATION HERE.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME MAKE SURE -- ARE YOU FINISHED?

>>GOODMAN: FOR THE MOMENT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: YES, IS MARTHA PETERS HERE, WHO IS THE AIPP -- HI, I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE HERE. WE NEED TO CLEAR THIS UP AND I THINK WE CAN PROCEDURELY. S MS. PETERS CAN WE TALK ABOUT WHO ADVISES WHOM AND ON WHAT. THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT AS A SIX YEAR ARTS COMMISSIONER IS THAT THE PANEL ADVISES -- THE COMMISSION AND THEN THE COMMISSION ADVISES COUNCIL AND THE PANEL DOES NOT ADVISE COUNCIL DIRECTLY. IS THAT -- IS THAT CORRECT PROCEDURALLY OR --

>> THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PANEL IS CONSIDERED A STANDING SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE ARTS COMMISSION. SO THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS GO TO THE ARTS COMMISSION AND OF COURSE THE ARTS COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS CAME TO YOU.

>>GRIFFITH: SO ANY PANEL, WHETHER IT'S THIS ONE OR ANY PANEL OF THE ARTS COMMISSION DOES NOT ADVISE COUNCIL DIRECTLY BUT THROUGH THE COMMISSION? IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

>>GRIFFITH: THANKS.

>>ALVAREZ: MAYOR, I HAD A QUICK QUESTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MA'AM, DON'T RUN SO FAST. [LAUGHTER].

>>ALVAREZ: NOW, SINCE WE HAVE GONE -- SINCE WE HAVE GONE DOWN THIS PATH I WANT MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT THE ARTISTS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW BECAUSE AGAIN I DON'T KNOW WHAT PROCESS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE AIPP AND I'M NOT ALWAYS COMFORTABLE DELEGATING POSITIONS TO PROFESSIONALS I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY NECESSARILY REPRESENT MY INTERESTS. BUT ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS THAT TOOK PLACE TO SELECT, BY THE AIPP PANEL OR --

>> YES, SIR.

>>ALVAREZ: AND SO I GUESS WHAT -- THE -- HOW MANY FOLKS WERE INTERVIEWED OR -- I MEAN, AGAIN, IS THERE -- WHAT PROCESS DID THAT COMMITTEE FOLLOW TO -- WHAT CRITERIA WAS USED, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER MAKE THE DECISION?

>> WELL, ONCE THE SELECTION PANEL HAS REVIEWED THE SLIDES AND RESUMES OF THE 63 ARTISTS WHO APPLY, THEY NARROW DOWN THE SELECTION TO THREE FINALISTS AND AN ALTERNATE. THOSE THREE FINALISTS WERE INVITED TO INTERVIEWS HERE IN AUSTIN. AND THERE WERE A LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE PUT FORWARD TO THEM, INCLUDING INFORMATION -- ASKING THEM ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH PUBLIC ART, COLLABORATING WITH ARCHITECTS, HOW THEY WOULD INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY IN THEIR PROJECT AND SO FORTH.

>>ALVAREZ: OKAY. WAS -- WERE THE INTERVIEWS SOMEHOW DOCUMENTED, WERE THEY VIDEOTAPED? DID THE ARTS COMMISSION HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE INTERVIEWS AS WELL, THAT INFORMATION?

>> THE ARTS COMMISSION WAS INVITED TO ATTEND AND SIT IN. WE DIDN'T INTERVIEW -- DID NOT VIDEOTAPE THEM.

>> ON THEN BASICALLY IT SEEMS LIKE -- SO THEN BASICALLY IT SEEMS LIKE THE DECISION WAS BASED ON INTERVIEWS AND RESPONSE TO CERTAIN QUESTIONS, OBVIOUSLY THAT THE PANEL HAD ACCESS TO AS WELL AS THE ARTS COMMISSION. SO I THINK THAT OBVIOUSLY DIFFERENT FOLKS HAVE WAYS OF EVALUATING THAT KIND OF INFORMATION. BUT FROM MY.OF VIEW, WE HAD 63 ARTISTS, WE NARROW IT DOWN TO THREE ARTISTS, PROBABLY ANY OF THOSE THREE ARE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, ARE GOING TO BE A GOOD SELECTION. BUT WE ALSO AGAIN HAVE THIS OTHER INFORMATION THAT I THINK WAS AVAILABLE TO THE PANEL AS WELL AS TO THE ARTS COMMISSION. AND AGAIN I HAVEN'T REVIEWED THAT INFORMATION. BUT I REALLY VALUE THE INPUT FROM THE ARTS COMMISSION BECAUSE I MEAN THEY ARE THERE TO REPRESENT THE PUBLIC'S INTERESTS AND DO WHAT'S OBVIOUSLY -- AGAIN, WHAT THEY FEEL IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC, THAT'S JUST WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION?

>>WYNN: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

>>WYNN: I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE DO AND CAN APPOINT ANYBODY TO THE ARTS COMMISSION. THERE IS NO QUALIFICATIONS WHATSOEVER. A JOKE LAST NIGHT WITH -- I JOKED LAST NIGHT WITH MY WIFE THAT I COULD APPOINT MY CLOSE FRIEND LOWELL LIEBERMAN TO THE ARTS COMMISSION. BUT WE HAVE OUR AIPP PROCEDURES AND PROGRAM AND PROCESS HERE FOR A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE BECAUSE WE ARE SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON ART. BECAUSE WE ARE SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS, WE HAVE A VERY STRUCTURED PROCESS SO THAT WE DO HAVE EXPERTS IN OUR COMMUNITY HELPING US SPEND TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS ON ART, ART THAT IS BY ITS VERY NATURE A VERY SUBJECTIVE, VERY DIFFICULT THING FOR PEOPLE TO VALUE. YOU KNOW, THE ART THAT I -- THAT I HAVE ON MY WALL, I SUSPECT OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU KNOW, DISLIKE AND WOULDN'T WANT IT ON THEIRS, VICE VERSA. THE AIPP IS A VERY STRUCTURED ORDINANCE AND A VERY STRUCTURED -- IN FACT A SORT OF SMALL PIECE OF WHAT OUR ARTS COMMISSION DOES. OUR ARTS COMMISSION OVERSEES NUMERALROUS, NUMERALROUS PROJECTS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. NUMEROUS. THESE ARE WHERE WE ARE SPENDING BY ORDINANCE A PERCENTAGE OF OUR TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS ON ART AND THEREFORE WE HAVE CREATED THIS STRUCTURE THAT -- THAT BRINGS FORWARD AS MUCH PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE AND ADVICE AS WE CAN MUSTER IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THAT -- YOU KNOW THAT, PROCESS AND PROTECTION FOR OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

>>GRIFFITH: YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: I AGREE THAT THE PROCESS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND I THINK WE NEED TO CLARIFY ONE MORE TIME, POSSIBLY, THAT THE PROCESS IS THAT THE PANEL ADVISES THE COMMISSION AND THE COMMISSION ADVISES THE COUNCIL. IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES.

>>GRIFFITH: THANKS.

>>GOODMAN: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: I WILL GIVE THE MAYOR PRO TEM -- I WILL CALL ON THE MAYOR PRO TEM, THEN I WILL GIVE COUNCILMEMBER WYNN IF HE WANTS AS THE MAKER OF THE MOTION A LAST WORD, WE WILL VOTE, SEE WHERE THAT TAKES US, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: I WILL FOLLOW UP JUST A LITTLE ON COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH'S REITERATION OF THE SEQUENCE OF ADVISORIES. IT IS, AS IT IS WITH COUNCIL, A SEQUENCE OF THAT OWE SO THAT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT CAN BE TALKED ABOUT IN DETAIL AT A MEETING WITH SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERTISE IN CERTAIN AREAS CAN BE BROUGHT TOGETHER AND CONSIDERED AT THE TIME OF A MOREOVER ALL -- MORE OVERALL MEETING OF THE ARTS COMMISSION. YOU ARE RIGHT, WE DON'T REQUIRE ARTS COMMISSIONERS TO BE CRITICS OR TEACHERS, PROFESSORS OR EVEN ARTISTS, ALTHOUGH MOST OF THEM COULD BE QUALIFIED AS THAT. AND BECAUSE WE ARE SPENDING PUBLIC DOLLARS, THAT IS THE KIND OF SEVERAL SEQUENCED, IF THAT'S GRAM PARTICULARLY CORRECT PROCESS, THAT I THINK WE WANT -- GRAM MATHEMATICALLY CORRECT PROCESS THAT I THINK WE WANT. GRAMATICCALY. WE WANT IT TO BE OVERALL -- THAT'S WHY I AM COMFORTABLE WITH THE ARTS COMMISSION AND WITH THE RECOMMENDATION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>SLUSHER: I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR THE MOTION. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE ARTS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT EITHER THIS IS WITHOUT PRECEDENT OR WITH FEW PRECEDENT THAT THE ARTS COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED TO OVERTURN THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE AIPP PANEL. BUT I THINK THAT -- THAT IN ITSELF SPEAKS TO THAT THE ARTS COMMISSION THINKS THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MATTER, THAT THEY WOULD STEP INTO IT LIKE THAT. I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE PROCESS THAT DOESN'T -- WHERE IT GOES BEFORE THE ARTS COMMISSION, BUT THEY ARE BASICALLY JUST THERE TO -- TO RUBBER STAMP IT. NOW, I'M ALWAYS RELUCTANT TO GET INVOLVED IN ART SELECTION OR ART ISSUES. AT ALL. BUT THAT PROCESS, THERE -- IF THEY HAVE NO CHOICE, IF THAT'S INDEED THE CASE, THAT BOTHERS ME. QUITE A BIT. SO I WON BE SUPPORTING THE MAIN MOTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN? I WILL GIVE YOU THE LAST SAY ON YOUR MOTION AND THEN WE WILL CALL FOR A VOTE.

>>WYNN: I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THOUGHTS OF MY COLLEAGUES. I WILL POINT OUT THAT THE ARTS COMMISSION VOTE WAS 5 TO 4. THE CHAIR, I'M TOLD, REGRETS HER VOTE AND UNFORTUNATELY SINCE THEN ONE OF THE ARTS COMMISSIONERS HAS LEFT THE COMMISSION AND SO -- SO LIKELY THIS WOULD GO BACK TO THE ARTS COMMISSION AND BE A 4-4 VOTE. SO BASED ON THIS -- THERE IS NOT AN OVERRIDING ARTS COMMISSION MANDATE TO OVERTURN THE PROFESSIONALLY SELECTED AUSTIN BASED ARTIST. AND THEREFORE I STICK WITH MY MOTION, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL'S TIME.

>>MAYOR WATSON: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> MAYOR WATSON?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN?

>>GOODMAN: NO.

>> COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

>>ALVAREZ: NO.

>> COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: NO.

>> COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: NO.

>> COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

>>THOMAS: YEAH.

>> COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

>>WYNN: YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THREE YESES AND FOUR NOS THE MOTION FAILS. I WILL ENTERTAIN ANOTHER MOTION.

>>SLUSHER: I WILL MOVE FOR THE ARTS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER TO APPROVE THE ARTS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO.

>> MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER WYNN BEING SHOWN VOTING NO.

>>THOMAS: AND THOMAS NO.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS SHOWN VOTING NO. LET'S GO TO ITEM NO. 5. [ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS]

>>GARZA: AS WELL AS MY STAFF, ROGER CHAN AND BOB HODGE ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL MAY HAVE ABOUT THIS ITEM. ROGER AND -- WOW LIKE TO HAVE JOHN STEVENS SPEAK TO THE FINANCING CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE?

>> YES.

>> MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, JOHN STEVENS, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES. LET ME GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE FINANCING ARRANGEMENT THAT ARTS CENTER STAGE HAS REQUESTED BE ALLOWED UNDER THE AMENDED LEASE. THE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FINANCING ARRANGEMENT TO ARTS IS THAT RATHER THAN USING THEIR DONATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION COSTS, IT ALLOWS THEM TO USE THE DONATIONS TO EARN INVESTMENT INCOME AT A HIGHER RATE THAN THE RATE THAT THEY WILL PAY ON THE BONDS ISSUED FOR CONSTRUCTION. THE FINANCING WORKS ESSENTIALLY AS FOLLOWS. PARDON ME. A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY WILL BE FORMED TO ISSUE THE BONDS. THIS CORPORATION WILL BE LIKE OTHER CORPORATIONS THAT THE CITY HAS FORMED FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE AUSTIN CONVENTION ENTERPRISES CORPORATION FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER HEADQUARTERS HOTEL. DOCUMENTS WILL BE SCOOTED THAT WILL CREATE A TRUST INDENTURE BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND A TRUSTEE WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DISBURSING THE BOND PROCEEDS TO PAY FOR THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION. THE TRUSTEE WILL ALSO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE BONDS AS IT BECOMES DUE. THEN A LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NON-PROFIT CORPORATION FORMED BY THE CITY AND ARTS WILL BE EXECUTED THAT ASSIGNS THE CORPORATION'S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO ARTS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE OBLIGATION TO PAY THE TRUSTEE THE AMOUNTS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR DEBT SERVICE. AND AT THIS POINT THE NORN PROFIT CORPORATION HAS ESSENTIALLY STEPPED OUT OF THE PICTURE. A FURTHER AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE A LETTER OF CREDIT THAT BACKS THE BONDS WILL BE EXECUTED BETWEEN ARTS AND A CONSORTIUM OF BANKS. AND THIS AGREEMENT WILL ALLOW -- WILL PLEDGE THE ARTS DONATIONS AS SECURITY FOR THE LETTER OF CREDIT, BUT WILL ALLOW ARTS THE USE OF THE INVESTMENT INCOME FROM THE DONATIONS. AND AGAIN, THE EXCESS INVESTMENT INCOME OVER AND ABOVE WHAT IS NEEDED FOR DEBT SERVICE CAN BE AVAILABLE FOR FUNDING OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE TO ARTS. THE BANKS WILL THEN DICTATE HOW THE ARTS FUNDS MUST BE INVESTED. THIS FINANCING DOES NOT AFFECT THE CITY'S CREDIT RATING OR ITS ABILITY TO ISSUE BONDS IN THE FUTURE. THAT IS, IT'S BONDING CAPACITY. AND WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU A LETTER TO THAT EFFECT FROM OUR BONDING COUNSEL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. CHAN, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD?

>> NO.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF AT THIS POINT? OKAY. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON WITH REGARD TO ALL THIS. IS THERE SOMETHING YOU AS CITY MANAGER WANT TO DO WITH MORE OF A PROCESS THAN THIS?

>>GARZA: MAYOR, THERE'S BEEN A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ASKED AND WE'VE ANSWERED ALL THOSE QUESTIONS. IN ESSENCE WE WOULD MAKE -- THE CHANGES MADE TO THIS DO NOT SUBSTANTIVELY CHANGE THE LEASE AGREED TO IN 1999. THIS HAS DEALT MORE WITH ISSUES OF FINANCING WHICH WE THINK -- THAT OUR BOND COUNSEL AND DIRECTOR OF FINANCE ADMINISTRATION HAVE GONE THROUGH AND CERTIFIED FOR US WE'RE NOT IN ANY DIFFERENT POSITION THAN WE WERE BACK IN 1999. MORE OVER TLRX IS ONE PROVISION THAT WAS -- I KNOW THAT ANDY AND MR. FLEMMING ARE WORKING ON THIS THIS MORNING, THAT WAS ADDED. WE HAVE DELETED THAT PROVISION THAT HAS TO DO WITH EXTENSION OF THE LEASE BEYOND THE 50 YEARS OF THE ORIGINAL LEASE APPROVED BY THE VOTERS. MAYOR, IN ESSENCE, THOSE HAVE BEEN THE CHANGES. THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF QUESTIONS THAT HAVE GONE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL LEASE THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED. REALLY QUESTIONS ABOUT VERIFYING WHAT WAS APPROVED IN 1999. WE PROVIDED ALL THAT INFORMATION TO THE COUNCIL. AND I BELIEVE WE'RE PREPARED TO JUST TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND RESPOND TO ANY CONCERNS THAT THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE. ANDY, DO YOU WANT TO --

>> COUNCIL, JUST TO CLARIFY WHAT THE CITY MANAGER SAID. ON THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 22 AND THE TOP OF PAGE 23, SUBSECTION KRMENT OF SECTION 8.3, I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH MR. ARYAN AND MR. BENSON AND THEY HAVE AGREED THAT THAT ENTIRE SUBSECTION C SHOULD BE STRUCK. AND REMOVED FROM THE LEASE.

>>SLUSHER: COULD YOU REPEAT THAT?

>> BOTTOM OF PAGE 22, 22 OF THE LEASE IN YOUR BACKUP. SECTION 8.3, SUBSECTION C.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY.

>> AND IT WOULD JUST -- WHAT WE'VE AGREED, TO STRIKE THAT ENTIRE SUBSECTION C.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. >GRIFFITH: COULD I ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO READ THAT FOR US SO IT WILL BE IN THE RECORD REAL CLEAR.

>> HERE'S THE LANGUAGE THAT WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE VERSION OF THE LEASE THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU. SUBSECTION C OF 8.3, NOTWITHSTANDING SECTION 8.3 B, NO TERMINATION OF THIS LEASE ELECTED BY LANDLORD PURSUANT THERE TO WILL BE EFFECTIVE IF TENANT WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING TERMINATION NOTICE DEMANDS A DETENTION REFERENDUM BEFORE THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO CONSIDER THE CONTINUATION OF THIS LEASE FOR THE BALANCE OF THE TERM, SUCH CONTINUATION CONDITIONED ON TENANT RESTORING THE PREMISES IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8.1. LANDLORD MUST CAUSE SUCH POTENTIAL REFERENDUM TO BE CAUSED AS SOON AS PRACTICAL BUT NO LATER THAN SIX MONTHS AFTER DEMAND BY TENANT. IF SUCH PROPOSITION IS NOT PASSED, THE LANDLORD WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENFORCE THE TERMINATION OF THIS LEASE AS PREVIOUSLY NOTICED. IF SUCH PROPOSITION IS PASSED BY THE VOTERS, LANDLORD'S ELECTION TO TERMINATE THE LEASE WILL BE DEEMED RESCINDED AND TENANT WILL RESTORE THE PREMISES IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8.1. SGRIT SIR, WOULD YOU INTERPRET THAT FOR THE -- JUST YOUR BASIC CITIZEN? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> THAT LANGUAGE IS BEING REMOVED FROM THE LEASE AND SO WHAT IT MEANS --.

>>GRIFFITH: WHAT'S THE CHANGE.

>> THE ELECTION NOT TO REBUILD IS COVERED UNDER SECTION 8.3, SUBSECTIONS A AND B. THIS ONLY BECOMES OPERATIVE IF YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE IN LEASE YEARS 41 THROUGH 50 THERE IS A -- SOME KIND OF CATASTROPHIC LOSS TO THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT EXCEEDS IN EXCESS OF 75% OF THE REPLACEMENT COSTS THEREOF, WHICH MEANS -- WHICH MEANS THE CITY AND THE TENANT -- EITHER THE LANDLORD OR TENANT MAY ELECT BY NOTICE TO THE OTHER OTHER PARTY THAT THE PREMISES ARE NOT TO BE REBUILT BY TENANT TAKEN LEASE WOULD BE TERMINATED AS OF THAT DATE. HOWEVER, IF THE PARTIES WERE TO AGREE OTHERWISE, 41 YEARS OR MORE IN THE FUTURE, THEY CAN PROCEED ACCORDINGLY TO REBUILD.

>>GRIFFITH: AND WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT AN ELECTION?

>> IT'S BEING DELETED.

>> THAT'S THE PROVISION THAT'S BEING DELETED.

>>GRIFFITH: SO THAT'S GONE.

>> THAT'S GONE.

>>GRIFFITH: SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN INSTEAD OF THAT? THE CITY GETS IT BACK OR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN INSTEAD OF THAT? WHAT'S IN PLACE OF WHAT IS BEING DELETED? IF IT'S NOTHING, THEN WHAT'S THE FUNCTIONAL EFFECT OF THAT?

>> IT WOULD BE GOVERNED BY THE PROVISIONS THAT REMAIN IN THIS LEASE, AND THAT IS THAT IF THE LEASE WERE TO BE TERMINATED HE AND AFTER PAYMENT TO ALL AMOUNTS PAID, THE LEASE WOULD TERMINATE AND NEITHER LANDLORD OR TENANT WOULD HAVE ANY RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS TO CONTINUE THE LEASE.

>>GRIFFITH: SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?

>> THE LEASE WOULD COME TO AN END.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AND THE LANDLORD HAS CONTROL.

>>GRIFFITH: HAS CONTROL AND OBLIGATION TO FINISH IT AND OPERATE IT --

>> NO, NO, IT WOULD BE PARKLAND NOT SUBJECT TO A LEASE AND THE CITY COUNCILL HALF A CENTURY IN THE FUTURE WOULD DECIDE WHAT BEST TO DO WITH THAT UNENCUMBERED PARKLAND.

>>GRIFFITH: THAT -- WITH WHAT ON IT?

>> THE REMAINS OF THE -- I GUESS THE CHARRED AND BURNING BUILDING THAT WOULD BE THERE.

>>GRIFFITH: WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE REMAINS THEN?

>> THAT WOULD BE WHAT THE INSURANCE PROCEEDS WOULD HELP. IT WOULD BE THE CITY. WE HAVE IT INSURED.

>>GRIFFITH: AND PRAISES AND MAINTENANCE FROM THAT FORWARD WOULD BE THE -- OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE WOULD BE THE OPERATION OF -- OBLIGATION OF WHO.

>> THE CITY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: JUST LIKE WHEN WE VOTED TO ENTER INTO A HALF CENTURY AGREEMENT WITH ARTS CENTER STAGE THE LAST TIME.

>>GARZA: MAYOR, IF I COULD -- BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE CONTEXT BECAUSE '99 HAS BEEN THREE YEARS AGO AND '98 HAS BEEN FOUR YEARS AGO. IN ESSENCE, WHAT THE VOTERS AUTHORIZED US TO DO WAS TO LEASE THIS FACILITY SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE A FIRST CLASS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN. ON THE SHORES OF TOWN LAKE. MORE OVER, THEY ALSO APPROVED A VENUE TAX, AND THAT VENUE TAX WOULD ALLOW US TO CONSTRUCT THE AUSTIN CIVIC COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER AND THE MASTER PLAN THAT HAD BEEN DEVELOPED FOR THE PARK DEPARTMENT -- FOR THE PARKLAND AS WELL. THOSE DOLLARS HAVE BEEN COMING IN AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING THE COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER NOW, WHICH WILL BE COMPLETED ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR. WE ALSO WILL HAVE FUND FUNDING TO DEVELOP THE PARK. IN EFFECT WHAT THIS HAS ALLOWED US TO DO IS HAVE A FIRST CLASS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOR THE VARIOUS PERFORMING ARTS WHICH WERE BEING SQUEEZED OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS BASS CONCERT HALLS SO IT WOULD BE ON THE SHORES OF TOWN LAKE. THIS LEASE AMENDMENT IN ESSENCE ALLOWS THEM GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO DO FINANCING FOR THIS PROJECT TO HAVE THAT BECOME A REALIZATION. THERE'S BEEN SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS 40 MILLION AND NOW IT'S 80 MILLION IN TERMS OF A FIRST CLASS FACILITY. I WOULD POINT OUT THAT WHEN WE BEGAN THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL INCREASES, NOT JUST TO THE COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER, THE PARK BEGAN AS A $10 MILLION PROJECT, IT'S NOW $22 MILLION. THAT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS AND THE PEOPLE WE'VE INVOLVED, BUT WE AS CITIZENS AT THE END OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF ALL THESE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO HAVE A SUPERIOR PRODUCT. AND WE RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE THIS LEASE SO WE CAN GET ON WITH THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME GO TO THE FOLKS THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. LARRY ACRES HAS SIGNED UP AGAINST AND WRITES, PLEASE DELAY ACTION ON THE LEASE UNTIL THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE TOWN LAKE COMMUNITY PROJECT HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT. WE HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW. EXCLUDING FROM THE PROCESS THE PEOPLE AND GROUPS THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE IS A SURE WAY TO ERODE SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT AND THE SPIRIT OF MUTUAL COOPERATION THAT HAS MADE PROGRESS POSSIBLE. THE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE HAULS HAD PRIOR REVIEW AND ... BEFORE CONSIDERATION. THIS HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW. PLEASE HOLD OFF THIS ITEM NM TOMORROW. KAREN KAHAN. WRITES -- SHE WRITES THE CIVIC EVENTS CENTER MUST BE COMPLETE AND OPEN FOR USE BEFORE ARTS CENTER STAGE TAKES POSITION ON JUNE 1, 2002. THIS WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WHICH NEEDS TO REMAIN FAIR FOR ALL GROUPS. MARY BEN RAMS I.

>> MY NAME IS MARY BENEFIT RAMSEY, PRESIDENT OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF AUSTIN, ONE OF THE FOUR STAKEHOLDER GROUPS THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS SINCE THE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP THE TOWN LAKE PARK MASTER PLAN. ON BEHALF OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE, OUR POSITION IS THAT WE DO NOT OBJECT TO THE COUNCIL APPROVING THIS ITEM TODAY. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO DO IS TO ENSURE THE PROMISES MADE TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDER AND THE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE MADE BETWEEN THEMSELVES BE HONORED. ONE OF THE REASONS WE DON'T OBJECT IS ARTS CENTER STAGE HAS ALWAYS MADE IT CLEAR THAT TIME WAS AN ISSUE FOR GETTING THEIR PROJECT DONE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE RESPECT -- THAT WAS ONE OF THE AGREEMENTS WE MADE WAS TO RESPECT EACH OF THE STAKEHOLDERS' CORE VALUES. THAT WAS ONE OF THEIRS. SO IN ORDER TO ABIDE BY WHAT WE'VE AGREED TO DO AND HONOR THAT VALUE, WE WILL DO SO TODAY. BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO CAUSE THEM ANY FURTHER DELAY. I KNOW THEY HAVE A LONGER CONSTRUCTION PERIOD NOW THAN THEY ORIGINALLY INTENDED. ON THAT SAME -- IN THAT SAME VEIN, THOUGH, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENTS AND THE SPIRIT OF THE WHOLE THING WAS THE USERS OF PALMER AUDITORIUM NOT BE WITHOUT A FACILITY BEFORE THE FACILITY, THE COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER BE FINISHED BEFORE ARTS CENTER STAGE TOOK POSSESSION OF PALMER AUDITORIUM FOR THE RETROFIT. THIS CHANGE IN THE LEASE STATES SPECIFICALLY THAT ARTS WILL TAKE POSSESSION NO LATER THAN JUNE 1ST, 2002. AND WHILE WE BELIEVE THAT IS PROBABLY A VERY REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER TO BE FINISHED, WE REALLY BELIEVE IT'S INCUMBENT ON THIS COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT IT IS FINISHED AND THAT IF IT TAKES ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO MAKE THAT FACILITY COMPLETE SO THAT ARTS CAN TAKE POSSESSION ON JUNE FIRST AND THE PEOPLE WHO CURRENTLY USE PALMER AUDITORIUM ARE NOT DISPLACED FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME, WE REALLY THINK THAT IS YOUR OBLIGATION BECAUSE THAT IS PART -- BECAUSE ALL OF THIS, AS THE CITY MANAGER NOTED, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T ONE PROJECT OR ONE PIECE OF A PROJECT. IT IS A BIG PLAN THAT INVOLVES THE LONG CENTER, IT INVOLVES THE COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER, A PARKING GARAGE, AND A WHOLE DEVELOPMENT OF TOWN LAKE PARK. AND WE JUST WANT TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT IT ISN'T JUST ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE. SO DON'T OVERLOOK THAT THERE ARE OTHER PROMISES TO BE KEPT AS WE GO ALONG, AND I DO REQUEST THAT YOU ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER IS FINISHED TIMELY SO THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT DISPLACED, AS THAT WAS ALWAYS THE INTENTION AND THE AGREEMENT AND THE SPIRIT AND -- WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.

>>GRIFFITH: YES. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE SPEAKER. NOW, YOUR PRIORITY IS WHAT -- FIRST OF ALL, WHO ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS IN TOWN LAKE PARK AND HOW DID THEY COME TOGETHER AND WHAT IS THAT?

>> THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP WAS CREATED I BELIEVE IN OCTOBER OF 1998, SHORTLY BEFORE THE ELECTION THAT APPROVED THE VENUE TAX AND APPROVED THE LEASE OF PALMER AUDITORIUM TO ARTS CENTER STAGE. THERE WERE FOUR STAKEHOLDERS GROUPS WHO SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND THEY WOULD BE ARTS CENTER STAGE, FRIENDS OF THE PARKS, SOUTH CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION, AND THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF AUSTIN AND JUNIOR LEAGUE HAS ALWAYS SEEN ITS ROLE AS REPRESENTING THE USERS OF THE FACILITIES ON THAT TRACT OF LAND.

>>GRIFFITH: AND IS THERE A DOCUMENT THAT -- OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THOSE STAKEHOLDERS?

>> THERE IS.

>>GRIFFITH: WHAT DOES IT SAY?

>> IT'S A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, AND -- WHERE EACH STAKEHOLDER HAS DELYNN EIGHT THEIR CORE VALUES WITH REGARD TO THE ENTIRE PROJECT. SO ARTS HAS -- YOU KNOW, EACH GROUP HAS ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE CORE VALUES OF WHAT IS -- ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR THEM. SO ARTS THAT IS HA. THE JUNIOR LEAGUE, YOU KNOW, IN ITS ROLE AS A USER HAS LISTED ITS CORE VALUES. FRIENDS OF THE PARKS AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE EACH LISTED THEIR CORE VALUES. AND THEN EACH OF THE STAKEHOLDERS HAS SIGNED THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES WE WILL RESPECT AND HONOR AND UPHOLD THE CORE VALUES OF THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.

>>GRIFFITH: AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY EXEMPLARY AND IMPORTANT AND PERHAPS HISTORIC AGREEMENT. I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT. THERE ARE INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF EACH OF THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE COMMITMENT OF THE GROUP WAS TO THE NEEDS OF EACH. AND ALSO THAT THE -- THE FUNDS, THE INCOME WAS GOING TO BE COMMITTED SIMULTANEOUSLY SO THAT THE -- SO THAT THERE WOULD BE NO STEPCHILDREN. SO THAT NO GROUP WOULD BE BEHIND OR LEFT OUT OR -- OR GET WHAT'S LEFT. BECAUSE THERE WAS SEEN IN THE BEGINNING AS A RISK OF THAT. HOW IS THAT WORKING?

>> I THINK IN GENERAL, I MEAN WE HAVE DONE VERY WELL. AND THE FACT THAT -- ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE TAKING THE POSITION WE TAKE TODAY IS THAT WE ARE HONORING THE CORE VALUE OF ARTS CENTER STAGE TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE BELIEVE THAT'S THE DEAL WE MADE AND I'M PLEASED TO SAY I BELIEVE THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAS HAD A LOT OF INTEGRITY IN THIS PROCESS AND IT MADE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S INTEREST WAS HONORED ALONG THE WAY. FOR THE MOST PART I THINK THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING HAS OPERATED VERY WELL WITH PEOPLE WORKING TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND OTHER GROUPS' NEEDS AND INTERESTS BECAUSE THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS WERE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. THERE WERE, YOU KNOW, SOME ALIGNMENTS OF INTERESTS AND THERE WERE SOME OPPOSITION OF INTEREST IN THE OVERALL PROJECT. IN GENERAL I THINK AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID, THE BUDGET -- THE ORIGINAL BUDGET FOR THE PARK WAS $10 MILLION. AS THE MASTER PLAN WAS DEVELOPED AND TRYING TO MAKE IT A WONDERFUL PARK THE NEED FOR THAT BUDGET TO INCREASE BECAME EVIDENT AND THE COUNCIL HAS IMPROVED A PLAN TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE MONEYS FOR IT TO $22 MILLION OR $23 MILLION. THE COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER HAS HAD I THINK ABOUT A $6 MILLION INCREASE FOR IT. SO WHILE IT'S BEEN A -- WHAT I WOULD DESCRIBE AS A LONG AND NOT NECESSARILY EASY JOURNEY, I THINK OVERALL THE GOALS THAT EACH OF US HAS SOUGHT FOR REAL ATERRIFIC FACILITY, FACILITIES AND PARK FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, YOU KNOW, ARE KMOMING ALONG.

>>GRIFFITH: AND THIS IS I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT PROCESS EARLIER. THIS IS I THINK AN EXEMPLARY PROCESS. NOW, THERE IS A SCHEDULE ABOUT SPENDING THE INCOME FROM THE RENTAL CAR TAX. THERE IS A SCHEDULE FOR THAT, I BELIEVE, THAT HONORS THE NEEDS OF EACH OF THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS. AND HOW ARE WE DOING WITH THAT SCHEDULE? IS IT EQUITYABLE? ARE ALL THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS BEING HONORED IN TERMS OF EQUITY OF HOW THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT FROM THE RENTAL CAR TAX?

>> THE COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER WAS FUNDED WITH BONDS THAT WERE ISSUED, THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER AND THE PARKING GARAGE AND MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT THE RENTAL CAR TAX AS IT CAME IN WAS GOING TO BE USED TO HELP DO THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE BONDS AND PAY THAT BACK, AND ALSO TO PROVIDE ANY OVERAGE OF THAT WOULD GO TO PORK DEVELOPMENT. BUT I THINK THE CITY STAFF ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM COULD PROBABLY ADDRESS THAT WITH MUCH MORE EXPERTISE THAN I.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD IDEA. AND PROBABLY WOULD BE A REAL APPROPRIATE DIRECTION FOR THE QUESTION. FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO START ANSWERING QUESTIONS, THEY MIGHT DO THAT QUICK. WHEN YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION, WHY DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT HOW WE'VE DONE WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL, INTERDEPARTMENTAL TRANSFERS OF MONEY.

>> YES, MAYOR, THAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE ONLY CLARIFICATION THAT I WOULD ADD TO WHAT MS. RAMSEY SAID THAT IS CORRECT THE EXCESS -- THE RENTAL CAR TAX IS BEING USED ITSELF TO PAY FOR THE BONDS ISSUED FOR THE COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER. THE EXCESS RENTAL CAR TAX WILL ESSENTIALLY BE USED TO PAY BACK A INTERFUND BORROWING THAT IS BEING DONE TO FINANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SORRY, THE DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT?

>> OF THE PARK.

>>GRIFFITH: SO THE --.

>>GARZA: IF I COULD CLARIFY, THE CITY'S CHECKING ACCOUNT IS ADVANCING THE MONEY TO THIS PROJECT, BETTING THAT THE DOLLARS WILL CONTINUE TO COME IN FROM THE RENTAL CAR TAX. WE'VE TAKEN WHAT WE THINK IS A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH IN WHAT WE THINK WE OUGHT TO DO -- THAT WE CAN DO AND PROBABLY HANDLE. THERE'S BEEN REQUESTS TO TAKE THAT EVEN FURTHER, AND WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING THAT NOR WOULD WE RECOMMEND THAT BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S A LITTLE RISKY SHOULD THOSE REVENUES NOT BE REALIZED. THAT'S WHAT IT IS. WE'RE ADVANCING THE MONEY TO THIS PROJECT BANKING THOSE DOLLARS WILL COME IN FROM THE RENTAL CAR TAX.

>>GRIFFITH: DO YOU HAVE THE SCHEDULE WITH YOU OF WHAT THE PLAN WAS FOR HOW THE -- HOW THAT MONEY WAS GOING TO BE SPENT? THERE IS A SCHEDULE.

>> YES, I DO.

>>GRIFFITH: AND HOW DOES IT LOOK? WHAT IS ON TIME AND WHAT IS BEHIND AND BY HOW MUCH?

>> THE SCHEDULE THAT I HAVE SHOWS THE DOLLARS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED BY FISCAL YEAR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK. THE -- BASED ON AN ESTIMATED PROJECT SCHEDULE THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY THE PROJECT MANAGER, WE ARE CERTAINLY ON TRACK IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO FUND THE AMOUNTS THAT WE SHOWED WITHOUT GOING TO AN AMOUNT OF INTERFUND BORROWING THAT I THINK WOULD BE EXCESSIVE.

>>GRIFFITH: SO WHAT'S THE -- HOW MUCH ARE WE BEHIND, NOT IN TERMS OF OVERALL, BUT IN TERMS OF THOSE COLUMNS THAT SAY HOW MUCH GOES TO WHICH ONE?

>> I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.

>>GRIFFITH: WELL, MAYBE WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE SAME THING.

>> YES, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT.

>>GRIFFITH: OKAY. THE SCHEDULE OF THE -- THE COMPLETION SCHEDULE OF ALL OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE PARK. LIKE PHASE 2.

>> YES.

>>GRIFFITH: ARE WE ON SCHEDULE FOR THAT?

>> PHASE 2, ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE THAT I HAVE, PHASE 2 BEGINS WITH $300,000 IN 2001, A MILLION FIVE IN 2002, AND 5.6 MILLION IN 2003. AS FAR AS I KNOW WE ARE ON SCHEDULE FOR THAT PHASE.

>>GRIFFITH: AND IN TERMS OF WHEN THAT SPENDING WAS TO BEGIN, ARE WE ON TRACK? WITH WHEN THE COMPLETION OF PHASE 2 IS TO HAPPEN?

>> AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE WILL ACHIEVE THE SPENDING THAT IS SHOWN ON THIS SCHEDULE FOR PHASE 2 ON SCHEDULE, BUT THAT, AGAIN, IS SCHEDULED OUT FOR 2003. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING THAT HAS PUSHED US OFF THAT SCHEDULE AT THIS POINT.

>>GRIFFITH: OKAY. WELL, MAYBE WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT TOGETHER. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MEL ME GAYLORD. DO YOU WISH TO -- YOU SIGNED UP NOT WISH TO GO SPEAK. IT'S IMPERATIVE THE NEW PALMER EVENTS CENTER BE FINISHED BEFORE ARTS CENTER STAGE TAKES POSSESSION T CITY COUNCILL HAS ALREADY VOTED ON THIS. ARTS CENTER STAGE NEEDS TO HONOR THEIR ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WITH THE STAKE HORDZ, CITIZENS OF AUSTIN. ALL PARTIES REMAIN TRUE TO THEIR PROMISE EXCEPT ARTS CENTER STAGE. THEY PROMISE TO [INAUDIBLE] PRIVATELY PERFORMING BOND MONEY. NO BOND MONEY WAS GOING TO BE REQUESTED. THEY AGREED TO CREATE AN EVEN DOCUMENT FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND EXPENSES OF THE ARTS CENTER, WOULD NOT REQUIRE THE EXPENDITURE OF CITY FUNDS. ARE THESE JUST EMPTY PROMISES SO THEY COULD GET WHAT THEY WANTED. BRUCE WALENSIC SIGNED UP NOT SPEAKING BUT FOR. KAY TRIBUS.

>> I'M KAY TRIBUS REPRESENTING THE SOUTH CENTRAL COALITION OF NEIGHBORHOODS. ONE OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE TOWN LAKE PARK DEVELOPMENT. AND MAINLY I WOULD LIKE ALL THE STAFF AND ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO REALIZE THE TOWN LAKE STAKEHOLDERS STILL DO EXIST. WE'VE HEARD THAT MAYBE SOME STAFF THINK WE DON'T EXIST ANYMORE, BUT WE ACTUALLY EXIST. WE ACTUALLY HAVE MEETINGS. WE HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW. THERE'S USUALLY A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CITY AT THESE MEETINGS. AND FROM THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND THE MASTER PLAN, THOSE WERE PIECES OF PAPER. WE'VE SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT WE WANT TO BE INVOLVED SO WE CAN WALK THROUGH THE PARK TO THOSE WONDERFUL BUILDINGS AND EVERYTHING IS BUILT. THAT IT'S NOT NOT ON A PIECE OF PAPER. WE'VE ALSO AGREED THAT WHEN WE GO TO COUNCIL, THAT ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS WOULD BE NOTIFIED AND COULD BE PRESENT AT THE MEETINGS. WHICH DOESN'T SEEM TO ALWAYS HAPPEN SINCE I WAS SURPRISED BY SATURDAY'S PAPER IN SEEING THAT ALL THESE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS. NOBODY HAD MENTIONED IT TO US. WE WOULD ASK AND WAS TOLD HOW MANY ACRES ARE YOU ACTUALLY GOING TO TAKE, YOU KNOW. WELL, WE DON'T KNOW YET. WE DON'T KNOW. ANYWAY, SO HOPEFULLY IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ALL THIS MONEY RUNNING AROUND WE COULD GET THE PARK MOVING FASTER AND TO SHOW THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE STILL DOING THINGS, IN MARCH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW, BUT WE MOVED THE GRAND OAK TREE, WHICH I CALL IT ENDEAVOR, THAT'S THE NAME I PICKED FOR IT, THAT WAS GOING TO BE CHOPPED DOWN RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY EVENTS NEW BUILDING, IT WAS A TREE THAT IS SO BIG YOU COULD NOT MOVE IT DOWN THE STREET TO MOVE IT ON TO THE PARK. SO TO LOSE THAT GREAT TREE WOULD HAVE BEEN AWFUL. AND WE ACTUALLY OEF SOME MONEY. WE HAVE A LOT OF INLINE SERVICES, BUT I THINK WE OWE $8,000 OR ARTS CENTER STAGE WOULD LIKE TO CHIP IN SOME MONEY. WE'VE HAD MONEY GIVEN AND ALL, BUT THE LABOR WAS NOT FREE SO WE HAVE TO -- IT WAS A MAJOR THING. YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT IF YOU WEREN'T OUT THERE. ANYWAY, I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO POSTPONE VOTING ON THIS LEASE. WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT. FIRST I HEARD ABOUT IT WAS READING THE PAPER LAST SATURDAY, AND WE HAVE A TOWN LAKE PARK MEETING TOMORROW WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS. AND JUST SEEMS LIKE COMMON COURTESY WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD GET TO LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT IT SAYS. BUT MAINLY I JUST WANT US ALL TO KEEP WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE WHOLE CITY TO HAVE THE BEST PARK POSSIBLE. NOT MANY CITIES GET A CHANCE TO HAVE A NEW URBAN PARK DOWNTOWN. AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER FOR ALL CITIZENS AND THAT ALSO MEANS THE USERS -- [BUZZER SOUNDS] -- DO STILL HAVE A PLACE TO MEET BEFORE -- THAT WOULD CHANGE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. COUNCIL, I'LL EITHER ENTERTAIN A MOTION OR WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION.

>>WYNN: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>WYNN: I WANT TO COMMEND PARTICULARLY THE CITY STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE ON THIS LEASE AMENDMENT. ALTHOUGH SOME FOLKS DID JUST HEAR OF IT RECENTLY, THE CITY STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS LONG AND HARD. OUR FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT WITH JOHN STEVENS HAS KEPT US APPRISED OF THE MOVEMENT OF IT IN REGARDS TO THE CITY'S, YOU KNOW, BONDING, THE DEBT, THE LIABILITY, ET CETERA, AND HAS GOTTEN ME VERY COMFORTABLE WITH IT. I KNOW THAT ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ROGER CHAN HAS PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE AND PLAYED A VERY HARD-NOSED ROLE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. ESSENTIALLY AS WAS STATED NUMEROUS TIMES AD NAUSEAM, THIS IS A FINANCING MECHANIC ANYMORE THAT IS GOING TO ALLOW THE ARTS CENTER STAGE FOLKS TO HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY, LIKELY MUCH MORE INCOME, BUT BETTER EVEN DOCUMENT, MORE, STRONGER O AND M COVERAGE RATIO, ET CETERA. AND SO BASED ON STAFF'S HARD WORK, THEIR RECOMMENDATION, I MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 5.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION IS TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN OF ITEM 5. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.

>>SLUSHER: CAN I GET STAFF BACK HERE, MR. CHAN, MR. STEVENS? OKAY. GO THROUGH FOR ME AGAIN THE ORIGINAL REQUIREMENT THAT ARTS CENTER STAGE RAISE 70% OF THE FUNDS AND BEFORE BEGINNING AND THEN THE PARALLEL ELEMENT OF THAT IN THE NEW AGREEMENT.

>> OKAY. THE ORIGINAL REQUIREMENT WAS THAT ARTS CENTER STAGE RAISE 70% THROUGH CASH RESERVES WITH 30% FINANCING ACCEPTABLE TO THE LANDLORD. THIS AMENDED LEASE PROVIDES THAT ARTS CANNOT BEGIN CONSTRUCTION UNTIL THEY HAVE 70% OF THE ESTIMATED COST OF CONSTRUCTION IN BOND PROCEEDS IN CASH THAT -- IN BOND PROCEEDS THAT ARE IN CASH DEDICATED SOLELY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT. AND THEN THE ADDITIONAL 30% TO COME -- TO BE FINANCED.

>>SLUSHER: SO THEY HAVE TO RAISE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AS THEY WOULD HAVE UNDER THE PREVIOUS AGREEMENT?

>> ULTIMATELY THEY WILL, YES.

>>SLUSHER: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ULTIMATELY?

>> WELL, THEY WILL HAVE TO ULTIMATELY RAISE THE COST, THE $89 MILLION MILLION THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION. THEY WILL HAVE TO RAISE 56 MILLION INITIALLY.

>>SLUSHER: BUT THE COMMENCEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION, UNDER THE APRIL '99, CAN BEGIN WHEN DONATIONS ARE RECEIVED EQUAL TO 70% OF THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND THEN FINANCINGING, THIS IS UNDER THE NEW ONE, OF 70% OF THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS IS PROVIDED. DOES THAT MEAN THEY WOULD HAVE TO RAISE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY UNDER EITHER CONTRACT TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION?

>> YES.

>>SLUSHER: SO THAT REQUIREMENT IS BASICALLY THE SAME? WOULD THAT BE AN ACCURATE STATEMENT?

>> YES.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. NOW, WHAT ABOUT THE MONEY FOR OPERATING FUNDS?

>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 99 LEASE AND THE AMENDED VERSION THAT IS BEFORE YOU NOW IS THAT THE '99 LEASE HAD A $10 MILLION FUND THAT WOULD PROVIDE INTEREST INCOME, ANNUAL INTEREST INCOME EITHER TO ARTS TO OPERATE THE FACILITY OR TO THE CITY IF THE CITY HAD TO STEP IN AND OPERATE THE FACILITY. UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENT, ARTS WILL ALSO HAVE THAT $10 MILLION FUND IN PLACE FOR OPERATIONS. AND IN ADDITION WE'LL HAVE THE USE OF THEIR DONATION MONEY AVAILABLE FOR INTEREST INCOME ALSO. SO THE AMOUNT -- THE AMOUNT THAT WAS GENERATED TO BE GENERATED IN INTEREST INCOME UNDER THE ORIGINAL LEASE WAS $10 MILLION INTEREST INCOME ON $10 MILLION. NOW IT'S APPROXIMATELY 10-FOLD. IT'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 09 AND 100 MILLION.

>>SLUSHER: SO THEN YOU FEEL SECURE THAT THE CITY IS NOT GOING TO BE IN DANGER OF HAVING TO STEP IN AND PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS?

>> I THINK THIS MITIGATES THE POSSIBILITY THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN. I THINK FROM THAT -- FROM THE OPERATIONS PERSPECTIVE WE ARE IN BETTER SHAPE THAN BEFORE.

>>SLUSHER: WE'RE IN BETTER SHAPE THAN WE ARE BEFORE.

>> YES.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. WHAT ABOUT THE CONCERN THAT MS. RAMSEY RAISED ABOUT THE USERS OF PALMER, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME IN THE ORIGINAL DISCUSSIONS, AND THERE WERE FOUR OF US ON THE COUNCIL WHO DELAYED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT, WE FELT, RESPECT TO THAT BY THE ARTS CENTER STAGE. AND I THINK WE MANAGED TO WORK THAT OUT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT CHANGING IN THAT AS PART OF THIS.

>> RIGHT. AND WHEN WE AGREED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BOOKINGS, IT WAS WITH THE INTENT THAT WOULD BEEN ERD AND THAT THE CITY WOULD -- HONORED AND THAT THE CITY WOULD PROVIDE A VENUE FOR THEM. AND SHOULD ANYTHING HAPPEN, HAVING LOOKED INTO ALTERNATIVE SPACING.

>>SLUSHER: BUT IF THIS WERE TO PASS TODAY, DOES IT CHANGE THE SITUATION OR POTENTIALLY CHANGE THE SITUATION AS WHERE WE'VE AGREED THAT PALMER USERS WILL HAVE A PLACE TO GO BEFORE WE -- BEFORE THEY CAN NO LONGER GO TO PALMER?

>> IF WE AGREE TO THIS TODAY, IT WOULD HELP ENSURE THAT THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE HONORED.

>>SLUSHER: AND HOW IS THAT?

>> FROM THE COMPLETION GETTING CLOSER TO THE SCHEDULING.

>>SLUSHER: SO BY MOVING FORWARD. BUT THERE IS NOTHING WITHIN THE CONTRACT THAT CHANGES THAT COMMITMENT OR ENDANGERS THAT POSSIBILITY?

>> NO.

>>GARZA: THE LANGUAGE STAYED THE SAME, COUNCILMEMBER. SO JUNE 1ST OR WHENEVER THE COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER IS COMPLETE IS WHEN POSSESSION TAKES PLACE. THEY HAVE MADE A REQUEST TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT BY THE 1ST. I TALKED TO MR. HODGE TODAY. IT LOOKS ABOUT MID MAY WHEN WE THINK THAT WILL BE DONE. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY -- RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL ABOUT A YEAR OUT. WE'LL HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF IT. I KNOW ROGER AND BOB ARE WORKING WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO ENSURE THERE ARE NO UNNECESSARY DELAYS FROM A REGULATORY STANDPOINT BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A PLACE FOR THE FOLKS FROM -- FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE JUNIOR LEAGUE AND OTHER USERS OF PALM TOR HAVE A PLACE, SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT. AND WE'RE GOING TO STAY VIGILANT TO SEE IF WE CAN MEET THE MID MAY DATE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IF YOU DIDN'T MIND ME INTERRUPTING, IS THERE FAIR TO SAY IN SOME DISCUSSIONS THERE HAVE BEEN REQUESTS THAT DATE BE CHANGED THAT WOULD PUT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IN A POSITION OF HAVING TO ANSWER COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER'S QUESTION YES, THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS THAT WOULD HAVE CHANGE THATTED -- CHANGED THAT DATE, BUT THAT WAS TURNED DOWN BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND I GOT INVOLVED AND SAID THAT SHOULD BE TURNED DOWN SO HE CAN STAND UP HERE AND SAY THERE IS NOT A CHANGE IN THAT DATE. IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MAYOR. GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PART -- THE STATUS OF THE PARK HAS NOT CHANGED BY THIS AGREEMENT, IS IT? OR IS IT THE PARK DEVELOPMENT?

>> IN TERMS OF IT BEING DEVELOPED?

>>SLUSHER: RIGHT. OR THE SCHEDULE OR THE MONEY.

>> NO. THOSE PORTIONS OF THE LEASE GAEMENT THAT WAS AGREED TO IN '99 WERE UNTOUCHED.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? OKAY.

>>THOMAS: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.

>>THOMAS: I JUST NEED SOME CLARITY ON TWO THINGS FROM STAFF ABOUT THE INSURANCE. I'LL READ YOU MY QUESTION AND I JUST DIDN'T GET ENOUGH CLARITY. IT SAYS EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR THE COUNCIL TO APPROPRIATE THE FUNDING FOR THE INSURANCE AND CLARIFY THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE LEASE BEING RENEGOTIATED IF COUNCIL FAILED TO APPROPRIATE THIS FUNDING.

>> THE INSURANCE STATEMENT AS IT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL WAS UNTOUCHED IN THIS. WASN'T ALTERED AT ALL.

>>THOMAS: OKAY.

>> WHAT WAS AGREED TO IN '99 IS WHAT WE STILL HOLD THEM TO.

>>THOMAS: I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.

>> WHAT WAS AGREED TO IN '99 IS STILL WHAT THEY ARE BEING HELD TO.

>>THOMAS: OKAY. I THINK THE QUESTION WAS -- THAT I ASKED WAS EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR THE COUNCIL TO APPROPRIATE THE FUNDING FOR THE INSURANCE.

>> I'M NOT -- I'M NOT SURE IF I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.

>>THOMAS: WE STILL OWN THE BUILDING, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>>THOMAS: OKAY. AND THEY ARE GOING TO LEASE THE BUILDING, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>>THOMAS: OKAY. AND SO IS THAT THE APPROPRIATE THING, IF SOMEBODY IS LEASING A CITY BUILDING, THAT WE HAVE TO PAY THE INSURANCE?

>> WELL, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF THE '99, THAT IS WHAT WAS APPROVED, SO THAT WASN'T READDRESSED OR REVISITED.

>>THOMAS: OKAY. ANOTHER QUESTION TO STAFF TO EXPLAIN THE ALLOWING LOCAL SMALL AND MINORITY PERFORMING ART GROUPS USE OF THE FACILITY AT A BELOW MARKET RATE.

>> THAT -- WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE ALLOWING THAT? ABSOLUTELY. THE -- IT WAS VERY CLEAR TO US THE WISHES OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE STAKEHOLDERS ON THAT. WE HAVE MAINTAINED THAT AND WE WORKED OUT A DEGREEABLE STATEMENT. IT'S WITHIN IN THE LEASE.

>>THOMAS: YOU WORK IT OUT YOU SAID WITH THE COMMUNITY WITH DIFFERENT SMALL GROUPS, SMALL MINORITY GROUPS. IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?

>> YES.

>>THOMAS: OKAY. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST THE ONES THAT -- THE CULTURAL ARTS CONTRACT, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE --

>> RIGHT, THE SMALL USERS.

>>THOMAS: IF THEY CAN'T MEET THE BELOW MARKET RATE, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THEIR CLAUSE TO ACCOMMODATE THEM? THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS.

>> NOT ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN THE PRO TEKZ AFFORDED IN THE ORIGINAL.

>>THOMAS: OKAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: I'LL ADD TO SOMETHING COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS WAS ASKING ABOUT. AT THE TIME WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS CHRAB REAGAN ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF USERS WHO -- COLLABORATION WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE PALMER BUT COULDN'T.

>>THOMAS: I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: BUT MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO EXPECT TO AFFORD LONG, THE FOLKS WHO WERE PUTTING TOGETHER THE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT PART OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING WAS GOING TO BE INTERIOR DESIGNING FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS AND NOT NECESSARILY ONLY THOSE WHO COULD PAY FOR REHEARSAL SPACE AND FOR PERFORMING SPACE.

>>THOMAS: OKAY.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.

>>GRIFFITH: YES. I WONDER IF WE COULD HAVE OUR JUNIOR LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE BACK FOR A MINUTE FOR A FOLLOWUP QUESTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MS. RAMSEY.

>>GRIFFITH: THERE ARE -- THERE SEEMS TO BE -- THERE MAY BE SOME -- STILL SOME THINGS WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT BEFORE WE FINALIZE THIS. THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE NEED, I THINK ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS WOULD AGREE TO THIS, WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE BUSINESS PLANNEN AND TO ENSURE FUND TO GO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AND TO MAINTAIN THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ENDOWMENT WHICH WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT TODAY, AND TO ENSURE THAT SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE ARE GOING TO BE THERE SO THE CITY TAXPAYERS WON'T BE EXPOSED FOR THAT. AND WE NEED TO LIMIT THE CITY TS EXPOSURE THERE, AND TO INSURANCE -- AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT, THE INTEGRITY OF THE TOWN LAKE MASTER PLAN AND WE THEY'D TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE USE OF THE PARKING AND SERVICE COURT FACILITIES. WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO THAT. AND WE NEED TO HONOR THE CITY COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER USERS. WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT HOW COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD MARKET RATE CAN USE IT. SO THOSE ARE SOME THINGS WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT. DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION WOULD HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO WAITING A WEEK TO TALK ABOUT THESE EIGHT THINGS?

>> OH, NO, WE WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THAT AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS THEM. I MEAN IT COULD EVEN PROVIDE US MORE ASSURANCE THAT THINGS WILL BE FINISHED -- I MEAN AS WE'RE SITTING BACK THERE LOOKING AT THE LEASE LANGUAGE NOW. WE WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THAT.

>>GRIFFITH: IT'S LIKE AN ALMOST 30-PAGE AGREEMENT, AND PERHAPS IT COULD BENEFIT FROM CLARITY IF WE HAD A LITTLE MORE TIME TO LOOK AT IT. WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, TIME ALWAYS MAKES THINGS CLEARER. I DO BELIEVE THAT. AND WE ARE MEETING IN THE MORNING AND I -- THE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE ALWAYS HAD A STANDING MEETING TOMORROW MORNING AND IF THAT COULD CLEAR UP SOME THINGS AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE, IT PROBABLY COULD BE USEFUL.

>>GRIFFITH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT DOES TO ARTS CENTER STAGE. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE LEAGUE CHOSE NOT TO OBJECT IS WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION OF WHAT A DELAY OF A WEEK OR TWO MIGHT DO TO ANY OF THEIR PLANS, AND WE DID NOT WANT TO, AGAIN, IN ORDER TO HONOR OUR COMMITMENT TO THEM AND RESPECT THEIR TIME FRAME, WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT COULD RESULT IN THEM BEING SET BACK OR SOMETHING WITH REGARD TO THE FINANCING THAT MIGHT NOT BE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THEM. AND THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE NOT TO OBJECT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION OF IF IT COULD HURT THEM OR NOT.

>>GRIFFITH: WELL SHE I THINK NOBODY IS OBJECTING TO THE NEW FINANCING PLAN. IT LOOKS VERY CREATIVE AND INTRIGUING AND IF WE CAN NAIL DOWN IN A FEW DAYS WHAT THAT IS GOING TO MEAN FOR THE REST OF THE STAKEHOLDERS AND FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE MINORITY CONTRACTORS AND FOR THE SMALLER USERS, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD THING. IT'S LOOKING VERY POSITIVE. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD -- I WOULD MOVE THAT WE TALK ABOUT THIS AGAIN IN A WEEK AND GIVE OUR STAFF A CHANCE TO TALK AGAIN WITH ARTS CENTER STAGE FOLKS. AND SO I WOULD SUGGEST A ONE-WEEK POSTPONEMENT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, DO YOU CONSIDER THAT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT?

>>WYNN: NO.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THE MAIN MOTION.

>>GRIFFITH: THAT WOULD BE THEN A SUBSTITUTE MOTION?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH MOVED --.

>>GRIFFITH: OR AN AMENDMENT. NOT A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. AN AMENDMENT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: HAVE THE SAME EFFECT. HOW DO YOU WANT TO DO IT? SUBSTITUTE MOTION OR AMENDMENT?

>>GRIFFITH: AMENDMENT. BEING FOR THE AGREEMENT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. AND THE MOTION IS TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION TO ALLOW FOR -- AND THE MOTION WE WOULD TAKE UP NEXT WEEK WOULD BE A MOTION TO APPROVE SINCE THAT IS ALREADY THE MOTION, AND THE MAKER OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SAYS SHE IS IN FAVOR OF THE MAIN MOTION.

>>GRIFFITH: YES, WITH WHATEVER AMENDMENTS -- WITH WHATEVER CHANGES HAPPEN BETWEEN MR. CHAN AND -- AND THE NEGOTIATING PARTNER DURING THAT INTERIM.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO AMEND?

>>THOMAS: SECOND.

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

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, I WOULD -- PROCEDURELY I THINK IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE AS JUST A MOTION TO DELAY RATHER THAN AN AMENDMENT, BUT I GUESS IT HAS THE SAME EFFECT. BUT I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE THERE IS ONE THING THAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH MS. RAMSEY, WHO WAS IN FAVOR, WHO SAID SHE WAS IN FAVOR OF GOING FORWARD, BUT THERE'S SOME CONTRACT LANGUAGE THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED AND HASN'T BEEN TO MY SATISFACTION AND DISCUSSIONS -- IN DISCUSSIONS I'VE HAD OFF THE DAIS. I THINK THIS CAN BE SETED FAIRLY QUICKLY R, BUT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE JUST WALKING OFF THE DAIS IN TIME TO VOTE. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT A DELAY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I DON'T SEE THIS -- I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS GET TO LOOK AT THE CHANGES, BUT THAT I DON'T SEE A DELAY AS REDOING THE ENTIRE PALMER AGREEMENT ORDEAL THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS AND SUBSEQUENTLY NEGOTIATED BY THE CITY. I THINK COUNCIL AND THE CITY STAFF HAVE GONE THROUGH IMMENSE EFFORTS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING BACK BEFORE THE ELECTION TO SATISFY ALL THE STAKEHOLDER INTERESTS. THERE'S BEEN CONSIDERABLY MORE FUNDS, TAXPAYER FUNDS PUMPED INTO THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THIS PROJECT TO MAKE IT A BETTER PROJECT. SO I DON'T SEE -- I KNOW THERE'S SOME CONCERN, FRANKLY, A DELAY WOULD BE USED TO KILL THE WHOLE THING, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T SEE THAT AS THE INTENT AND HOPEFULLY IT'S NOT ANYONE ELSE'S EITHER.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO AMEND? ALL RIGHT.

>>THOMAS: MAYOR? COULD I IMPLEMENT SOMETHING HERE BECAUSE I WAS ALSO READING ABOUT COUNCIL APPOINTEES [INAUDIBLE] TO THE [INAUDIBLE]. COULD WE CHANGE THAT THAT THE AID TO COUNCIL APPOINTEES? DO THEY HAVE TO BE DONORS? RIGHT THERE WHERE IT SAYS COUNCIL APPOINTEES ARE DONORS TO THE -- MEANING THAT IF WE APPOINT SOMEONE, THEY HAVE TO BE DONORS. IS THAT CORRECT OR WRONG?

>>MAYOR WATSON: WELL, I'M NOT SURE WHAT PROVISION YOU ARE LOOKING AT, BUT MUCH -- I SUPPOSE ALL OF THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED, BUT MUCH OF THIS -- AND PART OF THE DIFFICULTY WE FACE HERE IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY VOTED TO MOVE ALL THIS FORWARD ON A 7-0 VOTE. THE BULK OF WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED HERE IS A FINANCING CHANGE. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONCERNS ABOUT NOT ONLY THE BRINGING FORWARD OF A FINANCING CHANGE, BUT ALSO GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OCCURRED BECAUSE THERE IS AT LEAST SOME SUSPICION AND BELIEF THAT PEOPLE ARE -- THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO MAY SAY THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF SOMETHING, BUT WHAT THEY ARE REALLY ATTEMPTING TO DO IS REVISIT THE WHOLE DEAL AND TRY TO SET ASIDE PART OF THE DEAL. SO I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE GREAT CARE THAT WHAT WE DON'T DO IS START RIGHT NOW TRYING TO REDO THE WHOLE DEAL WE'VE NOW BEEN TWO AND THREE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: HANG ON. HE STILL HAS THE FLOOR. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.

>>THOMAS: I UNDERSTAND THAT AND RESPECT THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL. I JUST WANTED TO VISIT THAT. I'LL GO ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, DO NOT WANT TO HOLD UP ANYTHING, BUT I DO THINK THE STAKEHOLDERS NEED TO BE INFORMED. I THINK ONE-WEEK DELAY WOULD BE OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. AND WE ADDRESSED THOSE ISSUES THAT I DID BRING UP TODAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.

>>GRIFFITH: YES. THANK YOU. I AGREE WITH YOU, MAYOR. THE CITY IS NOT A PARTY TO THAT DEDICATED FUND. I THINK WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS THE BUSINESS PLAN. THE BUSINESS PLAN THAT WE PASS WAS SOLID. AND LET'S BE SURE THAT THE -- WHAT WE PASS NOW IS AS SOLID OR BETTER IN TERMS OF THE CITIZENS AND THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THE TAXPAYERS. AND I THINK WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS THAT. THE CITY IS, AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT TO ME CORRECTLY, THE CITY IS NOT A PARTY TO THAT DEDICATED FUND, THAT CONTRACT BETWEEN ART AND THE LENDER, BUT THIS CONTRACT CONTAINS THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE ORIGINAL BUSINESS PLAN THAT PROTECTED THE CITY. AND THEREFORE THE CITY CERTAINLY, AND I HOPE IN THE NEXT WEEK WILL NAIL THIS DOWN, SHOULD BE ABLE TO REVIEW THAT CONTRACT. NOT APPROVE IT. NOT BE A PARTY TO IT. BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SOLID -- AS SOLID A BUSINESS PLAN IN TERMS OF PROTECTING THE INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS, THEN I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO -- NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SEE, TO SEE WHAT THE DEAL IS BETWEEN THE LENDER AND ARTS CENTER STAGE. I HOPE THAT WILL BE ON THE LIST ALONG WITH -- ALONG WITH WHAT COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER HAVE SUGGESTED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION? MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: I'M A LITTLE BIT TORN NOW IN THAT COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER AND THOMAS HAVE MADE GOOD POINTS ON WANTING ADDITIONAL TIME TO LOOK AT THIS, ESPECIALLY FOR COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS BECAUSE HE WASN'T HERE WHEN WE PASSED IT AND I DO SYMPATHIZE WITH THAT. SO I'M KIND OF AMBIVALENT ON POSTPONING IT SINCE IT'S ONLY FOR A WEEK. BUT I DO WANT TO REITERATE THAT I THINK NO MATTER WHAT WE DO TODAY, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OR I'M THINKING THE NEED TO GO IN AND TRY TO RENEGOTIATE THE ENTIRE LEASE. SO I HOPE NOBODY THINKS THERE IS REAL AOPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS A LOT OF ANGST AND I'M NOT WILLING TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN. BUT THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT HAVING LOOKED AT WHAT THE CHANGES ARE, I AM COMFORTABLE IN GOING FORWARD TODAY. AND I WISH THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS HAD BEEN INFORMED AND TALKED TO BECAUSE IT'S REALLY A RELATIVELY SIMPLE CHANGE, AND IT DOES DECREASE THE RISK TO THE CITY. SO I WOULD HAVE REALLY PREFERRED THAT AS WE THOUGHT WE WERE ALL AGREEING TO WHEN WE FIRST DID THIS, THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS HAD BEEN A PART OF THE INFORMATION LOOP. AND PERHAPS IF ARTS CENTER STAGE WASN'T ABLE TO SCHEDULE SUCH A THING, THEN CITY STAFF COULD HAVE TAKEN UP THE SLACK HAD THEY KNOWN. SO I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE WATCHFUL IN THE FUTURE FOR ANY DISCUSSION OF ANYTHING THAT COMES UP AGAIN WE MAKE SURE AND DOUBLE-CHECK THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE IN FACT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY AHEAD OF TIME TO KNOW WHAT IT IS THE ISSUE IS ABOUT AND WHAT CHANGE, IF ANY, IS PROPOSED. SO I'M OKAY GOING FORWARD TODAY BECAUSE I DO KNOW MYSELF WHAT IS IN HERE AND I KNOW IT DOESN'T COMPROMISE OR HURT THE NEIGHBORHOODS' OBJECTIVES ANCHOR VALUES, AS MARY BEN MENTIONED, NOR DOES IT HURT JUNIOR LEAGUE AND THE OTHER USERS OF PALMER. AND IT IS A GOOD THING BOTH FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE COMPLETION DATE. BUT I AM UNCOMFORTABLE THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS WEREN'T PART OF THIS, AND SO THEY ARE HAVING TO TRUST US TO HAVE LOOKED AT THIS VERY CAREFULLY AND KNOW WHAT IT IS WE'RE DOING. AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BE IN THAT POSITION BECAUSE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE INFORMATION LOOP BEFOREHAND.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WITH THAT, LET ME CALL FOR A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND AND REMEMBER WHAT THE MOTION TO AMEND IS. IT IS TO DELAY FOR ONE WEEK. IF THE MOTION TO AMEND FAILS, THEN WE WILL GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION AND I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN.

>>GOODMAN: PHOOEY. NO.

>> COUNCILMEMBER SPELMAN.

>>ALVAREZ: NO.

>> COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.

>>GRIFFITH: YES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.

>>SLUSHER: YES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.

>>THOMAS: YES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>WYNN: NO.

>> MAYOR WATSON.

>>MAYOR WATSON: NO. THERE BEING THREE YESS AND FOUR NOS THE MOTION TO AMEND FAILS.

>>SLUSHER: SINCE WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THIS SECTION HAVING TO DO WITH THE --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>>SLUSHER: WHEN PALM CERTIFICATE VACATED. MS. HAM SEE, COULD YOU HELP ME WITH THIS? -- RAMSEY. BY THE WAY, I'M LOOKING AT PAGE 4, ARTICLE 2, SECTION 2.1. 6 OKAY. BOB, YOU MIGHT WANT TO -- MR. HODGE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO SAY UP HERE TOO. OKAY. THE INTENT HERE -- TELL ME YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTENT. LET MR. HODGE, I KNOW I SAID YOU, BUT LET MR. HODGE GO FIRST.

>> KRONL OUR SCHEDULED COMPLETION DATE FOR THE -- CURRENTLY OUR SCHEDULED COMPLETION DATE IS JUNE 1. THE CHANGE ON THE EARLIER DATE IS BECAUSE OF THAT SCHEDULED COMPLETION DATE. OBVIOUSLY ARTS CENTER STAGE WOULD LIKE TO GET IN AS SOON AS THEY CAN BECAUSE THEIR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS TIGHT TO BE OPENED BY SEPTEMBER 4 OF 04. THEY'VE ASKED IF THEY CAN BE IN BY JUNE 1. THAT'S WHY THE EARLIER DATE IS IN HERE. IT SAYS A, WHICH MEANS AND THE LAST OF THE FOLLOWING, ONE OF THE THEE THINGS WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT IS NO. 3, LANDLORD HAS OBTAINED CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY FOR THE PARKING GARAGE AND COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER AND RELOCATED ITS PERSONAL PROPERTY EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES AND STAFF FROM THE PREMISES, WHICH IS IS PALMER NOW, TO THE COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER. THAT MEANS THE LAST -- THAT HAS TO OCCUR BEFORE WE VACATE. SO THAT IS THE SAME ASSURANCE THAT THE USERS HAD BEFORE, THAT THE BUILDING -- THE ECONOMISTING PALMER WOULD STAY OPEN UNTIL WE -- THE EXISTING PALMER WOULD STAY HOPE UNTIL WE HAD MOVED IN.

>>SLUSHER: SO THE COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER WILL BE READY BEFORE THE PALMER IS TURNED OVER TO ARTS CENTER STAGE TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION?

>> YES, SIR.

>>SLUSHER: OR REMODELING.

>> SAME AS BEFORE. JUST WE JUST CHANGED -- BEFORE IT SAYS JULY 1 ARE THESE THINGS. NOW IT SAYS JUNE 1. BECAUSE THAT IS OUR SCHEDULED COMPLETION DATE RIGHT NOW FOR THE -- THAT'S WHY IT'S BEEN CHANGED.

>>SLUSHER: AND I GUESS THE WORDING, THE EARLIER OF JUNE 1ST, 2002, AND, SO THAT MEANS ONE OR THE OTHER, DOANE IT? IT WOULD BE -- IT'S ONE OF THOSE TWO? IT WOULD BE JUNE 1ST, 2002 IF ALL THESE OTHER -- IF THESE THREE EVENTS OCCUR BEFORE JUNE 1ST, 2002.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. IT REALLY BECOMES A BRACKET. THE EARLIEST DAY IS JUNE 1. THE OTHER DATES ALL HAVE TO HAVE HAPPENED. THE OTHER THREE THINGS HAVE TO HAVE HAPPENED, INCLUDING BEING MOVED IN AND OPERATING, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR CONCERN AND THE USERS' CONCERN THERE WOULD BE IN DISRUPTION IN ACTIVITY FOR THEM OR PLACE TO HAVE EVENTS. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE].

>>SLUSHER:: CHANGE EARLIER TO LATER, AND THEN AFTER 2002, AND TO "OR".

>> YOU MAY EVEN WANT TO ADD A SENTENCE AT THE END, I DON'T THINK THIS IS PERFECT, BECAUSE I THINK THE POINT REALLY IS IF FOR SOME REASON THE FACILITY IS DONE SOONER, YOU WANT ARTS TO GET IT BEFORE JUNE 1. THIS MAKES IT THEY DON'T GET IT BEFORE JUNE 1. YOU CAN SAY PROVIDED, HOWEVER, IF -- IF THE SECOND CONDITION IS MET PRIOR TO JUNE 1, THAT ARTS CAN HAVE IT AS SOON AS THAT CONDITION IS MET.

>>SLUSHER: MR. CHAN, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING. I KNOW YOU DID NEGOTIATE THIS, SO FEEL FREE TO COME UP. [LAUGHTER].

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>> OKAY.

>> WELL, IS SOMEONE FROM ARTS CENTER STAGE --

>> HELLO, I AM [INAUDIBLE] FLEMMING, PRESIDENT OF ARTS CENTER STAGE. YES, SIR.

>>SLUSHER: I DID HAVE A QUESTION. I THOUGHT SINCE YOU CAME UP YOU MAYBE WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING, I WOULD JUST LET YOU DO THAT. IS THAT ARTS CENTER STAGE'S UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU WOULD GET THE BUILDING, ONE, EITHER JUNE 1ST, 2002, OR AFTER THESE THREE CONDITIONS ARE MET AND THAT THAT -- IF THAT DATE IS LATER THAN JUNE 1ST, 2002, THEN YOU WOULDN'T GET IT UNTIL THAT DATE?

>> YES, SIR, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S JUST BEEN DISCUSSED.

>> NOW, IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOUR -- WHAT THIS WAS AGREED -- THE INTENT OF WHAT'S WRITTEN ON THIS PAPER THAT WE WERE TO VOTE ON? BEFORE WE STARTED THIS --

>> YES, WHAT I DID JUST HEAR WAS THAT THE CLAUSE THAT WAS MENTIONED, THAT THERE WOULD BE AN OPTION TO GO IN EARLIER IF IT WAS COMPLETED. THE ONLY REASON THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR US IS THAT WE ARE -- WE ARE BASING ALL OF OUR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS UPON A DATE CERTAIN START. AND CERTAINLY EVERYONE'S COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THAT TODAY HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S EFFORTS TO -- TO COMPLETE IT IS COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER ON TIME.

>>SLUSHER: I'M WILLING TO ADD THAT THIRD POINT. I DIDN'T WANT TO GET TOO MANY QUESTIONS TO YOU ON THE TABLE AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT ONE NEXT. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE WE ARE CHANGING THE CONTRACT TODAY FOR ARTS CENTER STAGE AT YOUR REQUEST ON THE FINANCING. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THINGS CHANGE WITHIN PROJECTS. IF THERE WERE TO BE A CHANGE THAT ENDANGERED THE DATE AND USERS OF PALMER, JUST LIKE YOU WOULD HAVE GOALS AND DEADLINES THAT YOU WANTED TO MEET, SO WOULD THEY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS OR END DANGERING THEIR SITUATION AT ALL. THE INTENT IS THAT YOU WANT THE BUILDING ON JUNE 1ST, 2002, LIKE IT SAYS HERE. IF THE CITY IS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE COMMUNITY EVENTS CENTER BEFORE THAT, THEN IT COULD BE TURNED OVER PRIOR TO THAT. BUT IF FOR SOME REASON THAT HAPPENED, THESE THREE CONDITIONS COULDN'T BE MET UNTIL AFTER THAT DATE, THEN YOU WOULDN'T TAKE POSSESSION UNTIL THOSE CONDITIONS ARE MET?

>> YES, SIR, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND WITH THE CITIZENS ON THIS, WE ARE HAPPY TO MOVE FORWARD UNDER THAT BASIS.

>>SLUSHER: WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST, MAYOR, THEN JUST BE A SLIGHT DELAY ARE, NOT ONE WEEK, BUT IF MS. RAMSEY, MR. CHAN, MR. HODGE -- I'M SORRY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I THINK I CAN SPEED IT UP EVEN MORE THAN THAT. I THINK THAT I HAVE WRITTEN IT. LET PEOPLE LISTEN TO THIS. GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE SUGGESTED CHANGE IN 2.1.A THAT SAYS "THE LEASE BECOMES EFFECTIVE AS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE, THE TENANT'S RIGHT TO POSSESSION OF THE PREMISES DOES NOT COMMENCE UNTIL THE DATE, (THE LEASE OCCUPANCY DATE) THAT IS THE LATER OF LITTLE I, JUNE 1, 2002, DELETE AND REPLACE IT WITH OR, THEN THE TWO LITTLE IS, THE DATE ON WHICH THE LAST OF THE FOLLOWING EVENTS OCCURS, THEN DO 1, 2, 3. ADD A NEW SENTENCE THAT WILL BE A STAND ALONE PARAGRAPH, IF YOU WILL, THAT READS: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IF THE CONDITIONS OF SECTION 2.1 PATTERN LOWER CASE A CLOSE PATTERN -- (II) ARE MET PRIOR FOR JUNE 1, 2002, THE LEASE BECOMES EFFECTIVE AND THE LEASE OCCUPANCY DATE IS THE DATE THE CONDITIONS OF SECTION 2.1 "A, PARENTHESES TWO LITTLE I'S, CLOSE PARENTHESES ARE MET. MR. FLEMMING, DO YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT? MS. RAMSEY DOES THAT MEET YOUR NEEDS?

>> IT DOES.

>> MR. HODGE, MR. CHAN?

>> YES, SIR.

>> COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: THE ONLY THING -- LET ME ASK MR. CHAN. IS THERE ANYONE IN HERE THAT COULD CONFLICT WHERE THERE MIGHT BE DATES OR STATEMENTS THAT CONFLICT WITH THE INTENT OF WHAT WE JUST SAID THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO CHANGE?

>>MAYOR WATSON: HERE'S WHAT WE CAN DO TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

>>SLUSHER: I THINK THAT YOU ARE --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: GO BACK TO THE SENTENCE THAT IS THE STAND ALONE PARAGRAPH PROVIDED, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION TO THE CONTRARY IN THIS LEASE, THAT IF THE CONDITIONS OF SECTION 2.1 A 2 ARE MET ... THE LEASE BECOMES EFFECTIVE (READING FROM DOCUMENT).

>> VERY GOOD.

>>SLUSHER: DOES THAT MEAN THAT WHAT WE JUST ADD UNDERSTAND PRIOR TO THAT SENTENCE -- STANDS OVER ANY CONFLICTING PART OF THE AGREEMENT?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. OKAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT TO BE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

>>SLUSHER: IT WAS THOSE PARENS THAT WERE THROWING ME OFF [LAUGHTER].

>>MAYOR WATSON: I THINK I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THAT WITH THE LAST COUNCIL, TOO. COUNCILMEMBER WYNN CONSIDERS IT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, I CONSIDER THAT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. THAT WILL BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION. WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL?

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR, COULD I CLARIFY ONE MORE THING. MR. CHAN, THE MAIN THING I THINK WE ALL AGREE ON IS TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE BASIC BUSINESS PLAN. THAT -- THAT WE STARTED OUT WITH. AND SO WE -- WE ARE CHANGING ESSENTIALLY THE REQUIREMENTS OF HOW MUCH MONEY HAS TO BE RAISED BEFORE THE DIGGING STARTS. WE ARE CHANGING THE SOURCE OF THAT FROM -- FROM CASH DONATIONS TO BORROWED MONEY, WHICH IS FINE. EVEN THOUGH THE CITY IS NOT -- NOT A PARTNER TO THAT -- TO THAT AGREEMENT BETWEEN ARTS CENTER STAGE AND THE LENDER. THAT IS THE GUTS OF WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM. DO YOU EXPECT TO -- TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW THAT CONTRACT AND, IF SO, AT WHAT POINT?

>> WELL, WE HAVE. AND IN TERMS OF HONORING THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WITH WHAT THE COMMUNITY EXPRESSED AND WHAT THE COUNCIL HAD AGREED WITH, WE HAVE ADHERED TO THAT. AND TO GO BACK TO WHAT THE MAYOR HAD STATED EARLIER, THE ONLY ISSUE THAT WE DID REVISIT WAS THE FINANCIAL STRUCTURE OF IT AND IF ALL IS COMFORTABLE, I AM COMFORTABLE THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO.

>>GRIFFITH: HAVE YOU -- WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SEE THE -- THE REVIEW, LOOK AT, THE CONTRACT WHICH IS -- WHICH IS WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM, BETWEEN ARTS CENTER STAGE AND THE LENDING INSTITUTION?

>> YES, WE WILL.

>> AND -- AND SO WE WILL -- WE WILL KNOW WHAT THOSE PROVISIONS ARE BEFORE DIGGING STARTS?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>>GRIFFITH: THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: PLEASE CALL THE ROLL, THIS IS ON THE MAIN MOTION WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT HAD JUST BEEN READ INTO THE RECORD.

>> COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

>>ALVAREZ: YES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: YES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: YES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

>>THOMAS: YES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

>>WYNN: YES.

>> MAYOR WATSON?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN?

>>GOODMAN: YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THERE BEING SEVEN YESES, NO KNOWS, THE MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM NO. 5. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ITEM NO. 11, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. COUNCIL AND STAFF THAT ARE LISTENING, THE ORDER I BELIEVE WE WILL BE GOING IN WILL BE 11, AND THEN I WANT TO TALK -- I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ ON -- BEFORE WE GO TO 11, COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ ON 13 AND 14, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PULL THOSE FOR DISCUSSION AND TAKE THOSE UP AT 4:00 P.M. WHEN WE HAVE THE RELATED ZONING HEARINGS; IS THAT ACCURATE?

>>ALVAREZ: YES, MAYOR, 13, 14 AND 28.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THAT CORRECT?

>>ALVAREZ: YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SO COUNCIL AND STAFF, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ'S WISHES ON THAT, WE WILL TAKE UP 13, 14, 28 AT THE TIME WE TAKE UP THE ZONING ITEM THAT IS RELATED TO THIS. SO WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL GO TO ITEM 11, ITEM 17, AROUND THEN -- THEN THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO PUT US CLOSE TO WHEN WE NEED TO BREAK FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO ITEM 11, COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

>>WYNN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. STAFF HAS WORKED WITH ME OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS TO HELP ME GET COMFORTABLE WITH ITEM NO. 11. WHAT STRUCK ME AND WHAT GAVE ME GREAT PAUSE WAS ULTIMATELY JUST THE TOTAL PRICE TAG OF LEGAL FEES OF $615,000. TECHNICALLY WHAT THIS AGENDA ITEM WAS FOR IS FOR A $75,000 NOT TO EXCEED EXPENDITURE APPROVAL, BUT SEEING THAT $615,000 NUMBER GAVE ME PAUSE AND I -- I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH CITY STAFF TO REALLY -- REALLY COMPREHEND THAT. I WILL JUST LIKE -- I AM GOING TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM. I WILL -- I WOULD JUST LIKE TO STATE THAT -- THOMPSON KNIGHT HAS BEEN REPRESENTING THE CITY OF AUSTIN NOW FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS OR MORE, PROBABLY, ON THE LARGE, YOU KNOW, SIX BLOCK C.S.C., AMLI, CITY HALL, STREET SCAPE RETAIL PROJECT. SO IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED, VERY COMPLEX ITEM. WHEN I REALIZED THAT THIS IN FACT IS, YOU KNOW, TWO AND A HALF YEARS WORTH OF WORK ON THIS, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, THEN I RECOGNIZE THAT -- THAT AS BIG AS IT IS, IS PROBABLY QUITE APPROPRIATE AND I DO SUSPECT KNOWING THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS THAT -- THAT C.S.C. AND AMLI AND THE OTHER PIECES TO THIS PUZZLE HAVE PROBABLY SPENT FAR MORE THAN THAT. WITH THAT SAID I DO MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 11 DON'T REQUIRE STAFF TO ANSWER ANY MORE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MOTION TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. DISCUSSION? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON ITEM NO. 11? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE, OPPOSED NO. MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM NO. 11. ITEM NO. 17, COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>WYNN: ITEM NO. 17, I'M VERY MUCH A FAVOR OF, A FAN OF, IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF OUR TELECOM SUBCOMMITTEE RECENTLY. BUT I GET SO MANY CALLS AND E-MAILS ESPECIALLY ABOUT THIS TOPIC, E GOVERNMENT. I WANTED TO TAKE A QUICK OPPORTUNITY TO MR. MR. -- ASK MR. ROMLER TO STAND UP AND BRIEFLY TELL THE FOLKS WHAT IT IS THAT WE WILL BE DOING WITH THIS. I WILL SAY SOME PEOPLE HAVE A SEEMINGLY MISCONCEPTION ABOUT E GOVERNMENT. THEY THINK THAT ALL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN NEEDS TO DO IS PUT UP A WEBSITE THAT CAN ALLOW YOU TO PAY YOUR BILLS, UTILITY BILLS OR PARKING TICKET, ET CETERA, ON. AND IT'S FAR, FAR MORE COMPLEX THAN THAT. IF THAT'S ALL WE WANTED TO DO, WE WOULD HAVE DONE THAT BEFORE THIS. BUT IN FACT E GOVERNMENT IS QUITE COMPLEX, INTEGRATING ALL OF OUR VAST CITY SERVICES. ELECTRONICALLY, ALLOWING FOR, YOU KNOW, BETTER ACCESS FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO UTILIZE THAT TECHNOLOGY. SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BRIEFLY HAVE MR. BOMER EXPLAIN WHAT THIS CONTRACT DOES AND WHAT IT HOPEFULLY CAN LEAD TO IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. MAYOR AND OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN TO YOU MY VIEW OF E GOVERNMENT. I AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER WYNN'S ASSESSMENT THAT THE CREATION AND POSTING OF WEBSITES AND WEB SCREENS IS A FAIRLY EASY THING TO DO AND CAN BE DONE IN PRETTY SHORT ORDER. BUT THAT IS A SMALL PIECE OF WHAT THE VIEW OF E GOVERNMENT IS. THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH WILL INCLUDE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK IN DEFINING WHAT WE WANT INCLUDED AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN OUR INTERNET DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO OUR CUSTOMERS. THE PROJECT IS GOING TO TAKE THREE PHASES. PHASE 1 OF WHICH IS GOING TO BE IDENTIFICATION OF WHAT OUR E GOVERNMENT GOALS ARE WITH THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INPUT FROM CITY STAFF, COUNCIL AND PUBLIC TASK FORCE FOCUS GROUPS, SO THAT ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDER HAVE INPUT TO WHAT -- WHAT IS GOING TO COMPRISE OUR E GOVERNMENT POSITION. VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS IS ALSO ESTABLISHMENT OF A CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING THE HUNDREDS OF POTENTIAL INTERNET DELIVERIES OF SERVICES FOR -- FOR A CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF WHICH ONES WE WANT TO TAKE ON IN THE SEQUENCE OF PRIORITY TO DO THOSE. OF COURSE, IDENTIFICATION OF MEASUREMENTS TO -- FOR THE PROGRESS THEN TO RECOGNIZE SUCCESS. THE MOST -- MORE IMPORTANT PHASE OF THIS IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT AT LEAST IS THE PHASE 2, WHICH IS ASSESSMENT OF OUR ABILITY TO DO THIS. THAT ASSESSMENT IS GOING TO TAKE THE FORM OF BOTH THE TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT AS WELL AS THE CITY STRUCTURE, THE BUSINESS PROCESSES THAT ARE UNDERTAKEN BY THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY, IN THE DELIVERY OF THESE SERVICES. IT'S A -- IT'S AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR TO US DEVELOP MORE CROSS-FUNCTIONALITY AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS IN THE DELIVERY OF OUR SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS, LEVERAGING THE SPEED AND OPPORTUNITY OF THE INTERNET TO -- TO EXPEDITE THAT AND RECOGNIZE EFFICIENCIES AND SAVINGS. THIRD PHASE OF THIS IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO -- TO EXECUTE WHATEVER CHANGES ARE IDENTIFIED DURING THE PROCESS OF INTERVIEWS AND WORK GROUP SESSIONS THAT NEED TO BE DONE. IT'S A VERY LARGE, COMPLEX PROCESS TO GO THROUGH. ALL OF THE MANAGES THAT NEED TO OCCUR TO TRULY DELIVER IMPROVED SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS, THAT'S THE NEED FOR A STRATEGIC PLAN. I VIEW THIS AS WISE INVESTMENT IN WHATEVER WE DO GOING FORWARD, WILL DELIVER RESULTS AS OPPOSED TO SIMPLY INVESTING MONEY IN DEVELOPING WEBSITES AND NOT IMPROVING THE BACK END PROCESSES NEEDED TO SUPPORT THOSE. THAT'S IN ESSENCE MY VIEW OF IT. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS ANY OF YOU MIGHT HAVE.

>>WYNN: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>WYNN: BY APPROVING THIS HALF MILLION DOLLARS CONTRACT, THE TIMING OF WHICH REMIND ME IS SUCH THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME OF THOSE ANSWERS AND SOME OF THOSE PROJECTED COSTS PRIOR TO OUR NEXT BUDGET SEASON.

>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S THE PLAN IS TO -- TO DO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS DEVELOPING THESE PLANS AND COMING UP WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN A -- IN A TIME FRAME WHERE THE NEXT BUDGET PLANNING CYCLE WOULD BE ABLE TO ADVISE THE DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER FOLKS IN THE CITY OF THE FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS WE NEED TO COME BACK TO ASK YOU FOR IT.

>>WYNN: MAYOR, I MOVE APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 17.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER. ANY DISCUSSION? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON ITEM NO. 17? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ALL THOSE IF FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED NO. MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM NO. 17. ITEM NO. -- HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO COUNCIL, I'M GOING TO GO TO ITEM NO. 29, THEN WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. ITEM NO. 29, COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MAYOR, I TALKED ABOUT THIS WHEN I ANNOUNCED IT LAST WEEK, I'M GOING TO CALL IT THE TEXAS LANDSCAPES INITIATIVES WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO INCREASE THE USE OF NATIVE TEXAS PLANTS AND GRASSES ON LAWNS AND IN LANDSCAPING. THE IDEA HERE IS TO -- TO PREVENT OR LESSEN -- LESSEN POLLUTION. THE CENTRAL IDEA IS THAT WE END UP WITH LESS POLLUTION THAN WE ACTUALLY HAVE NOW. WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME OVER THE YEARS UP ON THE COUNCIL DIAS TALKING ABOUT -- ABOUT TRYING TO PREVENT POLLUTION AND PROTECT OUR WATER QUALITY AND THOSE -- THOSE DISCUSSIONS USUALLY CENTER AROUND REGULATING DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S APPROPRIATE AND IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT OUR CITIZENS DEMAND THAT OF US. BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF EXISTING DEVELOPMENT OBVIOUSLY IN THE CITY, INCLUDING A LOT OF NEW DEVELOPMENT AND WE HAVE EXISTING POLLUTION AND UNFORTUNATELY I THINK IT'S GETTING WORSE. OUR CITIZENS ARE RIGHTLY DISMAYED ABOUT THAT. WE NEED FOR LOOK AT IT ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS. WE HAVE PURCHASED -- WELL, JUST IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, 15,000 ACRES OVER THE EDWARD'S AQUIFER AND SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF -- AMS OF PROPERTY, AREAS OF TOWN OTHER THAN OVER THE AQUIFER. WE HAVE ROUTED DEVELOPMENT INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA. YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGET. IS THAT THE -- THE DEVELOPMENT DOWNTOWN, THE MAJOR -- THE MAJOR EMPLOYERS, EXCUSE ME, THAT ARE LOCATED DOWNTOWN, MANY OF THOSE COULD HAVE GONE OUT OVER THE EDWARD'S AQUIFER WHERE IT'S LONG BEEN THE PRACTICE OF THE -- OR THE POLICY OF THE CITY THAT WE DON'T WANT INTENSIVE GROWTH, BUT NOW AS FOLKS DRIVE DOWN THE STREETS THAT ARE SOMETIMES CLOSED OR LANES NARROWED, I THINK A FEW OF THEM SAY, YOU KNOW, I SURE AM GLAD THAT'S NOT OUT OVER THE AQUIFER. IT'S MORE OF THAT STREET THERE THAT'S CLOSED. THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE HAVE DONE IS STEER GROWTH TO THE DESIRED DEVELOPMENT ZONE. BUT ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO IS TO KEEP POLLUTANTS OUT OF OUR STREAMS IS TO NOT PUT POLLUTANTS ON THE GROWN IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO THIS INITIATIVE IS BASED ON THE PREMISES THAT -- PREMISE WE NEED TO GET HIGHER AWARENESS OF THE CITY, THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN THIS DIRECTION. ALSO WE TAKE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. I HAVE WORKED WITH STAFF ALONG THOSE LINES, HAVE A LIST OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO HERE. I WILL JUST GO THROUGH THEM A LITTLE BIT. INTENSIFY OUR PROGRAMS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF NATIVE PLANTS AND GRASSES AND PEST MANAGEMENT; INCREASE AID TO CITIZENS IN BUSINESSES IN THESE EFFORTS; CITY CERTIFICATION OF NON-POLLUTING OR THE LOWEST POLLUTING FERTILIZERS AND PEST CONTROLS AND HERE WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO INVENT A NEW PROGRAM ON ANY OF THESE. THERE'S A PROGRAM CALLED THE GREEN AND GROWING PROGRAM THAT ALREADY EXISTS TO DO THIS SORT OF THING. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE US WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THEM. I WOULD LIKE TO ANALYZE SOME OF THESE PLANTS WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY DONE AND GET THAT -- I MEAN SOME OF THE PESTICIDE, GET OUT INFORMATION THAT TIES INTO THE ONE ABOVE, CONSIDER REPORTING ON -- ON WHAT CHEMICALS ARE DUMPED ON OUR GOLF COURSES AND OTHER AREAS. I WOULD WAIT IN A MINUTE TO DO THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD -- ONE FINAL THING, I DIDN'T READ THE WHOLE LIST, BUT YOU CAN SEE THEM IN THE RESOLUTION, I JUST WANT TO SAVE A LITTLE TIME HERE. BUT I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO BE A LEADER IN THIS AREA AND ALREADY IS REALLY, BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO INCREASE OUR EFFORTS AND ASK OTHERS TO INCREASE THEIR EFFORTS, THEN WE NEED TO DO SO AS WELL. SO I HAVE ADDED, THIS IS IN THE -- IN THE COPY THAT YOU ALL HAVE, THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO EVALUATE THE CITY'S LANDSCAPING AND PEST CONTROL PRACTICES ON CITY PROPERTY TO ENSURE THAT AUSTIN IS A LEADER IN INCREASING THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND LANDSCAPE PRACTICES. S I WOULD HOPE TO HAVE THESE RETURNED TO THE COUNCIL, 45 DAYS RECOMMENDATIONS ON PROGRAMS, WE HAVE A FISCAL NOTE. NO FINANCIAL IMPACT ON -- UNANTICIPATED FINANCIAL IMPACT IN JUST DEVELOPING THESE PROGRAMS. SO I WILL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. BUT THE IDEA HERE IS TO DECREASE POLLUTION RATHER THAN WHAT WE ARE USUALLY TRYING TO DO IS PREVENT POLLUTION HERE. WE COULD ACTUALLY END UP WITH CLEANER CREEKS AND STREAMS AND ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO -- TO SUGGEST, WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO PUT THIS IN THE MOTION BECAUSE I THINK IT'S INCLUDED, THE SPIRIT OF IT IS INCLUDED IN THERE ANYWAY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO HAVE -- I GUESS WE COULD CALL IT A SUMMIT MEETING AMONG STAKEHOLDERS IN THE AREA, I WOULD WORK WITH MR. HEIGHTS AND HELP COORDINATE THAT OUT OF MY OFFICE AND APPRECIATE PARTICIPATION BY ANY OF THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, BUT GET FOLKS FROM LANDSCAPE COMPANIES, PEST CONTROL COMPANIES, BUILDERS, ENVIRONMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES AND FAIRLY LENGTHY -- NOT LIMITED TO WHAT I HAVE JUST SAID UP HERE, BUT TO GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN APPROACH THIS. BECAUSE I THINK ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS IS THE DISCUSSION ITSELF IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE MORE YOU TALK ABOUT IT, MAYBE EVENTUALLY SOMEBODY MAY ACTUALLY WRITE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IN ONE OF THE PAPERS OR SOMETHING, THEN PEOPLE BECOME MORE AWARE OF IT. I THINK THAT IN ITSELF MEANS THAT THERE WILL BE LESS CHEMICALS, LESS POLLUTANTS PUT ON TO -- TO LAWNS AND LANDSCAPES BECAUSE IT WILL CAUSE OUR CITIZENS TO THINK TWICE BEFORE THEY -- BEFORE THEY DO PUT SOMETHING ON THEIR LAWN AND MAYBE TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH BEFORE THEY DO THAT. SO I THINK JUST THE -- THE FACT OF RAISING THIS ISSUE AND DISCUSSING IT WILL HELP PREVENT AND DECREASE POLLUTION. MR. HEIGHTS, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING?

>> COUNCILMEMBER, I THINK YOU PRETTY WELL COVERED ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ITEMS. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON OUR GROWING GREEN PROGRAM FOR SOME TIME. WE AGREE THAT WE DO NEED SOME ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES TO GO WITH THAT. AND BASICALLY TO GET SOME MORE ADVERTISING AND TO MOVE FORWARD. SO WE SUPPORT YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND WE -- WORKING WITH YOU AND WE WILL BE BACK IN 45 DAYS.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. YOU ALL ARE DOING A GOOD JOB ALREADY. WE ARE JUST TRYING TO HELP INCREASE AWARENESS ON THAT. I MOVE APPROVAL, MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER MOVES APPROVAL, THERE IS A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. DISCUSSION? MAYOR PRO TEM?

>>GOODMAN: I WANTED TO THANKS THE MAKER OF THE MOTION, THE BRINGER OF THE SUBJECT TO COUNCIL AND THOSE WHO CO-SPONSORED THE ITEM AS WELL. AND IT IS A SECOND GAY INTO -- SEGUE INTO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AS WELL, SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, SAME GOAL TO ACTUALLY REDUCE POLLUTION AND ACTUALLY ENHANCE SOME OF THE PRACTICE THAT'S WE ALREADY TRY TO FOLLOW LIKE PLANTING AND HAVING SOME MECHANISMS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE PLANT ACTUALLY LIVES. WHICH SOMETIMES IS NOT THE CASE. SO -- COMPOSTING AND DEPTHS OF SOILS AND TYPES OF SOILS, ALL OF THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. SO AGAIN I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR DOING ALL OF THIS WORK IN BRINGING IT TO US.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM NO. 29. COUNCIL, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND WE DO AT THIS POINT IS GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THE MOTION WOULD BE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION OF REAL PROPERTY PRUDENT TO SECTION 551.072 TO DISCUSS ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN POLICE SUBSTATION AND FORENSICS FACILITY. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. I DO NOT ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL RECONVENE BEFORE 1:30 BUT WE MIGHT. I WILL -- WE WILL COME OUT AND ANNOUNCE THAT AT THAT POINT IN TIME. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ADJOURNED THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE WILL RECONVENE AS A COUNCIL AT 1:20. THERE IS A MISTAKE THERE IN THE BACKING DELETION. STICKING TWO WORDS TOGETHER ON THE CAPTIONING SCREEN, BUT NOT ON THE OTHER. TEST TEST TEST THIS IS AOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD MEN. SAME THING THERE. NOW IS MESSED UP. TEST TEST THIS IS A TEST OF A NEW CAPTIONING SYSTEM. TEST TEST TEST THIS IS A TEST OF A NEW CAPTIONING T TEST TEST THIS IS A TEST,. THAT ALSO DIDN'T COME OUT CORRECTLY ON THE SCREEN. TEST TEST TEST THIS IS A TEST WRITING TWO LINES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN THIS IS A TEST WRITING TWO LINES AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN THIS IS A TEST WRITING THREE LINES APARTMENT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN -- THREE LINES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN. TEST TEST THIS IS A TEST POPPING UP TO THE TOP OF THE SCREEN. GOING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN TWO LINES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, TEST TEST TWO LINES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN TWO LINES AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN. TWO LINES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN. NOW THREE LINES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN AND POPPING TO THE TOP WITHOUT A PERIOD AND POPPING BACK DOWN TO THE BOTTOM BOUGHT PUNCTUATION IS STILL PUTTING IN A NEW LINE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ITEM NO. 4.

>> MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TO PURCHASE A TRACT OF LAND FOR THE POLICE -- EAST AUSTIN POLICE SUBSTATION AND FORENSIC CENTER. TO -- TO SHOW YOU WHERE THE SITE IS LOCATED, THIS MAP SHOWS AIRPORT BOULEVARD, RIGHT -- RIGHT HERE. THIS IS THE RAILROAD LINE. AND 7TH STREET. AND THIS IS THE CURRENT -- YOU CAN'T POLICE SUBSTATION RIGHT NOW AND THIS FACILITY WILL BE ADJACENT TO THAT SUBSTATION.

>> THE VOTERS APPROVED A BOND FOR THE NEW FORENSIC CENTER WITH A D.N.A. LAB AND A NEW EAST -- A NEW EAST CENTRAL POLICE STATION AND THESE ARE THE -- THE ARTISTS OR AN ARCHITECTURE'S -- RENDITION OF THE PROJECT. AND THE COUNCIL APPROVED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL SCHEMATICS AND PLANS FOR THE SUBSTATION IN MARCH OF 2001. THE CURRENT DESIGN INCLUDES A 77,450 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY WITH THE D.N.A. LAB. AND -- THE NEXT ONE, PLEASE. IN 1993, A.P.D. PURCHASED A 9.85 ACRE SITE THAT THEY WERE LEASING IN -- AND USING IT AS A COMBINATION SUBSTATION AND REPAIR FACILITY FOR THEIR VEHICLES. THEY BOUGHT THIS WHOLE SITE, THE SITE THAT WE ARE BRINGING FOR PURCHASE TODAY IS THIS LITTLE CUT OUT PIECE RIGHT HERE. NEXT ONE. THE SHAPE AND LOCATION OF THE SITE REQUIRES THE PURCHASE TO BUILD THE 77,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY. THIS TRACT IS THE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT -- THAT WE ARE BRINGING TO PURCHASE. THE PART IN YELLOW IS THE OUTLINE OF THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING FOR THE A.P.D. FORENSIC FACILITY. BECAUSE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CREEK, THAT IS THE ONLY PLACE ON THIS SILENT THAT THE FACILITY COULD BE BUILT. -- ON THIS SITE THAT THE FACILITY COULD BE BUILT. SO IN ORDER TO UTILIZE A SITE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED WE NEEDED TO BUY THIS LITTLE CUTOUT. SO WE WENT TO BUY THIS PROPERTY UNDER THE THREAT OF EMINENT DOMAIN. THIS SITE HAS TWO TENANTS. ONE IS REAGAN SIGNS AND THE OTHER IS A RESIDENT. ORIGINAL APPRAISAL WAS $129,000. THE OWNERS ATTORNEY COUNTERED BACK AND SUPPLIED ADDITIONAL SALES INFORMATION AND INCOME INFORMATION TO SUPPORT A COUNTER OFFER AND CONTRACT OF $132,000. AND THE REAL ESTATE STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE ACCEPT THE COUNTER OFFER OF $132,000 AND PURCHASE THIS PROPERTY. IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM NO. 4?

>>THOMAS: SO MOVE, MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. THERE IS A DISCUSSION? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON ITEM NO. 4? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED NO. MOTION CARRIES WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH OFF THE DIAS. NEXT ITEM WILL BE ITEM NO. 30 THROUGH 33, OUR GENERAL -- BY THE WAY, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, GENERAL CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS, GUS PENA. GUS PENA? GUS PENA? JOHN SANFORD? JOHN SANFORD? JOHN SANFORD? JAMES P. KIRBY.

>> PRESENT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TALK TO US.

>> WHERE DO I GO?

>>MAYOR WATSON: EITHER ONE OF THESE MICROPHONES WILL WORK.

>> YEAH, MY NAME IS JIM KIRBY, I'M A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN. THE ISSUE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT IS THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE GOT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH BRACKENRIDGE SETON HOSPITAL. IN WHAT I CLAIM ARE VIOLATIONS OF MY RELIGIOUS RIGHTS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE NIGHTS AND THE -- OF THE UNITED STATES AND STATES OF TEXAS. I SUBMITTED TO YOU COPIES OF THE PRAYERS OR RELIGIOUS DEVOTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BROADCAST OVER THE PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM TWICE A DAY AT BRACKENRIDGE SETON HOSPITAL. AND THESE ARE INFLICTED ON EVERYONE, IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE HOSPITAL. PHYSICIANS, NURSES, OTHER MEDICAL WORKERS, AS WELL AS ON PATIENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, VISITORS. NOW, THESE ALLEGED DEVOTIONS OR PRAYERS AS THEY ARE CALLED, SOME ARE LABELED PRAYERS ARE NOT ONLY OBJECTIONABLE TO ME ON THE BASIS THAT THEY ARE THEOISTIC THEY ARE MONEY NO THEOISTIC VIEWS THAT ARE EXPRESSED IN ALL OF THESE PRAYERS. SOME OF THE PRAYERS TALK ABOUT THE SPIRIT AND DEAR LORD AND THE -- THEY ARE CALLED PRAYERS AND REFERRED TO THE GREAT HEALER AND SO ON. NOW, THIS IS TO ME TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS INVOLVED, IT'S IN CLEAR VIOLATION OF MY RELIGIOUS RIGHTS IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT. SECONDLY WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE IN AUSTIN THAT PROHIBITS DISCRIMINAL NATION BASED ON RELIGION IN PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION AND IN EMPLOYMENT. SO NOT ONLY IS THIS IN VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, BUT IN VIOLATION OF OUR PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS ACT IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. EVEN PRIVATE EMPLOYERS CAN'T INFLICT THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ON THEIR EMPLOYEES AND -- AND IN PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS TO THE EXTENT THE HOSPITAL IS A PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION, OPEN TO ALL-COMERS OF THE HOSPITAL, IT IS NOT ENTITLED TO INFLICT ITS RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THIRDLY, THEY ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE CONTRACT THE CITY HAS WITH BRACKENRIDGE. I HAVE READ THE CONTRACT. THERE'S A SECTION IN THERE ON INDIGENT CARE WHICH SAYS EXPLICITLY THAT INDIGENT CARE MUST BE PROVIDED ON A NON-DISCRIMINATORY BASIS. I'M GOING TO BE TAKING THIS UP WITH THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE NEXT MONTH, BUT THERE'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO STOP THIS INFICTION OF THE ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITHOUT THE INTERVENTION OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. I EVEN HAVE THE STATEMENT OF THE -- FROM THE ROMAN CHURCH HERE, ETHICAL AND RELIGIOUS DIRECTIVES FOR CATHOLIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES. THEY ARE IN VIOLATION OF THEIR OWN STATED POLICIES WHERE THEY SAY THAT APPROPRIATE PASTORAL SERVICES AND/OR REFERRALS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL IN KEEPING WITH THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OR AFFILIATIONS. NOT ONLY IS PRAYER AND DEVOTIONS INFLICTED ON PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BELIEVES, BUT IN PASTORAL COUNSELING, THERE IS A CHECK IN, WHEN YOU CHECK INTO THE HOSPITAL, YOU CHECK OFF YOUR RELIGION. THERE'S NO PLACE TO SAY I HAVE NO RELIGION I'M A HUMANIST OR ATHEIST, FOR EXAMPLE. SO THEY ARE ALSO LACKING THERE. I'M A PHYSICIST, A PROUD MEMBER OF A TRADITION THAT GOES BAG TO GALLEO GALLILLEE WHO 350 YEARS WAS ABUSED BY THE SAME CHURCH AND JUST FIVE YEARS AGO WAS PARDONED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SORRY BUT YOUR TIME EXPIRED.

>> YES.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> HAS ANYONE RECEIVED THE PRAYERS?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, I HAVE RECEIVED THE CORRESPONDENCE AND READ IT.

>> WHEN CAN I GET AN ANSWER?

>>MAYOR WATSON: I DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW.

>> OKAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ENGINE FELL GALE? JENNIFER GAIL? JENNIFER GALE? COUNCIL THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON GENERAL CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS. MS. BROWN, WE PASSED 27 ON CONSENT; ISN'T THAT CORRECT? COUNCIL, I THINK THAT COVERS EVERYTHING UNTIL 34K 4:00 TIME CERTAIN, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECESS UNTIL 4:00 P.M. I'M SORRY, 3:30. I'M SORRY, THANK GOODNESS YOU BROUGHT THAT UP. I WILL TELL YOU WHAT, WHAT WE WILL DO IS I WILL CALL FOR A GENERAL MOTION TO RECESS AND IF THERE IS A WAY THAT WE CAN START UP AT 3:00 OR EARLIER BECAUSE OF TIMING WE WILL DO THAT. AND THEN IF NOT, WE WILL COME BACK AT 3:30. BUT WE WILL SHOOT FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO., MOTION CARRIES WE ARE IN RECESS UNTIL AROUND 3:00 OR 3:30, JUST EVERYBODY HANG LOOSE. I JUST FOULED UP, YOU WANT TO DO THAT? 25?

>>SLUSHER: I'M FINE, IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IT NOW, I THINK IT RELATES TO THE BENNETT DISCUSSION AS WELL THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LATER TONIGHT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WELL, I WILL CALL THE CITY COUNCILL BACK TO ORDER, WE WILL CALL UP ITEM NO. 25, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.

>>THOMAS: THANK YOU, 25 WAS DEALING WITH THE GENTRIFICATION AND I THINK THAT -- I THINK COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER WANTED TO -- TO DISCUSS IT. BUT I WILL JUST READ THE RESOLUTION THAT I BROUGHT FORTH AND WOULD SPONSOR WITH COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. AND IT READS: IT SAYS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO ENHANCE, TO ENCOURAGE NEW RESIDENTS IN AREAS WHERE GENTRIFICATION IS TAKING PLACE. WHILE NOT TO DISCOURAGE THE MAINTENANCE OF LONG-TERM RESIDENTS AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS A SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN ENSURING A STABLE AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN -- THE CITY COUNCILL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS A SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN MAINTAINING AND CONTROLLING THE GROWTH WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN SEEKS TO -- TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE REQUESTED THE CITY ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED THE NEEDS OF THOSE INVOLVING NEIGHBORHOODS. THEN IT SAYS BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCILL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE CITY COUNCILL ESTABLISHED A GENTRIFICATION TASK FORCE. THE GENTRIFICATION TASK FORCE IS COMPOSED OF 11 MEMBERS THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY AND APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCILL ON OR BEFORE JUNE 1ST, 2001. AS FOLLOWS, A MEMBER NOMINATED BY EACH MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL AND FOUR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE GENTRIFICATION TASK FORCE SHALL BEGIN THE WORK AS SOON AS ALL MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED AND SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF 18 MONTHS AFTER SUCH APPOINTMENT. THE GENTRIFICATION TASK FORCE SHALL CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ADDRESSING THE GENTRIFICATION THAT WILL PRESERVE AND CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN WHILE ENCOURAGING THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF CITY OF AUSTIN NEIGHBORS -- NEIGHBORHOODS. THIRD IT SAYS THE GENTRIFICATION TASK FORCE SHALL REVIEW PREVIOUS WORK AND CONCLUSIONIVE BY THE CITY STAFF AND OTHER DATA REFERRING -- KEFRG TO IN THIS RESOLUTION AND OTHER INFORMATION RELEVANT TO GENTRIFICATION AND OBTAIN PUBLIC INPUT ABOUT PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS RELATING TO GENTRIFICATION IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY -- A, IDENTIFY THE PROBLEMS TO ASSIST LOW INCOME HOUSE -- HOMEOWNERS IN THE AREA, EXPERIENCE -- INCREASE THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME AND/OR PROPERTY VALUE; B, IDENTIFY PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE THE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AREAS EXPERIENCING DYNAMIC INCREASE IN MEDIAN FAMILY INCOMES AND/OR PROPERTY VALUES; C, DEVELOP A STRATEGY PLAN WITH RESPECT TO SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS, STEPS, GOALS, OBJECTIVES, LEGISLATURE AND ACTIONS CONCERNING GENTRIFICATION ISSUES AND MAKE A REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCILL WITHIN SIX MONTHS APPOINTED; 4, IT SAYS THE GENTRIFICATION TASK FORCE REVIEW THE OUTCOME OF NEW LEGISLATION AND REPORT PERIODICALLY AT AT LEAST SIX MONTHS INTERVALS TO THE CITY COUNCIL WITH ANY NEEDS, MODIFICATIONS OR ADDITIONS. I WILL LET COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ READ THE LAST THREE. ON THE RESOLUTION.

>>ALVAREZ: SURE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

>>ALVAREZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND SINCE -- SINCE WE PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA AND SIX CHRAILTED THE -- THE DRAFT -- FIRST DRAFT OF THE RESOLUTION, WE WENT BACK TO BE MORE SPECIFIC BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT -- ABOUT THE SPECIFIC MISSION AND DEFINITIONS AND SPECIFIC OUTCOMES, SO IT'S A LOT MORE DETAILED THAN EARLIER DRAFT YOU MAY HAVE SEEN. BUT I THINK PART OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS -- IS KIND OF -- KIND OF GET A GRASP ON WHERE IS THIS A PROBLEM AND -- TRY TO DEFINE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE MEAN BY GENTRIFICATION AND SO THIS LAST PART OF THE RESOLUTION, WHICH -- WHICH DIRECTS THE CITY STAFF TO UNDERTAKE SPECIFIC DUTIES AND TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS HERE, ATTEMPTS TO TRY TO DEFINE, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE MEAN BY GENTRIFICATION AND JUST -- BY LOOKING AT SPECIFICALLY PROPERTY VALUES AND -- AND MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME. SO BASICALLY THE -- THE LAST PART OF THIS RESOLUTION SAYS FIRST OF ALL THE CITY MANAGER SHALL PROVIDE MULTI DEPARTMENTAL STAFF SUPPORT INCLUDING NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING TO THE GENTRIFICATION TASK FORCE AND SET ASIDE OTHER RESOURCES NEEDED TO AID AND RESEARCH IN THE FACILITATION OF MEETINGS. NUMBER TWO THE CITY MANAGER SHALL IDENTIFY CENSUS TRACTS OR ZIP CODES WHERE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME HAS INCREASED BY 50% OR MORE SINCE THE 1990 CENSUS AND PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO THE GENTRIFICATION TASK FORCE GROUPING THE DATA INTO THREE RANGES, ONE BEING THOSE AREAS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME FROM 50% TO 100%; THOSE AREAS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME FROM 100% TO 200% AND THOSE AREAS WHERE -- WHERE WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME FROM GREATER THAN 200% FROM 1990 TO WHEREVER WE HAVE THE MOST RECENT DATA. FINALLY THE CITY MANAGER SHOULD ALSO IDENTIFY CENSUS TRACTS AND/OR ZIP CODES WHERE PROPERTY VALUES HAVE INCREASED BY 50% OR MORE SINCE 1990 AND PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO THE TASK FORCE AGAIN GROUPING THE -- THE INFORMATION IN THOSE THREE RANGES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. AND SO IN THIS WAY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY SAYING ANY PARTICULAR GEOGRAPHIC AREA THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON. WE ARE -- PART OF THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE IS GOING TO BE, WELL, LET'S FIND OUT WHERE IN AUSTIN, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN MOST SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM AND THEN -- THEN ONCE WE HAVE DECIDED WHAT DO WE MEAN BY SIGNIFICANT, AFTER LOOKING AT THE DATA, THEN WE CAN DECIDE WELL, WHAT ARE THE ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE, YOU KNOW, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE NEEDS IN THOSE AREAS WHERE -- WHERE WE THINK THAT THIS MIGHT BE HAVING AN ADVERSE EFFECT. SO THAT'S -- THAT'S ALL I HAD TO ADD IN TERMS OF THE RESOLUTION ITSELF. AND IF -- IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, WE WILL BE HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER THEM.

>>SLUSHER: ACTUALLY, THAT -- THAT DOES ANSWER SOME OF MY QUESTION. ALL -- THE QUESTIONS. ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO IT SINCE IT FIRST CAME UP. I STILL HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. I JUST THINK THIS IS A REAL SERIOUS ISSUE, POTENTIALLY DIVISIVE FOR THE CITY. SO I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE SOME PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF IT HERE ON THE COUNCIL BEFORE WE APPROVE AND THEN APPOINT A TASK FORCE TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE. I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT WE MEAN BY GENTRIFICATION BECAUSE DIFFERENT FOLKS MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT THAT. MAYBE IT GETS FURTHER DEFINED AS YOU GO INTO THE -- AS THE TASK FORCE WOULD -- WOULD GO ALONG. I THINK THE GOALS NEED A LITTLE MORE PUBLIC DISCUSSION OR SOME, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY YET REALLY ON THE COUNCIL. ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I WOULD HAVE IS -- IS WHAT ABOUT EFFORTS IN THE MEANTIME BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO TAKE 18 MONTHS WITH REPORTS AT SIX MONTH INTEGRALS. THE PLANNING COMMISSION -- SIX MONTH INTERVALS. THE PLANNING COMMISSION WORKED WITH THE STAFF AND CAME UP WITH A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS NOT TOO LONG AGO. MANY OF WHICH ARE IN PROGRESS. I THINK WE NEED A -- PROBABLY NEED TO BROADEN A NUMBER OF THOSE EFFORTS. BUT SO I WANT TO KNOW WOULD THIS PREVENT US FROM MOVING FORWARD ON THOSE IN THE MEANTIME WILL WE GET TO THE SITUATION WHERE THAT HAS TO GO TO THE TASK FORCE TO -- BEFORE WE CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO I WOULD -- I WOULD JUST LIKE TWO OF THE SPONSORS TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DEFINITION, THE GOALS, IF WE CAN CONTINUE -- IF WE CAN DO SOME INCREASED EFFORTS IN THE MEANTIME JUST FROM THE COUNCIL AND THE STAFF, LIKE ONE IDEA I HAD WAS TO -- MAYBE WE CAN COULD TAKE RECOMMENDATIONS OR ANALYSIS DONE WITH THE CITY STAFF WORKING WITH -- TELL THE CITY MANAGER, EXCUSE ME, TO TAKE 60 DAYS, 90 DAYS, COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO INCREASE THOSE EFFORTS. SO -- I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE SPONSORS DISCUSSION THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IF I COULD PIGGYBACK ON THAT. AS YOU ALL TALK ABOUT IT. I CIRCULATED TO COUNCILMEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN ELECTED IN THE LAST YEAR A COPY OF A REPORT THAT WAS MADE BY CITY STAFF TO -- TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT INCLUDED ON THAT A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES THAT WERE ALREADY IN PROGRESS AND THAT INVOLVED -- SOME OF WHICH INVOLVED POLICY DECISIONS. AND I WAS HOPEFUL AND REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT INSTEAD OF RECREATING THE WHEEL -- SOMETIMES I THINK CREATING TASK FORCES MAKES US FEEL LIKE WE ARE NOW DOING SOMETHING, BUT IT MAY BE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING ALREADY ONGOING AND WITH CLEAR DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL ON THAT, GETTING AN UPDATE OF WHERE THAT IS, THEN GETTING CLEAR DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL ABOUT WHAT THE GOALS, DEFINITIONS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO AVOID THE NEED OF 18 MONTHS OF STUDY. SOMETIMES WE INVOLVE OURSELVES IN STUDY AND PLANNING AND THEN WE NEVER IMPLEMENT THAT STUDY AND PLANNING. AND IT MAY BE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THAT WORK DONE FOR US OR VERY NEAR TO BEING DONE AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE US NOW TAKE OFF ON SOMETHING ELSE. IN FACT I WOULD PREFER THAT WE WOULD DO SOMETHING WITH THAT FIRST BEFORE WE GO INTO SOMETHING ELSE THAT MAY NOT BE AS DEFINED AS WE WOULD LIKE. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

>>THOMAS: YES, SIR. I -- I DID LOOK OVER THE INFORMATION THAT THE MAYOR BROUGHT BY, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE -- ALL OF THE INFORMATION, I APPRECIATE WHAT STAFF DONE. STAFF HAVE DID TREMENDOUS WORK, A LOT OF WORK WITH A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN IMPLICATED. I FEEL IF A TASK FORCE WOULD TAKE -- NOT UTILIZING STAFF, BUT WITH A TASK FORCE THAT PEOPLE THAT WE, THE COUNCIL PUT ON THAT HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH GENTRIFICATION AND ALSO WE MIGHT HAVE TO -- TO HAVE SOME LITTLE -- SOME OUTSIDE RESOURCE TO HELP US MOVE IT ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL. I UNDERSTAND REINVENTING -- REDOING THE WHEEL OVER. I DIDN'T THINK THAT WE WOULD BE DOING THAT. I WAS TRYING TO GET THE TASK FORCE TO HELP STAFF MOVE BECAUSE AS WE KNOW STAFF HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO. I'M NOT QUESTIONING STAFF, BUT THERE MIGHT BE SOME AREAS AND EXPERTISE THAT WOULD A TASK FORCE THAT THE PEOPLE WOULD APPOINT MIGHT COME MOVE IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL. THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF TRYING TO GET THIS TASK FORCE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

>>ALVAREZ: JUST TO ADD TO THAT, I THINK THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US THAT STAFF HAD PREVIOUSLY PREPARED ON THIS ISSUE WAS VERY HELPFUL AND THAT'S WHY WE TRIED TO RESTRUCTURE THIS EFFORT TO BUILD UPON WHAT ALREADY HAD BEEN DONE. BECAUSE STAFF LISTED -- YOU KNOW, A GREAT NUMBER OF POLICY OPTIONS, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY PRESENTED ANY KIND OF PLANNED FORMAT. AND BASICALLY WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN TERMS OF DIRECTING THIS TASK FORCE IS TO -- TO DO THREE BASIC THINGS: IDENTIFY WHERE WE THINK GENTRIFICATION MAY BE A BIG -- THE BIGGEST PROBLEM, WHICH ARE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM AREAS, THEN IDENTIFY PROGRAMS TO ASSIST FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THOSE AREAS, LOW INCOME FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THOSE AREAS AND THEN FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN'T DO SOMETHING TO ENCOURAGE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THOSE AREAS. AND WHAT WE CAN DO IS TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE LIST OF 30 OR 40 SUGGESTIONS FROM STAFF AND FIGURE OUT, WELL, HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO THESE THREE CATEGORIES AND WHAT OTHER THINGS MAYBE WERE NOT ON THAT LIST THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED. SO I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD ON WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, BUT FOR WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE SO IS -- IS I THINK WHAT -- WHAT I THINK COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER REFERENCES IS TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC GOALS THAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE AND THEN UNDER EACH GOAL THEN PUT SOME OF THESE ITEMS THAT MAYBE STAFF HAS ALREADY LOOKED AT, MAYBE SOME NEW THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF UNDER SPECIFIC GOALS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. AND SO I THINK IT'S BEEN REAL HELPFUL TO LOOK AT WHAT STAFF HAS ALREADY DONE, BUT FROM MY.OF VIEW IT'S MORE ABOUT KIND OF ORGANIZING THE INFORMATION IN A WAY WHERE -- WHERE IT'S CLEAR, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AND THEN HOW WE ARE GOING TO GO ABOUT ACCOMPLISHING IT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IF I MIGHT COMMENT ON THAT. I'M VERY COMPLIMENTARY OF THAT ASPECT, PARTICULARLY THE LAST PAGE ON THIS, WHERE -- I'M AGENTS CONFUSED ABOUT THE STAFF BEING TOO BUSY TO DO IT, BUT THEN IT SAYS WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE MULTI DEPARTMENTAL STAFF TO DO THIS FOR 18 MONTHS. THE LAST ITEMS TWO AND THREE IS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT I BELIEVE WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE WORK THAT IS -- THAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED. AND I THINK WE ARE RESPONSIVE TO THAT, I THINK THAT'S GOOD. I THINK MY THOUGHT WOULD BE IF WE COULD GET STAFF TO REPORT BACK TO US IN A RAPID PERIOD OF TIME, WHERE THEY UPDATE THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE, PROVIDE US WITH THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU REQUEST SPECIFICALLY IN ITEMS 2 AND 3 ON THE LAST PAGE OF THE RESOLUTION AS PART OF ALL OF THAT, THEN I THINK -- THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK WE COULD ASK IS FOR THEM TO PROVIDE US WITH -- WITH ADDITIONAL RESEARCH OR INFORMATION REGARDING WHAT MAY BE HAPPENING IN SOME OTHER PLACES AND REFER THAT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A REPORT BACK IN THAT SAME PERIOD OF TIME, PLANNING COMMISSION OR A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO SAY TO US HERE ARE WHAT -- HERE ARE THE WAY OTHER CITIES ARE LOOKING AT IT, HERES SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES OUT THERE, HERE'S WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE WORKING, HERE'S HOW YOU CAN COORDINATE SOME OF THAT. YOU GET WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO GET WITH YOUR RESOLUTION, BUT YOU GET IT FASTER AND -- AVOID JUST THE CREATION OF ANOTHER TASK FORCE THAT MAY NOT BE GETTING US ANYTHING ADDITIONAL. BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOU, I THINK THAT YOU HAVE ADDED TO IT IN A WAY THAT MAKES SOME SENSE

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH

>>GRIFFITH: YES. THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE HAD THAT REPORT AND IT'S A GOOD REPORT AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. THE REASON WE NEED THE TASK FORCE IS SO THAT CITIZENS CAN BE THERE AND CAN ASK THE QUESTIONS AND CAN -- CAN MOVE IT ALONG. ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES ASKED ME THIS WEEK WHAT IS GENTRIFICATION ANYWAY? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WELL, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS REAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED IN THEIR HOUSE WITH THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR MAYBE A COUPLE OF DECADES. AND BECAUSE THE TAXES, THE PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING UP SO HIGH AND SO FAST, THEY ARE HAVING TO LEAVE, THEY ARE HAVING TO MOVE. AND WHAT THAT DOES IS DISRUPT THAT FAMILY, IT DISRUPTS THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT DISRUPTS THE -- THE HEALTHY SOCIAL FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY. I DON'T THINK WE CAN LET THAT KEEP ON GOING AND JUST TAKE SOME STUDY OR ENHANCE SOME STUDY. I THINK WE NEED SOME CITIZEN INITIATIVE. THAT'S WHAT THIS TASK FORCE HOPEFULLY WILL GIVE. CERTAINLY WE WANT TO KEEP ON GETTING -- WE WANT TO TAKE THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AND GET MORE. BUT THE MAIN THING WE HAVE GOT TO DO IS MOVE TOWARDS HEARING FROM THE CITIZENS THAT ARE BEING DIRECTLY AFFECTED AND GET SOME -- GET SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THEM. GENTRIFICATION IS -- IT'S DISPLACEMENT OF -- OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF YEARS OF THEIR LIVES WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS. IT'S A VERY HEALTHY THING THAT THEY HAVE. WE WANT TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT WHAT THEY HAVE TOGETHER AND -- AND I THINK IT'S TIME FOR CITIZENS, WITH STAFF SUPPORT, AND RESEARCH, TO -- TO LOOK TOGETHER AT SOME SOLUTIONS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT IS BEING SUGGESTED. FIRST OF ALL, GENTRIFICATION IS NOT BY MOST PEOPLE'S DEFINITIONS DEFINED JUST AS HOW IT WAS JUST DEFINED. IT INCLUDES A LOT MORE COMPLICATED FACTORS THAN THAT. AND IN FACT THERE ARE MORE COMPLICATING FACTORS INTO HOW YOU DEAL WITH TAXATION, INCLUDING DIFFICULTIES WITH THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION AND SOME OF THOSE PARAMETERS THAT ARE PLACED UPON A CITY IN THE WAY IT DEALS WITH THINGS. IN ADDITION, GENTRIFICATION HAS BUILT TEE WHEN YOU ARE CALLED UPON AS -- DIFFICULTY WHEN YOU ARE CALLED UPON AS WE WORK EVERY WEEK TO DO TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND VALUE OF LIFE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN BY DEFINITION THAT CREATES A CHANGE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, IT ALSO CREATES SOME DIFFICULTY WHERE SOMEONE MAY BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY MAY HAVE BEEN THERE JUST AS YOU HAVE INDICATED 20 AND 30 YEARS AND BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED VALUE OF THEIR LAND SOMEONE MOVES -- COMES IN AND THEN SAID, WELL, MS. SMITH, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE LIVED HERE 20 OR 30 YEARS, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO, I WOULD LIKE TO BUY THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY FROM YOU AND I WANT TO PAY YOU $250,000 OR SOMETHING, JUST TO MAKE UP A NUMBER. TO THAT PERSON, AND THAT PERSON MAY WANT TO SELL, THAT CREATES SOME DISPLACEMENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, CREATES SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM TIME TO TIME HERE AT COUNCIL THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING THEIR -- THEY ARE SELLING OUT THEIR PROPERTY. BUT IT -- BUT THEY WANT TO SELL OUT, THEY WANT TO MAKE THAT MONEY AND THAT -- BUT THAT STILL CREATES GENTRIFICATION BY DEFINITION OR AT LEAST SOME PEOPLE'S DEFINITIONS OF WHAT GENTRIFICATION IS IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT IS WHY I THINK BEFORE WE -- IT'S ALSO BEEN SAID THAT WE HAVE A TASK FORCE -- WE HAVE A REPORT. WE HAVE A DOCUMENT AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. I WOULD SAY TWO THINGS ABOUT THAT. ONE IS IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN LET'S DO SOMETHING. LET'S DO SOMETHING RIGHT NOW. LET'S SAY SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT. BECAUSE THAT'S NOBODY'S FAULT OTHER THAN THOSE OF US WHO HAVEN'T PUSHED IT. FRANKLY, WE WILL FIND THAT A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN GOING ON. WHEN WE GET THAT REPORT BACK. AND THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY WE APPROACH CERTAIN THINGS. THE OTHER PART ABOUT THAT IS, THE OTHER THING THAT I WILL SAY ABOUT IT IS THAT -- THAT IF WE SAY WE'VE HAD THAT AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED, MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS THEN WHAT MAKES US BELIEVE THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE 18 MONTHS TO STUDY AGAIN, SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN WITH THAT. THE FACT IS WE HAVE GOT -- WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY SOME QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THE DEFINITION OF GENTRIFICATION IS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE -- I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL THAT DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE IN A WAY THAT MAKES THE QUALITY OF EVERYBODY'S LIFE BETTER; IT'S JUST THAT WE ALREADY HAVE SOME OF THIS WORK DONE AND I COULD SEE WHERE WE COULD GO FORWARD AND -- AND ACTUALLY SEE IT ACHIEVED. THE FINAL THING THAT I WILL SAY IS THAT -- I'M CONFIDENT THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID WHAT IS GENTRIFICATION THIS PAST WEEK. WHERE THEY PROBABLY HAVE A GOOD STRONG DEFINITION OF GENTRIFICATION, BUT THE REASON THEY ASK THAT QUESTION IS BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THERE IS NOT A GOOD, CLEAN GOAL WITH REGARD TO THIS RESOLUTION AND THEY WERE ASKING PERHAPS A SPONSOR OF THAT RESOLUTION TO DEFINE GENTRIFICATION AT AUTO LEAST IN THEIR MIND SO THEY WOULD NOT WHAT THE CLEANLYNESS OF THE GOAL WAS. MAYOR PRO TEM?

>>GOODMAN: THANKS, MAYOR. ALONG THOSE LINES, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS OFFER EITHER A SUBSTITUTE MOTION OR A MODIFICATION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A MOTION. IF YOU DO ANYTHING IT WILL BE A MOTION.

>>GOODN: OKAY. WELL, LET ME TRY THIS MOTION AND IF IT WILL BE SECONDED AT LEAST FOR DISCUSSION, I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. THAT MOTION WOULD BE TO REQUEST THE STAFF TO UPDATE THAT REPORT FROM MARCH 2000, AND TO REPORT BACK IN NO LATER THAN 45 DAYS, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST JUNE THE 14TH. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A CONSISTENT COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA I MEAN SCHEDULE. NUMBER 2, TO REFER TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR A SUBCOMMITTEE AS YOU SUGGEST FOR A REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL AT THAT SAME TIME. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY, IF YOU WILL --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I WILL SECOND THE MOTION IF YOU WILL ADD TO THAT THAT IN THE FIRST PART OF IT THAT THE ITEMS THAT COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ READ INTO THE RECORD, ITEMS 2 AND 3, ON THE LAST PAGE OF THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION BE PARTED OF WHAT STAFF REPORTS BACK WHEN IT COMES BACK ON JUNE 14TH.

>>GOODMAN: OH, YEAH, THAT WAS A GIVEN.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. THEN I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION. MAYOR PRO TEM?

>>GOODMAN: OKAY. WELL, I AGREE WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE BROUGHT UP AND ALLUDED TO AND THE ONES THAT ARE SORT OF THE PERIPHERAL TO WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US. I THINK THAT THE TIME FRAME REALLY NEEDS TO BE SPEEDED UP. THE TASK FORCE, I THINK, COULD STILL BE BROUGHT INTO PLAY AFTER WE GET THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION. BUT PART OF WHAT I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO IN LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT MECHANISMS THAT WILL HELP US DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF GENTRIFICATION ARE ACTUAL LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS, MECHANISMS SUCH AS PERHAPS SOMETHING OUT OF THE BOX LIKE MITIGATION, THE WAY THAT WE HAVE DONE WITH SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL LAND. THAT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO TRANSLATE INTO HOUSING UNITS. ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S A ZONING CASE IN QUESTION. AND THAT IS WHERE AT THIS TIME WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS AN ARBITER OF THOSE KIND OF CODE AMENDMENTS. THEY SAY THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO STILL BE A PART OF THE PLANNING, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVEN'T HAD MUCH TIME LATELY, SO WE HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH COMING. BUT IN IN ESSENCE WOULD ALSO SORT OF BE AN OFFERING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT THEY SAY THEY CAN DO. IN THAT CASE, SINCE THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE THE PRELIMINARY WORK ON THIS, THE TIME THAT WE TAKE TO COME TO RESOLUTION COULD CONCEIVABLY BE ABOUT ONE THIRD OF WHAT WE EXPECT WITH THE CURRENT RESOLUTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION?

>>GRIFFITH: YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: THANK YOU. CERTAINLY INVOLVING THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS A GOOD THING AND ARE AND INVOLVING STAFF IS A GOOD THING. WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT THE UPDATE THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED BE PRESENTED IN PUBLIC TO THE COMMUNITY AND ANYBODY WHO IS INTERESTED AT THE TASK FORCE MEETINGS. AND THAT THE ELEMENT THAT WE ARE ADDING HERE, WHICH COULD BE THE REAL CRITICAL ONE, IS THE CITIZEN TASK FORCE. WE WANT PLANNING COMMISSION INVOLVED, WE WANT STAFF SUPPORT, BUT I THINK THE CRITICAL THING RIGHT NOW IS TO GET A CITIZEN GROUP IN PLACE WITH A COMMISSION, WITH -- WITH -- WITH A MANDATE FROM THE COUNCIL TO -- TO BRING BACK TO US WITH STAFF SUPPORT, PLANNING COMMISSION, CITIZENS, EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO BE INVOLVED. -- COMING BACK TO US WITH SPECIFIC IDEAS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

>>GOODMAN: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: I UNDERSTAND PERFECTLY WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO GET AT, I AGREE WITH THAT GOAL. THE REASON I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT SPEED OATH UP IS BECAUSE THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS A CITIZEN PLANNING GROUP AND THE STAFF SUPPORT IS ALREADY THERE. IF THEY ARE ABLE TO FOLD THAT INTO THEIR OWN SCHEDULE AND STAFF SUPPORT THERE'S NO LONG-TERM COST FOR ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL UNTIL WE KNOW WHERE IT IS WE ARE TRYING TO GO WITH IT.

>> MAYOR, I THINK WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES. (GRIFFITH SPEAKING) LET'S GIVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO -- TO A GROUP OF CITIZENS WHO WE KNOW CARE ABOUT THIS. AND ARE INVOLVED IN THIS. LET'S HAVE PLANNING COMMISSION INVOLVED AND STAFF INVOLVED BUT LET'S GIVE THEM THE MANDATE, LET'S GIVE THEM THE CHARGE OF COMING BACK ABOUT WHATEVER SUPPORT THEY CAN GLEAN FROM WHATEVER SOURCE. WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO DO IT A DIFFERENT WAY AND I THINK THIS IS -- THIS IS THE BEST IDEA WE HAVE GOTTEN -- WE HAVE GOT IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

>>ALVAREZ: YEAH. I THINK IT'S -- YOU KNOW, I PERSONALLY AM NOT SURE ABSOLUTELY WHAT THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED IS AND I THINK LIKE THE MAYOR PRO TEM, I'M KIND OF CONCERNED ABOUT TRYING TO GET SOMETHING. LOOKING OR CONSIDERING THIS ISSUE AGAIN MORE QUICKLY THAN THE 18 MONTHS, TOM THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD OR PROPOSE AS A -- THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD OR PROPOSE IS THAT THE CDC ALSO MAKE THE SAME REVIEW, SOME OF THESE IDEAS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE THEY DO DEAL WITH HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND IT IS ALSO A CITIZEN PLANNING BODY. BUT I WOULD ALSO, IF WE ARE GOING TO GO THAT ROUTE IS MAKE SURE THAT -- THAT THEY GET THE DIRECTION THAT WE WERE -- WE WERE TRYING TO PROVIDE HERE TO THE TASK FORCE SO THAT WE GET SOME SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS IN THOSE AREAS. THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE, BUT ALSO THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE OUTLINED AND ALSO COME UP WITH OTHER IDEAS ABOUT THOSE, BUT I THINK IF -- YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IF WE CAN FIND A MECHANISM THAT MAYBE GETS US TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE SOONER, I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM DO YOU CONSIDER THAT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT WE ASK THE CDC REVIEW THIS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME.

>>GOODMAN: YES, THAT WAS AN OVERSIGHT, I'M SORRY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ASTHMAER OF THE SECOND I WILL GO ALONG WITH THIS. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM ANYBODY THAT HASN'T ALREADY COMMENTED ON THIS MATTER? COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: I WOULD JUST ASK THAT -- HOPEFULLY -- I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THE MOTION ON THE TABLE. BUT I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO -- TO, IF WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THEN WE NEED TO TAKE IT INTO ACCOUNT ON ALL MATTERS ON WHICH WE VOTE. IT IS VERY COMPLICATED. I WAS THE ONE, I BELIEVE THAT COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH WAS REFERRING TO THAT ASKED HER FOR A DEFINITION OF GENTRIFICATION. I HAVE MY OWN DEFINITION WHICH IS BASICALLY WHEN RISING PROPERTY VALUES MAKE IT UNAFFORDABLE FOR LONG-TIME RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN AN AREA. AND WE ALREADY HAVE THAT OCCURRING ALREADY. IN THE CITY. I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE RAPIDLY TO DEAL WITH IT. I THINK IT'S INCORRECT TO SAY THAT NOTHING IS BEING DONE. IF YOU JUST READ THROUGH ALL OF THESE SUGGESTIONS OR POSSIBILITIES FROM STAFF, PROBABLY MORE -- MANY MORE ARE UNDERWAY THAN WHERE NOTHING IS BEING DONE. I THINK MORE HAS BEEN DONE. WE FREQUENTLY HAVE SPLIT VOTES UP HERE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS. THAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR COMBAT WHAT WE ARE CALLING GENTRIFICATION, THE BEST WAY TO COMBAT IT IS TO PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK. I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE TRACT -- WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LARGE, HUGE CASE TONIGHT WITH MAJOR SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CITY, EAST AUSTIN IN PARTICULAR, THE BENNETT TRACK WHERE -- WHERE THE PROPERTY VALUES IN THAT AREA HAVE BEEN DECREASED -- DEPRESSED FOR SEVERAL DECADE. THE ACTION WE TAKE TONIGHT, IF WE APPROVE WHAT'S ON THE TABLE, I HI THAT'S -- I THINK THAT'S ALMOST CERTAINLY GOING TO CAUSE PROPERTY VALUES TO RISE ASSUMING THAT ONCE WE APPROVE IT THAT -- THAT THE DEVELOPMENT DOES OCCUR AS A RESULT OF -- OF THE ZONING. IF THAT HAPPENS THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE GENTRIFICATION PRESSURE, WHERE THE PRICES, THE VALUES IN THE AREA ARE GOING TO GO UP. A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT THE VALUES IN THE AREA TO GO UP. IT'S -- IT'S A GOOD THING, IT'S A DESIRABLE GOAL. BUT WITH THAT, ONCE WE START ACHIEVING THAT GOAL, THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE THE VALUES TO GO UP AND THAT'S GOING TO -- GOING TO -- GOING TO CREATE PRESSURE ON THE FOLKS THAT ALREADY LIVE IN THE AREA. SO IT'S A -- 80'S COMPLEX PROBLEM. THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING -- IT'S A COMPLEX PROBLEM THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING PEOPLE TO DEFINE IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE AND STILL DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE WE ARE GOING INTO IT WITH A SOLID ENOUGH DEFINITION OR GOALS ABOUT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. SO I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS MOTION WHERE WE GET THINGS -- GET IT BACK FASTER AND GET ROLLING ON IMPROVING OUR EFFORTS FASTER. ONE IDEA THAT OCCURS TO ME, THAT I WOULD JUST TOSS OUT FOR CONSIDERATION, HE JUST THOUGHT OF IT THIS MORNING AS I PONDERED THIS ISSUE. LIKE I SAID ALREADY, THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH IT, I THINK, IS CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO SUPPOSE WE TOOK AN AREA WHERE THE -- ABOUT WHERE WE ARE SAYING THAT GENTRIFICATION IS TAKING PLACE BASED ON THESE CRITERIA THAT COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ ADDED, AND SAID, WE WILL CREATE A TIF IN THERE OR A PARTIAL TIF WHERE MONEY FROM THE RISING PROPERTY VALUES GOES INTO BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT WAY YOU ARE TAKING THE PROBLEM, AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IS A GOOD THING, IF YOUR HOUSE GOES UP IN VALUE SIGNIFICANTLY, YOU SELL YOUR HOUSE, MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, THAT'S A GOOD THING. THAT MIGHT BE LOW INCOME FOLKS THAT THAT'S HAPPENING TO THAT ARE MAKING THAT MONEY. CERTAINLY I THINK MOST OF US AGREE THAT IS GOOD FOR THAT PARTICULAR FAMILY. BUT SAY THAT THOSE RISING PROPERTY VALUES IN THE AREA THAT YOU TOOK MONEY DIRECTLY FROM THE TAX REVENUES FROM THAT, PUT IT BACK INTO AFFORD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT WOULD SEEM TO BE WHERE YOU ARE HELPING THE PROBLEM FUND THE SOLUTION. SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE LOOK AT THAT IDEA. AS PART OF THIS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: JUST AS AN ASIDE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ON THAT REPORT FROM MARCH 2000 IS THE CONCEPT OF DOING TIF. IN OTHER CITIES TIF'S HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT AS YOU KNOW SOME FOLKS HAVE FOUGHT THE ESTABLISH OF TIFS, SOME FOLKS ON ONE END FIGHT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TIFS, ON THE OTHER HAND WE NEED TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR GENTRIFICATION THINGS LIKE THAT. WE REALLY ONLY HAVE ONE T.I.F., THAT IS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. THAT IS THE KIND OF SUGGESTION, IF WE GET THOSE BACK IN 45 DAYS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MOVE RATHER RAPIDLY.

>>SLUSHER: I HAVE BEEN AGAINST SOME T.I.F.S, THERE WAS ONE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME ON THE COUNCIL THAT VERY MUCHED THROUGH ALL OF THE DOWNTOWN AND EAST OF THE FREEWAY AND WEST OF LAMAR AND SOUTH OF THE RIVER AND I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS A PARTICULARLY GOOD IDEA. BUT ONE THAT'S MORE NARROWLY FOCUSED MIGHT WORK. MIGHT WORK. AND I GUESS THAT I WOULD JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FAIR ENOUGH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, THEN I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE.

>>ALVAREZ: ONE MORE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT JUST IN THINKING THROUGH THIS DIFFERENT APPROACH, MAYBE WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND CDC, BUT THAT WOULD WE DIRECT EACH OF THOSE BODIES TO DO IS CREATE A JOINT SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WOULD COME UP WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD THEN GO BACK TO THE MAIN BODY, THE CDC AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR FURTHER COMMENT AND THEN EVENTUALLY COME BACK TO US. BUT THAT WAY AT LEAST IT DOESN'T -- WE DON'T HAVE TWO SEPARATE COMMITTEES IF TWO SEPARATE COMMISSIONS OR SUBCOMMITTEES FROM TWO SEPARATE COMMISSIONS AND THAT MIGHT --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IS YOUR THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD ALMOST IMMEDIATELY APPOINT THAT COMBINED BODY AND -- SO THEY COULD REPORT BACK TO US BY THIS JUNE 14TH DATE, DO YOU CONSIDER THAT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, MAYOR PRO TEM?

>>GOODMAN: YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SO DO I.

>>SLUSHER: QUICKLY, A LITTLE BIT MORE ON MY T.I.F. IDEA. ONE OTHER ASPECT OF THAT THAT I FORGOT TO MENTION, I WANT TO IS THAT TRAVIS COUNTY TRAVIS COUNTY COULD PARTICIPATE IN A T.I.F., THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO IT, AS WE POINTED OUT FOR AROUND 80% OF THE TAX FUNDS THAT GO TO TRAVIS COUNTY COME FROM CITY RESIDENTS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M GOING TO CALL FOR A VOTE.

>>THOMAS: JUST A MINUTE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

>>THOMAS: I NEED CLARITY. SINCE I'M THE SPONSOR OF THIS, EITHER CAN I TABLE THIS OR EITHER WITHDRAW IT, PULL IT DOWN. BECAUSE WE WENT BACK AND FORTH AND I THINK THAT I CAME WITH A PRETTY DECENT RESOLUTION AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DO AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT STAFF IS TRYING TO DO. BUT IT'S KIND OF OBVIOUS THAT -- IT WAS 2000, WE ARE GOING INTO 2001. WHEN I MADE THE STATEMENT OF HOW STAFF MIGHT BE BUSY, I THINK WE GOT OTHER ITEMS ALSO THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH. THE PRIORITY DOESN'T FALL IN THE AREA THAT WE NEED IT. THIS IS THE REASON THAT I WAS TRYING TO GET A TASK FORCE TO HELP US DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. WE HAVEN'T DID ANYTHING IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS ALMOST. SO I FELT THAT I NEED A PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, RULING, CAN I PULL IT DOWN OR EITHER TABLE IT?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, ON A POSTED ITEM. YOU COULD MOVE TO TABLE THE MOTION. AND IF YOU -- IF THAT PASSES, THEN IT WOULD BE PLACED UPON THE TABLE. TYPICALLY A MOTION TO TABLE WOULD REQUIRE THAT IT BE -- LAID ON THE TABLE UNTIL -- MY MEMORY OF THE GENERAL RULE IS IT WOULD BE LAID ON THE TABLE UNTIL A DATE CERTAIN. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU COULD PULL DOWN A MOTION THAT HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED BY ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL. AND THAT WOULD BE THE CHAIR'S RULING.

>> MAYOR?

>>THOMAS: DOES -- THE MOTION WAS NOT ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. IT WAS ON -- IT WENT TO -- TO -- TO LETTING STAFF DO IT AND IT DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE TASK FORCE. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I WILL -- AS CHAIR RULE THAT THE POSTED ITEM WAS RELATED TO -- WHILE IT REFERS TO A GENTRIFICATION TASK FORCE, IT WAS TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF GENTRIFICATION BY THE NATURE OF THE MOTION WHAT HAS OCCURRED IS A RECOMMENDATION, A MOTION THAT WOULD REFER THIS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND CREATE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CDC. SO I WOULD RULE THAT THE MOTION IS GERMANE TO THE POSTED ITEM. AND THEREFORE MEETS THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT OF BEING A PROPER POSTING.

>>THOMAS: WITH DUE RESPECT TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL, IF I COULD TAINL IT, MAYBE WE COULD ALL DISCUSS IT, COME BACK AT A LATER DATE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THEN THE CHAIR WOULD RULE, I MAY BE INCORRECT ABOUT MY MEMORY OF ROBERTS RULES IN THIS CASE, BUT A MOTION TO TABLE IS A MOTION THAT -- TO LAY THE ITEM ON THE TABLE REQUIRES A DATE CERTAIN IN WHICH IT WOULD BE BROUGHT BACK AND MY ADDITIONAL MEMORY, HANG ON ONE SECOND, WE WILL MAKE SURE IT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

>>GOODMAN: WHILE YOU ARE LOOKING THAT UP, CAN I ASK COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS A QUESTION?

>>THOMAS: SURE. OH --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

>>GOODMAN: I WAS GOING TO ASK --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM, GO AHEAD AND ASK YOUR QUESTION.

>>GOODMAN: WERE YOU THINKING OF TABLING THE MOTION ON THE TASK FORCE UNTIL JUNE 14TH?

>>THOMAS: IF WE CAN DO THAT, TABLE THE WHOLE THING, WE CAN COME BACK ON THE 14TH WITH --.

>>GOODMAN: WHEN THE REPORT COMES BACK? I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT ANSWERS EVERYTHING. ALTHOUGH I'M NOT SURE WHAT -- WHAT VOTE TO TABLE TAKES PRECEDENCE, RIGHT, WITH NO DISCUSSION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IT WOULD. BUT THE MOTION -- WHAT I THINK COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS IS REALLY ATTEMPTING TO DO IS POSTPONE INDEFINITELY THIS ITEM. UNTIL SUCH TIME AS PERHAPS HE HAS SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF A TASK FORCE AS OPPOSED TO A MOTION TO TABLE. AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AM I WRONG ABOUT THAT? IS THAT WHAT YOU PREFER TO DO? BECAUSE WE COULD MAKE -- YOU COULD HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY, YOU COULD OFFER THAT AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. I WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, THEN WE COULD -- THEN WE COULD HAVE A VOTE ON WHETHER TO POSTPONE IT INDEFINITELY.

>>THOMAS: I THINK MAYOR PRO TEM IS AWARE, IF WE COULD TABLE IT TO THE 14TH, COME BACK, THEN DEAL WITH THAT. IS THAT -- IS THAT CONFUSING?

>>MAYOR WATSON: I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO THAT. I DON'T THINK WHAT HE CAN DO IS TABLE YOUR MOTION UNTIL THE 14TH.

>>GOODMAN: I THINK HE'S TABLING THE TASK FORCE MOTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: HE CAN BRING BACK A TASK FORCE RESOLUTION ON HIS OWN ON THE 14TH, BUT THERE'S NO NEED FOR A MOTION TO TABLE UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, CAN I ASK A QUESTION. I'M CONFUSED BY WHAT WOULD BE THE GOAL OF TABLING UNTIL JUNE WHEN IT'S NOT THE EXACT EFFORT THAT YOU BROUGHT -- BROUGHT FORWARD, BUT IT'S BEEN SAID A COUPLE OF TIMES, I THINK INACCURATELY THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE SINCE THE REPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. BUT I WOULD AGREE THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE BY TABLING ANY EFFORT EXCEPT EXACTLY WHAT WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA, THAT WE ARE TABLING ANY EFFORT AT DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM UNTIL WHICH TIME THAT WOULD COME BACK ON THE AGENDA. SO THAT DOESN'T -- SEEMS LIKE TO ME THE GOAL IS TO DEAL WITH THE GENTRIFICATION ISSUE, NOT JUST A -- TO CREATE A TASK FORCE TO -- TO DISCUSS IT. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TABLING HELPS DEAL WITH THE GENTRIFICATION ISSUE. IN FACT IT SEEMS TO ME TO PUT IT OFF AND MEANING NOTHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME JUST FOR PURPOSES -- A MOTION -- WHAT I WAS SAYING WAS PARTIALLY CORRECT. I WILL JUST READ IT TO EVERYBODY. THIS IS THE OTHER MOST MISUSED MOTION IN MEETINGS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE SEEN IT MISUSED SO OFTEN ITS MISUSE BECOMES ACCEPTABLE. THE MOST FREQUENT FORM IS LET'S TABLE THIS TO THE NECK MEETING OR SOME OTHER DATE. TECHNICALLY THERE IS NO SUCH MOTION AND N ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER. TO TABLE TO THE NEXT MEETING IS THE MOTION TO POSTPONE TO THE NEXT MEETING. IF THE CHAIR DOES NOT RESTATE THIS AS THE MOTION TO POSTPONE AND CALL FOR DEBATE, THEN A MEMBER SHOULD RAISE A POINT OF ORDER. TO LAY ON THE TABLE IS CORRECTLY USED TO TAKE UP A MORE URGENT ITEM OF BUSINESS OR HEAR A SPEAKER WHO CAN'T STAY FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE PENDING BUSINESS. IT IS INCORRECT TO USE IT TO KILL A MOTION OR DELAY IT TO A LATER TIME. IT'S ONLY PURPOSE IS TO TEMPORARILY PUT BUSINESS ASIDE SO THAT THE MEMBERS CAN TAKE UP A MORE URGENT. SO AS -- MORE URGENT MATTER. SO I THINK IT'S A MOTION TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY AND IF THAT'S THE MOTION THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, I WILL RECOGNIZE THAT AS A MOTION, I WILL CALL FOR A SECOND, IF THERE'S A SECOND TO THAT MOTION, THEN WE WILL VOTE ON IT, IF IT PASSES IT PASSES. IF IT FAILS, WE WILL TAKE UP THE MOTION OF THE MAYOR PRO TEM WHICH IS AN APPROPRIATE MOTION.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS HAS THE FLOOR.

>>THOMAS: I THINK I STATED I WANTED TO STILL TABLE IT UNTIL THE 14TH TO JUNE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THEN THAT IS A MOTION TO POSTPONE UNTIL THE 14TH. IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO POSTPONE UNTIL THE 14TH?

>>GOODMAN: I WILL SECOND.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. THE MOTION IS TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM UNTIL THE 14TH. AND SECOND IT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?

>>GOODMAN: YES, MAYOR. I THINK WHAT THE GOAL IS HERE, IS THAT IT'S A SAFE GARRY MAURO, A BACKUP. AT THE TIME OF THE 14TH, SAFEGUARD, THEN I THINK COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS WILL BE AWARE OF WHETHER HE'S STILL SUPPORTING A NEW TASK FORCE OR WHETHER IT'S NO LONGER NEEDED. IN ANY CASE WE COULD VOTE AFTER -- VOTE ON FORMATION OF THE TASK FORCE IF NEEDED AFTER WE GET ALL OF THIS OTHER STUFF AND THE 14TH DOVE TAILS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: HERE'S MY ONLY DIFFICULTY WITH THAT FROM A CLARIFICATION STANDPOINT. THE MOTION TO POSTPONE MEANS THAT ALL OF YOUR MOTION WILL NOT HAPPEN. ALL OF THE DIRECTION, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU JUST SET UP WON'T HAPPEN. HE IS MOVING TO POSTPONE THE ITEM. THERE'S AN EASY WAY TO DO THIS. TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL THAT YOU JUST DEFINED. PASS THE MOTION YOU MADE AND IN 45 DAYS, IF COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS WANTS TO BRING FORWARD ANOTHER MOTION, ANOTHER RESOLUTION FOR A TASK FORCE BASED UPON HAVING THAT INFORMATION, NOTHING YOU DO TODAY, A 7-0 VOTE, HE COULD VOTE FOR THAT MOTION AND IT WOULDN'T PRECLUDE THAT ACTION. BUT VOTING TO POSTPONE THIS MEANS THAT WE ARE NOT DOING THIS ITEM. FURTHER DISCUSSION?

>>ALVAREZ: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES. ALZHEIMER'S ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES I AM [INAUDIBLE] GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION TO POSTPONE. WE HAVE CREATED A MECHANISM. IT'S NOT THE TASK FORCE AS ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED, WE ARE CREATING A MECHANISM BY FOLKS WHO ARE VERY COMPETENT. WE HAVE ALL APPOINTED THE FOLKS TO THESE COMMISSIONS. I PERSONALLY DON'T WANT TO WAIT SEVEN WEEKS BEFORE WE LOOK AT THIS ISSUE. WE JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS ISSUE IS. TO SAY WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE ACTION UNTIL THE 14TH, THEN I DON'T AGREE WITH IT. I WOULD LIKE FOR AT LEAST, IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AGAIN ON JUNE 14TH TO AT LEAST HAVE THOSE TWO COMMISSIONS WE MENTIONED BEGIN WORK AT LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE.

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, IF I COULD.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.

>>SLUSHER: BUILD ON YOUR COMMENT AND COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ'S COMMENTS REAL QUICKLY. THAT WE COME BACK ON THE 14TH, I THINK THE VERY FIRST THING WE ARE GOING TO ASK IS THAT STAFFING OUT AND GATHER THIS INFORMATION IN THE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED PART OF THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION AND THAT AS COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZED OR YOU ADDED, MAYOR, TO THE MAIN MOTION. SO JUST -- I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY WE WOULD PUT OFF UNTIL JUNE 14TH STRUCKING THE STAFF TO GATHER THAT INFORMATION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THE MAYOR PRO TEM GETS THE LAST WORD, THEN WE WILL VOTE ON COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS' MOTION TO POSTPONE UNTIL JUNE 14TH.

>>GOODMAN: THIS IS BECOMING FOR ME A LITTLE PARLIAMENTARIAN BYZANTINE. I THINK WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TWO SEPARATE MOTION. MY MOTIONS IS NOT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS' RESOLUTION. THEREFORE HIS MOTION TO TABLE TO THE 14TH IS ON THE TASK FORCE RESOLUTION AS OPPOSED TO --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: NO, MA'AM.

>>GOODMAN: -- MONTH MOTION WHICH WAS THE PC-CDC RESOLUTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: NO, MA'AM. THERE IS NOT A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE TASK FORCE. THE ONLY MOTION BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND I'M SORRY IF -- IF IT FEELS BYZANTINE BUT THE ONLY MOTION BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS YOUR MOTION TO DO THE WORK THAT BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE 14TH. HIS MOTION TO POSTPONE IS TO POSTPONE THE WHOLE ITEM.

>>GOODMAN: OKAY. THAT WAS NOT MY INTENT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THE WAY HE WITH ACHIEVE HIS GOAL IS FOR THE MOTION TO POSTPONE TO FAIL, YOUR MOTION TO PASS, AND HE CAN EVALUATE THE INFORMATION AND HE IS NOT PRECLUDED IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER TO COME BACK AND TRY TO CONVINCE COUNCIL ON JUNE 14TH TO CREATE A TASK FORCE. BUT WE ARE GOING TO NOW VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION WHICH IS THE MOTION TO POSTPONE ITEM NO. 25 UNTIL JUNE 14TH.

>>GRIFFITH: MAYOR, WHOSE MOTION IS THAT?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

>>GRIFFITH: IS THAT YOUR MOTION?

>>THOMAS: MY MOTION I THINK IT'S CLEAR. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE KEEP GOING THROUGH IT. THE ONLY THING THAT I WAS TRYING TO DO, CHAIR, CAN I SPEAK? TO ASK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU -- YOU CAN SPEAK, YEAH, I WASN'T THE ONE THAT RECOGNIZED YOU, BUT COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH DID, I GUESS THAT'S ALL RIGHT. I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU, TOO. THIS IS THE THING THAT I AM SAYING WE CAN'T PIECEMEAL THIS THING HERE ON THIS DIAS. I JUST ASKED THAT WE TABLE IT, COME BACK ON THE 14TH, AND DEAL WITH THIS. I BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT HI A DECENT RESOLUTION TO MOVE TO GET A TASK FORCE AND ALSO UTILIZE STAFF. BUT IT'S BEEN ALL CHOPPED UP AND CUT UP RIGHT NOW AND I STILL SAY I WANT TO TABLE IT UNTIL THE 14TH. THEN IF I CAN'T, WHAT -- I NEED A RULING ON HOW TO PULL THIS DOWN.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. THE RULING IS THAT A MOTION TO TABLE IS A MOTION TO POSTPONE AND THAT IS THE WAY THAT YOU CAN PULL IT DOWN. IF YOU PREVAIL ON YOUR MOTION TO POSTPONE UNTIL JUNE 14TH, YOU HAVE IN EFFECT PULLED THE ENTIRE ITEM DOWN UNTIL JUNE 14TH. AND THAT IS -- THAT IS THE WAY TO DO IT. WHAT I HAVE SUGGESTED TO YOU, ALSO, IS THAT BASED UPON WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM INDICATED, IF THE MAYOR PRO TEM'S MOTION PASSES, YOU ARE NOT PRECLUDED FROM AT SOME LATER DATE BRINGING FORT THE CONCEPT OF A TASK FORCE, THERE'S NO VOTE BEING TAKEN TODAY THAT ABOLISHES THAT OPPORTUNITY. THE ONLY WAY TO PULL THIS ITEM DOWN AND AVOID HAVING A VOTE ON THE MAYOR PRO TEM'S MOTION WOULD BE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IS MOVE TO POSTPONE THE ITEM AND YOU HAVE -- AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU HAVE MOVED TO POST END IT TO A DATE CERTAIN. POSTPONE TO IT A DATE CERTAIN. I'M GOING TO CALL FOR A VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, TO POSTPONE UNTIL JUNE 14TH. I WILL CALL ON COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH THEN YOU CAN HAVE THE FLOOR.

>>GRIFFITH: YES, COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. I'M SORRY, IS YOUR MOTION TO TABLE OR TO POSTPONE?

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SORRY

>>GRIFFITH: BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE SAME THING.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THE CHAIR JUST READ STRAIGHT FROM ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER THAT THERE -- THAT THE USE OF A MOTION TO TABLE CAN ONLY BE USED IF IT'S BEING USED TO ALLOW AN ITEM OF MORE URGENCY TO BE BROUGHT UP IN ITS PLACE. OR TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO SPEAK WHO OTHERWISE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT ANOTHER POINT. THAT THE PROMOTION IS NOT A MOTION TO TABLE. BUT A MOTION TO POSTPONE AND THE REASON THAT I READ IT STRAIGHT FROM ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER WAS SO THAT WE WOULDN'T GET INTO THIS DISCUSSION. THE MOTION TO TABLE IS A MOTION TO POSTPONE. UNLESS IT IS JUST TO -- TO PUT IT ON THE TABLE FOR LONG ENOUGH FOR US TO TAKE UP ANOTHER ITEM OF BUSINESS.

>>GRIFFITH: I NEED TO ASK MY COLLEAGUE, IS YOUR INTENT TO POSTPONE OR TO TABLE?

>>THOMAS: FOR THE FIFTH TIME, I SAID TABLE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WILL CHAIR WILL RULE THAT A MOTION TO TABLE IS A MOTION TO POSTPONE. I WILL NOW CALL FOR A VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, WHICH IS A MOTION TO POSTPONE UNTIL JUNE 14TH. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: YES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: NO.

>> COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.

>>THOMAS: YES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

>>WYNN: NO.

>> MAYOR WATSON.

>>.

>>MAYOR WATSON: NO.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN?

>>GOODMAN: NO.

>> COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

>>ALVAREZ: NO.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THERE BEING TWO YESES AND FIVE NOS THE MOTION TO POSTPONE FAILS. I NOW CALL FOR A VOTE ON THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS THE MAYOR PRO TEM'S MOTION WITH THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS AND INCLUDED THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: YES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

>>THOMAS: ABSTAIN.

>> COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

>>WYNN: YES.

>> MAYOR WATSON?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN?

>>GOODMAN: YES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

>>ALVAREZ: YES.

>> COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH?

>>GRIFFITH: ABSTAIN.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THERE BEING FIVE YESES AND TO ABSTENTION EXTENSIONS, THE MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL -- ABSTENTIONS. COUNCIL THE NEXT ITEM WILL BUSINESS WILL BE AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30. WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IS CALL FOR A GENERAL MOTION TO RECESS. I WILL TRY TO CALL US BACK, IF WE HAVE EVERYBODY HERE AND READY TO GO EARLIER THAN 3:30, BUT GENERALLY IT WILL BE SOMETIME BETWEEN 3 AND 3:30, IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, I WILL SECOND THE MOTION. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO.

>>THOMAS: DISCUSSION, JUST A SECOND.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, DISCUSSION ON --.

>>THOMAS: BEFORE WE CLOSE, I HOPE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO PIECEMEAL ANOTHER RESOLUTION THAT -- ON THIS DIAS AGAIN. LIKE WE DID. I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS AND DISCUSS IT, IN YOU HAVE -- IF YOU HAVE GOING TO PULL AN ITEM DOWN, I THINK YOU NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL TO THE SPONSOR, I DON'T THINK THAT I HAVE EVER DONE THAT, PULL IT DOWN, PIECEMEAL IT OR EITHER GO INTO A LONG DISCUSSION LIKE WE DID TODAY. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO RECESS? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES, WE ARE IN RECESS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. PREDOCK, I CAN'T SEE YOU HIBD THE NEW CITY -- BEHIND THE NEW CITY HALL, BUT I BET YOU ARE THERE.

>>GARZA: I WAS TOLD YOU ARE FIRST ON THE PRESENTATION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: DO YOU NEED A MICROPHONE? MR. COTERA.

>> IF UNHEAR ME OUT THERE, JUAN, COME ON HERE.

>> ANTOINE, DO YOU WANT ME TO LEAD OFF? I'M HERE BEHIND THE BIG MODEL.

>> PLEASE.

>> WHICH IS WHAT WAS PLANNED. MAYOR, COUNCIL, I'M NATHAN SCHNEIDER, WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN FOR THE NEW CITY HALL. EXCUSE THOSE OF YOU THAT -- I NEED TO TALK INTO THE MIKE AS WELL AS LOOK AROUND.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE HAVE MONITORS SO COUNCIL, IF YOU WANT TO SEE MR. SCHNEIDER, YOU CAN LOOK AT YOUR MONITOR.

>> I'M NOT SURE WHY THEY WOULD, BUT --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE WON'T GO THERE.

>> THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE TODAY IS THE RESULT OF ALL SORTS OF EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED PRIOR TO TODAY. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PUBLIC FORUMS AND PUBLIC INPUT FROM PLANNING COMMISSION, FROM DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, FROM DESIGN COMMISSION. WE MET WITH NATURE AND CHARACTER OF AUSTIN GROUP, ADVISORY GROUP OUT AT THE AIRPORT. WE'VE MADE PRESENTATION TO THE BOULDIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, TO THE INTERNATIONAL RIGHT-OF-WAY ASSOCIATION, TO THE AUSTIN INTERNATIONAL CLUB. WE HAVE SOME MORE MEETINGS, A PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF THIS PRESENTATION THIS EVENING. WE HAVE A MEMBER BREAKFAST WITH A.I. AUSTIN TOMORROW MORNING. WE'LL BE TAPING A SHOW FOR AUSTIN AT ISSUE WITH KLRU TOMORROW AFTERNOON. AND ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE LED UP TO THE FACT THAT WE PASSED ALONG LAST EVENING OR THIS MORNING EARLY RESPONSES TO THE 280 COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE DOWNTOWN DESIGN REVIEW CENTER, FROM THE WEB PAGE, FROM COMMENTS THAT WERE MAILED TO US, FROM COMMENTS THAT WERE E-MAILED TO US, AND THE COMMENTS THAT CAME FROM THE VARIOUS PIECES OF INPUT. SO --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: JUST ONE CLARIFICATION. WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN CENTER, FOR FOLKS THAT MIGHT BE WATCHING, THAT WAS THE STOREFRONT THAT MAYOR PRO TEM AND HER -- IN HER MOTION INDICATED -- WE HAD DONE IT AT LEAST ONE TIME BEFORE WHERE WE ACTUALLY LEASE SPACE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN AND MAKE COMMENTS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. WE LEASED A SPACE OFF OF CONGRESS ON FOURTH STREET AND WE OPENED THAT UP ON THE 7TH OF MARCH. SINCE THAT TIME WE'VE HAD 156 VISITORS AND WE RECEIVED 25 COMMENT CARDS. WE CREATED A WEB PAGE IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, AND SINCE THE CREATION OF THAT PAGE, WE'VE HAD OVER 14,500 HITS. SO THE WORD IS GETTING OUT AND PEOPLE HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE DESIGN, TO WATCH THE PROJECT MATURE. AND THE TEAM IS REAL EXCITED ABOUT GETTING TO TODAY TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THE NEXT PART OF THE DESIGN ON THIS PROJECT. THIS IS A SCHEMATIC DESIGN PRESENTATION. IT IS WAY EARLY IN THE DESIGN PROCESS. ALTHOUGH WHAT THE TEAM HAS DONE HAS GONE FAR BEYOND A TYPICAL ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF SCHEMATIC DESIGN. AND AT THAT POINT I WILL GO AHEAD AND HAND IT OVER TO MR. PREDOCK AND HIS DESIGN TEAM.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. PREDOCK AND MR. COTERA.

>> THANKS, NATHAN. THE DESIGN TEAM IS MULTI-HEADED, BUT TWO OF US, JUAN COTERA AND I WILL SPEAK ABOUT THE PROJECT. THANKS FOR THE CHANCE TO COME BACK AND GIVE YOU A PROGRESS REPORT. I THINK IN TERMS OF -- FROM AN ARCHITECT'S VANTAGE POINT, THE PROJECT IS NOW BECOMING ARCHITECTURE. IT IS EVOLVING OUT OF A MERELY DIE GRA NATIC PHASE INTO WHAT -- DIAGRAMMATIC PHASE INTO WHAT IS A HIGHLY DEVELOPED ARCHITECTURAL STATEMENT. I THINK HAVING SAID THAT, IT'S GOING TO KEEP GOING, IT'S GOING TO KEEP EVOLVING. THIS IS OF COURSE NOT THE END OF THE PROCESS. THERE ARE MANY PHASES TO GO. THERE ARE ARCHITECTURAL PHASES THAT TAKE IT FARTHER. A STARTING POINT OF REFERENCE WOULD BE -- [INAUDIBLE]. YOU KNOW THE SHOT. CAN YOU SEE IT? THE ORIGINAL MODEL. THE LITTLE WHITE MODEL. I'LL JUST HOLD IT UP.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE KNOW WHICH ONE YOU ARE TACKING ABOUT.

>> THAT'S WHERE WE KIND OF LEFT OFF. THAT WAS A MASS MODEL, HIGHLY DIAGRAMMATIC. I WOULD SAY FAIRLY RUDIMENTARY JUST TO GET AN IDEA ACROSS OF A BUILDING THAT HAD THE BODY OF THE BUILDING WHICH WAS THE BUILDING THAT OCCUPIED WHERE THE OFFICES WHERE, AND THEN PROJECTED OUT, MOST NOTABLY THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AND THE AM THEATER. IT'S JUST EVOLVED A LOT. NOW, IT'S ONGOING. I'M STILL ON THE -- ON THE AIRPLANE COMING OVER, I DID THIS DRAWING. WHICH IS MAYBE MORE REPRESENTATION OF THE COLOR OF THE STONE THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE MODEL. THE VERY GOLDEN COLOR. IT'S STILL WORKING ON IT. STILL HAPPENING. THE -- I THINK THE BENCH MARK DRAWING WHEN WE WENT BACK AND SAID, OKAY, HOW DO WE REALLY TAKE THIS FORWARD AND MAKE IT INTO MORE OF A COMPLETE ARCHITECTURE WAS THIS ONE. THERE WERE MANY COMMENTS HAVING TO DO WITH THE NATURE OF THE BUILDING, IT'S TOTALLY ANGULAR. I THOUGHT, WELL, A LONG GENTLE ARC WOULD BE A GREAT THING. SO THIS SKETCH SHOWS THE ARC. THE TOWER WAS REALLY NOT SO WELL RECEIVED. THE SO-CALLED MEDIA TOWER. IT WASN'T QUITE A MOON LIGHT TOWER, NOT QUITE TRANSPARENT ENOUGH IN THE OPINION OF MANY RESPONDENTS, AND INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE DESIGN TEAM, SO WE TOOK THE TOWER OUT. THERE IS NO TOWER ELEMENT ANY LONGER. AND I JUST THINK THE BUILDING SETTLES IN MUCH MORE SIMPLY AND MUCH MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD FASHION WITHOUT IT. SO THAT DRAWING. AND THEN THIS SKETCH SECTION WHICH SHOWS -- REAFFIRMS THE IDEA THAT SOMEHOW THE STONE OF THE BASE OF THE BUILDING WOULD COME OUT OF THE SUBSTRATE BELOW, LITERALLY OUT OF THE PARKING STRUCTURE, AND I THINK THE BIG MODEL HERE SHOWS THAT QUITE GRAPHICALLY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE THE STONE STRATA. IT'S A THREE-LAYER PARKING STRUCTURE. YOU CAN SEE THE LAYERS REPRESENTED IN THE BIG MODEL. THAT WAS REAFFIRMED. ALSO THE IDEA THAT THE LOBBY ITSELF NEEDED A DYNAMISM. AND THE SILL LOW WET NEEDED ONE. SO THE ANGULAR CUT YOU SEE IN BOTH MODELS, THIS ANGULAR CUT, AND THAT WAS IN RESPONSE TO MANY COMMENTS THAT TALKED ABOUT THE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, I KEEP SAYING IT'S A DIAGRAM AND IT WAS, A BUILDING THAT HAD NO PARTICULAR SILHOUETTE. IT WAS A HORIZONTAL PARKING STRUCTURE-LIKE, VERY PREDICTABLE. AND I ADMIT IT DID LOOK THAT WAY. NOW THERE'S A LOT OF ANIMATIONS. YOU CAN SEE EVERY -- AND A COMMENT, NO FLAT ROOF SORT OF UNDER SCORED THREE TIMES WITH THREE EXCLAMATION POINTS KEPT COMING UP. SO THE NOTION OF A BUILDING MORE SCULPTURE AL, MORE SHAPED CAME UP, AND WAS DEVELOPED IN THE MODEL STUDIES YOU SEE. ALONG THE WAY, AND THESE MODELS WERE STUDY MODELS THAT EVOLVED INTO THE MORE FINISHED MODEL, BUT ALONG THE WAY I WAS DOING THESE SKETCHS TO TRY TO EXPLORE -- THANKS, JUAN -- TRY TO EXPLORE THE SHAPING OF THE ROOF AND THE IDEA OF A BUILDING THAT HAD A -- I THINK IF YOU COULD ALL GET DOWN AT SOME POINT AND LOOK RIGHT ON AXIS WITH THE GREAT STREET BRIDGE, THE GREAT BRIDGE, ON AXIS YOU CAN SEE HOW THE BUILDING REALLY HAS A PRESENCE. IT ISN'T A MONUMENTAL PRESENCE IN THE SENSE OF THE TEXAS COURTHOUSE IN A SQUARE, BUT IT HAS A REAL POWER, I BELIEVE, AND AN AUTHORITY WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT ON AXIS. SO YOU CAN DO THAT AT YOUR LEISURE. AND THE SHAPING, THE GENERAL SHAPING OF THE PLAINS DOES THAT. THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE BALANCE CONNIES IDEA, THE IDEA OF STRATA THAT WOULD BE LITERAL AINSPIRED BY PLACES LIKE BULL CREEK OR -- WHERE THE SHOT IS FROM. WHICH IS VERY MUCH INSPIRATIONAL OF THE BASE OF THE BUILDING, BUT ALSO THE STRATA THAT THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE MIDDLE. THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE BUILDING IS BRONZE, AS I TALKED INITIALLY, AND IT BEGINS TO BE MORE DYNAMIC THE WAY THAT "-LET'S WALK HERE WITH THE CAMERA, IF I COULD. HAVE I GOT ENOUGH LEASH TO DO THAT? LET ME GO THE OTHER WAY. SO CAN YOU GO AROUND THERE? MAYBE TAKE A SHOT OF THE SECOND STREET SIDE OF THE BUILDING JUST IN GENERAL. AND THEN MAYBE IF YOU COULD ZOOM IN ON THE LOBBY ENTRY. LOOK RIGHT THROUGH THE BUILDING. CAN YOU SEE THE LOBBY IN SILHOUETTE THERE? YEAH. ZOOM ON IN. THERE'S A MARQUIS THAT PROJECTS OUT ABOVE IT. ON THE REVERSE OF THAT MARQUIS IS A PROJECTION SCREEN, A REVERSE PROJECTION SCREEN, AND YOU SEE HERE THERE'S A BAT. ON THIS PROJECTION SCREEN AT THE END OF THE LOBBY YOU HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF ARTS PROGRAMMING, COUNCIL SESSION REAL TIME, CURRENT EVENTS, ANYTHING AS AN ANIMATION ELEMENT. FILM SERIES, WHATEVER. REALLY DEPLOYABLE AS AN ARTS DEVICE. THE -- THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF AUSTIN TOUR THAT I HAD AT THE AIRPORT WAS REALLY FANTASTIC. IT WAS REALLY EYE OPENING. I THINK THAT WE HAD A GREAT BUS TOUR AND MANY WAYS OF ENGAGING YOUR LOCALE. BUT SEEING THE RESPONSE OF ARTISTS WAS WONDERFUL. YOU HAD SORT OF THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE PORTRAYED AND THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE PORTRAYED, THOSE TWO KIND OF OPPOSING AND CONTRASTING PIECES. THOSE MURAL PIECES. I THINK THE LOBBY IS GOING TO FEEL THAT WAY, IT'S THIS BIG LONG ARC OF LIMESTONE GROUNDED, FOUNDED, ENROOTED IN AUSTIN IN THE GEOLOGY. BUT THEN YOU HAVE THIS AMAZING POSSIBILITY OF THE DYNAMIC OF THE PROJECTION SURFACE ADDING TO THAT. PLUS YOU HAVE GALLERY AREAS, WHICH WE ORIGINALLY TALKED ABOUT AUSTIN'S STORE, AND IT SEEMS THAT A MORE APPROPRIATE USE WOULD BE AN AUSTIN GALLERY. WHAT THAT DOES IS ON SECOND STREET PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE ENTRIES BESIDES THE MAIN LOBBY ENTRY THAT WAS JUST ZOOMED IN ON WITH THE CAMERA. AND SO ALONG SECOND STREET THERE ARE MULTIPLE ENTRIES INTO THAT GALLERY AREA AND ALSO OF COURSE INTO THE CAFE AT THE CORNER OF LAVACA AND SECOND. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE].

>> ... ONE REALLY GENERAL THEME WAS, YOU KNOW, SHADE. IF THERE'S NOT SHADE, FORGET ABOUT IT. SO WE HAVE SHOWN SHADE ON -- AMPLE SHADE, MORE FREES THAN WE IMAGINED INITIALLY. MORE TREES. MORE TRELLISED AREAS. THERE'S A BIG, DEEP TEXAS PORCH THAT OCCURS HERE AT THE ENTRY TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER LOBBY, THEN ON UP TO THE MAIN LOBBY. ADJACENT TO THAT IS A TRELLIS AREA, AGAIN WE ARE SHOWING THE BRONZE SCREENING FOR THAT THAT WOULD BE THE DOMINANT SKIN OF THE UPPER PART OF THE BUILDING. SOME OF THE TRELLISES HAVE ENERGY IMPLICATIONS BEYOND JUST SHADE. THIS ONE IS COMPROMISED OF PHOTO VOLTAIC CELLS. THEY ARE A GRID THAT -- PAUL, WHERE IS THE SAMPLE OF THAT? DO YOU HAVE THAT? A GRID THAT ALLOWS LIGHT TO FILTER THROUGH, ENERGY IS COLLECTEDDED, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES A SHADY KIND OF TRELLIS EFFECT, A GRID OF LIGHT THAT WOULD CAST WONDERFUL SHADOWS ON THE SPACE BELOW. ANOTHER CHANGE FROM BELOW WOULD BE THAT THE STEPPING BLEACHERS AMPHITHEATER THIS IS THE PHOTOVOLTAIC MATERIAL. THIS COLLECTS ENERGY, YOU CAN PASS IT AROUND, RAUL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START? EXCUSE ME. IT HAS THAT ASPECT. IT HAS ON OTHER APPLICATIONS, ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING, THERE'S AN AREA -- THAT ACTS AS A SUN FILTER FOR THE MORE EXPOSED GLASS AREA ON THE WEST SIDE. ALSO THIS ELEMENT THAT IS AN ENERGY WALL FACING SOUTH, YOU CAN SEE IN THE BIG MODEL THAT IT'S A DOUBLE GLAZED WALL. THAT MEANS IT HAS A HEAT CHIMNEY EFFECT, EXHAUSTING THROUGH INDUCTIVE AIR FLOW OVERHEATED AIR FROM THE HIGHER RANGES OF THE LOBBY PULLING COOLER AIR IN. THE LOUVERS ARE PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS, TOO. DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DEAL WITH -- WITH AUSTIN ELECTRIC ON THAT?

>> CERTAINLY. AUSTIN ELECTRIC IS PARTICIPATING ON THE SUSTAINABILITY PARTS OF THE PROJECT. THE ONLY PART THAT WE WILL NEED TO SEARCH FOR AN OUTSIDE FUNDING SOURCE WOULD BE THE PHOTOVOLTAICS BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE HAD GREAT ADVANCES, THEY ARE STILL NOT THERE AS FAR AS EFFICIENCY AND STILL HAVE A VERY LONG PAYBACK PERIOD. BUT THERE ARE FUNDING SOURCES THAT WILL DO IT AS A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT, AS AN EDUCATIONAL PROJECT, WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT. OUTSIDE OF THAT, ALL OF THE DAYLIGHTING AND -- ALL OF THE DAY LIGHTING AND THE -- WELL, BASICALLY YOUR DAY LIGHTING, YOUR EQUIPMENT, EFFICIENT EQUIPMENT, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AUSTIN ELECTRIC PARTICIPATES IN. THEY BASICALLY PROVIDE THE COST UP FRONT AND THEY GET IT BACK IN REDUCED ELECTRIC USE.

>> SO THE ENERGY DIAGRAM OF THE BUILDING IS A VERY SOUND ONE AND THERE ARE MANY -- MANY LEVELS AND LAYERS OF ENERGY, OF SUSTAINABILITY RESPONSES THAT OCCUR IN THE BUILDING BEYOND THAT. LET'S SEE. THE OTHER -- JUST IN TERMS OF ITS PERSONALITY, YOU SEE THE BUILDING AT A DISTANCE COMING FROM EITHER SIDE, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY APPROACHABLE. IT HAS MANY BREAKOUT AREAS. THAT WAS ANOTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THE PLAZA, HOW DO YOU USE IT? IS IT TOO FRAGMENTED, HOW DO YOU REALLY USE THAT SPACE? WE HAVE SEEN IT AS A SPACE THAT DEFINES MANY ACTIVITIES FROM BROWN BAGGING, YOU KNOW AT NOON, TO -- TO BREAKOUT IN A SESSION LIKE THIS. THERE ARE MANY, MANY POSSIBILITIES FOR BREAKOUT WHERE YOU HAVE -- WHERE YOU HAVE STONE BEVERAGES SCATTERED UNDER TREES, -- STONE BENCHES SCATTERED UNDER THE TREES. THERE'S A WONDERFUL AREA OF A STREAM OF WATER WITH -- WITH STRATA FLANKING THAT FOR SEATING. THE LOBBY ITSELF HAS -- YOU KNOW, IT'S MULTI LEVEL, YOU CAN SEE, I WILL -- JUAN POINT OUT SOME OF THE BRIDGES, THAT ONE CANTILEVERED RECEPTION POINT THERE TOWARD THE FRONT, OPPOSITE THAT, YOU CAN COME UP ONE LEVEL. YOU ARE STILL OUTSIDE OF MAIN BUILDING SECURITY AT THAT LEVEL. YOU COULD HAVE HUDDLE, BREAKOUTS, DIFFERENT KINDS OF GATHERINGS. FROM THERE, V.I.P. SITUATION SPILL DIRECTLY ON TO THE TERRACE WHERE THE CEREMONIAL CONFERENCE ROOM IS RIGHT HERE. SO APPROACHABILITY IS A FACTOR THAT CAME OUT OF THE COMMENTS. JUST HOW CAN WE MAKE IT USER FRIENDLY, HOW CAN WE MAKE IT REALLY AUSTIN SO THAT PEOPLE ARE DRAWN INTO IT. ANOTHER ISSUE WAS TRAFFIC MITIGATION. THIS CAME UP OVER AN OVER AGAIN, REALLY, AND THE WAY WE SEE THAT IS TO CONTINUE THE TEXTURE OF THE PLAZA ACROSS CESAR CHAVEZ. ACTUALLY, HAVE -- TREAT THE WHOLE THING AS THOUGH IT'S ONE GIANT SPEED BUMP, WHERE COMING FROM EITHER EAST OR WEST YOU WOULD HAVE A RAISED SECTION THAT YOU WOULD GO UP ON TO WHERE THE TRAFFIC WOULD BE SLOWED DOWN. THE WHOLE PSYCHOLOGY WOULD CHANGE OF WHERE YOU ARE, THERE WOULD BE PEDESTRIAN CROSS WALKS, SIGNALED AND CODED THE COLOR OF THE PLAZA TEXTURE. SO A SAFE HAVEN ASPECT. ALSO WE TOOK FROM THE URBAN DESIGN COMMITTEE, INTERACTION, WE TOOK COMMENTS HAVING TO DO WITH WELL, HOW CAN YOU MAYBE BUILD THE EDGE UP A LITTLE BIT TO BUFFER NOISE, PARTICULARLY ON THE LAVACA SIDE, WHICH WE DID. WE SHOW LIMESTONE LEDGES CLIMBING UP, ASCENDING TO CREATE STRATA, THEN GOING DOWN AGAIN, PITCHING DOWN TO FORM -- CAN YOU SEE THIS OKAY ON THE MODEL? THE VIDEO IS VERY GOOD.

>> GREAT VIDEO. GOOD GOING.

>>MAYOR WATSON: BY THE WAY --

>> I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THAT GOOD.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I PLANNED ON SAYING THIS AT THE END, BUT OUR CHANNEL 6 PHOTOGRAPHERS AND THE FOLKS ARE DOING -- YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE IT, BUT THEY ARE DOING A VERY GOOD JOB OF FOLLOWING YOU AROUND, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM.

>> GREAT. ANYWAY YOU CAN SEE THE -- THE SLOPING SEATING AREAS. ANOTHER THING WAS LOTS OF GRASS. NOW IN SOME WAYS LOTS OF GRASS IN A PLAZA, CAPITAL P, SOME CONFLICT WHERE PLAZAS GENERALLY IMPLY DOMINANT HARD SURFACE. HERE WE HAVE TRIED TO DO A JUGGLING ACT BETWEEN SOFT GRASS AND HARD SURFACE. I THINK IT'S A NICE BALANCE. UP HERE OUTSIDE THE COMMITTEE ROOM THERE'S A -- THERE'S A SIDEWALK CAFE WHICH COULD BE SERVED OF COURSE FROM THE CAFE RIGHT ON THE CORNER OF LAVACA AND SECOND, VERY ANIMATED AREA THERE FOR FOOD SERVICE. AND THEN GRASSY AREAS UNDER TREES, ON BENCHES TO ENJOY THE PREVAILING WIND, PREVAILING BREEZES, I SHOULD SAY, OFF THE LAKE. SO THIS ORIENTATION OF PLAZA TO LAKE OF COURSE IS OPTIMIZED AS COMPARED TO HAVING THE PLAZA ON THE OTHER SIDE WHERE A BUILDING WOULD BLOCK AIR MOVEMENT. SO I WON'T GET BACK INTO THE REALLY -- THE REALLY IMPORTANT REASONS FOR THE SCHEME, I WON'T DWELL ON THEM, BUT TO HAVE A VIEW TOWARD TOWN LAKE WAS HUGE, NOT ONLY FROM WORK AREAS, BUT ALSO FROM PUBLIC AREAS, PARTICULARLY THIS RAISED TERRACE. THE -- THE GRASS, WIDE GRASS SEATING TREADS UNDER THE TRELLIS OF THIS AMPHITHEATER, WHICH AIMS, OF COURSE, TOWARD THE PLATFORM, THE STAGE PLATFORM, THE RISERS, THE STEPS ARE ACTUALLY OPEN, BRINGING LIGHT DOWN INTO THE PARKING STRUCTURE BELOW. SO LIGHT ENTERS THE PARKING STRUCTURE VIA THAT MEDIUM AND ALSO VIA THE -- THE BIG SLOT AND THE BIG MODEL WHERE YOU SEE THE STONES AS DESCENDING INTO THE SPACE BELOW. SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE PROCESSIONALLY REALLY GOOD TO COME UP FROM A PARKING STRUCTURE FOR A CHANGE AND NOT JUST COME UP AN AN UNANIMOUS LFLT OR -- ANONYMOUS ELEVATOR OR A RABBIT HOLE, BUT TO COME UP IN A GRAND WAY, AN ELEGANT WAY. TO SEND UP THROUGH TO A LEVEL THAT IS BEAUTIFUL AND INVITING ON THE GROUND LEVEL. OTHER COMMENTS THAT WERE GENERAL, AN LONE STARITY, WHY IS IT AN LONE STAR. IT ISN'T ENTIRELY AN LONE STAR. THERE'S A BIG -- ANGULAR, THIS WHOLE WHITE PIECE IS AN ARC. BUT IT WAS -- ANGULAR FOR GOOD REASONS, I ALWAYS FELT AND TRIED TO EXPLAIN. IF WE ANGLE INWARD ON LAVACA AND GUADALUPE, THAT MEANS THAT YOU GET VIEWS OF THE LAKE FROM OFFICE SPACES AND CONFERENCE ROOMS THAT YOU OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE USE FROM IF THIS BUILDING WERE PARALLEL TO THE STREET, TO THE CURB LINE. THE NOTION OF FOCUSING A BUILDING THAT IS DIFFERENTLY SHAPED FROM SURROUNDING BUILDINGS, FROM THE GRIDIRON OF DOWNTOWN, WAS A VERY IMPORTANT DESIGN FACTOR, TO MAKE IT MORE SINGULAR. TO ALSO CREATE IN DOING THAT, WHEN YOU MOVED THIS WALL IN, YOU PIVOTED IN, THEN YOU CREATE A PLAZA ON THE CORNER OF GUADALUPE AND CESAR CHAVEZ. A SHADY PLAZA. SO ALL OF THESE SUPPORT THE ANGLES AND THE DEVIATION FROM GRIDIRON KIND OF BUILDING. THE BUILDING HAS MANY TERRACES. DIFFERENT NATURES THAT STEP UP. YOU CAN SEE THEM OVER ON THE THIRD LEVEL THERE'S A TERRACE. THAT'S AXED FROM A COMMON CONFERENCE ROOM. YOU WANT TO POINT THAT OUT ON THE THIRD LEVEL, ONE -- YEAH, THAT ONE. THERE'S A CONFERENCE ROOM RIGHT UNDER THE PHOTOVOLTAIC TRELLIS OVER HERE. IT ALSO IS A WAY TO GET OUT ON TO THE DECK WITHOUT HAVING NECESSARILY TO GO THROUGH SOME OTHER DEPARTMENT TO GET THERE. THE DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION AS MUCH AS IT WAS IN THE OTHER PRESENTATION TO YOU -- I WON'T GO INTO THAT UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO. THE TERMS OF MAJOR ISSUES -- WE COVERED THE ONES ABOUT THE PLAZA. NATURE AND CHARACTER. WE CAME UP WITH AN INTERESTING BRAINSTORM LIST. OF COURSE LIMESTONE, LIVE OAK TREES. LOTS OF PUBLIC ACCESS. PERSONALITY. LEVEL OF SOPHISTICATION PERHAPS IN THE BUILDING. YOU CAN JOKE ABOUT AND SAY, WELL IT'S ALMOST LIKE AN ARMADILLO SHELL, IT HAS A KIND OF SHELL FEELING, SALTILLO ON SECOND STREET. NOT MONUMENTAL BUT DIGNIFIED IS THE GOAL. NOT SORT OF OFF PUTTING MONUMENTALITY WHY YOU DON'T WANT TO GO IN. THERE'S ALSO A DOG TROT PLAN, TWO SECTIONS, TWO BODIES OF THE BUILDING WITH A BREEZEWAY, COMMON GATHERING AREA BETWEEN THEM. YOU CAN MAKE THOSE KIND OF STRECHES IF YOU WANT TO TO PROJECT IT INTO AUSTINNESS. THERE'S A TEXAS PORCH. OPEN AND EXPANSIVE. ICONIC STATE -- MOST NOTABLY YOUR STATE HOUSE HERE, THEY HAVE HIGH SPACES THAT ARE GRAND. WHEN YOU ARE IN THIS ONE, YOU ARE LOOKING UP AND THE WHOLE CEILING IS THE SAME BRONZE WRAPPING IN WITH RAYS OF LIGHT COMING ACROSS IT. WHEN YOU ARE STANDING ON THE LAW LEVEL, THE LAW DEPARTMENT LEVEL, YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE IT LIKE A PERISCOPE AND -- AND LOOK OUT AND DOWN SO I THOUGHT SURVEILLANCE WAS APPROPRIATE TO THAT LEVEL. OR MAYBE NOT. THE OTHER THING ABOUT THE LOBBY IS THAT THERE'S A DYNAMISM THAT CONNECT BETWEEN THE BREEZEWAY AND TWO DOG TROT SIDE, GREAT PLACES TO HUDDLE BEFORE OR AFTER COUNCIL MEETING HERE ON THE SECOND LEVEL IS A GRAND STAIR THAT GOES UP. BENCHES UNDERNEATH IT. MANY NOOKS AND CRANNIES. JEFF JACK WAS GREAT IN REMINDING US THAT WE HAD -- WE HAD SO MANY SORT OF OTHER AGENDAS GOING ON BEFORE AND AFTER MEETINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF. WE HAVE TRIED TO PLAY THAT OUT IN THE PLAZA IN MANY WAYS WITH -- WITH BENCHES AND SO FORTH, BUT ALSO INTERNALLY WITHIN THE BUILDING, TOO. THE BRIDGES DON'T ONLY SPAN FOR POINT A TO B STRAIGHT ACROSS. SOMETIMES THEY ANGLE. THERE'S A DYNAMIC ABOUT THAT. YOU CAN SEE THIS ONE ON THE FOURTH LEVEL CUTTING THROUGH FROM THE ELEVATOR CORE TO A MIDPOINT ON THE OTHER SIDE. AS IT CUTS THROUGH, IF YOU COULD ZOOM IN ON THE CENTER HERE, AS IT CUTS THROUGH -- PAUL, DO YOU WANT TO PULL THIS ROOF OFF, PLEASE, IT BECOMES A SKYLIGHT FOR THE AREA BELOW, BECOMES A KIND OF BRIDGE THAT WORKS INSIDE THE BUILDING AS WELL AS OUTSIDE FROM THAT BRIDGE YOU WILL SEE TOWARD THE LAKE, YOU WILL HAVE A GREAT -- A GREAT VIEW OUT TO THE SOUTH AND ACTUALLY TO THE NORTH, TO THE -- TO THE SILHOUETTE OF TALL BUILDINGS. YOU CAN ZOOM IN ON THE LOBBY, CAN YOU COME AROUND AND LOOK DOWN IN THIS WAY WITH YOUR CAMERA? YOU GOT IT. LOOK DOWN FROM HERE IF YOU CAN TO SEE THESE BRIDGES. THE BRIDGES ARE ACTUAL WORKING AREAS, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE AREAS TO -- TO HUDDLE ON, TO TALK ABOUT -- TALK SHOP, WHATEVER. THEY OCCUR AT EVERY LEVEL. SO THE NOTION OF -- OF A HIGH MEMORABLE SPACE IN A COURTHOUSE OR A STATE HOUSE IS PRESENT HERE. IT'S A -- 80'S NEW TAKE ON IT, A DIFFERENT VERSION OF IT. A VERY DYNAMIC NEW KIND OF VERSION OF IT. THE DETAILING AND THE INTEGRATION OF CRAFT IN THE BUILDING IS VERY MUCH NATURE AND CHARACTER OF AUSTIN. WE WILL PROMOTE THAT TO THE HILT. I UNDERSTAND WE WILL BE WORKING WITH NUBUKO ON THE ARTS SIDE OF IT. I THINK HAVE VERY GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH HER IN TERMS OF INTEGRATION OF ART, BUT CRAFT, ALSO. MODULATION OF LIGHT. LIKE GOING INTO A GROVE OF LIVE OAKS, THE MODULATION OF LIGHT CAN HAPPEN AT MANY, MANY LEVELS IN THE BUILDING, THROUGH TRELLISES THROUGH THE ACTUAL FOILAGE OF THE TREES. THAT'S AN AUSTIN THING. YOU ASKREND UP TO A MAIN PORCH, LIKE A UNIVERSITY MAIN BUILDING, ASEND. THE BRIDGES WITHIN REFERENCE AUSTIN BRIDGES, THERE'S A DYNAMIC HERE OF WATER BODIES AND BRIDGES THAT'S MEDICALABLE TO ANY VISITOR THAT IS RECALLED IN ABSTRACT FASHION IN THE BUILDING ITSELF. BRIDGING WITH NATURE. WHILE AVOIDING HEAT. IS OF COURSE A HUGE MISSION HERE. I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT THROUGH THE TRELLISES AND TREES, I THINK THAT'S A VERY AUSTIN THING. THERE WAS GREAT CONCERN ABOUT THAT IN SOME OF THE EARLY COMMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS THEMSELVES. THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, A SCHEMATIC -- CAN YOU SHOOT THIS? SCHEMATIC DESIGN, JUAN, MAYBE GET IT IN THE LIGHT WHERE WE CAN FOCUS RIGHT ON THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. IT'S -- PAUL DO YOU WANT TO HELP SUPPORT THIS, PLEASE? SO -- SO THE -- I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW THE PATTERN WORKS, JUST SORT OF GET YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT. YOU COME IN FROM THE -- FROM THE CHAMBER LOBBY, PUBLIC WAITING AREA. THE MAIN LOBBY IS THIS WHOLE AREA HERE. YOU COME IN HERE. THAT'S AT A LEVEL SLIGHTLY BELOW THE MAIN LOBBY. THERE'S A SPEAKER'S CHECK OUT POINT. THERE'S IN A VESTIBULE GLASS ENCLOSED SO THERE'S NO INTERFERES ACOUSTICALLY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SESSION. IT'S KIND OF AN AIR LOCK, PRIVACY LOCK. YOU COME THROUGH THAT, THEN YOU ARE EXPOSED TO A VIEW OF THE LAKE. YOU ARE LOOKING RIGHT TOWARD THE LAKE. ACROSS THE TERRACE. AND DON'T MOVE THE CAMERA, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT OUT HERE. THAT'S THE VIEW OUT. THE VIEW OUT THIS END RIGHT HERE. YOU ARE LOOKING OUT ACROSS A LANDSCAPED TERRACE TOWARD THE LAKE. THEN YOU COME AROUND AND THERE'S MIA SEATING AT THE TOP. THEN WE RAMP DOWN. IN DOING SO, THE FLOOR RAKES, THERE ARE THREE SECTIONS SEPARATED BY I -- SEPARATED BY AISLES, TEMPORARY SEATING, WHAT HAVE WE GOT PAUL? 180 TOTAL? 140 AND 40 TEMPORARY, 180. HERE'S THE DIAS. PRESENTATION AREA IS HERE. CITY CLERK AREA HERE. ALL OF THIS CAN BE REFINED. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS ARC WILL PROBABLY END UP HAVING GAPS IN IT WHERE ANY ONE OF YOU COULD POP BEHIND AND HAVE A -- HAVE SOME INFORMATION DELIVERED OR WHATEVER. WHATEVER THOSE ESOTERIC THINGS ARE THAT YOU DO ALL OF THE TIME. YOU NOTICE WE HAVE I OBJECT FORMAL MEETING AREAS HERE. COUNCIL AIDE AND ASSISTANTS WORK ROOM BACK STAGE, IT'S LIKE A THEATER WITH THE BACK STAGE. THE THEATER FROM YOUR VANTAGE POINT AIMS OUT TO THE SOUTH. SO -- SO THAT'S THE DIAGRAM THAT HAS BEEN EVOLVED THROUGH HUDDLES WITH VARIOUS -- VARIOUS CITY REPRESENTATIVES TO ARRIVE AT THAT PARTICULAR DIAGRAM. AND WE THINK IT'S WORKING REALLY WELL, SO THANKS FOR THAT. I WANT TO JUST KEEP SAYING THAT THEN THERE ARE ALL OF THESE OTHER BREAKOUT AREAS THAT AMPLIFY THOSE POSSIBILITIES WITHIN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER ITSELF. THEY ARE OUTSIDE, THEY ARE IN THE LOBBY, THEY ARE SECOND LEVEL UP. THEY ARE IN A PUBLIC TERRACE. DOWN IN THE PARKING STRUCTURE IT'S A PRETTY GREAT PLACE TO HUDDLE, LIGHT STREAMING DOWN ON THE FIRST LEVEL, WATER SKIMMING DOWN OVER THE ROCKS. SO THAT'S -- DON'T WRITE IT OFF AS A POSSIBILITY, EITHER. SO THE SCHEME IS COMING TOGETHER. WE COULD -- YOU KNOW, WE TABULATED ALL OF THE -- ALL OF THE COMMENTS, WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED THE ONES THAT SEEM TO BE PRETTY CONSISTENT AND THEMATIC, PAGE AFTER PAGE OF THESE. WE WENT THROUGH THEM ALL. TOOK THEM SERIOUSLY. DIDN'T RESPOND TO EVERY SINGLE ONE, YOU KNOW, WE -- WE EXERTED BOTH AN AESTHETIC FILTER AND A -- AND JUST SORT OF COLLECTIVE JUDGMENT ON THE DESIGN TEAM AND SAID SOME OF THEM ARE NOT DOABLE BECAUSE OF COSTS OR SOME ARE IRRATIONAL. SOME ARE -- SOME JUST MADE ME MAD AND I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT, YOU KNOW? [LAUGHTER]. BUT OTHER -- I WOULD SAY THE WHOLE THING REALLY ADDED UP TO -- TO A GREAT CONSENSUS IN TERMS OF RESPONSE TO THESE COMMENTS. COULD I PROBABLY GO ON AND ON FOREVER, I THINK THAT YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO TODAY. ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO ADD, JUAN? I AM KIND OF DOING ALL OF THE TALKING. YOU ARE A CO-CONSPIRATOR HERE.

>> I WOULD HAVE JUMPED IN. NOT A PROBLEM. BUT I THINK IT'S BEST THAT WE FIELD QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE PARTICULARLY IN, WE WILL BE GLAD TO TAKE YOU THROUGH IT.

>>GOODMAN: COUNCILMEMBERS?

>>ALVAREZ: YES, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF MAYBE WITH THE USE OF THE CAMERA, YOU COULD JUST PINPOINT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PUBLIC SPACES, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WITHIN THE PLAZA AS WELL AS WITHIN THE BUILDING --.

>> SURE.

>>ALVAREZ: WHERE FOLKS CAN GATHER.

>> SURE. LET'S JUST WALK AROUND IT FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. WERE YOU ABLE TO FOCUS A MINUTE AGO. YOU NEED TO GET HIGH A HELICOPTER VIEW.

>> GET ON MY SHOULDERS. [LAUGHTER].

>> THIS IS THE CAFE AREA THAT WRAPS AROUND, WOULD BE SERVED FROM THE CAFE THAT'S AT THE CORNER OF LAVACA AND SECOND. THEN THESE ARE THE GRASSY TERRACES. WHERE YOU SEE THE GRAY HORIZONTAL CHUNKS, THOSE ARE LIMESTONE CHUNKS THAT ARE BENCHES. THEY DIFFERENTIATE THE TERRACES. THE WHOLE THING KIND OF STEPS DOWN SO IT BECOMES A VIEWING AMPHITHEATER. WHEN YOU GET UP HERE, YOU HAVE GREAT VIEWS OF THE WATER. IF YOU WERE TO STAND DOWN HERE AND SORT OF JUMP IN THE AIR A COUPLE OF FEET YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEA WATER, BUT YOU HAVE TO GET UP HERE TO SEE IT. SO ALL IN THIS AREA YOU HAVE THAT GRASS LIMESTONE BLOCK SEATING, SHADE TREES, THEN YOU CLIMB UP THE AMPHITHEATER TERRACES, THESE ARE GRASS, THEY ARE LIKE STAIR STEPS, BUT THEY ARE WIDE AND MADE OF GRASS. THE GAPS ARE OPEN. SO AGAIN LIGHT CAN GO DOWN INTO THEM. PARKING STRUCTURE ALONG THESE EDGES. THIS IS UNDER A TRELLIS. YOU KEEP COMING UP, AND THERE'S THIS ENTIRE UPPER TERRACE THAT'S A WIDE OPEN PUBLIC AREA, YOU CAN ACT IT THERE, YOU CAN ALSO ACCESS IT FROM THIS STAIR. COMING FROM THE EAST. FROM THAT -- FROM THAT PUBLIC TERRACE, IN YOUR THE SHADE UNDER THIS TRELLIS, AS WELL AS THIS TRELLIS, YOU ARE LOOKING OUT TOWARD TOWN LAKE, BIG TIME, CONTINUING ON AROUND, HERE IS THE PERFORMANCE -- OR LET'S CALL IT A PLATFORM, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ARE GOING TO USE IT. WE THINK PERFORMANCE IS, OF COURSE, ONE POSSIBILITY. MANY POSSIBILITIES. IT IS BOOK ENDED BY GRASSY AREAS AND SHADE. IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE PORCH, WHICH IS UNDER THIS AREA, REALLY UNDER HERE ON THE GROUND MAIN PLAZA LEVEL, IN CLOSE PROXIMITY YOU AGAIN HAVE BLOCKS OF LIMESTONE TO SIT ON, TO HUDDLE UNDER TREES ON. YOU HAVE THE WATER COURSE -- WHY DON'T I HAVE A TELESCOPIC POINTER LIKE ALL OF THE OTHER ARCHITECTS IN THE WORLD. HAVE YOU GOT ONE? ANYBODY HAS A TELESCOPIC POINTER? I CAN ONLY REACH SO FAR. ANYWAY THESE ARE THE BLOCKS THAT ARE FLANKING THE WATER COURSE. THE WATER COURSE STARTS BACK IN THE LOBBY, TRAVELS THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE LOBBY. YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE BIG MODEL LATER ON WHEN YOU PERHAPS HAVE A CHANCE TO COME UP CLOSE. FLOWS ON OUT. BECOMES A SIZEABLE REFLECTING POOL HERE. PART OF THAT IS TO -- TO -- TO BUFFER THE AREA OF THE LOW TERRACE, ALLOWS THE VIEW TO COME OUT OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. THAT'S THE BIG VIEW UNDER THE COUNCIL CHAMBER LOOKING TOWARD THE WATER AND TO THE SOUTH IN GENERAL. AGAIN, PLACES TO SIT. THIS IS A -- MORE OF A SUNBATHING LOCATION HERE, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S NO TREE OVER THIS ONE. THE WATER DISAPPEARS INTO A VORTEX, CAN YOU SHOOT DOWN THERE, CAN YOU LOOK DOWN THERE? HOLD THE CAMERA RIGHT ABOVE IT. I KNOW YOU CAN. I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT. [LAUGHTER]. OKAY. ANYWAY, THAT'S A VORTEX. COMES AROUND HERE, IT'S AN INTERESTING THING, I THINK IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT WHEREVER THERE ARE WINDOWS FACING THE PLAZA AND THAT OCCURS ALONG THIS WALL, YOU CAN SEE IN AND SEE THE PROCEEDINGS THAT ARE GOING ON. HERE ALONG GUADALUPE, THERE'S A BIG OPENING WITH A TRELLIS SHADING IT. A BENCH AND A PLACE TO LOOK RIGHT IN. LET'S SAY THE PUBLIC WERE OVER THERE WHERE GENE CLAIRE IS RIGHT THERE, WOULD BE LOOKING IN THIS WAY LATERALLY. AND WOULD BE -- WOULD BE SEEING AND HEARING THE PROCEEDINGS ON SPEAKER, SPEAKERS. WITH THE DECENTRALIZATION OF VIDEO ALL OVER THE PLACE, WHERE WE ARE SHOWING THE BAT HERE, OF COURSE, THAT COULD BE WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE RIGHT NOW. WORKING OUR WAY AROUND THEN TO THE -- TO THE NORTH, HERE AT THE CORNER IS THE AUSTIN GALLERY. AND THIS IS WHERE ON THE SECOND STREET SIDE, YOU HAVE ENTRANCES INTO THE BUILDING THAT CAN FEED INTO THE TRIBUTARY FASHION FEED INTO THE MAIN LOBBY. A NUMBER OF THOSE GO ALL THE WAY AROUND AGAIN TO THE -- I WILL MEET YOU AT LAVACA AND SECOND. SO HERE AT LAVACA AND SECOND, IF YOU COULD LOOK UNDERNEATH HERE. SIDEWALK CAFE, MEETING, BREAKOUT AREA. HAVE A COFFEE, HAVE A GATHERING AS WELL AS HAVING A -- HAVING ALL OF THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OUT HERE. ALL OF THESE PLACES ARE GREAT FOR BROWN BAGGING, AS I MENTIONED, TOO. SO THAT COMPLETES THE LOOP. NO INSIDE, LET'S TRY TO LOOK INSIDE AND SEE SOME LOCATIONS. THIS LOCATION, WHERE THOSE THREE FIGURES ARE, RIGHT THERE, THAT'S A CANTILEVERED LITTLECAL BONE, A RECEPTION ZONE FOR THE CEREMONIAL CONFERENCE ROOM AND OFFICE. THAT'S A PLACE TO HANG AND TO DISCUSS ISSUES. THE BRIDGES THEMSELVES AS I MENTIONED. THERE'S SOME PLACES, NOOKS AND CRANNIES THAT YOU CAN'T SEE IN THE VIDEO THAT ARE BACK OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE LOBBY THAT ARE MORE -- MORE VISIBLE IN THE BIG -- DAMN! I NEED A KLEENEX. THAT'S PUTTING YOUR BODY ON THE LINE FOR ARCHITECTURE.

>> MR. PREDOCK, DEMOCRACY IS TERMINAL AROUND HERE. (WYNN SPEAKING (.

>> TOUCHET, WILL.

>> THAT'S A METAL PIECE. THAT'S DANGEROUS, PUT A FLAG ON THAT BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE DOES THAT, PAUL, RED FLAG TIME. ANYWAY THE -- WHERE WAS I? IN HERE, A DIFFERENT BREAKOUT PLACE THAT'S ARE BACK BEHIND, BACK INSIDE. CAN YOU SHOOT BACK IN THERE? BACK IN BEHIND IS A BENCH, TELEPHONES, RESTROOMS, ET CETERA.

>> THERE ARE OTHER AREAS TO HUDDLE BEFORE YOU GET IN BEHIND THE POINT OF CONTROL IN THE RECEPTION AREA LIKE UP HERE. THE BLEEDING HAS STOPPED. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>>GOODMAN: COUNCILMEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: I --.

>>GOODMAN: WE HAVE MORE KLEENEX.

>> I'M OKAY.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. WE JUST HAD THAT SAFETY AUDIT COME IN OBVIOUSLY IT DIDN'T CATCH EVERYTHING. [LAUGHTER].

>> IT'S THE ARCHITECT'S OWN FACILITY HERE.

>> I GUESS SO, WE DIDN'T INSPECT IT. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A LOST TIME ACCOUNT, THOUGH.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

>>SLUSHER: I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR -- ALL OF THE ARCHITECTS, THE WHOLE TEAM FOR OBVIOUSLY LISTENING VERY CLOSELY TO THE CITIZENS. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU COULDN'T INCORPORATE EVERY IDEA. I MEAN, SOME OF THEM ARE CONTRADICTORY FOR ONE THING. BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE REALLY TAKEN THE CITIZENS' IDEAS INTO ACCOUNT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE ONLY COMMENTS THAT WERE NOT INCORPORATED IS WHEN WE HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN ONE OR ANOTHER BECAUSE THEY WERE CONTRADICTORY. OR WHETHER -- WHERE THEY JUST SAID I HATE IT, YOU, YOU KNOW, I LOVE IT. OKAY. THAT'S OUR ONLY ANSWER. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

>>ALVAREZ: BASICALLY, I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. AND OPEN THIS TO -- TO IDEAS AND -- YOUR OPENNESS TO IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS, THERE'S A LOT OF -- THERE'S A LOT I LIKE ABOUT IT. A LOT OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, IN TERMS OF THE MATERIALS, LIMESTONE AND METAL AS WELL AS THE ANGULARITY OF IT, THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC AND GATHERING SPACES WHICH FOR ME WAS VERY IMPORTANT. OBVIOUSLY THE VIEWS AND TREATMENT OF TOWN LAKE. AND THEN WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU AT SOME.IS MORE ABOUT -- ABOUT -- MAYBE YOU HAVE ALREADY THOUGHT OF THIS, BUT WHEN WE DO OUR -- OUR MUSIC PRESENTATION AT EACH COUNCIL MEETING, IT'S LIKE WHERE WOULD THAT OCCUR, IF THERE'S A WAY -- I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A -- SOME KIND OF A STABLE OUT IN THE PLAZA, BUT MAYBE LOOKING AT THAT TO SEE IF -- WHERE EXACTLY THAT MIGHT TAKE PLACE AND MAYBE THAT STAGE MAY OR MAY NOT BE NECESSARY THERE. BUT AT LEAST IF WE CAN THINK THROUGH THAT SO THAT -- SO THAT FROM A TECHNICAL POINT OF VIEW AS WELL AS A PUBLIC.OF VIEW, AESTHETIC POINT OF VIEW, WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN OTHER THAN COUNCIL CHAMBERS. MAYBE THAT'S WHERE IT WOULD HAPPEN, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES HERE TO MAYBE GET CREATIVE ABOUT WHERE WE MIGHT DO THAT. MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE -- FROM A TECHNICAL.OF VIEW, ALSO, THE GOOD QUALITY RECORDING, VIDEO AND AUDIO AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. BUT --

>> THE -- I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON THAT WITH YOU, THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

>>GOODMAN: COUNCILMEMBERS.

>> WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VERY MUCH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PURPLE HEART SERVICE TODAY. I FEEL SURE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO GET COMMENTS FROM FOLKS, BUT ALREADY I'M STARTING TO GET A WHOLE LOT OF POSITIVE ONES. SO -- SO WE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THE EFFORT THAT YOU TOOK TO GET HERE. AND I GUESS YOU AND RAUL WILL WORK ON THE STAGE THING.

>> THANK YOU, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE WORKING ON THE PROJECT. WE WILL KEEP AFTER IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WE HAVE ONE MORE ASPECT OF THIS PRESENTATION, MAYOR PRO TEM, THAT'S JAN. AND ALSO DID WE MENTION THE PUBLIC RECEPTION THIS EVENING? OR IS JAN GOING TO TALK TO US ABOUT THAT?

>> I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THAT.

>> GOOD, THERE YOU ARE.

>> I MOVED TO GET AWAY FROM THAT.

>>GARZA: GO AHEAD, JAN.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, I'M -- I'VE GOT THE SECOND COMPONENT OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION. YOU HAVE SEEN THE EXCITING AND FANTASTIC DESIGN. THE SECOND COMPONENT IS TO TALK ABOUT THE COST ESTIMATE. BASED ON THIS SCHEMATIC DESIGN. THE FIRST SLIDE I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU, IS TO HELP FRAME THE DISCUSSION. I WILL GO INTO THE SPECIFICS ABOUT THE BUILDING COST THAT HAS COME ABOUT FROM THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN. BUT I DID WANT TO GIVE THAT YOU FRAME OF REFERENCE. THE NEW BUILDING BUDGET THAT WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT FOR CITY HALL WILL COST $192 A SQUARE FOOT. WHEN WE LOOKED AT OTHER PUBLIC BUILDINGS WITH SIMILAR ASSEMBLY TYPE SPACES IN THE AUSTIN AREA, WE FOUND THAT WE WERE WELL WITHIN AND IN FACT LOWER THAN THOSE OTHER BUILDINGS, FIVE OTHER BUILDINGS. SO EVEN THOUGH WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT AN INCREASED COST TO HAVE A LANDMARK, VERY SPECIAL CITY HALL BUILDING, IT IS FALLING WITHIN THOSE OTHER BUILDINGS THAT ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED OR HAVE BEEN COMPLETED IN THE AUSTIN AREA. THE NEW CITY HALL AND PUBLIC PLAZA WE HAVE AN AUTHORIZED BUDGET OF 37.3 MILLION. WITHIN THAT BUDGET ARE ARCHITECTAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES AS WELL AS OUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT FROM THE CITY SIDE. THE CONSTRUCTION BUDGET. A CON CONTINUE -- CONTINGENCY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, THE ARTS IN PUBLIC PLACES WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING. MISCELLANEOUS WHICH ARE SURVEYS, TESTING, MATERIALS TESTING THAT BRING US TO THAT TOTAL. WHEN WE WENT THROUGH AND LOOKED AT THE COST OF THIS DESIGN, THE MATERIALS THAT ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT, THE LONG-LASTING MATERIALS, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, WE HAVE COME TO AN INCREASE OF 8.2 MILLION. ALL OF THAT WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION AREA. THE NEXT SLIDE WILL SHOW YOU, WE HAVE BROKEN THAT OUT. BETWEEN BUILDING, PLAZA AND PARKING GARAGE. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE BUILDING HAS GONE UP BY 4.7 MILLION. AND I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT HAS CAUSED THAT INCREASE. PLAZA BY 350,000. THE PARKING GARAGE BY 3 MILLION, THEN THE CONTINGENCY WE HAVE INCREASED THAT TO STAY WITHIN OUR 3% CONTINGENCY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. SO WITH THE -- WITH THE CONSTRUCTION TOTAL GOING UP, WE ALSO FELT IT WAS NECESSARY TO INCREASE THE CONTINGENCY BY A LITTLE LESS THAN 200,000. THE 8.2 MILLION OF THE PROJECT INCREASE THERE ARE FOUR AREAS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE DRIVING THIS INCREASE. THE FIRST ONE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO WITHIN THIS BUDGET AND THIS DESIGN NOW ACHIEVE NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR SUSTAINABILITY. AS YOU KNOW, THIS -- THIS BUDGET WAS APPROVED BEFORE THE COUNCIL LOOKED CLOSELY AT THOSE NATIONAL STANDARDS. THAT IS NOW A STANDARD FOR NEW BUILDINGS THAT THE CITY IS PROPOSING. WE WERE CHALLENGED TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO MEET THAT STANDARD WITHIN OUR EXISTING BUDGET. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO, BUT WE DESIRE TO. WE THINK THAT IS A GOOD STANDARD TO GO TO. SO THAT IS DRIVING UP, I HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE IN A MOMENT, I WILL TALK ABOUT THOSE SPECIFIC, WHAT WE WILL GET FROM THAT. HE HAVE INCORPORATED COMMUNITY INPUT. I THINK THAT YOU HAVE HEARD OF THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT INTO THE PROJECT FROM THAT INPUT. WE ALSO HAVE SITE AND DESIGN CONDITIONS HAVING TO DO WITH THE UNDERGROUND PARKING STRUCTURE. THEN I'VE MENTIONED THE CONSTRUCTION CONTINGENCY. LET ME TALK ABOUT THE NATIONAL STANDARDS OF SUSTAINABILITY ASPECT. IT IS THE SILVER LEAD WHICH IS THE LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEFINE RATING FROM THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL. WHAT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE BY REACHING THAT STANDARD, WE WILL HAVE ENHANCED ENERGY AND WATER SAVINGS, ENHANCED OCCUPANT COMFORT, IN INDOOR AIR QUALITY. SO WE WILL HAVE AND HE -- A NICER PLACE FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE OFFICED THERE AND VISITED THERE. GREATER USE OF RECYCLABLE AND NATURAL MATERIALS. GREATER USE OF DAYLIGHTING. THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT. WE WILL BE ABLE TO BRING IN THE NATURAL LIGHT INTO THIS BUILDING. WE HAVE ALSO INCREASED THE SUN SHADING THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING, THROUGHOUT THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE. AND THEN A KEY COMPONENT TO ACHIEVING THIS STANDARD IS THAT YOU HAVE VERIFICATION AUDITS TO ENSURE THAT YOUR SYSTEMS AS YOU HAVE DESIGNED THEM ARE ACTUALLY FUNCTIONING UP TO THAT DESIGN INTENT. AND LET ME JUST SAY THAT IS -- OF THE 8.2 MILLION, THAT IS 1.5 MILLION OF THAT INCREASE. SO WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IN SOME OF THOSE ASPECTS WITHIN THE PROJECT BUDGET, BUT NOT ALL. INCORPORATING COMMUNITY INPUT, THIS IS ROUGHLY $3.5 MILLION OF THE 8.2. BEHEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS TO BUILD A LANDMARK BUILDING THAT WILL BE A "JEWEL" FOR AUSTIN. THAT'S THE UNIQUE DESIGN THAT YOU SEE. THE SLOPING ROOF. THE ATRIUM. IT'S A VERY UNIQUE BUILDING THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WILL COME TO AND BE PROUD OF. WE ALSO END -- ENHANCED THE PLAZA FEATURES AND ADDED MORE SHADING THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT. I HAVE TALKED SOME I GUESS ABOUT THIS. THE -- ANOTHER PART OF LANDMARK BUILDING BEYOND THE UNIQUE DESIGN THAT, THE GEOMETRIC DESIGN, ARE THE UPGRADED LONGER LASTING MATERIALS, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT. WE WANT THIS TO BE A 100 YEAR BUILDING. WE ALSO HAVE -- WE ARE LOOKING AT MORE DURABLE BUILDING SYSTEMS, WEATHER PROOFING TO MAKE SURE THAT IS AS SOUND AS IT COULD BE, SO THOSE THINGS HAVE INCREASED OUR COSTS. THE COMMUNITY INPUT FOR THE PLAZA ENHANCEMENTS, MORE OUTDOOR SEATING, MORE ADDITIONAL TREES. ALSO LOOKING AT ADDING LARGER MATURE TREES RIGHT AT THE START TO PROVIDE THAT SHADING. WE HAVE SHADING DEVICES, WE HAVE INCREASED THOSE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROJECT, BOTH ON THE BUILDING AND IN THE PLAZA. AND THAT WE HAVE ADDED PAVERS, WE DID NOT ARM NEAL HAVE PAVERS IN THE SIDEWALK, THAT WILL -- ORIGINALLY HAVE THE PAVERS, THAT WILL HELP US WITH THE GREAT STREETS. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT PAVERS AT INTERSECTION CROSSINGS, WE HEARD A LOT OF ABOUT SLOWING THE TRAFFIC, INCORPORATING THIS WITH BLOCKS, WE FELT LIKE PUTTING PAVERS AT INTERSECTION CROSSINGS WILL HELP US DO THAT. IS THERE A SLIDE RIGHT BEFORE THAT INCORPORATING THE PARKING? OR HAVE YOU JUMPED AHEAD? THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. THE OTHER COSTS, THIS IS A $3 MILLION COST OUT OF THE 8.2. WE HAVE FOUND SITE AND DESIGN CONDITIONS THAT WILL INCREASE THE COST OF THE PARKING GARAGE. WE DO HAVE SOME EXCAVATION OF LIMESTONE. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DEWATERING REQUIREMENT BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE SITUATED IN THE WATER TABLE. AND THEN TO HAVE THE UNIQUELY DESIGNED BUILDING ON TOP OF THE PARKING STRUCTURE WILL REQUIRE US TO INCREASE THE STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS IN THE GARAGE. AND SO IT IS -- IF IT WERE JUST A SQUARE BOX SITTING ON TOP OF THE GARAGE WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE ADDING AS MUCH OF A STRUCTURAL REENFORCEMENT. WE FEEL THAT'S IMPORTANT, THOUGH, IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE DESIGN. WE HAD A PREVIOUS ASSUMPTION ABOUT $13,500 PER SPACE. OUR NEW COST ESTIMATE IS $17,520. THIS IS FOR 750 SPACES, WHEN WE CHECKED IN WITH OTHER PROJECTS BECAUSE WE -- AT THE TIME THE PREVIOUS ASSUMPTION WAS PUT TOGETHER WE HAD NOT HAD A RECENT UNDERGROUND PARKING STRUCTURE BUILT IN AUSTIN. WE NOW DO. AND THE -- THE MUSEUM, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR IN ITS REQUIREMENTS IS VERY CLOSE TO OUR COST AT 520 SPACES. SO FOR THE TOTAL 8.2 MILLION, OF THAT AS JUAN MENTIONED WE DO HAVE PARTICIPATION FROM AUSTIN ENERGY FOR OUR SUSTAINABILITY. $1.3 MILLION. GREAT STREETS CIP, WE WOULD HAVE $700,000 COMING FROM THEM IN NEXT YEAR'S AUTHORIZATION. WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITY, FOR $250,000 FOR WATER FEATURES, THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THE ABILITY TO -- FOR WATER REUSE AS WELL AS WATER EDUCATION OF ALL OF THE VISITORS COMING TO THE SITE. THEN THE REMAINING ALMOST 6 MILLION WOULD COME FROM DEBT SUPPORTED WE ARE PROPOSING BY AVAILABLE FUNDING. LET ME JUST TALK TO YOU BRIEFLY ABOUT THE -- WHY WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO COVER DEBT ADDITIONAL DEBT FOR THESE -- TO BRING IN THESE FEATURES TO CITY HALL WITHOUT HAVING IT BE TAX SUPPORTED. AS YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT LOOKED AT RENT SAVINGS, SINCE -- SINCE THE PROJECT WAS FIRST CONCEIVED OF AND NOW WE NOW KNOW WHO IS GOING ON, WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM, WE'VE HAD RENT INCREASES. WE ALSO HAVE PARKING COSTS. THERE ARE LEASE PARKING INVOLVED WITH THE OCCUPANTS THAT WILL BE COMING IN. SO WE WILL HAVE SAVINGS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY PAYING FOR THOSE COSTS THAT CAN BE USED TOWARD THE DEBT SERVICE. WE ALSO ORIGINALLY HAD PROJECTED THE LEASE PROCEEDS FROM THE AMLI RESIDENTIAL LEASE AND THE POST PROPERTIES LEASE AS WELL AS ENTERPRISE FUNDING THAT THEY PAY A PORTION OF THE LEASE COSTS FOR THE SUPPORT SERVICES FUNCTIONS. SO WE BELIEVE WE HAVE A TOTAL AVAILABLE FUNDING OF 2 -- ALMOST 2.2, 2.174 MILLION AND OUR DEBT SERVICE BY INCORPORATING THE 8.2 AND HAVING A NEW PROJECT BUDGET OF 45.5 WOULD BE 2,172,000. SO WE ARE RIGHT THERE AND BELIEVE WE CAN COVER THE ADDITIONAL 8.2 MILLION OF -- 6 MILLION OF THAT WOULD BE DEBT. NOW, THERE ARE TWO FEATURES WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BRING TO YOU AS ADD ALTERNATES. ANTOINE AND JUAN TALKED ABOUT BOTH OF THESE. THE FIRST ONE FOR ADDING PHOTOVOLTAICS TO THE PROJECT. JUAN MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY OF SEEKING GRANT FUNDING. WE THINK THAT MAY BE A POSSIBILITY. BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED, IF THIS IS SOMETHING THE COUNCIL WANTS TO DO, BY ADDING IT TO THE PROJECT BUDGET. WE WILL CERTAINLY PURSUE ANY GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN DISCOVER. WE JUST FEEL LIKE THE TIMING OF THAT GRANT PROCESS AND THE TIMING OF OUR DESIGN PROCESS IS A LITTLE OFF. SO IF WE DO WANT TO INCLUDE IT, WE FELT LIKE IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE NEEDED TO GO AHEAD AND INCLUDE NOW. BUT WE WILL SEE ANY OTHER FUNDING. WE DO BELIEVE AUSTIN ENERGY WITH 1.3 MILLION THAT THEY ALREADY CONTRIBUTED AND THE EARLIER 8.2 MILLION INCREASE IS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION, SO WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS ONE THAT WE SHOULD ASK TO COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND OR IF WE CAN FROM GRANT FUNDING, BUT TO RECEIVE THE AUTHORIZATION INITIALLY. THIS WOULD BE, AS HE POINTED OUT, THE SUN SHADING TRELLIS THERE IN THE PLAZA AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL PHOTOVOLTAICS THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT TO GET US TO THE 10,000 SQUARE FEET. AGAIN THAT'S A $400,000 AND THAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED TO COME FROM TAX SUPPORTED DEBT. ALTERNATE NUMBER 2, ANTOINE AND JUAN TALKED ABOUT THE GRAND ENTRANCE FROM THE PARKING GARAGE. THAT'S BOTH A STAIRWAY, A WATER FALL AND LIMESTONE COMING UP SO YOU DO HAVE THAT LIGHT COMING INTO THE GARAGE AS WELL AS A PROCESSIONAL ENTRANCE FROM THE GARAGE TO THE PROJECT SITE. THAT'S $800,000. WE -- WE HAVE TWO PROPOSED FUNDING SOURCES, AGAIN WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITY WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THIS, IF IT IS CHOSEN AS AN ADD ALTERNATE TO PUT TO THE PROJECT. THEY AGAIN FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WATER REUSE OR CERTAINLY WATER EDUCATION AND THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE OF PROVIDING $250,000. THE REMAINING 55,000 WOULD THEN ALSO WE ARE PROPOSING COME FROM TAX SUPPORTED DEBT. SO TO SUM UP, IF YOU DO PUT THE TWO ADD ALTERNATES INTO THE PROJECT, WE HAVE AN INCREASE OF $9.4, A TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET OF 46.7. OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, AUSTIN ENERGY, WATER AND WASTEWATER AND GREAT STREETS WOULD BE 2.5 MILLION. DEBT SUPPORTED, NEW DEBT THAT WE WOULD ISSUE SUPPORTED BY AVAILABLE FUNDING, ALMOST 6 MILLION. THEN TAX SUPPORTED DEBT ALMOST A MILLION. THE NEXT STEPS, LET ME -- THE FIRST ONE BEING OUR PUBLIC RECEPTION TONIGHT FROM 6:00 TO 8:00 AT THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER, BALLROOM C. WE WILL BE BRINGING THESE MODELS AND WE WILL HAVE THE -- ALL OF THE DESIGN TEAM MEMBERS WILL BE THERE TO TALK WITH THE PUBLIC. WE THEN WILL BE MEETING WITH THE AUSTIN CHAPTER OF AIA, THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS SO THEY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THE MODELS AS WELL. THE INTERVIEW ON AUSTIN AT ISSUE. WE WILL BE REBROADCASTING THIS PRESENTATION AND THEN UPDATING BOTH THE WEBSITE AND WE WILL PLACE THE MODELS IN THE REVIEW CENTER, CONTINUE TO HAVE THE DESIGN REVIEW CENTER OPEN UNTIL I BELIEVE IT'S EITHER MAY 15TH, BECAUSE WE WILL BE BRINGING THE MODELS HERE FOR MAY 17TH, SO HE WILL PROBABLY CLOSE IT DOWN I BELIEVE ON THE 15TH OF MAY. WE ARE GOING BACK NEXT WEEK TO THE DESIGN OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSIONS TO GIVE THEM AN UPDATED REVIEW AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE COMMENTS THAT THEY PROVIDE AND HOW WE RESPONDED TO THOSE. THAT BRINGS US TO THE IN TWO WEEKS, MAY 17TH, WE WOULD COME BACK FOR APPROVAL OF SCHEMATIC DESIGN AS WELL AS THE PROJECT BUDGET. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU, JAN, THANK YOU FOR THIS REALLY VERY EASY TO READ FORMAT. I APPRECIATE IT. ARE THERE QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

>>WYNN: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A QUICK STATEMENT. ONE, I, TOO, APPRECIATE AND ARE VERY PLEASED AND EXCITED BY THE DESIGN AND THE MOVE THAT HAS BEEN MADE SINCE THE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CITY STAFF TAKING THE DETAILED LOOK AT THE BUDGET, LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL COST PER -- INCREMENTAL COST PER DESIGN CHANGES, GOING SO FAR AS TO SUGGEST FUNDING SOURCES AND APPROPRIATE PARTNERING FOR THE ECONOMICS OF THE -- OF THE DESIGN CHANGE. I WILL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VERY EXCITING PROJECT. TWO OR THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL WORKED ON THIS LARGER SIX BLOCK CONCEPT, IT WAS -- YOU KNOW, IT WAS TERRIBLY EXCITING AT THE TIME. I WAS -- I WAS ACTUALLY CHAIRMAN OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE AND WAS -- CLOSELY MONITORING IT. HAVE BEEN IN THE PRIVATE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS ALL MY LIFE AND THIS WATCHING IT, ONE, I WAS AMAZED AT WHAT I -- WHAT A CASE STUDY THIS IS GOING TO BE ABOUT A CITY TAKING FALLOW LAND, LAND THAT THE CITY TAXPAYERS HAVE OWNED FOR 30 YEARS AND NOT GOTTEN A DIME OF REVENUE OFF OF IT, IN FACT PROBABLY NEGATIVE REVENUE IN THAT IT WAS SO BAD IT PROBABLY BROUGHT DOWN THE PROPERTY VALUES PRIVATELY OWNED AROUND IT. BUT THIS PREVIOUS COUNCIL CAME FORWARD WITH A PLAN THAT BROUGHT THESE SIX BLOCKS BACK INTO PRODUCTION. AND TO -- TO SEE THE CHANGE THAT OCCURRED IN THIS ENTIRE QUADRANT OF DOWNTOWN BECAUSE OF THE INITIATIVE OF THIS PREVIOUS COUNCIL IS SPECTACULAR. FRANKLY THE ONE -- THE ONE CRITIQUE THAT I HAD AT THE TIME THAT CONCERNED ME, BEING IN THE BUSINESS THAT I WAS IN, WAS THAT THE INITIAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE CITY HALL OFTENTIMES IT WAS COMPARED TO A -- A CITY OFFICE COMPLEX. AND EVEN A PRIVATELY DEVELOPED OFFICE COMPLEX. SO IN FACT THE BUDGET, IF THAT'S WHAT IT'S CALLED ORIGINALLY SIMPLY CAME FROM THE FACT THAT THE PRIVATE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN WAS BY 1997 AND 1998 AGAIN BUILDING BUILDINGS PARTICULARLY IN SUBURBAN AUSTIN, NOTHING HAPPENING IN THE DOWNTOWN. AT THE TIME YOU KNOW THE PRIVATE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY WAS BUILDING BUILDINGS FOR $140 A SQUARE FOOT OUT ON SUBURBAN TRACT WITH SURFACE PARKING LOTS, ET CETERA. AND SO REAL EARLY IN THE PROCESS, DESPITE ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING AND GREAT CREATIVITY THAT WAS BEING SHOWN FINANCIALLY BY OUR STAFF, ALL OF A SUDDEN CITY HALL GOT BOXED INTO THIS 130, $140 SQUARE FOOT NUMBER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WAS BEING BUILT IN SUBURBAN AUSTIN AT THE TIME. I REMEMBER THINKING DO I RAISE AN ISSUE NOW OUT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AT THE TIME, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO CLOUD WHAT IS A PHENOMENAL URBAN PLANNING CASE STUDY. SO I BIT MY TONGUE AND APPLAUDED THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL FOR THE CREATIVITY AND THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE SHOWN ON THIS PROJECT SUSPECTING THAT ALL ALONG WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT AN INCREASED COST WHEN WE IN FACT DESIGN A GREAT CITY HALL. AND I TELL YOU, GREAT BUILDINGS ARE DESIGNED BY GREAT ARCHITECTS, BUILT BY GREAT ENTITIES. IN THE PAST THAT HAD BEEN KINGS AND POPES AND A FEW VERY PROGRESSIVE CITIES HAD THE -- THE VISION AND WHEREWITHAL TO BUILD GREAT PUBLIC BUILDINGS. AND A BIG ELEMENT OF A GREAT PUBLIC BUILDING IS THE INITIAL INVESTMENT AND BY THAT I GENERALLY MEAN THE INITIAL -- TEXTURES, INITIAL MATERIALS THAT ARE USED. THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN SEEING A CLEVERLY DESIGNED PUBLIC BUILDING BUILT IN THE LAST FEW DECADES AND ACROSS OUR COUNTRY AND THEY TRIED TO CUT CORNERS, THEY TRIED TO COME UP WITH CHEAPER FACADE MATERIALS, A GREAT CASE IN STUDY IS THE GEORGE R.BROWN CONVENTION CENTER IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. HOUSTON A CITY THAT HAS ALL OF THE WHEREWITHAL IN THE WORLD, DESIGNED A STRUCTURE THAT WAS PRETTY DYNAMIC AND THEY -- IN HINDSIGHT MOST PEOPLE AGREE THEY PUT THE WRONG SKIN ON THAT FACILITY AND THE UPKEEP AND THE VISUAL IMPACT OF THAT BUILDING IS A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT FOR WHAT OTHERWISE ACE SPECTACULAR URBAN SKYLINE IN -- IS A SPECTACULAR URBAN SKYLINE IN AMERICA. WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, FOR BETTER FOR WORSE, IS GOING TO OWN AND MAINTAIN THIS BUILDING FOREVER, HOPEFULLY. LET'S RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT GERALD HEINZ, WE ARE NOT TRAMMELL CROW. YOU KNOW, PUBLIC ENTITIES FRANKLY DO NOT HAVE THE -- THE INTERNAL WHEREWITHAL GENERALLY TO MAINTAIN A BUILDING AT -- AT WHAT WE SEE THE PRIVATE SECTOR DOING. SO WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS THAT WE NEED THIS -- WE NEED TO SPEND OUR MONEY UP FRONT. WE NEED TO HAVE THE RIGHT MATERIALS, WE NEED TO HAVE THE RIGHT DESIGN TEAM. WHICH I THINK WE HAVE. AND WE NEED TO COME UP WITH THE RIGHT FINANCING PLAN THAT I BELIEVE OUR STAFF HAS DONE. SO I'M JUST GOING TO ANNOUNCE IN ADVANCE OF A VOTE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT FRANKLY FOR THIS BUILDING TO PERHAPS BE DELIVERED FOR LESS THAN $200 A SQUARE FOOT IS A BARGAIN. LONG-TERM FOR THIS GREAT CITY OF OURS. AND, YOU KNOW, LET'S GET ON WITH IT. LET'S BUILD THE GREAT BUILDING THAT THIS GREAT CITY DESERVES. AND I APPLAUD THE DESIGN TEAM. I APPLAUD OUR FINANCIAL STAFF FOR HELPING US FIGURE OUT THE NUANCES OF THIS. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO APPROVING THIS IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS? OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I LOST ALL OF OUR FOLKS. BUT -- BUT THANK YOU. AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS IS -- START TRYING TO GET ALL OF THIS STUFF OUT SO WE CAN GO ON TO THE NEXT HEARING. COUNCIL, WHAT WE HAVE NEXT ARE THE ZONING HEARINGS AND APPROVAL OF ORDINANCES AND RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS. WHY DON'T I ASK MS. GLASGO OR MR. GUERNSEY TO COME OVER TO THIS PODIUM AND WE DON'T HAVE VERY MANY CONSENT ITEMS. WELL, I DON'T SEE ANY.

>>GLASGO: WE DON'T HAVE -- [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: 37 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS ON FOR TONIGHT, RIGHT?

>>GLASGO: THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. WHAT HAS HAPPENED ON 36? IS THAT BACK ON THE AGENDA?

>>GLASGO: YES, IT'S BACK ON FOR DISCUSSION. NATURE WELL, LET ME JUST ASK. WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO. BUT FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE, LET ME TELL YOU THE WAY THAT I'M GOING TO PROCEED UNLESS THERE'S AN OBJECTION FROM COUNCIL. AND THE WAY I'M GOING TO PROCEED IS ITEMS 34, 35, AND THEN 36 BEFORE WE GET INTO THE OTHER ITEMS. I DON'T KNOW --.

>>GARZA: MAYOR, I'M TOLD IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 10 MINUTE TO GET ALL OF THIS STUFF OUT OF HERE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT'S FINE. THE ORDER THAT I AM GOING TO GO IS 34, 35, 36. I'M JUST GOING TO GO STRAIGHT IN THE ORDER. 34 AND 35, I PANS PATRIOT ARE GOING TO BE LENGTHY. -- I ANTICIPATE ARE GOING TO BE LENGTHY. AT 5:30 WE WILL BREAK FOR OUR PROCLAMATIONS AND LIVE MUSIC. AND BY THE WAY, ON 34 AND 35, WE WILL GO BACK AND TAKE UP ITEMS -- ITEMS 13, 14, AND 28. THE REASON I -- THEN BY THE WAY, WE HAVE A 6:00 PUBLIC HEARING ON -- ON PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. THAT'S ITEM NO. 47. SO WHAT I AM GOING TO ASK IS IF THERE IS ANYBODY ON THOSE LATER ZONING ITEMS THAT FEEL LIKE THEY CAN WAIT BEFORE THEY ARE HEARD, I WOULD ASK FOR YOU TO TAKE JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES THAT WE ARE GIVEN WITH THIS TIME TO -- TO DISCUSS THAT AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT YOU WILL COME BACK. LET ME CALL UP ITEM NO. 36. [ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS] --.

>>GLASGO: ... ON THE LIMITED OFFICE MIXED USE COMBINATION. THE PROPOSAL HERE IS IS TO HAVE DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR SOME OFFICE AND ALSO SOME RESIDENTIAL. I WOULD LIKE FOR BARBARA STOCKLIN TO GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORIC COMPONENTS ON THIS PROPERTY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MS. STOCKLIN.

>> BARBARA STOCKLIN, CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER. YOU SHOULD HAVE A HANDOUT OR A SERIES OF HANDOUTS. THE FIRST ONE HAS A VERY BRIEF CHRONOLOGY. THE OWNER INITIALLY APPLIED FOR A DEMOLITION PERMIT ON THE HOUSE ON ITS EXISTING LOT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY ONE LOT TO THE NORTH OF THE CURRENT ZONING CASE BEFORE YOU. AND THAT'S THE CURRENT LOCATION OF THE HOUSE. HE APPLIED FOR THAT DEMOLITION PERMIT LAST YEAR. THE LANDMARK COMMISSION REQUESTED THAT HE LOOK AT PRESERVATION OPTIONS TO RETAIN THE HOUSE ON THE EXISTING SITE OR WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE OWNER APPLIED FOR THE HISTORIC ZONING CASE IN FRONT OF YOU, WHICH IS SF-3 TO LO-MU-H. THERE IS A VALID PETITION AGAINST THE CASE T LANDMARK COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF RELOCATING THE HOUSE TO THE TRACT BEFORE YOU IN JANUARY OF 2001. DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?

>>MAYOR WATSON: DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. STOCKLIN? NOT AT THIS TIME, MA'AM. WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. THAT'S RICHARD MISCOE. MR. MISCOE, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK?

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: I UNDERSTAND.

>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS AND MAYOR. MY NAME IS RICHARD MISCOE, AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF ATLANTIS REDEVELOPMENT KORL WHICH OWNS THIS PIECE OF LAND AND THE HOUSE. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I HAVE WORKED REAL CLOSELY WITH THE STAFF AND SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS ON WORKING OUT A PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE FATE OF THE HOUSE. AND AT THIS TIME I'M AMENABLE TO NOT HAVING THE ZONING GO THROUGH, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE STAFF AND THE POSSIBILITY OF RELOCATING THE HOUSE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ARE YOU WITHDRAWING YOUR APPLICATION?

>> I AM.

>>MAYOR WATSON: HANG ON. HANG ON A SECOND, MR. MISCOE. I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS YOU ARE AFTER. I THINK SOMETHING HAS BEEN WORKED OUT AND YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND ALL THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF IT.

>> I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY CORRECT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THIS ITEM? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? COUNCIL, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 36.

>>WYNN: SECONDED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>WYNN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO DENY THE ZONING CASE BEFORE US TODAY, LEAVING THE SF-3 ZONING IN PLACE ON THE SITE. IF I COULD, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BRIEFLY TO THAT PERHAPS BEFORE I GET A SECOND.

>>MAYOR WATSON: GO AHEAD.

>>WYNN: WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS MR. MISCOE HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH CITY STAFF. THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THIS PARTICULAR SITE WOULD PREFER THE ZONING TO STAY AS IS, SF-3. IN FACT, MR. MISCOE WOULD PREFER THE ZONING TO STAY SF-3, AND HE WOULD BUILD A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME ON THIS LOT. BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF A SMALL SIGNIFICANTLY HISTORIC LITTLE STRUCTURE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A COMPROMISE PLAN. IN FACT, THE APPLICANT AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD PREFER SINGLE-FAMILY ZONING ON THE PROPERTY, SO I MAKE MOTION TO DENY THE LO HISTORIC ZONING AND IN THE PREVAILING FEW WEEKS MR. MISCOE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON A RELOCATION PLAN WITH OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER. IT'S QUITE LIKELY HE WILL BE ABLE TO FIND A PERSON WHO WILL ACCEPT THAT HOME AND REMOVE IT AND THEN IN THAT CASE I SUSPECT THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION WILL THEN WITHDRAW THEIR HILL COUNTRY ZONING COMPANIES ON WHAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE A VACANT LAND. BY DEKNEEING THE APPLICATION WILL BE -- DIE NIING THE BLIX WILL BE SPEEDING UP THE BUILDING OF THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOME WHICH IS THE EXISTING OF THE -- WISHES OF THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.

>>SLUSHER: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE WORKED THROUGH THIS, BUT SO BY TURNING -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T GET CAUGHT OR LEFT IN A CATCH 22. FOR INSTANCE, IS THERE ANY WAY THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION DIDN'T ACT OR HAVE YOU LOOK AT ALL THE SCENARIOS.

>>WYNN:. WE HAVE. THERE IS A PENDING HISTORIC ZONING CASE BY THE LANDMARK COMMISSION ON HIS ORIGINAL LOT. IN WORKING WITH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER, WE FEEL QUITE COMFORTABLE THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION WOULD THEN PULL DOWN THEIR EXISTING HISTORIC ZONING CASE PURSUANT ON MR. MISCOE FINDING A SUITABLE RELOCATION SITE FOR THIS STRUCTURE. KNOWING OF COURSE WE ULTIMATELY HAVE THE FINAL VOTE ON THAT HISTORIC ZONING CASE. AND WITH, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, WITH JUST TWO OF US ON THE DAIS, WE WOULD KEEP THAT ZONING FROM HAPPENING, HISTORIC ZONING FROM HAPPENING. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WHILE THE PROTECTION, THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION WILL KEEP THE PENDING CASE THAT WAS INITIATED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WHILE MR. MISCOE TAKES A FEW WEEKS WORKING WITH OUR STAFF TO FIND THE RELOCATION. AT THAT POINT AFTER THAT IS APPROVED, THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION IT'S VERY UNLIKELY THEY WOULD ZONE THE VACANT PIECE OF LAND HISTORIC.

>>SLUSHER: I CONGRATULATE YOU ON WORKING THROUGH THAT. I THINK IT'S A GOOD SOLUTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM NO. 36. THANK YOU, MR. MISCOE, FOR WORKING SO HARD ON THAT. ALL RIGHT. MS. GLASCO, HAVE YOU HEARD FROM ANYBODY ON THOSE OTHER ITEMS BESIDES 34 AND 35?

>>GLASGO: MAYOR, ON THE OTHER ITEMS, ITEMS 38 THROUGH 46, ARE REALLY ONE DEVELOPMENT. THEY JUST HAVE NON-CONTIGUOUS TRACTS THAT APPEAR TO BE MORE THAN ONE CASE. BUT YOU HAVE ONE APPLICANT HERE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I UNDERSTAND. WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL GO 34, 35. WE WILL BREAK AT 5 SKLEN 30 -- -- 5:30 REGARDLESS WHERE WE ARE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND DO LIVE MUSIC AND PROCLAMATIONS. THEN WE WILL COME BACK AND AT SOME POINT I MAY START ROTATE TO GO GET TO THE TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC HEARING THIS ITEM AND ANY OTHER ZONING ITEMS. LET'S GO TO 34 AND 35, THANK YOU.

>>.

>>GLASGO: MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS, ALICE GLASCO TO PRESENT ZONING CASES. ITEM 34 AND 35 ARE CASES THAT REPRESENT WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE BENNETT TRACT. AND THIS IS PROPERTY THAT IS LOCATED GENERALLY EAST OF I-35 BOUNDED TO THE NORTH BY EAST 11 STREET AND TO THE SOUTH BY 11TH STREET, THE EASTERN BOUNDARY IS SAN MARCOS STREET. THIS IS PART OF A LARGER DEVELOPMENT THAT IS REFERRED TO AS THE EAST 11TH STREET NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION COMBINING DISK THAT WAS SUBDIVIDED INTO THREE AREASTON PARTICULAR TRACT BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION IS REFERRED TO AS SUBDISTRICT 3. THE INITIAL ZONING OF THIS PROPERTY TOOK PLACE IN 1991. THE PROPERTY HAS NOT BEEN DEVELOPED SINCE 1991. AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, ON MARCH 23 OF 2000, THE CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO INITIATE REZONING OF THIS PROPERTY TO LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITIES OF SCALING THE PROJECT DOWN AND WORK WITH THE POTENTIAL BUYER OF THIS PROPERTY, MATT MATHIAS, WITH REATTA DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO WITH THE INTERESTED PARTIES WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE SUBJECT TRACT TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES IN LOOKING AT HOW THE PROJECT CAN BE REDUCED, REVISED, AND ALSO ENHANCED THROUGH ZONING. THE CURRENT ZONING ALLOWS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT PROHIBITS ANY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. SO YOU CAN SIMPLY LOOK AT THIS CASE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE THE EXISTING ZONING SO THAT IT ALLOWS FOR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REDUCTION IN MASSING OF BUILDINGS, REDUCTION OF HEIGHT BEYOND WHAT WAS ALLOWED BEFORE, AND ALSO ALLOWING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A TRULY MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WHERE YOU HAVE SOME RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT INCLUDED. WE HAVE WORKED REAL HARD ON THIS CASE WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE ITEMS WE HAVE. ITEM 34 IS A REQUEST TO TERMINATE AN EXISTING RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT REQUIRED A ROLLBACK OF THE PROPERTY IF THE DEVELOPMENT DID NOT OCCUR. AND WE RECOMMEND THAT THAT COVENANT BE TERMINATED UNDER ITEM 34. ITEM 35, CASE C14-00-2062 IS THE CASE THAT CONSIDERS ADJUSTING THE EXISTING ZONING, WHICH INCLUDES SOME SINGLE-FAMILY COMMERCIAL ZONING WITH AN OVERLAY THAT IS CALLED A NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION COMBINING DISTRICT, WHICH IS INTENDED TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE EXISTING OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS. THE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU IS A PROPOSAL THAT WE -- THAT IS KEYED OFF THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION. JUST BASICALLY WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DOES SIMPLY IS TO KEEP THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION COMBINING OVERLAY AND ADD THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT OF CS TO THIS OVERLAY WITH SEVERAL ADJUST OMENTS HEIGHT. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A HIGHLIGHT OF THAT. FOLLOWING THAT PRESENTATION I'LL GIVE YOU A PRESENTATION OF ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN AGREED TO THAT MODIFY THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION FURTHER. SO JUST VERY SIMPLY THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION HAS THE TRACTS THAT INCLUDE TRACTS 1 THROUGH 9 THAT INCLUSIVE FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENTS. THE ZONING IS COMMERCIAL WITH CONDITIONAL OVERLAY. YOUR HEIGHT OF REDUCED OR AFFECTED AS FOLLOWS ON TRACT 1 AND 2, THEY ARE TO BE COMBINED. AND YOU HAVE A MAP IN FRONT OF YOU THAT SHOWS YOU AND A PACKET THAT IS YELLOW THAT MAY HELP YOU FOLLOW THROUGH THE MAPS REGARDING THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION. THE HEIGHTS FOR TRACTS 1 AND 2 RANGE FROM 60 FEET FOR A DEPTH OF 30 FEET ALONG 11TH STREET TO 200 FEET. WITH SOME CONDITIONS THAT MASSING ALONG I-35 WOULD BE REDUCED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT YOU WOULD HAVE BUILDINGS BROKEN UP SO YOU DO NOT HAVE MASSING OF BUILDINGS. AND THE LANGUAGE THE PLANNING COMMISSION OFFERED PROVIDES FOR THAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITY ONCE THE BUILDINGS ARE DESIGNED. ON TRACTS 3 AND 4, THE HEIGHTS THERE ARE LIMITED TO 60 AND 50 FEET AND 40 WITH USES ALIGNED FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USES FOR THOSE TRACTS. FOR TRACTS -- TRACT 5, THE -- TRACT 4, EXCUSE ME, NON-RESIDENTIAL USES ARE PROHIBITED. ON TRACT 5 THE HEAT IS AT 40 FEET AND LIMITED TO LIMITED OFFICE TYPE OF USES WITH STANDARDS THAT ARE THOSE OF THE NO-MU DISTRICT. TRACT 6, A REQUIREMENT FOR A PUBLIC PLAZA BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. AND ON TRACT 7, YOU HAVE A LIMITATION OF HEIGHT OF 50 FEET BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. ON TRACT 8, WE HAVE A LIMITATION OF HEIGHT TO 40 FEET. THAT'S THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION. COUNCILMEMBERS ALVAREZ AND COMAS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PROPOSED DEVELOPER AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH AND GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THAT HAVE COME UP WITH SOME CONDITIONS AND THERE ARE SEVERAL CONDITIONS, THERE ARE HIGHLIGHTS THAT MODIFY THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION AND I WILL JUST READ THROUGH THEM. ITEM 1 IS THE APPLICANT IS COMMITTED TO 10% OPEN SPACE ON TRACTS 1 THROUGH 6. THE APPLICANT WILL LIMIT THE BUILDING HEIGHT ON TRACT 3 FOR THE FIRST 30 FEET NORTH OF EAST 9TH STREET TO 50 FEET. ITEM NO. 3, THE DEVELOPMENT IS -- WILL ALLOW FOR PROHIBITION OF MOTOR VEHICLE ACCESS TO TRACTS 4, 5 AND 6 FROM SAN MARCOS STREET EXCEPT FOR ACCESS TO RESIDENTIAL USES. FOURTH, ALLOW ONLY RESIDENTIAL USES WITHIN 60-FOOT STRIP ADJOINING SAN MARCOS STREET ON TRACTS 5 AND 6. FIVE, ALLOW ONLY RESIDENTIAL USES WITHIN THE 60-FOOT STRIP ADJOINING EAST 9TH STREET SIDE OF TRACT 6. CONDITION 6 WOULD BE TRACT 7 IS LIMITED TO RESIDENTIAL USES ONLY. ITEM NO. 7, ALLOW BUILDING HEIGHT ON TRACT 7 TO INCREASE FROM 50 FEET TO 70 FEET. ITEM NO. 8 ON TRACT 7, PROVIDE A 50-FOOT BUILDING HEIGHT LIMITATION FOR THE FIRST 50 FEET SOUTH OF EAST 9TH STREET. ITEM NO. 9, REMOVE PUBLIC PLAZA FROM THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF TRACT 7 AND PROVIDE A NEW OPEN PLAZA AREA OPPOSITE EAST 11TH STREET AND WEST OF SAN MARCOS STREET. ITEM NO. 10, ALLOW THE FLOOR TO AREA RATIO TO MOVE TO 3 TO 6 TO 1. 11, PROVIDE AND OR COMMIT TO AT LEAST 5% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS PROPOSED AS REASONABLY PRICED DWELLINGS. THOSE DWELLINGS WOULD BE ON TRACTS 1 THROUGH 7 AND THEY CAN BE LOCATED EITHER ON SITE OR OFF SITE. IF THEY ARE O. SITE, THEY WILL BE LOCATED WITHIN THE FOLLOWING ZIP COATS. 78702, AND 7874 -- AND/OR 78722 ZIP CODES. SO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, REASONABLY PRICED HOUSING UNITS IF THEY CANNOT BE LOCATED ON SITE THE CON WOULD BE THEY BE LOCATED OFF SITE WITHIN THOSE ZIP CODES FOR TRACTS 1 THROUGH 7. ITEM 12, POSSIBLY -- THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER IS GOING TO GO THROUGH AFTER MY PRESENTATION. THAT'S COVERED UNDER THAT ITEM. ITEM NO. 13, NO PROPOSAL MADE REGARDING OTHER PROPERTIES NOT BEING CONSIDERED BY MATT MATHIAS FOR DEVELOPMENT SOUTH OF 11TH STREET ARE INCLUDED IN THE INCENTIVE. THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THE PROJECT COMPLY WITH THE GREAT STREETS PROGRAM TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS AND LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE ON PAGE 2. THERE ARE -- THEY ARE TOO LENGTHY TO READ, BUT THE APPLICANT AGREES TO ALL THOSE. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I WILL LET MARSHA CONNER WALK THROUGH THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WHY DON'T YOU DO IT OVER HERE. COUNCIL, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO WITHOUT OBJECTION, SINCE THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS THE APPLICANT, AFTER MS. CONNER FINISHS HER PRESENTATION, I'LL PAUSE AND SEE IF COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. AND THEN WHAT WE'LL DO IS I'M GOING TO ASK THE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, MERCHANDISE BAKER, TO MAKE A -- MS. BAKER TO MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION WITH REGARD TO THE -- YOU GOT THAT RIGHT. WITH REGARD TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION. AT THAT POINT, I'M GOING TO -- IF THERE IS NOT OBJECTION, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN AN ON AGAIN OFF AGAIN CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, I'M GOING TO -- IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, I'M GOING TO ASK WE SUSPEND THE RULES AND INSTEAD OF ME GOING DIRECTLY TO THE CARDS -- BY THE WAY, THE WAY I'M GOING TO DO THE CARDS, SOME PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP ON ITEM 1, SOME ON ITEM 34, WHAT I'M DOING IS I'M JUST GOING TO PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THEM ONE AFTER ANOTHER. BUT I'M GOING TO ASK THAT IF THERE IS NOT OBJECTION, I'M GOING TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND CALL ON REVEREND GRIFFIN AND FATHER BILL TO TAKE A MINUTE APIECE TO START OFF THE DISCUSSION OF THIS MATTER TO HELP US SET THE TONE AND TENOR OF THE MANNER. THEN I'LL GO DIRECTLY TO THE CARDS. ANY OBJECTION TO THAT APPROACH? WITH THAT, MS. CONNER.

>> I'M ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, MARCH THAT CONNER. I'M BEFORE YOU TODAY, AS MANY OF YOU AWARE, RIATA WOULD LIKE TO LOCATE A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT ON THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS ROBINSON HILL TO SOME BENNETT TRACT BETWEEN I-35 AND SAN MARCOS. RIATA IS PROPOSING A 2.4 MILLION SQUARE FOOT OFFICE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WHICH WOULD INCLUDE 262,500 SQUARE FEET OF HOTEL SPACE, 705,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE, 18,000 SQUARE FEET OF RESTAURANT, 25 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL. 298,000 RESIDENTIAL AND 1.125 MILLION OF PARKING. THE PROJECT WOULD BE DEVELOPED IN SEVERAL PHASES. THE FIRST PHASE WILL BEGIN CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THREE YEARS. THE LAST PHASE TO BEGIN WITHIN EIGHT YEARS OF THE DATE OF THE EXECUTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. WHAT WE'RE ESTIMATING TO BE BY JULY 31 OF 2001. AT FULL BUILD OUT THE PROJECT WILL HOUSE A MINIMUM OF 2500 EMPLOYEES. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT IS $291 MILLION. RIATA DEVELOPMENT IS THEN REQUIRED TO BE RATED IN THE HIGHEST CATEGORY OF THE SMART GROWTH MATRIX AND SHOULD A PRIMARY EMPLOYER BE IDENTIFIED COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR MAXIMUM ALLOWED INCENTIVES. IT IS ESTIMATED OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD RIATA WILL PRODUCE IN TODAY'S DOLLARS OVER $15.9 MILLION IN PROPERTY AND SALES TAX. UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHAPTER 380 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS USING PROPERTY TAX, SALES TAX OR BOTH. WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT CHAPTER 380 BE THE MECHANISM FOR FUNDING THE CITY'S COMMITMENTS TO THE RIATA DEVELOPMENT. THE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU INCLUDES 1.5 MILLION IN FEE WAIVERS AND COST REIMBURSEMENTS TO INFRASTRUCTURE IM PROOFLTSZ AND 13.2 MILLION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS THAT WILL BE EXECUTED IN A MATCHED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. IN ADDITION, IF A PRIMARY EMPLOYER UTILIZES A JOB TRAINING -- JOB INCENTIVES AN ADDITIONAL 2.5 MILLION IS AVAILABLE. THE PROPOSAL ALSO INCLUDES UP TO 6.1 MILLION IN COST IF THE DEVELOPER CHOOSES TO CONNECT TO AUSTIN ENERGY'S CHILLER WATER INFRASTRUCTURE. THE RECOMMENDED FEE WAIVERS INCLUDE SUCH ITEMS AS ZONING, SITE PLAN, ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FEES, BUILD PLAN REVIEW AND BUILDING PERMIT FEES, WATER AND WASTEWATER RECOVERY FEES, TEMPORARY USE OF RIGHT-OF-WAY FEES, LANDSCAPE INSPECTION, AND CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION FEES. EACH FEE AND COST IS ITEM ICE UNDERSTAND THE BACKUP MATERIAL IN YOUR AGENDA. UNDER CHAPTER 38 ON THE PAYMENTS WOULD NOT BE IN A LUMP SUM REIMBURSEMENT, NOR WOULD THE PAYMENTS BE MADE UNTIL THE TIME THEY CONSTRUCT THE IMPROVEMENTS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT RIATA BE PAID 13.2 MILLION AT NET PRESENT VALUE OVER A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME. THE PAYMENT WOULD OCCUR QUARTERLY AND THE AMOUNT OF THE PAYMENT WOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE PROPERTY TAX THAT WOULD BE GENERATED THAT YEAR FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF IMPROVEMENTS PROOFMENTS ON RIATA'S PROPERTY. AS AN EXAMPLE, IF THEY DID NOT MAKE ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO ITS PROPERTY IN ONE YEAR, THERE WOULD BE NO PAYMENT TO RIATA FROM THE CITY. IF THEIR IMPROVEMENTS GENERATED 500,000 IN GENERAL TAX IN ONE YEAR THAT RECEIVED 500,000 FROM THE CITY IN QUARTERLY PAYMENTS MADE DURING THE FOLLOWING YEAR. THERE ARE SOME CONDITIONS THAT WERE ADD TO DO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT. THIS -- THE GRANTS ACTUALLY COVER THE 7 TRACTS YOU ARE LOOKING AT TODAY, BUT THERE ARE SOME CALF YACHTS TO THOSE IMPROVEMENTS. THE 10-YEAR ECONOMIC GRANT IS TO BE REIMBURSED QUARREL AT 100% OF THE ANNUAL PROPERTY TAXES ASSESSED IF FOLLOWING IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE. A HOTEL THAT MEETS JOB TRAINING AND HIRING CRY TEAR I CAN'T, THE DEVELOPMENT OF 5% RESIDENTIAL HOUSING ON PROPERTY IN ZIP CODE 78702, AND COMMERCIAL OFFICE OR RETAIL SPACE OCCUPIED BY A PERSON OTHER THAN A PRIMARY EMPLOYER, THE 10-YEAR ECONOMIC GRANT INCENTIVES WOULD BE ALLOWABLE. THEY WILL RECEIVE A 20-YEAR ECONOMIC GRANT TO BE REIMBURSED AT APPROXIMATELY 100% OF THE ANNUAL PROPERTY TAXES ASSESSED AND THIS ONLY APPLIES TO THAT PORTION OF THE OFFICE SPACE IN WHICH THE PRIMARY EMPLOYER WOULD OCCUPY. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE IMPROVEMENTS BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 31, 2006, A PRIMARY EMPLOYER IS SECURED, THE PRIMARY EMPLOYER MEETS JOB TRAINING AND HIRING CRITERIA UNDER THE AGREEMENT, AND IF RIATA IS UNABLE TO SECURE A PRIMARY EMPLOYER BY THE OCCUPANCY DEADLINE OR DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE JOB TRAINING AND HIRING PROGRAM, THE PROPERTY TAXPAYER WILL NOT RECEIVE A 20-YEAR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT AND IT REVERTS BACK TO A 10-YEAR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT. SOME OF THE JOB INCENTIVES. THE AGREEMENT INCLUDES PERFORMANCE BASED INCENTIVES TO STIMULATE THE CREATION OF JOBS AND JOB TRAINING IN EAST AUSTIN. A HOTEL OR A PRIMARY EMPLOYER SHOULD PROVIDE JOB TRAINING INITIATIVES THAT QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS UNDER THE PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY. NOT LESS THAN 10% OF THE PROJECTED 2500 EMPLOYEES OF A HOTEL OR PRIMARY EMPLOYER, THEY MUST BE RESIDENTS OF 02, ZIP CODE 21, 22, 23, AND 52 ZIP CODE AREAS. THE VALUE OF THE JOB TRAINING IS ESTIMATED TO BE AT 1.2 MILLION FOR TRAINING THE RESIDENTS, AND 1.3 MILLION FOR THE PLACEMENT OF RESIDENTS FOR SIX MONTHS OR MORE. THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS TO THE AGREEMENT WHICH REQUIRE THE DEVELOPER TO IMPROVE SIDEWALK AREAS ON CITY STREETS WITHIN THE PROJECT AND ALONG BOTH SIDES OF SAN MARCOS STREET FROM EAST 9TH TO EAST 11TH STREET PROVIDED WHAT WE CONSIDER THE NEW GREAT STREETS TYPE STREET AND PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING. INCLUDE OPEN SPACE AREAS IN A COMPLETED DEVELOPMENT THAT COMPROMISE -- COMPRISE NOT LESS THAN 10% OF THE TOTAL AREA OF DEVELOPMENT. PAYMENTS TO RIATA ARE LIMITED TO A 10-YEAR PERIOD BASED ON THE BEGINNING OF CONSTRUCTION OF EACH BUILDING AS DESCRIBED IN THE EXAMPLES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY GIVEN. UPON RIATA MAKING THE IMPROVEMENT, THEY WOULD GENERATE ENOUGH TAXES TO RETURN TO THE CITY 13.2 MILLION DOLLAR COMMITMENT. SHOULD INFLATION AND INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAX OCCUR MORE RAPIDLY THAN ANTICIPATED AND THE NET PRESENT VALUE IS ACCOMPLISHED IN LESS THAN 10 YEARS, THE GRANT PAYMENTS SEAS. AT THE END OF 20 YEARS, REGARDLESS WHETHER THEY HAVE RECEIVED FULL PAYMENT FOR INCENTIVES OF 13.2 MILLION, ALL GRANTS WOULD CREASE. WE'VE FOUND WE HAD AN ABOUT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH RIATA AND BELIEVE ITS LOCATION IN EAST AUSTIN WOULD BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY BY MAKING AVAILABLE NEW JOBS, ENHANCING THE CITY'S TAX BASE, BRINGING UNDEVELOPED LAND INTO PRODUCTIVE USE, PROVIDING AN ENHANCED ACCOMMODATION SERVICE TO DOWNTOWN AND BRING NEWLY REASONABLE PRICED HOUSING, THEREFORE IMPROVING THE ECONOMICS OF THE SURROUNDING AREA AND THEREFORE WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONSIDER APPROVING ITEMS 13 AND 14 ON YOUR AGENDA AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE ALSO REPRESENTATIVE OF RIATA HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THEM.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE'LL DO QUESTIONS IN THE ORDINARY COURSE. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT OF --.

>>ALVAREZ: MAYOR. I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, GO AHEAD.

>>ALVAREZ: YOU MENTION THAT IF THEY MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR JOB TRAINING THEY COULD BE HE WILL I BELIEVE FOR UP TO $2.5 MILLION. WHERE DOES THAT MONEY COME FROM?

>> THAT IS MONEY WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, AND IT WOULD BE OUR GENERAL FUND DOLLARS. AND IT'S ACTUALLY DIVIDED IN TWO WAYS. WE'VE ACTUALLY PAY A STIP PENNED FOR JOB TRAINING FOR IF YOU ACTUALLY DO THE JOB TRAINING AND THERE IS ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE IF THE INDIVIDUALS TRAINED ARE ACTUALLY PLACED IN EMPLOYMENT FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS.

>>ALVAREZ: DOES THIS MEAN WE WOULD BE TAKING MONEY FROM OTHER JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS? I MONEY OBVIOUS WE ALREADY HAVE SOME YOB TRAINING PROGRAMS, SO DOES THIS TAKE 2.5 MILLION FROM THAT POT THAT IS ALREADY BEING USED BY EXISTING PROGRAMS?

>> IT WOULD EITHER -- WE COULD EITHER UTILIZE THOSE CURRENT JOB PARTNERS AS TRAINERS OR IT COULD BE NEW DOLLARS.

>>ALVAREZ: OKAY. I JUST WONDERED. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. I THINK WE MIGHT DISCUSS THAT FURTHER.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF AT THIS POINT? THANK YOU, MS. CONNER. MS. BAKER, I'M GOING TO ASK TO YOU GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION PROPOSAL.

>> MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILL, I'M BETTY BAKER. I'M ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. MS. GLASCO HAVE PRESENTED THE PARTLY CLOUDY'S RECOMMENDATION ALONG WITH THE STAFF'S, AND I'M JUST HERE TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS, BUT I WOULD TELL YOU THAT I PROBABLY HAVE SPENT MORE HOURS ON THIS THAN POSSIBLY SOME PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE ARE OLD. BECAUSE I WORKED WITH THIS WHEN I WAS ON CITY STAFF. AND I HOPE THERE IS SOME POSITIVE RESOLUTION THIS AFTERNOON.

>>MAYOR WATSON: GREAT. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF CHAIRWOMAN BAKER? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OKAY. COUNCIL, WITH THAT, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, WITHOUT OBJECTION, IS I'M GOING TO ASK FATHER BILL ELLIOTT AND REVEREND MARVIN GRIFFIN TO COME FORWARD AND TAKE -- SAY A MINUTE APIECE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FROM THE BEGINNING. AND WE'LL SEE IF THEY CAN AGREE ON WHO GOES FIRST. [LAUGHTER]. YOU ARE BOTH VERY VALUED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M MARVIN GRIFFIN, PASTOR OF THE EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH. I COME TO SAY THAT THE EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE PLAN WHICH IS CALLED THE BENNETT TRACT IN CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN. THE PLAN HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY STAFF AND ALSO BY THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION. OUR CONGREGATION HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH A DEVELOPMENT FROM THE PERIOD OF ABOUT 12 YEARS. WE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE PROJECT. 70% OF THE PROPERTY OF OUR CHURCH ON SAN MARCOS IS CONTIGUOUS TO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. WE BELIEVE THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SMART GROWTH AND PROVIDE A POWERFUL ECONOMIC ENGINE IN AN AREA PLAGUED BY CRIME AND POVERTY. THE STAKEHOLDERS, RIATA ENTERPRISES, EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH AND THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WHO LABORED TOGETHER TO BRING THIS PROJECT TO THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTION, HAVE A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR EACH OTHER AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WHEN DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS UNITE IN THE SEARCH FOR CONSENSUS, UNITY, JUSTICE, PEACE, AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT. LEADERSHIP OF THE TWO COUNCIL PERSONS IN WORKING WITH US, COUNCILPERSON DANNY THOMAS AND COUNCILPERSON RAUL ALVAREZ AND OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY TO OUR ARRIVAL AT WHAT MAY BE REGARDED AS A PRODUCTIVE COMPROMISE THAT SIGNIFICANTLY RAISES THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND STRENGTHENS THE MOST DEPRIVED SECTOR OF OUR CITY. WE, IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, WOULD LIKE TO INDICATE OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY AND THE HOUSES WHEN THEY HAVE IN THE AREA ZONED SF-3, NCCD, AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM REMAIN IN THE NCCD. THERE IS A MATTER WHICH IS MENTIONED WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS -- HAS BEEN CLEARED UP ABOUT THE GREAT STREETS PROGRAM THAT WOULD TAKE SOME OF OUR PROPERTY. SO WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT EBENEZER DOESN'T LOSE ANY PROPERTY IN ITS PARKING LOT. SO THE APPROVAL OF THIS ZONING RECOMMENDATION WHICH IS BEFORE THE COUNCIL WILL ADVANCE A PROCESS ENABLING AN AREA OF OUR CITY WHICH HAS LONG BEEN BARREN TO BEGIN TO BLOSSOM AGAIN. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, PASTOR. FATHER BILL.

>> I'M FATHER BILL ELLIOTT, I'M THE PASTOR OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE IN EAST AUSTIN, HAVE BEEN THERE FOR TEN YEARS. WE'VE WORKED HARD FOR TEN YEARS AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE LAST YEAR. WE'VE GROWN TO RESPECT ONE ANOTHER AND APPRECIATE ONE ANOTHER'S POINT OF VIEW. I BELIEVE THAT REVEREND GRIFFIN AND MYSELF HAVE DEVELOPED A VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER. WE EAT AT ONE ANOTHER'S TABLE AND WE SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER. IT WASN'T ALWAYS THAT WAY IN EAST AUSTIN. SO WE HAVE COME A LONG, LONG WAY. AND I'M DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE OF REVEREND GRIFFIN AND HIS EFFORTS TO ENHANCE OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE NOT ENEMIES. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ENEMIES. IN FACT, THERE'S A GREAT LOVE BETWEEN THE TWO OF US AS MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL. WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO DECIDE TODAY IS NOT AN ISSUE OF RACE, BUT RATHER OF OPPORTUNITY. IT'S NOT A NEGLECT OF COMMUNITY, BUT AN ATTEMPT TO PRESERVE IT AND TO ENHANCE IT. IT'S NOT ONE GROUP IN FAVOR OF DEVELOPER -- OF DEVELOPMENT AND ANOTHER AGAINST, BUT RATHER TWO GROUPS LOOKING TO IMPROVE WORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EAST AUSTIN WHILE ENHANCING AND DEVELOPING AND ENRICHING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THESE COMMUNITIES. IT'S NOT ONE GROUP ATTEMPT TO GO DESTROY COMMUNITY AND ANOTHER TRYING TO SAVE IT, BUT RATHER TWO DISTINCT GROUPS TRYING TO PROTECT COMMUNITY, ALLOWING DIFFERENCE AND ALLOWING DEVELOPMENT. AND I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY PLEADING WITH ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO SPEAK TO KEEP IN MIND WHAT REVEREND GRIFFIN AND MYSELF HAVE SAID. WE ARE TWO COMMUNITIES STRUGGLING TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WILL KEEP US AT PEACE, THAT WILL ALLOW JUSTICE IN DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT WILL PROTECT THOSE WHO WISH TO LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY. I URGE ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE TO SPEAK TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT WANTS JUSTICE AND WANTS PEACE. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. THANK BOTH OF YOU. WITH THAT, COUNCIL, WE'LL GO TO THE CARDS THAT ARE SIGNED UP CARDS AND AT 5:30 WE WILL -- I'LL CALL FOR A MOTION TO RECESS SO WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT ITEM AND WE'LL COME BACK SHORTLY AFTER 6:00. BUT WE'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH THESE CARDS AS FAST AS WE CAN. LET ME REMIND EVERYONE OF A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE IS THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK JUST ON THIS ISSUE. AND I HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH ALL THE CARDS. THERE MAY BE SOME JUST SIGNED UP TO HAVE THEIR POINT OF VIEW MADE KNOWN, BUT HAVEN'T ASKED TO SPEAK. BUT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CARDS. WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER BATCH OF ZONING ITEMS, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING. MY REQUEST TO YOU IS THAT IF YOU CAN MAKE YOUR STATEMENT -- YOU DON'T NEED TO TAKE THE FULL THREE MINUTES OR JUST MAKE YOUR POSITION KNOWN BY A VERY BRIEF STATEMENT OR JUST BY BEING -- HAVING YOUR POSITION STATED ON THE CARD, I ASK YOU TO DO THAT IN DEFERENCE TO YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ALSO WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD TONIGHT ON VARIOUS ISSUES. IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE REPEATING SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS ALREADY SAID, THERE'S NOT A NEED TO DO THAT. SIMPLY LET YOUR POSITION BE KNOWN. PABLO LAGARDA. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? PLEASE COME FORWARD. WILLIE MAY KIRK WRITES I AM FOR, CANNOT ATTEND HEARING DUE TO HEALTH. MR. MATHIAS, WILL YOU FOLLOW MR. LAGUARDA. I WOULD ASK YOU MAKE YOUR WAY TOWARD THE MICROPHONE SO WE CAN MOVE EFFICIENTLY. IS TOM PATENTED HERE? I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE DONATING TIME. ALL RIGHT. BEVERLY KELLER. YOU ARE DONATING YOUR TIME? LET ME ASK YOU, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE -- GARY SMITH. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE DONATING TIME TO MR. MATHIAS? ANYONE ELSE DONATING TIME TO MR. MATHIAS? ALL RIGHT. IT'S ALL YOURS.

>> I'M MR. LAGUARDA, AND WE ARE PLANNERS AND ARCHITECTS AND I'VE BEEN THE LEADER OF THE TEAM THAT HAS WORKED ON THIS PROJECT FOR MORE THAN A YEAR ALREADY AND WE STUDIED, AS YOU PROBABLY IMAGINED, SEVERAL OPTIONS AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING OR TRYING TO WORK WITH ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED AND THAT HAVE INTERESTS IN THIS PROJECT. PARTICULARLY WITH THE EBENEZER CHURCH AND WITH THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OBVIOUSLY WITH RIATA, THE DEVELOPER. AND ALL THIS OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE STUDIED, WE BASICALLY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL THE INTERESTS AND ALL THE PARTICULAR REQUIREMENT OF EACH OF THESE GROUPS. AND WE THINK THAT WE ARE RIGHT TO -- A WORKABLE SOLUTION AND WHAT IS IN THE TABLE TODAY FOR APPROVAL IS SOMETHING THAT WE CONSIDER A VERY WORKABLE MASTER PLAN. I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD BASE. AND SINCE WE STARTED WITH THIS PROJECT, WE CONSIDERED INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL AS AN IN TRINSIC PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICULARLY ALONG SAN MARCOS STREET AND ALONG 9TH STREET. AND RESIDENTIAL THAT IN THE WAY THAT WE ALL APPROACH THIS -- IT'S ALWAYS BEEN TRYING PARTICULARLY TO DEVELOP OF DEVELOP A CHARACTER FOR THAT RESIDENTIAL. IT'S NOT JUST A SIMPLE STREET OF HOUSING OR TOWNHOUSES. WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING A CHARACTER IN THIS PROJECT, OPEN SPACE THAT REALLY MEANS SOMETHING. CERTAINLY ALONG SAN MARCOS STREET. DEVELOPMENT INTO PLAZAS AND COURT YARDS. IN OTHER WORDS, WE ARE GOING TO BE ASSIGNING THOSE OPEN SPACES AND NOT -- RATHER LEFTOVERS FROM THE FOOTPRINTS OF THE BUILDS. ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE VIEW CORRIDOR PARTICULARLY FROM THE FRENCH [INAUDIBLE] AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SOLUTIONS AND IT'S A WORKABLE ELEMENT IN THE PLAN AND ALSO COULD BE CONSIDERED AS ENHANCEMENT IF WE DEVELOP THAT AS A POTENTIAL PLAZA OR OPEN SPACE THAT CAN LINK THE USES TOGETHER. WE ALWAYS TRY TO PUT THE MOST INTENSE DEVELOPMENT AREA ON THE OTHER SIDE NEXT TO 11TH STREET AND 35 TRYING TO PUT IT AS FAR AS WE CAN FROM THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND RESIDENTIAL HEIGHTS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PRESERVE. SO IN ORDER TO KEEP SOME OF THE SCALE AND RESIDENTIAL SCALES THAT EVERYBODY IS INTERESTED IN. ALL THE PARKING STRUCTURE THE UNDERGROUND SO WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID ANY HIGH IMPACT FOR THE USE OF CARS IN THE AREA. [BUZZER SOUNDS]. THANKS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR. LET ME ASK IS VERONICA RIVERA HERE? ARE YOU DONATING TIME?

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SORRY? WHAT I INDICATED I WAS DOING WAS BECAUSE THESE ARE ALL BASICALLY THE SAME, I'M -- SO ARE YOU NOT DONATING TIME? OKAY. HOW ABOUT JOHN M. JOSEPH. OKAY. COUNCIL, JOHN JOSEPH SIGNED UP FOR. MS. RIVERA, I'LL CALL KNEW ORDER. MR. MATHIAS, YOU HAVE 12 MINUTES IF YOU NEED IT.

>> I PROMISE I WON'T USE 12 MINUTES. MY NAME IS MATT MATHIAS WITH RIATA, THE PROPOSED DEVELOPERS OF ROBERTSON HILL. I WISH WE WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE A YEAR AGO, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THE CASE YOU ARE HEARING TODAY PROMISES AND ASSURES A BETTER PRODUCT AND A BETTER DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAN YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN A YEAR AGO. SO THE PROCESS HAS BEEN IMPORTANT. WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS TRACT OF LAND TO EAST AUSTIN AND IN FACT TO ALL OF AUSTIN BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION ON I-35. THE MOMENT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CONTRACT FOR IT ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO. THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS CONTACT COMMUNITY LEADERS IN EAST AUSTIN, AND WE FOUND TO GET THEIR OPINIONS OF WHAT THIS TRACT SHOULD BECOME. AND WE FOUND A WIDESPREAD VIEW THAT THIS TRACT HOLDS TWO KEESZ. NO. 1, IT CAN BE THE GATEWAY TO EAST AUSTIN. AND SECONDLY IT CAN BE THE ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT SUPPORTS THE REDEVELOPMENT OF OTHER PARTS OF EAST AUSTIN AND BRINGS VITAL SERVICES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE TODAY LACKING. AND HELP THOSE SERVICES SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE, WE WENT TO SEE DEAN SPECK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE BECAUSE WE REALIZED THIS WAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF PROPERTY WITH 250,000 CARS A DAY DRIVING BY IT. WHICH IS THE OTHER FACE OF THE PROPERTY FROM SAN MARCOS STREET. AND DEAN SPECK HELPED US IDENTIFY ARCHITECTS THAT WERE WORLD CLASS THAT STILL HAD A REGIONAL FLARE THAT COULD BRING DESIGN THAT FELT LIKE AUSTIN BUT WERE KNOWN INTERNATIONALLY. PABLO, WHO YOU JUST HEARD, IS WORKING FROM BRAZIL TO TOKYO. BUT HE'S BASED HERE IN TEXAS. AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE HAD HIM INVOLVED IN THE STAKEHOLDERS MEETINGS OVER THE PAST YEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED. WE WENT THROUGH NINE MONTHS OF IMPORTANT MEDIATION WITH THE STAKE HOLDERS, WHO ARE A WIDER GROUP THAN YOU'VE HEARD FROM TODAY. WE CAME CLOSE TO CONSENSUS, BUT DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT. THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF THE CITY WHO SAT IN ON THOSE NINE MONTHS' WORTH OF MEETINGS CAME OUT WITH A RECOMMENDATION THAT DIDN'T GIVE ANY OF US IN THE GROUP EVERYTHING WE WANTED. THEY TOOK AWAY FROM ALL OF US, BUT THEY INCLUDED MANY OF THE CONSENSUS ITEMS. WE SUPPORTED THAT STAFF RECOMMENDATION. WE WENT TO PLANNING COMMISSION WITH FIVE HEARINGS OVER TEN HOURS OF -- OF MORE THAN TEN HOURS, THEY CUT THE HEIGHT FURTHER, DENSITY, PROVIDED ADDITIONAL SETBACKS AND BUFFERS AND ADDED RESIDENTIAL. WE SUPPORTED THAT RECOMMENDATION ALSO. NOW COUNCILMEMBERS ALVAREZ AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO BRING YOU A NEW PROPOSAL THAT IS A FURTHER COMPROMISE. ONCE AGAIN, WE SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL THAT ADDS ADDITIONAL HOUSING AS REQUESTED BY ONE OF THE MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS. AND IT PROVIDES ECONOMIC INCENTIVES TO MAKE THIS DEVELOPMENT FINANCIALLY ATTRACTIVE TO POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS. AS BOTH THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDIES HAVE SAID THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS FUNDED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS CONCERNING THIS TRACT OF LAND, IT SAYS FOR THE FISCAL AND EMPLOYMENT IMPACTS ANTICIPATED TO BE REALIZED, WE ASSUME THAT FINANCIAL INCENTIVES WILL BE IN PLACE TO OVERCOME THE PERCEPTION OF HIGH RISK ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT IN THIS TARGET AREA. A COORDINATED PROGRAM OF ASSISTANCE WILL HELP TO DEVELOP -- WILL HELP GET DEVELOPMENT STARTED IN THE AREA AND CREATE THE MOMENTUM NECESSARY. TODAY YOU WILL SEE BEFORE YOU AN HISTORIC ALLIANCE OF ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING THIS PLAN TO CREATE A TRUE GATEWAY AND ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR EAST AUSTIN. THE STORY YOU HEAR IS A STORY OF UNITY OF THE GREATER EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY, NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY WITH THIS, I WILL ADMIT. BUT I WANT YOU TO HEAR THIS LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE BOARDS HAVE MET OR WHOSE -- WHO ARE SUPPORTING THIS PLAN THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU TODAY. THE AUSTIN REVITALIZATION AUTHORITIES 30 MEMBER BOARD HAS MET AND YOU HAVE LETTERS FROM THESE ORGANIZATIONS BY THE WAY AND THEY SUPPORT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE GREATER AUSTIN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THE CAPITAL CITY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THE EAST 11TH STREET VILLAGE ASSOCIATION. 12TH STREET BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION. EBENEZER CHURCH. THE MINIMUM TRI OF CHALLENGE ON 12TH STREET. GREATER EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. EL CONCILO'S PRESIDENT HAS WRITTEN YOU A LETTER IN SUPPORT. THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE. AND THERE'S OTHER LETTERS THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED IN SUPPORT OF THESE ISSUES. I THINK IT'S UNIQUE AND HISTORIC THAT THESE GROUPS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THIS. I ASK YOU TODAY AFTER 12 MONTHS OF WORKING TOGETHER, THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF DETAILS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PLAN, AND IT'S BEING PRESENTED TO YOU AS A PACKAGE. MY REQUEST OF YOU IS THAT YOU APPROVE THE PACKAGE AS PRESENTED AND NOT NIT-PICK IT BECAUSE WE HAVE NIT-PICKED IT AMONG OURSELVES FOR A YEAR AND THE ISSUES YOU WILL HEAR TODAY ARE THE SAME ISSUES ALL THESE BODIES HAVE ALREADY CONSIDERED. HAVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO APPROVE A PLAN THAT CAN BRING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND PROSPERITY TO AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND AS THE REST OF THE CITY PROS SPEAKERS. I ASK YOU TO DO THAT TODAY. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. PASTOR TONY L. JOHNSON. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK?

>> YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: PLEASE COME FORWARD. RICHARD DUNBAR. IF YOU WILL MAKE YOUR WAY TO THAT MICROPHONE. YOU WILL FOLLOW PASTOR JOHNSON. JOSE CON TEAR ROW. YOU WILL FOLLOW MR. DID YOU KNOW BAR.

>> I'M TONY JOHNSON. PASTOR AND FOUNDER OF THE MINISTRY OF CHALLENGE ON EAST 12TH STREET. I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. ONE, BECAUSE I KNOW MATT MATHIAS FOR A LONG TIME. I'VE BEEN KNOWING MEAT FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS. MATT IS A PERSON THAT DOES EXACTLY WHAT HE SETTINGS OUT TO DO. HE TAKES ON CHALLENGE THAT -- MY MINISTRY IS CALLED THE MINISTRY OF CHALLENGE AND THERE'S CHALLENGES I WOULDN'T TAKE ON THAT MATT DOES. WHEN HE FIRST CALLED AND SAID HE WAS GOING TO TRY TO DEVELOP THIS PROJECT, I SAID YOU ARE WAKING UP A SLEEPING DEEM MONDAY. HE SAID YOU MEAN GIANT, DON'T YOU? I SAID NO, DEEM MONDAY. WELL, I THINK HE'S ABOUT TO THE POINT WHERE HE KIND OF AGREES, THIS HAS BEEN A BATTLE, AN UPHILL BATTLE, AND -- BUT WE HAVE TO APPLAUD HIM FOR HIS EFFORT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF DEVELOPERS WE'VE RUN OUT FROM OVER THERE ON THIS PROJECT. AND THIS GUY HERE HAS STUCK IN THERE WITH US AND IF WE CANNOT VOTE ON IT FOR TENACITY, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON HIM BECAUSE HE WILL ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE AND STAY WITH IT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ASKED MATT WAS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU DEVELOP THIS AREA, WILL THERE BE JOBS FOR MY PEOPLE. NOW, WHAT I CALL BY MY PEOPLE IS NOT MY COLOR, BUT THESE GUYS -- I'M GOING TO ASK THEM TO STAND. THESE ARE GUYS THAT YOU PROBABLY -- IF YOU KNEW THEIR BACKGROUND, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN ALLOW THEM TO BE IN THE SAME BUILDING WITH YOU. NOW, OUR MINISTRYIST CALLED THE MINISTRY OF CHALLENGE FOR A REASON. WE TAKE THE PEOPLE NOBODY WANTS TO HELP AND GET THEM CONVERTED, TEACH THEM LIFE SKILLS AND GET THEM ON JOBS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MATT HAS PROMISED US, THAT THERE WILL BE JOBS FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE MUCH. YOU GOT MY E-MAIL. YOU KNOW HOW I STAND. GOD BLESS YOU. DO THE RIGHT THING.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. RICHARD DUNBAR, FOLLOWED BY JOSE CONTERO AND CLINT SMITH. PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MICROPHONES.

>> GOOD, I'M DICK DUNBAR. I RESIDE ON SPY GLASS HERE IN AUSTIN. I REPRESENT THE OWNERS KNOWN AS THE BENNETT TRACT WHICH IS COMPRISED OF TRABLGTS 1 THROUGH 7 IN THIS -- TRACTS 1 THROUGH 7 IN THIS ZONING CASE HEARING. FOR THE LAST 12 MONTHS I'VE BEEN A PARTICIPANT IN MANY MEETINGS HELD TO REACH A AGREEMENT TO FINALIZE THIS ZONING QUESTION. IT HAS BEEN A REWARDING EXPERIENCE TO WORK WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR CONCERNS AND A GENERAL CONSENSUS OF NEED. TO SEE MOST OF THE GROUPS REPRESENTED CAN AGREE ON KEY ISSUES AND WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS A ZONING RECOMMENDATION THAT WOULD BENEFIT EAST AUSTIN IS REASSURING. THE TRACT OWNERS REALIZE THE RECOMMENDATIONS NOW BEFORE YOU WILL REDUCE THE DENSITY OF THE NCCD TRACT BY APPROXIMATELY 400,000 SQUARE FEET. THERE HAS BEEN MANY COMPROMISES MADE WITH THE LAND USE, BUILDINGS HEIGHTS, F.A.R.'S, IMPERVIOUS COVER SETBACK AND THE TRANSITION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE NOW SENT BEFORE KNEW THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHICH AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS WE FORM YOU WE DO SUPPORT. IN ALL CASES THESE COMPROMISES HAVE RESULTED IN THE LANDOWNERS MAKING ECONOMIC SACRIFICES AND LOSING POTENTIAL EARNINGS IN THE FUTURE. THE HUNDREDTH PLUS OWNERS OF THIS PROPERTY HAVE BEEN WILLING TO REACH AN AGREEMENT, BUT THEY DESIRE TO ALLOW THIS PROJECT THE MOVE FORWARD AND BRING THE GREAT POTENTIAL AND BENEFITS THIS PRIME TRACT OF LAND WILL BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE ACTIONS THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL TAKE TODAY IS MORE THAN TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE AN AGREEMENT REACHED BY THE STAKEHOLDERS OR THE STAFF OF PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS. YOUR ACTIONS TODAY WILL SEND A MESSAGE TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE FINANCIAL COMMUNITY, AND TO OUR FELLOW CITIZENS THAT THE CITY COUNCILL WILL OR WILL NOT ALLOW ECONOMIC BENEFITS THAT EAST AUSTIN HAS SO LONG WAITED AND DESERVED. YOUR ACTIONS TODAY WILL INDICATE WHETHER CITY GOVERNMENT IS WILLING TO SUPPORT PRIVATE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN EAST AUSTIN. AND IF OTHERS FOLLOW, THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO BE BURDENED DOWN WITH YEARS OF CONTINUOUS BEARINGS OF REVIEWS IN TRYING TO BRING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO EAST AUSTIN. YOUR DECISIONS WILL SEND A MESSAGE THAT EAST AUSTIN DESERVES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROSPERITY THE REST OF OUR COMMUNITY CURRENTLY ENJOYS. IT DESERVES TO BE ABLE TO ELIMINATE THE BLIGHT THAT STAGNATES THIS GROWTH IN THE COMMUNITY. IT DESERVES YOUR SUPPORT IN THE ZONING AND THE INCENTIVE PACKAGES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED BEFORE YOU. THE QUESTION TODAY IS NOT ABOUT WIDTH OF SIDEWALKS OR MORE VIEW CORRIDORS OR PLAZA, IT'S ABOUT HOW YOU AS OUR CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES WILL DECIDE THE FUTURE OF EAST AUSTIN, AND MOST IMPORTANT, THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN. WE REQUEST THAT ALSO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS PRESENTED BEFORE YOU ALSO BE APPROVED BECAUSE IT PREVENTS FINANCING OF THE PROPERTY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. JOSE CONTERO. CLINT SMITH.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JOSE CONTERO WITH THE GREATER EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO MATT MATHIAS FOR BEING PATIENT AS A DEEFLER TO COME IN A COMMUNITY -- DEVELOPER TO FACE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF ASSOCIATIONS AND FOR US TO AT TIMES TO BE IMMATURE TO WORK AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. BUT THE FACTOR AND THE POINT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS IS THAT ECONOMIC IS NEEDED HERE FOR OUR KIDS, FOR OUR GENERATION KIDS AND FOR -- AND THE JOBS AND THE CONDITIONS THAT WILL BRING THE CLOSENESS AS A COMMUNITY. SO I'M URGING YOU TO SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, ALVAREZ, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IT'S BEEN A LONG HAUL AND YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS IN EAST AUSTIN, WE WENT THROUGH IT WITH THE EAST CESAR CHAVEZ NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, BUT IT WAS A BLIGHT VOTE. THERE IS NO DEVELOPMENT GOING IN THE CESAR CHAVEZ PLAN. THIS SHOULD BE A ANCHOR FOR US TO DISCUSS WHY WE WOULD LIKE THERE, THE LIGHT RAIL, WHAT WE NEED SUPPORT LIKE DEVELOPERS LIKE MATT MATHIAS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. CLINT SMITH. FOLLOW BY RAY RAMIREZ. AND THEN LEONARD MANN SIGNED UP FOR, BUT NOT SPEAKING. SAYS SENT LETTER SUPPORTING INCENTIVES IN ZONING. VERONICA RIVERA WILL FOLLOW MR. JOHN Q. HAMMONS. "-FOLLOW MR. RAMIREZ. CLINT SMITH. CLINT SMITH SIGNED UP FOR. MR. RAMIREZ, BEFORE YOU START SPEAKING LET ME DO SOMETHING FOR YOU. IS ESPIRANZA REYES HERE?

>> YES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: AND SHE IS DONATING TIME? ROSEANN RODRIGUEZ. YOU ARE DONATING TIME. ANYONE ELSE DONATING TIME TO MR. RAM RAMENT. YOU WILL HAVE UP TO MINE MINUTES IF YOU NEED IT.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND -- MAYOR PRO TEM GOD MAN AND MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. I WILL NOT TAKE THE TIME NECESSARY THAT YOU HAVE DONATED. I WILL BE VERY BRIEF AND I DO WANT TO THANK THESE LADIES THAT -- THAT ACCENTUATE A POINT AND THAT IS THAT THEY LIVE IN ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED AREAS AND OF COURSE THEY KNOW OF THE TREMENDOUS NEED FOR EMPLOYMENT. SO THAT I DID ASK THEM TO COME AND BE HERE IN SUPPORT. AS WELL AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE, BUT THEY HAVE TO WORK AND CAN'T BE HERE THIS EVENING. I RECEIVED A LATER, A STATEMENT FROM LAURIE RENTIERA WHICH ECHOES MY BELIEFS AND SO THAT I WILL REFER TO IT AND AT THE SAME TIME EXPRESS MY OPINION. SHE WRITES THAT SHE DOES NOT -- SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE EAST CESAR CHAVEZ TEAM AND ALSO I AM A MEMBER OF THAT, AND WE DO NOT TAKE POSITIONS SO THAT I AM SPEAKING TODAY INDIVIDUALLY AND SO IS LAURA. I BELIEVE -- SHE WRITES, I BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS ON THIS TRACT WILL GREATLY IMPACT THE IMAGE OF THE ECONOMIC STABILITY OF THE PLANNING AREA. THE EAST CESAR CHAVEZ. THE LACK OF DEVELOPMENT OF THIS TRACT, THE CONTROVERSY AND THE POLITICAL INFIGHTING ABOUT THE TRACT HAS GONE ON FOR TOO LONG AND IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AND DID SOMETHING. OVER THE PAST DECADE BOTH THE FORMER AND CURRENT DEVELOPERS HAVE MADE COMPROMISES WITH THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT THE TYPES OF USES AND DENSITY OF DEVELOPMENT. I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND CITY STAFF HAVE WORKED DILL JNTLY AND HARD THESE LAST FEW -- DILIGENTLY AND HARD TO MEDIATE CONCERNS ABOUT LOCATION OF HOUSING ON THIS TRACT TO HELP BUFFER THE MORE INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE IH FRONTAGE AND EAST 7TH STREET. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT BOTH THE COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE DEVELOPER TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING ON THE MIX AND THAT SOME OF THE HOUSING WILL BE AFFORDABLE UNDER THE VERY SMART HOUSING PROJECTS. I TRUST COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, WE TRUST COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. AND WE SUPPORT THEIR MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD TODAY ON DEVELOPMENT OF THIS TRACT. FURTHER, THE POSTPONEMENT -- TO POSTPONE WOULD ONLY HURT PROSPECTS FOR THE AREA FROM TRYING TO BRING NEW USE DEVELOPMENT, MIXED USE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ALONG EAST 6TH STREET AND THE RAIL CORRIDOR. SHE IS TALKING ABOUT THE EAST SEERZ CHAVEZ. I BELIEVE THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD INVESTORS WHO ARE WATCHING WHAT HAPPENS TO RIATA BEFORE THEY INVEST TIME AND WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND OUR PLAN RELATED TO THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE 5TH AND 6TH RAIL CORRIDOR. IN CLOSING I SIMPLY WANT TO SAY THAT EAST AUSTIN HAS SUFFERED SEVERELY FROM LACK OF DEVELOPMENT. AND WE WANT TO HELP ALL PEOPLE GET AN EDUCATION, GET HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES. YOU KNOW, HOW CAN HE DO THIS IF IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO GET A JOB. AS ONE LADY HAS SAID, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO GET TO A JOB WAY OUT ON LAKELINE OR EVEN TO THE AIRPORT. THIS TRACT IS STRATEGICALLY LOCATED AND IT WOULD BE OF GREAT ENHANCEMENT AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE WORKING POOR AND TO THE VERY POOR. I SPEAK NOT AGAINST ANYTHING OR ANYONE, BUT IN SUPPORT OF THE VERY POOR WHO HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY LEFT OUT OF THIS TREMENDOUS TECHNOLOGICAL THING THAT WE HAVE AND JUST PASSED THEM ON BY. WE CANNOT LET OUR POOR PEOPLE JUST EXIST IN EAST AUSTIN WITHOUT GAINFUL OPPORTUNITIES. AND ONE LAST POINT AND THAT IS THAT THE RIATA GROUP HAS MADE EVERY EFFORT, EVERY EFFORT TO COMPROMISE. AND SO I BELIEVE NOW WITH COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND ALVAREZ AND WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION, THE STAFF WORK, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD AND THE WORST THING THAT WE COULD DO IS TO POSTPONE THIS THING. LET'S MOVE IT AHEAD AND GET ON WITH IT. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. COUNCIL, MRS. RIVERA, HANG ON. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS -- IT'S 5:30 OR RIGHT AT 5:30. I'M GOING TO READ THROUGH THOSE CARDS OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP NOT SPEAKING BUT WANTED TO HAVE THEIR OPINION KNOWN. GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH THOSE CARDS. THEN I'LL ASK FOR THE MOTION TO RECESS SO WE CAN GO TO OUR 5:30 TIME CERTAIN AT AROUND 6:00 WE WILL COME BACK. WHEN WE COME BACK, MS. RIVERA WILL BE THE FIRST SPEAKER FOLLOWED BY VANDYKE JOHNSON AND JERRY GARCIA. FRANK SAMINO WILL FOLLOW MR. GARCIA AND THEN SARAH CROCKER WILL FOLLOW HIM. WITH THAT, LET ME RUN THROUGH SOME OF THESE CARDS. JERRY SMITH SIGNED UP IN FAVOR. JANIE SUSTATA SIGNED UP AGAINST. CARMEN SALAS SIGNED UP AGAINST. CHRISTINE NUEVA SIGNED UP AGAINST. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: ... GUADALUPE RIOS, ARE YOU HERE? DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? YOU WILL BE SHOWN AGAINST. MEGAN KATHERINE KENNON, AGAINST. DELIA SUFENTES, AGAINST. JOSE GUERRA, AGAINST. THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP NOT WISHING TO SPEAK, BUT WANTED TO HAVE THEIR OPINION KNOWN. COUNCIL, WITH THAT, WHEN WE COME BACK, WE WILL START RIGHT UP WITH MR. RIVERA. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECESS.

>>WYNN: SO MOVE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE RECESSED. IF THOSE THAT ARE HERE, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO, FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH OUR ROUTINE. IT'S 5:30, AT 5:30, WHAT WE DO IS WE HAVE LIVE MUSIC AND THE READING OF PROCLAMATIONS AND GIVING THE PROCLAMATIONS. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT IF YOU ARE GOING -- WHILE WE MAY BE IN RECESS, WE ARE GOING TO BE BASICALLY CONDUCTING SOME BUSINESS OF THE CITY. SO IF YOU WISH TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, WHAT MY REQUEST WOULD BE THAT YOU PLEASE TAKE THOSE CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE AND WHEN I SAY OUTSIDE, I WILL TELL YOU, I MEAN OUTSIDE. BECAUSE WHEN THESE DOORS OPEN, IT'S AS THOUGH EVERYBODY IS JUST STANDING RIGHT IN HERE. SO THAT WOULD BE MY REQUEST, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. MY GUESS IS THAT WE WILL RECONVENE JUST A LITTLE BIT AFTER 6:00. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IF I CAN GET EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION, AS I INDICATED A MINUTE AGO, WE ARE NOW AT THAT POINT IN OUR DAY WHERE WE GET TO LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC, CELEBRATE PARTED OF WHAT MAKES AUSTIN, AUSTIN. NOT ONLY BY LISTENING TO LIVE MUSIC, BUT ALSO BY GOING THROUGH SOME OF OUR PROCLAMATIONS AND MAKING SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS TO SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT MAKE THIS SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE. I HAVE GOT TO TELL YOU THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE EXCITING MUSIC AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR SOMETHING SPECIAL, BUT TODAY I FEEL PARTICULARLY SPECIAL ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE HAVE GARY CLARK HERE WITH US. GARY CLARK IS 17 YEARS OLD. HE'S A JUNIOR AT AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. PART OF WHAT MAKES AUSTIN SPECIAL, BUT IN PARTICULAR WE ARE GETTING READY TO HEAR HIM PLAY SOME MUSIC AND TRUTH BE KNOWN HE HAS NEVER HAD ANY FORMAL TRAINING ON THE GUITAR. IN FACT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WAS WHEN HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD, HE CHECKED OUT A BOOK IN THE LIBRARY ON HOW TO PLAY THE GUITAR AND NOW HE'S PLAYING GUITAR. AND I MEAN HE'S NOT JUST PLAYING IT A LITTLE BIT, HE'S PLAYING IT A LOT. IN FACT HE OPENED FOR JIMMY VAUGHAN, OPENED FOR GATE MOUTH BROWN, PLAYED TOGETHER ON STAGE WITH TEXAS JOHNNY BROWN AND PERFORMED AT THE ANTONE'S BLUES FESTIVAL. SO I AM VERY PLEASED AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO SAY BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT I KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS DO HERE BY PROCLAIM MAY 3RD, 2001 AS GARY CLARK DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. [APPLAUSE] YES, SIR. AND I CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THE MANY OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE LOCAL MUSIC COMMUNITY TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTIN'S SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND IN RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF ARTISTS WHICH FURTHER AUSTIN'S STATUS AS THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, SIGNED KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AUSTIN'S OWN HOME GROWN GARY CLARK. [APPLAUSE] [MUSIC PLAYING] [APPLAUSE]

>>MAYOR WATSON: GOOD FOR YOU. [APPLAUSE] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GARY CLARK. [APPLAUSE] GARY TELL US WHERE ANYBODY CAN COME HERE YOU.

>> EVERY MONDAY NIGHT AT JAZZ RESTAURANT, 7:30.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GARY CLARK. [APPLAUSE]

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL. STEVEN, STURDEVAUN, ADAM PETERSON AND OFFICER DWIGHT SCHMIDT, CAN YOU COME FORWARD? PRESENCE PRESENCE.

>> AS I INDICATED WHEN WE STARTED WOF THESE PROCLAMATIONS THAT PART OF WHAT MAKES THIS A SPECIAL TIME OF DAY IS BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE FOLKS THAT MAKE AUSTIN SPECIAL. AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GETTING READY TO DO, IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE EVERY NOW AND THEN WE TAKE A MOMENT TO PAUSE AND SAY THANK YOU TO FOLKS WHO HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN HEROIC. THEY HAVE DONE SOMETHING THAT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY AND AS A RESULT OF THAT THEY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE NOT ONLY IN THE LIVES OF MAYBE ONE OR TWO INDIVIDUALS, BUT IN THE LIVES OF THIS COMMUNITY. AND SO I'M PLEASED TODAY TO -- TO GIVE THREE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS. BECAUSE THERE WAS A -- THERE WAS A HORRIBLE EVENT, BAD EVENT AND THESE INDIVIDUALS TOOK IT INTO THEIR HANDS TO -- TO TAKE ON HEROIC MEASURES. IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. LET ME READ THESE AND YOU WILL SEE EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN. THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD READS, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND APPRECIATION OF HIS WILLINGNESS TO STOP AND RENDER AID AT THE SCENE OF A SHOOTING AT SOUTH MOPAC AND SLAUGHTER LANE. FOR HIS EAGLE SCOUT TRAINING AND FIRST AID WHICH ALLOWED HIM TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY LIFE SAVING TREATMENT TO ONE OF THE VICTIMS INVOLVED AND FOR HIS ASSISTANCE TO EMERGENCY PERSONNEL AFTER THEY ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, STEVEN IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION. THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HIS HEROISM IN SAVING A YOUNG WOMAN'S LIFE IN ADMIRATION OF HIS DEDICATION TO LIVING OUT THE BOY SCOUT OATH TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES. PRESENTED THIS THIRD DAY OF MAY, A.D., 2001, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCILL, IT'S SIGNED BY ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. BEFORE WE APPLAUD, I WANT TO APPLAUD ALL OF THESE PEOPLE GREATLY. THE SECOND ONE READS, IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND APPRECIATION OF HIS WILLINGNESS TO STOP AN RENDER AID AT THE SCENE OF A SHOOTING AT SOUTH MOPAC AND SLAUGHTER LANE. FOR HIS ASSISTANCE IN PROVIDING EMERGENCY LIFE SAVING TREATMENT TO ONE OF THE VICTIMS INVOLVED. AND FOR HIS COOPERATION WITH EMERGENCY PERSONNEL AFTER THEY ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, ADAM PETERSON IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION. THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND APPRECIATION OF HIS HERISM IN SAVING A YOUNG WOMAN'S LIFE, PRESENTED THIS THIRD DAY OF MAY, 2001, AGAIN BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCILL AND SIGNED BY ME. FINALLY, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND APPRECIATION OF HIS WILLINGNESS TO STOP AND RENDER AID AT THE SCENE OF A SHOOTING IN SOUTH MOPAC AND SLAUGHTER LANE. FOR HIS GUIDANCE TO THE YOUNG MEN PROVIDING EMERGENCY LIFE SAVING TREATMENT TO ONE OF THE VICTIMS INVOLVED. AND FOR HIS ASSISTANCE TO AUSTIN POLICE PERSONNEL AFTER THEY ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, ROUND ROCK PATROL OFFICER DWIGHT SCHMIDT IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION. THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HIS HEROISM, AGAIN PRESENTED THIS THIRD DAY OF MAY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THREE HEROES IN OUR PRESENCE. LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

>> IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN SAY I WOULD EXPECT ANYBODY TO DO PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING THAT I DID. I'M JUST HELPING ANOTHER PERSON IN NEED. TO JENNIFER APPLEWHITE, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S HERE OR NOT, SHE'S A VERY COURAGEOUS WOMAN. AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO HER. AND SHE WAS A TROOPER THAT NIGHT. SHE DEFINITELY HAD THE HEART OF A LION AND OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH HER. SO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I JUST WANT TO SAY THESE TWO GUYS HERE, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK TONIGHT, I WAS IN UNIFORM, A VEST, GUN, POLICE CAR, IT'S PART OF MY JOB. THESE TWO GUYS, I COULD NOT HAVE DONE WHAT THEY DID WHEN I WAS THEIR AGE. THEY ARE THE TRUE HEROES, ONE MORE TIME FOR THEM. [APPLAUSE]

>>GOODMAN: IF I COULD ASK AMA SISNET TO COME. WHERE IS SHE? THREE SHE IS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AUSTIN ONCE HAD A WONDERFUL CITIZEN NAMED SUSAN G. HADEN. SHE WAS AN AMAZING WOMAN. SHE BELIEVED IN MEETING CHALLENGES, SHE BELIEVED IN SEEKING OUT CHALLENGES TO MEET. SHE WAS A VISIONARY. AND SHE WAS ALSO VERY PRACTICAL, VERY COGNIZANT OF PRACTICALITY AND ACHIEVING YOUR VISION, SHE WAS VERY TENACIOUS, SHE WAS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL AND A GOOD FRIEND TO MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN. AND SHE BROKE SO MANY BARRIERS JUST BY THINKING OF THINGS TO ACHIEVE AROUND THEN BUGGING ALL OF THE REST UNTIL WE HELPED US TRY TO ACHIEVE THEM. AND I WANTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT HER BECAUSE THE TELECOMMUNITY AWARD WINNER IS NAMED IN MEMORY OF SUSAN. AND THE -- THE ACHIEVEMENT THAT IT TAKES TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD IS FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT. THE OTHER RECIPIENTS OF THIS AWARD WERE FRANK FISHER FROM L.B.J., JEAN CRAIG OF MAIN, AND DOROTHY WINBURN, WHO WAS DEWY WINBURN'S WIDOW, SHE ACCEPTED IT FOR HERSELF AND TOO DEWY ACTUALLY. TODAY WE HAVE ANOTHER WONDERFUL WOMAN WHO IS VERY DESERVING OF THIS KIND OF AWARD. AND IT'S VERY MUCH AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS. I HAVE GOTTEN TO PRESENT IT IF A COUPLE OF YEARS RUNNING. IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT SUSAN, TO TALK ABOUT DEWY AND JEAN AND ANA AND ALL OF THE REST OF THE FOLKS WHO CAN ASPIRE TO WINNING THIS. THE PROCLAMATION IS TO LET IT BE KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS DOES HERE BY PROCLAIM ANA SISNET AS THE 2001 SUSAN G HADEN TELECOMMUNITY AWARD WINNER IN AUSTIN. HE CALLS ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING THAT ANA IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN FREE NET. A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION PROVIDING TRAINING AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES FOR ALL AUSTIN RESIDENTS. IN RECOGNIZING THAT SHE HAS BEEN A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR EQUITIABLE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, COMPUTING RESOURCES AND INFORMATION. AND IN RECOGNIZING THAT THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCILL CREATED THE TELECOMMUNITY AWARD TO COMMEMORATE DR. SUSAN GINSBURG HADEN'S COMMITMENT TO THE GOAL OF UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO TELECOMMUNICATION RESOURCES. AND TO RECOGNIZE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN WHO GIVE THEIR TIME, ENERGY AND WISDOM TO FULFILL THIS GOAL. HE CALLS ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING ANA SIS SISNET FOR -- SISNET FOR HER OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP. WE EXTEND OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR HER COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN AND PRESENT THIS AWARD FOR HER WITH OUR CONGRATULATIONS AND ADMIRATION. IT'S SIGNED BY KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND I THINK THAT SUSAN WOULD BE VERY PLEASED WITH THE HONOREE TODAY. ANA, THANK YOU. [CHEERING]. [APPLAUSE].

>>GOODMAN: LET ME SAY THAT FRANK FISHER IS A PREVIOUS HONOREE.

>> THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY I CAME IN FRONT OF A MIC, SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF WORDS TODAY. BECAUSE I DON'T DO THIS WORK BY MYSELF AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT HELP. I AM BOTH HONORED AND HUMBLED TO RECEIVE THE AWARD THIS YEAR. WHEN I FIRST HEARD OF PROFESSOR HADEN, I WAS NEW TO AUSTIN FREE NET, BUT HER NAME WAS SPOKEN NOT ONLY IN SADNESS BUT WITH REFUSE RENCE AND RESPECT FOR ALL -- REVERENCE BY ALL. OTHERS HAVE MADE AUSTIN A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE THANKS TO THEIR WORK. TODAY I CAN ONLY HOPE TO LIVE UP TO THE DREAMS HELD BY PROFESSOR HADEN TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PAST RECIPIENTS OF THIS AWARD, LIKE THIS GENTLEMEN HERE AND OTHERS IN THE AUDIENCE, TO THEIR FAMILIES AND TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE SEEN IT FIT TO ADD ME TO SUCH AN ESTEEMED GROUP OF PEOPLE. I CAME TO COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY WORK AS AN ACTIVIST WORKING WITH WOMEN IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AROUND THE WORLD. FOR MANY OF THOSE COMMUNITIES RUNNING WATER AND ELECTRICITY WAS NOT AVAILABLE 24 HOURS AND A COMPUTER WAS -- AND THE OTHER TECHNOLOGY THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED WERE -- WERE ONLY JUST A DREAM. BUT I LEARNED EARLY ON THAT THEY COUNTED ACCESS TO INFORMATION AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT, AS SIMILAR TO FOOD, HOUSING, HEALTH, PEACE AND FREEDOM FROM VIOLENCE AND OPPRESSION AND THIS IS TRUE FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE HERE IN AUSTIN. REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE WERE BORN, REGARDLESS OF OUR GENDER AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION. REGARDLESS OF THE LANGUAGES WE SPEAK, OUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ABILITIES. FOR THIS REASON, I THANK THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S LEADER. THE CITY COUNCILL'S TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE THAT HAS BEEN A STEADFAST SUPPORTER FROM OUR VERY BEGINNING. THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND COMPUTING RESOURCES AND THEY ARE REGARDED NOW NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AS A MODEL FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW. I'M ALSO GRATEFUL TO ALL OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT WORK WITH US AND SUPPORT OUR WORK, ESPECIALLY TO THE STAFF OF AUSTIN FREE NET, DALE THOMPSON, JOHN NEIL, LESSLY, RICK JEWELI SOJ, OUR LONG-TIME TECHIE FRIENDS. ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS, EACH OF OUR PROJECT PARTNERS PAST AND PRESENT, OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS, AUSTIN FREE NET'S AMERICORPS VISTA, MICHAEL, OUR FOUNDERS AND OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHO CONTINUE WITH US TODAY. THEY, TOO, ARE DESERVING OF THIS AWARD. IT IS THEIR COMMITMENT, CREATIVITY AND SHARED -- SHEER DETERMINATION THAT MAKES ACCESS TO TRAINING AND TECHNOLOGY A REALITY FOR MORE AND MORE PEOPLE. THROUGHOUT AUSTIN EVERY DAY. THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON. THANK YOU FOR THE CHALLENGE TO AUSTIN FREE NET TO BECOME A BETTER ORGANIZATION. AND THANK YOU FOR THE CHALLENGE FOR AUSTIN TO BECOME A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE. I APPRECIATE IT. [APPLAUSE] [CHEERING].

>> WE ARE DOING THIS WITH ALL PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS, TOO. GENE. [APPLAUSE]

>>THOMAS: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR FOR ME TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO -- LET ME START ALL OVER AGAIN. THANK YOU. IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PARTICULAR PROCLAMATION. IT FILLS MY HEART WITH -- WITH PROUD AND ALSO LETS ME KNOW THAT -- THAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE WENT BEFORE US IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. I THINK ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT ALL OF THE TIME, ALTHOUGH I HAVE LEFT LAW ENFORCEMENT A YEAR AGO. BUT I CAN REMEMBER THE DAYS THAT I USED TO HAVE TO GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, PUT MY VEST ON. FIRST GIVE PRAISES TO GOD THAT I -- TO PROTECT ME AS I DO A TOUR OF DUTY. WE HAVE TO ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SERVES US WELL. I SERVED UNDER FOUR DIFFERENT CHIEFS AND I CAN SAY FOR MYSELF THAT I AM VERY PROUD THAT WE HAVE A CHIEF THAT'S IN AUSTIN THAT HAS THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND ALSO HAS THE HEART OF HIS OFFICERS. IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR FOR ME TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO CHIEF KNEE, THE CHIEF OF AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND IT READS AS: PROCLAMATION -- CITY OF AUSTIN PROCLAMATION: BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENT, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HERE BY PROCLAIM MAY 13TH THROUGH THE 19TH, 2001, AS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK. IN AUSTIN. AND CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THAT SINCE 1962, OUR NATION HAS COMMEMORATED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO HAVE GIVEN DEDICATED SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES DURING THIS WEEK -- THIS SPECIAL WEEK IN MAY. IN RECOGNIZING THAT MAY 15TH IS DESIGNATED AS -- AS POLICE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO -- WHO THROUGH THEIR COURAGEOUS DEEDS HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN SERVING TO OUR CITIZENS OR WHO HAVE BECOME DISABLED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF DUTY AND IN RECOGNIZING AND PAYING RESPECT TO THE SURVIVORS OF OUR FALLEN HEROES. I CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN HONORING ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO WORK DILIGENTLY AND SELFISHLY [SIC] TO SAFEGUARD LIVES AND PROTECT PROTECT -- SAFEGUARD LIFE AND PROPERTY AND PROTECT US FROM VIOLENCE AND DISORDER. SIGNED BY OUR MAYOR, KIRK WATSON. I GIVE THIS TO CHIEF KNEE. [APPLAUSE]

>> I THINK WHAT MAKES THIS PROCLAMATION A -- ESPECIALLY NICE IS THAT -- THAT COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS SERVED OVER 20 YEARS ON THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND NOW HE SERVES THE COMMUNITY IN A DIFFERENT ROLE AS A CITY COUNCILLMEMBER. UNFORTUNATELY EACH YEAR THE STATE OF TEXAS RANKS AMONG THE TOP STATES IN THE LOSS OF POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. THAT'S BAD ENOUGH. BUT THE STATISTICS ON OFFICERS WHO ARE ALSO INJURED BY DRUNK DRIVERS, BY OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO SEEK TO HURT YOU AND TO SEEK TO HURT THEM, BOOST THOSE NUMBERS EVEN HIGHER. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS PROCLAMATION MEANS A LOT TO US. IT MEANS A LOT TO EVERY POLICE OFFICER IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THAT WEARS A BADGE AND PROTECT ALL OF US. IT WILL MEAN A LOT TO THOSE OFFICERS THAT WILL BE GOING TO THE POLICE OFFICER MEMORIAL CEREMONIES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WHERE WE HONOR ALL OF THE GOOD MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE DIED SERVING THEIR COUNTRY AS POLICE OFFICERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>>THOMAS: IT'S ALSO A PRIVILEGE TO DID PRESENT THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO A YOUNG LADY THAT HAS REALLY WORKED HARD IN HER FIELD, BREAKING THE TRADITIONAL STANDARDS FOR DIFFERENT THINGS. SHE HAS WORKED HARD IN THE COMMUNITY. AND IT READS AS A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HER UNTIRING EFFORTS AND UNSELFISH SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITY DURING HER THREE AND A HALF YEAR TENURE AS A MEMBER AND INTERIM CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN AREA COMPREHENSIVE H.I.V. PLANNING COUNCIL. LINDA CLARK MOSS IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM IN RECOGNITION -- AND RECOGNITION. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP WHICH HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HOW LIVES, HOW THE COUNCIL CONDUCTS ITS BUSINESS AND ON HOW IT DEVELOPED AND MAKES AVAILABLE PROGRAMS FOR THE TRADITIONALLY UNSERVED POPULATION LIVING WITH H.I.V., AIDS, IN OUR AREA. PRESENTED WITH OUR APPRECIATION THIS 3RD DAY OF MAY, A.D., 2000, THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, SIGNED BY THE MAYOR, KIRK WATSON. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> I'M HONORED TO HAVE THIS RECOGNITION BESTOWED UPON ME. LET ME ASSURE YOU, H.I.V. AND AIDS ADVOCACY IS A HARD ADVOCACY. SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE UNJUSTLY STIGMA, HOMOPHOBIA, AND -- AND IT JUST TOUCHED MY HEART EVERY TIME I START THINKING ABOUT IT. SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. WHEN I BEGAN THIS ADVOCACY, I WAS IMPACTED IN THAT I HAD A FAMILY MEMBER WHO WAS INFECTED WITH THIS DREAD DISEASE. I JOINED THE AUSTIN AREA COMPREHENSIVE H.I.V. PLANNING COUNCIL IN DECEMBER OF '97. I WANTED TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS WHO ARE INFECTED AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THIS DISEASE IN ORDER TO SEE HOW I CAN HELP MAKE A CHANGE IN THOSE PEOPLE'S LIVES. I FEEL THAT I HAVE. I NEED AND NOT ONLY I NEED, BUT TRAVIS COUNTY NEEDS YOUR ASSISTANCE IN HELPING PUT AN TEND TO THIS DISEASE. PLEASE, PLEASE, HELP US BECAUSE WE NEED YOU. WE CANNOT DO IT BY OURSELVES. IN LEAVING I WANT TO QUOTE TO YOU INFORMATION THAT WAS DELIVERED FROM NELSON MANDELA. WHEN HE LEFT PRISON. I QUOTE, I LEFT PRISON MORE INFORMED THAN WHEN I WENT IN. AND THE MORE INFORMED YOU ARE, THE LESS ARROGANT AND AGGRESSIVE YOU ARE. WHEN I BECAME A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING COUNCIL, I WAS -- I WAS ARROGANT AND I WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE. I LEAVE AND I BY NO MEANS COMPARE THE PLANNING COUNCIL WITH PRISON, BUT I AM LEAVING. HIGH SPIRITED AND I HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT -- ABOUT PEOPLE INFECTED AND FAMILIES AFFECTED WITH THIS DISEASE. I HAVE WORKED ON VOLUNTEER BASIS WITH A MYRIAD OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE HER IN TRAVIS COUNTY. I AM SO INSPIRED, SO DEDICATED TO HELPING FIGHT THIS DISEASE I ALONG WITH DEDICATED FRIENDS HAVE CREATED A NEW H.I.V. AIDS SERVICE PROVIDER AGENCY AND THE AGENCY, THE NAME OF THE AGENCY IS CREATIVE INITIATIVES, INCORPORATED. ONCE AGAIN WE NEED YOUR HELP TO FIGHT THIS BATTLE. [APPLAUSE]

>>MAYOR WATSON: BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS, THAT I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2001 AS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IN AUSTIN. AND I CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THAT YOUNG AT HEART, MAY FEST 2001, IS AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION DURING -- IT'S CONDUCTED DURING OLDER AMERICANS MONTH AND FEATURES INFORMATION AND REFERRAL BOOTHS, HEALTH SCREENINGS, ENTERTAINMENT, RECOGNITIONS AND A GUEST SPEAKER FROM ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES. IN RECOGNIZING THAT THIS EVENT IS SPONSORED BY THE AUSTIN HOUSING AUTHORITY, MEDICARE, HOWERTON EYE CENTER, READ CORLEY FISH, HYDE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF REGULATORY SERVICES AND SENIORS PROGRAM. ENCOURAGING AUSTIN SENIOR CITIZENS TO TAKE PART IN THIS EVENT IN THEIR HONOR ON FRIDAY, MAY 18TH, FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M. AT PARQUE ZARAGOSA RECREATION CENTER. SIGNED BY ME, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, I'M VERY PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION DECLARING OLDER AMERICANS MONTH AND I WILL PRESENT TO MORE SAY ZAPATA. [APPLAUSE] -- TO JORGE ZAP TAKE. --.

>> WITH ME TONIGHT TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION IS CYNTHIA HENDERSON WITH PROTECTIVE SERVICES. ANA -- ALMA SALAS WITH THE AUSTIN HOUSING AUTHORITY. DAVE BAKER WITH MEDICARE. REVEREND JIMMY BLOTSWORTH WITH HIGH PARK BAPTIST CHURCH, RICK WITH WEED, CORLEY AND FISH. MAYOR, IT IS -- IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE OLDER AMERICANS AND I MYSELF WILL PROBABLY BE ONE OF THEM PRETTY SOON. BUT I ASK YOU TO PLEASE COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THE FUNCTION, IT WILL BE MAY 15TH AH FRIDAY AT PARQUE ZARAGOSA. WE INVITE EVERYONE TO ATTEND, THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION.

>> HI. I JUST WANTED TO SAY BASICALLY WITH HOSTING AND COORDINATING THE SENIOR MAY FEST, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JUST WANTS TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT -- THAT JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE GET OLDER DOESN'T MEAN THEY NO LONGER HAVE A HEART AND THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER LIVING. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER OUR ELDERS, WITHOUT THEM WE WOULDN'T HAVE WISDOM. [APPLAUSE]

>> I COUNT THIS A REAL PRIVILEGE TONIGHT TO BE HERE. I THINK THE HOUSING -- I THANK THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR SORT OF I GUESS LETTING ME TEAM UP WITH THEM. I HAVE BEEN IN THE -- IN THE MINISTRY MOW FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS, ALMA WAS ONE OF THE MANAGERS THERE. SHE WAS A BLESSING TO ME BECAUSE SHE WORKED WITH ME. AND THIS IS WHY I -- WHY THINGS HAPPEN IS BECAUSE PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER. AND WHEN GOD CALLED ME INTO THIS, HE CALLED ME AND I -- I NEVER IMAGINED THAT ONE DAY THAT IT WOULD GET THIS BIG. BUT HYDE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH IS SPONSORING ME TO DO AN APARTMENT MINISTRY. WE GO INTO APARTMENTS AND MINISTER TO THE PEOPLE. MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, WHEN GOD CALLED ME INTO THE MINISTRY, I THOUGHT THAT MINISTERING WAS STEPPING BEHIND THE PULPIT AND LETTING THEM HAVE IT, YOU KNOW. BUT I'M FROM LOUISIANA, YOU ALL DON'T STONE ME YET, OKAY. BUT WHEN I CAME OVER HERE AND GOD CALLED ME INTO THIS APARTMENT MINISTRY, I FOUND OUT RIGHT AWAY THAT MINIMUMS COMMUNITY IS NOT JUST PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD BEHIND THE PULPIT, BUT MINISTERING IS GETTING OUT THERE AND FINING WHAT THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY NEED. I THANK THE -- I THINK THAT MAY FEST WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE FOR YOU TO COME AND MIX AND MINGLE WITH SOME OF THESE OLDER PEOPLE, FIND OUT WHAT SOME OF THEIR NEEDS ARE. GOD BLESS YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> I JUST NEED TO SAY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH CHILD ABUSE, BUT ELDER ABUSE IS ALSO A VERY REAL PROBLEM. AT ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES WE DEAL EVERY DAY WITH ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BEING ABUSED AND NEGLECTED AND EXPLOITED AND I URGE YOU TO PLEASE CALL AND REPORT IF YOU KNOW OF ANY ELDERLY PERSON THAT IS IN NEED OF HELP, WE HAVE A 1-800 NUMBER THAT'S 1-800-252-5400. THESE CITIZENS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, THEY ARE IN NEED OF PROTECTION. VERY MANY OF THEM ARE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>>GOODMAN: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES US SUCH A DIVERSE, INTERESTING AND UNIQUE AND SOUGHT AFTER COMMUNITY TO BE IN IS OUR CULTURAL RICHNESS. AND TODAY FOR ASIAN PACIFIC HERITAGE MONTH, AMY IS HERE WITH US. RELATIVE TO AN ITEM THAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA LATER ON, IT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT PROCLAMATION AND CERTAINLY A SEGUE INTO AN ITEM THAT WE WILL BE HAVING LATER. THE PROCLAMATION SHOULD PROBABLY BE READ BY THE MAYOR. SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO HIM.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I CAN DO IT.

>> BE IT KNOWN THAT I KIRK WATSON DO HERE BY PROCLAIM MAY 2001 AS ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN ALL. I CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THAT ALMOST 10 MILLION AMERICANS TRACE THEIR ROOTS TO ASIA AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. AND THAT ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS HAVE HAD A PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES. IN APPRECIATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS, IN THE PROFESSIONAL, CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL AND POLITICAL LIFE OF OUR COMMUNITY, STATE AND NATION, IN RECOGNIZING THAT ASIAN AND PACIFIC PEOPLES BROUGHT THEIR REMARKABLE TRADITIONS OF HARD WORK AND RESPECT FOR FAMILY AND EDUCATION TO OUR COUNTRY AND CONTINUE TO ENRICH OUR NATION WITH ENERGY AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY, AND IN ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO JOIN IN THE FESTIVITIES CELEBRATING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN AUSTIN, IT'S SIGNED BY ME, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS I AM PROUD TO PRESENT THIS TO MY FRIEND AMY WONG. [APPLAUSE]

>> TODAY IS A VERY HAPPY DAY. IT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. BY YOUR PROCLAMATION, WE KNOW WE ARE BEING ACCEPTED. NOT JUST AS ASIANS LIVING IN AMERICA IN AUSTIN, BUT BEING ACCEPTED AS AUSTINITES, AS ASIAN AMERICANS. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROCLAMATION BY EMBRACING AND BY -- BY CELEBRATING OUR RICH CULTURE. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ALL OF THE DIFFERENT EVENTS HAPPENING IN THE MONTH OF MAY, PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE, ASIANAMERICAN ASIANAMERICANCC.COM. WE HAVE EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AT THE AUSTIN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, AT THE ASIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, AT THE -- AT THE DIFFERENT PARKS AND RECREATION CENTER. SO I WANT TO ASK ALL AUSTINITES TO JOIN US TO CELEBRATE THAT WE ARE HERE TO STAY, THIS IS OUR NEW HOME. BY YOUR ACTION THIS EVENING, TO -- TO PASS THE RESOLUTION THAT IS ON THIS EVENING'S AGENDA. WE TRULY FEEL THAT -- THAT YOU ARE SUPPORTING US. YOU WANT US TOING PART OF THE TEAM, TO -- YOU WANT US TO BE PART OF THE TEAM, TO HELP SHAPE AND FORM AUSTIN AS OUR NEW HOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AUSTINITES. THANK YOU, MAYOR KIRK WATSON. THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU ALL COUNCILMEMBERS, BEVERLY GRIFFITH, DANNY THOMAS, AND OUR FRIEND, OF COURSE, RAUL ALVAREZ AND -- AND HAVE I MISSED ANYBODY? I DON'T WANT TO -- NATURE SLUSHER.

>> OH, COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, OUR DEAR FRIEND, WHERE IS HE? I DON'T SEE HIM. ALSO I WANT TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCILMEMBER AND THE -- THE CITY COUNCILL MANAGER MR. JESUS GARZA BY HIRING OUR FIRST ASIAN AMERICAN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, MR. ROGER CHAN. HE HAS ALREADY HELPED THE COMMUNITY TREMENDOUSLY. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF CITY STAFF ARE ASIAN AMERICAN IN HIS VERY SHORT TIME HERE IN AUSTIN. SO FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, AND THE CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT CONCLUDES OUR PROCLAMATIONS, BUT ON THE -- WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS WE WILL CALL THE CITY COUNCILL BACK TO ORDER AT 6:25. AT -- ACCORDING TO THE CLOCK THE OFFICIAL CLOCK THAT I'M LOOKING AT, IT'S ABOUT 6:18. WHAT WE WILL DO IS CALL THE COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER PROMPTLY AT 6:25. AT THAT POINT WE WILL TAKE UP THE RESOLUTION THAT AMY JUST REFERENCED. THAT WILL BE THE FIRST THING THAT WE TAKE UP. I ANTICIPATE THAT WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO FINISH WITH THAT, THE GOOD NEWS IS, BY ABOUT 6:30. IT OUGHT TO BE THAT QUICK. TO BE ABLE TO -- BECAUSE IT'S -- IT'S GOING TO BE THAT EASY FOR THE COUNCIL.

>> THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SO WE WILL COME BACK AT 6:25, FIB WITH THAT AND -- FINISH WITH THAT, THEN WE WILL GO DIRECTLY BACK TO THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE WERE CONDUCTING ON THE BENEFIT IN IT TRACT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, WE WILL SEE YOU BACK AT 6:25.

>>MAYOR WATSON: CAN YOU PLEASE COME TO ORDER! CAN YOU PLEASE COME TO ORDER! I WILL CALL THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER, WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM NO. 26, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE DO BELIEVE THIS WILL BE QUICK, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF SUPPORTERS HERE FOR THIS ITEM, BUT BASICALLY WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN NETWORK HERE LOCALLY. THAT'S A NETWORK OF A GREAT MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE -- THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND TO, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST -- JUST -- TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES ARE BEING ADDRESSED. I WAS JUST HONORED TO BE ASKED TO HELP SPONSOR THIS ITEM BECAUSE I SEE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE LATINO COMMUNITY AND THE ASIAN COMMUNITY BECAUSE JUST LIKE THE LATINO COMMUNITY THAT IS EVEN WITHIN ITSELF VERY DIVERSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FOLKS FROM NORTH AMERICA HERE IN MEXICO, FOLKS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN LATIN AMERICA, WE HAVE FOLKS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN SOUTH AMERICA. THOSE ARE ALL ISSUES THAT WE AS A LATINO COMMUNITY HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND HAVE TO -- HAVE TO -- YOU KNOW, HAVE TO RESPECT AND HONOR AND SO I THINK IT'S VERY MUCH THE SAME WITH ASIAN COMMUNITY WHERE THERE'S JUST A GREAT OF AMOUNT OF DIVERSITY, EVEN WITHIN THE ASIAN COMMUNITY. TO SEE ALL OF THEM COME TOGETHER TO WORK IN A NETWORK LIKE THIS IS JUST A VERY -- VERY IMPRESSIVE WHEN -- BECAUSE ALL TOO OFTEN I THINK EVEN WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES THERE'S A LOT OF IN-FIGHTING. SO IT'S JUST VERY REFRESHING, I THINK, TO SEE A COMMUNITY THAT REALLY WORKS HARD TO COME TOGETHER AND WHAT WE ARE PUTTING ON THE TABLE, MYSELF AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND MAYOR PRO TEM JACKIE GOODMAN, ALL OF THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS IS FOR THE CITY TO INITIATE A STUDY TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY CITY LAND, CITY OWNED LAND THAT CAN BE UTILIZED TO DEVELOP AN ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER. SO THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THIS IDEA. AND A LOT OF THE GROUNDWORK HAS BEEN DONE BY MESH -- BY MEMBERS OF THE ASIAN NETWORK. I DO BELIEVE THEY HAVE DESIGNATED SOMEONE WHO WILL -- WHO WILL GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION ABOUT -- ABOUT THEIR VISION FOR THAT COMMUNITY CENTER. SO -- SO IF -- IF THOSE INDIVIDUAL WOULD WANT TO STEP FORWARD AND AS THE MAYOR NOTED, I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP IT AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE. BUT WE WILL TRY TO ACKNOWLEDGE AT LEAST EVERYONE WHO IS HERE WHO IS HERE TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND I WILL YIELD TO OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WHO MAY WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT OR TWO HERE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: DOES ANYBODY WANT FOR COMMENT NOW OR GO TO THE PRESENTATION?

>>THOMAS: IF YOU DON'T MIND, MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.

>>THOMAS: I GO ALONG WITH WHAT COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ WAS SAYING. THAT I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO MEET WITH THE ASIAN GROUP AND WHAT I HAVE LEARNED, WE ALL ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS, NO MATTER WHAT ETHNICITY WE ARE. BUT WE HAVE TO SERVE EACH OTHER. IT WAS A GREAT IDEA THAT WE HOPEFULLY THAT WE CAN FIND -- LET'S SAY WE ARE GOING TO FIND SOME CITY PROPERTY THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO BRING THIS CENTER TO THE FRONT AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUALLY WORKING WITH THE ASIAN GROUP.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION.

>> YES. MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU ACTUALLY FIRST, COUNCILMEMBERS RAUL ALVAREZ AND DANNY THOMAS FOR YOUR WONDERFUL WORDS. I'M NIATA SPELMAN, WE ARE HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN, STANDING WITH ME HERE TODAY ARE AMY MACH WITH THE ASIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, FRANK LAMB WITH THE AUSTIN ASIAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MILLIE CHU, I DON'T KNOW -- MAYBE I WILL JUST READ IT OUT, THEY WILL RAISE THEIR HANDS, CHINESE SOCIETY OF AUSTIN, SAM SHIM WITH THE KOREAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AUSTIN, RO SFAES JANUARY, SHANKERIRITA, GEORGE CHANG WITH THE TEXAN ASIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND ... WE ARE HERE TODAY AS ASIAN AMERICANS IN AUSTIN. WE ARE A GROWING AND NOW A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION ADDING TO THE WONDERFUL CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF AUSTIN. LOCALLY WE NOW NUMBER AT OVER 30,000 AND WE ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE AUSTIN AREA. OUR NUMBERS HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. WE ARE A COMMUNITY REPRESENTING NUMERALROUS LANGUAGES AND ETHNICITIES, EACH WITH ITS OWN UNIQUE CULTURE. WE ARE GUIDED BY MANY PHILOSOPHIES AND RELIGIONS, WE ARE CHINESE, CORRINA, PHILIPPINO, JAPANESE, INDIAN, KOREAN, TAI, MALASIAN, TIBETIAN AND MORE. MANY OF US HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MANY YEARS, MANY OF US ARE RECENT IMMIGRANTS. WE ARE AUSTINITES FROM ALL WALKS OF LIVE. IN AUSTIN WE ARE REPRESENTED BY NUMERALROUS ASIAN AMERICAN GROUPS, CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS, AND PROFESSIONAL. MOST OF THEM ARE REPRESENTED HERE TONIGHT. AND IN FACT YOU HAVE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM MOST OF THEM. AND BEYOND THE FOLKS STANDING HERE WITH ME, WE ALSO HAVE THE ASIAN CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, THE AUSTIN CHINESE FINE ARTS SOCIETY, THE AUSTIN PHILIPPINO AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, THE AUSTIN SOCIETY OF ASIAN AMERICAN PROFESSIONALS AND THE CAMBODIAN FOUNDATION. ALSO YOU HAVE SIGNED PETITIONS FROM HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUSTIN AREA. IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM. WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU. SPONGES SORED BY COUNCILMEMBERS ALVAREZ AND DANNY THOMAS AND MAYOR PRO TEM JACKIE GOODMAN. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR THIS, IT'S A VISION, A GROWING VISION THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS AND AS OUR NUMBERS HAVE SWELLED, SO HAS THE VISION TAKEN SHAPE. AND TONIGHT AS WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT, WE WANT TO SHARE OUR VISION FOR THE CENTER WITH YOU. THE ASIAN AMERICAN CULTURAL RESOURCE CENTER ENCOMPASSES TWO MAIN THEMES, A CULTURAL CENTER AND SUPPORTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND LET ME START WITH THE CULTURAL CENTER. BECAUSE THAT'S MORE FUN. THE CENTER WILL SHOWCASE THE BEST OF AUSTIN'S ASIAN CULTURE. PROVIDING A LIKELY TOURIST ATTRACTION. IT WILL BE A CENTER PLACE FOR AUSTIN'S ASIAN AMERICAN POPULATION TO GATHER AND CELEBRATE OUR CULTURES AND ETHNICITIES. IT WILL BE A PLACE TO HOLD MANY FESTIVITIES AND CULTURAL EVENTS. AFTER ALL WE HAVE WEEKLY EVENT ALMOST AT THIS POINT. I THINK SOME OF YOU HAVE ENJOYED THEM. WE SEE THE CENTER AS A PLACE TO SHARE OUR HERITAGE WITH OUR CHILDREN AND EVERYONE ELSE IN AUSTIN. IT WILL ENHANCE AUSTIN'S CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND MAKE IT MORE VISIBLE. THE CENTER WILL BE A PLACE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS, PARTICULARLY FOREIGN TRADE WITH ASIAN COUNTRIES AND A PLACE TO LEARN, EAT AND SHOP. AND TO ENJOY THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS AND TAERSS OF ASIA ALL IN ONE PLACE. THIS LEADS ME TO OUR SECOND THEME, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. CULTURAL CENTERS OFTEN DO NOT MAKE MONEY, AT LEAST FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS, BUT ALL OF US HERE ARE RELUCTANT TO HAVE TO RELY ON CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS, NONE OF US EVEN WANT TO ASK FOR ONGOING GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES. HENCE THE SECOND THEME, IT WILL BE SURROUNDED BY EARNINGS FROM FOUR ECONOMIC PILLARS, AN INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND FINANCIAL CENTER, AN EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER, A HOTEL AND RESTAURANTS, ASIAN MARKET AND RETAIL SHOPS. AS I MENTIONED THE EARNINGS FROM THESE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES WILL SUBPOENAED DISEASE THE CULTURAL CENTER SO THAT THE -- SUBSIDIZE THE CULTURAL CENTER SO THAT THE WHOLE IS SELF SUSTAINING. THE HOTEL, RESTAURANTS, RETAIL AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTER WILL ALL PRODUCE TAX REVENUES. THE TRADE CENTER WILL BE THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES, ACTUALLY, AND EARLY DISCUSSIONS INDICATE SEVERAL ASIAN COUNTRIES CONSULATES AND TRADE DELEGATIONS MAY EVEN BE INTERESTED IN HAVING A PRESENCE AT THE CENTER. OUR TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION CENTER IS AIMED AT TRAINING LOCAL CITIZENS AND OPEN TO EVERYONE IN THE SKILLS NEEDED BY AUSN'S HIGH TECH INDUSTRIES. THE GOAL OF THIS WORKFORCE ASPECT OF THE CENTER IS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING FROM THE VERY BASIC TO THE VERY SOPHISTICATED, TO LOCAL AUSTINITES TO ACQUIRE THE SKILLS NECESSARY IN TODAY'S WORKPLACE. WE ALSO THINK THAT A MINI ASIA OR ASIAN VILLAGE WILL BE NOT JUST AN ATTRACTION TO THE LOCAL ASIAN AMERICANS IN -- AND AUSTINITES AS WE WERE SAYING, BUT WILL SERVE AS A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION, TOURIST DALLAS, ANOTHER ECONOMIC ASPECT OF THE -- TOURIST DOLLARS ARE ANOTHER ECONOMIC ASPECT. WE THINK THE CENTER SHOULD BE LOCATED SO THERE IS EASY ACCESS TO ALL OF AUSTIN. WE HAVE MANY RESOURCES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO MAKING THE CENTER A REALITY. FROM MASTER PLANNERS TO ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING TEAMS TO NUMEROUS VOLUNTEERS FINDING TIME AND MONEY TO DEDICATE TO THIS FULFILLING OUR COMMUNITY VISION. IN FACT WE HAVE BEEN MEETING AND TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE. YES, WE ARE ASKING YOU FOR SOMETHING TODAY AND THAT'S THE PUBLIC PART OF THIS PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. BUT ONCE IT'S IN OPERATION, THE CENTER WILL BE SELF SUSTAINING AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME SERIOUS FUNDRAISING TO DO, BUT WE KNOW THAT TOGETHER THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN CAN SUCCEED. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE SOME OF THE CENTER RUNNING IN FIVE YEARS AND OUR COMMITMENT IS TO HAVE THE CENTER COMPLETED IN 10 YEARS. WE THINK THAT AUSTIN IS UNIQUE AND WE KNOW THIS, IN THAT THE ASIAN COMMUNITY HERE INTERACTS AN WORKS WITH EACH OTHER. UNLIKE MOST OTHER PLACES, ALL OF US FROM ALL VARIOUS COUNTRIES ACTUALLY WORK IN UNITY. AND DESPITE OUR VARIED ETHNICITIES, LANGUAGES AND RELIGIONS, WE ARE UNITED IN OUR VISION AND OUR GOALS. WE WANT A COMMON CENTRALIZED PLACE WHERE WE CAN GATHER AS FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, WHERE OUR CHILDREN CAN BE EXPOSED TO THEIR ASIAN ROOTS, WHERE WE CAN SHARE OUR HERITAGE WITH THE REST OF AUSTIN. AS MINORITIES WE WANT TO SHARE OUR ANSWER SAYSRY AND CULTURE WITH -- ANCESTRY. AS WE ENRICH AND CELEBRATE THE ASIAN COMMUNITY AND SET A DIRECTION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AUSTINITES, WE WANT THE CENTER TO BE A PLACE THAT AUSTIN CAN BE PROUD OF. FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AND THAT IT BE A RESOURCE FOR EVERYONE IN AUSTIN. AT THIS POINT I JUST WANT TO ASK EVERYONE HERE TO -- HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM TO EITHER STAND UP, IF THEY ARE SITTING OR MAYBE RAISE THEIR HANDS IN THEY ARE ALREADY STANDING. [ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR CHANGE IN [APPLAUSE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BENNETT TRACT. COUNCIL, JUST BEFORE WE BROKE, I WAS READING CARDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP NOT SPEAKING BUT THEIR POSITION. AND SOMEHOW I CALLED OUT -- FOLKS, HEY, EVERYBODY, CAN I GET YOUR ATTENTION? CAN I GET YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE. WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT LEFT. IF I COULD ASK EVERYONE TO TAKE THEIR CONVERSATIONS OUT OF THE CHAMBERS, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. WHEN WE BROKE, ONE OF THE ITEMS -- ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WAS I READ THROUGH A NUMBER OF CARDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAD SIGNED UP TO INDICATE THEIR OPINION ON THIS ITEM, BUT NOT WANTING TO SPEAK. AT ONE POINT I CALLED OUT THE NAME PAULLY STREET. ARE YOU STILL HERE? THERE SHE IS. I SAID SHE WAS AGAINST. SHE CAME UP AND CORRECTED ME, AND I WENT BACK THROUGH THE CARDS AND SHE POINTED OUT I WAS MISTAKEN. I POINTED OUT TO HER THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT'S EVER HAPPENED. [LAUGHTER] LET ME BE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD, MS. STREET SIGNED UP IN FAVOR. THANK YOU. I JUST CONFESSED AND FATHER BILL SAID HELP ME OUT. IT'S ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING YOU MIGHT NEED TO TALK TO REVEREND GRIFFIN BECAUSE HE'S THE ONE THAT TRACKED HER DOWN TO MAKE SURE SHE HADN'T SIGNED UP AGAINST. WITH THAT WE'LL GO BACK TO THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M SORRY, MS. STREET, THAT I DID THAT TO YOU. THE ORDER WE'LL GO IN, WILL BE VERONICA RIVERA FOLLOWED BY VANDYKE JOHNSON, THEN JERRY GARCIA. ONE SECOND. APPARENTLY DURING THE BREAK SOME OTHER CARDS WERE PUT IN MY STACK. LET ME RUN THROUGH THOSE. DON GUIZO. I CAN'T READ THE WRITING. SIGNED UP FOR. BUT NOT SPEAKING. ROBERT CARSON SIGNED UP FOR BUT NOT SPEAKING. ANDY MOORE FOR. JIMMY JACKSON FOR. LOUIS CRUISE FOR. DERRICK SMITH FOR. JASON BRIAN FOR. ANDRE JONES FOR. BRYANT FOR. THOMAS YARO FOR. STEVE COWAN FOR. BOB STEED FOR. CHRISTOPHER HODGE FOR. KENNETH HARRISON FOR. WANNA ROYAL FOR. DAVID LOPEZ FOR. GARY BOSS STICK FOR. BARRY WINNINGTON FOR. STEVEN GILBERT FOR. MARVIN THOMPSON FOR. MELVIN BULLOCK FOR. MICHAEL MAYS FOR. LAWRENCE SUSKIN FOR. IT WOULD BE VERONICA RIVERA.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS VERONICA RIF VAR RA REPRESENTING JOMAR LIMITED AND THE THOMAS ESTATE, OWNERS OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 807 AND 809 EAST 8TH AND 815 EAST 8TH STREET, WHICH ARE A PART OF TRACT 8. THEY ARE ALSO THE FIRST LIENHOLDERS ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED IN TRACTS 1 THROUGH 7 OF THE ZONING CASE. THE ZONING ON THE PROPERTIES ON 8TH STREET WHICH MAKE UP -- WHICH ARE A PART OF TRACT 8, SF-3, NCCD, AT THIS TIME THE PROPERTY IS VACANT. HOWEVER, IT IS SURROUNDED BY COMMERCIAL SERVICES USES WHICH ARE FOUND ALONG I-35 AND 7TH STREET. LAST YEAR IN APRIL OF -- APRIL 20TH, 2000, A PETITION WAS FILED TO PROTEST AGAINST ANY ACTION THAT WOULD DIMINISH THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY OR DIMINISH THE FEASIBILITY AND PRACTICAL BUILT OF ITS DEVELOPMENT. WE PARTICIPATED IN THE MEDIATION DISCUSSIONS HELD BY CITY STAFF FOR THIS REASON. WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE ZONING OF THIS PROPERTY TO CS-MU, NCCD WITH THE 40-FOOT HEIGHT LIMITATION. WE ALSO AGREED TO THE ADDITION OF RESIDENTIAL USES AND THE ADDITIONAL PROHIBITED USES. WE ARE NOT HERE TO REQUEST ANY ADDITIONAL USES OR ADDITIONAL HEIGHTS. BUT ONLY TO KEEP WHAT WAS GRANTED UNDER THE CURRENT NCCD, AND AGAIN, TO AGREE TO THE ADDITIONS BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. THE REASON THAT WE AGREE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS IS THAT THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED NEAR I-35. THE SURROUNDING USES ARE COMMERCIAL USES, AND THE CONDITIONS IN THE AREA HAVE NOT CHANGED TO JUSTIFY ANY OTHER CHANGES TO THE NCCD. AGAIN, WE SUPPORT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TRACT 8, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TRACT 1 THROUGH 7, WITH THE ADDITIONS PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: VANDYKE JOHNSON, JERRY GARCIA, THEN FRANK SIMENO. MAKE YOUR WAY TOWARD THE MICROPHONES SO WE CAN HEAR YOUR TESTIMONY.

>> YOUR HONOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE PLAN THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND THOMAS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO -- LIKE FOR THE COUNCIL TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REHASHED IN THE LAST DECADE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY'S CONCERNS, ET CETERA. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO COMMEND THESE TWO COUNCILPERSONS. I WAS THERE. THEY DEMONSTRATED EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP AND A LOT OF COURAGE TO STEP INTO THIS. I REALLY FEEL GOOD THAT BOTH OF THEM ARE ON THE COUNCIL. BECAUSE THIS CITY IS IN GOOD HANDS. IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE KIND OF COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP THAT THEY'VE DEMONSTRATED TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN HERE IN THIS CITY. I SUBMITTED LETTER TO THE COUNCIL PEOPLE AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GOT IT AND I'LL JUST READ IT. IT'S VERY BRIEF. THIS LETTER SERVES TO SUPPORT THE RECENTLY NAEGTD ZONING. WE KMEBD THE EFFORTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS THOMAS AND ALVAREZ FOR THEIR 13TH HOUR EFFORTS TO SALVAGE A YEAR'S WORK BY STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE 11TH STREET COMMUNITY. THEIR INTELLIGENCE, FAIR FINDED NTION AND INTEGRITY PREVAILED TO END A DECADE LONG VISION WITHIN IF COMMUNITY. AND FURTHER SUPPORTING THEIR HARD WORK WE ENCOURAGE TO YOU SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS TO WORK OUT A DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PACKAGE. CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN IS TRADITIONALLY DEPRIVED OF SUCH ATTENTION UNLESS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZES IT. BY SUPPORTING THESE TWO COUNCILPERSONS, YOU CAN SEND THIS SIGNAL THAT THIS COUNCIL STANDS WITH EAST AUSTIN. AND EVERY OTHER ARGUMENT THAT YOU'VE HEARD, I THINK THAT YOU CAN REALLY LOOK TO THESE TWO COUNCILPEOPLE TO PROVIDE SOME LEADER SHIP AND DIRECTION FOR THE REST OF YOU IN EAST AUSTIN. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: JERRY GARCIA. TO BE FOLLOWED BY FRANK SIMINO AND SARAH CROCKER.

>> GOOD EVENING, I'M JERRY GARCIA. THANK YOU FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. WE HAVE SEVERAL FOLKS FROM OUR GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAVE TO GET HOME FOR FAMILY OBLIGATIONS. COULD YOU PLEASE STAND BEFORE LEAVING? ALL OF THESE FOLKS ARE AGAINST THE PROPOSED -- PROPOSAL THIS EVENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT IS NOT ABOUT PERSONALITIES, BUT IT'S ABOUT GOLDEN ENDS. THE CITY OF AUSTIN SUPPORTS MANY PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE NEIGHBORHOODS. I JUST GOT SOMETHING IN THE MAIL ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST. AND I REALLY WONDER HOW THIS PROPOSAL BY THE CITY STAFF IS GOING TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ALSO TALK ABOUT SMART GROWTH, AND I WONDER IF THESE ARE JUST WORDS AND NOT ANYTHING THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO PUT INTO PLACE. THIS PLAN NEEDS WORK SO THAT IT DOESN'T BECOME ANOTHER INTEL PROBLEM, BUT THIS TIME ON THE EAST SIDE OF INTERSTATE 35. SO PLEASE, MAYOR, COUNCIL AND STAFF, LOWER THE HEIGHTS, GIVE US VIEW CORRIDORS, LIMIT THE BUILDING ON TRACT 8 TO 40 FEET, HELP US PROTECT OUR FAMILIES FROM NOISE, TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. FRANK SIMINO FOLLOWED BY SARAH CROCKER. THEN JOHN PLYLER.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS FRANK SIMIO. HE HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH AREA STAKEHOLDERS OVER WHAT SEEMS LIKE COUNTLESS SESSIONS. HIS GOOD FAITH EFFORTS AND THOSE OF THE CITY STAFF AND NUMEROUS STAKEHOLDERS HAVE RESULTED IN A CONSENSUS ZONING PLAN THAT WAS ULTIMATELY EMBRACED AND AFFIRMED BY ALL BUT ONE OF THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS. I WOULD PERSONALLY THANK TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ FOR THEIR LAST MINUTE EFFORT IN THIS REGARD AND HELPING US COME UP WITH A COMPROMISE PLAN AND WOULD RESPECTFULLY RESPECT THE BALANCE OF THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THEIR ACTION. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. IS MONTE FRANZETTI HERE? YOU ARE DONATING TIME? YES. I'M JUST DOUBLE-CHECKING. ROBERT FRANZETTI. OKAY. MS. CROCKER, YOU WILL HAVE UP TO NINE MINUTES.

>> I WON'T NEED IT, BUT THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE FRANZETTI TRUST. UNLIKE MOST OF OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROCESS, I JUST SORT OF -- I WAS RETAINED TO WORK ON IT SHORTLY AFTER THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED CASE. IT'S TAKEN A LONG TIME. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED. I'VE ATTENDED A NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND LIKE THE SPEAKERS BEFORE ME, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS IN ATTEMPT TO GO CRAFT A COMPROMISE IN WHAT HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION. THE FRANZETTIS WOULD LIKE TO LET THE COUNCIL KNOW THEY SUPPORT THE COMPROMISE THAT'S BEEN PUT FORTH AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION FOR ALL THE OTHER TRACTS EXCEPT FOR THEIRS. WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSAL THAT HAS BEEN PUT ON THE TABLE FOR THE OTHER TRACTS THAT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD. THE FRANZETTIS OWN TRACT 9 THAT. TRACT IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE FRENCH LEG GATION, BOUNDED BY SAN MARCOS SFREET AND HAS FRONTAGE BEING A CORNER TRACT ON 9TH STREET. IT'S A VERY SMALL TRACT, ONLY APPROXIMATELY 22,000 SQUARE FEET. IT KRONL HAS FOUR RESIDENCES ON IT. THEY'VE OWNED THIS PROPERTY FOR OVER 75 YEARS. THEY ARE NOT DEVELOPERS. IT'S NOT THEIR INTENT TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTY. THEY DO NOT INTEND TO SELL IT. ANY DEVELOPMENT OR REUSE OF THE PROPERTY WOULD BE DONE THROUGH GROUND LEASE. THEY WANT TO CONTROL WHAT GOES ON ON THAT PROPERTY. ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOCUSED ON IS WHAT IS THEIR VISION FOR WHAT CAN HAPPEN ON THEIR PIECE OF PRATT. MONTE FRANZETTI HAS A JEWELRY STORE ON KERBEY LANE. THAT'S HIS BUSINESS. THAT'S HOW HE EARNS HIS LIVING. ONE OF THE THINGS HE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DO IS PUT SMALL RETAIL USES, PERHAPS INTO THE EXISTING RESIDENCES THAT ARE THERE, AND TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SMALL RETAIL USES THAT THEY FEEL WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE USE THAT GOES ON AT THE FREJ LEGATION THAT COULD BE MORE PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED FOR THE PEOPLE COMING TO THE RIATA AND TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER SMALL JEWELRY STORE SIMILAR TO THE ONE ON CONGRESS AVENUE. PERHAPS A SMALL LUNCHROOM, A RESTAURANT, SOUVENIERS SHOP. I WILL PASS OUT, WE HAVE DONE A LAND PLAN THAT SHOWS YOU CAN ONLY PUT APPROXIMATELY 4,000 SQUARE FOOT OF DEVELOPMENT ON THIS TRACT. IT'S VERY MODEST. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION UNFORTUNATELY LIMITED THIS TRACT AND LIKE A LOT OF THE OTHERS TO NO. USES, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY CAN HAVE NO RETAIL. THEY HAVE NO LAT ATTITUDES AT ALL TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP RETAIL USES. N.O. LIMITS EVERYTHING TO SPECIFICALLY TO OFFICE USES. WE DON'T FEEL THAT THESE SMALL RESIDENCES THAT ARE THERE RIGHT NOW OR ANY NEW REDEVELOPMENT WITH ALL OF THE SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT GOING ON AROUND US WOULD BE CONDUCIVE TO OFFICE USE. THE CURRENT PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE WOULD GIVE THE PROPERTY BEHIND US 70 FEET IN HEIGHT AND THE PROPERTY ACROSS SAN MARCOS FEET 40 FEET IN HEIGHT. WE ARE LIMITED CURRENTLY IN THE NCCD TO SF-3, NCCD AND ARE LIMITED TO 40 FEET IN HEIGHT. WE HAVE NO DIFFICULTY WITH THAT WHATSOEVER. WE WOULD LIKE FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER -- STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION WAS CS-MU, TO ALLOW OR PERMIT RESIDENTIAL USE. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER GRANTING US WOULD BE GR WITH THE ONLY PERMITTED GR USE BE RESTAURANT. ALL OTHER USES BEING LIMITED TO THOSE WITHIN THE LR ZONING DISTRICT. THAT WOULD GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO OFFICE IF IT'S NEEDED AND IT WOULD ALSO GIVE US THE AVAILABILITY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE RETAIL USES THAT I HAVE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED. I'M GOING TO HAND OUT THESE PARTICULAR DOCUMENTS TO YOU THAT HAVE THE LAND PLAN ON THEM. WE ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THE FRANZETTI FAMILY WHO HAS BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OVER 75 YEARS TO HAVE SOME LOOT ATTITUDE TO BE ABLE TO REDEVELOP THEIR PROPERTY. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: TONYA ROGERS SIGNED UP -- HAS TONYA ROGER LEFT? SHE INDICATED SHE MIGHT HAVE TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF HER CHILDREN. SHE HAS SIGNED UP AGAINST. JOHN PLYLER. FOLLOWED BY ED MCGARIN AND MARIO RENTIERA.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK MY PEACE. I KNOW PERSONALLY ABOUT TWO OF THE CONCERNS THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS WITH THIS PROPOSAL. THE TRAFFIC AND THE LIMITED VIEW CORRIDORS. I LIVE ON THE CORNER OF EAST 7TH AND WALLER STREET. SINCE THE AIRPORT HAS GONE UP, THE TRAFFIC COMING IN ON EAST 7TH TOWARDS DOWNTOWN IN THE MORNING IS UNBELIEVABLE. THE SAME THING OCCURS IN THE EVENING WITH THE PEOPLE GOING BACK TO 183 THROUGH 7TH STREET, ESPECIALLY SINCE BEN WHITE IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. AS FAR AS THE VIEW CORRIDOR, YEARS AGO THERE WAS A RESTAURANT THAT WAS BUILT ACROSS THE STREET FROM US. MY WIFEN I ON OUR FRONT PORCH BEFORE HAD A VIEW OF ST. EDWARDS HILL AND BEYOND. ONE DAY THE WALL WENT UP AND THERE WAS NO VIEW LEFT. A WEEK OR TWO AFTER THAT A TALLER WALL BEHIND THAT WENT UP, AND NOTHING WAS -- NOTHING IS VISIBLE FROM OUR FRONT PORCH EXCEPT WHAT USED TO BE THE RESTAURANT, WHICH WENT BANKRUPT AND THEY ARE GONE. THERE'S A COMPUTER COMPANY THERE NOW. WE LIVE WITH IT BECAUSE WE'RE STAYING THERE. WE DIDN'T BUY THIS HOUSE TO SELL IT AND MOVE. UNLIKE THE LIMONS, THEY GOT THE PROPERTY, DID WHAT THEY WANTED TO AND THEY ARE GONE. BUT THE BUILDING IS STILL THERE. THAT'S WHAT'S CONCERNING US ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT. WE WANT THE DEVELOPERS TO DO THEIR THING AND LEAVE, THEY ARE GONE. WE'RE STILL THERE. THAT'S WHY YOU ASK WHY WE'RE FIGHTING FOR TEN YEARS SO HARD, BECAUSE WE'RE STAYING. THIS IS OUR HOME. WE WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT. THAT WHEN THE TRAFFIC BECOMES SO INCREDIBLE ON SAN MARCOS STREET, THAT'S WHERE OUR KIDS PLAY. THAT'S WHERE THEY RIDE THEIR BIKES. AND THERE IS NOTHING MORE PRECIOUS TO US THAN OUR KIDS, WHICH TRANSLATES INTO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT HARD TO UNDERSTAND. WE WANT SOMETHING TO GO THERE, BUT IF YOU KEEP SAYING -- YOU KEEP PICKING AT US, WHY DON'T YOU JUST ACCEPT IT, WELL R WE LIVE THERE. I GUESS THAT'S ABOUT ALL HAVE I TO SAY. THANKS A LOT.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. MCGARIN.

>> YES, I'M ED. I LIVE ON EAST WILLTH STREET, A BLOCK AND A HALF FROM THE BENNETT TRACT. MY WIFE AND I RAISED FOUR BOYS AND WE'VE LIVED THERE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. SO WHAT HAPPENS ON THAT BENNETT TRACT DOES AFFECT US. I'M NOT AGAINST WHICH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUILDINGS GOING UP ON THAT TRACT. WHAT I OPPOSE IS THE ZONING IN ITS CURRENT FORM. IN 1991, NCCD WAS PUT ON THAT PROPERTY, WHICH WAS A TOTAL INAPPROPRIATE USE THAT HAVE KIND OF ZONING. THE CITY BASICALLY MADE A MISTAKE THEN. TWO YEARS LATER THEY REFUSED TO ROLL IT BACK EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS A REQUIREMENT WHEN CONSTRUCTION DIDN'T START. HERE WE ARE ALMOST TEN YEARS LATER AMENDING THE SAME KIND OF INAPPROPRIATE ZONING. I DON'T BLAME THE DEVELOPER. HE'S TRYING TO GET WHAT HE CAN. THE LAND COST IS HIGH. HE'S GOT TO BUILD AS MUCH AS HE CAN SO HE CAN MAKE A PROFIT. I DO BLAME THE CITY. THE CITY STAFF. I REALLY CAN'T BELIEVE HOW THEY GO AGAINST THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN THE MEDIATION PROCESS THAT THE TWO GROUPS SAT DOWN AND TOTALLY IGNORE THOSE. THEY BASICALLY IGNORED THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT MEDIATION WAS COULDN'T UNDER. NO VIEW CORRIDORS. NOT THE STEP-DOWN WE HAPPENED FOR RESIDENTIAL AGAINST THE EXISTING HOME THAT EXISTS ON THE PROPERTY. THEY SAY WE -- MATT SAYS BOTH SIDES HAD TO GIVE AND NOBODY GOT WHAT THEY WANTED. IF HE GETS THIS, HE GETS TO DO HIS DEAL. THERE IS NO PROJECT. IT'S A LAND DEAL. I JUST -- I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE CITY WOULD BEND OVER BACKWARDS, $13 MILLION IN INCENTIVES TO DO THIS. AND THE IMPACT ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS INCREDIBLE. CONSTRUCTION ALONE. TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT WILL DO. IN THE LONGTERM, 220-FOOT BUILDING OR 200 FOOT. WHATEVER IT ENDS UP BEING. IT'S ALL SPECULATIVE RIGHT NOW. THERE IS NO PROJECT. YEAH, WE WANTED SOMETHING TO HAPPEN THERE. BUT SCALE IT DOWN. MAKE IT REASONABLE. USING YOUR COME PATTABILITY STANDARDS THAT WOULD APPLY ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY. HE WOULD ONLY HAVE A 40-FOOT BUILDINGS MAXIMUM IF YOU DID NORMAL COMPATIBILITY. THAT'S FROM STAFF. PLEASE BE REASONABLE. WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO STOP A PROJECT. WE JUST WAN SOMETHING REASONABLE. WE DO HAVE TO LIVE THERE. WE WANT TO LIVE THERE. IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. WE HAVE WONDERFUL NEIGHBORS. MANY OF THEM WERE MOVED FROM DOWNTOWN YEARS AGO. DON'T MOVE THEM AGAIN. DON'T MAKE THE QUALITY OF LIFE GO DOWN THAT THEY NEED TO MOVE AND SELL. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. MARIO RENTIERA FOLLOWED BY MARK ROGERS.

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARIO RENTIERA, I LIVE ON LYDIA, TWO BLOCKS EAST OF THE CURRENT PROPOSED PROJECT. I'M HERE JUST BASICALLY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE NCCD ZONING THAT IS IN PLACE NOW. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THAT NCCD ZONING WAS TO PRESERVE, PROTECT OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS. WHILE WE'RE NOT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT THERE, WE -- ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS EVENING IS THAT YOU RECONSIDER THE HEIGHTS TO MORE REASONABLE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS THAT'S OPEN TO EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING. OUR INVESTMENT, MY INVESTMENT IS MY FAMILY, MY GRANDCHILDREN AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE. WE HAVE A PETITION HERE OF OVER 80 PROPERTY OWNERS WHO LIVE WITHIN THREE BLOCKS OF THE BENNETT PROJECT, PROPOSED BENNETT PROJECT. AND I WANT TO JUST BASICALLY LET YOU KNOW THAT WHAT IT SAYS HERE. WE THE UNDERSIGNED OWNERS HEREBY EXPRESS OUR OPPOSITION TO THE CURRENT RECOMMENDED ZONING CHANGE FOR THE BENNETT TRACT. WE EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE ATTACHED COMPROMISE PROPOSAL AND BELIEVE IT OFFERS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THAT LAND. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NCCD ZONING ORDINANCE, IT RELAXES DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS YET WITH CONDITIONS RELATED TO TRAFFIC, OPEN SPACE, PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, IT WILL PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR OLDER RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR INVESTMENT IS INCREDIBLE. IT'S ABOUT FAMILIES AND PEOPLE. PLEASE DO NOT OVERLOOK THAT FACT. THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE WILL SUFFER AT THE CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW. WE'RE ASKING THAT ON TRACT 3, 7, AND 8, 9, 6 WOULD STAY 40 FEET. 40 FEET AS A MAXIMUM HEIGHT. ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS FOR THEIR CONTINUED HARD WORK AND DILIGENCE. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. IS IGNACIO TREVINO HERE? OKAY. MR. ROGERS HAS BEEN -- DOUGH THATD THAT TIME. YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES.

>> OKAY. HOPEFULLY I WON'T NEED IT. EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. IN 1991, TEN YEARS AGO, AND AGAIN IN 1993 AT THE COUNCIL HEARINGS I SAID THE SAME THING THAT I FEEL COMPELLED TO SAY TODAY. THE CURRENT ZONING PROPOSAL IS A MISUSE OF THE NCCD ORDINANCE. IF YOU READ THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE ORDINANCE WHICH DESCRIBES THE PURPOSE OF THE NCCD, YOU WILL KNOW IT'S NOT DEBATABLE OR OPEN TO INTERPRETATION WHETHER THIS IS A MISUSE. THE CURRENTLY PROPOSAL IS A MISUSE OF THE ORDINANCE. THE ORDINANCE BEGINS WITH THESE WORDS: THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION COMBINING DISTRICT IS INTEND TO DO PRESERVE AND PROTECT OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD BY ALLOWING MODIFICATIONS TO APPLICABLE REGULATIONS. ACCORDING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION. A PROPOSED NCC DISTRICT SHALL BE SPONSORED BY PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN SUCH DISTRICT THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION. NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS ARE INTENDED TO ENHANCE THE DESIREABILITY OF LIVING IN OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS. THE NCCD IS NOT MEANT TO JUST MAKE THINGS FLECK I BELIEVE FOR A DEVELOPER TO MAKE A PROJECT WORK ECONOMICALLY. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO MAKE IT DESIREABLE TO LIVE IN THAT OLDER ENABLE. MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMEMBERS, PLEASE ASK THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS REGARDING THE USE OF THIS TYPE OF ZONING. PLEASE ASK YOURSELF DOES THE ZONING PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD? IF IT DOES NOT, IT DOES NOT. ASK DOES THIS ENHANCE THE DESIREABILITY OF LIVING IN THAT OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THESE PEOPLE AND MYSELF LIVE? IT DOES NOT. LAST WEEK LETTI ASKED WHAT KIND OF PROJECT COULD BE BUILT ON THAT HILL IF ALL THE USUAL COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS WERE IN PLACE. IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT KIND OF HEIGHTS, ET CETERA, WOULD COMMITTEE SEE IF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAD THE SAME PROTECTION THAT ALL THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN HAVE. MR. GUERNSEY RESPONDED THAT HE SERIOUSLY DOUBTED WHETHER ANY BUILDING OVER 40 FEET TALL COULD BE BUILT ON THE ENTIRE SITE IF COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS WERE NOT WAIVED AS THEY ARE UNDER THIS NCCD. NO NEIGHBORHOOD IN THIS CITY WOULD EVER WILLINGLY SAY YES TO 200-FOOT TALL BUILDINGS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. AND YOU WOULD NEVER ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN IN HYDE PARK OR TRAVIS HEIGHTS OR OLD WEST AUSTIN. THE RESIDENTS OF OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD STAND TO LOSE EVERY SINGLE VIEW OF DOWNTOWN AND OUR BEAUTIFUL CAPITOL. SPECTACULAR VIEWS TRANSLATE DIRECTLY INTO PROPERTY VALUES, INTO DOLLARS. THIS NCCD DOES NOT ONLY DETRACT FROM OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, IT ROBS US OF CASH VALUE ON OUR PROPERTIES. TODAY I HAVE HEARD RIATA WANTS $20 MILLION IN SUBSIDIES. CITY ASSISTANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING WE AGREED SHOULD BE PROVIDED. HOWEVER, THIS IS ONLY IF THE PROJECT WAS GOOD FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU PROVIDED THEM AT THE TRY -- TRIANGLE. THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAID IT'S A GOOD PROJECT. SUBSIDIES WERE PROVIDED. THIS IS NOT A GOOD PROB PROJECT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. JOB CREATION AND JOB TRAINING ARE EXCELLENT AND I APPLAUD COUNCILMEMBER SPELMAN AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS KPOR FOR WORKING ON AND TRIAL TRYING TO FURTHER BENEFITS HERE. BUT THE PROJECT WILL DESTROY MAYBE OVER TIME WITHOUT A DOUBT A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE LOWER INCOME FAMILIES HAVE RESIDED FOR GENERATIONS. WHAT DOES OUR COMMUNITY GET OUT OF THAT $23 MILLION? WELL, SEVEN UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. MAYBE NOT EVEN ON THAT SITE. WE GET TRAFFIC, WE GET A TOWERING 200-FOOT TALL OFFICE BUILDING. WE LOSE OUR VIEW OF THE CAPITOL. WE DON'T GET ONE OR EVEN TWO, WE GET NONE. I UNDERSTAND THE COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS 5% HERE. OUT OF 147 UNITS, AGAIN, THAT MEANS 7 UNITS. THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HAS PRODUCED NINE UNITS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS WITH LESS THAN 200,000. CONSIDER PUTTING INCENTIVES THERE. WE WORKED HARD OVER THE PAST YEAR TO TRY TO COMPROMISE. REMEMBER WE BEGAN WITH THIS PROPOSAL SAYING THAT IT SHOULD BE ZONED ACCORDING TO THE ARA MASTER PLAN. WHICH INVOLVED DOZENS OF MEETINGS OVER TWO YEARS AND CALLED FOR ONLY 300,000 SQUARE FEET OF DEVELOPMENT. WE MOVED FROM 300,000 TO ABOUT 600,000. THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH. RIATA COULDN'T MAKE IT WORK THAT WAY. WE MOVED TO ONE MILLION SQUARE FEET OF DEVELOPMENT. WE WERE WILLING TO COMPROMISE. THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH. RIATA NEEDED MORE. AND NOW WE HEAR THEY NEED 23 MILLION IN INCENTIVES. IT'S ODD THIS LAND IS APPRAISED AT $16 A SQUARE FOOT AND THAT BENNETT HAS PROTESTED THAT APPRAISAL AS BEING TOO HIGH. LAST YEAR IT WAS $10 A SQUARE FOOT. BENNETT PROTESTED IT AS TOO HIGH. AND YET IT SEEMS THE DEVELOPER IS PAYING 35, 40, 50, WE DON'T KNOW, BUT WHATEVER IT IS THAT HE'S PAYING MAKES IT ECONOMICALLY UNVYEABLE TO DO SIMPLE THINGS TO MAKE IT COMPATIBLE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM. THE PRICE HERE IS TOO HIGH. WE'VE BEEN HOLD BASICALLY IN BONDAGE FOR TEN YEARS, AND THIS BOONDOGGLE WE SAW TEN YEARS AGO AS A LAND FLIP IS TAKING PLACE. THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT IS. YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT. TEN YEARS AGO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SHOUTED THIS DEVELOP CERTIFICATE NOT A DEVELOPER. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BUILD. THEY ARE GOING TO SELL THIS LAND AT A HUGE PROFIT BECAUSE YOU'VE INFLATED THE VALUE. THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW AND INCENTIVES ARE BEING ASKED ON TOP OF THAT. SOMEHOW I THINK WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK. WE'VE COME CLOSE TO COMPROMISE. REDUCING THE HEIGHTS, PROVIDING VIEW CORRIDORS, WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK. [BUZZER SOUNDS]. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. FATHER BILL ELLIOTT. FOLLOWED BY JUAN VALDEZ.

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>GOODMAN: FOLLOWED BY JOHN COSERAS. I MAY HAVE MANGLED THAT NAME. SORRY.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMEMBERS, I LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY. I'VE LIVED THERE FOR OVER TEN YEARS. IT'S PERHAPS IN 40 YEARS OF PRIESTHOOD PERHAPS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AREA I'VE EVER LIVED IN. KIDS RUN AROUND ON THEIR BIKES, RUN AROUND WITH THEIR SCOOTERS AND ON THEIR BIKES. ELDERLY PEOPLE RIDE UP AND DOWN THE STREETS. NEIGHBORS KNOW ONE ANOTHER. THERE'S ANOTHER BLOCK PARTY COMING UP NEXT WEEK. IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY, IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD OF COOPERATION. IT'S REALLY AN INCREDIBLE PLACE. IT'S HISTORIC. THE TREES ARE BEAUTIFUL. AND YOU KNOW WHEN I LOOK AT THIS DEVELOPMENT AND I -- MY INNER SELF CRIES. THE WINDS THAT COME FROM THE WEST TO THE EAST WILL NOW BRING CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE PARKING LOTS THAT ARE 60 AND 90 FEET HIGH ACROSS THE FRONT OF IT. THE VIEWS THAT WERE THERE THAT YOU COULD SIT ON THE HILL AT NIGHTTIME AND LOOK AT OR SIT IN YOUR BACKYARD AND HAVE A BEER, ENJOY THE EVENING WILL NOW LOOK AT BRICK BUILDINGS. THE COST OF THE LAND. I HAVE A TREMENDOUS DIFFICULTY WITH THIS. I'VE WORKED ALL MY LIFE TRYING TO WORK FOR JUSTICE FOR THE POOR. WHEN YOU MAKE THE COST OF THE LAND SO EXPENSIVE YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE DEVELOPMENT SO DENSE, ANY ONE OF US WITH CLEAR THINKING KNOWS THAT THE DENSITY OF THAT PROJECT WILL ABSOLUTELY NECESSITY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MORE CARS. WE KNOW THAT IH-35 IS GOING TO BE WIDENED. WE KNOW FOR THIS PROJECT TO WORK THEY'VE GOT TO CUT OUT THE 6TH STREET EXIT, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE GOING TO COME OFF AT CESAR CHAVEZ. IF THEY COME OFF THERE WITH THE FRONTAGE ROAD SO BLOCKED AS IT IS NOW THEY WILL BE UP ON TO WALLER AND SAN MARCOS T QUALITY OF LIFE IS WHAT THE NCCD SAYS, TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS. HOW CAN WE SAY WE'RE ENHANCING THE LIFE? IT SEEMS ALMOST LIKE WE'RE ENHANCING THE POSSIBILITY OF A DEVELOPER TO DEVELOP AT THE COST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. NCCD IS JUST THE OPPOSITE. IT IS SUPPOSED TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THERE AND ENJOY THAT QUALITY OF LIFE. THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN WITH THIS PROJECT. IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE. HAVE WE COME A LONG WAY? OH, BOY, HAVE WE EVER. AND WE'VE STRUGGLED AND FOUGHT AND DIALOGUED AND WE'VE GIVEN AND TAKEN. AND I BELIEVE THE PROJECT IS POSSIBLE. [BUZZER SOUNDS]. BUT WE HAVE TO LOWER THE HEIGHT. WE'VE GOT TO PUT THE VIEWER CORRIDORS IN. AND WE'VE GOT THE LET THE COMMUNITY LIVE. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. MR. BALADIN. FOLLOWED BY JOHN COSEROS. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT. DOES ANYBODY RECOGNIZE THAT AS THEIR NAME? IS HE HERE? THEN SHOULD BE READY TO SPEAK NEXT. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M JUAN VALDEZ AND I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THREE YOUNG MEN WHO MADE A BIG IMPRESSION ON MY LIFE. THIS IS COAL, DREW AND MILES MCGARIN, SONS OF ED AND LETTIE WHO LIVE ON EAST 8TH. SOMETIMES I THINK THEY LIVE AT EAST 10TH, MY HOUSE, BECAUSE THEY ARE THERE ALL THE TIME. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD -- I DIDN'T COME UP TO HERE TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR AGAINST THIS OR THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT BEING FOR OR AGAINST ANYTHING. THERE'S NOTHING THAT BLACK AND WHITE. BECAUSE I WORK WITH KIDS. AND THESE KIDS AT ANY HOUR OF THE NIGHT SOMETIMES COME KNOCKING ON MY DOOR. THEY WALK THERE, SOMETIMES THEY RIDE THEIR BIKE, SOMETIMES THEIR MOM WILL SEND ONE OF HER BOYS TO RIDE THEIR BIKE OVER BECAUSE THEY WILL -- LIKE IN THE OLD TIMES THEY NEED A CUP OF SUGAR. OR I CALL AND SAY, HEY, I NEED AN ASPIRIN. AND WE HAVE THESE KIDS RUNNING BACK AND FORTH, AND THEY ARE ALWAYS RIDING THEIR BIKES AND PLAYING. SOMETIMES YOU CAN SEE THEM OUT THERE PLAYING STICK BALL OR KICK BALL. AND I LOOK AT THAT AND I THINK, GOD, I'M GOING TO MISS THAT. I'M GOING TO MISS NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE KIDS GROW UP IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. BECAUSE THAT'S -- THAT'S WHAT EVENTUALLY WILL HAPPEN WITH A DEVELOPMENT THE SIZE THAT IS NEEDED TO BE BUILT THERE BECAUSE OF THE COST OF THE LAND. OUT OF THESE -- I FEEL LIKE THESE KIDS ARE ALMOST MY OWN KIDS. THERE'S A LOT MORE OF THEM IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. MY DAUGHTER, OUR DAUGHTER, MY WIFE CHRISTINA AND I HAVE AN EIGHT MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. THESE KIDS TAKE CARE OF HER SOMETIMES. AGAIN, I LOOK AT MY DAUGHTER AND I WONDER WHAT KIND OF LIFE WILL MY DAUGHTER HAVE. WILL SHE BE ABLE TO RIDE HER BIKE LIKE DREW AND COAL AND MILES? ON OUR STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS EACH OTHER? OR WILL I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT EVERY TIME SHE WALKS OUT THAT DOOR THAT A TRUCK MIGHT RUN OVER HER BECAUSE THERE'S AN INCREASE IN 40,000 CARS A DAY GOING THROUGH MY FRONT DOOR. DO I NEED TO PUT A FENCE TO KEEP MY DAUGHTER INSIDE FROM THE TRAFFIC? I ASK YOU TO JUST REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR A LOT. WE REALLY AREN'T. WE'RE ASKING FOR QUALITY OF LIFE. JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IN THIS ROOM WANTS AND NEEDS, WE WANT AND NEED AND DESERVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU.

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

>>SLUSHER: SO MOVED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. THOSE ITEMS ARE POSTPONED. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: DID MR. COSEROS COME IN? HE IS GONE. IS HE SHOWN AS AGAINST. GINGER WEBB.

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>GOODMAN: SHE IS ALSO AGAINST. TOM HATCH. I KNOW HE IS HERE. FOLLOWED BY DREW CHRIS YAN MECHANICAL GARN. cN MCGARIN.

>> MAY I? IS IT TIME. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP FOR ALL THE YEARS. MY NAME IS TOM HATCH. MY WIFE JUDY AND I ARE HERE TONIGHT IN OPPOSITION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION RIGHT NOW IN ITS CURRENT FORM. IT JUST NEEDS SOME HELP. WE'RE NOT A POSED TO A PROJECT, JUST OPPOSED TO THE CURRENT FORM. I'M AN ARCHITECT. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE -- LONGTERM RESIDENT OF THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD AND A MILITANT ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THERE WAS A MISTAKE MADE IN '91. I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. WE'RE HERE TONIGHT AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE LAST YEAR ON WAYS TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEMS GENERATED BY THAT MISTAKE. THE AREAS -- WE WORKED FOR NINE, TEN MONTHS, WE DID NOT COME TO TERMS. THERE WAS AN IMPASSE. THE ISSUES STILL AT STAKE ARE THE MASS OF THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO ONE AMERICAN CENTERS ON THE CORNER OF 11TH AND I-35 IN HEIGHT AND SQUARE FOOTAGE. THE TRAFFIC IMPACT. THE STALE OF THE EDGES IN SOME PLACES MUCH GREATER THAN IS BEING ALLOWED ON CONGRESS AVENUE. THE UNBROKEN WALL AT 10TH STREET. BASICALLY THE CURRENT ZONING ALLOWS THE WALL FROM 11TH TO 9TH STREET UNBROKEN. UP TO 60 FEET ABOVE SAN MARCOS. 90 FEET ABOVE I 356789 THAT'S A WALL. THIS IS NOT ABOUT DESIGN. THIS IS NOT ABOUT MATT MATHIAS, THIS IS SIMPLY A ZONING CASE. I HAVE THE HIGHEST REGARD FOR MATT AND THE PROCESS TO DATE, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ZONING. WE DON'T KNOW WHO IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO DEVELOP THAT. PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND. THE REQUIREMENT FOR HOUSING EVEN THOUGH IT'S VERY, VERY FEW, IT'S BEEN REQUESTED TO PUT EITHER ONSITE OR OFF SITE IN TWO NEIGHBORHOODS. I'VE LIVED IN BOTH NEIGHBORHOODS. WE NEED IT AND I RECOMMEND WE KEEP IT ON SITE. WE DON'T NEED TO DLOOT THE IMPACT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE NEW DEVELOPMENT IN ANY WAY. IT SHOULD NOT BE A LINE DRAWN THAT HERE LIVE THOSE THAT HAVE AND HERE LIVE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT. IT SHOULD BE MIXED. WE NEED TO WORK HARD TO THAT MIX. OH, GOODNESS. IT SEEMS LIKE RIGHT NOW THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS PUT IN A DECISION WHEREBY THEY NEED TO SUPPORT A DEVELOPER IN ORDER TO GET ANYTHING TO HAPPEN, AND IT'S CLEAR THAT, ACCORDING TO THE APPRAISAL NOW AND PROBABLY BACK WHEN THAT WAY TOO MUCH WAS PAID. SO IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THAT SHOULD BE A CITY OF AUSTIN RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE. WE'VE WORKED LONG AND HARD FOR A DEVELOPMENT THAT ALLOWS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE FOR AN ECONOMICALLY AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE POPULATION. [BUZZER SOUNDS]. PLEASE HELP US KEEP THAT. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. OKAY. THE MCGARIN FAMILY TIME IS HERE. DREW WANTS TO SPEAK. FOLLOWED BY COLE, FOLLOWED BY LETTIE. DID THE BOYS CHANGE THEIR MIND? THEY DID A NEIGHBORHOOD VIDEO. THEY DIDN'T BRING IT. THEY WANT TO PARK THERE. WE DON'T HAVE TO REPEAT OURSELVES. I'M GOING TRACT BY TRACT OF WHAT WE LIKE, WHAT HAS BEEN TRULY OMITTED WHEN WE WENT THROUGH MEDIATION ARE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT WERE SIGNED BY THE STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE BENNETT REPRESENTATIVE, MATT MATHIAS, EBENEZER AND GUADALUPE. PART OF THOSE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, EVERYBODY KEEPS ASKING IS WHY DID YOU GO SO HIGH. AND THE ONLY REASON WE CONSIDERED EVEN OVER 80 FEET WAS BECAUSE, NO. 1, AND IT'S NOT IN THE CONDITIONS. THEY KEEP SAYING THEY ARE GIVING AND TAKING AND WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT WE FEEL WE ARE GIVING BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY DID NOT GET ANY OF THEIR CONDITIONS THAT WERE IN THOSE GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND IN THE GOALS DATED MAY 8TH. I THINK THERE WAS A MEMORANDUM FROM GUS GARCIA AT THE TIME. THE -- ONE OF THE MAIN GUIDING PRINCIPLES WAS THE VIEW CORRIDOR, THE NEIGHBORHOOD VIEW CORRIDOR FROM 9TH AND SAN MARCOS TO THE CAPITOL. THAT VIEWER CORRIDOR AT THE FRENCH LEGATION CAN ONLY BE SEEN FROM A CORNER OF A FENCE. THEY GET LOCKED AFTER 5:00. IT IS THE -- SO DOES THE STATE CEMETERY. WE HAVE NO ACCESS TO THOSE VIEWS. SO THE NEIGHBORHOOD REFUSES TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT THE VIEW CORRIDOR FROM 9TH AND SAN MARCOS. AND TRACT 3, 40-FOOT HEIGHT, TRACT 6, 40-FOOT HEIGHT, AND TRACT 7-FOOT40-FOOT HEIGHT. ARE GIVING IS TRACK 1. THAT'S WHERE WEE FEEL WE'VE GIVEN SO MUCH. IT'S JUST A DEVELOPER THAT IS WINNING. THEY WERE GIVING THIS GIFT, THE NCCD, IN 1991. IT WAS ALL SF-3. ACCORDING TO CITY STAFF, IF IT WAS ANYWHERE ELSE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ROLLED BACK IN '93. ANYWHERE ELSE WEST OF I-35 WHICH NOWHERE TRACT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 WOULD HAVE BEEN 40 FEET MAX. THAT'S A BIG GIFT. WE SHOULDN'T BE GIVING 23 MILLION IN INCENTIVES. INCENTIVE IS ALREADY THE NCCD ZONING. YOU HAVE PAGE 35, CONDITIONS. UNDER DOT NO. 7, ALLOW BUILDING HEIGHT ON TRACT 7 TO INCREASE FROM 40 FEET TO 70. WE SAY NO. [BUZZER SOUNDS]. DREW, CAN I HAVE YOUR TIME?

>> YES.

>> FROM 40 FEET -- OUR MAX IS 40 FEET. THE NEXT ONE ON TRACT 7, PROVIDE A 50-FOOT BUILD HEIGHT LIMITATION, AGAIN, WE SAY 40 FEET. AND THEN ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I GAVE SIX MONTHS TO CITY COUNCIL EVERY MONDAY OF OUR LUNCH HOUR TO WORK ON POST PROPERTIES, CSC, TO MOVE THOSE FORWARD AS FAST AS WE COULD. THEY HAD NO PROBLEMS. THE AMLI PROJECT HAD NO PROBLEM GIVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MIXING IT WITH THOSE PROJECTS. YOU YOU CAN'T TELL AN ACTIVE DIFFERENCE IT'S IN THERE. IT'S MIXED. AS MUCH AS WE'RE GIVING WITH NCCD AND IF YOU GIVE THE OTHER INCENTIVES I WAS, THEY NEED TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE KEEP TALKING THERE IS NO HOUSING, ALL THIS IS DOING IS PUSHING US FURTHER EAST. GRANDMA GREW UP ON WATERLOO AND 13TH? LAST WEEK SHE WAS OUT THERE RIGHT ON THE CORNER, ALL OUR NEIGHBORS CAME OUT REALLY UPSET THAT TRACT 1 WENT TO 220. THE MAX THEY WANT IS 100. THEY HAD A CHOICE. BUT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN GIVEN A CHOICE. THEY'VE JUST BEEN PUSHED FURTHER EAST. URBAN RENEWAL TOOK AWARE THEIR PROPERTIES. THE GLORIOUS LOOK GOON IN A FAMILY ON THE CORNER OF I-35 WHERE THE MARRIOTT IS GOT $7,000 IN THE ATE '80'S FOR THEIR PIECE OF PROPERTY. THE CITY DIDN'T USE IT FOR THE HOSPITAL PROJECT. PART THAT HAVE URBAN RENEWAL. BRACKENRIDGE. THEY TURNED AROUND AND SOLD IT AND MADE MONEY ON OUR PEOPLE. WE'RE TIRED OF BEING MADE MONEY O I THINK WE'VE SPOKEN ENOUGH AND I KNOW THIS IS TRULY A COUNCIL THAT IS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BEVERLY, THANK YOU. WILL WYNN, DANNY, YOU SAY YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ONLY WITH RESPECTING THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE THERE. YES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL HAPPEN. BUT WE NEED TO BE CONSIDERED OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS. QUIT MOVING US FURTHER EAST. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. KATHY VASQUEZ RIVEA FOLLOWED BY BEN FUENTES. MR. SIFUENTES. IS HE HERE? DOES ANYONE KNOW?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU, KATHY.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCILMEMBERS. EARLIER THE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION SAID SHE HAD BEEN INVOLVED FOR A LONG TIME WITH THIS PROJECT. SO HAVE I. I WAS BORN AND GREW UP IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN I LIVED THERE AND GROWING UP AS A CHILD IN THE 50'S AND 60'S, IT WAS ENTIRELY HISPANIC. IT WAS ALL AROUND CHURCH AND FAMILY. MY GODMOTHER LIVED UP THE STREET. MY AUNTS LIVED ACROSS THE STREET. MY GRANDFATHER OWNED THE TORTILLA FACTORY. AND THE BIGGEST THING THAT HAPPENED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS WHEN ONE OF THE RIOS DAUGHTERS BECAME A NUNN. IT WAS A POOR LOWER CLASS WORKING FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I THINK THAT THAT IS STILL BEING -- THAT IS STILL BEING SAID THAT IT STILL IS AND IT'S NOT. IT'S NOT ANY LONGER. LATER AS AN ADULT I LIVED THERE FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS AND MY FAMILY STILL OWNS THE OLD TORTILLA FACTORY, WHICH IS IS BARELY STANDING UP. THEN WHEN I WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION I WAS THE ONE THAT AUTHORED THE MOTION TO ROLL BACK THE NCCD. AND WE GOT EIGHT VOTES. AND COUNCILMEMBER GOODMAN REMEMBERS THAT. WE GOT EIGHT VOTES. AND WE LOST AT COUNCIL BY ONE BECAUSE OF A VALID PETITION. BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THEN. THE DEVELOPER HAS CHANGED AND SO HAS THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE BEFORE THE DEVELOPER WAS AN OUT OF TOWN PERSON. REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY ROOTS HERE. MATT MATHIAS IS A HOMETOWN BOY. HE ASKED ME IF I WOULD TALK AND HELP HIM. I SAID YES, PROVIDED YOU PAY ME NO MONEY. AT ALL. AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CHANGED. IT'S A MIXED NEIGHBORHOOD. MIXED INCOME. MULTI-CULTURAL. HOUSES ARE BEING BUILT THREE AND FOUR STORIES. HOUSES ARE BEING SOLD FOR $500,000 ON 8TH STREET. THE AFFORDABLE HOUSE THANKING EXISTS IS SLIM. AND THE PEOPLE THAT OCCUPY THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DON'T OWN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REALLY. WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO. THE PROPERTY -- THE PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT IS RENTED SELLS -- RENTS FOR AS MUCH AS MY SISTER'S CONDO ON FAR WEST BLFLD. IT DOESN'T REFLECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD I GREW UP IN. IT DOESN'T REFLECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE TERRITORY OF EAST AUSTIN THAT I SERVE AS A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER. CERTAINLY THE STRONGEST LEADERSHIP OPPOSING THIS DEVELOPMENT IS NOT MINORITY. THE AREA IS VERY CAREFULLY AND SYSTEMICLY BECOMING ANOTHER CLARKSVILLE. I WON'T MAKE A VALUED JUDGMENT TO PROCESS OF JENT IF I INDICATION BECAUSE THAT MAY BE THE NORMAL COURSE OF THINGS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD SO CLOSE. BUT THE MESSAGE TO THE ELDERLY IS THEIR CHILDREN, UNLESS THEY WANT TO COME BACK AND MOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WILL NEVER AFFORD TO LIVE THERE. NOR WILL ANIER PEOPLE OF COLOR. BUT OUR PEOPLE DO NEED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND WE CAN'T SACRIFICE EAST AUSTIN FOR VERY SPECIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. MR. SIFUENTES.

>> GOOD EVENING. MS. MAYOR PRO TEM, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. ALL THE GOOD STUFF HAS BEEN SAID. I'M AT THE TAIL END. SO I'M WONDERING WHAT AM I GOING TO SAY? AND THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN THINK OF IS THE SAYING YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN. AND I'VE READ THAT MANY TIMES. BUT IN MY CASE, IT'S NOT TRUE. I GREW UP ON EAST 9TH, AND MY WIFE'S FATHER HAD A HOME, A -- SINCE 1929. SINCE HE BOUGHT IT. AND I MET MY WIFE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. WHERE ARE YOU? WHERE ARE YOU? PLEASE STAND. SHE IS SHY. I MET HER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. AND WE LIVED ONE BLOCK APART. AND I DIDN'T KNOW SHE EXISTED. SO WE FINISHED THE UNIVERSITY, MARRIED, MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO AND WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH EVERY WEEKEND BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT OUR FOUR CHILDREN GET TO KNOW THEIR GRANDPARENTS, THEIR AUNTS, UNCLES, SIBLINGS, AND THIS WENT ON FOR 14, 13, SO MANY YEARS. AND THEN I STOPPED. I STOPPED MAKING THAT TRIP. BECAUSE I -- I COULDN'T STAND TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO EAST AUSTIN. INSTEAD OF THINGS GOING FORWARD AND BECOMING BETTER, THEY WERE BECOMING WORSE. AND IT WAS JUST TOO PAINFUL. SO YOU MAY WONDER WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE NOW? MY TWO OLDEST GIRLS CAME TO THE UNIVERSITY, GRADUATED, GOT MARRIED, HAD GRANDCHILDREN. WE WERE IN SAN ANTONIO SO I TOLD MY WIFE, I SAID WELL, I GUESS WE HAVE TO GO HOME. WE HAVE GRANDCHILDREN AND WE'VE GOT TO REAR -- HELP REAR. MY OLDEST GRANDCHILD IS FINISHING HER SOPHOMORE YEAR AT RICE AND HER SISTER IS GETTING READY TO GO TO BROWN, AND WE'RE ALMOST DONE WITH OUR GRANDCHILDREN. BUT I DID COME BACK, AND YOU DO COME BACK IN AN INSTANCE -- INSTANCES LIKE MYSELF BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A UNIQUE PLACE. THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD IS SUCH A UNIQUE PLACE. IT IS A HOME. THIS WHOLE THING STARTED WHEN I WAS 62 AND I'M 72 AND I LOOK AT THE MORTUARY TABS AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED. -- TABLES. I WISH AND HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL CONSIDER THAT THE ZONING THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE BENNETT PEOPLE WAS A GIFT AND THAT THEY DID NOT GUARANTEE THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE HUMONGOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY OUT THAT HAVE PIECE OF LAND. SO IF MR. MATHIAS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, THEN THE ASKING PRICE IS TOO HIGH. [BUZZER SOUNDS]. MAY I HAVE YOUR THREE MINUTES? THE ASKING PRICE IS TOO HIGH. AND THAT'S THE REALITY OF IT. THE FIRST TIME I MET MR. MATHIAS, HE ASKED ME, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE GOING TO DEVELOP THIS? AND I SAID, WELL, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT I WOULD WANT. IT HAS TO BE HUMONGOUS IN ORDER FOR TO YOU MAKE A PROJECT OUT OF IT. AND THE SECOND TIME THAT I SAID SOMETHING TO HIM IS AT ANOTHER MEETING. I SAID, MR. MATHIAS, I'VE GOT TO GO BECAUSE I HAVE A LITTLE BUSINESS AND I CAN'T STAY HERE. BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN LOOK AT FROM 103 EAST 9TH IS THE STATE OF TEXAS CAPITOL AND AUSTIN DOWNTOWN AND I'M GOING TO FIGHT FOR IT. I WON'T GIVE IT UP. AND I LEFT. AND SO THERE ARE VERY FEW THINGS WE CAN LOOK AT AS QUALITY OF LIFE AS EAST AUSTINITES. AND WE -- WE WILL FIGHT FOR THAT CORRIDOR, FOR THAT ON DOWNTOWN VIEW OF AUSTIN AND THE VIEW OF THE CAPITOL OF TEXAS. I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT IN OTHER FORMS. AND I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL DOES THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE].

>> ... THE ONLY THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS THE FAMOUS LEFT FIELD WAY IN FENWAY PARK. CALLED THE GREEN MONSTER, I BELIEVE. THIS DEVELOPMENT ENTAILS A SIMILAR MONSTER. I'M NOT SURE OF THE COLOR, BUT IT WOULD BE OBJECT TRUCE STIFF, WALL OFF THE DOWNTOWN CAPITOL -- OBST RUSIVE, WALL OFF THE DOWNTOWN CAPITOL VIEW, AFFECTS TOO MANY PEOPLE THERE. IT'S NOT A PEOPLE FRIENDLY DEVELOPMENT. FOR SOME THIS DEVELOPMENT CAN BE SCALED DOWN TO THE HEIGHTS WHICH MRS. BEGERIN HAS STARTED BEFORE WOULD BE AALLOWABLE TO MAKE IT MORE NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDLY. I JUST HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD -- IT WOULD ALSO BE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE FOR THE DEVELOPER EVENTUALLY TO SCALE IT DOWN. THIS IS NOT A -- THIS IS NOT A VIABLE PROJECT FROM MY STANDPOINT. IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDLY. IT'S INTRUSIVE. I DON'T WANT A GREEN MONSTER OR MONSTER IN MY VIEW OF THE CAPITOL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. ROBERT? FOLLOWED BY MARY HEARST.

>> GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR PRO TEM, I LIVE EAST OF THIS PROPOSED PROJECT AND LIKE ALL MY OTHER NEIGHBORS WHO SO ELOQUENTLY SPOKE BEFORE ME, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO FOLLOW YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER WHEN THEY HAVE KIND OF GIVEN YOU THE -- ALL OF THE FACTS, ALL OF THE FACTS AND REASONS WHY WE OPPOSE IT. BUT I FEEL IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO BE UP HERE AS A -- AS A RESIDENT OF THE AREA TO GIVE MY TWO CENTS, ALSO. I'M GOING TO USE A FEW SECONDS, TOO, TO THANK A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS RIGHT NOW. MARK RODGERS, BETTIE McGERIN, FATHER BILL, ELLIOTT, MARIO, OVER THE YEARS THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH COUNTLESS MEETINGS, NOT JUST FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR OUR -- FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND PEOPLE. SO I KNOW -- JUST NOT ME, BUT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE APPRECIATE THAT. AS FOR MYSELF, I TRAVEL IH-35 ACCESS ROAD THAT -- THAT A -- BY THE BENEFIT TRACT, I ALSO TRAVEL SAN MARCOS STREET, EAST 11TH STREET. FOR YEARS NOW EVERY TIME I PASS BY THERE, I ASK MYSELF, "WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO DO SOMETHING? WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO DO SOMETHING?" THAT'S NOT THE MAIN POINT JUST TO DO SOMETHING. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WE HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR DECADE. YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AS ONE TIME WAS ON THE WEST SIDE OF AUSTIN. -- AT ONE TIME. SO I THINK YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THERE IS A REAL UNEASINESS BECAUSE OF THIS HUGE PROJECT. FROM ALL OF THE INDICATIONS THAT I HAVE HEARD AND READ AND ALL OF THE MEETINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN TO FROM THE REPORTS FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE GIVEN TO YOU BY THE -- BY THE CITY STAFF ARE STILL EXCESSIVE, TOO HIGH, TOO DENSE. ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS THAT -- THAT WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S BEEN LOOKED INTO A LOT IS THE SAN MARCOS STREET CORRIDOR. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TRAFFIC WILL BE INVOLVED THERE. ONCE YOU HAVE TRAFFIC ON THAT STREET, IT'S -- IT'S VERY POSSIBLE A LOT OF THOSE CARS WILL COME INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND LIKE I SAID -- HISTORY SOMETIMES HAS A WAY OF REPEATING ITSELF. WE -- WE WOULD LIKE TO STAY THERE. LIKE I SAY WE ARE THERE FOR THE LONG TIME. AS FAR AS THESE DEVELOPERS ARE CONCERNED, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE THEIR MILLIONS, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. I WISH I OWNED THE LAND. BUT -- BUT WE ARE THERE FOR THE LONG-TERM AND WE STILL WANT TO LIVE THERE AND PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS IT IS. SO -- SO MAYBE YOU CAN RECONSIDER SOME OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO YOU. BUT WE STILL THINK SOME OF THESE ARE EXCESSIVE. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR. LET ME GET -- CAN I GET A SHOW OF HANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME TO THE CAPITOL METRO SHUTTLE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION HEARING? WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, COUNCIL, UNLESS THERE'S A DISAGREEMENT, BECAUSE OF THE TIMING, WHEN THE SHUTTLE STOPS, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE -- THAT WE RECESS THE HEARING ON THIS ITEM, AND CALL TO ORDER THE TRANSPORTATION HEARING ITEM, ITEM NO. 47, WE HEAR FROM THOSE PEOPLE WHO JUST RAISED THEIR HANDS SO THAT THEY WILL NOT MISS THE SHUTTLE. THAT HAS A SCHEDULED TIME. AND WE TAKE IT UP AT THAT TIME, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION FROM COUNCIL. NOW, I COUNTED ABOUT FIVE HANDS. WHEN I DID THAT. I WILL CALL YOUR HAND IF I THINK THAT YOU DIDN'T RAISE YOUR HAND. AND NOW YOU ARE TRYING TO TALK. SO WITH THAT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECESS THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BENNETT TRACT MATTER. MOTION MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO., MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER TEMPORARILY OFF THE DIAS. I WILL CALL TO ORDER A PUBLIC HEARING TO TAKE PUBLIC INPUT ON PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED WITH THE CAPITAL METRO FUNDING, WOULD THOSE PEOPLE WOULD THOSE PEOPLE THAT RODE THE CAPITAL METRO SHUTTLE, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIND YOUR CARD, I WILL LET YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND WE WILL PULL YOUR CARD AT A LATER POINT. WE NEED EVERYBODY TO KEEP IT DOWN IN THE CHAMBERS. WHO IS GOING TO GO FIRST?

>> I WILL VOLUNTEER. SINCE THERE'S NO OTHER BRAVE PEOPLE, WE WILL VOLUNTEER.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M GLAD FOR THAT. THANK YOU.

>> WE HAD -- WHAT SHOULD? I WROTE A PAPER EARLIER TODAY, I SENT IT TO I THINK HER NAME WAS TINA BOWIE, RON SLUSHERS SLUSHERSER'S --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: DARYL SLUSHER'S PERSON.

>> ACTUALLY I'M FIGHTING TO GET A STREET, PUBLIC SIDEWALKS PUT ON BOHLEN BETWEEN BURNET ROAD AND 183. IT'S COME TO MY ATTENTION WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR MORE SIDEWALKS IN AUSTIN. ALSO THERE'S LOW HANGING TREES WHICH I HAVE TALKED TO -- DELORES GONZALES AND KEN ZIMMERMAN, WHICH IS BASICALLY RUNNING INTO A FLAT WALL. THAT'S ALL WE NEED TO STAY ABOUT THAT -- TO SAY ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT MORE PEOPLE NEED TO TALK.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. COULD YOU DO ME A FAVOR? CAN YOU TELL ME YOUR NAME?

>> IT'S GLEN -- DEARING. WHOO.

>> THANK YOU. SINCE YOU WILL KNOW, MS. BOWIE IS HANDING OUT THE PAPER THAT YOU PROVIDED TO HER.

>> MY NAME IS DAVID WHITTY, WITH ADAPT OF TEXAS, ALSO A CITIZEN OF AUSTIN, HAVE BEEN FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS AND I -- I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS PUSHING MY MANUAL WHEELCHAIR AROUND U.T. BECAUSE IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN AUSTIN BECAUSE IT WAS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES THAT HAD CURB CUTS. BUT FORTUNATELY THINGS CHANGED A LOT AND I HOPE THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT MORE WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE -- OF A -- OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. WE REALLY NEED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR SIDEWALKS AND CURB CUTS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN BECAUSE -- BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH ONE HAS BEEN PROMISED AND PROPOSED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS NOW, IT KEEPS KIND OF FALLING ON THE WAYSIDE. THEN WE GO BACK TO THIS BAND-AID PATCHWORK NETWORK OF JUST PUTTING IN CURB CUTS AND SIDEWALKS WHERE -- WHERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE -- THE LOUDEST, SQUEAKIEST WHEEL GETS GREASED, I HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF THAT MYSELF, I KNOW THAT IT WORKS, THAT'S THE METHOD THAT SEEMS TO ONLY WORK. RIGHT NOW THERE ARE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED, THAT ARE BEING ROLLED OVER, TURNED OVER FROM CAPITAL METRO AND -- AND WE DON'T HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR SIDEWALKS AND -- AND PEDESTRIAN ISSUES, NOT JUST FOLKS IN WHEELCHAIRS, NOT JUST FOLKS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS, BUT PEDESTRIAN ISSUES TEND ON GET ON THE BACK BURNER. YESTERDAY, JUST YESTERDAY, I WAS GOING THROUGH SIXTH STREET AND LAMAR WITH MY FRIEND RONA SCHNALL, ONE OF THE BUSIEST INTERSECTIONS IN AUSTIN, WE CLEARLY HAD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, CLEARLY HAD THE WALK SIGNAL. LIKE -- BARELY MISSED BY TWO CARS. THAT WAS JUST YESTERDAY MORNING. TWO HOURS LATER, WE WERE COMING BACK THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THROUGH THE SAME INTERSECTION, WE STOPPED, THERE WAS A CAR RIGHT BY WHERE WE HAD JUST WALKED, IT'S FRONT BUMPER -- ITS FRONT ENGINE ABOUT A FOOT UP INTO THE CAR WAS JUST SMASHED LYING ON THE ROAD. THE WOMAN WAS OBVIOUSLY FRAZZLED, BUT SHE WAS OKAY. BUT I ASKED HER WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER. AND SHE SAID, WELL, SHE HAD -- SHE HAD HIT A BUS. SHE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITH A BUS. I'M THINKING TO MYSELF, YOU KNOW, THIS WOMAN IS HAVING A PROBLEM AND A BUS AND A CAR CAN'T AVOID EACH OTHER. HOW ME AS A PEDESTRIAN, HOW AM I GOING TO AVOID ANY OF THESE VEHICLES. SO I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THAT A LOT MORE THAN WE HAVE BEEN. I KNOW THAT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COMMITTEE PROGRAM ARE HERE. SO I -- I REALLY STRONGLY ENCOURAGE US TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THAT. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT? I TELL YOU WHAT, DO YOU WANT TO COME OVER AND SPEAK ON THIS MICROPHONE? THANKS.

>> HI, I'M DENNIS HEINZ WITH ADAPT. I SIGNED A CARD, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK BECAUSE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE, HOME -- YOU KNOW, THE SIDEWALKS, SAME THING. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN -- YOU KNOW, FRIENDS HAVE BEEN GIVING ME RIDES, I HAVE NOTICED THESE BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOODS IN SOUTH AUSTIN, WE REALLY NEED TO ROLL DOWN OR WALK DOWN THERE. THE ONLY THING IS THERE'S -- BACK THERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT TOO FAR SOUTH. THERE'S LIKE COUNTRY ROADS. YOU KNOW? AND THEN -- AND I DO A LOT OF DARING THINGS, AS FAR AS GETTING OUT AND DON'T STAY AT HOME, YOU KNOW, DON'T LET THAT -- STAY AT HOME, THAT'S ONE THING THAT I WOULD NOT DO, I WOULD NOT GO DOWN WHEN THERE'S TWO LANES OR SOMETIMES A ONE-LANE ROAD. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THAT -- THAT AREA OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE TO SAY, THANKS.

>> THANK YOU, MR. SAENZ.

>> MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE].

>> I GO ALL OVER TOWN A LOT. (INTERPRETER IS NOT AT MICROPHONE). OFTENTIMES I WILL GET ON A SIDEWALK, HALFWAY DOWN, THEN THERE'S NO MORE SIDEWALK. OR THERE'S NO CURB CUT. HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B SAFELY IF THERE'S NO SIDEWALK. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. METS. ANYONE ELSE THAT'S RIDING THE CAPITAL METRO SHUTTLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO US ON THE TRANSPORTATION ITEM? ANYONE ELSE RIDING ON THE SHUTTLE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE RIDING THAT SHUTTLE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH THE BUS AND WE DON'T HOLD YOU TOO LATE. OKAY. WELL, IN THAT CASE, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS RECESS -- CALL FOR A MOTION TO RECESS THE PUBLIC HEARING TO TAKE PUBLIC INPUT ON PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND WE WILL GO BACK TO THE BENNETT TRACT ITEM. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION IS TO RECESS BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. IS THERE A SECOND?

>>THOMAS: SECOND.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES AND WE WILL RECESS THAT. I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE BENNETT HEARING, HANG ON ONE SECOND.

>> AS I CALL THIS HEARING BACK TO ORDER, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE TO SPEAK, WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE MORE HEARING AND YOU SAW JUST A FEW PEOPLE SPEAK ON THAT. BUT WE HAVE 63 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. IF WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO ON THE BENNETT TRACT IS -- IS SIMPLY REPEAT WHAT SOMEBODY HAS ALREADY SAID, I ASK YOU NOT TO DO THAT IN DEFERENCE TO YOUR NEIGHBORS WHO ALSO WANT TO BE HEARD ON ANOTHER ITEM. SO -- SO WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF TESTIMONY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE. SO -- SO -- BUT I WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE NAMES. MARY JAY HEARST? MARY JAY HEARST? SHE SIGNED UP IN FAVOR. TRINIDAD ACOSTA RIOS SIGNED UP AGAINST. HERNANDEZ SIGNED UP AGAINST. ERIC JAY RICH SIGNED UP FOR. FRANK LAMB SIGNED UP AGAINST. MILLIE CHU SIGNED UP AGAINST. MARY HELEN LOPEZ? MARY HELEN LOPEZ? SIGNED UP AGAINST. IS JOSEPH MARTINEZ HERE? JOSEPH MARTINEZ? JOSEPH MARTINEZ SIGNED UP AGAINST. JANIE SESTADA SIGNED UP AGAINST, WROTE PROBLEM WITH 220 FEET. KRISTINE VILLA NUEVO LAREDO I CAN'T KRISTINE VILLA NUEVA, SIGNED UP AGAINST, DAVID ZAPATA, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK OR JUST BE SHOWN IN OPPOSITION?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MAKE YOUR WAY UP TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE.

>> HI, MY NAME IS MARY HELEN LOPEZ, I'M A PROPERTY OWNER ON EAST 9TH STREET ALONG WITH MY MOM. I'M GOING TO BE VERY BRIEF. NUMERALROUS TIMES WE HAVE SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO HAVE OUR PROPERTY REMOVED FROM THE NCCD. AND BASICALLY THAT'S BEEN BECAUSE THE PLANS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PRETTY MUCH OUTRAGEOUS. IF -- IF WE DO NOT GET REMOVED FROM THAT, I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER ALL OF THE -- ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE TONIGHT FROM ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL. IN STAYING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, RAISING CHILDREN. MANY GENERATIONS. PLEASE CONSIDER THE HEIGHTS. MAYBE YOU CAN PUSH THE -- THE HEIGHTS THAT THEY ARE -- THAT THEY ARE REQUESTING, THAT THE DEVELOPER IS REQUESTING TO THE CORNER OF 11TH AND IH 30. POSSIBLY THAT. IF YOU WANT TO COMPROMISE, DO IT ON THAT END. BUT -- BUT ANYWAY, OUR CONCERN IS THAT, THAT IT'S JUST IMMENSE AND EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF US, WE LOSE OUR VIEW -- THE VIEW CORRIDOR IS LOST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE THAT IS OF CONCERN TO US. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. ZAPATA.

>> MAYOR WATSON, COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS DAVID ZAPATA, I LIVE AT 1009 EAST 8TH STREET. 10 YEARS AGO AT ONE TIME I SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AND VICE-PRESIDENT. AND AT THAT TIME MY COMMUNITY AND I HAD COME DOWN HERE AND PROTESTED ON THE BENNETT TRACT ONCE BEFORE. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN THERE GOING ON FIVE GENERATIONS. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS WHAT SCARES ME MOST ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL IS THE TRAFFIC AND THE HEIGHT. IT IS LUDICROUS TO PUT A BUILDING THAT HIGH ON THIS SIDE OF 35. ON THE EAST SIDE OF 35. TRAFFIC AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, WHEN -- WHEN THE FRENCH LEGGATION HAS A WEDDING OR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON THERE, TRAFFIC IS HORRIBLE AS IT IS. AND AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN SOMETHING IS GOING ON THERE AT THE FRENCH LEGGATION DURING THE WEEK, THEN WE HAVE THE -- THE BLUE LINE TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS DURING ITS NORMAL WORKING HOURS, WELL, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GO THROUGH SAN MARCOS. -- THAT'S -- THAT'S ABOUT ALL THAT I HAVE TO SAY, REALLY. JUST -- JUST THE HEIGHT, DENSITY, AND THE TRAFFIC, WHAT'S CONCERNING ME. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT -- WHO SIGNED UP THAT WE HAVE NOT CALLED YOUR NAME? ON THE BENNETT TRACT? PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK. WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

>> MY NAME IS GREG SHADDOCK.

>> I'M SORRY IF YOUR CARD IS HERE AND WE MISSED IT.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS FOR LETTING ME GET UP HERE AND TALK TO YOU FOR JUST A SECOND. I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER WHAT MY NEIGHBORS HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MUST SAY IS THAT THE REASON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS SUCH A WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOOD IS BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAD THE SUPPORT OF THIS AND OTHER CITY COUNCILS BEHIND US. 10 YEARS AGO OR SO, WE HAD ISSUES THAT A LOT OF INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOODS HAD. WE HAD BIG CRIME RATES, DRUGS, PROBLEMS UP ON 11TH STREET AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE AND THE SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR AND THE DIFFERENT CITY COUNCILLS, WE WERE ABLE TO HAMMER DOWN THE CRIME RATES, MAKE THIS -- CLEAN UP THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, REALLY TURN IT INTO A LOVELY, BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE. WHICH IS WHY I THINK IT'S SUCH A DESIREABLE PLACE LIKE IT IS TODAY. THE ONLY THING THAT I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. IT SEEMS LIKE WE WERE DOING REALLY WELL AND THE MODEL THAT WE HAD CREATED FOR TURNING THE PROBLEMS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND, THE CITY COUNCILL WAS REALLY EAGER TO GET HYPED US AND BE A PART OF THAT, SUPPORT THAT AND EVEN TAKE CREDIT WHICH THEY WERE DUE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REQUEST THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE NEIGHBORS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE -- AND ON EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE HEARD TONIGHT. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. I THINK THOSE ARE ALL OF THE CARDS AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO THE BENNETT TRACT ISSUE. BUT I WANT TO DOUBLY SURE BECAUSE I WAS OFF THE DIAS FOR A MINUTE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE BENNETT TRACT ISSUE? EITHER THE MAYOR PRO TEM OR I HAVE NOT CALLED OUT YOUR NAME? WITH THAT, COUNCIL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING WITH REGARD TO THE BENNETT TRACT ITEM.

>>THOMAS: ON MOVE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER SONLEITNER, IS -- MOTIONS CARRIES ON A VOTE OF 7 TO 0. MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, THERE IS A SECOND? SECONDED, THE MOTION CARRIES WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH TEMPORARILY OFF THE DIAS. I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>> THANKS, MAYOR, I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND WALK THROUGH THE PROCESS HERE THAT -- THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS GONE THROUGH. I HAVE REALLY AND TRULY HAVE ONLY BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS ABOUT THREE WEEKS OR SO. MAYBE A LITTLE MORE. I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WERE ABLE TO GET THIS MAP ON HERE, TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS. IT WAS ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AFTER THE PLANNING COMMISSION -- I GUESS IT'S BEEN LONGER, THE PLANNING COMMISSION TOOK ACTION ON THIS TRACT, WHICH IS -- OR THIS NCCD, WHICH IS A LOT FARTHER THAN I THINK IT -- THAN IT HAD MADE IT IN A LONG -- MAYBE ALONG THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND AT THAT POINT THE COUNCIL WENT AHEAD AND SAYS LET'S EXTEND THE MORATORIUM SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID BECAUSE THE PLANNING COMMISSION MADE ABOUT 30 CHANGES AND NOBODY REALLY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID. SO WE WENT AHEAD AND EXTENDED THE MORATORIUM TO THIS VERY DATE TODAY, AS A MATTER OF FACT. NOW WE ARE HERE TO -- TO DISCUSS, I THINK, WHERE WE ARE AT IN TERMS OF -- OF A NEGOTIATED -- WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD CALL IT AN AGREEMENT, BUT A COMPROMISE SOLUTION -- AND CERTAINLY WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED COMING INTO IT IS THAT EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, I GUESS THIS NEGOTIATION HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW, HAS GIVEN UP A LOT ALONG THE WAY. SO I CAME IN AT THE TAIL END, HEARD A LOT OF THOSE THINGS THAT FOLKS SAID. AGAIN THAT THEY -- WHEN FOLKS SAID THEY DIDN'T LIKE CERTAIN ASPECTS OF WHATEVER WAS ON THE TABLE, REFERENCES TO OTHER THINGS THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN UP IN THE PAST WOULD -- WOULD BE BROUGHT UP. BUT A LOT OF TIMES WE WOULD SAY THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE ALREADY NEGOTIATED OUT OF THE DEAL. NOT EVERYONE MAY FEEL THE SAME WAY OR NOT. I WANT TO AT LEAST LET YOU KNOW WHEN I CAME INTO THE PICTURE, WHERE WE WERE AT, WHAT MY ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION WAS, WHAT ACTIONS, COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND MYSELF HAVE TAKEN IN ORDER TO -- TO TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE HEARD VOICED TODAY FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT -- BUT BASICALLY THIS IS -- THE TRACTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT MOSTLY IS THE SEVEN TRACTS DURING THE -- DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS, EXTRACT 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 AND 7. AND SO -- AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE -- THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS, EBENEEZER, THE NEIGHBORHOOD RIATA HAD GONE THROUGH THIS LENGTHY PROCESS OF NEGOTIATION AND HAD -- I THINK, I HAD AGREED ON SOME THINGS, BUT OBVIOUSLY NEVER COME TO SOME AGREEMENT. BUT AT LEAST UNDER THE NCCD WHAT WAS PROPOSED IS THAT THE TRACT -- THE HEIGHTS ON TRACTS 1, 2, 3 WAS 220 FEET AND THE HEIGHTS ON TRACT 4, 5, AND 6 WAS 60 FEET. SO THIS -- AT LEAST MY UNDERSTANDING FROM BEFORE IT CAME TO PLANNING COMMISSION OR -- IS IS THAT WHERE IT WAS ABLE TO BE NEGOTIATED WAS THAT -- WAS THAT MAYBE WE COULD ALLOW 200 FEET, 220 FEET HERE, 120 FEET HERE, 80 FEET HERE, 60 FEET, 40, 60 FEET, 50 FEET, 40 FEET, AND I'M NOT SURE, I THINK SOME OF THAT MAY HAVE COME UP DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS. SOME OF IT MAY HAVE BEEN -- MAY HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED BY STAFF. IT'S NOT REAL CLEAR TO ME. BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS SOME GIVE AND TAKE TO GET TO THAT POINT BECAUSE ORIGINALLY WE WERE LOOKING AT 200 FEET ON THESE THREE TRACTS, 60 FEET ON THESE THREE TRACTS. AND SO WE ARE LOOKING AT SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT WHEN -- WHEN PLANNING COMMISSION I THINK MADE THEIR DECISION OR ONE OF THE THINGS AT LEAST THAT STAFF AND PLANNING COMMISSION DID WAS THAT THEY I THINK LOWERED THE INTENSITY OF THE DEVELOPMENT ON TRACT 7. THAT'S LIMITED TO 50 FEET. AND BASED -- AND IN ADDITION -- WHAT PLANNING COMMISSION MADE WAS TO CHANGE THE USE HERE IN TRACT NUMBER 9. I THINK THEY ARE NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT REMAINS OUTSTANDING. BASICALLY I SAT DOWN TO MY FIRST MEETING, VISITED WITH MEMBERS OF EBENEZER, RIATA, COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND MYSELF, AGAIN WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE WE WERE AT AS A RESULT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. AFRTD AND IT SEEMED LIKE WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO THE GIST OF IT WAS THIS WAS THE AREA THAT WAS OF MOST CONCERN BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO LOWER THE DENSITY OF DEVELOPMENT ALONG HERE FROM 60 TO 50 TO 40, THIS IS CLOSEST TO THE RESIDENTIAL AREA. THEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS BEING A COMMERCIAL TRACT RIGHT HERE. TRACT 7 COMMERCIAL. COMPLETELY COMMERCIAL. THIS ONE IS COMPLETELY COMMERCIAL. ALTHOUGH THE HEIGHT WAS TO BE LOWERED RIGHT HERE. ON THE EDGE OF 9TH STREET. ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS RAISED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS THAT WE WANTED A RESIDENTIAL CORRIDOR ALONG 9TH STREET TO CONTINUE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT COMES ALL THE WAY ALONG 9TH STREET. THE PROPOSAL WAS LET'S HAVE RESIDENTIAL ON BOTH SIDES OF 9TH STREET TO CONTINUE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN SO DOING BRING THIS DEVELOPMENT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THERE IS SOMEWHAT OF A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THIS -- BETWEEN THIS -- THIS DEVELOPMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN ALMOST PRIMARILY COMMERCIAL AND -- BUT ANYWAY. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD DONE IS THEY HAD SAID THAT ON THESE TWO TRACTS, FIVE AND SIX, THESE STRIPS RIGHT HERE WOULD BE RESIDENTIAL. AND SO REALLY THE -- THE AREA WHERE THERE WASN'T RESIDENTIAL ALONG 9TH STREET WAS GOING TO BE RIGHT ALONG FROM EMBASSY DRIVE ALL THE WITH A TOY I-35. SO THAT'S WHEN -- WHEN BASICALLY WE HIT AN IMPASSE, SAID, WELL, THE NEIGHBORHOOD WANTS IT TO BE RESIDENTIAL, THE DEVELOPER SAID, WELL, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A SMALL OFFICE BUILDING HERE, WE CAN'T HAVE RESIDENTIAL RIGHT IN FRONT OF IT. AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE COMMERCIAL HERE, WE CAN'T HAVE RESIDENTIAL SEPARATING THE COMMERCIAL FROM THE REST OF THE COMMERCIAL HERE. SO THAT'S WHEN -- WHEN COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND MYSELF TOOK IT UPON OURSELVES TO ASK MATT, MATHIAS FROM RIATA, IF YOU CAN'T DO RESIDENTIAL HERE, ALONG THE EDGE OF 9TH STREET, WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO MAKE THIS WHOLE TRACT RESIDENTIAL? TRACT NUMBER 7. HE SAID HE COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE WE WERE JUST AT THAT POINT TALKING ABOUT ZONING, WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT ZONING AND HE'S TRYING TO MAKE THIS DEAL WORK. HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO STICK TO HIS GUNS, IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS WORK IT NEEDS TO ALL BE COMMERCIAL. THAT'S WHEN COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND MYSELF THEN BROUGHT UP THIS IDEA OF WHAT IF WE BRING IN SOME DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES TO -- SO THAT HE CAN FLIP THIS TRACT FROM COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL. AND -- THERE WAS A SUGGESTION MADE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SAID, WELL, IF YOU DO FLIP THIS FROM COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL, WE WILL LET YOU GO FROM 50 FEET TO 70 FEET. SO THAT'S BASICALLY THE OFFER THAT WE HAD -- WE HAD MADE TO RIATA IS, WELL, IF YOU CAN FLIP THIS TO COMMERCIAL, WE WILL GIVE YOU 70 FEET, WE WILL GIVE YOU SOME FINANCIAL INCENTIVES. YOU KNOW, AND LET'S BEGIN THE DISCUSSIONS AND SEE IF WE CAN MAKE THAT WORK. SO BASICALLY WHERE WE ARE AT NOW IS BASICALLY THE CITY'S PUT A FINANCIAL PACKAGE ON THE TABLE IN ORDER TO FLIP THIS PARTICULAR TRACT FROM COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL. S ONE OF THE THINGS OBVIOUSLY SINCE THEN, OTHER ISSUES HAVE ARISED FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD MAYBE NOT BEING HAPPY AFTER ALL WITH THE HEIGHT HERE, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN -- ORIGINAL AT SOME POINT THERE WAS A VIEW CORRIDOR RIGHT HERE, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT MAT AT THIS -- MATT AT THIS POINT OBVIOUSLY CANNOT COMMIT TO. AGAIN BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN UP THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, BUT AGAIN WHEN WE CAME INTO THE PROCESS, THIS SEEMS SEEMED TO BE THE AREA OF MOST CONCERN HERE, THAT'S WHERE OUR FOCUS WAS. NOW THAT WE ARE OBVIOUSLY ABLE TO PROVIDE AT LEAST MORE RESIDENTIAL, PROVIDE MORE BALANCE TO THIS PROJECT, THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT PUTS US IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR THOSE OF US, YOU KNOW, WHO HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING, WHO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH WITH ALL PARTIES. THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. THE ONLY THING THAT I WILL SAY IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY ON THE TABLE, THAT CERTAINLY IS A LOT MORE THAN I HAD ENVISIONED. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DISCUSS THAT AT LENGTH WITH THE COUNCILMEMBERS, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS HOW CAN WE -- IF WE ARE GOING TO LOSE THIS VIEW CORRIDOR, WE WANT TO HAVE SOME KIND OF ACCESS. IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE US A VIEW CORRIDOR RIGHT HERE, MAYBE PROVIDE US ACCESS, THERE'S GOING TO BE A PLAZA RIGHT HERE ON 10TH VET TO SOME PUBLIC OR OPEN SPACE OVER HERE. AND SOMETHING THAT WE -- SO FAR HASN'T BEEN -- HASN'T BEEN AGREED TO, BUT THE OTHER IDEA THAT I HAVE BEEN FLOATING AROUND TO FOLKS IS, WELL, MAYBE IF IT'S TOO DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF MAYBE -- MAYBE THE KINDS OF USES THAT ARE MAYBE AT GROUND LEVEL HERE, WHAT WE CAN DO IS MAYBE ALONG 9TH STREET, WE MAKE THIS OBVIOUSLY A VERY PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY CORRIDOR, PROVIDE EITHER A SCENIC OUTLOOK RIGHT HERE BECAUSE -- BECAUSE AT THE END OF 9TH STREET OR MAYBE IN THE CORNER, YOU KNOW, OF THE DEVELOPMENT HERE, IS ONE OF THE THINGS MARY HELEN I REMEMBER MADE A REAL BIG IMPACT, MARY HELEN LOPEZ, WHO -- HER AND HER MOM I BELIEVE LIVE RIGHT HERE, SAID IS WHEN PEOPLE COME OUT TO WATCH THE FIREWORKS, THEY WALK DOWN, 4TH OF JULY OR NEW YEAR'S, WALK DOWN THE STREET HERE TO WATCH THE FIREWORKS. AGAIN OBVIOUSLY YOU WILL HAVE THE FEWS OF DOWNTOWN AND SUCH. IF WE CAN'T PROVIDE A VIEW CORRIDOR, DIRECT ACCESS FROM THIS PLAZA HERE TO -- TO WHATEVER PUBLIC SPACES MAY BE HERE, THEN WE SHOULD EITHER PROVIDE A PUBLIC -- PUBLIC OVERLOOK HERE, A SCENIC OVERLOOK, OR MAYBE THERE USED TO BE A PROPOSAL FOR A PLAZA HERE, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS OBVIOUSLY THAT WE MIGHT STILL BE CONSIDERING. BUT -- BUT THAT'S ABOUT -- IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS, LAND USE ZONING, WHERE WE ARE AT. BOTTOM BOTTOM I DON'T KNOW, IF TERMS OF THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, ON I DON'T KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES I THINK IT'S A VERY GENEROUS OFFER I AM GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THAT TO SEE WHAT I THINK IS FAIR IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS INCENTIVES BE BASED MORE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING BECAUSE -- BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I GUESS WE ARE OFFERING THE JOB TRAINING SEPARATE FROM DID SOME OF THESE INCENTIVES IN THE 380 AGREEMENT. I THINK THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TIE THOSE JOB TRAINING INCENTIVES MORE DIRECTLY TO SOME OF THESE 380 INCENTIVES. BUT JUST WANTED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT PROCESS WE WENT THROUGH. WHAT KIND OF GIVE AND TAKE THERE HAD BEEN THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. WHERE WE ARE NOW AND MAYBE WHATEVER -- WHAT ARE SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE WE MIGHT STILL MAKE SOME PROGRESS IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS' CONCERNS. THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD ADD IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC, WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT TRAFFIC. RIGHT HERE ALONGSIDE -- OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ON SAN MARCOS. PEOPLE WANTING TO ACCESS THIS SITE USING SAN MARCOS STREET. BUT THERE IS A PROVISION THAT WE ARE INCLUDING WITH THE ZONING OR WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, I'M NOT SURE WHICH DOCUMENT IT MAY BE THAT SAYS THAT THE PARKING THAT -- THAT WILL PROVIDE OFF OF SON MARKS SHOULD ONLY SERVE THESE USES RIGHT HERE, NOT SERVE THE USES OVER HERE AND THERE BY LIMITING THE NEED FOR -- FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR FOLKS TO UTILIZE SAN MARCOS. SO -- SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS RACED THAT WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. AND -- CERTAINLY WELCOME ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, LET ME ASK YOU, DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION ON ITEM NO. -- ITEM NO. 34 AND 35. 34 IS THE ONE RELATED TO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, ITEM NO. 35 IS RELATED TO THE ZONING. COUNCIL, FOR PURPOSES OF THIS, THE ZONING ITEMS, LET ME ALSO POINT OUT THAT WHILE THERE'S A VALID PETITION THAT'S BEEN FILED IN OPPOSITION TO THE REZONING REQUEST, IT'S BEEN THE RULING OF THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE TO PASS THE ITEM ON FIRST READING AND SECOND READING. THE SUPER MAJORITY VOTE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PASS IT ON THIRD AND FINAL READING.

>>ALVAREZ: MAYOR, ESSENTIALLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO PROPOSE IS THAT WE -- IS THAT WE APPROVE THE -- THE PROPOSAL THAT'S ON THE TABLE, THERE'S AN OUTLINE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED. AND ON FIRST READING ONLY, I BELIEVE THERE'S STILL SOME WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THAT. THAT ALL -- THAT ALL THE OTHER ITEMS RELATED TO THIS, EXCEPT FOR ITEM 28, BE POSTPONED UNTIL THE ITEM COMES BACK AND THEN ON ITEM 28, THAT WE -- THAT WE GO AHEAD AND EXTEND THE MORATORIUM, MOVE TO APPROVE THAT RESOLUTION THAT EXTEND THE MORATORIUM AND I'M GOING TO ASK THAT THE DATE BE CHANGED FROM MAY THE 21ST, 2001, TO MAY THE 28TH, 2001. COUNCIL, WHAT I AM GOING TO DO FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY, JUST SO YOU WILL KNOW, WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IS SILL ACCEPT COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ'S MOTION ON ITEM NO. 35 TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION ON FIRST READING ONLY AND THEN I WILL GO BACK AND TAKE UP ITEMS 34, 34, 13 AND 14 AS A MOTION TO POSTPONE. AND I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT AS A MOTION FOR POSTPONE INDEFINITELY UNTIL WE GET TO THE FINAL READING ON ITEM NO. 35. AND THEN I WILL TAKE UP ITEM NO. 28. IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION ON ITEM NO. 35 TO APPROVE ON FIRST READING ONLY? IS THERE A SECOND?

>>THOMAS: SECOND.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. IS THERE DISCUSSION? APPROACH.

>>SLUSHER: I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

>>SLUSHER: FIRST OFF, COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ DO YOU -- DO -- YOU SAID THAT THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE HERE ON THE TABLE THROUGH WHICH TRACT, WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT? I'M SORRY.

>>ALVAREZ: THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE WHICH LEADS TO WHICH TRACT?

>>SLUSHER: I THOUGHT THAT I HEARD YOU SAY IT WAS SPARKED ABOUT --.

>>ALVAREZ: ESSENTIALLY THERE WAS A CONCERN THAT TRACT 7 WAS COMMERCIAL AND THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO INCLUDE SOME RESIDENTIAL IN THAT TRACT IN ORDER TO AGAIN ALLOW 9TH STREET TO MAYBE CONTINUE OR PROVIDE I GUESS SOME RESIDENTIAL USES, THEN MAKING THAT DEVELOPMENT PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WHEN -- WHEN THE DEVELOPER WAS UNABLE TO DO THAT, THAT'S WHEN WE BEGAN THE DISCUSSIONS TO SAY WELL, WHAT WILL IT TAKE, WHAT INCENTIVES CAN WE PROVIDE TO THE DEVELOPER IN ORDER TO FLIP THAT TRACT FROM COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL. SO THAT'S HOW THE -- BASICALLY HOW THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES BEGAN.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK STAFF, IS MS. CONNOR STILL HERE? SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE. SO WE ARE GETTING, THROUGH THIS PROPOSAL WE WOULD GET SOME JOB TRAINING, SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AS COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ MENTIONED, TRACT 7 RESIDENTIAL. IS THERE A WAY TO CALCULATE, HOW MANY AFFORDABLE HOUSES ARE WE GETTING OUT OF THE PROPOSAL AND AFFORDABLE DWELLINGS, I SHOULD SAY.

>> THE PROPOSAL IS TO DO 5% OF THE TOTAL UNITS SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE REASONABLY PRICED HOUSING.

>>SLUSHER: LET ME INTERRUPT A SECOND. WAS THAT ON THE TABLE BEFORE THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE OR DID IT JUST COME IN AFTERWARD.

>> ACTUALLY IT WAS ON THE TABLE BEFORE THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE.

>>SLUSHER: THAT WAS ALREADY IN THERE, OKAY. WHAT ABOUT THE JOB TRAINING?

>> THE JOB TRAINING IS TIED TO THE ABILITY OF THE DEVELOPER TO BRING IN A PRIMARILY -- PRIMARY EMPLOYER, THEY ARE ACTUALLY TIED TO THE 380 INCENTIVES IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO GET 20 YEAR INCENTIVES VERSUS 10 YEARS INCENTIVES.

>> IS THERE A WAY TO CALCULATE THE WAY TO INVEST IN PER JOB? WELL GOING, IF YOU WANT THE JOB TRAINING INCENTIVES I CAN GIVE YOU THAT NUMBER. THE EMPLOYER FOR PRIMARY EMPLOYER THE BENEFIT IS ABOUT $3 MILLION. FROM A 10 YEAR INCENTIVE TO ABOUT THE 20 YEAR INCENTIVE.

>>SLUSHER: BUT CAN YOU CALCULATE THAT TO PER JOB?

>> I GUESS BETWEEN THE HOTEL AND PRIMARILY EMPLOYER WE ARE CALCULATING ABOUT 2500 NEW JOBS, IF YOU TAKE THAT 2500 AND DIVIDE IT I GUESS INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL OF THE 3 MILLION.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME DOING THAT IN MY HEAD, BUT I SHOULDN'T DO THE SAME THING TO YOU. I WILL TELL YOU WHAT --

>> WE WILL GET THAT FOR YOU.

>> WE ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING THIS AFTER TONIGHT AS WELL. OKAY SO IT JUST SEEMS -- SO THE PACKAGE IS -- BREAK IT DOWN FOR ME BETWEEN HOW MUCH IS FROM THE -- FROM THE TAX BREAKS THAT THEY WOULD BE GETTING VERSUS THE FEE WAIVERS BECAUSE THOSE ARE -- BASICALLY WHAT ARE THEY GETTING OUT OF THIS, JUST GOING THROUGH THE SMART GROWTH MATRIX, WHICH THEY HAD BEFORE ANYWAY AND BREAK DOWN WHAT'S BEYOND THAT.

>> THE SMART GROWTH FEE WAIVER IS APPROXIMATELY ROUNDED UP TO A ABOUT A MILLION, ABOUT 960 SOME THOUBD OR 70 THOUSAND. THEN ABOUT 550,000 FOR DEVELOPER REIMBURSIBLES TO DO WATER AND WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AREA. THAT'S ABOUT 1.5 MILLION COMBINED. THEN THE 13.2 IS ACTUALLY THE 380 WHICH IS A BEGIN CONDEMNATION OF THE 10 YEAR -- COMBINATION OF THE 10 YEAR TAX INCENTIVES AT 100% AND THE 20 YEAR IF THEY GET A PRIMARY EMPLOYER. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10 MILLION AND 13.2 DEPENDING ON THE PRIMARY EMPLOYER.

>>SLUSHER: THAT'S IN THEIR HIKE IN TACKS, I MEAN IN VALUES, THUS THE INCREASE IN TAXES, THAT WOULD GO BACK TO THEM?

>> YES.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. I THINK THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE FOR YOU MS. CONNOR. I APPRECIATE IT. I WANTED TO ASK EITHER MS. GLASGO OR MR. GUERNSEY A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ONE OF THE SPEAKERS HAD MENTIONED THE COMPATIBILITY QUESTION AND WHAT COULD BE BUILT ON THESE PROPERTIES IF COMPATIBILITY APPLIED. COULD YOU SPEAK -- WAS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT THAT THERE WOULD BE NOTHING OVER -- I THINK THEY SAID 40.

>> EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS ARE TRIGGERED BY SINGLE FAMILY USE ZONING THAT IS WITHIN 560 FEET OF A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED. SO THEREFORE BECAUSE THEY ARE RESIDENTIAL USES, VERY CLOSE TO THIS PROPERTY, THEREFORE THE SETBACKS THAT ARE WITHIN BETWEEN 50 AND 100 FEET OF THE PROPERTY BEING DEVELOPED OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE FOR USE --.

>>SLUSHER: I'M SORRY, FROM THE PROPERTY LINE OF THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY TO BE DEVELOPED?

>> CORRECT AND THE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE. BUT YOUR HEIGHT FROM THERE IS AFFECTED THAT WITHIN -- BETWEEN 50 AND 100 FEET THE HEIGHT OF THAT BUILDING IS 40 FEET OR THREE STORIES. SO GIVEN THE FACT THAT WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT YOU HAVE THE LOPEZ TRACT USED FOR SINGLE FAMILY AND THE TRACT 7 IS TO THE NORTH, GIVEN THAT DEVELOPMENT, EXCUSE ME -- HE WILL GRADUATE. THE -- I WILL DEMONSTRATE. THE SCALE GRADUATES, YOU HAVE THE SINGLE FAMILY USE, THE ZONING. THE USES HERE, IF YOU DID NOT HAVE THE NCCD OVERLAY THAT MODIFIES THOSE STANDARDS, YOUR HEIGHTS WOULD BE LIMITED BETWEEN -- FROM 40 TO 60 FEET DEPENDING ON GRADUATING SETBACKS.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE PARTS THAT ARE ALONG THE PRE WAY. THAT WOULD APPLY THERE AS WELL?

>> WELL, THE PROPERTIES ALONG HERE WOULD ALSO ALL AFFECT THE HEIGHTS. EVERYTHING THAT IS USED OR ZONED AS SINGLE FAMILY WOULD AFFECT ALL OF THE HEIGHTS OF EVERY DEVELOPMENT ALONG HERE AND AFFECT THE HEIGHTS --

>> STRETCHING ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE FREEWAY BECAUSE THAT'S UNDER A SINGLE OWNERSHIP?

>>GLASGO: CORRECT. MOST OF IT IS UNDER SINGLE OWNERSHIP RIGHT HERE.

>>SLUSHER: ONE PROJECT. BUT THEY COULD CONCEIVABLY SPLIT THAT IN HALF AND THEN HAVE SOME OTHER USE, SAY, ON THE SAN MARCOS PROPERTIES LIKE IT'S PROPOSED IN HERE, MAYBE SMALLER, THEY COULD GO UP A LITTLE HIGHER ON THE FREEWAY PROPERTIES?

>> UNDER COMPATIBILITY? WITH EXHIBIT STANDARDS THEY WOULD HAVE TO SET FURTHER AWAY FROM THE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES TO ACHIEVE HIGHER HEIGHTS. SO IT WOULD BE -- IT WOULD BE A DEVELOPMENT CLOSER TO I-35 TO PROVIDE THE SETBACKS --

>> WHAT DID IT GO UP TO? WHAT WOULD BE THE MAXIMUM THAT YOU COULD GET SAY AT 11TH, ON TRACT 1, SAY.

>>GLASGO: I'M GOING TO ESTIMATE THAT'S BEYOND 200 FEET, THAT WOULD GO UP TO MAYBE 60 FEET UNDER THE XAITIBILITY SCALE.

>>SLUSHER: BECAUSE THERE'S SINGLE FAMILY BACK ON SAN MARCOS.

>>GLASGO: CORRECT. ALONG SAN MARCOS. BUT ON 10TH, NORTH OF 10TH IS THE CHURCH. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY SINGLE FAMILY RIGHT THERE.

>> NORTH OF 10TH, CORRECT. THAT'S THE CHURCH RIGHT HERE. SO THE TRIGGERING TRACTS WOULD BE RIGHT HERE.

>> BUT THAT'S STILL CLOSE ENOUGH -- SAY THE TRACT 1 -- I'M WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M GIVING A FAIR SHAKE TO THIS STATEMENT. SO IF TRACT ONE WAS BEING CONSIDERED BY ITSELF, COULD IT -- WHAT COULD IT GO UP TO WITH XAITIBILITY?

>>GLASGO: I'M EYEBALLING THIS, MAYBE MR. GUERNSEY CAN QUICKLY START MEASURING SO WE CAN GIVE YOU A MORE ACCURATE SETBACK. I'M LOOKING AT ANYWHERE BETWEEN 6 ON TO PROBABLY 85 FEET IF THERE'S A DISTANCE OF 400 FEET FROM HERE TO THERE.

>> OKAY.

>>GLASGO: FROM HERE TO THERE, THE MEASURE FROM THERE SO I CAN USE THE SCALE.

>> COUNCILMEMBER, AS YOU STEP OFF THE CHURCH -- AS YOU STEP OFF, YOU GO ABOUT 100 FEET, IT WOULD CONTAIN A HEIGHT OF 40 FEET. THERE'S A PROVISION IN THE CODE FOR EACH 10 FEET YOU STEP BACK, YOU CAN GO UP ANOTHER FOOT IN HEIGHT. SO AS YOU GO FURTHER OUT, THEY WILL PROBABLY GET TO ABOUT A POINT OF 6 ON FEET WHEN YOU GET TOWARD THIS END OF THE TRACT. IT WOULD BE 40 FEET PRETTY MUCH ALL ALONG HERE EITHER BECAUSE OF THE CHURCH TRYING EVERYTHING COMPATIBILITY OR SINGLE FAMILY ZONING. THE LOPEZ HOUSE PRETTY MUCH AFFECTS EVERYTHING AROUND IT IN ANY DIRECTION, WOULD LIMIT HEIGHTS TO 40 FEET AS WELL AS THE TWO -- TWO DUPLEXED LOTS ON THE GUADALUPE DEVELOPMENT. PRETTY MUCH THIS HALF OF THE TRACT IS GOING TO BE LIMITED TO 40 FEET BECAUSE OF THE DUPLEXES THAT ALREADY EXIST FOR SINGLE FAMILY, ALL ALONG SAN MARCOS BECAUSE OF THE SINGLE FAMILY AND CHURCH. PRETTY MUCH LIMITED TO 40 FEET. IF YOU START GETTING FURTHER THAN 100 FEET AWAY, 200 FEET, MAYBE 300 FEET, YOU START GETTING UP TO HEIGHTS OF 60 FEET.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. I'M TRYING TO THINK OF WHERE WE HAVE THE HEIGHT PROPOSED IN HERE NEXT TO, CLOSE TO NEIGHBORS, I GUESS ALONG BARTON SPRINGS ROAD THERE'S TWO, ONE OF THEM IS A CITY BUILDING, FIVE STORIES.

>> THE GARAGE BEHIND THAT, I WORK ODD THAT PROJECT BACK IN THE EIGHT, THEY RECEIVED SOME COMPATIBILITY WAIVERS FOR THAT GARAGE.

>>SLUSHER: WHAT ABOUT THE ONE DOWN THE STREET THERE?

>> THE LARGER BUILDING THAT WHAT KIND OF A AN ARCHED ROOF, ACTUALLY [INAUDIBLE].

>>SLUSHER: HOW TALL IS THAT ONE? I'M NOT SURE HOW TALL. I THINK ABOUT TWO OR THREE STORIES HIGHER.

>>SLUSHER: THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 100 FEET.

>>SLUSHER: I WOULD HATE TO HAZARD A GUESS.

>>SLUSHER: BUT IT'S -- I THINK IT'S 8 STORIES, DOES ANYBODY KNOW THAT?

>> I KNOW THAT THE BUILDING WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW, AT ONE TEXAS CENTER, OUR DEPARTMENT IS LOCATED THERE, 13 STORIES. THAT DEFINITELY IS TALLER THAN THE BUILDING THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. BECAUSE YOU CAN LOOK OVER IT.

>> SO IT'S ONE TEXAS IS TALLER THAN -- THAN ANYTHING PROPOSED HERE?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY.

>> WELL, NO, NOT -- NOT ANYTHING PROPOSED HERE.

>> SO THAT'S THE TALLEST ONE, THAT'S NOT RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>>SLUSHER: OKAY. THAT'S ALL OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE FOR RIGHT NOW MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: GREG, ABOUT YOU -- BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN, COULD I FOLLOW UP ON ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS? BACK WHEN THE ORIGINAL NCCD WAS VOTED ON, WERE THE COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS WAVED THEN.

>> THE XAITIBILITY STANDARDS WITH THE NCCD WERE TRIGGERED FOR THIS TRACT, OTHER PROPERTIES WITHIN IT OR THOSE THAT ARE [INAUDIBLE] 35. RIGHT NOW IF NOTHING WERE TO CHANGE, BASICALLY THE XAITIBILITY WOULD NOT AFFECT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROPERTY AND THEY COULD OBTAIN THE BUILDING HEIGHTS OF 220, I THINK, IS THE HIGHEST POINT. COMING UP AT 100 FEET OFF OF I-35.

>>GOODMAN: BUT WAS THAT THE DESIGN? I HAD ALWAYS REMEMBERED THE TALLEST PART IN WHAT WAS THAT, THE THEATER AT THE TOP, HOTEL AND THEATER, AS BEING SORT OF IN THE MIDDLE.

>> IN THE -- IN THE YELLOW HANDOUT WE PASSED OUT, I INCLUDED A HOPE OF THE ORIGINAL HEIGHTS THAT WERE PROPOSED. AND IT CALLED OUT HEIGHTS OF 220 FEET AND THEN AS YOU ARE GOING BACK TOWARDS SAN MARCOS, STEP DOWN TO 150. AND THEN DROPPED TO 100. AND -- AND LOOKS LIKE -- WELL, IT GOES FROM 220 TO 100 TO 60 TO 30 FEET. RIGHT ON SAN MARCOS. SO -- SO THE HIGHEST POINTS WERE BETWEEN ROUGHLY 9TH AND 11TH, GOING BACK FOR DEPARTMENT ABOUT 100 FEET OFF OF I-35.

>> OKAY.

>>GOODMAN: WELL, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THEN WHAT THE ACTUAL ZONING MANDATED, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT EVER REALLY DID THE DESIGN. OF THAT PROJECT AT THE TIME THEN.

>> ALICE MIGHT BE FOR FAMILIAR WITH THAT. THIS IS A PROPOSAL THAT THE HEIGHTS ARE MEASURED OFF THE SAN MARCOS STREET. THEY ARE NOT MEASURED OFF OF THE POINT ALONG I-35. SO -- SO YOU ARE ACTUALLY STARTING AT A ZERO POINT OF THE BUILDING ELEVATIONS FROM SAN MARCOS AND AS THE LAND DROPS TOWARDS 35, THE BUILDING IS ACTUALLY TALLER IN APPEARANCE THAN THEY WOULD BE SAY AROUND --.

>>GOODMAN: JUST MECHANICALLY THEN, LET ME ASK YOU, IF AN NCCD WAS TO BE APPROVED AND ATTRACT WITHIN THAT NCCD WAS TO BE -- AND A TRACT WITHIN THAT NCCD WAS TO BE CARVED OUT OR NOT INCLUDED WHICH HAD A RESIDENTIAL USE, COULD YOU WAIVE THE SETBACKS AS A CONDITION OF ZONING NCCD?

>> YOU COULD MODIFY THE NCCD SO IT WOULD NOT TRIGGER THE --.

>>GOODMAN: EVEN IF RESIDENTIAL --

>> RIGHT, YOU COULD CARVE A PIECE OUT, WRITE THE NCCD SO COMPATIBILITY WOULD NOT BE TRIGGERED BY THAT HOUSE OUTSIDE OF IT.

>>GOODMAN: THANKS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>>WYNN: MAYOR?

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

>>WYNN: MR. GUERNSEY, A QUICK QUESTION, WHY WASN'T THE ZONING ROLLED BACK IN 1993?

>> WELL, THE COUNCIL MADE A DECISION NOT TO ROLL IT BACK. THERE WASN'T A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF VOTES TO DO SO.

>>WYNN: DO YOU -- IS IT YOUR PERCEPTION --

>> I DON'T KNOW THE PARTICULARS. ALICE MAY HAVE TO COVER THIS ONE BECAUSE SHE WAS A CASE MANAGER AT THE TIME.

>>WYNN: WAS THAT BASED ON -- THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT WAS WRITTEN IN 1991 WAS THAT THE DEVELOPER WOULD COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION WITHIN 24 MONTHS AND THE IN THE EVENT THAT CONSTRUCTION HAD NOT COMMENCED THAT THE DEVELOPER WOULD NOT OBJECT TO A CITY INITIATED ROLLBACK. WE INITIATED THE ROLLBACK AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE 24 MONTHS. THE -- THERE WERE PETITIONS FILED BY THE DEVELOPER THEN. BUT WE INDICATED THAT THAT DID NOT COUNT. WHILE THAT DID NOT COUNT BASED ON THE AGREEMENT NOT TO CONTEST THE ROLLBACK, THE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET PROPOSED THE ROLLBACK AND THEREFORE THAT REQUIRED SICK VOTES OF COUNCIL AND THE VOTES WERE NOT THERE TO ROLL BACK. THAT'S WHERE THE ROLLBACK DID NOT OCCUR.

>>WYNN: SO NON-DEVELOPER ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS QUALIFIED FOR A VALID PETITION AT THAT POINT.

>>GLASGO: THAT'S CORRECT.

>>WYNN: THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: CAN I ADD TO THAT?

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: IT WAS PRETTY MUCH DUELING PETITIONS. TWO DUELING VALID PETITIONS, YOU NEEDED SIX VOTES TO GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND IT WAS TOO DIFFICULT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL, UNLESS THERE'S FURTHER DISCUSSION I'M GOING TO CALL FOR A VOTE. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY.

>>GRIFFITH: JUST WANTED TO MAKE A QUICK REQUEST. BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN WE TO GO SECOND AND THIRD READING, MS. GLASGO, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE A SCHEMATIC JUST TO HELP US THINK THIS THROUGH OF WHAT THE MAP WOULD LOOK LIKE IF IT HAD NO NCCD AND WERE JUST -- WENT BACK TO WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD THAT AT THE END OF TWO YEARS CHANGE BEEN MADE. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE A DRAWING OF WHAT -- OF WHAT THE REGULATIONS WOULD LOOK LIKE AT THAT -- IF THAT HAPPENED?

>>GLASGO: LET ME CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING. DO YOU JUST WANT A ZONING MAP --

>>GRIFFITH: JUST A ZONING MAP THAT WOULD SHOW WHAT IT WOULD BE -- YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE IT. OKAY. IF THE NC DR D HAD BEEN TAKEN AWAY AFTER TWO YEARS, THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD BE.

>> CORRECT THAT'S THE UNDERLYING ZONING THAT WOULD BE THERE WITHOUT THE NCCD, IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR?

>>GRIFFITH: THAT'S WHAT I -- WHAT I WAS WANTING TO SEE.

>>GLASGO: OKAY. FWRIFT VERY HELPFUL, THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE.

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR I --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, OKAY.

>>SLUSHER: THIS HAS BEEN REALLY A TOUGH ISSUE FOR ME, I THINK FOR EVERYTHING -- EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM. IT DOESN'T END TONIGHT. BUT I HAVE WRESTLED WITH MY CONSCIOUS OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. I HAVE GOT GOOD FRIENDS ON BOTH SIDES WHO I DEEPLY RESPECT AND I WILL CONTINUE TO RESPECT. I HOPE THAT I STILL HAVE GOOD FRIENDS ON BOTH SIDES AFTER THIS ISSUE IS DONE. I ALSO RESPECT THE EFFORTS OF COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS TO CRAFT A COMPROMISE THAT WILL WORK. YOU KNOW, IT HURTS ME THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT'S ON THE TABLE, WHAT THE FOLKS IN THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT, IT HURTS ME THAT IT'S SO STARK. IT BOTHERS ME THAT IT'S SO STARK. I THINK THE -- I NEED TO JUST GO AHEAD AND SAY IT, THE REASON TO ME, THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN FIGURE OUT THAT IT HAS TO BE SUCH A STARK DIFFERENCE IS BECAUSE EITHER SOMEBODY PAID TOO MUCH FOR THE PROPERTY OR IS TRYING TO MAKE TOO MUCH OUT OF IT. I CAN'T -- TO ME THAT'S NOT, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO FACTOR THAT IN, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT -- I CAN'T -- I CAN'T REALLY USE THAT AS A RATIONALE FOR WHAT TO -- FOR HOW TO VOTE. I DON'T THINK SAN MARCOS, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THAT WOULD BE COMMERCIAL, IF THIS WAS ZONED FOR A MALL FOR 10 YEARS, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I DON'T THINK SAN MARCOS SHOULD BE COMMERCIAL. AND SO I DON'T SEE THAT TWL SHOULD BE ANY INCENTIVES GIVEN TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING. I THINK THE I-35 PART IS CLEARLY SHOULD BE COMMERCIAL ALONG 11TH. I THINK IF WORP TO -- IF WE WERE TO APPROVE AN INCENTIVES ACTIVE PACKAGE, THAT WE SHOULD GET MORE THAN 5% AFFORDABLE HOUSING OUT OF IT. MUCH MORE. I THINK THAT HOUSING SHOULD BE BOTH ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND IT SHOULD BE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE -- THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, THERE'S A LOT OF VACANT LOTS, IN FILL THAT, COULD BE DONE. I DON'T THINK WE ARE THERE ON THAT. I DON'T SEE WHY THE 9TH STREET, THE FOLKS IN GUADALUPE SHOULD LOSE THEIR VIEW CORRIDOR. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ESTABLISH A VIEW CORRIDOR THERE. AND I THINK THE -- THE FUNDAMENTAL, TO ME, IT'S CLEAR THAT THESE -- THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE HERE TONIGHT IS THAT THE FOLKS ON ONE SIDE OF THIS DISPUTE WANT TO PROTECT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DISPUTE WANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND BOTH OF THOSE ARE -- ARE WORTHY GOALS. IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR THE GUADALUPE FOLKS TO REVITALIZE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE FOLKS -- THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT FOLKS WANT HAS BEEN TOO LONG IN COMING. BUT I JUST DON'T -- I THINK THIS IS JUST TOO STARK OF A CHOICE TO MAKE. I THINK THAT THE PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE DAMAGES THE NEIGHBORHOOD TOO MUCH. AND I THINK THAT WE CAN GET ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THIS TRACT AND IN THE ENTIRE AREA WITHOUT SOMETHING OF THIS TALL AND THIS -- THIS POTENTIALLY DAMAGING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO ALTHOUGH I DEEPLY RESPECT THE EFFORT THAT COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND THOMAS MADE TO COME TO A COMPROMISE, I CAN'T SUPPORT WHAT'S ON THE TABLE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER COMMENTS? MAYOR?

>>WYNN: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN? [ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS]

>>WYNN: ... ALTHOUGH I SHARE EVERY THOUGHT COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER JUST MADE, I FEEL LIKE IN ORDER TO BE CONSISTENT WITH APPROACHES I'VE HAD OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS HERE ON THE DAIS IS THAT I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ON FIRST READING, BUT I AM SENDING A STRONG SIGNAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM, ONE, I DON'T THINK IT'S THERE YET, TWO, I DON'T COMP HELPED AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CITY INCENTIVE PIECE OF IT SO I'LL FOCUS A LOT ON THAT INTERNALLY AFTER THIS FIRST READING WHILE EYE SUSPECT THERE IS STILL MORE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM AND BOTH NEIGHBORHOODS. I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE ON FIRST READING R BUT I'M GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE I HADN'T BEEN AWARE OF PRIOR TO THIS. AND KNOW THAT A LOT OF GOOD FOLKS WILL CONTINUE TO DO A LOT OF GOOD WORK BEFORE THIS COMES BACK TO COUNCIL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, MANY LONG YEARS AGO NOW WHEN WE FIRST SAW THIS AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, I UNFORTUNATELY WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE TIME. AND IT WAS JUST AS DIFFICULT A DECISION AS IT IS NOW. ALTHOUGH THE PROPOSAL NOW IS VASTLY DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS WHEN IT FIRST CAME TO US AS THE BENNETT PROPERTY. AT THAT TIME IT WAS REALLY BIG, HUGE BOX DEVELOPMENT. AND THERE WAS NO SINGLE-FAMILY COME OPPONENT ENT. IN FACT, EVEN THE LOPEZ'S HOUSE WAS PRETTY MUCH DOOFPD BECAUSE IT WASN'T ABLE TO BE LIFTED OUT OF NCCD AND COUNCIL AT THE TIME VOTED TO ZONE IT DESPITE THE FACT THE LOPEZ FAMILY DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE. BEFORE THEN IT HAD BEEN KIND OF FORMALITY ONLY, IF A PROPERTY OWNER WISHED TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE ONLY OTHER NCCD WE HAD, IT WAS DONE. SO I THINK THAT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS WE ACTUALLY HAVE COME A GREAT DEAL CLOSER TO THE RESOLUTION OF AN ISSUE THAT HAS TWO VERY DISTINCT CHARACTERS AND FLAVOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD AT EACH END. AND THE PROBLEM ALWAYS HAS BEEN HOW DO YOU TRANSITION FROM WHAT THE ONE SIDE NEEDS AND WANTS TO WHAT THE OTHER SIDE NEEDS AND WANTS, RESIDENTIAL VERSUS COMMERCIAL, AND HOW DO YOU GRADUALLY GET FROM ONE TO THE OTHER. AND I'M NOT SURE WHETHER I CAN VOTE FOR IT ON FIRST READING OR NOT. I DEFINITELY DO NOT THINK I COULD VOTE FOR IT IS ON THIRD READING. ON FIRST READING, IT PROBABLY DOESN'T HURT SINCE THERE IS NO DECISION UNTIL THIRD, BUT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT I'LL BE WORKING TO FIND OUT ABOUT IN BETWEEN NOW AND SECOND AND THIRD READING BECAUSE I THOUGHT SOME ELEMENTS THAT WERE SPOKEN TO TONIGHT HAD BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE PROPOSAL, AND MAYBE THAT'S SO AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE STILL THERE OR SOMETHING, BUT I WANT TO CHECK ON THOSE. THE WALL, FOR INSTANCE. THE WALL ALONG SAN MARCOS. AND ON THE VIEW CORRIDOR, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF MAYBE THERE IS SOME WAY TO BREAK OUT OF A BOX IN THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE AND WORK ON DEVELOPING A VIEW SOMEHOW AS OPPOSED TO A VIEW CANYON. BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T THINK THE VIEW CANYON IS GOING TO HELP ANYBODY UNLESS YOU TROT OUT TO THE END AND STAND THERE AND SAY YES, I CAN SEE NOW. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS MAYBE GET INTO SOME ARCHITECTURAL POSSIBILITIES AND MAYBE MR. MATHIAS IS OPEN TO THIS, BUT THERE IS A CONCEPT CALLED GREEN ROOF, AND IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS AND PUBLIC GREEN SPACE IN AN INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE WAY AND TRYING TO BUFFER AND GRADUATE THE INTENSITY, MAYBE THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT MIGHT MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENCE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO CHECK THAT OUT AS WELL. THANKS, MAYOR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, THEN COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.

>>GRIFFITH: THANK YOU. NOT KNOWING WHAT THE -- THE PRICE THAT'S BEING ASKED IS BECAUSE THIS IS A PRIVATE DEAL, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON, BUT OFTENTIMES WHEN YOU HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT APPRAISES AT, SAY, 16,000 A SQUARE FOOT AND -- EXCUSE ME, $16 A SQUARE FOOT, THEN WHAT IS BEING ASKED IS SOMETHING LIKE 40 OR 50, THEN IN ORDER TO MAKE THE NUMBERS WORK WHICH REALLY DON'T, THEN THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN. IN ORDER TO FORCE SOMETHING TO WORK THAT NORMALLY WOULDN'T. AND THAT IS YOU CAN EITHER -- YOU EITHER HAVE TO LOAD IT UP MUCH MORE THAN COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS WOULD ALLOW AND MUCH MORE THAN THE NORMAL BUSINESS CYCLE WOULD PERMIT. OR -- AND/OR, YOU CAN GO TO THE TAXPAYERS TO GET SOME HELP ON MAKING UP THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT MARKET WOULD BE NORMALLY AND WHAT IS BEING ASKED. I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON HERE, BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS LOTS OF DENSITY, LOTS OF HEIGHT, MUCH MORE SO THAN WHAT YOU WOULD SEE WITH THE NORMAL COMPATIBILITY AND WITH THE NORMAL PRICE OF LAND. SO I THINK WE NEED TO THINK -- THINK ABOUT THOSE TWO THINGS AND SEE IF WE CAN MINIMIZE BOTH OF THEM AND COME IN AT SOMETHING THAT IS HEALTHY BOTH FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE AND FROM -- FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, THEN I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

>>THOMAS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT. FIRST I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR HELPING US, THANK COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND HIS ASSISTANT AND MY ASSISTANT FOR THE HARD WORK THEY HAVE DONE. WE HAVE SOME MORE WORK TO DO AND I HOPE WE CAN PASS THIS ON FIRST READING. ALSO FOR THE BILL -- FATHER BILL AND PASTOR GRIFFIN AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. I LOOK AT THIS A LONG TIME. A LOT OF THINGS HAVE BEEN GIVEN UP. BUT WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT JUST WHO IS IN THE COMMUNITY NOW. WE'RE LOOKING AT A FEATURE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE YOUNG MEN THAT ARE STANDING THERE, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT. THE TRACT HAS SAT IDLE FOR A LONG TIME AND THIS WOULD HELP THE 11TH AND 12TH STREET CORRIDOR. IT'S MORE THAN THAT PARTICULAR AREA. I HAVE RESPECT FOR EVERYBODY IN THAT AREA. LIKE I WAS TELLING THE GUADALUPE, I HAD RELATIVES THAT STAYED RIGHT OFF SAN MARCOS AND 8TH STREET, THE LINE. SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. WE TALKED -- THE YOUNG LADY HERE TALKED ABOUT HOW SOME OF THE HOUSES ARE PRICED HIGH IF YOU SOLD THEM. LET'S LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE. I KNOW THE VIEW CORRIDOR IS VERY IMPORTANT. MAYBE WE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT THERE. BUT I'M LOOKING AT 11TH AND 12TH STREET AND I'M LOOKING AT MORE IN THE WHOLE AREA THAT WILL DEVELOP THAT EAST AUSTIN WILL MOVE TO ANOTHER LEVEL THAT EVERYBODY CAN BENEFIT ECONOMICALLY. JOBS, JOB TRAINING. AND THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE WE ARE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER. A LOT OF WORK WENT FORWARD IN THIS AND I'M LOOKING AT WE NEED TO GO FORWARD. AND THAT'S MY FAVORITE WORD SHE LET'S MOVE ON, BECAUSE WE CAN SIT HERE AND GO BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AND FORTH, BUT WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT IS IT GOING TO BENEFIT THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY, ARE WE GOING TO SIT HERE AND LET IT -- THIS DEVELOPER SIT AT THE TABLE -- AND I COMMEND MATT FOR -- I DON'T THINK WE'LL FIND ANYONE -- I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE PRICES OF $15, WHATEVER IT IS APPRAISED TO, WHATEVER THE 40 TO 50 MORE MIGHT HAVE TO STACK IT HIGH, WHATEVER, BUT I LOOK AT THE OVERALL PICTURE. ANYBODY THAT SITS DOWN AS THE TABLE AS LONG AS HE HAS SAT, LET'S GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. BOTH OF YOU HAVE SAT AT THE TABLE A LONG TIME. I HOPE WE CAN GET THIS PASSED ON THE FIRST READING AND GO BACK IN AND CHANGE SOME OF THE THINGS THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND ALSO MAKE SURE THE DEVELOPER CAN DO THAT SO WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WITH THAT, I'LL JUST CALL FOR A VOTE ON ITEM 35. THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE ON FIRST READING ONLY. I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT JUST TO SUMMARIZE, THAT WHILE THIS MAY PASS ON FIRST READING, THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE FOR THIS TO MOVE FORWARD. BUT I THINK THAT THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE, AND I CERTAINLY THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE COUNCIL ON THIS, WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE PUT INTO THIS. AND TO THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN COME TO THE TABLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE TO TRY TO REACH RESOLUTION. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER AND COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH BEING SHOWN VOTING NO. ITEM NO. 34, THE MOTION WILL BE -- TELL YOU WHAT. I'M GOING TO TAKE UP ITEM 34 AND ITEM NO. 13 AB 14 TOGETHER. ITEM NO. 13, ITEM 14 AND ITEM 34, COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ MOVES TO POSTPONE INDEFINITELY. IS THERE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. EVERYBODY IS RUSHING TO THE MICROPHONE.

>>GLASGO: MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST ON ITEM 34 BECAUSE IT REQUIRES NOTIFICATION, TO AVOID RENOTIFICATION IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO HAVE A TIME CERTAIN, MAYBE COME BACK IN THREE WEEKS. DEPENDS HOW QUICKLY WE CAN COME BACK ON ALL THREE READINGS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, WOULD YOUR MOTION BE TO POSTPONE THOSE THREE ITEMS UNTIL MAY 24TH?

>>WYNN: 28TH.

>>ALVAREZ: IS THAT THE NEXT -- IS THERE A MEETING --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YEAH, THERE'S A MEETING ON MAY 24TH. DID I HAVE A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION? I'LL ENTERTAIN A SECOND TO A MOTION TO POSTPONE THE THREE ITEMS TO MAY 24TH MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, WILL YOU CONSIDER THAT FRIENDLY. THE MOTION IS POSTPONED UNTIL MAY 24TH. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NO. 28, THE MOTION IS TO EXTEND THE INTERIM DEVELOPMENT CONTROLS APPLICABLE TO SUB DISTRICT 3 OF THE COMBINING DISTRICT LOCATED OUT OF EAST 11TH STREET THE BENNETT TRACT UNTIL MAY 28TH, 2001. BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT DATE. ADD AN EXTRA WEEK TO THAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SO IT WOULD BE JUNE 4TH. MOTION IS TO GO TO JUNE 4TH. SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON ITEM 28. I'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE PUBLIC HEARING TO TAKE PUBLIC INPUT ON PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED WITH THE CAPITAL METRO FUNDING. MATT PIKE. MACK PIKE. MACK PIKE SIGNED UP AND STATES AT LEAST $3 MILLION OF $90 MILLION NOR GREAT STREETS. SILLA TEMPLE. SILA TEMPLE SIGNED UP AND SAYS I URGE COUNCIL TO DESIGNATE A PORTION OF FUNDS TOWARDS SECOND STREET RETAIL AND THE GREAT STREETS PROGRAM. SAM ALLISON SAYS PLEASE CONSIDER CAPITAL METRO FUNDING FOR GREAT STREETS. STEVE MATTHEWS. MR. MATTHEWS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? JANET BARKLEY BOUER. YOU WILL FOLLOW MR. MATTHEWS. WELCOME.

>> MAYOR, THANK YOU, STAFF, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS STEVE MATTHEWS. I AM CURRENTLY THE TRANSPORTATION CHAIR FOR THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL AND I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WE HAD LOOKED OVER THE PROPOSED PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED WITH THE CAPITAL METRO FUNDING AND THE STAFF'S REPORT, AND WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE WAY THIS HAS BEEN DONE AND WE THINK IT'S BEEN WELL THOUGHT OUT AND WE ARE IN TOTAL SUPPORT OF THIS ALLOCATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. WE THINK THIS WILL DO A LOT FOR THE MULTI MOLS TRANSPORTATION IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. JANET PARKLY BUER FOLLOWED BY JANICE CART QUITE.

>> I'M REPRESENTING MY FAMILY THE BARKLEY FAMILY THAT HAS OWNED THE FARM THAT HAS BEEN FOUNDED BY FREDERICK LANE AND EAST ST. ELMO SINCE 1928. WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP ON THE FARM, THERE WAS A CITY DUMP ACROSS FREDERICK LANE FROM US AND WE WATCHED THE TRASH TRUCKS COME AND GO AND PUT POTHOLES IN THAT COUNTRY ROAD CALLED FREDERICK LANE. AND BECAUSE -- OVER TIME THE COUNTY DID PATCH THE POTHOLES, AND WHEN WE FINALLY HAD TO SELL PART OF THE FARM, WE MET WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BEHIND THE FARM AND THEY WANTED US TO BRING JOBS AND EMPLOYERS RATHER THAN ADDITIONAL HOUSES INTO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. WE WORKED WITH THEM AND DUE TO THE FACT THIS WAS DESIGNATED BY THE CITY COUNCILL, THIS AREA WAS DESIGNATED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN THE 1980'S AS A PREFERRED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AREA, WE WORKED HARD TO GET BUSINESSES INTO THE AREA. AND SO WE DID SELECT BUYERS FORTUNATELY WHO WERE QUALITY PEOPLE, WHO DID BRING QUALITY BUSINESSES INTO THE AREA. AND NOW WE'RE HERE WORKING TOGETHER, THOSE BUYERS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND US ASKING THAT THAT COUNTRY ROAD THAT IS STILL A COUNTRY ROAD, TWO LANES WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC FROM THE CITY ELECTRIC TRUCKS, FROM THE CITY FACILITY THAT IS ACROSS THE STREET, ACROSS FREDERICK LANE FROM WHAT WAS OUR FARM, AND THE CAPITAL METRO BUSES THAT HAS THREE STOPS ALONG THERE AND A LOT OF PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC ALONG THERE. AND THEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, 14 NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE BEHIND THAT AREA AND USE FREDERICK LANE AS INGRESS AND EGRESS FROM THE AREA AND THE MANY BUSINESSES THAT ARE THERE. AND THE 740,000 DEVELOPED AND RENTED SQUARE FEET OF BUSINESS SPACE, AND THEN PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE HOTELS THAT MISSED THE EXIT ON I-35 AND LOOP BACK AROUND IN ORDER TO GET BACK ON 35 OR TO GO TO SAM'S AND WAL-MART. THAT TRAFFIC, THE SCHOOL BUSES, ET CETERA. THAT ROAD, WHICH IS STILL A COUNTRY ROAD AND HASN'T REALLY BEEN UPGRADED, IT'S JUST HAD THE POTHOLES PATCHED, NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED CONSIDERABLY. WE DO -- WE ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS SOME MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE 1998 BOND ELECTION. THERE HAS BEEN FISCAL POSTED BY THE BUYERS OF OUR FARM. AND WE HOPE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL ALLOCATE SUFFICIENT FUNDS SO THAT ROAD CAN BE UPGRADED CONSIDERABLY TO HANDLE THE CURRENT DAY DEVELOPED AREA TRAFFIC THAT EXISTS THERE. BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET THROUGH THERE. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: JANICE CARTWRIGHT. IS CLARA BARKUS HERE? DICK KELLERMAN. YOU WILL FOLLOW.

>> MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M JUST HERE ON BEHALF OF THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL, LIKE STEVE, TO SUPPORT ITEM 47. THANK YOU.

>>WYNN: QUICK QUESTION. BASED ON A RECENT NEWSPAPER ARTICLE THAT WE ALL SAW LAST MONTH, MIDDLE OF APRIL, I GUESS, THE COUNTY IS GOING TO COME OUT WITH LIKELY A BOND ROAD PACKAGE AND THEY HAD TALKED ABOUT SOME PARTICULAR PLANNED PROJECTS. IS RECA THIS THAT LOOP AND WHAT WILL YOU BE ASKING OF THE COUNTY LIKELY?

>> WE ARE PROBABLY NOT AS IN THE LOOP AS WE COULD BE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING AT IDENTIFYING THE PROJECTS THAT ARE PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR THE AUSTIN REGION, AND WE ARE WELL AWARE THERE IS A FUNDING SHORTFALL AND WE THINK NOT ONLY THE CITY BUT THE COUNTY NEEDS TO HELP PARTICIPATE IN FUNDING THAT.

>>WYNN: KEEP DOING THAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MS. VASQUEZ. YOU WILL FOLLOW MR. KELLERMAN. I'M SORRY, WHO?

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. I'LL HOLD YOUR CARD. VIRGINIA ROSE. DO YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MICROPHONE? PROBABLY THE BEST WAY IS COME THIS WAY AND YOU WILL FOLLOW MR. KELLERMAN.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DICK KELLERMAN, TRANSPORTATION CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB. IT'S A PLEASURE TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT ON THIS SUBJECT. I SEE FRIENDS, PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS, AND I SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE INDEPENDENT ENOUGH TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS. I SPEAK ON THE SUBJECT A LOST TIMES AND THOSE CONDITIONS DON'T OFTEN PREVAIL. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF MONEY. A LOT OF MONEY NEEDED DESPERATELY FOR TRANSPORTATION ISSUES. THERE IS ONE ON THE AGENDA AND THAT'S THE $29 MILLION TO GO FOR THE MOPAC EXTENSION FOR TOLL ROAD. AND THAT'S ALMOST A THIRD, MAYBE A QUARTER, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT, OF ALL THE DOLLARS ON THE TABLE. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THAT $29 MILLION. I THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO BE WELL SPENT IF IT GOES FOR WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO FOR. ON THOSE FOUR TOLL ROADS, THE LETTING OR HAS BEEN FLOPPING BACK AND -- LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN FLOPPING BACK AND FORTH. NOW IT'S BACK ON, THEY SAY WE COULD HAVE THE $50 MILLION NOR FUNDING. I SEE THAT IN THE FUTURE AS BEING A PROBLEM. HERE'S ANOTHER PROBLEM. THE -- PETE WINSTEAD AND THE TEXAS TURNPIKE AUTHORITIES, I THINK THEIR DAYS ARE NUMBERED. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE BEEN PUSHING THESE FOR ROADS AND I THINK WHEN THE TEXAS TURNPIKE AUTHORITY IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS, THE CHEERLEADER AND LOBBYIST FOR THOSE ROADS WILL BE GONE. THOSE ROADS WILL BE THROWN BACK INTO THE MOSH PIT OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDING SYSTEM AND IT WILL BE A FIGHT FOR THEIR LIFE BECAUSE TXDOT HAS JUST ONE DOLLAR FOR EVERY THREE DOLLARS NEEDED FOR ROADS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THESE ROADS WILL PROBABLY NOT HAVE A VERY GOOD LIFE. THE MOST MOW -- MOPAC WILL NOT BE EXTENDED IN THE SOUTHERN PART BELOW THAT TOLL ROAD. THE NEIGHBORHOODS DON'T WANT IT. 900 OF THEM SHOWED UP AT A HEARING AT CAMPO AND SAID THEY DON'T WANT IT. I UNDERSTAND THE CITY STAFF IS GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT THEY ARE NOT -- MOPAC NOT BE EXPANDED. THERE'S A VERY EXPENSIVE ROAD, $1259 TO BUILD IT. THAT COMES OUT TO ABOUT $35 MILLION A MILE. COINCIDENTALLY THAT'S ROUGHLY WHAT LIGHT RAIL COSTS EXCEPT OF COURSE LIGHT RAIL PROVIDES THE VEHICLE TOO AND THE ROADS DON'T. HAVE YOU TO BRING YOUR OWN. IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE PIECE OF PROPERTY. TIMES ARE CHANGING. KELLY DANIELS IN HER ARTICLE A FEW DAYS AGO IN THE -- [BUZZER SOUNDS].

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SORRY, I HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF.

>> THANK YOU. YOU GET MY DRIFT. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER. YEAH, KIND OF. MR. KELLER DLTION MAN, I THINK COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER HAD A A QUESTION FOR YOU.

>>SLUSHER: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN HAD ASKED THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER FROM THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL IF THEY WERE GOING TO BE AT THE COUNTY ADVOCATING FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME THING BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS INTO THOSE -- INTO THE COUNTY TAX -- I MEAN BOND ISSUE AS WELL, AND YOU MIGHT THINK BACK AND LOOK AT THEIR MAP IN THE PAPER ABOUT A MONTH AGO BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME PRETTY DECENT PROJECTS ON THERE, IN MY OPINION, I THINK THEY WERE ALL OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS EVEN THOUGH THAT FOLKS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS PAYING AROUND 80% OF THE TAXES TO FUND THOSE PROJECTS, AND OF COURSE SOME OF US WILL DRIVE OUT AND USE THEM STILL SEEMS LIKE DISSPAY TI. I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THEM TO HEAR FROM CITIZENS AS WELL.

>> I'LL TALK TO THE COUNTY.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, MA'AM.

>> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M VIRGINIA ROSE, AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. I'M AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT ON HOW THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL INVEST ITS FUTURE TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES. LAST YEAR PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES MADE 2.5 MILLION PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BOARDINGS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. PEDESTRIAN ACCESS IS A VITAL COMPONENT IN THIS TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. ACCESSIBLE SIDEWALKS AND CURB RAMPS PROVIDE A CRITICAL LINK FOR ALL PEDESTRIANS INCLUDING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO PUBLIC -- I'M SORRY, TO MERCHANTS, SCHOOLS, JOBS AND DOCTORS' OFFICES RESULTING IN GREATER PARTICIPATION IN THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL MAINSTREAM OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE RESPECTFULLY RECOMMEND THE USE OF THIS TRANSPORTATION FUND TO PAY FOR MUCH NEEDED SIDEWALK AND CURB RAMP IMPROVEMENTS T CITY OF AUSTIN'S CURRENT BUDGET FOR SIDEWALKS AND CURB RAMPS IS INADEQUATE TO MEET CREPT AND FUTURE DEMAND FOR SIDEWALK AND CURB RAMP CONSTRUCTION. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY INVEST AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION A YEAR FOR THE SIDEWALK AND CURB RAMP CONSTRUCTION. WE ALSO ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO UTILIZE THE EXPERT KNOWLEDGE BASE OF THE ADA ACCESS AND SIDEWALK TASK FORCE. TO CONSULT ON PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED WITH THESE NEW TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES. ADDITIONALLY, WE JUST RECEIVED WORD THAT A NEW AND LESS ACCESSIBLE DESIGN IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE NEW BRIDGE THAT'S BEING BUILT ON TOWN LAKE. IT'S KNOWN AS THE PHASE 2 OF THE LAMAR PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE BRIDGE. WE RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY STAY WITH THE MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY ORIGINAL PLAN. WE VALUE THE CITY'S PAST MMITMENT AND PROGRESS IN THESE AREAS, BUT THE GREATEST EFFORT STILL LIES AHEAD. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE AUSTIN'S VISION FOR ALL ITS CITIZENS AS THE MOST LIVABLE COMMUNITY IN THE NATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION OF THESE IMPORTANT MATTERS. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THE WORK YOU DO ON THAT COMMITTEE. IT'S AN OUTSTANDING GROUP OF FOLKS.

>> THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: JOSEPH HAYDEN. JOSEPH HAYDEN. GEORGE MITCHELL.

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE RULES OPERATE. WHETHER WE GET TO YOU I'LL CALL OUT MR. MITCHELL'S CARD.

>> CAN WE JUST SWITCH POSITIONS? I WOULD PREFER NOT TO DO THAT WHEN I HAVE THIS MANY PEOPLE SIGNED UP. I HOPE YOU WILL RESPECT THAT.

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SORRY?

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: WE WISH YOU WOULD HAVE SIGNED UP ONE AFTER ANOTHER. GREG PERMISCA.

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY. I WAS GOING TO HOLD YOUR CARD AND DO IT WITH MR. MCCOOM. I WAS TRYING TO WORK IT OUT FOR YOU. ALL RIGHT.

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. STREMISKA.

>> THANK YOU. I'M REPRESENTING STATE FARM INSURANCE THIS EVENING AND TRANSWESTERN COMMERCIAL SERVICES. I'M HERE TO ASK YOUR SUPPORT OF ITEM 13 ON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION PRESENTED TO YOU AND THAT IS -- FOR ITEM 47, THE FUNDING OF THE FREDERICK LANE IMPROVEMENTS. THE STRETCH OF ROAD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A PORTION FROM ST. ELMO ROAD TO TERRY ROAD. THE DEVELOPERS OF THE PROPERTY, WE REPRESENT THE DEVELOPERS EAST OF TERRY ROAD, WHICH COMPRISE MOST OF THE PROPERTY ALONG THAT SECTION. DURING THE COURSE THAT HAVE DEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE DEDICATED THE ADDITIONAL RIGHT-OF-WAY BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL FISCAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND THEREFORE WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE OUR HALF OF THE ROADWAY SET UP. THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF FREDERICK LANE IS CURRENTLY PUBLICLY OWNED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEMS. THEREFORE, AT THIS TIME WITH THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS. WITH THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN THIS AREA, IT'S A VERY JUSTIFIED REQUEST. WE HAVE SCAN HERE THIS EVENING WHO WILL SPEAK TO YOU LATER. YOU HEARD FROM MS. BUER BARKLEY EARLIER THIS EVENING. SHE WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY. SCAN SUPPORTS THIS REQUEST AND HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN OUR DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE MUTUAL CONCERNS WHICH IS A LOT OF PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC. YOU HAVE MAYBE HE WILL DAVIS PARK LOCATED NORTH OF THE TRACT, WHICH CREATES A LOT OF TRAFFIC BETWEEN DOVE SPRINGS, LOCATED SOUTH OF THE PROPERTY. WE FEEL THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC UP AND DOWN THIS ROADWAY BETWEEN THOSE PARKS, IT'S LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUE. THAT'S COMPOUNDED BY THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL METRO BUSES THAT ARE ALSO ON THIS ROADWAY. THERE ARE CURRENTLY THREE CAPITAL METRO BUS STOPS ALONG THIS ROUTE, BUT NO BUS LANES. THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS. AND THEREFORE YOU COMBINE THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC BETWEEN RODRIGUEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HOUSTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MENDEZ MIDDLE SCHOOL, ALONG WITH THE TRAFFIC FROM THE AUSTIN SERVICE CENTER, STREET AND BRIDGE DIVISION AND AUSTIN ENERGY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THIS, IT CREATES FOR A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SO AGAIN, WE'RE ASKING YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS AND -- [BUZZER SOUNDS] -- I'LL CONCLUDE AT THAT POINT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR. MR. MCCOMB. DO YOU WANT TO TALK?

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU WILL BE FOLLOW BY MR. MITCHELL. THE REASON I DO IT THAT WAY JUST FOR THE RECORD YOU HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. IF I START JUMPING PEOPLE OUT OF ORDER PEOPLE GET UPSET BECAUSE THEY MAY WANT TO GO HOME RIGHT AFTER THEY SPEAK.

>> I APPRECIATE. I DON'T MIND WAITING. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE MR. MITCHELL HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AFTER I DID. I'M MIKE MCCOMB, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS. WE ARE REQUESTING A COMMIT MANY OF FUNDS FROM THE CAPITAL METRO MOBILITY IMPROVEMENT FUNDS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS. THE UAP NEIGHBORHOOD IS THE MOST URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY WITH OVER 25 PEOPLE PER ACRE. IT'S POPULATION IS LARGELY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WHO MUST TRAVEL TO AND FROM THEIR RESIDENCES TO SCHOOL. U.T. STUDENTS COMPRISE A LARGE PORTION OF THE USERS OF CAPITAL METRO IN THE CITY. U.T. STUDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS. THE U.T. NEIGHBORHOOD IS IN SEVERE NEED OF PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE, REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENT. THE CITY COUNCILL RECOGNIZED THESE ISSUES IN 1196 AND PASSED A UNANIMOUS RESOLUTION LOOKS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUADALUPE STREET FROM MLK TO 29TH STREET AS PEDESTRIAN DOMINANT. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, CAPITAL METRO AND UAP ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT TO IMPROVE GUADALUPE. THIS PRONL WAS DECIDED INTO THREE PHRASES, THE FIRST FROM FIRST TO 24TH STREET HAS ALREADY BEEN DEMONSTRATED AND TESTED BY PAINTING THE STREET TO REFLECT THE CHANGES PROPOSED. CURB LANES, BIKE LANES AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. PHASE 1 HAS CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PREPARED AND WERE READY FOR BID PRIOR TO CAPITAL METRO'S LIGHT RAIL INITIATIVE. PHASE 1 OF THE GUADALUPE STREET PROJECT WAS PLACED ON HOLD SO THAT THE STREET WOULD NOT BE TORN UP TWICE IF CAPITAL METRO'S LIGHT RAIL INITIATIVE IS PASSED. UAP WAS ASSURED THAT THE PHASE 1 OF THE GUADALUPE STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WOULD BE BUILT AS PLANNED REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME OF THE VOTE ON LIGHT RAIL. WE WERE TOLD AT THAT TIME BY OUR PROJECT MANAGER THAT ANY DELAY WOULD CAUSE THE COSTS TO INCREASE, THUS INCREASING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEED TO DO BUILD PHASE 1. WE COMMUNICATED ALL THIS TO CAPITAL METRO AND IN SPITE OF THEIR INTERFERENCE TO THE CONTRARY, WE'RE NOW TOLD CAPITAL METRO HAS NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SPENT ON THIS PLAN. COUNTLESS VOLUNTEER HOURS AND STAFF TIME FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, CAPITAL METRO AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN OFFICIALS HAVE ALSO BEEN SPENT. NOW UAP HAS BEEN TOLD TO GO TO THE END OF THE LINE. WE BELIEVE THAT THE PLEDGE MADE BY THE CITY COUNCILL RESOLUTION IN 195 SHOULD BE FILL FILLED, UNIVERSITY AIR PARTNERS BELIEVES PHASE 1 OF THE GUADALUPE STREET PLAN SHOULD BE FUNDED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE OF THE EXISTING STATUS. WE WANT PLANNING FOR THE SUBSEQUENT PHASES TO BE COMPLETED AND FUNDED AND FUNDING OBTAINED IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL ENDORSED TO CREATE AN URBAN PEDESTRIAN AREA EMBODIED IN THE GUADALUPE STREET PLAN AND THE UNIVERSITY MASTER PLAN FUNDED BY THE UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS AND FUNDED THE UNIVERSITY AIR PARTNERS COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION STUDY. THIS STUDY WAS COMPLETED IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR AND GIVEN TO YOU AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT MORE OF THAT. THANK YOU, SIR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: REAL QUICKLY, MR. MITCHELL, THE SPECIAL CAPITAL METRO TRANSIT IS HERE BETWEEN K AND 9:10. IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT IS PLANNING ON USING THAT? I TRIED TO TAKE CARE OF THAT EARLIER SO WE WOULDN'T CAUSE ANYBODY AN INCONVENIENCE. I WANT TO ANNOUNCE AGAIN THAT YOU NEED TO GO.

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: WHATEVER IT TAKES. ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO USE THE SPECIAL CAPITAL METRO TRANSIT, IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE BETWEEN 9:00 AND 9:106789 I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY MISS THAT. MR. MITCHELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'M HERE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF UNITED AREA PARTNERS. I'M GEORGE MITCHELL, PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY CO-OP FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS. THE UNIVERSITY CO-OP HAS BEEN IN CONTINUOUS OPERATION SINCE 1896 SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS COMMUNITY. WE'RE ALSO GOOD CITIZENS BY NOT INVOKING OUR NONPROFIT STATISTIC NEWS PAYING TAXES TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE MONEY THAT WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE CITY. THIS PAST YEAR IN SALES TAX ALONE TO THE CITY WAS $768,000, AS WELL AS THE TAME AMOUNT TO CAPITAL METRO. WE ALSO IN OUR OTHER TAXES CONTRIBUTED $330,000. THIS IS EACH YEAR. AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO REPEAT, WE ARE VERY PROUD THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY EXEMPTIONS. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE WEST CAMPUS AREA. IN THE 14 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, THE CITY HAS SPENT I DON'T THINK A PENNY IN ANY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WEST CAMPUS AREA. WE ARE BEGGING YOU TO SPEND SOME MONEY ON THE WEST CAMPUS FOR THE NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS. AND I DON'T WANT TO -- I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE A TRAGIC OCCURRENCE LIKE WE HAD WITH THE FIRE IN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS THIS PAST WEEK. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU HELP US CLEAN UP THE WEST CAMPUS AREA. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. MITCHELL. STEPHANIE THOMAS. THEN JENNIFER MACK FAIL. FOLLOWED BY RONASCHNE:.

>> I'M STEPHANIE THOMAS WITH ADAPT AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR SIDEWALKS AND THE NEED TO COMMIT A LOT MORE OF THIS MONEY FOR SIDEWALKS AND CURB CUTS THAN IS COMMITTED NOW. THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT PASS UNDERSTAND 1990 CALLS FOR ACCESS TO SIDEWALKS CITYWIDE BY 1995. NOW SIX YEARS AFTER 1995, WE ARE NOT ANYWHERE NEAR FINISHED. LAST FALL BOND MONEY WAS GIVEN FROM HOUSING FOR ROADS. AND THIS KEEPS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, MONEY FOR ROADS, MONEY FOR ROADS. THERE NEEDS TO BE MONEY FOR SIDEWALKS AND CURB CUTS THIS. MONEY IS TRANSIT MONEY, MONEY TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO CARS. IT'S NOT MONEY FOR HIGHWAYS. IT'S MONEY FOR OTHER KINDS OF WAYS TO GET AROUND THIS COMMUNITY. AND AS YOU HEARD FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF ADAPT AND OTHER PEOPLE, THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE AND OTHER PEOPLE, IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET AROUND TOWN USING SIDEWALKS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE IN A WHEELCHAIR OR NEED CURB CUTS BECAUSE OF A BABY CARRIAGE OR WHATEVER, IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO DO THAT. STILL TODAY, 11 YEARS AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE ADA AND YEARS AND YEARS AFTER SECTION 504. WE'VE BEEN ASKING SINCE 1991 FOR A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR INSTALLING CAUSE OF ACTION AND CURB CUTS ACROSS THE CITY. SEEMS LIKE KIND OF A BASIC IDEA TO US, BUT YET AGAIN AND AGAIN WE'RE PROMISED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, BUT IT NEVER COMES THROUGH. THIS SUMMER FINALLY A MEETING WAS CALLED TO LOOK AT A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THIS ISSUE. AND YET A MONTH LATER THE WHOLE PROGRAM IS TRANSFERRED FROM PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT. WE FEEL THAT THERE IS AN EROSION OF COMMITMENT BY THE CITY AND NOW WE'RE HEARING THERE MAY BE AN 8 TO 10% CUT IN FUNDING FOR SIDEWALKS AND CURB CUTS BECAUSE OF THE SHORTFALL INS THE BUDGET. WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY HERE THAT COULD GO TO HELP FILL IN THAT GAP AND REALLY FILL IN WHAT HASN'T BEEN DONE UP TO NOW AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. I THINK AT LEAST HALF OF THIS MONEY SHOULD GLO TO SIDEWALKS AND CURB CUTS. WE SHOULDN'T BE SPENDING IT ON HIGHWAYS AND ROADS. THIS IS TRANSIT MONEY AND IT SHOULD BE HERE TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES. AND THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MS. MACK FAIL. FOLLOWED BY CARL ICE EVEN BURG. AND BOB COSKA.

>> HI, I'M ALSO WITH ADAPT OF TEXAS AND I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS PROCESS -- I MEAN MAKING SIDEWALKS ACCESSIBLE WHEN I SPEAK OF THAT, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. IT'S BEEN ABOUT 10, 11 YEARS SINCE WE'VE STARTED ADVOCATING FOR ACCESS TO THE CITY. AND STILL WE'RE FIGHTING FOR THE SAME BASIC STUFF. TO KNOW WHAT THE CITY'S COMMITMENT IS TO DO CERTAIN PROJECTS WHEN. WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT -- WE'RE STILL ASKING CITY STAFF FOR THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. WE'RE STILL ASKING WHAT ARE YOU SPENDING ON THIS PLAN, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO BE. WE STILL HAVE NO ANSWER. WHEN WE ASKED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAST MONTH, OH, WE'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. WE'VE HAD UNTOLD MEETINGS ABOUT THIS SUBJECT, AND WE'VE COMMITTED SO MUCH OF OUR OWN TIME AND OUR OWN LIFE TO THIS, IT'S TIME FOR TO YOU BELLY UP TO THE BAR AND PAY YOUR END OF THE COMMITMENT BECAUSE WE'VE DONE OUR SHARE. WE'VE DONE SURVEYS WITH CITY STAFF, WE'VE GONE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER AND SURVEYED LOCATIONS BECAUSE THEY INSISTED THAT DOWNTOWN WAS ACCESSIBLE. WE ALL WENT OUT AND VOLUNTEERED OUR TIME AND PHYSICALLY WENT OUT AND SURVEYED THE AREA FOR YOU. AND YOU THINK THIS ISN'T STILL A PROBLEM? EVERY DAY WHEN I GO TO THE OFFICE I HAVE TO GET INTO THE STREET TO DO SO. EVERY SINGLE DAY. DOWN SOUTH LAMAR. I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR SIDEWALKS DOWN SOUTH LAMAR FOR 10 YEARS OF MY LIFE AND YOU STILL CAN'T TELL ME WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO GET TO IT. I'M NOT EXPECTING YOU TO GET TO IT TOMORROW. I KNOW HOW LONG THIS TAKES. I'M EXPECTING TO YOU TELL ME WHEN YOU WILL. I WANT A COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE NEXT TIME I GET INTO THE STREET, IF I GET HIT BY A CAR, THAT SOME DAY I WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT AGAIN. JUST LAST NIGHT I WENT OVER TO BASKIN ROBBINS BECAUSE THEY WERE GIVING AWAY FREE ICE CREAM. I'M LIKE KOORX I'LL DO THIS BECAUSE IT'S GOOD STUFF. LO AND BEHOLD, I HAD TO GET OUT IN THE STREET FROM ABOUT -- LET'S SAY I THINK 24TH STREET TO 30TH STREET. I'M IN AND OUT OF THE STREET. WEAVING THROUGH TRAFFIC. I GOT GRAZED BY SOMEONE'S CAR ON MY ARM BECAUSE THEY WERE SO CLOSE. IF I DIE BECAUSE I HAVE TO GET INTO THE STREETS, I SWEAR I'M GOING TO HAUNT EVERY ONE OF YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT YOU ARE IN CITY OFFICE, I WILL DO THAT. BECAUSE IF I'M NOT GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE, IF I'M NOT GOING TO BE SAFE, THEN YOU SHOULDN'T. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. CARL EISENBERG. BOB --

>> IT'S CAROL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SORRY.

>> THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M HERE TO -- AS A MEMBER OF ADAPT, ALSO AS A HOMEOWNER IN THE NORTH CENTRAL SECTION OF AUSTIN NEAR BRAKER AND METRIC BOULEVARD. OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO ALLOCATE MONEY THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ALLOCATED FOR TRANSPORTATION TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS AND WHO HAVE OTHER NEEDS FOR CURB CUTS AND SIDEWALKS. ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA WHERE I LIVE, THERE ARE SIDEWALKS THAT GO NOWHERE, THAT SUDDENLY STOP, THAT -- WHERE THERE ARE CURB CUTS THAT SHOULD BE PUT IN THAT DO NOT EXIST. BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN BUILDING IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE'S A NEW WALGREENS AND WENDY'S AND SOME OTHER BIZ ON BRAKER LANE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS USING MY WHEELCHAIR INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GET IN A CAR JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM MY HOME, AND I CANNOT DO THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH SIDEWALKS. THERE'S NO SIDEWALK THAT WILL TAKE ME TO THAT BRAND NEW WALGREENS THAT OPENED A FEW MONTHS AGO AT THE CORNER OF BRAKER LANE AND METRIC BOULEVARD FROM WHERE I LIVE. AND I THINK IT'S SHAMEFUL THAT WE HAVE MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR TRANSPORTATION AND PEOPLE ARE CONSIDERING PUTTING IT INTO ROADS INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT INTO THE REAL BASIC TRANSPORTATION ISSUES IN THIS CITY. I KNOW OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS WHO ONE OF THEM IS A TEACHER AND SHE HAS BEEN TRYING TO TAKE HER STUDENTS ON FIELD TRIPS OUT IN EAST AUSTIN FROM WHERE HER SCHOOL IS. SHE IS AT WEBB. AND HE HAS KIDS HELPING HER GET INTO AND OUT OF THE SIDEWALKS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO CURB CUTS IN THE AREA THAT SHE TAKES HER CHILDREN ON FIELD TRIPS TO. THIS IS RIDICULOUS SITUATION. WE NEED TO USE THE TRANSIT MONEY, TRANSPORTATION MONEY FOR PEOPLE WHO USE SIDEWALKS. IT'S A PRIORITY. IT MUST BE A PRIORITY IN THIS CITY. THE CITY CLAIMS TO BE EXISTING FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE WALK OR THE PEOPLE ROLL OR THE PEOPLE PUSH STROLLERS. WE DON'T NEED MORE ROADS. WE NEED MORE TRANSPORTATION ACCESS. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MA'AM. BOB COSKA. YES, COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.

>>WYNN: SORRY TO INTERRUPT. I WOULD LIKE TO TELL THE LAST COUPLE OF SPEAKERS THAT ON THE BACK OF THE STAFF PROVIDED LIST OF PROJECTS IT LISTS A NUMBER OF SIDEWALK PROJECTS AND I DO WANT TO JUST POINTED OUT THAT WE SHOW METRIC FROM RUTLAND TO BRAKER AND THEN WE SHOW THREE DIFFERENT SOUTH LAMAR SEGMENTS FROM 360 TO BARTON SKYWAY AND OTHERS THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE TO YOU PLEASE HELP US REVIEW THE LIST.

>> THE SECTION THAT YOU REFERRED TO FROM RUTLAND TO BRAKER IS SOUTH OF THE AREA THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I LIVE NORTH OF BRAKER LANE. AND THE TRAFFIC IS EXTREMELY HEAVY THERE, ESPECIALLY DURING RUSH HOUR. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO EVEN RISK GETTING HIT BY A CAR ON METRIC BOULEVARD DURING RUSH HOUR NORTH OF BRAKER LANE TOWARDS GOLD WING. THAT'S THE AREA THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

>>WYNN: THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IS RANDY ECHOLS HERE?

>> I'M ALSO WITH ADAPT. THIS IS SOMETHING VERY ILLOGICAL ABOUT PUTTING THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS MONEY INTO ROADS. IF IN FACT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO USE CAPITAL METRO BUSES AND GRANTED THE LIGHT RAIL, BUT ALL KNOW LIGHT RAIL WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN, WE NEED GOOD SIDEWALKS TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT. BY NOT DOING THAT AND PUTTING ROADS, WE'RE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DRIVE MORE, USE MORE GASOLINE, POLLUTE MORE, THERE'S SOMETHING TOTALLY ILLOGICAL FROM THE WHOLE PHILOSOPHY WHAT AUSTIN IS ABOUT. IF WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSIT WE HAVE TO DO WHAT THE PUBLIC TRANSIT FRIENDLY IN TERMS OF SIDEWALKS AND CURB CUTS AND ACCESS, WHICH EVERYONE HAS ALREADY SAID. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS -- AND WE'VE HEARD SOME THIS EVENING ABOUT THE LAMAR STREET BRIDGE THAT THERE IS SOME PEOPLE THAT THINK IT'S NOT AESTHETICLY PLEASING TO GO OVER AND WANT TO BUILD A TUNNEL. DAVID WHEN ITY WHO TESTIFIED EARLIER SAID HE WANTED ME TO SAY TWO WORDS TO YOU, BIG DIG. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT BIG DIG IS, GO TO BOSTON WHERE THERE ARE ABOUT 500 BILLION DOLLARS OVERRUN GOING AND TRYING TO TUNNEL THROUGH SOMETHING THEY THOUGHT WAS A VERY GOOD IDEA. SO, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY WOULD ENCOURAGE NOT ONLY THE BETTER ACCESS WHICH IS WHAT IS CURRENTLY THE SGIN, BUT TO DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES NO SENSE AND WE UNDERSTAND MIGHT COST TWO TO FOUR MILLION EXTRA ESPECIALLY WHEN WE NEED MORE SIDEWALKS WOULD BE LUDICROUS. SO AGAIN, LIKE EVERYONE JUST SAID, WE ENCOURAGE TO YOU PUT 50% OF THESE DOLLARS IN FOR SIDEWALKS AND ACCESS NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BUT FOR PEOPLE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION MORE COST EFFECTIVE, GETS PEOPLE OFF THE ROAD, LESS POLLUTING, WHICH IS WHAT EVERYONE IN AUSTIN SAYS THEY WANT. SO THIS DECISION IS EXACTLY GOING IN THE OPPOSITE BECAUSE YOU ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GET ON THE ROADS. SEEMS TO ME TO BE THE WRONG MESSAGE. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. MR. ECHOLS. IS JENNY BENNETT HERE? ALL RIGHT. CHRIS WITWORTH. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY. MR. ECHOLS YOU HAVE UP TO SIX MINUTES IF YOU NEED IT.

>> THANK YOU. I'M RANDY AND FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS I'VE BEEN A SILVER SMITH IN THE 23RD STREET RENAISSANCE MARKET. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT OVER THOSE YEARS WE'VE PIECEMEALED, LITTLE BY LITTLE ADDED PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES, SIDEWALKS, TREES, FLOWERS, DRINKING FOUNTAINS. WE'VE GONE INTO FREMENTS WITH UNIVERSITY -- AGREEMENTS WITH UNIVERSITY CO-OP WHICH HAS DONATED MONEY PRIVATELY TO COMPENSATE US FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS ON MORE LIGHTING AND MORE SHADE TREES IN THE AREA AND WITH CAP METRO. AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH GEORGE MITCHELL THAT THE AREA NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP, IT'S BECOME VERY UNSAFE FOR PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF TRANSIENTS AND DRUG DEALERS THROUGHOUT THE -- WEST CAMPUS NEIGHBORHOOD. I NO LONGER LIVE THERE. I LIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, BUT I STILL WORK THERE AND I'M THERE ABOUT FOUR DAYS A WEEK. OUR NUMBERS HAVE GONE DOWN GREATLY IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. WE'RE TRYING TO SLOWLY BUILD IT BACK UP. WE NEED MORE HELP. AND WE ARE DEDICATED. WE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, TO PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES AND WORK VERY HARD. IT WAS HARD GETTING A C.I.P. AND HARD RAISING MONEY PRIVATELY. WE HAVEN'T OF THAT MUCH HELP FROM THE CITY. NOW THAT CAPITAL METRO HAS SOME MONEY FOR THAT AREA, I AGREE WITH MR. MAHONE AND MR. MITCHELL THAT THAT THEORY HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED. AND IT'S A VERY HEAVILY TRAVELED AREA. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PARKING GARAGES AND THAT IS SOMETHING DOWN THE LINE THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED LATER. BUT WE HAVE A MEMORIAL PLAQUE ON ONE OF OUR TREES TO MY BROTHER WHO WAS KIDNAPPED AND MURDERED IN THE AREA IN 1989. THAT'S WHY I'M NOW A MEMBER OF PEOPLE AGAINST VIOLENT CRIME AND THE TEXAS SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION, AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CHRIS WITWORTH FOLLOWED BY DAVID FOSTER.

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS AND MAYOR. I'M JUST HERE AND WILL BE REAL BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF THE FREDERICK LANE IMPROVEMENTS. I WORK FOR HILL PARTNERS. WE MANAGE AND LEASE ONE OF THE COMPLEXS THAT IS ADJACENT TO FREDERICK LANE AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING ANOTHER PROJECT THAT IS COMPRISED OF FOUR BUILDINGS. THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT I HEAR IS ALL THE TENANTS AND BUSINESSES THIS THAT PARK IS FREDERICK LANE. SO ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP US OUT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. FOSTER, FOLLOWED BY DAVE SULLIVAN.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS DAVID FOSTER AND I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF TEXAS COMMUNITY PROJECT. AND FIRST I WANT TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO THE CITY COUNCILL AND YOUR STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU'VE PUT IN PRODUCING THIS DOCUMENT. IT'S NOT PERFECT. IT BEARS MARKS OF COMPROMISE. BUT I THINK THAT IT FOLLOWS UP ON VERY IMPORTANT ADVANCES THAT THE CITY COUNCILL AND OTHERS HAVE MADE, THE PREVIOUS TWO CITY COUNCILLS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. FOR EXAMPLE, A FEW YEARS BACK APPROVING THE AUSTIN BICYCLE PLAN. AND IN NOVEMBER 1998 IN THE BOND ELECTION SETTING ASIDE MONEY FOR BIKE-PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL AS GREENWAYS, TRAILS THAT CAN ALSO BE USED FOR TRANSPORTATION. LAST NOVEMBER ONCE AGAIN, $20 MILLION OF THAT BOND ELECTION WENT TOWARDS BIKE-PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS. AND THAT'S VERY GOOD. A FEW WEEKS BACK I VISITED WITH MANY OF YOU, SPOKE WITH YOU PERSONALLY OR WITH YOUR STAFF MEMBERS ASKING YOU TO ALLOCATE AT LEAST 15% OF MONEY COMING FROM CAPITAL METRO TO BIKE-PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS. AND YOU'VE DONE THAT. AS I DO THE MATH, IT TOTALS $12.2 MILLION, ACTUALLY 15.15%. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR MEETING THAT MINIMAL GOAL. NOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET US WHERE WE NEED TO BE. WE NEED TO SPEND PROBABLY 200 TO 300 MILLION DOLLARS TO IMPLEMENT THE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PLAN. THIS IS NOT GOING TO GET US THERE, BUT IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I WOULD URGE YOU TO DEDICATE AT LEAST 15% OF ALL FUTURE TRANSPORTATION SPENDING TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SO WE GET THERE. BEYOND THAT WE NEED TO THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE SO WE CAN FUND THE 2 TO 3 MILLION DOLLARS WE NEED. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO QUIBBLE ABOUT IF I MAY. FOR INSTANCE, LINE ITEM 14, INTERSECTION PROJECTS. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AS WE REDESIGN INTERSECTIONS WE'RE NOT DOING IT IN A WAY THAT ACCELERATES THE MOVEMENT OF CARS. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BUILDING THOSE INTERSECTIONS IN A WAY THAT ALLOW PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS THOSE STREETS SAFELY. ONE GOOD EXAMPLE THAT COMES TO MIND OF A RECENT PROJECT THAT FAILED TO DO THAT IS BARTON SPRINGS ROAD AND SOUTH LAMAR. HIR THE EXPERIENCE A MONTH OR SO AGO OF TRYING TO CROSS THAT STREET AND I'M A RELATIVELY HEALTHY, YOUNG PERSON. I WAITED FOR THE LIGHT, TOOK THREE STEPS AND IT STARTED FLASHING DON'T WALK. IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST BE LIKE FOR A WOMAN, A MOTHER WITH A STROLLER, A CHILD IN A STROLLER OR SOMEBODY IN A WHEELCHAIR. WE'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING THAT. WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THAT IN A WAY THAT IS PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY. THE REGIONAL MOBILITY PROJECTS, CALL THEM THREE, LISTS MONEY NOR TOLL ROADS. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT YOU CAN SPEND MONEY ON REGIONAL MOBILITY PROJECTS THAT AREN'T SIMPLY ROADS. FOR INSTANCE, AND I DISCUSSED THIS WITH SOME OF YOU, WE CAN TAKE THAT CAP METRO RAIL RIGHT-OF-WAY AND BUILD A MASTER GARDENER SENT TRAIL ALL THE WAY FROM -- MAGNIFICENT TRAIL. [BUZZER SOUNDS].

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. DAVE SULLIVAN FOLLOWED BY KMUK -- PERHAPS THIS IS NAVY? NAEVE. SOUND LIKE ANYBODY'S NAME YOU KNOW? CHUCK NAEVE. IS HE HERE? WELL, HE WAS FOR. HOW ABOUT JEFF -- GOSH, I'M SORRY. I THINK IT STARTS WITH N,,000. -- N,,000. N-A -- ARE THERE ANY JEFFS HERE? JEFF N. OKAY. HE WAS NOT IN FAVOR. LINDSEY MEYER. THANKS.

>> OKAY.

>>GOODMAN: THANKS FOR WAITING.

>> I'M DAVE SULLIVAN AND MANY OF YOU KNOW ME. I SPENT FIVE YEARS ON THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION AND SERVE ODD THE SMART GROWTH TASK FORCE. AND AS AN ALTERNATE TO THE SIDEWALK TASK FORCE, I THINK THAT WAS 1997. I WAS WITH JENNIFER ON THAT. I WOULD SAY THAT I AGREE 100% WITH THE COMMENTS MADE BY THE SPOKESPERSONS FROM ADAPT. THIS MONEY IS INTENDED FOR ALTERNATIVES TO SINGLE OCCUPANT VEHICLE TRANSPORTATION AND THEREFORE I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF IT SHOULD BE SPENT ON SIDEWALKS, TRAILS, MEANS TO MAKE BUSES MORE EFFECTIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF -- TOUCH ON A COUPLE POINTS OTHERS HAVEN'T TOUCHED ON. ONE IS THAT WITH REGARD TO SIDEWALKS, IT'S NOT ENOUGH -- IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO BUILD SIDEWALKS AND RAMPS. FOR EXAMPLE, A COUPLE PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED TONIGHT THE INTERSECTION OF LAMAR AND 6TH STREET. DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PLANTED A SIGN DIRECTING PEOPLE WHERE TO PARK FOR THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK ON THE WEST SIDE OF LAMAR NORTH OF 6TH STREET, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOMEBODY IN A WHEELCHAIR OR PUSHING A BABY CHARGE TO GET PAST. JUST UTTERLY STUPID. RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK, THERE ARE TWO SIGNS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF WEST 9TH STREET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK ACROSS FROM -- NEAR DUNCAN PARK WHERE THE NEW NOCONA PROJECTS ARE GOING UP. HARD TO BELIEVE SOMEBODY WOULD DO THAT. SO IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO BUILD SIDEWALKS. WE NEED STRONG ENFORCEMENT OF RULES TO KEEP SIDEWALKS CLEAR AND OPEN. SECONDLY, WITH REGARD TO TRAILS, THE CITY'S BIKE PROGRAM, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE MENTIONED IMPLEMENTING THE BIKE PROGRAM. BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT MAINLY DEALT WITH HOW BIKES WERE ADDRESS ODD STREETS AND BIKE LANES. BUT A LOT OF BICYCLISTS USE TRAILS FOR TRPS SUCH AS THE SHOAL CREEK TRAIL OR TOWN LAKE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT PROGRAMMING MONEY TO IMPROVING TRAILS AND WE HAVE SOME TRAIL PROJECTS THAT ARE -- ONE FOR INSTANCE WHICH IS ON THE PROPOSAL HERE FOR THE BOGGY CREEK TRAIL WHICH WOULD IMPROVE BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY THROUGH CENTRAL AUSTIN. ONE NOT ON THE LIST BUT I THINK SHOULD BE HIGHLY REGARDED IS THE WALNUT CREEK PROJECT FOR WHICH IT WAS A PROMOTIONAL BROCHURE PUT TOGETHER AND IT WAS THE HIGHEST RATED PROJECT BY THE AUSTIN METROPOLITAN GREENS AND TRAIL WAY COUNCIL AND WOULD PROVIDE ACCESS FOR BICYCLISTS TO GET TO EMPLOYMENT CENTERS ALL THROUGHOUT NORTH AUSTIN AND OVER INTO NORTHEAST AUSTIN, PLACES LIKE DELL AND SAMSUNG. I GUESS THE LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THAT YOU'VE SEEN ME UP HERE PROMOTING A NEW SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE THAT WOULD CREATE GREATER CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN SUBDIVISIONS OF THE RIGHT NOW THERE IS A TENDENCY TO BUILD ONE CUL-DE-SAC STREET AND ANOTHER. YOU COULD USE SOME OF THIS MONEY TO FUND -- [BUZZER SOUNDS] -- THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE SUBDIVISIONS THAT RIGHT NOW DEVELOPERS ARE CLAIMING WOULD LEAD TO HIGHER COSTS FOR THEM. THANKS.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE].

>> MY NAME IS LINDSAY MEYER, I'M A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS I HAVE BEEN OTHERING THE AREA BETWEEN 23RD AND GUADALUPE, IN PARTICULAR THE RENAISSANCE AREA. THIS HAS BEEN A BIG CONCERN OF MANY STUDENTS AND PARENTS IN THE AREA. ALSO JUST SOMETHING REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE. MY MAIN CONCERN IS -- IS THAT IT'S VERY UNSAFE AND VERY DANGEROUS AREA. THERE ARE A LOT OF -- A LOT OF LOITERERS, IF WE SHOULD CALL THEM THAT, IN THIS AREA THAT MAKE THIS AREA VERY UNSAFE. WITH LIGHTING AND TREES AND BETTER SIDEWALKS AND A REAL CLEAN AREA, I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL LEAVE THIS AREA. I HAVE OBSERVED IT AND ONE SIDE DOES NOT HAVE LIGHTS AT ALL. ONE SIDE DOES. AND TRUTH BE TOLD THAT ALL OF THEM DO SIT ON THE DARK SIDE. SO IF WE DO PUT LIGHTS IN THIS AREA, IT IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I AGREE WITH THE UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS, KATHY IS GOING TO SPEAK ON THEIR 23RD STREET IDEA. AND I JUST WANT TO -- TO BRING IN THE IDEA THAT STUDENTS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THIS AREA. I HAVE DONE SEVERAL SURVEYS, ASKED A LOT OF PEOPLE AND MAINLY GIRLS ARE REALLY NERVOUS WALKING THROUGH THIS AREA AND GIRLS REALLY ARE NERVOUS WALKING THROUGH THIS AREA, BOTH DURING THE DAY AND EVENING. THIN ARE THEY HAVE SEXUAL ASSAULTS. ACTUAL PHYSICAL ASSAULTS. I ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN GRABBED BEFORE, TRIED TO HAVE BEEN KISSED. IT WASN'T VERY NICE. IT'S JUST REALLY AN AREA THAT WE NEED TO CLEAR OUT. IF WE JUST KEEP IT CLEAN AND LIGHT THIS UP, I THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU.

>>WYNN: MAYOR PRO TEM?

>>GOODMAN: COUNCILMEMBER?

>>WYNN: THANK YOU, MS. MYERS THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT SOME STUDENTS ARE HERE. OF COURSE THE UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS ARE HERE. BECAUSE I WILL TELL YOU THAT I'M -- I'M DISAPPOINTED AT HOW WE AS A CITY DO LOOK AT AND ADDRESS WHAT MOST OF US CALL THE WEST UNIVERSITY AREA. AND IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS THE FACT THAT THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DON'T VOTE VERY MUCH. AND IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS THE FACT, I THINK, THAT -- THAT OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS AREN'T HERE FOR VERY LONG, COME THROUGH SCHOOL FOR A FEW YEARS AT MOST AND MOVE ON TO DIFFERENT AREAS. BUT WHEN LIEU AT THE WEST UNIVERSITY AREA, I MEAN, THERE'S HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TAX BASE THAT PAY PROPERTY TAXES TO THE CITY JUST LIKE WE DO IN THE MORE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, MATURE FAMILY ORIENTED NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND TOWN. IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER BY MR. MITCHELL, THERE'S SOME, YOU KNOW, PRETTY IMPORTANT AND LARGE COMMERCIAL PARTNERS THAT THE CITY HAS IN [INAUDIBLE] AREA. I JUST WANT TO THANK PARTICULARLY THE STUDENT FOR BEING HERE TO TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION ISSUES BECAUSE IT HAS STRUCK ME THAT WE HAVE THIS REALLY PRETTY PHENOMENAL AREA OF WEST UNIVERSITY. FOR DIFFERENT REASONS SO MANY PEOPLE IN TOWN IN THE CITY -- THE CITY STAFF AND US INCLUDED TEND TO THINK OF THAT AS THE UNIVERSITY. THE UNIVERSITY IS ITS OWN ANIMAL. NOT ON OUR TAX ROLL. IT'S A SEPARATE GREAT GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY AND PARTNER OF OURS. IN FACT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF IT, AT 25 --25 BOTSDZ AN -- 25 BODIES AN ACRE, IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, SHOULD BE A MODEL FOR US REALLY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO GIVE JUST A PORTION -- A PROPORTIONATE RETURN TO THIS AREA.

>>GOODMAN: LET ME ADD SOMETHING TO THAT AS WELL.

>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM.

>>GOODMAN: FOR A LONG TIME U.T. REALLY WAS NOT OUR PARTNER AT ANYTHING, NEITHER OF US BOTHERED TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. SO A LOT WHAT WAS COULD BE DONE, ESPECIALLY ON THE STREETS, WHICH ARE KIND OF LIKE POTHOLE QUILT CITY, -- WAS NOT ADDRESSED BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH TRAFFIC ALWAYS, THERE ARE NO DOWN TIMES FOR THAT STREET AND OTHERS OVER THERE. WHEN WE DID FINALLY BEGIN TO BE PARTNERS OR AT LEAST PLAN TO BE, KATHY REMEMBERS THIS, WHEN WE HAD SOME REALLY POSITIVE MEETINGS, WITH U.T. U.T. FOLKS AND THEIR PLANNING IT ALL SEEMED TO FADE AWAY AFTER A WHILE. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT WAS LOST IN THE TRANSITION WITH NEW ADMINISTRATION OR WHATEVER. BUT -- BUT ACTUALLY KATHY MAY BE KNOWS THE ANSWER TO THAT. AFTER THE THREE MINUTES CONSIDER THAT TO BE A QUESTION ASKED. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> HELLO, MAYOR, COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO PICK UP ON MIKE McCONES OVERVIEW BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE HAVE SOME SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE INTERESTED ON AN IMMEDIATE BASIS. HE TALKED ABOUT THE GUADALUPE STREET PROJECT, WHICH FROM 21ST TO 24TH STREET IS -- IS PRETTY MUCH READY TO GO AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ROUND UP THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE IMPORTANT PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL ALSO SUPPORT TRANSIT IN THE AREA. HE TALKED ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY THAT WAS DONE IN THE UNIVERSITY AREA. WHICH FOUND -- YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE EVERYBODY A WALKING TOUR, THERE'S REALLY ABYSMAL PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE WEST CAMPUS AREA. JUST HORRIBLE OF THE. THE WHEELCHAIR PEOPLE HAVE TO USE THE STREET AND BIKE LANES WHICH THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT ISN'T AIDE FOR -- THAT ISN'T A.D.A. FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EVEN WALKING. TAKING THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE HICKMAN STUDENT, THE U.T. STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS IDENTIFIED 23RD STREET A SAFE STREET PROJECT FOR PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT FROM CAMPUS ALL THE WAY TO RIO GRANDE. AS ANOTHER HIGH PRIORITY WE ALREADY HAVE SPENT MONEY, DRAWN PLANS, BUT THAT PROJECT WOULD -- WOULD PROVIDE A.D.A. COMPLIANCE SIDEWALKS THAT ARE WIDER, THERE WOULD BE STREET TREES, THERE WOULD BE PEDESTRIAN SCALED LIGHTING WITH THE GOAL OF MOVING PEDESTRIANS OFF OF 24TH STREET, WHICH ISN'T VERY SAFE FOR PEDESTRIANS, ON TO 23RD STREET AND SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY MOVE THEM THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AT LEAST TO RIO GRANDE. THERE ARE AS MANY STUDENTS THERE AS ON CAMPUS. SO THAT IS THE OTHER SPECIFIC PROJECT THAT WE ARE WORKING ON. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD THE POLICE LOOK AT THE PLANS FOR SAFETY ISSUES. AND U.T. STUDENT GOVERNMENT IS WITH US ON THAT. SO THAT'S KIND OF OUR OVERVIEW. GUADALUPE STREET, VERY MUCH NEEDED PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS. THE 23RD STREET IS OUR FIRST PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT IN THE AREA. YES, IN THE FUTURE, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OTHER MONEY FOR THE REST OF GUADALUPE STREET AND FOR THE REST OF THE WEST CAMPUS AREA AND WE HAVE TRIED TO -- TO PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION THAT COULD GIVE FOLKS SOME KIND OF IDEA. THE BOARDS ARE WAY OVER THERE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE ANYTHING. NO ONE MAY BE INTERESTED IN THAT, BUT WE HAVE BOARDS THAT GIVE SOME INFORMATION ON SOME OF THIS STUFF. WE ALSO HAVE OTHER SPEAKERS WHO CAN PERHAPS TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC DETAILS ON THOSE PLANS IF -- IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: DAVID DOBBS.

>>GOODMAN: MAYOR, THERE WAS MY QUESTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SORRY.

>>GOODMAN: DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL OF THE PLANS BETWEEN U.T. AND THE CITY IN -- IN PLANNING THE NEW GARAGES AND THE BIKE LANES AND ALL OF THAT, WHATEVER HAPPENED?

>> WELL, THE TRANSPORTATION STUDY THAT WAS DONE FOR UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE UNIVERSITY ITSELF, WAS COMPLETED LAST SUMMER AND WE HAVE BEEN HOPING TO OPERATE OFF OF THAT AS A SORT OF A CITY APPROVED KIND OF PLAN. I MEAN, WE HAVE BEEN USING THAT AS A BASIS. I KNOW THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IS DOING A TRANSPORTATION STUDY AND IT IS -- IT IS FOR U.T. AND IT'S COORDINATED WITH THE RESULTS FROM THE HICKMAN STUDY. PARKING GARAGES HAVE BEEN PRIVATE-PUBLIC EFFORTS. I DON'T KNOW OF ANY -- THAT INVOLVES A PRIVATE -- EFFORTS AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THOSE PRIVATE PARKING GARAGES THAT ARE TOTALLY READY TO GO, BUT THERE ARE STILL PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. THE GUADALUPE STREET PROJECT WAS SORT OF FULL STEAM AHEAD WORKING WITH THE CITY ON CAPITAL METRO AND THEN THE CHANGE BECAUSE THE LIGHT RAIL REFERENDUM, CHANGES IN CITY DEPARTMENTS. SO WE -- WE SEEM TO HAVE LOST A LITTLE BIT OF TOUCH WITH THE CITY ON THAT. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? MR. .

>>MAYOR WATSON: DOBBS, FOLLOWED BY ROGER BAKER.

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

>>MAYOR WATSON: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> I ALWAYS AM -- AM GLAD TO COME BEFORE YOU I KNOW HE WORK SO VERY HARD LATE INTO THE NIGHT. I WILL TRY NOT TO GO OVER MATERIAL THAT IS MENTIONED. I DO KNOW THAT ON THE PROPOSAL IT'S BEEN PUT FORT HERE THAT WE DO HAVE A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF ROAD PROJECTS TO BE BUILT OR FUNDED IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER WITH CAPITAL METRO MONEY, A POINT THAT'S BEEN MADE. MONEY THAT 97 TO 98% COMES FROM THE TAXPAYERS OF AUSTIN. I WOULD NOTE THAT ONE OF THESE PROJECTS FOR RIGHT-OF-WAY ON LOOP 1, SH 45 NORTH, IS ABOUT 29 MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS GOING TO BE FUNDED WITH DEBT. 3.5 MILLION A YEAR, ACTUALLY IT WILL AMOUNT TO 100 MILLION DOLLAR AFTER YOU ADD THE INTEREST CHARGES TO THAT. THAT'S MOSTLY A STANDARD IN PRIVATE FINANCE. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK MOSTLY ABOUT SIDEWALKS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A CRITICAL ELEMENT IN THE CITY. I WOULD HAVE PEOPLE ALLUDE TO SEVERAL THINGS THAT I WOULD SUMMARIZE HERE, THAT WE HAVE IN MANY PLACES NO SIDEWALKS, DISCONTIGUOUS SIDEWALKS, ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE STREET, TOO NARROW, TOO CLOSE TO THE ROAD, WITH NO BUFFER INTERSECTIONS WITHOUT CROSS WALKS, INTERSECTIONS WITH ONLY ONE OR TWO CROSS WALKS. WE HAVE INTERSECTIONS WHERE WE HAVE NO PROVISION FOR WHEELCHAIRS AT CURB CUTS. THERE ARE -- THERE MUST BE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PLACES. THE REASON THAT I AM DRESSED LIKE I AM IS I'M ON MY BICYCLE TONIGHT. I WISH THAT I HAD A DIGITAL CAMERA THAT I COULD MOUNT ON MY BICYCLE TO GO AROUND TO SHOW YOU THE FLAWS THAT THERE ARE IN OUR SIDEWALK AND BIKE WAY SYSTEM. I NOTED COMING OVER HOOT RED BUD TRAIL, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR -- OVER HERE AT RED BUD TRAIL THE BIKE LANE ENDS AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOURSELF THROUGH THIS HORRIBLE INTERSECTION TO ETD GET BACK TO THE BIKE LANE. THERE ARE SO MANY PLACE THAT'S MONEY NEEDS TO BE SPENT. THE WEST CAMPUS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE NEED TO GET ON WITH THE PROJECT. WE DO NOW HAVE A UNIVERSITY THAT WAS FRIENDLY AT LEAST WITH THE CAMPUS MASTER PLAN, GOING FORWARD, SO ON, SO FORTH, I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WITH -- WITH THAT INITIATIVE AND DO SOMETHING WITH THE WEST CAMPUS. SO WHAT AIM PLEADING WITH YOU HERE IS PLEASE LET'S SPEND THIS MONEY THAT WAS SET ASIDE FOR ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION, FOR ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION PURPOSES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND I DO COMMEND YOU FOR THE BIKE WAY THINGS. I MEAN 12 POINT SOME% OF THE THING. 15%, THAT'S REALLY GOOD. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PROBLEM SO BIG! 100 TO 200 TO $300 MILLION PROBABLY. THE PROBLEM IS [BUZZER SOUNDING] I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING IN CHARGE. SO LET'S DO THAT. THANK YOU. ANYBODY IN CHARGE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. BAKER.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF DOCUMENTS FOR YOU TO PASS ALONG BEFORE YOU START THE CLOCK.

>> THAT WOULD BE FINE. STOP THE CLOCK.

>> BASICALLY FROM MY.OF VIEW THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CITY HASN'T BEEN SPENDING HARDLY ANY MONEY ON SIDEWALKS AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN BEEN DOING IS TAKING CAPITAL METRO'S MONEY, PARTICULARLY NOW, AND SAYING, WELL, WE WILL USE THIS MONEY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SPENT MONEY ON SIDEWALKS BEFORE. EVEN GIVING 10 OR 15% IS PROGRESS. BUT YOU ARE STILL SPENDING MOST OF THIS ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION MONEY ON ROADS AND I THINK IT OUGHT TO GO TOWARDS SIDEWALKS AND PEDESTRIANISM AND TRANSIT RELATED FACILITIES. I'M UPSET THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING SPENDING $29 MILLION OF CAPITAL METRO'S MONEY FOR A TOLL ROAD EXTENSION OF MOPAC TO THE NORTH. THIS IS BEING PROPOSED MAINLY BY MR. PETE WINSTEAD OF THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF AUSTIN. I THINK THAT'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. SOMEONE WHO IS A REAL ESTATE AGENT SHOULDN'T BE SPENDING STATE MONEY TO PROMOTE A TOLL ROAD FOR FUTURE SPRAWL IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY. I THINK THE MONEY SHOULD -- SHOULD GO TO -- WELL, WHAT -- WHAT A TOLL ROAD WILL DO IS FACILITATE FUTURE SPRAWL AND NOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN CENTRAL AUSTIN WHO ARE UPSET BY WIDENING MOPAC AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH ONE HAND IS -- IS ACTUALLY PUTTING MONEY INTO A FACILITY THAT WOULD PUT MORE TRAFFIC ON TO MOPAC AND CREATE THE DEMAND FOR WIDENING IT IN THE CENTRAL SECTION. SO I THINK THAT YOU OUGHT TO SOLVE TWO PROBLEMS AT ONCE AND PUT THIS MONEY INTO THE CENTRAL CITY IN SIDEWALKS AND STUFF WHERE YOU ARE WAY BEHIND AND NOT SPEND IT ON -- ON SPRAWL AND TOLL ROADS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THE TWO DOCUMENTS THAT I GAVE OUT WERE TWO ESTIMATES OF WHEN WORLD OIL PRODUCTION WILL PEAK. THE WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE SAYS 10 YEARS MAYBE. AND THE OTHER IS A -- IS A DOCUMENT BY -- BY MR. COLIN CAMPBELL WHO IS A -- WHO IS A WORLD RENOWNED EXPERT ON PETROLEUM ENERGY AND HE SAYS THAT WORLD OIL PRODUCTION IS LIABLE TO PEAK IN FIVE YEARS. EITHER WAY, IF EITHER ONE OF THESE ESTIMATES IS CORRECT, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SUBSIDIZING A TOLL ROAD PROJECT THAT'S LIABLE TO TAKE 10 YEARS AND WHICH IS VERY RISKY BECAUSE IT'S -- IT'S DONE WITH BORROWED MONEY. AND I THINK -- I THINK YOU OUGHT TO FORGET STUFF LIKE THAT. THAT'S A DUMB IDEA. YOU OUGHT TO PUT -- YOU OUGHT TO PUT THIS CAPITAL METRO MONEY INTO ALTERNATIVES TO -- SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE OUR DEPENDENCE ON THE PRIVATE AUTOMOBILE. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. BAKER. MARK STEIN. [BUZZER SOUNDING].

>>MAYOR WATSON: MARK STEIN. INDICATED HE WAS FOR BIKE PED DEVELOPMENT. NORMAN KIKI. NORMAN KIKI. NORMAN KIKI? MR. BRAVE. IS DAVID HARTMAN HERE? MR. BRAY UP TO SIX MINUTES IF YOU NEED IT.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, I'M HAVING SOME ITEMS HANDED OUT, ALSO.

>> MAYORS AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS TERRY BRAY. I AM REPRESENTING A GROUP CALLED VILLAGE AT NORTH TOWN. I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION SOME INFORMATION THAT SORT OF LATE BREAKING FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE. WE BEGIN WITH THE PREMISE THAT THE TRAFFIC THAT WE WENT THROUGH TODAY TO GET TO THIS MEETING IS THE VERY BEST CIRCUMSTANCE WE ARE GOING TO SEE IN ALL OF OUR LIVES IN THIS COMMUNITY. IT -- IT EMPHASIZES THE NEED THAT WE ALL HAVE COME TO RECOGNIZE THAT ALL SORTS OF MOBILITY METHODS COMMUNITY AS A REGION IN ORDER TO APPROVE OR ABILITY TO MOVE IN THIS REGION. SOMETHING THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER CONCERNING PARTNERING ON PROJECTS, I THINK IT WAS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE UNIVERSITY. BUT THAT, TOO, IS A PREMISE THAT WE HAVE COME TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED PARTNERS NOT ONLY WITH REGIONAL GOVERNMENT BUT PARTNERS WITH VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHAT I HAVE HANDED OUT TO YOU IS A LETTER THAT MENTIONS A POSSIBLE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. IT INCLUDES A RECENT NEWS CLIP THAT SORT OF ENERGIZED MY CLIENT TO ASK THAT WE BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION. AND LASTLY AN AREA MAP THAT SHOWS THE AREA NORTH OF I-35 RUNNING ROUGHLY, THE EMPHASIS PRIMARILY, ROUGHLY FROM WHERE THE NEW DELL CAMPUS IS AT PARMER TO ALL OF THE HIGH GROWTH AREAS IN -- IN NORTHEAST ROUND ROCK. WHAT WE HAVE COME TO LEARN THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT IMMEDIATE ITEM IS PFLUGERVILLE THAT RECENTLY DECIDED TO UTILIZE BOND MONEY TO COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN IMPORTANT ARTERIAL THROUGH THE CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE. HEATHERWILD. IT'S A NORTH-SOUTH ARREST TEARAL THAT RUNS BETWEEN THE DELL CAMPUS AT PARMER AND HIGHWAY 79 IN ROUND ROCK. IT IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO I-35. IT WILL PROVIDE, DOES PROVIDE AND WILL WHEN COMPLETED PROVIDE MUCH MORE OF A RELIEF ROUTE FOR TRAFFIC THAT IS LEAVING NORTH-SOUTH IN OUR NORTH-SOUTH LAID OUT COMMUNITY. WHILE THAT ENERGIZED US, WE ALSO NOTICED A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS. FIRST, TRAVIS COUNTY HAS RECENTLY ACQUIRED THE NORTHEAST METROPOLITAN PARK. AND HAS AGREED TO CONSTRUCT A PORTION OF WELLS BRANCH EAST OF 35 TO CONNECT TO THAT PARK. WHAT WE IDENTIFIED ON BOTH OF THESE ROUTES, HEATHERWILD AND WELLS BRANCH IS THAT THERE ARE IMPORTANT GAPS IN THE SYSTEM. GAPS THAT DO NOT CONNECT BETWEEN DELL AND ROUND ROCK ON THE ONE HAND WITH HEATHERWILD. GAPS THAT DO NOT CONNECT BETWEEN I-35 AND THE PARK ON THE WELLS BRANCH ROUTE. WHAT MY CLIENTS HAVE AS A POSSIBILITY IS THEY HAVE ARRANGED WITH VARIOUS OWNERS TO PROVIDE ALL OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY NEEDED FOR THOSE TWO CONNECTORS. THEY ALSO ARE WILLING TO MAKE AVAILABLE APPROVED CONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR BOTH OF THOSE ARTERIALS. THE ARTERIALALS THAT THESE TWO ROADS REPRESENT ARE ESSENTIAL CREDIT CAM COMPONENTS AND COMPLEMENTS TO OTHER FORMS OF REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION METHODS. OUR PROPOSAL IS THAT IF WE CAN IDENTIFY FUNDING FROM GOVERNMENT SOURCES TO HELP CONSTRUCTION THE ROADS, OUR GROUPS CAN PROVIDE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND THE PLANS. WE CAN ALSO FACILITATE AN EARLY CONSTRUCTION, SO THAT THESE ROADS CAN BE BUILT QUICKLY AND BE OPEN FOR TRAFFIC QUICKLY AND THAT CONNECTION SERVES A VERY IMPORTANT ADDITIVE SORE OF RESULT IN THAT AS THESE CONNECTIONS OCCUR, THE AREAS ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH THEN BECOME ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THESE CONNECTIONS AND ON THE EAST AND WEST WITH RESPECT TO WELLS BRANCH. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE WHERE WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTICIPATION WE CAN LEVERAGE THE RESOURS, AS EVERYONE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, BUT WE CAN LEVERAGE THOSE RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN SEE SOME REAL IMPROVEMENT ON A SYSTEMIC APPROACH TO OUR MOBILITY PROBLEMS. WE WOULD REQUEST THAT STAFF TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. WE ARE LATE COMING TO YOU. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ALREADY PACKAGED AND BEFORE YOU. AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT WHILE THIS MAY NOT FIT INTO THE CAPITAL MET PACKAGE THIS TIME, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE WOULD HOPE WE CAN WORK WITH YOUR STAFF AND WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES TO FIND A WAY TO CAPTURE THIS PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>WYNN: MR. BRAY? WHAT DISCUSSIONS HAVE YOU ALL HAD WITH THE COUNTY?

>> WE HAVE TALKED WITH THE COMMISSIONER FOR THIS AREA, COMMISSIONER SONLEITNER PREVIOUSLY. SHE IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE CONCEPT. AT THE TIME WE LAST SPOKE WITH HER, WE DID NOT HAVE THE COMMITMENT FROM PFLUGERVILLE. THIS IS A NEW DEVELOPMENT, I AM HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE OF YOUR PUBLIC HEARING. WE ARE SCHEDULED MEETINGS WITH VARIOUS INTERESTED PARTIES INCLUDING COMMISSIONER SONLEITNER.

>>MAYOR WATSON: CAN I ASK A QUESTION. IS THE EXTINCTION THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE, ON THE MAP THAT I'M LOOKING AT, IS THAT -- THAT IS IN THE COUNTY, ISN'T IT?

>> MAYOR, I'M NOT PRECISELY SURE WHERE YOUR CITY LIMITS STARTS AND STOPS AT THE DELL CAMPUS. A PORTION OF THIS IS CLEARLY IN THE COUNTY. I BELIEVE A PORTION OF IT MAY ALSO BE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. IT'S THE TWO WHITE SEGMENTS ON THE MAP.

>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL OF IT WOULD BE IN THE COUNTY.

>> AT THE PRESENT TIME?

>>MAYOR WATSON: WELL, AUSTIN IS IN THE COUNTY.

>> I'M SORRY, I'M NOT FOLLOWING YOU. I THOUGHT YOU MEANT NOT IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

>>MAYOR WATSON: NO, NO.

>> IT IS ALL IN TRAVIS COUNTY, YES, SIR.

>>MAYOR WATSON: IT IS ALL IN TRAVIS COUNTY. THEN A PORTION OF IT, YOU BELIEVE A PORTION OF IT MAY ALSO BE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF AUSTIN?

>> YES, SIR, I MISUNDERSTOOD YOUR QUESTION.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I PROBABLY ASKED IT BADLY, BUT APPARENTLY THAT STATEMENT GETS MISUNDERSTOOD A LOT. A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T THINK THAT AUSTIN IS IN THE COUNTY. [LAUGHTER].

>>WYNN: I WILL NOT GO THERE.

>> I WILL NOT GO THERE.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I WAS USING YOU AS A FOIL, MR. BRAY.

>>SLUSHER: MR. BRAY, WHICH ONES -- YOU HAVE BLUE, GREEN, YELLOW, WHITE, RED. WHICH ARE THE ONES THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT? I WAS THINKING MAYBE IT'S THE BLUE ONES.

>> BEAR WITH ME A MINUTES BECAUSE I'M COLORED BLIND, IT'S WHAT I CALL THE TWO WHITE LINES RUNNING FROM THE DEL CAMPUS NORTH AND AN INTERSECTION AT WELLS BRANCH AND GOING TO THE WHITE, EAST, IT'S THE PORTION OF HEATHERWILD FROM DELL TO WELLS BRANCH, THE PORTION OF WELLS BRANCH FROM HEATHERWILD EAST TO A CONNECTION WITH THE RED LINE.

>>SLUSHER: WAS THAT IN PFLUGERVILLE, -- PFLUGERVILLE, WHICH IS IN THE TEXAS TECH, TOO, I UNDERSTAND.

>> IT DOES NOT GO INTO PFLUGERVILLE. PFLUGERVILLE PICKS UP WHERE OUR PROJECT WOULD STOP, THAT IS THE PIECE AT HEATHERWILD THAT PFLUGERVILLE HAS RECENTLY COMMITTED BOND FUND TO BUILD.

>>SLUSHER: IF WOULD THEY COMMIT BOND FUND IF IT WASN'T IN PFLUGERVILLE?

>> NO, SIR. THE GREEN IS MY UNDERSTANDING IN PFLUGERVILLE. THAT IS WHAT THEY COMMITTED THEIR BOND FUNDS FOR.

>> I HAVE TO CHECK WITH IT. YOU KNOW THAT PFLUGERVILLE IS NOT IN THE CAPITAL METRO SERVICE AREA, THAT'S ONE OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON THESE FUNDS THAT THEY BE SPENT IN CAPITAL METRO'S SERVICE AREA.

>> THAT'S WHY I WAS TRYING TO SEVERAL SIZE OR AT LEAST LAY OUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE MAY NEED TO BE CREATIVE WITH A VARIETY OF FUNDING SOURCES, INCLUDING CAPITAL METRO FUNDING, IF THIS PROJECT LOOKS LIKE LITTLE A HIGH PRIORITY PROJECT THAT HAS OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE AND PROVIDE MOBILITY ISSUES.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU.

>>WYNN: I WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE SEEN THE MAYOR BE QUITE CREATIVE RECENTLY.

>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER].

>>MAYOR WATSON: ONE THING THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW WHEN YOU GO TO VISIT WITH -- WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN TRAVIS COUNTY, WE HAVE RECENTLY AS TODAY RECEIVED A LETTER DATED MAY 2ND FROM A COUPLE OF COMMISSIONERS THAT INDICATE IN THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS MONEY GO FOR IS WELLS BRANCH PARKWAY AND HEATHERWILD IN THE RAPIDLY GROWING AREA OF NORTHERN TRAVIS COUNTY. SO IT MAY BE THAT THEY ARE ALREADY PLANNING ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S MONEY GOING TO THAT. JUST GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION WHEN YOU GO VISIT WITH THEM.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. JOHN NEIFL RE,:. READING CARD) URGE THE ALLOCATION, SECOND STREET CONGRESS AVENUE BRIDGE AND EAST SEVENTH STREET CORRIDORS AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF GREAT STREETS. MR. SPEC.

>> I'M SPEAKING A VOLUNTEER WHO HAS WORKED THE LAST FIVE YEARS ON A TASK FORCE FOR IMPROVEMENTS OF GUADALUPE STREET. IT'S BEEN ALLUDED TO BY MR. PI PICONE, GEORGE MITCHELL AND OTHERS. DIE THAT BECAUSE THE SCHOOL OF ACCIDENTURE WHERE I AM DEAN IS ON GUADALUPE STREET. OUR STUDENTS USE THAT VIRP ALL OF THE TOWN. IT'S BEEN AN AMAZINGING TASK FORCE BECAUSE IT'S A COALITION, NOT JUST A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, IT'S THE MERCHANTS ON THE DRAG, THEY HAVE HELPED PAY FOR THE STUDY THAT HAVE BEEN DONE SO FAR. EVERYBODY HAS BEEN AT THE TABLE, A LONG, LONG TIME. IT'S BEEN PRETTY FRUSTRATING, ACTUALLY. WE ARE WORKING ON AN AREA THAT IS ALMOST A PERFECT MODEL OF THE KIND OF URBANISM AND SMART GROWTH WE ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT, MIXED USE, TRANSIT CORRIDOR, IT'S GOT MERCHANTS, RETAIL, BUT IT'S GOT A LOUSY INFRASTRUCTURE. IT'S CRACKED SIDEWALKS, WEEDDY, POOR LIGHTING AND UNSAFE. SEEMS LIKE A NATURAL KIND OF THING. THE DESIGN IS WELL ON ITS WAY. BICYCLE PEOPLE, ACCESSIBILITY APPROVALS, ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE -- IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DESIGN, EXTREMELY WELL DONE, IT JUST IS NOT FULLY FUNDED AT THIS POINT. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT COULD HAVE A NEEDED IMPACT. NOT TALKING ABOUT FIVE YEARS TO GET IT ALTOGETHER. IT COULD START CONSTRUCTION THIS SUMMER. BUT WE DESPERATELY NEED THE FUNDING FOR IT. I COULD PERHAPS ADDRESS COUNCILMEMBER GOODMAN'S QUESTION ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY, FROM THE UNIVERSITY END. I WAS ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE CAMPUS MASTER PLAN AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT STARTED THE NEIGHBORHOOD GETTING INTERESTED IN WELL, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN DO OUR END OF IT, TOO. WE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WAS A LOVE FEST BETWEEN THE CAMPUS MASTER PLAN AND THIS PROJECT. THE CAMPUS MASTER PLAN HAS PROGRESSED ENORMOUSLY ON THE UNIVERSITY SIDE OF GUADALUPE. THEY HAVE NOW COMMITTED, WE JUST HAD THE VICE-PRESIDENT FOR BUSINESS -- FOR OPERATIONS COME IN THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS TO IMPROVE THE WEST MALL AND AREA AROUND THERE THAT WOULD CONNECT WITH THE DRAG AND PRODUCE A PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT IN THE WHOLE AREA. THAT PARTNERSHIP IS ALIVE AND WELL. PRESIDENT FAULKNER IS VERY MUCH BEHIND THIS, PAT CLUB THE NEW VICE-PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS, REAL A HIGH PRIORITY FOR HER. STEVE CRALE, A REPRESENTATIVE ADMINISTRATION IS HERE TO TALK AS WELL. IT'S A FABULOUS PROJECT. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR.

>> MATT HAMMOND. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO SKIP OVER HERE.

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, MA'AM.

>> THAT'S JUST WHAT I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT -- THIS IS MY HUSBAND, WHO WAS HERE [INAUDIBLE], ON THE DRAG FOR 49 YEARS. THE DRAG IS A WONDERFUL STREET. I'M TOO SHORT FOR THAT.

>> WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU ARE ALSO TOO SOFT SPOKEN.

>> YEAH, OKAY. HAVE YOU HEARD ME UP UNTIL NOW?

>> PEOPLE SHOULDN'T LAUGH THAT HARD WHEN YOU SAY THAT. WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU ARE HERE.

>> THANK YOU, WE'VE HAD THE SHOP FOR 49 YEARS AND IT'S -- IT'S A WONDERFUL STREET. IT'S BEEN FUN TO BE ACROSS FROM THE UNIVERSITY. WE'VE SUCH A GREAT MIX OF ADULTS AND STUDENTS ALL OF THESE YEARS UNTIL ABOUT THE '70'S WHEN THE STREET BEGAN DETEARATING. WE REALLY DO NEED TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT. WE NEED THE MONEY TO DO IT. I THINK THAT IT WILL BE A FEATHER IN THE CITY'S CAP, CAPITAL METRO'S CAP. IT WILL BE WONDERFUL. YOU ARE GOING TO READ MY LETTER AND DEAN SPEC HAS DESCRIBED IT BEAUTIFULLY. THANK YOU.

>> WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU ARE HERE, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. MATT HAMMOND.

>>WYNN: MR. MAYOR? CAN I MOVE DENIAL OF WAIVING THE RULES TO EXTEND PAST 10:00.

>>MAYOR WATSON: I KNOW YOU ARE KIDDING. I AM GOING TO TAKE A MOTION FROM YOU. LET ME SAY TO EVERYBODY THAT THE RULES INDICATE THAT WE END COUNCIL MEETINGS AT 10:00. OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. BUT IF YOU ARE -- I WILL JUST SAY THAT AS I TAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES SO WE CAN GO PAST 10:00, IF YOU ARE JUST GOING TO BE REPEATING WHAT SOMEBODY HAS ALREADY SAID, I KNOW WE LOOK DUMB, I KNOW WE LOOK LIKE WE HAVE GOT TO BE BEAT OVER THE HEAD, BUT BEFORE WE ARE GOING TO GET IT. IF WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT BY THE FIFTH TIME WE ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET IT BY THE 10TH TIME. IF YOU ARE JUST GOING TO REPEAT, PLEASE DON'T REPEAT. COUNCILMEMBER WYNN MOVES TO EXTENT THE RULES PAST 10:00. SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. IT PASSES. [LAUGHTER]. MR. HAMMOND.

>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, MAYOR WATSON. NATURE I'M BEGGING YOU.

>> I WISH THAT I COULD RUN THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT MEETINGS IN QUITE THE SAME WAY. I'M MATT HAMMOND PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN STUDENT GOVERNMENT, VERY BRIEFLY IN LIGHT OF OUR SITUATION WITH TIME, JUST TELL YOU THAT I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT TOLL ROADS AND VIEW CORRIDORS. BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS LIVING IN WEST CAMPUS AREA RIGHT NOW, DOZENS OF APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND PRIVATE DORMITORIES. THAT ARE SCARED TO WALK IN THE DARK. AND THEY ARE SCARED TO WALK ALONE. AND THEY ARE SCARED TO WALK FROM WHERE THEY LIVE TO WHERE THEY GO TO SCHOOL. AND I DO KNOW THAT I AM EXHAUSTED FROM READING STORIES OF -- OF STUDENTS BEING ATTACKED AND STUDENTS BEING ASSAULTED AND STUDENT BEING RAPED IN THIS AREA. AND I DO KNOW THAT I AM TIRED OF EXPLAINING TO PARENTS OF INCOMING FRESHMEN THAT SOMETHING CAN AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE DONE WITH THIS AREA. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THIS REQUEST. THISES -- THIS IS AN AREA IN DESPERATE NEED OF FUNDING, DESPERATE NEED OF LIGHT, DESPERATE NEED OF REPAIRS. IF STUDENTS CAN USE THIS THOROUGHFARE TO GET TO AND FROM WHERE THEY LIVE, TO AND FROM WHERE THEY GET TO SCHOOL. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU MR. HAMMOND. CLAY BRADLEY? FOLLOWED BY DIANE SANDERS AND THEN JOE MUNOZ.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER WYNN FOR ADDING THE PROBLEMS AT WEST CAMPUS. MY NAME IS CLAY BRADLEY, I'M A SOPHOMORE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT MYSELF BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ALL ARE EXHAUSTED BUT I WANT TO BRIEFLY KIND OF PAINT A PICTURE FOR 23RD STREET PRESENTLY. THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH 23RD STREET. I WOULD SAY THE MAIN PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IS THE SAFETY FACTOR. IT HAS BECOME A VERY DANGEROUS PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO COMMUTE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OR TO TO R THE UNIVERSITY IN EVENING TIMES WHILE STUDYING AT THE LIBRARY OR JUST NEEDING TO BE AT THE UNIVERSITY BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF LIGHTING. IN AREAS NO LIGHTING. IT'S A PLACE STUDENT FEAR WHILE TRAVEL IN THIS THE EVENING. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE FACT THAT THE SIDEWALKS ARE VERY POOR. DISABLED CAN'T EVEN USE THE SIDEWALKS BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS. THEY HAVE TO COMMUTE AND USE THE VET FOR THEIR USE OF ROUTE. AND I KNOW -- I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH A.D.A. STANDARDS. BY MAKING THIS A SAFE PLACE WE COULD DIVERT TRAFFIC FROM THE 24TH STREET INTERSECTION ON GUADALUPE. WHICH IS A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION. WHERE I EXPERIENCED LAST YEAR I SAW A YOUNG LADY BECOME HIT BY AN AUTOMOBILE THERE. BY DIVERTING TRAFFIC IT WOULD DEFINITELY CUT DOWN ON INCIDENTS THAT OCCUR THERE. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WAS A RESIDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY TOWERS LAST YEAR, ON THE WEST CAMPUS AREA. THERE WERE EVENINGS WHEN I WOULD COME HOME FROM THE LIBRARY STUDYING AND I DID KEEP MY EYES OPEN AND I DID KEEP A VERY CAUTIOUS WAY ABOUT ME BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND THERE. AND I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE US TO TRANSFORM 23RD STREET INTO A -- FROM A PLACE OF FEAR INTO A PLACE OF COMFORT. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE PROBLEMS WITH 23RD STREET AND REALIZE STUDENTS ARE FACING FEARS ON A DAILY BASIS. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION. MAYOR THANK YOU, SIR. DIANE SANDERS. FOLDED BY JOE MUNOZ AND THEN DAVE WESTENBARRINGER.

>> GOOD EVENINGING MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM DIANE SANDERS, I AM A SOUTHEAST AUSTIN RESIDENT AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHEAST CORNER ALLIANCE OF NEIGHBORHOOD FOR FIVE YEAR. I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FREDERICK LANE IN OUR AREA. ONE THING THAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT OUR AREA IS THAT WE HAVE -- OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAME -- WE HAVE A GOOD NEIGHBOR PARTNER IN THE TRANS WESTERN PROPERTIES. THE COMPANIES ARE DEVELOPING OVER IN THAT AREA. THEY HAVE REALLY HELPED OUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TREMENDOUSLY. THEY HAVE PREEMTED NEW -- NEW JOBS IN OUR -- PROPOSED NEW JOBS IN OUR AREA, IT'S REALLY HELPED OUR PROPERTY BASE, ALSO. BUT WHAT I AM ASKING FOR IS THAT ROAD TO BE IMPROVED. I HAVE LIVED IN THIS AREA SINCE 1983, AND SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY IMPROVEMENTS WHATSOEVER DONE TO FREDERICK LANE. THE ONLY IMPROVEMENT IS THAT THEY EVENTUALLY PUT IN A STOPLIGHT AT THE CORNER OF FREDERICK AND TERRY ROAD. THAT ROAD IS HEAVILY TRAVELED BY KID IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A NEW PARK IN OUR AREA, DOVE SPRINGS PARK WITH A BIG POOL. UNFORTUNATELY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS SO CROWDED THAT THAT POOL IS ALSO CROWDED. BEFORE THEY CLOSED MABEL DAVIS A LOT OF OUR KIDS WOULD GO OVER TO MABEL DAVIS AND USING THAT PARK AND POOL. IN ORDER TO GET THERE THEY WOULD RIDE THEIR BICYCLES OR WALK ON FREDERICK LANE. THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS, NO CURBS, IT'S AN OLD FARM ROAD. BAYLOR ENOUGH ROOM FOR TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GO BY. AS WAS MENTIONED THERE ARE SEVERAL BUS STOPS ON THAT ROAD. WHEN THE BUS DOES STOP, TRAFFIC CANNOT GO AROUND WHEN CAPITAL METRO IS LETTING PEOPLE ON AND OFF. SO THE TRAFFIC GETS BACKED UP. TERRY ROAD IS A FORWARD LANE ROAD. WHEN CAPITAL METRO BUSES TRY TO TURN ON TO FREDERICK LANE THEY HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME IF THERE'S CARS SITTING THERE AT THE LIGHT WAITING TO TURN ON TO TERRY ROAD. SO SINCE THEN WE HAVE ALSO GOT -- WE HAVE A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, RODRIGUEZ ELEMENTARY. WE HAVE SCHOOL BUSES THAT TRAVEL DOWN THAT ROAD FREQUENTLY. AND NOW WITH ALL OF THE OTHER DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING ON IN THE AREA, WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW HOTELS COMING UP, THE TRAFFIC IS TREMENDOUS. TRYING TO GET ON TO THAT ROAD FOR THE -- FOR THE BUSINESS FOLKS THAT WORK IN THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS, YOU WILL SEE IT -- YOU WILL SIT SOMETIMES 20, 25 MINUTES WAITING FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO ALLEVIATE ENOUGH SO THAT YOU CAN PULL OUT AND ITS SAFE. SO I AM HOPING WHEN YOU ARE MAKING YOUR ZIGS ON THIS YOU WILL CONSIDER FREDERICK LANE. THE OTHER THING WITH NO SIDEWALKS AND CURBS, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DISABLED FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ALSO UTILIZE THAT ROADWAY WITH THEIR WHEELCHAIRS. RIGHT NOW THEY LITERALLY HAVE TO GO INTO THE GRASSY AREA WHEN THERE'S CARS TRYING TO GET AROUND. SO IT'S A HAVE I UN -- VERY UNSAFE ROAD RIGHT NOW. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANYTHING THAT YOU COULD DO FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THIS ROAD.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MA'AM. JOE MUNOZ FOLLOWED BY DAVID WESTENBURGER AND THEN JUDITH.

>> I'M JOE MUNOZ, I REPRESENT SCAN (PHONETIC) I WANT TO TALK ABOUT FREDERICK LANE. THE CITY ALLOWED GROWTH IN THAT AREA THERE. BUT I GUESS THEY WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT ANY TRAFFIC COMING IN THROUGH THERE. THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT COMPLEX WAS ENLARGED I THINK EVEN DOUBLED. THERE ARE MORE VEHICLES COMING IN AND OUT OF THERE THAN THERE HAS EVER BEEN. THEN -- THEN YOU AUTHORIZED THE -- THE BUILDING OF SOME INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS. THERE'S A LOT 6 TRAFFIC -- THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC COMING IN AN OUT OF THERE. THE COUNTRY ROAD AS THEY YOURK LADY CALLED IT IS STILL A COUNTRY ROAD. WITH POTHOLES AND EVERYTHING. NO -- NO SIDEWALKS OR NO WAY OF GETTING AROUND EXCEPT CAR. I'M HOPING TONIGHT WILL BE A CHANGE THAT -- THAT YOU CONSIDER USING SOME OF THE FUNDING TO ENLARGE THE STREET THERE. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. MUNOZ. DAVE WESTENBERGER, JUDITH SOKOLW.

>> THANK YOU, I'M DAVID WEST WESTENBURGER A VOLUNTEER WITH THE FRIEND OF THE [INAUDIBLE] BIKE WAY, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A PROPOSAL TO BUILD A BIKE WAY ALONG THE CAPITAL METRO -- ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS. I WANTED TO THANKS THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WHO HAVE BEEN HELPING TO GET CAPITAL METRO AND THE CITY INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT. UNFORTUNATELY NEITHER ONE OF THE TWO MEMBERS THAT I KNOW HAVE BEEN INVOLVED ARE ACTUALLY ON THE DIAS RIGHT NOW. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THIS IS A -- THIS PROPOSAL IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR -- FOR ENHANCING BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBILITY IN CENTRAL AND EAST AUSTIN. REGARDING OF WALNUT CREEK TRAIL, I WANTED TO REITERATE WHAT MR. SULLIVAN SAID ABOUT THE VITALITY. THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTING THE WALNUT CREEK PARK ON THE WEST SIDE OF LAMAR WITH PROPERTY ON THE EAST SIDE OF I-35, CONNECTING THOSE TWO BETWEEN LAMAR AND I-35 WERE VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE A FOCUS OF THESE IN THE FUTURE FUNDING MECHANISMS. THAT IS ALL, THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR. JUDITH SOKOLOW? JUDITH SOKOLOW WRITES SHE IS FOR TAXI VOUCHERS FOR OLDER ADULTS. I THOUGHT THAT I CAN ALREADY CALLED DAVID FINE'S CARD. DID I CALL YOUR CARD?

>> YEAH, BUT I [INAUDIBLE].

>> DIFFERENT FIRST NAME. ALL RIGHT. DO YOU WANT TO TALK?

>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MY CONCERN IN LISTENING TO ALL OF THESE CONCERNS TONIGHT IS KIND OF THREE FOLD. THAT'S I'M ONE OF THE MINISTERS AT UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH AND I HAVE BEEN ON THE UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS BOARD FOR ABOUT THE PAST SIX YEARS AND -- AND I THINK THAT THE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT THAT WAS INITIATED FOR GUADALUPE NEEDS TO -- TO GET UNDERWAY. AND PROVIDE NOT ONLY AN AESTHETIC CHANGE, BUT MY REAL CONCERN HOW IT WOULD IMPACT THE COMMUNITY IN THE AREA FOR SAFETY. SPEAKING FROM A MINISTER'S STANDPOINT, OUR CHURCH DOES A LOT TO TRY TO HELP THE PEOPLE UNDERPRIVILEGED IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THE PEOPLE IN GENERAL, ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS, THE SAFETY IS REALLY A PRIMARY CONCERN. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOUCHED TONIGHT BY THE REMINDER OF THE DIFFICULTY ALONG THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS OF OUR CITY THAT DOESN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THOSE WHO ARE IMPAIRED PHYSICALLY. AND I ALSO WANT TO JUST CONCLUDE AS A PARENT THAT LOST A DAUGHTER THAT WAS IN A GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ANOTHER STATE, AND IN ANOTHER CITY, FROM AN ACCIDENT OF BEING A PEDESTRIAN GOING ACROSS THE CROSS WALK. I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO TRY TO KEEP THE CITIZENS IN MIND FOR THEIR SAFETY. AND THEIR CONCERN. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR. JEB BOYT. KEN MARS SIGNS UP HE IS ADAMANT PLEASE DON'T USE PUBLIC TRANSIT MONEY FOR CARS. AUSTIN NEEDS MORE BICYCLE AND PED FACILITIES. THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR NOT USING THIS MONEY TO FINISH THE LAMAR BIKE PED BRIDGE ALL THE WAY UP TO 5TH STREET. WINFRED KELSEY IS FOR GOVERNMENTAL FUND TO GRADE STREETS. DOMINIQUE CHAVEZ, STILL HERE? DOMINIQUE CHAVEZ? SIGNS UP FOR RIGHT OF FUNDS FOR SH 25 NORTH AND LOOP 1 NORTH. GO FOR IT, MR. BOYT.

>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM JEFF BOYT, PRESIDENT OF AUSTIN METRO TRAILS AND GREEN WAYS. WE WANT TO THANK YOU TONIGHT, WE ARE SUPPORTING THIS ENTIRE PROPOSAL. I PARTICULARLY WANT TO THANK FOR THE COMMITMENT OF 15.5% FOR BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS AND WE ONLY ASK THAT YOU -- THAT YOU PROVIDE 15% FOR FUTURE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TO MAKE THAT A POLICY OF THE CITY. IN PARTICULAR, I THINK THESE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS IN THE -- AND THE FUTURE ONES ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN SOME WAYS IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU HAVE A GREAT BIKE ROUTE OR SIDEWALK ROUTE. IF YOU HAVE ONE SMALL INTERRUPTION OR BREAK IN THE ROUTE, THE REST OF THE ROUTE DOESN'T DO YOU ANY GOOD. IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT DISCOURAGES YOU FROM TRANSIT. WHETHER IT'S TRYING TO GET ACROSS AN INTERSECTION LIKE -- TO GET IN THE LAMAR BIKE PED BRIDGE, OR WHETHER TRYING TO CROSS 51ST STREET AND I-35, TRYING TO CROSS 183 AT BURNET ROAD OR ANYWHERE PRETTY MUCH ALONG 183 ON A BICYCLE IF YOU ARE LIKE WORK IN THIS THE BUSINESS, IN THE WEST SIDE OF MOPAC AND ANDERSON LANE YOU WANT TO GO TO LUNCH AT RESTAURANT ON THE EAST SIDE OF MOPAC, THERE'S THOUGH WAY TO WALK -- THERE'S NO WAY TO WALK. CERTAINLY THESE CONNECTIVITY ISSUES AND BIKE PEDESTRIANS STRENGTH ISSUES CAN BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THESE PROJECTS. THE ONLY OTHER COMMENT, IN THE AREA OF REGIONAL BUILD-IN. THERE ARE CERTAINLY A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS OUT THERE I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CERTAINLY KEEP IN MIND. THE GREAT LOOP PROJECT HERE WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS ONE. THE STATE HIGHWAY 130 BIKE WAY, I WENT OUT, GOING OUT AND BUYING RIGHT-OF-WAY FIRST TO BE AROUND 130. PLEASE REMEMBER TO BUY AN EXTRA 10 FEET TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A BIKE WAY ALONG THE ROUTE. ALSO AS MENTIONED EARLIER TONIGHT, THE AUSTIN NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD, WHICH CAPITAL METRO ALREADY OWNS, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CONNECT FROM MOPAC AND SHOAL CREEK ALL THE WAY UP TO THE BRUSHY CREEK GREEN BELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND PATIENCE TONIGHT.

>>MAYOR WATSON: KELLY BARONS. IS FRANK CURTIS HERE? DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK?

>> THAT'S FINE.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MR. MAYOR, MY NAME IS KELLY BARONS, I AM A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN EAST AUSTIN AT 1704 EAST FIFTH, BETWEEN COMAL AND CHICON, NOT PAVED. THERE'S NOT A CURB CUT THAT YOU CAN GET ACROSS FROM EAST FIFTH. ACROSS COMAL ON TO THE BLOCK BETWEEN COMAL AND CHICON. I'M NOT THE ONLY BUSINESS BACK THERE. THERE ARE THREE RETAIL BUSINESSES THAT USE AN ENTRANCE THAT IS INACCESSIBLE FROM THE WEST SIDE OF THE BLOCK. WE HAVE TO NOW SEND PEOPLE TO THE EAST SIDE AND TO MAKE THEM BASICALLY TAKE A U-TURN TO GET BACK TO OUR BUSINESSES. PREVIOUSLY WE HAD AN ENTRANCE TO THIS SPACE THROUGH SIXTH STREET. THAT IS NOW CLOSED. IN MY PICTURES THAT I [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC] PERSONALLY -- PERSONALLY I DON'T OWN A CAR, I RIDE A BICYCLE. BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT GET THERE ARE IN CARS. OUR BUSINESSES ARE HURTING. THEY ARE PRETTY NEW. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE [INAUDIBLE] BY OTHER BUSINESSES, AND BASICALLY GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE THERE AND THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE THERE AND THAT THEY CAN GET TO US. WE HAVE ARTISTS THAT SHOW THEIR WORK THERE, MUSICIANS THAT SHOW THEIR WORK IN THE AREA WHERE I WORK. IT'S BASICALLY A SMALL L SHAPED PLAZA, A COFFEE SHOP THERE. A FRIEND AND FELLOW BUSINESS OWNER IN THE AREA JESSIKA [INAUDIBLE] HAS A SMALL COFFEE SHOP THERE. I OWN A SMALL ONE SHOP SALON. THAT'S BASICALLY ALL. WE HAVE ONE BLOCK THAT NEEDS TO GET PAVED.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR.

>> FRANK CURTIS.

>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS FRANK CURTIS, I WORK FOR GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF CENTRAL TEXAS. WELL INDUSTRIES SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER DISADVANTAGING CONDITIONS THAT CREATE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. GOODWILL SERVES MORE THAN 5,000 PERSONS EACH YEAR HELPING THEM GAIN NEW JOB SKILLS AND START MEANINGFUL LIVES OF INDEPENDENCE. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION THAT IS ASSISTING PERSONS TO FIND EMPLOYMENT. AND IN THAT LIGHT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES SUPPORTS THE UTILIZATION OF SOME OF THESE RESOURCES TOWARDS SIDEWALK AND CURB RAMP IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT AUSTIN AS HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY MEMBERS OF THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE AND THE MEMBERS OF ADAPT. PERSONS THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH AT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES TO FIND EMPLOYMENT OFTEN MENTIONED TO US THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY FACE FROM INADEQUATE SIDEWALKS. ANY TIME THAT YOU SEE SOMEBODY IN A WHEELCHAIR IN THE STREET, YOU CAN REST ASSURED THAT IT'S BECAUSE THE SIDEWALKS ARE INADEQUATE. I SIMPLY WOULD POINT OUT TO YOU THAT SOMETHING SIDEWALKS PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR PERSONS TO WORK WITH DISABILITIES.

>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR. STEVE CRAWL. JESSIKA -- HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME? SAY IT AGAIN? OH, OKAY. [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER]. UP BE AFTER MR. CRAWL.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS STEVE CRAWL, AN ASSOCIATE VICE-PRESIDENT AT U.T. AUSTIN. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE GUADALUPE 23RD STREET PROJECT. WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS, CAPITAL METRO AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS IN DEVELOPING THIS PROJECT. ALONG WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE SUPPORTED -- SUPPORTED THE TRAFFIC STUDY WHICH VERIFIED THE SUCCESS OF THE TRAFFIC REDESIGN. THERE IS A -- THERE WOULD BE A VAST IMPROVEMENT TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY BOTH FOR STUDENTS AND THE LARGE NUMBER OF VISITORS WHO COME TO THAT AREA OF AUSTIN, BOTH TO VISIT THE CAMPUS AND THE WEST AUSTIN AREA. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR ALONG THAT VET. THERE ARE A HUGE VOLUME OF STUDENT CROSSINGS EACH DAY, PARTICULARLY AT THE 24TH STREET INTERSECTION. YOU HAVE HAD HEARD A LOT OF THAT BEFORE. I WOULD NOTE IT ISN'T OFTEN THE ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY AND STUDENTS ALL AGREE ON ONE TOPIC, THIS HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THEM. I THINK THAT MAKES IT NOTEWORTHY IN ITSELF. WITH THAT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MS. NEITE. IS THAT CLOSE?

>> THANK YOU. I OWN A BUSINESS IN THE PLAZA HERE WITH KELLY. I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS, HAD BEEN USING ACCESS ON SIXTH STREET. THAT GOT CLOSED UP, MY ONLY ACCESS IS THROUGH FIFTH. AND THE CURB WENT UP ON FIFTH AND COMAL WHEN PLAZA SALTILLO WAS BILL. THAT WAS OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. IT'S URGENT RIGHT NOW THAT WE ADDRESS THE CURB ON THAT CORNER BECAUSE WE HAVE NO OTHER WAY IN. ALL OF MY VENDORS AND ALL OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA STILL USE FIFTH STREET. NO MATTER IF THERE'S A CURB THERE OR NOT. WE ARE ASKING THAT IT REALLY NEEDS TO COME DOWN. I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE HER FLEE MINUTE, I'M GOING TO LET HER SPEAK. THANK YOU.

>>ALVAREZ: I HAVE A QUESTION JESSICA. I DID GET YOUR MESSAGE YESTERDAY I THINK YOU CALLED ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE. AND I DO -- I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW -- FOR STAFF FOR FOLLOW-UP ON THAT, DETERMINE WHY THERE WAS A CURB ADDED RIGHT THERE AT -- IT IS FIFTH STREET, RIGHT, I MEAN FIFTH STREET GOES THROUGH THERE, SO IT'S VERY ODD THAT YOU WOULD DO THAT. I WAS JUST WONDERING YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RESPONSE YET FROM STAFF.

>> I HAVEN'T AL ALZHEIMER'S WE WILL FOLLOW THAT UP FOR YOU.

>> THANK YOU. --.

>>ALVAREZ: WE WILL FOLLOW THAT UP FOR YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. FOR THE LAST -- MY PROPERTY IS 1704 EAST FIFTH. OF COURSE FACES FIFTH STREET. FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS I HAVE BEEN WORKING TO IMPROVE THAT ROAD. BEFORE THERE WERE RAILROAD SPURS AND YOU COULDN'T GET THROUGH. THERE WAS A LOT OF DEBRIS AND A LOT OF BRUSH. AND THERE WAS ACTUALLY SOMEONE THAT WAS MURDERED ON THAT -- ON THAT LINE. THROUGH THE YEARS THE CITY HAS IMPROVED THE STREET. THERE IS A -- A PERMANENT CALICHE BASE THAT'S THERE. AND THE SPURS HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND THEIR LIGHTING HAS BEEN PLACED THERE. WHEN PLAZA SALTILLO WAS BUILT I WAS REAL HAPPY BECAUSE I THOUGHT WELL THE STREET WOULD OPEN UP. EXCEPT THAT THERE WAS A RAISED CURB AT FIFTH AND COMAL. AND AT THAT TIME IT WASN'T SUCH A PROBLEM BECAUSE WE HAD ACCESS FROM THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER WHO WAS A FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS NOW SELLING HER PROPERTY, SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT EASEMENT ANYMORE. SO NOW WE HAVE TO REVERT ONLY TO FIFTH STREET AND THE -- THE MOST OF THE CUSTOMERS COMING TO THE PLACE COME FROM WEST AUSTIN. AND EAST AUSTIN, TOO. BUT ACTUALLY WE NEED THE STREET TO GO THROUGH. AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MR. PAUL MADRONO AND HE DID GO OUT AND FILL THE PAT HOLES, -- THE POT POLES HOLES, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. THERE WASN'T A SENSE OF URGENCY BECAUSE I HAD AN EASEMENT FROM SIXTH STREET. BUT NOW THERE IS AND NOW THERE'S THE CONCERN ABOUT THE MONEY TO -- TO FUND PUTTING DOWN THE HOT MIX FOR THE ROAD. AND TEARING DOWN THAT BARRIER. IT ACTUALLY SEPARATES AND DOESN'T CONNECT PLAZA SALTILLO WITH THE BUSINESSES THAT WERE THERE. I KNEW THAT SOMEBODY WOULD HAPPEN WHEN 500 CHICK SON WAS -- CHICON WAS SUBDIVIDED BECAUSE PART OF THE SUBDIVISION REQUIREMENTS WAS THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT A ROAD AND CURB AND GUTTER AND A SIDEWALK. AND WILLIAMS COMMUNICATION HAD APPLIED FOR THE SUBDIVISIONS, COMMUNICATION NETWORK, FIBEROPTIC, ALL OF THAT, HE STARTED TO DO THAT, THEN WAS STOPPED BY THE CITY. I ASKED HIM WHY AND HIS CONSULTANT SAID BECAUSE -- BECAUSE THAT SECTION OF FIFTH STREET IS THE BACKBONE OF THE FIBEROPTIC NETWORK FOR AUSTIN. SO IT'S LIKE THE COMPUTER BRAIN FOR FIBEROPTIC AND THE CITY IS ALWAYS GOING IN THERE AND PLACING MORE FIBEROPTIC BECAUSE THE -- IT SERVICES GTE AND WILLIAMS COMMUNICATION AND I GUESS IT COMES ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN. BUT OTHER PLACES IN TOWN HAVE ASPHALT AND IT'S CONSTANTLY BEING BROKEN. BUT THERE'S A REAL SENSE OF URGENCY NOW BECAUSE PEOPLE -- PEOPLE ARE VERY CONFUSED ABOUT -- ABOUT HOW TO GET ACROSS AND HOW TO COME IN [BUZZER SOUNDING] THE TENANTS REALLY NEED ASSISTANCE.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. SCOTT JOHNSON? EXCUSE ME. SCOTT? HE -- OH, ALLOCATE 20% OF CMTA FUNDS FOR BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS, CONSIDER AIR QUALITY IMPACTS OF ANY TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND PLEASE CONSIDER LAND USE PLANNING ISSUES TO PROMOTE A COMPACT CITY. CHARLES BETS. FOLLOWED BY SCOTT KREEGER. IS SCOTT KRIEGER STILL HERE? NO. HE'S FOR RIGHT-OF-WAY FUNDING FOR LOOP 1 NORTH AND SHHH 45 NORTH. GALE CUMMINGS? OR CUMMINGS, I'M SORRY, PUT A G IN THERE. SHE'S GONE. SHE'S FOR. ERIC ANDERSON? ERIC ANDERSON WOULD BE NEXT. THANK YOU, CHARLES.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I AM CHARLES BETS, WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, I SIMPLY WANT TO VERY QUICKLY THANK YOU AND THE STAFF FOR THE -- FOR THE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS OF PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE -- THAT ARE RECOMMENDED TO BE FOCUSED ON, SECOND STREET WHICH WILL HELP PROMOTE DOWNTOWN RETAIL, I THINK YOU ARE -- YOU ARE -- THE STAFF IS PROPOSING SOME MATCHED FUNDING FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CONGRESS AVENUE BRIDGE AND -- AND ALSO IMPROVEMENTS, PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS ON THE EAST SEVENTH CORRIDOR. WE ARE -- WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE AND THINK THOSE PROJECTS ARE ALL VERY, VERY IMPORTANT AND DESERVING OF YOUR SUPPORT, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS]

>> ... WE MAY SEE SOME PROGRESS. WE HAD A CURB AND GUTTER GO IN ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT STREET THAT WENT -- IT WAS TAKEN OUT I HEARD, IT WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND THEN THE DRAINAGE WASN'T RIGHT. THERE IS A DRAINAGE PROBLEM THERE THAT WILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. ONE THING THAT WAS NOT MENTIONED, THIS IS ALSO A PART OF THE CROSS TOWN BIKE WAY CORRIDOR. SO I THINK THERE IS A REAL MARRIAGE OF NEED RIGHT THERE. THE OTHER ISSUES I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO SEE SUPPORT IS THE PROVISION OF FUNDING FOR THE ORIGINAL PERMITTED DESIGN FOR THE LAMAR BRIDGE EXTENSION. I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THAT DESIGN AND I THINK WE SHOULD SEE THAT MONEY SPENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND SEE THAT BRIDGE CONNECTED AT FIFTH AND LAMAR AND LOOK TOWARD THE OTHER OPTIONS FOR CONNECTIVITY IN THAT AREA. THOUGH I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE SECOND STREET PROJECT, I LOOK FORWARD TO ANY KIND OF PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY PROJECT IN AUSTIN OR DOWNTOWN. WE'VE COMMITTED ALREADY $1.66 MILLION FROM THE '98 BOND PACKAGE FOR COLORADO TO SAN ANTONIO, AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT ANOTHER $3 MILLION FROM COLORADO TO THE CONVENTION CENTER. THOUGH I THINK IT'S A LAUDIBLE PROJECT, WE HAVE A STREET TWO BLOCKS TO THE NORTH WHERE I WORK THAT HAS SOME VERY GRAVE NEEDS AS WELL. AND I WOULD BE -- I WOULD WONDER WHY THIS OTHER PROJECT OR EXTENSION TO SECOND STREET SHOULD JUMP AHEAD OF NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS ON FOURTH STREET OR MAYBE WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO THEM BOTH. THE LAST COMMENT OR PROJECT I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE UPPER BOGGY CREEK BIKE WAY PROPOSAL. DAVE WESTONBURGER HAS TAKEN UP THE PROJECT AND I APPLAUD HIS WORK ON. MY CLOSING COMMENT, PERHAPS YOU ALL READ TUESDAY'S PAPER, WE HAVE TO BUILD THESE PROJECTS BECAUSE WE WANT TO AVOID THE KIND OF TRAGEDIES THAT WERE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE SENTENCING OF THE DRIVER WHO KILLED MAYBE NOT INTENTIONALLY -- [BUZZER SOUNDS] -- BUT A FRIEND OF YELLOW BIKES, BEN AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. ROBIN STALLINGS. FOLLOWED BY WILL BOZEMAN. IS WILL STILL HERE?

>> NO, HE'S GONE.

>>GOODMAN: OKAY. HE IS FOR SUPPORTING NEIGHBORHOODS AND SCHOOL SIDEWALKS AS WELL AS OVERALL 15% FOR PEDESTRIAN-BICYCLE PROJECTS. IS DANNY SIGNS STILL HERE OR DID DANNY LEAVE?

>> [INAUDIBLE].

>>GOODMAN: HE IS STILL HERE? OH, OKAY. WELL, HE WANTED SIDEWALKS AND CURB CUTS. RON CRANSTON WAS NEUTRAL ON THIS. GERARD KINNEY IS THE NEXT SPEAKER.

>> MY NAME IS ROBIN STALLINGS AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT A COUPLE OF ISSUES. I JUST WANT TO START WITH THANKING THE COUNCIL. I TALKED TO MANY OF YOU ABOUT PUTTING ASIDE 15% OF THE MONEY FOR BIKE-PEDESTRIAN STUFF AND I AM SO MROSED. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THIS. I THINK -- PLEASED. I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE HAVE GREAT NEEDS, AS WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT, FOR THESE BIKE-PEDESTRIAN ISSUES. AND WE'VE ALSO HEARD A LOT OF THE ADAPT FOLKS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I'VE SPOKEN WITH YOU ALL ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A COMPREHENSIVE BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN AND TRAIL PLAN THAT WOULD -- WE HAVE A COMPLETED BICYCLE PLAN WOUNT FUND R ON REAL ENGINEERING OR COST ESTIMATES AND WE HAVE A SIDEWALK PLAN THAT IS A GOOD HEAD START. BUT THE BIKE PLAN DIDN'T INCLUDE THE TRAIL, AND IT CONCERNS ME EVEN WHEN WE HAVE THESE WONDERFUL PROJECTS LIKE THE CROSSTOWN BIKE WAY, WHICHEVER PROJECT HAPPENS TO BUBBLE UP THAT MORE OR YEAR, INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THIS AS A WHOLE. I BELIEVE THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. IS THAT MY TIME ALREADY? SO I THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET -- WE PERHAPS GET ONE MORE CONSULTANT TO COME IN AND LOOK AT THESE PLANS AS A WHOLE IN THE CITY AND SO THAT WE CAN PRIORITIZE THESE AND PUT SOME DOLLAR AMOUNTS. WE HEAR A LOT OF AMOUNTS IS THIS $50 MILLION PROBLEM, IS THIS A $300 MILLION PROBLEM. BUT UNTIL WE GET SOME REAL NUMBERS AND WE CAN COME UP WITH OUR OWN 10-YEAR MARSHAL PLAN SO TEN YEARS FROM NOW WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME HEARING THAT WE HAD TEN YEARS AGO. AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN IN TEN YEARS. WE WANT TO BE CELEBRATING IN TEN YEARS WE ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING ABOUT THE BIKE-PEDESTRIAN PLAN. IT STARTED WITH THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T START WITH THIS COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, WHO IS IT GOING TO START WITH? I DON'T THINK IT GETS BETTER THAN THIS COUNCIL FOR BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ISSUES AND I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT WE TAKE THE STEPS NOW. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE EMPHASIS ON RIGHT-OF-WAY, PARTICULARLY ON TOLL ROADS THAT ALL THE PEOPLE DON'T EVEN HAVE ACCESS TO. I THINK WE COULD REALLY CONSIDER SOME OF THESE ROAD PROJECTS AND SEE IF WE COULDN'T LEVERAGE THAT MONEY AND EXTEND IT FURTHER WITH THE SIDEWALK STUFF. I AM A COMMERCIAL BROKER. I HAVE A CONCERN FOR SOME OF MY CLIENTS. I HAPPEN TO DO THE LEASING FOR MS. VASQUEZ RIVEI AND THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM. HALF A MILE FROM DOWNTOWN WE STILL HAVE A DIRT ROAD. IT'S A LITTLE EMBARRASSING FOR ME AS AN AUSTINITE, I LIKE TO TAKE CLIENTS OVER TO THE EAST SIDE AND LET THEM KNOW IT'S OKAY OVER THERE AND I TRY TO HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS MEETINGS OVER THERE. IT'S EMBARRASSING ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF TOWN AND I HAVE TO SHOW THEM A DIRT ROAD THAT CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>GOODMAN: GERARD, AND THE LAST CARD I HAVE IS LOUIS BERNERBURG.

>> I'M GERALD KINNEY, NATIVE AUSTINITE AND ARCHITECT. ALTHOUGH I'M THE ARCHITECT FOR THE LAMAR BRIDGE PROJECT AND I'M ONE OF THE PRIME CONSULTANTS ON THE GREAT STREETS PROJECT, I'M NOT SPEAKING TONIGHT IN THAT CAPACITY BUT RATHER PERSONALLY. I WANT TO URGE YOU TO STUP PORT THE -- SUPPORT THE SIDEWALKS PROJECT NO. 4 AND 5. THE BICYCLE PROJECTS NO. 'S 6, 7 AND 8 AND THE GREAT STREETS PROJECT 15, 16 AND 17 ON YOUR LIST. I WANT TO ALSO SECOND DAVE SULLIVAN'S SUGGESTION ABOUT APPROPRIATING MONEY TO CONNECT CUL-DE-SACS, JOHN'S SUGGESTION THAT THERE BE $5 MILLION FOR GREAT STREETS, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. LARRY'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE GUADALUPE, 21ST, 23RD STREET AREA, AND ERIC'S POINT ABOUT NOT INSTEAD OF SECOND STREET, BUT FOURTH STREET RECEIVING SOME ALLOCATION. ALSO ROBIN STALLINGS POINT ABOUT THE NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE BICYCLE-PEDESTRIAN TRAIL IS A GOOD POINT. WITH RESPECT TO THE LAMAR BRIDGE I NEED TO SAY I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD GO FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT AS ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED AND IN THE IDEA WORKSHOP THAT WE FACILITATED WITH FULL CITIZENS INVOLVEMENT AND THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL AND DESIGNED AND PERMITTED, I BELIEVE IT WILL SERVE ALL OF YOUR GOALS BEST. THANK YOU.

>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. BERRERA. MAYOR, HE IS THE LAST SPEAKER WHOSE CARD I HAVE.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON ANY SPECIFIC PROJECT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SO MANY GOOD THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED THIS EVENING, BUT KIND OF BRINGS TO MIND A CONVERSATION I HEARD LAST WEEK. WE HAD A COUNCILMEMBER FROM I THINK AUSTRALIA VISITING AUSTIN AS A SISTER CITY COUNCILMEMBER, AND SOMEONE IN THE ROOM ASKED WHY HE WAS HERE IN AUSTIN. AND HE SAID, WELL, I'M HERE TO LEARN. AND THEY SAID, WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OUR TRAFFIC? AND SO YOU CAN IMAGINE YOU SAY WELL, WE HAVE A REAL DEPENDENCY ON MASS TRANSIT IN OUR CITY SO WE DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HERE IN AUSTIN. IN THINKING BACK, ALL THIS -- THESE PROJECTS ARE SO NECESSARY, BUT SO VAST. AND I SERVED FOR CAPITAL METRO AS A ADVISOR AS A CHAIRPERSON AND EVERY BUDGET YEAR WE WOULD BE ASKING FOR THE SAME PROJECTS. THE ONE THING I LEARNED IS CAPITAL METRO DIDN'T HAVE A VOICE IN THE LAND USE OR THE TRANSPORTATION TABLE BECAUSE -- OR URBAN DESIGN, I SHOULD SAY, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T EXIST AT THE TIME UNTIL WE HAD COUNCILMEMBERS ON THE BOARD. WE'RE PLAY CATCHUP IN BOTH ARENAS. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GREAT STREETS I THINK THAT'S A MISNOMER. IT SHOULD BE CALLED GREAT PLACES BECAUSE THEY REALLY CHANGE THE WHOLE OF AUSTIN AND ALSO ADD TO CREATING THIS CORRIDOR THAT LINKS PEOPLE TOGETHER WHICH CREATES THE MASS TRANSIT NEED AND THE POSSIBILITIES IN THAT REALM. THE THING I THINK ABOUT THE MOST IS WE HAVE TO START IN THE CORE. THE CORE OF AUSTIN. IT'S VITAL WE LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE AT FROM RIGHT THIS MOMENT AND HOW WE CATCH UP. THE FACT WE NEED SAFE PATHWAYS TO SCHOOL AND THE FACT WE DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS THAT CONNECT INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORHOODS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, AS YOU'VE HEARD SO MANY TIMES TONIGHT. FINALLY, URBAN DESIGN IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL THINK WE HAVE A LOCK ON, BUT IT'S HARD TO PIN DOWN WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY PROJECTS AND YOU PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER AND YOU ARE TRYING TO CREATE THIS WONDERFUL CITY WE LIVE IN. IT GOES BACK TO THE THAT OLDER CITIES WERE DESIGNED OUT OF NECESSITY. WE DIDN'T HAVE CARS BACK THEN. I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF SHIFT THAT INTO A NEW PARADIGM WHERE WE START LOOK AT PEDESTRIANISM. I ALWAYS TOLD THIS SO THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD, WHEN SOUTHWEST AIRLINES WAS STARTED, IT CREATED AN AIRLINE THAT COMPETED WITH CARS. THAT'S HOW HE WAS ABLE TO STEAL THE MARKETPLACE. WE NEED TO COMPETE NOT AGAINST CARS BUT AGAINST OURSELVES AS PEDESTRIANS. IF WE GIVE OURSELVES THE AMENITIES, TREES, SHADE, SIDEWALKS, CONNECTIVITY, URBAN DESIGN, WE END UP CREATING A VERY BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT PEOPLE WILL USE. [BUZZER SOUNDS] THAT COMPLETES MY REMARKS. THANK YOU.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, SEKED BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. DISCUSSION? YES, COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. YOU DON'T WANT TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING?

>>ALVAREZ: I WILL HAVE A QUESTION AFTER WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

>>ALVAREZ: YEAH, I SEE JANNA IS HERE WITH SOME DRAWINGS. BUT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I'VE BEEN WANT TO GO ASK --.

>>MAYOR WATSON: WHY DID YOU DO THAT?

>> THOSE ARE NOT HER DRAWINGS.

>>MAYOR WATSON: SOMEBODY HANDED SOMETHING TO HER IN THE HALL WAY.

>>ALVAREZ: I GUESS THE QUESTION HAS BEEN RAISED ABOUT THE NEW REDESIGN OF THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS GOING TO BE PRESENTED OR MAYBE IT WAS AND I WASN'T HERE FOR IT, BUT CAN THAT BE DONE QUICKLY?

>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M NOT SURE WE CAN DO ANYTHING QUICKLY. JUST FOR THE RECORD, WHILE WE'RE DOING THIS, THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE'RE NOT TAKING ACTION ON THIS ITEM TONIGHT. WE'LL TAKE ACTION NEXT WEEK. BECAUSE WE'VE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE'VE HAD A FULL PUBLIC HEARING THERE WILL NOT BE A PUBLIC HEARING NEXT WEEK. INSTEAD IT WILL JUST BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS, DEBATE, DO WHATEVER IT IS WE DO AND THEN VOTE.

>> JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKUP BEFORE JANNA DESCRIBES THE POSSIBLE NEW DESIGN, WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE POSSIBLE ISSUE WITH COMPATIBILITY OF THE LAMAR STREET BRIDGE WITH THE SEAHOLM MASTER PLAN THAT YOU HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE. ACTUALLY THIS MAP IS THE SEAHOLM MASTER PLAN AND WE'LL BE TAKING IT TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IN THE NEXT 60 DAYS AND BRINGING IT TO COUNCIL. WE ALREADY KNOW AT LEAST WHAT THE CONSULTANT IS RECOMMENDING WITH REGARD TO THAT, AND THE BRIDGE -- ORIGINAL BRIDGE DESIGN IS NOT PARTICULARLY IN KEEPING WITH THE MASTER PLAN. SO WE'VE BEEN LOOKING INTERNALLY WITH STAFF AT POSSIBILITIES FOR OTHER DESIGNS TO PHASE 2 OF THAT BRIDGE, THE NEXT SEGMENT THAT WE CROSS CESAR CHAVEZ TO SEE IF WE CAN'T COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE MORE COMPATIBLE WITH THE PLAN AND ALSO WITH IMPROVING MOBILITY FOR THE IMPAIRED AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> OKAY. IF YOU WILL REMEMBER THE ORIGINAL PLAN FOR THE NORTHWEST FLYOVER EMANATING FROM THE BRIDGE HERE WAS FLYING ACROSS OVER THE ALIGNMENT OF CESAR CHAVEZ, WHICH IS CURRENTLY HERE. FLYING OVER CESAR CHAVEZ, GOING ACROSS SANDRA MARADA LOCATED AT A DIAGONAL HERE. AND CROSSING THAT AND COMING DOWN TO GRADE ROUGHLY HERE, WHICH IS IS VERY CLOSE TO WHERE THE RETAINING WALL ON THE LAMAR UNDERPASS BEGINS. AND THEN IT WENT -- ROSE UP AT GRADE AND TUNNEL UNDER THE FREIGHT RAILROAD AREA TO CONNECT TO FIFTH AND LAMAR HERE. SO SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THE SEAHOLM MASTER PLAN WAS TO REROUTE SANDRA MARADA WAY OR THOUGHT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BOUNDARY SETTLEMENT DISPUTE WITH THE LUMBER MEN'S PROPERTY AND IT PUT THE ROAD ON THE EDGE OF THIS PROPERTY WHICH MADE A LOT MORE SENSE FOR THE PARKLAND SPACE BECAUSE IT CREATED A LOT MORE CONTIGUOUS USABLE PARKLAND. THE IDEA WITH THE NEW DESIGN FOR THE ARM OR THE FLYOVER WAS TO CONTINUE -- GO AHEAD AND FLY OVER CESAR CHAVEZ AND THEN THE ROMA DESIGN GROUP HAD RECOMMENDED WE ACTUALLY LAND THAT GRADE UP IN THIS CORNER AND THEN CROSS THAT GRADE. BUT THIS SEEMED TO BE PRETTY UNACCEPTABLE SOLUTION FOR THE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COMMUNITY. SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING INSTEAD OF THAT TO GO AT AN UNDERGROUND CROSSING WHICH WOULD BE MORE AKIN TO AN UNDERPASS RATHER THAN A TUNNEL. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING IN THE REDESIGN, WHICH WOULD END UP LOOKING SOMETHING LIKE THIS. WHERE YOU WOULD FLY OVER CESAR CHAVEZ, AND THEN ACTUALLY LAND ON THE EARTH WITH THE RETAINING WALL SO YOU REDUCE THIS LENGTH OF THIS FLYING OVER STRUCTURE AND COME CLOSE TO AND PARALLEL AT THE SAME HEIGHT AT THE LAMAR BOULEVARD. YOU WOULD NOT BE HAVING A BRIDGE THAT WAS HIGHER THAN LAMAR BOULEVARD, THEREBY IMPAIRING YOUR VIEWS TO THE DOWNTOWN AND TO SEAHOLM. SO HERE YOU ARE ON BASICALLY AT A GRADE ON -- THAT IS SUPPORTED BY RETAINING WALL AND RAMPING DOWN INTO THE EARTH AND UNDER HERE AND MEETING GRADE ROUGHLY HERE AND THEN THE SOLUTION FROM THE REST OF THE WAY NORTHWARD IS THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WHERE YOU WOULD CONTINUE NORTH AND TUNNEL UNDER THE FREIGHTLINE AND THEN POP BACK UP AND COME TO FIFTH SFREET. -- STREET. DOGS THAT CLARIFY? -- DOES THAT CLARIFY? THE OTHER POINT ABOUT THIS I THINK IS THAT IT REALLY TUCKS THE FLYOVER STRUCTURE CLOSE TO LAMAR, WHICH REALLY YOU GAIN A LOT MORE SPACE IN THIS WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE MEADOW AREA OF PARKLAND.

>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, IF YOU COULD GET US, NOT TONIGHT, BUT THOSE VARIOUS OPTIONS YOU'VE SHOWN AND A PRICE ESTIMATE ON EACH OF THE SECTIONS.

>> OKAY.

>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL, WE HAVE NO OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCILL AT THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCILL SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE ADJOURNED. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT NEXT WEEK WILL BE THE FIRST WEEK THAT THE COUNCIL MEETING STARTS AT 10 A.M. WE WILL START MEETING AT 10 A.M. TO -- DURING THE SUMMER TO TRY TO HELP WITH AIR QUALITY. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

End of Council Session Closed Caption Log