NEIL W. REID,
>>MAYOR WATSON: WE WILL BE LEAD TODAY IN OUR INVOCATION BY DR.NEIL W. REID, THE PASTOR AT THE ALPHA 7TH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. BEFORE I SAY THE INVOCATION, I JUST WANT TO WISH YOU ALL GOOD MORNING.
>>MAYOR WATSON: GOOD MORNING.
>> JUST WANT TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION TO THE MAYOR FOR INVITING ME TO COME HERE, ALSO, BECAUSE MARSHA IS LEAVING SOON AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT SHE'S BEEN DOING IN THIS COMMUNITY. SHALL WE BOW OUR HEADS FOR A WORD OF PRAYER? ALMIGHTY GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY OF LIFE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSACT BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT CITY. WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR TRUSTING US TO SERVE SIDE BY SIDE WITH YOU IN THIS GREAT ENTERPRISE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. ETERNAL GOD, BLESS THIS COUNCIL, AND OUR BELOVED CITY, AND IN PARTICULAR THE MINISTERS THAT YOU HAVE CALLED TO LEAD IN SUCH TIMES AS THESE. MAY THEY NEVER FORGET THAT -- BEFORE THEY WERE BORN YOU CALLED THEM TO BE YOUR SERVANTS. MAY THEY ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOUR ANNOITING PREPARED THEM ACADEMICALLY TO BE YOUR VICE COUNSELORS, THROUGH YOUR VOICES AND VOTES OF YOUR PEOPLE YOU COMMISSIONED THEM TO BE YOUR HEAD, TO THINK CLEARLY; TO BE YOUR YOU ARE MOUTH, TO SPEAK HONESTLY; TO BE YOUR HANDS TO DO JUSTLY; TO BE YOUR EARS TO LISTEN ATTENTIVELY; TO BE YOUR HEART, TO LOVE DEARLY. TO BE YOUR FEET TO WALK HUM ASSEMBLY AND TO BE YOUR SERVANTS TO SERVE FAITHFULLY. ALMIGHTY FATHER, AS THEY DELIBERATE TODAY ON ORDINANCES, PROPOSES, RESOLUTIONS AND INITIATIVES, THAT WILL AFFECT YOUR PEOPLE, GRANT THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECT VELY COMMITMENT TO SEEK CONSENSUS, COMPASSION TO BUILD COMMUNITY COMPOSURE AND COMFORT TO CONCENTRATE AND COURAGE TO COMPROMISE. HELP THEM TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE GREATEST WANT OF CITY GOVERNMENT IS THE WANT OF COUNCILMEMBERS WHO WILL NOT BE BOUGHT OR SOLD. COUNCILMEMBERS WHO IN THEIR INMOST SOULS ARE TRUE AND HONEST. COUNCILMEMBERS WHO DO NOT FEAR TO CALL CONFLICT OF INTEREST BY ITS RIGHT NAME. COUNCILMEMBERS WHOSE CONSCIOUS IS AS TRUE TO DUTY AS THE NEEDLE IS TO THE POLE AND COUNCILMEMBERS WHO WILL STAND FOR THE RIGHT THOUGH THE HEAVENS FALL. RECEIPT TWO SPECT ACTIVELY FOR ALL OF OUR GOODNESSS WITH THANK YOU. WE OFFER PRAISE. PROSPECTIVELY FOR ALL OF YOUR BLESSINGS -- BLESSINGS WE SAY THANKS. IN THE NAME OF THE FARTHER, IN THE NAME OF THE SON, IN THE NAME OF THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD FOREVER MORE, AMEN.
>> AMEN.
>>MAYOR WATSON: PASTOR THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCILL, THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING, MAY 24TH, 2001, MEETING IN THE BOARD ROOM AT THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY HANCOCK BUILDING LOCATED AT 3700 LAKE AUSTIN BOULEVARD. LET ME MAKE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NOTE THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA. THE JUNE 7TH 2001 MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE CONNOLLY GUERRERO SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER AT 808 NAIL STREET. LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN, JUNE 7TH, 2001, ON JUNE 7TH, 2001, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WILL HOLD ITS REGULAR MEETING AT THE CONLY-GUERRERO SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER LOCATED AT 808 MILES STREET. CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA. ITEM NO. 10, INSTEAD OF SAYING "APPROVE A RESOLUTION" IT SHOULD SAY APPROVE AN ORDINANCE. ITEM NO. 13 HAS BEEN POSTPONED. UNTIL JUNE 14TH, 2001. ITEM 14 POSTPONED UNTIL JUNE 14TH, 2001. I'M SORRY, I HOPE THAT I SAID ITEM 13. IT'S ITEM 13 THAT'S BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL THE 14TH. ITEM 13 POSTPONED TO JUNE 14TH, 2001. ITEM NO. 16, LET ME JUST READ. AMENDED ORDINANCE NUMBER 00912-01, THE 2000-2001 OPERATING BUDGET OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITY DEPARTMENT BY TRANSFERRING $2,800,000 AND APPROPRIATING IT FOR, DELETE THE WORD AND REPLACE IT FOR A SHORT TERM INTERFUND LOAN. ACTUALLY IT OUGHT TO DELETE BOTH "ANDS." THEN GO TO THE PARENTHETICAL, IT WILL SAY (FUNDING WILL BE PROVIDED FROM THE PROCEEDS OF AN INTERFUND LOAN.) ADD THE WORD LOAN. ITEM NO. 35 APPROVE A RESOLUTION, DELETE AUTHORIZING AND SAY RATIFY GO. ITEM NO. 54 IS POSTPONED TO JUNE 7TH, 2001. ITEM 54 POSTPONED UNTIL JUNE 7TH, 2001. ITEM 55 ALSO POSTPONED UNTIL JUNE 7TH, 2001. ITEM NO. 58, AMOUNTS NOT TO EXCEED DELETE AND REPLACE WITH 179,307. 179,307. ABOUT FOUR LINES DOWN. ITEM NO. 60, APPROVE A HE IS SOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A 12 MONTH AGREEMENT WITH EXECUTIVE SECURITY SYSTEMS INC., AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR SECURITY AND CROWD MANAGEMENT SERVICES ADD THE WORDS FOR THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER DEPARTMENT. IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $60,445 AND DELETE THE 5 CENTS. ON THE -- AS YOU WILL SEE ON THE COVER OF THE CHRONICLE TODAY THE CITY MANAGER IS TRYING TO SAVE MONEY. ITEM NO. 65, GO DOWN FOUR LINES. AND ON ITEM -- I'M SORRY,. GO DOWN TO PARAGRAPH -- THE PARAGRAPH NUMBER 5, WHERE IT SAYS INCREASING THE APPROPRIATION FOR THE GREAT STREETS/TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD CORRIDORS, CMTA FUNDING, PROJECT BY DELETE 848,000, AND REPLACE IT WITH 1,598,000. ITEM NO. 781, IS ALSO SPONSORED -- ITEM NO. 71 IS ALSO SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER DARYL SLUSHER. ITEMS THAT ARE SET FOR A TIME CERTAIN, 10:30 A.M., ITEM 71, ALTHOUGH THAT WILL NOT BE REACHED AT 10:30, 1:30 P.M. AGAINAL CITIZENS COMMUNICATION, 3:30 P.M. THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, 4:00 82 THROUGH 94, THE ZONINGS ITEMS, 5:30 LIVE MUSIC AND PROCLAMATIONS, AT 6:00 P.M. ITEMS 66, 67, 95, 96, 97, AND 98. COUNCIL, LET'S GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. COULD SOMEBODY ARREST THE PEOPLE TALKING IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM. [LAUGHTER]. COUNCIL, WHAT I WILL DO FIRST IS I WILL PULL THOSE ITEMS OR I WILL CALL OUT THOSE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WHILE I DIDN'T READ THEM ON CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS AS BEING POSTPONED, THEY ARE GOING TO BE POSTPONED BECAUSE THEY WERE PULLED ITEMS, THERE'S A NECESSITY TO PULL THEM AND BRING THEM UP AT ANOTHER POINT. THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED ARE 13, WHICH HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO JUNE 14TH, 2001; 15, WHICH WILL BE HEARD ALONG WITH ITEM NO. 36; 16, 17, 18, 19, AND 20. 23 THROUGH 25. ITEM NO. 27 HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL BE HEARD ON JUNE 7TH. IF YOU ARE HERE FOR ITEM NO. 27, IT HAS BEEN PULLED. WHY ARE YOU SHAKING YOUR HEAD?
>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC] NATURE WELL, HERE'S THE PROBLEM. COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH PULLED THAT ITEM, SHE IS UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE REAL IMPORTANT AND BECAUSE SHE'S THE ONE THAT PULLED THE ITEM, WE HAVE GOT A DIFFICULTY GOING FORWARD.
>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC]
>>AYOR WATSON: 14TH?
>> NO. [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC]
>>MAYOR WATSON: WE CAN DO THAT, SURE. I WILL ACCOMMODATE THAT. SURE. STAFF MAKE A NOTE THAT WE WILL DO THAT -- DO THAT ON JULY 19TH. YEAH. SORRY ABOUT THAT METEOROLOGIST CURTIS NICHOLS CONE, THAT WILL WORK. SORRY ABOUT THAT MR. MC CONE, BUT THAT WILL WORK. ITEM NO. [INAUDIBLE] HAS BEEN PULLED, 36 HAS BEEN PULLED, ITEMS 39, 40, 41. IF YOU ARE HERE ON ITEMS -- 39, 40, 41 WILL NOT BE HEARD, THEY WILL BE HEARD ON JUNE 7TH. ITEM NO. 42 HAS BEEN PULLED. BUT WILL BE HEARD TODAY. ITEM 54 IS POSTPONED TO JUNE 7TH. ITEM 55 HAS BEEN POSTPONED AS HAS ITEM 57. ITEM 62 HAS BEEN PULLED. ITEM 64 WILL BE HEARD ON THE 7TH. ITEM 65 AND 66 ARE SET FOR A TIME CERTAIN. ITEMS 69 AND 70 HAVE BEEN PULLED. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE, ITEM NO. 1, 9, 10 WITH THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS THAT I HAVE READ, 11, 12, 14, 21, 22, 26 ON SECOND AND THIRD READING, 28 ON SECOND AND THIRD READING, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 WITH THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS THAT I READ, 37, 38, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 67, 68, 71, AND I WILL CALL UP ITEM NO. 99 AFTER I HAVE CONFIRMED THAT I HAVE THE FINAL LIST ON THAT. SO WITH THAT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? MAYOR PRO TEM MOVES APPROVAL, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ? PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. I'M JAMES ALLMAN HERE TODAY AS A MEMBER OF THE LIAISON COMMITTEE FOR THE WEST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP. I'M HERE TO PUBLICLY THANK AND TO COMMEND THE MANY AUSTINITES WHO HAVE ASSISTED IN BRINGING THE PROJECT RELATED TO ITEM 12 FORWARD. I WANT TO THANK THIS COUNCIL AND THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL, IN SOME CASES THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP THERE, AND THE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION TO BEVERLY.
>>GRIFFITH:. SHE HAS BEEN -- BEVERLY GRIFFITH HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT ADVOCATE AND A MENTOR FOR US ON THIS E.M.S. STATION NUMBER 27. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER, JESUS GARCIAZA, THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, TOBY FUTRELL. SINCE TOBY'S LETTER EARLIER THIS YEAR THE PROJECT IS ON TRACT, -- ON TRACK, ON BUDGET, ON TIME. I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE ADMINISTRATION WHO HAS AN ADD MIRION FOR TOBY AND SHE'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL. WE EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WITH ROSEMARY CASTLE BERRY AS CHAIR, CLIFF WOLF AND FLOYD DAVIS IN PARTICULAR HAVE BEEN HELPFUL. WE THANK THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE PARKS BOARD, PARKS BOARD ITSELF AGAIN WITH ROSEMARY AS THE CHAIR. STUART STRONG HAS BEEN VERY PROFESSIONAL IN NEGOTIATING THE MITTATION. JUNEIE PLUMBER, I THINK I SAW HER HERE A MINUTE AGO WITH REAL ESTATE SERVICES, BARBARA STOCKTON, RICHARD HERRING SON, JASON MARTIN AND MR. LOWRY OF E.M.S. ALSO THE PROJECT ARCHITECTS, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY OPEN AND VERY HELPFUL IN WORKING ON THIS. ALSO THE PEOPLE OVER AT A AND E SERVICES AT PUBLIC WORKS. IN PARTICULAR MARIA GUERRA, GREG GEORGE, FRED EVANS AND ESPECIALLY NORMAN MATSON HAS BEEN VERY, VERY PROFESSIONAL IN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT. MEGAN WHILER OF ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, THAT WAS AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE SERVING AS A NON-VOTING CONSULTANT ON THAT. I THINK SHE MAKES PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THE CAPACITY OF SELECTING ARTISTS FOR PUBLIC ART. LAST BUT NOT LEAST I THANK MIKE LEVY FOR GETTING THE BALL ROLLING ON THIS. FINALLY I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IF WE ARE QUICK TO CRITICIZE CITY PROCESSES, OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT NEVER HAPPENS IN THIS CITY, WE MUST BE EQUALLY NIMBLE IN HIGHLIGHTING POSITIVE PROGRESS ON MILESTONES SUCH AS THIS ONE. THE REMOVAL OF THIS BUILDING ALLOWS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW STATION AND ALL THIS IS TO SAY THAT IT ACTUALLY TAKES A PROFESSIONAL VILLAGE TO SAVE LIVES AND EXPAND OUR WORLD CLASS E.M.S. SYSTEM. THANKS, COUNCIL.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WITH THIS MANY POLICE OFFICERS IN ONE ROOM, APPROXIMATE YOU MAKE A REVOLUTIONARY COMMENT LIKE ACTUALLY COMPLIMENTING SOMEBODY FOR MOVING SOMETHING FORWARD, YOU CAN GET YOURSELF IN TROUBLE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL, ON ITEM NO. 99, I WILL READ THOSE AND THEN I WILL CALL FOR A -- FOR A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FROM THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMEMBER WYNN TO ADD IT TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. BRACKENRIDGE HOSPITAL OVERSIGHT COUNCIL, CAROL FREEDHOLM, KATHERINE HAWKINS AN APPOINTMENT BY COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH, DOWNTOWN COMMISSION RICHARD HALPRIN, YOLANDA GUZMAN AND ROBERT MARTINEZ, BOTH APPOINTMENTS BY CONSENSUS, HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, STEVE ALVAREZ, AN APPOINTMENT BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, CHILD CARE COUNCIL ALL APPOINTMENTS BY CONSENSUS, CYNTHIA SPREWELL, DOANNA PONTE, JAMES STRICKLAND AND [INAUDIBLE].
>> FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? ALL RIGHT. ITEM NO. 99 WILL ALSO BE PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING SOMEBODY IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON 61. IS CLEM BROWN HERE? CLEM BROWN? HE SIGNED UP AGAINST ITEM NO. 61. ANY DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ?
>>THOMAS: MAYOR?
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
>>THOMAS: JUST ONE CLARIFICATION ON 65 BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT. DOWN IN NUMBER 2 ABOUT THE INCREASE --
>>MAYOR WATSON: 65 IS NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>>THOMAS: IT'S --
>>MAYOR WATSON: 65 HAS BEEN SET FOR A TIME CERTAIN OF 6:00.
>>THOMAS: OKAY ON THE TIME CERTAIN WE NEED TO CORRECT THAT 71 TO 70. AT 10:30. BECAUSE IT SAYS 71 AND IT'S 70.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I APOLOGIZE.
>>THOMAS: NUMBER 70. YOU SAID 71.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I APOLOGIZE IF I READ THAT INCORRECTLY. I WAS READING FROM MY NOTES. ITEM NO. 70 IS THE ONE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SET FOR TIME CERTAIN OF 10:30. ALTHOUGH WE WILL NOT BE GETTING TO THAT RIGHT AT 10:30, BUT ITEM NO. 70 IS THE ONE THAT'S SET FOR 10:30. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. WITH COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH ABSENT. FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH WILL NOT BE AT THE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, I WILL NOT BE CALLING OUT HER ABSENCE AT EACH VOTE, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S RECORDED. NEXT ITEM WILL BE ITEM NO. 2, A BRIEFING REGARDING STRATEGIC TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT STRATEGIES. I WILL ASK THE CHIEF OF POLICE, STAN KNEE, TO COME FORWARD AND RECOGNIZE THE CITY MANAGER.
>>ARZA: MAYOR, COUNCIL, WE WANTED TO GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION TO YOU REGARDING TRAFFIC AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. IT'S BEEN A PRINCE PAL CONCERN OF CHIEF KNEE -- PRINCIPAL CONCERN OF THE CHIEF THE LAST FEW MONTHS HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH HIS OFFICERS TO TRY TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM TO STEP UP ENFORCEMENT AND DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WITH RESPECT TO TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL, YOU SHOULD ALSO HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU A COPY OF THE SLIDES THAT ARE GOING TO BE SHOWN UP ON THE PROJECTOR. IN ADDITION. CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO I JUST GIVE YOU A REAL BRIEF PERSPECTIVE ON SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON. I HAVE INVITED ASSISTANT CHIEF CHAPMAN TO JOIN ME TO GIVE YOU THE PERSPECTIVE ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL BE DOING WITH OUR COMBINED TRAFFIC ANALYSIS NETWORK THAT HE'S WORKING ON. WE CAN BEGIN THE -- FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF WITH THE PROBLEM. FROM QUITE HONESTLY, THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM, IF YOU LOOK AT IT PER SPECT ACTIVELY, IT INVOLVES MORE -- PERSPECTIVELY, IT INVOLVES MORE PEOPLE, MORE CARS, MORE ACCIDENTS. WE REACT TO THAT SCENARIO BY PROVIDING MORE EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC, BETTER ENGINEERING AND INCREASED ENFORCEMENT. GOING BACK TO LAST YEAR AND LOOKING AT THE FATALITIES, THERE WERE 777 -- 77 TRAFFIC FATALITIES IN THE YEAR 2000, 24% INVOLVED UNSAFE SPEEDS, 21% INVOLVED A FAILURE TO YIELD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY TO ANOTHER VEHICLE. 38% OF THE VICTIMS WERE NOT USING A SEAT BELT, CAR SEAT OR HELMET AS A RESULT OF THEIR ACCIDENT. TWO OF THE THREE CHILDREN KILLED IN A VEHICLE WERE NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED. WHEN YOU LOOK AT AUSTIN AND YOU COMPARE US WITH OTHER MAJOR TEXAS CITIES, YOU CAN SEE THAT ALTHOUGH LAST YEAR IN THE FATALITY RATE PER 100,000 REACHED CLOSE TO THE ALL-TIME RECORD OF 13 FATALITIES FOR 100,000, TWO CITIES EXCEEDED THAT, DALLAS AND FORT WORTH, AND THE ONLY CITY THAT ACHIEVED A LOWER RATE WAS EL PASO. I WOULD LIKE TO CAUTION EVERYBODY TO SAY THAT ALTHOUGH THIS SLIDE IS IN THE PRESENTATION, THE FACT THAT WE ARE COMPARING OURSELVES WITH OTHER TEXAS CITIES HAS LESS MEANING TO ME PERSONALLY. THE FACT THAT WE LOST 77 PEOPLE ON THE STREETS OF AUSTIN IS OF COURSE THE PROBLEM AND I REALLY AM NOT CONCERNED WITH WHAT OTHER CITIES DO. MOVING ON, THE ELEMENTS OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST REMINDS YOU OF SOME FACTS, STATISTICS. THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS APPROXIMATELY 227 SQUARE MILES. WE HAVE 630021 LANE MILES OF ROADWAY. 6321 LANE MILES OF ROADWAY. 325 ALL-WAY STOP SIGN INTERSECTIONS, THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE T INTERSECTIONS WHERE ONLY ONE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC IS STOPPED. 325 ALL WAY STOP INTERSECTIONS. 760 SIGNAL CONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE THE -- IN THE CITY, THERE IS ABOUT 10% OF THOSE ARE STATE CONTROLLED. WE HAVE ABOUT 100 SCHOOL ZONES WITHIN THE QUESTION. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 737,000 PERSONS THAT COME INTO THE CITY AS FAR AS THE LABOR FORCE. AND AS A RESULT OF BEING THE GREATEST CITY IN TEXAS AND PERHAPS THE UNITED STATES, WE HAVE 16 MILLION VISITORS. CONTINUING WITH TRAFFIC STATISTICS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ANALYSIS OF SERIOUS INJURY ACCIDENTS IN 2000, THESE INTERSECTIONS HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT IN MANY INSTANCES, BEN WHITE AND SOUTHBOUND FRONTAGE OF I-35, BURLESON ROAD AND HIGHWAY 183, SOUTH LAKE SHORE BOULEVARD AND RIVERSIDE DRIVE, ANDERSON LANE AND CAMERON ROAD, SPRING DAY ROAD AND HIGHWAY 290, THE NORTHBOUND FRONTAGE OF I-35 AND HIGHWAY 290 EAST. THOSE ARE THE LEADERS IN SERIOUS INJURY TRAFFIC COLLISIONS. THERE'S BEEN, HOWEVER, SOME -- SOME HEAD WAY MADE IN OUR EFFORT TO FOCUS OUR ENFORCEMENT AND TO REDUCE TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND INJURIES. YEAR TO DATE, WE'VE HAD A NINE PERCENT DECREASE IN INJURY COLLISIONS COMPARED YEAR TO DATE WITH LAST YEAR. WITH REGARD TO DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, IN THE YEAR 2000, 37% OF FATAL ACCIDENTS INVOLVED SOMEONE CONSUMING ALCOHOL OR USING A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, COMPARED TO 47% IN 1999. I BELIEVE THAT 37% COMPARES FAVORABLY WITH THE NATIONWIDE PERCENT OF FATAL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DWI'S. IN THE YEAR 2000, POLICE DEPARTMENT MADE 4,441 DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE ARRESTS. IN THE RECENT PAST, FOCUSSING ON TRAFFIC EDUCATION, ENGINEERING, EQUIPMENT AND ENFORCEMENT, WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION, PERHAPS THE WEAKEST OF OUR EFFORTS, LET ME MOVE DOWN AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE, WE HAVE THE ANNUAL TRAFFIC HOTLINE, WHICH PRODUCES INFORMATION FROM CITIZENS CONCERNING NEIGHBORHOODS, CONCERNING INTERSECTIONS, AND TROUBLESOME SPOTS THAT THEY DRIVE ON. OUR MOST RECENT ONE JUST ENDED WHERE WE HAD A RECORD NUMBER OF CITIZENS CALL IN. AND SPEAK TO -- SPEAK TO HAZARDS ON THE ROADWAYS, WE WILL BE ADDRESSING EACH ONE OF THOSE CONCERNS. WE DO THE HOLIDAY DWI PUBLIC SERVICE EFFORT AND INCREASED ENFORCEMENT IN THAT AREA. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE EMBARK EACH YEAR ON A TRUCK SAFETY MONTH, WHICH INVOLVES THE -- THE FOCUS ON TRUCK SAFETY AND THE STOPPING OF THESE TRUCKS AND ENSURING THAT THEY ARE DRIVING SAFELY WITH SAFE VEHICLES. WE ALSO HAVE WORKED WITH THE MEDIA. BOTH THE TV AND THE PRESS MEDIA. BOTH THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE STATIONS, AS WELL AS THE SPANISH LANGUAGE STATIONS WITH REGARD TO TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT CONCERNING TRAFFIC FATALITIES, CONCERNING DRIVING SAFELY. I THINK IN YOUR PACKET IS ONE OF THE ADDS THAT WE ACTUALLY -- ONE OF THE ADS WE ACTUALLY HAD PRODUCE UNDERSTAND THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN, IT WAS -- PRODUCED IN THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN, IT WAS IN THERE TWICE. SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE HAD GREAT COOPERATION FROM THE MEDIA CONCERNING THE PROBLEM OF TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND ACCIDENTS. OTHER INITIATIVES, WE HAVE DONE BIKE SAFETY PROGRAMS AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PROGRAMS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WE HAVE EMBARKED WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ON THE SHATTERED DREAMS PROGRAM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. OUR DISTRICT REPS HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF INFANT CAR SEAT DISTRIBUTIONS, AS WELL AS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE TO TALK -- TO TELL THEM HOW TO INSTALL THOSE CAR SEATS CORRECTLY. WE HAVE ALSO DONE AN EXTENSIVE BUCKLE UP PROGRAM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. TRAFFIC SAFETY, OF COURSE, DOES NOT INVOLVE MUNICIPALITIES. IT INVOLVES CHANGES IN LEGISLATION AND -- IN ORDER TO GIVE US MORE TOOLS TO DO OUR JOB. WE WERE INSTRUMENTAL WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND PROSECUTORS IN DROPPING THE LEGAL LIMIT ON ALCOHOL FROM .01 TO .08. WE HAVE CONTINUED -- WE HAVE WORKED WITH TEXDOT, EXPLORING WAYS OF ENSURING THAT THE SPEED LIMITS ON OUR THOROUGHFARES ACCURATELY REFLECT A LIMIT THAT THAT ALLOWS DRIVERS TO DRIVE SAFELY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT TEXDOT HAS WORKED PARTNERSHIPPED WITH US ON IS THE CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE BARRIERS ON SOUTH I-35. IF YOU REMEMBER, WE HAD A SERIES OF FATAL ACCIDENTS IN 1999, I THINK THE CLAIM -- CLAIMED FOUR LIVES, ALSO INJURED NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS, CARS CROSSING OVER THE MEDIAN. THEY MOVED THAT PROJECT UP ON THE COMPLETION LIST AT OUR REQUEST AND WORKED WITH US ON GETTING THOSE DONE. WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THEM ON THE OFF RAMP AT 183 AND MOPAC, IMPROVING THAT INTERSECTION. INVESTMENT IN EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY. THREE YEARS AGO, THE -- THE TRAFFIC UNIT AND PROPERLY WERE USING OUTDATED RADAR UNITS THAT -- AT TIMES WERE INEFFECTIVE. SINCE THAT TIME, WE REPLACED THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WITH THE NEW LASER RADAR UNITS. WE HAVE ALSO LOOKED AT THE ISSUE OF VEHICLES SPEEDING AWAY FROM PLANNING COMMISSION AND HOW DO WE STOP THESE VEHICLES THAT WE HAVE TO STOP SAFELY AND WE HAVE INSTITUTED A STINGER PROGRAM, A DEVICE USE UNDERSTAND PURSUITS TO SAFELY HALT A FLEEING VEHICLE. IT PUNCTURES THEIR TIRES. WE HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE PURCHASE OF SMART TRAILERS. THOSE ARE THE TRAILERS THAT WE PARK WHICH HAS A RADAR UNIT ATTACHED TO THEM AND REFLECTS YOUR SPEED AS YOU COME DOWN THE STREET. AMAZINGLY, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT MOST PEOPLE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY. AND DO IN FACT SLOW DOWN. WE PURCHASED ADDITIONAL VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES AND -- AND IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES THAT ARE UNMARKED THAT WILL PATROL THE HIGHWAYS AND FREEWAYS. WE HAVE ALSO PURCHASED SOME SPEED REGISTERS, THOSE ARE THE -- THE DEVICES THAT GO OUT UNDER THE STREET AND VEHICLES PASS OVER THEM. WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT WE WOULD GET A COMPLAINT FROM THE CITIZEN THAT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD HAD SPEEDING CARS AND WE WOULD SEND A MOTOR OFFICER OUT THERE. AND HE WOULD NOT SEE -- HE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY SPEEDING CARS. AND SO HE WOULD REPORT BACK TO HIS SUPERVISOR THAT THERE WAS NO SPEEDING CARS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WELL, OTHER COMPLAINTS WOULD COME IN. WHEN WE PUT OUT THE SPEED RECORDERS, WE FOUND OUT WE COULD -- WE FOUND OUT THAT THE SPEEDING WAS IN FACT TAKING PLACE AND IT WAS TAKING PLACE WITHIN A 45 MINUTE PERIOD OF TIME DIRECTLY AFTER WORKERS WERE LEAVING A BUILDING PERHAPS DOWN THE STREET OR THE PEOPLE WERE PICKING UP THEIR CHILDREN AT A SCHOOL DOWN THE STREET. SO WE WERE ABLEER ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY USE OUR PERSONNEL AND DEPLOY THEM AT TIMES WHEN SPEEDING WAS IN FACT OCCURRING. WITH STAFFING CHANGES, IN 1998, WITH THE DECENTRALIZATION, WE DECENTRALIZED THE MOTOR UNIT, THEIR PURPOSE IS TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO A PERMANENT AREA. THEY ARE THE ARM THAT THE COMMANDER CAN USE TO RESPOND TO NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRAFFIC AND TRAFFIC RELATED PROBLEMS. WE DEVELOPED THE HIGHWAY ENFORCEMENT TEAM, TAKING -- TAKING PERSONNEL FROM THE LICENSE AND WEIGHT, ADDING TO THAT STAFFING. GIVING THEM THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE HIGHWAYS, FREEWAYS, THOROUGHFARES. WE DEVELOPED THE DWI TEAM. WE ALSO NOTED THAT THE ACT OF INVESTIGATING TRAFFIC VISIONS REQUIRED A SPECIAL EXPERTISE. WE VIOLATIONS. WE WANTED THAT EXPERTISE TO BE THE BEST IT COULD BE. WE UPGRADED THE TRAFFIC, THE OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO TRAFFIC INVESTIGATION UNITS TO DETECTIVES AND PROVIDED THEM WITH THAT TRAINING. WE INSTITUTED AN AIRPLANE SPEED SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM, WHICH IS EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE ON SOUTH I-35. WE HAVE INCREASED EMPHASIS ON IMPROVING TRAFFIC SAFETY, IT IS ONE OF OUR FOUR MAIN GOALS. THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES CONTINUING. WE ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE'S SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM. THE STEP GRANTS. THERE'S TWO OF THEM, THE COMPREHENSIVE, SPEED, SEAT BELT AND DWI PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS THE RED LIGHT PROGRAM. WE HAVE ENHANCED OUR TRUCK SAFETY PROGRAM. LAST YEAR WE CONDUCTED 635 FULL INSPECTIONS, THOSE ARE INSPECTIONS FOR FEDERAL VIOLATIONS AS WELL AS STATE LAW VIOLATIONS. INTERESTING TO NOTE, OF THE VEHICLES THAT WERE STOPPED, 40% OF THOSE VEHICLES WERE NOT ALLOWED TO CONTINUE BECAUSE OF SAFETY PROBLEMS. 70% OF THOSE PROBLEMS WERE FOR SEVERE BRAKE VIOLATIONS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE WORKED OUR SPECIAL STREET RESPONSE UNITS THAT NORMALLY WORK DRUGS, CRIME PATTERNS, WE HAVE USED THEM ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS SUCH AS ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE ON THE DWI TASK FORCE, EXCUSE ME, WE HAVE WORKED WITH TRAFFIC ENGINEERING, THE WHITE LIGHT TO THE REAR PROGRAM. ON BEN WHITE BOULEVARD, FOR INSTANCE. WHERE THE OFFICER CAN SAFELY STAND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LIGHT AND WHEN THE WHITE LIGHT COMES ON, IT TELLS HIM THAT THE RED LIGHT IS -- HAS COME ON FOR OPPOSING TRAFFIC AND IF A VEHICLE THEN CROSSES THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, IT'S A VIOLATION. BEN WHITE AND 35 WHERE IT'S BEEN INSTALLED, LAST YEAR WE ISSUED 3688 RED LIGHT CITATIONS. THIS YEAR IN FOUR MONTHS WE HAVE ISSUED NEARLY 2,000 CITATIONS. AT 290 AND 35 WHERE THE WHITE LIGHT PROGRAM IS ALSO, WE HAVE -- IN THE YEAR 2000 WE ISSUED 122 CITATIONS. IN THE FOUR MONTHS OF 2001, WE HAVE ISSUED 1,065 CITATIONS. GOING INTO THE PRESENT. ONE OF THE POLICY CHANGES IN EDUCATION THAT WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD ON WAS IN RESTRICTING OFFICER INITIATE -- INITIATED PURSUITS. I THINK IT'S A CONSENSUS THAT AUSTIN HAS THE MOST RESTRICTIVE POLICY IN THE STATE DEFINING WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR AN OFFICER TO CHASE A FLEEING MOTORIST AT HIGH SPEED. OUR POLICY DEPICTS IN CLEAR LANGUAGE THE -- THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT AN OFFICER MUST CONSIDER BEFORE GOING INTO A HIGH SPEED PURSUIT AND ALSO GIVES SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SERGEANT ON DUTY AT THE TIME A PURSUIT IS INITIATED. IT IS THE MOST RESTRICTIVE IN THE STATE. SPEED TOLERANCE. IT'S BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT OUR POLICY REQUIRED THAT OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL ZONES, A VILE LATER HAD TO BE GOING 10 MILES PER HOUR OVER THE SPEED LIMIT BEFORE WE COULD IN FACT ISSUE A CITATION. AS A RESULT OF INPUT, WE -- THAT POLICY CHANGE IS NOW IN THE POLICY COMMITTEE. THE OFFICER -- IT WILL BE MODIFIED AND THE OFFICER WILL BE GIVEN MUCH MORE LEEWAY IN SETTING UP HIS RADAR AND ISSUING CITATIONS TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE TRAFFIC, WEATHER CONDITIONS, SO FORTH. WE REMAIN FIVE MILES PER HOUR IN SCHOOL ZONES. THE THIRD IS THAT ON MONDAY, I WILL BE MEETING WITH THE CHIEF'S FORUM AND WE WILL BE FORMING A SUBCOMMITTEE OUT OF THE CHIEF'S FORUM INVITING FOLKS FROM OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO PARTICIPATE. THAT'S A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WILL ASSIST ME IN WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO GET TRAFFIC EDUCATION ON THE MINDS OF MORE PEOPLE, ON THE MINDS OF MORE CHILDREN WHO ARE DRIVING VEHICLES AND HOPEFULLY HELP REDUCE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH TEXDOT. AS YOU KNOW, AS AN EXAMPLE, HIGHWAY 183 CONSTRUCTION , AT CERTAIN PERIOD AT NIGHT, THE LIGHTS WENT ON FLASHING. WHAT WE FOUND OUT PEOPLE WHO WERE USED TO HAVING THOSE LIGHTS OPERATE ROUTINELY VIOLATED THOSE FLASHING RED LIGHTS. WE HAD A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS. THEY HAVE SINCE GONE BACK TO -- TO THE REGULAR PHASING OF THOSE LIGHTS. WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM ON FENCES ON I-35 NEAR CAPITAL PLAZA TO ELIMINATE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT THAT LOCATION. LAST YEAR WE HAD FIVE FATALITIES CROSSING THE FREEWAY. THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD TWO. HOPEFULLY WE WILL -- WE WON'T HAVE ANY MORE. WE ARE CONTINUING TO -- WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM ON THE SPEED REDUCTION ON OUR HIGHWAYS. IN THAT AREA WE PERHAPS SEE THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY DO. WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS WORKING WITH OUR CRIME ANALYSIS TO PINPOINT WHERE OFFICERS NEED TO BE ASSIGNED, TO DO THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN INDICATED AS A RESULT OF AN ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC COLLISION IS THAT BETWEEN 9:00 AND 3:00 A.M. ON CERTAIN THOROUGHFARES, WE HAVE VERY HIGH RATES OF TRAFFIC COLLISIONS, SO THAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY REASSIGNED OFFICERS DURING THOSE TIME PERIODS TO BE IN THOSE LOCATIONS AND WE HAVE SEEN A REDUCTION. OTHER TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, WE HAVE REDIRECTED 100,000 FROM COST SAVINGS IN OTHER AREAS OF THE BUDGET TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC ISSUES. APPROXIMATELY $65,000 OF THAT WILL GO INTO OVERTIME. 15,000 FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. AND 20,000 FOR TELEPHONE COMPUTER LINES AT THE INTERIM COMBINED CENTER FOR TRAFFIC INITIATIVE. I THINK ASSISTANT CHAPMAN -- ASSISTANT CHIEF CAPMAN WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT LATER ON. WENTINUE WITH OUR STEP GRANTS. I JUST -- I JUST GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE FUTURE, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT CHIEF CHAPMAN. ITEM NO. 37 ON TODAY'S AGENDA IS ABOUT RECLASSIFYING THREE OFFICER POSITIONS TO LIEUTENANT. ONE OF THOSE WILL GO TO THE TRAFFIC BUREAU. THAT IS TO ENSURE MANAGEMENT FOCUS ON THE ISSUE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ENFORCEMENT. NOT JUST IN THE CENTRALIZED TRAFFIC BUREAU, BUT THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT. IN OUR BUDGET, FOR YEAR 2002, ONE IN THREE NEW OFFICERS WILL WORK DIRECTLY ON TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. AND AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY MANAGER, A SPECIAL BUDGET REQUEST FOR NEXT YEAR WILL INCLUDE ADDITIONAL OVERTIMEE AND MONIES FOR SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT TO FIGHT THE RISE IN TRAFFIC FATALITIES. THE DEPARTMENT'S GOALS FOR 2002, I EXPECT TO ACHIEVE THESE, IS 240,000 CITATIONS, 10% INCREASE IN DUI ARRESTS, AN INCREASE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS, AS I SAID EARLIER, I THINK THIS IS THE WEAKEST OF OUR EFFORTS AND WE WILL BE INCREASING THAT EFFORT SIGNIFICANTLY NEXT YEAR. I BELIEVE THAT IF WE ARE -- IF WE CONTINUE TO -- TO WORK -- IF WE CONTINUE TO BE FOCUSSED AND WORK DILIGENTLY, THAT TRAFFIC SAFETY WILL IN FACT IMPROVE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH TEXDOT. AND ALSO I -- I CAN'T LEAVE WITHOUT TELLING YOU THAT -- THAT THE AVIATION UNIT, WHICH NOW CONSISTS OF ONLY A FIXED WING AIRCRAFT, THE PURCHASE OF THE HELICOPTER WILL ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO -- TO SPOT AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS, WE GET MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRUCKERS FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE, BOTH THE FIXED WING AND HELICOPTER WILL PLAY A ROLE IN HELPING US IDENTIFY THOSE INDIVIDUALS DRIVING IN SUCH A MANNER AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: CHIEF, I HATE TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT MAYBE IT'S A GOOD TIME SINCE YOU ARE JUST FINISHING UP, BUT EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS WITH THE FIXED WING AND WITH THE HELICOPTER AND THE DIFFERENCES THAT GET USED THIS THAT BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
>> QUITE HONESTLY, WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO -- TO PUT A PATROLMAN ON THE HIGHWAY AND CATCH REALLY AGGRESSIVE DRIVING. I MEAN, AS -- BECAUSE HE'S FOCUSSING ON HIS OWN DRIVING PATTERNS, HE'S LOOKING AROUND, BUT HE'S ONLY GOT A SHORT VIEW. BY HAVING A FIXED WING AIRCRAFT OR A HELICOPTER UP, THEY CAN WATCH THE ENTIRE ROADWAY FOR A MILE IN EITHER DIRECTION. THEY CAN SEE THAT TRUCK THAT'S IN THE FAST LANE COME RIGHT UP AGAINST THAT CAR AND IT SETS SIX FEET OFF THEIR BUMPER HOPING TO MOVE OVER AND ALLOW THEM PASSED. HE WILL THEN CALL FOR A UNIT TO MAKE THAT CAR STOP AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. HE CAN WATCH A DRIVER MAKE SEVEN LANE CHANGES WITHIN A MILE. ALSO WE HAVE PAINTED ON THE FREEWAYS POINTS THAT WE USE IN ORDER TO WATCH A VEHICLE AND WE USE A STOP WATCH, WHICH AUTOMATICALLY CALCULATES THE SPEED OF THAT INDIVIDUAL AS THEY MOVE BETWEEN THOSE -- BETWEEN THOSE POINTS ON THE FREEWAY THAT ARE IDENTIFIED. SO WE CAN DO SPEEDING FROM THE AIR, WE CAN DO AGGRESSIVE DRIVING FROM THE AIR, MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN WE CAN ON OCCASION ON THE GROUND. SOME OF OUR FREEWAYS ARE CONSTRUCTED SO THAT THERE'S NO WAY FOR AN OFFICER TO ACTUALLY SAFELY SIT ON THE FREEWAY TO MONITOR TRAFFIC. WE CAN DO THAT FROM THE AIR MUCH MORE SAFELY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANKS FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT CHIEF JIMMY CHAPMAN. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO, I GAVE HIM THE ASSIGNMENT TO BEGIN WORKING ON THE TRAFFIC ISSUES. AND HE'S MADE SOME FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT HEAD WAY AND I THINK BRINGING -- I THINK BRINGING US TO A POINT WHERE WE ARE READY TO FORM A TEAM AND MOVE FORWARD WITH -- WITH INCREASED FOCUS. JIMMY?
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF, COUNCIL, A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT ANY TIME SOMEONE WANTS TO KNOW WHO IS IN CHARGE OF TRAFFIC, I GET THAT CALL FROM MY WIFE TELLING ME, YOU KNOW, WHY DON'T YOU DO SOMETHING.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COULD YOU GIVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER REAL QUICKLY? [LAUGHTER]
>> NO, NO, NO. AS WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE NOTICED TO DO IN THE FUTURE WE DECIDED REALLY WE NEED AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT. TOO MANY THINGS WERE FRAGMENTED OUT, US, CITY TRANSPORTATION, DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE DEPARTMENT. NOTHING IS IN ONE AREA. WE DECIDED TO START OFF WITH OUR TRAFFIC WAR ROOM, BUT IT GOT CONVERTED INTO THE STAR CENTER. THE STAR CENTER BASICALLY IS STRATEGIC TRAFFIC ANALYSIS AND RESPONSE. WHAT YOU WILL SEE ON THE BOARD UP THERE ARE THE FIVE MAIN REASONS WHY WE HAD THE 77 FATALITIES LAST YEAR. OF COURSE THAT WILL BE OUR FOCUS. THAT'S THE PROACTIVE APPROACH THAT WE WANT TO TAKE THIS YEAR AND IN THE FUTURE AS WE DO THE ANALYSIS ON WHAT'S CAUSING OUR SERIOUS INJURY COLLISIONS AND OUR FATALITIES. TO START WITH, IN STAR CENTER, WE WORK REAL CLOSE Y WITH CAPITAL METRO, EVERYBODY IS AWARE WE HAVE AN INTERLOCAL SIGNED -- SIGNED WITH ME. IT'S A REAL-TIME COMMITMENT TO THEIR DISPATCH SO THEY CAN REROUTE THEIR BUSES AND STUFF DURING THE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE COLLISIONS, SO WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR TRAFFIC FLOW. ALSO WE HAVE IN THAT MONEY -- I WILL GET INTO THAT IN MORE DETAIL, WE HAD THREE F.T.E. POSITIONS, ONE OF THEM, THE MOST IMPORTANT WOULD BE THE TRAFFIC ANALYST. WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT BEFORE. WE SIT DOWN, TAKE EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING, COLLISIONS, EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, WE SAY WHAT'S GOING ON, WHERE IS IT GOING, WHERE DO WE NEED TO PINPOINT OUR ENFORCEMENT ACTION? WRITING A LOT OF TICK, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING, BUT WRITING THE CORRECT TICKETS IN THE CORRECT AREA TO REDUCE THE SERIOUS INJURY COLLISION AND FATALITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. BEFORE THIS POINT WE KIND OF JUST DRIFTED OFF AND WROTE A LOT OF TICKETS. THAT REALLY WASN'T IMPORTANT. ALSO AS PART OF THIS, THERE'S A HANGAR OUT THERE, WE ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THEM TO WORK TOGETHER, TO WORK WITH TEXDOT TO PUT THAT TOGETHER. THE -- THE COMPONENTS FOR THE STAR CENTER, WHAT WE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD GET EVERYONE, EVERY ENTITY THAT IS INVOLVED IN THAT TOGETHER, WE HAVE TEXDOT THAT COMES IN, CITY TRANSPORTATION THERE WITH US. WE HAVE ALL OF THE OVERTIMES FROM THE STEP GRANTS, THE STATE GRANTS, ANY OVERTIME THAT WE HAVE FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IN THERE. ALSO MA'AMMING, AGAIN THE THREE F.T.E.S. MAPPING, AGAIN THE THREE LINE, RIGHT NOW ONE TIME A YEAR FOR FIVE HOURS WE RUN A TRAFFIC HOTLINE. THAT WILL BE GOING FIVE DAYS A WEEK. 8, 10 HOURS A DAY, MAY EVEN PUT SOME UP ON SATURDAY. THE POINT OF THAT IS LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE WE DO IN COMMUNITY BASED POLICING, WE NEED INPUT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THEIR TRAFFIC. WE NOTICED TO DO IT IN REAL TIME. SOMEONE CAN CALL IN AND REQUEST PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDERS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, FROM THAT ONE AREA WE CAN COORDINATE, CONTROL, SEND PEOPLE OUT. IT'S A LITTLE BIT AFTER CENTRALIZATION WITHIN THE TRAFFIC AREA. PARTED OF -- YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. PART OF THE MONIES RECEIVED FROM -- FROM CAPITAL METRO INVOLVE SOME SALARIES AGAIN FOR THE THREE F.T.E.'S, EQUIPMENT, FURNITURE FOR THOSE PEOPLE. ALSO THE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, THERE'S MONIES FOR THAT. ALSO IT WAS AN INSTANCE INSTANT [INAUDIBLE] STUDY, WE HAVEN'T DECIDED WHO WE ARE GOING TO USE. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO TTI ABOUT DOING A FULL TRAFFIC ANALYSIS FORCE FOR THE TRAFFIC, PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WOULD RUN 12 TO 13 MONTHS, TELL US WHERE WE ARE AT, WHERE WE ARE GOING, WHAT THEY THINK THE PROBLEMS ARE. AS FAR AS INCIDENT MANAGEMENT GOES. ALSO REGIONAL PLANNING AND SITE VISITS. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED FROM THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMITTEE THREE CITIES THAT HAVE -- THAT ARE MODEL CITIES FOR TRAFFIC FLOW, ET CETERA. AND WE PLAN TO VISIT THOSE ALONG WITH MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH -- WITH ENTITIES EVEN IN THE METRO AREA OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY, HAYS COUNTY AND WORK IT ON UP. TASK FORCEFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT, YOU SAW MONEY UP THERE FOR THAT. THAT'S BASICALLY GOING TO BE IN A NUTSHELL, THAT'S RADARS, ALSO THE METER COUNTERS CHIEF KNEE REFERRED TO EARLIER IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THAT ALSO BRINGS IN SMART TRAILERS, THE ONES THAT SHOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN AN AREA. SHOW THE NEXT SLIDE. PART OF WHAT WILL BE INSIDE THE STAR WILL ALSO BE, I LIST THESE OUT, BUT THE NEW TOWING ORDINANCE THAT YOU ALL HAVE PASSED IS GOING TO COME ON LINE JUNE FOURTH, THAT WILL BE HOUSED IN THERE, TOO. OF COURSE THAT GOES TO THE BASE OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION. YOU KNOW, WE ARE TALKING A LOT ABOUT ENFORCEMENT, BUT AS FAR AS TRAFFIC CONGESTION GOES, EVERYBODY IS A WEAR OF THE RESPONSE TIMES FOR THE WRECKERS -- AWARE OF THE RESPONSE TIME, IT WILL DROP DOWN TO 20 MINUTES, THUS CLEARING THE ROADWAY QUICKER, GETTING THINGS MOVING. THE COVERAGE FOR TRAFFIC AGAIN AS WE PUT TOGETHER OUR FATALITY ANALYSIS, MOST OF THEM HAPPEN BETWEEN 9:00 AND 3:00 IN THE MORNING, WE ARE COMMITTED TO AND GOING TO 18 HOUR A DAY COVERAGE, SPECIFICALLY THE PATROLMEN IN THE AREA HAVE ALSO HAD 24 HOUR DAYS, THIS IS ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT IN TRAFFIC COVERAGE IN THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS CRITICAL. ALSO AGAIN I THINK CHIEF KNEE HAS ALREADY SPOKE ABOUT AVIATION, HOW THAT WILL HELP, ALSO WITH THE HELICOPTER HOW THAT WOULD HELP IN OUR TRAFFIC SITUATIONS, IE EYE IN THE SKIES REDIRECT TRAFFIC OFF OF MAJOR THOROUGHFARES ON THE FRONTAGE ROADS, ALSO TO GIVE US, TELL US OTHER ROUTES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, WE CAN GET IT OUT ON THE RADIO AND ON TV. THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE ON IT.
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION, I DO WANT TO RE-EMPHASIZE THAT TRAFFIC SAFETY IS A COMMUNITY ISSUE. IT INVOLVES COMMUNITY EDUCATION, A WILLINGNESS ON THEIR PART TO -- TO TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN, TO WORK WITH THEIR KIDS, ABOUT TRAFFIC SAFETY AND -- AND THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO BE GOOD ROLE MODELS FOR THEIR SMALLER CHILDREN. WITH THAT WE WOULD OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK, I DON'T WANT TO REITERATE WHAT THE CHIEF SAID, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO BRING UP -- I HAVE TWO BIG POINTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. ONE IS WITH REGARD TO WHAT THE CHIEF JUST ENDED WITH, THAT IS KINDS OF THE EDUCATION ASPECT OF STUFF. AGAIN I'M NOT GOING TO REITERATE EVERYTHING THAT HE SAID. BUT KEEP IN MIND A COUPLE OF THINGS, ONE IS THAT AUSTIN IS NOW THE 16TH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY. WE SOMETIMES LOSE SIGHT OF THAT BECAUSE WE GREW SO FAST TO GET TO THE -- TO BECOME THE 16TH LARGEST CITY. IF YOU USE THE SENSEENS -- THE CENSUS BUREAU'S FIGURES, THE 2000 FIGURES THEY USE, SINCE 1990, WE HAVE BEEN RANKED NUMBER ONE IN GROWTH AMONG THE 30TH -- THE 30 LARGEST CITIES. SO YOU HAVE THIS BIG GROWTH. THEN WHEN YOU ADD TO THAT THE CARS THAT PEOPLE BRING WITH THEM, WELL, YOU END UP GETTING THE KIND OF TRAFFIC PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT HERE TODAY. AND WHEN WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, IT'S JUST BEEN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WE HAD THE CITY'S DEMOGRAPHER UP HERE, AND HE GAVE A PRESENTATION THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE PRESENTATIONS I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, IT KIND OF LEFT EVERYBODY DUMBFOUNDED WHEN WE ACTUALLY STARTED LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS. THAT IS BY 2010 AUSTIN IS EXPECTED TO REACH ALMOST 800,000 PEOPLE. THAT'S JUST IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. IF YOU LOOK AT THE VOWBDING MET OWE SURROUNDING METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 1.45 MILLION PEOPLE. A LOT OF FOLKS COMING IN AND OUT OF AUSTIN. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE NAFTA TRAFFIC FERKS THAT DOESN'T -- TRAFFIC, THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE TRAFFIC THAT YOU HAVE A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THAT RUNS THROUGH OUR IS IT AS THE CHIEF POINTED OUT,, AS THE CHIEF POINTED OUT, THEIR PROGRAM HAS BEEN ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION AND ENGINEERING, THE AREA THAT I WANT TO REITERATE AGAIN IS THE EDUCATION PART OF THAT. LET ME GIVE YOU STATISTICS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY POIGNANT TO ME. THE TRAFFIC FATALITIES THAT OCCURRED IN 2000 INVOLVED PEOPLE NOT USING A SAFETY DEVICE SUCH AS A SEAT BELT, CAR SEAT OR HELMET IN THE CASE OF BICYCLE ACCIDENTS. 38% OF THE 77 TRAFFIC FATALITIES. 37% OF THOSE FATALITIES INVOLVED SOMEONE CONSUMING ALCOHOL OR USING A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. 24% OF THE FATAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVED UNSAFE SPEEDS. AND 21% OF THOSE ACCIDENTS THE NEGLECT PARTY -- NEGLIGENT PARTY FAILED TO YIELD THE RATE OF -- THE RIGHT-OF-WAY TO A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. THOSE ARE NUMBERS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THERE'S ANOTHER NUMBER THAT STICKS IN MY MIND, CHILD FATALITIES AND CHILD DEATHS IN THE LAST YEAR, EVERY DEATH INVOLVING A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 15 LAST YEAR, IN A CAR, THAT CHILD WAS NOT BELTED. EVERY DEATH INVOLVING A KID UNDER 15 YEARS OLD, THAT KID WAS NOT BELTED. I WILL TELL YOU IN THE WATSON HOUSE NOW, I HAVE SAID THAT STATISTIC EVERY TIME WE GET INTO THE CAR TO THE POINT THAT NOW IF I SAY HEY, BOYS, YOU KNOW LAST YEAR, THEY SAID, "DAD" SO THEY GET IN. WE WERE IN GILLESPIE COUNTY, I SAID BOYS, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT GILLESPIE, LAST YEAR IN, "DAD!" MY POINT BEING THAT WE ARE ALL -- WE ARE ALL SUBJECT TO GETTING IN A CAR AND A KID DOESN'T WANT TO GET INTO A CAR SEAT OR A KID DOESN'T WANT TO GET INTO A SAFETY BELT, YELLING AT YOU, CRYING, OKAY, OKAY, WE ARE JUST GOING A LITTLE WAY. BUT THE NUMBER IS WHAT SAYS IT ALL. EVERY KID UNDER 15. SO WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT. THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO BRING UP, AND BY THE WAY, THAT IS A COMMUNITY THING. I DON'T CARE HOW BIG WE ARE. THAT OUGHT TO BE A COMMUNITY EFFORT. WE OUGHT TO ALTOGETHER BE WORKING ON THAT EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT. WHEN YOU GOT 38% OF THE FATALITIES AND -- OF LAST YEAR'S FATALITIES WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T USING A SAFETY DEVICE, LIKE I SAID A SEAT BELT, A CAR SEAT, A HELMET, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, FOLKS, THAT'S JUST -- WE AS A COMMUNITY OUGHT TO BE WORKING TO DO BETTER ON THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. THE SECOND THING THAT I WANT TO BRING UP, IS HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, I WANT TO TALK A MINUTE ABOUT SOME CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CHIEF IN THAT REGARD AND THAT IS I -- I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO EVALUATE THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE TODAY AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A NEED TO INCREASE THAT NUMBER. WE HEAR A WHOLE LOT ABOUT THE RATIO, THAT'S THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS. AND THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS AND I THINK RIGHT NOW IS A PERFECT TIME FOR US TO BE MAKING AN EVALUATION LIKE THAT AND A BIG PART OF THAT REASON IS THAT WE ARE GETTING READY TO GO -- PART OF THE -- JUST STARTING THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. ANOTHER REASON FOR IT IS THAT THE CITY FIRST EXAMINED THE OFFICER TO RESIDENT RATIO IN THE EARLY '90'S, BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS GROWTH CYCLE THAT I JUSTED ABOUT. SINCE 1997, WHICH WAS A TIME WHEN WE AS A CITY ANNEXED SEVERAL THOUSAND RESIDENTS INTO THE CITY, WE HAVE COMMITTED TO 1.9 OFFICERS PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS. AND I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY ASSUMPTIONS TODAY AS TO WHAT RATIO IT OUGHT TO I JUST SAY THAT IT'S BEEN -- THE ONLY THING THAT I AM SAYING IS THAT IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL YEARS SINCE WE HAVE ADJUSTED IT. IN LIGHT OF THE INCREDIBLE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC, CARS, AUSTIN, IT MAY BE TIME TO CHANGE IT OR AT LEAST LOOK AT IT. SO -- SO AS PART OF WHAT -- BY FOLLOWING UP ON THIS REPORT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER THAT SHOULD AN INCREASE BE NEEDED, TO EVALUATE IT, ALSO EVALUATE THE TIME IT WOULD TAKE FOR US TO GET THERE. I SAY THAT BECAUSE FRANKLY THERE'S ONLY SO MANY CADET CLASSES THAT YOU CAN RESPONSIBLY GRADUATE IN ANY GIVEN YEAR. SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU CAN -- IF IN FACT WE NEED TO UP-- TO CHANGE THAT NUMBER, AGAIN I'M NOT MAKING ANY PRONOUNCEMENT ON THAT, BUT IF IN FACT WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT NUMBER, YOU DON'T DO THAT OVERNIGHT. THAT IS NOT A RESPONSIBLE WAY OF HANDLING IT. SO I'M -- I'VE ALSO ASKED AS WE GO INTO THIS BUDGET PROCESS FOR THE EVALUATION TO BE IF THERE IS A NEED FOR A CHANGE, HOW DO WE GO ABOUT THAT OVER TIME. SO -- SO -- SO I ALSO HAVE ASKED -- A SECOND PART OF THAT, THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, TELL ME AND TELL THE COUNCIL WHAT THE INCREASE THERE WOULD BE FEED TO BE IN THE COST INVOLVED OF -- BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO ADDRESS THAT AS PART OF THE FUNDING PROCESS, AND -- AND THE CITY MANAGER HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOOD WHEN WE ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS LIKE THIS, HE ALSO BRINGS THE FUNDING PART OF THAT. IN FACT THE COUNCIL ASKED BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT, WE HAVE A FISCAL NOTE ATTACHED TO IT. I WANT TO FOLLOW THAT POLICY AND MAKE SURE WE DO THAT AS PARTS OF THE BUDGET. A COUPLE OF KEY TIMES ON THAT, WE ARE IN OUR BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS NOW. WHAT I HAVE REQUESTED IS THAT AS PART OF THE CITY MANAGER BRINGING FORWARD HIS DRAFT POLICY BUDGET, WHICH IS DUE TO BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE END OF JUNE, IF IN FACT THAT CAN BE A PART OF THAT BUDGET PROCESS. NOW BEFORE I CLOSE, THERE IS A THIRD THING THAT I WANT TO SAY. THAT IS I WANT TO STRESS A VERY IMPORTANT FACT THAT I THINK GOT LOST IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. THAT IS IN OUR YEAR 2000 CRIME INDEX RATE, THAT'S PART 1 INDEX CRIMES THAT INCLUDE VIOLENT CRIMES, MURDER, RAPE, ROBBERY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND PROPERTY CRIMES, SUCH AS BURGLARY, THEFT AND AUTO THEFT, THAT DROPPED 4% LAST YEAR. AND IT IS NOW -- IT HAS NOW REACHED A 21 YEAR LOW. AND I WAS FRANKLY SURPRISED THAT THAT JUST SEEMED TO BE GLOSSED OVER. WHEN THOSE STATISTICS CAME OUT. BUT I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO NOTE THAT IN -- LAST YEAR, WE -- WE THROUGH THE GOOD WORKS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REACHED A 21 YEAR LOW IN OUR INDEX CRIME RATE. AND I THINK THAT DROP, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, YOU WILL SEE THAT THAT'S A CONTINUATION OF THE STEADY DECLINE FROM THE EARLY 1990'S, EVEN WITH ALL OF THE GROWTH THAT I TALKED ABOUT. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. BUT THAT SOMETIMES GETS LOST BECAUSE WE TEND TO FOCUS ON WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS AND WHERE WE ARE HEADED IN ADDRESSING THOSE PROBLEMS, BUT -- BUT AS ONE SPEAKER ALREADY SAID THIS MORNING, WE DON'T ALWAYS TEND TO STOP AND SAY LET'S LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON WELL. PART OF MY REASON FOR BRINGING THAT UP, I DON'T WANT IT TO BE MISCONSTRUED THAT THE REASON I WANT US TO EVALUATE WHETHER WE NEED MORE OFFICERS PER THOUSAND IS BECAUSE THE CRIME RATE IS GOING UP. ON THE CONTRARY OUR CRIME RATE IS DROPPING. BUT WITH -- WITH THE CONTINUED GROWTH AT THE FAST PACE WE ARE GOING, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, THERE MAY NEED TO BE MORE POLICE ON THE STREET AND SO THAT'S WHY I AM ASKING FOR -- FOR AT LEAST SOME EVALUATION OF THAT. OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? [ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS] ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE STRESSED IN NEXT YEAR IN SETTING ASIDE A SPECIAL FUND FOR TRAFFIC ISSUES WAS PUBLIC EDUCATION. SO THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUESTED IN THAT AREA. WE ALSO AGREE WITH YOU AND I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT, EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE THE WEAKEST IN AND WE EXPECT TO PICK IT UP.
>>GOODMAN: HERE LATELY I USED TO THINK MAYBE A LOT OF THE YOUNGER DRIVERS WERE THE CAUSE OF SOME OF THE FEELINGS OF FEAR OUT ON THE STREETS THESE DAYS, BUT THIS MORNING I WAS NOTING THAT MOSTLY EVERYBODY WHO WAS DOING WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE VERY UNSAFE DRIVING OR AT LEAST NOT ACTING LIKE THEY KNEW THE RULES OF THE ROAD WERE DEFINITELY MATURE PEOPLE. SO I'M HOPING THAT THE PSA'S ARE ABLE TO BE BEEFED UP AND THINGS MAYBE CHANGED LIKE IT BEING NOTABLE WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE WHO USES THEIR TURN SIGNAL AND YOU CAN COUNT ON THE FINGERS OF BOTH YOUR HANDS THROUGH THE COURSE OF A TRIP HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU SAW USING THE SIGNAL. AND I NOTICE THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALMOST A QUARTER OF THE ACCIDENTS BEING BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO YIELD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DRIVER TRAINING BOOKS TELL YOU ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE RULES OF YIELDING, BUT I DON'T NOTICE A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOWING THAT EITHER, AND THEY ARE NOT KIDS. THESE ARE OLDER PEOPLE. THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE -- YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE TO THE RIGHT OR IF YOU ARE -- WELL, THE VARIOUS KIND OF RULES THAT SHOULD KICK IN AUTOMATICALLY, AND THEY JUST DON'T. SO EVEN WHEN PEOPLE SEE THE BIG YIELD SIGNS ON THE OCCASION WHEN THEY MIGHT SEE THAT, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL THAT I CAN TELL. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THESE COST THESE DAYS, BUT I WAS JUST THINKING 15,000 MAY NOT BE ENOUGH FOR WHAT THIS CITY NEEDS RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF A REAL BLITZ ON INFORMATION. SO IF WE NEED MORE IN THE BUDGET I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO CARRY THAT ONE.
>> THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, THEN COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
>>THOMAS: YES, I JUST COMMEND THE PRESENTATION. I KNOW THAT IT WAS -- I CONCUR WITH WHAT THE MAYOR WAS TALKING ABOUT ADDITIONAL OFFICERS BECAUSE OF THE POPULATION. ALSO I NEED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE CASE LOAD OF INVESTIGATING -- MORE DETECTIVES DO WE NEED MORE DETECTIVES? IS THE CASE LOAD AS HIGH AS IT NORMALLY IS OR IS IT LOWER?
>> IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE CASE LOAD FOR TRAFFIC INVESTIGATION AND FOLLOWUP, THERE IS A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIVE ASSISTANCE T NEED IS GREAT AND WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS OF DEALING WITH THAT. MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT A TRAFFIC FATALITY REQUIRES ALMOST AS MUCH OR IN SOME CASES AS MUCH INVESTIGATION AS A HOMICIDE. AND NOW WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND THE AMOUNT OF TRAINING THAT GOES INTO BEING ABLE TO RECONSTRUCT THOSE KIND OF SCENES, THE TIME IS VERY CONSUMING. OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE VERY HIGH OF THE PRODUCT, SO THERE IS A NEED TO INCREASE THE LEVEL -- THE NUMBER OF DETECTIVES IN THAT AREA.
>>THOMAS: THANK YOU. ALSO WHAT ABOUT IN OTHER AREAS OF HOMICIDE, ROBBERY AND ET CETERA?
>> WELL, I THINK WE HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN DETECTIVES FOR THE CENTRALIZED DETECTIVE UNIT. SPECIFICALLY TO ASSIST IN THE COLD CASE AND IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. THE WORK -- THE CASE LOAD AGAIN IN THE AREA COMMANDS, THE DETECTIVES THERE, THEIR WORKLOAD IS I WOULD SAY STEEP. LAST YEAR WE ADDED AREA COMMAND DETECTIVES, BUT THEIR WORKLOAD ALSO REMAINS RATHER STEEP. AND COULD PROBABLY USE SOME REALLY -- RELIEF.
>>THOMAS: THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR FOCUS ON THIS. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A FOCUS FOR A LONG TIME. AND I PARTICULARLY LIKE THIS AD THAT RAN, THE BEST TRAFFIC OFFICER IS YOUR OWN CONSCIENCE. IT'S UP TO YOU, TALKING ABOUT THE DRIVERS HERE IN TOWN, BECAUSE ONE OF THE WORST THINGS THAT HAS COME WITH THE GROWTH OF THE CITY, TO ME, IS THE WAY PEOPLE DRIVE. AND THE DECLINE IN DRIVING I THINK. SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT IN THE MAYOR'S POINTS -- AND THE MAYOR'S POINTS ABOUT SEAT BELTS ARE WELL TAKEN AS WELL. ONE OTHER THING I KEEP BRINGING UP AND WASN'T ON THE TOP FIVE WAS TAILGATING. THAT JUST SEEMS TO BE EPIDEMIC HERE IN AUSTIN. I HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN MUCH OF AN IMPROVEMENT. A LOT OF THAT GOES BACK TO INDIVIDUAL DRIVER CHOICE. I REALIZE WE CAN'T CATCH EVERY ONE OF THEM, BUT ARE WE CONTINUING TO INCREASE OUR ENFORCEMENT ON THAT?
>> YES, SIR, AND ONE OF THE BEST WAYS WE DO IT IS FROM THE AIRCRAFT BECAUSE WE CAN GET HIGH WE CAN SEE THAT 18-WHEELER SIX FOOT OFF YOUR BUMPER AND WE DO THOSE SPEFBLLY FOR THE TAILGATEN THE BIG RIGS WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM THAT.
>> I MIGHT ADD, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CHIEF CHAPMAN HAS PUT INTO THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR IS FOR THE PLAIN CARS WITH THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH AND IN THE FENDER AREA. IT'S OUR BELIEF THAT PEOPLE WHO FOCUS ON DRIVING ERRATICLY DON'T LOOK NECESSARILY REAL CLOSELY AT THE CARS THEY PASS UNSAFELY AND WE HOPE TO INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO SURVEILL THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY BOTH FROM THE AIR AND GROUND IN PLAIN CARS.
>>SLUSHER: I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT. SOMETHING WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THEY DO IN OTHER STATES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>THE PRESIDENT: CITY MANAGER DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING? OKAY. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. GOOD, THOROUGH PRESENTATION. THE NEXT ITEM WE'LL TAKE UP -- I TELL YOU WHAT. I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. WE HAVE SOME SGEFTS HERE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THEM TO EVERYBODY.
>>THOMAS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. HI THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE STATE LEGISLATORS FROM THE RIVER STATE OF NIGERIA AND WE WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED. WE HAVE THEM WITH US THIS MORNING.
>>MAYOR WATSON: WE'RE REAL PLEASED YOU ARE WITH US. [APPLAUSE]. WE HAVE FIVE OF THE TOTAL DELEGATION. TODAY IS THE DEPUTY SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. WE ALSO HAVE THE HONORABLE ODOM AND OTHERS. [INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS].
>>MAYOR WATSON: WE ARE VERY PLEASED YOU ARE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]. WITH THAT WE WILL GO TO ITEM NO. 70 AND I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
>>THOMAS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS CO-SPONSORED BY MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN AND COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. THIS DEALS WITH A RESOLUTION THAT DEALS WITH THE WMI CONTRACT THAT'S DEALING WITH THE LANDFILL OUT IN -- OFF OF 290 AND JACKIE STILES ROAD. AND THE RESOLUTION SPEAKS FOR -- GILES ROAD. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE HERE TO SPEAK FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE CONCERNED AND ALL WE WANTED TO DO WAS MAKE SURE WE HAD A MONITORING PROGRAM THAT WILL PROTECT THE GROUND WATER AND SURFACE WATER AND ALSO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE ARE ANY SOIL CONTAMINATIONS THERE, WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THEM THAT THEY WON'T GET INTO THE SPRINGS AND WALLER CREEK. I WILL GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
>>MAYOR WATSON: PAM GIBLON. FOLLOWED GUY JOYCE THORSON AND THEN SCOTT -- AND I BELIEVE IT'S SCOTT WINERY. WE HAVE COMMITTED TO THAT AND THAT MONITORING IS JUST ABOUT TO KICK IN. WE HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THE BENEFIT OF GETTING THE RESULTS OF THE MONITORING THAT YOU ALL ASKED FOR AND WE'VE AGREED TO DO. SO WHEN WE SEE A RESOLUTION THAT SAYS WHEREAS CONTINUING CONCERNS EXIST, ET CETERA, THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM LAST TIME, AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING WE'RE NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THE MONITORING DATA THAT YOU'VE ASKED FOR. KEEP IN MIND, I NOTICE THERE ARE REFERENCES IN THIS RESOLUTION TO THE FACT IT'S VOLUNTARY AND THE REASON IS THAT IT IS OVER AND ABOVE WHAT IS REQUIRED OF OTHER PERMIT APPLICANTS BY THE TNRCC. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT'S THE ONLY MONITORING WE'RE DOING, BUT THAT IS IN ADDITION AND IT WAS AT YOUR REQUEST AND I THINK IN FAIRNESS WE OUGHT TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THAT AND WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT YOU ALL HAVE ESTABLISHED AND THAT WE ARE WORKED ON WITH YOU ALL. WE ALSO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT BEING SINGLED OUT AND TREATED DIFFERENTLY FROM OTHER CONTRACTORS. THE IDEA THAT THE TERMS OF OUR CONTRACT WOULD BE CHANGED IN MID STREAM, IF YOU WILL. WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR PERMIT, AS I INDICATED. ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TNRCC AND ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU TO TRY TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL WAYS THAT WE CAN RAISE YOUR COMFORT. BUT I THINK THE TIMING OF THIS THING IS WHAT IS PARTICULARLY FRUSTRATING, GIVEN THE FACT THAT AGAIN, WE VOLUNTARILY AGREED TO GO FAR BEYOND WHAT OTHER PERMIT EES THAT HANDLE THIS TYPE OF MATERIAL IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU ARE GOING TO SINGLE OUT ONE CONTRACTOR AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU DO THINGS IN ADDITION TO WHAT THE TNRCC REQUIRES, THE LEVEL -- THE PLAYING FIELD SEESES TO BE LEVEL AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT IN FAIRNESS. I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR TECHNICAL PEOPLE WHO CAN PROBABLY TELL YOU MORE THAN YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SITUATION AT THE SITE. BUT IT'S A -- IT'S A GOOD SITE. I MEAN KEEP IN MIND THAT IT IS A 10-ACRE INDUSTRIAL UNIT IN THE MIDDLE OF A 290-ACRE LARGER TRACT THAT HAS MONITOR WELLS AS PART OFITY PERMIT. AGAIN, WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING TO GIVE RISE TO A RESOLUTION LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY BEFORE ANY OF THE DATA HAS COME IN. IT SEEMS TO BE PREJUDGING THE RESULTS OF THE MONITORING THAT YOU ALL REQUIRE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: IF I MIGHT ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND I MAY BE OFF A LITTLE ON MY TIMING.
>> LAST AUGUST.
>>MAYOR WATSON: RIGHT AT A YEAR AGO, LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, WE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS WITH WMI THAT WAS PRETTY LENGTHY PROCESS WHERE WE SAID THAT AS PART OF THIS WE WANT YOU TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.
>> YES.
>>MAYOR WATSON: AND HAVE WE MISSED ANY TIME -- LET ME ASK IT THIS WAY. HAS WMI MISSED ANY TIME DEADLINES ON WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO MISS TO US?
>> NO, SIR. WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING AS PART OF THE PROCESS THAT YOU OUTLINED.
>>MAYOR WATSON: IS WMI -- AND AT THE TIME OF THAT PROCESS, WAS THERE ANY DISSENT -- I DON'T REMEMBER THE VOTE FROM COUNCIL. DID ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL SAY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS BECAUSE THEY WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
>> I DON'T RECALL ANYBODY VOTING AGAINST IT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MY OTHER QUESTION THEN IS I KNOW WE HAVE -- WE DON'T HAVE -- THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOES NOT HAVE REGULATORY AUTHORITY. THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY FOR THIS SORT OF FACILITY IS THE TNRCC.
>> YES, SIR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: HAS THE TNRCC SINCE THE AUGUST RESOLUTION PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THIS CITY COUNCIL, HAS THE TNRCC AS THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY ASKED WMI TO DO ANYTHING AT THIS FACILITY OR THIS SITE THAT YOU HAVE NOT DONE?
>> NO, SIR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: OR HAS IT CITED YOU IN ANY WAY?
>> NO, SIR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: HAS IT INDICATED WMI IS IN VIOLATION OF ITS PERMIT?
>> NO.
>>MAYOR WATSON: HAS IT TAKEN ANY ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AT THIS SITE WITH WMI?
>> NO.
>>MAYOR WATSON: FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S PERSPECTIVE, FROM THE FOLKS THAT ARE OUR PAID PROFESSIONALS THAT DEAL WITH THIS SORT OF THING, HAS ANYONE FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN CONTACTED WMI AND INDICATED THAT THEY BELIEVE WMI IS IN VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THIS CITY COUNCILL?
>> NO, SIR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: HAS ANYONE FROM OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF CONTACTED WMI AND INDICATED THEY BELIEVE THAT WMI IS IN VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF ITS PERMIT WITH THE TEXAS NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: PRIOR TO THIS RESOLUTION COMING UP, HAD THERE BEEN ANY CONTACT THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF BETWEEN ANYBODY AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN OR THE TNRCC AND WMI INDICATING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RESOLUTION?
>> NO, SIR, AND THAT'S WHY THIS JUST STUNNED US BECAUSE THIS CAME OUT OF NOWHERE WHILE WE WERE DOING WHAT YOU ALL HAVE ASKED FOR AND THE TNRCC HAS ASKED FOR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. JOYCE THORSON FOLLOWED BY SCOTT WINERY AND THEN MIKE CALDWELL.
>> I'M JOYCE AUTHORSON AND I LIVE AT 3600 CARLA DRIVE, PART OF THE WALNUT PLACE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE GOING TO ADDRESS DIFFERENT POINTS. THE POINT I NEEDED TO ADDRESS IS THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE GROUND WATER IN THE AREA BY THIS MONITORING PLAN. THE PLAN CLASSIFIED IT AS CLASS 3. DESERVING MINIMAL PROTECTION. CLASSIFICATION OF GROUND WATER MAY BE BASED ON QUALITY AND/OR QUANTITY. I HAVE RECORDS FROM 1972 WHICH MEASURED WATER QUALITY OF WELLS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. 7 OUT OF 7 WELLS HAD DRINKING QUALITY WATER IN 1972, THOUGH NOT ALL OF THE WELLS WERE BEING USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. REGARDING QUALITY OF GROUND WATER IN THE AREA, THERE ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE WELLS WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY ARE NO LONGER USED FOR DRINKING PURPOSES, BUT WATER PRODUCED FOR LAWNS AND GARDENS IS VERY PLENTIFUL. THE MONITORING PLAN INCORRECTLY CLASSIFIES OUR GROUND WATER. BECAUSE WE KNOW INDUSTRIAL HAZARD US WASTE IS PRESENT AT THE WMI SITE, YOU WERE JUST TOLD THERE ARE TEN ACRES OF IT, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING FOR CONTAMINATION IN THE GROUND WATER AND THE SURFACE WATER THIS MONITORING PLAN DOES NOT DO THAT. ANY CONTAMINATION THAT LEAKS OUT OF THIS SITE FLOWS INTO WALNUT CREEK AND WILL BE DRUNK BY THE PEOPLE OF BASTROP IN THE FUTURE. WASTE MANAGEMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO POLLUTE THE DRINKING WATER OF EVERY CITY BETWEEN HERE AND THE GULF OF MEXICO, AND WE ARE ASKING THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN NOT BE A PARTICIPANT IN THIS POLLUTION. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. SCOTT WINERY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M THE DIVISION MANAGER FOR CENTRAL TEXAS FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT. I WOULD RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE OR IF NOT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MY LEFTOVER TIME TO PAM.
>>MAYOR WATSON: WELL, SHE HAD FINISHED AND SO -- AND I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THE RULES ON THAT SO YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN BLACK AND BLUER OR FOR TWO TWO -- FOR ANOTHER TWO AND A HALF MINUTES.
>> NO. IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS I'LL TRY TO RESPOND TO THOSE AND WE HAVE OUR TECHNICAL EXPERTS HERE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU UNDERSTAND I'M JUST TEASING YOU. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? MIKE CALDWELL.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MIKE CALDWELL. I'M THE CORPORATE HYDRO GEOLOGIST FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS PROJECT SINCE 1999. I AM HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS PART OF A TECHNICAL EXPERT, IF YOU WILL, ON THE PROCESS OR THE PROGRAM. THE ONLY IMMEDIATE THAT -- RESPONSE THAT I CAN ADD IS TO JOYCE'S COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT THE IMPROPER CLASSIFICATION OF THE GROUND WATER AT THE SITE. THE GROUND WATER CLASSIFICATION WAS INITIATED BY PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS WHO ARE FOLLOWING TNRCC GUIDELINES FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF SUCH GROUND WATER. THE GROUND WATER THAT JOYCE WAS REFERRING TO THAT IS WITHIN I BELIEVE A HALF A MILE OF THE SITE OR PERHAPS CLOSER, I'M NOT GETTING INTO A GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION, THE RECORDS SHOWED THAT THOSE WELLS WERE INSTALLED IN ALLUVIAL SEDIMENTS FROM THE WALNUT CREEK TRIBUTARY, AND THEREFORE THAT PARTICULAR WATER AND THE YIELD FROM THOSE WATERS ARE SEPARATE OR DIFFERENT THAN THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE WATERS DIRECTLY BEE NEED THE LANDFILL -- BENEATH THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY LANDFILL. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY AGAIN TO REEMPHASIZE THAT AS CONCURRED WITH THE TNRCC, THEY'VE PROVIDED CONCURRENCE TO OUR MONITORING PLAN AND THERE IS NO REGULATORY CITATIONS FOR ANY IMPACTS TO GROUND WATER ABOVE ACCEPTABLE LEVELS, IF YOU WILL, OR REGULATORY THRESHOLDS. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD JUST BE PRESENT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS NOW OR LATER.
>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME ASK ONE QUICK QUESTION. THE INFORMATION THAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT WITH REGARD TO THE WELLS, WAS THAT INFORMATION DETERMINED BEFORE OR AFTER WE ENTERED INTO THE RESOLUTION OF LAST AUGUST?
>> AS -- THE WELLS THAT JOYCE WAS REFERRING TO OR THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE WATER BENEATH --.
>>MAYOR WATSON: WELL, BOTH.
>> THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE WATERS BENEATH OUR FACILITY WAS DETERMINED PRIOR TO YOUR RESOLUTION.
>>MAYOR WATSON: SO AT THE TIME THE CITY COUNCILL ENTERED INTO ITS RESOLUTIONS THOSE CLASSIFICATIONS WE'RE HEARING ABOUT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING WE WERE DEALING WITH STWEEN US, THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF, YOU ALL AND THE COUNCIL WHEN WE WERE MAKING THE POLICY TO GO INTO THAT RESOLUTION.
>> YES, SIR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE HAS ANYTHING CHANGED ABOUT THOSE CLASSIFICATIONS FROM THE TIME WE ENTERED INTO THAT AND TODAY?
>> NO, SIR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? RUSTY --
>> MR. MAYOR, A LADY IN THE BACK RAISED HER HAND.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I KNOW, BUT WE HAVE RULES THAT WE FOLLOW.
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: NO, MA'AM, I'LL LET YOU KNOW IF I DECIDED TO THAT. RUSTY FU SEFMENT LE. HE SIGNED UP AGAINST. AMY KIRSTEN. TO BE FOLLOWED BY TREK ENGLISH. AND THEN JOYCE BEST.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS AMY KIRSTEN AND I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE SCIENTIFIC FACTS AS THEY CONCERN FOUR DEEP BORINGS THAT WERE DRILLED AT THE INDUSTRIAL HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE LAST YEAR. FOUR DEEP BORINGS WERE DRILLED. THESE BORINGS WERE DRILLED IN AREAS THAT WERE THOUGHT NOT TO CONTAIN ANY WASTE. HOWEVER, DEEP BORING LOGS NO. 2 AND 3, WHICH I GAVE YOU IF YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU SOME ATTACHMENTS, YOU CAN FOLLOW THE LOGS ALONG WITH ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE. BORING LOGS NO. 2 AND 3 REPORT CHEMICAL MIGRATION BY KMEL ODORS AT DEPTHS RANGING FROM 29 TO 40 FEET AND ALONG WITH A DRASTIC AND SUDDEN CHANGE OF THE CLAY AND THE CONSISTENCY OF IT. APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET WORTH OF SOLID CORE SAMPLES WERE DRILLED FOR EACH BORING. BUT SAMPLES WERE ONLY TAKEN AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH CORE, WHICH IS IS ABOUT 20 FEET BELOW THE CHEMICAL BORDER AND WHERE THE BLACK WET CLAY WERE NOTED. THE OBVIOUSLY CONTAMINATED SAMPLES WERE NOT ANALYZED. FISSURES ACT AS NATURAL PATSZ FOR MIGRATION. THE MIXTURE OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IS KNOWN TO CHANGE CLAY SHRINKING IT AND CAUSING IT TO CRACK EVEN FURTHER. BORING SAMPLES NO. 2 THOSE 12,300 PARTS PER BILLION OF TOTAL ORGANIC CARBONS. THIS IS A HUGE, HUGE CONCENTRATION OF TOTAL ORGANIC CARBONS, WHICH IS A LEADING INDICATOR OF CHEMICAL MIGRATION. DEEP BORING SAMPLE NO. 3 THOSE 11,600 PARTS PER BILLION THIS. IS ASTRONOMICAL. THIS IS HUGE. I BELIEVE IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WMI'S MONITORING PLAN ACCOUNT FOR THIS CHEMICAL MIGRATION FROM THE DRUM WASTE SITES IN THE NORTHEAST AND SOUTH AREAS OF THIS WASTE SITE. THERE SHOULD BE FIVE MONITORING WELLS, NOT JUST THE TWO THAT WMI IS AGREEING TO. WITH EMPHASIS ESPECIALLY ON MONITORING WELLS 31, 23, AND 25. MONITORING WELLS 25 AND 31 NEED TO BE INSTALLED AS WMI ORIGINALLY PROPOSED IN THEIR WORK PLAN, AND ALL WELLS NEED TO BE MONITORED EVERY QUARTER WITH ALL TEST RESULTS SENT TO THE TEXAS NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION OFFICIALS WITH REGARD TO THE FINDINGS. DO NOT BE MISLED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. BY THE WAY, ONE OTHER THING. I HAVE HERE A COPY OF TNRCC'S TECHNICAL GUIDANCE. THEY DID -- DATED NOVEMBER '94. IN HERE IS A MATRIX FOR HISTORICAL WASTE CONTAMINATION SITES AND HOW THEY ARE TO BE HANDLED. IF THERE IS A PRESENT MUNICIPAL GENERATOR AND A PAST INDUSTRIAL GENERATOR, IT IS TO BE CLASSIFIED AS AN INDUSTRIAL WASTE SITE AND TREATED AND MONITORED AS SUCH, WHICH IS NOT BEING DONE. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MA'AM. TREK ENGLISH. FOLLOWED BY JOYCE BEST. AND THEN CHRISTINA KUBEK.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TREK ENGLISH AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTHEAST ACTION GROUP. I'M HAPPY THIS ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW OPPORTUNITIES WE'VE HAD TO MEET AGAIN WITH OUR GOOD FRIENDS AT WASTE MANAGEMENT. WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM SINCE LAST NOVEMBER. SO IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE MEET THESE DAYS. THE MONITORING PLAN THAT THEY ARE OFFERING BEYOND WHAT IS REQUIRED BY LAW IS ALSO PART OF THEIR MONITORING PLAN. IF YOU REFER TO PAGE 14, THEY STATE, AND I QUOTE, THE LOCATION OF THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE UNIT RELATIVE TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY LANDFILL SOLID WASTE UNIT AS WELL AS THE CLOSED TRAVIS COUNTY LANDFILL REQUIRES A GROUND WATER MONITORING NETWORK THAT IS IWU SPECIFIC AND ATTEMPTS TO DISTINGUISH THE IWU AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE FROM OTHER WASTE DISPOSAL OPERATIONS IN THE ADJACENT AREAS. SO THEY CONCUR WITH US THAT A SPECIFIC MONITORING PLAN NEEDS TO BE PLACED, NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE FOR THE INDUSTRIAL UNIT. SO THIS IS NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE OFFERING OUT OF THE KINDNESS OF THEIR HEART. I'M JUST AS FRUSTRATED AS MS. GIBLON ABOUT THIS WHOLE MONITORING PLAN AND I'M SURE THE REST OF US ARE TOO. THEY ARE PROPOSING TWO WELLS TO MONITOR THIS INDUSTRIAL UNIT. THE TWO WELLS, WHICH ARE PC 26 AND MONITORING WELL 2D-A ARE NOT GOING TO TELL US IF THE CONTAMINATION DOCUMENTED OVER THE 30 YEARS OF THIS LANDFILL AND THE CONTAMINATION FOUND DURING THIS LAST INVESTIGATIONS HAVE MIGRATED BEYOND THESE SMALL AREAS THESE WELLS ARE MONITORING. THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC MONITORING IN ONE AREA OF THE SITE AND NOTHING IS BEING MONITORED BELOW THAT. SO CONTAMINATION IS NOT STAGNANT. IT MIGRATES. GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION MOVES ON. IT DOESN'T JUST VANISH. THIS LAST INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE HAZARDOUS WASTE CONSTITUENTS HAVE MIGRATED BEYOND THE LIMITS OF THE ORIGINAL WASTE DISPOSAL SITE. SO WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO? IF WE KEEP MONITORING AT THE SAME LEVEL THAT IT WAS FOUND, WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR MIGRATION OF THIS CONTAMINATION. WE JUST KEEP MONITORING THIS SAME AREA OVER AND OVER AND OVER BUT WE ARE NOT MONITORING BELOW THAT. NOW, THEY ARE GOING TO TELL YOU, WELL, WE HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE AT THE BOUNDARY OF THE SITE AND THAT SYSTEM IS UNDER SUBTITLE D MONITORS FOR ANYTHING THAT ESCAPES THE SITE. WELL, THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THAT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUBTITLE OF THE REGS, YOU FIND THAT THE LIST -- [BUZZER SOUNDS] -- I HAVE AN ADDITIONAL THREE MINUTES
>>MAYOR WATSON: WHAT'S YOUR NAME SIR? OKAY. YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER THREE MINUTES.
>> OKAY. SO THE -- THE SUBTITLE D REGS, THE LIST OF CONTAMINANTS THAT YOU TEST UNDER SUBTITLE D IS VERY LIMITED, MUCH SMALLER THAN THE FULL APPENDIX 9 LIST, WHICH IS WHAT WAS USED IN THIS INVESTIGATION. SO IF YOU HAVE CONSTITUENTS IN APPENDIX THAT WERE FOUND, THEY ARE NOT BEING TESTED WHERE THE BOUNDARY WAS. THEREFORE CONTAMINATION COULD VERY OFTEN BEEN PRESENT IN THE BOUNDARY WELL FOR YEARS AND NO ONE WAS REPORTED IT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO. SO THEY CAN SAY THEY ARE CLEAN AND THEY HAVE -- THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TNRCC RULES, BUT TNRCC HAS NEVER GONE AND THEY CANNOT DENY SINCE THEY TOLD IT TO ME PERSONALLY THAT THEY ARE NOT TESTING THE -- THE SUBTITLE D DOES NOT REQUIRE THEM TO TEST FOR THE CHEMICALS FOUND IN THE INVESTIGATING WELL LAST YEAR. SO THIS -- THESE CHEMICALS COULD BE GOING OUT OF THE SITE AND NOBODY IS TESTING FOR THEM. THE SECOND PROBLEM WITH SUBTITLE D IS IF YOU FIND CONTAMINATION IN THE WELLS, THEN THE ONE LANDFILL IS CONTIGUOUS WITH THE OTHER SO YOU WILL HAVE TO CLEAN TWO, NOT ONE. THE COUNTY LANDFILL IS RIGHT BELOW THE WASTE MANAGEMENT LANDFILL. SO YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A MASSIVE CLEANUP. ALSO ALL MUNICIPAL LANDFILLS REPORT DATA DOWN TO QUANTITY LIMITS, NO PROTECTED CONCENTRATION LEVELS. SO WHY ARE WE TREATING THIS INDUSTRIAL WASTE MORE LENIENT THAN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE? CLASS 3 GROUND WATER CLASSIFICATION ELEVATES THE LEVELS FOR REACHING THE CRITICAL PCL'S 100 TIMES ABOVE ITS LAST TWO AQUIFER. BY THESE THESE HIGH PCL'S YOU CAN SEE THEY ARE NOT POLLUTING, CONTAMINATING. IF YOU LOOK AT THE QUANTITY OF -- OR THE CONCENTRATION OF THESE CHEMICALS, THEY ARE QUITE HIGH. SO THE CONTAMINATION IS QUITE SEVERE. AND THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. THIS IS WHY WE DO NOT ACCEPT THE CLASS 3. NO FORMAL WATER EVALUATION WAS DONE. WHAT THEIR CONSULTANTS DID WAS A VERY CURSORY REVIEW OF JUST A COUPLE WELLS, TWO LITTLE WELLS THEY SAMPLED. THIS IS NOT A FORMAL REQUIRED UNDER TNRCC RULES. SO THE CLASS 3 IS SOMETHING THAT WAS MORE OR LESS ARRIVED AT BY CONCLUSION, NOT BY FORMAL EVALUATION. I CAN GO ON HERE FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REBUTT ANYTHING ELSE MIKE WOULD HAVE TO SAY SINCE HE AND I HAVE BEEN CONVERTSING QUITE WELL. SO I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND WHILE WE NEED ON MORE EXTENSIVE MONITORING PLAN THAN WHAT THEY ARE OFFERING. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. JOYCE BEST.
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. CHRISTINA CUBEK.
>> YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF MOST OF WHAT I'M SAYING AND A SMALLER VERSION OF THOSE TWO POSTERS. MY NAME IS CHRISTINA CUBEK AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW MY NEIGHBORS AND I CANNOT COUNT ON THE TEXAS NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION, TNRCC. THESE FULL PAGE ADS WERE IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN THIS MONTH. THEY REPRESENT TWO OUT OF THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR CASES ACROSS TEXAS WHERE THE TNRCC HAS FAILED TO DO THEIR JOB. DIRTY INDUSTRIES ARE QUICK TO HIDE BEHIND TNRCC SHORTCOMINGS AS IF IT WAS THEIR MAMA'S SKIRT. THE TNRCC GRANTED WASTE MANAGEMENT FREE RUN TO DRILL INTO TOXIC WASTE WITHOUT ANY PERMIT MODIFICATIONS OR AMENDMENTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED. THEY CALLED IT AN EXECUTIVE DECISION. THE TNRCC CONTINUES TO BEND TO WASTE MANAGEMENT'S ARGUMENTS RATHER THAN PROVIDE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AS MANDATED BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. THE TNRCC CONSIDERS WASTE MANAGEMENT'S MONITORING PLAN FOR THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE SIGHT VOLUNTARY. THOUGH WHEN THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE CITY OF IRVING FIND FEW PARTS PER BILLION OF ORGANIC SOLVENTS, THEN THE TNRCC REQUIRES COMPLETE ASSESSMENT MONITORING. THIS MAKES NO SENSE. THE TNRCC HAD INADEQUATE PERSONNEL TO ATTEND MEETINGS AND HAS NOT BROUGHT EXPERTISE TO BEAR TO DETERMINE THE ADEQUACY OF WASTE MANAGEMENT'S MONITORING PLAN. DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE POINTED OUT NUMEROUS DEFICIENCIES IN WASTE MANAGEMENT'S INVESTIGATION WORK PLAN AND THE HUMAN HEALTH RISK EVALUATION REPORT DATA, THE TNRCC HAS NEVER HAD A COMMENT OR REPLY. WE ARE HERE TODAY ASKING YOU TO PLEASE HELP PROTECT AUSTIN CITIZENS, OUR CHILDREN AND OUR ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THE TNRCC HAS FAILED US TOO. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO DONATE MY LAST MINUTE TO CAROLINE REYNOLDS. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: CAROLINE REYNOLDS. IS MS. KLOTZ HERE? I'M SORRY. GOOD TO SEE YOU. MS. REYNOLDS, YOU WILL HAVE -- BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONATIONS OF TIME, YOU WILL HAVE UP TO 10 MINUTES IF YOU NEED IT.
>> I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT SHORTER THAN THAT.
>> MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILL MEMBERS, I'M CAROLINE REYNOLDS. I'M A CHEMIST AND A CHEMICAL ENGINEER PRACTICING HERE IN AUSTIN AND I BIRS BECAME FAMILIAR WITH THE WASTE MANAGEMENT SITED WHEN IT WAS CALLED SUNSET FARMS OR LONGHORN DISPOSAL BACK IN 1978 OR 1979 WHEN I WAS AT THE ENFORCEMENT SECTION AT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEMATOMA. I SUBSEQUENTLY WAS HIRED BY WASTE MANAGEMENT AT THAT SITE TO PUT IN THE FIRST MONITOR WELLS AROUND THE SITE AND ALSO AROUND THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE SITE. I'LL PROVIDE YOU HERE WITH A CORRESPONDENCE LOG SHOWING THAT KEVIN YARD WAS IN TOUCH WITH JACK CARMICHAEL AND THE PERSONNEL AT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONCERNING THIS SITE BACK IN 1970 -- THIS GOES BACK TO 1982. NOW THAT THE RESIDENTS OF CHIMNEY HILL AND HARRIS BRANCH HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THE INDUSTRIAL UNIT WMI, I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME TECHNICAL BACKGROUND TO PUT IT INTO CONTEXT FOR YOU. RIGHT HERE I HAVE -- WE HAVE HERE A -- [INAUDIBLE].
>> THIS IS AN AERIAL PHOTO OF -- THIS IS AN AERIAL PHOTO OF THE WASTE MANAGEMENT SITE WITHOUT THE LAST ADDITION ON THE WEST SIDE. THIS RED AREA HERE IS THE INDUSTRIAL AREA THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TODAY. THIS IS AN INTERESTING SITE. THIS AERIAL PHOTO WAS TAKEN BACK IN 1969 BEFORE THE SITE WAS DUG INTO. AND IT'S THE ONLY SITE -- IT'S THE ONLY MUNICIPAL LANDFILL THAT I KNOW OF IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WITH NOT JUST ONE BUT THREE BRANCHS OF A CREEK RUNNING THROUGH IT. AND NESTLED BETWEEN TWO OF THOSE BRANCHES WE HAVE AN INDUSTRIAL WASTE SITE. LET ME ALSO -- NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT A SLICE MADE THROUGH THIS SITE. JUST A MINUTE, I'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO -- -- NOW, WE'RE GOING TO SLICE THROUGH THE LANDFILL HERE AND ABOVE THAT AREA IS RIGHT WHERE THE OLD PITS AND THE DRUM BURIAL AREAS WERE. THESE ARE NOT GORGEOUS PICTURES, BUT IT GIVES YOU SOME IDEA WHAT THE SITE LOOKED LIKE. NOW, HERE'S THE SLICE TAKEN THROUGH THAT INDUSTRIAL AREA. THIS GREEN WORM HERE IS THE -- IS WHAT -- THIS IS FROM WMI'S CONSULTANTS CROSS-SECTION DRAWN OF THIS SITE. AND THE GREEN WORM ACROSS HERE IS THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE. THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY OVER HERE IN THE LEGEND. AND YOU WILL ALSO NOTICE I HAVE PUT IN BLUE WATER, AND YOU CAN SEE THE WASTE IS RIGHT IN THE SAME AREA AS THE WATER IS SNIGT OR ON TOP OF THE WATER THAT FLOWS SLOWLY FROM THE HIGHER PARTS OF THE AREA DOWN TO THE CREEK THAT RUNS THROUGH THE LANDFILL. AND AS IT FLOWS DOWN TOWARD THE CREEK, IT CARRIES WITH IT THE METALS DISSOLVED OUT OF THE CORRODING DRUMS, THE MATERIALS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN THE DRUMS, OR THE MATERIALS THAT WERE PUT IN THESE PITS BACK IN THE EARLY 1970S. IT'S BECOME -- WHEN IT DOES THIS IT BECOMES LEECH CHAT AND NOT JUST WATER. NOW, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A SECOND CROSS-SECTION THROUGH LEACHATE AGAIN, THIS WAS DONE BY WMI'S CONSULTANT AND IT GOES NORTH AND SOUTH. JUST A SECOND AND I'LL SHOW YOU. (LEACHATE) THERE'S -- IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN ALSO LIKE IN WMI'S OWN REPORTS BECAUSE THEY'VE SHOWN THESE SAME CROSS SECTIONS. THIS -- THIS CROSS-SECTION STARTS UP HERE WHERE THE DRUMS AND SO ON ARE, AND THEN IT CONTINUES DOWN. AND WE FIND THERE IS MUNICIPAL WASTE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS. NOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CONCERNED THE E.P.A. WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED PUTTING TOGETHER THE HAZARDOUS WASTE REGULATIONS. THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT THE ACID COMING OUT OF MUNICIPAL WASTE WOULD ADDITIONALLY SOLUBLE INDUSTRIAL WASTE AND ALSO IT DAMAGES THE CLAY AND MAKES IT MORE PERMEABLE. NOW, WMI DIDN'T FINISH THIS -- OR THEIR CONSULTANT DIDN'T FINISH THIS FIGURE. ACTUALLY THIS IS ONLY 200 FEET WIDE. IF YOU TAKE A SCALE, YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS IS ALMOST 400 FEET WIDE. AND WHAT WE FIND IS THAT THE SURFACE GRADUALLY SLOPES DOWN HERE AND TO THE CREEK RIGHT DOWN HERE. THEY ALSO DON'T SHOW THAT THE WATER THAT FLOWS INTO THE CREEK -- THAT'S IN THE CREEK DOWN HERE CAME FROM UP IN THIS AREA. AND SINCE THIS UNWEATHERED CLAY IS SO TIGHT AND IM PERSONALABLE, THE WATER DOESN'T GO INTO THE UNWEATHERED CLAY, IT RATHER FLOWS ALONG THE TOP OF IT DOWN TOWARD THE LOWER PART. IT ALSO CAN KWAER IT ANYTHING THAT IS PICKED UP FROM THE INDUSTRIAL AND MUNICIPAL WASTE AND BRING IT ALL THE WAY DO YOU KNOW TO THE CREEK. -- DOWN TO THE CREEK. THIS -- THERE'S ANOTHER CROSS-SECTION THAT SHOWS THE AREA FURTHER DOWN HERE. THERE'S ALSO -- THERE'S ANOTHER GROUP OF DRUMS DOWN HERE IN THE SOUTHWEST AREA OF THE SITE. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THAT. IT'S THE SAME -- IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME PICTURE OF THE WATER FLOWING THROUGH THERE TOWARD THE CREEK. NOW, AMY HAS ALREADY TOLD YOU ABOUT THE DEEP BORINGS 2 AND 3. THEY WERE TAKEN RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SITE. THIS IS A BETTER -- THEY WERE BASICALLY TAKEN ABOUT THIS AREA. NOW, WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THOSE IS THAT THE -- THE LOGGER, THE PERSON WHO LOGGED THOSE BORINGS NOTED THAT THE CLAY TURNED BLACK AND SMELLED LIKE ORGANIC CHEMICALS AT ABOUT 30 TO 40 FEET IN HERE. THAT'S ABOUT WHERE THE TOP OF THE UNWEATHERED ZONE IS. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR LOGS FURTHER, YOU SEE RIGHT AFTER THAT THEY ARE DOWN TO THE UNWEATHERED ZONE. THE REASON IS THAT THAT MATERIAL HAS BEEN CONTAMINATED AND THE BACTERIA IN THE SOIL ARE TRYING TO TREAT THE WASTE MATERIALS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH IT. IN FACT, WHAT THIS SAYS IS THAT -- THERE NEEDS TO BE BETTER MONITORING OUT THERE. SOME OF THESE MATERIALS ARE CHLORINATEED HIDE CAR BNS THAT ARE HEAVIER AND WATER AND TEND TO SINK AND FLOW ACROSS THE TOP OF THE UNWEATHERED ZONE. OTHERS WILL TEND TO FLOAT, LIKE GASOLINE WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH. SOME OTHERS LIKE METALS TEND TO BE DISSOLVED IN THE WATER. SO JUST THROWING -- JUST SIMPLY BALING SOME OF THE WATER OUT OF THERE AND TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER THERE IS ANYTHING DISSOLVED IN THERE YOU ARE NOT LIKELY TO FIND COLOR ROW BENZENE ORIGINALLY DISPOSED OUT HERE. THERE NEED TO BE SUFFICIENT WELLS AROUND THIS SITE. THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT TWO, BUT WHEN YOU READ THEIR REPORTS, YOU WILL FIND THAT THE WATER DOESN'T SIMPLY FLOW THIS DIRECTION. NOW THAT THEY -- [BUZZER SOUNDS]
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>> OKAY. NOW THEY HAVE CONNECTED TO TRAVIS COUNTY, THE WATER FLOWS THIS WAY. SO WE NEED FOUR WELLS AROUND THIS SITE TO TAKE THE WASTE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. COUNCIL, THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. MAYOR PRO TEM.
>>GOODMAN: WELL, THE POINT OF ALL THIS WAS TO TRY TO GET -- OR LET ME NOT TRY TO SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES, BUT WHAT I THOUGHT THE POINT WOULD BE OF BEING ABLE TO DO THIS IS NOT ONLY FOR ANY OF OUR OTHER CONTRACTS AND FUTURE OPERATIONS OF OTHER WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES FOR US, BUT ALSO TO GIVE US GOOD DATA, BECAUSE TNRCC DIDN'T SEEM TO BE EITHER INTERESTED OR ABLE TO GATHER THAT KIND OF DATE TAFMENT AND I THINK THAT -- DATA. AND I THINK THE SCIENCE OF IT IS INCONTROVERTABLE AND WE SHOULD ADDRESS TONIGHT SOME WAY. LET ME SAY THAT HAVING SPOKEN TO THE MAYOR NOW BRIEFLY TODAY, HE HAD AN IDEA THAT I'M WILLING TO CONSIDER AND HOPE COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS WILL AS WELL BECAUSE I THINK IT MAY BE ACTUALLY WHAT WE WERE HEADING FOR AND MAYBE WE CAN SKIP A STEP. AND MAYOR, IF I COULD ASK YOU TO -- YOU'VE BEEN A PART OF GETTING WITH TNRCC AND IN THE TANK FARM PURSUIT OF CLEANING UP WE DID MANAGE TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS. SO IN THAT SAME VEIN, DO YOU THINK WE COULD DO THAT HERE?
>>MAYOR WATSON: WELL, I GUESS MY -- HERE'S -- THE SHORT ANSWER THE YES. BUT HERE'S MY THOUGHT PROCESS. FIRST OF ALL, I WORRY ABOUT ANY TIME WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE MAY WANT TO ADDRESS LEGITIMATE CONCERNS, BUT WE HAVE LIMITED REGULATORY AUTHORITY. ONE OF MY GREAT FRUSTRATIONS OF HAVING BEEN MAYOR NOW FOR A WHILE IS THAT MANY TIMES ISSUES POP UP THAT MAY BE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS ON THE PART OF THE NEIGHBORS OF A FACILITY OR LEGITIMATE CONCERNS OF THOSE WHO ARE OPERATING THE FACILITY, THERE'S DIFFICULTY GETTING PEOPLE TOGETHER, THAT SORT OF THING, AND WHAT HAPPENS IS PEOPLE COME TO US WHEN WE DON'T HAVE REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE. AND SO IT MANY TIMES CREATES A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS. ONE IS IT CREATES THE PROBLEM OF US TAKING ACTION THAT WHEN WE HAVE DATA THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO WITH IT. THE SECOND IS THAT IT CREATES THE PROBLEM OF WE CREATE FALSE EXPECTATIONS. AND SO THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS -- AND BY THE WAY, I THINK THE -- MAYBE EXHIBITn A OF FALSE EXPECTATIONS IS THIS INSTANCE. BECAUSE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO THE PEOPLE SITTING HERE VOTED ON A RESOLUTION THAT AT THE TIME MAY NOT HAVE HAD EVERYBODY HAPPY, BUT WAS A BIG STEP AND WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD NOT EVER REALLY OCCURRED BEFORE, AND NOW HERE WE ARE LESS THAN A YEAR LATER AND WE HAVE NEW CONCERNS. BUT ONCE AGAIN, NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY NO MATTER WHAT WE DO WITH THE DATA. I WILL ALSO TELL YOU PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY THAT I SYMPATHIZE WITH THOSE WHO FEAR THAT THE TNRCC DOESN'T PUSH ITS REGULATORY AUTHORITY FAR ENOUGH. AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO SURPRISE ANYBODY AT THE TNRCC IF THEY HEAR THAT. ALTHOUGH I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS THIS CITY COUNCILL AND THE TNRCC HAVE HAD A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP ON A VARIETY OF ITEMS. I MEAN SOMETIMES IT STARTS OFF A LITTLE DIFFICULT, BUT WE GET SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD. AND FRANKLY I HAVE BEEN VERY COMPLIMENTARY OF SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP AT THE TNRCC AND THE WAY THEY'VE DEALT WITH ME AND THE COUNCIL ON A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS AND I DON'T WANT TO MISSTATE THAT. BUT WHAT I WOULD PREFER IS PARTICULARLY SINCE THE COUNCIL ALREADY TOOK A POSITION AND WE SAID THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, AND MAYBE I'M MISSING SOMETHING, BUT I HAVE DIFFICULTY FIGURING OUT WHAT THE CHANGE CONDITIONS ARE IN ON 6-0 VOTE BY THIS COUNCIL. ONE MEMBER WAS ABSENT. BUT FROM A 6-0 VOTE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO WOULD BE TO SEE IF WE CAN'T GET THE -- AND BY THE WAY, I WILL SAY TO WMI THAT IT BUGS ME IF I HEAR -- AFTER A RESOLUTION LIKE THAT HAS BEEN PASSED AND THE REASON IT WAS PASSED WAS IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND THERE HASN'T BEEN COMMUNICATION. THAT ALWAYS BUGS ME. THAT CREATES SITUATIONS WHERE THEN PEOPLE ARE COMING TO US SAYING WE NEED YOU TO TAKE ACTION EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT HAVE REGULATORY AUTHORITY. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, WHAT I WOULD PREFER TO SEE IS BECAUSE -- I DON'T WANT TO END UP SPENDING A BUNCH OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS A SOMETHING WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH, CREATING EXPECTATIONS, PARTICULARLY FALLING THROUGH ON SOMETHING WE HAD DONE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. AND BY THE WAY, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THAT OFF WITH AGAIN NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY, BUT BECAUSE WE GOT VOLUNTARY RESPONSE TO IT, WHICH IS IS A GOOD THING, IS TO SEE IF WE CAN'T GO TO THE TNRCC WITH EVERYBODY AND SEE IF WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT -- IF THERE ARE MORE APPROPRIATE STEPS THAN JUST US PASSING A RESOLUTION THAT FRANKLY HAS -- MAY NOT HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF MEANING OTHER THAN WE SPEND YOUR MONEY. AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS SKUG SUGGESTING TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM. -- SKUGING TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM. I WANT THAT SITE, AND I THINK I SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN THEIR MOUTH, I THINK I CAN SAY THE REASON WE DID SOMETHING THAT MAY HAVE BEEN UNPRECEDENTED IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR IS BECAUSE WE WANT THAT SITE CLEAN. WE DON'T WANT IT CONTAMINATING WATER. WE DON'T WANT IT CONTAMINATING SOIL. WE DON'T WANT YOU TO BE IN FEAR OF THAT SITE. FRANKLY I FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT ALL OF THE SITES AND I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT TO SINGLE OUT ANY ONE SITE AS PART OF THIS. BUT -- AND I THINK I SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE COUNCIL ON THAT. THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE WORK WITH THE -- ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN THIS IN A WAY THAT ULTIMATELY IS TRULY MEANINGFUL. I'LL GIVE IT BACK TO YOU.
>>GOODMAN: ME?
>>MAYOR WATSON: YES.
>>GOODMAN: OH, THANK YOU. LET ME JUST CLARIFY SOMETHING FOR MYSELF TOO, BUT ALSO WITHIN THE LANGUAGE OF THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ASKED, AND IT'S TRUE THAT WE PROBABLY DON'T REALLY HAVE THE POWER TO DO THIS, BUT IT WAS A STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD AND A COMMITMENT TO TRY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WHATEVER ACTION WE COULD TAKE. WE ASKED THAT IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, THE CITY MANAGER BE DIRECTED TO RECOMMEND FOR INCLUSION AS PART OF ALL SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL CONTRACTS OR RENEWALS OF SUCH CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A MONITORING PROGRAM, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. AND A TERMINATION CLAUSE PROVIDING THAT THE DISCOVERY OF SUCH CONTAMINATION IS GROUNDS FOR THE TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT. I THINK OUR GOAL, MAYOR, IS AS YOU STATED IT, WE WANT IT TO BE CLEANED UP, AND EVEN IF WE DID HAVE A 7-0 VOTE FOR THAT CONTRACT WHICH CAME AFTER MUCH ANGST AND STRUGGLE, IF THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT COME UP DURING THE COURSE OF A CONTRACT'S LIFE, THEN I THINK WE DEFINITELY WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS WHAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY UNDESIRABLE SITUATION HERE AND IN ANY OTHER CONTRACT. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: AND COUNCILMEMBER, BEFORE I CALL ON YOU, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED PART PROBABLY OUT TO BE A PART OF HOW WE DEAL WITH EVERYTHING BECAUSE THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN THINGS COME UP THAT ARE NEW. I WORRY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT -- I THINK THIS -- THERE MAY BE SOME STUFF THAT IS NEW SINCE LAST AUGUST, BUT THE DIFFICULTY IS WHEN YOU HAVE LIMITED REGULATORY AUTHORITY, NEW GETS DEFINED DIFFERENT WAYS. IT MAY BE NEW INFORMATION THAT HAD YOU HAD IT YOU MIGHT HAVE TRIED TO JAW BONE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. MY GOAL IS HE -- IS TO NOT PU PUT EVERYTHING THROUGH MEANINGLESS DISAPPOINTMENT. IF WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM, I WANT ACTUAL ACTIVITY THAT WILL GET US SOMETHING DONE. SO WHAT -- I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU JUST SAID ABOUT THE LAST PART. WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS WOULD BE, IS THAT IS PROBABLY MAYBE ADOPT THAT PART OF THE RESOLUTION, BUT ALSO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER, AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS, TO CONTACT THE TNRCC TO DISCUSS WHAT APPROPRIATE ACTIONS MIGHT BE FOR THE PROCESS FOR FACILITATING SAMPLING AND IDENTIFYING ALTERNATE SITES, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. AND THEN WE'LL BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'LL ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
>>THOMAS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK WE HEARD FROM BOTH SIDES WE HEARD FROM WASTE MANAGEMENT. I DO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR WORK YOU'VE DONE. BUT WE HEARD ALSO FROM A PROFESSIONAL SAYING THERE IS SOME TESTING, MORE WELLS NEED TO BE PUT ONSITE. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIB YOU TAERS GOING INTO THE WALLER CREEK -- TRIBUTARIES, MAKE SURE THE DRINKING WATER IS NOT CONTAMINATED. ALSO I HAVE A LITTLE PROBLEM BECAUSE FROM NOVEMBER TO THIS POINT NO COMMUNICATION. AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAD PUT SOME EMPHASIS ON THAT I CAN REMEMBER WHEN WE VOTED ON THIS. ALSO I KNOW THAT THE -- WE HAVE LIMITED REGULATORY AND EVERYTHING, BUT WE'RE DEALING WITH A CONTRACT THAT DEALS WITH THE CITY, AND WE'RE DEALING WITH A COMMUNITY THAT IS SURROUNDING WHERE YOUR SITE IS, AND I UNDERSTAND IT WAS LONGHORN BEFORE YOU AND THERE ARE SOME BARRELS THAT ARE BURIED THAT WE ARE CONCERNED. AND I'M SURE YOU ARE CONCERNED. THOSE BARRELS ARE THERE. I'M SURE THAT YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING TO PROTECT THEM. BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH WELLS TO PROTECT THE REST OF THE SURROUNDING AREA OF YOUR LOCATION. I CONCUR WITH THE MAYOR ON THE -- CONTACTING THE TNRCC. WE HAVE HAD A GOOD RAPPORT ON PREVIOUSLY -- ON OTHER LOCATIONS BUT I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT IS VOLUNTARY, AND I KNOW THAT WE NEED TO WORK CLOSER THAN WHAT WE HAVE DONE. WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOME GREAT MEASURES, BUT THERE'S STILL SOME CONCERNS BECAUSE WHEN I HEAR FROM ONE SIDE, THEN I HEAR A PROFESSIONAL GET UP, TRUE, I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN NONE OF THIS. I TAKE FACE VALUE. BUT THERE IS A CONCERN, AND WHEN THE CITIZENS ARE STILL CRYING OUT FOR MORE TESTING, MAKING SURE THAT WE DO IT RIGHT, YOU INHERIT THE 21,000 BARRELS, WE ARE REALLY NOT SURE WHAT IT IS, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP IT MONITORED, THAT IT WON'T CONTRIBUTE TO OUR DRINKING WATER. ALSO IN THE HEALTH RISKS THAT IT DOES IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. NOT JUST CHIMNEY CREEK, NOT JUST HARRIS BRANCH, BUT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A LARGE AREA WHICH WOULD BE NORTH OF -- SOUTH OF 290. AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. AND THIS IS THE PURPOSE OF THE RESOLUTION THAT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PROPER MONITORING GOING ON. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM, WOULD YOU CONSIDER IT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO -- ACTUALLY WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE BUT COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND MAYOR PRO TEM, THAT IF WHAT WE DO IS HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT SAYS THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO CONTACT THE TEXAS NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION TO DISCUSS A PROCESS INVOLVEING THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO FACILITATE -- NOT SAYING INVOLVING THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BUT TO DISCUSS HOW TO ADDRESS SAMPLING OF THE TRIBUTARIES JUST AS YOU HAVE IN THE FIRST BULLET POINT, TO ALSO IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE SITES -- THAT WOULDN'T WORK. BUT SO WE CAN GET -- LET'S JUST GET DIRECTLY TO THE SAMPLING. LET'S JUST USE THE SAMPLING AND MONITORING AND DIRECT THE SMG TOR MAKE CONTACT WITH TNRCC AND HAVE YOUR FURTHER REDS CLAUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE -- AT LEAST ON MINE IT'S THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE AND THEN THE FINAL RESOLUTION CLAUSE AND MAKE THAT THE MOTION.
>>GOODMAN: I'M SORRY, MAYOR, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION AND THEN IF YOU WOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH TO GO BACK --.
>>MAYOR WATSON: YEAH, I GARBLED IT. I APOLOGIES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE THREE RESOLVED SECTION, BE IT FURTHER -- -- I'M SORRY. WHAT I WOULD DO IS GO AHEAD -- SUGGEST THAT WE DO IS DELETE THE FIRST -- FIRST RESOLUTION AND SAY BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO CONTACT THE TEXAS NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION TO DISCUSS A PROCESS FOR THE SAMPLING OF THE TRIBUTARIES TO WALNUT AND GILLELAND CREEKS ADJACENT TO THE CLOSED INDUSTRIAL WASTE UNIT AT THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY LANDFILL. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THE CITY MANAGE CERTIFICATE DIRECTED TO RECOMMEND FOR PART OF ININCLUES -- JUST EXACTLY AS IT'S WORDED THERE, AND THEN THE FINAL RESOLUTION. WHAT THAT WOULD DO IS NOT PRECLUDE MAYBE DOING SOMETHING LATER, BUT IT WOULD GET US TO WHAT I HEAR THE CITIZENS ASKING FOR, WHICH IS LET US DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SAMPLING AND DO IT IN A WAY WHERE THERE COULD ACTUAL BE BE SOME RESULTS FROM IT -- ACTUALLY BE SOME RESULTS FROM IT. RIGHT NOW IDENTIFYING ALTERNATIVE SITES FOR DISPOSAL OF WASTE ISN'T GOING TO HELP ANYTHING IN TERMS OF ANY MONITORING OR CLEANUP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. AND PRESENTING SERVICE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY AND WMI BEFORE EXECUTION OF OPTIONS ISN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING IN TERMS OF CLEANUP EITHER. THAT'S NOT PRECLUDED OBVIOUSLY AT LATER POINTS, BUT IT GETS US RIGHT TO THE HEART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS AND THAT IS TO GET THE TNRCC INVOLVED IF WE CAN AND THEN GO FURTHER ON THE NEXT TWO RESOLUTIONS.
>>GOODMAN: DO YOU MIND IF I HEAD DOWN TO THAT END OF THE DAIS OR A MOMENT AND CONFER?
>>MAYOR WATSON: GO AHEAD.
>>ALVAREZ: MAYOR?
>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER.
>>ALVAREZ: WOULDN'T IT BE POSSIBLE TO KEEP THAT FIRST SECTION ON THERE BECAUSE WOULDN'T THAT BE THE FIRST STEP THAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE WE CONTACT TNRCC?
>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M NOT SURE IT'S NECESSARY, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH IT. FRANKLY, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE CITY MANAGER IS PROBABLY REQUIRED TO DO AND THIS RESOLUTION IS HE'S GOING TO MAKE A REPORT TO US IN 45 DAYS. AND ACTUALLY THAT MAY PUT US INTO JULY BECAUSE OF THE COUNCILMEMBER SCHEDULE. BUT I THINK IF WE PASS IT, WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW JUST AS PART OF -- JUST AS PART OF HIS JOB HE PROBABLY IS IN A POSITION TO BE MONITORING THE -- I'M SURE THE WMI WOULD WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGER. MY PROPOSED MOTION, MAYOR PRO TEM, WHICH I HOPE YOU WILL MAKE, IS HAVE THE FIRST RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCILL, GO AHEAD AND DO THAT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING BY COUNCIL -- I HAVEN'T CALCULATED MY DAYS, BUT THE 45 DAYS MAY TAKE US INTO JULY. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TNRCC FOR DISCUSSION OF A PROCESS FOR THE -- FOR FACILITATING SAMPLING OF TRIBUTARIES. AND THEN THE NEXT TWO RESOLUTION WOULD BE THE SAME.
>>GOODMAN: I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION FOR DISCUSSION. I'M SORRY, MY BRAIN MUST BE MUSH. I'M JUST HAVING TROUBLE FOLLOWING THE FURTHER RESOLVED.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION HAS BEEN MADE. I'LL SECOND THE MOTION FOR PURPOSES OF THIS DISCUSSION. HOW CAN I -- MAYBE I'M NOT CAPABLE OF CLARIFYING IT. I'VE GIVE IT MY BEST SHOT. DO HAVE YOU A QUESTION?
>>GOODMAN: WELL, UPON LOOKING AT THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION, WE THOUGHT THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS WERE STILL OKAY TO PASS WITH THE ADDITION OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING. WHICH SORT OF IMPLIED THAT THE CITY MANAGER WOULD TALK TO TEN RECOLLECT FIRST AND WE WOULD FIND OUT IF SUCH THINGS -- TNRCC FIRST. BUT WE WOULD HAVE THE BACKUP POSITION OF IF THEY WERE UNABLE TO ABLE OR UNWILLING WE WOULD THEN MOVE INTO DOING THE EVALUATION AND WOULD HAVE SOMETHING MORE BOTH IN TERMS OF TALKING TO OUR WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT FOLKS AND TNRCC IN THE FUTURE. DO YOU MIND, MAYOR, IF I JUST READ THIS OUT LOUD?
>>MAYOR WATSON: NO MIND.
>>GOODMAN: THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION. THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION READS: WHEREAS CONTINUING CONCERNS EXIST OVER THE AMOUNT, COMPOSITION AND LOCATION IN OR NEAR THE CLOSED INDUSTRIAL WASTE UNIT AT THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY LANDFILL UP TO 21,000 BARRELS OF MATERIALLY DENT FID IN PROFESSIONAL REPORTS TO BE HAZARD DUSZ. AND WHEREAS MONITORING OF THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE UNIT IS CONDUCTED ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO TNRCC OVERSIGHT OR APPROVAL. AND WHEREAS THE PUBLIC HEALTH RISK COULD RESULT FROM INSUFFICIENT ATTENTION OR INSUFFICIENT MONITORING OF THIS AND OTHER SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SITES. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE]. FURTHER RESOFMD THE CITY MANAGER WOULD BE DIRECTED TO FIND A FISCAL YEAR NOTE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO FACILITATE SAMPLING OF THE TRIBUTARIES TO WALNUT AND GILLELAND CREEKS ADJACENT TO THE CLOSED INDUSTRIAL WASTE UNIT AT THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY LANDFILL. AND IDENTIFY ALTERNATE SITES FOR THE DISPOSAL OF THE WASTE COLLECTED PURSUANT TO EXISTING CITY CONTRACTS WITH WMI, AND REPORT -- THE CITY MANAGER WOULD REPORT HIS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCILL. ALSO TO PRESENT SERVICE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND WMI TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCILL BEFORE EXECUTION OF EXTENSION OPTIONS FOR FINAL APPROVAL. FURTHER RESOLVED THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO RECOMMEND FOR INCLUSION AS PART OF ALL SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL CONTRACTS OR RENEWALS OF SUCH CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A MONITORING PROGRAM THAT WILL INDICATE WHETHER GROUND WATER, SURFACE WATER OR SOIL CONTAMINATION IS PRESENT AT THE PROPOSED DISPOSAL SITE. AND A TERMINATION CLAUSE PROVIDING THAT THE DISCOVERY IS SUCH CONTAMINATION IS GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION OF THIS CONTRACT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO PROVIDE A REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCILL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TERMS OF THIS RESOLUTION 45 DAYS AFTER THE APPROVAL. AND TO THAT IT HAD SOUNDED GOOD TO ADD THE CONTACT AND SOLICITATION OF TNRCC SUPPORT AND PERHAPS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY FINANCED. BUT THAT WAS WHY THE RESOLUTION ALSO ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO GO SEE WHAT THAT WAS. AND IT WAS ALONG THE SAME LINES AS SOME OF THE SPOTS AROUND TOWN THAT HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED BY EITHER PREVIOUS LANDFILLS AND THINGS BEING BUILT ON TOP AND ALSO THE TANK FARM WHERE WE ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE TESTING AND TO THE DATA GATHERING AND IN FACT THAT WAS THE REASON WE HAD A SOLID POSITION WHEN WE WENT FURTHER WITH IT BECAUSE OTHER ENTITIES WERE NOT PROVIDING EITHER THE COMMITMENT OR THE WHEREWITHAL TO DO THAT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I GUESS THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY ABOUT WHAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I SUGGESTED AND WHAT YOU HAVE READ IS THAT BEFORE YOU GO INTO SOME OF THE OTHER PARTS OF THE RESOLUTION WHERE YOU ARE IDENTIFYING -- WHAT I HEAR IS NEIGHBORS SAYING IS THEY ARE INTERESTED RIGHT NOW IN GETTING INFORMATION, GETTING DATA AND KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON. THESE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE MENTIONED HERE, FRANKLY, DON'T REALLY GO TO THAT. AND WHAT CONCERNS ME ALSO IS IF IN FACT WE ARE GOING TO TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME, WHICH I THINK WE PROBABLY OUGHT TO BE DOING, IS THAT WE OUGHT TO BE DOING THAT WITH EVERYBODY. AND BEFORE YOU COULD DO THAT WITH EVERYBODY, WE NEED TO HAVE HIM RECOMMEND WHAT THE PROCESS OUGHT TO BE. I MEAN THIS IS NOT PRECLUDED, BUT IT DONL DEALS WITH WMI AT THIS POINT. WHAT I WOULD SAY IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER. IF WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT EXECUTION OF OPTIONS FOR FINAL APROOFL, THAT'S DIFFERENT THAT IN THE PAST. ACTUALLY IT MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN OUR AGREEMENT WITH WMI AND WE MAY HAVE SOME LEGAL PROBLEMS. IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT THERE LET'S DID IT WITH EVERYBODY. THAT'S WHY I PULLED THAT OUT BECAUSE OF THE QUESTIONS. SO MY MOTION WOULD HAVE US DO EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SUGGESTED, GET US TO A POINTED WHERE TNRCC IS ACTUALLY INVOLVED, IF WE CAN GET THEM INVOLVED IN ANYTHING THAT IS MEANINGFUL WITH REGARD TO SAMPLING AND MORE TO GOING, AND THEN LEAVE THE OTHER PARTS.
>>GOODMAN: OKAY, ACTUALLY I COULD SUPPORT THAT IS CORRECT ALTHOUGH I PROBABLY HAVE ANOTHER ITEM NEXT TIME WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING, A SEPARATE ONE FOR OUR WATERSHED PROTECTION.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>>THOMAS: ONE MORE QUESTION.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
>>THOMAS: ON THE TESTING AND ON THE WASTE AND CONTAMINATION, ARE YOU TESTING ON THE MUNICIPAL OR INDUSTRIAL? WHAT TYPE OF TESTING ARE YOU DOING? SDMRF PLEASE GO TO A MICROPHONE.
>> MONITORING.
>>THOMAS: MONITORING.
>> FOR OUR CURRENT PERMIT WE'RE MONITORING THE SUBTITLE D REQUIRED PARAMETERS, WHICH FALLS UNDER I GUESS THE GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF SOLID WASTE.
>>THOMAS: OKAY. SO YOU ARE NOT DOING FOR INDUSTRIAL, RIGHT?
>> WELL, THE ONLY CLARIFICATION THAT I WOULD MAKE IS SOMETHING THAT CAROLYN REYNOLDS POINTED OUT EARLIER, THAT THE ORIGINAL SUBTITLE D REQUIREMENTS UNDER E.P.A. WERE SORT OF BASED ON A GENERAL LIST THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENTS. SO THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF OVERLAP BETWEEN WHAT IS INCLUDED ON A QUOTE UNQUOTE SOLID WASTE LIST THAT WAS DERIVED FROM CONSTITUENTS AS HAZARDOUS. SO MAYBE THAT'S MUDDYING THE WATERS.
>>THOMAS: A LITTLE BIT.
>> SORRY.
>>THOMAS: THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH TEMPORARILY OFF THE DAIS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I'LL CALL UP ITEM 15 AND WE'LL TAKE IT UP WITH ITEM 36.
>>GARZA: MAYOR, IF I COULD ASK CHIEF KNEE AND BETTY DUNKERLEY TO COME IN AND DO A BRIEF PRESENTATION. MAYBE -- IS IT RICK COI THAT'S GOING TO BE DOING THIS? CHIEF COY AND BETTY DUNKERLEY ARE THE TWO STAFF MEMBERS. 15 IS A HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE ITEM AND ITEM 36 IS AN ITEM BEING PLACED ON THE AGENDA BY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE SIDEWALKS. ON SO BET YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU START.
>> THANK YOU, ON ITEM 15 WE ARE REQUESTING THE COUNCIL FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO BE ADDED TO THE CONTRACT FOR --.
>>MAYOR WATSON: EVERYONE, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING, WE CAN'T HEAR.
>> ON ON ITEM 15 WE'RE REQUESTING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR CAHA, THE MANAGER OF THE ARCH OR THE DAY RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS. WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS INCREASE SO WE CAN NOW HAVE EVENING ACTIVITIES THERE AND OVERNIGHT SLEEPING, OVERNIGHT CAMPING THROUGH THE USE OF MATS. SO WHAT WE WOULD INTEND TO HAPPEN AT OUR DIARY SOURCE CENTER NOW IS THAT IT WOULD OPEN AT 6:00 OR 7:00 FOR THE DAY ACTIVITIES, CLOSE AT 4:00, AND AT 4:00 THEY WOULD PREPARE FOR THE EVENING ACTIVITIES WITH THE MATS AND THE FOOD, ET CETERA. AND THEN OPEN AGAIN IN THE EVENING FOR THE OVERNIGHT SLEEPING. WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS VERY APPROPRIATE TO FIND SOME WAY TO SHELTER THE HOMELESS IN THE EVENINGS AND TO PROVIDE SOMEPLACE FOR SHOWERS AND RESTROOM FACILITIES SO THAT WE COULD COUPLE THAT WITH THE SIDEWALK ORDINANCE AND HAVE A -- REALLY A BALANCED APPROACH TO A PROBLEM THAT IS EFFECTING BOTH BUSINESSES AND THE HOMELESS. SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TODAY TO ADD SOME DOLLARS SO WE CAN PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR THE HOMELESS TO CAMP AND TO SLEEP UNTIL OUR PERMANENT SHELTER IS OPENED IN MAY OF '03.
>> IF WE COULD, I WOULD LIKE TO COUPLE WITH THE TWO ITEMS TO LET JOHN STEINER GIVE YOU A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SIDEWALK OBSTRUCTION ORDINANCE AND THEN CHIEF COY TO DO A FINAL PART THAT HAVE PRESENTATION BEFORE WE OPEN IT TO QUESTIONS.
>> THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE PROHIBITS SITTING OR LYING IN THE PEDESTRIAN RIGHT-OF-WAY BETWEEN THE ROADWAY AND THE ABUTTING PROPERTY, ESSENTIALLY THE SIDEWALK AND PRABS IF THERE IS A GRASSY -- PERHAPS IF THERE IS A GRASSY AREA ON THE SIDE OF THE SIDEWALK. AND THERE IS NO OFFENSE UNLESS THE PERSON PERSISTS IN THE BEHAVIOR AFTER BEING WARNED BY A PEACE OFFICER. THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES EXCEPTIONS FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, DISABILITIES, PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING OR REVIEWING AN EVENT, THE BUS STOPS AND BENCHS AND ALSO SIDEWALK BUSINESSES. THE -- LIKE ALL CITY OFFENSES, CLASS C MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY A MAXIMUM FINE OF $500 AND NO JAIL TIME. THE ORDINANCE APPLIES IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY THE AREA NORTH OF CESAR CHAVEZ AND BETWEEN LAMAR ON THE WEST AND I-35 ON THE EAST. AND AS FAR NORTH AS 29TH STREET AND THEN DOWN ALONG GUADALUPE TO 26TH STREET AND BACK OVER TO I-35. THE ORDINANCE ACCEPTS THE AREA OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS -- EXCEPTS THE AREA OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND IT HAS IT'S ONLY POLICE FORCE AND SORT OF A DISTINCT SET OF CUSTOMS FOR ORDINARY BEHAVIOR. THE -- THE DECISION TO MAKE THAT AREA BE WHERE IT APPLIED WAS BASED ON THE INCIDENCE OF DISORDER CRIME COUPLED WITH THE INCIDENCE OF HIGH PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC. IF DISORDER OFFENSES ARE PLOTTED ON A MAP, YOU SEE A HOT SPOT IN THE DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT AREA AND YOU SEE A HOT SPOT ON THE DRAG. AND EXTENDING WEST INTO THE WEST UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THAT COINCIDES VERY PRECISELY WITH THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT -- I'M SORRY, WITH THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. AND ALSO PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA AREA SO YOU ARE NOT JUST PUSHING THE PROBLEM AROUND. THAT'S ON OVERVIEW OF THE ORDINANCE. CHOF COY, IF YOU COULD HELP US CLOSE WITH THIS PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD MORNING. THE SITTING OR LYING ON A SIDEWALK ORDINANCE ACTUALLY WE COPIED FROM SEE A LITTLE, MIRRORED THE PROCESS THEY USED IN DEVELOPING THIS ORDINANCE. -- SEATTLE. NEIGHBORHOOD POLICING AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, MEET WITH -- AND TRY TO PRIORITIZE OUR ACTIONS BASED ON THEIR NEEDS. AFTER MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE UNIVERSITY AREA AND THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WE GAVE THE ORDINANCE TO THEM, ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND GIVE US FEEDBACK T FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED WAS THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR AN ORDINANCE LIKE THIS TO DEAL WITH SITUATIONS THAT OFFICERS GET CALLED TO OF PEOPLE LAYING ON THE SIDEWALK WHICH OFTEN CREATES A SENSE OF FEAR, INTIMIDATION AND DISRUPTION TO NOT ONLY THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, BUT THE VISITORS TO OUR CITY AND THE PATRONS WHO WANT TO WALK ALONG THE ROADWAYS AND STREETS WHO ARE OBSTRUCTING THEM FROM DOING SO. BASED ON THAT WE WORKED WITH LEGAL TO DEVELOP THIS ORDINANCE AND WE SEE IT AS A TOOL FOR DEALING WITH ISSUES AND PROBLEMS WE ENCOUNTER DAILY IN THE DOWNTOWN CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. BUT IT'S NOT JUST A SOLUTION BECAUSE WE FULLY SUPPORT THE SHELTER THAT WE SEE AS A TOOL ALSO FOR OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE IN DEALING WITH SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS THAT WE EVEN COUNT NER THE DOWNTOWN AREA. I MIGHT ADD THAT THE ORDINANCE IS AIMED AT MAINLY BEHAVIOR, NOT CLASSES OF INDIVIDUAL OR PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS, BUT BEHAVIOR. AND IT ONLY OCCURS AFTER A PERSON IS WARNED THAT THEY ARE IN VIOLATION OF AN ORDINANCE IF THEY DON'T GET UP AND MOVE ALONG AND CREATE A NUISANCE IN THAT AREA. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, CHIEF. LET ME CALL ON THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IN THIS REGARD IS I'M GOING TO ASK PEOPLE -- I'VE CALLED UP BOTH ITEM 15, WHICH IS -- I'VE CALLED UP BOTH ITEM 15 AND 36. 15 RELGTS TO THE RELATES TO THE TEMPORARY SHELTER. 36 RELATES TO THE ORDINANCE WE'VE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I SEE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP ON BOTH. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS REQUEST YOU TO SPEAK AS TO BOTH IN THE TIME THAT I ALLOCATE. IF SOMEBODY ONLY SIGNED UP ON ONE I'LL CALL THEM UP INDEPENDENTLY OF THAT. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE].
>> ANDY SLATER SIGNED UP IN FAVOR OF BOTH. JEFF PACE SIGNED UP IN FAVOR OF BOTH AND WROTE ON THE SIDEWALK ORDINANCE, THIS ORDINANCE IN CONJUNCTION WITH ITEM 15 IS CRITICAL TO A VIBRANT URBAN CORE MAKE IT HAPPEN. MIKE MCCONE.
>> MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M MIKE MCCONE. I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY AREA PARTNERS. WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. WE APPLAUD THE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH THAT'S BEING TAKEN HERE IN PROVIDING SHELTER AS WELL AS A MECHANISM FOR ESTABLISHING BEHAVIOR THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CIVILIZED SOCIETY WHICH WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE IN THE UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD. WE LOVE THE DIVERSITY, BUT WE DO NEED SOME ORDER, AND THIS WILL HELP US MAINTAIN SOME ORDER AND BE BEHAVIOR THAT IS NECESSARY FOR ALL OF US TO CONDUCT OUR BUSINESSES THERE. AND WITH THE SHELTER THAT WILL GIVE US A WAY OF DEALING WITH CHRONIC PROBLEMS THAT SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE. WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT -- ALONG WITH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THE COUNCIL HAS RECENTLY APPROVED. WILL GO A LONG WAYS TO REVITAL THIS AREA AND MAKE IT A VITAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND CONTRIBUTING TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: RICHARD TROXELL. MR. TROXELL SIGNED UP ONLY ON ITEM 36. WHILE HE'S COMING FORWARD, JEFF TRIGGER HAS SIGNED UP FOR BOTH ITEMS AND INDICATES ON BOTH CARDS THAT EACH ITEM IS NECESSARY FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE OTHER. JOHN NEIFLER SIGNED UP AND WRITES --
>> MR. MAYOR, I'VE GOT MR. EDDIE WHITE BEHIND ME AND MR. CHRIS LION HERE. MR. RICHARD SYLVESTERY ALL SIGNED UP AND AGREED TO GIVE ME THEIR TIME.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COULD YOU SAY THOSE NAMES AGAIN? I WAS TRYING TO READ OUR CARDS. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU AT THIS POINT. EDDIE WHITE. KRIS LION. RICHARD SILL INCREASE TERY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU HAVE UP TO 12 MRINTS IF YOU NEED IT.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. I'M RICHARD APPROXIMATE SELL, PRESIDENT OF HOUSE THE HOMELESS. I JUST HAD ABOUT FOUR BASIC POINTS WE WANTED TO MAKE HERE TODAY. WE ARE SPEAKING AGAINST THE NO SITTING, LYING DOWN ORDINANCE. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC POINTS AS TO WHY WE WOULD MAKE THESE POINTS. FIRST OFF, IT WAS STATED THAT THIS ORDINANCE HAS NO FISCAL YEAR SKBAKT. STAFF HAD PREPARED THAT. CLEARLY UNDER THE NO CAMPING ORDINANCE, WE SPENT OVER 2,000 POLICE HOURS IN THE VERY FIRST YEAR OF THE FOUR YEARS THAT THAT ORDINANCE WAS IN PLACE. WE ISSUED 4,804 TICKETS. NO FISCAL YEAR IMPACT? NO POLICE OFFICERS? I MEAN WAS THEIR TIME DONATED? WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THIS REPORT? THIS IS THE BASIC BACKGROUND INFORMATION THAT IS TO JUSTIFY THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE. CLEARLY SOMEONE HAS MISSTATED THE CASE HERE. THE SECOND POINT, IT'S BEEN STATED THAT THIS SHOULD BE COUPLED WITH ITEM 367 -- PARDON ME, WITH ITEM 15. WE DID NOT SIGN UP TO SPEAK TO ITEM 15. ITEM 15 HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS ORDINANCE. THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO NOW ESTABLISH ANOTHER 6 OR 70 SPACES FOR HOMELESS -- 60 OR 70 SPACES FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO SLEEP IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS ORDINANCE. THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS ABOUT TO PRESENT A REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN AND DEVELOPMENT AND ASSERT THAT ON ANY GIVEN DAY THERE ARE 3,977 HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. IF YOU COUNT EVERY SINGLE EMERGENCY SHELTER BED IN THIS CITY, FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN, CHIDE AND TEENAGER, IT DOES NOT AMOUNT TO 700 EMERGENCY SHELTER BEDS. HOW ARE 3,977 PEOPLE GOING TO SLEEP IN 700 BEDS? CLEARLY, AGAIN, WE ARE NOT HEARING THE BASIC FACTS. THESE TWO ITEMS DO NOT RELATE. THE FACT THAT YOU ARE NOW GOING TO ADD ANOTHER 75 SPACES FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO SLEEP DOES NOT NOW MEAN THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE. THE THIRD POINT, THE PEOPLE PROMOTING THIS ITEM ARE BASICALLY DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. AND PEOPLE THAT OPERATE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MORAL AND ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES TO BRING SUCH AN ISSUE BEFORE THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN. WE ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES ARE NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE SOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM. DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, MANY OF THEM AND THE RESTAURANTS ARE PAYING $3.35 AN HOUR TO MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS. THAT'S THE LAW. DON'T GET ME WRONG. BUT THEN THEY RELY ON YOU AND ME TO BRING THAT UP TO THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE OF $5.15 AN HOUR. $5.15 AN HOUR DOES NOT ACCESS, AFFORD ANYONE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. SO HOW ARE WE ALL ACCOUNTING AS RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF THIS -- ACTING AS RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS TO RESOLVE HAD PROBLEM? WE'RE NOT. WHAT HAS IS HAPPENING IS WE WANT RELIEF. WE WANT RELIEF NOW. SO WE'RE TAKING THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS FASHION THAT WE CAN AND WE'RE TAKING THE LEAST POLITICALLY STRONG PEOPLE AND SACRIFICING THEM AS NON-CITIZENS THE FOURTH POINT HAS TO DO WITH WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES. IT ACTUALLY CRIMINALIZES BEHAVIOR WHICH MAGISTRATE JIM CORONADO IN HIS RULING OF THE NO CAMPING ORDINANCE SAID WAS A CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED ACTIVITY. SLEEP. I HAVE THE CAUSE NUMBER IN MY HANDS AND I'LL READ THE WORDS OF THE MAGISTRATE. BEFORE I DO, THOUGH, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS WHOLE ORDINANCE IS NOTHING MORE THAN A THINLY VEILED ATTEMPT TO DO AN END RUN AROUND MAGISTRATE JIM CORONADO'S RULING ON THE NO CAMPING ORDINANCE THAT WE FOUGHT WITH TAX DOLLARS AT THE EXPENSE OF TAXPAYERS, THAT IS TO SAY, IN THIS CITY FOR FOUR YEARS. THE PETITIONERS HAVE SHOWN ON BEHALF OF THEIR CLASS OF HOMELESS -- HE PUTS THAT IN QUOTES -- THAT THE PORTION OF THE ORDINANCE WHICH RELATES TO SLEEPING IN PUBLIC OR, QUOTE, MAKING PREPARATIONS TO SLEEP, IS A VIOLATION OF DUE PROCESS. I WOULD ASSERT THAT THERE ARE THREE STAGES IN THE ACT OF PREPARING TO SLEEP. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WOULD YOU PLEASE ASSUME THE FIRST STAGE IS THE ACT OF SLEEPING? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
>> SITTING.
>> YOU ARE SITTING. THEY ARE SITTING. IT'S BEEN REPORTED THAT THEY ARE SITTING AS THE FIRST STAGE IN THE ACT OF SLEEPING. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WOULD YOU PLEASE MOVE TO THE SECOND STANL OF THE PROCESS -- STAGE OF THE PROCESS OF THE ACT OF SLEEPING? AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?
>> LYING DOWN.
>> LYING DOWN. THEY REPORT -- THE REPORT COMING BACK HERE IS THAT THEY ARE LYING DOWN. OKAY. THEY ARE LYING DOWN. THAT IS THE SECOND STAGE IN THE ACT OF THE PROCESS OF SLEEPING. THE ACT OF THE PROCESS OF PREPARING TO SLEEP, IN THE WORDS OF THE JUDGE. PLEASE PROCEED TO THE THIRD STAGE OF -- WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? THEY SEEM TO BE -- THEY ARE SLEEPING. SNORING. SO THEY HAVE ACHIEVED THE ACT OF SLEEPING. GOING THROUGH THE TWO, NOW THE THIRD STAGE OF PREPARATIONS FOR THE ACT OF SLEEPING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. CLEARLY IT WAS A SIMPLE DEMONSTRATION, BUT IT'S ONE THAT YOU AND I PRACTICE EVERY NIGHT AS HOUSED INDIVIDUALS ONCE WE DISROBE, SIT ON OUR BED, TURN, LIE DOWN ON OUR BED, CLOSE OUR EYES AND THEN SLEEP. THIS IS A THINLY VEILED END RUN ON MAGISTRATE JIM CORONADO ON THE NO CAMPING ORDINANCE. PEOPLE DO NOT SLEEP STANDING UP. HORSE AND COWS DO THAT. THESE ARE PEOPLE. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE]. IS THERE ANOTHER DANNY THOMAS HERE? OKAY, MR. THOMAS, WHILE YOU ARE MAKING YOUR WAY FORWARD. HE IS GOING TO SPEAK ON ITEM NO. 36. WHILE HE'S COMING UP CHARLES BETS SIGNED UP ON ITEM NO. 15, THE SHELTER, NOT SPEAKING BUT FOR BOTH. PLEASE PROVIDE NEEDED PUBLIC WATER PROTECTION. MR. THOMAS.
>> IN MY YEARS OF COMING HERE TO AUSTIN, TEXAS, 15 YEARS, I'VE NEVER BEEN IN ANY KIND OF TROUBLE. I HAVE ALWAYS WORKED. NEVER BOTHERED NOBODY, YES, I'M HOMELESS. I'M HOMELESS NOW. THE ANSWER TO THE HOMELESSNESS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE WITHIN THE EMPLOYMENT HERE. THE TEMP SERVICES ARE NOT GETTING IT. THE PEOPLE HERE, THE BUSINESS DOES NOT WANT TO HIRE THROUGH THE TEMPERATURE SERVICES ON ACCOUNT OF THEY DO NOT WANT TO PAY THE INSURANCE, ANY PART OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY. THIS CREATES A PROBLEM. IF THE HOMELESS DOESN'T HAVE MONEY TO SPEND, THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY TO MONEY TO MOVE IN NOWHERE, BECAUSE EVEN A CHEAP ROOM HERE THAT I HAVE LEARNED MYSELF OVER THE YEARS, IS MAYBE $500 A MONTH. ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE THAT OUT OF A TEMPERATURE SERVICE, I DON'T THINK SO. TEMP SERVICE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY THE OVERTIME IF YOU GET UP TO 40 HOURS, IF YOU GET ALL OF YOUR MONEY THEN. THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF, THEY HAVE BEEN EMBEZZLED BY TEMP SERVICES. AND I HAVE PROOF IN MY BACK POCKET RIGHT NOW. I HAVE FILES MYSELF AGAINST THEM, CLAIMS AGAINST THEM WITH THE TEXAS EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION, THEY ARE BEING MISTREATED IN THIS CITY. THIS IS MY HOME STATE, TOO, THIS IS MY HOME COUNTRY. THIS IS THE CAPITOL OF THIS STATE. AND IF THERE IS NO FAIRNESS HERE, WHERE IS IT GOING TO BE ANYWHERE IN THE STATE? OR THIS COUNTRY? WE ARE NOT A BUNCH OF NAZIS. WE MAY HAVEGER MAN STUFF, WE WERE STILL BORN AND RAISED HERE, THIS IS OUR COUNTRY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO TREAT OUR PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY ARE BLACK, WHITE, BROWN, INDIAN, YELLOW OR WHITE. THANK YOU, THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE TO SAY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. THOMAS. HELEN BARTEY? DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? SHE SIGNS UP WITH THE CAPITAL AREA HOMELESS ALLIANCE, SAYS SHE IS FOR 15. SURVEYS CONSISTENTLY REVEALED THAT SHELTERS AND HOUSING ARE THEIR FIRST PRIORITIES. PERRY LORENZ. SIGNED UP NOT SPEAKING ON ITEM NO. 36, BUT WRITES: PLEASE WE NEED IT. RICKY BIRD. MR. BIRD.
>> MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCILL, GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BE FREE, IT SEEMS THE SEASON IS BEGINNING AND THE FIRST THING OUT OF THE BAG IS THE CRYPTOFACISM TO PROTECT THE POWERFUL FROM THE POWERLESS. HAVING LOST THE POWER TO IMPRISON AND FINE THE HOMELESS FOR SLEEPING, THE CITY NOW SEEKS TO FINE AND ARREST THEM FOR STANDING, SITTING, LYING, IF I AM GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND IT RIGHT, IN A PUBLIC PLACE. LET'S EXAMINE WHAT WE HAVE HERE. I LOOSELY DEFINE THIS AS THE USAGE OF A LAW OR ORDINANCE TO OPPRESS THE FREEDOM OF A SUB GROUP THE AUTHORITIES SEEK TO CONTROL. SUCH THINGS ARE PASSED SUPPOSEDLY TO SECURE THE PUBLIC ORDER BUT ARE EASILY ABUSED ON ANY GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL THE AUTHORITIES DECIDE IS A TARGET GROUP. GENERALLY THE GROUP IS DEFINED AS AN OUTLAW GROUP BUT IT CAN BE DEFINED BY ECONOMIC STATUS, AGE OR EVEN ETHNICITY. RECENT TRENDS SHOW THE INCREASING TENDENCY TO TREAT THE POWERLESS AS AN OUTLAW GROUP. HOMELESS GROUPS ARE INCREASINGLY REGULATED BY LAW AS TO WHERE THEY CAN AND CANNOT BE. TODAY'S PROPOSAL IS A TOOL CRAFTED FOR THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. IT IS NOT SPONSORED BY ANY CITIZENS GROUP THAT I KNOW OF. ALTHOUGH I SUPPOSE YOU COULD COUNT BUSINESSES AS CITIZENS. ALTHOUGH THAT'S ANOTHER SLIPPERY DEFINITION. THIS MEANS THAT THE ORDINANCE IS SPONSORED BY A BUSINESS GROUPS REQUESTING A.P.D. BE USED AS SECURITY GUARD OR DOORMEN TO RESIST THOSE MEAN LOOKING TRANSIENTS BEFORE THEY SCARE THEIR CUSTOMERS AWAY. I SEE WHERE THE SLUMP IN BUSINESS THAT HAS BEFALLEN THE ENTIRE CITY IS NOW BEING MISFOCUSSED BY AT LEAST SOME BUSINESSES TO TARGET THE HOMELESSNESS AS THE REASON FOR THEIR SLUMP. I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THE A.P.D. NEEDS TO DEVOTE MORE ATTENTION TO PREVENTING THE RISE IN TRAFFIC FATALITIES, MURDER AND RAPE CRIMES THAT HAS RECENTLY OCCURRED IN THE CITY. IF, AND IT'S A BIG IF, THE HOMELESS ARE POSING A PROBLEM, CANNOT THE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION GARNER ITS OWN SECURITY FORCE? WHY SHOULD A DEMOCRATIC CITY POSTURE ANOTHER QUESTIONABLE AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL LAW AGAINST THIS WHOLLY REGULATED PORTION OF THE PEOPLE? POSING AN ORDINANCE OF DUBIOUS EFFECT AND NO MERIT IS WHY THIS COUNCIL SHOULD REJECT THIS PROPOSAL. IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK. [BUZZER SOUNDING]
>> THANK YOU, MR. BIRD, THOSE ARE ALL OF THE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 15 AND 36. LET'S GO FIRST TO ITEM 15, WHICH IS AS I'VE INDICATED THE TEMPORARY SHELTER. COUNCIL, LET ME ASK -- WHY DON'T WE JUST GET A MOTION FIRST. IS THERE A MOTION -- MOTION IS TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER. THERE IS A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NO. 15? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH ABSENT. ITEM NO. 36, --
>>THOMAS: MAYOR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
>>THOMAS: I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE POSTPONE FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS TO GET MORE CLARITY AND LEGAL [INAUDIBLE] RELATING TO THE UNCONSTITUTE OF NO SLEEPING AND NO CAMPING ORDINANCE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I WILL RECOGNIZE THAT MOTION. I WILL CALL FOR A SECOND. BEFORE I CALL FOR A SECOND, WHAT I CAN INDICATE IS ALSO THAT BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THAT MOTION, THAT WE COULD TAKE THAT UP IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND ALLOW FOR A DISCUSSION OF THOSE ITEMS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. IF THAT IS THE WISH OF THE COUNCIL. AND I PROBABLY AT THE TIME I CALL FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL DO THAT IF THERE IS IN FACT A DESIRE TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM, IF THAT -- IF THAT -- PUT IT OFF FOR TWO WEEKS, PARTICULARLY SINCE WE HAVE JUST PASSED A -- ONE ASPECT OF -- OF THIS OVERALL AGENDA. IS THERE A SECOND?
>>GOODMAN: I WILL SECOND, MAYOR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE?
>>GOODMAN: JUST ONE THING. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT REALLY THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF THIS MEANT THAT IT WAS A -- A TWO-WEEK EXPECTATION ANYWAY BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE SHELTER WILL BE READY. I MAY HAVE BEEN WRONG ON THAT, BUT THERE ARE SOME LANGUAGE ISSUES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, TOO.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. ARE THOSE LANGUAGE ISSUES THAT COULD BE TAKEN CARE OF IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? LANGUAGE ISSUES THAT BE DONE AS PART OF A LEGISLATIVE INTENT OF THE ITEM?
>>GOODMAN: YES.
>>MAYOR WATSON: WITH THE WAY THAT -- IF THIS ITEM WERE TO PASS, IT BEING AN ORDINANCE, IF IT IS NOT PASSED ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS, THEN IT WOULD NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE ANYWAY FOR 10 DAYS. I SUPPOSE THAT WE COULD ALSO AS PART -- AS -- HE'S GETTING READY TO CORRECT ME.
>> THE DRAFT ORDINANCE IS EFFECTIVE DATE IS SEPTEMBER THE 1ST.
>>MAYOR WATSON: SO IT WOULDN'T BE EFFECTIVE IN TWO WEEKS ANYWAY. IT WOULDN'T BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST, THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE TWO WEEK CONCERN THAT -- WITH REGARD TO THE CORRESPONDING IT TO THE OPENING OF THE SHELTER. THE MOTION -- COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, IT'S A MOTION TO POSTPONE, DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE?
>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, WE'VE HAD THIS EXPLAINED PRETTY THOROUGHLY LEGALLY. I THINK IF COUNCILMEMBERS WANT TO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO FURTHER DISCUSSION IT. THAT'S ENTIRELY PROMOTE, BUT I AM READY TO MOVE FORWARD TODAY. I LOOKED AT THESE TWO ITEMS AS COM PAN I DON'T KNOW PIECE -- COMPANION PIECES TO AN OVERALL APPROACH AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAD CONSTRUCTED THE STAFF TO DO. SO I AM GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD TODAY. I HAVE SOME MORE COMMENTS ON WHY AFTER WE VOTE ON THIS MOTION IF IT FAILS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE?
>>THOMAS: WELL, MAYOR --
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?
>>THOMAS: I NEED SOME CLARITY ON THE ORDINANCE AS FAR AS THE -- THE SLEEPING ORDINANCE -- I MEAN THE -- ON THE NO SLEEPING AND THE CAMPING, BUT NOW IF WE ARE GOING TO BE HONEST, I THINK WE SAID THAT WE WERE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE SHELTERS WERE COMPLETED BEFORE WE BROUGHT THIS ORDINANCE BACK.
>>MAYOR WATSON: WHAT WE SAID WAS --
>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, CAN I ANSWER THAT --
>>THOMAS: EXCUSE ME --
>>MAYOR WATSON: HE'S NOT -- GO AHEAD.
>>SLUSHER: AFTER HE'S DONE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS HAS THE FLOOR. I THOUGHT YOU WERE --
>>THOMAS: I THINK WHAT WE DID. IF WE NEED IT CLARIFIED I WILL PULL THE RECORD, BUT I THOUGHT WE HAD AN AGREEMENT THAT ONCE THE SHELTERS WERE COMPLETED THAT WE WOULD COME BACK WITH THE ORDINANCE AS FAR AS THE SLEEPING ORDINANCE. THE REASON FOR IT IS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE, I THINK I STATED THIS BEFORE, PUTTING PEOPLE IN JAIL IS NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEMS THAT WE DO HAVE OPPORTUNITYTHINK WHAT WE NEED -- THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN. I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SHELTERS ARE COMPLETED, LIKE I WAS TALKING TO BETTIE DUNKERLY, PROPER SERVICES TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SLEEPING AND HAVING DIFFERENT TYPE OF PROBLEMS, ALCOHOLIC PROBLEMS, DRUG PROBLEMS, THAT WAS THE CONCERN THAT I THOUGHT WE HAD ALL. I DON'T SEE WHY WE CAME BACK FOR THIS ORDINANCE JUST THIS QUICK AND WE HAVEN'T COMPLETED OUR SHELTERS. THE MEN AND WOMEN'S SHELTER.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MULTIPLE RLY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, I'M SORRY IF I MISUNDERSTOOD YOU. I DID CALL AND HAVE THE ORDINANCE ACTUALLY CHANGED TO REFLECT WHAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT SO THAT THE ORDINANCE WOULD NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL SEPTEMBER. OUR HOMELESS MEN'S SHELTER IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN AUGUST. AND THE WOMEN'S SHELTER IN SEPTEMBER, SO THAT'S WHY I ACTUALLY HAD THEM CHANGE THE DATE IN THE ORDINANCE TO REFLECT THAT. SO IF I MISUNDERSTOOD YOU, I'M SORRY.
>>THOMAS: I UNDERSTOOD THAT PART BUT SEPTEMBER IS SEPTEMBER. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE COMPLICATIONS. I THINK ONCE WE COMPLETE THE BOTH SHELTERS, THEN I WOULD BE WILLING TO COME BACK AND PASS THE ORDINANCE. COMPLETED AND READY TO MOVE IN.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER THEN I'M GOING TO CALL FOR A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE.
>>SLUSHER: OKAY. WELL, MAYOR, I WAS GOING TO BASICALLY SAY WHAT MS. DUNKERLY DID, THIS IS NOW STRUCTURED THAT IT GOES INTO EFFECT ACTUALLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THE SHELTERS ARE AVAILABLE. I ALSO THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WHAT CHIEF COY SAYS IS THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS AIMED AT THE BEHAVIOR OF INDIVIDUALS, NOT AT SOMEONE BEING HOMELESS. AND WE HAD INSTRUCTED THE STAFF TO COME BACK WITH -- WITH MORE SHELTERED SPACE FOR FOLKS BEFORE WE PASSED AN ORDINANCE LIKE THIS. AND THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. SO TO HEAR WHAT SOUNDED LIKE TO ME A CHARGE OF -- THAT THERE'S DISHONESTY GOING IN REALLY TROUBLES ME BECAUSE THE -- BECAUSE THE STAFF DID EXACTLY WHAT WE ASKED THEM TO DO. AND IF YOU WOULD LOOK AT THE-- AT THE LETTERS THAT CAME TO US, I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS READ THEM OR NOT, FROM FOLKS THAT LIVE AND WORK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, SEE THERE'S A KEY DISTINCTION HERE BETWEEN FOLKS THAT ARE HOMELESS AND FOLKS THAT ARE JUST MAYBE HOMELESS AND ARE BEHAVING IN AN IRRESPONSIBLE AND DISRESPECTFUL AND EVEN THREATENING WAY TO OTHERS. THESE LETTERS ARE PACKED WITH EXAMPLES OF THERE BEING LOUD ARGUMENTS UNDER FOLKS WINDOWS AT NIGHT, PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING DOWNTOWN. THAT'S ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF THIS COUNCIL IS TO GET PEOPLE TO LIVE DOWNTOWN. WE NEED TO TRY TO MAKE IT A LIVABLE ENVIRONMENT THROUGHOUT THE AREA. THERE'S -- THE REPEATED INSTANCES IN THESE LETTERS OF LOUD ARGUMENTS AND FIGHTS. HARASSMENT OF OTHER CITIZENS. ESPECIALLY WOMEN. EVEN HARASSMENT OF OTHER HOMELESS PEOPLE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE SEEN MYSELF ANYWAY IS THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS ARE SOMETIMES PREYED UPON BY OTHER HOMELESS PEOPLE. SO TO ME IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS SAYING THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS -- IS DIRECTED AT THE HOMELESS. WE HAVE SUPPORTING THIS ORDINANCE THE SALVATION ARMY, WHICH IS OVER 100 YEARS OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS, ST. DAVID'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH WITH A LONG HISTORY OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS. SO I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD ON THIS BALANCED APPROACH THAT WE ASKED THE CITY STAFF TO COME UP WITH. WHICH THEY HAVE COME UP WITH AND WHICH THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS SUPPORTED.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M GOING TO ONE QUICK COMMENT AND THEN CALL FOR A VOTE. [INAUDIBLE]
>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM?
>>GOODMAN: THE REASON THAT I WAS WILLING FOR A POSTPONEMENT IS BECAUSE I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT LANGUAGE. BUT IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, FOR ME IT MAY NOT BE NECESSARY TO POSTPONE THE VOTE IF I CAN GET MY QUESTIONS ABOUT LANGUAGE ANSWERED HERE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: WHY DON'T WE DO THAT. MR. STEINER WHY DON'T YOU COME UP. WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS INTERESTING IN DOING, I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN HER MOUTH, BUT BASED UPON OUR DISCUSSIONS, SHE WANTS TO WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE LANGUAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE TO BASICALLY CREATE A LEGISLATIVE INTENT IN TERMS OF THE CLARITY ON SOME OF THIS. IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD. CHIEF COY ARE YOU STILL HERE? THERE YOU ARE. AS IS CHIEF KNEE. I UNDERSTAND. CHIEF COY YOU MIGHT WANT TO COME UP AS PART OF THIS, SO IT'S NOT JUST A LAWYER TALKING, BUT AN ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE WHEN SHE ASKS THESE QUESTIONS. WHILE YOU ARE DOING THAT, THOUGH, I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE MY BRIEF STATEMENT AND GO TO YOU. THAT IS MANY PEOPLE DO REMEMBER WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROCESS, THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, SOME DON'T, THAT'S OKAY, WE TEND TO HAVE SHORT MEMORIES, SOME OF US MAYBE DON'T TRY TO REMEMBER. BUT WHAT HAPPENED THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO IS WE PUT FORWARD A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM THAT WE CALLED A SELF SUFFICIENCY AND RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM. AND IT WAS WORKED OUT WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, SOME OF WHICH COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER JUST IDENTIFIED SERVED AS PART OF THAT. TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE A BALANCED APPROACH. SOMETIMES THE BALANCE FALLS OUT OF WHACK, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. BUT WE HAVE HAD BETTER SUCCESS IN THE PAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS THAN WE CERTAINLY HAD IN THE PREVIOUS, PRIOR TO THAT THREE AND A HALF YEARS, THE THREE AND A HALF YEARS UP TO THAT POINT. BECAUSE WE WEREN'T TRYING TO DO IT IN AGAIN NATION, -- COMBINATION, COMP HENCE CIVIL, COMPASSION -- COMP HENCIVELY -- SAYING WE ARE GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AS A CITY, WE ARE GOING TO REQUIRE THERE ALSO BE A RESPONSIBILITY FROM OTHERS AS PART OF THAT. THAT'S BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE COUNCIL. MANY TIMES OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE WITH THAT PROCESS. THE SECOND THING THAT I AM GOING TO SAY IS THAT AT LEAST WITH REGARD TO THE MOTION TO POSTPONE, IS I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN A MOTION TO POSTPONE AND SAYING THE REASON TO DO THAT IS BECAUSE THERE MAY BE QUESTIONS ABOUT -- ABOUT THE LEGALITIES WHEN IT HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY VETED AND -- IT'S BEING RECOMMENDED TO US BY OUR LEGAL COUNSEL AND THEN SAYING, WELL, REALLY, LET'S WAIT UNTIL CERTAIN TYPES OF SHELTERS ARE OPENED BECAUSE THOSE REALLY AREN'T CONNECTED. THAT'S PARTICULARLY TRUE WHERE IT'S WRITTEN IN SUCH A WAY IT WILL BE CONNECTED THE ORDINANCE DOESN'T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL THOSE SHELTERS ARE OPENED. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
>>GOODMAN: BEFORE I GO INTO LANGUAGE, I WILL JUST SAY THAT THIS WAS -- THE SHELTER WAS REALLY A COMPANION PIECE TO THE CAMPING BAN AND THE CHANGE WE MADE TO THAT LANGUAGE. SO ALTHOUGH THE BALANCE, YOU ARE RIGHT, HAS ALL THESE COMPONENTS IN IT, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATCH UP THIS ORDINANCE SO MUCH AS IT DID THE CAMPING BAN AND OUR AMENDMENT TO THAT. NOW, BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT -- THAT FOR FOLKS WHO ARE NOT IN ON TODAY'S DISCUSSION, WHO JUST READ THIS ORDINANCE AND THEN TRY TO INTERRUPT BOTH WHAT IT IS, WHAT THEY -- AND/OR WHAT THEY WOULD ENFORCE, PART B, I MEAN PART 1:00, SECTION B, -- PART 1, SECTION B, SEEMS TOO BROAD BRUSH EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE TRIED TO BE VERY SPECIFIC. IT'S A WHOLE LOT MORE SPECIFIC THAN USUAL. WHEN IT SAYS "IN AREAS WITH HIGH PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC AND A HIGH INCIDENCE OF PETTY CRIME RELATED TO PUBLIC DISORDER, INDIVIDUALS SITTING OR LYING IN THE PEDESTRIAN RIGHT-OF-WAY." I DON'T KNOW IT'S KINDS OF AN UNSENTENCE IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. SO -- SO IS IT THAT IT'S -- IT SHOULD TELL YOU INDIVIDUALS SITTING OR LYING IN SUCH A WAY THAT -- THAT CONTRIBUTES OR GIVES RISE TO A SENSE OF FEAR, INTIMIDATION AND DISORDER?
>> B IS A SINGLE SENTENCE, YET IT IS NOT A PROHIBITION. IT'S A FINDING. WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT IN AN AREA, THE HIGH PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC OR A HIGH INCIDENCE OF PETTY CRIME, ENGAGING IN THIS BEHAVIOR CONTRIBUTES TO A SENSE -- IN OTHER WORDS, COUNCIL IS MAKING A FINDING THAT THIS BEHAVIOR CONTRIBUTES TO A SENSE OF FEAR, DISRUPTS RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND CUSTOMERS, DISCOURAGES THE FREE PASSAGE OF PEDESTRIANS AND CONTRIBUTES TO THE LOSS OF ACCESS AND ENJOYMENT OF A PUBLIC PLACE. THIS IS -- THIS IS IN A RESOLUTION THIS WOULD BE A WHEREAS. THINGS NOT -- THIS PARTICULAR PROVISION EXPLAINS, IS INTENDED TO EXPLAIN THE COUNCIL'S REASON FOR ENACTING THE ORDINANCE, IT DOES NOT IN EFFECT AFFECT A PROHIBITION OR LIMIT THE PROHIBITION THAT THE ORDINANCE AFFECTS.
>> TELL ME WHERE YOUR SENTENCE IS THEN.
>> YOU SEE AFTER THE WORD WAY THERE'S A COLON, THEN -- THEN YOU HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, CONNECTED BY AN AND. SO -- SO THE SENTENCE COULD BE WRITTEN WITHOUT THE 1, 2, 3, 4, BUT IN AN ORDINANCE WE DO THAT TO SORT OF BREAK IT OUT, MAKE IT EASIER TO READ. BUT IT'S -- WHAT IT'S SAYING IS THAT THE COUNCIL FINDS THAT THE BEHAVIOR PROHIBITED BY THIS ORDINANCE DISRUPTS THE PUBLIC IN THIS WAY. BUT IT DOESN'T -- THIS PARTICULAR SENTENCE DOESN'T AFFECT THE PROHIBITION OR LIMIT THE PROHIBITION. IT'S JUST STATING THE COUNCIL'S REASON.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ACTUALLY, NOW THAT I HEAR THIS GIVE AND TAKE, MAYOR PRO TEM I THINK BOTH OF YOUR -- BOTH OF YOU ARE SAYING THE SAME THING. LET ME SEE IF I CAN'T MAKE IT CLEARER. IN SUB PART A IT SAYS THE CITY COUNCILL FINDS AND THEN IT LISTS 1, 2, ET CETERA. B DOESN'T INDICATE IT IS A FINDING. WHAT MIGHT COULD HAPPEN IS INSTEAD OF HAVING -- IS THERE A C? YEAH, THERE IS A C. IF WHAT YOU WOULD DO IS YOU WOULD SAY --
>> I COULD PUT THE WORDS --
>>MAYOR WATSON: THE COUNCIL FINDS.
>> I COULD PUT THAT IN FRONT OF B AS WELL.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I THINK THAT IS WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS SUGGESTING IS THERE'S A LACK OF CLARITY THERE. RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE THE COUNCIL FINDS THERE'S A COMPELLING INTEREST IN 1, 2, 3, 4. IF B SAYS THAT THE COUNCIL FINDS THE CITY HAS A COMPELLING INTEREST OR THE COUNCIL FINDS, YOU COME UP WITH -- THE COUNCIL FINDS THAT, IN AREAS WITH HIGH PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC AND HIGH INCIDENCE, THEN YOU HAVE MADE IT THE KIND OF SENTENCE THAT HAS GREATER CLARITY. DOES THAT SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM MAYOR PRO TEM?
>>GOODMAN: SORT OF. I WAS ALSO TRYING, WHEN WE GET TO SECTION D, IT SEEMS -- SEEMED TO ME LIKE THAT WAS THE PLACE WHERE ALL OF THIS LIST SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND SO I WAS TRYING TO REFER BACK, BUT HAVE A COMPLETE GRAM TICKCAL -- GRAMMATICAL SENTENCE THERE SOMEWHERE.
>> THEN WHAT IS ITEM D.
>> A PERSON COMMITS AN OFFICE IF HAVING -- ALL WILL LIST OF STUFF IS OVER IN B.
>> THOSE THINGS IN B ARE NOT ELEMENTS OF THE OFFENSE.
>> OKAY. THEN I'M TOTALLY AT SEA. NOT THE LETTER C. S-E-A.
>> THE OFFENSE IS TO SIT OR LIE DOWN IN THE SIDEWALK IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AFTER A POLICEMAN HAS TOLD YOU THAT THAT'S NOT PERMITTED. IT DOESN'T -- AND EXCEPT FOR E, WHICH ARE THE EXCEPTIONS, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHY YOU ARE SITTING IN THE SIDEWALK OR WHY YOU ARE LYING DOWN IN IT. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT UNDER THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN THAT YOUR PARTICULAR SITTING OR LYING HAS CAUSED ANY FEAR OR INTIMIDATION OR DISRUPTION.
>>GOODMAN: I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN. OKAY, YOU ARE COMMITTING AN OFFENSE WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE BEING INTIMIDATING OR BLOCKING ACCESS.
>> RIGHT. YOU ARE COMMITTING AN OFFENSE BY SITTING OR LYING DOWN IN THE SIDEWALK IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AFTER BEING WARNED.
>>GOODMAN: WHY IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THE REASONS THAT LEGITIMATELY YOU COULD SAY THAT SITTING ON THE SIDEWALK WAS BAD, AND THEN YOU ARE GOING TO SAY BUT HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
>> THE -- THE FINDINGS EXPLAIN THE COUNCIL'S REASON FOR GENERALLY FINDING THAT SITTING OR LYING DOWN IN THE SIDEWALK IS DISRUPTIVE TO PUBLIC ORDER. BUT THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT REQUIRE THE PROSECUTOR OR THE ARRESTING OFFICER TO PROVE UP THAT THE PARTICULAR INCIDENCE OF SITTING OR LYING ACTUALLY CAUSED FEAR IN ANY PARTICULAR PERSON OR INTIMIDATION IN ANY PARTICULAR PERSON. IT WOULD -- TO DO SO, I THINK, WOULD MAKE THE ORDINANCE EFFECTIVELY UNENFORCEABLE. BECAUSE YOU COULD -- YOU COULD ALMOST NEVER MAKE THAT SHOWING IN COURT.
>>GOODMAN: WELL, OKAY, MY --
>> WITH RESPECT TO A PARTICULAR INCIDENT.
>>GOODMAN: MY ASSUMPTION WAS VERY DIFFERENT. NOT BEING THE LAWYER IN THE HOUSE, I'M ALSO SPEAKING JUST AS A BYSTANDER WHO MIGHT BE SITTING ON THE CURB OR SOMETHING SOME DAY AND NOT UNDERSTAND WHY SIMPLY BY DOING THAT THAT WAS AN OFFENSE OF SOME KIND. WHAT I THOUGHT OUR PURPOSE AND FOCUS WAS, HAD TO DO WITH NOT ONLY THE FEAR AND INTIMIDATION, THAT SORT OF A THING. BUT THE BLOCKING ACCESS, OBSTRUCTING PEDESTRIAN ACCESS, AND SO BEING A THREAT TO -- TO SAFETY AND PUBLIC WELFARE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO WALK DOWN A -- A PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY AND ARE UNABLE TO DO SO. SO WHY WOULDN'T -- I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE LIST OF ISSUES UNDER B WAS HERE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME SEE IF I CAN -- IF I CAN HELP ON THIS. THE COUNCIL WOULD MAKE A FINDINGS IN AREAS WHERE YOU HAVE HIGH PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, YOU HAVE A HIGH INCIDENCE OF PETTY CRIME RELATED TO PUBLIC DISORDER, THAT IN THOSE AREAS IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE SITTING OR LYING ON A SIDEWALK, THEN THAT GIVES RISE OR CONTRIBUTES TO A SENSE -- GIVE RISE OR CONTRIBUTES, SAME KIND OF -- MEANS THE SAME THING UNDER THIS SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, A SENSE OF FEAR, INTIMIDATION, DISORDER, CAN BE DISTURBING, DISRUPTIVE, ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SO THAT WHAT HAPPENS THEN IS THE COUNCIL WOULD BE TAKING A POSITION THAT WITH THE EXCEPTIONS THAT ARE LISTED THERE, IN PART E, THAT IN -- IN AN AREA OF HIGH PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC AND A HIGH INCIDENCE OF PETTY CRIME RELATED TO PUBLIC DISORDER, YOU CAN'T SIT OR LIE ON THE SIDEWALK. EXCEPT IN THOSE INSTANCES THAT ARE OUTLINED. IT IS NOT -- YOU CAN'T DO THAT. YOU CAN'T SIT OR LIE ON THE SIDEWALK. BUT YOU DON'T COMMIT AN OFFENSE UNLESS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER NOTIFIES YOU, IF YOU ARE SITTING OR LYING ON THE SIDEWALK, THAT YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SITTING OR LYING ON THE SIDEWALK. AND THEN YOU PERSIST IN THAT BEHAVIOR. SO THE WAY THIS IS BEING DONE IS WE ARE SAYING THAT IN A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA, WE YOU MAKE A -- WE MAKE A FINDING THAT SITTING AND LYING ON THE SIDEWALK RESULTS IN CERTAIN THINGS, SO THAT YOU CAN'T SIT OR LIE THE SIDEWALK, BUT THEN YOU ARE NOT -- YOU ARE NOT COMMITTING AN OFFENSE UNLESS YOU ARE FIRST NOTIFIED BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THAT YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
>>GOODMAN: I UNDERSTAND. I JUST THOUGHT THE POINT WAS SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AND THIS SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT ARBITRARY. THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT IS NOT WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO. MAYBE IT'S WHAT SOMEBODY SET OUT TO DO. BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS TO PREVENT OBSTRUCTION, HASSLING --
>>MAYOR WATSON: IT IS.
>>GOODMAN: BLOCKING ACCESS. BUT IF YOU ARE JUST GOING TO SAY SOMEBODY CANNOT SIT ON THE SIDEWALK, I MEAN, SOMETIMES TAKE A LOOK DOWN 6TH. IF YOU ARE WALKING ALONG, THERE ARE NOT PLACES FOR YOU TO SIT. SO SOMETIMES FOLKS WHO MEET EACH OTHER IN THE STREET SOCIALIZE FOR A LITTLE BIT ON THE CURB. OR AROUND THE CORNER. THEY ARE NOT INTIMIDATING. THEY ARE NOT PAN HANDLING. THEY ARE NOT HASSLING. THEY ARE NOT BLOCKING ACCESS, THEY ARE NOT PREVENTING ANYONE FROM GOING TO BUSINESSES. BUT THEY ARE SITTING ON THE SIDEWALK. SO -- SO THEY ARE BREAKING A LAW EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING --
>>MAYOR WATSON: NO, THEY ARE NOT BREAKING THE LAW.
>>GOODMAN: THEY ARE SITTING ON THE SIDEWALK. NO BENCH OR ANYTHING, JUST FLAT ON THE SIDEWALK.
>> THEY DON'T BREAK THE LAW, THEY DON'T COMMIT THE OFFENSE THAT'S DEFINED HERE UNTIL A PEACE OFFICER APPROACHES THEM, SAYS "I'M SORRY, BUT THE SIDEWALKS IN THIS AREA, IN THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS AREA, ARE DESIGNED TO TRANSIT, FOR MOVEMENT. SO YOU WILL PLEASE NEED TO GET UP AND MOVE ALONG." THEN THEY SAY, "NO, WE ARE NOT GOING TO. " THAT IS THE OFFENSE.
>>GOODMAN: CAN WE CHANGE THAT THEN. THEY ARE SITTING ON THE SIDEWALK, IF AN OFFICER IS AROUND, HE WILL OR SHE WILL COME SAY, "YOU CANNOT DO THAT." > YES, MA'AM, THAT IS THE OFFENSE THAT I DEFINED HERE.
>>GOODMAN: THAT'S WHAT I AM SAYING IS KINDS OF BROAD BRUSH FOR INSTANCES THAT DON'T COME INTO WHAT I THOUGHT WE WERE TRYING TO PREVENT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHY IT'S WRITTEN THAT WAY, MINOR. IS IT'S WRITTEN THAT WAY SO IF YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE WAITING ON ME TO MEET YOU IN FRONT OF A -- TO GO EAT ON SIXTH STREET. AND I'VE STOOD YOU UP AND I'M 15 MINUTES LATE, NOT REALLY STOOD YOU UP, BUT I'M JUST LATE, AND YOU SAY, YOU KNOW, "HE'S DONE IT TO ME AGAIN, I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN HERE ON THE CURB." YOU ARE PROBABLY NOT UNDER THAT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES GOING TO -- WELL, FIRST OF ALL YOU ARE FOR THE BY DEFINITION IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW. WHILE YOU ARE DOING THAT. JUST UNLESS A POLICE OFFICER COMES FORWARD AND FRANKLY THE REASON WE MAKE THE FINDINGS WE MAKE IS SO THAT THAT SAYS TO THE POLICE OFFICER -- IF SOMEBODY IS SITTING THERE ON THE CURB WAITING ON SOMEBODY, THAT IS NOT CONTRIBUTING TO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU HAVE JUST OUTLINED AND THAT'S WHY WE MAKE THE FINDINGS SO THAT THERE'S A BASIS FOR THE PEACE OFFICER SAYING IT'S TIME, YOU HAVE TO MOVE ON.
>>GOODMAN: THANKS, MAYOR, I GET IT. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT WE WERE DOING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M -- I FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE DOING. SO THAT WE ARE NOT IN A SITUATION WHERE THE NEXT TIME I INVITE YOU TO LUNCH AND I DON'T SHOW UP FOR 15 MINUTES YOU ARE IN TROUBLE.
>>GOODMAN: OKAY. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST FINISH MY LAST TWO QUESTIONS OF LANGUAGE. OKAY. NUMBER 2, WHEN WE SAY DISTURBING, ARE WE SPEAKING DIRECTLY ABOUT NOISE, OR IS THERE OTHER DISTURBING AND DISRUPTIVE TO RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND CUSTOMERS. I NOTICE WE HAVEN'T REALLY TRIED TO DEFINE PEOPLE ON THE STREET AS A CATEGORY. BUT SO WHAT DOES DISTURBING MEAN? OR WHAT KIND OF THINGS?
>> WELL, FOR EXAMPLE, A PERSON MIGHT -- IF A PERSON IS -- IS WALKING DOWN SIXTH STREET OR FIFTH STREET, LATE AT NIGHT, AND SEES A -- SEES A GROUP OF PEOPLE SITTING AGAINST A BUILDING, IT MAY BE THAT -- THAT THEY WOULD BE INTIMIDATED AND DECIDE THAT MAYBE THEY HAD BETTER NOT GO THAT WAY. THEY MAYBE BETTER TURN AROUND AND GO ANOTHER WAY. SO THERE IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE LOUD. IT'S -- IT'S MERELY -- MERELY THE BEHAVIOR ITSELF MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO A SENSE OF DISORDER AND CAUSE PEOPLE TO FEEL LESS FREE AND OPEN ABOUT USING THE PUBLIC SPACES OF THE CITY.
>>GOODMAN: OKAY, THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE TOO SUBJECTIVE TO ME. ISN'T THERE ANY OTHER SPECIFIC THAT YOU CAN THINK OF?
>> YOU DON'T LIKE THE WORD "DISTURBING"? I KNOW LAWYERS LIKE THAT KIND OF WORD LIKE REASONABLE AND DISTURBING, IT'S UP TO WHOMEVER, THOUGH.
>> I CAN TAKE THAT WORD OUT IT WOULD SAY OR DISRUPTIVE. I CAN TAKE "DISTURBING AND" OUT OF THE SENTENCE.
>>GOODMAN: DOES ANYBODY HAVE HEART BURN WITH THAT?
>>MAYOR WATSON: IF WE EVER GET TO A MOTION ON THIS, I WILL ASK THAT THE MOTION TO TAKE OUT THE WORD "DISTURBING." IT DOESN'T DISTURB ME AT ALL. [LAUGHTER].
>>GOODMAN: I'M GLAD. THE -- THE OTHER ONE IS CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOSS OF ACCESS TO AND ENJOYMENT OF PUBLIC PLACES. I THOUGHT THAT OUGHT TO BE A LITTLE MORE HARD HITTING. A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC, TOO. AND SAY SOMETHING LIKE BLOCK OR MAKE DIFFICULTY OF ACCESS. OR ACTUALLY TURNING THAT -- THAT LITTLE -- THE LAST NUMBER 4 AROUND GRAMMITACALLY A LITTLE BIT. THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT, WOULD BE, I'M ASKING, TO BLOCK OR TO MAKE ACCESS DIFFICULT --
>> RIGHT. IN NUMBER 4 I WAS ACTUALLY NOT THINKING NECESSARILY ABOUT PHYSICAL BLOCKING. BUT IN FACT THE ATMOSPHERE OF ADVERTISE ORDER IN PLACES THAT KEEPS -- ATMOSPHERE OF DISORDER IN PLACES THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM USING THEM. BUT IF YOU WANT THAT TO BE MORE LITERAL --
>>MAYOR WATSON: IT CAN BE BOTH. MAYOR PRO TEM, SINCE THIS IS A FINDING OF THE COUNCIL, I THINK WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS EXACTLY RIGHT. THAT IS LET US AS PART OF THE FINDINGS AND BEFORE WE VOTE, TALK ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THE COUNCIL IS DOING WHEN IT SAYS CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOSS OF ACCESS AND ENJOYMENT OF PUBLIC PLACES. THAT HAS, AS I HEAR -- I HEAR TWO PARTS. PART 1 OR PART A IS THAT BECAUSE OF -- BECAUSE OF A -- AFTER CONTRIBUTION IN THE SENSE OF FEAR AND INTIMIDATION, DISORDER, BECAUSE OF CONDUCT THAT MAY BE GOING ON, THERE IS A LOSS OF ACCESS AND ENJOYMENT OF THAT PUBLIC PLACE. HANG ON.
>> IF I CAN MAKE A SUGGESTION.
>>MAYOR WATSON: SURE.
>> IN NUMBER 3, ABOVE 4, IT SAYS DISCOURAGE THE FREE PASSAGE OF PEDESTRIANS. I COULD SAY DISCOURAGE OR BLOCK THE FREE PASSAGE OF PEDESTRIANS.
>>GOODMAN: THEN I WOULD ASK YOU IF THAT WAS OKAY WITH YOU, WHAT ABOUT DISCOURAGE THE FREE PASSAGE OR BLOCK OR INHIBIT FREE PASSAGE?
>> ABSOLUTELY ALL RIGHT. DISCOURAGE THE FREE PASSAGE OF PEDESTRIANS OR DISCOURAGE -- WHAT WERE YOUR WORDS?
>>MAYOR WATSON: SAY IT AGAIN, MAYOR PRO TEM.
>>GOODMAN: BLOCK OR MAKE DIFFICULT OR INHIBIT.
>> TO DISCOURAGE THE FREE PASSAGE OF PEDESTRIANS OR BLOCK OR MAKE DIFFICULT --
>>MAYOR WATSON: DISCOURAGE BLOCK OR INHIBIT. THE FREE PASSAGE OF PEDESTRIANS.
>>GOODMAN: WE CAN LEAVE OUT DIFFICULT.
>> IT WOULD READ DISCOURAGE THE FREE PASSAGE OF PEDESTRIANS OR BLOCK --
>>MAYOR WATSON: NO.
>> NO?
>>MAYOR WATSON: DISCOURAGE, BLOCK OR INHIBIT THE FREE PASSAGE OF PEDESTRIANS.
>> YES, SIR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: DOESN'T THAT GET TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING?
>>GOODMAN: YES, SIR.
>> DISCOURAGE, BLOCK OR INHIBIT THE FREE PASSAGE OF PEDESTRIANS.
>> OKAY.
>>GOODMAN: OKAY, I'M OKAY. I FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE AN END RUN AROUND JUDGE CORONADO'S RULING.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THE MOTION IS TO POSTPONE FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS. THE VOTE WILL BE ON A MOTION TO POSTPONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED NO?
>>SLUSHER: NO.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THE MOTION TO POSTPONE FAILS ON A VOTE OF 2. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND FOUR IN OPPOSITION. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NO. 36.
>>SLUSHER: MAYOR I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL WITH THE AMENDMENTS MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. DISCUSSION?
>>ALVAREZ: MAYOR?
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.
>>ALVAREZ: I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE. I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN BRIEFLY WHY. AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT MAYOR PRO TEM WENT THROUGH TO -- TO TRY TO CLARIFY I GUESS WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE CONDITIONS AND WHEN A VIOLATION WOULD OCCUR. BUT I DON'T KNOW I THINK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SITTING AND LYING IN THE SIDEWALK. IF THERE IS NO SAFETY CONCERN, I THINK THAT'S -- FOR ME THAT'S THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS IF SOMEONE'S SAFETY IS BEING THREATENED AND I THOUGHT WE ADDRESSED THAT VERY WELL THROUGH THE AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION ORDINANCE JUST A FEW MONTHS BACK. AND THAT'S WHY I WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT IS BECAUSE WHAT WE WERE SAYING IS IF THERE'S BEHAVIOR IN TERMS OF SOLICITATION, THAT -- THAT THREATENS OR CREATES FEAR AND IN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THEN -- IF WE CAN AVOID SOMETHING FROM ESCALATING TO A POINT WHERE YOU HAVE -- WHERE YOU HAVE AN ASSAULT OR SOME KIND OF AGGRAVATED CRIME, THEN I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE OBLIGATED TO DO. BUT I DON'T REALLY SEE THAT COMPELLING SORT OF SAFETY SORT OF CRITERIA HERE FOR THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE. I DO REMEMBER WHEN WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS, BACK WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION ORDINANCE, WE DID SAY -- SEVERAL OF US DID SAY WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SIDEWALK ORDINANCE UNLESS OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A MOVEMENT TOWARDS ADDRESSING, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE OTHER ISSUES. AND I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT -- WHAT PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY SAID UNTIL THERE'S A SHELTER BUILT OR NOT OR X NUMBER OF BEDS. BUT IN MY HEAD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS UNTIL WE GET A MORE COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO -- TO THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ADDING 70 BEDS OR 60 BEDS, WHATEVER IT IS, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I STILL DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S NECESSARILY ENOUGH FOR US TO THEN SAY, WELL, ALL OF THESE SIDEWALKS OR PUBLIC PLACES ARE AREAS WHERE YOU. I THINK IT'S BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A HUGE PROBLEM AND HAVING SERVED ON THE COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK, WE DEAL WITH A LOT OF ISSUES LIKE HOMELESSNESS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF NEED AND WE HAVE -- WE HAVE COME UP WITH SOME GREAT STRATEGIES FOR HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE NEEDS. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY CAN'T ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS ALONE. I THINK THAT THERE REALLY IS A ROLE FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO PLAY IN THISA LOT OF OTHER HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE ISSUES. THAT'S FOR ME I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHEN I SEE MORE -- AGAIN MAYBE US BEING FURTHER ALONG IN TERMS OF HOW WE DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?
>>THOMAS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I NEED TO SAY. ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ IS THAT IF -- IF I REMEMBER, I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS ORDINANCE ONCE WE HAD EVERYTHING COMPLETED. THE BEDS, REALLY IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT WE DO HAVE. I THINK WE HAVE TO WORK ON THE PROBLEM ITSELF. FIND DIFFERENT WAYS, DIFFERENT TREATMENTS, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND HOPEFULLY THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY PUSHING FOR THE ORDINANCE WOULD COME IN AND DO -- DO PRIVATE AND -- PUBLIC AND PRIVATE VENTURES TO ENDEAVOR US TO TRY TO HELP US SOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS DOWNTOWN AREA. I WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS -- THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE OF THAT AND ON TOP OF THAT, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE IS THAT THERE'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM AND THIS IS NOT DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM. THIS IS DEALING WITH MAYBE HELPING ONE PROBLEM WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO JUST GET RID OF THE SITUATION, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUING -- CONTINUING VENTURE, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE GOING ON AND ON. WE HAVE HOMELESS. IT'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOMELESS AND THE STREET PERSON. WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE OR DISTURBANCE, THERE CAN -- IT COULD BE A STREET PERSON DOING THAT. IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE HOMELESS. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING TO SUPPORT THE HOMELESS TO GET THEM IN SHELTERS AND GET THEM INTO MAYBE SOBRIETY CENTERS, ET CETERA, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TAKEN CARE OF SO WE CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF A GREATER DEAL THAN JUST PUTTING THEM IN JAIL.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION MADE AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE ITEM. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE.
>> OPPOSED NO.
>> NO.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF 4 TO 2. WITH COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH BEING ABSENT. IT PASSES ON FIRST READING. THE COUNCIL -- WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS -- IS GO NEXT -- TO ITEMS 23 THROUGH 25, WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IS AT 1:30 WE WILL STOP, I TELL YOU WHAT, LET ME TRY SOMETHING ELSE. LET'S GO TO ITEM NO. 29, -- 29, 42, AND SEE IF THAT TAKES US -- IF WE ARE BETTER ABLE TO ALLOCATE OUR TIME SO THAT WE HAVE THOSE TAKEN CARE OF AND THEN AT 1:30, WE WILL GO TO OUR 1:30 TIME CERTAIN, COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, MAY I CALL ON YOU FOR 29.
>>SLUSHER: I SPOKE ON THIS, I DON'T SUPPORT IT, THAT'S WHY I PULLED IT JUST TO VOTE NO.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT, IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM NO. 29?
>>WINN: MOVE APPROVAL, MAYOR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, IS THERE A SECOND?
>>THOMAS: SECOND. SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF FOUR -- PASSES ON SECOND READING ON A VOTE OF 4 TO 2, WITH ONE ABSENCE AND THE TWO VOTING NO ARE THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER. THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM NO. 42, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
>>SLUSHER: MAYOR MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, I WILL MOVE APPROVAL.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER MOVES APPROVAL, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON ITEM NO. 42? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED NO. MOTION CARRIES.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL, I DON'T SEE ANY WAY FOR US TO FINISH THE REMAINING ITEMS BETWEEN NOW AND 1:30, WHAT I WILL DO IS CALL FOR A NOTION. AND AT 1:30, WE WILL TAKE UP THE GENERAL CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS. MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES, WE ARE IN RECESS UNTIL 1:30. PAT BUCHANAN, GRAM GRAM MATHEMATICALLY, GRAM MATIC, GRAM MATHEMATICALLY,
>> I WILL CALL THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCILL BACK TO ORDER, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS GENERAL CITIZENSS COMMUNICATIONS, JENNIFER GALE? JENNIFER GALE? COUNCIL, I NEED A QUORUM. FOLKS TO ORDER, IF EVERYBODY WILL TAKE A SEAT. COUNCIL I NEED A QUORUM. DON'T ASK, YOU MIGHT GET WHAT YOU ASK FOR. TEST TEST TEST TEST THIS IS A TEST,
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL, WE NEED A QUORUM. I CALL THE CITY COUNCILL BACK TO ORDER, JENNIFER GALE.
>> HI AUSTIN, CITY MANAGER JESUS GARZA, CITY ATTORNEY, MAYOR KIRK WATSON, COUNCILMEMBERS, WILL WYNN AND RAUL ALVAREZ.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS IS ALSO PRESENTS IN THE CHAMBERS.
>> I AM HERE TO DISCUSS MY PLAN TO LEGALLY, PEACEFULLY OVER THROW THE AUSTIN GOVERNMENT, GREATER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, USING THE RULES OUTLINED IN THE AUSTIN CITY CHARTER. I'M JENNIFER GALE, A CAN GATE FOR THE GOVERNOR FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS, PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, DESPITE THEIR DESIRE TO SELF DESTRUCT. I'M ALSO A CANDIDATE O -- CANDIDATE FOR THE MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN. IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK FOR DESIGNING NEW GOVERNMENT THAT IS OPERATED BY THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN. AND NOT BY THE GREATER AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. YOU MAY PASS SOME OF YOUR IDEAS ON TO ME BY USING THE INTERNET. MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS JENNIFERGALE AT USA POINT NET. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND YOUR IDEAS TO CREATE A NEW GOVERNMENT THAT REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN. TO CONVENIENT IF HER GALE AT SA.NET. I WANT TO REPRESENT ALL POSSIBLE CONSTITUENCIES, TO REPLACE THE CURRENT SET OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT REPRESENT 660,000 AUSTINITES WHERE THEY REPRESENT ONLY THE WEALTHY FEW. MY SUGGESTION TO HAVE A CITY HALL OVERLOOK THE COLORADO RIVER SO EVERYONE ENJOYS AUSTIN'S BEAUTY INSTEAD OF AN OUT OF PLACE, OVERPRICED BUILDING IN FRONT OF CESAR CHAVEZ ON THE FIRST STREET BRIDGE. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE, WHETHER YOU ARE UNDER 10 OR 110 YEARS OF AGE EYEING RETIREMENT. IF IT'S TRIVIAL OR EARTH SHAKING, SEND YOUR IDEAS TO ENGINE IF HERGALE@USA.NET. I WILL FASHION A CHARTER INITIATIVE TO REPLACE OUR GOVERNMENT. JENNIFERGALLEY AT USA.NET. WITH A SPEAKER FROM LEADERSHIP AUSTIN A GROUP THAT IS NOW LOOKING FOR TAXES -- TAX EXEMPT STATUS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS AN ARM OF THE GREATER AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I WOULD STAND UP HERE AND TELL YOU STORY, AFTER STORY AFTER STORY ET CETERA ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD WITH WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR GOVERNMENT. THE PROPOSALS OCCURRING AT THE AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MAY LEAVE THEM IN POWER, A FOUR YEAR MAYOR, ONLY 10 REPRESENTATIVES ON THE COUNCIL AND A MASSIVELY GROWING PROBLEMATIC CITY OF AUSTIN? WHERE IS OUR MAYOR? MAYOR KIRK WATSON DOESN'T OFTEN SHOW UP FOR MEETINGS, LET ALONE TAKE ON LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS. I NEED VOLUNTEERS TO COLLECT SIGNATURES, YOU MAY VOLUNTEER AT JENNIFERGALE@USA.NET.
>> I REQUEST 30 SECONDS.
>> UNLESS THERE IS A MOTION TO ALLOW JENNIFER GALE? HEARING NO MOTION, THANK YOU, MA'AM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GUS PENA.
>> YES, SIR, GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCILL MEMBERS, EAST AUSTIN CONCERNED HISPANIC, ALONG WITH MY CHILD LUCIO WHOSE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL WAS YESTERDAY FROM DAWSON ELEMENTARY. NUMBER ONE, I WOULD ACCORDING TO THE -- TO OUR ISSUES TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET EARLY ON AND I WOULD REQUEST HOPEFULLY FOR NEXT YEAR THAT THE -- AT LEAST THERE BE SOME DOCUMENTATION FROM THE CITY TO DISCUSS EARLY ON THE BUDGETARY ISSUES. THIS BUDGETARY CYCLE IS GOING TO BE A -- A VERY, VERY TRAUMATIC PSYCH KEL BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE LOSS OF FUNDING. BASICALLY I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOUSING ISSUES. WE HAVE ENTITIES SUCH AS THE GNDC CORPORATION, CORPORATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT PROVIDES TRANS DENT TALL HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT -- TRANSIENT HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED THEM. WE RESPECTLY REQUEST THE CITIES LOOK INTO THOSE ENTITIES AND HELP FAMILIES WHO ARE LIVING IN MOTELS, FAMILIES WHO ARE NOT -- DON'T HAVE ANY KINDS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS. FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT NEED A HAND UP. NOT A HAND OUT. THE -- THE LAST THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THIS: IS THAT WE NEED TO STRONGLY LOOK AT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT BUDGET. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT PURCHASING -- WE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT PURCHASING PROPERTY, WE DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE, EVEN MAINTENANCE FOR THE EXISTING PARKS AND PARKLAND. LET ME SEE. THE LAST ITEM IS JUST A SPECIAL REQUEST FROM ME TO THE COMMUNITY AND MY CHILD, MY FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE TEACHER WHO WAS MY TEACHER AT ZAVALA ELEMENTARY IS NOT VERY WELL. AND I'M ASKING ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HER FORMER STUDENTS AT ZAVALA TO COME OVER AND JUST CALL HER AND SAY YOUR PRAYERS FOR MRS. GENE COLVIN WHO WAS ONE OF THE LEADERS IN EAST AUSTIN WHO TOOK US TO THE MOVIES WHEN IT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND TOOK US TO HER HOUSE WHEN THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN THE '50'S, SHE'S A TRUE STRONG LEADER AND A CHRISTIAN. I WOULD ASK EVERYBODY TO PLEASE SAY YOUR PRAYERS FOR HER. I WOULD SAY MY PRAYERS FOR THE COUNCIL, ALSO, YOU ALL ARE GOING TO NEED IT IN THE BUDGETARY PSYCH. I APPRECIATE -- CYCLE. WE TALK ABOUT HOME OWNERSHIP, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE CAN'T AFFORD IT. ANYWAY, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PENA. JIMMY CASTRO.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCILMEMBERS AND MS. FUTRELL. I DO HAVE SLIDES TO SHOW YOU. I AM HERE TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THIS YEAR'S CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK TELETHON ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY JUNE 2ND AND 3. THIS YEAR THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF AUSTIN RECEIVED A SPECIAL GIFT, A $1 MILLION DONATION FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE CHILDREN'S SURGERY CENTER AN THE CHILDREN'S REGIONAL HEART PROGRAM. THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF AUSTIN PEDIATRIC RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDES A WELL ROUNDED BALANCED TRAINING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR COUNTRY'S FONDEST MEDICAL SCHOOL GRADUATES. THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AND THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF AUSTIN IS WHERE YOUNG PHYSICIANS CAN TRAIN AND PREPARE THEMSELVES PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY FOR THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE IN THE 21ST CENTURY. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE CHILDHOOD CANCER AND BLOOD DISORDER CENTER, INCLUDING THE PARK. THE SPECIALTY CARE CENTER. THE COMBINED EXPERTISE OF QUALIFIED IF IICIANS COVERS -- PHYSICIANS COVERS EVERY MEDICAL NEED THAT A CHILD MAY NEED. FINALLY, WHAT REALLY MAKES CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF AUSTIN DIFFERENT IS PEOPLE. PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE CHALLENGED AND TO GROW PROFESSIONALLY. PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN AND FOSTER TEAMWORK. PEOPLE WHO CAN LEAVE WORK EACH DAY KNOWING THEY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD. THIS IS WHAT MAKES CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF AUSTIN DISTINCT. THIS IS WHAT MAKES CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF AUSTIN A CLASSIC. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. ASTRO. -- MR. CASTRO. PAT? I'VE GIVEN UP.
>> YOU SAID IT SO WELL LAST TIME. I'M PAT VALLS-TRELLES. I'M A MEMBER OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION, HOWEVER I AM HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF AND NOT THE COMMISSION. MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMEMBERS, I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE NO-KILL PLAN, THE MASTER PLAN FOR ANIMAL SERVICES EAST AUSTIN AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE THREE. AS YOU KNOW, YOU ADOPTED A NO-KILL PLAN IN THE SUMMER OF 1998. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, YOU APPROVED THE CONTRACT FOR $160,000 FOR A MASTER PLAN FOR ANIMAL SERVICES. THAT MASTER PLAN WILL INCLUDE LOOKING AT WHETHER A NEW FACILITY WILL BE BUILT OR PERHAPS MORE THAN ONE FACILITY. IN FEBRUARY OF 1998, DR.PAT RANDALL, WHO WAS THE CHAIR OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION AT THAT TIME, DID A STUDY OF THE SHELTER DATA AND HE FOUND A CLEAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF INCOMING STRAYS FROM LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT THERE WERE MORE STRAYS COMING IN FROM LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS AND HE ALSO FOUND A LOWER RATE OF PEOPLE RECLAIMING THOSE ANIMALS FROM -- FROM EAST AUSTIN AND LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS COMPARED TO THE HIGHER INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE -- THE RETURN TO OWNER RATE IS AS LOW AS 12% IN REGIONS OF LOW INCOME AND AS HIGH AS51% IN REGIONS OF HIGHEST INCOME. THE NO-KILL PLAN WHICH YOU APPROVED IN '98 CONTAINS ABOUT 71 GOOD IDEAS BUT THEY ARE NOT PRIORITIZED AND THEY DO NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE JUST MENTIONED ABOUT THE -- ABOUT THE LOWER RETURN TO ANIMAL RATE IN EAST AUSTIN. IN 1998, IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE PLAN COULD USE IMPROVEMENT AND I BELIEVE THAT -- THAT ONE REFINEMENT THAT CAN TAKE PLACE IS TO -- (MICROPHONE PROBLEMS)
>> I THINK WE CAN DO THAT THROUGH THE MASTER PLAN THAT THE CONTRACTORS ARE WORKING ON AND I WOULD LIKE THEM TO BEGIN WORKING ON THIS BECAUSE BACK WHEN WE DID THE NO-KILL PLAN, WE WOULD BE DOING IT BY VOLUNTEERS WHEREAS NOW THE MASTER PLAN IS GOING TO PAY THEM $125 AN HOUR TO ANALYZE DATA AND I BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO -- TO USE THIS MONEY AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I HAVE A BIG CONCERN THAT THE MASTER PLAN MAY RECOMMEND THAT THE SHELTER BE MOVED AND IN ORDER TO GET ENOUGH LAND FOR ITRONIX WILL BE MOVED FURTHER AWAY FROM EAST AUSTIN. I BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE NOT ONLY GOING AGAINST THE SMART GROWTH PRINCIPLE OF KEEPING PEOPLE AND BIG BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN, BUT ALSO PLACING THE SHELTER FARTHER AWAY FROM EAST AUSTIN. ON JUNE 18TH THE ARCHITECTS WILL BE MEETING WITH THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION AT 6:00 P.M. I INVITE YOU TO CONTEND. IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND DUE TO YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE, I ASK YOU TO SENDS ONE OF YOUR AIDES. IF THAT CAN'T HAPPEN, EITHER, I ASK YOU TO BE IN TOUCH WITH [BUZZER SOUNDING] YOUR -- MAY I FINISH?
>>MAYOR WATSON: JUST THAT THOUGHT.
>> I ASK YOU TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR REPETITIVE ON THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR A FULL REPORT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>>AYOR WATSON: SUZANNE ALMANZA. NOT HERE? DR.SYLVIA HERRERA. THANK YOU, PAT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WATSON, CITY COUNCILL MEMBERS. I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT TWO NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS. LAST YEAR PODER KICKED OFF A CAMPAIGN IN THE MONTOPOLIS AREA THAT ADDRESSED 100 ACRES OF SINGLE FAMILY ZONED LAND LOCATED ON RIVERSIDE AND FRONTIER VALLEY DRIVE. THE AUSTIN JOCKEY CLUB IS PROPOSING TO LOCATE A HORSE RACETRACK AND A 25,000 SQUARE FOOT CLUBHOUSE RESEMBLING FACILITIES LIKE -- LIKE IN LAS VEGAS. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO PUT A HORSE RACETRACK IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA? IN THE CORE OF THE CITY? PODER SEES THIS PROJECT AS A CLEAR CASE OF ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM. AND IN FACT THE RESIDENTS OF MONTOPOLIS AND THEIR MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN VOTED TO KEEP THIS 100 ACRES FOR DESPERATELY NEEDED HOUSING. A PETITION WITH OVER A THOUSAND SIGNATURES WAS SUBMITTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON MAY FIRST OF THIS YEAR DURING THE REVIEW OF THAT MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN. WE ARE GLAD TO SEE THAT THE CITY IS CONSIDERING PURCHASING THIS PROPERTY AND THESE WERE SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT PODER HAD MADE ON NUMEROUS INDICATIONS. HOWEVER, WE ARE -- NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT PERHAPS THE CITY COUNCIL MIGHT CONVERT THIS LAND TO COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT INSTEAD OF HOUSING. AND WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADHERE TO THE DESIRES OF THE MONTOPOLIS COMMUNITY AND BUILD LOW INCOME HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I'M ALWAYS -- I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES WITH THE GOVALLE PLANT AND IN FACT THE GOVALLE PLAN HAS BEEN ON HOLD FOR OVER NINE MONTHS, AND HOW THAT'S IMPACTING MY COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT PODERR HAD ADDRESSED SEVERAL YEARS AGO HAD TO DO WITH THE ZONING OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS THAT ARE IN FACT ZONED INDUSTRIAL. WE HAD STARTED THE ROLL WILLBACK ZONING ON THESE -- ROLLBACK ZONING ON THOSE PROPERTIES, BUT WE WERE TOLD WE COULD NOT CARRY THOSE FORWARD UNTIL OUR GOVALLE PLAN WAS FINALIZED. YET NOW WE ARENT COUNTERING THAT -- WE ARE ENCOUNTERING THAT WE HAVE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ON HOLD AND THESE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE ACTUALLY SUBMITTED VALID PETITIONS, WANTING AND REQUESTING THAT THEIR PROPERTIES BE ROLLED BACK TO SINGLE FAMILY, WHICH IS THE ACTUAL USE OF THESE PROPERTIES, IS -- IS ALSO ON HOLD. SO WE ARE REALLY IN -- IN LIMBO ALL THE WAY AROUND. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO -- TO GO AHEAD AND PROCEED WITH THOSE ZONING CASES THAT HAD BEEN INITIATED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. [BUZZER SOUNDING] THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC] JOHN SANFORD, FOLLOWED BY BRENDA CUNNINGHAM AND JOSE QUINTERO.
>> MAYBE AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'M JOHN SANFORD, THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY ALLIANCE OF NORTH HAYS COUNTY. WE ARE A PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COALITION OF COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE HAYS CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. I'M HERE AGAIN TO ADDRESS YOU ABOUT THE AUSTIN E.T.J. WHICH NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE FUTURE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEIDERWALD, KYLE AND BUDA. IT IS PARTICULARLY PUNITIVE TO THE CITY OF BUDA SINCE IT PRACTICALALLY SURROUNDS BUDA. IT'S RIGHT AND PROPER THAT BUDA TAKE THE LEAD AMONG THE HAYS COUNTY CITIES TO HAVE THIS E.T.J. REMOVED FROM OUR AREA. THE COMMUNITY ALLIANCE SUPPORTS BUDA MAYOR GRAY AND THE CITY OF BUDA'S EFFORTS TO HAVE 8,000 PLUS ACRES OF THE AUSTIN E.T.J. REMOVED FROM AROUND BUDA. TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR, THE BUDA REQUEST ON THE TABLE INCLUDES ALL OF THE LAND EAST OF I-35, YET IS CURRENTLY PART OF THE AUSTIN E.T.J. AS OF THIS DATE THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AUSTIN CITY COUNCILL, HAS NOT VOTED ON A REALISTIC PROPOSAL TO RELEASE ANY LAND AROUND BUDA. THE CITY OF AUSTIN DID VOTE ON A PROPOSAL PREVIOUSLY TO A PARTIAL RELEASE OF 5400 PLUS ACRES. THIS PROPOSAL WAS MEANINGLESS AND OF NO EFFECT BECAUSE THE CITY OF AUSTIN ADDED TWO CONDITIONS TO THIS PARTIAL RELEASE. THAT MADE THE PROPOSED RELEASE IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH. BECAUSE OF THIS, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE WITH EVEN THE MOST LIMITED UNDERSTANDING OF NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS TO BELIEVE THAT AUSTIN HAS ANY -- HAD ANY REALISTIC OFFER ON THE TABLE. THE PROPER WAY TO PLACE AN OFFER ON THE TABLE IN THIS CASE IS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO VOTE ON A PROPOSED RELEASE THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE IMPLEMENTED AND SEND THAT DOWN TO THE CITY OF BUDA. TODAY MAYOR GRAY ASKED ME TO GIVE YOU THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF BUDA NEGOTIATING TEAM THAT WILL BE FINALIZING AN AGREEMENT ON THE E.T.J. RELEASE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THEY ARE ON THE SHEET THAT I HAVE HANDED OUT TO YOU, WITH A SHORT BIOON EACH PERSON APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR. I WISH I WISH YOU SUCCESS. I HAVE ALSO INCLUDED A POLITICAL CAR FINALLY THIS AFTERNOON FROM THE KIM NEWSPAPER ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. I LOOK AT IT EVERY DAY. THE CARTOON THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS REPRESENTED BY THE JOB OF THE H.U.D. -- JAVA THE HUT TYPE FIGURE. PRINCESS LEAH IS CAPTURED WITH A CHAIN AROUND HER NECK. COWBOY WITH HAYS COUNTY, REPRESENTS HER RESCUER. HE COULD EITHER BE A LUKE SKY WALKER OR SOMEONE IN A COWBOY HAT I SUPPOSE. THE MAIN THING IS THE MEANING IS CLEAR, THIS POLITICAL CARTOON GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ITS ACTIONS AS YOU ARE OFTEN VIEWED BY THOSE OF US WHO LIVE SOUTH OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY LINE. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO -- IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY, BUT REMEMBER IF YOU ONLY WANT TO OFFER A PARTIAL RELEASE OF THE E.T.J. LAND EAST OF I-35, TO MANY OF US YOU WILL STILL BE THE JABBA THE HUT IN THIS CARTOON AND WE WILL STILL BE THE COWBOYS COMING BACK FOR THE REST OF PRINCESS LEAH AT A LATER TIME. I BELIEVE IT MAKES GOOD SENSE TO SETTLE IT ALL NOW. WE DON'T NEED TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT ON THIS IN THE FUTURE. GOOD LUCK FOR THE BUDA NEGOTIATING TEAM.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. BRENDA CUNNINGHAM. BREND DAN CUNNINGHAM. JOSE QUINTERO. FOLLOWED BY ERIKA GONZALES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS JOSE QUINTERO, I'M WITH THE GREATER EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. LAST YEAR I -- LAST WEEK I HAD DESCRIBED HOW GENTRIFICATION IS CAUSING PEOPLE TO LOSE THEIR HOMES AND DRIVING OUT LONG-TIME RESIDENTS IN THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD. I ALSO TOLD YOU THAT THERE WAS A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT COMBINED THEIR RESOURCES TO HELP THEMSELVES TO THE PROPERTIES THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE LOSING. TODAY I WANT TO TELL YOU A REAL STORY OF A YOUNG PEOPLE THAT LOST THEIR HOME WHEN THEY OWNED LESS THAN $-- WHEN THEY OWED LESS THAN $20,000 AND HOW NONE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HELPED, NOT THE CHURCH, NOT THE PEOPLE GENTRIFYING THE AREA, NO ONE HELPED. I ALSO HAVE DOCUMENTATION THAT I WILL LEAVE WITH YOU THAT PROVES WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY IS TRUE. IN 1993, MANUEL HERNANDEZ AND HIS YOUNG FAMILY LOST THEIR HOME AT 100 EAST 8TH BECAUSE OF A TAX JUDGMENT AND FIVE YEAR BALLOON NOTE OF 16,000 ON THEIR HOUSE. THEIR MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF THEIR HOME WAS $380, THAT'S AFFORDABLE. BY THE END OF THAT YEERKS ROBERT HILTON OF JR INVESTMENT PURCHASED WITH IT A CASHIER'S CHECK FOR $19,000 AT THE COURTHOUSE STEPS. THIS INDIVIDUAL HAS PURCHASED OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE SAME WAY. BY 1995 THE HOUSE HAD BEEN REMODELLED SO AS THE PRICE OUT OF EVERY HOUSE ON THE BLOCK, HE RAISE $THE FIRST FLOOR, PUT A BASEMENT AND ADDED THREE STORIES. BY MARCH 30TH, 2000, ROBERT HILTON WAS MARKETING THE HERNANDEZ HOME AS THE BEST DEAL NEAR DOWNTOWN FOR $475,000. ON JUNE 6TH, 2000, ROBERT HILT TON SOLD THE HERNANDEZ HOUSE FOR $450,000. ROBERT HILTON HAS NO FAMILY HISTORY IN THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD, HE DOESN'T EVEN LIVE EAST OF I-35, MUCH LESS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE PROPERTY HAD BEEN HANDED DOWN TO MANUEL HERNANDEZ FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER. MANUEL HERNANDEZ AND HIS YOUNG FAMILY STILL LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THEIR HOME IN A SMALL APARTMENT IN THE BACK OF A HOME OWNED BY THEIR RELATIVES. THEY ARE REMINDED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR HOME EVERY DAY. I WANT THE GET INDICATION COMMITTEE TO CHECK THE APPRAISALS OF ALL OF THE AN BLOW AMERICANS WHO HAVE MOVED INTO THE -- ANGLO AMERICANS WHO HAVE MOVED INTO THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD WITHIN THE LAST 10 TO 15 YEARS. THEY WILL LEARN THESE PEOPLE ARE NO DUMMIES, BECAUSE THEY GET HISTORICAL MARKERS AND PAY LESS THAN 100% THAN WE POOR MEXICANS PAY IN PROPERTY TAXES. WE SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS'S RESOLUTION TO APPOINT A CITIZEN TASK FORCE TO STUDY GET INDICATION. I WANT TO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, MR. QUINTERO. ERIKA GONZALES.
>> [SPEAKING IN SPANISH] [SPEAKING IN SPANISH] [SPEAKING IN SPANISH] MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCILL MEMBERS, GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS ERIKA GONZALES, I'M AN INTERN WITH PODER. I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY TO REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCILL MEETINGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN ENGLISH BE TELECAST IN SPANISH. WE HAVE NOT BEEN EXTENDED THE SAME COURTESY LIKE OTHER GROUPS, SUCH AS THE HEARING IMPAIRED. YET THE SPANISH SPEAKING POPULATION IS THE FASTEST GROWING AS INDICATED BY THE 2000 CENSUS WITH 31% OF THE POPULATION IN AUSTIN IS MEXICAN. THE NEED TO DISSEMINATE PUBLIC INFORMATION IN SPANISH HAS GROWN SO GREAT THAT EVEN PRESIDENT BUSH IS DOING HIS WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS IN WEEKLY AND IN SPANISH. ALREADY THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TELECASTS ARE -- TELL CASTS THEIR PUBLIC MEETINGS IN BOTH LOSGUAGES. WE KNOW THAT THIS SHOULD BE DONE AND WE KNOW THAT YOU WOULD TAKE OUR REQUEST AND ACT ON IT IN A TIMELY MARGIN. PLEASE RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST BY THE END OF -- BY THE END OF MAY. PLEASE RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER. PLEASE CALL US AT 472-9921 WITH ANY QUESTIONS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>>MAYOR WATSON: THOSE ARE ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP FOR THE GENERAL CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS. THAT WILL TAKE US NEXT TO ITEMS 23 THROUGH 25. COUPLE, I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. THE WAY THAT I ANTICIPATE, IF YOU WILL RECALL, WE HAVE ALREADY PASSED THIS ON FIRST READING. WE HELD THE PUBLIC HEARING, BECAUSE OF SECOND AND THIRD READING, WE WILL NOT BE TAKING ADDITIONAL PUBLIC TESTIMONY. BUT ON ITEMS 23 THROUGH 25, THE WAY THAT I AM GOING TO TAKE THESE UP, IS CALL FOR A SINGLE MOTION BUT ASK COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ TO WALK THROUGH WITH MS. GLASGO, TRACTS ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. SO THAT THERE'S CLARITY ABOUT WHERE WE ARE ON THOSE TRACTS. FIRST COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, LET'S ASK HE HAS ANYTHING, THEN I WILL RECOGNIZE MS. GLASGO.
>>AT WE ARE DOING IS JUST 25 RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE -- BECAUSE IF I WASN'T CLEAR BECAUSE I'M TALKING ABOUT ZONING. MS. GLASGO.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M ALICE GLASGO TO PRESENT THE -- TO PRESENT THE BETTER TRACT ZONING REPORT. WHEN YOU APPROVED THIS CASE ON FIRST READING, I'M GOING TO NOW SUMMARIZE FOR YOU WHAT YOU APPROVED AT FIRST READING AND I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH ALL OF THE TRACTS THAT -- THAT WERE APPROVED, STARTING OFF WITH TRACTS 1 THROUGH 7. ON ONE AND TWO YOU ZONED THE PROPERTY CSMU WITH USES THAT ARE ALLOWED IN THAT ZONING DISTRICT WITH THE OVERLAY OF NCCD. EVERY ZONING ON THE PROPERTY THAT IS GOING TO BE ZONED WILL HAVE THE OVERLAY THAT PROVIDES THE MODIFICATIONS ALLOWED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION COMBINING DISTRICT. YOU HAVE A MEMO IN FRONT OF YOU THAT IS FROM -- FROM MARSHA CONNER DATED MAY 15TH, THAT MEMO DETAILS ALL OF THOSE -- ALL OF THOSE ITEMS THAT YOU MIGHT FOLLOW WITH ME. I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL OF THE CONDITIONS, JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS ON TRACTS ONE AND TWO. YOU HAVE CSMU, NCCD, THE BUILDING HEIGHT IS LIMITED TO 200 FEET EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST 30 FEET SOUTH OF 11TH STREET. THAT IS LIMITED TO 60 FEET. THE COMBINATION OF TRACTS 1 AND 2 ARE COMBINED BUT LIMIT BUILDINGS TO A MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF 120 FEET FOR AN EQUIVALENT OF 50% OF I-35 FRONTAGE. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE CONDITIONS THAT -- THAT ARE OUTLINED. THERE'S A REQUIREMENT TO HAVE 10% OPEN SPACE, 5% OF HOUSING SHALL BE REASONABLY PRICED, ON OR OFF-SITE FOR THE AREAS WITHIN THE ZIP CODE OF 78702 AND 78722. ON TRACT 3, THE ZONING IS GOING TO BE CS-MU, WITH AN NCCD OVERLAY. SOME USES ARE PROHIBITED AND THE HEIGHT HERE IS LIMITED TO 80 FEET EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST 30 FEET, NORTH OF EAST 9TH STREET. THAT IS GOING TO BE LIMITED TO 50 FEET. AGAIN THESE ARE -- THERE'S A REQUIREMENT FOR 10% OF THE SITE TO HAVE OPEN SPACE, AGAIN HOUSING THAT A REQUIREMENT OF PROVIDING 5% OF REASONABLY PRICED HOUSING WITHIN THE ZIP CODES THAT I SITED -- CITED EARLIER. TRACTS 45, 6, THE ZONING WILL BE CS-MU-NCCD, EXCEPT THAT THIS ALLOWS ONLY RESIDENTIAL USES WITHIN 60 FEET IN THE AREA ADJOINING SAN MARCOS STREET ON TRACT 5 AND TRACT 6. WITHIN THE 60-FOOT AREA ADJOINING EAST 9TH STREET ON TRACT 6. SOME USES ARE PROHIBITED AND THAT IS SPELLED OUT IN THE MEMO AND IN THE ORDINANCE. SO I WILL NOT READ THOSE USES. BUILDING HEIGHTS ARE LIMITED TO 60 FEET ON TRACTS 4, 50 FEET ON TRACT 5, AND 40 FEET ON TRACT 6. AGAIN, THERE'S A 10% REQUIREMENT OF OPEN SPACE AND THE SAME REQUIREMENT TO HAVE HOUSING THAT IS REASONABLY PRICED FOR THE ZIP CODE OF 02 AND 22 WHICH IS GOING TO BE OFF-SITE. THE APPLICANT IS ALSO REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A NEW OPEN PLAZA AREA ON TRACT 5, OPPOSITE EAST 10TH STREET, AND WEST OF SAN MARCOS STREET. ON TRACT 7, THE TRACT IS ONLY ALLOWED TO HAVE RESIDENTIAL USES ONLY. THAT MEANS COMMERCIAL USES ARE NOT ALLOWED. RESIDENTIAL ONLY ON TRACT 7. BUILDING HEIGHT IS LIMITED TO 70 FEET EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST 50 FEET SOUTH OF 9TH THAT IS LIMITED TO 50 FEET. THE REASONABLY PRICED HOUSING IS ALSO REQUIRED AS PARTED OF THIS TRACT TO BE PROVIDED OFF-SITE IN ZIP CODE 02 AND 22. ON TRACT 8 THE ZONING WILL BE CS-MU, WITH AN NC DR D -- NCCD EXCEPT ALLOW ONLY RESIDENTIAL USES ON THE GUADALUPE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PROPERTY. IN ADDITION, THE OTHER USES THAT ARE PROHIBITED AND I WON'T READ THOSE, ALREADY IN THE ORDINANCE, BUILDING HEIGHT LIMITED TO 40 FEET. THE REQUIREMENT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER IS AT 95%. ON TRACT 9, THE -- THE -- THE ZONING ON FIRST READING WAS NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE, MU, NO-MU, WITH AN NCCD, BUT LIMITED TO L ON-SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS. THE BUILDING HEIGHT IS 40 FEET. AT THIS POINT THE APPLICANT HAS ASKED THAT THE PROPERTY BE ZONED GR-MU-CO WITH GENERAL RESTAURANT USE AS THE ONLY GR USE WHILE ALLOWING ALL LR USES. AND IN ADDITION TO ALLOW THOSE SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED BY STAFF WITHIN THE REPORT THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU. THE OTHER ITEM HAD TO DO WITH GREAT STREETS PROGRAM. THE OWNER WILL PROVIDE IMPROVEMENTS SIMILAR TO THOSE SET FORTH IN THE DOWNTOWN GREAT STREETS MASTER PLAN ALONG BOTH SIDES OF SAN MARCOS STREET, FROM 9TH VET TO 11TH STREET AND ALSO ON BOTH SIDES OF 9TH STREET. THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE ITEMS RELATING TO ZONING AND NOW I WILL JUST GIVE YOU A VERY QUICK SUMMARY ON THE INCENTIVE ITEM, MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD LIKE OR I CAN WAIT ON THAT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: WHY DON'T WE WAIT ON THAT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CLEAR WHERE WE ARE ON THE ZONING ITEMS. COUNCIL, WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IS CALL FOR A MOTION WITH REGARD TO TRACTS 1 THROUGH 7. THEN WHAT WE WILL DO IS TAKE 809 EAST 9TH SEPARATELY WHICH IS PART OF TRACT 7, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ FOR A MOTION ON TRACTS 1 THROUGH 7, SEPARATING OUT 809 EAST 9TH STREET.
>>ALVAREZ: THANKS, MAYOR. OBVIOUSLY WE COVERED SOME OF THIS GROUND LAST TIME WHEN WE TOO BEING -- WHEN WE TOOK UP THIS ITEM IN TERMS OF THE HISTORY, THE NEGOTIATION, WHERE WE ARE AT. WE HAVE A LOT MORE NEIGHBORHOOD INTEREST NOW. I GUESS IF WE ARE AT A DECISION MAKING POINT, I WON'T RECOUNT THE WHOLE HISTORY OF THE PATH THAT WE HAVE TRAVELED DOWN. BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. VERY TEDIOUS PROCESS THAT -- THAT INVOLVES A LOT OF ATTENTION, A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF DEDICATION. AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S A PROJECT THAT -- THAT HAS BEEN -- AN ISSUE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. IN THE COMMUNITY. A COUPLE OF FAILED DEVELOPMENTS. FAILED ATTEMPT AT ROLLBACK. AND THEN MOST RECENTLY WE HAD ABOUT A YEAR'S WORTH OF NEGOTIATION TO TRY TO ARRIVE AT SOME KIND OF RESOLUTION. AND SO BASICALLY I MEAN WHAT WE ARE -- I KIND OF HAD DESCRIBED WHERE WE WERE AT LAST TIME, I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE -- A LITTLE BIT. MORE SO THE CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PROPOSED BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING. BUT -- BUT BASICALLY OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I -- THAT I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE, YOU KNOW, I -- I THINK IT WAS MAYBE ABOUT THREE MONTHS AFTER I GOT INTO OFFICE, I -- YOU KNOW, I SPOKE WITH SOME OF THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THIS MEDIATION AND JUST KIND OF OFFHANDEDLY ASKED WELL, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THESE DAYS IN TERMS OF HEIGHT OVER THERE? I WAS SHE VERY SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT 200 FEET, YOU KNOW, ON TRACT NUMBER 1 IN THE CORNER. AND THIS WHOLE TIME, EVEN WHEN I CAME INTO THIS PROCESS ABOUT A MONTH AGO TO TRY TO NEED WHY IT A SOLUTION, THERE WAS 200 FEET ON THE TABLE AND THERE WASN 'T REALLY AN OUTCRY WHEN WE STARTED THIS NEGOTIATION THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, 200 FEET, NO WAY, KNOW HOW. AND SO IT'S KINDS OF INTERESTING I THINK THAT NOW WE ARE -- NOW I AM BEING LOOKED AT AS SOMEONE WHO IS NOT STANDING UP FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT THIS PROCESS, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN, WHAT FOLKS REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE BEEN SAYING AND DOING, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE -- I'M TRYING TO BE RESPONSIVE TO WHAT AM I HEARING FROM ALL SIDES. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING OF DEVELOPERS. THAT'S NOT WHERE I CAME FROM. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE TO SAY. SO -- SO BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT COMES WITH THE TERRITORY. SO YOU HAVE GOT TO ACCEPT THAT, MOVE FORWARD. BUT -- BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE THING, I DON'T MEAN IT TO DISPARAGE ANYONE NECESSARILY, BUT I JUST SAY IT BECAUSE WE RECEIVED SEVERAL E-MAILS ALREADY KIND OF SAYING THAT I AM NOT BEING A STRONG ENOUGH ADVOCATE, SAYING THAT I MIGHT NOT GET CERTAIN PEOPLE'S SUPPORT FOR REELECTION, ALL OF THAT. BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHERE I AM COMING FROM IN TERMS OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, WHEN I DID COME INTO THE PICTURE, WHEN I ARRIVED ON TO THE SCENE IN TERMS OF THIS NEGOTIATION, YOU KNOW, IT WAS AFTER PLANNING COMMISSION HAD ARRIVED OR HAD MADE THEIR DECISION AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS, THAT AT THAT FIRST MEETING, EVEN THE SECOND MEETING, IT SEEMED LIKE THE MAIN ISSUE THAT THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD HAD WAS THE AMOUNT OF RESIDENTIAL AND THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WAS PART OF THAT RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT AND IT WAS FOCUSSED ON 9TH STREET AND ON TRACT 7, WHEN IS SOUTH OF 9TH STREET. SO WHAT I DID WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, GUADALUPE, WORKING WITH RIATA PARTNERS IS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET MORE RESIDENTIAL -- BETTER COMMITMENT, TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, REASONABLY PRICED HOUSING. BECAUSE WHEN WE CAME INTO THE NEGOTIATION, WE WERE THAT CLOSE TO A SOLUTION. I MEAN, LITERALLY WE WERE THAT CLOSE. AND THEN SO I THOUGHT, WELL, IF WE GET THIS RESIDENTIAL, YOU KNOW, IF WE GET A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE AND WE GET MORE RESIDENTIAL, THEN NOT ONLY ARE WE GETTING MORE RESIDENTIAL, BUT WE ARE ALSO GETTING MORE AFFORDABLE RESIDENTIAL AS WELL. SO I THOUGHT IF WE ARE THIS CLOSE, WE HAVE TO BE THERE. IF WE ARE NOT THERE, THEN MAYBE WE WEREN'T REALLY THAT CLOSE. MAYBE THAT CLOSE. SOLD I THINK -- THEN OBVIOUSLY ONCE -- YOU KNOW, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THESE CONCESSIONS FROM THE OTHER SIDE, THEN THERE WAS THE OUTCRIES OF THE DEVELOPMENT IS TOO MASSIVE, YOU KNOW, NO 200 FEET, BRING IT DOWN TO 150, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION FLOATING AROUND THERE IN THE COMMUNITY NOW ABOUT WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND YOU KNOW SO -- BUT AGAIN IT'S KIND OF LATE IN THE PROCESS FOR SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF WHO IS TRYING TO MEDIATE SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO -- FOR THEM -- YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE EASIER FOR SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY OR FOLKS MAYBE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS TO AND I SOME ISSUES. BUT FOR ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BEEN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO COME BACK AND THEN AT THE END IS -- TRY TO THROW SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS ON THE TABLE. BUT NONETHELESS, YOU KNOW, SINCE FIRST READING, I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPERS HERE, TO TRAY TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL CONCESSIONS. DID MEET WITH FOLKS FROM GUADALUPE. IT WAS A VERY STRONG MESSAGE THEY WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THE HEIGHT. ALSO THE TRAFFIC IMPACTS, THE NEED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS, THE WHOLE BARRIER EFFECT ALONG I-35. FROM HAVING SUCH BIG -- BIG STRUCTURES. VIEW CORRIDOR ISSUE. AND PUBLIC PARKING. THAT -- THE ROB THAT'S CURRENTLY EXISTS -- PROBLEM THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO SIXTH STREET. BUT I JUST WANTED TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT HOW SOME OF THOSE ISSUES HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED GENERALLY. BUT BASICALLY THE DISCUSSION THUS FAR HAS ASSUMED THAT I COMBINE -- THAT ON COMBINED TRACTS 1 AND 2, THE MAXIMUM HEIGHTS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE 200 FEET. AND THE WAY PLANNING COMMISSION STRUCTURED IT, INSTEAD OF REQUIRING THAT THE 200 FEET BE IN THE CORNER LOT THERE AT 11TH AND I-35, THEY SAID THE WAY THEY DID IT, COMBINED TRACTS 1 AND 2, THAT 200 FOOT ZONE COULD BE ANYWHERE WITHIN TRACTS 1 AND 2 AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE 120 FOOT ZONE. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD -- THAT HI ASKED THE RITA DEVELOPMENT WAS IF THEY WOULD -- RIATA DEVELOPMENT WAS IF THEY WOULD -- THE ATHAT I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS IS THERE WOULD BE TWO BUILDINGS AND THAT-- SO WHAT I HAD PROPOSED WAS THAT IF -- YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S 120 FOOT LIMITATION AND IF YOU GO BEYOND THAT 120 FOOT LIMITATION, THEN YOU COME BACK DOWN ON THE 200 FOOT LIMITATION. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT -- IT WAS AN INTERESTING SITUATION I THINK WHERE THE GUADALUPE MEMBERS CAME, TOLD ME THEY WERE REAL HAPPY ABOUT WITH THAT. I TALKED TO MATT, HE DIDN'T SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT IT. I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I HAD DONE THAT EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY WITH. I KIND OF LOOKED AT IT CLOSER AND THE REAL ISSUE WAS THAT WITHIN TRACTS 1 AND 2, 50% OF THAT AREA HAS 120 FOOT HEIGHT LIMITATION, 50% HAS A 200 FOOT HEIGHT LIMITATION. WHAT RIATA HAD BEEN LOOKING AT WAS POSSIBLY DOING -- WITHIN THAT 50%, THAT'S DEDICATED OR HAS A 200 FOOT HEIGHT LIMITATION IS BUILDING TWO SEPARATE BUILDINGS, YOU KNOW, IN THAT AREA. AND THAT'S WHERE -- AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I RESPONDED NEGATIVELY TO BECAUSE I HAD ALWAYS BEEN THINKING ABOUT, WELL, WE HAVE A 200 FOOT BUILDING, THEN WE HAVE A SMALLER BUILDING AT A SMALLER HEIGHT. SO BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING, WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DIES GET THE DEVELOPERS TO -- TO DO IS TO GET THE DEVELOPERS TO DEGREE WITHIN THAT -- TO AGREE WITHIN THAT 200 FOOT ZONE, AN ENTITLEMENT TO THAT STRUCTURE, IF THEY DECIDE TO BUILD A SECOND STRUCTURE IT CANNOT EXCEED 160 FEET. THE REASON I -- THE REASON THAT I CHOSE THAT NUMBER IS BECAUSE I THINK THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD WANT 120 BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE REST OF THE AREA WOULD ALLOW. AND MATT AND RIATA WOULD LIKE 200, 160 IS RIGHT SMACK IN BETWEEN THE TWO. SO ANYWAY THAT'S THE HEIGHT ISSUE. A LITTLE BIT OF PROGRESS AT LEAST WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER PROGRESS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING. AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS A SIGNIFICANT PROTECTION FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT CERTAINLY DOESN'T ADDRESS EVERY SINGLE CONCERN THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT HEIGHT. SO -- SO THE OTHER ISSUES, LET'S SEE, THAT -- THAT HAD BEEN RAISED WAS ABOUT REASONABLY PRICED HOUSING. SO WE DID INCREASE THAT PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FROM FIVE PERCENT TO 10%. THE CONCERN ABOUT THERE BEING A CONTINUOUS BUILDING FROM ONE END TO -- FROM 11TH STREET ALL THE WAY TO 9TH STREET, WE PUT LANGUAGE IN THERE SO THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE WHOLE BUILDING ALONG THAT WHOLE EXPANSE THERE. AND I BELIEVE THOSE WERE SOME OF THE MAIN ISSUES THAT -- THE OTHER ISSUES WHERE I REWORKED -- WHERE I WORKED WITH -- WITH RIATA TO RESTRUCTURE THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES SO THAT THERE WERE MORE DEPENDENT ON -- ON-THE-JOB TRAINING INCENTIVES SUCH THAT -- THAT THEY WOULD GET A BASE PERCENTAGE OF A CERTAIN AMOUNT AND, YOU KNOW, IF THEY AGREED TO DO THE JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT, THEN THEY WOULD GET THE -- THE REMAINDER OF THAT -- OF THE INCENTIVES THAT THE CITY IS PROPOSING. SO -- SO ANYWAY SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES, THOSE ARE -- THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MAIN ISSUES THAT -- THAT WE ARE -- THAT WERE RAISED. ANOTHER ISSUE IS ABOUT THE VIEW CORRIDOR AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S INTEREST IN HAVING A VIEW CORRIDOR. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN AGREED TO AS PROPOSED HERE. BUT AS AN ALTERNATIVE, THE DEVELOPER HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE PED PEDESTRIANS ACCESS FROM 9TH STREET, FROM SAN MARCOS AT 10TH STREET TO THE PUBLIC PLAZAS THAT ARE GOING TO BE FRONTING I-35. ALTHOUGH THIS APPROACH DOESN'T PROVIDE A VIEW CORRIDOR TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT DOES PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE VIEWS FROM WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT. IN ORDER TO ACCESS THESE PUBLIC PLAZAS AND VIEWS, RIATA HAS ALSO AGREED TO CREATE A PUBLIC PLAZA ALONG 10TH STREET, ALONG SAN MARCOS AT SO HE STREET AND TO PROVIDE STREET -- 10TH STREET AND PROVIDE STREET IMPROVEMENTS ALONG SAN MARCOS AND 9TH STREET TO PROVIDE THAT SAFE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS. AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE MAIN ISSUES. I MEAN, I WAS JUST TRYING TO RELATE I THINK SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS HOW WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OR NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS. WITH THAT I GUESS THAT I WOULD MOVE FORWARD.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ MOVES APPROVAL ON ITEM NO. 25 ON TRACTS 1 THROUGH 7 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 809 EAST 9TH AS PART OF TRACT 7. WE WILL TAKE THAT MOTION UP INDEPENDENTLY. MS. GLASGO, I HAVE A QUESTION. WE HAVE A VALID PETITION ON THIS. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE VALID PETITION?
>>GLASGO: THE --
>>MAYOR WATSON: OH, YEAH, LET ME GET A SECOND. IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS MOVES A SECOND. WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE VALID PETITION,000 THAT WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND?
>>GLASGO: THE PETITION IS STILL VALID. THE APPLICANT WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER AT THIS POINT BEFORE YOU VOTE WHETHER THEY WILL WILLING TO WITHDRAW IT. THEREFORE IT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE SUPER MAJORITY VOTE. THE INTENT WAS IF YOU -- IF THERE WERE NOT A VALID PETITION, THEN YOU COULD HAVE SECOND AND THIRD READINGS. BUT IF THERE IS A VALID PETITION THEN -- ONLY --
>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME ASK. IS THERE -- JUST SO THAT WE HAVE CLARITY BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE. IS THERE A -- DOES THE VALVE PETITION -- DOES THE VALID PETITION CONTINUE -- DOES THE VALID PETITION -- I'M -- YES, SIR.
>> I AM DICK DUNBAR THAT REPRESENTS THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE LAND IN QUESTION. WE WILL LIKE TO PRESENT A REQUEST TO HAVE OUR PETITION WITHDRAWN.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. BRING THAT OVER SO I CAN SEE WHAT WE HAVE GOT. REVEREND GRIFFIN DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO SAY.
>> I HAVE ONE REPRESENTING THE EBENEZER BASEBALL TIS CHURCH AND ALSO THE STREET PROPERTY, THE REQUEST IS TO HAVE THEM WITHDRAWN.
>>MAYOR WATSON: BRING THAT TO ME, TOO. WHAT WE WILL DO -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE A LEGAL RULING ON ALL OF THIS BEFORE I START CALLING FOR VOTES. THANK YOU. MS. GLASGO, HELP ME MAKE SURE. I HAVE THREE LETTERS HERE, ONE IS FROM ROCHA AND PHILLIPS. SIGNED BY MICHAEL K. PHILLIPS REPRESENTING GREGORY JROCH, [INAUDIBLE], TRUSTEE AND BENEFICIARY. SAYS WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT OUR PETITION AS DESIGNATED IN THE ABOVE REFERENCE ZONING CASE BE WITH DRAWN. ONE FROM EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH. SIGNED BY REVEREND GRIFFIN. DEAR MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT OUR LETTER OF PETITION IN THE ABOVE RESEARCHED ZONING CASE BE WITHDRAWN, THANK YOU FOR HONK NORG THIS REQUEST. THEN -- HONORING THIS REQUEST. THEN A LETTER THAT REFUSE RENT -- REVEREND GRIFFIN GAVE ME FROM MARY LOU STREET, FAXED ON MAY 23RD TO REVEREND GRIFFIN REQUEST GO THAT THE LETTER OF PETITION REGARDING THE ZONING OF THE PROPERTY AS DESIGNATED IN THE ABOVE REFERENCED ZONING CASE BE WITHDRAWN, THANK YOU FOR HONORING THIS REQUEST. ALTHOUGH IT INDICATES WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT OUR LETTER OF PETITION REGARDING THE ZONING SIGNED BY MARY LOU STREET. WHAT WAS -- WHAT WOULD THAT MAKE THE VALID OF THE PETITION.
>> THAT WOULD INVAFLD DATE THE -- INVALID DATE THE PETITIONS COVERING TRACTS ONE THROUGH SEVEN EXCEPT 809 EAST 9TH STREET, THE LOPEZ TRACT. THAT WOULD REQUIRE A SEPARATE MOTION BECAUSE THAT IS STILL VALID AT 100%. WHAT REVEREND GRIFFIN JUST DID BY WITHDRAWING HIS NAME FROM THE PETITION THAT COVERS PROPERTY OWNERS OUTSIDE THE SUBJECT TRACT WOULD INVALID DATE THAT PETITION TO WHERE IT'S NO LONGER VALID.
>> CURRENTLY, THE MOTION THAT IS BEFORE US BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS ON TRACTS 1 THROUGH 7 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 809 EAST 9TH, THERE IS NO VALID PETITION?
>>GLASGO: THAT IS CORRECT.
>>GOODMAN: MAYOR, COULD WE ASK? FROM ANY SOURCE? IS THERE ONLY ONE -- I MEAN, THESE THREE THAT WE HAVE JUST MENTIONED VALID PETITIONS, IS THERE ANY OTHER VALID PETITION IN THIS CASE FROM ANOTHER POINT OF OPPOSITION?
>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC]
>>GLASGO: ... REFERRED TO AS THE BENNETT TRACT, THAT IS NO LONGER VALID BASED ON WHAT WAS JUST WITHDRAWN. THE PETITION FROM WHICH REVEREND GRIFFIN JUST WITHDREW IS WHAT IS SHOWN HERE, EVERY PROPERTY OWNER WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE SUBJECT TRACT. SO THE STREETS, THE LADY BY THE NAME OF MS. STREET WITHDREW HER PETITION, REVEREND GRIFFIN, NUMBER 1 WITHDREW, WHICH BRINGS IT DOWN TO LESS THAN 20%, ABOUT 10%. HAVING SAID THAT, THAT PETITION IS NO LONGER VALID THAT WOULD AFFECT EVERY PROPERTY WITHIN THE NCCD, NO LONGER VALID. HOWEVER, THE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS, MARY HELEN LOPEZ PROPERTY NUMBER 4 HERE --
>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT'S THE 809.
>>GLASGO: THAT PERTAINS TO THAT, OF COURSE THE PROPERTY THAT IS OWNED BY THE GUADALUPE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. THAT IS STILL VALID. THE -- AT 100%.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THOSE ARE TRACTS WILL AND 9. HE -- 8 AND 9.
>>MAYOR WATSON: AS IT APPLIES TO THE MOTION THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US, TRACTS 1 THROUGH 7 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 809 EAST 0E89, THERE IS -- EAST 9TH, THERE IS NO VALID PETITION AT ALL FROM ANY SOURCE. 809 EAST 9TH THERE IS STILL A VALID PETITION BASE OF THE PROPERTY OWNER HERSELF.
>>GLASGO: THAT'S CORRECT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ON 8 AND 9 THERE'S A VALID PETITION BECAUSE OF THE PROPERTY OWNER.
>>GLASGO: CORRECT. FOR -- YES. FOR ALL PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN TRACT 8. AND 9.
>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. SO THE MOTION BEFORE US, COUNCIL, IS TRACTS 1 THROUGH 7 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 809 EAST 9TH STREET, THERE IS NO VALID PETITION. FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?
>>SLUSHER: I JUST WANTED TO GIVE MY THOUGHTS ON THIS, MAYOR. THERE'S? FAIRLY LATE BREAKING EVENTS THERE OBVIOUSLY. I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION. I'VE REALLY THOUGHT LONG AND HARD ABOUT THIS CASE. BUT I ADMIRE COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ'S EFFORTS TO BROKER A COMPROMISE. IT LOOKS LIKE HE MAY HAVE BROKERED A SUCCESSFUL ONE WITH THE PULLING OF THE VALID PETITIONS. BUT I REALLY RESPECT HIS SINCE CERTIFICATE TEE ON THAT. SINCERITY ON THAT. I HAVE HAD TO WRESTLE WITH THIS ON MY OWN BASED ON WHAT I THINK IS THE BEST FOR THE AREA. LIKE I -- EXCUSE ME. FOR ME IT COMES TO -- WE HAVE SOME CONFLICTING GOALS THAT DON'T HAVE TO BE CONFLICTING. I THINK THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION, GUADALUPE IS PROBABLY THE -- THE BEST EXAMPLE WE HAVE OF NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND PRESERVATION. AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME COMMENTS ABOUT HOW THE PROPERTY VALUES THERE ARE GOING UP AND THAT'S TRUE. BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALSO GUADALUPE HAS THE INCORPORATION OF NON-PROFIT CORPORATION THAT'S BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO TRY TO MAINTAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK IN THE AREA. THE EBENEZER CHURCH HAS ALSO DONE CONSIDERABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EBENEZER AND GUADALUPE BEING ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THIS ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY. AND UNTIL RECENTLY, IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, ALMOST ALL OF THE SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NORTH OF THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS DONE BY EBENEZER. ELDERLY HOUSING, CHILD CARE, OFFICE BUILDING THAT THEY HAVE. AND I RESPECT THAT. I JUST DEEPLY RESPECT EVERYONE AT EBENEZER. AND ALSO, THOUGH, IN RECENT MONTHS OR I GUESS -- OR YEAH I WOULD JUST SAY RECENT MONTHS, THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SOME REVITALIZATION STARTING TO TAKE HOLD BEYOND THE EBENEZER PROPERTIES ON THE 11TH STREET, THAT'S THE RESULT OF LENGTHY EFFORTS BY MANY, MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHICH HAS PUMPED A LOT OF FUNDS AND ENERGY INTO THE AREA WHILE LEAVING THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION LARGELY TO THE REVITALIZATION AUTHORITY AS A COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE. SO IF THAT'S SUCCESSFUL AS IT'S STARTING TO HAPPEN I MIGHT THINK A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THIS CASE. BUT TO ME IT COMES DOWN TO THE FUNDAMENTAL CONFLICT THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VERSUS NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION. I THINK YOU CAN HAVE BOTH. BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE PLAN THAT'S ON THE TABLE EXACTS TOO HIGH OF A PRICE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TOO LASTING A PRICE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WHAT I WOULD PREFER TO DO -- WHAT I WOULD OFFER, IF IT DIDN'T PASS, WOULD BE FOR THE CITY TO FUND BRINGING IN SOME PLANNERS, MAYBE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CITY TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT IT, EVEN, SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE TRIANGLE PROJECT NEAR HYDE PARK, WHICH ALL OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS WERE AGAINST AND WHICH -- WHERE THERE WAS A DEVELOPER THAT HAD PAID A LOT OF MONEY TO GET THE CONTRACT AND IT LOOKED LIKE THAT COULD NOT BE RESOLVED. YET EVENTUALLY, TAKING TIME, HAVING SOME FOLKS COME IN AND PLAN OUT WHAT THEY THOUGHT COULD WORK THERE, THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING APPROVED THAT -- THAT VIRTUALLY EVERYONE INVOLVED AGREED TO, ALL OF THE FORMERLY BATTLING PARTIES AGREED TO. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THERE WOULD STILL BE SOME TIME TO WORK SOMETHING OUT. I'M NOT SURE IF WE ARE GOING TO END UP THERE TODAY OR NOT. ANOTHER THING THAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS LOOKING AT A TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT FROM THE RISE IN PROPERTY VALUES IN THE AREA, PUMP SOME OF THAT BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION. I STILL THINK WE CAN GET THERE, I DON'T KNOW IF I AM GOING ON TO -- I DOUBT IF I AM GOING TO BE ON THE PREVAILING SIDE, THOUGH.
>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>>GOODMAN: MAYOR?
>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM?
>>GOODMAN: I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IF I COULD REAL QUICK.
>>GOODMAN: THIS WOULDN'T INCLUDE, WOULD IT, COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, ANYTHING LIKE THE -- THE THINGS THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT GREAT STREETS AND DESIGN FEESIBILITY PLAN FOR A SCENIC OVERLOOK, NONE OF THAT CAN BE PART OF AN ORDINANCE, RIGHT? ORDINANCE LANGUAGE? BUT IT IS PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
>> IT'S IN THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
>>OODMAN: OKAY. DO WE HAVE THAT SOMEWHERE?
>> YES, WE DO HAVE A SIGNED DOCUMENT.
>>GOODMAN: IT WASN'T YELLOW. I DIDN'T LOOK AT IT. SORRY. AND THE OTHER THING THAT I WAS GOING TO ASK IS I USED TO HAVE AND DON'T HAVE IN MY -- AM NOT ABLE TO FIND IN MY PACKET RIGHT NOW SORT OF A ROUGH COMPARISON OF THE POSITION THAT GUADALUPE STARTED OUT WITH WHENEVER THIS FIRST CAME UP IN WHATEVER YEAR THAT WAS? AND WHAT THEIR POSITION IS NOW. DO WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT? A TABLE OR A SPREAD SHEET OR SOMETHING.
>>GLASGO: MAYOR PRO TEM, WE DO FOR THE HAVE A SPREAD SHEET RIGHT NOW WITH US THAT PROVIDE THAT'S COMPARISON BETWEEN WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WANTED. BUT I THINK THE -- WHAT WAS PRESENTED LAST TIME, THE CASE WAS HERE TWO WEEKS AGO, HAD TO DO WITH JUST REDUCED HEIGHTS ALL THE WAY DOWN. ON ALL OF THE TRACTS.
>>GOODMAN: IS IT POSSIBLE FOR SOMEBODY TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THAT TO US BRIEFLY WITH NO EDITORIAL COMMENTS OR BRIEFLY I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. BUT WITHOUT EDITORIAL COMMENT. DOES ANY NEIGHBORHOOD PERSON? MARK, DO YOU REMEMBER? COULD YOU JUST GIVE US A THEN AND A NOW FOR THE TRACTS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. OUR POSITION WHERE WE STARTED, IF YOU GO BACK TO I BELIEVE MARCH OF 2000 WHEN COUNCILMEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM GUS GARCIA MADE THE MOTION, IT WAS TO REZONE IT ACCORDING TO THE ARA'S MASTER PLAN FOR CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN. THAT WAS A POSITION THAT WE SUPPORTED. HOWEVER WE AGREED WITH EBENEZER, WITH RIATA THAT THE TRACT COULD CERTAINLY TAKE MORE DENSITY THAN THAT. THAT ARA'S MASTER PLAN CALLED FOR ABOUT 300,000 SQUARE FEET OF DEVELOPMENT TOTAL. WITH PREDOMINANTLY RESIDENTIAL USE THERE. I THINK THE FIRST PROPOSAL THAT EBENEZER AND GUADALUPE HAD WORKED ON, IT WAS A CONCEPT, IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT WE HAD AGREED UPON, BUT JUST A CONCEPT. HAD NO HEIGHTS OVER 85 FEET AND CALLED FOR ABOUT 600,000 SQUARE FEET OF DEVELOPMENT ROUGHLY OF USABLE LEASABLE SPACE. WE ORIGINALLY LOOKED AT KIND OF A ROUGH OVERALL SPACE, IT WAS OVER A MILLION SQUARE FEET. BUT IT WASN'T LEASABLE SPACE. SO THEN WE GRADUALLY MOVED FROM ABOUT JULY THROUGH JANUARY OF 2001 TO ABOUT ONE MILLION SQUARE FEET OF USABLE LEASABLE SPACE. THAT WAS THE LAST PROPOSAL THAT CAME FORTH FROM GUADALUPE WAS CLOSE TO A MILLION SQUARE FEET. THE HEIGHTS IN TRACT 2 WERE 85 FEET. HEIGHTS IN TRACT 3 WERE 40 FEET, I BELIEF 40 OR 50 FEET, TRACT 7 WERE 40 FEET. BUT THE HIGHEST DENSITY WAS RIGHT THERE ON TRACT ONE ON THE CORNER OF 11TH AND I-35, THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT 200 FEET. THE CONCENTRATION OF DENSITY WAS RIGHT THERE IN TRACT 1 AND 4. 11TH AND I-35 AND WE CAME CLOSE TO PROBABLY 700,000 SQUARE FEET RIGHT OR 600,000 RIGHT IN THAT ONE, THOSE TWO TRACTS. [ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS]
>>ALVAREZ: ... IS EXECUTED.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I THINK THE SAFEST BET WOULD BE TO GO ON SECOND READING SO IF THERE IS A NEED TO REPLACE THE VALID PETITION YOU HAVE NOT ROBBED THE PETITIONERS OF THEIR RIGHT WHEN THEY THOUGHT THEY MIGHT HAVE THAT AGREEMENT. SO I WILL ONLY CALL FOR A VOTE ON SECOND READING.
>>THOMAS: MAYOR?
>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. SOMEBODY IS HOLDING UP THEIR FINGERS, BUT IF THE DEVELOPER IS NOT AGREED TO IF RESTRICTIVE COVENANT, I'M NOT --
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>THOMAS: I WAS GOING TO ASK IF WE COULD CLARIFY THAT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. MATHIAS, WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD.
>> I AS THE DEVELOPER HAVE NOT HAD ANY DISAGREEMENT WITH THE MOTION. IT'S THE OWNER WHO -- THE CURRENT OWNER OF THE PROPERTY WHO HAS JUST REMOVED THEIR VALID PETITION HAS SIGNED A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT WAS DRAFTED BY THE CITY LEGAL DEPARTMENT. THAT COVENANT APPARENTLY IS IN CONFLICT WITH THE MOTION. THERE'S ADDITIONAL WORDING IN THE MOTION ON THE GREAT STREETS PART OF IT THAT HAD NOT BEEN AGREED TO IN THE DOCUMENT SIGNED BY THE OWNERS IN CALIFORNIA AND REPRESENTED HERE BY MR. DUNBAR. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE GREAT STREETS AS PROPOSED.
>>MAYOR WATSON: BUT IT LEAVES US IN THE SAME POSITION. MR. DID YOU KNOW BAR, WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD. -- DUNBAR. YOU HAVE JUST TAKEN A PRETTY STRONG ACTION --
>> WITH OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE GREAT STREETS RECORDING 9TH STREET, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS IF 9TH STREET IS INCLUDED IN THE GREAT STREET PROGRAM. THAT'S THE KEY ISSUE. AS A MATTER OF WHAT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, I THINK THE UNDERSTANDING IS NOW RESOLVED AND THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
>>SLUSHER: MAYOR? I KNOW I'VE ALREADY STATED I'M NOT SUPPORTING THE MOTION SO I DON'T KNOW HOW POWERFUL A STANDING I WOULD HAVE FOR AMENDMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS, BUT IT DOES SEEM TO ME TO BE AN UNUSUAL SITUATION TO HAVE THE VALID PETITION WITHDRAWN ONLY MOMENTS BEFORE THE VOTE. I DON'T THINK IT'S PROBABLY NOT UNPRECEDENTED, BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE AN ARGUMENT FOR DOING IT ON SECOND READING ONLY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I THINK THE REASON FOR THAT IS UNTIL YOU HEAR WHAT THE MOTION IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE, YOU MAY NOT WANT TO WITHDRAW YOUR VALID PETITION. SO WITH THE MOTION NOW BEING OUT THERE, THAT'S WHY THE --.
>>SLUSHER: BUT WE ROUTINELY HAVE WHEN SOMEONE GETS A -- WHEN A VALID PETITION IS FILED AND IF IT'S ONLY FILED RIGHT BEFORE THE VOTE, THEN WE ROUTINELY POSTPONE THOSE CASES AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEVELOPER IN ORDER TO GIVE THEM TIME TO REGROUP RATHER THAN DEMANDING THAT IT JUST GO FORWARD AT THAT POINT WHERE TWO VOTES COULD SHOOT IT DOWN. SO THIS TO ME SEEMS LIKE THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT SITUATION.
>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.
>>ALVAREZ: THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD STATE ABOUT THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IS THAT BASICALLY I MEAN MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE OWNER HAS AGREED TO NEGOTIATE A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT WITH STAFF FOR GREAT STREET TYPE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG 9TH STREET.
>> RIGHT.
>>ALVAREZ: BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HOLD THEM TO THOSE SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENTS, BUT IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT THAT'S THE CONCEPT GENERALLY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'M GOING TO CALL FOR A VOTE.
>>WYNN: MAYOR?
>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.
>>WYNN: I WANT TO COMMEND COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND ALSO THOMAS FOR THE WORK ON ATTEMPT TO GO PULL THIS TOGETHER. I SUPPORTED THE MOTION ON FIRST READING WITH SOME CONCERNS. THERE'S DRAMATIC CONCERN IN THAT ADJACENT GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD OBVIOUSLY ABOUT THE SIZE, SCALE AND SCOPE OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN HERE. MY SUPPORT ON FIRST READING WAS SOMEWHAT CONDITIONAL AND I CERTAINLY SEND A SIGNAL AS DID THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND OTHERS ABOUT WE CAN STILL IMPROVE THIS, AND I COMMEND SPECIFICALLY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ FOR TAKING THAT SUGGESTION AND TAKING THE LEAD IN THIS INTERIM COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND I KNOW THAT HE'S WORKED HARD ON IT AND, YOU KNOW, HAS IMPROVED MARGINLY THE ISSUES. I WOULD HAVE -- I WAS CERTAINLY PREPARED BECAUSE OF THE EXISTENCE OF A VALID PETITION TO HAVE SECOND READING TODAY AND WAS EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS ON SECOND READING BECAUSE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS JUST FROM FIRST TO SECOND READING. NOW I'M STRUCK WITH THE ISSUE OF FINAL APPROVAL, OF SECOND AND THIRD READING BECAUSE OF THE REMOVAL OF THE VALID PETITION. AND I'M NOT ASHAMED TO TELL YOU I'M STRUGGLING WITH IT AND I'M STRUGGLING WITH THE REAL CONCERNS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT GUADALUPE, I'M STRUG WELG THE STRONG DESIRE -- STRUGGLING WITH THE STRONG DESIRE BY EBENEZER AND THEIR NEIGHBORS TO FINALLY AFTER ALL THIS TIME JUMP START SOME ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, SEE 11TH AND 12TH STREET REVITALIZED AND REBORN. SO I AM GOING TO BE SUPPORT THG MOTION. I THINK THE IMPROVEMENTS WERE GOOD. I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN MORE, FRANKLY, BUT I WANT TO TRY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THE VOTE IS ON THE MOTION -- IT'S ON ITEM NO. 25. IT IS TRACTS 6 -- I MEAN 1 THROUGH 7. 809 EAST 9TH BEING SEPARATED OUT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR -- I'M SORRY, MAYOR PRO TEM.
>>GOODMAN: IS THIS ON SECOND AND THIRD READING?
>>MAYOR WATSON: IF IT HAS MORE THAN FOUR VOTES IT WILL BE.
>>GOODMAN: MORE THAN FOUR?
>>MAYOR WATSON: IF THERE ARE FIVE VOTES, IT WOULD PASS ON SECOND AND THIRD READING.
>>GOODMAN: THERE'S ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT I HAD ASKED FOR SO I WON'T BE VOTING FOR THIRD READING SO I GUESS I WOULD HAVE TO EITHER ABSTAIN OR VOTE NO.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THERE BEING FOUR VOTES IN FAVOR, TWO VOTES IN OPPOSITION AND ONE ABSENCE AND THE TWO IN OPPOSITION ARE COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM, THE MOTION PASSES ON SECOND READING ONLY. LET'S GO TO TRACTS 8 AND 9 UNDER ITEM NO. 25. BEFORE I DO THAT, LET'S TAKE 809 EAST 9TH STREET AND I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ FOR A MOTION.
>>ALVAREZ: I WANTED TO BRING UP A COUPLE OF PROPERTIES THAT I BELIEVE GUADALUPE HAS SUGGESTED BE REMOVED FROM THE NCCD. ONE IS 80 EAST 9TH STREET. THAT WE REMOVE THAT FROM THE NCCD AND ZONE THE PROPERTY SF-3. AND THEN ON -- THAT'S ON TRACT 7. AND ON TRACT 8, THAT WE REMOVE 819 AND 901 EAST 8TH STREET FROM THE NCCD AND ZONE THOSE TWO PROPERTIES FOR SF-3.
>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE A SECOND?
>>THOMAS: SECOND.
>>ALVAREZ: THERE'S A REQUEST FROM THE GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY, ON TRACT 7 TO REMOVE 809 EAST 9TH STREET AND THEN ON TRACT 8, REMOVE 819 AND 901 EAST 8TH STREET FROM THE NCCD AND ZONE THOSE PROPERTIES SF-3 AND I BELIEVE THOSE ARE DUPLEXS OWNED BY GUADALUPE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THERE ARE SIX VOTES SO THAT -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M OKAY ON MY VALID PETITIONS BECAUSE THERE'S STILL A VALID PETITION ON THAT. THAT WOULD STILL PASS ON SECOND AND THIRD READING GRASS GRASS 809 EAST 9TH AND 901 THEY STILL HAVE VALID PETITIONS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: BUT IT JUST PASSED ON A VOTE OF 6-0-1, THE ONE BEING AN ABSENCE.
>>SLUSHER: I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD. THE OWNERS ARE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION. THE VALID PETITION IS FROM THE SURROUNDING PROPERTY? THE APPLICANTS?
>>GLASGO: THE PETITIONS -- THE PETITION WAS AGAINST CHANGING THE ZONING.
>>SLUSHER: UH-HUH. LET ME ASK, MERCHANDISE LOPEZ, ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THAT CHANGE? -- MS. LOPEZ.
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>SLUSHER: RIGHT. OKAY.
>>GLASGO: CORRECT. AND ACTUALLY THE NCCD STILL DOES REQUIRE THAT WHEN YOU REMOVE SOMEONE FROM AN NCCD BOUNDARY YOU STILL HAVE THREE-FOURTHS OF A VOTE.
>>SLUSHER: SO THAT'S THE THREE-FOURTHS REQUIREMENT, NOT A VALID PETITION.
>>GLASGO: IT APPLIES BOTH WAYS. THE OWNER WAS PETITIONING BY THE PETITION TO BE REMOVED FROM THE NCCD, WHILE THEY ARE PETITIONING THE NCCD ORDINANCE ITSELF STATES WHEN SOMEONE ASKS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE BOUNDARIES ALREADY CREATED IT REQUIRES THREE VOTES OF THE CITY COUNCILL TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE NCCD.
>>SLUSHER: AND THAT APPLIES TO THE OTHER TWO TRACTS? AS WELL? THE SAME THING, SAME ANSWER?
>>GLASGO: THAT'S RIGHT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: SO YOU HAVE A VOTE OF SIX IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, NO VOTES IN OPPOSITION, ONE ABSENCE, THAT BEING COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH. THE MOTION IS ADOPTED ON -- COME ON, FOLKS. JUST STAND UP THERE AND SAY IT. HELP ME THROUGH IT INSTEAD OF LETTING ME SAY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
>>GLASGO: NO, MAYOR, YOU DID JUST FINE. WHAT MARSHA IS TRYING TO STATE STREET EFFECT OF ZONING THE PROPERTY WOULD TRIGGER COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
>>THOMAS: MAYOR? LET ME PULL MY SECOND THEN.
>>GLASGO: THAT WOULD BE THE EFFECT OF ZONING IT SF-3.
>>GOODMAN: BUT MAYOR --.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WAS SURPRISED IN THE STAFF ABOUT ALL THESE MOTIONS. SO I'M A LITTLE CURIOUS ABOUT WHY IT IS NOW WHEN YOU JUST HAD A COUNCIL VOTE UNANIMOUSLY TO TAKE AN ACTION AND ASKING QUESTIONS OF PEOPLE SITTING IN THE PUBLIC WHETHER OR NOT THEY AGREE WITH THAT, WE'RE NOW HEARING THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE FIRST TIME.
>>GLASGO: COUNCIL, EITHER WE WERE NOT AWARE OR DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE ZONING THOSE TWO TRACTS SF-3.
>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THAT THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT TODAY?
>>GLASGO: THOSE TRACTS ZONING -- WE KNEW OF THE REQUEST, BUT WE WEREN'T CERTAIN THAT THE TRACTS WERE GOING TO BE --.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE --.
>>GOODMAN: WELL, WAIT. MAYOR, CAN'T THERE BE A CONDITION --.
>>MAYOR WATSON: WE'VE GOT A VOTE. WE'VE ALREADY VOTED. IT'S DONE. AND NOW STAFF IS TELLING US WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE ON THE ZONING OF 809 EAST 9TH STREET AND TRACTS 8 AND 9.
>>GOODMAN: SO MOVED.
>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. COUNCIL, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO TAKE US TO -- I'M GOING TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THE PURPOSE OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE FOR US TO ENGAGE IN A PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH OUR ATTORNEY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551 .071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS NORTH TOWN MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT, ET AL., VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN, CAUSE NO. GV-00 E 658 IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT. DISCUSS AL FOLTZ, ET AL., VERSUS ECO RESOURCES, INC., ET AL., CAUSE NO. 00318 C 368 IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY DISTRICT COURT, AND FREITAG, ET AL., VERSUS ECO RESOURCES, INC., ET AL., CAUSE NO. GNOO 1914 IN TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT. LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO SOUTHEASTERN UNION GAS PRACTICES AND TARIFF. LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE CEDAR AVENUE MEDIATION. WE WILL ALSO ENGAGE IN PRIVATE CONSULTATION PURSUANT TO 551.071 TO DISCUSS ITEMS 16 THROUGH 20 ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA. THOSE ARE WHAT I WOULD GENERALLY REFER TO AS THE COLONY PARK ITEMS. AND WE WILL ALSO ENGAGE IN A PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH OUR ATTORNEY PURSUANT TO 551.072 TO DISCUSS ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1501-169 FRONTIER VALLEY DRIVE AND 7300-7320 EAST RIVERSIDE DRIVE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE JOCKEY CLUB. I MADE A MISTAKE. THE ITEMS 16 THROUGH 20 THAT WE WILL DISCUSS WILL NOT BE PURSUANT TO 551.071. THEY WILL BE PURSUANT TO 551.072 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. SECOND? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE]. JENNIFER GAIL,
>>MAYOR WATSON: I CALL THE CITY COUNCILL BACK ON ORDER. -- BACK TO ORDER. CALL THE CITY COUNCILL BACK TO ORDER. I RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ FOR A MOTION REGARDING THE PIECE OF PROPERTY KNOWN AS -- I'M BRINGING UP BY THE WAY ITEM NO. 25. AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGMENT. 809 EAST 9TH STREET, OUT OF TRACT 7. TREAF COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?
>> YES, MAYOR. THE -- THE NEW MOTION ON -- THE TRACTS WE ARE DEALING WITH HERE ARE 809 EAST 9TH STREET, MS. LOPEZ' HOUSE AND 819 AND 901 EAST 8TH STREET. THE MOTION IS TO REMOVE THOSE FROM THE -- NO, ACTUALLY IT'S TO CHANGE THE ZONING ON THAT FROM WHAT CURRENTLY IT IS TO S.F. 3NCCD ALLOWING ANY RESIDENTIAL USES ONLY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND. FIRST OF ALL I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE YOUR MOTION TO 809 EAST 9TH STREET ONLY FIRST.
>>ALVAREZ: OKAY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THEN WE WILL TAKE UP THE OTHER TWO TRACTS. DEPENDING ON HOW VOTES GO, I THINK I KNOW THAT -- WHAT THAT WILL DO TO THE WHOLE TRACT. THE MOTION IS ON 809 EAST 9TH STREET, I UNDERSTAND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME MOTION ON 819 AND 1901 EAST 8TH STREET OUT OF TRACTS 1 AND 9, IT BE S.F. 3 NCCD. WHAT DOES THAT DO TO COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS?
>>GLASGO: THE -- MAYOR, THE -- COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ'S MOTION INDICATED S.F. 3-NCCD ALLOWING RESIDENTIAL USES ONLY. WHAT THAT DOES IS THE EXISTING CCD DOCUMENT ALREADY WAIVES COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS FOR ANY PROPERTY THAT IS WITHIN THE NCCD TO TRIGGER THOSE STANDARDS. BUT -- BUT ALL OF THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERED EARLIER WOULD REMAIN INTACT AS FAR AS ALL OF THE SETBACKS THAT WERE BUILT INTO THE ZONING FOR TRACTS 1 THROUGH 7 THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE EFFECT OF HAVING COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS THAT THOSE WOULD REMAIN.
>>ALVAREZ: MAYOR, IF I COULD ASK A QUESTION.
>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.
>>ALVAREZ: IF WE WERE NOT TO DO THIS, IF IT WERE TO REMAIN WHAT IT IS TODAY, THEN THAT'S WHERE -- IT'S CURRENTLY NOT COMPATIBLE OR IS IT ALLOWED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THAT TRACT?
>>GLASGO: YES. ACTUALLY THE WAY IT IS ZONED CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, IT PROHIBITS ANY RESIDENTIAL USES SO THE USE THERE TODAY IS A NON-CONFORMING USE UNDER THE ZONING TODAY. THIS WOULD MAKE IT LEGAL.
>>ALVAREZ: IF WE DON'T PASS THIS WE ARE LEFT WITH COMMERCIAL ONLY AS A COMPATIBLE USE ON THIS TRACT AND THE OTHER TWO TRACTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONSIDER.
>>GLASGO: THAT'S CORRECT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION MADE, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES AND WE PASSED ON ALL THREE READINGS ON A VOTE OF 6 TO 0, WITH ONE ABSENT. I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ FOR A MOTION ON -- FOR 1819 AND 19011 EAST 8TH STREET OUT OF TRACTS 8 AND 9. .
>>ALVAREZ: YEAH, MAYOR, I WOULD MAKE A SIMILAR MOTION TO HANGE THAT TO S.F. 3 NCCD WITH ONLY RESIDENTIAL USES ALLOWED.
>> THE MOTION ON 819 AND 1901 EAST 8TH STREET OUT OF TRACTS 8 AND 9 FOR SF3-NCCD ALLOWING RESIDENTIAL USESS ONLY. THERE IS A SECOND?
>>GLASGO: TRACT 8 ONLY MAYOR. THE ADDRESS IS CORRECT, IT'S JUST ON TRACT 8.
>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. I APOLOGIZE, 1819 AND 1901 EAST 8TH STREET OUT OF TRACT 8. IS THERE A SECOND?
>>GLASGO: 18 -- 819 APPEARED 901.
>>MAYOR WATSON: DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES ON VOTE OF 6 TO 0 WITH ONE ABSENCE AND IT CARRIES ON ALL THREE READINGS. THAT WILL TAKE US BACK TO TRACT 8, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 1819 AND 1901 EAST 8TH, IS THAT CORRECT?
>>GLASGO: 901.
>>MAYOR WATSON: INSTEAD OF 1901, 901?
>>GLASGO: CORRECT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THE REMAINING PORTION OF TRACT 8, THAT IS THE PORTION THAT EXCLUDES 1819 AND 901 EAST 8TH. THERE IS A MOTION?
>>THOMAS: YES, MAYOR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?
>>THOMAS: I WOULD MAKE A MOTION ON 8 TO APPROVE THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ONLY SECOND READING, EXCEPT FOR THE TWO GUADALUPE TRACTS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT THE MOTION IS -- THE MOTION IS ON TRACT 8, TO ADOPT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION ON SECOND READING ONLY AND THAT WOULD BE EXCLUDING 1819 AND 901 EAST 8TH, WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY PASSED THE ZONING FOR ALL THREE READINGS. IS THERE A SECOND?
>>GOODMAN: CAN WE REFRESH OURSELVES ON WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION SAID?
>>MAYOR WATSON: MS. GLASGO?
>>GLASGO: THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION ON TRACT 8, WAS A CS-MU, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TWO TRACTS THAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, 1819 AND 1901, CSMU, RESIDENTIAL ONLY FOR THE OTHER TRACTS, THAT WAS THE ZONING FOR TRACT 8. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MAYOR PRO TEM?
>>GOODMAN: YES, THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND?
>>ALVAREZ: SECOND.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, IS THERE A DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE VOTE PASSES ON SECOND READING BY A VOTE OF 6 TO 0, WITH ONE ABSENCE. THAT WILL TAKE US TO TRACT 9. THERE IS A MOTION WITH REGARD TO TRACT 9.
>>THOMAS: YES, SIR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
>>THOMAS: I MAKE A MOTION ON TRACT 9 TO CHANGE THE BASIC ZONING TO GR-MU-CO, GENERAL -- I MEAN RESTAURANT AS THE ONLY GR USE, AND ALL OTHERS WILL BE LR USE, INCLUDING STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THE SITE DEVELOPMENT REGULATION AS INCLUDED IN THE BACK UP.
>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE A SECOND? THIS WILL BE SECOND READING ONLY. IS THERE A SECOND?
>>GOODMAN: MAYOR, LET ME SECOND THAT WITH A POSSIBLE AMENDMENT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MAYOR PRO TEM SECONDS THE MOTION AND THEN IS GOING TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT. MAYOR PRO TEM HAS THE FLOOR.
>>GOODMAN: WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO RESTRICT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THAT RESTAURANT USE TO 1800 SQUARE FEET?
>>THOMAS: WHERE IS THE -- [INAUDIBLE]
>> HE SAID YEAH.
>>THOMAS: YES.
>>GOODMAN: GOOD. THEN I WOULD OFFER THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THE MAKER OF THE MOTION CONSIDERS THAT FRIENDLY, THAT IS THE MOTION. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES -- THE MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF 4 TO 2, WITH COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER AND COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ BEING SHOWN VOTING NO. AND ONE ABSENCE.
>>GOODMAN: MAYOR, BEFORE WE LEAVE THAT ENTIRELY, YES? COULD I --
>>MAYOR WATSON: YES.
>>GOODMAN: THANKS. I THINK THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE FOUR FOOTPRINTS ARE APPROXIMATELY NINE OR 10,000, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I MEAN, YEAH. ONE IS 900, SORRY, I JUST GAFFE IT A BIGGER SPOT. CONCEIVABLY, THAT'S VERY SMALL. BUT I THINK COMPATIBLE NEIGHBORHOOD KIND OF USE WHERE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BRING IN A LOT OF PEOPLE. YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE FRENCH LEGATION PEOPLE. THAT'S THE PREMISE BEHIND IT. I THINK THAT IT WILL SORT OF FORT PHI POTENTIAL -- FORTIFY INTENSE COMMERCIAL CREEP FROM COMPATIBILITY OR PERCEIVED COMPATIBILITY WITH THIS PROJECT. THAT WAS MY INTENTION.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. ITEMS NO. 23 AND 24, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO POSTPONE THOSE ITEMS UNTIL WE BRING THE OTHER ITEMS BACK ON THIRD READING.
>>GOODMAN: SO MOVE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, IS THERE A DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF 6 TO 0. TAKE US TO ITEM NO. 69, COUNCIL. ITEM NO. 69 I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE SUSTAINEDDING THE INTERIM DEVELOPMENT CONTROLS.
>>ALVAREZ: MAYOR, I GUESS THE -- THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO EXTEND THE MORE TOMORROW -- MORATORIUM, WHEN DO WE ANTICIPATE THIS WOULD COME BACK?
>>MAYOR WATSON: JUNE 14TH WOULD BE -- IS THAT RIGHT?
>>GLASGO: EITHER THE 7TH OR 14TH.
>>ALVAREZ: THAT TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, THREE WEEKS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: 14 IS THREE WEEKS, WE COULD GO TO JUNE 7TH.
>>ALVAREZ: WE WOULD EXTEND THE MORATORIUM BY THAT AMOUNT?
>>MAYOR WATSON: WE WOULD EXTEND THE MORATORIUM UNTIL JUNE 7TH, IS THAT RIGHT, MS. GLASGO.
>>ALVAREZ: CURRENTLY JUNE 8TH.
>>GLASGO: IT'S EXTENDED TO JUNE 8TH, A DAY AFTER.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM UNTIL JUNE 8TH, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, IS THERE A DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, OPPOSED NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO., MOTION CARRIES. MERCIFULLY WE WILL COMPLETED THAT PART. LET'S GO TO ITEMS 16 THROUGH 20, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE A SHORT STAFF PRESENTATION ON THIS.
>>GARZA: BETTIE, THIS IS THE CONNALLY PARK ITEMS. COLONY PARK ITEMS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: FOR STAFF THAT'S WATCHING AND INTERESTING IN WHAT WE WILL BE DOING NEXT, AS SOON AS WE FINISH WITH THIS, WE WILL RECESS THE CITY COUNCILL MEETING SO THAT I CAN CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE HOUSE HOUSE AND THEN WE WILL -- OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND THEN WE WOULD IMMEDIATELY MOVE INTO ZONING ITEMS.
>> OKAY. BEFORE YOU ON THE SEIZE SELL WE HAVE THE MAP -- EASEL WE HAVE THE MAP OF THE COLONY PARK AREA. WE ARE ASKING TO ACQUIRE THIS ACREAGE. SOME 50 ACRES WILL BE ADDED TO THE PARKS PARKLAND THAT IS ALREADY THERE. I THINK JUNE, IF YOU COULD GO OVER AND POINT THAT OUT. SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF WHERE THAT IS. THE BALANCE OF IT IS ALREADY ZONED SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING AND -- IN ONE AREA, MULTI FAMILY AND THEN SOME TOWNHOUSES AND DUPLEXES. SO WE HAVE --
>> [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC] 42 ACRES, 50 ACRES, 96 ACRES OF S.F. 2, YOU HAVE ABOUT 66 ACRES OF S.F. 3, 46 ACRES OF MF2.
>> OKAY. THE TOTAL PRICE FOR THIS LAND IS 3.5 MILLION DOLLARS. SOME $700,000 WILL COME FROM THE DESTINATION PARK MONEY TO ADD TO THAT PARK. AND THE BALANCE OF IT WILL BE PAID THROUGH A SHORT-TERM LOAN FROM THE ELECTRIC UTILITY AND WILL BE REPAID FROM THE ACQUISITION -- HOUSING ACQUISITION FUND IN OCTOBER.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?
>>ALVAREZ: WHAT IS THAT BLUE LINE THERE, A ROAD --
>> THE ROAD IS BUILD UP ON THIS POINT, THAT THE COLONY LOOP. I DISTINGUISHED THAT AREA BECAUSE THE SELLER OF THE TRACT IS GOING TO DEDICATE THAT RIGHT-OF-WAY, BUT THAT ROAD WILL NEED TO BE BUILT. IT'S AN UNBUILT PORTION OF THE COLONY LOOP.
>>ALVAREZ: WHICH IS THE PARKLAND GOING TO BE? THE ADDITIONAL PARKLAND IS GOING TO BE EXACTLY WHERE? IS THIS PIECE, WHICH IS ALSO THIS DIFFERENT COLORED GREEN.
>>ALVAREZ: I SEE. FROM THE ROAD ALL THE WAY --
>> YES, SIR, UP TO THE ROAD.
>>ALVAREZ: OKAY.
>>SLUSHER: MS. DUNKERLY WHAT ARE YOU ANSWER PAILGHT --
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WHAT ARE YOU ANTICIPATING THAT A PER LOT COST WOULD BE TO US AS PART OF THIS SALE?
>> WELL, I DON'T HAVE MY CALCULATOR HERE. I'M NOT SURE HOW WE HAVE CALCULATED IT. BUT YOU HAVE -- DOES ANYBODY HAVE THE NUMBER OF LOTS?
>> IT'S ABOUT 13,500 PER ACRE IS YOUR TOTAL COST WHEN YOU LOOK AT OVERALL. EACH OF THE SECTIONS, COUNCILMEMBER, WERE APPRAISED. SO THERE'S A VALUE FOR EACH TO MAKE SURE, THE TOTAL VALUE ON THIS PIECE IS $3,635,000. SO YOU ARE A LITTLE BIT UNDER YOUR PURCHASE PRICE. BUT AS YOU LOOK AT EACH OF THE UNITS, ULTIMATELY THIS IS A PRELIMINARY PLAT THAT WE WOULD LOOK TO SOMEONE TO COME IN AND DEVELOP UNDER TODAY'S CODE. YOU ARE ABOUT 13-5, 13, RIGHT IN THAT AREA.
>>SLUSHER: WHAT I AM DRIVING AT IS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A -- A SITUATION WHERE WE THINK WE HAVE A SOLID REALISTIC CHANCE TO PRODUCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CITY DOING THAT THEMSELVES. BUT THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS AND WE THINK THIS IS A VERY STRONG POSSIBILITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, REASONABLY PRICED HOUSING AND THEN IT WILL BE -- NEAR OUR PARK THAT WE ARE GOING TO DEVELOP. IN THAT WAY IT'S ALONG THE LINES OF THE DESTINATION PARKS AND THE TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND ALSO ADDING AN AMENITY TO AN AREA THAT IS -- DOESN'T HAVE AS MANY AMENITIES AS SOME AREAS --
>> WE HAVE BEEN IN A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION WITH A BUILDER RELATING TO THE SINGLE FAMILY PORTION. SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS OR SO, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER SOME -- SOME DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA USING SOME OF OUR HOPEFULLY LOCAL BUILDERS OR ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO COME IN AND -- AND DO SOME BUILDING THERE.
>> IN ADDITION, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THIS COUNCILMEMBER, WE ALSO HAD A LAND PLAN PREPARED, SO WE KNOW THAT 91% OF THIS TRACT IS DEVELOPABLE. WE KNOW THAT WE NEED 361,000 FOR A LOOP FEE FOR YOUR FIRE HYDRANT, THOSE ARE ALL OF THE UTILITIES THAT YOU NEED IN PARTICULAR FOR THIS SITE. WE HAVE LOOKED AT THIS SITE, ALSO NOT JUST UNDER AN APPRAISED VALUE BUT ALSO A LAND PLAN TO HELP DETERMINE THOSE TYPES OF QUESTIONS.
>> MS. DUNKERLY DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? MR. HILGERS THERE IS TRYING TO WORK HIS WAY UP TO THE MICROPHONE AS WELL.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT PART OF THIS TRANSACTION, OF COURSE, IS THIS ACQUISITION WOULD BE TO WORK THROUGH THE FINANCE CORPORATION WHO WOULD THEN WORK WITH OTHER PARTNERS. THE CONCEPT HERE AS JUNE KNEE SAYS IS TO WORK WITH THE EXISTING LAND PLAN THAT WE HAVE ALREADY WORKED. AS WE HAVE AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, PROVIDE THE ENHANCEMENTS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY ADD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE SMART HOUSING, MORE -- LESS DENSE HOUSING THAN -- AND HIGHER QUALITY AFFORDABILITY THAN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET IF THIS JUST WENT AT A MARKET AND LET THE MARKET FORCES TAKE THEIR -- THEIR OWN DIRECTION WITHOUT THE -- THE LEADERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT OF THE FINANCE CORPORATION.
>> DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT THE CITY WILL RECOUP ANY MONEY OF THIS TO GO BACK TO OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING?
>> ACTUALLY, PART OF THIS WOULD BE IF THE CITY -- AS THE CITY ACQUIRES THIS, THE INCREASED TAX VALUE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR POTENTIALLY THE -- THE 40% INCREASE OF REVENUE FROM THE HOUSING TRUST FUND THAT'S ENVISIONED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. THE RESOLUTION PASSED ON SEPTEMBER 9TH. SO THAT WOULD BE ONE POSSIBILITY. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT WE DON'T -- WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WOULD -- I CAN'T GUARANTEE EXACTLY HOW MUCH OF THE SUBSIDY WOULD BE PUT INTO THIS LAND COST. BUT IT WOULD BE OUR ANTICIPATION TO TRY TO RECOUP AS MUCH -- LE COUP THIS -- RECOUP THIS INVESTMENT IN WHOLE AND THEN HOPEFULLY IN ADDITION TO THIS INVESTMENT WE COULD EVEN GENERATE SOME REVENUE. BUT SINCE WE HAVEN'T TALKED TO THE BUILDERS, WE HAVEN'T DEVELOPED THE SITE PLANS YET, I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE ALL OF THE MONEY BACK OR MAKE MONEY OFF OF THE PROPOSITION. BUT YOU DO ANTICIPATE GETTING SOME OF THESE FUNDS BACK AND THEN HAVE THEM REVOLVE INTO MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING?
>> YES, SIR, YES, SIR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER, I KNOW THAT YOU WILL RECALL THIS. LET ME PUT A FINER POINTS ON IT. LAST COUNCIL HAD A PROPOSAL THAT WAS LAID OUT THAT THEN THIS COUNCIL ALSO ADOPTED THAT -- THAT YOU WILL RECALL WE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THE LAND THAT WAS CITY OWNED LAND THAT WASN'T BEING FULLY DEVELOPED. WE WOULD TAKE AN INCREMENT OF THAT TAX AND WE WOULD DEDICATE IT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT'S PART OF WHAT HE'S REFERRING TO ON THAT 40%.
>>SLUSHER: OKAY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEMS 16 THROUGH 20.
>>THOMAS: SO MOVE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 16 THROUGH 20, MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, DISCUSSION?
>>WINN: MAYOR?
>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.
>>WINN: I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A -- WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IN THAT ON ITEM NO. 18, THE COUNCIL IS DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO PRESENT THE -- HFC BOARD WITHIN 60 DAYS DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR THE HOUSING. I -- I HAVE BEEN REQUESTED AND THINK THAT WE SHOULD INCREASE THAT TO 90 DAYS SO GIVE SOME DESIGN TIME.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ THAT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT?
>>THOMAS: YES.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED NO. MOTION CARRIES. WITH COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH ABSENT. THAT WILL THEN TAKE US -- COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?
>>THOMAS: IF YOU WOULD GIVE ME -- I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND STAFF FOR THE GREAT WORK THEY HAVE DONE ON COLONY PARK. MR. HILGERS, BETTIE DUNKERLY AND THE REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION TO RECESS THE CITY COUNCILL MEETING SO I CAN CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. I WILL SECOND THE MOTION. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO., THE MOTION CARRIES, WE ARE IN RECESS. I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, CHANGES AJDZ CORRECTION TO THE AGENDA TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OF A -- OF A DELETE A 50 YEAR AND SO IT WILL READ OF A LEASE OF UP TO 50 YEARS. ADD UP TO 50 YEARS. COUNCIL, THE AGENDA, OUR AFHC ITEMS ONE THROUGH 8 WITH 8 HAVING THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS. ANY ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE PULLED? HEARING NONE THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE HFC1 THROUGH 8, IS THERE A MOTION? YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION, MR. POWELL?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO -- THERE IS ONE THING, AHFC3 IS ITEM 3, IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING.
>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU ARE RIGHT.
>> THEREFORE --
>>MAYOR WATSON: THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE AFH1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. MOTION TO APPROVE BY BOARD MEMBER WYNN. SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER THOMAS. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT WAS READ? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? YES, SIR? DOESN'T MATTER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MY NAME IS PAT WELCH, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN HABIT TO THE -- HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION THE DIFFICULTY THAT WE ARE HAVING IN TRYING TO FIND LAND TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE OUR CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS WILL PROBABLY STOP IN THE NEXT 60 TO 90 DAYS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING LAND. WE JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW OUR SUPPORT OF THIS. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER US TO BE A PARTNER IN THIS ENDEAVOR. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. IN MY OPINION ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO BE HEARD? MR. POWELL WILL YOU BRIEFLY -- NO, I TELL YOU WHAT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES, WITH BOARD MEMBER GRIFFITH ABSENT. ITEM NO. 3 IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO -- FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC INPUT ON THE ISSUANCE OF UP TO 9 MILLION IN PRIVATE ACTIVITY MULTI FAMILY NON-RECOURSE BONDS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF ARREST BORES AND CREEKSIDE APARTMENTS, AT 1022 CLAYTON LANE, WHICH WILL BE OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE ARBORS HOUSING PARTNERS, LIMITED A NEWLY FORMED TEXAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. BOARD MEMBERS YOU HAVE IN YOUR BACK UP INFORMATION RELATED TO THIS. LET ME ASK IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? MEMBERS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A NOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION MADE BY THE VICE-PRESIDENT. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER ALVAREZ, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. MR. POWELL, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER BUSINESS?
>> ARE WE GOING TO THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE REST OF THE ITEMS?
>> I BELIEVE WE JUST PASSED THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> OKAY.
>> YOU DID A VERY GOOD MAKING THAT PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU [LAUGHTER]
>>GARZA: THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR DID NOT DO THIS AS BRIEFLY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, SECONDED BY THE VICE-PRESIDENT. OPPOSED AYE -- THOSE IN FAVOR ," OPPOSED NO. THE MOTION CARRIES, I WILL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCILL, HE WILL NOW GO TO -- OUR 4:00 TIME CERTAIN, ITEMS 82 THROUGH 94. I'M READY FOR YOU, ITEM NO. 82 IS RELATE TO THE BENNETT TRACT. COUNCIL, WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY HELD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THAT. THIS IS THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT. PLTION GLASGO, WILL YOU GIVE US A BRIEF DESCRIPTION, SEE IF WE CAN MOVE THROUGH THIS.
>>LASGO: THIS IS THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT REQUIRED THAT WE INITIATE A ROLLBACK FROM A PREVIOUS CASE, NOT THE CURRENT CASE. IT WAS RECOMMENDED FOR TERMINATION BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NO. 82, IT'S A CONSENT ITEM. MOTION BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO APPROVE THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON ITEM NO. 82? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? RAUL GARZA SIGNED UP NOT WISHING TO SPEAK BUT AGAINST. ANY DISCUSSION?
>>SLUSHER: MAYOR?
>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
>>SLUSHER: MS. GLASGO, GIVE ME A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THIS DOES?
>>GLASGO: ON ITEM NO. 82 THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT IS -- ITEM IS UNDER ITEM NO. 82 IS CASE NUMBER 14-14-88103. 1998 WHEN THE ZONING CASE WAS INITIALLY INITIATED THAT ZONE THE PROPERTY AS IT IS TODAY, THERE WAS A REQUEST TO SEE OWE TO INITIATE A ROLLBACK TO -- TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF THE BENNETT TRACT. WE WENT AHEAD AND INITIATED THE ROLL BACK UNDER A SUBSEQUENT CASE AFTER TWO YEARS AND THAT -- THAT MOTION OF COUNCIL TO -- TO ROLL BACK THE ZONING DOES NOT -- DID NOT TAKE PLACE. BUT THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANT REMAINED IN PLACE, DID NOT GET TERMINATED. THEREFORE THE REQUEST THIS TIME IS TO GO AHEAD AND TERMINATE THE COVENANT TO WHICH THE PREVIOUS REZONING DID NOT GET ACTED UPON.
>>SLUSHER: THIS IS THE ONE WHICH IF NOTHING WAS CONSTRUCTED THERE, UNDER THE TERMS, OF WHAT WAS APPROVED, WITHIN TWO YEARS IT WOULD ROLL BACK.
>>GLASGO: THAT IS CORRECT.
>>SLUSHER: ROLLBACK WOULD BE INITIATED THAT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN.
>>GLASGO: WE WENT AHEAD AND FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THAT REQUEST TO INITIATE. BUT THE ACT OF COUNCIL DID NOT ROLL BACK THE ZONING.
>>SLUSHER: THEN IF THIS ONE -- IF THIS STAYS IN PLACE, WOULD THAT APPLY TO -- WHAT WAS APPROVED ON SECOND READING, ASSUMING THAT IT GETS APPLIED ON THIRD READING, WOULD THEN THAT HAVE TO HAVE CONSTRUCTION COMMENCE WITHIN TWO YEARS?
>>GLASGO: NO, THIS COUGH INNOCENT --
>>SLUSHER: THIS IS MEANINGLESS NOW.
>>GLASGO: IT JUST CREATES A CLOUD ON THE TITLE. EVERY TIME THERE'S A SEARCH IT APPEARS AS AN ITEM THAT -- THAT APPEARS WITHOUT ANY MEANING. IT IS -- IT IS BEING ADDRESSED. JUST DID NOT GET --
>>SLUSHER: IT'S STILL CALLING FOR THE MALL TO BE BUILT.
>>GLASGO: CORRECT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE MALL.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION IN HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES WITH ONE MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL ABSENT. YOU WANT ME TO DO IT OR DO YOU WANT TO DO IT?
>>GLASGO: WHATEVER YOU PREFER SIR, ITEM NO. 83, FIRST READING, C14-00-, 2240, 84 A POSTPONEMENT REQUEST UNTIL JUNE 7TH, ITEMS 85 THROUGH 93, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S NOW BEEN AN AGREEMENT TO POSTPONE THOSE ITEMS UNTIL AUGUST 2ND, IS THAT CORRECT?
>>GLASGO: THAT IS CORRECT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ITEMS 85 THROUGH 93, I WILL CALL THOSE NUMBERS DECREE QUICKLY, C14-00-23A, B, C, D, SO4-01-0024, C14-01-25A, B, C, D WOULD BE POSTPONED. THAT WOULD BE THE CONSENT AGENDA, COUNCIL. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? MOTION MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, THERE IS A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>>SLUSHER: MAYOR?
>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
>>SLUSHER: I JUST WANT TO SAY ON 83, THAT'S ON FIRST READING ONLY, CORRECT IN.
>>GLASGO: YES.
>>SLUSHER: I'M GOING TO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT ON SECOND READING. I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING SAY AYE. OPPOSED NO. THE MOTION CARRIES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT WILL NOW TAKE US TO ITEM NO. 94, MS. GLASGO.
>> ITEM NO. 94 IS A ZONING CASE THAT IMPLEMENTS THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND SCOTT WHITEMAN WILL GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF HOW THIS COMPARES WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCILL, MY NAME IS SCOTT WHITEMAN FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT. I WILL BE DOING THE STAFF PRESENTATION FOR CASE NUMBER C14-01-0037 FOR THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN. IN OCTOBER OF 1998 THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION NEIGHBORHOOD, ALSO KNOWN AS NACA WAS SELECTED BY THE CITY COUNCILL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CITY'S NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROGRAM. THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR INPUT THROUGH WORKSHOPS, PLANNING TEAM MEETINGS AND TWO NEIGHBORHOOD-WIDE SURVEYS. AFTER NEARLY TWO YEAR, OF WORK THE NACA NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN WAS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 29TH 2000. THIS REZONING REQUEST WILL IMPLEMENT THE LAND USE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE NACA NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN. THERE WERE -- THERE WERE SEVERAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND THE COUNCIL ADOPTED NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN ADDRESSED LAND USE AND ZONING. ONE IS TO ESTABLISH APPROPRIATE ZONING TO ENHANCE AND PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD; ANOTHER IS TO RECOMMEND ALTERNATIVES FOR REUSE AND REDEVELOPMENT TO PROTECT THE RESIDENT AREAS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND DIRECT GROWTH ALONG CORRIDORS AND ALSO TO DIRECT FUTURE GROWTH ALONG LAMAR BOULEVARD TO MAKE IT A GREAT STREET. THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE CREATES A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN COMBINING DISTRICT COVERING THE ENTIRE NACA PLANNING AREA. THE PURPOSE OF THE MPCD IS TO ALLOW INFILL DEVELOPMENT BY IMPLEMENTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND MAY ALSO MODIFY THE BASE DISTRICT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL PARCEL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE NPC D WILL ALSO ALLOW TWO SMART GROWTH USES, ONE CALLED RESIDENTIAL IN FILL AND THE OTHER CALLED NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE BUILDING. THE SPECIFIC REZONING REQUESTS ARE BROKEN INTO 24 SEPARATE TRACTS SHOWN ON THE MAP TO MY RIGHT. TRACT 1 ON KRAMER LANE, REZONE FOUR PROPERTIES FROM S.F. 2, S.F. 3, MF2 TO NONP. TRACTS 2 THROUGH 10, FROM LI TO S.F. 2 AND CSNP, A VALID PETITION HAS BEEN FILED FOR ONE PROPERTY IN TRACT 9 BY THE PROPERTY OWNER. ON TRACTS 11 AND 20, REZONE FROM LR TO MF-2-NP. THESE ARE CURRENTLY FAMILY USES. -- MULTI FAMILY USES, ALSO WILL BE DESIGNATED FOR THE SMART GROWTH RESIDENTIAL IN-FILL SPECIAL USE. TRACTS 13, 14, 16, 17 AND 18 ALLOW THE SMART GROWTH NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE BUILDING SPECIAL USE AND REZONE PORTIONS OF SEVERAL OF THE PROPERTIES FROM CS-LO AND MF3 TO GRNP TO CREATE A CONSISTENT ZONING ON ALL OF THE PROPERTIES. TRACT 15 REZONED FROM CS AND SF3 TO PNP. TRACT 19 REZONE A PORTION OF THE TRACT FROM MF-3 TO LICO REQUIRING A 25 FOOT VEGETATIVE BUFFER ALONG THE SOUTHERN PROPERTY LINE. THE REMAINING TRACTS ARE EXISTING NON-CONFORMING USES WHOSE ZONING DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN. TRACT 12 IS AN EXISTING OFFICE USE REZONE THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE PROPERTY FROM S.F. 3 TO LO-NP. TRACTS 21 AND DID 2 ARE EXISTING -- 22 ARE EXISTING MULTI-FAMILY USES. TRACTS 23 AND 24 ARE EXISTING COMMERCIAL USES ON RESEARCH BOULEVARD. REZONED FROM S.F. 3 AND CS1 TO CS-NP. THAT CONCLUDES THE STAFF PRESENTATION, I WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. COULD YOU REFRESH ME ON TRACT 9?
>> TRACT 9.
>> TRACT 9 IS RIGHT HERE ON SAGE BRUSH AVENUE, CURRENTLY ZONED LI, A CHANGE OF CS.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBERS DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OF STAFF BEFORE I -- BEFORE I READ PEOPLE'S NAMES? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE FIRST PERSON SIGNED UP IS GREG BARRINGTON WHO DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, BUT IS SHOWN IN FAVOR. KAREN ALBERTAL, WHO DID NOT WISH TO SPEAK, BUT IS SHOWN IN FAVOR. AND BRYAN ALLMAN WHO DOES WISH TO SPEAK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS AFTERNOON. I AM BRYAN ALLMAN. I AM CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN FOR -- FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS. I WANT TO STATE THAT I DO SUPPORT WHOLEHEARTEDLY THE REZONING RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY STAFF. AND IN PARTICULAR WE ARE VERY ANXIOUS TO SEE THE -- THE EFFECT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE BUILDINGS ALONG NORTH LAMAR. WE HAVE A VISION OF NORTH LAMAR AS A GREAT STREET. WITH SIDEWALKS, BURIED POWER LINES, STREET NEED I CAN'T ANSWER AND STORM SUE -- STREET MEDIANS AND STORM SEWERS. AS FAR AS RESIDENTIAL IN-FILL IN OUR PLAN, THIS WILL DEFINITELY HELP OUR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ABOVE ITEMS WILL ALL BE A VERY LONG-TERM PROPOSITION AND WILL DEPEND UPON THE OWNER AND DEVELOPERS WORKING TOGETHER AND EVENTUALLY GETTING THESE USES IN PLACE. HOWEVER, IN A MORE NEAR TERM ITEM IS THAT -- THAT THE REZONING AT 8830 NORTH LAMAR, WHICH I BELIEVE IS ITEM 15, THIS WILL BE A REZONING FROM CS/S.F. 3 TO PARK. AND THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS LITTLE PIECE OF PROPERTY IS NORTH LAMAR PEYTON GIN AND LITTLE WALNUT CREEK. THIS PARTICULAR AREA IS WHERE THE TOWN OF FISKVILLE WAS FOUNDED BACK IN THE 1850'S AND WAS IN FACT IN EXISTENCE UNTIL 1962 WHEN IT WAS ANNEXED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN. AS A NEIGHBORHOOD WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THIS HISTORICAL SITE OF FISKVILLE AND ALSO AT THIS SAME LOCATION RECOGNIZE THE ETHNIC DIVERSITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS IT IS NOW. WE ARE A VERY DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD. WITH HISPANIC, WHITE AND ASIAN REPRESENTATIVES. WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT. ALSO, THIS PARTICULAR AREA WOULD BE UTILIZED BY THE LANIER HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY STUDENTS BECAUSE IT IS BORDERING ON THE LITTLE WALNUT CREEK AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THE AREA. FOR ITS WILDLIFE. WE WILL BE USING SOME OF THE CITY MONEY THAT WAS AWARDED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN TO DEVELOP THIS LITTLE PIECE OF PARK AREA. AND ALSO WE WILL BE REQUESTING MATCHING FUNDS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. [BUZZER SOUNDING] THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, ROLAND CURRY. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL, I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE CHANGES I'M A MEMBER OF THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION OR NACA. POSSIBLY I SHOULD HAVE GONE BEFORE BRYAN JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AS HE SAID, WE ARE PLEASED THAT WE ARE MOVING RIGHT ALONG IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR PLAN. THE -- THE NACA AREA NEARLY FOUR SQUARE MILES HAS PRESENTED A SIGNIFICANT -- SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES TO NOT ONLY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOLUNTEERS, BUT ALSO TO THE CITY STAFF ITSELF. IT'S A VERY MATURE AREA WITH LITTLE UNDEVELOPED LAND LEFT. RENTER OCCUPANCY IS ABOUT 75%. WE BROUGHT -- WE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BROUGHT STRENGTHS TO THE PROCESS AS WELL. WE ARE THE ONLY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WITHIN THOSE BORDERS. WE HOLD GENERAL MEETINGS 10 MONTHS A YEAR. AND HAND DELIVER OVER 3200 NEWSLETTERS TO THE HOMES IN OUR AREA, JUST BEFORE OUR MEETINGS. WE ARE IN THE SMART GROWTH CORRIDOR, AS YOU KNOW. WHILE PRESERVE IS OUR MAIN GOAL, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO OPPORTUNITIES OF REDEVELOPMENT AND THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING IMPROVEMENTS OVER TIME. CITIZENS GROUP AS BRYAN SAID HAS MET FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. AND WITH A CORE OF VOLUNTEERS WALKING THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD, REVIEWING THE LAND USE AND BUILDING CONDITIONS, THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF SIDEWALKS, CURB CUTS AND STREET SIGNS, WE EXAMINED AMENITIES AT BUS STOPS AND THE CONDITION OF THE PAVEMENT THROUGHOUT OUR AREA. LOOKED FOR WAYS TO EXPAND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RID THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE MONTHLY DEBRIS LEFT BEHIND BY A MOBILE RENTER POPULATION. WE TOOK ACTION TO HELP THE QUAIL CREEK BRANCH OF THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM BECOME A LEARNING HAVEN FOR THE LARGE ASIAN AND HISPANIC POPULATION THAT LIVES IN OUR AREA. AND TODAY WE ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN COMPLETING THE PLAN OR FURTHERING THE PLAN BY ADOPTING THE LAND USE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. CURRY, THOSE ARE ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. PUBLIC HEARINGS IS CLOSED. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM NO. 94.
>>GOODMAN: I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL MAYOR OF THE FOUR POINTS OF REQUEST.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION TO APPROVE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES AND IT IS APPROVED WITH ONE MEMBER ABSENT. TELL ME WHY.
>>GOODMAN: MAYOR, MOVE -- MOVE APPROVAL ON TRACT 9 FROM LI TO CS WITHIN THE NCCD.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT. PURSUANT TO THE CODE, I'M GOING TO CALL FOR A SEPARATE COUNCIL VOTE ON THE SPECIFIC SPECIE OF PROPERTY -- SPECIFIC PIECE OF PROPERTY WHERE THERE IS A PROTEST. PLEASE MAKE YOUR MOTION AGAIN, MAYOR PRO TEM.
>>GOODMAN: I BELIEVE THIS IS RIGHT. STAFF CORRECT ME IF NOT ON TRACT 9, TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM LI TO C S1? --
>> JUST CS.
>> THE NCCD. IT'S NOT I'M SORRY, IT'S NOT, IT'S JUST PLAIN OLD NP.
>> YOU ARE RIGHT. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND THE MOTION. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. AGAIN THE VOTE IS 6 TO 0, WITH ONE ABSENCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL, ITEM NO. 62. 62, I AM ATTEMPTING TO GET US THROUGH ITEM NO. 62, WE CAN GET BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, THEN WE CAN STAY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION UNTIL OUR 5:30 TIME CERTAIN. ITEM NO. 62, COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?
>>WINN: THANK YOU, ITEM NO. 62 IS APPARENTLY AN AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING CONTRACT REGARDING THE TECHNICAL AND NETWORKING ASSISTANCE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN OWNED CONSTRUCTION BUSINESSES THROUGH OUR DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT SERVICE PROGRAM. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A -- A BRIEF PRESENTATION FROM STAFF ABOUT -- ABOUT JUST SORT OF THE BACKGROUND, WHO THE CURRENT, YOU KNOW, CONTRACTOR IS, ET CETERA, THEN I WILL HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS FOR -- FOR, YOU --
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, MY NAME IS LENO RIVERA, I'M DIRECTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE SMALL MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCES. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THE ITEM THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS ONE OF SEVEN OR EIGHT CONTRACTS THAT WE WILL HAVE EXTENDED THIS YEAR THROUGH DECEMBER. NORMALLY THESE CONTRACTS WOULD HAVE COME UP FOR RENEWAL, IN SOME CASES THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A -- A COMPETITIVE CHALLENGE TO SOME OF THESE WHERE -- WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE GONE OUT AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPETITION FOR THIS CONTRACT. HOWEVER, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING YOU WE WILL CONTRACT FOR THOSE CONTRACTS. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF ISSUING A -- A CONTRACT FOR A NEEDS ASSESSMENT. ONCE WE HAVE THIS NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT WILL CARRY US THROUGH THIS CALENDAR YEAR. WE WILL NEXT YEAR FORMAT -- REFORMAT HOW WE CONTRACT THESE -- THESE CONTRACTS, THESE SERVICES. SO WE HAD TO DECIDE -- WE HAD DECIDED FOR THIS CALENDAR YEAR ALONE THAT WE WOULD EXTEND ALL OF THESE CONTRACTS. SO THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE SEVEN OR EIGHT THAT WE ARE EXTENDING FOR THE BALANCE OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. AND IN THIS CASE THIS IS BUSINESS RESOURCE CONSULTANTS THAT IS THE MANAGING -- CONTRACTOR FOR THE DAS OR DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. IT IS A CONTRACT THAT IS IN IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BLACK CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION. AND IS VIEWED BY THE COMMUNITY AS BEING THE CONTRACT FOR ASSISTANCE FOR BLACK CONTRACTORS.
>>WINN: OKAY, MAYOR I SUSPECT SHH FOLKS -- SOME FOLKS HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. I GUESS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUTE I COME BACK AND ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OF MR. RIVERA.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT'S VERY GOOD. WHAT I AM GOING TO DO, COUNCIL, BEFORE WE GO TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SPEAKING ON ITEM NO. 62, ON ITEM NO. 94, APPARENTLY THE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS IN OPPOSITION TO THE -- WHO HAD THE OPPOSITION ON TRACT 9 HAD SIGNED UP -- SIGNED A CARD THAT HAD NEVER MADE IT TO ME AND IT'S JUST BEEN HANDED TO ME. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO ALLOW MR. TONG TO SPEAK. AND IF AT THE END OF HIS PRESENTATION THERE IS A MOTION TO RECONSIDER, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ON ITEM NO. 94. WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WILL ASK MR. TONG IF HE WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> GOOD EVENING. I OWN THE LITTLE PIECE OF PROPERTY UP ON 840 SAGE BRUSH. TODAY I COME HERE BECAUSE THE CITY GO TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM LI TO CS. BEFORE -- BEFORE I BOUGHT THE PROPERTY, TO PLAN TO DO FACTORY, NOT THE LI THAT I AM LOOKING FOR BEFORE, NOW THE CITY CHANGE ZONE, THEN I HAVE TO -- I HAVE LOST MY INVESTMENT IN THERE, THEN ALSO I HAD PUT MORE INVEST BEFORE I HAD THE PROPERTY TO LEASING. THEN I HAVE SOME LETTER AND MY PICTURE ON MY -- ON THE PROPERTY, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE IT TO YOU. SO YOU CAN READ THAT PROBABLY YOU UNDERSTAND MORE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: APPARENTLY -- [INAUDIBLE], SHE WILL PASS IT OUT TO US.
>> HERE'S MY PICTURE, TOO.
>> MR. TONG ASKED ME TO GIVE A BRIEF EXPLANATION.
>>MAYOR WATSON: PLEASE DO.
>> HIS PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY ZONED LI, HE LEASES IT OUT AS A MANUFACTURING USE. AND HE'S ALSO RECENTLY UPGRADED HIS POWER AND HE'S CONCERNED THAT IF IT'S -- IF THE ZONING CHANGES TO CS, HE WON'T BE ABLE TO LEASE TO IT A NEW TENANT IF THAT ONE MOVES OUT AND I THINK THAT --
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCIL IS THERE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER?
>>GOODMAN: LET ME ASK SOMETHING FIRST, IF I COULD, MAYOR. THE PARTICULAR USE I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT KIND OF PARTICULAR MANUFACTURING USE IS -- IS PROPOSED AND WHETHER IN FACT CS IS COMMERCIAL SERVICES PRECLUDES THAT USE.
>> I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT USE HE USES NOW. BUT IN HIS PETITION HE STATED THAT HE WANTS LI ZONING FOR FUTURE TENANTS, NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE EXISTING ONE.
>>GOODMAN: THAT'S A VERY SPECULATIVE SENTENCE AND I WOULD RATHER HAVE A LITTLE MORE -- WELL, IN THE CONTEXT OF NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING, IT IS A LITTLE TOO SPECULATIVE TO ME TO TAKE LIKE THAT. SO WHAT I WOULD DO, MAYOR, IS OFFER A MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND PASSAGE ON FIRST READING.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT THE MOTION IS TO RECONSIDER. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES, THE MOTION WILL BE RECONSIDERED. I WILL RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR A MOTION ON THE SEPARATE VOTE AS IT RELATES TO TRACT 9. BECAUSE AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WHAT THIS WILL DO IS IT WILL HAVE ADOPTED THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN ON ALL THREE READINGS, BASED UPON A PREVIOUS VOTE, BUT WITH REGARD TO TRACT 9, WHICH IS REQUIRED UNDER OUR CODE TO HAVE A SEPARATE VOTE, WE WILL BE JUST TAKING UP ON HER MOTION ON FIRST READING ONLY. THAT'S THE MAYOR PRO TEM'S MOTION, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. IS THERE A DISCUSSION?
>>GOODMAN: YES, MAYOR. IN BETWEEN NOW AND SECOND READING, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS A LIST OF PROSPECTIVE USES THAT THE OWNER PROJECTS IS POSSIBLE AND FROM ALICE OR YOU OR WHOEVER ALSO A LIST OF THE ZONING NECESSARY TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE USES.
>>MAYOR WATSON: FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH ABSENT. ITEM NO. 62. [ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS] TEST.
>>MAYOR WATSON: SANDRA MUELLER, SANDRA MUELLER, SANDRA MUELLER SIGNED UP AGAINST. DR. -- HELP ME. IS HE HERE? DR. FOPP SIGNED UP AGAINST. LEONARD WOODS. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? YOU WILL FOLLOW. MR. BROWN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CLEM BROWN. I'M THE OWNER OF CLEM BROWN CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION. STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE BLACK CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION MBRC. BUT WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW THIS EVENING, ON THE CONTRACTS -- THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR THESE CONTRACTS FOR A SMALLER BLACK CONTRACTORS TO GET SUPPORT FROM, A LOT OF CONTRACTORS ARE NOT GETTING IT. AND THAT IS A CONCERN THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING AROUND TOWN. YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO STEP UP AND GET THIS THING STRAIGHTENED OUT. AND I THINK ALL THAT WE WANT IS FOR THINGS TO BE DONE RIGHT, PEOPLE TO BE TREATED RIGHT, FOR IT TO BE SPREAD AROUND FAIRLY. AND I THINK EVERYBODY CAN DEAL WITH THAT. AND -- BUT FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, AND HEARD, THAT'S NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT CONFUSION. WE WANT SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS AND THINGS THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE OUT HERE IN THE CONSTRUCTION WORLD BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF BLACK CONTRACTORS AND OTHER CONTRACTORS FROM OTHER ET NIS THAT WANT TO MAKE IT AND WE CAN'T DO IT IF WE DON'T WORK TOGETHER. I THINK THE ISSUES THAT ARE ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AND LOOKED AT BY THE CITY COUNCILL BEFORE THEY MAKE A SERIOUS DECISION ABOUT THIS CONTRACT. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE PEOPLE -- PEOPLE GOT TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND THAT'S ALL THEY WANT TO DO AND THEY DON'T WANT NO TROUBLE. THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR WATSON, MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS BEN WALLMATE, THE PRESIDENT OF AUSTIN UNITED METROPOLITAN BLACK CONTRACTORS. A FEW MINUTES -- THE FEW MINUTES WE HAVE TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT ITEM NO. 62, APPROVAL OF AMENDS NO. 6 FOR BUSINESS RESOURCE CONSULTANTS TO PROVIDE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SERVICE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS ARE CRITICAL MINUTES IN THE FUTURE OF FRAM BUSINESSES HERE IN AUSTIN. -- AFRICAN-AMERICAN BUSINESSES HERE IN AUSTIN. ON BEHALF OF THIS ORGANIZATION, THIS ORGANIZATION IS FORMED FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF THE -- TO FACILITATE THE UNFULFILLED NEEDS OF OUR MEMBER NEEDS. WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR OUT MESSAGE. ONE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED BUSINESSES HERE IN AUSTIN. OUR NEW ORGANIZATION FORMED A FEW MONTHS AGO IS A RESULT OF YEARS OF NEGLECT AND INEQUITY IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTING COMMUNITY. THE AUSTIN METROPOLITAN UNITED BLACK CONTRACTORS CURRENTLY HAVE 25 MEMBERS, INCREASING DAILY. OUR MEMBERS INCLUDE NOT JUST CONTRACTORS BUT BUSINESSMEN AND WOMEN FROM ALL WORKS OF LIFE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING A LEGITIMATE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ORGANIZATION MOVING IN A POSITIVE AND PROGRESSIVE DIRECTION. ITEM NO. 62, THE CONTRACT ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $70,574 TO PROVIDE AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED CONSTRUCTION BUSINESSES WITH A SUPPORT NETWORK AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEED TO DO SUCCEED IN COMPETITIVE MARKET. THE SERVICE PROGRAM WAS FORMULATED WITH THE RIGHT HEARTS AND INTENT. WE APPRECIATED THE CITY'S DESIRE TO HELP AFRICAN-AMERICAN FIRMS TO GROW AND PROSPER. HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD KNOW THE CURRENT PROGRAM MANAGED BY BRC HAS NOT HELPED THE PEOPLE YOU SEE STANDING BEFORE YOU. THE PROGRAM HAS HELD JUST A FEW PEOPLE AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THE PROGRAM WAS PUT IN PLACE TO ACCOMPLISH. THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR DAS HAS PROVEN TO BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH OR WORK WITH AND REALLY IS THE OBSTACLE IN ENSURING EQUITY AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS WHO DESIRE TO ACCESS AND UTILIZE THE SERVICE. THE PROGRAM MANAGER HAS CONSIDERED MADE [INAUDIBLE] DECISIONS ON WHO SHOULD UTILIZE THE SERVICES, WHEN THE SERVICES COULD BE PROVIDED AND AMOUNT OF SERVICES THAT ONE CAN RECEIVE. MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCILMEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT WE MET WITH CITY STAFF, DSMBR STAFF SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, TRYING TO PRESENT OUR ISSUES IN AN EFFORT TO ASSIST US AND RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. [BUZZER SOUNDS]. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO GENERAL ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I THINK SOMEONE DONATED TIME TO ME.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THERE HAS TO BE PRESENTED. IS THERE SOMEONE PRESENTED THAT HAS DONATED TIME? WHAT IS YOUR NAME? ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE THREE MORE MINUTES.
>> I HAVE MED WITH EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY -- MET WITH EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY. ONE, I HAVE CONFIDENCE YOU ARE SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN BUSINESSES HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. TWO, I AM CONFIDENT YOU ARE NOT RACIST. I WOULD NOT LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN ISSUE. I'M ALSO CONFIDENT THAT YOU DO HAVE A LEGITIMATE DESIRE TO HELP AFRICAN-AMERICAN BUSINESSES GROW THEIR BUSINESSES. I'M ALSO CONFIDENT THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF INCLUSION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY. BUT LET US LOOK AT THE HARD, COLD FACTS RELATED TO THE DAS PROGRAM YOU CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE THAT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTING COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE PAID BUSINESS RESOURCE CONSULTANTS A TOTAL OF $466,8 -- 484 TO HELP US. THE FEELING OF THE MAJORITY OF US IS WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE SERVICES. PLEASE REVIEW THE -- YOUR REPORT SUBMITTED MONTHLY BY THIS FIRM. ALTHOUGH THEY LIKE TO PUT A LOT OF WORDS IN THEIR REPORT, YOU READ IT, YOU WILL FIND THE SAME FIRMS HAVE BEEN HELPED OVER AND OVER EACH AND EVERY MONTH AND THE REPORT RESTATES EACH AND EVERY MONTH THE SAME BASIC SERVICE ASSISTANCE. YOU ARE NOT HELPING, YOU ARE SUPPORTING USE A FEW. YOU MAY ASK WHY ALL THE SAME FIRMS PARTICIPATE REGULARLY WITH THE DAS PROGRAM. MANY OF US HAVE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE ONLY TO BE DENIED ASSISTANCE. LET'S TALK ABOUT FURTHER WASTE. THE CITY FUNDS THEIR WORKPLACE WITH A -- AT DEPARTMENT OF SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCE FACILITY. FOR THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS, THE ROOM IS ALWAYS LOCKED. ONLY UNTIL RECENTLY, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, IT WAS ALLEGED THAT THE PLANNED SPACE, THE ROOM IS AVAILABLE, BUT NONE OF US CAN TESTIFY TO THAT BECAUSE THE SPACES IS STILL ALWAYS LOOKED LOCKED. LOOK AT THE VAST AMOUNT OF CITY THE FUNDS HAVE EXPENDED, IT'S TAXPAYERS MONEY AND NOT BEING SPENT CORRECTLY. MY ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS WE HAVE RECEIVED OFFERS OF TANGIBLE ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER ENTITIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. THE HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, A LIKE ORGANIZATION TO OURS, WITH SAME FUNDING, $50,000 A YEAR, HAS PROVIDED A GREATER COMMITMENT AND HAS BEEN A BETTER RESOURCE FOR SOME OF OUR MEMBERS. MOST OF OUR MEMBERS. ALSO, TECHNICAL ASSISTANT IS BEING WELL PROVIDED BY BTS, THE CITY TECHNICAL SUPPORT FUNDING PROVIDER. MY ORGANIZATION HAS DEVELOPED OUR OWN SUPPORT NETWORK. WITH PARTNERSHIPS SUCH AS THE ONE WE HAVE WITH THE BTS, THE HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION THE ASIAN CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, WE ARE DEVELOPING -- [BUZZER SOUNDS] -- WITH THE GENERAL AND PRIME CONTRACTOR COMMUNITY WE SEE NO BENEFIT AND NO REASON FOR THE AMENDMENT TO BRC'S CONTRACT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SORRY I HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF.
>> I UNDERSTAND.
>>SLUSHER: SO YOU ARE AGAINST EXTENDING THIS CONTRACT TODAY, CORRECT?
>> VERY MUCH SO.
>>SLUSHER: OKAY. AND WHAT WOULD YOU -- HOW WOULD YOU SEE THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS BEING SERVED IN THE MEANTIME UNTIL IT WAS REBID?
>> I THINK FROM THE SERVICE WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING, MOST OF US I THINK WOULD BE BETTER SERVED BY UTILIZING THE SAME RESOURCE, MOVE IT ON THE OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE MEANTIME, THEN UNTIL THE CITY FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU ARE TO DO WITH THIS CONTRACT BUT WE THINK HAVING THE CONTRACT GO ON FOR THE NEXT EIGHT MONTHS IS -- THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH BECAUSE THAT'S NOT GOING TO DO US ANY GOOD. WE HAVE BEEN SUFFERING IN PAIN FOR THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS IS JUST ANOTHER ADDITIONAL TIME FOR US TO SUFFER SOME MORE.
>>SLUSHER: OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. WOODS.
>> MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL, MY NAME IS LEONARD WOODS WITH THE LAW FIRM OF DAVIS AND WILKINSON. I REPRESENT THE AUSTIN UNITED BLACK CONTRACTORS. THIS IS A RELATIVELY NEW ORGANIZATION. THEY ARE A FIVE-DAY PLANNER ORGANIZATION FULLY IN -- 5013 C CORPORATION. THE POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE TO THE COUNCIL IS THAT WHILE I BELIEVE THE INTENT IS GOOD AND A NEED IS PRESENT, IN THE ABSENCE OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT -- THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT PRESENT, THE ORGANIZATION THAT I REPRESENT DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE CONTRACT PROVIDES A SERVICE TO THEM. THIS ORGANIZATION THAT I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO FORM AND THAT I HAVE FORMED BEGAN BECAUSE OF A PERCEPTION, QUITE FRANKLY, THAT THERE WAS A LACK OF REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE CONTRACTORS. AND THE REALITY THAT THE MEMBERS OF THIS NEW ORGANIZATION HAVE HAD TO IN FACT GO TO OTHER SOURCES TO RECEIVE THE SAME OUTREACH SERVICES THAT SHOULD BE PROVIDED THROUGH THE CURRENT CONTRACTOR. MY FIRM DURING MY INITIAL PRESENTATION BECAUSE I'M KIND OF A NOVICE WITH THE OUTREACH SERVICES, WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE ORGANIZATION INITIALLY, THE SERVICES I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE AND COULD PROVIDE WAS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE AREAS OF JOINT VENTURING, RISK SHARING, BID PREPARATION, RISK MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND LIEN LAWS TO ASSIST THEM TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE AND MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE WORK PLACES. I WAS ADVISED THOSE SERVICES SHOULD BE ALREADY PRESENT BUT THEY QUITE FRANKLY FELT THEY WERE NOT BEING SERVICE UNDERSTAND THAT MANNER. DURING THE FIRST MEETING, THERE WERE 25 MEMBERS PRESENT AT OUR LAW FIRM. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER MEETINGS WITH OUTLYING BLACK CONTRACTORS IN OTHER AREAS AND I'VE HEARD THE SAME THING. I CAN TELL YOU THAT AT AN IN TRO DUCK TOR MEETING ATTENDED BY MEMBERS OF THE STATE, MEMBERS OF THE CITY, PRIVATE BANKING COMMUNITY, AND GENERAL CONTRACTORS, SO THERE WAS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS NEW ORGANIZATION TO BE FORMED AND TRY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IN A DIFFERENT WAY. THIS NEW ORGANIZATION IS IN OPPOSITION TO THE CURRENT CONTRACT BEING EXTENDED AS THE AMENDMENT IS WORDED BECAUSE FOR SEVERAL REASONS. NO. 1, WE DON'T BELIEVE THE SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED. TWO, WE DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE PERFORMANCE MEASURES BUILT IN THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO ADEQUATELY REVIEW WHAT IS BEING PROVIDED OF THE CONTRACT TO ASSURE THE NEW CONTRACTORS, THIS OTHER GROUP THAT'S NOT RECEIVING SERVICES CAN NOW RECEIVE THEM. IN A PRACTICAL SENSE, IF THE -- IF THERE IS A GROUP OF CONTRACTORS THAT PERCEIVE AN UNAVAILABILITY OF SERVICE, OR ARE RELUCTANT TO EXPLORE THOSE SERVICES, THE REALITY IS THOSE SERVICES ARE NOT BEING PROVIDED. SO I'LL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I'M SOMEWHAT OF A NOVICE IN THE POLITICAL ARENA. I DON'T KNOW ALL THE POLITICS INVOLVED IN THE ISSUANCE OF THIS CONTRACT OR WHY THE CONTRACT WOULD WANT TO BE EXTENDED IF IN FACT THESE ARE THE TWO FACTS. BUT I CAN SAY THIS GROUP -- [BUZZER SOUNDS] --.
>>MAYOR WATSON: IS JOHN POOL HERE? IF HE'S NOT HERE UNDER OUR RULES HE CAN'T DONATE NATURE TIME. HAS HE LEFT? WHAT IS YOUR NAME, SIR?
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. AROUND NOLDZ DONATES ANOTHER THREE MINUTES.
>> I'LL GIVE SOME OF THAT TIME BACK, I THINK.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. POOL SIGNED UP AGAINST. GO AHEAD.
>> THE GROUP FEELS CURRENTLY UNDERREPRESENTED. THE GROUP FEELS THEY ARE NOT -- THEY DO NOT HAVE THE SERVICES THEY SHOULD. THEY FEEL FRUSTRATED IN THE SENSE THEY HAVE TO GO TO OTHER SOURCES TO RECEIVE THESE SERVICES. AND HAVING TALKED TO THE MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP I CAN TELL YOU THAT REGARDLESS OF YOUR VOTE TODAY, THE NEW GROUP IS GOING TO CONTINUE, THEY ARE GOING TO GROW THEY ARE GOING TO BE PROFESSIONAL, THEY ARE GOING TO DO BUSINESS IN A NEW WAY. THEY ARE GOING TO BE FAIR BOTH TO OTHER CONTRACTORS, TO THEMSELVES AND TO THE CITY. BUT -- AND EVENTUALLY THIS NEW GROUP IS GOING TO BE COMPETITIVE AND HOPEFULLY SERVICES LIKE THIS WON'T BE NECESSARY FOR PEOPLE ONCE THEY ARE ABLE TO BECOME COMPETITIVE. HOWEVER, A YES VOTE IS GOING TO DELAY THAT. AND IT'S GOING TO PUSH THAT TIME PERIOD, THAT TIME FRAME BACK AND SEND A MESSAGE TO THESE CONTRACTORS THAT IT'S JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL. SO FOR THOSE REASONS AND SOME OF THE REASONS THAT MR. WARMATE HAS ALREADY SAID, WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO VOTE NO.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. WOODS. ADRIAN KNEELLY. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? PLEASE COME FORWARD. FOLLOWED BY MS. JOAN ANSWER -- JONES AND IS MS. HAINES HERE? SHE SIGNED UP IN FAVOR. MS. HADNOT, YOU WILL FOLLOW MS. JONES. WELCOME, SIR.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, CITIZENS OF AUSTIN. I'M AID REENNEAL LEE OF TRAAD BUILDING MAINTENANCE. WE WERE INITIALLY A JANITORIAL FIRM AND HAVE RECENTLY MERGED INTO THE CONSTRUCTION AREAS, CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT FOR DIFFERENT GENERAL CONTRACTORS AROUND THE CITY AND CENTRAL TEXAS. AND I HEARD ABOUT THIS SITUATION ABOUT THE DAS PROGRAM AND ELECTED TO COME AND GIVE YOU MY IDEAS ABOUT THE DAS PROGRAM AND HOW WE FEEL AND HOW WE HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE DAS PROGRAM. WE WERE FIRST INTRODUCED TO DAS PROGRAM DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. SINCE THEN OUR COMPANY HAS -- HAS FOUND NEW NICHES THAT WE CAN GROW AND BUILD OUR BUSINESS AND EMPLOY MOST CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, TEXAS. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF GROWTH. WE'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM THE DAS PROGRAM UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MS. CAROL HADNOT. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE DAS PROGRAM AND HER LEADERSHIP I PROBABLY WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE THE GUTS TO STAND UP HERE AND ADDRESS YOU TODAY. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM THIS ORGANIZATION. I AM A BLACK CONTRACTOR. I AM A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN BLACK CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, WHICH I FULLY SUPPORT. I AM SORRY IF THERE ARE MISFEELINGS AMONG SOME BLACK PEOPLE WITHIN THE CITY. HOPEFULLY WE CAN RESOLVE THOSE FEELINGS. BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO CHANGE WHAT IS ALREADY IN PROCESS. MAYBE WE NEED TO TWEAK SOME THINGS. MAYBE WE NEED TO IMPROVE SOME RELATIONSHIPS. BUT I HAVE LEARNED THINGS FROM THIS PROGRAM THAT I HAVE NO HESITATION OF SHARING WITH OTHER PEOPLE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ALL MINORITIES, NOT JUST BLACK CONTRACTORS. THE PROGRAM HAS SUPPORTED ALL MINORITIES, NOT JUST BLACK CONTRACTORS. MS. HADNOT'S LEADERSHIP IS FIRM, BUT IT IS CONCISE. I HAVE HAD THE BENEFIT OF LEARNING. SHE IS NOT A PERSON TO CARRY ME BY THE HAND, NECESSARILY. YOU CAN FEED A MAN A FISH AND HE WILL EAT FOR A DAY. YOU CAN TEACH A MAN TO FISH AND HE WILL EAT FOR A LIFETIME. THE DAS PROGRAM HAS TAUGHT ME TO FISH TO BE ABLE TO EAT FOR A LIFETIME. I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO SHARE THAT FISHING EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER CONTRACTORS IN THIS TOWN, INCLUDING THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE -- THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION. THE DAS PROGRAM IS A GOOD PROGRAM. I URGE YOU STRONGLY TO CONTINUE AND EXTEND THAT PROGRAM. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR. MS. JONES. FOLLOWED BY MS. HADNOT AND THEN MR. HARPER.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. GOOD AFTERNOON, ANDY. I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A FORMER CITY ATTORNEY WHO HASN'T BEEN BEFORE THE CITY COUNCILL TO SPEAK SINCE I LEFT IN JANUARY 1992. THAT OUGHT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. I'M HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE ITEM NO. 62 AND I URGE YOU TO APPROVE ITEM NO. 62. I DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL. I KNOW SOMETIMES YOU SEE A LOT OF REGULARS THAT LOVE TO HEAR THEMSELVES SPEAK OR GET ON TELEVISION, BUT I'M HERE BECAUSE I'VE WORKED WITH CAROL HADNOT AND I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE A VERY SERIOUS-MINDED ATTORNEY AND I'M NOT A NOVICE IN THIS AREA. I'VE BEEN WORKING AT A SUBCONTRACTOR WITH CAROL HADNOT PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES, LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND LEGAL ADVICE AND TRAINING TO THESE CONTRACTORS. AS AN EMPLOYMENT LAWYER, BOTH IN THE DEFENSE AND PLAINTIFFS SIDE OF THE DOCKET I WOULD NOT PARTICIPATE PERSONALLY OR PROFESSIONALLY IN AN ORGANIZATION THAT DOESN'T TREAT THE RECIPIENTS OF THE PROGRAM AND THE SERVICES THE PROGRAM IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE IN A FAIR AND EQUITABLE MANNER. I DO BELIEVE IN THIS PROGRAM AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE WORKING IN THIS PROGRAM. IT'S NOT A FULL-TIME JOB FOR ME, BUT WHEN I'M CALLED UPON, I RESPOND AND I TRIED TO WORK WITH CAROL AND THE OTHER CONTRACTORS TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN TRAINING RELATING TO CONTRACT REVIEW, HOW TO REVIEW CONTRACTS, WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN CONTRACTS, ET CETERA. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND MY TIME TALKING ABOUT ALL THE DETAILS OF THOSE PROGRAMS, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THE FIRST TIME THIS COUNCIL HAS HEARD ABOUT COMPLAINTS ABOUT MS. HADNOT IS WHEN THIS NEW ORGANIZATION, I UNDERSTAND MR. WARMATE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THIS ORGANIZATION, THIS BRAND NEW ORGANIZATION WANTS THE CONTRACT. AND WE ALL KNOW WHATS LIKE IN THE COMPETITIVE WORLD WHEN YOU ARE COMPETING JUST LIKE ALL OF HUH TO RUN FOR YOUR OFFICE. THE OPPONENT IS GOING TO TEAR YOU DOWN OR CRITICIZE YOU OR FIND WEAK SPOTS OR SORE SPOTS OR ANY SPOT. BUT I AM HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU MY STORY AND THAT IS I HAVE OBSERVED CAROL HADNOT PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AND I HAVE OBSERVED HERMENT THE ONLY THING SHE HAS BEEN DEMANDING ABOUT IS DEMANDING EXCELLENCE AND THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM AND PROUD TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO TELL YOU HOW STRNGLY, HOW STRONGLY I SUPPORT HER WORK. WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY HAS BEEN A LOT OF INFLAMMATORY STATEMENTS. WHAT YOU'VE READ IN THE APRIL 10TH LETTER FROM MR. WARMATE HAS BEEN A LOT OF HEARSAY TREATMENTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NO ONE. JUST OUT THERE IN QUOTES AS IF THE ATTACKS CAME FROM CAROL TO MR. WARMATE. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY CAME FROM EXCEPT HE SAID SOMEONE WAS TOLD THESE THINGS. I KNOW WE'RE NOT IN A COURT OF LAW, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE SAY AND INMRAM TOR STATEMENTS DESIGNED TO SWAY YOU. -- INFLAMMATORY STATEMENTS. OBVIOUSLY IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO COMPETE WITH MS. HADNOT, OBVIOUSLY THIS ORGANIZATION IS NEW AND OBVIOUSLY AS THE ATTORNEY SAYS HE IS A NOVICE IN THIS AREA AND I'M NOT. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HER THREE YEARS. I'M A CERTIFIED MB WEFMENT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE A LIMITED BUT VERY IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN I ONCE SERVED FOR NINE YEARS IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES. I WANTED URGE YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS, TO PLEASE APPROVE THIS CONTRACT, APPROVE IT AND LET'S GET ON WITH THE BUSINESS OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE MINORITY CONTRACTS. I AM SORRY THAT WE HAVE -- WE ARE IN CONFLICT AND HAVE TO COME BEFORE YOU LIKE THIS, BUT I AM STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF MS. HADNOT CONTINUING AS A PROGRAM MANAGER. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. CAROL HADNOT FOLLOWED BY JAMES HARPER AND CLAIRE RENSZ WILLIAMS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M NOT VERY GOOD IN DEFENDING MYSELF, BUT I'LL TRY TO DO MY BEST. IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, IN TERMS OF SERVING THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS, PART OF MY CONTRACT WAS THAT WE ONLY SERVICE 20 CONTRACTORS. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE CITY'S MWBE AVAILABLE LIST, THERE ARE ONLY 53 AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS. WHEN YOU BACK OUT THE ONES FROM OUT OF TOWN -- I MEAN OUT OF STATE AND JANITORIAL OR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES, YOU WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY 25 CERTIFIED AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS TO WORK WITH. EVERYBODY WAS SENT LETTERS, MARKETING LETTERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. MR. WARMATE, HE COMPLETED THE SURVEY. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. HE RECEIVED PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS MUCH HE RECEIVED THE SAME SERVICES AS EVERYBODY ELSE. HE COULD REQUEST. I HAVE LIMITED BUDGET. I CAN ONLY GIVE OUT X NUMBER OF SERVICES. THE CONTRACT WAS ONLY INITIALLY $117,000. AND I'M DEALING WITH TWO PROFESSIONAL SUBCONSULTANTS THAT A COST ESTIMATOR TO HELP US WITH COST ESTIMATING AND BIDDING DOCUMENTS TO PUT THEM TOGETHER TO BID AS WELL TAKES LEGAL SERVICE THAT HELPS WITH MEDIATION DISPUTE RESOLUTION AS WELL AS REVIEW THE CONTRACTS. MR. BROWN PROBABLY IS ONE OF OUR HIGH USERS OF THE SERVICES. ONE OF THE HIGHEST USERS. WE HAVE JUST COMPLETED PUTTING TOGETHER HIS CASH FLOW ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM APPLICATION WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE DSMBR STAFF FOR HIM TO PARTICIPATE ON THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT. HE NEEDED THE CASH FLOW TO PURCHASE OR TO LEASE A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND TO ALSO TAKE CARE OF HIS PAYROLL. I NEGOTIATED, I MADE HIS STATIONARY, I DID EVERYTHING. WE HAD ANOTHER COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM WHICH WAS TO BE FOR PRIME CONTRACTOR DEVELOPMENT. THAT WAS A PART OF THE CONTRACT. I DID NOT OFFER THAT. THAT WAS ASKED OF ME. WE ASKED EVERYBODY WHO WAS INTERESTED PARTICIPATING AS A PRIME CONTRACT TOR SUBMIT REASONS WHY. TWO CONTRACTORS WERE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PRIME CONTRACTOR DEVELOPMENT. AND I AM PROUD TO SAY TODAY THAT YOU WILL HAVE ONE COMING BEFORE YOU IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WHO COMPETITIVELY BID WITH OUR ASSISTANCE FOR A PRIME CONTRACT ON THE CONVENTION CENTER ACCESS ROAD AS WELL AS ONE WHO IS JUST SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATED THE FRANK ERWIN CENTER PROJECT AS A RESULT OF OUR ASSISTANCE. SO WE ARE MOVING, WE ARE TRYING TO DEVELOP THE PRIME CONTRACTORS BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING NOT VERY GOOD SUCCESS IN GETTING PARTICIPATION AS A SUB, SO IT WAS THOUGHT OF AS IF WE WOULD DEVELOP PRIME CONTRACTORS, THEN WE CAN UTILIZE OUR OWN CONTRACTORS AS SUBCONTRACTORS. [BUZZER SOUNDS].
>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M SORRY.
>> OKAY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ARE YOU MR. WILLIAMS? OKAY. WILL YOU HAVE ANOTHER THREE MINUTES.
>> THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS IS SIMPLE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BE CERTIFIED AS A MINORITY BUSINESS. AND ALSO WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ALSO COMPLETE THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE FORMAT. THE REASON YOU HAVE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY IS FOR US TO ASSESS THE NEED. WE DID NOT DESIGN THIS PROGRAM BASED ON WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS BEST FOR THE CONTRACTOR. WE LET THEM DETERMINE WHAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS BEST. AND THEIR MOST CRITICAL NEEDS, THEY NEEDED HELP WITH COST ESTIMATING AND LEGAL. I -- TODAY I CAN ONLY RECOGNIZE IN THE NEW GROUP ONLY TWO CONTRACTORS. I DON'T KNOW THESE GENTLEMAN. I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE UNTIL TODAY. I NOW CLEM BROWN, HIS BROTHER, I KNOW BEN. BUT THE REST OF THESE GUYS -- VICTOR IS A NROU EE OF BROWN. I DON'T KNOW THEM. THEY HAVE NEVER STEPPED A FOOT IN MY OFFICE, NEVER RESPOND TO DO ANY NOTICES THAT I'VE SEND THEM. I'VE SENT OUT EVERY WEEK A BID BRIEF. THESE ARE ALL THE PROJECTS WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN. I TRY TO SCOPE IT OUT BY TRADES WHO THE POTENTIAL PRIME BIDDERS ARE, THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THAT CONTRACT BASED ON THE ENGINEERING ESTIMATE, AS WELL AS PROJECTS FROM UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, LCRA, HOUSING AUTHORITY, OTHER AGENCIES. AND I SEND THIS TO EVERYBODY. BEN BETS IT EVERY WEEK. THE OTHER GENTLEMAN IN THIS PROGRAM -- THAT ARE CERTIFIED, THEY GET IT. NOT ONLY DO THEY GET IT, I SENT IT TO THE HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, I SENT IT TO THE ASIAN, I SENT IT TO ALL THE SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE CITY AS WELL AS SOME OF THE PRIME CONTRACTORS. ANYBODY THO COMES TO MY OFFICE WHO NEEDS ASSISTANCE WILL GET IT. BECAUSE MY PHILOSOPHY IS IF THEY ARE TAXPAYERS IN THIS CITY, I AM NOT THE ONE TO TELL THEM SIMPLY BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS TARGETED TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS THAT THEY CANNOT PARTICIPATE. SO I'VE NEVER HAD A CALL FROM ANY OF THESE PEOPLE TO SAY THEY NEEDED PLANS AND SPECS, THEY NEEDED SERVICES. THEY DO NOT RESPOND TO ANY OF THE CORRESPONDENCE I SEND ABOUT ANY PROJECT SO I WORK WITH THOSE WHO RESPOND. AND IT'S ONLY -- WE COULD ONLY TAKE 20. SO I AM TELLING YOU I AM COMMITTED. I COME DOWN HERE AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THESE CONTRACTORS BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE THEM SURVIVE AND FEED THEIR FAMILIES. SO WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS, IF IT'S A PERSONALITY ISSUE, FINE. BUT ON SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WE HAVE TRIED TO MEET WITH THESE PEOPLE AND THEY REFUSE TO MEET WITH US. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS TRIED TO GET A MEETING AS WELL AS LENA. FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THEY REFUSED TO MEET. I ASSUME THEY WANT A PUBLIC AIRING AND THEY HAVE A RIGHT IF THEY WANT A PUBLIC AIRING. BUT I GUESS -- WELL, IT WAS TO EMBARRASS ME OR ATTACK ME AND THAT'S OKAY. SINCE I'M STILL COMMITTED TO DOING THIS PROGRAM IF NOT WITH THE CITY SOMEWHERE ELSE. BECAUSE I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING, WE ARE LOSING OUR CONTRACTORS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. MR. HARPER.
>> MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILL, MY NAME IS JAMES HARPER. I'M PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN BLACK CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION. AND MOST OF YOU -- I KNOW JACKIE DARYL AND I KNOW THE MAYOR. THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THAT ME AND CAROL HAS BEEN BEFORE THIS COUNCIL. I THINK THE FIRST TIME JACKIE WAS THE ONLY ONE PRESENT ON THIS COUNCIL AND THAT WAS THE BURNUP AND SIMMS CONTRACT WE WAS DOWN TO HELP MR. WARMAY DEAL WITH THE RENEWAL OF THAT CONTRACT. AND THE SECOND TIME WAS WITH RED SIMPSON AT THE TOWN LAKE CENTER. I THINK DARYL, THE MAYOR AND JACKIE WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE WHEN WE WAS DOWN THERE SUPPORTING HIM FOR THAT CONTRACT. SO I DON'T -- YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I MEAN IT'S A SITUATION TO WHERE IF SOMEONE DON'T LIKE SOMEONE AND -- IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S SAD AND I KNOW IT HAPPENS PROBABLY IN ALL COMMUNITIES, BUT I DON'T LIVE IN ALL COMMUNITIES, I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY. AND I HATE THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THAT. I MEAN IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IF THIS WAS FOUR OR FIVE MILLION DOLLARS I COULD SEE IT. BUT THIS IS -- I AIN'T GOING TO USE NO BAD LANGUAGE, THIS IS SAD. THIS IS $70,000 AND WE'RE DOWN HERE BIT. AND IT'S JUST REAL SAD. I DON'T KNOW -- I MEAN COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS TRIED HIS BEST THREE OR FOUR OCCASIONS TO SET UP A MEETING TO FIND OUT WHAT THESE PROBLEMS WERE, BUT NOBODY CAME FORWARD. IT'S JUST OFF THE STREETS. OFF THE STREETS MESS AND I AIN'T GOING TO USE WHAT I WOULD USE IF I WAS IN EAST AUSTIN, BUT THAT'S ALL IT IS. AND I JUST HOPE YOU ALL AS MEN AND WOMEN WOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS GOES ON. I MEAN YOU ALL KNOW HOW IT GOES ON WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE. AND DARYL, I MEAN DARYL USED TO BE WITH THE CHRONICLE. HE USED TO BE DOWN HERE WHEN ME AND CAROL WAS FIGHTING. BLACKS, WE STILL AIN'T GETTING ANYTHING THIS. LAWYER COMES UP, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE'S BEEN BEFORE YOU ALL. WHERE HAS HE BEEN WHEN WE ONLY GETTING ONE POINT SOMETHING IN THESE CONTRACTS. IT'S BEEN IN THE PAPER. YOU ALL ARE ON TV EVERY WEEK. YOU ALL PASS CONTRACTS THROUGH HERE EVERY WEEK NO BLACK PARTICIPATION. HE AIN'T NOFR SHOWED UP. BUT WE HAVE BEEN DOWN HERE. DARYL KNOWS IT. JACKIE KNOWS IT AND THE MAYOR KNOWS IT. WE HAVE BEEN DOWN HERE FIGHTING. AND IT WASN'T ABOUT JAMES HARPER AND IT WASN'T ABOUT CAROL HADNOT IT WAS ABOUT AUSTIN BLACK CONTRACTORS. THAT'S ALL IT WAS ABOUT. I NEVER USED MY NAME OTHER THAN SOMETIMES I DIDN'T EVEN USE IT WHEN I CAME UP BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNEW ME. BUT WE FOUGHT FOR BLACK CONTRACTORS AND WE'RE STILL FIGHTING FOR THEM. WE'RE STILL FIGHTING TORE THEM. AND I DON'T SOMETIMES WHEN IT COMES THROUGH AND WE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING HOW YOU ALL CAN PASS IT BUT IT DOES. PLEASE VOTE FOR THIS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
>>WYNN: MAYOR, I'M GOING TO ASK --.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I ALREADY CALLED YOU.
>> I'M MS. DAVIS HAINES, A MEMBER OF THE BLACK CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION. I SORT OF-MY ALLERGIES ARE MESSING WITH ME. I WAS IN A DIFFERENT PART OF TOWN, MY SON HAD A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. AND I HAD TO HURRY A DOCTOR UP BUS BECAUSE I NEED TO DO GET DOWN HERE. I WANTED TO GET DOWN HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I DO SUPPORT CAROL HADNOT RECEIVING THIS CONTRACT AGAIN. AND HERE'S WHY. BECAUSE I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A BENEFICIARY OF THE DAS PROGRAM. I HAVE -- I HAVE RECEIVED SERVICES AND MAYBE THAT MAY BE PART OF THE COMPLAINT IS THAT I HAVE RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH THE PROGRAM. BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE THING I CAN ATTEST TO IS THAT EVEN BEFORE THERE WAS A DAS PROGRAM, MANY, MANY TIMES CAROL, JAMES HARPER WERE HERE AT COUNCIL CHALLENGING VARIOUS CONTRACTS AND SAYING LET'S -- WHERE ARE THE FOLKS -- WHERE'S THE BLACK PARTICIPATION IN THIS CONTRACT? WE HAD PEOPLE TO BID. WHERE ARE THEY? AS A RESULT OF THOSE COMMENTS, PEOPLE WERE CALLED OFF TO THE SIDE AND NEGOTIATIONS WENT FORWARD AND LO AND BEHOLD ROOM WAS MADE FOR BLACK CONTRACTORS TO PARTICIPATE. AND NOT JUST ME AND NOT JUST JAMES HARPER, BUT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM THE ADVOCACY OF THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS IN COMING DOWN HERE ON A REGULAR BASIS. AND THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE HERE THROUGHOUT THAT TIME KNOW THAT TO BE A FACT. IT'S NOT DISPUTEABLE. WITH RESPECT TO THE QUALITY OF THE SERVICES, THE SERVICES ARE OUTSTANDING IN TERMS OF ESTIMATING AND LEGAL SERVICES THAT IS PROVIDED, PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WITHOUT THOSE SERVICES IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO COMPETE IN ANY KIND OF WAY. ALTHOUGH WE DON'T WIN AS MANY BIDS AS WE WOULD LIKE, WE DON'T GET TO PARTICIPATE AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE, CERTAINLY WITHOUT THE SERVICES OF THE DAS PROGRAM IT WOULD BE CLEARLY ZERO INSTEAD OF THE LOWER NUMBERS THAT WE ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT, BUT THOSE SERVICES HELP US TO GET INVOLVED. WITH RESPECT TO -- AND I'M SORRY I WAS NOT HERE FOR THE OPPONENTS TO THIS ISSUE, THOSE SPEAKING AGAINST, BUT I KNOW QUITE A FEW OF THOSE FOLKS AND I WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING, I CONSIDER A NUMBER OF THOSE PEOPLE MY FRIENDS. AND I WOULD ONLY SAY TO YOU AND I WOULD SAY TO THEM LET'S FIND A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER TO MOVE FORWARD AS A GROUP. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. AND THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO DO THAT. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR WHATEVER REASON. I HOPE THAT IT CAN HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE STILL. BUT WE REALLY NEED TO NOT THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER. LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM RESPONSIVE, RESPONSIBLE IN EVERY WAY. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DOWN HERE WANTS TO SEE A PUBLIC DISPLAY THAT TEARS PEOPLE DOWN. I KNOW THAT I DON'T AND I DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT. BUT WHAT I DO WANT IS FOR THIS COUNCIL TO BE COMMITTED TO THIS PROGRAM -- [BUZZER SOUNDS] -- AND TO A PROGRAM MANAGER WHO HAS PROVEN HERSELF TO KNOW HER BUSINESS AND TO MANAGE A GOOD PROGRAM.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU.
>> ARE YOU WAVING AT ME OR TELLING ME TO STOP?
>>MAYOR WATSON: BOTH. THOSE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.
>>WYNN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. LET ME ASK LENA RIVERA TO STEP YOU AND ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE IT. I'M BRINGING THIS ISSUE UP, NOT BECAUSE -- I'M SAD TO SAY THERE ARE SOME PERSONAL ISSUES BETWEEN A COUPLE OF CONTRACTING ASSOCIATIONS. THAT'S NOT WHAT MY INTEREST IS ABOUT HERE. MY INTEREST IS A DISMAL, DISMAL PERFORMANCE BY US COLLECTIVELY IN IMPROVING THE CONTRACTING PERCENTAGES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS. AND SO I TELL YOU, WHEN I WAS ELECTED LAST YEAR, THE MWBE SUBCOMMITTEE WAS THE ONLY SUBCOMMITTEE I ACTUALLY PATCHY FOG TICKED FOR TO MAKE SURE I SERVED ON. POLITIC ON. VERY PEOPLE KNOW I HAVE A STRONG DESIRE TO SEE THAT PROGRAM SUCCEED. YET OVER THE LAST YEAR, IT GUESS BACK A COUPLE YEARS BEYOND THAT, OUR PERFORMANCE OF THIS PROGRAM IS DISMAL. I THINK WE MIGHT EVEN BE BELOW ONE PERCENT NOW OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTING PERCENTAGES RIGHT NOW. NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT RELATES TO OUR GOALS OR AVAILABILITY OR WHATNOT, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME WE'RE HEGT IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. AND SO KNOWING THAT WE SPEND HALF A MILLION DOLLARS ON THIS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, I'M SORRY, BUT BEGS THE QUESTION FROM ME, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE DOING WRONG? YOU KNOW, WHY ARE WE NOT IMPROVE AND WHEN I SEE SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA THAT SAYS -- I READ THIS AS BUSINESS AS USUAL. THAT'S LET'S EXTEND THIS CONTRACT. I RECOGNIZE THAT STAFF HAS SOME -- THERE'S REASONABLE RATIONALE THAT LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO PACKAGE A NUMBER OF THESE AND BID THEM AT THE SAME TIME EARLY NEXT YEAR. WE'RE TO HAVE SOME DIFFERENT STRATEGY GOING SGOO NEXT YEAR, ET CETERA SHE BUT I HAPPEN TO SEE AN AGENDA ITEM THAT SAYS BUSINESS AS USUAL, KEEP IT MOVING. AND I DON'T LIKE BUSINESS AS USUAL. IT'S NOT -- NOT DIRECTLY PERHAPS POINTING A FINGER AT THE EXISTING CONTRACTOR OR A CONSULTANT, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THIS AIN'T WORKING. AND SO WITH THAT I A HAVE YOU A QUESTIONS, THEN I'LL GLADLY YIELD THE FLOOR. I GUESS MY QUESTION, YOU IMPLIED THROUGH OUR LARGER MINORITY CONTRACTING PROGRAM THAT I THINK THE COUNCIL STRONGLY SUPPORTS AND THIS COMMUNITY STRONGLY SUPPORTS, YOU IMPLIED THERE WERE FIVE, SIX, SEVEN DIFFERENT CONSULTING CONTRACTS SIMILAR TO THIS ONE. WHAT STAGE ARE THOSE OF MOST CONTRACTS IN? THAT IS, HAVE WE EXTENDED THOSE CONTRACTS ALREADY THROUGH 2002, ARE THEY CURRENTLY MONTH TO MONTH? IS THIS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL TO COME THROUGH? WHAT'S THE STATUS.
>> THERE ARE A TOTAL OF EIGHT PROVIDERS THAT WE HAVE. SEVEN OF THOSE WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE RENEWED THIS YEAR. OF THOSE SEVEN WE HAVE ALREADY RENEWED FOUR AND WE HAVE THREE MORE TO GO. AND IT WAS MY INTENTION TO RENEW ALL OF THOSE THROUGH THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR. AGAIN, IT'S REAL IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS THAT I HAD DECIDED TO DO THAT. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE RENEWED THESE CONTRACTS WITHOUT REGARD TO THE NEED AND COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE SERVING OUT THERE. THAT IS, WE HAD NOT OBJECTIVELY GONE OUT AND MADE A -- DONE A NEEDS ASSESSMENT. AND WE HAD NOT GONE OUT AND LOOKED AT OUR OWN COMMUNITY AND SEEN WHO ELSE IS FUNDING THESE TYPES OF SERVICES AND WHO IS ACTUALLY USING THESE SERVICES. WE HAVE LOOKED AT ALL OF OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS. THEY THEMSELVES WILL TELL YOU THERE IS DUPLICATION IN SOME OF THE SERVICES THEY RENDER. THEY WILL TELL THROUGH IS SOME DUPLICATION IN THE INDIVIDUALS THAT COME TO THEM FOR SERVICES. THAT HOLDS TRUE FOR OTHER SERVICES OUT THERE FUNDED BY OTHER AGENCIES. WHAT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING IS THAT NEEDS ASSESSMENT, WE ARE VERY OBJECTIVELY GOING TO GO OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITY, LOOK TO SEE WHO IS PROVIDING THESE SERVICES, WHO IS FUNDING THEM, AT WHAT LEVELS, AND THEN WHAT IS OUR TARGET COMMUNITY TO USE THESE SERVICES. WHEN WE HAVE DONE THAT THEN, WE APPROPRIATE TO COME BACK TO YOU AND SAY, COUNCIL, RATHER THAN REAWARDING THIS MULTITUDE OF CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE, PRELIMINARY, RIGHT NOW, PRELIMINARILY RIGHT NOW I'M SAYING WE MAY WANT TO TAKE AN APPROACH SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO IN OTHER PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS LIKE ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING CONTRACTS WHERE WE MAY PUT OUT ONE LARGE CONTRACT WHERE THERE IS ONE PRIME CONSULTANT IN CHARGE OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONTRACT, AND THEN THROUGH ECONOMY OF SCALE WE WILL HAVE ONE ADMINISTRATOR RATHER TLAN SEVEN AND EIGHT, AND THAT THIS ONE PRIME CONTRACTOR, PRIME CONSULTANT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VARIOUS DISCIPLINES, FOR THE VARIOUS SPECIALTIES, THE VARIOUS TRAININGS THAT WE DO, BUT WE DO IT ALL UNDER ONE UMBRELLA. BUT BEFORE WE CAN DID THAT, WE NEED TO FINISH THIS NEEDS ASSESS -- ASSESSMENT. WE HOPE TO FINISH THE ASSESSMENT AND BE ABLE TO HAVE A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS OUT IN JANUARY OF 2002. THAT IS OUR APPROACH. LET ME SAY THAT IN THE YEARS THAT WE HAVE HAD OUR PROGRAM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE EVER ON A YEARLY AVERAGE BASIS MET ANY OF OUR ETHNIC SUBGOALS MUCH I THINK WHEN WE COME FORWARD WITH RCA'S FOR VARIOUS CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS, INVARIABLY THE HISPANIC CONTRACTORS SEEM TO HAVE THE LARGEST SHARE. TO A LARGE DEGREE THAT IS BECAUSE THERE IS MORE AVAILABILITY THERE. BUT EVEN WITH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN GOAL OF 2.6%, WE VERY OFTEN SEE ZERO. THERE WILL BE MAJOR CONTRACTS WE'LL BE BRINGING BEFORE YOU IN THE NEXT MONTH WHERE, AGAIN, WE SEE ZERO. AND THEN THAT FORCES YOU TO CONSIDER THIS ITEM. WE TALKED TO THE PRIME CONTRACTORS THAT ARE HERE AT COUNCIL FOR AWARD OF THESE CONTRACTS, AND IT IS HERE THAT THEY FEEL COMPELLED TO MAKE SOME OF THESE AWARDS TO OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS. WE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THAT. BUT I THINK THAT TO CHANGE THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE ARE HELPING OUR CONTRACTING COMMUNITY. LAST SUMMER YOU MADE AN AWARD FOR TECHNICAL SERVICES BTS. I THINK THAT WAS THE FIRST STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. IN THAT AT THAT TIME YOU COMMUNICATED THAT THIS VERY LARGE CONTRACT, MUCH LARGER THAN THE BRC CONTRACT, WAS INTENDED FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. IT WAS NOT TO BE A CONTRACT FOR HISPANIC CONTRACTORS OR BLACK CONTRACTORS OR ASIAN CONTRACTORS OR WHATEVER. IT WAS FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CITY WE HAVE ENCOURAGED ALL OF OUR CONTRACTORS IN OUR PROGRAM TO USE THIS SERVICE. WE HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THE BTS CONTRACT TO SERVE ALL OF THESE CONTRACTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TAKING THE GREATEST ADVANTAGE OF THE BTS SERVICES HAPPEN TO BE OUR HISPANIC CONTRACTORS. WE FUND THE HISPANIC CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION DIRECTLY THROUGH ONE OF OUR CONTRACTS, AND I WILL CONTRAST HAD THAT IN A MINUTE IN THE WAY WE'RE FUNDING INDIRECTLY THE BLACK CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION. BUT THE HISPANIC CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES THAT WITH WHAT LIMIT FUNDS THEY STEF, THAT THEY CANNOT IN ANY WAY -- RECEIVE, THEY CANNOT MEET THE TECHNICAL TRAINING NEEDS OF MEMBERSHIP SO THEY SEND THEIR MEMBERSHIP TO BTS FOR THAT TRAINING. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT SAME KIND OF REFERRAL COME FROM THE BLACK CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION. NOW, CAROL POINTED OUT THAT HER CONTRACT WAS STRUCTURED DIFFERENTLY FROM ANY OTHER CONTRACTS WE HAVE WITH THE CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATIONS AND THAT IS TRUE. WHEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN FIRST CONTRACTED WITH THE BLACK CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION FOR REASONS THAT I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THEY WERE SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND I WAS NOT HERE AT THE TIME, WE DID NOT CONTRACT DIRECTLY WITH THE BLACK CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION BUT RATHER CONTRACTED THROUGH BRC, CAROL HADNOT'S FIRM, AND WE VERY SPECIFICALLY AT THAT TIME SET UP A PROGRAM THAT WAS A DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, HENCE THE DAS PROGRAM AS WE NOW CALL IT, DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SERVICES PROGRAM. WHERE SHE WAS ASKED TO TARGET JUST A VERY SMALL HANDFUL OF CONTRACT ERBS AND DEVELOP THOSE INTO PRIMES. IT WAS BELIEVED AT THE TIME THAT THEY CANNOT MAKE ANY HEAD WAY, IF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY CANNOT MAKE HEAD WAY THEN PERHAPS ANOTHER APPROACH WOULD BE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AS PRIME CONTRACTORS. AND SO ONE OF THE EMPHASIS OF HER CONTRACTS WAS TO DEVELOP PRIME CONTRACTORS THAT. IS SOMETHING THAT SHE HAS BEEN WORKING ON. IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIMITED FUNNING SHE HAS RECEIVED, IT HAS ALSO BEEN HER RESPONSIBILITY TO SAY I HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDING. THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH I CAN ALLOCATE TO ESTIMATING, THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH I CAN ALLOCATE TO LEGAL SERVICES, AND SO QUITE FRANKLY, I DO BELIEVE THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE WANTED THOSE SERVICES AND SHE HAS BEEN FORCED TO SAY MY ALLOCATION FOR THE MONTH HAS BEEN USED, I'M SORRY, AND I WISH THAT AT THAT TIME THESE CONTRACTORS HAD OPTED TO GO TO BS O. ---BTS BECAUSE THOSE SERVICES ARE THERE. BTS A IS VAGT TO SERVE THOSE CONTRACTORS AND I URGE ANYBODY TO COMES TO THE BLACK CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION AND DOESN'T FIND THOSE RESOURCES THERE AND THEN THAT THEY GO TO BTS.
>>WYNN: THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY ENCOURAGING, YOU ARE VERY ENCOURAGING WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LARGER GLOBAL LOOK AT IT AND FIGURE OUT HOW ULTIMATELY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTING COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, BENEFITS TO A LARGER DEGREE THAN THEY HAVE BEEN FROM THE -- FROM THIS NEW WORK. CAN YOU SPEAK BRIEFLY -- MY RECOMMEND BRANSON IS THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTOR PERCENTAGES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE BY FAR THE LOWEST, THAT HAVE PROBABLY SEEN THE MOST -- THE LARGEST DECREASE OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS.
>> ACTUALLY IF YOU LOOK AT ASIAN NATIVES ARE THE LOWEST. ONLY 0.8%. AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTING GOAL IS 2 HIN 6%. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS IS A DECREASED NUMBER OF CERTIFIED FIRMS IN OUR PROGRAM IN THAT IN YEARS PAST WE HAVE HAD A LARGER NUMBER OF FIRMS WHO HAVE FAILED YEAR AFTER YEAR TO MAKE ANY HEAD WAY INTO OUR CONTRACTS AND WHO FEEL THERE IS NO BENEFIT IN BEING CERTIFIED WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN. AND SO I CAN SAY THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A YEAR WHEN WE HAVE ACHIEVED AS A YEARLY AVERAGE THAT 2.6% GOAL FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTING. THERE HAVE BEEN VERY FEW CONTRACTS INDIVIDUALLY THAT HAVE BROUGHT INASMUCH AS 2.6% AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTING IN THE SUBCONTRACTING ROLE.
>>WYNN: I YIELD THE FLOOR. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. I DON'T WANT TO PUSH, BUT SO WE CAN STAY A SCHEDULE IF WE CAN KEEP IN MIND THE TIME. JERRY JACKSON SIGNED UP IN FAVOR OF ITEM NO. 62. ANYBODY ELSE BEFORE I CALL FOR A MOTION? COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.
>>ALVAREZ: I HAD A QUESTION FOR LENO. SO THEN THAT PUBLICATION DEVELOPMENT THAT DID BRIEFS, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE NAME, D A. S, THAT IS PART OF THIS CONTRACT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT PUBLICATION IS PART OF THIS CONTRACT?
>> YES, IT IS.
>>ALVAREZ: AND WHAT PORTION OF THAT WOULD YOU SAY -- WHAT PORTION OF THE -- OF THIS CONTRACT IS DEDICATED TO THAT AS OPPOSED TO THE KIND THAT CULTIVATE PARTICIPATION BY MORE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS? IS IT DIFFICULT TO SAY?
>> I'M SORRY, I CAN'T RESPOND TO THAT. I JUST DON'T KNOW. PERHAPS CAROL DOES.
>>ALVAREZ: BUT THAT IS A SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDE EXCLUSIVELY?
>> EXCLUSIVELY.
>>ALVAREZ: NOT JUST TO BLACK CONTRACTORS.
>> NOT JUST TO BLACK CONTRACTORS. THAT IS ONE SERVICE NOT DUPLICATED BY ANY OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER.
>>ALVAREZ: NOW, ON THE OTHER ISSUES YOU SAID THAT THE FOCUS HAS BEEN OVER THE YEARS DEVELOPMENT OF PRIME CONTRACTORS AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS.
>> YES, SIR.
>>ALVAREZ: SO WOULD THAT CONTINUE WITH THIS CONTRACT OR IS THERE A DIFFERENT -- DIFFERENCE IN THE FOCUS, I THINK THAT'S WHAT COUNCILMEMBER WYNN WAS ALLUDING TO, ARE WE GOING TO CHANGE OUR STRATEGY, ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE OR --
>> I'M SORRY I MISSED THAT, BUT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. IN THE RENEGOTIATION OF THIS CONTRACT FOR THE CONTINUATION FOR THE BALANCE OF THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TRIED TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS FROM MR. WARMAY AND HIS GROUP SO THERE WILL BE A GREATER AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES FOR CONTRACTORS IN LARGE AND WHAT WE HAVE TAKEN OUT OF THE BRC OR DAS CONTRACT FOR THIS EXTENSION IS THAT FOCUS ON DEVELOPING PRIME CONTRACTORS, AND WE HAVE SHIFTED INSTEAD TO PROVIDING SERVICES AT LARGE TO WHOMEVER WALKS IN THE FRONT DOOR. WHAT I CAN OFFER, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, IS THAT OVER THE NEXT, SAY, 60 DAYS, I COULD WORK WITH BOTH ORGANIZATIONS, AS MS. HAYNES INDICATED, THERE HAD BEEN AN EFFORT BEFORE TO TRY TO BRING THE TWO GROUPS TOGETHER. I WOULD LIKE TO PAVE THE WAY SO THAT OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS START USING THE BTS CONTRACT FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MORE THAN THEY ARE CURRENTLY DOING. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BLACK CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION COME TOGETHER AS WELL. AND I BELIEVE THAT GIVEN THE TIME, LET'S SAY 60 DAYS, WITH THE AUTHORIZATION THAT WE BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS CONTRACT AND -- BECAUSE I AM PRESENTLY AT MY ADMINISTRATIVE LIMIT, AND SO I NEED AUTHORITY FROM YOU TO CONTINUE THIS CONTRACT, THAT PERHAPS WE CAN COME BACK IN 60 DAYS OR REPORT TO YOU WITHOUT COMING BACK AND TELL YOU WHAT PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE IN BRINGING THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER
>>MAYOR WATSON: CITY MANAGER.
>> CAN WE ASK THE PARTIES IF THEY ARE AGREEABLE TO MEET WITH STAFF SINCE COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS HAS PREVIOUSLY MADE THAT ATTEMPT TO BRING THE PARTIES TOGETHER, SINCE EVERYONE IS IN THE ROOM? MR. WOMACK, ARE YOU AGREEABLE TO MEET WITH THE STAFF TO DISCUSS THE ITEM SO THEY CAN BRING IT BACK IN 60 DAYS?
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>> AND MS. HADNOT IN.
>> THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 62.
>>ALVAREZ: RECOMMENDATION TO EXTEND FOR 60 DAYS OR --.
>>MAYOR WATSON: LET ME MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR. IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO EXTEND FOR 60 DAYS OR TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE AMENDMENT AND DIRECTING-RORGT BACK IN 60 DAYS -- REPORTING BACK IN 60 DAYS AFTER AN ATTEMPT TO FACILITATE?
>> AT THE END -- RIGHT NOW IT'S A REQUEST YOU ALLOW ME 60 DAYS TO WORK WITH BOTH GROUPS. AT THAT TIME THEN, QUITE FRANKLY I WOULD NEED ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION.
>>MAYOR WATSON: SO IS -- IT'S TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT FOR 60 DAYS.
>> YES.
>>MAYOR WATSON: IS THERE A MOTION?
>>THOMAS: COULD I ASK A QUESTION
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
>>THOMAS: I WOULD BE MORE AMENABLE TO THE EIGHT MONTHS AND DO THE -- THAN TO THE 60 DAYS. LET ME ASK ONE QUESTION. BECAUSE I FEEL IF A PERSON HAS BEEN DOING IT THREE YEARS, AND GOD KNOWS EVERYBODY OUT THERE IS MY FRIEND. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM. BUT I BELIEVE FAIR IF A PERSON HAS BEEN THERE THREE YEARS AND REALLY WE DO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS, WE MAY HAVE SOME PERSONNEL PROBLEMS, THERE MIGHT BE BE SOME MISUNDERSTAND, BUT I THINK IF WE CAN DO THE EIGHT MONTHS AND DO THE 60, I WOULD BE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES FOR ME TO GO AT THIS AGAIN TO TRY TO SIT DOWN WITH BOTH PARTIES TO NEGOTIATE OR WHATEVER, TALK TO -- GET TOGETHER AND MOVE ON WITHIN EIGHT MONTHS. AND THEN AFTER THE EIGHT MONTHS, THEN IT'S BACK OUT FOR R.F.P.. AM I RIGHT? IS THAT WHAT THE -- CORRECT ME ON THAT IF I'M WRONG.
>> YES, SIR.
>>GARZA: MAYOR, BASED ON WHAT YOU HAVE JUST INDICATED AND WHAT COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER SO WE DON'T HAVE -- COME BACK IN 60 DAYS TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES BROUGHT UP SO WE HAVE A CONTRACT THAT TAKES US THROUGH THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
>>MAYOR WATSON: SO THAT BEING THE EIGHT MONTHS, BUT WITH DIRECTION TO ALL THE PARTIES AND TO CITY MANAGER WAS OS TO PROBABLY REPORT BACK TO US -- OFFICE IN 60 DAYS BA THE STATUS. IS THERE A MOTION?
>> SO MOVED, MAYOR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION MADE BHI COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. SECOND -- COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
>>SLUSHER: MINE ARE ALONG THE LINES OF COUNCILMEMBER WYNN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE GOALS GO UP. I THINK WE ALL WOULD. WHAT IS EVEN STALD IN -- YOU TALKED ABOUT A NEEDS -- ENTAILED A NEEDS ASSESSMENT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE WE CAN REBID. BASICALLY COMBINE SOME OF THE CONTRACTS AND REBID IT AS A SMALLER CONTRACT ENCOMPASSING ALL THE SERVICES?
>> YES, SIR.
>>SLUSHER: THAT'S YOUR GENERAL APPROACH AND RECOMMENDATION ON HOW WE DEAL WITH THIS AND CHANGE IT? CHANGE TO THAT APPROACH.
>> WEATHER IT'S SMALLER OR NOT WILL BE DICTATED BY THE RESULTS OF THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT. BUT YES, THAT WE BRING IT UNDER ONE UMBRELLA. INSTEAD OF ISSUING STEF EVEN OR EIGHT CONTRACTS AS WE CURRENTLY -- SEVEN OR EIGHT WE HAVE ONE OR TWO LARGE CONTRACTS THAT ARE MULTI DISCIPLINE, THAT PROVIDE A VARIETY OF TRAINING AREAS AND THAT THROUGH ECONOMY OF SCALE WE BELIEVE THAT THERE CAN BE MORE AND BETTER SERVICES RENDERED TO OUR CONTRACTING COMMUNITY.
>>SLUSHER: THAT DOES SEEM LOGICAL TO ME. NOW, IT'S GOING TO TAKE YOU -- WHAT DO WE HAVE LEFT? SEVEN MONTHS TO DO THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT. TELL KNEE WHY IT TAKES THAT LONG AND WHAT IS ENTAILED THERE.
>> WE ARE CURRENTLY ADVERTISING THE R.F.P. FOR THE CONSULTANT THAT WILL DO OUR NEEDS ASSESSMENT. ONCE THAT REPORT COMES BACK WE'LL NEED SOME STAFF TIME TO ANALYZE JUST HOW EXACTLY IT WOULD BE BEST TO APPROACH THE NEXT CONTRACTING CYCLE. ONCE WE HAVE MADE A DECISION, WE WILL NEED THE NORMAL TWO TO THREE MONTH TIME THAT IT HAS TO BE OUT THERE ON THE STREET BEING ADVERTISED. THE SUBMITTALS COMING BACK IN, BEING EVALUATED. MAKING A DETERMINATION WHAT IT IS WE'RE GOING TO AWARD AND COMING BACK TO COUNCIL. SO WE BELIEVE THAT IN THE VERY LEAST THAT'S GOING TO TAKE US THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER.
>>SLUSHER: AT THE VERY LEAST. SO YOU MIGHT BE BEFORE US WANTING AN EXTENSION AFTER THE EIGHT MONTHS? I GUESS YOU ARE JUST LEAVING AN OPENING, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT I SUPPOSE.
>> BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE THIS BEFORE. I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO IT BY THE END OF DECEMBER.
>>SLUSHER: OKAY. AND THERE'S SOMETHING I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP COUNCILMEMBER WYNN ASKED ABOUT. THE GOALS OF DIFFERENT GROUPS. AND THE AWARDS THEMSELVES. YOU MENTIONED THAT WE AREN'T MEETING ANY OF THE GOALS. ARE THE -- IS IT AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS COMING IN AT -- FURTHER UNDER THAT -- THEIR GOAL THAN THE OTHER CONTRACTORS?
>> WITHOUT HAVING THE STATISTICS RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF ME, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE LESS AVAILABILITY IN ASIAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN CONTRACTORS AND SO THEREFORE THEY ARE FURTHEST FROM MEETING THAT GOAL.
>> BUT THEIR GOAL -- THE GOALS ARE BASED ON AVAILABILITY. WHAT I'M ASKING AS FAR AS MEETING THE GOALS; ANYONE SIGNIFICANTLY BEHIND THE OTHERS AS TO HOW CLOSE THEY GET TO THE GOALS?
>> WELL, BECAUSE THERE IS MORE AVAILABILITY IN OUR BLACK CONTRACTOR ROLLS, I WOULD SAY THAT IS THE CRITICAL AREA.
>>SLUSHER: THAT'S THE LOWEST PERFORMING ONE?
>> YES.
>>SLUSHER: LOWEST IN MEETING THE GOALS.
>> THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE GREAT HE POTENTIAL OF INCREASING PARTICIPATION.
>>SLUSHER: DO YOU THINK THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE WAY THE -- WITH THIS CONTRACT OR THE WAY THE SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED?
>> I THINK IT'S POTENTIALLY RESPONSIBLE TO THE WAY THAT IT'S STRUCTURED. AND THE WAY THAT IT'S STRUCTURED IS -- WAS TO A LARGE DEGREE DICTATED BY CITY STAFF.
>>SLUSHER: SO YOU THINK THE -- OKAY. YOU THINK THE FAULT LIES WITHIN THE WAY IT WAS STRUCTURED IN THE BEGINNING, NOT IN THE CARRYING OUT OF THE OR THE APPROACH TO IT.
>> YES, BECAUSE THE FOCUS TO DEVELOP PRIME CONTRACTORS WHICH LIMITED AVAILABLE SERVICES TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
>>SLUSHER: NOW, IF WE DO EIGHT MONTHS EXTENSION AND 60 DAYS TO TRY TO HEAL SOME OF THE DIVISIONS HERE, WHAT -- IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE THEN SIX MONTHS OF -- IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THEN WE'VE JUST GOT SIX MONTHS OF ONE GROUP HERE CARRYING FORWARD AND THE OTHER ONE UNHAPPY. DO YOU SEE ANY WAY TO DEAL WITH THAT?
>> AGAIN, WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HELP EVERYBODY AT BTS. I'M I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO THOSE CONTRACTORS AT BTS IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE RECEIVED THROUGH THE BRC CONTRACT. THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE BRC CONTRACT AND IF THERE ARE -- IF THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WALKING THROUGH THE DOORS AT BRC IS LIMITED, THAT MEANS THEY ARE GOING TO BE GETTING MORE SERVICES. SO THE BRC CONTRACT WILL BE USED TOITY FULLEST. ANYONE WHO CHOOSES NOT TO WALK IN THROUGH THE DOORS AT BRC, I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO GET THEM TO BTS. WHERE IT WAS OUR INTENT THEY RECEIVE THESE TYPE OF TECHNICAL SERVICES.
>>SLUSHER: OKAY. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE MY LAST QUESTION BECAUSE I KNOW WE NEED TO MOVE ON. BUT IN THE REPLY BACK TO -- WHERE I HAD FORWARDED YOU MR. WARMATE'S LETTER THAT HE SENT, IT SAID THAT THE DSMBR, THAT'S THE CITY, THE ELECTRONIC ROOM IS NOT FUNCTIONAL AND THEREFORE DUE TO THE DELAYS IN PURCHASING THAT ONCE THAT IS OPENED, YOU EXPECT THAT -- I FULLY EXPECT ONCE FUNCTIONAL BRC WILL START USING THEIR OFFICE ROUTINELY. CAN WE REQUIRE THAT THEY START DOING THAT? OR IS THAT REQUIRED? THE CONTRACT?
>> IT'S NOT REQUIRE, BUT THE CONTRACT IS NOT SIGNED AND THAT IS A REASONABLE REQUEST THE CITY CAN MAKE AND IT WILL GO INTO THE RENEGOTIATED CONTRACT.
>>SLUSHER: AND YOU THINK THAT WOULD HELP SERVICES AND THAT'S NOT AN UNREASONABLE DEMAND FOR THE CITY TO MAKE? YOU HAD ALSO RESPONDED SHE IS RUNNING ONE OUT OF A -- SHE HAS THE PLANNING ROOM OUT ON 290. AT THE OTHER OFFICE.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. SO YES, IT WILL HELP SERVICE DELIVERY, ABSOLUTELY.
>>SLUSHER: COULD WE ADD THAT IN? COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, DO YOU CONSIDER THAT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT?
>>THOMAS: YES.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, DO YOU CONSIDER THAT FRIENDLY?
>>WYNN: YES.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT WILL BE PART OF THE MAIN MOTION. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION. HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH ABSENT. COUNCIL, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECESS THE CITY COUNCILL MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. MOTION MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE IN RECESS UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 6:00. TEST TEST TEST THIS IS A TEST, BOTTOM TEST TEST TEST THIS IS A TEST, MAYOR MALDONADO, .
>>MAYOR WATSON: HELLO, EVERYBODY, NOW FOR A LITTLE BIT OF FUN AND SELL BREAKING, LIVE MUSIC, BUT BEFORE WE START AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, AND ALTHOUGH THE SCHOOL -- SCHOOLS ARE OUT RIGHT NOW, WE ARE -- WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MAYOR FOR A DAY FOR THIS MEETING AND ONE MORE MEETING AND AS I HAVE EXPLAINED A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE, THE WAY WE -- WE CHOOSE OUR MAYORS FOR A DAY IS WE HAD AN ESSAY CONTEST AMONG STUDENTS IN THE AUSTIN AREA AND -- AND THE ONES THAT WE JUDGE THOSE -- THOSE ESSAYS IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THE KIDS THAT WON THE CONTEST GET TO HELP ME OUT WITH THE LIVE MUSIC AND PROCLAMATIONS. I AM REAL PLEASED TO INTRODUCE YOU TODAY TO EMANUEL HEARN TEZ WHO IS GOING TO BE THE MAYOR FOR THE DAY. BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT I KIRK WATSON, DO HERE BY PROCLAIM EMANUEL HERNANDEZ AS MAYOR FOR A DAY IN AUSTIN, I CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THAT HE IS A FIFTH GRADER AT JOYCELYN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, FAVORITE SUBJECTS ARE WRITING, MATH, ESPECIALLY SCIENCE BECAUSE HE CAN LEARN ALL KINDS OF AMAZING STUFF. IN RECOGNIZING THAT HE ENJOYS SWIMMING, SOCCER, BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, KICK BALL, COMPUTER GAMES, POOL, ROLLER SKATING AND HIS PET DOG AND HAMSTER, WHAT'S YOUR DOG'S NAME?
>> PRINCESS.
>> WHAT'S THE HAMSTER'S NAME?
>> IT DIED ALREADY.
>> HE LOST THE HAMSTER. DID YOU HEAR THAT? [LAUGHTER]. IN RECOGNIZING THAT EMANUAL WANTED TO BE MAYOR FOR A DAY SO HE COULD WORK FOR A TEAM WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON TO SOLVE THE IMPORTANT DECISIONS THAT HE FACES LATER, HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT WATER POLLUTION, CRIMES AND GANGS AND VOWED TO HELP THE MAYOR EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MAKE AUSTIN A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. WE ARE PLEASED TO HOFN NOR HIM AS MAYOR FOR A DAY AND ENCOURAGE HIM TO CONTINUE HIS FERVOR IN IMPROVING OUR CITY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAYOR HERNANDEZ. [APPLAUSE] NOW AS I INDICATED, HE'S GOING TO HELP ME WITH THE LIVE MUSIC AND PROCLAMATIONS AND WE ARE GOING TO START WITH OUR LIVE MUSIC. FOLKS WE ARE IN FOR A GREAT TREAT TODAY. WE HAVE WITH US TODAY GARY P. NUNN. I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I HAVE -- I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I WAS GOING TO GET THE PLEASURE OF DOING THIS ANY TIME WHILE I WAS MAYOR, INTRODUCING HIM, HE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES. EVERYBODY KNOWS HIM BEST PROBABLY FOR WRITING THE SONG THAT'S BEEN HEARD AROUND THE WORLD, LONDON HOMESICK BLUES, AND ITS AGE FAMOUS CHORUS, I WANT TO GO HOME WITH THE ARMADILLO. IT'S COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF TEXAS MUSIC AND AS WE ALL KNOW, IT'S USED FOR THE THEME SONG FOR OUR OWN AUSTIN CITY LIMITS PROGRAM. HIS SONG IS ABOUT TEXAS -- HIS SONGS ABOUT TEXAS HAVE BECOME AN INSTITUTION. FRANKLY HIS VERY OWN TRADEMARK. HAS HE BEEN DESIGNATED AS THE OFFICIAL TEXAS AMBASSADOR TO THE WORLD AND I WILL TELL YOU ON MY LIST OF MY FIVE FAVORITE SONGS OF ALL TIME, HE'S GOING TO PERFORM IT, HERE IN A MINUTE, IS ASK ME WHAT I LIKE ABOUT TEXAS. I DON'T KNOW HOW ANY TEXAN CANNOT LOVE THAT SONG. AND I WOULD SAY THAT IN THE TOP FIVE GREAT TEXAS SONGS, WHILE LONDON HOMESICK BLUES IS ONE OF THEM, THAT'S GOT TO BE THE OTHER ONE THAT'S A PART OF THAT. WITH THAT, MAYOR HERNANDEZ WILL START BY BEGINNING THAT PROCLAMATION FOR ME.
>> BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT I, EMANUEL HERNANDEZ, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, FOR A DAY, DO HERE BY PROCLAIM MAY 24TH, 2001 AS GARY P NUNN DAY IN AUSTIN.
>> WE ALL ON OUR CITIZENS TO JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING THE MANY OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE LOCAL MUSIC COMMUNITY TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTIN'S SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND IN RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF ARTISTS WHICH FURTHER AUSTIN'S STATUS AT THE LIVE -- AS THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITOL OF THE WORLD, SIGNED BY ME, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE GARY P. NUNN. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.
>> WELL, I WILL TAKE THOSE AS REQUESTS, I WILL JUST GET RIGHT TO YOUR REQUESTS. ALL RIGHT.
>> (music) WELL, YOU ASK ME WHAT I LIKE ABOUT TEXAS. I TELL YOU IT'S A WIDE OPEN SPACES. IT'S EVERYTHING BETWEEN THE SABINE AND THE RIO GRANDE. (music)(music) (music) IT'S THE -- IT'S IT IS ESTACOD, THE BRAZOS AND THE COLORADO, IT'S THE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE, WHO SHARE THIS LAND. (music)(music) (music) IT'S A BURRITO, IT'S A COLD LONE STAR IN MY HAND, IT'S A QUARTER BAR, THE JUKE BOX, THE SONS OF THE MOTHER LOVING BAND. (music)(music)
>> YOU ASK ME WHAT I LIKE ABOUT TEXAS, IT'S A SEPTEMBER AROUND NACOGDOCHES, DRIVING A CAMINO REAL DOWN TO SAN ANTONIO. IT'S A RIVER WALKING MI TIERREZ, JAMGING OUT WITH BONGO JONES, THE STORIES OF THE MEUNGER HOTEL AND THE ALAMO. YOU REMEMBER THE ALAMO. IT'S A COLD LONE STAR IN MY HAND, IT'S A QUARTER BAR, THE JUKE BOX BOY MADE US SONS OF THE MOTHER LOVING BAND. (music)(music) WELL, YOU ASK ME WHAT I LIKE ABOUT TEXAS, IT'S BLUE BONNETS AND INDIAN PAINT BRUSHES. SWIMMING IN THE SAKE SCHEDULE -- SACRED WATERS OF BARTON SPRINGS. IT'S BODY SUFERBING THE FRIO, IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT IN DEL RIO, CROSSING OVER THE BORDER FOR SOME CULTURAL EXCHANGE. IT'S ANOTHER BURRITO, IT'S A COLD LONE STAR IN MY HAND, IT'S A QUARTER BAR THAT JUKE BOX BOY PLAYS THE SONS OF THE MOTHER LOVING BUNK HOUSE BAND. (music)(music) WELL, YOU ASKED ME WHAT I LIKE ABOUT TEXAS. (music)(music) WELL, I COULD TELL YOU ALL, BUT WE WOULD BE HERE ALL NIGHT LONG. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, IT'S AN AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TODAY. I WROTE THIS, I WAS STRANDED AND PROPER IN LONDON, ENGLAND IN 1973. DIDN'T HAVE A WAY HOME. AND I WAS MISSING AUSTIN VERY BADLY. AND I HAD ENOUGH TIME ON MY HANDS, I WAS JUST UNCOMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO WRITE THIS SONG. (music) WHEN YOU'RE DOWN ON YOUR LUCK AND YOU AIN'T GOT A BUCK, LONDON YOU'RE A GONER. EVEN LONDON BRIDGE, IS FALLING DOWN, AND MOVED TO ARIZONA. NOW I KNOW WHY. AND I'LL SUBSTANTIATE THE RUMOR THAT THE ENGLISH SENSE OF HUMOR IS DRIER THAN THE TEXAS SAND. (music) YOU CAN PUT UP YOUR DUKES OR YOU CAN BET YOUR BOOTS, I'M LEAVING JUST AS FAST AS I CAN. I WANT TO GO HOME WITH THE ARMADILLOS. GOOD COUNTRY MUSIC FROM AMARILLO AND ABILENE. THE FRIENDLIEST PEOPLE AND THE PRETTIEST WOMEN THAT YOU'VE EVER SEEN. (music) WELL, IT'S COLDS OVER HERE. IT'S COLD OVER HERE AND I SWEAR I WISH THEY WOULD TURN THE HEAT ON. AND WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THAT ENGLISH GIRL? THAT I PROMISED THAT I WOULD MEET ON THE THIRD FLOOR? AND OF THE WHOLE DANG LOT THE ONLY FRIEND I'VE GOT IS A SMOKE AND A CHEAP GUITAR. QUIT SMOKING. MY MIND KEEPING ROAMING, MY HEART KEEPS LONGING TO BE HOME AT THE BROKEN SPOKE, Y'ALL. I WANT TO GO HOME WITH THE ARMADILLOS. GOOD COUNTRY MUSIC FROM AMARILLO AND ABILENE. (music) THE FRIENDLIEST PEOPLE AND THE PRETTIEST WOMEN THAT YOU'VE EVER SEEN. (music)(music) WELL, I DECIDED THAT I WOULD GET MY COWBOY HAT, GO DOWN TO MARBLE ARTS STATION. BECAUSE WHEN A TEXAN FANCIES HE'LL TAKE HIS CHANCES, CHANCES WILL BE TAKEN. THAT'S FOR SURE. RUN FOR MAYOR. [LAUGHTER]. AND THEM LIMEY EYES, THEY HAVE THEIR EYE ON THE PRIZE, SOME PEOPLE CALL MANLY FOOTWEAR. THEY SAID YOU'RE IN DOWN SOUTH AND WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH, YOU ALWAYS SEEM TO PUT YOUR FOOT THERE. (music) I WANT TO GO HOME WITH THE ARMADILLOS. Y'ALL SING WITH ME. (music) GOOD COUNTRY MUSIC FROM AMARILLO AND ABILENE. (music) THE FRIENDLIEST PEOPLE AND THE PRETTIEST WOMEN THAT YOU HAVE EVER SEEN. (music) I WANT TO GO HOME WITH THE ARMADILLOS. (music) GOOD COUNTRY MUSIC FROM AMARILLO AND ABILENE. THE FRIENDLIEST PEOPLE AND THE PRETTIEST WOMEN YOU'VE EVER SEEN. (music)(music) (YODELING) [APPLAUSE]
>>MAYOR WATSON: GARY P. NUNN! [APPLAUSE]
>> TOO QUICK BITS OF BUSINESS. FIRST, WHEN YOU GO OUT TO OUR NEW AIRPORT, WE NOW HAVE THE WORLD'S LARGEST HOLOGRAM OUT AT AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND AS PARTED OF THAT HOLOGRAM, THEY HAVE SOME OF THE WORDS OF THAT SONG. I THINK WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS THE FRIENDLIEST PEOPLE AND THE PRETTIEST WOMEN THAT YOU HAVE EVER SEEN IS PART OF THAT HOLOGRAM. EVERYBODY SHOULD SEE THAT.
>> I'M REAL PROUD OF THAT.
>> THAT'S GREAT. YOU HAVE BECOME A LEGEND. SECOND THING IS, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO BE NEXT?
>> WELL, HERE IN THE AUSTIN AREA I HAVE A REGULAR GIG AT THE BROKEN SPOKE.
>> HEARD OF THAT.
>> GRUENE HALL IN NEW BRAUNFELS. THIS WEEKENDS WE WILL BE ON THE BANKS OF THE FRIO RIVER IN CON CAN IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE DOWN THAT WAY ON A VACATION MEMORIAL DAY COME SEE US ATMOSPHERE THE HOUSE PASTURE RESTAURANT.
>> WE ARE VERY GLAD THAT YOU WERE WITH US TODAY. GARY P. NUNN EVERYBODY. [APPLAUSE]
>>MAYOR WATSON: BILLION, THAT WAS GREAT. NOW WE HAVE GOT SOME DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, I WOULD LIKE FOR -- FOR SERGEANT MIKE HARGAT, SENIOR OFFICER ROBERT MACHADO, WALLACE JOHNSON AND JEFFREY JOSEPH TO PLEASE COME FORWARD. MAYOR HERNANDEZ AND I ARE GOING TO MAKE THESE SPECIAL PROCLAMATIONS, THESE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS, LET ME KINDS OF TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE, THEN I'M GOING TO READ THE AWARDS. BUT -- SOMETIMES WE DON'T TAKE ENOUGH TIME TO SAY THANK YOU TO FOLKS THAT DO SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR US. AND AS -- AS WE SAY OF -- OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE DON'T SAY IT ENOUGH, THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT EVERY DAY THEY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE AND THEY PLAY A SPECIAL ROLE IN OUR LIVES. THE AUSTIN PARK POLICE ARE SOME OF THOSE FOLKS, ON MONDAY, APRIL 9TH, 2001 THE PARK POLICE WERE ADVISED OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT HAD OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 2:00 P.M. ON THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL. THE NEXT DAY, THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS SQUAD OF THE AUSTIN PARK POLICE MET WITH THE INVESTIGATORS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT SEXUAL ASSAULT DETAIL AT THE SCENE OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT. THE DETAILS OF THE ASSAULT WERE DISCUSSED AND AROUND 2:00 P.M. ON THAT DAY, AT THE CRIME SCENE, THE AUSTIN PARK POLICE SPECIAL OPERATIONS SQUAD UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF SERGEANT MIKE HA RGAT PLANNED AND LAUNCHED AN OPERATION SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO APPREHEND THE SUSPECT. WITHIN FOUR HOURS THE PARK POLICE IDENTIFIED THE SUSPECT AND QUICKLY INITIATED AND SUCCEEDED IN APPREHENDING THE SUSPECT. FOR PLACING THEIR LIVES IN HARM'S WAY, FOR IMMEDIATE COORDINATED RESPONSE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY AUSTIN TRAIL RUNNERS, THESE OFFICERS DESERVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION. AND SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO PROVIDE THEM WITH DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS. THEY EACH SAY THE THEM AND I BUT I WANT TO READ THEM. [ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS] [APPLAUSE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: SENIOR OFFICER ROBERT MACHADO. [APPLAUSE]. OFFICER ADAM SOLIZ. [APPLAUSE]. OFFICER WALLACE JOHNSON. [APPLAUSE]. OFFICER JEFFREY JOSEPH. [APPLAUSE]. [APPLAUSE].
>> BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT I, I, MAYOR HERNANDEZ MAYOR FOR A DAY, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 1ST THROUGH 3RD, 2001 AS REPUBLIC OF TEXAS BIKER RALLY DAYS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: AND ALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING THE RALLY IS THE LARGEST OF ITS CONFINED IN TEXAS AND THE THIRD LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES. IN RECOGNIZING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS EXPECTED TO BE $21 MILLION RANKING ONLY SECOND TO THE SXSW MUSIC FESTIVAL AND IN WELCOMING BIKERS OF ALL AGES TO ENJOY AUSTIN'S NATURAL BEAUTY AND IT'S SIGNED BY ME, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND I'M PROUD TO PRESENT THIS TO YVONNE CAROL.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH MAYOR WATSON AND MAYOR HERNANDEZ. I JUST WANT TO HELL YOU WHEN WE STARTED WORKING ON THE RALLY WE START THE DAY AFTER IT ENDS. IT'S A YEAR-LONG PLANNING EVENT. AND WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF PROCESSES TO MAKE THIS RALLY HAPPEN. AND IT MAKES YOU FEEL VERY GOOD WHEN YOU COME INTO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, YOU GO INTO A COUNCILMEMBER'S OFFICE AND THEY LOOK AT YOU AND THE FIRST THING THEY SAY IS WHAT CAN THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO FOR YOU. THAT MAKES YOU FEEL VERY GOOD. IT MAKES YOU FEEL VERY WELCOME AND MAKES YOU -- MAKES YOU WANT COULD COME BACK AGAIN. THAT'S WHY THE RALLY IS GLAD TO BE BACK AT THE EXPO CENTER AGAIN NEXT WEEKEND. THE RALLY IS FOR MOTORCYCLISTS OF ALL AGES, ALL SHAPES, SIZES. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT KIND OF BIKE YOU HAVE, YOU ARE WELCOME. EVEN MOTORCYCLE WANNABES ARE WELCOME. THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS AN EXCELLENT HOST, IT'S AN EXCELLENT HOME FOR THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS BIKER RALLY. AUSTIN HAS A REPUTATION OF BEING A VERY BIKER FRIENDLY CITY. YOU WILL SEE THAT NEXT WEEKEND WHEN THE STREETS WILL HAVE A MARKED INCREASE IN MOTORCYCLE TRAFFIC. AUSTIN, AS I SAID, IS A VERY BIKER FRIENDLY, COMBINE THAT WITH ITS NATURAL BEAUTY, SIXTH STREET, GREAT RESTAURANTS AND ALL THE LIVE MUSIC AND IT MAKES FOR A VERY UNBEATABLE COMBINATION. NARP. SO THIS -- ANYWHERE. THIS YEAR RALLY HAS A LOT OF FUN AND EXCITING ENTERTAINMENT TISMTS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DIRT TRACK BIKE RACES, GIVE AWAY A MOTORCYCLE, THE FLYING CIRCUS IS GOING HERE, 160 VENDORS, THERE'S A SUPER PARTY FRIDAY NIGHT ON SIXTH STREET AND SATURDAY THERE'S A FABULOUS CONCERT FEATURING JERRY JEFF WALKER. I'M SURE YOU WILL HEAR SOME GARY P. NUNN SONGS AS WELL. WE'RE PROUD THE IMPACT IS HEAL IS GOING TO HAVE ON THE CITY NEXT WEEKEND. IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $21 MILLION. WE'RE KIND OF PROUD TO BE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE'RE GLAD TO BOLSTER THE ECONOMY NEXT WEEKEND, HOPEFULLY BY THAT AMOUNT. WE INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY EXPO NEXT FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER EVERYONE A SPECIAL INVITATION TO COME DOWN TO SIXTH STREET FRIDAY NIGHT. YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MOTORCYCLES. COLORFUL, YOU WON'T SEE ANYTHING LIKE IT EVER AGAIN I PROMISE. ANYWAY, THE ONLY THING WE ASK FROM YOU IS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WEATHER LIKE WE'VE HAD THIS WEEK. LAST YEAR IT RAINED ON US. IT WASN'T MUCH FUN. ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND AS ALWAYS, KEEP THE RUBBER SIDE DOWN. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].
>>THOMAS: WHY DON'T YOU COME UP, DOCTOR, AND THE MAYOR IS GOING TO START OUT AND I'LL READ THE REST.
>> BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS I, MAYOR HERNANDEZ, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR A DAY, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2001 AS STROKE AWARENESS MONTH IN AUSTIN.
>>THOMAS: AND CALL ON ALL SIT STONES JOIN NEWS RECOGNIZING STROKE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DISABILITIES IN ADULTS IN UNITED STATES, WITH MORE THAN 4.5 MILLION STROKES SURVIVORS TODAY AND RECOGNIZING THAT IT'S THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH BOTH IN AUSTIN AND NATIONALLY, STRIKING MORE THAN 600,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR. AND IN RECOGNIZING THAT THE STROKE DEATH RATE IS GREATER AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND SENIORS. I CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF STROKE AWARENESS MONTH TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE SIGNS, SYMPTOMS AND THE RISKS FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH STROKE SO THAT WE MIGHT BEGIN TO REDUCE THE DEVASTATING EFFORTS THAT STROKE MAKE ON OUR POPULATION. SIGNED BY THE MAYOR, KIRK WATSON [APPLAUSE].
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER, AND MAYOR HERNANDEZ. OPERATION STROKE IS A PROJECT THAT WAS LAUNCHED BY AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION. AUSTIN IS ONE OF 48 CITIES TO PARTICIPATE TO ENSURE THE READINESS OF E.M.S., ALL THE HOSPITALS FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM ALL THE WAY TO THE REHAB AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THE SYMPTOMS OF STROKE, SIGNS AND HOW TO TREAT IT AND WE HAVE SOME NEW TREATMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE SO WE HOPE TO REDUCE STROKE CONSIDERABLY BY THESE OPTIONS AND TREATMENTS THE NEXT FEW YEARS. THIS IS ONE OF MY SURVIVOR PATIENTS WITH US TODAY. JOHNNY GONZALES. [APPLAUSE]. [APPLAUSE].
>> BE IT KNOWN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT I, MAYOR HERNANDEZ, MAYOR OF AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR A DAY, TO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2001 AS ELECTRICAL SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH IN AUSTIN.
>>MAYOR WATSON: AND CALL ON ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING THAT AUSTIN ENERGY, OUR COMMUNITY OWNED ELECTRIC UTILITY, HAS AN OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECORD, INCLUDING A 91% REDUCTION IN COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH INJURIES SINCE 1998. AND A 61% REDUCTION IN LOST WORKDAYS DUE TO INJURIES SINCE 1996. AND IN RECOGNIZING THAT AUSTIN ENERGY REMINDS US ALWAYS TO RESPECT ELECTRICITY AND TO FOLLOW BASIC SAFETY PRECAUTIONS INCLUDING SAFETY CHECKS OF OUR HOMES, SCHOOLS AND WORK PLACES FOR POSSIBLE ELECTRIC HAZARDS. IT'S SIGNED BY ME, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS AND WE'RE PROUD TO PRESENT THIS TO -- IT'S ELECTRICAL SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH. [APPLAUSE].
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR HEARN HRN AND WATSON. IT'S A PLEASURE TO REPRESENT AUSTIN ENERGY'S MANAGEMENT AND ITS EMPLOYEES HERE TODAY BECAUSE TRULY FOR US, AS YOU ALL KNOW, ELECTRICITY IS VERY UNFORGIVING, SO EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS PREDICATED ON BEING SAFE, UNDERSTANDING THE CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE WORKING IN, AND ENSURING OUR EMPLOYEES GO HOME EVERY DAY WITH ALL THEIR FACULTIES. THAT'S OUR CHORE, THAT'S OUR JOB. AND WE CERTAINLY STRIVE TO PROMOTE SAFETY IN EVERY VENUE AND IN OUR JOBS. JUST THIS WEEK WE HAD A STORM THAT MOVED THROUGH AUSTIN. WE LOST 32 POLES, LOTS OF OVERHEAD FACILITIES, BUT I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL, AND IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT AT NIGHT WHEN YOU ARE OUT WORKING AND TROUBLE-SHOOTING TO FIND THOSE TROUBLE SPOTS AND DO IT SAFELY. SO WE REALLY INSTITUTIONIZED THAT AND OUR WAY OF THINKING AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AND MAYOR, THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU ALL. APPRECIATE IT. [APPLAUSE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: MARSHA, WHY DON'T YOU COME UP HERE? YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME SAY IT BEFORE, THAT WE HAVE SOME OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANTS IN THIS COMMUNITY, PEOPLE THAT GIVE SO MUCH OF THEMSELVES NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF THE WONDERFUL TALENT THEY BRING TO THE JOB, BUT THEY BRING THEIR PERSONALITIES, THEY BRING THEIR PASSIONS AND THEY REALLY PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT MAKES THIS CITY SPECIAL A -- SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE IN. WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED MAYOR, ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY, I MEAN VERY QUICKLY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW WAS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER MARSHA CONNER. AND WE BECAME GOOD FRIENDS IN PART BECAUSE SHE WAS SOMEONE WHO REACHED OUT TO TRY TO HELP AND MAKE SURE THAT I KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN AREAS THAT SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND THAT SHE WAS ONE OF THESE PEOPLE WHEN YOU WENT TO HER, IT WASN'T WITH A PROBLEM, IT WAS WITH A CHALLENGE AND SHE WOULD FIND A WAY TO RESOLVE WHATEVER NEEDED TO BE DONE AND DIDN'T REALLY EVER TELL YOU NO. SHE JUST LOOKED FOR A WAY TO GET TO A SOLUTION. SHE IS LEAVING US. SHE IS LEAVING US -- I WAS STARTING TO SAY FOR GREENER PASTURES BUT THAT ISN'T TRUE. SHE IS LEAVING US FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE SHE IS GOING TO BE A CITY MANAGER HERSELF, AND IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY HAVE LOOKED AT MARSHA CONNER AND THE WORK SHE HAS DONE OVER THE YEARS AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HIRE HER AWAY. THIS WAS AN OFFER THAT SHE ENDED UP TAKING. AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS HER. AND IT IS GREAT -- WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK AND WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT YOU AND YOUR NEW OPPORTUNITY, BUT WE HATE TO SEE YOU GO. AND I'M GOING TO READ THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD BECAUSE SHE HAS INDEED PROVIDED US DISTINGUISHED SERVICE. FOR HER UNTIRING EFFORTS AND UNSELFISH SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY DURING TEN I COULDN'T REMEMBER AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, SHE HAS HAD A BROAD RANGE OF RESPONSIBILITY. WE RECOGNIZE HER EARLY EFFORTS MANAGING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HER OVERALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE AREA OF PUN SAFETY. SHE WAS A LEADER IN THE CURRENT MWBE ORDINANCE, SHE OVERSAW THE FIRST PAY AS YOU THROW PROGRAM, IN ADDITION SHE LED THE REORGANIZATION OF THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENTS. SHE ALSO HAS DEDICATED COUNTLESS HOURS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF NO ONE PROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, SHE IS A NATIONAL LEADER FOR THE NATIONAL FORUM FOR BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS. MARSHA CONNER IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITIONEN AND IT'S PRESENTED THIS 24TH DAY OF MARCH -- SORRY, OF MAY, 2001, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS BY ME, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND I HATE TO SEE YOU GO, BUT I WISH YOU ALL GREAT LUCK. MARSHA CONNER. [APPLAUSE].
>> FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I HAVE CERTAINLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU AND I THINK I'M IN A BETTER PLACE SIX AND A HALF YEARS LATER THAN PERHAPS I WAS SIX AND A HALF YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME, IT'S ALLOWED ME TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY MANAGER. I DON'T DO THAT WITH A LOT OF SADNESS EMBAUS I LOVE WORKING FOR -- BECAUSE I LOVE WORKING FOR JESUS GARZA AND --. [APPLAUSE]. HE'S BEEN A GREAT BOSS AND A GREAT FRIEND. BUT YOU DON'T DO THIS WITHOUT A LOT OF SUPPORT. AND WE HAVE A GREAT MANAGEMENT TEAM. TOBY, COME ON? [APPLAUSE]. AND ROGER AND ALL THE OTHER ASSISTANTS AND THE STAFF, IT'S JUST BEEN GREAT. AND MICHELLE. JUST WONDERFUL, JOHN, WE COULD ALL LAUGH AND TELL GREAT STORIES AND IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO LEAVE AND I KNOW I LEAVE A LOT OF GOOD FRIENDS AND GOOD COMMUNITY FOLKS AND DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND GOOD STAFF, MARIA AND MARIA BEHIND, BUT I'LL BE COMING BACK TO VISIT SO I LOOK FORWARD TO I GUESS TUESDAY NIGHT BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND IT'S A BIG SURPRISE, BUT I'VE ENJOYED -- [LAUGHTER].
>>GARZA: BEST KEPT SECRET IN AUSTIN.
>> I'VE TRULY ENJOYED WORKING HERE AND I THINK I'M A BETTER PERSON FOR IT AND AUSTIN HAS JUST BEEN TREMENDOUS TO ME. AND I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I WOULD BE LEAVING, AND JUST OPPORTUNITY JUST HAS AFFORDED ITSELF FOR ME TO TAKE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE I WON'T MISS AUSTIN. I LOVED IT HERE. I LEARNED A LOT. AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY THANK TO YOU ALL OF YOU. I HAVE TO STOP BEFORE I CRY. [APPLAUSE].
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR LIVE MUSIC AND PROCLAMATIONS, BUT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR HERNANDEZ. WE'RE REAL PROUD OF HIM. HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB NOT JUST TODAY BUT WITH ALL OF HIS SCHOOLWORK AND IT'S GOTTEN HIM TO HIS PLAY TODAY. THAT'S WHY WE DO THIS IS WE CAN HONOR YOUNG PEOPLE DOING SO WELL MUCH WE ALSO KNOW ANY TIME SOMEONE IS DOING AS WELL AS MAYOR HERNANDEZ THAT MEANS THERE ARE PEOPLE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF HIM AND LOVE HIM. AND HE'S BROUGHT SOME FOLKS WITH HIM TODAYEN I WANT HIM TO TAKE THE TIME TO INTRODUCE THEM SO WE CAN SAY THANK YOU.
>> TODAY I BROUGHT SOME OF MY FRIENDS AND MY TEACHER. MICHAEL CASTILLO. RAY MARIN. EEDY RODRIGUEZ. MS. LOPEZ.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. [APPLAUSE]. MS. LOPEZ, THANK YOU FOR BEING A TEACHER AND DOING ALL YOU DO. LET'S GIVE ANOTHER BIG HAND TO MAYOR HERNANDEZ AND SAY THANK YOU FOR HELPING US OUT. [APPLAUSE]. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH MAYOR HERNANDEZ. THE COUNCIL IS IN RECESS. I'M GOING TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO -- A QUORUM TO COME OUT QUICKLY SO WE CAN MOVE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND TAKE UP ONE REAL QUICK ITEM AND THEN RECONVENE. WE OUGHT TO BE FINISHED -- WE OUGHT TO BE BACK AND RECONVENED BY 6:25 TO 6:30.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCILL AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECESS TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION SO WE MAY ENGAGE IN PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH OUR ATTORNEY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071 TO DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE CEDAR AVENUE MEDIATION AND DISCUSS LEGAL AVENUES RELATED TO SOUTHERN UNION GAS PRACTICES AND TARIFF, DISCUSS AL FOLTZ, ET AL., VERSUS ECO RESOURCES, INC., ET AL., CAUSE NO. 00318 C 368 IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY DISTRICT COURT, AND FREITAG, ET AL., VERSUS ECO RESOURCES, INC., ET AL., CAUSE NO. GNOO 1914 IN TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT. ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1501-169 FRONTIER VALLEY DRIVE AND 7300-7320 EAST RIVERSIDE DRIVE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE JOCKEY CLUB. AND I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER VOTES AYE, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH IS ABSENT. WE SHOULD BE BACK OUT HERE ABOUT 6:30 AT WHICH POINT WE'LL TAKE UP ALL THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCILL. COUNCIL, WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM 8 FIRST. CONSIDER ACTION ON PROPOSALS TO RESOLVE ISSUES DISCUSSED IN THE CEDAR AVENUE MEDIATION. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ABOUT SIX AND A HALF MONTHS OF MEDIATION BASED ON A RESOLUTION PASS IDENTIFY BY CITY COUNCILL ABOUT THAT TIME, SIX AND A HALF, SEVEN MONTHS AGO. THAT MEDIATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND AS A RESULT THERE HAS BEEN AN AGREEMENT SIGNED BY THE ORIGINAL PLAINTIFFS TO THE CEDAR AVENUE LITIGATION, TO THEIR SATISFACTION, AND THERE'S A RESOLUTION. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK ON IT, BUT EVERYBODY WAS AWARE THIS ITEM WAS GOING TO BE TAKEN UP AND WE'VE REACHED A CONCLUSION.
>> YES, SIR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. COUNCIL, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 8.
>>THOMAS: SO MOVED.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MOTION TO APPROVED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. SECOND?
>>WYNN: SECOND.
>>MAYOR WATSON: DISCUSSION? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON ITEM NO. 8 IN ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD ON ITEM NO. 8? ANYONE WISHING TO BE HEARD? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MONTH KAERTION R CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER VOTING NO AND COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH ABSENT. ITEM 95, CONDUCT A -- CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FULL PURPOSE ANNEXATION OF THE FOLLOWING: RIVERPLACE BOULEVARD, APPROXIMATELY 9 ACRES OF RIVERPLACE BOULEVARD AND BONAVENTURE DRIVE RIGHT-OF-WAY BETWEEN MARRY WEATHER CIRCLE ... AND B, NAGLE TRACT AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF INTERSECTION OF U.S. 290 AND BLUE GOOSE ROAD.
>> THE FIRST OF THESE AREAS, THE RIVERPLACE AREA, IS ESSENTIAL BYE THE PHYSICAL RIGHT-OF-WAY OF RIVERPLACE BOULEVARD AND ADJACENT THREE ACRES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE INTERSECTION OF BONAVENTURE AND RIVERPLACE BOULEVARD. OUR SERVICE PLAN FOR THIS AREA ESSENTIALLY WE PICK UP THE MAINTENANCE AND OTHER SERVICES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY AND WE THEN NOW PROVIDE OUR CITY OF AUSTIN HAND SERVICES. ACTION ON THIS ANNEXATION WILL BE TAKEN JUNE 14. THE SECOND AREA-.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ME ASK, HEARD ON THE -- WITH REGARD TO THE RIVERPLACE BOULEVARD ANNEXATION? IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO BE HEARD WITH REGARD TO THE RIVERPLACE BOULEVARD ANNEXATION? ANYONE TO BE HEARD ON THE RIVERPLACE BOULEVARD ANNEXATION? COUNCIL, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>>WYNN: SO MOVED.
>>MAYOR WATSON: DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. NAGLE TRACT.
>> YES, SIR. NAGLE IS APPROXIMATELY 21 ACRES AT THE INTERSECTION OF BLUE GOOSE AND US 290 EAST. IT'S VACANT LAND, AS ONE VACANT FARMHOUSE OUT. BLUE GOOSE ROAD ITSELF IN FRONT OF THE TRACT IS WITHIN THE CITY. U.S. 9 -- -- 20 IS BOUNDED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN. IT'S BEING -- IT'S AN ANNEXATION IS ACCELERATED. WE WERE GOING TO BE ANNEXING THIS AREA IN DECEMBER AS PART OF OUR REGULAR PROGRAM. RESIDENTS OF HARRIS BRANCH ASKED US THAT WE ANNEX THIS AREA IN ADVANCE OF THIS -- OF OUR TYPICAL DECEMBER ANNEXATION. THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT A PROPOSED USE OUT THERE. SO WE'VE GONE AHEAD, BROUGHT THIS ANNEXATION FORWARD. IF -- IF ANNEXED, THE TYPICAL -- THE TYPICAL DESIGNATION OF THE TRACT WOULD BE INTERIM RR BECAUSE IT'S A LOT LARGER THAN ONE ACRE. ACTION ON -- THE SERVICE PLAN IS SIMILAR TO THE RIVERPLACE ONE. WE WOULD PROVIDE ALL THE SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY AT OUR ENHANCED LEVEL OF SERVICE, AND WE WOULD EXTEND WASTE WATER TO THIS TRACT DOWN BLUE GOOSE LANE. WE PROPOSE A SCHEDULE FOR THIS SO SERVICE WOULD BE -- THE PROJECT WOULD BE INITIATED IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS, COMPLETED IN FOUR PER THE GOVERNMENT CODE. THIS LINE WOULD ALSO PICK UP TO APPROXIMATELY 36 RESIDENCES ON AUS-TEX LANE. THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION ON THIS NAGLE TRACT ANNEXATION.
>>MAYOR WATSON: WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY HAVE SIGNED UP TO ACTUALLY SPEAK. LET ME RUN THROUGH THE CARDS AND IF YOU DON'T NEED TO SPEAK, I WOULD ASK YOU LET US KNOW BY WAY OF THE CARD. JOYCE THORSON SIGNED UP FOR THE ANNEXATION. AIM EYE FOR. CHRISTINA KUBEK FOR. DAN PICA FOR. JANUARY NET CLOTS FOR. GORED OFTEN ROBERTSON, DO YOU NEED TO SPEAK OR BE SHOWN IN FAVOR OF THE ANNEXATION? DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK?
>> BRIEFLY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: PAGE ROBINSON, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK? OKAY. MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MICROPHONE. MR. ROBINSON. JOYCE BEST FOR. A. J. ERNST FOR. ALEXANDER PORTER, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK OR --
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU WILL FOLLOW THE ROBERTSONS.
>> MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME ON THIS. I'LL KEEP MY REMARKS BRIEF. ILY IN THE ADJACENT HARRIS BRANCH NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'M NOT OPPOSED THE PRO POPD FACILITY. BUT I DO BELIEVE ANNEXATION WOULD AFFORD SOME SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE IT'S A SAFE AND WELL CONSTRUCTED FACILITY SO I THINK ANNEXATION WOULD BE THE PROPER THING TO DO. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. MS. ROBERTSON.
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT ON BEHALF OF A LOT OF MEMBERS OF HARRIS BRANCH, WE THINK OF HARRIS BRANCH AS A VERY FAMILY ORIENTED COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO KEEP IT A SAFE PLACE AND I FEEL LIKE BY HAVING THE LAND ANNEXED THAT WE CAN KEEP IT A SAFE PLACE BY HAVING AN INPUT AND ALSO BY HAVING TO FOLLOW THE SAME GUIDELINES THAT COULD KEEP IT SAFE. SO I AM FOR IT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. MR. PORTER, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M ALEX PORTER, A RESIDENT OF HARRIS BRANCH, AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF AUSTIN MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 2 WHICH WAS RECENTLY ANNEXED. REANNEXED INTO THE CITY. I ALSO PLAY AND TEACH TENNIS IN HARRIS BRANCH. I MENTION THAT TO YOU TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE FORMAL POSITION AND MY CURRENT ACTIVITIES PLACE ME IN TOUCH WITH THE COMMUNITY AND I HAVE A SENSE OF FEEL FOR HOW MANY OF THE RESIDENTS FEEL ABOUT ISSUES OF THIS SORT. I FAVOR THE ANNEXATION, AS DOES 190 PLUS OTHER MEMBERS WHOSE SIGNATURES ARE ON A PETITION WHICH IS A MATTER OF RECORD BEFORE THE COUNCIL. NOW, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK THE RESIDENTS HERE WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF THE ANNEXATION TO STAND. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE E-MAILS, PETITIONS AND OUR REQUESTS TO YOU IN PERSON TO ANNEX THE AREA IN QUESTION. WE ALL FAVOR AN ORDERERLY DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE PLANNING AS EVIDENCED BY THE CITY PROCEDURES AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE MIGHT BE FACED WITH WITH A VIRTUALLY UNKNOWN COUNTY PROCEDURES. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, SIR. KAREN GRIFFIN. DAVID DURLAND SIGNED IN IN FAVOR. TODD IN FAVOR. COLLEEN CROWS AGAINST. MICHAEL CROWS FOR. THAT OUGHT TO BE AN INTERESTING EVENING. [LAUGHTER]. TIM SHUGERT FOR. KATHY SHUGERT FOR. WILLIAM VASASKE FOR. MARY HENDRIX FOR. THERESA STOCKDALE FOR. WILFRED WILLIAMS AGAINST. KATIE WILLIAMS AGAINST. HERB DERINGER. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWING MS. GRIFFIN.
>> OKAY. I WAS GOING TO BE CALMER THAN LAST WEEK, BUT SO FAR I'M NOT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: SOMETHING ABOUT COMING TO COUNCIL MEETINGS DOES THAT TO PEOPLE.
>> FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY MY MOTHER'S HOME IS NOT VACANT. SHE STILL LIVES THERE. AS SHE HAS SINCE BEFORE I WAS BORN. IT'S NOT THE ANNEXATION SO MUCH THAT WE'RE AGAINST. IT'S THE ZONING. AND THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE FOUND SO FAR WITH WHAT THEY'VE TOLD YOU -- I'M A MOM OF TWO. I TEACH SUNDAY SCHOOL AND 4-H AND ALL THAT. YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO KNOW THAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE. BUT THE PEOPLE WHO GOT THIS PETITION TOGETHER AND HAVE GIVEN YOU THE FACTS, I SAW THE LAST NEWSLETTER THAT THEY WROTE TO YOU ALL FROM AFTER THE LAST WEEK'S COUNCIL HEARING. AND THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY, THE PROPOSED PROPERTY IS NOT AT ALL WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WILL BE. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF. THIS IS A WOMAN ONLY RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY. IT'S NOT A DEATH ROW HOLDING PEN THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN SCARED INTO THINKING YOU ARE GOING TO BE MURDERED IN YOUR BEDS OR YOUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE NABBED ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL. IT'S NOT THAT AT ALL, YOU ALL. AND I JUST ASK THAT YOU REALLY GET THE FACTS ON THIS AND INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER AND NOT JUST GO ON WHAT HARRIS BRANCH HAS TOLD YOU ALL. I DO NOT BELIEVE -- TO THE BEST OF MY UNDERSTANDING AND IN MY HEART I WOULD NOT ENDANGER ANYONE'S CHILD AND THIS IS NOT A DANGER TO YOUR CHILDREN. IT'S A LONG -- IT'S ALMOST TWO MILES. YEAH, YOU KNOW, I COULD WALK TO ELGIN, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M GOING TO, AND WHAT REASON DO THEY HAVE TO GO TO YOU ALL'S HOMES OR THE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL? THIS IS DRUG TREATMENT FACILITY. THESE AREN'T BURGLARS OR CHILD MOLESTERS. MY FAMILY HAS LIVED IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 150 YEARS. IN FACT, WHEN THE CAMANCHIES WERE OUR NEIGHBORS. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR FAMILY HERITAGE. MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS A TEXAS RANGER, MY GREAT UNCLE WAS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND BY SOMETHING THAT IS FLY-BY-NIGHT OR THAT WILL ENDANGER ANYONE. THIS IS OUR HOME. YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE RAISING YOUR KIDS THERE, I'M RAISING MY KIDS THERE TOO. UNFORTUNATELY THE FOLKS THAT GOT THIS PETITION TOGETHER AND HAVE BEEN CONTACTING YOU ALL HAVE NEVER ONCE APPROACHED MY FAMILY OR OUR REALTOR TO GET THE HONEST FACTS. YOU KNOW, BEFORE THEY START SCARING YOU ALL, I -- IF IT'S A -- IF IT'S A BATTLE YOU CAN'T WIN WITHOUT LYING, THEN I DON'T THINK IT'S A BATTLE YOU OUGHT TO FIGHT. [BUZZER SOUNDS]. DOES THAT MEAN MY TIME IS UP?
>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS.
>> ANYWAY, I JUST ASK FOR YOU ALL TO GET THE TRUE FACTS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MA'AM. HERB DERINGER. KAREN ROBERTS SIGNED UP FOR. SHAWN PERTULA SIGNED UP FOR. MR. NIAS ARE YOU HERE? YOU WILL BE THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'M HERB DERINGER, A RESPECT TO OF BLUE GOOSE ROAD. I'VE BEEN THERE IN EXCESS OF 30 YEARS. AND I AM NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO THE ANNEXATION. I'M CONCERNED WITH THE ZONING OF THE PROPERTY. I FOR ONE AND MY FAMILY HAVE NO CONCERN WHATSOEVER FOR THE-WITH THE FACILITY THAT IS GOING IN THERE OR THE PROPOSED FACILITY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN THE ENTIRE TRAVIS COUNTY AREA, AND IT WOULD BE A OPPORTUNE LOCATION. TO ZONE THIS PROPERTY RURAL RESIDENTIAL IS A MISTAKE, GENTLEMEN. YOU'VE GOT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ON BOTH SIDES, AND FOR IT TO BE ZONED RESIDENTIAL, I WOULD REALLY QUESTION THAT. TO BRING THAT PROPERTY TO ITS GREATEST AND BEST USE OF COURSE WOULD BE IN A COMMERCIAL ZONING CATEGORY. I DO HAVE A QUESTION, THOUGH, THAT THE FIRST GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE MENTIONED THE ANNEXATION ALSO OF AUS-TEX ACRES LANE. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I LIVE, I PUT IN AUS-TEX ACRES LANE. HAVE I NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION WHATSOEVER OF PENDING ANNEXATION OF THAT PROPERTY. AND THAT BY LAW HAS TO BE DONE BEING A RESIDENT OF THAT LOCATION. I WOULD THINK. AND I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING. SO MY QUESTION IS WHAT ARE WE CONSIDERING ANNEXING? JUST THE NAGLE TRACT OR AUS-TEX ACRES?
>> ALL WE'RE CONSIDERING TONIGHT IS THE NAGLE TRACT. IN FOUR YEARS THERE ARE BE AN EIGHT INCH SEWER LINE AT NAGLE. AT THAT POINT A LOGICAL THING TO DO WITH A SEWER LINE AT THE INTERSECTION OF AUS-TEX LANE WOULD BE TO ANNEX THAT AREA THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT. THIS WOULD BE SOME YEARS IN THE FUTURE. I THINK WHEN EVERYONE SEES THAT SEWER LINE BEING INSTALLED IT'S GOING TO BE OBVIOUS THERE IS WASTEWATER AVAILABLE AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD ON ANNEXATION. THERE WOULD BE AMPLE NOTICE. WE WOULD NOTIFY PEOPLE MONTHS IF NOT YEARS IN ADVANCE OF IT. I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE UNTIL THE OTHER DAY WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS WATER AND WASTEWATER THIS PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PICK UP AUS-TEX ACRES AS WELL AND PROBABLY ALL THE LAND FROM BLUE GOOSE TO THE FUTURE PAERM LANE. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE FUTURE AND -- BUT -- AND IF NAGLE TRACT HAD NOT COME UP, WE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY -- WE WOULD HAVE ANNEXED THAT THIS CURRENT DECEMBER AND WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS WHOLE AREA AS THINGS GO THROUGH THE SERVICE EXTENSION PROCESS. THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL AND THE REQUESTS OF PEOPLE FROM HARRIS BRANCH AND FOR THAT MATTER PEOPLE ON AUS-TEX LANE ACCELERATED THE ANNEXATION BY SEVERAL MONTHS.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION. MY EARS WHEN I WENT -- WENT UP WHEN I HEARD AUS-TEX LANE. WE ENJOY YOUR CITY, BUT THOUGHT THAT MUCH. ANYWAY, --.
>>MAYOR WATSON: SURE GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE. [LAUGHTER].
>> BUT I LOOK ACROSS THE STREET AND SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT AND INFORMATION. AND LIKE I SAY, WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO THE ANNEX, WE'RE JUST OPPOSED TO THE ZONING OF IT.
>>WYNN: MAYOR?
>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER.
>>WYNN: MR. LUKENS CAN YOU RESPOND TO THE GENTLEMAN'S CONCERN ABOUT THE ZONING AND WHAT THE ZONING PROCESS OF ANNEXED PROPERTY.
>> WELL, WHEN PROPERTY COMES INTO THE CITY, IT'S BY OUR ORDINANCE IT BECOMES -- IT GETS TREATED AS IF IT HAD INTERIM SF-2 OR INTERIM RF RF ZONING DEPENDING ON THE -- RR ZONING THIS. IS LARGER THAN AN ACRE SO IT WOULD BE GIVEN THE DESTINATION OF INTERIM RR UNLESS YOU DECIDED TO SOMETHING ELSE, AN ALTERNATE CLASSIFICATION.
>>WYNN: THAT IS INTENDED TO BE AN INTERIM CLASSIFICATION WHILE WE AS A COUNCIL AND THE CITY FIGURE OUT THE APPROPRIATE FINAL ZONING.
>>MAYOR WATSON: GOOD DWE QUESTION. THANKS FOR ASKING THAT. JIM NIAS. ZACHARY KING SIGNED NEWSPAPER FAVOR. MR. DRENNER YOU WILL BE CALLED ON NEXT.
>> I'M JIM NIAS, I REPRESENT MARJORIE NAGLE. COULD YOU RAISE YOUR HANDS SO THE COUNCIL CAN PUT A FACE WITH THE NAME?
>>MAYOR WATSON: WE MET HER LAST WEEK. NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> MS. NAGLE IS AT A POINT WHERE SHE NEEDS TO LEAVE HER HOME AND SHE HAS HAD IT UNDER CONTRACT FOR SOME TIME AND NOW THIS HAS COME UP WHICH HAS THROWN THAT INTO DOUBT. THAT'S NOT OF COURSE THE CITY'S PROBLEM. BUT I WANTED TO RAISE THESE ISSUES WITH YOU. IF UPON ANNEXATION, AND I ASSUME YOU ARE GOING TO ANNEX THE PROPERTY, I'LL BE SURPRISED IF YOU DON'T, BUT -- AND YOU SURPRISED ME BEFORE, BUT ASSUMING DO YOU, AND IF THE PROPERTY IS ANNEXED AND THINGS DON'T GO WELL WITH RESPECT TO ZONING, MS. NAG SELL IN A POSITION OF LOSING THAT CONTRACT OF COURSE. ALSO IN A POSITION OF HAVING CITY TAXES PUT ON THE PROPERTY. AND THIRD, IN A POSITION OF AT LEAST HAVING A POSITIVE BUT OF HAVING HER AGRICULTURAL VALUATION JEOPARDIZED AND SO THAT'S SORT OF A TRIPLE WHAMMY THAT SHE CANNOT REALLY STAND AT THIS TIME. I WAS WANT TO GO RAISE AT LEAST WITH YOU THE POSSIBILITY OR ASK YOU TO CONSIDER RESPECTFULLY WHETHER PERHAPS THIS ANNEXATION COULD BE A LIMITED PURPOSE ANNEXATION AS OPPOSED TO A FULL PURPOSE ANNEXATION, WHICH WOULD STILL ALLOW THE PROPERTY TO BE SUBJECTED TO CITY LAND USE CONTROLS, BUT WOULD NOT BURDEN HER WITH TAXES IF SHE DOESN'T -- IF SHE LOSES THE SALE AND WOULD NOT JEOPARDIZE HER AGRICULTURAL VALUATION. THAT IS ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO RESPECTFULLY CONSIDER. I'M NOT SURE IF THERE IS ANYTHING PRORP THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE. IF THERE IS, I'M SURE WE COULD WORK WITH YOU ON CURING ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN THAT REGARD. THE SECOND THING I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP WITH YOU AND ASK YOU TO RESPECTFULLY CONSIDER IS IF YOU ARE GOING TO ANNEX THE PROPERTY, IF THERE IS A WAY WE COULD GET YOU TO HELP US EXPEDITE THE ZONING PROCESS. LET US FILE A -- IF IT'S GOING TO BE ANNEXED, FILE A ZONING APPLICATION IMMEDIATELY EVEN BEFORE ANNEXATION SO WE CAN GET THIS BACK TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND GET AN ANSWER ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. BECAUSE REALLY TIME IS REALLY AN ENEMY TO HER, NOT REALLY KNOWING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S REALLY NOT SOMETHING SHE CAN AFFORD TO BEAR RIGHT NOW. THOSE ARE TWO THINGS I WOULD ASK TO YOU CONSIDER AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. MR. DRENNER.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M STEVE DRENNER AND I REPRESENT PATRICIA JENNINGS WHO IS THE LADY WHO HAS THE PROPERTY UNDER CONTRACT. SHE'S THE LADY WHO IS PROPOSING THE USE OF THE PROPERTY AS A FAITH BASED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROBLEMS. I WOULD SECOND WHAT MR. NIAS SAID ON MRS. JENNINGS' BEHALF, SHE DOES NOT OPPOSE THE ANNEXATION. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS IT'S APPROPRIATE TO ANNEX THIS SITE. SHE HAS SOME EARNEST MONEY AT RISK AND NEEDS TO ACCOMMODATE TO SOME EXTENT MS. NAGLE'S TIME LINE OR ELSE WE'LL LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A FACILITY HERE. I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU EITHER CONSIDER AN INTERIM GR CATEGORY AS A ZONING CLASSIFICATION OR WITH THE ASSURANCE THAT WE WILL FILE A PERMANENT ZONING APPLICATION, I UNDERSTAND FROM MR. LUKENS THE CITY WILL TAKE THAT APPLICATION PRIOR TO THE TIME THE CITY IS ANNEXED AND WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH REGARD TO PERMANENT ZONING ON THE PROPERTY. I THINK GIVEN THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP TONIGHT, CERTAINLY APPROPRIATE FOR TAOS HAVE A CHANCE TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO BETTER EXPLAIN WHAT THE FACILITY IS ALL ABOUT. AND TO BRING YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DECISION WITH ALL THOSE FACTS ON THE TABLE. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
>>SLUSHER: MR. DRENNER, COULD I ASK YOU WHILE WE HAVE A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORS IN THE ROOM TONIGHT, COULD YOU GIVE US A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON WHAT THE FACILITY WOULD BE AND WOULD NOT BE?
>> YES, SIR. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AS OPPOSED TO OTHER FACILITIES THAT MAYBE HAVE BEEN PROPOSED ELSEWHERE, ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE IS THAT THIS FACILITY WOULD ONLY BE AVAILABLE TO WOMEN. NOT TO MEN. IT WOULD BE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION. IT WOULD CLEARLY BE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, BUT IT WOULD NOT -- IT WOULD BE AN OPTION TO INCARCERATION. STILL AN OPEN QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE WOMEN'S' CHILDREN WOULD BE ALLOWED TO LIVE ON SITE OR VISIT ON SITE ONLY. ONE THING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE WOMEN WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE CAMPUS. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE VEHICLES THERE, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A SITUATION WHERE THEY LEAVE THE CAMPUS DURING THE DAY AND COME BACK AT NIGHT. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT IS SET UP FOR THEM TO BE THERE 100% OF THE TIME AND I THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE TO CONSIDER WITH REGARD TO SECURITY.
>>SLUSHER: WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES OF VIOLENCE?
>> I'M NOT AWARE OF WHAT MS. JENNINGS' PLANS ARE WITH THAT, BUT I'LL FIND OUT. THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
>>SLUSHER: ARE YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, MS. JENNINGS?
>>MAYOR WATSON: NO.
>> MS. JENNINGS HAS JUST GOTTEN HERE, SO --.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MS. JENNINGS.
>>SLUSHER: COME ON UP.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. THE NEIGHBORS OF HARRIS BRANCH. MY NAME IS PATRICIA JENNINGS AND THIS FACILITY WILL BE AN ALL WOMEN FACILITY. FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A FAITH BASED ORGANIZATION. AND I FOUNDED IT IN '97. AT THE PRESENT TIME I RUN A DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT CENTER ON NORTH LAMAR. I'VE BEEN THERE TEN YEARS. IT'S A WILL 4 BED TRANSITION -- 84 BED TRANSITIONAL TREATMENT CENTER AND IT'S ALL MALE. WE'VE BEEN IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ALMOST TEN YEARS. IF YOU PULL THE POLICE REPORT, YOU WILL FIND SOME CONFLICTS THAT WE'VE HAD ON THE INSIDE, BUT NOTHING CONCERNING VIOLENCE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE'VE NEVER HAD ONE, NOT EVEN ONE SINGLE INCIDENT WITH THE COMMUNITY. THERE IS RILEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT'S JUST A FEW YARDS FROM OUR FACILITY. THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT WE EXISTED UNTIL TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO. AND THESE ARE ALL MEN. AND FROM TIME TO TIME THROUGH THE TEN YEARS THAT I'VE PROVIDED SERVICE TO TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, I WOULD SAY WE'VE PROBABLY HAD ABOUT MAYBE SEVEN OR EIGHT SEX OFFENDERS THERE. RIGHT NEXT DOOR, PROBABLY ABOUT A FEW FEET IS A FAMILY THAT'S BEEN THERE SINCE WE'VE BEEN THERE. THEY HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN. AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF LETTERS FROM THEM. THEY'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS. AND THESE ARE ALL MEN COMING OUT OF THE PRISON AND THE SAFE UNITS. THIS FACILITY WILL BE ALL WOMEN. IT WILL NOT BE STATE FUNDED. THE FUNDS WILL COME THROUGH FOUNDATIONS AND CORPORATIONS. WHAT MR. DRENNER DIDN'T KNOW IS THAT A LOT OF THE WOMEN WON'T COME THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SOME OF THEM WILL. AND THAT'S BECAUSE SOME OF THE JUDGES FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO BE REHABILITATED BECAUSE THEY DON'T -- THEY DIDN'T COMMIT ANY VIOLENT ACTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND THEY WANT TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE. BUT A LOT OF THE WOMEN WILL COME THROUGH THE DIFFERENT CHURCHS BECAUSE A LOT OF DIFFERENT -- IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CHURCHS THAT HAVE CHILDREN. WOMEN THAT IS STRUGGLING ON DRUGS. AND SOME OF THEM HAVEN'T BEEN THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. A LOT OF THEM COME FROM YOUR UPPER MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES. AND THEY'VE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO GET THESE GIRLS STRAIGHT AND THEY CAN'T GET THEM STRAIGHT. WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO CHARGE ANYTHING.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MS. JENNINGS --
>> I HAVE A RENDERING -- I'M SORRY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M REAL SORRY. BUT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE YOU SEE HERE ARE HERE FOR OTHER PUBLIC HEARINGS AND YOU ARE DOING A BEAUTIFUL JOB OF EXPLAINING THIS BUT I'M NOT SURE THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR US TO HAVE A HARRIS BRANCH NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING TONIGHT.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW. I JUST CAME IN AND I WAS JUST LOOKING.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I UNDERSTAND. I'M NOT GETTING ON YOU AT ALL. IT'S JUST THAT THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS AND COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER ASKED YOUR LAWYER A QUESTION AND THAT'S FINE. BUT THE PUBLIC HEARING -- I'M GETTING READY TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAYBE CREATE SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME COMMUNICATION WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT HAD SOME QUESTIONS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO IS IF YOU -- IF SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE, I CAN MAKE AVAILABLE A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT SPOKE HER TONIGHT ON THIS TOPIC.
>> OKAY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THAT'S ALL THE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER. SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE, OPPOSED SAY NO. PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. NO ACTION IS BEING TAKEN TONIGHT. THE LAW REQUIRES US TO HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE -- HAVE COMPLETED THOSE BEFORE THE COUNCIL CAN TAKE ACTION. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN TONIGHT.
>> AX HAS TO BE TAKEN ON THE 14TH, BUT -- ACTION COULD BE TAKEN ON THE 14TH. SO WE'LL PROBABLY BRING IT IN AS FIRST READING ON THE 14TH.
>>MAYOR WATSON: WHAT HE MEANS BY THAT IS THAT IN ORDER TO PASS AN ORDINANCE, IT HAS TO BE PASSED ON THREE READS. IT EITHER HAS TO BE PASSED ON THREE SEPARATE DAYS OR YOU CAN PASS IT ON ALL THREE READINGS IF YOU HAVE AT LEAST FIVE VOTES OF THE COUNCIL. BUT IF THERE IS SOME SORT OF DIFFICULTY, SOMETHING WE WANT TO WORK OUT, YOU CAN PASS IT ON FIRST READING TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF LAW OF HAVING ACTION, HAVING A VOTE ON THE ITEM, BUT GOING FORWARD AND TAKING SECOND AND THIRD READING. CAN. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE].
>> WHEN MS. JENNINGS REFER TOED ON THE OTHER FACILITY, WE HAD ZONING THAT CAME UP WITH REGARD TO THAT. A COUPLE OF US WERE. AND -- AND WELL, THAT FACILITY, WHAT SHE WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT THAT FACILITY, I DON'T REMEMBER ALL OF THE DETAIL, BUT IN A GENERAL SENSE, THAT WAS AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF THAT FACILITY.
>>THOMAS: MAYOR?
>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
>>THOMAS: I CAN REMEMBER THAT, THAT WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. WE DID TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE WITH MS. JENNINGS, I AM LIKE THE COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, IF YOU ALL WERE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY JUST FOR VISIT WITH HER, THEN I'M SURE SHE WOULD HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SYSTEM IS ABOUT AND ALSO THAT SHE DOES RUN A VERY PAR EXCELLENT FACILITY ON LAMAR. SHE HAVEN'T HAD ANY COMPLAINTS. FROM THAT DAY AT THE COUNCIL, I STD AND SPOKE FOR -- I STOOD AND SPOKE FOR THE ROAM THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO GET THROUGH BECAUSE SHE RUNS A REAL GOOD PROGRAM. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, WE WILL GO TO ITEM NO. 96. ITEM NO. THE 6 TO IS CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE CITIZEN COMMENTS ON THE CITY'S PROPOSED ANNUAL FEDERAL ACTION PLAN, 2001 THROUGH 2002 TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AN URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND STATE AND CHAPTER 373 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 2001-2002 PROPOSE WHICH INCLUDES PROPOSED FUNDING ALLOCATIONS. FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,494 IS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FROM FOUR U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN GROMENT ENTITLEMENT GRATES GRANTS, $8,5 80,000 FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS, $3,499,000 FROM HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS, $285,000 FROM EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS AND $1,202,000 FROM HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS. ADDITIONAL MONIES FROM THE GENERAL REVENUE FUND FOR LOCAL MATCH AND PROGRAM INCOME WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED. THESE AMOUNTS HAVE NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. LET ME JUST TELL YOU, FOLKS, WE HAVE OTHER HEARINGS ON TRANSPORTATION, TOO. I GUESS I WILL KEEP SAYING THIS AS LONG AS I'M MAYOR AND I'M NOT SURE IT EVER DOES ME ANY GOOD, BUT I FEEL BETTER WHEN I SAY IT. IF YOU CAN MAKE YOUR POINT IN LESS THAN THE FULL THREE MINUTES OR JUST BY PUTTING SOMETHING THE CARD, PLEASE DO THAT OUT OF RESPECT, NOT FOR THE COUNCIL, BUT OUT OF RESPECT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE ALSO HERE AROUND MAY WANT TO BE HEARD ON AN ITEM BECAUSE IF ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING IS REPEATING WHAT SOMEBODY HAS SAID, IT'S VERY EASY JUST TO SAY, I AGREE WITH WHAT SOMEBODY -- SO AND SO SAID. SAM HOUSTON. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MICROPHONE. CHRIS STEIN GOVARRA IN FAVOR OF THE ARCHITECTURAL BARRIER REMOVAL PROGRAM. JOHN GRACE SON, MR. GRACE SON ARE YOU HERE? YOU JUST SIGNED UP FOR. IS THIS A SPECIFIC PROGRAM THAT YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF?
>> NO.
>> THE ACRE FEET RAL BEARIER REMOVAL -- ARCHITECT TERKT RAL BARRIER REMOVE PROGRAM. JAVIER GARZA, YOU WILL FOLLOW MR. GONZALES. MR. HOUSTON?
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT, MY NAME IS SAM HOUSTON, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF MEALS AND WHEELS AND MORE. MEALS ON WHEELS IS A PREMIER PROVIDER OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE HOMEBOUND AND ELDERLY. THE REASON FOR MY COMMENTS TONIGHT IS I WANT TO URGE YOU TO PLACE FUNDING IN A -- IN FACILITIES CATEGORY FOR THE HOMEBOUND AND ELDERLY. I CAN TELL FROM YOUR STAMINA ON THESE LONG MEETINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE EXEMPT FROM THE EFFECTS OF AGING. BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE POPULATION OF TRAVIS COUNTY --
>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M 15 YEARS OLD.
>> I CAN TELL. THE -- THE POPULATION OF TRAVIS COUNTY AND IN THE CENTRAL TEXAS AREA BY THE YEAR 2010 WILL REPRESENT ABOUT 20% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE ELDERLY CATEGORY. THE PROGRAMS OF MEALS ON WHEELS, BESIDES PROVIDING ESSENTIAL MEAL DELIVERY IS ALSO ALL OF THE ADJUNCT SERVICES FOR THE CASE MANAGEMENT AND WELL-BEING OF THE APPROXIMATE 'EM THAT WE SERVE. IT'S -- IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROVIDE THOSE MEALS. WE PROVIDE ABOUT 1600 MEALIES A DAY. WE ARE VERY ACTIVELY REMODELING A NEW SITUATION. WHICH IS WHY WE ARE SEEKING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS TO DOUBLE OUR CAPACITY, OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE ONE MILLION MEALS A YEAR TO THE HOMEBOUND AND ELDERLY OF AUSTIN. AND I HAVE -- I HAVE ASSURANCES THAT THERE ARE OTHER SPEAKERS TONIGHT THAT WILL ECHO THOSE SENTIMENTS. BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERATION OF THAT, I ALSO HAVE A LETTER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU, IF I CAN APPROACH THE DIAS. AND PRESENT THAT TO YOU. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR WATTS AND COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M RACHEL GONZALES. I'M HERE TO REPRESENT OF ARCHITECTUL BARRIER PROGRAM, FORMERLY CEREBRAL PALSY OF THE CAPITAL AREA. FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS MUCH NEEDED PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW. WE HAVE A GREAT TRACK RECORD. OUR FUNDING COMES FROM THE BLOCK GRANT COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDED -- 500 HOMES THIS YEARS, FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP THE HOME -- TO KEEP THE PERSON AT THEIR HOME FOR LONGER PERIOD OF TIME TO BECOME -- TO BE ABLE TO BE INDEPENDENT. ALSO, OUR SERVICES ARE FREE OF CHARGE FOR HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS. I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THE ACCESSIBILITY MODIFICATIONS THAT WE PROVIDE BECAUSE MANY OF YOU ALL HAVE HEARD. IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AFTER I FINISH, YOU ALL CAN ASK ME. OUR REFERRAL SERVICES ARE -- COME FROM ALL OVER. WE GET REFERRALS FROM OTHER AGENCIES, DOCTORS, COMMUNITY CHURCH, ALSO FROM OUR -- FROM OUR NETWORK AGENCIES, WHICH WE DO A LOT OF COMMUNITY NETWORKING. WE ALSO PROVIDE APARTMENT SURVEYS, WE DO 30 APARTMENT SURVEYS PER -- I'M SORRY, 10 APARTMENT SURVEYS PER MONTH. AND THEY ARE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY AND ALSO 30 DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAM. THISEE YEAR WE RECEIVED A MILLION DOLLARS. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO CONTINUE THAT TYPE OF FUNDING FOR -- FOR US. ALSO DISABILITY ASSISTANCE OF CENTRAL TEXAS DOES COMPLY WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES, I'M ALSO HERE TO SAY THAT I AM IN FAVOR FOR THE AFFORDABLE LOW INCOME HOUSING.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M JAVIER GARZA, I'M THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT MEALS ON BHEELS AND MORE. WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO IS TO REQUEST THAT YOU PUT SOME MONEY OF CDBG IN THE MEALS ON WHEELS AND MORE TO BUILD OUR NEW KITCHEN FACILITY. YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE CONSIDERING A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PLAN, WE MUST PLAN AND BE PREPARED TO SERVE IN THE FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION AND THAT'S THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE AGED AND DISABLED AND HOMEBOUND. MEALS AND WHEELS KEEPS PEOPLE LIVING INDEPENDENTLY. MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION, HOME SAFETY REPAIRS KEEP PEOPLE FED AND FARING BETTER. BUT WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO CONTINUE SERVING THE GROWING HOMEBOUND POPULATION. HELP WITH OUR NEW FACILITY WILL ENSURE THIS. I KNOW WE CAME TO YOU ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND THERE WAS A GRACIOUS -- A PROCLAMATION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO LOOK FOR LAND FOR US. THAT KIND OF FELL THROUGH. THEN WE CAME IN ANOTHER YEAR AGO AND WE TRIED PURCHASE A PROPERTY ON CHICON, THAT FELL THROUGH. WE NOW HAVE PROPERTY AND I THINK WE ARE READY, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO BE READY AS WELL. YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US THAT LIVED HERE FROM THE -- DURING THE '70'S, REMEMBERED THE MORATORIUM. THOSE WERE KIND OF SOME INTERESTING TIMES THAT WE WENT THROUGH. IN TERMS OF GROWTH. THE CITY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO EXTEND WATER TAPS AND SO THEREFORE, YOU KNOW, GROWTH CAME TO A STANDSTILL AND THERE WERE PEOPLE WAITING. TO -- TO GET WATER TAPS. BUT AS RECENT AS 10 YEARS AGO, MEALS ON WHEELS HAD A WAITING LIST OF 350 PEOPLE AND WE DEVELOPED THE CAPACITY AND GOT RID OF THAT WAITING LIST THROUGH OUR CURRENT CENTRAL KITCHEN. BUT WE HAVE NOW CAPPED OUT ON THAT CAPACITY. SO WE NEED THE COMMUNITY'S HELP HERE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT REALLY ENSURES THAT THERE WILL NEVER BE A WAITING LIST FOR PEOPLE TO GET MEALS ON WHEELS IN AUSTIN. DON'T NEED A MORATORIUM ON MEALS. THIS CDBG PLAN OUGHT TO SAY THAT WE ARE A FARSIGHTED PEOPLE. INVESTMENT IN BASIC NEEDS INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE OUR KITCHEN IS NEEDED SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE THOSE IN NEED NOW AND TOMORROW. PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE SERVING THOSE MOST IN NEED, HELP US BE PREPARED FOR THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH THAT IS GOING TO OCCUR. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. GARZA. HELEN VARTEY IS SIGNED UP FOR AND COMMEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING COMMUNITY AND DEVELOPMENT STAFF FOR THEIR PROGRESSIVE EFFORTS. BEN MAY ON BEHALF OF THE HOMELESS TASK FORCE SIGNED UP IN FAVOR. CHARLES HILL, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK?
>> HERE JUST TO REIT RATE --
>>MAYOR WATSON: WHAT MR. GARZA AND MR. HOUSTON SAID. GREAT, THANK YOU. EVERYBODY SEE HOW HE DID THAT. THAT WAS REALLY GOOD. [LAUGHTER]. THEY WILL PROBABLY GET ALL OF THE MONEY THEY ASK FOR. NO, I'M TEASING. MARK WINFORD, MARK WINFORD SIGNED UP NEUTRAL. ROSA GONZALES ARREGO, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK?
>> FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL BARRIER.
>> YOU WILL BE SHOWN IN FAVOR OF THAT PROGRAM, THANK YOU.
>> KIMBERLY WINEBERG? KIMBERLY WINEBERG? WRITES: FOR, CONTINUE HOME FUNDS FOR TBR THROUGH H.U.D. REASON IN A SCH -- RONA SCHNALL DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? TO BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID WITTEY, KATHY KRANSTON, ALBERT METS.
>> (WAITING FOR TRANSLATION)
>> FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME AND MY FAMILY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU.
>> MR. WITTEY. WILL BE FOLLOWED BY KATHY CRANSTON, ALBERT METS, THEN JENNIFER McPHAIL.
>> I'M DAVID WITTEY, ALSO WITH ADAPT OF TEXAS, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO CONSIDER RONA'S REMARKS VERY CAREFULLY BECAUSE WHAT SHE WAS SAYING WAS THAT THE -- THE VERY LOW INCOME HOUSING SHOULD BE DEDICATED FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT LOW INCOMES. AND 80% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME, I UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT EXACTLY AVERAGE, THAT'S A LITTLE -- 20% BELOW AVERAGE, BUT, YOU KNOW, FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES OFTEN HAVE LIKE CHECKS OF 450, $500 A MONTH, THEY MAKE ABOUT $6,000 A YEAR. THAT'S VERY, VERY LOW. THAT'S NOT EVEN A BLIP ON THE RADAR SCREEN OF LOW INCOME. SO -- SO BY SETTING THE BAR OF -- OF LOW INCOME HOUSING SO HIGH, WHAT YOU ARE REALLY DOING IS MAKING THAT LOW INCOME HOUSING AVAILABLE TO A LARGER NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE GREATER INCOMES THAN THE PEOPLE WHO -- WHO HAVE SUCH LOW INCOMES THAT THEY DESPERATELY NEED AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE HOUSING. AND THAT'S THE POINT THAT WE WANT TO MAKE. IN ADDITION, I WANT TO SUPPORT THE ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS REMOVAL PROGRAM. SOMETHING THAT RACHEL LEFT FOR ME TO SPEAK ABOUT. IS THE SIX MONTH WAITING LIST. PREVIOUSLY IT WAS A YEAR, BUT RIGHT NOW THERE ARE FOLKS WAITING SIX MONTHS OR LONGER TO GET ACCESS TO THEIR BATHROOMS, TO GET ACCESS TO THEIR KITCHENS, ACCESS TO THEIR BEDROOMS, ACCESS TO THE FRONT PORCH, GET OFF THE FRONT PORCH DOWN IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S A -- THERE'S A NEED FOR A GREATER FUNDING FOR ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS AND REMOVAL THAN HOUSING. A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S ONE OF THE REASON THAT PEOPLE MOVE INTO NURSING HOMES IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF THEIR OWN HOMES THEY CAN'T EVEN GET INTO THE BATHROOMS NIL. I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT THE -- ANYMORE. THERE SHOULD BE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE FAIR HOUSING OF THE TENANTS COUNCIL. 48% OF THE COMPLAINTS THEY RECEIVED OVER THE PAST YEAR HAVE BEEN DISABILITY RELATED, DISABILITY HOUSING RELATED. OVERALL AFFORDABLE ACCESSIBLE HOUSING IS THE WAY TO GO. THANKS.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. MS. CRANSTON, FOLLOWED BY ALBERT METS.
>> GOOD EVENING, I'M CATHY CRANSTON WITH ADOPT OF TEXAS. I WANT TO SAY -- WITH ADAPT OF TEXAS. ONE IS SUPPORT THE AUSTIN TENANTS COUNCIL AND URGE YOU TO CONTINUE FUNDING THEM AS WELL AS THE ABRP PROGRAM. THE THING THAT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE -- WELL, YOU GUYS KNOW WE WORK WITH NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE HAD BEEN TOLD BY THEM THAT WE HAD HEARD THERE WERE TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANT PROGRAM. IN ORDER TO TAP INTO SOME OF THOSE -- INTO THAT PROGRAM TO ASSIST SOME OF OUR PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE, PEOPLE THAT NEED ASSISTANCE IN THEIR HOUSING COMING OUT OF NURSING HOMES BECAUSE THEY HAVE LIMITED DOLLARS, IF AT ALL DOLLARS. WE ARE WANTING TO ACCESS THAT PROGRAM SO WE WERE TOLD TO CONTACT THE SALVATION ARMY. AND ONE OF OUR PEOPLE DID -- DID INDEED CONTACT THE SALVATION ARMY. BUT ALL THEY GOT WAS THE RUN AROUND. AND SO THE POINT THAT I AM TRYING TO MAKE IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A GREATER NEED FOR MORE TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THAT YES IT'S THERE THROUGH SALVATION ARMY. BUT IF SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO ACCESS IT AND THEN WE DON'T GET THE RESPONSE THAT WE NEED BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO -- TO GO TO THEM, THEN SOMETHING IS, YOU KNOW, IS EITHER -- THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ASSISTANCE THERE, OR SOMEBODY HAS DROPPED THE BALL. SO -- SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK YOU GUYS NEED TO KNOW. BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT -- WELCOME WITH DISABILITIES THAT ARE IN NURSING HOMES, THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ASSIST TO COME OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. THEY ARE CONSIDERED HOMELESS. A NURSING HOME IS AN INSTITUTION. IT IS NOT A HOME. AND IN THE SAME WAY AS PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS DO HAVE A RIGHT TO -- TO GET A NEW START. SO DO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT ARE COMING OUT OF NURSING HOMES. THEY NEED ACCESS TO THAT ALSO. SO PLEASE LOOK INTO THAT.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. MR. METS.
>> MY NAME IS ALBERTS METS. ALBERT METS. I'M ALSO WITH ADAPT. (WAITING FOR TRANSLATION)
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD TO WHAT EVERYONE SAID. TELL ME THAT PART. (WAITING FOR TRANSLATION) YOU ARE SERVING PEOPLE AT 80%. AND THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT DOWN A LOT MORE. MAYBE TO ABOUT -- ABOUT 13%. THANK YOU.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JENNIFER, YOU ARE UP.
>> MY NAME IS JENNIFER MCPHAIL. ALSO WITH ADAPT OF TEXAS. I WANTED TO CONCENTRATE ON OR SPEAK ON THE ISSUE OF INTEGRATION. FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE ACCESSING YOUR SERVICES. YOU PROVIDE A LOT OF -- WELL, NOT ENOUGH SERVICE FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED RENTAL ASSISTANCE, BUT ANY SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE SHOULD BE INTFREIGHTED. INTEGRATED. YOU HAVE PASSED A LOT OF PROCLAMATIONS OVER THE YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN PRETTY PROGRESSIVE, SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF. BUT YOUR PROGRAMS AND YOUR FUNDING OF THESE HOUSING PROGRAMS SHOULD REFLECT THOSE SAME PHILOSOPHIES AND THEY ARE NOT. UNFORTUNATELY. WHAT YOU ARE DOING BY NOT FUNDING THE VERY LOW INCOME HOUSING PROJECTS AND NOT ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO DEVELOP THOSE PROJECTS IS YOU ARE SEGREGATING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FROM SOCIETY. YOU ARE -- YOU ARE PUTTING US IN INSTITUTIONS, YOU ARE FORCING PEOPLE IN INSTITUTIONS AND PEOPLE, THE AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN AN INSTITUTION IN TEXAS IS ONLY 18 MONTHS. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL JUST ILLUSTRATE TO YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE PHILOSOPHY OF YOUR PROCLAMATIONS. AND I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU DID. I WOULD LIKE TO SOME DAY BE PROUD OF THE JOB THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS DOING IN HOUSING, BUT WE HAVEN'T REACHED THAT POINT YET. I KNOW THAT WE -- WE HAVE THE VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT, BUT YOU ALL NEED TO LOOK EVEN FURTHER AND BEYOND WHAT'S REQUIRED IN THAT AND START LOOKING AT -- AT WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO PROVIDE LOW INCOME HOUSING? APPROXIMATE PEOPLE AT 8 -- IF PEOPLE AT 80% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME ARE HAVING PROBLEMS FINDING HOUSING, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS TO ME? SOMEONE WHO MAKES MUCH, MUCH LESS THAN THAT. THE MAJORITY OF US ON SSI ARE RECEIVING 17% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME. THAT'S $6,000 A YEAR. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HEARD THAT ALREADY. BUT, YOU KNOW, POLITICS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT YOU KEEP SAYING IT, SAYING IT, UNTIL SOMEBODY ELSE OWNS IT AND UNDERSTANDS IT. SO I'M SAYING IT AGAIN. PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING ON SSI AND OTHER ASSISTANCE AREN'T ABLE TO AFFORD TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY ARE BEING SEGREGATED AND, YES, KILLED BECAUSE THEY ARE IN INSTITUTIONS. AND WRONGFULLY SO. THANK YOU.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. STEPHANIE THOMAS. FOLLOWED BY RUDY MONTOYA. AND THE LAST SPEAKER THAT I HAVE A CARD FOR IS DAVE DAVIS.
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY MY NAME IS STEPHANIE THOMAS. I AGREE WITH ALL OF THE THINGS THE OTHER ADAPT MEMBERS HAVE SAID ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING VERY STRONGLY. IN FACT I THINK THE PLAN NEEDS TO INCLUDE AN APPENDIX THAT TALKS ABOUT WHAT INCOME LEVELS ARE MEANT BY AFFORDABLE, 80%, MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME, ALL OF THAT, IN DOLLAR AMOUNTS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN REALLY SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. BECAUSE IT'S NICELY HIDDEN NOW. BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT -- I ALSO WANT TO SAY I SUPPORT VERY MUCH FUNDING FOR THE ARCHITECTUL BARRIER REMOVE PROGRAM AND AUSTIN TENANTS COUNCIL FAIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENTS AND TENANTS RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT. BUT WHAT I WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF MY TIME ON IS I THINK THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO MAKE A VERY STRONG AND CONCERTED EFFORT TO CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL LAWS LIKE SECTION 504, THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND THE FAIR HOUSING ACT. WE SEVERAL YEARS AGO FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE CITY BECAUSE WE FOUND THAT YOUR PROJECTS WERE NOT IN COMPLIANCE, INDEED H.U.D. AGREED WITH US, THAT'S HOW WE GOT A VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT. BUT NOW FINALLY THEY ARE REVIEWING SOME OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WERE FUNDED IN THE PAST AND NOT ONE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT HAS BEEN REVIEWED, NOT ONE HAS BEEN POUND IN COMPLIANCE OF THE HOUSING PROJECTS. SO I THINK THAT IS AN INDICATION. I THINK THE FACT THAT 48% OF THE TENANTS COUNCIL HOUSING COMPLAINTS ARE DISABILITY RELATED SHOWS THAT THERE ARE VERY ACTIVE DISCRIMINATION IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE CITY AS WELL. I THINK THESE ISSUES ROLLOVER INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITY NOW WITH THE 9 1ST AND 12TH STREET PROJECT, THE ARCHITECTURAL PLAN IS GOING TO BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR, THAT IS AN AREA TO LOOK AT, ARE THEY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PLANS THEY HAVE DEVELOPED. I HAVE NEVER HEARD FOR SURE THAT THAT'S BEEN EVEN LOOKED INTO. IN THE OTHER AREA IS IN PUBLIC SERVICES UNDER CHILD CARE. RECENTLY THERE WAS A BIG THING ABOUT OPEN DOOR SCHOOL. AND THEY ARE ONE OF THE ONLY, IF NOT THE ONLY INTEGRATED, MEANING DISABILITY AND NON-DISABILITY CHILD CARE PROGRAMS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. WHEN WE WENT TO SUPPORT THE KIDS WITH DISABILITIES BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT PROGRAM CONTINUE, BECAUSE MHMR WAS SCREWING THEM WITH HIGH REPRESENT, MHMR IS RUNNING AN INACCESSIBLE HOUSING PROJECT, ONE OF THE ONES THAT'S GOING TO BE REVIEWED BECAUSE YOU ALL PUT MONEY INTO THAT PROJECT, TOO. BUT WHEN THAT WAS GOING ON, THE PARENTS SAID EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE LAWS THAT OTHER PROGRAMS SHOULDN'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST KIDS WITH DISABILITIES, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY OTHER CHILD CARE PROGRAMS THAT HAD KIDS WITH DISABILITIES IN THEM. SO I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK IN THOSE PROGRAMS AS WELL. IN THE OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES THAT ARE FUNDED UNDER THIS PLAN. AND LOOK AT WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN MATERIALS OF COMPLIANCE AND IN TERMS OF SERVING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. BECAUSE IT'S SO WIDE-SPREAD IN THE HOUSING AREA, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT THERE IN THE OTHER AREAS AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. RUDY MONTOYA. APPEARED DAVID DAVIS.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM AND CITY COUNCILLMEMBERS. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT TWO ITEMS. THE AFFORDABLE -- ACTUALLY THE ARCHITECTURAL BARRIER REMOVAL PROGRAM AND I'M ALSO SUPPORTING THE SUPPORT FOR LOWER INCOME HOUSING. THESE TWO ITEMS. THANK YOU.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS MR. DAVIS STILL HERE? I WILL ASSUME NOT. HE SAYS: HE'S FOR, HOWEVER HE ASKS ASSURANCE THAT FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD FROM CURRENT OR PRIOR YEARS WITH ADEQUATE COVER COSTS FOR TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2002.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THOSE WOULD BE HOME FUNDS. THOSE ARE ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO BE HEARD AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NO. 96. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO -- A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, DISCUSSION IN HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER TEMPORARILY OFF THE DIAS AND COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH ABSENT. ITEM NO. 97. IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE AUSTIN TOMORROW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BUT APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO THE AUSTIN METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORTATION PLAN. NO AMENDMENTS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR MOPAC AS PROPOSED IN THE U.S. 183/HOFF STUDY. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER BEFORE WE CALL A PUBLIC HEARING, LET ME RECOGNIZE YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. HOVE -- THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE, IT'S ACTUALLY MORE THAN ONE ISSUE. THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR THIS REGION. AND WHEN I SAY IT'S MORE THAN ONE ISSUE. WE HAVE PEOPLE DOWN HERE TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT ROADS AND WHETHER ONE OF -- WANTING THEM IN OR OUT OF THE PLAN, THAT SORT OF A THING. IT'S ALREADY 7: 30 AT NIGHT. WE HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 7:00 THIS MORNING. SO I THINK THE PRUDENT THING TO DO IS TO TAKE THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT, LISTEN THE -- LISTEN TO THE INPUT OF THE CITIZENS, COME BACK AT OUR NEXT MEETING AND TAKE ACTION THEN. I THINK WE WILL DO A BETTER JOB. SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT. SEE IF THERE'S ANY DISSENT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: AND I RECOMMEND THAT, TOO. IF THERE'S -- WITHOUT OBJECTION, THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO. WE WILL CONDUCT THE PUBLIC HEARING, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN COME BACK AND -- BE A LITTLE MORE DELIBERATIVE THAN AT THIS POINT. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER HAD BEEN HERE SINCE 7:00 THIS MORNING, SO I REALLY WANT TO DO IT NOW SINCE I'VE HEARD THAT.
>> LUSHER: I THOUGHT I SAID 10:00. IF NOT THAT SORT OF PROVED MY POINT.
>> AYOR WATSON: THAT WAS VERY DEMONSTRATE ACTIVE. WITHOUT OBJECTION THAT'S THE WAY WE WILL HANDLE IT. ITEM NO. 97 WILL BE TAKEN UP AS A PUBLIC HAGY, ITEM NOT 98 WILL BE REPOSTED IN TWO WEEKS. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. LIB BRACK TO -- L.B.J. BRACK TO MR. LIBRACH TO EXPLAIN THIS PLAN, CAMPO BEING THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN, HAS TO APPROVE THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN IN ORDER TO GET FEDERAL FUNDS, THE CITY IS JUST ONE MEMBER OF THAT. I WOULD LIKE FOR MR. LIBRACH TO TALK ABOUT THAT PROCESS, INCLUDING THE AUTHORITY THE STREET HAS -- THE CITY HAS. FOR INSTANCE THERE ARE SOME THINGS BEING RECOMMENDED TO BE REMOVED, CITIZENS ARE RECOMMENDING WE REMOVE OTHER THINGS. DOES THAT STOP THAT PARTICULAR ROAD OR WHAT DOES -- WHAT SCKTLY DOES THAT DO.
>> I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY TOTALLY UNDERSTANDS THAT. I WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO LAY THAT OUT FOR US.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER. WHAT IOU HAVE FOR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT AND NEXT TWO WEEKS IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN VERSION OF THE CAPITAL AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION PLAN. CAMPO PLAN. CAMPO IS AN ORGANIZATION, THE METROPOLITAN ORGANIZATION FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. THEY DEVELOPED AND PASSED A PLAN, ONE THAT THEY DO EVERY FIVE YEARS, BACK IN JUNE OF 2000. THEY ASKED THAT EACH JURISDICTION THAT ARE MEMBERS OF CAMPO TAKE UP THE PLAN AND CONSIDER IT AND PASS IT AND HE DORIS THE PLAN. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON DOING THAT SINCE JUNE OF 2000. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND YOU HAVE COMMENTS IN YOUR BACK UP FROM BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. WE HAVE INFORMATION AS WELL FROM OTHERS, FROM CITIZENS WHO HAVE COMMENTED ON THE PLAN. AS WELL THE STAFF, UNLIKE LAST TIME FIVE YEARS AGO, THE STAFF HAS GONE THROUGH AND REVIEWED WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS EACH AND EVERY SEGMENT IN THE PLAN THAT PERTAINS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND HAS MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, TOO, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THAT ARE CHANGES TO THE CAMPO PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED. WHEN YOU DO THAT CONSIDERATION AND YOU ADOPT THE PLAN, IT WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S DECISION MAKING. THAT IS TO SAY THAT SUBDIVISION CODE OF THE CITY REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE A TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND DECISIONS ABOUT DEDICATION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION MATTERS DEPEND ON THE PRESENCE OF THAT PLAN. WE WILL ALSO THEN SUBMIT THE PLAN BACK TO CAMPO, WITH THOSE CHANGES. CAMPO IS SHIFTING FROM A FIVE YEAR CYCLE TO A THREE YEAR CYCLE AND IN BETWEEN THAT THREE YEAR CYCLE IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT THEY WILL HAVE A -- A MINI CYCLE, IF YOU WILL, HALFWAY BETWEEN BECAUSE WE ARE LIKELY TO BE DESIGNATED NON-ATTAINMENT. THERE WILL BE AN AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT THAT'S DONE HALFWAY BETWEEN THE NEXT CYCLE. SO WE ARE QUICKLY GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE CAMPO THAT -- THAT THEY WILL BE CONSIDERING, AS WELL AS THE CITY COUNCILL, ALMOST ON AN ANNUAL BASIS CHANGES TO THIS METROPOLITAN PLAN. SO THE CHANGES THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE CAMPO PLAN THAT'S BEEN ADOPTED WOULD GO TO CAMPO, THEY WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- TO AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THOSE CHANGES. THE PROCESS WOULD CONTINUE. WE WOULD GO --
>>SLUSHER: THE CITY COUNCILL THEN IS NOT THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY ON WHETHER A ROAD GETS BUILT OR NOT. BUT IF THE CITY WASN'T SUPPORTING THE ROAD, DIDN'T HAVE IT IN OUR PLAN, THAT WOULD MAKE IT LESS LIKELY TO BE BUILT BECAUSE THE CITY WOULDN'T BE PARTICIPATING IN THE FUNDING AND THEN THE FUNDING WOULD LIKE -- THE LARGER FUNDING WOULD -- WOULD GO ELSEWHERE.
>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, COUNCILMEMBER. I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD CALL IT A VETO POWER, BUT ESSENTIALLY IF THE CITY IS OPPOSED TO -- TO A ROAD THAT WOULD PASS THROUGH THE CITY, IT'S -- IRRESPECTIVE OF ITS PRESENCE IN THE CAMPO PLAN, IT'S UNLIKELY IT WOULD BE FUNDED OR BUILT.
>> WHAT ABOUT IF JUST THE CONFIGURATION IS DIFFERENT. THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE IS HOW WIDE --
>> I THINK THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO BE A DEBATE PERHAPS BETWEEN THE TWO -- BETWEEN THE CITY AND CAMPO AS TO WHAT -- AS TO WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL. THE CAMPO PLAN ITSELF DOES NOT ALWAYS INCLUDE THE WIDTH OR THE CROSS-SECTION THAT WOULD BE -- THAT WOULD BE JUSTIFIED SIMPLY BY LOOKING AT THE TRAFFIC GENERATION. MODEL THAT -- THAT THEY USED TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH TRAFFIC IS GOING TO BE GENERATED. THEY ALSO RESTRICT THE -- WHAT GOES INTO THE PLAN ON A NUMBER OF OTHER REASONS. THEY RESTRICT IT BASED ON ECONOMICS. THEY DON'T ASSUME THAT THE REGION IS GOING TO HAVE THE MONEY TO BUILD EVERYTHING. THEY RESTRICT IT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS AND THEY CAN RESTRICT IT SIMPLY BECAUSE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IS REALLY NOT AVAILABLE. THERE ARE PERHAPS OTHER REASONS. THEY MAY HAVE AS WE BELIEVE IN THE CHANGES THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING OF STAFF, THEY SIMPLY HAVE ALSO INADVERTENTLY MISSED SEVERAL SEGMENTS WHERE THERE WERE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES OR RIGHT-OF-WAY ISSUES THAT THEY WERE NOT AWAY OF. IT'S AN ONGOING ITRATIVE PROCESS WITH CAMPO. WE ARE A MEMBER OF A TIME, IF YOU WILL, OF REGIONAL PLAYERS.
>>SLUSHER: THANK YOU, MR. LIBRACH.
>>GOODMAN: ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON? OKAY. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS CALL OUT ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE'S NAMES AND THEN THAT WAY YOU CAN BE CLOSE TO THE MICROPHONES WHEN THE FIRST PERSON FINISHES SPEAKING. FIRST SPEAKER THAT I HAVE HERE IS SARAH CROCKER. GINA GIBLIN. WELL, SARAH IS AGAINST LAMAR BEING [INAUDIBLE]. GINA GIBLIN IS OPPOSED, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S A ROAD OR THE WHOLE THING. KAREN McREYNOLDS. KAREN McREYNOLDS. OPPOSED. ALICE BELL WILLIAMS. IS OPPOSED. KAY TRIBUS. IS AGAINST SOUTH LAMAR BOULEVARD BEING UPGRADED TO 6. AND WE SHOULDN'T TAKE ACTION TONIGHT, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC IN OUR BACK UP. THAT WAS AN EDITED VERSION, SORRY KAY. BARBARA COSSEY OR KASSEY? IS AGAINST SOUTH LAMAR. WANTS IT TO STAY AT FOUR. MARK LIND. OH, GREAT. WILLIAM STOUT.
>> I DON'T GUESS I CAN GET THEIR TIME.
>> NO, NOT IF THEY ARE NOT HERE. IS WILLIAM STOUT HERE? LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET ONE MORE PERSON OUT OF THESE CARDS. SCOTT JOHNSON? HE DOESN'T WANT TO SPEAK ANYWAY. LISA TIPPS. WARNER BLACK. WARRENER BLACK. YOU ARE HERE, YOU WILL BE THE NEXT SPEAKER. WARNER BLACK.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL, MY NAME IS MARK LIND, A MEMBER OF THE CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, ALSO A CHAIR ON THE UPPER BOGGY CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING TEAM. THAT'S A -- A TEAM MADE UP OF FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT AROUND OUR AREA. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TALK ABOUT EAST 38TH AND A HALF TONIGHT. BUT FOR THE TIME CONSTRAINTS, I'M GOING TO TALK MOSTLY BRIEFLY ABOUT SMART GROWTH IN GENERAL. AND THEN ABOUT MANOR ROAD. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, OUR -- OUR PLANNING TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH CITY STAFF TO TRY TO INCORPORATE AS MANY ASPECT OF SMART GROWTH AS WE CAN. THERE'S A LOT OF VACANT LAND, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DOING MIXED USE, ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, DENSER DEVELOPMENT, ET CETERA. WE FEEL THAT INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IS JUST AS CRITICAL TO SMART GROWTH AS DENSITIES, DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS, MIXED USE, ALL OF THE OTHER KIND. NOW, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO GO TO A CONFERENCE ON NEW URBANISM, I KNOW THAT SMART GROWTH AND NEW URBANISM SHARE AN EVERYONE FACES ON CREATING -- EMPHASIS ON CREATING PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY SCALE STREETS, NARROWER STREETS, ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND A REAL EFFORT TO TRY TO DO PLACE MAKING AND CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN LOST OVER THE YEARS BY OUR EMPHASIS ON CARS. WE HAVE ONE OF THESE LITTLE URBAN VILLAGES, THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT I TALKED ABOUT IN THE SMART GROWTH LITERATURE, ONE GROWING ON MANOR ROAD IN THE AREA THAT'S AFFECTED IS BETWEEN CHERRIRY WOOD AND I-35 ALONG MANOR ROAD. A LOT OF LITTLE RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, VORTEX THEATER IS THERE, MI MADRE'S, EAST SIDE, HOOF VERSUS, WHEN WE SAT DOWN AND STARTING -- MOVERS, IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BE DEVASTATING TO SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES, HOOVERS. WHAT WE PROPOSED WAS A THREE LANE ROADWAY WITH ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION, A DEDICATED TURN LANE OR MEDIAN, HOWEVER IT WORKS OUTLET BEST TO DEAL WITH THE SAFETY ISSUES WHILE STILL PRESERVING THE CHARACTER OF THIS SECTION OF THE STREET. I WANT ALSO TO SAY THAT WE JUST FOUND OUT A FEW NIGHTS AGO THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, FURTHER EAST, THE WORD I USE WAS RATHER EERIE BECAUSE THEY USED ALMOST THE EXACT SAME LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE THEIR VISION OF MANOR ROAD AS WE USED IN OURS. THAT IS AS A PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE FRIENDLY AMOUNT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR. ALTERNATIVE. IF YOU LISTENED TO THE PEOPLE RIGHT AROUND THE STREETS THAT ARE AFFECTED, WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE INTIMATE WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS. WE KNOW THE CONDITIONS THERE. WE HAVE REALLY THE GREATEST STAKE IN CREATING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. WHAT WE WANT IS TO TRY TO PRESERVE THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE HAVE THERE NOW AND NOT HAVE A FOUR LANE ROADWAY COME IN AND REALLY TEAR UP THAT PART OF THE COMMUNITY. DIVIDE US FROM OUR NEIGHBORS AND REALLY DESTROY THIS WONDERFUL LITTLE PEDESTRIAN SCALE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE GOT ALREADY AND THAT WE WISH TO SEE IMPROVED AND EXPANDED. WE, LIKE I SAY, HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY. NOW WE ASK YOU TO WORK WITH US BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE AND MAU4 WOULD BE REALLY DEVASTATING TO THAT VISION, THANK YOU.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. WILL DWRAM STOUT WANTED TO REQUEST COUNCIL TO DO A COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF ALL ROAD SCPAPTIONS IN THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE BEFORE VOTING ON THE PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION PLAN. HE DOESN'T HAVE A FISCAL NOTE THERE. SCOTT SCRONS SON WANTS TO PLEASE PUT MUCH GREATER EMPHASIS ON LINKING LAND USE PLANNING WITH TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. LEASE TAKE TIPPS SPECIFICALLY AGAINST THE WIDENING OF MANOR ROAD. WARNER BLACK WANTS TO KEEP SOUTH LAMAR AT MAJOR ARTERIAL, DIVIDED FOUR. BOBBY RIGNEY DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK. SAYS IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE NATURE OF THE SOUTH AUSTIN INNER CORE IT'S CRITICAL TO MAINTAIN SOUTH LAMAR AT A FOUR ARTERIAL. CREATE A GREAT STREET TRANSITION INTO THE DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL AREA. CARE A O'BRIEN? KARA O'BRIEN, YOU WILL BE THE NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU FOR WAITING.
>> I WAS OUT OF THE ROOM WHEN YOU CALLED ME, I JUST WALKED IN. MY NAME IS WARREN BLACK. AND I'M -- I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ISSUE ON SOUTH LAMAR. IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME?
>> YOU WERE OUT OF THE ROOM WHEN I CALLED?
>> JUST WALKING BACK IN.
>>GOODMAN: YOU WERE JUST BACK A WHILE.
>> YOU CALLED ME --
>>OODMAN: PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, I WANTED TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THE SOUTH LAMAR PROJECT. I WAS INVOLVED WITH IT SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN IT CAME UP. THE SAME ISSUES ARE UP AGAIN. THE COMMUNITY AROUND SOUTH LAMAR IS -- IS LIKE EVERYTHING IN SOUTH AUSTIN. IT'S VERY FAMILY ORIENTED AND FRIENDLY. THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS DONE A LOT TO -- TO CONTROL TRAFFIC IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS PUTTING A STOP SIGN ON RABB ROAD, PUTTING A STOP SIGN ON BARTON SKY WAY TO SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC. WE HAVE GOT SOME SIDEWALKS ON SOUTH LAMAR NOW. WHEN I WAS ON ROCKINGHAM DRIVING AND BARTON SKY DALLAS WAY WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT A BRIDGE GOING ACROSS THERE AND INCREASING MORE TRAFFIC INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT HAS NOT COME ABOUT. SO FAR. THERE WAS SIDEWALKS THAT WERE PUT ON THE ROCKINGHAM DRIVE WHEN I LIVED ON THERE. WE HAVE JUST NOW HAD THE COMPLETION OF THE PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY ACROSS THE RIVER. TO THE SOUTH LAMAR STREET. ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT THE CITY IS DOING IS TRYING TO MAKE IT PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, RESIDENTIAL FRIENDLY. AND IT CERTAINLY IS NICE TO HAVE THIS AND IN SOME TOWNS IF YOU GO TO SOME OF THE BIGGER COMMUNITIES, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PARKS. NOW IF YOU GO THROUGH ZILKER PARK, WE HAVE A 20 MILES PER HOUR SPEED RESTRICTION IN THERE. WHEN YOU ARE OUT THERE AT THE PARK. THAT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER WHEN YOU ARE CROSSING THE STREET AND OUT THERE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT SO MUCH. NOW, IF YOU TAKE ALL OF THESE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION, AND YOU THINK ABOUT WIDENING SOUTH LAMAR AND MAKING IT A GREAT BIG PARKING LOT, THE WAY THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IT IN YEARS BEFORE, COMING DOWN TO THE NARROW BRIDGE DOWN THERE AT SOUTH LAMAR, ADJACENT TO THE NEW PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. WHAT DOES MAKE SENSE IS TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS ON SOUTH LAMAR WHERE IT IS SAFER AND BETTER, BUT NOT THAT IT IS A BIG WIDE PARKING LOT. WE DON'T NEED THE TRAFFIC DOWN THERE IN THAT AREA. MOPAC, BEN WHITE, I-35 SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT OFF OF THERE SINCE NOW WE HAVE THE IMPROVEMENTS ON THAT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THE SOUTH LAMAR MAD4 AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST. THANK YOU.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU MR. BLACK. MS. O'BRIEN.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS CARA O'BRIEN, I HAVE A BUSINESS, I OWN PROPERTY AND HAVE A BUSINESS ON --
>>GOODMAN: CAN YOU MOVE THE MIC CLOSER TO YOU. I DON'T THINK THAT YOU ARE PICKING UP.
>> SORRY. I HAVE A -- I OWN PROPERTY AND HAVE A BUSINESS ON SOUTH LAMAR. I WAS CONCERNED WHEN I GOT THE FLIER JUST THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THE WIDENING OF LAMAR. AND IF THAT PLAN WENT INTO EFFECT AND DID -- IT DID GO THROUGH AND IT WAS WIDEN, I WOULD LOSE MY BUSINESS. I WOULD LOSE MY LIVELIHOOD. I'M JUST -- I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON THE RECORD TO -- THAT I AM AGAINST WIDENING LAMAR BECAUSE IT WOULD DIRECTLY -- I'M HORMONAL SORRY. 8 MONTHS PREGNANT AND TALKING ABOUT THIS. I WOULD DIRECTLY LOSE MY BUSINESS. IT WOULD GO RIGHT THROUGH IT. SO I HAD A LOT MORE THAT I WANTED TO SAY, IT'S PROBABLY BEST THAT I DON'T. IT IS MY BUSINESS, IT'S MY SOLE INCOME AND MY FAMILY HAS WORKED ON IT AND BUILT IT OVER THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS. AND -- AND THAT'S IT. THANKS.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. STEVEN CREEGER. FOLLOWED BY MOVER ALEX -- HOOVER ALEXANDER. MR. ALEXANDER, ARE YOU HERE? SUE HARRIS. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS STEVEN CRAIGER, I'M THE CHAIR OF THE UPPER BOGGY CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING TEAM. AND I WANT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT 38TH AND A HALF STREET. AND MANOR ROAD. JUST FOR PERSPECTIVE, THE UPPER BOGGY CREEK GEOGRAPHIC AREA STARTS NORTH AT DELWOOD, 2, WHICH IS NEXT TO THE OLD AIRPORT. ON THE NORTH AND THEN BORDERED ON THE SOUTH BY AIRPORT BOULEVARD. THE REST OF OUR AREA THEN COMING SOUTH IS WILSHIRE WOODS, DELWOOD 1, THEN MOVING FURTHER SOUTH IS CHERRY WOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AND I LIVE IN CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION'S AREA. AND WE START JUST NORTH OF 38 AND A HALF AND GO DOWN TO MANOR ROAD. AND THEN THE NEXT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IN OUR AREA IS BLACK LANDS. BLACK LAND. SOUTH. SOUTH OF MANOR ROAD. THEN THE FIFTHS ONE IS HOLY CROSS, -- HOLY CROSS, EAST OF BLACKLAND. SO WE INCLUDE A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT AREA AND QUITE A LITTLE BIT OF DIVERSITY. THE FIRST THING THAT WE WOULD LIKE IN THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS FOR YOU TO POSTPONE YOUR VOTE UNTIL WE GET OUR PLAN FINISHED. ,000, I REALIZE THAT MAY NOT BE -- NOW I REALIZE THAT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE, OUR PLAN WOULD PROBABLY BE FINISHED IN SEPTEMBER. THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING THAT WE WOULD ASK. IF THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE, THEN WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS 38 AND A HALF REMAIN AS IT IS, AND NOT BE CHANGED IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE IT TAKEN OUT OF THIS PLAN AND ITS DESIGNATION BE CHANGED AND FORGIVE ME IF I USE THE WRONG TERM, BUT I THINK THE DESIGNATION LOWERED, IF I MIGHT USE THAT TERM, TO NEIGHBORHOOD COLLECTOR, WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO PUT TRAFFIC CALMING THINGS ALONG THAT STREET. WHICH WE CANNOT DO WITH ITS CURRENT DESIGNATION. THE OTHER STREET IS MANOR ROAD AND THE AREA FROM I-35 TO CHERRYWOOD, THE PLAN I THINK WANTS THAT TO BE FIVE LANES WITH A MIDDLE TURN LANE. WE DO NOT WANT TO HAVE THAT. THAT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF BUSINESSES, LAKE LIND ALLUDED TO THAT A MINUTE AGO. WE DO NOT WANT THAT. WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE THAT UPGRADED. IN FACT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MODIFICATIONS TO THAT STREET AND HAVING THREE LANES WITH BIKE LANES THE CENTER TURN LANE. BUT IN NO WAY DO WE WANT TO HAVE THAT EITHER FOUR LANES OR FIVE LANES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME [BUZZER SOUNDING] THAT I WON'T GET TO SAY. [LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LET ME JUST THANK JACKIE GOODMAN FOR COMING TO ONE OF OUR MEETINGS A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO, INVITE ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, FEEL FREE TO COME TO OUR MEETINGS ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH TUESDAYS.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU, STEVEN. SUE HARRIS, FOLLOWED BY ED HARRIS,.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND ON WHAT CAROL WAS SAYING ABOUT HER LIVELIHOOD. THE 35 BUILDINGS GOING DOWN IN SOUTH LAMAR, WHEN THIS ROAD GOES THROUGH, THAT'S 35 LIVELIHOODS THIS -- JUST MOWED DOWN. THERE'S OTHERS. 97 OTHER BUILDINGS THAT THE FRONT -- THAT THE FRONT PARKING AREAS ARE BEING DESTROYED. THAT MEANS THERE'S NO PARKING OR BEING ABLE TO PULL INTO BUILDINGS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN ON SOUTH LAMAR FOR A LONG TIME. WE'VE HAD A BUSINESS THERE. WE'VE NEVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS. THERE'S A TURNING LANE. NOBODY HAS EVER SAID IT WAS HARD TO GET IN OR GET OUT OF OUR BUSINESS. I REALLY RESENT THE FACT THAT NOBODY TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THAT LIVELIHOODS WERE BEING HAVING AD WHEN -- AFFECTED WHEN THERE REALLY HASN'T BEEN ANY TIME THAT THERE'S BEEN PEOPLE SAYING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOUTH LAMAR. YOU ARE DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID WITH THE AIRPORT. YOU ARE TAKING EVERY LANE AND GOING DOWN TO A TWO LANE BRIDGE. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE DOING. YOU ARE WIDENING SOUTH LAMAR BUT YOU ARE GETTING DOWN TO A TWO LANE BRIDGE. SO YOU ARE NOT ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING BY DESTROYING PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS, THANK YOU.
>> I ASSUME YOU ARE USING THE GENERIC YOU. [LAUGHTER]. SINCE WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW BUT HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR WHAT YOU ALL HAVE TO SAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. I DO -- I DO THINK THAT YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
>>GOODMAN: WE WILL GIVE IT OUR BEST SHOT. MR. HARRIS, THANK YOU, LET ME SEE IF -- IF ADRIENNE -- I'M NOT SURE OF THE LAST TIME, ALTHOUGH IT STARTS WITH A B, BOWER? ADRIENNE BOWER IS NOT HERE. IS AN OPPOSITION. ROGER BAKER IS THE NEXT SPEAKER. THANK YOU MR. HAIRS.
>> THE MAYOR, WHEREVER HE IS, AND CITY COUNCILL --
>>GOODMAN: HE'S WATCHING.
>> MY NAWM IS ED HARRIS, WE HAVE A BUSINESS ON SOUTH LAMAR. AND IF --
>>MAYOR WATSON: HE'S RIGHT HERE. [LAUGHTER].
>> AND IF THE -- IF THE METRO PLAN HAD COME UP WITH THIS IDEA 20 YEARS AGO, 25 YEARS AGO, WOULD IT PROBABLY HAVE BEEN A GOOD IDEA. BUT IT'S 25 YEARS TOO LATE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERN. WE HAVE TO TOO MANY SMALL RETAIL PEOPLE OUT THERE. AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO GO OUT AND GET A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIRS THAT COME ACROSS THAT ROAD. RIGHT NOW THEY CAN GET ACROSS THERE, PEOPLE ARE REAL NICE, REAL CAUTIOUS WITH THEM. YOU WIDEN THAT ROAD, THERE'S NO WAY THEY CAN GET ACROSS THERE. YOU HAVE DONE A REAL GOOD JOB IN SAVING THE WARBLERS, SAVING THE SPRINGS, SAVING THE BRATS, WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL DO A GOOD JOB IN SAVING THE RETAIL ALONG SOUTH LAMAR BECAUSE IT WILL WIPE SMALL RETAIL OUT ALL THAT LENGTH. THANK YOU.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. BAIRK, THANKS FOR WAITING.
>> I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LOOK AT WHERE ALL OF THESE ROAD WIDENNINGS PLANS COME FROM IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE FACT IS THAT TEXDOT HAS THIS TRAFFIC MODEL AND IT CRANKS IN DECADES WORTH OF FUTURE TRAFFIC INTO ITS TRAVEL DEMAND MODELS AND THEN THE TRAVEL DEMAND MODELS SPIT OUT A BUNCH OF ROAD WIDENNINGS AND THEN THE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE TO COME AND REACT AND SAY, WELL, THAT ISN'T OUR VISION OF THE FUTURE. WELL, OF COURSE NOT. TEXDOT'S VISION, YOU KNOW, JUST LOOKS AT ALL OF THIS FUTURE PROJECTIONS OF TRAFFIC IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY IN THE SUBURBS, SO FORTH. THEN THAT MAKES IT A FACT. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD SLOW AND CALM TRAFFIC ON THE ARTERIALS AND COLLECTORS IN ZONED FOR MIX USES WHICH ARE CONDUCIVE TO TRANSIT PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE USAGE AND RESIST WIDENING ROADS TO HANDLE FUTURE TRAFFIC PROJECTIONS WHICH COME OUT OF THEIR COMPUTER. WE SHOULD SLOW TRAFFIC AND HAVE MIXED USE -- MIXED USE ZONING WHICH ENCOURAGES IN-FILL AND SMART GROWTH AND DISCOURAGES SUBURBAN SPRAWL. THE FACT IS THAT TEXDOT CAN'T PLAN TO -- CAMPO CAN'T PLAN VERY WELL. THE PROOF OF IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO GET ALL OF THE MONEY TO BUILD THE HIGHWAYS THAT GO ALONG WITH THESE ROAD WIDENNINGS THROUGH THE CENTRAL CITY. IF THEY ADDIT THEY CAN -- ADMIT THEY CAN NOW ONLY AFFORD TO BUILD A THIRD OF THE HIGHWAY CAPACITY THEY WANT TO BUILD, THEY SPEND SOMETHING LIKE -- I THINK IT WAS 80 MILLION JUST FOR ONE INTERSECTION, LIKE AT BEN WHITE AND I-35. THAT'S ABOUT -- THAT'S SOMETHING LIKE $50 FOR EVERY -- $150 FOR EVERY MAN, WOMEN AND CHILD LIVING IN AUSTIN, JUST FOR ONE INTERSECTION. YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF PLANNING USING THESE TRAFFIC MODELS THAT THEN -- THEN SEEMS TO DEMAND THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S SACRIFICE THEIR INTEREST FOR THIS FUTURE TRAFFIC, THAT'S CRAZY. I THINK -- I THINK THAT YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, LISTEN TO THOSE WHO ADVISE CAUTION, THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN IS THAT CAMPO WILL HAVE TO DELAY, YOU KNOW, WIDENING THESE ROADS FOR THREE YEARS. THAT'S -- THAT'S THE WORST CASE SCENARIO ON THIS STUFF. SO -- SO LET'S LEAVE IT AT THAT, THANK YOU.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU, ROGER. AMY BABICH. IS AMY HERE? SAYS TO PLEASE INCLUDE BICYCLE FACILITIES ON ALL STREETS, MENTIONED IN THE AUSTIN BICYCLE PLAN. PLEASE DON'T WIDEN ROADS WHEN THIS MAKES THEM MORE DANGEROUS, PLEASE DON'T WIDEN MANOR ROAD, PLEASE RECOGNIZE THE HUGE TRANSPORTATION POTENTIAL OF BICYCLING AND WALKING. A LONG RANGE PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE PLANS TO REDUCE CAR USE. THANK YOU, AMY. CAMILLE PERRY? FOLLOWED BY JEFF CAR MAC. IS JEFF CARMAC HERE? OKAY, YOU WILL BE THE NEXT SPEAKER. ELIZABETH CARMAC WILL FOLLOW YOU AND MIKEMERKLEBACH. THANK YOU. [ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS] ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN THAT LIVE ON THE EAST SIDE OF LAMAR GO TO ZILKER ELEMENTARY WHICH IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF LAMAR. WIDENING THAT STREET WOULD MAKE IT MUCH MORE DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN GOING TO AND FROM SCHOOL. THE AREAS THAT ALREADY HAVE A MEDIAN ON SOUTH LAMAR ARE BETWEEN BARTON SPRINGS ROAD AND THE -- AND TOWN LAKE. AND ALSO THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT NEAR BEN WHITE. I FIND THAT IT'S MORE CONGESTED AND MORE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THAT AREA WHERE THEY HAVE THE MEDIAN. AND I BELIEVE THAT'S BECAUSE WE LOSE A LOT OF TURN LANES AND WE -- THE VEHICLES JUST DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO TURN. THE TRAFFIC GETS CONGESTED. PEOPLE GET ANXIOUS, IMPATIENT, AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE DANGEROUS IN TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THE TRAFFIC THERE. ALSO, WHEN YOU GO FROM TWO LANES TO THREE LANES, WHAT YOU GET AS FAR AS VISIBILITY REALLY CREATES A HAZARD. IF YOU HAVE LARGE VEHICLES THAT ARE -- WHERE THE TRAFFIC IS HEAVY AND THE VEHICLES ARE STAGGERED, YOU REALLY CAN'T SEE THE THIRD LANE. IF YOU ONLY HAVE TWO LANES, YOU CAN USUALLY SEE BETWEEN VEHICLES A LITTLE BIT. AND ALSO, I LIVE VERY NEAR SOUTH LAMAR AND I BELIEVE THIS WOULD INCREASE THE NOISE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'M OPPOSED TO THAT. AND SOMETHING I -- I HAD A LETTER PREPARED I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE FOR EACH ONE OF YOU, BUT SOMETHING I DID NOT PUT IN MY LETTER THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT AS THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT ISSUES IS THAT THIS WOULD INCREASE THIC IN THE -- THISIC IN THE -- WOULD INCREASE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. IS IT OKAY IF I --.
>>GOODMAN: OH, YES, PLEASE, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT. JEFF CARMACK FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH CARMACK.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M OPPOSED TO THE CAMPO PLAN TO WIDEN LAMAR AND INCREASE CAPACITY THERE. HE NO. 1, I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT THE HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS THERE LOSE THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES JUST TO TO MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT FOR A RELATIVELY FEW NUMBER OF MOTORISTS TO HAVE AN EASY COMMUTE. FURTHERMORE, I BELIEVE THAT INCREASING THE CAPACITY ON OUR ROAD -- ON THIS ROAD OR ANY ROAD IN AUSTIN DOES NOTHING IN LONG RUN TO MAKE IT EASIER TO GET AROUND. ALL WE DO, BY INCREASING CAPACITY IS MAKE MORE ROOM FOR MORE CARS TO SPEW MORE POLLUTION INTO OUR ALREADY POLLUTED AIR. AND INSTEAD OF MAKING OUR CITY MORE CONVENIENT FOR OUR CARS, I SUGGEST WE MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE. OUR PROBLEM IS NOT TOO FEW ROADWAYS, IT'S TOO MANY CARS. INSTEAD OF MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO DRIVE MORE PRIVATE VEHICLES, I WOULD RATHER SEE MONEY SPENT TO GET CARS OFF THE ROAD AND MAKE AUSTIN MORE PEOPLE FRIENDLY AND NOT MORE CAR FRIENDLY. THANK YOU.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING. MAYOR PRO TEM, MAYOR, I KNOW YOU ARE IN THERE SOMEWHERE, AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, I KNOW YOU'VE HAD A LONG DAY AND I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THE MEMBERS HERE, THE PUBLIC WHO ARE SPEAKING AT THIS HEARING. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH CARMACK. I LIVE IN THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE BLOCK WEST OF SOUTH LAMAR JUST SOUTH OF BARTON SPRINGS ROAD. I AM AGAINST THE RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT TO THE CAMPO PLAN THAT CALLS FOR SOUTH LAMAR TO BE WIDENED FROM A MAJOR ARREST YEARIAL TO A MAD SIX. I UNDERSTAND THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS REVIEWED THIS PLAN AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE CURRENT MAD FOUR DESIGNATION BE RETAINED. THE CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD IS CONCERNED HOW THE INCREASED IMPERVIOUS COVER WOULD AFFECT FLOODING ALONG BOULDIN CREEK AND INCREASED TRAFFIC WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASED PROOTION POLLUTION. MEMBERS HAVE PRESSED CONCERN THE WIDENING OF SOUTH LAMAR WILL ENCOURAGE SPRAWL IN SOUTHWEST TRAVIS COUNTY. PLEASE CONSIDER THEIR OPINIONS WHEN YOU TAKE UP THIS ISSUE IN TWO WEEKS. RESIDENTS OF THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ARE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO PATRONIZE A NUMBER OF SOUTH LAMAR BUSINESSES NEAR THEIR HOMES. RESTAURANTS, DRY CLEANERS, AUTO REPAIR SHOPS, ANTIQUE STORES, THESE ARE THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT WOULD BE WIPED OUT WITH ROAD EXPANSION. WIDENING SOUTH LAMAR WOULD TOTALLY CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND CHANGE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. MY HUSBAND AND I AND MANY OTHERS HAVE PURCHASED HOMES IN THIS AREA, FIXED THEM UP AND INVEST HE HAD IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. IF LAMAR BECOMES A MINI MOPAC SO IT CAN SHUTTLE VEHICLES FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO DOWNTOWN THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE IRREPAIRABLE DAMAGED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>>GOODMAN: MR. MERKELBOCK FOLLOWED BY LEE MCCARVER.
>> GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCILL MEMBERS. TODAY IS AN OZONE ACTION TODAY. I RODE THE BUS TO WORK. I HOPE OLS DID ALSO. THE REASON -- I HOPE OTHERS DID ALSO. THE REASON LAMAR WOULD BE WIDENED IS TO INCREASE THE TRAFFIC FLOW FROM SOUTHWEST AUSTIN AND POINT BEYOND. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE INNERCITY NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC DOES NOT SEEM A FAIR PRICE TO PAY FOR CITIZENS WHO LIVE IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN. THE COST OF WIDENING ONE BLOCK OF LAMAR VERSUS THE COST OF ADDING ANOTHER BUS SEEMS TO BE SORT OF OUT OF BALANCE. I WOULD SUGGEST WE WORK ON MASS TRANSIT POLICY AND NOT DESTROY THE INNERCITY NEIGHBORHOODS BY WIDENING LAMAR TO A MAD SIX ZONE WHICH WOULD MAKE IT A MINI FREEWAY. THANK YOU.
>>GOODMAN: IS LEE MCCARVER MERRICK HERE? BARRY MYRICK.
>> THANK YOU, I'M HERE TONIGHT REPRESENTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PART OF THE UPPER BOGGY CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ON GROUP. I STAND IN OPPOSITION TO WIDENING MANOR ROAD. IT'S TIME TO MOVE AWAY FROM THIS DISEASE WHICH CAMPO SEEMS TO HAVE ACQUIRED FROM THE TEXAS HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT. THIS PROPOSAL DUES NOT ADHERE TO THE NEW AXIOM TO SMART GROWTH BUT RATHER TO TXDOT'S OLD MODEL IF IT MOVES TAX IT, IF IT DOESN'T PAVE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOUR BEING HERE. RYAN MARKS DOESN'T WISH TO SPEAK BUT SAYS PLEASE DON'T WIDEN MANOR. HAS NO TRAFFIC BACKUPS AND WOULD BE MUCH LESS PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY MARA BELAVO. DID I JUST RUIN SOMEBODY'S NAME?
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>GOODMAN: OH, OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK?
>> NO, I GAVE MY -- [INAUDIBLE]. I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF WIDENING SOUTH LAMAR.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. VINCE COEN. OR CONDOR MAYBE. ANYBODY NAMED VINCE? DONATING TIME TO TOMMY EDEN SO WE SHOULD KEEP TRACK IF YOU ARE HERE. JEFF LEVINE. ALSO DONATING TIME TO TOMMY. DIA VAN BURTON. ALSO DONATEING TIME TO TOMMY. IS TOMMY STILL HERE? DANNY SMITH.
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. GINNY HODGKINS DOESN'T WISH TO SPEAK. DONATE TIME TO ANYONE FROM CHERRYWOOD ALSO.
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU NEED TO SPEAK.
>>GOODMAN: COME ON UP.
>>MAYOR WATSON: IT'S A NEAT TRICK. I'M NOT REALLY SPEAKING, I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M OPPOSED TO THE PLAN'S TREATMENT OF EAST 38 AND A HALF AND NOT DOWNGRADING THAT AND I'M ALSO OPPOSED TO WIDENING MANOR ROAD AND I THINK OTHERS FROM CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND FROM THE UPPER BOGGY CREEK PLANNING TEAM WILL ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS SUFFICIENTLY. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. LESLIE LAWSON NOT SPEAKING BUT IS AGAINST WIDENING MANOR. SCOTT FREEDMAN NOT SPEAKING BUT AGAINST. GILBERT WILDEN IS AGAINST. HIS ADDRESS IS EAST 38 AND A HALF STREET SO I'M ASSUMING HE'S AGAINST WIDING THAT -- I'M OPPOSED TO WIDENING 38 AND A HALF STREET. [LAUGHTER]. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL TREE LINED STREET WITH TWO CHURCHS, AN ELEMENT SCHOOL AND GREENBELT. I'VE LIVED THERE ABOUT NINE YEARS. NO NEED TO WIDEN IT SINCE MUELLER IS CLOSED. ALEXANDRA GARCIA NOT SPEAKING BUT IS AGAINST WIDENING MANOR ROAD. WIDENING WILL ENCOURAGE HIGHER AUTO SUPPOSED. PLEASE ADD BIKE LANES. THIS ROAD IS USED BY MANY STUDENTS AND COMMUTE ERTION VIA BIKE AND WALKING. IN ADDITION PLEASE DOWN GRADE 38 AND A HALF STREET BETWEEN AIRPORT AND I 356789 IT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD COLLECTOR. THERIST NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC, BUT IT SPEEDS EXCESSIVELY. DAVID HARRIS AGAINST. AND THE ADDRESS IS SOUTH LAMAR SO I'M ASSUMING IT'S THE WIDENING OF SOUTH LAMAR. SHUTTE FATH, PLEASE DON'T MESS WITH LAMAR. JOHN CHRISTIANSON OR JOHN CHRISTIAN JUST SAYS HE'S AGAINST. BUT DOESN'T INDICATE WHAT. PAUL ANDREWS IS AGAINST CHANGES TO MANOR ROAD, EAST 38 AND A HALF STREET. JIM WALKER.
>>GOODMAN: MAYOR, BEFORE JIM GETS UP THERE, I'M GOING TO GO OFF THE DAIS, BUT SINCE EVERYBODY WAS SO WORRIED YOU COULDN'T HEAR I WANT TO REASSURE WE HAVE MONITORS AND WE CAN ALL HEAR.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR AN OPPORTUNITY. FIRST HAT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON IS A MEMBER OF THE CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD SORTION AND I WON'T REITERATE ALL THAT BUT I THINK YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT EAST 38 AND A HALF AND MANOR ROAD. THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD IS THE UPPER BOGGY CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING TEAM HAS COME FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE SENATOR FROM A PROPOSAL FOR TRAFFIC FLOW ON THOSE STREETS AND THAT -- THE FACT A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN TEAM HAS COME UP WITH THAT I THINK SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. THE OTHER HAT IS AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS COUNCIL AND I WANT TO QUICKLY READ A COUPLE BULLET POINTS THAT WERE PASSED AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT. THEY WERE PUT TOGETHER BY THE AMC MOBILITY GROUP. AMC GENERALLY SUPPORTS THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AND URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION. AS WELL AS REITERATING BUT NOT REISSUING OUR PREVIOUS STATEMENT SUPPORTING PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS SUCH AS THE MONAC FOLKS. WE ALSO SUPPORT CONTINUED PUBLIC MEETINGS AROUND THE CITY TO ADDRESS PARTICULAR PROPOSALS SUCH AS WHAT YOU ARE HEARING ABOUT SOUTH LAMAR AND MANOR ROAD. AND I'LL MENTION MORE ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND. WE ALSO URGE THAT CAMPO AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN MAKE GREATER AND CONTINUE COMMITMENTS TO TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES, SPECIFICALLY IMPROVED BUS SERVICE AND ROUTING. AND BETTER [INAUDIBLE] SERVICE WOULD BE GOOD TOO. WE ALSO WANT -- THE POINT HERE IS THAT AGAIN, THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ASPECT, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AND THE CAMPO PLAN AND WE ASK AUTHORIZATION OF PARTICULAR ROADWAY UPGRADES BE DELAYED IN THAT THOSE ROADWAYS BE KEPT AT THEIR EXISTING LEVELS UNTIL WE'VE HAD A GREATER CHANCE TO LOOK AT IMPACTS ON THOSE SEGMENTS. MY FINAL COMMENT WOULD BE AS A PRO POEM THAT -- PROPOSAL IF WE ARE GOING TO REVIEW THIS, HAS TO REVIEW THIS 20-25 PLAN EVERY THREE YEARS OR PERHAPS EARLIER YOU CONSIDER GRAYING OUT OR TABLING THE CONTESTED SEGMENTS AS OUTLINED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND JUST SAY THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ON THOSE ROADS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS UNTIL THIS WOULD COME UNDER REVIEW AGAIN. THAT WOULD GIVE THE COMMUNITY, IT WOULD -- I'LL MAKE A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO STEP TOUT THE -- UP TO THE PLATE AND HELP ADDRESS SOME OF WHAT YOU ARE HEARING ABOUT OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD COME FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT WHAT TO DO TO MAINTAIN TRAFFIC FLOW BUT NOT LOSE THE FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT WOULD JUST BE ONE THING FOR TO YOU CONSIDER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS SO WHEN YOU DO PASS THIS YOU MIGHT CONSIDER THAT SOME OF THESE ARE CONTESTED AND SOMEHOW DESIGNATE THEM AS SUCH TO CAMPO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>>MAYOR WATSON: CHRIS FOR HOLT SAYS I DO NOT WISH TO SEEN MANOR ROAD BETWEEN I-35 AND CHERRYWOOD WIDENED TO FIVE LANES. THIS WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE SMALL SCALE ATMOSPHERE. CROSS A TRO LANE FOOT IS EASE AAND SAFE COMPARED TO A FIVE LANE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE 38 AND A HALF STREET DOWNGRADED TO ALLOW FOR TRAFFIC CALMING. JILL THOMAS. IS WILLIAM THOMAS HERE? ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK TOO SIR?
>> [INAUDIBLE]. IS CHRISTOPHER SEMANK GOING TO SPEAK? DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK?
>> THIS IS AN OLD MAP WITH WHICH YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR SO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILLMEMBERS, I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE RESTRIPING OF DUVALL ROAD. IT'S 44 FEET FOC, AND IN THE THEORY THAT YOU PROPOSE TO TURN INTO FOUR LANES THAT WOULD PUT IT AS WIDE AS 2222. NOW, THE EXAMINATION -- EXCUSE ME. I'LL TRY TO TALK BACKWARDS. THIS IS DUVALL ROAD. THESE ARE KWLORD AREAS OF THE FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS -- COLORED AREAS OF THE FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS UNITED. WE FOUGHT WITH HYDE PARK BAPTIST CHURCH OTHER THEIR DEVELOPMENT OF THE QUARRIES. THE REASON ALL FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS GOT TOGETHER WAS TO PROTECT DUVALL ROAD. TURNING IT INTO FOUR LANES WOULD BE A DISASTER. THERE ARE MANY, MANY, MANY STREETS THAT COME OUT ON TO DUVALL ROAD. THE ONLY WAY THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS CAN GET IN AND OUT IS DUVALL ROAD. AND IF THERE ARE FOUR LANES, YOU CAN'T MAKE A LEFT TURN. AT THIS POINT YOU CAN WAIT A LITTLE WHILE, WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A LITTLE BREAK IN THE LANE NEAREST AND PULL INTO THE MIDDLE LANE. THEN WAIT UNTIL THERE IS ANOTHER BREAK AND GET MOVINGINGING. YOU TRY FOUR LANES, OUGHT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CARS ARE GOING TO BE BACKED UP, AND BOY, ARE YOU GOING TO HEAR FROM THEM. IF YOU THOUGHT THE HYDE PARK WORRIES WAS BAD, THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT WON'T BE FORGOTTEN. I MEAN MONTHS AND YEARS DOWN THE LINE AS THEY ARE LINED UP WAITING TRYING TO GET ON TO DUVALL ROAD. SO AAM SPEAKING SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, JILL THOMAS MILWOOD, FOR WOULD BEY WHO COULD NOT MAKE IT, FOR LAURA OF AND GUS VALLEY WHO WAS ALSO UNAVAILABILITY MAKE IT. WE WERE UNPREPARED FOR THIS. WE UNDERSTOOD IT WAS COMING UP IN THE LATTER HALF OF JUNE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REACH JOE YAKIMO OF CHAMPION FOREST, BUT IF THIS THING GOES THROUGH, OH, ARE YOUR MAILBOXES GOING TO BE FULL. IT WOULDN'T COST VERY MUCH. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF REPAINTING LINES. SO I CAN SEE THIS BEING RUSHED THROUGH. BUT I CERTAINLY HOPE IT ISN'T. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. THOMAS.
>> WILLIAM THOMAS FROM MILWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I AM OPPOSED TO THE CHANGE OF DUVALL FROM THREE LANES TO FOUR LANES. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION. TRAFFIC MOVES VERY WELL. AND YOU HAVE RELATIVE SAFETY IN THE MIDDLE. DOWN TOWARD THE WEST END THERE IS A FIRE STATION, AN E.M.S. AND A SCHOOL. AND HOW WILL PEOPLE GET ON TO THE STREET IF IT IS SUDDENLY TWO LANES AND THE CENTER LANE IS ABOLISHED? THE TRAFFIC THAT MOVES PROPERLY, IT PERMITS NEIGHBORS TO ACCESS AND PERMITS THROUGH TRAFFIC. MAYBE IT SLOWS IT DOWN SLIGHTLY. WE KNOW THAT SPEED IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THIS CITY. AND IF YOU MAKE THIS A FOUR-LANE ROADWAY, IT'S GOING TO BECOME A SPEED WAY. AND IT'S GOING TO BE A HAZARD TO CHILDREN TRYING TO GO TO AND FROM SCHOOL, FIRE ENGINES ENTERING AND LEAVEING THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS AND E.M.S. UNIT -- THEY ARE ALL GOING TO BE IN PERIL. I SUGGEST THAT CAMPOS HAS TOTALLY FOULED UP IN RECOMMENDING THAT THIS BE RESTORED TO FOUR LANES. IT SHOULD REMAIN WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: CHRISTOPHER SEMANK.
>> I AM AGAINST THE LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN. RIGHT NOW I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT 38TH STREET AND ALSO MANOR ROAD. I'M MORE FAMILIAR WITH MANOR ROAD. I LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO IT. AND I USE IT ALL THE TIME. BIKE, SKATE, TAKE A BUS, DRIVE DOWN IT KARBLGLY, AND I'M THERE ALL THE TIME AND EVERY TIME I'M THERE I ALWAYS SEE BIKERS, SKATERS, WALKERS, JOGGERS, ET CETERA. AND PEOPLE GETTING ON THE BUSES THERE. IT'S ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO BE NEAR A BUS BECAUSE YOU CAN GET TO THE CAMPUS, THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AND TO DOWNTOWN REAL EASILY RIGHT THERE I UNDERSTAND THE PLAN IS TO WIDEN IT TO A FOUR-LANE MUCH LIKE THE 26TH STREET PART OF IT IS RIGHT NOW. EXCEPT UNDIVIDED. 26TH RIGHT BETWEEN MANOR ROAD AND I-35 IS LIKE A MAJOR PLACE WHERE PEOPLE SPEED AND IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS TO CROSS. I SEE COPS THERE ALL THE TIME SETTING UP SPEED TRAPS SO THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD INDICATION THAT -- I MEAN OTHER THAN JUST STANDING THERE AND WATCHING OUT PEOPLE ZOOM AROUND THESE CURVES AND STUFF, HOW DANGEROUS THIS ROAD IS. AND ANYWAY, SO WIDENING IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA FOR THAT REASON. ALSO THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD BUSINESSES ALONG MANOR ROAD. THERE'S A REALLY GOOD COFFEE SHOP THERE AND ALL KINDS OF GOOD BUSINESSES THERE RIGHT NOW AND IT MAKES IT HARDER TO CROSS TO GET TO THESE PLACES SO YOU ARE GOING TO ISOLATE THESE BUSINESSES. ALSO, ALREADY IN THE -- ANOTHER THING WHERE THE FOUR-LANE SECTIONS OF THE STREET, YOU CAN WALKING ALONG THERE YOU CAN MEASURE A REALLY LARGE TEMPERATURE CHANGE BETWEEN THE VEGETATED SECTIONS WHERE IT'S TWO LANES AND THE FOUR LANES, IT'S AN INCREDIBLE DIFFERENCE AS FAR AS JUST HOW HOT THE PARTS OF THAT CITY GET. AND YOU CAN IMAGINE WIDENING IT IS GOING TO INCREASE THE ELECTRICAL DEMANDS. THERE'S A LOT OF APARTMENTS THERE AND HOUSES ALONG THAT STREET THAT ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE COOLED DOWN MORE ON JUST TO MAKE THEM TOLERABLE. LET'S SEE. THAT'S ABOUT IT. OH, ALSO WANTED TO MENTION -- I JUST WANTED TO SEE HOW SKETCHY THIS AREA COULD BE GO TO AIRPORT AND I 5 AND TRY CROSSING ANYWHERE THAT THAT AREA ON FOOT. IT'S BASICALLY EQUIVALENT TO SUICIDE. AND YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF OTHER INTERSECTIONS AROUND THERE LOOK LIKE THAT TOO. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: STEPHANIE BOND SIGNED UP AGAINST WIDENING MANOR AND DOWNGRADING 38 AND A HALF. AND AGAINST NOT DOWNGRADING 38 AND A HALF. AUSTIN FOREST DULLNEG.
>> THANK YOU. BASICALLY I'M HERE TO ADAMANTLY OPPOSE THE EXPANSION OF MOPAC TO SIX LANES. IT SIMPLY ENCOURAGES AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC AS OPPOSED TO CATERING TO IT. IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME. I GUARANTEE THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SUPPLY AS MANY CARS AS NEED TO DO FILL AS MANY ROADS AS YOU BUILD. YOU COULD MAKE IT TEN LANES AND IT WOULD STILL BE FULL OF CARS. IT DISCOURAGES OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION, CYCLING OR MASS TRANSIT. BASICALLY UNTIL WE SEE MORE THAN 5% OF CARS FILLED WITH NO MORE THAN ONE PERSON, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER WIDENING ANY ROADS UNTIL WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CARPOOL AND USE OTHER FORMS OF MASS TRANSIT. OF COURSE IT HAS THE EFFECT AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE ATTESTED TO HERE THAT -- FORCING SMALL BUSINESSES OUT OF BUSINESS. AS IT'S LISTED ON THE SHEET THAT IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AND PLANNING COMMISSION, I BELIEVE THAT REFERS TO THE PLAN AS A WHOLE, BUT ALL THREE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WERE EXPLICITLY AGAINST THE WIDENING OF LAMAR. I'M PRETTY --.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT LA MORE OR MOPAC? YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT MOPAC.
>> I MEANT LAMAR. EXPANSION OF LAMAR TO SIX LANES. BUT I BELIEVE THOSE THREE ORGANIZATIONS, COMMITTEES RECOMMENDED AGAINST EXPANDING LAMAR. ULTIMATELY AUSTIN LOSES THE CHARACTER LENT TO IT BY COMMUNITY BASED COMMERCE, ITS PRISTINE ECOLOGY AND ALL THE DRAW THAT HAS MADE IT WHAT IT IS AND PEOPLE WILL BEGIN TO LEAVE THE CITY AND IT WILL NO LONGER BE ATTRACTIVE TO RESIDENTS OR INVESTORS IN THE LONGTERM. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO TRY A SUGGESTION HERE. SO FAR WE HAVE HEARD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAY FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, SOME NOW SOUNDING MUCH THE SAME, THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE WIDENING OF MANOR, THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE A WIDEN OF 38 AND A HALF AND A DOWNGRADING OF 38 AND A HALF IS POSSIBLY WHAT SOME ARE SUGGESTING AND THEY DON'T WANT THE MAD SIX ON LAMAR. AND DUVALL. BUT I MAY EVEN-LET ME FINISH THIS. IT'S STARTING -- WE'RE NOT HEARING DIFFERENT ARGUMENTS FOR THAT. WE'RE HEARING AGAIN AND AGAIN -- AND THAT'S OKAY, THAT'S -- WE WANT THOSE CARDS SIGNED UP, BUT AGAIN, I WOULD REALLY URGE YOU, IF YOU ARE JUST GOING TO SAY BASICALLY WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID, PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOUR POSITION IS WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF SPEAKING. KATHERINE WILLIAMS LACQUER.
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: SHE IS OPPOSED TO THE DESIGNATION OF LAMAR BOULEVARD FROM A MAD 4 TO MAD 4.
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. ROBIN HOWARD. ROBIN HOWARD.
>> SHE'S NOT HERE. [INAUDIBLE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: SHE CAN'T GIVE HER TIME TO YOU IF SHE'S NOT HERE.
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: IT'S YOU THEN. COME ON. I'M ASSUMING YOU ARE JACK NEWMAN
>> YES.
>>MAYOR WATSON: SUSAN ALEXANDER. SIGNED UP AGAINST. STEVEN SIDES. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK?
>> VERY BRIEFLY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY. YOU WILL FOLLOW MR. NEWMAN. MR. EDEN, YOU WILL FOLLOW HIM. GO AHEAD, MR. NEWMAN.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I WILL BE BRIEF. HAVE I THE GOOD FORTUNE TO HAVE FOLLOWED GOOD SPEAKERS. MARK LIND SPOKE ABOUT 38 AND A HALF AND MANOR AND THE NATURE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND OTHERS. I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT WHAT THEY SAID OTHER THAN TO SAY I AGREE WITH IT. I LIVE IN IT. I'M THE EDITOR OF THE CNA NEWSLETTER. IT GOES OUT TO ALMOST 1600 HOMES. ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE TRIANGLE BETWEEN AIRPORT, I-35 AND MANOR 26TH. PRETTY UNIFORMLY AGAINST WHAT WE THINK COULD HAPPEN IF 38 AND A HALF STREET IS NOT DOWN RATED. I WON'T GO FURTHER TO SAY THAT IT IS A LARNLLY RESIDENTIAL CHURCH, SCHOOL THOROUGHFARE AND SHOULD REMAIN SO. IT'S IN THE HEART OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND SHOULD IT BE WIDENED SUCH AS I'VE SEEN IN PAST ROAD PLANS, IT WOULD I IN FACT CUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN HALF. THE MANOR ROAD ARGUMENT HAS BEEN MADE I THINK VERY ELOQUENTLY. I WON'T GO INTO THAT AND SAY I AGREE AND HOPE YOU REMEMBER WRER WHAT YOU HAVE PREACHED THAT IS DESIRABLE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ARE SMART GROWTH AND I THINK THE HIGHER IQ OF SMART GROWTH IS TO KEEP US AS WE ARE AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU, SIR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: STEVEN SIDES.
>> YES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M THE SECRETARY OF THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I JUST DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN LISTED. YOU DO HAVE OUR RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED AT A LIFELY AND WELL ATTENDED MEETING OF THE ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I URGE YOU TO RESPECT THAT. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. TOMMY EDEN.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS TOMMY EDEN. I'M ON THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION. I REALIZE I'VE GOT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONATED THEIR TIME.
>>MAYOR WATSON: BUT THEY ARE NOT HERE.
>> OKAY. YOUR AGENDA ITEM STATES THAT ITEM 97, THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN, WHICH THE CITY STAFF RECOMMENDS, WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION. IN FACT, THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WERE CONSIDERABLY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF THE CITY STAFF. AND FOR THOSE WHO ONLY SAW THE AGENDA, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT OUR RECOMMENDATION AT THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND THOSE OF THE OTHER BOARD AND COMMISSION WERE FOR NUMEROUS CHANGES TO WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY STAFF. IN PARTICULAR, THERE ARE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS WITH REGARD TO BICYCLE FACILITIES. WE RECOMMENDED THAT ALL OF THE FACILITIES MENTIONED IN THE AUSTIN BICYCLE PLAN BE INCLUDED IN THIS LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN. AND THERE ARE ISSUES CONCERNING RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR WIDENING OF HIGHWAYS AND OTHER ROADWAYS. BUT ESPECIALLY THERE IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING H.O.V. LANES, AND I WANT TO TAKE THAT ONE OUT AND JUST DRAW PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THAT. WITH RESPECT TO -- AND I'M QUOTING FROM WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: WHICH ROAD ARE YOU REFERRING TO?
>> I'M REFERRING TO ALL OF THE ROADS THAT HAVE H.O.V. LANES RECOMMENDED.
>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY.
>> WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN ROADWAYS, THE CAMPO 2025 PLAN CALLS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF H.O.V. LANES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CURRENT NUMBER OF NON-H.O.V. LANES OR EVEN AN EX UP AND DOWNED NUMBER OF NON-H.O.V. LANES THIS. TRUST FRATS ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSES OF H.O.V. LANES, WHICH IS TO PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE FOR RIDE SHARING. THE CITY OF AUSTIN SHOULD SEEK AS A GENERAL RULE FOR THE CAMPO 2025 PLAN TO CALL FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF NON-EXISTING -- EXISTING NON-H.O.V. LANES WITH H.O.V. LANES. THEREBY INCREASING A ROADWAYS CAPACITY FOR MOVING PEOPLE AND ALSO PROVIDING AN INCENTIVE FOR RIDE SHARING. [BUZZER SOUNDS]. WELL, I'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ON OTHER ISSUES. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. EDEN. PAULINE PORTER SAYS SHE IS AGAINST 38 AND A HALF AND -- AND WANTS 38 AND A HALF TO BE DOWN GRADE TO DO COLLECTOR AS IN THE CAMPO PLAN. MANOR ROAD DOES NOT NEED TO BE FIVE LANES. A TURN LANE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT AND NOT RUIN A BUDDING NEIGHBORHOOD. CAPUTTO WRITES I SPOKE LAST TIME. PLEASE SEE COMMENTS ON OTHER SIDE. PLEASE DO NOT UPGRADE AND ESPECIALLY EXTEND FRATE BARKER ROAD TO CONNECT THE SH 45 SOUTH. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE SH 45 SOUTH WIDER AND LONGER. THIS WILL DISSECT THE LAST LARGE PIECE OF THE RECHARGE ZONE. THIS ROAD WILL ENABLE MORE DEVELOPMENT TO HAPPEN IN THE DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE. I ENCOURAGE ALTERNATIVES OR GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PLAN. BY ORIGINAL I MEAN TAKE OUT THE NEW SECTIONS. THE ORIGINAL PLAN HAS 45 SOUTH TOO CLOSE TO EXISTING HOMES AND IS CROSSING OVER LAND PURCHASED BY THE CITY FOR WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY. PLEASE POSTPONE YOUR DECISION ON THIS AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT DID STUDIES DONE ON PROP 2 LAND AND RECONSIDER THIS BIG ROADWAY THIS THIS AREA OF EXTREME ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY AND HOME OF ENDANGERED SPECIES. DEBORAH TREES DORX YOU WISH TO SPEAK?
>> I WANT TO SPEAK ON FRATE BARKER. CURRENTLY THAT IS A TWO-LANE ROAD AND THE PROPOSAL IS TO MAKE IT A FOUR-LANE. AND BASICALLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THAT ROAD WILL END UP CROSSING OVER BEAR CREEK TO CONNECT TO 45. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE HIGH SENSITIVITY OF THAT AREA AND THE RECHARGE ZONE. SO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF KEEPING THAT TWO LANES AND UTILIZING GREEN EMERALD TERRORIST I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED, WHICH IS A ROAD FURTHER DOWN. IT'S ALMOST CONNECTED ALL THE WAY TO WHERE 45 WOULD PASS THROUGH AND IT DOES NOT CROSS BEAR CREEK. AND THAT WOULD BE A SAFER CHOICE FOR US. THAT'S ALL HAVE I TO SAY.
>>MAYOR WATSON: GREAT. THANK YOU. TODD ER D.N.R. ER. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? YOU WROTE SOMETHING. I COULD READ IT.
>> I'LL BE I DIDN'T COME, MAYOR IPT TO AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER. I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT FRATE BARKER. IT DEAD ENDS NOW A LITTLE PAST BRODIE AND THEY WANT TO EXTEND IT TO STATE HIGHWAY 45. CURRENTLY THE ROAD IS NOT EXISTING. AND THEY WANT TO AT A TIME, CROSS OVER THE CRITICAL WATER ZONE THAT FEEDS INTO THE AQUIFER AND I JUST THINK THAT PUTS AT GREAT RISK OUR DRINKING WATER, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO USE WELL WATER AS WELL AS THE WATER IN SAN ANTONIO. I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF EXTENDING FRATE BARKER BEYOND WHAT IT IS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. ROSS CROW.
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: KEN MARSH SAYS PLEASE FOLLOW THE UTV AND ENVIRONMENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS. I DO NOT WANT MY MONEY SPENT ON HIGHWAY EXPANSIONS. THANKS. TREVOR WILSON. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK?
>> YES.
>>MAYOR WATSON: PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I KNOW IT'S GETTING LATE. I'M GLAD I SAT THROUGH THIS. I'VE LEARNED SOME THINGS AND TYPICAL OF THESE SESSIONS I'VE DISCOVERED SOME THINGS BEYOND WHAT I BROUGHT HERE. I LIVE OFF EAST MANOR FOR TEN YEARS. I USED TO LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MANOR THAT WAS THE GOOD SIDE. I GOT BACK FROM A YEAR-LONG VISIT AND THE BAD SIDE WAS NOW THE GOOD SIDE ALSO. THE NEIGHBORS THERE ARE NOT REPRESENTED IN THIS ROOM. THE BLACK LAND NEIGHBORHOOD IS PREDOMINANTLY BLACK. THERE ARE A LOT OF RETIREES, A LOT OF PEOPLE HEALTH PROBLEMS, THERE'S A LOT OF CHILDREN. THEY ARE NOT REPRESENTED AND I WISH THEY WERE. I'VE LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE SIX YEARS. THERE'S ON LOT GOING ON AND -- THE NEIGHBORS HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALREADY. THERE'S LOT OF CHANGE. URBAN RENEWAL HAS BROUGHT GOOD AND AILS. I THINK THAT BEFORE WE GO IN AND START TEARING UP ROADS AND GETTING RID OF BIKE WAYS WE SHOULD GO IN AND HAVE A LITTLE MORE COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY LIVE THERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>>MAYOR WATSON: JOHN TOUCHE WRITES BUILD RAIL NOT FREEWAYS. I OPPOSE THE PROPOSED WIDEN OF LAMAR BOULEVARD, INCREASES THE VOLUME OF SPEED OR TRAFFIC AS IT APPROACHES DOWNTOWN. WIDENING LAMAR WILL DRY BUSINESSES AND VITAL GREEN SPACE. I OPPOSE CREATION OF LOOP 45 FREEWAY. ALL LOOP FREEWAYS ENCOURAGE SMALL AND EXACERBATE AIR AND WATER POLLUTION. THIS APPEARS DESTINED TO HARM WATER QUALITY AND AIR QUALITY. DAVE, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK OR HAVE ME READ YOUR CARD?
>> MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'M DAVE WEST TON BURGER. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS A MEMBER OF THE UPPER BOGGY CREEK PLANNING TEAM. I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS REGARDING MANOR ROAD. I'M SAD AND SADDENED MR. LIBRACH'S STAFF WOULD UNDER MINE WHAT THEY WORKED SO HARD TO ACCOMPLISH IN TERMS OF GETTING NEIGHBORHOODS TO PROMOTE AND SMART GROWTH AND INVITE ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL TO COME SEE THIS AREA AND TALK WITH THE PLANNING TOO MANY. REGARDING EAST 38 AND A HALF STREET WHICH WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DOWNGRADED, I'M DAPTD THAT THE STAFF HAVE IGNORED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THREE CITY COMMISSIONS TO DOWN GRADE EAST 38 AND A HALF STREET T CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAS FOLLOWED THE CITY'S PROCESS AND WORKED TO GET THIS STREET OUT OF THE PLAN ONLY TO BE TOLD THE MODEL SOMEHOW REQUIRES IT TO STAY IN THIS. IS A MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL STREET WITH AN ELEMENTARY AND SEVERAL DAY CARES. VEHICLES CUT THROUGH ALL DAY LONG AT HIGH SPEEDS. WE TRIED TO GET TRAFFIC CALMING AND HAVE BEEN REJECTED BECAUSE OF THE ARTERIAL DESIGNATION. NOW I WORK WITH TRANSPORTATION MODELS AND UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SEVERE FLAWS. PLEASE DON'T SACRIFICE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNTY LEAN ENSY. HAS SHE ALREADY SPON SPOKEN?
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: I TELL YOU WHAT. VERSUS YOUR CARD BEEN CALLED?
>> YES, SIR, BUT MY NEIGHBORS PERSUADED ME OTHERWISE.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT.
>> VERY BRIEFLY. I'M LESSEE LEE LAWSON. I'M HERE TO PRAISE THE PROCESS BUT ASK TO YOU VOTE AGAINST A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD UNDER MINE IT. THE UPPER BOGGY CREEK PLANNING COMMISSION HAS BEEN WORKING TOGETHER. IT'S AN INTELLIGENT GROUP OF PEOPLE. IT'S BEEN PUTTING IN A LOT OF TIME AND THEY'VE DEVELOPED AN EXCELLENT PLAN FOR P MANOR ROAD AREA. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO POSTPONE LOOKING AT MANOR ROAD ISSUES UNTIL THE UPPER BOGGY CREEK PLANNING COMMISSION HAS FINISHED THEIR WORK. I SPEAK AS A RESIDENT NOT OF -- ALONG MANOR ROAD BUT RATHER IN WILSHIRE WOODS NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M NOT SPEAKING NOT IN MY BACKYARD THIS. IS QUITE A WAYS AWAY. I DID LIVE IN THE CHERY WOOD NEIGHBORHOOD TEN YEARS, A MERE TEN HOUSES OFF MANOR ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO WALK TO GET MY GROCERIES AND DO MY DRY CLEANING AND WALK TO GET COFFEE. TO HAVE DINNER. I WAS ABLE TO INTERACT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS VERY DIFFERENT THAN MY OWN. MANOR ROAD IS THE INTERSECTION OF TWO VERY DIVERSE SOCIOECONOMIC NEIGHBORHOODS, TWO RACIALLY DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I FEAR THAT AN EXPANSION OF MANOR ROAD WOULD UNDER MINE WHAT IS GROWING THERE OF ITS OWN ACCORD. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TABLE MANOR ROAD EXPANSION AND GIVE THE PROCESS THAT YOU SET INTO MOTION A CHANCE TO GROW AND TO REALLY BUILD SOMETHING THAT COULD BE A NATIONAL MODEL. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: STEVEN BEERS. SGAR RI WILL COX SIGNED UP AND LISTS THE SOUTH LAMAR ADDRESS AND WRITES AGAINST. GALE ARMSTRONG IS FOR LEAVING SOUTH CONGRESS, SOUTH FIRST AND SOUTH LA MORE LIKE THEY ARE. BILLY J. PRING HE WILL DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK?
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: WAIT, WAIT. NO YOU CAN'T. MR. BEERS. I'LL ASK YOU TO GO TO A MICROPHONE.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE SAVE BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION. I'M A NEW BOARD MEMBER. JOHN BEALL, THIS IS A STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIR OF THE SAVE BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION. JOHN BEALL. IT READS: DEAR MAYOR WATSON AND AUSTIN CITY COUNCILLMEMBERS. THE CAMPO 2025 PLAN IS ABOUT MORE THAN MOBILITY. IT IS A REGIONAL DESIGN AFFECTING ALL ASPECTS OF OUR FUTURE LIVING. FEDERAL LAW CALLS FOR LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLANS TO BE FISCALLY CONSTRAINED AND TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE MUST BE'S ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING. WITH THE DEBATE OVER ADDING LANES TO MOPAC THROUGH CENTRAL AUSTIN, WE CAN ALL SEE HOW IMPORTANT THESE CONSIDERATIONS ARE. PEOPLE ALONG THIS STRETCH OF MOPAC ARE RIGHTLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THIS PROPOSED EXPANSION WILL DO TO THEM, THEIR HEALTH, HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE COULD EASILY ADD I GUESS MANOR AND 38TH AND LAMAR AND THESE OTHERS. OUR ASSOCIATION IS CONCERNED PRIMARILY WITH CAMPO -- THE CAMPO PLAN'S AFFECT ON BARTON CREEK AND BARTON SPRINGS. MOSTLY WE CONFINE OUR COMMENTS TO THIS ISSUE, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE BIGGER PICTURE. WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING REVISIONS TO THIS DOCUMENT. FIRST, LINKING SOUTH MOPAC TO I-35 WITH A NEW OUTER LUBE, SH 45 SOUTH, IS NOT A GOOD IDEA AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE PLAN. THIS LINKAGE PRESENTS NEW DANGERS FOR THE AQUIFER DUE TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CARRIED BY LARGE TRUCKS BECAUSE IF YOU LINK I-35 TO MOPAC, AT LOFT ENDS THERE WILL BE MORE THROUGH TRAFFIC. I'M JUST SUMMARIZING NOW BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I CAN GET THROUGH THIS IN THREE MINUTES. THE SECOND CONCERN IS ABOUT WIDENING 1826, CAMP BENEFIT MCULLOUGH ROAD FROM TWO LANES TO EIGHT LANES. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT REMOVED BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN RECENT PROP 2 LAND ACQUISITIONS IN THE AREA AND NOW THERE ARE -- THERE IS A BRADLEY SETTINGS SETTLEMENT LIMITING DEVELOPMENT TO A -- TO A LEVEL WE DON'T FEEL IT WARRANTS THAT DRASTIC OF AN EXPANSION. FINALLY, THE CITY NEEDS TO UNDERTAKE A MAJOR STUDY HOW WE MIGHT FURTHER LIMIT LAND USE INTENSITY IN THE SOUTHWEST AUSTIN YAFRMENT PRIOR TO AUTHORIZING THE SPENDING OF MORE THAN $400 MILLION FOR WIDENING AND ADDING ROADS OVER THE AQUIFER, THOSE ROADS CAN EITHER BE OMITTED FROM THE PLAN ALTOGETHER OR A NOTE ADDED THAT THEY NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION UNTIL A PLANNING PROCESS IS COMPLETE. [BUZZER SOUNDS] IS THAT THE WARNING OR IS THAT THE END?
>>MAYOR WATSON: YOU HAVE 14 SECONDS.
>> HOW MANY?
>>MAYOR WATSON: 13.
>> SAVE BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION WISHS TO THANK THE CITY STAFF, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS FOR REVISIONS TO THIS PLAN. AMONG OTHER POSITIVE THINGS, THE RECOMMENDATION -- [BUZZER SOUNDS] -- THAT MOPAC NOT BE WIDENED THROUGH CENTRAL CITY NEIGHBORHOODS AND OVER THE AQUIFER IS ONE --.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU, MR. BEERS.
>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, ONE OR TWO SPEAKERS BACK TALKED ABOUT HOW MR. LIBRACH IS GOING BACK ON HIS OWN PRINCIPLES AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ON 38TH STREET. AND I WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO GET UP AND EXPLAIN WHAT IS ACTUALLY PROPOSED AND WHAT THE CITY IS SUPPORTING ON 38TH STREET BEFORE WE GET FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD SO TO SPEAK. SIR, IF YOU COULD HOLD ON JUST A SECOND.
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>SLUSHER: TALK ABOUT MANOR ROAD TOO.
>> ON 38TH STREET, I THINK THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME CONFUSION BY SOME PEOPLE WHO LOOKED AT A CHART THAT WAS PROVIDED BY CAMPO THAT INDICATED, I BELIEVE, THAT 38 AND A HALF STREET AND THE UNCONSTRAINED CONDITION WOULD HAVE BEEN A RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LANES. BUT IN THE RECOMMENDATION CAMPO MADE AND THE RECOMMENDATION THE CITY MADE, BOTH, ON 38 AND A HALF STREET WERE RECOMMENDING THAT IT BE MAINTAINED AS -- AT ITS CURRENT CONDITION AND ITS CURRENT WIDTH. I THINK THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THAT.
>>SLUSHER: BUT YOU ARE RECOMMENDING TO GO ALONG WITH CAMPO ON MANOR ROAD? BETWEEN I-35 AND CHERRYWOOD?
>> WE ARE. THERE ARE THREE OR FOUR SEGMENTS OF MANOR ROAD AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING IN ALL CASES TO GO ALONG WITH THE CAMPO PLAN, WHICH OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ONE -- ONCE YOU HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT AT MUELLER AIRPORT, DON'T FORGET WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE YEAR 2025, THAT YOU WILL INCREASE AS A RESULT OF THAT DEVELOPMENT THE NUMBER OF TRIPS ALONG MANOR TREMENDOUSLY. HOWEVER, IN ADDITION TO THAT, MANOR WAS ONE OF THE ROADS THAT WE LOOKED AT IN THE CORRIDOR, THE SMART GROWTH CORRIDOR ANALYSIS THAT WE'VE DONE AND WE HAVE INDICATED IN THE PLAN IN THE NOTES THAT FOR THOSE AREAS THAT -- WHERE WE HAD INDICATED WE HAD DONE SOME STUDY ON CORRIDORS, THAT THE CORRIDOR PLANNING PROCESS, IF IT TAKES PLACE, SHOULD GOVERN THE DECISION ABOUT THE WIDTH OF THE ROAD.
>>SLUSHER: SO THERE'S NO IMMINENT PLAN TO EXPAND MANOR ROAD. THE REASON YOU WENT ALONG WITH THE CAMPO PLAN HAD TO DO WITH THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AT MUELLER, BUT EVEN WHEN THAT OCCURS, IT WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE -- WHAT DID YOU -- NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS OR CORRIDOR PLANNING PROCESS.
>> RIGHT. WHICH IS TRIGGERED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS AS WELL.
>>SLUSHER: THANKS FOR MAKING THAT CLEAR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: MR. PRING. LE. IS ROBIN TURNER HERE? DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK?
>> I APPRECIATE HIM EXPLAINING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I WOULD STILL MAINTAIN THAT I GUESS EVERYBODY IS JUST AFRAID THAT IF WE DON'T KEEP OUR VIGIL UP NOW, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN THAT WILL BE IRREVERSIBLE. I'LL JUST -- I'LL READ THIS BECAUSE I'M NOT GOOD AT SPEAKING OFF THE CUFF. CHERRYWOOD IS A VIABLE DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD. EAST 38 AND A HALF STREET IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE MOST BECAUSE I LIVE THE CLOSEST TO IT. EAST 38 AND A HALF STREET BETWEEN AIRPORT BOULEVARD AND I-35 WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT TO SERVICE THAT STREET. OR TO SERVICE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO MAPLEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON THAT SAME STREET. SINCE THEN THEY BUILT AN AIRPORT THAT'S NOW GONE. THERE IS NO REASON FOR FOLKS TO USE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD STREET AS A SHORTCUT TO AND FROM I-35 AND AIRPORT BOULEVARD. IT SAVES THEM NO MORE TIME THAN USING THE FEEDER. IT ONLY MAKES COMMUNITY ORIENTED -- ONLY MAKES FOR A PRETTY YEAR DRIVE WHICH WON'T LAST IF WE CAN'T GET IT DOWNGRADED. NOT TO LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS, BUT TO PLEASE DOWN GRADE THIS STREET TO A -- BACK TO WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY, A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED STREET. IF WE CANNOT GET IT -- IT ONLY MAKES SENSE -- THE STREET GOES STRAIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF A WELL ESTABLISHED AND HARD WORKING AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD. THE LEAST WE COULD EXPECT IS TO DISCOURAGE FOLKS WHO DON'T NEED TO BE OUT WHEN THEY HAVE ALTERNATE ROUTES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED AND ARE MUCH MORE ACCOMMODATING TO FREQUENT AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC WOULD LIKE TO APPROPRIATE ANY AND ALL TRAFFIC CALM THANKING COULD BE PUT INTO PLACE. ALTHOUGH I WOULD HOPE THE SAFETY AND OVERALL MORALE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD HAVE ALREADY PUT IT AS A BUDGETARY PRIORITY, I REALIZE MONEY IS TIGHT AND SUGGEST THESE TWO SOLUTIONS. NO LEFT TURN FROM AIRPORT GOING WEST. THE FREEWAY IS STRAIGHT AHEAD AND AIRPORT WAS NAMED BOULEVARD TO IMPLY ITS STATUS AS A LARGER ROUTE AS OPPOSED TO A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. ALLOW THE RESIDENTS TO PARK ON THE SOUTH I'D IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSES AT THE MOMENT IT IS NO PARKING FROM 7:00 TO 7:00 TO ACCOMMODATE AN ALREADY UNWANTED PRESENCE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. BEYOND THAT I AM OF COURSE EAGER TO SEE ANY AND ALL TRAFFIC CALMING. WE CAN GET THERE ESPECIALLY A PARKING CIRCLE AT CHERRYWOOD AND EAST 38 AND A HALF STREET. THIS WOULD PROVIDE A REMINDER FOR EASE WEST TRAFFIC AND HEADING INTO OFTEN UT OUT OF THE WILSHIRE NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT WE CAN'T GET THAT PARKING CIRCLE OR ANYTHING UNTIL WE GET IT DOWNGRADED BACK TO A REGULAR STREET. THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR WATSON: DICK KELLER MAN WRITES SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AND URBAN TRANSPORTATION RECOMMENDATIONS TO KEEP NORTH AND SOUTH LAMAR AS EXISTING RATHER THAN MAD 6. THE CITY'S CORRIDOR PLANNING PROJECT OF LAMAR BECOME IT BECOME ON MAIN STREET CORRIDOR. JEFFREY SKILLMAN. I'M SORRY, I CALLED SOMEBODY ELSE'S NAME AND THEN -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID WITH YOUR CARD. YOU ARE ROBIN TURNER. I'M SORRY. COME FORWARD. IS JEFFREY SKILLMAN HERE? JOHN TRABER. YOU ARE JUST AGAINST CHANGING LAMAR TO MAD 6, RIGHT?
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>>MAYOR WATSON: TOM COKER. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT.
>> I AGREE WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID BY THE CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. TREVOR, WHO HAS SPOKEN TO THE CULTURAL INTEGRATION ACROSS MANOR ROAD, I USED TO TEACH AT LL CAMPBELL ELEMENTARY WHEN IT WAS AT 16TH AND CHA CON SO I NEED TO DO CROSS MANOR ROAD IN ORDER TO GET THERE. AND I ALWAYS FELT THAT THERE WAS A REAL DIVISION THERE. AND AS OF RECENTLY, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS COME TOGETHER AND WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO LEAVE IT THAT WAY. I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO MAY BE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHAT 26TH STREET WAS LIKE WHEN YOU COULD WALK DOWN IT AND SORT OF MEANDER DOWN UT TO SEE J FRANK'S HOUSE THAT. IS AN EXTENSION OF MANOR ROAD. NOW IT IS JUST LIKE L.A. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. I JUST RETURNED FROM L.A. TWO WEEKS AGO AND EVERY TIME I DRIVE DOWN 26TH STREET TOWARD KINKOS OR THE LAW SCHOOL I GET THAT SAME SENSATION. HAVE I TO WONDER WHY DID WE EVER DECIDED TO THAT. AND I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU ASK YOURSELF THAT WHEN YOU ARE CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD WIDEN MANOR ROAD TO THE EXTENT THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING OR THAT CAMPO IS DISCUSSING BECAUSE AS FAR AS I CAN SEE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S CERTAINLY REALLY NO NEED TO. IT'S BEEN EXPLAINED TO US THAT THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE PLANS. AND I WOULD LIKE FOR TO YOU CONSIDER JUST LEAVING IT AS IS OR AT THE VERY MOST PUTTING IN THREE LANES AS SOME OF OUR PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED. THANKS VERY MUCH.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. MR. SKILLMAN FOLLOWED BY TOM COKER.
>> THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AT OUR RESENTED UPPER BOGGY CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AREA MEETING. I AM NEW TO THE PROCESS AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THAT PROCESS AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE CITY COUNCILL AND THE DECISIONS MADE BY THE CITY COUNCILL. WHEN I BEGAN PARTICIPATING IN THE UPPER BOGGY CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS, I WAS A LITTLE BIT SKEPTICAL. IN FACT, I EXPECTED THE MAJORITY OF WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING WAS PER PET YOU EIGHT THE NIMBY THEME OF NOT DOING THIS IN MY BACKYARD. I'VE BEEN SURPRISED WHAT I'VE SEEN THE LAST TWO AND A HALF, THREE MONTHS I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS GROUP. WE ARE A GROUP OF NEIGHBORHOODS WHO LIVE IN-NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE IN THE UPPER BOGGY CREEK AREA. I LIVE IN 2 DELLWOOD ONE AREA OFF AIRPORT BOULEVARD. AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS NOT NOT BUILDING THINGS NOT ACCOMMODATING, NOT NOT ACCOMMODATING THE PROCESS OF EXPANSION IN THE AREA, BUT HOW TO ACCOMMODATE IT WITHOUT DISRUPTING THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH WE LIVE. MY FEAR WITH THE DISCUSSIONS THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING THIS EVENING AND SOME OF THE FEAR THAT IS HAVE COME OUT OF THE RECENT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS PLAN IS THAT IT WILL FURTHER DISCOURAGE PARTICIPATION FROM OTHERS WHO LIKE MYSELF MAYBE HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS BEFORE. JUST AT A TIME IN OUR AREA WHEN THE ENTHUSIASM FOR THIS PROCESS IS GO GROWING. I WAS IN THE MEETING MARK LIND REFERRED TO EARLIER WHERE WE WERE REALLY JUST EVERYBODY LEANING OVER A TABLE LOOKING AT MANOR ROAD AND THAT PARTICULAR AREA OF MANOR ROAD BETWEEN I-35 AND CHERRYWOOD, AND HOW CAN WE DEVELOP THAT INTO SOMETHING THAT SERVES THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE WOULD ALL BE PROUD OF. I THINK YOU WOULD BE PROUD OF BECAUSE IT WOULD FULFILL THE OBJECTIVES OF SMART GROWTH AS WELL AS THE URBANIZATION OF THAT AREA FOR KEEPING THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO WALK AND RIDE BICYCLES AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THE WIDENING OF ANY OF THE STREETS IN THE UPPER BOGGY CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD AREA IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK SHOULD BE A DECISION THAT IS MADE IN CONCERT WITH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS. IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE AGENCIES AND THE COUNCIL ARE GOING TO TAKE ACTION ON WITHOUT INCLUDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS IN THOSE DECISIONS, IT'S SERIOUSLY GOING TO DISCOURAGE THE IMPORTANT BUSINESS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS CAN ENGAGE IN IN THAT PROCESS. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>>GOODMAN: THANK YOU. I AGREE WITH YOU. MR. COKER. THANK YOU. FOLLOWED BY GERARD KINNEY.
>> KOUMSZ, I CAME DOWN TO SPEAK TONIGHT SHE I LEFT HOME WHEN THE MEETING STARRED WATCHING ON TV. I LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BETWEEN MANOR ROAD AND 38 AND A HALF STREET 16 YEARS AND STARTED HEARING PEOPLE TALK. I REALLY FEEL LIKE I NEED TO TALK ABOUT PROCESS FOR JUST A MINUTE. I HEAR EVERYBODY FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, WE'RE -- THESE ROADS ARE GOING TO BE EXPANDED, FOUR LANES HERE, FIVE LANES ON MANOR ROAD. AFTER ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE COME AND VENTED, THE GUY FROM THE CITY SAYS THERE'S NOT REALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING. THERE'S THIS AND THAT AND I HAVE TO BE HONEST I DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT ALL THIS MEANS AND I'M NOT SURE MOST PEOPLE DOFMENT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF PEOPLE HAD SOME STRAIGHT INFORMATION THEY COULD UNDERSTAND BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE LAYERS OF DIFFERENT STUDIES, INTERGOVERNMENTAL THIS AND THAT. IT APPEARS EVEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE EXPERTISE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAD NOT A CLUE. BUT SINCE I'M HERE, I DO WANT TO SAY WE HAVE A UNIQUE NEIGHBOR AND IT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT, THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH TALK, BUT WE HAVE TWO SCHOOLS BESIDES MAPLEWOOD WHICH IS UNIQUE IN THE DIVERSITY THAT IT BRINGS TO THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND IS RIGHT ON 38 AND A HALF TREAT. WE ALSO HAVE CAMPBELL WHICH WOULD BE GREATLY AFFECTED. WE HAVE UNIQUE BUSINESSES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S CHANGED A LOT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF NEW BUSINESS MINORITY OWNED SHE WOMEN OWNED. THEY'VE CHANGED THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S TURNED INTO A REAL COMFORTABLE WALKING NEIGHBORHOOD. I KNOW THERE'S ONE POINT THAT HASN'T BEEN MADE THAT I WANT TO. WE HAVE ONE OF THE FEW NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE PEOPLE CAN DRINK AND NOT DRIVE AND GET HOME. WE COULD WALK DOWN TO HOOVERS UNTIL 10:00 AT NIGHT, WE CAN WALK OVER TO CALABASH AND HANG OUT. PEOPLE DO NOT GET IN THEIR CARS AND CREATE DANGER. IT IS SCARY TO HAVE TO BE CROSS AGO FIVE OR SIX LANE ROAD IN A SLIGHTLY ALTERED CONDITION. I WOULD HOPE THAT BEFORE THESE CHANGES ARE MADE, WHICH REALLY WOULD SERIOUSLY CHANGE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT THERE CAN BE SOME WAY PEOPLE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE THE INPUT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON. THANK YOU. GOM MIKE MCCONE AND CINDY CORKEL AND THOSE ARE THE CARDS WE HAVE.
>> MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL, I'M GERARD KINNEY. MY SPOUSE AND I LIVE IN THE CHERRYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. -- NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'M AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION. I CHAIR THE I-35 SUBCOMMITTEE AND OTHER RESPONSE BILTS. I'LL -- RESPONSIBILITIES. I'LL SAY I AGREE WITH MOST OF THE THINGS SAID AND I WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON A COUPLE THINGS I DON'T THINK YOU'VE HEARD. ONE IS THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF KUTION AND SOME HAVE E-MAILED ME BACK WE'RE WRONG, 38 AND A HALF IS NOT IN THE PLAN. THEY CALL IT ANCHOR LANE. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T CAUGHT THAT DISTINCTION, IT'S AN ERROR IN ITS NAME. SO IT IS IN THERE. I WANT TO -- FIRST OF ALL REMIND YOU MARK LIND AND I TWO YEARS AGO CAME AND YOU WATCHED US UNROLL A LONG PETITION, OVER 500 NAMES. WE WERE TRYING TO GET TRAFFIC CALMING. YOU MAY REMEMBER. THAT A VERY SPECIFIC PROBLEM WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD AND I APPRECIATE MR. LIBRACH'S EXPLANATION, BUT SOMETIMES TITLES MEAN SOMETHING. WE'VE SPECIFICALLY BEEN TOLD BY THE CITY THAT WE DID NOT GET TRAFFIC CALMING BECAUSE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO COUNT 38 NA IN THE TRAFFIC COUNTS. BECAUSE IT'S AN ARTERIAL. IT'S A NAME, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE PLAN, DOWNGRADED, WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO OR CHANGE YOUR RULES AT THE TRAFFIC CALMING STORE SO THAT THAT DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST US. THE SECOND POINT IS THAT TXDOT HAS TOWED US DIRECTLY IN PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT -- TOLD US IN PUBLIC MEETINGS ONE REASON THEY ARE LOOKING AT 38 AND A HALF AT A PRIMARY CONNECTEDDER TO REDEVELOPED MULE CERTIFICATE BECAUSE OF ITS ARTERIAL DESIGNATION. THESE ARE TWO VERY GOOD REASONS FOR YOU TO CHANGE THAT DESIGNATION OR TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE PLAN OR WHATEVER ACTION YOU NEED TO TAKE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT OBJECTIVE. WE IN OUR ASSOCIATION, I CAN SPEAK DIRECTLY FOR THE ASSOCIATION TO SAY THAT WE ARE FOR THIS DOWN GRADING. I AM EMPOWERED BY THE ASSOCIATION TO SAY THAT TO YOU. ALSO TO SAY THAT WE -- THIS IS NOT A NIMBY THING. WE DO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF TRAFFIC THROUGH OUR AREA. WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME. BUT THERE ARE SEAMS BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS MORE APPROPRIATE THAN STREETS THAT DISSECT NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE CAPTIONERS CHANGE].
>>SLUSHER: THAT NONE OF 38TH, 38TH AND A HALF OR ANCHOR LANE ARE PROPOSED TO WIDENING EITHER IN THE CAMPO PLAN NOR THE CITY RECOMMENDATIONS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: I MIGHT SPAY IN RESPONSE TO SOMEONE WHO SPOKE JUST A MOMENT AGO, I WAS BACK THERE, BUT I WAS LISTENING TO YOU. IT WAS A QUESTION I THINK -- THERE WAS A STATEMENT MADE ABOUT HOW THERE'S CONFUSION. AND YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS FRUSTRATED BY THAT BECAUSE I KNOW FIRST OF ALL IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET OUT ALL OF THE INFORMATION, BUT WHAT SOMETIMES HAPPENS, AND FRANKLY I -- I KNOW OF A SITUATION WHERE IT HAPPENED WITH THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN, SOMETIMES WE FIND THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT -- THAT CREATE SOME OF THE CONFUSION AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY CREATE THE CONFUSION IN THE NAME OF POLICY THAT'S NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTING, BUT REALLY WHAT IT IS IS IT'S POLITICS. AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY SOMETIMES ARE ABLE TO CREATE A FIRE THAT'S REALLY NOT THERE, AND THEN THEY ACT LIKE THEY ARE THE FIREMEN PUTTING OUT THE FIRE WHEN THERE'S REALLY NOT ANYTHING ABOUT WIDENING, THEN THEY LOOK LIKE A HERO. THE NEXT TIME PEOPLE COME DOWN AND SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THAT. SO SOMETIMES THAT'S THE WAY THE CONFUSION GETS CREATED. I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF THAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED HERE. FRANKLY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY I APOLOGIZE FOR WHEN THOSE KINDS OF THINGS OCCUR. MIKE McCONE SIGNED UP AGAINST ROAD EXPANSION. HE SAYS ROAD INTENTION DOES NOT LOOK -- EXPANSION DO NOT WORK, LOOK AT WASHINGTON, D.C., L.A., HOUSTON, AIR QUALITY WILL DECREASE, INCREASE SMALL, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE NEED. CINDERELLA DIE CORKHILL, REGARDING CHANGING SOUTH LAMAR FROM MAD 4 TO MAD 6. THIS CHANGE WOULD ELIMINATE MANY OF THE BUSINESSES THAT I PATRON UNITED STATES, WHERE WILL I SHOP? THE ROBE THAT -- THE REASON THAT I LIVE WHERE I DO IS THE PROXIMITY OF SHOPPING CLOSE BY SO I DO NOT HAVE TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCES. THOSE ARE ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, SECONDED BY THE MAYOR. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO., THE MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER WYNN TEMPORARILY OFF THE DIAS, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH ABSENT. LET ME REMIND EVERYBODY WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING. WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE UP ITEM NO. 98 TONIGHT. WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS TAKE IN THE INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME WORKING BEFORE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH IS JUNE 7TH AND AT THAT COUNCIL MEETING WE WON'T CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE WE HAVE NOW REALLY CONDUCTED TWO AND WHAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO AT THAT HEARING IS JUST HAVE THE DELIBERATION OF THE COUNCIL AND DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATE ON THAT. I WILL SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS, THOUGH. THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT. AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS WE GO INTO THAT. THE WAY THAT I AM GOING TO BE LOOKING AT IT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE HEAR ABOUT IN AUSTIN, TEXAS IS TRAFFIC. THE NUMBER ONE THING. TRAFFIC. MANY OF YOU WHO TONIGHT HAVE BEEN HERE SAYING DON'T DO THIS, PROBABLY HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT TRAFFIC, IF NOT DIRECTLY TO ANY ONE OF US, AT A DINNER PARTY, AT THAT BAR THAT YOU CAN WALK FROM, ON YOUR THURSDAY NIGHTS WHEN YOU ARE NOT DOWN HERE, BUT YOU ARE SINGING KARAOKE, YOU PROBABLY HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT TRAFFIC. ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS WE HEAR FREQUENTLY IS, FOR EXAMPLE, NORTH-SOUTH GETTING INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND GETTING OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA, EVEN TO THE POINT THAT WHEN THERE WAS A SUGGESTION MADE ABOUT LOOKING AT HOW DO WE -- DO WE IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF THE CONGRESS AVENUE BRIDGE, THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE FIRE STORM OF TALK AND DISCUSSION ABOUT WILL THAT TAKE OUT ANY LANES OF TRAFFIC, WILL THAT SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY SO BAD. SO WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO PLAN AND -- THIS MORNING, BY THE WAY, WE HAD A PRESENTATION AND THAT PRESENTATION WAS WITH REGARD TO THE GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE TRAFFIC GROWTH. AND WE ARE -- WE HAVE GROWN A GREAT DEAL IN THE PAST 10 YEARS. THAT'S BROUGHT A WHOLE LOT OF CARS. THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN HERE A WHILE WE FEEL LIKE IT WAS ALMOST OVERNIGHT WE WENT FROM A CITY WHERE YOU COULD GET FIVE THINGS DOWN IN A DAY BY TRAVELLING AROUND, NOW YOU CAN GET TWO OR THREE THINGS DOWN BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC. BETWEEN NOW AND THE YEAR 2010, IT'S EXPECTED THAT WE WILL HAVE 800,000 PEOPLE IN JUST AUSTIN. NOW BY THE YEAR 2010 IT'S EXPECTED ABOUT A MILLION FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE IN THE REGION. SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC. AND WE ARE GOING TO -- PART OF THE WAY TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC IS TO PLAN RIGHT NOW. I WILL TELL YOU THE ONE WAY, I WILL JUST MENTION A COUPLE OF THINGS. WE TALKED ABOUT MUELLER A LOT TONIGHT IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT 38TH AND A HALF AND MANOR. WE KEEP SAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, MUELLER IS CLOSED. WELL, YEAH. BUT WE HAVE JUST GONE THROUGH A MAJOR PLANNING PROCESS TO PLAN FOR IT TO BE OPEN. AND PART OF THE PLANNING WE DID, BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS RESULTED IN AN OUTCOME THAT GIVES YOU A GREAT NUMBER OF HOUSES, BUT VERY LITTLE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL, MEANS THAT A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE LIVING THERE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET OUT OF THERE TO GO WHERE IT IS THEY WORK. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO LIVE NEAR WHERE THEY WERE. BECAUSE THE WAY THAT WAS PLANNED. SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE LEAVING THERE AND COMING BACK. AND SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE -- I JUST THINK IT IS WRONG IF WE DON'T NOW PLAN FOR WHAT IT IS THAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR. IF WHAT WE DO INSTEAD IS SAY WELL IT'S CLOSED ONGHT NOW SO WE CAN IGNORE IT. THEN FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS, 15 YEARS FROM NOW THERE WILL BE PEOPLE STANDING UP HERE SAYING SAYING WHAT DID THEY DO BACK THEN, THEY KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO DO THIS AT MUELLER. THE SECOND PART OF THAT, THAT I WILL SAY, IS THAT WE NEED TO LEARN FROM PAST MISTAKES. PART OF THE REASON I ASKED MR. KINNEY THAT QUESTION ABOUT WHAT STREETS WOULD YOU LOOK AT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LEARN FROM IN THE PAST WHAT WE HAVE SAID IS WE ARE NOT GOING TO WIDEN OR IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN CERTAIN WAYS ON CERTAIN ROADS FOR FEAR THAT IT WOULD DO DAMAGE TO A NEIGHBORHOOD. LEGITIMATE FEAR BY THE WAY. EXCELLENT FEAR. BUT ONE OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, I BELIEVE, IS THAT BY NOT EXPANDING SOME OF THOSE ROADS, NOW PEOPLE ARE STUCK IN TRAFFIC. AND THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH ON THAT ROAD. SO WHAT DO THEY DO? THEY MAKE A RIGHT-HAND TURN INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY DIG THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD. OR THEY MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY DIG THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS YOU ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T PROVIDED THEM ACCESS ELSEWHERE. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR PAST MISTAKES OUR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. OF COURSE ONE OF THE WAYS WE RESPOND TO THAT PROBLEM IS TO NOT INCREASE TRAFFIC FLOW BUT INSTEAD TO SAY LET'S PUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THEN INTO TRAFFIC CALMING. LET'S SLOW IT DOWN EVEN FURTHER. LET'S MAKE IT EVEN HARDER AND I WILL TELL YOU, MAYBE YOU ARE NOT TONIGHT COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT, BUT I WILL BET YOU HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT. NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU ARE NOT RIGHT ABOUT THESE CONCERNS. BUT I DO THINK THAT IT IS ONLY FAIR FOR ME TO SAY THAT -- THAT THOSE ARE PART OF THE WAYS THAT I AM LOOKING AT IT BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE A LARGE POPULATION OF AUSTINITES THAT ARE VERY FRUSTRATED BY THE TRAFFIC AND ARE LOOKING FOR US TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS. FRANKLY I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE ALTERNATIVE MEANS FOR THE CAR. GOT TO HAVE IT. I WORKED VERY HARD FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. [APPLAUSE] IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I WANT IT TO COME BACK. I HAVE TOLD PEOPLE PUBLICLY I WANT IT TO COME BACK. BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THAT RIGHT NOW. WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM JUST WITH THINGS LIKE RAIL. WE ARE GOING TO -- CLEARLY IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT.
>>GOODMAN: MAYOR?
>>MAYOR WATSON: YES, MAYOR PRO TEM.
>>GOODMAN: MAY I FOLLOW UP ON SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST SAID BECAUSE I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT. SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ALL THOUGHT ABOUT, BUT WE RARELY GAVE OURSELVES THE TIME AND TOOLS TO ADDRESS, WHICH IS NOT SIMPLY DESIGNATING THE MAJOR TRAFFIC FLOW BY CURRENT SIZE ASSUMPTIONS FOR CAPACITY AND SPEED AND LAND USE, THAT ARE -- THAT ARE THERE JUST BECAUSE OF THE NAME THAT WE GAVE TO A STREET. WE HAVE NOT LOOKED AT SOME OF THE -- AS SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS ARE NOW AT ACTUALLY CONTROLLING AND CHANNELLING FLOW. DEPENDING ON THE KIND OF DESTINATIONS, THE KIND OF TRAFFIC AND TRIPS THAT ARE GENERATED, THE DESTINATION POINTS, THE GENERATION POINTS AND SO IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT ALL -- -- PUT IT ALL HERE ON THIS MAJOR ARTERIAL. SOME OF IT SHOULD GO HERE, BECAUSE THIS IS A MINOR ARTERIALAL. THERE IS NO REAL PLANNING, JUST MAINLY RELIED ON THE DESIGNATION WE GIVE TO STREETS, ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS AND ROLL AND FUNCTION THAT WE WANT THAT STREET TO HAVE. SO I'M HOPING THAT -- THAT WITH MR. LIBRACH'S HELP IN LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE THIS, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WILL DO AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS THAT HAVE 38TH AND A HALF, MANOR, ALL OF THAT, AS A MAJOR FOCUS, I THINK ARE GOING TO HELP US BUILD THE MECHANISMS THAT WE USE ALL THROUGH THE CITY FOR EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE WANTING TO DO AND EXACTLY WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE WANTING TO DO.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THANK YOU. COUNCIL, WE WILL NOW TAKE UP ITEMS 65 AND 66. 65 I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
>>SLUSHER: EVERYBODY DRIVE CAREFULLY.
>> WELL, MAYOR, DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS ON THIS --?
>>MAYOR WATSON: NO. WE HAVE ALREADY CONDUCTED OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS. IT'S NOW FOR US TO --
>>SLUSHER: WELL, I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. I THINK COUNCILMEMBER WYNN'S -- MIGHT HAVE SOME AMENDMENTS. I WANT TO GET SOME STUFF ON THE TABLE ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT WAS DISCUSSED. BUT I WOULD GO AHEAD AND PUT THAT MOTION ON THE TABLE.
>>AYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT THE MOTION TOYS APPROVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, IS THERE A SECOND? I WILL SECOND THE MOTION. LET ME JUST SAY SO THAT THOSE OF YOU ALL THAT ARE SIGNED UP. WE HAVE CONDUCTED A HEARING ON THESE MATTERS. WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT HEARING AND WE WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND DELIBERATION. WHAT I DO QUICKLY, COUNCILMEMBER, WHETHER I CALL ON YOU IS READ THROUGH SOME OF THESE CARDS, READ THROUGH THESE CARDS, JUST SAY WHAT THEY SAID. JO ANN KAY BATY IS FOR, SAYS SUPPORT LOWER SHOAL CREEK TRAIL. JANET GILLIS IS FOR, FINISH LOWER SHOAL CREEK TRAIL, PLEASE. CHARLES RAMSEY JUST SAYS FOR. CHRIS RILEY, FOR. SCOTT JOHNSON, FOR, PLEASE RETAIN FUNDING FOR THE TOWN LAKE HIKE AND BIKE BRIDGE COMPLETION. MIKE LIBRICK PLEASE FUND LAMAR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AS PROPOSED, PLANNED, PERMITTED, PROMISED, DO NOT LET ANYONE RUN UP THE PRICE TO SCUTTLE THE PROCESS. PLEASE FIND WAYS FOR BETTER TRANSPORTATION. AMY BABICH SAYS PLEASE ALLOCATE 2.7 MILLION FOR THE LAMAR PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE BRIDGE. DO NOT DELAY ANY LONGER, THE CITY HAS MADE THE OLD LAMAR BRIDGE MORE DANGEROUS THAN EVER BY REMOVING ONE OF THE SIDEWALKS, PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS NEED TO BE ABLE TO CROSS FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER, PLEASE FINISH THE BRIDGE NOW.
>>MAYOR WATSON: BY THE ATHAT BRIDGE IS BEING FINISHED. NOTHING WE DO TONIGHT CHANGES IN ANY WAY THAT. ROGER BAKER, DIDN'T SAY FOR OR AGAINST OR NEUTRAL. ERIC ANDERSON, FOR COMPLETING LAMAR BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, MAYOR WATSON, COUNCILMEMBERS, PLEASE RECONSIDER ITEMS 65 AND 66, PLEASE SUPPORT COMPLETION OF TOWN LAKE BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, PLEASE CONSIDER RECONVENING TOWN LAKE BRIDGE IDEA WORKSHOP TO REACH COMMUNITY CONSENSUS ON BRIDGE COMPLETION CROSS TOWN CONNECTION. JEB BOYT WRITES FOR. DAVID WITTEY NEUTRAL, ENGINE IF HER MCPHAIL NEUTRAL, CITY OF FANNY THOMAS STEVE RODGERS FOR BUT EXTEND LAMAR BRIDGE, HILL ABLE FOR, CHRISTOPHER SEMANK, I SUPPORT THE PEDESTRIAN LAMAR BRIDGE AND TUNNEL, I WALKED THIS INTERSECTION TODAY. LAMAR PEDESTRIAN BIKE BRIDGE THERE HAS TO BE A SAFE WAY TO CROSS TO FIFTH STREET NOT ALL THE WAY OVER AT SEAHOLM. KEN MARSH, PLEASE COME UP A BRIDGE THAT COMPLETES THE BRIDGE AND SHOAL CREEK TRAIL. [INAUDIBLE] AGAINST, [INAUDIBLE] AGAINST. DAVE WEST ENDBURGER, PLEASE COMPLETE THE PROCESS TO NOMINATE THE BRIDGE FOR TEXDOT ENHANCEMENTS. GER RAD KINNEY, FAVOR KEEPING THE NORTHWEST EXTENSION LAMAR BRIDGE IN THE FUNDING ALLOCATION. ROBIN STALLINGS IS NEUTRAL. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, LET'S HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION FROM THE STAFF ON THE FIVE -- ON THE FIVE PIECES OF THIS. LET ME JUST POINT OUT THIS IS THE CAPITAL MET MONEY THAT'S BEING GIVEN BACK TO THE JURISDICTIONS OUT OF THE QUARTER CENT AND THE CITY IS PUTTING 15% OF IT TO -- TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN USES LIKE CAMPO DOES. SO UNTIL THAT HAPPENED, WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WAS THAT IT ENDED AT TOWN LAKE. THE CITY DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO THE FURTHER EXTENSIONS. THE CHOICE TONIGHT IS BETWEEN -- I WILL LET MR. LIBRACH QUOTE THE NUMBERS, MORE THAN 4 MILLION TO GET THAT UP TO ALMOST TO FIFTH STREET TO EXTEND THE LAMAR BRIDGE UP THAT FAR. OR TO INSTEAD HAVE ROUTE -- ROUTE CYCLISTS OVER ON THE -- TO THE SHOAL CREEK TRAIL. AND TAKE IT UP TO FIFTH THROUGH THERE. THAT'S AROUND A MILLION DOLLARS. IT CAN ALSO BE DONE FASTER THAN DOING THE -- WHAT SOME FOLKS ARE CALLING COMPLETE THE LAMAR BRIDGE OR EXTEND THE LAMAR BRIDGE. THE SHOAL CREEK ONE CAN BE DONE FASTER. IT STILL GETS FOLKS UP TO FIFTH STREET IF THEY ARE COMMUTING ON -- ON THEIR BICYCLES. IT SAVES SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS THAT CAN GO TO OTHER PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE AMENITIES. FOLKS IN WHEELCHAIRS WILL STILL BE ABLE TO -- COULD TAKE THIS -- THIS ROUTE AS WELL.
>> FOR THE TRAILS --
>>SLUSHER: EXCUSE ME, MA'AM. EXCUSE ME. AND IT ALLOWS THE LAMAR BRIDGE TO -- AS -- LET'S SEE I THINK MR. ANDERSON RECOMMENDED, I KNOW IT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT, IT'S PART OF WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT, WAS TO RECONVENE A PLANNING PROCESS AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ON THAT THE USE DOWN THERE NEXT TO SEAHOLM, THE SEAHOLM MASTER PLAN, THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S COMING IN THERE, THE CEDAR DOOR BEING MOVED AWAY SO IT ALLOWS ALL OF THAT TO BE PLANNED. THAT'S STILL TO GO FORWARD LATER. SO -- THAT WAS A SHORT PRESENTATION BY ME. YOU CAN TAKE OVER NOW. [INAUDIBLE].
>>SLUSHER: NOW.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. THE STAFF HAS CHANGED ITS RECOMMENDATION TO YOU FROM THE ONE THAT WE HAD PROPOSED TWO WEEKS AGO. TWO WEEKS AGO WE RECOMMENDED 4.55 MILLION, BE ALLOCATED TO THE SECOND PHASE OF THE LAMAR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE. AND OUR RECOMMENDATION THEN WAS WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD COST TO BRING THE BRIDGE FROM WHERE IT ENDS NOW, IN THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN LAKE, ACROSS CESAR CHAVEZ AND THEN EITHER DOWN AND UNDER SANDRA MURIDA WAY OR TAKE IT AND FLY ACROSS SMUR, IN EITHER KAY STOPPING SHORT OF THIRD STREET. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT DIFFERENT COSTS FOR THAT OR LOOKING AT THE COST FOR THAT, HAVE COME UP WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT COSTS. WE FINALLY CONCLUDED AND THE REASON FOR OUR CHANGED RECOMMENDATION, BUT WE REALLY DIDN'T FEEL THAT WE WERE AT A POINT THAT WE COULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH THE NUMBERS, WE COULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH KNOWING WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE WITH THE -- WITH THE MASTER PLAN FOR -- FOR SEA HOME WITH THE COUNCIL. THOSE THINGS NEEDED TO PLAY THEMSELVES OUT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER BEFORE WE RECOMMEND AT THIS POINT IN TIME A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THAT BRIDGE AS WE HAD THOUGHT ABOUT IT EARLIER. INSTEAD WE HAD AN ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION. AS YOU INDICATED WE WOULD PROPOSE $1 MILLION THAT WOULD BE USED TO FINISH THE SHOAL CREEK HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL TO FIFTH STREET. IT WOULD TAKE IT AS SOME OF THE PLANNING AND FUNDS ARE NOW BEING USED, TO TAKE IT FROM CESAR CHAVEZ, FOLLOWING THE PATH OF SHOAL CREEK ITSELF, TO FIFTH STREET. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PLACES ALONG THERE WHERE THESE FUNDS, THIS MILLION DOLLARS WOULD BE USED TO FIX SOME OF THE -- SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST THAT -- THAT ARE THERE. AND I WON'T GO INTO THOSE AT THIS POINT. BUT THAT IS -- THAT IS ONE RECOMMENDATION. AND AS WE DO THAT, WE RECOGNIZE THAT REALLY IT'S NOT THE FINAL ANSWER OR NOT A PERMANENT ANSWER TO THE ISSUE OF -- OF MOBILITY ALONG LAMAR. THAT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AND THAT WE THINK THAT AS A RESULT OF FURTHER STUDY AND THE COMPLETION BY THE COUNCIL OF ITS DELIBERATION WITH THE MASTER PLAN, THAT WE WILL BE IN A POSITION AT A FUTURE DATE TO COME BACK AND LOOK AT THOSE OTHER THINGS. BUT THAT -- THAT THEN FREES UP THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS AND WE HAVE A SERIES OF THINGS THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION WITH THOSE FUNDS. FIRST, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE INCREASE THE MATCH FOR THE T21 PROPOSALS AND NOW THERE WOULD BE 3 INSTEAD OF FOUR PROPOSALS THAT WE WOULD PROPOSE TO SEND FORWARD TO CAMPO AND THEN TO THE STATE FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE -- THE FUNDING THE STATE ENHANCEMENT FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION. AND WE WOULD INCREASE THOSE ALL TO 252%, WHICH IS THE AMOUNT THAT IS AVAILABLE -- TO 52% WHICH IS THE AMOUNT THAT IS AVAILABLE FROM '988 BONDS FOR THE WALL -- $98 BONDS FOR THE WALNUT CREEK PROJECT. WE WOULD BRING THE OTHER TWO PROJECTS, UPPER BOGGY CREEK AND CONGRESS UP TO THE 52% LEVEL. THAT WOULD ADD FOR EACH OF THEM APPROXIMATELY $800,000 EACH. TO BRING THEM EACH TO A 52% AMOUNT. WE ALSO, AS A RESULT OF FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH -- WITH THE ENGINEERS WHO ARE LOOKING AT THE ISSUES ON FREED RICK LANE THAT YOU -- FREDERICK LANE THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT YOUR DELIBERATIONS A FEW WEEKS AGO. THEY INDICATED TO US THAT THE MILLION DOLLAR THAT WE HAD SUGGESTED TO ALLOCATE FOR THAT -- TO BRING THAT ROAD TO THREE RAINS -- THREE LANES WOULD BE A LITTLE SHORT. WE THINK ANOTHER $500,000 IS GOING TO BE NEEDED TO REALLY TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS ON FREDERICK LANE. OUR NEXT RECOMMENDATION IS TO ADD $500,000 TO -- TO THAT PROJECT THAT YOU ALREADY APPROVED LAST TIME. THEN WE WOULD ADD AN ADDITIONAL $750,000 TO THE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ALONG GUADALUPE STREET THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT IN THE TESTIMONY BY A NUMBER OF PEOPLE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. THIS SPECIFICALLY WOULD BE FOR THE SEGMENT COMING OFF OF GUADALUPE AT 23RD STREET TO MAKE THAT A PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY AREA THERE AT THE DRAG. AND FINALLY, THE REMAINDER, 641,000 DOLLARS WOULD BE ALLOCATED TO ADDITIONAL BIKE AND PED PROJECTS. THOSE PROJECTS WOULD BE DETERMINED IN A PROCESS THAT WE WOULD CREATE AND TAKE OURSELVES THROUGH IN THE NEXT PERIOD OF TIME. THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT SEVERAL COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE MENTIONED THAT THEY FELT NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST OR CONSIDERED IN THE ORIGINAL LIST, BUT I THINK WITH THIS MONEY IN THIS AREA THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE PROJECTS AND MANY OTHERS. AND WE WOULD HOPE THAT -- THAT TO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY IN THAT EFFORT. SO THOSE ARE THE ALTERNATE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER? YOU STILL HAVE THE FLOOR.
>>SLUSHER: OKAY. I'M -- COULD WE GET MS. McCAN UP HERE WITH THE MAP? SORT OF TAKE US THROUGH THE -- SHOW US WHERE WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN WITH THE 4.7 MILLION ON LAMAR IF WE WOULD HAVE GONE AHEAD WITH SUSTAINEDDING THAT RIGHT NOW RATHER THAN DO -- EXTENDING THAT RIGHT NOW RATHER THAN DOING THE SHOAL CREEK OPTION.
>> WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED FROM TWO WEEKS AGO IS $4.5 MILLION, WHICH WOULD HAVE GIVEN US A FLYOVER OVER CESAR CHAVEZ AND THEN AN UNDERPASS SUBPOENAED SANDRA MURIDA WAY, AND THEN ANDING -- LANDING ROUGHLY HERE JUST BELOW THE THIRD STREET OVERPASS, OVER LAMAR.
>>SLUSHER: THAT'S 4.7 MILLION.
>> 4.5.
>>SLUSHER: 4.5 MILLION DOLLARS. THAT'S GOING TO PUT PEOPLE OFF -- DOWN ON THE SIDEWALK ON LAMAR BOULEVARD SHORT OF THE UNDERPASS, IF YOU ARE HEADING NORTH, YOU ARE SHORT OF THE RAILROAD UNDERPASS.
>> RIGHT.
>>SLUSHER: SO YOU WOULD STILL HAVE TO GO UNDERNEATH THAT. AND THEN GET UP TO -- TO FIFTH AND SIXTH AND LAMAR LIKE THAT. ON THE SIDEWALK OR -- OR I GUESS IF ON A BIKE, THEN YOU WOULD BE OUT IN THE TRAFFIC ON LAMAR.
>> IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS, RIGHT.
>>SLUSHER: OKAY. THAT WOULD BE -- SO 4.5 MILLION TO DO THAT. HOW MUCH WERE WE LOOKING AT TO GET IT UP TO 5TH?
>> ANOTHER 2.7 OR 2.8 MILLION.
>>SLUSHER: THAT WOULD BE -- OVER $7 MILLION.
>> RIGHT.
>>SLUSHER: OKAY. AND SO THEN SHOW US WHAT WE CAN DO FOR -- FOR AROUND A MILLION. ON SHOAL CREEK.
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT, THIS IS THE -- THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AS IT'S BEING FINISHED RIGHT NOW. AND THIS WOULD -- THIS WOULD INCLUDE JUST COMING DOWN TO GRADE, AND THEN NOT CROSSING CESAR CHAVEZ UNTIL WE REACH SHOAL CREEK AND THEN USING THE UNDERPASS, WHICH ALREADY EXISTS UNDER CESAR CHAVEZ AND IS ABOUT TO BE UPGRADED THIS FALL, AND CONTINUE ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF SHOAL CREEK OVER THE THIRD STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY, WHICH IS NOT RIGHT NOW A ROAD AT ALL, AND AROUND THE AUSTIN ENERGY SITE. WITH THE OPTION OF COMING UP TO WEST AVENUE AND CONNECTING TO THE STREET SYSTEM THERE AND GOING NORTH. OR CONTINUING ON WESTWARD BEHIND THE POST PROPERTIES WEST AVENUE LOTS OF WHERE THE TRAIL CURRENTLY STOPS HERE, BUT AGAIN DOES AND HE ALLOW -- ALLOW YOU TO COME OUT ON A PUBLIC PATH TO BOWIE STREET AND TRAVEL NORTH.
>>SLUSHER: THEN BETWEEN FIFTH AND SIXTH, THE MARKETPLACE DEVELOPMENT HAS AN AGREEMENT UNDER WHICH THEY WOULD IMPROVE THE TRAIL TO GET IT THROUGH THERE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>>SLUSHER: AND THEN FROM SIXTH TO 38TH, THERE'S EXISTING TRAIL.
>> OR EVEN UP TO 40TH, I BELIEVE.
>>SLUSHER: 40TH, EXCUSE ME, THE CITY HAS FUNDS ALREADY ALLOCATED DOING IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT TRAIL, THAT EXISTING TRAIL.
>> I THINK THE TRAIL EXISTS IN FAIRLY GOOD CONDITION.
>>SLUSHER: ONE OF THE PARKS FOLKS TOLD ME, MR. STRONG SAID THERE ARE FUNDS FOR SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>>SLUSHER: OKAY. SO THEN FOR A MILLION WE CAN CONNECT UP TO FIFTH, DO YOU HAVE TO GO A LITTLE BIT DOWN THE TRAIL TO SHOAL CREEK, THEN CONNECT ALL THE WAY UP TO FIFTH STREET. THE MARKETPLACE DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO IMPROVE THE TRAIL BETWEEN FIFTH AND SIXTH. AND THEN YOU WOULD CONNECT INTO AN EXISTING TRAIL THAT GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO 40TH. IF YOU WERE GOING TO ANY OF THE BUSINESSES, SAY, ALONG LAMAR BOULEVARD, BETWEEN SAY FIFTH AND 12TH STREET, THEN YOU WOULD BE ABOUT A BLOCK AT WAY, SOME POINTS LESS, ON THAT TRAIL.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>>SLUSHER: IF YOU WERE ON A BICYCLE, YOU WOULDN'T BE OUT IN THE TRAFFIC, IN THE VEHICLE TRAFFIC ON LAMAR.
>> THAT'S CORRECT, UH-HUH.
>>SLUSHER: THEN SHOW US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CESAR CHAVEZ, BY SEA HOMEODEVELOPMENT THAT'S BEEN APPROVED -- SEAHOLM DEVELOPMENT THAT'S BEEN APPROVED, YOU SOME OF THE CONFIGURATION MIGHT CHANGE THERE.
>> ARE YOU SPEAKING ABOUT THESE PROPOSED IN THE MASTER PLAN.
>> RIGHT.
>> CURRENTLY TO ORIENT YOU SANDRA MURIDA WAY COMES INTO LAMAR BOULEVARD IN THIS FASHION HERE. THE PROPOSAL FROM THE ROMA DESIGN GROUP WAS TO REORIENT IT INTO MORE OF A CALMED STREET LIKE IN THIS FASHION, TO MAKE IT FLANK IMMEDIATELY THE PRIVATE PROPERTY HERE THAT BELONGS TO THE LUMBER MEN'S INVESTMENT CORPORATION. WOULD PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO IT. ALSO EXTENDING OFF SANDRA MURIDA WE HAD ENVISIONED A VERY AXIAL CEREMONIAL ENTER INTO THE SEAHOLM POWER PLANT, WHICH WOULD AGAIN BE RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE PROPERTY. THE PREVIOUS CONDITION HAD BEEN THAT WE HAD ROADWAYS SPLITTING PARKLAND IN HALF. WE HAVE A LOT OF PARKING ON PARKLAND RIGHT NOW. WHICH THIS PROPOSES TO REMOVE. SO WE ARE GAINING A LOT OF GREEN SPACE AND REMOVING QUITE A BIT OF THE IMPERVIOUS COVER THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS. SO IN LOOKING AT ALL OF THAT, AND WE HAD LOOKED AT HOW THE CURRENT BRIDGE DESIGN CAME INTO THIS AREA, AND THESE IDEAS OF CHANGING THE ROADWAY, CREATING A NEW ENTRANCE FOR SEAHOLM, PROVIDING BETTER PARKLAND WERE REALLY IN CONFLICT WITH THE EXISTING BRIDGE DESIGN WHICH FLEW OVER AT THIS POINT AND KEPT COMING OVER AND LANDED ROUGHLY IN THAT SAME SPOT WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE PLANS ENDING AT THIS POINT BEFORE YOU GET INTO THE TUNNEL PROJECT.
>>SLUSHER: OKAY. THAT'S ALL -- ALL THAT I HAVE FOR NOW, MAYOR.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL RIGHT, I WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER WYNN FOR HIS POTENTIAL AMENDMENT.
>>WINN: YES, THANK YOU. BOTH 65 AND 66 ARE RELATED IN THAT 66 IS THE ACTUAL T21 PROPOSALS THAT WE WILL BE SENDING FORWARD ON THE STATE-WIDEN HANCEMENT PROJECTS. WALKING THROUGH ITEM NO. 65, I -- I COMMEND COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER ON THE -- ON THE UTILIZING THE OPPORTUNITY ON THE SHOAL CREEK IMPROVEMENTS FOR THAT MILLION DOLLARS. AND THEN I -- I ALSO DRAMATICALLY LIKE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THIS -- THIS ARTERIAL AND NEIGHBORHOOD SIDEWALK POOL OF -- OF MONEY AND LARGER POOL OF PROJECTS TO FUND, THAT BEING SORT OF A BASIN FOR US TO -- TO PUT ANY EXCESS FUNDS BACK INTO. [ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS]
>>WYNN: I THINK THAT WITH A 40% LOCAL MATCH, WE ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING VIRTUALLY OF TELLING THE STATE THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT -- THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT TO US, WE'RE DOUBLING THE STATE RECOMMENDED LOCAL MATCH. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE, AND SINCE THIS TAKES IN BOTH ITEMS NO. 2 -- I'M SORRY, NUMBER 3 AND NUMBER 5, IS THAT WE REDUCE THE LOCAL MATCH ON ALL THREE OF THE T-21 PROJECTS TO 40%. WALNUT CREEK, BOGGY CREEK AND CONGRESS AVENUE. THE DELTA, WHAT THAT DOES, IS THAT WILL THEN -- AND I RECOGNIZE THAT, OKAY, SO IT'S A LESS THAN LOCAL MATCH, SO PERHAPS IT'S LESS LIKELY TO BE FUNDED, BUT I REALLY BELIEVE DOUBLING THE MINIMUM MATCH IS A SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT FOR THE STATE. BUT BY DOING THAT WE FREE UP A LITTLE MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS. ABOUT 1,050,000, WHICH I THEN PROPOSE THAT WE REALLOCATE BACK INTO NUMBER 2, WHICH IS THE ARTERIAL AND NEIGHBORHOOD SIDEWALK PROJECTS THAT ALLOWS US TO HELP OUT WITH THOSE -- ESSENTIALLY WITH BOTH ACCESSIBILITY, WITH PEDESTRIAN AND TO A SLIGHTLY LESSER DEGREE WITH BICYCLE ENHANCEMENTS ON THOSE ARTERIALS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. SO MY -- I GUESS MY MOTION, WE HAVEN'T HAD A MOTION YET, HAVE WE.
>>SLUSHER: YEAH, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE. IT WOULD BE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER MADE THE MOTION.
>>WYNN: AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, I'M PROPOSING THAT -- NOT TO BE TOO WORDY, BUT WE REDUCE THE LOCAL MATCHES ON ALL THREE PROJECTS TO 40%, THERE BY FREEING UP A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS, 1,050,000. AND THAT GET REALLOCATED UP TO ITEM NUMBER 2 UNDER 65, WHICH IS THE SIDEWALK, THE ARTERIAL NEIGHBORHOOD SIDEWALK PROGRAM TO ESSENTIALLY INCREASE THAT PROJECT FUNDING BY 1.7 MILLION DOLLARS.
>>SLUSHER: OKAY. LET ME ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: BEFORE YOU -- DO YOU CONSIDER THAT FRIENDLY?
>>SLUSHER: YES. WOULD THE -- IT GOES BACK INTO TALKS AND/OR BICYCLE IMPROVEMENTS.
>>WYNN: WELL, MY SUGGESTION WAS JUST TO PUT IT BACK INTO LINE ITEM NUMBER 2 AND PERHAPS MR. LEBROCK CAN DESCRIBE THAT A LITTLE BETTER. YOU KNOW, THE SORT DESCRIPTION OF THAT LINE ITEM IS SIDEWALKS ALONG ARTERIALS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I DO HAVE A QUESTION OF WHAT IF ANY POTENTIAL BICYCLE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD -- .
>>SLUSHER: ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE OF MR. LEBROCK BROADCAST IF HE CAN TAKE BOTH OF THEM, WHAT ARE OTHER CITY IES PUTTING INTO THEIR MATCH?
>> LET ME SEE IF ANYBODY FROM THE STAFF HAS SOME INTELLIGENCE ABOUT THAT, ABOUT WHERE THAT MIGHT BE. BUT I CAN -- WHILE I'M WAITING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT HAS THAT ANSWER, ANSWER -- POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS TO YOU. ONE, COUNCILMEMBER, I THINK THAT THE MATCH FOR WALNUT CREEK IS '98 BOND MONEY. AND I'M NOT SURE THAT IT CAN -- IN THE SAME WAY THIS CAPITAL METRO MONEY CAN BE MOVED TO ITEM 2 THE WAY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE THERE. THE SECOND IS THAT I DO NEED TO SAY THAT OUR BEST INTELLIGENCE IS THAT THE TWO MILLION DOLLARS IS A MAGIC NUMBER THAT IF WE ARE ASKING FOR MORE THAN TWO MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STATE, THAT THAT IS A RED FLAG. WE MAY BE WRONG AND THAT'S OUR BEST INTELLIGENCE, AND I WANT TO POINT THAT OUT, WITH WHAT YOU SUGGESTED THAT WE WOULD PUT -- I BELIEVE THE MATH IS THERE. WOULD PUT WALNUT CREEK AT ABOUT 2.WILL MILLION WE'D BE ASKING FOR. SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT IT OUT TO YOU. I MAY HAVE MISSED ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, I'M SORRY. 2.8.
>>WYNN: THE OTHER QUESTION IS IN YOUR LINE ITEM NUMBER 2, ESSENTIALLY THE SIDEWALK LINE ITEM, CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE TYPICAL PROJECT THERE? DOES IT ALSO INCLUDE BICYCLE ENHANCEMENT BY CHANCE OR IS IT STRICTLY FROM ACCESSIBILITY AND PEDESTRIAN?
>> THIS IS -- TYPICALLY DOES NOT INCLUDE BICYCLE ENHANCEMENT. I THINK I -- PERHAPS STAFF CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. THIS IS MORE STANDARD PEDESTRIAN AND ADA RAMPS AND THINGS OF THAT SORT THAT WOULD GO INTO THE SIDEWALKS. AND THEY WOULD COST TIP THROUGH TYPICALLY AROUND 80,000 DOLLARS FOR A SEGMENT OF SIDEWALK FOR A PROJECT. SO WE WOULD PERHAPS BE ABLE TO DO FIVE TO 10 MORE PROJECTS WITH THE FUNDING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. THAT'S A ROUGH IDEA.
>>WYNN: OKAY. WELL, MAYOR, BASED ON MR. LEBROCK'S ANSWER, I NEED TO AMEND MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT SLIGHTLY. ON THE WALNUT CREEK, REDUCTION OF THAT LOCAL MATCH TO 40%, WHAT THAT DOES IS THERE'S ABOUT A 485,000 DOLLAR DELTA OR SAVINGS ON THAT. THOSE DOLLARS STAY WITH THE WALNUT CREEK PROJECT, SO WE DON'T -- WE DON'T ALLOCATE THOSE '98 BOND -- TRAIL BOND MONIES INTO OTHER PROJECTS. SO IN FACT, WHAT WOULD END UP HAPPENING IS THERE WOULD BE ABOUT 530,000 DOLLARS THAT WE CAN THEN REALLOCATE TO LINE ITEM NUMBER 2, THE SIDEWALK ISSUES. AND THEN, OF COURSE, KEEP IN MIND THAT APPROXIMATELY THANKSGIVING WE WILL KNOW FROM THE STATE WHEN, IF ANY, LOCAL PROJECTS ARE FUNDED, AND THAT THEN EFFECTIVELY FREES UP THE MILLION-DOLLAR PER PROJECT THAT WASN'T CHOSEN. AS AN EXAMPLE, IF WALNUT CREEK IS CHOSEN AND BOGGY CREEK AND CONGRESS AVENUE AREN'T, WELL, THAT FREES UP TWO MILLION DOLLARS. THE TWO INDIVIDUAL ONE MILLION DOLLAR MATCHES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR CONGRESS AND BOGGY. AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS, I SUSPECT, COME FALL. SO MY AMENDMENT THEN IS TO REDUCE THE LOCAL MATCHES TO 40%, KNOWING THAT WALNUT CREEK DOLLARS STILL STAY WITH THE WALNUT CREEK PROJECT. AND THERE BY FREEING UP ABOUT 277,000 DOLLARS FROM THE BOGGY CREEK LOCAL MATCH AND 288,000 DOLLARS FROM THE CONGRESS AVENUE MATCH, AND THAT THOSE -- THAT'S THE COMBINED NUMBER THAT GOES INTO ITEM NUMBER 2.
>>SLUSHER: DOES THAT -- ALL RIGHT, MAYOR?
>>MAYOR WATSON: I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTOOD. I'M SORRY, I'M -- CAN YOU WALK THROUGH THAT AGAIN.
>>WYNN: STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT AS PART OF ITEM NUMBER 65, WE END UP FUNDING TWO OF THE THREE T-21 PROJECTS THAT WE'LL SUBMIT TO THE STATE NEXT MONTH. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE INCREASE THE BOGGY CREEK -- ITEM NUMBER 3 UNDER 65 IS WHEN WE INCREASE THE BOGGY CREEK LOCAL MATCH BY APPROXIMATELY 810,000 DOLLARS. AND IN ITEM NO. 5 UNDER 65 WE INCREASE THE CONGRESS AVENUE MATCH BY ABOUT 848,000 DOLLARS. WHAT THOSE TWO ADDITIONAL MATCHES DO IS BRING THOSE TWO PROJECTS UP TO A 52% LOCAL MATCH, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE LOCAL MATCH THAT IS CURRENTLY PROPOSED ON THE WALL NET CREEK TRAIL PROJECT. WALNUT CREEK TRAIL PROJECT. I WOULD LIKE TO REDUCE ALL THREE OF THOSE LOCAL MATCH FIGURES DOWN TO 40%. I THINK THAT STILL SENDS A VERY STRONG SIGNAL TO THE STATE ABOUT THE PRIORITY OF THESE PROJECTS. I THINK IF YOU REMEMBER TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO WHEN WE SUBMITTED A DOZEN OR SO PROJECTS TO THE STATE, I THINK THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE WERE ALL OF THE 20% MINIMUM. I THINK MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE VAST MAJORITY OF PROJECTS SUBMITTED ACROSS THE STATE ARE AT THE 20% MINIMUM SINCE MANY COMMUNITIES ARE OUT PROSPECTING FOR MATCHING DOLLARS AND THEY SEND AS MANY PROJECTS WITH THE MINIMUM LOCAL MATCH AS THEY CAN. I THINK THE 40%, DOUBLING THE LOCAL MATCH, IS A STRONG SIGNAL FOR US TO SEND THE STATE ON THESE. BY DOING THAT WE ARE ADDING TO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO FUND OTHER PROJECTS ON ITEM NUMBER 65. AND I'M SUT SUGGESTING THAT NUMBER 2 UNDER 65, THE SIDEWALKS ALONG ARTERIALS AND NEIGHBORHOODS BECOME THE RECIPIENT OF THE -- IN THIS CASE A LITTLE OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN SAVINGS, IF YOU WILL, BY LOWERING THE BOGGY CREEK AND CONGRESS AVENUE LOCAL MATCH. AND KNOWING THAT THE WALNUT CREEK FUNDS SIMPLY STAY WITH THAT PROJECT. YOU KNOW, THE 400,000 DOLLARS THAT WE DON'T SEND FORWARD TO THE LOCAL MATCH STILL STAYS WITH ULTIMATELY OUR COMMITMENT TO DO WALNUT CREEK, WHETHER IT'S FOR STATE MONEY OR OUR OWN.
>>MAYOR WATSON: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?
>>SLUSHER: I WOULD ACCEPT THAT THAT YOU'RE PROTECTING THE WALNUT CREEK FUND WHERE THEY STAY THE SAME. THE OTHER TWO GO TO 40%, WHICH IS DOUBLE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR A LOCAL MATCH. AND FROM YOUR EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE ON THAT THAT THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE -- MOST OF THEM COME IN AT 20%, SO THE CITY OF AUSTIN WOULD BE STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE IT ATTACHES TO THESE PROJECTS BY PUTTING UP TWICE -- DOUBLE THE MINIMUM, AND THEN THAT OTHER 12% THAT WAS IN THERE WOULD GO BACK INTO SIDEWALKS. I WOULD ACCEPT THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
>>MAYOR WATSON: AS MAKER OF THE SECOND I WILL ALSO. FURTHER DISCUSSION? MAYOR PRO TEM?
>>GOODMAN: I'M SORRY, JUST ONE MORE TIME. ALL RIGHT. ON NUMBER 2, HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THERE?
>>WYNN: IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE INCREASED BY -- .
>> DO YOU GUYS HAVE A PRECISE NUMBER.
>>WYNN: ABOUT 2 65,000 DOLLARS, IN ADDITION TO THE 641 PROPOSED BY STAFF.
>> SO THE TOTAL WILL BE SLIGHTLY OVER 1.2 MILLION.
>> ADDITIONAL SIDEWALK MONEY.
>> CORRECT. SLUSH SLUR AND THAT KEEPS US -- .
>>SLUSHER: AND THAT KEEPS US BELOW THE TWO MILLION ON THOSE OTHER TWO PROJECTS?
>> I BELIEVE IT DOES, YES. I THINK WE'RE FINE IN TERMS OF THAT BENCHMARK STAYING BELOW TWO MILLION, YES.
>>SLUSHER: OKAY.
>>GOODMAN: AND THEN JUST FOR MY CLARIFICATION, FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE WONDERING ABOUT THE STAFF TUS OF THE BRIDGE, WHAT DOES OR DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH THE BRIDGE IF WE DO THIS THAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED OR NOT HAPPENED IF WE HAD CHOSEN TO PUT THE MONEY THERE.
>> FIRST OF ALL, WE WOULD NOT BE PROPOSING A T-21 STEP GRANT PROPOSAL FOR THE BRIDGE AT THIS TIME. SO WE WOULD NOT BE SEEKING SOME FUNDS TO BUILD A BRIDGE OR TO BUILD A PHASE OF THE BRIDGE. WE INSTEAD WOULD BE PROVIDING MONEY FOR AN ALTERNATIVE ALONG SHOAL CREEK. WHAT IT DOES STILL PERMIT, CERTAINLY ALLOWS, IS AS THE MASTER PLANNING PROCESS WORKS ITS WAY THROUGH, THE ISSUE OF NORTH-SOUTH MOBILITY FOR BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS AND SO FORTH IS STILL THERE AND STILL IS AN ISSUE AND WOULD STILL BE DEALT WITH AS PART OF THE MASTER PLANNING PROCESS. AND IN ANY WAY THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD DIRECT.
>>WYNN: MAYOR, I WOULD SAY I AGREE ONLY WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AS IT SEEMS TO ME ON THE LAMAR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE IS THIS -- THAT UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE TRULY UNDERSTAND THE SEAHOLME AND THE L.B.J. PROJECT, YOU KNOW, SITE PLAN AND MASTER PLAN, THEN IT'S SOMEWHAT IMPRUDENT FOR US NOW TO RIE TRY TO ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE L.B.J. COMPANY, IF THEY HAVEN'T LR, ARE VERY NEAR SUBMITTING THEIR ZONING SITE PLANS REQUEST AND DUMENTTATION, SO IN FACT THAT PROJECT IS NOW GOING THROUGH NUMEROUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND REVIEW. AND I THINK AT SOME POINT RELATIVELY SOON WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WILL BE THE LIKELY OPTIMAL FUTURE EXTENSION OF THE LAMAR STREET BRIDGE AND FURTHERMORE, THE TIMING WOULD BE SUCH THAT WE KNOW THAT, LEARN THAT, APPROVE THAT ABOUT THE TIME WHEN WE MIGHT BE GETTING FUNDS BACK BECAUSE THE ENTIRE T-21 PROJECTS, ONE OR ALL, MAY NOT BE APPROVED BY THE STATE. SO IN FACT THERE MAY BE THIS THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN TOTAL LOCAL MATCH THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO THE STATE IT'S QUITE CONCEIVABLE THAT ALL THREE OF THOSE COME BACK TO US, CERTAINLY TWO OF THEM. AND SO AT SOME POINT THIS FALL WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS MORE AT A MINIMUM.
>>MAYOR WATSON: SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM REMEMBER IT WASN'T TOO LONG AGO THAT WE MADE A RUSH DOWN THERE AND SAID LOOK, WE KNOW WHAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ON THESE, SO TAKE THAT MONEY AND PUT IT, AND THAT'S WHERE WE GOT THE CROSS TOWN BIKE WAY. WE KNOW HOW THAT TURNS OUT.
>>GOODMAN: I UNDERSTAND. I ALWAYS AM HAPPY TO SEE INNOVATIVE LEVERAGING OF OUR RESOURCES. I JUST HADN'T THOUGHT -- I FORGOT THE TRACT'S REAL NAME. WAS NOT -- .
>>MAYOR WATSON: IN FACT, WHY DON'T WE HAVE A SITE VISIT? IF WE FINISH, WE CAN GO DO THAT!
>>GOODMAN: I THOUGHT WE WERE STILL ABLE TO.
>>SLUSHER: SO MOVE. [LAUGHTER].
>>GOODMAN: I GIVE UP.
>>MAYOR WATSON: GOOD, GOOD.
>>SLUSHER: GO AHEAD, MAYOR PRO TEM.
>>MAYOR WATSON: READY? DO YOU WANT TO VOTE?
>>GOODMAN: I THOUGHT IT WAS AN EASY THING TO FIGURE OUT OH TO FINISH THE LAMAR BRIDGE EVEN WITH A SITE PLAN THAT WE WEREN'T UNDERSTANDING YET.
>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT TRAFFIC LANES ON THE CONGRESS AVENUE BRIDGE FMPLTS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: OKAY.
>>SLUSHER: BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN THIS CONGRESS AVENUE PROPOSAL FOR AS LONG AS THE OTHERS. NOW, DOES THIS IMPEDE OR TRAFFIC FLOW ON THE BRIDGE, THIS PROPOSAL?
>> THERE ARE SEVERAL ALTERNATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT AND THERE'S STILL MORE WORK THAT WOULD BE DONE TO REALLY DESIGN WHAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, BUT THERE CERTAINLY IS AN ALTERNATIVE THAT WOULD NOT LIMIT THE NUMBER OF LANES ANY FEWER THAN THERE ARE TODAY. THAT YOU WOULD CANTILEVER OUT VIEWING PLATFORMS AND THAT SORT OF THING AND THE WIDER SIDEWALKS, SO THE NUMBER OF LANESES WOULD BE THE SAME. AND YOU WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO PUT IN THE BARRIER BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK AND THE DRIVE LANES. SO THERE IS THAT SCENARIO OR THAT OPTION TO GO THAT WAY AS WELL AS AN OPTION THAT WOULD REMOVE, I BELIEVE, ONE LANE. THE WITNESS: OKAY. AND SO WE CAN STILL WORK THAT OUT.
>>SLUSHER: WE CAN STILL WORK OUT THAT OUT IN THE PLANNING PROCESS EVEN AFTER WE SUBMIT THE GRANT.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>>SLUSHER: MAYOR, I WANT TO SAY QUICKLY I KNOW SOME OF THE FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD RATHER MOVE FORWARD ON THE LAMAR BRIDGE AND I WOULD RATHER DO BOTH, AND THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERRED OPTION TOO, TO DO BOTH, BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO BOTH RIGHT NOW. AND I JUST THINK IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO SAVE THE THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS AND WITH THAT GET FURTHER NORTH WITH THE TRAIL COMING OFF THE BRIDGE GOING UP THE SHOAL CREEK TRAIL, YOU GET FURTHER NORTH. YOU CAN EVEN HOOK INTO THE TRAIL GOING TO 40TH BETWEEN ONCE FIFTH AND SIXTH IS FINISHED THERE, SAVE THREE NF MILLION DOLLARS AND IT ALLOWS US TO BETTER PLAN THE LAMAR BRIDGE WITH WHAT'S OCCURRING DOWN THERE. AND ALLOWS US TO DO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
>>MAYOR WATSON: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH ABSENT. ITEM NUMBER 66? LET'S GET A MOTION TO MAKE SURE -- I'LL TAKE A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 66.
>>WYNN: I'LL MOVE APPROVAL WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT WERE INHERENT IN ITEM 65.
>>SLUSHER: SECONDED.
>>MAYOR WATSON: THERE BEING NO DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO GO BEFORE THE AUSTIN COUNCIL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO AADJOURN. ALL THOSE IF FAVOR SAY AYE, EASY THOSE OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.