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Note: Since these log files are derived from the Closed Captions created during the Channel 6 live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. These Closed Caption logs are not official records of Council Meetings and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records or transcripts, please contact the City Clerk at (512) 974-2210.
MAYOR GARCIA: THERE BEING
A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL IN
THE CHAMBERS, I'M GOING TO
CALL THE MEETING OF THE CITY
COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER.
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE —
WE CONCLUDED WHAT IS — WHAT
IS — WHAT IS DESIGNATED AT
ITEMS NUMBER 12 AND — AND
NUMBER 2, WHICH IS PRIVATE
CONSULTATION WITH THE
ATTORNEY UNDER SECTION 551
.071.
AND ARE IN 4 DISCUSS LEGAL
ISSUES RELATED TO THE
2001BFI SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT.
WE HAVE ALSO COMPLETED THE
DISCUSSION ON ITEM NO. 5,
WHICH IS UNDER PUBLIC POWER
UTILITY COMPETITIVE MATTERS,
SECTION 551.086.
THIS CAUSED LONG-TERM POWER
GENERATION ISSUES.
NO DECISIONS WERE MADE IN
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE NOW GO TO 1:30 TIME
CERTAIN, CITIZENS MOSTLY
SUNNY INDICATION, GENERAL.
WE HAVE — I HAVE TO — I
HAVE TO READ INTO THE RECORD
THAT THE CITIZENS
COMMUNICATION GENERAL HAS
TWO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS.
ROLANDO PINA AND JENNIFER
GALE WHO WOULD BE ITEMS NO.
13 AND 14.
BUT AT THIS TIME I'M GOING
TO RECOGNIZE THE FIRST
PERSON LISTED ON THE AGENDA
THAT'S MR. GUS PENA.
AND FOLLOWING MR. PENA,
IS — IS MS. VERONICA
HERNANDEZ.
MR. PENA, WELCOME, SIR.
CLERK BROWN: MAYOR,
BEFORE YOU START, WE ALSO
HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL SPEAKER,
HIS NAME IS JAMES RIP ROAR.
MAYOR GARCIA: JAMES, HOW
DO YOU SPELL THE SECOND
NAME?
IT HAS IT IN PATTERN
THESES, R.I.P., RIP, AND
LAST NAME ROW.... ROWEN.
OKAY.
SO THOSE WOULD BE LISTED AS
SPEAKERS NO. 13, 14, 15, AND
LET'S SEE, 3, 6, 7, 3 IS 10,
MY GUESS IS TO THE — THAT
GETS US TO THE 10 PEOPLE
THAT ARE ALLOWED TO SPEAK IN
CITIZENS COMMUNICATION
GENERAL.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
MR. MAYOR, I'M GOING TO
DEVIATE FOR MY USUAL
PRESENTATION.
MY NEPHEW CHRIS IS
TERMINALLY ILL, ICU AT
BRACKENRIDGE HOSPITAL,
THAT'S WHY I AM HERE, TO
SPEAK ABOUT THAT ISSUE.
HE'S TERMINALLY ILL, HE'S
BEEN GIVEN UNTIL TODAY, I
BELIEVE.
THE REASON THAT I'M COMING
FORWARD TO SPEAK TO YOU IS
BECAUSE A CHARGE NURSE AT
ICU BY THE NAME OF SANDY
RANKIN HAS BEEN VERY
DISRESPECTFUL, LACK OF
PROFESSIONALISM, LACK OF
SENSE TEE, CONDUCT
UNBECOMING PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
MY FAMILY AND FAMILY MEMBERS
FOR OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN.
WE ARE GATHERED IN THE ICU
WAITING AREA.
MY SISTER WAS HARASSED BY
THIS CHARGE NURSE, NANCY
RANKIN TOLD YOU ARE BEING
TOO LAWED, YOU ARE
PRAYING —
MAYOR GARCIA: IS SHE AN
EMPLOYEE OF SETON.
YES, SIR, ICU AT
BRACKENRIDGE HOSPITAL.
MY SISTER WAS TOLD, YOU ALL
ARE CRYING TOO MUCH, PRAYING
TOO MUCH, YOU ARE REALLY
CAUSING COMMOTION FOR YOUR
SON, BUT WE ARE THERE FOR MY
NEVADA NEW WHO IS TERMINALLY
ILL.
ANYWAY, WE WENT FOR FOUR
PATIENTS — RATHER FOUR
VISITORS TO TWO VISITORS PER
30 MINUTE ALLOTMENT, WE HAVE
BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THE
RULE, WE DON'T DEVIATE FOR
THE RULES.
MY SISTER IS ALREADY
TRAUMATIZED, SHE REALIZED
SHE'S GOING TO LOSE HER
CHILD.
WE DON'T DESERVE THAT.
I CALLED MR. THOMAS
GALLAGHER WHO I HAD CALLED
BEFORE PREVIOUS ON ANOTHER
COMPLAINT REGARDING A
HOMELESS PERSON BEING
HARASSED AND DEMANDING
PAYMENT, HE IS SENIOR
VICE-PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT.
HE NEVER RETURNED MY PHONE
CALL REGARDING THAT ISSUE IN
FEBRUARY.
I CALLED AND LEFT A MESSAGE
TODAY TO HIM AND ALSO PAT
HAYS, I TALKED TO PAT HAYS
REGARDING THAT ISSUE.
I APPRECIATE THE
PROFESSIONALISM OF YOUR
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, PAUL
SALDANA VERY HELPFUL, THANK
GOD WE HAVE GOOD PEOPLE
HELPING US OUT.
I WANT TO COMMEND THEM FOR
THE SUPPORT AND OUR — OUR
CITY MANAGER TOBY FUTRELL
HAS SAID SHE WOULD FOLLOW
UP.
WE DON'T DESERVE THAT.
ANGLO VISITORS WERE ALLOWED
SIX VISITORS PER PATIENT
AND — IN ONE 30 MINUTE —
I'M SORRY, ONE 10 MINUTE
ALLOTMENT.
THAT'S DISCRIMINATION, I
HAVE NEVER SPOKEN ABOUT
THAT, COLOR, WHATEVER.
WE ARE BEING RETALIATED
AGAINST, I'M ASKING FOR
HELP.
MAYOR GARCIA: WE WILL
LOOK INTO THAT MR. PENA.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: MS. VERNG
CAME HERNANDEZ, VERONICA
HERNANDEZ, FOLLOWING HER
MIGUEL A GOMEZ.
WELCOME.
HI, MY NAME IS VERONICA
HERNANDEZ I AM WITH PODER.
I AM HERE TODAY TO TALK
ABOUT JUVENILE JUSTICE AND
THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT.
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN EAST
AUSTIN HAVE EXPRESSED
CONCERN TO PODER THAT OUR
YOUTH ARE OVER REPRESENTED
IN THE JUVENILE COURT SOME
AND IN THE DISCIPLINARIAN
CENTERS FOR THE AUSTIN
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, PODER
INITIATED PROJECTS TO INFORM
AND DOCUMENT THE SELECTIVE
ENFORCE OF YOUTH, OF COLOR
IN THE JUVENILE COURT
SYSTEM.
A BROCHURE WAS DEVELOPED TO
PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL
INFORMATION ALONG WITH
ADVOCACY TIPS FOR STUDENT
AND PARENTAL RIGHTS.
JUVENILE JUSTICE HAS BECOME
A CONCERN THROUGHOUT THE
STATE OF TEXAS, AS WELL AS
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
TODAY MANY PEOPLE IN TEXAS
ARE CONCERNED, GIVEN THAT
THE STATE LEADS THE COUNTRY
IN THE NUMBER OF EXECUTION
AND DEATH ROW INMATES.
AGAIN, THE INMATE POPULATION
IS OVERREPRESENTED BY PEOPLE
OF COLOR.
IN THE SUMMER AND FALL OF
2000, THE YOUNG SCHOLARS FOR
JUSTICE, A PROGRAM OUT OF
PODER, SURVEYED YOUTH AT
VARIOUS LOCATIONS, INCLUDING
BUS STOPS, RECREATION
CENTERS AND SCHOOLS.
TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN OVER
150 YOUNG RESPONDENTS.
10TH GRADERS, 16 YEARS OF
AGE, OVER HALF OF THOSE
SURVEYED AND/OR FAMILY
MEMBERS HAD BEEN REFERRED TO
JUVENILE COURT RATHER THAN
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
OVER 50% OF THE RESPONDENTS
FELT THAT STUDENTS OF COLOR
ARE REFERRED MORE THAN OTHER
STUDENTS TO JUVENILE COURT
OR ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS.
ALMOST 60% FELT THAT THERE
SHOULD BE OTHER TYPES OF
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
AVAILABLE.
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE
AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
DISTRICT AND TO THE AUSTIN
EQUITY COMMISSION, WHICH
INCLUDED THIS INFORMATION IN
ITS REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
THIS PAST FALL.
I WOULD LIKE TO TURN OVER MY
FOLLOWING TIME TO DR. MIGUEL
GOMEZ.
FOUR MINUTES AND SEVEN
SECTS.
YOU CAN MOVE THE CLOCK TO
FOUR MINUTES AND SEVEN
SECONDS.
THANK YOU.
FORCE WELCOME.
WELCOME, DR. AMELIA GOMEZ.
FOLLOWING DR. GOMEZ IS
NORMAN KIEKE.
YOU WILL BE NEXT.
FOLLOWING SOME OF THE POINTS
THAT VERONICA JUST MADE, I
WOULD LIKE TO SHOW SOME EXAM
LES OF DISPLANARY RULES
IN THE CHART HERE.
IN CHART —
[INAUDIBLE - NO MIC] IN
CHART 5, WE KNOW FOR THE
FIVE SCHOOLS LISTED THERE'S
A LARGE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN
THE POPULATION THAT IS
LATINO AND THE STUDENT
POPULATION THAT IS REFERRED
TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY
JUVENILE PROGRAM.
THE SMALL BAR IN BOTH THESE
GRAPHS, ONE FOR LATINO
STUDENTS, ONE FOR AFRICAN
AMERICAN STUDENTS.
THE SMALL BAR REPRESENTS THE
PROPORTION OF LATINO
STUDENTS IN A PARTICULAR
SCHOOL.
AS CAN YOU SEE THE LARGE BAR
REPRESENTS THE PROPORTION OF
REFERRALS THAT WERE LATINO
IN THAT SAME SCHOOL.
CHART 6 REFERS TO AFRICAN
AMERICANS AND CHART 5 REFERS
TO LATINOS.
WE HAVE OTHER CHARTS
HIGHLIGHTING THE OTHER
PROBLEM WITH SELECTIVE
ENFORCEMENT IN THE HANDOUTS
THAT WE HAVE PREPARED.
WE WOULD LIKE TO STRESS FOUR
POINTS WITH REGARD TO
SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF
DISCIPLINARIAN RULES.
ONE IS THAT THIS IS AN
INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM
REFLECTING ALL SCHOOLS IN
AISD, THE NOT A PROBLEM
CONFINED TO [INAUDIBLE]
SCHOOLS.
TWO, THROUGH SELECTIVE
ENFORCE SCHOOLS EFFECTIVE
ENGAGE IN THE TYPE OF
TRACKING OF YOUTH OF COLOR
INTO THE JUVENILE COURT
SYSTEM INSTEAD OF PREPARING
THEM TO BE PRODUCTIVE AND
INFORMED CITIZENS THAT ENJOY
FULL AND EQUAL PARTICIPATION
IN SOCIETY.
3, SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT IS
VERY SIMILAR TO BROADER
GOVERNMENT PRACTICES LIKE
RACIAL PROFILING.
THAT CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE OF
CONTROL, VIOLATING OUR CIVIL
RIGHTS AND THE PRESUMPTION
OF INNOCENCE BEFORE PROVEN
GUILTY.
FINALLY, SELECTIVE
ENFORCEMENT FORMS PART OF A
REPRESSIVE MODEL FOR DEALING
WITH SOCIAL TRANSGRESSION IN
SCHOOLS KNOWN AS THE ZERO
TOLERANCE POLICY.
THE REPRESSIVE MODEL IN
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IS
LINKED TO THE USE OF
REPRESSIVE MODELS OF OTHER
AREAS OF GOVERNMENT POLICY.
SUCH AS THE MILITARIZATION
OF THE U.S. MEXICO BORDER,
THE INVESTMENT IN PRISONS
AND THE DIVESTMENT OF
EDUCATION AND THE MILL TAR
DECISION OF PUBLIC —
MILITARY DECISION OF PUBLIC
SPACES SUCH AS THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF CURFEWS IN
U.S. CITIES.
WE WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT
THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE MODELS
FOR DEALING WITH ALLEGED
TRANSGRESSIONS IN SCHOOLS
AND THAT THESE NEED TO BE
EXPLORE UNDERSTAND DIALOGUE
WITH CONCERNED MEMBERS OF
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND
LATINO COMMUNITY.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONFERENCE
COMMITTEE AND IMPACT TEAMS,
FOR EXAMPLE, COULD BE
IMPLEMENTED FOR THIS
PURPOSE.
BY PROVIDING INSTITUTIONAL
SPACE FOR CONCERNED PARENT
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ACT
AS MEDIATORS AND DECISION
MAKERS IN THE STUDENT
DISCIPLINARIAN PROCESS.
AM I OUT OF TIME?
MAYOR GARCIA: YOU HAVE
ONE MINUTE AND 18 SECONDS.
THANK YOU.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT
NEED TO BE DISCUSSED ARE
WHAT IN FACT CONSTITUTES A
DISCIPLINARIAN INFRACTION.
AND WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM
CONSEQUENCES OF JUVENILE
CRIMINAL RECORDS FOR MEN AND
WOMEN OF COLOR WHEN THEY
REACH YOUNG ADULTHOOD?
WE HOPE THAT YOU TAKE THE
PROBLEM OF SELECTIVE
ENFORCEMENT SERIOUSLY AND
THAT YOU ARE OPEN TO
CONCRETE POLICY PROPOSES
EMANATING FOR THE COMMUNITY
OF COLOR AND ITS POLITICAL
ORGANIZATIONS, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
DR. GOMEZ, THIS IS VERY GOOD
INFORMATION.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS I
THINK AT ONE OF THE PUBLIC
HEARINGS THAT THE MAYOR'S
COMMITTEE HAD.
I'M GOING TO SUBMIT THIS
INFORMATION TO THEM SO THEY
CAN INCLUDE IT IN THE REPORT
THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING
OUT VERY SOON.
THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES
THAT THEY HAVE LOOKED AT,
DISPROPORTIONATE REFERRALS
OF — OF YOUTH OF COLOR INTO
THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
SO I APPRECIATE IT VERY
MUCH.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: MR. NORMAN
KIEKE, FOLLOWING DR. KIEKE
IS SUSANA ALMANZA.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR,
CITY COUNCIL, I'M EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF DISABILITY
ASSISTANCE OF CENTRAL TEXAS.
WE ARE A RELATIVELY NEW
AGENCY AND IN THE PROCESS OF
TAKING OVER PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN
PROVIDED IN CENTRAL TEXAS
FOR OVER 40 YEARS BY THE
CEREBRAL PALSY ASSOCIATION.
WHICH IS ENDING ITS
OPERATIONS HERE IN CENTRAL
TEXAS.
WE ARE ALSO A MEMBER OF THE
FUNDING COALITION AND OTHER
WAY TEXAS SHARES, I'M HERE
AS A PROUD NEW COMMISSIONER
FOR THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE
FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
I THANK YOU, MAYOR FORKS
THAT APPOINTMENT.
ACTUALLY I'M HERE TODAY
WEARING MY HAT FOR THE
AUSTIN AREA HUMAN SERVICES
ASSOCIATION OR AS OUR
ACRONYM DOESN'T QUITE WALLY,
ASHA.
TRYING TO PROMOTE THE IDEA
FOR PEOPLE FIRST, OUR
ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PUT
PEOPLE FIRST IN THEIR
FUNDING AND DECISION MAKING
PROCESSES.
THE MISSION OF ASHA IS TO
INTERPRET THE HUMAN SERVICE
NEEDS OF THE AUSTIN
COMMUNITY TO POLICY MAKERS
AND THE PUBLIC AND TO
SUPPORT MEMBER AGENCIES OF
ASHA IN MEETING THOSE NEEDS.
SPECIFICALLY I AM HERE TODAY
REPRESENTING MY PARTNER
AGENCIES IN ASHA, THOSE
AGENCIES SERVING PEOPLE WITH
MENTAL RETARDATION AND OTHER
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
THOSE THAT SPECIFICALLY
HELPED IN PREPARING THIS
PRESENTATION INCLUDE ANY
BABY CAN, THE ARC OF THE
CAPITAL AREA, AUSTIN TRAVIS
COUNTY MHMR, EASTER SEALS,
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES AND
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE.
MY COMMENTS ARE EXCERPTED
FOR THE RECENTLY PURCHASED
MRDD COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT
REPORT.
A REPORT THAT I HOPE THAT
YOU ARE GAINING SOME
FAMILIARITY WITH.
THIS WAS PUBLISHED THROUGH
THE PROCESS OF THE COMMUNITY
ACTION NETWORK WITH LOTS OF
SUPPORT FOR THE AUSTIN
TRAVIS COUNTY MHMR AGENCY.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
FACE MANY EVERYDAY
CHALLENGES THAT YOU AND I
FACE.
BUT THEY ARE COMPLICATED BY
THE DISABILITY OF THOSE
INDIVIDUALS.
TRANSPORTATION
INCONSISTENCIES, HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES,
UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
UTILITIES, HEALTH CARE
ISSUES, EDUCATION IS
INEQUITABLE, NEGLECT, ABUSE,
EXPLOITATION ARE
COMMONPLACE, LACK OF
QUALIFIED CAREGIVERS BY THE
PEOPLE WE SERVE.
WE SERVE A VULNERABLE
POPULATION.
BITS AND PIECES OF THE
SERVICES THAT I HAVE
MENTIONED AS WELL AS OTHER
SERVICES ARE OFFERED, BUT
STILL WE SEE SIGNIFICANT
GAPS IN THE PROVISION AND
THE ABILITY OF THESE
SERVICES.
ALL OF OUR AGENCIES DOCUMENT
THE INCREASED DEMAND ON OUR
SERVICES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE CRISIS
ASSISTANCE PANTRY DOCUMENTED
A 260% INCREASE IN THEIR
DEMAND FOR SERVICES AT THE
END OF 2001.
WITHIN OUR OWN SUPPORTED
LIVING PROGRAM, WE HAVE A
TWO YEAR WAITING LIST.
OUR FUNDING FOR THIS YEAR
ONLY ALLOWS TWO ADDITIONAL
CLIENTS IN A PROGRAM THAT
HAS A WAITING LIST TWO YEARS
LONG FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO
MOVE INTO THE COMMUNITY,
PEOPLE WITH SEVERE
DISABILITIES.
IN OUR JOB SEARCH EFFORT,
AGAIN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE
DISABILITIES — [BUZZER
SOUNDING] — WE SOMETIMES
LOOK AT THREE JOB PLACEMENTS
BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO FINDS
A PLACEMENT FOR THESE
INDIVIDUALS.
WE DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PAST SUPPORT.
IN MANY CASES MAKING THE
CITY OF AUSTIN A WELCOMING
ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
WE DO SEEK CONTINUING
SUPPORT FOR THE AUSTIN —
FOR THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL
AND TRAVIS COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS AS WE ATTEMPT
TO ADDRESS THE GOALS THAT
ARE INCLUDED IN THIS
ASSESSMENT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
SUSANA ALMANZA, AND THEN
AKWASI EVANS, MS. ALMANZA,
WELCOME.
WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE
YOU TO PODER'S ANNIVERSARY
MOVED TO EARTH DAY, MONDAY,
APRIL 22ND, FOR 6:00 TO 8:00
AT THE INTERSECTION OF BERG
MAN AND CHICON.
I THINK THE PARK HAS IT DOWN
AS MARTIN'S SHELTER, BUT WE
IN THE BARRIO KNOW IT AS
CHICANO PARK.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
INDIGENOUS DANCERS, A
TROPICAL PRODUCTION,
HAWAIIAN DANCERS, THEN EARTH
CULTURE DANCERS.
SO WE INVITE ALL OF YOU ALL
TO COME UP FOR 6:00 TO 8:00
P.M. WE ARE RETURNED TO OUR
WAYS OF HONORING MOTHER
EARTH THROUGH PRAYER, DANCE
AND POETRY, PLEASE JOIN US.
ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO TALK
BRIEFLY ABOUT THE MONTOPOLIS
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
WE HAD A MEETING THIS PAST
TUESDAY REGARDING THE — AS
PEOPLE KNOW IT, THE JOCKEY
TRACK WHERE THEY WANTED TO
PUT THE HORSE RACETRACK.
THE PLANNER, THE STAFF CAME
TO US AND SAID THEY HAD
THREE OPTIONS FOR US TO
REDEVELOP BECAUSE THE CITY
WAS NO LONGER GOING TO
PURCHASE THAT LAND FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED
ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY TO
HEAR THAT NEWS.
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT
WE HAD HEARD THAT THE CITY
WAS NOT GOING TO PURCHASE
THAT PROPERTY.
WE THINK IT'S A REAL BAD
DECISION BECAUSE WE HAVE
HEARD IT WAS LIKE $2 MILLION
FOR 60 ACRES AND WE FEEL
THAT'S A BARGAIN.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THAT PRICE.
ANYWAY, WE FEEL THAT THE
STAFF IS REALLY TRYING TO
INTIMIDATE US AND FORCE US
TO ACCEPT THE OPTION OF
SINGLE FAMILY MULTIPLE
FAMILY, AND S.F. 6, WHICH
INCLUDES TOWNHOUSE AND
CONDOMINIUMS, WHEN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN HAD
ALREADY AGREED TO LET
APARTMENTS COME UP CLOSE TO
GROVE, APARTMENTS ON THE
TRIANGLE BETWEEN MONTOPOLIS,
RIVERSIDE AND GROVE AND THEN
THE MONTOPOLIS — UP TOWARDS
THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL.
WE HAD ALREADY AGREED WHAT
WE WOULD GIVE TO APARTMENTS.
WE HAVE DONE THAT.
NOW WE ARE BEING FORCED TO
TRY AND AGREE TO HAVE MORE
OF APARTMENTS AND
CONDOMINIUMS AND TOWNHOUSES
AND I THINK — I DON'T THINK
THAT'S FAIR WHEN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN MAKES AN
AGREEMENT AND DECIDES TO
TAKE ON ANOTHER THOUSAND
UNITS AND THEN A PLAN COMES
BACK AGAINST OUR WILL TRYING
TO FORCE US TO TAKE MORE
APARTMENTS WHEN WE HAVE
ALREADY GIVEN UP OUR SHARE.
SO I ASK THAT YOU — THAT
YOU GET WITH STAFF TO LOOK
AT THAT PLAN AND SAY THIS
NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AND WE
NEED TO WORK IN DOING THAT
SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING
SOME
WAY, WHETHER IT'S A JOINT
PARTNERSHIP OR NOT.
I MEAN, IT REALLY
INFEWERATES ME WHEN I THINK
THAT — INIF YOU ARE RATES
ME WHEN WE SPEND $9 MILLION
FOR WEST AUSTIN JOGGER, WE
CAN'T DO THAT FOR EAST
AUSTIN AND WE CAN'T DO IT
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE SPENT THAT MUCH MONEY FOR
A BRIDGE THAT TOOK A LONG
TIME FOR PEOPLE TO USE —
[BUZZER SOUNDING] — SO I
ASK THAT YOU REALLY LOOK AT
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ISSUE.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
MS. ALMANZA.
MR. AKWASI EVANS, FOLLOWING
MR. EVANS IS DR. SYLVIA
HERRERA.
WELCOME, SIR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.
COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY.
I'M HERE AGAIN TO TALK TO
YOU ABOUT THE ISSUE OF
REPARATIONS AND ECONOMIC
APARTEID.
I'M HERE TO REMAINDER YOU OF
ALL OF THE CULTURES IN THIS
GREAT SOCIETY THAT WE HAVE,
AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE THE
ONLY ONE WHO ARE NOT
IMMIGRANTS.
WE DIDN'T VOLUNTARILY CAME
CO-TO THIS LAND, WE WERE
KIDNAPPED, OUR ANSWER SAYS
STORES WERE STOLEN —
ANCESTORS WERE STOLEN, SO
WAS THEIR LABOR, SO WAS
THEIR BODIES, SO WAS THEIR
SPIRITS.
AFTER THEY WERE LIBERATED
THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR, STILL
FACED WITH JIM CROW
LEGISLATION, ESPECIALLY IN
THE SOUTH, AUSTIN, TEXAS
ORDINANCE REQUIRING THAT WE
ONLY LIVE IN ONE PART OF
TOWN.
WE ARE STILL BEING
VICTIMIZED BY THAT.
I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I AM
TIRED OF BEING RIPPED OFF.
I COULD STAND HERE IF YOU
GAVE ME 30 MINUTE, I COULD
NAME AFTER NAME AFTER NAME
AFTER NAME AFTER NAME AFTER
NAME OF BUSINESSES AND
INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS
THAT WERE STEALING FOR ME
AND EVERY AFRICAN AMERICAN
IN THIS CITY.
I WILL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE.
I JUST APPLIED FOR A LOAN
BECAUSE — I'M A LATE PAY.
SO MY CREDIT IS BAD.
I PAY BILLS LATES BECAUSE I
HAVE SO MUCH STOLEN I DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH LEFT OVER TO PAY
THE BILLS.
I ASKED FOR A.. A LOAN.
I WAS TOLD THAT YOU HAVE GOT
A LATE PAY ON HERE TO GARDEN
RIDGE FOR $82.
WHAT DID I BUY?
I HAVEN'T BOUGHT ANYTHING
ALL YEAR.
COME TO MIND OUT WHAT I DID
BUY FOR GARDEN RIDGE LAST
YEAR AND PAID THEM IN FULL,
AFTER THAT THEY ASSESSED ME
A $25 LATE CHARGE AND 57
CENTS FINANCE FEE.
WHEN I REFUSED TO PAY IT,
ANOTHER $25, AND $1.67
FINANCE FEE.
WHEN I REFUSED TO PAY IT,
ANOTHER $25 LATE CHARGE AND
FINANCE FEE.
THEN THEY FILED A CREDIT
REPORT.
FORTUNATELY FOR ME AND THEM
TOOK IT OFF THEIR BOOKS
YESTERDAY WHEN I CALLED
RACING KANE OVER OWING THEM
$28 FOR NOTHING.
BUT WHAT THEY DID TO MY
CREDIT IN THE PROCESS WAS
DAMAGING.
THIS IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL
FEBRUARY.........THEN NON- PHENOMENON.
THAT HAPPENS TO EVERY
AFRICAN AMERICAN TEXAN IN
AUSTIN.
THE STUDENT POPULATION AT
U.T. IS ADDRESSING THE
QUESTION OF REPARATIONS.
TOMORROW JOHNNY COCHRAN WILL
BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER
TALKING ABOUT THE LAWSUIT HE
IS FILING ON A NATIONAL
BASIS.
WHEN I SPOKE HERE LAST TIME,
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS ASKED
THE CITY MANAGER IF ANYONE
HAD TALKED TO ME.
THE CITY MANAGER, TOBY
FUTRELL IMMEDIATELY DIRECTED
HER STAFF TO MEET WITH ME.
THEY DID.
ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF THE
MAYOR'S STAFF.
WE HAD A VERY GOOD MEETING.
DOWN AT CITY HALL.
THEY SAID, WELL, WHAT DO YOU
WANT?
FIRST OF ALL, WE WANT TO
SAVE YOUR SOULS, BUT I DOUBT
THAT WE HAVE THAT KIND OF
CAPACITY.
WE ARE JUST NOT THAT
TALENTED [BUZZER SOUNDING]
SECOND OF ALL WE WANT
PAIRTY, WE WANT EQUALITY.
THERE IS GOING TO BE A
MEETING AT THE MILLENNIUM
YOUTH ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
FOR A TOWN HALL MEETING TO
DISCUSS REPARATIONS, WE
WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO COME,
JOIN US, APRIL 30TH, 6:00
P.M., THE MILLENNIUM YOUTH
ENTERTAINMENT CENTER THE
AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
WILL ADDRESS REPARATIONS WE
WELCOME ALL TO JOIN US WHO
WISH TO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU, MR. EVANS.
DR. SYLVIA HERRERA,
FOLLOWING DR. HERRERA, IS
ROLANDO PINA.
DR. HERRERA, WELCOME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS SYLVIA HERRERA,
I'M WITH PODER, THE HEALTH
COORDINATOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SMART
GROWTH INITIATIVE THAT THE
CITY HAS UNDERTAKEN AND
GENTRIFICATION IN EAST
AUSTIN.
BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY, I
WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE
WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING
PROCESS THAT HAS OCCURRED OR
NOT OCCURRED IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT'S THE GOVALLE AREA.
AS YOU MIGHT RECALL, SEVERAL
YEARS AGO, THAT NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANNING PROCESS WAS
INITIATED.
OUR PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD
REQUESTED A LOT OF MATERIALS
OF THE — OF THE PREVIOUS
PLANS THAT HAD BEEN — WE
HAD PARTICIPATED IN.
AND AT SOME POINT OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING
PROCESS WAS STALLED FOR OVER
A YEAR.
WE HAVE REINITIATED THAT
PLAN OR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD
MEETINGS FOR THE GOVALLE AND
NOW JOHNSTON TERRACE.
HOWEVER, I HAVE ATTENDED THE
MEETING LAST NIGHT, AND I
FEEL NOW THAT IT'S — THAT
THE CITY WAITED OVER A YEAR,
NOW WE ARE BEING FORCED TO
MAKE UP THAT TIME AND IT'S
BEING FAST TRACKED ON US.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE
STILL NOT RECEIVING THAT
TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT WE
NEED TO COME UP WITH A
VISION TO COME UP WITH SOME
OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT — THAT OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD IS BEING
REQUESTED TO MAKE.
FOR INSTANCE, WE HAD ASKED
THAT STAFF PROVIDE REPORTS
TO US ON PROJECTS THAT ARE
PROPOSED IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE'S BEEN THREE EXAMPLES
OF THAT.
ONE HAS BEEN THE A.C.C. EAST
VIEW CAMPUS HAS HAD AN
EXPANSION PROPOSED AS WELL
AS THE ELDERLY HOUSING ON
THE TRIANGLE OF WEBBERVILLE
AL LANES AND PLEASANT
VALLEY.
WE NEED TO BE UPDATED SO WE
CAN CONTINUE TO DISCUSS
THOSE PARTICULAR PROPOSED
PROJECTS OR PENDING PROJECTS
THAT ARE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
AS WE — AS WE DISCUSS OUR
VISION FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND NOT FIND OUT IN A
ROUNDABOUT WAY AS WE ARE
DISCUSSING THIS.
THE OTHER ISSUE HAS BEEN THE
FLOODPLAIN THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR
ATTENTION THAT WE NEED TO
ADDRESS THIS AS APPEAR
NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE IT
REALLY IMPACT OUR PARTICULAR
COMMUNITY.
AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO
BE — INCLUDED IN OUR
DISCUSSION FOR THE LAND USE
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
DR. HERRERA.
MR. ROLANDO PINA.
FOLLOWING MR. ROLANDO PINA
IS JENNIFER GALE.
WELCOME, SIR.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, GOOD
AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL AND
CITY MANAGER.
MY NAME IS ROLANDO PINA, I
LIVE IN SOUTH CENTRAL
AUSTIN.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU
ABOUT THE MAY 4TH UPCOMING
ELECTION.
THERE'S GOING TO BE AN
ELECTION OF CITY COUNCIL
AISD AND A.C.C.
AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A
FORUM, SOUTH AUSTIN STYLE,
AT THE FRONT PORCH AT MY
HOUSE.
THIS — THIS IS HOSTED BY
THE USA COALITION AND SOUTH
CENTRAL AUSTIN
NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT WILL BE A PATRIOTIC FRONT
PORCH CANDIDATE FORUM FOR
THIS ELECTION.
THE DATE IS NEXT THURSDAY.
APRIL 25TH, 2002.
AT 807 CUMBERLAND ROAD.
WE WILL BEGIN TO SIGN IN THE
PUBLIC AT 5:00 P.M. IT IS IN
SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN, IF YOU
GO SOUTH, TO SOUTH FIRST,
PAST OLTORF, THE NEXT LIGHT
IS CUMBERLAND, MAKE A RIGHT
THREE BLOCKS IN THE CORNER.
ALSO, WE WILL HAVE
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
CAMPAIGN FINANCE COMMUNITY
AND THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY
COLLEGE — COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HAS APPOINTED THE SOUTH
AUSTIN COMMUNITY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AND IT WILL BE
PRESENT TO TAKE — TO TAKE
ON SURVEYS FOR THE PROPOSED
NEW CAMPUS.
IT WILL BE LOCATED ACROSS
THE STREET FOR CROCKETT.
THAT THE OLD ALBERTSON'S.
WILL PRESENT AT THE FORUM
WILL BE A DISCUSSION ON THE
CITY OF AUSTIN PUBLIC WORKS
SOUTH STREET — SOUTH FIRST
STREET RECONSTRUCTION AND
UTILITY ADJUSTMENT PROJECT.
WE WILL HAVE A — IT IS AN
INFORMATIONAL FOR THE
PUBLIC.
IT IS ON A THURSDAY COUNCIL
MEETING AND I EITHER TO — I
REGRET TO LET THE PEOPLE
KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH THE
INCUMBENT CANDIDATES MAY OR
MAY NOT BE THERE, THEIR
SUPPORTERS WILL BE THERE.
THERE WILL BE AMPLE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC
TO — TO RECOGNIZE THEIR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND
SPECIALLY THE CANDIDATES
HAVE DONE, CONTRIBUTED SOUTH
AUSTIN.
THE DATE OF THIS FORUM IS
NEXT THURSDAY, APRIL 25TH.
AT THE CORNER OF CUMBERLAND
ROAD AND OAK CREST.
IT IS A POTLUCK, SO BRING A
COVERED DISH AND A — COOL
SNACKS TO SHARE.
AT 5:00 IS THE HOTTEST —
ONE OF THE HOTTEST POINTS OF
THE DAY, BUT IT IS A COVERED
PORCH AND IT IS A — THERE'S
SHADE AND THERE'S A
PREVAILING BREEZE.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
MR. PINA.
WYNN: MAYOR, I CAN
CONFIRM THAT'S A GREAT FRONT
PORCH, PLENTY OF SHADE,
BREEZES ARE GREAT UP THERE.
MAYOR GARCIA: A VERY
DEMOCRATIC PLACE, RIGHT,
MR. PINA.
THAT'S CORRECT, SIR,
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU.
MS. GALE, WELCOME.
CITY MANAGER, LISA
GORDON, MAYOR GARCIA,
CURRENT INCUMBENT AND FUTURE
COUNCIL CANDIDATES, I'M
JENNIFER GALE, I'M CANDIDATE
RUNNING FOR PLACE 1, AUSTIN
CITY COUNCIL.
THE — TONIGHT AT THE CARUTH
BUILDING IT'S A COUPLE OF
BLOCKS ON SIXTH STREET OFF
OF LAMAR, YOU CAN SEE ALL OF
THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF
TRUSTEES CANDIDATES, YOU CAN
LISTEN TO THE CANDIDATES IN
THEIR ROOM.
I HEAR THEIR VIEWS.
THESE ARE THE — THE CURRENT
INCUMBENTS? ARE THE ONES THAT
KEPT ME FOR RUNNING FOR
SCHOOL BOARD, I WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE THOSE MEMBERS
REMOVED FOR THE AUSTIN
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
TRUSTEES.
YOU CAN READ ABOUT THEM
LEAGUE WV.AUSTIN.TX.US, THE
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.
IT ALSO HAS THE CURRENT
COUNCIL CANDIDATES,
INCLUDING DARYL SLUSHER,
BEVERLY GRIFFITH, YOU CAN
LEARN ABOUT THEIR ISSUES AND
THEIR PRIORITIES.
YOU CAN CONTRAST MY
PRIORITIES WITH THEIRS AND
SEE WHICH ONES THAT YOU
MIGHT LIKE EVEN MORE.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS
ISSUING AN ADVISORY OPINION
OFFERING CHOICE FOR THE
PEOPLE OF TEXAS.
WHERE [INAUDIBLE] HAS A
CHARTER THAT ALLOWS FOR IT.
WE COULD HAVE OFFERED THE
PEOPLE OF AUSTIN A CHOICE ON
OUR GOVERNMENT.
OUR CITY COUNCIL, THIS
CURRENT CITY COUNCIL CHOSE
NOT TO DO THAT, EVEN THOUGH
I INFORMED THEM WEEKS AHEAD
OF TIME THAT THEY COULD DO
THAT.
YOU ARE BEING DENIED A
CHOICE BY OUR AUSTIN CITY
COUNCIL.
KIRK MITCHELL, CONTINUING TO
USE MY CAMPAIGN SLOGAN,
LET'S KEEP AUSTIN AUSTIN,
EVEN THOUGH I TOLD HIM A
WEEK AGO THAT IT WAS MINE.
HE SAYS HE DIDN'T KNOW WITH
ABOUT IT.
HE DOES KNOW ABOUT IT IN
THIS ONE, THAT OUGHT TO LET
YOU KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
KIRK MITCHELL.
PROPOSITION 1 IS UNFAIR TO
CANDIDATES.
FRED LEWIS IS RIGHT HERE.
HE CAN DEBATE THAT WITH ME
IF HE LIKES.
AUSTIN AGREES THAT IT'S
UNFAIR TO FRINGE CANDIDATES,
IF IT'S UNFAIR TO
CANDIDATES, IT'S UNFAIR TO
ALL OF AUSTIN.
ALTHOUGH I WANT YOU TO MAKE
UP YOUR MIND, IF YOU THINK
PROPOSITION 1 IS A GOOD
IDEA, GO AHEAD AND VOTE FOR
IT, OR ANY OF THE
PROPOSITIONS.
I AM AGAINST ALL OF THEM
EXCEPT NUMBER 7 THAT GIVES
MORE POWER TO THE AUSTIN
CITY COUNCIL AS A CONSUMER
ADVOCATE.
I WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE MY
CAMPAIGN PLATFORM AND THOSE
ARE THE PRIORITIES I'M
REFERRING TO.
YOU WILL READ THAT ABOUT
THAT IN THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN
VOTERS GUIDE.
PROACTIVE HEALTH CARE, WHICH
MEANS DENTAL, PHYSICAL AND
EYE EXAM EVERY YEAR.
THEN WE NEED MORE AND BETTER
EDUCATED POLICE OFFICERS.
SO THEY TREAT US WITH
RESPECT AND TREAT US WITH
DIGNITY.
THEY ARE NOT DOING THAT
RIGHT NOW.
LIGHT RAIL WILL CREATE A NEW
YORK CITY OF AUSTIN.
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD KEEP
AUSTIN AUSTIN.
LET'S LOOK NEW YORK CITY,
LEAVE THEIR SUBWAY TO THEM.
WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CITY.
LET'S MAINTAIN THAT, THAT'S
MY PLATFORM.
THANK YOU.
[BUZZER SOUNDING]
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
MS. GALE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR.
MAYOR GARCIA: COUNCIL,
THAT'S ALL OF THE SPEAKERS
THAT WE HAVE UNDER CITIZENS
COMMUNICATIONS, MR. JAMES
RIP ROWEN HAD TO LEAVE SO HE
WILL BE NOT SPEAKING.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL GO TO
THE READING OF THE CHANGES
AND CORRECTIONS.
MS. BROWN.
CLERK BROWN: ON ITEM 27,
IF YOU WOULD NOTE THAT HAS
BEEN POSTPONED INDEFINITELY.
ON ITEM 30, PLEASE ADD THE
WORDS AFTER AUSTIN, TEXAS,
ADD THE WORDS "FOR SPANISH
LANGUAGE INTERPRETER
SERVICES FOR DEFENDANTS AND
WITNESSES FOR THE MUNICIPAL
COURT."
THE TIME CERTAIN ITEMS:
4:00 P.M., ARE ZONING ITEMS;
5:30 P.M., LIVE MUSIC AND
PROCLAMATIONS; 6:00 P.M. OUR
PEOPLE HEARINGS, ITEMS 45
THROUGH 49.
THE ITEMS THAT WE KNOW
HAVE —
MAYOR GARCIA: 49 HAS BEEN
POSTPONED.
CORRECT?
CLERK BROWN: THAT'S
CORRECT.
ALSO Z-1.
WE ARE GOING TO PUT ON THE
CONSENT AGENDA BOTH OF THOSE
POSTPONEMENTS.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
THANK YOU.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE PREVIEW
OF ITEMS FOR THE NEXT
COUNCIL MEETING, MS. CITY
MANAGER DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING?
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, YOU
HAD ONE ITEM THAT YOU AND I
ARE GOING TO PUT ON.
ALVAREZ: YES, MAYOR.
I JUST WANTED TO INFORM THE
COUNCIL THAT MYSELF AND THE
MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER
THOMAS ARE GOING TO BRING
FORWARD AN ITEM TO — TO
DIRECTING STAFF TO — TO
COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR —
FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE
FUEL TANKS AT THE HOLLY
STREET POWER PLANT.
THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN
EMPTIED.
SO — SO WE WANTED TO JUST
DIRECT OUR ELECTRIC UTILITY
TO GO AHEAD AND START
PLANNING FOR THEIR REMOVAL
AND ALSO START PLANNING
FOR — FOR THE UTILIZATION
OF THAT — OF THAT
PARTICULAR SPACE ONCE THE —
ONCE THAT OCCURS, THERE'S
BEEN SOME PROBLEMS THERE
AROUND THE BALL FIELDS IN
TERMS OF PARKING AND
CONGESTION AND SO THERE MAY
BE A WAY OF ADDRESSING SOME
OF THOSE ISSUES.
SO — SO — SO THAT'S —
THAT WILL BE ON THE AGENDA
NEXT WEEK.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY ITEMS
THAT WILL BE COMING UP IN
THE FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDAS,
NEXT COUNCIL — NEXT CITY
COUNCIL MEETING?
GOODMAN: MAYOR?
MAYOR GARCIA: MAYOR PRO
TEM?
GOODMAN: IT MAY BE ON
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, WE MAY
BE READY, THAT'S A
RESOLUTION ABOUT REPUBLIC
SQUARE AND THE TEXAS
COMMISSION FOR THE ARTS.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
ANYBODY ELSE?
OKAY.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA
IS THE READING OF THE
CONSENT AGENDA.
I'M GOING TO CALL ON
MS. BROWN TO READ THAT.
CLERK BROWN: THE ITEMS
THAT I KNOW TO BE ON THE
CONSENT AGENDA AT THIS TIME:
STARTING WITH ITEM 14, 15,
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,
23,25, 26, 27, AS A
POSTPONEMENT INDEFINITELY,
28, 29, 30 WITH THE CHANGES
THAT WE READ PREVIOUSLY, 31,
32, 33, 34 ARE BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENTS,
THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS: CHILD
CARE COUNCIL, DAN GARCIA,
REAPPOINTMENT, COUNCILMEMBER
ALVAREZ.
DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, DARYL
PIERCE, APPOINTMENT,
CONSENSUS.
ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION,
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A
NOMINATION ONLY WITH THE
APPOINTMENT TO BE NEXT WEEK,
JENNIFER PISKI. IN JOHNSON,
THIS IS THE MAYOR'S
NOMINATION.
W.B. — EXCUSE ME, M.B.E.
W.B.E. ADVISORY COMMITTEE,
CHARESE PHILLIPS,
APPOINTMENT, CONSENSUS.
URBAN FORESTRY BOARD, DAVID
KATER APPOINTMENT,
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
MAYOR GARCIA: AND AS FAR
AS THE NOMINATION OF
MS. JOHNSON, THE NOMINATION
AND THE CONFIRMATION HAD TO
OCCUR IN TWO SEPARATE
COUNCIL MEETINGS, SO THIS IS
A NOMINATION, IN A FUTURE
COUNCIL MEETING WE WILL HAVE
THE ACTUAL CONFIRMATION.
CLERK BROWN: ITEM 35, 38,
39, 40, 41, 42, THEN WE WANT
TO ALSO PUT ON THE CONSENT,
MAKE NOTE OF THE FACT THAT
Z-1 WILL BE POSTPONED AS
REQUESTED BY STAFF TO MAY
23, 2000 AT 4:00 P.M. —
MAYOR GARCIA: THAT WILL
BE ANNOUNCED AGAIN AT 4:00
P.M.
CLERK BROWN: YES, SIR.
THE SAME IS TRUE WITH 49,
THAT WILL BE ANNOUNCED AGAIN
AT 6:00 P.M. THE PUBLIC
HEARING ON — ON ITEM 49 FOR
HARRIS BRANCH WILL BE
POSTPONED AS REQUESTED BY
STAFF TO MAY 23RD, 2002, AT
6:00 P.M. THOSE ARE ALL OF
THE ITEMS THAT I HAVE.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
ITEM 43 AND 44 ARE PUBLIC
HEARINGS.
AND THEN ITEMS 45 THROUGH 49
ARE ALSO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE THAT
HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON
THE ITEMS AND I WILL READ
THAT INTO THE RECORDS.
ON ITEMS 31 THROUGH 33,
TOMMY EDEN.
WELCOME, SIR TOO THANK YOU,
MAYOR GARCIA AND
COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
TOMMY EDEN, REGARDING ITEMS
31 TO 33, MY MAIN CONCERN IS
THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE
SPENDING MONEY WHEN THERE'S
NOT A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY
AVAILABLE ON — ON A HIGHWAY
THAT'S NOT GOING TO PROVIDE
ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION.
I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS
EXPENDITURE.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE
GOING TO SPEND IT ANYWAY.
SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE
SPENDING MONEY, $15 MILLION
ON SH 130, WOULD YOU PLEASE
PASS A RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDING, AS YOU DID
WITH U.S. 183, THAT — THAT
SH 130 SHOULD HAVE
FACILITIES FOR BICYCLISTS
AND FOR PEDESTRIANS.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
MR. EDEN, DO YOU WANT TO
SPEAK NOW ON ITEM 39.
I CAN DO THAT.
MAYOR GARCIA: I WILL
RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THAT.
I AM ON THE URBAN
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE
PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE
SUBCOMMITTEE.
MY SUBCOMMITTEE INITIATED
THE PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE
FACILITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO
WALK AND FACILITIES FOR
PEOPLE WHO RIDE BICYCLES.
WHENEVER CITY FUNDS ARE USED
TO RECONSTRUCT STREETS.
THIS POLICY IS NOTHING SHORT
OF REVOLUTIONARY.
WITH THIS POLICY,
CONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALKS
AND BIKE WAYS WILL BECOME
PRACTICALLY ARE YOU........ ROUTINE.
BIKEWAYS WILL START
APPEARING ALL OVER AUSTIN.
THANK YOU, SPECIALLY TO
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND
MAYOR GARCIA FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
REGARDING BICYCLING ON
SIDEWALKS, THE CURRENT
ORDINANCE IS SO VAGUE THAT
IT COULD BE INTERPRETED VERY
BROADLY.
I ONCE GOT A TICKET FOR
BICYCLING ON A SIDEWALK ON
GUADALUPE AT 44TH STREET.
I DON'T THINK THIS WAS WHAT
THE CITY COUNCIL OF 1970
SOMETHING OR ANOTHER
INTENDED WHEN THEY SAID
BICYCLING SHOULD BE
PROHIBITED IN A BUSINESS
DISTRICT.
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE
RECENTLY CAPITALIZED ON THE
VAGUENESS OF OUR ORDINANCE
BY REFUSING TO PAY DAMAGES
TO CYCLISTS WHO HAVE BEEN
HIT WHEN — WHEN A CAR WAS
GOING INTO A DRIVEWAY
BECAUSE THE BICYCLIST WAS
RIDING ON A SIDEWALK.
THIS COULD BE ANYWHERE IN
TOWN PRACTICALLY.
WAY UP NORTH LAMAR, BURNET
ROAD, KOENIG LANE, ANYWHERE
WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY
REPRESENTATIVE MAY SUGGEST
THAT IT MIGHT BE A BUSINESS
DISTRICT, THEY ARE REFUSE
G
TO PAY DAMAGE TO — REFUSING
TO PAY DAMAGE TO PSYCH
EXISTS WHO ARE HIT.
THIS IS THE — CYCLISTS WHO
ARE HIT.
THIS I SEE THE MAIN IMPETUS,
I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
CELIA MULDER.
YOU CAN CORRECT ME ON THE
PRONUNCIATION.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU
MAYOR GARCIA AND
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M CELIA MULDER, I'M A
CYCLING COMMUTER.
I'M ALSO ON THE LEGISLATIVE
BOARD OF THE AUSTIN CYCLING
ASSOCIATION.
DURING MY COMMUTE, WHICH
TAKES ME DOWN LAMAR AND
SOMETIMES INTO SOME PART OF
DOWNTOWN, FOR MY OWN
PERSONAL SAFETY, I FEEL THE
NEED TO GET ON TO A SIDEWALK
TO AVOID VERY HIGH TRAFFIC
SITUATIONS.
AND I WOULD SIMPLY LIKE TO
BE ABLE TO DO SO LEGALLY.
THAT'S ALL.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
VERY MUCH, MS. MULDER,
COUNCIL, THOSE ARE ALL OF
THE SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE ON
— ON — JUST A SECOND.
NO, THOSE ARE NOT ALL OF THE
SPEAKERS.
TOMMY ED DEN ON ITEM NO. 40.
I SPOKE ON THAT.
JIM WALKER, DOES NOT WISH
TO SPEAK BUT HE IS FOR ITEM
40.
AND DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON
ITEM 40?
MS. MULDER?
THANK YOU, AGAIN, MAYOR
GARCIA AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
THE — I FEEL THAT THE
APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION,
NUMBER 40, WOULD BE CRUCIAL
FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
OF AUSTIN AS A CYCLING
FRIENDLY CITY, WHICH I FEEL
WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT TO
REDUCING TRAFFIC CONGESTION
AND I BELIEVE POLLUTION AS
THE POPULATION OF AUSTIN
CONTINUES TO EXPAND
EXPONENTIALLY.
I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE
CYCLING ATMOSPHERE OF THE
CITY.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
MS. MULDER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
MAYOR GARCIA: COUNCIL,
THOSE ARE ALL OF THE
SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE ON THE
CONSENT AGENDA.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
GOODMAN: MAYOR, BEFORE WE
DO —
MAYOR GARCIA: MAYOR PRO
TEM?
GOODMAN: WOULD YOU LET ME
ASK MR. EDEN ONE QUESTION.
MAYOR GARCIA: MR. EDEN,
THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS A
QUESTION FOR YOU.
GOODMAN: THANKS, BECAUSE
I WASN'T SURE ABOUT NUMBER
39 AND WHAT THE IMPACT WAS
GOING TO BE.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF BLOCKS
THAT I — THAT I KEPT
FESHTING TO GO CHECK OUT,
BUT SO IS THIS — I KEPT
FORGETTING TO GO CHECK OUT.
THIS IS THIS MADE ON THE
ASSUMPTIONS THAT WILL BE
TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS OR
TRAFFIC STUDIES THAT WILL
ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF
BIKISTS IN ALL OF THESE
AREAS — BICYCLISTS IN ALL
OF THESE AREAS SO THEY WON'T
HAVE TO BE OUT IN TRAFFIC?
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK SO,
BUT THAT WAS NOT PART OF OUR
DISCUSSION.
THE REASON THAT THESE
PARTICULAR STREETS WERE
CHOSEN WAS BECAUSE THEY ARE
HIGH PEDESTRIAN AREAS.
PARTICULARLY THE DRAG AND
WEST SIXTH STREET.
THE REST OF THEM ARE ALL ON
DOWNTOWN STREETS.
AND — AND NO — WE DON'T
KNOW THAT THERE ARE GOING TO
BE BIKE LANES ON ALL OF
THESE STREETS.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED IS
MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT WE
HAVE RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS
BICYCLISTS ARE PROHIBITED ON
SIDEWALKS IN ANY BUSINESS
DISTRICT AND NOBODY —
THERE'S NO DEFINITION OF A
BUSINESS DISTRICT.
GOODMAN: OKAY.
I THINK THEN WHAT I MAY DO
IS ASK CITY STAFF, WAS AND
HE EVALUATE THE VARIOUS
POSSIBILITY STUDIES AND
GREAT STREET RECOMMENDATIONS
ALONG WITH THE CIP'S AND
MANY OTHER PROJECTS — ANY
OTHER PROJECT FOR TRAFFIC
CALMING OR TRAFFIC SYSTEM
MANAGEMENT, TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM MANAGEMENT, SORRY,
THAT WE OVERLAY ALL OF
THESE, INCLUDING THOSE
BLOCKS LAID OUT IN THIS
ORDINANCE TO FIND OUT IF WE
ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO
CONSIDER THE ACCOMMODATION
THAT BICYCLISTS WILL NEED TO
SAFELY TRAVEL.
THANK YOU.
GOODMAN: OKAY.
THANKS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I DON'T THINK TOBY HEARD
THAT, BUT SOMEBODY IS TAKING
NOTES I'M SURE.
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?
I WILL RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS FOR AN
AMENDMENT ON ITEM NO. 40.
SLUSHER: ACTUALLY, MINE
IS 39.
SO ARE WE GOING — I'M
ASSUMING WE ARE GOING TO PUT
SIGNS ON THE STREETS
WHERE — WHERE THE
BICYCLE — RIDING ON
SIDEWALKS WILL BE
PROHIBITED?
BECAUSE IT IS — IT IS JUST
CERTAIN STREETS, IT NOT ONE
GENERAL AREA.
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER, THERE'S —
MR. AUSTEN LIBRACH.
COUNCILMEMBER, I THINK
OUR INTENT AT THIS POINT
WOULD BE TO SIT DOWN WITH
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
TALK ABOUT ENFORCEMENT OF
THIS WITHOUT THE NEED FOR
SIGNS.
IF THEY FEEL LIKE THAT'S
NECESSARY, I THINK WE WOULD
MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION, BUT
WE WOULD — I THINK
INITIALLY AT LEAST PREFER TO
DO IT WITHOUT SIGNS.
THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT'S
BEEN IN PLACE FOR QUITE SOME
TIME.
AND THE — THE PROBLEM HAS
BEEN THE LACK OF DEFINITION
OF CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
VERSUS A BUSINESS DISTRICT
AND I THINK THAT — I THINK
WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT
ADDITIONAL SIGNS, UNLESS
THAT'S THE DESIRE OF THE
COUNCIL.
SLUSHER: WELL, I'M
WILLING TO LET YOU ALL WORK
IT OUT.
BUT AS LONG AS IT WORKS.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THAT IT'S
ASKING BICYCLISTS TO KNOW
EXACTLY ALL OF THESE
STREETS.
I MEAN, IT'S CLEAR THAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT DOWNTOWN,
ON THE — ON CONGRESS AND
THE STREET ON EACH SIDE
RUNNING NORTH AND SIDE.
BUT EVEN THERE THERE'S SOME
STREETS WHERE THEY CAN RIDE
ALONG THE SIDEWALK AND
OTHERS WHERE THEY CAN'T.
THAT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE
ASKING THE CYCLISTS TO KNOW
QUITE A BIT.
I GUESS THE ONES THAT ARE
DOWN THERE ALL THE TIME
WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT ALSO YOU TALKED TO THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THIS
BEFOREHAND?
I MEAN I KNOW ITS A — IT'S
AN ITEM FOR COUNCIL, BUT
HAVE YOU ALL HAD DISCUSSIONS
WITH THEM YET?
I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS IT
WITH THEM.
WHAT ABOUT THE SPONSOR,
DID THE POLICE OFFER ANY
COMMENT ON THIS AT ALL?
[ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR
CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS]
SLUSHER: OKAY.
I UNDERSTAND.
I MEAN, I THINK EFERL
IT'S A GOOD THING, JUST
LIKE — SO YOU ARE GOING
TO GET TOGETHER NOW AND
WORK OUT HOW YOU'RE
GOING TO NOTIFY FOLKS
ABOUT THIS CHANGE?
AND WE COULD ALSO
FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND
SEND THEM ON TO COUNCIL
TELLING YOU WHAT OUR
PLANS ON, MAYBE NOTICING
BUSINESSES UP AND DOWN
THE CURRENT STREET,
SIGNS BEING POSTED, A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
THINGS THAT WE COULD DO.
SLUSHER: OKAY.
I APPRECIATE IT.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S ITEMS
FOR COUNCIL, NOT OF
STAFF.
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: AND
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, ON
ITEM NUMBER 40, I THINK
THAT THE MEMORANDUM FROM
RUDY GARZA, THE BUDGET
OFFICER, WITH REGARD TO
THE FISCAL IMPACT OF
THIS ONE, I THINK YOU
WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE
FACT THAT THIS WOULD
APPLY TO FUTURE PROJECTS
WITH POSSIBLE FUTURE
FUNDS?
THOMAS: RIGHT.
I NEEDED TO ASK — HE
CAN SPEAK ON IT, BUT I
NEEDED TO ASK IF IT WAS
NEW BOND CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS AND OPPOSED TO
CURRENT.
I JUST NEED TO ASK FOR
THE FUTURE BOND
PROJECTS.
SO THAT BY MAKING
THAT CLARIFICATION THAT
THIS WOULD APPLY TO
FUTURE BOND COLLARS
DOLLARS, THEN WHAT WE
WOULD BE DOING, THE
FISCAL NOTICE ONLY
INTENDED IF YOU'RE USING
THE REMAINING CURRENT
BOND DOLLARS.
WE WERE LETTING YOU KNOW
THAT THERE WOULD BE A
TRADE OFF BETWEEN
QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF
WHAT WE DO WITH THE
REMAINING BOND DOLLARS.
WITH THE CLARIFICATION
FOR NEW BOND DOLLARS,
THEN THAT WOULD BE PUT
INTO OUR ESTIMATES AND
PUT ON THE BOND PACKAGE
AND THEN THERE WOULD NOT
BE A FISCAL SHORTFALL ON
IMPLEMENTING THIS.
GOODMAN: MAYOR, DO
YOU MIND IF I FOLLOW UP
ON YOUR — ON TOBY'S
LAST COMMENT?
I'M GOING TO ANYWAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
ON THE 1:30 ITEM, DOES
ANYBODY HAVE LIKE A
NUTSHELL VERSION TO MAKE
SURE WE KNOW WHAT KIND
OF PERCENTAGE, IF ANY,
TXDOT OR FEDERAL DOLLARS
ALLOCATE — FEDERAL
ENTITIES ALLOCATE FOR
THOSE KIND OF JOINT
PARTNERSHIPS PROJECTS?
AWS TAN, CAN YOU HELP
WITH THAT?
I MIGHT BE ABLE TO.
IS THE QUESTION WHAT
PERCENT OF DOLLARS MIGHT
GO FOR SIDEWALKS FOR
SAIT HIGHWAY 130?
IT'S A NEW KIND OF TOLL
ROAD AND I DON'T KNOW
THAT AT THIS POINT THAT
I CAN TELL YOU WHAT
THEY'VE INTENDED TO
DESIGN WITH RESPECT TO
SIDEWALKS AND BICYCLE
FACILITIES IN THIS TOLL
ROAD.
WE CAN FIND OUT.
BUT SINCE IT'S SO NEW, I
DON'T THINK THEY'VE EVER
EVEN GOTTEN TO THAT
POINT TO DECIDE THAT.
WE WILL FIND OUT AND LET
YOU KNOW.
MAYOR GARCIA: ONE
THING ABOUT SH130, IS
EVEN THOUGH IT'S A BRAND
NEW PROJECT, IT'S ON THE
FAST TRACK.
FLUOR DANIEL HAS BEEN
SELECTED BY TXDOT TO
BUILD — DESIGN AND
BUILD THAT, AND THEY
THINK THAT THEY CAN
FINISH IT IN LESS THAN
SEVEN YEARS, ALL THE WAY
FROM GEORGETOWN TO
SEGUIN, BUT IT'S ON A
VERY FAST TRACK AND I
THINK THE ISSUE — IF
THE ISSUE IS BICYCLES,
WE NEED TO TALK TO THEM
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE
ON THE TRACK RIGHT NOW
AND THE COMMITMENT OF
THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION HAS BEEN TO
BUILD THAT VERY FAST.
I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A
ONE BILLION DOLLAR
PROJECT.
THE CITY IS PUTTING IN
15 MILLION, TRAVIS
COUNTY IS PUTTING 90
MILLION, WILLIAMSON
COUNTY IS PUTTING 30 —
THE TOTAL WAS 150
MILLION.
FROM THE LOCAL
SOURCES, THAT'S CORRECT.
OF WHICH OURS WAS 15
MILLION.
40 FROM WILLIAMSON,
90 FROM TRAVIS AND 15
FROM US.
AND THEN THE REST COMES
FROM CAPITALIZATION OF
THE TOLLWAY RESIDENTS.
A BIG MASSIVE PROJECT.
AND I THINK WE'VE
COMMUNICATED TO THEM
THAT WE WANT BICYCLE AND
PEDESTRIAN, BUT I DON'T
THINK THEY'VE MADE A
COMMITMENT TO THAT.
I CAN TELL YOU
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT
TYPICALLY THE STATE
THESE DAYS PROVIDES IN
THE DESIGN FOR ENOUGH
RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR
SIDEWALKS AND BICYCLE
LANES, BUT THEY DON'T
TIP FLY FUND IT.
THEY LOOK TO THE LOCALS
FOR THE FUNDING FOR
THAT.
AND I THINK ON THIS
PARTICULAR ROADWAY THERE
PERHAPS WOULD NEED TO BE
THAT KIND OF DISCUSSION
AND NEGOTIATION AS WELL
AS ANY OTHERS.
THEY ARE NOT TIP CLI —
TYPICALLY PROVIDING FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION ITSELF
OF THE SIDEWALKS.
GOODMAN: MAYOR, THEN
I WOULD ASK THAT WE
CONSIDER HAVING THAT
DISCUSSION.
SINCE TOLL ROADS
THEMSELVES ARE A NEW
CONCEPT FOR TEXAS, WHY
DON'T WE TALK TO THE
OTHER —
MAYOR GARCIA: YOU
MEAN FOR AUSTIN.
I MISSPOKE, FLUOR DANIEL
IS ONE OF 15
SUBCONTRACTORS.
LONE STAR IS THE PRIME
CONTRACTOR, AND I DON'T
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT
FIRM IS, WHO OWNS THAT
OR WHETHER IT'S A LOCAL
FIRM.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANY
INFORMATION ON THAT,
MAYOR.
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, ON
ITEM NUMBER 40?
THOMAS: YES, SIR.
I JUST NEEDED THE
WORDING CHANGED.
COUNCILMEMBER, IF YOU
COULD JUST REREAD THE
SENTENCE AGAIN.
I BELIEVE YOU JUST
ADDED —
THOMAS: I JUST ADDED
RIGHT THERE WHERE IT
SAYS THE COUNCIL ADOPT
THE POLICY AND THE CITY
COUNCIL AND THE THE CITY
MANAGER FOR THE ROAD,
INCLUDING THE GREATER
AUSTIN PROJECT AND THE
CITY BOND PROJECTS FOR
FUTURE BOND PROJECTS.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
MS. BROWN, DO YOU HAVE
THAT WORDING?
OKAY.
GOODMAN: AND MAYOR,
ONE LAST THING.
MAYOR GARCIA: MAYOR
PRO TEM.
GOODMAN: THE REASON I
WAS ASKING ABOUT ALL
THAT ON A CONSENT ITEM
IS BECAUSE IT SUDDENLY
OCCURRED TO ME THAT
MAYBE WE COULDN'T DO THE
TOUR DE FRANCE, BUT IF
WE HAD A BIKE ROUTE LAID
OUT SAFELY THAT ACTUALLY
WAS DESIGNED FOR SAFE
RIDING, THEYOULD
POTENTIALLY LOOK TO SOME
KIND OF BICYCLE EVENT
FOR AUSTIN.
MAYOR GARCIA: WE HAVE
SPOKEN TO THAT ISSUE AT
COUNCIL, BUT I DON'T
THINK THERE'S BEEN ANY
COMMITMENT ON THE PART
OF THE TEXAS
TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION OR THE TEXAS
TURNPIKE AUTHORITY ON
THAT ISSUE.
OKAY.
IS THERE A MOTION ON THE
CONSENT AGENDA?
THOMAS: SO MOVE.
MAYOR GARCIA: MOTION
BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS
WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT
HAVE BEEN READ INTO THE
RECORD.
AND ALSO THE
APPOINTMENTS THAT HAVE
BEEN READ INTO THE
RECORD BY MS. BROWN, THE
CITY CLERK.
IS THERE A SECOND?
GRIFFITH: SECOND.
MAYOR GARCIA:
SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.
DISCUSSION?
FURTHER DISCUSSION?
LET ME READ AGAIN INTO
THE RECORD THE CONSENT
ITEMS.
ITEM 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25,
26, 27 FOR POSTPONEMENT
INDEFINITELY, 28, 29,
30, 31, 3233, 34 WITH
THE APPOINTMENTS READ
INTO THE RECORD BY
MS. BROWN, 35, 38, 39,
40.
AND I GUESS 39 WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE
WILL BE SOME DISCUSSION
WITH THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ON
ENFORCEMENT.
40 WITH THE AMENDMENT
READ INTO THE RECORD BY
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
41 AND 42.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF
THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
AYE.
MAYOR GARCIA: OPPOSED
NO.
MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE
OF SEVEN TO ZERO.
THE DISCUSSION ITEMS
THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED
FOR DISCUSSION ARE ITEMS
24 BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN
AND ALSO 36 AND 37.
THIS IS A WYNN DAY
TODAY.
SO LET ME RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.
WYNN: THANK YOU,
MAYOR.
ITEM 24 SHOULDN'T TAKE
LONG.
I APPRECIATE MR. RHODES
AND OTHERS HANGING
AROUND.
24, AS I UNDERSTAND IT,
MR. RHODES, IS THE
FIVE-YEAR SERVICE
AGREEMENT FOR SOLID
WASTE SERVICES AND A
PORTION OF SOME OF THE
RELATIVELY NEWLY ANNEXED
AREAS.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE
WAS SOME DEBATE AT THE
SOLID WASTE ADVISORY
COMMISSION REGARDING
THIS CONTRACT AND THE
COMMISSION ACTUALLY
ENDED UP ENDORSING ONLY
A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION,
NOT THE FULL FIVE YEARS.
CAN YOU BRIEFLY WALK US
THROUGH THE ISSUES
INVOLVED?
OKAY.
THERE'S A SLIGHT ERROR
IN WHAT WE HAVE HERE AND
WHAT THE SOLID WASTE
COMMISSION VOTED ON.
THE ITEM THAT YOU HAVE
BEFORE YOU IS AN
IMPROVEMENT AND
EXECUTION TO THE
FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT AND
INCREASING THE DOLLAR
AMOUNT BY AN AMOUNT NOT
TO EXCEED 141,000
DOLLARS.
WHAT THE SOLID WASTE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THEY
VOTED FOR THE INCREASE
IN THE CONTRACT TO
EXTEND THIS CONTRACT SO
IT GOES THROUGH THE LIFE
OF THE CONTRACT, WHICH
WILL BE FEBRUARY 2003.
WHAT THE SOLID WASTE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE DID
NOT APPROVE WAS THE
RECOMMENDED EXTENSION
OPTION THAT WAS THERE OF
TWO 12-MONTH EXTENSION
OPTIONS FOR THIS
CONTRACT.
SO THE CONTRACT IS ALIVE
TODAY.
IF YOU APPROVE THE
INCREASE TODAY, IT WOULD
EXTEND TO FEBRUARY OF
2003.
WE WOULD HAVE TWO
12-MONTH OPTIONS FOR
EXTENSION OF THAT
CONTRACT THAT'S ALSO UP
FOR COUNCIL'S
CONSIDERATION TODAY.
WYNN: BUT AGAIN, THE
OPTION ON THESE
EXTENSIONS, THE CITY'S
OPTION, CORRECT?
CORRECT.
WYNN: FOR WHATEVER
REASON YOU AND YOUR
DEPARTMENT AREN'T
SATISFIED WITH THE
SERVICE OR THEY HAVE
SIGNIFICANT FEEDBACK
FROM CITIZENS IN THOSE
RECENTLY ANNEXED AREAS
ABOUT THE SERVICE, THEN
WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE THE
LEVERAGE AFTER THIS ONE
YEAR TO ENFORCE
COMPLIANCE AND CHANGE
OPERATING PROCEDURES,
ETCETERA, BEFORE WE
WOULD THEN OPT TO
EXECUTE THE CONTRACT
EXTENSIONS?
THAT'S CORRECT,
COUNCILMEMBER.
WYNN: MAYOR, BASED ON
THAT, I'LL MOVE APPROVAL
OF 24.
MAYOR GARCIA: MOTION
BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN TO
APPROVE ITEM 24.
IS WILL A SECOND?
SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
AYE.
MAYOR GARCIA: OPPOSED
NO.
MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE
OF SEVEN TO ZERO.
NOW WE WILL GO TO ITEM
NUMBER 36.
AND ITEM NUMBER 36 IS AN
ITEM FROM COUNCIL.
IT'S A DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE ACTION,
INCLUDING AN AMENDMENT
TO THE FISCAL YEAR
2001-2002 OPERATING
BUDGET, ORDINANCE NUMBER
010910-01 REGARDING AN
APPROPRIATION TO FUND
THE CITIZEN'S INITIATIVE
CAMPAIGN FINANCE CHARTER
AMENDMENT, PROPOSITION
1, IF THE AMENDMENT IS
APPROVED BY THE VOTERS
ON MAY THE FOURTH, 2002.
THIS ITEM WAS PLACED ON
THE AGENDA BY
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN AND
MAYOR GUS GARCIA.
AND I'LL RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN FOR
PRESENTATION.
WYNN: THANK YOU,
MAYOR.
I'LL SAY THIS.
I'M NOT EXCITED ABOUT
BRINGING THIS ITEM FROM
COUNCIL FORWARD, BUT I
THINK SORT OF GOOD
GOVERNMENT DEMANDS THAT
WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION
BECAUSE THE PROPOSITION
1 ORDINANCE THAT WILL BE
BEFORE THE VOTERS
SATURDAY, MAY 4TH,
INCLUDES THE LANGUAGE
THAT THE COUNCIL —
QUOTE, THE COUNCIL SHALL
IMMEDIATELY APPROPRIATE
SAID FUNDS UPON THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
ACT, UNQUOTE.
THAT EFFECTIVE DATE OF
THE ACT, SHOULD THIS
PASS, WOULD BE
APPROXIMATELY THE
WEDNESDAY OR SO AFTER
THE ELECTION WHEN WE
CANVASS — OFFICIALLY
CANVASS THE RESULTS.
WE ONLY HAVE — WE HAVE
TODAY AND ONE OTHER
COUNCIL MEETING BEFORE
THEN IN WHICH WE WOULD
HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY
APPROPRIATE SAID FUNDS.
SO THERE'S BEEN A FAIR
AMOUNT OF DISCUSSION IN
THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS
ABOUT ME BRINGING THIS
ITEM FORWARD.
THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT
NUMBER OF E-MAILS FLYING
AROUND TOWN THAT ACME OF
TRYING TO USE SCARE
TACTICS BY USING THE
TERM IMMEDIATELY.
I'M SIMPLY READING
THE — I READ THE
ORDINANCE.
PERHAPS READING THE
ORDINANCE IS A SCARE
TACTIC, BUT IN READING
THE ORDINANCE THE
LANGUAGE CLEARLY SAYS
THAT WE SHALL
IMMEDIATELY APPROPRIATE.
IT DOESN'T SAY WE SHALL
APPROPRIATE AT SOME
POINT PRIOR TO THE NEXT
MUNICIPAL ELECTION OR IT
DOESN'T SAY THAT WE
SHALL FUND AT SOME POINT
DURING THE UPCOMING
ANNUAL BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS.
IT SAYS WE SHALL
IMMEDIATELY APPROPRIATE
SAID FUNDS UPON THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
ACT.
AGAIN, THERE BEING ONE
COUNCIL MEETING AFTER
THIS BETWEEN NOW AND
SHOULD IT PASS, THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THAT
ACT.
SO GOOD GOVERNMENT SAYS
WE NEED TO HAVE THE
COUNCIL DEBATE ABOUT HOW
WE'RE GOING TO FUND
SOMETHING THAT IS IN
THREE WEEKS TIME WITH
ONLY ONE COUNCIL MEETING
TO GO?
NOW, THAT BEGS THE
OBVIOUS QUESTION WHAT
SHOULD BE THE FUNDING
AMOUNT?
AND I WANT TO THANK THE
CITY MANAGER AND HER
STAFF FOR TRYING TO
ANALYZE THE ORDINANCE
AND TRYING TO COME UP
WITH AN ESTIMATE AS TO
HOW MUCH IN FACT WE
SHOULD FUND.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S
GOOD, HONEST DEBATE
ABOUT WHAT THAT AMOUNT
NEEDS TO BE.
THE ORDINANCE ITSELF YOU
REMEMBER PLACES A
MAXIMUM FIGURE OF THIS
ACT AT ONE-QUARTER OF
ONE PERCENT OF THE
CITY'S BUDGET.
I'M TOLD THAT WORKS OUT
TO BE FOUR MILLION AND
CHANGE.
I THINK THE AUTHORS AND
THE MANY SUPPORTERS OF
THIS ORDINANCE SUGGEST
THAT IT SHOULD BE FAR
LESS THAN THAT.
YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD
600,000, I'VE HEARD 1.6
MILLION.
SO SIGNIFICANTLY LESS
THAN THE MAXIMUM
ALLOCATED PER THE
ORDINANCE.
OF COURSE, THAT BEGS THE
QUESTION AS TO WHY HAVE
THAT BIG A MAXIMUM IN
THE ORDINANCE IF IT'S
GOING TO BE LESS THAN
THAT?
BUT — SO CITY STAFF
SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND
EFFORT AND I THINK THEY
TOOK A VERY SOUND
APPROACH IN THAT THEY
DECIDED TO USE
HISTORICAL DATA, LOOK AT
RECENT COUNCIL ELECTIONS
AND FRANKLY TRY TO
HANDICAP OR FIGURE OUT
WHICH OF THE PREVIOUS
COUNCIL CANDIDATES COULD
HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THESE
DIFFERENT FUNDING
LEVELS.
SO I'LL LET THE STAFF
BRIEFLY WALK US THROUGH
THAT.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT IN MY
OPINION I DISAGREE.
I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
LOOKING AT HISTORIC
DATA.
HISTORICALLY WE DIDN'T
HAVE THIS SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF PUBLIC FUNDS
AVAILABLE.
I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE JUST
INTUITIVELY THAT IF
PUBLIC FUNDS WERE
AVAILABLE IT WILL DRAW
MORE CANDIDATES.
AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE
QUALIFIED.
PER THIS ORDINANCE THEY
WILL SORT OF QUALIFY.
SO I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE
THAT THE NUMBER IS GOING
TO BE LARGER RATHER THAN
SMALLER, BUT THAT'S JUST
MY OPINION.
HAVING SAID THAT,
BECAUSE OF THESE PAINFUL
BUDGET BLIB DLEUB
REATIONS THAT WE'RE —
DELIBERATIONS THAT WE'RE
ALREADY HAVING, I'M
CERTAINLY PREPARED TO
IMMEDIATELY FUND,
FRANKLY, AS LITTLE AS
POSSIBLE, BUT CERTAINLY
ABIDE BY THE LAW AND
FUND IMMEDIATELY, YOU
KNOW, THE AMOUNT NEEDED
OR AN ESTIMATED.
NOW, ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY I TEND TO THINK THE
STAFF HAS PUT AN
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
IS AN UNDERESTIMATION IS
JUST SOME SIMPLE MATH.
PER THE ORDINANCE, IF
500 PEOPLE GET FIVE
DOLLARS EACH OR 2500
DOLLARS, THEY GET A
CHECK FROM THE CITY OF
AUSTIN FOR $16,666.
WELL, I HAPPEN TO
SUSPECT THAT THERE IS
ANY NUMBER OF YOUNGER
ORIENTED GROUPS, PERHAPS
ASSOCIATED WITH A
SIGNIFICANT STATE
UNIVERSITY IN THIS CITY,
THAT IF THEY KNEW THAT
THEY COULD GET TOGETHER
AND 500 GUYS PUT IN FIVE
BUCKS APIECE AND SIX
MONTHS PRIOR TO A MAY
ELECTION BE GIVEN A
CHECK FROM THE CITY OF
AUSTIN FOR $16,666 TO GO
CAMPAIGN, OF COURSE,
DIFFERENT PEOPLE
CAMPAIGN IN DIFFERENT
WAYS, YOU KNOW, MY
CRACKER JACK STAFF HAS
DONE SOME QUICK RESEARCH
AND FOR $16,666, YOU CAN
BUY 200 KEGS OF BEER AND
100 POUNDS OF POTATO
CHIPS.
AND SO MY SUGGESTION IS
PERHAPS BY SIMPLY
PUTTING A BANNER OVER
200 DEGREES OF BEER THAT
SAYS VOTE FOR OUR
CANDIDATE, FREE BEER,
YOU IN FACT ARE
CAMPAIGNING.
AND SO I'M HARD PRESSED
TO BELIEVE THAT THERE
WON'T BE SOME INGENIOUS
YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO
WILL SEE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO — FOR FIVE DOLLARS
TO HAVE 200 KEGS OF
SHINER BOCK DELIVERED.
AND WHAT I LIKE ABOUT
THAT AND IS SORT OF
FUNNY IS THAT THE TIMING
OF THE SIX MONTHS PRIOR
TO THE ELECTION IS K, OF
COURSE, EARLY NOVEMBER,
JUST IN TIME FOR THE
A&M/U.T. FOOTBALL GAME,
THE END OF THE SEMESTER
PARTIES, THE HOLIDAY
BREAK, NEW YEAR'S EVE,
MARDI GRAS, ST.
PATRICK'S DAY AND SPRING
BREAK.
SO FRANKLY MY BIG
CONCERN HERE IS THAT THE
AGGIES FIGURE OUT HOW TO
QUALIFY FOR THIS THING
AND IT GETS REAL
INTERESTING.
BUT THE BEER SCENARIO
ASIDE — I'M SORRY, THAT
GOT THE MAYOR'S
ATTENTION.
THE BEER SCENARIO ASIDE,
THIS — WE'RE — WE ALL
LOVE AUSTIN AND AUSTIN'S
A GREAT TOWN AND A
POLITICALLY ACTIVE TOWN,
AND I THINK WE HAVE A
UNIQUELY POLITICAL TOWN.
THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF
ORGANIZATIONS, NOT
STUDENT RELATED, THAT
COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC
FUNDING FOR CANDIDATES
OF THEIR CHOICE.
THAT'S JUST THE POINT OF
THIS ORDINANCE, I
PRESUME.
AS AN EXAMPLE, AN
ORGANIZATION THAT HAS
2,000 MEMBERS — AND IN
COURSE, THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS
IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT
HAVE MULTIPLES OF THAT.
IF AN ORGANIZATION HAS
2,000 MEMBERS AND COULD
RUN FOUR CANDIDATES IN
EVERY PLACE.
THAT IS, THEY ORGANIZE
THEIR SIGNATURES AND
THEIR FIVE-DOLLAR
CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEN
THEY, OF COURSE,
ORGANIZE THEIR 200
DOLLAR CONTRIBUTIONS
AFTER THAT, SO ANY
ORGANIZATION THAT HAS
2,000 NUMBERS COULD RUN
FOUR CANDIDATES PER
PLACE, EACH QUALIFY FOR
UP TO $100,000 IN PUBLIC
FINANCING FOR THEIR
CAMPAIGN.
KEEP IN MIND, ONLY ONE
OF THEM PERHAPS GOES OUT
AND PURCHASES YARD SIGNS
AND BUMPER STICKERS AND
RUNS A CAMPAIGN THAT HAS
HIS OR HER NAME
ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
THE OTHER THREE FELLOW
MEMBERS OF THIS
ORGANIZATION FOR A PLACE
DECIDE TO SPEND THEIR
$100,000 EACH IN A
DIFFERENT KIND OF
CAMPAIGN, PERHAPS AT
WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED
SORT OF AN ATTACK AD
CAMPAIGN AGAINST WHO
MIGHT BE CONSIDERED A
COMMON ENEMY, SAY AN
INCUMBENT COUNCILMEMBER.
SO I JUST SEE, YOU KNOW,
SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES IN
THIS ORDINANCE THAT IN
FACT I'M GOING TO
SUGGEST THAT AN HISTORIC
TREND, WHICH STAFF WILL
OUTLINE FOR US, IS GOING
TO BE A DRAMATIC
UNDERESTIMATION OF THE
COST.
IN NO WAY AM I IMPLYING
THAT THE AUTHORS OR THE
MANY SUPPORTERS OF THIS
ORDINANCE ARE — HAVE
ANY ILL INTENT
WHATSOEVER.
THERE'S A VERY
LEGITIMATE, LARGE
NATIONAL DEBATE ABOUT
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
AND PUBLIC FINANCING.
HAPPEN TO THINK THIS
PARTICULAR ORDINANCE HAS
A LOT OF HOLES IN IT AND
I'M GOING TO BE VOTING
AGAINST IT ON THAT
SATURDAY, BUT WHAT I
INTEND TO DO — I MIGHT
BE THE ONLY ONE, BUT I
INTEND TO FOLLOW THE
LETTER OF THE LAW AND
I'M PREPARED TO
IMMEDIATELY APPROPRIATE
THE FUNDS UPON THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
ACT.
AND IN SPITE OF THE FACT
THAT I HAPPEN TO THINK
THAT THE NUMBER IS GOING
TO BE BIGGER RATHER THAN
NOT, I'LL — I WILL
CERTAINLY GO ALONG WITH
A SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED
IMMEDIATE ALLOCATION OF
THESE FUNDS EITHER TODAY
OR NEXT THURSDAY SO IN
FACT WHEN THE ELECTION
IS CANVASSED IN THREE
WEEKS OR SO, WE COMPLY
WITH THE ORDINANCE.
SO WITH THAT I GUESS I
NEED TO ASK THE CITY
MANAGER TO WALK US
THROUGH THEIR
ESTIMATION.
ALVAREZ: IF I COULD
ASK A QUESTION BEFORE WE
GET INTO THIS.
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.
ALVAREZ: I'D LIKE AN
ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION
ABOUT THE LANGUAGE OF
THE ACTUAL CITIZEN
INITIATIVE.
AND WE'RE CLAIMING IT
REQUIRES IMMEDIATE
APPROPRIATION.
COULD YOU READ THAT FOR
ME, THAT SECTION THAT
DEALS WITH THE FUNDING?
IT SAYS HERE, IT'S
HERE BY ESTABLISHED AND
ACCOUNT WITHIN A SPECIAL
REVENUE FUND OF THE CITY
OF AUSTIN — I NEED TO
MAKE REFERENCE TO THE
SECTION.
IT'S SUBSECTION H.
IT SAYS IT IS HERE BY
ESTABLISHED AN ACCOUNT
WITHIN A SPECIAL REVENUE
FUND FOR THE CITY OF
AUSTIN BE KNOWN AS THE
FAIR ELECTION FUND.
THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL
APPROPRIATE THE FAIR
ELECTION FUND IN AN
AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO
FUND ALL CANDIDATES FOR
THE OFFICE OF MAYOR OR
THE CITY COUNCIL
ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE
PUBLIC FINANCING FROM
THE FUND.
THE COUNCIL SHALL
IMMEDIATELY APPROPRIATE
SAID FUNDS UPON THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
ACT AND SHALL THEREAFTER
APPROPRIATE SUCH FUNDS
FOR EACH FOLLOWING
FISCAL YEAR.
DO YOU WANT ME TO GO ON?
ALVAREZ: NO.
THAT'S ENOUGH.
I GUESS MY QUESTION, I
GUESS, WHETHER THIS
PARTICULAR LANGUAGE
REALLY REQUIRES
IMMEDIATE APPROPRIATION
BECAUSE IT SUGGESTS
THAT — BASICALLY I
THINK THIS IS AN
UNNECESSARY EXERCISE FOR
US TO BE GOING THROUGH,
BUT BASICALLY IT SAYS AN
AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO
FUND ALL CANDIDATES FOR
OFFICE, MAYOR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS, ELIGIBLE
TO RECEIVE PUBLIC
FINANCING FROM THE FUND.
SO BASICALLY ON MAY THE
FOURTH IF THIS PASSES,
IMMEDIATELY THERE'S NOT
GOING TO BE FOLKS WHO
ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE
THOSE FUNDS, FIRST OF
ALL.
AND THEN THE LATER
STATEMENT SAYS THAT EACH
FISCAL YEAR YOU WILL
APPROPRIATE ENOUGH FUNDS
TO COVER THE NECESSARY
FINANCIAL OUT LAYS.
SO MY READING FROM THAT
MEANS THAT I THINK ON
MAY 4TH IF THIS PASSES,
PRETTY SOON THEREAFTER
WE HAVE TO PASS WHATEVER
WE NEED TO IN ORDER TO
GET BEGIN IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE ORDINANCE.
BUT NO ONE IS ELIGIBLE
YET IF YOU HAVE TO
APPROPRIATE THE TWO
MILLION OR FOUR MILLION,
WHATEVER IT IS, I'M NOT
SURE WHERE IT'S GOING TO
GO, BUT IF YOU READ IT
AND REALIZE THAT NO
ONE'S EVENING — — EVEN
I GUESS WE'RE ASSUMING
THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO
TURN AROUND AND SUE THE
CITY IF WE DON'T
APPROPRIATE THAT MONEY
IMMEDIATELY, BUT NO ONE
IS ELIGIBLE FOR THESE
FUNDS YESTERDAY YET, SO
NOBODY WOULD BE ABLE TO
SUE THE CITY.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT
THE LANGUAGE POINTS TO.
AND I WOULD I WOULD ASK
MR. STEINER'S OPINION ON
THAT AND IS THAT AN
ACCURATE READING?
WHY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN
HAD BROUGHT THIS
FORWARD, BUT IS STAFF
TAKING THE POSITION THAT
THIS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE
PROPOSITION AND IF —
APPROPRIATION, AND IF
SO, WHAT IS THE LEGAL
JUSTIFICATION
JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT?
NO, I'VE NOT TAKEN A
POSITION AND I DON'T
HAVE ANY PARTICULAR
AUTHORITY TO
AUTHORITATIVELY
INTERPRET THESE WORDS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY THAT
SUGGESTS HOW THEY GOT TO
BE THE WAY THEY ARE.
SO I WOULD SAY IT'S UP
TO COUNCIL TO INTERPRET
IT AND ACT UPON IT AS
COUNCIL SEES FIT.
MAYOR GARCIA: LET ME
SAY, COUNCILMEMBER, THAT
WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT
SENTENCE THAT YOU
REFERRED TO IT SAYS THE
COUNCIL SHALL
IMMEDIATELY APPROPRIATE
SAID FUNDS UPON THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
ACT.
AND THIS PARTICULAR
PROPOSED ORDINANCE HAS
THOSE KINDS OF, I GUESS,
CONFLICTS IN THE TEXT OF
THE ORDINANCE.
BUT I THINK YOUR POINT
IS A GOOD POINT.
WHO WOULD SUE THE CITY?
AND IT'S JUST LIKE THE
DEFINITION OF OVER ONE
PERCENT OF THE BUDGET.
IT DOESN'T SAY GENERAL
FUND BUDGET OR CAPITAL
BUDGET, IT SAYS BUDGET,
WHICH MEANS THE WHOLE
BUDGET OF THE CITY,
WHICH IS IN EXCESS OF —
IN EXCESS OF TWO BILLION
DOLLARS.
SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF
THINGS THAT I GUESS — I
THINK THAT COUNCILMEMBER
WYNN AND I WANTED TO
DISCUSS BECAUSE I DON'T
THINK — AND I'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THIS.
I'VE BEEN INVITED TO
SPEAK ON THIS — ON ALL
THE PROPOSITIONS.
AND THE MAJORITY,
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
HEARD ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR CITIZEN
PETITION, AND EVEN THOSE
WHO SIGNED IT, HAVE SAID
THEY SIGNED IT ONLY
BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD
THAT THIS WOULD INCREASE
THE CONTRIBUTION LIMIT
FROM 100 TO 200 DOLLARS.
QUITE FRANKLY, NOBODY
KNEW ABOUT THIS?
NOBODY KNEW ABOUT THE
RIGHTS OF THE ETHICS
REVIEW COMMISSION.
SO I THINK IT'S
INCUMBENT UPON THE
COUNCIL TO EXPLAIN THOSE
THINGS TO THE PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A —
THERE WERE A SIMILAR
SITUATION TO THIS ONE IN
SAN ANTONIO WHERE A
CITIZEN PETITION CAME UP
AND THE COUNCIL THERE ON
THE BODY OF THE BALLOT
PUT THE WHOLE CITIZEN
PETITION SO THAT
EVERYBODY COULD HAVE A
CHANCE TO READ IT.
I THINK THESE THINGS ARE
SERIOUS ENOUGH FOR US TO
CONSIDER THEM AND FOR US
TO EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE
WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE
GOING TO BE VOTING ON.
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?
ALVAREZ: I'M SORRY.
MAYOR GARCIA: YOU
STILL HAD THE FLOOR,
COUNCILMEMBER.
ALVAREZ: BASICALLY, I
MEAN, I AGREE THAT WE
NEED TO GO THROUGH THE
EXERCISE OF ESTIMATING
WHAT WE THINK THIS WOULD
COST, BUT I THINK THAT'S
A DIFFERENT EXERCISE
THAN STATING WE'RE GOING
TO HAV, TO COME UP WITH
THAT AMOUNT ON MAY THE
11TH, ESPECIALLY GIVEN
THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS
THAT WE'RE HAVING AND
THE — AND I REALLY
THINK THAT IT'S
PREMATURE, OR AT LEAST
INAPPROPRIATE FOR US TO
BE SAYING OR AT LEAST
IN17 TWAIT17 WAITING
THAT THAT'S A NECESSITY.
AND THAT'S YOUR
INTERPRETATION OF THE
LANGUAGE, BUT BASICALLY
I DON'T AGREE.
AND I THINK IT COULD BE
INTERPRETED DIFFERENT
WAYS, BUT I THINK THIS
IS A WAY OF TRYING TO
SHED NEGATIVE LIGHT ON
THIS.
AND I'M NOT SAYING I'M
FOR OR AGAINST THIS.
SOME OTHER — I'M NOT
REALLY ADDRESSING OR
TAKING A POSITION ON
THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE,
BUT I DO THINK WE NEED
TO BE FAIR IN TERMS OF
HOW IT'S PRESENTED TO
THE PUBLIC.
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?
WYNN: MR. STEINER,
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
ACT?
THE EFFECTIVE DATE
WILL BE THE DATE THAT
THE VOTES ARE CANVASSED.
WIN SO THE SENTENCE SAYS
THE COUNCIL SHALL
IMMEDIATELY APPROPRIATE
SAID FUNDS UPON THE DATE
OF THIS ACT?
YES, SIR.
WYNN: HOW ELSE CAN
THAT BE INTERPRETED NOT
TO BE MAY 11TH?
ALVAREZ: WELL, IT
ALSO SAYS,
COUNCILMEMBER, ABOUT
CITY COUNCIL AND MAYORAL
CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE TO
RECEIVE FUNDING.
SO THAT'S A SEPARATE
QUESTION OF IS ANYBODY
GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE ON
DATE WE CANVASS.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE
THE TWO DIFFERENT
THEORIES DON'T MESH.
WYNN: SO THINK
THROUGH THIS LOGIC.
SAY WE DON'T FUND THIS
UNTIL THE BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS.
EVEN DURING THE HEAT OF
THE ELECTION NEXT MAY,
THE WEEK BEFORE THE BOAT
VOET, YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO KNOW WHO IS ELIGIBLE
AND WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING
TO MATCH TWO FOR ONE
DOLLARS, ON A DAILY
BASIS DIFFERENT
CANDIDATES ARE TURNING
IN REQUESTS BECAUSE THEY
SHOW THERE'S NO WAY TO
KNOW HOW MANY — WE'RE
NOT GOING TO KNOW HOW
MANY PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE
THE DAY BEFORE THE
ELECTION.
BECAUSE ANY CANDIDATE
CAN WALK IN THE DAY
BEFORE THE ELECTION AND
SUBMIT HIS OR HER
QUALIFYING CONVICTIONS
AND — CONTRIBUTIONS AND
GET A TWO FOR ONE MATCH
FROM THE CITY.
SO CLEARLY WHEN YOU READ
THE ORDINANCE, YOU KNOW,
WE HAVE TO SET ASIDE A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
MONEY AND HAVE IT ALWAYS
BE AVAILABLE FOR
ANYBODY — YOU DON'T GET
A HEADS UP.
WE DON'T GET 12 DAYS'
NOTICE OR SOMETHING OF
WHEN SOMEBODY IS GOING
TO WALK IN THE POST
OFFICE WITH HIS OR HER
PILE OF 200 DOLLAR
CHECKS AND THEN GET A
TWO FOR ONE MATCH FROM
THE CITY.
IN FACT, OFTEN TIMES
THAT WILL BE HAPPENING
RIGHT UP TO THE — AND
CERTAINLY THROUGH ALL
THE EARLY VOTING RIGHT
UP TO THE ELECTION DATE.
SO WHEN YOU READ THE
ORDINANCE, IT'S INTENDED
TO HAVE A LARGE SET OF
FUNDS AVAILABLE IF AND
WHEN HOWEVER MANY,
HOWEVER FEW, MAYOR OR
COUNCIL CANDIDATES,
QUALIFY.
MAYOR GARCIA: AND
THERE'S ANOTHER EVENT
THAT COULD HAPPEN, ONE
THAT HAPPENED LAST
NOVEMBER.
AND THAT IS A SPECIAL
ELECTION.
WE COULD HAVE A SPECIAL
ELECTION.
SLUSHER: THIS YEAR.
WYNN: I DON'T
READ
HOW WE CAN READ SHALL
IMMEDIATELY APPROPRIATE
FUNDS ON MAY 11TH OTHER
THAN APPROPRIATING SOME
FUND ON MAY 11TH.
I'LL BE ALL SUPPORTING
IT AND SAYING IT'S GOING
TO BE PAINFUL, BUT
MAKING IT AS RELATIVELY
SMALL AS WE CAN, PERHAPS
UPPING IT IF WE DON'T
GET SUED, UPPING IT
THROUGH THE BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS, BUT I
THINK WE HAVE TO DPLIE
WITH THE ACT.
AND IMMEDIATELY
APPROPRIATE SAID FUNDS
MAY 11TH.
AND TO DO THAT, WE HAVE
ONE MORE COUNCIL MEETING
BEFORE THEN.
SO EITHER TODAY OR NEXT
THURSDAY IS MY — I
GUESS MY QUESTION IS SO
IF WE IGNORE THIS PIECE
OF THE ORDINANCE, WHAT
OTHER PIECES OF THE
ORDINANCE CAN WE IGNORE
AND WHO GETS TO DECIDE
WHAT PIECES OF IT WE GET
TO IGNORE.
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ,
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER.
DO YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO
HIM AND THEN I'LL
RECOGNIZE...
ALVAREZ: SURE.
MAYOR GARCIA:
MR. FRED LEWIS.
MR. LEWIS, WELCOME, SIR.
I GUESS I AM THE
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
SINCE I DRAFTED THE
PROPOSITION.
THERE WILL BE — THE
SAID FUNDS REFERS TO
FUNDS FOR POTENTIALLY OR
REASONABLY ELIGIBLE
CANDIDATES AND AN
ESTIMATE BASED ON THAT.
AS COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ
POINTED OUT, THERE IS NO
ONE WHO CAN BE ELIGIBLE
TO BE A CANDIDATE UNDER
THIS UNTIL NOVEMBER OF
2002 BECAUSE YOU CANNOT
BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR
PARTICIPATING FUNDS
UNTIL 180 DAYS BEFORE
THE ELECTION.
AND THE LAST TIME I
CHECKED, NOVEMBER 2002
WAS IN THE NEXT FISCAL
YEAR.
BASICALLY WHAT YOU HAVE
TO DO TO IMMEDIATELY
FUND THIS ACT IS TO
BEGIN THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF IT.
THERE ARE NO CANDIDATES
WHO CAN BE RUNNING THIS
FISCAL YEAR.
THERE IS NOBODY WHO CAN
QUALIFY THIS FISCAL
YEAR.
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T
QUALIFY UNTIL 180 DAYS
BEFORE THE ELECTION.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO,
YOU CAN'T GET ANY MONEY
BEFORE 180 DAYS BEFORE
THE ELECTION.
AND THERE ARE OTHER
CONTINGENCY.
YOU HAVE TO BE OPPOSED
BEFORE YOU GET MONEY.
THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF
THINGS.
NO MATTER WHAT, YOU
CANNOT GET ANY MONEY AS
A CANDIDATE EARLIER THAN
180 DAYS BEFORE THE
ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
BUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO
TO IMMEDIATELY FUND THE
ACT IS TO START TO PUT
IN PROCESS THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR IT.
NOW, I WOULD HOPE THE
CITY PUTS INTO PLACE AN
ADMINISTRATION LIKE
TUCSON IN OAKLAND, WHICH
IS THEY HIRE ONE PERSON
AND DON'T MAKE A MON
STROSTY OUT OF THIS,
WHICH IS WHAT HAS BEEN
DONE IN OTHER CITIES AND
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RUN IT
WITH VERY FEW PEOPLE.
SO YOU BASICALLY IN MY
VIEW NEED TO APPROPRIATE
THE SALARY FOR THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR
ABOUT TWO OR THREE
MOONTS, ASSUMING HOW
LONG IT TAKES TO HIRE
SOMEBODY.
WHEN YOU GET AROUND TO
THE BUDGET IN AUGUST,
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
HAVE A FISCAL ESTIMATE.
IF YOU READ LATER ON YOU
WILL REALIZE THE ETHICS
REVIEW COMMISSION HAS TO
MAKE A FISCAL ESTIMATE
OF THE COST.
AND THEN FIGURE OUT HOW
MUCH MONEY NEEDS TO BE
APPROPRIATED.
YOUR STAFF IS NOT — HAS
NOT SHARED WITH ME ANY
OF ITS FISCAL ANALYSIS,
SO I REALLY CAN'T
COMMENT UPON WHATEVER
THEY'RE GOING TO
PRESENT, BUT I WILL SAY
THIS: WE HAVE HEARD
SPECULATION UPON
SPECULATION ABOUT HOW
MANY CANDIDATES WILL
QUALIFY.
IT WILL BE EITHER ALL
THE PEOPLE OF HYDE PARK
BAPTIST CHURCH WILL SIGN
UP.
I DON'T THINK IT'S SO
BAD.
I THINK THE PEOPLE OF
THE CHURCH ARE ENTITLED
TO REPRESENTATION TOO.
BUT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE.
AND I'M GOING TO SIT
HERE AND ASK, LIKE I
ASKED IN OCTOBER, IF YOU
REMEMBER, FOR THE
EVIDENCE FOR THIS.
I'LL READ YOU WHAT THE
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
REPORTS, THAT NEITHER
MAINE OR ARIZONA HAD A
PROBLEM WITH SO-CALLED
FRINGE CANDIDATES.
SIMILARLY STATES IN
CITIES WITH PARTIAL
PUBLIC FINANCING
PROGRAMS —
[ BUZZER SOUNDS ]
— HAVE NOT FACED SUCH
A PROBLEM.
WHAT IS YOUR SUPPORT FOR
YOUR POSITION THAT WE
HAVE FRINGE CANDIDATES?
TUCSON REQUIRES 200
SIGNATURES AND 10
DOLLARS.
IT'S A CITY OF 498,000
PEOPLE.
WE REQUIRE 500
SIGNATURES.
THE LAST ELECTION 50% OF
THE CANDIDATES
QUALIFIED.
IN THE BEGINNING YEARS
OF THESE PROGRAMS, 20 TO
30 PERCENT OF THE
CANDIDATES QUALIFIED.
[ BUZZER SOUNDS ]
AND I GUESS I'LL SIT
HERE AND SAY IT UNTIL I
DRAW BLUE IN THE FACE,
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
CITY AND STATE THAT HAS
ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS
WHERE THE PARTICIPATION
RATE, THE MATCHING FUND
RATES, THE OTHER THINGS
ARE AS SPECULATED.
I WILL SUM IT UP WITH
THIS.
WE ARE BEING VERY
CONSISTENT WITH OTHER
CITIES.
IN NRKZ THE STAFF, NOT
HAPPY WITH THE IDEA OF
PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING
IN1989, ESTIMATED THE
ENTIRE PREAM FOR THE
CITY OF NEW YORK WOULD
COST 27 MILLION DOLLARS.
IT COST FOUR.
SO I GUESS WE'RE ABOUT
ON COURSE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS — BECAUSE
EVERY ASSUMPTION MADE TO
GET THESE FIGURES CANNOT
BE SUPPORTED IN THE REAL
WORLD AND THERE ARE REAL
WORLD EXAMPLES.
WE'RE NOT THE FIRST
PEOPLE TO DO THIS.
MAYOR GARCIA: FRED,
YOU DON'T DISPUTE THAT
THE CITY OUGHT TO LOOK
INTO THIS TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT THE FISCAL
IMPLICATIONS ARE, DO
YOU?
I DON'T DISPUTE THAT
THE CITY SHOULD DO A
REASONABLE ANALYSIS
AFTER THE PROPOSITION
PASSES.
THERE'S NO NEED TO DO
THIS NOW.
IF IT PASSES — WE'VE
ALREADY HAD SPECULATION
ALL OVER THE PLACE ABOUT
THE COST.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING
TO BE CLEARED UP TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR
STAFF'S DONE IN THE PAST
IS LOOKED AT NO EXAMPLES
FROM ANY OTHER CITY OR
STATE.
WHAT WE NEED — IF YOU
WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH
MONEY NEEDS TO BE
AVAILABLE ON MAY 11TH,
12TH, WHATEVER AFTER THE
ELECTION, IF THIS
PASSES, IS YOU NEED
ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND
SOMEBODY'S SALARY FOR A
COUPLE OF MONTHS.
AND THEN WHEN AUGUST
COMES AROUND THERE'S
GOING TO HAVE TO BE A
FISCAL ANALYSIS OR
ESTIMATE DONE BY THE
ETDZCS REVIEW
COMMISSION.
AND MAIN BY THEN IF THIS
IS PASSED WE CAN ALL
CALM DOWN AND DO A
REALISTIC ESTIMATE.
BECAUSE I KEEP SAYING IS
HOW DOES ARIZONA RUN
PUBLIC FINANCING FOR 90
LEGISLATIVE SEATS AND IT
COSTS FOUR MILLION
DOLLARS AND IT IS GOING
TO COST THAT FOR THE
CITY OF AUSTIN FOR
THREE.
BUT AS I SAID,
OVERESTIMATING THE COST
IS SOMETHING THAT
STAFFS
ALL OVER THE UNITED
STATES HAVE HAD A GOOD
TIME DOING.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU, MR. LEWIS.
MARY LEHMAN?
WELCOME, MS. LEHMAN.
I WAS JUST GOING TO
SAY WHAT I ALREADY WROTE
TO THE COUNCIL, THAT I
WONDERED WHY THERE WAS
AN INVESTIGATION OF
PROPOSITION 1 AND NONE
FOR PROPOSITION 3, WHICH
IS MORE EXPENSIVE.
IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE
SOME POLITICAL HIGH
JINX, BUT I'M JUST
WONDERING WHY A GREATER
EXPENSE, WHICH IS
INVOLVED WITH
PROPOSITION 3, ISN'T
ALSO INVESTIGATED, IF
YOU'RE GOING TO
INVESTIGATE EXPENSES?
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: AND THE
ANSWER TO THAT, BECAUSE
THAT QUESTION WAS ASKED
BY ONE OF THE PERSONS
THAT SENT US AN E-MAIL.
I SENT AN EXPLANATION OF
THAT.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS
WE'RE GOING FROM SEVEN
COUNCILMEMBERS TO 11, SO
WE KNOW THAT FOR FISCAL
YEAR — IF THIS PASSES,
THE FISCAL YEAR '03
STARTING IN MAY OF 2003,
IF IT PASSES WE WILL
HAVE — WE WILL HAVE
FOUR-7THS MORE IN
EXPENSES FOR THE
COUNCIL.
SO WE KNOW THAT.
THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE
INTERPRETATION OF A
CITIZEN PETITION OR AN
ORDINANCE.
IT JUST REQUIRES THAT WE
CRUNCH THE NUMBERS.
AND THAT WILL IMPACT —
FOR SURE IT WILL IMPACT
THE FISCAL YEAR '03
BUDGET SHOULD THIS PASS.
THE URGENCY ON THIS —
I'M SORRY.
MAYOR GARCIA: THE
ESSENCE OF THIS
PARTICULAR RESOLUTION OR
ORDINANCE IS THAT THIS
COULD HAVE A FISCAL
IMPACT IN '02 BECAUSE OF
THE IMMEDIATE QUESTION
OF THE CITIZEN PETITION.
IF I UNDERSTAND YOU
THEN YOU'RE
INVESTIGATING THIS
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SURE
OF THE FISCAL IMPACT AND
YOU'RE NOT INVESTIGATING
SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS,
WHICH IS IBECAUSE YOU
KNOW IT IS GREATER
IMPACT FINANCIALLY.
MAYOR GARCIA: SHOULD
THE CITIZENS ADOPT
SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS,
WE KNOW WE WILL HAVE TO
PUT THE EXPENSES FOR
FOUR MORE COUNCILMEMBERS
IN THE '03 BUDGET.
THAT WE KNOW.
RIGHT.
IT'S A GREATER EXPENSE.
SO YOU'RE NOT
INVESTIGATING THAT.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER
AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
WYNN.
SLUSHER: WELL, I HAD
ADD THAT THE DISTRICT
PLAN HAS A TRANSITION
PLAN THAT THE COUNCIL
DISCUSSED AT A PREVIOUS
MEETING AND A MAJORITY
APPROVED.
AND IT DOESN'T —
WHEREAS THE CAMPAIGN
FINANCE WHICH HAS THE
WORD IMMEDIATE OR CALLS
FOR IT TO BE FUNDED NOW,
OR THAT'S — AND THERE
IS SOME DISCUSSION OVER
THE INTERPRETATION OF
THAT, BUT THAT IS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
TWO AS WELL.
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?
WYNN: TO SLIGHTLY
BUILD ON THAT.
THE DIFFERENCE IS THERE
ARE SEVERAL PROPOSITIONS
ON THE BALLOT.
ALL OF THE ORDINANCES
RELATED TO THE OTHER
PROPOSITIONS WILL
OBVIOUSLY JUST REQUIRE
THE CITY COUNCIL THROUGH
ITS ANNUAL BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS TO HAVE
THAT DELIBERATION ABOUT
HOW AND WHERE WE FIND
THE FUNDING FOR ALL
THOSE OTHER ORDINANCES.
THIS PARTICULAR
ORDINANCE HAS THE
LANGUAGE, SHALL
IMMEDIATELY APPROPRIATE
SAID FUNDS MAY 11TH.
AND SO THAT'S THE REASON
WHY IT'S BROUGHT FORWARD
AND THE OTHER ONES
AREN'T BECAUSE THEY PASS
AND THEY'LL GO THROUGH
THE NORMAL ANNUAL BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS, BUT THIS
ONE APPARENTLY HAS TO BE
TAKEN SEPARATELY.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
FURTHER QUESTIONS,
DISCUSSIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, I
SUSPECT THAT WHAT WE
COULD DO ON THIS ONE IS,
SINCE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE FISCAL IMPACT IS, I
DON'T THINK WE CAN DO AN
ORDINANCE.
BUT IT MAY— YOU MAY
WANT TO TAKE CARE OF A
RESOLUTION DIRECTING
SOMEBODY TO GIVE US AN
IDEA AT SOME POINT OF
HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO
COST.
ACTUALLY, MAYOR, WE
HAVE THAT READY.
THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE
DIRECTED TO DO WHEN WE
WERE NOTICED THAT THIS
ITEM WAS PUT ON.
SO WE WERE ACTUALLY
ASKED TO DO TWO THINGS,
WHICH WAS TO GIVE OUR
BEST ESTIMATE AT SOME
SET OF ASSUMPTIONS THAT
YOU HAVE TO MAKE OF WHAT
IT COULD COST.
AND VICKY, OUR ACTING
CFO, IS HERE TO WALK US
THROUGH THAT.
AND THEN WE WERE ASKED
WHERE WOULD WE LOOK FOR
THAT MONEY?
SHOULD THAT MONEY HAVE
TO BE FUNDED IMMEDIATELY
AFTER THE ELECTIONS, IF
THIS PASSED, WHAT WOULD
WE RECOMMEND?
SO LEAVE IT AT YOUR
PLEASURE.
WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION
WITH THE ASSUMPTIONS.
PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE
MINUTES LONG.
WE WANTED TO PUT THE
ASSUMPTIONS BEFORE WE
PUT OUT A NUMBER BECAUSE
THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH
DISPUTE ABOUT WHAT
ASSUMPTION TO USE SO
THAT WE COULD WALK YOU
THROUGH WHY WE CHOSE
WHAT WE CHOSE.
MS. SHU BETTER.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I
MADE A PRESENTATION ON
CAMPAIGN FINANCE WHERE I
MADE A PROPOSAL FOR YOU
ON THE FINANCE.
AND I PREPARED SCENARIOS
AND I GAVE YOU BETWEEN
30 MILLION AND
ABOUT FOUR MILLION.
TODAY I AM GOING TO
PRESENT TWO DIFFERENT
SCENARIOS AND
ASSUMPTIONS WHICH I'LL
EXPLAIN.
ONE UNDER THE CURRENT
COUNCIL STRUCTURE AND
THE OTHER ONE UNDER THE
NEW SINGLE-MEMBER
DISTRICT GOVERNANCE
STRUCTURE.
ESTIMATION IS DIFFICULT.
MAYOR GARCIA: YOU
MEANT 130,000 TO FOUR
MILLION?
YES, SIR.
WHAT DID I SAY, 130
MILLION?
THAT WAS THE LOW END.
[ LAUGHTER ] SORRY.
OBVIOUSLY SPEAKING IS
DIFFICULT, NOT ONLY
ESTIMATION.
AS I SAID, WE HAVE TWO
POTENTIAL GOVERNANCE
STRUCTURES.
WE HAVE TO ESTIMATE THE
NUMBER OF CANDIDATES WHO
WOULD PARTICIPATE, THE
TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS
RAISED BY EACH
CANDIDATE, WHETHER ANY
OTHER CANDIDATES
PARTICIPATE IN THE RACE
AND EXCEED THE SPENDING
LIMITS THAT ARE SET AND
WHETHER ANY INDEPENDENT
PARTIES EXCEED THE
LIMITS SAID SET, WHAT
THE TOTAL COST FOR
ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE
AND WHAT THE TOTAL
OFFSETTING REVENUE MAY
BE.
AS COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT IT,
YOU CAN CERTAINLY MAKE
ARGUMENTS THAT MY
ESTIMATES ARE TOO HIGH
OR TOO LOW.
WE JUST ESTIMATED TO
TAKE A MIDDLE GROUND.
THE FIRST ESTIMATE THAT
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS
UNDER THE CURRENT
COUNCIL STRUCTURE.
ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THIS
ESTIMATE WILL BE SHOWN
ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES.
IF THE STRUCTURE STAYS
THE SAME IN 2003, THE
CITY WILL HOLD A GENERAL
ELECTION FOR THE MAYOR
AND THREE COUNCIL
PLACES.
AS A REMINDER, I BELIEVE
WE TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT
JUST TO CLARIFY HOW MUCH
PARTICIPATING CANDIDATES
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR,
COUNCIL CANDIDATES WHO
RAISE QUALIFYING
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
OF 2500 DOLLARS OR FIVE
DOLLARS EACH FROM 500
VOTERS CAN RECEIVE A
BLOCK GRANT OF $16,667.
AFTER THAT ANY FUND THEY
RAISE ARE MATCHED TWO TO
ONE BY PUBLIC DOLLARS UP
TO A LIMIT OF $100,000
TOTAL, INCLUDING THE
BLOCK GRANT.
SO THE MAXIMUM CITY
CONTRIBUTION IS ABOUT
$72,000.
THE MAXIMUM THAT THE
CANDIDATES HAVE TO BRING
IN IS ABOUT $ 28,000.
FOR THE MAYORAL RACE,
THESE AMOUNTS ARE
DOUBLED.
THE ESTIMATE FOR THE
REGULAR ELECTION UNDER
THIS SCENARIO IS ABOUT
1.1 MILLION DOLLARS.
THE PROPOSED CHARTER
LANGUAGE CONSIDERS THE
RUNOFF ELECTION TO BE A
SEPARATE ELECTION AND SO
I'VE COME UP WITH A
SEPARATE ESTIMATE FOR
THE RUNOFF AT ABOUT
$530,000.
BOTH OF THESE NUMBERS
INCLUDE AN ALLOWANCE FOR
THE COST OF
ADMINISTRATION OF THE
INITIATIVE.
TO THIS I HAVE A REVENUE
OFFSET OF ABOUT $50,000.
THE INITIAL QUALIFYING
MONIES CANDIDATES RAISE
OF $2500 OR 25 THOUSAND
FOR THE — 5,000 FOR THE
MAYOR ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE
RETURNED INTO THE FUND,
AS ARE THE CURRENT
LOBBYING FEES THAT
PEOPLE PAY TO THE CITY.
SO THOSE AND A POTENTIAL
UTILITY CHECKOFF WHERE
UTILITY CUSTOMERS COULD
CHECK OFF AND PUT MONEY
INTO THE FUND.
AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT
MORE IN A MINUTE.
SO THE TOTAL UNDER THIS
SCENARIO IS ABOUT 1.6
MILLION DOLLARS.
GOING TO THE
ASSUMPTIONS.
FOR COUNCIL PLACES, I'M
ASSUMED THREE
PARTICIPANTS PER RACE IN
THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR
A TOTAL OF NINE
PARTICIPANTS.
THIS IS ABOUT 60% OF THE
AVERAGE NUMBER OF
CANDIDATES IN COUNCIL
ELECTIONS FOR THE LAST
THREE YEARS.
FOR THE RUNOFF, I'VE
ASSUMED THREE RACES WITH
ONE PARTICIPANT PER
RACE.
I'M PROBABLY A LITTLE
BIT HIGH ON THE GENERAL
ELECTION, A LITTLE BIT
LOW ON THE RUNOFFS, BUT
IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT OF
MONEY.
I FURTHER ASSUMED THAT
ALL CANDIDATES WOULD
RAISE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT
LOUISIANAED.
YOU CAN ARGUE THAT NOT
ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL
RAISE THE MAXIMUM, BUT A
CANDIDATE HAS TO ONLY
RAISE 28,000 TO BE I
IGIBLE FOR THE
MAXIMUM.
I FURTHER ASSUMED THAT
NO OTHER CANDIDATES
WOULD EXCEED THE
SPENDING LIMITS AND
THERE WOULD BE NO
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNTS
IN THE POST CHARTER
AMENDMENT.
FOR THE MAYORAL RACE I
ASSUMED 50% OF THE
AVERAGE NUMBER OF
CANDIDATES FOR THE LAST
THREE YEARS WOULD
QUALIFY AND PARTICIPATE.
AND THAT TWO OF THOSE
CANDIDATES WOULD MOVE ON
TO THE RUNOFF AND WOULD
PARTICIPATE.
THEN WITH RESPECT TO THE
REMAINING ASSUMPTIONS I
USED THE SAME ONES AS I
DID FOR COUNCIL
CANDIDATES.
IHEY WOULD RAISE THE
MAXIMUM AMOUNT.
NO ONE WOULD EXCEED
SPENDING LIMITS AND
ENTITLE THEM TO EVEN
MORE MONEY AND WITH NO
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
WOULD BE EXCEEDED, WHICH
ENTITLES BOTH TO MORE
MONEY.
WITH RESPECT TO OTHER
ASSUMPTIONS, WE ASSUME
COST FOR ADMINISTRATION
TO BE ABOUT FIVE PERCENT
OF TOTAL, WHICH FOR THE
GENERAL ELECTION IS
$54,000 AND FOR THE
RUNOFF WAS ABOUT 25,000.
THIS IS PROBABLY A
LITTLE BIT LOW, BUT THAT
WAS THE FLOOR THAT WAS
SET IN THE CHARTER.
IT ESTIMATED THE REVENUE
OFFSET IN THE FIRST YEAR
WOULD BE MINIMAL.
THAT, AS I SAID,
INCLUDING THE 2500 AND
$5,000 AMOUNTS PUT IN BY
THE QUALIFYING
CANDIDATES AS WELL AS AN
ESTIMATE OF ABOUT
$10,000 FOR LOBBYING
FEES.
WITH RESPECT TO THE
UTILITY CHECKOFF
PROGRAM, I DIDN'T ASSUME
ANY REVENUE THIS YEAR
BECAUSE IT'S LIKELY THAT
IN ORDER TO DO
PROGRAMMING AND GET
EVERYTHING PRINTING AND
EVERYTHING ESTABLISHED
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS
PROGRAM THAT IT'S GOING
TO COST MORE THAN WE'LL
GET IN THE FIRST YEAR.
MOVING ON TO THE SECOND
ASSUMPTION OR SECOND
SCENARIO, THAT WOULD BE
FOR SINGLE-MEMBER
DISTRICTS.
IN 2003 THERE WOULD BE
EIGHT SINGLE-MEMBER
DISTRICT RACES AND THE
MAYORAL RACE.
FOR THE REGULAR ELECTION
I'VE ESTIMATED 1.2
MILLION DOLLARS FOR, FOR
THE RUNOFF ABOUT
700,000, OFFSET BY A
REVENUE OF 60,000 FOR A
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF
ABOUT 1.9 MILLION.
WRAP TO COST
ASSUMPTIONS, I ASSUMED
TWO PARTICIPANTS IN EACH
OF THE EIGHT
SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT
RACES.
FOR THE RUNOFF ONE
PARTICIPANT IN EACH OF
EIGHT RUNOFFS.
ALL PARTICIPATING
CANDIDATES WOULD AGAIN
RAISE THE MAXIMUM
ALLOWABLE AMOUNT,
HOWEVER, THE CHARTER
LANGUAGE ALLOWS THE
ETHICS COMMISSION TO
ADJUST THE AMOUNTS
SHOULD THE SINGLE-MEMBER
DISTRICTS PROPOSAL PASS.
SO WHAT I DID WAS I
ADJUSTED ALL THE MAXIMUM
LIMITS DOWN ONE-THIRD
FOR THE COUNCIL
CANDIDATES UNDER THIS
SCENARIO TO ACT FOR THE
FACT THAT SOME THINK
THAT LIMITS COULD BE
LOWERED BECAUSE YOU ARE
LOOKING AT SINGLE-MEMBER
DISTRICTS RATHER THAN
CITYWIDE DISTRICTS.
I THINK THERE ARE ALSO
SOME WHO WOULD ARGUE
THAT PERHAPS THIS
SHOULDN'T BE LOWERED
BECAUSE THE SIZE OF THE
DISTRICT IS SO LARGE
THAT THE CANDIDATES
WOULD STILL PROBABLY BE
USING TELEVISION SPOTS,
WHICH ARE THE MOST
EXPENSIVE PIECE OF THEIR
CAMPAIGNS.
AS IN THE OTHER
SCENARIOS, I'VE ASSUMED
THAT NO OTHER CANDIDATES
WOULD EXCEED THE
SPENDING LIMITS AND
THERE ARE NO ANY
INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURES.
FOR THE MAYORAL RACE,
THERE'S REALLY NO CHANGE
FROM THE PREVIOUS
SCENARIO.
50% OF THE CANDIDATES,
WHICH IS THREE IN THE
GENERAL ELECTION, TWO
MOVING ON TO THE RUNOFF,
MAXIMUM AMOUNTS, SO ON
AND SO FORTH.
FOR THE OTHER COST
ASSUMPTIONS, THEY ARE
PRETTY MUCH THE SAME,
JUST BEEN ADJUSTED
SLIGHTLY TO REFLECT A
NUMBER DIFFERENT OF
CANDIDATES RUNNING.
AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
BEFORE, I HAVE A SLIDE
THAT SHOWS WHAT THE
PROPOSED CHARTER
LANGUAGE SAYS, AND
YOU'VE DISCUSS THAT HAD,
SO WE WON'T GO OVER
THAT.
AND WITH THAT WE GET TO
POINT OF A FUNDING
RECOMMENDATION.
I THINK THAT OUR NEXT
SLIDE BASICALLY PUTS THE
LANGUAGE BACK UP AGAIN
THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HAD
SOME DISCUSSION ON ABOUT
THIS SHALL IMMEDIATELY
APPROPRIATE SAID FUNDS.
EVEN WITH
INTERPRETATIONS OF
WHETHER YOU HAVE TO FUND
NOW IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE
YOU DON'T KNOW WHO WILL
BE ELIGIBLE THE NEXT
ELECTION, YOU WILL
ALWAYS HAVE TO BE MAKING
ASSUMPTIONS DURING YOUR
BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
SHOULD THIS PASS YOU
WILL ALWAYS BE MAKING
ASSUMPTIONS ON THE FRONT
END FOR AN AMOUNT OF
MONEY THAT YOU WILL PUT
ASIDE.
AND YOUR RISK WILL BE
THAT IF YOUR ASSUMPTIONS
PROVE WRONG AND IT'S
MORE THAN THAT, YOU WILL
HAVE TO GO BACK INTO
YOUR BUDGET.
IT'S AN ALREADY SET
BUDGET AND YOU WILL HAVE
TO FIND THOSE DOLLARS.
OBVIOUSLY ON THE FLIP
SIDE OF THAT, IF YOU PUT
TOO MUCH MONEY ASIDE,
THEN YOU'VE CUT YOUR
OPPORTUNITIES IN YOUR
BUDGET FOR FUNDING OTHER
THINGS THAT YOU WOULD
FIND IMPORTANT IN THE
COMMUNITY.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS
VERY VARIED.
IF WE WERE — IF WE WERE
TO HAVE TO FUND
IMMEDIATELY UPON
PASSAGE, THIS REQUIRES
AN ONGOING SOURCE OF
FUNDS.
THIS CANNOT BE ONE-TIME
CUTS OR ONE-TIME
SAVINGS.
THESE HAVE TO DO — YOU
HAVE TO DO ONE OF TWO
THINGS.
HAVE YOU TO PERMANENTLY
ELIMINATE CURRENT
PROGRAMS OR IDENTIFY A
NEW ONGOING SOURCE OF
REVENUE.
BECAUSE OF THE
DIFFICULTY OF THIS
BUDGET YEAR, THIS YEAR
AND NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE
OF THE SIZE OF OUR
SHORTFALL THAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT WITH OUR
DECLINING SALES TAX, I
WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IF
WE HAD THE FUNDS NOW TO
TRY TO DO PROGRAM CUTS
ON A PIECEMEAL BASIS.
THE GAP, THE SHORTFALL
IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH,
SOMETHING WE REALLY
HAVEN'T DEALT WITH SINCE
THE MID TO LATE '80'S,
SO WHAT I WOULD DO
INSTEAD IS IF ASKED, IF
DIRECTED TO FUND
IMMEDIATELY UPON
PASSAGE, I WOULD
RECOMMEND THE TAX
ANTICIPATION NOTE.
I WOULD RECOMMEND A NEW
ONGOING SOURCE OF
REVENUE TO FUND THIS.
IF YOU TAKE — ROUND TO
TWO MILLION, KNOW IT CAN
BE MORE, KNOW IT CAN BE
LESS.
YOU HEARD VICKY'S
ASSUMPTIONS.
I THINK WE ARGUE THOSE
ASSUMPTIONS OURSELVES.
SOME OF US ARGUED THAT
YOU SHOULDN'T CUT 33%
FOR SINGLE-MEMBER
DISTRICTS, THAT PEOPLE
WOULD STILL ADVERTISE ON
TELEVISION.
WE ARGUED THE OTHER
DIRECTION ON OTHER
ITEMS.
BUT TAKE ANY REASONABLE
SET OF ASSUMPTIONS AND
FOR JUST THE SAKE OF
ARGUMENT TAKE A
TWO-MILLION-DOLLAR
FUNDING SOURCE.
IF YOU WERE TO DO A TAX
PARTICIPATION NOTE, THAT
WOULD BE A PROPERTY TAX
INCREASE OF.24 CENTS PER
HUNDRED.
THE AVERAGE COSTS, THE
COSTS TO THE AVERAGE
HOMEOWNER ANNUALLY WOULD
BE ABOUT $67
THAT WOULD BE ON THE
SPOT WITH A COUPLE OF
WEEKS HERE TO GO, THAT
WOULD BE MY
RECOMMENDATION, RATHER
THAN TRY TO GO PROGRAM
CUT BY PROGRAM CUT PRIOR
TO BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS
YOUR ENTIRE SHORTFALL
DURING OUR BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS.
MAYOR GARCIA:
QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY
MANAGER?
OR FOR VICKY?
WYNN: MAYOR?
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.
WYNN: I DO WANT TO
THANK THE CITY MANAGER
AND MS. SLEW BETTEROING
THROUGH THIS.
I'M STILL CONFUSED ABOUT
THIS AND MAYBE THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ABOUT
THE LANGUAGE SHALL
IMMEDIATELY APPROPRIATE.
AND MAKE A
RECOMMENDATION BASED ON
THAT.
JOHN, IT LOOKS LIKE
YOU'RE ON THE SPOT.
AND WHILE YOU'RE WALKING
UP AND THINKING ABOUT
IT, I GUESS KNOW THAT IF
THIS PASSES, WHETHER YOU
HAVE TO DO IT
IMMEDIATELY IN MAY OR
YOU HAVE TO DO IT IN THE
BUDGET PROCESS IN AUGUST
AND SEPTEMBER, YOU ARE
STILL LOOKING AT ADDING
THIS ON TOP OF THE
BUDGET SHORTFALL WE
ALREADY BEGAN THE
DESCRIPTION OF
YESTERDAY.
MAYOR GARCIA: AND
SINCE THIS PARTICULAR
CITIZEN REFERENDUM ALSO
HAS THE ACTIVATION OF
THE ET CETERA THIKZ
REVIEW — ETHICS REVIEW
COMMISSION STAFF, IN ANY
EVENT THERE WILL HAVE TO
BE SOME FUNDING.
SO THE IMMEDIATE ISSUE
THAT COMES INTO PLAY IT
SEEMS TO ME BECAUSE THEY
WILL HAVE TO SET THE
OFFICE UP AND DO THE
THINGS THAT ARE
NECESSARY TO MAKE THE
ESTIMATE THAT WILL BE
INCLUDED IN THE '03
BUDGET.
YES, SIR.
AT LEAST THAT MUCH IS
TRUE, THAT THE ONLY —
THAT THE APPROPRIATION
IS NOT JUST FUNDING THE
GRANTS AND MATCHING
FUNDS FOR CANDIDATES,
IT'S ALSO FUNDING THE
ETHICS REVIEW
COMMISSION, WHICH WILL
HAVE ADDITIONAL DUTIES
AND WHICH PROBABLY WOULD
WANT TO GET STARTED.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
SO THERE IS SOMETHING TO
BE FUNDED IMMEDIATELY
BECAUSE THE BUDGET
DISCUSSIONS WILL BEGIN
IN MAY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
I MEAN, WE'RE A WEEK
AWAY.
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
WE KICKED OFF THOSE
DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU
YESTERDAY AT THE WORK
SESSION.
BUT THE FORMAL BEGINNING
OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS IS
OUR FIVE-YEAR FORECAST.
AND THAT OCCURS MAY 8TH.
MAYOR GARCIA: SO THE
ETHICS REVIEW
COMMISSION, WOULD THEY
HAVE TO HIRE A LAWYER TO
HAVE HIM INTERPRET WHAT
ALL THESE THINGS MEAN,
LIKE THE DEFINITION OF
BUDGET AND ALL THE OR
THINGS?
I THINK MR. STEINER
WOULD BEG ME TO HAVE
THAT HAPPEN.
OF COURSE, UNDER THE
CHARTER, CITY ATTORNEY
IS THE LAWYER FOR THE
CITY AND ALL OF ITS
PARTS, SO WE WOULD BE —
BECAUSE OF THE CHARTER,
THE CITY ATTORNEY WOULD
BE THE ATTORNEY FOR THE
ETHICS REVIEW
COMMISSION.
THE CHARTER AMENDMENT
ALSO SAYS THAT THE CITY
MANAGER AND THE CITY
ATTORNEY SHALL STAFF THE
NECESSARY COMMISSION AS
APPROPRIATE AND THAT
STILL REQUIRES
ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME I
DON'T KNOW WHETHER
ADDITIONAL ATTORNEY
RESOURCES WOULD BE
NECESSARY.
IT WOULD DEPEND ON HOW
ROBUST AND AGGRESSIVE
THE COMMISSION THOUGHT
ITS DUTIES.
A HUGE WILD CARD AS
WELL IS WHETHER OR NOT
SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS
PASS.
BECAUSE THE PROPOSED
CHARTER AMENDMENT
ESSENTIALLY GIVES THE
CHARTER REVIEW
COMMISSION THE AUTHORITY
TO CHANGE THE AMENDMENT
IN ANY WAY NECESSARY TO
CONFORM IT TO A CHANGE
IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE
GOVERNING BODY.
SO IF THERE IS A CHANGE
TO AN 11-MEMBER COUNCIL,
THREN THERE WILL BE
QUITE — THEN THERE WILL
BE QUITE A BIT FOR THE
ETHICS COMMISSION TO DO
BOTH IN ESSENTIALLY
REWRITING THE PROVISIONS
TO FIT THE DIFFERENT
KIND OF A COUNCIL AND
ALSO IN IN A COMPLETE
DIFFERENT WORLD
REGARDING THE ESTIMATES
THAT MIGHT APPLY TO WHAT
IT WOULD COST TO FUND
THAT COUNCIL VERSUS THIS
COUNCIL.
MAYOR GARCIA: CITY
MANAGER, HAS ANYBODY
LOOKED AT WHAT THE
ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION
WOULD NEED TO CARRY OUT
THE RESPONSIBILITIES
PRESCRIBED BY THIS
PARTICULAR CITIZENS
PETITION?
WE ACTUALLY HAD QUITE
A BIT OF DISCUSSION
ABOUT WHAT AN
APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF
SUPPORT MEANS.
AND BECAUSE THIS IS
REALLY A NEW ANIMAL FOR
US TO LOOK AT.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE
BELIEVE WHAT WE LOADED
INTO VICKY'S ASSUMPTIONS
ARE LOW.
WE ACTUALLY BELIEVE IT
WILL BE MORE THAN THAT.
BUT WE REALLY TOOK THE
LOW END.
WE TOOK THE FLOOR IN
THAT DISCUSSION, BUT NOT
THE CEILING.
[ONE MOMENT, PLEASE,
WHILE CAPTIONERS]
STAFFING, SOME INTERIM
FUNDS TO BEGIN THEIR WORK
AND THEN MEANWHILE THE CITY
COUNCIL WILL TAKE THE SUMMER
BUDGET DISCUSSIONS TO — TO
COME UP WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE
TO BE THE — THE BULK OF
FUNDING FOR THE — FOR THE
[INAUDIBLE]
YES.
WE CAN DO THAT.
WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AND TRY
TO BREAK OUT I THINK THE
PIECE NO ONE ARGUES WOULD
HAVE TO BE — THE
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
COMPONENT.
WE WILL BRING BACK OUR
ASSUMPTIONS ON THAT, ALSO.
ONE LAST THING, JUST BECAUSE
I DON'T TO LEAVE FRED'S
COMMENTS ON THE RECORD
WITHOUT SOME DISCUSSION.
THERE WAS AN IMPLICATION IN
THOSE COMMENTS THAT SOMEHOW
STAFF WAS HIGH BALLING
ESTIMATES TO TAKE THE
POSITION ON THAT.
BEYOND THAT WE HAD NOT
LOOKED AT ANY OTHER
EXPERIENCE IN ANY OTHER
STATE.
I KNOW THAT NOT TO BE TRUE.
I BELIEVE AS WE TALKED ABOUT
SOME OF THE OTHER STATES,
EXAMPLES THAT HAVE BEEN
GIVEN, WE FIND WHERE THERE
WERE DIFFERING SCENARIOS IN
THOSE STATES AND ENTITIES.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU
CAN ADD TO THAT?
I DID, USING THE LINKS ON
MR. LEWIS' WEBSITE, LINK TO
SOME OF THE OTHER PLACES
THAT HAD THIS AND I DID LOOK
AT HIS ASSUMPTIONS.
I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN
PLACES THAT WE ARE DIFFERING
IS THAT HIS ASSUMPTION IS
ONLY THAT 20 TO 30% OF THE
CANDIDATES WILL — WILL RUN
IN THE FIRST YEAR.
LOOKING AT THE LIST OF NAMES
OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE RUN IN
PLACES IN PRIOR YEARS,
KNOWING HOW ACTIVE CITIZEN
GROUPS, DIFFERENT PUBLIC OR
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS,
PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS WE
HAVE, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO
IMAGINE THAT — THAT WE
WOULDN'T HAVE — WOULDN'T
HAVE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER
PARTICIPATION IN THAT FIRST
YEAR.
ALSO, TO ME IT'S A LITTLE
BIT DIFFERENT.
EVERYTHING — EVERYBODY IS
SO DIFFERENT.
LOOKING AT THE CITY OF LOS
ANGELES, I BELIEVE THEIR
CAMPAIGNS RUN — I BELIEVE
THEIR LIMIT IS OVER A
MILLION DOLLARS.
AND SO YOU ARE LOOKING AT
SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO
HAVE TO RAISE A LOT OF
MONEY.
SO THERE MAY BE SOME
DIFFERENCES IN THE TYPES OF
PEOPLE WHO RUN.
SO THERE ARE — THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS
THAT YOU COULD LOOK AT IT.
I SPENT SOME TIME LOOKING AT
THEM.
I'M CERTAINLY NO EXPERT IN
THIS, BUT THIS WAS JUST MY
BEST SHOT AT IT.
THANKS, VICKI, I
APPRECIATE IT.
THE COUNCIL — THE LEGAL
STAFF [INAUDIBLE].
— HAS AN ANALYSIS THE
PROPOSED CAMPAIGN FINANCE
CHARTER AMENDMENTS, IT'S 11
PAGES LONG.
IT HAS FOOTNOTES ON PAGES,
NOW I'M TALKING ABOUT SOME
OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT
WOULD BE ENCOUNTERED.
ADDITIONALLY, THE — THE —
THE CITIZEN PETITION HAS A
PROVISION THAT THERE WILL BE
A CHECK OFF ON THE UTILITY
BILL, AND THAT — THAT ALSO
ENTAILS INCURRING SOME COSTS
TO CHANGE THE SOFTWARE.
AND USUALLY WHEN YOU CHANGE
THE SOFTWARE THIS THAT
DEPARTMENT, THERE'S SOME
EXPENSES THAT NEED TO BE
PAID.
I DON'T THINK THAT — I
DON'T THINK THAT THOSE WOULD
BE PAID BY THE UTILITY.
THOSE WOULD BE PAID BY THE
GENERAL FUND TO THE BEST I
CAN SURMISE FOR — FOR —
FOR THIS PARTICULAR
SITUATION.
FUTRELL: AND I THINK
VICKI TOLD YOU IN HER
ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE MADE THE
ASSUMPTION THAT WE WOULD
NOT — WE WOULD NOT MAKE ANY
MONEY OFF OF THAT CHECKOFF
THAT FIRST YEAR BECAUSE OF
THE PROGRAMMING COSTS AND
TIME CHANGES FOR THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE
WITH CHECKOFFS IN THE
COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ALREADY
TWO CHECKOFFS ON YOUR
UTILITY BILL.
ONE FOR TREE AND TREE
PLANTING, ANOTHER FOR HELP
WITH THE INDIGENT WHERE WE
ARE UNABLE TO PAY THEIR
UTILITY BILLS.
SOME OF THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT
WERE MADE ON — ON THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD
USE THE CHECKOFF DO NOT
TRACK WHAT OUR EXISTING
TRACK RECORD SHOWS US ON THE
UTILITY CHECKOFF.
DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS?
BASED ON THAT, I GUESS
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO — I
WILL MOVE THAT WE DIRECT THE
CITY MANAGER TO — TO — TO
COME BACK WITH A
RECOMMENDATION NEXT THURSDAY
FOR THE SUGGESTED INTERIM
ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDING
THAT'S REQUIRED FOR THE —
PER THE ORDINANCE AND THAT
WE — WE EITHER TAKE ACTION
NEXT THURSDAY OR BE PREPARED
TO POST IT FOR THE CANVAS —
SPECIAL CALLED CANVASSING OF
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
OKAY.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.
DISCUSSION?
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?
OH, OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
ALVAREZ.
DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR?
AYE.
OPPOSED, NO.
MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF
7 TO ZERO.
WITH SOME COUNCILMEMBERS IN
THE CHAMBERS AND NOT AT
THEIR CHAIRS RIGHT NOW.
NOW TO ITEM NO. 37.
WYNN: ACTUALLY, MAYOR, IF
YOU DON'T MIND I'M GOING TO
PULL DOWN ITEM NO. 37.
I HAD POSTED THAT THINKING
THAT IT WOULD — IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE COME
FORWARD WITH A — WITH A
COUNCIL ORDINANCE ON
CAMPAIGN FINANCE, YOU KNOW,
TO ADDRESS EITHER
EXPENDITURES AND/OR
CONTRIBUTION LIMITS.
I HAVE REALIZED THAT THAT
WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
GET DONE BEFORE EARLY VOTING
BEGAN.
SO I SUGGEST THAT WE JUST
PULL THIS DOWN AND — AND —
MAYOR GARCIA: POSTPONE
INDEFINITELY MOTION TO
POSTPONE INDEFINITELY?
WYNN: YES.
MAYOR GARCIA: IS THERE A
SECOND?
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
GRIFFITH.
DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.?
AYE.
OPPOSED, NO. MOTION
CARRIES, WE WILL NOW GO TO
ITEM NO. 13.
THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
FOR THE WORK SESSION OF
APRIL 10TH, 2002.
AND THE REGULAR MEETING OF
APRIL 11TH, 2002.
IS THERE ANY CHANGE — ARE
THERE ANY CHANGES AND
CORRECTIONS?
IS THERE A MOTION FOR
APPROVAL?
THOMAS: SO MOVE, MAYOR.
MAYOR GARCIA: MOTION BY
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
WYNN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY
BY SAYING AYE.
AYE.
OPPOSED, NO. THE MOTION
CARRIES ON A VOTE 6-0-1 WITH
THE MAYOR PRO TEM
TEMPORARILY OUT OF THE ROOM.
MAYOR GARCIA: AT THIS
TIME, LET ME GET THIS
BACK — I WILL ANNOUNCE THAT
THE COUNCIL WILL GO INTO
EXECUTIVE SESSION, TO
DISCUSS THE ITEMS THAT —
ACTUALLY THERE'S GOING TO BE
ONE ITEM THAT WE HAVE NOT
DISCUSSED AND THAT'S THIS —
UNDER CHAPTER 551 OF THE
TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THIS
IS TO — TO DISCUSS MATTERS
OF LAND ACQUISITION OR SALE,
ACTUALLY, AND THIS IS UNDER
SECTION 551.072, REAL
PROPERTY, AND THE ITEM IS TO
DISCUSS THE SALE OF AN
INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY
ACQUIRED FOR THE BARTON
SPRINGS WATER QUALITY
PROTECTION WATER QUALITY
PROJECT, PROPOSITION 2 OF
THE MAY 2002 BOND ELECTION.
AND WE ARE NOW RECESSED TO
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE WILL BE BACK ABOUT 4:00
FOR OUR TIME CERTAIN ON
ZONING.
TEST TEST TEST TEST
TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST
TEST TEST TEST
MAYOR GARCIA: WE WILL
BE GOING TO OUR FOUR OAK
TIME CERTAIN — 4:00
O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN AS
SOON AS WE GET ONE MORE
COUNCILMEMBER IN THE
CHAMBERS.
SO IF I COULD TAKE YOUR
SEATS AND MS. GLASGO,
WE'LL BE READY AS SOON
AS WATER AND WASTEWATER
GET ONE MORE
COUNCILMEMBER — AS WE
GET ONE MORE
COUNCILMEMBER.
IF THERE'S A
COUNCILMEMBER WITHIN
HEARING DISTANCE, IF YOU
ALL COULD JOIN US HERE,
WE COULD CRANK UP THIS
MEETING.
OKAY.
WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE
COUNCIL IN THE CHAMBERS
AND I'M GOING TO CALL
THE REGULAR MEETING OF
THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL
OF APRIL THE 18TH BACK
TO ORDER.
AND WE'RE TO OUR FOUR
P.M. TIME CERTAIN,
ZONING HEARINGS AND
APPROVAL OF ORDINANCES
AND RESTRICTIVE
COVENANTS.
AND WE HAVE MS. ALICE
GLASGO HERE FROM ZONING
AND PLATTING.
I'LL RECOGNIZE HER AT
THIS TIME.
THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'M ALICE GLASGO,
DIRECTOR OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING
AND ZONING DEPARTMENT.
AND OUR ZONING CASES OR
AS FOLLOWS: STARTING
WITH ITEM Z1C8140 IS
0065, THE BEAR LAKE
DEVELOPMENT.
STAFF IS REQUESTING A
POSTPONEMENT TO MAY THE
23RD.
MAYOR GARCIA: AND THE
CITY MANAGER WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE TWO MINUTES TO
EXPLAIN.
WHAT'S BEING DONE IN THE
TWO MINUTES.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD
A GREAT NUMBER OF
POSTPONEMENTS ON THIS
ITEM, SO I WANTED A
CHANCE TO GIVE A LITTLE
BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT
WHERE WE'RE HEADED AND
WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE HAVE REACHED SOME
VERY PRELIMINARY TERMS
AS A WAY TO SETTLE 170
HAD CLAIMS ON THE
REMAINING STRATUS TRACTS
OF PROPERTY.
AS PART OF THIS
DISCUSSION THE OWNER HAS
AGREED TO NOT BRING THE
BEAR LAKE PUD HEARING
FORWARD AT THIS TIME AND
ASKED — NOT ASK FOR A
SEPARATE HEARING ON IT.
SO WE ARE POPING THE
BEAR LAKE PUD UNTIL MAY
23RD.
THE VERY PRELIMINARY
TERMS ON THE 1704
SETTLEMENT ON THE REST
OF THE STRATUS TRACKS
GIVE US A PROPOSAL THAT
ARE AT OR BELOW S.O.S.
LEVELS, THAT REDUCE THE
OFFICE SQUARE FOOTAGE
FROM THEIR CLAIMS BY
60%.
THE RETAIL SQUARE
FOOTAGE FROM THEIR
CLAIMS BY 20%.
AND REDUCES THE
MULTI-FAMILY UNITS BY
ABOUT 40%.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
OTHER BROAD COMPONENTS
OF THIS PROPOSAL,
INCLUDING THE DONATION
OF GREEN SPACE, SOME
TRAIL SYSTEMS, GREEN
BUILDER STANDARDS ON
WHAT IS BUILT, BUFFERS
TO THE SINGLE-FAMILY,
NEIGHBORHOOD SCALED
RETAIL.
AND I COULD GO ON AND ON
AND ON.
THERE ARE WEEKLY
STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS.
THE STAKEHOLDERS MEETING
INCLUDE PROBABLY FIVE
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATIONS IN THE
AREA.
THEY ALSO INCLUDE
REPRESENTATIVES FROM
SOME KEY COMPONENTS OF
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL
COMMUNITY.
WE WILL BE CONTINUING
THOSE.
THE CITY WILL INITIATE
THE ZONING ON THIS AND
WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A
TWO AND A HALF MONTH
PROCESS.
CONTINUING THE WEEKLY
STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS,
WHAT I HOPE TO DO IS
KEEP ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS AT LEAST
WEEKLY ON WHERE WE
STAND, THE DEVIL IS IN
THE DETAIL.
THESE ARE VERY, VERY
BROAD SCOPE AGREEMENTS
AT THIS POINT.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL
BE SUCCESSFUL IF WE MOVE
FORWARD WITH THIS.
WE WILL BEGIN BOARDING
COMMISSION REVIEW.
WE WILL BE GOING TO THE
ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD, THE
ZONING AND PLATTING.
WE WILL BE GOING TO THE
URBAN TRANS BOARD.
WE WILL BE DOING ALL OF
THAT BEGINNING IN MAY
AND WORKING THROUGH
JUNE.
OUR CURRENT SCHEDULE
ANTICIPATES THE FIRST
READING IN LATE MAY,
POSSIBLY MAY 23RD.
AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE
POPING THIS ITEM TO —
POPING THIS ITEM TO.
AND THE THIRD AND FINAL
READING POSSIBLY LATE
JUNE, POSSIBLY JUNE
27TH.
WE ALSO HAVE A
COMMITMENT AS PART OF
THIS PROCESS TO HAVE A
FINAL DRAFT OUT WITH NO
CHANGES MADE PUBLICLY BY
JUNE 14TH TO ALLOW WEEKS
BETWEEN AND BEFORE THE
FINAL READING ON THE
ITEM.
AND I GUESS PROBABLY THE
ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD
WANT TO MENTION IS THAT
WE WILL BE BRINGING A
SCHEDULE BACK TO THE
COUNCIL SO EVERYONE CAN
SEE TIME LINES AND TASKS
AND TRACK WHERE WE ARE
AT ANY POINT IN THE
PROCESS.
MAYOR GARCIA: SO THIS
WOULD BE CONSENT FOR
POSTPONEMENT UNTIL MAY
THE 25TH?
THE 23RD.
MAYOR GARCIA: 23RD.
OKAY.
SLUSHER: MAYOR, I
HAVE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS OF
MS. FUTRELL.
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
SLUSHER: SORRY I HAD
TO BE OFF EARLIER.
AND I APOLOGIZE IF
YOU'VE ALREADY POINTED
THIS OUT, MS. FUTRELL.
THIS SOUND LIKE A VERY
REASONABLE PUBLIC
PROCESS WHERE EVERYONE
WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO
COMMENT ON THIS VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUE AND
PROVIDE INPUT AND
OPINION TO IT.
NOW, AS IT STARTS,
WHAT'S ON THE TABLE,
THOUGH, RIGHT NOW, HOW
DOES THAT — WHAT ARE
THE IMPERVIOUS COVER
LEVELS?
ARE THEY THE SAME AS THE
SAVE OUR SPRINGS
ORDINANCE?
YES, THEY'RE AT OR
BELOW S.O.S. LEVELS FOR
THE TRACTS.
AND IN MOST CASES THAT
IS ON A TRACT BY TRACT
BASIS.
THERE ARE TWO SMALL
CLUSTERS OF TRACTS WHERE
THEY ARE DISCUSSING
ABOVE IT, BUT EVERYTHING
ELSE WILL BE TRACT BY
TRACT AT OR BELOW S.O.S.
LEVELS.
BUT EVEN MORE DRAMATIC I
THINK THAN THE
IMPERVIOUS COVER IS THE
REDUCTION IN DENSITY.
AND THAT'S WHERE RIGHT
NOW, AS THE PROPOSAL
STANDS, WHEN YOU'RE
CONSTRUCTION TA POSING
THE 170 HAD CLAIMS WITH
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THERE'S A 60% REDUCTION
IN OFFICE SQUARE
FOOTAGE, A 20% REDUCTION
IN RETAIL, BUT THAT
RETAIL WILL BE
NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE.
AND A 40% REDUCTION IN
THE MULTI-FAMILY UNITS.
SLUSHER: WHEN YOU SAY
THE PERCENTAGE
REDUCTIONS, THOSE ARE
REDUCTIONS IN THEIR
CLAIMS UNDER STATE
GRANDFATHERING LAWS?
AND ACTUALLY EVEN
FURTHER THAN THAT,
BECAUSE IF YOU JUST TOOK
IT STRAIGHT FROM THE
1704 CLAIMS, THE
REDUCTIONS ARE WAY MORE
DRAMATIC THAN THAT.
BUT THERE IS A AGREEMENT
THAT BE ON TOP OF THE
1704 CLAIMS, SO START
THRG AS OUR BASELINE,
THE 1704 CLAIMS WITH THE
FISH AGREEMENT, THE
REDUCTIONS OF THE 60, 20
AND 40 I'VE DESCRIBED IS
FROM THAT BASELINE.
THAT WOULD BE THE
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE
SERVICE, THEY WERE ABLE
TO OVERRIDE 1704 OR
COAST TO A CERTAIN
EXTENT.
AND THAT GOT IT DOWN TO
WHERE THAT WAS STILL
MORE THAN S.O.S.
AND NOW — SO WOULD YOU
GO THROUGH THE FIGURES
AGAIN WHERE IT'S LESS
THAN WHAT FISH HAD
APPROVED?
IT'S 60% REDUCTION IN
THE OFFICE SQUARE
FOOTAGE, A 20% REDUCTION
IN THE RETAIL SQUARE
FOOTAGE, BUT A LOT OF
RESTRICTIONS ON PAD SIZE
AND HEIGHTS TO MAKE IT
NEIGHBORHOOD SCALED
RETAIL, AND 40%
REDUCTION IN THE
MULTI-FAMILY UNITS.
IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT
THE COMPARISONS BETWEEN
THE 1704 CLAIMS AND WHAT
THE PROPOSAL IS ON THE
TABLE RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE
LOOKING AT AN 82%
REDUCTION IN OFFICE
SQUARE FOOTAGE, ALMOST
AN 86% REDUCTION IN
RETAIL, AND A 60%
REDUCTION IN
MULTI-FAMILY.
SO WE'RE — WE'RE COMING
A LONG WAY FROM THE
ORIGINAL GRANDFATHER
CLAIMS ON THESE TRACTS.
SLUSHER: OKAY.
THERE'S A LOT OF
DISCUSSION STILL TO BE
HAD, BUT I WANT TO SAY
THAT I THINK YOU'VE DONE
A REAL GOOD JOB AND I
KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE
FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL
COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN THIS UP TO
THIS POINT, AND
RESIDENTS OF THE AREA
AND JUST A WIDE RANGE OF
PEOPLE.
SO THIS IS A PROMISING
DEVELOPMENT AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC
PROCESS.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA:
MS. GLASGO?
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT
ITEM, WHICH IS Z2,
C-14-0277.
THIS CASE IS LOCATED AT
12700 TO 12800 NORTH
IH-35 SERVICE ROAD.
THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING
A CHANGE FROM DR, WHICH
STANDS FOR DEVELOPMENT
RESERVE, SO CS, GENERAL
COMMERCIAL SERVICES
ZONING DISTRICT.
THE ZONING AND THE
RECOMMENDATION TO YOU IS
TO GRANT GR-CO, WHICH
STANDS FOR COMMUNITY
COMMERCIAL WITH A
CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
THIS CASE IS READY FOR
ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM NUMBER Z3, CASE
C-14-02-11, THE NALLE
TRACT, LOCATED AT THE
SOUTHWEST CORNER OF
CAPITAL OF TEXAS HIGHWAY
AND PLAZA ON THE LAKE.
THIS PROPERTY IS BEING
REZONED FROM INTERIM
RURAL RESIDENTIAL TO
SINGLE-FAMILY 2.
AND THE EXISTING ZONING
IS INTERIM RURAL
RESIDENTIAL AND
SINGLE-FAMILY 2.
THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE
TO OBTAIN MUST HAVE 1
ZONING.
THE ZONING AND PLATTING
RECOMMENDATION HAS
RECOMMENDED MULTI-FAMILY
1 ZONING ON FIRST
READING.
ITEM NUMBER Z4 IS
C-14—02-12, ANOTHER
NALLE TRACT AT THE SAME
LOCATION AS THE PREVIOUS
ONE.
THE CHANGE IN ZONING IS
FROM SINGLE-FAMILY 2 TO
MULTI-FAMILY 1.
THIS REQUEST IS ALSO
RECOMMENDED BY THE
ZONING AND PLATTING
COMMISSION WITH A
CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
AND THE CASE IS READY
FOR FIRST READING ONLY.
ITEM NUMBER Z5, CASE
C-14-02-23, LOCATED AT
6815 ENTERPRISE COURT.
THE CHANGE IN ZONING IS
FROM SINGLE-FAMILY 3 TO
MULTI-FAMILY 2.
THE ZONING AND PLATTING
COMMISSION RECOMMENDS
MULTI-FAMILY 2 ZONING.
THIS CASE IS READY FOR
ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM NUMBER Z6,
C-14-02-24, LOCATED AT
6865 U.S. HIGHWAY 290
EAST.
THE CHANGES IN ZONING IS
FROM LR, WHICH STANDS
FOR NEIGHBORHOOD
CHECIAL, TO MULTI-FAMILY
3.
THE ZONING AND PLATTING
RECOMMENDATION IS TO
GRANT MULTI-FAMILY 3
ZONING, AND THIS CASE IS
READY FOR ALL THREE
READINGS.
ITEM NUMBER Z7, CASE
C-14-02-25, LOCATED AT
7015 U.S. HIGHWAY 290
EAST AND 6921 ENTERPRISE
COURT.
AND ALSO 7001 U.S.
HIGHWAY 290 EAST AND
7033290 EAST ALSO.
THE CHANGE IN ZONING IS
FROM CS, GENERAL
COMMERCIAL SERVICES
ZONING FOR TRACT 1 AND
3.
SINGLE-FAMILY 3 ZONING
IS EXISTING ON TRACT 2.
AND WHAT THE APPLICANT
IS SEEKING FOR ALL THOSE
TRACTS THAT ARE LISTED
ON YOUR AGENDA IS TO
GRANT THE ZONING CHANGES
THAT I RECOMMENDED BY
THE ZONING AND PLATTING
COMMISSION TO CS-MU,
WITH A CONDITIONAL
OVERLAY FOR TRACT 1, 2
AND 3, MF33 WITH A
CONDITIONAL OVERLAY FOR
TRACT 4.
AND THIS CASE IS READY
FOR ALL THREE READINGS
AS RECOMMENDED BY THE
ZONING AND PLATTING
COMMISSION.
ITEM NUMBER Z8,
C-14-02-034SH,
PROPERTIES LOCATED AT
4511 TO 4613 SPRINGDALE
ROAD.
THE CHANGE IN ZONING IS
FROM SINGLE-FAMILY 2 TO
SINGLE-FAMILY 6.
THE APPLICANT IS
REQUESTING —
MAYOR GARCIA: THIS IS
COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL?
IT IS GR, COMMUNITY
COMMERCIAL TO SF-6.
THE CASE IS READY FOR
ALL THREE READINGS TO
SINGLE-FAMILY 6.
THAT CONCLUDES MY
PRESENTATION.
MAYOR GARCIA: SO
COUNCIL, THIS IS THE WAY
THAT IT LAYS OUT.
Z1 IS CONSENT FOR
PROAMENT TO MAY 23RD.
Z2 IS CONSENT FOR ALL
THREE READINGS.
Z3 AND Z4 IS CONSENT FOR
FIRST READING.
Z5 IS CONSENT FOR FREE 3
READINGS.
SO IS 6, 7 AND 8.
AND WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER
THAT SAYS HE WANTS TO
SPEAK ONLY IF NECESSARY.
YOU DON'T THINK IT'S
NECESSARY, DO YOU,
DAVID?
OKAY.
DAVID ARMBRUST WILL NOT
BE SPEAKING, BUT HE IS
REGISTERED IN FAVORS OF
ITEMS Z3 AND Z4.
QUESTIONS FOR THE STAFF?
OKAY.
IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A
MOTION ON THE CONSENT
AGENDA?
WYNN: MOVE APPROVAL,
MAYOR.
MAYOR GARCIA: MOTION
BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN TO
APPROVE THE CONSENT
AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
GRIFFITH: SECOND.
MAYOR GARCIA:
SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH.
DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE — DO WE NEED
TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING?
I'M SURE THAT —
YES, YOU NEED TO
CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
MAYOR GARCIA: MOTION
IS TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING AND APPROVE THE
ITEMS.
WYNN: YES.
MAYOR GARCIA:
QUESTIONS.
MAYOR PRO TEM?
YOU'RE JUST READY TO
VOTE?
OKAY.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
AYE.
MAYOR GARCIA: OPPOSED
NO.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
43 AND 44.
ERKS OUR NEXT ITEMS ARE
43 AND 44 AND THIS IS
THE BOULDIN NEIGHBORHOOD
PLAN.
BEFORE WE AGAIN I WOULD
LIKE TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE
ENTIRE BOULDIN
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING
TEAM AND CITIZENS WHO
PARTICIPATED IN THIS
PROCESS AND JUST SHARE
OUR APPRECIATION FOR
THEM WORKING WITH US IN
A PROCESS THAT HAS ENDED
UP TO BE AN AMICABLE
PROCESS.
WE DID NOT START OFF
INITIALLY AMICABLELY,
BUT I BELIEVE WE HAVE
ENDED THE PROCESS IN A
MANNER THAT WE CAN SAY
IS — WILL BE BENEFICIAL
TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WE
APPRECIATE THEIR TIME
AND EFFORT.
SCOTT WISEMAN IS GOING
TO PRESENT ITEMS 43 AND
44.
HE'S A PLANNER WHO HAS
WORKED WITH THE TEAM TO
THE END.
I'M SCOTT WHITEMAN
FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANNING AND ZONING
DEPARTMENT.
I WILL BE PRESENTING
ITEMS 43 AND 44, THE
BOULDIN CREEK
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND
THE BOULDIN CREEK
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
COMBINING DISTRICT.
THE BOUNDARIES OF THE
PLANNING AREA ARE TOWN
LAKE ON THE NORTH, SOUTH
CONGRESS ON THE EAST,
OLTORF STREET ON THE
SOUTH AND THE UNION
PACIFIC RAILROAD TRACKS
ON THE WEST.
THIS PLANNING PROCESS
BEGAN IN OCTOBER OF
2000.
WE'VE HELD OVER 30
PLANNING TEAM MEETINGS,
ONE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP,
AND A NEIGHBORHOOD
SURVEY WAS DISTRIBUTED
WITH A RESPONSE RATE OF
OVER 20%.
THE FINAL SURVEY WAS
CONDUCTED IN FEBRUARY OF
THIS YEAR AND 89%
EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR
THE PLAN.
THE PLAN INCLUDES 64
ACTION ITEMS TO
IMPLEMENT ITS FOUR MAJOR
GOALS, PRESERVE
SINGLE-FAMILY INTERIOR,
PROTECT CREEKS AND GREEN
SPACES, ENCOURAGE GROWTH
ON MAJOR CORRIDORS AND
PROVIDE SAFE
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION
RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF
THIS ITEM.
MAYOR GARCIA: ARE
THERE QUESTIONS OF
STAFF?
WE HAVE —
WYNN: MAYOR?
WYNN: A QUICK
QUESTION.
THE 20% RESPONSE RATE,
HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO
OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANS?
SO FAR THEY'RE THE
RECORD HOLDER.
MAYOR GARCIA: WE HAVE
31 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK.
NOT EVERYBODY INDICATES
THAT THEY WANT TO SPEAK.
AND LET ME SEE IF I CAN
GET A SENSE FROM THE
PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
SIGNED UP AGAINST SIGNED
UP —
MR. MAYOR, IF I CAN
ALSO DO THE PRESENTATION
FOR ITEM 44, SINCE MOST
PEOPLE PROBABLY SIGNED
UP FOR — ON BOTH ITEMS.
MAYOR GARCIA: SOME
SIGNED UP FOR 43 AND
OTHERS FOR BOTH.
WHY DON'T YOU DO 44 AND
THAT WAY WE WILL HAVE IT
ALL.
GOODMAN: MAYOR,
BEFORE HE DOES THAT, CAN
I LET YOU KNOW THIS THAT
I'LL BE OFF THE DIAS FOR
A FEW MINUTES, BUT I'LL
BE MIN LNING TO THE
MONITOR.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
GO AHEAD, SIR.
ITEM 44 IS CASE
C-14-02-31, THE BOULDIN
CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD
ZONING DRIB.
THIS PROPOSED CHANGE
WILL CREATE AN NPCD FOR
THE ENTIRE AREA AND THE
MIXED USE BUILDING
CERTAIN TRACTS AND
CHANGES THE BASE ZONING
ON 102 TRACTS OF LAND.
THE PLANNING
RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDED THE CHANGES
AS POSTED ON THE AGENDA
AND ARE DETAILED IN THE
COUNCIL'S BACKUP.
THERE ARE THREE TRACTS
THAT WILL PROBABLY
GENERATE THE MOST
DISCUSSION THIS
AFTERNOON.
THE ISSUES ARE DETAILED
ON THE PINK SHEET THAT
YOU RECEIVED ON INDICT
AS.
— DIAS BEFORE THIS
HEARING.
TRACT 24 IS 900 AND 904
SOUTH SECOND STREET.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION
RECOMMENDED REZONING
THIS TRACT TO GR, MU,
CO, MP AND USES TO
HOTEL, MOTEL ONLY.
THIS WAS TO ALLOW THE
PROPERTY OWNERS WHO
OPERATE A SPIRITUAL
RETREAT CENTER ON THE
PROPERTY.
AS A CONDITION OF
APPROVAL THE PLANNING
COMMISSION ASKED THAT
STAFF MEET WITH THE
OWNER OF TRACT 24 AND
THE ADJACENT PROPERTY
OWNERS TO ADDRESS ISSUES
OF A CONSTRUCTION SET
BACK HEIGHT AND OUTDOOR
LIGHTING.
THERE IS A VALID
PETITION ON THIS TRACT.
ALSO, TRACT 68, WHICH IS
108 WEST GIBSON.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION
RECOMMENDED REZONING
THIS PROPERTY, WHICH IS
THE SOUTH SIDE CHURCH OF
CHRIST, FROM CS AND SF-3
TO MF64.
THE OWNERS CONTACTED
STAFF AFTER THE PLANNING
COMMISSION HEARING.
THEY INDICATED THAT THEY
WERE INTERESTED IN A
PROPERTY FOR OFF SITE
PARKING AND/OR EXPANSION
OF THE HOTEL.
NEITHER OF THESE USES IS
PERMITTED IN MF-4
ZONING.
THE CHURCH HAS FILED A
PETITION IN OPPOSITION
TO THE ZONING CHANGE,
BUT WE CANNOT CONSIDER
IT VALID UNTIL WE
DETERMINE WHETHER THE
PERSON WHO SIGNED THE
PETITION CAN BE
CONSIDERED AN OWNER OF
THE CHURCH.
ALSO, 607 DAWSON, AT THE
PLANNING COMMISSION,
THIS PROPERTY OWNER
REQUESTED THAT HIS
PROPERTY BE REZONED TO
MAKE THE EXISTING OFFICE
USE CONFORMING.
THE PROPERTY WAS
PREVIOUSLY USED AS A
LEGAL HOME OFFICE, BUT
WAS UPGRADED ILLEGALLY.
THE PLANNING TEAM HAS
AGREED TO WORK WITH THE
PROPERTY OWNER IF HE
APPLIES FOR A ZONING
CHANGE IN THE FUTURE,
BUT IS NOT REQUESTING
THAT THE PROPERTY BE
REZONED AS PART OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
THAT CONCLUDES MY
PRESENTATION.
I CAN ANSWER ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
MAYOR GARCIA:
QUESTIONS FOR STAFF?
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?
WYNN: THANK YOU,
MAYOR.
REGARDING TRACT NUMBER
24, PERHAPS I PREVIOUSLY
HAD BEEN WORKING ON A
DIFFERENT MAP, BUT IT
SEEMED TO ME THERE WERE
TWO TRACTS THERE.
MY NOTES HAD 24 AND 25,
25 BEING IMMEDIATELY
EAST ACROSS SECOND
STREET TOWARDS THE —
BETWEEN SECOND STREET
AND THE ALLEY.
IS THAT NOT A REZONING
NOW?
IT IS.
THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE
TRACTS.
TRACT 24 IS THE ONE THAT
THE PLANNING COMMISSION
SPECIFICALLY SINGLED OUT
AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT
WOULD BE GR-MU WITH ONLY
THE HOTEL MOTEL USE.
THE OTHER ONE IS ALSO
RELATED TO THAT TRACT,
BUT IT'S GR-MU WITH —
WITH SOME USES, BUT
ALLOWING MORE USES THAN
THAT TRACT.
WYNN: SO IS IT A
ZONING CHANGE PER THIS
PLAN OR NOT?
YES TRKS A ZONING
CHANGE PER THIS PLAN.
WYNN: AND I GUESS THE
MAP I HAVE HERE DOESN'T
SHOW THAT AS A ZONING
CHANGE.
MAYBE.
I THINK I'M LOOKING AT
THE RIGHT —
TRACT 25 ARE THESE
EIGHT PROPERTIES HERE
JUST TO THE EAST.
25 AND 26 ARE HERE ON
YOUR MAP.
WYNN: BUT IT SEEMED
TO ME THE TRACT — SO
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS
WHAT WE'RE NOW CALLING
TRACT 25 IS EVERYTHING
FROM SOUTH FIRST ACROSS
THE ALLEY ALL THE WAY TO
SOUTH SECOND?
THAT'S CORRECT.
IT'S EIGHT PROPERTIES.
WYNN: OKAY.
PERHAPS I'LL WAIT AND
HEAR SOME DISCUSSION.
IT SEEMS LIKE I WOULD
LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE
WESTERNMOST PIECE OF
THAT, THAT IS THE HALF
TRACT THAT'S WEST OF THE
ALLEY.
IT SEEMS TO ME THIS HAS
INHERENTLY DIFFERENT
CHARACTERISTICS THAN
WHAT ITS OTHER
COMPONENTS TO THE EAST
OF THE ALLEY, BUT
PERHAPS AFTER WE HEAR
SOME DISCUSSION FROM THE
CITIZENS WE CAN TALK
ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.
FURTHER QUIZ QUESTIONS?
SLUSHER: YEAH, MAYOR.
ONE THING WE HEARD
DURING THE DAWSON PLAN,
AND I'M CONCERNED, WE
TALKED ABOUT THE
OVERLAY.
AND WE ONLY HAVE IT ON
ONE STREET, ONE SIDE OF
SOUTH FIRST STREET.
SO COMPARE TO ME THE
OVERLAY IN THIS ONE WITH
WHAT'S IN PLACE ACROSS
THE STREET.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT
JUST THESE PROPERTIES OR
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN?
SLUSHER: WELL, ON
SOUTH FIRST STREET IT
STRETCHES — IN THE
DAWSON PLAN ON SOUTH
FIRST STREET IT
STRETCHES DOWN THE WHOLE
WAY.
THERE'S AN OVERLAY.
AND IN PARTICULAR ONE —
ONE THING I'M
PARTICULARLY CONCERNED
ABOUT IS THE GAS
STATIONS BECAUSE I THINK
IF YOU'VE GOT ONE OF
THOSE REAL GARISH,
HEAVILY LIT GAS STATIONS
ON SOUTH FIRST STREET,
IT WOULD CHANGE THE
CHARACTER OF THE WHOLE
STREET.
AND ON THE EAST SIDE OF
SOUTH FIRST STREET, IN
ORDER TO EXPAND A GAS
STATION BY MORE THAN
20%, YOU WOULD HAVE TO
HAVE A CONDITIONAL
OVERLAY, SO THAT GIVES
THE NEIGHBORHOOD A VOICE
AND NOTIFICATION.
AND WHETHER OR NOT
THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND I WANT THAT TO BE IN
PLACE ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF SOUTH FIRST STREET
TOO SO YOU HAVE EQUAL
REGULATIONS THERE AND
EQUAL PROTECTION.
ON OLTORF STREET,
WHICH IN BOULDIN, THE
OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE
DAWSON NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANNING AREA, THE
CONDITIONAL OVERLAY IS
THE SAME AS THE ONE THAT
WAS EVENTUALLY ADOPTED
BY COUNCIL FOR DAWSON.
BUT IN BOULDIN FOR SOUTH
FIRST THE CONDITIONAL
OVERLAY DOES NOT PUT IN
ANY USES OIRN GENERAL
RETAIL, WHICH IS GREATER
THAN 20,000 SQUARE FEET
IN FLOOR AREA.
SLUSHER: WELL, I
HEARD SOME OF THE
PLANNERS TALK ABOUT
THAT, BUT I'M — I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE THE SAME
THING ON BOTH SIDES OF
THE STREET OR HEAR WHY
THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA,
IF FOLKS DON'T THINK
THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE,
MAYOR.
MAYOR GARCIA: FURTHER
QUESTIONS FOR STAFF?
OKAY.
WE HAVE 32 SPEAKERS, 32
PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK.
NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO
SPEAK.
I HAVE TWO SPEAKERS THAT
HAVE HAD SOME TIME
DONATED TO THEM.
WHEN YOU COME UP, IF YOU
KNOW OF SOMEONE THAT
DONATED TIME TO YOU, LET
ME KNOW SO I CAN PULL
YOUR CARD AND PULL THAT
OTHER PERSON'S CARD AND
PUT IT TOGETHER WITH
YOURS.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS
MR. RICK HALL.
MR. HALL?
SLUSHER: MAYOR, I
NEED TO MAKE A QUICK
CORRECTION TO WHAT I WAS
SAYING.
THE DAWSON PLAN IS
FURTHER SONG, SO YOU
WOULD STILL HAVE THAT
SITUATION.
YOU STILL HAVE THAT
SITUATION, WHERE THE ONE
SIDE OF THE STREET IS
DIFFERENT.
BUT I WOULD STILL MAKE
THE SAME POINTS ABOUT
THE — ABOUT THE GAS
STATION ALONG SOUTH
FIRST ON THIS SECTION ON
BOTH SIDES BECAUSE THAT
WOULD BE A CONCERN OF
MINE.
I ALREADY HAD TO DEAL
WITH ONE TWO YEARS AGO
WHERE THEY PUT IN A GAS
STATION.
I WON'T NAME THE
COMPANY, BUT ON LAMAR,
AND IT WAS GOING TO
BRING LIGHT UP — LIGHT
UP HOUSES IN THE BOULDIN
NEIGHBORHOOD FROM LAMAR.
AND WE DID WHAT WE COULD
WITH THE LIMITED
REGULATORY AUTHORITY WE
HAD.
SO I DON'T WANT TO MISS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE
THE NEIGHBORS A SAY IN
THAT KIND OF THING
POTENTIALLY HAPPENING ON
SOUTH FIRST STREET
BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I
THINK THAT WOULD
SERIOUSLY CHANGE THE
CHARACTER OF THE STREET.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
MR. RICK HALL.
FOLLOWING MR. HALL,
MR. JIM WALKER IS —
DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK,
BUT HE'S REGISTERED IN
FAVOR OF.
AND MR. CLARK HAMMOND
DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK,
BUT REGISTERED IN FAVOR
OF THE SOUTH RIVER CITY
CITIZENS SUPPORTS THE
BOULDIN CREEK
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
AND MR. BRYAN KING DOES
NOT WISH TO SPEAK.
HE'S REGISTERED FOR.
PLEASE CONTINUE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING
OVER 18 MONTHS.
DON'T STREAMLINE THE
TIME NEEDED.
MR. PENA REGISTERED NOT
WISHING TO SPEAK, IN
FAVOR OF, AND I'LL READ
THIS.
[ INAUDIBLE ] AS
PRESIDENT OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD — OF THE
NEIGHBORING GLIN DOUGH
NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION, WE
PARTICIPATED IN THE
BEGINNING OF THE BOWD
INNEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND
YOU[ INAUDIBLE ] TO
SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD
PLAN.
AND THE NEXT SPEAKER IS
AFTER YOU, MR. HALL, IS
MARGARET BALL LANDER.
MR. HALL, WELCOME.
GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M A
MEMBER OF THE BOULDIN
CREEK PLANNING TEAM.
I WAS AT EVERY MEETING
EXCEPT FOR ONE.
ONE TIME I CAME UP HERE
AND A FORMER MAYOR
CHASTISED ME, SAID I
WASN'T TRYING TO USE THE
RULES BECAUSE I 'WANTED
TO USE THE MINUTES WITH
MY NEIGHBOR.
I NOTICE THAT WE NOW
ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE TO
USE OTHER PEOPLE'S
MINUTES.
I GUESS WE'RE BACK
PAYING ATTENTION TO THE
RULES BECAUSE THE RULES
ARE SO IMPORTANT.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
PLANNING TEAM A RULE WAS
BROKEN.
WE MADE SOME RULES ON
HOW WE WERE GOING TO
GOVERN OURSELVES UNTIL
WE PICKED A CHAIR.
WE WERE GIVEN
DEFINITIONS BY THE CITY
AS TO THE WAYS TO GOVERN
VOTING, DICTATOR SHIPS,
CONSENSUS, UNANIMOUS
CONSENSUS OF ONE,
MEANING THE GENERAL
CONSENSUS AND SOMEBODY
COULD BOW OUT.
MANY OF US DID NOT WANT
TO INITIATE THIS
PLANNING WITH THE CITY.
THAT'S HAPPENED IN OTHER
NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATIONS.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY
WE'RE THE ONLY PEOPLE
WHO HAVE WANTED TO DO
THAT.
SO WHAT I SUGGESTED TO
THEM WAS THAT WE RULE BY
CONSENSUS UNANIMOUS.
AND THEY WENT FOR IT.
AND WE AGREED TO IT,
MEANING EVERYONE HAD TO
AGREE TO SIGN THE
MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING.
WHEN IT CAME TO FIND OUT
WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE
GOING TO SIGN THE
MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING, TWO OF US
DID NOT AGREE TO SIGN
THE MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING.
UNDER THE RULES YOU
COULD NOT SIGN THAT
MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING, HOWEVER,
IT HAS BEEN PROJECTED TO
Y'ALL AS IF THE
MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING WAS SIGNED
UNDER THE RULES.
NO SUCH THIJ OCCURRED.
AND THAT SET A
PRECEDENCE.
THE NEXT TIME THE RULES
GOT BROKEN WE DECIDED TO
SWITCH TO ROBERT'S RULES
OF ORDER, WAS TO DECIDE
WHERE THE BORDER FOR
PLANNING AREA WAS TO BE
SET.
THE CITY HAD COME IN
TELLING US THEY WERE
RECOMMENDING THAT WE SET
IT AT LAMAR, THE WEST
SIDE, SOUTH LAMAR.
IT WOULD BE THE WEST
BORDER.
A VOTE WAS TAKEN AT ONE
MINUTE TO 8:00 O'CLOCK,
ONE OF OUR OTHER RULES
WAS THAT WE QUIT ON
TIME.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY TRY
TO RUSH A VOTE AT THE
END OF THE MTING.
WHEN THE VICE CHAIRMAN
SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON,
HE IMMEDIATELY CALLED
UNDER ROBERT'S RULES OF
ORDER FOR AN
ADJOURNMENT, WHICH WAS
PROMPTLY SECONDED, AND
THE CHAIR CONTINUED ON
TALKING AS IF WE DID NOT
EXIST.
AND UNDER ROBERT'S RULES
OF ORDER, ALL OTHER
PROCEEDINGS HALT AND
ANYTHING DONE AFTER THAT
IS DONE ILLEGALLY.
THAT VOTE WAS THEN TAKEN
AND PRESENTED TO THE
BUSINESS NUMBERS ON
SOUTH LAMAR, ALONG WITH
THE NEWS FROM OUR CHAIR
THAT A LEGAL VOTE HAD
BEEN CONDUCTED AND WE
AGREED THAT THE ACTUAL
BORDER SHOULD BE SET AT
THE RAILROAD TRACKS.
AND THAT IS WHAT IS DOWN
IN THIS PLAN.
SO I'M JUST HERE TO TELL
YOU THAT IF YOU WERE
ACTUALLY GOING TO FOLLOW
RULES, IF WE WERE ALL
GOING TO FOLLOW RULES
THAT WE ALL AGREED TO,
THEN YOU BROKE THOSE
RULES.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE A
LEGALLY SIGNED MOU.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA:
MARGARET.
AND FOLLOWING HER IS TOM
HEARD.
WYNN: MAYOR, I WANT
TO REMIND FOLKS I WILL
BE TEMPORARILY OFF THE
DYE DEU AS, BUT WE
CAN — DAIS, BUT WE CAN
HEAR AND EVEN SEE THE
TESTIMONY WHILE WE'RE
OFF THE DIAS.
MAYOR GARCIA:
WELCOME.
YES.
YOU INTRODUCED MY.
I'M MARGARET.
I'M THE OWNER OF THE TWO
PARCELS, NUMBER 24 AND
25, ON YOUR LIST.
AND ONCE UPON A TIME I
HAD A DREAM, ALONG WITH
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
AND I FOUND THIS
FABULOUS PROPERTY IN
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN THAT
IMMEDIATELY I THOUGHT,
THIS IS DOWNTOWN.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S 40
MILES OUT.
AND JUST RIGHT AWAY I
THOUGHT, WHAT A
WONDERFUL THING TO HAVE
A RETREAT CENTER THERE
WHERE PEOPLE COULD COME
THAT WOULDN'T HAVE TO
DRIVE THEIR CAR WAY OUT
AND THEY COULD COME TO
IT AND JUST HAVE A
RETREAT THAT WOULD BUILD
THEM UP SPIRIT ACTUALLY.
SO OVER TIME I GOT SOME
PROPERTIES TOGETHER AND
I WENT THROUGH AUSTIN'S
LAND.
IF ANY OF YOU REMEMBER
THAT.
I WENT THROUGH FIVE
YEARS OF IT AND GOT, YOU
KNOW, WHAT I WANTED SO I
COULD DO MY RETREAT
CENTER.
AND THEN IT WAS NOT
IMPLEMENTED.
SO THEN I STUMBLED
THROUGH THE REAL ESTATE
COLLAPSE, SO NOW I'VE
GONE BACK TO SQUARE 1
TWICE.
AND THAT FINALLY GOT
OVER WITH.
AND THEN WE STARTED ON
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
NOW, THAT'S GOING BACK
TO SQUARE ONE AGAIN.
SO WE WORKED IT ALL OUT.
IT WENT ON FOR 18 MONTHS
AND I WAS WORKING WITH
IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR
INFORMALLY BEFORE THEN.
SO WE OVER THIS TIME,
WE'RE ALL SUFFERING
TOGETHER, WE WROTE A
PLAN.
AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY
OPPOSITION TO SPEAK OF
EXCEPT THE USUAL STUFF.
SO THEN WE BRING IT TO
THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WELL, THEN UP POPS THIS
PERSON, WILLIAM
BURKE
HEART I THINK HAZARD
E
IS, HAVING BEEN TO NO
PLANNING MEETINGS, EVEN
THOUGH THEY'VE BEEN
NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES
TO PLEASE COME.
AND HE OBJECTS.
AND TO MY PART — TO MY
PART OF IT.
WELL, THE PLANNING
COMMISSION TOOK A VOTE
AND THEY DECIDED THAT I
WOULD DO A SETBACK.
AND ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS
THE OPPOSING PARTY AND
MYSELF TO GET TOGETHER
ON SET BACKS.
SO I SAID OKAY.
I WENT TO THE MEETING.
I THOUGHT IT WAS — IT
WAS A SETBACK.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT
IT WAS ALL ABOUT.
SO I GAVE THOSE FOLKS
40,000 SQUARE FEET OF
SET BACK, ALMOST AN
ACRE.
WELL, THEN I FOUND OUT
THAT THAT WAS ONLY THE
BEGINNING.
THEY HAD A LONG LAUNDRY
LIST OF OTHER THINGS
THAT THEY WANTED ME TO
AGREE TO.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT
IT WAS ALL ABOUT.
AND FAR AND HOW MANY
CARS YOU ARE GOING TO
HAVE COMING.
AND THE VERY FIRST THING
FROM THE GIT-GO WAS TOM
HURT SAID NOW, MA'AM,
YOU'RE A DEVELOPER.
[ BUZZER SOUNDS ]
AND I'M NOT — THAT'S
NOT IT, IS IT?
MAYOR GARCIA: WELL, I
WAS GOING TO ASK MARY
MARGARET IF SHE WANTED
TO GIVE YOU SOME TIME.
I WOULD —
MAYOR GARCIA: PUT
THREE MORE MINUTES UP
THERE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THREE
MINUTES IS OVER.
I JUST STARTED.
[ LAUGHTER ]
MAYOR GARCIA: TIME
FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING
FUN.
START IT AGAIN AT THREE
MINUTES, PLEASE.
THERE YOU GO.
GO AGAIN?
OKAY.
WHERE WAS I?
OKAY.
TOM HURT SAID YOU'RE A
DEVELOPER AND I SAID
NO, — I SAID NO, I'M
NOT.
HE SAID WELL, I'M GOING
TO CALL YOU JUST WHAT
YOU ARE, YOU'RE A
DEVELOPER.
AND I SAID I'VE NEVER
BUILT ANYTHING IN MY
LIFE EXCEPT MY HUSBAND
AND I IN 1963 BUILT A
HOUSE FOR OURSELVES AND
OUR SIX CHILDREN.
THAT'S IT.
WELL, IT WENT ON FROM
THERE.
I MEAN, I'LL JUST TRY
AND TOUCH ON A FEW
THINGS.
HE SAID, WELL, IT WOULD
INCREASE TRAFFIC IN HIS
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WELL, IN HIS
NEIGHBORHOOD HE WOULD
HAVE TO DRIVE OVER A 30
FOOT BLUFF AND OVER THE
CREEK TO GET TO THIS.
I MEAN, IN OTHER WORDS,
YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO
ABOUT A MILE IN EITHER
DIRECTION TO GET TO IT.
NO WAY TO DEBT FW
THROUGH.
WELL, HE HAD TO PUT THAT
ON THE SHELF.
AND THEN IT WAS — I'M
TRYING TO THINK OF ALL
THE STUFF.
THAT I — OH.
HE SAID AND YOU'RE GOING
TO PUT IN A PARKING LOT.
AND I THOUGHT, OF COURSE
I'M NOT GOING TO PUT IN
A PARKING LOT.
EVERYBODY IS GOING TO
WALK TO IT OR RIDE THE
BUS.
I MEAN, YEAH, A PARKING
LOT.
AND THEN FINALLY THIS IS
AN HOUR AND A HALF
MEETING TO BEGIN WITH, I
COME BACK ANOTHER HOUR
AND A HALF MEETING, AND
HIS WIFE SAYS — THIS IS
THREE ACRES THAT THEY
CAN LOOK DOWN OF GREEN
TREES THAT I PAID FOR, I
PAY THE TAXES ON AND
DEAL WITH THE HOMELESS
PEOPLE THAT CAMP ON IT,
AND SHE SAID, NOW,
MA'AM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S
WILDLIFE IN THERE AND SE
SHE HAD I UNDERSTAND
THERE ARE SOME FOXES
RUNNING THROUGH THERE.
SHE SAID NOW, WHEN YOU
BUILD SOMETHING ON
THERE, IT'S GOING TO
DISTURB THAT WILDLIFE.
THIS IS PROPERTY IN
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
WELL, BY THAT TIME MY
EYES ARE ROLLING BACK IN
MY HEAD.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT
MY NAME IS ANY MORE.
AND I COME OUT OF THERE
AND I HAVE BEEN RUN OVER
BY A TRUCK.
I STAYED AWAKE ALL
NIGHT.
I MEAN, I TURNED THIS
NIGHT SOOEUD AND THAT
SIDE.
BUT IN THE MORNING I
FINALLY GOT UP AND I GOT
THIS LIST OF THINGS THEY
ALL WANT ME TO AGREE TO.
AND I READ DOWN AND, I
MEAN, I'M — NO.
I MEAN, I CAN'T.
SO I CALLED THE PLANNING
COMMISSION CHAIRMAN AND
I SAID WHAT WAS I
SUPPOSED TO DO?
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT WAS THE DEAL?
I MEAN, A SETBACK?
AND HE SAID YES.
AND I SAID WELL, I'M IN
ALL THIS STUFF.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT FAR
IS, HOW MANY TRIPS ARE
GOING TO BE A DAY AND
WHAT ARE THE
ARCHITECTS — ONE OF THE
OPPOSITION SAID, WELL,
HE WANTED LIGHTING THAT
WOULD — HE WOULD PREFER
IT JUST ON THE GROUND,
BUT MAYBE IT COULD BE 24
INCHES HIGH.
I MEAN, ALL THIS STUFF.
AND I THOUGHT, BOY, IF I
SIGN OFF ON ALL OF THIS,
I'LL — AND THEY WERE
JUST LIKE, NOW, GRANNY,
IF YOU'LL JUST SIGN ON
IT.
I'M 78 YEARS OLD, 78.
I KNOW I LOOK ONLY 20,
BUT I AM 78.
NOW, IF YOU WILL SIGN
OFF ON ALL OF THIS,
WE'LL JUST ALL BE VERY
HAPPY AND WE CAN ALL GO
HOME AND YOU CAN QUIT
SUFFERING.
AND I THOUGHT SURE.
[ BUZZER SOUNDS ]
WELL, ANYWAY, I HAD A
DREAM.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL GET
TO THE PROMISE LAND OR
NOT, BUT I'M TRYING.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU.
TOM HURT?
AND FOLLOWING MR. HURT
IS WILLIAM BURKHART.
WELCOME, SIR.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS TOM HURT AND
I JUST WANTED TO SET
SOMETHING STRAIGHT VERY
QUICKLY HERE.
WE IS NOT SEND A LIST TO
HER.
THE LISTS WERE BROUGHT
UP BY THE CITY.
AND WE WERE VERY
DISTURBED BY WHAT WAS ON
THE LIST AS WELL.
THERE WERE A LOT OF
THINGS THAT WE FELT WERE
PERHAPS OUT OF THE RANGE
OF WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS
REASONABLE FOR A RETREAT
ON THAT SITE.
MY WIFE AND I OWN A LOT
AND LIVE IN A HOUSE AT
800 CHRISTOPHER STREET
WHICH IS ADJACENT TO LOT
24.
THE TRACT OF LAND FOR
WHICH A HOTEL MOTEL
ZONING IS BEING SOUGHT.
WHICHE STRONGLY IN FAVOR
OF THE BOULDIN CREEK
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AN WE
ARE STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF
THE BOULDIN NEIGHBORHOOD
PLAN REZONING, WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF TRACT 24.
SINCE FALL OF LAST YEAR
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT
NO HOTEL WOULD EVER BE
BUILT ON TRACT 24, BUT
INSTEAD A RETREAT, A
RETREAT THAT WOULD HAVE
A MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE
NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE
SITE.
WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED
THAT A DEVELOPMENT ON
THIS PROPERTY IS REZONED
AS WE UNDERSTAND IS
REQUESTED, AND THE BEST
OF OUR UNDERSTANDING,
COULD BE FROM 30,000
SQUARE FEET TO 40,000
SQUARE FEET,
APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE
OF THE HOMESTEAD INN ON
SOUTH FIRST AND BARTON
SPRINGS.
AND IT COULD REACH 600
FEET OR MORE INTO OUR
VERY QUIET AND VERY
NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL
NEIGHBORHOOD.
ZONING PROPOSAL FOR
TRACTS 24 DOES NOT FIT
WITH THE OBJECTIVES OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
GOAL 1 OF THE PLAN,
MAINTAIN ESTABLISHED
NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER
AND ASSETS.
OBJECTIVE 1.1, MAINTAIN
THE SINGLE-FAMILY
CHARACTER OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
GOAL 2 IS TO PROTECT AND
ENHANCE CREEKS AND OPEN
SPACES.
WE REQUEST YOU TO TAKE
24 OFF THE BOULDIN CREEK
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
REZONING.
IF PURSUED, ZONING
REQUESTS FOR THOSE
TRAC?? SHOULD GO THROUGH
THE STANDARD ZONING
APPLICATION PROCESS.
WE'RE MEMBERS OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND
ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS
ARE ABLE TO EVALUATE THE
IMPACT OF A SPECIFIC
PROPOSED SITE PLAN WHICH
OUTLINES THE INTENTIONS
OF THE DEVELOPER.
WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO
DENSITY IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE DO
BELIEVE ANY INCREASE IN
DENSITY SHOULD BE WELL
CONSIDERED AND IT SHOULD
BE GOOD DENSITY.
CONCERNING TRACT 24,
COMMERCIAL ZONING FOR
TRACT 24 WOULD CONTINUE
A COMMERCIAL USE AS
DENSITY WEST AT SECOND
STREET APPROXIMATELY 475
FEET OR 275 FEET IF
THERE WERE THE SETBACKS
INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS WOULD NEGATIVELY
IMPACT THE RESIDENTIAL
CHARACTER OF SECOND
STREET, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY THIS ZONING
FOR TRACT 24 WOULD ADD
GREATER LEVELS OF NOISE,
LIGHT, EXHAUST,
POLLUTION TO THE
NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST
AND TO THE SOUTH, THAN
WOULD THE ESTABLISHED
SF-3 DEVELOPMENT
POTENTIAL CURRENTLY
ALLOWABLE IN THIS
INTERIOR PART OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
EVEN ALLOWING FOR A 200
FOOT SET BACK FOR THE
HOTEL MOMENT DEVELOPMENT
ON TRACT 54, TRACT 24
AND 25, WHICH SHE ALSO
OWNS, WOULD CONSTITUTE A
FINGER OF COMMERCIAL
ZONING THAT REACHES
APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET
INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
MOST TRACTS SLATED FOR
COMMERCIAL ZONING ON
SOUTH FIRST STREET IN
THIS PLAN EXTEND LESS
THAN 200 FEET.
A FEW EXCEPTIONAL TRACTS
EXTEND AROUND 300 FEET.
[ BUZZER SOUNDS ]
THIS ONE GOES 600 FEET.
I HAVE ANOTHER 30
SECONDS IF I COULD
SPEAK.
MAYOR GARCIA: SURE.
SHORTLY AFTER A
SEPTEMBER 24 PLANNING
TEAM MEETING WHERE THE
ZONING CHANGE BECAME
PART OF THE PROPOSED
PLAN, MY WIFE AND I
ATTENDED A MEETING WHERE
WE SAW THE HOTEL MOTEL
ZONING PROPOSAL.
BECAUSE WE WERE ASSURED
BY CITY STAFF THAT THE
GOAMENT WOULD BE A
RETREAT WITH MINIMAL
IMPACT ON THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IN TERMS OF
BUILDING MASS AND THE
NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE
CREEK BADGES, WE DID NOT
OPPOSE THE PROPOSAL FOR
TRACT 24 AT THAT TIME.
AS THE PLANNING
COMMISSION DIRECTED US
TO NEGOTIATE BUILDING
SETBACKS WITH THE
PROPERTY OWNER.
IN THOSE ATTEMPTS WE SAW
THAT THE DENSITY FOR
TRACT 24 WAS FAR GREATER
THAN IN OUR MIND WHEN WE
HEAR THE WORD RETREAT.
WHAT IS BEING SOUGHT IS
THE RIGHT TO BUILD A
VERY LARGE COMMERCIAL
BUILDING IN THE HEART OF
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE THINK THAT THE
DENSITY SHOULD FOLLOW
THE GOALS AND EXAMPLES
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
PLAN.
TRACTS 24 AND 25 ARE
EXCEPTIONAL TRACTS IN
THE PLANNING BECAUSE
THEY REACH SO FAR INTO A
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY ARE SO EXCEPTIONAL
TO THE PLAN, WE BELIEVE
IF SHE WANTS TO BRING A
ZONING PROPOSAL BEFORE
THEM, SHE SHOULD GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS
OTHER THAN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
[ BUZZER SOUNDS ]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU.
MR. WILLIAM BURKHART.
AND FOLLOWING HIM IS
CATHERINE TOBO.
WELCOME, SIR.
COUNCIL.
I WANT TO MAKE TWO
POINTS TODAY.
FIRST, THAT IT IS
REASONABLE TO QUESTION
THE PROCESS WITH RESPECT
TO TRACT 24.
AND SECOND, THAT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IS NOT
AN APPROPRIATE VEHICLE
FOR SUCH A SIGNIFICANT
CHANGE.
ON ITS PROCESS.
PREVIOUSLY I TOOK NOTE
OF THE PROPOSAL TO
REZONE TRACT 24 IN
NOVEMBER OF 2001.
BUT I THOUGHT THE
CHARACTERIZATION THEN
WAS REASONABLE. IT WAS
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
SMALL SCALE RETREAT
CENTER.
LATER WHEN THE SUMMARY
WAS DISTRIBUTED IN
FEBRUARY, I WROTE AN
E-MAIL TO STAFF VOICING
MY CONCERNS.
I RECEIVED A RESPONSE
THAT AGAIN MADE THE
PROPOSAL SEEM
REASONABLE.
THE IDEA THAT IT WAS
GOING TO HAVE A 35-FOOT
HEIGHT LIMIT AND ONLY
SINGLE-FAMILY OR DUPLEX
USES.
I WAS ALSO ASSURED THAT
I WOULD RECEIVE AN
OFFICIAL NOTICE BEFORE
ANY ZONING CHANGES WOULD
TAKE PLACE.
IT WAS SPECIFICALLY
STATED THAT THE PLAN
DOESN'T CHANGE ANY
ZONING, BUT FUTURE
ZONING CHANGES WOULD BE
BASED ON IT.
BY THE TIME THE
COMMISSION — BY THE
TIME OF THE COMMISSION
HEARING THREE WEEKS AGO,
THE HEIGHT LIMIT HAD
BECOME 45 FEET AND THE
SMALL SCALE RETREAT
CENTER COULD CONCEIVABLY
BE A BUILDING OF 40,000
SQUARE FEET AND HAVE
NEARLY AN ACRE OF
IMPERVIOUS COVER.
THE POINT HERE IS, EVEN
IF THE PROPOSAL HAD
CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY
AND THE STAKEHOLDERS HAD
NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OR THE
CRACKIZATIONS AND THE
RESPONSES WERE AT BEST
INACCURATE, IT'S
REASONABLE TO QUESTION
THE PROCESS.
TO MY SECOND POINT THAT
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IS
NOT AN APPROPRIATE
VEHICLE FOR SUCH
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE,
DURING THE FINAL REMARKS
AT THE PLANNING
COMMISSION HEARING,
COMMISSIONER HAM
STATISTIC STATED THAT
THE PRESSURE WE'VE BEEN
THROUGH NOTHING LIKE
WE'RE GOING TO GET.
APPROVAL OF TRACT 24
REZONING WILL PUT
EXACTLY THE TYPE OF
PRESSURE ON THE
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAVING
A PLAN IS DESIGNED TO
PREVENT.
IF REZONING OF THIS
TRACT IS APPROVED, WE
ARE ALLOWING NEW
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
ON INTERIOR
SINGLE-FAMILY PROPERTIES
AGAINST THE SPECIFIC
GOALS OF THE PLAN.
LAST, A SPECIFIC
CONCERN.
STAFF HAS AGREED TO A
10-FOOT SET BACK ON
SOUTH SECOND STREET,
WHICH IMPLIES THAT
PARKING WILL BE LOCATED
TO THE REAR.
WELL, PARKING TO THE
REAR OF COMMERCIAL
DEVELOPMENT IS MENTIONED
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
PLAN, IT WAS THE INTENT
THAT IT BE APPLIED TO
HIGH TRAFFIC ARTERIALS,
TO USE BUILDINGS AS A
BUFFER TO SCREEN THE
NOISE AND ACTIVITY OF
THOSE ARTERIALS FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOOD INTERIOR.
IN THIS CASE THE
PROPOSED REZONING WILL
BRING BOTH THE ARTERIAL
AND THE ACTIVITY TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD INTERIOR.
ADDITIONAL IMPLICATIONS
OF THIS APPROACH ARE THE
LOCATION OF TRASH
DUMPSTERS, BUILDING
SERVICES AND NOISE
GENERATING MECHANICAL
EQUIPMENT.
FURTHER, THERE WILL BE
THE ADDITIONAL IMPACT OF
AREA LIGHTING TO AN
ESTABLISHED
SINGLE-FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL AREA AND
LAST, THE IMPACT OF
IMPERVIOUS COVER ON A
UNIQUE AUSTIN GREENBELT
WILL BE ALL OUR LOSS.
[ BUZZER SOUNDS ]
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IS
NOT AN APPROPRIATE
VEHICLE FOR SUCH
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU.
CATHERINE TOBO?
AND FOLLOWING HER, ERIC
EINSTEIN — EISENSTEIN.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS KATHY TOBO.
I LOVE WITH MY HUSBAND,
TOM HURT.
WE SUPPORT THE BOULDIN
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND
THE ZONING CHANGES
CONTAINED WITHIN THE
PLAN, WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF TRACT 24.
AND I'M ALSO QUITE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE
SOUTH SECOND CORRIDOR OF
TRACT 25.
THE PROPOSED COMMERCIAL
REZONING OF TRACT 24 AND
25 WILL CHANGE THE
CHARACTER OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD ALONG
CHRISTOPHER STREET AS
WELL AS THE CHARACTER OF
SOUTH SECOND STREET, A
QUIET, SECLUDED STREET
IN A MORE THAN
90-YEAR-OLD
NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE'VE GIVEN YOU IN
YOUR PACKET SOME
PHOTOGRAPHS OF SOUTH
SECOND STREET AND ALSO I
BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME
SHOTS FROM THE CREEK
LOOKING UP AT THE
PROPERTY IN QUESTION
ALONG TRACT 24.
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD ALONG
SOUTH SECOND STREET WILL
ALSO SUFFER A
SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF
RENTAL HOUSING AS MOST
OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES ARE
TENANTS, SOME OF WHOM
HAVE BEEN THERE MORE
THAN 10 YEARS.
AS TOM SPLIEND, OUR
FEARS WERE ALAID WHEN WE
WERE TOLD BY CITY STAFF
AT A FALL MEETING OF THE
OWNER'S INTENTIONS TO
BUILD A CATHOLIC RETREAT
CENTER, BUT FIT INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER
AND THE CLIFFS AND BANKS
OF BOULDIN CREEK.
HOWEVER, AS COMMISSIONER
ARMSTRONG SAID AT THE
MARCH 27TH PLANNING
BOARD MEETING, AS
ADJACENT PROPERTY
MEMBERS WE HAVE A
LEGITIMATE CONCERN THAT
THE DESIGNATION OF HOTEL
MOTEL, AND I'M QUOTING
HERE FROM COMMISSIONER
ARMSTRONG, IS KIND OF A
BLANK CHECK, END QUOTE.
AND OTHERS ALSO RAISED
CONCERNS.
WHEN THIS CAME UP AT A
SEPTEMBER 24TH MEETING,
THE PLANNING TEAM'S
DECISION RECORD STATES,
AND I'M QUOTING HERE,
OVERALL THE TEAM FELT
MORE COMFORTABLE
REZONING SOUTH FIRST
THAN THEY DID SOUTH
SECOND.
MARGARET AND OTHER
PROPERTY OWNERS FAILED
IN A 1981 ATTEMPT TO GET
THE CITY COUNCIL TO ZONE
SINGLE-FAMILY PARCELS OF
LAND ALONG SOUTH SECOND
AND THE CREEK, SOME OF
THE SAME PARCELS THAT
ARE IN QUESTION HERE.
AND THIS WAS NOT TO
BUILD A RETREAT, BUT TO
BUILD A HIGH DENSITY
CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPMENT.
THAT IS NOW — THEN AS
NOW NEIGHBORS VOICED
CONCERNS ABOUT THE
IMPACT ON THE
SURROUNDING
NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL AS
ON BOULDIN CREEK AND ON
AN AREA THAT HAD BEEN
INDICATED AS A
SIGNIFICANT AUSTIN AREA
IN THE AUSTIN PLAN WAS.
THIS WAS THE EARLIER
AUSTIN TOMORROW PLAN
THAT DID PASS AND WAS
IMPLEMENTED, NOT THE
LATER PLAN THAT SHE
MENTIONED.
THE CITY COUNCIL'S
DECISION TO DENY THIS
EARLIER ZONING REQUEST
ALLOWED SOUTH SECOND TO
DEVELOP AND TO REMAIN AS
A QUIET STREET WITH
MODEST HOUSES AND
IMPRESSIVE NATURAL
BEAUTY, MUCH LIKE OUR
OWN STREET ON
CHRISTOPHER.
OUR REQUEST FOR MORE
INFORMATION DURING OUR
TWO MEETINGS WITH THE
PROPERTY OWNER YIELDED
NO SPECIFIC DETAILS
ABOUT THE SIZE, SHAPE OR
PARTICULAR USE OF THE
BUILDING SHE INTENDS TO
CONSTRUCT.
ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
PROPOSED FOR TRACT 25 OR
INDEED WHETHER THE
SPECIFIC CONGREGATION
HAS AGREED TO SPONSOR
AND BE ASSOCIATED WITH
THE SPIRITUAL RETREAT.
HOWEVER, IT SEEMS CLEAR
TO US NOW THAT THE
PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES
WOULD ALLOW CONSTRUCTION
OF A BUILDING OF SIZE
AND SCOPE DRASTICALLY
OUT OF CHARACTER WITH
THE INTERIOR
NEIGHBORHOOD IN WHICH IT
IS LOCATED.
[ BUZZER SOUNDS ]
WE DO HAVE A VALID
PETITION ON FILE SINCE
WE DID FILE IT, WE'VE
GOT AN ADDITIONAL THREE
PROPERTY OWNERS.
THIS IS NO SMALL TASK
SINCE THE MOST PROPERTY
OWNED WITHIN THERE IS
OWNED BY THE WOMAN
HERSELF.
WHILE BUYING LOTS IN AN
ARTERIAL STREET, A
NEIGHBORHOOD MAY CARRY
WITH IT A REASONABLE
EXPECTATION OF SOME DAY
OBTAINING COMMERCIAL
ZONING.
IT SEEMS UNREASONABLE TO
EXPECT THE SAME OF
SINGLE-FAMILY LOTS IN AN
INTERIOR NEIGHBORHOOD.
[ BUZZER SOUNDS ]
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: I'M
GOING TO TELL THE
SPEAKERS, IF YOU COULD
STAY WITHIN THE THREE
MINUTES, IT WOULD BE
APPRECIATED.
WE HAVE 37 SPEAKERS
RIGHT NOW.
ERIC E SIVMENT S.
AND FOLLOWING ERIC IS
MARK COFFEE.
WELCOME, SIR.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS ERIC EISEN
STEIN.
NOT EINSTEIN AS I WILL
PROVE SHORTLY.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF
THE BOULDIN CREEK
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING
TEAM AND HAVE THE HONOR
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE
PLAN TONIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO — I THINK
ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS IS
GOING TO HEALED HER TIME
TO ME, SO I WOULD LIKE
TO SPEND THE FIRST THREE
MINUTES IF I MAY,
TALKING ABOUT OUR PLAN
SPECIFICALLY AND THEN
ADDRESS A COUPLE OF —
MAYOR GARCIA: DO YOU
KNOW WHO IS GIVING YOU
TIME?
DR. RHODES.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
AND THEN LIKE HE SAY, IF
I MAY IN THE SECOND
PORTION KIND OF ADDRESS
SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT
HAVE ARISEN LATELY.
MAYOR GARCIA:
BECAUSE — STOP THE
CLOCK FOR A MINUTE.
PUT THAT BACK TO ABOUT
2:30.
COREY WALTON GAVE HIS
TIME TO MS. RHODES.
IS SHE HERE?
[ INAUDIBLE ].
MAYOR GARCIA: YOU
HAVE SIX MINUTES.
ARE YOU GIVING SOME OF
THE TIME TO HIM?
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS
SIX MINUTES.
I AM YIELDING MY —
[ INAUDIBLE ]
MAYOR GARCIA: SO
YOU'RE GIVING HIM THREE
MINUTES?
OKAY.
[ INAUDIBLE ].
SEE HOW I DO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ INAUDIBLE ].
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
SO YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
LIKE WE'VE HEARD ALLUDED
TO EARLIER, ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT I FOUND MOST
INTERESTING ABOUT OUR
PLAN WAS THE NEAR COMMON
GOALS THAT WERE
EXPRESSED BY EVERYBODY.
AND BY EVERYBODY I MEAN
OVER 500 PEOPLE THAT
PARTICIPATED EITHER IN
THE BIWEEKLY MEETINGS IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
COMMUNITY PLANNING
WORKSHOPS, THE SURVEY
RESPONSES AND THE
BALLOTING ON THE FINAL
PLAN THAT WAS SENT OUT
TO THE NEIGHBORS AND SO
ON.
WE HAD, LIKE I SAY, OVER
500 PEOPLE THAT
PARTICIPATED IN THIS
PLAN.
AND NEARLY 90% OF THEM
SAID THAT THEY WERE IN
FAVOR.
TO GET 90% OF MY
NEIGHBORS TO AGREE ON
WHICH WAY IS NORTH IS
PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
WE WENT TO PLANNING
COMMISSION A COUPLE OF
WEEKS AGO, AND AT THAT
TIME HAD EXACTLY ZERO
VOTES AGAINST US.
AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT'S
FAIRLY UNUSUAL.
THIS IS A PLAN THAT HAS
BEEN VETTED AND VETTED
AND VETTED BY
EVERYBODY
THAT'S LOOKED AT IT BY
OVER 15 — DEPENDING ON
HOW YOU COUNT IT, ALMOST
TWO YEARS NOW.
AND LIKE I SAY, HAS
REACHED ALMOST NEAR
UNANIMOUS CONSENT IN
TERMS OF ITS APPROVAL.
THERE ARE SOME ISSUES
THAT I WANT TO BRING UP
TONIGHT IN WHAT IT IS
SPECIFICALLY THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AND
HOPE THAT YOU WILL HELP
OUR EFFORTS TO DO SO.
THE FIRST THING THAT WE
WANTED TO DO AS PART OF
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IS
PRESERVE THE
SINGLE-FAMILY CHARACTER
OF THE INTERIOR OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD. OURS IS A
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S
POSITIONED BETWEEN MUCH
OF AUSTIN'S GROWTH IN
DOWNTOWN AND DESTINATION
POINT AND CONSEQUENTLY
IS OFTEN TIMES SEEN AS A
TRAN SENT SPOT FOR FOLKS
TRYING TO GET INTO
DOWNTOWN.
WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T SEE
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT
WAY.
AND IN TRYING TO
PRESERVE THE INTERIOR OF
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE
PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE,
WE'VE PUT A NUMBER OF
ITEMS IN PLACE.
AND I WON'T BORE YOU
WITH ALL THE DETAILS,
BUT SUFFICE IT TO SAY
THAT THE PRESERVATION OF
THE CHARACTER OF KEEPING
MULTI-FAMILY ON THE
ARTERIALS, KEEPING
BUSINESS OUT OF THE
CENTER OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, PRESERVING
GREEN SPACE WITHIN THE
CENTER OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, IS VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
THE SECOND POINT THAT WE
TRIED TO ACCOMPLISH IS
JUST THAT, KEEPING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR
ARTERIALS.
AND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT MEANS SOUTH FIRST,
SOUTH CONGRESS, BARTON
SPRINGS AND OLTORF AS
THE PLACES WHERE
MULTI-FAMILY AND
MULTI-USE DEVELOPMENT
TAKES PLACE.
WE ARE VERY MUCH IN
FAVOR OF A MIXED USE
DEVELOPMENT THAT
COMBINES THE BEST OF
LOCAL RETAIL, PREFERABLE
LOCALLY OWNED RETAIL,
WITH THE ABILITY OF
PEOPLE TO LIVE AND WORK
IN THE SAME PLACE.
ONE OF THE POINTS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER
RAISED ABOUT HIS CONCERN
ABOUT SOUTH FIRST
STREET, I THINK IT WAS
ACTUALLY AN ILLUSION TO
SOUTH CONGRESS.
BECAUSE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
PLAN ONLY EXTENDS TO THE
WESTERN BORDER OF SOUTH
CONGRESS, IT DOESN'T
INCLUDE THE EAST SIDE OF
THAT STREET AS WELL.
THAT'S TRAVIS HEIGHTS.
IT WAS OUTSIDE THE AREA.
OBVIOUSLY THE
COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND
TRAVIS HEIGHTS IS GOING
TO BE IMPORTANT, AND I
HOPE THAT WHEN Y'ALL
ADOPT A TRAVIS HEIGHTS
PLAN THAT YOU MAKE SURE
THAT THOSE ISSUES ARE
RECONCILED AND WE DON'T
RUN INTO A SITUATION
WITH GROSS DISPARITIES
BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES OF
THE STREET.
THE ARTERIALS OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD ARE JUST
THAT.
THOSE ARE THE ARTERIALS.
WE DO NOT WANT
NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS,
INTERIOR NEIGHBORHOOD
STREETS BECOMING
ARTERIALS.
AND WE HAVE ASKED FOR A
NUMBER OF THINGS IN OUR
PLAN THAT ARE DESIGNED
TO ENCOURAGE AND
FACILITATE TRAFFIC AND
MOOFT ALONG THE
ARTERIALS, BUT KEEP IT
OUT OF THE CENTER OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THINGS LIKE PUTTING BUS
CARVEOUTS ON SOUTH FIRST
STREET TO ENHANCE MASS
STRAN SIT ABILITIES AND
EVEN GOING SO FAR AS TO
MAKING PART OF SOUTH
FIRST STREET REVERSIBLE
LANE DURING BUSY RUSH
HOURS ALLOWS THOSE
ARTERIALS TO CARRY MORE
TRAFFIC THAN THEY WOULD
OTHERWISE, BUT THE PRICE
FOR THAT, IF YOU WILL,
KEEPS TRAFFIC OUT OF THE
CENTER OF THE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THAT'S WHERE WE'VE GOT
PEOPLE LIVING AND
WALKING.
AND FRANKLY, INTERACTING
WITH OUR NEIGHBORS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO
US AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE
IT PRESERVED.
THE THIRD POINT THAT
WE'D LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH
IN OUR PLAN IS THE AIBT
TO PROVIDE OPEN SPACES
WHERE EVERYBODY IS ABLE
TO INTERACT WITH THEIR
NEIGHBORS.
AND MAYOR GARCIA, I
THINK YOU WERE AT THE
RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE
WEST BOULDIN CREEK
GREENBELT, AND THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF
THAT.
WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF
GREEN SPACES IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD OF WHICH
WE'RE VERY PROUD.
I DON'T THINK IT'S
MERELY A COINCIDENCE
THAT WE LIVE IN THE
BOULDIN CREEK
NEIGHBORHOOD.
BOTH OF THOSE CREEKS
EAST AND WEST ARE
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO
US AS PLACES THAT WE CAN
WALK, PLACES WHERE WE
CAN COME MUNICIPAL,
PLACES WE CAN GO WITH
OUR DOG TO SEE OUR
NEIGHBORS.
AND IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK
AT THE SURVEY RESULTS
THAT CAME BACK, IN
EXCESS OF 80 AND?
N. SOME CASES 90% OF THE
PEOPLE THAT RESPONDED TO
THE SURVEY WERE IN FAVOR
OF EITHER ENHANCING,
DEVELOPING OR PROTECTING
NATURAL RESOURCES
LOCATED WITHIN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND PARTICULARLY IN THE
CASE OF OUR CREEKS.
WE'VE MADE SEVERAL
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS IN
TERMS OF OUR PLAN IN
GENERAL THAT ARE
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR
THE PRESERVATION OF
THOSE CREEKS.
WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE CITY AND I GUESS
IT WAS FEMA COME AND
TALK TO US ABOUT THE
IMPACT OF INCREASED —
EXCUSE ME, INCREASED
IMPERVIOUS COVER.
AND WHAT THAT COULD DO
FOR OUR CREEKS,
INCLUDING
CHANNELIZATION, TAKING
OUR BEAUTIFUL CREEKS AND
PAVING THEM.
AS YOU MIGHT GUESS, OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD DID NOT
RESPOND POSITIVE
POSITIVELY TO THAT
SUGGESTION.
SUBSEQUENTLY YOU WILL
NOTICE THAT OUR PLAN
DOES NOT INCLUDE MUCH IN
THE WAY OF INFILL
BUILDING OR WHAT'S
SOMETIMES CALLED SMART
GROWTH.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS
WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE
ADDITIONAL IMPERVIOUS
COVER AND WE ASKED VERY
STRONGLY THAT THE
IMPERVIOUS COVER LIMITS
BE KEPT AS THEY ARE.
THE FINAL THING THAT WE
DID IN OUR PLAN ITSELF
WAS PUT IN A NUMBER OF
ITEMS, SOME OF WHICH
WE'RE GOING ASK THAT YOU
GET OUT THE CHECKBOOK TO
INCREASE THE SAFETY OF
PEOPLE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, WHETHER
THEY'RE WALKING, RIDING
OR ROLLING.
WE NEED SOME ADDITIONAL
STOPLIGHTS, WE NEED SOME
ADDITIONAL CROSSWALKS,
WE NEED SOME HELP.
AND WE'VE PUT TOYING
TOWING A NUMBER OF
IMPROVEMENTS THAT WHEN
THOSE START GOING
THROUGH THE
IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS
WE HOPE YOU WILL LOOK ON
FAVORABLY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU.
CAN I HAVE THE — I
GUESS THAT WAS —
MAYOR GARCIA: THAT
WAS THE SIX.
YOU CAN HAVE MINE.
CAN I HAVE ANOTHER
MINUTE AND A HALF?
MAYOR GARCIA: I NEED
THE NAME.
[ INAUDIBLE ].
MAYOR GARCIA: MARK IS
GOING TO GIVE YOU.
JUST A MINUTE AND A
HALF, MARK, WOULD BE
GREAT.
THE LAST THING I WOULD
LIKE TO ADDRESS, I
ALLUDED EARLIER TO THE
NEAR UNANIMOUS CONSENT
OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I SAID NEAR
PURPOSEFULLY.
WE HAVE ONE ISSUE,
TRACTS 24 AND 25, THAT
STILL NEED TO GET
RESOLVED.
PLANNING COMMISSION
ASKED US TO DO IT.
WE HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH
TIME.
WE'RE WORKING ON IT, WE
NEED SOME MORE TIME.
OUR SUGGESTION AND
REQUEST OF Y'ALL TONIGHT
WOULD BE THAT YOU GO
AHEAD AND APPROVE OUR
PLAN ON FIRST READING
TONIGHT, SUBJECT TO A
30-DAY CITY SPONSORED
MEDIATION PROCESS
INVOLVING MEMBERS OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING
TEAM, REPRESENTATIVES
FOR AND AGAINST THE
ZONING CHANGES TO TRACTS
24 AND 25.
IF EVERYBODY'S HAPPY AT
THE END OF 30 DAYS, THAT
CHANGE OR WHATEVER WE
RESOLVE WILL BE INCLUDED
AS PART OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND
WOULD GO FORWARD.
FAILING THAT WE WOULD
ASK THAT IN 30 DAYS THAT
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
HAD THOSE TWO TRACTS
CARVED OUT AND THE PLAN
BE ADOPTED ON SECOND AND
THIRD READINGS AS IT IS.
AND THAT THOSE TWO
TRACTS BE SUBJECT TO THE
NORMAL PROCESS OF
REZONING IN A REGULAR
PUBLIC PROCESS.
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU.
MR. COFFEE, YOU HAVE A
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MARK COFFEE, WELCOME,
SIR.
EVENING
COUNCILMEMBERS.
AS PART OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING
TEAM, I THINK IT'S A
VERY GOOD PLAN.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
TRYING TO WORK OUT ALL
OF THE DIFFERENCES,
THOSE THAT THERE WERE.
IT WAS VERY INCLUSIONARY
PROCESS.
I FELT REAL GOOD ABOUT
EVERYONE HAVING AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BRING
THEIR VIEWS AND OPINIONS
TO THE TABLE IN
RESOLVING THESE AS A
GROUP.
TONIGHT WE'RE SEEING A
FEW LAST MINUTE
OBJECTIONS.
THESE OBJECTIONS APPEAR
TO BE COMING FROM PEOPLE
THAT WERE NOT INVOLVED
IN THE PLANNING PROCESS,
WHO FOR WHATEVER REASON
CHOSE NOT TO BE INVOLVED
IN THE PLANNING PROCESS.
AND YET THEY ARE OM
COMING BEFORE YOU
TONIGHT HAVE TO TO HAVE
THEIR VIEWS CONSIDERED,
WHICH CERTAINLY IS
REASONABLE, BUT I THINK
THAT THEY SHOULD BE
GIVEN THE KIND OF WEIGHT
THAT IF THEY WANTED
THESE VIEWS, FA THEY
FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT
THEM, THAT THEY WOULD
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN
THIS PROCESS FROM THE
VERY BEGINNING.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
MAYOR GARCIA: LET ME
ASK IF THE FOLKS THAT
PRESENT THE MUSIC ARE
HERE.
ARE THEY HERE?
YES, THEY ARE, MAYOR.
MAYOR GARCIA: WE HAVE
AN ADDITIONAL TWEE
EAKERS, THAT IF WE
RECOGNIZE AT THIS TIME
WILL TAKE US WAY BEYOND
OUR TIME CERTAIN OF
5:30.
AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, THE
CITY HAS A TRADITION OF
PRESENTING A LOCAL
MUSICIAN AT THIS TIME,
SO WE'RE GOING TO RECESS
THIS PORTION OF THE
MEETING UNTIL WE DO THE
MUSIC AND THE
PROCLAMATIONS.
AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS
GOING TO TAKE CHARGE OF
THE MEETING AT THIS TIME
AND WE WILL CONTINUE
WITH SPEAKERS 14 THROUGH
37 AFTER A SHORT RECESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BOULDIN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD
TEST TEST TEST THIS IS A
TEST,
WHAT WE DO IS EACH
THURSDAY IS WE HAVE A YOUNG
MAYOR OF AUSTIN FOR A DAY.
TODAY WE HAVE CINNAMON
NICOLE ROBINSON I WHO IS
ABOUT TO JOIN US AND BECOME
OUR MAYOR FOR A DAY.
[ APPLAUSE ].
THE PROCLAMATION, EXCUSE ME,
IS TO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT
WHEREAS CINNAMON NICOLE
ROBINSON IS A 10-YEAR-OLD
FOURTH GRADER AT BLACKSHEAR,
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHO
ENJOYS READING, SPECIALLY
MYSTERIES, AND WHEREAS
CINNAMON WANTED TO BE MAYOR
FOR A DAY SO SHE COULD WORK
WITH AND GET TO KNOW MAYOR
GARCIA BETTER AND BECAUSE
SHE IS INTELLIGENT, CARING
AND RESPONSIBILITY,
QUALITIES SHE THINKS WILL
HELP HER BE A GOOD MAYOR.
AND WHEREAS SHE CARES FOR
PEOPLE AND WOULD SPECIALLY
LIKE TO CHANGE LIFE FOR
HOMELESS PEOPLE EVEN IF ONLY
FOR ONE DAY, NOW THEREFORE,
GUS GARCIA, MAYOR OF THE
CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO
HERE BY PROCLAIM CINNAMON
NICHOL ROBINSON AS MAYOR FOR
A DAY IN AUSTIN, WE WELCOME
HER TO CHAMBERS.
[ APPLAUSE ] THE FIRST THING
THAT WE DO AT THIS
PARTICULAR TIME IS WE START
WITH MUSIC.
TO SOOTHE THE SAVAGE BEAST
ON OCCASION.
[ LAUGHTER ].
AND I WILL TELL THAT YOU
TODAY WE HAVE NOPAL NEGRO.
THEY ARE ONE OF AUSTIN'S
OUTSTANDING LATIN JAZZ BANDS
THAT FORMED IN MAY OF 2001.
BAND MEMBERS SINGER SONG
WRITER MARY WELCH, JOHN
DUNHAM ON ACOUSTIC GUITAR
...
ON BASS, JAY ON ELECTRIC
GUITAR AND SONG WRITER,
SORRY, JAVIER MOTA PLAYING
CONGA AND MICHAEL ALLEN ON
DRUMS.
WITH THAT LET ME GIVE THE
MIC TO OUR MAYOR.
THANK YOU, BE IT KNOWN THAT
WHEREAS THE LOCAL MUSIC
COMMUNITY MAKES MANY
CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD THE
DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTIN'S
SOCIA, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL
DIVERSITY AND WHEREAS THE
DEDICATED EFFORTS OF ARTISTS
FURTHER AUSTIN'S STATURE AS
THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITOL OF
THE WORLD.
NOW THEREFORE, I CINNAMON
ROBERTSON MAYOR OF THE CITY
OF AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR A DAY
DO HERE BY PROCLAIM APRIL
18TH, 2002 AS NOPAL NEGRO
DAY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, CINNAMON.
REV WE FEEL VERY HONORED TO
BE HERE TO OPEN UP THIS
MEETING AND WE ARE GOING TO
PLAY ONE OF OUR ORIGINALS,
IT'S CALLED [SPEAKING IN
SPANISH] IT MEANS THE
DARKNESS.
[ (music) MUSIC PLAYING (music)(music) ]
((music) SINGING IN SPANISH (music)(music))
GOODMAN: TELL US WHERE
YOU ARE PLAYING, WHERE WE
CAN BUY YOUR MUSIC.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE KIND OF
JUST GIVING OUT C.D.'S
WHENEVER WE HAVE THEM
[ LAUGHTER ].
WE ARE PLAYING NEXT
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24TH, AT
FLIPNOTICS FOR 10:00 TO
11:45 P.M. AND NEXT
THURSDAY, APRIL 25TH, AT THE
LOUNGE.
THAT'S ON 4TH AND COLORADO.
BETWEEN 9:30 AND 1:30.
[ APPLAUSE ]
GOODMAN: IT HAS BEEN
GREAT HAVING YOU.
I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD
INVEST IN SOME MORE C.D.'S.
WILL DO.
[ LAUGHTER ].
OH, I FORGOT TO MENTION WE
ALSO HAVE A WEBSITE,
MARYWELCH.COM, IF YOU WANT
TO ASK JUST FOR ONE, WE WILL
MAIL YOU A C.D.
THANK YOU.
GOODMAN: AND SINCE OUR
NEW MAYOR IS SUCH A GOOD
READER, THIS NEXT
PROCLAMATION IS EXACTLY WHAT
SHE NEEDS TO READ TO US.
HI.
AH ... BE IT KNOWN THAT
WHEREAS THE AUSTIN PUBLIC
LIBRARY HAS BEEN PROVIDING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIFE-LONG
LEARNING, LITERACY, AND LOVE
OF READING, AS WELL AS
CONNECTING AUSTINITES WITH
THE RESOURCES THAT THEY
NEED — THEY HAVE NEEDED FOR
MORE THAN 15 YEARS AND
WHEREAS THE LIBRARY LAUNCHED
A NEW READING PROGRAM
ENCOURAGING ALL CITIZENS TO
READ THE SAME BOOK AND URGES
EVERYONE TO COME SEE WHAT'S
NEW AT YOUR LIBRARY,
SPECIALLY DURING THE WEEK;
AND WHEREAS THE LIBRARY IS
PLEASED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITS
FIRST GRANT FUNDING FOR THE
STATE OF TEXAS THROUGH THE
LONE STAR LIBRARIES PROGRAM.
THEREFORE I, CINNAMON NICOLE
ROBINSON MAYOR OF THE DAY
FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN,
TEXAS DO HERE BY PROCLAIM
APRIL 14TH, 2002, AS
NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK.
[ APPLAUSE ]
SORRY, MAYOR ROBINS, WE
WERE TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS
OUT HERE.
I AM PEGGY RUDD.
THE DIRECTOR AND LIBRARIAN
OF THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION.
MAYOR ROBINSON AND CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER HIS, WE ARE
SO PLEASED TO BE HERE TO
PRESENT THE FIRST CHECK, BUT
CERTAINLY NOT THE LAST
CHECK, UNDER THE NEW LONE
STAR LIBRARIES PROGRAM AND
THAT'S LOAN, OF COURSE IT'S
A LIBRARY PROGRAM.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE
STATE OF TEXAS HAS COMMITTED
TO SUPPORTING ITS STATE'S
PUBLIC LIBRARIES DIRECTLY.
AND AUSTIN IS ONE OF 517
PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACROSS THE
STATE THAT'S RECEIVING
CHECKS LIKE THIS.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT
THIS FIRST CHECK, BUT
CERTAINLY NOT THE LAST
CHECK, THAT AUSTIN PUBLIC
LIBRARY WILL RECEIVE FOR THE
STATE OF TEXAS FOR THE TEXAS
STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES
COMMISSION, WE ARE DELIGHTED
TO BE HERE TO JOIN YOU
TODAY.
MAYOR ROBINSON AND TO
CELEBRATE YOUR SPECIAL DAY.
AND IT'S A SPECIAL DAY FOR
LIBRARIES AS WELL.
[ APPLAUSE ]
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
I WILL SAY AUSTIN PUBLIC
LIBRARY PLANS TO SPEND THE
MONEY ON SERVICES AND RAMS
FOR YOUTH IN THE CITY.
WE ARE SO — PROGRAMS FOR
YOUTH IN THE CITY.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE A
PART OF THIS.
WHAT WE ALL HAVE TO WORK FOR
NOW IS MORE.
THE CHECK —
GOODMAN: TURN IT A LITTLE
BIT SO SHE CAN READ THAT.
AGAIN, THE CHECK WAS FOR
$115,627.
[ APPLAUSE ] I'M BRENDA
BRANCH THE DIRECTOR OF THE
AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY, IT IS
MY PLEASURE TO ACCEPT THIS
CHECK ON BEHALF OF THE
AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY AND
THE 3 MILLION PLUS CUSTOMERS
THAT WE SERVE EVERY YEAR.
WE ARE MOST APPRECIATIVE AND
EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE.
AND WONDERFUL POSSIBILITIES
AND BENEFITS THAT THIS GRANT
MONEY WILL PROVIDE TO OUR
CUSTOMERS AND TO THE AUSTIN
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WE APPRECIATE THE VISION OF
THE — OF THE TEXAS LIBRARY,
TEXAS STATE LIBRARIAN FOR
HAVING THE — THE VISION TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS IDEA,
THIS PROGRAM.
AND MANY THANKS TO THE MANY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE
PARENTS, THE TEACHERS, THE
STUDENTS, THE — THE LIBRARY
BOARD MEMBERS, THE
ADMINISTRATORS AND THE CITY
ADMINISTRATORS WHO WORKED SO
HARD TO — TO ADVOCATE ON
BEHALF OF LIBRARIES ACROSS
THE STATE.
AS PEGGY SAID, THE FUNDS FOR
THE LONE STAR LIBRARIES
PROGRAM WILL ENABLE US TO
EXPAND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
FOR YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES
AND TO REACH UNDERSERVED
PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THIS CHECK AND FOR ALL
THAT IT WILL DO FOR THE
CITIZENS OF AUSTIN.
[ APPLAUSE ]
GRIFFITH: MAYOR, WOULD
YOU PLEASE STAY RIGHT HERE
AND LET'S CONTINUE THE
PROGRAM.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK
DR. FLOYD DAVIS TO PLEASE TO
COME FORWARD.
WITH FRIENDS.
HAVE YOU MET THE MAYOR?
I HAVE MET THE MAYOR, I'M
VERY IMPRESSED.
AT THE NEXT ELECTION I'M
GOING TO BE CAMPAIGN
MANAGER.
GRIFFITH: GREAT!
THE MY HONOR TO PROCLAIM
THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
AWARD TO SOMEONE WHO HAS
BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO ME
AND A MENTOR, A CIVIC
LEADER, THAT — WHOSE
GRACIOUSNESS AND POISE AND
CHARM AND INTELLIGENCE MAKES
HIM ONE OF THE BIG CAUSAL
FORCES IN THIS CITY.
HE HAS GIVEN NEW MEANING TO
THE TERM STAYS ON TASK.
IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO SEE
IT THROUGH, AND TO THINK OF
14 DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET IT
DONE AND CAN BRING PLENTY OF
PEOPLE ALONG TO HELP, PHONE
UP DR. FLOYD DAVIS.
AND IT IS MY EXTREME
PLEASURE TO DO HIS
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
ON BEHALF OF THE WHOLE CITY
OF AUSTIN.
FOR HIS TIRELESS EFFORTS AND
VOLUNTEER SERVICE ON BEHALF
OF THE EAST AUSTIN
COMMUNITY.
DR. FLOYD DAVIS IS DESERVING
OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND
RECOGNITION.
HE HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE
AUSTIN REVITALIZATION
AUTHORITY, AND POLICE CHIEFS
FORUM.
THE BOND OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE, SEVERAL CAPITAL
METRO COMMITTEES, HIS
CHURCH, AND TRAVIS COUNTY
VOTER REGISTRATION.
FOR HIS CONTINUING EFFORTS
TO ELIMINATE SEGREGATION IN
CITY CEMETERIES, TO PRESERVE
THE STRONG QUALITIES OF EAST
AUSTIN, AND TO MOBILIZE
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, WE ARE
PLEASED TO HONOR DR. DAVIS.
THIS 18TH DAY OF APRIL, IN
THE YEAR 2002.
DR. DAVIS, CONGRATULATIONS.
REV...
CONGRATULATIONS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
I MUST SAY THAT I'M VERY
ENCOURAGED TO BE RECOGNIZED
AT THIS POINT FOR SOMETHING
THAT I ENJOY DOING.
I LIKE TO MAKE CHANGE AND I
LIKE TO MAKE POSITIVE
CHANGE.
YOU KNOW, I'M A PREACHER'S
KID.
SO — AND AN OLD TEACHER.
SO THEREFORE I WILL ALWAYS
EITHER REFER TO SOME EXAMPLE
FOR THE CLASSROOM OR SOME
READING FOR THE SCRIPTURE.
IN THIS CASE THERE'S ONE
THAT SAID "BEHOLD THE STONE
WHICH THE BUILDER HATH
REJECTED HAS NOW BECOME THE
CHIEF CORNERSTONE."
WELL, EAST AUSTIN HAS BEEN A
STONE THAT THE BUILDER HAS
REJECTED.
BECAUSE WE HAVE TRIED TO
WORK SO HARD TO REVITALIZE
THAT AREA, IT'S A GEM, IT'S
AN OPAL, IF WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A GREAT
NEW CITY.
WE HAVE TO THINK THAT THE
BIGGEST THING THAT WE HAVE
GOT TO DO NOW IS TO ENSURE
NOT ONLY INCREASES IN
RESOURCES, BUT IN
COMPATIBLE — BUT A
COMPATIBLE INCREASE IN
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LEAST
FORTUNATE.
YOU KNOW, JOHN KENNEDY ONCE
SAID, AND THEY WHO ARE WEAK
MUST BE PROVIDED FOR.
HE SAID IT.
AND IN A LITTLE DIFFERENT
WAY.
HE SAID "WHERE THE STRONG
ARE JUST AND THE WEAK ARE
SECURE."
I PREFER TO SAY IT IN THE
OTHER VERSION.
THIS IS A GREAT CITY.
BUT, AGAIN, AS WINSTON
CHURCHILL WOULD HAVE SAID,
THIS IS OUR FINEST HOUR.
AND IT'S OUR FINEST HOUR IF
WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE
BEFORE US.
WE MUST INSPIRE THE YOUNG
PEOPLE, WE MUST GIVE
GUIDANCE TO THOSE WHO HAVE
SORT OF LOST THEIR WAY
BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST FAITH
IN WHAT THEY CAN GET OUT OF
TOMORROW.
SO AGAIN, I SAY, I'M PLEASED
TO HAVE BEEN IN A POSITION
TO EVEN VOLUNTEER FOR SOME
OF THE SERVICES THAT HAVE
BEEN PROVIDED.
I'M BLESSED THAT I CAN SEE
SOME PROBLEMS TO WHICH I CAN
ADD SOME KIND OF — MAKE
SOME KIND OF CHANGE.
AUSTIN IS A GREAT CITY.
AND I WILL CLOSE BY JUST
SAYING THIS.
ONCE UPON A TIME I WONDERED
IF I WAS GETTING OLD.
AND HERE'S WHAT PROVED
WHETHER OR NOT I WAS GETTING
OLD.
YOU WHEN — WHEN YOU CAN
WALK DOWN THE STREETS OF A
CITY AND YOU SEE THE NAMES
PRINTED ENGRAVED ON THE
BUILDINGS AND YOU KNEW THOSE
PERSONALLY, YOU ARE GETTING
OLD.
[ LAUGHTER ].
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I SHALL CONTINUE.
I SHALL PROCEED.
GRIFFITH: YES!
[ APPLAUSE ]
GRIFFITH: YES!
UH-HUH.
SEE WHAT I MEAN ABOUT THE
INSPIRATION AND THE VISION
AND THE LEADERSHIP AND THE
INTELLECT.
IT'S ALL THERE AND AREN'T WE
BLESSED THAT WE HAVE
DR. FLOYD DAVIS IN OUR
MIDST.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AS WE LEAVE, I JUST WOULD
LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY
SISTER, WHOM I'VE TRIED TO
GET TO OBEY ME FOR SOME
TIME, EVEN THOUGH SHE'S
OLDER THAN ME, BUT SHE'S
COMING ALONG.
THEN MY NEPHEW, BRYAN
CRAWFORD.
[ LAUGHTER ].
WHO IS MY RUNNING BUDDY.
[ APPLAUSE ] AND MY DEAR
FRIEND COUNCILMEMBER
SLUSHER, WHO BECAUSE OF HIS
FAITH IN ME WHEN I WOULD
NORMALLY GIVE UP AND QUIT, I
HEAR THE SOUND OF HIS VOICE
SAYING, "NOW, I'M DEPENDING
ON YOU FOR THAT."
AND I KEEP MOVING.
MS. WRIGHT.
WILL YOU STEP FORWARD.
SHE'S ANOTHER ONE WHO SORT
OF — WELL, OUR BIGGEST
PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IS THAT
I'M FIGHTING FOR THE FREEDOM
OF SPEECH IN THE PLACEMENT
OF — AND THE PLACEMENT OF
POLITICAL SIGNS ON THE
SIDEWALKS AND THE LIKE
BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE
CANDIDATES CONVEY A CERTAIN
SET OF BELIEFS AND
PRINCIPLES, WITHOUT GOING
THROUGH ALL OF THE
PRINCIPLES THAT THEY BELIEVE
IN, JUST TO HAVE SOMEONE'S
NAME ASSOCIATED WITH THAT
CANDIDATE GIVES THEM THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THIS IS
WHERE I STAND ON THAT ISSUE.
WHEN WE ARE BEING DENIED THE
PRIVILEGE OF PUTTING UP
THESE SIGNS I WORRY AT NIGHT
ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO
DO TO OVERRIDE THEIR
DECISION.
AND THEN THERE'S MAYOR PRO
TEM, MS. GOODMAN, JACKIE
GOODMAN.
A PERSON WHO FALLS LIKE
SNOWFLAKES, BUT WHEN SHE
HITS THE GROUNDS YOU KNOW
SHE HAS BEEN THERE BECAUSE
SHE MAKES CHANGE, SHE MAKES
DECISIONS, SHE'S A GREAT
LEADER.
I OVER — I HAVE COME TO
WORK WITH MR. ALVAREZ
THROUGH MY SISTER, WHO I
HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, MISS
SCOTTIE IVORY, SHE IS ALSO
THE ONE WHO KEPT ME GOING,
SHE HAS A LOT OF FAITH IN
MR. ALVAREZ, I WANT YOU TO
CONTINUE TO KEEP THE GREAT
WORK GOING.
TOBY, YOU ARE THE LEADER.
THERE'S AN OLD EXPRESSION,
SHOW ME THE MEN AND I WILL
SHOW YOU THEIR LEADER.
THEN THEY HAD ANOTHER
SITUATION, WHERE THE LEADER
WAS RUNNING BEHIND THE GROUP
SAYING WHERE ARE MY MEN, I
AM THEIR LEADER.
I AM HOPING THAT YOU WILL
ALWAYS HAVE THAT LEADERSHIP
SPIRIT.
WHATEVER I CAN DO FOR ANY OF
YOU, WITH ANY OF YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, THIS
INCLUDES YOU, TOO, I'M
ALWAYS THERE. JUST CALL ON
ME.
I MIGHT BE A FEW MINUTES
LATE, BUT I'LL BE THERE.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
GOODMAN: AND WE HAVE A
VERY SPECIAL PROCLAMATION TO
END THIS TIME WITH.
MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD DO THE
HONORS.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS
AUSTIN HAS ASSISTED IN THE
START-UP OF EXPANSION OF 300
AUSTIN AREA BUSINESSES AND
PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
TRAINING TO SMALL AND
[INAUDIBLE] BUSINESS AND
WHEREAS THE BIG AUSTIN
AWARDS LUNCHEON NAMED THINK
BIG AND HONORS MANY OF THE
SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS WHO
OPERATES SMALL BUSINESSES,
WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND
WHEREAS BIG AUSTIN ALSO
OFFERS FINANCING
OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP LOW TO
MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS
ACHIEVE SELF SUFFICIENCY,
THROUGH SELF EMPLOYMENT.
NOW THEREFORE I, CINNAMON
NICHOL ROBINSON, MAYOR OF
THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS DO
HERE BY PROCLAIM APRIL 30TH,
2002 AS BIG AUSTIN'S AWARDS
LUNCHEON DAY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
SORRY.
OH, THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS JEANETTE PEYTON,
PRESIDENT OF BIG, I WOULD
LIKE TO — TO ACCEPT THIS
PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF
MICRO BUSINESSES IN OUR
LOCAL COMMUNITY.
WE ARE VERY HONORED TO HAVE
THIS TIME TO — TO RECOGNIZE
THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY
HAVE MADE IN THIS — IN THE
COMMUNITY.
ON APRIL THE 30TH AT THE
DOUBLE TREE HOTEL, FOR 11:00
TO 1:00, HENRY CISNEROS, THE
FORMER MAYOR OF SAN ANTONIO,
WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE
VITAL DIFFERENCES THAT SMALL
BUSINESSES MAKE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
AS YOU KNOW, DURING THESE
TURBULENT TIMES, A LOT OF
THE LARGE COMPANIES HAVE
BEEN LAYING OFF, BUT
MICROBUSINESSES HAVE BEEN
HIRING.
SO THEY ARE NOT, YOU KNOW,
ALL TECH, THERE'S A LOT OF
SERVICE BUSINESSES AND A
VARIETY OF BUSINESSES THAT
WE WANT TO SHOW HOW THEIR
SALES HAS INCREASED, THEIR
TAX PAY HAS CONTRIBUTED TO
OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
AND SO WE WERE — WE WILL BE
PRESENTING FIVE AWARDS AND
THE AWARDS WILL BE WITH THE
MOST WITH THE LEAST AWARD,
ALSO THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR,
WE WILL ALSO HAVE THE WINGS
AWARDS, SOMEONE WHO IS
REALLY — HAS REALLY TAKEN
OFF.
WITH THE MOST CREATIVE
BUSINESS IDEA.
AND WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A
SPECIAL AWARD FOR BIG
GRADUATES, FOR THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL BIG GRADUATES.
AS YOU KNOW, BIG — BIG
PROVIDES EXTENSIVE
ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO GAIN
MANAGEMENT SKILLS.
AND ALSO WE PROVIDE LOANS UP
TO $35,000, SO THAT THEY
CAN — CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AND
EXPAND THEIR BUSINESS
ENTERPRISE.
WE ARE AN S.B.A. MICROLENDER
SERVING 14 COUNTIES, BUT WE
WANT TO ON APRIL THE 30TH
RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE
CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY
MADE.
SO I HOPE THE COMMUNITY WILL
COME OUT AND JOIN US TO
CELEBRATE THIS DAY.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] LET ME — I
WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR TEAM
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE CLASSES,
WE HAVE THREE CLASSES GOING
ON TONIGHT.
SO THEY ARE SCATTERED ALL
OVER TOWN.
PROVIDING CLASSES.
BUT WHAT I HAVE — WHAT I
HAVE WITH ME TODAY IS STEVEN
FUQUAY, HE IS A VISTA
VOLUNTEER, WORKING WITH BIG,
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
AND HELPING THE SMALL BEES
AND HELPING OUR
ORGANIZATIONS WITH OUR
TECHNOLOGY NEEDS WITH OUR
DATA BASE AND ALSO HELPING
THEM TO PREQUALIFY FOR THEIR
LOANS.
WE ARE REALLY GLAD TO HAVE
HIM TO HELP US OUT AND FOR
HIM TO WORK WITH US TO GET
BACK TO — GIVE BACK TO THE
COMMUNITY.
THANKS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
GOODMAN: IT IS A REAL
HONOR TO BE ABLE TO GIVE
PROCLAMATIONS AND OUR
APPRECIATION TO PEOPLE LIKE
DR. DAVIS AND MS. PEYTON.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO
KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH SHE'S
HERE ACTING AS IF SHE'S A
SYMBOLIC RECIPIENT, SHE IS
ALSO ONE OF THE ASSETS THAT
OUR CITY HAS TO OFFER AND IS
A MAJOR REASON THAT LITTLE
GIRLS GROW UP KNOWING THAT
THEY CAN DO A LOT MORE, OPEN
A LOT MORE DOORS THAN THEY
DID WHEN I WAS A LITTLE
GIRL.
MAYOR ROBINSON, I THINK IT'S
VERY APPROPRIATE AS MAYOR
FOR A DAY YOU DO GET TO MEET
THESE SPECIAL PEOPLE.
BECAUSE AS THE WORLD
CHANGES, JEANETTE AND OTHERS
ARE THE REASON THAT THAT'S
HAPPENED.
SO I WANT TO THANK HER
PERSONALLY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
GOODMAN: OKAY, WE ARE
GOING TO DO PICK, I DON'T
KNOW THAT A QUORUM IS IN THE
HOUSE YET, BUT WE WILL BE
BACK AT THE REGULAR MEETING
PRETTY QUICK — QUICKLY.
TELL US WHO YOU BROUGHT WITH
YOU TODAY, MAYOR.
TODAY I BROUGHT
MS. WHITY, SHE WORKS AT MY
SCHOOL.
THANK YOU FOR COMING FOR ME.
[ APPLAUSE ]
GOODMAN: WHILE WE ARE
WAITING FOR A QUOAMPL, WHICH
I THINK WILL ONLY BE A
COUPLE OF MINUTES MORE, I'M
GOING — WAITING FOR A
QUORUM, I'M GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND CALL OUT THE NAMES
OF THE NEXT FEW SPEAKERS.
IF THEY ARE NOT IN THE ROOM
WE CAN FIND THEM.
THE FIRST SPEAKER AFTER THE
BREAK IS GOING TO BE SCOTT
McLANE, FOLLOWED BY REVEREND
KELLER.
AND STEWART HAMPTON.
AND MAGDALINA RUDE.
THOSE ARE THE FIRST FOUR
SPEAKERS AFTER WE GET OUR
QUORUM TOGETHER AND CALL THE
MEETING BACK TO ORDER.
SCOTT McLANE, REVEREND
KELLER, STEWART HAMPTON AND
MAGDALINA RUDE.
REV...
GOODMAN: WE ARE ALMOST
THERE.
LET ME ASK.
THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST NASH
GONZALEZ IS SIGNED UP BUT IS
MUCH FURTHER DOWN AND NEEDS
TO LEAVE.
BY A SHOW OF HANDS, IF YOU
WOULD MIND IF — IF — JUST
A SECOND, I LOST HER CARD.
ANOTHER SPEAKER HAS OFFERED
TO TRADE HER PLACE WITH HIM
AND HE ONLY WANTS A MINUTE.
MARGARET TUCKER HAS OFFERED
TO TRADE HER TIME.
SHE'S FOUR MORE SPEAKERS
DOWN FOR THE ONES THAT I —
THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.
BY A SHOW OF HANDS, IF YOU
OBJECT TO LETTING MARGARET
TRADE PLACES AND GIVE HIM
ONE MOMENT OF TIME, WOULD
YOU RAISE YOUR HAND?
YEAH, I KNOW.
THIS IS CONVERSATION.
WE ARE NOT IN SECOND YET.
— WE ARE NOT IN SESSION
YET.
I'M ASSUMING THAT SILENCE IS
CONSENT.
IF MARGARET WANTED TO TRADE
PLACES AND GIVE HIM THAT
MINUTE IT'S OKAY.
OKAY.
GOODMAN: SCOTT McLANE,
MR. McLANE, THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
SCOTT McLANE, I CO-FOUNDED A
GROUP CALLED SOUTH CONGRESS
PARENTS ASSOCIATION.
AND I HAVE REGISTERED AS
NEUTRAL, BUT LEAPING AGAINST
THE PLAN.
— LEANING AGAINST THE PLAN.
THE PLAN DOESN'T MEET MY
FAMILY'S NEEDS OR THE AND.... — A
LOT OF MY NEIGHBOR'S NEEDS.
RATHER THAN GO OVER —
THERE'S ONLY THREE MINUTE,
RATHER THAN GO OVER ALL OF
THE IDEAS THAT I LISTED OUT
FOR YOU ABOUT AMENDMENTS, I
WOULD JUST FOCUS ON THE
NUMBER ONE PROBLEM, WHICH
IS — WHICH IS SPEEDING AND
TRAFFIC PROBLEMS BETWEEN
SOUTH CONGRESS AND SOUTH
FIRST.
WE ARE VERY NARROW LITTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND AS THE AREA
GROWS, IT'S BECOMING MORE
AND MORE DANGEROUS AND EVEN
THOUGH THERE'S — THERE'S
DEAF PEDESTRIAN SIGNS,
NOBODY RESPECTS THOSE.
AND WE WOULD REALLY ADVOCATE
STRONGLY FOR A SCHOOL ZONE
AROUND SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
AND ALSO PERHAPS REDUCING
THE SPEED LIMITS ON SOUTH
FIRST AND CONGRESS.
SPECIALLY AS YOU GO TOWARDS
DOWNTOWN.
I SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT
WE WOULD WANT A SCHOOL ZONE.
IF — IF MONEY COMES
AVAILABLE, YEARS DOWN THE
LINE, FOR SPEED BUMPS, I
KNOW THAT IT'S
CONTROVERSIAL, HOW EFFECTIVE
THEY ARE, BUT WE WOULD VERY
MUCH LIKE THAT.
I HAVE TALKED TO MANY OF MY
NEIGHBORS.
I THINK THAT YOU HAVE THE
ZONE 2.
IN OUR PLANNING AREA WE ARE
DIVIDED INTO SIX ZONES.
WHAT I HAVE DONE IS REACHED
OUT TO 45 OF MY NEIGHBORS
AND I HAVE A PETITION SIGNED
HERE AND I CAN SHARE THIS
COPY OF THE — OF THE — OF
THE PETITION WITH YOU.
AND I'M ALSO VERY CONFIDENT
THAT I CAN GET ANOTHER 45.
SO — SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
ONE OTHER THING ABOUT THE
PLANNING FOR NEIGHBORHOODS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF
PEOPLE HERE IN SUPPORT OF
THE PLAN.
YOU MAY FIND HAD WE DONE
MORE OUTREACH, WE WOULD EVEN
HAVE A LARGER GROUP OF
PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF THE
PLAN.
BUT BECAUSE THE CITY
PLANNING STAFF ASKED FOR A
CONSENSUS OR — OR 99, 98%
CONSENSUS, I THINK THE
PLANNING TEAM WAS REDUCED
IN — IN SIZE AND I THINK IT
LOST DIVERSITY BECAUSE OF
THAT.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE
SURVEY RESULTS, THE NUMBER
ONE VALUE OF THE PEOPLE THAT
LIVE IN BOULDIN CREEK IS
DIVERSITY.
THAT'S WHY THEY SAY THEY
LIVE THERE.
YET I REALLY AM SADDENED BY
THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T
SUPPORT THAT.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
COULD BE ARGUED FOR A LONG
TIME.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. McLANE.
AND WE DO HAVE YOUR PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS UP HERE THAT WE
CAN SHARE WITH OTHERS.
REVEREND KELLER.
FOLLOWED BY STEWART HAMPTON.
HONORED COUNCILMEMBERS,
MY NAME IS FATHER ADEN
KELLER, THE PASTOR AT THE
LITTLE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF
THE HOLY NAME OF MARY IN
BOULDIN CREEK.
I CRAWLED OUT FOR UNDER MY
ROCK TO — TO SPEAK TO YOU
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE BOULDIN
CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
I WANT TO POINT OUT SEVERAL
THINGS ABOUT THE PLAN.
FIRST OF ALL THE CONSENSUS
ON THE PLAN IN FAVOR OF THE
PLAN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD,
THE PEOPLE THAT — ALMOST
ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT I
HAVE SPOKEN WITH IS JUST
AMAZING.
EVEN THE SPEAKERS WHO MAY
NOT BE IN FAVOR OF PART OF
THE PLAN, YOU MAY NOTICE
THAT THEY ARE THOUGH THE IN
FAVOR OF SOME PARTICULAR
DETAIL OF THE PLAN.
NOT WITH THE PLAN ITSELF.
THEIR BEEF IS NOT WITH THE
PLAN ITSELF.
ANOTHER THING TO POINT OUT
IS THAT THE PLAN IS A VERY
GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE MIDDLE
WAY BETWEEN WHAT I — WHAT I
WOULD SAY IS DESTROYING OUR
COMMUNITY, AND BEING
OBSTRUCTIONIST.
IT'S A VERY PRAGMATIC AND
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD SORT OF
APPROACH.
SORT OF COMMON SENSE
APPROACH.
THERE CAN BE COMMON SENSE IN
SOUTH AUSTIN.
I SHOULD SAY APART FOR
THE — CONSIDERING ANY
PARTICULAR PART OF THE PLAN,
THE ENDORSEMENT OF THIS
PLAN, I HOPE, WILL BE A
GREEN LIGHT FOR OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS TO WORK AS
CLOSELY WITH THE — WITH THE
CITY PLANNING PEOPLE AS WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND
SORT OF CHART A COURSE
FOR — FOR OTHER SUCCESSFUL
PLANS.
AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL
MATCH OUR CONFIDENCE IN YOU
AND WITH THE — WITH THE
SYSTEM, WITH THE CITY
PLANNERS WITH CONFIDENCE IN
US IN — AND OUR VERY, VERY
HARD WORK.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL LOOK AT
THE FRUIT OF OUR LABORS
AND — AND CONSIDER THAT
THIS PLAN IS NOT JUST A
LOCAL THING, BUT I HOPE WE
WILL ZIG — WILL SIGNIFY A
VERY CLOSE WORKING
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALL OF
THE AUSTIN COMMUNITIES AND
THE CITY.
SO THIS PLAN COMES BEFORE
YOU WITH MY HIGHEST
RECOMMENDATION.
AND THAT OF ALMOST EVERYONE
THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
AND — AND THE — THE BOTTOM
LINE IS — IS CONSIDER THIS
PRAGMATIC, WORKING TOGETHER
AND REMEMBER THAT — THAT —
THE EYES OF BUBBA ARE UPON
YOU.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
STEWART HAMPTON FOLLOWED BY
MAGDALINA RUDE, BOTH OF
THESE MICROPHONES WORK, SO
IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME AND
WANT TO GO TO THE OTHER ONE,
THAT'S FINE, TOO.
COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME
IS STUART HAMPTON, I LIVE ON
SOUTH FIRST.
I SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
I HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING TEAM
SINCE ITS BEGINNING.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BE PART OF ALL OF ITS
MEETINGS.
TO STUDY ALL OF THE SURVEY
RESULTS AND OTHER FEEDBACK
FOR NEIGHBORS.
I BELIEVE THE PLANNING TEAM
HAS TRIED VERY HARD TO
LISTEN TO WHAT NEIGHBORS
HAVE SAID THEY WANT AND THEY
DON'T WANT AND THAT WE HAVE
TRIED TO REFLECT THAT IN THE
FINAL PLAN.
NOW, WHEN MY WIFE AND I
MOVED HERE FOR HONG KONG IN
1993, WE WERE LOOKING FOR A
GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHEN WE DROVE AROUND THE
BOULDIN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD
WE KNEW THAT THIS WAS THE
PLACE FOR US.
BUT WHEN A REALTOR SHOWED US
THE HOUSE WE NOW LIVE IN,
HER FIRST REMARKS WERE "YOU
KNOW, YOU CAN GET A LOT MORE
HOUSE FOR YOUR MONEY IN SOME
OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD."
SHE DIDN'T GET IT.
WE WERE NOT LOOKING FOR
MASS, WE WERE NOT LOOKING
FOR SIZE.
WE WERE NOT LOOKING FOR
ISOLATION.
WHAT MY WIFE AND I SAW WAS A
SMALL URBAN LOT WITH 12
MATURE TREES, A SMALL
COMFORTABLE BUNGALOW NESTLED
IN THOSE TREES IN THE SHADE.
IT WAS SURROUNDED BY TREE
LINED STREETS AND HUMAN
SCALE BLOCKS OF SMALL HOUSES
AND GREEN SPACES, ALL WITHIN
WALKING DISTANCE OF TOWN
LAKE.
THE MAJOR STREETS SOUTH
CONGRESS AND SOUTH FIRST HAD
WEIRD AND WILD LOCALLY OWNED
SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS.
WE WERE SURROUNDED AS IT
TURNED OUT BY DIVERSE AND
INTERESTING NEIGHBORS.
WE WERE NOT LOOKING FOR A
GENERIC HOUSE IN A GENERIC
NEIGHBORHOOD IN ANY TOWN,
U.S.A.
WE WERE LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE
HOME IN A FRIENDLY
ENVIRONMENTALLY PLEASING
PLACE.
THAT IS WHAT WE FOUND.
UNFORTUNATELY, TOO MANY
OUTSIDERS DON'T SEE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD THE WAY THAT WE
RESIDENTS DO.
THEY SEE THE BOULDIN CREEK
NEIGHBORHOOD AS OLD HOUSING
STOCK ON UNDERDEVELOPED
PRIME REAL ESTATE, WAITING
TO BE MASSIVELY REDEVELOPED.
LIKE MY REALTOR, THEY DON'T
GET IT.
THE BOULDIN CREEK
NEIGHBORHOOD IS A FULLY
DEVELOPED VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.
THE BOULDIN CREEK
NEIGHBORHOOD IS A FULLY
DEVELOPED, VIBRANT
COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW WE CANNOT STOP
CHANGE OR FUTURE
DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE HAVE TO PLAY OUR PART
IN MANAGING IT.
THAT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS
THE WHOLE PART OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING
PROCESS.
THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE
BOULDIN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD
PLAN IS TO SET THE
DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES FOR
DEVELOPERS WHO ARE
SALIVATING OVER THIS LAND SO
CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN AND FOR
NEIGHBORS AND THE PLAN GIVES
US ALL A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD
BY SAYING CLEARLY WHAT WE
WANT.
IT RECOMMENDS ONE,
PRESERVING THE SINGLE FAMILY
NATURE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
INTERIOR; TWO, ENCOURAGING
MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT ALONG
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARTERIALS
OWZ....[BUZZER SOUNDING] THREE,
PRESERVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CREEKS AN OTHER GREEN
SPACES, PLEASE SUPPORT THIS
PLAN, THANK YOU.
GOODMAN: THANK YOU.
MS. RUDE, FOLLOWED BY
SHAUN — IS IT KELLY OR
KERRI, I'M NOT SURE?
KELLY?
ALSO FOLLOWED BY I'M NOT
SURE I'M GETTING THIS RIGHT,
EITHER, I APOLOGIZE IN
ADVANCE.
OH, NO IT'S CHRIS SORE
OSON.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM
AND COUNCILMEMBER, THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO — TO
LET ME SPEAK AGAIN, EVEN
THOUGH I SEDED MY FIRST
THREE MINUTES BEFOREMENT I
JUST WANTED TO PUT AGAIN
BEFORE THE COUNCIL THAT THIS
IS A PROCESS THAT WAS OPEN,
WE SOUGHT EVERY VOICE HAS WE
COULD POSSIBLY GET INTO THE
ROOM WITH US TO LISTEN.
WE ALSO WANT TO LET YOU
KNOW, AND AFFIRM, THAT WE
UNDERSTAND THAT A PLAN HE IS
A WORKING DOCUMENT.
THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING
PROCESS AND THAT WE ARE MOST
DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN
CONTINUING TO WORK ON —
WORK ON IRONING OUT ANYTHING
THAT COMES UP, EVEN AT THIS
VERY LATE DATE.
WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR TWO
YEARS.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS.
WE DID A MAMMOTH SURVEY
EFFORT.
AS YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD.
AND GOT A HIGHER RESPONSE
RATE THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THE
CITY SO FAR.
WE USED THAT SURVEY TO GUIDE
US EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY.
WE — WE ATTEMPTED ON OUR
TEAM ITSELF TO — TO — TO
HAVE AS MUCH DISSENSION
HEARD AS POSSIBLE.
OUR — OUR TEAM FACILITATOR,
OUR MEETING FACILITATOR WAS
A CONTRARYIAN FOR THE VERY
BEGINNING.
WE KEEP A PROFESSIONAL
DEVIL'S ADVOCATE ACTIVE ON
THE TEAM EVERY SINGLE
MEETING AS HE HAS ALREADY
MENTIONED TO YOU HIMSELF.
EVERY ONE BUT ONE.
WE HEARD EVERY OBJECTION
THAT CAME FORWARD DURING THE
TWO YEARS THAT WE WERE
WORKING ON THIS AND WE
ACTIVELY TRIED TO NEGOTIATE
A HAPPY SOLUTION FOR
EVERYONE.
OUR FINAL SURVEY THAT WAS
PUT FORTH TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ACCEPTANCE
OF THE PLAN AND MOVING IT
FORWARD THROUGH THE PROCESS
WAS SUPPORTED BY 89.9% OF
THE — OF THE PEOPLE.
PLANNING COMMISSION WE GOT A
UNANIMOUS VOTE TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH OUR PLAN.
I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT
FORWARD BEFORE ANYBODY SAYS
THAT THIS WAS A CLOSED
PROCESS, THAT IT WAS NOT
OPEN TO DIVERSITY.
I HAVE TO ARGUE THAT IT'S
NOT SO AND I WOULD LIKE FOR
YOU TO BE AWARE OF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOODMAN: THANK YOU.
SHAUN KELLY.
[INAUDIBLE - NO MIC]
>GOODMAN: I WAS GOING TO
ASK CHER, SHE CHECKED YES
BUT ALSO TO DONATE HER TIME
TO YOU.
IS CHRIS HERE?
YES.
GOODMAN: YOU ARE GIVING
IT, THANKS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL, MY
NAME IS SHAUN KELLY, THE
PRESIDENT OF BOULDIN CREEK
NEIGHBORHOOD.
APPROXIMATE YOUR INDULGENCE
I WOULD LIKE TO PLAY A 3
MINUTE VIDEO, PLEASE.
IF IT WORKS.
I AM EXCITED BY THE PLAN.
I AM ABSOLUTELY IMPRESSED
ABOUT WHAT THE QUALITY OF
THIS PLAN THAT'S COME
FORWARD, THAT THE QUALITY OF
THIS PLAN IS ACCOMPLISHING.
AND MY HAT IS OFF TO THE
FOLKS WHO DID IT BECAUSE I
KNOW IT WASN'T EASY.
THINK THINK AGAIN IT'S A
TESTIMONY TO WHAT YOU HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED.
SO I — I'M GOING TO JUST
MAKE SURE THAT THE RECORD IS
STRAIGHT.
THIS IS AN EXTREMELY GOOD
PLAN, AT LEAST IN MY
OPINION, WHICH IS WHY I'M
FOR IT.
FOR ALL OF THE PRESSURE THAT
THIS AREA HAS GONE THROUGH
OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, IT
AIN'T NOTHING LIKE YOU ARE
ABOUT TO GET.
AUSTIN DOWNTOWN BEING
HEALTHY IS FANTASTIC.
IF THIS PLAN IS IN PLACE,
YOU HAVE A WAY OF SAYING
WHERE THE LINE IS DROWN,
WHAT THE CHARACTER OF YOUR
BOUNDARIES AND INTERIOR WILL
BE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO GO FURTHER
THAN WEST CAMPUS TO REMEMBER
A VERY VIABLE NEIGHBORHOOD
WITH LOTS OF NICES PLACES TO
LIVE FOR DIFFERENT KINDS OF
ECLECTIC USES THAT AS U.T.
AND ITS NEEDS EXPANDED THERE
WAS NO CONTROL AND IT'S
OBLITERATED.
THAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE FATE
THAT AWAITED THE BOULDIN
CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD AREA, YOU
SAW SOME OF THAT HAPPENING.
THE TWO THINGS THAT YOU DO
MOST FUNDAMENTALLY IS THAT
YOU DO PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN
THE RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER,
PARTICULARLY IN YOUR CENTRAL
NEIGHBORHOODS.
YOU ALLOW FOR SOME AMOUNT
OF — OF DENSEIFIIATION
WITHIN THOSE PARAMETERS NOT
TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF ALL
OF THE CITY'S TOOL.
WE UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT AS
TESTED.
YOU ARE A THREATENED AREA,
THE FIRST THING THAT YOU
HAVE DONE IS HELPED TO
MAINTAIN EXTRA CONTROLS AND
CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED SOME OF
THE NATURE OF THE THREAT.
THE SECOND THING THAT YOU
HAVE DONE IS YOU HAVE ALSO
TAKEN CONTROL OF YOUR
BOUNDARIES, THOSE COMMERCIAL
CORRIDORS ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO
THE HEALTH OF YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU SAID SO IN A WAY,
HOWEVER, THAT'S NOT BEEN AN
ALL OR NOTHING PROSPECT.
UP UNTIL NOW THE FIGHTS
AROUND YOUR PERIMETER HAVE
BEEN ALL NOTHING, SOME YOU
HAVE WON, BUT FAR TOO MANY
YOU HAVE LOST.
NOW I THINK A PRAGMATIC
APPROACH IS BEING TAKEN
WHERE YOU HAVE SAID
COMMERCIAL IS APPROPRIATE IN
CERTAIN PLACES AND MIXES OF
COMMERCIAL AND OTHERS, BUT
IT'S THAT 20,000 SQUARE FOOT
LIMIT ON YOUR BUILDING
THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE
MOST POWERFUL COMPONENTS
THAT YOU HAVE.
AND OF COURSE IT'S THE LINE
THAT'S DRAWN IN THE OVERLAYS
SO THAT INTRUSION INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD CANNOT HAPPEN
AS LONG AS THE PLAN IS IN
PLACE.
THE FACT THAT YOU ALL
ARRIVED AT THE SAME PLACE
AND HAVE THIS AMOUNT OF
AGREEMENT IS A TESTIMONY TO
A LOT OF VERY, VERY GOOD
WORK, INCLUDING A LOT OF
GOOD STAFF WORK.
SO A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS TO
SPREAD AROUND.
THE ECLECTIC WORD WAS
BROUGHT UP MORE THAN ONCE.
I THINK THAT CERTAINLY
APPLIES HERE.
IF ANY OTHER PART OF AUSTIN,
BUT THE OTHER ONE, OF
COURSE, IS THE BUMPER
STICKER WHICH SHOULD ALWAYS
BE ON YOUR CARS.
KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD.
BECAUSE I THINK YOU HAVE
PROVEN THAT YOU CAN KEEP
AUSTIN WEIRD AND GROW AND BE
STABLE.
ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
SO MY HAT IS OFF TO YOU,
IT'S A VERY, VERY EXCITING,
I'M VERY PROUD TO CAST A
VOTE IN FAVOR AS WELL.
[ APPLAUSE ] ALL THOSE IN
FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING
AYE.
AYE.
ANY OPPOSED?
PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH
THREE COMMISSIONERS OFF THE
DAIS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
I HAVE GONE TO A LOT OF
COMMISSIONS, A LOT OF
BOARDS, A LOT OF COUNCIL
MEETINGS, I DON'T THINK THAT
I HAVE EVER HEARD THAT KIND
OF ENDORSEMENT IN MY LIFE IN
THIS CITY.
BOULDIN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION REVIEWED THE
PLAN AS IT WAS PRESENTED TO
THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND
VOTED TO APPROVE IT AS IT
WENT TO THE PLANNING
COMMISSION.
ON ITEM 43 WE ARE ASKING
THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE
MOTION.
MOTION 1.
AND ON MOTION NUMBER 44, WE
ARE ASKING THAT YOU VOTE FOR
MOTION 2A BECAUSE THAT IS
THE PLAN AS IT WAS PRESENTED
TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS,
CITY STAFF, MEMBERS OF MY
ASSOCIATION, SPECIALLY THE
OTHER NEIGHBORS WHO ALL GOT
TOGETHER AND BROKE THEIR
BACKS PUTTING THIS THING
TOGETHER.
IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY
FOR US.
THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD
PRESERVATION PLAN AS MUCH AS
IT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
AND WE HOPE AND WE PRAY THAT
WE GET YOUR FULL SUPPORT IN
IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU
MAYOR PRO TEM.
CHANG HU LI.
HE HAD TO LEAVE.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
HE IS REGISTERED AGAINST THE
PLAN.
PATRICK ALE — LEXAMOR?
ALEXMORE?
PATRICK — [ LAUGHTER ].
I WILL TAKE IT.
MAYOR GARCIA: ALL RIGHT.
I DON'T HAVE A LOT TO SAY
ABOUT THIS.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THAT THIS PROCESS — I WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU FOR GIVING
NEIGHBORS THE OPPORTUNITIES
TO ACTUALLY WORK ON THEIR
OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
I MEAN, I THINK THE STANDARD
FOR SO LONG HAS BEEN THAT
THE COUNCIL, THE PLANNING
COMMISSION, DICTATED TO US
WITH SOME PRIVATE INPUT, OF
COURSE, WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
BUT THIS IS A REAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE — IN THE
GROWTH OF OUR CITY, THE
PRESERVATION OF OUR
WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOODS, AND
THIS PROCESS, ALTHOUGH —
ALTHOUGH I WAS ON THE
PLANNING TEAM, I SPENT A LOT
OF HOURS, I DIDN'T SPEND
ENOUGH HOURS, BUT I SPENT
ENOUGH TO — TO GET TO KNOW
THE INTENTIONS OF — OF A
LOT OF MY NEIGHBORS.
I FELT VERY INCLUSIVE IN THE
PROCESS.
I FELT THAT THERE WAS
SINCERE EFFORTS TO REACH OUT
TO ALL AREAS OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD, TRYING TO HEAR
ALL OF THE VOICES.
NO ONE WAS EVER TURNED AWAY.
EVERYONE WAS LISTENED TO.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT —
THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF
THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP
RECENTLY, BUT I THINK THOSE
CAN BE IRONED OUT THROUGH
SOME MEDIATION.
BUT I AM TOTALLY IN SUPPORT
OF THE PLAN.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD PLAN.
I THINK IT ADDRESSES MANY
NEEDS.
THERE WAS LOTS OF BACK AND
FORTH AND CONSIDERATION
GIVEN TO EVERYONE'S CONCERNS
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
I'M HIGHLY IN SUPPORT OF THE
PLAN.
I THINK WE DID GOOD WORK.
SO I'M ALSO PATTING MYSELF
ON THE BACK FOR THE LITTLE
PART THAT I TOOK, THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THIS CARD
SHOWS YOU BEING AGAINST.
NO WAY!
[ LAUGHTER ].
THAT'S NOT MY NAME THEN.
MAYOR GARCIA: I WILL
CHANGE IT TO FOR.
I DIDN'T HAVE MY GLASSES
ON.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
I UNDERSTAND.
WYNN: MAYOR?
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?
WYNN: WITH LESLIE ON THE
PLANNING TEAM, I SUSPECT
THAT THE PLANNING TEAM ATE
VERY WELL DURING THE TWO
YEAR PROCESS.
NO!
[ LAUGHTER ].
MAYOR GARCIA: NASH
GONZALEZ.
AND MARGARET TUCKER, DID YOU
DONATE TIME TO NASH?
I BELIEVE WE ARE JUST
SWITCHING PLACES, SO I'M
GOING TO HAVE THREE MINUTE
AND SHE'S TAKING MY THREE
MINUTES.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO DO.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS
CLEAR.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
GOT IT.
MY NAME IS NASH GONZALEZ,
I AM PROUD TO REPRESENT
SOUTH SIDE CHURCH OF CHRIST.
AS A MEMBER AND ALSO AS
THEIR ATTORNEY.
I NOTE IN THE MEMO ON ITEM
43 AND 44 THAT THE —
THERE'S A — THERE'S A
STATEMENT THAT INDICATES
THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS
NOT SIGNED THE PETITION.
OR THE OBJECTION TO THE —
TO THE CHANGE IN ZONING.
AND AS — AS THE COUNCIL
PROBABLY UNDERSTANDS, A
CHURCH IS MADE UP OF MANY
MEMBERS AND ELDERS AND
DEACONS AND THOSE MEMBERS,
DEACONS AND ELDERS CHOSE ME
AS THE REPRESENTATIVE AND
SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH MY
OFFICE, SO THAT I WOULD
DRAFT THE OBJECTION ON THEIR
BEHALF.
SO I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT
THAT OBJECTION WAS MADE ON
BEHALF OF THE CHURCH.
FINALLY, I WOULD ALSO LIKE
TO NOTE THAT — THAT THE
CHANGE FOR THE C.S. TO M.F.
IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE
CHURCH IS TOTALLY OPPOSED
TO.
THE CHURCH WOULD BE OPEN TO
A MIXED USE ZONING AT THIS
TIME.
AND THAT WAS SUGGESTED TO —
TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNER,
SCOTT WHITEMAN, WHO THOUGHT
THAT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA.
HE INDICATED HE WOULD TAKE
THAT TO A MEETING, ON
MONDAY, AND UNFORTUNATELY,
THE — THE MEETING WAS
BASICALLY — SCOTT WAS TOLD,
IT WAS KIND OF LATE IN THE
GAME TO BE COMING UP WITH A
NEW PLAN.
LET ME TELL YOU WHY IT'S
COMING UP LATE IN THE GAME.
IT'S COMING UP BECAUSE IT'S
A NEW IDEA.
WE HAVE JUST STARTED
NEGOTIATIONS WITH SAN JOSE
HOTEL AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT
IDEAS FOR BOTH THE CHURCH
AND FOR THE HOTEL AND FOR
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A WHOLE.
HOWEVER, THIS IS — THIS IS
A — A LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR
BOTH THE HOTEL AND THE
CHURCH.
WE HAVE NO EXCUSES ABOUT NOT
ATTENDING THE MEETINGS.
WE MERELY CAN TELL YOU THIS
IS NEW BUSINESS, NEW
NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAVE JUST
STARTED BETWEEN THE CHURCH
AND THE HOTEL AND WE ARE NOT
SURE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY
GOING TO — TO BE ABLE TO DO
WHAT WE HOPED TO DO FOR THE
COMMUNITY, BUT I BELIEVE
THAT NO ONE IN THE
COMMUNITY, IF YOU HAVE BEEN
OUT TO THE SAN JOSE HOTEL,
WOULD CALL THEM A BAD
NEIGHBOR.
THEY ARE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
THEY ARE BUILT A BEAUTIFUL
HOTEL AND SOUTH SIDE CHURCH
OF CHRIST — SOUTH SIDE
CHURCH OF CHRIST HAS ENJOYED
HAVING THEM AS A NEIGHBOR AS
THEY HAVE OPENED THEIR DOORS
AND THEIR PROPERTY TO
ALLOWING THE YOUTH TO GO
OVER AND — INVITE EVERYONE
TO VISIT THAT HOTEL AND ALSO
INVITE TO VISIT OUR CHURCH
AT SOUTH SIDE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
NASH.
ELLEN RICHARDS.
FOLLOWING MS. RICHARDS, NASH
MARTINEZ.
NARNA MARTINEZ, I'M SORRY.
AND — WELCOME.
MAYOR, COUNCIL, THANKS
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK.
MY NAME IS ELLEN RICHARDS,
I'M A MEMBER OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING TEAM.
I WANT TO VOICE MY SUPPORT
OF THE PLAN.
I DO WANT TO CLARIFY THE
ISSUE THAT'S COME UP
ABOUT — ABOUT THE HOTEL AND
THE CHURCH NEGOTIATIONS.
I THINK THE NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANNING TEAM BASICALLY WE
KIND OF WRAPPED UP OUR
FORMAL ACTIVITIES BEFORE THE
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
IN THE LAST MONTH, HAVE BEEN
ASKED TO WORK ON SOME THINGS
THAT WE DON'T FEEL ARE GOING
THROUGH A PROPER PUBLIC
PROCESS.
AND SO WE DIDN'T FEEL WE
WERE IN A POSITION TO SAY WE
WILL CHANGE SOMETHING THAT
HAD ALREADY GONE TO OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR APPROVAL.
SO THERE'S SOME LAST-MINUTE
ZONING ITEMS THAT ARE KIND
OF BEING NEGOTIATED AND WE
DIDN'T FEEL THAT WE COULD
SAY THAT WE WERE ADEQUATELY
REPRESENTING OUR NEIGHBORS
AT THIS TIME AND SO — SO IT
ISN'T THAT WE ARE NOT
INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH
THE — WITH THE VARIOUS
GROUPS THAT ARE WANTING TO
MAKE SOME CHANGES AT THE
LAST MINUTE.
IT'S MORE THAT WE WANT TO BE
SURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS ARE
PROPERLY REPRESENTED IN A
FULL PUBLIC PROCESS.
SO — SO WE ARE OPEN TO
WORKING WITH FOLKS AS LONG
AS WE CAN BE SURE EVERYONE
IS GETTING THEIR GETTING
THEIR VOICE HEARD.
BUT AGAIN I DO SUPPORT THE
PLAN AND WE HAVE WORKED HARD
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE A
GOOD PRODUCT.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
NASH MATTER NECESSARY —
NARNA MARTINEZ.
YES, MAYOR, I'M NARDA'S
HUSBAND, I WAS GOING TO
SPEAK LATER, IF IT'S OKAY,
SHE HAD TO LEAVE, I WILL
SPEAK FOR HER NOW.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
MARGARET TUCKER, DID YOU
DONATE TIME TO MR. —
[INAUDIBLE]
[INAUDIBLE - NO MIC]
>MAYOR GARCIA: LURT.
YOU WILL BE NEXT.
— ALL RIGHT, YOU WILL BE
NEXT.
THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL.
I WOULD LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE — MY NAME IS
JOHN, I'M A PROPERTY OWNER
OF A BUSINESS ON SOUTH
CONGRESS.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
PARTIES INVOLVED BECAUSE IT
SOUNDS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN AN
INCREDIBLE PROCESS, MAYBE
UNIQUE IN THE CITY'S
HISTORY.
AFTER LISTENING TO ALL OF
THIS, I WANTED TO UNDERSCORE
WHAT I THINK IS SORT OF
OBVIOUS, THAT EVERYONE WHO
HAS SPOKEN SO FAR IS EITHER
100% FOR THIS PLAN OR 99%
FOR IT.
A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HAVE
SPOKEN AGAINST PARTS OF THE
PLAN.
AND THAT 99% IS IMPRESSIVE,
BUT SOMETIMES IF THERE'S A
1% THAT — THAT INCORPORATES
ASPECTS THAT ARE INHERENTLY
COUNTER TO THE PLAN, THAT
ONE SPEAKERS CAN BECOME VERY
SIGNIFICANT.
SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S PART OF
WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT HERE.
THERE'S SOME COMMENTS
REGARDING THIS — THIS IDEA
THAT THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE
AGAINST IT WERE COMING IN AT
THE LAST MINUTE.
FOR WHAT I HEAR, THEY WERE
TOLD EXPLICITLY AS OF LAST
FALL BY CITY STAFF THAT THE
TRACTS IN QUESTION, 24 AND
25, WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO
BE JUST A RE— A RETREAT AND
NOTHING ELSE.
THE FACT THAT THAT IS NO
LONGER THE LIMITATION ON IT
IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT.
IT COULD SIGNIFICANTLY ALTER
THE WAY THE WHOLE PLAN IS
GOING TO PROCEED.
MR. — MR. EISENSTEIN WHO I
THINK DID SPEAK VERY
ELOQUENTLY, PERHAPS AS
ELOQUENTLY AS EINSTEIN
HIMSELF WOULD HAVE, HAS SAID
THAT THE ASPECTS THAT HE
FELT TO BE IMPORTANT IN
THE — IN THE COMMUNITY, HE
LISTED THEM VERY
SIGNIFICANTLY, AT THE END OF
HIS SPEECH, HE SAID TO Y'ALL
DIRECTLY, IF THERE'S ANY
PROBLEM WITH THIS, ON
BEHALF, I THINK HE WAS
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, LET'S JUST LET
THIS THING PROCEED AND DEAL
WITH 24 AND 25 AS A SEPARATE
ISSUE.
TO ME THAT MAKES PERFECT
SENSE BECAUSE EVERYONE LOVES
THE WORK THAT'S BEEN
ACCOMPLISHED, BUT THERE'S A
COUPLE OF THINGS THAT COULD
BE VERY COUNTER TO IT.
SPECIFICALLY, THE — THE
PROBLEM IS THAT YOU HAVE A
NORMAL DEPTH OF TWO TO 300
FEET FOR COMMERCIAL USE IN
THE CASE OF TRACTS 24 AND
25.
WE ARE LOOKING AT UP TO
600 — 600 SQUARE FEET OF
DEPTH.
THIS IS A — THIS IS A REAL
ENCROACHMENT INTO THE WAY A
NEIGHBORHOOD IS GOING TO
FEEL IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE IN
THAT PART OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO IN CONCLUSION, A RETREAT
IS OKAY.
A HOTEL AND MOTEL MAY BE
OKAY, BUT NOT ON THIS TRACT.
LET'S JUST — LET'S JUST
ACKNOWLEDGE HOW MUCH HARD
WORK HAS BEEN DONE, LET'S
ACKNOWLEDGE TH WILLINGNESS
TO GET IT RIGHT AND NOT JUST
TUCK THIS THING UNDER
BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A SHAME,
IN MY OPINION.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
MARGARET TUCKER.
AND FOLLOWING MS. TUCKER IS
MATT CALDWELL.
WELCOME.
[ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR
CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS]
WE WANT TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE
TO EXPLORE THE POAKT THE
POSSIBILITY OF THEIR
EXPANSION AND OUR
RELOCATION.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR
PROPERTY OUTSIDE OF
AUSTIN.
THEY WANT TO HAVE A
SCHOOL.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS
THAT THEY ARE LOOKING
FOR THAT THEIR CURRENT
LOCATION WON'T GIVE
THEM.
WE HAVE A HOTEL THAT I
WON'T, YOU KNOW, GO ON
ABOUT WHAT I THINK WE
HAVE DONE WITH GREEN
SPACE OR WITH PAYING
ATTENTION TO THE
CHARACTER OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DID NOTICE THAT THERE
WAS A PICTURE OF THE
HOTEL AND OUR COFFEE
SHOP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
PLAN.
SO I HOPE THAT THAT
MEANS THAT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW,
ENJOYS US.
WE CERTAINLY ENJOY BEING
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING, AND I
THINK MR. EISENSTEIN
SUGGESTED THIS FOR TRACT
24, IF WE CAN'T REACH AN
AGREEMENT TODAY TO ZONE
US MIXED USE, I THINK
IT'S CALLED GR-MU-CO-MP,
IF WE CAN'T REACH THAT
AGREEMENT TODAY, I WOULD
ASK THAT TRACT 68 BE
ELIMINATED OR EXCEPTED
FROM THE PLAN TODAY,
THAT WE BE GIVEN 30 DAYS
TO MEDIATE, AND THAT AT
THE END OF THE 30 DAYS
IF WE HAVEN'T COME TO AN
AGREEMENT THAT TRACT 68
BE CARVED OUT OF THE
PLAN ENTIRELY SO THAT WE
DON'T MAKE THE WHOLE
PLAN FAIL, BUT THAT WE
STILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
THE WAY WE WOULD LIKE
TO, AND THE CHURCH HAS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO
WHAT THEY FEEL IS BEST
FOR THEIR — THE MEMBERS
OF THEIR CONGREGATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS AND AGAIN
CERTAINLY ANSWER
ANYTHING ABOUT WHY WE
ARE APPEARING TONIGHT.
AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S THE
11TH HOUR, BUT WE CAME
AS SOON AS —
I DO THINK WE CAN IRON
OUT OUR DIFFERENCES.
I HOPE WE HAVE NO
INTENTION OF DOING
ANYTHING OTHER THAN
BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
[ BUZZER SOUNDS ]
SO I HOPE THAT YOU
CONSIDER GIVING US SOME
TIME TO WORK THIS OUT.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU, MS. TUCKER.
MATT CALDWELL.
AND FOLLOWING HIM IS
LESLIE MOORE.
WELCOME, SIR.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR
AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MATT
CALDWELL.
I LIVE AT 710 WEST
GIBSON.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH SMACK
DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS NOW
IN QUESTION.
I'VE LIVED IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE 1976.
I REMEMBER BACK IN THE
DAYS WHEN THEY TRIED TO
STOP TEARING DOWN THE
OLD ARMADILLO WORLD
HEADQUARTERS.
WE WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE
AROUND FIGHTING TO DO
ANYTHING.
SO I WANT TO VOICE A
LOUD, CLEAR THANK YOU
FOR GIVING US THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE
TO FINALLY PUT A LOT OF
THE SWEAT EQUITY AND TO
BRING A LOT OF THE — OF
EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN
PUT IN BY MY NEIGHBORS
AND COLLEAGUES TO BRING
THIS LEVEL OF PROTECTION
AND TO BRING THE LEVEL
OF REVITALIZATION THAT
HAS OCCURRED IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD
BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN
IT
WAS VIRTUALLY RED LINED,
BACK IN THE DAYS IT
WASN'T EVEN A PLACE
PEOPLE WANTED TO GO TO.
ASK ME A QUESTION, WHY
DO I LIVE SO FAR DOWTH
SOUTH?
NOW PEOPLE SAY WHY DO I
LIVE DOWNTOWN?
WELL, IT'S BECAUSE WE
HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD.
AS I LOOK ON THE PLAN
OVER HERE, I SEE WE ARE
SURROUNDED BY OTHER GOOD
SOLID NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IN
FRONT OF YOU IS A SOLID
LEVEL OF PROTECTION.
IT DOES NO HARM.
THERE IS A QUESTION THAT
IS BEFORE US NOW WHICH
NEEDS TO BE SETTLED.
THE FIRST MOTION THAT IS
IN FRONT OF YOU TO
APPROVE IT, I REALLY ASK
FOR YOU TO PLEASE DO SO.
THE SECOND ONE, THE
MOTIONS FOR NUMBER 44, I
STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT WE
FOLLOW OPTION 2-D.
THE REASON THAT I
SUGGEST THAT IS BECAUSE
I WANT THE PROCESS TO
SUPPORT THE TRUTH.
I WANT IT TO SUPPORT
EXPERTISE AND I WANT IT
TO SUPPORT INCLUSION.
BY THAT THOSE PLANNING
TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE NOW
HAVING DIFFICULTY IN
THIS LAST MOMENT BEING
ABLE TO UNDERSTAND ALL
THE RAMIFICATIONS OF
THIS SUBJECT MATTER OF
TRACT 24 AND — NO, JUST
24, I BELIEVE, WE NEED
TO BE ABLE TO WORK THAT
OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT
IT'S AN INCLUSION.
THEREFORE THE MOTION
THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU,
2-D, IS SOMETHING THAT
WORKS TO BRING
EVERYTHING TOGETHER, PUT
EVERYTHING ABOVEBOARD
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT
IS AN HONEST AND CLEAR
WILL OF THE CITY AND OF
THE PEOPLE.
WITH THAT I ASK FOR YOUR
FULL SUPPORT FOR THE
REST OF THE PLAN BECAUSE
IT IS A GOOD, SOLID
EFFORT FROM NEIGHBORS.
AND I AM SO OVERJOYED
THAT WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY FINALLY, LO
THESE DECADES TO HAVE
SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
GOODMAN: MAYOR, COULD
I ASK FOR A QUICK
CLARIFICATION?
MAYOR GARCIA: MAYOR
PRO TEM HAS A QUESTION,
SIR.
GOODMAN: YOUR
RECOMMENDATION IS 2-D,
SO THAT'S WHAT THE
PLANNING COMMISSION
RECOMMENDED, BUT IT
CHANGED THE PLAN THAT
YOU BROUGHT TO THE
PLANNING COMMISSION,
RIGHT?
WHAT I BELIEVE 2-D IS
DOING, IF I UNDERSTAND
IT, IS THAT IT'S IN LINE
FOR A — ALLOWING FOR A
LEVEL OF MEDIATION AND
FOR US TO BE ABLE TO
MEET WITH THE INTERESTED
PARTIES, THE THREE FAK
IONS YOU THAT YOU
MIGHT SAY THAT ARE
INVOLVED WITH THIS, SUCH
AS MARTHA, SUCH AS THE
INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORS
THAT ARE AROUND WHO FEEL
THEY HAVE A VESTED
INTEREST, IN WHAT TYPE
OF INVESTMENTT DOES
APPEAR THERE AND
PLANNING TEAM MEMBERS AS
WELL AS THE CITY EXPERTS
AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS
WHO CAN HELP TO GUIDE US
THROUGH AND ANSWER
QUESTIONS AND TELL US
WHAT THE THINGS ARE
ABOUT.
HAVE I ANSWERED YOUR
QUESTION, MA'AM?
GOODMAN: I'M NOT
SURE, BUT IT SOUNDED
GOOD.
REALLY?
[ LAUGHTER ] THE FIRST
TIME ANYONE EVER TOLD ME
THAT.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU, SIR.
LESS LEE MOORE?
— LESS LEE MOORE?
[ INAUDIBLE ]
MAYOR GARCIA: YES.
OKAY.
I GOT YOU.
THANK YOU MUCH.
[ INAUDIBLE ].
MAYOR GARCIA: NO
PROBLEM
ROBERT MACEL WHITE.
HE DOES NOT WISH TO
SPEAK, BUT IS AGAINST
TRACTS 24 AND 25.
MARIO REARMZ DOES NOT
WISH TO — RAMIREZ DOES
NOT WISH TO SPEAK, BUT
IS REGISTERED IN FAVOR
OF.
MS. LAMBERT, AND THEN IT
JOYCE PULLMAN.
MS. LAMBERT, WELCOME?
I THINK MS. TUCKER
POINTED OUT EVERYTHING
THAT WE NEEDED TO TALK
ABOUT.
I'M FROM THE SAN JOSE
HOTEL.
I JUST URGE YOU ALL TO
VOTE FOR IT-D, BUT I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT
OUT ON 2-D AND/OR TRACT
68 BEFORE SECOND READING
WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE
TO BE INVOLVED IN
MEDIATION BEFORE THE
ND
READING WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
IF WE CAN.
AND I THINK THAT WE
COULD SOLVE A LOT OF
THINGS THAT WAY.
I THINK THE CHURCH AND
THE HOTEL HAVE JUST
BEGUN TALKING, AND THAT
IT WOULD BE GREAT —
THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO
COME BACK BEFORE THE
CITY COUNCIL TO TRY TO
GET REZONING SIX MONTHS
FROM NOW OR AT ANOTHER
TIME.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK IT OUT NOW.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU, MS. LAMBERT.
JOYCE PULLMAN?
WE HAVEN'T SEEN YOU
SINCE THE CANDIDATES.
OH.
IS THAT GOOD OR BAD?
THANK YOU.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO SAY
THAT I THINK THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING —
EVERYONE HAS BEEN VERY
POSITIVE ABOUT
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
I THINK THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING
MIGHT BE ACCRUAL JOKE OF
THE CITY COUNCIL IN
FORCING US TO ALL SIT
DOWN A LITTLE AND HAVING
TO PUT UP WITH EACH
OTHER FOR LONG MONTHS AT
A TIME.
AND I WAS A PART OF THIS
PROCESS.
AND WE STRUGGLED AND WE
ARGUED AND WE FOUGHT AND
WE LABORED, AND IT WAS A
REALLY LONG PROCESS.
MY POINT THERE IS WE
SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON
THIS AND WE THOUGHT
ABOUT IT A LOT.
AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF
ISSUES THAT ARE COMING
UP TONIGHT, AND IT'S NOT
THAT I DON'T CARE ABOUT
THEM, IT'S JUST THAT WE
REALLY TALKED,
DISCUSSED, ARGUED AND
NITPICKED EVERYTHING, IF
YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT, TO
DEATH, AND WE DON'T
REALLY HAVE THE TIME TO
DO THAT WITH THE
PROPERTY, LOT 68 RIGHT
NOW.
AND I KNOW THAT I CAN'T
REPRESENT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND
THERE ON WHAT THE ISSUES
MIGHT BE THERE.
NOW, MS. QUAD LANDER'S
PROPERTY IS A WHOLE
OTHER STORY.
SHE DID SUFFER THE KNIT
PICKING AND THE
DISCUSSING AND THE
ARGUING AND SHE WAS
THERE.
I'M GOING TO VOUCH TO
THAT.
SHE CAME AND SHE SHOWED
UP AND SHE REALLY
WORKED.
AND I THINK THE
DIFFICULTY THERE IS THAT
EVEN THOUGH I MIGHT BE A
PLANNER, I DON'T KNOW
ALL MY ZONING INSIDE
OUT, I'M SORRY, AND WHEN
I SAW THOSE ZONING
CHANGES, I DIDN'T AND
OTHER PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW
ALL OF WHAT THAT MEANT.
AND I APOLOGIZE THAT I
DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
AND WE DIDN'T KNOW ALL
OF THE IMPLICATIONS, SO
THEN PEOPLE CAME FORWARD
AND WE SAID OH, THIS
MEANS HOTEL/MOTEL.
AND WE DO NOT KNOW —
I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT OWE
FOE IF THERE IS A NEED
TO BE WORRIED OR IF
THERE ISN'T.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT
THERE'S A CONCERN AND I
FEEL LIKE WE OWE IT TO
MS. QUAD LANDER TO AT
LEAST TRY TO RESOLVE
THAT BECAUSE SHE HAS
BEEN VERY PRESENT AND
SHE'S BEEN VERY FAITHFUL
IN TRYING TO ARGUE THIS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
IN SUPPORT OF TRYING TO
MEDIATE THAT PARTICULAR
LOT.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE
THE CAPACITY, THE
PEOPLE, THE TIME TO DO
TWO OF THESE.
AND THAT'S MY CONCERN
ABOUT DOING BOTH 68 AND
24.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU.
ROBERT SESA REGISTERED
NOT WISHING TO SPEAK, IN
FAVOR OF.
GARY HYATT IS REGISTERED
NOT WISHING TO SPEAK AND
DONATING THE TIME TO THE
PLANNING TEAM AND
REGISTERED IN FAVOR OF.
BECKY ROME IS REGISTERED
NOT WISHING TO SPEAK AND
IN FAVOR OF.
STEVE CAMPO, MR. STEVE
CAMPO?
AND FOLLOWING MR. CAMPO
IS MR. JOHN HURT.
MR. CAMPO, WELCOME, SIR.
ARE YOU ON THE PLANNING
TEAM?
[ INAUDIBLE ]
MAYOR GARCIA: IF
ANYBODY THAT HAS NOT
SPOKEN ON THE PLANNING
TEAM AND CAN USE
MR. HYATT'S TIME, WHEN
YOU COME UP YOU WITH
TELL ME YOU'RE ON THE
PLANNING TEAM AND YOU
GET AN ADDITIONAL THREE
MINUTES.
MAYOR GARCIA AND
COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME
IS STEVE CAMPO.
AND I HAVE A PROPERTY
WHICH IMPASSING OUT A
HANDOUT WHICH WILL SHOW
THAT I AM ON THE
NORTHEAST — EXCUSE ME,
THE NORTHWEST PORTION OF
THE BOULDIN CREEK
NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT IS 607 DAWSON.
AND I AM ASKING FOR A
REZONING WHICH I THINK
WILL CREATE VIRTUALLY NO
CHANGE IN THE USE OF THE
PROPERTY AND IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT I HAVE THERE IS A
LAW OFFICE THAT HAS BEEN
SERVING AS A RESIDENCE
AND A LAW OFFICE FOR
OVER 20 YEARS NOW THAT
WAS A LAW OFFICE WHEN
ROBERT FOWLER RESIDED
THERE AND RAN THE FOWLER
AND FOWLER FIRM OUT OF
THERE.
I BEGAN WORKING AS AN
EMPLOYEE THERE IN 1988
AND BEGAN RESIDING THERE
IN 1989 WITH MY WIFE.
SINCE THEN MR. FOWLER
RETIRED IN '93 AND I
HAVE BEEN RUNNING MY
FIRM CURRENTLY WITH MY
PARTNER, JACK
CUNNINGHAM, WHO ALSO —
WHO NOW RESIDES ON THE
PREMISES.
AND IT IS A DUPLEX AND
WE RUN OUR FIRM ON ONE
SIDE, ON THE A SIDE.
MR. CUNNINGHAM LIVES ON
THE B SIDE, AND I HAVE
ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WHO
RESIDES ON THE A SIDE.
I HAVE — NOT COUNTING
MYSELF AND MY PARTNER,
MR. CUNNINGHAM, I HAVE
TWO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES,
LEGAL ASSISTANTS WHO
WORK AT THE PROPERTY,
MAKING FOUR FULL-TIME
EMPLOYEES.
WE ALSO HAVE THREE PART
TIME EMPLOYEES, TWO OF
WHOM DO MAINTENANCE.
ONE OF THOSE PERSONS
RESIDES ON THE A SIDE AS
WELL.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A
BOOKKEEPER, AND SHE IS
NOT THERE VERY OFTEN
BECAUSE WE HAVE SET IT
UP SO THAT SHE CAN WORK
OUT OF HER HOME AND HAVE
ACCESS TO OUR COMPUTERS.
SO IN TOTAL WE HAVE
SEVEN EMPLOYEES.
AND I PRESENTED THIS
MODIFICATION TO THE
PLANNING COMMISSION ON
MARCH 27TH, AND THEY
SAID COMMISSIONER
HINESETH SUGGESTED THAT
THE CITY STAFF SEE HOW
WE COULD LEGITIMIZE THE
CURRENT USE.
AND ONE OF THE OTHER
COMMISSIONERS SAID WE'VE
SEEN SOME OTHER SF-3
PROPERTIES BEING USED AS
APPLIANCE SHOPS.
WOULD THIS BE DIFFICULT
BECAUSE IT HAS
MAINTAINED ITS
RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER?
AND WHAT I AM REQUESTING
IS THAT IT BE MODIFIED
FROM SF-3 TO
NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE WITH
A MIXED USE SO THAT WE
CAN MAINTAIN THE
RESIDENCE AS WELL AS THE
LAW FIRM.
I AM ALSO AGREEING TO
CONDITIONAL OVERLAY OF
LIMITING THE NUMBER OF
EMPLOYEES TO THE CURRENT
NUMBER OF 7 AND
RESTRICTING THE SIZE OF
THE SIGN TO SATISFY
NEIGHBORS WHO FEAR THAT
THIS MAY BE USED TO
GROW.
[ BUZZER SOUNDS ]
IF I MAY HAVE JUST 20
MORE SECONDS.
MAYOR GARCIA: WE HAVE
A LOT OF SPEAKERS.
SO I THINK YOU GAVE US
THE PAPERS.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
IF I MIGHT JUST CLOSE
WITH — THE
COMMISSIONERS ADDED THIS
TO THEIR RECOMMENDATION
THAT WE CONSIDER THIS TO
THE STAFF TO SEE IF THEY
WOULD CONSIDER ADDING
THIS, AND THAT'S WHAT I
AM ASKING THAT THIS
COUNCIL DO IS CONSIDER
ADDING THIS TO THE PLAN.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU.
I ALLOWED SOME EXTRA
TIME EARLIER, BUT THAT
WAS BEFORE WE FOUND OUT
THAT WE HAD 77 SPEAKERS
ON THE LIST.
SO IF YOU WILL BEAR WITH
THE COUNCIL.
JOHN HURT?
MR. MAYOR,
COUNCILMEMBERS, MAY I
SPEAK AS A PLANNING
MEMBER WITH MR. HYATT'S
TIME?
MAYOR GARCIA: SURE.
YOU'RE A PLANNING TEAM
MEMBER?
YES, I AM.
MY NAME IS COREY WALTON.
AND I SIGNED A CARD IN
FAVOR OF, BUT DIDN'T
FEEL LIKE —
MAYOR GARCIA: GO
AHEAD.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
WHAT I JUST WANTED TO
ADD TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO
SPENT A LOT MORE TIME
AND A LOT MORE OF THEIR
ENERGIES INTO
FORMULATING THIS PLAN,
AND IN ADDITION TO THE
REQUEST THAT YOU'VE ALL
HEARD THIS EVENING FROM
OTHER PARTIES WHO
BASICALLY FOR THE MOST
PART HAVE JUST APPEARED
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
WEEKS TO EITHER THE
PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING OR TONIGHT'S
GATHERINGS PLEADING
VARIOUS CASES FOR
INCLUSION, EXCLUSION OR
REVISION TO THE PLAN.
I'D LIKE TO RESTATE WHAT
I BELIEVE THE PLANNING
TEAM'S DESIRE IS.
AS WE STATED COMING IN
HERE, TO ALLOW MS. QUAD
LANDER'S PROPERTY, LOT
24, TAKEN OUT OF THE
PLAN FOR MEDIATION
DISCUSSION BECAUSE AS
SAID, SHE'S BEEN WITH
US, WORKING WITH US ALL
ALONG.
AND IN HONOR OF THAT
WORK AND RESPECTING IT,
WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO
TAKE THAT PARCEL OUT OF
THE PLAN SO THAT WE CAN
MOVE THE PARCEL FORWARD
WITH APPROVAL ON — YOUR
APPROVAL ON FIRST
READING THIS EVENING.
BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE —
YOU KNOW, HOW MANY OTHER
REQUESTS FOR
MODIFICATIONS WILL COME
UP ON SECOND READING?
HOW MANY MORE EDITIONS
THAT WE'VE NEVER HEARD
FROM BEFORE, THAT WE
NEVER PARTICIPATED FROM
BEFORE WILL COME UP ON
THIRD READING?
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THERE
HAS BEEN TO BE A POINT
AT WHICH THE PLAN MUST
BE COMPLETED AND READ AS
A PLAN.
THIS IS THE PLAN THAT
OUR NEIGHBORS WERE
SURVEYED ON AND APPROVED
AND SENT FORTH TO
PLANNING COMMISSION AND
TO YOU.
SO MY REQUEST, AGAIN, IS
TO ALLOW REMOVAL OF LOT
24 FROM THE PLAN FOR
MEDIATION, FOR
DISCUSSION, AND THEN —
24.
MAYOR GARCIA: THAT'S
CORRECT.
AND MOVE THE PLAN AS
WRITTEN FORWARD ON FIRST
READING.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBERS, I HAVE A
LETTER WRITTEN BY DORIS
D. COWRD AND DEBBIE
VOCKER, WHO ARE TWO OF
THE APPELLANTS IN THE
SAMMY HOUSE CASE THAT WE
ARE SUPPOSED TO HEAR
TONIGHT.
THEY ARE REQUESTING A
POSTPONEMENT UNTIL APRIL
THE 25TH OF THE YEAR
2002.
IS MS. PUERTA HERE?
WOULD YOU COME TO THE
MIC?
THE TWO APPELLANTS
ARE — THEY ARE UNABLE
TO PARTICIPATE HERE
BECAUSE OF A PREVIOUSLY
SCHEDULED PROFESSIONAL
MEETING IN WASHINGTON.
INSTEAD OF Y'ALL SITTING
HERE, WE USUALLY GRANT
FIRST REQUESTS MADE BY
PEOPLE WHEN THERE'S AN
ITEM BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
THIS IS THEIR FIRST
REQUEST FOR A
POSTPONEMENT.
YOU ALL COULD GET A
POSTPONEMENT IF YOU
ASKED FOR IT.
AND IT SAYS IN THE
LETTER, I SPOKE WITH THE
DAY CARE SERVICE
OPERATOR THIS MORNING AS
REQUESTED BY MR. GREG
GURNSEY ABOUT OUR
REQUEST.
SHE, OF COURSE, PREFERS
THAT THE ISSUE BE
SETTLED AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE DO
THINGS HERE, I DON'T
WANT TO KEEP YOU HERE
ANY LONGER THAN WE HAVE
TO SINCE IN ESSENCE THE
APPELLANTS ARE NOT HERE.
SO UNLESS THERE'S
OBJECTION FROM THE
COUNCIL, I WILL SUGGEST
THAT WE POSTPONE THIS
HEARING UNTIL THE 25TH
SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE
APPELLANT IS HERE.
LET ME SAY THAT ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT CAN HELP
US TREMENDOUSLY IS
INSTEAD OF HAVING 77
PEOPLE SIGN UP TO SPEAK
IS IF FOUR OR FIVE OF
YOU GET TOGETHER BECAUSE
I THINK THE FOUR THAT
ARE AGAINST — THOSE ARE
YOU THAT ARE HERE —
COULD YOU STAND?
OR WAVE YOUR HANDS?
OKAY.
[ INAUDIBLE ].
MAYOR GARCIA: THERE'S
MORE OF THEM OUTSIDE.
THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE
FOR GRANTING THE
APPEAL — YOU CAN SIT
DOWN.
KNOWS OF YOU THAT ARE
FOR GRANTING THE —
THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE
FOR GRANTING THE
APPEAL — THOSE OF YOU
THAT ARE FOR GRANTING
THE APPEAL, COULD YOU
STAND?
WYNN: MAYOR?
I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE
ANY TROUBLE, BUT IN THIS
CASE IT SEEMS — I THINK
WE WERE TOLD THAT
THERE'S SEVEN FOLKS THAT
ARE APPEALING.
AND I'M SORRY, BUT THE
MAJORITY OF THEM ARE
HERE AND MY — YOU KNOW,
MY IMPRESSION IS FRANKLY
THAT ARGUMENTS WILL BE
APPROXIMATELY THE SAME.
I THINK ALL THE
APPELLANTS HAVE, YOU
KNOW, SIMILAR ADJACENT
ISSUES.
AND SO MANY FOLKS ARE
HERE, I'D — BECAUSE
THERE ARE SEVEN
APPELLANTS AND THE
MAJORITY ARE HERE, I'D
LIKE TO CONSIDER NOT
HAVING OUR STANDARD
PRACTICE OF
AUTOMATICALLY
POSTPONING.
[ APPLAUSE ]
MAYOR GARCIA: THE SIX
APPELLANTS ARE HERE?
[ INAUDIBLE ].
MAYOR GARCIA: LET ME
ASK A QUESTION OF THOSE
THAT ARE AGAINST THE
APPEAL, BECAUSE WE COULD
DO THIS.
WE USUALLY GIVE FIVE
MINUTES TO THE
APPELLANTS, AND THEN
FIVE MINUTES TO THE
APELL LEE I THINK THEY
CALL IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M
SAYING THAT CORRECTLY.
THEN WE RECOGNIZE
EVERYBODY ELSE WHO IS
SPEAKING.
BUT I THINK IF WE COULD
IN SOME WAY ABBREVIATE
THE PROCESS, MAYBE PICK,
YOU KNOW, GIVE 15
MINUTES TO THE APPELLANT
AND 15 MINUTES TO THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST
THE APPEAL, THAT MIGHT
BE SOMETHING WE COULD
DO, OTHERWISE WE'LL BE
HERE UNTIL MIDNIGHT,
HEARING BASICALLY THE
SAME THING BECAUSE THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST
THE APPEALS USUALLY HAVE
THE SAME ARGUMENT, THEY
HAVE GOOD REASONS WHY
THEY WANT SAMMY HOUSE
TO — JUST A SECOND.
I'M GOING TO GET ADVICE
FROM COUNCIL RIGHT NOW.
EXCUSE ME, SIR.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE 77
SUPPORTERS, BUT THEY'RE
NOT ALL SPEAKING.
I WAS UNDER THE
IMPRESSION WE HAD AROUND
15.
SO I'M NOT SURE EVEN ALL
77 PEOPLE ARE HERE.
I MEAN, BUT IT'S QUITE
POSSIBLE.
MAYOR GARCIA: WHAT
HAPPENED, THIS MEETING
WAS — THIS HEARING WAS
SCHEDULED FOR LAST WEEK.
AND WE WERE SUPPOSED TO
HAVE IT HERE.
AND WE NOTIFIED THEM OF
THE MEETING — THE FACT
THAT THE MEETING WAS
HERE.
THE COUNCIL CHANGED THE
MEETING TO CONNALLY
GUERRERO AND THEY WERE
NOT NOTIFIED, SO THEY
WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE
IT, BUT WE — SO WE
POSTPONED IT FOR THAT
REASON.
SO WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE
CAN LISTEN TONIGHT TO
THE APPELLANTS THAT ARE
HERE, AND YOU ALL AS
APPELLANTS GET FIVE
MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR
CASE.
AND IF YOU HAVE OTHER
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO —
SAY AMONGST YOURSELF
THAT YOU SELECT ONE
PERSON AND THAT PERSON
SPEAKS FOR FIVE MINUTES.
AND REST OF YOU WHO ARE
SIX TOTAL, RIGHT, THE
REST OF YOU —
[ INAUDIBLE ]
MAYOR GARCIA: SURE, I
UNDERSTAND.
BUT HERE'S WHAT I'M
PROPOSING IS THAT THE
SIX OF YOU WOULD TAKE
APPROXIMATELY 30
MINUTES.
I'M SORRY, FIVE MINUTES
PLUS — 20 MINUTES.
FIVE FOR THE APPELLANT
AND THREE MINUTES FOR
EACH OF THE OTHER
APPELLANTS.
THAT WOULD BE 15 PLUS
FIVE IS 20 MINUTES.
THEY HAVE 15 PEOPLE THAT
WANT TO SPEAK 45
MINUTES.
WE COULD HEAR THAT AND
THEN CONTINUE THE
HEARING NEXT WEEK WHEN
THE TWO PRINCIPAL
APPELLANTS ARE HERE.
BUT WE WOULD AGAIN HAVE
THE HEARING BOTH TONIGHT
AND NEXT THURSDAY.
MY SUGGESTION IS THAT IF
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A
HEARING NEXT THURSDAY —
INCIDENTALLY, WE'RE
GOING TO BE LOSING SOME
OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS.
I HAVE A NOTE FROM ONE
OF THEM THAT HAD TO
LEAVE BECAUSE SHE HAS TO
ATTEND A FORUM, A
CANDIDATE FORUM.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF
ELECTIONS.
AS YOU ALL PROBABLY
KNOW.
THE LEGAL STAFF HAS
ADVISED ME THAT WE WOULD
HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER —
HAVE A CONTINUATION OF
THIS HEARING NEXT WEEK.
SO IF THERE'S SOME WAY
THAT WE CAN RESOLVE
THIS, MS. HUERTA?
IS THERE ANY WAY WE
COULD NEGOTIATE SO THAT
THREE MORE CHILDREN
COULD START OUR SCHOOL
BETWEEN NOW AND THEN SO
THAT THEIR PARENTS DON'T
LOSE THEIR JOBS?
MAYOR GARCIA: CITY
ATTORNEY?
WE DON'T NEED THE
WHOLE SIX TO START, BUT
WE HAVE THREE CHILDREN
WHO NEED TO START TO
KEEP THEIR FAMILIES FROM
LOSING THEIR JOB.
I HAVE TO DEFER ON
STAFF ON THIS.
IS MR. BOLES HERE?
WHAT THE STAFF NEEDS TO
SPEAK ON IS HOW MANY
CHILDREN ARE PRESENTLY
ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL
AND HOW MANY CHILDREN
CAN BE AT THE SCHOOL AND
HOW MANY CHILDREN — HOW
MANY CHILDREN CAN BE AT
THE SCHOOL WITHOUT THE
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO
THAT, WE MAY BE ABLE TO
ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
I'M WITH THE PLANNING
AND ZONING DEPARTMENT.
OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT
CODE ALLOWS UP TO SIX
CHILDREN WITHOUT THE
NEED FOR A SPECIAL — OR
A CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE
ENROLLMENT IS AT RIGHT
NOW.
IT'S AT SIX.
THEN YOU WOULD HAVE
TO HAVE A CONDITIONAL
USE PERMIT TO HAVE THE
ADDITIONAL THREE
CHILDREN THERE BECAUSE
THAT PERMIT IS REQUIRED
IN ORDER TO OPERATE WITH
MORE THAN SIX CHILDREN.
MAYOR GARCIA: LET ME
SEE IF I CAN GET — LET
ME SEE IF I CAN GET A
SENSE OF THE COUNCIL.
MAYOR PRO TEM, OF HOW
WE — HOW YOU ALL WANT
TO PROCEED?
DO YOU WANT TO HAVE A
HEARING TONIGHT AND THEN
HAVE A HEARING NEXT WEEK
FOR THE TWO APPELLANTS
THAT ARE NOT HERE?
GOODMAN: LET ME
SOMETHING JUST AS AN
ADJUNCT TO WHAT WE JUST
HEARD.
YOU CAN HAVE SIX
CHILDREN THERE AT ANY
ONE TIME.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYTHING
CAN BE WORKED OUT TO
SORT OF SHIFT FOUR
PARENTS TO COME BECAUSE
THE NUMBER IS NOT LIKE A
STATIC NUMBER WITH
CHILDREN NAMED, IT IS A
NUMBER.
SO IF YOU WOULD HAVE
MORE THAN SIX CHILDREN
ENROLLED, BUT ONLY SIX
CHILDREN ON THE PREMISES
AT ANY GIVEN TIME,
THAT'S LEGAL.
NO, MA'AM.
THEY'RE ALL FULL TIME
CHILDREN.
THERE'S ONE CHILD THAT'S
THERE FOR FOUR DAYS A
WEEK ONLY FOUR HOURS
SHE'S NOT THERE.
AND THE THREE CHILDREN
THAT NEED TO COME, THEIR
PARENTS WORK FULL TIME.
WYNN: MAYOR?
WE WOULD BE MORE THAN
HAPPY TO REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF — IF YOU
COULD GIVE US A FEW
MINUTES TO COLLECT OUR
THOUGHTS, WE CAN
DEFINITELY REDUCE SOME
OF THE NUMBER OF
SPEAKERS.
MAYOR GARCIA: WE'RE
GOING TO BE CONTINUING
THE HEARING ON THE
BOULDIN CREEK
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, SO IF
YOU WANT TO TAKE — THIS
WILL PROBABLY TAKE
ANOTHER HALF HOUR, 45
MINUTES TO FINISH THAT
PARTICULAR ITEM.
SO WE'LL BE CALLING YOU
BACK IN ABOUT 30 TO 45
MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU.
WYNN: MAYOR?
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.
WYNN: MS. TERRY, IS
THE LEGAL ISSUE THAT
BECAUSE ONE OF THE
APPLICANTS ISN'T HERE
OUR HANDS ARE TIED?
YOU HAVE TWO
APPELLANTS WHO PERFECTED
AN APPEAL, AND THOSE
APPELLANTS WERE NOTIFIED
THAT THE APPEAL WOULD
TAKE PLACE HERE AT LCRA.
IN OTHER WORDS,
NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT
SET BY THE CODE REQUIRE
US TO NOTIFY THEM WITHIN
A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF
TIME AS TO WHERE AND
TIME OF THE HEARING ON
THEIR APPEAL.
THE COUNCIL — AFTER THE
NOTIFICATION WENT OUT
COUNCIL — AND I'M NOT
SURE EXACTLY THE
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, BUT
MY UNDERSTANDING FROM
STAFF IS THAT THIS
COUNCIL MADE A DECISION
TO MOVE ITS MEETING FROM
LCRA TO CONNELLY
GUERRERO.
BECAUSE OF THAT THE
NOTIFICATION THAT WENT
OUT TO THE APPELLANTS
WAS IMPROPER, THEREFORE
YOUR HEARING HAD TO BE
PULLED DOWN LAST WEEK
BECAUSE NOTIFICATION WAS
IMPROPER.
AND THAT'S THE REASON
WHY IT WAS SET AGAIN
HERE AND THE
NOTIFICATION WAS
PROPERLY HANDLED AND
PROPERLY WENT OUT FOR
HERE.
AND THAT IS WHEN
THESE — AS I UNDERSTAND
IT, THESE TWO APPELLANTS
WHO HAD PERFECTED THEIR
APPEAL AND BEEN NOTIFIED
ORIGINALLY THAT THE
MEETING WOULD BE AT LCRA
AND THEN IT WAS CHANGED,
THAT WAS WHEN THEIR
CONFLICT CAME UP.
AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE
THE LETTER THAT HAS BEEN
GIVEN TO YOU FOR THEIR
REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT
BECAUSE OF THE CONFLICT.
MAYOR GARCIA: WHAT IS
THE WISH OF THE COUNCIL?
BETTIE?
WE ALSO HAVE — BEFORE
WE GET TO THAT ITEM WE
ALSO HAVE ITEM 47 THAT
HAS 37 PEOPLE SIGNED UP
TO SPEAK.
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?
WYNN: SEEMS TO ME
WHAT IS PROBABLY GOING
THROUGH FOLKS MINDS IS
IF WE HAVE A CONTINUANCE
OR ESSENTIALLY A
TWO-WEEK LONG PUBLIC
HEARING, YOU KNOW, FOLKS
ARE GOING TO COME TO
BOTH OF THEMMENT THEY'RE
GOING TO WANT TO BE HERE
FOR THE QUOTE UNQUOTE
PUBLIC HEARING SINCE
THAT'S WHEN THE DECISION
WILL BE MADE AND SO
WE'RE GOING TO BE
DRAGGING FOLKS DOWN HERE
ON BOTH SIDES BOTH
WEEKS.
I'M TRYING TO RESPECT
THE EFFORT THAT THEY ALL
MADE TO BE HERE, BUT I
THINK WHAT WILL END UP
HAPPENING IS IF WE HAVE
SORT OF A CONTINUANCE OR
A TWO-WEEK MEETING YOU
CAN — EVERYBODY WILL
COME HERE FOR BOTH
MEETINGS.
AND THAT'S TROUBLESOME
FOR EVERYBODY.
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?
ALVAREZ: I SUPPOSE IF
WE HEAR TESTIMONY
TONIGHT AND THE NEXT
TIME SAY EACH SIDE ONLY
GETS 10 MINUTES EACH,
WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE
ORIGINALLY TALKING ABOUT
FOR THIS PARTICULAR
HEARING.
MAYBE IF THAT'S A MIDDLE
GROUND.
MAYOR GARCIA: THE
PROBLEM ISIS THEY'RE
GOING TO HAVE A WAIT
ANOTHER HOUR, HOUR AND A
HALF, TWO HOURS TO START
THE HEARING BECAUSE WE
HAVE ITEM 47 AHEAD OF
THEM.
SO IT WOULD BE 9:00
O'CLOCK BEFORE WE START.
AND THEN THEY'LL GO
UNTIL MIDNIGHT OR SO AND
THEN THEY HAVE TO COME
BACK NEXT WEEK.
SO I DON'T FAVOR THE
IDEA OF KEEPING PEOPLE
HERE WHEN THEY ARE
BASICALLY GOING TO COME
BACK NEXT WEEK.
SO THAT'S — I THINK
THAT'S PROBABLY
INAPPROPRIATE.
ANYWAY.
GOODMAN: WELL, MAYOR,
THERE IS WHAT WE HAVE
DONE OCCASIONALLY, WHICH
IS KIND OF SWITCH BACK
AND FORTH SO THAT SOME
PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO SPEAK
ON DIFFERENT — WE
CHANGE FROM A PUBLIC
HEARING TO ANOTHER
PUBLIC HEARING SO THAT
SOME PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO
SPEAK IN SHIFTS AND AT
LEAST DON'T HAVE TO GO
HOME ENTIRELY NEVER
HAVING SPOKEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT
TO TRY THAT.
IT DOES GET CONFUSING
TIMES.
MAYOR GARCIA: I NEVER
LIKED THAT.
[ LAUGHTER ] I NEVER
LIKED THAT BECAUSE I
NEVER KNEW WHAT WAS
BEING DISCUSSED AND
CONCENTRATING ON THE
TOPIC AND KEEPING —
HAVING SOME CONTINUATION
ON THE TOPIC OF THE
DISCUSSION.
I KNOW MAYOR WATSON DID
THAT, BUT I HAD
DIFFICULTY WITH IT.
GOODMAN: THE OTHER
THING I WOULD LIKE TO
SAY IS THAT ALTHOUGH I
UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT
THIS IS, I THINK THAT
BECAUSE IT WAS ACTUALLY
OUR ACTIONS THAT CAUSED
THEM THE ORIGINAL TWO
APPELLANTS TO MISS THE
MEETING THAT WE CAN'T
TAKE ACTION WITHOUT
THEM.
SO IT HAS ON TO A WEEK
LATER THAN WE HAD
PLANNED BECAUSE I DON'T
THINK THAT IN GOOD
CONSCIENCE HAVING CAUSED
THE DIFFICULTY WE CAN
THEN GO ON WITHOUT THEM.
IT WOULDN'T BE THEIR
FAULT.
MAYOR GARCIA: COME TO
THE MIC, PLEASE, SIR,
AND STATE YOUR NAME.
MY NAME IS MARK BRITT
TAN AND I LIVE IN
AUSTIN.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
SUPPORT TO THE SAMMY'S
HOUSE.
AND MY QUESTION ONLY IS
WILL WE BE ABLE TO ALLOW
THE CARDS, THE WAY THEY
VOTED, WILL THEY BE ABLE
TO STAND TONIGHT?
WILL THEY BE APPLICABLE?
THIS IS THE WAY WE
WILL DO IT.
LET'S SAY, FOR INSTANCE,
YOU PICK 15 SPEAKERS
NEXT THURSDAY, OKAY?
THOSE 15 WILL SPEAK.
I WILL READ INTO THE
RECORD EVERY SINGLE
CARD, HOW THEY ARE
REGISTERED.
SO THE RECORD WILL
REFLECT, PLUS THE FACT
THAT WE'LL HAVE THE
CARDS.
SO OBVIOUSLY WE WON'T
NEED THIS MASSIVE
SUPPORT OF FOLKS HERE.
MAYOR GARCIA: THEY
CAN COME IN THEY WANT
TO.
IT'S AN OPEN MEETING AND
WE OPERATE VERY
DEMOCRATICALLY IN
AUSTIN.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME.
BUT, YOU KNOW,
MS. HUERTA SAID 15
PEOPLE WOULD SPEAK, SO
WE WOULD RECOGNIZE THOSE
15 PEOPLE AND THEN THE
OTHERS I WILL READ INTO
THE RECORD THEIR NAMES
AND THEIR POSITION ON
THE APPEAL.
OKAY.
SO AGAIN MY QUESTION IS
THE CARDS THAT WE FILLED
OUT TONIGHT, THEY'LL NOT
BE —
MAYOR GARCIA: IF WE
DON'T HAVE THE HEARING,
WE'LL HAVE THOSE FOR
NEXT WEEK.
THEY WILL BE TAKEN
INTO CONSIDERATION?
MAYOR GARCIA:
ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS SO MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ].
MAYOR GARCIA: WHAT
WE'LL DO WITH THEM IS
THEY'RE STAMPED APRIL
THE 18TH.
WE'LL STAMP THEM APRIL
THE 25TH.
YES, SIR, COME TO THE
MIC.
COME TO THE MIC, PLEASE,
SIR.
MR. MAYOR, I HAVE A
QUESTION.
MAYOR GARCIA: YES,
SIR.
IT APPEARS THESE
PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE
CITY, THEY STACK THE
DECK TO SO IT SPEAK.
YOU SEE WHAT WE HAVE.
YOU HAVE ALL THESE
PEOPLE AND GOD KNOWS WHO
ELSE SIGNED UP FOR THAT.
NOW, HOW DO YOU
DIFFERENTIATE IF IT'S
ACTUALLY SOMEBODY
INVOLVED AS A NEIGHBOR
OR SOMEBODY THAT LIVES
IN PFLUGERVILLE OR
SOMEBODY'S AUNT OR
SOMEBODY ELSE THAT CAME
HERE IN SUPPORT OF THEIR
CAUSE?
MAYOR GARCIA: THE
RULES ARE THAT EVERYBODY
WHO SIGNS ONE OF THESE
CARDS SAYS WHETHER THEY
WANT TO SPEAK.
AND THEY SAY YES, AND
I'LL RECOGNIZE THEM.
IF THEY SAY NO, I'LL SAY
NO AND IT'S REGISTERED
AGAINST OR FOR THE
APPEAL.
IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHERE THEY LIVE OR
ANYTHING ELSE?
AS LONG AS THEY'RE IN
THE CITY?
MAYOR GARCIA: IF
THEY'RE SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK, THEY WILL BE
RECOGNIZED.
AND I DON'T READ
ADDRESSES.
BUT LET ME SAY THAT I
HAVE BEEN HERE — I WAS
HERE NINE YEARS BEFORE
AND I'VE BEEN BACK NOW
FOR FIVE MONTHS.
AND I HAVE SEEN CASES
WHERE 80 PEOPLE SIGN ON
ONE SIDE AND TWO PEOPLE
SIGN ON THE OTHER.
AND THE COUNCIL DECIDES
TO GO WITH, YOU KNOW —
OKAY.
THANKS FOR CLARIFYING.
MAYOR GARCIA: THE
COUNCIL IS, OF COURSE,
GOING TO EVALUATE THE
SUBSTANCE AND THE
ESSENCE OF THE ARGUMENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, NOT — WE
DO IT BY QUALITY, NOT
QUANTITY.
YES, SIR?
IF I MIGHT, MAYOR, MY
NAME IS RANDALL TAYLOR
AND I'M AN ATTORNEY FOR
SOME OF THE APPELLANTS.
AS A PROCEDURAL
OBSERVATION I WOULD LIKE
MAKE A POINT THAT IF YOU
SPLIT THE HEARING THERE
MAY BE SOME QUESTION
RELATED TO WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
ENTITLED TO VOTE ON THE
ISSUE BECAUSE THEY HEARD
ALL OF THE PEOPLE
SPEAKING ON THE ISSUE.
SO IF YOU GET INTO A
QUORUM ISSUE, THE FINAL
VOTE MAY HAVE TO BE
LIMITED TO THOSE
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HEARD
ALL OF THE ARGUMENTS.
GOODMAN: NO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
MAYOR GARCIA: GOOD
POINT, COUNCILMEMBERS,
BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY
IT WORKS.
WE WILL THEN POSTPONE
THE HEARING AND ALL
THESE CARDS WILL BE READ
INTO THE RECORD IN THE
INTERIM SO THAT PEOPLE
WHO ARE HERE IN SUPPORT
OF SAMMY HOUSE, MAKE
SURE YOU SELECT THE
FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO
SPEAK SO THAT YOU CAN BE
READY.
AND THEN I'LL READ
EVERYBODY ELSE'S CARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ].
MAYOR, MAYOR.
CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY,
IT'S 15 SPEAKERS, THREE
MINUTES EACH?
WE JUST WANT TO BE
EXACTLY SURE.
MAYOR GARCIA: WELL,
THE APPLE LEE IS SAMMY
HOUSE, THEY GET FIVE
MINUTES.
THE OTHER 14 GET THREE
MINUTES, WHICH IS 42, SO
47 MINUTES.
SO THREE MINUTES FOR
EACH PERSON THAT FILED
AN APPEAL?
MAYOR GARCIA: THE
APPELLANTS — THAT'S A
GOOD QUESTION.
YOU HAVE HOW MANY
APPELLANTS, SIX?
SIX OR SEVEN.
I DON'T KNOW.
HOW MANY APPELLANTS DO
WE HAVE, TOM?
I BELIEVE THERE ARE
SEVEN.
MAYOR GARCIA: SEVEN?
MS. TERRY, DO EACH ONE
GET FIVE MINUTES?
YOUR NORMAL RULES OF
OPERATIONS ALLOW YOU TO
DECIDE HOW MUCH TIME THE
APPELLANT GETS VERSUS
HOW MUCH TIME OTHERS
SPEAKING IN FAVOR OR
OPPOSED TO.
OUR AAPPROXIMATELY LEE
AND APPELLANTS SHOULD
GET AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF
TIME.
IF YOU HAVE FIVE
APPELLANTS, YOUR
STANDARD PROCEDURE HAS
BEEN TO GIVE EACH ONE OF
THOSE APPELLANTS THE
SAME AMOUNT OF TIME.
MAYOR GARCIA: IT
WORKS WONDERFUL THEN
BECAUSE HE HAS SEVEN
APPELLANTS AND FIVE
MINUTES APIECE, 35
MINUTES.
THE OTHER SIDE GETS 47.
AND THEN YOU GET THREE
MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL,
THEY GET THREE MINUTES
FOR REBUTTAL, CORRECT?
WELL —
MAYOR GARCIA: WE CAN
DO IT 45 AND 45 AND THAT
WAY YOU CAN GET IT —
GET YOUR 45 MINUTES AND
DO YOUR PRESENTATIONS,
OKAY?
OKAY.
AND ONLY APPELLANTS CAN
SPEAK ON OUR SIDE?
NO, BUT YOU HAVE 45
MINUTES.
45 MINUTES TO DO
WHATEVER WE WANT.
MAYOR GARCIA: RIGHT.
THAT INCLUDES
REBUTTAL.
MAYOR GARCIA: THAT
INCLUDES WHAT?
IS THERE A REBUTTAL
PROCESS?
IS IT A, B AND IT'S
OVER.
MAYOR GARCIA: 45
MINUTES INCLUDES THE
REBUTTAL.
OKAY?
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
YOU WILL BE RECOGNIZED
FIRST FOR 45 MINUTES AND
THEN THE APELL LEE WILL
BE RECOGNIZED FOR 45
MINUTES, SO YOU TAKE 42
AND THEN THREE AT THE
END, OKAY?
GOT IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW I'M GOING TO TAKE
ABOUT A TWO-MINUTE BREAK
SO WE CAN CLEAR THE
CHAMBERS AND GO ON TO
THE OTHER ITEMS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU'VE BEEN VERY
COOPERATIVE AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT.
MAYOR GARCIA:
MR. STEFANSE. WALLS?
OKAY.
YOU ARE — SIR?
IF YOU COULD COME TO THE
MIC.
YOU'RE REGISTERED IN
FAVOR OF.
IN FAVOR.
IN FAVOR OF.
MAYOR GARCIA: IN
FAVOR OF THE PLAN.
THANK YOU, SIR.
SARAH CROCKER?
AND FOLLOWING
MS. CROCKER IS BECCA
BRUCE.
DOES NOT WISH TO PE, IS
REGISTERED IN FAVOR OF.
ISAAC CISNEROS DOES NOT
WISH TO SPEAK, IN FAVOR
OF.
MAYOR REI CAN'T
BETTENCOURT DOES NOT
WISH TO SPEAK, IS
REGISTERED IN MAYOR OF.
MS. CROCKER, QUESTION —
IN FAVOR OF.
MS. CROCKER, WELCOME.
GOOD EVENING LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS SARAH CROCKER
AND I'M HERE TONIGHT ON
BEHALF OF MARGARET QUAD
LANDER.
I'D LIEBLGLIKE TO POINT
OUT A — LIKE TO POINT
OUT A FEW THINGS IF I
COULD.
I'LL BE BRIEF.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE 600
FEET OF ZONING THAT
EXTENDS BACK INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF YOU COULD LOOK AT THE
ZONING MAP FOR A MINUTE
YOU WILL SEE THESE TWO
GREEN AREAS RIGHT DOWN
HERE AREN'T TRACT NUMBER
24.
TRACT NUMBER 25, AND
THEY'RE NOT HOOKED
TOGETHER, THEY'RE
SEPARATE BID A CREEK,
ARE ACTUALLY THESE LOTS
RIGHT HERE AND THE OTHER
LOTS ADJACENT SOUTH
FIRST STREET.
THE DARK BROWN AREA THAT
YOU SEE ALL THE WAY DOWN
THROUGH HERE EXTENDING
BACK UP INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD HERE, NOT
JUST ALONG SOUTH FIRST
TREAT IS ALSO BEING
ZONED GR-MU WITH MUCH
FEWER CONDITIONS THAN
HOPEFULLY TRC NUMBER 24.
TRACT NUMBER 24 IS ALSO
ADJACENT TO THIS MS-2,
WHICH IS A COMPLETELY
DESIGNED, VERY DENSE
CONDOMINIUM PROJECT, SO
IT'S NOT SORT OF SITTING
OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF
NOWHERE.
THE AREA THAT YOU SEE
AROUND THERE IS ALSO RED
HASH MARKED IS
SINGLE-FAMILY LOTS AND
THOSE ARE ALSO OWNED BY
MS. QUAD LANDER.
SO WHILE HER PROPERTY
MAY EXTEND THAT FAR
BACK, HER ABILITY TO
OPEN DWOP ON THAT
PROPERTY DOES NOT EXTEND
THAT FAR BACK.
THAT'S BEEN A LOT OF
DISCUSSION TONIGHT ABOUT
A HOTEL MOTEL USE.
LET ME POINT OUT TO YOU
THAT AS MS. QUAD LANDER
SAID, SHE WANTS TO BUILD
A RETREAT CENTER.
AND STAFF CAME UP WITH
THAT USE.
THAT'S THE ONLY USE THAT
THEY SAY IS IN THE CODE
THAT IT CAN ACCOMMODATE
A RETREAT CENTER.
THAT WAS NOT HER CHOICE.
WE HAVE SAT DOWN IN THE
LAST WEEK AND ACTUALLY
LAND PLANNED WHAT
MS. QUAD LANDER CAN DO
IN THIS PIECE OF
PROPERTY.
I HAVE GIVEN ALL OF YOU
HANDOUTS UP THERE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOARD
UP HERE, WE HAVE TWO
DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
NOBODY HAS TAKEN THIS
TRACT AND LOOKED AT IT.
WHAT YOU CAN DO ON THIS
PROPERTY WITH ALL OF THE
SITE CONSTRAINTS.
IT HAS A LOT OF
TOPOGRAPHIC CONSTRAINTS
AND ALSO A WASTEWATER
EASEMENT WHICH BY
SECRETARIES THE TRACT.
SCENARIO NUMBER ONE
SHOWS ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM
DEVELOPMENT.
AND WHAT WE'VE SHOWN ON
THIS TRACT IS THE VERY
MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU CAN
PUT ON IT IS 15,200
SQUARE FEET IN A
TWO-STORY BUILDING.
AND R. AND THAT'S IT.
THAT'S THE MAXIMUM
AMOUNT OF BUILDING
SQUARE FOOT.
THIS IS 20% IMPERVIOUS
COVER AND IT WORKS OUT
TO ABOUT A .15 FAR.
THAT'S MUCH LESS THAN IT
ALLOWED FOR ANY OTHER
TRACT.
THIS TRACT IS ALSO
LIMITED TO ONE
COMMERCIAL USE.
ONE.
HOTEL/MOTEL.
AND AGAIN, THAT WAS NOT
MY CLIENT'S CHOICE, THAT
WAS THE ONLY CHOICE THAT
STAFF COULD COME UP WITH
IN THE CODE THAT
PERMITTED HER TO DO A
RETREAT CENTER.
SCENARIO NUMBER 2 SAYS
AN 8,100 SQUAREE FOOT
ONE-STORY BUILDING.
BOTTOM LINE ON THIS
TRACT, YOU CANNOT PUT —
YOU COULD NEVER PUT 20
TO 30,000 SQUARE FEET ON
THIS PROPERTY.
YOU CAN'T DO IT.
AND YOU NEED TO—
WHENEVER THESE PLANS
COME UP, YOU'VE GOT TO
LOOK AT THESE PIECES OF
PROPERTY, ESPECIALLY
WHEN THEY GET IN
DISPUTES, ON A TRACT BY
TRACT BASIS.
AND I THINK THAT ALL OF
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
MAR GRIT QUAD LANDER HAS
WORKED ON THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN FOR 18
MONTHS.
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME
ISSUES TO WORK OUT.
WE WOULD BE MORE THAN
HAPPY TO GO TO MEDIATION
THE NEXT 30 DAYS.
I DO THINK THAT WE CAN
ADDRESS THOSE POINTS
BECAUSE A LOT OF THE
THINGS THAT PEOPLE
WANTED AND THE
INFORMATION THAT THEY
WANTED IN THE LAST WEEK
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SIT
DOWN AND PROVIDE.
AND THE ONLY REASON THIS
WASN'T GIVEN TO THE
PLANNING TEAM OR TO
ANYBODY ELSE, I WAS
HIRED LAST THURSDAY
AFTERNOON LATE AND WE
DIDN'T GET THIS DONE
UNTIL THIS MORNING.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD
TO GOING FORWARD AND
WORKING WITH ANY OF THE
ADJACENT NEIGHBORS AND
THE PLANNING TEAM AND
ANYBODY ELSE THAT WANTS
TO SHOW UP AT MEDIATION
WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS
AND I HAVE EVER
CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN
GET THIS RESOLVED.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU, MS. CROCKER.
COUNCIL, THAT'S ALL OF
THE SPEAKERS THAT WE
HAVE ON THIS PARTICULAR
ISSUE.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION
TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
WYNN: SO MOVE.
MAYOR GARCIA: MOTION
BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN TO
CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
AYE.
MAYOR GARCIA: OPPOSED
NO.
MOTION CARRIES.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS
CLOSED.
DO WE HAVE A STAFF
PERSON THAT HANDLES
THIS — THERE HE IS.
COUNCILMEMBERS,
QUESTIONS FOR STAFF?
ANYBODY?
THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL
IS BEING PROPOSED —
THESE TWO CASES ARE
BEING PROPOSED FOR FIRST
READING ONLY.
BOTH THE PLAN AND ALL
OF THE ZONING CHANGES
ARE BEING PROPOSED FOR
FIRST READING ONLY
TONIGHT.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
AND MS. CROCKER, YOU
DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM
WITH HAVING MS. QUAD
LANDER'S PROPERTY
INCLUDED IN THE PLAN AND
IN THE ZONING, CORRECT?
[ INAUDIBLE ]
MAYOR GARCIA: THEN
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SET IT
30 DAYS FOR MEDIATION?
YES, SIR.
IF IT COULD BE LEFT IN
THE PLAN IF FOR FIRST
READING AND WE GO TO 30
DAYS TO MEDIATION.
MAYOR GARCIA: IS THE
LEADER OF THE PLANNING
TEAM ALSO HERE OR
SOMEBODY FROM THE
PLANNING TEAM?
COULD YOU COME UP?
E WHOLE PLANNING TEAM
IS COMING UP.
WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE
PLANNING COMMITTEE OF
FOUR OF US.
IN TEMZ OF THIS
QUESTION — IN TERMS OF
THIS QUESTION WE SUPPORT
GOING TO MEDIATION OVER
THE ISSUE OF THE QUAD
LANDER PROPERTIES, SO I
GUESS WE SUPPORT THE
FIRST MEETING GOING
FORWARD TO MEDIATION AND
RESOLVING IT WITHIN A
MONTH.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A
MOTION TO —
SLUSHER: MAYOR.
I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF
THE PLAN ON FIRST
READING AND THE 30-DAY
MEDIATION AS STATED.
I HAVE A QUESTION,
THOUGH, FOR THE PLANNING
TEAM.
MAYOR GARCIA: I THINK
YOUR NAMES SHOULD GO TO
EINSTEIN.
MAYBE A PRESENTATION.
[ LAUGHTER ] I CAN'T
BELIEVE ANYBODY COULD
SPEAK FOR NINE MINUTES
WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE
NOTES.
[ INAUDIBLE ]
SLUSHER: I UNDERSTAND
THE FOLKS FROM THE SAN
JOSE HOTEL HAVE — HAVE
SOMETHING THEY WANT TO
DISCUSS IN THE INTERIM
AND I CAN UNDERSTAND
THAT AFTER THIS LONG
GOING THROUGH THIS THAT
YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO GO
INTO TWO MEDIATIONS AT
ONCE.
BUT I GUESS WHAT I WOULD
ASK IS THAT THERE JUST
BE SOME COMMUNICATION
WITH THEM DURING THIS
TIME BECAUSE I THINK
THEY ARE A GOOD PART OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF
ANYTHING WILL BE WORKED
OUT AND I'M NOT SAYING
DON'T GO TO MEDIATION.
AT THE TIME TELL ME YOUR
COMMENTS ON THAT BECAUSE
YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN
IT THE WHOLE TIME.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT
KIND OF COMMUNICATION
WOULD TAKE PLACE.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN
MIND?
SLUSHER: WELL, THE
THING IS LET'S SAY WITH
THE ZONING CASE.
AND THERE'S A
DISAGREEMENT.
THIS IS NOT A ZONING
CASE LEVEL YET, BUT
THERE'S — WELL, I GUESS
IT IS BECAUSE OF THE
PLAN, BUT THERE CAN BE
SOME — ONE OR TWO
PEOPLE MAYBE FROM THE
TEAM THAT HAVE TALKED TO
THEM AND THAT WOULD FALL
SHORT OF MEDIATION AND
HAVING A MEDIATION.
AND MAYBE YOU CAN'T WORK
ANYTHING OUT, BUT I
THINK IT'S A GOOD
BUSINESS THERE, THEY
WANT TO EXPAND, MAYBE
IT'S TOO MUCH TO ASK TO
DO IN A MONTH, BUT MAYBE
THERE'S SOMETHING THERE
THAT'S AN EASY SOLUTION
THAT YOU WOULD FIND FROM
TALKING TO THEM.
WE'VE REALLY PRIDED
OURSELVES ON BEING A
PUBLIC PROCESS.
AND IF WE RESTRICT THIS
KIND OF COMMUNICATION TO
SIMPLY TWO PEOPLE GOING
AND TALKING ABOUT IT, IT
WOULD NO LONGER BE A
PUBLIC PROCESS.
SLUSHER: ARE YOU
SAYING YOU WOULD GO
BEFORE THE WHOLE GROUP?
WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE
GROUP ANY MORE.
THE OFFICIAL PLANNING
TEAM AT THE LAST MEETING
IN JANUARY WHEN THE PLAN
WENT TO THE SECOND AND
FINAL SURVEY.
WE HAVE NOT MET AS A
WHOLE GROUP SINCE THEN.
SLUSHER: SO THE GROUP
HADN'T EVEN HEARD —
WE HAVE NOT HEARD OF
THIS ISSUE UNTIL MONDAY
NIGHT WHEN THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE MET TO PREPARE
FOR THIS MEETING, THAT
WAS THE FIRST THAT WE
EVEN HEARD OF THIS
ISSUE.
WE REALLY FEEL THAT IT
IS TOO BIG OF A REQUEST
TO JUST WALK INTO AND TO
DEAL WITH UNDER THE
CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
APPROVED A PLAN THAT
DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS
PARTICULAR SET ASIDE.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION
APPROVED A PLAN THAT
DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS
SET ASIDE, THIS
PARTICULAR ZONING
REQUEST.
WE REALLY FEEL THAT TO
DO HONOR TO THE PROCESS,
TO DO HONOR TO OUR
NEIGHBORS THAT THIS
NEEDS TO GO THROUGH A
PUBLIC PROCESS AND —
SLUSHER: YOU MAKE A
PER SWAY SIEVE POINT, SO
I'LL JUST LEAVE MY
MOTION AS IT STANDS.
PERSUASIVE POINT.
MAYOR GARCIA: FOR THE
PLAN OR THE PLAN AND THE
ZONING.
SLUSHER: THE PLAN AND
THE 30 DAY MEDIATION
WITH MS. QUAD LANDER'S
PROPERTY AS THE PLANNING
TEAM SUPPORTS.
I THINK THAT WAS 1-B,
WASN'T IT?
IF THE DESIRE IS TO
APPROVE THE REZONING AS
RECOMMENDED BY THE
PLANNING COMMISSION AND
ALSO TO DO FIRST
READING — ON FIRST
READING AND TO APPROVE
THE PLAN ON FIRST
READING, YOU HAVE WHAT
YOU'RE DOING IS THAT YOU
WILL DO MOTION 1, WHICH
IS ADOPT — APPROVE THE
BOULDIN CREEK
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN ON
FIRST READING AND THEN
THAT'S ON ITEM 43.
AND THEN ON —
MAYOR GARCIA: AND
THAT WOULD DEAL WITH
THE —
OKAY.
ON ITEM 44 IT BECOMES
MOTION 2-D, YOU'RE
APPROVING THE NPCD
REZONING AS RECOMMENDED
BY PLANNING COMMISSION,
FIRST READING AND YOU'RE
DIRECTED THE STAFF AND
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANNING TEAM TO MEET
WITH INTERESTED PARTIES
ON TRACT 24 AND TO DO
THE MEDIATION.
SLUSHER: IS THAT
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE
PLANNING TEAM SUPPORTS?
OKAY.
THAT'S MY MOTION.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
SO HE'S DOING BOTH, 43
AND 44.
YES?
ARE YOU — [ LAUGHTER ]
IS THERE A SECOND?
SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
MAYOR PRO TEM?
GOODMAN: COULD I ASK
THE MAKER OF THE MOTION
A SECOND?
WAS YOUR MOTION ONLY ON
TRACT 24?
— IS THAT THE 607
DAWSON?
THE RECOMMENDATION IN
THE SCRIPT IS THAT IT
INCLUDE TRACT 24 AND/OR
TRACT 68.
GOODMAN: AND IT
DOESN'T MENTION —
SLUSHER: NO WANT.
I FELT LIKE SHE MADE
SOME PERSUASIVE POINTS,
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A
GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO
COME INTO THIS, IT JUST
HAPPENED LATE, AND I
DON'T THINK — I THINK
PUTTING IT ON THE PLAN
AT THIS TIME WOULD NOT
BE THE WAY TO GO ABOUT
IT.
AND THE OTHER ONE, I
DON'T KNOW THAT THAT
NEEDS TO GO TO
MEDIATION.
GOODMAN: NO.
I WAS TRYING TO SEE IF
WE WANTED TO ROLL IN ALL
THE POINTS OF CONTENTION
INTO THIS PROCESS IN
BETWEEN FIRST AND THIRD
READINGS.
SLUSHER: YOU WEREN'T
HERE WHEN WE HAD — YOU
JUST GOT BACK, RIGHT?
WE JUST HAD A DISCUSSION
ABOUT THAT.
I WAS GOING TO PUT IN 68
AND THEY CONVINCED ME
OTHERWISE.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
FURTHER DISCUSSION OR
QUESTIONS FOR STAFF?
WYNN: MAYOR?
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.
WYNN: I WOULD LIKE TO
ENCOURAGE MS. TUCKER AND
OTHERS WITH THE SAN JOSE
HOTEL, WHILE ITIS IS
STILL GOING THROUGH
MEDIATION ON THE
INDIVIDUAL TRACT 24 AND
WE STILL ANTICIPATE A
SECOND AND THIRD
READING, PLEASE DO
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
YOUR ADJACENT PROPERTY
OWNER AND COME UP WITH
YOUR IDEAS AS TO HOW
BEST AND APPROPRIATE TO
UTILIZE THAT PROPERTY AT
ANY GIVEN TIME DESPITE
NOT A FORMAL SORT OF
MEDIATION REQUEST BY
COUNCIL.
YOU KNOW, WORK ON IDEAS
ABOUT YOUR PROPERTY AND
WHAT IT CAN AND COULD BE
AND JUST BRING THAT
FORWARD.
THE TIME FRAME BETWEEN
FIRST AND THIRD READING
HAS VARIED SIGNIFICANTLY
ON THESE NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANS, BUT IT'S GOING TO
BE WEEKS BEFORE ITS
FINALIZED.
AND THERE'S NO REASON
FOR YOU NOT TO CONTINUE
TO TRY TO THINK ABOUT
THE FUTURE OF THAT
PROPERTY AND THE
ADJACENT PROPERTIES AND
AT SOME POINT PROBABLY
YOU SHOULD MEET WITH
YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FOLKS
ALWAYS DO.
[ONE MOMENT, PLEASE,
WHILE CAPTIONERS]
NS?
DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF
THE MOTION — DO YOU
WANT TO RESTATE THE
MOTION, MS. BROWN?
NE
MOMENT, PLEASE, WHILE
CAPTIONERS
MAYOR GARCIA: MOTION
CARRIES ON A VOTE OF 6 TO 1
# 0 TO 1.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
— THANK YOU FOR THE
PLANNING TEAM, YOU ALL DID A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
6 TO 0 TO 1.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE — I'M
GOING TO ASK OUR ATTORNEY TO
TALK ABOUT THE VALID
PETITION ISSUE.
HIS.
THE REQUIREMENT —
MR. GUERNSEY, LET ME — THE
REQUIREMENT FOR THE 3-4THS
MAJORITY OCCURS AT THIRD
READING.
$?WHEN — WHEN A VALID
PETITION IS FILED, THAT —
THE FINAL READING ON THE
ORDINANCE MUST BE APPROVED
BY SUPER MAJORITY OF THE
COUNCIL, FIRST READING AND
EVEN A SECOND READING DOES
NOT HAVE TO HAVE A SUPER
MAJORITY.
THE VALID PETITION TRIGGERS
THE THIRD READING — IS
TRIGGERED — OR TRIGGERS THE
SUPER MAJORITY REQUIREMENT
ON THE THIRD READING.
I HOPE THAT HELPS YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: WHEN WE DO
SECOND AND THIRD READING, IN
ABOUT 30 DAYS, I WOULD ASK
THAT — THAT PEOPLE WHO SIGN
SPEAK ON THE ISSUE OF THE
APPEAL SO THAT — I MEAN ON
THE ISSUE OF MEDIATION, SO
THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR
DISCUSSION ON THE POINT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU FOR
THAT, BUT NOT TO REOPEN THE
HEARING AND TALK ABOUT ALL
OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED
ABOUT TONIGHT.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
OKAY.
ARE WE BACK ON TRACK THEN?
ITEM NO. 45 IS TO CONDUCT A
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FULL
PURPOSE ANNEXATION OF THE
FOLLOWING ANNEXATION AREAS:
NALLE TRACT, APPROXIMATELY
TWO ACRES LOCATED IN TRAVIS
COUNTY APPROXIMATELY 1,000
FEET WEST OF CAPITAL OF
TEXAS HIGHWAY — WEST OF
COMPLAIN TALL OF TEXAS
HIGHWAY, SOUTH OF THE R OF
THE INTERSECTION OF CAPITAL
OF TEXAS HIGHWAY AND PLAZA
ON THE LAKE.
DO YOU WANT TO — OKAY, SIR.
THIS IS —
MAYOR GARCIA: GIVE YOU
YOUR NAPE AND WHAT YOU DO.
YES, SIR.
MY NAME IS BEN LUKENS, I
WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND
[INAUDIBLE].
NUMBER 45, ACTUALLY, IS
FOUR — FOUR SEPARATE
HEARINGS.
THE FIRST OF THESE IS THE —
THESE ARE ANNEXATION PUBLIC
HEARINGS.
IT'S THE SECOND ANNEXATION
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THESE
AREAS.
AND ACTION WOULD BE
SCHEDULED FOR MAY THE 9TH.
THE FIRST OF THESE HEARINGS
IS FOR THE ANNEXATION OF
THE — THANK YOU, SIR.
FOR THE NALLE TRACT, WHICH
IS ABOUT TWO ACRES IN TRAVIS
COUNTY, 1,000 FEET WEST OF
CAPITAL OF TEXAS HIGHWAY.
THIS AREA IS — THIS TRACT
IS PART OF A PROPOSED
CONDOMINIUM PROJECT, THE
BALANCE OF WHICH IS ALREADY
IN THE CITY.
THERE'S A PENDING ZONING
CASE ON THIS TRACT AND A
PENDING ZONING CASE ON THE
BALANCE OF IT.
PROPERTY OWNER REQUESTED THE
PROPOSED ANNEXATION AND, AS
I SAID, IT'S BEING ADDED TO
A TRACT CURRENTLY UNDERGOING
ZONING REVIEW TO PROVIDE FOR
FULL COMPLIANCE AND TO WORK
AROUND SOME TREE.
THE ANNEXATION SERVICE PLANS
ARE ON THE TABLE TO MY LEFT.
AND THE SERVICE PLAN WOULD
BE TAKING OVER TRAVIS COUNTY
PROVIDING THE SERVICES
CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY TRAVIS
COUNTY, PLUS NEW AND
ENHANCED SERVICES NOT
OTHERWISE AVAILABLE.
SO THAT'S THE — THAT'S THE
PRESENTATION OF THE NALLE
TRACT.
MAYOR GARCIA: QUESTIONS
FOR STAFF?
IF NOT I WILL ENTERTAIN A
MANAGES TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING, NO ACTION ON THIS
ITEM TONIGHT.
MOTION BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM,
I WILL SECOND THAT?
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
AYE.
OPPOSED, NO. MOTION
CARRIES.
AVERY RANCH AREA — AREAS.
YES, SIR.
AVERY RANCH AREA IS
APPROXIMATELIED 302 ACRES,
IT'S BEING REQUESTED —
BEING ANNEXED AT THE REQUEST
OF PROPERTY OWNERS.
THE REGULATORY PLAN FOR THE
AVERY RANCH LIMITED PURPOSE
AREA ASSUMED ANNEXATION OF
PLOTTED — PLATTED TRACTS AT
THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT THE
OWNERS ASKED THAT THE
SCHEDULE BE MOVED UP.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN THE
CITY'S LIMITED PURPOSE
JURISDICTION, ANNEXED IN
[INAUDIBLE], THESE TRACTS
NOW RECEIVED FINAL PLAT
APPROVAL.
THE AREA IS COMPRISED OF A
GOLF COURSE AND
APPROXIMATELY 176 SINGLE
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS.
THE SERVICE PLAN ESSENTIALLY
THE CITY TAKES OVER FOR
WILLIAMSON COUNTY IN THIS
CASE AND PROVIDES THOSE
SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED
BY WILLIAMSON COUNTY, PLUS
NEW AND ENHANCED SERVICES
NOT OTHERWISE AVAILABLE.
THE SERVICE PLAN IS
AVAILABLE ON THE TABLE TO MY
LEFT AND I WOULD BE GLAD TO
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE
ABOUT AVERY.
MAYOR GARCIA: QUESTIONS
FOR MR. LUKENS?
IF NOT I WILL ENTERTAIN A
POSITION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM.
MOTION BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM,
IS THERE A SECOND?
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
ALVAREZ.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
AYE.
OPPOSED, NO. MOTION
CARRIES.
ON A VOTED OF 5 TO 0 TO —
TO 2, WITH COUNCILMEMBER
SLUSHER TEMPORARILY OFF THE
DAIS, COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH
TEMPORARILY OUT OF THE —
OUT OF THE CHAMBERS.
ITEM NO. — PIONEER
CROSSING, 45, PIONEER
CROSSING.
YES, SIR, PIONEER
CROSSING IS ABOUT 140 ACRES
AT GREGG LANE AND — IN
NORTHEAST TRAVIS COUNTY.
IT PART OF A PROPOSED P.U.D.
CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW BY
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AND
ZONING.
THE BALANCE OF THE P.U.D. IS
ALREADY IN THE CITY.
THIS AREA IS ADJACENT TO THE
CITY'S FULL PURPOSE
JURISDICTION TO THE SOUTH.
THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION
REGARDING DEDICATION OF
GREGG LANE, HOWARD LANE
THROUGH THIS TRACT.
I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL THIS
MORNING FOR JOSE..... — FOR GOA
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
LATTER DAY SAINTS AT THE
COUNTY — JOE.... GIESELMAN, SAYING
THAT THE COUNTY IS SAYING
THAT WE GET THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY, FISCAL TO BE
POSTED BY THE DEVELOPER FOR
THIS — FOR THIS
CONSTRUCTION.
THAT OF COURSE IS A ZONING
ISSUE.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
NPZ WILL BE REQUESTING THIS
DEDICATION AND POSTING THE
FISCAL AND THE DEVELOPER IS
HERE AND THE ATTORNEY FOR
THE DEVELOPER IS HERE AND —
AND — AND HE'S IN GENERAL
AGREEMENT WITH THIS — WITH
THIS CONDITION, WHICH OF
COURSE WOULD BE CONDITION OF
ZONING AND NOT PART OF THE
ANNEXATION.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
MR. LUKENS.
OKAY THE SERVICE PLAN.
THE SERVICE PLAN IS — ON
THE TABLE TO MY LEFT.
AGAIN WE WILL BE TAKING OVER
FOR TRAVIS COUNTY FOR THE
SEVENS THEY PROVIDE, PLUS
PROVIDING NEW AND ENHANCED
SERVICES NOT OTHERWISE
AVAILABLE IN THE COUNTY.
AND AGAIN THEY ARE AVAILABLE
TO MY LEFT.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
MAYOR GARCIA: HENRY
GILMORE, YOU DON'T — YOU
INDICATE THAT YOU DON'T NEED
TO SPEAK, BUT YOU ARE
REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT
AND YOU ARE AVAILABLE FOR
QUESTIONS, CORRECT?
YES, SIR.
MAYOR, CAN I JUST ADD TO
BEN'S COMMENTS.
I'M HENRY GILMORE
REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT
OR THE LANDOWNER OPINE NEAR
CROSSING.
WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO HOWARD
LANE, GREGG LANE IN ANY WAY.
THE ONLY ISSUE THAT WE HAVE
WITH SOME OF — SOME OF
MR. GIESELMAN'S CONCERNS IS
A MATTER OF TIMING.
IT'S A MATTER OF TIMING ON
FISCAL.
WE THINK WE CAN WORK IT OUT
WITH THEM THROUGH THE
CONTEXT OF THE ZONING CASE,
WE WILL HAVE SOMETHING FOR
YOU WHEN WE COME BACK IN
FRONT OF YOU ALL FOR ZONING.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
MR. GILMORE.
THAT'S ALL OF THE SPEAKERS
THAT WE HAVE, I WILL
ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE
THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THOMAS: SO MOVE, MAYOR.
MAYOR GARCIA: MOTION BY
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS,
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
ALVAREZ.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.?
AYE.
.
AGAIN THAT'S A VOTE OF 4 TO
0 TO 3, WITH — WITH THE
THREE CANDIDATES FILLING —
SOME [INAUDIBLE], I THINK.
BEAR LAKE P.U.D.
YES, SIR.
BEAR LAKE P.U.D., 117
ACRES —
CAN YOU POINT THAT — IS
THAT THE ONE ON THE LEFT?
WHAT'S THAT LITTLE ONE ON
THE — ON THE NORTH — ON
THE SOUTHEAST SIDE, THAT
LITTLE BLUE SPOT ON THE MAP?
[INAUDIBLE - NO MIC].
MAYOR GARCIA: THAT'S THE
NEXT ONE.
OKAY, GOT IT, GOT IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
YOU CAN'T LEAVE, OTHERWISE
THE WHOLE THING STOPS.
THAT'S RIGHT.
THE — THE BEAR LAKE P.U.D.
IS ABOUT 117 ACRES IN HAYS
COUNTY.
EAST OF F.M. 1826.
JUST SOUTH OF THE
INTERSECTION OF 1826 AND SHA
45.
THIS TRACT IS PART OF A
PROPOSED P.U.D., BEAR LAKE
P.U.D. IT HAS COME UNDER
REVIEW BY NPZ AN THE BALANCE
OF THAT P.U.D. IS ALREADY IN
THE CITY.
AGAIN, FOR THE SERVICE PLAN,
WE WILL BE TAKING OVER IN
THIS CASE FOR HAYS COUNTY
FOR THOSE SERVICES CURRENTLY
PROVIDED BY HAYS COUNTY PLUS
PROVIDING ADDITIONAL AND
ENHANCED SERVICES NOT
OTHERWISE AVAILABLE.
OF COURSE ALL OF THESE ARE
AT A LEVEL COMPARABLE TO
THOSE PROVIDED IN THE
BALANCE OF THE CITY OF
AUSTIN, THAT'S TRUE IN ALL
OF THE SERVICE PLANS.
SERVICE PLANS AVAILABLE AT
THE TABLE TO MY LEFT.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, I WILL BE — TO
ANSWER THEM.
MAYOR GARCIA: QUESTIONS
FOR MR. LUKEN?
IF NOT, I DON'T HAVE ANY —
ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO MOVE.
MAYOR GARCIA: MOTION BY
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, SECONDED
BY COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.?
AYE.
OPPOSED, NO. MOTION
CARRIES ON A VOTE OF 4 TO 0
TO 3 WITH COUNCILMEMBER
SLUSHER, MAYOR PRO TEM
GOODMAN AND COUNCILMEMBER
GRIFFITH TEMPORARILY OUT.
THAT'S ALL OF THE ITEMS FOR
NUMBER 45.
LET ME ANNOUNCE THOUGH WE
DON'T HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP
TO SPEAK ON ITEM NO. 48, OR
DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY?
NO, WE DON'T.
I'M GOING TO ANNOUNCE THAT
ITEM 48 HAS BEEN POSTPONED
TO — YEAH, I UNDERSTAND.
YEAH.
48 IS POSTPONED TO MAY 23RD.
WE WILL GO TO ITEM NO. 46.
LOOK LUKEN.
YES, SIR.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR
THE FULL PURPOSE ANNEXATION
OF THE COLTON BLUFF SMART
HOUSING TRACT, WHICH IS 120
ACRES IN TRAVIS COUNTY AT
THE INTERSECTION OF COLTON
BLUFF SPRINGS ROAD AND
MCKINNEY PARKWAY.
THIS IS A SMART HOUSING
PROJECT, PROPOSED SMART
HOUSING SITE WE ARE ANNEXING
IT SO THE PROPERTY WILL BE
ELIGIBLE FOR SMART HOUSING
INCENTIVES.
JOE GIESELMAN FOR TRAVIS
COUNTY AGAIN E-MAILED ME ON
THIS ONE AND BROUGHT UP THE
ISSUE OF McKINNEYS FALLS
PARKWAY — McKINNEY PARK.
MAYOR GARCIA: OH, YEAH, I
GOT IT.
THAT RUNS THROUGH THIS
TRACT.
AND AGAIN, WE WILL BE TAKING
CARE OF RIGHT-OF-WAY THROUGH
THE SMART HOUSING CONTRACT
AND/OR THE — THE ZONING.
AGAIN, THE — THE
APPLICANT — I HAVE SPOKEN
WITH THE ATTORNEY FOR THE
APPLICANT HE'S IN GENERAL
AGREEMENT WITH DEDICATION OF
THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND POSTING
OF FISCAL.
THAT ISSUE SHOULD BE
RESOLVED.
THE — THE SERVICE PLAN IS
ON THE TABLE TO MY LEFT.
AGAIN, THIS CASE WILL TAKE
OVER FOR TRAVIS COUNTY,
PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT
THEY CURRENTLY PROVIDE PLUS
PROVIDED NEW AND ENHANCED
SERVICES NOT OTHERWISE
AVAILABLE IN THE COUNTY.
OF COURSE THE SERVICE WE
PROVIDE ARE COMPARABLE TO
SERVICES IN SIMILARLY
SITUATED PARTS OF THE
COMMUNITY.
THAT'S THAT PRESENTATION FOR
THAT ANNEXATION AREA.
MAYOR GARCIA: HENRY
GILMORE IS SIGNED UP NOT
WISHING TO SPEAK AND IN
FAVOR OF.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU
WANT TO SAY, MR. GILMORE.
VERY SIMILAR ISSUES.
THE PIONEER CROSSING, WE
LIKE McKINNEY FALL PARKWAY,
WE WANT IT TO BE IN.
WE JUST NEED TO WORK A
LITTLE BIT ON THE TIMING ON
POSTING THE FISCAL, THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY AND SOME OF THE
OTHER THINGS MR. GIESELMAN
ASKED FOR WE HAVE NO
PROBLEM.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
SIR, I WILL ENTERTAIN A
MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER
ALVAREZ, SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
AYE.
MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE
OF 4 TO 0 TO 3 WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, MAYOR
PRO TEM GOODMAN AND
COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH
TEMPORARILY OUT.
CAN YOU TELL US THE DATES
FOR ACTION ON THESE ITEMS.
YES, SIR.
ACTION IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY
THE 9TH ON ALL OF THESE
ITEMS.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
THANK YOU, SIR.
I MISSPOKE A MINUTE AGO.
ITEM 48 I SAID WAS POSTPONED
ON MAY 23RD, IT'S POSTPONED
TO NEXT WEEK, APRIL 25.
ITEM 49 IS THE ONE THAT'S
POSTPONED TO MAY THE 23RD.
OKAY.
WE ARE DOWN TO ITEM NO. 47.
TOYS CONDUCT A PUBLIC
HEARING ON AN ORDINANCE
AMENDMENTING — AMENDING
SECTION 16-5-22 AND 16-5-98
OF THE CITY CODE RELATED TO
PARKING IN FRONT OR SIDE
YARDS OF A RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY.
AND WHO I — AH MS. THOMAS,
ARE YOU GOING TO HANDLE THIS
ONE?
DEBORAH THOMAS WITH THE
CITY OF AUSTIN LAW
DEPARTMENT.
AS YOU WILL REMEMBER WE HAD
A PRESENTATION BY MS. DAILY
LAST WEEK AND I WENT OVER
THE PROVISIONS IN THE
ORDINANCE.
MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN HAD
ASKED FOR A MAP, A SMALL MAP
WITH SOME OF THE STREETS ON
IT.
THE MAP YOU ARE RECEIVING
RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A COPY
OF THE GREEN, OF THE MAP
HERE BEFORE YOU, WITH THE
MAJOR STREETS IDENTIFIED.
MAYOR, DID YOU WANT A
PRESENTATION LIKE WE HAD
LAST TIME OR WOULD YOU JUST
WANT TO GO TO THE —
MAYOR GARCIA: I THINK
THAT WE HAD THE
PRESENTATION.
WHAT I WILL DO IS I WILL ASK
THE COUNCILMEMBERS IF THEY
HAVE QUESTIONS AND —
ALVAREZ: MAYOR?
MAYOR GARCIA: AND THEN
EITHER YOU OR SOMEBODY FOR
YOUR STAFF CAN ANSWER THE
QUESTIONS.
ALSO, WE HAVE ASSISTANT
POLICE CHIEF HERE TO —
TO — IS HERE TO — RUDY IS
HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
ON BEHALF OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, IS THAT RIGHT,
CHIEF?
OKAY.
OKAY, WE —
ALVAREZ: I DID HAVE A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR
STAFF.
MAYOR GARCIA: SURE,
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.
ALVAREZ: YES, MS. THOMAS.
JUST ON SOME OF THE LEGAL
LANGUAGE, MAYBE — FOUND IT,
BUT — BUT UNDER SECTION, I
THINK IT'S 16-5-22-E, NUMBER
1.
YES.
IS THAT — SAYS THAT RECORD
OWNER OF PROPERTY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AREA CAN
INITIATE THE PETITION.
[INAUDIBLE] APPLICABILITY OF
THIS SECTION TO EITHER
INCLUDE OR EXCLUDE A
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
BOUNDARY AREA.
WE ARE DEFINING NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION BOUNDARY AREA AS
THIS?
OR — I THINK IT MAYBE
IMPORTANT THAT WE SPECIFY
WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD BOUNDARY
AREAS ARE THE AREAS THAT ARE
SHOWN ON THE MAP AND THEY
ARE THE AREAS THAT — THAT
ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION REGISTRY THAT —
THAT EACH NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION FILES TO BE
REGISTERED WITH THE CITY AND
THESE ARE THE BOUNDARIES
THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN FOR
THEIR AREA.
BUT IS — ARE THESE OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AREAS?
OH, NO, SIR.
OR ARE THESE THE ONES
DEFINED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATIONS THEMSELVES?
LET ME — [INAUDIBLE].
ON THIS LARGER MAP, THE —
THE RED AREAS ARE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AREAS.
THE OFFICIAL NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANNING AREAS THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AND
ZONING WORKS WITH.
AND COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS HAD
ASKED THAT — THAT JUST FOR
INFORMATION PURPOSES, TO SEE
IF WE CAN OVERLAY THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
BOUNDARIES ON TOP OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AREAS.
SO YOU COULD GET AN IDEA OF
HOW THEY SPR.... INTERACTED.
BUT THE ORDINANCE APPLIES TO
THE GREEN AND DASHED GREEN
LINES AND THOSE TWO LINES,
THOSE TWO — THE GREEN, FULL
GREEN AND THE DASHED GREEN
MEAN EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE VARIATION
SO YOU COULD SEE WHERE ONE
END AND THE OTHER BEGINS.
THESE ARE JUST THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS
AND THAT'S WHERE THE
ORDINANCE WOULD BE
APPLICABLE.
NOT IN THE RED OUTLINED
AREAS.
ALVAREZ: WHAT IF A
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
CHANGES ITS BOUNDARIES?
JUST TRYING TO THINK OF, YOU
KNOW, HOW FIXED ARE THESE
LINES?
THESE AREAS, ONCE THE
ORDINANCE WAS PASSED, THESE
WOULD BE THE BOUNDARIES.
IF A NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION CHANGED ITS
BOUNDARIES, BASICALLY IT
WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK
THROUGH THE PROCESS TO LET
US KNOW THAT THIS NOW IS THE
AREA THAT THEY WANT INCLUDED
IN THE APPLICABILITY OF THE
ORDINANCE AND NOT THE OLD
ONES.
SO BASICALLY THEY HAVE TO
FILE AS THOUGH THEY WERE
ASKING TO COME IN ANEW.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
ALVAREZ: OKAY.
WELL, THAT'S ONE OF MY
QUESTIONS.
THE OTHER ONE IS, I'M NOT
SURE THAT THIS IS POSSIBLE,
BUT I WILL ASK STAFF TO SEE
IF THEY CAN FIND IT, WE KNOW
IN TERMS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANNING AREAS, ROUGHLY WHAT
THE AVERAGE SIZE IS?
I GUESS I'M TRYING TO — IS
IT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE FOR
10 PROPERTY OWNERS TO SAY WE
DON'T WANT IT FOR THIS
PARTICULAR PART OF THIS
STREET OR IS IT — YOU KNOW,
IS THERE — IS THERE A
REFRESH MY MEMORY THAT IT BE
A MINIMUM AREA.
THERE ACTUALLY IS NO
REQUIREMENT THAT THERE BE A
MINIMUM AREA.
THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN
JUST SAYS NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION.
IF THE NEIGHBORHOOD — IF A
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
REGISTERS AND FOR INSTANCE
IF IT'S ONE — ONE PERSON
REGISTERED AS A NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION, WE WOULD
ACTUALLY HAVE TO — TO
RECOGNIZE THAT TO THE EXTENT
THAT WHEN IT CAME TO
COUNCIL, COUNCIL WOULD HAVE
TO DECIDE IF THAT WAS
APPROPRIATE FOR ONE
RESIDENCE TO BE IN OR NOT.
THE ORDINANCE DOESN'T IN AND
OF ITSELF HAVE ANY LIMITS.
WELL, I THINK THAT'S A
LITTLE TOO OPEN ENDED
MYSELF.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT
TIGHTENED UP.
THE OTHER HAS TO DO WITH HOW
YOU DEFINE NOTICE OWNERS?
I SEE THAT IT'S DEFINED HERE
AS JUST SOMEONE WHO OWNS
REAL PROPERTY AS SHOWN IN
THE TAX RECORDS.
PATTERNS.
YES.
NOTICE OWNER AND RECORD
OWNER ARE THE — THESE
DEFINITIONS ARE THE
DEFINITIONS FOR THE LAND
DEVELOPMENT CODE.
THE RECORD OWNER IS THE
OWNER AS SHOWN IN THE DEED
RECORDS.
THE NOTICE OWNER IS THE
OWNER SHOWN IN THE TAX
APPRAISAL RECORDS.
ALVAREZ: OKAY.
SO NOW ON E-2, WE ARE SAYING
THAT THE PETITION MUST BE
SIGNED BY 10% OF THE NOTICE
OWNERS.
AS OPPOSED TO THE DEED
OWNERS.
SO WHAT — WHAT IS THE
DIFFERENCE THERE?
THE NOTICE IS JUST THAT
THE NOTICE OWNERS ARE THE
PEOPLE WHO — WHO ACTUALLY
OWN — THE PEOPLE WHO —
WHO — AS DETERMINED BY THE
TAX APPRAISAL DISTRICT OWN
THE PROPERTY.
WE USE RECORD OWNER IN THE
OTHER PROVISION BECAUSE THE
RECORD OBEYER IS ACTUALLY —
OWNER IS ACTUALLY THE OWNER
THE DEED RECORD.
USUALLY THE DEED RECORDS
WILL GET CHANGED FIRST AFTER
PROPERTY IS CONVEYED.
SO TO ACTUALLY BRING THE —
TO ACTUALLY BRING THE — THE
REQUEST FOR INCLUSION OR
EXCLUSION FORWARD, WE
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER
TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE PERSON
WHO DID— WHO IN THE — IN
THE DEED RECORDS DID TRULY
OWN THE PROPERTY.
BUT WE ARE — THE — THE
NOTICE OWNER IS A LITTLE BIT
MORE RELAXED OR RE— A
RELAXED REQUIREMENT.
ALVAREZ: I GUESS IF —
BECAUSE YOU SAY THE DEED
OWNER RECORDS WOULD BE MORE
ACCURATE BECAUSE OF THE —
BECAUSE IT WOULD REFLECT
RECENT PURCHASES, I SUPPOSE.
SO THEN THOSE — YOU KNOW,
THOSE OWNERS AREN'T GETTING
NOTICE IN THIS PARTICULAR
SCENARIO.
THE RECORD OWNERS ARE THE
OWNERS WHO ACTUALLY COULD
COME AND ASK TO HAVE A
CHANGE OCCUR.
THE — THE RECORD OWNER —
THE NOTICE OWNERS ARE THE
ONES WOULD COULD ALSO JUST
SIGN THE PETITION.
ALVAREZ: WELL, LET ME
DIGEST THAT A LITTLE BIT.
I THINK THOSE ARE THE TWO
QUESTIONS THAT I — IN TERMS
OF — THAT I HAD IN TERMS OF
HOW TO INTERPRET THE
ORDINANCE.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?
DID YOU — YOU WERE THE
LEADER OF THIS PARTICULAR
ISSUE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A FEW
COMMENTS?
THOMAS: YES, SIR.
I APPRECIATE STAFF AND
EVERYONE ELSE THAT HAS BEEN
INVOLVED.
I HOPE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS FOR THE
COUNCILMEMBERS OR THE MAYOR
SO THE NEXT TIME WE WON'T
HAVE A DELAY IN TRYING TO
GET AN ANSWER BEFORE WE COME
BACK FOR THE — FOR THE NEXT
READING.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU.
MS. THOMAS, THIS IS GOING TO
BE A — UP FOR ACTION WHEN?
NEXT WEEK, THE 25TH.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS.
CLARK HAMMOND, SOUTH RIVER
CITY CITIZENS PRESIDENT,
IS — REGISTERED NOT WISHING
TO SPEAK, AND IN FAVOR OF.
THE SOUTH RIVER CITY
CITIZENS HAS VOTED TO
SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE.
JOHN SCHAEFER, DOESN'T SAY
WHETHER HE WANTS TO SPEAK OR
NOT, HE IS REGISTERED
AGAINST.
IS MR. SCHAEFER HERE?
JOHN S. SCHAEFER?
[INAUDIBLE - NO MIC].
MAYOR GARCIA: HE STEPPED
OUT FOR JUST A MINUTE.
I'M GOING TO PUT HIS CARD
HERE TO ONE SIDE, THEN I
WILL RECOGNIZE HIM.
INEZ SHACKLEFORD, NOT
WISHING TO SPEAK, AGAINST.
WILLIAM D.SILMAN?
[INAUDIBLE]
I WILL CHANGE YOUR CARD,
COME RIGHT HERE.
THAT'S — MR. SILMAN,
WELCOME, SIR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO READ
THIS BECAUSE IT'S WRITTEN BY
MORE THAN ONE PERSON.
SO — I WASN'T THERE WHEN
THE NORTH AUSTIN
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
VOTED 40 OF 70 IN FAVOR OF
THIS ORDINANCE.
WE CAN NEVER KNOW WHAT THE
OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD
THERE BEEN A FULL
PRESENTATION ON BOTH SIDES.
EVEN IF THE VOTE RESULT HAD
BEEN SWITCHED TO 40 AGAINST
AND ONLY 30 FOR THE
ORDINANCE, THIS KIND OF VOTE
CANNOT BE VALUED SO FAR AS
TO REPLACE A MORE FORMAL
OUTREACH NOTIFICATION ISSUE
AND PROCEDURE.
HISTORICALLY USED HARMLESS
AND EVEN PRACTICAL USE OF
ONE'S OWN PROPERTY IS
EXTINCT.
THERE'S NOTHING TO BE AFRAID
OF BY INCLUDING THOSE WOULD
WHOA WOULD BE AFFECTED BY
THIS.
SELF DETERMINE IS AN
ABSOLUTE RIGHTEOUS GOAL
CONSISTENT WITH DEMOCRATIC
FREEDOMS.
EVERYONE SHOULD BE NOTIFIED
BY MORE THAN A MENTION IN A
FUSE.....NEWSLETTER.
IT'S NOT BEING READ BY
EVERYONE TO BEGIN WITH.
IT'S ONLY DELIVERED TO ABOUT
ONE THIRD OF THE HOUSE
HOLDS.
I KNOW THAT I DID NOT
PERSONALLY RECEIVE ONE.
THERE'S NO CRIME IN NOT
HAVING — EXCUSE ME.
I HAVE THEM MIXED UP HERE.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
THERE'S — THERE'S NO CRIME
IN NOT HAVING FULL
NEIGHBORHOOD DELIVERY, BUT
NEWSLETTERS TO 27,450 PEOPLE
JUST CAN'T BE DONE WITH 3550
FLIERS.
AND TO DECIDE AN ISSUE
WITHOUT NOTIFICATION OF ALL
OF THESE AFFECTED AT THE
MOST IS WRONG AND THE CITY
COUNCIL SHOULD KNOW THAT
THOUSANDS WERE EXCLUDED FOR
THE PROCESS.
TAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OFF
THE MAP.
I WANT TO SAY THAT —
PERSONALLY, I OWN THREE
VEHICLES AND THE DRIVEWAYS
ON OUR STREET ARE SO SHORT
THAT YOU CAN ONLY PARK ONE,
YOU HAVE GOT ONE SPACE IN
FRONT OF THE HOUSE TO PARK,
AND YOU HAVE GOT ONE ON YOUR
DRIVEWAY.
AND THE REST OF IT, YOU —
IF YOU MAKE THIS ORDINANCE
GO THROUGH, WILL BE MAKING
ONE VEHICLE ILLEGALLY PARKED
NO MATTER WHERE YOU PUT IT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MAYOR GARCIA: I NEED TO
EAT SUPPER AND COME BACK TO
THIS MEETING — I'M EATING
SUPPER WHILE AT THE MEETING,
I CAN'T LEAVE THE DAIS
BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY FOUR
COUNCILMEMBERS HERE.
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAP?
NO, SIR.
MAYOR GARCIA: ARE YOU
IN —
I LIVE ON LANSURE DRIVE.
MAYOR GARCIA: DO YOU KNOW
THAT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS
BEEN — VOTED TO BE
INCLUDED.
MY UNDERSTANDING 40 TO 70
IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE.
WHAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR
ASSOCIATION?
NORTH AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION.
MAYOR GARCIA: NORTH
AUSTIN?
I'M SORRY, CIVIC
ASSOCIATION.
MAYOR GARCIA: NORTH
AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR
ORDINANCE HAS WHAT IS KNOWN
AS AN OPT IN PROVISION.
IF YOU ARE — YOU ARE NOT IN
UNLESS YOUR ASSOCIATION
VOTES TO GET IN.
SO —
JOHN, DO YOU KNOW
WHICH —
MAYOR GARCIA: BUT
APPARENTLY THEY ALREADY
VOTED, THEY VOTED TO BE IN.
WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS YOU
WERE ON THE LOSING SIDE OF
THAT VOTE?
RIGHT.
MAYOR GARCIA: YOU WANTED
TO — YOU WANTED TO EXPRESS
YOUR CONCERNS, OKAY, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
THANK YOU, SIR.
MARK — MARY M.TANNEHILL,
FOLLOWING HER MR. JACK
JENNINGS IS DONATING THE
TIME TO MARY TANNEHILL.
MS. TANNEHILL YOU HAVE SIX
MINUTES.
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE SIX
MINUTES, THANK YOU, SIR.
I AM THE IMMEDIATE PAST
PRESIDENT OF THE BALCONES
CIVIC ASSOCIATION IN
NORTHWEST AUSTIN.
ONE OF THE — ONE OF THE
ONES IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN.
ON BEHALF OF THE BALCONES
CIVIC ASSOCIATION, I WOULD
LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT
OF THE PROPOSED BAN ON FRONT
AND SIDE LAWN PARKING.
WE FEEL THAT FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOODS IN AUSTIN THAT
HAVE ADEQUATE RESIDENTIAL
PARKING AND THAT HAVE VOTED
TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
PROPOSED ORDINANCE, THAT
THESE NEIGHBORHOODS WILL
BENEFIT FOR THE PASSAGE AND
ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH AN
ORDINANCE.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE OVERALL
BEAUTY AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF
THE OPT-IN NEIGHBORHOODS
WILL IMPROVE.
AND THAT HOME VALUES WILL GO
UP, ALSO.
THESE TWO ATTRIBUTES WILL
BENEFIT THE HOMEOWNERS IN
THE AFFECTED NEIGHBORHOODS,
IE THE OPT-IN NEIGHBORHOODS,
AND WILL HELP KEEP THE
ENTIRE SHE MORE ATTRACTIVE.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
VERY MUCH MS. TANEHILL.
CARY McHUE?
SHE IS REGISTERED WISHING TO
SPEAK AND IS AGAINST THE
ORDINANCE.
DOUG HEIGHT, DOUG HEIGHT?
DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, BUT
WANTS TO GIVE HIS TIME TO
THE NEXT SPEAKER ANGELA
BAKER.
YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES.
WHICH YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE.
ACTUALLY YOU HAVE NINE
MINUTES BECAUSE ROBERT GAVE
YOU HIS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
NO.
I PROMISE I WON'T — I LIKE
TO TALK ABOUT NOT THAT MUCH,
I'M ANGELA BAKER FROM THE
NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC
ASSOCIATION AND MAYOR AND
COUNCILMEN.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
BRIEFLY ABOUT THE RESEARCH
THAT WE HAVE DONE ON OUR
COMMITTEE.
WE DID, I THINK WE MENTIONED
IT BEFORE.
WE HAVE RESEARCHED OVER 50
CITIES WITHIN THE UNITED
STATES, CITIES WITHIN TEXAS.
AFTER DOING THIS, WE FOUND
OUT THAT ALTHOUGH AUSTIN IS
A UNIQUE CITY, WE BELIEVE
THAT, WE WANT TO MAINTAIN
ITS CHARACTER, WE DO FEEL
THAT WE HAVE THE SAME
PROBLEMS THAT SOME OF THE
OTHER CITIES, THE TOP CITIES
IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE.
WE HAVE RAPID GROWTH, WE
HAVE POLLUTION, WE HAVE
EXCESSIVE TRAFFIC, WE HAVE
RESIDENTS MOVING TO SUBURBS.
AND SO — SO WE LOOKED AT
SOME OF THE CITIES IN TEXAS,
SOME THAT WE THOUGHT WERE
MORE LIKE US, WE HAD
EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH
PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND MY HUSBAND AND I DECIDED
THAT WE WOULD GO AND VISIT
WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT
PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND THEY GRACIOUSLY SPENT
ABOUT THREE HOURS WITH US.
I WON'T GIVE YOU EVERY
DETAIL.
BUT — BUT IN SAN ANTONIO,
THEY FEEL THAT — THAT THIS
ORDINANCE IS ONE OF JUST A
TOOL TO HELP IMPROVE THE
CITY.
IN SAN ANTONIO, THEY — THEY
TARGET CERTAIN AREAS TO
BRING THE RESIDENTS OF THE
AREA INTO COMPLIANCE.
AND WHEN THEY DO THAT, THEY
HAVE ONE CODE ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER THAT ALL HE DOES IS
TICKET THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE
PARKED ON LAWNS.
HE ISSUES SOMETHING LIKE 350
TICKETS A MONTH.
AND THAT TURNS OUT TO BE
SOMETHING LIKE $130,000 A
YEAR AND HE SAID, I DON'T
GET THIS IN SALARY.
WHAT HE'S GIVING OUT IN
TICKETS MORE THAN MAKES UP
FOR WHAT HIS SALARY IS.
BUT THE — BUT THE — THEY
SAID THE MAIN THING WAS NOT
THE FINES, BUT TO BRING
PEOPLE INTO COMPLIANCE AND
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE
ENVIRONMENT, CALICHE, IF YOU
PARK ON IT AFTER A WHILE IT
HAS ALL OF THE ATTRIBUTES OF
CONCRETE.
IT BECOMES VERY HARD.
THEY ARE A LITTLE LATE
COMING ALONG, BUT THEY ARE
BECOMING MORE
ENVIRONMENTALLY CONCERNED
NOW.
MAYBE THEY WILL CATCH UP
WITH AUSTIN.
THEY FEEL THAT THE RUNOFF
THAT COMES FOR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT IS VERY — IS VERY
BAD IN THE AREA.
THEY ALSO FEEL THAT WE HAVE
A CLEAN ATTRACTIVE AREA, THE
AREA THAT WE LOOKED AT WAS
IN A — WAS IN A MODEST —
MODEST HOMES, LARGE PUBLIC
HOUSING PROJECTS, AND THIS
WAS AN AREA THAT THEY
TARGETED, IT LOOKED VERY
NEAT, VERY CLEAN, THEY
SAID — WHEN AN AREA LOOKS
LIKE THIS, OVERALL THE AREA
IS SAFER.
THERE'S LESS CRIME.
THERE WERE — THERE'S MORE
RESPONSIVENESS FOR THE
NEIGHBORS.
FOR THE NEIGHBORS.
I REALLY WONDERED HOW CAN
YOU ASK PEOPLE IN AREAS LIKE
THAT TO PUT IN DRIVEWAYS?
IT WAS A BURDEN I WOULD HAVE
THOUGHT.
THEY SAID THEY USED A NUMBER
OF PROCESSES, ONE OF THEM IS
CDMA BLOC GRANTS THAT —
CDBG BLOCK GRANTS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE.
NON-PROFIT HOUSING
CORPORATIONS THAT ALSO
ISSUED GRANTS TO — TO BRING
YOU INTO COMPLIANCE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY
FOUND AS SORT OF AN
UNEXPECTED BONUS WAS THAT
AFTER THEY WORKED IN AN
AREA, IT WAS AS IF — AS IF
EVERYONE ALL OF A YOU HAD
SUDDEN TOOK MORE PRIDE IN
THE AREA, THEY FOUND THAT
PEOPLE WERE CALLING THE CITY
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT TO SEE
HOW THEY COULD IMPROVE THEIR
PROPERTY.
AND AFTER LOOKING AT THIS
AREA, I KEEP REMAINDERED ME
OF — OF SMALL TOWN THAT I
GREW UP IN.
THAT — THAT MODEST HOMES,
BUT VERY WELL CARED FOR.
THIS IS WHAT THE AREA BEGAN
TO LOOK LIKE TO ME.
SO I THINK WE HAVE
POSSIBILITY.
WE ARE NOT ASKING EVERYONE
WITHIN THE CITY TO BE A PART
OF THIS ORDINANCE.
BUT THE AREAS THAT WE FEEL
THAT ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED
BY PARKING CARS ON THE LAWNS
WOULD BE AIDED AND WE WOULD
IMPROVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
BECAUSE WE REALLY WOULD LIKE
TO SEE AUSTIN AS ONE OF THE
LEADING CITIES IN THE UNITED
STATES.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MS. BAKER.
LAWRENCE KING IS REGISTERED
NOT WISHING TO SPEAK, BUT IN
FAVOR OF.
AND EARLIER ON, I ASKED IF
MR. JOHN S. SCHAEFER WAS
HERE.
AND THEY TOLD ME THAT HE
ON— THERE YOU ARE.
MAYOR GARCIA: YOU ARE
GOING TO PASS, YOU ARE
REGISTERED AGAINST, CORRECT?
THANK YOU, SIR.
CATARINA HESSDORF.
FOLLOWING HER IS — LINDA
MOORE, AND LINDA HAS — HAS
TWO PEOPLE GIVING HER TIME.
SO LINDA WILL HAVE NINE
MINUTES.
WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS
CATARINA HEDDDORF, PART OF
THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC
ASSOCIATION, FOR 20 — 25
YEARS.
I HAVE SEEN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW,
GROW, INTO, YOU KNOW, WE
USED TO HAVE — COUNTRY ON
THE BACK OF OUR HOUSE.
AND NOW IT'S DEVELOPED.
I RECALL.
............THAT WE HAVE TO BEAWARE MORE PEOPLE ARE MOVING
INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND
EVERYTHING — BUT MY CONCERN
IS THAT WE HAVE BOUGHT TWO
HOUSES, BOTH HOUSES ARE, MY
KIDS GREW UP IN ONE OF THEM,
FINDS OF FINISHED GROWING UP
IN THE SECOND ONE.
MY HUSBAND AND I STILL LIVE
THERE.
MY CONCERN, IF — IF WE
ALOWER OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO
DETERIORATE, ALLOW OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS TO
DETERIORATE, I FULLY BELIEVE
THAT HAVING THE CAR PARKED
ON THE LAWN STARTS THE
NEIGHBORHOOD TO LOOKING
SEEDDY.
I'M SORRY TO SAY, AS YOU GET
CLOSER TO RETIREMENT AGE,
YOU START LOOKING AT
RETIREMENT AND THE
POCKETBOOK.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO
WHEN WE SELL THIS HOUSE, TO
BE ABLE TO GET WHAT WE PUT
INTO IT.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD
BE USING MONEY FOR — FOR
RETIREMENT AND ALL OF THAT.
AND I FEEL THAT IF WE ALLOW
CARS TO PARK IN THE — IN
THE NO DRIVEWAYS, — NOT IN
DRIVEWAYS, NOT IN SPECIFIC
AREAS, OUR PROPERTIES WILL
START GOING DOWN.
AND THAT'S — THAT'S ONE OF
MY CONCERNS.
AND AGAIN, WHAT ANGELA SAID
ABOUT ONCE THE NEIGHBORHOOD
STARTS GETTING TO BE SEEDY
LOOKING, I THINK OUR KIDS
SUFFER.
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SUFFER.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
FOR FROM LINDA MOORE, YOU
HAVE NINE MINUTE, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO USE IT.
LINDA MOORE WITH THE
NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC
ASSOCIATION.
I'M GOING TO READ EXCERPTS
FROM A FEW LETTERS FROM
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS
TELLING WHY THEY THINK THIS
ORDINANCE IS IMPORTANT.
THE FIRST IS FROM BATTLE
BEND SPRINGS HOMEOWNERS
ASSOCIATION.
THE GROWING TREND FOR
PARKING IN THE YARD INSTEAD
OF THE STREET OR DRIVEWAYS
HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE
APPEARANCE OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS HERE IN
AUSTIN, NOT ONLY IS IT
UNSIGHTLY DUE TO THE RANDOM
ORIENTATION OF CARS THAT
OCCURS, IN SUCH CASES, BUT
VEHICLES TEND TO CAUSE
DAMAGE TO LAWNS, WHICH
REMAIN AN EYESORE EVEN WHEN
THE VEHICLE IS NOT PARKED
THERE.
RESIDENTS WHO ENGAGE IN SUCH
PRACTICE OFTEN USE IT AS A
MEANS OF STORING DISABLED
VEHICLES.
FURTHERMORE, MEMBERS OF OUR
BOARD HAVE WITNESSED BROKEN
WATER AND SEWER LINES
RESULTING FROM THE FACT THAT
MOST YARDS ARE NOT DESIGNED
TO BEAR THE WEIGHT OF
VEHICLES.
FROM BALCONES WOODS
HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, THE
COVENANTS AND DEED
RESTRICTIONS OF BALCONES
WOODS DO NOT ADDRESS THIS
SPECIFIC ISSUE, PARKING ON
THE YARDS.
DUE TO THE AMPLE STREET
PARKING AND LARGE DRIVEWAYS.
YET THERE ARE BALCONES WOODS
RESIDENTS WHO PARK THEIR
VEHICLES IN THEIR YARDS.
THIS IS FROM NORTH AUSTIN
CIVIC.
IN A YEAR OF UNPRECEDENTED
BUDGET SHORTFALL, THIS
ORDINANCE IS ONE WAY OF
ADDING TO THE CITY INCOME
WITHOUT HIRING MORE POLICE
OFFICERS TO ENDORSE IT.
— ENFORCE IT.
THE DISTRICT REPS WILL BE
THE ENFORCEMENT AGENTS AND
THIS ALONE SHOULD MAKE IT
ATTRACTIVE TO THE COUNCIL.
FROM THE NORTH UNIVERSITY
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION:
WE HAVE OUR OWN PROBLEMS
WITH PARKING IN YARDS.
SPECIALLY AT THE BIG BOX
DUPLEXES WHICH ARE BEING PUT
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE OWNERS OF THESE DUPLEXES
ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE
ADEQUATE PARKING FOR THEIR
RESIDENTS.
THE VEHICLES END UP ALL OVER
THE YARD.
WE NEED HELP FROM THE CITY
OF AUSTIN TO ADDRESS THIS
GROWING PROBLEM.
FROM THE I-35 AIRPORT
BOULEVARD NEIGHBORHOOD, WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING TO CLEAN
UP AND PROTECT OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD IN UNSIGHTLY
CARS OR WHAT'S LEFT OF THEM
ONLY MAKE THAT GOAL HARDER
AND ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTE TO
OUR LACK OF SAFETY.
I'M REFERRING TO DR. WILLIAM
R. KELLY'S REPORT, BROKEN
WINDOW AND BROKEN LIVES.
ADDRESSING PUBLIC ORDER OFF
FENDING IN — OFFENDING IN
WHICH UNSIGHTLY NEIGHBORHOOD
CORRELATE DIRECTLY TO
INCREASES IN CRIME.
FROM THE SOUTH RIVER CITY
CITIZENS IN TRAVIS HEIGHTS,
SRCC BELIEVES THAT LIKE THE
OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN TEXAS,
AUSTIN NEEDS TO CONTROL LAWN
PARKING FOR AESTHETIC,
ENVIRONMENTAL AND FINANCIAL
REASONS.
WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN
ZONING OFFICERS, WE BELIEVE
THIS — THIS IS THE QUICKEST
WAY TO — TO STOP
NEIGHBORHOOD DETERIORATION.
WE ASK YOU TO — TO SUPPORT
ANY PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO
HALT OWNERS OR RENTERS FROM
PARKING IN THEIR FRONT OR
SIDE YARDS.
THE McKINLY HEIGHTS
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
SAYS WE BELIEVE SUCH PACKING
PRACTICES DEGRADE THE
QUALITY AND CHARACTER OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
FROM THE LAMP LIGHT VILLAGE
NEIGHBORHOOD, CONSISTING OF
1400 HOMES, THEY MENTION
SEVERAL ISSUES, THAT THE
PARKING ISSUE HAS BROUGHT
UP.
ZONING FOR RESIDENTIAL AND
DUPLEX, ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT, CONCERNING GROUND
WATER QUALITY.
DIRECTIONAL RUNOFF, SOIL
COMPACTION AND POSSIBLE
UTILITY LINE BREAKAGE,
VISUAL POLLUTION, RUTS ON
THE LAWN, REPETITIVE
HAPHAZARD PARKING FOR
UNAPPARENT REASONS, MULTIPLE
CARS ON THE LOT LINE,
LONG-TERM PARKING WHILE ROOM
AT THE CURB TO PARK, PARKING
OF DISABLED VEHICLES,
DEGRADATION OF THE QUALITY
AND CHARACTER OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD, BEING A
GENERAL NUISANCE AND EYESORE
TO SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS
FROM WHOM WE HEAR
COMPLAINTS.
THE ORDINANCE WILL ENABLE
ENFORCEMENT.
AND A NEED FOR A UNIFORM
CODE OF MOTOR VEHICLE
PARKING IN A RESIDENTIAL
AREA.
THIS ORDINANCE WOULD
POSITIVELY AFFECT THESE
ISSUES HERE AS WELL AS IN
ALL OF AUSTIN.
FROM THE MEADOW MOUNTAIN
NUMBER 1 PROPERTY OWNERS
ASSOCIATION, I'M WRITING TO
REGISTER OUR ASSOCIATION'S
STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
PROPOSED ORDINANCE BANNING
THE PARKING OF VEHICLES ON
THE FRONT LAWNS OF PRIVATE
RRNSS.
THIS PRACTICE PRODUCES AN
IMMEDIATE DETERIORATION OF
PROPERTY VALUES.
WE WILL BE WATCHING THE VOTE
ON THIS MATTER VERY
CAREFULLY.
THAT'S MY PRESENTATION,
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, NORA REESE NOT
WISHING TO SPEAK, IN FAVOR
OF.
WILLIAM J. THOMAS.
...> MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL, I WILL BE FAIRLY
SHORT.
THAT IS SINCE THE MAP WAS
ORIGINALLY PREPARED, I HAVE
HAND DELIVERED A LETTER FROM
THE MILLWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING
ABOUT 1600.
I DELIVERED THE LETTER TO
COMMISSIONER — COUNCILMAN
THOMAS, INDICATING BY
UNANIMOUS VOTE THE BOARD END
COURSE DORISED THIS —
ENDORSED THIS ORDINANCE AND
FEELS THAT IT SHOULD GO
FORWARD.
MILLWOOD IS BOUNDED BY
[INAUDIBLE] ON THE EAST,
PARMER ON THE NORTH,
[INAUDIBLE] ON THE SOUTH,
RAILROAD TRACKS ON THE WEST.
MAYOR GARCIA: STAFF, IF
YOU COULD FOLLOW UP TO SEE
WHERE THAT LETTER IS SO WE
CAN AMEND THE MAP.
SCOTT BARNES DOES NOT WISH
TO SPEAK, IN FAVOR OF.
ASKED ME TO READ THE
COMMENT: THE PARKING
ORDINANCE WILL BE A VALUABLE
TOOL IN HELPING PRESERVE THE
QUALITY OF LIFE IN CENTRAL
AUSTIN.
BOBBIE RIGNY.
WELCOME, SIR.
I HAVE SOMETHING TO HAND
OUT.
MAYOR GARCIA: SURE.
GOOD EVENING, I'M BOBBIE
RIGNY, SPEAKING AS AN
INDIVIDUAL TONIGHT.
THANK FOR YOU THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
EVER SINCE LAST OCTOBER 24TH
WHEN I FIRST GOT INVOLVED TO
HELP KIND A COMPROMISE, 28
MEETINGS AGO, THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY CLAIMS THIS ORDINANCE
WERE SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS
WERE ALL EASY TO DISPROVE.
POLICE ARE NOT ASKING FOR
THIS, FIREFIGHTERS ARE NOT
ASKING FOR THIS, ONLY FOLKS
THAT DON'T NEED TO PARK OFF
THE SIDE OF THEIR DRIVEWAY
DO WANT THIS.
THAT IGNORES THE LEGITIMATE
NEEDS THAT OTHERS HAVE.
THOSE THAT NEED OFFSTREET
PARKING WITHOUT HAVING
ENOUGH DRIVEWAY SPACE HAVE
KNOWINGLY BEEN EXCLUDED.
I UNDERSTAND THEIR STRATEGY.
I CAN EQUALLY, I AM EQUALLY
CONFIDENT THAT THIS CITY
COUNCIL WILL ENDORSE PUBLIC
POLICY THAT INCLUDES
EVERYONE.
IT'S THE EQUITY PART OF THE
3-E'S TO BE INCLUSIVE.
CRITICAL TO THAT INCLUSION
IS A SOLID NOTIFICATION
PROCESS.
THAT WAY RESIDENTS IN AREAS
OF SIMILAR CONDITIONS CAN
FAIRLY DETERMINE FOR
THEMSELVES IF THEY WANT TO
HAVE THE ORDINANCE APPLY.
IT SEEMS TO LET SUBDIVISIONS
APPLY, NOT LARGER AREAS THAT
CONTAIN [INAUDIBLE].
THE PLANNING COMMISSION
RECOMMENDS THAT NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANNING AREAS BE CARVED OUT
TO NOT INCLUDE AREAS
INAPPROPRIATE FOR INCLUSION.
WHILE THIS IS MOVING IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION, TO EVER
PROHIBIT HARMLESS PRACTICAL
USE OF OTHER PEOPLE'S
PROPERTY WITHOUT A SPECIFIC
HEALTH OR SAFETY PURPOSELY
BE — WILL BE OVERREACHING
TO SAY THE LEAST.
IN FACT, WITHOUT A GOOD
HEALTH OR SAFETY PURPOSE,
THIS ISSUE IS BEST LEFT TO
THE SUBDIVISION LEVEL LIKE
PRIVATE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
IF EVERYONE IN A SUBDIVISION
DOES WANT SOME RESTRICTION,
ANY RESTRICT, THEY SHOULD
HAVE THAT SELF DETERMINISM.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU
MR. RIGNY.
THOMAS: MAYOR, COULD I
ASK A QUESTION?
MAYOR GARCIA: SURE,
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
THOMAS: COULD I ASK YOU A
QUESTION, SIR?
WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP ARE
YOU IN.
I LIVE IN THE ZILKER
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
AREA.
I WAS ON THE A.N.C. AD HOC
COMMITTEE TO FIND A
COMPROMISE.
THOMAS: ZILKER IS NOT —
THAT'S CORRECT.
OUR GENERAL MEMBERSHIP VOTED
TO NOT BE INCLUDED.
THOMAS: OKAY.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
MR. DALE CLARK REGISTERED
NOT WISHING TO SPEAK IN
FAVOR OF — I MEAN — IN
FAVOR OF.
FRAN MILLIGAN VOTED —
REGISTERED NOT WISHING TO
SPEAK, IN FAVOR OF.
TRAY HAMILTON, REGISTERED
NOT WISHING TO SPEAK, AGAIN.
SHERRI PILE, REGISTERED NOT
WISHING TO SPEAK AND IN
FAVOR OF.
BRYAN R. LACOUR, FOLLOWING
MIGUEL CASTRO, NOT WISHING
TO SPEAK, AGAINST.
MICHELLE [INAUDIBLE], NOT
WISHING TO SPEAK, IN FAVOR
OF.
ESTELLA WOULD BE THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
WELCOME, SIR.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
MAYOR GARCIA, CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS BRYAN
LECOUR, I'M A MEMBER OF THE
NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC
ASSOCIATION.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE
A BIT OF BACKGROUND BEHIND
THE MAP WHICH — WHICH
MS. THOMAS HAD PRESENTED
EARLIER.
OUR GROUP HAD DECIDED TO
SURVEY THE OVER 400
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS
LISTED IN THE AUSTIN
COMMUNITY REGISTRY IN ORDER
TO GET SOME IDEA OF THE
LEVEL OF SUPPORT CITY-WIDE
FOR THE — FOR THIS
ORDINANCE.
THROUGH MAILINGS AND E-MAILS
WE CONTACTED THESE GROUPS
PROVIDING A COPY OF THE
ORDINANCE AS THEN DRAFTED
AND ASKING THAT THEY DISCUSS
THE ISSUE WITH THEIR
NEIGHBORS.
WE THEN ASKED THESE GROUPS
TO CONTACT US WHEN THEY HAD
MADE A DECISION.
OF THOSE THAT HAD RESPONDED
WE FOUND THE FOLLOWING
RESULTS.
TO DATE, 53 GROUPS HAVE
STATED THAT THEY SUPPORT THE
ORDINANCE, 7 OPPOSE IT.
THE — THE NUMBER AND
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF
THESE NEIGHBORHOODS IS
INDICATED IN THE MAP.
I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT
THERE IS INDEED WIDE-SPREAD
SUPPORT FOR THIS PARKING
ORDINANCE.
NOW, OF COURSE, THE CURRENT
DRAFT OF THE ORDINANCE DOES
NOT PROPOSE A CITY-WIDE
ORDINANCE BUT RATHER ALLOWS
INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO
OPT IN.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
SURVEY, THEREFORE, TAKES ON
A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT
CHARACTER.
TO DATE, ONLY 41 WITH
MILLWOOD, NOW 42, OF THE
OVER 400 NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATIONS HAVE SUBMITTED
TO THE CITY COUNCIL A
WRITTEN REQUEST TO OPT IN.
BY DEFAULT, ALL OF THE
OTHERS WOULD OPT OUT.
NONE OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS
WOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE
NECESSITY TO OPT IN WERE IT
NOT FOR OUR PRIVATE EFFORT
TO CONTACT THEM.
IF THE CITY DECIDES TO
IMPLEMENT THE ORDINANCE ON A
NEIGHBORHOOD BY
NEIGHBORHOOD
OPT IN BASIS, I THINK IT
BEHOOVES THE COUNCIL TO
PROVIDE RESOURCES TO CONTACT
THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND GIVE
THEM AMPLE TIME TO OPT IN
AND BE INCLUDED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
MR. LE COUR.
MS. ESTELLA FABIAN,
FOLLOWING HER IS PABLO
ORTIZ.
WELCOME.
GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS ESTELLA FABIAN,
I'M A PARISHIONER AT THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH AND A
CO-CHAIR OF AUSTIN INTER
FAITH.
I AM HERE SUPPORTING THE
ORDINANCE FOR NO PARKING ON
LAWNS.
IN THE MONTOPOLIS
NEIGHBORHOOD WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING REAL HARD TO CLEAN
UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD:FOR
ALMOST A YEAR NOW, WE HAVE
BEEN MEETING ON A MONTHLY
BASIS, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
IN THE COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY
HOMES, EMPTY LOTS AND YARDS
THAT NEED TO BE CLEANED UP
TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY LOOK
BETTER.
RECENTLY, WE RECRUITED
NEARLY 100 MONTOPOLIS
RESIDENT TO CLEAN UP THE SAN
JOSE CEMETERY ON MONTOPOLIS
DRIVE.
WHY?
BECAUSE WE WANT OUR
COMMUNITY TO BEGIN BEING A
BEAUTIFUL AND BETTER PLACE.
A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN,
WORSHIP IN, WORK IN, PLACE
— TO PLAY AT.
PLEASE NOTE WHAT WE ARE
SAYING IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT
MAKING OUR COMMUNITY
BEAUTIFUL AND CLEANER, BUT
THAT WE ARE WORKING ON
MAKING THIS COMMUNITY A
NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE COMMUNITY.
ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE
ELEMENTARY THERE IS A LARGE
TRACT OF LAND.
FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRASH,
THE BRUSH, THE GARBAGE,
UNSAFE CONDITIONS THAT
FORCED PARENTS AND CHILDREN
TO EXIT FROM THEIR CARS ON
TO THE STREETS TO FACE THE
TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE
SCHOOL.
WHY WAS THIS HAPPENING?
BECAUSE PROPERTY OWNERS WERE
NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE
TO CLEAN UP THEIR
PROPERTIES.
THROUGH ORGANIZING PEOPLE
AND WORKING TOGETHER, WE
WOULD ABLE TO STRATEGIZE
WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN TO GET
THE JOB DONE.
NOW TODAY OR TOMORROW, IF
YOU PASS IN FRONT OF ALLISON
ELEMENTARY, YOU WILL SEE
THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE
DOING A BETTER JOB ABOUT
MAINTAINING THE — THAT
TRACT OF LAND AND MORE
RECENTLY A SIDEWALK HAS BEEN
BUILT FOR PARENTS AND THEIR
CHILDREN TO USE AND NO
LONGER FACE INCOMING
TRAFFIC.
I HAVE ONLY NAMED A FEW OF
THE SUCCESSES WE HAVE
RECENTLY HAD IN THE
MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE SEEN THE
PRESENTATIONS, WE HAVE HEARD
ALL SIDES.
WE HAVE HEARD THE PROS AND
CONS OF THE NO PARKING ON
LAWN ORDINANCE.
BUT I'M HIROSHIMA TO SAY IN
MONTOPOLIS WE WANT A CLEAN,
SAFE COMMUNITY.
NO PARKING ON LAWNS WILL
HELP THOSE OF US THAT WANT
TO SEE OUR ENVIRONMENT
CLEANER AND SAFER.
THAT IS VERY HAVE IMPORTANT
TO ALL OF OUR CHILDREN AND
TO ALL OF OUR FAMILIES THAT
WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO
PRESERVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE
OF EVERYONE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
ALVAREZ: I HAD A
QUESTION.
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ HAS A
QUICK QUESTION.
ALVAREZ: I NOTICE THAT
MONTOPOLIS I GET NOT ALL OF
MONTD MONT IS INCLUDED IN
THIS — MONTOPOLIS IS
INCLUDED IN THIS MAP.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU ARE
INDICATING FOR THIS
PARTICULAR PART OF
MONTOPOLIS?
WE HAVE BEEN — WE HAVE
SEEN SOME OF THE — WE HAVE
SEEN PRESENTATIONS AND ONE
OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I
NEEDED TO ASK IS WHAT IS
GOING TO BE THE PROPER
PROCEDURE, DO WE NEED
SIGNATURES FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IN SUPPORT OF
IT OR WHAT?
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A NUMBER
OF FOLKS IN SUPPORT.
ALVAREZ: SURE.
BUT AT THIS POINT THERE'S
NOT NECESSARILY A — A
POSITION FROM THE PLANNING
TEAM OR THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION?
THROUGHS AUSTIN
INTERFAITH WE HAVE BEEN
HAVING MONTHLY ENVIRONMENT
MEETINGS AND IDENTIFYING
DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE WANT
TO CLEAN UP.
WHAT WE CAN DO IS ORGANIZE
TO COLLECT SIGNATURES IN
SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE.
ALVAREZ: OKAY.
THANK YOU.
MR. PABLO ORTIZ, FOLLOWING
MR. ORTIZ IS DELWARD KUNKLE,
NOT WISHING TO SPEAK,
AGAINST THE ORDINANCE.
DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK?
YES, SIR.
OKAY.
YOU WILL BE SPEAKING AFTER
MR. ORTIZ, I'M GOING TO
CHANGE YOUR CARD.
MR. ORTIZ, WELCOME, SIR.
I'M SUPER GLAD TO BE
HERE.
MAYOR.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AH WHAT YOU ARE RECEIVING
HERE IS NOT A TOY.
YOU HAD BETTER MAKE SURE
THAT YOU KEEP IT FOR NEXT
WEEK AND MAYBE EVEN LONGER
BECAUSE I HAVE ONE THING TO
SAY ABOUT — ABOUT THIS
MASK.
THIS MASK WILL SAVE YOU IF
YOU DO THE WRONG THING.
IT'S ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT
THING, NOT WHAT IS
POLITICALLY CORRECT.
THE ISSUE THAT WE ARE
DISCUSSING IS NOT WHETHER MY
CAR IS PARKED ON THE
DRIVEWAY.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MONEY,
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
HAVES AND HAVE NOT.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, WITH
CLOSE TO $8 MILLION
SHORTFALL AND OVER 300 CITY
JOBS THAT ARE NOT BEING
FILLED, BABY, THE CITY IS IN
THE HAVE NOTS.
AND YOU HAD BETTER MAKE SURE
THAT YOU DO THE RIGHT
DECISION.
YOU HAD BETTER MAKE SURE
THAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT MORE
THAN ONCE, MORE THAN TWICE.
YOU BETTER MAKE SURE THAT
YOU KEEP YOUR MASKS BECAUSE
ONE THING THAT I HAVE NOT
NOTICED IS PEOPLE THAT
HAVE — THAT HAVE CONSTANTLY
TALKED ABOUT DOING RESEARCH
GOING AND TALKING TO PEOPLE
IN OTHER CITIZENS THAT HAVE
APPROVED A NOTICE LIKE THIS.
THEY HAVEN'T TOLD YOU WHAT
REALLY HAPPENED.
THEY TOLD YOU WHAT SOMEBODY
IN SOME OFFICE WROTE DOWN
AND GOT IT IN BLACK AND
WHITE.
I WENT TO SAN ANTONIO WHEN
IT FIRST PASSED THAT
ORDINANCE.
I WENT UP THERE TO VOLUNTEER
TO HELP BUILD DRIVEWAYS FOR
PEOPLE THAT COULDN'T DO IT.
AND AT NO COST.
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT
HAPPENED.
OVERNIGHT WE HAD AN INFLUX
OF THIEVES, CONS, PEOPLE OUT
THERE STEALING MONEY FROM
THE GOOD CITIZENS, STEALING
MONEY FROM THE ELDERLIES
BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDER
PRESSURE TO PUT A DRIVEWAY
IN THEIR PROPERTIES.
THEY WERE FORCED TO PUT A
DRIVEWAY THERE.
I MEAN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
THIEVES GOING OUT THERE AND
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE,
OUR SENIOR CITIZENS, THAT
SOMETIMES HAVE TO ASK
THEMSELVES, WELL, AM I GOING
TO BUY THE PRESCRIPTION
MEDICINE?
AM I GOING TO BUY FOOD?
NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY ARE
ASKING THEMSELVES AM I GOING
TO BE ABLE TO PUT A DRIVEWAY
SO THAT MY NIECES, NEPHEWS,
GRANDSONS, DAUGHTERS, MY
SONS AND DAUGHTERS COME OVER
AND VISIT ME AND BE SAFE?
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT,
IF THIS ORDINANCE IS PASSED,
YOU ARE GOING TO REALIZE
THAT THIS IS NOTHING BUT A
HAVE AND HAVE NOT SITUATION
HERE.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT
SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN
ACTION IN THIS CITY.
WE CAN'T EVEN BUILD
SIDEWALKS IN OUR INNER
CITIES SO THAT OUR KIDS CAN
GO TO SCHOOL SAFE.
LIKE YESTERDAY, THIS
PARTICULAR AREA THERE, THE
BIG AREA THERE, DOWN
SLAUGHTER LANE, IT'S A BIG
AREA, THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF
IT.
I PASSED BY THERE YESTERDAY,
WE HAD CITY PEOPLE, CITY
PERSONNEL OUT THERE BUILDING
SIDEWALKS.
BIG, BIG SIDEWALKS.
BIG MONSTER SIDEWALKS OUT
THERE, SPENDING OUR MONEY
INSTEAD OF [BUZZER SOUNDING]
WELL, REMEMBER, IF YOU PASS
IT, KEEP IT AROUND BECAUSE
YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO SEE
YOU THAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THIS.
MAYOR GARCIA: BEFORE YOU
LEAVE, MR. ORTIZ,
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ WANTS
TO ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION.
ALVAREZ: YOU MENTIONED
SOMETHING ABOUT SAN ANTONIO
THAT'S BEEN REFERENCED AS A
CITY THAT'S PASSED SUCH AN
ORDINANCE.
YOU MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES SOME
INDIVIDUALS HAD IN TERMS OF
AFFORDING TO DO THEIR
DRIVEWAY AND YOU MENTIONED I
GUESS THAT THEY WERE PRETTY
MUCH SORT OF SCAMMED UPON.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN
TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT
THAT OR WHAT —
WELL, LET ME —
DID THEY HAVE A GRACE
PERIOD, A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF
TIME TO DO THE DRIVE, HOW
DID THAT WORK?
OKAY I WENT UP THERE
BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE ASKED
ME PLEASE COME HELP ME, I'M
PHYSICALLY FIT, YOU KNOW.
A LOT OF THEM WERE
RELATIVES, A LOT OF THEM
WERE NOT.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT
HAPPENED, IN ONE PARTICULAR
CASE WE COULD NOT GET AHOLD
OF A CITY INSPECTOR.
WHEN HE FINALLY SHOWED UP,
HE SAID I'M SORRY YOU CAN'T
DO IT THIS WAY BECAUSE YOU
NEED 5/8TH'S REBAR.
MY GOD I'M NOT GOING TO PARK
A 747, I'M JUST GOING TO
PARK A VEHICLE THERE.
WHAT ALSO HAPPENED FLY BY
NIGHT CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE
COMING OUT THERE, THEY JUST
THREW IN A SLAB AND KIND OF
JUST OOZED IT INTO THE CITY
CAUSING PROBLEMS LATER ON TO
THE CITY.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
WE CANNOT DO THIS — TO OUR
CITY.
WE CANNOT DO THIS TO OUR
CITIZENS.
ONE OF THE NEATEST THINGS
THAT I SAW I SAW MY FATHER
IN SAN ANTONIO GO DOWN TO
THE CITY COUNCIL, TELL THEM,
SAY, LOOK, I HAVE COME OUT
HERE, YOU HAVE MADE ME
PRODUCE A PLAN.
I HAVE A PLAN.
OKAY, HE WENT SAID, LOOK, I
HAVE A PLAN, YOU STILL CAN'T
APPROVE IT BECAUSE THERE'S
NO INSPECTOR TO GO OUT THERE
AND INSPECT IT.
WHEN HE SHOWS UP, HE SAYS
YOU CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE
OVERKILL YOU NEED TO STICK
IN 5/8TH'S REBAR IN IT.
YOU KNOW, THAT — THAT VERY
AGITATED HIM BECAUSE HE
COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT WAS
HAPPENING.
THEN YOU HAD OTHER PEOPLE
THAT WERE SMART, OTHER
PEOPLE WERE REAL SMART.
THEY GOT THOSE FLY BY NIGHT
CONTRACTORS, WENT OUT THERE,
OVERNIGHT, THEY POURED
CONCRETE SLABS AND LET ME
TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED, TOO,
DURING THAT PARTICULAR
PROCESS, DURING THAT
PARTICULAR TIME WHEN
EVERYBODY WAS BUILDING
DRIVEWAYS, EVEN THE PRICE OF
CONCRETE WENT UP.
EVERYBODY WANT TO BE IN IT.
MY GOD IF WE DO THIS, I
MIGHT SAVE ME A MASK SO I
CAN GO UP THERE AND ROB THE
PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, I MIGHT
SAVE A MASK TO GO ROB THE
PEOPLE.
THEY WON'T KNOW ME, I WILL
OVERCHARGE THEM FOR WHATEVER
WORK I DO.
IN ONE DRIVEWAY WE SPENT
LESS THAN $300 OF MATERIAL
TO DO IT.
YET WE HAD A BIDDER THAT
WANTED $8,000!
I MEAN, THIS IS — THE
EXTREME!
IT IS — WE CAN'T ALLOW THIS
TO HAPPEN TO THE CITIZENS OF
AUSTIN, WE CAN'T ALLOW IT TO
HAPPEN TO OUR ELDERLY,
ALREADY NEEDY PEOPLE, WE
CAN'T ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN.
ALVAREZ: THANK.
THANK YOU.
[ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR
CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS]
A CAR IS A GREAT
CONVENIENCE AND ACTUALLY IS
A NECESSITY.
I HOPE THAT IT WILL NOT —
WILL NOT BE PASSED.
THAT CARS — THAT CARS BE —
BE FINED FOR BEING PARKED ON
THE — ON YARDS WHEN THE
YARD IS YOUR YARD.
AND YOUR CAR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK YOU,
MS. HARRINGTON.
MS. LAURIE RENTARELLA,
FOLLOWING HER IS DAVID, NOT
WISHING TO SPEAK.
BUT I WILL TAKE HIS TIME,
MAYOR, SINCE YOU GAVE ANGELA
TIME FOR A PERSON WHO WASN'T
SITTING HERE.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
IS THAT OKAY?
MAYOR GARCIA: ALL RIGHT.
SO LONG AS —
I WILL BE AS BRIEF AS I
CAN, MR. MAYOR.
SAVINO ALSO SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK, NOT ISSUING TO SPEAK,
BUT SAYS THIS PARKING
ORDINANCE IS WRONG AND WILL
HURT THE WORKING POOR.
AND RECOGNIZE YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR.
WELCOME.
I DID WORK ON THE AD HOC
COMMITTEE, I DIDN'T ATTEND
28 MEETINGS LIKE BOBBIE, BUT
I DID ATTEND A NUMBER OF
MEETINGS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAME TO
THE TABLE AND JIM WALKER
FROM THE A.N.C. HAD BEEN
HOPEFUL THAT WE COULD REACH
A COMPROMISE AND SOMEHOW
INCORPORATE THE ISSUE OF
YARD PARKING INTO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING.
AND THE MEETINGS GOT SO
CONTENTION THERE WE WERE
NEVER EVEN ABLE TO GET TO A
POINT WHERE WE COULD TALK
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE DOES
THIS FIT IN NEIGHBORHOOD
PLANNING.
THE PROPONENT JUST WANTED TO
MOVE FORWARD BEFORE THE
ELECTION OF NEW
COUNCILMEMBERS.
YOU KNOW TO GET THIS
ORDINANCE PASSED.
SO I HOPE AT SOME POINT WIN,
LOSE OR DRAW, WE REALLY TAKE
A LOOK AT THE MOST
APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR THIS
TO BE IS IN THE LAND
DEVELOPMENT CODE AND IT
NEEDS TO BE A TOOL IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING TOOL
BOX AND THEN THESE ISSUES OF
LEGAL NOTIFICATION TO TAKE
AWAY PERSONAL PROPERTY
RIGHTS WILL GO AWAY BECAUSE
YOU CAN INCLUDE A — A NO
PARKING ON ANYTHING BUT A
LEGAL DRIVEWAY AS PART OF
THE LEGAL NOTIFICATION FOR
THE OVERLAY FOR THE MIXED
USE OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW,
THE NCCD OR WHATEVER IT IS
THAT YOU DO FOR THE WHOLE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THAT IS REALLY THE MOST
APPROPRIATE PLACE IT
BELONGS.
WE HAD ALSO HOPED AND YOU
DID RECEIVE EARLY ON, A — A
LETTER FROM JIM WALKER
CLAIMING THAT THE MAIN THING
THAT WE ALL AGREED ON WAS
THE NEED FOR MORE
INSPECTORS.
A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS AND A
LOT OF PICTURES THEY HAVE
BEEN SHOWING, IF WE HAD
ENOUGH CODE ENFORCEMENT, I
BELIEVE 50% OF THE PROBLEMS
THEY HAVE WOULD GO AWAY.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
INSPECTORS AND ENOUGH COPS
TO GO OUT THERE AND GET JUNK
CARS OUT OF YARDS.
THAT BEING SAID, IF YOU ARE
GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THIS, I WOULD — I JUST FIND
IT INCREDIBLE THAT — THAT
YOU HAVE A PROCESS AND A
POLICY THAT IF YOU ARE GOING
TO PUT A SPEED HUMP OR A
TRAFFIC CIRCLE IN THE PUBLIC
RIGHT-OF-WAY, IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD, EVERYBODY GETS
A LEGAL NOTICE, AND AT LEAST
51% ARE THE PEOPLE ON THE
STREET HAVE TO AGREE FOR THE
SPEED HUMP.
AND HERE YOU ARE ALLOWING
A — A NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION, I'M A
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OF
ONE.
YOU HAVE NO CRITERIA IN THE
REGISTRY.
OF — OF BY LAWS AND
MEETINGS.
I MEAN I'M A NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION OF ONE.
SO A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL COULD
INCLUDE THEIR WHOLE
NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT ANY
LEGAL NOTICE.
AND I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO
DO THE SAME THING THAT YOU
DO WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO
MAKE A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE
PUBLIC RECORD, USE THE SAME
PROCESS HERE.
ALL THESE — YOU DON'T HAVE
TO DO IT CITY-WIDE, ALL OF
THESE GREEN AREAS HERE, YOU
NEED TO USE THE SAME SPEED
HUMP PROCESS AND SEND OUT
THAT NOTICE THAT YOU ARE
ABOUT TO MAKE YARD PARKING
ILLEGAL.
THAT'S — THAT'S FAIR.
IT'S WHAT YOU DO IN THE
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY.
SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
EXPENSE.
I DID CALL AND DID THE
RESEARCH ABOUT — ABOUT
THE — ABOUT THE LEGAL
DRIVEWAY ISSUE.
IN THE CODE YOU DO HAVE CODE
WRITTEN RIGHT NOW FOR A
GRAVEL DRIVEWAY.
SO DO NOT IMPLEMENT THIS
ORDINANCE UNTIL THE
ENVIRONMENTALISTS GET THEIR
ACT TOGETHER.
I CAN'T GET S.O.S. OR SAVE
BARTON CREEK HERE.
I TOLD THEM THE WHOLE INNER
CITY IS GOING TO GET PAVED
OVER.
THEY ARE TOO BUSY, I DON'T
KNOW WITH WHAT.
OUR YARDS ARE BIG ENOUGH,
IT'S AN ISSUE OF
AFFORDABILITY.
WE COULD PUT 45% OF THE YARD
CAN BE PAVED OVER.
SO IT'S NOT AN ISSUE OF
IMPERVIOUS COVER.
WE — IT'S AN ISSUE OF COST.
AND TO — TO EVEN THINK
ABOUT USING SCARCE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOLLARS
AND HOUSING THE HOMELESS ON
HAVING TO PUT DRIVEWAYS IN
FOR POOR OLD IS RIDICULOUS.
SO — SO YOU DON'T HAVE A
CODE.
A PERSON COULD NOT GO WHEN
YOU PASS THE ORDINANCE AND
GET A PERMIT TO PUT IN A
GRADED GRAVEL DRIVEWAY
BECAUSE IT'S NOT LEGAL IN
THE CODE.
AND THEN TO PULL A PERMIT,
IF YOUR PROPERTY TOUCHES A
CITY SIDEWALK OR A CITY
CURB, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN
ENGINEER OR A BONDED
LICENSED CONTRACTOR DO THE
WORK.
AND THE CHEAPEST BID I COULD
FIND, I CALLED FIVE
CONTRACTORS AND THE CHEAPEST
DRIVEWAY THAT I COULD FIND
WAS $2,000 FOR A ONE-CAR
DRIVEWAY.
SO — SO WE CAN'T AFFORD
THAT.
AND — AND I KNOW THAT YOU
HAVE EXEMPTED MY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT THE NEXT COUNCIL
ELECTION OR SINGLE-MEMBER,
WHATEVER WE DO, A FUTURE
CITY COUNCIL WITH FOUR VOTES
COULD THROW THIS MAP OUT THE
WINDOW AND JUST MAKE IT
CITY-WIDE.
SO WE HAVE NO PROTECTIONS IN
YOUR MECHANISM TO PROTECT US
IF YOU ARE GOING TO PASS IT,
THEN PUT IN — MAKE IT
WHATEVER IT TAKES SO THAT IT
TAKES A SUPER MAJORITY TO
CHANGE THESE BOUNDARIES.
OKAY?
BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHO
WILL BE SITTING HERE NEXT
TIME.
IT MIGHT BE A BUNCH OF
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MOVE ALL
THE POOR PEOPLE TO ELGIN.
OKAY?
AND THE WAY TO DO THAT WOULD
BE TO START TICKETING OUR
CAR.
FINALLY, I WILL SAY, YOU
REALIZE THAT — THAT A
LANDLORD WHO WANTS TO GET
RID OF THEIR TENANTS AND
CAN'T DO IT LEGALLY COULD
CALL THE COPS AND CALL EVERY
DAY, EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY,
AND FORCE THEIR TENANTS OUT
OF THE RENT HOUSE BY HAVING
THEIR CARS TICKETED.
AND THERE'S NO PROVISION
THAT THE LANDLORD IS
REQUIRED TO PUT IN THE
DRIVEWAY.
THE TICKETINGS TO THE
VEHICLE OWNER.
THE TICKET GOES TO THE
VEHICLE OWNER, NOT THE
[BUZZER SOUNDING] — NOT THE
OWNER, THIS IS A WAY FOR
LANDLORDS TO MESS WITH
TENANTS, THANK YOU.
[ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR
CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS]
MAYOR GARCIA: YOU
HAVE SIX MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK THE
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME AND ALSO FOR
THE REST OF THE
COUNCILMEMBERS HERE.
LET ME JUST MAKE A
REALLY QUICK REFERENCE
ON THIS ORDINANCE THAT
WAS MENTIONED THAT IT
GOT A LITTLE WATERED
DOWN JUST NOW BY
MS. THOMAS THAT SHE SAID
THAT IT TAKES LESS THAN
10% FOR THE APPLICATION.
IT SAYS HERE IN THE
ORDINANCE ITSELF THAT ON
LETTER E ON NUMBER 2 AN
APPLICATION TO AMEND THE
APPLICABILITY OF THIS
SECTION MUST ALLOW A
PETITION REQUESTING THE
AMENDMENT THAT IS SIGNED
BY AT LEAST 10% OF THE
NOTICED OWNERS OF REAL
PROPERTY WITHIN A
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
BOUNDARY.
SO IT IS BOTH — IT IS
ALSO REQUIRED TO GET A
10% OF SIGNATURES FROM
HOMEOWNERS TO GET — TO
GET OUT OF ANY AREA IN
THE FUTURE INCLUDED.
SO I DO WANT TO MAKE A
NOTE OF THAT BEFORE I
REALLY BEGIN MY LITTLE
SPEECH HERE.
SO IN LISTENING TO ALL
OF THIS I DO AGREE IN A
LOT OF THINGS THAT THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE FOR THIS
ORDINANCE, THEY HAVE
GOOD GROUNDS.
BUT I SPOKE FOR THOSE
WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO COME
HERE.
I ALSO SPEAK FOR THOSE
WHO CANNOT SPEAK ENGLISH
AND ARE TOO TIMID TO
COME TO THE MICROPHONE
OR EVEN TO THIS LARGE
AREA THAT SEEMS VERY
INTIMIDATING FOR THOSE
WHO DON'T COME HERE.
I DO WANT TO ALSO SAY
THAT OUR ORDINANCE, THIS
ORDINANCE SUPPOSEDLY HAS
THE EXTENSIONS OF —
ABSTENTIONS OF HOLIDAYS.
I ASK YOU MAYOR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS, WHAT
ABOUT MY BARBECUES AND
WHAT ABOUT MY VISITORS
THAT ARE GOING TO BE
COMING FROM OUT OF STATE
AND OUT OF TOWN?
WHAT ABOUT MY SOCIALS,
BECAUSE I PLAN TO MAKE A
LOT OF SOCIALS THIS
SUMMER.
ALSO, MAYOR GAR SEE I
CAN'T, — GARCIA, IN
RECOGNITION OF THE
FAMOUS QUINCERILLO, WHEN
ALL OUR RELATIVES COME
AND BACK COOK AND BAKE
AND GET THE DRESSES
READY?
ALSO, WHAT ABOUT THE
FUNERALS?
MY BIRTHDAY.
MY CIVIC MEETINGS.
WE COULD GO ON AND ON,
COULDN'T WE?
WILL THERE BE EXCEPTIONS
TO THIS PARKING BECAUSE
MY NEIGHBORS WILL NOT
KNOW WHEN THESE ARE
GOING TO TAKE PLACE AND
WHY?
THERE'S ALSO AN
ORDINANCE THAT TOWS CARS
AND VEHICLES THAT ARE
UNUSED OR TRASHED IN
YARDS.
THERE IS ALSO AN
ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS UP
TO FOUR VEHICLES THAT
ARE SUPPOSED TO BE
PARKED ON DRIVEWAYS.
SO WHY MAKE AN EXTRA
ORDINANCE?
ISN'T THIS LIKE MONEY
BEING THROWN AWAY AGAIN?
WHY DON'T WE CHECK UP ON
OUR ORDINANCES AND
PRACTICE THEM INSTEAD OF
MAKING ONE ON TOP OF THE
OTHER?
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING
PIGGYBACK ON ORDINANCE
AFTER ORDINANCE ON TOP
OF ORDINANCE.
I ALSO — WELL, WE'LL
MOVE ON TO THIS.
A CAR PARKED ON THE
STREET ALSO IS VERY
UNSAFE.
I HAVE SEEN CHILDREN
DART OUT IN FRONT OF
PARKED AREAS, ALMOST
GETTING RUNED OVER, AND
IT DOES INVITE ROBBERIES
AND SEX IN PARKED CARS.
I THINK THE CONCERN HERE
SHOULD BE ON THE TRASH
AND GARBAGE AND
FURNITURE THAT IS THROWN
ON THE FRONT YARD.
YES, I DO AGREE IN CLEAN
YARDS, BUT LET'S FOCUS
ON THE GARBAGE THAT IS
BEING PARKED THERE IN
FRONT OF THESE YARDS.
THESE PEOPLE CANNOT
AFFORD — AGAIN, GOING
BACK TO THE PEOPLE OF
AUSTIN.
MANY PEOPLE CANNOT EVEN
AFFORD THE DRIVEWAYS.
AND SO WHERE ARE WE
GOING TO GET THIS
GRAVEL, OR IS IT GOING
TO BE CEMENT?
AND AGAIN, I ASK YOU,
WHO — WHO'S PROPOSING
THIS ORDINANCE?
AND IT IS LIKE MR. RC
SAID, IT IS THE HAVE'S
AND HAVE NOT'S I KNOW
MANY, MANY, MANY
FAMILIES WHO ARE
FATHERLESS.
AND THESE ARE MOTHERS
WHO ARE TRYING TO OWN
THEIR OWN LITTLE BITTY
HOME.
AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD
ANY DRIVEWAYS.
AND HERE THEY'RE TRYING
TO MAKE A LIVING HAVING
THEIR SON OR DAUGHTERS
GOING TO COLLEGE AND
HAVING AT LEAST THIS
LITTLE BROKEN DOWN
VEHICLE THAT THEY MANAGE
TO GET AT LEAST TO PARK
ON THEIR DRIVEWAYS, AND
NOW YOU'RE DEMANDING
THESE THINGS UPON THEM?
YES, IT IS A HAVE AND
HAVE NOT ORDINANCE.
AND I SAY SHAME ON THOSE
WHO HAVE NOT GOTTEN IN
TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE OF
AUSTIN.
THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
THESE LITTLE HOMES
WITHOUT THE DRIVEWAYS
THAT ARE GOING TO BE I
AM POSED WITH THOUSAND
DOLLAR — IMPOSED WITH
THOUSAND-DOLLAR
DRIVEWAYS.
SHAME ON THEM! THERE IS
A LOT THAT I WANT TO
SAY, BUT I'M GOING TO
CLOSE WITH THIS.
I AGREE THAT IF YOU'RE
OPTED OUT, THEN YOU
SHOULD NOT BE — YOU
SHOULD NOT HAVE THE
PARKING IMPOSED UPON
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT
AFFORD IT — I HAVE SIX
MINUTES, DON'T I?
MAYOR GARCIA: YOU
USED THEM UP.
OKAY.
I THEN PROPOSE AN
ORDINANCE AGAINST THE
WEEDS GROWING IN FRONT
YARDS CALLED TEXAS
NATIVE PLANTS AND AN
ORDINANCE TO TAKE
FLAMINGOS OUT OF THE
FRONT YARD.
THIS IS HOW RIDICULOUS
THE ORDINANCE FOR
PARKING IN THE YARDS
SEEMS TO ME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MAYOR GARCIA: LET ME
ASK YOU ONE QUICK
QUESTION.
YES, SIR.
MAYOR GARCIA: THE
PROVISION THAT WE HAVE
IN THE PROPOSED
ORDINANCE IS THAT TO BE
INCLUDED IN THE
ORDINANCE YOU HAVE TO
ATTEND.
IF YOU DON'T VOTE TO GET
IN IT AS A NEIGHBORHOOD,
YOU'RE NOT IN THE
ORDINANCE.
YOU'RE NOT —
DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAS
HAPPENED, MAYOR?
I HAVE FOUND —
MAYOR GARCIA: LET ME
ASK THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE IN IT A
PROVISION THAT SAYS 10%,
IF 10% OF PEOPLE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD SIGN AND
THEY'RE IN.
IS THAT A NUMBER THAT'S
TOO LOW?
I FIND THAT VERY
INACCURATE.
I HAVE FOUND THAT A LOT
OF CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
HAVE NOT, HAVE NOT
CALLED ON THEIR MEMBERS
OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS OR
CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, AND
THEY'RE USING NUMBERS
AND THEY ARE USING
INACCURACIES TO PUT IN
THIS VOTE.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR.
MAYOR GARCIA: THE
OTHER PROVISION THAT I
WANTED TO MENTION TO YOU
IS THOSE PETITIONS ARE
SENT IN AND THEN THE
COUNCIL HAS TO ACT ON
THEM.
WELL, I THINK WE NEED
TO SEE MORE ABOUT THE
PETITIONS.
I HAVE — AND I CAN
SPEAK THEM NEXT WEEK.
I HAVE PETITIONS AND I
DID NOT BRING THEM WITH
AND I ASK YOUR PARDON
FOR THIS.
I HAVE PETITIONS OF
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW
ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE AND
WHO ARE AGAINST THIS
ORDINANCE.
AND THESE ARE BOTH THE
PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT,
WHICH ARE THE HISPANIC
PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ABLE
TO COME HERE BECAUSE OF
THE REASONS THAT I
MENTIONED, AND ALSO OF
WORKING PEOPLE.
AND I FORGOT TO MENTION
THAT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE RIGHT
NOW WHO ARE WORKING, 10
TO 14 HOURS A DAY WHO
CANNOT MAKE THESE
MEETINGS AND HAVE ASKED
ME.
AND I WILL BRING THE
PETITIONS NEXT WEEK IF
YOU'D LIKE.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, MAYOR.
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?
ALVAREZ: IS THAT A —
WHAT PARTICULAR
NEIGHBORHOOD DO YOU
LIVE
IN?
I LIVE IN THE GLIN
DOUGH AREA WHICH —
GALINDO AREA WHICH I
BELIEVE HAS ON OPTED
OUT.
BUT LIKE I SAY, I'M
SPEAKING FOR THOSE WHO I
HAVE JUST MENTIONED.
ALVAREZ: I WAS JUST
WONDERING IF YOU WERE IN
ONE OF THE STATED AREAS.
WHILE WE'RE AT IT,
YOU KNOW, MAY I
MENTION — DO YOU MIND?
ALVAREZ: WELL, IS IT
RELATED TO THIS
PARTICULAR QUESTION?
YES, IT IS.
WELL, BEING I LIVE IN
THE OLTORF STREET, DO
YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S NO
PARKING SIGNS ON MY
STREET AND ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO NORTH LAMAR
ALLOWS PARKING?
SO IF YOU WERE TO PASS
THIS ORDINANCE, I WOULD
BE PARKING MY CAR AFTER
6:00 O'CLOCK ON OLTORF
STREET.
OKAY.
THIS IS HOW RIDICULOUS
THE ORDINANCE IS TO ME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU.
THOMAS: MAYOR?
MAYOR GARCIA: NOW I
DON'T SEE HIM IN THE
AUDIENCE.
IS HE OUT THERE
SOMEWHERE?
HELLO?
THE LAST PERSON SIGNED
UP TO SPEAK IS MR. RICK
S. HALL.
AND HE'S REGISTERED NOT
WISHING TO SPEAK AND
AGAINST THE ORDINANCE.
AND HE ASKED ME TO READ
INTO THE RECORD WHAT HE
WROTE ON A CARD.
I AM DISABLED, MY
DRIVEWAY IS TOO STEEP
AND I PARK ON THE YARD
WHERE IT IS FLAT LAND,
FLAT AND NOT SO STEEP.
THAT'S ALL HE SAID.
WHEN MR. RENTERIA COMES
BACK INTO THE CHAMBERS,
COUNCIL, THAT'S ALL THE
SPEAKERS WE HAVE
TONIGHT.
AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A
MOTION —
THOMAS: IF WE CAN,
MAYOR...
MAYOR GARCIA: CAN YOU
FIND OUT IF MR. RENTERIA
IS OUT THERE?
THOMAS: BEFORE MAYOR,
BEFORE YOU MAKE A
MOTION?
MAYOR GARCIA: THERE
YOU ARE.
I'M SORRY.
I WAS OUT THERE MAKING
SIGNS FOR DARYL SLUSHER
AND I WAS TRYING TO MAKE
OUR QUOTA.
WE DID ABOUT 200 SIGNS
FOR HIM TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS DARRYL
RENTERIA.
I LIVE ON CESAR CHAVEZ.
95% OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD
BETWEEN SAN SABA AND
ANOTHER STREET DO NOT
HAVE DRIVEWAYS.
THEY'RE ALL GRAVEL, YOU
KNOW, DRIVEWAYS AND
EVERYTHING.
AND I AM AGAINST IT
BECAUSE WHY DO WE NEED
TO PUT CONCRETE IN OUR
YARD AND EVERYTHING
BECAUSE IN MY DRIVEWAY I
PUT TREES AND FLOWERS
AND EVERYTHING.
AND SOME OF THE
NEIGHBORS CAN'T AFFORD
IT.
AND I KNOW MY OTHER
NEIGHBOR BOUGHT A HOUSE
AND EVERYTHING AND THEY
FIXED IT UP, AND
EVERYTHING AND THEY
CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT
DRIVEWAYS, INSTEAD THEY
PARK IN THE FRONT YARD.
THEY TOLD ME IF I DON'T
MIND.
I SAY NO.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT I
REALLY AM AGAINST IT AND
EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT
IT.
AND THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT
TO SAY.
MAYOR GARCIA: THANK
YOU.
AND THE OTHER THING
IS THAT I'M — I'M
REALLY KIND OF UPSET
THAT WHY IS ANOTHER
NEIGHBORHOOD TELLING ME
WHAT TO DO?
BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE
GOT SMART GROWTH BECAUSE
I'M PART OF THE EAST
CESAR CHAVEZ BECAUSE OF
BUSINESS AND I'M LIVING
IN THE HOLLY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND EACH NEIGHBORHOOD
SHOULD DECIDE WHAT TO
DO, NOT FROM ANOTHER
NEIGHBORHOOD TELLING ME
WHAT TO DO.
IF THEY WANT THE
DRIVEWAYS, YOU KNOW, NO
PARKING AND EVERYTHING
ELSE GOING ON OVER
THERE, THEY SHOULD
DECIDE WHAT — HEY, THEY
WANT TO DO WHAT THEY
WANT TO DO AND WE DO
WHAT THEYANT TO DO.
MAYOR GARCIA: BUT
THAT'S THE WAY THE
ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN,
MR. RENTER REI CAN'T.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET
INTO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CAN —
IF THEY DON'T OPT IN,
THEY'RE NOT IN IT.
I'M JUST GOING TO
SPEAK OUT ABOUT THAT.
MAYOR GARCIA:
APPRECIATE IT.
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, WE
CAN CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING AND THEN WE CAN
HAVE A DISCUSSION.
THOMAS: LET'S CLOSE
IT.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD.
MAYOR GARCIA: IS
THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE
THE PUBLIC HEARING?
THOMAS: SO MOVE,
MAYOR.
MAYOR GARCIA:
SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF
CLOSING THE PUBLIC
HEARING, PLEASE INDICATE
BY SAYING AYE.
AYE.
MAYOR GARCIA: OPPOSED
NO.
MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE
OF FIVE TO ZERO TO TWO
WITH COUNCILMEMBER
GOODMAN AND
COUNCILMEMBER GRIFFITH
OFF THE DIAS.
THOMAS: IF I COULD
GET MS. THOMAS DO ONE
THING, TO CLARIFY THE
DRIVEWAYS, BECAUSE I
THINK EVERYBODY IS NOT
UNDERSTANDING THE
DEFINITION OF A
DRIVEWAY.
AND ALSO I NEED TO ASK
STAFF IF THEY HAVE A
COPY OF THE MAPS THEY
PUT ON THE WEBSITE?
NO, THEY HAVE NOT.
THOMAS: IF WE COULD
DO THAT.
THANK YOU.
IF YOU COULD DRIEN
DWOOEUN THE DRIVEWAYS
AND I'LL LET YOU ALONE.
— DEFINE THE
DRIVEWAYS.
AS DEFINED IN THE
ORDINANCE, THE DRIVEWAY
IS A PERMANENT HARD
SURFACE OR GRADED GRAVEL
AREA PROVIDING ACCESS
BETWEEN THE STREET AND
OFF STREET PARKING AREA.
IT ALSO INCLUDES A
CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY AND A
PERMANENT HARD SURFACE
OR GRADED GRAVEL AREA OR
AN AREA THAT IS ADJACENT
TO THE CURB CUT.
THOMAS: THANK YOU.
ALVAREZ: MAYOR?
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.
ALVAREZ: AN ISSUE
THAT WAS RAISED ABOUT
THE GRAVEL DRIVEWAY I
THINK AT ONE POINT IT
WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT
FOLKS DIDN'T HAVE TO GO
IN AND POWER CEMENT AND
BUILD A DRIVEWAY TO
CODE, THAT THEY COULD
JUST BUILD A GRAVEL
DRIVEWAY.
AND I WAS WONDERING IS
THAT DEFINITION PERMIT
ISAT OR IS THERE A NEED
TO GO IN AND DEFINE IN
THE CODE — LOOK AT THE
DEFINITION OF DRIVEWAY
IN THE CODE AND MAKE
CHANGES IN IT.
UNDER THIS ORDINANCE
A GRADED GRAVEL DRIVEWAY
WOULD BE PERMITTED.
ALVAREZ: I SEE.
SO GRADED GRAVEL.
OKAY.
THAT WOULD BE — LET
ME — THAT WOULD BE
PERMITTED UNDER THIS
ORDINANCE.
OF COURSE, YOU HAVE TO
COMPLY WITH ALL CITY
ORDINANCES, SO IF
ANOTHER CITY REGULATION
REQUIRES SOMETHING ELSE,
YOU WOULD STILL HAVE TO
COMPLY WITH THAT.
BUT THIS DOESN'T
TRUMP —
ALVAREZ: LIKE WATER
QUALITY.
OR THERE'S A
REQUIREMENT I BELIEVE
THAT MR. RENTERIA WAS
REFERRING TO, IF THERE'S
A REQUIREMENT IN THE
TRANSPORTATION AND
CRITERIA MANUAL FOR A
CERTAIN TYPE OF
DRIVEWAY, THAT TYPE OF
DRIVEWAY HAS TO BE
THERE, BUT FOR THIS
ORDINANCE YOU WOULD NOT
BE TICKETED IF YOU HAD A
GRADED GRAVEL.
AND THAT'S IT.
ALVAREZ: ANOTHER —
MAYOR GARCIA:
[ INAUDIBLE ]
DEBRA, WILL YOU
COMMENT ON THE AREA
ADJACENT TO THE CURB
CUT, LEASE?
THE AREA ADJACENT TO
THE CURB CUT DOESN'T —
THE PERMIT HARD SURFACE
AND GRADED GRAVEL AREA
DOESN'T APPLY TO THE
AREA ADJACENT TO THE
CURB CUT.
THAT AREA IS — THERE'S
NO REQUIREMENT FOR THAT
TO BE EITHER PERMANENT
HARD SURFACE OR GRADED
GRAVEL.
SO BASICALLY IS IT
ADJACENT TO THE CURB CUT
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE
A SURFACE, CORRECT?
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO
HAVE A PERMANENT HARD
SURFACE OR A GRADED
GRAVEL SURFACE.
MAYOR GARCIA:
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?
ALVAREZ: OKAY.
NOW, IN TERMS OF I GUESS
OTHER WAYS, IT SEEMS
LIKE THE CONCERN PEOPLE
HAVE IS THERE'S A WHOLE
BUNCH OF RESIDENCES
WHERE THEY HAVE A LOT OF
CARS PARKING ON THE
FRONT YARD OR SIDE YARD
AND NOT ON A DRIVEWAY.
AND SO I THINK —
SOMEONE REFERENCED AN
ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THAT
A CERTAIN NUMBER OF CARS
YOU CAN HAVE IN OUR
RESIDENCE.
IS THAT TRUE?
AS AN ACCESSORY USE
YOU CAN HAVE FOUR — AS
AN ACCESSORY USE TO A
RESIDENTIAL USE, YOU CAN
HAVE FOUR CARS PLUS ONE
CAR FOR EACH DRIVER IN
THE RESIDENCE.
I BELIEVE THAT'S
CORRECT.
ALVAREZ: ONE CAR —
YOU HAVE FOUR CARS,
PLUS ONE FOR EACH PERSON
IN THE RESIDENCE.
ALVAREZ: SO THIS
WOULDN'T QUICK IN IN AN
EXAMPLE WHERE THERE'S
MORE THAN FOUR.
IT WOULD ALWAYS BE —
YOU COULD HAVE FOUR
PLUS — YOU ALWAYS START
WITH FOUR PLUS ONE FOR
EACH DRIVER.
ALVAREZ: IN TERMS OF
THIS PARKING IN THE
DRIVEWAY OR RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTIES, THERE ISN'T
A THRESHOLD OF X NUMBER
OF CARS IN ORDER TO MAKE
IT CONSISTENT WITH —
NO, THERE'S NOT.
ALVAREZ: AND THEN
TALK ABOUT THE JUNK CARS
ISSUE.
IS THERE A PROVISION IN
THE CODE ABOUT JUNKED
CARS ON PEOPLE'S
PROPERTY?
YES.
AL AND THAT'S A —
ALVAREZ: AND THAT'S A
HEALTH AND SAFETY
STANDARD.
THAT'S PART OF THE
TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.
ALVAREZ: AND
FINALLY — WELL, NOT
FINALLY, BUT I HAVE A
QUESTION FOR
MR. MANDER O AND THEN A
QUESTION FOR
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING.
SO THE FIRST — WHAIFS
WONDERING IS I GUESS —
WHAT I WAS WONDERING IS
IT'S BEEN EXPLAINED THAT
THE DISTRICT REPS WILL
BE ENFORCING THIS
PARTICULAR ORDINANCE?
YES, SIR.
ALVAREZ: SO — I
GUESS I'M TRYING TO GET
A SENSE OF I GUESS
THE — THE HIERARCHY OF
AREAS.
SO YOU WOULD HAVE A
SECTOR AND THEN A SECTOR
IS BROKEN UP INTO
DISTRICTS, IS THAT
CORRECT?
YES, SIR.
ALVAREZ: AND SO THE
DISTRICT REPS WOULD BE
SUPERVISOR, I WOULD
THINK, OF ALL THE
DIFFERENT OFFICERS IN
THAT PARTICULAR —
NO, A DISTRICT REP IS
NOT A SUPERVISOR.
BASICALLY A DISTRICT REP
IS ASSIGNED ONE OR TWO
DISTRICTS IN A SECTOR.
AND THEIR PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO
ADDRESS PREDOMINANTLY
ISSUES OF QUALITY OF
LIFE AND THE YARDS AND
THE GRASS AND CRACK
HOUSES, THINGS OF THAT
NATURE.
SO BASICALLY WHAT WE
INTEND — JUST A DRAFT
PROPOSAL HOW WE INTEND
TO ENFORCE THIS, A
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE
WILL ISSUE — ONCE AGAIN
SHS THISPROCESS IS GOING
TO BE COMPLAINT DRIVEN.
ONCE A DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVE RECEIVES
A COMPLAINT, THE
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE
WILL ISSUE AN ORAL
WARNING TO AN ADULT WHO
RESIDES AT THE LOCATION
AND WILL DOCUMENT THE
VIOLATION AND WARNING
IN
AN INCIDENT REPORT.
IT'S REAL IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THAT WE AS
THE AUSTIN POLICE
DEPARTMENT INTEND TO
GIVE AN INDIVIDUAL EVERY
OPPORTUNITY TO
VOLUNTARILY COMPLY WITH
THIS ORDINANCE.
NOW, AFTER A DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVE GIVES THE
FIRST WARNING, THE
FOLLOWING INFORMATION
WILL BE DOCUMENTED IN
THE REPORT, THE DATE AND
TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE,
DESCRIPTION OF THE
VEHICLE, LOCATION OF THE
VEHICLE IN THE FRONT
YARD, APPROXIMATE
DISTANCE FROM THE STREET
AND THE DRIVEWAY.
THEN THE NEXT THING WE
WILL DO IS THE INCIDENT
REPORT WILL BE KEPT AND
FILED BY THE DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVE.
THE DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVE WILL
ESTABLISH A FILE ON EACH
OF THE RESIDENTS —
RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
THEN AFTER TWO WARNINGS
HAVE BEEN ISSUED AT ONE
ADDRESS, THE DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVE WILL GO
BACK AND INVESTIGATE.
IF THE VEHICLE IS STILL
IN VIOLATION OF THE
ORDINANCE, A CITATION
WILL BE ISSUED.
NOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE
VIOLATION IS NOT — ONCE
AGAIN SHS IT IS NOT A
CRIMINAL ACT.
THE VIOLATION
SPECIFICALLY IS A CIVIL
VIOLATION AND THE FINES
ASSESSED ARE CIVIL IN
NATURE.
AND $40, AND IF THEY PAY
EARLY IT'S 20 DOLLARS.
ALVAREZ: OKAY.
IN TERMS OF THE WORK
LOAD OF THE DISTRICT
REP, IS THERE — ARE WE
SAYING THAT THEY HAVE
THE TIME TO REPORT —
THE DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVES ARE
EXTREMELY BUSY, BUT THIS
WILL BE A GOOD TOOL, AN
ADDITIONAL TOOL THAT
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES
CAN USE TO ADDRESS THE
CONCERNS OF SOME OF THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
ALVAREZ: IN TERMS OF
DRIVING IN THE YARD OR
ABOUT OTHER CONCERNS?
WELL, SPECIFICALLY
CONCERNS —
ALVAREZ: PARKING IN
THE YARD?
YES, SIR.
ALVAREZ: OKAY.
AND NOW IN TERMS OF THE
SIGN, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT
KNOW THIS, BUT IT WAS A
40 DOLLAR FINE, 20
DOLLARS IF YOU PAY
EARLY.
AND SO IF IT'S A
COMPLAINT THAT'S
RECURRING, LIKE HAPPENS
IN A ROW —
I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS WAS
REAL CONSISTENT ON IS
THAT WE DO NOT WANT A
PERSON TO — SAY, FOR
INSTANCE, WE ISSUE A
CITATION AND THEN
SOMEONE CALL AND WANT US
TO GIVE — ISSUE ANOTHER
CITATION IMMEDIATELY.
WE WANT TO GIVE AT
LEAST — AFTER WE ISSUE
A CITATION, THERE SHOULD
BE AT LEAST
APPROXIMATELY SEVEN DAYS
BEFORE THE PROCESS
BEGINS ALL OVER AGAIN
BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, WE
DO NOT WANT TO BURDEN —
WE UNDERSTAND AS A
POLICE DEPARTMENT BOTH
SIDES OF THE ISSUE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE
DON'T WANT TO DO IS
BURDEN THE PEOPLE WHO
CANNOT AFFORD THIS TYPE
OF CITATION.
[ONE MOMENT, PLEASE,
WHILE CAPTIONERS]
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?
IF NOT THAT'S THE LAST ITEM
THAT WE HAVE.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
ADJOURN, MOTION BY
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER,
SECONDED BY — BY
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.?
AYE.
, OPPOSED, NO.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
End of Council Session Closed Caption Log
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