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Part A | Part B | Part C
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.
I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE
LEGAL MEETING OF THE AUSTIN
CITY COUNCIL JUNE THE 27th.
BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME ITEMS
THAT WE'LL BE TAKING UP,
CERTAIN ITEMS LATER ON,
COUNCIL, WE NEED TO TAKE
ACTION ON ITEM NUMBER 27.
ITEM 27 IS TO APPROVE A
RESOLUTION TO APPOINT
COUNCILMEMBER BETTY DUNKERLY
AND TO REAPPOINT DARYLER AND
JACKIE GOOD MAN TO THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN
HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION
FOR A PERIOD EXPIRING WITH
THEIR CITY COUNCIL TERMS.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I MOVE.
I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.
COUNCILMEMBER AFL VEZ, WE ARE
CONSIDERING THIS ITEM.
SO YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE ON
IT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
AYE.
THE MOTION CARRIES WITH A
VOTE OF 4-0 WITH TWO MEMBERS
OF THE COUNCIL TEMPORARILY
ABSENT.
SO COMING RIGHT UP.
AT THIS TIME WE'LL GO TO THE
1:30 BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS,
GENERAL.
FIRST IS MR. ROBERT KELLEY.
FOLLOWING THAT -- FOLLOWED BY
MS. SARAH ANDRE.
MR. KELLEY?
WELCOME, SIR.
THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS ROBERT KELLEY.
I'M A SENIOR SANITARIAN.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY OF
AUSTIN FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT
YEARS.
I'M REPRESENTING PROUDLY THE
SANITARIAN OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSUMER HEALTH
UNIT OF AUSTIN HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
OUR PRIMARY TASK IS TO ENFORCE
AND INSPECT IN 4500 FOOD
SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS, RETAIL
FOOD STORES, LOCAL FOOD
VENDORS THAT TEMPORARY EVENTS
HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
IN ADDITION TO THIS, WE ALMOST
DAILY RECEIVE REPORTS OF FOOD
BORNE ILLNESSS AND THUS WE
GENERALLY INVESTIGATE SEVERAL
HUNDRED REPORTED INCIDENCES OF
FOOD BORNE ILLNESSS IN A YEAR.
WITH THIS IN MIND YOU WILL
NOTE BY LOOKING AT THE
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART THAT IS
PROVIDED FOR YOU THAT WE ARE
CURRENTLY OPERATING WITHOUT A
PROGRAM MANAGER, CUSTOMER
SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPERVISOR, AND AN ENFORCEMENT
COORDINATOR.
IN ADDITION TO THIS, EIGHT OUT
OF THE 17 CITY FIELD INSPECTOR
POSITIONS ARE CURRENTLY
VACANT.
WITH THE FOOD INSPECTOR
POSITIONS FROZEN, OUR ABILITY
TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH
IS IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY.
OUR PURPOSE OF BEING HERE HERE
TODAY IS TO REQUEST SALARY
ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE SANITARIAN
POSITION IN ORDER TO CREATE
EQUITY WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL
COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST, OR TO
BE RECLASSIFIED AS
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
SPECIALIST.
IN AS MUCH AS FOUR TO FIVE
YEARS AN EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE
TO INCREASE SALARIES, TO
CREATE EQUITY OF THIS
POSITIONS.
THE INEQUITY OF THE SALARY
SCALES VERSUS THE
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE ZESHL
SPECIALIST IS ON AVERAGE 28%
DIFFERENCE WITH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
SPECIALIST BEING THE HIGHER
PAID OF THE TWO.
HOWEVER, YOU WILL NOTE THAT
JOB DESCRIPTIONS ARE VIRTUALLY
IDENTICAL WITH EXCEPTION OF
THE FACT THAT SANITARIAN
POSITIONS REQUIRE A DEGREE AND
A PROFESSIONAL LICENSE.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
SPECIALIST NOT ONLY DOES NOT
REQUIRE PROCHLTION LICENSING
BUT MAY ALLOW EXPERIENCE TO
REPLACE HE HAD -- PROFESSIONAL
LICENSING BUT MAY ALLOW
EXPERIENCE TO REPLACE
EDUCATION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH IS A VERY IMPORTANT
PROGRAM AND WITHOUT ADEQUATE
LEADERSHIP OUR PROGRAM WILL
SLOWLY SBINT GRATE.
WE HAVE LOST SANITARIANS THAT
HAVE LEFT THE HIGHER PAYING
JOBS AND THE FACT THAT WE WERE
UNABLE TO HIRE BECAUSE OF LACK
OF COMPETITIVE SALARIES IN
ADDITION TO THOSE POSITIONS
BEING FROZEN, PUBLIC HEALTH IS
AT RISK.
IN CONCLUSION, SINCE WE ARE A
REVENUE-PRODUCING ENTITY, THE
PROPOSED FEE ADJUSTMENTS TO
OFFSET THE FOLLOWING
INCREASES.
WE ALSO REQUEST THAT YOU
CONSIDER OPENING AT LEAST HALF
OF THE VACANT SANITARIAN
POSITIONS FOR HIRE IN ORDER
THAT WE CAN PROTECT PUBLIC
HEALTH.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.
THANK YOU, MR. KELLEY.
AND WE HAVE A COPY OF YOUR
INFORMATION PACKET IS IN THE
HANDS OF THE STATE MANAGER.
WE'LL BE LOOKING AT IT.
WE'LL ALSO BE LOOKING AT IT AT
THE TIME WE DO THE NEXT.
MR. SARAH ANDRE.
AND FALLING MS. ANDRE IS
MR. GUS PENA.
MS. ANDRE, WELCOME.
HI.
I'M SARAH ANDRE AND I'M WITH
THE ENTERPRISE FOUNDATION HERE
IN AUSTIN.
ENTERPRISE IS A NATIONAL
NONPROFIT THAT WORKS WITH
OTHER NONPROFITS AND
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
TO HELP REBUILD NEIGHBORHOODS.
SINCE 1982 WE'VE HELPED
DEVELOP MORE THAN 132,000
UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
NATIONWIDE.
I'M HERE TODAY WITH A GROUP OF
MY COLLEAGUES TO TALK ABOUT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN
AND I'D LIKE TO ASK THEM TO
STAND JUST SO YOU CAN SEE WHO
THEY ARE.
THANKS.
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE
WORK WITH AND SUPPORT THE
EFFORTS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY TRUST COALITION.
WE ALSO COORDINATE WITH MANY
OF THE OTHER AFFORDABLE
HOUSING TASK FORCES HERE IN
AUSTIN.
HOWEVER, WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE
ISSUES FACED BY NONPROFIT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS,
ALSO KNOWN AS COMMUNITY
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
ORGANIZATIONS.
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS WE'VE
BEEN MEETING AS A GROUP TO
DISCUSS THE COMMON ISSUES WE
FACE WHEN TRYING TO INCREASE
PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
WHILE WE FACE NUMEROUS ISSUES
OF VARYING COMPLEXITY, WE SEEM
TO ALWAYS COME BACK TO TWO
ISSUES: ACCESS TO LAND AND
CAPACITY BUILDING.
ONE RESULT OF OUR
CONVERSATIONS IS THE WHITE
PAPER THAT I'M PRESENTING YOU
TODAY.
ACCESS TO LAND AND SCEAFT
BUILDING ARE DISCUSSED AT
LENGTH IN THE PAPER, BUT WE
HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE TIME TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME UNIQUE
SOLUTIONS TO THESE PROBLEMS
THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN
OTHER CITIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, MANY CITIES
AROUND THE NATION, INCLUDING
DALLAS AND HOUSTON, HAVE
PROGRAMS THAT HELP FUNNEL
VACANT LOTS TO NONPROFIT
DEVELOPERS.
THE CITY OF FORT WORTH ALSO
HAS AN EXCITING PROGRAM THAT
PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
AND OPERATING SUPPORT TO
FLEDGLING NONPROFITS THAT
WOULD LIKE TO BECOME THIS.
INCLUDED IN OUR LIST OF
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THREE
MAJOR ITEMS WE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE IMPLEMENTED WITH THE
COOPERATION OF THE CITY.
FIRST, THE CREATION OF AN
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT
FACILITATES THE TRANSFER OF
LAND TO NONPROFITS TO BE USED
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SECOND, WE WOULD LIKE TO
ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM THAT
HELPS NONPROFITS CLEAR TITLE
ON VACANT LAND.
AND FINALLY WE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE THE CITY USE NONFEDERAL
DOLLARS SUCH AS THE TRUST FUND
TO PROVIDE OPERATING SUPPORT
AND DEVELOP THE CAPACITY OF
THESE.
SUPPORTING NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED
GROUPS IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS
TO HELP STEM THE TIED AND
MAINTAIN LOCAL CONTROL OVER
THE LANDSCAPE.
AS MORE AND MORE GROUPS BEGIN
TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SEEK
WAYS TO ADDRESS THIS COMMUNITY
ISSUE, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER.
WE NEED TO SUPPORT AND
STRENGTHEN THOSE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE ALREADY DEVELOPING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AT THE
SAME TIME FOSTER THE GROWTH OF
NEW ORGANIZATIONS AND NEW WAYS
OF WORKING.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MS. ANDRE.
MR. GUS PENA IS GOING TO BE
FOLLOWED BY JEANNE STARTZEL.
MR. PENA, WELCOME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBERS, GUS PENA.
TO MY LEFT IS MY BOY LUCIO WHO
FINISHED THE SUMMER SCHOOL AND
I WANT Y'ALL TO LOOK AT THIS
MEDAL, GUS, MAYOR GARCIA
BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOU GET
FOR EXCELING AND COMING IN
FROM A SCHOOL THAT DID NOT
ALLOW HIM TO EXCEL BECAUSE OF
NEGATIVE INTERACTION WITH A
TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL.
BUT ANYWAY I'M NOT HEAR TO
SPEAK ABOUT THAT.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO WHATEVER
TERMINOLOGY YOU USE NOW IN THE
BUDGET AT THIS MOMENT.
WE HAD AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER
STATE THAT PRELIMINARY CUTS IN
YOUTH ACTIVITY PROGRAMS, YOU
KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO BELIEVE
ANYTHING UNTIL I SEE IT IN THE
PAPER AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT IT BUT I WILL TELL
YOU THIS MUCH, THAT IT'S NOT A
PRETTY DAY FOR CUTS ON SENIOR
CITIZEN OR YOUTH ACTIVITY
PROGRAMS.
IF I HAVE TO WE'LL FILL THIS
PLACE UP.
WHENEVER WE HAVE THE BUDGET
HEARINGS BECAUSE WE HAVE ABOUT
4,062 MEMBERS JUST IN EACH.
FORGET ABOUT THE RAINBOW
COALITION WITH 3,462.
WE CAN OVERFLOW THIS PLACE BUT
ONE THING WE KNOW IS THIS.
IF YOU CUT ANY KIND OF YOUTH
PROGRAMS OR ANY KIND OF
PROGRAMS THAT WILL ADVERSELY
IMPACT THE YOUTH, THEY ARE
GOING TO HANG OUT.
THEY ARE GOING TO BECOME LATCH
KEY KIDS, THEY ARE GOING TO
BECOME LIKE THEY DID IN 1994.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN THEY HELPED
BOTH THE GANGS.
WE WERE ACTIVE, VERY ACTIVE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, SO ACTIVE
THAT WE WERE RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF IT.
BUT ANYWAY, AISB IS PROPOSING
TO CUT THE INITIATIVES.
I AM ON THE DROPOUT PREVENTION
REDUCTION TASK FORCE.
WE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORKING
CURRENTLY WITH 250 STUDENTS
FROM JOHNSTON, REAGAN AND LBJ
WHO ARE START INNING NINTH
GRADE AND MENTORING, TUTORING
ALL THE WAY THROUGH TWELFTH
GRADE GRADUATION.
I AM A DROPOUT.
I DROPPED OUT IN 1969.
I CAM BACK BECAUSE I HAD A
GOOD PRINCIPAL, MR. GORDON
BAILEY, MAY HE REST IN PEACE,
WHO GAVE ME WHAT I WANTED AND
CONTINUED TO GRADUATE.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO CUT ANY
KIND OF PROGRAMS THAT WILL
ADVERSELY AFFECT THE YOUTH,
AND ALSO I WANT TO LET YOU
KNOW THIS, MAYOR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS, THAT GANGS ARE
COMING BACK UP.
GANGS ARE COMING BACK UP AND
THEY ARE SOLICITING MEMBERS
AND MEMBERSHIP.
YOU HAVE KIDS OUT, THERE YOUTH
OUT THERE HANGING OUT IN THE
STREETS.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, GANG
ACTIVITY'S GOING TO BE LOOKING
MORE AND MORE BRIGHTER THAN
JUST HANGING ON THE STREET.
CAN'T DO THAT.
TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO ATTEND
THE BUDGET HEARING AT THE
AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
DISTRICT BOARD MEETING.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO TELL
THEM TO SEND THE MESSAGE, THAT
WE DO NOT CUT DROPOUT
PREVENTION FUNDING.
THAT IS A NO-NO.
THE SENATOR, EVEN THE GOVERNOR,
EVEN THE PRESIDENT STATED WE
DON'T DO THAT.
THAT IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN
BUDGETARY PROCESS, LET'S THINK
ABOUT KIDS, LET'S THINK ABOUT
SENIOR CITIZENS, HOUSING,
LET'S THINK ABOUT ALL THESE
ISSUES THAT WILL HAVE A
NEGATIVE OR A POSITIVE IMPACT
ON THE TAX BILLS OF THE
CITIZENS AND THINK ABOUT
CHILDREN LIKE LUCIO, MY BOY
WHO HAS A FUTURE.
AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THIS.
KISS YOUR CHILDREN.
HUG YOUR CHILDREN.
TELL YOUR CHILDREN THAT YOU
LOVE THEM.
BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE
THEM TOMORROW.
THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
MAYOR?
I WANTED TO ALSO GIVE A QUICK
THANKS TO MR. PENA.
IF YOU'LL REMEMBER LAST MONTH
OR SO WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF
AN ISSUE WITH ELECTRICAL
CONTRACTOR THAT DID WORK ON A
CITY PROJECT AND THERE'S, YOU
KNOW, SOME HARD FEELINGS
BETWEEN THAT ELECTRIC COMPANY
AND THE LOCAL IBW AND MR. PENA
STEPPED IN AND COORDINATED THE
MEDIATION EFFORTS WITH THE
LOCAL AFL-CIO OFFICER AND I
THANK MR. PENA FOR THAT.
MAYOR?
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?
FOR ME TO STAY HERE, THAT
LIGHT IS BLINDING ME.
AND I WEAR GLASSES.
SO I THOUGHT IT WAS MY GLASSES,
BUT IT'S THE LIGHT.
THIS LIGHT RIGHT HERE?
THE BRIGHT LIGHT THERE.
WE'LL WORK ON IT RIGHT NOW.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
THAT'S LIKE HAVING SOMEONE'S
BRIGHT LIGHT IN YOUR LIVING
ROOM.
AFTER I LOOK AT THE LIGHT,
I CAN'T SEE THE PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.
JEANNE STARTZEL AND
FOLLOWING THAT, LEE MANFORD.
WELCOME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, AND
MAY I DON'T RECOGNIZE OF THE
CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JEANNE STARTZEL AND
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY,
AUSTIN METRO MARKET AND I'M
HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE
AUSTIN HUMAN HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES ASSOCIATION TO PUT
PEOPLE FIRST CAMPAIGN.
SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUE RS
HERE AS WELL TO TALK ABOUT THE
STATE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH IN
AUSTIN.
MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT AUSTIN
IS A HEALTHY CITY.
WE HAVE MANY SMOKE-FREE
RESTAURANTS, WE HAVE MANY
PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR
PARKS BY RUNNING, HIKING AND
BIKING.
THE HEALTH OF MOST OF THE
COUNTY IS GOOD.
HOWEVER ALL CITIZENS YOUNG AND
OLD DO NOT SHARE THIS GOOD
HEALTH EQUALLY.
IN THREE MINUTES I CANNOT
PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION
ON ALL THE HEALTH SDPEARTS AND
THE POPULATIONS AFFECTED.
SO I WILL FOCUS
MY -- DISPARITYS.
SO I WILL FOCUS MY COMMENTS ON
THE ALARMING INCREASE OF
OBESITY IN OUR CHILDREN WHICH
WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR
CITY IN THE FUTURE.
MANY DISEASES SUCH AS CANCER,
HEART DISEASE, AND DIABETES
CAN BE PREVENTED BY CHANGES IN
LIFESTYLE BEHAVIOR SUCH AS
PROPER NUTRITION AND
INCORPORATING PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY IN DAILY LIFE BUT AS
A NATION WE ARE GETTING FATTER
AND THAT IS PARTICULARLY TRUE
FOR OUR CHILDREN.
WE HAVE A REPORT THAT WAS JUST
PASSED OUT THAT I PUT
TOGETHER.
IN 1999 AND 2000, A PILOT
STUDY OF THREE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS IN AUSTIN SHOW THAT
THE INITIAL BODY MASS INDEX
MEASUREMENTS RANKED AS OBESE
8% OF THE KINDERGARTENIERS,
16% OF OUR FIRST GRADERS AND
24% OF OUR SECOND GRADERS.
ACCORDING TO THIS DATA, THE
PREVALENCE OF OBESITY IN
AUSTIN CHILDREN IS NEARLY
DOUBLED THAT OF THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE BY SECOND GRADE.
THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 13%,
AND AUSTIN IS 24%.
AS A RESULT OF THIS OBESITY,
THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES OF
TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS IN
CHILDREN IS INCREASING IN AN
ALARMING RATE.
DOWN IN SAN ANTONIO IN 1990,
THEY JUST HAD ONE CASE
REPORTED OF TYPE II DIABETES
BUT IN 1997 THEY HAD 30 CASES.
I'M SURE THAT THAT'S TRUE FOR
AUSTIN.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HISPANICS
ARE THE HARDEST HIT.
THERE'S A HUGE ECONOMIC COST
TO THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC.
THE TOTAL DIRECT AND INDIRECT
COST ATTRIBUTED TO OVERWEIGHT
AND OBESITY AMOUNT TO $117
BILLION IN THE U.S. IN THE
YEAR 2000.
AND THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION REPORT -- SURGEON
GENERAL THATCHER DECLARED THAT
AMERICA'S EPIDEMIC ON OBESITY
HAS REACHED A POINT WHERE
THAT'S EVENTUAL POUNDS MAY
PASS CIGARETTES IN THE LEADING
CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE DEATH.
SO IN THE FUTURE HOW ARE WE
GOING TO PAY FOR HEALTHCARE
WHEN MANY OF OUR CHILDREN GROW
UP AND GO INTO THE WORKFORCE
THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
LEAVE THE WORKFORCE EARLY
DISABLED BY COMPLICATIONS OF
DIABETES, CANCER,
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, HEART
DISEASE, AND STROKE.
OBESE CHILDREN SUFFER BOTH
PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.
YOUNG PEOPLE CAN BUILD HEALTHY
BODIES AND ESTABLISH HEALTHY
LIFESTYLES BY INCLUDING
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN THEIR
DAILY LIVES.
HOWEVER, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT
PHYSICALLY ACTIVE ON A REGULAR
BASIS, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
DECLINES A DRAMATICALLY AS
CHILDREN GET OLDER.
OUR SCHOOLS ARE ADDRESSING
THIS ISSUE, HAVE INCREASED THE
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING THE
DAY FOR ELEMENTARY KIDS.
OUR SCHOOLS DO NOT NEED TO BE
THE ONLY ONES TAKING ACTION.
WE NEED TO EDUCATE OUR
COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS ISSUE, WE
NEED TO EDUCATE PARENTS ABOUT
BEING GOOD ROLE MODELS, WE
NEED TO PROVIDE LOW COST
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO
PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL AND
SUMMER COMPETITIVE AND
NONCOMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES AND
PROVIDE SAFE PLACES FOR
CHILDREN TO PLAY.
A HEALTHY BODY MAKES A HEALTHY
MIND.
THIS LEADS TO A HEALTHY
COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR CHILDREN,
WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION NOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ONE QUICK QUESTION.
I THINK THERE WAS A TEXAS LAW
THAT WAS PASSED IN THE SPECIAL
LEGISLATURE DEALING WITH.
YES, SENATE BILL 19 THAT
REQUIRED THAT ALL ELEMENTARY
KIDS GET 135 MINUTES OF
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING THE
WEEK.
DURING THE WEEK?
WHEN IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE
IMPLEMENTED?
THIS COMING YEAR?
YES.
SO THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT ACTUALLY, I
THINK AT THEIR LAST BOARD
MEETING, VOTED ON A WAY TO
ACTUALLY HAVE THAT
ACCOMPLISHED, BUT THEY ARE
LOOKING FOR A BETTER WAY TO DO
IT SO THAT IT IS A VERY GOOD
AND COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM.
AND ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
ARE LOOKING AT THIS AS WELL,
BUT OUR CHILDREN ALSO, OUR
PARENTS NEED TO BE AWARE OF
THIS IN GETTING KIDS ACTIVE
AND FEEDING THEM THE RIGHT
FOODS AND I THINK OUR
COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KNOW THAT
THIS IS AN ISSUE AND IT'S
GOING TO AFFECT THE HEALTH OF
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE AND SOME
OF THESE PEOPLE ARE ALSO GOING
TO BE IN THE PUBLIC HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM.
SO IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON
OUR CITY IN THE FUTURE.
Mayor Garcia: CAN YOU SPEAK
A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT HAPPENED
IN THAT 1980 PERIOD THAT
CAUSED IT TO START GOING UP?
WELL, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY
FOR SURE.
I CAN'T TELL YOU.
I KNOW WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL,
I HAD PE EVERY DAY.
AND IN THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE MY
DAUGHTER GOES, AND SHE WAS IN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SHE HAD IT
EVERY THIRD DAY AND SO IT WAS
EVERY -- SO EVERY OTHER WEEK
IT WAS JUST ONE DAY A WEEK.
BUT I THINK ALSO THE FACT OF
THERE'S MORE KIDS ARE EATING
FAST FOOD AND PROCESSED FOOD.
I MEAN, THERE'S SOME ISSUES
GOING ON IN OUR SOCIETY THAT
REALLY NEED TO BE CHANGED AND
WE NEED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE
ABOUT THAT.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: LEE MANFORD.
FOLLOWING MR. MANFORD, ALICE
WILSON.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR, KMEBS, I'M LEE MANFORD,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SERVICES
OF AUSTIN.
I'M ALSO HERE REPRESENTING THE
AUSTIN AREA HUMAN SERVICES
ASSOCIATION AS PART OF THE
"PUT PEOPLE FIRST" CAMPAIGN.
TODAY, JUNE 27th, IS NATIONAL
HIV TESTING DAY.
FOR THE ESTIMATED QUARTER OF A
MILLION AMERICANS WHO ARE
INFECTED WITH HIV BUT NOT
AWARE OF IT, KNOWLEDGE CAN
SAVE THEIR LIVES.
WHILE WE'VE MADE TREMENDOUS
STRIDES IN TREATING HIV
DISEASE AND RELATED ILLNESSS,
THOSE ADVANCES ARE NOT A CURE
AND MEAN LITTLE TO SOMEONE WHO
DOES NOT KNOW THAT THEY ARE
INFECTED.
FOR TOO MANY PEOPLE STILL
LEARN THAT THEY HAVE HIV QUITE
LATE IN THEIR INFECTION, OFTEN
THROUGH SEEKING MEDICAL CARE
IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
THUS MISSING THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR EARLY CARE AND TREATMENT.
MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS INTO
THE EPIDEMIC, THIS SHOULD NOT
STILL BE HAPPENING.
IN 1995 THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION FOR PEOPLE WITH
AIDS LAUNCHED NATIONAL TESTING
DAY AS A WAY TO REACH MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE AT RISK WITH THE
SIMPLE MESSAGE: TAKE THE TEST;
TAKE CONTROL.
PERSONS LIVING WITH AIDS KNOW
FROM FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE7 ? THAT
KNOWING YOUR HIV STATUS IS AN
ESSENTIAL STEP IN TAKING
CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH AND
CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE.
PEOPLE UNDER 25 MAKE UP HALF
OF ALL NEW HIV INFECTIONS.
HIV REMAINS THE LEADING CAUSE
OF DEATH AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE IMPACT OF THE AIDS
EPIDEMIC CONTINUES TO GROW
WITH THE PROPORTIONATELY HIGH
RATES OF INFECTION IN THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
AIDS DEATHS REMAIN NEARLY TEN
TIMES HIGHER AMONG
AFRICAN-AMERICANS THAN AMONG
WHITES AND IS THE LEADING
CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG
AFRICAN-AMERICANS BETWEEN THE
AGES OF 25 AND 44.
LATINOS NOW COMPRISE THE
LARGEST AND FASTEST GROWING
ETHIC MINORITY GROUP IN THE
UNITED STATES.
WHILE REPRESENTING 13% OF THE
TOTAL U.S. POPULATION, LATINOS
ACCOUNT FOR 18% OF ALL AIDS
CASES.
LATINOS ACCOUNT FOR 20% OF
INFECTIONS AMONG FEMALES.
HIV AND AIDS IS HAVING A
GROWING IMPACT ON WOMEN.
SINCE 1985 THE PROPORTION OF
AIDS CASES IN THE U.S.
REPORTED IN WOMEN HAS
INCREASED FROM 7% TO 25%.
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE AIDS
EPIDEMIC IN THIS COUNTRY, THE
MOST DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT
HAS OCCURRED AMONG MEN WHO
HAVE SEX WITH MEN.
DESPITE SIGNIFICANT DECLINES
IN HEALTH INFECTION RATES
AMONG MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH
MEN, THEY ACCOUNT FOR MORE
THAN 40% OF NEW INFECTION IN
THE UNITED STATES.
WITH THE WORLD'S ATTENTION
FOCUSED ON THE GLOBAL AIDS
EPIDEMIC AS IT SHOULD BE, WE
MUST ALSO RETAIN OUR FOCUS ON
THE IMPACT OF AIDS IN OUR OWN
COMMUNITY.
IT'S ESTIMATED THAT BETWEEN
5,000 AND 6,000 INDIVIDUALS
ARE CURRENTLY LIVING WITH F IV
IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
OF THOSE, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT
AS MANY AS ONE THIRD, BETWEEN
1700 AND 2,000 OF THOSE
INDIVIDUALS DO NOT KNOW THEIR
HIV STATUS.
TODAY AIDS SERVICES OF AUSTIN
TCARE PROGRAM OF MHMR AND THE
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE UNIT OF
AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES HAVE JOINED
TOGETHER TO PROMOTE NATIONAL
HIV TESTING DAY IN AUSTIN AND
TO GET PEOPLE OUT TO GET
TESTED.
THEY HAVE BEEN OFFERING
TESTING AT THE ROSEWOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, RIVERSIDE,
AND THIS AFTERNOON IN PEACE
PARK AT 12th AND LAMAR.
IN ADDITION TO HIV SCREENING
THEY ARE OFFERING HEPATITIS C
SCREENING, BLOOD PRESSURE, AND
GLUCOSE CHECKS.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
TAKE THE TEST; TAKE CONTROL.
THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU,
MR. MANFORD.
MS. ALICE WILSON AND FOLLOWING
MS. WILSON IS GAVINO
FERNANDEZ.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR,
KMEBS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
MY NAME IS ALICE WILSON AND I
AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE BREAST CANCER RESOURCE
CENTER OF AUSTIN, AND I'M ALSO
HERE REPRESENTING THE AUSTIN
AREA HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
ASSOCIATION TO PUT PEOPLE
FIRST" CAMPAIGN.
MY LITTLE SECTION THAT I'M
GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT
CONCERNS WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD
BREAST CANCER.
THE COLEMAN FOUNDATION FUNDED
A -- KOME N FUNCTION STUDIED
AN AREA TO DRY TO ADDRESS THE
LARGE PROGRAM THAT EVERYONE
RECOGNIZES ON A NATIONAL LEVEL,
WHICH IS THAT WOMEN WHO ARE
HISPANIC AND WHO ARE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HAVE A LOWER
LEVEL OF BEING DIAGNOSED WITH
BREAST CANCER BUT A MUCH
HIGHER LEVEL OF DYING FROM
BREAST CANCER.
SO THE ISSUES THAT WE WERE
TRYING TO ADDRESS IS, WHY IS
THIS THE CASE?
AND THIS, THE KOMEN STUDY DREW
HEAVILY ON STATISTICS AND SOME
REAL HELP FROM THE AMERICAN
CANCER SOCIETY AND WHAT THEY
PUT TOGETHER BOILED DOWN TO
THIS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WOMEN WHO
ARE DIAGNOSED FROM THOSE
MINORITY COMMUNITIES OFTEN
LACK TRANSPORTATION IN ORDER
TO GET TO THE FACILITIES THAT
WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR THEM.
SO TRANSPORTATION IS A HUGE
ISSUE.
ONE OF THE REASONS IS WE KNOW
THIS FIRSTHAND.
THE BREAST CANCER RESOURCE
CENTER GOES TO BRECKENRIDGE'S
NINTH FLOOR BREAST CLEN CLINIC
AND WE WORK WITH THE WOMEN WHO
ARE THERE.
THE SITUATION THERE IS THAT A
WOMAN IS CALLED IN AND SHE MAY
HAVE A WAIT THAT IS MANY, MANY
HOURS IN DURATION, AND SHE HAS
NO IDEA FROM HER APPOINTMENT
TIME TO WHEN SHE WOULD BE EVEN
PICKED UP.
SO SHE REALLY CAN'T SCHEDULE
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION EASILY.
THERE NEEDS TO BE ANOTHER
MECHANISM IN PLACE FOR PEOPLE
WITH THESE SEVERE DISEASE
PROBLEMS WHERE THEY CAN GET A
LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE
SCHEDULING OF THEIR
TRANSPORTATION.
ANOTHER HUGE ISSUE IS DAY
CARE.
MANY OF THE WOMEN WE SEE ARE
GRANDPARENTS TAKING CARE OF
CHILDREN FOR THEIR FAMILIES,
AND THERE WAS ONE GRANDMOTHER
WHO CAME INTO OUR OFFICE,
HAVING JUST BEEN DIAGNOSED ON
THE NINTH FLOOR, AND THEY
COULDN'T TALK TO HER AND
CONVINCE HER.
SO THEY ASKED US, AND WE
EXPLAINED TO HER AGAIN WHAT
HER DIAGNOSIS WAS, AND SHE
SAID, "NO, I CAN'T HAVE BREAST
CANCER.
I CARE FOR THE FOUR CHILDREN
IN OUR FAMILY."
AND SHE STARTED TO WALK OUT
THE DOOR.
THIS IS A PERCEIVED PROBLEM
THAT WOMEN HAVE THAT EVEN
KEEPS THEM FROM ENTERING INTO
THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
STEPS THAT ARE NECESSARY.
SO THIS IS AN AREA THAT I
WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR YOU TO
ADDRESS AND LOOK CAREFULLY AT,
GETTING SOME MORE FLEXIBILITY
INTO TRANSPORTATION AND ALSO
LOOKING AT SOME RESOURCES FOR
DAY CARE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU,
MS. WILSON.
MR. GAVINO FERNANDEZ AND
FOLLOWING MR. FERNANDEZ,
MS. SUSANA ALMANZA.
MR. FERNANDEZ, WELCOME, SIR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR,
COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS GAVINO FERNANDEZ,
AND I COME TO YOU ASKING FOR
ASSISTANCE IN REGARDS TO THE
GROWING CONCERNS OF SAFETY IN
OR AROUND THE PALM PARK.
WE HAVE NOTICED AND RECEIVED
MANY CALLS FROM HOMEOWNERS
THAT LIVE ON 3rd STREET,
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AREA
THAT UTILIZE THE PALM PARK,
AND WE HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT
THE DISTRIBUTION THAT USED TO
BE DONE UNDER THE I H-35
BRIDGE IS NOW DISTRIBUTING
COMMODITIES AT PALM PARK ON
SUNDAYS.
I WENT OUT THERE.
THERE'S OVER 200 PEOPLE.
NO REST ROOMS.
THEY HAD MUSIC, NO SOUND
PERMIT.
BUT EVEN MORE UNFORTUNATE, NO
ENFORCEMENT.
NO ENFORCEMENT AT ANY PARK
CURFEWS OR ANY POLICIES THAT
ARE IN PLACE IN REGARDS TO
PARKS AND RECREATION.
I PERSONALLY WORKED FOR PARKS
OVER 15 YEARS AND SO I'M
FAMILIAR WITH THOSE TYPE OF
ENFORCEMENTS THAT ARE IN PLACE,
AND WE WANT TO -- WE'RE COMING
TO YOU AND ASKING YOU FOR
ASSISTANCE AND ALSO TO ADDRESS
THE ISSUE OF PALM PARK.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
MAYOR, IT'S BEEN SINCE '94
WHEN WE JOINED WITH THE CITY
AT THAT TIME TO PROVIDE
SECURITY SO THAT -- BECAUSE WE
DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP THE
BATTLE FOR USERS OF PALM PARK.
I MEAN, IT'S A UNIQUE POOL
RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE CITY.
AND PEOPLE CONTINUE TO USE IT.
BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO
COMMUNICATION.
GUS PENA TALKED ABOUT CUTTING
PROGRAMS.
OUR PROGRAM WAS CUT THIS
SUMMER.
I CALLED MS. BARN HEART FROM
THE RAINY DAY ASSOCIATION,
FRANCIS MARTINA.
NO ONE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE
WOULD BE NO PLAYGROUND PROGRAM
OR NO SWIMMING HOURS AT PALM
PARK FOR THIS YEAR.
EVERY YEAR WE'VE HAD TO
STRUGGLE IN TRYING TO KEEP
PALM PARK ALIVE AND USABLE FOR
THE -- FOR OUR FAMILIES.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE
OF FUNDING TO UPGRADE PALM
PARK OR YOU PUT ON THE AGENDA
INITIAL, WHAT IS IT THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH PALM
PARK AND PALM POOL.
WE WILL BE GOING BEFORE THE
PARKS BOARDS COMMISSION TO
HOPEFULLY COME UP WITH SOME
SOLUTION AND SOME FUNDING.
MAYBE WE CAN ASK FOR FEDERAL
FUNDING IF FOR SOME REASON,
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DESERVE
GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO
ADDRESS THIS ONE ISSUE.
WE ALSO LISTEN TO THE ISSUE OF
EXERCISE AND THE LACK OF IT IN
THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE PART THAT
WOULD PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY,
BUT THERE IS NO ASSISTANCE.
SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO WORK
WITH US AND HOPEFULLY ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE OF THE SAFETY OF
PALM PARK AND WHAT WE'RE GOING
TO DO WITH PALM POOL.
THANK YOU, MAYOR.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU,
MR. FERNANDEZ.
MS. SUSANA ALMANZA.
WELCOME.
FOLLOWING MS. ALMANZA IS
MR. DAVID L DUKES.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE MY
CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF
MS. KING, HER FAMILY MEMBERS
OR FRIENDS AND THE COMMUNITY
AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A
REQUEST THAT THE AUSTIN POLICE
ASSOCIATION SET UP A FUND TO
ASSIST THE FAMILY IN RAISING
THE TWO CHILDREN THAT SHE LEFT
BEHIND.
I THINK THAT THIS IS ONLY
RIGHT AND JUST FOR THE POLICE
ASSOCIATION TO ASSIST THAT
FAMILY AND SO I MAKE THAT
REQUEST AND INVITE EVERYONE
OUT TO THE TOWN HALL MEETING
TONIGHT AT 6:30 AT KEELING
JUNIOR HIGH AT 1607
PENNSYLVANIA DRIVE.
ALSO MY SECOND CONCERN IS THE
WHOLE ISSUE OF THE TANK FARM.
IN FEBRUARY WE REQUESTED THAT
THE TANK FARM ISSUE BE TAKEN
OUT OF THE MLK PLAN BECAUSE
THAT WAS THE END OF THE
BOUNDARIES OF THE MLK PLAN AND
THE VALLEY AREA HAD BEEN
HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THAT PLAN
SINCE THE EARLY NINETIES.
LOW AND BEHOLD THE BALLOT HAS
BEEN SENT OUT TO THE MLK
RESIDENTS AND ACTION 54 IS
ACTUALLY REZONING THE TANK
FARM AREA TO NEIGHBORHOOD
URBAN CENTER.
AND YOU KNOW WE HAD A LOT OF
CONCERNS ABOUT THAT WHOLE
DESIGNATION IN THE CHAVEZ PLAN
WITH THE HEIGHT REGULATIONS
AND SO FORTH.
YET, HERE IT IS, WE BEGIN.
WE HAD TWO MEETINGS WITH WE
TOOK OUT THE TANK FARM TO LOOK
AT IT IN COMBINATION WITH MLK
RESIDENTS AND THE VALLEY
RESIDENTS AND NOW IT'S GOING
TO BE COMING BEFORE THE
PLANNING COMMISSION AS THE
REZONING AS A NEIGHBORHOOD
URBAN CENTER.
SO I ASK YOU TO REVISIT THAT
AND TO TAKE THAT PLAN OUT
UNTIL WE FINISH LOOKING AT THE
ZONING DESIGNATION OF THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
ALSO, TOO, I'D LIKE TO ASK
MAYOR GARCIA TO WRITE A LETTER
TO THE SCHOOL BOARDMEMBERS
ASKING THAT THEY NOT
TAKE -- USE ANY OF THEIR MONEY
FOR THE DROP HOUSE PREVENTION
PROGRAM, THAT THEY KEEP THAT
FUNDING IN.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR OF
THIS EDUCATION TASK FORCE AND
THE WORK THAT THEY DID.
BUT I THINK IT'S UNJUST,
ESPECIALLY HEARING THAT AUSTIN
HAS THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF
LATINO DROPOUTS IN THE WHOLE
STATE OF TEXAS.
THAT SENDS AN ALARMING MESSAGE
TO EVERYONE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THEM
THREATENING TO GET THAT
BUDGET -- YOU KNOW, LESSEN
THAT BUDGET FOR THE DROPOUT
PREVENTION.
I THINK THAT'S VERY SCARY
WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN'T SEND
THIS, I'LL DO THIS MYSELF.
I THINK THE DOCTOR DOESN'T
DESERVE ALL THE MONEY AND THE
RAISE THAT SHE'S BEEN GETTING.
WHEN I SEE THAT DROPOUT THAT'S
HAPPENING AND THE SPECIAL ED
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T SPEAK
ENGLISH, I DON'T THINK THE
SUPERINTENDENT AND THE DOCTOR
DESERVE THE MONEY THAT THEY
ARE GETTING AND IT SHOULD BE
BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE
THAT THEY ARE NOT LETTING DROP
OUT OF THE WHOLE WHOLE SCHOOL
SYSTEM AND NOT JUST BECAUSE
THEY HAVE BEEN THERE.
WE HAVE A CRISIS IN THE
EDUCATION SYSTEM AND IT'S NOT
GETTING ANY BETTER AND SO I
WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR
LISTENING TO ME BUT HONESTLY
TO FOLLOW UP ON THE TANK FARM
ISSUE AND ALSO THE EDUCATION
ISSUE.
THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: INC. YOU READ
IN THE PAPER ABOUT THAT LETTER,
AND I WILL BE FOLLOWING UP ON
THAT.
THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: MR. DAVID
DUKES AND FOLLOWING MR. DUKES
IS MR. CLINT SMITH.
WELCOME, SIR.
THANK YOU.
CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR.
FIRST OF ALL, MY NAME IS DAVID
DUKES.
[ INAUDIBLE ]
I HAVE A PROGRAM.
I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT I'M
NOT A SELF-RIGHTEOUS
INDIVIDUAL.
THERE IS SOMETHING THAT TURNS
MY ATTENTION WHEN I GIVE THIS
TO YOU WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN,
AND I NOTICE THAT DISCUSSIONS
WITH THE CITY COUNCIL CONFIRM.
[ INAUDIBLE ]
THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY
HAS MADE AVAILABLE RATED R
INDIVIDUAL I DON'T SEES
FOR -- VIDEOS TO BE CHECKED
OUT WITH YOUR CHILDREN'S
LIBRARY CARDS, SEX SCENES WITH
MEN WITH MEN, WOMEN WITH WOMEN,
FORNICATION, PROFANITY.
ALSO IN SOME BOOKS.
THE MATERIALS THAT APPARENTLY
THE COMMITTEES HAD OKAYED.
AMERICANS CANNOT AFFORD THE
GOD-GIVEN STANDARDS OF
MORALITY, DECENCY, AUTHORITY
TO BE CORRUPTED UNDER THE
GUISE OF FREE SPEECH.
SIN IS NOT RIGHT.
IT IS WRONG.
IN THE INCEPTION OF THIS GREAT
NATION, THE CHURCH WAS THE
PUBLIC SCHOOL.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE THE
STANDARDS ON WHICH OUR MORAL
LAWS REST.
THE BIBLE SAYS BLESSED IS A
NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD.
AND PROVERBS 13:34.
DON'T WE HAVE ENOUGH SEX SHOPS,
STRIP JOINTS, PORNO SHOWS,
INTERNET IMPORTANT, MOVIES, TV
SHOWS, SEXUAL:a INNUENDOS, BOOKS
AND HOW-TO MANUALS, PLANNED
PARENTHOOD AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
TEACHING OUR CHILDREN HOW TO
HAVE SEX WITH CANDY FLAVORS
AND MULTICOLORED CONDOMS.
THIS IS ONE THING THAT WE NEED
TO COME BACK TO REALIZE.
THE WORD CENSOR MEANS RULES,
AND THERE ARE RULES THAT ARE
IN PLACE BY PARENTS, DOCTORS,
EMPLOYEES, TEACHERS, PREACHERS,
BUILDERS, AND ARCHITECTS AND
WE SHOULD ALSO2[N LOOK UP THE
PROBLEM IN THE LIBRARIES WHERE
THE PEOPLE WHO SEE
PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIALS CAN BE
SEEN FROM UNDERNEATH THE DESK
FROM ACROSS THE ROOM.
I APPRECIATE ANYTHING THAT
COULD BE DONE IN REGARDS TO
THIS MATTER BECAUSE I'M IN
MINISTRY AND I'VE BEEN IN
MINISTRY FOR OVER 24 YEARS AND
I DO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH
PEOPLE, OF ALL KINDS OF
BACKGROUNDS.
I'VE SPENT HOURS AND HOURS
WORKING WITH PEOPLE ON DRUGS
AND HAVE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS,
AND I APPRECIATE ANYTHING THAT
COULD BE DONE TO HELP
ALLEVIATE THIS SITUATION AT
THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU,
MR. DUKES.
COUNCILMEMBER?
ON THESE COMPLAINTS WITH
THE PARTICULAR LIBRARIES, I
WOULD ASK A QUESTION ON
COMPLAINTS.
I'LL ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO
GET WITH YOU, SOMEONE TO GET
WITH YOU TODAY BEFORE YOU
LEAVE SO YOU CAN INQUIRE A
LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT.
SURE.
SINCE YOU SAID THE
PARTICULAR LIBRARY'S NAME.
RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, SIR.
Mayor Garcia: MR. CLINT
SMITH.
WELCOME, SIR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.
MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, CITY
MANAGER, STAFF.
I'M CLINT SMITH AND I'M HERE,
FIRST OFF WE WANT TO TELL YOU
THAT WE DO SUPPORT THE TOUGH
JOB YOU HAVE TO DO AND WANT TO
BE ABLE TO HELP WHEN WE CAN AS
WE LOOK AT BUDGET MATTERS AND
OF COURSE, WE DO HAVE A
MEETING WITH YOU.
THE AUDIT AND FINANCE
COMMITTEE ON JULY 9th.
ALSO, I WANT TO MENTION THAT
CHARLOTTE FLYNN ASKED ME TO
REMIND YOU, MAYOR, THAT WE ARE
STILL LOOKING FORWARD THAT TA....
TA -- LOOKING FORWARD TO
THAT KEG OF GERMAN PRODUCT
THAT YOU PROMISED TO BRING
BACK FOR US.
SOME OF US ARE QUITE CONCERNED
ABOUT THE NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT
AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT
SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WE DID WANT
TO REMIND YOU OF THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS.
WE HAVE A PRESENTATION TO MAKE
AND I'D LIKE TO SAVE MY TIME
TO FOLLOW A PANTHER MEMBER, MY
FELLOW BROTHER PANTHER PAUL
ROBBINS.
MAYOR, COUNCIL, I'M PAUL
ROBBINS.
I'M A CONSUMER AND
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE.
THE CITY IS IN A BUDGET
SHORTFALL DUE TO THE RECESSION
WITH THE LIKELIHOOD OF REDUCED
SERVICES, INCREASED TAX
COLLECTIONS, AND EMPLOYEE
LAYOFFS.
SO I'M HERE TO POSE THE
QUESTION OF WHY THE CITY IS IN
THE SITUATION, IN THIS
SITUATION, WHILE IT HAS $100,
MEAB $300 MILLION IN THE BANK.
-- TO EXPLAIN ON THE 12th OF
NOVEMBER 1996, THE COUNTY
VOTED TO DECREASE ELECTRIC
COSTS IN THE CITY'S ELECTRIC
UTILITY WHILE KEEPING RATES
THE SAME.
THIS MONEY WAS INTENDED TO BUY
DOWN THE ELECTRIC UTILITY DEBT
AND LOWER RATES.
PART OF THIS OVERT COLLECTION
HAS GONE INTO A, QUOTE, DEBT
FUND, AND ACCORDING TO A
LETTER FROM THE ELECTRIC
DEPARTMENT'S VICE PRESIDENT OF
FINANCE, THERE WILL BE $183
MILLION IN THIS FUND BY THE
END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
THIS IS IN SPITE OF THE MONEY
ALREADY EXPENDED FROM OVER
COLLECTIONS.
THE MONEY SPENT OR OBLIGATED
TO BE SPENT ON OVERCOLLECTIONS
IS ROUGHLY $231 MILLION AND
HAS BEEN USED TO BUY MAJOR
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN
EQUIPMENT LIKE POWER PLANTS
AND ELECTRIC METERS WITHOUT
VOTER APPROVAL.
SO BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL
YEAR, THE UTILITY WILL HAVE
OVERCOLLECTED $478 MILLION.
FOR THE RECORD I THINK BUYING
DOWN UTILITY DEBT IS A GOOD
IDEA.
s GOOD, IN FACT, I'D LIKE YOU
TO DO IT.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS
THE CITY COULD DO TO LOWER
ELECTRIC BILLS AS WELL SUCH AS
ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
AND INSTALLING CO-GENERATION.
THAT IS INCREASING MONEY TO DO
THIS.
BUT THESE THINGS ARE NOT BEING
DONE, EITHER.
CAN THIS MONEY BE USED TO
ELIMINATE THE BUDGET
SHORTFALL?
I'M AWARE THAT THE CITY
ATTEMPTS TO KEEP UTILITY FUNDS
AND THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND
SEPARATE.
BUT IF THIS IS THE CASE, THEN
COULDN'T ELECTRIC RATES BE
USED TO MAKE UP FOR TAX
REVENUE INCREASES?
THAT WILL PROBABLY OCCUR IN
THE NEAR FUTURE?
[ ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, FOR
CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS ]
VERY GOOD.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU.
THAT'S ALL THE CITIZENS THAT
SIGNED UP ON THE CITIZEN
COMMUNICATION.
LET ME SAY THAT USUALLY WE
DON'T ALLOW REPLACEMENT OF
ONE SPEAKER FOR ANOTHER, SO
IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK,
PLEASE VISIT THE CITY
CLERK'S OFFICE, SO THAT YOUR
NAME CAN BE PLACED ON THE
AGENDA ITSELF.
WE NOW GO TO THE 2:00 P.M.
TIME CERTAIN BOND SALE.
AND THE FIRST ITEM IS TO
APPROVE AN ORDINANCE
AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF
APPROXIMATELY $12,250,000,
CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS PUBLIC
IMPROVEMENT REFUNDING BONDS.
AND -- MR. BILL?
GOOD EVENING.
I'M BILL NEWMAN.
WE SERVE AS FINANCIAL
ADVISOR TO THE CITY.
MY PARTNER IS HANDING OUT A
BRIEFING BOOK, IF YOU WOULD,
OR A PRICING REPORT ON THESE
TWO BOND SALES.
I'LL WAIT UNTIL HE GETS THEM
ALL PASSED OUT.
JUST TO START WITH, JUST TO
LET YOU KNOW, THE PURPOSE OF
THIS -- THESE BOND SALES WAS
TO DO A REFINANCING ON A
FINANCING WE DID SEVERAL
YEARS AGO FOR ONE TEXAS
CENTER.
WHEN WE DID THAT FINANCING
IT WAS DONE WITH TAX NOTES.
THOSE TAX NOTES ONLY HAD A
SEVEN-YEAR LIFE.
WHEN WE DID THAT FINANCING
IT WAS DONE ON A TAXABLE
BASIS.
OUR GOAL AT THAT POINT IN
TIME IN KEEPING IT SO SHORT
WAS TO BRING IT FORWARD AT A
LATER TIME WHEN WE MIGHT
HAVE THE BENEFIT, IF YOU
WOULD, OF LOWER TAX EXEMPT
RATES.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE
HERE.
THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE TWO
SALES IS BECAUSE THE LARGER
SALE, THE $12,190,000 IS THE
TAX RATE.
WE COULD CARVE OUT PART OF
THE BUILDING IF THAT WAS TAX
EXEMPT, THE OTHER HAD TO
REMAIN TAXABLE BECAUSE OF
THE NON-TAX EXEMPT OCCUPANCY
IN THE BUILDING.
WITH THAT SAID I'LL WALK YOU
THROUGH THE BOOK BRIEFLY.
NUMBER 2 JUST-- PAGE NUMBER
2 JUST GIVE YOU FOR PURPOSES
OF THE BOND SALE AND THE
FACT THAT ONE IS TAXABLE AND
ONE IS TAX EXEMPT.
PAGE NUMBER 3 JUST SAYS WHO
THE PARTICIPANTS ARE.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
SOMEONE FROM THE CITY.
THIS WAS A COMPETITIVE SALE.
WE DID THIS BOND SALE ON
INTERNET AS WE HAVE ALL YOUR
COMPETITIVE SALES IN THE
PAST.
IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE 4,
YOU'LL SEE THAT THE VISIBLE
SUPPLY OF BONDS HAS
INCREASED QUITE A BIT OVER
THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
PART OF THAT IS THE REASON
YOU'VE SEEN THE STOCK MARKET
GO DOWN.
THE STOCK MARKET GOES DOWN
AND BOND PRICES IMPROVE AND
WE DO A LOT BETTER OF BAD
NEWS FOR THE STOCK MARKET IS
GOOD NEWS FOR US BASICALLY.
ON PAGE 5, THAT'S REALLY
RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT WE
NOTICE YESTERDAY THE MARKETS
WORLDWIDE CRUMBLED AND U.S.
TREASURY BONDS SOARED AFTER
WORLD COM ANNOUNCED THEY HAD
LOST SO MUCH MONEY.
IT DID HELP AT THE END OF
THE DAY OUR BOND SALE.
ON PAGE OF IT SHOWS YOU
WHERE THE BOND MARKET HAS
BEEN GOING.
THAT TREND DOWNWARD REFLECTS
BAD NEWS FOR THE STOCK
MARKET, AN IMPROVEMENT IF
YOU WOULD IN THE BOND
MARKET.
PAGE 7 IS YOUR MATURITY
SCHEDULE.
IF YOU'LL NOTE ON BOTH OF
THESE THAT THERE WERE
RELATIVELY SHORT AND THE
RATES I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU
IN A MINUTE WILL DEPICT
THAT.
WE'VE GOT EXCELLENT RATES ON
BOTH THE TAX EXEMPT AND THE
TAXABLE SALE.
PAGE 8 THOSE SHOWS YOU WHO
WE'RE COMPETING WITH IN THE
MARKET TODAY, SEVERAL SALES
ABOUT THE SAME SIZE AS US.
A FEW I WOULD ADD THAT WERE
AS WELL RECEIVED.
ON THE 12-MILLION-DOLLAR
190,000-DOLLAR PUBLIC
FUNDING BONDS WERKS GOT A
TOTAL OF SIX BIDS.
THE LOWEST BID CAME FROM
AVIRON AMBRO.
WE HAD A TOTAL OF 26.
ON THE SMALLER TAXABLE SALE
WE ALSO GOT SIX BIDS VIA THE
INTERNET.
THE LOW BID THERE WAS 448.
AGAIN, BOTH SALES WERE VERY
SHORT.
THESE RATES WERE EXTREMELY
LOW AND EXTREMELY
COMPETITIVE.
AS A MATTER OF COURSE WHEN
THE CITY SELLS THEIR BONDS,
ALTHOUGH THEIR DOUBLE A
RATED, THEY'LL SELL LIKE A
TRIPLE A SECURITY IN THE
MARKET.
WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL AND
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS FOR MR. NEWMAN?
THE RATE ON THE LARGER BOND
ISSUE WAS 4.3 AND THE TAX
EXEMPT.
YES, SIR.
WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT
THE TAXABLE?
THE WINNING BIDDER WAS
MARCH AND KEY BEGAN AND
COMPANY AND THE WINNING BID
WAS 448.
THIS IS NOT ONE WHERE WE
WERE GOING TO LOOK AT
PRESENT VALUES AND --
NO, SIR.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS ONE WAS
TO MARCH THE ASSETS AND
LIABILITIES TOGETHER AND TO
TAKE IT, IT WAS ALL TAXABLE
BEFORE AND WE WANTED TO PUT
SOME OF IT ON THE TAX EXEMPT
SIDE AND PUT IT OUT.
BUT THAT WAS NOT THE INTENT
HERE.
Mayor Garcia: SO WHEN WE
GO TO TAX EXEMPT, WE HEAR A
LITTLE -- WE SAVE A LITTLE
MONEY.
YES, SIR.
IT WASN'T LEVEL OF SAVINGS
THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO THE
COMMON FUNDING BECAUSE OF
THE LENGTH OF THE
TRANSACTION.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
QUESTIONS, FURTHER
QUESTIONS?
IF NOT, I'LL SPRAIN A MOTION
TO APPROVE THIS SALE.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER
SLUSHER.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
ALVAREZ.
DISCUSSION?
THIS IS ON BOTH ITEMS NUMBER
13 FOR $12,250,000 AND
NUMBER 14, WHICH IS FOR
2,510,000, WHICH IS TO
FINANCE THE ONE TEXAS
CENTER.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A
SECOND.
FURTHER DISCUSSION?
IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR,
SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE?
OPPOSED NO.
MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF
SIX TO ZERO TO ONE, WITH
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN
TEMPORARILY OFF THE DIAS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU AND
CONGRATULATIONS ON A GOOD
BOND.
Mayor Garcia: AT THIS
TIME I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION
TO RECESS THE REGULAR
MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY
COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN
CONSIDER ITEMS UNDER THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
AUSTIN AUSTIN HOUSING
FINANCE CORPORATION.
SO MOVE, MAYOR.
Mayor Garcia: MOTION BY
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS,
SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO
TEM.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY
BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED NO?
MOTION CARRIES.
THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS
RECESSED AND AT THIS TIME
I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN
HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION,
AND WE HAVE MR. HILGERS
HERE.
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A
PRESENTATION, MR. HILGERS.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD
MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PAUL HILGERS.
TODAY I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE
CORPORATION WITH FIVE ITEMS
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
FIRST I'D ASK FOR YOUR
APPROVAL OF THE AUSTIN
HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON
MAY 9TH, 2002.
Mayor Garcia: I'LL
ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON
AFHC-1?
MOTION BY NEWLY ELECTED
BOARD MEMBER DUNKERLEY.
AND I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.
ALL IN FAVOR.
AYE.
Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED NO.
MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF
SEVEN TO ZERO.
ITEM NUMBER 2?
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
ITEM NUMBER 2 IS TO
ADDRESS -- ACTUALLY, ITEMS 2
THROUGH 4 ARE ALL RELATED
ITEMS AND I WILL BRIEFLY
READ THROUGH WHAT THOSE
ITEMS ARE.
NUMBER 2 IS TO APPROVE A
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF
THE LOAN IN THE AMOUNT NOT
TO EXCEED $125,000 TO
STASSNEY CROSSING LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP FOR THE PURPOSE
OF REFINANCING THE
ACQUISITION OF THE MORTGAGE
PROPERTY LOCATED ON EACH
SIDE OF NUCKOLS CROSSING
ROAD KNOWN AS THE VIEWPOINT
AT WILLIAMSON CREEK
SUBDIVISION FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF 101 LOTS FOR
SMART HOUSING SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMES.
NUMBER 3 IS TO APPROVE A
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF
A GUARANTEE AGREEMENT WITH
LIBERTY BANK TO PARTIALLY
GUARANTEE A LOAN IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$1.7 MILLION BETWEEN LIBERTY
BANK AND STASSNEY CROSSING
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF WHICH
THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE
CORPORATION WILL GUARANTEE
NOT MORE THAN $700,000 FOR
THE PURPOSES OF REFINANCING
THE ACQUISITION OF THE
PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE EAST
SIDE OF NUCKOLS CROSSING
ROAD KNOWN AS THE VIEWPOINT
AT WILLIAMSON SUBDIVISION
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 101
LOTS FOR SMART HOUSING
COMPLIANT SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMES.
THIS WILL WILL ASSIST THE
AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE
CORPORATION IN MEETING ITS
GOAL OF CREATING OR
RETAINING FIVE THOUSAND
UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ANNUALLY BY 2005.
...> MAYOR GARCIA: THIS SAYS
FOR THE PURPOSE OF
REFINANCING EXISTING LOANS.
YES, SIR, THAT'S CORRECT.
AND WHAT WE ARE DOING ON
ITEM NUMBER IT IS
REFINANCING FROM A 10% LOAN
TO A ZERO PERCENT INTEREST
LOAN, WHICH THAT SAVINGS
WILL BE USED TO ENHANCE THE
AFFORDABILITY OF THE
DEVELOPMENT.
AND ITEM NUMBER 4, VERY TIM
TO ITEM NUMBER 3, BUT IT IS
AUTHORIZING THE NEGOTIATION
WITH -- IT'S A THREE-PARTY
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE AUSTIN
HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION,
STASSNEY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
AND LIBERTY BANK.
ITEM NUMBER HAD IS TO
APPROVE A RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION TO
GUARANTEE A LOAN IN THE
AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN 1
POINT 'MILLION BETWEEN
LIBERTY BANK AND STASSNEY
CROSSING OF WHICH HOUSTON
HOUSTON WILL GUARANTEE NOT
MORE THAN SEVEN HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROPERTY
ON NUCKOLS CROSSING ROAD
SOUTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF
ST. ELMO ROAD KNOWN AS
VIEWPOINT AT WILLIAMSON
CREEK SUBDIVISION FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF 101 LOTS FOR
SMART HOUSING COMPLIANCE
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
Mayor Garcia: THAT'S THE
PROPERTY MARKED WITH A RED
ARROW?
YES, SIR, THAT'S CORRECT.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
QUESTIONS FOR MR. HILGERS ON
ITEMS AHFC 2, 3 AND 4?
IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN'
MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
SLUSH.
Dunkerley: SO MOVE.
Mayor Garcia: DISCUSSION?
IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR,
SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE.
Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED NO.
MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF
SEVEN TO ZERO.
AND THE LAST ITEM IS AHFC
FIVE IS TO APPROVE A
RESOLUTION TO ELECT.
....ACKIE
GOODMAN AS VICE-PRESIDENT OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE
CORPORATION FOR A PERIOD
EXPIRING WITH HER CITY
COUNCIL TERM.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
DO THAT.
MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER
SLUSHER, SECONDED BY ME.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
AYE.
Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED NO.
MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF
SEVEN TO ZERO AND
CONGRATULATIONS TO
VICE-PRESIDENT JACKIE
GOODMAN.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE
AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE
CORPORATION.
Slusher: SUE MOVE.
Mayor Garcia: MOTION BY
BOARD MEMBER SLUSHER.
I'LL SECOND THAT ITEM.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
AYE.
Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED NO.
MOTION CARRIES.
WE'RE ADJOURNED.
AND I'LL CALL THE REGULAR
MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY
COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER.
AND WE ARE ON PAGE 5 UNDER
THE PREVIEW OF ITEMS FOR
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
CITY MANAGER?
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
WELL, OUR NEXT COUNCIL
MEETING WILL BE JULY 11th,
SO THERE'S NEAR TWO-WEEK
HIATUS FROM THIS WEEK
MEETING TO THE NEXT.
AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
THIS WILL BE THE SECOND
READING FOR THE STRATUS
PROPOSAL AND WE ALSO INTEND
FOR THAT TO BE A TIME
CERTAIN IN THE EVENING SO
PEOPLE CAN GET DOWN HERE AND
SHARE THEIR FEEDBACK WITH US
PROBABLY AGAIN AT 5:45 ON
JULY 11th.
Mayor Garcia: I HAVE ONE
ITEM THAT I WILL -- THAT I
WILL SPONSOR TOGETHER WITH
MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN AND
COUNCILMEMBER DUNKERLEY TO
CREATE A COUNCIL MEETING ON
HEALTH CARE ISSUES.
COUNCILMEMBER DUNKERLEY
RECOMMENDED THAT WE CONSIDER
THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE
AND I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES
IT'S A VERY GOOD
RECOMMENDATION, SO I'LL HAVE
THOSE ON THE AGENDA.
I HAVE THAT ITEM ON THE
AGENDA TOGETHER WITH THE
SPONSORS, THE OTHER SPONSORS
ON THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH
WILL BE JULY THE 11TH.
ARE WE APPOINTING MEMBERS TO
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TODAY?
WE WILL HAVE APPOINTMENTS TO
THE ORDINANCE FINANCE
COMMITTEE AND OTHER
COMMITTEES AT THE NEXT
COUNCIL MEETING. NOW, THIS
CREATES A LITTLE PROBLEM
BECAUSE -- NO, WE HAVE
ENOUGH MEETINGS OF THE
ORDINANCE FINANCE COMMITTEE
FOR THE NEXT MEETING?
YES, WE DO.
SO WE'LL HAVE A REALIGNMENT
OF SOME OF THE COUNCIL
MEETINGS AT THE -- COUNCIL
COMMITTEES AT THE NEXT
MEETING.
ANY OTHER ITEM THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS WANT TO
ANNOUNCE FOR CONSIDERATION
AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING?
IF NOT, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT
ITEM, WHICH IS THE READING
OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MS. BROWN?
BROWN: FIRST I'LL READ
THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
Mayor Garcia: SORRY ABOUT
THAT.
BROWN: ITEM NUMBER 18,
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN REMOVED
FROM THE AGENDA AT THE
APPLICANT'S REQUEST TO ALLOW
FOR MINOR CHANGES TO THE
APPLICATION.
ITEM 38 HAS BEEN POSTPONED
TO JULY 11th, 2002.
ON ITEM 49, AFTER THE WORDS
COLONY PARK, PLEASE INSERT
THE WORD DRIVE, AND IT
CONTINUES TO THE EAST AND
WENT WOOD DRIVE TO THE WEST.
FOR ITEM 50, DELETE AT
4705-4737 AND INSERT IN THE
4700 TO 4730 BLOCK OF
TEEWOOD DRIVE.
ITEM NUMBER 66 HAS BEEN
POSTPONED TO JULY 11th,
2002.
THAT'S TRUE ALSO OF ITEM 67
AND ITEM 80.
UNDER ITEM 107, AFTER THE
WORDS GENERALLY IN THE
CIRCLE C AREA INSERT THE
PROVISIONS OF THE SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT WILL BE MODIFIED
TO REMOVE THE POTENTIAL 380
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN,
ALL REFERENCES IN THE RCA TO
THE 380 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PLAN SHOULD BE STRICKEN TO
REFLECT THIS MODIFICATION.
Z-26 IS THE -- ON Z-28,
NOTE THAT THE APPLICANT IS
RINGWALL PARTNERS, I
LIMITED, TED W. ROLLINS.
THE AGENT IS JIM BENNETT.
ON Z. 29, DELETE THE WORD
END AFTER ZONING AND INSERT
THE WORD TO FOR THE ZONING
TO CS-CO.
ON Z 31, WE'RE MAKING A
SIMILAR CHANGE AFTER FAMILY
RESIDENT DISTRICT, ZONING.
DELETE THE WORD AND, INSERT
THE WORD TO CS-CO.
THE ITEMS PULLED ARE 16, 28,
54, 97, 98, 103, 104, 105.
Mayor Garcia: AND ALSO
ITEM NUMBER 86 IS BEING
PULLED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
86.
BROWN: IN THE TIME
CERTAIN ITEMS ARE THE FOUR
P.M. ZONING.
5:30 PROCLAMATIONS AND
MUSIC.
5:45, CIRCLE C LAND
CORPORATION AND 6:00 O'CLOCK
ARE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT
ITEMS 1 14 WILL BE POSTPONED
AS REQUESTED BY STAFF TO
JULY 11th, 2002 AT SIX P.M.
THE CONSENT AGENDA STARTS
WITH ITEM 17.
ITEM 18 HAS BEEN REMOVED
FROM THE AGENDA.
Mayor Garcia: SO THAT ONE
WILL BE ON THE CONSENT
AGENDA FOR REMOVAL?
BROWN: YES, SIR.
ITEM 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,
25, 26, 29 SECOND AND THIRD
READING, 30 SECOND READING,
31 SECOND AND THIRD READING,
32 THIRD READING --
Mayor Garcia: LET ME
BRING YOU BACK TO ITEM
NUMBER 30.
DID YOU SAY THAT ITEM NUMBER
30 WAS GOING TO BE POSTPONED
TO JULY THE 11th?
BROWN: I DON'T HAVE THAT,
MAYOR. I HAD IT FOR SECOND READING.
Mayor Garcia: SECOND
READING?
OKAY.
LET ME CALL MY STAFF AND
MAKE SURE BECAUSE THEY HAVE
A NOTE ON MY AGENDA.
MAYOR, THAT'S CORRECT.
THERE'S A REQUEST FROM THE
AGENT TO CONSULT FOR
POSTPONEMENT TO JULY 11th.
Mayor Garcia: SO THAT'S
28, 29 AND 30?
YES, MAYOR.
Mayor Garcia: SO THOSE
ITEMS ARE POSTPONED UNTIL
JULY THE 11th.
SO WE'LL HAVE IT POSTPONED.
Brown: REPEATING THAT
THEN, ITEMS 28, 29 AND 30
ARE POSTPONED TO JULY 11th,
2002.
ITEM 31 IS FOR SECOND AND
THIRD READING, 32 FOR THIRD
READING.
Mayor Garcia: AND I HAVE
MAY MY NOTES, MS. GLASGO,
THAT THE APPLICANT HAS
REQUESTED A POSTPONEMENT TO
AUGUST THE EIGHTH.
32.
SO ITEM 32 IS POSTPONED AT
THE REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT
TILL AUGUST THE EIGHTH.
SO IT WOULD BE CONSENT FOR
POSTPONEMENT.
Brown: 33 FOR SECOND AND
THIRD READING, 34 FOR SECOND
AND THIRD READING, 35, 36,
37, 38 FOR POSTPONEMENT TO
JULY 11th, 39, 40, 41, 42,
43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49
WITH THE CHANGES THAT WERE
PREVIOUSLY READ INTO THE
RECORD, 50 WITH THE CHANGES
PREVIOUSLY READ INTO THE
RECORD, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56,
57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63,
64, 65, 66 AS A POSTPONEMENT
TO JULY 11th, 67
POSTPONED
TO JULY 11th, 68, 69, 70,,
71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77,
78, 79, 80 POSTPONED TO
JULY 11th,. 81,.
, 83, 84, 85, 87, 88,
89, 90, 91, 9293, 94, 95,
96, 99, 100, 101 ARE BOARD
AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS,
WHICH I'LL READ INTO THE
RECORD.
FOR THE ARTS COMMISSION, THE
FOLLOWING ARE ALL
APPOINTMENTS.
KATHLEEN HARMON BY THE
MAYOR.
GLORIA PENNING TON BY
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.
MEL SEEINGER BY MAYOR PRO
TEM GOODMAN.
CHILD CARE COUNCIL, JOAN
BURN HAM, REAPPOINTMENT,
MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN.
HISTORIC LANDMARK
COMMISSION, THESE ARE ALL
REAPPOINTMENTS AND THEY ARE
ALL CONSENSUS APPOINTMENTS.
JULIA BUNTON, JIM FOWLER,
ELIZABETH GOINZ, LISA
LACKEY.
THERESA RABAGO.
LIBRARY COMMISSION, --
MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES, THESE ARE
BOTH APPOINTMENTS AND
THEY'RE BOTH MAYOR GARCIA.
THERESA ESTROGAV AND DANIEL
SERNA.
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD,
THESE ARE ALL
REAPPOINTMENTS.
MARY RUTHHOLDER BY
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.
MARY PRATT BY COUNCILMEMBER
THOMAS.
PAUL VALDEZ, CONSENSUS.
THE RENAISSANCE MARKET
COMMISSION, PAUL FARMER IS A
REAPPOINTMENT, CONSENSUS.
URBAN FORESTRY BOARD, DAVID
CATER, REAPPOINTMENT,
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, URBAN
RENEWAL BOARD, CHRISTINA
VALDEZ, REAPPOINTMENT, MAYOR
GARCIA.
AND THEN WE HAVE TWO MORE
ITEMS ON CONSENT.
102 AND 106.
Mayor Garcia: ALSO, ON
ITEM NUMBER 31, MR. GARCIA,
IF I READ THIS WRONG, THE
FOLLOWING NEEDS TO BE ADDED
AT THE END AND THAT IS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND APPLICANT
AGREEMENT, THE DELETION OF
THE 20% RESIDENTIAL
REQUIREMENT APPROVED ON
FIRST READING MUST BE READ
INTO THE COUNCIL MOTION
PRIOR TO SECOND AND THIRD
READING APPROVAL.
MR. GARCIA, CAN YOU GIVE THE
CITY CLERK THE WORDING THAT
NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THAT
PARTICULAR ITEM?
WHAT ARE WE DOING
SPECIFICALLY?
WE'RE REMOVING THE
REQUIREMENT THAT WE APPROVED
ON FIRST READING?
YEAH, THE FIRST READING
COUNCIL ASKED THAT THEY GO
BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
DISCUSS THE RESIDENTIAL
REQUIREMENT.
THERE WAS A MUTUAL AGREEMENT
TO DELETE THAT AND THEY'VE
ENTERED INTO A PRIVATE
AGREEMENT.
AND WE BASICALLY HAVE TWO
ORDINANCES FOR YOU TODAY.
ONE IS THE ONE THAT YOU
APPROVED ON FIRST READING
THAT HAS THAT LANGUAGE IN
THERE.
WE HAVE ANOTHER ORDINANCE
ALSO PREPARED THAT DELETES
THAT REQUIREMENT.
IF COUNCIL WISHES TO GO
ALONG WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AND THE APPLICANT'S
AGREEMENT, IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT'S YOUR
DESIRE.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
ALL OF THE ITEMS DEALING
WITH STRATUS, THOSE ARE ALL
IN THE FOUR P.M. TIME
CERTAIN.
AND THE ONE MEETING WITH
STRATUS WILL BE CONSIDERED
AT 5:45, CORRECT?
THE ZONING ITEMS WE'LL
ALSO TAKE UP THAT ARE
RELATED TO THE STRATUS AT
5:45.
Goodman: MAYOR?
COULD I SEND A TELEVISION
MESSAGE TO MY PARKS BOARD
REPRESENTATIVE THAT HER NAME
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON HERE,
BUT WE MISSED IT, BUT DON'T
WORRY ABOUT IT, WE REAPPOINT
YOU NEXT WEEK.
Mayor Garcia: ON THE 11th....
11TH.
OKAY.
THAT PERSON WILL BE ON THE
BOARD AND COMMISSION
APPOINTMENTS ON THE 11th OF
JULY.
LET ME MAKE SURE THAT SOME
OF YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON
ITEMS THAT ARE ON CONSENT,
SO I'M GOING TO CALL YOU.
MR. JEFF BENNETT SIGNED UP
ON ITEM NUMBER 17.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M HERE TO MAKE A COMMENT
ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS
THAT WAS USED ON THIS
PROJECT.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR I'M
NOT HERE TO PROTEST OR TO
CHANGE THE RECOMMENDATION
THAT'S BEEN MADE TO
JOURNEYMAN CONSTRUCTION.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR ALL
THE CONTRACTORS THAT WORK
FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND OUR EXPECTATIONS THAT
ALL PUBLIC BE DEALT WITH IN
A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL MANNER.
THE BID DOCUMENT SAID ALL
RESPONSES ARE DUE PRIOR TO
TWO P.M. AND IT ALSO READS
THAT ALL RESPONSES AND
COMPLIANCE PLANS NOT
RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE DATE
AND TIME SET FORTH WILL NOT
BE ACCEPTED FOR
CONSIDERATION.
OUR EMPLOYEES WITNESSED THAT
THE RECOMMENDED....CONTRACTOR SUBMITTED
THEIR PROPOSAL AFTER TWO
P.M. AND IT WAS REJECTED BY
THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF IN
SUITE 1045 AND THE ENVELOPE
WAS SET ASIDE UNOPENED.
TODAY YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO
APPROVE THE AWARD FOR THIS
PROJECT TO A JOURNEYMAN WAS
CLEARLY NOT IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE RULES SET FORTH IN
THE BIT DOCUMENTS.
IN ADDITION, THE PERSONNEL
WHO HAVE MADE THE
RECOMMENDATION DID NOT
FOLLOW THE PROCESS THAT THEY
ESTABLISHED IN THOSE
DOCUMENTS.
I'M HERE TO I.. IMPLORE THAW AS
WE MOVE FORWARD WITH FUTURE
CITY PROJECTS THAT THE
INTEGRITY AND FAIRNESS
ESTABLISHED IN THE BID
DOCUMENTS IS FOLLOWED.
IF NOT THESE ACTIONS PUT US
ALL ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE
WHERE THE RULES WE'RE ASKED
TO PLAY BY ARE OPEN FOR
INTERPRETATION AND THE
FAIRNESS OF ALL BIDDERS IS
SACRIFICED FOR THE BENEFIT
OF A FEW ACCEPTING PROPOSALS
FROM FIRMS THAT DO NOT
COMPLY WITH THE RULES IN
MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS BY
THIS COUNCIL KNOWING THE
PROCESS WAS VIOLATED IS
EXTREMELY UNFAIR TO OTHER
PROPOSERS.
FINALLY, I'M JUST HERE TO
MAKE THE COUNCIL AWARE OF
THIS PARTICULAR INDISCRETION
AND ASK THAT THE CITY STEER
CLEAR OF THESE SLIPPERY
SLOPES IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, SIR.
ON ITEM NUMBER 22 MR. CHRIS
RILEY.
WYNN: MAYOR?
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR OR MAYBE
PURCHASING OR SOMETHING TO
RESPOND TO THAT AND LET US
KNOW IF THERE'S A DIFFERENT
INTERPRETATION FROM THE
STAFF'S PER.... PERSPECTIVE AS TO
WHAT PARAMETERS WERE MET OR
NOT MET.
MAYOR, COUNCIL, I'M SUE
BRU....BRUBAKER I'M THE PURCHASING
OFFICER.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A
SITUATION THAT OCCURS WHEN
YOU'RE USING MORE THAN ONE
CLOCK.
THE CLOCK THAT WAS THE
OFFICIAL TIME CLOCK WAS NOT
THE CLOCK THAT THE PERSON
WHEN THEY RECEIVED THIS SAID
TO THE PERSON THEY LAID
THEIR BID ASIDE AND SAID
THEY'RE LATE.
THE PERSON WALKED TO THE
DOOR, TURNED AROUND AND CAME
BACK AND SAID, WHAT TIME IS
IT?
AND THEY SAID IT'S ONE
MINUTE AFTER OR IT'S 2:00
O'CLOCK, WHATEVER IT WAS.
THE OFFICIAL TIME WAS NEVER
STAMPED ON THAT BID.
AND SO IT'S A SITUATION
WHERE THE EMPLOYEE'S WATCH
DID NOT COINCIDE WITH THE
TIME OF THE TIME CLOCK.
AND SO WHAT HAS BEEN
INSTITUTED AS A RESULT OF
THIS IS WHEN YOU TAKE A BID
YOU STAMP IT IN, PERIOD.
THAT IS THE OFFICIAL TIME
CLOCK AND NOT A WRISTWATCH
OR SOMEONE SAYING, WHEN I
LOOKED AT IT, IT WAS 2:00
O'CLOCK OR 2:01.
AND BECAUSE YOU HAVE A
COMPLETE DISAGREEMENT OF
TIME PIECES -- I LISTENED TO
THE FACTS OF THIS AND SAID
THIS BID SHOULD BE ACCEPTED.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE
OFFICIAL TIME CLOCK WAS
NEVER USED TO VERIFY THAT IT
WAS LATE OR NOT LATE.
IT WAS AN EMPLOYEE'S TIME
SAYING YOU'RE LATE BECAUSE I
HAD ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS
LATE.
Wynn: AND HAVE YOU TAKEN
STEPS TO CORRECT THE
PROCEDURES?
YES, SIR.
WE'VE CONFERRED WITH PUBLIC
WORKS.
THEY IMPLEMENTED NEW WRITTEN
PROCEDURES THAT SAY WHEN A
BID DOCUMENT COMES IN THAT
EITHER THE BID ITSELF,
DEPENDING ON THE THICKNESS
OR A PIECE OF PAPER IN THAT
TIME CLOCK IS STAMPED AND
PUT IT ON THE FRONT OF THE
BID, AND THAT WAY THE PERSON
SEES YOU STAMP IT.
THERE'S A DOCUMENT ON THE
BID THAT SHOWS THE TIME AND
IT'S ALL OFF OF THE SAME
CLOCK.
Wynn: I'M AMAZED THAT WE
HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THAT
BEFORE.
OUR PURCHASING PROCEDURES
ARE GENERALLY SO THOROUGH,
WE DO SO MUCH OF THIS WEEK
IN AND WEEK OUT THAT IT
STRIKES ME AS REMARKABLE
THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING
THAT ALREADY.
WE DO THAT IN MY OFFICE.
THEY HADN'T BEEN DOING THAT
OVER IN PUBLIC WORK AND I
THINK IT'S LARGELY BEEN
BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE
BIDDERS ARE ALWAYS WAITING
UNTIL THE VERY LAST MINUTE
CHANGING THOSE NUMBERS.
AND SO WHEN I TALKED WITH
THE CONTRACT ADMINISTRATORS
THEY SAID WE TRY TO GIVE
THEM THAT LAST MINUTE TO
CHANGE THE BID AND THEN WE
ANNOUNCED TO THEM THAT
THEY'RE TYING THIS UP AND I
SAID THERE IN LIES THE
CONFUSION BECAUSE YOU MAY
NOT BE USING THE RIGHT TIME.
THE ONLY WAY YOU KNOW IS IF
YOU USE IT OFF THE CLOCK.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE
CONFUSION OVER THIS.
Wynn: BUT YOU'VE LOOKED
INTO THE FACTS OF THIS CASE
AND YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH
THAT?
I AM.
Wynn: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
Mayor Garcia:
COUNCILMEMBER.
LET ME ASK THE CITY CLERK IF
THAT'S ALL OF THE ITEMS --
Slusher: MAYOR, WE HAVE
SOMETHING TO ADD.
Mayor Garcia:
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?
Slusher: ON 28 THAT WAS
INADVERTENTLY PULLED, SO I
WOULD PUT THAT BACK ON ON.
Mayor Garcia: WHICH ITEM
WAS THAT?
SLUSHER: 28.
AND THEN 54 MY QUESTIONS
HAVE BEEN ANSWERED ON THAT.
Mayor Garcia: 28 HAS BEEN
POSTPONED.
Slusher: THAT'S RIGHT, 28
WAS POSTPONED.
BUT SOMEHOW IT'S DOWN THAT I
WAS PULLING IT.
54 I WOULD PUT BACK ON.
98 I'LL PUT BACK ON.
ONCE IT'S ON THE FLOOR I'D
LIKE TO HAVE AN AMENDMENT ON
THAT.
AND I'LL PUT BACK ON 105.
Mayor Garcia: SO 54 IS
BACK ON CONSENT.
98 AND 105 SLUSH AND WHEN
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE
TABLE, IF YOU WOULD
RECOGNIZE ME FOR AN
AMENDMENT?
Mayor Garcia: I HAD 105
ON CONSENT.
104 IS -- I'LL HAVE 105
ALSO.
SO 105 IS ON CONSENT.
105 R. 4 YOU WILL PUT --
SLUSHER: I WOULD STILL
LIKE TO KEEP THAT OFF TOO.
PLAYER......
Mayor Garcia: AND 103
ALSO?
I MISSPOKE, THERE'S THREE --
PROBABLY THREE OTHER PEOPLE
THAT -- AT LEAST THREE OTHER
PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP ON
ITEMS THAT WILL BE ON THE
CONSENT AGENDA.
CHRIS RILEY, IS HE HERE?
HE SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER
22 AND HE ASKED ME TO READ
THE COMMENT THAT HE WROTE ON
THE BACK OF THE CARD.
IS THIS ANOTHER 42,000 IN
LEGAL FEES TO TAKE PRIME
DOWNTOWN PROPERTY OUT OF THE
TAX BASE.
WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
THERESA MITCHELL LACK.
ARE YOU HERE?
I SAW HER EARLIER HERE.
SHE SIGNED UP ON ITEM NUMBER
26 AS BEING AGAINST.
LET'S SEE, ITEM 54, LARRY
HALLFORD.
LARRY DIDN'T SIGN UP TO
SPEAK?
SOMEBODY SIGNED YOU UP, I
GUESS.
THAT'S RIGHT, YOU DO NOT
WISH TO SPEAK.
OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I GET IT.
I'VE BEEN OUT TOO LONG.
OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LET'S SEE IF I HAVE ANY
OTHERS.
WE'VE GOT SO MANY ITEMS ON
THIS AGENDA IS THE BOTTOM
LINE.
ON ITEM NUMBER 105,
MR. GAVINO HERNANDEZ AND
SUSANA AL MAN DEZ.
GOOD EVENING.
I BASICALLY WANT TO
ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT
THIS EFFORT IN BRINGING ALL
THESE COMMISSIONS TOGETHER
TO LOOK AT THESE HISTORICAL
ZONING AND THE EFFECT IT'S
HAVING IN THE COMMUNITY.
ALSO, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
SUGGEST THAT THIS AREA DOES
HAVE PLANNING TEAMS IN PLACE
AND THAT THEY BE INVOLVED AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN THIS
PROCESS.
AND THAT WE ALSO LOOK AT
CONSIDERING -- AS YOU KNOW,
THE GOVALLE PLAN AND THE
HOLLY PLANT PLANT, THEY
STILL HAVE THE INDUSTRIAL
PROPERTIES.
AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE
HOLLY NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
STILL HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE
LI ZONING PROPERTIES THAT
EXIST IN THAT PLANNING AREA.
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ, IF
I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IS THAT
TRUE THAT THOSE PROPERTIES
HAVE STILL NOT BEEN
ADDRESSED IN REGARDS TO
THEIR ZONING?
Alvarez: THAT'S CORRECT.
WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO
ADDRESS THOSE.
THE GOVALLE CHANGE IS
DIFFICULT IN ZONING
PROPERTIES WITH --
[ INAUDIBLE ]
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE.
IF WE ARE BRINGING ALL THESE
RESOURCES TOGETHER AT THIS
TIME, MAYBE ADDRESS THOSE LI
PROPERTIES AT THE SAME TIME
SO THAT WE WON'T HAVE TO
REPEAT THE PROCESS SINCE WE
ARE HAVING ALL THESE
COMMISSIONS COME TOGETHER
AND LOOK AT THESE WITH THE
HISTORICAL ZONING AND ALSO
THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL
PROPERTIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU.
SUSANNA ALMANZA?
MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ AND
DANNY THOMAS AND YOU ALL FOR
PUTTING THIS ISSUE TO THE
FOREFRONT BECAUSE IT IS A
VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
IT IS ONE THAT IS CONSTANTLY
DISPLACING OUR COMMUNITY AND
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO
LOOK AT POLICIES THAT WILL
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT
RELOCATED FROM THE
COMMUNITIES THAT WE WERE
FORCED TO LIVE IN BY THE
MASTER PLANS OF THE LATE 19
20'S.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO BE
NOTIFIED WHEN THESE MEETINGS
ARE OCCURRING SO THAT WE
WOULD MAKE SURE AND HAVE
GRASS ROOT COMMUNITY INPUT
AND THE INPUT OF THOSE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT
PARTICULAR AREAS TO ALSO
GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU.
THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS
WE HAVE ON THE CONSENT
AGENDA.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ON
THE CONSENT AGENDA OR DO WE
HAVE A MOTION?
Thomas: I'LL BE WILLING
TO MAKE A MOTION, BUT ON 105
I WOULD LIKE TO, IF I COULD,
IF THEY COULD AMEND --
THERE'S SOME WORDING WE LEFT
OUT ON THE NUMBER 4 WHERE
PARAGRAPH 3 DOES NOT APPLY
TO THE HISTORICAL ZONING
CASES, I DO NEED TO ADD
RIGHT AFTER WE DO ROBERTSON
BROTHERS WAREHOUSE, 501 EAST
I-35, AND THEN I NEED TO PUT
THE EAST FROM 15,451st
STREET AND THEN WE CAN CLOSE
THAT OUT.
AND ALSO THE CONNELLY
HOUSE, RIGHT?
Thomas: I READ THAT,
MAYOR.
Goodman: THERE WAS SOME
LANGUAGE THAT I THINK WAS
MISINTERPRET AND SOME PEOPLE
HAVE INTERPRETED THE MEANING
TO BE A PROHIBITION OF
MEMBERSHIP ON THIS TASKFORCE
IF YOU DO NOT CURRENTLY LIVE
IN EAST AUSTIN.
AND I WANTED TO ASK THE
SPONSORS IF THEY HAD EVEN
THOUGHT ABOUT LANGUAGE THAT
WAS CLEAR OR IF IT NEEDED
CLARIFYING TODAY BEFORE WE
VOTE ON IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT
A PROHIBITION.
Alvarez: MAYOR PRO TEM,
LET ME EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT
105 IS.
BASICALLY THIS ITEM
ESTABLISHES A TASKFORCE TO
CONSIDER THE GENTRIFICATION
IMPLICATIONS OF THE ZONING
OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES
HISTORIC IN EAST AUSTIN.
THAT WAS AN ISSUE THAT WAS
RAISED ABOUT A MONTH AGO,
MAYBE A LITTLE MORE.
AND I KNOW THAT OUR STAFF
HAS HAD HAS BEEN WORKING AT
THAT ISSUE.
SO REALLY THAT WAS A WAY OF
US PUTTING THE HEADS
TOGETHER OF VARIOUS SITD 17
REPRESENTATIVES ON THE --
CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVES ON
THE DIFFERENT BOARDS THAT
MIGHT HAVE PURVIEW OVER THIS
KIND OF ISSUE.
SO THE TASKFORCE WOULD BE
COMPRISED OF TWO MEMBERS
EACH OF THE PLANNING
COMMISSION, ZONING AND
PLATTING COMMISSION,
HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION.
AND THE PART THAT THE MAYOR
PRO TEM IS REFERENCING IS A
STATEMENT THAT SAYS PRIMARY
CONSIDERATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
ON THE TASKFORCE SHALL BE
GIVEN TO COMMISSION MEMBERS
WHO RESIDE IN EAST AUSTIN.
AND I JUST -- WHAT WE WERE
INTENDING BY THAT LANGUAGE
IS TO MAKE SURE IN MY HEAD
THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE
MEMBER FROM EACH COMMISSION
THAT RESIDES IN EAST AUSTIN.
BUT SOMEHOW TO MAKE SURE
THAT THAT'S A SERIOUS
CONSIDERATION THAT'S GIVEN
WHEN PICKING THE
REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF
THE COMMISSIONS, BUT IN MY
POINT OF VIEW IT WASN'T
EXCLUSIVE TO JUST PEOPLE WHO
LIVE IN EAST AUSTIN, BUT I
WANTED TO ASSURE OR SEND A
MESSAGE TO THE BOARD AND THE
COMMISSION THAT WE DO FEEL
THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
EAST AUSTIN BE REPRESENTED
IN THAT PROJECT.
Goodman: THANKS,
COUNCILMEMBER.
AND THE REASON I ASK, MAYOR,
IS BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME ON
THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
WHO DO NOT CURRENTLY RESIDE
IN EAST AUSTIN, BUT GREW UP
THERE AND RETAIN THEIR TIES
AND ARE VERY PROTECTIVE AND
THEY WOULD LIKE TO
PARTICIPATE.
Mayor Garcia: SURE.
OKAY.
FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE
CONSENT AGENDA?
Goodman: SORRY, MAYOR,
THERE'S ONE MORE THING.
ON ITEM NUMBER 106, THAT'S
AN ITEM SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, WYNN
AND MYSELF, AND THAT IS THE
FREE SWIM DAY AT BARTON
SPRINGS POOL, WHICH WE
DIDN'T MANAGE TO GET INTO
JUNE.
NORMALLY WE DO THIS IN JUNE.
SO WE'RE SAYING IN JUNE THAT
WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IN
AUGUST.
Mayor Garcia: IT'S HOTTER
IN AUGUST, SO IT'S BETTER.
Goodman: THAT WAS TRUE,
BUT IT WAS TO COMMEMORATE A
JUNE DAY.
JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS
THE ANNUAL FREE SWIM DAY AT
THE SPRINGS WILL HAPPEN, BUT
IT WILL BE AUGUST THE 11th
AND WE'LL HAVE A
PROCLAMATION ON THAT DAY.
Mayor Garcia: SO GO OUT
AND GET YOUR SWIM SUITS
BEFORE AUGUST THE 11th, AND
WE'LL SEE YOU ALL AT BARTON
SPRINGS.
YOU CAN GET IN FREE.
COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.
Alvarez: BACK TO ITEM
105.
I DID WANT TO ADD ONE
SENTENCE IF POSSIBLE IF THE
COUNCIL FEELS IT'S
APPROPRIATE.
BUT UNDER THE BE IT RESOLVED
SECTION UNDER PART 1 IT'S
JUST TO ADD A STATEMENT AT
THE END OF THAT PART THAT
SAYS THE COUNCIL ENCOURAGES
SPECIFIED COMMISSIONS TO
MAKE THEIR APPOINTMENTS BY
JULY 15TH, 2002 BECAUSE THIS
SETS A DEADLINE OF
SEPTEMBER 26TH FOR THEM TO
REPORT BACK.
AND I THINK THE ONLY ONE
THAT MIGHT AFFECT WOULD BE
THE HISTORIC LANDMARK
COMMISSION TODAY AND TO MEET
AT THE END OF EACH MONTH, SO
IT MIGHT ANTICIPATE A
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING, BUT
IF POSSIBLE TO DO THAT AND
TO GO THROUGH THE NORMAL
PROCESS.
AND SO TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT
OF TIME THAT WE'RE USING ON
THESE ITEMS THAT WE'RE NOT
KEEPING ALL THESE HISTORIC
CASES ON HOLD FOR VERY LONG.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
DID YOU NOTE THAT CHANGE?
Alvarez: I'LL MAKE THAT
AS AN AMENDMENT.
Mayor Garcia: IT'S JUST A
CHANGE TO THE ACTUAL WORDING
OF THE RESOLUTION.
Slusher: MAYOR?
Mayor Garcia:
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
Slusher: COULD I BE SHOWN
AS ABSTAINING ON ITEM 32.?
THAT'S NEAR MY HOME.
AND IS THERE A MOTION ON THE
TABLE YET?
Mayor Garcia: NOT YET.
Slusher: I WOULD MOVE
APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT
AGENDA AND THEN I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT ONCE WE GET A
SECOND.
Mayor Garcia: I'M NOT
SURE YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION
IF YOU'RE ABSTAINING ON AN
ITEM.
Slusher: OKAY.
I'LL WITHDRAW MY MOTION.
THANK YOU FOR CATCHING ME ON
THAT.
I'M TRYING TO GET A MOTION
ON THE TABLE.
Mayor Garcia: MOTION BY
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
IS THERE A SECOND?
SECONDED BY NEWLY ELECTED
COUNCILMEMBER DUNKERLEY.
WE HAVEN'T GIVE GIVEN HER A
HAND, HAVE WE?
YOU GOT ONE ON THE 15TH,
DIDN'T YOU, BETTY?
[ APPLAUSE ]
OKAY.
THERE'S A MOTION BY
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS,
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
DUNKERLEY.
AND I'LL READ INTO THE
RECORD AGAIN THE ITEMS ON
THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT ARE
BEING CONSIDERED.
ITEM NUMBER 17, ITEM NUMBER
18 IS TO POSTPONE
INDEFINITELY.
ITEMS 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,
24, 25, 26, 28, 29 AND 30 TO
POSTPONE TO JULY THE 11th.
ITEM NUMBER 31 WITH THE
CHANGES THAT WE READ INTO
THE RECORD THAT WILL BE
GIVEN TO YOU BY THE
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW AND
INSPECTION DEPARTMENT.
ITEM NUMBER 32 POSTPONED BY
APPLICANT UNTIL AUGUST THE
EIGHTH.
33 SECOND AND THIRD READING,
34 SECOND AND THIRD READING,
35, 36, 37, 38 TO POSTPONE
TO JULY THE 11th.
39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45,
46, 47, 48, 49 WITH THE
CHANGES THAT WERE READ INTO
THE RECORD.
50 WITH THE CHANGES THAT
WERE READ INTO THE RECORD ON
THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS.
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57,
58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64,
65, 66, 67 -- THOSE TWO, 66
AND 67 CONSENT TO POSTPONE
UNTIL JULY THE 11th.
68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 73,
75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80 TO
POSTPONE TO JULY THE 11th OF
'02.
81, 82, 83, 84 -- I'M
GETTING AS FAST AS MAYOR
WATSON HERE.
IF I'M GOING TOO FAST, SLOW
ME DOWN.
84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91,
92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99,
100, 101.
AND THE LIST OF APPOINTEES
HAS BEEN READ INTO THE
RECORD.
IT'S AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY
WHO HAS QUESTIONS OR WHO MAY
WANT INFORMATION ON IT.
102, 105 AND 106.
AND ALL THE OTHERS ARE TIME
CERTAIN ITEMS.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL THE OTHERS ARE TIME
CERTAIN ITEMS AND PUBLIC
HEARINGS OR ZONING CASES
HEARING HEARINGS OR STRATUS
PROPERTY ITEMS.
THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A
SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER
THOMAS AND COUNCILMEMBER
DUNKERLEY.
FURTHER DISCUSSION?
Slusher: I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT.
ON 98.
I WOULD LIKE -- THAT'S THE
FUNDS FOR THE HYDRILLA
CONTROL.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT
THOSE FUNDS THAT THE CITY
GETS WILL NOT BE USED FOR
HERBICIDES, PUTTING
HERBICIDES INTO LAKE AUSTIN.
AND MS. McCLINTOCK IS
AVAILABLE TO TALK ABOUT
THAT.
MAYOR GARCIA: OKAY, STAFF
MEMBER?
YES, SIR.
WHAT THIS RCA DOES IS ENABLE
US TO GET MATCHING FUNDS
FROM TEXAS PARKS AND
WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT.
THE PLAN IS TO USE THAT
MONEY TO BUY STERILE GRASS
CARP TO PUT IN THE LAKE TO
HELP US WITH HYDRILLA IF THE
TRACKING STUDY THAT'S NOW
BEING DONE IN LAKE AUSTIN IS
SUCCESSFUL AND TEXAS PARKS
AND WILDLIFE DECIDES TO
APPROVE A PERMIT FOR THE
STOCKING OF THOSE FISH.
SO IT WOULD NOT BE USED FOR
CHEMICAL CONTROL IN THIS
CASE, IT WOULD BE USED FOR
THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
MS. BROWN, HAVE YOU GOT
THAT?
OKAY.
FURTHER DISCUSSION?
Alvarez: MAYOR?
ON 105, WHICH IS THE
TASKFORCE TO LOOK AT THE
ZONING ISSUES, I HAD AN
ISSUE FOR MS. FUTRELL.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN
SPECIFIC CONTACT ALREADY IN
TERMS OF WHO IS LOOKING AT
THAT ISSUE OR IF FOLKS WANT
NOTIFICATION OF THAT
MEETING, MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, BUT WE CAN DIRECT
THEM TO ONE -- WHEN THE
FIRST MEETING OF THAT
TASKFORCE OCCURS SO THAT
THEY CAN BE NOTICED TO THOSE
INTERESTED PARTIES.
WE'LL LOOK FOR A
MECHANISM TO MAKE SURE
EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF THE
MEETING AND LOOK FOR A
SPECIFIC CONTACT FOR YOU TO
GIVE NAMES OR CONTACT TO FOR
INFORMATION.
Alvarez: THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: FURTHER
DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT
AGENDA?
IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR,
SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE?
AYE.
Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED NO.
MOTION CARRIES.
AND YOU'VE GOT THE ITEM THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER IS
ABSTAINING ON, ITEM
NUMBER --
32.
Mayor Garcia: I'LL ALLOW
A COUPLE OF MINUTES FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAVING THE
CHAMBERS AT THIS TIME.
I'LL GO BACK TO NUMBER 15,
APPROVAL OF THE WORK....THE WORK SESSION
MINUTES AND THE REGULAR
SESSION MINUTES.
IS THERE A MOTION?
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER
WYNN.
AND I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
AYE.
Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED NO.
MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF
SIX TO ZERO TO ONE, WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER
TEMPORARILY ABSENT.
ITEM NUMBER 16,
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?
Wynn: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I JUST WANTED TO ACTUALLY
FOLLOW-UP ON YOUR AGENDA
QUESTION EARLIER IN THE
WEEK, MAYOR.
I JUST HAVE -- I'LL GIVE A
QUICK SYNOPSIS OF WHAT THE
PROCESS WAS,. WHETHER THEY'RE
SOLICITED OR UNSOLICITED
PROJECTS AND HOW THE
COMMUNITY SORT OF KNEW ABOUT
IT, HOW TO PRESENT IDEAS,
ETCETERA.
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, THE
HOLLY MITIGATION --
Mayor Garcia: PLEASE
IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE
WATCHING.
YES, SIR.
MY NAME IS JUAN GARZA, I'M
THE GENERAL MANAGER FOR
AUSTIN ENERGY.
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, THE
PROCESS IS FAIRLY WELL-KNOWN
IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE DID NOT DO A FORMAL
SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS AT
THIS TIME.
WE DID RECEIVE SOLICITATION
DIRECTLY TO MY OFFICE.
WE HAD SOME GO DIRECTLY TO
COUNCILMEMBERS AND WE HAD
SOME GO DIRECTLY TO THE
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
WE TOOK THE VARIOUS
SOLICITATIONS TO THE
SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE EUC.
WE REVIEWED THEM AND MADE A
RECOMMENDATION.
WE REVIEWED THE PROPOSAL TO
MAKE SURE THEY COMPLIED WITH
THE POLICY GUIDE...... GUIDELINES THAT
WERE SET BY THE COUNCIL
ORIGINALLY WHEN THE FUND WAS
FIRST ESTABLISHED.
THEY DO MEET THOSE
GUIDELINES.
WE DO INTEND TO DO A MORE
FORMAL PROCESS AND COME BACK
TO THE CITY COUNCIL SOMETIME
IN THE EARLY PART OF NEXT
YEAR TO FURTHER MOVE THIS
ALONG.
WE WERE MOVING QUITE ALONG
IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
WE WERE HOPEFUL THAT WE
WOULD END THE YEAR WITHOUT
HAVING BROUGHT SOMETHING TO
THE COUNCIL, BUT WE DECIDED
TO BRING THESE FORWARD TO
YOU AT THIS TIME.
Wynn: OKAY.
THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, MAYOR, I MOVE
APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 16.
Mayor Garcia: I'LL CALL
ON YOU FOR THE MOTION.
MS. SUSANNA ALMANZA.
FOLLOWING HER IS
[ INAUDIBLE ].
GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M SUSAN ALMA IS A WITH
PODER.
AND I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS
BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THAT
EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS MIGHT KNOW
ABOUT THE MITIGATION FUND
MONEY, THERE REALLY ISN'T A
PROCESS THAT'S SET UP THAT
NOTIFIES EVEN THE
ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE
AREA OF THE HOLLY PARK PLANT
THAT THIS MONEY IS AVAILABLE
AND THAT PROPOSALS CAN BE
SUBMITTED.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE'S NO
EXACT CRITERIA ON IT.
THE VISIT THAT PODER GET AS
PART OF THE HOLLY PLANT
CLOSURE COMMITTEE, SO YOU
WOULD THINK THE CLOSURE
COMMITTEE WOULD BE INFORMED
AND GIVEN THE APPLICATION
PROCESS, WHICH IS NOT REALLY
HAPPENING.
IS THAT MR. JOE PEREZ'S
OFFICE SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL
FOR ACTUALLY RECONSTRUCTING
HOMES FROM THE BOTTOM ON UP
IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA,
WHICH HAVE BEEN DONE HARM BY
THE MERE SITING OF THE POWER
PLANT THERE AND THE FUNCTION
THAT IT'S HAD IN THE PAST
AND CONTINUES TO HAVE.
SO I DO RECOMMEND AND WE
HAVE MET WITH MR. JUAN GARZA
AND ARE STARTING TO SET UP
THAT STRUCTURED MEETING ON A
REGULAR BASIS, BUT I THINK
THAT THE PROCESS NOW HAS TO
BE REVISITED SINCE IT HAS TO
BE THE CRITERIA PUT IN PLACE
AND THAT THAT CRITERIA AND
THAT PROCESS HAS TO BE KNOWN
TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE
THERE, WHICH DOES NOT --
PROBABLY NOT NOOK ON THE
DOOR OF THE SOME OF THE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
PROCESS AND KNOW ABOUT IT.
BUT THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT
KNOWN.
I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT
WE'RE USING THE MITIGATION
MONIES WHEN THERE COULD BE
MONEY TAKEN FROM OTHER
SOURCES, NOT THAT WHAT IS
BEING REQUESTED BEFORE YOU
IS NOT IMPORTANT, BUT I
THINK THAT THAT SHOULDN'T BE
COMING FROM THE MITIGATION
MONEY BECAUSE THE REAL HARM
AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE
BEEN DONE I THINK WOULD
BENEFIT MORE THE PEOPLE WHEN
YOU LOOK AT THE HOUSING
ISSUES AND THE
RECONSTRUCTION ISSUES,
ESPECIALLY WHEN AT ONE TIME
YOU HAD THE WEATHERIZATION
PROGRAM DONE, YOU HAD THE
WINDOW UNITS HANDED OUT
THERE, BUT HOW DID THE
PEOPLE BENEFIT BY THOSE
PARTICULAR AREAS WHEN THEY
COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE
UTILITY BILLS, THEREFORE THE
AIR CONDITIONING UNITS WERE
NOT TURNED ON.
AND HOW WAS IT WHEN WE DID
THE WEATHERIZATION AND THE
FOUNDATION OF THE HOMES WERE
BASICALLY FALLING APART?
SO I THINK THAT WE REALLY
NEED TO LOOK AT THAT PROCESS
AND THAT CRITERIA AND SET IT
UP.
I THINK NEXT YEAR IS WAY TOO
LONG.
I THINK WE NEED TO BEGIN
THAT PROCESS IMMEDIATELY.
AND THE HOLLY POWER PLANT
CLOSURE COMMITTEE IS ONE
COMMITTEE THAT REALLY NEEDS
TO BE INFORMED IN THAT
PROCESS.
THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU,
MS. ALMANZA.
MR. GAVINOFER NAN SAYS.
WELCOME, -- FERNANDEZ.
THANK YOU, SIR.
I'M A MEMBER OF HE WILL
CONCEAL WHY I DON'T AND ALSO
A MEMBER OF THE HOLLY
CLOSURE COMMITTEE.
AND BEING PART OF THE
DISCUSSIONS WHERE THE
MITTATION DOLLARS CAME
ABOUT, I DO SUPPORT THE
IMPROVEMENTS REGARDING THE
RESTORATION OF THE MURALS
AND THE HOST OF THE PROGRAM
AT METZ BECAUSE I THINK
THESE ARE THE TYPE OF
PROJECTS THAT THE MITIGATION
INTENTION WAS IN ORDER TO
MITIGATE SOME OF THE HARM
THAT THE EXISTENCE OF THE
HOLLY POWER PLANT HAS MADE
TO THE EXISTING AND
SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
I DO HAVE A PROBLEM, THOUGH
RKSZ....WITH THE $49,000 WITH THE
REC CENTER.
BEING A PARKS EMPLOYEE, THIS
IS A LIST, A PARKS AND
RECREATION EQUIPMENT LIST
THAT SHOULD NOT BE USED AND
BE FUNDED WITH MITIGATION
DOLLARS.
THE MITIGATION DOLLARS WERE
NOT SET UP TO MAUCK THESE
TYPE OF -- MAKE THESE TYPE
OF INVESTMENTS IN THE
COMMUNITY.
SOME OF THESE ITEMS ARE
INSULTING.
ONE BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET
ORGANIZATION IS ASKING TO
FUND ONE EIGHT-INCH SKILL
LET FOR $11 OUT OF THE
MITIGATION.
THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU
THE EXTREME OF HOW THESE
FUNDS ARE BEING USED.
CANOES, $1,395.
WHERE ARE THESE CANOES GOING
TO BE KEPT OUT.
A TRAILER FOR CANOES, ALMOST
TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS.
WE HAVE HOMES AND ELDERLY
PEOPLE AROUND THE HOLLY
POWER PLANT THAT THEIR
ELECTRICAL WIRING IS A FAR
CRY FROM UPGRADE.
THE ROOFS ARE LEAKING VERY
MUCH WHEN THE WEATHER COMES
AROUND.
THESE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS
THAT WE EXPECTED AND WOULD
HOPE THAT THESE MITIGATION
DOLLARS WOULD BE INVESTED
IN.
NOT IN GENERAL RECREATION
EQUIPMENT THAT SHOULD BE
PURCHASED OUT OF GENERAL
FUND DOLLARS.
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ITEMS
THAT ARE BASICALLY -- I
MEAN,.
AGAIN, SHOULD BE USED AND
PURCHASED WITH GENERAL FUND
DOLLARS IF THESE ARE THE
KIND OF MONIES YOU WANT TO
USE.
BUT IT IS EMBARRASSING TO
OUR COMMUNITY TO LEARN THAT
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE
ANY KIND OF FUNDS FOR
REMODELLING OF HOMES FOR
SENIOR CITIZENS AND OUR
HOMEOWNERS, BUT AGAIN, WE
CAN BE VERY, YOU KNOW, -- I
MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
WHEN THFTION BROUGHT TO MY
ATTENTION, I THOUGHT WE HAD
TALKED ABOUT THIS, WE HAD
THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS NO
LONGER GOING TO CONTINUE.
WE'VE ALREADY SUBSIDIZED
GUIL AND THE CA... CAMACHO CENTER
FOR ALL THESE YEARS.
WE DID THE CINCO DE MAYO FOR
MANY YEARS TO SUBSIDIZE
THESE COSTS.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SUFFERS
FROM THESE EVENTS IN ORDER
THAT THEY CAN BUY THIS KIND
OF STUFF, BUT NOT WITH THE
MITIGATION DOLLARS.
AND I DO THINK WE NEED TO GO
AND SET UP A PROCESS THAT
WILL INCLUDE ALL PEOPLE AND
ALL PARTIES SO THAT
INTEGRITY OF THE SPENDING
WILL BE MAINTAINED.
THANK YOU.
[ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, FOR
CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS]
Mayor Garcia: THERE'S BEEN
A MOTION AND TWO AMENDMENTS.
FIRST OF ALL BEFORE WE GET
INTO ANY DETAILS OF IT IN AN
ITEM LIKE THIS, WE USUALLY
SEPARATE THE NEGOTIATION AND
EXECUTION EVEN IF IT'S ONLY
LONG ENOUGH TO READ THAT
CONTRACT BEFORE IT IS
ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED BUT
THAT'S A LANGUAGE ISSUE THAT I
WILL COME BACK TO LATER.
I WANTED TO REMIND THE COUNCIL
AND THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED
THAT THE REASON THIS
PARTICULAR CONSULTANT WAS
INCLUDED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET
WAS SO THAT THE CULTURAL
EXTENDING PROCESS THAT ENDED
IN SUCH CONTROVERSY AND SUCH
PLIT I CANIZED NONPRODUCT I
HAVE ACTION DID NOT HAPPEN
THIS YEAR.
THE CONSULTANT WAS TO BE IN
PLACE SO THAT THIS YEAR'S
SPENDING PROCESS DID NOT FALL
INTO THE CONFLICT AND UGLINESS
THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
WE'RE JUST NOW GETTING TO THE
CONSULTANT, THIS YEAR'S
FUNDING PROCESS THAT AN END,
VIRTUALLY AT AN END.
AND THERE IS NO REAL CHANCE TO
UNDO WHAT IS NOW THE SITUATION
FOR THE CULTURAL ARTS
COMMUNITY WHO HAVE TRIED TO BE
RESPONSIBLE APPLICANTS TO THE
PROCESS AND RECEIVE FAIR AND
HOPEFULLY ENCOURAGING
TREATMENT FROM THAT PROCESS.
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
AND YOU ADD TO THAT THE FACT
THAT THE ECONOMY THIS YEAR IS
ESPECIALLY BAD, MUCH, MUCH
WORSE THAN LAST YEAR WHEN,
THROUGH VARIOUS LITIGATION
FROM THE ARTS COMMISSION AND
COUNCIL WE WERE ABLE TO KIND
OF EVEN OUT THE PLAYING FIELD
A LITTLE BIT AND MAKE A LITTLE
BIT MORE FAIR DECISION MAKING,
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
ACQUIESCE TO.
SO GIVEN THAT, THE FUNDING
PROCESS ITSELF IS VIRTUALLY
OVER AND THE CONSULTANT IS NOW
NOT IN A POSITION TO DO
ANYTHING AT ALL FOR THIS
YEAR'S FUNDING OTHER THAN
PERHAPS REVIEWING SOME THINGS
RETROACTIVELY THAT ARE TOO
LATE IN THE PROCESS TO DO
ANYTHING ABOUT.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND US ALL, TOO,
THAT IN ADDITION TO THAT VERY
SPECIFIC AND VERY NARROW FOCUS,
THIS WAS A COUNCIL INITIAL I
HAVE OF DEVELOPING POLICY AND
IN FACT, IT WAS THE IMPETUS OR
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ARTS
COMMUNITY AS WE HAVE
TRADITIONALLY KNOWN IT TO BE
IS REALLY VERY DIFFERENT IN
THE YEAR 2002 THAN IT WAS BACK
IN THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES
WHEN THIS IDEA WAS FIRST BEING
DEVELOPED INTO SOMETHING THAT
WE COULD IMPLEMENT AND
SUPPORT.
SO IN TERMS OF WHAT WE NEED
FROM THE CONSULTANT, THERE
WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE A
LITTLE BIT MORE COUNCIL INPUT
INTO DEVELOPING THE RMP
BECAUSE IT WAS AN INITIATIVE
AND HAS TO DO WITH DEVELOPING
POLICY AND THAT DOESN'T
NECESSARILY COME THROUGH IN
THE BLACK AND WHITE THAT GOES
OUT TO THE CONSULTANTS TO
RESPOND TO.
NONETHELESS, AS I READ QUICKLY
THROUGH THE TOP THREE
RESPONDERS TO THE RFP, I
NOTICED THEY ARE ALL VERY
EXCELLENT FIRMS AND THERE WERE
SEVERAL INTUITIVE REMARKS IN
ONE OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT I
WAS DRAWN TO FOR WHAT WE NEED,
FOR WHAT IT IS WE'RE GOING
FOR.
I WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY ADD
TO WHAT I THINK THIS CONTRACT
IS FOR AND THIS CONSULTANT
WILL HELP US DO, IS AGAIN
BEYOND THAT VERY NARROW FOCUS
OF THE PROCESS ITSELF.
THAT'S VERY PRACTICAL, BLACK
AND WHITE, BREAD AND BUTTER,
BUT IT'S REALLY TO GO BEYOND
THAT.
AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO ALSO ADD
IS DIRECTION AT THIS POINT FOR
THE CONSULTANT AND FOR THE
AUDITER STILL AS THE LEAD
DEPARTMENT IS TO SAY THAT AT
THIS JUNCTURE, AT THIS
BEGINNING OF A LARGER
INITIATIVE, A LARGER COUNCIL
INITIATIVE, I THINK THAT WHAT
WE NEED TO DO IS BE SURE THAT
SEVERAL ADVISORY GROUPS ARE
USED FOR INPUT OF VARIOUS
PARTS OF WHAT IS BEING LOOKED
AT, AND THAT WOULD BE SO THAT
WE COULD GET INPUT BACK ON
PANEL REVIEW, ON COMMISSION
GUIDELINES, AND THE MECHANICS
OF THE PROCESS.
BEYOND THAT, THOUGH, WE NEED
TO ESTABLISH A CLEARER VISION
OF WHAT THE CREATIVE ARTS
COMMUNITY IS IN AUSTIN AND
UNDERSTAND THE EXPANSION OF
THEIR ROLE THAT GOES FAR
BEYOND WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK OF
AS ARTI SON AND GARRETT.
THEY ARE REALLY THE BACKGROUND
OF OUR COMMUNITY AND
COUNCILMEMBER DUNKERLY HAS
SOME LANGUAGE THAT SHE WOULD
LIKE TO MENTION LATER SO THAT
WE ALL HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OF
THE VISION THAT IS POSSIBLE
FOR US TO GRASP.
SO IN LOOKING FOR THAT, I
THINK THAT THERE MUST ALSO BE
A STAFF WORK GROUP THAT HELPS
WITH OVERSIGHT AND JUST
PARTICIPATING AND
UNDERSTANDING FROM THEIR PART
OF WHAT THEY SEE FROM
DIFFERENT ANGLES THAT HAS NOT
YET BEEN COORDINATED IN THAT
CREATIVE COMMUNITY.
SO NOT TO PRECLUDE ANYONE ELSE,
BUT RIGHT AWAY WE KNOW THAT
SOMEONE FROM FINANCE MUST BE
THERE IN THEIR PURSUIT OF
SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITY IN
TELECOMMUNICATIONS, MULTIMEDIA,
FILM, MUSIC AND SO ON.
THAT, TOO, IS PART OF THE
CREATIVE ARTS COMMUNITY.
REDEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS
HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THAT SORT
OF NATURE AND CHARACTER
CULTURE ISSUES AND SO ON AND
IT MAY BE THAT SOMEONE FROM
AVIATION OR THE OTHER CULTURAL
ASPECTS THAT WE'VE INTRODUCED
INTO THE AIRPORT IS
APPROPRIATE.
AND CAN HELP.
THERE MAY BE, OF COURSE, -- OF
COURSE FROM PARKS, OF COURSE,
AND WE HAVE ARTS IN PUBLIC
PLACES THERE, TOO, TO BE
REPRESENTED AS WELL AS THE
CULTURAL ARTS IN THE FUNDING
PROCESS.
AND THERE MAY BE OTHERS.
THERE MAY BE SOMEONE FROM
PUBLIC WORKS OR SOMEONE ELSE
WHO'S INTERESTED IN HOW THE
CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE OF OUR
COMMUNITY ENTERS INTO DESIGN
AND SO ON, BUT I JUST DIDN'T
WANT THESE PARTICULAR ONES TO
BE FORGOTTEN, AND WE CAN
EXPAND MORE.
AND FINALLY, INFORM LOOKING AT
THE GOP OF THE -- SCOPE OF THE
CONSULTANT'S WORK, I THINK
THAT 60 DAYS, THAT AGAIN
PROBABLY COULD HAVE BEEN
CLARIFIED HAD THERE BEEN MORE
INPUT IN DEVELOPING THE RFP
WITH COUNCILMEMBERS AND WITH
DIRECTION AND POLICY WE WERE
TRYING TO HEAD FOR.
SO WE HAVE ALL THE PIECES OF
WHAT COULD BE A VERY
PRODUCTIVE AND BENEFICIAL STEP
FOR THIS COMMUNITY,
ESTABLISHING WHAT IS, IN FACT,
OUR BACKBONE AND FABRIC FOR
THE NEW CENTURY.
THOSE ARE MY SUGGESTIONS FOR
WHAT MUST GO WITH THE SCOPE OF
THIS CONSULTANT'S WORK, AND I
WOULD TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER DUNKERLY.
Dunkerly: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
I THINK THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS
MENTIONED SEVERAL GROUPS THAT
WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE
CONSULTANT COORDINATE WITH.
SPECIFICALLY I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE THEM COORDINATE WITH
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN'S GROUP
THAT, I THINK IT'S THE MAYOR'S
TASK FORCE ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
THE CREATIVE ARTS AND THE
CREATIVE BUSINESSES ARE GOING
TO BE ONE OF THE SIGNIFICANT
ELEMENTS OF A COMPREHENSIVE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR
THE CITY.
SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT
COORDINATION WRITTEN INTO THE
SCOPE OF WORK SO THAT WE CAN
SEE HOW WE CAN BEST FOLD THAT
IN TO OUR EFFORTS IN THIS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AREA.
THANK YOU.
AND RELATIVE TO THAT?
I THINK THAT SINCE THIS IS AN
INITIALLY SHORT TIME FRAME NOW
AS IT'S BENEFICIALLY PUT OUT
THERE, ALTHOUGH I DON'T THINK
IT AT ALL IS THE LENGTH AND
BREADTH OF THE SCOPE WE'RE
GOING TO NEED, BUT COUNCIL, OR
AT LEAST COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
ARE INTERESTED NEED TO BE
ROUTINELY UPDATED ON WHAT'S
BEEN HAPPENING, AND I WOULD SO
NO LATER THAN EVERY OTHER WEEK,
CONSIDERING THE TWO MONTH TIME
FRAME THAT'S MENTIONED IN HERE.
AND WITH THAT I HAVE A MOTION?
Mayor Garcia: READY FOR A
MOTION.
ITEM NUMBER 86, I WOULD
MOVE TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING NEGOTIATION AND
EXECUTION AFTER COUNCILMEMBERS
ARE ABLE TO READ THAT CONTRACT
OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
CONTRACT WITH DABNEY AND
ASSOCIATES.
OKAY.
THIS PARTICULAR ONE ITEM, NO.
86, THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE
INSERT THE NAME OF DABNEY AND
ASSOCIATES IN THE PLACE WHERE
IT SAYS THE CULTURAL PLUS
PLANNING GROUP OF LOS ANGELES.
AND IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT
MOTION?
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
ALVAREZ.
DISCUSSION?
YES, MAYOR.
Mayor Garcia:
COUNCILMEMBER?
PARDON?
THE ONE YOU ARE INSERTING.
OH, YEAH.
IS REALLY ON THE LIST.
THEY ARE ONE OF THE TOP
THREE.
TOP THREE?
OKAY.
AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW SOME
OF THE REASONS?
NO, MA'AM, I NEED TO KNOW A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE
COMPANY, TOO.
WELL, THEY ARE ALL
EXCELLENT.
THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE HOME
WORK, A LITTLE RESEARCH FROM
PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW THE
VARIOUS PRINCIPLES INVOLVED
AND ALTHOUGH ALL OF THEM ARE
GOOD, NUMBER 1, IN A PRACTICAL
SENSE, THIS ONE IS CLOSER TO
HOME AND WE CAN CUT DOWN ON
TRAVEL TIME AND EXPENSE
BECAUSE THE SCOPE OF THE RFP
IS, IN FACT, A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT, IS A LITTLE BIT
MORE OF A BEGINNING RATHER
THAN A REPORT, WHICH THE
RESPONDENTS MAY HAVE GOTTEN
MORE OF THAT IMPRESSION ABOUT
WHAT IT IS WE WANT FROM THEIR
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION HERE.
THEY ARE ALSO EXCELLENT IN
MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE, AND OUT
OF THE THREE APPLICATIONS, THE
ONLY ONE THAT REALLY KIND OF
HIT AS JUST A MATTER OF FACT,
PART OF THEIR PRESENTATION ON
THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT THAT WE
WERE LOOKING AT HERE AND
ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC POLICY
AS A PART OF WHAT THEY OFFER
AS DABNEY AND ASSOCIATES.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO OVERALL
POINTS IN THEIR FAVORITE.
AND AGAIN, NOT TO TAKE AWAY IN
ANY WAY FROM THE OTHER TWO,
I'M SURE ALL THE OTHERS
BESIDES THOSE THREE ARE ALSO
EXCELLENT, BUT I THINK THE WAY
THAT THE RFP WAS PRESENTED,
YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK
FOR INSIGHT AND INTUITION AND
I FOUND IT IN DABNEY.
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: A MOTION AND
A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER 86.
DID YOU -- MS. BROWN, DID YOU
GET THE NAME OF THE FIRM?
OKAY.
FURTHER DISCUSSION?
IF NOT.
Mayor Garcia: ALL THOSE IN
FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED, NO.
MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF 7
TO 0..
NOW WE GO TO ITEM NUMBER 97.
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, ITEM
NUMBER 97.
CAN YOU PUT THE MICROPHONE ON?
Slusher: YES.
THIS IS SERVICE EXTENSION ASK
WHERE IT WOULD GO FROM
PROPERTY THAT'S OVER TWO ACRES
WOULD GO TO FOUR HOUSES, BUILT
FOUR HOUSES, AND I UNDERSTAND
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TO THE
ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION
FOR VARIANCE IN ORDER TO BE
ABLE TO BE BUILT ON LESS THAN
TWO ACRES, BUT WE HAVE TO
DECIDE WHETHER TO DO THE
SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST
FIRST, AND IT SEEMS IT SHOULD
BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND TO ME.
AND I'M NOT SURE I -- IF I WAS
ONE OF THOSE MEMBERS, I DON'T
KNOW IF I WOULD VOTE FOR THIS
VARIANCE, BUT IF WE VOTE FOR
THE SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST,
IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME WE'D BE
SENDING A MESSAGE THAT THEY
SHOULD VOTE FOR IT.
THAT DOESN'T, OF COURSE, MEAN
THEY WOULD DO IT AS WE KNOW,
BUT THAT CONCERNS ME.
IT SEEMS LIKE MAYBE THAT'S A
FLAW IN THE PROCESS.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL, MY
NAME'S CHRIS LIPPE, DIRECTOR
OF WATER AND WASTEWATER
DEPARTMENT.
THE TIJ OF THE SERVICE
EXTENSION REQUEST IS VERY
EARLY IN THE -- TIMING OF THE
SERVICE EXTENSION REQUEST IS
VERY EARLY IN THE DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS.
IT'S TYPICALLY ONE OF THE
FIRST STEPS.
THE AVAILABILITY OF WATER AND
WASTEWATER SERVICES IS SO
CRITICAL TO DETERMINING ANY OF
THE -- TO MAKE PLANS FOR A
PIECE OF PROPERTY.
IT JUST COMES VERY EARLY IN
THE PROCESS.
WE'RE STARTING A PROCESS
IMPROVEMENT TEAM TO LOOK AT
THIS PROCESS AND REVIEW IT
AGAIN BECAUSE THESE KINDS OF
ISSUES CONTINUE TO COME UP
WHERE WE GET THE REQUEST VERY
EARLY BUT THERE ARE SOME
REMAINING ISSUES.
WHEN WE APPROVE A SERVICE
EXTENSION REQUEST, WE ALWAYS
HAVE THE CLAUSE IN THERE THAT
THE APPLICANT MUST MEET ALL,
ALL CODE AND ORDINANCE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY.
SO IN THIS CASE AS WE MOVE
FORWARD, THEY WOULD HAVE TO
DEVELOP THE LAND UNDER THE
EXISTING CODES AND ORDINANCES,
BUT THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE
INITIAL QUESTIONS THAT THE
LANDOWNERS TYPICALLY ASK IS
AVAILABLE OF SERVICE.
WELL, THAT WOULD MEAN THEN
THINGS THEY HAVE TO DEVELOP
UNDER THE SYSTEM CODES AND
ORDINANCES, THAT WOULD MEAN IN
ORDER TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO
DO HERE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO
GET THE VARIANCE.
I THINK THAT WASN'T CLEAR TO
ME FROM THE BACKUP.
AND BEFORE I COULD VOTE
TO -- I JUST REALLY NEED MORE
INFORMATION.
IT'S MORE LIKE A LAND
DEVELOPMENT CASE TO ME THAN
JUST A WATER CASE.
WE COULD SEND IT TO HAVE AUR
ENVIRONMENTAL STAFF LOOK AT IT
A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY AND
BRING IT BACK.
OKAY.
IS THAT THE MOTION THAT YOU
MAKE?
SURE.
Mayor Garcia: MOTION BY
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER ON ITEM
NUMBER 97 TO SEND THIS ITEM
BACK TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL
DEPARTMENT.
WHICH DEPARTMENT OR WHICH
COMMISSION?
Slusher: WATERSHED
PROTECTION AND ANYBODY ELSE
THAT SEES FIT TO LOOK AT IT.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER
SLUSHER, SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.
DISCUSSION?
STATE AGAIN FOR PURPOSES OF
THE RECORD THE -- WHAT YOU
EXPECT OUT OF THE WATERSHED
PROTECTION.
Slusher: I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE AN ANALYSIS ON THE IMPACT
OF THE ENVIRONMENT FROM THIS
PROPOSAL BEFORE WE JUST DECIDE
WHETHER OR NOT TO, FOR THE
WATER SERVICE AND THEN SEND IT
OVER TO THE ZAP FOR VARIANCE
BECAUSE IT'S NOT
COMPLYING -- WHAT'S PROPOSED
DOES NOT COMPLY WITH OUR
ORDINANCES.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A VARIANCE,
AND IT SAID THEY -- IN THE
BACK IT SAID THEY WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE
ORDINANCE.
WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO IS
GET THE WATER SERVICE AND GO
SEEK A VARIANCE UNLESS THEY
WANT TO GET THOSE FOUR LOTS.
THIS IS OUFLT WATERSHED,
DRIPGING WATER SUPPLY.
SO I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT
THAT.
I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE IS I
WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT
WOULD BE ON WATER QUALITY IN
OUR DRINKING WATER SUPPLY.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
PARTICULARLY THIS BEING IN THE
DRINKING WATER PROTECTION ZONE,
I THINK THAT'S THE REQUEST.
FURTHER DISCUSSION?
Mayor Garcia: ALL IN FAVOR,
SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE.
Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED, NO.
MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF 7
TO 0..
ITEM NUMBER 103, COUNCILMEMBER
SLUSHER.
Slusher: WELL, MAYOR, I
GUESS WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION
ON THIS.
IS THIS THE ONE ABOUT THE
TRAIN WHISTLE TRACK?
Mayor Garcia: THIS IS THE
ONE ABOUT -- 103 IS THE SAME.
Slusher: WELL, HERE I JUST
HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT TRAIN
WHISTLES, WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT HAVING SOME ALTERNATIVE
TO TRAINS BLOWING THEIR
WHISTLES WHEN THEY COME
THROUGH TOWN.
MAYBE IT'S A PHILOSOPHICAL
ISSUE BUT I THINK IT SHOULD
ALSO BE PUBLIC SAFETY.
TRAINS BLOWING THE WHISTLES
PROVIDES AS A PUBLIC SAFETY
MEASURE TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM
GETTING HIT BY TRAINS.
IF THERE'S A ENGINEER OUT
THERE THAT'S LAYING DOWN ON
HIS HORN TOO MUCH, TO ME
THAT'S AN ISSUE TO TAKE UP
WITH UNION PACIFIC, BUT I'M
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY.
IF WE -- IF WE ASK, YOU KNOW,
SOME OTHER MEASURE TO LET
PEOPLE KNOW THAT A TRAIN IS
ABOUT TO CROSS THE ROAD, AND
PERSONALLY I LIVE ABOUT A
BLOCK AND A HALF FROM THE
RAILROAD TRACK, THE UNION
PACIFIC RAILROAD TRACK IN
SOUTH AUSTIN.
I LIKE TRAIN WHISTLES.
I THINK THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT
PART OF AMERICAN CULTURE.
SO I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO
BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR THIS.
Mayor Garcia: AND LET ME
SEE IF THE PROPOSALS, THE -- ,
THE TWO SPONSORING HOUSE
MEMBERS WANT TO SAY ABOUT
THAT.
MAYOR PRO TEM JACKIE GOOD MAN.
I AM DEFERRING TO MY
COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU.
WHAT THIS ITEM IS, FIRST AND
FOREMOST IT IS A RESPONSE TO A
NUMBER OF CITIZEN COMPLAINTS
THAT WE'VE RECEIVED OVER THE
YEARS.
IT'S ABOUT THE NOISE OF THE
TRAINS.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PASSED
A FEW PIECES OF LEGISLATION
THE LAST FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS
THAT BEGIN TO GIVE CITIES
CERTAIN POTENTIAL AUTHORITY
OVER THIS ISSUE, OVER THIS
SORT OF QUIET ZONE, OVER
ALTERNATIVE KIND OF SAFETY
MEASURES.
THAT IS, HAVING THE HORN
ITSELF MOUNTED AND PLACED AT
THE INTERSECTION, SO AS A
TRAIN IS APPROACHING THE
INTERSECTION, THE HORN IS
GOING OFF AT THE INTERSECTION,
NOT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE THREE
QUARTERS OF A MILE AS THE
TRAIN APPROACHES.
SO THINGS LIKE THAT.
SEVERAL CITIES APPARENTLY HAVE
ADOPTED THE ORDINANCES.
NONE OF THEM HAVE IMPLEMENTED
THE CHANGES, BUT THIS ITEM
SIMPLY DIRECTS THE MANAGER AND
THE CITY STAFF TO, YOU KNOW,
RESEARCH OUR ABILITY TO DO
THAT, TO GIVE US, YOU KNOW, AN
ACCOUNT OF THE AT-GRADE
CROSSINGS, MOST OF THEM BEING
IN SOUTH AUSTIN, YOU KNOW,
GIVE US AN ESTIMATE AS TO, YOU
KNOW, WHAT EXPENSE THERE MAY
BE, IF ANY, AND GIVE US THE
LIKELIHOOD, A HANDICAP AND THE
LIKELIHOOD THAT, YOU KNOW,
AUSTIN AGREES WITH IT OR GOES
ALONG WITH IT, I THINK IT'S
WHOLLY APPROPRIATE -- TOTALLY
APPROPRIATE FOR US AS A CITY
TO ANALYZE THAT AND TO SEE
WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO
SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY LIKELY,
YOU KNOW, A POSSIBILITY THAT
THE ANSWER IS EITHER IT'S TOO
EXPENSIVE OR IT'S TOO COMPLEX
OF A NEGOTIATED ISSUE WITH
UNION PACIFIC.
BUT I THINK IT'S TOTALLY
APPROPRIATE FOR THE GOVERNMENT
TO TRY TO BALANCE OUT THE
NEEDS OF BOTH UNION PACIFIC
RAILWAY AND OUR CITIZENS WHO
LIVE ALONG THE TRACKS AND OUR
CITIZENS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW,
CROSSING THE TRACKS.
Mayor Garcia: SO I GUESS
WITH THAT -- .
WITH THAT I'LL ASK FOR A
MOTION OF APPROVAL.
SECOND.
Mayor Garcia: AND I GUESS
SECONDED BY COUNCIL, MAYOR PRO
TEM.
AND ADD ON TO WHAT
COUNCILMEMBER JUST SAID.
OBVIOUSLY NOBODY WANTS ANYONE
TO BE AT RISK OF WHEN A TRAIN
COMES TO A CROSSING OR ANY
SORT OF PLACE WHERE
CONCEIVABLY A VEHICLE OR
PEDESTRIAN COULD GO ACROSS THE
TRACKS AT THE WRONG TIME AND
BE IN DANGER.
BUT THERE ARE SOME
ALTERNATIVES AND WE'LL SEE
WHAT THEY HAVE FOR US AS
OPTIONS FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL
LATER IN THE SUMMER.
THERE ARE SOME IDEAS ALONG
WITH PLACING THE HORN OR A
MORE SIGNIFICANT SIGNAL AT THE
CROSSING AND RIGHT NOW WE
ALWAYS HAVE THE BELLS CLING
CLANGING AT THE CROSSING.
SO IT WOULDN'T HURT FOR THAT
TO BE A LITTLE MORE INTENSE,
MAYBE AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF
THE DAY OR NIGHT.
THERE CAN BE AN ALTERNATIVE
ROUTE FOR SHORTER TRAINS OR A
PAUSE TO WAIT UNTIL A CERTAIN
TIME OF MORNING HAS BEEN
PASSED OR WHATEVER.
BUT IT DOESN'T IN ANY WAY ASK
FOR SAFETY TO BE DISMISSED OR
FOR ANYONE TO BE PUT AT RISK,
MERELY THAT SINCE WE ARE
SUPPOSEDLY ALWAYS
TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCING,
THAT WE LOOK AND SEE IF THERE
ARE ANY OPTIONS.
Mayor Garcia: LET ME SAY
THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT -- DOES
THIS INCLUDE DOING SOMETHING
ABOUT SLOW TRAINS?
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHY WE
NEED -- WHETHER WE NEED HORNS,
YOU KNOW.
THEY HAVE STOPPED AT THE
INTERSECTION OF AIRPORT
BOULEVARD AND, LIKE, RIGHT
THERE WHERE LEAF JOHNSON IS,
AND THE TRAIN THAT WAS MOVING
THROUGH THERE WAS MOVING AT 3
MILES AN HOUR, AND THEY HAD
ALWAYS BARNUM AND BAILEY
EQUIPMENT AND ANIMALS AND IT
TOOK THEM FOREVER TO GET
THROUGH THAT INTERSECTION.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY NEED
HORNS.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY MOVE
PRETTY SLOW.
ARE YOU SAYING TO SPEED
THEM UP AND ELIMINATE THE
HORN?
[ LAUGHTER ]
Mayor Garcia: I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I SAID.
IT'S JUST THAT I WAS HUNGRY, I
WAS TRYING TO GET -- I WAS
TRYING TO GET TO A HAMBURGER
AND I COULDN'T GET ACROSS
THOSE TRACKS.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SEC.
FURTHER DISCUSSION?
IF NOT.
Mayor Garcia: ALL IN FAVOR,
SIGNIFY BY SAYING.
Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED, NO..
Mayor Garcia: SO THAT GOES
ON A VOTE OF 5-1-1 WITH
COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS
TEMPORARILY OUT OF AND
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER VOTING
NA.
AND NOW -- NAY.
AND NOW TO 104 WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.
Slusher: WELL, I GUESS THIS
IS ANOTHER TRAIN ITEM THAT
I'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR WHY
THIS ONE IS UP.
I MEAN, I'VE HAD SOME ABOUT
THIS, TOO, BUT I'D RATHER
HERE.
IT'S NOT QUITE AS FUNDAMENTAL.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IDLING
TRAINS.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THAT BEFORE I SAY
ANYTHING.
Mayor Garcia: THIS IS ONE
THAT TALKS ABOUT IDLING
ADJACENT TO THE ALLENDALE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?
I'LL DEFER TO MAYOR PRO TEM
ON THIS ONE.
Goodman: FOR THE ALLENDALE
NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS IS
SOMETHING AKIN TO THE HOW THE
HOLLY STREET NEIGHBORHOOD
FEELS.
THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING,
OF COURSE, BUT IT IS AN ISSUE
OF A NOISE AND OF A NOISE IN
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ALL THE
TIME.
THAT IS ALWAYS PART OF YOUR
DAILY LIFE.
THERE DOES TEAM SEEM TO BE A
POSSIBLE RESOLUTION TO HAVING
THE TRAIN JUST SIT BY THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IDLING WHEN THEY
ARE NOT ON THEIR WAY TO AND
FROM SOMEWHERE.
BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THEY
PAUSE.
THEY DON'T HAVE A STATION, PER
SE, THAT THAT IS WHERE THEY
WAIT.
IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO EXTEND THE
TRACK SIGHTING, A TRACK
SIGHTING SO THAT THEY COULD GO
A LITTLE FURTHER AND MOVE
CLOSER TO THE INDUSTRIALLY
ZONED AREA FOR COMMERCIAL AND
BUSINESS RATHER THAN RIGHT BY
THE RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THE
PLAYING FIELDS AND SO ON WHERE
THE KIDS GO, THAT WOULD BE A
RELATIVELY EASY AND SMALL
RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD
CERTAINLY BE APPRECIATIVE IF
UNION PACIFIC WOULD CONSIDER
THAT, AND THEY HAVE SAID THAT
THEY WILL CONSIDER LOOKING AT
IT.
THERE ARE PHYSICAL ISSUES THAT
MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE, AND OF
COURSE THERE IS THE WILL OF
THE RAILROAD TO ACTUALLY DO IT
EVEN IF THEY CAN.
BUT RIGHT NOW THIS IS THE
FIRST STEP FORWARD THAT WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO TALK IN TERMS OF
GETTING THE RAILROAD TO
CONSIDER THIS AND ENTER INTO
DISCUSSION WITH US IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND SO WE WOULD
LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO DO EXACTLY THAT.
Mayor Garcia: WE HAVE ONE
SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM AND A FEW
WHO WANT TO LISTEN TO THEM AT
THIS TIME AND THEN WE'LL
CONTINUE DISCUSSION.
MR. ERIC WOLF.
WELCOME, SIR.
MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I ONLY MENTIONED ABOUT THE
BLOWING HORNS.
WE HAVE THAT, TOO, ALTHOUGH
USUALLY WHEN THE HORNS BLOW,
THAT INDICATES THAT A TRAIN IS
ABOUT TO LEAVE.
SO FOR US IT'S A SENSE OF
RELIEF.
WE DON'T MIND HEARING THE
HORNS BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT
TRAIN'S ABOUT TO LEAVE.
BASICALLY WHAT'S GOING ON,
THIS IS THE INFAMOUS RAILROAD
TRACK THAT EVERYBODY SEEMS TO
HAVE A PROBLEM WITH AND, YES,
THE RAILROAD TRACK'S BEEN
THERE SINCE BEFORE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD BUT WHO HAS
CHANGED SO DRASTICALLY IN THE
PAST FIVE, SEVEN YEARS OR SO
HAS BEEN THE PASSAGE OF NAFTA
AND THE RAILROAD CONSOLIDATION
FROM THE MID-NINETIES AND WHAT
HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THIS
RAILROAD TRACK HAS GONE -- I
LIKE TO COMPARE WHAT IT USED
TO BE, WHICH IS SOMETHING LIKE
A COUNTY ROAD, OCCASIONAL
TRAINS GOING BY.
TRAINS STOPPING VERY
OCCASIONALLY AND NEVER STAYING
LONGER THAN A FEW MINUTES
WHILE THE TRAINS PASS BUT NOW
SINCE THE PASSAGE OF NAFTA AND
THE RAILROAD CONSOLIDATION,
THE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC ALONG
THE LINE HAS INCREASED TO THE
POINT THAT TRAINS ARE
CONSTANTLY STOPPING ON THE
SIDELINE TO MOVE THE VOLUME OF
TRAFFIC ALONG THE LINE, WHICH
IS PRIMARILY A SINGLE TRACK
EXCEPT FOR THIS AREA, WHICH IS
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, TRAINS HAVE
TO CONSTANTLY BE STOPPING AT
THESE AREAS.
AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR PASSING
TRAINS.
THEY ARE ALSO STOPPING FOR
CREW CHANGES, THEY ARE
STOPPING FOR CREW REST, THEY
ARE STOPPING FOR FLOW CONTROL.
AND BECAUSE FEDERAL
REGULATIONS DICTATE THAT THE
LOCOMOTIVES ALWAYS BE RUNNING
TO SUPPLY PNEUMATIC PRESSURE
TO AIR BRAKES, IT'S A LOW KIND
OF VIBRATION THAT GOES RIGHT
THROUGH THE HOUSES.
YOU HEAR IT ALL THE TIME AND
IT'S A REAL ANNOYANCE.
PASSENGER TRAINS AREN'T SO BAD
BECAUSE THEY ARE HERE AND THEY
ARE GONE USUALLY IN A COUPLE
OF MINUTES.
WITHIN ABOUT TWO MINUTES A
TRAIN PASSES AND IT'S GONE BUT
WHEN A TRAIN PULLS IN, YOU
DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE
THERE FOR TEN DAYS OR IN ONE
CASE FOR SEVEN DAYS.
SO WE FEEL THIS SOLUTION WOULD
ALLOW UNION PACIFIC THE RUN
THEIR OPERATION AS THEY NEED
AND ALLOW THEM TO PARK THEIR
TRAINS WITH THE NOISEEST PART
OF THE TRAIN, LOCOMOTIVE, IN
AN AREA THAT IS ZONED FOR
LIGHT INDUSTRY, WHICH IS AN
AREA AROUND HEARTS GRAPHICS
AND THE ONLY AREA THERE ARE
THE FLOOD RETENTION PONDS.
SO IF WE CAN GET AS MUCH
SUPPORT FOR THIS AS POSSIBLE,
I THINK IT WOULD GET THE
ATTENTION OF UNION PACIFIC AS
WELL AS OUR CONGRESSMEN
BECAUSE CONGRESSMAN DOING HE
THE IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN
THIS AS WELL AS ANYTHING AS WE
GO FORWARD ON THIS.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU,
SIR.
THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS WE
HAVE.
I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.
MOTION AND SECOND BY
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.
DISCUSSION?
WELL, MAYOR, I'M GOING TO
VOTE FOR THIS.
WE'RE NOT, THOUGH, ASKING
UNION PACIFIC TO PRIORITIZE
THIS OVER, SAY, REPAIRING AND
LIFTING TRACK.
I KNOW IN SOUTH AUSTIN THERE
HAVE BEEN SOME RECENT REPAIRS
TO THE TRACK AND I DON'T THINK
THEY WOULD DO THAT.
I JUST WANT TO -- I THINK
THAT'S CLEAR.
THAT'S CONTAINED IN HERE.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT MEANT TO DO
THAT, IS IT?
OKAY.
I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT ON
THE RECORD.
Mayor Garcia: ALL THOSE IN
FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AP.
Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED, NO..
AND THAT, AS THEY WOULD SAY,
THAT'S IT, FOLKS, FOR THE
AGENDA EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN
ITEMS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS, ALICE GLASGOW,
DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND
ZONING DEPARTMENT FOR ZONING
CASES AND THERE AS FOLLOWS.
TEM NUMBER Z 1, L1, 17, THIS
CASE IS LOCATED AT 1115 EAST
12th STREET.
THE CHANGE IN ZONING IS TO ADD
HISTORIC DID HE SAY IG NAS TO
THIS PROPERTY THAT IS
CURRENTLY DESIGNATED,
COMBINING DISTRICT T. PLANNING
COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED THE
CHANGE IN ZONING BY ADDING
HISTORIC DESIGNATION TO THE
EXISTING ZONING AND THE CASE
IS READY FOR ALL THREE
READINGS.
THIS IS LOCATED AT 5 10I8
NORTH I-35 NORTHBOUND, ALSO
KNOWN AS 814 THROUGH 816 EAST
5th STREET T. CHANGE IN ZONING
IS TO ADD HISTORIC DESIGNATION
TO THE CURRENT ZONING, WHICH
IS C S-M U-C O-NP.
BOTH THE PLANNING COMMISSION
AND THE ZONING COMMISSION
RECOMMENDATION HISTORIC
DESIGNATION AND THIS CASE IS
READY FOR ALL THREE READINGS.
ITEM Z.-3 C 14 R-83-138, (RCA
).
ITEM NUMBER Z4, C814-01-0113
NAMELY GRAND OBSERVATION
PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT
THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF
MONCHACA ROAD AND DAVIS LANE.
THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING A
CHANGE FROM RURAL RESIDENTIAL
AND SINGLE FAMILY TWO ZONING
TO PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT TO
DEVELOP NEAR TRADITIONAL
SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT ON
THIS ALMOST 100 ACRE SITE.
BUT THE ZONING AND PLATING
COMMISSION AND STAFF RECOMMEND
A CHANGE.
AND THIS CASE IS READY FOR
FIRST READING ONLY.
; NUMBER Z.-5, C14-02-0001.
THIS CASE IS LOCATED AT 5211
WASSON ROAD.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
HAS REQUESTED POSTPONEMENT.
THIS IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S
FIRST REQUEST AND TYPICALLY ON
A FIRST REQUEST AS SUBMITTED
BY EITHER INTERESTED PARTY.
THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 34%
AGAINST THE ZONING CHANGE.
ITEM NUMBER Z-6 WILL BE A
DISCUSSION ITEM.
Z-7, C14-02-0038, A CHANGE IN
ZONING PROPERTY, WHICH STANDS
FOR MULTIFAMILY RESIDENCE
DISTRICT, TO MF-3, MULTIFAMILY
RESIDENCE MEDIUM DENSITY
DISTRICT.
THIS CASE IS READY FOR ALL
THREE READINGS.
ITEM NUMBER Z-8 LOCATED AT
6000 1/2 COOPER LANE.
THE CHANGE IS CHANGED,
RECOMMENDED BY THE TAXING AND
ZONING COMMISSION.
THE CASE IS READY FOR ALL
THREE READINGS.
ITEMS NUMBER Z-9 THROUGH Z-23
RELATE TO STRATUS AND THOSE
WILL BE HEARD AT 5:45 WITH ALL
THE OTHER STRATUS-RELATED
ITEMS AND THAT TAKES US ALL
THE WAY TO ITEM NUMBER Z-24.
ITEM NUMBER Z.-24, C814-02-43
T. CURRENT ZONING ON THE
PROPERTY IS SINGLE FAMILY 3.
THE CITY IS SEEKING A CHANGE
FOR AN EMS FACILITY.
THIS GETS US READY FOR ALL
THREE READINGS.
ITEM NUMBER Z5, THIS IS A
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT
DETERMINATION REQUEST AT 1109
SOUTH PLEASANT VALLEY ROAD.
THE ZONING AND PLATING
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION IS
TO GRANT THE TERMINATION OF A
COVENANT.
THAT ISN'T A REQUIRED
ORDINANCE.
IT'S A SIMPLE APPROVAL.
ITEM NUMBER Z.-26, LOCATED
1109 SOUTH PLEASANT VALLEY
ROAD FROM GENERAL OFFICE
ZONING AND TO MULTIFAMILY 3.
THE ZONING AND PLATING
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION IS
TO GRANT MULTIFAMILY 28 ZONING
FOR PLAT 1, 2, AND 3 AND RR,
RURAL RESIDENTIAL FOR TRACT 4.
THIS CASE IS READY FOR ALL
THREE READINGS AS RECOMMENDED
BY THE ZONING AND PLATING
COMMISSION.
Mayor Garcia: DID YOU HAVE
THAT IN THE CHANGES AND
CORRECTIONS?
Z-26?
LET ME SEE IF I CAN -- .
I HAVE A CONDITIONAL
OVERLAY.
Mayor Garcia: Z-26, M. F. 2
CO, COMBINING DISTRICT?
COMBINING CONDITION.
THAT'S THE CONDITION OVERLAY.
PLATS 1, 2, AND 3 FROM RR
TO WHAT?
FOR TRACT 4.
ITEM NUMBER Z.-27, C14-02-0055,
THIS IS LOCATED AT 1109 SOUTH
PLEASANT VALLEY ROAD AND THE
CHANGE IN ZONING IS FROM GO,
GENERAL OFFICE, TO GR,
COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL ZONING.
THE ZONING AND PLATING
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION IS
TO GRANT THE GR-CO REQUEST BY
THE APPLICANT FOR CONDITIONAL
OVERLAY.
THIS GETS US READY FOR FIRST
READING.
ITEM Z-28 LOCATED AT 1709 WEST
PARMER LANE.
THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY
ZONED LR, NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING A
CHANGE TO GR, WHICH STANDS FOR
COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
THE ZONING AND PLATING
CONDITION RECOMMENDATION IS TO
GRANT THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST
WITH A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
THIS CASE IS READY FOR ALL
THREE READINGS.
ITEM Z-29 C14-02-0049 LOCATED
AT 618 WEST POWELL LANE TO
CHANGE FROM SF-3, FAMILY
RESIDENCE, TO CS-CO, GENERAL
COMMERCIAL SERVICES AND THAT
IS THE ZONING THAT IS
RECOMMENDED BY THE ZONING AND
PLATING COMMISSION AND THE
CASE IS READY FOR ALL THREE
READINGS.
ITEM Z-30, C14-02-0050 LOCATED
AT 616 WEST POWELL LANE.
THE CHANGE IN ZONING IS FROM
SINGLE FAMILY 3 TO CS-CO
GENERAL COMMERCIAL SERVICES
WITH A CONDITIONAL OVERLAY.
THAT'S THE ZONING THAT IS
RECOMMENDED BY THE ZONING AND
PLATING COMMISSION AND THE
CASE IS READY FOR ALL THREE
READINGS.
ITEM NUMBER Z41 LOCATED AT 700
WEST POWELL LANE.
THE PROPERTY IS GOING FROM
ZONED SINGLE FAMILY 3 AND IT
IS CS WITH CONDITIONAL
OVERLAY.
THE CASE IS READY FOR ALL
THREE READINGS.
ITEM Z-32, LOCATED AT 4300
BLOCK OF WILLOW SPRINGS ROAD.
THE CHANGE IN SEASONING IS
FROM SINGLE FAMILY 3 TO LI,
WHICH IS LIMITED INDUSTRIAL
ZONING WITH A CONDITIONAL
OVERLAY.
THAT REQUEST IS RECOMMENDED BY
THE ZONING AND PLATING
COMMISSION AND IS READY FOR
ALL THREE.
ITEM NUMBER Z-33 IS LOCATED AT
1190 THROUGH 1192 NAVASOTA HE
THE STREET.
THE CHANGE IN ZONING IS FROM
SINGLE FAMILY 3 TO
CS-MU-CO-NP.
THE APPLICANT AMENDED THE
APPLICATION BEFORE THE
PLANNING COMMISSION TO DELETE
THE REQUIREMENT FOR CCURE.
SO THE APPLICANT DOES NOT NEED
THE CURE OVERLAY AND THAT
CHANGE HAS BEEN READ TO THE
RECORD.
THE CASE IS READY FOR FIRST
READING ONLY.
ITEM NUMBER Z-346789 THIS IS A
REQUEST TO AMEND CHAPTER 25-2
AND 25-6 OF THE CITY CODE TO
ADD A NEW LAND USE KNOWN AS
"ELECTRONIC TESTING" THAT
PERMITS THE COMMERCIAL TESTING
OF ELECTRONIC OR ELECTRICAL
COMPONENTS FOR COMPUTERS,
RADIOS, TELEPHONES, MEDICAL OR
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS, AND
SIMILAR EQUIPMENT IN CERTAIN
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
ZONING DISTRICTS, AND TO
ESTABLISH SITE DEVELOPMENT
REGULATIONS FOR THE USE.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE CONSENT
ITEMS NOW.
.
Mayor Garcia:; Z-34, WHAT'S
THE RECOMMENDATION?
Z-34 IS TO APPROVE IT.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO
APPROVE THE AMENDMENT.
ALL THREE READINGS?
YES, ALL THREE READINGS,
MAYOR.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
SO GOING BACK TO THE -- .
MAYOR, LET ME JUST MAKE ONE
OTHER NOTATION.
ALSO, YOU HAVE AN ITEM Z-35
WHICH REPLACES ONE OF THE
EARLIER Z ITEMS AND THAT WILL
ALSO BE TAKEN OUT.
Mayor Garcia: G-35?
Z-356789 I THINK IT WAS ON
THE ADDENDUM.
Mayor Garcia: I DON'T HAVE
IT.
IT REPLACES Z-16.
IT'S RELATED ON YOUR ADDENDUM.
THAT'S RELATED TO STRATUS AND
WILL BE TAKEN UP AT 5:45.
MAYOR, WE'LL JUST -- .
Mayor Garcia: I'M NOT SURE
IBDZ THAT -- I UNDERSTAND
THAT.
I DON'T HAVE Z-35.
APPARENTLY THAT WAS ON THE
ADDENDUM.
AND WE COULD JUST READ THOSE
ITEMS AT 5:45.
YOU DON'T NEED TO -- DON'T
NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THEM RIGHT
NOW.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
SO GOING BACK TO THE BEGINNING
OF THE FUNDING HEARINGS AND
APPROVAL OF ORDINANCES AND
RESTRICTED COVENANTS, Z-1 IS
CONSENT FOR ALL THREE
READINGS.
NOW LET'S WATCH CLOSELY.
WATCH ME CLOSELY ON THIS ONE
TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M OKAY.
Z-2 IS CONSENT FOR ALL THREE
READINGS.
Z-3 IS POSTPONEMENT TO AUGUST
THE 8th ON CONSENT.
Z-4 IS CONSENT FOR THE FIRST
READING.
Z-5 IS CONSENT FOR
POSTPONEMENT UNTIL JULY 18th.
Z-7 IS CONSENT FOR ALL THREE
READINGS.
Z-9 IS CONSENT FOR ALL THREE
READINGS.
AND Z-8.
AND Z-9 -- LET'S SEE.
OKAY.
THAT'S PART OF THE STRATUS,
Z-9.
Mayor Garcia: Z-9 THROUGH
Z-23 IS ALL STRATUS.
THAT WILL BE PICKED UP AT
5:45.
Z-24 IS CONSENT FOR ALL THREE
READINGS.
Z-25 IS CONSENT TO TERMINATE
THE RESTRICTED COVENANT.
Z-26 IS CONSENT 3.
27 IS CONSENT FIRST.
28 IS CONSENT TO THREE
READINGS.
29 IS CONSENT, THREE READINGS.
30 IS CONSENT, THREE READINGS.
31, CONSENT, THREE.
32, CONSENT FIRST READING.
33, CONSENT, FIRST READING.
MAYOR, 32 IS ALL THREE
READINGS.
Mayor Garcia: 32 IS ALL
THREE?
YES, SIR.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
THANK YOU.
AND 34 IS CONSENT THREE.
AND WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT 35?
35 WILL BE PART OF THE
STRATUS.
THAT WILL BE JUST PRESENTED AT
THAT TIME.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR
MS. GLASGOW?
Mayor Garcia: I HAVE ONE
QUICK QUESTION WHERE WE'RE
CHANGING PROPERTY FROM
RESIDENTIAL TO LI.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH ONE
THAT WAS.
IS THAT -- YEAH, NO. 32.
IT'S SF-3 AND IT'S CHANGING TO
LI-CO.
IS THAT ONE OF THOSE PIECES OF
PROPERTY THAT IS IN AN
INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AND HAVE
BEEN ZONED THE WRONG WAY
BEFORE?
YES.
MAYOR, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP,
EVERYTHING SURROUNDING THIS
PROPERTY IS PREDOMINANTLY
SEASONED LI.
IT IS -- THE PROPERTY IS WEST
OF CONGRESS AVENUE SOUTH OF
BEN WHITE BOULEVARD, AND THIS
IS AN AREA THAT IS
PREDOMINANTLY INDUSTRIAL.
Mayor Garcia: OTHER
QUESTIONS?
MAYOR PRO TEM?
Goodman: JUST A NOTE FOR
PEOPLE TO NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH
ON Z-8 THE ZONING REQUESTED IS
SF-6, THAT WAS PART WHAF
GENERATED A RELIST OF THE
ORDINANCE FOR NOTIFICATION SO
THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT MISLED BY
NOTIFICATION.
Mayor Garcia: THE MOTION
WILL BE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING AND APPROVE THE
ORDINANCES AND IN THE CASE OF
ITEM NUMBER Z-25, TO CLOSE THE
PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVE THE
DETERMINATION OF THE
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.
I'LL ENTER FINE A MOTION TO DO
THAT.
MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM.
SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER WIN.
DISCUSSION?
Mayor Garcia: ALL IN FAVOR,
SIGNIFY BY SAYING.
AYE.
Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED, NO..
THE MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM Z-6.
TEM Z-6, THIS CASE IS
LOCATED AT 2031 EAST STATE
HIGHWAY 71 ACROSS THE STREET
FROM AUSTINBERG STROM
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
THE PROPERTY IS ZONED INTERIM
RURAL RESIDENTIAL T. APPLICANT
IS SEEKING A CHANGE TO LIMITED
INDUSTRIAL PDA WHICH ALLOW IT
IS APPLICANT TO MODIFY TO LI
TO INCREASE THE HEIGHT UPWARD.
THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING
ZONING CHANGE TO GR FOR TRACT
2.
THE ZONING AND PLATING
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION IS
TO GRANT LIPDA, LIMITED
INDUSTRIAL WITH A PLANNED
DEVELOPMENT AREA OVERLAY FOR
TRACT 1 AND GR FOR TRACT 2.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WAS
TO GRANT CF-PO TO REALLY
MAINTAIN A HEIGHT OF 60 FEET
WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE HEIGHT
THAT WOULD BE PREDOMINANT IN
THE AREA.
BASED ON THE ZONING TO THE
EAST AND THE WEST OF THE
SUBJECT TRACT.
WE RECENTLY HAD A CASE THAT IS
KNOWN AS INTERPORT THAT IS
GOING TO BE LOCATED FURTHER
EAST OF THIS TRACT WHERE THE
MAXIMUM HEIGHT WAS
APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET.
SO HENCE THE STAFF
RECOMMENDATION.
HOWEVER THE ZONING AND PLATING
CONDITION DID RECOMMEND LI-PDA
FOR TRACT 1, LIMITING THE
HEIGHT TO 90 FEET AND ON TRACT
2, THEY RECOMMENDED GR.
THE APPLICANT IS GOING TO
SPEAK TO YOU AND HAVE
PRESENTATION ABOUT INCREASING
THAT HEIGHT TO 100 FEET AND
EXPLAIN OTHER LIMITATIONS THAT
SHE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE WITH
YOU.
Mayor Garcia: LET ME
EXPLAIN THAT I FAILED TO BRING
UP THE FACT THAT WE HAD SOME
SPEAKERS BECAUSE THESE WERE
CONSENT ITEMS.
WE HAD SPEAKERS ON ITEM Z-4,
Z-5 AND Z-8.
SO AFTER WE FINISH WITH THIS
ITEM, I'M GOING TO ASK THE
RECONSIDERATION OF THOSE THREE
ITEMS SO WE CAN HEAR SPEAKERS.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY.
WERE THEY IN SUPPORT?
Mayor Garcia: WELL,
THEY'RE -- IN Z-4 WE HAVE ONE
AGAINST AND ONE NEUTRAL.
ON 5 WE HAVE TWO AGAINST AND 8
WE HAVE FOUR.
SO I THINK ON 8 I DON'T HAVE
TO HAVE RECONSIDERATION.
I'LL JUST READ THE NAMES INTO
THE RECORD.
OKAY.
Mayor Garcia: THEY ALSO
DON'T WANT TO SPEAK.
SO I'LL ASK FOR A
RECONSIDERATION OF Z4 AND 5 AT
THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
OKAY.
Mayor Garcia: SO LET ME
JUST SAY THAT CATHERINE CALLAN
AND BRUCE CALLAN ALL SIGNED UP
FOR Z-8 AS BEING IN FAVOR OF.
AND THAT ITEM IS PASSED.
SO I WILL NOT BE CALLING YOUR
NAMES AT THAT TIME THAT WE DO
THE RECONSIDERATION OF THE
OTHER TWO ITEMS.
OKAY.
MAYOR, OTHER COUNCIL, MY
NAME'S SARA CROCKER AND I'M
HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE
JOHN Q. HAMMOND HOTEL.
MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE
RECOMMENDATION FROM PLANNING
CONDITION WHEN I OFFERED WAS
THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY
FOOTPRINT ZONE A FOOTPRINT FOR
THE HOTEL.
THAT WOULD BE LI-PDA AND HAVE
THE BALANCE OF THE TRACT
SEASONED GR.
WE DO NOT NEED THE ENTIRE
TRACT ZONED LI-PDA.
WE BASICALLY JUST NEED THIS
PARTICULAR FOOTPRINT.
OUR REQUEST IS BASED ON THE
FACT THAT MR. HAM ONDZ AND THE
JOHN Q. HAM ONDZ HOTEL
FACILITY WOULD LIKE TO BUILD A
BUSINESS CONFERENCE HOTEL.
THIS SITE IS LOCATED ON THE
CORNER OF THORNBERRY AND 71.
IT'S ALMOST DIRECTLY ACROSS
FROM THE CARGO ENTRANCE TO THE
AIRPORT.
MR. HAMMONS IS PROBABLY THE
SINGLE LARGEST PRIVATELY OWNED
HOTELIER IN THE UNITED STATES.
HE OPERATES OVER 100
PROPERTIES IN 41 STATES, AND
WHAT HE LIKES, WHAT HE'S FOUND
AS HIS MARKETING NICHE OVER
THE LAST 40 TO 50 YEARS IS HE
LIKES CAPITAL CITIES AND HE
LIKES AIRPORTS.
HE CURRENTLY HAS AIRPORT
HOTELS SUCH AS THESE, THESE
BUSINESS CONFERENCE HOTELS AT
DFW, AT HOUSTON HOBBY, AT
PORTLAND, OREGON, DENVER,
COLORADO, RALEIGH DURHAM,
GREENSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA,
AND CHARLESTON, NORTH
CAROLINA.
ALL OF THESE HOTELS ARE
EMBASSY SUITES AND THEY ARE
TEN-STORY.
OF THOSE HOTELS FOUR OF THEM
WON THE TOP 10 AWARDS FOR
EMBASSY SUITES LAST YEAR
NATIONWIDE.
BASICALLY THIS SITE IS LOCATED
IN THE A-3 ZONE OUT BY THE
AIRPORT WHICH DOES PERMIT
CONSTRUCTION BY THE FAA UP TO
200 FEET.
SO WE'RE WELL WITHIN THE
HEIGHT LIMITATIONS THAT HAVE
BEEN ESTABLISHED AROUND THE
AIRPORT.
I KNOW THAT STAFF HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT THE HEIGHT BUT
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT TO
THE COUNCIL THAT HAVING THIS
PARTICULAR TYPE OF A STRUCTURE
NEXT TO AN AIRPORT IS FAIRLY
COMMON PLACE IN MOST MIDSIZE
OR LARGER CITIES LIKE AUSTIN,
TEXAS.
AND WE FEEL THAT THE HEIGHT
FOR THE HOTEL IS APPROPRIATE.
THE HOTEL WILL BE
APPROXIMATELY 80,000 SQUARE
FEET FOR THE FOOTPRINT.
IT WILL HAVE 26,000 SQUARE
FEET OF MEETING PLACE.
IT WILL HAVE A FULL-SERVICE
RESTAURANT, A POOL, AN
EXERCISE ROOM, AND BASICALLY
THIS IS THE FOOTPRINT OF THE
PACKET THAT EMBASSY SUITES
PACKAGES.
THE HEIGHT OF THE HOTEL, THE
EMBASSY SUITES HAS ASKED
MR. HAMMONS TO BUILD IS 100
FEET.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID
REQUEST OR ASKED ME IF I COULD
TRY TO WORK IT OUT AT 90.
I HAVE WORKED, CONTACTED
EMBASSY SUITES AND MR. HAMMONS
AND WE'VE SPOKEN AT LENGTH
ABOUT THIS.
BASICALLY THE PACKAGE IS PUT
TOGETHER IS BASED ON A NUMBER
OF ROOMS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO
BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR
MEETING SPACE, AND THE
INVESTMENT THAT'S THEY ARE
PUTTING IN HERE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST
THAT THE COUNCIL GRANT THIS ON
FIRST READING AND ALLOW ME TO
HAVE THE 100 FEET.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU,
MS. CROCKER.
IS IT 80,000 OR 90,000?
IT'S AN 80,000 SQUARE FOOT
FOOTPRINT.
WE HAVE 10,000 -- WE WOULD
LIKE TO ZONE 90,000 SQUARE
FEET FOR THE LI-PDA WHICH WILL
GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM
SINCE WE DON'T HAVE THE SITE
PLAN NAILED DOWN COMPLETELY
YET TO BE ABLE TO -- IF WE
HAVE TO MOVE THE HOTEL FROM
ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, I
WOULDN'T BE -- I WOULD HAVE
THAT SORT OF WIGGLE ROOM.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
OTHER QUESTIONS, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS?
AND YOU WANT THIS ON FIRST
READING ONLY?
YES, SIR.
Mayor Garcia: COUNCILMEMBER
ALVAREZ?
Councilmember Avarez: IS
STAFF RECOMMENDATION 100 FEET
OR IS IT DIFFERENT ON PLANNING
COMMISSION?
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS
ACTUALLY CF ZONING WHICH WOULD
LIMIT THE HEIGHT TO 60 FEET.
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE
ZONING AND PLATING COMMISSION
RECOMMENDATION.
Councilmember Avarez: OKAY.
WELL, I'M GOING TO -- I THINK
BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF USE IT
IS AND WHERE IT IS, I THINK
IT'S APPROPRIATE TO -- WHETHER
WE GO FORWARD WITH THE 100
FOOT -- .
Mayor Garcia: IS THAT IN
THE FORM OF A MOTION ON FIRST
READING?
Councilmember Avarez: TO
GRANT THE LI-PDA, I GUESS
THAT'S RECOMMENDED IN THE
PLATING AND ZONING WITH THE
CHANGE THAT IT BE TO 100 FEET.
IS THERE A SECOND?
SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.
DISCUSSION?
MS. GLASGOW?
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER HAS A
QUESTION.
Slusher: MS. GLASGOW, DID
THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON
HEIGHT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH THE AIRPORT BEING NEARBY
AS IN PUBLIC SAFETY?
NO.
THE AIRPORT, WE CHECKED WITH
THE AIRPORTS.
THE AIRPORT DEPARTMENT.
AND 100 FEET WAS NOT A SAFETY
CONCERN AT ALL.
IT WAS MORE FOR COMPATIBILITY.
OKAY.
THANKS.
AND THE MOTION INCLUDES
THAT THE LI-PDA WOULD BE
LIMITED TO THE 90 SQUARE FEET,
THE 100 SQUARE FEET.
SHE IS LIMITED TO THE
FOOTPRINT OF 90,000 SQUARE
FEET.
WE CAN ADD THAT TO THE
MOTION.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST
READING.
Mayor Garcia: FIRST READING
ONLY.
AND ALSO THE REMAINDER OF
TRACT 1 WOULD BE ZONED GR,
JUST THE WAY THEY HAVE IT.
Mayor Garcia: LI-PDA FOR
90,000 SQUARE FEET AT 100 FOOT
HEIGHT.
CORRECT.
AND THE REMAINDER OF THAT
WOULD BE ZONED GR.
Mayor Garcia: ALL IN FAVOR,
SIGNIFY BY SAYING.
AYE.
OPPOSED?
MOTION CARRIES WITH A VOTE OF
6-1 WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM
TEMPORARILY OUT.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD ASK FOR A
VOTE FOR RECONSIDERATION OF
ITEM Z-4 AND 5.
MOTION MY COUNCILMEMBER
ALVAREZ.
DO I HAVE A SECOND TO THAT
MOTION?
MS. GLASGOW, THESE TWO ITEMS,
Z-5 PARTICULARLY IS BEING
POSTPONED.
Z-4 -- .
CORRECT.
ON Z-4 I BELIEVE THERE'S
SOMEONE HERE AND THE AGENT IS
STILL HERE.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO
RECONSIDER ITEM Z-5 BECAUSE
THAT'S POSTPONED.
THAT'S CORRECT.
Mayor Garcia: SO THE MOTION
THERE WOULD BE ONLY FOR
RECONSIDERATION OF ITEM Z-4.
IS THAT OKAY WITH THE MOTION
AND SECOND?
OKAY.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF
RECONSIDERATION OF ITEM 4,
PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED, NO?
MOTION CARRIES WITH A VOTE OF
6-1 WITH THE MAYOR PRO TEM
TEMPORARILY OUT.
[ PLEASE HOLD FOR CHANGE IN
CAPTIONERS ]
THE PROPERTY WAS ZONED
SF-2.
AND WHEN WE BEGAN STUDYING
IT, WHAT WE FELT LIKE WAS IN
TERMS OF SMART GROWTH,
PRINCIPLES AND CONSERVATION
PLANNING PRINCIPLES, WE FELT
LIKE WE WANTED TO KEEP THE
DENSITY THE SAME AND SIMPLY
MAKE THE LOTS SMALLER AND
CONVERT THE REMAINDER OF THE
PROPERTY TO OPEN SPACE, AND
THAT'S THE 10 ACRES OF OPEN
SPACE, WHICH IS A MEANINGFUL
OPEN SPACE WHICH RUNS ALONG
THE PERIMETER OF THE
PROPERTY.
WE ALSO HAD A NUMBER OF
MEETINGS WITH GEORGE ZAPALAC
AND OTHERS TO TEST THE
CONNECTIVITY STREET
STANDARDS.
WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN A LOT
OF OUR COMMUNITY PLANNING
PROJECTS IS IT'S NOT THE
VOLUME OF THE TRAFFIC, IT'S
THE SPEED OF THE TRAFFIC
THAT IS THE SAFETY ISSUE.
SO OUR APPROACH WAS TO HAVE
SMALLER BLOCKS AND INTRODUCE
TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES.
AND IN THIS CASE WHAT WE
HAVE ARE A NUMBER OF
ROUNDABOUTS AND ALSO DIVIDED
MEDIANS.
AND THE GOAL OF WHICH IS TO
SAVE TREES AS WELL AS SLOW
DOWN THE TRAFFIC.
SO WHAT WE HAVE IS A PUBLIC
AMENITY AREA, A WET POND, A
DETENTION POND AND ABOUT TWO
MILES OF TRAILS GOING
THROUGH THE PROJECT AND
ALONG THE PERIPHERY.
WE'VE CONNECTED TO
STREETS -- STREETS TO THE
WEST, MAJOR CONNECTION TO
DAVIS LANE AND MANCHACA.
AND THERE'S NO CONNECTION TO
THE NORTH, TO THE
SUBDIVISION TO THE NORTH.
AND IN FACT, THERE'S NO
DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE
CRITICAL WATER ZONE EXCEPT
FOR POTENTIALLY SOME
PEDESTRIAN TRAILS.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
RESIDENTIAL UNITS IS 317
LOTS, WHICH IS LESS THAN THE
ALLOWABLE -- IF THIS WAS A
SINGLE-FAMILY-2, AN
ADDITIONAL AMENITY CENTER.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT.
WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
THANK YOU.
QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT?
THANK YOU, SIR.
MR. JACK BROWN?
I AM GLAD THERE IS LESS
BEING PROPOSED FOR THAT
AREA.
ONE OF THE ISSUES I WANTED
TO RAISE AND ARE CONCERNED,
MY WIFE AND I LIVE NEAR THE
NORTHERN SIDE AND OUR
PROPERTY ABUTS AGAINST SOUTH
BOGGY CREEK TO THE NORTH AND
WE'VE REMODELLED OUR HOME
LAST JULY, AND IN MID AUGUST
WE WERE FLOODED ON NOVEMBER
THE 15TH.
WE SPENT $20,000 TO HAVE OUR
HOME PUT BACK INTO SHAPE.
I'M SURE THERE WERE A NUMBER
OF OTHER PEOPLE ALONG BOGGY
CREEK THAT WERE FLOODED AS
WELL.
IT'S TRUE BOGGY CREEK CAME
UP INTO MY BACKYARD AS WELL
AS MY NEIGHBOR'S.
MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS
RUNOFF.
THE CREEK COULDN'T HOLD IT
BASICALLY AND SHILOH BECAME
A TRIBUTARY LOOKING FOR WAYS
TO MAKE ITS WAY INTO BOG BY
CREEK.
SO I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE
ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT ALONG
BOGGY CREEK CREATING MORE
RUNOFF.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE THE
PONDS THAT ARE PROPOSED.
I THINK THAT WOULD TAKE CARE
OF MAYBE SOME OF THE
DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING ON.
I THINK THAT THIS IS MORE
DEVELOPMENT CREATING YET
MORE RUNOFF IN THAT
PARTICULAR AREA.
I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT BEING
DEVELOPED IN A FLOOD ZONE.
THERE ARE FLOOD ZONE IN THAT
AREA AND THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT
BEING CONSIDERED.
I GUESS THE OTHER ISSUE, THE
MEDIAN DOWN THE MIDDLE IS I
GUESS WHERE SOMEBODY CAN
TELL ME IF I'M WRONG, A
COUPLE OF EXXON PIPELINES
RUN.
LONGHORN PIPELINE RUNS ALONG
THE NORTHERN EXTREME OF THIS
TRACT.
AS I UNDERSTAND THE CITY
DENIED THE -- DID NOT
APPROVE THE REPLACEMENT OF
THAT PIPELINE ALONG THAT
STRETCH.
THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE
CITY'S AUTHORITY AND
PROCEEDED TO -- AND THEY'RE
STILL WORKING ON IT AND THEY
HAVE JUST RECENTLY CONCLUDED
REPLACING THE LINE IN THAT
PARTICULAR AREA.
SO I GUESS I'M ALSO HOPING
FOR SOME CONSISTENCY IN
VELOCITY THAT IF WE DON'T
APPROVE THE PIPELINES TO BE
PLACED THERE, WHY WOULD WE
SAY THAT IT'S OKAY TO GO
AHEAD AND DEVELOP ON TOP OF
EVEN MORE PIPELINE?
Mayor Garcia: MR. JOHN
GARCIA.
YOU INDICATED THAT YOU DO
NOT WISH TO SPEAK AND YOU'RE
NEUTRAL.
[ INAUDIBLE ]
Mayor Garcia: SURE, YOU
CAN COME UP.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS JOHN GARCIA.
I AM CONTEMPLATING BUYING A
HOUSE ON STAR CRAFT CIRCLE.
IT'S OFF OF DAVIS LANE.
AND BASICALLY MY QUESTION IS
I'M CURRENTLY IN MY OPTION
PERIOD TO BUY THE HOUSE.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR
THE DEVELOPER.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A
PERIMETER OF GREENBELT
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
DOES THAT EXTEND ON THAT
SIDE AS WELL?
YES, SIR, THE ENTIRE
PERIMETER OF THE PROJECT.
AND IN THIS GREENBELT ARE
BIKE TRAILS, PEDESTRIAN
TRAILS PROPOSED.
HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS, TWO
MILES.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET
SOME KIND OF COPY OF WHAT --
LIKE THE SQUARE FEET BETWEEN
LIKE MY BACKYARD, MY
PROPOSED BACKYARD AND WHAT
MY MAYBE FUTURE NEIGHBORS'
BACKYARD WOULD BE.
SURE, WE'LL BE GLAD TO
MEET WITH YOU AND SHOW YOU.
IT'S A SCALE MAP AND THAT
WILL HELP YOU MEASURE THE
DISTANCE.
THAT WAS MY MAIN CONCERN.
Mayor Garcia: THOSE ARE
ALL THE SPEAKERS THAT WE
HAVE.
THE APPLICANT NOW HAS THREE
MINUTES OF REBUTTAL.
MAYOR, LET'S SEE IF I CAN
FIND AN ANALOGY.
WE HAVE -- THIS PROJECT --
WE'VE BEEN IN THIS PROCESS
FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.
AND A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF
TIME AND DISCUSSION HAS GONE
INTO THE PIPELINE ISSUE.
IN FACT, WE HAVE IN HAND THE
LONGHORN PIPELINE ISSUE BY
GRANTING LONGHORN AN
EASEMENT SO THAT THEY
ACTUALLY MOVE THE LINE
FURTHER SOUTH OUT OF THE
BACKYARDS IN QUESTION.
WE'VE ALSO PROPOSED AND
STAFF HAS ACCEPTED BERMING
WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER
PIPELINES IN THE CASE OF
SOME SORT OF SPILL EVENT,
THE BERMING WOULD PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL CONTAIN.
THIS HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY
REVIEWED BY THE CITY,
INCLUDING THE FIRE MARSHAL.
WITH RESPECT TO THE
DRAINAGE, WE ARE BY LAW TO
NOT EXACERBATE THE
SITUATION.
THE DRAINAGE HAS TO BE AS
GOOD OR BETTER THAN IT WAS
PREDEVELOPMENT.
SO WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT WE
CAN ADDRESS THAT.
THIS IS BEING RECOMMENDED TO
YOU BY STAFF AND THE
PLANNING AND ZONING
COMMISSION.
AND HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
THAT'S IN THE AREA.
I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
Slusher: MAYOR, I'VE GOT
SOME.
Mayor Garcia:
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?
Slusher: HOW FAR FROM THE
PIPE LOAN, LONGHORN PIPELINE
IS IT GOING TO BE?
THERE ARE NO HOUSES
WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE
PIPELINE.
Slusher: WHAT'S THE
FEDERAL REGULATIONS?
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT
THAT REGULATION IS.
Slusher: DOES STAFF KNOW?
COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER,
THE LAST TIME WE HAD A CASE
CLOSE TO A PIPELINE WE FOUND
OUT THERE WERE NO
REGULATIONS REGARDING
DISTANCE.
THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS
REGARDING RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENTS --
Slusher: THERE ARE NONE?
I COULDN'T REMEMBER IF IT
WAS NONE OR IT WASN'T AS
MUCH AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED.
SO THERE'S NONE AT ALL?
I GUESS NOT SINCE THERE'S
HOUSES IN HERE WHERE IT RUNS
IN THE BACKYARD NEARBY HERE.
WE DIDN'T FIND THAT THERE
WERE -- THAT THE PIPELINE
DEVELOPERS SIMPLY HAVE AN
EASEMENT, BUT NO OTHER SET
BACK REQUIREMENTS WERE
REQUIRED.
Slusher: WHAT IS THE
200-FOOT BASED ON?
WHAT KIND OF SAFETY
CONSIDERATION IS THAT BASED
ON?
[ INAUDIBLE ]
IT'S A DESIRE TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL SPACE.
WE HAD EXTENSIVE MEETINGS
WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL, WITH
PIPELINE EXPERTS FROM ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY ACTUALLY TO
GET THIS THING BROKEN LOOSE.
IT HELD US UP FOR ABOUT
EIGHT MONTHS, THE DISCUSSION
OF THE PIPELINE.
THE 200 FEET IS NOT
NECESSARILY A FORMULA.
BASICALLY WE SAID WE'LL MOVE
THE PIPELINE ON TO OUR
PROPERTY TO HELP THE
NEIGHBORS IN SHILOH TO GET
THE PIPELINE OUT OF THEIR
BACKYARDS.
AND WE HAVE OUR HOUSES AS
FAR AWAY AS WE CAN GET IT
WITHOUT BEING IN THE
CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
SO WE ARE UP AGAINST
CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE,
THAT'S WHERE OUR HOUSES
START.
SO THERE WAS REALLY NO
METHOD OR MADNESS TO THE
DISTANCE.
Slusher: WHAT ABOUT WHEN
PEOPLE BUY HOMES OR LOOK TO
BUY HOMES IN THE AREA?
ARE THEY GOING TO BE
NOTIFIED THE PIPELINE'S
THERE?
YES, SIR.
WE HAVE EXTENSIVE
SUBDIVISION ADDENDA THAT WE
HAVE PEOPLE SIGN THAT
THEY'RE NOTIFIED OF
PIPELINES, THE FOLKS THEY
SHOULD CONTACT IF THERE ARE
ANY ISSUES.
Slusher: HOW DO YOU GO
ABOUT THAT?
BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN YOU BUY
A HOUSE YOU SIGN A LOT OF
DOCUMENTS ABOUT THAT HIGH.
WILL THAT COME UP TO THEM AT
THE LAST MINUTE?
NO, SIR, ACTUALLY WHEN
THEY SIGN A CONTRACT.
SO WHEN THEY ARE SIGNING A
CONTRACT FOR THE HOUSE,
THESE ISSUES ARE ALL
DISCUSSED WITH THEM SO IT'S
NOT A SURPRISE LATER ON.
Slusher: OKAY.
WE'RE JUST DOING THIS ON
FIRST READING?
I'D LIKE TO TALK TO THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT MORE ABOUT THAT,
BUT I'M GLAD YOU'VE BEEN IN
CONTACT WITH THEM.
THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: FURTHER
QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION?
IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A
MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING AND APPROVE THIS
ITEM ON FIRST READING.
MOTION BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM,
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
WYNN.
DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
AYE.
Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED NO.
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
Mayor Garcia: THAT'S ALL
OF THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE
UNDER THE ZONING HEARINGS.
SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION
TO RECESS UNTIL 5:45
ACTUALLY, AT WHICH TIME WE
WILL TAKE UP THE ITEMS
DEALING WITH THE STRATUS
PROPERTY.
MOTION BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM.
I'LL SECOND THAT.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
AYE.
Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED NO.
MOTION CARRIES.
5:30 IS PROCLAMATIONS.
THE COUNCIL DOESN'T COME
BACK WITH ME.
LIVE MUSIC AND PROCLAMATIONS
AT 5:30 AND THEN WE'LL COME
BACK UP AT 57:45.
WE'RE IN RECESS UNTIL 5:45.
..
Mayor Garcia: TODAY WE
HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA TIME
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE
PROCLAMATIONS, SO I'VE ASKED
THE MUSICIANS IF THEY WANT
TO PLAY A LITTLE EARLIER.
EVERY TIME WE HAVE A COUNCIL
MEETING WE HAVE MUSICIANS AT
5:30, BUT BETWEEN NOW AND
5:30, WE DON'T HAVE ANY
ACTIVITIES, SO I ASKED THEM
IF THEY WANT TO PLAY AND
THEY SAID YES.
IF YOU ALL COULD, YOU KNOW,
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
HELLO.
I'M CALVIN RUSSELL.
[ APPLAUSE ]
[ INAUDIBLE ].
(music) MUSIC PLAYING (music).
YOU KNOW, I WAS FLYING
AMERICAN AIRLINES DAY BEFORE
YESTERDAY AND "THE AMERICAN
WAY" THAT THEY HAVE, THERE'S
AN ARTICLE ABOUT MICHAEL, THE
GUY WHO PLAYS THE BONGOS NAKED,
Mayor Garcia: WE HAVE
BASICALLY THREE ITEMS LEFT ON
THE AGENDA.
TWO OF THOSE ARE PUBLIC
HEARINGS THAT DON'T HAVE THAT
MANY SPEAKERS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, ONE OF
THEM HAS ONLY ONE SPEAKER.
SO WE'RE GOING TO DO ITEMS
NUMBER 115 AND 116 FIRST.
THOSE ITEMS ARE 6:00 TIME
STARTING AND WE THINK WE CAN
GET THOSE DONE QUITE, YOU KNOW,
QUICKLY.
WHEN WE GET THROUGH WITH THAT,
THEN WE'LL GO INTO THE STRATUS
ITEMS WHICH HAVE A SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT AND SOME ZONING.
THERE ARE SOME SEATS THIS SIDE
OF THE CHAMBER.
SO IF YOU COULD FIND YOUR WAY
TO LEAVE THE PASSAGEWAY CLEAR
SO WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE, THEY
WILL NOT -- DO WE HAVE A FIRE
MARSHAL HERE?
OKAY.
IF Y'ALL WILL GIVE ME -- IF
YOU THINK I NEED TO ANNOUNCE
SOMETHING, YOU PLEASE LET ME
KNOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M GOING TO CALL THE MEETING,
THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BACK TO
ORDER AND THE FIRST ITEM IS
ITEM 115, WHICH, TO CONDUCT A
PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT AN
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING AN
ADMINISTRATIVE VARIANCE
PROCESS FOR VARIANCES FROM
LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTIONS
25-1-133, 25-1-134, 25-7-61
(A) 5) B), 25-8-281, 25-8-321
A, 25-8-341, 25-8-342 AND
25-8-361 FOR CERTAIN
WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS NEEDED
TO ELIMINATE SAN SEAR SEWER
OVERFLOWS.
IS THERE SOMEBODY HERE FROM
WATER AND WASTEWATER WHO WANTS
TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ON THIS?
WE ONLY HAVE ONE SPEAKER.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M HERE TO, AND THE WATER
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR HERE TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS PER AND I
THINK TO THIS ORDINANCE.
WE DID THE PRESENTATION
YESTERDAY AND ARE HERE TO
FIELD ANY QUESTIONS THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ON THE
PRESENTATION.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
QUESTIONS FOR THE STAFF FROM
WATER AND WASTEWATER AND
WATERSHED PROTECTION?
OKAY.
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER.
LARRY HOLFORD.
HE DOES NOT -- ACTUALLY HE
DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK.
SO HE IS IN FAVOR OF THE
ORDINANCE.
SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND
APPROVE THE ORDINANCE.
Mayor Garcia: MOTION BY THE
MAYOR PRO TEM, SECOND BY
COUNCILMEMBER WYNN.
THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED?
NO.
THE VOTE IS APPROVED OF 6-1.
THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER
116.
AND THAT'S TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC
HEARING TO RECEIVE CITIZEN
COMMENT ON AMENDMENTS TO THE
CITY'S 2001-2002 ANNUAL ACTION
PLAN REQUIRED BY THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY'S
2001-2002 COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM REQUIRED
BY CHAPTER 333 OF TEXAS LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE AND THE CITY'S
PROPOSED 2002-2003 ANNUAL
ACTION PLAN REQUIRED BY HUD,
AND THE CITY'S PROPOSED
2002-2003 COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM REQUIRED
BY THE CODE.
THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO CITY
COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS ON
THIS PLAN.
THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING WAS
HELD ON MAY 23rd, 2002.
NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN ON
THIS TONIGHT.
MR. HILGERS?
YES.
YES, MAYOR.
BRIEFLY MY NAME IS PAUL
HILGERS.
I'M THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF
AUSTIN.
THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO
PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND JUST
PROCEDURALLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN
IS THIS WILL BE THE COMPLETION
OF OUR PUBLIC INPUT-RECEIVING
PROCESS.
WE WILL BE MAKING FINAL
RECOMMENDATIONS AND BRING
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
APPROVAL TO THE COUNCIL ON
AUGUST THE 1ST.
WE HAVE A COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING
ON TUESDAY, JULY 16th WHERE
THEY WILL FINALIZE THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS AND THOSE WILL
BE ARRESTED, AS WELL AS PART
OF OUR FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM STAFF.
AND SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I
KNOW THAT SOME OF THE SPEAKERS
HAVE AGREED THAT THEY WOULD
TRY TO LIMIT THEIR NUMBERS TO
ONE OR TWO SPOKES PERSONS IN
THE INTEREST OF TIME AND
RECOGNIZING THAT THEY HAVE
ALREADY, ALMOST ALL OF THEM,
SUBMITTED WRITTEN TESTIMONY
ABOUT THE NEEDS THAT THEY'VE
IDENTIFIED AND THEY WOULD
REITERATE THEM AGAIN THIS
EVENING.
Mayor Garcia: QUESTIONS FOR
MR. HILGERS?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LET ME BEGIN BY READING INTO
THE RECORD THE LIST OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
ARTIS CONSA DOES NOT WISH TO
SPEAK AND IS REGISTERED IN
FAVOR OF.
IS HE SUPPORTS THE YOUTH
INVESTMENT FROM AND
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003.
THE YOUTH AND FAMILY ASSISTING
CENTER PROVIDES FOR AN
APPROACH TO ASSIST TROUBLED
YOUTH.
SERVICES CAN BE BETTER
PROVIDED BY THOSE MOST IN NEED,
AND THIS INITIATIVE IS
DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE
UNDERLYING ISSUES, THE
PROBLEMS THAT LEAD TO CRIME.
IN ADDITION, SERVICES CAN BE
PROVIDED FOR MORE LASTING
IMPACT.
THANK YOU.
AND THAT'S FROM HER.
DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK, IS
REGISTERED IN FAVOR OF, AND
SHE ALSO HAS A NOTE.
PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO
THE CREATION AND SUCCESSFUL
IMPLEMENTATION OF
COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES FOR
YOUTH AND FAMILIES.
SUPPORTING THE YOUTH AND
FAMILY CENTER ALLOWS SERVICES
TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES.
THIS IS A GREAT NEED.
THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR
INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT
FAMILY-DRIVEN CULTURALLY
COMPETENT, COMPREHENSIVE
SERVICES THAT LEAD TO EMPOWER
FAMILIES AND SUCCESSFUL.
THE YOUTH AND FAMILY
ASSESSMENT CENTER ENSURES
FAMILIES GAIN ACCESS TO WHAT
THEY NEED TO BUILD UPON THE
STRENGTH WHILE OVER COMING
THEIR CHALLENGES.
STEPHEN BRIAN DOES NOT WISH TO
SPEAK AND WRITES TO THE
FOLLOWING.
PLEASE ACCEPT THIS AS SUPPORT
FOR YOUTH AND FAMILY
ASSESSMENT CENTER.
AS PART OF A COMMUNITY
RESPONSE TO ADDRESS A
FRAGMENTED AND LIMITED SERVICE
SYSTEM FOR TROUBLED YOUTH,
ESPECIALLY THOSE BELOW AGE 10.
SERVICES ARE NOT ALWAYS
DIRECTED TO THOSE MOST IN
NEED.
THIS MODEL WAS DEVELOPED AS
PART OF THE COMMUNITY PLANNING
PROCESS INVOLVING MORE THAN 75
STAKE HOLDERS.
MOST CITY AND COUNTY HAVE
ALREADY INVESTED FUNDS IN THE
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE FAC SO
THAT THE CITY DOLLARS CAN GO
TOWARD DIRECT SERVICES FOR
CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE CONTINUING
OF YAFAC IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
SPENDING PRIORITIES.
THANK YOU, STEPHEN BRYAN.
AND RONY EARL, ALSO REGISTERED
NOT WISHING TO SPEAK AND IN
FAVOR OF.
AND HE WRITES: I AM WRITING ON
BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY OF THE
JUSTICE COUNCIL IN THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO
STRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR
THE YOUTH AND FAMILY
ASSESSMENT CENTER AS A MEANS
OF PROVIDING HUMANS SERVICES
TO FAMILIES IN AUSTIN AND
TRAVIS COUNTY.
WE SUPPORT THE ASSESSMENT
CENTER BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A
SINGLE ACCESS POINT FOR SOCIAL
SERVICES MAKING THE SOCIAL
SERVICES SEEM LESS CONFUSING
FOR FAMILIES, TO PROVIDE A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ASSIST
AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES; THREE,
PROVIDES FOLLOW-UP FOR
FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT THEY
CONTINUE TO GROW; FOUR, SEN
HANCES COMMUNICATION AMONG
SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND
GOVERNMENTAL AGGIES, THEREBY
REDUCING DUPLICATION OF
SERVICES SPEM AND FIVE,
PROVIDES COST-EFFECTIVENESS BY
PROVIDING INTERVENTION
SERVICES TO DIVERT YOUTH FROM
THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
THE COMMUNITY JUSTICE COUNCIL
AND DISTRICT TOSH'S OFFICE ARE
PLEASED TO COLLABORATE WITH
THE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES,
SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS,
BUSINESS LEADERS, AND
COMMUNITY REMEMBERS TO HELP
DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THE
YOUTH AND FAMILY ASSESSMENT
CENTER.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE
COUNCIL'S SUPPORT IN THIS
ENDEAVOR.
AND THAT'S FROM THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY.
DR. LYNELL CLARK, IF YOU CAN
COME UP.
THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY
SUPPORT FOR THE YOUTH AND
FAMILY ASSESSMENT CENTER.
I AM WITH THE AUSTIN
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
THE DISTRICT AS WELL.
AS THE DROPOUT PREVENTION
COORDINATOR I HAVE FIRSTHAND
KNOWLEDGE AND OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE THE BENEFITS OF SUCH A
COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM AND
INITIATIVE.
NOT ONLY DOES THIS INITIATIVE
SUPPORT FAMILIES, IT
STRENGTHENS OUR STUDENTS.
WE RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT AS
MUCH AS WE TRY TO DO FOR OUR
STUDENTS, WE CANNOT DO IT
ALONE.
IT TAKES AN EFFORT.
IT TAKES A COMMUNITY EFFORT,
AND THIS EFFORT HAS COME TO
FRUITION WITH THIS TYPE OF
PROGRAM WHERE WE NOT ONLY ARE
ABLE TO HELP STUDENTS BUT WHEN
WE HELP THE FAMILY, EVERYONE
WINS.
SO ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, I
STRONGLY RECOMMEND AND HOPE
THAT YOU WILL AGAIN CONTINUE
THE FUNDING.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU,
DR. CLARK.
WAYNE HOLTSMAN DOES NOT WISH
TO SPEAK.
AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF
THE AUSTIN PROJECT THAT
MANAGES THE YOUTH AND FPLLY
ASSISTANCE CENTER AND AUSTIN
ISD ON BEHALF OF THE 25
BOARDMEMBERS WHO STRUGGLE, THE
CENTER HAS AN IMPORTANT
PROGRAM BY THE CITY AND COUNTY
AND THE HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE 225,000 IN THE CURRENT
CITY BUDGET FOR 2002-2003'S
CRITICAL ITEM FOR CONTINUING
THE CITY IN THE AUSTIN PROJECT
AND THE CENTER.
OUR BOARD HAS PLANNED TO
UNDERTAKE A MAJOR CAMPAIGN
RAISING FUNDS FROM PRIVATE
CORPORATIONS FOR THIS
COMMITMENT TO THE CENTER BUT
ONLY IF THE CITY CONTINUES TO
SUPPORT THE PROJECT AS
CURRENTLY IT IS DOING IN THE
2002- -- 2002-2003 BUDGET.
LEONARD RAY SAENZ DOES NOT
WISH TO SPEAK AND IS IN FAVOR
OF.
SUSAN DAWSON.
SUSAN DAWSON.
SHE DOESN'T INDICATE WHETHER
SHE'S FOR OR AGAINST IT BUT
, I THE
CITY CENTERED FARMERS MARKET.
BOB RUDEIS HOWEVER NOT WISHING
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE
FAMILY ASSISTMENT CENTER, FOR
AT HICH RISK YOUTH, THE
SERVICES THEY NEED.
-- AT-RISK YOUTH.
TRACY, NOT WISHING TO SPEAK,
REGISTERED IN FAVOR OF FOR THE
CITY CENTER FARMERS MARKET.
TERESA, NOT WISHING TO SPEAK
AND IN FAVOR OF THE FARMERS
MARKET PROPOSED BY THE
SUSTAINABLE FOOD CENTER.
WILLIAM SPAM, NOT WISHING TO
SPEAK AND REGISTERED IN FAVOR
OF THE CITY-CENTERED FARMERS
MARKET PROPOSED BY THE
SUSTAINABLE FOOD CENTER.
GAIL ROTH, NOT WISHING TO
SPEAK -- WISHING TO SPEAK, IN
FAVOR OF THE FUNDING FOR THE
FARMERS MARKET.
MADDEN, NOT WISH TO GO SPEAK,
IN FAVOR OF THE CITY CENTERED
FARMERS MARKET.
JENNIFER SPAWN, NOT WISHING TO
SPEAK.
REGISTERED IN FAVOR OF THE
CITY-CENTERED FARMERS MARKET
PROPOSED BY THE SUSTAINABLE
FOOD CENTER.
KELLY COMMIS, NOT WISHING TO
SPEAK.
REGISTERED IN FAVOR OF.
DEBRA MICHELLE.
DEBRA MICHELLE?
REGISTERED IN FAVOR OF THE
FAMILY ASSISTMENT CENTER,
YOUTH AND FAMILY ASSISTMENT
CENTER.
RACHEL WOLBERG, NOT WISHING TO
SPEAK.
IN FAVOR OF THE YOUTH AND FPLLY
ASSISTMENT CENTER.
RACHEL -- SHE WANTS TO SPEAK.
IS SHE OUTSIDE?
CHRISTINE A, NOT WISHING TO
SPEAK.
SHE ALSO ITION IN -- ALSO IS
IN FAVOR OF THE SUSTAINABLE
FOOD PROJECT.
CLARICE EULICKE, NOT WISHING
TO SPEAK, IN FAVOR OF THE
AUSTIN PROJECT YOUTH AND
FAMILY CENTER AND SUSTAINABLE
FOODS.
WENDY ANDREDES?
IN FAVOR.
I SAYS I STRONGLY URGE THE
CONTINUATION OF FUNDING ON THE
YOUTH AND FAMILY ASSISTMENT
CENTER PROJECT.
LAURA ATKINS, DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF CHILDREN SERVICES.
IS SHE HERE?
[ INAUDIBLE ]
Mayor Garcia: ARE YOU
MS. ATKINS?
I'M DEBRA MICHAELS.
OKAY.
I'M GOING TO CALL YOUR -- I
ALREADY CALLED YOUR NAME.
YOU WANT TO COME IN AND SPEAK?
SURE.
Mayor Garcia: WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS DEBRA MICHAEL.
I'M THE MANAGER OF THE YOUTH
AND FAMILY ASSESSMENT CENTER
FOR THE AUSTIN PROJECT, A
COMMUNITYWIDE PROGRAM, A
CITY/COUNTY INITIATIVE SERVING
YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN THE EAST
AUSTIN AREA.
WE'RE IN THE JOHNSON HIGH
SCHOOL TRACK AND WE'RE USING A
WRAPAROUND TYPE APPROACH WHICH
FAVORS FAMILY CHOICE AND VOICE
TO WHERE THE FAMILIES CAN
CHOOSE WHAT SERVICES THEY FEEL
LIKE WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR
THEIR CHILDREN, AND COMMUNITY
BLOCK GRANT MONEY IS USED TO
PURCHASE SERVICES.
SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT
WE'VE PURCHASED THAT SEEM TO
BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY ARE
PARENT COACHING, SO THAT TO
GIVE THE PARENTS SOMEBODY TO
BE SUPPORTIVE OF THEM AND TO
HELP THEM LEARN PARENTING
SKILLS, AS WELL AS SET UP
BEHAVIOR PLANS FOR THEIR
CHILDREN THAT ARE HAVING
SEVERE PROBLEMS.
THAT'S ONE OF OUR SERVICES
THAT WE PURCHASE THROUGH A
COMMUNITY AGENCY.
SOME OF THE OTHER SERVICES WE
PURCHASE ARE MENTORING FOR THE
CHILDREN, TUTORING, INDIVIDUAL
HOME-BASED TUTORING, WHICH IS
VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND ON THE
EAST SIDE, AND A LOT OF
FAMILIES, THE KIDS CAN'T MAKE
IT IN GROUP TUTORING SETTINGS.
SO IT'S A VERY INDIVIDUALIZED
SERVICE THAT THE KIDS NEED.
SO THE MENTORING, TUTORING,
AND THEN WE DO BASIC NEEDS
ALSO.
SO TO KEEP PEOPLE ON THE EAST
SIDE FROM BEING EVICTED, WE
HELP WITH BASIC NEEDS,
UTILITIES, RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
FOOD.
WE DO -- WE'RE LIKE THE BROKER
FOR SERVICES.
AND SO WE LOOK AT LEVERAGE
SERVICES THAT WE COULD OBTAIN
THROUGH COMMUNITYWIDE AGGIES
FIRST.
SO WE LOOK AT -- AGENCIES
FIRST.
SO WE LOOK AT SERVICES LIKE
THE FOOD BANK, SOME OF THOSE
SERVICES THAT WE CAN ACCESS
AND THEN IF WE CAN'T FIND
THOSE SERVICES THAT EITHER
MEET THE CLIENT'S NEEDS
BECAUSE OF LOCATION, BECAUSE
OF NOT BEING AVAILABLE WHEN
THE CLIENT NEEDS THE SERVICE,
THEN WE LOOK AT PURCHASING THE
SERVICE FOR THE CLIENT.
AND SO THERE'S LEVELS OF
SERVICE PROVISION THAT'S
NEEDED BY THIS COMMUNITY BLOCK
GRANT PROGRAM.
AND SO AGAIN THAT'S THE YOUTH
AND FAMILY ASSESSMENT CENTER.
IT IS A COMMUNITYWIDE
INITIATIVE.
WE'VE STARTED IN THE JOHNSON
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK.
SO WE'RE SERVING THOSE MIDDLE
SCHOOLS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS,
AND HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND WE ARE STATIONED OUT, OUR
MAIN OFFICE IS OUT IN THE EAST
AUSTIN AREA.
THANK YOU.
UH-HUH.
THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: SUSAN DAWSON?
WELCOME, MS. DAWSON.
THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBERS, I I WILL BE
BRIEF.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LARGE
GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON
BEHALF OF AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS
WHERE I AM THE FIRST VICE
CHAIR AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE ARE
MANY UNMET NEEDS IN OUR
COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE
YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT
THOSE ARE NOT SPREAD EQUALLY
THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL TEXAS
AREA.
MANY OF US HAVE BEEN WORKING
STRONGLY ON DEVELOPING MORE
CORE CAPACITY IN EAST AUSTIN,
ESPECIALLY FOR THE UNMET NEEDS
OF YOUTH.
WE ARE WORKING TO DO THAT
THROUGH A NEW AMERICAN YOUTH
WORKS, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
CENTER.
I ASK YOU TO PREAWARD $500,000
IN 2003 FUNDS.
THIS AMOUNT WILL BE HIGHLY
LEVERAGED BY FEDERAL MONEY AND
WILL GO TO MEET HUGE NEEDS
THAT WE THINK CAN BE VERY
EFFECTIVELY CARED FOR AND
PRODUCE RESULTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU,
MS. DAWSON.
JAMES TEMPLETON.s(
I THINK THEY NEED TO WAIT TO
SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME
MICROPHONES.
WIRE GETTING THERE. -- WE'RE
GETTING THERE.
[ INAUDIBLE ]
Mayor Garcia: HOLD IT JUST
A SECOND.
OKAY.
[ INAUDIBLE ]
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO
DO THIS.
WE DON'T WANT TO GET HURT
OR GET KILLED.
THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, JENNIFER McFAIL.
IF WE COULD GET SOME ROOM FOR
JENNIFER TO COME UP TO THE
MICROPHONE.
DO YOU WANT TO -- .
MR. MAYOR, MY NAME IS DAVID
WITY.
I'M WITH ADAPTATECH.
IN THE INTEREST OF CONSERVING
TIME AND CONSOLIDATING OUR
COMMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN
PREPARED IN WRITTEN FORMAT FOR
YOUR PERUSEMENT.
ANNA DIAZ WOULD LIKE TO
ADDRESS THE COUNCIL NOW.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
MS. DIAZ, AND THEN JENNIFER
McFAIL.
YOU CAN USE THIS OTHER
MICROPHONE.
THIS ONE?
Mayor Garcia: THAT ONE,
YES.
I'M AMANDA DIE AS WITH
ADAPT OF TEXAS AND I'M GOING
TO SPEAK TONIGHT FOR OUR GROUP,
AND WHAT WE'RE REALLY
INTERESTED IN IS TWO ISSUES.
ONE IS THE VOLUNTARY
COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT, WHICH
EXPIRES ACTUALLY ON OCTOBER
9th OF THIS YEAR, AND WE WOULD
LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING PUT INTO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTION
PLAN STATING THAT THEY WILL
CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT UNTIL
THE 38 COMPLEXES THAT ARE
INVOLVED ARE IN COMPLIANCE
BECAUSE THE LAST MEETING WE
HAD, WE WERE TOLD THAT NONE OF
THEM ARE IN COMPLIANCE YET.
AND CONSIDERING THAT IT
BASICALLY ENDS THIS YEAR, WE
WOULD REALLY, YOU KNOW, LIKE
SOME KIND OF A COMMITMENT THAT
Y'ALL WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO
GET THESE THINGS, THESE
PROPERTY OWNERS TO DO THE WORK
THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO.
THE OTHER THING IS THE HOUSING
TRUST FUND.
LAST WEEK THE HOUSE FINANCE
SERVICE COMMITTEE VOTED ON THE
HOUSING BILL WHICH WILL GO OUT
ON THE FLOOR AND -- OF THE
SENATE ABT HOUSE -- AND THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR A
VOTE, HOPEFULLY SOON, AND IT
LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT WIND UP
PASSING.
SO WE WOULD LIKE SOME KIND OF
A COMMITMENT TO THAT SO THAT
WHEN THIS DOES BECOME A
FEDERAL LAW THAT THE MONEY
THAT'S IN THE HOUSING TRUST
FUND CAN BE MATCHED BY FEDERAL
DOLLARS, WHICH IS WHAT THIS
BILL IS, YOU KNOW, HOPING TO
DO.
THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU.
JENNIFER McFAIL.
SHE WAIVED.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS WE
HAVE.
MR. MAYOR, YOU CALLED OUR
NAMES JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO
AND WE WERE SORT OF STUCK
OUTSIDE.
Mayor Garcia: OKAY.
I'M LAURA ATKINS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN
SERVICES FOR TRAVIS COUNTY
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
THE PLAN AND SPECIFICALLY IN
FAVOR OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE
DEDICATED FOR YOUTH AND FAMILY
SERVICES.
AND I JUST WANTED TO LET Y'ALL
KNOW THAT IN MAY OF 2000, THE
COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK DID A
PUBLIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT.
THEY CAME UP WITH A
RECOMMENDATION ABOUT THE NEED
FOR A MORE COORDINATED
PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION
SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR
YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND
THROUGH THAT PROCESS THE YOUTH
AND FAMILY ASSESSMENT CENTER
MODEL GOT DEVELOPED AND
IMPLEMENTED OVER THIS PAST
YEAR.
IT USES A WRAPAROUND APPROACH
AND WHAT IS SPECIAL AND UNIQUE
ABOUT THIS SERVICE DELIVERY
SYSTEM IS THAT IT FOCUSES ON
FAMILY CHOICE AND ON FAMILY
STRENGTH, AND OUR SERVICES
TYPICALLY HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED
TOWARDS DEFICITS AND
APPROACHING FAMILIES IN A
DEFICIT-BASED WAY AND WHAT'S
REALLY SPECIAL ABOUT THE YOUTH
AND FAMILY ASSESSMENT CENTER
IS THAT IT BUILDS ON FAMILIES'
INHERENT STRENGTHS AND THE
INFORMAL SUPPORTS THAT THEY
HAVE AND CONNECT THEM THROUGH
A COORDINATED SYSTEM.
SO THE IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE
YOUTH AND FAMILY ASSESSMENT
CENTER REALLY REPRESENTS A
SHIFT IN THE WAY WE DO DELIVER
HUMAN SERVICES IN THIS
COMMUNITY AND IT'S A PILOT
THIS YEAR, BUT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTION
PLANS FOR 2002 AND 2003
ALLOCATES $242,000 FOR
SERVICES TO GO DIRECTLY TO
FAMILIES THROUGH THIS
INITIATIVE AND THROUGH THIS
PROJECT, AND I'M JUST HERE TO
SEEK IF SUPPORT OF THAT AND
THAT THE FUNDING BE CONTINUED
IN THE PLAN AS IT IS.
I WORK HERE, ME AND MY KIDS,
AND THEY HAVE REALLY BEEN A
BIG HELP TO ME.
IN THIS PROGRAM HERE, TOO.
AND MY CHILDREN HAVE BENEFIT
FROM THE PROGRAM, NOT JUST
THEIR PROGRAM.
BOTH OF THEM.
THEY GOT A LOT OF EDUCATION
OUT OF IT AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO I'M JUST UP HERE TO ASK
Y'ALL PLEASE, YOU KNOW, DON'T
STOP, YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM,
YOU KNOW, AND STUFF BECAUSE
IT'S REALLY A LOT OF USE FOR
MY KIDS.
THANK YOU.
Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU.
HELLO.
I'M LINDHY WITH AUSTIN TRAVIS
COUNTY MHMR.
I'M THE NETWORK MANAGER AND
DEVELOPER FOR THE CENTER FOR
CHILDREN SERVICES AND I'M ALSO
HERE TO ENDORSE THE
CONTINUATION OF FUNDING FOR
THE DEDICATED FUNDS THAT
CURRENTLY EXIST IN THE PLAN
FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS JEAN.
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE MY CARD
THERE.
I AM WITH UNIT OONT -- UNITED
CEREBRAL PALSY OF TEXAS AND
THE TEXAS HOME OF YOUR OWN
COALITION AND WE PROVIDE A
HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM FOR
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU ALL TO
CONSIDER IS IN YOUR DOWN
PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
THAT YOU CONSIDER A HIGHER
AMOUNT FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
WE FOUND OVER THE PAST FIVE
YEARS WITH FUNDING WE'VE
RECEIVED FROM THE TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS THAT THAT IS
THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT DOES
WORK WELL FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES DUE TO SOME OF
THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE AMOUNT
OF FUNDS THAT THEY CAN
ACCUMULATE.
SO WE DO ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER
A DIFFERENT AMOUNT FOR UP TO
$15,000 FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES SO WE CAN
CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS.
THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
HAS FUNDED OUR PILOT PROJECT.
THEY ARE STRESSING THAT IN THE
COMMUNITIES WE SERVE THAT WE
DO NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE HOME
FUNDS THAT THE CITIES ARE
RECEIVING TO PROVIDE THE
ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE STATE
IS ONLY ALLOCATING THEIR FUNDS
TO THE MORE RURAL TEXAS.
BUT WE'VE SHOWN OVER THE PAST
FIVE YEARS THAT THIS CAN WORK.
I DO HAVE SOME WRITTEN
TESTIMONY TO PROVIDE TO
YOU-ALL AND IN ADDITION, WE DO
WANT TO LET Y'ALL KNOW WE HAVE
BEEN SUPPORTERS OF THE HOUSING
TRUST FUND AND AS ADAPT
POINTED OUT, THE INITIATIVE AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL, IT WOULD BE
BENEFICIAL IF THERE'S
ADDITIONAL FUNDS HERE IN
AUSTIN.
HOPEFULLY WHEN THAT
LEGISLATION IS PASSED WE'LL BE
ABLE TO DRAW DOWN MORE MONEY,
AND WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF
THAT ALSO.
THANK YOU.
ALBERT FOR NEIGHBORHOOD
HOUSING.
RON QUINSTON IN FAVOR OF THE
PROGRAM.
AND ANN A REYES ARE SPOKE IN
FAVOR OF THE PROGRAM.
COUNCIL MEN, THAT'S ALL THE
SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE ON ITEM
NUMBER 116.
MR. HILGERS, DO WE HAVE A
THIRD PUBLIC HEARING ON THESE
ITEMS?
NO, MAYOR, WE DON'T.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING?
AND THE MAIN THING WE WILL DO
IS WE WILL BE APPROVING?
YES, SIR, WE WILL BE
APPROVING THE RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT COME BEFORE, AND THAT
WILL BE ON AUGUST 1ST.
THERE WILL BE A COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT MEETING ON TUESDAY,
JULY 16th TO PRESENT OUR FINAL
RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THOSE
WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE
COUNCIL ON AUGUST THE 1ST.
Mayor Garcia: SO JULY THE
16th?
YES, SIR.
Mayor Garcia: JULY 16th THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION MEETS TO HEAR THE
RECOMMENDATIONS?
YES, SIR.
Mayor Garcia: AND WHERE IS
THAT MEETING GOING TO BE?
WE WILL POST THAT.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT
MEETING WILL BE.
DO WE KNOW?
DPAR GAR AND THEN ON AUGUST
1ST -- .
Mayor Garcia: AND THEN ON
AUGUST 1ST WILL COME BEFORE
THE COUNCIL.
I'M SORRY.
THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE
THERE.
I'M SORRY.
Mayor Garcia: IS THAT ON
CUMBERLAND?
YES, SIR, THAT'S CORRECT.
NO.
THE MULTIPURPOSE IS ON SOUTH
FIRST STREET.
Mayor Garcia: ON SOUTH
FIRST, CLOSE TO.
EVERYBODY GOT THAT?
JULY THE 16th THEY ARE GOING
TO BE THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION
TO CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER DID
YOU THINK EARLY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE.
AYE.
OPPOSED, NO.
MOTION CARRIES.
OKAY.
NOW WE'RE PICKING UP THE ITEM
THAT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE
STRATUS ITEMS AND LET ME
EXPLAIN THAT WE HAVE TWO TYPES
OF ITEMS HERE.
ONE TYPE DEALS WITH SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT THAT THE STAFF HAS
BEEN NEGOTIATING FOR A COUPLE
OF YEARS, I GUESS, OR SO.
AND THE OTHER ONE SPEAKS TO
THE ZONING ITSELF.
I HAVE A STACK OF CARDS OF
PEOPLE THAT HAVE REGISTERED
AND ARE NOT WISHING TO SPEAK.
I'LL READ THAT INTO THE RECORD
AS SOON AS THE STAFF MAKES A
PRESENTATION.
I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE
MAYOR OF THE VILLAGE OF BEXAR
CREEK WHO WILL BE SPEAKING
LATER BUT IF HE'S HERE AND
NEEDS TO STAND, WE'D LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE YOU.
THANK YOU FOR COMING, MAYOR.
GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
YOUR PRESENTATION ON THE
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT?
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS
WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER THE
PRESENTATION MUCH LIKE WE DID
AT THE WORK SESSION YESTERDAY
SO THAT WE HAVE THE FRAMEWORK
OF HOW WE'RE TRYING TO GET
INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC
ALL ON RECORD HERE AT THIS
PUBLIC HEARING.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO
GIVE A BACKDROP FOR WHY WE'RE
HERE.
AND SOME OF THIS WILL SEEM
SIMPLISTIC FOR SOME IN THE
AUDIENCE, AND I RECOGNIZE A
LOT OF THE FACES, BUT WE'VE
HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS, AND WE
WANT TO TRY TO REALLY JUST PUT
THE ROAD MAP ON THE TABLE AS
WE GET STARTED.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS BEEN
PAINFULLY DEALING WITH ONE
VERSION OR ANOTHER OF
GRANDFATHERING OR VESTED
RIGHTS SINCE HOUSE BILL 4 WAS
ENACTED BY THE TEXAS
LEGISLATURE IN 1987.
AND MOST RECENTLY WAS THE
VERSION OF HOUSE BILL 1704
PASSED IN 1999.
THIS TYPE OF STATE
GRANDFATHERING LEGISLATION
ALLOWS DEVELOPERS TO LOCK IN
THE LOCAL REGULATIONS THAT
WERE IN PLACE WHEN THEY FILED
THEIR FIRST APPLICATION FOR
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT.
IN SHORT WHAT IT MEANS IS
DEVELOPERS CAN AVOID
REGULATORY CHANGES.
THEY CAN DEVELOP UNDER
OUTDATED REGULATIONS.
AND OBVIOUSLY THIS SEVERELY
LIMITS LOCAL CONTROL OVER
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT FACED WITH
THIS SITUATION AND PROBABLY
NOWHERE IN ALL THE HISTORY OF
THE VESTED RIGHTS BILLS THAT
ARE HAPPENING ACROSS THE
COUNTRY HAS THE CITY AS
AGGRESSIVELY TRIED TO
CHALLENGE THAT LEGISLATION AS
AUSTIN, TEXAS.
NOT JUST THE GRANDFATHERING
BUT THE KIND OF BRACKETED
BILLS THAT HAVE GONE AFTER THE
LOCAL CONTROLS OF HOW WE GROW
AND HOW WE REGULATE OUR
GROWTH.
AS THE MAYOR, THE MAYOR PRO
TEM AND COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER
WILL RECALL, THE 1999 COUNCIL
HAD A LEGAL TEAM IN PLACE
STUDDING POTENTIAL CHALLENGES
TO HOUSE BILL 1704 BEFORE THAT
BILL WAS EVEN SIGNED BY THE
GOVERNOR.
IN THE SPRING OF 1999 AND INTO
2000, THE CITY HIRED LITERALLY
A DOZEN ATTORNEYS TO
COLLECTIVELY INVESTIGATE
VIABLE LEGAL CHALLENGES TO HB
1704.
THIS GROUP INCLUDED THE
ATTORNEY WHO HAD SUCCESSFULLY
ATTACKED THE SOUTHWEST TRAVIS
COUNTY WATER DISTRICT AND THE
WATER QUALITY PROTECTION ZONE,
AS WELL AS THE ATTORNEYS WHO
REPRESENTED SUNSET VALLEY IN
THE 1704 CASE.
AND THEN MOST RECENTLY BEFORE
EVER BRINGING THE STRATUS
SETTLEMENT HERE FOR FIRST
READING, WE WENT BACK AND
REALLY LITERALLY AT THE BEHEST
OF SEVERAL VIMENT AL GROUPS,
INCLUDING S.O.S., WE HARD
REMAIN HIRED AN ATTORNEY WITH
EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW TO GIVE THE
CITY YET ANOTHER SECOND
OPINION ON THE STRENGTHS OF
ANTI1704 OR GRANDFATHERING
ARGUMENT AND ON THE STRENGTH
OF THE STRATUS GRANDFATHERING
CLAIMS.
THE CITY HAS MOVED FORWARD
BASED ON THE OVERWHELMING
CONSENSUS OF ALL OF THAT LEGAL
ADVICE.
SO WHY ARE WE AT THE TABLE?
TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, YOU
HAVE TO DESCRIBE THE STRATUS
GRANDFATHERING CLAIM, AND
SOMETIMES THE CITY HAS BEEN
RELUCTANT TO LAY THOSE CLAIMS
ON THE TABLE BECAUSE BY
PUTTING THOSE CLAIMS ON THE
TABLE ARE WE SOMEHOW
ACKNOWLEDGING THOSE CLAIMS ARE
VALID BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE
THIS AN ATTEMPT BECAUSE WE
HADN'T DONE IT AS WE MOVED
THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
WHAT ARE THOSE CLAIMS?
WHAT HAS THIS AT THE TABLE?
FOR BEAR LAKE PUBLIC IS MORE
STRAIGHTFORWARD.
THE BEAR LAKE PUBLIC, THE
QUESTION THAT HAS TO BE
ANSWERED AND ASKED OF THE
POLICY MAKERS IS THE VALUE OF
TAKING AN INDUSTRIAL
DEVELOPMENT, A DEVELOPMENT
ZONED FOR R&D AND REZONING IT
TO AN S.O.S.-COMPLIANT SINGLE
FAMILY DEVELOPMENT.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE REST OF
THE PROPERTIES, THINK ABOUT
THE PROPERTIES IN TWO PIECES,
THE BEAR LAKE PUBLIC COMPONENT
AND THEN ALL THE REST OF IT
WHICH ARE PART OF THE CIRCLE
C.
SO FOR THE CIRCLE C PROPERTY,
IT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE.
STRATUS CLAIMS THE ABILITY TO
DEVELOP CONSISTENT WITH THE
1984 M.U.D. LAND USE PLAN, BUT
THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE
REDUCTIONS OF CONSTRAINT OF
THEIR RECENT FISH AND WILDLIFE
CONSULTATION.
STRATUS CLAIMS THAT THEIR
DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS VESTED IN
THE MID 1980S WHEN THE FOUR
CIRCLE C M.U.D.S WERE CREATED
AND THE CITY AND STRATUS'
PREDECESSOR ENTERED INTO
AGREEMENT WITH THE M.U.D. AND
THE CITY APPROVED PRELIMINARY
PLANS CONSISTENT WITH THE
CONSENT AGREEMENT.
THE M.U.D. CONSENT AGREEMENT
HAVE AN ATTACHED M.U.D.
LANDING PLAN, AND THAT PLAN
REFLECTS OFFICE, RETAIL, AND
MULTIFAMILY TWOMENT ON THESE
PARTICULAR STRATUS PROPERTIES.
-- STRATUS CLAIMS THAT THE
M.U.D. CONSENT AGREEMENT
REQUIRED THE LAND TO BE
DEVELOPED CONSISTENT WITH THE
M.U.D. LAND USE PLAN, AND THIS
IS IMPORTANT TO THE 1704
CLAIMS -- REQUIRED STRATUS'
PREDECESSOR TO FILE SPECIFIC
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE LAND.
AMONG OTHER THINGS THE
RESTRICTED COVENANT REQUIRED
THE LAND TO BE DEVELOPED IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE SITE
DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS WET
FORTH IN THE WILLIAMS CREEK
AND SLAUGHTER CREEK
ORDINANCES.
TO FULLY EVALUATE STRATUS'
GRANDFATHER CLAIMS ON ITS
CIRCLE C PROPERTY, YOU HAVE TO
ALSO ANALYZE WHETHER ZONING
CAN PREVENT STRATUS FROM
DEVELOPING AT CIRCLE C
PROPERTY CONSISTENT WITH THE
1984 M.U.D. LANDINGS PLAN.
THE M.U.D. LANDINGS PLAN WERE
UNUSUAL IN THAT THEY DETAILED
DENSITY PER ACRE AND
FLOOR-TO-AREA RATIOS THAT CAN
BE USED TO ESTIMATE THE UPPER
LIMIT OF CONVEYOR FOOTAGE OF
USE OF DENSITY.
SO FROM THAT -- SQUARE
FOOTAGE.
SO FROM THAT YOU CAN GET MORE
THAN IMPERVIOUS COVER OR AREA.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET THE
DENSITY.
WITH RESPECT TO THE ZONING
QUESTION, STRATUS POINTS TO
THE LANGUAGE IN HOUSE BILL
1704, A PROVISION THAT STATES,
ZONING IS NOT TRUMPED BY
VESTED RIGHTS SO LONG AS -- IN
OTHER WORDS UNLESS -- THE
ZONING CANNOT
BASICALLY -- BASICALLY SO LONG
AS THE ZONING DOES NOT AFFECT
LOT SIZE, LOT DIMENSIONS, LOT
COVERAGE OR BUILDING SIZE; AND
THE ZONING DOES NOT CHANGE
DEVELOPMENT PERMITTED BY A
RESTRICTED COVENANT.
REMEMBER?
WE REQUIRE RESTRICTED
COVENANT.
REQUIRED BY MUNICIPALITY.
SO THAT'S SORT OF THE SHORTEST
VERSION I COULD COME UP WITH
TO TRY TO DESCRIBE THE CLAIMS
THAT HAVE US AT THE TABLE.
SO HOW DID NEGOTIATIONS WITH
STRATUS BEGIN?
THE PRESENT NEGOTIATIONS GREW
OUT OF THE CITY'S VICTORY IN
THE WATER QUALITY PROTECTION
ZONE CASE ALMOST EXACTLY TWO
YEARS AGO.
IN THE WAKE OF THE SUPREME
COURT DECISION IN OUR FAVOR IN
JUNE OF 2000, BO ARMSTRONG,
THE CEO OF STRATUS, ANNOUNCED
HE WANTED TO END HIS LAND
DEVELOPMENT FIGHT AND HE
WANTED TO SETTLE ALL OF
STRATUS' OUTSTANDING
DEVELOPMENT ISSUES, AND THERE
WERE A NUMBER OF THINGS ON THE
TABLE, NOT JUST THE PROPERTY.
[ PLEASE HOLD FOR CHANGE OF
CAPTIONERS ]
..
Futrell: THEY RAN A
PARALLEL PROCESS WITH THAT,
SO AT THE SAME TIME GETTING
AND INCORPORATED PUBLIC
FEEDBACK FROM NEIGHBORHOODS,
ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS AND
KEYBOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
THAT DETAILED AGREEMENT HAS
BEEN UP ON THE CITY WEB PAGE
FOR OVER 10 DAYS, WITH
SUPPORTING INFORMATION BEING
UPDATED DAILY ON SITE.
THERE WERE CHANGES THAT
OCCURRED YESTERDAY FROM A
DISCUSSION FROM THE WORK
SESSION THAT REDUCED
IMPERVIOUS COVER ON ONE OF
THE MAJOR TRACTS.
SO WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR
THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS?
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR
COUNCIL AND PUBLIC INPUT
OVER THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS?
COUNCIL RECEIVED AN INITIAL
BRIEFING YESTERDAY.
TODAY COUNCIL IS POSTED FOR
REPEAT BRIEFINGS, THE ZONING
PUBLIC HEARING AND IS POSTED
FOR ACTION ON FIRST READING
ONLY.
SECOND READING IS SCHEDULED
TWO WEEKS LATER ON JULY 11th....
JULY 11TH.
AND THIRD READING IS
SCHEDULED THE FOLLOWING
WEEK, FOUR WEEKS OUT, ON
JULY 18th.
SO WE HAVE FOUR WEEKS FOR
DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC INPUT
ON THIS AGREEMENT.
WE HAVE STRUCTURED THE
FOLLOWING BRIEFINGS TO
ANSWER SEVEN BASIC
QUESTIONS.
WHY ARE WE NEGOTIATING WITH
STRATUS, ONE?
TWO, WHAT ARE WE GETTING?
THREE, WHAT ARE WE GIVING?
FOUR, WHAT ARE THE TRAFFIC
IMPACTS AND HOW IS STRATUS
MITIGATING THOSE TRAFFIC
IMPACTS?
FIVE, HOW HAVE WE GOTTEN
PUBLIC INPUT AND HOW HAVE WE
INCORPORATED IT?
SIX, WHAT HAVE THE BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS DONE?
AND FINALLY, SEVEN, WHAT
HAPPENS IF THE CITY AND
STRATUS DO NOT REACH AN
AGREEMENT?
BASICALLY THE BEST
ALTERNATIVE TO A NEGOTIATED
SOLUTION.
NOW, WITH THAT I'M GOING TO
TURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT
CITY MANAGER LISA GORDON AND
WE'RE GOING TO RUN THROUGH
THOSE SEVEN QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER
FUTRELL.
AS WAS EXPLAINED EARLIER,
THE STRATUS PROPERTIES HAVE
245 CLAIMED SPACE ON THE MID
'80'S PRELIMINARY PLANS AND
THE M.U.D. USE PLANS.
TODAY WE WOULD LIKE TO
PROVIDE YOU WITH A
COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF
THE AGREEMENT, THE TERMS AND
THE COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.
PRESENTED WITH ME --
PRESENTING WITH ME TODAY ARE
LES TULL, OUR SUPERVISING
ENGINEER ON WATER QUALITY.
HE IS ON MY LEFT.
PAT MURPHY, THE CITY'S
ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICE TO MY
RIGHT.
AND NEXT TO PAT, TERRY
MCMANUS, OUR PRINCIPAL
PLANNER FOR TRANSPORTATION.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE SEVERAL
STAFF MEMBERS SEATED IN THE
AUDIENCE WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS AGREEMENT TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK
ON VARIOUS ISSUES.
THEY ARE OUR LEGAL STAFF,
MARTY TERRY, NANCY
MCCLINTOCK, GREG GURNSEY,
ALLISON GALLOWAY AND VICKY
SCHUBERT.
WE ALSO HAVE WITH US OUR
OUTSIDE ATTORNEY, CASEY
DOBSON.
AND RENE HICKS WHO WAS
BROUGHT IN RECENTLY TO
REVIEW THE AGREEMENT.
WHY ARE WE NEGOTIATING WITH
STRATUS?
TO EXPAND THE 245 CLAIMS BY
STRATUS CARRY A LEGAL RISK
FOR THE CITY IN TERMS OF
LITIGATION AND AN --
Mayor Garcia: MS. GORDON,
LET ME TALK TO YOU FOR JAWS
A SECOND.
CAN Y'ALL HEAR IN THE BACK?
WE NEED TO HAVE MORE VOLUME
ON THIS ONE SPEAKER, THIS
ONE MICROPHONE.
COULD WE -- TRY THAT AGAIN.
IS THIS BETTER?
BETTER?
OKAY.
I'LL START AGAIN.
WHY ARE WE NEGOTIATING WITH
STRATUS?
TO EXPAND ON THE 245 CLAIMS
THAT STRATUS HAS, THIS
CARRIES A RISK FOR THE CITY
IN TERMS OF LITIGATION AND
AN OUTCOME THAT WOULD IMPACT
THE CITY'S AUTHORITY FURTHER
THAN THE STATE LEGISLATION
HAS.
THERE ALSO IS THE POTENTIAL
FOR A TAKEN IF THOSE CLAIMS
WERE SUBSTANTIATED THROUGH
THE LEGAL SYSTEM.
BEYOND ANY LEGAL RISK, THE
CITY HAS NEGOTIATED AN
AGREEMENT THAT PROVIDES
SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS BEYOND
OUR CURRENT CODE
REQUIREMENTS.
THESE BENEFITS AFFECT THE
COMMUNITY AND THEY COULD NOT
BE ACHIEVED NOR ENFORCED
WITHOUT AN AGREEMENT.
THE AGREEMENT ALSO PROVIDES
FOR CERTAINTY OF THE TYPE OF
DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD OCCUR
IN THIS SENSITIVE AREA OF
THE CITY.
THERE WILL BE KNOWN WATER
QUALITY PROTECTIONS AND THE
AGREEMENT ALLOWS FOR A
POSITIVE CASH FLOW AFTER
FIVE YEARS AND IT PAYS BACK
FOR ITSELF AFTER 10 YEARS.
LES TULL WILL GIVE YOU AN
OVERVIEW OF HOW THE
AGREEMENT TALKS ABOUT WATER
QUALITY, OPEN SPACE AND
REDUCED DEVELOPMENT DENSITY.
HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY PAT
MURPHY, WHO WILL DISCUSS THE
INCENTIVE PACKAGE AND WHAT
WE'RE PAYING FOR AND WHAT
TYPES OF REVENUES WE'RE
USING.
I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR NOW
THAT WE ARE NOT USING ANY
PROPERTY TAXES TO BENEFIT
THIS DEAL, NOR IS THERE ANY
CASH THAT GOES DIRECTLY OUT
OF THE DOOR FROM THE CITY.
HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TERRY
MCMANUS, WHO PROVIDED AN
OVERVIEW OF THE TRAFFIC AND
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.
AND LET ME SAY THERE'S BEEN
A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT
THE TRANSPORTATION.
I THINK TERRY'S PORTION OF
THE OVERVIEW WILL PROVIDE
YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION.
LES?
Continue to Part B
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