Closed Caption Log, Council Meeting, 10/03/02

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 974-2210.

[TECHNICAL PROBLEMS, PLEASE STAND BY] CLER CLER.

AND HOW TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION WITH MINIMUM CITY EXPENDITURE. I CAN'T DO THIS IN THREE MINUTES. I'VE APPROACHED THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS -- [ BUZZER SOUNDS ] AND THE CITY MANAGER WITH SOME OF MY CONCERNS AND I'M CONVINCED IT WILL TAKE MOMENTUM FROM THE CITY COUNCIL TO BEGIN TO REVERSE THE CURRENT SITUATION. I'M ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.

Mayor Garcia: GUS PENA WILL NOT BE HERE TODAY. HE NOTIFIED OUR OFFICE. SO THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LORI C.RENTERIA, CRIMES AND SAFETY AROUND SANCHEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS LORI RENTERIA AND I'VE LIVED IN THE EAST AUSTIN AREA FOR 24 YEARS THIS MONTH. AND I'M HERE TO FIRST OF ALL THANK THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CIVILIAN BATTALION AND THE AISD CAMPUS POLICE FOR MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT SINCE THE START OF SCHOOL. WE DON'T HAVE HARDLY ANYONE HANGING OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ANY MORE BECAUSE OF ALL THE PATROLS. AND WE WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK OUR APD AND THEN THANK THE COUNCIL FOR AGREEING TO KEEP THAT FUNDING IN PLACE FOR THE NEXT YEAR WITH OVERTIME FOR OUR A.P.D. OFFICERS TO PATROL. WE'VE ALSO HAD THREE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AND WE'VE RECRUITED OVER 50 RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN SAFE HOUSES, OUR OWN EAST SIDE RANGERS NEIGHBORS ON PATROL AND NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS. THE FIRST OF WHICH I'M HOLDING A POSTER HERE TODAY, WILL BE CONDUCTED THIS SUNDAY FROM 11 TO FIVE P.M. AND WE'RE MEETING AT ONE OF OUR PARTNER IN BUSINESSES, MALCOLM GREEN STEIN, AN ATTORNEY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND VOLUNTEER ALONG WITH THE 20 UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS STUDENTS FROM THE INDIAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATION WHO ARE PARTICIPATING AS PART OF THEIR NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE TO RECOGNIZE THE WORKS OF MAHATAMI GHANDHI. WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT A CALL OUT TO ALL THOSE GOOD BAPTISTS OUT THERE WHO ARE CONTRIBUTING TIME AND MONEY TO THE AUSTIN BAPTIST SOUP KITCHEN AND GET THEM TO COME OUT AND HELP CLEAN UP THE MESS CREATED BY THEIR PATRONS. THIS IS A CHANCE FOR THEM TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE HAVING SUCH A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON. I'VE GIVEN YOU A HANDOUT TODAY THAT SHOWS STARTING WAY BACK IN 1995 WE'VE ASKED THE AUSTIN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION AND THE AUSTIN BAPTIST CHAPEL BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO PROVIDE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP, NEIGHBORHOOD SECURITY AND CROSSING GUARD SERVICES WHILE THEY HAVE NOT STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE TO VOLUNTEER, WE HAVE OVER 50 RESIDENTS NOW WHO ARE PICKING UP THEIR SLACK. SO THIS IS A TIME FOR ALL GOOD BAPTISTS TO COME OUT AND SEE THE KIND OF IMPACT THE PATRONS OF YOUR SOUP KITCHENS ARE HAVING ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT, AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SUNDAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, MS. RENTERIA. THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAVE UNDER CITIZENS COMMUNICATION GENERAL. AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CITY CLERK TO READ THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS AND THE TIME CERTAIN. MS. BROWN?

Brown: YES. FOR ITEM NUMBER 2, PLEASE DELETE THE WORDS, FOR AN INCREASE OF 500,000 WITH THE TOTAL CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED 968,000. AND I UNDERSTAND, MAYOR, THAT YOU'VE ALREADY COVERED THAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT CHANGE. ITEM NUMBER 15 HAS BEEN PULLED FOR DISCUSSION, BUT THE CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO OCCUR IS TO DELETE THE WORD NEIGHBORHOOD AND INSERT THE WORD LIMITED IN FRONT OF OFFICE MIXED USE. ITEM 26 HAS BEEN REMOVED. THIS ITEM IS BEING RESOLICITED. ITEMS 32, 33, AND 34 ALL HAVE THE SAME CHANGE. IT'S FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE ENVISION CENTRAL TEXAS, INSERTING THE WORD ENVISION AND DELETING THE WORD REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION VISIONING. ITEM 35, INSERT THE WORDS AFTER TRAMMELL CROW INCORPORATED, D/B/A PARMER, SLASH RETAIL 35 LTD AND CHANGE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,120,047. DELETE THE OTHER DOLLAR AMOUNT, WHICH WAS $759,981. AND THAT OCCURS ALSO IN THE SECOND PLACE WHERE IT SAYS THE TRAMMELL CROW COMPANY WILL DEPOSIT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN. A CHECK FOR 1 MILL $120,047 TO PAY THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH. ITEM 36 HAS THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT CHANGE, CHANGING THE $759,981 TO $1,120,047. ITEM 41, PLEASE ADD ANOTHER SPONSOR. NOT ONLY IS IT MAYOR GUS GARCIA, BUT ALSO DARYL SLUSHER. THE TIME CERTAIN ITEMS WE'VE ALREADY COVERED. THE 1:30, WHICH WAS CITIZEN COMMUNICATION. 3:30 IS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. 4:00 P.M. ARE ZONING ITEMS Z-1 THROUGH Z-3 AND 5:30 IS LIVE MUSIC AND PROCLAMATIONS.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, MS. BROWN. ITEM 26 -- BASICALLY WE HAVE POSTPONED IT INDEFINITELY AND REMOVED FROM THIS AGENDA, RIGHT?

Brown: RIGHT.

Mayor Garcia: THE NEXT ITEM IS A PREVIEW OF ITEMS FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. LET ME ANNOUNCE IN THIS SECTION THAT I WILL BE BRINGING AN ITEM, A RESOLUTION IN THE NEXT WEEK, HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK, ON THE ISSUE OF THE FORMATION OF AN EARLY ACTION COMPACT TO ADDRESS THE EIGHT-HOUR STANDARD FOR AIR QUALITY. THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT NEEDS TO BEGIN BECAUSE WE NEED TO APPROVE THAT EARLY ACTION COMPACT BY DECEMBER 31st. SO THAT RESOLUTION WILL BE ON THE CALENDAR, ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK. ANY OTHER ITEMS FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING?

Slusher: MAYOR?

Mayor Garcia: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.

Slusher: I'VE GOT ONE THAT'S BROUGHT TO ME BY OUR STAFF TO STEP UP THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE ILLEGAL SIGNS IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, COMMERCIAL SIGNS. THEY ARE ACTUALLY GETTING ALL OF THEM. AND A CITIZEN CAME TO ME POINTING OUT THAT WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT POST THEIR MEETINGS AND THEN THEY TAKE DOWN THEIR SIGNS. AND STAFF IS NOW PICKING UP LOST PET SIGNS, WHICH SEEMS A LITTLE HARSH, BUT THAT'S THE LAW AS IT NOW PRESENTLY READS. SO I'M GOING TO PUT ON AND COUNCILMEMBER DUNKERLEY IS CO-SPONSOR AND MAYBE I CAN GET ONE MORE, TO WHERE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS COULD DO THESE KIND OF SIGNS ABOUT THEIR MEETINGS AND SOME LOST PETS AND WE WOULD ASK PEOPLE TO PUT A DATE ON THEM AND THEY CAN SAY STAI UP FOR TWO WEEKS AND THN THEY WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME RULES AS EVERYTHING ELSE.

Mayor Garcia: OKAY. CITY MANAGER?

MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE OCTOBER 11th MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE SOUTH AUSTIN SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER LOCATED AT 3911 MANCHACA ROAD. THAT'S FOR OCTOBER 11th.

Mayor Garcia: ANY OTHERS? WE'LL NOW GO TO THE READING OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

Brown: THE CONSENT AGENDA AS I KNOW IT RIGHT NOW, STARTING WITH ITEM NUMBER 7, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM WORK SESSION OF SEPTEMBER 25TH AND THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 26TH, ITEM NUMBER 8 --

Mayor Garcia: LET ME ASK COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, DO YOU WANT A PRESENTATION ON THIS ITEM DURING THE CONSENT AGENDA?

Slusher: WHICH NUMBER IS THAT, MAYOR?

Mayor Garcia: NUMBER 8.

Slusher: NO, MAYOR, WE TALKED ABOUT DOING THAT AT A WORK SESSION LATER.

Mayor Garcia: SO THAT'S A CONSENT ITEM.

Brown: ITEMS NUMBER 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. THE NEXT FIVE ARE AS WE READ DURING THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS, ITEMS 32, 33, 34, 35 AND 36. ITEM 37, 38, 39 ARE APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AS FOLGZ: THE -- FOLLOWS: THE ARTS COMMISSION, BRUCE WILENSIK, COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER'S REAPPOINTMENT. MEL ZIEGLER, MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN'S REAPPOINTMENT. DOWNTOWN COMMISSION, DAN LEERY, THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE, CONSENSUS REAPPOINTMENT. ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD, BECKY MORRIS, MAYOR PRO TEM GOODMAN'S APPOINTMENT. IMPACT FEE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, RICHARD KELLERMAN, CONSENSUS REAPPOINTMENT. ITEM 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46.

Mayor Garcia: SO THE AGENDACONSENT ITEMS, COUNCIL, ARREST AS FOLLOWS. THE MINUTES AT NUMBER 7, NUMBER 8, NUMBER 9 -- YOU SAID NUMBER 10, RIGHT?

Brown: YES.

Mayor Garcia: 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 IS TO REMOVE SO THAT'S NOT PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 -- AND THEN WITH THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE AND READ INTO THE RECORD EARLIER UNDER THE CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS, 32, 33, 34, 35 AND 36. AND IF I MAY, COUNCILMEMBER WYNN, IF YOU COULD GIVE A BRIEF EXPLANATION. I HAD DIFFICULTY ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE MEETING. ON ITEM 34 WHERE WE'RE USING CAPITAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS, AND IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN DURING THE CONSENT AGENDA WHY WE'RE GOING THIS ROUTE, AND I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO DO THAT. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 WITH THE APPOINTMENTS READ INTO THE RECORD BY THE CITY CLERK. 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46. AND THE TWO OTHERS ARE TIME CERTAIN ITEMS. COUNCILMEMBER, THIS IS THE ISSUE HAVING TO DO WITH THE ROUTING OF THE MONEY TO THE CAPITAL --

Wynn: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ITEM NUMBER 34 IS THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. TECHNICALLY IT'S PART OF THE ENVISION CENTRAL TEXAS PROJECT. THE DECISION WAS MADE THAT CAPCO WOULD BE THE ORGANIZING GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY FOR THE REGION. CAPCO ALREADY HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ENVISION CENTRAL TEXAS WHEREBY THEY PROVIDE OFFICE SPACE, THEY DO THE PAYROLL AND HANDLE ALL BILLS, ALL THE ACCOUNTING SERVICES. AND SO TO KEEP THE BOOKS VERY CLEAN, CAPCO HANDLES ALL OF THE CASH FLOW AND FUNDING SOURCES AND PAYMENTS FOR THE PROJECT.

Mayor Garcia: SO IT'S MORE PROCEDURAL?

Wynn: YES, SIR.

Mayor Garcia: IS THERE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? MOTION BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER DUNKERLEY. DISCUSSION? JUST A SECOND.

Thomas: I NEED TO PULL 40.

Mayor Garcia: CITY MANAGER, THE MEETING NEXT WEEK IS OCTOBER 10th. SO ON OCTOBER THE 11th, YOU CAN GO HAVE A GOOD TIME THAT FRIDAY FOLLOWING THE MEETING, BUT ON OCTOBER THE 10th WILL BE SE SOUTH AUSTIN SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

Thomas: YES, SIR. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF I CAN PULL 40?

Mayor Garcia: ITEM NUMBER 40 IS BEING PULLED OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

Thomas: [ INAUDIBLE ]

Mayor Garcia: OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. LET ME READ AGAIN THE NUMBERS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. NUMBER 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16. I THOUGHT 8 WAS -- OKAY. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 42, 43, 44, 45 AND 46. FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL THOSE IF FAVOR, SIGNIFY -- OOPS. ONE SPEAKER ON ITEM NUMBER 11. JENNIFER GALE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS, MAYOR GARCIA, CITY ATTORNEY. THE CITY CLERK IS ASKING FOR TWO AND A HALF HOURS LESS ON OUR ABILITY TO SIGN UP TO COME BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS. NOW, YOU CAN COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON ANY GIVEN ITEM AND SPEAK AS WE WISH, AND YET ONLY THREE MINUTES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO THE GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS ALSO ACTS AS A WAY OF HAVING MORE TIME FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'M ASKING THAT WE NOT GIVE UP THOSE TWO AND A HALF HOURS FRIDAY MORNING. I'M SURE SHE'S DOING IT FOR SOME ADMINISTRATIVE REASON SO THAT THE AGENDA FOR THE COUNCILMEMBERS MAY BE RECEIVED AT AN EARLIER TIME. AND I'M ASKED THAT THOSE TWO AND A HALF HOURS REMAIN. THEY'VE BEEN HISTORICALLY IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE AS GIVING THEM TIME TO COME IN ON A FRIDAY MORNING TO SPEAK A WEEK LATER BEFORE THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. SINCE YOU HAVE TO WAIT SEVEN DAYS, I'M ASKING THAT YOU GIVE THE TWO AND A HALF HOURS REMAINING TO THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN RATHER THAN BE GIVEN TO THE AUSTIN CITY CLERK, WHO WAS APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL. I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL IS HOSTILE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. I BELIEVE THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE. OTHER EXAMPLES ARE THE FACT THAT THEY ONLY SIGNED UP -- SHE PERSONALLY ONLY SIGNED UP THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HERSELF TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL, AND THAT SHE IMMEDIATELY THREW OUT ANY CANDIDATES TRYING TO RUN FOR THE CITY COUNCIL DURING THE LAST CITY COUNCIL RACE. AND SHE DIDN'T REACT -- SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY REACTION WHATSOEVER TO ONE OF HER PERSONNEL PUSHING A COUNCIL CANDIDATE FILING A DOCUMENT BEFORE HER. SO I BELIEVE THE AUSTIN CITY CLERK IS HOSTILE TO THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN. THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN HAVE ALREADY LOST SIGNING UP BEFORE AND AFTER THE WEDNESDAY BRIEFING, WHICH THE HONORABLE MAYOR GARCIA HAS OPENED BACK UP SO THAT HE CAN GET A BRIEFING. AND WE'VE LOST BEING ABLE TO SPEAK AFTER COUNCIL MEETINGS. SO I'M ASKING THAT YOU KEEP THOSE TWO AND A HALF HOURS IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THANK YOU.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, MS. GALE. LET ME SAY THAT I DISAGREE WITH YOU THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN IS HOSTILE TOWARDS THE CITIZENS. I THINK QUITE THE OPPOSITE OF THIS GROUP. BUT MS. BROWN, YOU MAY WANT TO GIVE AN EXPLANATION OF WHY THE TWO AND A HALF HOURS, HOW THAT WOULD WORK TO FACILITATE THE WORK OF GETTING THINGS ON THE AGENDA.

Brown: THIS WAS BROUGHT UP AS WE LOOKED AT ALL WAYS TO STREAMLINE THE AGENDA PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN GET THE INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE PRIOR TO FIVE, SIX, SEVEN OAK AT NIGHT ON A FRIDAY. AND AS WE MOVE TOWARD AN ELECTRONIC AGENDA PACKAGE, THE DIFFICULTY WAS THAT OFTEN TIMES THE MANAGER'S OFFICE IS READY TO GO WITH THE AGENDA AT 10:00 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. BY THE TIME WE SEND IT OUT TO PRINTERS AND GET IT PRINTED AND BACK, THEN WE CAN'T DO THAT -- OR IF WE DO THAT, WE GO AHEAD AND SENT IT TO PRINTER, THEN WE'RE HAVING TO DO IT AFTER THE FACT BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS SIGNING UP AT NOON. WHAT WE FOUND IS GENERALLY WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN SPEAKING, PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP ALMOST A WEEK IN ADVANCE. AND TODAY IS UNUSUAL THAT WE DON'T HAVE A FULL PLATE OF SPEAKERS, BUT IT STRICTLY HAS TO DID WITH TYING THE AGENDA UP AS EARLY AS WE CAN TO SO THAT WE CAN GET IT TO COUNCILMEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS WHO NEED IT OVER THE WEEKEND.

Goodman: I HAVE A QUESTION, MAYOR.

Mayor Garcia: MAYOR PRO TEM?

Goodman: YOU DO HAVE THE ENTIRE, WEEK, THOUGH, AND THERE'S NO TIME CONSTRAINT THERE. ANY TIME WITHIN WORKING HOURS, RIGHT?

Brown: IT'S OPEN ACTUALLY TWO WEEKS. THEY CAN START SIGNING UP TOMORROW FOR THE AGENDA IN TWO WEEKS.

Goodman: I DID THINK 9:30 WAS A STRANGE TIME AND THAT 10 WAS A MORE TYPICAL HOUR, BUT WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TELLING ME IS THAT THEY WOULD LOVE IT IF THEY COULD GET THE AGENDAS SOONER --

Mayor Garcia: EARLIER, SURE.

Goodman: SO HAD I THINK THAT WAS PART -- SO I THINK THAT WAS PART OF WHAT DROVE IT.

MayorMAYOR THANK

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. FURTHER COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED NO? MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF SEVEN TO ZERO. MORE OR LESS, MS. BROWN, WHEN WOULD THE AGENDA BE AVAILABLE THEN ON FRIDAY, MAYBE THREE OR 4:00 O'CLOCK?

Brown: THAT'S THE HOPE. WE GET IT FROM THE MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THEN WE CAN GET IT TO THE PRINTER AND GET IT BACK.

Mayor Garcia: OKAY. I'M GOING TO CALL UP ITEM NUMBER 15. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

Slusher: YES, MAYOR. THIS ONE IS WHERE THE APPLICANT WAS PREFERRING RETAIL LR TO OFFICE LO. AND I LOOKED AT IT VERY CLOSELY, IN PARTICULAR SINCE THIS IS A FAMILY PROPERTY, NOT REALLY -- TO SEE IF I COULD AGREE WITH THE APPLICANT. BUT AFTER GOING THROUGH THE AREA AND LOOKING AT THIS TRACT SEVERAL TIMES, I THINK THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS CORRECT THAT OFFICE WOULD BE BETTER. THIS BACKS UP TO A SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S NOT NEAR A MAJOR INTERSECTION, AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF LEFT TURNING COMING OUT OF THERE FOR RETAIL AND IT COULD BE SORT OF DANGEROUS. I'M GOING TO STICK WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THIS. AND I LET THE APPLICANT KNOW AND IF HE WANTED TO PULL BACK THE CASE, THAT WOULD BE HIS PREROGATIVE. I DON'T KNOW IF HE WOULD WANT TO. I INFORMED HIM A FEW MINUTES AGO ABOUT THAT.

Mayor Garcia: IS THE APPLICANT HERE? OR THE ATTORNEY? COULD YOU COME TO THE MIC?

MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M TERRY JACKSON. I'M THE APPLICANT ON THIS CASE. IF THE COUNCIL VOTES TO GO ALONG WITH LO-CO-MU, THEN I WOULD ACCEPT IT.

Slusher: THANK YOU, MR. JACKSON.

Mayor Garcia: IS THERE A MOTION?

Slusher: I MOVE APPROVAL.

Mayor Garcia: IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, SECONDED BY ME. DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE?

AYE.

Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED NO? MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF SEVEN TO ZERO. MS. BROWN, WE'RE MOVING RIGHT ALONG.

Brown: MAYOR, I THINK YOU HAVE A COUNCILMEMBER OFF THE DIAS.

Mayor Garcia: ITEM NUMBER 40, COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

Thomas: I NEEDED SOME MORE TIME, MAYOR, BECAUSE I NEEDED TO GET MORE INFORMATION. YES, SIR, I JUST NEED YOU TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS OFFICE ABOUT ON THE RESOLUTION OF NUMBER 40, THE CERTAIN AMOUNTS WE HAVE SET. COULD WE DELAY IT A LITTLE BIT LONGER?

Mayor Garcia: YOU WANT TO HOLD OFF?

Thomas: YES, SIR.

Mayor Garcia: THERE'S A REQUEST TO HOLD OFF ON ITEM 41. SO WHAT WE CAN DO AT THIS TIME IS GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO COMPLETE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE'LL BE BACK TO DO ITEMS 40 AND 41. THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM ON WHICH WE HAVE NOT FINISHED THE DISCUSSION IS ITEM NUMBER 3. IT'S THE PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH OUR ATTORNEY UNDER SECTION 551.071. AND THIS IS THE GORDON DONE AWAY AND ELY J. GARZA VERSUS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, CAUSE NUMBER 97-1234 IN THE 2 SCIRS JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, CONCERNING THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRACTS OF LAND LOCATED NEAR WILLIAM CANNON DRIVE AND MOPAC. THE COUNCIL IS NOW GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. (EXECUTIVE SESSION 2:05) I WILL CALL THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER, I WILL CALL UP FOR DISCUSSION ITEM NO. 40. I THINK COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS -- HAD -- HAD -- PULLED THIS ITEM. HO IS APPROVE A RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION OF THE 97-0 OF 6 -- I MEAN 12-34 ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL ON JUNE 12th, 1997, TO PROVIDE FOR SPECIAL EVENT FEE WAIVERS FOR CERTAIN COUNCIL ENDORSED EVENTS. THIS IS BY COUNCILMEMBER WILL WYNN AND MAYOR GUS GARCIA, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.

Thomas: SO MOVE, MAYOR.

Wynn: SECOND.

COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS MOVES, COUNCILMEMBER WYNN SECOND. DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, NO. MOTION CARRIES. NOW, ITEM NO. 41. IS A -- IS A RESOLUTION ADDRESSING POLICY ISSUES FOR A PROPOSED CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY. AND THIS ONE IS SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER AND THE MAYOR. DO WE HAVE -- DO WE HAVE A COPY OF THE RESOLUTION SO WE CAN READ IT INTO THE RECORD? THE CURRENT DRAFT. RESOLUTION NUMBER 02. READS AS FOLLOWS: WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANT FUNDING TO REGIONAL HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, INCLUDING SH 130, THE NORTHERN EXTENSION OF MOPAC AND OTHER ROADS, AND WHEREAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITIES REPRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INCREASED REGIONAL PLANNING EFFORTS IN TRANSPORTATION AND WHEREAS R.M.A.'S, THAT SHOULD BE WITHOUT THE APOSTROPHE, REPRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INCREASED LOCAL CONTROL IN TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS THE LARGEST CITY IN THE CENTRAL TEXAS REGION, WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS EFFORTS TOWARDS REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, WHICH INCORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND USE ELEMENTS AND WISHES TO MAINTAIN A ROLE IN REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE CITY AND ITS E.T.J. AND WHEREAS TRAVIS, WILLIAMSON COUNTIES HAVE FILED A PETITION WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REQUESTING CREATION OF A REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY AND WHEREAS THE R.M.A. WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO CONSTRUCT ONE OR MORE TOLL ROAD FACILITIES WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ITS ETJ AND WHEREAS THE MEMBERSHIP -- EXCUSE ME -- MEMBERSHIP OF THE R.M.A. IS COMPRISED OF 7 MEMBERS, THREE EACH FROM WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND TRAVIS COUNTY, WITHIN APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR [INAUDIBLE], BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ENDORSES THE APPLICATION FOR TRAVIS COUNTY AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY FOR A TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, NUMBER ONE THAT THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS INCLUDE PROVISIONS THAT ALL DECISIONS TO BUILD OR FUND TRANSPORTATION RELATED IN THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS OR ITS E.T.J. MUST COMPLY WITH THE 2025 AUSTIN METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN, AND WE WANT TO SAY AS IT MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, WE NEED TO ADD THAT, CITY ATTORNEY. NUMBER 2, THAT ALL ROADS BUILT BY THE R.M.A. IN AUSTIN CITY LIMITS AND E.T.J. SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL ORDINANCES AND PARTICULARLY SAVE OUR SPRINGS AND WATER QUALITY ORDINANCE AND I THINK MAYOR PRO TEM YOU WANTED TO ADD AS THEY MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.

Goodman: YES, MAYOR. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE VERY CLEAR IF WE ADDED A COMMA AFTER ORDINANCES AND SAID AS AMENDED BY THE CITY AND REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION.

Mayor Garcia: ALL RIGHT. NUMBER 3, THAT THE R.M.A. MEMBERS REQUEST THAT THE STATEMENT RMA LEGISLATION BE AMENDED TO ALLOW AN R.M.A. TO DIRECTLY PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL COMMUTER RAIL. AND NUMBER 4 IS THAT THE R.M.A. BE A PARTNER IN ALL AIR QUALITY INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE O 3 FLEX PLAN AGREEMENT AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 8th, 2001 AND FULLY EXECUTED ON MARCH 28th, 2002. AND THE EARLY ACTION COMPACT CURRENTLY BEING STUDIED BY AREA JURISDICTIONS AND EXPECTED TO BE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY DECEMBER 31, 2002. AND THAT'S THE RESOLUTION. QUESTIONS ON THIS, ON THE RESOLUTION?

Goodman: MAYOR, I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION. NOT ABOUT THE RESOLUTION, BUT ABOUT THE R.M.A. IN -- IN ISSUES OF DESIGN, OFTEN THAT'S A BONE OF CONTENTION BETWEEN -- BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOOD AND AREAS THROUGH WHICH A NEW OR IMPROVED ROADWAY IS GOING TO BE PLACED AND DESIGN ISSUES COME UP WITH TEXDOT WHERE -- WHERE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, IF IT'S POSSIBLE AT ALL, TO HAVE DESIGNS THAT ARE SENSITIVE TO THAT AREA. IS THAT GOING TO REMAIN THE SAME UNDER THIS SCENARIO? OR THROUGH THE R.M.A. WILL WE HAVE --

Mayor Garcia: I THINK MR. LIBRACH MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT QUESTION.

OUR UNDERSTANDING, COUNCILMEMBER AND MAYOR PRO TEM, IS THAT -- THAT THE R.M.A. ROADS THAT ARE BUILT BY THE R. INFORMATION A. ARE PART OF THE STATE SYSTEM -- R.M.A. ARE PART OF THE STATE SYSTEM THAT WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH STATE STANDARD AND EVENTUALLY BE, AS I SAY, PART OF THE STATE SYSTEM AND BE EXACTLY LIKE ANY OTHER STATE ROAD. IN THE STATE SYSTEM. SO -- SO THE -- THE OPPORTUNITY, THOUGH, FOR -- FOR MORE SENSITIVE CONSIDERATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS IS THERE SINCE THERE WILL BE A -- THERE WILL BE MORE OF A LOCAL -- LOCAL PRESENCE IN THE DECISIONS WITH REGARD TO HOW ROADS ARE DESIGNED AND BUILT SINCE THIS WILL BE OPERATED BY LOCAL JURISDICTIONS IN THE FORMULA COUNTIES. [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC]

Goodman: THANKS. YEAH, THAT'S -- THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

Mayor Garcia: OKAY.

Goodman: MY COLLEAGUE TO THE LEFT WOULD PREFER A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AMENDMENT LANGUAGE.

Mayor Garcia: LET ME RECOGNIZE HIM FOR AN AMENDMENT. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

Slusher: [INAUDIBLE] CHANGE REQUIRED TO -- CAN I SEE YOUR LANGUAGE REAL QUICKLY?

Goodman: AMENDED BY THE CITY AND IN EFFECT AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION?

Slusher: [INAUDIBLE] I'M TRYING TO -- TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WHATEVER THE CITY HAS ITS ORDINANCE AT THE TIME WILL BE WHAT WE WOULD REQUIRE. AND -- AND SO --

Mayor Garcia: THAT'S WHY I NUMBER ONE I SAID COMPLY WITH THE 2025 AUSTIN METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN AS IT MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. THAT'S WHAT WE DID ON NUMBER 1.

Slusher: I WOULD JUST LEAVE IT AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. MAYOR PRO TEM, IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU? I WOULD PUT THAT ON BOTH OF THEM THEN.

Goodman: OKAY. DOES THAT THEN STILL MAKE IT CLEAR THAT AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME MEANS WHATEVER IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT WHEN CONSTRUCTION BEGINS?

Slusher: CURRENTLY IN EFFECT IN CITY ORIGINS AT THE TIME OF -- IN CITY ORDINANCES AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION. LET ME ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY, DOES ORDINANCES COVER WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE, WHEN WE SAY CITY CODE, CITY ORDINANCES, I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A TECHNICALITY WHERE SOMEONE WILL SAY THAT'S NOT IN EFFECT, THAT'S A CITY ORDINANCE. THAT'S WHY I WAS TRYING TO LIMIT IT TO AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. I THINK WHAT THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE -- SHE'S TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING, MAKE SURE WE GOT IT WORDED AS TIGHTLY AS WE NEED TO.

CITY ORDINANCES WOULD COVER CITY CODES. AND AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME WILL -- WILL SIGNAL THE CONCERN THAT YOU WANT TO CAPTURE ANY CHANGES THAT OCCUR. I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME PRACTICAL ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE AT THE TIME BONDS ARE ISSUED, FOR INSTANCE, UNDER A CERTAIN SET OF REGULATIONS. AND THEN THE CONSTRUCTION HAPPENS SOME -- SOME YEAR OR MONTHS LATER. AND THEN THERE'S A CHANGE IN REGULATIONS THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO -- YOU MAY BE -- YOU MAY BE LIMITED TO WHATEVER WAS IN EFFECT AT THE TIME THE BONDS WERE ISSUED. BUT I JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO SAY DEFINITIVELY. WE CAN CERTAINLY PUT IN HERE THE INTENT AND SAY THE MAYOR PRO TEM'S LANGUAGE ABOUT -- THAT THEY SHALL APPLY AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION, BUT I JUST WANT TO FOREWARN THAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT ALWAYS WORK.

Slusher: RIGHT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET AS BROAD AS POSSIBLE.

SO AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME AND-- AND TO BE -- TO BE APPLIED AT THE TIME OF --

AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME --

CONSTRUCTION --

AND --

AND IN EFFECT --

Slusher: NO. I DON'T THINK THAT CAME OUT EXACTLY LIKE WE CAN IT.

Goodman: WELL, WE ARE STRETCHING IT A LITTLE BIT TO MATCH THE MAYOR'S FIRST AMENDMENT. SO AS AMENDED BY THE CITY FROM TIME TO TIME BUT I STILL THINK -- I STILL THINK MS. JEFFERSON THAT I LIKE AND IN EFFECT AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION. BECAUSE THE -- THE SITUATION THAT YOU MENTIONED IS EXACTLY WHY WE HAVE ROADWAYS THAT ARE NOT BUILT UNTIL RIGHT NOW, SAY. BUT HAVE NO FURTHER PROTECTIONS, INCLUDED IN THAT DESIGN OR -- OR NOR IS THERE A MECHANISM TO RETROFIT ANYTHING. SO WE CONTINUE WITH THE SINS OF THE PAST BECAUSE WE HAVE NO MECHANISM TO UPGRADE FOR THE NEEDS OF THE PRESENT. AND I'M TRYING TO -- TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONSIDER THAT. -- IN CONSIDERING THAT THE R. INFORMATION A. WILL BE A LOCALLY APPOINTED -- R.M.A. WILL BE A LOCALLY APPOINTED BOARD, THEY WOULD -- THEY WOULD THROUGH THIS MECHANISM BE ABLE TO DO MORE -- THAT'S HOW I UNDERSTAND. I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO TELL US THAT IT IS SORT OF ALONG THE LINES OF THIS SORT OF THING. BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT TEXDOT WAS NOT UNABLE TO TALK ABOUT IN THE PAST.

Slusher: [INAUDIBLE] I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.

Mayor Garcia: HAVE YOU GOT IT, CITY MANAGER? THIS WOULD BE ITEM NO. -- ITEM NO. 2?

YEAH, 2.

Mayor Garcia: CAN YOU READ THE FINAL DRAFT?

THE TWO CHANGES AS I UNDERSTAND THEM IN -- IN NUMBER 1, AT THE END OF AMATP, PAREN, WE ADD COMMA AS IT MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. PARAGRAPH 2, AFTER ORDINANCES WE ADD A COMMA, AS AMENDED. AND IN EFFECT AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION.

Goodman: AS AMENDED? BY THE CITY FROM TIME TO TIME AND IN EFFECT AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION.

Slusher: MAYOR, BEFORE WE DO THAT I HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT.

Mayor Garcia: OKAY.

Slusher: WELL, AN EARLIER DRAFT HAD CALLED FOR A VOTE OF THE COUNCIL BEFORE -- BEFORE ON ANYTHING WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION. AND I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE REASONS FOR NOT WANTING TO INCLUDE THAT. BUT -- BUT I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST LAY OUT FOR THIS QUESTION, IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER IT NOW, WE MIGHT LEAVE IT OPEN AND COME BACK TO IT IN THE FUTURE. BUT -- BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WOULDN'T COME SUCH A SITUATION WHERE THAT -- WHERE THAT A ROADWAY THAT'S A CITY ROADWAY COULD BE MADE INTO A TOLL ROAD, TOLL ROAD WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION. NOW, IF IT'S A HIGHWAY THAT'S COMING THROUGH, I UNDERSTAND THAT. NOT HAVING THE VETO POWER FOR THAT. BUT UNDER THE WAY THE R.M.A. IS CONSTRUCTED RIGHT NOW, MS. CITY ATTORNEY, DO YOU KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE?

I WILL HAVE TO SEE IF AUSTIN L.B.J. -- IF AUSTEN LIBRACH HAS ANY INFORMATION ON THAT, DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?

Mayor Garcia: MY GUESS IS THAT THAT ISSUE HAS NEVER BEEN BROUGHT UP.

Slusher: THAT'S WHAT I'M GUESSING. BUT ONCE THAT WAS PULLED OUT THEN, THIS WHOLE THING IS SO NEW, AND UNCERTAIN AND IT'S MOVING REAL RAPIDLY, SO I'M TRYING TO ENVISION PARTICULAR SITUATIONS, WHAT I WOULD SAY LET'S DON'T DEAL WITH THAT NOW, I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT ON THE RECORD WHERE IF WE NEED TO COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT THAT AT A FUTURE TIME.

Mayor Garcia: I WANT TO READ THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT ON ITEM 41 INTO THE RECORD, I WILL HAVE COPIES FOR THE MEDIA ON THIS. THE STATEMENT READS AS FOLLOWS: TODAY THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING ITEM 41, WHICH ADDRESSES POLICY ISSUES FOR A PROPOSED CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY, KNOWN AS AN R.M.A. THE RESOLUTION LAYS OUT THE CONDITIONS THAT THE CITY CONSIDERS CRITICAL TO GIVING ITS APPROVAL TO THE R.M.A. FROM THE OUTSET I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED WITH THE LEGISLATION THAT CREATED R.M.A.'S, MAINLY BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS PRESENTED AS AN EFFORT TO GIVE COMMUNITIES LOCAL CONTROL OVER ROAD PROJECTS, THE LEGISLATION GAVE THE CITIES NO POWER OR CONTROL OVER THE R.M.A.'S. INSTEAD IT GAVE POWER AND CONTROL TO THE COUNTIES TO THE EXCLUSION OF CITIES. NOW WE HAVE THE COUNTY JUDGE OF A NEIGHBORING COUNTY STATING THAT WE COULD BUILD AN 8 LANE ROAD RIGHT UP TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY LINE AND IF IT STOPS THERE, IT DOES NOT DO ANYBODY ANY GOOD. WHEREAS THIS STATEMENT ON ITS FACE APPEARS TO BE TRUE, I MUST ADD IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE EITHER TO BUILD THAT TYPE OF ROAD TO OUR CITY IF WE AS A CITY HAVE NO RIGHT TO PRESCRIBE THE CONDITIONS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF OUR CITY. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT PURSUANT TO THE LEGISLATION, TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES PROCEEDED TO FORM TEXAS' FIRST R.M.A. WITHOUT CONSULTING WITH THE CITY THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MOST AFFECTED BY THEIR DECISION. AUSTIN, A HOME RULED CITY OF ALMOST 700,000 PEOPLE, WAS COMPLETELY LEFT OUT OF THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT RESULTED IN THE FORMATION OF THE R.M.A. NOW WE HAVE NEIGHBORS TELLING US TO GET OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE WE ARE COMING THROUGH. THAT SITUATION IS ANALOGOUS TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DECIDING TO DO SOMETHING WITH HIS PROPERTY THAT YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH AND THEN BLAMING YOU FOR OBSTRUCTING HIS PROJECT WHEN IN ESSENCE YOU WERE LEFT OUT OF HIS OR HER DECISION MAKING PROCESS. THE SITUATION IS ALSO OF CONCERN TO ME BECAUSE AS REPORTED IN THIS MORNING'S PAPER, STATE OFFICIALS SOMETIMES COME TO AUSTIN, BUY REAL ESTATE, PUSH FOR LEGISLATION THAT ENHANCES THE VALUE OF THEIR PROPERTY, THEN SELL THE PROPERTY AT PROFITS THAT EXCEED SEVEN FIGURES. THE CITY FREQUENTLY FACES THOSE TYPE OF SITUATIONS AND IS FACED WITH HAVING TO DEAL WITH LEGISLATION THAT TIES OUR HANDS AS WE ATTEMPT TO PROTECT OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCES. THE R.M.A. SITUATION IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS. WE INTEND TO WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO BRING ABOUT NEEDED MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS REQUIRED TO KEEP OUR CITY ECONOMICALLY VIABLE. BUT WE WANT TO BE PART OF A DECISION MAKING PROCESS. THAT'S WHAT THIS RESOLUTION ADDRESSES. LET ME CLOSE BY COMPARING THE SITUATION WITH SH 130. AND THAT PROJECT -- THIS THAT PROJECT THE CITY WORKED WITH NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES TO MAKE THE PROJECT ACCEPTABLE TO ALL OF US IN THE REGION. WE JOINED TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES AND CONTRIBUTED 15 MILLION TOWARD RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION. THE CITY FUNDAMENTALLY BELIEVES THAT WE MUST ADDRESS OUR MOBILITY ISSUES AND WE HAVE NEVER EVER [INAUDIBLE] AWAY FROM THAT. WE ALSO BELIEVE WE NEED TO BE A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS. THAT'S MY STATEMENT ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

Slusher: MAYOR?

> Mayor Garcia: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER.

Slusher: I REALLY AGREE WITH THOSE STRONG REMARKS AND AGREE WITH YOU. JUST ON THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY SITUATION I THINK WE HAVE MUCH IMPROVED OVER THE PREVIOUS YEARS A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY. ESPECIALLY ON TRANSPORTATION. BUT JUST TO LAY OUT A STATISTIC THAT SHOWS WHAT THE SITUATION IS THERE, I HANDED OUT AT THE CAMPO MEETING LAST TIME, IT SHOWS -- HOW MANY PEOPLE -- FROM TRAVIS COUNTY INTO OTHER COUNTIES. WELL, EVERY DAY WE HAVE 40,000 PEOPLE, 39,000, COMING FROM WILLIAMSON COUNTY INTO AUSTIN. AND AS -- AS ALMOST ALL -- THAT'S ALMOST ALL ON OUR ROADS, THERE MIGHT BE A FEW PARK AND RIDE, BUT MOST OF IT ON OUR ROADS AFNLTD FOLKS SPENT SOME SALES TAX MONEY PERHAPS WHILE THEY ARE HERE, ALTHOUGH OUR PERCENTAGE OF THAT IS GOING DOWN, TOO, THE PERCENTAGE OF SALES TAX IS -- IS SPENDING -- YOU KNOW, AUSTIN IS GOING DOWN COMPARED TO THE METROPOLITAN AREA. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO -- TO FACE AS A REGION, BUT I THINK THE REGION HAS TO INCLUDE A STRONG VOICE FOR THE BIGGEST CITY IN THE REGION, WHICH IS THE ECONOMIC DRIVING FORCE, ALSO A DRIVING FORCE OF THE ENTIRE REGION. AND ON THE R.M.A., I THINK THESE TWO ROADS THAT ARE THE ORIGINAL GOALS, THE ORIGINAL PROJECTS OF THE R.M.A., I THINK THEY ARE BOTH NEEDED, 183 A, CLEARLY A LOT -- THAT'S ALMOST ALL, THAT'S ALL WILLIAMSON COUNTY, PART OF IT IS IN THE CITY'S JURISDICTION, BUT IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME. CERTAINLY IS THE TRAFFIC THERE TO -- TO UTILIZE THAT ROAD TO MOVE CITIZENS AROUND BETTER BY HAVING THAT ROAD. AND THEN THE -- THE 45 SOUTHEAST, THAT'S THE PART BETWEEN -- BETWEEN I-35 AND 130, THAT'S NEEDED BECAUSE WHY WOULD YOU BUILD THE BYPASS 130, WHY WOULD YOU BUILD THAT IF YOU WEREN'T GOING TO CONNECT IT BACK UP TO I-35. SO THAT'S NEEDED. THE CITY OF AUSTIN WAS PUTTING MONEY INTO 130. WE HAVE PUT MONEY INTO THE EXTENSION OF MOPAC, INTO 45 NORTH. SO THE CITY AND THE COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THE NEED FOR THESE ROADS. AND WE UNDERSTAND HOW -- HOW OUR CITIZENS WANT MORE ROADS AND CITIZENS OF THE REGION WANT MORE ROADS. IT'S VERY -- REALLY POLITICALLY POPULAR THING TO DO. BUT ALSO ANOTHER THING THAT'S HAPPENING OVER THE YEARS IN THIS REGION HAS BEEN THINGS, IDEAS THAT SEEM LIKE GOOD IDEAS, ADDRESS POPULAR ISSUES AT THE TIME AND THEY TURN OUT LATER MAYBE, WELL MAYBE FOLKS HAVE GOTTEN JUST IN A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH OF A HURRY, DIDN'T THINK OF EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEEDED TO THINK ABOUT AND THEN IT CAUSED OUR TAXPAYERS MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THOSE MISTAKES. AND USUALLY THEY WERE MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE IN ADDRESSING WHAT WERE POPULAR ISSUES AT THE TIME. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT SOMETHING THAT'S MOVING THIS FAST AS THE R.M.A. IS, THAT HAS THIS MUCH UNCERTAINTY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THERE BE SOME SCRUTINY, SOME EXERCISE ON IT. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO HERE TODAY.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. FURTHER COMMENTS? DID WE GET A MOTION ON THAT, MS. BROWN, YET?

Clerk Brown: NO.

Mayor Garcia: NO. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2?

Slusher: MOVE APPROVAL.

Mayor Garcia: MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND -- COUNCILMEMBER DUNKERLY. DISCUSSION?

Goodman: [INAUDIBLE]

Mayor Garcia: THE AMENDED RESOLUTION, CORRECT. IF NOT, ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED NO. MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE A 3:30 TIME CERTAIN FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. THAT -- THAT MEETING IS -- ONLY HAS ONE ITEM AND IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ONE THAT WILL REQUIRE A LOT OF TIME. SO -- SO I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE CONSIDER RECESSING THIS MEETING UNTIL 10 MINUTES TO 4:00. AND THEN PICK UP THAT ITEM AT THAT TIME AND THEN WE CAN GO TO THE 4:00 P.M. ZONING HEARINGS AND APPROVAL OF ORDINANCES AT 4:00 P.M. TIME CERTAIN. WE ARE RECESSED UNTIL 3:50.

Mayor Garcia: AS I ANOWPSED -- I'LL PUT -- PUT THE VOLUME DOWN ON THIS A LITTLE BIT, PLEASE. AS I ANNOUNCED EARLIER, THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS IN RECESS, SO I'M GOING TO CALL TO ORDER THE 3:30 P.M. BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WE WILL BE CONSIDERING ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE. MR. HILGERS?

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. HFC ITEM NUMBER ONE IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF AUGUST 29TH, 2002.

Mayor Garcia: THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER AHFC 1 MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER THOMAS AND SECONDED BY ME. FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

Mayor Garcia: BOARD MEMBER SLUSHER, ARE YOU OKAY? FOUR WITH VICE-PRESIDENT GOODMAN OFF THE DIAS TEMPORARILY. AHFC 2.

ITEM NUMBER 2 ARKS 2, AND I'M GOING TO READ THROUGH THIS FOR THE RECORD, IS APPROVE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION FISCAL YEAR 2002-2003 GRANT OPERATING BUDGET AND THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FUND OPERATING BUDGET, APPROVE THE PROPOSITION OF PROGRAM INCOME NOT PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED, ESTIMATED TO BE 1,610,000 AND 1 THRIRT THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REVOLVING FUNDS. APPROVE THE PROPOSITION OF ALL CARRY FORWARD FOR A TOTAL ESTIMATED AHFC GRANT OPERATING BUDGET OF $10,697,407. APPROVE THE PROPOSED AHFC HOUSING PROGRAMS TO BE OPERATED BY AHFC IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2002-2003, APPROVE ACCEPTANCE OF GRANTS FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A ONE-YEAR SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN AHFC AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR FUNDING OF FISCAL YEAR 2002-2003 2003 OPERATIONS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 10,697,407 IN NEW FUNDING AND APPROVE THE PROPOSITION OF $665,402 FOR THE AHFC HOUSING ASSISTANCE FUND, TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2002-2003 AHFC BUDGET IS $11,322,809. AND I'LL STOP WITH THAT.

Mayor Garcia: THE QUESTION THAT I HAD IS THAT WE'VE HAD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THIS, BOTH AT THE COMMUNITY PROPOSITION LEVEL AND AT THE BOARD MEETINGS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

AND I HAD A BRIEF PRESENTATION TO GO OVER WITH YOU FOR THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS BUDGET. AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO BE BRIEF. THIS IS, MR. PRESIDENT, THE THIRD TIME THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT THIS BUDGET IN FRONT OF THIS BODY, BUT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'RE ASKING THE BOARD FOR OFFICIAL APPROVAL OF OUR BUDGET. THE FIRST TIME WAS DURING WHEN YOU APPROVED OUR CONSOLIDATED PLAN. THE SECOND TIME WAS WHEN IT WAS IMPROVED AS PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET. AND NOW WE'RE ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THIS AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION HAS THE SAME VISION AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THAT IS, TO BE -- TO STRIVE TO MAKE ONE THE MOST LIVEABLE COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY. AND WE ADD BY INVESTING IN HOUSING THAT IS SAFE, MIXED INCOME, ACCESSIBLE, REASONABLY PRICED AND TRANSIT ORIENT AND A THAT MEETS THE GREEN BUILDER STANDARDS. OUR JB IS TO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGY HOISING AND FINANCE INSTITUTIONS THAT BENEFIT LOW AND MODERATE INCOME REZ RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN. THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION IS THE DESIGNATED HOUSING PRODUCTION ARM FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ADMINISTERS CITY HOUSING PROGRAMS THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION IS A NONPROFIT CHAPTER 394 CORPORATION. IT IS ORGANIZED UNDER THE TEXAS HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION ACT AND HAS THE ABILITY TO ISSUE BONDS. THE MAYOR SERVES AS THE CORPORATION'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THE CITY COUNCIL IS ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE CITY MANAGER SERVES AS ITS GENERAL MANAGER. AND I SERVE AS ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. IN ORDER TO IMPROVE HOUSING SERVICES AND TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR INVESTMENT AND ANALYSIS OF OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS ESTABLISHED THE HOUSING CONTINUUM. WE'VE TAKEN GREAT STRIDES TO ENHANCE OUR SERVICES THROUGH THIS CONTINUUM, PARTICULARLY WITH THE COMMITMENTS THAT THIS -- THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE BOARD HAS ADOPTED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WE HAVE NOW BEGUN CONSTRUCTION ON OUR HOMELESS SHELTER. WE HAVE INVESTED PRELIMINARILY IN THE GARDEN TERRACE, A SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY FACILITY. WE HAVE INVESTED IN OUR RENTAL HOUSING PROGRAMS AT A LEVEL THAT IS SECOND ONLY TO THE STATE OF TEXAS IN THE NUMBER OF BONDS THAT WE'VE ISSUED, SOME $100 MILLION SINCE 1997 IN MULTI-FAMILY BONDS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED. WE HAVE INCREASED OUR SERVICES THROUGH FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS THROUGH OUR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, OUR SMALL BUILDER PROGRAMS AND OUR ACCUSE A WITH A SITION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND WE HAVE THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY LENDING OFFICE IMPROVED OUR SERVICES FOR OWNER OCCUPIED REHABILITATION SERVICES, INCLUDING CONTRACTS WHERE THE AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE AND THE DISABILITY ASSISTANCE OF CENTRAL TEXAS. THE MAJOR GOALS FOR THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION FOR THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR ARE TO BE A CATALYST FOR SMART HOUSING PRODUCTION, TO PROMOTE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION THROUGH HOUSING PRODUCTION, TO BUILD THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION'S ASSET BASE AND WORKING CAPITAL, TO STRENGTHEN THE INTERNAL CAPACITY OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND OUR PARTNERS. AND TO BECOME A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN THE HOUSING INDUSTRY. THIS NEXT CHART, AND I'LL TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES ON THIS CHART, SHOWS THE FLOW OF OUR FUNDING AND THE SOURCES WHICH INCLUDES THE GENERAL FUND SUPPORT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN. FUNDS COME DIRECTLY FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND FROM THE LOCAL SOURCES THAT WE HAVE, INCLUDING PRIVATE SECTOR. AND THEN INTO AHFC. THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION THEN USES THAT FUNDING TO ADMINISTER OUR PROGRAMS AND WE WORK WITH A NUMBER OF PARTNERS THAT DESERVE SOME MENTION AS WE'RE GETTING THIS BUDGET APPROVED. OUR OUTSTANDING NONPROFIT PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO HELP US DO OUR JOB INCLUDE THE AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE, THE AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, THE MARY LEE FOUNDATION, GUADALUPE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, BLACK LAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, DISABILITY ASSISTANCE OF CENTRAL TEXAS, AND OUR NEWEST NONPROFIT, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF AUSTIN, WHO IS BUILDING HOUSES AT SAINT JOHN. THESE PARTNERS ARE TYPICALLY, OR MOST OF THEM ARE COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB IN THEIR COMMUNITY. WE ALSO WORK WITH FOUNDATIONS COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THAT DOES MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE OUR OTHER PARTNERS AND WE NEED TO MAKE MENTION OF OUR LENDING PARTNERS IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE BOARD RECOGNIZE THAT WE'VE ACHIEVED OUR OBJECTIVE TO EXPAND OUR PARTNERSHIPS IN THIS AREA. AND THEY INCLUDE WELLS FARGO BANK, LIBERTY BANK, CHASE BANK, FROST BANK, ALLIED MORTGAGE CAPITAL CORPORATION, AMERICAN HOME FRONT, AUSTIN AREA TEACHERS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, BANK ONE, CHASE MANHATTAN, COUNTRY WIDE HOME LOANS, GOLD FINANCIAL SERVICES, COSTMAN AND BROAD MORTGAGE OF, MORTGAGE NETWORK, NORTH AMERICAN MORTGAGE COMPANY, PACIFIC AMERICAN MORTGAGE AND WELLS FARGO HOME MORTGAGE. WE ALSO HAVE A VARIETY OF SMALL BUILDERS, TOO MANY TO MENTION IN THE TIME THAT I HAVE, BUT WE HAVE A VARIETY OF SMALL HOME BUILDERS THAT WE ARE ALSO VERY PROUD OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM. AND WE'RE ALSO VERY PROUD OF THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED WITH OUR OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND THEY INCLUDE PARTICULARLY WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT, THE WORK THAT WILL BE DONE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INSPECTION DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE CREATION OF THE NEW SMART HOUSING REVIEW TEAM AND THE WORK THAT MIKE HEIGHTS HAS LED IN THAT EFFORT. THE NEXT CHART SHOWS THE PROPOSED SOURCES OF FUNDS. THE TOTAL FUNDING, AS IT SHOWS HERE, IS $11.3 MILLION. WE ARE UNIQUE IN THAT THESE FUNDS ARE BASICALLY SPLIT ONE-THIRD OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS, ONE-THIRD FROM THE HOME DOLLARS AND ONE-THIRD FROM FUNDS THAT COME FROM THIS LOCAL JURISDICTION, REALLY GENERAL FUND DOLLARS THAT SUPPORT HOUSING AND ACTIVITIES. THE CITY ALLOCATED $3.1 MILLION THROUGH THE SMART HOUSING CAPITAL I AM IMPROVEMENT FUND. OF THESE FUNDS, $500,000 WILL BE USED TO FUND THAT SMART HOUSING REVIEW TEAM THAT I JUST REFERRED TO. AND ADDITIONAL $600,000 WLB PAID FOR THE ACRES THAT WE HAVE. THE REMAINING TWO MILLION DOLLARS WILL BE USED FOR CRITICALLY NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION AND AFFORDABLE SINGLE-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT. THE STAFF IS CURRENTLY EVALUATING OVER $5.5 MILLION IN REQUESTS FOR THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROPOSES AND $5.1 MILLION IN THE MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING PROPOSALS. IN RESPONSE TO THE CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS, 40% OF OUR RESOURCES ARE FOR THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS. WEWE HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LOW INTEREST RATES AT THE MARKET AT THIS TIME. WE WILL RECEIVE NEARLY A THIRD OF OUR HOUSING DOLLARS WITH RENTAL HOUSING -- DIRECT ALLOCATION AND GAS FINANCING OF MORE THAN 20%. THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION WILL USE APPROXIMATELY FOUR PERCENT OF ITS FUND IN OUR TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES DIRECT RENTAL SUBSIDIES TO VERY LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND SEVEN PERCENT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF OUR PROGRAMS. ALL OF OUR HOMEOWNER AND OWNER-OCCUPIED SERVICES ARE ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION'S COMMUNITY LEADING OFFICE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY ON CONGRESS AVENUE AND OLTORF STREET AND WILL BE PART OF THE MOVE IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR TO THE 11th STREET CORRIDOR. AS PART OF THE LENDING OFFICE'S EXPANDING SERVICES THIS YEAR, THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION WILL INTRODUCE TWO NEW ACTIVITIES FOR FIRST TIME HOMEOWNERS, AN ACQUISITION AND REHAB PROGRAMS AND A SECOND LIEN MORTGAGE PRODUCT. WE WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK TO YOU IN EARLY DECEMBER WHEN TIME ALLOWS WITH A MORE DETAILED PRESENTATION OF EXACTLY HOW THESE PROGRAMS ARE STRUCTURED, MAYBE AT A WORK SESSION IF THAT WILL BE POSSIBLE. THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS THE TOTAL NUMBERS OF PRODUCTIONS THAT WE HAVE CREATED -- OF UNITS THAT WE HAVE CREATED OR RETAINED THIS YEAR AND THE NUMBERS OF UNITS THAT WE ANTICIPATE CREATING OR RETAINING IN FISCAL YEAR '03. THAT NUMBER HAS INCREASED BY ALMOST 300 UNITS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE FACE AND OUR PARTNERS FACE IS THE ACQUISITION OF LAND BECAUSE BUILDABLE LOTS ARE LIMITED AND THE DEMAND OUT WEIGHS THE SUPPLY, THIS IS AN EVEN MORE CRITICAL ISSUE. THE INTEREST RATES, AS I SAID, ARE LOWER AND WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. IT REALLY HAS CREATED AN ENTIRELY NEW MARKET IN THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE UNABLE TO AFFORD HOUSES IN HOME OWNERSHIP JUST TWO YEARS AGO CAN NOW AFFORD TO GET INTO A HOME. WE'RE SEEING FAMILIES AT 60 AND 70% OF MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME EASILY QUALIFYING FOR HOUSES THAT WE CAN BUILD WITH MINIMAL SUBSIDY. ALTHOUGH THE MARKET IS SOFTENING WITH MULTI-FAMILY DOCUMENT DEVELOPMENTS, THE DEMAND FOR MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING IS IN DEMAND IN OUR AREA, PLEER WITH ELDERLY HOUSING. WE SEE HERE THAT WE HAVE THE PRIMROSE, THE ARREST BERZ OF THE CREEK, WHICH IS AN ELDERLY HOUSING COMPLEX THAT IS 50% OF MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME OR BELOW, AND WE HAVE TWO MORE THAT WILL BE COMING ON LINE IN THE NEXT YEAR AS FUNDING GETS APPROVED, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE THAT IT WILL. WITH NEARLY 1,000 NEW UNITS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, OUR BOND FINANCING SERVICE SEARCHES FAMILIES UNDER THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME AND THE RENTAL UNITS ARE TRACKED ON A MULTI-YEAR BASIS. AS PART OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE DONE AS A CITY AND THROUGH THE DIRECTION OF OUR GENERAL MANAGER, WE AT THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION HAVE ALSO WORKED HARD TO IDENTIFY PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE WILL BE IMPLEMENTING OVER THE COURSE OF THIS NEXT YEAR. FOUR OF THEM I WILL HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU QUICKLY. ONE IS WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE AND EXPAND THE SMALL BUILDER PROGRAM. THIS IS A UNIQUE PROGRAM FUNDED 100% WITH HOME FUNDS IN A REVOLVING LOAN WHICH HELPS BUILD THE ASSET BASE OF THE CORPORATION. IT PROVIDES SMALL CONTRACTORS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO SECURE CAPITAL WHO TIPLY DON'T HAVE THE -- TYPICALLY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SO. THE FUNDS ARE USED AS AN INTERIM CONSTRUCTION LOAN WITH ZERO% INTEREST. CONTRACTORS IMAWL PHI FOR AN MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF $65,000, PROVIDED THE BUILDER OWNS THE LOT, MEETS THE OUTLINES FOR THE SMART HOUSING AND HAS IS FAMILY -- THAT'S AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAM THAT WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE OTHER PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS ARE IN BUILDING THE ASSET BASE OF THE CORPORATION, WE HAVE RESTRUCTURED OUR PROGRAMS FROM GRANTS TO LOANS. WE HAVE ISSUE -- WE ISSUED DIFFERENT AND VALUATE THE TERMS OF THE LOANS BASED ON THE POPULATION WHO IS TO BE SERVED AND THEIR INCOME LEVELS AND THE NEED FOR SUBSIDY TO MAKE THE DEAL ACTUALLY WORK ON PAPER. AND WORK FINANCIALLY. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'RE ALREADY CREATING THE SMART HOUSING REVIEW TEAM, WHICH IS WORTHY OF MENTIONING THREE TIMES IN THIS PRESENTATION. WE'RE EXCITED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MIKE HEIGHTS AND HIS TEAM IN DEVELOPING A SPECIAL SMART HOUSING REVIEW PROCESS THAT WE HOPE WILL BECOME MORE INSTITUTIONALLIZED. AND FINALLY, WE HAVE LAUNCHED THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION WEBSITE, WHICH FOR EVERYONE IS WWW.CITY OF AUSTIN.ORG/AHFC. IT HIGHLIGHTS FOR US ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, OUTLINES WHAT THEY ARE, INCLUDING APPLICATIONS FOR ALL OF THOSE PROGRAMS, SO WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I WILL STOP -- THAT WAS ALMOST 10 MINUTES, MR. PRESIDENT -- AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, MR. HILGERS. I WAS GOING TO MENTION THAT TODAY'S WALL STREET JOURNAL HAS A FRONT PAGE ARTICLE ABOUT THE HOUSING MARKET AND SOME INTERESTING DATA REGARDING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MAJOR CITIES, REGARDING THE SALARIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD, THE INCREASING IN HOUSES. VERY REVEALING KIND OF DATA THAT I THINK WE PROBABLY OUGHT TO FIND OUT WHERE AUSTIN IS IN THIS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE AUSTIN. BUT THE IDEA THAT 50% FOR BRINGING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE VERY MUCH ON TARGET. ANYWAY, QUESTIONS FOR MR. HILGERS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM A HFC 2.

SO MOVE.

Mayor Garcia: MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER DUNKERLEY, SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER SLUSHER. FURTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED NO. MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF SEVEN TO ZERO. AND NOW I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED NO? MOTION CARRIES. WE NOW GO TO THE 4:00 O'CLOCK TIME CERTAIN ZONING HEARINGS AND APPROVAL OF ORDINANCES AND RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS. MS. GLASGO.

Glasco: GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. OUR ZONING CASES ARREST AS FOLLOWS: ITEM NUMBER Z-1 IS C-14-02-003 IS A CASE AT 618 TILLERY STREET. WE GOT A REQUEST ON THIS CASE FROM A CITIZENS WHO ARE EITHER -- THEIR REQUEST WAS TO EITHER WITHDRAW THE CASE OR POSTPONE IT. COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ MIGHT HAVE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT. ITEM NUMBER Z-2 WILL BE A DISCUSSION. I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME CITIZENS SIGNED UP AGAINST THE ITEM, MAYOR, ON Z-2.

Mayor Garcia: YES. I HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP AGAINST. THE REST ARE SIGNED UP IN FAVOR OF.

Glasco: AND OUR NEXT CONSENT ITEM IS NUMBER Z-3, C-14-0 #--116. THIS CASE IS LOCATED AT 2203-2205 EAST 15TH STREET AND 1404 CHESTNUT AVENUE. THE CHANGE IS FROM SINGLE-FAMILY 3 NP, NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN COMBINING DISTRICT. TO P-NP, WHICH STANDS FOR PUBLIC NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN COMBINING DISTRICT. THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOR A PARK THAT WAS IDENTIFIED AS A NEED IN THE CHESTNUT NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN. AS DEDICATED PARKLAND AND CAN BE USED FOR THAT. THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HAS PLANS READY FOR CONSTRUCTION AND BIDDING FOR THE PROJECT IN NOVEMBER. THAT CONCLUDES THE ZONING ITEMS.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, MS. GLASGO. Z-1 IS CONSENT FOR POSTPONEMENT. AND Z-3 IS CONSENT FOR --

Glasco: IT IS READY FOR ALL THREE READINGS.

Mayor Garcia: OKAY.

Alvarez: MAYOR?

Mayor Garcia: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ.

Alvarez: YES. ON Z-1, THAT'S THE TILLERY CASE. AND THERE WAS A REQUEST FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A POSTPONEMENT. OR FOR THE CITY TO WITHDRAW THE CASE BECAUSE THE CITY INITIATED THE CASE. IT'S A WAREHOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM A RESIDENTIAL AREA. AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS HOPING TO GET MORE TIME TO EXPLORE PARTICULAR OPTIONS OR A PARTICULAR USE FOR THAT PROPERTY, SO THEY REQUESTED TO POSTPONE. THE REAL QUESTION IS TO POSTPONE FOR WHAT DAY. WHAT I WOULD ASK IS IF WE COULD BRING THIS CASE BACK --

Mayor Garcia: WHICH ITEM IS THIS, COUNCILMEMBER?

Alvarez: Z-1.

Mayor Garcia: IT'S POSTPONED INDEFINITELY.

Alvarez: IS THAT TOO BROAD?

Mayor Garcia: THAT MEANS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THEY'LL GET HERE, SO THEY HAVE TO SAY EITHER A DATE OR INDEFINITE.

Glasco: COUNCIL, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE WE ALREADY ALSO HAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS AND REZONING OCCURRING CURRENTLY, WHICH WE PLAN TO BRING TO YOU ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. WE PLAN TO GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN DECEMBER. IF YOU CAN ACTUALLY -- WE'RE THE APPLICANT, SO WE CAN EITHER WITHDRAW THE CASE WITH YOUR DIRECTIVE AND DIRECT US TO INCLUDE THE REZONING OF THIS PROPERTY THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS, WHICH PROVIDES A CONTEXT AS RELATED TO NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.

Alvarez: I WAS JUST GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE BRING THIS ITEM BACK -- [ INAUDIBLE ]

Glasco: SO POSTPONE IT UNTIL JANUARY WHEN WE BRING BACK THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN? WE CAN DO THAT TOO.

Mayor Garcia: OKAY. FURTHER COMMENTS? IS THERE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? MOTION BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

Thomas: YES.

Mayor Garcia: DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

Mayor Garcia: OPPOSED NO. MOTION CARRIES. NOW WE'LL GO TO Z-2.

lvarez: MAYOR? THIS IS A CASE THAT IS VERY NEAR TO MY HOUSE, SO I HAVE TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THE VOTE. AND I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO ANYBODY WITH THE ISSUES RELATED TO THIS, ALTHOUGH MANY PEOPLE HAVE TRIED. IT IS VERY TEMPTING TO WANT TO STEP IN THERE --

Mayor Garcia: I APPRECIATE THAT, COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ EXPLAINED THAT HE LIVES CLOSE TO THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY AND IT'S NOT A FINANCIAL CONFLICT AS MUCH AS IT IS A PROXIMITY OF LOCATION TYPE OF CONFLICT, SO HE WILL NOT BE IN THE CHAMBERS DURING THE DISCUSSION AND WILL NOT BE PROAT VOETING ON THIS. -- VOTING ON THIS. MS. GLASGO.

Glasco: ITEM NUMBER Z-2, C-14-02-004 SH, WHICH STANDS FOR SMART OH HOUSING. THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY ZONED CS, WHICH STANDS FOR GENERAL COMMERCIAL SERVICES AND THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING A CHANGE TO MULTI-FAMILY 4, WHICH STANDS FOR MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENCE, MULTITO HIGH DENSITY. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION IS TO GRANT MULTI-FAMILY 3 ZONING, AND WE ARE OFFERING THE CASE FOR ALL THREE READINGS SHOULD YOU ADOPT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS PROBABLY BETTER EXPLAINED BY THE APPLICANT. WHAT I'LL DO IS LET THE APPLICANT GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT AND THEN WE CAN RESPOND TO QUESTIONS AS MAY ARISE.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, MS. GLASGO. THE APPLICANT ACTUALLY HAS FOUR PEOPLE THAT HAVE GIVEN HERE TIME, SO YOU BASICALLY HAVE 15 MINUTES, BUT BEFORE YOU START, MS. LONGLEY, LET ME SEE IF MS. ROSALES IS HERE. YOU'RE DONATING YOUR TIME TO DALTON IRIS, IS THAT CORRECT? IS SHE HERE? I DON'T HAVE HER CARD. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO SIGN -- IS MS. IRIS HERE? YOU NEED TO GO OUT TO THE FRONT AND SIGN A CARD SO THAT I CAN GIVE YOU THE TIME THAT SOMEONE HAS DONATED TO YOU. OKAY. MS. LANGUAGELY?

OKAY. HONORABLE MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMEMBERS. WE ARE THRILLED TO COME BEFORE YOU THIS AFTERNOON TO OFFICIALLY PRESENT THIS INCREDIBLE PROPOSAL, A MODEL SENIOR HOUSING PROJECT TO BE BUILT AT A LOCATION THAT OPTIMIZES CITY SERVICES ALREADY IN PLACE AND WILL BE LOCATED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF LOW INCOME SENIORS. AND ANOTHER DUBIOUS DISTINCTION OF RESIDING IN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING. AGAIN, I'M KAREN LANGLEY. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR FAMILY ELDER CARE. BUT BEFORE I CONTINUE, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AND HAVE THEM STAND. FOR FAMILY ELDER CARE AND THE ROSEWOOD 1 SUPPORTED SENIOR HOUSING CHOTA BOARD. WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE THIS AFTERNOON. PERHAPS MANY OTHERS WHO WILL ARRIVE LATER BECAUSE WE HAD TO PARK SO FAR AWAY. THESE INCREDIBLY TALENTED INDIVIDUALS REPRESENT ALL FACETS OF OUR CITY AND ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING AND ASIS CONTINUING WITH THE NEEDS OF OUR OLDER COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO OUR TWO BOARDS, DIANA McIEFER AND THE ASSOCIATES HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN ASSISTING US. WILL THE REPRESENTATIVES PLEAD STAND? THEY ARE NATIONALLY ROW KNOWNED EXPERTS IN SENIOR HOUSING AND HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZING CONGRESSIONALLY. DIANA McIEFER SITS ON A PANEL. THE ARCHITECT AND HIS PARTNERS WHICH ARE HERE. THIS AMAZING TEAM HAS SPENT THE LAST -- THIS AMAZING TEAM HAS SPENT THE LAST YEAR DREAMING, RESEARCHING, DESIGNING, GRANT WRITING, FUND RISING AND TALKING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS AND LEADERS TOWARD THE GOAL OF BUILDING AN INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY TO SERVE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME SENIORS THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO AGE IN PLACE AS FOLKS GROW MORE FRAIL. TONIGHT WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH A REQUEST FOR ZONING OUR LAND MF-3, WHICH IS MORE NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBLE THAN THE CURRENT CS ZONING. WE HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS A SMART HOUSING PROJECT. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN CERTIFIED AS A CHOTO. WE INTEND TO BE AN EXEMPLARY GREEN BUILDER AND INTEND TO EXCEED THE CITY'S HUD AND A.D.A. REQUIREMENTS. WE WILL SERVE PEOPLE WHO ARE 65 AND OLDER AND AND HAVE INCOMES LOWER THAN THE HUD REQUIREMENT OF 50% OF MEDIAN. WE HAVE ATTENDED NUMEROUS MEETINGS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND HELD NUMEROUS ELDERLY FOCUS GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE PAST 12 MONTHS. IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THIS THE LAND FOR THIS WONDERFUL PROJECT WAS DONATED BY A VERY GENEROUS BENEFACTOR TO FAMILY ELDER CARE AND A LONG TIME AUSTIN RESIDENT, DOROTHY PARSONS FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF PROVIDING HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS. WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED COMMITMENTS FROM HUD FOR $3.2 MILLION, ALONG WITH A COMMITMENT FOR RENTAL SUBSIDIES TO SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS FOR THE NEXT 30 TO 40 YEARS. THE MORT AND ANGELA TOPFER FOUNDATION HAVE EACH PLEDGED HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION. WE HAVE ANOTHER 1.5 MILLION IN GRANT PENDING, ALL WAITING TO HEAR OF THIS ZONING DECISION. WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE KEEPING THIS WONDERFUL PROJECT ON THE FAST TRACK BY HOLDING ALL THREE READINGS TONIGHT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AS YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN -- RANKS TOP ON THE ELDERLY NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY UNITED WAY IN THE CITY AND COUNTY PLANNING STAFF. AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONTINUES AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE ELDERLY AND LOW INCOME PERSONS IN THE CITY. THANK YOU.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, MS. LANGELY. LET ME EXPLAIN THAT THOSE 10 MINUTES YOU CAN USE THEM FOR REBUTTAL AT THE END.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS HOPING.

IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT. MAYOR MAR AND THE PEOPLE THAT CONTRIBUTED TIME TO YOU ARE MARY LOU McCLANK, SUSAN CHARLOTTE, PAT CRAIG AND ANTHONY STEEL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU MS. LANGELY. THEN I'M GOING TO READ INTO THE RECORD THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP -- SIGNED CARDS, BUT HAVE SAID THAT THEY DON'T WISH TO SPEAK. JACQUELINE ANGEL IS NOT WISHING TO SPEAK, IN FAVOR OF. TOM HATCH SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. ROBIN POND IS NOT WISHING TO SPEAK, IN FAVOR OF. LYNN SMITH IS GOING TO SPEAK. THERESA SIELER, NOT WISHING TO SPEAK, IN FAVOR OF. LEE LAUGHINGWELL, NOT WISHING TO SPEAK, IN FAVOR OF. THEA LONG IS SPEAKING. JOE ELLEN SMITH ALSO CONTRIBUTED TIME TO KAREN LANGELY, BUT SHE DIDN'T NEED IT. MS. SMITH, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY. NOT WISHING TO SPEAK, REGISTERED IN FAVOR OF. JOE MARTINEZ IS NOT WISHING TO SPEAK, IN FAVOR OF. DAVID HOWARD WILL BE DONATING TIME TO MR. HATCH. MR. HATCH, YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES. AND THOSE ARE THE SPEAKERS. I'LL CALL OUT AT THIS TIME TOM HATCH. WELCOME, SIR. WHAT YOU MAY WANT TO DO IS MOVE IT OVER -- THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO? AND THERE'S A MIC THAT YOU CAN USE RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE. WELCOME, SIR.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS IS A REAL EXCITING PROJECT AND I HAVE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ. THE LAST YEAR FAMILY ELDERLY INTERVIEWED A NUMBER OF VERY GOOD ARCHITECTS BASED OUR EXPERIENCE AND COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OUR COMMITMENT TO -- [ INAUDIBLE ] HATCH PARTNERSHIP WAS SELECTED. OUR COMMITMENT TO FAMILY ELDER CARE IS TO DESIGN THE MOST AFFORDABLE, SUSTAINABLE DESIGN CONSISTENT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, WHILE BEING A GREAT NEIGHBOR. PLACE BAISED ON STRICT BUDGETARY AND SCHEDULING DEADLINES FROM HUD, CLEAR INPUT FROM FAMILY ELDER CARE AND INPUT FROM VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, WE DEVELOPED THE SITE PLAN SHOWN HERE.

Mayor Garcia: CAN YOU START THE CLOCK, PLEASE? THEY GAVE YOU SIX MINUTES, BUT NONE OF THEM COUNTED, SO YOU GET EXTRA TIME.

THIS WONDERFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY IS THE H.E.B. ON EAST SEVENTH STREET. AND DUE EAST OF THE SARAH GOES IS A. IT'S A TRIANGULAR PIECE OF LAND BOUNDED BY WEBERVILLE ROAD AND LIONS ROAD, TWO AND A HALF ACRES. THE THREE-STORY APARTMENTS ARE ON LIONS STREET OR NOT -- THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS PROPOSED SITE AND THIS SITE AND THE REST IS EMPTY LAND ON THE PARK SARE GOES IS A. AFTER DISCUSSING THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH APPROACH, I WAS DIRECTEDLY FAMILY ELDER CARE TO PROCEED WITH THE THE PLAN. IN ADDITION TO THESE ITEMS, THE FOLLOWING LISTS OF CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING THE THREE-STORY OPTION. THESE ARE ALL THREE-STORY APARTMENT UNITS WITH SIX UNITS PER STRUCTURE. SO EACH UNIT ALSO HAS TWO UNITS PER FLOOR, SO EACH UNIT HAS WINDOWS AND DOORS ON THREE SIDES. WE TRIED TO CREATE A VERY NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDLY PROJECT BY PUTTING FRONT PORCHES ON ALL OF THE UNITS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE SIDEWALK SO ALL THE LOWER UNITS HAVE FRONT DOORS AND FRONT PORCHES, SO WE'RE NOT TURNING OUR BACK ON THE COMMUNITY IN ANY WAY. THE COMMON AREAS, THE COMMUNITY AREAS ARE ON THE WEBERVILLE ROAD AS WELL AS THE PARKING, SO CONSOLIDATING THAT AND CREATING AN INTERIOR YARD THAT -- WHERE WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO SPEND AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE ON LANDSCAPING AND WATER ELEMENTS.

Mayor Garcia: WILL THEY BE ABE TO PLANT TOMATOES?

YES, MAYOR. AND FLOWERS.

Mayor Garcia: OKAY.

THAT'S IN THE RECORD, PLEASE. BACK TO THE ISSUE BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S CONCERNS AND THE PROPOSED PLAN IS THE TWO-STORY VERSUS THE 32 -- THE THREE-STORY VERSUS VARIOUS OTHER OPTIONS. THE COST OF CONSTRUCTING TWO-STORY APARTMENTS IS GREATER THAN THREE-STORY DUE TO ROOF AREA, FOUNDATION WORK, WATER RETENTION REQUIREMENTS, INCREASED IMPERVIOUS COVER. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR A TWO-STORY OPTION IS ABOUT 110,000 MORE THAN THE THREE-STORY OPTION SHOWN. THE THREE-STORY OPTION ALLOWS FAMILY ELDER CARE TO BUILD IN ESSENCE NINE SIX-UNIT APARTMENT STRUCTURES WITH ONLY TWO UNITS PER FLOOR, 20 FEET OF SEPARATION PER UNIT AND WINDOWS ON THREE SIDES OF THE APARTMENTS FOR IMPROVED LIGHTING, VIEW AND VENTILATION, THERE BY CREATING A MORE HOME LIKE ENVIRONMENT. THE TWO-STORY OPTION WOULD CREATE A SOLID WALL OF APARTMENTS ALL AROUND THE SITE WITH FEW PENETRATION FOR LIGHT, VIEW AND AIR. THE TWO-STORY APARTMENTS, THIS WOULD BE COVERED AND WOULD BE A WALL OF UNITS. RIGHT NOW THESE ARE TOTALLY OPEN WITH ONLY BRIDGE ELEMENTS CONNECTING THE APARTMENTS TO EACH OTHER. TO INCREASE THE NEIGHBORERLINESS OF THE COMPLEX WITH FRONT PORCHES AND FRONT DOORS. NARD TO SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES, WHICH WAS THE CONCERN OF A NUMBER OF NEIGHBORHOOD MEMBERS, ELEVATORS ARE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED AT EACH END OF THE COMPLEX SO ALL RESIDENTS HAVE EASY ACCESS TO COMMON AREAS AND FACILITIES. BUT THEY'RE ALSO SEPARATE STRUCTURES, SO THIS FULLY SPRINKLED APARTMENT COMPLEX, IF THERE'S EVER A FIRE IN ONE, IT WILL NOT TRANSFER TO THE OTHER. NOR WILL THE ELEVATORS BECAUSE THEY'RE A DIFFERENT STRUCTURE. I'D LIKE TO GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE FAMILY ELDER CARE'S VISION FOR THIS WONDERFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY, BUT TIME WILL NOT ALLOW. THE ZONING ALLOWS FOR THREE-STORY STRUCTURES -- EXISTING CS ZONING ALLOWS ON USE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD NOT FIND ACCEPTABLE. IF THEY WOULD APPROVE OUR REQUEST TO CHANGE THE ZONING FOR THIS BADLY NEEDED ADDITION TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND I'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, MR. HATCH. OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. HATCH, THE ARCHITECT OF THIS PROJECT? MAYOR PRO TEM? LATER. DON'T LEAVE, TOM. DAVID HOWARD DONATED TIME TO MR. HATCH. MR. SMITH, WELCOME, SIR. I GUESS WE CAN TAKE THAT.

FOLLOWING MR. SMITH IS THEA LONG. IS SHE HERE? YOU'RE NEXT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M CLINT SMITH OF THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ASSOCIATION. AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON BEHALF OF THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE. FIRST I'D LIKE TO READ A STATEMENT, A VERY BRIEF STATEMENT, BUT I THINK IT'S REVEALING WITH REGARD TO THIS -- THE WAY SOME PEOPLE FEEL AND HAVE FELT ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AND THE CONSEQUENCES AND THE IMPACT OF IT. WITH REGARD TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE'S A CITY OF AUSTIN SMART GROWTH POLICY OF NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING, DOES IT REALLY PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? AND ADEQUATELY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE POSSIBILITY OF REHABILITATING THE OLDER HOUSING STOCK, PARTICULARLY IN EAST AUSTIN, RATHER THAN DEMOLISHING OLD HOMES WHERE PEOPLE STILL LIVE, THE OLD AND HANDICAPPED, REPLACING THEM WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AFFORDABLE FOR WHOM, I ASK? FOR WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THESE PEOPLE'S REMOVAL POLICY BEING EVALUATED? ARE WE LIVING THROUGH ANOTHER 1950'S OR 1960'S STYLE EUROPE WHERE URBAN RENEWAL BECAME URBAN REMOVAL, ESPECIALLY IN EAST AUSTIN. THE EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS BY THE CITY COUNCIL SEEMS TO BE DAY SHA VOO ALL OVER AGAIN. AND THAT'S A STATEMENT THAT I MADE LAST YEAR BEFORE THE AUSTIN EQUITY COMMISSION STAFF AND DR. RAY MARSHAL. AND THIS PLAN AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT FINALLY RELATED FROM THAT HAS BEEN THE PRODUCT OF AN AWFUL LOT OF WORK. I WAS INVOLVED IN MAKING THIS STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GREAT PLANTERS OF THAT TIME. AND WHILE MY REMARKS WERE CRITICAL AT THAT TIME, I THINK THAT A LOT OF WORK IS -- I KNOW THAT A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE AND I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING INVOLVED IN THAT. AND I LOOK AT THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE NOW AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME A LONG WAYS SINCE I MADE THAT STATEMENT LAST YEAR, AND IN TALKING WITH DR. MARSHAL AND OTHERS, I THINK THERE IS A WAY THAT WE NEED TO GO TO BE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S A FORM OF BOOT BOOTSTRAPPING. COMMUNITY RESIDENTS. WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF MEETINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING GROUP TO TALK ABOUT THIS. AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AMONG OTHERS IS THE FACT THAT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY AND AN EXAMPLE OF LOCAL INITIATIVE WHICH HAS BEEN ABLE TO DRAW IN PRIVATE MONEY. SO I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT TOM HAS SAIDED AND ABOUT THE TO POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THIS. WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS AND THE IMPACT OF PEOPLE BEING PUSHED OUT BY VARIOUS POLICIES AND THE COST AND THE ECONOMY AND SO ON, I GUESS THAT I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. IF NOT THIS, WHAT? AND IF NOT NOW, WHEN? THANKS. I'LL TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, MR. SMITH. [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, FOR CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS]

SO HOW DOES IT ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS? THE PROJECT WHEN COMPLETED WILL BENEFIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CITY OF AUSTIN, PROVIDES NOT ONLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT LOW INCOME HOUSING TO LOCAL RESIDENTS IN EAST AUSTIN AND NOT ONLY DOES HOUSING, BUT QUALITY HOUSING AND OBVIOUS REASON HOW IT WOULD IMPROVE, EAST AUSTIN IS A QUALITY PROJECT AND IT WILL HAVE SERVICES THAT WOULD ADDRESS AN ELDERLY -- THE ELDERLY WHO LIVE IN THE COMPLETED PROJECT. AND THE PROJECT IS LOCATED VERY CENTRALLY, THAT WOULD -- ALSO ON THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ROUTE. THAT WOULD HELP TO REDUCE TRANSPORTATION GOING OUTSIDE OF THE CITY THAT WE HAVE SEEN HAPPEN SO MANY TIMES. SO FOR THE ABOVE REASONS, I HIGHLY SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND HOPE THAT -- THAT YOU WILL AS WELL. AND I WILL -- I WANT TO DONATE THE REST OF MY TIME TO -- TO TOM HATCH.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU. MR. GUERRA, AS YOU ARE COMING UP, I AM GOING TO ASK MR. CALAZAS A QUICK QUESTION, IF I MAY. IN YOUR CARD THAT YOU SIGNED, YOU SAID THAT YOU WANTED TO SPEAK, BUT YOU ALSO WANTED TO DONATE TIME TO YOUR DAUGHTER. DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK OR DONATE OR SPLIT YOUR TIME, SPEAK A LITTLE BIT, THEN GIVE THE REST OF THE TIME TO YOUR DAUGHTER. OKAY. THEN YOU ARE AHEAD OF MR. -- MR. GUERRA. MR. GUERRA, IF YOU COULD -- COULD GIVE HIM THE MICROPHONE TO HIM AND THEN I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU. HE'S NUMBER 11 AND YOU ARE NUMBER 12. WELCOME, SIR.

MY NAME IS DON CARAZALES, I LIVE ON 2765 LYONS ROAD, I'M RETIRED. I WANTED TO SPEAK BUT I HAD A CATARACT REMOVED IN MY LEFT EYE, FOR THAT REASON I'M LETTING MY DAUGHTER READ OR SPEAK FOR ME. I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL THAT I WANT TO SAY.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU. YOU HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT, YOU ARE NUMBER 19 AND NUMBER 12 MR. GUERRA. MR. GUERRA, WELCOME, SIR, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR, THANK YOU THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. I JUST WILL REPEAT WHAT I SAID TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHEN THE ISSUE COME UP FOR THEM, FOR CONSIDERATION. AND I WAS NOT EXPECTED TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GROUP, BUT MS. SUSANA ALMANZA CHOICE THAT I SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF FOR SOME SPECIAL REASONS. THEY KNOW THAT I'M CONCERNED WITH SAFETY. AND I GIVE COP SENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT SOMETHING IS TO HAPPEN WITH THAT AREA. THERE IS NOTHING THERE. THAT -- I GIVE CONSENT -- WE VERY MUCH ARE NOT AGAINST THE PROJECT, BUT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO GIVE SOME INPUT ON HOW WE WANT IT TO COME ABOUT. WE SUGGESTED A FEW CHANGES, BUT THE THREE STORIES REMAINED. NO CHANGE IN -- NO CHANGES WERE MADE. WHEN THEY CAME UP TO US, IT WAS ALREADY DETERMINED THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED TO HAVE. SO IT WAS JUST A FORMALITY ON THE PART OF MR. HATCH TO PRESENT IT TO US, BECAUSE HE ALREADY DECIDED THIS IS WHAT THEY WANTED TO HAVE. AT THAT MEETING, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS SAID THAT -- THAT SHE WITNESSED NINE HOMES IN LYONS ROAD, THERE IS 12 HOMES THERE. ONE LOT IS EMPTY, OTHER 11 HOMES ARE THERE. PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN THEM. VERY LOW INCOME AREA. BUT THREE OR FOUR OF THE RESIDENTS THERE ARE CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE, THEY USE TRUCKS TO HAUL THE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS. ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS ASKED HOW WIDE THE STREET WAS. MR. HATCH HESITATED, BUT HE SAID 40 FEET. I KNOW IT'S NOT, SO I WENT TO MEASURE IT. IT IS 34 FEET WIDE. AT ONE POINT. OTHER POINTS IT'S 35. BUT THAT DO INCLUDE THE -- THE CONCRETE NEXT TO THE CURB. SO IF YOU WANTED TO USE THAT 34 FEET, YOU WOULD HAVE TO SCRAPE YOUR TIRES AGAINST THE CURB AND WHEN YOU HAVE TRUCKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET, YOU WANT TO HAVE TWO CARS, ONE COMING AND THE OTHER GOING, YOU HAVE TO STOP AND LET SOMEBODY GO IN FIRST. AND -- AND WE SUGGESTED TO HAVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING FACING LYONS ROAD. IF WE REALLY WANTED TO BE NEIGHBORLY, IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE TO SEE THIS KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU SEE THERE. ON LYONS ROAD. THEY WANT TO BE FACING WEBBERVILLE, THERE IS NO HOMES FACING WEBBERVILLE, JUST CITY BUILDINGS AS HIGH AS THE ONES THEY WANT TO HAVE. OF COURSE, YEAH, WE WANT TO HAVE NICE CONSTRUCTION THERE, BUT IT WILL BE PLEASING, THE PEOPLE THAT WANTS TO MAYBE LEAVE THERE -- MAYBE LIVE THERE HOPEFULLY WILL BE PLEASING THE PROPOSALS, BUT THE NEIGHBORS ON WEBBERVILLE ROAD, I FEEL FOR THEM. THERE WILL BE NO MATCH TO WHAT IS COMING TO THEM. IF THEY CAN MAKE ANY CHANGES THERE, SWITCHING AROUND THE BUILDINGS [BUZZER SOUNDING] IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. YOU KNOW. THANK YOU.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, MR. GUERRA. I GUESS MR. HATCH IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THAT AT THE TIME THAT THERE'S -- FOR REBUTTAL. TALKING ABOUT MAYBE SWITCHING SOME OF THOSE LOCATIONS. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHETHER THAT CAN BE DONE. IF YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. JOHNNY LIMON. MR. LIMON, WELCOME, SIR. FOLLOWING MR. LIMON IS IRIS CARALEZ.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS JOHNNY LEE MONDAY, I HAVE LIVED -- LIMON, I HAVE LIVED IN THE AREA MY WHOLE LIFE. TODAY I AM REPRESENTING 21 MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY THAT LIVE IN THE GOVALLE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING AREA. I HAVE ATTENDED EVERY SINGLE -- ALL BUT ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING MEETINGS SINCE THEY STARTED. BUT I PERSONALLY, WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS PROJECT, I PERSONALLY MADE FLIERS AND I HAND DELIVERED THOSE FLIERS TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE AREA. AND I THINK MAYBE NONE OF THEM SHOWED UP TO THE MEETINGS, TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. ONE THING IS THAT AT LEAST THEY DID KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THAT AREA. AND I GUESS IF THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP, MAYBE THEY WASN'T SO CONCERNED. AND -- AND, YOU KNOW, I ALSO, YOU KNOW, DO HAVE CONCERNS WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES, THAT MAYBE MR. GUERRA HAS BROUGHT FORWARD. BUT AS A VOLUNTEER FOR WHEELS ON WHEELS FOR 10 YEARS -- MEALS ON WHEELS FOR 10 YEARS. I COME INTO CONTACT WITH PEOPLE, I SAY YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS PLACE WOULD BE A VERY GOOD PLACE FOR SOME OF THEM. SO REALLY, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY I AM HERE, IN SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, OF THIS FACILITY. 7 EVEN THOUGH I THINK ONE OF THE -- ONE -- I HAVE HEARD SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE CONCERNS WAS THE WALKWAYS, BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE -- ACCORDING TO THE MODEL THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY -- THEY WERE JUST OPEN. BUT I HAD A MEETING -- THIS WEEK I WENT AND MET WITH MS. -- KAREN, I KEEP WANTING TO HAVE -- BUT WITH KAREN BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE THE FACILITY FOR MYSELF, THE MODEL. BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS GOING TO BE THERE. THE WALKWAYS ARE GOING TO BE ENCLOSED WITH GLASS. SO IF THAT'S TRUE, THEN THAT'S ONE BIG CONCERN, YOU KNOW, THAT WON'T BE A CONCERN NOW I GUESS FOR THE PEOPLE, THAT THEY HAD BROUGHT THOSE CONCERNS TO ME. BUT -- BUT ALSO ANOTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE -- MAYBE RECOMMEND IS RIGHT NOW THERE'S ONLY TWO ELEVATORS. AND THERE ARE -- THERE ON THE CORNERS OF PLEASANT VALLEY AND WEBBERVILLE AND WEBBERVILLE LYONS ROAD. BUT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD REALLY, REALLY LIKE TO SEE AN ELEVATOR UNIT ON THE PLEASANT VALLEY AND LYONS ROAD BECAUSE THAT'S A LONG WALK. [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AGAIN, WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, JOHNNY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. IRIS -- MS. IRIS GONZALEZ, IF YOU COULD GIVE HER FIVE MINUTES AND 30 SECOND. CARALEZ.

HELLO, COUNCIL AND --

Mayor Garcia: WELCOME.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS IRIS CARALEZES, I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY FATHER JOHN. WE LIVE AT 2765 LYONS ROAD. THE OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT IS A THREE--- THE THREE-STORY HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE AMOUNT OF APARTMENTS IN SUCH A SMALL AREA, 54 TO BE EXACT. WE BELIEVE THIS WILL CREATE PARKING PROBLEMS AND HEAVY TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA. MR. TOM HATCH TOLD THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT RESIDENTS WOULD NOT HAVE THEIR OWN VEHICLES, BUT HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT TO BE TRUE. ALSO MOST RESIDENTS WILL BE ELDER PEOPLE WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS AND PHYSICAL HANDICAPS SUCH AS MY FATHER, WITH EYE CATARACTS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CLIMB STAIRS IN ORDER -- AND IN ORDER TO USE AN ELEVATOR ONE WOULD HAVE TO WALK ALMOST ONE CITY BLOCK. THE USE OF STAIRS TO THE RESIDENTS WOULD BE HARD ON THEM PHYSICALLY. LET ME ASK YOU TO REMEMBER THAT MOST SENIORS DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE IF THEY SHOULD GET HURT. SO THEREFORE THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MEDICAL EXPENSES. MOST RESIDENTS AFFECTED -- ARE AFFECTED WITH DIABETES OR ARTHRITIS OR OTHER HANDICAPS AND WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM GARDENS OR OPEN SPACES, RATHER SAFETY SHOULD BE THEIR MAIN CONCERN. AND ANOTHER THING HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, THERE ARE OTHER FAMILY ELDER CARE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT ELSEWHERE AND HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ARE THEY BUILT -- ARE THEY BUILT THE SAME AS THIS FUTURE SITE? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. CARAZALES. MR. HATCH, MR. LIMON BROUGHT SOME ISSUES UP, MR. GUERRA BROUGHT SOME ISSUES UP, IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THOSE.

I WOULD BE GLAD TO, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO -- I'VE GOT -- SIX ISSUES I THINK WERE RAISED IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO -- I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS ALL OF THEM. WITH REGARD TO THE ELEVATORS, H.U.D. APPROVES FUNDING FOR ONE. WE HAVE GOTTEN FUNDING FOR TWO. WE ARE BIDDING THE THIRD ONE AS AN ADD ALTERNATE TO THE CONTRACT. WE ALL DEGREE THAT THREE ELEVATORS WOULD BE BETTER AND WE ARE WORKING TO THAT END. IT'S A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR FAMILY ELDER CARE. WITH REGARD TO THE GLASS, MR. LIMON, I'M SORRY, THAT WAS -- A MISREPRESENTATION ON THE PART. WHAT WE HAVE IS 42-INCH RAILS ON THESE BRIDGES CONNECTING THE UNITS, SO IT'S OPEN AIR, FOR LIGHT AND AIR, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO AIR CONDITION ALL OF THAT EXTRA SPACE. IT'S NOT GLASS. WITH REGARD TO BEING IN THE CENTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS PRONG IS IN THE CENTER OF THE LARGER NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT IT'S VERY MUCH ON THE EDGE OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BECAUSE ON TWO OF THE THREE SIDES IMMEDIATELY ACROSS THE STREET THERE ARE NO HOMES. WITH REGARD TO THE VEHICLES, I'VE BEEN TOLD, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MOST OF THE RESIDENTS WILL PROBABLY NOT HAVE, WILL NOT HAVE CARS. THAT'S MY OWN COMMENT AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, BASED ON INFORMATION FROM FAMILY ELDER CARE. AND THERE WOULD BE LOTS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED TO ALL OF THE RESIDENTS. THERE ARE NO OTHER FAMILY ELDER CARE FACILITIES. THIS IS THE FIRST ONE. WITH MR. -- WITH REGARD TO MR. GUERRA'S COMMENTS, I'M -- FRANKLY I'M A LITTLE RESENTFUL. THE PRELIMINARY DRAWING THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT IS THE SAME DRAWING THAT WE HAD AT THE SECOND MEETING WITH THE GOVALLE NEIGHBORHOOD AT WHICH TIME I PRESENTED THE IDEA OF MOVING THE APARTMENTS FROM LIMON -- FROM LYONS STREET, PARDON ME, TO WEBBERVILLE ROAD AND PUTTING THE COMMUNITY AREAS ON LYONS STREET AT WHICH POINT THE IDEA WAS REJECTED BASED ON THE IDEA THAT THEY JUST DON'T THREE STORIES. SO I'M REALLY NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE COMMENTS MADE BY MR. GUERRA. THAT IDEA WAS BROUGHT UP BY ME AND REJECTED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP AT THAT EVENING PRESENTATION. THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, MR. HATCH.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL.

> I JUST HAVE JUST A FEW COMMENTS ADDRESSING SOME OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS. I REALLY WANT TO STRESS OVER AND OVER THAT THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT LIVING APARTMENT FACILITY. NOT ASSISTED LIVING. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT OUR PHILOSOPHY ABOUT ENABLING OLDER ADULTS TO AGE IN PLACE, WE ARE DESIGNING IT FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING. THE AGING IN PLACE COMES IN WHEN PEOPLE DO GROW MORE FRAIL, WE WILL HAVE SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY. BECAUSE THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE GOAL OF SENIORS. TIME AND TIME AGAIN, IN EVERY SURVEY CONDUCTED ON -- ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES. FOLKS DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO GO TO NURSING HOMES OR INSTITUTIONS PREMATURELY. AND THAT'S THE ONLY OPTION THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY WITHOUT COMMUNITY BASED OPTIONS FOR VERY LOW INCOME SENIORS THAT HAVE MEDICAID DOLLARS. AND I -- THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO THEN REFUTE THE ISSUE THAT MOST SENIORS DON'T HAVE INSURANCE TO COVER MEDICAL PROBLEMS. MOST SENIORS DO HAVE INSURANCE. THEY HAVE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. AND A LOT OF OUR OLDER ADULTS UTILIZE THE CITY CLINICS, OF WHICH ONE WILL BE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM US. WE JUST THINK THIS LOCATION COULDN'T BE BETTER TO PUT A SENIOR HOUSING PROJECT. WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE CONLEY-GUERRERO SENIOR CENTER WHERE CONGREGANT MEALS ARE PROVIDED TO SENIORS, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SOCIALIZE, ACCESS A LOT OF SERVICES AT THE SENIOR CENTER, ONLY A BLOCK AWAY. WE HAVE EVEN TOYED AROUND WITH THE IDEA OF TRYING TO GET SOME GOLF CARTS DONATED. AND HAVE IT REALLY -- REALLY BE DEVELOPED TO -- TO OPT OPTIMALLY PROVIDE OPTIMAL UTILIZATION OF SERVICES. THERE'S A MAJOR TRANSIT LINE RIGHT ON OUR PROPERTY WHERE A BUS STOPS AND GOES TO JUST ABOUT EVERY PART OF THE TOWN FOR DOCTORS'S VISITS. SPECIAL TRANSIT SERVES THE CONLEY-GUERRERO SENIOR CENTER. WE WOULD BE SO CLOSE TO EVERY SINGLE SERVICE THAT OLDER ADULTS, ESPECIALLY OLDER ADULTS WITH LOW INCOME WOULD NEED. SO I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER LOCATION TO HOUSE THIS PROJECT. I TRULY BELIEVE IT WILL BE A MODEL. A NATIONAL MODEL. ONE WHICH WE HOPE YOU, MAYOR GARCIA, WILL NORMAL NOMINATE NEXT YEAR OR 2004 UNDER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CRITERIA. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THAT CRITERIA WITH EYE IN MIND SO THAT AUSTIN AGAIN WILL BE SHOWCASED AND HIGHLIGHTED. I TOTALLY AND SINCERELY BELIEVE WHEN IT'S DONE THE NEIGHBORS WON'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S A MOUNTAIN IN FRONT OF THEM WITH THREE STORIES. WHEN YOU THINK OF THE EASEMENT IN -- FROM THE STREET -- [BUZZER SOUNDING] THREE STORIES WON'T BE THAT FAR AWAY FROM THE FOLKS ACROSS THE STREET. WON'T BE THAT HIGH UP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

Mayor Garcia: LET ME ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION. HOW FAR IS THIS PROJECT FROM -- FROM THE H.E.B. AT PLEASANT VALLEY?

IT'S ABOUT THREE BLOCKS.

Mayor Garcia: THREE BLOCKS. ARE THERE SIDEWALKS?

YES, THERE ARE. ALL THE WAY THERE.

Mayor Garcia: SO PEOPLE THAT EVEN HAVE -- HAVE A WHEELCHAIR, YOU KNOW, MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIRS COULD GO -- DO WE HAVE ACCESS RAMPS AT ALL OF OUR --

I HAVEN'T WALKED IT. I HAVE DRIVEN IT, SO I KNOW I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE SIDEWALKS ALL THE WAY THERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF THE CURBS HAVE BEEN RAMPED.

Mayor Garcia: THAT'S MAYBE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CHECKED DURING THE PROCESS, WORK WITH THE CITY AND MAYBE CAPITAL METRO WOULD MAKE SURE THOSE SIDEWALKS HAVE RAMPS, ACCESS.

THE H.E.B. ALSO HAS A PHARMACY, IT'S LIKE ALL THERE. WE JUST GOT SO EXCITED ABOUT IT.

Mayor Garcia: SURE. SURE.

EL AZTECA IS REAL CLOSE. [ LAUGHTER ]

ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT EATERY IN TOWN.

DON'T PATRON UNITED STATES -- [ LAUGHTER ]

Goodman: ANY> Mayor Garcia: ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

Goodman: YES, I HAD SOME QUESTIONS FOR --

WE DON'T USUALLY ALLOW DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN OPPOSING PARTIES. I THINK THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED SINCE YOU LIVE ACROSS THE STREET, PERHAPS YOU HAVE NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

I'M SORRY, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE WAYS ABOUT THIS MEETING HERE.

Mayor Garcia: THAT'S ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD.

I WANTED TO ASK MR. HATCH A QUESTION.

SURE, GO AHEAD.

THE WALKWAYS, MR. LIMON TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE COVERED. I HAD THE UNDERSTANDING THEY WERE GOING TO BE OPENED.

Mayor Garcia: TOM.

SAY, WE GOT FOUR MONTHS OF WINTERTIME. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE WINTERTIME WHEN IT'S RAINING, COLD, DO THEY HAVE TO WALK ALL THE WAY EXPOSED TO THE WEATHER? ALMOST ONE CITY BLOCK? ALSO THE H.E.B. IS MORE THAN SIX BLOCKS AWAY, EL AZTECA IS THAT FAR, ALSO. THERE'S NO OTHER BUILDINGS WITHIN TWO OR THREE MILES OF THAT AREA. THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT. THE IMPORTANCE IS THE SAFETY OF THE ELDER CARE.

Mayor Garcia: SURE, APPRECIATE IT. TOM, DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

MR. CAREZALES, AS THE MODEL SHOWS, ALL OF THE WALK WALKWAYS ARE COVERED. THEY ARE HEATED LINES IN BETWEEN EACH BUILDING FOR FIRE SPRINKLER LINES TO -- TO KEEP WATER, KEEP THE WET SYSTEM UNFROZEN. WE DO NOT HAVE HEATED CONNECTORS. NO, IT'S OPEN TO THE WEATHER. JUST LIKE YOU WALK OUT YOUR FRONT DOOR. AND, YES, IT WILL BE A WALK. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE ELEVATORS AT ALL THREE CORNERS, WE ARE WORKING HARD TO GET FUNDING FOR THAT. IT IS LIKE WALKING OUT YOUR FRONT DOOR, BUT IT'S UNDERCOVER.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. CARELEZAS. MAYOR PRO TEM?

Goodman: DO WE HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS, MAYOR.

Mayor Garcia: THAT'S IT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PARITYING. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, SECONDED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, NO. MOTION CARRIES.

Goodman: I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR MR. HATCH.

Mayor Garcia: MR. HATCH, MAYOR PRO TEM HAS SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

ONE OF THEM WAS ABOUT ELEVATORS WHEN I SAW THE THREE STORY PLAN. I WONDERED HOW THE ELEVATORS WERE GOING TO BE LOCATED. IF YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO GET FUNDING FOR THE THIRD ELEVATOR, WOULD YOU STILL GO AHEAD OR MAYBE THIS IS A KAREN QUESTION, I'M NOT SURE -- WOULD YOU STILL GO AHEAD AND DO THE PLANS THEN ALLOW FOR THAT THIRD ELEVATOR TO BE INSTALLED WHENEVER THE FUNDING COMES THROUGH?

DEFINITELY, MAYOR PRO TEM, DESIGNED FOR IT. IT'S A MATTER -- IT'S A PLUG-IN SYSTEM, SO IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. AND THE OTHER THING WAS ABOUT HOW PERFECT THIS SPOT IS, BUT IT WAS ALSO AN ISSUE FOR ME WHEN I LOOKED AT THE MAP TO WONDER WHY THE -- THE LYONS SIDE INSTEAD OF ANOTHER SIDE SINCE IT'S SURROUNDED NOT ENTIRELY BY RESIDENTIAL, BUT BY VERY UNRESIDENTIAL USES, WHY -- WHY -- WELL, NO, LET ME CHANGE THAT. SINCE YOU SAID THAT YOU OFFERED AN ALTERNATIVE AND IT WAS REFUSED, CAN YOU TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS THAT YOU OFFERED TO DO? DURING THE PLANNING STAGES IN OUR SECOND MEETING WITH THE GOVALLE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT SINGLE STORY ACROSS THE STREET, I BROUGHT UP THE IDEA IF THE THREE STORY ACROSS THE STREET WAS THE ISSUE, AS OPPOSED TO THREE SORRIES IN GENERAL -- STORIES IN GENERAL, I SUGGESTED MOVING THE COMMON AREAS WHICH IS ALL SINGLE STORY, THE WELCOME AREA, THE -- THE LAUNDRY, THE LITTLE COMPUTER ROOM MOVING THAT TO -- TO LYONS STREET, MOVING THE APARTMENTS OVER HERE, THAT WAS THE CONCEPT. MOVING THIS STRUCTURE DOWN TO THIS SIDE, THESE UNITS OVER TO -- TO WEBBERVILLE, EVEN THOUGH THAT WOULD BE LOOKING OUT ON THE PARKING LOT AS OPPOSED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT WAS SUGGESTED IT WAS JUST NO, WE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THREE STORY. THAT WAS WHAT WAS ADDRESSED AT THAT MEETING.

Goodman: I UNDERSTAND THEIR ISSUE. BUT I THINK THAT THREE STORIES RIGHT ACROSS FROM YOUR HOUSE IS MUCH MORE OF A JOLT FROM AN EMPTY FIELD THAN HAVING IT ACROSS. SO IS IT STILL POSSIBLE TO DO THE -- THE ONE STORY IN THAT WAY ON LYONS AND MOVE --

AND NOT OWE WE CANNOT -- WE CANNOT AND MEET H.U.D. DEADLINES.

Goodman: DID YOU ALL ASK FOR MEDIATION ALONG THE WAY?

[INAUDIBLE - NO MIC]

WE DIDN'T FORMALLY REQUEST MEDIATION. HOWEVER WE HAVE DOCUMENTED NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS TO PODER WHO I GUESS HAS BEEN REPRESENTING THE RESIDENTS OR SOME OF THE RESIDENTS ON LYONS. NUMEROUS CALLS, WE HAVE THEM ALL DOCUMENTED. NONE OF WHICH WERE RETURNED. WE HAVE REQUESTED A MEETING ANY TIME, ANYPLACE, AND WE WERE NEVER RESPONDED BACK TO. SO -- THAT'S A YES AND A NO.

Goodman: OKAY. I THINK THAT -- I THINK SOMEWHERE IN THERE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE TO -- TO MORE CLEARLY DEFINE FOR FOLKS THE HEIGHT AND THE -- AND THE DISTANCE BACK FROM THE STREET AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THE REAL IMPACT OF THREE STORIES THERE. AND THREE INVENTORIES --

[INAUDIBLE - NO MIC]

Goodman: YEAH.

[INAUDIBLE - NO MIC]

Goodman: EVEN WITHOUT -- PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED, SIR. EVEN WITHOUT -- MAYOR, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED, RIGHT? OKAY. I KIND OF GOT DISEXTRACTED THERE. OKAY. DISTRACTED THERE. OKAY. DURING THE TIME WHEN YOU COULD HAVE MET, I THINK MAYBE A FACILITATOR FROM THE CITY OR A MEDIATOR FROM THE CITY COULD HAVE HELPED BRING FOLKS TOGETHER. AND MAYBE GOTTEN OVER A HUMP THAT YOU COULDN'T GET PAST BY YOURSELF, WHICH IS THE ISSUE THAT I WAS TRYING TO BRING UP YESTERDAY AT THE -- AT THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION HEARING.

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC]

Goodman: SIR, SIR, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OVER, I'M SPEAKING RIGHT NOW. MAYOR?

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC]

Mayor Garcia: MR. GUERRA, THE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS THE FLOOR. IF --

AUDIENCE: [INAUDIBLE - NO MIC]

Mayor Garcia: YOU ARE TAKING THE FLOOR AWAY FROM HER WHEN YOU START TALKING OUT OF ORDER. MAYOR PRO TEM?

Mayor Garcia:> Goodman: THANKS, MAYOR. WILL ONE OF YOU, EITHER KAREN OR TOM COME TO THE MICROPHONE? I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT ABOUT DISTANCES. YOU KNOW THAT WITH M.F. 3 AND A CERTAIN HEIGHT THERE IS A SETBACK FROM THE PROPERTY LINE OF A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. AND SO CAN YOU TELL ME IF THIS RENDITION IS AN ACCURATE SETBACK FROM THE RESIDENTIAL ACROSS THE STREET ON LYONS?

THAT WOULD BE A TOM HATCH QUESTION.

Goodman: MAYOR PRO TEM, WE INITIALLY REQUESTED AN M.F. 4 ZONING, CITY STAFF SUGGESTED WE GO FOR M.F. 3. WE JUST SAID FINE. WHICH ALLOWS 40-FOOT HEIGHT. WE ARE UNDER 40 FEET. ALL THE WAY AROUND. WE ARE A LEVEL PROJECT SO IT'S TOTALLY ACCESSIBLE WITH NO STEP DOWN, EVEN THOUGH THE LAND STEPS DOWN. WE ARE A 15 15-FOOT SETBACK FROM THE PROPERTY LINE ALL AROUND TO CREATE -- LIKE A NEW URBANIST LOOK. BUT THE DISTANCE FROM OUR HOUSES ACROSS THE STREET, INCLUDING THE STREET AND THEIR SETBACK MEETS COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. I DO NOT REMEMBER THE EXACT DIMENSION.

Goodman: I HAD THOUGHT IT WAS 30 FEET. LIMITED TO 30 FEET FOR THE FIRST 50, SO THAT'S WHATEVER THAT IS FROM THE --

STRT STRUCTURES -- FROM THE PROPERTY LINE ACROSS THE STREET, THAT'S RIGHT.

Goodman: OKAY. WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN [INAUDIBLE] MUCH ELSE, BUT I WILL JUST MAKE A POINT AGAIN MAYOR THAT DISPUTE RESOLUTION WITHIN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED. IF PEOPLE ARE NOT MEETING, IF THEY ARE REFUSING, THEN THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT IS. AND THAT THEY ARE NOT SERVING THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO. SO THAT WE ARE STUCK IN THIS -- IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS WHERE NO ONE HAS SPOKEN TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

Mayor Garcia: SURE.

Goodman: THANKS, MAYOR.

Mayor Garcia: MR. GUERRA, I RECOGNIZE YOU NOW FOR A MINUTES. YOU CAN COME UP AND --

[INAUDIBLE - NO MIC]

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, WELCOME, SIR.

I HOPE THAT WHEN I RETURN THE CALL AND TOLD THEM WHEN I WAS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO MEET WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY DID TRY I AM NOT GUILTY OF ANYBODY NOT REPLYING TO THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GO BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMITTEE AND EXPRESS TO US WHAT CHANGES THEY HAD MADE. AT THE TIME IT WAS CALLED SWITCHING. MR. HATCH OVER HERE SAID THAT HE PROPOSED TO THE BOARD OF THIS CORPORATION THAT THE SWITCHING BE MADE TO LYONS ROAD WITH [INAUDIBLE] BUILDINGS AND THAT THE BOARD TURNED HIM DOWN. HE SAID THAT TO ME PERSONALLY. IT'S NOT HIS FAULT, HE SAID THE BOARD DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE THE NEIGHBORS FACING THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS. NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PROJECT COME ABOUT, BUT I THANK YOU, MRS. GOODMAN, YOU MADE GOOD POINTS. YOU MADE A GOOD POINT ABOUT THE ALLUSION THERE ON THE 7 7th STREET, THAT'S GOING TO BE REMODELED. WE ARE AT THE TIME TO CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL THERE, BEAUTIFUL. JUST SWITCH IT AROUND. DON'T BE EMBARRASSED. THANK YOU.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, MR. GUERRERA. FURTHER COMMENCE?

Slusher: MAYOR. I HAVE GOT A QUESTION.

Mayor Garcia: COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

Slusher: MS. GLASGO? MS. GLASGO I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL THE OTHER DAY FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF PODER SAYING THAT THEY HAD FILED A PETITION, THEY SAID IT WAS A VALID PETITION AGAINST THE PROJECT. AGAINST THE ZONING. COULD YOU TELL ME, WAS THAT -- WERE THERE ENOUGH SIGNATURES FOR THAT TO BE INVOLVED?

NO, SIR. THE SIGNATURES ARE NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE IT INVOLVED AT 15%.

Slusher: SO THEN THAT MEANS THIS PROJECT REQUIRES JUST A MAJORITY VOTE NOT A SUPER MAJORITY.

Glasgo: THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S -- ON ALL THREE READINGS NEED FIVE VOTES TO PASS THE ORDINANCE, BUT THERE IS NO VALID PETITION. WHEN I FIND OUT THE CITIZENS REFERRED TO THE TERM VALID PETITION, NOT MEANING IT'S VALID, BUT JUST -- JUST PERCENTAGE-WISE, BUT RATHER JUST THE TERMINOLOGY THAT'S USED --

Slusher: I UNDERSTAND. THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH SIGNATURES FOR IT TO BE LEGALLY A VALID PETITION FOR SIX VOTES OF THE COUNCIL.

Glasgo: YOU ARE CORRECT. LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. YEAH, ONE MORE. THE COMPATIBILITY, I WANT TO CONFIRM THAT. THERE'S NO WAIVER OR EXCEPTION BEING SOUGHT ON THAT --

THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY. IF THERE WERE ANY TO BE SOUGHT IT WOULD BE AT THE TIME OF SITE PLAN. BUT LOOKING AT THE SETBACKS BETWEEN 50 FEET TO 100 FEET, YOU CAN GO UP TO 40 FEET OR THREE STORIES FOR COMPATIBILITY WHEN YOU ARE WITHIN -- THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IS 50 FEET ON LYONS ROAD, ALL AROUND THERE, THEY COMPLY WITH COMPATIBILITY AS FAR AS THE SETBACK THAT IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A THREE-STORY BUILDING.

Slusher: OKAY. ANOTHER THING THAT WAS RAISED IN THE -- IN THE E-MAIL FROM PODER, TALKING ABOUT THE PETITION, WAS THE -- THE -- WAS TRAFFIC. AND OF COURSE WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC ALL OVER TOWN. MAYBE THIS IS FOR YOU, MR. HATCH. I UNDERSTAND -- I KNOW ABOUT -- ABOUT SOME ELDERLY HOUSING, MY -- MY MOTHER-IN-LAW IN FACT LIVES IN AN ELDERLY APARTMENT COMPLEX. THERE'S ALWAYS PLENTY OF PARKING THERE BECAUSE MOST OF THE RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE CARS. ISN'T THAT THE CASE HERE AS WELL, MR. HATCH? DID I HEAR YOU SAY THAT? OKAY. WELL, I WON'T MAKE YOU COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE. HE SAID YES OR HE'S COME I ING.

OUR CLIENT IS FAMILY ELDER CARE. WE LEAN ON THEM FOR -- FOR ALL ADVICE WITH REGARD TO THE ELDERLY AND THEY HAVE TOLD US THAT -- THAT MOST PEOPLE LIVING THERE WILL NOT HAVE AUTOMOBILES. THERE'S NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT, BUT THAT'S THEIR UNDERSTANDING.

Slusher: SO THIS IS UNLIKELY TO BE -- TO BE INCREASING TRAFFIC IN THE AREA. WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT SIDEWALKS, THERE ARE SIDEWALKS ALONG THESE STREETS, SO PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO WALK SAFELY HOME ON THE SIDEWALKS. OKAY. MAYOR, I'M READY TO MAKE A MOTION.

Mayor Garcia: THE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER DARYL SLUSHER.

Slusher: I MOVE APPROVAL. I WOULD LIKE TOSY A FEW WORDS IF I GET A SECOND.

Mayor Garcia: MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

Goodman: MAYOR, CAN WE ASK HOW MANY READINGS?

Slusher: I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT ALL THREE.

Mayor Garcia: IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU?

Thomas: ALL THREE.

Mayor Garcia: OKAY.

Slusher: I REALLY THINK THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT, A GREAT PROJECT, REALLY, AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE IN THIS AREA IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW PUBLIC INVESTMENT AND THIS -- THIS IS BEING PUBLIC AND NON-PROFIT INVESTMENT IN AN AREA CAN REALLY IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND BRING AREAS BACK. I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS PROJECT. A.C.C. RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, THE PUBLIC HOUSING UP THE HILL HAS BEEN RENOVATED. THIS -- THIS IS REALLY A GREAT AREA. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT PLACE FOR FOLKS TO LIVE. I KNOW ONE OF THE OPPOSITION, OF WHOM I RESPECT, SAID THAT THERE'S NOTHING THERE NOW, AND SOMETHING NEED TO HAPPEN WITH THIS PROPERTY. WELL, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING BETTER TO HAPPEN HERE THAN HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY. AND WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE SERVICES THE ELDERLY WILL HAVE SERVICES, THE SERVICES OF FAMILY HE WOULD -- THAT FAMILY ELDER CARE PROVIDES RIGHT THERE ON THE PROPERTY, HAVE SHOPPING AND OTHER SERVICES VERY, VERY NEARBY. SO I REALLY -- I REALLY THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT AND ANOTHER ARGUMENT THAT I HAVE HEARD IS THAT -- THAT IT WAS IN THE -- IN THE E-MAIL FROM PODER WAS ABOUT SOME ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE IN THE AREA. ALL AREAS -- NO AREA IS PERFECT, NOT ALL SITES ARE PERFECT. IF WE ARE GOING TO SAY WE SHOULDN'T PUT ELDERLY SOMEWHERE BECAUSE THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS HERE, WHICH I THINK ARE A LITTLE EXAGGERATE UNDERSTAND THAT E-MAIL, BUT THAT WOULD BE TO GIVE UP -- EXAGGERATED IN AN E-MAIL, BUT THAT WOULD BE TO GIVE UP ON MAN AREA. WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE IS HOW WE ARE TURNING AN AREA AROUND BETWEEN PUBLIC, PRIVATE, NON-PROFIT COOPERATION. SO I REALLY CONGRATULATE YOU ON IT. I HOPE THAT WHAT WE CAN END UP WITH, ONCE THE APARTMENTS ARE CONSTRUCTED, IS A REAL NEIGHBORLY FEEL TO AGREE WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE EVEN CONCERNED ABOUT IT, EVEN AGAINST IT RIGHT NOW, WILL BE -- WILL END UP BEING HAPPY THAT IT'S THERE. I THINK MR. HATCH MENTIONED THE FRONT PORCH. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD TOUCH THAT -- JUST FRONT PORCHES IN THEMSELVES HELP BRING BACK THE NEIGHBORLY FEELING THAT WE LIKE TO HAVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SOME IN -- IN SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THE GARAGE IS THE MAIN FEATURE AT THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. I REALLY CONGRATULATE YOU ON THIS, I HOPE WE CAN GET THE FINANCING TOGETHER AND GET THIS CONSTRUCTED.

Mayor Garcia: MAYOR PRO TEM?

Goodman: THANKS, MAYOR MARION IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER THIS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO YOUR MOTION SINCE THE FOLKS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET TOGETHER BEFORE THIS, I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR NOT, EITHER. BUT LET ME OFFER YOU A THOUGHT. IF YOU WERE TO GO FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING AND GIVE THEM A WEEK TO MEET TOGETHER, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS IF THERE CAN BE A GREATER SETBACK OFF LYONS 7. OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE MORE CONSTRAINTS NOW THAN THERE WERE BECAUSE OF THE H.U.D. REGULATIONS, THEIR SORT OF SUPERVISORY OVERCONTROL, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE MIGHT BE A WAY TO RECONFIGURE A LITTLE BIT OF THE OPEN AREA AND YOU COULD POSSIBLY, TOM IS NOT SMILING, SO THIS MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE AT ALL, BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE MAYBE THERE'S A WAY TO HAVE A FURTHER SETBACK ON LYONS THAN THERE IS NOW. I WOULD SAY THAT IN THE CONTEXT THAT I DO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT, I DO THINK IT'S IN THE PERFECT PLACE AND I WILL ULTIMATELY VOTE FOR IT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE -- TO HAVE SOME -- SOME MEANINGFUL ATTEMPT TO -- TO TRY TO COME TO ANY MODIFICATIONS OR TWEAKING THAT IS POSSIBLE AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORS NOT PODER SINCE THEY ARE NOT ANSWERING OTHER THAN E-MAIL TO US. BUT I THINK MR. GUERRA IS THE ONE WHO -- WHO NEEDS TO BE -- TO BE TALKED TO. SO IF YOU ARE NOT -- IF YOU ARE NOT OPEN TO THAT, I UNDERSTAND. AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS IS IFFY. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THAT LAST WEEK IF POSSIBLE.

Slusher: WELL, MAYOR PRO TEM, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A LONG-TIME SUPPORTER OF SUCH PROJECTS AND EFFORTS. LET ME ASK MR. HATCH, WHAT'S THE POSSIBILITIES ON SOMETHING BEING WORKED OUT OR ANY CHANGES BEING POSSIBLE? I REALIZE THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT WAS OFFERED AND THE -- IN THE PAST AND -- WHAT WAS REJECTED. SO JUST -- JUST ADDRESS THE MAYOR PRO TEM?

MAYOR PRO TEM, THE FAMILY ELDER CARE NEEDS HARD BIDS MIDDLE NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR. WE ARE WORKING ON CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, WE STARTED ON THIS PROJECT IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR. WE HAVE MET WITH NEIGHBORHOODS INTO -- THROUGH THE SPRING. AND CHANGING ENGINEERING DRAWINGS, SITE ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURAL, AND GETTING DOCUMENTS TO THE CONTRACTOR THAT WAS SELECTED TODAY, YESTERDAY, EXCUSE ME, WAS IT YESTERDAY OR TODAY? I'M LOST. WOULD BE VERY PROBLEMATIC. CERTAINLY ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, BUT IT WOULD BE VERY PROBLEMATIC AND COSTLY AT THIS TIME. BUT MORE PROBLEMATIC THAN COSTLY FOR TIME.

Slusher: ARE WE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS ON LYONS, I HEARD MR. GUERRA MENTION THAT, BUT SEEMS LIKE TO ME IT WOULD BE MORE COMPATIBLE TO HAVE THE HOUSING ACROSS FROM THE --

I WAS ASKING FOR A SETBACK. IF YOU LOOK TO THE NORTH, TO THE NORTHEAST, THERE'S A WIDER SETBACK ON THE SIDE THAT IS ACROSS FROM C S&L R. AND I THOUGHT POSSIBLY WE COULD JUST SORT OF MOVE THE WHOLE THING OVER AND HAVE A WIDER SETBACK ON THE LYONS SIDE. SO THAT PSYCHOLOGICALLY IT IS RESIDENTIAL, BUT THE HEIGHT THEN IT MOVED FURTHER AWAY.

IT'S AN ILLUSION, I'M SORRY, MINOR. THIS IS THE SAME DISTANCE FROM THE PROPERTY LINE AS THIS. THE PROPERTY LINE IS FURTHER BACK FROM THE STREET, BUT THE DISTANCE FROM THE PROPERTY LINE ON PLEASANT VALLEY AND LYONS IS EXACTLY THE SAME. THERE IS MORE YARD BECAUSE THERE'S MORE STREET YARD FROM THE PROPERTY -- FROM THE PROPERTY LINE TO THE STREET. IT'S -- SO IT'S AN ILLUSION, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

Goodman: IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME. WHAT, 25 FEET? ON THE OTHER SIDE?

I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.

Goodman: SO IT'S 25-FOOT SETBACK FROM THE STREET ON THE NORTH SIDE AS WELL? ON THE NORTH --

THESE ARE THE SAME SETBACKS ON BOTH LYONS AND NORTH PLEASANT VALLEY.

Goodman: WHAT I'M SAYING IS ON THAT SIDE ACROSS FROM C S&L R AND A.C.C. IS BACK THERE, TOO. SO WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO MOVE THE WHOLE THING ANOTHER 10, 20 FEET?

IT WOULD BE UP TO PLANNING STAFF -- IT WOULD BE UP TO PLANNING STAFF IF WE CAN MOVE THIS CLOSER TO THE PROPERTY LINE AND SHIFT THE WHOLE PROJECT. RIGHT NOW WE CAN'T MOVE IT ANY CLOSER. WE COULD MOVE LYONS STREET CLOSER TO THE INSIDE AND LOSE SOME OF THE INTERIOR YARD. PROBABLY DIFFICULTY WITH THIS UNIT HERE. I HOPE THAT I'M RESPONDING ACCURATELY TO YOUR QUESTION.

Goodman: OKAY. THAT ONE IS SORT OF AN INTERIOR INTERSECTION SO THAT CORNER ONE IS NOT AS IMPACTING, FURTHER BACK. BUT IT'S THE ONES RIGHT ON LYONS, RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE FOLKS WHO DID SIGN THE PETITION. SO I'M TRYING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE CAN MITIGATE, IF NOT WITH THAT, THEN WHAT ABOUT STREET SCAPE, SHRAWB BEARS -- SHRUBBERIES, TREES, WHATEVER TO SOFTEN THE THREE STORIES.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE A BUDGET OF $300,000 FOR LAND CAPING ALONE. WE ARE TRYING TO GET MORE. WE ARE PLANNING ON DOING TREES ALL THE WAY AROUND THE PROJECT. THESE ARE PRELIMINARY DRAWINGS. SO IN TERMS OF SOFTENING THE STREET SCAPE, IT'S A DICTATE ALSO FROM THE PLANNING STAFF, THE LANDSCAPE DEPARTMENT CITY OF AUSTIN AT THE MEETING AND -- IN ADDRESSING THEIR NEEDS.

Goodman:, OKAY, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING PICTURED THERE.

I'M SORRY, THESE ARE VERY PRELIMINARY DRAWINGS. AGAIN, LANDSCAPE DEPARTMENT'S REQUIREMENTS AND OUR DESIRES TO SPEND LOTS OF MONEY ON LANDSCAPING AND THE TREES IN THE STREET YARD.

Goodman: OKAY, THANK YOU. I GIVE UP, MAYOR, I THINK WE HAVE REACHED THE HAGAR POINT. IT'S NO LONGER ANYTHING THAT I SEE AS PRODUCTIVE TO KEEP ON GOING. BUT I WISH HAVING COME TO US AT THIS POINT AND WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO MOVE IN, HELP PEOPLE TALK TO EACH OTHER, MAYBE COME TO A BETTER RESOLUTION INSTEAD OF CONFLICT. MAYBE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY -- I THINK THE MAYOR PRO TEM'S POINTS ARE VERY GOOD, SO -- SO ANYWAY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? THIS IS FOR ALL THREE READINGS. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED, NO. MOTION CARRIES ON A VOTE OF 6 TO 0 TO 1 WITH COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ OFF THE DAIS BECAUSE OF -- [ APPLAUSE ] BECAUSE OF -- LIVING CLOSE TO WHERE THIS PROJECT IS. MY ONLY COMMENT TO YOU IS CONGRATULATIONS. IT'S A GOOD PROJECT. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE WE APPROVE IT HERE DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THE END OF THAT DISCUSSION. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY. AND IF YOU CAN WORK WITH CAPITAL METRO, THE CITY TO DO THE RAMPS, TO DO THE SIDEWALKS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET FROM THE -- FROM THE PROJECT TO -- TO -- TO THE H.E.B. WHO KNOWS HOW MANY -- I MAY GO LIVE OVER THERE SOME DAY. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO WALK TO THE H.E.B. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. COUNCIL, THAT'S ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ON THIS AGENDA EXCEPT FOR THE TIME CERTAIN AT 5:30. SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECESS UNTIL 5:30.

Thomas: SO MOVE.

Mayor Garcia: MOTION BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM. SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. WE WILL RECESS UNTIL 5:30.

Goodman:, WELL THE MAYOR HAS TO GO AND DO SOMETHING ELSE, SO IT'S MY VERY GREAT PRIVILEGE AND HON FOR TO INTRODUCE THREE OF AUSTIN'S MUSIC LEGENDS. THIS IS NOT ALL OF CORNELL HURD BAND. WE TALKED ABOUT SOMEBODY THE OTHER DAY CALLED MAYOR OF SOUTH AUSTIN. WE HAVE SEVERAL OF THOSE, DANNY YOUNG IS ONE OF THOSE MAYORS OF SOUTH AUSTIN. [ APPLAUSE ] AND CORNELL HURD, OF COURSE, IS THE NAME BEHIND THE BAND AND ACTUALLY THURSDAY NIGHTS, IT'S UNUSUAL TO SEE THEM THIS FAR NORTH OF THE RIVER. THEY REALLY SHOULD BE AT JOVITA'S. ANYBODY AS WE ARE, WHO WILL BE FREE LATER ON TONIGHT, SHOULD HEAD OVER TO JOVITA'S.

EVERY THURSDAY AT 8:00 TO 10:00 FOLKS.

THE THIRD MEMBER WHO IS HERE IS A MULTI TALENTED GUY. THIS IS GUY JUKES, THIS IS BLAKE KEY WHITE. D. WHITE. A MUSICAL AND ARTISTIC GENIUS, ON THESE THREE ARE PROCLAIMED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TO BE PART OF WHY THE LOCAL MUSIC COMMUNITY MAKES MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTIN'S SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY. AND WHEREAS THE DEDICATED EFFORT OF ARTISTS FURTHER AUSTIN'S STATUS AT THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITOL OF THE WORLD, NOW THEREFORE GUS GARCIA MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, HAS PROCLAIMED OCTOBER 3rd, 2002 AS THE CORNELL HURD BAND DAY IN AUSTIN. [ APPLAUSE ]

WELL, ALL RIGHTY. HERE'S A SONG ABOUT OUR RUB BOARD PLAYERS, ALL OF THE OTHERS ARE PRETENDERS TO THE THROWN. THIS IS THE MAYOR OF SOUTH AUSTIN, DANNY ROY YOUNG, A SONG OF DANNY ENTITLED SHE'S IN LOVE WITH A RUB BOARD PLAYING MAN. [ (music) MUSIC PLAYING (music)(music) ] ((music) SINGING (music)(music)) DANNY ROY YOUNG AND BLACK KEY WHITE. THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. NOW THEY SAID, I COULD SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS, I WOULD LIKE TO. YOU ARE LOOKING AT A GUY WHO IS IMMINENTLY QUALIFIED TO SPEAK ON THIS SUBJECT. I'M A MUSICIAN IN AUSTIN. MAY DAY JOB IS AS A HIGH TECH RECRUITER IN AUSTIN. I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, LEST ANY OF US EVER FORGET, I HAVE RECRUITED MUCH TECHNICAL TALENT TO THIS WONDERFUL TOWN. AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS MUCH: INCLUDING ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE, BRILLIANT CHINESE AMERICAN Ph.D.'S THAT WERE BORN IN BEIJING, ACROSS THE BOARD, MOST OF THEM DON'T CARE THAT IT'S THE STATE CAPITOL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. AND MOST OF THEM ARE NOT PARTICULARLY FANS OF LONGHORN FOOTBALL. THEY HAVE OTHER FOOTBALL TEAMS WHERE THEY CAME FROM. BUT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM HAS SEEN AUSTIN CITY LIMITS AND THEY ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS THE TOWN WHERE THE MUSIC IS. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]

Goodman: IF WE CAME TO HERE YOU TONIGHT LATER AT JOVITA'S, WOULD YOU HAVE MUSIC THERE TO SELL.

MUSIC TO WHAT?

SELL?

YOU BETCHA. ALL KINDS OF MUSIC, CD'S, NO MORE T-SHIRTS, BUMPER STICKERS, A LITTLE ITEM THAT WE DEVELOPED FOR CAROL LAWRENCE IN THE WAKE OF HER DEBILITATING DIVORCE FROM BOB GULLET, COME ON DOWN AND SEE US, A TEMPORARY TATTOO. 8:00 EVERY THURSDAY, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.

Goodman: OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION -- I WAS ABOUT TO READ THE WRONG ONE, SORRY. DO WE HAVE RAY HOOPER HERE. THIS IS DESTINATION DIGNITY MONTH AS WELL. AND WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION -- IS THAT COMING UP? TO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE TEXAS COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL RETARDATION CENTERS ASSISTS 175,000 TEXANS ANNUALLY, TO OBTAIN THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED FOR PRODUCTIVE AND SATISFYING LIVES, AND WHEREAS THE 42 CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE PROVIDE COMMUNITY CARE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND MENTAL RETARDATION, AS WELL AS FOR THOSE WORKING TO OVERCOME ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE, AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE THE COMMUNITY MHMR CENTERS ANNUAL CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE AND REWARDING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR TEXAS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, NOW THEREFORE GUS GARCIA MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS DOES HERE BY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2002 AS DESTINATION DIGNITY MONTH IN AUSTIN. AND IN WITNESS THEREOF HE HAD SET HIS HAND AND HIS SEAL, I WANT TO HAND THIS TO BEVERLY SCARBOROUGH, SUCH A HARD WORKING AND CARING PERSON, WE COULDN'T ASK FOR BETTER IN THIS GOAL. THANKS A LOT MAYOR PRO TEM WE HAVE A GREAT -- IN ADDITION TO BEING DESTINATION DIGNITY MONTH, THIS FIRST WEEK IS MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK. UP REPRESENT KNOWLEDGE A GROUP -- I AM REPRESENTING A GROUP OF ORGANIZATIONS HERE. WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES. OUR BIGGEST ONE IS THAT ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10th, CARY FISHER, STAR WARS CARY FISHER IS GOING TO BE APPEARING IN AUSTIN AT THE ALUMNI CENTER, I BELIEVE THAT MAYOR PRO TEM YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE HER AN AWARD FROM THE CITY. THAT SAME DAY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, THE AUSTIN CHAPTER OF [INAUDIBLE], ARE GOING TO HAVE AN EVENT AT THE CAPITOL AT 6:30. RICKY FOSTER WHO APPARENTLY JUST DID GREAT LAST WEEK AT THE CITY LIMITS CONCERT IS GOING TO BE SINGING. THEY ARE THEN GOING TO GO ON OVER TO THE DUCK APPEARED DOG PUB -- DUCK AND DOG PUB? IS IT THE DUCK AND DOG OR DUG THE DUCK.

DOG AND DUCK.

SORRY.

THEY ARE GOING TO GO OVER THERE, RICKY FOSTER IS GOING TO SING. THIS IS ALSO MENTAL ILLNESS SCREENING DAY, BOOK PEOPLE IS GOING TO HAVE FREE SCREENINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO COME IN THAT ARE CONCERNED MAYBE THEY HAVE DEPRESSION OR ANOTHER ANXIETY DISORDER. YOU CAN GO RIGHT DOWN TO BOOK PEOPLE AND GET A SCREENING IF YOU NEED ONE. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12th, WE ARE HAVING OUR ANNUAL RACE AGAINST STIGMA. IT WILL START IN THE PARKING LOT OF AUSTIN HIGH AND I HAVE BROUGHT ALL OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE CITY MANAGER T-SHIRTS FOR OUR RACE AGAINST STIGMA. AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE BRIGHT AND EARLY AT 8:00 ON SATURDAY. SO IT IS A FULL WEEK FOR MENTAL ILLNESS. AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS. [ APPLAUSE ] JIM OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS ABOUT FIRE PREVENTION --

Goodman: OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS ABOUT FIRE PREVENTION WEEK. WE HAVE CHIEF WARREN WITH US, ALSO ASSISTANT CHIEF BOLM AND -- OH, CAPTAIN DON SMITH. WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE TO US AND OF COURSE LAST YEAR SEPTEMBER 11TH BROUGHT THAT HOME MORE THAN MOST THINGS COULD. SO LET ME SAY THAT I THINK MORE THAN EVER, SAFETY IS ON OUR MIND AND THREE OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY ARE THE REASON THAT MOST OF US ASSUME THAT WE WILL BE SAFE. BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS AS WELL THAT WE HAVE TO DO FOR OURSELVES. THIS COMMEMORATION IS TO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT WHEREAS FIRE PREVENTION WEEK COMMEMORATES THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE OF 1871, WHICH KILLED MORE THAN 250 PERSONS AND LEFT 100,000 HOMELESS, AND DESTROYED 17,400 BUILDINGS AND WHEREAS THE TRAGEDY SERVES AS THE MOTIVATING FORCE FOR THE CITY AND THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR ENCOURAGE AUSTINITES TO BUILD A SAFER COMMUNITY BY TAKING SIMPLE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN THEIR OWN HOMES, AND WHEREAS FIRES HAVE CAUSED 8 FATALITIES IN AUSTIN THIS YEAR, THE HIGHEST NUMBER IN DECADES. WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD EVERYBODY'S HOME FIRE HAZARDS BEEN REMOVED. SMOKE ALARMS INSTALLED. OR HOME FIRE ESCAPE PLANS BEEN IN PLACE. NOW THEREFORE GUS GARCIA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DOES HERE BY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 6th THROUGH 12th IN THE YEAR 2002 AS FIRE PREVENTION WEEK IN AUSTIN. AND HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL REMEMBER TO BE SAFE AND NOT CALL THESE GUYS OUT. [ APPLAUSE ]

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. YOU KNOW IN AUSTIN WE HAVE ALWAYS CLAIMED THAT EVERY WEEK OF THE YEAR IS FIRE SAFETY WEEK, WE DON'T NEED A NATIONAL PROGRAM TO PROMOTE WHAT IS A VERY FUNDAMENTAL PART OF OUR MISSION, THAT'S COMMUNITY FIRE SAFETY. BUT AS YOU HEARD THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAY, THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT FROM MOST YEARS. THIS YEAR MARKS THE WORST YEAR THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS SEEN FOR FIRE-RELATED FATALITIES IN OVER A DECADE. 8 FIRE FATALITIES, THIS OCCURS AT A TIME WHEN ALL OF OUR PERFORMANCE INDICATORS SHOW US THAT THE FREQUENCY OF FIRES AND THE EXTEND OF THOSE FIRES IN BUILDINGS ARE -- EXTENTS OF THOSE FIRES IN BUILDINGS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASING BECAUSE OF OUR PREVENTIVE EFFORTS. WHAT THIS TELLS US NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY TO REGULATE THE ENFORCED FATAL IN SAFETY. WE CANNOT CAUSE THE -- CHANGE THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE, HUMAN BEHAVIOR. MY CHALLENGE FOR THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN IS TO DO YOUR PART TO MAKE YOUR HOME AND YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR LIFE AS FIRE SAFE AS POSSIBLE. THAT'S WHAT FIRE SAFETY WEEK IS ALL ABOUT. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]

Alvarez: ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ANOTHER EXCITING ACTIVITY THAT'S COMING UP AND GLAD TO HAVE SOME OF OUR DEDICATED EMPLOYEES HERE TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS. IT'S A -- COMBINED CHARITIES KICKOFF FOR THIS YEAR, THROUGH THAT PROGRAM WE TRY TO HAVE GIVING FROM EMPLOYEES AND TRY TO FACILITATE THAT THROUGH THIS COMBINED CHARITIES CAMPAIGN. SO I THINK TO KICK IT OFF WE HAVE AN EVENT HERE, WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE THIS AS -- AS -- OR THIS PARTICULAR EVENT, SAYS BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS CHARITIES PROVIDE A VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH CONTRIBUTORS, VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES CAN WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE ARRAY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SERVICE RAMS FOR CENTRAL TEXAS -- SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR CENTRAL TEXAS, WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN COMBINED CHARITIES CAMPAIGN HAS RAISED NEARLY $3,533,000 FOR THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1994, AND WHEREAS WE ENCOURAGE ALL CITY EMPLOYEES TO LEND A HAND, MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY CONTRIBUTING GENEROUSLY TO THE CHARITABLE AGENCIES OF THEIR CHOICE, I I, GUS GARCIA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS DO HERE BY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 3rd, 2002 AS CITY OF AUSTIN COMBINED CHARITIES CAMPAIGN DAY IN AUSTIN, LET'S HEAR IT FOR COMBINED. [ APPLAUSE ] WE HAVE THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE. CHIEF WARREN ACCEPTING ON BEHALF OF THE EMPLOYEES. CHIEF, THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS?

SURE. AS THE CHAIR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN COMBINED CHARITIES, I AM REPRESENTING ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE THIS IS A CAMPAIGN THAT IS CONTRIBUTED TO, FUNDS ARE RAISED FOR THESE EMPLOYEES, IT'S BY THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN ALMOST ENTIRELY. AND WE -- WE ARE -- WE HOPE THAT WE WILL WORK REALLY HARD THIS YEAR, AND RAISE A RECORD AMOUNT OF MONEY. OUR GOAL IS $775,000. WHICH PUTS US IN THE RANGE WITH SOME OF THE LARGE CORPORATE ORGANIZATIONS IN TOWN, AS WELL. SO IT'S -- IT'S A SIGNIFICANT CAMPAIGN AND WE HOPE TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD YEAR. WE WILL BE WORKING HARD ON THIS CAMPAIGN THROUGH THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. WE WILL HAVE THAT RECORD TOTAL FOR YOU BY THE END OF THE MONTH. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]

Slusher: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS, DO YOU WANT TO COME UP? WELL, IN ADDITION TO -- TO OUR DUTIES HERE ON THE CITY COUNCIL, COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS AND I ALSO SERVE ON THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD. AND WE HAVE SOME STAFF MEMBERS, A NUMBER OF THEM FROM CAPITAL METRO HERE TONIGHT. WHO WORK VERY HARD, WE HAVE REALLY WORKED HARD TO TURN IT INTO AN ACCOUNTABLE AGENCY, TO -- TO THE TAXPAYERS. I THINK WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY. WHAT -- WHAT SEVERAL THINGS ABOUT TRANSIT. ONE THE MORE PEOPLE RIDE TRANSIT, THE BETTER THE TRAFFIC IS. THE LESS POLLUTION THERE IS. AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO DECLARE THIS COMMUNITIES IN MOTION DAY IN AUSTIN. AND WE ALSO HAVE A PROGRAM GOING ON AT CAPITAL METRO THAT COMMUTE SOLUTIONS PROGRAM THAT GOES THE WHOLE MONTH AND WE REALLY HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL INQUIRE ABOUT HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT. ONE THING THAT YOU CAN DO IS CALL THE HOTLINE THERE, 474-1200, WHICH IS ONE AREA THAT REALLY -- REALLY PERFORMS EXCEPTIONALLY AT CAPITAL METRO. AND SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS IN A MINUTE. BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY THIS WEEKEND RODE THE BUSES TO THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS FESTIVAL. AND I HOPE THAT A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE WILL TRY THE BUSES AT OTHER TIMES DURING THE WEEK OTHER THAN JUST AT THE FESTIVAL. BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, THOSE BUSES ARE -- THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE ROUTES THAT WE RUN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY, YOU STILL HEAR SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE EMPTY BUSES. BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, THEY WEREN'T EMPTY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. AND TURNING IT OVER IN JUST A MINUTE. THERE'S ONE OTHER THING THAT WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF, I THINK AUTOMATIC THUR RODRIGO, I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE CALLED UP IN A MINUTE. BUT AT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSIT ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, HE WON THE NATIONAL TITLE, THE DRIVING IN THE BUS RODEO. WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF HIM. I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BRING HIM BACK AND GIVE HIM A PROCLAMATION FROM THE WHOLE COUNCIL AT A LATER DATE. BUT GLAD TO SEE HIM HERE TODAY. IN A MINUTE I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS. THEN HE'S GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO FRED GILLAM THE GENERAL MANAGER OF CAPITAL METRO. WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE MR. GILLAM AT THE HELM. AT CAPITAL METRO. HE'S SERVED A NUMBER OF PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING JUST DOWN THE ROAD IN HOUSTON. BUS HE'S A REAL DOWN TO EARTH, DOWN TO EARTH MAN. DOWN TO EARTH MANAGEMENT STYLE. HUGE BOOST IN THE MORALE AT CAPITAL METRO SINCE HE CAME ON BOARD. AND THE -- THE SERVICE AS WELL. WE HOPE HE'S GOING TO BE WITH US FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THE COMMUNITIES IN MOTION DAY TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

Thomas: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER. I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS. I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ON THE BOARD JUST FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. BUT I -- THIS IS A -- OUR SECOND FAMILY. WE HAVE THE FIRST FAMILY AT THE CITY, WE HAVE A SECOND FAMILY AT CAPITAL METRO. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER WAS SAYING WAS SO RIGHT, ABOUT -- ABOUT CAPITAL METRO IS -- IS A VERY HARD WORKING DEPARTMENT, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LEADER THAT MAKES THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENT RUN SMOOTH AND THE TIME I MET -- THE TIME I'VE SPENT WITH MR. FRED GILLAM I'VE SEEN THINGS HAPPEN AT CAPITAL METRO THAT I HADN'T SEEN PRIOR TO HIM COMING. BUT I KNOW THAT -- THAT WITH HIM THEN, WE DON'T WANT HIM TO GO ANYWHERE. THAT -- THAT THE CAPITAL METRO IS GOING TO REACH THE GOALS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN NEED FOR TRANSPORTATION.

THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER AND THOMAS. ALSO MAYOR PRO TEM AND THE VICE MAYOR PRO TEM AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I WANT TO -- TO JUST MAKE A FEW REMARKS AND ALSO RECOGNIZE AUTOMATIC ARTHUR THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER. FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL THAT RIDES PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, 9.1-POUND OF HYDROCARBON IS ELIMINATED, 65 AND A HALF POUNDS OF CARBON MONOXIDE, AND 4.9 POUNDS OF NITROGEN OXIDE IS ELIMINATED. IF YOU JUST THINK ABOUT THAT, WE TRANSPORT OVER 130,000 TRIPS PER DAY. AND ON SPECIAL EVENTS, THIS PAST WEEKEND, JUST FOR THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS, WE TRANSPORTED OVER 73,000 TRIPS FOR THAT EVENT. APPEARED MOST OF THE POLLUTION IS RELATED TO SHORT TRIPS. SO JUST IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THOSE 130,000 TRIPS PER DAY WERE NOT BEING MADE BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. SO -- THE OTHER POINT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS FOR EVERY PERSON WHO RIDES, THEY WILL SAVE AN AVERAGE OF $16 ON PER MONTH. AND -- $160 PER MONTH. MOST OF THE TIME FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT'S SPENT IN THE COMMUNITY, IT TURNS OVER AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES. SO AS YOU RELATE TO THAT, WE LOOK AT OUR ECONOMY AND SALES TAX DOWN. SO THE MORE SPENDABLE INCOME INDIVIDUALS HAVE, THE -- THE BETTER AND MORE -- THAT IT WILL HELP AND SUPPORT THE ECONOMY. I -- I WOULD LIKE TO JUST MENTION ONE THING. I DON'T HAVE ANY INTENTION TO LEAVE, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. [ LAUGHTER ] I CERTAINLY AM ENJOYING THE TENURE HERE. I HAVE OVER 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE WORKED IN A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES. I DON'T KNOW OF A COMMUNITY THAT I HAVE WORK UNDERSTAND THAT HAS MORE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION THAN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. I CAN SAY THAT AND SHARE WITH YOU, BUT IT'S GOOD. I CERTAINLY ENJOY IT. WE ARE LISTENING BETTER. WE ARE TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE, WE ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WITH YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT, IN PARTICULARLY THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, IT'S BEEN GREAT. I -- I HAVE NOT MET ONE INDIVIDUAL WHERE IT'S -- WHETHER IT'S A STAFF OR ELECTED MEMBER THAT WAS NOT PROACTIVE AND SUPPORTIVE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. I THANK YOU FOR THAT. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO TURN TO ANOTHER SPECIAL -- I PERSONALLY REFER TO ARTHUR AS A WORLD CHAMPION. WHAT HE'S DONE IS ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING THAT VERY FEW INDIVIDUALS, IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL RODEO, AND SO IT'S WORLDWIDE. FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. ALTHOUGH THE ENTIRE WORLD DOES NOT NORMALLY COMPETE. WE HAD COMPETITION FROM AUSTRALIA INVOLVED IN THE OVERALL COMPETITION. ALSO, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I'M PROBABLY THE ONLY MANAGER IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN AFFILIATED WITH THREE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. WHEN I SAY THAT, THERE'S ONLY THREE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THERE'S ONE FOR MAINTENANCE, THERE'S ONE FOR 40-FOOT APPEARED ONE FOR 35-FOOT VEHICLES -- AND ONE FOR 35-FOOT VEHICLES. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE IN 1996 BEING AFFILIATED WITH A WORLD CHAMPION IN 40-FOOT, 1999 IN MAINTENANCE RODEO, NOW IN 2002 IN AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR 35-FOOT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD ARTHUR, IF YOU WOULD JUST STEP FORWARD, YOU CAN TELL FROM THE PATCHES -- [ APPLAUSE ] QUITE FRANKLY HE MAKES US ALL PROUD, BUT I KNOW HE MAKES ALL FOLKS AND PEOPLE WHO RESIDE IN THIS AREA PROUD SIMPLY BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, HE'S WORKED FOR THE ORGANIZATION 19 YEARS. NO PREVENTABLE ACCIDENT. NO ABSENT TEISM. HE'S A STELLAR EMPLOYEE. REALLY IS SOMEONE THAT HE MENTORS OTHER INDIVIDUALS. HE'S A PERFECTIONIST IN MANY WAYS. HE STRIVES TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AS DO MANY OTHER EMPLOYEES OF CAPITAL METRO. BUT WE ARE PROUD TO SAY HE DOES WORK FOR CAPITAL METRO, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE PROUD THAT HE'S ON OUR TEAM AND HE'S HELPING US MOVE FORWARD TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE. THANK YOU, AGAIN FOR DECLARING TODAY COMMUNITIES IN MOTION. ARTHUR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? [ APPLAUSE ]

I'M JUST GRATEFUL, HONORED TO BE RECOGNIZED HERE TODAY. I'M JUST THRILLED BEING ABLE TO COMPETE WITH THE VERY BEST OPERATORS, THE INTERNATIONAL BUS RODEO HAS TO OFFER. AND BEING ABLE TO PULL IT OFF ON TOP IS LIKE TWICE AS NICE. SO -- [ LAUGHTER ] THANK YOU ALL FOR -- FOR RECOGNIZING ME. [ APPLAUSE ]

I MIGHT SAY HE BEAT THE NEAREST COMPETITOR BY 36 POINTS, THAT'S A MAJOR FEAT FROM THAT. HE JUST BLEW THE TRACK. SO THAT'S HOW CONFIDENT HE WAS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY HOW SKILLED HE IS. [ APPLAUSE ]

Slusher: THANK YOU, MR. GILLAM AND ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES AT CAPITAL METRO. MAYOR PRO TEM, ARE YOU READY? WE NEED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING? WE HAVE --

I ALMOST FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, I WANT TO MAKE IT EASY FOR ALL OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS. I HAVE A -- THE MONTH OF OCTOBER BUS PASS, SO -- SO ALL OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS CAN RIDE FREE ON US. SO THANK YOU, LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

Slusher: SEE YOU ALL OUT THERE, THANK YOU. 5:55.

Goodman: OCTOBER THE 3rd, THE YEAR 2002, THERE ARE I THINK A QUORUM OF COUNCILMEMBERS IN THE ROOM. [INAUDIBLE] YES. SO, I WILL SECOND. ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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