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You're watching a meeting of the Austin City Council. With Mayor Kerv Watson, Mayor Pro-Tem Chido Vaila, Council

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Members Natasha Harper Madison, Vanessa Wintex, Jose Belosquez, Ryan Alter, Crystal Lane, Mike Siegel, Paige Ellis,

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Joe Contrie, Mark Duchen, City Attorney, Deborah Thomas, City Clerk, Erica Brady, and City Manager T.C. Broadnax.

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Good morning everybody. It's 10 o'clock in the morning on August 6th, 2026.

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I'll call to order the City Council meeting of the Austin City Council. We have a quorum of the City Council present and we're meeting in City Council Chambers located at City Hall at 301 West Second Street in Austin, Texas.

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Members, we have a number of items on the agenda today. What I intend to do is, and by the way, yes, there's a new proposed amendment that I'm seeking co-sponsors.

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I call this the whatever it takes amendment, and we take money from wherever we can, including if it wipes out most of our other proposed amendments, so we can do that.

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Anyway, having said that, what we'll do is we'll go in the order of the agenda.

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Except when we get items 2 and 4, as I put on the message board yesterday, items 2 and 4 might very well.

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I want to get a feeling from the council about how we want to do that before we take the amendment, and we might take it 4 before we take it 2 or 2 before we take it 4, because that deals with the ordering of the items on the agenda.

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We'll talk about that in more detail when we get there. As I always do, I want to point out what our schedule is.

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Today, of course, we have this budget work session. We have the other agenda items, and then on Wednesday, August 12, we will be scheduled to have the first opportunity to vote on the budget.

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Thursday, August 13th, and Friday, August 14th, we will also conduct public hearing and have council discussion and the council vote on those days.

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I just want to make sure that everybody is aware of what the schedule is.

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Having said that, let us now go to item number 1, which is posted as a presentation and discussion of the city manager's fiscal year 2026, 2027 proposed budget, and we will start with speakers and I'll turn to the city clerk.

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When the city clerk calls your names, many of you have already been here and know how this operates, but let me say it again for those that are new.

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She'll call out the names and batches of 3, 4, 5, maybe more. When your name is called, please come forward when your name is called, and go ahead and take a seat if a seat is available. If a seat is not available to desk, take one of these front row seats, and that way we'll know you're here, and we can efficiently hear your testimony. So with that, I'll turn to the city clerk.

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Thank you, Mayor. I have a few remote speakers for item 1, Katherine McCartell.

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Good morning. My name is Katherine McCartell. I live in district 9, and I'm here today to again ask you to keep the police budget flat.

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Do not give APB a penny more than required that that ridiculous text of law. No excuses about the cost of that new police union contract, some of you voted for in 2024.

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Find other ways to cut APB's budget down to the minimum required.

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Can be done if you all have the courage and the back going to do it, especially in the wake of yet another police killing.

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Do not reward them for that.

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I'm glad that there has been some discussion on using new property tax revenue to fund social services contracts.

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Thank you for this initial effort. However, even if it becomes reality, it is not enough.

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It is not enough because there is a greater need than to just maintain the existing social services contracts.

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We need to grow social services provision in the city. We desperately need more services to support our and health neighbors.

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We need more food access. We need more mental health support. We need more child care support.

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I could go on, but you already know these things and you've been hearing for weeks from so many in the community about these need.

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And it's so obviously, you could fund these needs by taking the proposed $25 million increase to APD and instead providing these additional social services.

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The things that will actually could keep our community safe and driving rather than killing our neighbors.

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And you will know that any money given to APD this year above its current budget is money that cannot be used next year for literally anything else.

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And we'll be right back here next year fighting against more proposed cuts to the social services we need.

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I also ask that this budget enabled moving the 911 defect out from APD and into an independent emergency communications department that can make the correct judgment called on which type of first responder defend.

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We know that with 911 under APD they send police officers for so many calls where and others type of responder would be more appropriate and safer.

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We've seen how damaging this police department is. Please make it just a little less damaging by keeping their budget flat and moving 911 to independent department. Thank you.

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Jen Powell.

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Good morning.

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Today it seems to be my last day to yell about the budget and to see it in a minute, so I'm just going to keep it simple.

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As everyone else who've been saying, fun to see I be in full also social services funding and full or I guarantee all the next round of yelling is just going to be people asking for a detailed education and equity impact statement before implementation.

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To make sure these cuts aren't as disproportionately targeted at schools and persecuted social groups as they look on paper because it doesn't look good on paper.

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Now that funding does include the funding for the safe lives in full and continuing the contract for them, which I see that you guys have done a while though we're going to appreciate that.

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You can enter into a contract with brave up-and-seater partners. Well, I get that, but that should be an additional contract and not a replacement.

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Now here's the main part after the murder of Antonyl. You guys know that you can't go through with the proposed raises for APD. Just keep the budget flat and in the meantime focus on two important matters.

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One, moving the 911 calls that are out of APD and some sort of civilian structure. Everybody should know that pretty much the whole council supports that is just that we need whoever in the city to finish pushing to get it done.

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So please finish pushing to get it done and then to require that both the police and the civilian dispatchers actually take the suicide by copper mentioned training.

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It does exist. People beg them. I don't need to know how many times or how long to do it, but you definitely cannot justify in freezing the APD funding to any of your constituents until they actually take that training.

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If they pay attention, they might actually reduce up to 30% of killings that can be attributed to that cause.

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And last but not least, while you're in there, if you could give these civilian oversight committee actual teeth, financial teeth.

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When police handle a case correctly, they can incentivize and incentivize and when they.

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They're not at all.

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Good morning, Mayor and council. My name is Stan help tell my position. It provides care through asking safety net health system.

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I check people are unhoused, people living in poverty and people who's health and dignity are directly armed by the current.

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I'm speaking here as a clinician who sees the consequences of these policies.

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My patients lose their medication because of the sweets and the hospitalized with serious illness that could have been avoided.

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I check for people who have lost their ideas in how they get working streets and then can't act as shelter benefits. These are our neighbors.

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Our clinical and social support teams are exhausted from picking up after the disaster that these sweep cause and our patients live.

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Working countless hours helping clients get new ideas and investing hours care helping people recover from preventable injury and illness due to these sweeps.

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I work through the pandemic and I will say these policies pushed forward by council are causing as much moral injury to our staff that the COVID pandemic did.

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The public health evidence is clear forced displacement, feeps, confiscation and involuntary relocation, worsens health outcomes increases overdose risk interrupts continuity of of share, destroy the control belonging to the drives we go further from services.

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Leaps on health and do not produce durable assets from homelessness.

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Beyond the human toll, sweets are discreet or substantial. They are expensive to conduct shift class to emergency care and hospital and fail to reduce homelessness.

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The city budget is a moral document. As you finalize Austin's budget, you have a responsibility to invest in what actually improves health reduces harm and it answers public safety.

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You have an immediate opportunity to act first, stop these harmful sweets, costly sweets that display people and destroy the fragile community of care.

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Second, expand the city's safe storage program.

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Faith storage reduces harm by preserving medications, IDs and housing documents when people are moved.

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While storage is not a complete solution, it is a concrete time reduction step.

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Our unhoused neighbors have repeatedly requested. Third, keep the APD budget flat. Do not increase funding for policing at the expense of social services and for the store and prioritize funding.

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That's all the remote speakers I have for item one. So I'm going to be moving to in-person speakers.

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Fill up this Gerald, Savannah Lee, Rebecca Weber, Shelby Evans, Elliott Trehan.

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If anything, call please come forward and always ask is that when you begin your testimony, you state your name for the record.

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Mr. Fitzgerald, begin with you.

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You said we're going to start with me? Sure. Okay, fill up this Gerald district one.

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So I originally wanted to come talk about more things than just this, but obviously with short time, I'll just skip with this.

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Yeah, growing up, you have a coach that would always tell the stores about what's required to be a leader and he would offer reference the harming of women and children and said,

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if you ever did that, he wouldn't have forgiveness for you.

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But I think he also is including all folks.

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And part of this budget calls for the cutting of the senior congregate meal program, which I've emailed some of you about.

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It's a program that runs across our city and no other area, but district one has has more service locations than district one.

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In talking with some of the staff at these locations, they feed over a hundred seniors in Austin a day.

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I think this cut would be a serious attack on that area.

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On an area that for far too long has had to play catch up with other districts in Austin.

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You know, district one has former teachers and restaurant workers and veterans and I know a lot of you have a good understanding of what those people have given our city.

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But I think it's also important to understand how little they've been given in return.

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And I understand that we're we're over budget we're now to make cuts, but we cannot sacrifice our seniors.

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This program offers them an ability to leave their homes and reach out and establish and maintain community, which is a warm blanket for a lot of people at a time in their life when they're often isolated.

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So please take a look at this budget again and find something else to cut.

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I have a little more time obviously with the news of Greg Abbott he's he's going to push to deregulate Austin energy that's going to blow a hole in our general fund.

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So if people are upset about the cutting of social services now wait till we lose a hundred million dollars.

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And I really would would ask that the city start preparing for that now.

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And that means reaching out to people in San Antonio figure out how we're going to defend our city.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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When we go here, we'll work down the road.

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Hello council, my name is Shelby and from Hands Off Central Texas.

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The community's anger at APD is justified, but this is not just about keeping APD's budget flat to be punitive.

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It's about what that money could fund instead.

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Data show that interactions with the incarceration system leads to worse outcomes for the person and for the community.

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It is costly and ineffective to use the police as a catch all for mental health, homelessness,

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poverty, substance use recovery, and crisis intervention.

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This system was not built to rehabilitate these issues yet we continue to rely on violence and the threat of violence to manage them.

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Police are not trained or equipped to handle the conditions that are overwhelmingly represented in our carceral systems,

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but social workers are.

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Social services already experienced a 10% cut last year.

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Yet we are told APD's budget must be increased to keep up with inflation.

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Social services don't have the resources to keep up with demand.

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While APD doesn't have the community buy-in to meet the recruitment numbers.

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Why must everyone else do more with less except the police?

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The costs to the city are stacking up and we need better investments.

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Move 911 out of APD. Keep their budget flat.

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Fully fund social services and please make the changes your community is begging you for.

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It is more than your legacy it is our lives.

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Thank you.

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Good morning. My name is Savannah Lee and with equity action and a resident of district one.

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I'm here in support of the community investment budget.

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I'm going to get to my written comments in a second, but I feel it really necessary to state that many of us just watched our neighbors be kidnapped outside of this building.

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And I can't sit with a reality that we're sitting here asking you not to give more money to the institution that helps their kidnappers.

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We're nearing the finish line.

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But before we get there, I think it's important to emphasize that this process that brings so many of us here every summer when we could be with our families is really about.

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We're here because you've been given the incredible responsibility of stewarding the hard earned dollars at the families that live here and deciding how to reinvest them back into our communities.

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Over the past weeks, we've been very clear in how we want you to spend this money.

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We've all heard it over and over, but I'm happy to say it again because the asks are quite simple.

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Stop spending all of our money on APD.

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If you continue in this direction, you are going to back this city into a financial corner from which it cannot escape. We warned you in 2024, and we are warning you again now.

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Fully fund social services. Hundreds of people have given their time to make this ask, and it's because they know the real human cost of these cuts.

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Established joint communications department and moved in 911 call takers out of APD. We have to make sure these departments can communicate, and we have to ensure that folks who are in crisis are met with professionals who know how to de-escalate.

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The tragedy that happens when we do not get this right is too much to bear.

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Stop funding the sweeps. We are spending millions simply shifting vulnerable folks from one place to another, while taking all of the things they value. This is a horrific waste of money and a moral failure, and we deserve better.

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Throughout this process, I've heard a lot comparing Austin spending to other Texas cities, but they spend on police or social services or whatever else.

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The truth is we aren't like any other city in Texas, and we like it that way.

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Our community is what makes us special, and every dollar you have in front of you was handed to you by the people that live here. Please spend them wisely. Thank you.

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Good morning. My name is Elliott Trehan. I live in District 10, and I don't think I can say anything quite eloquently as she just said it.

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So I think I'll just keep it short. I got here on bike, and as soon as I arrived and pulled up, I happened upon our neighbors being kidnapped and arrayed.

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It was mostly facilitated by DPS, but I know whether it was this one of past APD has been in collaboration with these people.

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I really wanted to be so so clear on the history teacher and my normal day today.

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Ice is our version of the fastest secret police, and right now Austin Police Department is collaborating with them, whether it be by holding people in jail cells long enough for ice to pick them up, or by going specifically to arrest people in blue guys in northeast Austin, where ice shows up within minutes after that arrest happens.

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This organization is collaborating with our version of the fastest secret police.

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Like everybody said, ever since I moved back here here ago, I've been showing up for these meetings of what I keep hearing is we're dealing with less money than we were able to before their scarcity.

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Now why a city that has attracted so much wealth and has so many big name companies is dealing with scarcity is another conversation worth happening or having.

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But today, like everybody's saying, we need to talk about how we deal with that scarcity.

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So many people who represent so many wonderful orgs are saying, we need funds working to get the funds.

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There's a very clear answer. It's APD, keep their budget platform flat, please no more dollars for organizations that murder teenagers and refuse to take accountability for it.

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That's all. Thank you.

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Good morning. I'm Rebecca Weber, and I'm here on behalf of equity action where I serve on the board.

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And in my personal capacity as a lawyer who sometimes suits this city on behalf of victims of police in this conduct, including pending cases right now.

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Ms. Brenda Ramos, who's son was killed six years ago now and is still waiting for justice from the city and Samantha Lidkey, who was a police woman who was treated horribly in her tenure at APD.

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I'm here in solidarity with all of the service provider employees who have been here.

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I think I don't know if it's going on six meetings now, it feels like so many just they do such good work and they're here begging for the scraps to keep doing

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they're really good work and so I just ask thank you for everyone who has worked on the 911 call move.

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It's such a good clean, simple solution and so I'm really just grateful to everyone who has made that, who is going to make that happen and I really appreciate everyone who has valued the community investment budget and I ask you to pass the community investment budget and move 911. Thank you.

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Brian Poppy, Sylvia Stinson, John Pleasant, Jeffrey Bowen, Jeff Dickerson.

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Good morning, Marin Council. My name is Ryan Poppy and I'm speaking today on behalf of the United Workers of Integral Care.

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I want to address the city managers August 3 at Memorandum on the proposed no wrong door coordinated crisis response program. Everyone supports better coordination for people experiencing mental illness substance use disorders or homelessness.

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Integral care employees have been doing this kind of work every day.

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Our concern is not with the goal but how it's being funded.

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The Memorandum says the city plans to realign existing programs and dollars to create a more coordinated crisis response.

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It never explains what happens to the services staff or clients we rely on those programs every day.

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Behavioral health is not simply another budget line.

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It reduces pressure on emergency rooms, law enforcement and our jails while improving the lives and saving taxpayer dollars.

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Integral care's workforce is already stretched then and you cannot build a stronger crisis response by weakening the community-based services that keep people from reaching crisis in the first place.

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As you finalize this budget, if you must, I urge you to strictly fund no wrong door with new investments, not by shifting resources away from integral care existing programs.

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Protect the workforce, protect these services, and protect the people of Austin.

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Thank you.

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Just a moment go to you.

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Thank you, sir. Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

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Mr. Mayor, council members, Jeff Bowen, District 8.

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Last week, I came up and talked about clarification and that's based upon going to all the different town halls on the budgets.

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I attended another one last night. Well, actually, two this week can be at another one tonight.

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But I want to just go back and remind about the clarification because there seems to be a lot of miscommunications at times even in the news media about some of the increases.

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And I want to appreciate with Mr. Broadnax and Ms. Kerry lying about the fact that they're bringing out.

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And for those of us that do budgets and those type of things, we have to look at the overhead costs which we've had some significant increases in which are then sometimes misinterpreted as an increase in that budget.

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But that the fact that you had guys have started separating those and bringing out that issue needs to really be clarified so that it's not getting misconstrued with other issues.

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So again, I urge to make sure that we have a lot of clarification on some of these issues where we are increasing here or taking away here.

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And so that it doesn't end up into another argument, whatever you want to call it, but it turns into from a discussion into more of a discussion that doesn't go anywhere.

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So please make sure that we're trying to clarify those misunderstandings so that people actually do understand what is actually happening with some of these budgets.

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There again. Thanks for your time.

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Thank you.

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Good morning council members. My name is John Pleasant and I'm here to ask you to reject the proposed $25 million increase to the Austin Police Department's budget.

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Two weeks ago, a 17 year old Anthony O'Williams was shot and killed by three APD officers in a northeast Austin park officers mistook a water bottle in his waistband for a weapon and fire 20 shots.

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One officer reloading and firing again as Williams lay on the ground. He was unarmed and he was a child.

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Williams isn't in isolated case. Austin has a documented history of shootings where the person killed posed no real threat, including Michael Carauthors Jr. in 2021, killed when an officer fired at the sound of unrelated gunfire.

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This is a pattern and they should worry anyone being asked to fund this department at a higher level. Before we hand APD more money, we should look at how this time is spent.

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A 2020 analysis of APD calls found violent crime made up less than 1% of all calls and only 2.8% of officer time.

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Most calls disturbances, burglar alarms, welfare checks, mental health crises, don't call for a gun. They call for training this department isn't investing in.

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According to BBC reporting, American officers spend roughly 71 hours on firearms training but only 21 hours on de-escalation, among the lowest training standards of over 100 countries surveyed.

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The result, the US kills more people by police than any other developed democracy and black Americans die at a disproportionate rate.

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Anthony Williams is what that gap looks like up close. We don't fix it by giving the same department more money to do the same thing.

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I'm asking you to reject this $25 million increase and invest instead in de-escalation training and non-police responses for the calls that don't need a gun. Thank you.

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Jepthickerson District 5. Good morning, Mayor Watson Council members. Many of Austin pure cities including Minneapolis, Houston, Seattle, Portland, Chicago have expanded spending and borrowing.

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These cities did not become unavoidable overnight. They got there. One budget.

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One tax increase, one bond at a time. Each one being justified as necessary. This council is accelerating Austin down the path of higher spending, higher debt and greater long-term financial obligation.

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The members on this diet should learn from the peers experience, not blindly repeated.

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This year alone you are proposed in the 6.6 million dollar budget increased of $311 million.

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Interesting, your own city staff previously presented alternative that included delaying debt, major bond budget until 2028.

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Why aren't you considering that? They also proposed 2% tax rate increase.

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Council member Dungeon, you pushed that through to get a larger increase.

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The question now is whether by trying to add millions of hundreds of millions of dollars, a new borrowing while taxpayers are already paying higher taxes, higher bills, and higher cost of living.

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Choose restraint over expansion, choose accountability over assumptions, choose affordability over unchecked spending, choose affordability for all policies over more free for me policies.

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Don't leave future taxpayers to pay for today's lack of discipline on the city council. Thank you.

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Peter Hunt, Susana Almanza, Victoria Godfrey, Hans Maverick, Hans Are you here?

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Is Robin Schneider here?

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Yes.

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Then you will have four minutes, Mr. Maverick.

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Good morning, Mayor Watson. Mayor Pro Temvela. Council members, thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts with you today.

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I am, I live in Council District 10 and I'm a policy and research organizer with grassroots leadership here in Austin.

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I'm here to speak in favor of the community investment budget because we want the city to promote programs that help people rather than hurt people who are impacted by the criminal legal and immigration detention.

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Systems. Before I turn to my plan testimony, I need to point out that recent events have further undermined our faith in law enforcement.

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The murder and I believe it deserves to be classified as a murder of Anthony Williams II, the second, to me speaks volumes about how little so-called accountability and transparency actually due to keep our friends and neighbors safe.

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And just this morning, just outside this building, one of our neighbors was picked up by ICE. I understand the nexus of that encounter was a person driving was the person driving the wrong way on LaVaca Street.

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I don't know whether APD or DPS first saw the person driving the wrong way, but you'll forgive me if I'm inclined to think of a monolith of law enforcement as a monolith that collaborates with the Trump administration's cruel and mindless immigration policy.

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Now back to my plan testimony. Every year the Travis County District Attorney Secures roughly 3,200 new felony convictions.

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That's 3,200 more people every year in Travis County who will need extra help finding work, health care and a place to live and no matter how long they are incarcerated,

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help readjusting to life after release. I know because I've been there. One of the most glaring problems with the criminal justice system in our country is the recidivism rate, which is roughly 60 to 70% within the first five years post-release.

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There are a lot of factors beyond our city's control that impact recidivism, but there are a few that we can influence.

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One is workforce development. What I wanted and what most people I met in prison wanted was a decent legitimate job after release.

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Another is access to health care, including mental health care. When you are forced to work contract jobs or gig work because you have a criminal record, it's hard to get private health insurance, so you have to rely on public health care.

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The final and equally important factor is housing. A affordable housing options that recognize that formerly incarcerated people are routinely excluded from the legitimate housing.

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This puts former and carcerese, especially in women, especially women, in positions where they are staying in unsafe environments, where they are likely to be victims of crime.

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Therefore, I would like for you to fully fund social services programs like mental health, workforce, development, and reentry, keep the APD budget flat, and make the 911 call center a separate department from APD.

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Please consider all these factors in supporting the community investment budget.

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Thank you.

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Would you please state your name for the record?

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Yes, Hans Maverick. District 10.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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When we go here, and then we'll go to Ms. Almanza.

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Morning council. My name is Peter Hunt. I'm from District 10.

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I'm here in Sport First of the Community Investment Budget, and also would like to ask this council

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look really hard in ways to keep the APD budget flat in this budgetary cycle.

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I know that a lot of that budget is personnel, which is somewhat more complicated to cut, but there are a few places to look.

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First, the allocation for this year in the proposed budget listed $500,000 for additional recruitment efforts, including new hiring.

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I think that that is an unnecessary investment in APD, and also I know that some council members, a particular council member, Duchen, have found other places where up to a million dollars can be saved by making non-personnel cuts.

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I think this level of attention should be paid thoroughly across the entirety of the police budget to look for ways to avoid adding another 25 million there.

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I also think that it's worth acknowledging that APD is compelled in many ways to collaborate with ICE.

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And if we have problems with that, we should acknowledge that more money going to APD is more money going to ICE functionally.

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That's something that we just have to recognize that it's not necessarily about the individual decisions of officers, that there are legal compulsions involved, and that those are unavoidable.

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And we should do something about that I.E. keeping the budget flat.

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But I want to end on a slightly more positive note, and thank this council for moving to create a joint communications department.

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In particular, I want to thank council member Lane for being such a consistent leader, champion, and clear-eyed individual when it comes to advocating for that.

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And I hope that all of you will support the IFC that her office mentioned on the message board earlier this week, both for creating that department and then appropriately funding it.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Does that answer?

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Good morning Mayor.

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Investment budget.

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It's specific for our elders.

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You know our senior lunching program on top of this was cut during COVID and never got reinstated.

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So when you talk about seniors that live in poverty that are isolated, this is something that shouldn't be happening.

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And I also want to recommend that you not cut any services for our children and our youth.

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A lot of people can afford private camps, private lesson for sports is very difficult for our community to pay $50.

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Just to be part of soccer or football or basketball.

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So we really need to look at these issues.

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And I also want to address Natasha Harper Madison that it was Benjamin Shaves that coined the name environmental racism.

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And that Dr. Bob Bullard is the grandfather environmental justice.

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And you did not serve on the first people of color summer,

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and Dr. 17 principles environmental justice.

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I did.

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You were not appointed by President Biden to the White House Environmental Justice Leadership Council.

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You have not been dedicated your life to environmental justice.

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So please respect all the environmentalists, people of color and the community to come up here to testify.

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If not, I will make it my mission to be here every week to educate you, my dear.

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Thank you.

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Jay Jay Ramirez.

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Carrie and Smith.

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Alfredo Reyes Jr.

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August Luzano.

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Barry Jones.

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And Ely Cortez.

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If you may have been called, please come forward.

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Good morning, City Council.

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My name is Jay Jay Ramirez.

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I'm an organizer at Vocal Texas.

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And here in a little bit, you're going to hear from more people with closer lived experience on the reasons we need storage and deposit our sleep.

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But I'm going to speak on the community for our community partners as a whole as well.

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We really support moving the 911 calls center out of the APD budget and keeping the APD budget flat.

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Especially right now is struggling to find money.

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So put the housing social services and housing back on our agenda to really help people and not incarcerate them.

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So please, let's do that.

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Let's keep that APD budget flat and I will finish my time.

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Thank you.

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Hello, council members.

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Mayor, my name is Alfredo.

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I'm an organizer for Vocal Texas.

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As you all know, my story, I was home for seven and a half years.

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Basically, we're here to talk about is that being homeless, my medication, I was swept myself.

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And my medications and everything else was thrown away.

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If I had to find my help on my own to be able to find storage and everything else.

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Which I basically got on a list for storage, which I wasn't a list for a year and a half and still wasn't called.

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Now, the city claims that the purchase of homelessness with compassion.

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But over and over again, our belongings, medications, family photos and much more are going away on the sweeps that happens in our daily basis.

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So through the to the inquiry, people living in camps are given numbers of valid, keeps safe, which basically, as we know, is full.

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Basically is a dead end.

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Especially when catman sweeps happen, I've witnessed it myself because I've been to several of these sweeps that are given their information to call the valid storage or try to get into a shelter.

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Basically, some of these people that I run into a basic time, they basically are given them dead ends instead of the help that they really really need.

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Local Texas member asks for storage is when they are faced with, when they are faced with sweeps.

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There was no safe place to store their belongings.

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Well, more storage, one saw the issue with the problem.

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It would reduce the harm and help more people with storage and some of the important belongings that they have.

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Mr. Brown next, when we had our actual meeting, one on one, you have stated that homelessness was the priority to you because you have experienced that with a family member.

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Here we are, and that's not a priority, that's how much check-up priority means it's something that is very important.

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Thank you.

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Please go ahead.

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Please begin.

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My name is Barry Jones.

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You all know me, I'm a leader with local Texas.

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Formerly I was homeless in Austin for 10 years.

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And what I wanted to talk about today is commitment.

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And as we all know, homelessness is a very big issue in Austin right now.

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And we've all said that this is one of our top priorities.

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However, it seems like we're not willing to commit to that priority to actually doing something about it.

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And what I wanted to bring up was that bring forward is that from what I understand Dallas over the last two years has removed 60% of their homeless people from the street by getting them housing.

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Okay, that's commitment.

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That is commitment.

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We know that this program isn't working.

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We know that it's only causing more harm.

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We know that we're just moving more people around.

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If you, you know, at least we could do is at least provide more storage for homeless people when they're swept.

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So they can have some more to put their belongings.

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But this is not commitment.

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If we are committed to doing something about homelessness, we know what the answer is.

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Thank you, members.

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Hello, my name is Carrie Ann.

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And I'm a little bit of vocal Texas.

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I'm here today for the budget for storage.

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I was hoping that you guys will consider more money going to the storage and not APD.

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The storage program helps people get keep their vital documents safe and secure.

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It's not just the storage, it's the stability and dignity.

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And it's a pathway to help them get back to the substance efficiency.

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Public safety shouldn't be measured by how much you spend on policing.

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It should be measured by how much you invest in solutions that actually help people rebuild their lives.

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When we find stability instead of instability, people have a better chance to succeed.

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I'm asking you today to please prioritize the funding to go to the storage and not APD.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Good morning, Mayor and Council.

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My name is Eli Cortez and I'm a resident of district dream and organizer of vocal Texas.

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You've heard some from some of our members about the significance of expanding storage in our city today.

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This is especially relevant considering yesterday the ACLU of Texas and the Texas civil rights project.

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Delivered a letter to the city under urging the review of the daily encampment management strategy.

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On-house people are still residents of your districts,

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and entitled to constitutionally protected rights.

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There are concerns that the current sweep operations could conflict with constitutional rights due to this seizure and destruction of property,

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especially when destroyed without sufficient adequate notice.

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We continue to call for a pause to the current $1 million daily sweep plan,

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and every day we continue to hemorrhage dollars on these operations inflict more harm than good

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and do nothing real to reduce the number of people living outside.

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In the face of our $1 million daily sweep plan,

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we hope we have your support in making a much needed and under available resource accessible to the residents in your districts

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that are facing state violence every day while attempting to continue to navigate daily survival in this overbearing heat.

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If you are committed to continuing this $1 million daily sweep plan,

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you also have an obligation to pair this strategy with an expansion of services in housing and shelter opportunities for people living outside.

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There are people in our city that are, that I speak to every day that are losing is just incredibly essential and valuable belongings.

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People have lost survival gear generators, beloved ashes, important documents,

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like social security and ID cars.

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When people are doing everything they can just to survive,

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just to figure out where they're going to get water, just to figure out how they're going to escape the heat,

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people have been promised for years or told in any chemistry to go to storage,

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to go put these essential belongings away,

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and there's been an overyear wait list for years.

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So there's a real opportunity in front of you today to really help the residents and your districts that are facing these encampments.

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We have a really hope that you take this opportunity to support them. Thank you.

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Thank you all.

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I have a few remote speakers on the line, right in one, Paul Tarty.

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Paul are you there?

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Hello?

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Yes, we can hear you please begin.

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Sir?

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Hi Molly Patal?

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Hello, do you hear me?

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Yes, we can.

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Good morning, awesome to be here.

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My name is Molly Patal.

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I'm an internal medicine physician in Austin, Texas.

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I am here representing myself from District 9.

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I came back to Austin eight years ago,

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and I showed Austin as the only study I would return to in Texas

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because I believe in what we represent.

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00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:27,000
My position on this budget is neutral.

379
00:43:27,000 --> 00:43:32,000
I appreciate the need for a balanced budget in such economic times.

380
00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:35,000
I have knowledge and support funding to Austin energy,

381
00:43:35,000 --> 00:43:38,000
especially supporting the customer assistance programs,

382
00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:40,000
and the renewable energy programs.

383
00:43:40,000 --> 00:43:45,000
I also support EMS and the community health paramedic program,

384
00:43:45,000 --> 00:43:49,000
and the need to have adequate supplies to provide health care in our city.

385
00:43:49,000 --> 00:43:54,000
As a physician who has set many patients to shelters, including marshalling the yard,

386
00:43:54,000 --> 00:43:59,000
I also support funding the shelter to provide more wraparound and coordinated care.

387
00:43:59,000 --> 00:44:05,000
I will always support growth of housing voucher programs and permanent supportive housing programs as well.

388
00:44:05,000 --> 00:44:08,000
Shelters are only a temporary solution.

389
00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:15,000
I also ask that we reconsider support for programs that sell critical need gaps and trust gaps for us.

390
00:44:15,000 --> 00:44:20,000
These include programs like Caritas, Sunrise, and Elblins, and Martino.

391
00:44:20,000 --> 00:44:25,000
Elblins is an organization that has built significant trust in our Spanish-speaking communities,

392
00:44:25,000 --> 00:44:29,000
and it is an essential time to leverage their expertise.

393
00:44:29,000 --> 00:44:34,000
Lastly, I ask reconsideration of the APD budget and to keep it flat.

394
00:44:34,000 --> 00:44:41,000
APD lets sweep so far have cost $800,000, and these evictions do not lead to long-term solution.

395
00:44:41,000 --> 00:44:45,000
This money could have been routed to the aforementioned programs.

396
00:44:45,000 --> 00:44:46,000
Thank you for your time today.

397
00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:48,000
That concludes my testimony.

398
00:44:48,000 --> 00:44:50,000
Thank you.

399
00:44:55,000 --> 00:45:00,000
Janice Bookout, Lily Hughes, Ignacio.

400
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:25,000
We'll begin with you and we'll work our way down the road, just state your name for the record, please.

401
00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:30,000
I'll tell you what, you need to put that microphone in front of me, please.

402
00:45:31,000 --> 00:45:32,000
Yeah, there you go.

403
00:45:33,000 --> 00:45:38,000
My name is Lily Hughes, I'm a social worker in the capacity building manager at Texas harm reduction alliance.

404
00:45:38,000 --> 00:45:47,000
As I prepared to sit in front of you today, I thought back on all the times I've sat in one of these seats and shared the bravery, pain and resilience of the community we work with at GHA.

405
00:45:47,000 --> 00:45:52,000
We have decades of data to demonstrate the return on investment in public health initiatives.

406
00:45:52,000 --> 00:45:57,000
Choosing public health is choosing community safety, all while saving taxpayers money.

407
00:45:57,000 --> 00:46:02,000
Despite this, I'm yet again watching the city direct dollars into policing homelessness instead of solving it.

408
00:46:02,000 --> 00:46:13,000
We've had four years of investing in the police budget for recruitment, yet massive gaps in emergency calls persist, homelessness and continues to increase housing and stability continues to increase.

409
00:46:13,000 --> 00:46:20,000
Police violence has increased. Why are we spending limited funding recruiting for an organization people do not want to join?

410
00:46:20,000 --> 00:46:26,000
Why can't we give it an invest that money in social services that will address the social problems that police officers are not equipped to handle?

411
00:46:26,000 --> 00:46:34,000
Just last week, APD responded to a 911 call from a security officer regarding a person waiting on the public sidewalk in front of our drop-in center.

412
00:46:34,000 --> 00:46:39,000
There was not a crisis prior to the verbal escalation instigated by the security officer.

413
00:46:39,000 --> 00:46:44,000
Teachers executive director and Maggie Luna intervened and successfully de-escalated the situation.

414
00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:48,000
But the reason behind the 911 call was solved long before the officers arrived.

415
00:46:49,000 --> 00:46:54,000
The organizations that reduce the financial burden on city services are facing drastic budget cuts.

416
00:46:54,000 --> 00:47:00,000
All Waller City budget is reinvested into policies that have increased spending across multiple departments.

417
00:47:00,000 --> 00:47:07,000
HSO leadership states that the increase in can't management initiative costs upwards of $700,000 in just one month.

418
00:47:07,000 --> 00:47:10,000
HSO has maintained that this money already existed within the budget.

419
00:47:10,000 --> 00:47:16,000
That number does not include the budgets of non-profits that you not have millions of dollars to move around in between departments.

420
00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:24,000
Teacher A has been spending an additional $4,000 a month to replace the vital documents in survival gear of our participants that have been destroyed in the sweeps.

421
00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:29,000
That number also does not include the emotional and mental health support our staff provides.

422
00:47:29,000 --> 00:47:34,000
It does not include the pain myself and my co-workers carry with us as we watch the immense suffering of our participants.

423
00:47:34,000 --> 00:47:37,000
We ask the president to keep the police budget flat.

424
00:47:38,000 --> 00:47:39,000
This book out.

425
00:47:42,000 --> 00:47:43,000
Janice Book out.

426
00:47:43,000 --> 00:47:47,000
D4 I want to talk about the difference between the performance of government and public service.

427
00:47:47,000 --> 00:47:50,000
First to clarify at 54 I got a master's in public health.

428
00:47:50,000 --> 00:47:57,000
Due to a sponsorship inspired by my work in COVID and recommendations from the director of public health and our chief resilience officer.

429
00:47:57,000 --> 00:48:06,000
I've lived in Austin for 30 years on a low income as a wife and mother of musicians who are undervalued by the very city that uses in to promote itself to tourists.

430
00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:16,000
I have worked alongside diverse array of leaders serving folks at 2 a.m. to ensure that they're warm during cold weather and know about the changes that the services of services available.

431
00:48:16,000 --> 00:48:21,000
I am only one of hundreds speaking on the budget that represent a collective death.

432
00:48:21,000 --> 00:48:26,000
Depth of professional and lived expertise that blows my mind.

433
00:48:26,000 --> 00:48:32,000
Since COVID I have seen this council and management shift away from public service evidence-based policy.

434
00:48:32,000 --> 00:48:36,000
Community engagement and transparency all in the name of efficiency and the status quo.

435
00:48:36,000 --> 00:48:38,000
But efficiency has a cost.

436
00:48:38,000 --> 00:48:44,000
The centralized COVID vaccine hub serve many thousands but they were overwhelmingly white.

437
00:48:44,000 --> 00:48:50,000
When we finally were able to work through trusted organizations, the demographics of vaccine acceptance became proportionate.

438
00:48:50,000 --> 00:48:55,000
Inclusion is something is sometimes inefficient because it requires working with a diverse array of folks.

439
00:48:55,000 --> 00:49:05,000
Sometimes they don't have the capacity to track all the metrics RFPs demand but that doesn't mean there aren't thousands of people who would be left out without their work.

440
00:49:05,000 --> 00:49:15,000
occupancy of shelter at shelters more than quadrupled between 2021 and 2026 due to outreach of organizations that sometimes never got compensation for that work.

441
00:49:15,000 --> 00:49:22,000
But this administration seems to be intent on subverting that kind of work by reorganizing offices and demoting subject matter experts.

442
00:49:22,000 --> 00:49:27,000
The kind that tell the whole truth with business-minded folks committed to efficiency.

443
00:49:27,000 --> 00:49:35,000
Those missing voices of staff experts from the city are now muted from speaking at council meetings making pushing agendas easier.

444
00:49:35,000 --> 00:49:42,000
We have seen the community recommendations subverted through the TRE which bundled community priorities into something to put before a public vote.

445
00:49:42,000 --> 00:49:45,000
Now you're considering the police budget.

446
00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:47,000
Thank you very much.

447
00:49:48,000 --> 00:49:50,000
Thank you very much.

448
00:49:50,000 --> 00:49:53,000
Please begin.

449
00:49:53,000 --> 00:49:57,000
Good morning, my name is Michelle Mening Scott and I am a resident of District 7.

450
00:49:57,000 --> 00:50:05,000
I am speaking today as another citizen and support of the community investment budget and for fully funding all of the social services the community depends on.

451
00:50:05,000 --> 00:50:11,000
I also wish to declare my strong objection as a tax paying citizen of the city to the following.

452
00:50:11,000 --> 00:50:16,000
Number one, the newest income and clearing strategy the city implemented earlier this year.

453
00:50:16,000 --> 00:50:25,000
Based on information I've become aware of through multiple area nonprofit and mutual aid organizations who provide services to the low income and unhoused population of the city.

454
00:50:25,000 --> 00:50:30,000
Many of whom you've already who have already spoken to you during these proceedings this month.

455
00:50:30,000 --> 00:50:44,000
You've certainly unconstitutional incredibly harmful inhumane cost prohibitive and just plain illogical based on what is most needed by the population being dehumanized by this ill conceived strategy.

456
00:50:44,000 --> 00:50:55,000
I also strongly object to any increase to the awesome police department budget above what is legally required by previous agreements made as part of prior union contracts unfortunately.

457
00:50:55,000 --> 00:51:03,000
The inexplicable defending of programs within and the slow dismantling and undermining of the progress made by the equity division.

458
00:51:03,000 --> 00:51:15,000
The equity division formerly known as the equity office was created over 11 years ago after a coalition of community members leaders and organizers request the city leadership at that time.

459
00:51:15,000 --> 00:51:22,000
Finally address the well known and undocumented racial and economic disparities that exist within the populations of the city.

460
00:51:22,000 --> 00:51:28,000
The conditions that created those disparities have been here since before the city was founded.

461
00:51:28,000 --> 00:51:34,000
And it took decades for those issues to even be acknowledged let alone addressed.

462
00:51:34,000 --> 00:51:43,000
And in this current political climate we are in right now the gains made and addressing those conditions past 11 years plus are now eroding.

463
00:51:43,000 --> 00:51:50,000
We cannot afford to go backwards nor should any of us be bullied into believing top down decision making knows better than the community it serves.

464
00:51:50,000 --> 00:51:58,000
Is the people in this community who are marginalized and left out of this decisions that affect them the most and who are the ones we should be listening to the hardest.

465
00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:02,000
Who among you will continue to be the same. Thank you.

466
00:52:02,000 --> 00:52:12,000
You're going to you're out of order and you need to leave the chambers.

467
00:52:12,000 --> 00:52:16,000
You need to leave the chambers.

468
00:52:16,000 --> 00:52:20,000
Thank you.

469
00:52:20,000 --> 00:52:25,000
The best.

470
00:52:25,000 --> 00:52:30,000
Thank you. Mayor Watson. Mayor Protembella and city council members.

471
00:52:30,000 --> 00:52:34,000
My name is Pat Balstreyes and I live in district three.

472
00:52:34,000 --> 00:52:46,000
I am here to again speak about animal services and specifically to ask you to restore the full amount of funding for emergency veterinary care that was cut last year.

473
00:52:47,000 --> 00:52:56,000
Council member Lane. I am aware that you restored a hundred thousand dollars out of your I think it's called discretionary funds. I'm not sure.

474
00:52:56,000 --> 00:52:59,000
To offset some of that cut.

475
00:52:59,000 --> 00:53:01,000
Thank you very much.

476
00:53:01,000 --> 00:53:06,000
I never didn't fully restore the 450,000 and Mayor Protembella.

477
00:53:06,000 --> 00:53:14,000
I understand that you also helped find savings from the spare board ordinance or directive.

478
00:53:14,000 --> 00:53:19,000
But that savings has not been realized so the services have been cut.

479
00:53:19,000 --> 00:53:26,000
I am not here to ask you to increase general funds for restoring the cuts.

480
00:53:26,000 --> 00:53:36,000
The animal services office has a donations fund that currently has a million dollar fund balance.

481
00:53:36,000 --> 00:53:39,000
Part of that fund balance.

482
00:53:39,000 --> 00:53:55,000
$500,000 has been set aside for a puppy play yard that I understand from this director the prior director set that aside thinking he could get a puppy play yard with $500,000

483
00:53:55,000 --> 00:53:57,000
and apparently we cannot.

484
00:53:57,000 --> 00:54:16,000
And Mayor Protem, I understand that you're going to be looking into general something Baseo bonds certificates of obligation to look into a feasibility study for yet a bigger shelter footprint.

485
00:54:16,000 --> 00:54:19,000
And that will help with the puppy issue.

486
00:54:19,000 --> 00:54:27,000
So given that there's $500,000 in the donations fund given that last year you cut 450,000 invents services.

487
00:54:27,000 --> 00:54:28,000
Thank you very much.

488
00:54:28,000 --> 00:54:29,000
Thank you.

489
00:54:29,000 --> 00:54:31,000
Appreciate you being you.

490
00:54:32,000 --> 00:54:34,000
Missile Ramos.

491
00:54:34,000 --> 00:54:35,000
Andrea Abel.

492
00:54:35,000 --> 00:54:37,000
Alicia Fish White.

493
00:54:37,000 --> 00:54:38,000
Whitecher.

494
00:54:38,000 --> 00:54:40,000
The Novia Joseph.

495
00:54:40,000 --> 00:54:42,000
Rosa Maria Maria.

496
00:54:51,000 --> 00:54:56,000
Won't we start here and we'll go this direction so she's sitting down and we'll just go down the road.

497
00:54:56,000 --> 00:55:00,000
Lisa.

498
00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:01,000
Hey, how you doing?

499
00:55:01,000 --> 00:55:09,000
My name is Missile Ramos and before I speak, I want to bring attention that ice has detained people right outside city hall today.

500
00:55:09,000 --> 00:55:15,000
These individuals will need support as their families try to relocate and find their loved ones.

501
00:55:15,000 --> 00:55:21,000
We cannot let this happen on our city's land and we need to demand more.

502
00:55:21,000 --> 00:55:25,000
Thank you council members for going through the budget proposal and working towards a budget that's equitable for all of us.

503
00:55:25,000 --> 00:55:38,000
With the questions that have been asked and additional information provided we're seeing a public push towards money reallocation into our actual communities.

504
00:55:38,000 --> 00:55:54,000
With the current budget currents we're stripping almost $17 million away from the social services that support Austin citizens from mental health housing workforce development along with many other services that help community survive and thrive.

505
00:55:54,000 --> 00:55:59,000
So I ask that you please move the 911 call center out of APD.

506
00:55:59,000 --> 00:56:03,000
Let's give our communities the investment they actually deserve.

507
00:56:03,000 --> 00:56:15,000
And please if you can do anything to help those individuals that were detained earlier that I mentioned earlier today that you share any call of actions that the public can engage on.

508
00:56:15,000 --> 00:56:18,000
We cannot let this happen on city land.

509
00:56:18,000 --> 00:56:20,000
That's it. Thank you.

510
00:56:20,000 --> 00:56:22,000
Please.

511
00:56:22,000 --> 00:56:25,000
If you'll go next or state your name for the record.

512
00:56:25,000 --> 00:56:33,000
Hello Mayor Watson and city council members. My name is Alicia Fishwiker. I'm the food access director at farm share Austin.

513
00:56:33,000 --> 00:56:43,000
Farm share Austin's fresh for less is a food access program that provides fresh produce and groceries to 33,000 people in need across 25 zip codes.

514
00:56:43,000 --> 00:56:52,000
Fresh for less consistently exceeds deliverables providing over 700 opportunities throughout the year for customers to access nutrient dense foods.

515
00:56:52,000 --> 00:56:59,000
95% of our customers increase their fruit and vegetable consumption as a result of shopping with us.

516
00:56:59,000 --> 00:57:02,000
Food access is different from emergency food.

517
00:57:02,000 --> 00:57:06,000
The majority of our customers use mobile markets and home delivery multiple times.

518
00:57:06,000 --> 00:57:18,000
APH metrics on contracts are geared toward providing one time services for a large number of people and penalized farm share on our reporting since we don't register customers.

519
00:57:18,000 --> 00:57:22,000
We aim to eliminate as many barriers to healthy food as possible.

520
00:57:22,000 --> 00:57:26,000
Farm share leverages city of Austin funding to increase impact.

521
00:57:26,000 --> 00:57:33,000
This is especially essential since city of Austin contracts do not allow for cost of living increases.

522
00:57:33,000 --> 00:57:38,000
We need to make sure that there are no direct expenses or equipment such as vans and walking coolers.

523
00:57:38,000 --> 00:57:41,000
We could not operate without leveraging other funding.

524
00:57:41,000 --> 00:57:46,000
Before the city makes cuts and eliminates access to healthy foods for thousands of people.

525
00:57:46,000 --> 00:57:49,000
Please look at how you're evaluating program effectiveness.

526
00:57:49,000 --> 00:57:51,000
Thank you.

527
00:57:51,000 --> 00:57:53,000
Thank you very much.

528
00:57:53,000 --> 00:58:00,000
Good morning Mayor and council. I'm Andrea Abel. I'm the executive director of farm share Austin and a resident of D3.

529
00:58:00,000 --> 00:58:05,000
And I'm here to oppose the reduction funding that supported the convenient healthy food program.

530
00:58:05,000 --> 00:58:08,000
I'm also here to oppose the cuts to social services.

531
00:58:08,000 --> 00:58:15,000
The first line item that I mentioned is the line item that sends the fresh for less mobile markets and home delivery.

532
00:58:15,000 --> 00:58:21,000
Farm share Austin also participates in two food is medicine programs.

533
00:58:21,000 --> 00:58:26,000
So I wanted to share some voices from Austinites who have benefited from fresh for less.

534
00:58:26,000 --> 00:58:32,000
This is from a mom participating in our produce and pantry rx which is partially supported by APH.

535
00:58:32,000 --> 00:58:35,000
We stopped doing a lot of McDonald's and eating out.

536
00:58:35,000 --> 00:58:38,000
My daughter had the option to buy the groceries herself.

537
00:58:38,000 --> 00:58:44,000
So she say, okay, I'll pick them up. I'll pick them out and we can cook dinner.

538
00:58:44,000 --> 00:58:49,000
Now she comes home after school and we cook together before picking up my oldest.

539
00:58:49,000 --> 00:58:53,000
And we all eat dinner as a family. I think the program pushed it to happen.

540
00:58:54,000 --> 00:58:58,000
Here's a testimony all from our fresh for less home delivery customer.

541
00:58:58,000 --> 00:59:05,000
I used to live on a farm and haven't been able to get the same quality produce and so many years with the prices of groceries these days.

542
00:59:05,000 --> 00:59:08,000
I'm so happy y'all are able to deliver to my zip code.

543
00:59:08,000 --> 00:59:14,000
Since I have to travel with an oxygen tank and going to the grocery store isn't an option for me.

544
00:59:14,000 --> 00:59:20,000
And this is from a food as best medicine participant which is for postpartum food and secure moms.

545
00:59:20,000 --> 00:59:27,000
It is meant so much. We are over the income limit for snap by less than 45 dollars and so we don't qualify.

546
00:59:27,000 --> 00:59:32,000
Access to food is a real struggle for our family. This program is meant so much to us.

547
00:59:32,000 --> 00:59:36,000
Honestly, I don't know what we would have eaten some days without this food.

548
00:59:36,000 --> 00:59:41,000
It helped us to be able to eat and feed our kids and it was healthy too. We are truly grateful.

549
00:59:41,000 --> 00:59:47,000
I'm heart and to see that council is considering a different process for evaluating nonprofit contracts with the city.

550
00:59:47,000 --> 00:59:55,000
And as you develop this process, we would like to welcome the opportunity to participate and provide a perspective from a practitioner.

551
00:59:55,000 --> 00:59:57,000
Thank you.

552
00:59:57,000 --> 00:59:59,000
Dr. Maria.

553
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:13,000
Good morning, Mayor, and council members. Thank you for the opportunity to be here. I'm going to start with my ask. Please fully find social services.

554
01:00:13,000 --> 01:00:26,000
In February, Councilwoman Fuentes directed city management to undertake a comprehensive transparent evidence-based review of this investments.

555
01:00:26,000 --> 01:00:34,000
Five months later, we're still waiting for that. It is my hope that today the presentation reflects that.

556
01:00:34,000 --> 01:00:43,000
And as you evaluate the proposal today, please do not place one basic need against another.

557
01:00:43,000 --> 01:00:51,000
Or balance the budget on the backs of our neighbors with the fewest alternatives.

558
01:00:51,000 --> 01:01:02,000
Housing and food are connected. Behavioral health, workforce support, family stability and care for older adults are connected.

559
01:01:02,000 --> 01:01:08,000
Children do not thrive apart from the families and communities that surround them.

560
01:01:08,000 --> 01:01:13,000
Investing in youth also means investing in the parents who raise them.

561
01:01:13,000 --> 01:01:21,000
The older adults who care for them. The housing that keeps families together in the food that nourishes them.

562
01:01:21,000 --> 01:01:27,000
Many providers already have solved the term percent reduction in this year.

563
01:01:27,000 --> 01:01:35,000
While some absorb a 25 percent. That equates to a million dollars.

564
01:01:35,000 --> 01:01:41,000
Any restoration adopted today should become part of the city's ongoing base.

565
01:01:41,000 --> 01:01:47,000
So next year, Council is not addressing the remaining projected reductions.

566
01:01:47,000 --> 01:01:55,000
And not reopening the full $16 million that was proposed for fiscal year 27.

567
01:01:55,000 --> 01:01:58,000
Thank you for the opportunity.

568
01:01:58,000 --> 01:02:00,000
Thank you. Thank all of you.

569
01:02:00,000 --> 01:02:15,000
Thank you, Joseph.

570
01:02:15,000 --> 01:02:16,000
Thank you, Mayor. Council.

571
01:02:16,000 --> 01:02:23,000
I just wanted to start with last year's budget and with the contract with voters.

572
01:02:23,000 --> 01:02:29,000
Specifically, I want to remind you that the contract with voters specified.

573
01:02:29,000 --> 01:02:32,000
Order improvements and Northamara was number one.

574
01:02:32,000 --> 01:02:39,000
But instead we have Eric Bailey using the bond money like a blank check.

575
01:02:39,000 --> 01:02:41,000
I don't see my screen.

576
01:02:41,000 --> 01:02:45,000
I don't know either.

577
01:02:45,000 --> 01:02:50,000
I do now.

578
01:02:50,000 --> 01:02:52,000
I'll continue.

579
01:02:52,000 --> 01:02:58,800
I want you to recognize that C preliminary engineering and design is what is actually being funded in

580
01:02:58,800 --> 01:03:03,800
an FY27 and so on page 317 volume 2.

581
01:03:03,800 --> 01:03:10,800
You only have approximately $3 million dollars for Northamara next slide.

582
01:03:10,800 --> 01:03:16,800
I want to remind you that this is what the area looks like when a mom and mom was killed.

583
01:03:16,800 --> 01:03:20,800
This is the same block. Donald Norton was killed in 2016.

584
01:03:20,800 --> 01:03:26,800
January 30th, he died from his injuries February 3rd. Next slide.

585
01:03:26,800 --> 01:03:30,800
This is what vision zero should focus on.

586
01:03:30,800 --> 01:03:33,800
Respectfully, the city manager is not sitting there.

587
01:03:33,800 --> 01:03:37,800
But we pay him a base salary of $488,000.

588
01:03:37,800 --> 01:03:41,800
Basically a half a million dollars to make tough decisions.

589
01:03:41,800 --> 01:03:46,800
And he said that vision zero was not simply branding our policy.

590
01:03:46,800 --> 01:03:49,800
But in fact, it is next slide.

591
01:03:49,800 --> 01:03:54,800
This is a affordable housing development and it's in district 7.

592
01:03:54,800 --> 01:03:58,800
This is where the pedestrian hybrid beacon is being placed.

593
01:03:58,800 --> 01:04:00,800
And two council members, Siegel.

594
01:04:00,800 --> 01:04:05,800
I just want you to know that the information you received on Tuesday was inaccurate as a release.

595
01:04:05,800 --> 01:04:06,800
So affordable housing.

596
01:04:06,800 --> 01:04:08,800
There are 101.

597
01:04:08,800 --> 01:04:10,800
You unders our 2026.

598
01:04:10,800 --> 01:04:11,800
Under score budget.

599
01:04:11,800 --> 01:04:15,800
There's 101 vouchers over as barrel ruddling.

600
01:04:15,800 --> 01:04:16,800
Next slide.

601
01:04:16,800 --> 01:04:19,800
I don't 171 units.

602
01:04:19,800 --> 01:04:22,800
My point here, Mayor, is that you're not being honest.

603
01:04:22,800 --> 01:04:25,800
You made a good speech about trust on Tuesday.

604
01:04:25,800 --> 01:04:27,800
But you need to put in money where your mouth is.

605
01:04:27,800 --> 01:04:30,800
If you have any questions, I'll let the answer them at this time.

606
01:04:30,800 --> 01:04:32,800
Thank you, Mayor Joseph.

607
01:04:32,800 --> 01:04:35,800
Continuing on with one, Tracy Cornelius.

608
01:04:35,800 --> 01:04:37,800
Henry Sands.

609
01:04:37,800 --> 01:04:39,800
Mary Cree.

610
01:04:39,800 --> 01:04:41,800
Carol Hurley.

611
01:04:41,800 --> 01:04:43,800
And Brian McGiverin.

612
01:04:53,800 --> 01:04:55,800
Hello.

613
01:04:55,800 --> 01:04:58,800
I'm Tracy Cornelius.

614
01:04:58,800 --> 01:05:00,800
A leader with central Texas in her face.

615
01:05:00,800 --> 01:05:02,800
A member of all Saints Episcopal Church.

616
01:05:02,800 --> 01:05:03,800
And a board member.

617
01:05:03,800 --> 01:05:04,800
A capital idea.

618
01:05:04,800 --> 01:05:10,800
I'm here today to ask you to support level funding for capital idea.

619
01:05:10,800 --> 01:05:15,800
Capital idea helps adults in low wage jobs move into high demand.

620
01:05:15,800 --> 01:05:17,800
Living wage careers.

621
01:05:17,800 --> 01:05:20,800
Creating a path out of generational poverty.

622
01:05:21,800 --> 01:05:23,800
Mayor Watson Council members.

623
01:05:23,800 --> 01:05:29,800
You have said you prioritize programs with high ROI that address the deepest needs

624
01:05:29,800 --> 01:05:32,800
and are highly impactful.

625
01:05:32,800 --> 01:05:39,800
Capital idea has demonstrated 700 percent return on investment to taxpayers by increasing wages

626
01:05:39,800 --> 01:05:42,800
and reducing the use of social services.

627
01:05:42,800 --> 01:05:47,800
You prioritize programs that perform at a high level and are not duplicated.

628
01:05:47,800 --> 01:05:53,800
Capital idea offers one of the most comprehensive long term workforce development programs in Austin.

629
01:05:53,800 --> 01:05:59,800
Delivering a high level of student support program completion and job placement.

630
01:05:59,800 --> 01:06:03,800
Capital idea has an 84 percent annual retention rate.

631
01:06:03,800 --> 01:06:15,800
2025 graduates increase their average annual wage from 22,000 a year to 70,000 a year, a 250 percent increase.

632
01:06:15,800 --> 01:06:20,800
The city wants to prioritize basics, public safety, parks, libraries.

633
01:06:20,800 --> 01:06:23,800
The city wants to be open for business.

634
01:06:23,800 --> 01:06:29,800
Provide a talent pipeline for employers and grow our tax base so that we can afford to do all these things well.

635
01:06:29,800 --> 01:06:33,800
Capital idea helps with these goals and has another priority.

636
01:06:33,800 --> 01:06:41,800
Making sure that people who have had barriers to entry get a chance to participate fully in the economic success that

637
01:06:41,800 --> 01:06:44,800
contributes to making life in Austin so great.

638
01:06:44,800 --> 01:06:46,800
Thank you.

639
01:06:46,800 --> 01:06:48,800
Thank you.

640
01:06:48,800 --> 01:06:50,800
What will we go next here?

641
01:06:50,800 --> 01:06:52,800
Why won't we start with you and then we'll go down the road?

642
01:06:52,800 --> 01:06:54,800
Is that okay?

643
01:06:54,800 --> 01:06:56,800
Good morning, Mayor Watson.

644
01:06:56,800 --> 01:06:57,800
Mayor Pritim Vaila.

645
01:06:57,800 --> 01:06:59,800
Council members and my fellow Austinites.

646
01:06:59,800 --> 01:07:01,800
My name is Mary Cree.

647
01:07:01,800 --> 01:07:07,800
I lived in Austin since 1986 and in District 4 since 1992.

648
01:07:07,800 --> 01:07:10,800
I'm a member of St. Johns Episcopal Church.

649
01:07:10,800 --> 01:07:13,800
I'm a leader with Central Texas Center Faith.

650
01:07:13,800 --> 01:07:18,800
It is my great honor today to speak to you regarding Capital idea.

651
01:07:18,800 --> 01:07:24,800
Capital idea, founded in 1998, helps working adults choose new careers,

652
01:07:24,800 --> 01:07:29,800
connecting them with education, training, career development opportunities,

653
01:07:29,800 --> 01:07:33,800
through partnerships with local, major employers.

654
01:07:33,800 --> 01:07:38,800
Capital idea provides tuition, books, tutoring, child care,

655
01:07:38,800 --> 01:07:42,800
and other support to help students complete their training.

656
01:07:42,800 --> 01:07:48,800
Capital idea has made it possible for thousands of Austin area adults to work their way

657
01:07:48,800 --> 01:07:52,800
from low income employment to higher paying careers.

658
01:07:52,800 --> 01:07:57,800
Last year, 169 students found jobs in their field of study,

659
01:07:57,800 --> 01:08:01,800
earning an average starting wage of $33 per hour.

660
01:08:02,800 --> 01:08:08,800
In 2023, the Ray Marshall Center at the University of Texas at Austin found

661
01:08:08,800 --> 01:08:15,800
that Capital idea participants achieved an average increase of $19,924

662
01:08:15,800 --> 01:08:17,800
in annual earnings.

663
01:08:17,800 --> 01:08:20,800
These are life-changing results.

664
01:08:20,800 --> 01:08:28,800
It also found that for every $1 invested, the city receives $7 increase tax revenue.

665
01:08:28,800 --> 01:08:33,800
My son, born and raised in Austin, and a new CPA, my in-house accountant,

666
01:08:33,800 --> 01:08:36,800
thinks this is a good idea too.

667
01:08:36,800 --> 01:08:39,800
Thank you.

668
01:08:39,800 --> 01:08:40,800
Please.

669
01:08:40,800 --> 01:08:42,800
Good morning, Mayor and Council.

670
01:08:42,800 --> 01:08:46,800
I am Henry Signs, a member of our Lady of Weather Loop at Catholic Church.

671
01:08:46,800 --> 01:08:53,800
I am a native Austinite and I am a proud retired member of the UPS Union.

672
01:08:53,800 --> 01:08:57,800
I am also a Central Texas Interfaith leader.

673
01:08:57,800 --> 01:09:01,800
I have been around long enough to remember when it was Austin Interfaith.

674
01:09:01,800 --> 01:09:09,800
Capital idea was founded in 1998 by the organizing work of Central Texas Interfaith.

675
01:09:09,800 --> 01:09:14,800
It was built off the success of the summer youth employment program,

676
01:09:14,800 --> 01:09:20,800
helping kids to get professional experience, stay in school, and get some money.

677
01:09:20,800 --> 01:09:25,800
Members of the business community saw the summer youth program success

678
01:09:25,800 --> 01:09:31,800
and came to us asking if we could build something similar with them for adults.

679
01:09:31,800 --> 01:09:36,800
And so, Capital idea was born 28 years ago.

680
01:09:36,800 --> 01:09:43,800
For almost 30 years, Capital idea has been a leader in making sure that Austin and the surrounding region

681
01:09:43,800 --> 01:09:48,800
has a strong workforce that can meet the needs of our growing community.

682
01:09:48,800 --> 01:09:53,800
I urge you to continue not just support this program,

683
01:09:53,800 --> 01:09:56,800
but to champion it's continued work.

684
01:09:56,800 --> 01:10:00,800
Champion this program secures the future of Austinites,

685
01:10:00,800 --> 01:10:04,800
being able to actually afford to live and thrive here.

686
01:10:04,800 --> 01:10:05,800
Thank you.

687
01:10:11,800 --> 01:10:13,800
Good morning, Members of Council.

688
01:10:13,800 --> 01:10:14,800
My name is Brian McGivern.

689
01:10:14,800 --> 01:10:17,800
I am the Director of the Austin Community Law Center

690
01:10:17,800 --> 01:10:20,800
and I'm also on the Vestry of St. John's Episcopal Church,

691
01:10:20,800 --> 01:10:23,800
which is a member of Central Texas Interfaith.

692
01:10:23,800 --> 01:10:28,800
And I can't tell you how many people I have helped liberate from

693
01:10:28,800 --> 01:10:33,800
an abuser with a protective order who then turned to me and said,

694
01:10:33,800 --> 01:10:35,800
what's next?

695
01:10:35,800 --> 01:10:39,800
All two of them, people that I work with, they are young,

696
01:10:39,800 --> 01:10:43,800
they have children, and they have only a high school diploma.

697
01:10:43,800 --> 01:10:46,800
What's next is a very difficult answer.

698
01:10:46,800 --> 01:10:50,800
One of the few raised of hope in that scenario

699
01:10:50,800 --> 01:10:52,800
are programs like Capital Idea.

700
01:10:52,800 --> 01:10:56,800
The other speakers are not understating it when they say

701
01:10:56,800 --> 01:11:00,800
Capital Idea has a life-changing impact, not just for the individual served,

702
01:11:00,800 --> 01:11:02,800
but also generationally.

703
01:11:02,800 --> 01:11:08,800
I know that you have many hard decisions in this budget.

704
01:11:09,800 --> 01:11:16,800
But I also know that you all know what the right thing

705
01:11:16,800 --> 01:11:17,800
do is here.

706
01:11:17,800 --> 01:11:21,800
I would strongly, strongly encourage you to fund

707
01:11:21,800 --> 01:11:25,800
fully fund Capital Idea and our social services.

708
01:11:25,800 --> 01:11:29,800
I know it's really difficult to make major alterations

709
01:11:29,800 --> 01:11:31,800
to a proposed budget.

710
01:11:31,800 --> 01:11:35,800
But I have faith that you have the courage and the strength to do it.

711
01:11:35,800 --> 01:11:36,800
Thank you.

712
01:11:37,800 --> 01:11:38,800
Thank you.

713
01:11:38,800 --> 01:11:40,800
Please.

714
01:11:40,800 --> 01:11:42,800
Good morning.

715
01:11:42,800 --> 01:11:45,800
May it please the Council and Mayor Watson.

716
01:11:45,800 --> 01:11:46,800
My name is Carol Hurley.

717
01:11:46,800 --> 01:11:50,800
I'm a petitioner at St. Mary's Cathedral,

718
01:11:50,800 --> 01:11:54,800
and I have lived in District 10 for 56 years.

719
01:11:54,800 --> 01:11:56,800
I am a central Texas Interfaith leader.

720
01:11:56,800 --> 01:12:00,800
I am here today to encourage the Council to prioritize funding

721
01:12:00,800 --> 01:12:04,800
for leading organizations that provide long-term workforce development

722
01:12:04,800 --> 01:12:07,800
like Capital Idea.

723
01:12:07,800 --> 01:12:11,800
Capital Idea targets a demographic that otherwise is not served.

724
01:12:11,800 --> 01:12:14,800
I am an attorney who has spent a number of years

725
01:12:14,800 --> 01:12:16,800
representing children in foster care,

726
01:12:16,800 --> 01:12:20,800
and I am the former foster parent and adoptive parent

727
01:12:20,800 --> 01:12:24,800
of two daughters who came through the foster care system in Travis County.

728
01:12:24,800 --> 01:12:27,800
These experiences have shown me how difficult it is

729
01:12:27,800 --> 01:12:31,800
for this population to live independently and successfully.

730
01:12:32,800 --> 01:12:35,800
This population does not have the support of typical families,

731
01:12:35,800 --> 01:12:38,800
and they frequently struggle with executive functioning.

732
01:12:38,800 --> 01:12:41,800
This program provides the kinds of supports and services

733
01:12:41,800 --> 01:12:45,800
that facilitate success not typically available in colleges

734
01:12:45,800 --> 01:12:49,800
and technical schools or community colleges.

735
01:12:49,800 --> 01:12:53,800
Our homeless population is made up in large part

736
01:12:53,800 --> 01:12:57,800
by individuals who aged out of foster care.

737
01:12:57,800 --> 01:13:00,800
These individuals through no fault of their own

738
01:13:00,800 --> 01:13:03,800
end up using public resources.

739
01:13:03,800 --> 01:13:06,800
The community bears the cost to feed them provide health care,

740
01:13:06,800 --> 01:13:08,800
often very expensive emergency health care,

741
01:13:08,800 --> 01:13:11,800
and housing them in our jails and prisons.

742
01:13:11,800 --> 01:13:14,800
Capital Idea allows the same individuals

743
01:13:14,800 --> 01:13:18,800
to take charge of their lives, obtain good, stable employment,

744
01:13:18,800 --> 01:13:22,800
and become tax paying residents of our city.

745
01:13:22,800 --> 01:13:26,800
This is the kind of program that sets Austin apart.

746
01:13:26,800 --> 01:13:30,800
This is a kind of program that makes me proud to be a person

747
01:13:30,800 --> 01:13:35,800
who lives here and has something to do with changing the way the world is.

748
01:13:35,800 --> 01:13:39,800
And I hope that each of you can take pride and do that as well.

749
01:13:39,800 --> 01:13:40,800
Thank you.

750
01:13:40,800 --> 01:13:42,800
Thank you.

751
01:13:46,800 --> 01:13:50,800
Mother Katie Luba, Monica Guzman,

752
01:13:51,800 --> 01:13:57,800
Jacob Reach, Rivas, Susan Spataro.

753
01:14:06,800 --> 01:14:09,800
We'll begin here and move down the road, please.

754
01:14:12,800 --> 01:14:14,800
Good morning.

755
01:14:14,800 --> 01:14:17,800
Council members and Mayor Kirk Watson.

756
01:14:17,800 --> 01:14:18,800
I'm Mother Katie Luba.

757
01:14:18,800 --> 01:14:22,800
I'm the director at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church located in District 10.

758
01:14:22,800 --> 01:14:25,800
Past Vice Chair of Capital Idea,

759
01:14:25,800 --> 01:14:28,800
a board member of Central Texas Interfaith.

760
01:14:28,800 --> 01:14:33,800
My mom was a single mom with three children and a divorce.

761
01:14:33,800 --> 01:14:35,800
Through efforts of our extended family,

762
01:14:35,800 --> 01:14:38,800
she was able to get her education,

763
01:14:38,800 --> 01:14:40,800
leading to all of her children,

764
01:14:40,800 --> 01:14:42,800
completing master's degrees.

765
01:14:42,800 --> 01:14:45,800
That's the kind of intergenerational effect

766
01:14:45,800 --> 01:14:47,800
the capital idea has.

767
01:14:47,800 --> 01:14:49,800
She was our capital idea,

768
01:14:49,800 --> 01:14:53,800
and I often wonder how her life would have been different.

769
01:14:53,800 --> 01:14:56,800
She had had an outside organization like capital idea

770
01:14:56,800 --> 01:14:58,800
to do that work even earlier.

771
01:14:58,800 --> 01:14:59,800
She did that.

772
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:08,000
Adding credible job, but not all are so resilient or so lucky. Today, I am ahead of congregation at St.

773
01:15:08,000 --> 01:15:20,000
Matthews. In an area where many people don't need a program like capital idea, but some still do. And the city of Austin has many that need it.

774
01:15:20,000 --> 01:15:30,000
It's one of the main places people move to after graduating capital idea, getting a nursing job, working at a nearby hospital or health clinic in district ten and throughout the city.

775
01:15:30,000 --> 01:15:37,000
The program is important. We strongly encourage you to support it at past levels. Thank you.

776
01:15:37,000 --> 01:15:40,000
Thank you. Good morning.

777
01:15:40,000 --> 01:15:52,000
Good morning. I'm Monica Guzman, policy director at GAVA. Yesterday, GAVA submitted up dated fiscal 27 budget recommendations, specifically changes to the early childhood and education recommendations.

778
01:15:52,000 --> 01:16:09,000
We removed the $100,000 for the program coordinator role at Austin Economic Development, and we updated the initial bullet to 75,000 sustained funding for the Austin Travis County Family Child Care Educator Network partnerships for continued support for home base childcare.

779
01:16:09,000 --> 01:16:22,000
The reasons for the updates was to clarify we're recommending funding for the FCC E network to support the network activities and partnerships in light of our understanding that the program coordinator position,

780
01:16:22,000 --> 01:16:29,000
also known as the FCC E network coordinator, ended July 31 and will not be back filled.

781
01:16:29,000 --> 01:16:49,000
To support existing Austin Public Health and Austin Economic Development, early childhood staff, to work with community partners, including United Way for Greater Austin, homegrown, raising Travis County and GAVA, who will be collaborating to ensure the continued positive impact and sustainability of the FCC E network for home base providers,

782
01:16:49,000 --> 01:17:04,000
established by the City of Austin and homegrown BCN partnership in fiscal years 2025 and 2026 as a transition to United Way by September 28 as it sustainable organizational home.

783
01:17:04,000 --> 01:17:10,000
In addition, it's good that 4.7 million has been identified for used to restore funding to social service contracts.

784
01:17:10,000 --> 01:17:23,000
It's also important to fund critical social infrastructures, specifically 3 million for the family stabilization grant to economically stabilize about 225 households during this time of increased cost of living.

785
01:17:23,000 --> 01:17:36,000
There are 70,000 for legal representation services and 250,000 for mental health services for immigrant support to navigate this heinous political climate while residents are being detained daily, especially in districts 24 and 5.

786
01:17:36,000 --> 01:17:43,000
And well as outside City Hall this morning as well as funding the CIV coalition fiscal 27 recommendations.

787
01:17:43,000 --> 01:17:44,000
Thank you.

788
01:17:44,000 --> 01:17:47,000
We urge you to prioritize health and safety of Austin's vulnerable community.

789
01:17:47,000 --> 01:17:48,000
Thank you.

790
01:17:49,000 --> 01:17:50,000
This material.

791
01:17:50,000 --> 01:17:52,000
This business material just took to eight.

792
01:17:52,000 --> 01:17:57,000
I've talked a couple of times on the budget and I haven't yet said and I believe.

793
01:17:57,000 --> 01:18:06,000
Thank you manager Bronex and your staff for putting this budget together and all the work, all of you counsel people have done.

794
01:18:06,000 --> 01:18:13,000
It is complicated, it is not easy and it doesn't, you know, everyone doesn't like much of anything.

795
01:18:13,000 --> 01:18:16,000
But I think you've done a really good job.

796
01:18:16,000 --> 01:18:18,000
I would first, I'm a governmental accountant.

797
01:18:18,000 --> 01:18:19,000
That's my wheelhouse.

798
01:18:19,000 --> 01:18:22,000
And so I want to talk about the increase first in APD.

799
01:18:22,000 --> 01:18:24,000
You know I support public safety.

800
01:18:24,000 --> 01:18:28,000
I think it's the most important job of local government.

801
01:18:28,000 --> 01:18:31,000
But the increase in the APD budget is simple.

802
01:18:31,000 --> 01:18:37,000
And that is, it is the contract that was approved by the city and APA.

803
01:18:37,000 --> 01:18:39,000
You've already agreed to that.

804
01:18:39,000 --> 01:18:43,000
The next thing, it's the payment of pension obligations.

805
01:18:43,000 --> 01:18:47,000
You know, you talked a couple of times about the city's bond rating.

806
01:18:47,000 --> 01:18:54,000
And a couple of years ago, the city's bond rating went down because you weren't meeting the pension obligations.

807
01:18:54,000 --> 01:18:56,000
But you are now and you're at a triple A.

808
01:18:56,000 --> 01:18:58,000
What difference does that make?

809
01:18:58,000 --> 01:19:02,000
The higher you're rating, the lower the interest you pay.

810
01:19:02,000 --> 01:19:04,000
So that's extremely important.

811
01:19:04,000 --> 01:19:08,000
The other primary increase is money from support services.

812
01:19:08,000 --> 01:19:13,000
In a government, you have these different funds and not all government's

813
01:19:13,000 --> 01:19:14,000
handle it the same.

814
01:19:14,000 --> 01:19:17,000
And so you've got support services over here.

815
01:19:17,000 --> 01:19:20,000
You've got other departments in the general fund here.

816
01:19:20,000 --> 01:19:25,000
You chop up the cost of these and you allocate them to the departments.

817
01:19:25,000 --> 01:19:31,000
So one of the big increases is the increase in social support services.

818
01:19:31,000 --> 01:19:34,000
The chief cannot control that.

819
01:19:34,000 --> 01:19:35,000
You can.

820
01:19:35,000 --> 01:19:38,000
So do not cut the police budget.

821
01:19:38,000 --> 01:19:40,000
It's an artificial cut.

822
01:19:40,000 --> 01:19:44,000
And please keep looking out for the taxpayer's dollar.

823
01:19:44,000 --> 01:19:48,000
When people call 911, they want the government to help them.

824
01:19:48,000 --> 01:19:51,000
Thank you very much.

825
01:19:51,000 --> 01:19:52,000
Thank you.

826
01:19:52,000 --> 01:19:54,000
Please.

827
01:19:54,000 --> 01:19:56,000
Rivas district nine.

828
01:19:56,000 --> 01:19:59,000
Council, I'm here once again to tell you to stop the nonsense.

829
01:19:59,000 --> 01:20:03,000
Pay attention to our testimonies and listen to the community.

830
01:20:03,000 --> 01:20:06,000
24.6 million dollars.

831
01:20:06,000 --> 01:20:09,000
That is what you propose to give APD.

832
01:20:09,000 --> 01:20:11,000
24.6 million.

833
01:20:11,000 --> 01:20:13,000
Here's what that amount of money could do.

834
01:20:13,000 --> 01:20:16,000
Reopens saves forensic program so that people.

835
01:20:16,000 --> 01:20:19,000
Raves in the city of Austin can get the care they need.

836
01:20:19,000 --> 01:20:22,000
It can also restart their same nurse training program.

837
01:20:22,000 --> 01:20:24,000
It can open supply and staff.

838
01:20:24,000 --> 01:20:28,000
New homeless shelter here in Austin to get people off the street during this heat wave.

839
01:20:28,000 --> 01:20:31,000
And we all know how much APD spends on sweeping on house,

840
01:20:31,000 --> 01:20:34,000
camping on house, camps without providing any aid to those impacted.

841
01:20:34,000 --> 01:20:39,000
24 million can ensure where the last generation of Austinites fighting aids.

842
01:20:39,000 --> 01:20:41,000
By opening safe needle exchanges.

843
01:20:41,000 --> 01:20:47,000
It can feed every child in AISD's lunch and breakfast program so they can focus on their education

844
01:20:47,000 --> 01:20:49,000
and not where their next meal is coming from.

845
01:20:49,000 --> 01:20:51,000
It can do so much good.

846
01:20:51,000 --> 01:20:55,000
Here's what 24.6 million will do when the hands of APD.

847
01:20:55,000 --> 01:21:00,000
Another dead unarmed black teenager going through a mental health crisis will lose their life.

848
01:21:00,000 --> 01:21:07,000
Another trans woman of color slammed into the sidewalk while APD is responding to the call that they

849
01:21:07,000 --> 01:21:08,000
made.

850
01:21:08,000 --> 01:21:09,000
You know what?

851
01:21:09,000 --> 01:21:11,000
24 million dollars looks like in the hand of APD.

852
01:21:11,000 --> 01:21:14,000
It looks like cops putting on their brand new gas masks.

853
01:21:14,000 --> 01:21:17,000
30 seconds before DPS fires tear gas canisters.

854
01:21:17,000 --> 01:21:23,000
While biological weapons banned in every other donation for being, you know, horrible.

855
01:21:23,000 --> 01:21:28,000
Into a crowd of protesters APD claimed that they failed to adequately control.

856
01:21:28,000 --> 01:21:32,000
24 million dollars in the hands of APD looks like a pregnant unhoused woman.

857
01:21:32,000 --> 01:21:37,000
A block away from a protest getting hit by downwind of set gas when she had nothing to do with it.

858
01:21:37,000 --> 01:21:42,000
We have been here so many times asking for this and we want a flat budget.

859
01:21:42,000 --> 01:21:48,000
We don't want like we want we want what's good for the community and it sounds like you don't listen.

860
01:21:48,000 --> 01:21:53,000
So listen please hear us and do what is right for the community because no one else is

861
01:21:53,000 --> 01:21:56,000
and if you're responsible for that that is horrible.

862
01:21:56,000 --> 01:21:57,000
Thank you.

863
01:21:57,000 --> 01:22:03,000
Good morning Mayor City Council members.

864
01:22:03,000 --> 01:22:04,000
My name is Jacob.

865
01:22:04,000 --> 01:22:09,000
I'm the Chief Operating Officer for communities and schools of central Texas.

866
01:22:09,000 --> 01:22:11,000
And I'm also resident of district gate.

867
01:22:11,000 --> 01:22:15,000
And I'm here to discuss potential reductions to our student support funding.

868
01:22:15,000 --> 01:22:19,000
Students come to school every day facing anxiety to pressure and trauma.

869
01:22:19,000 --> 01:22:24,000
Another challenges that affect their learning, their attendance, their relationships and their academic success.

870
01:22:24,000 --> 01:22:29,000
Communities and schools of central Texas and mental health professionals on school campuses.

871
01:22:29,000 --> 01:22:34,000
So students can receive individualized counseling during the school day in a trusted environment.

872
01:22:34,000 --> 01:22:38,000
The services to state from CIS is other city funding agreement.

873
01:22:38,000 --> 01:22:44,000
Our other contract focuses on case management, family engagement, academic attendance, behavioral outcomes.

874
01:22:44,000 --> 01:22:49,000
And we are very proud of our record and exceeding all of our goals and outcomes for that agreement.

875
01:22:50,000 --> 01:23:01,000
The expanding support for student program provides direct mental health counseling in behavioral health interventions to students who require more intensive clinical support.

876
01:23:01,000 --> 01:23:08,000
CIS acknowledges that the program that was cut fell short of our unduplicated client target.

877
01:23:08,000 --> 01:23:13,000
The short fall reflected limited counseling capacity included shared staffing and shortages.

878
01:23:13,000 --> 01:23:22,000
We also did not include our Dell Valley students who live in the city of Austin and who were served and if included would have met the targets.

879
01:23:22,000 --> 01:23:26,000
While the number of students served were lower than anticipated outcomes were still strong.

880
01:23:26,000 --> 01:23:32,000
Overall 82% of demonstrated improved life skills and met their benchmarks.

881
01:23:32,000 --> 01:23:41,000
If funding is preserved, CIS will implement a focused and accountable service model that includes dedicated counseling in Austin and L Valley schools.

882
01:23:41,000 --> 01:23:48,000
Clear enrollment in outcome targets stronger campus referral processes and stronger corrective action within 30 days.

883
01:23:48,000 --> 01:23:57,000
CIS understands the city's budget constraints and recognized reductions may be necessary eliminating the agreement however could remove dedicated supports.

884
01:23:57,000 --> 01:24:00,000
CIS request continued support of this agreement.

885
01:24:00,000 --> 01:24:03,000
We know the need exists in the services this thing. Thank you.

886
01:24:03,000 --> 01:24:05,000
Thank you.

887
01:24:05,000 --> 01:24:09,000
I have one more remote caller for item one. Paul Tarty.

888
01:24:16,000 --> 01:24:18,000
Hi, what is all Tarty?

889
01:24:18,000 --> 01:24:24,000
This year 10, I come to work with tax-signed additional items in former city of Austin Park.

890
01:24:24,000 --> 01:24:33,000
Both of those roles at Washington, Cameron, Suits, failed editing public came to me and said exacerbate condition that contributed to homelessness.

891
01:24:33,000 --> 01:24:44,000
APD has been tasked with assisting in slaves while life and resources education skills that could effectively bring homeless people and more stable living.

892
01:24:44,000 --> 01:24:57,000
In the same way, the city is aimed at operating at ground profit service providers who are educated and trained well-sprayers of resources that have already proven their successes and doing what each household payles to a college.

893
01:24:57,000 --> 01:25:03,000
Half of the 20 highest grown professions in the US and the areas of medicine, therapy and recovery.

894
01:25:03,000 --> 01:25:11,000
Part of the policy is shifting and it would be wise for the city to act accordingly by discarding a multi-slung needle in the data of the police officer.

895
01:25:11,000 --> 01:25:18,000
And since part of the individuals, you can act with data transmission and efficiency for long-term solutions.

896
01:25:18,000 --> 01:25:29,000
Non-profit partners have unique and specific training through universities, internships, volunteerism and lived experience all on their own nine and not on the city's dollar.

897
01:25:29,000 --> 01:25:40,000
The city would be failing money to keep non-profit organizations funded as they alleviate conditions which may lead to criminalized behavior and are a son's medical emergencies and even prevent deaths.

898
01:25:40,000 --> 01:25:48,000
Childhood of homelessness including increased rent prices, low wages, health issues, incarceration and lack of employment opportunity.

899
01:25:48,000 --> 01:25:55,000
Police do not help people of these conditions, which is why we cannot work deep-pushed in the U.S.

900
01:25:56,000 --> 01:26:08,000
The report of ground loss and peat in 2008 has been steadily declining with the past four years being the lowest in two decades according to the data.

901
01:26:08,000 --> 01:26:15,000
80 days have been understatement using years of low support of the current rate instead of testimony that they are needed at all times.

902
01:26:15,000 --> 01:26:20,000
Public safety is home over the unhoused youth for the hungry very much attention for the health.

903
01:26:20,000 --> 01:26:21,000
Thank you.

904
01:26:21,000 --> 01:26:37,000
Can you continue with the last of the remote speakers for item one, Michael Lofton, Nia Shah, Terrence Hopkins, Alyssa Matthews, Mary Elizabeth and Danielle Silva.

905
01:26:37,000 --> 01:26:44,000
Thank you.

906
01:26:44,000 --> 01:26:46,000
Mr. Lofton, we'll begin with you.

907
01:26:46,000 --> 01:26:47,000
Thank you very much.

908
01:26:47,000 --> 01:26:48,000
Be in here.

909
01:26:48,000 --> 01:26:49,000
Tell me.

910
01:26:49,000 --> 01:26:50,000
Yeah.

911
01:26:50,000 --> 01:26:53,000
Go ahead.

912
01:26:53,000 --> 01:26:54,000
I'll go ahead.

913
01:26:54,000 --> 01:26:55,000
I'll go ahead.

914
01:26:55,000 --> 01:26:56,000
I'll go ahead.

915
01:26:56,000 --> 01:26:57,000
I'll go ahead.

916
01:26:57,000 --> 01:26:58,000
I'll go ahead.

917
01:26:58,000 --> 01:26:59,000
I'll go ahead.

918
01:26:59,000 --> 01:27:00,000
I'll go ahead.

919
01:27:00,000 --> 01:27:01,000
Okay.

920
01:27:01,000 --> 01:27:07,000
The founder and executive director for the African American youth harvest foundation and the trauma recovery center.

921
01:27:07,000 --> 01:27:09,000
I want to say I'm very happy.

922
01:27:09,000 --> 01:27:18,000
To be here today, in addition, I did send a letter last night to all of the city council members to share where we are at with the trauma recovery center.

923
01:27:18,000 --> 01:27:23,000
But I also want to take my hat off to Austin Public Health for two reasons.

924
01:27:23,000 --> 01:27:30,000
This report that they just spent months on working describes all of the work.

925
01:27:30,000 --> 01:27:37,000
That's supported by the Skeleton Safety and Justice Committee and the nonprofit here in Austin.

926
01:27:37,000 --> 01:27:42,000
Austin over the last three to four years, crime has gone down.

927
01:27:42,000 --> 01:27:52,000
And it's due to the work that collared by another system of Vanessa Fuentes and happened to bring the trauma recovery center here.

928
01:27:52,000 --> 01:28:02,000
And here because, you know, I've heard each of the council members over the last five, six, seven days talk about the need for mental health counseling.

929
01:28:02,000 --> 01:28:03,000
And I agree with you.

930
01:28:03,000 --> 01:28:04,000
I agree with you.

931
01:28:04,000 --> 01:28:11,000
And I say that to say, but the sad reality of it is why we're talking about the need for mental health counseling.

932
01:28:11,000 --> 01:28:15,000
We're about to close the trauma recovery center.

933
01:28:15,000 --> 01:28:21,000
And I realize, I'm gonna say this here, I realize that the funding, this contract was scheduled to close.

934
01:28:21,000 --> 01:28:28,000
But I'm also asking you this because we have identified funding for the trauma recovery center.

935
01:28:28,000 --> 01:28:33,000
It's probably going to require some input and support from the city council members.

936
01:28:33,000 --> 01:28:37,000
And so I'm asking for an amendment to the budget to add what is needed.

937
01:28:37,000 --> 01:28:44,000
I do plan to bring all of the other funders to the table and get letters as to what they plan to do.

938
01:28:44,000 --> 01:28:52,000
I plan to do because I think this here is a resource that city of Austin and Travis County cannot turn their back home.

939
01:28:52,000 --> 01:28:59,000
I'll say this here also over the last three or four weeks, we have 40 plus kids to talk about suicide.

940
01:28:59,000 --> 01:29:00,000
Thank you.

941
01:29:00,000 --> 01:29:02,000
Thank you.

942
01:29:02,000 --> 01:29:06,000
Why don't we start here and work with them.

943
01:29:06,000 --> 01:29:07,000
Good morning.

944
01:29:07,000 --> 01:29:08,000
My name is Alyssa Matthews.

945
01:29:08,000 --> 01:29:16,000
I'm here on behalf of hands off central Texas, testifying an opposition of the proposed budget and in support of the community investment budget.

946
01:29:16,000 --> 01:29:23,000
I'm here to urge council to keep APD's budget flat to move 911 out of APD and to fully fund social services.

947
01:29:23,000 --> 01:29:33,000
As others have already discussed today, data shows that when cities invest in policing and not in community services and social services, the outcomes are clear.

948
01:29:33,000 --> 01:29:39,000
It makes our community less safe, worsens the lives of your constituents and it costs taxpayers more money in the long run.

949
01:29:39,000 --> 01:29:42,000
The last part is what I want to focus on today.

950
01:29:42,000 --> 01:29:47,000
When council invest in policing rather than the community interactions with law enforcement increase.

951
01:29:47,000 --> 01:29:55,000
And while following aren't line items on council's budget, so council doesn't seem to care so much about it as the taxpayers do.

952
01:29:55,000 --> 01:30:00,000
When we increase interactions with law enforcement, we increase the cost of our jails, our court system, the cost for.

953
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:11,000
Public defense, and all these things we're coming and hiding about providing resources for now, housing, health care. All of these things we pay for it, as tax payers, we just pay for it on the back end.

954
01:30:11,000 --> 01:30:24,000
I'm here to ask that city council stop passing the buck on investing in our community. We, the taxpayers, know that when you pass the buck onto the county or onto the state, ultimately it is us paying for it.

955
01:30:24,000 --> 01:30:30,000
So I am here to ask you today to do your jobs to represent your community that has been very clear about what they want.

956
01:30:30,000 --> 01:30:36,000
Move 911 out of APD, fully fund social services, keep APD's budget flat.

957
01:30:36,000 --> 01:30:39,000
Represent your constituents. Thank you.

958
01:30:39,000 --> 01:30:47,000
Good morning, Council. My name is Nihasha and I'm a resident of District 3.

959
01:30:48,000 --> 01:31:02,000
So public facing city communications team approved budget summary says that below the public safety header, it's all about ensuring safety and security to fare an equitable public safety responses.

960
01:31:02,000 --> 01:31:17,000
Based on the murder of 17-year-old Antoniel Williams and the fact that a few of our neighbors were just arrested outside this building by ice and collaboration DPS, I'm going to ask which part exactly is fair are equitable in what's being proposed.

961
01:31:17,000 --> 01:31:28,000
All of our tax payer money that you are asking us to pay more off is going into this budget that doesn't quite frankly seem in service of public interest.

962
01:31:28,000 --> 01:31:39,000
And city manager, Bronax's message to the public was, like the community members we serve, we must live within our means. Who's means exactly are you living within with this budget?

963
01:31:39,000 --> 01:31:45,000
I want you to use that standard when evaluating what line items are seeing budget cuts and which ones are not.

964
01:31:45,000 --> 01:31:51,000
And so that end keeping the APD budget flat would be the wise budgetary decision.

965
01:31:51,000 --> 01:32:11,000
A previous commenter has called out at 98% of this proposed increase of 24.2 million is just baseline personnel and wage costs growth under the existing five year contract that this council also approved in 2024 fully knowing the consequences except for a council member cadre who called this out back then.

966
01:32:11,000 --> 01:32:40,000
And what's also stark to me is that there are more than 300 positions within that contract that are authorized for not fulfilled. So again, how is this from a pure discretionary point of view, good use of public funds and especially considering the lack of accountability and the many examples that were given by previous commenters including the millions of dollars spent on daily speeds that are really not seeing a long term solution to our homelessness crisis.

967
01:32:40,000 --> 01:32:48,000
How is this exactly good use of tax per money and so I'm going to talk about social services very money should go and I think on that fully thank you.

968
01:32:48,000 --> 01:32:51,000
Sorry, which times up. Thank you. Yes, please begin.

969
01:32:52,000 --> 01:32:57,000
As we're going to guys, my name is Mr. Terrace Hopkins, I'm a youth man, so at that for a few photos foundation.

970
01:32:57,000 --> 01:33:07,000
So, and I speak it also eight different schools helping kids with the social and social learning to talk about the 60s of education, communication, collaboration, censorship, creativity, character and critical thinking.

971
01:33:07,000 --> 01:33:15,000
And also work with the unhoused helping them find job opportunity housing and helping them get their social security calls versus 50s and driver license.

972
01:33:15,000 --> 01:33:19,000
It's all those essential things that they may need, but I also will call many of the time.

973
01:33:19,000 --> 01:33:27,000
So I had many people come to me and say, Mr. Terrace, I was going to take my life today, but you being here calls me to take a different route.

974
01:33:27,000 --> 01:33:34,000
I had others come to me and say, Mr. Terrace, I actually have my gun on my pocket and I'm getting ready to kill all these guys over here.

975
01:33:34,000 --> 01:33:37,000
But something told me to come over here and talk to you.

976
01:33:37,000 --> 01:33:42,000
And as I begin to talk to them and just tell them about different things of life, I say all this to say,

977
01:33:42,000 --> 01:33:45,000
is that most people don't care how much you know that when they say how much you care.

978
01:33:45,000 --> 01:33:50,000
As at the African-American part of the foundation, we're of someone who cares for those who are in need.

979
01:33:50,000 --> 01:33:55,000
They helped over thousands of people find job placement and also getting to housing.

980
01:33:55,000 --> 01:34:01,000
And I say all this to say, is that within our building where I've over 30 to 2 different nonprofit organizations all under one roof.

981
01:34:01,000 --> 01:34:06,000
Like a one stop shop and they said, each one teach one together, we can reach one.

982
01:34:06,000 --> 01:34:10,000
And we allow for our class to understand and know that this is a victory in the mind.

983
01:34:10,000 --> 01:34:12,000
Your own defeat if you believe you are.

984
01:34:12,000 --> 01:34:20,000
So we're asked if you guys can continue to just allow for us to be funded as an organization as we begin to do protection.

985
01:34:20,000 --> 01:34:25,000
We have provide protection for our communities, protection for our schools, protection for our neighborhoods.

986
01:34:25,000 --> 01:34:27,000
And all those who are in need, we do help as well.

987
01:34:27,000 --> 01:34:29,000
Thank you guys so much for your time.

988
01:34:29,000 --> 01:34:30,000
God bless and have a blessed day.

989
01:34:30,000 --> 01:34:31,000
Thank you.

990
01:34:37,000 --> 01:34:40,000
Good morning council, good morning mayor.

991
01:34:40,000 --> 01:34:42,000
My name is Mary Elizabeth.

992
01:34:42,000 --> 01:34:44,000
I live in district one.

993
01:34:44,000 --> 01:34:57,000
I'm here today to ask if the city budget be amended to include the establishment of an independent emergency communications department staff by civilians.

994
01:34:57,000 --> 01:35:07,000
This batch is the front line of emergency response and must be able to respond comprehensively to the public needs.

995
01:35:07,000 --> 01:35:20,000
911 has for so long been seen primarily as a function of the police department, which has reduced some people's interest in calling.

996
01:35:20,000 --> 01:35:33,000
We're seeing in real time the need to expand this perception to include it's the system's role in accessing mental health support for Austin citizens.

997
01:35:33,000 --> 01:35:48,000
An independent civilian communication system will be a factor in increasing the public's trust in 911.

998
01:35:48,000 --> 01:35:57,000
Trust is low in our community when it comes to calling 911 at this time and it's getting worse.

999
01:35:57,000 --> 01:36:03,000
Emergency response systems only work when people trust them enough to use them.

1000
01:36:03,000 --> 01:36:17,000
I hope you will follow the recommendation made by myself and many others to get the 911 system into an independent civilian operated department.

1001
01:36:17,000 --> 01:36:20,000
Thank you. Thank you. The silver.

1002
01:36:20,000 --> 01:36:24,000
Good morning Mayor and council. I'm Daniela Silva from District 3.

1003
01:36:24,000 --> 01:36:37,000
Before I begin I am pouring you to please use your power and political connections to seek justice for the three construction workers who are changed and kidnapped by ice a little over an hour ago just a few yards from here.

1004
01:36:37,000 --> 01:36:43,000
I'm also here in my personal capacity to ask you to restore funding for the conveniently healthy food program.

1005
01:36:43,000 --> 01:36:52,000
I'm a former employee at Farmshire Austin whose fresh for less food access program is under threat if you choose to move forward with these funding cuts.

1006
01:36:52,000 --> 01:36:58,000
For the record that folks at Farmshire have not asked me to be here and had no idea I was going to be here today I just really care about this program.

1007
01:36:58,000 --> 01:37:07,000
Fresh for less is so unique and that it brings farmers market quality produce and weed spoke quality shelf stable goods directly to communities who otherwise may not be able to access them.

1008
01:37:07,000 --> 01:37:13,000
The markets are held in schools, clinics, rec centers and other community spaces throughout the eastern crescent.

1009
01:37:13,000 --> 01:37:23,000
It was at these markets that folks would tell me or at least as are so good they remind me of the ones back at a ranch or how they love using local ingredients to make their traditional dishes.

1010
01:37:23,000 --> 01:37:28,000
Like when a thea brought me some tamales she made using colored greens instead of corn husks.

1011
01:37:28,000 --> 01:37:31,000
When the pandemic hit, the in-person markets were closed.

1012
01:37:31,000 --> 01:37:37,000
In order to meet the moment and continue serving those struggling with food insecurity and even more challenging conditions.

1013
01:37:37,000 --> 01:37:41,000
The food access program pivoted to create the home delivery service.

1014
01:37:41,000 --> 01:37:49,000
The service was and may still be the only grocery delivery service in Austin that not only accepts not but double up food books.

1015
01:37:49,000 --> 01:37:54,000
The folks at Farmshire Austin cares so deeply about the people and the land here in central Texas.

1016
01:37:54,000 --> 01:38:04,000
They are committed to the work of ensuring everyone regardless of zip code or socioeconomic status can have access to high quality healthy food that actually supports the environment.

1017
01:38:04,000 --> 01:38:13,000
This organization and the programs they run are exactly the type of thing I want my tax dollars being used for not 25 million more for the best resource city department in Austin.

1018
01:38:13,000 --> 01:38:19,000
Keep the police budget flat and protect services and programs provided by local organizations like Farmshire Austin.

1019
01:38:19,000 --> 01:38:22,000
Thank you.

1020
01:38:22,000 --> 01:38:25,000
Mayor all speakers right I'm one have been called.

1021
01:38:25,000 --> 01:38:38,000
Thank you very much members of as you've heard all the speakers have been called so I want to ask our professional staff if they'll come forward and.

1022
01:38:38,000 --> 01:38:44,000
Members what I'm going to suggest is that we.

1023
01:38:45,000 --> 01:38:52,000
We have we ask any questions we might have them and then as we indicated we're going to do is we would lay out.

1024
01:38:52,000 --> 01:38:59,000
Proposed amendments proposed proposed I have seen but I'm going to suggest that we do is.

1025
01:38:59,000 --> 01:39:13,000
I may suggest we'll see how long this part goes right but what I may suggest we do is take a 30 minute break and then come back to lay out the amendments in the IFCs and the way I would suggest we do this is just I'm going.

1026
01:39:13,000 --> 01:39:19,000
But unless somebody has an objection I'm just going to start with Councilmember Ellis and we'll just kind of come down the road.

1027
01:39:19,000 --> 01:39:21,000
And let people.

1028
01:39:21,000 --> 01:39:25,000
Do that I'm part of the reason I'm announcing that out loud is so that.

1029
01:39:25,000 --> 01:39:30,000
Staff can be prepared to put up on the screens to propose amendments.

1030
01:39:30,000 --> 01:39:36,000
Yes Councilmember Fuentes may or the thing on the order which we lay out our amendments by being more helpful to go by.

1031
01:39:36,000 --> 01:39:41,000
With staff sent us the email the packet the way we are just going through the packet sorry.

1032
01:39:41,000 --> 01:39:45,000
That one we take a break we'll see he just indicated that that might be helpful to him too.

1033
01:39:45,000 --> 01:39:52,000
I was just trying to do it in a way that was fair to the council members but if you think that's fair we'll do it that way.

1034
01:39:52,000 --> 01:40:00,000
I still would suggest we take a 30 minute break when after they finish their presentation.

1035
01:40:00,000 --> 01:40:06,000
It's all year's director.

1036
01:40:06,000 --> 01:40:10,000
Good morning Mayor and council carry laying director of budget and organizational excellence.

1037
01:40:10,000 --> 01:40:16,000
I'm going to turn it over to deputy director Eric Nelson to go through the presentation.

1038
01:40:16,000 --> 01:40:18,000
Good morning.

1039
01:40:18,000 --> 01:40:27,000
Eric Nelson deputy director budget and organizational excellence.

1040
01:40:27,000 --> 01:40:35,000
Based on feedback we received at Tuesday's session staff has gone back and updated its recommendation for the use of the additional $4.7 million.

1041
01:40:35,000 --> 01:40:43,000
We've anticipated property tax revenue that we expect to get in the general fund as a result of the certified tax roll.

1042
01:40:43,000 --> 01:40:52,000
We would still direct $4.7 million to be added to housing's ongoing general fund budget for the local housing voucher program.

1043
01:40:52,000 --> 01:40:59,000
That will bring their total funding up to $6.8 million which is nearly the entirety of the ongoing need.

1044
01:40:59,000 --> 01:41:09,000
And we have provisions to fund the remainder in FY27 and to get to the total ongoing need in the FY28 plan.

1045
01:41:09,000 --> 01:41:27,000
We would also reorganize some plan spending across several funds but the ultimate effect will be to create $4.75 million in unrestricted one time capacity that could be available for social services grants.

1046
01:41:27,000 --> 01:41:39,000
This is the somewhat convoluted flow of funds that's been made necessary because there are restrictions on the use of downtown density bonus revenue within the housing trust fund.

1047
01:41:39,000 --> 01:41:55,000
And so we've reorganized some spending to ensure that we're using those funds appropriately but again the ultimate effect is to reorganize the spending such that $4.75 million is made available for social services contracts.

1048
01:41:55,000 --> 01:42:06,000
Members, I want to ask a couple of questions so that we try to get clarity on what was first of all.

1049
01:42:06,000 --> 01:42:19,000
And I posted on the message board that we've been working to try to achieve what we're predominantly two goals that we were hearing from council.

1050
01:42:19,000 --> 01:42:31,000
And from professional staff on how to deal with the $4.7 million of additional funding when the tax rolls were certified.

1051
01:42:31,000 --> 01:42:44,000
The two primary goals were A, the concept of making an allocation of the $4.7 million for funding of social services.

1052
01:42:44,000 --> 01:42:58,000
And I'll pause for just a second and say the $4.7 million for the potential funding of social services where the money would be in a single allocation for social services.

1053
01:42:58,000 --> 01:43:04,000
And we would then have staff as we indicated.

1054
01:43:04,000 --> 01:43:12,000
Look at the individual contracts and if there's a performance issue evaluate what we do with that.

1055
01:43:12,000 --> 01:43:19,000
But the bottom line to it is is it would put $4.7 million into potential social services.

1056
01:43:19,000 --> 01:43:20,000
That was goal number one.

1057
01:43:20,000 --> 01:43:33,000
Number two was what staff was recommending to us was coming up with some better way to stabilize the housing voucher program.

1058
01:43:33,000 --> 01:43:45,000
And the concept there was that the housing voucher program while funded is funded out of one time money based upon the downtown density bonus program.

1059
01:43:45,000 --> 01:43:58,000
And the goal was to get that where it was more sustainable because it was in it would be related to recurring funding in other words general fund funding.

1060
01:43:58,000 --> 01:44:00,000
So those were the two predominant goals.

1061
01:44:00,000 --> 01:44:10,000
And I'm going to do my best to lay this out in my simple way in hopes that it makes sense.

1062
01:44:10,000 --> 01:44:13,000
And the public, all of us can understand it.

1063
01:44:13,000 --> 01:44:16,000
And I'm happy to have myself corrected.

1064
01:44:16,000 --> 01:44:19,000
Actually, I won't be that happy about it, but I'm willing to do it.

1065
01:44:19,000 --> 01:44:23,000
I have myself corrected to make sure we know what it is we're doing.

1066
01:44:23,000 --> 01:44:28,000
But it's to achieve those two broad goals.

1067
01:44:28,000 --> 01:44:39,000
The first step was that we would take the 4.7 of additional funding and go ahead and put it into the general fund.

1068
01:44:39,000 --> 01:44:42,000
So it would be in the general fund.

1069
01:44:42,000 --> 01:44:50,000
The second step was that we would take the housing voucher program the way I think of it.

1070
01:44:50,000 --> 01:44:52,000
Staff refers to it as an expense.

1071
01:44:52,000 --> 01:44:54,000
I think of it as an invoice.

1072
01:44:54,000 --> 01:44:56,000
Right, a bill.

1073
01:44:56,000 --> 01:44:58,000
The housing voucher program invoice.

1074
01:44:58,000 --> 01:45:00,000
4.7 million.

1075
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:22,000
And move that invoice or that expense to the general fund. So now the vouchers will become a regular city program out of the general fund, which is the stabilization that professional staff was looking for, instead of being funded as a one-time expense every year.

1076
01:45:22,000 --> 01:45:44,000
The next step would be to move $2 million of permanent support housing expense from the general fund to the housing trust fund, because to keep in mind, we've just freed up $4.7 million from the housing trust fund, because that invoice or expense is now over in the general fund.

1077
01:45:44,000 --> 01:45:51,000
So 2 million of permanent support housing expense would go to from the general fund to the housing trust fund.

1078
01:45:51,000 --> 01:46:02,000
They would also move $2.7 million, a $2.7 million invoice or expense from the hope fund to the housing trust fund.

1079
01:46:02,000 --> 01:46:13,000
Again, we freed up $4.7 million in the housing trust fund. So now you would move two expenses over the housing trust fund to take care of that one-time money.

1080
01:46:13,000 --> 01:46:22,000
It would leave $2.7 million in the hope fund for social services.

1081
01:46:22,000 --> 01:46:37,000
And the next step would be to move $2 million that's freed up by moving the permanent support of housing dollars to the housing trust fund to the budget stabilization reserve fund for social services.

1082
01:46:37,000 --> 01:47:04,000
So what happens is you would have two million of budget stabilization reserves for social services and 2.75 million of hope fund dollars for social services for a total of 4.75 million of one-time dollars for social services to draw down as we follow the process that we've talked about on the dice.

1083
01:47:05,000 --> 01:47:14,000
So what that does is I think I laid that out. You get a very difficult to follow all of that.

1084
01:47:14,000 --> 01:47:20,000
But it does achieve the two goals that we have, I think, have consensus about.

1085
01:47:20,000 --> 01:47:27,000
And those two goals are A, provide greater stability for the housing voucher program by giving it recurring money.

1086
01:47:27,000 --> 01:47:45,000
And B, to find the, to utilize 4.7, in this case, 4.75 million dollars for social services by changing the invoices and expensing of certain things.

1087
01:47:45,000 --> 01:47:52,000
What that does, by the way, is for example, one of the proposed amendments that you all know I was proposing.

1088
01:47:52,000 --> 01:48:04,000
And I indicated I could either be for the full 4.7 or it could be for the 2.2 roughly for children and family services.

1089
01:48:04,000 --> 01:48:10,000
But instead, what we would do with that is what we would do is we would make that one-time allocation.

1090
01:48:10,000 --> 01:48:36,000
This gives us the money to do that. And so I think staff's good work on this creative work puts us in a posture where that would be the end up being part of the base motion on the budget and not requires to do some of the proposed amendments that we may even have some still shown up today, because of the work has been done since our last since Tuesday.

1091
01:48:37,000 --> 01:48:39,000
That I lay that out okay.

1092
01:48:39,000 --> 01:48:41,000
You should be right here.

1093
01:48:41,000 --> 01:48:47,000
I know, no, no, no, not in job I'm seeking. Yes, Councilman Reels.

1094
01:48:47,000 --> 01:48:55,000
I just a quick clarifying question with this budget stabilization reserve proposal is it still at 17% or has it changed?

1095
01:48:55,000 --> 01:48:59,000
That was the, the, uh, reserves will still be at 17%.

1096
01:48:59,000 --> 01:49:00,000
Okay.

1097
01:49:00,000 --> 01:49:03,000
It's the movement of money to that that helps us with that.

1098
01:49:03,000 --> 01:49:05,000
I figured that was the case. I just.

1099
01:49:05,000 --> 01:49:08,000
I'm glad you asked you. I should, that should be one of the points.

1100
01:49:08,000 --> 01:49:09,000
So.

1101
01:49:09,000 --> 01:49:13,000
All right. Councilman Funtus, your next and then followed by Councilman Reels.

1102
01:49:13,000 --> 01:49:20,000
Thank you. First and foremost, thank you so much to our budget staff for providing this alternative proposal.

1103
01:49:20,000 --> 01:49:23,000
It's right in line with the conversations we had on Tuesdays.

1104
01:49:23,000 --> 01:49:32,000
I really appreciate your hard work and helping us get to a consensus on how to ensure we are restoring the cuts to our social safety net as well as providing stability for

1105
01:49:32,000 --> 01:49:38,000
our local housing vouchers. A couple of questions based on our conversation on Tuesday.

1106
01:49:38,000 --> 01:49:46,000
We had asked if we could put together a total amount of of the proposed reductions to the social services.

1107
01:49:46,000 --> 01:49:50,000
How much of the proposed reductions were related to homelessness.

1108
01:49:50,000 --> 01:49:59,000
In other words, how many of those reductions would be eligible to be financed through the hope fund knowing it's,

1109
01:49:59,000 --> 01:50:03,000
it needs to be related to homelessness related initiatives?

1110
01:50:03,000 --> 01:50:05,000
Give me one second. What I looked at up.

1111
01:50:05,000 --> 01:50:06,000
Okay.

1112
01:50:06,000 --> 01:50:12,000
But and I'd also just like to clarify if I could that all of these one time dollars are unrestricted.

1113
01:50:12,000 --> 01:50:13,000
Okay.

1114
01:50:13,000 --> 01:50:17,000
Whether it's the hope fund or the BSRF they can be used for any purpose.

1115
01:50:17,000 --> 01:50:19,000
Okay. Perfect. That answers my question.

1116
01:50:19,000 --> 01:50:23,000
The other question I have is how.

1117
01:50:23,000 --> 01:50:39,000
I just want to get a flat numerical amount of how much did the city of Austin Fund and social services at the end of FY26 and what amount would we be with the restoration of the 4.7.

1118
01:50:39,000 --> 01:50:57,000
So the FY26 budget for social service grants was 74.2 million.

1119
01:50:57,000 --> 01:51:03,000
Now with the proposed budget, there's some moving around of dollars.

1120
01:51:03,000 --> 01:51:19,000
So as I mentioned earlier, there's about $20 million that has been moved to operating for public health and homestrategy office for our shelters.

1121
01:51:19,000 --> 01:51:35,000
So if you take out that that $20 million and then we moved $3 million of the silvering center over to our budget stabilization reserve fund.

1122
01:51:35,000 --> 01:51:44,000
And so that that gives us to about 51, 51 million total.

1123
01:51:44,000 --> 01:51:56,000
And that amount includes the 2 million of the new investment that was in the permanent support of housing,

1124
01:51:56,000 --> 01:52:07,000
our wraparound services that we just discussed moving around between general fund and housing trust fund.

1125
01:52:07,000 --> 01:52:25,000
So with this staff proposal for the recommended use of the additional revenue, we would the FY27 budget as proposed with this proposed amendment would have social services funded at a $51 million level.

1126
01:52:25,000 --> 01:52:30,000
Is that fair to say?

1127
01:52:30,000 --> 01:52:40,000
Very close to it yes. And the reason I say that is there is some recommendation for small amount of those contracts.

1128
01:52:40,000 --> 01:52:49,000
If you think about the community planning focus group, we send a memo a few minutes ago or a little while ago about some of those contracts,

1129
01:52:49,000 --> 01:52:59,000
but there is a little bit of duplication in addition to the community planning focus area that we would recommend looking at eliminating.

1130
01:52:59,000 --> 01:53:05,000
And so we'll be close to 50 or 51 million with those changes.

1131
01:53:05,000 --> 01:53:16,000
So colleagues just building off of our conversation on Tuesday and perhaps we can continue this conversation as we lay out our amendments and I have seen others two of them related to social services.

1132
01:53:16,000 --> 01:53:28,000
I think over our question that we have is a dias that we need to make clear is what is the level of funding for social services that we're comfortable at.

1133
01:53:28,000 --> 01:53:33,000
Knowing that right now is a $51 million investment from the city that goes towards social services.

1134
01:53:33,000 --> 01:53:43,000
I don't want to be in the same situation next year and so we need to provide direction to our city manager on what is our comfort level on that total amount.

1135
01:53:43,000 --> 01:53:56,000
I don't know if we're going to get to that level or that number during this budget cycle, but I would like for us to kind of lay out an understanding and a timeline of when we come to that direction for the city manager.

1136
01:53:56,000 --> 01:54:10,000
And last question on my end, you mentioned the memo you sent that talks about the $845,000 worth of funding that will be eliminated from the proposed contracts and just want to make sure I'm clear on this.

1137
01:54:10,000 --> 01:54:19,000
Because this staff alternative proposal is a $4.75 million investment back into the social services.

1138
01:54:19,000 --> 01:54:28,000
This proposed elimination of $800,000 that was a little bit above the $5.4 or that were restoring.

1139
01:54:28,000 --> 01:54:30,000
So we wanted to restore.

1140
01:54:30,000 --> 01:54:37,000
So how are these deeper cuts? How is that related to the gap?

1141
01:54:37,000 --> 01:54:44,000
With those reductions that would close the gap, it wouldn't be the 4.7 would be able to fully find the remaining.

1142
01:54:44,000 --> 01:55:00,000
I believe the remaining contracts, I think we would still go through the analysis to fully understand the performance of the remaining contracts and come back to council with the potential recommendations, but the dollars will be available.

1143
01:55:01,000 --> 01:55:08,000
So colleagues, I just want to make sure we're all clear in this memo that has this specific contracts that would be eliminated with this budget proposal.

1144
01:55:08,000 --> 01:55:20,000
The rest of the $4.7 million we're holding that investment for us to have a conversation on funding the categories of social services, not specific to the contracts that were previously listed for reductions.

1145
01:55:20,000 --> 01:55:21,000
Thank you.

1146
01:55:22,000 --> 01:55:29,000
The council member can I clarify something I was doing math in my head and so sometimes that's not good.

1147
01:55:29,000 --> 01:55:41,000
And so the fiscal year 27 actual social service grants amount in the proposed budget is 48.8 million dollars.

1148
01:55:41,000 --> 01:56:03,000
The difference is the 19.4 that is in the city on shelters that's moving into operating the 2.9 that is moving to the sobering center, which gets a full investment of 71.1.

1149
01:56:03,000 --> 01:56:15,000
And the difference in that is the added dollars that we as I mentioned for the sobering center, excuse me, for the permanent supportive housing wrap around services.

1150
01:56:15,000 --> 01:56:22,000
That's where we're that's where we're at in so 48.8 is the amount for fiscal year 27.

1151
01:56:23,000 --> 01:56:30,000
And in the far out of the council.

1152
01:56:30,000 --> 01:56:42,000
What she just said is accurate and what we ought to be looking for for the next year and in the proposal that I have seen that I've laid out.

1153
01:56:42,000 --> 01:56:51,000
One of the things that it says is and if you remember from the message board that we would have a single allocation of the 4.7 which we figured out a way to do that.

1154
01:56:51,000 --> 01:56:59,000
They would do step two of that would be a review of what contracts and what services we want to continue.

1155
01:56:59,000 --> 01:57:10,000
And step three was that we would do a best practices analysis of where we want to be with regard to the social safety net as you described it.

1156
01:57:10,000 --> 01:57:18,000
So that when we come back in 28 we would be in a position to actually deal with that in a more thoughtful way.

1157
01:57:18,000 --> 01:57:28,000
Council member alter also as an IFC that he's handed out a different version of it today, which incorporates some of my proposed changes to it.

1158
01:57:28,000 --> 01:57:40,000
That actually probably is my my IFC is is probably subsumed that that that that step that third step my I see is probably subsumed in his IFC.

1159
01:57:40,000 --> 01:57:44,000
Which would put us into the position of what you're talking about.

1160
01:57:44,000 --> 01:57:48,000
Starting to rub on that but I just want to make sure that that was clear.

1161
01:57:48,000 --> 01:57:50,000
We're all told by the mayor.

1162
01:57:50,000 --> 01:58:02,000
Yeah, I just just want to start with both thinking staff for doing some gymnastics here and working with mayor or you on on this to define that consensus because.

1163
01:58:02,000 --> 01:58:13,000
You know, I think as Council member point as mentioned is very important clearly to all of us to not only make the restorations that we can to the social service programs and make those investments.

1164
01:58:13,000 --> 01:58:19,000
In the services that are needed and also to provide that stability to the housing trust fund I mean to the local housing vouchers which.

1165
01:58:19,000 --> 01:58:22,000
Now according to your slide.

1166
01:58:22,000 --> 01:58:31,000
Starting in fiscal year 20 and beyond we will have fully resolved so that's not going to be something that we have to worry about or try to plug that gap.

1167
01:58:31,000 --> 01:58:40,000
Which I think is just so critical so I really appreciate y'all's work to get to that point I want to just get a clarification on.

1168
01:58:40,000 --> 01:58:44,000
A couple of questions that Councillor Fuentes is asking.

1169
01:58:44,000 --> 01:58:48,000
In the.

1170
01:58:48,000 --> 01:58:56,000
The proposed on you know 5.35 5.4 reduction to social services.

1171
01:58:56,000 --> 01:59:00,000
That number includes.

1172
01:59:00,000 --> 01:59:02,000
The eliminated contracts correct.

1173
01:59:02,000 --> 01:59:06,000
The value of the eliminated contracts.

1174
01:59:06,000 --> 01:59:07,000
Yes.

1175
01:59:07,000 --> 01:59:08,000
Okay.

1176
01:59:08,000 --> 01:59:17,000
And I have it based on your spreadsheet of those eliminated contracts being totaling just over 2 million dollars.

1177
01:59:17,000 --> 01:59:29,000
But there's a separate memo that came out that she was alluding to about 850,000 worth of that 2.1.

1178
01:59:30,000 --> 01:59:32,000
They're not true eliminations.

1179
01:59:32,000 --> 01:59:38,000
They're being folded into other contracts to still provide those services correct.

1180
01:59:38,000 --> 01:59:43,000
Some of them are so the community planning contracts.

1181
01:59:43,000 --> 01:59:51,000
If you all remember through all this conversation the community planning was the priority area that.

1182
01:59:51,000 --> 01:59:54,000
We're saying that the lowest level of priority.

1183
01:59:54,000 --> 01:59:59,000
So those that I believe 250,000 or so will be eliminated.

1184
01:59:59,000 --> 02:00:00,000
Okay.

1185
02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:13,680
If we think about the 850,000, if you're correct to think as a reduction off of the 5.4 to say that there's

1186
02:00:13,680 --> 02:00:25,000
really 4.5 that you had a 5.4, you take the 850,000 of eliminations that are counted in that 5.4.

1187
02:00:25,000 --> 02:00:30,640
But those are just being moved to other contracts that are existing.

1188
02:00:30,640 --> 02:00:39,280
And so there would still be around 4.5 worth of reductions or eliminations in the social service

1189
02:00:39,280 --> 02:00:40,280
bucket.

1190
02:00:40,280 --> 02:00:43,640
Am I getting that right?

1191
02:00:43,640 --> 02:00:48,040
I'm not following you.

1192
02:00:48,040 --> 02:00:49,040
Okay.

1193
02:00:49,040 --> 02:00:51,040
And we can, let me try one more time.

1194
02:00:51,040 --> 02:00:55,080
We'll, during our break, we can try to clarify this.

1195
02:00:55,080 --> 02:00:59,680
We have 5.35 in cuts or reductions.

1196
02:00:59,680 --> 02:01:02,280
So far is a good.

1197
02:01:02,280 --> 02:01:04,560
Okay.

1198
02:01:04,560 --> 02:01:09,600
That number includes the eliminated contracts.

1199
02:01:09,600 --> 02:01:16,240
And within a subset of the eliminated contracts, the chart that we were sent last night, the council

1200
02:01:16,240 --> 02:01:24,040
number of flintas is talking about is $850,000 worth of eliminated contracts.

1201
02:01:24,040 --> 02:01:31,680
But that are really being subsumed into other contracts somewhere else.

1202
02:01:31,680 --> 02:01:33,160
Just the 850, not all the cuts.

1203
02:01:33,160 --> 02:01:39,600
They're 24 contracts being cut, but just a portion of the cuts were outlined in this memo.

1204
02:01:39,600 --> 02:01:45,200
And so what I'm trying to understand is that a reduction off of the 5.35.

1205
02:01:45,200 --> 02:01:53,560
So just to take the 5.35, reduce $850 and say that there are 4.5 million left that are

1206
02:01:53,560 --> 02:01:56,320
either reduced or eliminated.

1207
02:01:56,320 --> 02:01:57,320
Yes.

1208
02:01:57,320 --> 02:02:07,240
But I want to clarify in the 850, 250 of that is not being rolled into other contracts.

1209
02:02:07,240 --> 02:02:09,240
Now that's the community planning piece.

1210
02:02:09,240 --> 02:02:10,880
That's not being rolled into other contracts.

1211
02:02:10,880 --> 02:02:12,960
I think that's where I get lost.

1212
02:02:12,960 --> 02:02:22,440
So then that's where we then we would, if you incorporate that, that's 4.7 magically

1213
02:02:22,440 --> 02:02:28,720
of reductions that are not unaccounted for essentially outside of that community planning.

1214
02:02:28,720 --> 02:02:29,720
Correct.

1215
02:02:29,720 --> 02:02:35,200
So through this it would be a fold and restoration of pretty much everything if we did that

1216
02:02:35,200 --> 02:02:36,200
blanket.

1217
02:02:36,200 --> 02:02:41,600
But as the mayor has put forward and I think the right approach not to just say we're going

1218
02:02:41,600 --> 02:02:45,440
to fund everything like we've always funded everything we're going to actually look at

1219
02:02:45,440 --> 02:02:51,000
the service delivery and making sure that service is being delivered for the dollars being spent

1220
02:02:51,000 --> 02:02:54,240
and make any kind of adjustments within that pool.

1221
02:02:54,240 --> 02:03:01,560
But we do have the funds available to provide the level of services comprehensively as what

1222
02:03:01,560 --> 02:03:02,960
was being reduced.

1223
02:03:02,960 --> 02:03:03,960
Correct.

1224
02:03:03,960 --> 02:03:04,960
Okay.

1225
02:03:04,960 --> 02:03:10,280
I just want to, sorry, do a little math out loud, but I want to make sure I understood.

1226
02:03:10,280 --> 02:03:11,280
Thank you very much.

1227
02:03:11,320 --> 02:03:12,280
Thank you.

1228
02:03:12,280 --> 02:03:14,520
Councillor Mayer, mayer, mayer, mayer, mayer, mayer.

1229
02:03:14,520 --> 02:03:25,200
I just wanted to highlight a comment that Councillor Mayer just made where what level of

1230
02:03:25,200 --> 02:03:29,840
social service funding can we afford long term.

1231
02:03:29,840 --> 02:03:36,600
And to me that's just the critical question that we have.

1232
02:03:36,600 --> 02:03:40,960
This process is not good for anybody.

1233
02:03:40,960 --> 02:03:47,240
In the sense that if we just save everything this year, we're really just setting ourselves up

1234
02:03:47,240 --> 02:03:54,600
and setting our nonprofit organizations up for an even more difficult situation next year.

1235
02:03:54,600 --> 02:03:57,600
Or we might be able to do that for two years.

1236
02:03:57,600 --> 02:04:06,080
But ultimately we're going to reach a level where we would have to have very serious and deep

1237
02:04:06,080 --> 02:04:07,080
cuts.

1238
02:04:07,080 --> 02:04:17,240
And I would much rather do that in a gradual and steady way to get to a sustainable level

1239
02:04:17,240 --> 02:04:25,120
of social service funding than to just kind of push it off and push it off until we hit

1240
02:04:25,120 --> 02:04:29,520
that cliff where we just have to have very deep cuts.

1241
02:04:29,520 --> 02:04:34,880
And I don't think any have been on nonprofit boards and worked with a lot of nonprofits.

1242
02:04:35,200 --> 02:04:37,040
It's not good for them either.

1243
02:04:37,040 --> 02:04:43,920
We need to, they need predictability, they need certainty, they need to be able to plan people

1244
02:04:43,920 --> 02:04:48,120
don't hire because they're not sure about the funding, people don't start programs because

1245
02:04:48,120 --> 02:04:50,680
they're not sure about the funding.

1246
02:04:50,680 --> 02:04:55,960
It's not good for anyone to have this kind of level of uncertainty moving toward the future.

1247
02:04:55,960 --> 02:04:58,960
So I just think that's the absolute critical question.

1248
02:04:59,040 --> 02:05:06,600
What level of social service funding can we afford and I want it to be as high as we can possibly

1249
02:05:06,600 --> 02:05:12,720
make it given the funding limitations that we have.

1250
02:05:12,720 --> 02:05:19,280
And I know I want to also kind of mention the elephant in the room that has kind of gone unmentioned,

1251
02:05:19,280 --> 02:05:28,640
which is the tax rate election that we had this year ago almost at this point and I supported

1252
02:05:28,720 --> 02:05:30,160
that I campaigned.

1253
02:05:30,160 --> 02:05:39,200
Hard for it, we would be having a very different conversation if the TRE had passed, unfortunately

1254
02:05:39,200 --> 02:05:43,800
it did not pass and we are having to deal with that reality.

1255
02:05:43,800 --> 02:05:51,400
So I know folks are here and they're saying we should fund this and we should fund that and I agree.

1256
02:05:51,400 --> 02:06:00,800
But we are very limited in what we can fund in the funds that we have available.

1257
02:06:00,800 --> 02:06:05,320
And that's just the reality that we're facing.

1258
02:06:05,320 --> 02:06:13,600
Earlier I asked staff, because traditionally before the three to half percent cap, we would take an average

1259
02:06:13,600 --> 02:06:20,520
of about 6% of additional property tax revenues per year and I asked staff what's the difference

1260
02:06:20,520 --> 02:06:25,320
if we would have gotten that, you know, been able to take 6% instead of the three and half percent

1261
02:06:25,320 --> 02:06:31,360
cap that was put on us by the state legislature, you know, how many dollars is that and they responded

1262
02:06:31,360 --> 02:06:34,200
that for this year would have been about 16 million dollars.

1263
02:06:34,200 --> 02:06:38,840
Just to give people the sense of what we're talking about and kind of the new financial reality

1264
02:06:38,840 --> 02:06:43,960
that the city is facing, that's kind of gone unmentioned through this entire debate and I just

1265
02:06:43,960 --> 02:06:51,320
wanted to raise that, you know, where we're working within the system that the state of Texas

1266
02:06:51,320 --> 02:06:58,560
has laid out, that is not the system that I would want to work within that's not a system that I think

1267
02:06:58,560 --> 02:07:07,880
is a good system, but it is a system that governs what we can and can't do and we have to adjust

1268
02:07:07,880 --> 02:07:12,040
to that, you know, 2020 reality.

1269
02:07:12,040 --> 02:07:16,720
So anyway, I appreciate the thoughts and comments, come to my point, I just wanted to highlight

1270
02:07:16,720 --> 02:07:17,720
those issues.

1271
02:07:17,720 --> 02:07:18,720
Mayor.

1272
02:07:18,720 --> 02:07:19,720
Yes.

1273
02:07:19,720 --> 02:07:25,160
I need to make a point of clarification and I do apologize.

1274
02:07:25,160 --> 02:07:32,280
The Social Service Investment at Proposed Budget, it was 48.8 million.

1275
02:07:32,280 --> 02:07:39,440
We added 4.7 back with this staff recommendation, which makes the total investment 53.5 million.

1276
02:07:39,440 --> 02:07:51,960
Well, then let me ask, how does that, where do you put the 19.4 in shelters and the 2.9

1277
02:07:51,960 --> 02:07:56,800
in the sobering center that includes those two amounts?

1278
02:07:56,800 --> 02:08:04,480
That if we're going to make comparison, if we're going to make comparisons last year and this year,

1279
02:08:04,480 --> 02:08:12,880
which is what Councilor Refuentes was asking about last year was 74.2 and this year you're

1280
02:08:12,880 --> 02:08:23,280
saying it's 48.8 plus 4.7, then do you need to add in 2.9 and 19.4 to compare apples to apples?

1281
02:08:23,280 --> 02:08:30,480
The compare apples to apples that would make it 75.8 and the reason for that is the investment

1282
02:08:30,480 --> 02:08:38,320
in the permanent support of housing increase primarily of the $2 million.

1283
02:08:38,320 --> 02:08:47,680
Would you now explain so that we can say it out loud again, why is the 2.9 for sobering center

1284
02:08:47,680 --> 02:08:52,680
in the 19.4 not counted in our apples to apples compare?

1285
02:08:52,680 --> 02:08:53,680
Sure.

1286
02:08:53,680 --> 02:09:00,080
The sobering center, which has, I think in fiscal year 26, was included in our Social Service

1287
02:09:00,080 --> 02:09:08,400
contracts, was moved to our one-time funding for fiscal year 27 as we continue to work with our

1288
02:09:08,400 --> 02:09:14,080
partners to identify long-term funding for the sobering center.

1289
02:09:14,080 --> 02:09:21,680
The 19.4 that is the city's shelter, so that's our emergency and domestic violence shelters,

1290
02:09:21,680 --> 02:09:28,160
that amount has been moved over to the operating budgets of our Homeless Strategy and Operations

1291
02:09:28,160 --> 02:09:34,320
Office, as well as our Austin Public Health Department, and that is because those dollars are

1292
02:09:34,320 --> 02:09:40,240
more contracting nature than what we are transitioning, so Social Service grants too.

1293
02:09:45,520 --> 02:09:51,840
Appropos of what both Councillor Fuentes and the member of Tinnon said, I want to reiterate that

1294
02:09:52,800 --> 02:09:59,840
we have my IFC, and we have Councilor Braltor, IFC, which I think is the broader, the broader,

1295
02:09:59,840 --> 02:10:06,560
more detailed IFC, and mine is probably subsumed in that, that what it will do is precisely what

1296
02:10:06,560 --> 02:10:12,240
Councilor Fuentes and the member of Tinnon are highlighting, which is it will put us on a track

1297
02:10:12,240 --> 02:10:19,200
and a process to look at the Social Safety net in terms of what is needed in our community,

1298
02:10:19,200 --> 02:10:28,080
best practices for providing that, what can be afforded, and it should allow our social service

1299
02:10:28,080 --> 02:10:40,640
providers or nonprofits time to prepare as we take on this annual year long effort so that we are

1300
02:10:40,640 --> 02:10:47,600
not back in the same place next cycle, where we feel like people were caught by surprise, that's sort

1301
02:10:48,480 --> 02:10:55,680
of thing, it's also very important that we emphasize again that what is happening with this

1302
02:10:55,680 --> 02:11:05,520
4.75 million is it is a single allocation of 4.75 million, but it is not a blanket restoration,

1303
02:11:05,520 --> 02:11:13,920
it is also not a blanket cut, it is the staff is going to look at the individual contracts as we go

1304
02:11:13,920 --> 02:11:21,680
for as that money is set aside, Councillor Raleigh. Thank you, I want to start by thinking,

1305
02:11:22,240 --> 02:11:27,520
all of the non-profits service providers, the service recipients, the community members who are

1306
02:11:27,520 --> 02:11:34,080
concerned who have shown up to so many community meetings from Austin Public Health, Work Sessions,

1307
02:11:34,080 --> 02:11:39,840
this council meeting, other council meetings, and our offices for individual questions and answer to

1308
02:11:39,840 --> 02:11:47,760
make sure that we as individual offices did understand more about where you work in the city and

1309
02:11:47,760 --> 02:11:52,640
which part of the community is serving, what your history is and what the data is behind you, so that we

1310
02:11:54,160 --> 02:12:02,960
and I, I think you on behalf of me, could have a more informed discussion about how to approach this,

1311
02:12:02,960 --> 02:12:07,360
and thank you to my more experienced colleagues who have brought forth structure that will absolutely

1312
02:12:07,360 --> 02:12:12,960
help with that. I will not repeat any of the many comments I agreed with, I will move to my question.

1313
02:12:14,480 --> 02:12:21,840
So, and I think this is a question for the city manager, because and I don't remember how much of,

1314
02:12:21,840 --> 02:12:26,560
but I'm going to include in it, you were in the room versus briefly out of the room, I don't know,

1315
02:12:26,560 --> 02:12:32,000
but I suspect it will be a question for you by the time I'm done. So, when I have asked in the past and

1316
02:12:32,000 --> 02:12:39,360
most recently, I think was last week about whether geographic analysis had been completed,

1317
02:12:39,360 --> 02:12:42,880
as you looked at social service contracts, I think it was two weeks ago, actually,

1318
02:12:44,720 --> 02:12:53,440
and the answer was no. And as I recall, and I asked that question in regards to two different ways that

1319
02:12:53,440 --> 02:13:00,880
geographic analysis is important. One, if we were cutting funding in a cross of variety of contracts that

1320
02:13:00,880 --> 02:13:08,320
caused contraction to disproportionately impact a certain area, and so we would definitely see

1321
02:13:08,320 --> 02:13:14,480
substantial negative impacts by removing so many contracts of different types from a single area,

1322
02:13:15,600 --> 02:13:22,080
and that might be reason to slow down the reductions of that area. And then the other, the flip side of that,

1323
02:13:22,080 --> 02:13:29,040
which I just speak about often, as it relates to many departments, is in order to identify parts of the

1324
02:13:29,040 --> 02:13:36,080
city that the social contract service contracts we have simply aren't reaching, aren't reaching at a

1325
02:13:36,080 --> 02:13:42,160
level that's feasible for the type of population that's out there and recognizing demographic shifts.

1326
02:13:44,480 --> 02:13:50,080
So, I've asked a version of that question to many departments in my time here, and the most recent one

1327
02:13:50,080 --> 02:13:56,080
was of financial services as it relates to social services contracts, and the answer was no. And so,

1328
02:13:56,160 --> 02:14:01,440
the question that I have for the city manager, and it's going to be a nice little paragraph still, okay,

1329
02:14:02,640 --> 02:14:11,520
is are we out of place as a city where as you are doing this work that is being charged by my colleagues,

1330
02:14:11,520 --> 02:14:18,960
and as I will vote for it, are you out of place with the city where you can ensure that appropriate and

1331
02:14:18,960 --> 02:14:25,760
effective geographic analysis of our services in their reach is part of the analysis.

1332
02:14:26,480 --> 02:14:32,400
The paragraph that I'm going to add on is, we are well into a restructuring of IT,

1333
02:14:33,120 --> 02:14:40,560
we're well into a restructuring of communications. We have some departments that have done

1334
02:14:40,560 --> 02:14:46,640
amazing work in this area, build amazing tools, I will complement transportation and public works,

1335
02:14:46,640 --> 02:14:56,240
use of GIS, and we know that the competencies that are within our city, in these individual departments,

1336
02:14:56,240 --> 02:14:57,120
this is a moment, an opportunity to bring

1337
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:12,000
To before a solution that is coming out of these centralization efforts, if it's possible to do it, I don't know if we're at that point and I would love to hear from you.

1338
02:15:12,000 --> 02:15:18,000
I can give you a TLDR if that's helpful.

1339
02:15:18,000 --> 02:15:26,000
Oh, come on. I'm old, everyone knows about that now, right?

1340
02:15:26,000 --> 02:15:28,000
I remember sharing your friends.

1341
02:15:28,000 --> 02:15:35,000
Councilwoman, no thank you for the question, but I'll answer it in the best way possible.

1342
02:15:35,000 --> 02:15:43,000
I think one, we do have staff. We do have quite a bit of information around whether demographic and or needs.

1343
02:15:43,000 --> 02:15:50,000
And I think we're beginning to look at that. I think more intently, particularly as we're trying to focus more on results.

1344
02:15:50,000 --> 02:16:07,000
I think part of the challenge with the current compilation, I think, of the 200 plus different types of nonprofit and social service contracts that we have.

1345
02:16:07,000 --> 02:16:18,000
This is that I think they are issue specific. And in some cases, depending on the organization, they may serve in certain areas, and obviously their mission.

1346
02:16:18,000 --> 02:16:25,000
And what they do, and the boundaries in the areas they serve may be more specific, I think.

1347
02:16:25,000 --> 02:16:34,000
I would say as it relates to our, we had a point where we can look at geographical equity and impacts down to a level to get at the results we want.

1348
02:16:34,000 --> 02:16:51,000
I think, at least as I see the process that I believe Council wants us to undertake, beyond just the performance issues of existing contractors, but really lay out from the amount to the service area and category.

1349
02:16:51,000 --> 02:16:57,000
And then ultimately the overall desire community impact we want to have.

1350
02:16:57,000 --> 02:17:02,000
I do believe we can factor in as it relates to our analysis and our approach going forward.

1351
02:17:02,000 --> 02:17:13,000
That should be one of the variables as it relates to what we're going to do, how much we're going to do, and then how do we ensure through responses that we may get.

1352
02:17:13,000 --> 02:17:23,000
If, in fact, we do a total reset that they can be responsive to how that is addressed based on information we may provide to them demonstrating where we believe the need is.

1353
02:17:23,000 --> 02:17:25,000
So I do believe that's something we can accomplish.

1354
02:17:25,000 --> 02:17:36,000
If, in fact, we go forward with the reset as I think Council has desired us to do and working with the collective team and resources we have putting together what that looks like.

1355
02:17:36,000 --> 02:17:45,000
Sharing that with the city council as well as sharing it with the individuals who would ultimately want to come and continue service and or expand their services to meet the needs of the community.

1356
02:17:45,000 --> 02:17:50,000
So it's something we could probably ensure is built into the new approach.

1357
02:17:51,000 --> 02:17:53,000
Thank you appreciate that answer.

1358
02:17:53,000 --> 02:18:03,000
And of course, what that looks like could be arranged from as rudimentary as a code analysis to a more sophisticated use of GIS and so I'm glad to know that that's possible.

1359
02:18:03,000 --> 02:18:07,000
I hope there's possible no matter what happens with centralization because I think it should be.

1360
02:18:07,000 --> 02:18:18,000
But I know that we can definitely benefit from the efforts that you've undertaken to get a more useful and accessible and sophisticated approach to this.

1361
02:18:18,000 --> 02:18:25,000
I do want to call out the very strong work that not just has been done by TPW, but our equity department.

1362
02:18:25,000 --> 02:18:29,000
As they put together their levers of economic mobility.

1363
02:18:29,000 --> 02:18:38,000
It's the first thing that I've seen come out in a GIS fashion that captures some of the demographic shifts that I've talked about frequently from the dias in the last five years.

1364
02:18:38,000 --> 02:18:47,000
And I will also note the group that works with the demographer who certainly advocates very effectively for building this type of data up out of census tracks.

1365
02:18:47,000 --> 02:18:50,000
Because political boundaries are always shifting.

1366
02:18:50,000 --> 02:18:55,000
I would love to be kept in the loop as as progress is made unless over the course of the next year.

1367
02:18:55,000 --> 02:19:02,000
Thank you very much for your joint answers and how they have played out.

1368
02:19:02,000 --> 02:19:09,000
I too look forward to be able to provide as a city this stability that nonprofits need in order to effectively.

1369
02:19:09,000 --> 02:19:14,000
Even to effectively seek private philanthropy to complement city funding.

1370
02:19:14,000 --> 02:19:18,000
Some really really grateful for where we have landed on this.

1371
02:19:18,000 --> 02:19:20,000
And I thank you for your time.

1372
02:19:20,000 --> 02:19:21,000
Thank you, Councillor member.

1373
02:19:21,000 --> 02:19:23,000
All right, members.

1374
02:19:23,000 --> 02:19:35,000
What I would suggest we do is at this point we take a 30 minute recess and actually 32 minute recess and we come back at 1250.

1375
02:19:35,000 --> 02:19:51,000
Unless there's objection we will be the city council of Austin Texas will be on recess until 1250 PM it is 1218 we're in recess.

1376
02:19:51,000 --> 02:19:58,000
Good afternoon it is 1251 and I will call it also city council back to order after a brief recess.

1377
02:19:58,000 --> 02:19:59,000
Thanks everybody.

1378
02:19:59,000 --> 02:20:16,000
What we're going to do now is we're going to go to a practice that we've started on an annual basis where we walk through amendments and IFCs just to get them out there so that everybody gets to see them.

1379
02:20:16,000 --> 02:20:23,000
I appreciate how council does this and this may not take a long time but we have three other agenda items.

1380
02:20:23,000 --> 02:20:35,000
But we'll start and so we have a packet and councilman pointed out that we have the packet so all we're going to do is we're also going to put up on the screen.

1381
02:20:35,000 --> 02:20:45,000
The items and I will just call and give the floor to the council member whose items are up and we'll just rotate that way.

1382
02:20:45,000 --> 02:20:47,000
And Councillor Fuentes I think you're first up.

1383
02:20:47,000 --> 02:20:49,000
I think you have two proposed motions.

1384
02:20:49,000 --> 02:20:53,000
Yes that's right colleagues amendment number one it was a previously posted amendment.

1385
02:20:53,000 --> 02:20:59,000
I was joined by my co-sponsors council members Harper Madison Seagull Ellis and cadre in seeking to restore.

1386
02:20:59,000 --> 02:21:05,000
The funding for social services at a 4.7 million as we were presented today with staff's alternative proposal.

1387
02:21:05,000 --> 02:21:09,000
Which I'm supportive I will be seeking to withdraw this amendment.

1388
02:21:09,000 --> 02:21:11,000
Great thank you very much.

1389
02:21:11,000 --> 02:21:15,000
And by the way and also thank you for keeping a focus on all this.

1390
02:21:15,000 --> 02:21:19,000
I think we have come up with something that would now be part of the base budget.

1391
02:21:19,000 --> 02:21:23,000
But I think I speak for everybody and thanking you for keeping focus.

1392
02:21:23,000 --> 02:21:25,000
Thank you.

1393
02:21:25,000 --> 02:21:33,000
Moving on to amendment number two knowing that while we have restored 4.7 million of our social safety net there's still a gap.

1394
02:21:33,000 --> 02:21:39,000
So looking to identify where we can save funds to add to our social services.

1395
02:21:39,000 --> 02:21:45,000
This amendment seeks to do a 10% cut to our consultant spending in the general fund.

1396
02:21:45,000 --> 02:21:53,000
Which would result in 114,000 dollar savings that we would that would recommend us applying to our social safety net.

1397
02:21:53,000 --> 02:21:59,000
Again this is done knowing that last year we cut and reallocated 10% within social services.

1398
02:21:59,000 --> 02:22:03,000
I think we should do the same to consulting spending within the general fund.

1399
02:22:03,000 --> 02:22:06,000
Great thank you anybody have questions or comments.

1400
02:22:07,000 --> 02:22:16,000
So this gets me back to the question that we had before based on the eliminations in the 4.7.

1401
02:22:16,000 --> 02:22:24,000
Do we not have the full amount of funding to restore the proposed cuts?

1402
02:22:24,000 --> 02:22:26,000
We do yes.

1403
02:22:26,000 --> 02:22:32,000
So if we did this which I'm not necessarily against I want to understand the impact.

1404
02:22:32,000 --> 02:22:40,000
We would just be layering on this money to do as we do the reviews to find areas maybe where we think we need further investment.

1405
02:22:40,000 --> 02:22:43,000
And this would be dollars for that investment.

1406
02:22:43,000 --> 02:22:44,000
Yes.

1407
02:22:44,000 --> 02:22:45,000
Very good.

1408
02:22:45,000 --> 02:22:48,000
I appreciate it and I'm not opposed to that.

1409
02:22:48,000 --> 02:22:50,000
I just want to make sure I understand the impact.

1410
02:22:50,000 --> 02:22:51,000
Thank you.

1411
02:22:51,000 --> 02:22:53,000
Further questions or comments?

1412
02:22:53,000 --> 02:22:54,000
Very good.

1413
02:22:54,000 --> 02:22:58,000
We'll now go to the Merpro 10 Vala followed by Council Member Altru.

1414
02:22:58,000 --> 02:22:59,000
Thank you Mayor.

1415
02:23:00,000 --> 02:23:17,000
I have just one amendment and this would be an amendment adding 32 million dollars to the transportation public works capital budget using a certificates of obligation to support our active transportation.

1416
02:23:17,000 --> 02:23:23,000
Investments, including sidewalk urban trails, bikeways, safe route schools, transit and accidents.

1417
02:23:23,000 --> 02:23:26,000
We made the decision the other day.

1418
02:23:26,000 --> 02:23:35,000
And we're finalizing it today to move forward with the bomb package that we identified the $260 million for parks and the $35 million for libraries.

1419
02:23:35,000 --> 02:23:45,000
But given that those active transportation programs are some of them in particular sidewalks in particular are running out of money.

1420
02:23:45,000 --> 02:23:53,000
I want to make sure that the cruise and that the work that we have started and have been doing continues.

1421
02:23:53,000 --> 02:24:03,000
So I will be moving to add that $32 million funding to the transportation public works active transportation capital budget.

1422
02:24:03,000 --> 02:24:04,000
Thank you.

1423
02:24:04,000 --> 02:24:07,000
Thank you.

1424
02:24:07,000 --> 02:24:08,000
This question is for staff.

1425
02:24:08,000 --> 02:24:16,000
I'm curious with this proposed allocation to those budget areas as part of our CIP planning process.

1426
02:24:16,000 --> 02:24:20,000
How does this work with the memo that was distributed to Council?

1427
02:24:20,000 --> 02:24:33,000
Earlier this month would we take of that $32 million allocation would we prioritize the projects in the staff memo or is that up to Council direction?

1428
02:24:33,000 --> 02:24:38,000
I would say just from one part of the conversations we've had.

1429
02:24:38,000 --> 02:24:49,000
They have their kind of matrix and kind of priority list and we're giving them a lot of flexibility in this to use the money kind of in the areas that need the money.

1430
02:24:49,000 --> 02:24:56,000
Within their prioritization matrix, I'll let Director Mendelssoff.

1431
02:24:56,000 --> 02:24:58,000
Thank you for the question, Councillor.

1432
02:24:58,000 --> 02:25:01,000
Richard Mendosa, Director, Transportation and Public Works.

1433
02:25:01,000 --> 02:25:10,000
Yes, we have drafted a potential two year capital project list with this $32 million across these active mobility projects.

1434
02:25:10,000 --> 02:25:15,000
We would work closely with all Council member districts on what the next one year project list.

1435
02:25:15,000 --> 02:25:25,000
It would look like to be a combination of continued design to move high priority projects forward and as well as finishing construction on some other projects.

1436
02:25:25,000 --> 02:25:34,000
Yeah, so I think perhaps we can have a follow up meeting just so I could better understand because the memo spoke to a $77 million spending plan over two years.

1437
02:25:34,000 --> 02:25:36,000
And so how would this line up?

1438
02:25:36,000 --> 02:25:38,000
This is a $35 million allocation.

1439
02:25:38,000 --> 02:25:40,000
How would those proposed projects change?

1440
02:25:40,000 --> 02:25:47,000
Yeah, we would work on that $32 million package as a one year program with each Council district.

1441
02:25:47,000 --> 02:25:50,000
But it would be a subset of that prior project list.

1442
02:25:50,000 --> 02:25:55,000
So you would start with those projects identified in the memo as a baseline for those funds.

1443
02:25:55,000 --> 02:25:56,000
Okay. Thank you.

1444
02:25:56,000 --> 02:25:57,000
Councillor Ellis.

1445
02:25:57,000 --> 02:26:02,000
Thank you, Mayor. I'm fully supportive of this. Thank you for bringing it.

1446
02:26:02,000 --> 02:26:09,000
I will add a little context for folks following along when we did the $460 million active mobility bond in 2020.

1447
02:26:09,000 --> 02:26:19,000
We allocated those buckets specifically to the program areas and staff has had those matrixes matrices for a number of years.

1448
02:26:19,000 --> 02:26:27,000
And so that's I think what lends itself to the success of those programs is you know keeping the teams moving that are already doing such good work in all parts of town.

1449
02:26:27,000 --> 02:26:32,000
So I'm just adding that context for other folks.

1450
02:26:32,000 --> 02:26:33,000
Thank you.

1451
02:26:33,000 --> 02:26:41,000
And I very much appreciate that context, especially I mean I know we're mobility and we talk about this all the time.

1452
02:26:41,000 --> 02:26:44,000
You're the chair of mobility.

1453
02:26:44,000 --> 02:26:48,000
And it is important to kind of continue to keep that work going.

1454
02:26:48,000 --> 02:26:53,000
And just to the kind of I know we had talked about potentially a two year plan.

1455
02:26:53,000 --> 02:27:00,000
I would again deal with 27 when I'm sorry, 28 when 28 is here.

1456
02:27:00,000 --> 02:27:10,000
But my, you know, future intention would be to continue funding these programs with CEOs until you know again.

1457
02:27:10,000 --> 02:27:17,000
This council, the future council decides on a transportation bond to give that kind of six year timeline.

1458
02:27:17,000 --> 02:27:23,000
But I don't want to halt programs kind of you know for a year.

1459
02:27:23,000 --> 02:27:27,000
I feel like we will really you know lose momentum and lose efficiency.

1460
02:27:27,000 --> 02:27:38,000
You know we've got these crews out there working and I think we need to keep them you know out in the field working adding the sidewalks and bike lanes and trails that so many folks in our community enjoy.

1461
02:27:38,000 --> 02:27:55,000
And Mayor, if I may have it's not quite ready but we just wanted to mention it we do have a potential budget amendment for the animal services which is a $3 million that in capital money for animal services improvements.

1462
02:27:55,000 --> 02:27:59,000
It's we're still finalizing it, but I will get it out as CEO.

1463
02:27:59,000 --> 02:28:02,000
Yes, that would be the plan.

1464
02:28:02,000 --> 02:28:09,000
I know that that was also a potential a bond item, but that that's a very small item for a bond.

1465
02:28:09,000 --> 02:28:20,000
But in speaking with animal services and city management, it's important for I think our overall management of the animal shelter.

1466
02:28:20,000 --> 02:28:21,000
Thank you.

1467
02:28:21,000 --> 02:28:25,000
Madam, I pretend can someone remind you of a question.

1468
02:28:25,000 --> 02:28:27,000
Am I able to take a comment?

1469
02:28:27,000 --> 02:28:28,000
Sure.

1470
02:28:28,000 --> 02:28:29,000
Okay.

1471
02:28:29,000 --> 02:28:34,000
I just want to thank Councilman Rivera for his detailed and consistent work on this issue and Director Mendoza for your work.

1472
02:28:34,000 --> 02:28:36,000
I'm figuring this out.

1473
02:28:36,000 --> 02:28:48,000
And with the long timeline that first of all, I'll look at your brief, but first of all we absolutely need red funding for these departments and it is a critical need and I can't agree more.

1474
02:28:48,000 --> 02:28:53,000
And second of all, we also need planning because we are focusing on shovel-ready projects.

1475
02:28:53,000 --> 02:28:58,000
We also need some planning and design on these other urgent projects that haven't had planning and design yet.

1476
02:28:58,000 --> 02:29:03,000
So I thank you both for figuring out how to make a plan on this area.

1477
02:29:03,000 --> 02:29:04,000
Thank you.

1478
02:29:04,000 --> 02:29:05,000
Thank you, Council member.

1479
02:29:05,000 --> 02:29:08,000
Council member, all to follow by Council member Wang.

1480
02:29:08,000 --> 02:29:09,000
Thank you very much.

1481
02:29:09,000 --> 02:29:13,000
My first motion is Council member Wang.

1482
02:29:13,000 --> 02:29:19,000
This is a $150,000 reduction out of the economy budget.

1483
02:29:19,000 --> 02:29:21,000
This comes from their service privatization list.

1484
02:29:21,000 --> 02:29:29,000
They had a $324,000 option as it were related to reducing temporary staffing.

1485
02:29:29,000 --> 02:29:36,000
We talked with them about what kind of savings could we have with still minimizing impact to the community.

1486
02:29:36,000 --> 02:29:48,000
And that's what we landed on this $150,000 number to let's get in trying to save some money to have available for some of the discussion we're having here today.

1487
02:29:48,000 --> 02:29:50,000
Can I ask a question about that?

1488
02:29:50,000 --> 02:29:58,000
So while this reads as a reduction of 150,000 and ongoing funds, it's really adding back.

1489
02:29:58,000 --> 02:29:59,000
No, no, no.

1490
02:29:59,000 --> 02:30:00,000
This is a reduction.

1491
02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:05,000
So on their service presentation list, this was not included in the budget.

1492
02:30:05,000 --> 02:30:07,000
So was a written.

1493
02:30:07,000 --> 02:30:13,000
But you say it's a smaller reduction allowing for, so that the reduction in the budget is 324,000.

1494
02:30:13,000 --> 02:30:18,000
No, there's no reduction in the budget. They proposed, as one of their service

1495
02:30:18,000 --> 02:30:22,000
organizations, a potential reduction of 324.

1496
02:30:22,000 --> 02:30:29,000
We decided not to go all the way to the 324, and we're proposing a reduction of 150.

1497
02:30:29,000 --> 02:30:32,000
Okay, major.

1498
02:30:32,000 --> 02:30:36,000
Madam, you can finish, I guess.

1499
02:30:36,000 --> 02:30:42,000
It was your question, Mayor. Okay, if you remove 150,000, where is it going?

1500
02:30:42,000 --> 02:30:51,000
No, I'm reading a smaller reduction, and I was trying to be clear if this budget already

1501
02:30:51,000 --> 02:30:58,000
have a 324, and I'm being told no, which I feel comfortable with that answer.

1502
02:30:58,000 --> 02:31:01,000
Okay, well, let me clarify, at least a couple things.

1503
02:31:01,000 --> 02:31:05,000
So, or ask the question, I think council member.

1504
02:31:05,000 --> 02:31:11,000
If I were to do this, first one, are you planning to reallocate it somewhere else?

1505
02:31:11,000 --> 02:31:15,000
That's one thing. Thank you. The second.

1506
02:31:15,000 --> 02:31:17,000
I would just say, it's bringing money.

1507
02:31:17,000 --> 02:31:22,000
I'm sure for the benefit of all of my directors in the room.

1508
02:31:22,000 --> 02:31:30,000
As we go through our budget process, and we challenge them to identify potential reductions,

1509
02:31:30,000 --> 02:31:33,000
reallocations, or efficiencies.

1510
02:31:33,000 --> 02:31:38,000
They go through that process, and oftentimes, their first statement when they sit down,

1511
02:31:38,000 --> 02:31:45,000
and even the last is that while we're sharing these, in many cases, they do not recommend them,

1512
02:31:45,000 --> 02:31:50,000
because they believe in many cases that it is a service impact.

1513
02:31:50,000 --> 02:31:54,000
Now, there are some that are not that, and they identify those right off about,

1514
02:31:54,000 --> 02:31:57,000
I actually asked them to do that in priority order.

1515
02:31:57,000 --> 02:32:05,000
And so, as it relates to this particular reduction, I would just say, the reason that it was not included in the budget

1516
02:32:05,000 --> 02:32:11,000
was because of the service level impacts that they identified would actually occur,

1517
02:32:11,000 --> 02:32:16,000
and that would be reduced staffing and support for key special events,

1518
02:32:16,000 --> 02:32:22,000
that while they've got regular and permanent staff that staff their centers,

1519
02:32:22,000 --> 02:32:29,000
when they have larger and more out in the community kind of activities,

1520
02:32:29,000 --> 02:32:33,000
and that then they may have to reduce their support for that.

1521
02:32:33,000 --> 02:32:38,000
So, I would just say it wasn't taken, and many of them weren't taken quite honestly,

1522
02:32:38,000 --> 02:32:46,000
because I thought, at least at this perspective, that the council might not support the service level reduction in many cases.

1523
02:32:46,000 --> 02:32:53,000
And so, this is one of those, but I just want to clarify where it might be going, should we take it, and so that was it.

1524
02:32:53,000 --> 02:32:59,000
So, I just want to say that for the benefit, as we start to look and we provide those sheets.

1525
02:32:59,000 --> 02:33:06,000
I know my directors, I don't want them in the future, to not submit worthy things to me,

1526
02:33:06,000 --> 02:33:14,000
because of the fact that they believe there may be taken without the level of understanding or discretion,

1527
02:33:14,000 --> 02:33:19,000
that I may actually go through with them and sitting at a table for an hour.

1528
02:33:19,000 --> 02:33:24,000
So, I just want to share that, at least on their benefits, so I at least keep my credibility with the directors.

1529
02:33:24,000 --> 02:33:30,000
If I may just, a clarification, and that's why we worked with the department to understand,

1530
02:33:30,000 --> 02:33:36,000
would there be any kind of reduction in hours or anything like that, that is not going to happen as a result of this.

1531
02:33:36,000 --> 02:33:43,000
And, you know, the service prioritization in its name, right, is prioritization.

1532
02:33:43,000 --> 02:33:50,000
So, it's an opportunity for us to decide, is this the highest priority, or could those dollars be spent elsewhere?

1533
02:33:50,000 --> 02:33:56,000
I will have an amendment coming later that does have some dollars attached to it.

1534
02:33:56,000 --> 02:34:00,000
I'm not tying these two together saying that this is to fund that.

1535
02:34:00,000 --> 02:34:07,000
I'm trying to, you know, let us have that prioritization conversation, but, you know, bringing some money to the table,

1536
02:34:07,000 --> 02:34:13,000
and potentially taking some money off the table based on the totality of these amendments.

1537
02:34:13,000 --> 02:34:23,000
But, you know, I have been very frustrated to be honest in the service prioritizations to, you know, your, your comment when we go talk to departments.

1538
02:34:23,000 --> 02:34:28,000
A majority of them don't even feel like they're real, right?

1539
02:34:28,000 --> 02:34:38,000
We, we say, what is this, and they say, well, actually, that's a savings three years from now, or that's not actually something we can do, because we're doing something else.

1540
02:34:38,000 --> 02:34:44,000
And, we have to have the ability to make prioritization decisions.

1541
02:34:44,000 --> 02:34:52,000
I know that's, you, you make the first pass at that, but then ultimately, in a policy making setting, deciding what is our highest priority.

1542
02:34:52,000 --> 02:35:01,000
And so, this is one where, you know, should it be the will of the council, we are saying that this is a slightly lower priority than something else.

1543
02:35:01,000 --> 02:35:04,000
And that's what I'm doing it for.

1544
02:35:04,000 --> 02:35:06,000
Councillor, go ahead.

1545
02:35:06,000 --> 02:35:09,000
And so, let me be clear.

1546
02:35:09,000 --> 02:35:15,000
My statement was not to make an inference as if Council did not have the discretion to look at those.

1547
02:35:15,000 --> 02:35:19,000
Determined and asked the questions necessary to determine whether it is a priority.

1548
02:35:19,000 --> 02:35:28,000
When I submit the budget, once I submit it to you, everything is on the table, and the questions responses we give.

1549
02:35:28,000 --> 02:35:34,000
The prioritization that we thought we had, that may not be the council, that is clearly what y'all's role is.

1550
02:35:34,000 --> 02:35:42,000
I just wanted to clarify, sure that one reason wasn't that it wasn't in the budget, it's because of the concern that I had thought.

1551
02:35:42,000 --> 02:35:48,000
Staff identified for me. If, in fact, the information that they provided to you is different.

1552
02:35:48,000 --> 02:35:55,000
Then what they provided to me, then I guess that's an issue that I need to work out with my departments, particularly if it's different.

1553
02:35:55,000 --> 02:36:02,000
I'm not accurate and whatnot, and so I think I'll work with the budget director on all of them to ensure that.

1554
02:36:02,000 --> 02:36:10,000
But you are correct. Most of the things in quite often, that's the conversation we have about the realness of some of them and all the impacts.

1555
02:36:10,000 --> 02:36:16,000
And so I appreciate the comment, but I just wanted to say that, because, you know, again, I think,

1556
02:36:16,000 --> 02:36:22,000
but may not have felt that there are proposals, whatever season by the day beyond my taste.

1557
02:36:22,000 --> 02:36:25,000
I just wanted to make that clear face. I appreciate that.

1558
02:36:25,000 --> 02:36:29,000
Council member Robert Madison, for all of my council members, point us in Council member Duchen.

1559
02:36:29,000 --> 02:36:41,000
I just wanted to say briefly that given the responsibilities that Agme's taken over from hard purview,

1560
02:36:41,000 --> 02:36:46,000
I'd most especially eat that at the risk of engaging in more politics.

1561
02:36:46,000 --> 02:36:51,000
May I have so many of my district one assets are under the part purview.

1562
02:36:51,000 --> 02:36:59,000
And if I could just vary immediately for your frame of reference, the millennium youth entertainment complex, we have staff shortages.

1563
02:36:59,000 --> 02:37:10,000
And so I wonder if there is a surplus, necessarily, because I do believe this would have impact to some of our assets

1564
02:37:10,000 --> 02:37:15,000
that are already short staff or otherwise need additional funds.

1565
02:37:15,000 --> 02:37:25,000
So my immediate reaction to this amendment is one of lack of support, but also some concerns about how that plays out,

1566
02:37:25,000 --> 02:37:29,000
given that so many people's responsibilities from other departments,

1567
02:37:29,000 --> 02:37:32,000
most especially part, we're shifted to Agme.

1568
02:37:32,000 --> 02:37:38,000
So our culture, music and entertainment, because it's such a broad spectrum of items that can cover

1569
02:37:38,000 --> 02:37:42,000
them very concerned about taking any dollars from them.

1570
02:37:42,000 --> 02:37:45,000
So just expressing that, I don't know originally.

1571
02:37:45,000 --> 02:37:46,000
Thank you.

1572
02:37:46,000 --> 02:37:48,000
Council member Fuentes, followed by Council member Duchen.

1573
02:37:48,000 --> 02:37:49,000
Yes, thank you.

1574
02:37:49,000 --> 02:37:51,000
I'm wondering if we can have the director for Agme.

1575
02:37:51,000 --> 02:37:52,000
Join us.

1576
02:37:52,000 --> 02:37:59,000
I want to better understand what this proposed $150,000 cut to the Agme department would do.

1577
02:37:59,000 --> 02:38:05,000
If you could go over specifically what cultural centers, what facilities would be impacted,

1578
02:38:05,000 --> 02:38:10,000
and what that impact would actually entail.

1579
02:38:10,000 --> 02:38:15,000
Good afternoon, Angela Means, director for the Arts Culture Music and Entertainment Department.

1580
02:38:15,000 --> 02:38:22,000
And I will say, while the department would work to minimize the impact to this reduction,

1581
02:38:22,000 --> 02:38:27,000
our temporary staff within our facilities play a critical role in our programming.

1582
02:38:27,000 --> 02:38:34,000
All of our cultural spaces, spaces including the Mac, the Asian American Resource Center,

1583
02:38:34,000 --> 02:38:40,000
the Arts Center, the George Washington Carver Museum and Genealogy Center,

1584
02:38:40,000 --> 02:38:44,000
as well as the African American Cultural and Heritage Facility,

1585
02:38:44,000 --> 02:38:48,000
would be impacted by the reduction in their camp budgets.

1586
02:38:48,000 --> 02:38:54,000
Now, the department relies heavily on temporary staffing, as I stated earlier,

1587
02:38:54,000 --> 02:39:02,000
to provide programming and support for the much needed services that we provide to the Austin community.

1588
02:39:02,000 --> 02:39:08,000
Our temporary staffing within our department is approximately a little over 100.

1589
02:39:08,000 --> 02:39:18,000
So we have a full-time permanent staff count of nearly 100 and we have the same amount in temporary staffing.

1590
02:39:18,000 --> 02:39:30,000
And so to reduce $150,000 of that would mean we would need to take a look at all of our programming across the department to minimize the impact.

1591
02:39:30,000 --> 02:39:37,000
But some of the programs that were flagged for potential that would be potentially affected,

1592
02:39:37,000 --> 02:39:43,000
were some of our longstanding annual celebrations throughout the cultural facilities,

1593
02:39:43,000 --> 02:39:46,000
such as Juneteenth, such as Celebrasia.

1594
02:39:46,000 --> 02:39:50,000
And so, of course, we do not want to reduce those for our Austin community,

1595
02:39:50,000 --> 02:39:57,000
but we would need to strategize on how best to mitigate that throughout the department.

1596
02:39:58,000 --> 02:39:59,000
Thank you.

1597
02:39:59,000 --> 02:40:02,000
Thank you, Councillor Osir for bringing for this amendment.

1598
02:40:02,000 --> 02:40:07,000
I won't be able to support this amendment, especially knowing what this reduction in temporary staff could

1599
02:40:07,000 --> 02:40:11,000
and tell for many of our beloved community events in our city,

1600
02:40:11,000 --> 02:40:16,000
that is experienced by many of our Austin nights throughout the year.

1601
02:40:16,000 --> 02:40:23,000
So, especially if there's not a program or other service that you're looking to have these funds go direct

1602
02:40:23,000 --> 02:40:26,000
forward without having that identified.

1603
02:40:26,000 --> 02:40:29,000
Yeah, I have concerns for that overall.

1604
02:40:29,000 --> 02:40:30,000
Thank you.

1605
02:40:30,000 --> 02:40:31,000
Thank you.

1606
02:40:31,000 --> 02:40:32,000
Thank you, Councillor.

1607
02:40:32,000 --> 02:40:34,000
Thank you, Mayor.

1608
02:40:34,000 --> 02:40:38,000
First, I want to thank Councillor Aulter for bringing for this.

1609
02:40:38,000 --> 02:40:46,000
This is very similar to one of the reductions that we identified as part of how to get to a potential to an a half percent budget proposal.

1610
02:40:46,000 --> 02:40:54,000
And I say that in the context of recognizing that no cut and no reduction that we're ever going to have volunteer

1611
02:40:54,000 --> 02:41:03,000
that the manager is asked as departments to volunteer is going to be easy or is not going to involve a reduction in service somewhere.

1612
02:41:03,000 --> 02:41:11,000
And so, the question then to reinforce Councillor Aulter's point is it's about priorities that point we heard today.

1613
02:41:11,000 --> 02:41:18,000
There's a program at workforce development that might be short $400,000, which is more important than for us.

1614
02:41:18,000 --> 02:41:20,000
And how do we make those choices?

1615
02:41:20,000 --> 02:41:25,000
Funding a community service program that creates jobs and workforce development.

1616
02:41:25,000 --> 02:41:30,000
Or is it going to be funding one of the cuts that we might propose is the, you might from the conversation,

1617
02:41:30,000 --> 02:41:37,000
the diets, the fleet cut that would make take a little longer to repair fender vendors or fleet vehicles.

1618
02:41:37,000 --> 02:41:43,000
So we're going to have to make some potential trade-offs here as we go forward the next week with this budget.

1619
02:41:43,000 --> 02:41:49,000
And I think it's important that we get clarity on that. I think it's important that we get data from staff so we're not just,

1620
02:41:49,000 --> 02:41:55,000
because every director is going to come here and I respect the heck about directors but they're going to come here and try maintain their budget.

1621
02:41:55,000 --> 02:41:59,000
They're going to try maintaining their service levels and that's their job and I respect that.

1622
02:41:59,000 --> 02:42:03,000
I mean, they're all going to come here and say that we need this, it's essential.

1623
02:42:03,000 --> 02:42:07,000
But we ourselves are going to have to figure out where our priorities lay, whether they're in.

1624
02:42:07,000 --> 02:42:13,000
As we've very creatively done, restoring some cuts to social services or the plan to do so.

1625
02:42:13,000 --> 02:42:18,000
But there are going to be other priorities that we identify that are higher than the ones that are on the prioritization list.

1626
02:42:18,000 --> 02:42:20,000
And that's where I think the tough calls are going to be made.

1627
02:42:20,000 --> 02:42:23,000
So I appreciate Councilor Alter brings forward.

1628
02:42:23,000 --> 02:42:30,000
And I hope that we, he's not, I hope that we entertain similar reductions to have similar conversations around some of these items going forward as well.

1629
02:42:30,000 --> 02:42:31,000
Thank you.

1630
02:42:31,000 --> 02:42:33,000
Thanks, Councilor.

1631
02:42:33,000 --> 02:42:38,000
Question for director means you mentioned your hundred permanent staff and about a hundred terms.

1632
02:42:38,000 --> 02:42:44,000
What does a hundred fifty thousand dollars represent out of your temporary staffing?

1633
02:42:44,000 --> 02:42:46,000
It's less than 10%.

1634
02:42:46,000 --> 02:42:50,000
Our temporary budget is nearly two million dollars for our department.

1635
02:42:50,000 --> 02:42:52,000
So one fifty is it's not that.

1636
02:42:52,000 --> 02:42:53,000
Okay.

1637
02:42:53,000 --> 02:42:57,000
And you talked about, you know, some of the events that you put on obviously,

1638
02:42:57,000 --> 02:43:01,000
you mentioned to the marquee events, Juneteenth and others.

1639
02:43:01,000 --> 02:43:08,000
But you also, in your response, talked about how those are, you know, very high priorities.

1640
02:43:08,000 --> 02:43:16,000
I'm not asking for a perfect number, but how many events do we have on an annual basis at these facilities?

1641
02:43:16,000 --> 02:43:22,000
Is it, you know, just a few that we all know about or is it there a lot going on all year long?

1642
02:43:22,000 --> 02:43:27,000
It's quite a bit of activity within our cultural spaces where we celebrate different occasions.

1643
02:43:27,000 --> 02:43:36,000
But each one of our cultural spaces has what they call a signature event where the community has come to celebrate whatever that is.

1644
02:43:36,000 --> 02:43:41,000
And, you know, they receive quite a bit of support from the community.

1645
02:43:41,000 --> 02:43:45,000
And so what we would want to do is continue that.

1646
02:43:45,000 --> 02:43:51,000
But we would have to scale back what that looks like to stay within our budgeted targets.

1647
02:43:51,000 --> 02:43:59,000
And would, is the temporary staffing only for your signature events or is it for events outside the signature events?

1648
02:43:59,000 --> 02:44:01,000
It's for the entire operations of that.

1649
02:44:01,000 --> 02:44:09,000
So help me understand why if the signature events are the most important events, why would we scale back our most important events?

1650
02:44:09,000 --> 02:44:11,000
Instead of saying, that's our most important event.

1651
02:44:11,000 --> 02:44:15,000
We have still over 90% of our temporary budget to do that.

1652
02:44:15,000 --> 02:44:21,000
We're going to prioritize those fully invest in those and maybe have lesser events.

1653
02:44:21,000 --> 02:44:28,000
The impact it should we not have enough dollars to do everything we've done in the past.

1654
02:44:28,000 --> 02:44:29,000
Thank you for that question.

1655
02:44:29,000 --> 02:44:32,000
It's very, it's a difficult choice.

1656
02:44:32,000 --> 02:44:37,000
It's hard to say what is the most important for our community within our cultural spaces.

1657
02:44:37,000 --> 02:44:43,000
We have summer programs for our youth, which we did not want to touch.

1658
02:44:43,000 --> 02:44:49,000
Because we understand the importance of the use of our facilities for our communities.

1659
02:44:49,000 --> 02:44:55,000
And so that's something that was part of the 300,000, but we were hoping that would not be considered.

1660
02:44:55,000 --> 02:44:58,000
We have facilities that are open all day.

1661
02:45:00,000 --> 02:45:06,000
Our seniors rely on our facilities, and they're enjoying those spaces, and so we did not want to touch that.

1662
02:45:06,000 --> 02:45:18,000
The areas that we found to be the least impactful, unfortunately, is the senior or is the annual events.

1663
02:45:18,000 --> 02:45:28,000
But there are hard choices that we had to consider, given the use of the space and what our community has told us, that's important to them.

1664
02:45:28,000 --> 02:45:34,000
Well, we'll continue to work on this conversation. I would echo a little bit of what council member duties said.

1665
02:45:34,000 --> 02:45:46,000
I mean, if we can't come up with less than 10% of a sub-program of a sub, we will never be in a position where this budget isn't just growing, growing, growing.

1666
02:45:46,000 --> 02:45:48,000
So, I just...

1667
02:45:48,000 --> 02:45:56,000
Sure. And we're laying out the amendments for not debating the amendments today, but it's appropriate for people to say how they're feeling about them.

1668
02:45:56,000 --> 02:46:00,000
Ask questions, but we're not going to get in the full-born debates.

1669
02:46:00,000 --> 02:46:08,000
It's my understanding, the next sheet we have members says, council member alter 3.

1670
02:46:08,000 --> 02:46:10,000
Which one was it?

1671
02:46:10,000 --> 02:46:14,000
He has cut, he has cut 2.

1672
02:46:14,000 --> 02:46:16,000
So, if that's right, I'm correct, right?

1673
02:46:16,000 --> 02:46:17,000
You are correct.

1674
02:46:17,000 --> 02:46:19,000
So, we'll go to alter 3.

1675
02:46:19,000 --> 02:46:26,000
This is building on what council member Vala was mentioning as a relates to some of our investments.

1676
02:46:26,000 --> 02:46:32,000
The number one capital neighborhood investment that we get contacted about is speed bumps.

1677
02:46:32,000 --> 02:46:42,000
And I think we had a really full discussion about speed bumps when we were talking about the neighborhood or the district service funds.

1678
02:46:42,000 --> 02:46:53,000
And what this would do is add a million dollars towards our vision zero and traffic calming inclusive of speed bumps to have money available.

1679
02:46:53,000 --> 02:46:58,000
Because the answer, unfortunately, always for the neighbors, is we don't have money.

1680
02:46:58,000 --> 02:47:00,000
You know, great idea, but we don't have money.

1681
02:47:00,000 --> 02:47:02,000
And so, this would help.

1682
02:47:02,000 --> 02:47:06,000
It's not going to solve nearly the whole list, but it would help us chip away at that listing.

1683
02:47:06,000 --> 02:47:07,000
Creators.

1684
02:47:07,000 --> 02:47:08,000
This would also be best of you.

1685
02:47:08,000 --> 02:47:10,000
I'll also see us saying so.

1686
02:47:10,000 --> 02:47:15,000
And this would not be this would not be duplicative of the 32 million.

1687
02:47:15,000 --> 02:47:16,000
Correct.

1688
02:47:16,000 --> 02:47:17,000
It would take you to 33.

1689
02:47:17,000 --> 02:47:18,000
Okay.

1690
02:47:18,000 --> 02:47:20,000
Councilor Diction.

1691
02:47:20,000 --> 02:47:21,000
Thank you, Mayor.

1692
02:47:21,000 --> 02:47:26,000
I just had a question for staff about this one because I know we've had conversations for a little

1693
02:47:26,000 --> 02:47:34,000
year and I thought I recall that there is a specific fund of line item that addresses this kind of traffic calming.

1694
02:47:34,000 --> 02:47:39,000
And I think at one time, I recall a saying that those dollars had been exhausted.

1695
02:47:39,000 --> 02:47:54,000
So I'm trying to understand the current state of that, whether this is an ongoing item, or a staff can clarify whether or not there is indeed like a pot of money that's set aside exclusively for traffic calming and the staff of that.

1696
02:47:55,000 --> 02:47:58,000
Council member, we do have a program and speed management program.

1697
02:47:58,000 --> 02:48:09,000
And we have used capital projects for hard infrastructure like roundabouts, chicanes, hard asphalt, speed tables, speed humps to manage speed.

1698
02:48:09,000 --> 02:48:20,000
But then we also have an operating budget that we've used to put up speed electronic speed display signs until effectively slow traffic down.

1699
02:48:21,000 --> 02:48:25,000
And I do believe, yeah, we have exhausted the capital portion of that budget.

1700
02:48:25,000 --> 02:48:28,000
So this would augment that.

1701
02:48:28,000 --> 02:48:34,000
It is separate from the active mobility program programmatic funds that were previously posture.

1702
02:48:34,000 --> 02:48:35,000
Thank you.

1703
02:48:35,000 --> 02:48:36,000
If I can just clarify.

1704
02:48:36,000 --> 02:48:41,000
So if I had a neighborhood or Councilor Walters, whoever has a community that says we want.

1705
02:48:41,000 --> 02:48:49,000
We need some additional speed bumps in our community right now that resources exhausted and this would help replenish it.

1706
02:48:49,000 --> 02:48:55,000
Yes, it would we we have the resources to conduct the speed surveys and engineering studies.

1707
02:48:55,000 --> 02:49:04,000
To determine the appropriateness according to the municipal uniform traffic control devices, but then in terms of the hard capital.

1708
02:49:04,000 --> 02:49:06,000
Construction.

1709
02:49:06,000 --> 02:49:07,000
We do not.

1710
02:49:07,000 --> 02:49:11,000
Last question is don't need to write now, but I'd be curious.

1711
02:49:11,000 --> 02:49:16,000
No, what is the average yearly spend in that category.

1712
02:49:16,000 --> 02:49:17,000
Certainly.

1713
02:49:17,000 --> 02:49:18,000
Councillor, we can provide that.

1714
02:49:18,000 --> 02:49:19,000
That'd be great.

1715
02:49:19,000 --> 02:49:20,000
Thank you.

1716
02:49:20,000 --> 02:49:21,000
Thank you.

1717
02:49:21,000 --> 02:49:22,000
Councillor.

1718
02:49:22,000 --> 02:49:23,000
Councillor.

1719
02:49:23,000 --> 02:49:24,000
Can.

1720
02:49:24,000 --> 02:49:28,000
I don't know what just happened.

1721
02:49:28,000 --> 02:49:29,000
Thank you.

1722
02:49:29,000 --> 02:49:30,000
Thank you.

1723
02:49:30,000 --> 02:49:31,000
Yeah.

1724
02:49:31,000 --> 02:49:32,000
I had to speak.

1725
02:49:32,000 --> 02:49:33,000
Well done.

1726
02:49:33,000 --> 02:49:34,000
Good one.

1727
02:49:34,000 --> 02:49:35,000
Councillor.

1728
02:49:35,000 --> 02:49:36,000
I have a question.

1729
02:49:36,000 --> 02:49:39,000
I'm not sure if this is for the director or for the author.

1730
02:49:39,000 --> 02:49:45,000
But with living streets infrastructure be applicable for these types of dollars.

1731
02:49:45,000 --> 02:49:59,000
I'm thinking obviously when neighbors ask for speed reduction they think of speed bumps, but there's also other ways of working through, you know, enhanced mediums, narrowing the streets and other things that the department has done really well with lately.

1732
02:49:59,000 --> 02:50:00,000
Yeah.

1733
02:50:00,000 --> 02:50:01,000
I'm going to speak to my intention.

1734
02:50:01,000 --> 02:50:03,000
It is all traffic calming.

1735
02:50:03,000 --> 02:50:05,000
So speed bumps being the marquee.

1736
02:50:05,000 --> 02:50:09,000
One that we think about, but yes, there are a lot of other options for all deferred.

1737
02:50:09,000 --> 02:50:10,000
Yeah.

1738
02:50:10,000 --> 02:50:15,000
However, I do have an answer to your prior question in terms of the funding.

1739
02:50:15,000 --> 02:50:21,000
The speed management program was funded seven million over six years from the 2020 bond.

1740
02:50:21,000 --> 02:50:27,000
And then in terms of the living streets, I have we've routinely funded that through operating budget.

1741
02:50:27,000 --> 02:50:33,000
And those have been more along the designs of either temporary treatments.

1742
02:50:33,000 --> 02:50:46,000
They do have the effect of slowing down traffic, but they're typically on low volume residential streets that permit active.

1743
02:50:46,000 --> 02:50:50,000
You know, neighborhood use of those streets other than vehicles.

1744
02:50:50,000 --> 02:50:54,000
Okay, so you wouldn't use the O's to install those treatments.

1745
02:50:54,000 --> 02:51:00,000
We've all, we have thus far funded that those through our operating budget.

1746
02:51:00,000 --> 02:51:01,000
Thanks.

1747
02:51:01,000 --> 02:51:02,000
Thank you.

1748
02:51:02,000 --> 02:51:06,000
Councillor Walter, let's go to altar four.

1749
02:51:06,000 --> 02:51:07,000
Great.

1750
02:51:07,000 --> 02:51:17,000
So this is to add one time appropriation of $500,000 for what are called FY vouchers or foster youth independence.

1751
02:51:17,000 --> 02:51:19,000
And what we're looking to do here.

1752
02:51:19,000 --> 02:51:27,000
Well, first off, what those are are vouchers for individuals who have had, who've been in the foster care system.

1753
02:51:27,000 --> 02:51:40,000
And what we have, what has just happened is typically there's a cap for various areas and housing authorities who pull down these vouchers.

1754
02:51:40,000 --> 02:51:43,000
And we have basically operated at our cap.

1755
02:51:43,000 --> 02:51:46,000
HUD has recently removed that cap.

1756
02:51:46,000 --> 02:51:53,000
And now communities can apply for as many as they're able to sustain and for you to be able to pull more down.

1757
02:51:53,000 --> 02:51:59,000
You have to show that you have the service dollars attached to those vouchers.

1758
02:51:59,000 --> 02:52:10,000
What I'm hoping to attempt here is for the city to put up $500,000 as matching funds to attract outside investment to say,

1759
02:52:10,000 --> 02:52:19,000
we're going to match you dollar for dollar to then have a million dollars worth of funding available to pull these vouchers down.

1760
02:52:19,000 --> 02:52:32,000
And if you look at this on an ROI, just dollar basis, given the value of the vouchers and the matching funds, we would be achieving almost a seven to one match on these dollars.

1761
02:52:32,000 --> 02:52:40,000
And I think we have all seen we don't have enough dollars to go around to fund, but there's homeless services or broader social safety net.

1762
02:52:40,000 --> 02:52:47,000
But if we can take some of our money and leverage it in this way, I think it'd be a really, really smart move,

1763
02:52:47,000 --> 02:52:50,000
especially given now that this cap has been lifted.

1764
02:52:50,000 --> 02:52:58,000
And I think this really builds the mayor and carry of and working with the legislature on potentially increasing this funding,

1765
02:52:58,000 --> 02:53:03,000
and this would be our signal that we're trying to participate in that as well.

1766
02:53:03,000 --> 02:53:09,000
So I think this fits right into your focus on kids and youth success.

1767
02:53:09,000 --> 02:53:12,000
So hoping we can find a way to make this work.

1768
02:53:13,000 --> 02:53:16,000
Thank you. Let's go to ultra five.

1769
02:53:16,000 --> 02:53:17,000
Very good.

1770
02:53:17,000 --> 02:53:29,000
The last one, ultra five. This is to add $200,000 for a position for the electric transition of our equipment.

1771
02:53:29,000 --> 02:53:35,000
We have, we're building the new maintenance facility out of Zilker Park that's going to allow for us to better electrify our fleet,

1772
02:53:35,000 --> 02:53:41,000
which not only good for the environment, but it will save us money from an operating perspective.

1773
02:53:41,000 --> 02:53:45,000
And in order for us to actually get that program off and running,

1774
02:53:45,000 --> 02:53:51,000
there needs to be an individual in charge of that program and making sure it happens.

1775
02:53:51,000 --> 02:53:58,000
So I don't want us to stall out on the investments we're making in electrification because we don't have a person available to do it.

1776
02:53:58,000 --> 02:54:04,000
This would be an option for where some of that money could go that we talked about earlier.

1777
02:54:04,000 --> 02:54:11,000
I'm not trying to follow the process of not doing a cut here pay for here.

1778
02:54:11,000 --> 02:54:15,000
Just here the here's the dollars and we'll decide the best way to spend them.

1779
02:54:15,000 --> 02:54:26,000
But this is one way that I think would be really meaningful for our parks for our environment and overall to lower our maintenance costs in the long run.

1780
02:54:26,000 --> 02:54:30,000
Thank you. Can I just want clarification on the process?

1781
02:54:30,000 --> 02:54:36,000
Some of these less amendments call for additional dollars, but we don't know where they're coming from.

1782
02:54:36,000 --> 02:54:43,000
And I think part of my challenge of the policy maker is when I'm considering whether or not to support these amendments,

1783
02:54:43,000 --> 02:54:48,000
I know that the manager is going to have to pull money somewhere to fund these new programs.

1784
02:54:48,000 --> 02:54:54,000
And if one of the cuts is to keep to jobs and yet we're adding $200,000 for landscape equipment,

1785
02:54:54,000 --> 02:54:59,000
I need to know if the cut on jobs is to get us electric landscape equipment.

1786
02:54:59,000 --> 02:55:04,000
So how can we better go about this conversation?

1787
02:55:04,000 --> 02:55:08,000
And this is a job, it's not the equipment the $200,000 is a personnel.

1788
02:55:08,000 --> 02:55:17,000
But that's I think what we're relying on staff that we will come forward today with some of these ideas and they're going to come back with us

1789
02:55:17,000 --> 02:55:23,000
of here are the options of how we pay for them and that's the point at which we decide what's the higher priority.

1790
02:55:24,000 --> 02:55:26,000
We'll have to prioritize.

1791
02:55:26,000 --> 02:55:36,000
Because they've provided us with a balanced budget, so unless they can find something that we want to cut,

1792
02:55:36,000 --> 02:55:41,000
then some of these amendments will be able to go forward.

1793
02:55:41,000 --> 02:55:43,000
Thank you, Councillor Oralter. Councillor Oralter.

1794
02:55:43,000 --> 02:55:49,000
Councillor Oralter, Councillor Oralter, Councillor Oralter, Councillor Oralter, Councillor Oralter, Councillor Oralter, Councillor Oralter.

1795
02:55:49,000 --> 02:55:52,000
Okay, so thank you, Mayor.

1796
02:55:52,000 --> 02:56:01,000
The first amendment I'm bringing forward is to restore funding for the Community Health Navigator and Community Health Navigator for seniors contracts for the Asian American Resource Center.

1797
02:56:01,000 --> 02:56:12,000
Staff clearly indicated on Tuesday that the Reduction and Funding for these programs would directly result in a reduction of available services for its intended population with no alternative in place.

1798
02:56:12,000 --> 02:56:18,000
My district has the highest concentration of Asian Americans in the city and that a population includes many multi-generational immigrant families.

1799
02:56:18,000 --> 02:56:27,000
With many elderly family members who have language challenges and other barriers to accessing services.

1800
02:56:27,000 --> 02:56:36,000
The Asian Family Support Services of Austin and the Austin Asian Community Health Initiative have both expressed the critical need for and value of this program.

1801
02:56:36,000 --> 02:56:46,000
Community organizations regularly refer clients to the Asian American Resource Center because it is a trusted hub that provides thoughtful, culturally responsive and accessible support.

1802
02:56:46,000 --> 02:56:52,000
The services we choose to fund can only achieve their intended impact if people are able to access them.

1803
02:56:52,000 --> 02:56:58,000
Community Navigators play an essential role in bridging the gap that gap by helping residents connect with resources.

1804
02:56:58,000 --> 02:57:03,000
They might otherwise be unable to navigate particularly within targeted populations.

1805
02:57:03,000 --> 02:57:10,000
I understand that the budget staff has done incredible work to find a way forward that aligns with the priorities this council has expressed.

1806
02:57:10,000 --> 02:57:19,000
But this amendment is an insurance policy that these crucial services are fully maintained because we have no substitute service in this.

1807
02:57:19,000 --> 02:57:20,000
Thank you.

1808
02:57:20,000 --> 02:57:21,000
Councillor Caudry.

1809
02:57:21,000 --> 02:57:24,000
Yeah, I just wanted to thank Councillor Layne for bringing forward this item.

1810
02:57:24,000 --> 02:57:26,000
I've talked a lot of folks in the API community.

1811
02:57:26,000 --> 02:57:28,000
It's a very diverse community.

1812
02:57:28,000 --> 02:57:32,000
There's a lot of languages, even among, you know, certain groups.

1813
02:57:32,000 --> 02:57:37,000
And this is something that's been huge for the community.

1814
02:57:37,000 --> 02:57:44,000
You know, as someone who has one elderly grant right now, and on the East Coast, I really wish this was something that we saw more throughout the country.

1815
02:57:44,000 --> 02:57:47,000
So thanks for bringing it here in Austin.

1816
02:57:47,000 --> 02:57:48,000
Thank you, Councillor.

1817
02:57:48,000 --> 02:57:51,000
That's relying number two.

1818
02:57:51,000 --> 02:57:52,000
Thank you.

1819
02:57:52,000 --> 02:57:58,000
The second amendment I'm bringing forward provides operational gap funding to support new family shelter beds coming online in our city.

1820
02:57:58,000 --> 02:58:06,000
One of the challenges we hear consistently from our homelessness service providers is that physical space is often not the primary barrier to expanding.

1821
02:58:06,000 --> 02:58:12,000
Family shelter capacity providers frequently have buildings or available space that could serve more families.

1822
02:58:12,000 --> 02:58:16,000
But they lack the operational funding needed to staff maintain and open those facilities.

1823
02:58:16,000 --> 02:58:20,000
Recent reductions in federal grant funding have only widened that gap.

1824
02:58:20,000 --> 02:58:27,000
Last year I sponsored an IFC directing homeless strategy and operations to identify opportunities to expand family shelter bed capacity.

1825
02:58:27,000 --> 02:58:35,000
While we're still working toward these goals, the amendment provides the resources needed to help translate those opportunities into additional shelter beds as well as support.

1826
02:58:35,000 --> 02:58:40,000
The very limited number of family shelter available beds available in North Austin.

1827
02:58:40,000 --> 02:58:49,000
I am confident that this investment will provide providers open their doors, expand capacity, ensure that more families have access to safe shelter across our city.

1828
02:58:49,000 --> 02:59:00,000
And I myself, I know that y'all know this, but the value of allowing families with children who do not have stable housing to remain near their social network.

1829
02:59:00,000 --> 02:59:10,000
You know their school, near all of the things that provide informal support is is particularly critical when you're trying to raise children and these challenging circumstances.

1830
02:59:10,000 --> 02:59:12,000
So that hope you'll consider.

1831
02:59:12,000 --> 02:59:14,000
My amendment not favorably.

1832
02:59:14,000 --> 02:59:15,000
Thank you.

1833
02:59:15,000 --> 02:59:18,000
I have one question on this for you or director.

1834
02:59:18,000 --> 02:59:20,000
You use your gap funding.

1835
02:59:20,000 --> 02:59:26,000
And you might have laid this out, but is this this is funding for already existing family shelter.

1836
02:59:26,000 --> 02:59:29,000
It's not to increase the family shelter capacity.

1837
02:59:29,000 --> 02:59:32,000
I'll give an initial reaction then I'll pass to director Greg.

1838
02:59:32,000 --> 02:59:45,000
So I am aware of interruptions and service where there is private support providing the building, but they do not have operational support.

1839
02:59:45,000 --> 02:59:56,000
And providers that have had extremely strong success factors with the city that are experiencing cuts.

1840
02:59:56,000 --> 03:00:00,000
I'll pass to director Greg out onto that because you have much more knowledge.

1841
03:00:00,000 --> 03:00:02,000
I have an answer. Thank you, council member.

1842
03:00:02,000 --> 03:00:05,000
David Gray, director, office and home strategies and operations.

1843
03:00:05,000 --> 03:00:10,000
Council member, we do have some community partners who are in the process of constructing new

1844
03:00:10,000 --> 03:00:15,000
families shelter for our community. They've been able to independently raise the funding for

1845
03:00:15,000 --> 03:00:21,000
those capital dollars. However, they don't have not yet identified the operational funding.

1846
03:00:21,000 --> 03:00:27,000
So our understanding of this item would be to identify funding to help get those new shelter beds

1847
03:00:27,000 --> 03:00:32,000
online, which would add net new capacity for homeless families in our community.

1848
03:00:32,000 --> 03:00:37,000
As far as the existing family shelters go, we currently have contracts with a lot of

1849
03:00:37,000 --> 03:00:41,000
those providers that support those existing family shelter beds.

1850
03:00:41,000 --> 03:00:47,000
And so this amendment will go towards increasing the number of shelter beds available for

1851
03:00:47,000 --> 03:00:53,000
homeless families in our community. And is it your understanding that they need one

1852
03:00:53,000 --> 03:00:58,000
time start at funds or you're time at operating. So is this something that they

1853
03:00:58,000 --> 03:01:03,000
would need those ongoing operation operating dollars for.

1854
03:01:03,000 --> 03:01:05,000
Thank you, council member.

1855
03:01:05,000 --> 03:01:11,000
Obviously for ongoing costs, you would need to identify ongoing funding for those things.

1856
03:01:11,000 --> 03:01:16,000
We've been having a lot of good conversations with our philanthropic community

1857
03:01:16,000 --> 03:01:22,000
with large homeless services and bringing our philanthropic community along to help

1858
03:01:22,000 --> 03:01:28,000
sustain some of these operations. And so if this is one time funding or if it's

1859
03:01:28,000 --> 03:01:32,000
ongoing funding, either way we'll continue to have those conversations with philanthropic partners

1860
03:01:32,000 --> 03:01:39,000
to see if they're able to also provide ongoing funding for these types of shelter beds.

1861
03:01:39,000 --> 03:01:43,000
I appreciate the author bringing this. I think this is such a critical area.

1862
03:01:43,000 --> 03:01:48,000
I do just want us to be mindful of one time dollars into something that we think

1863
03:01:48,000 --> 03:01:52,000
might be ongoing. We'll be in a position next year where people are coming and saying,

1864
03:01:52,000 --> 03:01:57,000
well, if you don't fund this again, you're cutting our family shelter capacity.

1865
03:01:57,000 --> 03:02:01,000
And that's as wide open. I just want to make sure we have eyes wide open.

1866
03:02:01,000 --> 03:02:04,000
So if I could just share a little bit of it to show information because as Director Gray was

1867
03:02:04,000 --> 03:02:07,000
speaking, I knew several of the examples from what he was referring to,

1868
03:02:07,000 --> 03:02:11,000
but there was an example that I think he didn't pick up on that I was referring

1869
03:02:11,000 --> 03:02:16,000
to, and I think I know where the disconnect lies without getting too specific.

1870
03:02:16,000 --> 03:02:20,000
You know, this is the second year in a row that we've cut social services funding.

1871
03:02:20,000 --> 03:02:29,000
And the example that I'm aware of is the provider who had been providing support services.

1872
03:02:29,000 --> 03:02:35,000
And when that bill cuts were made and I believe in the prior fiscal year and that was my mistake.

1873
03:02:36,000 --> 03:02:43,000
They had to stop supporting the services provided on a church site where there is a building

1874
03:02:43,000 --> 03:02:45,000
that is now sitting vacant.

1875
03:02:45,000 --> 03:02:51,000
Because so it's a mix of these things, but I appreciate you bringing out the differences.

1876
03:02:51,000 --> 03:02:52,000
Thank you.

1877
03:02:52,000 --> 03:02:53,000
Thank you.

1878
03:02:53,000 --> 03:02:56,000
Now we'll go to Councillor for Siegel followed by Councillor Marellus.

1879
03:02:56,000 --> 03:03:03,000
Members Councillor for Siegel has three proposed amendments.

1880
03:03:03,000 --> 03:03:08,000
Number one has a version two that I believe was passed out this morning.

1881
03:03:08,000 --> 03:03:12,000
And it's not the one that's on the screen.

1882
03:03:12,000 --> 03:03:16,000
Because apparently they didn't get that to put on the screen.

1883
03:03:16,000 --> 03:03:20,000
But it's on a very nice pink sheet.

1884
03:03:20,000 --> 03:03:25,000
I've never seen it on a pink sheet before, but Councillor for Siegel that goes his own way.

1885
03:03:25,000 --> 03:03:29,000
Now actually I want to thank the City Clerk really taking care of me there.

1886
03:03:29,000 --> 03:03:30,000
I like it.

1887
03:03:30,000 --> 03:03:32,000
Well thank you, Mayor.

1888
03:03:32,000 --> 03:03:41,000
Siegel motion sheet one is a budget amendment to support the transition of emergency communications into a standalone department in fiscal year 27.

1889
03:03:41,000 --> 03:03:44,000
It involves a mix of one time and ongoing funds.

1890
03:03:44,000 --> 03:03:48,000
This amendment we follow the recommendations of the recent staff member random by funding,

1891
03:03:48,000 --> 03:03:51,000
quote, governance, operational and technology enhancements,

1892
03:03:51,000 --> 03:03:54,000
unquote, to improve 911 response times.

1893
03:03:54,000 --> 03:03:58,000
The new office of joint emergency communications will be funded for a new executive director,

1894
03:03:58,000 --> 03:04:01,000
assistant director, and support personnel.

1895
03:04:01,000 --> 03:04:05,000
And after the first half of the fiscal year, the civilian call takers for 911,

1896
03:04:05,000 --> 03:04:13,000
as well as civilians supervisor positions and expenses will be funded through the new office of joint emergency communications.

1897
03:04:13,000 --> 03:04:16,000
In terms of the dollars, the call taker positions are already funded in the budget.

1898
03:04:16,000 --> 03:04:22,000
So that aspect would just be a transfer of funds representing a little over $5 million for the second half of the fiscal year.

1899
03:04:22,000 --> 03:04:28,000
The staffing and programmatic improvements to 911 cost a total of $1.7 million over 18 months.

1900
03:04:28,000 --> 03:04:32,000
1.1 million of which would be spent in fiscal year 27.

1901
03:04:32,000 --> 03:04:34,000
This amendment has a safety valve.

1902
03:04:34,000 --> 03:04:38,000
If for some reason city staff are unable to acquire the necessary certification,

1903
03:04:38,000 --> 03:04:39,000
this to stand up.

1904
03:04:39,000 --> 03:04:42,000
The new emergency communications department within the fiscal year.

1905
03:04:42,000 --> 03:04:47,000
But that said we believe this time frame is entirely reasonable based on past efforts,

1906
03:04:47,000 --> 03:04:50,000
such as setting up an independent forensics department.

1907
03:04:50,000 --> 03:04:53,000
Now in terms of why this amendment is important, there's a lot to say here.

1908
03:04:53,000 --> 03:04:57,000
First of all, last year during the budget process, a unanimous council directed staff

1909
03:04:57,000 --> 03:05:03,000
to analyze how the city could form a standalone joint emergency communications department

1910
03:05:03,000 --> 03:05:05,000
that was not under the direction of the police department.

1911
03:05:05,000 --> 03:05:09,000
This resolution sponsored by Council Member Lane, which I co-sponsored,

1912
03:05:09,000 --> 03:05:11,000
and which was developed in consultation with city staff,

1913
03:05:11,000 --> 03:05:16,000
included a deadline of December 9, 2025, to present a strategic plan to council.

1914
03:05:16,000 --> 03:05:20,000
Unfortunately, that deadline passed, and more than eight months after that deadline,

1915
03:05:20,000 --> 03:05:22,000
we still don't have the strategic plan.

1916
03:05:22,000 --> 03:05:26,000
So the Will of Council has been frustrated by staff in action.

1917
03:05:26,000 --> 03:05:28,000
This sort of delay erodes public confidence.

1918
03:05:28,000 --> 03:05:32,000
And now instead of having a well-studied plan and preparation for the budget cycle,

1919
03:05:32,000 --> 03:05:37,000
all we have is a memo that Council was sent approximately a week ago.

1920
03:05:37,000 --> 03:05:41,000
Even in this memo that states that staff don't,

1921
03:05:41,000 --> 03:05:48,000
believe moving 901 to an independent civilian department is necessary,

1922
03:05:48,000 --> 03:05:55,000
it still substantively underscores the need for an independent joint emergency communications department.

1923
03:05:55,000 --> 03:06:00,000
And first and foremost, it's because we need to prioritize alternatives to police response.

1924
03:06:00,000 --> 03:06:05,000
A shift to standalone 901 is necessary to ensure that we are truly reimagining public safety

1925
03:06:05,000 --> 03:06:08,000
as our city has declared its goal to be,

1926
03:06:08,000 --> 03:06:12,000
and that we are rigorously living up to our goals to divert mental health calls,

1927
03:06:12,000 --> 03:06:17,000
and other nonviolent calls towards emergency responders who are best equipped to respond effectively.

1928
03:06:17,000 --> 03:06:23,000
In the last year, council unanimously prioritized restoring full funding for 24-7 mental health.

1929
03:06:23,000 --> 03:06:25,000
First response through EMCOT.

1930
03:06:25,000 --> 03:06:29,000
We prioritized preserving our community paramedics who are called Chippers.

1931
03:06:29,000 --> 03:06:33,000
We unanimously passed the resolution to create a safe to call policy with working groups,

1932
03:06:33,000 --> 03:06:36,000
which meant for the first time last week.

1933
03:06:36,000 --> 03:06:40,000
And we need to show the community that we are aware of the fundamental problem in this country

1934
03:06:40,000 --> 03:06:45,000
that when we don't prioritize appropriate mental health response and alternatives to policing,

1935
03:06:45,000 --> 03:06:51,000
then we do default to a police response and the odds of injury and death unfortunately skyrocket.

1936
03:06:51,000 --> 03:06:55,000
Despite all the work we've done as a city, we still have a 911 system that,

1937
03:06:55,000 --> 03:06:58,000
even in the name, presents police as the default.

1938
03:06:58,000 --> 03:07:00,000
It's called APD 9111.

1939
03:07:00,000 --> 03:07:05,000
And it makes sense that this would happen when the call takers all report up to the chief of police.

1940
03:07:05,000 --> 03:07:09,000
When the city moved its forensics department out of the police department,

1941
03:07:09,000 --> 03:07:13,000
there were similar arguments that it wasn't necessary or could be improved without such a shift,

1942
03:07:13,000 --> 03:07:16,000
but I believe history has vindicated that move.

1943
03:07:16,000 --> 03:07:20,000
And we can all agree that the department is stronger and performs better independently.

1944
03:07:20,000 --> 03:07:22,000
And that brings me to the second point.

1945
03:07:22,000 --> 03:07:27,000
9111 is too important to be a sub-department.

1946
03:07:27,000 --> 03:07:32,000
The memo we received last week shows there critical improvements that we should make to our 911 system.

1947
03:07:32,000 --> 03:07:36,000
And without this memo, we never would have been presented with this information.

1948
03:07:36,000 --> 03:07:41,000
These improvements include first, reducing duplicate call transfers and triage questions.

1949
03:07:41,000 --> 03:07:44,000
Second, strengthening quality assurance.

1950
03:07:44,000 --> 03:07:46,000
Third, modernizing technology.

1951
03:07:46,000 --> 03:07:50,000
Fourth, expanding and updating performance measurements.

1952
03:07:50,000 --> 03:07:53,000
Fifth, improving coordination between 9111 and 9111 and 9111.

1953
03:07:53,000 --> 03:07:59,000
And tellingly, six, changing the leadership structure so that's not just sworn APD leadership.

1954
03:07:59,000 --> 03:08:03,000
The findings suggest that these improvements would shorten emergency response times,

1955
03:08:03,000 --> 03:08:06,000
which we all know could be the difference between life and death.

1956
03:08:06,000 --> 03:08:08,000
Why weren't these improvements identified sooner?

1957
03:08:08,000 --> 03:08:11,000
I believe it's because 9111 reports up to the police chief,

1958
03:08:11,000 --> 03:08:17,000
whose primary focus cannot be improving synergy between call takers and dispatches and various departments.

1959
03:08:17,000 --> 03:08:20,000
She's the chief of police. She has so many other priorities.

1960
03:08:20,000 --> 03:08:24,000
Managing civilian call takers will never be at the top of her list.

1961
03:08:24,000 --> 03:08:27,000
If we create an independent department with a specialized director

1962
03:08:27,000 --> 03:08:31,000
whose sole focus is making our 9111 system the best it can be,

1963
03:08:31,000 --> 03:08:36,000
we won't need another consultant contract like this to alert council of what we're missing.

1964
03:08:36,000 --> 03:08:40,000
We'll have somebody whose job it is to improve how we take calls.

1965
03:08:40,000 --> 03:08:44,000
An official entirely focused on improving coordination between departments

1966
03:08:44,000 --> 03:08:48,000
and keeping up with the latest best practices, trainings and technologies.

1967
03:08:48,000 --> 03:08:52,000
In Austin, we're very, we're fairly unique in that we have a separate EMS department

1968
03:08:52,000 --> 03:08:55,000
that isn't folded into another public safety department.

1969
03:08:55,000 --> 03:08:58,000
That's part of what makes our EMS services so good.

1970
03:08:58,000 --> 03:09:03,000
We have a separate department, so our EMS chief is focused on making EMS the best it can possibly be.

1971
03:09:03,000 --> 03:09:08,000
EMS performs some of the most important functions in our city, EMS isn't secondary.

1972
03:09:08,000 --> 03:09:13,000
And also forensics is not secondary, and 9111 shouldn't be either.

1973
03:09:13,000 --> 03:09:14,000
Thank you, ma'am.

1974
03:09:14,000 --> 03:09:19,000
Councilor Caldery, Councilor Dictionary, remember what we're trying to do is ask questions

1975
03:09:19,000 --> 03:09:23,000
and make a comment if you want to.

1976
03:09:23,000 --> 03:09:28,000
We don't have all the time today to debate these.

1977
03:09:28,000 --> 03:09:31,000
Thank you, Councilor McCoddery.

1978
03:09:31,000 --> 03:09:32,000
Yes, sir.

1979
03:09:32,000 --> 03:09:33,000
No, do we have somebody in on this?

1980
03:09:33,000 --> 03:09:35,000
I just have some clarifying questions.

1981
03:09:35,000 --> 03:09:40,000
What's the total cost to establish the Office of Joint Emergency Communications?

1982
03:09:40,000 --> 03:09:43,000
So I know it's broken down, but I haven't, and on the Caldery.

1983
03:09:43,000 --> 03:09:50,000
No, so it's basically it's $1.7 million, one point one of which would be in the first fiscal year

1984
03:09:50,000 --> 03:09:53,000
of six months after that for the other point six.

1985
03:09:53,000 --> 03:10:01,000
And then just more of the curiosity, are there other cities that have a similar model of the Office of Joint Emergency Communications?

1986
03:10:01,000 --> 03:10:08,000
Well, one of the Texas examples is there's a joint emergency communications department in North Texas that several small municipalities participate in.

1987
03:10:08,000 --> 03:10:09,000
Great, thank you.

1988
03:10:09,000 --> 03:10:10,000
Thank you.

1989
03:10:10,000 --> 03:10:12,000
Thank you, Councilor McCoddery.

1990
03:10:12,000 --> 03:10:15,000
Thank you, I've got a question for staff on this.

1991
03:10:15,000 --> 03:10:24,000
So Councilmember Seagull referred to the memo and my understanding from that memo, and I'll just go ahead and read it,

1992
03:10:24,000 --> 03:10:30,000
but that we're supposed to be getting a briefing next month about this from the consultant.

1993
03:10:30,000 --> 03:10:35,000
And I think it's probably important that I put this, that I get this out there because this is what it says.

1994
03:10:36,000 --> 03:10:44,000
The staff's going to bring the item to Council in September 22nd, the work session for MCP, the consultant to present their final report recommendations.

1995
03:10:44,000 --> 03:10:59,000
The support will provide a comprehensive overview of the studies, evolution, outline the legal and operational constraints that shaped the analysis and further delineate the challenges and costs associated with creating a standalone joint emergency communications department.

1996
03:10:59,000 --> 03:11:14,000
The clarity is essential to ensure the complete understanding of the findings, the factors that rendered certain options and feasible under current conditions and MCP's recommendations to prioritize operational enhancements of our organizational restructuring at this time.

1997
03:11:14,000 --> 03:11:18,000
We look forward to presenting the details, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, the report.

1998
03:11:18,000 --> 03:11:26,000
My question for staff is does this need to be accelerated, cannot even be accelerated if the ideas that we are voting on this next week.

1999
03:11:30,000 --> 03:11:42,000
I'm just going to be attending a step up to the very deliberative establishing such a critically important service.

2000
03:11:42,000 --> 03:11:53,000
You just simply have to get it right, my understanding of Council member and there are certain credentials and requirements that are necessary before we could have a standalone call center.

2001
03:11:53,000 --> 03:12:08,000
My understanding of Council member Seagull's budget amendment is that it would leave the positions in Austin police and it would leave half of the funding in the Austin police department before those call takers in anticipation.

2002
03:12:08,000 --> 03:12:17,000
That within six months we would have met the necessary certifications we would have the director for the new department established at which time.

2003
03:12:17,000 --> 03:12:33,000
Those dollars could be moved over and at that timeline wasn't achievable, which I have to say I think that's going to be difficult to achieve, but if it wasn't achievable then the dollars would still be in this new department that could be transferred back to the police department.

2004
03:12:33,000 --> 03:12:52,000
So we would have the continuity of the call center, but essentially until the call center was ready to operate at this very typical operations or the department I should say that those positions would not be moved under the proposal that's before Council.

2005
03:12:52,000 --> 03:13:04,000
So I can just clarify quickly it's this is authorizing essentially the funding for the new department and those and the requisite changes that are involved with that.

2006
03:13:04,000 --> 03:13:10,000
There's two parts of the consultants that he once spoke to what it would take to stand up a department.

2007
03:13:10,000 --> 03:13:20,000
I hope to service and hands run technology and operational enhancements it could be made at the center that included additional staff positions and technology.

2008
03:13:20,000 --> 03:13:34,000
So this proposal from Councilmember Seagull would put money new money into the budget to fund those operational enhancements so it also put money in the budget for a director assistant director and support personnel for the new department.

2009
03:13:34,000 --> 03:13:46,000
Then looking over at the current police budget it's the last bullet on the slide up here is transferring a portion of the money that's currently in police into this new department.

2010
03:13:46,000 --> 03:14:02,000
Again an anticipation within six months this new department would really be ready to take over and at which time the staff could be moved into the new department and again if that didn't happen they would remain in APD until that could actually happen.

2011
03:14:02,000 --> 03:14:20,000
Meaning that the plan would still be to get the briefing in September by MCP and at that point we would make whatever decision council makes regarding the recommendations and if we instead chose to fund the first.

2012
03:14:20,000 --> 03:14:36,000
The first recommendation the 1.7 million dollar recommendation we would that would continue but if we made a different decision at that time to not proceed with funding a new department based on whatever our conversation the legal and other things that we may not know at this moment.

2013
03:14:36,000 --> 03:14:40,000
This other funding would revert back as that correct.

2014
03:14:40,000 --> 03:14:50,000
That's correct. Okay. Thank you. My concern is just that we may be getting ahead of our skis on this one based on not yet having that MCP.

2015
03:14:50,000 --> 03:15:00,000
That works session with the MCP final report the recommendations and their understanding around this item. Thank you. Thank you council roll.

2016
03:15:00,000 --> 03:15:08,000
Question for APD. The chief could come down yesterday. Once she does, I do have a clarifying question.

2017
03:15:08,000 --> 03:15:16,000
The first two bullets, there's the $859,000 that's edition, and then there's a separate edition of $600,000.

2018
03:15:16,000 --> 03:15:22,000
Is the 600,000 part of the $859,000 or is it $859,000?

2019
03:15:23,000 --> 03:15:30,000
It's plus, and a small amount in the third bullet of $37,000 is also a plus.

2020
03:15:30,000 --> 03:15:36,000
It was presented this week, because this is how it was presented by the consultant to staff and then staff summarized.

2021
03:15:36,000 --> 03:15:47,000
And that memo is the first bullet that really speaks to these operational enhancements that the consultant identified that had a price tag of $1.7 million over an 18-month period,

2022
03:15:47,000 --> 03:15:53,000
which is how it was presented, but it's kind of, it's not very helpful to talk about 18 months when you're in a 12-month budget discussion.

2023
03:15:53,000 --> 03:16:02,000
So the $859 is the amount of funding that would be needed in fiscal year 27 for those operational enhancements,

2024
03:16:02,000 --> 03:16:15,000
accounting for the delayed timing of hiring positions and what not the $600,000 is the cost associated again with the delayed timing of the hiring of these positions.

2025
03:16:15,000 --> 03:16:25,000
The $600,000 is the amount that would be needed in fiscal year 27 for the new director and assistant director and what would be three support personnel.

2026
03:16:25,000 --> 03:16:30,000
Okay, so $1.46 million ongoing.

2027
03:16:30,000 --> 03:16:43,000
Okay, my question for the chief is, which, this speaks to this civilian personnel, remind me the sworn personnel involved with the call center, I know,

2028
03:16:43,000 --> 03:16:51,000
I think that the top supervisor is a sworn person, but you should remind me all the sworn personnel involved with the 911 call center.

2029
03:16:51,000 --> 03:16:55,000
It's commander Lee Davis and one lieutenant, that's it.

2030
03:16:55,000 --> 03:17:02,000
And so this was moved out of PD, those two individuals would just be reassigned to some other duty.

2031
03:17:02,000 --> 03:17:09,000
I guess we'd have to see out works, I think they would have to be some kind of liaison work that's done between the two, for sure.

2032
03:17:09,000 --> 03:17:10,000
Okay.

2033
03:17:10,000 --> 03:17:27,000
And if I could, if I could just add, you said 1.4 million ongoing, which is correct, but there would be a cost escalation in fiscal year 28 as you move from partial year funding for those positions to full year funding, so the full annualized cost,

2034
03:17:27,000 --> 03:17:32,000
beginning in fiscal year 28 would be closer to $2 million.

2035
03:17:32,000 --> 03:17:36,000
Thank you, Councillor Nemo, single, what's going to single two?

2036
03:17:36,000 --> 03:17:37,000
Thank you.

2037
03:17:37,000 --> 03:17:54,000
The one correction, because the version two that we handed out had an update, the midyear funding transfer would be $8.8 million in the differences, because the CFO correctly added the associated C Tech cost, that would be part of the midyear transfer.

2038
03:17:54,000 --> 03:18:09,000
And I guess just to the time and question to respond briefly, I know we're not doing debate mayor, but one reason why we think this is possible is because previously the city was able to stand up for forensics department in a similar amount of time and obtain certifications in a similar amount of time.

2039
03:18:09,000 --> 03:18:10,000
All right.

2040
03:18:10,000 --> 03:18:11,000
Thank you, Mayor.

2041
03:18:11,000 --> 03:18:13,000
So I'll go to single motion sheet two.

2042
03:18:13,000 --> 03:18:18,000
This is for Violet, keep safe storage.

2043
03:18:18,000 --> 03:18:26,000
So I'm bringing a budget amendment to add $500,000 in ongoing funding to the Violet, keep safe storage program.

2044
03:18:26,000 --> 03:18:40,000
When our homeless strategies and operations office explain the new ramp up in Campman enforcement plan, we were told the plan involved offers of storage for people's belongings before sweeps through the Violet, keep safe storage program.

2045
03:18:40,000 --> 03:18:42,000
However, it's now clear that's not happening.

2046
03:18:42,000 --> 03:18:48,000
We spoken to both HSO and the Downtown Austin Community Court, which manages Violet, keep safe.

2047
03:18:48,000 --> 03:18:54,000
And we've learned that there's a weight list of over 100 people, and that demand has exceeded capacity for some time.

2048
03:18:54,000 --> 03:19:01,000
This means that, unfortunately, people are having their belongings, including valuables, and vital documents swept and tossed away without recourse.

2049
03:19:01,000 --> 03:19:08,000
Yesterday the city received a letter from attorneys at the ACLU of Texas and the Texas Civil Rights Project outlining,

2050
03:19:08,000 --> 03:19:18,000
not just the humanist of the situation, but also the fact that the city could be sued for violating the constitutional protections against illegal seating surger and the right to do process.

2051
03:19:18,000 --> 03:19:20,000
The letter, I quote says,

2052
03:19:20,000 --> 03:19:27,000
We have received reports from community organizations that raise concerns about whether the city of Austin's current practices comply with these constitutional guarantees.

2053
03:19:27,000 --> 03:19:36,000
People have reported 10 sliced open by city staff, and the seizure of belongings, including medication, birth certificates, and other government issued identification documents.

2054
03:19:36,000 --> 03:19:44,000
People have reported that these items were then thrown into dumpsters after officials gave people only minutes or sometimes seconds to gather what they can carry.

2055
03:19:44,000 --> 03:19:52,000
People further reported that affected individuals are not offered ways to store their belongings, and that they have been threatened with arrest during these encounters.

2056
03:19:52,000 --> 03:19:57,000
My office spoke with Robert Kingdom at the Downtown Community Court.

2057
03:19:57,000 --> 03:20:09,000
And he assured us that with this extra funding, they would be able to double the capacity of the Violet Keep Safe Storage Program, and partner with organizations to provide the service in locations across the city.

2058
03:20:09,000 --> 03:20:14,000
Director Gray also agreed there's a great need for this enhancement due to his department's enforcement initiative.

2059
03:20:14,000 --> 03:20:19,000
Given all this, I believe it is our moral and legal obligation to prioritize this funding.

2060
03:20:20,000 --> 03:20:23,000
Thank you Mr. Marion.

2061
03:20:23,000 --> 03:20:32,000
Generally speaking, this is an item that I would be happy to support, but especially given that it was referenced during Council Member Seagulls commentary.

2062
03:20:32,000 --> 03:20:35,000
I really like for the Council to have an opportunity.

2063
03:20:35,000 --> 03:20:40,000
We haven't talked about that letter, the contents of the letter or the implications of the letter yet.

2064
03:20:40,000 --> 03:20:48,000
So I'd feel uncomfortable with us making reference to it in relation to this amendment until we as a body have had an opportunity to be briefed.

2065
03:20:48,000 --> 03:20:51,000
And discuss the letter and its implications.

2066
03:20:51,000 --> 03:20:52,000
Thank you, Councillor.

2067
03:20:52,000 --> 03:20:55,000
Councillor Scheeke, let's go to item three.

2068
03:20:55,000 --> 03:20:56,000
Thank you, Mayor.

2069
03:20:56,000 --> 03:20:58,000
This last item is for fair free voting.

2070
03:20:58,000 --> 03:21:08,000
This amendment would transfer $75,000 to cap metro one time to fund one day of fair free transit service during early voting for the 2026 general election.

2071
03:21:08,000 --> 03:21:11,000
This is following the Resolution Council adopted in May.

2072
03:21:11,000 --> 03:21:17,000
And the African American Resource Advisory Commission recommendation in April to increase access to the polls by expanding the existing.

2073
03:21:17,000 --> 03:21:22,000
And successful program run by Cap Metro, which provides free transit service on election day.

2074
03:21:22,000 --> 03:21:33,000
This program has been demonstrated to increase ridership and the amendment builds off the staff memo of July 31 and will provide free ridership on the highest voter participation day of the early vote period.

2075
03:21:33,000 --> 03:21:40,000
My goal is also to connect with county officials who expressed an interest in matching the city's contribution to add one more day of free ridership during early vote.

2076
03:21:40,000 --> 03:21:42,000
And I'd love your support to this amendment.

2077
03:21:42,000 --> 03:21:43,000
Thank you, Mayor.

2078
03:21:43,000 --> 03:21:44,000
Thank you.

2079
03:21:45,000 --> 03:21:46,000
Councillor.

2080
03:21:46,000 --> 03:21:47,000
I'll go to you.

2081
03:21:47,000 --> 03:21:48,000
All right.

2082
03:21:48,000 --> 03:21:49,000
Thank you, Mayor.

2083
03:21:49,000 --> 03:21:54,000
I will flag that my motion sheet number one is partnered with the ISC's.

2084
03:21:54,000 --> 03:21:58,000
So I guess the question is, are we going to go through the ISC's after we do all the amendments?

2085
03:21:58,000 --> 03:21:59,000
That was the plan.

2086
03:21:59,000 --> 03:22:00,000
Okay.

2087
03:22:00,000 --> 03:22:03,000
We also have some other items on the agenda.

2088
03:22:03,000 --> 03:22:06,000
So, but I meant to will is the council.

2089
03:22:06,000 --> 03:22:08,000
So, however you want to do it.

2090
03:22:08,000 --> 03:22:10,000
Well, I didn't write a speech for this one.

2091
03:22:10,000 --> 03:22:15,000
I will just flag that it partners with the ISC just in case we need to reallocate dollars.

2092
03:22:15,000 --> 03:22:19,000
But it is to look at parks security and safety.

2093
03:22:19,000 --> 03:22:22,000
And so we have parks and recreation department.

2094
03:22:22,000 --> 03:22:27,000
Security, audit, findings and recommendations report, which will be the foundational resource for it.

2095
03:22:27,000 --> 03:22:37,000
But it is in response to issues with crime and shootings and parks and how to better amplify our public safety response until we get parks police back.

2096
03:22:37,000 --> 03:22:42,000
So that if that is a placeholder and on go over the ISC later if we get to it.

2097
03:22:42,000 --> 03:22:45,000
Okay.

2098
03:22:45,000 --> 03:22:47,000
Council member, cadre.

2099
03:22:47,000 --> 03:22:48,000
I'm sorry.

2100
03:22:48,000 --> 03:22:49,000
Yes.

2101
03:22:49,000 --> 03:22:50,000
Council member.

2102
03:22:50,000 --> 03:22:53,000
Not for today's conversation but for next week.

2103
03:22:53,000 --> 03:22:58,000
If we can have staff speak to the surveillance component of investing in this type of technology and equipment.

2104
03:22:58,000 --> 03:23:01,000
Just flagging that for next week's discussion.

2105
03:23:01,000 --> 03:23:02,000
Good.

2106
03:23:02,000 --> 03:23:03,000
Thank you.

2107
03:23:03,000 --> 03:23:04,000
Okay.

2108
03:23:04,000 --> 03:23:05,000
Council member.

2109
03:23:06,000 --> 03:23:07,000
Thank you.

2110
03:23:07,000 --> 03:23:08,000
Thank you.

2111
03:23:08,000 --> 03:23:09,000
Thank you.

2112
03:23:09,000 --> 03:23:11,000
So the first sheet I don't should have in front of them is the.

2113
03:23:11,000 --> 03:23:13,000
The number one.

2114
03:23:13,000 --> 03:23:20,000
The amendment provides one million dollars in additional funding for critical services supporting the survivors of domestic violence sexual assault and child abuse.

2115
03:23:20,000 --> 03:23:32,000
This investment will help ensure survivors and families continue to have access to safe housing crisis support and services that permit long terms stability.

2116
03:23:33,000 --> 03:23:40,000
Is this type of service within our bucket of social services or is this something separate.

2117
03:23:40,000 --> 03:23:42,000
This is separate.

2118
03:23:42,000 --> 03:23:43,000
Okay.

2119
03:23:43,000 --> 03:23:44,000
That's a lot.

2120
03:23:44,000 --> 03:23:45,000
Thank you.

2121
03:23:45,000 --> 03:23:46,000
Thank you.

2122
03:23:46,000 --> 03:23:48,000
Thank you.

2123
03:23:48,000 --> 03:23:50,000
I did number two.

2124
03:23:50,000 --> 03:23:53,000
For those of you who are in the council back in 2023.

2125
03:23:53,000 --> 03:23:56,000
I bought forward in a pilot program.

2126
03:23:57,000 --> 03:24:02,000
Which of the time was the largest local funded driven spiking prevention pilot in the country.

2127
03:24:02,000 --> 03:24:07,000
Since launching in April of 2024 more than 70 bars and venues have participated.

2128
03:24:07,000 --> 03:24:11,000
Everywhere from rainy street to six street to the east side.

2129
03:24:11,000 --> 03:24:13,000
And it's been a valuable.

2130
03:24:13,000 --> 03:24:18,000
You know resource for prevention across across Austin.

2131
03:24:18,000 --> 03:24:23,000
So I'm I'm bringing forward this amendment to continue that investment and cover the relatively minimal cost.

2132
03:24:23,000 --> 03:24:29,000
A first in test trips and other supplies needed to sustain the program that the pilot itself was a hundred thousand dollars.

2133
03:24:29,000 --> 03:24:33,000
What we're looking at is ongoing funding amounting to about twenty thousand dollars.

2134
03:24:33,000 --> 03:24:36,000
And this is in modest investment in my opinion.

2135
03:24:36,000 --> 03:24:48,000
In a preventative tool that APD has identified as effective particularly given that an estimated 10 to 14 percent of reported sex crime cases have a connection to a bar or nightclub.

2136
03:24:49,000 --> 03:24:50,000
Thank you.

2137
03:24:50,000 --> 03:24:51,000
Thank you.

2138
03:24:51,000 --> 03:24:53,000
Now we'll go to cadre three.

2139
03:24:53,000 --> 03:24:54,000
Great.

2140
03:24:54,000 --> 03:24:55,000
Okay.

2141
03:24:55,000 --> 03:24:56,000
Last amendment.

2142
03:24:56,000 --> 03:24:57,000
Gotery amendment three.

2143
03:24:57,000 --> 03:25:02,000
I wanted it to daylight in an item that we're excited to bring forward.

2144
03:25:02,000 --> 03:25:06,000
We learned that the amendment that that isn't front of y'all.

2145
03:25:06,000 --> 03:25:09,000
We'll have to be turned into an IFC so we're going to work on that.

2146
03:25:09,000 --> 03:25:11,000
But I wanted to think.

2147
03:25:11,000 --> 03:25:20,000
There's hypermedicine point as Alaska's an altar for working with our office on this item and also wanting to think staff in our local housing experts also with their help.

2148
03:25:20,000 --> 03:25:29,000
But throughout our budget work sessions we've been collecting more details on the future of our displacement prevention services historically funded through the housing trust fund.

2149
03:25:29,000 --> 03:25:34,000
Through many discussions with staff at appears we do not have funding into fiscal year twenty seven.

2150
03:25:34,000 --> 03:25:39,000
To maintain many of our important legacy services we have been spreading such as displacement navigators.

2151
03:25:39,000 --> 03:25:48,000
Which is something that Councilor Fuenthus has championed and tenant representation education and legal services which I know is a key priority of many of us in council.

2152
03:25:48,000 --> 03:25:56,000
These housing related services run out of Austin's committee keeping people in their homes and communities both upstream and downstream of eviction.

2153
03:25:56,000 --> 03:26:06,000
I remember in calls to restore ongoing funding to these services and our displacement prevention program and to evaluate the performance and impact alongside our social service contracts.

2154
03:26:06,000 --> 03:26:13,000
One of these programs listed here aim to continue to fund important work such as the displacement navigation program and our upstream legal services.

2155
03:26:13,000 --> 03:26:21,000
Others are new programs such as a court based downstream legal services contract and attacks in a state planning program both data.

2156
03:26:21,000 --> 03:26:24,000
Programs helpful in rounding out displacement prevention.

2157
03:26:24,000 --> 03:26:31,000
Lastly all remaining funds would go towards additional relocation assistance as we see this funding bucket run out quickly every year.

2158
03:26:31,000 --> 03:26:37,000
The request from our community is three million dollars every year and this item would get us two hundred sixty thousand dollars closer to that goal.

2159
03:26:37,000 --> 03:26:48,000
Our item also calls for these programs to be evaluated and prioritized in the ongoing work on social services so that they are not overlooked as a meaningful contributions to our housing and homelessness goals.

2160
03:26:48,000 --> 03:26:49,000
Thank you.

2161
03:26:49,000 --> 03:26:51,000
Councilmember.

2162
03:26:51,000 --> 03:26:53,000
Okay that will take us to Councilmember.

2163
03:26:53,000 --> 03:26:55,000
Reduction.

2164
03:26:55,000 --> 03:26:57,000
Thank you Mayor.

2165
03:26:57,000 --> 03:27:00,000
I'd like to introduce.

2166
03:27:00,000 --> 03:27:06,000
Deution one which is an amendment to help the Parks Department acquire a wood shipper.

2167
03:27:06,000 --> 03:27:10,000
Currently our understanding is that Austin resource recovery.

2168
03:27:10,000 --> 03:27:15,000
Enterprise department charges parks around eighty thousand dollars a year.

2169
03:27:15,000 --> 03:27:24,000
For similar services and this would allow parks to be able to acquire chipper and essentially pay for the item within two or three years and most.

2170
03:27:24,000 --> 03:27:29,000
I also understand that Parks is found a partner for this that is quote unquote chipped in for the chipper.

2171
03:27:29,000 --> 03:27:33,000
Which is why the cost.

2172
03:27:33,000 --> 03:27:38,000
I was probably four years old now.

2173
03:27:38,000 --> 03:27:49,000
So I'll just say very quick I think this is the kind of economics we ought to be investing in both in terms of leveraging other dollars as well as.

2174
03:27:49,000 --> 03:27:53,000
As well as the quick turnaround the ROI on this so look forward to discussion next week.

2175
03:27:53,000 --> 03:27:55,000
Thank you councilmember.

2176
03:27:55,000 --> 03:27:59,000
Councilmember Vloss because you're recognized if you won't be as chippy.

2177
03:27:59,000 --> 03:28:01,000
Oh man.

2178
03:28:01,000 --> 03:28:08,000
See mayor not I was going to I was going to support your amendment for there are elevators and now I'm going to have.

2179
03:28:08,000 --> 03:28:18,000
Mary and colleagues I apologize I don't have a speech for each one of my items but we were waiting for a few answers to mine.

2180
03:28:18,000 --> 03:28:24,000
I don't aren't in the in the back up but we'll be putting up a message word post to there but he has access to them.

2181
03:28:24,000 --> 03:28:37,000
I Velocca's number one is going to be 350 to eight H S O to change the status of three full time temporary positions to full time permanent and 250 in funding to continue street and community outreach.

2182
03:28:37,000 --> 03:28:42,000
Contracts with partner organizations number two is going to be to parks increase.

2183
03:28:42,000 --> 03:28:49,000
APR budget by 500,000 to maintain funding for operations and maintenance cost and the third one is a library allocation.

2184
03:28:49,000 --> 03:28:55,000
To APL for social worker related community support and library locations across the city as appropriate.

2185
03:28:55,000 --> 03:28:57,000
I hope that was quick enough.

2186
03:28:57,000 --> 03:28:58,000
Yes ma'am.

2187
03:28:58,000 --> 03:29:00,000
I have everybody.

2188
03:29:00,000 --> 03:29:04,000
No no that's what I was saying is it my I will wait for answer but they'll be on the message board soon.

2189
03:29:04,000 --> 03:29:06,000
Thank you councilmember.

2190
03:29:06,000 --> 03:29:19,000
There's I had that proposed amendment that we because of what council I mean what staff is doing with regard to the change in the base budget.

2191
03:29:19,000 --> 03:29:21,000
Any time going over it.

2192
03:29:21,000 --> 03:29:23,000
Councilmember condition you want to be recognized again.

2193
03:29:23,000 --> 03:29:26,000
Yeah thank you so I forgot to mention I know the conversation came up.

2194
03:29:26,000 --> 03:29:31,000
Councilmember Fuente as referred to it earlier about sort of how do we pay for the items.

2195
03:29:31,000 --> 03:29:35,000
And so I just want to briefly call the retention.

2196
03:29:35,000 --> 03:29:39,000
To review when you have an opportunity they.

2197
03:29:39,000 --> 03:29:44,000
What I post of the message board this afternoon which is essentially a collection of proposals for.

2198
03:29:44,000 --> 03:29:49,000
They could eventually arrive at a reduced budget even a two and a half percent budget.

2199
03:29:49,000 --> 03:29:55,000
I recognize we're not going to agree on some of those items being included on there but I do believe we could agree on.

2200
03:29:55,000 --> 03:30:00,000
Some of them that could ultimately fund some of the priorities that we're talking about this afternoon.

2201
03:30:00,000 --> 03:30:09,000
If we can see some amendments. Very brilliantly we worked very hard to work with departments, get information and

2202
03:30:09,000 --> 03:30:18,000
trying to identify kind of the most palatable or most tolerable cuts, knowing that all of those cuts, really any of those cuts are not easy cuts to make.

2203
03:30:18,000 --> 03:30:26,000
I do think they're well distributed across 20 plus departments. I'd certainly be happy to entertain other cuts that other members would like to offer,

2204
03:30:26,000 --> 03:30:29,000
but at this time I think other than myself and Council Member Alter, we don't have a lot to choose.

2205
03:30:29,000 --> 03:30:42,000
We don't have a lot to choose from. So I'd encourage y'all to consider that there is value in least working through some of those items and having the appearance of considering kind of both sides of our ledger.

2206
03:30:42,000 --> 03:30:49,000
Because I think we're in a moment, especially now that we've got a bond in the ballot, I think there's value in showing that we can exercise.

2207
03:30:49,000 --> 03:30:58,000
The same kind of discipline and circumstance that pretty much every family and business and our community also has to consider that there's wisdom in doing that.

2208
03:30:58,000 --> 03:31:00,000
Thank y'all. Thank y'all. Thank y'all. Thank y'all.

2209
03:31:00,000 --> 03:31:10,000
I just wanted to highlight for my colleague council and my second amendment, it seeks to cut 10% from consulting spending on the general fund.

2210
03:31:10,000 --> 03:31:13,000
So also providing an area where we can save costs.

2211
03:31:13,000 --> 03:31:19,000
I'm a council and I really appreciate you taking the time to identify cuts overall with the city of Austin.

2212
03:31:19,000 --> 03:31:23,000
I can tell you spent a lot of time on it and a lot of hard work and consideration went into it.

2213
03:31:23,000 --> 03:31:26,000
And I think it would be fair.

2214
03:31:26,000 --> 03:31:32,000
Manager perhaps next week you can offer a response as to what those proposed cuts how they would impact city services.

2215
03:31:32,000 --> 03:31:37,000
Instead of going line by line, maybe we can just have a general comment on it.

2216
03:31:37,000 --> 03:31:39,000
That'd be helpful for the conversation.

2217
03:31:39,000 --> 03:31:40,000
I agree. Thank you.

2218
03:31:40,000 --> 03:31:42,000
Thanks council member. All right.

2219
03:31:42,000 --> 03:31:44,000
Members.

2220
03:31:44,000 --> 03:31:49,000
I think we're ready to go to proposed IFCs.

2221
03:31:50,000 --> 03:31:52,000
And we'll go in the order of the packet.

2222
03:31:52,000 --> 03:31:57,000
Council member alter you recognize first on alter IFC one.

2223
03:31:57,000 --> 03:32:06,000
Very good. This is around a parks maintenance study when we set our fees for.

2224
03:32:06,000 --> 03:32:12,000
In this case when people use our parks and have to restore them.

2225
03:32:12,000 --> 03:32:16,000
We have not just done the cost of study analysis.

2226
03:32:16,000 --> 03:32:20,000
As it relates to both the maintenance of that space to restore it.

2227
03:32:20,000 --> 03:32:27,000
And some of the fees things like load in times and just associated costs with those.

2228
03:32:27,000 --> 03:32:30,000
So this is to charge staff to go.

2229
03:32:30,000 --> 03:32:33,000
It's for the park staff to go do that.

2230
03:32:33,000 --> 03:32:41,000
Study and then come back to us and give any recommendations on how our fee structure might need to be updated.

2231
03:32:41,000 --> 03:32:53,000
As a reflection of this and the hope is to then use any additional dollars if there are some from that recommendation to go into a fund.

2232
03:32:53,000 --> 03:33:02,000
We established year to provide supplemental funding for our parks, which is something we're always trying to find but never really able to do.

2233
03:33:02,000 --> 03:33:05,000
So that's IFC number one.

2234
03:33:05,000 --> 03:33:09,000
And I appreciate why I wish I had to listen to my co-sponsors.

2235
03:33:09,000 --> 03:33:13,000
If you're I know Councillor Ellis says I can't remember already else. I'm sorry.

2236
03:33:13,000 --> 03:33:15,000
But I appreciate you very much.

2237
03:33:15,000 --> 03:33:16,000
Yeah.

2238
03:33:16,000 --> 03:33:17,000
You've read the love.

2239
03:33:17,000 --> 03:33:19,000
But in part of what.

2240
03:33:19,000 --> 03:33:24,000
With the layout of these is if somebody wants to sign on to an IFC.

2241
03:33:24,000 --> 03:33:32,000
We now it's laid out there and let us know or let staff know and we'll get that get that done.

2242
03:33:32,000 --> 03:33:35,000
And I do want to just make one clarification on the update.

2243
03:33:35,000 --> 03:33:50,000
We worked with Councillor Harper Madison's office to make sure that we're recognizing that some this funding and the study should look at some of our parks like Walter Lone that have not been invested in and we should be doing that.

2244
03:33:50,000 --> 03:33:54,000
So I really appreciate your addition there to that.

2245
03:33:54,000 --> 03:34:02,000
Number two, this is looking at the fiscal year 2728 social service conversation.

2246
03:34:02,000 --> 03:34:07,000
I really want to thank you, Mayor Watson, for your.

2247
03:34:07,000 --> 03:34:19,000
Starting this process as it relates, you know, going back and looking at our social services and figuring out what's the right framework for that and then through this budget.

2248
03:34:19,000 --> 03:34:27,000
Being, you know, figuring out how we can make the smartest investments in the most prudent investments in the current budget.

2249
03:34:27,000 --> 03:34:30,000
And I think this is hopefully intended to build on that.

2250
03:34:30,000 --> 03:34:46,000
And as you mentioned in your IFC, we're going to you're asking the manager to come back and work with the council and this just kind of lays out some additional metrics or parameters for that work so that we can be part of the process and understand.

2251
03:34:46,000 --> 03:34:56,000
Exactly is going on so that we're not caught at the end and I know manager you always intend to to keep us well informed.

2252
03:34:56,000 --> 03:35:11,000
So this is not an indictment of that, but I think utilizing our committees as a potential space to do that and we have listed here some of the categories where makes most sense with the committees and so I think that's going to be a good all.

2253
03:35:11,000 --> 03:35:22,000
Just venue for us to have that discussion before we do any kind of resolicitation as part of the social service reset and I appreciate my co-sponsors council member Velasquez point as cadre and the mayor.

2254
03:35:22,000 --> 03:35:24,000
Thank you.

2255
03:35:24,000 --> 03:35:27,000
Let's go to all three I actually three.

2256
03:35:27,000 --> 03:35:38,000
This is a marketing on the discussion I had with APD just having them go look at their KPIs and figure out are they.

2257
03:35:38,000 --> 03:36:04,000
The type of outcomes focus targets we want rather than just looking at some of the front end of the system let's focus on what results we want to see and so this will have that study occur that review and then go to the public safety commission committee where I know chair Velasquez will pick it up and make it happen.

2258
03:36:04,000 --> 03:36:07,000
Okay.

2259
03:36:07,000 --> 03:36:12,000
Then we'll go to council member Fuentes and then she'll be followed by council member Ellis.

2260
03:36:12,000 --> 03:36:20,000
Thank you colleagues my I've see it relates to adding and emphasizing micro businesses these are businesses with 20 employees or less.

2261
03:36:20,000 --> 03:36:33,000
Into the city's economic framework they've developed a map that has a number of new economic development tools and really just want to underscore and emphasize micro businesses your true small mom and pop shop so direct staff to.

2262
03:36:34,000 --> 03:36:41,000
Look at creating a fee waiver program for those emerging businesses and it provides direction around that program.

2263
03:36:41,000 --> 03:36:43,000
Thank you.

2264
03:36:43,000 --> 03:36:46,000
Okay, let's go to council member Ellis.

2265
03:36:46,000 --> 03:36:48,000
Thank you mayor.

2266
03:36:48,000 --> 03:36:56,000
So my first resolution is going to be the one that I had alluded to earlier and it is for our park security items.

2267
03:36:56,000 --> 03:37:00,000
Approva resolution directing the city manager to develop a security implementation plan.

2268
03:37:00,000 --> 03:37:06,000
I've had a really really great conversation with chief Davis yesterday and so we're going to keep working through some of those details.

2269
03:37:06,000 --> 03:37:11,000
But it does specify that it would be in full compliance with the trust act and also makes reference to.

2270
03:37:11,000 --> 03:37:19,000
I think we're going to update the language to say city parks with a history of violent crime we had started with crimes against persons.

2271
03:37:20,000 --> 03:37:30,000
And the reasoning behind that is specifically around we know that you know different parks different users different neighborhoods have different desires about how park safety is going to work for them.

2272
03:37:30,000 --> 03:37:34,000
But I know that I have had a murder on my side of Barton Springs.

2273
03:37:34,000 --> 03:37:44,000
Ryan has had a murder on his side of Barton Springs and we just need to make sure that our parks are not a free for all for crime and they aren't the places where people go to commit crimes because they don't think anybody's around.

2274
03:37:44,000 --> 03:37:48,000
So that is what this item aims to tackle and I appreciate my co-sponsors.

2275
03:37:48,000 --> 03:37:52,000
Chris Elaine, Ryan Alter, Mark Duchen and Tito Villa.

2276
03:37:52,000 --> 03:37:55,000
And then should I move on to the.

2277
03:37:55,000 --> 03:37:57,000
This is I have seen number six.

2278
03:37:57,000 --> 03:37:58,000
Yes.

2279
03:37:58,000 --> 03:37:59,000
Yes.

2280
03:37:59,000 --> 03:38:00,000
Tell me the deal.

2281
03:38:00,000 --> 03:38:01,000
We all.

2282
03:38:01,000 --> 03:38:05,000
Counselor Dallas, would you accept an amendment that basically precludes artificial intelligence.

2283
03:38:05,000 --> 03:38:06,000
Powered cameras.

2284
03:38:06,000 --> 03:38:08,000
The intent is not to use AI.

2285
03:38:08,000 --> 03:38:09,000
Okay.

2286
03:38:09,000 --> 03:38:11,000
Or cloud storage or anything like that.

2287
03:38:11,000 --> 03:38:12,000
Thank you.

2288
03:38:12,000 --> 03:38:15,000
That's perfectly in line with what I'm hoping to achieve.

2289
03:38:15,000 --> 03:38:23,000
And because we have the trust act and what she and as she laid it out, she indicated that the trust act would be followed.

2290
03:38:23,000 --> 03:38:32,000
The council passed the trust act with the idea that it would be what we could then utilize to create guardrails for these sorts of things.

2291
03:38:32,000 --> 03:38:36,000
And so now that we have that people can have confidence.

2292
03:38:36,000 --> 03:38:40,000
And I want to make sure that everybody understands that.

2293
03:38:40,000 --> 03:38:41,000
Thank you.

2294
03:38:41,000 --> 03:38:42,000
Thank you.

2295
03:38:42,000 --> 03:38:43,000
Can't be realist.

2296
03:38:43,000 --> 03:38:46,000
And this next item is to solve a very interesting.

2297
03:38:46,000 --> 03:38:53,000
Problem in circle C, which is that we have an amazing circle C metro park, which is soon to get its phase one dog park.

2298
03:38:53,000 --> 03:39:02,000
And we have the Hillshire tract Greenbelt and there's about 250 feet that separate connecting the trail into the metro park.

2299
03:39:02,000 --> 03:39:11,000
But what is next to it is water quality protection land that's fed stuff and a little pocket HOA within circle C.

2300
03:39:11,000 --> 03:39:29,000
And so we're just trying to fill that 250 foot gap, talking with Austin water and talking with Parks and Recreation to help figure out how we can all be team players and achieve the goals of connecting parks and trails together while also being able to keep and maintain our water quality protection land standards.

2301
03:39:29,000 --> 03:39:30,000
Thank you.

2302
03:39:30,000 --> 03:39:31,000
Questions?

2303
03:39:31,000 --> 03:39:32,000
Thank you.

2304
03:39:32,000 --> 03:39:33,000
Thank you to the co-sponsors.

2305
03:39:33,000 --> 03:39:34,000
All right.

2306
03:39:34,000 --> 03:39:41,000
That will take us to council member Lane on what is IFC 7 in your packet.

2307
03:39:41,000 --> 03:39:43,000
And I will be.

2308
03:39:43,000 --> 03:39:44,000
We'll be.

2309
03:39:44,000 --> 03:39:45,000
Mayor.

2310
03:39:45,000 --> 03:39:46,000
So council.

2311
03:39:46,000 --> 03:39:48,000
Thank you.

2312
03:39:48,000 --> 03:39:49,000
Mayor.

2313
03:39:49,000 --> 03:39:58,000
I would like to speak to my budget resolution, creating an office of joint emergency communications within the management services department.

2314
03:39:58,000 --> 03:40:00,000
I'd like to thank my co-sponsors on this.

2315
03:40:00,000 --> 03:40:02,000
Council member Velasquez.

2316
03:40:02,000 --> 03:40:04,000
What's hope I do not forget someone.

2317
03:40:04,000 --> 03:40:06,000
Council member Velasquez.

2318
03:40:06,000 --> 03:40:09,000
Council member altering council member Siegel.

2319
03:40:09,000 --> 03:40:12,000
Thank you very much for helping me bring this forward.

2320
03:40:12,000 --> 03:40:14,000
The IFC allocates resources.

2321
03:40:14,000 --> 03:40:15,000
I'm sorry.

2322
03:40:15,000 --> 03:40:16,000
The office.

2323
03:40:16,000 --> 03:40:22,000
The IFC directs to create is our first step towards creating an independent 911 department.

2324
03:40:22,000 --> 03:40:27,000
It allocates resources towards those efforts and allows city staff to determine the best path forward.

2325
03:40:27,000 --> 03:40:31,000
While ensuring that council stays engaged in the process.

2326
03:40:31,000 --> 03:40:33,000
I.

2327
03:40:33,000 --> 03:40:36,000
I am not bringing a budget amendment for the IFC.

2328
03:40:36,000 --> 03:40:40,000
And so I know we have council member Siegel's budget amendment.

2329
03:40:40,000 --> 03:40:43,000
I think in form has been very helpful.

2330
03:40:43,000 --> 03:40:47,000
But because of that difference, I would like to ask a couple questions myself of staff.

2331
03:40:47,000 --> 03:40:52,000
I think that they'll primarily be for UCN Batista, but feel free to tag to me a few.

2332
03:40:52,000 --> 03:41:13,000
Thank you.

2333
03:41:13,000 --> 03:41:17,000
Thank you for coming forward, ACN Batista.

2334
03:41:17,000 --> 03:41:21,000
Welcome to Austin.

2335
03:41:21,000 --> 03:41:23,000
So my first question.

2336
03:41:23,000 --> 03:41:29,000
Have you had the opportunity to review the IFC that I'm bringing forward an independent priority?

2337
03:41:29,000 --> 03:41:31,000
Good afternoon, Mayor.

2338
03:41:31,000 --> 03:41:32,000
Mr. Mayor.

2339
03:41:32,000 --> 03:41:42,000
I think do I have staff support for the IFC and as an entirety or do I not?

2340
03:41:42,000 --> 03:41:45,000
You do have our support in moving this forward.

2341
03:41:45,000 --> 03:41:47,000
Thank you.

2342
03:41:47,000 --> 03:41:55,000
And when you say that I have staff support in the IFC contemplates a couple of different stages.

2343
03:41:55,000 --> 03:41:59,000
I have comments related to his comments.

2344
03:41:59,000 --> 03:42:03,000
The IFC contemplates stages.

2345
03:42:03,000 --> 03:42:11,000
The first stage in your one being the creation of an office of joint emergency communications.

2346
03:42:11,000 --> 03:42:14,000
When you say that I have staff support.

2347
03:42:14,000 --> 03:42:21,000
I would like to understand what level of first hire for that department is supported.

2348
03:42:21,000 --> 03:42:23,000
Is it a director level hire?

2349
03:42:23,000 --> 03:42:26,000
Is it a...

2350
03:42:26,000 --> 03:42:29,000
Some form of manager or coordinator level of hire?

2351
03:42:29,000 --> 03:42:31,000
What level of hire are you supportive of?

2352
03:42:31,000 --> 03:42:34,000
We're supportive of a director level hire.

2353
03:42:34,000 --> 03:42:42,000
With the caveat, of course, that we have indications from the consultant that this is not the preferred method.

2354
03:42:42,000 --> 03:42:48,000
But at the end of the day, if this is the way the council wants to go, we're prepared to go in that direction.

2355
03:42:48,000 --> 03:42:55,000
Another major caveat is the amount of time that it would take in order to be able to complete this transfer in a safe way.

2356
03:42:55,000 --> 03:43:00,000
Because unlike the forensic science area, which is vitally important,

2357
03:43:00,000 --> 03:43:07,000
911 is the entry point to all emergency communications with the city and our response to those calls.

2358
03:43:07,000 --> 03:43:10,000
So it is vitally important that we get that right.

2359
03:43:10,000 --> 03:43:15,000
That's what requires more time and more staff work in order to get it off the ground safely.

2360
03:43:15,000 --> 03:43:16,000
Thank you.

2361
03:43:16,000 --> 03:43:22,000
If the intention of my IFCS2 ultimately create an independent department of joint emergency communications,

2362
03:43:22,000 --> 03:43:26,000
what do you believe to be the most effective first hire?

2363
03:43:26,000 --> 03:43:30,000
The director level hire or something different?

2364
03:43:30,000 --> 03:43:35,000
I would tend to go with the recommendation from the consultant,

2365
03:43:35,000 --> 03:43:41,000
but if the wish is to start with a director, we can start with a director and begin to lay the path frame,

2366
03:43:41,000 --> 03:43:46,000
the path towards creating a joint emergency communication center.

2367
03:43:46,000 --> 03:43:51,000
My next question is for director laying some time within the last week or so.

2368
03:43:51,000 --> 03:44:02,000
I asked for the cost difference between if we think of the memo that lays out alternative A with a 911 communications manager,

2369
03:44:02,000 --> 03:44:06,000
an alternative C with a director and assistant director and support staff.

2370
03:44:06,000 --> 03:44:14,000
And as I asked a week or two ago to understand what the cost difference is on the salaries for three levels.

2371
03:44:14,000 --> 03:44:21,000
The director, the assistant director, and this 911 communications manager that you're more supportive of.

2372
03:44:21,000 --> 03:44:24,000
If you were given a choice, I assume it's used to.

2373
03:44:24,000 --> 03:44:27,000
And so have you been able to find the answer to that?

2374
03:44:28,000 --> 03:44:30,000
Can you have that answer council member?

2375
03:44:30,000 --> 03:44:31,000
Thank you, Mr. Renee.

2376
03:44:31,000 --> 03:44:39,000
The, but we're estimating for the, these are all fully loaded salaries, benefits, retirement contributions for everything.

2377
03:44:39,000 --> 03:44:54,000
The director position, about 284,000 annually, assistant director, 240,000 and the like a manager level civilian leadership position for the center,

2378
03:44:54,000 --> 03:44:57,000
and $1090,000.

2379
03:44:57,000 --> 03:45:00,000
And then the salary amounts.

2380
03:45:00,000 --> 03:45:02,000
None of the fully loaded figures you just provided.

2381
03:45:02,000 --> 03:45:07,000
I don't have them in front of me, but we absolutely have them and could get them to you.

2382
03:45:07,000 --> 03:45:15,000
Thank you. You know, take about 35 percent off of those, you know, about 35 percent of that total number is probably for, you know, benefits and retirements.

2383
03:45:15,000 --> 03:45:27,000
But we can provide you that information and, you know, pursuing to the consultants report it's that civilian leadership position and what the consultant recommended was a manager level position.

2384
03:45:27,000 --> 03:45:34,000
If we went with the standalone department and had a director and an assistant director, you wouldn't need that position. Those would be duplicative.

2385
03:45:34,000 --> 03:45:45,000
Can either of you describe the difference in skills and experience that you believe would come from this level of manager versus a director level higher?

2386
03:45:45,000 --> 03:45:56,000
My experience is that a manager of this level would be able to work in order to address the outlying issues regarding call processing times.

2387
03:45:56,000 --> 03:46:06,000
The acquisition of technology and bringing expertise from the communications world into the communication center. Yes.

2388
03:46:06,000 --> 03:46:15,000
So years of experience, type of experience, any difference for this manager versus the director?

2389
03:46:15,000 --> 03:46:25,000
I think the director would bring those things that would just be obviously at a higher level with a higher expectation in their mind of what their responsibilities would be in the long term.

2390
03:46:25,000 --> 03:46:35,000
Okay. So, as I said, I haven't brought a budget amendment. I haven't found a source of funds.

2391
03:46:35,000 --> 03:46:49,000
We have stated that you are as staff recommendation fully supportive of my IFC, which would preserve, fully preserve the possibility of the efficiently establishing an independent joint emergency communications department.

2392
03:46:49,000 --> 03:47:03,000
So with that in mind, is staff prepared to bring their recommendation of a source of funding for alternative A with the exception that the director level higher is made as the first higher of the office.

2393
03:47:03,000 --> 03:47:11,000
And I know that yes, yes, yes, but we also, you know, we have a number of resolutions from council members requesting us to identify different funds.

2394
03:47:11,000 --> 03:47:21,000
And so that's what we're going to be working on over the course of the next week is looking at your proposals and how they might be funded and what opportunities or recommendations we can come back with.

2395
03:47:21,000 --> 03:47:24,000
Here is one of those videos. We will do that work.

2396
03:47:24,000 --> 03:47:35,000
Well, so director of you know, would you be able to provide me as follow a draft of some sort of outline or is it better to just wait until you consider all of them.

2397
03:47:35,000 --> 03:47:39,000
And outline for the funding sources or says a funding.

2398
03:47:39,000 --> 03:47:52,000
I can't do that right now because you know we're going to be looking at if there's anything on the revenue side we're going to be looking at other reductions it could be you know potentially made at the end of the day the budget has to be balanced.

2399
03:47:52,000 --> 03:48:03,000
You know, there's a difference between one time funds and ongoing funds capital funds. So we're going to be looking at all the recommendations and trying to come up with a way to get you where you want to be when we come back to you.

2400
03:48:03,000 --> 03:48:12,000
Next week hopefully with some type of omnibus package, but you know it's kind of a complex equation. So I don't have right now for you with the outline for how we're going to get there.

2401
03:48:12,000 --> 03:48:20,000
What it'll be but we'll be fair and that out over the remainder of this week over the weekend and leading up to next Wednesday's budget option hearing.

2402
03:48:20,000 --> 03:48:25,000
Okay, this is where I need to thank council member Seagull for.

2403
03:48:25,000 --> 03:48:38,000
He was not an original co-sponsor when I brought this IFC last year and he came to me and asked if he could join in co-sponsorship in order to help with finding sources of funds.

2404
03:48:38,000 --> 03:48:47,000
And that divulging too much here and I was very grateful for any assistance in that department and I.

2405
03:48:47,000 --> 03:48:56,000
I've been able to continue this thought in a moment. I have one more question first, which is council member Alter asked about the ongoing costs of.

2406
03:48:56,000 --> 03:49:07,000
IFC with council member singles amendment. Okay, and you provided an answer. Do you have an estimate of the ongoing cost if a director level higher is made and.

2407
03:49:07,000 --> 03:49:18,000
Alternative a is implemented and full. And if you don't I would love to have that as follow up.

2408
03:49:19,000 --> 03:49:37,000
So you're saying the consultants recommended alternative A but with the director level position will provide the number for you in response as well, but click that would be about 1.25 million.

2409
03:49:37,000 --> 03:49:46,000
Okay, and I ask for that ongoing cost because one I know that some of the financial lines up here really want to know about recurring costs.

2410
03:49:46,000 --> 03:49:58,000
I do as well and I'm certainly aware of the possibility that a consulting report comes in and staff makes recommendations and all this and then and the director level higher is made.

2411
03:49:58,000 --> 03:50:09,000
And then an ultimate conclusions presented to council that perhaps passes and that does not form that independent department instead it sticks with this office.

2412
03:50:09,000 --> 03:50:20,000
I myself need to have a director level higher as the first higher to preserve the possibility of the independent department, which is the intent of the IFC in order to.

2413
03:50:20,000 --> 03:50:26,000
To support anything other than council member singles amendment. So saying that in public.

2414
03:50:26,000 --> 03:50:30,000
And now I'm returning to questions.

2415
03:50:31,000 --> 03:50:36,000
I'd like to be called on again if I ran out of time.

2416
03:50:36,000 --> 03:50:38,000
That's what we'll have to do.

2417
03:50:38,000 --> 03:50:41,000
Okay, sounds good to me.

2418
03:50:41,000 --> 03:50:46,000
I have one last question in that case. Thank you for letting me know.

2419
03:50:46,000 --> 03:50:53,000
Actually, I'll return. Thanks.

2420
03:50:53,000 --> 03:51:04,000
Okay, thank you. Council member will go to council member to Mayor Potembaela. He is two proposals.

2421
03:51:04,000 --> 03:51:09,000
Thank you very much, Mayor. The first one is.

2422
03:51:09,000 --> 03:51:11,000
And just to be frank.

2423
03:51:12,000 --> 03:51:19,000
The result of the horrible flooding that we saw in the Hill Country both last year.

2424
03:51:19,000 --> 03:51:23,000
And then again this year.

2425
03:51:23,000 --> 03:51:28,000
The and in just discussion with watershed.

2426
03:51:28,000 --> 03:51:35,000
We really need to invest in our flood control in Austin.

2427
03:51:35,000 --> 03:51:39,000
We have many, many low water crossings.

2428
03:51:39,000 --> 03:51:50,000
We have many different small spots that will flood that do flood and even sometimes a moderate rain.

2429
03:51:50,000 --> 03:52:01,000
And our just capital needs for flood control in watershed just so far outpace the dollars that we have available.

2430
03:52:01,000 --> 03:52:16,000
I know that the staff is proposing an increase to the drainage utility charge that everybody pays on the on there as part of their utility bill.

2431
03:52:16,000 --> 03:52:30,000
And and just to make a point that that charge is a authorized by state statute that that this was I think a response decades ago to major flooding that to give us an avenue for investing in flood control.

2432
03:52:31,000 --> 03:52:47,000
I just there's an urgency to that right now and so I'm proposing and I have seen a direct city manager to go back and look at the amount of the increase and see if it's sufficient.

2433
03:52:47,000 --> 03:52:58,000
And if not to raise it and to dedicate that additional money that's brought in from the increased search charge specifically to capital improvements that that's really where.

2434
03:52:58,000 --> 03:53:04,000
I think we need to get the money and again we're not going to solve this in one year when I could solve this in two years.

2435
03:53:04,000 --> 03:53:13,000
But we just need a steady and sustained investment in our watershed and flood control systems over a matter of decades.

2436
03:53:13,000 --> 03:53:19,000
To in order to protect for you know people and property here in Austin, Texas.

2437
03:53:19,000 --> 03:53:22,000
So that's my first one.

2438
03:53:22,000 --> 03:53:25,000
Very good. Yes. Can't remember Fuentes.

2439
03:53:25,000 --> 03:53:40,000
So I'm here to develop this. I see that we have in our that I'm looking at and I don't know if there's been some updates sent us the email says it's increased by nine percent within this year's budget and it's directing supporting an increase nine percent.

2440
03:53:40,000 --> 03:53:52,000
Yeah and I there's going to be a version two of this that is going to leave it up to the manager and staff to look at that number and come back to us with a number.

2441
03:53:52,000 --> 03:54:02,000
Right now the increase was I think about a six percent increase a year over year and my thought would be.

2442
03:54:02,000 --> 03:54:13,000
To bump it up to a nine percent increase, but I'm going to leave that I'm going to give that to staff to pause with and see what what they would recommend.

2443
03:54:13,000 --> 03:54:18,000
But it would be separate from our budget conversations, but it would affect this year's fiscal year.

2444
03:54:18,000 --> 03:54:34,000
So my understanding is that there is a publication notice where they have to give a 30 day notice before any adjustment to the increase.

2445
03:54:34,000 --> 03:54:39,000
And I will turn it over to the director. What let's do go through the detail of that.

2446
03:54:39,000 --> 03:54:48,000
Good afternoon council. What is the rank of watershed protection. So yes that's part of this budget we're proposing a six point two increase to the drainage utility fund.

2447
03:54:48,000 --> 03:54:57,000
And if we want to go higher than that we definitely would have to do a second posting and come back with a different public hearing for that.

2448
03:54:57,000 --> 03:55:07,000
So we couldn't just you couldn't just offer an amendment to increase it due to posting requirements which is why we're considering and be IFC.

2449
03:55:07,000 --> 03:55:10,000
That was my preference would have been a straight budget.

2450
03:55:10,000 --> 03:55:16,000
But in conversation with staff we realize that that's not that wouldn't be appropriate.

2451
03:55:16,000 --> 03:55:24,000
Conversation for next week, but I just want to have more a better understanding as to the rationale of adding an additional three percent.

2452
03:55:24,000 --> 03:55:26,000
How you got to that number.

2453
03:55:26,000 --> 03:55:35,000
Director, what else of that at six point two percent increase what proportion will go to capital and what proportion will be for operating.

2454
03:55:35,000 --> 03:55:40,000
Yeah, so that roughly would be about 3.5 million increase to the 25 million that we're proposing this year.

2455
03:55:40,000 --> 03:55:47,000
Okay, and do you know in terms of an and of that amount of what goes toward.

2456
03:55:48,000 --> 03:55:55,000
The capital versus operating like what's because I know we've had that conversation before and again, I believe that the drainage utility.

2457
03:55:55,000 --> 03:56:01,000
The essentially at this point funds most of the watershed departments for that in number and I present.

2458
03:56:01,000 --> 03:56:06,000
Funds the operation and the CIP so the 25 million we're speaking of is CIP specifically.

2459
03:56:07,000 --> 03:56:21,000
Okay, and that would be the increase would largely my suggestion again to the manager and staff would be to to boost that.

2460
03:56:21,000 --> 03:56:31,000
CIP, especially given that my other concern, I know we couldn't get watershed into the the bonds that that you know for 2026, but.

2461
03:56:31,000 --> 03:56:46,000
When was the last watershed bond 2018 bonds for the last funds so that that was my other concern is that they they do have some you know capital funds through the.

2462
03:56:46,000 --> 03:57:01,000
But they're not going to have any additional capital money until presumably watershed gets included in a 2028 bond and even then you know that's going to be a little bit of a lifetime.

2463
03:57:01,000 --> 03:57:09,000
And so that's also driving my concern is that they don't only have a lot of capital funds to make the improvements that I think we badly need.

2464
03:57:09,000 --> 03:57:17,000
I think you may pretend just to clarify we do have an annual cash transfer to CIP, but as we've been presented through the various bond conversations there's a lot of needs.

2465
03:57:17,000 --> 03:57:22,000
And so this additional CIP just gets us to increase that annual cash transfer.

2466
03:57:22,000 --> 03:57:32,000
And thank you and I just to to that I know that the additional million dollars or so that and a you know a further increase is not going to in and of itself solve the problem.

2467
03:57:32,000 --> 03:57:38,000
I don't think we're going to do that in the next five years this is kind of over the next 20 years though.

2468
03:57:38,000 --> 03:57:50,000
In that that slide increase I think we'll be able to to to make improvements that that we would otherwise not be able to make again like that's not going to help a bunch and you know 27 per se but down the road.

2469
03:57:50,000 --> 03:57:55,000
And again to this relaying a conversation that direct and what else and I had.

2470
03:57:55,000 --> 03:58:04,000
We've been lucky that that rain didn't hit the Austin metropolitan area and if it had and again please direct and what else correct me if I'm wrong.

2471
03:58:04,000 --> 03:58:07,000
We would have seen catastrophic flooding here in Austin.

2472
03:58:07,000 --> 03:58:15,000
Yes that's correct generally speaking we've got flash flood alley here in Austin as we've discussed and so that we have many systems that are undersized.

2473
03:58:15,000 --> 03:58:17,000
Thanks.

2474
03:58:18,000 --> 03:58:33,000
You want to go to your next. Yes I'll go to my next one relates to the G file which as part of the vote to approve the police contract back in 2024 now.

2475
03:58:33,000 --> 03:58:38,000
The contract included the full.

2476
03:58:38,000 --> 03:58:49,000
Opening up of the G files both I guess are also please oversight act and the contract in combination essentially opened up the G files.

2477
03:58:49,000 --> 03:58:57,000
Unfortunately it's it's been very difficult I know a lot of G files have gone out but comprehensively speaking.

2478
03:58:57,000 --> 03:59:03,000
It has been difficult just kind of administratively to get those documents out.

2479
03:59:03,000 --> 03:59:20,000
And this my resolution would first ask for a list of the you know G file information in terms of the the officer you know the allegation and the outcome.

2480
03:59:20,000 --> 03:59:30,000
And then also to ask staff to prepare a cost estimate if we were to go through there because there's going to be a lot of work involved in pulling scanning,

2481
03:59:30,000 --> 03:59:37,000
Redacting what not you know potentially thousands of pages of documents what would be the cost estimate for that.

2482
03:59:37,000 --> 03:59:38,000
All right thank you.

2483
03:59:38,000 --> 03:59:42,000
I would just like to be added as a co-sponsor of I have seen him tonight.

2484
03:59:42,000 --> 03:59:43,000
We'll make sure that I get listed.

2485
03:59:43,000 --> 03:59:44,000
Okay.

2486
03:59:44,000 --> 03:59:48,000
Thank you.

2487
03:59:51,000 --> 03:59:54,000
The next one is mine and.

2488
03:59:54,000 --> 04:00:00,000
What this is that what this does is what we've been talking about with regard to the allocation of the 4.7.

2489
04:00:00,000 --> 04:00:10,000
It also goes into the second step, which is the evaluation of the contracts. It has a third step right now, and that is the longer term.

2490
04:00:10,000 --> 04:00:16,000
But the amendments that I offered to council member, alters, I have seen that he's already laid out.

2491
04:00:16,000 --> 04:00:21,000
As I indicated earlier, probably what I'm doing is subsumed in that.

2492
04:00:21,000 --> 04:00:29,000
So, count on me to make a couple of amendments to this, I have seen so that it's more in harmony and not there's no conflict between the two.

2493
04:00:29,000 --> 04:00:31,000
Yes, Councillor Fuentes.

2494
04:00:31,000 --> 04:00:42,000
And this, I see, and you have it here directing the manager to notify council and the providers of any changes to their contracts.

2495
04:00:42,000 --> 04:00:43,000
Yes.

2496
04:00:43,000 --> 04:00:52,000
I just want to make sure that we get to a process that allows us to provide direction on that overall funding amount, because, you know, is this your laying out here?

2497
04:00:52,000 --> 04:00:54,000
Does that give, like, when does that happen?

2498
04:00:54,000 --> 04:00:59,000
And does that give us enough time to provide direction to the manager on the category?

2499
04:00:59,000 --> 04:01:05,000
And I've talked to the manager about that, and he wants specifically enough time to make sure that we have input.

2500
04:01:05,000 --> 04:01:16,000
And so, I'll make sure that I see list that, and if you have an idea, feel free to share that, and we'll make sure it be corresponds.

2501
04:01:16,000 --> 04:01:37,000
Clearly, clearly the goal, and I've said this over and over again, and I know you agree with me, is that the audit that was done, the concept for performance, whatever strategic alignment was, those sorts of things.

2502
04:01:37,000 --> 04:01:41,000
Don't necessarily say we don't want the service.

2503
04:01:41,000 --> 04:01:47,000
If we have a contractor that is not providing the service, we may very well want the service.

2504
04:01:47,000 --> 04:02:02,000
And so that's why this talks in terms of making sure that we deal with it holistically, and the council priorities are there, and in some instances, there may be money goes to another provider in order to make the example I gave you,

2505
04:02:02,000 --> 04:02:12,000
because there was food for kids and one might be failing in the other one pick it up, so we're going to need to have appropriate amount of time to make those sorts of evaluations.

2506
04:02:12,000 --> 04:02:27,000
But ultimately, we're going to have to have a recommendation from the manager based upon what the contracts do, what they were supposed to do, what they've indicated is a performance issue, or what they've indicated is outside of strategic alignment, something like that.

2507
04:02:27,000 --> 04:02:39,000
Thank you, anything else on that? Okay, then council member, I don't have any other IFCs, let me make sure I'm correct on that.

2508
04:02:39,000 --> 04:02:46,000
I think that concludes all of the IFCs that were filed, so with that, I'll go back to council member lighting.

2509
04:02:46,000 --> 04:02:57,000
Thank you, Mayor. I stopped for because before my time was up, because I learned alumni at some of the things, some of the questions and the things that I was going to say, and I have done that.

2510
04:02:57,000 --> 04:03:12,000
And so therefore, I don't have any more questions for ACM Batista, I will, I've come to every single meeting that I've been on the dios with at least one different example of why this is needed, why this changes needed.

2511
04:03:12,000 --> 04:03:20,000
And I will share those examples with you offline during our next meeting at CM Batista. I am skipping running through them now, some of them are quite compelling.

2512
04:03:20,000 --> 04:03:37,000
I will note that there are examples relating to mental health response, active fire incidents, and wildfire evacuation, and any form of staged evacuation that may be needed.

2513
04:03:37,000 --> 04:03:45,000
I know that that last one is near and dear to your heart, council member to do tune as it is to mine and council member Ellis and much of this dios.

2514
04:03:45,000 --> 04:03:53,000
I cannot, I cannot, I cannot stop talking before I have shared that.

2515
04:03:53,000 --> 04:04:02,000
The only reason that this report is coming next month is because staff did not follow the unanimously passed guidance.

2516
04:04:02,000 --> 04:04:13,000
I also would like to have the benefit of reading a report before I am in the second budget cycle in which I am bringing this forward, but I don't have that benefit.

2517
04:04:13,000 --> 04:04:21,000
Not because I haven't been deliberative and careful and thoughtful and how I have approached the process of bringing this IFC forward.

2518
04:04:21,000 --> 04:04:26,000
I have been nothing but that. I have had countless meetings.

2519
04:04:26,000 --> 04:04:34,000
I won't ask you to raise your hands now leadership, but you might not ask a leadership meeting at some point city manager.

2520
04:04:34,000 --> 04:04:48,000
How many of your staff have been in meetings with me on this topic individually to then within the last month still be hearing comments from people unnamed.

2521
04:04:48,000 --> 04:04:56,000
Who I hope by the end of this will not agree with the statement anymore thing, but aren't we already doing this the thing you're concerned about?

2522
04:04:56,000 --> 04:05:15,000
No we are not and I have been working on this since the day I arrived because as you all know, there are very real problems in my district relate that this IFC is designed to solve for and now I need to return to my thank you to my colleague council member Seagull.

2523
04:05:16,000 --> 04:05:26,000
Because I've done my very best as a newcomer to the political game as a newcomer to city politics city dynamic city council all of these things my district we don't get down here that often.

2524
04:05:26,000 --> 04:05:38,000
I came here as I have said to work for change and I mean change in city services that are more effective and more efficient for all of us and I've worked my hardest but you know what.

2525
04:05:39,000 --> 04:05:56,000
My colleague council member Seagull has a lot more experience with this than I do and I knew that if I couldn't come up with sources of funding I ran the risk of this getting delayed even more because despite very clear guidance to council that we wanted to report back.

2526
04:05:56,000 --> 04:06:07,000
At by the end of last year despite my many attempts to get this on the agenda of the public safety committee as vice chair, but no we're not ready yet.

2527
04:06:07,000 --> 04:06:11,000
Finally to have a special call meeting about one month ago that I chair.

2528
04:06:11,000 --> 04:06:18,000
Thank you very much for everything you do on public safety committee my fellow chair and post funds on this council member Velasquez.

2529
04:06:18,000 --> 04:06:23,000
We're not for some of these things I've said for the dias we wouldn't be getting a report next month.

2530
04:06:23,000 --> 04:06:30,000
I feel quite confident because I have seen plenty of signs that a good faith.

2531
04:06:30,000 --> 04:06:31,000
I won't say that.

2532
04:06:31,000 --> 04:06:36,000
I have seen plenty of signs that insufficient effort has been put forth.

2533
04:06:36,000 --> 04:06:46,000
To follow the guidance in that unanimously past IFC and so now I return to the difference between the IFC that I am now bringing forward.

2534
04:06:46,000 --> 04:06:56,000
Thank you very much with staff support I do very much appreciate that shift and that it has come in the last couple days.

2535
04:06:56,000 --> 04:06:58,000
But I will tell you this.

2536
04:06:58,000 --> 04:07:01,000
I don't feel like I have been treated.

2537
04:07:02,000 --> 04:07:05,000
I don't know what the response is.

2538
04:07:05,000 --> 04:07:10,000
Who previously included council member Velas with the respect of following the guidance that was offered in the IFC that I passed last year.

2539
04:07:10,000 --> 04:07:19,000
I don't know believe that sufficient effort has been put forward and I can tell you unacquisitely that lives are lost in my department and in my district over this.

2540
04:07:19,000 --> 04:07:22,000
And I can also tell you that I believe.

2541
04:07:22,000 --> 04:07:27,000
We wouldn't be here today even talking about an IFC related to this that has staff support.

2542
04:07:28,000 --> 04:07:41,000
And we're not for all of you who have sat through this meeting for this long to get to the point that you hear what is said about the joint emergency communications office or department and the amendment and what the funding will be.

2543
04:07:41,000 --> 04:07:48,000
And and how much we are suggesting that the IFC with or without amendment that passes will do.

2544
04:07:48,000 --> 04:07:56,000
I thank you for coming because it's challenging representing a district that is only outlined areas.

2545
04:07:56,000 --> 04:08:05,000
I know that the same experiences are happening that I give examples of from my district all around the outline areas of the city.

2546
04:08:05,000 --> 04:08:09,000
I actually have a few of them at this point, but you know what else I know.

2547
04:08:09,000 --> 04:08:18,000
Even with me working in the most appropriate ways and I know that this what I'm doing right now may not be viewed as appropriate.

2548
04:08:18,000 --> 04:08:27,000
But even with me working in the most appropriate ways, but in my professional experience in the meaner and the way that I look and where I come from.

2549
04:08:27,000 --> 04:08:29,000
This so would have failed.

2550
04:08:29,000 --> 04:08:36,000
Where it not for very many advocates who began to show up to public safety committee meetings asking for an update.

2551
04:08:36,000 --> 04:08:47,000
So have shown up time and time again and while I did not coordinate with those of you who are in the room whatsoever when I put together this IFC.

2552
04:08:49,000 --> 04:08:51,000
Please note that I appreciate you.

2553
04:08:51,000 --> 04:08:54,000
I hear you. I appreciate you.

2554
04:08:54,000 --> 04:09:04,000
It is time to move past the things that are buying us down in the city or job as council members is to have the tough conversations in public and transparently.

2555
04:09:04,000 --> 04:09:08,000
And that does mean doing things differently within public safety.

2556
04:09:08,000 --> 04:09:13,000
It means at least bare minimum the IFC that is not supported.

2557
04:09:13,000 --> 04:09:15,000
I look forward to seeing funding sources.

2558
04:09:15,000 --> 04:09:17,000
But here's the thing.

2559
04:09:17,000 --> 04:09:24,000
If I already feel borderline like I haven't been treated in good faith.

2560
04:09:24,000 --> 04:09:27,000
I can't imagine how all these advocates feel.

2561
04:09:27,000 --> 04:09:39,000
Because it's one thing to stand up here and say that the outlying areas of our city haven't received the same focus and resources regardless of the color of your skin or your religion or any of the other things that.

2562
04:09:39,000 --> 04:09:42,000
Just things will or income or any of these things.

2563
04:09:42,000 --> 04:09:44,000
It's one thing to say that.

2564
04:09:44,000 --> 04:09:57,000
And it's another thing to hear the pain and the heartache in the suffering that comes from delaying action on these matters.

2565
04:09:57,000 --> 04:10:03,000
I remember seeing what was not at all involved in my original IFC when you're ago.

2566
04:10:03,000 --> 04:10:09,000
But there's it's not a coincidence that we've ended up on the same side this time.

2567
04:10:09,000 --> 04:10:14,000
And so I think everyone in this room and outside of this room and all of my colleagues.

2568
04:10:14,000 --> 04:10:18,000
Every single one of you who have helped bring this through.

2569
04:10:18,000 --> 04:10:26,000
I also think staff because I know even though I just had some criticisms I will say I am a big fan of our city manager.

2570
04:10:26,000 --> 04:10:32,000
And the many hires he has brought in including ACM Batista and some others.

2571
04:10:32,000 --> 04:10:41,000
As well as long standing staff who do very important work very effectively like Mr. Vanineau and Director Lang.

2572
04:10:41,000 --> 04:10:43,000
However, I will say this.

2573
04:10:43,000 --> 04:10:52,000
This is the difference between my IFC and my IFC combined with Councilmember Seagulls Amendment.

2574
04:10:52,000 --> 04:11:00,000
The difference is whether we trust that the city will work in good faith for the next year.

2575
04:11:00,000 --> 04:11:07,000
And put sufficient early effort into this matter that didn't happen last year.

2576
04:11:07,000 --> 04:11:13,000
So that we do have the ability to make decisions fully informed and without delay.

2577
04:11:13,000 --> 04:11:19,000
Because these matters impact everyone in the city.

2578
04:11:19,000 --> 04:11:23,000
And so thank you for allowing me to give a few comments.

2579
04:11:23,000 --> 04:11:28,000
I again extend my thank you to my co-sponsors and mayor.

2580
04:11:28,000 --> 04:11:40,000
This was a legitimate oversight and I apologize but thank you also for joining me last year in supporting this measure because I know the work that you do.

2581
04:11:40,000 --> 04:11:45,000
To try to bring resources and comfort and improvement to this city.

2582
04:11:45,000 --> 04:11:48,000
I believe this is an important part of that.

2583
04:11:48,000 --> 04:11:50,000
So thank you.

2584
04:11:50,000 --> 04:11:53,000
Thank you.

2585
04:11:53,000 --> 04:11:55,000
Does my religion.

2586
04:11:55,000 --> 04:11:56,000
Thanks mayor.

2587
04:11:56,000 --> 04:12:03,000
I just have a very quick question for either chief Davis or or really request chief Davis or Casey and Batista.

2588
04:12:03,000 --> 04:12:07,000
And while they're coming out there I'll just ask you to save time.

2589
04:12:07,000 --> 04:12:11,000
It's probably been six or nine months since I read the very dumb report.

2590
04:12:11,000 --> 04:12:14,000
I'm just curious if between now and when we take us up next week.

2591
04:12:14,000 --> 04:12:23,000
You all can share any information that's in there about this particular issue.

2592
04:12:23,000 --> 04:12:29,000
The very done recommendation does not recommend that we remove police from communications.

2593
04:12:29,000 --> 04:12:34,000
Can you send the report in any details that's gotten there about context around this issue?

2594
04:12:34,000 --> 04:12:37,000
That's really what the request is between now and next week.

2595
04:12:37,000 --> 04:12:38,000
Yes.

2596
04:12:38,000 --> 04:12:40,000
Thank you.

2597
04:12:40,000 --> 04:12:41,000
Thank you.

2598
04:12:41,000 --> 04:12:42,000
All right.

2599
04:12:42,000 --> 04:12:45,000
Members.

2600
04:12:45,000 --> 04:12:57,000
I think that completes item number one.

2601
04:12:57,000 --> 04:13:02,000
I'm inclined to just a journalist.

2602
04:13:02,000 --> 04:13:07,000
So that'll take us to items two three and four obviously.

2603
04:13:07,000 --> 04:13:14,000
And we have so we have three items that all relate to elections.

2604
04:13:14,000 --> 04:13:17,000
And we have people that are signed up to speak.

2605
04:13:17,000 --> 04:13:25,000
What I think I'll do is go ahead and have the speakers called and then I want to before we start on the items.

2606
04:13:25,000 --> 04:13:33,000
I want to have legal come up so we can talk about what we need to do because there are some legal aspects to what we need to do to call these elections.

2607
04:13:33,000 --> 04:13:41,000
But we do have people signed up to speak and so I'm going to turn to the city clerk and ask that you call those people.

2608
04:13:41,000 --> 04:13:44,000
Mayor Mike calling for all items or Mike.

2609
04:13:44,000 --> 04:13:54,000
You know that let's do it that way because we have three items and there is one I think I know how the council is going to want to go on the order we do that.

2610
04:13:54,000 --> 04:13:59,000
There is a question about that so why don't you call two three and four.

2611
04:14:00,000 --> 04:14:09,000
Okay, thank you sir starting with item two I have a remote speaker Pamela Vance.

2612
04:14:09,000 --> 04:14:12,000
Good afternoon there.

2613
04:14:12,000 --> 04:14:14,000
Thank you manager and council members.

2614
04:14:14,000 --> 04:14:17,000
My name is Pamela Hall Vance and I'm calling in today.

2615
04:14:17,000 --> 04:14:20,000
It's a member of the George Washington Carver ambassadors.

2616
04:14:20,000 --> 04:14:24,000
I want to remind this town folk that the citizens live.

2617
04:14:24,000 --> 04:14:31,000
We learned in the adviser task for the equity department and the city's own professional staff.

2618
04:14:31,000 --> 04:14:35,000
I would explicitly recommend it but the car room needs in extension.

2619
04:14:35,000 --> 04:14:38,000
Be gathered to a bond package.

2620
04:14:38,000 --> 04:14:43,000
They recognize the outstanding promises to the citizens of often.

2621
04:14:43,000 --> 04:14:45,240
who overwhelming you in class,

2622
04:14:45,240 --> 04:14:47,480
pops the in 2022.

2623
04:14:49,480 --> 04:14:51,680
Which really mandated the expansion

2624
04:14:51,680 --> 04:14:53,240
of the George Washington Carver

2625
04:14:53,240 --> 04:14:55,800
Museum, Culture, and Genealogy Center.

2626
04:14:56,840 --> 04:14:59,920
With that in mind, I have a direct question.

2627
04:15:00,000 --> 04:15:07,000
Council Member Chris Delay and Council Member Natasha Hartford, Madison. Is it possible to amend

2628
04:15:07,000 --> 04:15:16,360
opposition B to revise our spending and finally complete that 2022 voter approved mandate?

2629
04:15:16,360 --> 04:15:22,400
The Carver's expansion is still waiting on the completion of phase 1 and phase 2, through

2630
04:15:22,400 --> 04:15:27,000
the hyper-inslication and massive fights and local construction costs that voter

2631
04:15:27,000 --> 04:15:33,200
promise that it's solved and understanding in the architectural phase. While we fully understand

2632
04:15:33,200 --> 04:15:38,440
and respect indeed for your important new project, we cannot leave this historic youth

2633
04:15:38,440 --> 04:15:45,640
often and the structure, called in-limbo due to cost inflation. Can we reallocate these

2634
04:15:45,640 --> 04:15:53,280
funds so that the Hampton Library, Polynie Park and the Carver extension, all, receiving crucial

2635
04:15:53,280 --> 04:16:00,280
support by adjusting the flip to 10 million for Hampton, $15 million for calling cars, and

2636
04:16:00,280 --> 04:16:08,280
10 million can finish the carver. That way we create a fair revenue, neutral solution,

2637
04:16:08,280 --> 04:16:12,280
under the existing $35 million tax.

2638
04:16:12,280 --> 04:16:14,280
Thank you very much.

2639
04:16:14,280 --> 04:16:15,280
Thank you.

2640
04:16:16,280 --> 04:16:22,280
I will now go into the person's speakers for item 2, fill up this Gerald, Barbara Scott.

2641
04:16:22,280 --> 04:16:24,280
Barbara, are you here?

2642
04:16:24,280 --> 04:16:25,280
Yes.

2643
04:16:25,280 --> 04:16:27,280
Brian Dolazal here.

2644
04:16:27,280 --> 04:16:28,280
Galizo.

2645
04:16:28,280 --> 04:16:29,280
Yes.

2646
04:16:29,280 --> 04:16:36,280
Four minutes from Miss Scott, Jeff Diff, Dickerson, Zenovia Joseph, Monica Guzman and Bill Bunch.

2647
04:16:36,280 --> 04:16:41,280
If your name's been called, please come forward. Miss Scott will begin with you and you'll have

2648
04:16:41,280 --> 04:16:43,280
four minutes.

2649
04:16:46,280 --> 04:16:52,280
Good afternoon. I'm Barbara Scott. I'm representing the Colony Park Neighborhood Association.

2650
04:16:52,280 --> 04:16:58,280
I'm here today to thank the Council members who voted to include Colony Park Library Project

2651
04:16:58,280 --> 04:17:05,280
and the proposed November 2026 bond as well as those who voted to advance the resolution.

2652
04:17:05,280 --> 04:17:11,280
This project represents more than a new building. It is an investment in the Colony Park community

2653
04:17:11,280 --> 04:17:13,280
and the eastern crescent.

2654
04:17:13,280 --> 04:17:19,280
Bringing educational opportunities, access to technology and a gathering place for families and

2655
04:17:19,280 --> 04:17:21,280
residents of all ages.

2656
04:17:21,280 --> 04:17:26,280
It is a step toward addressing years of disinvestment.

2657
04:17:26,280 --> 04:17:32,280
And we hope that items 2, 3, 4 on today's agenda will continue to move forward.

2658
04:17:32,280 --> 04:17:38,280
I would also like to offer a special thank you to Council Member Natasha Harper Madison.

2659
04:17:38,280 --> 04:17:45,280
Your support for Colony Park has always met so much because it comes from lived experience.

2660
04:17:45,280 --> 04:17:54,280
You grew up in our community, attended our schools and understood firsthand both our challenges and our potential.

2661
04:17:54,280 --> 04:17:59,280
You have never forgotten where you came from and you have never stopped advocating for the people of

2662
04:17:59,280 --> 04:18:05,280
Colony Park and Lakeside. You have made sure our voices have been heard and you have fought to bring

2663
04:18:05,280 --> 04:18:09,280
long overdue investments to our neighborhoods.

2664
04:18:09,280 --> 04:18:17,280
Your support for this library will leave a legacy that will benefit our children, families and future generations.

2665
04:18:17,280 --> 04:18:23,280
Council Member Harper Madison, we want to thank you for your leadership, your partnership,

2666
04:18:23,280 --> 04:18:26,280
and your unwavering commitment to our community.

2667
04:18:26,280 --> 04:18:30,280
We wish you every success and every blessing on your next journey.

2668
04:18:30,280 --> 04:18:32,280
Thank you, Council.

2669
04:18:32,280 --> 04:18:35,280
Thank you, Ms. Scott.

2670
04:18:35,280 --> 04:18:37,280
Good afternoon.

2671
04:18:37,280 --> 04:18:40,280
Good afternoon. I'm Monica Guzman, Policy Director at Gava.

2672
04:18:40,280 --> 04:18:42,280
Go Austin, Vimal, Austin.

2673
04:18:42,280 --> 04:18:48,280
Gava resident leaders living in the runberg area, the community with increasing urban heat,

2674
04:18:48,280 --> 04:18:55,280
and existing urban canopy deficit and limited access to Walnut Creek Metropolitan Pool

2675
04:18:55,280 --> 04:19:03,280
have been advocating for a splash pad at the Garcia Recreation Center for almost four years.

2676
04:19:03,280 --> 04:19:09,280
Four years. Over the past five months, they advocated at the Bond Advisory Election Task Force

2677
04:19:09,280 --> 04:19:16,280
and Parks Forves meetings as well as sent emails to Austin Parks and Recreation, APR, requesting updates.

2678
04:19:16,280 --> 04:19:20,280
We received confirmation that APR heard the residents.

2679
04:19:20,280 --> 04:19:28,280
They agree the runberg area is a priority that extreme heat, urban canopy deficit, and other factors make it a priority.

2680
04:19:28,280 --> 04:19:36,280
Unfortunately, it is unclear if they agree that it is a priority now since they view it as new.

2681
04:19:36,280 --> 04:19:43,280
Contrary in aquatic facility such as a splash pad is an amenity from the original 2008

2682
04:19:43,280 --> 04:19:47,280
Gus Garcia Vision Plan almost 20 years ago.

2683
04:19:47,280 --> 04:19:51,280
How can APR consider it to be new?

2684
04:19:51,280 --> 04:19:57,280
Director Aguirre, Mayor Watson, Mayor Protem Velah and Council.

2685
04:19:57,280 --> 04:20:02,280
We urge you to add this amenity, specifically a Gus Garcia splash pad,

2686
04:20:02,280 --> 04:20:09,280
to APR's extreme critical needs priorities for the Austin 2026 Bond Package.

2687
04:20:09,280 --> 04:20:14,280
Thank you.

2688
04:20:14,280 --> 04:20:17,280
Hi, my name is Velah Fitzgerald district one.

2689
04:20:17,280 --> 04:20:23,280
Sitting here all day, I find some of the conversations to be quite discouraging.

2690
04:20:23,280 --> 04:20:28,280
When I look at the services that were cut to meet this budget,

2691
04:20:29,280 --> 04:20:33,280
and we're told that we just don't have the money and understand money's tight.

2692
04:20:33,280 --> 04:20:38,280
But we always seem to be able to lock in higher raises for the police.

2693
04:20:38,280 --> 04:20:43,280
We can't find money for the parks, so we have to have this bond election to support our parks.

2694
04:20:43,280 --> 04:20:50,280
And I'm fully in favour of it because our parks are a huge draw for our city and they get people outside.

2695
04:20:50,280 --> 04:20:55,280
But the reason we're having to have this bond election is because we don't support our parks year after year.

2696
04:20:55,280 --> 04:21:00,280
So the small cracks that you may see at a pool, or a tree falling down on the park,

2697
04:21:00,280 --> 04:21:02,280
is not addressed year after year.

2698
04:21:02,280 --> 04:21:05,280
So 10 years down the road, we have to do a major overhaul.

2699
04:21:05,280 --> 04:21:10,280
So if we want to avoid the bond elections, then we should be funding these services year after year.

2700
04:21:10,280 --> 04:21:14,280
But it also goes back to, as member,

2701
04:21:14,280 --> 04:21:20,280
a doucheon said about priorities and what's been clear to me because I come week after week.

2702
04:21:20,280 --> 04:21:25,280
And I hear people speak and I hear people advocate for funding these services.

2703
04:21:25,280 --> 04:21:29,280
What's clear to me is the priorities of the city council is not to fund these services.

2704
04:21:29,280 --> 04:21:36,280
And in fact, a lot of you believe that the only reason you're up here is to advocate for business and to fund the police.

2705
04:21:36,280 --> 04:21:41,280
And that's the way we're going to solve our problems is just by giving more money to the police.

2706
04:21:41,280 --> 04:21:45,280
So we splash them more money, we give them 5% 6% raises.

2707
04:21:45,280 --> 04:21:46,280
That's higher than inflation.

2708
04:21:46,280 --> 04:21:49,280
That's higher than the 3.5% property tax increase.

2709
04:21:49,280 --> 04:21:53,280
You know, every time we give them more and more increases, that's locked in by the state.

2710
04:21:53,280 --> 04:21:54,280
We can't cut it.

2711
04:21:54,280 --> 04:21:56,280
So we have to cut services year after year.

2712
04:21:56,280 --> 04:21:59,280
And I think frankly, a lot of dollar okay with that.

2713
04:21:59,280 --> 04:22:03,280
You want private businesses to step up and you're just going to divert our money to them.

2714
04:22:03,280 --> 04:22:08,280
But what we're seeing year after year is those needs are not being met.

2715
04:22:08,280 --> 04:22:13,280
You have to be more aggressive in your vision and aspire to do more.

2716
04:22:13,280 --> 04:22:16,280
Thank you.

2717
04:22:16,280 --> 04:22:18,280
Please.

2718
04:22:18,280 --> 04:22:21,280
Good afternoon Mayor council members.

2719
04:22:21,280 --> 04:22:27,280
I wonder if you heard how many times my job dropped on the table when I heard about spending reductions.

2720
04:22:27,280 --> 04:22:29,280
No.

2721
04:22:29,280 --> 04:22:36,280
Council members, you still have a spending problem and still have not learned the lessons of property.

2722
04:22:36,280 --> 04:22:38,280
Council member decision.

2723
04:22:38,280 --> 04:22:41,280
You supported an increase in tax rate.

2724
04:22:41,280 --> 04:22:45,280
That is a permanent increase in the base tax rate.

2725
04:22:45,280 --> 04:22:47,280
Council member Bella.

2726
04:22:47,280 --> 04:22:51,280
I disagree with your spend spend spend mentality.

2727
04:22:51,280 --> 04:22:58,280
There is a reason the TRE was sadly rejected but a majority of taxpayers.

2728
04:22:58,280 --> 04:23:04,280
We cannot afford all the grand products, projects and visions that you like.

2729
04:23:04,280 --> 04:23:07,280
It does not help low income.

2730
04:23:07,280 --> 04:23:14,280
Bits then come unemployed with the affordability mantra that I keep hearing and reading about.

2731
04:23:14,280 --> 04:23:17,280
What you guys are doing doesn't address this issue.

2732
04:23:17,280 --> 04:23:21,280
Let's talk about the go bond and 26 bond.

2733
04:23:21,280 --> 04:23:22,280
You see.

2734
04:23:22,280 --> 04:23:25,280
Yes, it's 32 million dollars.

2735
04:23:25,280 --> 04:23:27,280
But let's be basically honest.

2736
04:23:27,280 --> 04:23:31,280
The total repayment will probably be 50 million dollars.

2737
04:23:31,280 --> 04:23:32,280
Oh, yeah.

2738
04:23:32,280 --> 04:23:40,280
We forgot about the $18 and $22 million in bond interest payments that come out of the general bond.

2739
04:23:40,280 --> 04:23:42,280
Catscare is paid for that.

2740
04:23:42,280 --> 04:23:48,280
The 295 million bond package is geared for SIP.

2741
04:23:48,280 --> 04:23:56,280
This is a go bond masquerading at the SIP because you guys did not put it in budget.

2742
04:23:57,280 --> 04:24:02,280
At 4% the total cost of this will be $428 million.

2743
04:24:02,280 --> 04:24:06,280
We're at the $295 million.

2744
04:24:06,280 --> 04:24:11,280
That's fiscal insanity.

2745
04:24:11,280 --> 04:24:18,280
To use a popular phrase by many speakers, why don't we flatten the spending budget?

2746
04:24:18,280 --> 04:24:23,280
Thank you, sir.

2747
04:24:23,280 --> 04:24:24,280
Mr. Dickinson.

2748
04:24:24,280 --> 04:24:25,280
I also have you signed up for item three.

2749
04:24:25,280 --> 04:24:27,280
Would you like to speak to item three?

2750
04:24:27,280 --> 04:24:29,280
Mr. Dickerson.

2751
04:24:29,280 --> 04:24:32,280
Would you like to speak to item three?

2752
04:24:32,280 --> 04:24:33,280
Yeah.

2753
04:24:33,280 --> 04:24:42,280
Give me a paper.

2754
04:24:42,280 --> 04:24:44,280
While we wait for him to get his paperwork together.

2755
04:24:44,280 --> 04:24:48,280
Ms. Scott, I just wanted to say, of course I had to use the restroom at the moment that

2756
04:24:48,280 --> 04:24:50,280
somebody says it's a nice of me today.

2757
04:24:50,280 --> 04:24:55,280
So I just really appreciate your heartfelt thank you and I would just say boomerang.

2758
04:24:55,280 --> 04:25:02,280
Thank you very much for your leadership and your guidance and for the opportunity to work alongside you to do the work that we've gotten done so far.

2759
04:25:02,280 --> 04:25:04,280
And it's just so far.

2760
04:25:04,280 --> 04:25:05,280
Thank you.

2761
04:25:05,280 --> 04:25:06,280
Yes.

2762
04:25:06,280 --> 04:25:10,280
Please Mr. Dickerson on item three.

2763
04:25:11,280 --> 04:25:12,280
Mr. Dickerson.

2764
04:25:12,280 --> 04:25:13,280
District five.

2765
04:25:13,280 --> 04:25:14,280
Mayor.

2766
04:25:14,280 --> 04:25:15,280
Council members.

2767
04:25:15,280 --> 04:25:18,280
City units are written for the public.

2768
04:25:18,280 --> 04:25:25,280
But many are written in a legal style that makes them difficult or ordinary residents understand.

2769
04:25:25,280 --> 04:25:32,280
Hereby adopt their pursuit to ask specify in incorporated in part of this.

2770
04:25:32,280 --> 04:25:39,280
Really, this is not pretty average citizens and I'm talking about charter as well as ordinance.

2771
04:25:39,280 --> 04:25:41,280
That's simple about this.

2772
04:25:41,280 --> 04:25:43,280
This creates three problems.

2773
04:25:43,280 --> 04:25:49,280
They've reduced public understanding where's it and should not need legal training.

2774
04:25:49,280 --> 04:25:52,280
It offers less transparency.

2775
04:25:52,280 --> 04:25:55,280
It offers lower participation.

2776
04:25:55,280 --> 04:26:01,280
If you guys have some concern about wardeness of charters and length of charters.

2777
04:26:01,280 --> 04:26:08,280
Why I came to you simple by these ordinances and what you say and what you've.

2778
04:26:08,280 --> 04:26:11,280
provide for the public.

2779
04:26:11,280 --> 04:26:14,280
Future ordinances.

2780
04:26:14,280 --> 04:26:16,280
Proclamation.

2781
04:26:16,280 --> 04:26:17,280
Charters.

2782
04:26:17,280 --> 04:26:18,280
You shorter citizens.

2783
04:26:18,280 --> 04:26:20,280
Define the technical terms.

2784
04:26:20,280 --> 04:26:23,280
Explain the legal action.

2785
04:26:23,280 --> 04:26:28,280
Explain action before getting into legal jargon.

2786
04:26:28,280 --> 04:26:31,280
Government documents should be precise.

2787
04:26:31,280 --> 04:26:34,280
But they should be written so that people.

2788
04:26:34,280 --> 04:26:39,280
They sure can understand what is before them.

2789
04:26:39,280 --> 04:26:42,280
Thank you.

2790
04:26:42,280 --> 04:26:43,280
Thank you.

2791
04:26:43,280 --> 04:26:44,280
For item four.

2792
04:26:44,280 --> 04:26:45,280
Jeffrey Bowen.

2793
04:26:45,280 --> 04:26:46,280
Jeff Dickerson.

2794
04:26:46,280 --> 04:26:48,280
Susana Almanza.

2795
04:26:48,280 --> 04:26:50,280
Luis Gonzalez.

2796
04:26:50,280 --> 04:26:52,280
Zenobe Joseph.

2797
04:26:52,280 --> 04:26:54,280
Monica Guzman.

2798
04:26:54,280 --> 04:26:56,280
And Bill Bunch.

2799
04:26:57,280 --> 04:27:06,280
After new ladies and gentlemen Mr. Mayor.

2800
04:27:06,280 --> 04:27:07,280
Council members.

2801
04:27:07,280 --> 04:27:08,280
Jeffrey Bowen.

2802
04:27:08,280 --> 04:27:09,280
District.

2803
04:27:09,280 --> 04:27:11,280
On item four.

2804
04:27:11,280 --> 04:27:14,280
I just would like to remind everybody that.

2805
04:27:14,280 --> 04:27:16,280
We need to make sure that are.

2806
04:27:16,280 --> 04:27:19,280
That the language on these.

2807
04:27:19,280 --> 04:27:21,280
Meet the Secretary of State requirements.

2808
04:27:21,280 --> 04:27:24,280
We want to make sure that they're very clear.

2809
04:27:25,280 --> 04:27:30,280
Hopefully we don't want to go through the process that we went through last year.

2810
04:27:30,280 --> 04:27:35,280
So just just a friendly reminder to make sure that our ballot language.

2811
04:27:35,280 --> 04:27:38,280
And I have to also endorse what Mike.

2812
04:27:38,280 --> 04:27:39,280
Call it over here.

2813
04:27:39,280 --> 04:27:43,280
Mr. Dickerson just said about making him very clear.

2814
04:27:43,280 --> 04:27:49,280
So that people are understanding exactly what they're voting on.

2815
04:27:49,280 --> 04:27:53,280
I just wanted to make sure that we're getting that word out.

2816
04:27:53,280 --> 04:27:54,280
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

2817
04:27:54,280 --> 04:27:55,280
This time.

2818
04:27:55,280 --> 04:27:56,280
Thank you.

2819
04:27:56,280 --> 04:27:57,280
Mr. Bowen.

2820
04:27:57,280 --> 04:27:59,280
Please.

2821
04:27:59,280 --> 04:28:00,280
Good afternoon.

2822
04:28:00,280 --> 04:28:01,280
My Watson.

2823
04:28:01,280 --> 04:28:02,280
Good afternoon.

2824
04:28:02,280 --> 04:28:03,280
Council members.

2825
04:28:03,280 --> 04:28:04,280
My name is Luis Gonzalez.

2826
04:28:04,280 --> 04:28:06,280
The resident of district 10 and the current share of the independence

2827
04:28:06,280 --> 04:28:08,280
Citizens of District and Commission.

2828
04:28:08,280 --> 04:28:11,280
Before I begin my written testimony, I just want to commend everyone today for their

2829
04:28:11,280 --> 04:28:12,280
time and their testimony.

2830
04:28:12,280 --> 04:28:13,280
This is how democracy works.

2831
04:28:13,280 --> 04:28:16,280
And a reason why I applied to be on the ICRC.

2832
04:28:16,280 --> 04:28:19,280
I support keeping the APD budget flat.

2833
04:28:19,280 --> 04:28:22,280
And let's please prioritize support for mental health, food security.

2834
04:28:22,280 --> 04:28:25,280
And our neighbors expressing experiencing homelessness.

2835
04:28:25,280 --> 04:28:30,280
As established by the city charter, the ICRC has the low seat of sole legal standing to create

2836
04:28:30,280 --> 04:28:33,280
and adopt maps for our city council districts.

2837
04:28:33,280 --> 04:28:36,280
While maintaining strict independence from influence by city council.

2838
04:28:36,280 --> 04:28:40,280
The city council will vote to approve a proposed amendment to the city charter that would

2839
04:28:40,280 --> 04:28:43,280
directly impact the work of the ICRC.

2840
04:28:43,280 --> 04:28:47,280
And we'll help the next group of commissioners in 2031 accomplish their go of producing a new

2841
04:28:47,280 --> 04:28:51,280
map that prioritizes equal representation, resident input.

2842
04:28:51,280 --> 04:28:53,280
And takes into consideration the rapid growth.

2843
04:28:53,280 --> 04:28:56,280
Our city is experienced over the last decade.

2844
04:28:56,280 --> 04:29:00,280
While this amendment may appear small today, the proposed new city charter language

2845
04:29:00,280 --> 04:29:03,280
will define independent as free from city council influence.

2846
04:29:03,280 --> 04:29:05,280
The free that utilize necessary city resources.

2847
04:29:05,280 --> 04:29:08,280
The language will specify an effective date for future maps.

2848
04:29:08,280 --> 04:29:13,280
The new language will increase the number of qualified applicants eligible to serve on the commission

2849
04:29:13,280 --> 04:29:16,280
and clarify the method in timing for filling vacancies.

2850
04:29:16,280 --> 04:29:21,280
These changes appear minor, but speaking from direct experience, they will provide efficiency and clarity

2851
04:29:21,280 --> 04:29:26,280
to future commissioners as they focus on the work of redistricting and prioritizing public testimony

2852
04:29:26,280 --> 04:29:29,280
rather than worry about administrative red tape.

2853
04:29:29,280 --> 04:29:33,280
While I have seen concerns that this proposed charter amendment will change definitions and rules that

2854
04:29:33,280 --> 04:29:35,280
keep our commission independent.

2855
04:29:35,280 --> 04:29:41,280
I would say someone who helped draft the proposed amendment language that is not its intention.

2856
04:29:41,280 --> 04:29:45,280
The ICRC is and should always remain independent with a capital I.

2857
04:29:46,280 --> 04:29:54,280
Our but the fact is that our meeting just last week would not have been possible without staff support city expertise and communication.

2858
04:29:54,280 --> 04:29:59,280
And for one clarification, a student commissioner is already.

2859
04:30:00,000 --> 04:30:06,000
Parliament for the ICRC. However, clarifying eligibility, eligibility, language is a good thing. Thank you.

2860
04:30:06,000 --> 04:30:08,000
Thank you. This is Joseph.

2861
04:30:08,000 --> 04:30:15,000
Thank you, Mayor Council. I'm going to be a Joseph. I just wanted to mention as it relates to the independent redistricting

2862
04:30:15,000 --> 04:30:21,000
citizens' commission or committee. I just wanted to call to your attention that when this

2863
04:30:21,000 --> 04:30:27,000
committee met previously the chair had some problems and that was in the news.

2864
04:30:27,000 --> 04:30:34,000
So I'm not quite sure why you would amend the guidelines to ensure that the chair is able

2865
04:30:34,000 --> 04:30:40,000
to speak to staff off the record. I know Ms. Greenberg gave you testimony as well in this

2866
04:30:40,000 --> 04:30:46,000
report. I would also ask you to recognize it is problematic that you would not have the rules

2867
04:30:46,000 --> 04:30:53,000
that govern the work that you do in the charter. And so it is difficult to trust the work that you do

2868
04:30:53,000 --> 04:30:58,000
as you are well aware whether we're talking about the bond or whether we're talking about the budget.

2869
04:30:58,000 --> 04:31:04,000
And so it has to be transparent and to recognize the need to ensure that that does not change.

2870
04:31:04,000 --> 04:31:10,000
And so that is my opposition. I did want to tell you however, as it related to some of the old

2871
04:31:11,000 --> 04:31:15,000
peak decisions that you've made. I would just give you the example of the Marshall and Yard

2872
04:31:15,000 --> 04:31:21,000
for example. We were told that that was an emergency temporary solution back in 2023.

2873
04:31:21,000 --> 04:31:28,000
Now it's permanent as it relates to the vision zero. I mentioned that before. The city manager said that

2874
04:31:28,000 --> 04:31:34,000
it wasn't simply a policy. But in fact, it is. And you've not used the data. You've been told that

2875
04:31:34,000 --> 04:31:41,000
in 2023, 2023, 26. And here we are today. And so it is difficult to understand why you

2876
04:31:41,000 --> 04:31:46,000
would want to have more leniency when we the taxpayers don't even know what you're doing now.

2877
04:31:46,000 --> 04:31:51,000
And so that is my opposition. If you have any questions, I'll go ahead and answer them at this time.

2878
04:31:51,000 --> 04:31:52,000
Thank you, Ms. Joseph.

2879
04:31:52,000 --> 04:31:53,000
You're welcome.

2880
04:31:53,000 --> 04:31:54,000
Mr. Dickerson?

2881
04:31:54,000 --> 04:32:04,000
Mr. Dickerson District 5. Why are we throwing up more barriers unless protection for current

2882
04:32:04,000 --> 04:32:10,000
petition bringers? Why was the wording changed from, it just isn't generally perceived in

2883
04:32:10,000 --> 04:32:18,000
its election by the state law to the must wait until the next November election?

2884
04:32:18,000 --> 04:32:26,000
The impact of this as longer delays, fewer elections, longer waits for voters to decide

2885
04:32:26,000 --> 04:32:33,000
citizen petition. This isn't unnecessary barrier. There's no justifiable reason or evidence

2886
04:32:33,000 --> 04:32:41,000
to do in this. The other thing is campaign reimbursement. The original restrictions that

2887
04:32:41,000 --> 04:32:47,000
office holders should not accept or solicit political contribution while in office.

2888
04:32:47,000 --> 04:32:55,000
However, somebody changed the wording and myths several things in here. They met campaign debt reimbursement,

2889
04:32:55,000 --> 04:33:01,000
reimbursement, a personal campaign spending, office accounts, and future campaign fundraising.

2890
04:33:01,000 --> 04:33:09,000
All together to make this obtuse. It is not understandable by the average voters.

2891
04:33:09,000 --> 04:33:17,000
This amendment also removes the barrier of accepting political contributions in the current

2892
04:33:17,000 --> 04:33:27,000
and creates a pathway for office holders to raise money for unpaid, campaign, future expenses.

2893
04:33:27,000 --> 04:33:34,000
This is on that behalf, and this should be reviewed, looked at again, and should be

2894
04:33:34,000 --> 04:33:40,000
retained back to your original wording is, down, fundraise while you're in office.

2895
04:33:40,000 --> 04:33:42,000
Thank you.

2896
04:33:42,000 --> 04:33:46,000
Mayor, all speakers for these items have been called.

2897
04:33:46,000 --> 04:33:51,000
Thank you very much. Members, all the people that signed up on items two, three, four,

2898
04:33:51,000 --> 04:33:58,000
now I'm pretty to speak. I'm going to ask legal staff to come up so we can deal with a couple

2899
04:33:58,000 --> 04:34:06,000
of items and get some clarity on a couple of things before we go to taking motions and discussion.

2900
04:34:06,000 --> 04:34:14,000
The first thing I want to ask about is whether there are any legal requirements on how these items

2901
04:34:14,000 --> 04:34:20,000
are supposed to appear on the ballot and whether legal staff is looked at that from the perspective of

2902
04:34:20,000 --> 04:34:23,000
how we organize those items on the ballot.

2903
04:34:23,000 --> 04:34:30,000
Sure. Good afternoon. Mayor, council members. I'm Neil Falgud, Deputy City Attorney.

2904
04:34:30,000 --> 04:34:37,000
I have Wajihah Resby, Assistant City Attorney, and Matt Heinz, our outside bond council who's been working

2905
04:34:37,000 --> 04:34:39,000
with us on the bond matters.

2906
04:34:39,000 --> 04:34:46,000
Mayor, you're correct. There is a new law that went into effect after the 89th Legislature,

2907
04:34:46,000 --> 04:34:54,000
SB 506, and that legislation requires that ballot propositions, like the bond proposals,

2908
04:34:54,000 --> 04:35:01,000
and the charter amendment proposals, be submitted to the voters with, quote, such deafenitness,

2909
04:35:01,000 --> 04:35:06,000
certainty and facial neutrality, that the voters will not be misled.

2910
04:35:06,000 --> 04:35:13,000
And so we've worked very diligently to drop these amendments in the ballot language in a way

2911
04:35:13,000 --> 04:35:21,000
that the voters can understand while also meeting the legal requirements that the ballot language reflect

2912
04:35:21,000 --> 04:35:24,000
what is actually being amended in the charter.

2913
04:35:24,000 --> 04:35:32,000
Along those lines, so that no one, if you look at a mechanism for placing items on the ballot

2914
04:35:32,000 --> 04:35:39,000
and the order they might appear on the ballot, so no one can come in and say, oh, you didn't have a good reason

2915
04:35:39,000 --> 04:35:45,000
for doing it that way. You manipulated it or you're acting in a political way, anything like that.

2916
04:35:45,000 --> 04:35:48,000
You have a recommendation in that regard.

2917
04:35:48,000 --> 04:35:54,000
Yes, Mayor, so like I said, the propositions have to be presented neutrally.

2918
04:35:54,000 --> 04:36:01,000
And again, we believe that the order that they are presented and also has to be neutrally.

2919
04:36:01,000 --> 04:36:07,000
Just for point of interest, there are 10 ballot propositions that are being presented.

2920
04:36:07,000 --> 04:36:14,000
That means there would be about 3.6 million different variations on how they get presented to the voters

2921
04:36:14,000 --> 04:36:16,000
when you calculate that all out.

2922
04:36:16,000 --> 04:36:18,000
So we have to settle on one.

2923
04:36:18,000 --> 04:36:25,000
And the one that we have settled on for the charter amendments is to just list them in the way that they appear in the charter

2924
04:36:25,000 --> 04:36:33,000
with the final amendment being the non substantive edits to the entire charter.

2925
04:36:33,000 --> 04:36:42,000
So in other words, the first item that we would put on in terms of the charter amendments would be something that would appear

2926
04:36:42,000 --> 04:36:45,000
highest in the charter if you were reading the charter.

2927
04:36:45,000 --> 04:36:48,000
The second would be the second and we'd go that way.

2928
04:36:48,000 --> 04:36:49,000
That's correct.

2929
04:36:49,000 --> 04:36:54,000
And that proceeds all through the eight charter amendments in that order.

2930
04:36:54,000 --> 04:36:58,000
Like I said, with the last one being the non substantive changes.

2931
04:36:58,000 --> 04:37:05,000
Now, that would include not only those that were approved last week that came from the charter commission or a staff recommendation,

2932
04:37:05,000 --> 04:37:07,000
but that would also be the petition.

2933
04:37:07,000 --> 04:37:08,000
Correct.

2934
04:37:08,000 --> 04:37:09,000
Yes.

2935
04:37:09,000 --> 04:37:16,000
The petition item is listed in the order that it also would appear in the charter.

2936
04:37:16,000 --> 04:37:17,000
Correct.

2937
04:37:17,000 --> 04:37:18,000
Okay.

2938
04:37:18,000 --> 04:37:19,000
Thank you.

2939
04:37:19,000 --> 04:37:21,000
Does the council have any discretion?

2940
04:37:21,000 --> 04:37:28,000
We've got three items on the agenda today that we will vote on to determine whether we're going to put it on the ballot.

2941
04:37:28,000 --> 04:37:34,000
Does the council have any discretion in what order those go on the ballot?

2942
04:37:34,000 --> 04:37:35,000
Yes.

2943
04:37:35,000 --> 04:37:36,000
They do.

2944
04:37:36,000 --> 04:37:43,000
With the caveat that the election for council offices has to be first.

2945
04:37:43,000 --> 04:37:51,000
Remember that you can either do the bond or the charter amendments for purposes of not misleading the voters.

2946
04:37:51,000 --> 04:37:58,000
We recommend putting the bond propositions together and then the charter amendment propositions together.

2947
04:37:58,000 --> 04:37:59,000
Okay.

2948
04:37:59,000 --> 04:38:00,000
So I want to say this back.

2949
04:38:00,000 --> 04:38:02,000
Just make sure we're right.

2950
04:38:02,000 --> 04:38:05,000
Or that I understand.

2951
04:38:05,000 --> 04:38:07,000
We have three election items.

2952
04:38:07,000 --> 04:38:15,000
We are required to put the election for council members first.

2953
04:38:15,000 --> 04:38:16,000
Correct.

2954
04:38:16,000 --> 04:38:22,000
And we have discretion, but the recommendation of council is, and by council I mean legal council,

2955
04:38:22,000 --> 04:38:28,000
is that we go with the bond propositions first and then the charter propositions.

2956
04:38:28,000 --> 04:38:34,000
I think you could either do the bond propositions first or second, but we recommend.

2957
04:38:34,000 --> 04:38:37,000
First or second after the election for official.

2958
04:38:37,000 --> 04:38:38,000
Correct.

2959
04:38:38,000 --> 04:38:39,000
Yes, Mayor.

2960
04:38:39,000 --> 04:38:40,000
Yeah.

2961
04:38:40,000 --> 04:38:42,000
But you're making a recommendation.

2962
04:38:42,000 --> 04:38:43,000
Yes.

2963
04:38:43,000 --> 04:38:44,000
Okay.

2964
04:38:44,000 --> 04:38:45,000
Fair enough.

2965
04:38:45,000 --> 04:38:49,000
Now on the determination of letters.

2966
04:38:49,000 --> 04:38:51,000
If we go with the bond proposition.

2967
04:38:51,000 --> 04:38:53,000
Well, let me ask it this way.

2968
04:38:53,000 --> 04:38:54,000
We made it.

2969
04:38:54,000 --> 04:38:55,000
We know.

2970
04:38:55,000 --> 04:38:58,000
And we're reminded frequently during days like today.

2971
04:38:58,000 --> 04:39:01,000
We made it all the way to cue.

2972
04:39:01,000 --> 04:39:08,000
And so as I learned it, the next letter is R.

2973
04:39:08,000 --> 04:39:09,000
Correct.

2974
04:39:09,000 --> 04:39:10,000
There may be dispute about that.

2975
04:39:10,000 --> 04:39:12,000
No, ball and all dispute that.

2976
04:39:12,000 --> 04:39:15,000
But we've got going to agree.

2977
04:39:15,000 --> 04:39:16,000
So that's good.

2978
04:39:16,000 --> 04:39:18,000
So the next letter is R.

2979
04:39:18,000 --> 04:39:24,000
However, it's my understanding that if you have a certain number, you're allowed to start over.

2980
04:39:24,000 --> 04:39:25,000
Would you describe that?

2981
04:39:25,000 --> 04:39:26,000
Yes.

2982
04:39:26,000 --> 04:39:30,000
So the next letter in the alphabet, alphabet available to us is R.

2983
04:39:30,000 --> 04:39:36,000
Between R and Z, there are nine letters.

2984
04:39:36,000 --> 04:39:40,000
We have ten ballot propositions.

2985
04:39:40,000 --> 04:39:49,000
So we could either do R through Z and then double A or we could just start at the beginning of the alphabet again.

2986
04:39:49,000 --> 04:39:55,000
So our rules do allow us if you're going to go pass Z, you can just start over again.

2987
04:39:55,000 --> 04:39:59,000
Well, the city code says that if there are more

2988
04:39:59,000 --> 04:40:05,000
propositions than letters remaining in the alphabet, then you go back to A.

2989
04:40:05,000 --> 04:40:07,000
Okay.

2990
04:40:07,000 --> 04:40:11,000
The ordinance has been provided in our backup.

2991
04:40:11,000 --> 04:40:14,000
It has blank spaces for all the letters.

2992
04:40:14,000 --> 04:40:16,000
So why do you do it that way?

2993
04:40:16,000 --> 04:40:17,000
Yes, Mayor.

2994
04:40:17,000 --> 04:40:28,000
Because we wanted to allow council to have the flexibility to decide which order the bond and charter amendments.

2995
04:40:28,000 --> 04:40:31,000
You wanted them to go in.

2996
04:40:31,000 --> 04:40:32,000
Okay.

2997
04:40:32,000 --> 04:40:33,000
Members.

2998
04:40:33,000 --> 04:40:34,000
Councilor Schlegel.

2999
04:40:34,000 --> 04:40:35,000
Thank you, Mayor.

3000
04:40:35,000 --> 04:40:37,000
And I appreciate the back and forth a lot.

3001
04:40:37,000 --> 04:40:42,000
And I just wanted to kind of subject my motion to the same scrutiny.

3002
04:40:42,000 --> 04:40:47,000
And so colleagues, I before the mayor posted his motion.

3003
04:40:47,000 --> 04:40:54,000
I posted a motion that kind of presented a way to organize the letters for the ballot measures.

3004
04:40:54,000 --> 04:40:59,000
And basically, I proposed that we would present the ballot measures to the voters of three chunks.

3005
04:40:59,000 --> 04:41:04,000
First, we will list the spending items to propose bonds.

3006
04:41:04,000 --> 04:41:09,000
Second, we would present the city initiated charter amendments as a chunk.

3007
04:41:09,000 --> 04:41:13,000
Then third, we would present the petition initiated charter amendment.

3008
04:41:13,000 --> 04:41:18,000
And so my understanding was this would also be consistent with state law that it's with deafness,

3009
04:41:18,000 --> 04:41:20,000
certainly in facial neutrality.

3010
04:41:20,000 --> 04:41:29,000
And I also believed it would avoid voter confusion by not mixing in the petition initiated charter amendment with the city initiated charter amendment.

3011
04:41:29,000 --> 04:41:33,000
I want to ask Mr. Gallagher the same question.

3012
04:41:33,000 --> 04:41:38,000
Do you think that is a facially neutral way to present the ballot measures?

3013
04:41:38,000 --> 04:41:45,000
Council member, as you have laid it out, I believe that would be a defensible facial neutral manner.

3014
04:41:45,000 --> 04:41:48,000
Thank you, Mayor.

3015
04:41:48,000 --> 04:41:56,000
So with that, what I'm going to ask us to do is go to the items.

3016
04:41:56,000 --> 04:42:02,000
Unless somebody else has a question, and I'm okay.

3017
04:42:02,000 --> 04:42:04,000
We'll go to the items.

3018
04:42:04,000 --> 04:42:17,000
And legal staff is recommending that we put the bond propositions before we put the charter provisions.

3019
04:42:17,000 --> 04:42:21,000
Unless there's disagreement on that, then we will go to item two.

3020
04:42:21,000 --> 04:42:27,000
If there's some disagreement, I want to hear about that because we might go ahead and take up item four first.

3021
04:42:27,000 --> 04:42:29,000
Fair enough, which question?

3022
04:42:29,000 --> 04:42:35,000
When we vote, are we voting one by one, or are we voting for them?

3023
04:42:35,000 --> 04:42:36,000
No, we're voting for them.

3024
04:42:36,000 --> 04:42:39,000
We have a single ordinance to call the special election.

3025
04:42:39,000 --> 04:42:50,000
However, the motion that I will ask for is that we give guidance to legal staff on what the lettering will be.

3026
04:42:50,000 --> 04:42:58,000
So for example, if we go, if the council, the city council, is of the opinion we go with the bond propositions first.

3027
04:42:58,000 --> 04:43:01,000
I guess we have two questions.

3028
04:43:01,000 --> 04:43:05,000
Question one is, do we want to start with R?

3029
04:43:05,000 --> 04:43:07,000
Or do we want to start with A?

3030
04:43:07,000 --> 04:43:14,000
And then if we start with A, for example, the bond propositions would be A and B.

3031
04:43:14,000 --> 04:43:17,000
Then that would take us when we get to item four.

3032
04:43:17,000 --> 04:43:23,000
That would take us to that, and we would need to give guidance about the order we go.

3033
04:43:23,000 --> 04:43:33,000
If we follow the legal recommendation that they've offered to us, it would be C through I guess J.

3034
04:43:33,000 --> 04:43:43,000
And so I would ask that we do that as part of the motion so that when they start drafting things, they'll be able to do it.

3035
04:43:43,000 --> 04:43:49,000
But it's just today is just a vote on approving the ordinance calling the election.

3036
04:43:49,000 --> 04:43:50,000
Thank you.

3037
04:43:50,000 --> 04:43:51,000
Thank you.

3038
04:43:51,000 --> 04:44:02,000
If I may, I think we would like to have council adopt the ordinance ordering the general election for council offices first, so that then we can move on to the.

3039
04:44:02,000 --> 04:44:06,000
Proposition ordinance is the two proposition ordinance.

3040
04:44:06,000 --> 04:44:07,000
Okay.

3041
04:44:07,000 --> 04:44:10,000
Although we're legally required to do that anyway, regardless.

3042
04:44:10,000 --> 04:44:15,000
And y'all, y'all of the ones that wrote the agenda.

3043
04:44:15,000 --> 04:44:17,000
Just point that out.

3044
04:44:17,000 --> 04:44:18,000
Okay.

3045
04:44:18,000 --> 04:44:19,000
All right.

3046
04:44:19,000 --> 04:44:21,000
Well, he's added to his own agenda.

3047
04:44:21,000 --> 04:44:24,000
So now we're on item number three.

3048
04:44:25,000 --> 04:44:33,000
Item number three is to approve an ordinance ordering a general election to be held in the city of Austin on November 3rd, 2026.

3049
04:44:33,000 --> 04:44:42,000
For the purpose of electing city council members for district one district three district five district eight and district nine.

3050
04:44:42,000 --> 04:44:46,000
And I'll note single member districts for those districts.

3051
04:44:46,000 --> 04:44:53,000
And then providing for the conduct of the general election authorizing the city clerk to enter into joint election agreements with other local political subdivisions.

3052
04:44:53,000 --> 04:44:58,000
It may be necessary for the orderly conduct of the election and declaring an emergency.

3053
04:44:58,000 --> 04:44:59,000
That being the case.

3054
04:45:00,000 --> 04:45:29,040
Yes, something else you want to add? Okay. Is there a motion? Councilmember Segel moves approval? It is second by Councilmember Deution. Is there a discussion? Hearing none, without objection, item number three is adopted unanimously. Now that will take us back unless I hear the scent. And we'll have a discussion about it. We'll go back to item number two, because

3055
04:45:30,000 --> 04:45:34,960
this will be to put item number two on the agenda, which is the bond, the

3056
04:45:34,960 --> 04:45:42,400
bottom general obligation bond election. And the motion that I, well, I'll ask for a motion,

3057
04:45:42,400 --> 04:45:48,160
y'all can modify it if you want to. The motion would be to approve an ordinance ordering a general

3058
04:45:48,160 --> 04:45:54,320
obligation bond election to be held on November 3rd, 2026 in the city of Austin, Texas on a proposed

3059
04:45:54,320 --> 04:45:59,200
bond issue for Parks and Recreation and Library Improvements. The funding would be debt service on

3060
04:45:59,200 --> 04:46:04,560
the general obligation bond programs and be funded through an annual property tax levy. And

3061
04:46:04,560 --> 04:46:12,640
the items would be listed on the agenda as item A and item B, not on the agenda, on the ballot,

3062
04:46:12,640 --> 04:46:19,200
items A and item B. Councilmember Segel moves approval at a second by Councilmember Harper Madison.

3063
04:46:19,200 --> 04:46:26,240
Is there a discussion with regard to that motion? Mayor May I please? I would assume it's following

3064
04:46:26,240 --> 04:46:33,920
the order that's presented in the ordinance with A being the Parks and B being. That is my

3065
04:46:33,920 --> 04:46:41,840
assumption as well since that's the way we've listed it in the ordinance. But I'll ask for Council,

3066
04:46:41,840 --> 04:46:48,480
if anybody on the city council has dispute about that, item A would be Parks, item B would be library

3067
04:46:48,480 --> 04:46:55,120
improvements. They're being no further discussion without objection. Item number two is adopted

3068
04:46:55,680 --> 04:47:02,800
unanimously. That will now take us to item number four. For clarity purposes, I'll read what the

3069
04:47:04,800 --> 04:47:10,560
motion will be and provide a recommendation and then when we get the motion, we'll know where we have that

3070
04:47:10,560 --> 04:47:16,240
motion. The motion would be to approve an ordinance ordering a special election to be held in the city of Austin

3071
04:47:16,240 --> 04:47:22,800
on November 3rd, 2026 to submit to the voters proposed charter amendments, including a citizen initiated

3072
04:47:22,800 --> 04:47:30,000
charter amendment, certified sufficient on June 22nd, 2026 providing for the conduct of the special

3073
04:47:30,000 --> 04:47:37,200
election, authorizing the city clerk to enter into joint election agreements with other local political

3074
04:47:37,200 --> 04:47:43,440
sub divisions as may be necessary for the orderly conduct of the election and declaring an emergency.

3075
04:47:43,440 --> 04:47:51,600
The funding is available in the fiscal year 2025, 2026 operating budget of the city clerk. The motion

3076
04:47:51,600 --> 04:47:59,040
would be to approve that ordinance with the assignment of the charter amendment proposition letters

3077
04:47:59,040 --> 04:48:07,520
in the following manner. Proposition C through Proposition J with based upon the recommendation

3078
04:48:07,520 --> 04:48:14,640
of legal staff. Is there a motion? Motion's made by Councilmember Harper Madison. Is there a second?

3079
04:48:15,280 --> 04:48:19,680
Second by the Mayor Pro Tem. Is there a discussion on the motion? Councilmember Seagull.

3080
04:48:20,320 --> 04:48:26,800
I guess, Mayor, I would prefer that we move forward to see what the motion I filed that

3081
04:48:26,800 --> 04:48:32,080
the city amendments be placed first and then the citizen initiated amendment be placed after that.

3082
04:48:32,080 --> 04:48:36,720
My only concern about the weather. I have a number of concerns about that, but one of the concerns I have

3083
04:48:36,720 --> 04:48:44,000
about that is that I think if a petition, whether I agree with the petition or not, and before we vote,

3084
04:48:44,000 --> 04:48:48,800
I'll say I don't agree with that petition and I have publicly said I don't agree with the petition.

3085
04:48:49,840 --> 04:48:56,240
But if the citizens bring us a petition, I'm not sure we should relegate the citizen's petition

3086
04:48:56,240 --> 04:49:00,400
to something after what the council has decided to put on the ballot.

3087
04:49:02,320 --> 04:49:07,040
With that being said, is there any further discussion? The motion has been made and seconded.

3088
04:49:07,040 --> 04:49:13,040
The motion would be to approve the ordinance providing the letters proposition C through Proposition

3089
04:49:13,040 --> 04:49:18,480
J and those would be in the order that has been recommended by our legal council.

3090
04:49:20,240 --> 04:49:24,800
They're being no further discussion without objection. The motion is adopted.

3091
04:49:24,800 --> 04:49:28,480
Councilmember Seagull, how do you want to be shown voting? It's councilmember Seagull's vote.

3092
04:49:28,480 --> 04:49:36,240
So it passes unanimously. Members, first of all, did we cover everything that you guys need cover?

3093
04:49:36,880 --> 04:49:43,520
Yes, Mayor. Thank you. Good. Thank you. Appreciate all the thought and time you've put into this and thank you very much.

3094
04:49:44,480 --> 04:49:51,840
Members, we moved quickly to these items and probably did not say enough of a thank you

3095
04:49:51,840 --> 04:50:00,480
to our professional financial staff. I saw them leave, but I want them to know that we really do appreciate

3096
04:50:00,480 --> 04:50:06,400
them particularly when it comes to items like we first discussed what we're dealing with that $4.7 million

3097
04:50:06,400 --> 04:50:12,640
and they put such creativity and innovation into helping us get to where we wanted to get in a variety of ways

3098
04:50:12,640 --> 04:50:17,280
that appear to be in conflict and they figured out a way to help us with that and I appreciate all the time

3099
04:50:17,280 --> 04:50:23,360
they gave me in those discussions so that we could get to that point. So I want to say thank you to them.

3100
04:50:23,920 --> 04:50:30,160
That being said, there's no further business to come before the Austin City Council at this meeting of the Austin City Council.

3101
04:50:32,480 --> 04:50:40,640
We will meet again on Wednesday, August 12, Thursday, August 13 and Friday, August 14

3102
04:50:40,640 --> 04:50:47,600
that we will conduct another public hearing. We will have Council discussion and we will vote on the budget at that time.

3103
04:50:47,600 --> 04:50:52,160
They're being no further business to come before the Austin City Council at this meeting of the Austin City Council.

3104
04:50:52,160 --> 04:50:59,760
Without objection, the Austin City Council is adjourned at 321 PM Thursday, August 6. Thank you very much, Council.

3105
04:50:59,760 --> 04:51:03,200
Thank you for all members of the public that attended.

3106
04:51:10,640 --> 04:51:26,960
Thank you very much.