1 Campaign Finance Committee Recommended Draft (March 12, 2018) (Highlights below are changes pursuant to our preceding discussions since February 26) I. Austin Democracy Dollars Program (A) Austin Democracy Dollars Program’s Purpose. Democracy Dollars are vital to ensure all the people of Austin have equal opportunity to participate in political campaigns and be heard by candidates, to strengthen democracy, to fulfill the purposes of single-member districts, to enhance candidate competition, and prevent corruption. (B) Issuance of Democracy Dollars. (1) Amount and Delivery. On the first business day of February of the year in every municipal election year, the Austin Independent Ethics Commission (hereafter “Commission”) shall mail to each person who was on or about that January 1 duly and actively registered to vote in the City of Austin, at his or her address in the voter registration records, two $25 in Democracy Dollars Voucher ("Democracy Dollars") for each city-elected position, council and mayoral that the person may vote for in Austin, for a maximum of four $25 Democracy Dollars Vouchers. However, the Commission may deliver Democracy Dollars online or in other manners if the Commission so elects. Thereafter, the Commission shall regularly issue two $25 Democracy Dollars Vouchers for each city-elected position that the person may vote for in Austin, to any person becoming a duly registered City of Austin voter after that January 1st, up until the third Tuesday in November of the election year. Any adult natural person who resides more than 30 days in the City of Austin, and who is a registered voter, or is eligible to vote under state law, may opt in to the Program and obtain an equivalent number of Democracy Dollars Vouchers by application to the Commission. Any such eligible adult may request Democracy Dollars be mailed or emailed to an address other than that indicated in the voter registration records, or be delivered at the Commission offices, and as soon as the Commission shall have developed a secure system for such distributions of Democracy Dollars, including distribution online, in person, or to an address not listed in the voter registration records. No resident outside Austin, no corporation or other non-human entity, no person under the age of 18 years, and no person ineligible to vote under state law, may receive a Democracy Dollars Voucher. The Commission shall set by regulations the delivery dates, redemption dates, and other deadlines for Democracy Dollar …
Office of the City AuditorAs of March 1, 2018Corrie StokesCity Auditor Jason HadaviDeputy City Auditor Katie HoustonAssistant City Auditor Patrick JohnsonAssistant City Auditor VacantChief of Investigations Andrew KeeganAssistant City Auditor Olga OvcharenkoQuality Assurance Coordinator Robert ElizondoAuditor III Karl StephensonAuditor II Rachel CastignoliAuditor II Sam NaikAuditor I Kathie HarrisonAuditor III Mary DoryAuditor III Matt Clifton Auditor III Tope Eletu-OdiboInvestigator III Keith SalasInvestigator II Angie GuerreroDept. Exec. Assistant Henry KatumwaAuditor III Jojo CruzAuditor II Galen Eagle BullInvestigator II Tyler MyersAuditor I Nick BroussardInvestigator 1 Cameron LagroneAuditor II Neha SharmaAssistant City Auditor Kate MurdockAuditor I John AcostaAdmin. Specialist Bobak ReihaniAuditor Temp
§ 11. - REVENUE BONDS. The city shall have power to borrow money for the purpose of constructing, purchasing, improving, extending or repairing of public utilities, recreational facilities or facilities for any other self liquidating municipal function not now or hereafter prohibited by any general law of the state, and to issue revenue bonds to evidence the obligation created thereby. Such bonds shall be a charge upon and payable solely from the properties, or interest therein, acquired and the income therefrom, and shall never be a debt of the city. All revenue bonds issued by the city for projects whose total cost exceeds $__ million shall first be authorized by a majority of the qualified electors voting at an election held for such purpose. All power and water purchases whose total price for each project exceeds $__ million shall also first be authorized by a majority of the qualified electors voting at an election held for such purpose. The amounts subject to voter approval shall be modified each year with the adoption of the budget to increase or decrease in accordance with the most recently published federal government, Bureau of Labor Statistics Indicator, Consumer Price Index (CPI-W U.S. City Average) U.S. City Average. The most recently published Consumer Price Index on December 31, 2018 shall be used as a base of 100 and the adjustment thereafter will be to the nearest $1,000.00.
BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE March 5, 2018, 9:30 AM City Hall- Boards and Commissions Room 301 W 2nd Street Austin, Texas 78701 AGENDA TASK FORCE MEMBERS Tom Nuckols (Chair) Bruce Evans (Vice-Chair) Sumit DasGupta Estrella de Leon John McNabb Herbert “Ken” Rigsbee Santiago Rodriguez Jeff Smith Rachel Stone Dorsey Twidwell Jeremiah Bentley Robert Walker Yasmiyn Irizarry CALL TO ORDER 1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (3 minutes to speak) Citizen communication will be limited to the first ten speakers who have not already addressed the Bond Election Advisory Task Force. Overall citizen communication will be limited to 30 minutes. 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES a. Approval of the minutes from the February 23rd , 2018 regular meeting 3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Discussion and possible action on the 2018 Bond Election Advisory Task Force Bond Recommendation Report ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call David Ondich, Human Resources, at 512-974-3256, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Bond Election Advisory Task Force, please visit the website http://austintexas.gov/content/bond-election-advisory-task-force or contact Katy Zamesnik, Financial Services, at 512-974-2832 or katy.zamesnik@austintexas.gov
BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE March 9, 2018, 9:30 AM City Hall- Boards and Commissions Room 301 W 2nd Street Austin, Texas 78701 REVISED AGENDA TASK FORCE MEMBERS Tom Nuckols (Chair) Bruce Evans (Vice-Chair) Sumit DasGupta Estrella de Leon John McNabb Herbert “Ken” Rigsbee Santiago Rodriguez Jeff Smith Rachel Stone Dorsey Twidwell Jeremiah Bentley Robert Walker Yasmiyn Irizarry CALL TO ORDER 1.CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (3 minutes to speak)Citizen communication will be limited to the first ten speakers who have not alreadyaddressed the Bond Election Advisory Task Force. Overall citizen communication will belimited to 30 minutes.2.APPROVAL OF THE MINUTESa.Approval of the minutes from the February 23rd , 2018 regular meeting3.DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTIONa.Discussion and possible action on the 2018 Bond Election Advisory Task Force BondRecommendation ReportADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call David Ondich, Human Resources, at 512-974-3256, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Bond Election Advisory Task Force, please visit the website http://austintexas.gov/content/bond-election-advisory-task-force or contact Katy Zamesnik, Financial Services, at 512-974-2832 or katy.zamesnik@austintexas.gov
Bond Election Advisory Task Force Regular Meeting February 23, 2018 1 BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Feb 23, 2018 The Bond Election Advisory Task Force convened in a regular meeting on February 23, 2018 in Austin, Texas. Chair Nuckols called the meeting to order at 1:08 PM Board Members in Attendance: Tom Nuckols, Chair Bruce Evans, Vice Chair Jeremiah Bentley Estrella de Leon Herbert “Ken” Rigsbee Jeff Smith Dorsey Twidwell Robert Walker Yasmiyn Irizarry Sumit DasGupta John McNabb Santiago Rodriguez Rachel Stone Staff in Attendance: Katy Zamesnik, Financial Services Carla Steffen, ACCD CALL TO ORDER 1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION Annie Maciel, Chair of the Mexican-American Cultural Center (MACC), spoke on the MACC, and thanked the task force for their consideration of the funding for the MACC expansion. . Born and raised Austinite; has seen the displacement firsthand in Austin. First phase of the MACC was built in 2008, and it is crucial that approval for the completion of the MACC go forward. Juan Oyervides, deferred to Anna Maciel, then spoke on the MACC as well. He noted that certain projects seem to move forward quicker than others, and that the MACC has been waiting a long time for Phase 2. Aida Cerda-Prezak, spoke on the MACC, the need for more space, and the neglect that the Hispanic community has faced in the city. Stated that $15 million wasn’t going to make a dent when the estimate is $40 million for Phase 2. Garrick Jannene, spoke on behalf of people that are facing housing cost issues. Support for affordable housing, but demanded that the ballot be higher, at least $300 million. $100 million dedicated to land acquisition. Ashkan Jahangiri, works for Farm to City. Works on Vision Zero; thanked the task force for their work, and urged them to consider $20 million for sidewalks. Bond Election Advisory Task Force Regular Meeting February 23, 2018 2 Hayden Walker, representing Walk Austin, a local nonprofit. Urged the Task Force to consider matching the money that was in the mobility bond. Also encouraged to fund hybrid beacons, and for the $20 million recommended for Vision Zero. Aleshia Bonilla, spoke in support of the Dougherty Arts Center. She is a native austenite, and remembers visiting the Daugherty Arts Center as a child, and now takes her kids there as well. The rebuilding effort for the Daugherty has gone through extensive research. DACC is …
2018 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION MARCH 5, 2018 at 6:30 P.M. Austin City Hall, Room 1029 301 W. 2nd Street AUSTIN, TEXAS CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Joy Authur Roger Borgelt Martha Cotera Matt Hersh Fred Lewis Diego Martinez-Moncada Karl-Thomas Musselman Jessica Palvino Jeff Smith Tane Ward Ingrid Weigand AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 1) CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (3 minutes to speak) The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 2) APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) Approval of minutes from February 26, 2018 meeting. 3) NEW BUSINESS The Commission may discuss and take action on the following agenda items: a) Recommendation on Council Budget and Efficiency Officer. b) Recommendation on charter provisions related to terms and appointments of Planning Commission members. c) Recommendation from the City Auditor regarding staff of the Auditor’s Office being exempt from Municipal Civil Service. d) Recommendation from the Petition Working Group on revisions to the petition process. e) Recommendation from the Campaign Finance and Ethics Working Group on an Independent Ethics Review Commission. f) Discussion on the impact of redistricting on the 2022 Election. 4) FUTURE MEETING DATES AND AGENDA ITEMS The Commission may discuss and identify additional meeting dates and future agenda items, topics or presentations. ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call or email Myrna Rios or Jannette Goodall with the City Clerk’s Office, (512-974-2210 or myrna.rios@austintexas.gov or jannette.goodall@austintexas.gov), for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the 2018 Charter Review Commission, please contact Jannette Goodall at 512-974-2210.
PROPOSED CHAPTER 2.9. CITY BUDGET AND EFFICIENCY OFFICER CHAPTER 2-9. - CITY BUDGET AND EFFICIENCY OFFICER. § 2-9-1 – MISSION AND PURPOSE (A) The City Council Budget and Efficiency Officer’s mission is to produce independent analyses of budgetary and fiscal issues to support the Austin City Council’s budget process by issuing reports and reviews of proposed and existing programs. (B) The purpose of the City Budget and Efficiency Office is: (1) to provide the City Council and citizens with an independent and credible assessment of the budget; (2) to strengthen the budget process that improves transparency, accountability, and participation; (3) to influence the allocation of public funds through the budget; (4) to demystify the technical language of the budget and to open up the budget to public scrutiny. § 2-9-2 - APPOINTMENT. (A) The office of the city budget and efficiency officer (CBEO) is created under Section XXX (of Article XXX of the Charter. A majority of the council shall appoint a city budget and efficiency officer in accordance with the procedure established in Section 2-9-3 (Selection Process). (B) The council may not appoint a city council budget and efficiency officer who: (1) has served as the City's mayor, a council member, or city manager within five years before the date of the appointment; or (2) is related, by affinity or consanguinity within the second degree, to the mayor, a council member, or the city manager. (C) The council shall provide the city council budget and efficiency officer with a discrete budget sufficient to perform the auditor's responsibilities and duties under this chapter. (1) The appropriations available to pay for the expenses of the city council budget and efficiency office during each fiscal year shall not be less than twenty percent of the appropriations available to pay for the expenses of the City Manager’s Financial Services Budget office. (D) A majority vote of the members of the council is required to remove the city council budget and efficiency officer as provided by Section XXX (City Council Budget and Efficiency Officer) of Article XXX (Finance) of the City Charter. PROPOSED CHAPTER 2.9. CITY BUDGET AND EFFICIENCY OFFICER § 2-9-3 - SELECTION PROCESS; CITY COUNCIL BUDGET AND EFFICIENCY OFFICER. (A) The council shall appoint a nominating committee to recommend candidates for city budget and efficiency officer. The committee shall consist of five members, including: (1) three council members appointed by the council …
ARTICLE IV. - INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM, AND RECALL. § 2. - POWER OF REFERENDUM. The people reserve the power to approve or reject at the polls any legislation enacted by the council which is subject to the initiative process under this Charter, except an ordinance which is enacted for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, which contains a statement of its urgency, and which is adopted by the favorable votes of eight (8) or more of the councilmembers. Within 180 days of passage of an ordinance upon third reading, a petition signed by qualified voters of the city equal in number to the number of signatures required by state law to initiate an amendment to this Charter may be filed with the city clerk requesting that any such ordinance be submitted to a vote of the people for repeal or approval. A notice of intent to circulate such a petition shall be filed with the city clerk prior to doing so. § 6. - POWER OF RECALL. The people of the city reserve the power to recall any member of the council and may exercise such power by filing with the city clerk a petition, signed by qualified voters of the territory from which the council member is elected equal in number to at least 20 percent of the qualified voters of the territory from which the council member is elected, or 10% citywide for the mayor, demanding the removal of a mayor or council member. A notice of intent to circulate such a petition shall be filed with the city clerk prior to doing so, and shall be treated as a ballot measure from the date such notice is filed. The petition shall be signed and verified in the manner required for an initiative petition, shall contain one of the following grounds for which the removal is sought: incompetency (gross ignorance of official duties, gross carelessness in the discharge of official duties, or inability or unfitness to promptly and properly discharge official duties because of a serious mental or physical defect that did not exist at the time of election); official misconduct (intentional unlawful behavior relating to official duties including an intentional or corrupt failure, refusal, or neglect of an officer to perform a duty imposed on the officer by law); habitual intoxication; or conviction for any felony or misdemeanor involving official misconduct. One of the …
BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE February 23rd 2018, 1:00 PM City Hall- Boards and Commissions Room 301 W 2nd Street Austin, Texas 78701 AGENDA TASK FORCE MEMBERS Tom Nuckols (Chair) Bruce Evans (Vice-Chair) Sumit DasGupta Estrella de Leon John McNabb Herbert “Ken” Rigsbee Santiago Rodriguez Jeff Smith Rachel Stone Dorsey Twidwell Jeremiah Bentley Robert Walker Yasmiyn Irizarry CALL TO ORDER 1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (3 minutes to speak) Citizen communication will be limited to the first ten speakers who have not already addressed the Bond Election Advisory Task Force. Overall citizen communication will be limited to 30 minutes. 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES a. Approval of the minutes from the February 8th , 2018 regular meeting 3. STAFF BRIEFINGS a. Briefing on the Spirit of East Austin Initiative (CMO) 4. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Reports and possible action on final bond package recommendations from working groups (standing item) b. Discussion and possible action on a bond package recommendation c. Discussion and possible action on future meeting dates of the Task Force and Working Groups 5. FUTURE AGENDAS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call David Ondich, Human Resources, at 512-974-3256, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Bond Election Advisory Task Force, please visit the website http://austintexas.gov/content/bond-election-advisory-task-force or contact Katy Zamesnik, Financial Services, at 512-974-2832 or katy.zamesnik@austintexas.gov
Bond Election Advisory Task Force Regular Meeting February 8, 2018 1 BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Feb 8, 2018 The Bond Election Advisory Task Force convened in a regular meeting on February 8, 2018 in Austin, Texas. Chair Nuckols called the meeting to order at 1:08 PM Board Members in Attendance: Tom Nuckols, Chair Bruce Evans, Vice Chair Jeremiah Bentley Estrella de Leon Herbert “Ken” Rigsbee Jeff Smith Dorsey Twidwell Robert Walker Yasmiyn Irizarry Sumit DasGupta John McNabb Santiago Rodriguez Rachel Stone Staff in Attendance: Katy Zamesnik, Financial Services Carla Steffen, ACCD Brion Oaks, Chief Equity Officer CALL TO ORDER 1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION LadyeAnne Wofford, spoke on the needs for parks investment in the 2018 Bond. Stephanie Behrens, member of local area parks committee. Stillhouse Hollows Pool. Requested improvements to area parks. $147 million into parks, $45 million for parkland acquisition. Rebecca Gomez, donated time to Sylva Orozco Slyva Orozco, Executive Director of the Mexic-Arte museum, presented on the needs of the Mexic-Arte Museum, and requested funding in the amount of $15 million to improve the building. Theresa Perez Wiseley, Chair of Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Initiative. Presented recommendations to City Council on June 23, 2013. The Commission was hoping to build a beautiful building back in 2012, but that hasn’t’ happened. Must support the cultural arts. Hispanic arts commissions have been underfunded, major arts organizations need more support to continue their work. Support needed to preserve and stabilize Latino art collections. Hispanic/Latino population is growing rapidly. Urged the TF to renovate the Mexic-Arte to give it a healthy future. 35% of the population now. Requested $15 million Bond Election Advisory Task Force Regular Meeting February 8, 2018 2 Lucky Lemieux: Spoke on behalf of the Daugherty Arts Center (DAC) and the need for investment in a new building. She spoke on the programming at the DAC and the importance of the DAC to the community. Discussed the need to leave it in the center of Austin. Gopal Guthikonda, president of the Network of Asian American Art and Musicians. Requested funding for the Asian American Resource Center (AARC). AARC is one of the critical elements to Austin’s art scene. He spoke on the programming at the AARC and the multipurpose nature of the facility. Requesting $15 million for the expansion of the AARC. David Todd, representing South River City’s Neighborhood Association, as well as the Blunn Creek …
February 22, 2018 AgendaHistory & OverviewTimeline of Events & MeetingsCommunity Engagement –Table TalksDirector’s Meetings Impact and EffortThemes FoundLessons LearnedList of InitiativesNext steps2 OverviewOur overall Objective:Bring together projects/programs across departments to create a collaborative effort so the Spirit of East Austin Initiative will be transformative for the Eastern Crescent Community.3 HistoryCouncil working Group –Mayor Adler, CM Houston, Renteria, Pool, and TroxclairSeptember 2015 eventAlmost 500 participants2000 comments, ideas, requestsReview and analysisCommunity check‐in tourOrganize ideas and develop initiative listsTable Talks community engagementDirector engagementSynthesize and report4 Timeline –Table TalksEngaged with communities to receive feedbackMarch ‐AprilAttended meetings with QoLCommissions and Council Working GroupFebruary 2017Created initial database –used City Council’s priority outcomesMayTranslated community feedbackMay ‐JuneAnalyzed data to find common themesJune5 Timeline –Directors’ MeetingsVisioning for the short/long term with challenges, opportunities, & accomplishmentsJune 18, 2017Analyzed and placed notes according to Mayor’s initiativesPlaced Mayor’s initiatives and projects on high/low impact axes August 7, 2017Current/future projects & initiatives places on high/low impact & effort axesOctober 4,20171326 Community Engagement -Table Talks7 Community Engagement -Social Research Targeted engagement –those that are not usually available to attend community engagement eventsMain Results: Total responses were 866 entries Percentages represent number of entries out of total comments Spanish speaking entries were approximately 20%of total feedbackMost hits on one common theme were under Affordability at 46%of total 8 Social Research 9 High/Low ImpactImpact on the community was determined by the comments and feedback analyzed by our team Social research concluded the “common themes” and their respective impact on the Eastern Crescent of the Austin Highest Impact common theme: Health10 What we heard from the CommunityHealth–39%Health and EnvironmentAccess to affordable healthcareAccess to affordable healthy food –12%Affordable medicine (over the counter and prescription) Housing–38%/ Culture–31%Economic Opportunity & AffordabilityAffordable housing in East AustinCulture and Lifelong LearningInclusive cultural atmosphereProperty taxes Access to housing for those with disabilitiesCodeNEXT Zoning and how it worksJobs–30%/ Training–6%Economic Opportunity & Affordability Wage improvement Training for upward mobility –Higher paying jobsHigh level computer skills training Availability of jobs for variety of skill sets11Common Themes ObservedStrategic Plan Alignment Transportation–26%MobilityImproved public transit system Affordable monthly passes Improved bus stops Traffic improvement on Mopac and I35Education–24%Economic Opportunity & AffordabilityAfter school programs for students/childrenBasic life skill computer training Night classes for parents/adults –English classesWorkshops for financial assistance Safety–22%SafetyImproved security in neighborhoods Improved public safety and relationship with APD12Common Themes ObservedStrategic Plan AlignmentWhat we heard from the Community Director’s Meetings13 Impact & Effort –Our LensWe created a lenswhile looking at …
2018 Bond Recommendation ScenariosAmountStaff Recommended Starting Point0 cent1 cent2 centPercent of overall bondStormwater112,000,000$ 75,000,000$ 38,100,000$ 67,100,000$ 96,500,000$ 13%Open Space117,000,000$ 50,000,000$ 25,600,000$ 45,000,000$ 64,500,000$ 14%Facilities281,000,000$ 240,000,000$ 122,000,000$ 216,000,000$ 309,500,000$ 33%Affordable Housing161,000,000$ 85,000,000$ 43,000,000$ 76,000,000$ 109,500,000$ 19%Transportation180,000,000$ 190,000,000$ 96,300,000$ 170,900,000$ 245,000,000$ 21%Total851,000,000$ 640,000,000$ 325,000,000$ 575,000,000$ 825,000,000$ 100%Breakdown by CategoryParkland & Open Space117,000,000 Open Space72,000,000 Parkland45,000,000 Stormwater112,000,000 Facilities & Assets281,000,000 Parks97,000,000 Public Safety69,000,000 Public Health16,000,000 Public Library 31,500,000 Cultural Centers67,500,000 Affordable Housing161,000,000 Transportation Infrastructure180,000,000 PWD150,000,000 ATD30,000,000 Total851,000,000 Affordable Housing Working Group Recommendations: $161,000,000 The working group feels this is the year to fund Affordable House. The cost of closing Austin’s Affordable Housing Gap Today is around $6.48 Billion (48,000 unit gap). The cost of closing Austin’s Affordable Housing Gap in 2025 ≈ $11.18 Billion. A bond that helps build more units in more parts of town, and helps keep people in their homes, will help keep people in Austin who live here today. Rental Housing Development Assistance Projects (RHDA) RHDA program increases or maintains the supply of affordable rental housing by addressing the rental housing needs identified by the City of Austin's Continuum of Housing Services, including Permanent Supportive Housing. Because of the increasing need for affordable rental housing, this is the highest priority funding "bucket." The vast majority of these units will be rental housing and will require subsidy to secure the affordability for the long‐term. Staff anticipates greater need for rental housing subsidy due to changes in federal tax law that reduce the value of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, as well as political uncertainty at the federal level around commitment and resources for affordable housing: $75,000,000 Acquisition & Development (A&D) Homeownership Program The purpose of the A&D Homeownership Program is to address the need for affordably‐priced ownership housing within the city. Housing developed through this program are to be owned and occupied by low‐ to moderate‐income households. With several new subdivisions in the planning stages, the City anticipates increased need for investment in affordable homeownership. In addition, the City is expanding its Community Land Trust, which will be a major mechanism to ensure affordable homeownership for the long‐term: $18,000,000 Real Estate Acquisition This new forward‐thinking initiative will enable AHFC to acquire land for future use for affordable housing development. The land can be developed by AHFC or be offered to non‐profit or for‐profit affordable housing developers. The lack of developable land in strategic areas is one of the biggest …
BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE February 8th, 2018, 10:00 AM City Hall- Boards and Commissions Room 301 W 2nd Street Austin, Texas 78701 AGENDA TASK FORCE MEMBERS Tom Nuckols (Chair) Bruce Evans (Vice-Chair) Sumit DasGupta Estrella de Leon John McNabb Herbert “Ken” Rigsbee Santiago Rodriguez Jeff Smith Rachel Stone Dorsey Twidwell Jeremiah Bentley Robert Walker Yasmiyn Irizarry CALL TO ORDER 1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (3 minutes to speak) Citizen communication is an opportunity for members of the public to speak on an unposted agenda item. 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES a. Approval of the minutes from the January 4th , 2018 regular meeting 3. STAFF BRIEFINGS a. Briefing on the 2018 bond program equity results (Equity Office) b. Briefing on updates to the public engagement results to date 4. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION a. Reports and possible action on bond package recommendations from working groups (standing item) b. Discussion and possible action on a bond package recommendation c. Discussion and possible action on future meeting dates of the Task Force and Working Groups 5. FUTURE AGENDAS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call David Ondich, Human Resources, at 512-974-3256, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Bond Election Advisory Task Force, please visit the website http://austintexas.gov/content/bond-election-advisory-task-force or contact Katy Zamesnik, Financial Services, at 512-974-2832 or katy.zamesnik@austintexas.gov
Bond Election Advisory Task Force Regular Meeting February 8, 2018 1 BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Feb 8, 2018 The Bond Election Advisory Task Force convened in a regular meeting on February 8, 2018 in Austin, Texas. Chair Nuckols called the meeting to order at 1:08 PM Board Members in Attendance: Tom Nuckols, Chair Bruce Evans, Vice Chair Jeremiah Bentley Estrella de Leon Herbert “Ken” Rigsbee Jeff Smith Dorsey Twidwell Robert Walker Yasmiyn Irizarry Sumit DasGupta John McNabb Santiago Rodriguez Rachel Stone Staff in Attendance: Katy Zamesnik, Financial Services Carla Steffen, ACCD Brion Oaks, Chief Equity Officer CALL TO ORDER 1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION LadyeAnne Wofford, spoke on the needs for parks investment in the 2018 Bond. Stephanie Behrens, member of local area parks committee. Stillhouse Hollows Pool. Requested improvements to area parks. $147 million into parks, $45 million for parkland acquisition. Rebecca Gomez, donated time to Sylva Orozco Slyva Orozco, Executive Director of the Mexic-Arte museum, presented on the needs of the Mexic-Arte Museum, and requested funding in the amount of $15 million to improve the building. Theresa Perez Wiseley, Chair of Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Initiative. Presented recommendations to City Council on June 23, 2013. The Commission was hoping to build a beautiful building back in 2012, but that hasn’t’ happened. Must support the cultural arts. Hispanic arts commissions have been underfunded, major arts organizations need more support to continue their work. Support needed to preserve and stabilize Latino art collections. Hispanic/Latino population is growing rapidly. Urged the TF to renovate the Mexic-Arte to give it a healthy future. 35% of the population now. Requested $15 million Bond Election Advisory Task Force Regular Meeting February 8, 2018 2 Lucky Lemieux: Spoke on behalf of the Daugherty Arts Center (DAC) and the need for investment in a new building. She spoke on the programming at the DAC and the importance of the DAC to the community. Discussed the need to leave it in the center of Austin. Gopal Guthikonda, president of the Network of Asian American Art and Musicians. Requested funding for the Asian American Resource Center (AARC). AARC is one of the critical elements to Austin’s art scene. He spoke on the programming at the AARC and the multipurpose nature of the facility. Requesting $15 million for the expansion of the AARC. David Todd, representing South River City’s Neighborhood Association, as well as the Blunn Creek …
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. January 29, 2018 Dear Bond Election Advisory Task Force, Please accept my thanks to each of you for your service on the Task Force. While this may appear to be a daunting task, the work that you are doing it is critically important to both ‘newcomers and those who have lived here for years’. I advocate on behalf of many of the individuals who reside in the City who are experiencing the pressures brought on by the rapid growth in the City of Austin, especially young families with children, elders, individuals with different abilities and those whose incomes are at the low end of the wage scale. They are being forced to relocate, sometimes to the edges of or outside the center city because they cannot afford to stay in the city due to rising cost of living. Some families have lived in the community for five generations or longer. It is my belief that city policies, including fiscal policies, must allow individuals who are hanging on by a thin thread, to ‘live within their means’ and not have another tax rate increase for the 2018 Bond. Aside from the financial burden to our constituents, it may be the reason for some to cast a ‘no’ vote for the much needed bonds. Individuals will soon be experiencing the impact of the $720 million Mobility Bond, followed closely by the $1 billion dollar school bonds. As public servants it is important to be extremely thoughtful regarding how the funds taxpayers approve are spent and ensure that projects are identified through an equity lens. Bond priorities have been historically based on the zip codes in the City or in the neighborhoods with the economic and political power to demand that their projects are included. I am writing to share my preferred priorities for the 2018 Bond proposal. Flood mitigation, bridge reconstruction and regional ponds for the urban watersheds in the District; Funding for deferred maintenance at the Carver Museum; Implementation of phases II & III for the Carver Museum & Genealogy Center; Funds to collaborate with developers to construct income accessible housing on City of Austin property or on land owned by other governmental entities; A district pool at Colony Park …
