Jan 25, 2022 City Council Special Meeting

[1. Open meeting.]

[00:00:05]

GOOD EVENING.

TODAY IS TUESDAY, JANUARY 25TH, 2022.

AND THE TIME IS 6:01 PM.

AND THIS IS THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LANDER CITY COUNCIL

[2. Roll Call.]

COUNCIL MEMBER ASKED ME MACKIE LAGUARDIA HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, JASON SHAW, NICOLE COUNCIL MEMBER, NICOLE THOMPSON PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER, CHRIS SARDINE, MAYOR PRO TEM, BECKY ROSS HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, CHRISTINE DELLA HERE.

OKAY, WE DO

[3. Convene into executive session pursuant to Section 551.071, Texas Government Code, and Section 1.05, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct to consult with legal counsel regarding Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority election and contracting matters. Reconvene into open session to take action as determined appropriate regarding Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority.]

WE'RE GOING TO CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:01 PM.

PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 51 0.071 TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND SECTION 1.05 TEXTS, TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING CAPITOL METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, ELECTION AND CONTRACTING MATTERS.

ALL RIGHT, WE ARE RECONVENING INTO OPEN SESSION AT 7:28 PM TO TAKE ACTION AS DETERMINED, APPROPRIATE REGARDING CAPITAL MUCH METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, MAYOR PRO TEM.

DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? NO ACTION.

OKAY, COUNSEL,

[5. Discuss and consider action on an Interlocal Agreement with Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority.]

UM, BEFORE WE GET TO CITY ATTORNEY SIGNS, WE DO HAVE, UH, SOMEBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, UH, ZEN, ZEN, I'M SORRY.

XENOPHOBIA.

JOSEPH MS. JOSEPH.

OKAY, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

OKAY.

YOU TOLD ME TO BRING IT.

OH SURE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MADAM MAYOR COUNCIL AND ZENOBIA JOSEPH.

MY COMMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN.

I PROVIDED A FLYER FOR YOU TO SEE THAT THERE'S BEEN A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY BY CAPITAL METRO, THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, OR NOT PROVIDED ANY INFORMATION IN THE BOARD PACKET.

IT WAS ACTUALLY A BLANK PAGE.

AND THAT IS WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU ADD VIOLATES HOUSE BILL 28 40, WHICH REQUIRES THAT THE AUTHORITY ALLOW CITIZENS TO MAKE COMMENTS BEFORE THEY TAKE ACTION ON AN ITEM.

I ALSO PROVIDED YOU WITH INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO THE SYSTEM SO THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THE MONIES THAT ARE SPENT IN LEANDER IMPACT THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN AUSTIN AS WELL.

AND SO YOU WILL SEE THAT THE 60 MINUTE ROUTES ARE ONLY IN BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.

THAT'S ABOUT 10 TIMES LONGER THAN THOSE WHO ARE IN THE WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS, ALL WHITE SUBURBANITES.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL, THE 45 MINUTE ROUTES WERE SHORTLINE 3 92 AND 3 83, WHICH IS THE LAKELINE BUS.

AND IT'S A 30 MINUTE TRANSFER BECAUSE THE BUS ROUTE 3 92 WAS SHORT LINE IN ORDER TO REACH THE RAIL AT KRAMER STATION.

SO WE MISSED THE BUS BY THREE MINUTES AND HAVE TO WAIT 30 MINUTES.

SO I AM ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT BECAUSE WE WERE NOT PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL, THAT ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2020 FOR THE ELECTION, THERE WAS A CONFLATION OF RIDERSHIP, HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT AND COVERAGE, THE LOCAL FIXED ROUTES.

AND SO VOTERS WERE ACTUALLY CONFUSED.

AND AS IT RELATES TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ACTUALLY OPPOSED THAT ITEM.

I KNOW YOU BOUGHT IT FORWARD.

MADAM MAYOR, WHEN YOU WERE A COUNCIL MEMBER.

HOWEVER, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS HOW CAPITOL METRO GETS ITS FUNDING.

SO THE $7.1 BILLION PROJECT CONNECT LIGHT RAIL IS CONTINGENT ON 45% FEDERAL FUNDING.

AND SO I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT I ACTUALLY THANKED THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS FOR KILLING HOUSE BILL 3 8, 9, 3, BUT DOWNTOWN AUSTIN TUNNEL BILL, BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE JEOPARDIZED THEIR FEDERAL FUNDING.

AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ACTUALLY RAN ON A PLATFORM FOR COURAGE.

AND I WOULD

[00:05:01]

OUR MAYOR WAS ACTUALLY REMINDING THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS MAKE UP ABOUT 40% OF THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED AND SPECIFICALLY THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO ACCESS BETWEEN SAMSUNG AND APPLE.

THAT BUS ROUTE, THE METRO RAPID WAS ACTUALLY A UNILATERALLY ELIMINATED.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.

WE CANNOT HAVE BACK AND FORTH.

THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH.

OH, YES.

IT'S AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

SO I THOUGHT YOU COULD ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU NEED IT TO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE WANTED THEIR POSITIONS READ INTO THE RECORD.

UH, JENNIFER CALHOUN IS AGAINST LISA FULLER IS A AGAINST DAVID CALHOUN IS AGAINST AND BRYAN FULLER IS AGAINST.

I DO NOT HAVE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.

WAS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHED TO SPEAK? YOU WANT TO SPEAK? LET'S CLARIFY.

I'M SORRY.

PLEASE COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE.

UM, WE WERE TOLD WHAT WE HAD PUT, I JUST WANT TO VERIFY THAT WHAT WE ARE VOTING FOR, WHAT WE JUST SAID AGAINST ON THAT SHEET IS SAYING THAT WE ARE WANTING OUT, UM, THIS CONTRACT WITH CAPITAL METRO.

NO, MA'AM ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS TO APPROVE AN INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH CAPITAL METRO.

OKAY.

SO I'M JUST GETTING THOSE TWO WRONG.

OKAY.

SO YOU WANT TO BE AGAINST ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

OKAY.

CHRISTIE MAY CAN, CAN YOU CLARIFY, ARE THEY FOR PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT? I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY FOR PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT OR AGAINST PUTTING.

SO I BELIEVE THEY'RE SIGNED UP FOR BOTH POSITIONS TO BE READ ON FOUR AND FIVE.

OKAY.

YES.

AS A REMINDER, WE'VE SWITCHED THE ORDER THAT WE'RE GOING IN.

SO THIS IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

ALRIGHT.

MS. SIGNS, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THE, UH, METRO BOARD HAS BEEN CONSIDERING, AND US HAS APPROVED FOR THE CITY OF LANDERS CONSIDERATION, A RESOLUTION AND THE BONES OF AN INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT THAT PROVIDE FOR, UM, HOW THE PARTIES WOULD INTERACT.

UM, UH, IN A, IN A, UH, CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH LEANDER STAYING WITHIN THE CAP, METRO JURISDICTION, UH, THE GENERAL TERMS OF THAT AGREEMENT.

AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE, UH, CAP METRO BOARD REP, UM, THE GENERAL TERMS OF THAT AGREEMENT, UH, INVOLVED THE CITY'S COST OF SERVICE BEING CALCULATED EVERY YEAR.

ANY FUNDS THAT LEANDER PAYS, UH, IN SALES TAX, UH, TOWARDS THAT COST OF SERVICE THAT ARE GREATER THAN THE ACTUAL COST OF SERVICE GET DISTRIBUTED BACK TO LAND OR THE NEXT YEAR.

UM, AND THAT THOSE FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR VARIOUS TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT ARE, UH, GO THROUGH AN APPROVAL PROCESS WITH CAP METRO.

THEY NEED TO CONFIRM THAT THOSE FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

CAUSE THAT'S THE REASON WHY THAT SALES TAX IS IN PLACE.

UH, THAT IS ONE FUNDAMENTAL TERM OF THE AGREEMENT.

THE OTHER, UH, IS THAT CAP METRO ALSO AGREES TO PROVIDE LANDER WITH TECHNICAL OR PROJECT ASSISTANCE IN PURSUING FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS TO ADD TO THOSE FUNDS AVAILABLE FROM CAP METRO TO SUPPORT OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.

SO THOSE ARE THE GENERAL TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT THAT CAP METRO BOARD APPROVE THE, THE, THE, THE, THE BUSINESS TERMS. THERE ARE STILL SOME WORK TO BE DONE ON NEGOTIATING FINALIZING, GETTING THE FINAL DRAFTING DONE.

UM, BUT THIS IS BEFORE YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, I'D TURN IT OVER TO THE KENT METRO BOARD REP TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER, UH, DETAILS TO ADD AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

DID WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM CAMP METRO THAT WANTED

[00:10:01]

OH, OUR REP, SORRY.

OF COURSE ERICA IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE WITH CITIZEN COMMENTS.

YOU CAN COME ON UP THAT EVENING.

MS. MASA EVENING.

THANK YOU.

MAYOR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, ERICA MAZA, CAPITAL METRO.

UM, HERE YOU, I WAS HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TO JUST PROVIDE AN UPDATE AS TO WHERE CAPITOL METRO HAS BEEN THUS FAR, UM, ON THE HEELS OF THE LAND OR COUNCIL MEETING ON JANUARY 6TH, UH, WHERE YOU ALL DIRECTED, UM, OUR CAPITAL METRO BOARD REPRESENTATIVE MAYOR PRO TEMP ROSS, UM, TO COME BACK WITH A RESOLUTION, UM, LOOKING TO ENTER INTO IT AN INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT AND ILA.

AND SO AS OF YESTERDAY, UM, AS JUST, UH, PRESENTED, WE HAVE PRESENTED AN ILA, UM, THAT HAS BEEN UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

I WON'T WALK THROUGH ALL OF THE NEW, UH, ALL, UH, THE TWO, UM, SALIENT POINTS.

UM, BUT JUST TO KIND OF CALL OUT THAT, UH, IN FACT, WITH THE DELTA THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE COST OF SERVICE AND WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BROUGHT IN FOR THAT 1 CENT SALES TAX, IT IS, UM, A DELTA OF ABOUT $1.9 MILLION THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE RETURNED BACK TO, UH, THE CITY OF LANDER FOR, UH, TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

IN ADDITION, UH, THE GRANT PROGRAM OR THE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A FEW GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE FOR PLANNING, UM, FUNCTIONS, BECAUSE I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS SOME CONCERNS REGARDING YOUR, UM, GRADE CROSSINGS.

AND SO WE COULD GET STARTED WORKING ON THAT TOGETHER.

AND THEN THE RESOLUTION WAS ALSO APPROVED BY THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD YESTERDAY THAT INCLUDED A $10 MILLION ADDITIONAL TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE CAPITAL FUND, UM, FOR, UH, SUBURBAN MEMBER CITIES.

AND WITH THAT , UM, IT'S BASED ON SALES TAX AND THE, UM, AND FOR THAT LEANDER COULD RECEIVE UPWARDS OF $7.4 MILLION, UH, WHICH IS A TOTAL OF $9.3 MILLION THAT COULD BE RETURNED BACK TO LEANDRA THIS YEAR.

UM, AND FOR FUTURE YEARS FOR PROJECTS, UM, UH, TRANSIT, SUPPORTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND PRETEND, DID YOU WANT TO ADD TO ANY OF THIS? UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD, AS, AS I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE KENT METRO STAFF AND CITY STAFF OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND IF THE DECISION IS MADE TO STAY IN CAP METRO LONGTERM, UM, THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE IN AN AGREEMENT AND BE ABLE TO BRING BACK SOME OF THOSE SALES TAX DOLLARS TO OUR CITY AND BE IN A DIFFERENT FINANCIAL POSITION THAN WE CURRENTLY ARE IN.

SO THAT WAS THE EFFORT FOR THIS AGREEMENT.

AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT METRO STAFF FOR, UM, WORKING WITH US AND CREATING SOME NEW PROCESSES THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT, UM, IN THE LONG RUN.

ALL RIGHT, COUNSEL, I GUESS JUST PUT, LIKE, I GUESS JUST PUBLICLY TOO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THESE ARE TWO SEPARATE ITEMS, CORRECT.

TWO SEPARATE ITEMS. SO THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH, OR WITHOUT THE DECISION TO GO TO BALLOT OR THE CITY'S DECISION THERE TO, AND VICE VERSA ON OUR NEXT.

OKAY.

OKAY.

MOTION TO AGREE.

OH, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER, MATT.

KEELEN GLORIA WITH THE SECOND.

UM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, OKAY.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU PRO TIM FOR ALL OF YOUR TREMENDOUS WORK ON THIS IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE, I JUST WOULD NOTE IT.

WE WOULD TAKE THAT AS A DIRECTION TO NEGOTIATE AND FINALIZE THE DOCUMENT.

THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING.

YES.

OKAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU.

[4. Discuss and consider action on an Ordinance ordering a Special Election to be held on the question of the City of Leander's continued participation in the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority; designating May 7, 2022, as the date of the Special Election; prescribing the form of the ballot; providing for election procedures; providing an effective date; providing an open meetings clause; and providing for related matters. Discutir y considerar la acción sobre una Ordenanza que ordena la realización de una Elección Especial sobre la cuestión de la participación continua de la Ciudad de Leander en la Autoridad de Transporte Metropolitano de la Capital; designar el 7 de mayo de 2022 como la fecha de la Elección Especial; prescribir la forma de la papeleta; proporcionar procedimientos electorales; proporcionar una fecha de vigencia; proporcionar una cláusula de reuniones abiertas; y proveer para asuntos relacionados.]

DESIGNATING MAY 7TH, 2022 AS THE DATE OF THE SPECIAL ELECTION PRESCRIBING THE FORM OF THE BALLOT, PROVIDING FOR ELECTION PROCEDURES, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, PROVIDING AN OPEN MEETINGS CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS.

UH, I DO HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE SIDE ITEM.

SO WE'LL GET STARTED WITH DAN MICHAEL.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MICHAEL, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

I'LL PROBABLY USE THOSE FULL THREE MINUTES.

DAN MICHAEL 7 0 9 INCH ANITA DRIVE LEANDER, TEXAS.

IF I WAS HERE FOR MYSELF, I WOULD PROBABLY SAY OUR WATER SYSTEM COULD USE THE MONEY THAT CAPITAL METRO IS GOUGING OUT OF OUR VARIOUS SOULS, BUT I AM NOT HERE TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR A GROUP OF MAN, I WILL LET HER LATER NAME FROM AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT COMES TO SENTENCE.

GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED AMONG MEN DERIVING THEIR JUST POWERS

[00:15:01]

AND WE ARE THE ONES WHO GIVE CONSENT.

NOW, ANOTHER IMPORTANT SENTENCE FROM THAT DOCUMENT IS FOR IMPOSING TAXES ON US WITHOUT OUR CONSENT.

NOW IT MATTERS NOT IF THE PEOPLE PREVIOUSLY CONSENTED AS THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO PETITION FOR REDRESS.

NOW, THE PEOPLE WISH TO VOTE.

I ASKED NOT FOR YOU TO LET THE PEOPLE VOTE, BUT RATHER TO SUFFER YOURSELVES TO THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE, WHICH IS FOR THE PEOPLE TO VOTE.

LET THEM HAVE A SAY.

NOW, DOES ANYONE HERE WONDER WHERE THOSE SENTENCES COME FROM? THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE? I STILL HAVE TIME.

SO I'M GOING TO READ THE NAMES WHO SIGNED THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

JOSIAH BARTLETT, WILLIAM WHIPPLE, MATTHEW THORNTON, SAMUEL ADAMS, JOHN ADAMS, ROBERT TREAT PAID ELBRIDGE, CHERRY, STEPHEN HOPKINS, WILLIAM ELLERY, ROGER SHERMAN, SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, WILLIAM WILLIAMS, OLIVER WALCOTT, WILLIAM FLOYD, PHILLIP LIVINGSTON, FRANCIS LEWIS, LEWIS MORRIS, RICHARD STOCKTON, JOHN WITHERSPOON, FRANCIS HOPKINSON, JOHN HART, ABRAHAM CLARK, ROBERT MORRIS, BENJAMIN RUSH.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, JOHN MORTON, GEORGE CLIMBER, JAMES SMITH, GEORGE TAYLOR, JAMES WILSON, GEORGE ROSS CAESAR, RODNEY GEORGE REED, THOMAS MCCAIN, SAMUEL CHASE, WILLIAM PACA, THOMAS STONE, WHO TAKE A BREATH.

CHARLES CARROLL OF CAROLYN TIN, GEORGE WITH RICHARD HENRY LEE, THOMAS JEFFERSON, BENJAMIN HARRIS, HARRISON THOMAS NELSON, JR.

FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT, LEE CARTER, BRAXTON, WILLIAM HOOPER, JOSEPH HUGHES, JOHN PENN, EDWARD RUTLEDGE, THOMAS HAYWARD, JR.

THOMAS LYNCH, JR.

ARTHUR MIDDLETON BUTTON.

GWINNETTE LAYMAN HALL, GEORGE WALTON.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST GEORGE HANCOCK, PRESIDENT OF THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE NEED TO LET THE PEOPLE VOTE.

AND IF WHAT THEY VOTE FOR COMES OUT TO BE BEST OR NOT, IS WE STILL LET THE PEOPLE VOTE NOW? I GUESS I HAVEN'T GONE PAST MY ALLOTTED TIME.

IF I HAD OF SOME MIGHT CALL ME A REBEL, BUT OTHERS, THEY MIGHT CALL ME A PATRIOT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. MICHAEL CRYSTAL CLOUD.

GOOD EVENING, MS. CLOUD, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

YOU WILL HAVE THREE, UH, CRYSTAL CLOUD, LEANDER, TEXAS, UM, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY OPINION ON THE CAP METRO BALLOT ISSUE.

WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO ENTER INTO THE AGREEMENT WITH CAP METRO, THE VOTERS DECIDED TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO LET THE VOTERS ONCE AGAIN, MAKE THAT DECISION CAP.

METRO CURRENTLY RECEIVES HALF OF OUR SALES TAX REVENUE, AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF ALL THE FUNDS GENERATED IN OUR CITY STAYED WITHIN OUR CITY.

PEOPLE THAT USE CAP, METRO TRAIN.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY GET ONTO THE TRAIN AND THEY LEAVE THE CITY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE GETTING ON CAP, METRO TRAIN TO COME TO OUR CITY AND TO SHOP OR DINE.

SO WE'RE NOT, THERE'S NO BENEFIT ON THAT SIDE.

SO WHY CONTINUE TO PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION GOING OUT OF OUR CITY, BUT NOT BRINGING PEOPLE TO OUR CITY? UM, JUST THINK ALL THOSE FUNDS, ALL THOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AND AS THEY GROW OVER THE YEARS GENERATED BY OUR CITY THAT STAYED IN OUR CITY.

WE COULD HAVE BETTER ROADS AND EXAMPLE.

WE ALL KNOW IT.

EVERYBODY WHO CAME HERE TONIGHT SAW HOW BAD THE ROADS ARE HERE IN OLD TOWN LEANDER, ESPECIALLY RIGHT THERE, WEST DRIVE FROM, UM, HIRO WAY, WEST ALL THE WAY OVER TO CRYSTAL FALLS.

IT'S A TERRIBLE ROAD.

WE HAVEN'T FIXED IT.

WHY NOT? I'VE BEEN HERE SIX YEARS.

IT'S NEVER BEEN FIXED.

SO JUST THINK OF THAT.

WE COULD HAVE BETTER TAX INCENTIVES TO BRING BIG BUSINESS TO THE CITY.

WE COULD OFFER MORE GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES, MAKE IT TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS OR START THEIR BUSINESS.

WE COULD FUND MORE POLICE FIREFIGHTERS EMT IN THE CITY.

WE COULD ALSO BUILD SOME MORE POLICE STATIONS AND FIRE STATIONS AND IMPROVE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS EQUIPMENT.

UM, I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT CAP METRO IS OFFERING OUR CITY SOME INCENTIVES TO STAY WITHIN THIS AGREEMENT.

THEY'RE PROPOSING TRAIN TRANSPORTATION EVENTUALLY TO THE AIRPORT, BUT HOW LONG IS THAT? WHY SHOULD WE SIT HERE AND PAY FOR 20 YEARS LIKE WE DID FOR ACC? UM, SO AGAIN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUT CAP METRO TRAIN ON THE BALLOT FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE.

AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR

[00:20:01]

THANK YOU, MS. CLOUD, GERALD PRATER.

GOOD EVENING, MR. .

PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

MADAM MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS GERALD PRATER.

I LIVE ON RUNNING WILD HERE ON THE ENDER, AND I'M HERE TO BASICALLY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF PUTTING THIS ITEM ON THE ELECTION AND LETTING THE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR VOICE SAY SO, AND I'M KIND OF THE SAME, UM, PREMISE THAT THIS IS A REALLY A DECISION THAT LIES WITH THE CITIZENS, WITH THE PEOPLE.

IT IS A FORM OF TAXATION THAT WE'RE ALL BEING MADE TO CONTRIBUTE TO.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO ASK THAT PEOPLE BE AT LEAST HEARD AND WHAT THEIR POSITION IS ON THIS.

THERE'S A, THERE'S TWO THINGS I WANT TO USE TO SUPPORT, NOT EITHER FOR OR AGAINST CAP METRO, BUT JUST THE IDEA OF THE ELECTION, LETTING THE PEOPLE BE HEARD PRETTY CLEAR RIGHT NOW TODAY IN THIS COUNTRY, WE'VE GOT AN ISSUE WITH PERCEIVED TRANSPARENCY.

OPTICS ARE IMPORTANT, VERY IMPORTANT TODAY.

AND, UM, TO NOT PUT THIS UP TO LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE COULD BE VIEWED BY MANY AS ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO KEEP IT UNDER THE CARPET, TO KEEP SOMETHING AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE.

OPTICS ARE IMPORTANT.

TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT.

AND THE OTHER PART OF THAT, THE SECOND PART IS ALSO A WORD THAT BEGINS WITH T TRUST.

THERE IS ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE COUNTRY TODAY ABOUT TRUST.

HOW MUCH DO PEOPLE TRUST WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THEM ARE OUR BEST INTERESTS, REALLY BEING USED, BEING OBSERVED, BEING PURSUED, UH, TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST OPTICS.

THESE ARE ALL REASONS WHY I FEEL IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THIS BE INCLUDED ON THE BALLOT I YOU AT MY TIME.

THANK YOU MR. KRADER, ANDREW NADINE.

GOOD EVENING, MR. NADINE, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

UM, ANDREW ALDIN 2212 TO MAY STREET, LEANDER, TEXAS, UM, COUNSEL, MAYOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME.

UM, I'VE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED THE ISSUE OF CAP METRO HERE.

I'VE PRESENTED MY THOUGHTS AS WELL AS DETAILS AND INFORMATION ON THE CAP, METRO, UH, SUBJECT PUBLICLY FOR PEOPLE TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES.

AND, UM, I FOLLOWED THIS ISSUE VERY CLOSELY.

I'VE KEPT AN OPEN MIND TO THE CONVERSATIONS AND I'M COMPELLED TO SAY THIS EVENING, THAT IN MY OPINION, YESTERDAY'S VOTE BY CAP.

METRO SHOWS A WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN, A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MORE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

I APPLAUD THE EFFORTS TAKEN TO OPEN THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES THAT HAVE BEEN STYMIED IN THE PAST.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

ROSS HAS SHOWN GREAT LEADERSHIP IN HER POSITION.

AND I, FOR ONE APPRECIATE THAT CAP.

METRO SHOWED THE CURRENT COUNCIL THAT THEY DO HAVE OPTIONS AVAILABLE OUTSIDE OF EXITING THE CURRENT AGREEMENT.

THEY TOOK THE FIRST STEPS TO MAKE THE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THE LONGER TERM NEEDS OF OUR REGION.

I FEEL THE FRAMEWORK OUTLINED IN THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY YESTERDAY CREATES A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TOWARDS A LONG-TERM SOLUTION WITH CAP METRO.

IT PROVIDES INCENTIVES TO BOTH PARTIES AND TAKES A FLEXIBLE APPROACH TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT REALITY AND FUTURE CHALLENGES.

DO THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH OUR CITY? ABSOLUTELY.

BUT AS A BOARD IS SIGNALED WILLINGNESS.

I ENCOURAGE COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF TO DO THE WORK NEEDED AND FOLLOW UP WITH CONTINUED SUPPORT AND GENUINE PARTICIPATION.

IN ADDITION, DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVES IS PRUDENT TO DISCUSS THE OPTIONS FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO ENSURE THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND CAP METRO CAN ALWAYS MEET THE NEEDS OF BOTH PARTIES.

AS OUR REGION CONTINUES TO GROW, TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES AVAILABLE AS PART OF THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL JUST PASSED.

THAT IS A GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS OF OUR FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.

ARE THERE.

IF WE ARE WILLING AS A COMMUNITY TO SEEK THEM OUT AND CONTINUE THIS INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE, GIVE THIS EFFORT AND THE GOOD WORKS OF COUNCIL MEMBER ROSS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ROOT.

IF YOU'RE STILL CONVINCED

[00:25:01]

THEY'RE WILLING TO COMMIT TO 10 YEARS.

CERTAINLY WE CAN AFFORD 10 MONTHS.

THANK YOU, MR. NADINE, DEAN TAYLOR.

THEY LEFT.

ALL RIGHT.

ERICA MAZDA.

NOPE.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, JAMES LARSON.

GOOD EVENING, MR. LARSON, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

THAT'S COME HERE TO SHOW SUPPORT AND SEE IF THE ADDER AND ITS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND ITS FUTURE.

MY NAME IS JAMES LARSON.

I CURRENTLY RESIDE AT 8 4 0 HILL STRIVE.

I'M CURRENTLY BUILDING A HOME AT 2 6 1 6 PINE BRANCH IN THE DEERBROOK NEIGHBORHOOD FOR MY FAMILY OF SIX AND MY GSP BY THE NAME OF HARVEY AFTER A HURRICANE OF THE SAME NAME THAT PASSED BY THROUGH HERE IN 2017.

UM, I MOVED TO LEANDER BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN ITS PRESENT AND ITS FUTURE A PRESENT THAT INCLUDES A PEACEFUL COMMUTE TO MY JOB ON THE TRAIN WHILE PUSHING WIFI, PUSHING EMAILS OVER WIFI, A PRESENT THAT INCLUDES SOCCER GAMES AND SPECIAL EVENTS WITH MY KIDS AT Q2 STADIUM.

A FUTURE THAT INCLUDES DATE NIGHTS AT THE DOMAIN AND IN DOWNTOWN A FUTURE THAT INCLUDES FRIENDS, FAMILIES, AND VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, STEPPING OFF AN AIRPLANE AND ONTO A TRAIN THAT TAKES THEM TO A BEAUTIFUL CRYSTAL LAGOON.

AND AT THE ANDREWS SPRINGS, DO YOU BELIEVE IN LEANDRA IS PRESENT AND IN HIS FUTURE, DO YOU WANT TO BELIEVE? I THINK YOU DO LET YOURSELF BELIEVE THAT YOURSELF.

IMAGINE IT, LET YOURSELF DREAM.

IT'S ALL WITHIN OUR GRASP.

AND WE CAN DO THAT.

WHETHER WE GO FORWARD WITH AND PUT THIS BEFORE THE CITY CITIZENS FOR A VOTE OR WHETHER WE STAY WITH THE STATUS QUO, I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO MAKE THIS WORK THAT WE CAN STILL HAVE THIS TRAIN.

IT'S A GYM.

I ENCOURAGE YOU.

I SENT YOU EACH AN EMAIL WITH SOME PICTURES OF MY FAMILY.

I WISH THEY COULD BE HERE.

THEY CAPTURED A BASKETBALL GAME, BUT UM, THEY LOVE THE TRAIN.

THEY ENJOY THE TRAIN.

IT'S, IT'S REALLY A GYM AND WE NEED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE GROWTH HERE.

WE KNOW THAT LEON, WHAT LEANDER CAN BECOME BE PATIENT THAT GROWTH WILL NATURALLY BRING WITH IT MORE THAN ENOUGH REVENUE TO PAY FOR ITSELF.

TO ILLUSTRATE MY NEIGHBORS IN DEER BOOK, THEY PAY TO 20,000 TO 40,000 FOR A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AS PART OF THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S OVER $10 MILLION IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ALONE, UM, THAT WE RESIDENTS HAVE TO PAY THE CITY OF LANDERS, NOT HAVE TO PAY.

SO THERE'S OTHER WAYS TO OBTAIN MECHANISM.

THERE'S OTHER WAYS TO GET FUNDING, TO QUIT WORRYING ABOUT MINUSCULE AMOUNTS OF SALES TAX.

THAT'S SHARED WITH CAPITAL METRO, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CITY, EXCEPT A FEW, EXCEPT FOR, UM, UH, LET'S SEE.

CEDAR PARK, UH, WESTLAKE A FEW OTHERS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE CITIES, HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO RIDE THE BUS THERE? GOOD LUCK.

THAT'S ALL I CAN TELL YOU.

UM, UM, ARE YOU REALLY TELLING ME WE SHOULD SCRAP THE RAIL LINE AND WE'VE INVESTED SO MUCH BECAUSE THE EXCESSIVE COST PER PASSENGERS DURING THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE STAYING HOME, HOW CAN THE CITY COUNCIL POSSIBLY PUT TO THIS TO A PUBLIC VOTE BASED ON SUCH A POOR NARROW METRIC AND A SURVEY AND IN A STATE LIKE THIS, WASN'T THIS VOTED ON BEFORE? WHY ANOTHER VOTE NOW? WHY? BECAUSE OF LOW RIDERSHIP DURING THE GLOBAL KISS, THE HASH TROPHY.

UM, TELL ME WHAT OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES ARE HELD TO SIMILAR SCRUTINY, THE COST OF MAINTAINED FREE ON-STREET PARKING PARKING SPACE.

THE COST PER POLICE CALL THE COST PER FIRE DEPARTMENT IS BALL KNOW RESPONSE SHOULD BE ASSESSED.

THESE COSTS, UM, DURING THE PANDEMIC AND PUT THEM UP FOR A PUBLIC VOTE.

NO, WE NEED THE TRAIN AND WE NEED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO SUSTAIN AND ACCOMMODATE THE GROWTH HERE IN THE PRESENT INTO THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU, MR. LARSON.

IT'S A NOVIA JOSEPH.

GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MS. JOSEPH, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

MADAM CHAIR.

I ACTUALLY LIVE NORTH EAST AUSTIN NEAR SAMSUNG.

AND SO I'LL JUST MAKE MY COMMENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE REGIONAL ASPECT OF THE PROJECT CONNECT PLAN.

I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT NATURAL RAPID WAS ACTUALLY IN THE PLAN AND IT WAS UNILATERALLY ELIMINATED CAPITAL.

METRO IS NOT FOCUSED ON THE REGIONAL GROWTH.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE 2014 NORTH CORRIDOR LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE STUDY, I ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT THE GROWTH THAT NORTH WRONG ROCK IN THAT AREA THROUGH 2035.

AND WHAT HAPPENED INSTEAD WAS THAT THEY ACTUALLY CREATED ROUTES THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE DOMAIN FROM LOW DENSITY, WHITE AREAS IN AUSTIN.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL.

AND I KNOW RACE IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, BUT AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE MOST ECONOMICALLY

[00:30:01]

YOU CAN LOOK AT A 2015 ARTICLE IN TEXAS TRIBUNE.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL, BUT AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT, UH, CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT, I SUPPORT YOU PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE LAGO VISTA HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH COMMUNICATION AND THEY DID GO FORTH AND PUT IT ON THE BALLOT IN 2018.

I GAVE THEM FACTS AS WELL, AND THE VOTERS SAID, NO PROBLEM.

AND SO THEY CONTINUED THE SERVICE.

I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE, UM, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IS THERE ANY WHO ACTUALLY SAID, LET THE VOTERS DECIDE BECAUSE THERE WERE ONLY LIKE 47 OR SO, WHO APPROVED, UH, ENTERING INTO CAPITAL METRO BACK IN THE DAY.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL FROM MY ANECDOTE HERE TODAY, THAT IT IS DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO LEANDER.

I HAD A TWO HOUR LAYOVER.

SO I WENT TO HEB IN THE AUSTIN AREA BECAUSE I HAD NOTHING ELSE TO DO.

AND DIDN'T REALIZE HOW TO GET HERE TO MAKE SURE I WOULD BE HERE FOR YOUR MEETING.

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL, THAT PFLUGERVILLE IS THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND THEY WILL HAVE PICKUP SERVICE THROUGH NOT UNTIL NINE O'CLOCK ON OUR, ABOUT IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO.

SO THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRANSIT DEPENDENT CAN GET TO THE MEETING.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO AS WELL.

YOU COULD TRY SOME KIND OF MID DAY SERVICE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET HERE.

IF YOU MAKE IT SO DIFFICULT THAT PEOPLE CAN'T GET FROM AUSTIN TO LEANDER, THEN WHY WOULD YOU EXPECT THEM TO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO SPEND THEIR MONEY HERE? I WANT YOU TO ASK YOUR COUNCIL SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION CODE FOUR OR FIVE ONE.

UM, I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME LANGUAGE HERE, 600 ZERO CONTINUATION OF SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO ARE DISABLED.

I KNOW THAT WHEN WESTLAKE, UH, WITHDREW FROM CAPITAL METRO, THEY CONTINUE THE SERVICE AND THAT'S IN THE STATUTE.

I'M NOT SURE IF THAT APPLIES HERE, BUT IF IT DOES, THEN THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE FEARS OF THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON METRO ACCESS.

I ALSO HAD A RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU ACTUALLY CONSIDER GUARANTEED RIDE HOME.

IT'S THE $5 EMERGENCY FEE THAT YOU PAY FOR, FOR EMERGENCY TRIPS.

AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE SERVICES THAT YOU HAVE, THIS FREE PICKUP SERVICE IS NOT FREE.

IT ACTUALLY COMES AT THE EXPENSE OF THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN, WHO ACTUALLY WAIT 60 MINUTES ON NEW BUS ROUTES TO SERVE WHITE CHOICE RIDERS EVERY SIX TO 10 MINUTES.

AND SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM.

ALTHOUGH I RECOGNIZE YOUR FORMAT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE LEGISLATURE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. JOSEPH, AND I THINK THE SAYS PATRICK, M ROSE GETTING NAMED MR. ROSE, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS PATRICK ROSE.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.

I AM A RESIDENT OF SAN MARCUS.

I DON'T HAVE THE PLEASURE OF LIVING IN LAND, BUT IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT.

I'M A BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS, AND I'M A BELIEVER IN THE IMPORTANT IMPORTANCE OF A CONNECTED REGION AND THE TRANSIT, THE REGIONAL TRANSIT THAT'S IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL TO ALLOWING FOR THAT CONNECTIVITY BEFORE STARTING MY COMPANY IN 2010, I SERVED IN THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPRESENTING HAYS CALDWELL AND BLANCO COUNTIES FROM 2002 TO 2010, BECAUSE OF THAT GEOGRAPHY, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF REPRESENTING COMMUNITIES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY RURAL, GROWING, SUBURBAN, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT OUR DYNAMICS IN THE LARGER REGION.

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES AND THERE ARE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT STORY.

AND I THINK YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT TRYING TO SORT THROUGH THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND THOSE CHALLENGES.

SO I COME FROM A POSITION OF EMPATHY AND RESPECT IN THAT WAY.

SO, UM, I'M HERE SPECIFICALLY MAYOR PRO TEM TO COMMEND YOU ON A TERRIFIC JOB AND THE CAP, METRO STAFF AND BOARD LEADERSHIP IN A TERRIFIC JOB IN CREATING THIS NEW PATH FORWARD FOR REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP.

WHAT A TREMENDOUS WIN FOR THE CITY OF LEANDER FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND FOR THE REGION, $10 MILLION, 7.4 MILLION OF WHICH TO LEANDER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A TRUE REBATE.

THE TAX LEVY, LESS COST OF SERVICE ON A GO-FORWARD BASIS, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE, AS YOU APPLY FOR, WITH CAP, METRO SUPPORT THIS ONCE IN A GENERATION TRANSIT AND INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS, THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP MAYOR PRO TEM CAP METRO'S LEADERSHIP.

WHAT NOW EXISTS IS A TRUE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PATH FORWARD THAT CAN WORK IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY FOR A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY LIKE YOURS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

THANK YOU.

THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE JUST WANTED THEIR POSITION READ INTO THE RECORD.

VIOLET TAYLOR IS FOR JENNIFER.

CALHOUN IS FOR LISA FULLER IS FOR DAVID CALHOUN IS FOR

[00:35:03]

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY, THEN I WILL TURN IT OVER TO CITY ATTORNEY SIGNS.

WELCOME BACK.

THANK YOU, MARIN COUNCIL, THE ITEM THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, UM, IF YOU APPROVE THIS DOCUMENT, IT WOULD CALL AN ELECTION ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE CAPITAL METRO METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY SHOULD BE CONTINUED IN THE CITY OF LEANDER AND ALLOW THE VOTERS TO, UM, VOTE ON THAT QUESTION ON THE, UH, MAY 7TH, 2022 ELECTION, UM, UH, VOTE FOR YES, MEANS THAT THE LANDER STAYS WITHIN THE CAP.

METRO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE CONTINUES IN LEANDER.

THE SALES TAX CONTINUES TO BE COLLECTED.

THE 1% SALES TAX CONTINUES TO BE LIKED TO BE COLLECTED IN LEANDER AND, UH, LEANDER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HOLD A, AN ELECTION ON THAT SAME QUESTION FOR FIVE YEARS.

A NO VOTE MEANS THAT CITY OF LANDER WOULD WITHDRAWAL FROM THE CAP.

METRO, UH, JURISDICTION SERVICE WOULD CEASE ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ELECTION, UH, WHICH IS THE DATE THAT THE ELECTION HAS CANVASSED.

THE ELECTION HAS CANVAS BETWEEN MAY 10TH AND MAY 18TH, 2022.

UH, THERE WOULD BE A NET FINANCIAL OBLIGATION THAT WOULD BE CALCULATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF, UH, LEANDER ESSENTIALLY BY BUYING OUT OF ITS THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT CAP METRO HAS MADE TOWARDS THE SERVICE PROVIDED FOR LEANDRA AND CAPITAL COSTS THAT INCURRED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

UH, THE 1% SALES TAX WOULD BE COLLECTED UNTIL THAT NET FINANCIAL OBLIGATION IS PAID OFF.

UM, AND THEN ANY OTHER, UH, BALLOT INITIATIVES THAT THE CITY MAY CHOOSE TO PUT INTO PLACE FOR OTHER SALES TAX THAT THE VOTERS APPROVE WOULD GO INTO EFFECT AFTER THAT IS DONE.

AND I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY.

COUNSEL, WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME.

AND THEN AFTER THE MOTION AND SECOND, I WILL GO DOWN THE LINE AND EVERYBODY CAN MAKE THEIR COMMENTS BEFORE WE VOTE.

SO IT'S OPEN FOR DISCUSSION IF ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING.

ALL RIGHT.

MOTION.

WELL, I WILL HAVE COMMENTS.

OKAY.

AFTER WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, WE'LL GET COMMENTS SECOND.

ALRIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND PLACE.

ONE COMMENTS.

SO I, I, THIS IS ABOUT A THIRD OF WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SAY.

UM, BUT I, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT AND EMAILING US WITH THEIR COMMENTS.

THE INPUT IS TREMENDOUS.

UM, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL.

I'M SORRY.

MAYOR PRO TEM ROSS, UH, YOUR EFFORTS WITH CAP METRO AND CAP METRO'S EFFORTS FOR THE ILA IS MUCH APPRECIATED.

AND, AND I THINK, I MEAN, YOU GOT SOMEWHERE WITH THAT, SO THANK YOU.

UM, SO MY, MY THOUGHTS ON ALL OF THIS, I HAD TO PUT IT DOWN SO I DON'T MISS MISS ANYTHING.

SO IF WE DID NOT PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT, I FEEL WE'RE DOING A DISSERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF LEANDER.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PENALTY TO GET OUT THAT COST HAS PROVEN TO BE QUITE ELUSIVE, THE EXACT COST, BUT CONSIDER THIS.

IF WE HAD PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT THREE YEARS AGO, OR IN 2019, WHEN WE FIRST DISCUSSED IT AND IT PASSED OR FAILED, MEANING FAILED, MEANING THE CITIZENS VOTED NOT TO CONTINUE THE NUMBER WE WERE GIVEN AT THAT TIME, WE WOULD BE LIKELY PAYING THAT OFF THIS YEAR.

AND WE COULD BEGIN, WE COULD BEGIN COLLECTING THE FULL 2% FOR THE USE OF THE CITY'S NEEDS.

NOW I'VE LIVED HERE ABOUT 12 YEARS AND I NEVER REALLY CARED ABOUT THE TRAIN.

DIDN'T MATTER.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE HAD BUS SERVICE UNTIL I LEARNED WHAT IT COSTS AND THAT WE HAVE NO MEANS TO NEGOTIATE WITHOUT VOTERS APPROVING THE WITHDRAWAL.

THIS WAS JUST ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO AND SHARED WITH ME BY A PRIVATE CITIZEN.

ALL I KNEW WAS I NEVER SAW ANYBODY ON IT, ON THE TRAIN THAT IS.

AND, UM, AT THE TIME IT STILL IS IN SOME SOMETIMES.

AND THIS IS NOT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT COMMUTER TIME, BUT ANY OTHER TIME, WHEN YOU SEE IT RUNNING, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF A JOKE THAT THE ONLY TIME WE HAVE A TRAFFIC PROBLEM IS WHEN THE TRAIN IS RUNNING.

SO I CALL THAT A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.

THINK ABOUT THIS $10 MILLION.

THAT'S WHAT

[00:40:01]

THAT IS A DISTANCE FROM LEANDER STATION TO LAKELINE STATION.

THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US.

NOW I ASK TO WHAT ALTER ARE WE WORSHIPING DEVELOPMENT OR TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT CHANCE THE MANTRA LIVE, WORK, PLAY, MEANING WE KEEP EVERYTHING LOCAL AT THE SAME TIME, WORSHIPS THE MASS TRANSIT COMMUTER TRANSPORTATION, WHICH IS IT.

ARE WE TAKING CARE OF LEANDER? THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF TRANSPORTATION.

THIS IS A MATTER FOR MOST PEOPLE FOR MOST PEOPLE.

THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF TRANSPORTATION.

IT'S A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT I LOVE CONVENIENCE, BUT IS THAT CONVENIENCE FOR A FEW WORTH? WHAT WE, AS A CITY ARE NOT GETTING BY LOSING OUT ON THE UNREALIZED SALES TAX.

YOU HEARD EXAMPLES OF OUR, AT OUR LAST MEETING OF WHAT, WE'RE NOT WHAT WE'RE NOT GETTING, WHAT WE DO NOT HAVE BECAUSE WE DO.

BUT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, PARKS INCENTIVES FOR, FOR NEW BUSINESSES THAT BRING JOBS AND SO ON.

I THINK CAMERON GAVE SEVERAL EXAMPLES IN HIS PRESENTATIONS OF THANK YOU, CAMERON.

UM, AND ALSO I WANT TO MAKE IT, MAKE IT CLEAR.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR, FOR ANYONE WATCHING OR HEAR TODAY THAT, UH, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US IS AGAINST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

AGAIN, THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS.

WHAT, WHEN AND WHERE HAS ANYONE SAID THAT? I DON'T REMEMBER ANYONE SAYING WE'RE AGAINST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

I KNOW I HAVEN'T, I'VE USED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

IT WAS VERY NECESSARY AT THE TIME.

AND I WAS, I APPRECIATED HAVING IT.

WE ARE AGAINST, I, I SHOULD SAY I AM AGAINST THE MANNER IN WHICH WE PAY FOR THE TRANSPORTATION THAT IF PROVIDED VERSUS WHAT WE NEED COULD BE DIFFERENT.

THE NEEDS ANALYSIS WAS VERY CLEAR.

PANDEMIC, RIDERSHIP ASIDE, FORGET THE PANDEMIC.

RIDERSHIP 2019 WAS BAD.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING IT IN 2019, IF IT WASN'T BAD.

SO THROW THAT OUT.

I HAVE THE NUMBERS FROM 2019.

WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT.

THEN WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT.

THEN THINK ABOUT THIS.

IF TRANSPORTATION CAP METRO OR ANY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION WAS A DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF LANDER WITHIN OUR 2022 BUDGET, IT WOULD BE THE THIRD LARGEST DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE CITY FALLING BEHIND POLICE AND FIRE IS CAP METRO OR TRANSPORTATION, REALLY THAT IMPORTANT TO ANYONE BEHIND POLICE AND FIRE TO BE NUMBER THREE ON THE BUDGET.

IF WE CONTRACT FOR SERVICE, THE AMOUNT WOULD BE MORE CLOSELY ASSOCIATED TO OUR PARKS AND RECS DEPARTMENT.

$2.9 MILLION, ROUGHLY THE SAME, LET THE VOTERS TELL US WHAT THEY WANT.

VOTERS LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT THIS.

BE ABLE TO DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR, WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS, WITH YOUR FRIENDS, WITH YOUR FAMILY, DISCUSS IT WITH OTHERS, WITH A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROS AND THE CONS.

AND THERE ARE BOTH TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION, NOT AN EMOTIONAL ONE FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THE DECISION TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT COULD BE IN MY OPINION AND SHOULD BE UNANIMOUS.

PLEASE, PLEASE LET THE VOTERS DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO BE A BEDROOM COMMUNITY WITH COMMUTER TRANSIT AUSTIN.

SO BE IT.

IF THEY WANT TO INVEST IN LEANDER EVEN BETTER, IF YOU DID NOT VOTE TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT, I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE ABOUT LETTING VOTERS DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM, BECAUSE I CAN ABSOLUTELY LIVE WITH THE VOTE IN OR OUT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU PLEASE, TOO.

SO I'VE SAID THE WHOLE TIME THAT I REALLY WANT THE RESIDENTS TO BE INFORMED, AND I DO FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN TRANSPARENT.

SO I DO FEEL WE DO HAVE THE INFORMATION FROM THE GOODMAN CORPORATION.

SO WE HAVE INFORMED THE CITIZENS WHAT'S GOING ON.

MY MIND IS THE NET FINANCIAL OBLIGATION IS, IS A STICKING POINT FOR ME, $42 MILLION, $42 MILLION TO GET OUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH A TRANSPORTATION PLAN IN THE CITY.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE EXPERTS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP PAYING THAT 42 MILLION AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HIRE

[00:45:01]

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND MORE MONEY.

WE ARE PROVIDING, WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR DISABLED PERSONNEL.

I REALIZED WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S STILL REQUIRED.

UM, ONE THING I WOULD JUST CALL OUT IS IF IT DOES GO ON THE BALLOT AND IT FAILS, THE VOTERS DECIDE TO CONTINUE.

WE CANNOT PUT IT ON A BALLOT FOR FIVE YEARS.

SO THAT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT TO ME BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE A LEVER TO WORK WITH CAP METRO.

I DO AGREE THE SERVICE FROM CAP METRO NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED AND, UM, YEAH, IT'S NOT BEEN THAT GREAT.

I, I DO WANT TO CALL OUT MAYOR PRO DEM FOR HER NEGOTIATION WITH CAP METRO.

AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN IMPORTANT.

UH, IN MY MIND, THE CITY IS GOING TO GROW EVEN MORE AND WE NEED TRANSPORTATION, NOT JUST THE RAIL, BUT THE BUS SERVICE AND PICKUP SERVICE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU PLEASE.

THREE, TWO YEARS AGO, IT WAS 9 MILLION, TWO MONTHS AGO.

IT'S 33 MILLION TODAY.

IT'S 42 MINUTES.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE.

THAT'S WHAT CAPTAIN METRO.

I SAID I WAS GOING TO MAYBE CAT METRO.

I SET UP A BUNCH OF STUFF OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN MY BIGGEST REGRET IS THAT WE DIDN'T PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT OR LET THE VOTERS DECIDE TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO.

THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE WHEN THEY WERE STILL SAYING IT WAS NOT A MAN AND A YEAR FROM NOW, IT'LL BE A HUNDRED MILLION.

SO IT'S UP FOR THE VOTERS DECIDE.

AND IF, IF IT GETS ON THE BALLOT TONIGHT, WHICH THEY SHOULD, IT'S THE RIGHT THING, NOT TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE NOT FOUR OR SEVEN POLITICIANS, THE VOTERS AND LEANDER, THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

THIS COULD EITHER KEEP THE CITY GOING OR IT COULD EVENTUALLY KILL THE CITY.

IT WILL.

IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A MOST ALL AROUND OUR NECK AND IT'S GOING TO, IN MY OPINION, IS GOING TO SINK US.

AND, BUT IT'S NOT UP TO ME.

IT'S UP FOR THE VOTERS, DECIDE TO DO THAT.

THIS IS A BIG BOAT.

THIS IS A BIG BOAT AND THE VOTERS SHOULD BE DECIDED.

NOT POLITICIANS.

THANK YOU PLEASE FOR SORRY, WE'RE GOING THAT WAY.

UM, I DO WANT TO SAY TO A PRO TIM ROSS, THANK YOU.

UM, SHE HAS BEEN VERY PROFESSIONAL IN HER DEALINGS, VERY DIPLOMATIC, REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RESIDENTS OF SEA OF LANDER AND MAKING SURE SHE, UM, TAKES BEST INTERESTS INTO ACCOUNT WHEN DEALING WITH KAPPA METRO.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE.

AND OF COURSE THE STAFF HERE AND THE STAFF AT CAPITAL METRO TO WORK OUT, UH, THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT THAT WE, THEY WERE ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, I ALSO HAVE SOME PREPARED STATEMENTS.

I THINK THAT WHAT HAS BEEN WORKED OUT SO FAR IS A WIN FOR OUR CITY AND FOR OUR CITIZENS.

I BELIEVE THAT TRANSIT IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR OUR CITY.

AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE EXPLOSIVE SALES, TAX GROWTH AND POPULATION GROWTH AND INCREASED INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, I SUPPORT HAVING TRAINED SERVICE AND EXPANDED BUS SERVICE IN OUR CITY.

I BELIEVE IF LEVERAGED APPROPRIATELY AND BRANDING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DECISIONS, RAIL COULD BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR CITY IN A WAY THAT IT HAS NOT YET BEEN HIGH OVER TODAY.

AS WE MANAGE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF THE CITY, WE CANNOT OVERLOOK THE FINANCIAL EXPENSE THAT RAIL HAS, UH, COMPARED TO THE SERVICE THAT WE RECEIVE AND THE OVERALL USER EXPERIENCE AND RIDERSHIP.

SO WITH EXPECTED POPULATION GROWTH TO BE OVER 200,000, UH, IN THE YEARS TO COME, I BELIEVE WE DO NEED EXPANDED SERVICES TO FACILITATE THOSE INCREASING, UM, NECESSITY, TO MOVE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, THROUGHOUT OUR CITY AND AROUND OUR CITY.

SO WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE EMAILS FROM PEOPLE WANTING US TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT AND A FEW FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY WE SHOULDN'T PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, WE SHOULD JUST WORK WITH THIS INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE.

AND WHILE I APPRECIATE BOTH OF THOSE, I REALLY THINK, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE VOTERS.