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THIS IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN COUNCIL WORK SESSION.
UM, COLLEAGUES, UH, WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT.
WE HAVE THREE BLOCKS OF STUFF FOR US TO DO.
UH, WE HAVE SOME, UH, PULLED ITEMS, UH, AND WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE TAKE THEM IN THAT ORDER.
AND WE TRY TO GET THROUGH ALL THE BRIEFINGS HERE THIS MORNING.
PERHAPS TAKE A BREAK FOR LUNCH.
IF WE NEED TO COME BACK, DO THE POOL ITEMS AND THEN CONCLUDE THE DAY BY GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THEN NOT COMING BACK OUT INTO REGULAR SESSION.
YES, KATHY AND AGREEMENT ON WHETHER WE'RE TAKING LUNCH.
AND IF SO, WHEN WE, AND OUR FAMILIES CAN PLAN ON THAT, I THINK WE WILL TAKE LUNCH AND LET'S PLAN ON TAKING LUNCH ABOUT NOON.
IF WE FINISH AND THEN MAYBE THAT MEANS WE CAN TAKE SOME PULLED ITEMS IF THERE'S SOME TIME AFTER PRESENTATIONS BEFORE, BUT LET'S PLAN ON THAT.
SO LET'S THEN BEGIN WITH THE, UH, PRESENTATIONS, UH, THAT WE, UH, THAT WE HAVE HERE THIS MORNING.
UM, WE HAVE A COVID BRIEFING THAT BRINGS ME ON AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION AND A BRIEFING ON THE SPRINGDALE POD.
AND WE'LL TAKE THOSE IN THAT ORDER SO THAT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, DR.
PRESCOTT CAN LEAVE US AND GET TO THE POINT WHERE I THINK THEY'RE MAKING A, OR HE'S MAKING A SIMILAR PRESENTATION.
UM, AS WE HEAD OFF BEFORE I RECOGNIZE THE TEACHER TO PASS IT TO, UH, TO DR.
ESCA, UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS TO, UH, TO DR.
ASCOT AND ALSO TO A DIRECTOR, UH, HAYDEN, AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, LOOKING AT THE RESPONSE OF THIS CITY.
UH, I THINK IT'S BEEN REALLY STRONG, UH, DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF KEEPING THE CITY IN THE RIGHT PLACE RELATIVE TO OTHER CITIES WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING WELL.
UH, INFECTIVITY IS GOING DOWN, WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED TODAY.
UH, THE HOSPITALIZATIONS, OBVIOUSLY GETTING TO A NUMBER WHERE WE'RE NOT A CHALLENGE.
WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN LISTENING AND RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT WE HAVE, UH, AND ULTIMATELY AT THE END OF THE DAY, REGARDLESS OF ORDERS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING STATEWIDE OR NATIONALLY LOCALLY, OUR COMMUNITY, UH, IS, IS RECOGNIZING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
I MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO CONTINUE.
UM, WE ARE AT A PLACE WHERE MOST CITIES PLATEAU, AND WE HAVE TO DRIVE DOWN INFECTIVITY.
IF IN FACT, WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE A CHANCE TO SUSTAINING THE OPENING OF SCHOOLS AND SUSTAINING THE OPENING OF BUSINESSES, UH, AND DR.
SCOTT AND DIRECTOR HAYDEN TO DO ALL THEIR WORK GREAT, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK UNLESS THE COMMUNITIES ENGAGED, UM, THE COMMUNITY IS DOING REALLY WELL.
WE STILL HAVE AS A LAGGING, UM, PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, UH, THE LATINO COMMUNITY.
UH, I THINK THAT WE'LL SEE IS TRENDS WHERE THE INFECTIVITY IS COMING DOWN IN THAT COMMUNITY, WHICH IS ALSO GREAT.
UH, BUT THAT'S WHERE OUR STAGGER IS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO A GOOD PLACE UNLESS OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY GETS TO A GOOD PLACE.
UH, SO, UM, WE NEED TO READABLE, UH, EFFORTS ASSOCIATED AGAIN WITH PULLING THAT COMMUNITY TOGETHER WITH THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO I HOPE THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, UH, DIRECTOR HAYDEN AND DR.
S SCOTT SPEAK TO I IN PARTICULAR, AS THEY GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATIONS MANAGER, YOU WANT
[B1. Update on Covid-19 related matters. (Standing staff update).]
TO SURE, MAYOR COUNCIL, AS THE MAYOR SIDE, THERE IS SOME POSITIVE NEWS, BUT WE AS A COMMUNITY, AS A COUNTRY ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A CONTINUED AND SUSTAINED EFFORT FROM ALL OF US.AND WE HAVE INCREDIBLE STAFF THAT ARE REALLY ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS.
AND SO, UH, WITH THAT INTRODUCTION OF APPRECIATION
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TO OUR STAFF ALTERNATIVE OVER TO A DIRECTOR HAYDEN, GOOD MORNING, I'M STEPHANIE HANEY, DIRECTOR, AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH.UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TODAY.
UM, OUR STAFF CONTINUE TO, UM, CONTACT TRACE, UM, WITH TARGET POPULATIONS.
WE ARE, UM, CONSTANTLY REVIEWING AND, UM, PROVIDING UPDATES TO OUR MATERIALS AS WE MOVE ALONG THE PROCESS.
UM, EVERY FRIDAY WE PROVIDE A NON-NURSING HOME CLUSTER, UM, BUT THEY, WITH THE DAILY REPORT FROM, UM, FROM COMMUNICATIONS, WE CONTINUE TO, UM, PRIORITIZE OUR, UM, SPANISH TRANSLATION AS WELL AS ENSURE THAT WE HAVE NURSING, UM, SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR NURSE LINE, UM, AS WELL, OUR CONTACT TRACING WITH OUR TESTING EFFORTS.
UM, AS YOU MAY RECALL, UH, THE DEPARTMENT, UM, SUBMITTED A PLAN FOR COVID-19 TESTED AND RELATED, UM, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RESPONSE ACTIVITIES FOR CALENDAR 2020.
WE SUBMIT DID THAT TO THE U S SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IN COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RESOLUTION TWO 66.
AND OUR, UM, OUR PLAN WAS COMPLETING 10,000 TESTS IN MAY 40,000 TESTS IN JUNE AND 60,000 TESTS IN JULY.
THIS IS A COMBINED EFFORT WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, AS WELL AS, UM, WE'VE RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, OUR HOSPITALS, OUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CLINICS, AS WELL AS OUR PRIVATE PHYSICIANS.
AND SO, UM, WE WERE REALLY EXCITED TO, UM, SERVE, TO PROVIDE OVER 60,000 TESTS, UM, THIS MONTH.
AND WE, YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO TEST OVER 6,500 PEOPLE EVERY WEEK.
WE ARE CONTINUING AT OUR TESTING LOCATION OR WALKUP SITES, DOVE SPRINGS, GIVENS, UM, AND WALNUT CREEK LIBRARY.
AND WE ARE PROVIDING EVENING AND, UM, SATURDAY SERVICES AT THOSE LOCATIONS IF INDIVIDUAL, UM, ARE UNABLE TO, UM, THOSE ARE WALKUP SITES.
AND SO WE ALSO, UM, CONTINUE WITH OUR DRIVE UPSIDE.
WE, UM, IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO, UM, GO ONLINE AND REGISTER, WE URGE YOU TO CALL OUR NURSE LINE.
YOU CAN CALL THREE, ONE, ONE, OUR NURSE LINE WE'LL, UM, STAFF.
WE'LL GET YOU SET UP AND REGISTER AND SCHEDULE YOU APPOINTMENT WITH OUR LAWYER TERM CARE, UM, INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE.
OVERALL, THERE HAS BEEN A DECLINE IN REQUESTING FOR TESTING STRIKE TEAMS AND PPE SINCE, UM, OUR LAST UPDATE IN JULY.
UM, AND THIS IS JUST COINCIDES WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY HERE TODAY, WE HAVE TESTED, UM, 8,338 TESTS, UM, AND A TOTAL OF 47 LONGTERM CARE FACILITIES HAVE BEEN TESTED.
WE ARE NOW ASSISTING, UM, OTHER AGENCIES WITH OUR TESTING NEEDS, THIS TESTING, UM, UM, REQUESTS HAVE DECREASED.
BUT WHAT WE ARE NOTICING IS IS THAT NURSING FACILITIES ARE TESTING ALL THEIR STAFF WEEKLY ON THEIR OWN.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION, UM, STATED IN ORDER TO MOVE TO A PHASE ONE, UM, FACILITIES DESIGN, WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO HAVE VISITATION.
SO THEY ARE PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES AND WE ARE PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL NEEDED WITH OUR STRENGTHS AS A TEAM, THERE WERE PRIMARY FOCUS, AS YOU MAY KNOW OF STABILIZING OUR IMPACTED FACILITIES.
AND SO WE PROVIDE THOSE AS NEEDED.
AND ALSO WE PROVIDE MODELS OF PPE.
SO YEAR TODAY WE HAVE, UM, DEPLOYED 19 TO 19 FACILITIES.
THERE HAVE BEEN A TOTAL OF 308 STRIKE TEAM, OPERATIONAL DAYS.
AND ON AVERAGE, THEY SPAN ABOUT 15 DAYS AT EACH OF THOSE SPECIFICS.
ADDITION TO THAT, UM, STAFF HAVE PROVIDED SOME TRAINING, UH, TO THE STRIKE TEAM, UM, AS WELL AS ASSISTED THEM WITH THEIR IN 95 FIT TESTING AND TEACHING THEM ABOUT TONING ON AND DAWNING OFF ALL PEOPLE, E R D OUR STRIKE TEAM REQUESTS HAVE ALSO DECLINED, UM, FOR OUR, UM, PPE PROVISION.
WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT AS
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REQUESTED.WE HAVE PROVIDED 224 PEOPLE P E M ORDERS AS A DISTRICT.
AND THAT INCLUDES IN 95 RESPIRATORS, GOWNS, GLOVES, MASS, ET CETERA.
UM, OUR LONGTERM FACILITIES, UM, OVER A HUNDRED WERE OFFERED A ONE TIME 3,500 THEM TOOK US UP ON THE PPE PUSHBACK, UM, WHICH THAT'S ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT I PROVIDED.
IT ALSO INCLUDES THIS INFECTED AND OTHER SUPPLIES, OUR WEEKLY DELIVERIES, DELIVERIES OF PPE, I'VE BEEN PROVIDED TO FACILITIES THAT HAVE CLUSTERS AND CASES.
SO WE CONTINUE TO, UM, PROVIDE THAT TO THEM AS WELL.
WELL, WITH OUR HOMELESS UPDATE, WE HAVE FIVE PROLOGIS THAT ARE OPERATIONAL.
YES THEY'RE UM, WELL CARE CONTINUES TO ASSIST US WITH ONSITE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AT ALL OF THE PROTECTIVE LODGES, UM, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT FOR INSTEPS SALVATION ARMY COMMUNITIES FOR RECOVERY AND INTEGRAL CARE ARE PROVIDING THE HOUSING FOCUS CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
IN ADDITION TO THAT COMMUNITY CARE IS PROVIDING WEEKLY ON SITE SERVICES AS THREE OF THE LAST, AT THE LARGEST 25 INDIVIDUALS HAVE EXITED, UM, TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL THAT ARE EXITING TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
WE'RE DOING IT CONTINUE TO DO TESTING IN THAT COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TESTED OVER 680 INDIVIDUALS, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN IN SHELTERS OR ON CAMPUS ACROSS THE CITY.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THE HYGIENE, UM, UM, RESOURCES, WHICH IS THE MOBILE SHOWERS AND THE STATIONARY SHOWERS.
AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE OVER 2000 BAGS OF SHELF STABLE FOOD.
WE HAVE A CONTRACT ON THE AGENDA, EXCUSE ME, WITH CISCO ON THE 27TH OR ADDITIONAL, UM, FOOD BACK SERVICES, UM, WITH THE FOOD BANK.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, JUST AS A REMINDER, UM, THE U S CENSUS IS GOING TO BE CONDUCTING, UM, A COUNT OF HOMELESS PEOPLE.
UM, IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, UM, OUR OUTREACH PARTNERS, UM, HAVE CONTINUED TO COME TOGETHER A PH POST AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS HAVE PARTNERED WITH DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE TO PROVIDE, UM, BOTTLED WATER MASS COBIT EDUCATION MATERIALS, AND OTHER, UM, OUTREACH EFFORTS WITH OUR, UM, COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTION.
UM, OUR STAFF, OUR HEALTH EQUITY TASK FORCE CONTINUES TO PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE, UM, ESTABLISHED THE TOP SIX, UM, AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO PROVIDE PPE IN THOSE AREAS.
WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH AGENCIES THIS PAST WEEKEND AND THIS WEEKEND COMING UP.
AND SO, UM, WE HAVE A, A LIST OF OUR ZIP CODES AND WE ARE PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES IN THE CITY IS WORKING ON A SIX WEEK CAMPAIGN WITH CENTRAL HEALTH COMMUNITY CARE AND TRAVIS COUNTY AROUND, UM, MESSAGING AS WELL AS WE'LL HAVE PEOP UM, PSA AND DO, UM, PPE DISTRIBUTION.
THE GOAL IS, IS TO BE, UM, TO PROVIDE PPE AND TARGETED ZIP CODES IN ORDER TO REALLY PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE SEE, UM, THE POSITIVITY RATE IS HIGHER, OUR PP DISTRIBUTIONS, UM, THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE'RE IN THE SEVEN, EIGHT, SEVEN FOUR ONE AND THE FOUR, FOUR AREA, AS WELL AS DEL VALLEY.
WE HAVE ANOTHER EVENT THIS WEEKEND AT GUS GARCIA, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, UM, TO PROVIDE SOME PPE TO SENIOR PROPERTIES AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH WITH OUR PIO.
UM, WE ARE REALLY WORKING CLOSELY, UM, WITH ALL POPULATIONS.
UM, OUR STAFF WILL HAVE, UM, A MEMO THAT WILL BE SENT OUT LATER THIS WEEK TO A MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ABOUT THE LATIN X, UM, SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED.
OUR STAFF HAVE ALSO, UM, HAVE BEEN WORKING TO INCREASE LANGUAGE ACCESS AT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TESTING SITES WITH OUR, UM, WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING SOME TESTING AND GROUP HOMES.
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WE'RE NOTICING IS THAT THERE WERE INCREASED IN THE NUMBER OF GROUP HOMES.AND SO WE WERE COORDINATING WITH INTEGRAL CARE TO, UM, ADDRESS THOSE SETTINGS.
WE ARE ALSO, UM, PROVIDING ISOLATION AND QUARANTINING ONSITE, BUT WE'RE ALSO ASSISTING THEM WITH FIT TESTING AND, UM, PPE AS WELL AS THE, IN 95 MATH WITH OUR, UM, CHILDCARE AND SCHOOLS, AS YOU MAY RECALL, ON THE 14, UM, WE, UM, RELEASED THE SCHOOL REOPENING INTERIM GUIDANCE AND, UM, STAFF WE'RE WORKING ON AN FAQ.
WHAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED, UM, FOR, UM, FOR, FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN QUESTIONS FOR SCHOOLS IS AN APH SCHOOL INFO.
IT AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV THAT IS, UM, SET UP FOR ALL, UM, SCHOOLS FROM PEAK PRE K TO 12.
UM, AS WELL AS WE HAVE A, ANOTHER MAILBOX FOR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS WHERE THEY CAN REACH OUT AS WELL.
OUR, UM, WE, BUT WE PROVIDED SOME ADDITIONAL NURSES TO OUR NURSE LINE TO BUILD CAPACITY FOR THE REOPENING OF SCHOOLS.
SO WE ARE ABLE TO, UM, TRACK ANY COVID-19 CASES THAT COME THROUGH AND, UM, ESTABLISH A REPORT IN THAT SPACE.
WE ALSO, UM, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE OUR, UM, CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, UH, CURBSIDE PICK UP THIS PAST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FOR HEALTH SUPPLIES.
THIS WAS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, TRAVIS COUNTY AGRILIFE EXTENSION AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE OVER 140 OF THOSE PACKAGES.
WE ARE WORKING ON, UM, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO, UM, SOLIDIFY OUR TEST SCORES AND FOCUSING ON PRE K THROUGH 12.
WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WHERE THEY MAY HAVE, UM, UM, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND SUPPORT THAT THEY MAY NEED FROM THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
SO AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK IN THIS PACE, AND WE KNOW WE NEED TO SET UP ADDITIONAL AREAS TO PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, UM, IN THIS SPACE.
AND SO WE WILL BE DOING THE SAME THING FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
STEPHANIE, PAY ME TO PULL UP MY SLIDES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO UP YET, DATE YOU ON OUR COVID-19 DATA.
UH, SO I WANT TO TALK A BIT ABOUT CASES FIRST.
UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME, SOME CHATTER ON, ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT, ARE WE PLATEAUED OR NOT? SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE PLATEAU THAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING, IT'S RELATED TO THE NEW CASES.
NOW YOU CAN SEE THAT SINCE ABOUT JULY THE 29TH, WE'VE BEEN RELATIVELY FLAT, WE'VE HAD SOME OSCILLATIONS UP AND DOWN, BUT WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE BREAKING THROUGH THAT 200 BARRIER IN TERMS OF THE SEVEN DAY MOVING AVERAGE ON NEW CASES.
UM, I, I WILL SAY THAT THAT PART OF THIS, IT SEEMS IS A RESULT OF THE DATA DUMP AS WE CALL IT, THAT WE SAW FROM THE STATE DUE TO A DELAY IN REPORTING, UH, OF EARLIER CASES.
UH, SOME OF THOSE CASES THAT WE'VE RECEIVED IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS WERE FROM AS FAR BACK AS APRIL, WE HAD MANY IN JUNE AND JULY AS WELL.
UH, SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE ASKED OUR TEAM TO, TO LOOK AT THE DELAYS AND SEE WHAT PROPORTION OF THE CASES THAT WERE RECEIVING IT AND REPORTING ARE GREATER THAN TWO WEEKS OLD, MEANING THEY'RE NO LONGER ACTIVE CASES.
UH, SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT DATA, IT TURNS OUT THAT OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, ABOUT 50% OF THE CASES THAT WE'RE REPORTING ARE NO LONGER ACTIVE CASES.
UM, AND THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO THAT, THAT INCREASING DATA THAT WE'RE RECEIVING FROM THE STATE FROM OLD CASES.
UH, SO WHILE RIGHT NOW, THIS APPEARS TO BE PLATEAU WITH SOME OSCILLATIONS.
WE HAVE EVIDENCE NOW, UH, THAT SUPPORTS THE FACT THAT OUR CASES ARE LIKELY ACTUALLY DECLINING MORE SUBSTANTIALLY.
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NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.WE CAN SEE THE NEW ADMISSIONS, WHICH HAS BEEN OUR, OUR KEY INDICATOR, UH, UP TILL NOW REGARDING OUR STAGING OF RISK.
UH, AND THAT'S BASED ON THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT, UM, AS, UH, VULNERABLE TO VARIATIONS IN, IN TESTING AND TURN AROUND TIMES AND SO FORTH.
WE CAN SEE THAT WITH OUR NEW ADMISSIONS TO THE HOSPITAL, THOSE HAVE BEEN STEADILY DECLINING.
UH, WE SAW THAT WE HAD A RAPID DECREASE, UH, TOWARDS THE END OF JULY.
IT FLATTENED OUT A BIT, BUT WAS STILL ON THE DECLINE.
AND NOW IS DECLINING A BIT MORE RAPIDLY AS THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER SAID, HEY, THIS IS A REFLECTION OF, OF THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, BY INDIVIDUALS TAKING ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROTECTING THEMSELVES, PROTECTING THEIR FAMILIES AND ACTING IN A, IN A PROTECTIVE WAY.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S CERTAINLY, UH, RESULTED IN WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.
YEAH, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE OVERALL IMPACT ON HOSPITALS, BUT WE CAN SEE THE TOTAL HOSPITAL BEDS BEING UTILIZED IN THE BLUE.
WE SAY ICU ADMISSIONS IN THE ORANGE AND THE GRAY IS THE, THE INDIVIDUALS ON VENTILATORS.
ALL THOSE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO DECLINE.
UH, AND WE CAN SAY THAT THAT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN A VERY GOOD SITUATION, LESS THAN 200 ADMISSIONS, A TOTAL ON THAT SEVEN DAY MOVING AVERAGE.
AND, UH, WE CONTINUE TO SEE DECREASES IN THE, UH, ICU AND VENTILATOR USE AS WELL.
UH, IN TALKING TO OUR HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES, WE MEET WITH THEM EVERY WEEK.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE REPORTS THAT WE'RE RECEIVING FOR THEM AS THE HOSPITALS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.
THERE'S PLENTY OF HOSPITAL BEDS, PLENTY OF ICU BEDS RIGHT NOW, PLENTY OF VENTILATORS.
UH, SO FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE BEEN PUTTING OFF ELECTIVE PROCEDURES OR GOING TO THE HOSPITAL FOR AN EVALUATION, OR EVEN SEEING THEIR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR FOR PHYSICALS OR VACCINATIONS FOR THEMSELVES OR FOR THEIR CHILDREN, THERE'S PLENTY OF SPACE.
UH, MAYOR COUNCIL, THIS IS A, AN UPDATE ON THE, UH, THE DEMOGRAPHICS ASSOCIATED WITH HOSPITALIZATIONS.
I'LL POINT OUT THAT WE'VE, UH, IN, IN THE GREEN LINE, WE SAY ARE, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE IDENTIFIED AS HISPANIC, UH, A SLIGHT DECREASE, BUT RELATIVELY FLAT, UH, OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, UH, AGAIN, STILL OVERREPRESENTED IN TERMS OF, UH, THEIR REPRESENTATION IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMUNITY.
UH, WE'RE SEEING STEADY INCREASES IN THE BLUE LINE, WHICH IS OUR WHITE NON-HISPANIC, UH, AND RELATIVELY FLAT IN TERMS OF OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION, WHICH IS REPRESENTED IN THE GRAY.
UH, AGAIN, THAT LINE ALSO OVER REPRESENTING, UH, THAT COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS, AS COMPARED TO THEIR REPRESENTATION IN TRAVIS COUNTY'S POPULATION.
THIS IS A, A REPRESENTATION OF THE HOSPITALIZATIONS BASED ON AGE GROUP.
WE CAN SEE LAST WEEK, I TALKED ABOUT THE SHARP INCREASE IN THAT 70 TO 79 AGE GROUP, WHICH IS THAT MUSTARD YELLOW COLOR, UH, WHICH STILL IS ACCOUNTING FOR THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF, OF HOSPITALIZATIONS, UH, THIS WEEK, BUT CERTAINLY DECREASED AS COMPARED TO LAST WEEK, YOU CAN SEE A SHARP INCREASE IN THAT 40 TO 49 AGE GROUP.
AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE BOTTOM, UH, THE GRAY LINE AT THAT 10 19 AGE GROUP, UH, WHICH IS NOW REPRESENTING 4% OF ALL THE INDIVIDUALS HOSPITALIZED.
UH, NOW AGAIN, THE NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS HOSPITALIZED IS DROPPING, BUT WE ARE SEEING THAT, THAT, THAT YOUNGER AGE GROUP, THAT GROUP WHO IS GOING TO TO SCHOOL AND TO COLLEGE, UH, IS, IS INCREASING.
SO 4% REPRESENTS THE HIGHEST NUMBER TO DATE AS FAR AS PERCENTAGE OF, OF HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS AN UPDATE OF OUR NURSING HOME AND LONGTERM CARE FACILITY, UH, OUTBREAK THAT YOU CAN SAY THAT, UH, SEVERAL INSTITUTIONS, EXCUSE ME, HAVE DROPPED OFF THIS WEEK.
WE'VE GOT TWO ADDITIONAL ONES THAT HAVE GONE THREE WEEKS WITHOUT, UH, WITHOUT A NEW CASE.
AND OUR HOPE IS THAT THEY WILL DROP OFF NEXT WEEK.
UH, OVERALL OUR NUMBER OF NEW CASES AT 58, WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE FROM LAST WEEK AS DIRECTOR HAYDEN SAID EARLIER, UH, WE'RE SEEING DECREASE, UH, DECREASES IN THE REQUESTS FOR STRIKE TEAMS AND OTHER SUPPLIES, UH, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE NURSING HOME SITUATION IS, IS NOW IMPROVING OTHER LONGTERM CARE FACILITIES, ALSO IMPROVING.
UH, BUT WHEN WE CONTINUE TO TRACK
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THIS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER SUPPORT AND THOSE FACILITIES, AND, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE FACT THAT THAT MANY OF THEM HAVE, UH, INSTITUTED THEIR OWN MEASURES, THEIR OWN, UH, PPE AND TESTING, UH, AS DIRECTOR HAYDEN DESCRIBED EARLIER, WHICH IS TAKING SOME BURDEN OFF OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES TO DO THAT.UH, BUT AGAIN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS.
UH, WE HAVE LOTS OF VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THE NURSING HOME AND LONGTERM CARE FACILITY STILL REPRESENTS THOSE WHO ARE AT HIGHEST RISK FOR, FOR HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH.
SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE OUR VIGILANCE FOR THIS GROUP.
NOW, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I WANT TO TALK A BIT ABOUT POSITIVITY.
YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, UH, BUT I WANT TO HONE IN ON A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, WE'RE PLEASED WITH THE FACT THAT, UH, WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF COLLABORATORS WHO ARE PROVIDING WEEKLY FEEDS OF, OF TESTING DATA THAT INCLUDES POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE FEEDS.
UH, AND THIS WAS DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH, UM, WITH UT AND DR.
MIKE KENYATTA, WHO, WHO LED THIS GROUP AND, AND, UH, HELP US BRING THIS DATA TOGETHER.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP.
UH, BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS, IS A DATA FEED, WHICH CONSTITUTES NOW MORE THAN 160,000, UH, UH, DATA POINTS, POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE TESTS, UH, LOOKING AT THIS DATA COMPARED TO ALL OF THE CASES REPORTED IN TRAVIS COUNTY BY, UH, THE STATE, IT REPRESENTS ABOUT 87% OF ALL THE CASES, ALL THE DONE.
SO IT IS A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF, OF THAT TESTING EFFORT THAT'S BEING DONE.
AND WHAT WE CAN SEE IS SINCE WE 27, WE'VE HAD A PROGRESSIVE DECLINE IN THE POSITIVITY RATE.
UH, WE ARE IN WEEK 34 NOW, BUT WE'RE ONLY SHOWING YOU THE DATA UP TO WEEK 32, BECAUSE WE ARE STILL REFINING THOSE FEEDS.
WE STILL WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FEEDS ARE TIMELY ENOUGH THAT THE IMMEDIATELY PRIOR WEEK AND CURRENT WEEK ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE MUCH, UH, BEFORE WE PRESENT IT.
UH, BUT THE LAST WEEK THAT WE'RE, WE'RE SHOWING YOU HERE WEEK 32, UH, IT SHOWS US THAT WE HAVE A 7.6% POSITIVITY RATE OVERALL IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WEEK 33 LAST WEEK SHOWS A DECLINE EVEN FURTHER AROUND FIVE TO 6%, BUT AGAIN, WE ARE STILL EXPECTING SOME ADDITIONAL DATA POINTS FROM WEEK 33 AND CERTAINLY WEEK 34, UH, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE SHARING WITH YOU NEXT WEEK.
AGAIN, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL VARIATION ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, IN THE RATES OF POSITIVITY.
UH, I SHOWED THIS TO YOU LAST WEEK.
UH, THIS IS UPDATED THIS WEEK, UH, AND THIS IS SHOWING US A BREAKDOWN BY RACE AND ETHNICITY OF THOSE POSITIVITY RATES.
UM, THE, THE RED DOTTED LINE IS THE, THE 5% MARK, WHICH WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET EVERYBODY BELOW, INCLUDING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, BUT WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.
AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE HERE IS THAT OUR, OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN IN BLUE AND OUR HISPANIC OR LATINO GROUP, AND THE GOLD COLOR, UH, ARE STILL CLOSE TO OR EXCEEDING IN THE, IN THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF OUR LATINO COMMUNITY, UM, THAT 5% MARK.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
UH, WE, WE SHOULD NOT BE HAPPY AS A COMMUNITY UNLESS ALL OF THESE LINES ARE BELOW 5% OR PRETTY DARN CLOSE TO IT.
AND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? DOES THIS MEAN THAT WE AS A CITY GOVERNMENT OR COUNTY GOVERNMENT ARE ENTIRELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? NO, BUT IT DOES MEAN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR EFFORTS.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THOSE EFFORTS, AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN HELPING US FIGHT THIS.
UH, I'M PLEASED TO HEAR STORIES ABOUT PRIVATE BUSINESSES, PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, TO, TO PROVIDE SUPPLIES, INCLUDING PPE.
THOSE EFFORTS NEED TO CONTINUE.
IF WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP, THEY CAN DONATE TO THESE GROUPS, THEY CAN GIVE THEM PPE, THEY CAN MAKE CASH DONATIONS, THEY CAN SUPPORT THIS EFFORT TO TARGET AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
IF WE'VE MADE ONE REVELATION OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THAT IS WE HAVE TO BE A COMMUNITY TOGETHER AS ONE, AND WE CANNOT BE SUCCESSFUL AS A COMMUNITY UNLESS WE'RE ALL SUCCESSFUL.
AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THOSE WHO WERE STILL STRUGGLING WITH THEIR INFECTIVITY RATES, AND WE HAVE TO PUSH THEM DOWN.
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THAT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US.THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF A POSITIVITY BY AGE GROUP.
AND I'M SHOWING YOU WEEK 31 THROUGH WEEK 34.
UH, AGAIN, AS I POINTED OUT LAST WEEK, THAT BLUE BAR THAT 10 TO 19 AGE GROUP, UH, IS CONTINUING TO BE, UH, HIGH IN TERMS OF POSITIVITY AS IS THE GREEN BAR NEXT TO IT, THE, THE ONE TO NINE AGE GROUP, UH, THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE AS WE ARE LOOKING AT CERTAIN SCHOOLS IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE TESTING THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE ARE ENCOURAGING AS PARENTS, UH, THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES, WHICH IS GOING TO INCREASE THEIR, THEIR RISK OF INFECTION.
AND THAT MEANS STAYING HOME WHEN THEY CAN, AND WHEN THEY ARE GOING OUT, THAT THEY ARE GOING OUT IN A PROTECTIVE WAY, WEARING MASKS, SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND, AND PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THAT HAND HYGIENE, UH, TO REDUCE THE RISK OF INFECTION TO THEIR MOUTH, NOSE, OR EYES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, MAYOR COUNCIL.
THIS IS A, A BREAKDOWN OF OUR TOP ZIP CODES.
UH, THIS IS FROM OUR APH FEED.
UH, AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THAT, THAT SOME OF THE ZIP CODES THAT WE FOCUSED ON BEFORE CONTINUED TO BE, UM, UH, PROBLEM AREAS FOR US.
UH, WE ANTICIPATE THAT LATER THIS WEEK OR EARLY NEXT WEEK, WE WILL HAVE A RELATIVELY LIVE FEED RELATED TO POSITIVITY RATES IN PARTICULAR ZIP CODES SO THAT YOU AND THE COMMUNITY CAN FOLLOW, UH, WHERE THE HOTSPOTS ARE.
SO THAT FOLKS HAVE A BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT, UH, WHERE THOSE POSITIVE TESTS ARE COMING FROM, AND IT'LL HELP US AS PUBLIC HEALTH AS THE CITY AND COUNTY AND COMMUNITY TO FOCUS RESOURCES ON THOSE AREAS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE GREATEST CHALLENGES.
SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR STAGING AND WE'VE BEEN AT STAGE FOUR FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
UM, WE HAD CONCERN REGARDING THE PLATEAUING OUT OF CASES IN THE MIDST AT THE SAME TIME OF, OF DECREASING HOSPITALIZATIONS.
NOW THAT WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE THAT MANY OF THE CASES THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS ARE IN FACT OLD CASES.
AND AS A RESULT OF, OF THE STATE DELAYED REPORTING, I FEEL CONFIDENT NOW IN MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE CHANGE OUR STAGING RISK TO STAGE THREE.
SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US AS A COMMUNITY? IT MEANS THAT WE STILL MUST ACT IN A PROTECTIVE WAY.
WE STILL MUST MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCE.
WE STILL MUST PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO OUR PERSONAL HYGIENE, PARTICULARLY OUR HAND HYGIENE.
AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO AVOID SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND GATHERINGS OF GREATER THAN 10 PEOPLE.
UM, THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WHO ARE AT HIGHER RISK OR WHO WOULD LIVE IN HOUSEHOLDS, WHO ARE AT HIGHER RISK.
SO THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 65, AND THOSE WERE SIGNIFICANT UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT MAY LEAD TO HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH.
THIS ALSO MEANS THAT THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE IN STAGE THREE, WE MUST CONTINUE TO ACT AS IF WE WERE IN STAGE FOUR, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
AND WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? BECAUSE WE ARE APPROACHING THE START OF SCHOOL.
WE ARE APPROACHING THE TIME ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, WHEN WE WANT TO SEND OUR CHILDREN.
TO SOME EXTENT BACK TO SCHOOL, WE HAVE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OPENING RIGHT NOW AND IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US, INCLUDING THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO ACT IN A PROTECTIVE WAY SO THAT WE CAN DRIVE THE POSITIVITY RATE DOWN.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO DRIVE OUR CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS DOWN, AND WE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF SUSTAINING OPERATIONS OF OUR SCHOOLS, OUR COLLEGES, AND UNIVERSITIES, AND OUR BUSINESSES.
SO MANY ACCOUNTS, I'VE GOT A FEW SLIDES AND I, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME, SOME FICTION AND FACTS THAT ARE OUT THERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE SEEING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
UH, SO A FEW THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS, UH, ONE IS, IS THAT FACE MASK CAN CAUSE PNEUMONIA, BACTERIAL OR FUNGAL PNEUMONIA.
SO THE FACT IS THAT THERE'S NOT ANY CLINICAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE CONCLUSION THAT, THAT IT LEADS TO INFECTIONS LIKE THIS.
UH, WE HAVE A VERY LONG HISTORY OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO WEAR MASKS, OTHER OCCUPATIONS WHO WEAR MASKS FOR AN EXTENDED DURATION OF TIME AND NO
[00:35:01]
EVIDENCE THAT, UH, THAT THESE THINGS ARE TRUE.UM, SECOND ONE THAT FACE MASK CAN CAUSE TOXIC LEVELS OF CARBON DIOXIDE.
AGAIN, THERE'S NO CLINICAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS CONCLUSION, UH, YOU KNOW, WHILE SOME INDIVIDUALS MAY GET ANXIOUS WHEN THEY WEAR A MASK, UH, USUALLY IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE NEW TO WEARING MASKS.
UH, WE CERTAINLY SEE THIS WITH NEW HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
UH, BUT THE FACT IS THAT ONCE YOU GET USED TO IT, THAT ANXIETY GENERALLY DECREASES, UH, THAT HYPERVENTILATION GENERALLY DECREASES, UH, AND PEOPLE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO WEARING MASKS.
I BRING THIS UP PARTICULARLY BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT AS WE LOOK TO SEPTEMBER 8TH AND THE REOPENING OF SCHOOLS, TO SOME EXTENT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TO START INTRODUCING THEIR CHILDREN, TO MASK WEARING.
IF THEY'RE THE APPROPRIATE AGE GROUP TO WEAR MASKS, IT IS PART OF, OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO THIS FALL SEMESTER IN PARTICULAR AND POSSIBLY INTO THE SPRING UNTIL WE HAVE A VACCINE WHICH IS WIDELY AVAILABLE.
AND THESE STEPS TO RAPE TO INTRODUCE THAT MASS WEARING REGULARLY, UH, WILL HELP THEM, UH, BECOME, UH, ACCUSTOMED TO DOING IT.
UH, SO ONE THAT, UH, HAS, UH, HAS BEEN IN THE MEDIA A LOT RECENTLY IS, IS MISINFORMATION RELATING TO, UH, THE ASSERTION THAT SUICIDES DURING COVID-19 HAVE OUTPACED DEATHS FROM COVID-19.
THE FACT IS THAT THAT COVID-19 IS THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE FOURTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN TRAVIS COUNTY AS COMPARED TO OUR 2018 DEATHS STATISTICS.
UM, AND, UM, THAT, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE IN, IN DISCUSSION WITH THE TRAVIS COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER.
UH, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT, UM, THAT COVID-19, OR THAT, THAT SUICIDES DURING COVID-19.
UH, SO THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2020, UH, ARE HIGHER THAN THEY WERE IN 2019.
IN FACT, THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE RIGHT NOW THAT THOSE RATES OF SUICIDE ARE LOWER THAN THEY WERE IN 2019.
AGAIN, THERE IS SOME DELAYS, UH, AS IT RELATES TO DEATH STATISTICS, WE DON'T USUALLY CALCULATE THEM MID YEAR.
UH, BUT WHEN ASKED TO DO THAT, THIS IS THE RESPONSE, UH, FROM THE, THE TRAPS COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE, UH, WHO IS RESOLVED FOR INVESTIGATING AND DETERMINING CAUSE OF DEATH.
UH, SO ANOTHER, ANOTHER STATEMENT THAT I'VE HEARD, UH, THAT I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THAT SEASONAL INFLUENCE IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN COVID-19.
THE FACT IS THAT 176,000 MORE THAN 176,000 AMERICANS HAVE DIED FROM COVID-19 MORE THAN 11,000 TEXANS HAVE DIED FROM COVID-19 SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.
UH, THE CDC ESTIMATED THAT LAST YEAR, THE 2019, 2020 INFLUENCE A SEASON RESULTED IN 24,000, THE 64,000 DEATHS, UH, WHICH OF COURSE IS ECLIPSED BY WHAT WE'VE ALREADY EXPERIENCED WITH COVID-19 CDC ALSO ESTIMATES THAT, UH, 3,516 TEXANS DIED, UH, DURING THAT SAME INFLUENCE SEASON, AGAIN, UH, BEING ECLIPSED BY COVID-19, BUT THIS IS A DANGEROUS DISEASE.
UH, IT IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS FOR OUR ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS OVER THE AGE OF 60 TO 65, FOR THOSE WITH SIGNIFICANT UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS AND FOR OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
SO WE NEED TO IGNORE THE FICTION THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE MEDIA AND PARTICULARLY SOCIAL MEDIA AND UNDERSTAND THE FACTS.
AND THAT MEANS THAT ALL OF US HAVE TO USE RELIABLE RESOURCES, UH, TO, TO GET INFORMATION ON COVID-19 AND BE VERY SKEPTICAL OF INFORMATION THAT IS SEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND WITH THAT, UH, MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER.
I'VE GOT A QUESTION YOU'RE ON MUTE.
I'LL GET RIGHT TO YOU, LESLIE, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GO FROM ORANGE TO YELLOW? SURE.
UH, SOME AGAIN, THE BIG CHANGE IS THE, UH, THE GROUP SIZE.
SO GOING FROM TWO TO 10, UH, BUT STILL AVOIDING SOCIAL GATHERINGS, UH, AGAIN, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN THAT HIGH RISK CATEGORY, UH, SHOULD STAY HOME.
UH, THEY SHOULD ONLY GO OUT IF HE'S IN CONTROL AND, UH, IF THEY'RE GOING OUT, THEY NEED TO BE VERY COGNIZANT OF THEIR SPACING OF THE HAND HYGIENE, UH, AND ULTIMATELY IT'S BEST IF THEY CAN
[00:40:01]
HAVE OTHER PEOPLE GO OUT FOR THEM TO GET GROCERIES, TO DO THAT INSTEAD.SO RIGHT NOW, WITH RESPECT TO SCHOOLS, A LOT OF SCHOOLS ARE STAYING CLOSED.
AND SO SEPTEMBER 8TH, RIGHT AFTER LABOR DAY, AND THEN TRYING TO OPEN UP A LOT OF THAT VIRTUALLY, UH, IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN THE OVERALL INFECTIVITY IN THE COMMUNITY AND OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE OPENING OF SCHOOLS? MAYOR? WE THINK SO.
UH, AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EVIDENCE RIGHT NOW REGARDING, UH, INFECTIVITY IN SCHOOLS.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EVIDENCE ON HOW IT SPREADS INSIDE SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES.
THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE FROM OTHER PLACES AROUND THE WORLD.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE DIFFERENT FROM SCHOOLS IN SWEDEN, IN GERMANY AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
UM, WE KNOW, AND WE'VE CERTAINLY SEEN ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS FROM OTHER STATES WHO'VE OPENED EARLY AND LOUD, ALL STUDENTS BACK TO CAMPUS, BUT THAT OFTEN RESULTS IN SHUTTING DOWN VERY SOON AFTERWARDS.
THIS IS WHY WE MADE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT REGARDLESS OF THE STAGE OF RISK, THAT WE'RE IN ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, THAT THE SCHOOL'S ONLY OPEN UP TO 25% OF THEIR CAPACITY TO ALLOW US TO, UH, REFINE OUR PROCESSES AND ALLOW THE TEACHERS AND THE STAFF AND THE STUDENTS TO WORK OUT THE KINKS IN THE SYSTEM.
AND TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN DO THAT EFFECTIVELY WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT SPREAD, BEFORE WE START INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL STUDENTS INTO THAT SPACE.
COMING UP RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY.
OUR COMMUNITY HAD A PEAK SOON AFTER THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY, NO PEAK AFTER THE JULY 4TH HOLIDAY, ANY SPECIAL SUGGESTIONS OR WARNINGS TO THE COMMUNITY WITH RESPECT TO THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
AGAIN, MAYOR I THINK THE, THE SAME WARNINGS THAT WE GAVE JULY 4TH ARE, ARE TRUE.
NOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A GATHERING, MAKE IT ONLY THE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN YOUR HOUSEHOLD THAT YOU HAVE REGULAR CONTACT WITH.
UH, THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO INVITE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OVER, UM, BEYOND THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ACT IN THAT PROTECTIVE WAY.
UH, WE CAN STILL GATHER, WE CAN STILL GET TOGETHER.
WE SHOULD DO THAT VIRTUALLY WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
UH, IF PEOPLE MAKE THE DECISION, REGARDLESS OF MY ADVICE, NOT TO DO IT, IF THEY MAKE THE DECISION TO HAVE THOSE GALLERIES ANYWAY, AND THEY SHOULD BE DONE IN A WAY, WHICH IS SOCIAL DISTANCE AND MASKED, UM, WE, WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO, AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO GET KIDS IN SCHOOL AND KEEP THE SCHOOLS OPEN.
AND IF WE SACRIFICE NOW BY TAKING TOO MANY LIBERTIES BY BEING TOO FREE AND DISREGARDING THAT ADVICE, WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO FEEL IT IN SEPTEMBER.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS GOING TO GREAT IS TO TRY TO MITIGATE ANY IMPACT THAT WOULD COME FROM UNIVERSITY STUDENTS THAT HAVE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER INFECTIVITY RATE, UH, PROJECTED THAT WHAT WE HAVE AT AUSTIN BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM, FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, UT IS, IS TRYING TO URGE STUDENTS TO ACCEPT THE SAME DISCIPLINE THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS.
UH, BUT IN THAT REGARD THAT I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE GOING TO BE TESTING 5,000 STUDENTS A WEEK SO THAT IF THERE IS A SPIKE OR AN ISSUE, IT GETS IDENTIFIED, UH, EARLY.
UM, WHAT ABOUT THE FRAT HOUSES AND THE SORORITY HOUSES? ARE WE DOING ANYTHING PROACTIVELY TO HELP THERE? MAYOR, WE ARE SENDING LETTERS OUT THIS WEEK TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS, AS THE SITE OPERATORS FOR THE FRATERNITY AND SORORITY HOUSES, UH, TO REMIND THEM OF THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATION, UH, TO FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE AS SITE OPERATORS.
UM, THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, UH, TO ENSURE SAFETY.
UH, THEY HAVE THAT LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY AND, UH, AND WE ARE SITTING THOSE OUT, UH, TODAY AND TOMORROW.
UH, IF WE FIND VIOLATIONS, WE WILL TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE THAT THOSE, THOSE VIOLATIONS ARE MITIGATED.
AND, UH, THAT, THAT THOSE TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS DO NOT POSE A RISK TO LARGER AUSTIN COUNTY.
ON SOCIAL THIS WEEKEND, THERE WERE VIDEOS THAT SHOWED ACTIVITY THAT ON SIXTH STREET, ARE YOU GUYS LOOKING AT THAT MAYOR? WE ARE, UM, WE RECEIVED, WE RECEIVED THE VIDEO AS WELL.
UH, THE VIDEO SHOWED, UH, CROWDS OF PEOPLE.
IT SHOWED LONG QUEUES OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF A BUSINESS WHO WERE CLEARLY NOT SOCIAL DISTANCE.
UH, AGAIN, IT'S UP TO ALL OF US TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT, AT MITIGATING THE RISK OF COVID-19 OUR COMMUNITY.
[00:45:01]
AND THAT MEANS BUSINESS OWNERS NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE NOT ONLY FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING INSIDE OF THEIR FACILITY, BUT ALSO WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE.AND WE WERE, WE WERE TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, REACHED OUT TO AUSTIN CODE THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICE, UH, TO INVESTIGATE THAT.
AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION WITH RESPECT TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY, WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY LAGGING BEHIND ON OVERALL INFECTIVITY, UH, THERE WAS A REPORT THAT CAME OUT FROM AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE, UH, WITH DIFFERENT STRATEGIES TO PURSUE, I GUESS IT'S EITHER FOR YOU OR FOR DIRECTOR HAYDEN.
UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE A REPORT COMING OUT THAT, THAT, THAT KIND OF TRACKS THAT TO SAY WHAT WE'RE DOING OR NOT DOING OR WHAT WE'RE PRIORITIZED OR YOU'RE NOT PRIORITIZING.
UH, SO THE ADDITIONAL WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE WHAT OUR STRATEGY IS WITH RESPECT TO THAT.
I THINK, I DON'T KNOW IF DIRECTOR HATE DISTILL ON HERE.
WE WILL HAVE THAT, UM, TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UM, ON, ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, UM, WE'VE TAKEN THE DOCUMENT, UM, IN, UM, WE'VE READJUSTED THE DOCUMENT, JUST SO IT'S A LITTLE CLEAR.
AND SO WE WILL PROVIDE THAT UPDATE TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL ON FRIDAY.
IT WILL, UM, SHOW, UM, THINGS THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE OVER THIS TIME.
IT WILL SHOW AN INCREASE, UM, OF EFFORTS, UM, THAT WE ARE, ARE ON THE WAY.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE TARGETED ZIP CODES, WHERE THERE IS, UM, AN HIGH INCREASE IN POSITIVITY RATE, WE ARE, UM, PROVIDING PPE IN THOSE, IN THOSE ZIP CODES.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, OUR, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, OUR RESTAURANT INSPECTORS, UM, ARE GOING BACK BY THOSE BUSINESSES TO ENSURE THAT, UM, THEY HAVE THEIR SIGNAGE UP.
AND IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR OPERATIONS, WE'RE ALSO DOING, UM, THAT SAME SERVICE, UM, FOR, UM, CHILDCARE FACILITIES IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL EDUCATION.
SO, UM, THAT'S JUST A FEW OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE UNDERWAY.
WE ARE PARTNERING WITH, UM, COMMUNITY CARE AND CENTRAL HEALTH ON A, ON A MARKETING STRATEGY, UM, AS WELL AS TRAVIS COUNTY TO INCREASE ALL OF OUR EFFORTS EFFORTS OF, OF TPE.
UM, WE ARE PREPARING A, UM, A COUPLE OF PSA THAT WE WILL, UM, GENERATE, UM, INTO THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO THERE ARE SEVERAL EFFORTS THAT YOU WILL SEE ON THE DOCUMENT THAT WE WILL SHARE.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, UM, I'LL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
I COULDN'T, I COULDN'T SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HAYDEN COUNCIL MEMBER POOL.
ESCADA AND DIRECTOR HAYDEN FOR ANOTHER REALLY GOOD AND INFORMATIVE UPDATE.
I JUST HAVE THREE KIND OF SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, UH, TO GET A LITTLE MORE PROACTIVE AND LESS REACTIVE ON OUR DATA.
PRESCOTT, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE SLIDES TOWARD THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, WHERE THE DELAYS IN US GETTING THE NUMBERS OF TESTS RESULTS CAME IN, AND WE WEREN'T, WE DIDN'T KNOW FIRST THAT THERE WAS, WAS A DELAY, AND THEN WE GOT THEM ALL, UH, CAN WE MAYBE GET REAL NUMBERS, UM, ON THE DATES, THOSE TESTS WERE EITHER DONE OR SUBMITTED SO THAT WE COULD ASSIGN THOSE NUMBERS TO THE DATES WHERE THEY WOULD BE WHERE THEY ACTUALLY OCCURRED, SO THAT, SO WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHETHER WE HAVE A MINI SURGE OR WE CAN ACCURATELY GET AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THE, WHAT THE ACTUAL DATA IS.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I'M LOOKING FOR SOME KIND OF A TWO THINGS ABOUT AN EARLY NOTICE FROM THE STATE TESTING CENTER THAT THEY DO HAVE A BACKLOG, AND WE SHOULD LOOK FOR, UM, A LARGE TRAUNCH OF DATA COMING TO US LATER AND NOT, NOT AT THE TIME THAT WE HAD EXPECTED IT.
AND THEN CAN WE TAKE THE DATA THAT WE GOT AND ASSIGN IT TO WHEN THOSE TESTS WERE EITHER SUBMITTED OR TO SO, SO COUNCIL MEMBER, WAIT, WE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE, UH, BECAUSE OF THE RECORDING NATURE OF THE STATE, WHICH IS, IS THAT WE REPORT THE CASES BASED ON THE DAY THAT THEY'RE ENTERED IN THE SYSTEM, BUT THE EPI CURVE, WHICH IS ON THAT MAIN DASHBOARD SHOWS THE DATE OF, OF THE INDIVIDUAL
[00:50:01]
WHEN THEY STARTED AS SYMPTOMS. IF THEY'RE ASYMPTOMATIC, WHEN THE TEST WAS DONE, I WILL POINT OUT THAT ONE OF THE THINGS TO HELP, UH, DISPLAY ANY DELAYS IS GOING TO BE THE ACTIVE CASES, RIGHT? SO IF YOU KNOW, THE ACTIVE CASES ARE, ARE DECREASING AT THE SAME TIME, CASES ARE INCREASING.THAT INDICATES THAT A LARGER PORTION OF THE, OF THE ONES REPORTED ARE OLDER THAN 14 DAYS.
SO THEY'RE ALREADY RECOVERED AT THE TIME.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE SAW LAST WEEK, WHICH, UM, WHICH, UH, INITIATED THAT IN THAT INVESTIGATION, BECAUSE WE HAD, YOU KNOW, ONE DAY WITH 350 CASES REPORTED AND WE HAD 303 RECOVERIES IN THE SAME DAY.
UM, SO THAT IS A WAY TO, TO HELP TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NEW CASES AND OLD CASES.
AND WHAT I WOULD JUST SAY THERE IS WE NEED TO HAVE SOME ACTIVE FEEDBACK IN THAT LOOP TO THE STATE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE COULD USE SOME ADDITIONAL DISTANT, EARLY WARNING SIGNALS WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
I UNDERSTAND THAT'S THEIR SYSTEM.
UM, AND IT'S MORE OF A PERSUASIVE, UH, DISCUSSION WITH THEM, BUT THEY NEED TO KNOW, UM, HOW THOSE GAPS ARE AFFECTING THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, THE GRASSROOTS, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE AND OUR TRANSMISSION OF THAT INFORMATION OUT TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
UM, THE SECOND QUESTION OF THE THREE I HAD ON THE ZIP CODE, UM, SORT THAT YOU HAVE, CAN YOU PULL UP THAT SLIDE? WAS THAT, I GUESS SLIDE 10.
MAYBE I'LL SEE IF AVI CAN, THE QUESTION I HAVE THERE ON THE ZIP CODES.
CAN THAT NUMBER SHOW WHAT THE PERCENT, WHAT THE NUMBERS OF POPULATION ARE, UH, SORRY, GO FORWARD TWO SLIDES.
SO IF I'M LOOKING AT THIS RIPE, THE ONES ON THE FAR RIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, FIVE, FOUR NINE HAS FEWER CASES, PERSONAL CASES THEN OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SO THE NEXT SIX TO ONE, DO WE KNOW WHAT THE REAL NUMBERS ARE IN THOSE, FROM THE POPULATION, THE POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, UM, FOR THOSE ZIP CODES? UM, WE DON'T HAVE IT BROKEN DOWN BY POPULATION AGAIN.
UH, THE, THE TEAM IS WORKING ON A, UH, A MAP INTERACTIVE MAP, WHICH WILL SHOW POSITIVITY, BUYS ZIP CODE.
UM, WE CAN CERTAINLY SEE IF THEY CAN, IF THEY CAN DO A, A MEASURE BASED ON, ON POPULATION IS, WELL, THE REASON WHY THAT'S, WHY I'M BRINGING IT UP.
I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING A COUPLE OF ZIP CODES SPECIFICALLY IN MY DISTRICT.
AND, UH, ONE IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN AT THE VERY BOTTOM WITH THE FEWEST NUMBER OF CASES FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND NOW I SEE IT'S KIND OF IN THAT SECOND TIER, UM, WITH MORE, AND I, I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THE REAL NUMBER CHANGE OR THAT IS AND WHAT THE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION OF INFECTION IS BY W WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS, IS NEW CASES IN THE PAST SEVEN DAYS.
SO THOSE ARE THE ACTUAL NEW CASES FOR THAT ZIP CODE.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE POPULATION PERCENTAGES IN THERE BECAUSE THESE ARE JUST REAL NUMBERS.
WELL, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING, UM, PIECE OF ADDITIONAL, UH, DATA.
AND THEN SLIDE SEVEN SEEMS TO BE INCOMPLETE.
AND THAT'S THE SLIDE ON A NURSING HOME CASES.
CAN YOU PULL UP SLIDE SEVEN? THERE IT IS.
SO THAT, THAT LOOKS INCOMPLETE TO ME.
AND, UM, YEAH, I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHY THAT IS.
WE TALKED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHEN YOU ALL MADE THE PRESENTATION ABOUT NURSING HOUSE, WE REQUESTED THAT THE NURSING HOME NAMES BE ADDED TO THIS LIST, AND THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.
I HAVEN'T HAD ANY FEEDBACK FROM STAFF AT ALL AS TO WHY THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE.
WE HAD A DISCUSSION HERE IN WORK SESSION ABOUT ADDING THOSE NAMES.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT DONE, OR IF YOU'RE, IF IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, AND THIS MAY BE DIRECTED TO STAFF, I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT COMES FROM POOL.
UM, WE ARE STILL FOLLOWING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RULING ABOUT THE NAMES OF THE NURSING HOMES.
AND I'M HAPPY TO VISIT WITH YOU OFFLINE.
I, I THOUGHT THAT OUR OFFICE HAD DONE THAT.
SO I'LL GET TO YOU RIGHT AFTER THIS MEETING.
UM, YEAH, I, I NEED TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT THE PUBLIC IS HEARING FROM PRESS OUTLETS AND WHAT WE ARE PROVIDING SINCE WE ARE CONSIDERED TO BE A PRETTY CREDIBLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION.
AND IT NEEDS TO BE AS COMPREHENSIVE AS IT POSSIBLY CAN.
I THINK A COUPLE OF US EXPRESS THAT PRETTY CLEARLY A FEW WEEKS AGO.
PLEASE HAVE SOMEBODY GIVE ME A CALL.
[00:55:08]
CUTE.I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, UM, UH, ON NURSING HOMES.
UM, CAN YOU SPEAK AGAIN TO THE, UM, TREND RATE? THE REASON I'M ASKING THAT IS, UM, I HAD HOPED TO SEE THE KIND OF DASHBOARD ON OUR WEBSITE THAT ACTUALLY SHOWS TRENDS JUST LIKE WE ARE CHILLING TRENDS, UM, IN OUR, OUR BAR CHARTS WITH THE GENERAL POPULATION, AND ALSO HOW WE'RE SHOWING TRENDS, UH, RELATED TO OUR MINORITY POPULATION, BUT I'M NOT SEEING THAT.
SO I'M HAVING TO LOOK AT RAW DATA.
I MEAN, I APPRECIATE THE DATA THAT YOU ARE MAKING AVAILABLE, BUT NOW THAT, UM, NOW THAT PERHAPS WE, OR I'M SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT ON OUR DEPARTMENT, I WOULD REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE DASHBOARD AND BY A DASHBOARD.
I MEAN, UM, THE, THE ONLY THING WE'RE SEEING ON THE COBOT PAGE IS THE, UM, THE SPREADSHEET YOU'RE GIVING US THE LAST ONE THAT IS ON, UM, THE LAST ONE THAT'S ON OUR ONE THAT'S ON OUR PUBLIC PAGE IS AUGUST 4TH.
SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GAVE US TODAY, WHICH IS MORE OF AN UPDATE THAN THAT, BUT, UM, BUT IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL IF WE COULD FIND A WAY, UM, TO, TO ACTUALLY, UM, UH, POST SOME MORE USER-FRIENDLY DATA THAT SHOWS A TREND, JUST LIKE WE'RE DOING FOR THESE OTHER AREAS, WITH REGARD TO OUR ELDERLY FOLKS.
SO THAT'S A REQUEST THAT I HAVE THAT I'VE HAD THAT REQUEST FOR AWHILE, AND I'VE, I HAVEN'T REPEATED IT RECENTLY BECAUSE I'VE UNDERSTOOD HOW, HOW MUCH OF AN, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH UNDER THE GUN OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON, BUT I'M HOPING THAT THERE'S AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT OF A BREATHER NOW, SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE TRANSPARENT IN THE DATA THAT'S AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
SO MY QUESTION IS, SO THAT'S JUST A REQUEST.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP PLEASE LET US KNOW, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB.
I THINK OF MAKING THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE.
SO MY QUESTION THOUGH, IS CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT IS THE TREND FOR IN OUR NURSING FACILITIES IN OUR ASSISTED LIVING ARE, IF I WAS TO, IF I WAS ABLE TO SEE A, A BAR, YOU KNOW, UM, A TREND LINE, WOULD IT SHOW US, WOULD IT SHOW US LEVELING OFF, OR WOULD IT SHOW US GOING DOWN IN TERMS OF DEATHS AND HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS AND INFECTIVITY IN OUR, A LONGTERM CARE FACILITY? UH, SO COUNCIL MEMBER I'LL, UM, I'LL GET WITH THE TEAM AGAIN AND, UH, AND FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE ON THE DASHBOARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ME IN THE MANNER THAT YOU DESCRIBED, UH, SO THAT FOLKS CAN FOLLOW THAT.
UM, LOOKING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, THREE WEEKS AGO, OUR TOTAL CASES WERE 89 FOR THAT WEEK.
LAST WEEK, IT WAS 112 AND, UH, THIS WAY, 50, 111 LAST WEEK.
UM, SO IT IS DECLINING AS COMPARED TO THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AND SEE IF WE CAN PRIORITIZE THE DASHBOARD IN A WAY THAT'S, THAT'S MORE ACCESSIBLE AND CLEAR TO YOU AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO CAN YOU TELL FROM JUST LOOKING AT THE PAST FEW WEEKS, WHETHER WE ARE SEEING AN IMPROVEMENT FOR THESE LONGTERM CARE FACILITIES, DO YOU FEEL WITH COMPETENCE THAT YOU CAN SAY THAT WE'RE DECLINING AT THIS POINT, OR DO WE NEED MORE, MORE BREADTH OF DATA TO LOOK AT? WELL, I THINK, UH, I THINK RIGHT NOW WE ARE DECLINING, UH, AND I WILL SAY THAT IT HAS COMMUNITY INFECTIVITY INCREASES.
SO DO THE, THE CLUSTERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NURSING HOMES AND LONGTERM CARE.
AND THIS IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO SUPPRESS PUSH DOWN THAT INFECTIVITY RATE OR POSITIVITY RATE FURTHER, UH, BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, ONCE IT GETS ABOVE 8%, 10%, UH, IT'S REALLY VERY DIFFICULT TO, UH, TO HAVE ENOUGH DEFENSES UP FOR THOSE FACILITIES THAT ARE REALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE.
UH, I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE, THE NUMBER OF DEATHS THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
UH, MANY OF THOSE ARE FROM OUR NURSING HOMES AND LONGTERM CARE FACILITIES, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S, THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD NOT BE CELEBRATING
[01:00:01]
RIGHT NOW.THIS IS A DEVASTATING DISEASE.
IT'S DEVASTATED MANY NURSING HOMES, IT'S DEVASTATED MANY FAMILIES AND, AND WE'VE GOTTA BE VIGILANT.
AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO ALL COMPROMISE A LITTLE BIT AND, AND DO SO IN ORDER TO PROTECT THOSE WHO CAN'T REALLY CAN'T PROTECT THEMSELVES.
UM, SO I'LL ASK QUESTION THEN IS, UH, AGAIN, UM, YOU SPOKE TO THIS, UM, UM, DIRECTOR HAYDEN, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING.
SO WITH REGARD TO THE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, UH, DO WE KNOW YET WHETHER THEY'RE ALL ENGAGED IN TESTING OR ALL HAVE INVOLVED TESTING? I KNOW OUR NURSING HOMES HAVE JUST CURIOUS ABOUT OUR ASSISTED LIVING.
ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME LEVEL OF TESTING BECAUSE THEY, UM, FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE GOING TO, UM, TO HAVE VISITORS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, WE HAVE, UM, PROBIOTIC TESTING TO OVER 47 OF THE
COLLEAGUES, HAVE YOU OTHER QUESTIONS CROSS OVER ALTAR? GOOD MORNING.
UM, APPRECIATE ALL OF THE UPDATES AND PLEASED TO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS.
UM, I WANTED TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF HOW THE CITY IS SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS A PARENT OF KIDS IN THE SCHOOLS, WHEN YOU HEAR AT LEAST FOR HIGH SCHOOL, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IF YOU SHOW UP, UM, THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH REASON IF YOU DON'T, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, ET CETERA.
UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL TO SEND THE KIDS.
AND I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH WE'RE WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS.
THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT NEEDS ACROSS THE DIFFERENT AGES.
UM, AND I JUST WANT MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THEM THE SUPPORT AND KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY NEED.
MY IMPRESSION IS THAT WE ARE, BUT I'D LIKE SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DETAILS.
UM, SO ESSENTIALLY, UM, WE HAVE A WEEKLY MEETING, UM, WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS, UM, ACROSS TRAVIS COUNTY, SOME FROM OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY.
UM, WE HAVE, UM, HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS FROM CHARTER SCHOOLS.
WE'VE ALSO HAD CONVERSATIONS AND MEETINGS WITH, UM, WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I MEAN, WITH PRIVATE SCHOOLS AS WELL UPON REQUEST.
UM, AND SO AS YOU KNOW, UM, THE DEPARTMENT PUT TOGETHER THE GUIDANCE THAT WAS SUBMITTED ON THE 14TH OF THIS MONTH.
UM, VERY COMPREHENSIVE, UM, GUIDANCE, AND, UM, EACH OF THEM ARE USING IT AND ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE GUIDANCE, UM, NRA.
ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE PLANS ON THEIR WEBSITE? IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, LIKE WITH THE NURSING HOMES, WE HAVE SET UP AN INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURE, UM, THAT INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURE, UM, WILL ONE WE'VE INCREASED THE, THE, UM, NUMBER OF NURSES THAT WE HAVE, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
SO WHEN INDIVIDUALS CALL THAT LINE, THEY'RE ABLE TO GET INFORMATION, UM, IN GENERAL ABOUT COVID-19, UM, TESTING, ET CETERA, WITHIN THAT PLAN, UM, IN THE GUIDANCE, WE'VE ASKED THAT THERE IS A, UM, A SPOCK AT EACH OF THE CAMPUSES, AS WELL AS A GENERAL SPOT FOR EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND SO, UM, IF FOLKS HAVE, YOU KNOW, GENERAL QUESTIONS, WE'VE SET UP A MAILBOX AND SO THEY CAN EMAIL, UM, OUR STAFF AND GET ASSISTANCE FROM THEM.
WE'VE ALSO, UM, WITHIN THAT INCIDENT COMMAND, JUST A LITTLE SMALL INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURE, WE ALSO ADDED A, UM, UM, OUR EPIDEMIOLOGISTS ARE, UM, ASSIGNED TO THAT SPECIFIC GROUP OF FOLKS.
UM, SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE, THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT WE WILL HAVE COMING IN FROM THE SCHOOLS, UM, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AS MUCH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THEM.
AND THEN, UM, LASTLY, UM, IN ADDITION TO OUR EPI STAFF, OUR FOLKS ARE ESTABLISHING A, UM, A TASKFORCE FOR K THROUGH 12.
AND SO, UM, THAT TASKFORCE, UM, WILL OPERATE LIKE
[01:05:01]
THE CHILDCARE TASK FORCE IS OPERATED.AND SO WE'LL HAVE, UM, VARIOUS REPRESENTATIVES, UM, FROM THE DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
AND SO, UM, AS THINGS COME UP THAT, UM, AFFECT EACH OF THEM AT THAT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UM, ALL WORK TOGETHER ON, ON ANY COUNTER INSTANCES THAT COME UP.
SO THOSE ARE THE SUPPORTS THAT WE ARE PROVIDING TO, UM, TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS, ET CETERA, COUNSEL FOR ALTERNATE I'LL, I'LL JUST ADD TO ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE SUPERINTENDENTS, UH, FOR THE MOST PART SEEM VERY ENGAGED IN, IN THAT THAT GRADUAL RISK-TAKING STARTING AT 25% AND THEN GRADUALLY GOING UP FROM THERE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN DO EACH LEVEL SAFELY BEFORE WE MOVE ONTO THE NEXT THAT WE LEARNED FROM REOPENING BUSINESSES, THAT DOING THINGS TOO QUICKLY, UH, IS, IS COSTLY.
AND WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID THE SAME ERROR IN OUR RE REOPENING OF SCHOOLS.
THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IS THAT, UM, THAT TEA, UH, HAS THREATENED TO, UH, TO NOT FUND THOSE SCHOOLS THAT GO BEYOND THEIR, UH, THEIR GRACE PERIOD.
AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED NOW IS, IS WINNING SOME MORE FLEXIBILITY FROM THE TEA SO THAT IT WILL ALLOW COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS, UH, TO, TO USE THE APPROACH THAT WE'RE USING, WHICH IS TO GO SLOW AND STEADY AND ENSURE WE CAN DO THINGS SAFELY.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT THAT, THAT STRESS IS BEING CERTAINLY FELT BY OUR SUPERINTENDENTS AROUND TRAVIS COUNTY RIGHT NOW.
AND I, I TOTALLY AGREE THAT WE NEED TO BE PUSHING THE TEA AND GOVERNOR ABBOTT TO HOLD OUR SCHOOLS HARMLESS IN TERMS OF FUNDING SO THAT THEY CAN PLAN AND DEAL WITH THE MANY THINGS THAT ARE THROWN AT HIM AND, AND HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGH A GROUP THAT I HELPED FOUND, JUST FUND IT TO DO THAT ADVOCACY.
I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THAT.
UM, I DID WANT TO ASK AS A FOLLOWUP, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF MOVEMENT AROUND THE COUNTRY TO MOVE TO OUTDOOR SCHOOLING.
AND OBVIOUSLY, UM, IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER TIMES, THAT'S CHALLENGING, UM, IN TEXAS WITH THE HEAT, BUT AS WE MOVE INTO LATER FALL, UM, AND EVEN WINTER, UM, OUTDOOR SCHOOL IS AN OPTION, PARTICULARLY FOR, UM, SOME OF THE YOUNGER KIDS.
AND I, I'M WONDERING TO WHAT EXTENT ARE WE LOOKING AT USING CITY FACILITIES? WE HAD A RESOLUTION AT ONE POINT, I THINK, WHERE WE SUGGESTED, YOU KNOW, DOING THAT, BUT, UM, ARE WE EXPLORING THAT WITH THE SCHOOLS AS A, AS A DIRECTION, BECAUSE IF YOU, IF EVERYONE WAS OUTSIDE, WHICH MUCH OF THE YEAR YOU COULD DO, UM, THE RISKS WOULD BE A LOT LOWER FOR, FOR EVERYONE.
AND FOR CERTAIN GRADES, IT WOULD BE USABLE, UM, TO DO A LOT OF LEARNING THAT WAY, IF THEY HAD ENOUGH SPACE AND ACCESS TO SUFFICIENT, UM, YOU KNOW, RESTROOMS WHERE THEY COULD MANAGE IT.
SO ARE WE EXPLORING THAT AND LOOKING AT THAT, OR, UM, OUR STAFF ARE WORKING WITH, UM, WITH, WITH PARKS AND RECREATION, UM, AS WELL AS LIBRARIES TO EXPLORE THAT WE'VE, WE'VE HAD, UM, A COUPLE OF REELS CONVERSATION WITH, UM, YEAH, FROM THE SCHOOL.
I THINK ULTIMATELY, UM, AS DR.
SCOTT, YOU KNOW, EMPHASIZE, I THINK THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS, IS TO BE ABLE TO, TO SCALE UP, UM, TO START AT THE, AT THE 25%, UM, WHERE WE HAVE 25% OF THE POPULATION IN, IN THE CLASSROOMS. UM, BUT ULTIMATELY STAFF WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT A LITTLE MORE.
UM, AND IF THAT IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UM, WOULD LIKE, WE ARE WILLING TO PARTNER WITH THEM.
I WILL MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES THAT ARE TRUSTEES ARE, ARE AWARE OF THAT.
AND, UM, I HAVE A GOOD FRIEND WHO'S REALLY ACTIVE IN THE OUTDOOR SPACE.
IF YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING.
S SCOTT AND, UM, UH, DIRECTOR HAYDEN PER CONTINUING TO HIGHLIGHT DISPARITIES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.
UM, AND ALSO ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, PEOPLE ARE, ARE WEARING THEIR MASKS AND, AND, AND SUPPORTING MY OFFICE, UM, IN ASKING FOR RESOURCES, UH, UH, MYSELF AND HER KITCHEN WITH COUNSELOR KITCHEN'S OFFICE, CONSTABLE SUITS, AND CONSTABLE NEUROLOGISTS.
WE'RE ABLE TO DO A DISTRIBUTION WHERE WE WERE ABLE
[01:10:01]
TO HAND OUT MASS AND SANITIZER ALSO THE GREATER HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.UM, AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE LATINO COMMUNITY HAS LOST SOME PILLARS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF THEM ARE COVID RELATED, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT, UH, THE LATINO COMMUNITY, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY FACED SIGNIFICANT HEALTH DISPARITIES, REGARDLESS OF WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THEIR DEATH.
UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE HEALTH DISPARITIES.
AND SO, UM, WE'VE LOST RABBIT, DON, JOHNNY LUMON, AND JUST SEEING WHAT ALICE RECENTLY, AND, UM, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW EVERYBODY WHO ALL THOSE PEOPLE ARE, I'M CERTAIN, MOST OF US KNOW JOHN AND ME MOM WAS AN AMAZING ADVOCATE FOR HOUSING AND THE MUSIC AND JUST A POSITIVE, UM, RAY OF SUNSHINE.
WE GET ALL, ALL THE SPECTRUM OF ADVOCATES AND WE LOVE ALL OUR ADVOCATES, BUT JOHNNY WAS ALWAYS SO POSITIVE AND, AND, UH, SUCH A GREAT PERSON.
UM, HE WILL BE MISSED ROBERT DO NONE.
UM, HE, UH, RABBITS AND EAST AUSTIN, I'M SURE MANY OF US, UM, MAYBE HAD GONE TO THAT, THAT GUM THENA, IT'S NOW, UM, A DIFFERENT PLACE, BUT, UH, I ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, MET A LOT OF PEOPLE IN POLITICS, UM, GATHERING THERE AND STRATEGIZING AND TALKING ABOUT HOW WE COULD GET MORE LATINOS AT THE TABLE.
UM, SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL HE DID TO HELP MOBILIZE LATINOS IN POLITICS.
AND THEN JESSE MOONALICE, WHO WAS THE FATHER OF CONSTABLE MORALE IS, UM, A BIG SUPPORTER.
AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS QUICK TO TELL ME WHEN I WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG, BUT ALSO QUICK TO TELL ME WHEN I WAS DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.
AND SO I'M SURE I COULD, I COULD SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, UH, ALL OF US TO SEND OUR CONDOLENCES AND LOVE TO THEIR FAMILIES IN THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME AND KNOW THAT, UH, WE REALLY ARE DOING A LOT BEHIND THE SCENES.
UM, TALKING TO ALL OUR STAFF, OUR STAFF IS DOING SO MUCH, THIS ISN'T AN AUSTIN, UM, PROBLEM.
THIS IS A, A PROBLEM IN OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY THAT OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ARE ON THE FRONT LINES, DOING ALL THE ESSENTIAL WORK AND THE ONES BEING MOST EXPOSED.
AND I REALLY HOPE IT SHEDS LIGHT ON, ON THE EQUITY WORK THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO AS A COUNTRY.
SECOND, YOUR SEDIMENT, FURTHER DISCUSSION, FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR DR.
ESCADA DIRECTOR, HAYDEN BY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER RENT THE ROOM.
UM, REALLY APPRECIATE GETTING THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION WE HAVE.
UM, IS THERE ANY INDICATION FROM THE STATE THAT THERE'S A COMMITMENT TO TURN THAT INFORMATION BACK TO US QUICKER, OR, UM, IS IT A MATTER OF THEIR PROCESSES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THIS BACKLOG WHERE WE'RE GETTING DATA RESULTS SOMETIMES MONTHS LATER, UM, HAVE THEY SAID EXACTLY WHAT CAUSED THAT PARTICULAR CONCERN AND IF THERE'S ANY STEPS THAT THEY CAN TAKE, UM, ENSURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER, THE STATE ELECTRONIC LAB REPORTING SYSTEM WAS NOT BUILT TO, TO HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TESTS A DAY TO BE REPORTED.
UH, WHAT THAT MEANT WAS PARTICULARLY, UH, DURING BUSY TIMES OF REPORTING THAT SOME OF THOSE LABS WERE NOT REPORTED SINCE THEN THEY HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED THE CAPACITY OF THAT SYSTEM.
SO WE DON'T ANTICIPATE RUNNING INTO THE SAME ISSUE IN THE FUTURE.
SO THEY HAVE UPDATED THE SYSTEM.
BUT I THINK AS, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED MANY, MANY TIMES BEFORE THE, THE INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE UNITED STATES IS, IS WOEFUL.
AND I THINK IF, IF COVID-19, COVID-19 TAUGHT US MANY LESSONS, BUT AMONGST THEM IS THE FACT THAT WE REALLY DO HAVE TO, UH, HAVE A STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
UH, IT'S, IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT THEY'VE TAKEN SOME STEPS TO FIX THAT.
I I'VE ALSO HEARD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH, UH, THE WORKFORCE COMMISSION, WHICH IS NOT WHAT Y'ALL ARE HERE TO BRIEF US ON, BUT, UM, ANTIQUATED SYSTEMS, COMPUTERS THAT CAN'T HANDLE THE LOAD THAT IS BEING DEMANDED OF THEM RIGHT NOW, UM, ON SOME OF THESE CHARTS, YES, IT IS GOOD TO SEE THESE NUMBERS COMING DOWN, BUT I REALLY, REALLY HOPE THAT WHAT PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM THIS CONVERSATION IS THAT YOU NEED TO CONTINUE TO STAY HOME AND WEAR YOUR MASK.
THIS, YOU ARE NOT IN A SPACE WHERE WE CAN SAY, UM, WE'RE IN THE CLEAR, UM, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.
[01:15:01]
SO I KNOW THAT YOU DOCTOR ASCOT AND, UM, STEPHANIE HAYDEN HAVE BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, ADVOCATING FOR THESE MEASURES.YOU SAID IT IN MULTIPLE WAYS ON, ON THIS PARTICULAR CALL, BUT I JUST WANT TO REITERATE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THAT THE COAST IS NOT CLEAR, AND YOU NEED TO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO FLATTEN THAT CURVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE COUNCIL MEMBER AT THE RIO.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE HOST TO BOTH OF Y'ALL DR.
SCOTT AND I AND STEPHANIE 80, YOU KNOW, UM, BUT MINE'S IS MORE OF A COMMENT THAN A QUESTION.
UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A RE LOSING GREAT LEADERS HERE, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOSING FRIENDS AND FAMILIES HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHEN I, I, MY, MY WHOLE PLEAD IS TO THE B COACHES OUT THERE THAT HAVE THE LITTLE SOCCER LEADS.
AND, AND, AND, AND I DID COACHING THE LITTLE, THE LITTLE KIDS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN HIM OUT THERE WITHOUT NO MASS FAMILY GATHERING.
THEY ALL HANG OUT UNDERNEATH THE TREE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S JUST A REAL, REAL SAD THAT IF PEOPLE ARE NOT LISTENING TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO TELL, TELL HIM TO DO IS TO HOW TO STAY SAFE AND KEEP LOSING OUR FAMILY.
NO, WHEN I SEE A SOCCER GERMAN GOING ON, WHERE THERE'S OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THIS HOT WEATHER, AND THERE'S ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TREES, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GATHER AT ALL UNDERNEATH THE TREE WITH NO MASS AND, YOU KNOW, COACHES, THIS IS JUST IRRESPONSIBLE.
WE GOTTA HAVE THESE KINDS OF TOURNAMENTS OUT HERE IN THIS HOT WEATHER WITH OUR KIDS.
YOU KNOW, IT YOU'RE, AND THESE ARE PEOPLE OF COLORS ARE DOING THIS, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE, WE'RE THE, WE'RE THE ONES WHO ARE GETTING MOST INFECTED.
AND, AND WHEN I KEEP SEEING THESE KIND OF, AND IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART, KNOWING THAT THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO GO HOME AND THEY'RE GOING TO INSPECT THEIR PARENTS OR THEIR GRANDPARENTS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND YOU KNOW, US AN EAST SIDE HERE AND, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR HER, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THIS, THIS VIRUS HAPPENING AND PEOPLE GETTING, UH, LOSING THEIR APARTMENTS AND HAVING TO MOVE DOWN BACK WHERE YOU'RE WITH YOUR FAMILY, WITH YOUR MOTHER OR YOUR GRANDFATHER OR GRANDPARENTS, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S A RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE NEED TO TAKE.
AND, AND, UM, COACHES, PLEASE DON'T DO THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE AND YOU WANT YOUR KIDS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND TO GET THE TRAINING AND THE DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU DID, YOU WANT TO SEE THEM TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL, BUT THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
AND I'M PLEADING FOR Y'ALL TO PLEASE TAKE IN CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU DO THESE KINDS OF TOURNAMENTS, YOU DO SOCIAL DISTANCE, AND YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU PROVIDE, TELL THE FAMILY DON'T CHANGE BECAUSE IT'S TOO HOT OUT THERE TO BE DOING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
AND PEOPLE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, ALL GAVIN AND UNDERNEATH THE SHADE.
SO I JUST, I'M JUST PLEADING WITH THEM AND, AND, AND HOPE THAT Y'ALL REALLY USE SOME COMMON SENSE.
YOU CAN DO THESE COUPLE OF THINGS, MARY YOU'RE ON MUTE, BUT I THINK I READ YOUR LIPS.
UM, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR PRO TEM FOR HER TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY AND RABBIT AND MR. MORALES, UH, AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA FOR REMINDING OUR FAMILIES ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE NEED, UH, TO DO, UH, DR.
I KNOW YOU'VE ADDRESSED SOME HERE TODAY AND MERIT THE IMPORTANT FOCUS ON THE LATINO COMMUNITY AND ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR GENERALLY.
UM, I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO, UM, TO, TO SORT OF DOUBLE BACK ON, UH, WHAT, BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN SOME OF THAT IN THE CONVERSATION TODAY, HOW MUCH OF IT, UM, AS WE SEE CASES DROP, BUT WE SEE THIS LAG IN PLACES LIKE THE LATINO COMMUNITY.
REALLY, IF WE CAN START GETTING TO A BREAKDOWN OF HOW MUCH OF THIS IS ON THE JOB, HOW MUCH OF THIS IS IN GATHERING SO THAT WE CAN REALLY GET THAT INFORMATION REALLY CLEARLY TO PEOPLE.
UH, WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE CAREFUL IN BOTH SETTINGS, BUT, UM, BUT I THINK THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
I THINK IT ALSO WOULD BE HELPFUL.
SOME, SOME CONSTITUENTS STARTED PUTTING, PUTTING TOGETHER, UH, ON THEIR OWN, UH, PER CAPITA DATA ON SOME OF THESE ZIP CODES.
IF WE COULD GET THAT OFFICIALLY FROM THE CITY, THAT COULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE SOMETIMES
[01:20:01]
WE SEE A ZIP CODE ON A MAP THAT'S A CERTAIN SIZE, BUT WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN DIFFERENT SIZES OF ZIP CODES.SO THAT PER CAPITA DATA FOR ZIP CODES MAY BE HELPFUL BECAUSE SOME FOLKS THAT MAY SEE A ZIP CODE, I MAY NOT SEE AS MANY CASES MAY NOT KNOW THAT ACTUALLY PER CAPITA, THAT'S A REALLY, REALLY HIGH NUMBER.
SO SOME OF THOSE PIECES OF INFORMATION, I THINK COULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD, IF YOU COULD GET IT TO, TO US, UM, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THE TARGETED WORK THAT I KNOW THE CITIES DO.
UM, AND THEN ALSO, I, UH, JUST A PSA THAT TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT PEOPLE, UM, IS THE FIRST DEADLINE FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF RENT FUNDING.
UM, AND SO FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PAY THE RENT, UM, OREGON HAVE TROUBLE PAYING NEXT MONTH'S RENT, PLEASE GO TO AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV/RENT AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE DO SHARE THAT INFORMATION.
UM, AS YOU CAN, THERE'LL BE MORE ROUNDS OF FUNDING, BUT UP TO THIS FIRST ROUND IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO AGAIN, WE KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT WORKING, UM, OR PUTTING THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY, BECAUSE THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT PAYING THE RENT AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY CAN, CAN HELP THERE.
ONE LAST QUESTION, A DIRECTOR, HAYDEN, WHAT IS THE EPIDEMIOLOGY, TELL US ABOUT THE CONTACT TRACING, WHERE ARE OUR CLUSTERS IN THE CITY? UM, WE ARE SEEING, UM, MORE CLUSTERS WITH OUR, UM, WITH OUR RETAIL, UM, BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING IT IN OUR, UM, FINANCIAL, UM, AREA WITH, UM, WITH REAL ESTATE.
SO WE'RE SEEING MORE CASES, UM, WHERE INDIVIDUALS MAY BE, UM, RENTING OR LEASING, UM, APARTMENT.
AND SO, UM, OUR STAFF HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND WE PROVIDED SOME ADDITIONAL EDUCATION, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, SOME, UM, SOME EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL AND THEN FLYERS FOR THEM TO PUT IN THEIR LOBBIES AND, UM, WAITING AREAS, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE MAIN AREAS THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THEM.
I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS TO FOLLOW UP ON YOURS ABOUT THE UNIVERSE THAT PLANS WITH THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING.
DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW OTHER CAMPUSES LIKE UT AND ST EDWARDS ARE MAKING PLANS TO HAVE, UM, ISOLATION FACILITIES ON CAMPUS, OR ARE THEY GOING IF THEY HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE TESTING POSITIVE OR ARE THEY GOING TO BE UTILIZING THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ISOLATION FACILITIES, THEY ARE GOING TO BE USING, UM, THE CITY OF ATHENS, UM, OUR, I, I, OUR ISO FAG.
UM, AND NOS ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR FOLKS THAT ARE ON, UM, ON CAMPUS.
AND SO WHEN YOU ARE INTERACTING WITH, I KNOW DR.
S ASCOT INDICATED THAT HE WOULD BE COMMUNICATING OR THAT A LETTER HAS GONE OUT FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT SHOULD BE ARRIVING AT FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES THIS WEEK.
WHAT IS THE MESSAGING TO RESIDENTS OF THOSE HOUSES? ARE THEY, UM, IF IN THE EVENT THAT THE, I HOPE UNLIKELY, UM, WHERE SOMEBODY WOULD TEST POSITIVE, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE THEIR OPTIONS? I ASSUME THEY WOULD HAVE THE SAME OPTION.
OTHER OTHER AUSTINITES DO OF TOUCH WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND ISOLATING, BUT IS THAT A MESSAGE THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING OUT TO THE SORORITIES, THAT THAT'S AN OPTION TO THEM? AND IF THEY HAVE A RESIDENT WHO TESTS POSITIVE, THAT THEY SHOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH PUBLIC HEALTH TO SEE ABOUT QUARANTINING AND IN OUR EYES HAVE FAC WHILE THIS, THAT MESSAGE THAT IS GOING OUT, UM, IS, IS GOING TO JUST PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT, UM, ALL OF THE ORDERS THAT ARE IN PLACE FOR AUSTIN.
RIGHT NOW, THAT INFORMATION WILL ALSO INCLUDE A COPY OF THE ORDERS.
WE HAVE RECEIVED A, UM, A REQUEST, UM, FROM UT AND WE ARE GOING TO MEET WITH THEM.
THEY HAVE OVER, UM, 31 FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES THAT WE ARE GOING TO MEET WITH.
THEY PROVIDE A HEALTH AND SAFETY, UM, DOCUMENT THAT THEY PROVIDE ANNUALLY TO, UM, THE FRATERNITY, UM, FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THOSE HOMES AND OF THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM US.
SO IN THAT DOCUMENT, THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU TEST POSITIVE WHERE YOU WOULD GO WITH NUMBER, YOU WOULD CALL AND HOW YOU WOULD ACCESS, UM, THOSE SERVICES CAN, A GOAL IS FOR US IS, IS, UM,
[01:25:01]
NOT JUST FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, BUT WE ARE, UM, OUR PLAN IS TO CONTINUE THIS WITH THE OTHER UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE HERE.WE FEEL LIKE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT OTHER, UM, RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED THUS FAR.
AND WITH THEM COMING BACK INTO TOWN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE MOST, UM, RELIABLE, UM, EDUCATION THAT THEY HAVE, AND THEN THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO.
UM, SO WHETHER IT'S THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OR THE ENFORCEMENT, UM, WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT AS WELL.
AND AS YOU LOOK AT OTHER KINDS OF GROUP LIVING SITUATIONS, I KNOW SOME OF THE WEST CAMPUS APARTMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE COMMON AREAS AND OTHER KINDS OF SPACES THAT ARE, THAT ARE VERY OFTEN SHARED AMENITIES.
ARE YOU COMMUNICATING WITH THOSE LARGE COMPLEXES AS WELL? YES, WE ARE.
UM, WE, IN THE PAST, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THOSE OPERATIONS.
THEY'VE BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE.
UM, THEY'VE CLOSED DOWN THOSE IMMUNITIES, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, INFORM THE RESIDENTS THAT THIS WAS NOT AN OPTION FOR THEM, UM, IN THE PAST.
AND SO WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
SO WE'LL GO BACK TO THEM AS WELL, TO PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL, UM, INFORMATION.
WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT KIND OF OUTREACH IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE WITH THE SORT OF PRIVATE, YOU KNOW, NON NON-CAMPUS RELATED APARTMENTS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE CITY? SO WE'LL, WE MIGHT, UM, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THAT THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK TO GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION, UM, OUT TO THEM.
AND JUST TO UNDERSCORE SOMETHING, YOU SAID THE OUTREACH OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS WITH ALL OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, NOT JUST T H T THAT'S ALL OF OUR, ALL OF THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE AREA.
UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO CLOSE BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING SOME OF THE URBAN LEGENDS, UM, ABOUT ALL OF IT.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE, AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, REALLY TRY TO, UM, UNDERSTAND HOW THIS VIRUS OPERATES AND, AND HOW BEST TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR NEIGHBORS.
IT'S THANK YOU FOR REALLY JUST, UM, DR.
ASCOT FOR CALLING OUT SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE MYTHS THAT ARE CIRCULATING ANY FURTHER INSTRUCTION BEFORE WE LET THESE FOLKS GO.
UH, UH, ASCOT AND DIRECTOR HAYDEN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THE PREFECT.
[B2. Update on Economic Development Organizations (Follow up to Resolution No. 20190808-072).]
I THINK IT'S THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, UM, MANAGER BE SURE.
WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN COMING TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU.
THIS WAS PRESENTED AS A MEMO ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AT WORK SESSION.
AND TO TEE THAT UP, I'M GOING TO ASK OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, RODNEY GONZALES TO LEAD US LEAD THE DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, RODNEY GONZALES, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND AFFORDABILITY STRATEGIC OUTCOME AREA.
TODAY'S BRIEFING IS A FOLLOWUP TO REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE CREATION OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITY.
BOTH THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS, RESPOND TO COUNCIL DIRECTION TO DELIVER A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND BRING FORWARD SPECIFIC PROPOSALS RELATED TO THE CREATION OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITY COUNCIL PROVIDED THE ADDITIONAL DIRECTION TO ALIGN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITY, BUT THE INTENT AND CREATION OF AN AUSTIN CULTURAL TRUST IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, COUNCIL PROVIDED FURTHER DIRECTION TO EXPEDITE A REVIEW OF EXISTING ENTITIES AND RESOURCES THAT COULD BE CENTRALIZED TO SUPPORT THE TIMELY EXECUTION OF RECOVERY EFFORTS THAT COULD SECURE OR RETAIN CULTURE AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, EXECUTIVE STAFF, AND OUR CONSULTANT, MATT QUANTAN IS HAVE APPROACHED THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT THROUGH SEVERAL SCOPES OF WORK, WHICH MATT WILL BE CULMINATING IN A REPORT PROVIDED TO THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON JULY 31ST.
HIS MANAGER HAD INDICATED THE WORK PERFORMED ALSO INCLUDED AN ANALYSIS OF BEST PRACTICES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHICH WILL BE REVIEWED TODAY OF IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITIES OPERATE WITH GREAT DEGREES OF AUTONOMY.
AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE'RE MAKING ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THOSE BEST PRACTICES DURING THE Q AND A WE'RE PREPARED TO DISCUSS AUTONOMY IN MORE DEPTH AT THIS TIME, I'LL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO MATT NETS OF QBL PARTNERS AND FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION, EDD EXECUTIVE STAFF, MATT AND MYSELF, LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING COUNCIL FEEDBACK ON THE REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS AND BRIEFING MATT, THE PRESENTATION ENDURES.
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THANK YOU, RODNEY.AND GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO COME BACK IN FRONT OF YOU IN THIS WORK SESSION AND EXPLAIN SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE.
WE ALSO HAVE, UH, THE FULL REPORT, UH, AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
UM, IT IS A RATHER LENGTHY REPORT.
SO SUMMARIZING IT HERE, UM, IN THE COUNCIL WORK SESSION, I'M GIVING YOU A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS, UM, HOPEFULLY WILL HELP, UH, NAVIGATE THAT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE, UH, CAN SEE THE POWERPOINTS.
I ACTUALLY CANNOT SEE IT RIGHT NOW, BUT IF YOU CAN SEE IT, WE'RE DOING WELL.
UM, SO, UH, THIS IS PART OF TASK FOUR.
CAN YOU PLEASE ADVANCE THE SLIDE A ONE PLEASE? UM, SO JUST AS A REMINDER, THIS, UH, ENGAGEMENT KICKED OFF BACK IN DECEMBER.
UM, WE STARTED MEETING WITH, UH, MANY DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS, ALL INVOLVED.
WE MET WITH OVER 70 STAKEHOLDERS AND, UM, WHAT AMOUNTED TO OVER 50 MEETINGS.
UM, MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS WERE IN SOME MEETINGS.
WE ALSO MET WITH THEM MULTIPLE TIMES.
UM, WE THEN WENT INTO RESEARCH AND BENCHMARKING, WHICH CULMINATED IN OUR LAST COUNCIL WORK SESSION, UM, WHERE WE PRESENTED SOME OF THE RESEARCH WE HAD SEEN AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT WAS TASKED TO, UM, IN TASK THREE, UH, LEADING INTO, AND UNFORTUNATELY THEN DURING, UM, UH, OUR REGULAR PANDEMIC, WE STARTED MEETING WITH, UH, STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING, UM, MOST, UH, NEARLY ALL OF YOUR OFFICES, UM, TO REVIEW SOME OF THE WORK WE HAD DONE AND LOOK AT AN INITIAL STRAW PERSON PROPOSAL AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK ON THAT.
UH, SINCE MARCH, WE'VE BEEN CONTINUING TO WORK ON THAT, UM, AND COMING UP WITH, UH, A, UH, THIS PRESENTATION THAT YOU'LL SEE TODAY, AS WELL AS THE REPORT, AND ALSO SPENDING TIME WITH CML, UM, GOING BACK TO SOME OF THE CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS, REVIEWING THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS TO MAKE SURE WE WEREN'T SPEAKING OUT OF SCHOOL, UM, WITH WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE.
AND THE RESULT OF THAT IS THIS PRESENTATION TODAY.
UM, SO BRIEFLY I'LL GO THROUGH ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE, UH, THE PROJECT LIST, SOME BUDGET NOTES, AND THEN NEXT STEPS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE ADVANCED ONE MORE, PLEASE.
SO JUST AS AN OVERALL REMINDER OF WHAT WE FOUND, AND WE'VE SAID THIS IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS IN PAST PRESENTATIONS, BOTH PUBLIC AND, UH, AS WE MET WITH EACH OF YOU, BUT THE PRIMARY, UH, OBJECTIVE THAT I AM RECOMMENDING IS TO CREATE A PUBLIC REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER.
MEANING AS CITIES GROW TO SCALE, YOU NEED AN ENTITY THAT FUNCTIONS AS A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER.
UM, THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER DOESN'T BECOME AN EXPERT IN ALL OTHER TOPICS, BUT SERVES ALL THE OTHER PIECES OF THE GOVERNMENT TO DELIVER THE SKILLS OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, TO SUPPORT OTHER THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO HAPPEN, WHETHER THAT'S AROUND HOMELESSNESS, UM, CHILDCARE, AFFORDABILITY, UM, BUT HAVING A DEVELOPMENT PARTNER THAT CAN BE TRUSTED AND, UM, WITH THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNANCE HELPS GET THAT HAPPEN.
WHY IS THIS WORK WELL? IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE AN ENTITY THAT COULD MOVE AT THE PACE OF THE MARKET, BUT INITIALLY TAKES ORDERS.
UM, FROM THE PUBLIC SIDE, IT CAN SPEED APPROVALS ONCE THERE IS AGREEMENT ON WHAT SHOULD BE APPROVED, UM, SO THAT YOU CAN DEAL WITH THINGS IN BATCHES INSTEAD OF, UH, INDIVIDUALLY, UH, IT REDUCES THE BURDENS OF GOVERNMENT BY CREATING NEW FUNDING SOURCES.
ONCE IT GETS STARTED UP, IT DOES NEED SUPPORT IN GETTING STARTED UP.
IT ALSO CAN OWN AND OPERATE REAL ESTATE TO GENERATE MONEY WHERE IT CAN SERVE AS A MANAGER OF REAL ESTATE OWNED BY THE CITY, UM, AS DIRECTED, UH, THE ENTITY THAT WE ARE PROPOSING CAN ACCEPT CHARITABLE DONATIONS, CAN ACCEPT INVESTMENT DOLLARS AND REALLY BLENDS BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DEAL-MAKING, UM, AND GENERATING MORE MONEY AND MORE POLICY OUTCOMES FOR THE CITY FROM UNDERPERFORMING REAL ESTATE.
UM, JUST AS A NOTE OF THE 17 CITIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE PEER CITIES CONFERENCE, UH, THAT CONFERENCE WAS REFERENCED IN THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THIS WORK, UM, A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREED THAT THE BEST STRATEGY FOR DOING THIS WAS TO CREATE AN EDC THAT HAD REAL ESTATE POWERS.
SO WHAT WE'VE FOUND AND ALL THE BENCHMARKS WAS THAT THOUGH THEY'RE OFTEN AS A SINGLE NAME THAT REFERS TO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITY IN OTHER CITIES LIKE NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, OR PHILADELPHIA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, OR, UM, INVEST ATLANTA.
WHEN YOU LOOK UNDER THE HOOD, NONE OF THOSE ARE SINGLE ORGANIZATIONS, THEY'RE ALL A FAMILY OF ORGANIZATIONS, FAMILY, MEANING THEY ARE LEGALLY INTERRELATED IN SOME WAYS.
UM, AND THE REASON FOR THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE VARIOUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCE TOOLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
SO VERY OFTEN COBBLING TOGETHER, A SERIES OF ENTITIES HELPS YOU ACCOMPLISH SOME OF YOUR DIFFERENT GOALS.
WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS THERE BE A NEW SINGLE ENTITY CALLED THE AUSTIN
[01:35:01]
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP, AND THAT IT ALSO INTEGRATE AN EXISTING ENTITY, WHICH YOU ARE ALL THE BOARD OF THE AUSTIN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORP AND PARTNER WITH THE EDD, AS WELL AS AN EXISTING FOUNDATION.THIS KIND OF STRUCTURE IS WHAT WE SAW IN ALL THE NATIONAL BENCHMARKS.
THERE WAS NO COUNTEREXAMPLE FOR, UH, ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE, UM, COMPLETING THE KIND OF TASKS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, THE AEDC WOULD ALSO ENCOMPASS THE FOLLOWING EXISTING ENTITIES, MEANING THE IVC, THE REGENERATION FUND, WHICH IF YOU RECALL, IS A NEW MARKET TAX CREDIT, CDE, IT'S JUST A FINANCING CONDUIT, SIMILAR TO THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORP.
IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT KIND OF FINANCING CONDUIT TO ACCESS DIFFERENT SOURCES OF MONEY, AND ALSO INTEGRATE SOME OF THE WORK OF THINGS LIKE THE SCHWAB.
UM, ALSO THE AEDC COULD TAKE ON ROLES FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS WITHOUT ADDING MORE NEW ENTITIES, UM, MANAGEMENT OF STCW, UM, SUPPORTING HOMELESSNESS WORK AS YOU DIRECTED, UH, IN A RESOLUTION AND AUGUST 8TH OF 19, AND RUN A CULTURAL TRUST AS A PROGRAM OF THE EDC.
NEXT SLIDE IS, UM, JUST TO KIND OF REVIEW THIS CAUSE IT IS COMPLICATED.
UM, IT'S EXTREMELY COMPLICATED.
AND IN FACT, THE OTHER EXAMPLES HAVE MANY MORE ENTITIES THAN JUST THREE OR FOUR.
USUALLY THEY'RE SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE ENTITIES, UM, ROLLED UP.
BUT, UH, BASICALLY WE WOULD CREATE A NEW LGC THAT HAS FEDERAL CHARITABLE STATUS.
HOWEVER, IT'S OBLIGATED BY CONTRACT FOR PERFORMANCE.
UM, ONCE THE CONTRACT IS SIGNED, IT'S AUTONOMOUS IN ITS OPERATION, BUT IT HAS TO FOLLOW THAT CONTRACT AND YOU WILL REVIEW THAT CONTRACT.
IT ALSO HAS A BOARD APPOINTED BY AND CONTROLLED BY THE COUNCIL AND CAN DO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
OF COURSE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN TEXAS, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE OWNING AND OPERATING AND DEALMAKING REAL ESTATE, A REAL ESTATE BROKERS LICENSE MUST BE OBTAINED.
THIS IS VERY SIMPLE TO DO, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE, THE IDC IS A CONDUIT ENTITY.
IT'S AN EXISTING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
YOU FOUND IN 15, IT'S A FIVE OH ONE DEVELOPMENT CORP.
AND ANY TIME A FINANCING WOULD COME, IT WOULD COME BACK TO YOU THROUGH THE IVC.
AND THEN THE EDD WOULD MANAGE, UH, THE CONTRACT AS A GROUP BY COUNSEL.
THIS IS A STABILIZED VIEW OF ONCE IT GETS UP AND RUNNING, WHAT KIND OF STAFF IT HAS, I'VE, I'VE TAGGED IT AT ABOUT THREE YEARS, WHICH IS WHAT OUR CURRENT BUDGET SHOWS.
IT HAS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT IS APPOINTED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN COUNCIL, UM, AND THEN A PRESIDENT AND CEO, UH, WITH AN ADMIN AND THEN FOR LINE OPERATIONS, UH, FINANCIAL LINE, BUT IT'S ABOUT FUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND LOOKING AT FINANCIAL VEHICLES TO DO VALUE CAPTURE AND PRESERVE AFFORDABILITY, A GENERAL COUNCIL.
IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THE ENTITY BEING SEPARATE HAS ITS OWN GENERAL COUNSEL.
UM, AND THAT THAT GENERAL COUNCIL AND THE CITY'S COUNCIL CAN CONSISTENTLY WORK TOGETHER TO OBTAIN THE OUTCOMES THAT YOU WANT.
A CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER THAT LOOKS OVER TRANSACTIONS, WHICH IS DEAL-MAKING ASSET MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS LONGTERM MANAGEMENT AND REPOSITIONING OF DIFFERENT ASSETS, MAKING THEM MORE EFFICIENT, MANAGING THE LEASES, CONTROLLING EXPENSES, UM, AND PLANNING, UM, WHICH OF COURSE HAS TO DO WITH WHERE AND WHEN YOU DO WHAT YOU DO.
AND IN ADDITION, UM, UH, CHIEF OF STAFF LINE, WHICH REALLY IS ABOUT GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS, THAT'S THAT GOV TOE AND BEING TRANSPARENT, UM, WITH THE LARGER COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.
UM, SO THAT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS AWARE.
THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD THAT'S RECOMMENDED IS THAT THERE BE A BROAD BOARD REPRESENTING BROAD EXPERTISE.
NOW I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT MOST OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ENTITY ARE GOVERNED BY CONTRACTS.
SO THE CONTRACT WILL COME TO YOU ANNUALLY AND YOU WILL GIVE BROAD DIRECTION OF WHAT THE ENTITY SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT DO THE BOARD, HOWEVER, WILL BRING INTO PLACE, VARIOUS LEVELS OF EXPERTISE THAT WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STAYING IN TOUCH WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND THAT, UM, SOMETHING IS NOT SACRIFICED IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING ELSE.
SO THE IDEA IS TO HAVE A BROAD BOARD, AND THEN THERE COULD BE SPECIFIC ADVISORY GROUPS ON OTHER ACTIONS.
UM, BUT THIS BROAD BOARD HAS THESE 15 PLACES.
EACH PLACE REPRESENTS AN EXPERTISE.
AND THE IDEA HERE IS THAT FOR EACH OF THESE PLACES, WE WOULD LOOK TO AN OUTSIDE COMMUNITY GROUP THAT WOULD RECOMMEND THREE CANDIDATES FOR EACH PLACE.
AND THEN THE COUNCIL WOULD VOTE IN ONE OF THOSE CANDIDATES.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, PLACE EIGHT IS URBAN, REGIONAL PLANNING.
PERHAPS YOU WOULD DECIDE THAT THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE SHOULD
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BE THE NOMINATOR, THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE, AUSTIN WOULD THEN PUT FORWARD THREE CANDIDATES FOR THAT PLACE.IT PUT FORWARD THOSE CANDIDATES TO YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL YOU HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD SELECT BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY, WHICH OF THOSE THREE SHOULD BE THE BOARD MEMBER HERE.
NOW THAT'S KIND OF A TWO LEVEL OF GOVERNANCE TO ENSURE THAT WE, UH, DEEP POLITICIZED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THIS BOARD AND FOCUS ON THE EXPERTISE, BUT THE ANNUAL CONTRACTS GIVES YOU ALL THE RIGHTS.
YOU NEED TO GOVERN THE BEHAVIOR OF THE ORGANIZATION.
SO JUST TO DIG INTO WHAT DOES THAT ANNUAL CONTRACT LOOK LIKE EVERY YEAR, A CONTRACT WOULD BE PROPOSED TO YOU.
THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD PROPOSE REAL ESTATE PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES, MEANING ACTIONS THAT MIGHT NOT BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO A REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT.
UM, AND THIS PROCESS ALLOWS FOR BOTH THIS BALANCE OF YOUR GOVERNANCE AND THEN AUTONOMY.
SO THERE'S THIS ONE PROCESS TO HASH IT ALL OUT.
AND THEN THERE'S A YEAR OF ROOM TO RUN, TO TRY TO GET THINGS DONE WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF WHAT IS AGREED TO THERE'S THREE GENERAL TYPES OF REAL ESTATE PROJECTS.
ONE OF THEM IS LEASE ADMINISTRATION.
THIS MEANS THAT YOU WOULD AGREE TO, OR DIRECTLY ENTITY TO MANAGE PROPERTIES THAT YOU, THE CITY RETAINED TITLE TWO, AND THE ENTITY DOES NOT HAVE ANY TITLE OR OWNERSHIP INTERESTS.
IT JUST HAS AN AGREEMENT TO MANAGE IT IN A WAY THAT YOU REQUEST A SECOND IS TRANSACTION SUPPORTS.
THIS IS WHEN, UM, THERE IS A LARGE MULTI-PARTY DEAL AND YOU WANT ASSISTANCE FROM THE ENTITY KIND OF LIKE YOU MIGHT GET FROM AN OUTSIDE PARTY, BUT IN THIS CASE, IT WILL BE MUCH MORE ECONOMICALLY EFFICIENT AND SERVING OF YOUR INTERESTS WITHOUT, UH, DIFFERENT GOALS, UM, SUCH AS MAXIMIZING DOLLARS FOR A PAYMENT.
SO THIS TRANSACTION SUPPORT, AGAIN, THE TITLE REMAINS WITH THE CITY.
THE TRANSACTION SUPPORT IS JUST FUNCTIONING AS A, ANOTHER AGENCY OR CONSULTANT WOULD DO ONLY IT'S UNDERNEATH YOU AND PAYMENTS ARE MADE FROM THAT BASED ON ONLY SUCCESSFUL TRANSACTIONS.
IF THE TRANSACTION HAPPENS, THEN AS PART OF THAT TRANSACTION, THERE'S A FEED BELTS IN A, NORMALLY THE PRIVATE SIDE WILL PAY AND THEN THERE'S PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS IF THERE ARE PARTICULAR PROPERTIES THAT YOU WANT THIS ENTITY TO GO OUT AND ACTUALLY DO DEVELOPMENT ON, THERE CAN BE SOME DISPOSITION OF A PROPERTY RIGHTS HERE THROUGH EITHER A LEASE, AN OPERATING AGREEMENT OR A SALE IT'S KIND OF AGNOSTIC, WHICH YOU WOULD DO.
YOU PROPOSALS WILL BE MADE BASED ON THE PROJECT.
ULTIMATELY, THERE ALWAYS HAS TO BE A REVERTER RIGHTS, MEANING THAT YOU CAN TAKE BACK THE PROPERTY IF THE PUBLIC PURPOSE IS NOT ACHIEVED.
UM, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S KIND OF AN ARM THAT IS FUNCTIONING AS A PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT.
IN ADDITION TO THOSE THREE REAL ESTATE TYPES, THE CITY MAY CHOOSE TO CONTRACT WITH THE EDC TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC SERVICES, TO REDUCE THE BURDENS OF GOVERNMENT.
THEY COULD BE PAID DIRECTLY VIA CONTRACT, LIKE AN ALLEGATION OF MONEY, OR IT COULD BE FUNDED AS OFFSETS TO RENTS OR OTHER PAYMENTS DUE.
THERE MUST BE A DETAILED ANNUAL REPORT.
IT WOULD HAPPEN IN A WORK SESSION LIKE THIS AND BE PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD.
INITIAL PROJECT LISTS LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE THE LAST ONE.
UH, WE INDIVIDUALLY MAP ABOUT, UM, THE MAJOR PROJECTS FOCUSING ON SOUTH CENTRAL HDU, THE CULTURAL TRUST AND AN INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT FUND DRIVING IN DOLLARS FROM INTERNATIONALLY TO HELP UPGRADE THINGS LIKE, UH, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BRIDGES, OR EVEN HOUSING, BRINGING THAT MONEY IN AND HELPING DIRECT IT TO THE APPROPRIATE AGENCIES WITH APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT, UM, TO UTILIZE THAT IN THE CITY, THERE'S ALSO ONGOING CITY WIDE PROJECTS, UM, SUPPORTING WHATEVER PUBLIC PRIVATE NEGOTIATIONS IT IS DIRECTED TO DO, AND THEN SUPPORTING OTHER AGENCIES IN THEIR DELIVERY OF IMPORTANT POLICY GOALS ON PUBLICLY OWNED SITES.
SO JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR, THIS QUESTION HAS COME UP MULTIPLE TIMES.
THIS ENTITY IS NOT MOVING INTO THE DOMAIN OF OTHER AGENCIES.
IT IS SUPPORTING THOSE AGENCIES WITH MORE HEFT AND BACK BENCH TO JUST DO THE REAL ESTATE PARTS.
SO WHEN IT SAYS SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT'S SUPPORTING THE EXISTING AGENCIES TO DO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT'S SUPPORTING EXISTING THINGS LIKE A UNITED WAY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S SUPPORTING INCLUSIVE GROWTH AROUND THE TOD, BUT NOT DOING PROJECT CONNECT.
THAT'S SOMEONE ELSE IT'S JUST HELPING WITH THE OTHER PART THAT FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS.
IF SOMEONE ISN'T MANAGING IT, UM, SUPPORT OF HOMELESSNESS IN THAT SAME SORT OF WAY, AND SUPPORTING EMERGING DISTRICTS, KIDS AND EXISTING PROJECTS, AS WELL AS THINGS AS DIRECTED BY THIS BODY.
SO I WANT TO JUST BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC.
UM, AS AN EXAMPLE, IN SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, THERE'S ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS CURRENTLY AROUND THE STATESMAN SITE WHILE THOSE HAVE NOW MOVED INSIDE EDD, UM, THERE IS A DESIRE BOTH FROM EDD AND
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FROM THE SCHWAB TO HAVE ADDITIONAL NEGOTIATION ASSISTANCE BECAUSE FRANKLY, THE NEGOTIATION IS MUCH LARGER THAN MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE PAST AND VERY MULTI YEAR MULTIFACETED.SO THE IDEA WOULD BE THAT THIS ENTITY COULD COME IN AS A BACK BENCH TO ASSIST THE EDD IN NEGOTIATING THINGS LIKE THE STATESMAN SITE OR FIGURING OUT THE, UM, WHICH DEVELOPERS ARE GONNA PAY FOR WHICH PARTS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, HOW THE POT IS GOING TO BE SPLIT.
WHAT ARE THE APPROPRIATE FINANCING TOOLS, IF ANY, I KNOW THERE IS DEBATE ABOUT THAT.
THERE'S NO ASSUMPTION ABOUT WHAT IT IS, WHAT YOU ARE GETTING IS AN ENTITY TO FOCUS MORE STAFF ON IT WITH MORE EXPERTISE, MORE PEOPLE, UM, WITH HDU.
UM, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE SAME KIND OF EXPERTISE THAT'S NEEDED IN AN STW, BUT A LOT LESS RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THAT IN LESS.
WE PUT THOSE RESOURCES IN, UM, BY COMBINING DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
SO IN THIS CASE, UM, THE ENTITY WOULD USE MONEY'S GENERATED FROM OTHER PROJECTS TO SUPPORT, UM, POSITIVE AND INCLUSIVE OUTCOMES, UM, AROUND HDU, PROTECTING VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES ON A CULTURAL TRUST.
I THINK YOU COULD SEE SOMETHING LIKE LEVERAGING THE $12 MILLION, UM, CREATIVE FACILITIES MONS INTO A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ACTUAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPING CAPACITY, UM, AND ALSO SAVE FEES, UM, FROM OUTSIDE BROKERS AND CONSULTANTS.
YOU'RE KIND OF BRINGING THAT IN HOUSE THROUGH THIS ENTITY OUTSIDE BROKERS AND CONSULTANTS ARE GREAT.
I'M KIND OF PUTTING MYSELF OUT HER JOB HERE, BUT, UH, THIS WOULD BE YOUR OWN STAFF, UM, THROUGH THIS ENTITY, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT CITY STAFF, IT'S CITY DIRECTED BY CONTRACT.
AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THINGS LIKE EARLY CHILD HOOD EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
UM, I'VE BEEN VERY MUCH A PART OF THE PRE-K.
I'M AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM IN NEW YORK CITY.
WE REALLY VIEWED IT THERE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT INCLUSIVITY MEANS AND GROW.
IF YOU TAKE THE PERSPECTIVE OF A FAMILY, THAT'S TRYING TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN AND LOOK AT ALL THE BIG THINGS IN THEIR BASKET OF GOODS, THEIR BIG EXPENSES, IT'S HOUSING, IT'S CHILDCARE, IT'S EDUCATION, IT'S FRESH FOOD AND IT'S TRANSPORTATION.
SO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU PROVIDE THOSE THINGS ACROSS THE CITY, KIND OF PUTTING THEM IN LITTLE PIECES IN OTHER PROJECTS IS A FAIRLY COMPLICATED THING TO DO FOR A AGENCY THAT ONLY FOCUSES ON CHILDHOOD.
NORMALLY YOU'D ZOOM OUT AND HAVE A REAL ESTATE AGENCY KIND OF FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPRINKLE IT ACROSS ALL THE NECESSARY AREAS.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF STUFF THAT YOU'RE DOING ALREADY.
WHY IS THERE A VALUE ADD HERE? WHAT'S THE SPECIAL SAUCE? WELL, A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS FIRST IS THAT YOU'RE AGGREGATING A BUNCH OF CONTRACTS AND DISTRICTS THAT USED TO BE PIECEMEAL IN DIFFERENT PLACES.
AND SO INSTEAD OF HAVING A LOT OF SMALL THINGS, UM, LIKE LIGHTING A BUNCH OF CANDLES AROUND THE ROOM, IF YOU MOVE ALL THE CANDLES TO THE CENTER, YOU CAN START A CAMPFIRE.
IF YOU PUT THE TINDER ON ONE SIDE OF THE MATCHES ON THE OTHER, NOT MUCH HAPPENS IF YOU BRING THINGS TOGETHER, THEN THAT SAME MONEY THAT NOW IS SPLIT BETWEEN ONE ADMIN AND ONE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR 10 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WOULD WIND UP BEING CONSOLIDATED.
AND, UM, RATHER THAN HAVING 20 PEOPLE, 10 EXACTS AND 10 ADMINS, AND I HAVE ONE EXACT ONE ADMIN AND 18 MORE PEOPLE THAT CAN CREATE SPECIALTIES AROUND, UM, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AROUND, UM, PROGRAM DELIVERY AROUND CULTURAL TRUST FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU SPEND.
SO THIS IS OPERATING EXPENSE EFFICIENCY.
THIS IS JUST APPLYING SOME ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
AS YOU HAVE GROWN AS A CITY TO HOW YOU ARE MANAGING SOME OF THE PROJECTS.
IN ADDITION, YOU GET THINGS LIKE CROSS SUBSIDY.
IF YOU'RE ONLY FOCUSED ON REALLY BIG PROJECTS, THEN YOU CAN ONLY DO THE PROJECTS THAT SELL FINANCE.
SO SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT LOOKS LIKE A VERY SELF FINANCING PROJECT, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK EAST AND YOU LOOK AT PLACES LIKE HDU, IT'S HARDER TO SEE HOW THAT SELF FINANCES TO PROTECT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
SO HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH IT? WILL YOU DEAL WITH IT BY USING SOME OF THE MONEY THAT'S CREATED IN THESE BIGGER PROJECTS AND CROSS SUBSIDIZE IT TO PROJECTS THAT AREN'T GOING TO CREATE THAT MONEY? THAT'S NOT THEIR POINT.
THEY'RE TRYING TO PROTECT VULNERABLE PEOPLE OR DELIVER POLICY OUTCOMES.
THIS ALLOWS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH PROJECTS TO HAPPEN MUCH MORE RAPIDLY AND CREATES FEASIBILITY FOR PROJECTS THAT DON'T CASH FLOW ON THEIR OWN.
IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THAT IT FOCUSES ONLY ON BIG PROJECTS THAT CASHFLOW, BUT PROJECTS HAVE TO BE FUNDED FROM SOMEWHERE AND IN A SHRINKING BUDGET ENVIRONMENT, YOU REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CROSS SUBSIDIZE IS ONE OF THE TOOLS IN YOUR TOOL CHEST.
I ALREADY SAID A CONSULTANT AND BROKER FEES ARE SAVED.
THE REASON THIS HAPPENS IS BECAUSE IF YOU USE THIS ENTITY FOR, UM, DOING A BROKERAGE TRANSACTION, IT WON'T TAKE A MARKET RATE, OR IF IT DOES, YOU CAN DICTATE THAT THAT MONEY BE SPREAD OUT TO SUPPORT THINGS LIKE A COUPLE OF TRUSTS, AND THEN FINALLY, AND MAYBE MOST NUANCED, BUT EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IS SWAPS THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO SWAP CAPITAL DOLLARS AND OPERATING REVENUE.
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VERY SPECIFIC IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY CAN BE SPENT ON BOTH JUST FEDERALLY BY STATUTE.AND THEN ALSO SPECIFICALLY, WHATEVER IS PAST OPERATING REVENUE THAT'S CREATED FROM RUNNING REAL ESTATE IN ESSENCE BECOMES, UM, FREE AND FREE MONEY IN THE SENSE THAT IT CAN BE UTILIZED JUST LIKE A GENERAL FUND MONEY OR EVEN LOOSER SINCE IT'S RUNNING THROUGH THIS ENTITY.
SO THERE'S A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO SWAP MONIES, UM, FROM ONE TO THE OTHER.
SO THAT, FOR INSTANCE, WHILE THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS ON USING THE CREATIVE FACILITIES BOND TO PAY RENT IN LONGTERM LEASES, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE OPERATING REVENUES GENERATED FROM THE INVESTMENT IN FACILITIES, THERE'LL BE A STREAM OF MONEY THAT ISN'T FROM THOSE BONDS THAT THEN COULD BE REPURPOSED TO PUT IN PLACE, UM, LONGTERM AFFORDABILITY FOR DIFFERENT ENTITIES.
IF THAT SOUNDS CONFUSING, IT IS.
THE CAPITAL DOLLARS ARE VERY RESTRICTED OPERATING DOLLARS THAT ARE GENERATED FROM PROJECTS THAT AREN'T TAX DOLLARS, BUT ARE GENERATED FROM PROJECTS, HAVE LESS RESTRICTIONS ON THEM BY CREATING AN ENTITY THAT COULD GENERATE OPERATING DOLLARS.
IT MEANS YOU HAVE MORE POLICY FLEXIBILITY AND MORE ABILITY TO QUICKLY WE SPEND THAT MONEY, BUT YOU SAY, YEAH, AS AN OUTSIDE ENTITY, HOW DO WE SPEND THE MONEY? WELL, THAT ANNUAL CONTRACT HAS RESTRICTIONS ON HOW, WHERE MONEY'S GO AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE SPENT AND WHICH PART THE ENTITY CAN KEEP VERSUS THE CITY.
SO IT'S BASICALLY, UH, GIVES YOU A POOL OF MONEY TO SPEND VERY QUICKLY ON DIRECT POLICY GOALS.
UM, SO WHAT ARE FUNDING SOURCES IS COST NEUTRAL THAT THE CURRENT BUDGET, THE IDEA IS TO TAKE THE EXISTING FUND BALANCE.
THAT'S IN THE IVC, IT'S ABOUT 200,000 AND TRANSFER IT OVER AND THEN ALSO DO A BUDGET TRANSFER FROM THE EXISTING EDD PERSONNEL BUDGET.
UM, THEN GO OUT AND GET CONTRIBUTED INCOME OF FOUNDATION CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT OVER THREE YEARS, THESE ARE FAIRLY TYPICAL.
UM, AND THEY ARE ABOUT, UM, BRINGING IN MONEY.
SO THE ORGANIZATION CAN SCALE UNTIL IT HAS ITS OWN, UM, REVENUE SOURCES.
AND THOSE, EXCUSE ME, REVENUE SOURCES WILL BE THROUGH THE REAL ESTATE REVENUES NOTED EARLIER TRANSACTION FEES, REAL ESTATE RENTS, TRUSTEE FEES FOR MANAGING FINANCING.
THIS IS, UH, PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT TOO SMALL TO SEE.
UM, YOU HAVE AN EARLIER COPY OF IT.
THE THING THAT I WOULD SAY THAT HAS RESULTED FROM A BUNCH OF FEEDBACK IS THERE ARE ALMOST NO EARNED REVENUE SHOWN IN 21 AND 22.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO ASSUME A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH SO THAT WE DON'T NEED TO COME BACK TO THE WELL AND SAY, OH, WE RAN OUT OF MONEY.
UM, I DO HOPE THAT THIS ENTITY WOULD OUTPERFORM THIS BUDGET, BUT AS IT IS, YOU SEE IN 21, THE TRANSFER OF THE IDC MONEY, THAT'S UP HERE IN THE UPPER LEFT AND THEN, UM, A THREE YEAR GRANT OR THREE-YEAR TRANSFER FROM THE EDD.
UM, AND THEN A THREE YEAR GRANT, UM, STARTING FROM 22, UM, YOU SEE ON THE SECOND TO TOP LINE THERE, AND THEN THERE'S THE LAST FEW YEARS WE SEE TRANSACTIONS STARTING TO GENERATE MONEY.
AND LIKEWISE, WE SCALE THE ORGANIZATION TO BEING ABLE TO SURVIVE ON WHATEVER MONEY IS THERE, THERE, AS YOU GET MORE TRANSACTIONS, YOU GOT, UM, MORE FOLKS, A COUPLE NOTES.
UM, THERE'S SPECIFIC PROVISIONS IN HERE FOR THE HIRING OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO FORM THE ENTITY, AS WELL AS, UM, BOND COUNSEL WHERE NEEDED TO DO ANY BONDING PROJECTS, WHICH OF COURSE WILL BE APPROVED BY THIS BODY.
BUT EVEN STILL, JUST TO NOTE THAT THOSE THINGS ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, AS WELL AS, UH, ON-CALL, UM, LEGAL SERVICES UNTIL A FULL ON GENERAL COUNSEL CAN BE HIRED.
THERE'S ALSO DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS LIABILITY INSURANCE PROTECTING ANY EMPLOYEES, UM, WHO MIGHT BE WORKING WITH THE CITY AND FILLING ANY ROLES HERE, AS WELL AS PROTECTING ALL BOARD MEMBERS.
NEXT SLIDE, THIS YELLOW SHOWS ON THE PERSONNEL CHART, HOW WE ANTICIPATE THE STAFFING LOADING UP.
AND AS I SAID EARLIER, THIS WILL DEPEND ON WHAT REVENUES COME IN THIS STAFFING UP IS BASED ON THAT BUDGET THAT YOU JUST PREVIOUSLY SAW.
AND WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT IN 2020 POTENTIALLY YOU WOULD HAVE A HALFTIME CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND TRANSACTION MANAGER IN 2021.
THOSE WOULD BE FULL TIME AND YOU'D HAVE A NEW, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE, INVESTMENT FINANCE MANAGER, AND PRESIDENT AND CEO FOR HALFTIME.
AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, YOU SEE YOU ADD THE ASSISTANT CFO, CHIEF OF STAFF, ASSET MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL ANALYST, AND SO ON THE NUMBERS THAT SAY ONE MEANS IT'S A FULL TIME POSITION.
AND WHEN IT SAYS 1.05, IT'S JUST INCREASING FOR, UM, RAISES COST OF LIVING RAISES AS WE GO FORWARD.
SO ULTIMATELY YOU GET TO THAT FULL SCALE IN 22, THEN I SHOWED ON THE EARLIER SLIDE, IF ALL GOES WELL IN 23, YOU HAVE EVEN MORE FOLKS THAN THAT.
SO NEXT STEPS, ONE MORE ADVANCE.
UM, SO IN TERMS OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND STAFF ACTIONS,
[01:55:01]
WE ARE, UM, STILL NEEDING TO DO A FINAL REVIEW OF ORGANIZATIONAL BYLAWS AND ARTICLES BY THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH EXTERNAL COUNSEL TO REVISE DRAFTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY, UM, TO REFLECT THESE NEW PROPOSALS.
UM, THOSE DOCUMENTS WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THOSE NOMINATING BODIES AS PROPOSED, UM, FOR YOU ALL TO REVIEW.
UM, THAT'S, UH, REMEMBER FOR EACH PLACE ON THE BOARD WOULD BE A NOMINATING BODY WHO WOULD PROPOSE THREE, SO WE CAN PUT FORWARD SOME SUGGESTIONS, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO SURPRISE ANYONE BY PUTTING SOMETHING OUT HERE AT THIS POINT.
UM, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE ALL OF THAT FEEDBACK.
UH, IN ADDITION, UM, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE INTERIM CEO, UM, B THE CURRENT, UH, EDD DIRECTOR UNTIL A SEARCH CAN BE DONE AND A CEO HIRED.
UM, WE ALSO, PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS JUST TO REINFORCE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THIS ENTITY.
IT'S NOT A COMPLETELY EXTERNAL ENTITY LIKE DAA.
IT'S NOT AN INTERNAL DEPARTMENT, IT'S SOMETHING NEW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE YET.
AND I THINK THAT SHOWING THAT IT IS VERY MUCH UNDER YOUR CONTROL IS CRITICAL, UM, BUT SEPARATELY, UM, WOULD ADVOCATE FOR HIRING, UM, A CLO AND TRANSACTION MANAGER, ABSOLUTELY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
UM, IN ADDITION, WE WOULD BE A PREPARATION OF AN INTER LOCAL AND A PREPARATION OF PROPOSALS AROUND STW AND THE CULTURAL TRUST, BOTH I THINK ARE IN URGENT TIMING ISSUES.
UH, THE NEXT STEP FROM, UM, THE PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, UM, A VOTE OF COUNCIL WOULD ESTABLISH THE ENTITY.
UM, THE INITIAL APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET WOULD, UM, GIVE THE ENTITY TWO TO THREE YEARS OF RUNWAY BASED ON WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED AS BUDGET NEUTRAL, AND THEN EVENTUALLY THE APPROVAL OF THE INTER LOCAL.
ALTHOUGH I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU HIRE THOSE PEOPLE TO CREATE THAT INNER LOCAL AND NOT HAVE A CONSULTANT LIKE MYSELF, DO IT BECAUSE IT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THAT IN YOUR LOCAL TO REFLECT THE SKILLS, THE FOLKS THAT YOU HIRE.
UM, WE CAN CERTAINLY, UH, ASSIST WITH ALL OF THAT, BUT WE SHOULD, UH, IF YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, I WOULD SAY HAVING THOSE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, AT LEAST ONE OR TWO OF THEM AT THAT TIME WILL GREATLY IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO SERVE YOU IN THE FUTURE.
I BELIEVE THAT IS THE FINAL SLIDE.
SO I HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS OR REVIEW ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE.
AND AS MATT MENTIONED, UH, CERTAINLY WELCOME COUNSEL AND QUESTIONS, NOT ONLY CONCERNING THE BRIEFING, BUT THE REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'RE ASSERTING.
UM, AND I'M GLAD YOU SAID COMMENTS CAUSE MOSTLY IT'S JUST COMMENTS.
I'M SUPER EXCITED TO SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE.
I THINK THIS IS DEFINITELY GOING TO CHANGE THE GAME FOR THE CITY.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO SUBMIT SOME MORE POTENTIAL PROJECTS FOR CONSIDERATION CAUSE D ONE HAS MANY, MANY THAT WOULD BE PERFECT, PERFECTLY SERVED BY AN ENTITY LIKE THIS.
I DID HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.
UM, AND MATT, I WANTED TO TELL YOU, YOU DON'T GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH CREDIT FOR REALLY SIMPLIFYING THIS IN A WAY THAT THE LAYMAN CAN UNDERSTAND YOU DID A GREAT JOB OF PRESENTING THE INFORMATION AND IT NOT BEING TOO COMPLICATED.
THE WORD I SHOULD, I DID HAVE THOUGH, WHEN YOU'VE MADE REFERENCE TO THE PART ABOUT HOW IT'S AN LGC, SO IT HAS SOME DEGREE OF AUTONOMY.
UM, I SAW, YOU KNOW, UH, UNDER THE LIST OF FUNDING SOURCES, I DIDN'T SEE GRANTS THERE IS THAT WHERE THE FOUNDATION COMES IN FOR THE GRANT PART.
THERE'S TYPICALLY A CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT THAT FOLKS LIKE ROCKEFELLER OR FORD HAVE OFFERED TRADITIONALLY IN THE PAST.
UM, AND THAT NORMALLY IS AROUND A MILLION DOLLARS THAT IS BENCHMARKS OVER THREE YEARS TO ACHIEVING CERTAIN MILESTONES AS YOU GO ALONG NOW, THE WAY IT IS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON, WE'LL NEED TO CHECK THAT THOSE THINGS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE AN INCREASE IN THOSE THINGS FOR ENTITIES LIKE THIS THAT ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS HISTORIC INEQUITY.
AND I GUESS THAT SORT OF ANSWERED MY ANSWERS, MY QUESTION, BUT I MEAN, ON AN ONGOING BASIS, WE HAVE MULTIPLE, UM, ENTITIES THAT ON AN ONGOING BASIS ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT GRANTS FOR FUNDING PURPOSES.
UM, OUTSIDE OF THAT KIND OF ENDOWMENT, IN WHICH CASE, THE QUESTION I HAVE THERE IS, UM, IF IT WERE A FEDERAL GRANT, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THERE ENOUGH SEPARATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE ENTITY TO WHERE THERE WOULDN'T BE A REQUIREMENT FOR CITI TO MATCH ANY OF THE FEDERAL GRANT? IT PROBABLY IF, IF THE ENTITY DID GO AFTER FEDERAL GRANTS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT WERE HELPING, UM, WITH SOME SPECIFIC PROJECT, WHETHER IT WAS AROUND HOUSING OR TRANSPORTATION, UM, TYPICALLY WHAT WOULD OCCUR IS THAT THERE IS ENOUGH SEPARATION, BUT THERE DOES
[02:00:01]
NEED TO BE A MATCH FROM SOMEWHERE.SO YOU EITHER NEED TO FIND THAT MAPS WITHIN THE ENTITY ITSELF OR PHILANTHROPY, OR YOU MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT A CITY SPAN THAT'S HAPPENING ALREADY IS THE MATCH AND NO NEW MONEY AS NEED TO BE SPENT.
AND IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON THE GRANT, BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE BEAUTY OF THE ENTITY THOUGH, IS THAT THE ENTITY CAN RAISE MONEY.
SO PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS CAN GO TOWARDS THE ENTITY.
I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
THANK COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, FLAG THAT COUNCIL OVER TOBO.
UM, I, I'M ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THIS CAN PRESENT.
UM, I HAVE A TON OF QUESTIONS I WON'T TRY TO GET THROUGH NOW.
UM, BASED ON THE WAY YOU LAID IT OUT AND FORGIVE ME FOR THE STRING OF ACRONYMS THAT IS REQUIRED TO ASK THIS QUESTION, BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE EDC IS ACTUALLY AN LGC AND THE IDC IS ACTUALLY, THE EDC IS INTERESTING.
I THINK THAT SOMETIMES THE ACRONYMS GET IN OUR WAY AND STATE TO STATE PEOPLE USE DIFFERENT ACKERMAN ACRONYMS FOR THINGS, AND THEY ALSO USE THE SAME ACRONYM TO MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING PROPOSE IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITY THAT MATCHES WHAT WE SEE IN OTHER PLACES THAT ARE CALLED EDCS IN TEXAS LAW.
THE EDC IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND THE LTC IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
AND SO WE'VE SYNTHETICALLY CREATED A GROUP OF ENTITIES THAT REPRESENT WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE IN, UM, ATLANTA OR NEW YORK OR OKLAHOMA CITY.
UM, AND WE'RE JUST CALLING IT THE EDC, EVEN WHAT'S NOT A TEXAS EDC BY STATUTE.
AND THE WAY THIS IS STRUCTURED, THE IDC IS THE ENTITY THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO DO LAND ACQUISITION AT THE PACE OF THE MARKET.
THE IDC IS, UM, KEEPING FINANCING ABILITY WITH THE COUNCIL SO THAT ANY BONDING THAT WOULD HAPPEN WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO THIS BODY.
NOW WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT THAT WAY.
THE LGC IS ALLOWED TO BOND AS ANY ENTITY IS ALLOWED TO, BUT IT, IT PRESERVES THAT IF THERE IS A LARGE FINANCING OR A LARGE, YOU KNOW, UM, PROJECT THAT REQUIRES THAT AND BOND MONIES IS WANT TO BE USED, IT SHOULD REALLY COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
BECAUSE EVEN IF THIS EDC DOES BONDS AND IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY THE CITY'S CREDIT, IT'S GOING TO BE PERCEIVED AS A MORAL OBLIGATION OF THE CITY.
AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THAT IN THE PAST, ESPECIALLY IN THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES.
AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL STILL HAS THE ABILITY TO VETO ANY LARGE FINANCINGS.
SO THE IDEA IS REALLY JUST A FINANCING ENTITY BEING USED BY THE EDC, KEEPING THE GOVERNANCE OF THAT WITH THE COUNCIL.
YEAH, I MEAN, AT A HIGH LEVEL, LIKE I'M, I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'RE BUILDING A STRUCTURE THAT WILL STILL BE HAMSTRUNG BY THE SAME CHALLENGES, CITY STAFF FACES IN ACQUIRING PROPERTY.
AND WE'VE SEEN THAT PROBLEM REPEATED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IT WAS PROBLEMATIC GETTING THE PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY LAND IN MY DISTRICT, WHICH TOOK A LONG TIME AND MISSED A BUNCH OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT.
AND SOME OF THAT BEING HOW LONG IT TAKES THE CITY PROCESS TO, TO ACQUIRE LAND.
AND, AND MY RECOLLECTION IS, AND WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS THE LAST TIME IS THAT THE LGC HAS THOSE SAME ISSUES UNDER TEXAS LAW.
AND SO I, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORK TO BE DONE AROUND WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN ONCE A PROPERTY IS ACQUIRED.
AND ONCE YOU ACQUIRE IT, THEN YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF RUNWAY TO DO THAT WORK COUNCIL INVOLVEMENT AND ET CETERA.
BUT THE ACQUISITION IS, IS WHERE YOU SUCCEED OR FAIL.
AND, AND I WORRY ABOUT A STRUCTURE THAT UNDER TEXAS LAW WON'T ACTUALLY PUT US ON EQUAL FOOTING WITH PRIVATE MARKET ACTORS, WHICH MEANS WE WON'T GET THE PROPERTIES WE WANT.
I WAS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE CULTURAL TRUST STUFF, AND YOU DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH IN THE, IN THE MEMO.
IT VERY MUCH SEEMED LIKE A LOT OF THE CULTURAL TRUST WORK WAS RELIANT UPON EXISTING PROPERTY OWNERS BEING PHILANTHROPICALLY MINDED THAT THEY WANTED TO COME TO THE TABLE AND PARTICIPATE.
AND, AND THOSE AREN'T THE ONES WE'RE LOSING.
THE ONES WE'RE LOSING ARE THE LANDLORDS WHO ARE NOT IN THE, OR NOT PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN COMING TO THE TABLE IN A COMMUNITY BENEFIT MINDED WAY.
[02:05:01]
I'M REALLY FOCUSED ON THE LAND ACQUISITION PROCESS QUESTION, BUT DOESN'T, THAT'S WHERE THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROMISES, BUT THEN IT'LL, IT'LL FAIL WHEN IT COMES TO MOVE QUICKLY IN THE MARKET.DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT? YEAH, LET ME ADDRESS BOTH THOSE QUESTIONS.
UM, THE FIRST AND BEFORE SAYING BOTH THOSE THINGS, I ALSO WANT TO SAY IT'S NOT MAGIC, SO THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE, AND IT ALSO IS A CITY CREATURE.
SO THERE HAS TO BE SOME APPROVALS THAT COME FROM YOU TO ENABLE IT, HOW BROAD THOSE APPROVALS ARE.
THEY CAN BE EXTREMELY BROAD ONCE A YEAR, AND THE ENTITY CAN RUN FASTER THAN YOU COULD BELIEVE, OR YOU COULD KEEP A TIGHTER LEASH AND IT WILL BE MUCH HARDER FOR THE ENTITY TO DO ANYTHING, BUT THERE'S NO PROHIBITION ON THE LGC FROM ACQUIRING LAND.
IT CAN ACQUIRE IT AS FAST AS A PRIVATE ACTOR.
IT CAN SPEND MONIES THAT DO NOT COME FROM THE CITY.
IT COULD BRING IN PRIVATE, UM, INVESTMENT DOLLARS AND BUY PROPERTIES WITHOUT EVEN ENGAGING WITH THE CITY.
UM, THE ISSUE IS GIVING IT THE ALLOCATION AND RUNWAY FOR ANYTHING THAT IS USING CITY MONEY.
SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE, UM, PUBLIC MONEY, THEN IT COMES WITH PUBLIC STRINGS AND THAT'S THE CASE, NO MATTER IF YOU'RE A GRANT RECIPIENT OR AN LGC OR THE CITY YOURSELF BY PUSHING IT OUT OF THE CITY, THAT ACTING ON IT, ONCE IT PASSES THAT MONEY IS MUCH, MUCH MORE QUICK.
UM, IN TERMS OF THE CULTURAL TRUST PIECE, THE CULTURAL TRUST DOES NOT RELY ON ANYONE BEING PHILANTHROPIC.
WE DID SOME INVESTIGATION OF BUYING SPECIFIC PROPERTIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY WITH, UM, SPECIFIC, UM, CULTURAL AND MUSIC ENTITIES.
WE DIDN'T LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE ONE.
I THINK, UH, DOING A FOLLOWUP TO THE RFI WILL BE IMPORTANT.
UM, WHAT WE SAW IS THAT IF THERE WAS NOT CONTINUED EXTRACTIVE CAPITALISM, JUST LIKE PUSHING THE RENTS UP AND UP AND UP AND UP AND UP THAT ACTUALLY A LOT OF THOSE ENTITIES COULD AFFORD TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE.
THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE CERTAINTY OF KNOWING THAT THEY HAD A FUTURE AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE, UM, THE CAPACITY TO INDIVIDUALLY ACQUIRE THEIR SITES, EVEN IF THEY HAD SOME OF THE MONEY.
SO THE IDEA IS TO GIVE THEM A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PARTNER IN THE FORM OF THIS ENTITY AND SCALE IT CITYWIDE.
SO IT'S NOT JUST ONE BUILDING OR TWO BUILDINGS, BUT THAT YOU TAKE THAT 12 MILLION AND LEVERAGE IT WITH, WITH SOME EQUITY PARTICIPATION FROM SOME OF THESE SMALLER GROUPS TO PROVE THAT THEY HAVE SOME, HALF-TON SOME SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEN NEGOTIATE AND BID PROPERTIES.
ONE AGAINST THE OTHER WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THE LANDLORDS WILL HAVE A HARDER TIME PUSHING THEIR PRICES HIGHER AND HIGHER BECAUSE THERE'LL BE OTHER OPTIONS RATHER THAN BEING STUCK TO JUST DOING ONE PROJECT AT A TIME WHEN YOU'RE REALLY STUCK WITH WHATEVER THE OTHER SIDE PROPOSES.
SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT IS EASY, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IT DEFINITELY IS A PRACTICE THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER PLACES.
UM, AND ALSO THAT THERE'S NO IMPEDIMENT TO MOVING FORWARD WITH IT.
IT CAN HAPPEN VERY, VERY QUICKLY, BUT NOT IF YOU GO AFTER EACH ONE, ONE AT A TIME.
SO IN THIS CASE IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, THE ENTITY GOING TO COUNCIL AND SAYING, OKAY, WE WANT TO DO AN RFI.
AND THEN AN RFP THIS WAY, THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO USE THE MONEY.
THIS IS THE CRITERIA WE'RE GOING TO USE.
AND WE'D LIKE TO GO OUT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, BY, YOU KNOW, 20 OF THESE THINGS IN THE NEXT YEAR, AND THEN THE COUNCIL WILL DEBATE IT AND THEN EITHER GIVE THE CONTRACT AND MOVE FORWARD OR NOT.
AND THEN THERE'LL BE A FULLY FULL ABILITY TO FULLY EXECUTE IT BEFORE COMING BACK TO COUNCIL.
SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DETAIL IS THAT, IS THAT IT'S NOT LIKE OTHER LAND ACQUISITION THAT, THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST WHERE EACH INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY COMES BACK TO COUNCIL, UH, AND THERE'S EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND LIKE ALL THE THINGS IS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE SETTING THIS ON AN ANNUAL PATH AND IT, IT EXECUTES AT THE SPEED OF THE MARKET.
I THINK THAT'S JUST AN ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FEATURE.
AND I'M GLAD THE WAY THAT YOU ARTICULATED AT MATTHEW.
UM, BECAUSE, UM, WE DON'T DO THAT NOW.
AND WE HAVE LOST MANY OPPORTUNITIES, NOT JUST ON THE LAND ACQUISITION, BUT WE'VE LOST OPPORTUNITIES JUST IN THE OPERATIONS PIECE, THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT REPORT DETAILED THAT, THAT, THAT, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T MOVE FASTER ON EDC AND WE DIDN'T MOVE FASTER AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE LOST OPPORTUNITIES AND, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR THE COUNCIL, BUT WE'VE GOT TO, WE'VE GOT TO REALLY LEAN IN THIS.
I'M NOT SPEAKING TO MY COLLEAGUES NOW, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO REALLY LEAN IN ON HOW THE MARKET WORKS.
IF WE WANT THE MARKET TO WORK FOR US.
AND IT'S, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T TREAT THIS.
LIKE, IT'S JUST AN ARM OF STAFF AND MANAGER TO YOUR, TO YOU.
UM, I HAVE MULTIPLE TIMES THOUGHT WE WERE DOING SIMILAR THINGS WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO LEVERAGE OUTSIDE ENTITIES.
UH, THE, THE GRANT PROGRAM THAT COMES MEMBER ALTAR, AND I CREATED FOR BUSINESS AND NONPROFITS AND OTHERS ENDED UP STILL HAVING A TON OF CITY STAFF INVOLVEMENT THAT I THINK WAS NOT THE INTENTION OF US CAUSE WE WANTED IT TO MOVE
[02:10:01]
FASTER AND THEN IT DIDN'T MOVE FASTER.AND I DON'T WANT US TO SEE, I DON'T WANT TO SEE US MAKE THAT SAME MISTAKE HERE EITHER.
SO I MEAN A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE AND I HAVE A WHOLE OTHER PAGE OF QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK I'M DONE FOR NOW.
CAUSE A QUICK POSTSCRIPT, I'M NOT SURE THAT I'D WANT TO DISCOUNT THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT PHILANTHROPIC PIECE TO THE CULTURAL ARTS ELEMENT.
UH, THE, THE, THE HOUSING CONSERVANCY IS BUYING OTHER PROPERTIES TO YOUR POINT, UH, JIMMY ADD MARKET VALUE, OR THERE'S AN INVESTOR GROUP OF A CITY THAT WANTS TO CONTRIBUTE PHILANTHROPICALLY TO THE PRESERVATION OF SOME OF OUR ICONIC PLACES ARE WILLING TO PUT UP MONEY AND GET A 3% RETURN ON AN INVESTMENT IF IT WAS DONE FOR THAT PURPOSE.
AND I KNOW THAT AS THEY'RE GOING OUT AND GETTING MONEY HOUSING, THEY'RE GETTING ASKED ABOUT, IS THERE A PARALLEL FUND FOR, UH, ICONIC MUSIC AT THE CITY? AND THERE'S NOT ONE, UH, BUT IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THIS ONE ELEMENT OF THE FINANCING STACK THAT, UH, EVO COULD BE, UH, UH, LOOKING AT OR WE'RE PULLING IT.
AND, AND I'M, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP MAYOR.
I MEAN, HONESTLY YOU PROBABLY HANG OUT WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PERSON THAN I HANG OUT WITH GENERALLY.
SO I'M NOT IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT, UM, THAT YOU BROUGHT UP THE MUSIC THEN HE GOES, I THINK, IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED AT LENGTH ABOUT MUSIC VENUES AT, ON, ON THE COUNCIL AND, UM, WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING IN THE BUDGET FOR THEM.
AND, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY PROBLEMATIC.
UM, WE TRIED SOME STUFF EARLIER IN THE YEAR THAT THAT WENT THE WAY IT WENT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT HOW THIS CAN ADVANTAGE, UM, OUR LIVE MUSIC INDUSTRY IN A WAY THAT THAT IS NOT JUST ABOUT PRESERVING BECAUSE PRE PRESERVATION ALONE IS NOT A FUNDING SOURCE.
WE HAVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW THE MARKET OPERATES, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY THAT IS UNTAPPED COLLEAGUES, UH, KATHY, UH, THANKS VERY MUCH, FIRST OF ALL, JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, OUR STAFF AND OUR CONSULTANT FOR THIS REALLY GREAT WORK.
IT'S VERY EXCITING TO BE ON THE BRINK OF, OF ACTUALLY SEEING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, UM, UP AND RUNNING.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO OFTEN THE, THE WORK THAT WE DO TAKES A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
AND SO WHILE WE'RE THE COUNCIL THAT WILL SEE THIS TO FRUITION, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A FORMER COLLEAGUE OF MINE.
AND I'VE, I'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE HAVE SOMETIMES, UM, THE PUBLIC ISN'T ALWAYS AWARE OF, OF THE VARIOUS SHOULDERS WE'RE STANDING ON.
AND I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY FORMER COLLEAGUE MAYOR PRO TEM COLE, WHO DID THE FIRST OF THE THREE RESOLUTIONS I BROUGHT FORWARD THE NEXT TWO THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE GOTTEN US TO WHERE WE ARE, BUT IT WAS REALLY FOR HER INITIAL IDEA, UM, THAT BEGAN THIS WORK.
UM, SO I HOPE SHE'S JUST PROBABLY NOT WATCHING.
AND WHEN I GET A CHANCE, I'LL HAVE TO SEND HER A TEXT AND LET HER KNOW, LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING CLOSER.
UM, I DO HAVE A SLEW OF QUESTIONS.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THEM TODAY AND, AND ORGANIZE THEM INTO BATCHES.
BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THIS IS, THIS IS, UM, A VERY EXCITING NEW VENTURE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
AND I KNOW GIVEN THAT, UM, ONE OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES SAID HE HAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS, TOO.
IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF WE MAYBE JUST SET UP LIKE A Q AND A PORTAL.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS IF IT ATTACHES TO TODAY'S DISCUSSION OR, UM, A FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDA.
BUT IF WE COULD, OR MAYBE THE BUDGET Q AND A, UM, IF WE COULD JUST START GENERATING THOSE, I THINK THAT'D BE HELPFUL.
FIRST OF ALL, UM, I WANTED TO SAY JUST IN, IN ANSWER, WELL, IN PICKING UP ON WHAT THE MAYOR SAID, THERE WERE SEVERAL REFERENCES THROUGHOUT THE REPORT TO THE FACT THAT WITH REGARD TO THE CULTURAL, UM, THE CULTURAL TRUST THAT IT WOULD BE BEST WORKING ALONGSIDE A FOUNDATION OR LEVERAGING A FOUNDATION THAT IS RAISING MONEY.
AND SO I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAD A PARTICULAR FOUNDATION IN MIND, AND IF YOU DID, IF YOU WOULD EVEN WANT TO THE CULTURAL TRUST, RATHER IF YOU WOULD WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT, BUT I'M IN THIS FORUM, BUT I, I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT THAT MAY OR YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION AND THE REPORT SPECIFICALLY REFERENCES THE FACT THAT THIS PIECE OF WORK WOULD, WOULD DO BEST IF IT'S WORKING ALONGSIDE A FOUNDATION, I WOULD THINK THE SAME IS TRUE OF THE WORK SURROUNDING HOMELESSNESS, THAT WE HAVE SOME PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE ALREADY RAISING MONEY IN THE AREA OF HOMELESSNESS, AND THAT I WOULD WANT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO DO THE SAME, YOU KNOW, TO WORK ALONGSIDE THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, UM, IN, IN REALLY HELPING, HELPING, UM, RAISE MONEY TOGETHER AND LEVERAGE THOSE RESOURCES.
UH, IS THAT CONSISTENT MATT WITH WHAT, WITH WHAT YOU ARE THINKING YOU HAVE ALL KINDS OF YOUR AUDIENCE HERE IS EXPANDING.
HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY WE'RE WINNING
[02:15:01]
THEM OVER.UM, THE, I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE PIECES, UM, THE BEAUTY OF THIS ENTITY, AND IT'S A SIMILAR THING TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, PLANNING AND IN THE LAST, UM, IS THAT IT'S BLENDING BOTH PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND NONPROFIT, UM, PHILANTHROPIC DONATIONS.
AND EACH OF THOSE CAN COME IN WITH CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS.
THE REASON WHY I'M STATING IT SHOULD START WITH A PARTNER FOUNDATION IS BECAUSE THE WORK OF FUNDRAISING AND PHILANTHROPY IS BASED ON RELATIONSHIPS THAT GET CREATED OVER YEARS.
AND IF YOU HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING QUICKLY, UM, I THINK IT ALWAYS SHOULD BE A CHOICE FOR THIS ENTITY TO PARTNER WITH OTHER EXISTING ENTITIES, JUST BECAUSE IT HAS THE STRUCTURE TO DO THINGS DOESN'T MEAN IT SHOULD, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD AS A MAVERICK, LONE ACTOR.
BUT NORMALLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS ON THE, FOR PROFIT SIDE IS ESTABLISHING INVESTMENT FUNDS THAT WOULD BE MANAGED BY THIS ENTITY, BUT MAYBE BRINGING IN GROUPS THAT ARE FUND TO FUNDS OR, UH, OTHER TYPES OF ENTITIES LIKE THAT, THAT ARE INTERESTED IN CERTAIN KINDS OF INVESTMENTS, BUT NOT ALL ON THE NONPROFIT SIDE.
NORMALLY WHAT YOU DO IS SET UP DONOR ADVISED FUNDS AT EXISTING FOUNDATIONS AND ASK FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE THAT PRIORITY ALREADY TO ALLOCATE MONEY IN THAT DIRECTION.
NOW WE HAVE VERY, VERY PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, BUT DID NOT SPRING ON THEM THAT WE WANTED THEM TO BE THIS THING.
WE ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD BE OPEN TO SOMETHING LIKE THEY SAID, YES, WE SAID WE WOULD FOLLOW UP ONCE THE ENTITY WAS FORMED BECAUSE WE REALLY NEEDED TO TAKE DIRECTION FROM OTHER PEOPLE AS TO WHO WERE THE APPROPRIATE ONES, BUT THERE'S NO REASON NOT TO BUILD A COALITION OF EVERY INTERESTED FOUNDATION.
IS THERE, WE'RE TRYING TO USE THIS AS A GATHERING PLACE FOR RESOURCES.
AND, UM, IT COULD SPREAD ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.
SOME PROJECTS ARE GOING TO CASHFLOW AND THOSE CAN TAKE INVESTMENT DOLLARS AND SOME PROJECTS ARE GOING TO NEED SUBSIDY, AND THOSE WILL NEED PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS.
AND WE CAN BUILD THOSE THINGS TOGETHER IN THIS WHOLE SPECTRUM.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY IN ESSENCE, THE CONVERSATION AND THE COMMITMENT THAT WE MADE TO SOME OF OUR NONPROFIT HOUSING PROVIDERS AND OTHERS THAT IF, IF WE SET UP AN LGC RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD NOT BE COMPETING.
WE WOULD REALLY BE WANTING TO FURTHER TO GROW THE POT FOR EVERYBODY.
I WOULD WANT TO HIRE A THIRD PARTY DEVELOPER, DO A THIRD PARTY RFP WE'D HELP THEM WITHIN THE CITY ENTITY.
AND IT WOULD SAVE THEM MONEY, TIME AND EXPERTISE, HOPEFULLY.
YEAH, I THINK THAT, UM, WITH REGARD TO, WITH REGARD TO THE VENUES, UM, I WANNA TO JUST NOTE FOR MY COLLEAGUES, I CONCUR AND I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED AND HAVE SEEN LOTS OF CONCERN OUT IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND IN OTHER PLACES, UM, YOU KNOW, ABOUT OUR VENUES SURVIVAL AND IT, AND IT IS AS, AS YOUR REPORT NOTES, UM, PROJECTIONS ARE THAT AS MANY AS 90% OF OUR VENUES, UM, MIGHT NEED TO CLOSE DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, IF THEY DON'T RECEIVE SOME SORT OF ASSISTANCE.
AND SO I WOULD JUST SUGGEST A POINT, MY COLLEAGUES TO PAGE 22, THAT TALKS ABOUT THAT AS BEING A SUPER HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
I, I, I WONDER, AND THIS IS A QUESTION MAYBE FOR OFFLINE ABOUT WHAT, WHAT IS THE TIMEFRAME FOR, I MEAN, YOU'VE OUTLINED A TIMEFRAME, BUT HOW QUICKLY COULD THEY DO THAT? COULD THEY DO THAT WORK? AND CAN WE AFFORD TO WAIT WHEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO GET UP AND RUNNING TO REALLY TAKE ACTION ON THAT VENUE SUPPORT? UM, SO TWO OTHER SORT OF SECTIONS OF QUESTIONS I WANTED TO TOUCH ON ONE IS ABOUT STAFFING AND THE EFFICIENCY OF SERVICES AND HOW IT COULD DRAW ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN RESOURCES.
AND THEN I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, UM, CAN ACTUALLY SPEED THROUGH PROJECTS MORE QUICKLY.
AND I WANT TO, I WANT TO BE, I WANT TO RELATE THAT TO THE CONVERSATION ON PAGE 15, ABOUT THAT, THAT THE PROJECTS MAY NOT NECESSARILY FOLLOW THE SAME POLICIES AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO THOSE ARE RELATED, BUT, BUT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.
ONE OF THE SITUATIONS, I, I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION YOU'VE PROVIDED IN HERE ABOUT THE, UH, PROJECTED BUDGET AND THE PROJECTED STAFFING.
I WOULD ASK IT, IT HELPED KIND OF GET A SENSE OF HOW WE WOULD GROW THAT TO SCALE.
I'M INTERESTED TO INSANE KIND OF WHAT A WORKFLOW LOOK LIKE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, ESPECIALLY SINCE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT YOU'VE IDENTIFIED HTS AND SOUTH CENTRAL AND THE VET VIEW ARE SUCH TIME SENSITIVE TIME CRITICAL PROJECT.
SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR STAFFING CONSULTANT COULD DO FOR US, UM, IN THE NEXT PERIOD OF TIME, UM, THAT WOULD ALSO HELP JUST KIND OF SEE HOW WE GROW THE SCALE OF THE PROJECTS AND THE, AND THE, UM, REVENUE IN AND OUT AND HOW THAT PENCILS OUT.
UM, ONE THING THAT WE'VE NOTICED, AND I THINK YOU'VE, YOU'VE ADDRESSED THIS TO SOME EXTENT HOW WE WOULD RELY ON EXISTING
[02:20:01]
CITY STAFF AND SOME EXISTING CITY BUDGETS.I WASN'T AWARE NECESSARILY THAT PERSONNEL SAVINGS IN A TIME OF HIRING FREEZES ACTUALLY ACCRUED TO THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
I THOUGHT THAT WENT BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND.
SO I'LL NEED SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MUCH IS IN EDD, THAT IS A PERSONNEL SAVINGS, UM, AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THAT'S TRUE OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
BUT ONE THING I WOULD JUST SAY IS WE'VE NOTICED ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION THAT IS A SOBERING CENTER.
THERE ARE TIMES WHERE IT WOULD PROBABLY BE CHEAPER AND MORE EFFICIENT TO USE CITY RESOURCES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE AREA OF HR AND THE AREA OF PIO.
UM, SOME OF THESE ARE OUR COSTS THAT YOU'VE BUILT INTO THE SCALED UP VERSION OF STAFFING, BUT I WOULD ASK, AND THIS MAY BE A QUESTION FOR OUR LEGAL STAFF TO COME BACK TO US WITH, TO WHAT EXTENT COULD WE RELY ON THIS? UM, LGC USING SOME RESOURCES OF THE CITY ON AN ONGOING BASIS, EVEN IF IT'S ON A CONTRACTUAL, YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN HIRE A PR PERSON, PERHAPS THEY COULD USE THE RESOURCES OF THE CITY.
SO THAT'S BOTH A LEGAL QUESTION, BUT ALSO A BUDGETING ONE, IF, IF WE COULD IN THE, IN THE WEEKS AHEAD THINK THROUGH WHETHER THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT MATTHEW, I CAN ANSWER.
WE DID DO INVESTIGATION OF THAT, AND WE COULD PROVIDE A MEMO THAT WAS CREATED TO ADDRESS THAT SPECIFIC TOPIC IN CONSULTATION WITH, UM, LEGAL.
UM, I THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ATTENTION.
THE MORE THINGS YOU TRY TO USE, THE CITY'S RESOURCES, THE MORE THIS WILL JUST BE LIKE THE CITY AND YOU WON'T GET ANY OF THE ADVANTAGES.
AND THERE THAT'S JUST A LINE THAT YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.
THERE'S NO RIGHT ANSWER, BUT VERY TYPICALLY THIS ENTITY WON'T ENJOY THE SAME KIND OF BENEFITS OF, UM, THAT SOME CITY UNION-BASED EMPLOYEES MIGHT GET.
AND THERE ARE ASSOCIATED OFFSETS TO THAT BY PROVIDING DIFFERENT KINDS OF BENEFITS THAT CITY EMPLOYEES DON'T GET.
AND SO YOU JUST HAVE TO KIND OF WEIGH THAT IN TERMS OF ATTRACTING PEOPLE TO, SO FROM THE ENTITY VERSUS SERVING WITH THE CITY, DEFINITELY I, AND MY GUESS IS THAT MY COLLEAGUES WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT MEMO TOO.
I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT BRINGS UP A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UM, ONE IS, ONE IS THE ONE ABOUT STAFFING THAT I TALKED ABOUT IN ECONOMIZING ON THOSE FIRST COUPLE YEARS OF COSTS.
AND, AND I SEE THAT BOTH THE EDC WOULD GROW OUT OF IT IN THE SAME WAY THE SOBERING CENTER WOULD, BUT JUST IN THOSE INITIAL COUPLE OF YEARS, IT'S COSTLY TO HAVE OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
IT'S COSTLY TO HAVE AN HR PROFESSIONAL.
IT'S CHALLENGING IF YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE PROFESSIONALS IN HOUSE TO GET THAT LEVEL OF EXPERTISE, IF YOU CAN'T KIND OF, UM, LEAN ON THE CITY'S RESOURCES.
BUT THE OTHER THING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL SHARE A VERY STRONG SENSE OF, UM, VALUES OF HOW WE WANT TO TREAT CITY EMPLOYEES AND HOW WE WANT THEM TO BE PAID AND HOW THE CONTRACTING SHOULD BE HANDLED.
AND SO THAT, THAT REALLY BRINGS ME TO MY SECOND QUESTION THAT I INDICATED ABOUT, UM, THE SPEEDING THAT WE'RE, I MEAN, WE WANT THE EDC, THIS IS WHY ONE REASON WHY WE WANT YOU DO SEE, WE WANT IT TO BE NIMBLE AND TO BE ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY ON PAGE 15, IT TALKS ABOUT YOUR REPORT ADDRESSES, UM, THAT IT WOULD MEET THE STATE REQUIREMENTS.
LET ME GET THE EXACT LANGUAGE, THE MANDATES MANDATES FOR THE ENTITY TO EXACTLY PARALLEL ALL CITY OF AUSTIN POLICIES WITH THOSE RISKS AND CHALLENGES TO FULLY UTILIZING THE BENEFITS OF CREATING A SEPARATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITY.
COULD YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS? AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD YOU BE SUGGEST WOULD AN ENTITY OF THIS SORT STILL UNDERTAKE ITS PROJECTS IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS THE, THE, THE, UM, THE WAGE FLOOR THAT WE'VE SET, THE KINDS OF PROVISIONS THAT WE'VE MADE FOR WORKER PROTECTIONS AND OTHER THINGS.
AND, AND IF SO, WHAT IS, WHAT, WHY DOES THAT REFERENCE ME? AND I GUESS IN THIS CONTEXT, SO WHAT THE REFERENCE MEANS IS THAT, UM, WHEN YOU DISPOSE OF PROPERTIES TO THE ENTITY, MEANING YOU DO A LONGTERM LEASE OR A SALE, WHICH IS JUST THAT THIRD CATEGORY, NOT WHEN IT'S DOING LEASE ADMINISTRATION.
AND, UM, NOT WHEN IT'S DOING TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT, YOU SPECIFY SPECIFICALLY WHAT POLICIES YOU WANT IT TO ABIDE BY.
IF THERE'S NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR IT TO FOLLOW THE CITY'S POLICIES AT THAT POINT, IT'S, YOU CAN SAY, AND YOU'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW EVERY CITY POLICY.
YOU CAN SAY THAT THAT'S UP TO YOU.
I'M JUST NOTING THAT, UH, AS LONG AS THERE'S A PUBLIC BENEFIT ACHIEVED IN THE DISPOSITION, AND THAT IS WRITTEN IN THE CONTRACT, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT EVERY SINGLE THING THAT IS REQUIRED FROM THE CITY AUTOMATICALLY IS REQUIRED.
YOU NEED TO SPECIFY WHICH THINGS, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS BECOMES RELEVANT.
IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ENTITY ALSO WORKS WITH, UM, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS THAT
[02:25:01]
IT WANTS TO GO ALONG WITH THIS.SO IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT EVADING REQUIREMENTS AS IT IS ABOUT SPECIFYING, WHICH ONES ARE APPROPRIATE TO EACH PROJECT.
AND THAT WILL BE DONE BY CONTRACT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.
AND YOU COULD SAY THAT EVERY PROJECT EXACTLY FOLLOWS EXACTLY WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY, OR YOU CAN SAY THAT THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR SOME REASON THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR MIND, THAT IS BASED, RIGHT.
I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS FOR NOW.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE TIME TO COME AROUND AGAIN, BUT THANK YOU.
YOUR REPORT REALLY INDICATES, UM, JUST THE VALUE OF HAVING ONE AND THE NEED TO HAVE ONE.
I WISH WE HAD ONE IN PLACE ALREADY.
THEY'VE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER STATES THAT REALLY HOPING THAT THAT CARE IS FUNDING OUT TO ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED THEM.
AND SO I WISH WE ALREADY HAD ONE IN PLACE, BUT THE NEXT BEST THING IS TO GET ONE UP AND RUNNING SOON.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DID TO HELP US GET, GET ON THAT PATH.
JUST REMEMBER KITCHEN AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
I, I SHARE MY COLLEAGUES ENTHUSIASM FOR THIS, UM, AND ALL THE COMMENTS THAT THEY'VE MADE SO FAR.
I WANT TO UNDERSCORE, UH, TWO THINGS, AND THEN I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS I WANTED TO UNDERSCORE THE NEED TO BE FAST.
UM, I THINK, UH, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN, AND OTHERS EXPRESS THAT THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS IS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE WITH WITH MORE FLEXIBILITY AND FASTER THAN WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE NOW.
SO, UM, SO, UH, I ALSO HEAR THE, THE CAUTION IN TERMS OF, OF THAT, THAT BALANCE BETWEEN THE CONNECTION TO STAFF AND THE CONNECTION TO THE CITY, AS OPPOSED TO THE FLEXIBILITY AND, UM, AUTONOMY FOR THIS KIND OF ORGANIZATION.
SO I THINK THAT THAT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND WHEN WE GET DOWN TO, UM, MAKING DECISIONS ON HOW IT'S STRUCTURED, I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING AT IT WITH AN EYE TOWARDS THAT.
I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE REPORTING STRUCTURE AND HOW THIS ENTITY REPORTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE CONSIDER IT REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE CITY COUNCIL PERHAPS, OR SOME OTHER WAY IN WHICH WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER ENTITY THAT IS, YOU KNOW, UM, BURIED WITHIN OUR STAFFING STRUCTURE AND OUR DEPARTMENTAL STRUCTURE.
SO I KNOW WE HAVE SOME EXAMPLES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE HOUSING ARENA WHERE THESE KINDS OF LDCS, UH, REPORT DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL.
SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT, UM, I DO HAVE SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE AROUND THE CULTURAL TRUST.
IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO ME TO HAVE A PROGRAM, UH, UNDER THE EDO.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THINKING ABOUT THE WAY IT'S SET UP THOUGH, GIVEN THE, THE PROPOSED GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, BECAUSE IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, WHAT IS PROPOSED IS THAT YOU HAVE THE CULTURAL TRUST AS A PROGRAM OF THE EDO.
AND I THINK THERE WAS A LANGUAGE IN THERE ABOUT A COMMITTEE OF SOME SORT BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PROGRAM AS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BUT, BUT IT STILL REPORTS UP TO A BOARD THAT ONLY HAS TWO PEOPLE ON IT WITH A BACKGROUND IN, IN MUSIC OR ART.
SO I WOULD WANT TO, AS, AS YOU ALL BRING THIS FORWARD, GIVE, GIVE SOME CONSIDERATION TO THE AUTHORITY OF THAT, UH, ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE CULTURAL TRUST, BECAUSE, UM, I THINK THAT THOSE KINDS OF WHATEVER DECISION MAKING THAT'S IMPORTANT IN THE PROGRAM THAT'S RELATES TO SPECIFICALLY THAT LEVEL OF EXPERTISE.
I WOULD WANT THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO, TO HAVE SOME AUTHORITY THERE BECAUSE I WOULD NOT WANT FOR THEM TO THEN REPORT UP TO A BIGGER BOARD THAT DOESN'T HAVE THAT BACKGROUND OR EXPERIENCE, UM, AND THEN EITHER LOWERS THE PRIORITY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CULTURAL TRUST PROGRAM OR OVERRULES IN SOME WAY.
SO I WOULD JUST INVITE YOU TO THINK ABOUT, WHAT'S A WAY TO STRUCTURE THAT.
THE OTHER THING ABOUT THE, UM, BOARD STRUCTURE ITSELF, THE WHOLE BOARD STRUCTURE IS, UM, THE BASIC IDEA MAKES SENSE TO ME, I'M CONCERNED THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT RIGID, UM, BUT IT'S PERHAPS TOO SLOTTED, UH, EVERY SINGLE SLOT HAVING, UM, A SPECIFIC, UM, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM A SPECIFIC PART OF THE COMMUNITY WITH A SPECIFIC SLOT TO IT.
UM, I'VE NEVER ASKED YOU TO THINK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY THERE ACROSS THAT, UH, PARTICULARLY SINCE, UM, NO.
WELL, ALTHOUGH THIS WILL HAVE A RANGE, JACK'S, THERE'S SOME AREAS THAT WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON AT LEAST FOR THE INITIAL YEARS.
SO, UM, SO I, I WOULD WANT TO I'D INVITE YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT THAT TOO.
SO, UM, DID YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON ANY OF THAT, OR I WOULD LOVE TO BRING FORWARD JUST ONE COMMENT THAT WE HAD TALKED TO HIM PREVIOUSLY,
[02:30:01]
BUT THE COUNCIL HADN'T HEARD, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE CULTURAL TRUST.I THINK THAT THE VIA CONTRACT, UM, WE CAN ESTABLISH A SPECIFIC ADVISORY BOARD THAT IS PARTICULAR TO THE TRUST AS WITH OTHER PROGRAMS. UM, THE BOARD OF THE OVERALL ORGANIZATION WILL REALLY JUST BE MOVING ALONG WITH THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONTRACTED.
SO IN SOME SENSE, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE ADVISORY THAT I'M HERE FOR BECAUSE A LOT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S BEHAVIOR WILL BE HEARD BY THIS ANNUAL CONTRACT.
AND AS A PART OF THAT CONTRACT, THIS BODY CAN ESTABLISH THAT, UM, DECISIONS NEED TO BE RUN THROUGH, UH, YOU KNOW, GROUP OF X PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE FOLLOWING EXPERTISE AND, AND THAT WON'T ALLOW THE REST OF THE BOARD TO, UM, WAYLAY THAT.
AND I THINK THAT WHILE WE'RE, IT'S REALLY A TENSION HERE, I PERSONALLY BELIEVE HAVING WORKED FOR A LOT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, THAT THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO DO IS GOING TO FAR EXCEED WHAT YOU SEE IN THE REPORTS IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS.
AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU, YOU SET OFF WITH THE RIGHT FOOT, BUT THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE IN THE ROOM AND DON'T FEEL LIKE, OH, THAT ORGANIZATION IS NOT, FOR ME.
IT'S NOT INVOLVED WITH FILL IN THE BLANK, HOMELESSNESS K THROUGH 12, WHATEVER IT IS, YOU REALLY WANT IT TO BE A CONVENING BODY FOR ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE.
AND THAT IS DEFINITELY BALANCED WITH THE CONCERNS THAT YOU'RE RAISING.
AND I THINK THE WAY YOU BALANCE IT IS BY CONTRACT ESTABLISHING THAT CERTAIN PROGRAMS HAVE CERTAIN PRIORITIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONSIDERATION TO THE STRUCTURAL ASPECT IS THE CONTRACT CHANGES FROM YEAR TO YEAR, AS OPPOSED TO HOW YOU'RE SETTING UP THE STRUCTURE.
SO PERHAPS IT'S JUST IN, WHEN WE KNOW THAT THE ARTS IS AN AREA THAT IS A TOP PRIORITY.
SO I WOULD WANT TO CONSIDER STARTING OUT OF THE BAT, UM, IN A STRUCTURAL WAY, PERHAPS IN THE BYLAWS OR THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, SOME SPECIFIC, UM, THINKING AROUND WHAT DOES THAT PARTICULAR ADVISORY GROUP DO? AND WE CAN SET IT ON A CONTRACT BASIS.
THAT'S TRUE, BUT THAT'S NOT AS, UM, I THINK THIS IS MORE BASIC AND CRITICAL TO THE ACTUAL STRUCTURE OF THE ENTITY.
SO THEN I TWO OTHER AREAS THAT, UM, I THINK THAT, UM, THIS ENTITY COULD SPEAK TO OVER TIME, UH, IS, UM, I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY INCLUDED A SUGGESTION THAT, UH, PERHAPS WORKING ON, UH, WHAT HAPPENS WITH CITIES, UNUSED PROPERTY MIGHT BE SOMETHING, OR I FORGET HOW YOU PUT IT, NOT UNUSED, BUT, UM, UNDER, UNDER UTILIZED.
SO I THINK YOU ALREADY SAID THAT, RIGHT.
I THINK I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF PARCELS, SMALL PARCELS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED FOR THE YEARS THAT WERE JUST SITTING THERE AND IT'D BE NICE TO IN SOME WAY BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING I'D ALSO LIKE TO, AND I DON'T, I DON'T REMEMBER READING ONE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OVER THE YEARS DONE SOME SORT OF PLANNING.
I MEAN, THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE, UH, SOME NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL PLANNING OR AT LEAST IN ONE AREA THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH.
AND THAT IS, UM, UH, THE FIRST, UH, SORT OF NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING THAT WE DID OR RE OR REGIONAL PLANNING THAT WE DID, UM, UH, AFTER, UM, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY.
BUT ANYWAY, UM, SO A LOT OF TIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS THERE'S, THERE'S SOME VISIONING DONE FOR AN AREA AND THERE THINKING ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL PARTS OF AN AREA, UH, LIKE A REDEVELOPMENT OF SHOPPING CENTERS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEN THAT SITS THERE BECAUSE THE, UM, THERE NO MECHANISM FOR HELPING TO, WE'RE HELPING AN AREA, UH, AND SENT OR ACTUALLY GET TO THAT KIND OF REDEVELOPMENT.
SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THIS? ABSOLUTELY.
AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'LL HAVE IN THIS IS THE FULL SPECTRUM OF ACTIVITY.
IF YOU REVIEW THAT ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AGAIN, NORMALLY ENGAGEMENT BEGINS WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH THAT CHIEF OF STAFF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PERSON TO GET FEEDBACK AROUND PLANNING IT THEN MOVES INTO A PLANNER WHO IS UNDER THE COO, WHO WOULD WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE COUNCIL TO GET THE NECESSARY APPROVALS AND THE BEAUTIFUL PLANS THAT PLANNERS MAKE THAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO.
UM, BUT THAT'S DONE IN CONSULTATION WITH TRANSACTION AND ASSET MANAGEMENT, PEOPLE WHO CAN PULL THE BALLS AS THEY COME AND SAY, HEY, WAIT, IF YOU DO IT THAT WAY, WHERE'S THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? OR IF YOU DO IT THAT WAY, HOW IS IT GOING TO START? AND IT'S, IT'S A LINEAR
[02:35:01]
PROCESS THAT YOU CAN JUST HAVE.I USUALLY REFER TO THEM AS, AS GARDENS AND THAT YOU PLANT YOU'RE PLANTING GARDENS ACROSS THE CITY, AND THEY ARE AT VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT AND ASK SOME OF THEM FLOWER.
YOU CAN HARVEST THOSE TO FUNDS OTHER ONES.
AND YOU'RE CONSTANTLY IN THE STATE OF TRYING TO BRING EVERYONE UP.
UM, AND INTEGRATING THAT PLANNING WITH TRANSACTION AND ASSET MANAGEMENT EXPERTISE IS SORT OF THE SPECIAL SAUCE HERE THAT GETS THINGS, UM, TO ACTUALLY BE ACCOMPLISHED AND NOT SIT ON SHELVES.
A LOT OF TIMES THE ISSUE WITH THOSE SHELF PLANS IS THAT THERE WAS, THERE WAS NO ECONOMIST OR FINANCIAL PERSON AROUND, OR THEY WERE DONE IN A DIFFERENT CLIMATE, OR THEY DIDN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE DIFFICULTIES OF PROPERTY ACQUISITION.
LIKE A PLAN IN THE ABSTRACT IS VERY HARD TO IMPLEMENT UNLESS ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE INTEGRATED.
WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE SOME, UH, DISTRICT LEVEL PLANNING THAT WAS DONE IN THE PAST THAT, UH, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PART OF IT, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL ASPECTS OF IT.
LIKE THE SOUTH AUSTIN COMBINED NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN HAD SOME VISIONING ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN ALONG BEN WHITE, FOR EXAMPLE, OR TO SOME OF THE SHOPPING CENTERS AROUND THERE.
AND THERE'S JUST ZERO TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND SO I WOULD, I WOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME SELECT KIND OF, AND WE'RE DOING THAT RIGHT NOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOUTH CENTRAL WATER WATERFRONT, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
SO I'M, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A, UH, TO, TO, UH, EXPLORE SOME OF THESE KINDS OF THINGS.
UM, I JUST HAVE, I'LL HAVE MORE, UH, OTHER COMMENTS LATER, BUT, UM, OH, LET ME JUST ASK ABOUT THE TIMELINE.
SO, UM, I SAW A TIMELINE FOR THE TWO STAFF, PEOPLE THAT NEED TO GET THIS GOING.
SO THIS MIGHT BE A QUESTION FOR OUR ACM.
UM, DID WE REALLY, I MEAN, DO WE THINK WHEN EXACTLY DO WE THINK, UM, THE ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS WOULD COME BACK THE COUNCIL SO WE CAN VOTE ON THIS BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING THAT WATER IS THAT WE NEED TO CREATE IT, WHICH MEANS WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND THE BYLAWS IT'S ACTUALLY CREATED.
AND THEN WE, THEN WE LOOK AT THE STAFFING AND WE CAN DO THAT OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, OR WHAT IS THE THING COUNCIL MEMBER YOU'RE ENTIRELY CORRECT.
IT'S HER INTENTION TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL IN THE SEPTEMBER TIMEFRAME WITH THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND THE BYLAWS.
WE'RE GOING TO USE THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED TODAY, UM, TO GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE ARTICLES AND BYLAWS.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED SOME CONCERN WITH REGARD TO THE BOARD, UH, DELINEATION AND THAT'S SPECIFIC IN THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS.
AND SO WE WELCOME ANY ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK IN THAT REGARD.
WE TRY TO BE AS GENERAL AS POSSIBLE.
UM, IF WE HAVE TO GET SOME, SOME INFORMATION IN THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION IN THAT REGARD.
SO ANY ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK IS WELCOME, BUT WE DO INTEND TO COME BACK IN SEPTEMBER TIMEFRAME WITH BOTH OF THOSE DOCUMENTS AND TO BEGIN THE WORK IMMEDIATELY, TO YOUR POINT OF, UH, HIRING THE STAFF THAT'S NEEDED, THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME CITY STAFF WORK TO SUPPLEMENT THE INITIAL WORK.
WE ENVISIONED THAT, BUT IT'S OUR INTENTION TO GET OFF THE GROUND UP AND RUNNING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND THEN I WOULD JUST ECHO WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID.
I THINK FOR THIS TO BE USEFUL, IT'S GOT ME, NEMO HAS GOTTA BE ABLE TO MOVE FAST IT'S TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO IN OUR STAFF RIGHT NOW, PROPERTY ACQUISITION IS, IS ONE OF THOSE KEY THINGS.
AND, UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL LOOK TO YOU ALL IN YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU BRING BACK TO US ABOUT WHERE YOU THINK THAT BALANCE IS, BUT I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT, UM, I DON'T WANT AN ENTITY THAT'S THAT IS, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN ENTITY THAT DOESN'T REPORT UP THROUGH A STRUCTURE THAT THEN THAT THEN GETS MIRED IN OUR EXISTENCE AND DEPARTMENT STRUCTURE.
UM, SO I'M REALLY, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS DIRECTION.
I WANT TO THINK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO FOR TIRELESSLY PUSHING THIS DIRECTION AND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN ON THE CULTURAL TRUST FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THOSE.
UM, I HAVE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS AND I WOULD I GO THE REQUEST TO HAVE A Q AND A PORTAL AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ASK QUESTIONS, PARTICULARLY IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, SOME SPEED ON THIS.
UM, SO I WILL TRY AND LIMIT MY QUESTIONS, BUT I DO HAVE SEVERAL OF THEM.
UM, FIRST I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND ON, UM, I THINK IT IS PAGE 24 IN THE DESCRIPTION
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OF IT THAT CULTURAL TRUST.IT SEEMS TO SUGGEST THAT SOMEBODY WOULD SELL US THEIR PROPERTY AT 10% OF THE APPRAISE MARKET VALUE.
UM, SO IT SAYS IT IS SUGGESTED THAT WOULD BE A REQUIREMENT OF RFP THAT PURCHASE PRICES BE NO HIGHER THAN 10% OF APPRAISED MARKET VALUE.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEBODY WOULD SELL IT TO US FOR THAT
THAT IS A TYPE OF NO MORE THAN 10% ABOVE APPRAISED MARKET VALUE.
LIMIT AS TO HOW MUCH ABOVE, UM, COULD BE ACCEPTED.
AND THAT WOULD PROVIDE A NEGOTIATING PLATFORM, UM, THAT WE REFERRED TO EARLIER.
AND I APOLOGIZE AGAIN FOR THAT TYPO, BUT THE CONCEPT IS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LIMITED NUMBER OF LIMITED NUMBER OF VENUES OR SPACES THAT WILL BE PURCHASED.
AND LET'S SAY YOU DECIDE TO DO FIVE FACES.
IDEALLY THERE'LL BE 20 AVAILABLE SPACES, AND WE CAN NEGOTIATE WITH THEM WITH THIS HARD CAP AND KIND OF SAY ANYONE ABOVE 10% ABOVE THE PRICE YOU'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO BE CONSIDERED.
AND THAT PRESENTS A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC THAN JUST GOING TO AN INDIVIDUAL LANDLORD AND SAYING, WE WANT TO STAY, HE'S GIVE US A GOOD PRICE.
I MEAN, THAT MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE TO ME.
UM, SO LET'S SAY THAT THE PROPERTY, UM, WAS IT GOING TO BE 12 MILLION AND WE'RE DOING 80% WITH A DEBT, AND THEN WE'RE PAYING 2 MILLION FROM OUR CREATIVE SPACE BOND.
WHO'S PAYING THE OTHER 2 MILLION AND WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE OVER LIKE THE OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE? SO IF IT WERE 12 MILLION AND WE WERE DOING AN 80%, THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S 2.4 MILLION IN EQUITY OF WHICH 1.2 MILLION WOULD COME FROM THE CREATIVE SPACES BOND IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY AT THAT PROPERTY WOULD HAVE TO BE IN TITLE OF THE CITY IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE BOND REQUIREMENTS, BUT THEN COULD BE UTILIZED BY THE CULTURAL ENTITY.
THE REQUIREMENT OF THE CULTURAL OR MUSIC ENTITY WOULD BE TO RAISE THE OTHER BIT OF THE MATCHING EQUITY IN ORDER TO GET ACCESS TO THE SPACE AND THEN TO PAY THE RENT THAT BASICALLY COVERS THE DEBT SERVICE.
AND WE DID SOME INITIAL ANALYSIS AND IN GENERAL, THAT RENT COVERING THE DEBT SERVICES LOWER THAN THE RENTS THAT THEY CURRENTLY ARE PAYING IN MOST CASES OR IS, UM, NEARLY EQUIVALENT.
SO THE THREE PEOPLE, YEAH, WE'RE PAYING FOR PROFITS THAT WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE GETTING.
AND WE WOULDN'T BE LOOKING TO GET, UM, THE HIGHER, HIGHEST AND BEST USE FOR THAT PROPERTY, WHICH COULD BE DIFFERENT.
AND ALSO THERE WOULD BE A CROSS THAT IT'S NOT FIGURED INTO THE CALCULATIONS, BUT ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR CROSS SUBSIDY TO HAVE OTHER USES IN THOSE AREAS THAT ARE JUST RELATIVELY MARKET OR CLOSER TO MARKET USES, UM, THAT CROSS SUBSIDIZE THE CULTURAL AND MUSIC.
AND, UM, THERE'S ALSO AN EFFICIENCY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GAIN FROM HAVING, UM, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITY MANAGE ALL THOSE SPACES.
YOU WON'T NEED 10 PROPERTY MANAGERS YOU'LL NEED ONE WITH LIKE A GOV BETWEEN THE SPACES, AGAIN, SAVING THOSE OPERATING COSTS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE MULTIPLYING.
AND SO THEN ALL OF THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE VENUES WHO ARE LARGELY RENTING A LOT OF HIS CASES TO, TO SURVIVE.
UM, YOU SAID AT ONE POINT THAT THIS ENTITY NEEDS TO HAVE REAL ESTATE POWERS.
UM, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT REAL ESTATE EXPERTISE IS AND THAT THE CITY COULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING MORE REAL ESTATE EXPERTISE.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND, UNLESS IT'S JUST SIMPLY THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT YOU MEAN BY SAYING IT NEEDS TO HAVE REAL ESTATE POWERS WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW, I UNDERSTAND EXPERTISE.
I UNDERSTAND THE PROJECTS, BUT THERE WAS THAT PIECE.
THERE I'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON IT.
I THINK IT'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ITEMS. ONE OF THEM IS BECAUSE OF THIS ANNUAL CONTRACTING PROCESS.
AND THIS GOES BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN'S COMMENTS.
UM, ONCE THE PROCESS IS DECIDED ON THE ENTITY THEN STANDS ON ITS OWN TWO FEET AND IS ABLE TO ENGAGE IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITHOUT NECESSARILY HAVING TO COME BACK.
AS LONG AS IT FITS IN THE BOX THAT YOU HAVE CREATED FOR IT, IT CAN GO FORTH AND SIGN A CONTRACT AND BE A LANDLORD, OR BE A TENANTS, OR, UM, ACQUIRE A PROPERTY THAT'S ITS POWER JUST AS A STANDALONE ENTITY.
UM, IN ADDITION, IT CAN DO THINGS LIKE TAKE OUT A MORTGAGE.
THAT'S NOT THE CITY'S CREDIT OR BONDING.
IT'S JUST LIKE NORMAL, UH, REAL ESTATE, UH, DEVELOPER WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO RAISE EQUITY, WHICH THIS ENTITY CAN THROUGH PRIVATE INVESTMENTS, TAKE OUT DEBT, WHICH THIS ENTITY CAN AND NEGOTIATE AS A PRINCIPAL IN GETTING A DEAL DONE.
NOW, ALL THAT NEGOTIATION, IF IT INVOLVES ANY CITY MONEY OR ANY CITY BUILDINGS WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE AGREEMENT THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE ENTITY THAT'S DONE IN AN ANNUAL BASIS, BUT THAT AGREEMENT MIGHT BE FOR 15 DIFFERENT PROJECTS
[02:45:01]
OR PROPERTIES.AND IT'LL BE ONE, YOU KNOW, LONG DRAWN OUT COUNSEL HEARING SESSION WHERE YOU'RE DIGGING IN ON ALL THESE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS AND SEE THE REPORTS AND ALL THAT.
AND THEN YOU SAY, OKAY, GO FORTH.
WE'RE COMFORTABLE JUST TWEAKING THIS AND THAT.
WE WANT TO ADD THIS, WANT TO TAKE AWAY THAT.
AND THEN THE ENTITY HAS THE POWER ON ITS OWN TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS.
BUT THE POWER TO ZONE, IF THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN THE ZONING, NO REGULATORY POWER, THEY WON'T HAVE TO DO DISCRETIONARY APPROVALS.
I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THE POWER THAT ANY JOE OR MARY THAT'S A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER COULD HAVE, WHICH YOUR AGENCIES DON'T HAVE.
THEY HAVE TO COME THROUGH YOU TO EXECUTE THE POWER OF THE GOVERNMENT, BUT THIS WILL NOT, UH, THE PROPRIETARY POWER MEAN REAL ESTATE STUFF, BUT THIS ENTITY WILL HAVE ZERO REGULATORY POWER.
IT'S NOT A LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.
IT'S A, IT'S A ENTITY THAT IS CHARGED WITH CERTAIN SPECIFIC TASKS AROUND MANAGING REAL ESTATE.
WOULD THERE NOT BE A VALUE THOUGH IN HAVING SPECIAL CONNECTIONS BACK TO CITI, TO EXPEDITE SONY IN CASES THAT ARE ON CITY, UM, THROUGH THE PROCESS? ABSOLUTELY.
THERE WOULD BE A HUGE VALUE IN THAT.
AND THE WAY IT'S CONTEMPLATED YOU'RE CURRENTLY IS THAT THERE WOULD BE A PREAPPROVAL IN THAT ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR CERTAIN OUTCOMES.
UM, AND AS LONG AS IT STAYED WITHIN THE BANDS OF THOSE OUTCOMES, IT WAS FINE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, YOU COULD SAY, GO DO A PROJECT.
IT NEEDS TO HAVE AT LEAST 10% COMMERCIAL, THAT'S AFFORDABLE 25% AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE REST LIKE DO ANYTHING AS LONG AS IT'S NOT LUXURY CONDOS.
AND THEN AS LONG AS IT FIT THAT BILL, IF IT COULD GO OUT AND, AND DO THOSE THINGS IN TERMS OF PRE APPROVING SOMETHING LIKE, UM, A POD OR A MASTER PLAN, THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT COULD HAPPEN IN ADVANCE.
AND THEN THE ENTITY COULD MARCH ALONG IMPLEMENTING IT.
SO THAT HAPPENING IN ADVANCE BEFORE EVEN AN RFP GOES OUT OR NEGOTIATIONS START, THE ENTITY COULD ALREADY HAVE THE CERTAINTY THAT IT HAS YOUR WILL AND IS ABLE TO DO DEALS WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THAT WILL AND NOT NEED TO BRING UP A PUBLIC NEGOTIATION INTO THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE TO BE RETREATED AND RETRAINING AND RETRAINING.
I KNOW, BUT THAT'S NOT A FEATURE PER SE, THAT WOULD BE NEGOTIATED ON A PROPERTY BY PRICE.
WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS HAVE IT NEGOTIATED AT ONCE ANNUALLY AND THOSE THINGS ARE PERSISTENT UNLESS THEY'RE CHANGED ANNUALLY.
MOST, A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS COULD BE MULTI-YEAR.
UM, AND YOU COULD GET A PREAPPROVAL TO DO CERTAIN THINGS WITH CERTAIN PROJECTS WITHIN AGAIN, BOUNDARIES OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS.
UM, THEN YOU MENTIONED THE AIDC, WHICH BEFORE TODAY I'D NEVER HEARD OF.
UM, SO CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT POWERS IT HAS AND HOW HE CAN RAISE BONDS ON THAT? AND ALSO, I THINK THERE WAS A AR A R F ALSO THAT HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT, THE REGENERATION FUND.
UM, SO THOSE ARE TWO ENTITIES THAT YOU CREATED IN THE PAST.
UH, YOU BROADLY THE CITY, UM, WITH THE ATTEMPT TO PUSH FORWARD, UH, VARIOUS LIMITS THAT YOU'VE FOUND IN YOUR ABILITY TO DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THAT OUR REGENERATION FUND, UM, WAS, UH, CDE, WHICH ALL THAT, UH, ACTUALLY MR. GONZALEZ TALK ABOUT.
CAUSE I BELIEVE HE WAS THE ONE WHO PUSHED THAT FORWARD AND, UH, THAT IS, UH, ABILITY TO TRY TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS AS AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCE IN PARTICULAR PROJECTS.
YOU NEED A STANDALONE ENTITY TO DO THAT.
THAT'S HOW YOU ACCESS THAT MONEY.
UM, NORMALLY THAT ENTITY IS PAIRED WITH A LARGER ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS AND IS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IT.
AND THAT WAY, WHEN IT'S STAND ALONE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO GET PROJECTS IT'S NOT UNHEARD OF, BUT IT'S HARDER.
UM, THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS SOMETHING THAT WAS STARTED.
UM, I WANT TO SAY SIX YEARS AGO, UM, AND I CAN LOOK IT UP FOR YOU.
I THINK IT'S NOTED IN THE REPORT.
AND THE IDEA WAS THAT IT WAS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD THIS CONCEPT, HAVING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITY AND THE IDEA THAT YOU COULD DO FINANCINGS CONDUIT, FINANCINGS THAT ALLOW YOU TO BRING PROJECTS FORWARD BASED ON THE REVENUE OF THOSE PROJECTS AND NOT A GENERAL OBLIGATION OF THE CITY.
IT'S A VERY STANDARD FORM THAT EXISTS IN ALMOST EVERY STATE.
I THINK THERE'S ONE STATE WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE A SIMILAR ENTITY AND IT'S A FINANCING VEHICLE.
IT'S A VEHICLE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CITY'S CREDIT STATUS AND LARGE SCALE TO GET FINANCING DONE AT A LOWER INTEREST RATE THAN A PRIVATE PARTY CAN GET IN GENERAL, IT'S RESTRICTED TO NOT INVOLVE HOUSING, BUT TO INVOLVE OTHER KINDS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
IT'S REALLY, UH, UH, IT'S SOMETHING FROM A BYGONE ERA WHEN INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS WERE THE MOST JOB GENERATING ONES, BUT IT'S USED IN EVERY STATE NOW AS A FINANCING ARM FOR EVERYTHING FROM OFFICE
[02:50:01]
TO CULTURAL, TO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE FINANCED.AND IT'S VERY SPECIFICALLY IN ORDER FOR ANYTHING TO BE FINANCED.
THIS IS A SHADOW ENTITY TODAY WHOSE MEANING IT'S SHADOW OF YOUTH IT'S BOARD.
IS YOU THE CITY COUNCIL? IT HAS NO STAFF, IT HAS POWERS, BUT THEY'RE NOT BEING, UM, HIGHLY UTILIZED.
LET ME TURN IT OVER TO RODNEY FOR, UM, CORRECTING ANYTHING.
AND ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE REGENERATION.
THE AUSTIN REGENERATION FUND WAS CREATED IN 2010, 2011, UM, AS A CONDUIT TO APPLY FOR NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS.
IT IS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ENTITY, AS IT'S SUGGESTED IT'S NOT BEEN USED AT ALL.
UM, WE'VE KEPT IT AROUND IF YOU WILL, AND JUST IN THE EVENT THAT WE EVER NEED TO USE IT.
AND I THINK THIS IS WHEN THOSE CASES BY KEEPING IT AROUND WHEN IT'S IMPORTANT, UM, CAUSE THAT WAY WITH THE DIESEL FOR THESE PURPOSES, BUT WE HAD CREATED IT BACK IN THAT TIME, THE MARKET TAX CREDIT APPLICATION.
AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION I'LL ASK TODAY IS, UM, SO WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS OR HAVE ACTED, UM, UM, SOME CITY OWNED PROPERTIES.
I'LL GIVE YOU THREE EXAMPLES AND MAYBE YOU COULD, UM, MATTHEW, YOU COULD PICK ONE AND JUST TELL ME HOW IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, HOW IT BE HANDLED DIFFERENTLY IF WE HAD, UM, HAD THIS ENTITY IN PLACE AND GIVEN IT, UM, SOME ROLE IN, IN THESE PROPERTIES THAT WE CURRENTLY OWN.
SO, UM, MAKALA PLACE, COLONY PARK, WHERE THE HOME DEPOT SITE, UM, HOW WOULD HAVING THIS ENTITY HAVE ALLOWED US TO DO MORE THAN WE DID OR ARE DOING IN THOSE CASES AND YOU CAN PICK ANY ONE OF THEM.
UM, I THINK IN PARTICULAR, UH, WHAT IT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO DO, UM, IS WHOLE REVENUE STREAMS, UM, WHERE LIKE COLONY PARK, LET'S SAY FULL, UM, REVENUE STREAMS FROM OTHER PROJECTS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ADVANCE MORE, UM, WITH THAT, UM, PROJECT AND ALSO UTILIZE THE EDC AS A POTENTIAL LANDLORD AND INSTRUCTION OR, UM, SO THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY PUSH FORWARD THROUGH, UM, SORT OF MIXED RESPONSES TO AN RFP AND BE ABLE TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT.
PARDON? YEAH, I THINK YOU'VE COVERED.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE GETTING THE STREET, THEN, THEN WHERE YOU'RE GETTING THE STREAMS OF MONEY, THEN, I MEAN, THAT'S AN EXAMPLE WHERE WE'RE SUBSIDIZING A PROJECT THAT WE WERE ADVANCING FOR PUBLIC GOOD.
UM, NOT ONE WHERE WE'RE MAKING MONEY OFF OF IT.
SO IF WE WERE, I DON'T KNOW WHICH EXAMPLE MCCULLOUGH PLACE, IF WE WERE TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF IT, HOW WOULD THAT, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO PICK THAT ONE BECAUSE I DON'T, I DON'T MEAN TO BE CONTROVERSIAL.
I'M JUST TRYING TO COME UP WITH EXAMPLES THAT WE HAVE CITY OWNED PROPERTY WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE WHERE WE, YOU KNOW, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TURN A PROFIT, TO BE ABLE TO INVEST IN OTHER, OTHER THINGS.
I THINK ALSO, UM, THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS THAT I'LL TRY TO TWIST THAT AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE EVASIVE.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO, UM, UH, BE HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THINGS THAT I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AND ARE AN EXPERT AT.
BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S TWO REAL, THERE'S TWO REAL PIECES THAT OCCUR.
ONE OF THOSE PIECES IS THAT AS YOU SEE EACH OF THESE PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE WORKED ON, WHICH, UM, A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC, FRANKLY.
UM, A LOT OF TIMES YOU'VE HAD TO LOOK TO OUTSIDE ENTITIES, UM, TO MANAGE THEM AND THOSE OUTSIDE ENTITIES, AS, AS THAT MONEY GOES OUT, EVEN IF IT'S A FRIENDLY ENTITY, IT'S NOT EFFICIENT FROM A DOLLAR BASIS.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU NEED TO LIKE LOOK AT A PROPERTY, MAKING MONEY, THERE'S A DIFFERENT WAY TO DO IT, WHICH IS THAT AS YOU AGGREGATE PROJECTS, THERE'S MORE OVERHEAD MONIES THAT ARE NEEDED TO MANAGE THOSE PROJECTS IF YOU'RE CONSOLIDATING THEM.
AND SO IT GIVES YOU MORE FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE DIFFERENT CHOICES ON WHAT THE RENTS ARE, WHO IS IN THEM.
AND THEN THAT'S, THAT'S THE EFFICIENCY OF SCALE.
AND THEN THE SECOND PIECE IS THE CROSS SUBSIDY PIECE OF WHEN YOU'RE A HAMMER, EVERYTHING LOOKS LIKE A NAIL WHEN YOU'RE A PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITY, UM, RATHER THAN BEING IN THE SILO OF DOING HOUSING OR DOING INFRASTRUCTURE OR DOING HOMELESSNESS, YOU CAN LOOK AT EACH PROJECT AND SAY, WHAT IS THE MOST PUBLIC STUFF I CAN SHOVE INTO THIS AND STILL COME OUT AS NOT NEEDING ADDITIONAL SUBSIDY.
AND CAN I PAIR SOME USES THAT MAKE MONEY WITH SOME USES THAT DON'T SO THAT THEY CAN ALL CROSS SUBSIDIZE ONE ANOTHER AND I CAN GET AN OUTCOME.
FOR INSTANCE, IF I WANTED TO JUST PUT IN PLACE AN EARLY CHILD, UM, CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT MAYBE FITS LIKE 10 OR 15 PEOPLE, IF I HAVE TO DO THAT STAND ALONE, THE MARGINAL COST OF DOING IT IS GOING TO BE SO HIGH.
I'LL NEED TO LIKE GET A BUILDING OR DO A LEASE AND
[02:55:01]
FIGURE OUT THE PROGRAM AND ALL THAT.BUT IF I'M DOING IT ACROSS THE CITY IN 30 PLACES, AND I'M ALSO HELPING WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN 30 PLACES, THAT I'M ALSO HELPING ME IN CULTURAL IN 30 PLACES.
ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULD JUST MAKE THIS MIX PRODUCT TYPE THAT I COULD JUST SCATTER EVERYWHERE.
AND THE COST OF DOING EACH THING IS LESS BECAUSE THEY'RE SHARING RESOURCES.
SO I DANCED AROUND A LITTLE BIT, BUT I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HOW SOME OF THESE PROJECTS COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.
I THINK CENTRALIZING THE FUNDS THAT ARE COMING FROM THE CITY FOR MANAGEMENT AND USING THEM MORE EFFICIENTLY AND OPTIMIZING THE PROGRAM SO THAT YOU MAXIMIZE OUT SITES WITH AS MANY USES AS POSSIBLE.
SOME OF THOSE SITES CONTRIBUTING TO THE SUBSIDIZING, OTHER USES OF THEM SITES.
UM, SO IT KIND OF MINIMIZES HOW MUCH OUTSIDE MONEY HAS TO COME IN AND ALSO MAXIMIZES THE PACE AT WHICH THOSE PROFITS ARE ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
UM, IF WE'RE GOING TO GO ON A PACE OF A MONTH WITH US, I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO WANT TO HAVE A DEEPER CONVERSATION.
MAYOR PROTRAVEL GARZA, I WAS ABLE TO READ YOUR LIPS.
SO, UM, I JUST, I WANT IT TO DAYLIGHT AND I THINK MOST OF US GOT THE EMAIL FROM THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU REC YOU, YOU, YOU STATING SEVERAL TIMES YOUR, UM, UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF IT AND HOW IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED, BUT NONE, UM, THIS, THIS CORPORATION WILL LAST A VERY LONG TIME AND YOU MAY NOT BE AROUND TO, TO CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE THAT POLICY AREA.
UM, I JUST KNOW PERSONALLY, UM, I, I WILL HAVE TWO NEW CHILDCARE FACILITIES IN MY DISTRICT AND I, I HOPE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE ADVOCACY THAT I BROUGHT, ONE AT THE NEW MUNICIPAL COURTHOUSE AND ONE AT THE DEAF SPRINGS HEALTH CENTER.
UM, AND IT HAS JUST BEEN, UH, I THINK THE TEN ONE COUNCIL, UM, BROUGHT A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THIS, BUT PREVIOUS TO THAT, IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO.
AND I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS HER AND, AND, UM, COUNSELOR MARTINEZ WERE THE ONES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN ON THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME.
AND NOW WE HAVE, UM, A COUNCIL WITH A LOT, WITH A LOT OF US HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN.
SO, UM, MY ONLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THIS, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT WE ADD A PLACE ON THE BOARD FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS DIFFERENT FROM K THROUGH 12.
AND, AND THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK IS I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT AN EVEN NUMBER OF MAYBE YOU'RE, YOU'RE TRYING NOT TO FIND IT.
AND THEN I WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM AND THOUGHT, I DIDN'T SEE ANY, UM, LIKE A SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE.
AND SO MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY IF, IF, AND I DON'T WANT TO OPEN THE FLOODGATES OF, WELL, WHAT ABOUT THIS? AND WHAT ABOUT THIS? BUT, UM, IT IS DEFINITELY AN AREA THAT NEEDS ATTENTION.
AND I KNOW ONE EXAMPLE IS TEXAS MUTUAL ADDED A CHILDCARE ONSITE CUT CHILD CARE FACILITY.
AND AS I SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT THE PROCESS AND THEY TOLD US EVERY OBSTACLE THAT THEY FACED, UM, THE CEO, THE CEO WAS THE, WAS THE CHAMPION.
AND HE, YOU KNOW, HE EVEN SAID THERE WERE TIMES WHEN HE WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, FORGET IT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT THIS, YOU KNOW, NOT, NOT, NOT THAT HE WOULD SAY THAT IT JUST, THERE WERE SO MANY OBSTACLES, BUT HE STOOD FIRM AND SAYING, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO MY EMPLOYEES.
AND SO YOU NEED THAT ADVOCATE THERE.
SO THAT'S MY ONLY, THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD IS IF WE HAVE WE ADD, WE LISTENED TO THE CONCERNS OF THOSE IN OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY AND ADD A PLACE FOR THEM.
MAYOR PRO TEM, UM, FROM CAPRI SONYA, UH, ECONOMIC RECOVERY OFFICER, I'VE MET WITH THE UNITED WAY AND CERTAINLY HAVE DISCUSSED THOSE CONCERNS.
AND WE ARE, UM, HAPPY TO ADD THAT POSITION TO THE BOARD.
WE'RE WORKING ON THE DETAILS OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF EXACTLY WHAT YOU POINTED OUT WAS THE EVEN NUMBER.
SO WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU WITH A PROPOSAL THAT INCLUDES A REPRESENTATIVE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, UM, BUT ALSO TAKES CARE OF THE ISSUE THAT YOU, THE NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS, UH, CHILDCARE IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO A TOURISTY.
AND THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE REALLY STRESSING IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THAT IT IS NET COMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE, AS WELL AS A SOCIAL SERVICE CONCERN.
SO, UM, MORE TO COME IN THAT REGARD, BUT HAPPY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT REQUEST.
I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT THESE PLACES AND WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES WOULD BE FOR ALL OF THESE.
I'M ASSUMING THAT THE BYLAWS WOULD DELINEATE SOME MORE DETAILS ABOUT EACH POSITION, BUT JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT WAS THE INTENT FOR SOMETHING WE SEE SOON.
AND, UM, I THINK WHAT WE'RE AIMING TOWARD IS A STRATEGIC COUNCIL AND, UH, OUTREACH COUNCIL IS KIND OF THE, THE FORM THAT, THAT GOVERNANCE BOARD IS REALLY CREATING.
[03:00:02]
SUGGEST COULD COULD HAPPEN IS THAT THAT BOARD ON AN ANNUAL BASIS IS SETTING FORTH A STRATEGY THAT GUIDES ITS REQUESTS FROM COUNCIL, UM, IN TERMS OF PROPERTIES AND, UM, BY HAVING THOSE DIFFERENT EXPERTISE THERE, UM, YOU CAN IMAGINE A STRATEGY THAT REFERS TO, UM, WHAT MY FAVORITE STRATEGY AROUND INCLUSIVE GROWTH, WHICH DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE ONE THAT IS SELECTED BY THIS BOARD, BUT IS THE BASKET OF GOODS, UM, STRATEGY OF SAYING, OKAY, I'M A FAMILY MAKING THE MEDIUM WAGE.UM, WHAT DO I NEED TO BUY IN TOWN? AND WHERE CAN I, AND WHERE CAN'T I BUY AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ABOUT MY ABILITY TO LIVE A LIFE THAT IS APPROPRIATE? SO THAT'S ACCESS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, IT'S ACCESS TO FOOD, UM, HOUSING THAT IS NOT RENT BURDENS, ACCESS TO CULTURAL FACILITIES, ACCESS TO RECREATION, UM, FRESH FOOD.
LIKE THERE'S, THERE'S SORT OF AN ESTABLISHED WEB OF THINGS THAT WE THINK ABOUT NATIONALLY, BUT ACTUALLY YOU WOULD SPECIFICALLY ANALYZE THAT LOCALLY AND SAY, THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE ARE SPENDING MONEY.
THIS IS WHERE WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
THIS IS WHAT WE HEAR FROM A CONSTITUENCY.
AND THEN THAT BOARD OF, UM, THAT BOARD'S PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO HOLD THE ORGANIZATION, SPEAK TO THE FIRE ON THE ONE HAND AND TO, UM, PROJECT A VISION FOR THE FUTURE THAT IS INTEGRATED ON THE OTHER HAND, WHICH IT'S VERY, YOU TRY TO DO THAT AS A BODY, BUT YOUR TIME IS VERY LIMITED.
SO HAVING THAT ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM THIS, YOU KNOW, A BOARD WILL HELP SUPPORT YOU IN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE YOU WANT TO ALLOCATE THE RESOURCES.
SO THAT PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS GOING TO BE HOLDING THE LINE ON AN OVERALL INCLUSIVE GROWTH MISSION AND NOT GETTING LOST IN THE SAUCE OF ACCOMPLISHING SOME SPECIFIC PROJECT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PEOPLE.
UM, AND IS THE INTENT FOR SOME OF THESE PLACES, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, THERE'S ONE THAT SAYS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, AND THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT TALKS ABOUT COMMUNITY CONTINUUM OF CARE.
UM, IS, IS THAT AN IDEA OF ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY IN HOUSING AND AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING SURE WE'VE GOT LIKE SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMMING, LIKE TRYING TO WRAP AROUND, UM, TWO DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF WHAT MAY CAUSE PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS.
IS THAT KIND OF WHERE SOME OF THESE ARE SPLITTING OFF DIFFERENT POSITIONS? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND I WOULD SAY THERE'S A COUPLE OF, UM, REASONS WHY THERE IS A POSITION PROPOSED ON THAT BOARD.
ONE OF THEM IS IT MAY HAVE BEEN SPECIFIED BY THIS BODY FOR AN EARLIER ITERATION OF THIS BODY, WHICH IS THE CASE FOR THE CONTINUUM OF CARE POSITION.
ANOTHER ONE IS IT MIGHT INVOLVE SERIOUS, UM, LIAISON WITH ANOTHER AGENCY OR A SPECIALTY GROUP THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THAT GROUP TO BE IN EVERY CONVERSATION SO THAT THEY DON'T GET OUT OF SYNC.
AND I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE AROUND, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE, WHAT IS REFERRED TO WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING HOMELESSNESS POSITION VERSUS THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
AND THEN A THIRD REASON WHY THEY MIGHT BE PROPOSED ON THERE IS IT COULD BE ANOTHER, UM, BODY THAT MIGHT HAVE ACCESS TO REAL ESTATE AND A SIMILAR MISSION.
SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHETHER IT WINDS UP BEING UT OR, UM, WHETHER IT'S AISD OR LIKE THERE COULD BE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT FOR A SIMILAR REASON, YOU WANT THEM IN THE ROOM CONSTANTLY, SO THAT THERE IS SOME PARTICIPATION IN THAT PLAN MAKING AND A WILLINGNESS TO MAYBE GO ISSUE RFPS OR GIVE UP THE MANAGEMENT OF CERTAIN SITES IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH OTHER GOALS.
THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO WANT TO HAVE A, A VOICE INSIDE THE BOARDROOM TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I, I, I AGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT THAT I THINK THAT'S GONNA WORK REALLY WELL.
UM, AND SIMILARLY IS WORKFORCE VERSUS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS ONE MORE ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, BUILDING PRACTICES AND WORKER SAFETY AND ANOTHER ABOUT EDUCATION AND TRAINING.
IS, IS THAT KIND OF WHERE THAT CAME FROM? THAT'S EXACTLY CORRECT.
I THINK THAT, UM, WORKFORCE, UM, IS REALLY ABOUT THE, ALSO THE TREATMENT OF WORKERS AND ISSUES OF WAGES AND WORKFORCE PRACTICES, WHEREAS HIGHER EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS ABOUT RETOOLING THE WORKFORCE TO BE MORE ELIGIBLE OR MORE PRODUCTIVE AND EMPLOYMENT VERSUS THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY IN EMPLOYMENT.
AND YOU'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE WAY THEY ARE TREATED OR HOW WAGES ARE SET OR, YOU KNOW, UH, WORKING CONDITIONS ARE, UM, SATISFACTORY.
AND I ALSO LIKE MAYOR PRO TEM SUGGESTION OF HAVING, UM, KIND OF A FOCUS ON ACCESS TO CHILDCARE OR, UM, ACCESS TO ASSISTANCE IF YOU ARE MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OLDER.
UM, AND SO I DO REALLY LIKE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO AN ONLINE Q AND A AM HAPPY TO KIND OF DIG INTO IT THERE AND MAKING SURE WE'VE GOT ALL OUR BASES COVERED, IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF THOUGHTS
[03:05:01]
BEEN PUT INTO IT.UM, AND SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THESE SPECIFIC POSITIONS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER.
THIS IS THIS REALLY TRULY EXCITING.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LOT OF VACANT PROPERTY IN DISTRICT THREE, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU A SCENARIO.
HOW WOULD YOU WOULD, IT WOULD WORK IF WE HAD A FACILITY, A BUILDING HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO PART OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO TURN IT INTO THE CULTURAL CENTERS THAT WE WANT TO SEE.
HOW WOULD YOU WORK WITH, HOW WOULD THAT WOULD WORK WITH YOUR PROPOSAL? UM, I THINK IT COULD WORK A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
I'LL GIVE ONE EXAMPLE AND JUST UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S IN YOUR DISCRETION IF YOU WANT TO DO IT THIS WAY.
BUT I THINK WHAT WOULD TYPICALLY HAPPEN IN MY VIEW IS THAT IS NC FORUMS WOULD THEN GO AROUND AND SIT DOWN AND HAVE MEETINGS WITH THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND SAY, AND DEPARTMENTS, HOW'S IT GOING WITH REAL ESTATE? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT AREN'T WORKING? AND IN THE CASE SPECIFICALLY, I THINK, UM, WHAT WE SEE IN A LOT OF PLACES IS THIS APPROACH TO PARKS AND REC, WHICH IN GENERAL HAVE BEEN, HAVE LESS AND LESS RESOURCES AS MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS DO.
AND HISTORICALLY, UM, WE'RE STEWARDS FOR A LOT OF CULTURAL PROGRAMMING AND THAT'S MOVED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE NEW STAFF TO MANAGE THAT.
AND SO WHAT WE'LL PROBABLY RECOMMEND IS WHY DON'T WE DO AN MOU OR A LEASE ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT OR THIS ENTITY TO TAKE OVER MANAGEMENT OF THOSE FACILITIES AND HELP DEVELOP THEM ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE CULTURAL TRUST PROGRAMMING AND HAVE SINGULAR MANAGEMENT AND EXPERTISE, BUT SUBJECT TO WHATEVER RIGHTS AND OVERSIGHTS EITHER PARKS OR THE CITY IN GENERAL WANTS TO HAVE IN THOSE, UM, AREAS.
AND THEN AGAIN, YOU GOT THIS ECONOMY OF SCALE.
UM, I WILL JUST, IT MIGHT SOUND COMPLICATED AND I'LL JUST TELL YOU, UM, WHEN I USED TO DO ORIENTATION FOR MY STAFF, UM, IN, UH, NEW YORK CITY, THE FIRST DAY, ALL DAY HOURS WOULD JUST BE SPENT ON ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AGREEMENTS WE HAD WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES AND WHAT THE DIFFERENT RULES GOVERNING, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY, BUT THAT'S ADMINISTRATION AND BUREAUCRACY THAT IS A NECESSARY EVIL IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE EVERY LAW IS FOLLOWED.
EVERYTHING IS, UM, YOU KNOW, TIGHT, BUT WHAT CAN HAPPEN IS LEADING ON THE EXPERTISE OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
ONCE IT'S TRUSTED THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO RUN AWAY WITH THE BAG OR DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES PEOPLE EMBARRASSED, BUT JUST TAKE, OVERCOME AND FUNCTIONS THAT NO ONE ASSET MANAGER CAN MANAGE 20 CULTURAL FACILITIES, BUT IF THEY'RE EASILY CULTURAL FACILITIES, ONE'S WITH PARKS, ONE'S WITH EDD, ONE'S WITH AN ORGANIZATION THEY'RE EACH GOING TO HAVE THEIR OWN MANAGER.
AND YOU'RE SORT OF JUST, YOU'RE WASTING SOME MONEY AND TIME THERE THAT YOU COULD PROBABLY WANT TO SPEND ON OTHER THINGS.
IF NOT GREAT, I WOULD REALLY WANT TO KEEP, KEEP MY OFFICE IN PORN BECAUSE OF THIS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO, TO HELP SOME OF THESE STRUGGLING, UH, THEATER GROUPS AND CULTURAL GROUPS THAT ARE, ARE REALLY STRUGGLING IN OUR, IN OUR ECONOMY BECAUSE OF THE HIGH RAMP THAT THERE ARE EXPERIENCE.
AND I JUST DON'T WANT THEM TO DISAPPEAR.
KATHY, YOU HAVE SEVEN QUICK, IT'S ALMOST 12, 15.
I JUST WANTED TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE MY STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED REALLY TIRELESSLY ON THIS COUNCIL AND, UM, SHANNON HOLLY AND ASHLEY RICHARDSON.
AND, UM, WITH REGARD TO CHILDCARE, ASHLEY RICHARDSON IS ACTUALLY THE ONE WHO HAD RAISED THIS AS A POSSIBILITY.
UM, AND IN TALKING WITH MATTHEW, YOU SHARED WITH US THAT THE NEW YORK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HAS THAT AS A FOCUS.
AND SO ASHLEY, UM, HAD REACHED OUT AND TALKED WITH INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE REALLY MATTERS SUCCESS BY SIX AND CATHY MCMORRIS AND OTHERS.
SO, UM, THANK YOU TO BOTH OF MY STAFF FOR THEIR GREAT WORK ON THAT.
AND ESPECIALLY FOR THAT GOOD IDEA, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING BASED ON MY CONVERSATION WITH, WITH RODNEY AND VERONICA, THAT, THAT HAD BEEN INCORPORATED INTO, INTO THE REVISED RECOMMENDATIONS TO HAVE THAT POSITION.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR CONFIRMING THAT FOR TODAY.
JUST ONE LAST, SUPER QUICK QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING THAT TALKS, UM, TOWARDS THE END.
[03:10:01]
KNOW THAT THIS WILL RAISE QUESTIONS IN THE PUBLIC, AS IT DID IN MY MIND, THERE IS A SECTION TOWARD THE END OF THE REPORT WHERE IT'S TALKING ABOUT ADVANTAGES THAT PROJECTS COULD HAVE.UM, AND IT THERE'S A REFERENCE TO THE PILOT PAYMENT PER PROPERTY TAX.
AND I WONDER IF YOU COULD, AND ALSO CITY PRICING ON UTILITY COSTS, WHICH I NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND.
CAUSE I THINK OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS GET THE SAME UTILITY COSTS.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER PROJECT DOES, THERE IS NO DISCOUNT, BUT IF YOU COULD JUST QUICKLY SHARE WITH US WITH A PILOT PAYMENT FOR PROPERTY, TEXAS, SO THAT WE HAVE A SENSE OF, OF WHAT THAT IS, UM, BECAUSE I'M, I'M INTRIGUED.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THOSE QUESTIONS, UH, IN TERMS OF THE PILOT PAYMENT, UM, WHEN EITHER THE CITY OWNS THE PROPERTY AND THE ENTITY MANAGES IT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, OR IF THERE'S A TRANSFER OF THE PROPERTY TO THE LGC, THERE IS THE ABILITY TO ABATE SOME PORTION OF THE PROPERTY TAX.
UM, IF THAT IS CHOSEN TO DO IT HAS TO BE A CHOICE, UM, THAT WOULD COME BACK TO THIS BODY OR BE A PART OF THAT ANNUAL CONTRACT.
UM, THEN YOU CAN ESTABLISH A PILOT LEVEL OF PAYMENTS.
ONE OF THE, JUST A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF THE TAX.
YOU CAN SAY IT WON'T GO UP AS FAST.
IT'S JUST A NEGOTIATED AMOUNT THAT IS APPROVED BY THE CITY IN ADVANCE.
UM, SO FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS POINTED OUT IN, UM, RED RIVER WAS JUST HOW MUCH THE OPERATING EXPENSES INCLUSIVE OF THE VAST INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX WAS REALLY HAMPERING THE ABILITY OF THE ENTITIES TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE.
IT WAS MORE THAT THE OPERATING EXPENSES KEPT GOING UP AND UP FOR, UM, MANAGEMENT OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE FACILITIES, INCREASED UTILITY COSTS AND, UM, EXTREMELY FASTLY IN PRECINCT PROPERTY TAX.
IF THE CITY WINDS UP, UM, DECIDING TO LEVERAGE THE CREATIVE FACILITIES BOND INTO A LARGER AMOUNT AND ESSENTIALLY CREATING CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF CITY OWNS SITES AROUND, UH, AROUND DIFFERENT AREAS AND DISTRICTS, THEN A CHOICE COULD BE MADE TO ALSO, UM, STOP THE RISE OF PROPERTY TAX HAPPENING AS FAST IN THOSE LOCATIONS BY INSTITUTING A PILOT SCHEDULE.
UM, I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE FROM THE SENSE THAT OTHERWISE IT'S JUST PAYING YOURSELF AND MAKING IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT FOR THE, FOR THE ENTITY TO, UM, DO IT, BUT IT ALSO, I WOULD SUGGEST THEM PAYING SOMETHING BECAUSE THAT CAN BE USED AS, UH, BUILDING A CAPITAL RESERVE FOR REPAIRS OR OPERATING EXPENSES OR THINGS THAT GENERALLY THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, WHEN THEY RUN THEIR OWN SITES, DON'T DO.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY HAVE A SUDDEN EVENT OF LOSING A WATER HEATER OR A ROOF AND YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY AND IT'S A WHOLE THING, YOU KNOW, IT JUST, UM, TAKE CARE OF THAT.
UM, AND WHAT WAS THE SECOND PART OF QUESTION? I THINK YOU'VE ANSWERED IT MORE OR LESS.
SO THE PILOT IS NOT A NAMED PROGRAM.
YOU WERE JUST SUGGESTING A PILOT PROGRAM IF YOU WANT IT TO LIMIT THE INCREASING TAXES.
UM, AND SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REQUEST, I THINK SEVERAL OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE REALLY LEGAL ONES.
AND SO MAYBE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE COULD HAVE, UM, AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ABOUT SOME OF THESE POINTS, BUT IS LEGALLY WITHIN THE, THE CITY'S ABILITY TO DO.
AND MATTHEW, IF YOU HAVE, IF YOU COULD POINT US TO WHERE IN YOUR REPORT, IF THIS EXISTS IN ONE OF THE APPENDICES, I HAVEN'T READ THROUGH THE APPENDICES AS CAREFULLY AS I NEED TO, BUT PERHAPS IN SOME OF THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE US NOW OR BEFORE, YOU'VE GOT SOME EXAMPLES OF, OF HOW OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE, HAVE DONE THIS KIND OF WORK, UM, IN TERMS OF PROPERTY TAX OR UTILITY COSTS OR OTHER KINDS OF THINGS THAT HELP MAKE HELP MAKE IT HELP MAKE THAT ECONOMIC.
I'M HAPPY TO, I PROVIDED THEM TOO MUCH, BUT JUST TO KIND OF GO BACK THROUGH THEM WOULD BE USEFUL.
THERE'S QUITE, THERE'S QUITE A LOT OF PAGES IN THE DEPENDENCY.
YEAH, WE WE'VE EXPLORED WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITH BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL LEGAL COUNSEL.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE, IN WHICH, UM, YOU'RE JUST GETTING AN ECONOMY OF SCALE ON UTILITIES OR IF THE ENTITY CREATES SOME UTILITY, UM, POSSIBILITIES, UH, EITHER WHETHER IT'S SOLAR ON RUBES OR HELPING WITH BIODIGESTERS OR WHATEVER KINDS OF THINGS IT WORKS OUT IN NEGOTIATION WITH, UM, AUSTIN ENERGY AND WAS GREAT WHERE I'D HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S JUST 30 SECONDS.
UM, UH, AND GIVEN ALL THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CULTURAL TRUST.
I JUST WANT TO, UM, UM, HELP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN RFI THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED NOW RELATED TO THE CREATIVE SPACE BOND.
AND, AND I WANT TO THANK THE EDD DEPARTMENT FOR GETTING THAT OUT THERE.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THEIR WORK ON IT.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE FOR EVERYONE THAT A DECISION
[03:15:01]
HAS NOT BEEN MADE ABOUT HOW EXACTLY THAT 12 MILLION IN CREATIVE SPACE BONDS WILL BE SPENT.SO THE CONVERSATIONS TODAY OR IDEAS, BUT THAT RFI IS DESIGNED TO REQUEST IDEAS FROM, FROM YOU, UH, THE PUBLIC FROM OUR CREATIVE SECTOR, UH, OUR CULTURAL SPACES OR MUSIC SPACES.
SO PLEASE DO NOT TAKE ANY OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD TODAY IS LIMITING FACTORS, THE PURPOSE OF THE RFI, AND YOU CAN SEE THE WRITTEN LANGUAGE IN THE RFI, BUT THE PURPOSE IS TO GENERATE CREATIVE IDEAS AT THIS POINT.
UM, UH, THE CONVERSATION TODAY HAS BEEN GREAT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF BRAINSTORMING ABOUT HOW, UM, EDO AND THE CULTURAL TRUST CAN HELP US REALLY LEVERAGE THE 12 MILLION, PLEASE DO THAT.
PLEASE DO NOT HEAR IT AS LIMITATIONS AT THIS POINT.
UM, JUST QUICK THOUGHTS BEFORE WE GO INTO, UH, TO, TO, TO LUNCH AND THEN COMING BACK TO DO PULL ITEMS, UM, INCLUDED IN THE LEGAL ISSUES THAT WE RAISE.
I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE LAND OWNERSHIP QUESTION WITH RESPECT TO THE $12 MILLION WITH THE BOND.
CAUSE I THINK THERE ARE CREATIVE WAYS FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT THAT MIGHT NOT BE A LIMITING FACTOR AS CONCERNS, CURRENT, UH, OPERATOR OWNED VENUES THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO SURVIVE, BUT DON'T WANT TO LOSE CONTROL OF A, OF A PIECE OF PROPERTY, BUT WOULD STILL BE OPERATING WITHIN WHAT WOULD BE THE PUBLIC BENEFIT STRICTURES THAT WE WOULD ALLY.
UH, I LIKE MY COLLEAGUES ARE REAL SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AND EXCITED TO SEE THIS HAPPENING.
AND I LIKE IT, THE APP IT'S SOONER THAN LATER.
SO I THINK THERE'S A BD AND DEEDS THAT WERE ALREADY MISSING OPPORTUNITIES THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY SAID.
I THINK IT BRINGS THREE THINGS THAT ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
IT BRINGS THE ABILITY TO ACT QUICKLY SPEED, UH, HAVING THE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY, UH, UH, GOVERNMENT BEING ABLE TO BE NIMBLE AND OPERATE AS QUICKLY AS THE MARKET OPERATES ALREADY.
WE'RE SEEING US LOSE LOCATIONS FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND THE LIKE, UH, JUST BECAUSE WE CAN'T MOVE QUICKLY ENOUGH, UH, BECAUSE OF THE RESTRAINTS ON GOVERNMENT.
SECOND IS THE, UH, EXPERTISE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME GREAT CONSULTANTS THAT WE HIRE.
WE HIRE A LOT OF THAT HELP US OUR REAL ESTATE.
UH, UH, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD BRING THAT EXPERTISE IN HOUSE THIS WAY, UH, SO THAT WE HAD, UH, THAT ORGANIZATION WOULD THAT PORTFOLIO THAT COULD CONVEY AT A HIGHEST LEVEL OF REAL ESTATE EXPERTISE, UH, AND HAVE THAT OPERATING ON THE BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC GOOD, OR I THINK THIS IS A WAY TO GET THAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST IS THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE, UH, BEING ABLE TO GO FROM FROM 12 MILLION TO A HUNDRED MILLION POTENTIALLY ON THE CULTURAL ARTS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT AND BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ASSETS AND MOVE THEM ACROSS PROJECTS AND TYPES OF PROJECTS.
THERE'S JUST A HUGE LEVERAGE OPPORTUNITY OTHERWISE, UH, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION FROM MATTHEW AND RODNEY AND, UH, SYNOVIA, UM, UH, VERONICA AND, AND EVERYBODY THAT'S WORKED SO HARD, OUR BEST.
IT'S JUST REALLY EXCITING TO SEE HIGHLIGHTS.
UH, DO YOU WANT TO COME BACK HERE AT, UH, SAY ONE 15 TO DO THE PULLED ITEMS? YOU CAN DO THE PULL ITEMS AND THEN GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WITH THAT BEING SAID THAT HERE AT 22, WE'RE GOING TO RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, KATHY.
I THINK WE'RE SET TO GO COLLEAGUES.
TODAY'S CITY OF AUSTIN COUNCIL WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 25TH MEETINGS TAKING PLACE VIRTUALLY.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH OUR BRIEFINGS THIS MORNING.
WE HAVE PULLED ITEMS AND THEN GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND ACTUALLY, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR ANN.
CAN YOU REMIND ME HOW MANY OF US HAVE TO BE ON THE SCREEN? IS IT JUST A REGULAR PERSON OR IT'S A IMPORTANT FOR HAVING, UM, SIX PEOPLE IS GREAT FOR IT.
SO THE PUBLIC CAN SEE YOU DURING THIS TIME WHERE THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT HAS BEEN, UM, WAIVED IN PART BECAUSE OF, UH, THE PANDEMIC.
UH IT'S YOU CAN APPEAR BY TELEPHONE, BUT SO FOR THE PUBLIC, IT'S BETTER FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE SIX PEOPLE
[03:20:02]
BE SEEN.THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT UNDER THE PANDEMIC IS BECAUSE WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY, YOU CAN APPEAR VIA TELEPHONE AS WELL AS VIDEO.
[B3. Presentation of a Development Assessment Report for the Springdale Green Planned Unit Development (PUD) located at 1011 and 1017 Springdale Road. (Required by ordinance).]
WE DO HAVE ONE BRIEFING THAT MR. RUSSELL, AND WE'LL BE PRESENTING.LET'S START WITH THE BRIEFING.
MAYOR COUNCIL I'M JERRY RESTAURANT WITH THE FINAL DESIGN DEPARTMENT BRIEFING TODAY IS KCD 2020 ZERO ZERO ONE.
THIS IS FOR THE SPRINGDALE GREEN CLOUD.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE PUD PROCESS REQUIRES THAT WE PRESENT A BRIEFING TO THE COUNCIL PRIOR TO POD ACTUALLY BEING SUBMITTED.
SO THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS BRIEFING, AND THERE IS NO VOTE REQUIRED TODAY.
UH, THE SPRINGDALE GREEN POD IS A 30 ACRE PIECE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 11, 10, 11, AND 10 17 SPRINGDALE ROAD.
UM, IT IS CURRENTLY ZONED GR MUCC LNP AND OUR N P UM, IT IS LOCATED ALONG, UM, TWO IS LOCATED IN AN IMAGINED AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
AND ALONG TO IMAGINE, AUSTIN THERE'D BE AN AIRPORT BOULEVARD IN SPRINGDALE ROAD, BOTH OF WHICH DO HAVE HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT.
UM, BEGINNING IN THE 1940S, THE SITE WAS USED FOR WHAT'S COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE EAST OFTEN TANK FARM, WHICH WAS A FEDERAL CHEMICAL STORAGE FACILITY.
UM, OVER TIME THAT GREW BIGGER AND BIGGER AND, UM, HAD SEVERAL LARGE STORAGE TANKS ON IT IN THE 1990S.
UM, THE COMMUNITY ROSE IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO HAVING SUCH A HAZARDOUS FACILITY, UM, IN AND AMONG THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CITY DOWNS ON THE PROPERTY FROM INDUSTRIAL AND EVENTUALLY THE COMPANIES THAT WERE USING IT, UM, AGREED TO LEAVE THE SITE.
HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT ALLOW RESIDENTIAL USE.
THE ONLY COMMERCIAL USES ARE ALLOWED BECAUSE OF THE, UM, THE PREVIOUS USE OF THE CURRENT POD PROPOSES A COMMERCIAL PROJECT.
THEREFORE, UM, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING SEVERAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE CODE WITH THE PUG, UM, SPECIFICALLY, UM, TAKING THE HEIGHT FROM 60 FEET UP TO 90 FEET TO MODIFYING, UM, COMPATIBILITY TO ALLOW FOR, UM, THE SAME THING AND ALSO TO ALLOW FOR MODIFICATIONS WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, BUT ONLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROVIDING AN URBAN TRAIL.
UM, WHAT THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING IN EXCHANGE FOR RECEIVING THOSE MODIFICATIONS IS TO REDUCE THE IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM AN ALLOWABLE 90% DOWN TO 50% TO PROVIDE A 50 FOOT EASEMENT OR AN URBAN TRAIL THAT HAS CAUGHT ALL FOUR IN THE URBAN TRAIL MASTER PLAN, UM, TO USE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS GREEN BUILDING AND RAINWATER COLLECTION AND OTHER THINGS, UM, AND, AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT TO REMOVE INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES FROM THE PROPERTY AND REPLACE THEM WITH NATIVE PLANTS.
UM, AND ALSO THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO PAY AND FEED LIEU OF, OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNDER THE TIER THREE ZONING RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO AS FAR AS PLUGS GO, THIS IS RATHER UNCOMPLICATED REQUEST.
UM, THEY'RE SIMPLY ASKING FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS AND ASKING FOR, UM, UH, AN EXCHANGE FOR DOING A FEW OTHER THINGS.
UM, AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
I WAS ASKING HIM TO GIVE US BACK THE, SORRY.
UM, SO JERRY, DID, DID YOU SAY WHAT THE SIZE OF THIS CUT IS? 30 ACRES? HOW MANY 30, 30 ACRES.
UM, AND, UM, WHAT ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES? WELL, ACTUALLY, I DON'T, I I'LL READ UP ON THE DETAILS.
WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS BRIEFING AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
THANKS, MR.
THE MAIN ONES ARE PROVIDING THE TRAIL EASEMENT, REDUCING THE IMPERVIOUS COVER FROM 90 DOWN TO 50, UM, PROVIDING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS THE TIER THREE REQUIREMENT AND THE PORT ORDINANCE, UM, AND USING THE GREEN BUILDING AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE, UM, RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SCIENCE AND THE RESTORATION OF THE PROPERTY.
THAT'S GONNA REMAIN UNDEVELOPED, UM, WITH REGARD TO THE THAT'S A STANDARD, I'M SORRY, IT'S BEEN A LONG SUMMER, I GUESS I'VE SORT OF FORGOTTEN THE PUD TIER ONE AND TIER TWO AND TIER THREE REQUIREMENTS.
GREEN BUILDING IS, IS STANDARD TO ALL THE PROJECTS, RIGHT? OR WHAT ARE THEY SEEKING?
[03:25:01]
TWO STARS, TWO STARS STANDARD, AND A POSITIVE PROPOSING THREE STAR.AND APOLOGIES IF YOU SAID IT AND I MISSED IT.
WHAT ARE THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE PROPOSED TO BE AFFORDABLE? UM, THERE WOULD BE NO AFFORDABLE UNITS.
THE SITE WAS THE FORMER TANK FARM.
AND SO THE REMEDIATION CERTIFICATE, I'M SORRY.
UH, THE REMEDIATION THAT THEY, UM, RECEIVED, YOU KNOW, THE BASE THAT THEY DID, UM, AND IT WAS APPROVED BY THE TCEQ, UM, ONLY ALLOWS FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ANY RESIDENTIAL SO THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO, UM, PAY FEE IN LIEU OF WHERE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BECAUSE THEY'RE ASKING FOR GREATER HEIGHTS, BUT THERE WOULD BE NO UNITS ON SITE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ALLOWED.
UM, JERRY, IF YOU COULD, UM, JUST GO THROUGH THE VARIANCES AND WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD, I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FOR PARKLAND, BUT DID HEAR URBAN TRAILS RESIDENTIAL.
SO, UM, ONE OF THEM IS TO MODIFY, MODIFIED TO ALLOW FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE, UH, CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, BUT THAT WOULD BE NOT FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THAT WOULD BE FOR THE URBAN TRAIL.
THESE METHODS ARE PROPOSING TO PROVIDE.
UM, THE SECOND ONE WOULD BE TO TAKE THE HEIGHT FROM 60 FEET TO 90 FEET.
AND THE THIRD ONE WOULD BE A MODIFICATION OF COMPATIBILITY TO ALLOW FOR THE SAME THING.
AND IS IT SEEN AS A RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL? IT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE COMMERCIAL.
RESIDENTIAL WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED BECAUSE OF THE FORMER USE.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING, BUT I MISSED YOU SAYING THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
UM, DO YOU, UH, YOU'RE SAYING THAT, UH, THE FEED AND LITTLE, HOW MUCH IS THAT AMOUNT? UM, WE DON'T KNOW YET.
IT WOULD DEPEND UPON WHAT THE ACTUAL SQUARE FOOTAGES OF THE AREA THAT'S ABOVE 60 FEET.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE APPLICANT, UM, IS NOT, HAS NOT CALCULATED YET THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD OCCUR, BUT IT WOULD BE BASED ON THE FORMULA OF THE AMOUNT THAT'S ABOVE THE NORMALLY REQUIRED, UM, LIMIT OF SIX PP.
CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, IDENTIFY, I'M NOT AWARE OF THE ENTERPRISE OWNER.
SHE HAD TO HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT.
IT'D BE VERY INTERESTING TO FIND OUT ALSO BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU'RE OFFERING THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM FROM THE FEDS OFFER A GENEROUS TAX BREAK AT THE END.
SO I TALK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES AS OPPORTUNITIES ZONES.
YOU HAVE SOME TIME, SO YEAH, I WOULD, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO FIND OUT.
KELLY'S ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS BRIEFING, JERRY? THANK YOU.
LAST QUESTION, TERRY, WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT TRIGGERING COMPATIBILITY ON THIS PROJECT? I WAS JUST WOULD BE SOMETHING, SOME SINGLE FAMILY THAT'S NEARBY.
HOW CLOSE ARE THEY TO THE SITE? UM, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT MEASUREMENT, BUT UM, I JUST KNOW, GENERALLY SPEAKING, THEY'RE SEEKING ONLY MODIFICATIONS WHEN THEY ACTUALLY SUBMIT THE POD.
WE'LL GET INTO, YOU KNOW, THE ACTUAL BUILDING LOCATION ON THE SITE AND SEE EXACTLY TO WHAT EXTENT THEY WOULD NEED A WAY OF WORKING WITH THE COMPATIBILITY.
IT'S NOT A BLANKET WAIVER, BUT, UM, THEY PROBABLY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE, UH, WITH THE HEIGHT AND THE DISTANCE.
AND WE'D HAVE TO, YOU SAID 60 TO 90 AND, AND A WAIVER TO BE IN THE EASEMENT TO HAVE THE TRAIL WITHIN THE EASEMENT OF THE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE.
AND IS, ARE, DO YOU HAVE A SENSE IS, UM, AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS ARE ANY OF, ARE THEY PROPOSING TO HAVE A PRIORITY FOR LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES WITHIN THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT? I THINK WE ELECTED FOR THAT WITHIN THE WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT THEY WERE, THEY WOULD MAKE AN EFFORT TOWARDS THAT, UM, IN THEIR, YOU KNOW, IN THE BRIEFINGS, THE MIDDLE, YOU KNOW, IN THE, UH, WE CALL THE ASSESSMENT MIDDLE, WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT WHEN THEY ACTUALLY FILED ACTUAL FRAUD STUFF.
THEY'VE SAID THAT THEY'RE, I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO THAT AND WE'LL TRY TO GET THEM MORE CLARIFICATION ON WHAT THAT MEANS AS WE GO THROUGH THE ACTUAL APPLICATION.
I THINK THAT'D BE GETTING A COMMERCIAL.
[A. Pre-Selected Agenda Items]
[03:30:01]
HAVE, UH, PULLED ITEMS. UM, WE HAVE A SERIES OF ITEMS THAT RELATE TO THE POLICE, UH, ACTIVITIES.UH, I THINK ITEM NUMBER 25 WAS PULLED, BUT MY RECOLLECTION IS, IS A 25 HAS BEEN POSTPONED BY A STAFF.
UM, BUT ALL THE ITEMS PULLED ARE POLICING ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF, UH, UH, ITEM NUMBER 49.
UM, MISS SORRY, ITEM NUMBER 57.
UH, SO LET'S START WITH THE POLICE ITEMS. I DON'T, IF THEY'RE THE KIND OF THING THAT WE COULD PULL ALL TOGETHER, UH, THESE WERE PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER FLAT AGAIN, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND A FEW OF THEM BY COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON.
WE NEED TO TAKE THEM INDIVIDUALLY IF WE TAKE THEM COLLECTIVELY COUNCIL MEMBER IT, THANKS, MAYOR MAYOR PRO TEM.
AND I PULLED ALL THESE ITEMS MOSTLY AS A, AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PROCESS QUESTION ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO, UM, INCORPORATE THESE MOVING FORWARD.
WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH THE BUDGET.
I THINK WE DID SOME GOOD WORK THERE AS A, AS A FULL COUNCIL.
UM, BUT WE ALL KNOW THESE KEEP COMING UP KIND OF ON EVERY AGENDA.
AND I DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT WE'VE TAKEN OUR EYE OFF THE BALL, EVEN THOUGH MANY OF THESE THEMES AND MANY OF THESE ITEMS SEEM PERFECTLY GREAT ON THE SURFACE, RIGHT VICTIM SERVICES AND SOME MENTAL HEALTH.
AND SO I'M NOT LOOKING FOR AT LEAST FOR MY PART, PULLING THEM JUST TO KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGE THIS FOR THE PUBLIC AND THEN SAY TO STAFF, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL PUT A MEMO OUT TO COUNCIL YESTERDAY AND THAT'S A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATING CAUSE WE COULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT THEM AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TWO WEEKS AGO OR A WEEK AGO IF WE HAD MORE WARNING THAN JUST THE POSTING ON FRIDAY.
AND I KNOW THAT STAFF HAS A MUCH LONGER RUNWAY THAN TWO WEEKS THEN THE COUNCIL DOES.
AND SO I WANT US TO GET INTO A BETTER RHYTHM ABOUT REVIEWING THESE TYPES OF THINGS SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THINGS MOVE SMOOTHLY AT COUNCIL MEETINGS AND GET ALL THE OTHER WORK OUT OF THE WAY.
UM, I HAVE SOME, SOME SMALL, SMALLER DETAIL QUESTIONS ON A FEW, UH, BUT THAT WAS GENERALLY THE REASON WHY, UM, THE MAPR, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE MAYOR PRO TEM, BUT THAT WAS GENERALLY WHY I WAS PULLING THEM, WAS JUST TO GET US AND THE PUBLIC TO SEE WE'RE NOT TAKING OUR EYE OFF THE BALL HERE.
SO I'M GOING TO PULL THEM COLLECTIVELY AS A GROUP.
LET'S CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.
PRETEND I JUST HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION FOR ALL OF THEM.
I'M FINE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THEM TOGETHER IS IN, AS WE TALK ABOUT DECOUPLING SOME FUNCTIONS AND POSSIBLY MOVING THEM INTO OTHER AREAS OF OVERSIGHT.
MY MAIN QUESTION WAS SOME OF THESE, SOME OF THE, THE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE THAT ARE RECEIVING THESE GRANT FUNDS WOULD, UM, BE A PART OF THE DECOUPLING, UH, UM, THING THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT.
AND SO MY MAIN QUESTION WAS DID AS, AS CUSTOMER PLANNING AND SAID, THERE'S SOME IMPORTANCE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, UH, PPE AND MENTAL HEALTH AND VICTIM SERVICES.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO KNOW, IS THERE ANY PROHIBITION FROM, IF WE DECOUPLE FROM CONTINUING TO USE THE GRANT MONEY FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE? I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S STAFF THAT CAN AGENCY MAYOR PRETENDING COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR I'LL START.
AND THEN I ACM ARIANO CAN PICK UP IF I'M MISS MISSPOKEN IN ANY WAY, BUT MAY HAVE PUT SOME TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
THESE GRANTS ARE ISSUED TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND SO, UH, THERE IS FLEXIBILITY IN HOW THEY WOULD BE MANAGED GOING FORWARD, NOT DIRECTED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO AS WE CONTINUE THROUGH THIS REIMAGINING PROCESS, BUT IN MIND AS WE LOOK AT THE ADMINISTRATION OF THESE GRANTS, BUT THEY'RE ISSUED TO THE CITY HALL AND THEN A COUNCIL MEMBER PLAN AGAIN, I COMPLETELY AGREE.
AND WE CERTAINLY OWN THE FACT THAT WE NEEDED TO GET THIS INFORMATION IN A MORE TIMELY WAY.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE STILL RUNNING A CITY AT THE SAME TIME.
AND THE BUDGET WAS THIS PASSAGE WE ARE PLANNING TO AND WE'LL ISSUE IN SHORT ORDER, A ROLLS IMO THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT PROCESS THAT WE WILL BE SAYING, UH, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE GRANTS, BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION THAT THE COUNCIL PASSED IN JUNE REALLY DIRECTED US TO HAVE A MUCH MORE RIGOROUS OVERSIGHT OF THESE GRANTS.
SO THEY WOULD BE ALIGNED WITH THE DIRECTION THAT COUNCIL IS GIVING.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THAT UPDATED PROCESS TO, BUT I'LL PAUSE THERE AND SEE ARIANA WANTS TO ADD ANYTHING.
I GET A THANK YOU CITY MANAGER AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ADDRESS TO JUST AMPLIFY WHAT THE CITY MANAGER SAID.
LET'S LOOK AT ALL THESE ITEMS AND I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT HOW
[03:35:01]
WE MIGHT ROUTINIZE, UM, THIS PROCESS BASED ON YOUR DIRECTION NOW IN THE JUNE RESOLUTIONS.UH, WE HAVEN'T FACTUALLY IN FACT, UM, ACTUALLY HELD OFF ON A NUMBER OF THESE, UM, REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL ACTION PENDING THE DELIVERY OF THE BUDGET SO THAT WE COULD BRING THEM ALL, UH, HERE TO YOU TODAY.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY A COUPLE MORE FOR YOU, THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
AND AGAIN, WE WILL PROVIDE A MEMO SPECIFIC TO THOSE.
AND THEN MAYOR PRETEND TO YOUR QUESTION.
THE GRANTS ARE REALLY TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND SO DEPENDING ON WHERE THE, UH, SERVICE MIGHT END UP, IF IT OF COMES UPSIDE OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO MANAGE THOSE GRANTS.
AND I'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH APD ADVANCED MANAGER, KIERAN FITZGERALD.
AGAIN, SHE IS PART OF THE FINANCIAL SECTION WITH KPD.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT HOW WE MIGHT MOVE SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS OUT OF APD AND PROVIDE THEM MORE CENTRALIZED OR DIFFERENT IN IT.
SO THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT COUNCIL DIRECTION HAS PROVIDED AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADJUST AS WE GET, FIGURE OUT THEIR NET REIMAGINING PROCESS WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? THAT'S WHERE WE'RE ALTERED.
SORRY, I'M LOSING MY VOICE TODAY.
UM, I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES, UM, PULLING THIS.
UM, I HAD ADDED THE AMENDMENT ABOUT THE GRANT REVIEW, UM, TO OUR RESOLUTIONS IN JUNE.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MEMO THAT YOU'VE PROMISED KIND OF DOCUMENTING THAT.
UM, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A BROADER VIEW.
UM, I THINK SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL AS YOU PRESENTED THE, SOME OF THESE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE COMING AND ACCEPTING INTO THE FISCAL YEAR 20 BUDGET, BUT YET WE'RE REALLY USING THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER WE'RE USING THEM FOR, UM, FUNDS MOVING FORWARD OR BACKWARDS, UM, AND WHETHER THEY ARE NEW PROGRAMS OR EXISTING PROGRAMS. AND I THINK WE NEED THAT KIND OF CLARITY, UM, WHEN YOU PRESENT THEM, SOME OF THEM WERE VERY CONFUSING, UM, AND HOW THEY WERE WRITTEN UP AND WE'VE ASKED FOR SOME CLARIFICATION, BUT, BUT I THINK, UM, AT A VERY BASIC LEVEL, THAT KIND OF INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE IN THERE.
UM, MANY OF THESE ARE FUNDING VERY IMPORTANT SERVICES, BUT, UM, WOULD LOVE TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE FOR VICTIM SERVICES IN DNA, IT WAS VERY CONFUSING IF THEY WERE NEW OR THEY WERE EXISTING.
UM, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION AS WE'RE EVALUATING WHAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO PUBLIC SAFETY AND DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE RE-IMAGINING, IF THESE GRANTS ARE GOING TO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO I JUST ASK THAT YOU PAY A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION TO THOSE DETAILS MOVING FOR THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME KIND OF TEACHING THIS WAY.
THIS IS VERY HELPFUL FEEDBACK FOR US.
OH, AND MAYOR, IF I MAY, JUST TO CLARIFY ITEM NUMBER 25 ON THE EQUESTRIAN CENTER, WE'RE ACTUALLY WITHDRAWING, NOT POSTPONING, BUT WITHDRAWING THAT ITEM PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE REIMAGINING EFFORTS.
GOING AS ANYTHING ELSE, WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 57.
REMEMBER HARPER, MADISON, JUST REMEMBER HARPER.
UM, I ACTUALLY ALSO HAD ITEM NUMBER 34, I THINK, BETWEEN THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN COUNCILMEMBER ALTAR.
I'M LOSING MY VOICE TODAY TOO.
I THINK IT'S, THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE AIR.
I THINK BETWEEN WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FLANNIGAN ASKS A MAYOR PRO TEM ASK MY QUESTIONS HAVE LARGELY BEEN ANSWERED ON MY OTHERS, BUT I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 34.
UM, JUST SOME OF THE LANGUAGE MADE ME NERVOUS.
IT REMINDED ME OF ANOTHER, OF A SIMILAR PROGRAM THAT WAS ALMOST DEPLOYED IN DISTRICT.
ONE THAT I DIDN'T THINK WAS, UH, GOING TO BE AS BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY AS WHAT FOLKS THOUGHT.
SO I WAS HOPING THAT SOMEBODY COULD LAY OUT FOR ME EXACTLY WHAT WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.
I MEAN, I SEE WHAT'S WRITTEN IN THE, IN THE BACKUP, BUT I WANT A PERSON TO TELL ME WHAT IT IS THAT WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH HERE AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE AS CAREFUL AS POSSIBLE ABOUT TARGETING PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES IN THIS WAY.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, POPPER, MADISON, RAY, ARE YOU ON HERE AGAIN? SO, UM, KAREN FITZGERALD WILL BE HAPPY TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS ONE.
AND ACTUALLY AS WE LOOK AT THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION, UM, FROM THE JUNE TIMEFRAME, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THAT WE, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO, UM, MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO, IN ORDER TO BE CONSISTENT WITH COUNCIL DIRECTION, AS WELL AS TO REFLECT WHAT WE'RE HEARING IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO IF I MIGHT PASS IT OFF TO KAREN FITZGERALD,
[03:40:08]
THE PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM, IT HAS ALWAYS FOCUSED ON VIOLENT CRIME.AND WE HAVE REQUESTED THINGS FOR OVERTIME, PRIMARILY FOR OFFICERS TO DO TARGETED ENFORCEMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND IN THE RIVERSIDE AREA, WHICH WERE SHOWN TO HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF INVOLVEMENT UP THROUGH, I BELIEVE IT'S 2018.
UM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN A STUDY SINCE THEN, BUT I'VE REQUESTED AN UPDATE.
AND AFTER MEETING WITH MR. ARIANO AND STAFF ABOUT COUNCIL'S DIRECTION IN JUNE, WE ARE ATTEMPTING A REWRITE THAT WILL INCORPORATE A MORE FORGIVING TYPE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING CRIME.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON A SERIES OF PSA THAT WE HOPE TO COMPLETE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO HOPING TO PAIR THIS PROJECT WITH ANOTHER COUPLE OF GRANT PROGRAMS THAT WILL BRING COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ON THE CONVERSATION, ESPECIALLY ON, UH, THE VIDEO PRODUCTION SIDE, UM, IN THIS NEXT PS PSN GRANT.
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT ALSO, INCLUDING INSTEAD OF, UM, USING THE MAJORITY FOR OVER TIME, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT SPLITTING IT AND USING SOME OF THOSE FUNDS FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON WHO CAN WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED BY VIOLENT CRIME AND WEAPONS INVOLVEMENT.
SO I ANTICIPATE THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION PERHAPS WEIGHING IN ON HOW WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS FOR THIS GRANT AND OTHERS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AND I'VE CREATED ALONG WITH MR. ARIANO A VERY DETAILED EXCEL SHEET THAT HAS EVERY SINGLE GRANT PENDING INACTIVE WITH A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT COUNCIL HAS JUST ASKED FOR.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE HELPFUL.
I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT NOW IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO MOVE THIS.
I'M CERTAIN THAT THERE'S A DEADLINE FOR THE GRANT.
IN WHICH CASE YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND APPLY, BUT SO MUCH SETS UNCERTAIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS APPROPRIATE, IS MY CONCERN.
I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO CONTINUE TO LISTEN.
WE HAVE APPLIED FOR THE GRANDCHILD ALREADY.
WE DO ANTICIPATE RECEIVING AN AWARD.
A RESOLUTION IS REQUIRED TJG GRANT, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING TODAY.
UM, I COULD JUST GIVE YOU INSURANCES THAT WE HEARD, UH, WHAT WAS SAID AT THE COUNCIL MEETING IN JUNE AND THE COUNCIL MEETINGS SINCE THEN, AND HAVE NO PLANS TO MOVE FORWARD UNTIL WE HAVE AGREEMENT FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE ON ANY PLANS TO MOVE ACTIVITY FORWARD.
WE, WE WON'T DO IT WITHOUT EVERYONE BEING ON THE SAME PAGE AND COUNCIL MEMBER HOPPER, MADISON.
WE'D CERTAINLY BE GLAD TO MEET WITH YOU AND YOUR OFFICE TO SEE HOW WE MIGHT BEST STRUCTURE AND REFLECT THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT MA'AM MRS. GERALD SAID, DID THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, CAUSE I'M WONDERING IF THAT'S THE MORE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO BRING THESE KINDS OF CONSIDERATIONS.
I ASKED MISS, UH, GERALD, UH, YOU ALSO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, UM, OTHER GRANTS THAT HAVE COME DOWN FOR RIVERSIDE.
UH, I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO US TO, TO STUDY, UH, THE RIVERSIDE CORRIDOR AND ALL THE PROBLEMS AND THE CRIMES ARE GOING ON.
THERE IS THAT PART OF THIS PROGRAM ALSO THERE'S SEPARATE INDISTINCT PROJECTS, BUT WE'RE COORDINATING ACTIVITY BETWEEN THE TWO.
RIVERSIDE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT WE ARE, UM, WE PAUSED BACK IN, UM, I GUESS IT WAS APRIL MAY TIMEFRAME BECAUSE OF COVID AND THEN IT HELPED THAT WE'D PASSED IT BECAUSE IN JUNE WE RECEIVED THIS COUNCIL DIRECTOR AND IT HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED THE WAY THAT WE ARE VIEWING THE RIVERSIDE TOGETHERNESS PROJECT, EVEN THE NAME OF THE PROJECT ITSELF.
SO, UM, THAT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT WE PLAN TO GO BACK THROUGH THE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMISSION PROCESS IN ORDER TO HELP US MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN LINE WITH WHAT
[03:45:01]
THE COMMUNITY WANTS AND WHAT COULD ACTUALLY WORK AND HELP THE MOST PEOPLE.AND I KNOW THAT JOEL SUPPOSED TO GIVE US A REPORT, UH, ON, ON, ON WHAT JOE BROWN OUT ON THIS LAST GRANT, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER AND, AND, AND IS THERE SOMEWHERE THAT YOU HAVE A REPORT ABOUT WHAT CHILD THIS PAST YEAR HIS ACTIVITY WOULD, THAT WOULD THAT GRANT PRIOR GRANT AND Y'ALL DID WITH IT? AND WHAT'S WHAT, WHAT YOUR FINDING WAS, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE RIVERSIDE PROJECT OR THE PSN RIVERSIDE PROJECT? SO THE VERY FIRST YEAR OF THE RIVERSIDE PROJECT WAS ALL PLANNING.
IT WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ALONG WITH THE UNIVERSITY AND AN EARLY ACTION PROJECT MEASURE AUSTIN ASSISTED WITH, UM, WE DON'T HAVE A, UH, CONCLUDE, UH, BASICALLY AN ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST YEAR.
WE DO HAVE AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT WE PLAN TO PUBLISH, BUT WE'RE COMPLETELY REWRITING IT.
SO I'M SURE WE'LL PUT IT IN THE ARCHIVE SECTION JUST SO THAT FOLKS CAN REFER BACK TO THE WORK DONE, BUT QUITE A BIT OF IT'S IRRELEVANT AT THIS POINT, IT WAS, UM, TARGETED ENFORCEMENT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UH, OUTREACH.
UM, AND I THINK WE'RE, REVISIONING PROBABLY $500,000 WORTH OF ACTIVITY AT THIS POINT.
IF YOU CAN, UH, IF YOU CAN GIVE US THAT, UH, THAT INFORMATION TOO, WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION TO THE, UH, TO, UH, ACQUIRE COMMISSION AND PUBLIC SAFETY OR WHATEVER OTHER DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE I'D BE VERY INTERESTED IN TO FIND OUT WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS JOB FIND OUT WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE FINDING THERE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO ADDRESS ALL THOSE ISSUES THAT KNOW THAT WE'RE FUNDED TO LOOK INTO.
WE ALSO DID INTERVIEWS IN THAT AREA THAT ABOUT 200 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT, UM, I THINK WILL HELP WITH THE CONVERSATION QUITE A BIT, AT LEAST AFFORD US.
SO LET US KEEP US IN TOUCH THAT WAY THAT WE, WE KNOW EXACTLY.
CAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS, ALSO MY OFFICE DATE, WHEN THAT, WHEN WE SAW THAT, UH, ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA, THAT, THAT, UH, WHAT EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON NOW, YOU KNOW, SO I KNOW THERE WAS SOME GRANTS MONEY THAT WOULD BE IN ALREADY SPENT THERE.
SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT, FOR THAT INFORMATION.
SO THE OTHER ITEM THAT I PULLED WAS ITEM NUMBER 67, IT'S A SPECTROMETER ITEM.
IS THERE ANY, IS THERE A STAFF THAT CAN SPEAK TO THAT? I WONDERED WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN POSTPONE THIS.
AND I THINK MY QUESTION IS ALONG THE LINES OF THE SAME DECOUPLING QUESTION, THEN MAYOR PRO TEM ASKED EARLIER, MADISON RAY ARIANO HERE AND WE HAVE DR.
THIS PARTICULAR PROCUREMENT IS BASED ON THIS, ON A GRANT THAT WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO US IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
AND THE BACK BASED ON THE LONG TIMELINE, WE'VE ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION BY ONE MONTH IN ORDER TO BRING IT TO YOU AFTER THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND SO WITH THIS MEETING, UM, IF WE AREN'T ABLE TO POST OR ABLE TO APPROVE THE ITEM, UH, THEN PEOPLE ESSENTIALLY HAVE TO RETURN THE FUNDS TO THE ORIGINATING GRANT DOOR.
UH, AND SO IF DR
I THINK ULTIMATELY THE MO THE MORE DETAILED QUESTION I'M ASKING, LIKE MAY HAVE PER TIM BROUGHT UP, IF, IF THERE ARE CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD MOVE IN, WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF HAVING MADE THE INVESTMENT? AND THEN THIS EQUIPMENT, THE DIRECT ANSWER TO THAT IS THERE'S NO IMPLICATION.
AGAIN, THE FUNDS WOULD GO TO THE UNIT NOW KNOWN AS THE FORENSIC SCIENCE BUREAU CURRENTLY WE'RE CONTEMPLATING, THAT'S ONE OF THE UNITS THAT WE'RE CONTEMPLATING MOVING OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT, AND THAT SHOULD HAVE NO EFFECT IN TERMS OF THE GRANT FUNDS GOING TO BE UTILIZED FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF THAT EQUIPMENT.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT 66.
MAYBE IT IS GRANT MONEY, BUT, UM, CAN WE CURRENTLY USE, AH, OKAY.
IS THIS STUFF, IS THIS BRAND NEW EQUIPMENT FOR THE HELICOPTER, REPELLING AND PLUMBER? I BELIEVE IT IS, BUT I'LL DEFER TO, UM, APD REPS WHO ARE, OR PERHAPS, UH, KAREN FITZGERALD, IF YOU CAN ANSWER
[03:50:01]
THAT.I THINK THIS ONE IS, THIS IS, THIS IS THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL SEATING AND REPEL ATTACHMENT NUMBER 66.
I DIDN'T ACTUALLY APPLY FOR THIS ONE.
AND THE REASON I ASK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET STAFF JUST IN CASE STAFF'S NOT HERE.
AND THEN IF YOU CAN HAVE THE ANSWER ON, ON THURSDAY, UM, BUT WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, WE'VE EXPANDED THE ROLE OF APD IN SO MANY WAYS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT CERTAIN TYPES OF EQUIPMENT, UM, USED FOR CROWD CONTROL.
UM, AND I'M JUST THINKING OF, UM, MY OWN EXPERIENCE, I GUESS, IN, IN PUBLIC.
IT WAS ALWAYS, UM, I CAN I THINK OF THE, THE EMS HELICOPTER, OH, START FLYING.
IT WAS, YEAH, IT WAS STAR FLIGHT IS, IS THE, WAS THE HELICOPTER TO THAT ANY KIND OF RESCUES REQUIRED.
I NEVER SAW A RESCUE OR WHY OUR POLICE WERE PULLING DOWN INTO THINGS.
AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING, I DON'T WANT US TO BE ADDING A NEW COST WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, PULL BACK ON, ON THESE THINGS.
IF THIS WAS SOMETHING, REPLACING SOMEONE, SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I COULD SEE, BUT I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY WE ADDING WHAT THIS, WHAT KIND OF SCENARIOS THIS THIS WOULD BE ASSISTING WITH AND WHY IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT WAS ALWAYS STAR FLIGHT.
GO AHEAD, JANE MASON AND APPARENTLY ON THE LINE AND CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION ABOUT THE HELICOPTER MEAN I'M NEW TO NOTHER DEREK.
I WAS HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES THERE.
SO THE TYLER SEATS ARE A NEW PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
UH, WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THROUGH CAP COCK FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND OF COURSE MONEY IS GRANTED AS WE, AS WE GO ALONG EACH CYCLE.
THE SEASON, UH, IS PAID FOR FULLY BY GRANT.
UH, IT IS AN ATTACHMENT TO OUR LATEST HELICOPTER, OUR NEWER HERSELF, WHICH IS NOW SEVEN YEARS OLD, UH, AND IT ALLOWS FOR TWO CREW MEMBERS OR TWO PASSENGERS, SO TO SPEAK, TO SIT ON EACH SIDE OF IT AND TO ENHANCE THE TELECASTER FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW FOR, UH, MAINLY IF YOU REMEMBER, THE B3 WAS, WAS BROUGHT UP BECAUSE IT'S WAY MORE POWERFUL HELICOPTER THAN THE ONE 20 ORIGINAL ONE IS ABLE TO TAKE CREW AS WELL AS LIKE WE CAN TAKE THROUGH, INTO A REMOTE AREAS AND DROP THEM OFF WITH EQUIPMENT, UM, MUCH MORE EASILY, AND BE ABLE TO REPEL THEM DOWN INTO AREAS THAT NORMALLY ARE NOT REACHABLE, UM, THROUGH, UH, VEHICLES, UH, SUCH LIKE THAT.
CAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS WE HAVE A LOT OF GREENBELT, AS WELL AS, UH, OLD COUNTRY, THAT'S UNACCESSIBLE, UH, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, WE SERVICE 10 COUNTIES WIDE, UH, AND WE'RE ABLE TO DROP OFF FIRE POLICE OR EMS, UH, INTO AREAS WHERE NORMALLY WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE ACCESSIBLE.
UM, AND THEY WOULD, UH, ACTUALLY REPEL DOWN ON A, ON A FAST ROAD IN BUILD TO GET DOWN AND BE ABLE TO FIGHT FIRES OR HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE MEDICALLY IN NEED OF, UM, UH, OF ASSISTANCE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE SEATS ARE FOR.
UH, THEY, WE WENT THROUGH CAP COG AND LIKE I SAID, WE I'VE BEEN ON A SPECIAL OPERATION FOR TWO YEARS NOW AND WE'VE HAD, UM, UM, THIS IS, IT'S BEEN ON THE, UH, ITEM AND WE FINALLY GOT IT FUNDED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT CAPABILITY TO THE HELICOPTER.
HA I'M SORRY, MARY YOU'RE MUTE.
OH, HAVE YOU FOUND THAT? I MEAN, IS THERE, ARE THERE, ARE THERE INCIDENCES THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE HELP BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS EQUIPMENT? SO IT, IT ADDS TO OUR CAPABILITY OF THE ADVANCEMENTS OF THE HELICOPTER, UH, BY, FOR AFD, UH, HAS BEEN TRAINING TO THE RETELLING AS WELL AS, UH, UH, THE BAMBI BUCKETS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL REASONS THAT IF YOU REMEMBER BASTROP FIRES, UH, THE REASON WHY PRIOR CHIEF HAD ALLOCATED TO GET INTO MORE POWER FOR A HELICOPTER, IT GIVES US THAT ENHANCEMENT THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANYMORE.
UM, THERE'S A REPORT COME OUT.
THEY WERE IN THE TOP FIVE OF, ONE OF THE AREAS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE A WILDFIRE AREA.
AND THIS WAS TO GIVE US THAT ENHANCEMENT TO BE ABLE TO GET CREW, OR WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM BEFORE.
IT'S ALL ABOUT SAVING LIVES AND STATEMENT.
BUT I'M JUST ASKING, HAS THERE, HAS THERE BEEN AN INCIDENT WHERE WE, WE LOST A LIFE OR PROPERTY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT EQUIPMENT?
[03:55:02]
UH, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.UM, AND IS THIS THE, THIS IS SO IT'S THE 88,000 IT'S PURELY GRANT AND THEN THERE IS NO CITY MATCHING.
UH, THE GRANT TAKES CARE OF THE WHOLE THING.
I MIGHT HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL DO THAT OFFLINE THINGS.
AND THEN CATHERINE, OUR FLAT AGAIN.
I ACTUALLY HAD A QUESTION ABOUT NUMBER 34.
I JUST, I THINK YOU DIDN'T SEE MY HAND MAYOR, BUT LET ME ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THIS ONE TOO.
UM, THANKS FOR THE CONVERSATION.
WHEN THE, I REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION THAT TRANSPIRED ON THE DAYAS WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO PURCHASE THE HELICOPTER AND PART OF THE RATIONALE WAS THAT IT COULD BE AVAILABLE TO MORE THAN JUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND COULD BE USED IN THE WAY THAT, THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED.
UM, MR. FITZGERALD, UM, IN TERMS OF ASSISTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER, OTHER ENTITIES THAT NEEDED IT.
AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S SUCH A, SUCH A BIG EXPENDITURE, UM, SEEMED TO BE VALUABLE.
SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND BETTER REALLY, IF YOU COULD GIVE US SOME INFORMATION BETWEEN NOW AND THURSDAY ABOUT THE KINDS OF THE WAYS IN WHICH THE HELICOPTER HAS BEEN USED FOR THOSE PURPOSES.
UM, AND SAY THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, MAYBE, UM, HOW IT'S ASSISTED WITH EMERGENCIES.
UM, AND, AND IF IT IS, WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF SENDING THIS HELICOPTER VERSUS STAR FLIGHT? IS THERE AN ECONOMIC, IS THERE A FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE TO HAVING TO HAVING, UM, THIS HELICOPTER GO, IF WE HAVE PEOPLE FALL INTO GREENBELT OR, OR OTHER KINDS OF PLACES WHERE THEY MIGHT NEED THIS, THIS, UM, TECHNOLOGY TO ASSIST MY QUESTION ABOUT 34? UM, I AM, I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION IS IT'S LISTED AS BEING FOR THE DOWNTOWN, AS WELL AS RIVERSIDE.
IT SOUNDED LIKE MOST OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WAS CIRCLED AROUND RIVERSIDE AND SOME OF THE WORK THERE.
SO, UM, I'M NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR ON WHAT THE WORK WOULD BE DOWNTOWN AND THE PREVENTION, THE PREVENTION ITEMS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE BACKUP DOESN'T SEEM TO MATCH WITH THE OVERTIME PIECE THAT YOU WERE DESCRIBING.
SO COULD YOU ADDRESS, ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES? WHAT WOULD BE HAPPENING IN THE DOWNTOWN? IS IT ALL DOWNTOWN? WHAT IS THE WORK? THAT IS WHAT IS THE WORK THAT IS AIMED AT VIOLENT CRIME DOWNTOWN? YOU'RE CARRYING YOU'RE MUTED.
WHAT'S ATTACHED TO YOUR NAME TO, UM, OUR OTHER REPRESENTATIVE.
SO I APOLOGIZE FOR MIXING UP THE LAST NAMES WHEN I WAS, I GUESS, APOLOGIES.
WE, UH, WE ASKED FOR, UH, FUNDING SO THAT OFFICERS, COULD YOU TARGETED ENFORCEMENT, UH, VIOLENT CRIME AND MOSTLY CRIME WITH WEAPONS INVOLVEMENT.
IT'S THE ORGANIZED CRIME DIVISION.
AND, UM, THERE, THEY BASICALLY TOOK MAPPING THAT WAS CREATED BACK.
I THINK IT WAS 2018 CITYWIDE REPORT THAT SHOWED THAT THE RIVERSIDE AREA AND THE DOWNTOWN AREA WERE HOTSPOTS.
THE REASON WHY RIVERSIDE KEEPS COMING UP IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCE IN RIVERSIDE FOR A SEPARATE PROJECT AND THE US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND DOJ ALWAYS ENCOURAGE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE HOT SPOT AREAS, IF YOU HAVE A STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS, YOU COORDINATE SERVICES.
SO THAT'S WHY THE MENTION, BUT IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME ACTIVITY IS PROPOSED IN BOTH AREAS WITH THE PREVENTION.
WE STARTED DISCUSSING THE GREATER PREVENTION PIECE THAT I, THAT I MENTIONED BACK IN JUNE, WHEN COUNCIL PASSED THAT RESOLUTION, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE GRANT COMES IN LINE WITH YOUR DIRECTIVES.
SO WITH PSN SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE THINKING NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT, UM, A GREATER AMOUNT OF PSA AND VIDEOGRAPHY AND PHOTOS AND SOME ONLINE WORK.
SO THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET, BUT IT ABSOLUTELY WILL BE ONCE WE DECIDE HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH EACH PROJECT.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES.
WE MAY JUST NEED TO REACH OUT BETWEEN NOW AND THURSDAY.
UM, CERTAINLY I'M SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR WITH, WITH THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZED CRIME DIVISION IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
UM, THAT'S BEEN A SOURCE OF, OF, UM, CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD INCLUDING ON
[04:00:01]
WALKABOUTS AND, AND RIGHT ABOUT RIGHT AROUND, UM, IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT EXACTLY CLEAR TO ME SORT OF HOW THE PREVENTION WOULD WORK, BUT I DID JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING IS WORK THAT WOULD BE FOCUSED BOTH, BOTH ON DOWNTOWN.WELL, AS ON RIVERSIDE, SINCE SOME OF IT IS PREVENTION, HOW DO YOU ENVISION, HOW DO YOU ENVISION THIS WORK TAKING PLACE WITH THE NEW OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION THAT THE COUNCIL PASSED, UM, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER HAD BROUGHT FORWARD? I AM NOT VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
UM, IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. ARIANO, SO REALLY FOCUSED ON WHAT TO DO ABOUT EVERY GRANT TO BRING THEM IN LINE WITH COUNCIL DIRECTIVE.
WE HAVEN'T TAKEN THAT NEXT STEP TO ACTUALLY PLAN.
UM, WE ARE RIGHT NOW SETTING THINGS UP IN ORDER TO MEET WITH THE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMISSION AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND THEN START TO MAKE DECISIONS WITH THE GROUP, THE LARGER OUTSIDE OF AP GROUP APD GROUP ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
WELL, I WOULD SAY JUST THAT MAYBE SOME REVISIONS OR IN ORDER FOR, FOR, UM, THE LANGUAGE ON THURSDAY THAT, THAT PERHAPS ACKNOWLEDGING, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY COLLEAGUES ARE IN TERMS OF, OF OVERALL SUPPORT FOR THE AREA, BUT IT DOES SEEM APPROPRIATE TO REFERENCE THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND THAT THIS WORK, IF APPROVED WOULD, WOULD GO FORWARD, UM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THEN PERHAPS EVEN, YOU KNOW, LARGELY LED IN CONJUNCTION WITH, WITH THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, AT LEAST THE PSS AND, AND THINGS OF THAT SORT IS, IS WHAT I AM HAVE BEEN KIND OF ENVISIONING WHAT WOULD TAKE PLACE WITHIN AN OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
OBVIOUSLY THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZED CRIME DIVISION IT'S OUTSIDE OF IS OUTSIDE OF THAT, BUT THAT THIS IS A MIX, AS I UNDERSTAND THE CONVERSATION HERE TODAY IN THE BACKUP, IT'S A MIX OF, OF BOTH THE WORK WITH ORGANIZED CRIME PREVENTION AND THOSE UNITS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, ON THE, ON THE GROUND IN THESE AREAS.
AND THE OTHER PIECE OF IT IS PREVENTION AND EDUCATION.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IT'S SORT OF A TWO COMPONENTS WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A MORE BALANCED WAY OF ROLLING OUT THE PROJECT.
AND THEN ALICE, THANKS, MAYOR.
LET'S JUST PUT THIS ON THE RADAR.
I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD AT SOME POINT TO REVIEW THE INNER LOCAL AGREEMENTS, UM, THAT, UH, CAUSE I KNOW THE HELICOPTER IS NOT THE ONLY THING WE DO THAT WE'RE ON CALL FOR THE REGION AND IT'D BE GREAT TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT HOW COST ALLOCATIONS ARE HANDLED SINCE WE'RE OBVIOUSLY TAKING ON THE EXPENSE AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE LIABILITY WILL DO THANKS FOR THAT SUGGESTION COUNCIL MEMBER AUTHOR.
SO, UM, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA FOR RAISING THAT OVP AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH 34, UM, THE FIRST STEP, THE FIRST STEP FOR THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION IS A KIND OF A TECHNICAL STUDY, REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE PREVALENCE OF VIOLENCE IN DIFFERENT FORMS SO THAT WE CAN, UM, SET UP AN OFFICE THAT BEST MEETS THE NEEDS.
AND I THINK THAT, UM, FOR THE AREAS THAT ARE CITED HERE, WHERE WE KNOW THERE IS, UM, LARGER AMOUNTS OF VIOLENCE, I THINK THERE WOULD CERTAINLY BE, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH INFORM THAT STUDY FROM WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW AS WELL AS, UM, USE THAT STUDY AS WE'RE MAKING, UM, RESOURCE CHOICES IN THE FUTURE ABOUT, UM, WHAT TO DEPLOY, UM, AND REALLY USING THAT STUDY, WHICH WILL BE BASED IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, TO BE ABLE TO INFORM THAT.
SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, UM, FOR THE HELICOPTER WITH THE, UM, THE SEAT.
UM, I'M PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE HERE.
WHO'S ACTUALLY BEEN IN ONE OF THOSE AND RESCUED IN ONE OF THOSE.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT IF WE HAVE A GRANT THAT WILL FUND US TO HAVE THAT EQUIPMENT, UM, THAT IS JUST SUPER IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THAT CAPABILITY WITH ALL OF OUR GREENBELTS AND OUR RISK OF WILDFIRE.
UM, I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN THE HELICOPTER ITSELF, UM, WAS AUTHORIZED AND WHO PAID FOR THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY DIFFERENT QUESTION THAN GETTING A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
THAT LARGEST FUNCTION IS RESCUE, UM, THAT WE WOULDN'T BE PAYING FOR FURTHER COMMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON.
I WAS JUST INSPIRED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
TOVO HIS CONTRIBUTION THERE AND THINKING, YOU KNOW WHAT, ONE OF, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I INTRODUCED THIS BUDGET WE'RE WORKING AROUND RECIDIVISM AND REENTRY, UM, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO
[04:05:01]
MAKE SURE IT'S FULL CIRCLE AND THAT WE INCLUDE THOSE AS WELL AS OPPOSED TO STUDYING, UM, HOW MUCH RECIDIVISM THERE IS.UM, BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO PREVENT AND, AND TALK THROUGH, UH, REENTRY AS WELL IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT WOULD BE, I DON'T KNOW IF WE ULTIMATELY LANDED ON BOTH THE EQUITY OFFICE AND THEN THAT WAS, I THINK THAT WAS FUNDING THE INNOVATION OFFICE, THEIR SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER WAY TO REALLY ROUND IT OUT AND MAKE IT MORE ROBUST FOR THE DISCUSSION.
UM, I, I'VE NEVER BEEN RESCUED BY A HELICOPTER, BUT I HAVE SEEN, I HAVE SEEN STAR FLIGHT BEING USED TO PLUCK A PLUCKS OFF THE APPROPRIATE WORD, UM, ATTEMPT TO PULL A PERSON WHO HAD DROWNED, UM, OUT OF THE GREEN BELT.
AND INSTEAD WE, WE CARRIED HIM OUT BECAUSE HE WAS ACTUALLY A FIREFIGHTER.
SO, UM, MY POINT IS THAT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S, THERE'S A NEED, I'M CURIOUS WHY APD WOULD BE TAKING ON WHEN STAR FLIGHT ACTUALLY DOES THAT WORK.
THIS IS NOT AS IF THERE IS NOT, WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY ALREADY.
WE HAVE A HELICOPTER THAT DOES THAT EXACT WORK.
SO JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE NEED, UM, FRANKLY, AND SO THAT, THAT'S FINE.
THAT WASN'T, THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS.
I WASN'T ASKING YOU TO, WELL, AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO SPEAK TO THAT QUESTION, JOHN.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO LET US KNOW BETWEEN NOW AND THURSDAY, WHETHER YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO IT NOW.
IF I MAY, WE CAN PROBABLY DO A GOOD JOB OF ARTICULATING THAT IN A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO A COUNCIL QUESTIONS.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT ON THE POLICE ITEMS, COUNCIL MEMBER, AUTHOR, UM, I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT.
UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, STAR FLIGHT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND THEY DO REALLY IMPORTANT WORK.
I THINK THE ISSUE IS THAT, UM, THIS HELICOPTERS OUT AND ABOUT DOING ITS DAILY WORK WITH RESPECT TO TRAFFIC AND OTHER KINDS OF THINGS, AND MAYBE CALLED UPON TO DO SOMETHING AND MAYBE THE RESOURCE THAT IS CLOSER AND MAY MEAN THE DIFFERENCE FOR SOMEBODY WHO STAR FLIGHT IS USING IS BEING USED ELSEWHERE.
UM, SO I THINK, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE TO ME, I DON'T SEE THEM AS AN EITHER EITHER OR, BUT I WELCOME MORE INFORMATION FROM, FROM STAFF, UM, TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER THIS IS A GOOD DAY.
OKAY, FURTHER COMMENTS, COLLEAGUES OF THESE POLICING ITEMS. I'LL JUST ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE THIS DISCUSSION WITH AARON COUNCIL.
I THINK THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO REIMAGINE AND LOOK AT OUR OWN PROCESSES AS THE, AS A RESULT OF THE COUNCIL DIRECTION, BACK IN JUNE, UH, THIS TYPE OF DISCUSSION AND CONVERSATION IS REALLY CRITICAL AS WE CONTINUE TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE HAVING OUR PROCESSES AND THE DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL.
AND FOR ME, I SAID, YOU KNOW, AT A, AT A HIGH LEVEL, THE THEY'RE REAL IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS THAT POLICING HAS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO KEEP US SAFE.
WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THESE FUNCTIONS, UH, UH, SUPPORTED, UH, FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR BUDGET, BEYOND WHAT OUR TAXPAYERS PAY, UM, SOMETHING I THINK WE SHOULD BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF FURTHER CONVERSATIONS IN THE SENTENCE BEFORE THURSDAY.
THAT GIVES US THEN ONE LAST POLL ITEM AND I THINK YOU PULLED IT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLAN AGAIN.
I THINK IT WAS WHAT WAS IT? 57 57, YES.
UM, SO WE, I GOT SOME ANSWERS BACK FROM STAFF.
UM, SO THIS IS, UH, WHAT APPEARS TO BE CAPITAL RENEWAL FOR EQUIPMENT AT THE GOLF COURSE NETTING AT THE, AT THE GOLF COURSES.
AND ACCORDING TO STAFF, IT'S GRAY ROCK AND MORRIS WILLIAMS, AND IT'S BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE BOND PROGRAM, THE 2018 BOND PROGRAM.
WHEN WE DID THE BOND PROGRAM, I DON'T REMEMBER SPECIFICALLY SAYING GOLF.
UM, BUT, UM, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION FOR ME, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE AND A MANDATED EXPENSE.
SO CAN STAFF CLARIFY IF THESE DOLLARS ARE MANDATED TO BE SPENDING THIS WAY OR THEY'RE JUST ELIGIBLE FROM A BUCKET FROM 2018?
[04:10:13]
WE DO HAVE STAFF ON THE LINE, BUT I'M JUST GONNA TAKE ONE MINUTE TO GET THEM REMEMBER, SORRY ABOUT THAT.ANTHONY IS THE GIRL WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE BASICALLY HAD $4 MILLION EARMARKED FOR IRRIGATION AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE REPAIRS AT THE GOLF COURSES.
AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE REPAIRS THAT WE HAD BEEN PLANNING ON DOING FOR SOME TIME NOW, ESPECIALLY AT BOTH OF THE, UH, GOLF COURSES, UH, WITH MORRIS WILLIAMS AND GRAY ROCK, LIKE YOU MENTIONED.
SO, UH, WE DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY HAVE EVERY ITEM, UH, OUTLINED, UH, BUT IT WAS PART OF OUR GENERAL MAINTENANCE REPAIRS THAT WE'RE DOING.
BUT, BUT TO BE CLEAR, IT'S STAFF HAS PROGRAMMING MONEY THAT COULD BE SPENT ON IRRIGATION AND MAINTENANCE SAID IN ANY WAY IN ANY OF OUR PARTS.
THIS WAS DEDICATED DIRECTLY FOR GOLF FUNDING ONLY.
SO WE HAVE $4 MILLION EARMARKED FOR GOLF SPECIFICALLY.
THERE WAS GOLF SPECIFIC FUNDING IN THAT BOND.
WELL, I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT.
ALTHOUGH MY RECOLLECTION, I DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT ANYWAY, SO I DON'T FEEL TOO BAD ABOUT IT.
I THINK THOSE ARE ALL THE PULLED ITEMS THAT WE HAVE COLLEAGUES.
YOU READY TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE
[E. Executive Session: E2. Discuss legal issues regarding amendments to City Code Title 25 and Acuna et al v. City of Austin et al, Cause No. D-l-GN-19-008617 in the 201st Judicial District, Travis County, Texas (Private consultation with legal counsel-Section 551.071 of the Government Code). E3. Discuss the employment, duties, and evaluation of the City Manager (Personnel matters - Section 551.074 of the Government Code).]
SESSION? HERE WE ARE AT TWO 12, WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP TWO ITEMS PURSUANT TO FIVE, FIVE, ONE OH SEVEN.ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM E TWO.
CITY OF AUSTIN PURSUANT TO FIVE, FIVE, ONE OH SEVEN FOUR.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED ITEM E THREE, UH, EMPLOYMENT DUTIES.
AND SO THE CITY MANAGER, YOU ONE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEMS ANNOUNCED.
UH, WE WILL NOT BE RETURNING AS A GROUP TO, UH, TO THIS SESSION.
UH, I'LL RETURN JUST TO CLOSE US OUT.
UH, AND WITH THAT, UH, COLLEAGUES HERE AT, UH, TWO 12, I WILL SEE YOU IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO WE ARE NOW OUT OF CLOSED SESSION IN CLOSED SESSION.
WE DISCUSSED THE LEGAL MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM TWO AND PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED, RELATED TO ITEM E.
IT IS FIVE 42 AND THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AS A CHURCH.