[00:00:01]
NICK, GO AHEAD AND CALL ROLE BRIEFLY.[CALL TO ORDER ]
UH, THE TIME IS THREE TO FIVE CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER, UM, COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER WITH US TODAY.MCGEENEY MR. JOSLIN, PRESENT COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER GRANADA, PRESENT COMMISSIONER BAILEY.
MR. REIDY PRESENT MR. ROGERS PRESENT.
AND MYSELF, UH, CHAIR WHITTINGTON.
AND THAT MAKES A QUORUM WITH SEVEN OF US PRESENT.
UM, HI, I'LL HOPE EVERYONE'S DOING WELL.
UH, COLORING THE METER MEETING TO ORDER.
UM, FELICIA, DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN COMMUNICATION TODAY? OKAY.
[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]
CALL FOR APPROVAL.THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 14TH, 2020 EMAIL, I REVIEWED THE MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES, BUT I'LL WAIT TO SEE IF EVERYBODY ELSE HAS A CHANCE TO REVIEW.
ANY COMMENTS ON THE MINUTES FROM THE 14TH? ALL IN FAVOR.
WE WILL, UH, APPROVE THE MINUTES.
PERMITTED ARE APPROVED FROM DECEMBER 14TH, MEETING, UH, JUMPING INTO OLD BUSINESS
[2a. The Commission may discuss and take action on recommendations from the Parks and Environment Working Group. (Commissioner Cannatti - D 10 ]
ITEM TWO A IS DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT WORKING GROUP.AS OF LAST TIME, UH, I'M GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF.
I BELIEVE THAT COMMISSIONER CAN CANADY.
UH, IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT AWAY.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND JUMP ON MUTE.
IF THE VICE CHAIR WILL MANAGE THE MEETING ADMINISTRATION, PLEASE.
CAN I JUST DO A LITTLE HOUSEKEEPING OR A QUESTION? UM, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE, IS THERE A RAISE HAND FEATURE WITH THIS, UH, APPLICATION THAT WE'RE ON BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR VIDEO ON, UM, I'M CURIOUS WHEN TO RECOGNIZE PEOPLE.
ARE WE JUST JUMPING IN, ARE WE SIGNALING WITH RAISE HAND OR DO YOU SEE A LITTLE HAND NOW HERE IN MY SCREEN, DOES EVERYBODY ELSE SEE THAT YOU LOOK AT THE PARTICIPANTS TWINS WINDOW DOWN ON THE BOTTOM, RIGHT? THERE'S LIKE A LITTLE HAND SINGLE SIP SYMBOL SEEMS TO BE RIGHT.
I THINK THAT'S A NORMAL FEATURE WITH REGULAR WEBEX, UH, BUT WE ARE USING WEBEX EVENTS FOR THIS MEETING, SO IT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, UH, OKAY.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO UPDATE THE COMMISSION THAT WE HAD, UH, PER THE POSTPONEMENT LAST WEEK OF WANTING TO GET SOME INPUT FROM MR. JOSLIN ON THE REPORT.
UH, I THINK DUE TO THE HOLIDAY BREAK AND THE FEDERAL INSURRECTION, I DIDN'T GET AROUND TO GETTING A COMPLETE DIVIDE TODAY.
UH, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET, UH, SOME VERY HELPFUL COMMENTS FROM HIM AND I'VE, I JUST HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO INCORPORATE THEM.
I'D LIKE TO GET WITH THE WORKING GROUP AND MAKE SURE WE CONSIDER HIS, UH, INPUT AS A WHOLE.
UH, AND AT THIS POINT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO THAT'S MY REPORT TO THE COMMISSION AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO GET IT DONE BY THE NEXT MEETING OF THE TOURISM COMMISSION.
UH, HOPEFULLY IT WAS THE FULL INPUT AND SUPPORT AND REVIEW OF THE WORKING GROUP.
THE ONLY THING I'LL ADD TO THAT IS A COUPLE OF THE WORKING GROUP MEMBERS HAVE TAKEN POSITIONS WITH DIFFERENT ENTITIES.
[00:05:02]
SO I MAY NEED TO JUST PULL IN A NEW REPRESENTATIVE FROM SOME OF THESE OTHER NON COMMISSIONER PARTICIPANTS ON OUR WORKING GROUP.UM, UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, THAT'S THE REPORT.
I HAVE ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS STAFF, UH, QUESTIONS REGARDING THE WORK.
I'LL JUST TRY TO BE SURE TO COME BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING, HOPEFULLY BY THEN I CAN HAVE MY DUCKS LINED UP.
SO I ASSUME THEM WERE EATING THE RESOLUTION TO, UH, POSTPONING TO THE NEXT MEETING BECAUSE YOU'RE WANTING TO GET YOUR REPORT FINALIZED AND PROVIDE THAT TO US.
BEFORE WE TAKE UP THE MOTION TO ADOPT YOUR RESOLUTION, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
UH, THE WAY I READ THE MINUTES, WE HAD A GREAT LAST MINUTE TO POSTPONE IT.
I DIDN'T SPECIFY A DATE, SO I THINK WE'RE OKAY TO CONTINUE UNDER THAT.
WELL, IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS AND THAT CONCLUDES THAT BUSINESS, ALL BUSINESS ITEM, AND IT WILL BE ON THE NEXT MEETING'S AGENDA, UH, STILL A PERIOD'S ALL BUSINESS SHARE WAITING, AND I BELIEVE YOU CAN TAKE BACK THE FLOOR.
[2b. Update on status of the formation of a Tourism Public Improvement District (Joe Bolash, Board Chair, Austin Hotel and Lodging Association)]
TO ITEM TWO B, WHICH HAS AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE FORMATION OF A TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.UM, I'VE ASKED AT THE AUSTIN HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION, UH, JOIN US TO, UM, GIVE US A BRIEFING AND SOME UNDERSTANDING AROUND THE CURRENT STATUS OF THAT FORMATION AND WHERE THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE, UH, THE HOTEL OWNERS OR GROUPS, UH, STANDS.
SO TO THAT END, I WILL, UM, OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR MR. JOE BOWLER.
WHO'S THE BOARD CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION TO GIVE US SOME PERSPECTIVE FROM THE HOTEL SIDE, JOE.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.
I'M PLEASED TO BE SPEAKING TO, UH, THE AUSTIN TOURISM COMMISSION BOARD.
UH, AND, UH, I GUESS I'LL BEGIN WITH JUST A LITTLE, UM, SORT OF THE CREATION SO FAR OF THE TPN, YOU KNOW, THE AUSTIN HOTEL LOBBY ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP TEAM, UH, NEGOTIATED WITH, UH, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON A PROPOSED BASIC FORMAT OR FRAMEWORK FOR CONSIDERATION FOR TEETH IN, UH, THEN, UH, THE AUSTIN HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATION WITHIN ITS OWN SENIOR LEADERSHIP.
SO THEY'VE MEMBER HOTELS HERE IN AUSTIN, UM, VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THAT BASIC PROPOSED FORMAT.
UH, AND NOW, UH, WE'RE KIND OF AT THE POINT IN TIME WHERE, UM, IN DECEMBER, WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, GET THE ITEM ON TO THE AGENDA, UH, WHERE IT GOT A LITTLE BIT OUT INTO THE MEDIA AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY QUITE A, QUITE A BIT OF BUZZ AS, AS THIS KIND OF, UM, FUNDING, UH, IN PARTICULAR IN OUR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, WILL BE PHENOMENAL IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MARKET WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT DESTINATION CITIES.
UM, SO HERE'S THE PROCESS FROM HERE.
AS I SAID, WE, WE HAD GOTTEN THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA, UH, BUT WE WERE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF TWO THINGS AND THEY'RE TWO VERY IMPORTANT, UM, CONSIDERATIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, IS WE WERE JUST BEGINNING, UH, THE MEETINGS WITH COUNCIL, UH, PERSONS INDIVIDUALLY TO EDUCATE THEM ON THE T PEDS AND, AND ANY OF THEIR QUESTIONS.
AND, AND TO ENSURE THAT WHEN WE GOT TO THE AGENDA ITEM, UH, THAT WE HAD IN FACT, THEIR SUPPORT AND, AND THOSE, UM, TALKS, EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND ALL OF THEM, UH, CERTAINLY WERE, WERE FRUITFUL.
AND, AND I BELIEVE REALLY MOVED THE DIAL IN TERMS OF PREPARING COUNCIL, UH, FOR THE
NOW, THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS IS WE NEED THE THIRD STATE CORNER, OUR OWNERS TO APPROVE THAT AS WELL.
WE HAVE NOT AS AN ORGANIZATION, FORMALLY BEGUN TO, UM, SOLICIT OWNERSHIP, UM, UH, APPROVAL.
AND WE DO NEED, UH, OWNERSHIP, THE MAJORITY OF THE DOWNTOWN OWNERS, UH, TO APPROVE THE DEEP ED TO MAKE IT, UH, UH, PASS INTO, UH, YOU KNOW, A LAW.
UH, SO THAT WAS A PROCESS WE HAD NOT BEGUN YET.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD SECURED COUNCIL, UM, APPROVAL FIRST.
UH, IT WAS A VERY AGGRESSIVE TIMEFRAME, UH, YOU KNOW, AND PERHAPS IN RETROSPECT, WE SHOULD HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, GIVEN A LITTLE TIME TO BREATHE.
UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY HAD AS
[00:10:01]
A LOCAL ORGANIZATION, VERY ENTHUSIASTIC AT THE, UH, AT THE THOUGHT OF GETTING A TEETH FIT INTO PLACE AND GETTING IT INTO PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.UH, SO WE WERE ZEALOUS IN, IN GETTING IT TO, UH, TO COUNCIL.
UH, AND WE WERE WELL ON OUR WAY TO, UH, THE EDUCATION PROCESS THERE.
UH, WHAT HAPPENED WAS WE WERE NOT ABLE TO, UM, START THAT SECOND PHASE, UH, WHICH IS THE EDUCATION OF OUR OWNERSHIP GROUPS.
AND, UH, AS I STATED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, IT GOT OUT IN THE MEDIA, ON A SHIP GROUPS, STARTED TO, UM, COME BACK TO LOCAL PROPERTIES AND WITH QUESTIONS AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A NORMAL, UH, AND WE ANTICIPATED THAT.
UH, SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT LED US, LET US TO REMOVING IT FROM, UH, THE COUNCIL AGENDA WAS NOT ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM A, UM, LESSENING OF ENTHUSIASM OR A LACK OF BELIEF THAT THE, IT IS THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR INDUSTRY IN THE CITY.
AND RIGHT NOW, UH, IT WAS MORE TIMING AND GIVEN OUR OWNERSHIPS, THE, UH, RESPECTIVELY, AND THERE'S, THERE'S QUITE A FEW GROUPS THAT ARE INVOLVED THE TIME AND THE SPACE SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND, AND THEY CAN, AND THEY CAN WRAP THEIR HEADS AROUND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, UH, AND YOU KNOW, NOT, NOT FOR NOTHING.
YOU KNOW, WE NOW HAVE, UM, A COUPLE OF NEW COUNCIL PEOPLE AND WE'LL NEED TO START THE EDUCATION PROCESS WITH THEM.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC, WE'RE EAGER TO GET AN IN PLACE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE TWO MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS, THE CITY AND OUR OWNERS TO, UH, TO BRING ALONG WITH US.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE EMBARKED ON THAT PROCESS.
UH, I WISH I HAD A TIMEFRAME THAT I COULD RELATE, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS, UH, UH, X AMOUNT OF DAYS UNTIL WE SECURED THIS OR THAT.
BUT, UH, THESE THINGS TEND TO RUN THEIR OWN SCHEDULE AND THEIR OWN COURSE, AND, UH, THAT WILL NOT LESSEN OUR ENTHUSIASM OR OUR, UM, OUR WILLINGNESS TO, UH, BE GREAT TO PATIENTS OF IT.
SO, UM, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS, UM, THAT I CAN, UH, FIELD FOR ANYONE, I GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, I WAS CURIOUS IN THE FRAMEWORK THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE T PID, UM, WHAT IS IN THE FRAMEWORK, AND MAYBE IT'S NOT IN AT THIS STAGE.
UH, I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS TO KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF, UM, UH, PROMISE FOR SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT WILL BE GENERATED BY THE TPA TO GO TOWARDS, UM, PROVIDING, UM, HELP AND SERVICES FOR OUR HOMELESS POPULATION HERE IN AUSTIN.
HOW WILL THAT BE PROMISE TO BE PROTECTED? EXCELLENT.
THE ACTUAL QUESTION AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS REALLY, UM, THE TP DOES NOT DIRECTLY FUND THOSE PROGRAMS. SO WHAT THE TEAM HAD DOES ALLOW FOR US TO DO IS TO SEPARATE, UM, INTO THREE MAJOR PURPOSES THAT SALES, MARKETING PROGRAMS AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, OBVIOUSLY IN ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE, UM, THAT THE ACTUAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE TEETH THAT, AND, AND THE, THE LEAST OF ITS, UH, THE LEAST OF ITS COSTS, UH, BUT IN THE SERVICE PLAN, THE SALES PORTION OF THE TEETH HEAD INCLUDES AN ALLOCATION OF UP TO 40% OF THE PROCEEDS TO BUY DOWN COST OF CURRENT OR NEW CONVENTION CENTER BUSINESS.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, THE, THE FUNDING AND THE BUDGET THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER HAS SET ASIDE TO WIN BUSINESS OR TO, OR TO BUY CONCESSIONS FROM, UH, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS OR DIFFERENT CONVENTIONS, THE TI COULD, WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING.
AND THEN THAT WOULD ALLOW FROM WITHIN THE CONVENTION CENTERS, BUDGET, THOSE FUNDS TO BE OFFSET BACK TO THE CITY COFFERS.
AND ONCE THEY'RE IN THE CITY COFFERS, IT'S REALLY THE CITY'S DECISION AS TO WHERE THAT MONEY GOES.
THAT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE HOTEL AND LODGING COMMUNITY HAS ADVOCATED FOR ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
UH, IF THE CITY FINDS, UM, A MEANS TO UTILIZE SOME OF THOSE OFFSET FUNDS TO ALLEVIATE THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, UH, AND WE'RE, WE'RE CERTAINLY 100% BEHIND THAT EFFORT IN TERMS OF FINDING SOLUTIONS TO, TO ALLEVIATE THAT PROBLEM IN DOWNTOWN.
BUT THE TEETH HAD SPECIFICALLY, IT'S NOT A ONE-TO-ONE, IT DOES NOT GO DIRECTLY TO THOSE PROGRAMS NOR, UH, WAS THAT CAUSE A CAUSE THAT, UM, WAS GENERATED FROM THE HOTEL SIDE.
THAT WAS A, THAT WAS A CITY INITIATIVE.
SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT MONEY GETS TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, THAT IT GOES BACK TO CITY COFFERS.
AND THEN IF YOU CAN IN PLACE THAT WHEN IT GETS BACK TO CITY COFFERS THAT DIRECTS THE CITY TO USE IT FOR THAT USE.
IF I CAN COMMENT ON THAT, THIS IS SCOTT JAZZ LOVE, UH, THE CONVENTION
[00:15:01]
CENTERS ALREADY AWARE, AND I ALREADY PLANNED THE PROCESS FOR SEPARATING OUT FAT BY DOWN MONEY TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE DIRECT ACCESS FOR THE PUBLIC PROGRAMS WHO WANTS TO PURSUE SUCH AS ADDRESSING, UH, SERVICES FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING.ANY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, JOHN READING THE COMMENT? UH, HI JOHN, I WAS, UH, GONNA COMMENT TO COMMISSIONER MCGEE AND THE COMMISSION ITSELF WITH THE, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE DISCUSS AND PROP TAKE ACTION ON A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL THAT THE TPA WOULD ONLY BE APPROVED.
IF A CORRESPONDING BUDGET AMENDMENT IS INCLUDED THAT DIRECTLY CONNECTS COMMENCEMENTS IN A RESOURCES TOWARD HOMELESSNESS SERVICES.
JOHN, THE STATUTE DOESN'T ALLOW US TO DIRECTLY FUND WHAT THE CITY COUNTY, IF YOU WANT TO GET A RESOLUTION WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL INDICATES THEIR INTENTION TO ALLOCATE CONVENTION CENTER REVENUES FROM BUYDOWN TO THAT PURPOSE, YOU CAN DO THAT.
YOU CAN NOT GET A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD, UH, REQUIRE THAT THE T PIT ITSELF, UM, ALLOCATE THAT MONEY DIRECTLY, THAT WOULD CONTRAVENE STATE LAW.
AND I RECOMMEND WHAT YOU PUT FORTH IN THE FIRST PLACE IS THAT THE COUNCIL ONLY APPROVED THE PID.
IF IT, IF THAT RESOLUTION ALSO INCLUDES A BUDGET AMENDMENT, MOVING RESOURCES FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER TOWARDS HOMELESSNESS SERVICES, NOT T PAID MONEY TO THE CONVENTION CENTER OR BUYDOWN MONEY, BUT OTHER REVENUE SUCH AS GANG OR EARNED INCOME.
AND WE ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED, YOU COULD WORK IN GROUP.
I DID REACH OUT TO YOU WORK IN GROUP MEMBERS, INCLUDING YOURSELF, JOHN, UM, USING THE CITY EMAIL ADDRESSES WE HAVE.
UM, SO, UH, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T DO THAT, UH, A WORKING GROUP GOING SO WE CAN DISCUSS THIS MORE.
CAN YOU USE MY WORK EMAIL FOR COMMUNICATIONS ON THAT? WOULD YOU MIND DOING THAT? RIGHT? I CAN.
IF I HAVE IT, I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER AND CITY COUNCIL HAVE AGREED THAT SHOULD MONEY BE TRANSFERRED FROM VISIT AUSTIN FROM MARKETING THAT COMES IN FROM A T PID FUND TO B TO B AGREED ON.
THEN THEY HAVE ALREADY AGREED THAT THAT MONEY IS THOSE MONIES UP TO 40% OF THE CHEAP ED FUNDS WOULD THEN BE ALLOCATED FOR, UH, ADDRESSING ISSUES RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS.
IF OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE CITY FORMALLY CREATE A BUDGET AMENDMENT IDENTIFYING AS CHIEF HAD MONEY IN THE, IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THE CITY IS IN AGREEMENT WITH THE HOTEL COMMUNITY ON ESTABLISHING CUPID AND MONEY HAS FLOWN SO SLOWED FROM, IS IT AUSTIN TO THE CONVENTION CENTER AS IDENTIFIED THAT MONEY WILL THEN BE ALLOCATED TO THE CITY, WILL THEN BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY FOR USE IF THEIR DISCRETION IN WHICH THEIR DISCRETION HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS ISSUES.
UH, IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT, THAT THE CORRECT CHAIN OF TRAIN OF, UH, CUSTODY, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD OF THESE FUNDS AND ALLOCATION OF THESE FUNDS, BUT PERHAPS I'M MISUNDERSTANDING, UH, YOUR APPOINTMENTS, UH, CHAIRMAN, UH, UH, WHITTINGTON.
UH, I HAVE A SUMMARY THAT I CAN EMAIL OF EXACTLY HOW THE HOMELESSNESS MONEY, THAT KIND OF THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY, IF AS YOU CALL IT, HOW THAT HAPPENED AND, AND HOW WE ANTICIPATED TO HAPPEN.
I CAN SHARE THAT WITH THE, AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE TRY TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT TRYING TO, UH, IT'S A VERY, UH, CONVOLUTED SORT OF SET OF LAWS AND PRACTICES THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH CITY LEGAL AND THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE LODGING INTO TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PULL IT WITH STATE LAW.
[00:20:01]
I UNDERSTOOD COMMISSIONER REEDYS COMMENT THAT, UH, MAKING ANY, ANYTHING DEPENDENT, UH, ON, YOU KNOW, A RESOLUTION THAT SUPPORTS, YOU KNOW, THIS OR THAT.IF HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE T PIT FUNDS, THAT'S ONE THING, IF HE'S TALKING ABOUT FUNDS OUTSIDE OF THE TIF HEAD, I'M NOT SURE IF I'M CLEAR ON THAT.
UH, MY POINT IS ONLY THAT THE COUNT WE RECOMMEND COUNCIL NOT APPROVE THE TEETH HEAD UNTIL, AND UNLESS A CLEAR PROCESS FOR ALLOCATING RESOURCES TO HOMELESS AND SERVICES IS INCLUDED IN THE, UH, RESOLUTION.
I THINK THIS WOULD BE A VERY GOOD TOPIC OF DISCUSSION FOR OUR FIRST PAID WORKING GROUP MEETING.
SO WE CAN REALLY SHOUT ALL THESE DETAILS BETWEEN US AND EXCHANGE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT EACH OF US HAS AND DISPLAY, SO THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
AGREED ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION SURROUNDING, UH,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UM, PROACTIVENESS ON TIME TO SET THAT MEETING.
UH, I WILL GET LARGE INTO MY CITY EMAIL AND CHECK IT.
IT'S ONE OF MANY EMAILS AND I'M BEHIND HIM KEEPING IT.
I'VE USED THE CITY ONES JUST BECAUSE I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE EVERYBODY'S PRIVATE ONES.
THAT SEEMED LIKE THE BEST WAY TO GO TO START WITH, BUT I RE I HEARD NOTHING BACK, SO APPARENTLY NOT.
UM, BRIEFLY ITEM THREE B HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WANTS THIS HAS ASKED THAT WE, UH, TABLE AND BRING THAT BACK UP FOR OUR FEBRUARY MEETING THE CONVERSATION REGARDING A BRIEFING REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE LIVE MUSIC FUND AND THE LIVE MUSIC AND WORK.
SO, UM, DAVID, THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO PRESENT ON THAT IN NEBRASKA.
SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THAT, TO THE TENDER MEETING.
YOU MADE THE MOTION, SO YEAH, NO WORRIES.
AND, UH, ANY CONCERN ON THAT? SO MOOT, UM, ITEM
[3a. Presentation on Visit Austin’s Music Marketing Efforts (Omar Lozano, Visit Austin) ]
THREE, HEY, UH, WELL MORE OR LESS SANTA FOR VISIT.AUSTIN HAS PREPARED A PRESENTATION ON THE, THE ON VISIT AUSTIN'S MUSIC MARKETING EFFORTS.
UM, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS ONE SHEET.
IT IS, UM, IT'S GREAT INFORMATION AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE, UH, THE GOOD WORK BY VISIT AUSTIN.
I WILL HAND IT OFF TO
UH, ACTUALLY, UH, ACTUALLY CATLINS IS TOM NUDE AND I'M GONNA JUST MAKE A STATEMENT REAL QUICK FIRST, AND THEN I'VE GOT OMAR ON THE CALL.
I'VE GOT JULIE CHASE ON THE CALL AND I'VE GOT TIFFANY ON THE CALL FROM OUR MARKETING DEPARTMENT THAT WORKED DAY-TO-DAY ON EACH THESE PROGRAMS FOR DEEPER QUESTIONS, BUT ABSOLUTELY REAL QUICK STATEMENT.
I MEAN, JUST, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ASKED TO REPORT TODAY, COMMISSIONERS, THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
WE WERE ASKED TO REPORT FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN USED TO SPONSOR OR PAY FOR MUSICIANS AND OTHER ARTISTS AND CREATIVES.
YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT OUR ROLE AS ONE IS DEVELOPING MARKETING SALES PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE THE DESTINATION, TO POTENTIAL VISITORS AND MEETING PROFESSIONALS.
SOMETIMES TO DO THIS, WE ENGAGE OUR LOCAL DESTINATION ASSETS, WHICH MAY INCLUDE MUSICIANS, MAKERS, CHEFS, ARTISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, VIDEOGRAPHERS ARTERS, OR WRITERS, INFLUENCERS, AND OTHERS.
UM, WE IMPORT PRIORITIZED LOOK GLASSES AND EVERY MARKETING TOUCHPOINT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE'RE WORKING ON A PROMOTIONAL VIDEO THAT NEEDS BACKGROUND MUSIC, WE'RE GOING TO LICENSE A TRACK FROM A LOCAL ARTIST VERSUS USING STOCK MUSIC.
UH, THIS, THIS KIND OF CHART OUTLINES KIND OF THE BASIC AREAS WHERE WE'RE, HOW WE'RE SPENDING, UM, UH, DOLLARS ON MUSIC.
IT'S ABOUT $190,000 OVER THE LAST TWO FISCAL YEARS, OR LESS THAN 1% OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET.
UM, AND, UH, I'M SURE THAT OMAR AND, UH, JULIE AND TIFFANY CAN WALK YOU THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THOSE THINGS, BUT, AND IN ALL CASES, THEY'RE EITHER FOR, YOU KNOW, CONVENTION PROMOTION, CONVENTION SALES PLATFORMS, OR FOR TOURISM PROMOTION USES, THAT'S THE PRIMARY USE OF WHY WE'RE, WE'RE USING THESE DOLLARS IN THIS WAY.
SO, BUT, UH, WITH THAT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR OMAR OR MYSELF, OR FOR JULIE OR FOR TIFFANY AND HAPPY TO TAKE THEM, I OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ANY DISCUSSION CONVERSATION OR QUESTIONS.
ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR VISIT AUSTIN REGARDING THIS DOCUMENT.
[00:25:13]
NO DISCUSSION ON THIS.I'D BE CURIOUS, UH, THIS IS COMMISSIONER JOSH LOVE.
IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION THAT HAS CONCERNED ABOUT FUNDING, COMMERCIAL MUSIC IN ADDITION TO THE MONEY WE'RE ALREADY PROVIDING TO NONPROFIT ARTS ENTITIES? AND SO, UH, WOULD THEY, WOULD THAT, WAS THAT COMMISSIONER LIKE ARTICULATE THAT CONCERN TO CLARIFY, DO YOU MEAN COMMERCIAL MUSIC THROUGH THESE MARKETING EFFORTS BY VISIT AUSTIN OR BY VIA THE LIVE MUSIC FUND? I WOULD SAY, UH, BY THE LIVE MUSIC FUND AND, OR AS I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MAY BE SOME ELIGIBILITY FOR THE OTHER PORTION OF THE HOTEL TAX FOR COMMERCIAL MUSIC, BUT AT LEAST THROUGH THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE REST OF THE COMMISSION ON THIS OR ANYBODY ELSE ON THE COMMISSION IS THAT ANOTHER, UH, SLICE OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX PIES, ESSENTIALLY CLARIFY
I MEAN, THERE'S ALREADY THE CATEGORY FOR THE RX.
THIS IS THE SUBSET OF THE ART.
TYPICALLY IN MANY COMMUNITIES LIMITED TO, UM, FOR PROFIT ENTITY.
I MEAN, NOT FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES, BUT STATE LAW DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT.
AND, AND THEN I THINK THERE WAS SOME LEADERSHIP THAT ALLOWED FOR THE INCREMENTAL PORTION THAT THROUGH TO THE 9% UPTICK OR THE UPTICK TO 9% FOR THAT 15% OF THAT AMOUNT TO GO TO COMMERCIAL ART, BUT TATLIN, YOU KNOW, MORE ABOUT THAT THAN I DO, I THINK, YES.
AND THAT IS CONGRESS WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS BODY, THAT 0 CENTS FROM TAXABLE DOLLAR BE ALLOCATED FOR THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, WHICH IS DEDICATED TO COMMERCIAL MUSIC AND THE PROMOTION, UH, AND SPARTA IS THE SUBSIDY OF COMMERCIAL MUSIC PROGRAMS HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, KEVIN, CAN YOU, CAN YOU SHARE, WHO CAN YOU SHARE, WHO INITIATED THAT EFFORT TO ALLOW THAT FUNDING? WHAT WAS IT A GROUP OR, YEAH, WELL, IT WAS, UM, UH, IT WAS THE, THE TASK FORCE, UM, AND VISITOR IMPACT TASK FORCE FOR IN 2006 COMPLETED AT TEMPERANCE IN 2017.
UH, AND THIS BODY, UH, ON A RECOMMENDATION THAT I PUT FORWARD BACK IN, OH, I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY LATE 2018.
I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC DATES ON THAT.
UM, THIS BODY BACK IN, UH, LATE 2018, EARLY 2019 LETTER, NOT A RECOMMENDATION TO, UM, CONFIRM OR REAFFIRM THE SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE VISITOR IMPACT TASK FORCE, INCLUDING THAT ALLOCATION OF 0 CENTS, UH, AS COLLECTED AS AN ADDITIONAL, AS AN INCREMENTAL FUNDING FOR THE ARTS CAPTURED FROM THE ADDITIONAL 2% HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTION, IS IT, IS IT FAIR TO SAY KATLYN THAT THIS WAS NOT AN INITIATIVE EITHER IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION BY THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, THAT THIS WAS NOT OUR INITIATIVE, THE HOTEL OR RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, THIS WAS NOT, UM, LED BY THAT OR SUGGEST OR ADVOCATED FOR AGAIN, I THINK THAT I, I CAN, I AGREE THAT THERE WAS NOT, UM, AN EFFORT PUT FORWARD THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.
IT WAS AN EFFORT THAT WAS LED BY, UH, ORIGINALLY THE VISITOR IMPACT TASK FORCE.
IT WAS LED BY MYSELF AND AT THE TIME THE CHAIR OF THE MUSIC COMMISSION, GAVIN GARCIA IN THE VISITOR IMPACT TASK FORCE AS, UH, AN TO CAPTURE FUNDING, TO SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC IN AUSTIN.
AND IT WAS AGREED TO, BY ALL THAT WERE IN THAT ROOM, INCLUDING, UH, THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY THAT WERE PART OF THAT TASK FORCE.
I MEAN, I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE HOTEL INDUSTRY WHERE WE'RE ABSOLUTELY FINE WITH
[00:30:01]
IT.WE THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, BUT IT'S NOT OUR IDEA NOR ONE THAT WE PUSH FOR, AGAIN, WE WERE SUPPORTIVE OF OTHER FOLKS WHO WANTED TO INITIATE THAT.
UM, I THINK ALSO I WOULD ASK AS A COURTESY OF THE COMMISSIONERS ON THIS BODY THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO ASSERT SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF THE HOSPITALITY OR PARTICULARLY THE HOTEL INDUSTRY, SO YOU FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AND MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASSERTING IS ACCURATE BECAUSE IT CAME BACK TO ME THAT THERE WERE ASSERTIONS BY A MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSION THAT THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY WAS THE ONE BEHIND THIS EFFORT, AND IT'S JUST INACCURATE AND UNFAIR.
AND, AND, AND SO I WOULD ASK FOR A LITTLE MORE COURTESY IN THAT REGARD.
COLIN, CAN YOU REMIND ME, UM, IN TALKING ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL, WAS THERE ALSO, IT WAS A FOCUS THAT IT'S LOCAL MUSICIANS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMERCIAL MUSIC.
I THINK THE GENERAL RECOMMENDATION, UM, AND I WILL SAY, ALTHOUGH THIS IS, THIS IS GETTING SOMEWHAT OFF TOPIC FROM THREE EIGHT, BUT, UH, JUST, JUST TO CLARIFY, UH, THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION WAS, WAS THAT FUNDING SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE TO LOCAL LIVE MUSIC VENUES AND MUSICIANS.
UM, AND I WILL SAY THAT THE, UM, LIVE MUSIC FUND WORKING GROUP, THE MISSION AND OBJECTIVES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BY THAT GROUP THAT WERE ALSO ADOPTED BY THE MUSIC COMMISSION AS A, AS A PRELIMINARY SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, SPECIFICALLY CALLS OUT, UM, LOCAL LIVE MUSIC VENUES AND LOCAL MUSICIANS, AND THAT THE FUNDING SHOULD, THE FUNDING SHOULD BE GOING TO SUPPORT, UM, MUSIC, VENUES, MUSICIANS, AND MUSIC TOURISM IN AUSTIN, UM, AS, AS ITS OBJECTIVE AND THE VIEWS USE CASE.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS MARKETING EFFORTS AND HOW VISIT AUSTIN IS TAPPING INTO AS PART OF ITS MARKETING EFFORTS OF AUSTIN AS A DESTINATION, HOW IT IS TAPPING INTO THE MUSIC, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY, UM, AS IT WORKS ON BROADER MARKETING OBJECTIVES.
SO I'D SAY, UH, TO THAT, LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE THINGS, I FEEL THAT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND VISIT AUSTIN ON FINDING SOME WAYS THAT THEY CAN DIRECT MONEY TO MUSICIANS, UH, WHILE THEY SUPPORT MARKETING, UH, SUCH THINGS AS, UM, THE LICENSING OF LOCAL MUSIC AND MUSICIANS, UH, LICENSING OF MUSIC FOR, UH, PROMOTIONAL THESIS AND ADVERTISING.
UM, THE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE, UH, CLEARANCE HOUSE, THE CLEARING HOUSE, THE MUSICIAN CLEARINGHOUSE THAT DOES IT.
AUSTIN HAS, UH, HAS RUN FOR A LONG TIME WHEREBY THEY'RE PUTTING, UH, LOCAL MUSICIANS IN TOUCH WITH EVENT PLANNERS THAT ARE COMING INTO TOWN, UM, IN ORDER TO, TO, UH, PUSH THE BOOKING OF LOCAL MUSIC, UH, WHEN PEOPLE ARE PLANNING THEIR EVENTS.
UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THERE'S OTHER THINGS IN HERE AS FAR AS VIDEO VIDEO EDITING, PRODUCTION, PRODUCTION, UH, PERFORMANCES, ET CETERA, THAT I THINK HAS, HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD WORK, UH, BY VISIT AUSTIN IN, UH, DRIVING MONEY, NOT JUST TO MUSIC, BUT, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE BY THESE, UH, COLUMN HEADERS, OTHER CREATIVE INDUSTRY, UH, INTO INDIVIDUALS AND SECTORS OF THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY, UH, BEYOND JUST MUSIC, POLLUTING BROTHERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS AND VIDEOGRAPHERS, UM, I THINK I LIKE TO COMMEND THEM ON THAT EFFORT.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAPPY TO DO IT ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
VISIT AUSTIN FOR JOINING US AND FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION, UH, MOVING ON, WE HAVE
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: The Commission may discuss and take possible action to request information and identify future agenda items, topics, or presentation: ]
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. I KNOW VICE-CHAIR MCGEE.YOU HAD A QUESTION REGARDING THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE UPCOMING STATE LEDGE.
UM, SHORT, WE COULD NOT GET IT.
WE COULD NOT GET IT ON THIS AGENDA IN TIME
[00:35:01]
TO POST THERE'S TWO OPTIONS.ONE, WE COULD, UM, PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA FOR OUR FEBRUARY MEETING, UH, WHICH I'M HAPPY TO DO THE OTHER OPTION THAT WE HAVE WOULD BE TO CALL AN EMERGENCY MEETING, TO JUST HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THAT PENDING THE AVAILABILITY OF THE CITY STAFF MEMBER TO MAKE THAT PRESENTATION AND OUR AVAILABILITY AND INTEREST IN HAVING A, UM, AN UNSCHEDULED MEETING BETWEEN NOW AND FEBRUARY.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE HARD DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANTED TO A SPECIAL MEETING FOR THIS ONE ITEM WITHOUT HAVING SEEN THE ONE ITEM.
I'M NOT SURE UNLESS THEY HAVE, BECAUSE I FOUND THIS IN MY CITY EMAIL.
SO I WOULD ASSUME IT WENT TO ALL OF US FOR OUR CITY EMAIL.
UM, BUT WE DIDN'T SEE IT IN TIME FOR THIS MEETING.
UM, IT'S A RESOLUTION FROM, UM, THE INTER GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER UNCO, AND IT'S ESSENTIALLY A RESOLUTION, UM, UH, TO ASKING THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO, UM, LET THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, DO ITS WORK.
IT SEEMS WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
THE CITY HAS PASSED, AND THEN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE HAS OVERTURNED, AND IT SEEMS TO RE A RESOLUTION IN RESPONSE TO THAT.
UM, AND, UH, OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE TRYING TO TIME IT FOR THIS MEETING BECAUSE THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IS, IS, YOU KNOW, CONVENED THIS MONTH.
UM, I DON'T THINK IT NECESSARILY MEANS IT'S, UH, NULL AND VOID IF WE LEAVE IT UNTIL NEXT, UH, MEETING, BUT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A RESOLUTION THAT WENT OUT TO ALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, ALL SEEING, UM, THAT, UM, WE SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION, ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE WITH ALL THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR A SPECIAL MEETING, UH, PENDING AVAILABILITY OF THE CONDITION AND AVAILABILITY OF THE STAFF MEMBER TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION WE WOULD NEED TO, UH, I BELIEVE HOW THAT AT LEAST 48 HOURS OF ADVANCED NOTICE, UM, OF THE AGENDA, UH, POSTED UNDER TOMO, UH, FELICIA, CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT'S CORRECT.
WITHOUT KNOWING THE AVAILABILITY OF THE, UH, ONLINE STREAMING SERVICE, AS WELL AS THE AVAILABILITY, UH, MS. FRANCO, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR US TO SET A TIME, UH, WITHIN THIS MEETING.
SO PERHAPS THAT IS NOT LOGISTICALLY FEASIBLE, GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING SETTING THAT MEETING.
UM, I'D RECOMMEND THAT WE JUST TABLE THIS AND, AND BRING IT, OR B BRING THIS TO OUR MEETING IN FEBRUARY AS, UH, OUR NEXT AS, AS A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.
AND AS THAT, UH, FELICIA REACH OUT TO MS. FRANCO AND FIND OUT IF SHE IS AVAILABLE ON FOR THE FEBRUARY MEETING, WHICH WILL BE, UH, FEBRUARY THE EIGHTH OF 2021, UH, IN THE AFTERNOON.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU MENTIONED SPECIAL MEETING BEFORE OR EMERGENCY MEETING, I COULDN'T IMAGINE HOW IT WOULD HAPPEN WITH HAVING TO SET UP THE AVAILABILITY OF THE WEBEX AND WEBEX AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND SO, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO, UH, OSPREY TO COME AND PRESENT.
I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW IF WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE, UM, MS. FRANCO PRESENT, GIVEN THAT THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS SHARED IS BASICALLY A BLANKET RECOMMENDATION THAT
[00:40:01]
THE TOURISM COMMISSION ENDORSED THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA BY THE CITY THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.UM, I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS CRITICAL FOR THEIR SUCCESS.
I THINK THAT THIS IS MEANT AS YES, WE ARE.
UH, IT'S A IT'S AFFIRMATION OF THEIR, UH, INTENTION.
UM, AND HONESTLY, I AM NOT ENGAGED ENOUGH AT THIS TIME TO SAY THAT I'VE READ THROUGH WHAT THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS, WHICH IS WHY I WOULD ASK THAT WE GET AN UPDATE.
I HAVE SEEN FROM A DIFFERENT COMMISSION MEETING AND UPDATE FROM, UH, MS. FRANCO, BUT THAT WAS KIND OF GERMANE TO THAT SPECIFIC CONDITION ANYMORE TO TOURISM.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA THAT ACTUALLY, I, UH, I'LL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE JUST PUT THIS FOR.
I'LL JUST ASK THAT WE PUT THIS TILL NEXT, UH, TO THE FEBRUARY MEETING, IF THERE'S ANY, UH, AND I AGREE, LET'S PUT IT ON THE FEBRUARY AGENDA.
I THINK IT'S, UH, IT'S, UH, IT'S MORE SHOW SOLIDARITY AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK, I THINK IT'S FINE TO PUT IT ON THE FEBRUARY AGENDA.
UH, ALSO FOR FEBRUARY AGENDA, WE HAVE A REVISITING OF THE PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATION.
AS WELL AS, UM, A BRIEFING AND UPDATE FROM EDD REGARDING THE LIVE MUSIC FUND AND THE LIVE MUSIC WORKING.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS TIME FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? THIS IS JOHN REED.
UH, I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO GET A BRIEFING FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN CONVENTION ENTERPRISES, WHICH IS THE CITY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION THAT OWNS THE HILTON CONVENTION CENTER HILTON.
WHAT WOULD THE, UH, I GUESS, WHAT IS THE QUESTION THAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO PRESENT ON JUST A BRIEFING, AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THEIR OPERATION IS, OR IS THERE A SPECIFIC QUESTION THAT I CAN I SHARE THIS BODY? I'M NOT EVEN SURE THIS BODY HAS THAT THAT ORGANIZATION EXISTS AND THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN THE CONVENTION INDUSTRY AND IN THE CITY.
ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? I HAVE A, I HAVE A GENERAL ARCHING COMMENT, AND THAT WOULD BE THAT TO WHAT DEGREE OR WHAT PROCESS DO WE THINK WOULD BE FRUITFUL FOR US AS AN ENTIRE COMMISSION TO STAY ATTUNED TO THE OVERALL TRAJECTORY AND PLANNING AND PROJECTION FOR IMPACTS OF TOURISM AS WE MOVE THROUGH 2021.
I THINK EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF ALLOCATION DOLLARS AND LOOKING FOR MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS, WE STILL HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING IN LIGHT OF WHAT IS THE STATE OF OUR TOURISM ECONOMY IN 2021 AND MOVING INTO 2022, I THINK AS A BODY, WE OUGHT TO BE AS EQUALLY AWARE OF THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE, WHAT OUR TOURISM ASSETS IN THE CITY ARE FACING.
AND WE SHOULD BE AS INFORMED ABOUT THE STATE OF THAT IS ANY OTHER ITEM THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING UNDERSTOOD.
UM, WE HAD, UH, WE HAD THAT AN OVERVIEW SOMEWHAT FROM VISIT AUSTIN, UH, IN THE LAST MEETING, AS WELL AS THE, UH, THE VIDEO THAT WAS SHARED THE PRESENTATION BY THE ECONOMIST THAT WAS SHARED.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY TO YOUR POINT CONTINUE TO BE GETTING REGULAR UPDATES ON WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE, ESPECIALLY AS THINGS ARE NOT CHANGING ON A MONTHLY BASIS, BUT CHANGING ON A WEEKLY BASIS THESE DAYS.
UH, SO PERHAPS WE COULD ASK FOR ANOTHER FORECAST UPDATE, UH, IN THE NEXT MEETING, EVEN IF IT'S JUST A BRIEF, A BRIEF, UH, KIND OF SYNOPSIS OF WHERE, WHERE THINGS ARE LOOKING ON THE RECOVERY APP, WHICH IS THAT, IS THAT A FAIR REQUEST AND A FAIR POINT? YEAH.
I JUST FEEL LIKE WE NEED, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE IT'S KIND OF, WHAT'S THE STATE OF AFFAIRS.
I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S ALMOST ROUTINE TO, YOU KNOW, OUR ONGOING, YOU KNOW, LIKE IF THERE WAS A REPORT,
[00:45:01]
THE CURRENT REPORT ON PROGRESS, THE OTHER THING I'M CON I GUESS I'M UNCLEAR ON IS THE HERITAGE BUDGET AND FUNDING AND WHERE THAT, WHERE THOSE DOLLARS ARE CURRENTLY, WHAT THE ALLOCATION THAT THOSE DOLLARS ARE AND PROCESS TOWARDS THAT AS WE ARE.I SEE CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT ADDITIONAL ALLOCATIONS.
I'M NOT EVEN CLEAR ON HOW THAT POT OF MONEY IS BEING ALLOCATED AND WHETHER OR NOT SOME OF THE PURPOSES THAT WE HAVE IN MIND, WHETHER THOSE, SOME OF THE OTHER CONCERNS OR ISSUES AND PRIORITIES THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING AS A COMMISSION HAVE ACCESS TO THROUGH THE HERITAGE FUND TO BE ADDRESSED, UNDERSTOOD, UH, HERITAGE TOURISM, A LITTLE ASK, UH, ADB, IF THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO PRESENT ON THE STATUS OF THAT FUND AND CURRENT PLANNED PROJECTS, TIMELINE FOR THOSE PLANNED PROJECTS AND THE CURRENT BALANCE OF THAT FUND IS THAT'S, UH, DID THAT COVER YOUR, YOUR REQUEST? YES.
I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM ADT ALSO BECAUSE I ALMOST FEEL LIKE A FULL COST KIND OF REPORTING COME FROM THEM.
THEY DEAL WITH BOTH THE CULTURAL ARTS AND THE HERITAGE, AND THEY'RE DEALING A LOT WITH THE, UM, RELIEF EFFORTS FOR FAILURE.
AND I'M REALLY CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THE, THE HOT FUNDS, OBVIOUSLY THE INCOME HAS DRASTICALLY IMPACTED AND EVERYBODY THAT BENEFITS FROM THE CULTURAL OUTSIDE FROM THOSE FUNDS HAS ALREADY HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY IMPACTED.
SO HOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE PLAN OR HOW, AND WHAT'S IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE IF YOU ARE DEVASTATED BY THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND THERE ARE LESS FUNDS AVAILABLE TO THE, THAT YOU NOT RELY ON IN NORMAL TIMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF COVID-19 LIKE, I'M JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS UNDERSTOOD.
SO, UH, AN UPDATE, JUST A GENERAL UPDATE ON THEIR OVERARCHING RELIEF, AS WELL AS A PROJECTION OF OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUES.
DOES THAT PARAPHRASE YOUR REQUEST? YEAH, I THINK SO, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT'S REALLY EASY FOR US TO KEEP COMING UP WITH NEW WAYS TO SPEND THE MONEY, AND THAT SORT OF KEEPS HAPPENING AS WE GROW AND AS WE SEE OTHER NEEDS, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE HOT TAX INCOME IS, YOU KNOW, THE INCOME IS PRETTY NARROW IN FOCUS, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY THE EXPENDITURES WERE SUPPOSED TO BE QUITE NARROW IN FOCUS.
AND WHILE IT'S EASY TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO SPEND THE MONEY, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S OUT OF THE PURVIEW OF THIS COMMISSION, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE, UM, UH, IDEAS ABOUT COMING UP WITH OTHER SOURCES OF INCOME THAT CAN SUPPORT POT TAX BECAUSE HEART TAXES IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN EVERYTHING.
UM, REALLY ROSIE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC WITH THE, UH, CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION, UM, APPROVAL.
NOW WE'RE IN A SORT OF AN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A MAJOR SETBACK AND THIS IS IMPACTED OR, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY THAT PRIOR TO COVID, WE WERE SAYING, THIS IS GREAT AT ONE THING FEEDS ANOTHER, AND IT'S A, IT'S A CYCLE, YOU KNOW, A SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY, AND IT'S ALL WORKING REALLY WELL.
AND THAT'S JUST BEEN, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST RECEIVED THE HAMMERING.
ANY OTHER ITEMS OR CONSIDERATION FOR FUTURE AGENDAS? HMM.
LIKE THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER BUNCH HAS, UH, HAS JOINED THE MEETING.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHEN HE JOINED US COMMISSIONER BUNCH, BUT, UH, WELCOME.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE RECORD FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
AND AT THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
IF I DECIDE, THANK YOU, CHAIR WEDDINGTON.
I HAVE BEEN HERE ON THE MEETING SINCE, UH, CLOSE TO THE BEGINNING.
I DID MISS THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES OR SO, BUT I'VE GOT IT, NOT A WORRY.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS REFLECTED IN THE MEETINGS.
THE MINUTES NEXT MEETING, UH, AT THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE
[00:50:01]
A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.CAN I GET A SECOND? I GUESS WOULD BE THE CORRECT.
AND WE WILL SEE YOU IN FEBRUARY.