[00:00:03]
[CALL TO ORDER]
WELCOME.I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER 3:07 PM FOR THE JANUARY 11TH, 2021 MEETING OF THE TOURISM COMMISSION.
UM, WELCOME I'LL UH, START BY CALLING A ROLE, UH, COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER, NOT SEEING HER PRESENT, UH, VICE CHAIR, MCGEE, PRESIDENT COMMISSIONER, JOSLIN STAR, UH, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
SEE HER PRESENT, UH, COMMISSIONER CANADY.
DO NOT SEE HIM, UH, ON THE LINE COMMISSIONER BUNCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONER ROGERS.
I'M HERE SELF A CHAIR, CATLIN WEDDINGTON.
UM, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO JUMP IN.
LET ME SWITCH OVER TO THE AGENDA HERE.
UM, ARE THERE ANY, UH, PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR CITIZEN COMMUNICATION CONDITIONS, NO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION TODAY.
[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM JANUARY 11TH MEETING.I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS SECOND MOTION BY WEDDINGTON SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ROGERS.
UH, ANY OPPOSED? I WOULD SAY ALL IN FAVOR SINCE, UH, THERE'S BARELY A QUORUM HERE TODAY.
UM, ALL IN AGREEMENT ON, UH, APPROVING THE MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 11TH MEETING.
RIGHT? SO MOVED, UH, THAT THE JANUARY 11TH, 2020, UH, UM,
[2a. Presentation of recommendations from the Parks and Environment Working Group. (Commissioner Cannatti - D 10)]
PENDING A MORE FULL, UH, SLATE ON THE DICE.UH, I'D LIKE TO HOLD OFF A LITTLE BIT ON THE PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT WORKING GROUP AS WITH LAST TIME, I'D LIKE TO RECUSE MYSELF WITH, FOR THE BEAT US SHORT OF A QUORUM.
ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT COMMISSIONER CANADY? HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET MORE, MORE COMMISSIONERS JOINING US.
EXCEPT THE SIMPLE REPORT IS WE'RE GOING TO NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.
WE DIDN'T QUITE WORK IT ALL OUT.
SO, UH, IF YOU'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO POSTPONE, I, UM, I THINK THAT I CAN, I CAN BE ON BOARD TO, UH, TO JOIN ON A QUORUM ON THAT.
IF THAT'S YOUR, IF THAT'S WHAT YOUR, YOUR INTENTION IS, THAT'S MY INTENTION.
AND I MOVED TO POSTPONE HOPEFULLY NO MORE THAN THIS LAST ONE PLASTIC EXTENSION.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE, UH, ITEM TWO, A LIKE A SECOND.
WE HAVE A SECOND TO POSTPONE ITEM TWO BANG.
UM, ANY OPPOSED? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO POSTPONE ITEM TWO A UH, UM, OKAY.
THAT LEADS US IN TO, TO A, UH, AS WELL AS, UM, WELL, I, SORRY, EXCUSE
[2b. Update on Live Music Fund process and recommendations]
[3a. Update on Historic Preservation and Tourism Fund, process, grants, marketing and identified projects]
ME TO A UPDATE ON THE LIVE MUSIC FUND PROCESS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.UH, WE HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HERE.
[00:05:02]
I'M DOING FINE.UH, SINCE, SINCE YOU'RE SHARING VIDEO, I WILL DO THE SAME WORK AS MY COLLEAGUES MIGHT NOT BE, BUT I'M HERE WITH YOU.
IT WAS A LITTLE WEIRD NOT SEEING EVERYONE WELCOME.
UM, IF CITY HALL, HELLO, CITY HALL COULD BRING UP THE PRESENTATION.
AND TODAY I HAVE WITH ME IN OUR VIRTUAL BULLPEN, VERONICA PRESIDIO, CHIEF ECONOMIC RECOVERY, OFFICER, MEGAN WELLS DIVISION MANAGER OF CULTURAL ARTS, ERICA SHAMLEY DIVISION MANAGER OF MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION, AS WELL AS MELISSA ALVARADO, MANAGING MANAGER OF HERITAGE TOURISM DIVISION.
AND I'LL EXPLAIN WHY WE'RE ALL HERE SHORTLY.
IF YOU COULD BRING UP THE POWERPOINT, PLEASE PRESENTATION.
WHAT DO YOU TEND FOR THE INVITATION AGAIN? MY NAME IS SYLVIA HAUTE RAB.
I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR SLASH ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
AND I KNOW YOU ASKED PARTICULAR ABOUT THE LIVE MUSIC FUND UPDATE, BUT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOU AN UPDATE OF ALL THE HOT FUNDED DIVISION PROGRAMS. MR. SOPHIA, WE'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY HEARING YOU.
CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER OR TURN UP YOUR VOLUME FOR YOUR SPEAKER? HOW WAS THAT? THAT WAS THAT MUCH BETTER.
I'LL SPEAK WITH MY OUTDOOR MOM'S SPORTS VOICE AGAIN.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE A COMPETITIVE, SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE ECONOMY FOR ALL.
AND EDD ACHIEVES THIS THROUGH OUR SIX DIVISIONS, CULTURAL ARTS, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT, GLOBAL BUSINESS AND EXPANSION, HERITAGE, TOURISM, REDEVELOPMENT, AND SMALL BUSINESS.
NEXT SLIDE, SPECIFICALLY TODAY, WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
AND AS YOU ARE AWARE, THIS IS TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE ENCOURAGEMENT, EMOTION, IMPROVEMENT, AND APPLICATION OF THE ARTS BY INVESTING IN THE GROWTH OF AUSTIN'S CULTURAL PRODUCERS.
WE FUND CONTRACTORS THAT WILL PRESENT, PERFORM, PROMOTE, AND ENCOURAGE OR OTHERWISE MAKE POSSIBLE CULTURAL EVENTS THAT ARE PROMOTED AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
JUST AS A REMINDER, THAT, UM, IT IS, UH, THE CITY'S PRIORITY TO LEAD WITH EQUITY AND LEADING WITH THE LENS OF RACIAL EQUITY AND HEALING AND CORRECTING PAST DISPARITIES AS PART OF OUR FUNDING PROCESS TO ADVANCE THE GOAL OF STRATEGIC DIRECTION.
2023, THIS IS INCLUDED IN TWO STRATEGIC AREAS, CULTURE, AND LIFELONG LEARNING, AS WELL AS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND AFFORDABILITY.
SO PRESENTED BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE CULTURAL ARTS FUND.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE THE ESTIMATED TRANSFER IN, UH, FOR THE CURRENT YEAR AND BY 21 WAS APPROXIMATELY 7.7 WITH EXPENDITURES AROUND 7.2.
WE LAST YEAR ENDED WITH A DEFICIT AND YOU ALL ARE AWARE THAT OF COURSE, SOUTH BY WAS CANCELED AND A LOT OF OUR SPRING AND WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC.
SO OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX DID NOT COME IN AS OF SEPTEMBER 31ST, 2020.
AND WE DID END THE YEAR WITH A DEFICIT.
WE BROUGHT THAT DEFICIT FORWARD AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE REDUCE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTION.
SO IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT WE WILL END THE YEAR NEGATIVE IN THIS FUND.
JUST NOT SURE HOW NEGATIVE AT THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET.
WE ESTIMATED APPROXIMATELY A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
[00:10:01]
AND THIS IS JUST TO SHOW YOU THE INCREASE IN CONTRACTS FROM GETTING HERE AND FYI 19, YOU HAD APPROXIMATELY 400 ANDAND THIS YEAR COUNCIL APPROVED AS A PART OF THE FYI 21 BUDGET 393 CONTRACTS.
NEXT SLIDE, IN ADDITION TO CULTURAL ARTS EDD MANAGES THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND.
AND AGAIN, CITY COUNCIL, UM, AMENDED THEIR ORDINANCE.
WE'RE NOW 15% OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IS DIRECTED TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAD AN APPROVED BUDGET FOR
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDST OF COVID.
WE HAVE SEEN A REDUCTION IN HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, AND WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE WE WILL BE ABLE TO END AT THE $1 MILLION.
SO COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS, HEARD THE ORDINANCE.
70% OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION GOES TOWARDS CITY ON PROJECTS.
15% WAS HERITAGE GRANT, AS WELL AS THE 15% SET ASIDE FOR A PROPERTY ACQUISITION.
AND THIS IS JUST A SLIDE OF SOME PROJECTS THAT WERE APPROVED AS PART OF THE BUDGET.
AND YOU ALL HAD THIS, OUR POINT IN YOUR BACKUP ALMOND INCLUDES FUNDING FOR CARD LIBRARY AS WELL AS HERITAGE GRANTS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST SOME LIST OF PROJECTS, X, Y, AND AGAIN, THAT'S DETAILED, JUST ROLLS UP TO THE 16TH ONE $16 MILLION AS OUTLINED IN THE FUND SUMMARY.
SO HERE WE ARE TO THE MAIN CRUX OF THE REQUESTS, THE LIVE MUSIC FUND COUNCIL APPROVED THE TOTAL REVENUE OF 2.2 MILLION AND AN EXPENDITURE OF 3 MILLION.
I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, THE LIVE MUSIC FUND HAS NOT LAUNCHED ANY NEW PROGRAMS AT THIS TIME.
AND I WILL BE GETTING TO THE WHY THE LIVE MUSIC WORKING GROUP DID FORMULATE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS SET TO THE MUSIC COMMISSION THAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
AND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE PART OF OUR FORTHCOMING, UH, PROGRAMMATIC DEVELOPMENT FOR FYI 22.
SO AGAIN, THE FUNDS ARE THERE.
WE JUST HAVE NOT EXECUTED A PROGRAM YET.
THESE ARE JUST SOME KEY DATES THAT I WANTED TO REMIND THE COMMISSION OF.
WE WILL BE RECEIVING FORECAST INFORMATION MID APRIL.
WE SENT A MEMO TO COUNCIL TODAY, ARTICULATING THAT AT THIS TIME, DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTION AND THE FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, WE WILL NOT BE LAUNCHING A SPECIFIC TIMELINE UNTIL AFTER WE RECEIVE THOSE FORECAST NUMBERS SO THAT WE ARE AWARE OF WHAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO WORK WITH ACROSS ALL THREE MONTHS.
ONCE WE RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION IN APRIL, WE WILL BE IN PREPARE THE FINAL BUDGET SUBMISSION FOR MAY SEVEN.
IT WILL BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL, JULY 9TH, AND YOU CAN SEE THE BUDGET HEARINGS AND THE FINAL ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET WILL BE AUGUST 3RD.
AND BETWEEN NOW, BETWEEN THAT MAY 7TH AND AUGUST 3RD DATE, WE WILL BE RELEASING MORE DETAILS OF HOW WE WILL PROCEED GOING FORWARD.
BUT AGAIN, DUE TO THE UNCERTAIN NATURE OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, WE JUST WEREN'T COMFORTABLE WITH LAUNCHING PROGRAMS IN MARCH.
LIKE WE TYPICALLY DO NOT KNOWING THE CERTAINTY OF THE COLLECTION NEXT SLIDE.
SO WHAT WILL BE, WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AND WHAT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN LEARNED TWO YEARS AGO, AS SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE, WE HAD A TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN THE OF APPLICANTS AND OUR CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION, BUT THAT RATE OF INCREASE WAS NOT AT THE SAME PACE OF THE RATE OF INCREASE WITH THE HOTEL
[00:15:01]
OCCUPANCY TAX.SO WE STARTED A RE-IMAGINING PROCESS AROUND, UM, WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE? AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE BUILDING AN EQUITABLE PROCESS ACROSS ALL THREE DIVISIONS, ART HERITAGE, AND MUSIC.
WE WANT TO HAVE THE SAME PILLARS OF EXPECTATIONS ACROSS THE THREE DIVISION DEALING FIRST AND FOREMOST, WITH RACIAL EQUITY, WHICH ALIGNS TO TRUSTEE DIRECTION.
SO THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'LL BE GIVEN, UM, WE'RE LOOKING FOR PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE CULTURE EXPERIENCE FOR TOURISTS AND CONVENTIONS.
WE WANT TO FOCUS ON INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS FROM AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY NATIVE AMERICAN, BASICALLY I'M BIPAP COMMUNITY.
AND WE WANT TO IN SURE, A SUSTAINABLE AND BRYANT AUSTIN CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE OUR FOCUS OF THE PROGRAMS GOING FORWARD IN 2022.
AND AS AGAIN, WE'RE LEADING WITH RACIAL EQUITY FOLLOWING THE CITY'S STATEMENT OF EQUITY.
SO IN DECEMBER OF 2020, WE INTRODUCE HIGH LEVEL CONCEPT AROUND NEW PROGRAMS THAT WE WERE ENVISIONING IN THE HERITAGE TOURISM.
WE ARE AGAIN, LOOKING FOR A PROGRAMS OR DEVELOPING PROGRAMS THAT AT THE END THAT WILL PROMOTE TOURISM THROUGH PRESERVATION RESTORATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS, PLANNING, AND EDUCATION.
AND WE'RE STILL GONNA FOCUS ON GRANTS AROUND CAPITAL IN TERMS OF BRICKS AND MORTAR, UH, PLANNING AND EDUCATION.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE LEADING WITH THAT FOUNDATION OF EQUITY ACROSS ALL THREE PROGRAMS. AND I WILL SEND THE LINK TO THE VIDEO PRESENTATION FROM DECEMBER SO THAT YOU ALL CAN VIEW THAT PRESENTATION.
AGAIN, THROUGH OUR CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION, WE WANT PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE MARKETING OF AUSTIN'S ARTS AND CULTURE TO TOURISTS AND CONVENTION DELEGATES.
AND WE'RE PROPOSING THREE NEW PROGRAMS, ONE CALLED NEXUS ELEVATE AND THRIVE.
AND WE HAVE RECEIVED MANY QUESTIONS AROUND ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS, AND WE HAVE DEVELOPED A VERY ROBUST Q AND A THAT CAN BE FOUND ON, SPEAK UP AUSTIN.
AND I WOULD DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO GO AND LOOK AT THE QUESTIONS AND THE RESPONSES AROUND THESE PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
AND AGAIN, THE LIVE MUSIC FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN SEPTEMBER, UH, 2019.
AND AGAIN, THIS PROGRAM HAS RECEIVED, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE LIVE MUSIC WORKING GROUP, AS WELL AS THE MUSIC COMMISSION.
AND SO WE, AGAIN, UH, ANTICIPATE LAUNCHING PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON EQUITY IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALL OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS. ONCE WE ARE SURE OF WHAT OUR FUTURE OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS WILL BE.
UM, IT WILL FOCUS ON LIVE MUSIC PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT AUSTIN'S PROFESSIONAL MUSIC, ORGANIZATIONS, BANDS, ET CETERA, THAT PROMOTE LIVE OF VIRTUAL SHOWS THAT CAN BE MARKETED TO LOCAL AUDIENCE, POTENTIAL TOURISTS AND CONVENTION DELEGATES.
SO AGAIN, JUST TO SUM UP, WE HAVE, AS YOU ALL AWARE ARE DEFINITELY, UM, ACROSS ALL OF OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDED PROGRAMS HAVE SEEN A TREMENDOUS DEBT AND COLLECTIONS AT THIS TIME.
AGAIN, UNTIL WE HAVE CERTAIN NUMBERS, WE WILL NOT MUCH IN ME PROGRAMS. WE HAVE NOTIFIED COUNSEL OF THAT FACT, WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW IS CONTINUING TO KEEP CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY EXECUTED THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY COUNCIL HOPE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.
AND THEN ONCE WE ARE AWARE AND HAVE GOOD CERTAINTY, WHAT THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE FOR
IN TERMS OF THE TIMELINE, THE APPLICATION PROCESS, WILL IT BE A PEER PANEL WHILE CONTINUING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW AND WHAT THEY HEARD IN DECEMBER? WE HAVE OPEN OFFICE HOURS, UH, THAT CLIENTS ACROSS THE CITY ARE CREATIVE AND COME IN AND TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE EARNED AND WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN.
BUT AGAIN, UNTIL WE HAVE NUMBERS THAT WE ARE
[00:20:01]
CERTAIN OF, WE WILL NOT LAUNCH A NEW PROGRAM UNTIL WE HAVE THOSE NUMBERS.AND SO THAT IS WHERE WE ARE ON THE LIVE MUSIC ON, UH, AGAIN, WE WANT TO HAVE THE SAME FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS ACROSS ALL OF OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX LIMIT PROGRAMS. YOU JUST THINK THAT IS CRITICAL, THAT WE ALL LEAD WITH THE SAME VISION EXECUTED DIFFERENTLY, BUT WITH THE SAME VISION.
SO WITH THAT CATLIN, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU WITH QUESTIONS.
CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? SURE.
UM, ONE IS, I, I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE RECEIVED THE PRESENTATION.
IF Y'ALL COULD MAKE THAT AVAILABLE.
I'M NOT SEEING IT ON THE WEBSITE.
UM, BUT I WAS CURIOUS IN TERMS OF PRIORITIZING RACIAL EQUITY WITH THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF PROJECTS, CAN YOU GIVE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE PROJECTS THAT MIGHT ADVANCE THAT? I MEAN, IS IT THE SUBJECT MATTER OF A PROJECT? DO YOU WANT TO KNOW IF THE BOARD HAS A GOOD DIVERSITY OF MEMBERSHIP ON THE BOARD, OR I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT ARE WAYS THIS ACTUALLY IS GONNA MAYBE WORK GREAT QUESTIONS.
AND IF YOU LOOK BACK ON OUR COVID RELIEF PROGRAMS THAT WE LAUNCHED, UM, IN TERMS OF NON-PROFIT, WE DID ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.
WHAT DOES YOUR BOARD MAKE UP, UH, WHO ARE YOU SERVING? HOW ARE YOU ENGAGING AUDIENCES? AND EVEN THROUGH THE LIVE MUSIC, UH, PRESERVATION FUND THAT COUNCIL APPROVED FOR $5 MILLION, UH, THAT'S BE, UH, EXECUTED BY THE LONG CENTER.
EACH VENUE THAT IS PARTICIPATING HAS TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC EQUITY PLAN THAT IT'S WITHIN THEIR BUSINESS.
SO IT COULD BE, HOW DO I HIRE, WHO AM I HIRING? HOW DO I ATTRACT NEW AUDIENCES? WHAT PROMOTERS DO I WORK WITH? AM I LIMITING MYSELF TO THE USUAL? OR AM I EXPANDING MY REACH? AM I GIVING PEOPLE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND WORK AS A SOUND TECHNICIAN, AS A BOOKING AGENT? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO REACH AUDIENCES THAT YOU TYPICALLY DON'T REACH IN THIS INDUSTRY? THIS HAS BEEN QUITE INTERESTING.
AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE CONTINUE THAT FOUNDATION WORK, WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE MUSIC COMMISSION, UM, UH, ON THIS ITEM.
BUT AGAIN, IT IS NOTHING, UH, NEW, UH, PROGRAM GUIDELINES SPECIFICALLY FOR THE NEW PROGRAMS. WE'LL WRAP THIS IN, BUT THE DETAILS ARE STILL IN DEVELOPMENT, BUT JUST FOR ONE EXAMPLE WITH THE CURRENT LIVE VENUE FUND, EACH VENUE IS DEVELOPING A PLAN THAT THEY HAVE ACTIONABLE ITEMS. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CONSULTANT, UH, JOYCE JAMES CONSULTANT THAT HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN EQUITY WORK.
HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
AND WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO HEARING IDEAS.
SO IF YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS AROUND THAT, PLEASE, YOU CAN SEND THOSE TO ME.
I, I CAN PERSONALLY MORE INVOLVED WITH SOME OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION TYPE PROJECTS.
AND SO I'M JUST TRYING TO IMAGINE HOW THAT CATEGORY MIGHT BE.
UM, BUT I, I CAN, I CAN EXPLORE THAT OFFLINE AND COMMISSIONERS.
UM, HER PRESENTATION IS ON THE WEBSITE.
IF YOU WANT TO JUST REFRESH ME, SHE'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
SO IT'S A GREAT OVERVIEW AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE SOME CONSISTENCY AROUND THE EQUITY CRITERIA, INVOLVED WITH THE PLATFORMS. UM, A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, ABOUT THESE PHONES IN THE BUDGET PROJECTION FOR LIVE MUSIC PHONES.
UM, WE'VE SEEN A BEGINNING BALANCE AND THEN A TRANSFER OUT FOR 3 MILLION, UH, POTENTIALLY REDUCING THE ENDING BALANCE BY 700,000 SOME ODD.
UH, CAN YOU EXPLAIN, UM, WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT DEFICIT IS, UH, OR, OR WHERE THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING TO, OR IS THAT JUST AN ACCOUNTING? UM, YEAH.
YES, THAT ITEM JUST IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UM, THE TOTAL REQUIREMENTS IN WHAT WAS TRANSFERRED IN.
YOU HAVE TO ALSO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE BEGINNING BALANCE, BUT THAT NEGATIVE SEVEN IS JUST FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, WHAT COMES IN VERSUS WHAT YOU'RE EXPENDING.
SO YES, YOU'RE EXPENDING 700,000 MORE THAN WHAT
[00:25:01]
YOU POTENTIALLY BRINGING IN, BUT YOU HAVE A BEGINNING BALANCE.I GUESS JUST WITHOUT ANY PROGRAMS IN PLACE, I'M WONDERING WHAT THOSE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS ARE ALLOCATED TO, OR IS THAT JUST KIND OF A PROJECTED ASSUMPTION OF WHAT THE PROGRAMS THAT MAY COME ABOUT OFF? RIGHT.
AS WE, AS I MENTIONED, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD LAUNCH, UH, SOONER, BUT WE WANT TO, AGAIN, HOLD STEADY BECAUSE THAT ESTIMATE OF THE 2 MILLION COMING IN, WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT ACTUAL.
AND SO WE'RE WAITING ON FORECAST TO SEE WHAT, UH, WHAT THAT NUMBER REALLY WILL BE, BECAUSE AGAIN, THE BUDGETS ARE BASED ON ESTIMATE AND AT THE TIME, UH, WE WERE IN COVID, UM, BUT, UM, THE TRAVEL HASN'T HAPPENED IN THE HOTEL STAY HADN'T HAPPENED.
SO YES, THERE WERE FUNDS LEFT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND I GUESS YOU'D SAY, WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU WATCH BECAUSE WE WANT TO LODGE TOGETHER ANY NEW PROGRAMS ACROSS ALL THREE DIVISIONS, SO THAT WE'RE CONSISTENT.
I WILL SAY FROM THE MUSIC SIDE, AND AS YOU KNOW, I WAS INVOLVED IN THE EARLY ITERATIONS OF GETTING THIS FUN TOGETHER AS WELL.
AND SOME OF THE EARLY ITERATIONS OF GETTING SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TOGETHER ON IT.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IN AUSTIN, UM, WAS SUFFERING FROM ISSUES AROUND SUSTAINABILITY PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.
AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE A RELIEF FUND FOR PANDEMIC RELATED IMPACT.
HOWEVER, UNDERSTANDING THE, THE ISSUES AROUND SUSTAINABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY FOR THE MUSIC SECTOR HERE IN AUSTIN, EVEN GOING INTO IT PRIOR TO THE IMPACT OF 2020.
UM, AND I I'M SURE THIS IS SAME, COULD BE SAID FOR CULTURAL ARTS, UH, BUT I'M NOT AS ENGAGED, BUT FOR THE MUSIC SIDE, THAT'S THE SURE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE NEED IS VERY PALPABLE AND IT WAS, IT WAS, IT WAS AN IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL NEED PRIOR TO 2020, UH, AND EVEN MORE SO NOW.
AND SO, I MEAN, I THINK THAT, UM, PERSONALLY, I WOULD RATHER SEE THIS MONEY GETTING OUT THERE AND GETTING INTO THE HANDS WITH THE REST OF THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES THAT ALREADY EXISTING PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC ISSUES AROUND AFFORDABLE.
UM, AND I, AND I CAN APPRECIATE THE DESIRE AND THE EFFORTS FOR, UH, CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE PROGRAMS AND A ROLLING OUT, AND ALSO AN EFFORT, UH, TOWARDS BEING CONSERVATIVE, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT HOTEL, UH, THE TAXES ARE, ARE DOWN AND OCCUPANCY IS DOWN.
UM, BUT JUST TO SAY THAT THE NEED IS THERE AND IT'S, AND IT'S A CRITICAL NEED FOR THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF THIS INDUSTRY.
UH, ONE THAT AS THINGS RAMP UP AND IT SEEMS THAT, WELL, YOU HOPE THAT THERE'S A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
WE DON'T WANT TO, BUT IT, YOU KNOW, IT JUST SEEMS THAT AS THINGS RAMP UP, HAVING SOME PROGRAMS IN PLACE, OR AT LEAST AN OPPORTUNITY IN PLACE TO TAP INTO THESE FUNDS TO HELP GET PEOPLE, UH, AS BASICALLY SEED FUNDING TO GET THINGS ROLLING AGAIN, WOULD BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
UM, YOU KNOW, NOT, NOT JUST IN THE, NOT JUST TO SPEAK TO RECOVERY, BUT JUST KNOWING FULL WELL THE NEEDS THAT WERE THERE PRIOR.
SO JUST I'D LIKE TO PUT THAT OUT THERE THAT, I MEAN, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE FUNDS AVAILABLE IDENTIFYING PROGRAMS THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED TO HELP OUT, UH, AS YOU MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK IT'D BE, UM, A GOOD THING, BOTH FOR THE TOURISM ECONOMY, UH, AND THE MUSIC ECONOMY I GO IN THE 2016, I THINK THERE WAS 1.1 BILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FOR THE MUSIC SECTOR HERE IN AUSTIN, IF NOT A TOURISM ACTIVITY FROM THE MUSIC SECTOR HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE SORELY MISSED, UH, IF WE DON'T HAVE MUSICIANS OR VENUES.
I APPRECIATE, UM, UM, THOSE COMMENTS AND IT HASN'T BEEN LOST ON US.
UM, AS YOU NOW COUNSEL, UM, APPROVED EARLY ON, UM, MUSICIAN RELIEF AND THEN HAD, UH, CREATIVE, UH, RELIEF PROGRAMS AS WELL AS NOW WITH THE LIVE MUSIC PRESENTATION FUND.
AND NOW THE SBA HAVING THE SHUTTER OPERATIONS GRANT
[00:30:01]
AND HAVING THOSE WORKING HAND IN HAND, YOU KNOW, WE PROVIDED TA AROUND THE WIDE MUSIC, FUN, HELPING PEOPLE LOOK AT THEIR BOOKS AND THEN MAKING ADJUSTMENTS IF POSSIBLE AROUND LEASES.AND I THINK BRINGING THIS IN NEXT IS A PERFECT SEGUE, BUT WHAT YOU SAID, NOTHING LOST YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
BUT AGAIN, TRYING TO JUST EASE EVERYTHING ALONG THE SAME, UM, PILLARS, UH, IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, IS IMPORTANT.
SO IT'S CONSISTENCY, BUT AGAIN, WE'VE SEEN SUPPORT FROM COUNCIL ALONG THOSE AVENUES, AND WE'LL DEFINITELY KEEP THAT IN MIND, BUT AGAIN, I I'M MEETING MONTHLY WITH THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF THE MUSIC COMMISSION.
SO, UM, TWICE A MONTH, THIS MONTH, JUST SO THAT THEY ARE AWARE AND, UM, WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH VISIT AUSTIN, JUST SO YOU KNOW, ON A PORTAL, UH, THAT WAS MENTIONED DURING, UH, LAST YEAR'S BUDGET SESSION.
SO THAT WILL BE COMING ONLINE TO HELP PROMOTE THE USE THAT ARE NOW OPEN UP, UM, TO TOURISTS AND POSSIBLE CONVENTIONS THAT ARE COMING.
SO THAT PORTAL SHOULD BE COMING ONLINE HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH.
WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO ASK FOR A FOLLOW-UP BRIEFING, UM, IN MAY, AFTER YOUR BUDGETS ARE PRESENTED TO THE BUDGET OFFICE? UM, YEP.
I WILL BE MAKING PRESENTATIONS TO THE ARTS AND MUSIC, AS WELL AS THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION, JUST GIVING EVERYONE AN UPDATE ON WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE AND THE PLANS GOING FORWARD.
SO NOT A PROBLEM THAT WOULD HAVE THAT FOR A FUTURE AGENDA IN MAY AFTERWARDS THEN ON THE BALTIMORE OFFICE, UH, JUNE IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST MAY IS PROBABLY A BETTER TIME THAN TO LET'S SAY, JIM, THEN I KNOW FOR CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY, UM, WE JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT'S COMING THROUGH THIS REALLY PACKAGE, YOU KNOW, JUST LET'S DO.
YEAH, I KNOW WITH ALL THE RECOVERY EFFORTS, UH, NOT JUST, NOT JUST COVID, BUT ALSO, UH, SNUG AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU ALL, Y'ALL HAVE Y'ALL'S GAMES FALL, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU HAVE OFFICES.
THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, UH, FOR SOME OF YOU, YOU CANNOT DEVELOP WITH DEPARTMENT ON THESE PROGRAMS. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE THIS CALL.
SO THAT WOULD BE THE UPDATE FROM
[3b. Rescheduling April Commission meeting to third Monday of April (4/19/2021) to accommodate presentation of Visit Austin marketing plan]
ITEM THREE B UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, PUSH THE APRIL MEETING TO THE THIRD MONDAY OF APRIL THE 19TH.UM, SO THAT WE CAN HEAR FROM VISIT AUSTIN ABOUT THEIR MARKETING PLAN A, UH, THEY WILL HAVE IT READY BY THAT THIRD WEEK OF APRIL, AND THEY WILL MAKE SURE TO GET THAT ON THE, ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, RESCHEDULE THE APRIL COMMISSION MEETING TO THE THIRD MONDAY OF APRIL, THE 19TH OF APRIL TO ACCOMMODATE THE PRESENTATION OF THAT WORK.
ALL IN FAVOR NATI, IS THAT YOUR HAND UP VOTING? YES.
HI, LOIS, JOCELYN, UH, COMMISSIONER
[00:35:01]
A BUNCH.I TOOK A PHONE CALL, SORRY, FIRST.
UH, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO, UM, OR ON THE TABLE TO RESCHEDULE THE APRIL MEETING TO THE THIRD MONDAY, UH, APRIL 19TH TO ACCOMMODATE THE PRESENTATIONS AND VISIT AUSTIN ON THEIR MARKETING PLAN, UH, WHICH WILL BE READY BY, UH, BY THAT THIRD ONE.
[3c. Reading and discussion of City of Austin Commission Ethics Rules]
PASSED.SO THAT JUST LEAVES US WITH ITEM THREE C COMMISSIONER REEDY.
UH, YOU HAD EMAILED, REQUESTED A REALLY DISCUSSION OF THE CITY OF BOSTON COMMISSION ETHICS RULES, WHICH ARE LINKED IN THE AGENDA.
UM, LET ME SEE IF THEY ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE, UM, ON THE PORTAL.
UH, DO YOU WANT TO, UH, TO LEAD ON THIS COMMISSIONER, READ WHAT YOU REQUEST, UH, DID YOU WANT ME TO READ THROUGH THEM OR JUST, UH, PUT THE TOPIC? OKAY.
WELL, YEAH, YOU HAD REQUESTED IT, SO, UM, YEAH, IF YOU WANT TO READ THROUGH THEM OR YOU, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS, UH, BEFORE JOKES.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SET THE CONTEXT IN THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I TEND TO VARIOUS COMMISSION MEETINGS IN MY LINE OF WORK, AND I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A PRETTY CLEAR LINES ABOUT, UH, RECUSAL THAT MAYBE WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS FOLLOWED AT THIS COMMISSION AND YOU YOURSELF, UH, CHAIRMAN, UM, RECENTLY RECUSE YOURSELF FROM A CONVERSATION ABOUT CALLING FOR ARTS FUNDING BECAUSE YOU'RE EMPLOYED BY THE LONG CENTER.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING OF THESE RULES IS THAT IF YOU DO BUSINESS WITH AN ENTITY BEING DISCUSSED OR VOTED ON YOU ARE REQUIRED TO RECUSE YOURSELF.
AND, UM, BUT SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION DO BUSINESS WITH VISIT AUSTIN AND THE CONVENTION CENTER AND HAVE NOT RECUSED THEMSELVES WHEN DISCUSSING THOSE INCIDENTS.
UM, MY CONCERN, I THINK, IS THAT ACTIONS BY THE COMMISSION WOULD NOT BE VALID IF WE DON'T FOLLOW THESE RULES MORE CLEARLY.
UM, IF YOU WANT IT TO GO THROUGH SPECIFIC SECTIONS, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PULL THOSE UP.
I'M ACTUALLY IN TRANSIT RIGHT NOW ON MY PHONE.
I WILL BE AT MY LAPTOP IN A MATTER OF MINUTES IF WE WANT TO WORK THROUGH THEM, BUT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THEM AVAILABLE.
AND IF YOU READ THROUGH, UH, THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENTS, THERE'S VARIOUS LEVELS, BUT THERE'S ALSO A MORE GENERAL STATEMENT ABOUT APPEARANCES, UM, THAT THE CLERK HAS PUT OUT THERE.
AND THAT'S, I THINK WHERE IT COMES FROM, OR MY CONCERN COMES FROM IS THAT PEOPLE DO BUSINESS WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER AND VISIT AUSTIN WHILE THEIR EXPERTISE IS NEEDED ON THIS COMMISSION.
I THINK SOMETIMES THEY FAIL TO TAKE THE PROPER, UH, ACTIONS AROUND CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
SO THAT'S MY REASONS FOR WANTING TO BRING THIS DISCUSSION TO THE FORE.
UM, IF WE WANT TO READ THROUGH THEM, I WILL NEED A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO RETURN TO MY LAPTOP.
OTHERWISE THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
I WELCOME COMMENTS FROM OTHER MEMBERS.
UM, IS THERE A FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS? ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO A POINT ON THIS? HI, UH, BILL, UH, BILL BUNCH HERE.
UM, I HAVE NOT STUDIED THIS ISSUE CAREFULLY MYSELF, BUT IT IS OF CONCERN THAT THERE'S SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL INTERESTS, UM, YOU KNOW, NOTHING WRONG WITH IT THAT THEY EXIST, BUT THAT WE DO HAVE THE RECUSAL ROLES RULES IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT VOTING WHERE THEY HAVE A DIRECT FINANCIAL INTEREST AT STAKE.
AND IT DOES SEEM LIKE THAT HASN'T, UH, AS COMMISSIONER READING WAS SAYING, HASN'T BEEN STRICTLY FOLLOWED.
UM, BUT IF THERE'S A CITY LAWYER WHO CAN TELL US, OTHERWISE, I'D LOVE TO, TO FOLLOW THAT AND HEAR THAT, UM, SO THAT I COULD FORM SOME MORE INFORMED OPINION ON WHETHER I AGREED OR DISAGREED.
[00:40:07]
THANK YOU FOR THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER BUNCH.UM, I CAN REQUEST THAT A FUTURE DAY TO HAVE THE ETHICS, UH, LEAVE IT'S.
I BELIEVE THAT POSITION IS THE AUSTIN INTEGRITY OFFICER, UM, TO COME AND, UH, PRESENT OR SHARE, UH, OR, OR BE AVAILABLE.
UH, BUT THEY ARE ALSO AVAILABLE THE LINKED, UH, ETHICS RULES THAT ARE WITHIN THE, UH, THAT ARE LINKED ON THE AGENDA.
UM, AS WELL AS SHARED ON THE WEB PORTAL, UH, AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE SIX IS THE PHONE NUMBER FOR THE AUSTIN INTEGRITY OFFICER.
AND, UH, AS, AS YOU KNOW, OUR TRAINING ON THE MATTER, THEY SAID TO FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS ON WHETHER YOU SHOULD REFUSE, OR IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, UH, WHAT MIGHT PRESENT A CONFLICT, RIGHT.
OBVIOUSLY, UH, THEIR SUGGESTION AND AS, AS COMMISSIONER READING POINTED OUT IS, UH, THERE THEY DO, UH, THEY DO SUGGEST IN HERE AND I AM, UM, TRYING TO FIND THE SECTION SPECIFICALLY, UM, USING GOOD PERSONAL JUDGMENT.
THERE YOU GO ON PAGE, UH, TWO, UM, BUT AS A CONFLICT MIGHT NOT BE ADDRESSED BY ETHICS LAWS AND REGULATION USE GOOD PERSONAL JUDGMENT TO DECIDE HOW TO PROCEED.
SO I DO RECOMMEND THAT IF ANYBODY DOES FEEL THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE A CONFLICT, UM, OR HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN REACH OUT TO THE INTEGRITY AS NOTED WITHIN THAT DOCUMENT.
IS THERE ANY OTHER, UH, ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION REGARDING THIS POINT AND WE HAVE THE INTEGRITY OFFICER ATTEND OUR NEXT MEETING AND PUT THIS BACK ON OUR AGENDA.
I WILL MAKE A REQUEST, UH, FOR THE CITY AFTER THE CITY IN AUSTIN INTEGRITY, OFFICER TO JOIN, UH, ON THE COMMITTEE.
SO IS THAT A MOTION TO TABLE THIS FOR THIS MEETING AND TO REVISIT IN APRIL? SURE.
I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION OR I'D SECOND THAT MOTION.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY A BUNCH AND A SECOND BY REEDY, UM, ALL IN FAVOR, ROGERS, ROGERS, ALL RIGHT.
I'LL, UH, I'LL MAKE SURE TO, UH, WORK TO GET THIS, UH, ON THE APRIL MEETING, UM, AGENDA.
AND THAT LEADS, UM, WELL, REALLY THAT LEADS US TO, UH, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: The Commission may discuss and take possible action to request information and identify future agenda items, topics, or presentation]
FOR APRIL.SO, SO FAR WE HAVE, UH, A REVISIT OF THE PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS.
I TODAY, AS WELL AS, UH, WITH VISITING ITEM THREE C UH, WITH A PRESENTATION FROM THE CITY'S INTEGRITY OFFICER OR ATTENDED BY THE CITY'S INTEGRITY OFFICER TO ANSWER ANY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS.
UM, AND, UH, ALSO WE WILL HAVE THE PRESENTATION FROM VISIT AUSTIN, UH, OF THEIR MARKETING PLAN ON THAT MEETING WILL BE ON MARCH OR APRIL 19TH, EXCUSE ME, THE THIRD MONDAY, RATHER THAN THE SECOND, UM, UH, COMMISSIONER READING.
YOU HAD REQUESTED A PRESENTATION FROM AUSTIN CONVENTION ENTERPRISES I'VE, UH, REACHED OUT TO THEM AND THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN APRIL.
SO I WILL, UH, GET THAT ON THE AGENDA, UH, ASIDE FROM THOSE FOUR ITEMS. UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE ON FUTURE AGENDAS?
[00:45:03]
OKAY, WELL HEARING NONE.I, UM, UNLESS THERE'S ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON, ON FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, UH, I GUESS I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN TODAY'S MEETING OF THE TOURISM SECOND BY READING, UH, ANY OTHER CONVERSATION OR TOPICS OF DISCUSSION FROM THE COMMISSION.
HEY, WELL, I'M GLAD TO GIVE YOU BACK, UH, SOME TIME, UH, I WAS HOPING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A MORE, UH, FULL MEETING THIS WEEK OR THIS MONTH, UH, BUT LOOK FORWARD TO A ROBUST CONVERSATION IN APRIL.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BRINGING IT FORWARD.
ENJOY YOUR SPRING BREAK, RIGHT?