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I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CONVENE THE CITY OF AUSTIN WORK SESSION.
HERE IS A TUESDAY, MAY, 1820 21.
UM, WE'RE HAVING THIS MEETING, UM, THE, UH, UH, VIDEO CONFERENCE.
WE HAVE A CORE, UM, THAT'S, UH, PRESENT, UH, A WORK SESSION.
WE HAVE, UH, THREE, UH, BRIEFINGS TO GO THROUGH.
UH, WE HAVE THE RESCUE PLAN BRIEFING AND THE HEALTH SOUTH BRIEFING, AND THEN THE, UH, UH, ENCAMPMENT, UH, APPROACH, UH, BRIEFING.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START WITH THOSE THREE THINGS.
WE'LL TRY TO WORK IN THE, THE PULL, THE ITEMS 1329 AND 60 AND 62.
I'M NOT SURE WE GO THAT LONG TODAY.
UM, COUNCIL, THE MAYOR PRO TEM, IS THAT WITH US? UM, SO WE'RE GONNA HOLD THE EXECUTIVE SESSION TIL THURSDAY, AND THERE'S SOME EVENTS HAPPENING IN THE DATING PERIOD OF TIME THAT MIGHT IMPACT THEM.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE RECEIVED A MEMO PROPOSING, SOME APPROACHES TO WHEN THE COUNCIL, UH, MEETS, UH, ON THE DIOCESE AGAIN, IN PERSON TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THAT AS A GROUP.
DO YOU, DO WE KNOW YET? I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET ON AN AGENDA, BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US ALL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THAT.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND SET THAT OVER A FIRST NAME OVER TO ME.
I'LL TAKE A LOOK AND SEE IF WE CAN DO IT ON THURSDAY, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
I THINK IT, WE COULD, BUT I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL IF WE, IF IT'S POSSIBLE.
I, I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA THAT LETS US DO THAT.
SO I'LL CHECK THAT, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
THE LATE AS WE GET BACK INTO THE JUNE MID JUNE, WE'RE OFF FOR A MONTH, I THINK THEY'RE PLANNING ON BRINGING US ALL BACK TOGETHER.
AND HOW THEY DO THAT, I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, SINCE WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE INTERACTING ON THE DICE IN CERTAIN WAYS.
UH, WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.
SO I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE, UM, I DON'T KNOW.
I RECORD SETS ON THE NEXT AVAILABLE THING THAT WE CAN, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE BOGAN BOARD IS ALSO OKAY.
AND THANK YOU MEMBER KITCHEN FOR RAISING THAT, THIS ISSUE OF HOW WE, HOW COUNCIL RETURNS AND TWO IN-PERSON MEETINGS.
AND I JUST WANTED A CLARIFICATION ON THE PROCESS BECAUSE I KNOW ON THE WORK SESSION AGENDA, WE HAVE A PLACEHOLDER FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
AND SO WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION TODAY, UM, UNDER THAT CONVERSATION TOPIC, OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE POSTED AS AN ITEM IN ADVANCE? LET ME ASK THE QUESTION THAT WE HAVE ON EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE HAVE OPEN MEETING AS A PLACE HOLDER.
CAN WE USE THAT TO DISCUSS THAT NEEDS TO BE A POSTED ITEM? OKAY.
ARE YOU READY TO START THE FIRST PRESENTATION MANAGER? LET'S DO THE PRESENTATION, DELIVER THE ORDER THERE.
WE HAVE THEM THE RESCUE PLAN BRIEFING, HOW SOUTH, AND THEN THE CAPNA COLLEAGUES SHOOTINGS OR NOON BREAK FOR AN HOUR FOR LUNCH, A MANAGER.
[B1. American Rescue Plan Spending Framework.]
ALL RIGHT.AND WE DO HAVE A FULL AGENDA WITH THESE THREE BRIEFINGS TODAY.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO GET RIGHT TO IT.
UH, THE FIRST BRIEFING IS ON THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FRAMEWORK.
THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF A DISCUSSION.
WE STARTED ON MARCH 23RD WITH COUNCIL AND AFTER PASSING A RESOLUTION, UH, STAFF HAS DONE A NUMBER OF MEETINGS AND DONE CONSIDERABLE WORK SINCE THEN.
SO WE WANT TO PROVIDE THIS UPGRADE TODAY, UH, WITH THAT ALTERNATE OVER TO OUR CHIEF ECONOMIC RESILIENCE, UH, RECOVERY OFFICER, UH, VERONICA PERCENTO, WHO WILL LEAD US OFF VERONICA MORNING.
I HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU HERE TODAY.
I BELIEVE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NEXT PRESENTATION, WHICH I AM NOT PREPARED TO GIVE.
SO AS SPENCER MENTIONED, WE ARE COMING BACK TO YOU WITH OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT BASED ON YOUR GUIDANCE FOR THE AMERICAN, UH, RESCUE PLAN ACT, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO I WAS A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, UM, TO,
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UM, BRING EVERYBODY OR REMIND EVERYBODY, UH, ON MARCH 25TH, COUNCIL ADOPTED A RESOLUTION THAT GAVE US DIRECTION TO FOCUS ON THREE PRIORITY.I'M SORRY, FOUR PRIORITY AREAS.
THOSE PRIORITY AREAS INCLUDED HOMELESSNESS, EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND WORK PROGRAMS AND FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY COUNCIL ALSO DIRECTED US TO IDENTIFY IMMEDIATE RELIEF NEEDS AND PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENSES THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR THE FUNDING.
AS SOON AS THAT, UM, WELL COUNSEL ALSO DIRECTED US TO WORK WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS, INCLUDING TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, BECAUSE OF THE GREATEST OVERLAP OF RESIDENTS WITHIN TRAVIS COUNTY AND TO IDENTIFY, SHARE PRIORITIES, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOINT INVESTMENT IN ACTION.
SINCE THEN WE HAVE MET REGULARLY WITH TRAVIS COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS, THE MOST RECENT MEETING TAKING PLACE YESTERDAY.
WE HAVE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN MEETINGS, BUT THE FOLLOWING CENTRAL TEXAS JURISDICTIONS, AS YELLOW, AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE CITY OFFICIALS, UH, ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE SUMMIT TO ADDRESS UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS.
UH, WE HELD AN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ROUND TABLE AT THE COUNTY AND CENTRAL TEXAS CITY IN APRIL AT TEXAS CITIES IN APRIL.
I SAID THE COUNCIL HAD A SPECIAL CALLED JOINT MEETING WITH TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ALSO IN APRIL.
AND, UM, WE'VE ALSO BEEN MONITORING TREFIS KELLY'S COMMISSIONER'S COURTS AND SPECIFICALLY THEIR COURT DATE ON MAY 11TH.
WE COULD PLAN TO CONTINUE TO MEET WITH LOCAL JURISDICTIONS.
HAVING THAT CONTINUED DISCUSSION AT THE ROUND TABLE.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, NEXT SLIDE.
AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR INTERIM BUDGET.
OFFICER, CARRIE LYNN CURIOUS, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CARRIE LANG INTERIM BUDGET OFFICER.
AND THIS IS JUST DISCUSSING THE, UM, GUIDELINES THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE TREASURY UP TO THIS POINT ON LAST MONDAY DID RECEIVE THE INTERIM GUIDELINES.
THE CITY'S TOTAL ALLOCATION FOR E A R P FUNDS IS $188.4 MILLION.
THAT IS, UM, A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN WHAT WE ORIGINALLY INTENDED OR WHAT WE ORIGINALLY EXPECTED ABOUT $7.3 MILLION LESS THAN WHAT WE ORIGINALLY DISCUSSED.
UM, THE FUNDS WILL BE GIVEN TO US IN TWO TRENCHES, THE FIRST AMOUNT COMING THIS MAY.
SO THIS MONTH WE SHOULD RECEIVE THE FIRST 94.2 MILLION AND THEN A YEAR FROM NOW MAY, 2022, WE'LL RECEIVE THE SECOND SET OF FUNDING.
THE ELIGIBLE USES OF FUNDS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE GUIDELINES INCLUDE SUPPORT FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE.
UM, ALSO THE ADDRESSING THE NEGATIVE IMPACT, UM, ECONOMIC IMPACT AND SEVERAL OTHER AREAS ABOUT SERVING THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES, PROVIDING PREMIUM PAY FOR ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES AND INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE LISTED AS INEVITABLE USES ARE OFFSETTING A REDUCTION IN NET TAX REVENUE DUE TO CHANGES IN LAW FIRM, WATCH 20TH THROUGH THE LAST DAY OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND THE POSITS INTO PENSION FUNDS.
SO IT WAS ALREADY TAKEN SOME ACTION ON THE USE OF SOME OF THE FUNDS ON, UM, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
WE, WE, UM, COUNCIL APPROVED THE ALLOCATION OF THE FUNDS TO BE RECEIVED $44.3 MILLION, WENT TO COBIT RESPONSE, DIRECT COVERT RESPONSE.
UM, AND THEN 500,000 WENT TO THE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM, WHICH LEAVES A REMAINING BALANCE FOR THIS FIRST SET OF FUNDS OF 49.4 MILLION IN A TOTAL REMAINING FUNDS OF THE TOTAL ALLOCATION OF ONE $43.6 MILLION.
NO FUNDING THAT WE'RE RECEIVING AS A CITY THAT'S COMING TO THE CITY OF BOSTON, OF COURSE, IS THE 22 MILLION FOR THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS 11 MILLION FOR THE ASSISTANCE FOR RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESS.
NEXT SLIDE, TURN IT BACK OVER TO A DIRECTOR PRESIDIO FOR, UM, THE NEXT SET OF COMPANY.
UH, SO AS WE STAFF A STAFF SET ABOUT LOOKING AT THESE PRIORITY AREAS, ONCE THIS RESOLUTION WAS PASSED, WE IDENTIFIED, UH, DIFFERENT LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT COULD HELP US, UH, HELP US IDENTIFY WAYS THAT WE COULD PRIORITIZE TRANSFORMATIONAL ACTION IN THESE PRIORITY AREAS WITHIN THE RE WITHIN THE OUTLINES OF THE RESOLUTION.
SO THESE NEXT SERIES OF SLIDES ARE GOING TO GO OVER AT A HIGH LEVEL, WHAT THE ASKS WERE, UM, SO THAT THEY'RE SO THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF WHAT WE LEARNED AS WE, AS WE WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THE FIRST AREA THAT I HAVE ON HERE, UM, AS, AS HOMELESSNESS AND THIS TOTAL REQUEST CAME IN AT I'M SORRY, THIS IS AN OVERVIEW SLIDE.
UH, LOOKING AT THE FOUR POLICY AREAS
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THAT THE OVERALL ASK WITHIN HOMELESSNESS, UH, THAT REQUEST CAME IN AT FIVE, $515 MILLION EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE CAME IN IN 13 AT $13.7 MILLION.AND I SHOULD NOTE HERE, THIS REQUEST WAS THIS WITH THIS REQUEST WOULD BE SPLIT.
IT WOULD BE SPLIT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.
SO WE'RE KEEPING THAT IN MIND JOBS FOR, UH, WORKING CLASS AUSTINITES THE TOUR REQUESTS FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CAME IN AT 32.5, SORRY, 32 MILLION FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY.
UM, THE REQUEST WE RECEIVED WAS 103.6 MILLION AND IN FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY, UH, HERE WE HAVE RELIED ON OUR OWN CITY STAFF.
WE HAVE A TEAM OF STAFF MEMBERS, NOT ONLY IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO IN OUR, IN OUR, UM, OUR SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE AND OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN AN IMMEDIATE RELIEF AND PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENSES.
AND I SHOULD MENTION, AS WE RECEIVE THESE REQUESTS, THESE, UH, THE FOLKS THAT WE WORKED WITH DID PROVIDE A VERY THOROUGH, UH, REQUEST.
WE, UH, PROVIDED THAT AS LATE BACKUP THIS MORNING.
SO YOU DO HAVE THE REQUEST IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND WITH THAT IN MIND, AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M NOT GOING TO READ THROUGH EACH LINE, BUT JUST THESE NEXT SLIDES HIGHLIGHT THE AREAS WHERE, WHERE THESE ENTITIES BELIEVE THAT THEY COULD HAVE TRANSFORMATIONAL, UM, RESULTS WITH THE ARP FUNDS.
SO AT A HIGH LEVEL FOR HOMELESSNESS, UH, THE AREAS THAT THEY'RE FOCUSED ON OUR CORE HOUSING SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND SUPPORTED ELEMENTS, SERVICES, SYSTEM CAPACITY BUILDING, AND THEN CAPITAL EXPENSE, NEXT SLIDE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE.
THERE'S A SERIES, UM, OF, UH, REQUEST IN REGARDS TO THE SUCCESS BY SIX PROGRAM.
BUT THIS OVERALL REQUEST OF 13.7 MILLION WOULD PROVIDE, UH, SOME, SOME TRANSFORMATION TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE IN THIS POLICY AREA IT'S LIKE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
THIS, UH, IS PART OF THE WORK NOW PROGRAM THAT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS HAS, UM, PROPOSED TO BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.
AND THAT TOTAL REQUEST CAME IN AT $32 MILLION.
AND, AND THEY, THE REQUESTS THAT WE RECEIVED AS PART OF THE PRIORITY OF ASSISTING RESIDENTS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THERE WAS A SEPARATE QUEST OF $5 MILLION, UM, IDENTIFIED SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
IN REGARDS TO FOOD INSECURITY, THE OVERALL REQUEST CAME AT $103.6 MILLION.
UM, THE AREAS THAT THE GROUP BROKE IT INTO INCLUDED RESPONSE TO ONGOING FOOD ACCESS NEEDS, UH, TO PREPARE FOR FREELANCES NEEDS AND THE ADVANCE OF FUTURE DISASTERS AND DESTRUCTIONS TO PLAN FOR A MORE EQUITABLE AND RESILIENT REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM AND INVEST IN THE FOOD SYSTEM IN WAYS THAT INCREASE FOOD, ACCESS, COMMUNITY RESILIENCY, AND EQUITABLE, PROSPERITY, AND STRENGTHEN THE POWER OF INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS TO PURCHASE GOOD FOOD.
AND THAT TOTAL WAS 103.6 MILLION IN REGARDS TO ADDITIONAL IMMEDIATE RELIEF NEEDS THAT STAFF IDENTIFIED.
UM, WE LOOKED AT WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY IN NEED OF IN THIS TIME OF RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC AND COMING TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY? THE FIRST ITEM WE WOULD RECOMMEND INCLUDING IS THE COLONY PARK, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.
THIS IS $1.5 MILLION THAT WOULD BE NEEDED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUILD A COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER IN COLONY PARK.
UH, THIS HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A PRIORITY, NOT ONLY BY OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, BUT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, THERE IS NOT A, UH, HEALTH CENTER LOCATED IN COLONY PARK.
AND KALI PARK IS A COMMUNITY THAT IS MOST ADVERSELY AND HAS BEEN ADVERSELY IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.
WE ALSO RECOMMEND, UH, FUNDING OUR HOT TAX PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDE THE CULTURAL ARTS FUND HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND AND LIVE MUSIC FUND.
THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR THAT WOULD BE 20.5, I'M SORRY, 20 POINT MILLION, $20 MILLION FOR THE, UM, FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
WE ALSO AM LOOKING AT WHAT THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE THIS PAST YEAR.
WE CERTAINLY SEE A NEED FOR FINANCIAL RELIEF TO INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS, UM, RISE AND OR RENT PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS CONTINUED ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, WE, WE ARE ESTIMATING THE NEED WITH, THERE WOULD BE AT 20,000,020 7 MILLION.
SO TRANSITIONING TO WHAT WE, HOW WE WOULD RECOMMEND THE ALLOCATION IS BROKEN UP.
AS CARRIE MENTIONED, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF $143.6 MILLION ARE THE PRIORITY AREAS
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THAT WERE IDENTIFIED.WE RECOMMEND 84 MILLION BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS, UM, INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
I WOULD KNOW ON A PREVIOUS SLIDE, THERE WAS 11 MILLION IDENTIFIED FOR, UH, FROM FEDERAL FUNDS SPECIFICALLY FOR HOMELESSNESS.
SO THIS WOULD BE AN ADDITION TO THAT.
AND I'D ALSO ADD FOUR OF THE 84 MILLION WOULD SPECIFICALLY BE FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO, TO RE-SKILL OUR COMMUNITY TO INCREASE OUR SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER COMMUNITY, TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
UH, WE RECOMMEND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT, UH, A CREATIVELY IN A WAY THAT WE CAN PROVIDE SOME, PROVIDE A STRONG PIPELINE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE TALENTED INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN ASSIST IN THIS SPACE AND REALLY HELP OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
UM, GET OUT OF HOMELESSNESS EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE.
THIS IS HALF OF THE AMOUNT THAT IT WAS REQUESTED BY THE SUCCESS BY SIX, UH, ORGANIZATION JOBS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING $8 MILLION AS A, UM, AS A, A WAY TO FURTHER THOSE EFFORTS ON THE REWORK NOW PROGRAM FOOD INSECURITY, WE'RE RECOMMENDING $3 MILLION TO INITIATE THOSE EFFORTS.
WE REALIZED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING NEED, BUT WE THOUGHT THIS WAS A, A START TO SOME OF THE EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.
AND THEN THE IMMEDIATE RELIEF NEEDS ONCE WE TOOK INTO ACCOUNT, THOSE FOUR PRIORITIES THAT ARE BALANCED, UM, WOULD BE 22, TOOK INTO THIS FOUR PRIORITIES AND THE CONTINGENCY, THEIR REMAINING BALANCE WOULD BE 22.9 MILLION.
AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I'LL GO INTO HOW WE RECOMMEND WE, UM, WE ALLOCATE THE FUNDS FOR RELIEF FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING A CONTINGENCY OF 10%, AND THIS IS THROUGH OUR WORK WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE, THE BUDGET OFFICE, UM, AND, AND OUR TEAM AGREE ON THIS.
AND THIS WOULD BE AT $18.8 MILLION.
SO THIS IS A TOTAL INVESTMENT OF ONE $43.6 MILLION.
SO THIS IS BREAKING IT DOWN BY, BY FISCAL YEAR.
UM, AND SO AS TERRY MENTIONED, WE RECEIVED THE FIRST TRAUNCH OF FUNDING THIS YEAR.
THE REMAINING BALANCE THAT WE HAD WAS $49.4 MILLION AFTER THE ALLOCATIONS THAT, UH, THAT WE MADE, UH, AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND THEN THE SECOND TRAUNCH IS FOR AS 94.2 MILLION.
SO HERE WE LOOKED AT HOW CAN WE, UH, PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE AND WHAT HAD HAD TIMING ISSUES, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THE, UM, AND THE IMMEDIATE RELIEF NEEDS THE, UH, OUR CONTRACTING, THE, THE TWO POTS OF MONEY FOR OUR HOT TAX FUNDS, WE'RE RECOMMENDING EQUAL BALANCE BETWEEN 10 MILLION EACH YEAR.
UH, WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT THAT 1.5 MILLION FOR COLONY PARK IS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, UH, BECAUSE THAT IS IT'S SHOVEL-READY AND CENTRAL HEALTH IS READY TO BUILD A HEALTH FACILITY THERE.
SO I'M LOOKING AT THAT $22.9 MILLION.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT IT'S ALLOCATED IN THIS MANNER.
THE 1.5 FOR, UH, CALLIE PARK, THE 20 MILLION FOR THE PROGRAMS. AND THE RATIONALE HERE IS THAT OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY WAS, I WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIT, UM, THROUGH COVID AND IS, IS, UH, REALLY WORKING HARD TO RECOVER FROM THIS PAST, UM, HERE IN FEW MONTHS.
UM, SO WE KNOW THAT THIS WILL BE FUNDING THAT WILL HELP EMPLOY, CONTINUE TO EMPLOY AND SUSTAIN OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY AND OUR CREATIVE WORKERS THAT ARE VITAL TO OUR ECONOMY.
AND THEN FINALLY WE RECOMMEND THAT 1.4, UH, BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS, UH, INDIVIDUAL RELIEF, UM, WHETHER THAT BE RISE OR RENT OR A COMBINATION OF THE TWO, BUT WE'RE THINKING THAT WE IT'S IMPORTANT TO HELP FOLKS AT AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL.
NEXT SLIDE, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
WE ARE OPEN TO QUESTIONS AND HERE TO HEAR YOUR DISCUSSION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, ALL THE HARD WORK DONE SO QUICKLY BY THE STAFF.
AND I APPRECIATE THIS CHECK-IN TO GET OUR TEMPERATURE ON IT AS WE HEAD TO JUNE.
UM, I WANT TO FIRST TO LIST OUT THE THINGS THAT I THINK ARE, UM, ARE REALLY STRONG AND THEN LIST KIND OF MY MOST, UH, SIGNIFICANT REMAINING CONCERN.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT WE ARE SORT OF IN THAT 80 TO $100 MILLION RANGE FOR HOMELESSNESS, I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR US TO DO OUR PART ON FULLY FUNDING, THOSE CHILDCARE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,
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UH, ASKS, UH, AND APPRECIATE WHAT WE'VE DONE ON FOOD ACCESS AND THEN TO MAKE, UM, AND THEN TO MAKE THE ARTS AND MUSIC COMMUNITY WHOLE THE BEST THAT WE CAN.SO I THINK THAT THOSE, THOSE THINGS SEEM TO FIT THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF WHAT WE PASSED IN THE RESOLUTION, UH, EXCEPT SORT OF A ONE AND ALL THAT I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE, AND JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT REALLY CLEAR.
UH, THE ONE EXCEPTION FOR ME IS THAT THE RESOLUTION LISTED, UH, HOMELESSNESS CHILDCARE, FOOD INSECURITY AND HOUSING INSECURITY, UM, UH, AS A, AS ONE OF THE PRIORITY AREAS.
AND WHILE IN YOUR POWERPOINT, YOU DO LIST THE, UM, THE MONEY THAT'S COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPECIFICALLY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
I DO WORRY THAT AS THE EVICTION MORATORIUMS GET PHASED OUT AND IT'S, AND THE FIRST ROW AROUND A PHASE OUT IS IN JUNE, I DO WORRY THAT THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS WON'T BE ENOUGH TO CONTINUE TO STAVE OFF THE EVICTION WAVE, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE WANT TO.
SO THAT ITEM OF HOUSING INSECURITY, UM, I STILL HAVE HAVE CONCERNS.
UM, I THINK WE CAN ADDRESS THAT EITHER WITH SOME OF THE CASH ASSISTANCE AS YOU'VE NOTED OR WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE OR WITH, UH, A LINE THAT IS FLEXIBLE FOR ADDRESSING BOTH, BUT, UM, SOME BACK OF THE NAPKIN MATH MAKES IT LOOK LIKE WE MIGHT NEED $15 MILLION A MONTH FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THROUGH THE SUMMER, UH, AND EVEN INTO THE FALL TO BE ABLE TO, TO KEEP OUR EVICTIONS AS LOW AS THEY HAVE BEEN.
UM, AND IF WE WANT TO TRULY ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND THE OTHER FACTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE CAN'T HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE START LOSING THEIR HOMES.
UM, WE'VE DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB LEADING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FRANKLY, I THINK US IN MINNEAPOLIS, I'VE REALLY KEPT THE LOWEST LEVEL OF EVICTIONS OF MAJOR AMERICAN CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
UH, AND, AND WE NEED TO HOLD ON TO THAT FOR LOTS OF GOOD REASONS.
SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT IS THERE.
UM, BUT, UH, AND I APPRECIATE HOW MUCH IT STICKS TO THE RESOLUTION, BUT I DO THINK IN THE HOUSING SECURITY AREA, ONLY THAT WHATEVER IT IS, 1.5 MILLION OR SO, UH, IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING EMERGENCY GRANTS IS THAT THE ONE AREA WHERE I HAVE CONCERN, WE COULD ADDRESS THAT WITH ERP.
WE COULD ADDRESS THAT WITH OTHER CITY FUNDS.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY ABOUT IT.
BUT TO ME, THAT IS, UH, THE ONE GLARING THING, UM, BECAUSE THERE IS, THERE'S ALMOST NOTHING MORE BASIC THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE THAN GET PEOPLE THEIR PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS MET.
AND THEN ALSO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS THAT CURRENTLY ARE HOUSED, DON'T LOSE THEIR HOUSING.
UM, CAN I ASK STAFF WHAT THE RESPONSE WAS FROM TRAVIS COUNTY ON, UH, PARTNERING WITH US ON THESE SPINS THEIR, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS IN THESE AREAS? THEY ARE WORKING, OH, GO AHEAD, CARRIE.
UM, THEY, SO THEY ARE WORKING ON A SIMILAR TRACK WITH THEIR GOVERNING BODY.
THEY ARE, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE UNSURE AND PROBABLY JUST I'M GETTING FEEDBACK FOR SOME REASON.
UM, THEY ARE, THEY'RE WORKING WITH THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY HOW THOSE FUNDS WILL BE ALLOCATED.
SO THEY DIDN'T GIVE US ANY SPECIFIC DIRECTION.
I BELIEVE THEY'RE PRESENTING TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT TODAY.
UM, SO WE'RE HAVING CONSTANT CONVERSATIONS TO SEE IF THERE'S, UM, AREAS WHERE THERE IS OVERLAP.
THERE IS INTEREST IN, IN, UM, AND TRYING TO PARTNER WITH US.
UM, AND WE'RE CERTAINLY ON STAFF SIDE, WILLING TO COLLABORATE.
WE'RE JUST WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY WHERE THOSE AREAS ARE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO PRIORITIZE.
DID WE SHARE THESE NUMBERS WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT? WE HAVE NOT SHARED THESE NUMBERS WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURTS.
WE WANTED TO PRESENT IT TO COUNCIL FIRST, BUT WE WILL SHARE IT.
UM, SO I NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT, UM, BECAUSE OF THE PARTNERING WITH OUR REGIONAL, UM, W WITHIN THE REGION IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND PARTICULARLY ON HOMELESSNESS IS AS MANY OF US HAVE REITERATED A NUMBER OF TIMES, UM, OVER THE LAST LITTLE WHILE THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAN'T SOLVE OR FUND HOMELESSNESS BY ITSELF.
AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE ARE PUTTING ADDITIONAL MONIES INTO HOMELESSNESS, I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY DELIBERATE AND COORDINATE WITH, UH, SURROUNDING COUNTIES SO THAT WE HAVE A REGIONAL APPROACH BECAUSE OTHERWISE EVERYBODY WILL LOOK TO US AS, UM, AS THE BIG BEAR IN THE ROOM AND ASSUME THAT, UH, AS A BIG BEAR, WE ALSO BRING A BIG FUNDS.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE BECAUSE WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT OTHER UNFUNDED MANDATES AND UNDERFUNDED
[00:25:01]
INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS WITHIN THE CITY.FOR EXAMPLE, THE CONSERVATION CORPS THAT MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR BROUGHT, UH, TO THE BUDGET AND PASSED.
UM, GOSH, WAS IT JUST LAST YEAR? TIME IS SO ELUSIVE THESE DAYS.
IT DOESN'T APPEAR ON THIS LIST ANYWHERE, BUT THAT'S A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TYPE PROGRAM.
SO MAYBE IT'S JUST THAT IT'S UNDERNEATH THAT, THAT TITLE.
AND WE CAN'T SEE IT, BUT I HAD ASKED THAT THAT BE HIGHLIGHTED AND THAT, THAT BE FUNDED SPECIFICALLY.
UM, WELL, SAME WITH THE CREATIVE SECTOR.
WE DO NEED TO REPLACE THE FUNDS THAT WERE NOT RECEIVED BY OUR, UH, WITH THE LOSS OF HOT FUNDS TO THE BEST, UH, ABILITY THAT WE HAVE, AND TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CREATIVE SECTOR BECAUSE THEY WERE LEFT BEHIND LAST YEAR AND IT'S TIME TO MOVE THEM UP THE LINE TO GET, UM, ATTENTION.
AND I SEE GOOD PROGRESS THERE.
FOOD ACCESS CERTAINLY CHILDCARE THE SUCCESS BY SIX PROGRAM HAS BEEN ON MY RADAR FOR PROBABLY 20, 25 YEARS, UH, FROM THE, FROM THE VERY TIME WHEN I WAS, UH, ON THE BOARD OF MY CHILD'S DAYCARE.
UM, ALSO, UH, THE, I HAD REQUESTED ADDITIONAL INPUT ON OUR RESILIENCE OFFICER THAT, UH, THAT WAS IN THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE INITIATIVE THAT I BROUGHT LAST YEAR.
AND OF COURSE THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE INITIATIVE THAT I BROUGHT THE YEAR BEFORE.
UM, I THINK THAT WE CAN SHIFT SOME OF THE MONIES THAT ARE NOW TAGGED FOR HOMELESSNESS OVER INTO, UH, FITTING INTO THESE OTHER UNDERFUNDED CATEGORIES.
AND I URGE THAT WE, UH, CAREFULLY, UH, REVIEWED THAT AND ANALYZE THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE NUMBERS, THAT WE ARE, UM, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE OTHER AREAS WHERE WE WILL BE FUNDING, UM, SPECIFICALLY HOMELESSNESS, BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT SIGNIFICANT FUNDS FROM OUR GENERAL REVENUE AS WELL THIS YEAR.
SO I CANNOT SUPPORT THE NUMBER THAT YOU'VE OFFERED FOR THAT ON THAT ONE LINE ITEM.
UH, AND I DO WANT TO SEE, UH, ADDITIONAL MONIES FOR CREATIVE SECTOR AND THE INCLUSION OF CONSERVATION CORPS.
AND THEN, UM, WANT TO KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT WITH OUR ROUNDING GOVERNMENTAL JURISDICTIONS, SO WE CAN BE MORE COLLABORATIVE AND THEN WE CAN LAND ON SOME NUMBERS THAT ADDRESS THE NEEDS THAT GO CUT ACROSS THE ENTIRETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND, AND APPRECIATE OUR STAFF BRINGING FORWARD THIS, THIS FRAMEWORK.
I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK TALKING WITH FOLKS AND THINKING THROUGH THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS MORE THAN, THAN, THAN WE CAN ADDRESS.
I DO WANT TO SAY THOUGH THAT I AM, UM, COMFORTABLE WITH THE PACKAGE, THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE PRESENTED IT AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU PRESENTED.
UM, I, I HEAR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KOSSAR'S CONCERNS AND WILLING TO WORK TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME OTHER PLACES THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
I WONDER IF IT, UH, IF IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED WITH CONTINGENCY, UH, AS WELL AS PERHAPS SOME OF OUR REGULAR BUDGET MONEY, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE DON'T KNOW IT IS IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE ADDRESS EVICTIONS, BUT WE'RE NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR HOW MUCH THAT WILL BE AN ISSUE JUST YET.
SO I THINK MAYBE SOME FURTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
UM, I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THE AMOUNT FOR HOMELESSNESS IS A MINIMUM.
UH, I REALLY FEEL THAT IF WE PUT THIS UP AND WE CAN WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO PUT, PUT THIS AMOUNT OR SIMILAR AMOUNT UP AND OTHER ENTITIES, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A CHANCE TO REALLY MAKE A SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN HOW WE ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE GOT TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE IMPROVED OUR SYSTEM FOR ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, AS WELL AS ADDRESS THE, WHAT WE'VE SEEN AS A REAL SURGE IN HOMELESSNESS RIGHT NOW.
SO I REALLY, YOU KNOW, I RESPECT EVERYBODY'S PERSPECTIVE TONIGHT, AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, THAT WE REALLY NEED THIS TO BE A REGIONAL APPROACH, BUT I THINK THAT GIVEN THE NEEDS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS OVER THE THREE YEARS, WHAT IS A VERY AMBITIOUS PLAN AND THE KIND OF PLAN THAT WE NEED TO ACTUALLY, UM, MAKE US SUSTAINABLE, UM, DIFFERENCE IS, UM, 84 MILLION.
AND I I'M REALLY NOT INTERESTED IN REDUCING THAT AMOUNT.
UM, I ALSO THINK THAT, UM, UH, SO LET ME ASK A QUESTION THEN ON THE CONTINGENCY, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT CONTINGENCY CONSIDERED FOR IN PARTICULAR, OR
[00:30:01]
IS IT JUST AMOUNT, AMOUNT THAT SET ASIDE IN CASE WE HAVE, UH, EXPECTED, UH, NEEDS OR 10 EXPLAIN TO ME THE, THE SCOPE OF THE CONTINGENCY FUND.SO COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE OUR THOUGHT PROCESS ON THE CONTINGENCY AMOUNT, WHICH WAS, UM, I BELIEVE 20% OF THE SECOND TRANCHE OF MONEY THAT WE'LL BE RECEIVING AT FISCAL YEAR 22 IS JUST A RECOGNITION THAT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDST OF RESPONDING TO A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
WE DON'T KNOW FOR A HUNDRED WE'RE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY A HUNDRED PERCENT GUARANTEES ABOUT THE TRAJECTORY THAT THAT PANDEMIC IS GOING TO TAKE.
SO WE FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENT FOR US TO HAVE FUNDS SET ASIDE, SHOULD ADDITIONAL MONEY BE NEEDED FOR THE, UH, FOR THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS.
IF WE GET SIX MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD AND WE DON'T, THEN THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, BEST CASE SCENARIO, UM, THINGS ARE LOOKING VERY GOOD AND IT'S CLEAR THAT WE'RE PAST THE, UH, THE CRISIS.
THEN WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT AT THAT TIME TO RELEASE THOSE DOLLARS TO OTHER COMMUNITY PRIORITIES.
YOU KNOW, PLUS FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, WE'LL HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF PERHAPS WHAT THE COUNTY AND OTHER REGIONAL PARTNERS ARE WANTING TO DO WITH THEIR ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.
AND THAT MAY INFORM WHICH DIRECTION WE WOULD WANT TO PUSH THOSE CONTINGENCIES IF INDEED THEY'RE NOT NEEDED FOR, FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE.
SO, UM, SO ARE WE THINKING IN TERMS OF, I'M TRYING TO DO THE MATH IN MY HEAD ON THE NUMBER OF MONTHS, BUT ARE WE THINKING IN TERMS OF AROUND THE TIME THAT WE ADOPT THE BUDGET, WE MIGHT HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF CONTINGENCY THAT'S NEEDED, OR ARE YOU THINKING PAST THAT? UM, I, I THINK THAT'S ALMOST A QUESTION FOR, YOU KNOW, DR.
S GOT AT THE TIME COME AUGUST WHEN COUNSEL IS TAKING ACTIONS IN THE BUDGET, WHAT IS THE SITUATION? IF THE NUMBERS ARE REALLY LOOKING AT THEIR DOWN, UH, YOU KNOW, 90% POPULATIONS VACCINATED, AND HE'S TELLING US THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH CONCERN ABOUT A RESURGENT IN THE NUMBER OF CASES, YOU KNOW, I THINK IF YOU KNOW, THAT THAT PROBABLY WOULD REALLY INFORM YOUR DECISION, COME AUGUST WHEN YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO, TO, TO ADOPT THE BUDGET, UM, HOW YOU MIGHT WANT TO ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS DIFFERENTLY.
AND OF COURSE THAT COULD HAPPEN EARLIER OR LATER THAN THE BUDGET.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TIED TO THE BUDGET.
AND, AND WHEN WE SAY PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDS, WE MEET THAT'S PUBLIC HEALTH COSTS, RIGHT? NOT IMPACT ON NOT THE KIND OF IMPACT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PISSARRO IS TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF CO IN TERMS OF WORKFORCE, AS OPPOSED TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, PAYING FOR VACCINATIONS AND OUTREACH LIKE THAT.
WE TALKED ABOUT, OUR CONCERN IS REALLY TO MAINTAIN FLEXIBILITY ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS THAT 44.3 MILLION, THE COUNCIL AT YOUR LAST MEETING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS, THE PRO LODGES THAT SO FACTS, CONTACT TRACING THE VACCINE CENTERS.
YOU KNOW, IF WE NEED TO CONTINUE THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS BEYOND THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR, WE WILL, OR I'M SORRY, BEYOND THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE WILL NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
AND SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAINTAIN A CONSERVATIVE POSTURE ON THAT.
LET'S HOPE THEY'RE NOT NEEDED, BUT IF THEY ARE, I THINK EVERYBODY WILL BE HAPPY THAT WE SET THEM ASIDE.
AND THEN LAST QUESTION, THE F THE F THE, UH, THE 44 MILLION OF THESE CONTINGENCY FUNDS, DO THEY INCLUDE, ARE THEY, UM, DO THEY ACCOUNT FOR THE POTENTIAL FOR FEMA REIMBURSEMENT, ANOTHER WORD FOR, THEY ASSUME NO FEMA, OR DO THEY ASSUME SOME LEVEL OF FEMA IN REIMBURSEMENT? THEY DO ASSUME, UM, FEMA REIMBURSEMENT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL GETTING A LOT OF MOVING PARTS IN TERMS OF EXACTLY WHAT FEMA ARE REIMBURSED.
THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE SAID THEY WILL NOW REIMBURSE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ELIGIBLE EXPENSES, BUT YOU KNOW, EXACTLY WHAT ARE ELIGIBLE EXPENSES.
AND THEY DO HAVE CAPS ON THINGS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL, THEY'LL, THEY'LL REDUCE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ADMIN COSTS, BUT ADMIN COSTS ARE CAPPED AT, UM, I BELIEVE ONLY 10%.
SO IF WE ENDED UP GOING PAST THAT, THEN, UM, THEN THEMA WON'T BE REIMBURSING THEM.
BUT I THINK THE TOTAL, MY MEMORY IS CORRECT.
THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WE WERE PROJECTING FOR THOSE PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS WAS OVER $80 MILLION AND OF REIMBURSING ABOUT 36,000,040 4 MILLION COMING FROM THE ARP.
AND THAT'S A MOVING DYNAMICS THAT COULD SHIFT.
WE GET NEW INFORMATION, WE WILL, WE'LL ABSOLUTELY KEEP YOU APPRISED.
WELL, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONTINGENCY.
OF COURSE, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE PARAMETERS OF WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE ASSUMING.
UM, I ALSO THINK I, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, JUST, I APPRECIATE THE, THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFF.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD BALANCE, UH, AND THERE, AND, UH, APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, INCLUDED.
THAT WAS A VERY KELLY THAT COUNSELOR FOR THIS.
AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE HOMELESSNESS SPENDING.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT A LITTLE BIT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE WILLIAMSON COUNTY AS PART OF OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS, BECAUSE WE DO
[00:35:01]
SHARE PART OF AUSTIN WITH WILLIAMSON COUNTY, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO INCLUDE THEM IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS.AND THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR TASTE PRESENTATION.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT STARTING POINT FOR US TO, TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON HOW WE ALLOCATE THE ARP FUNDS.
UM, I WOULD LOVE TO REAFFIRM MY COMMITMENT TO REALLY PRIORITIZING AND SPENDING A SIZEABLE AMOUNT ON OUR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE EFFORTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT WE HAVE A PLAN AND A STRATEGY, I THINK IT WOULD, UH, BE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO SEE THIS LEVEL OF INVESTMENT.
SO I'M COMMITTED TO THAT $84 MILLION, UM, LINE ITEM THAT YOU HAVE HERE AS PART OF YOUR PROPOSAL.
UM, ALSO WANT TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE FOR THE FOOD INSECURITY ITEM.
THAT WAS A NEED THAT WE SAW A SIGNIFICANT NEED THAT WE SAW AMID THE PANDEMIC AND THROUGH THE WINTER STORM.
AND AS WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE CERTAINLY MAKES SENSE THAT WE HAVE, UM, FUNDING ALLOCATED SO THAT WE CAN HAVE PART OF THAT, UH, TRANSFORMATIONAL END RESILIENCE, BUILDING WORK INCLUDED, UM, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, UH, ALLOCATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD START.
UH, CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE SUCCESS BY SIX INITIATIVE AND THEIR PROPOSAL.
AND WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THEM TO ENSURE THAT WE GOT DEL VALLEY ISD INCLUDED AS PART OF THEIR PROPOSAL.
SO I WOULD WANT TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT THAT REMAINS, UM, WITH THIS FUNDING ALLOCATION OR AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, ENSURE THAT WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH TRAVIS COUNTY TO COME TOGETHER WITH THAT COMBINED ASK AS WELL.
AND, AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, GLAD TO SEE THE FUNDING, UM, THE PROPOSAL FOR THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO AUSTIN.
AND ONE THAT I'LL BE SPEAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE ON LATER TODAY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ITEM 60 AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST ALSO WANTED TO, UM, ECHO THE SENTIMENT SHARED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS AROUND EVICTION PREVENTION AND, AND, AND WANTING TO SEE MORE FUNDING ALLOCATED TO THAT EFFORT.
CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR PRIORITY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, AS A DIOCESE REAFFIRMED OUR COMMITMENT THROUGH THE RESILIENT ATX RESOLUTION AND ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS.
WE ALSO HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING TO PREVENT IT, AND WITH THE MORATORIUM BEING PHASED OUT THIS, IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THERE FOR IN SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE'D LOVE TO SEE, UM, AN INCREASED AMOUNT AROUND, UM, AROUND RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WILL REALLY HELP OUR COMMUNITY OUT, UM, AS WE WILL NOTABLY FACE THIS EVENT, EVICTION CRISIS HERE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS.
UM, MANAGER, CARRIE, I I'M GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE FRAMEWORK AS, AS LAID OUT.
UM, I THINK IT'S HITTING THE, YOU KNOW, GENERALLY SPEAKING THE INTENT OF THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED BY THE COUNCIL, UH, THE S THE HOMELESSNESS DOLLARS, THE ASK THERE WAS FOR THE SUMMIT.
AND I THINK IT'S REAL IMPORTANT THAT WE GET AS CLOSE TO, UM, TO, TO, TO 89 AS WE CAN YET, BECAUSE THAT, PLUS THE ELABORATE GETS US TO THE A HUNDRED FOR HOMELESSNESS.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO SEND A SIGNAL NOT ONLY TO THE GOVERNMENT OR PARTNERS, UH, BECAUSE AS COUNSELOR POOLS SAID, THIS IS TOO BIG FOR US TO DO OURSELVES.
AND I THINK A LOT OF THE PHILANTHROPY, PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY IS ALSO LOOKING TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THE PUBLIC'S GOING TO MAKE THAT, THAT MEASURE OF, OF, OF EFFORT ON THIS PRIORITY.
UH, SO, UH, I LIKE THAT IF, IF THERE WAS A WAY TO EDGE THAT NUMBER UP I'D, I'D LIKE THAT I LIKE THAT WE'RE PICKING UP THE EARLY CHILDHOOD, UH, ASKED AND, AND HOPE THAT THE COUNTY PARTNERS WITH US ON THAT THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS EIGHT PLUS THE FOUR FROM HOMELESSNESS, OR, OR 12 GETS US, UH, TO A LARGE PART OF WHAT THE, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, UH, UH, GRANT, UH, WAS.
UM, AND I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE FOODS IN THERE, UM, UH, FOOD INSECURITY, UH, ISSUE THAT WE HAVE ALSO SUPPORT, UH, TRYING TO OFFSET THE, THE HOT RELIEF FOR, FOR FOLKS THAT, UH, NEEDED TO BE MADE HOLDEN ARE OTHERWISE COVERED BY THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE, UM, OR THE CONTINGENCY ISSUE.
UH, YOU KNOW, MY FIRST LOOK AT THAT IS IT'S PROBABLY HIGH.
AND WE HAD TALKED ABOUT DOING AN INITIALLY A CONTINGENCY AS AGAINST THE WHOLE FUND.
AND I SEE THAT THAT'S CHANGED AND I SUPPORT THAT CHANGE.
WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OUR 20% CONTINGENCY, IF THAT WAS APPLIED AGAINST THE 40, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT NINE.
IF YOU APPLIED THE 20% CONTINGENCY AGAINST THE WHOLE 80, EVEN RECOGNIZING THE 40 WAS THE ANTICIPATED
[00:40:01]
THAT GOT BACK, THAT'D BE 16 AND CHANGE.UH, SO I JUST MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF OTHER EXPENSES THAT ARE CONTINGENT, I THINK, AS IS KIND OF THE WAY OF LOOKING AT THAT, THE WAY OUTSPENT THE KITCHEN DID.
AND THAT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, IF THE EVICTION ISSUE HITS US REALLY HARD, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT KIND OF RESERVES IN THE FUTURE OR THE ENCAMPMENT DOLLARS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND ASSOCIATED WITH, I GUESS, WHAT DOES THE THIRD PRESENTATION WE'RE ABOUT TO HEAR? I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT ISN'T EATING INTO, UH, THE, UH, SUMMIT, UH, ALLOCATIONS THAT WE HAVE, AGAIN, A PLACE OR A FUND OR RESERVES TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO COVER THAT, UH, IN THE INDEPENDENT, INDEPENDENT OF THAT, OF THAT AMOUNT.
BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, I THINK THESE NUMBERS ARE JUST REAL CLOSE.
LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATIONS WITH TRAVIS COUNTY AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY, UH, AS THIS GETS CLOSER AND MORE REFINED AS WE LEAD INTO, UH, TO WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU COME BACK, THAT WAS NOVEMBER 30 YEAR, I GUESS, MAYOR I, YOU KNOW, I'M ALSO A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT IT, UH, EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, I'M WONDERING IF THAT'S GOING TO BE ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, WITH A GOVERNOR NOW DOING AWAY WITH THE, UH, UNEMPLOYMENT CHECK OF 300 A MONTH ON TOP OF WHAT, I MEAN, A WEEK ON TOP OF WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE GETTING.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, UH, IT'S AN ALIGNMENT THAT AFTER JUNE BEING A JERK WITH HER, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ANY MORE UNEMPLOYMENT, FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT CHECK COMING TO PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S GOING TO PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON PEOPLE TO GO OUT THERE AND, AND LOOK FOR A JOB.
SO, UH, REALLY PREPARED TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE ON THE CHILDHOOD, UH, YOU KNOW, EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THAT'S, UH, UH, I WANT TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE STAFF KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE A PUNISHING, UH, PARENTS WORKING PARENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, NEED THAT, AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO HIGH DOLLAR CHILDCARE THAT WE HAVE.
SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT AND KEEP AN EYE ON AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, NONE OF THESE, UH, WORKING PARENTS FALL THROUGH THE CRACK, AND WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF WHAT, WHAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF BECAUSE JOBS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW.
AND IN ORDER TO PAY FOR YOUR RENT AND ALL THAT.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN A VERY TIGHT SITUATION COMING IN THE FUTURE.
I, I HAVE SOME ACTUAL QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AND THEN I, SO LET ME JUST START THERE AND THEN I CAN MAKE SOME COMMENTS NOW OR LATER.
UM, I THINK THE GENERAL COMMENT I'LL MAKE RIGHT NOW IS THAT THERE'S, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED A FAIR AMOUNT, MORE CONVERSATION AROUND THIS.
AND, UH, AND I AM GOING TO NEED A FAIR AMOUNT, MORE DETAILS, A FAIR, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER PULL, YOU IDENTIFIED ONE SUCH QUESTION THAT I IS IN MY MIND TO, I'D LIKE TO SEE US INVEST IN SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN A COMMITMENT TO, INCLUDING THINGS SUCH AS THE AUSTIN CONSERVATION CORPS.
AND IT'S NOT CLEAR AT THIS LEVEL OF DETAIL, WHETHER IT'S INCLUDED WITHIN THE WORKFORCE NUMBER OR NOT.
I AM SUPPORTIVE ABSOLUTELY OF INVESTING SOME SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING IN HOMELESSNESS.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT AMOUNT LOOKS LIKE.
I THINK I AM EXTREMELY INTERESTED THOUGH, GENERALLY IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS WITH SOME UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS ARE, ARE, UM, COLLABORATING WITH US ON AN AND I, I DO NOT WANT THE CITY TO, TO MAKE IT.
I THINK SOMETIMES WE, WE MAKE, WE MAKE OUR FUNDING DECISIONS AT A TIME DIFFERENT FROM, FROM SOME OF OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING OUR PRIVATE FUNDERS, OUR POTENTIAL DONORS, AND THAT, UM, THAT, THAT ISN'T ALWAYS THE BEST WAY TO DO THINGS.
I AM COMMITTED TO HAVE THE CITY SPEND PUT SOME SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS TOWARD HOMELESSNESS, BUT, BUT WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS TOWARD HOMELESSNESS.
AND THERE ARE SOME PARTNERS WHO I'D LIKE TO SEE, UM, ALSO PARTICIPATE WITH US IN THAT.
AND SO I REALLY WANT TO HAVE, I WANT TO HAVE THOSE COMP INDIANS, INCLUDING OUR PRIVATE PARTNERS.
UM, ONE OF THE REAL, ONE OF THE REAL THINGS I WAS EXCITED ABOUT WITH REGARD TO THE SUMMIT, THE COMMUNITY SUMMIT IS, IS, UM, NOT THAT THEY WERE DEVELOPING A PLAN BECAUSE WE HAVE A PLAN THAT WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON, BUT THAT IT, IT DID SET SOME TIMELINE
[00:45:01]
EXPECTATIONS, BUT ALSO THAT IT HOLDS THE PROMISE OF REALLY INVOLVING AND ENGAGING PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY IN SUPPORTING THIS INITIATIVE.AND I REALLY AM, AM ANXIOUS TO SEE THAT PIECE HAPPEN.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME MORE, I WOULD LIKE TO GET A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD ON THAT, ON THAT PIECE, AND AGAIN, ON OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH TRAVIS COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU STAFF FOR HAVING THOSE MANAGER.
I THINK MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT DO YOU SEE AS A TIMELINE HERE? I THINK IN OUR INITIAL ONE-ON-ONE YOU HAD INDICATED THAT PERHAPS WE WOULD HAVE THIS ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA FOR SOME ACTION, AS SOON AS OUR NEXT MEETING, I MAY HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD THAT, BUT LET ME JUST SIGNAL.
I I'D LIKE, I BELIEVE WE NEED SOME MORE TIME ON THOSE, ON THIS FRONT FOR ALL OF THE REASONS THAT I JUST SUGGESTED IN SOME THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SUGGESTED.
SO IF YOU COULD ANSWER THAT AND THEN I HAVE A COUPLE MORE THINGS I WANTED TO SAY, YEAH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, THAT IS WHAT WE DISCUSSED AT THE ONE-ON-ONE AND WHAT I'VE CONVEYED TO EACH OF YOU IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WOULD BE PRESENTING THIS FRAMEWORK, GETTING THE FEEDBACK, AND THEN PUTTING IT ON, UH, FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION AT THE NEXT MEETING.
UH, THAT'S JUST FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION, AND THAT WOULD CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION AND ALLOW YOU TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS, UM, AND EVEN, UH, POSTPONEMENT IF NEEDED, UH, TO FURTHER DISCUSS THIS.
BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION AND THEN HOPEFULLY, UH, SETTLE ON WHAT THAT FRAMEWORK WOULD BE.
BUT WE ARE, WE ARE PLANNING ON AND PREPARED TO POST THIS FOR THE JUNE 3RD MEETING.
TO ME, THAT'S THAT TIMELINE IS I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON JUNE 3RD.
I CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE READY TO TAKE ACTION.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'LL HAVE HAD, UM, SOME REALLY SUBSTANTIAL CONVERSATION.
I BELIEVE WE NEED MORE TIME TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH TR WITH OUR TRAVIS COUNTY PARTNERS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET A SENSE OF HOW WE WILL BEGIN TO GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT SOME OF THE ITEMS IN THIS FRAMEWORK.
ONE ANOTHER, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS CULTURAL ARTS.
I'D LIKE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND IN EACH ONE OF THESE, WHAT IS BEING CONTEMPLATED IN TERMS OF TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE, IS IT THAT WE'RE DOING THE SAME KIND OF CULTURAL ARTS GRANTS THAT WE TRADITIONALLY DO? OR ARE WE, ARE WE FINDING A WAY TO REALLY MAKE THOSE MULTI BENEFICIAL IN THE WAY THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT INVESTING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS SO THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS THOSE PROGRAMS ARE TAKING PLACE AT OUR CULTURAL ARTS REC CENTERS.
PERHAPS WE'RE DOING A PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOLS AND THOSE ARTISTS ARE EMBEDDED WITHIN SCHOOL COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY ARE, WE'RE SERVING A WORKFORCE GOAL, BUT ALSO ENHANCE AND HELPING ACHIEVE SOME OF THE GOALS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE CREATE AUSTIN PLAN FROM LONG AGO THAT, UM, SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE NEVER MOVED FORWARD.
SO I AM, I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN GETTING THOSE LEVEL OF DETAILS BEFORE I CAN COMMIT TO LEVELS OF FUNDING.
UM, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT FEMA.
UM, I KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE WAITING TO TALK, AND SO I'LL PAUSE THERE, BUT I DO WANT TO COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FEMA FUNDING AND, UH, JUST A SIGNAL ALSO THAT I AM, I AM ALSO REALLY INTERESTED IN THE QUESTION ABOUT EVICTIONS AND WHAT MIGHT BE COMING WHEN THAT EVICTION MORATORIUM LIFTS.
AND SO I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR OUR, FOR OUR HOUSING STAFF, UM, ON THAT FRONT THAT I'D LIKE TO ASK HER TODAY TO MAYOR.
OKAY, LET'S KEEP GOING ON THESE QUESTIONS IN, IF WE HAVE THE HOUSING FOLKS COME BACK AS HER QUESTIONS ABOUT EVICTION TO CAUSE HER HOUSE.
UM, I'M QUITE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO FULLY FUND THE SUCCESS BY SIX, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS.
I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ALL SAW HOW DEVASTATING IT WAS TO OUR COMMUNITY, NOT TO HAVE CHILDCARE AND NOT TO HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE PLACES UP AND RUNNING IN A WAY THAT COULD HELP OUR FAMILIES WHO WERE TRYING TO FLOAT.
UM, SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT FULLY FUNDED.
UM, AND THEN I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SOME OF THE MONEY THAT IS, UM, SLATED FOR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE.
UM, IT SAID THAT THERE WAS A PORTION OF IT, 4 MILLION OUT OF THE 84 MILLION, UM, THAT'S FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
WOULD THAT BE FOR PROGRAMS LIKE, UM, WORKFORCE FIRST FROM THE OTHER ONES FOUNDATION, WOULD THAT KIND OF EXPAND SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING OR WOULD THAT BE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT? SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT TYPE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WE HEARD, UM, AND WORKING WITH DIANA GRAY AND THE WORK THAT SHE DID THROUGH THE SUMMIT.
ONE OF THE PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE SUMMIT WAS REALLY HAVING A STRONG, UH, WORKFORCE AVAILABLE TO SERVE IN SOCIAL SERVICES, SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND TO HAVE THAT WORKFORCE, UM, INCLUDED A STRONG REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE, OF COLOR TO REFLECT THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE, UH, ASSISTING.
SO THAT'S, UH, THE VEIN THAT WE WERE THINKING,
[00:50:01]
UH, OF WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS, UM, WITH OUR MORE TRADITIONAL WORKFORCE SERVICE PROVIDERS.UM, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME, LIKE SOME OPPORTUNITY TO BE CREATIVE ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF THE ENTITY, THE OT THAT MAYBE IT'S NOT SOMEBODY THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH BEFORE, OR MAYBE AN EXISTING ENTITY HAS THAT CAPABILITY.
WE WOULD JUST LIKE SOME TIME TO DELVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THAT, AND CERTAINLY WORKING WITH DIANA IN THAT REGARD.
I THINK THAT COULD BE SOMETHING, UM, THAT I'D WANT TO LOOK INTO FURTHER.
UM, AND THEN I ALSO KIND OF AGREE WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER.
TO-GO JUST KIND OF IN, YOU KNOW, THE, THESE SLIDES ARE REALLY GOOD FOR THE PRESENTATION AND US TRYING TO UNDERSTAND SNAPSHOTS OF KIND OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT THESE BUCKETS OF MONEY MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
UM, I THINK WHAT I WOULD FIND HELPFUL IS KIND OF A MORE DETAILED SPREADSHEET OF EVERYTHING BROKEN DOWN AND MAYBE HIGHLIGHTING WHAT WE THINK WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS RIGHT NOW, VERSUS IF WE WANT TO PUT ANYTHING ELSE IN WHICH WE'D HAVE TO TAKE OUT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO DIG INTO SOME OF THESE LINE ITEMS A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPLICITLY, JUST SO I CAN UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE HAVE SOME WIGGLE ROOM AND WHERE THERE MAY BE BIG CHUNKS THAT CAN MAKE BIG DIFFERENCES AND WHERE THERE MAY BE SMALLER BOXES THAT WE COULD TRY TO TRY TO MOVE THINGS AROUND.
UM, BUT I DO APPRECIATE PUTTING ALL THE INFORMATION TOGETHER, CAUSE I KNOW IT'S A LOT.
UM, BUT I, I GUESS MY MAIN POINT IS THE, UH, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SUCCESS BY SIX IS SOMETHING I REALLY WANT TO FIND A WAY TO, TO FULLY FUND COUNCIL MEMBER CONSERVATOR, ALTAR.
UM, SO I, UM, PRETTY FIRMLY WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA AND LSR THAT WE NEED MORE CONVERSATION AND MORE DETAILS.
UM, I DO HAVE SOME VERY SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT, LET ME FIRST ASK SOME QUESTIONS, SOME CLARIFICATION IF I MIGHT.
UM, SO WE'RE GETTING THE TRAUNCHES IN CALENDAR YEARS, BUT THEN YOU'RE PLACING THE MONEY IN FISCAL YEARS.
UM, SO I WAS CONCERNED FOR INSTANCE, BY THE BREAKDOWN FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD WITH SO LITTLE IN THE FIRST YEAR, RELATIVE TO THE SECOND YEAR RELATIVE TO WHAT WE'RE PUTTING IN OTHER BUCKETS.
UM, BUT NOW YOU'RE SUDDENLY USING FISCAL YEARS.
SO CAN YOU, CAN YOU PROVIDE SOME ELABORATION ON THE TIMING AND, AND HOW WE SHOULD BE READING THAT AND THEN WHY YOU PUT ONLY 1.3 FOR THE CHILDHOOD IN FISCAL YEAR 21? SO WE MAY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THE 1.3 MILLION SPECIFICALLY TO CHILDCARE, BUT JUST IN REGARDS TO THE, TO THE TIMING OF THE FUNDING, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST TRAUNCH WE SHOULD RECEIVE HERE IN LATER PART OF MAY OF 2021, WE'LL GET THAT SECOND ALLOCATION OF FUNDING IN MAY OF 2022.
SO DURING FISCAL YEAR 2022 IS WHEN I WILL GET THAT SECOND, UM, TROCHE TRAUNCH OF MONEY.
AND SO I THINK THAT THE PICTURE IS REALLY JUST TRYING TO MANAGE THE, UM, ALLOCATION AND USE OF THOSE FUNDS TO COINCIDE WITH THE FUNDING BEING RECEIVED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO I WOULD JUST, UM, I'M GOING TO NEED A MORE DETAIL OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, WHY THAT WAS DIVIDED.
UM, THAT WAY, IF WE, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT HOW CHILDCARE FUNCTIONS, UM, EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE OLDER KIDS, UM, BEING ABLE TO START YOUR CHILDCARE IN, YOU KNOW, AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER HAS HUGE ADVANTAGES FOR, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL YEAR, BEING ABLE TO SET UP, BEING ABLE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, WITH WHAT YOUR PLAN IS.
UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF SOME COSTS AND THINGS THAT HAPPEN AT THAT TIME OF YEAR.
UM, AND SO I'M, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT BREAKDOWN AND WHETHER IT ACTUALLY GETS US, UM, THE TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENT THAT WE NEED IN CHILDCARE TO GET THE QUALITY AND TO DO THE PIECE THAT WE NEED TO DO FROM THE CITY, UM, TO PROVIDE THAT CARE.
AND OTHER TIMES, I'M ALSO NOT SURE IF THAT 6.9 INCLUDES HALF OF THEIR ACTUAL TOTAL, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT INCLUDES ALL OF THE PIECES THAT WERE IN THE FINAL PROPOSAL, INCLUDING IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE DEL VALLEY, UM, PIECE.
UM, WE'VE NOW HAD THREE OR FOUR OTHER COLLEAGUES ALSO MENTIONED THIS.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S AN AREA THAT WE NEED MORE WORK.
IT IS AN AREA WHERE I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET, UM, SOME SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO, UM, TO TALK WITH THEM.
AND, UM, IN THAT AREA, UM, I THINK THERE ARE SOME POSSIBILITIES, UM, BUT I I'M VERY WARY ON WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN WE ARE PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO ONE SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY
[00:55:01]
THAN WE'RE PUTTING INTO EARLY CHILDHOOD, UM, OR THE VAST AMOUNT, LASTLY MT.DIFFERENT THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN, UM, TO ADDRESS SOME OTHER ISSUES RELATIVE TO THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO, A COUPLE OF FOLKS HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED AUSTIN CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS.
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WE AUTHORIZED ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
IT IS A PROGRAM THAT, UM, SEVERAL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, WE HAVE EIGHT DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN, IS ALLOWING US TO COMPLETE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS ALL OVER THE CITY, INCLUDING A PROJECT THAT IS UNDERWAY IN THE ONION CREEK AREA.
UM, RIGHT NOW TRAVIS COUNTY HAS ECHOED THAT AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING THEIR OWN, UM, PROGRAM.
UM, AND I DON'T SEE THE FUNDING IN HERE.
YOU HAD 5 MILLION IN YOUR ORIGINAL, UM, AND THAT WAS FUNDED OUT OF RESERVE.
SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND IN THE SCHEME OF THE FUNDING, HOW YOU'RE THINKING OF THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS FUNDING, IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE IN THIS PROPOSAL WHERE YOU HAD 5 MILLION BEFORE, WHICH IT MIGHT BE A MINIMUM AND WAS PART OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT FOR WORKFORCE.
UM, WHEN WE DID THE PRIOR DON'T REMEMBER, WE CERTAINLY RECOMMEND RECOGNIZE THAT IT WAS PART OF INITIAL RECOMMENDATION.
UM, WE, WITH THE PRIORITY AREAS THAT WE WERE, THAT WE WERE WORKING WITH, WE DID OUR BEST TO APPROACH A PLAN, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY ARE OPEN TO DISCUSSION.
AND I THINK WE'RE NOW TEEING IT UP TO GET THAT GUIDANCE FROM COUNCIL.
SO WE, UH, APPRECIATE THE POLICY DIRECTION IN THAT REGARD.
WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT ANY PACKAGE THAT DOESN'T HAVE THAT FUNDED AND, AND SOME SUBSTANTIAL WAY.
UM, I'M JUST GONNA SAY THAT RIGHT NOW.
UM, I THINK THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE IMMENSE AND THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR, UM, COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL.
UM, I AM, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ECHO A COMMENT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO MADE, YOU KNOW, WITH RESPECT TO THE DETAIL, WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITY, UM, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DEPLOY THESE FUNDS, TO NOT JUST HELP OUR CITY SURVIVE THE PANDEMIC, BUT REALLY TO TRANSFORM THE TRAJECTORY OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
UM, AND I'M NOT SEEING A WHOLE LOT TRANSFORMATIONAL IN THE WAY THIS IS LAID OUT.
UM, AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT PUTTING SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO HOMELESSNESS WITH NO GUARANTEE WITH NO COMMITMENT FROM ANY OTHER PARTNERS AT THIS POINT, UM, IN TIME, UM, WE CAN TALK ABOUT HAVING A PLAN, BUT LET'S BE HONEST, WHAT WE HAVE ARE A SET OF GOALS.
UM, I HAVE NOT SEEN AN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I'M MISSING IT, BUT IF IT'S THERE, I NEED TO SEE IT.
I DON'T SEE THOSE COMMITMENTS OF FUNDING FROM ANYBODY ELSE.
UM, AND YES, WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS, BUT IT IS NOT IN, SHOULD IT BE ONLY THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY.
AND I AM NOT COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD, UM, WITH THIS, WITH NO PLAN.
AND JUST TO SAY THAT WE HAVE GOALS IS NOT A PLAN.
UM, AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I, I'M GOING TO NEED A LOT MORE DETAIL HERE AND A LOT MORE DEMONSTRATION THAT WE HAVE PARTNERS WHO ARE STEPPING UP WITH US, UH, BECAUSE IF WE JUST DO THAT PIECE OF IT, WE WON'T HAVE ANY CHANCE OF TRANSFORMING THE SYSTEM.
WHEREAS IF WE TOOK 10 MILLION OF THAT, WE PUT IT INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WE WOULD BE IN A GOOD POSITION, UM, TO REALLY TRANSFORM MANY LIVES AND KEEP A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM BECOMING HOMELESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I'M ALSO NOT SURE THAT THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH RESPECT TO THE CREATIVE SECTOR REALLY MAKE THE INVESTMENTS THAT SET US UP TO BE RESILIENT TO YEARS FROM NOW.
UM, IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY TO KEEP, TO KEEP GOING.
UM, AND I CAN'T TELL FROM THE LEVEL OF DETAIL WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE, UM, IN MIND HERE.
SO I REALLY HOPE THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, UM, TO GET THIS RIGHT, AND REALLY THINK HARD ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, IN ITEM ONE 11, WE, WE SET A GOAL OF BEING TRANSFORMATIONAL.
UM, AND I HOPE THAT'S STILL WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE, AND THAT WE CAN GET THERE AT THE END OF THIS PROCESS AS A CITY, WE'VE MADE SOME REALLY CRITICAL AND INNOVATIVE DECISIONS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.
UM, AND I, AND I KNOW THAT AMONGST OURSELVES AND OUR STAFF, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO KEEP DOING THAT.
UM, I DON'T THINK THIS PROPOSAL IS THERE YET.
UM, AT LEAST NOT WITH THE LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT WE HAVE OR WITH THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENTS WE HAVE FROM PARTNERS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
UM, AND, AND I JUST THINK WE NEED TO DEMAND
[01:00:01]
BETTER.UM, I WOULD, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S COMMENTS SAY EVERYONE HAS REALLY GOOD, UM, AND VALID POINTS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO, TO SAY, UM, UH, THAT ADDITIONAL LEVEL OF DETAIL WILL BE HELPFUL.
UM, BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT I DON'T WANT THAT TO GET IN OUR WAY WITH, WITH SHOWING TRUE LEADERSHIP.
AND I BELIEVE ALSO THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A COMMITMENT ACROSS THE COMMUNITY FOR HOMELESSNESS, BUT SOMEBODY'S GOT TO START THAT AND I AM COMFORTABLE WITH THE CITY BEING THE ONE TO SAY, HEY, THIS REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
WE'RE WILLING TO PUT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF DOLLARS UP.
WE WANT YOU GUYS TO MATCH IT AND SHOW YOUR COMMITMENT ALSO, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE A COMMITMENT ALSO.
AND LET ME ALSO SAY THAT, THAT THERE IS A PLAN AND THERE IS DETAILED THERE.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD IN WHAT THE SUMMIT HAS PUT PUT FORWARD.
UH, AND, AND IT'S ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS OUR PRIORITIES AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING.
I MEAN, IT IS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE, THAT THE, UM, AS COUNCIL MEMBER TOPO HAS SAID, WE'VE HAD A PLAN FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, A LONG TIME WHAT THE SUMMIT HAS DONE IS TAKING THAT TO SCALE AND PUDDING, UH, INFORMATION AROUND EACH ITEM OF IT.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONNECTING PEOPLE TO HOUSING AND DOING IT MORE QUICKLY AND SETTING UP A SYSTEM, WHICH IS WHAT THE WORKFORCE PORTION OF THIS IS ABOUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT NUMBERS OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND, UM, AND A NAVIGATE DO THE WORK.
AND SO I GUESS I WOULD JUST CAUTION US TO, UM, TO THINK IN TERMS OF, UH, UM, I THINK D I THINK DETAILS ARE HELPFUL AND IMPORTANT.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE US LETTING DETAILS GET IN THE WAY OF, OF, UM, MAKING A STATEMENT AND DEMONSTRATING OUR LEADERSHIP AROUND HOMELESSNESS, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO STEP UP.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO STEP UP.
UM, AND, AND WE HAVE TO STEP UP IN A SMART WAY IN A WAY THAT FOCUSES ON CONNECTING PEOPLE TO HOUSING, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN DOING, BUT NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THE SCALE THAT IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AT, AND NOT IN AS EFFICIENT AND AS SMART A WAY AS WE COULD DO IT.
AND WHAT, WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH WHAT HAS COME OUT OF THE SUMMIT, ADDRESSES, ADDRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ADDRESSES THE IMPORTANT OF QUICK POINTS OF QUICKLY WORKING WITH ENCAMPMENTS AND GETTING PEOPLE HOUSED.
UM, AND THEN DOING THAT IN A WAY THAT'S SUSTAINABLE.
SO AGAIN, I APPRECIATE WHAT EVERYONE HAS SAID.
I JUST, OR JUST TO TEND TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH DETAILS, BUT LET'S NOT, LET'S NOT LET DETAILS GET IN THE WAY OF WHAT, WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING.
AND IN MY EARLIER COMMENTS, FOCUSING ON THE EVICTION PREVENTION FRIENDS, I DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE LOST HOW IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND I THINK TO ALL OF US, THE, SOME OF THE PRIORITY AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OUT BY THE STAFF ARE, I DO THINK THAT IT WOULD BE SO TRANSFORMATIONAL IF WE DO OUR PART ON HOMELESSNESS IN THAT 80 TO $100 MILLION RANGE IN A CALL TO EVERYBODY ELSE TO DO THEIR PART OF THE, OF THE SUMMIT.
I MEAN, HOUSING THOUSANDS, MORE PEOPLE IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT NOT ONLY BEING TRANSFORMATIONAL HERE, BUT WOULD, WE WOULD BE A REAL MODEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR HOW TO REALLY TAKE A TACKLE, A CRISIS THAT, UM, HAS, HAS GONE WITHOUT SUFFICIENT RESOURCES FOR GENERATIONS.
UM, I THINK THAT THE SUCCESS BY SIX PROPOSAL IS, IS REALLY STRONG.
AND WE'VE TALKED WITH THE UNITED WAY ABOUT, UM, HOW TO MAKE IT MORE TRANSFORMATIONAL AND THEY'VE MADE CHANGES AS YOU ALL KNOW, AND EXPANDED THAT PROGRAM.
AND IF WE PUT OUR PARTS FORWARD, UH, AND MOVE FORWARD AND VOTE IN JUNE TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR PART, NOT ONLY OUR PROPORTIONATE SHARE, BUT BASED ON THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, GREATER THAN OUR PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THAT FUNDING, UM, THEN WE GET OUR IT'S DONE.
AND I THINK THEN IF THE COUNTY ALSO STEPS IN AND DOES THEIR PART, AND I'VE HEARD A LOT OF SUPPORT, UM, FROM THEM FOR THESE PRIORITY AREAS, THEN I THINK
[01:05:01]
THAT WOULD BE REALLY SIGNIFICANT, JUST LIKE IT WOULD BE IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.BUT WHAT I DO AS COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN SAID, WHAT I DO WANT TO AVOID IS US TAKING TOO LONG FOR US TO PUT FORWARD OUR PARTS.
UM, AND THAT, THAT THEN LEAVES OTHER FOLKS IN THE DARK ABOUT WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR PART OR NOT.
SO I, I FEEL COMFORTABLE VETTING THIS THOROUGHLY WORKING THROUGH THE ISSUES, BUT CURRENTLY WHERE I SIT, I THINK PASSING SOMETHING IN JUNE MAKES SENSE SO THAT WE HAVE, SO THAT WE CAN COMMIT TO, TO OUR PIECE AND THEN, UH, OTHER GOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS, UH, AND PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY THEN, UM, WOULD BE THE, THE, THE FOLKS THAT STILL, THAT, THAT JUST NEED TO DO, UH, JUST NEED TO DO THERE'S.
SO, SO COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN, I, I CONCUR GENERALLY THERE WITH, WITH YOUR COMMENTS, UM, WITH STILL THE OUTSTANDING ISSUE ABOUT, UM, HOW DO WE HANDLE POTENTIAL, UH, BIG SPIKES IN, IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS, IF THERE IS, UM, A, A, UH, AS THE EVICTION MORATORIUM IS PHASE OUT, UH, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE DO WANT TO DO THAT TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE, BUT WE ALSO OF COURSE, NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE TAKE CARE OF OUR FOLKS ON, ON THOSE BASELINE LEVEL.
MY SENSE IS, I THINK, I, I THINK I AGREE WITH, WITH MOST OF WHAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING.
UH, I, I LOOK AT THIS AND IT DOES SEEM TRANSFORMATIONAL TO ME.
UH, THE, THE, THE SOUTHERN CAME OUT WITH, UH, WITH TAKING THE ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN AS COUNCIL MEMBER TOBA SAID THAT WE HAVE HAD REPORTED TO US IN NUMEROUS REPORTS OVER TIME AND LAID OUT HOW YOU MAKE THAT WHOLE SYSTEM COME INTO PLAY WITH A TIMELINE AND WITH GOALS OVER TIME AND WITH COSTS, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE DIDN'T HAVE IN THAT MEASURE OF DETAIL, BUT IT HAS NOT SURFACED YET.
SO MANAGER, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO INFORM THIS CONVERSATION, TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE DETAIL OF THAT, OF THAT TOTAL NUMBER AND THE NUMBERS OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO GET DIANA AND THE OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THAT TO REALLY GET US THAT DETAIL SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT.
AND I THINK THAT INVESTORS AND FUNDERS FROM OTHER PLACES ARE GOING TO WANT TO SEE THAT MEASURE OF DETAIL AS WELL.
SO I THINK YOU NEED TO GET THAT OUT, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT THAT'S THE COST TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP AND PUT IN PLACE THE TRANSFORMATIVE SYSTEM THAT'S NEEDED.
IF WE'RE THE ONLY PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN THIS, THERE IS NO SYSTEM BECAUSE OUR CONTRIBUTION ALONE DOESN'T CREATE THE TRANSFORMATION OF SYSTEM.
SO I THINK I AM COMFORTABLE STEPPING FORWARD AND SAYING THE CITY'S READY TO MAKE THIS CONTRIBUTION.
UH, BUT, BUT IT IS ULTIMATELY CONTINGENT ON, ON EVERYBODY ELSE PARTICIPATING IN SCALE, DO, UH, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO ACTUALLY CREATE THAT SYSTEM.
YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THE, THE HOMELESSNESS NUMBERS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN CITIES, AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND THE SINGLE BIGGEST, UH, CORRELATE FOR LATER TO THAT IS HOUSING PRICES AND HOUSING PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE IN AUSTIN MORE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.
IF WE DON'T GET A SYSTEM IN TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE, UH, AND, AND SUPPORT PEOPLE THAT ARE FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS IN SIX TO EIGHT YEARS, OUR CITY IS GOING TO BE IN A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE PLACE.
UH, SO I THINK THAT THAT LEVEL OF COMMITMENT WOULD GIVE US THAT TRANSFORMATIONAL PLACE.
I THINK WE DO NEED THAT DETAIL.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO SAY, AS EVERYONE IS SAYING, THIS IS BIGGER THAN JUST US, AND WE CAN LEAD BY EXAMPLE, BUT WE NEED, MAYBE WE NEED PARTNERS BY UNDERSTANDING, UH, CATHERINE ALICE IS THAT THE SIX BY SIX FOUR PROGRAM IS, IS CONTEMPLATED TO BE FUNDED LIKE THIS.
UH, THE CHILDCARE FOLKS CAME TO US, WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THEIR TRANSFORMATIONAL ISSUE COSTS TO BE ABLE TO GO THAT OUT.
AND I AGREE, UH, THAT WE NEED TO FULLY FUND THAT.
UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE COUNTY IS ALSO WILLING TO BET THAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS PROPOSAL DOES THAT.
I, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE, UM, AND IF IT DOESN'T THEN, BUT THEN WE NEED THAT DETAIL.
I SEE HOUSE AND SHAKING HER HEAD.
NO, AND I DON'T KNOW, AT WHAT POINT DID IT FALLS OFF? UH, I DO KNOW THAT FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, THE MONEY THAT'S COMING TO THE COUNTY IS BASED ON POPULATION, JUST AS IT'S BASED ON POPULATION WITH THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE GETTING IN THE CITY AND THE DOLLAR IS GOING TO THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY BASED ON POPULATION.
UH, AND SINCE THESE PROGRAMS, THE CHILDCARE OR THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, UH, SERVE, UH, THIS, THIS REGION, UH, I, I WOULD HOPE THAT, UH, EACH OF US ARE, ARE CONTRIBUTING, UH, IN PROPORTION TO THE, THE POPULATION THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING.
SO, SO IT'S TOUGH TO KNOW FROM THIS GENERAL POWERPOINT,
[01:10:01]
WHAT THE TOTAL NUMBER IS THAT BETWEEN US AND OUR PARTNERS IS BEING PUT TOWARD CHILDCARE.BUT I THINK WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT TRANSFORMATIONAL ISSUE, SAME WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROGRAM THAT, UM, UH, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS THAT HAS GIVEN US PART OF THAT WAS THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE.
I WOULD STILL KEEP THE HOMELESSNESS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE SUB ISSUE.
UH, BUT I JOINED IN THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS SAY, AND YOU MENTIONED, I IN YOUR DISCUSSION, UH, DIRECTOR FOR SENIOR, THAT THIS IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE CAPACITY OF THE WHOLE SERVICE PROVIDER COMMUNITY.
THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE SUBMIT, THE SYSTEM DOLLARS.
UH, AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT CAPACITY.
WE RECOGNIZE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE THOSE PEOPLE, UH, TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM THOSE SERVICES.
AND THAT'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US IN TERMS OF CAPACITY BUILDING IN OUR CITY, WHICH AGAIN, I THINK WOULD BE A REAL TRANSFORMATION.
SO I, I, I GUESS MAYBE IT'S HARD TO TELL FROM A POWERPOINT WHAT LEVEL OF DETAIL EXISTS OR EXIST BECAUSE WE'RE ALL FILLING IN FILLING IN GAPS.
BUT I THINK FOR ME, THIS CAN PROVIDE THAT FRAMEWORK.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE THAT FAR APART IN THE DISCUSSIONS I SUPPORT AS WELL, UH, FUNDING IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE, UH, UH, CIVILIAN CORE, UH, THAT, UH, UH, WE HAVE, UH, I JUST CAN'T TELL HIM THE COUNTY MONEY IS ALSO PUT IN, UH, WHERE THOSE, THOSE, THOSE DOLLARS ARE.
UH, THERE, I THINK THAT TO THE DEGREE THAT WE'RE JUST SHY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, OR WE'RE JUST SHY AND IN, IN, UM, CHILDCARE, UH, EARLY, UH, EDUCATION, UH, THAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO MEET THOSE NUMBERS.
SO MARY, I KNOW WE'RE AT LUNCHTIME, AND AS I INDICATED, I HAD SOME MORE QUESTIONS.
AND TO SOME EXTENT, IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON, I MEAN, WHETHER OR NOT WE SPEND MORE TIME TODAY TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE DEPENDS A LOT ON, ON WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE JUNE 3RD MEETING.
IF THERE IS, I THINK WE NEED TO JUST REALLY ALLOCATE A WHOLE LOT MORE TIME TODAY TO ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS IS I, I, I AM GOING TO NEED TO ASK THEM, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH YOU ASKING THE QUESTIONS.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE JUNE 3RD DATE IN PART, BECAUSE I WANT TO HEAR THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE ASKING.
WELL, I WOULD, I'D LIKE TO GET A SENSE FROM OUR COLLEAGUES, AND IF WE'RE GOING TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS, I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO BREAK AND COME BACK FOR IT IS MY SENSE OF THINGS.
OH, I'M FINE WITH BREAKING IN AND COMING BACK WITH MORE QUESTIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO WORK TOWARDS THE JUNE 3RD.
I DO THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND DISCUSSED, BUT I'D REALLY LIKE TO WORK TOWARDS THE JUNE 3RD, UH, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO IT TODAY, THEN WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER MECHANISM TO DO IT FOR ALL TWO WEEKS.
AND I SUSPECT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO WILL STILL HAVE HER QUESTIONS THEN.
SO, UM, I MEAN, CAUSE THIS IS THE FORUM WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US NOW, UNLESS WE SPEND MORE TIME ON THURSDAY.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO DO IT TODAY OR WE WANT TO DO IT THURSDAY, BUT I DO THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL TO HAVE SOME MORE TIME FOR SOME DISCUSSION.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND BREAK AND WE'LL COME BACK WITH ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
FINALLY, LIKE CONCERN CASPER TOTAL WITH GOING PAST TWO THIRD IS I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO SIGNAL TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE WILLING TO GO TO A CERTAIN LEVEL IF THE COMMUNITY IS ALSO WILLING TO STEP UP.
AND I THINK THAT'S A, SORRY, I DON'T KNOW THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE THAT THAT'S, THAT'S OUR MESSAGE.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO, TO SEND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
UM, YOU KNOW, I PERSONALLY NEED TO HEAR SOME STUFF FROM SOME OF OUR PARTNERS THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO STEP UP.
I MEAN, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE SUMMIT AND OTHER STUFF, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THEM IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR DECISION TOO.
UM, WE HAVE NOT ALL BEEN ABLE TO EQUALLY PARTICIPATE IN THE SUMMIT OR EVEN SEE THE MATERIALS OR THE SO-CALLED PLAN.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S, THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY ON TOP OF A LOT OF MONEY AND IT REQUIRES A LOT OF MONEY TO TRANSFORM IT.
[01:15:01]
YOU KNOW, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE TRANSPARENCY HERE, UM, SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, NOT JUST THE CITY ALONE, BUT LOCKSTEP WITH THE COMMUNITY IN A TRANSFORMATIONAL WAY.UM, AND UNTIL WE HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, CONFIRMATION OF THAT OR CLARITY ON DETAILS, THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE COMMUNITY BROADLY SPEAKING IS GOING TO BE CONTENTED SIMPLY WITH THAT.
WE'RE PUTTING THIS MUCH MONEY IN.
UM, AND SO THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM DEPENDS ON IT BEING TRULY TRANSFORMATIONAL AND COMMUNICATING THAT MORE BROADLY.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW, WHAT'S KEEPING THOSE DETAILS, BUT I ASKED FOR THOSE DETAILS, YOU KNOW, BACK WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE REPORT BACK ON THE SUMMIT AND HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THEM AND PERHAPS I HAVEN'T READ SOMETHING I WAS SUPPOSED TO READ, BUT YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T HAVE THAT EITHER.
AND WE'RE TALKING A LOT OF MONEY AND A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL.
I CAN STILL BE CONVINCED THAT THIS CAN BE TRANSFORMATIONAL, BUT I'M NOT THERE YET.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THE COMMUNITY WILL BE, UNLESS WE CAN REALLY MAKE THE CASE FOR IT.
UM, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
UM, AND SOME OF THOSE PARTNERS HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, UP AND SHARING THAT.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SAY THAT YOU PUT DOWN THESE NUMBERS ON, ON THE PIECE OF PAPER, UM, THAT NONE OF US CAN SEE CANTERBURY KITCHEN.
I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER THAT THE DETAILS IN IT WITH YOU ALSO MAYOR THE DETAILS THAT WE NEED TO GO OVER THE DETAILS AGAIN, THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AND IT'S AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE OFTEN DON'T COMMUNICATE IT VERY WELL AND WE DON'T COMMUNICATE IT IN, IN DETAIL.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
I THINK, I THINK THERE THERE'S A DETAILED SPREADSHEET THAT I THINK HAS BEEN POSTED THAT SHOWS DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF IT, BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE GO OVER IT.
UM, AS, AS, AND SO PERHAPS WE COULD SPEND SOME TIME, UM, ON THURSDAY DOING THAT, OR MAYBE WE NEED A SPECIAL CALL MEETING TO REALLY DIG INTO IT.
WE COULD CERTAINLY DO THAT, WHICH WOULD GIVE EVERYONE THE TIME TO, TO REALLY FULLY UNDERSTAND AND ALSO DOING IT IN THAT KIND OF MEETING, UH, CAN HELP WITH, MAKE IT MORE, MAKING IT MORE, UM, UNDERSTANDABLE TO THE, TO THE PUBLIC.
SO PERHAPS WE OUGHT TO BE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
MAYOR, WE CERTAINLY CAN, YOU KNOW, COME BACK AND WE'LL SPEND HOWEVER MUCH TIME I THINK, AS WE, AS WE NEED, UH, CAUSE OUR TOTAL, NO, I MEAN, AND MAYBE TODAY IS THE DAY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE POSTED, YOU KNOW, IT'S CERTAINLY RELATED TO THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING TODAY AND WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE DETAILS, BUT YOU KNOW, I, I DO THINK JUST TO KIND OF GET BACK TO THE EXCHANGE EARLIER, I THINK THE DETAILS ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE FAR MORE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW THAN WE HAVE FUNDING EITHER THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN OR THROUGH OTHER MEANS, UM, TO MEET.
AND SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN IT TO OUR COMMUNITY, WHY WE'RE INVESTING THESE DOLLARS IN, IN ONE, IN, IN THESE PROGRAMS RATHER THAN OTHER PROGRAMS. AND SO I THINK WITH REGARD TO SPENDING ON HOMELESSNESS SERVICES AND HOUSING, WE'RE GOING TO HA WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE VERY DETAILED CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THE SUCCESS OF THE PRIVATE FUNDRAISING PIECE THAT HAS TO HAPPEN FOR IT TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL REALLY DEPENDS ON OUR HAVING THAT KIND OF DETAILED CONVERSATION.
I AM, YOU KNOW, ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT YOUR EMAIL TO KNOW THAT THE MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE'VE INVESTED THE REALLY SUBSTANTIAL FUNDS THAT WE HAVE INVESTED IN HOMELESSNESS.
AND THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME DECISIONS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS MADE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND WE, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO APPROACH THIS FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF AS MUCH INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN EARN THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST IN, IN OUR PLAN, IN OUR INVESTMENTS, UM, PAST AND FUTURE.
AND SO IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS VERY CLEARLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, I, I, AS I SAID BEFORE, I AM, I KNOW, I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN HAVING THE CONVERSATION FOR MULTIPLE YEARS NOW ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THAT PRIVATE PARTICIPATION IS, HOW IMPORTANT THAT PARTNER PARTICIPATION IS.
AND WE REALLY NEED TO SEE, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THOSE COMMITMENTS HERE AS WE'RE HAVING THAT, THAT BROADER CONVERSATION.
I'VE HAD MY HAND UP SINCE BEFORE.
THAT MIGHT BE WHY I DON'T SEE YOU, BUT COUNCILOR
[01:20:01]
POOLE WANTS YOU TO GO AHEAD.UM, I THINK ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
I WANT IT TO BE IN CONTEXT, FRANKLY, OF WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH OUR FISCAL 22 BUDGET, BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW HOW, WHAT THE SPENDING IS DOING WILL INFORM, UM, OR WHAT GAPS MAY CONTINUE AND WHAT GAPS MIGHT BE FILLED IN OUR FISCAL 22 BUDGET.
AND SO TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN GET SOME CONTEXT, UH, SOONER, I KNOW THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS PLANNING TO GIVE US THE DRAFT BUDGET IN JULY.
AND IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING THESE DECISIONS IN JUNE, THAT'S FULLY A MONTH IN ADVANCE.
AND SO WE WON'T BE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS INFORMED WITH HOW WE ARE GOING TO BE SPENDING, UM, OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.
AND THESE NUMBERS HAVE TO ALIGN WITH THAT.
THE COMMUNITY HAS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS BUILDS ON THE WORK WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
AND THAT SETS US ON A GOOD, UM, AT A, AT A, IN GOOD POSTURE FOR THE FUTURE.
THE FORECASTS THAT WE HAD FROM, UM, CFO VANEEN WHO SAID THAT, UH, WE WILL HAVE SOME DIFFICULT FINANCIAL YEARS, FIVE YEARS OUT GIVEN THE TAX CAP ON US.
WE HAVE GOTTEN SIGNIFICANT INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, ASKING US TO BE AWARE OF THAT AND TO BE DILIGENT IN OUR CONSIDERATION OF WHERE THEY STAND WITH REGARD TO THEM MEETING THEIR TAX OBLIGATIONS.
AND THE FACT THAT THEY TOO HAVE BEEN WEATHERING THE COVID CRISIS, UM, AS HAVE OTHER GROUPS THAT MAYBE HAVE ALREADY BEEN, UH, SUPPORTED BY US THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS. SO THAT INFORMS MY, UH, RELUCTANCE TO GO FULL BORE ON THE NUMBER THAT HAS BEEN OFFERED UP, UH, FOR HOMELESSNESS.
THAT BECAUSE IN CONTEXT WITH THE, UM, OVER A HUNDRED, 150 MILLION THAT WE'VE PUT IN ALREADY OVER THE LAST TWO TO THREE FISCAL YEARS, UM, AND WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE OUR PARTNERS, WHETHER WE EVEN REALLY HAVE SUBSTANTIAL PARTNERS IS A HUGE QUESTION FOR ME.
AND, UM, SO THAT, THAT INFORMS MY RELUCTANCE.
AND FRANKLY, I THINK I'M SPEAKING FOR A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE, UM, OUR, OF OUR, OF OUR RESIDENTS.
SO TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN GET A SENSE OF WHERE OUR FISCAL 22 BUDGET WILL BE PARTICULARLY, UH, WITH REGARDS TO SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING HIGHLIGHTED THROUGH, UM, THE ARPA, I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL AND IT WOULD ALSO HELP US IN OUR MESSAGING AND OUR EXPLANATIONS TO THE PUBLIC.
SO THAT QUESTION FOR STAFF IN MY READING, UM, THE FRAMEWORK, RIGHT IN THAT FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELIEF NEEDS, UM, THE 22.9 MILLION, THAT IS ALL GOING INTO, I GUESS, THERE'S, THAT'S 20 MILLION OF THAT IS JUST THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX PIECES.
SO, SO THIS MEANS THERE'S NO RELIEF TO ANY OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES.
THERE'S NO RELIEF TO NONPROFITS.
WE'VE BEEN INCREASINGLY HEARING FROM NONPROFITS THAT THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, IN DIFFICULT SITUATION TO GET THROUGH THE NEXT YEAR.
THESE ARE A LOT OF THE GROUPS, EVEN THAT SERVICE, UM, THE HOMELESS OR OTHER PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE STILL STRUGGLING.
UM, SO AGAIN, THEY'RE JUST, THEY'RE JUST PIECES HERE WHERE, WHERE, WHERE THE, THE DETAILS ALL SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN LIKE, YOU KNOW, FRAMED AROUND THIS $84 MILLION NUMBER THAT SOME OF US JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT NUMBER'S GOING.
UM, AND IT LEAVES OUT SO MANY GROUPS, UM, THAT NEED TO BE FORTIFIED OR NEED THE RESILIENCE.
UM, WE ALSO DON'T SEE HERE KIND OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE COMING IN THROUGH OUR BA IN OTHER THINGS LIKE THE VENUE SUPPORT AND OTHER KINDS OF STUFF.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, AGAIN, I JUST, WE NEED, WE NEED MORE SUFFICIENT, UM, INFORMATION AND DETAIL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE INVESTING IN AND, UM, DETAILS ON HOW IT WOULD BE, UM, TRANSFORMATIVE AND, AND WHO OUR PARTNERS ARE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND BREAK FOR LUNCH.
IT'S 12 TRAV, LET'S COME BACK AT ONE 15, UH, WELL ADDED THIS CONVERSATION AND PICK UP THE NEXT TWO ITEMS SO THAT I SAID, UH, ONE 15, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO RIGHT HERE.
AND THEN, UH, UM, RECONVENE OUR MEETING HERE ON MAY 18TH, 2021.
THIS IS THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION CONTINUATION AFTER
[01:25:01]
OUR LUNCH BREAK, UH, WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DISCUSSING, UM, UM, SO FIRST BRIEFING, UM, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS, I THINK KATHY, WE HAD STOPPED.YOU HAD SOME QUESTIONS FOR HOUSING FOLKS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE HOUSING FOLKS ARE WITH US.
I ALSO HAVE SOME, I HAVE SOME ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES TOO, SO, UM, MAYBE I'LL JUMP, I'LL JUMP INTO SOME OF THOSE.
SO WHEN, WHEN I HAD MY BRIEFING WITH STAFF, UH, LAST WEEK, JUST VERY, VERY AT A HIGH LEVEL, TALK ABOUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.
THERE WERE A COUPLE, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS I MAY BE CONFLATING, A FEW DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS.
WELL, LET ME START WITH THE CONTINGENCY, UM, DIRECTOR BERCENIO MAYBE YOU CAN SHARE WITH ME WHAT WAS THE CONTINGENCY FOR OUR CARES FUNDING AND HOW, AND HOW HAS THAT BEEN SPENT, HAS THAT BEEN NEEDED? AND HAS THAT BEEN, HOW HAS THAT BEEN SPENT? COUNCILMEMBER? I BELIEVE THAT THE CONTINGENCY FOR THE CARES ACT FUNDING WAS A 20% I WOULD LOOK TO, I WOULD LOOK TO DIANA AND, UM, ADD TO HOW IT WAS SPENT.
UM, I DON'T, WE CAN'T REALLY GIVE YOU AN EASY ANSWER TO THAT, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THE WORK AND LAY IT OUT.
BUT YOU REMEMBER COUNCIL THAT WE, WE ASKED COUNCIL TO GIVE US FLEXIBILITY IN HOW TO USE THOSE FUNDS, TO MAXIMIZE THE USE WITH UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT FEMA WOULD REIMBURSE AND WHAT THEY WOULDN'T REIMBURSE AND WHAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND AND WHAT, WHAT WOULD NOT BE, UM, SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO PROVIDE TO YOU IN WRITING CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT PRIOR TO JUNE 3RD, LAY OUT THOSE DETAILS, THE BEST WE CAN.
AND IN LOOKING BACK AND THANKS DIRECTOR
WE HAD ASKED FOR A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF THE AMOUNT OUT OF THE 44 MILLION THAT HAD BEEN ALLOCATED FOR A VARIETY OF NEEDS, INCLUDING NON CONGREGATE SHELTERS, ISOLATION, FACILITIES, AND OTHERS.
AND I'M SORRY, I KNOW WE'VE, WE'VE COVERED THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT I'M STILL NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE WITH REGARD TO FEMA REIMBURSEMENT IN A, IN A VARIETY OF CATEGORIES.
BUT LET ME START WITH OUR PRO LODGES AND OUR ISOLATION FACILITIES, OUR NON CONGREGATE SHELTERS ARE STILL LISTING 0% ESTIMATED FEMA REIMBURSEMENT.
IS THAT A DEBT? IS THAT A DEFINITE FINAL DECISION? AND CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT? I GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, DIANA THOMAS INTERIM, DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
SO WE DON'T HAVE A FINAL ANSWER YET FROM FEMA ON THE COVERAGE OF THE NON CONGREGATE SHELTERS.
SO WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THAT FINAL GUIDANCE.
BUT THE LAST INFORMATION THAT WE HAD RECEIVED WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO COVER OURS.
WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH OUR DELEGATION TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT AND HOPEFULLY GET THAT DECISION BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEEN DELIVERED IN A FINAL FORM AT THIS POINT.
BUT SO WE ARE WAITING TO GET THAT FINAL INFORMATION.
SO WE'RE GOING OFF THE ASSUMPTION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DECLINE AND HOPES THAT THEY CHANGE THEIR MIND ON HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PROCEED WITH REGARD TO THE ISOLATION FACILITIES.
UH, WE ARE GETTING COVERAGE THROUGH FEMA FOR THE ISOLATION FACILITIES AND ARE PROJECTING THAT A MAJORITY OF THE COSTS THERE WILL BE ELIGIBLE UNDER FEMA WITH POTENTIALLY SOME, SOME EXCLUSIONS ABOUT IT.
YEAH, I SEE, I SEE THAT, UM, ESTIMATED AT 92%, UM, ON THE Q AND A THERE'S, UM, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT, I THINK THERE'S SOME FORMATTING ISSUES, PERHAPS IT WAS JUST ON MY COPY THAT I PRINTED OUT.
I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ACTUAL AMOUNTS ARE BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ENDED UP, UM, CATTYWAMPUS.
SO AS I, AND SO I I'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION BEFORE AND I, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M REMEMBERING THE ANSWER.
SO AS I WAS JUST READING THIS MORNING, I THINK, OR YESTERDAY ABOUT SOME OF THE HOTEL PER LODGE STRATEGIES AND OTHER PLACES, THEY ARE GETTING FEMA REIMBURSEMENT.
I, I WAS READING ABOUT ONE CITY THAT HAS STOPPED DOING IT THOUGH, BECAUSE IT IS A REIMBURSEMENT AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD ANY LONGER TO CONTINUE TO PUT UP THE, THE UPFRONT COSTS OF, OF THOSE HOTEL ROOMS TO WAIT FOR A REIMBURSEMENT, BUT THEY ARE RECEIVING REIMBURSEMENT AND THEY COULD NAME LIKE HOW MUCH THEY HAD RECEIVED OF THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE.
AM I RIGHT IN REMEMBERING THAT IN ONE OF OUR CONVERSATIONS, YOU SAID THAT THESE FEMA DECISIONS ARE REGIONAL AND THAT IN ONE REGION, THOSE CUB COSTS MAY BE COVERED IN AND OTHERS, THOSE ARE NOT, ARE NOT, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
[01:30:01]
SOME REGIONS WHERE FEMA HAS AUTHORIZED THE NON CONGREGATE SHELTERING SHELTERING, BUT IN OUR REGION, THEY HAD SAID ORIGINALLY TOLD US, NO, I FIND THAT TO BE COMPLETELY OUTRAGEOUS.I KNOW THAT YOU PROBABLY SHARE THAT SENTIMENT AS WELL, BUT WE, I HOPE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PRIORITY OF OUR GOVERNMENTAL LIAISON TEAM TO, TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR FEDERAL OFFICIALS, HOW OUTRAGEOUS IT IS THAT A CERTAIN PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTION WOULD BE COVERED IN ONE PART OF THE COUNTRY AND COVERED AT ZERO IN ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE, THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
UM, SO THE SAME MAY BE TRUE, I GUESS, OF THE EATING APART TOGETHER AND THE CAREGIVER MEALS.
IT LOOKS AS IF WE EXPECT ZERO REIMBURSEMENT ON THOSE EITHER WITH REGARD TO THE CAREGIVER MEALS, THAT WAS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION.
SO CAN HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION BACK FROM FEMA ABOUT WHY THAT IS NOT AN EXPENSE THEY'RE INTERESTED IN COVERING THAT WAS, I MEAN, WE CAN QUANTIFY THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT WERE SAVED THROUGH, OR THAT WERE RETAINED OR, UM, CREATED THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
AND THIS IS AN AREA WHERE I AM NOT AN EXPERT COUNCIL MEMBER, SO I WOULD NEED TO DEFER TO THOSE EXPERTS.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT FEMA IS NOT NECESSARILY GEARED TOWARDS THE ECONOMIC, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE OF THINGS.
THAT WAS SOMETHING WE WERE EXPECTING CARE'S FUNDING THROUGH TO SUPPORT.
SO THAT'S, THAT WAS MY MISTAKE.
SO IT'S REALLY THE EATING APART TOGETHER THAT I THINK WE HAD ANTICIPATED, THERE WOULD BE A FEMA REIMBURSEMENT FOR, BECAUSE IT WAS PART OF THE CRISIS RESPONSE.
DO WE KNOW WHY THEY'RE NOT SUPPORTING THAT? OR THE EXPECTATION IS THAT WE'LL GET ZERO REIMBURSEMENT? MY RECOLLECTION WAS THAT WE DID NOT WANT TO LIMIT THE RECIPIENTS OF THOSE MEALS.
AND THAT WAS THE REASON THAT WE HAD CHOSE TO USE ALTERNATE FUNDING AND NOT SUBMIT THOSE REQUESTS THROUGH TO FEMA.
SO IN THAT CASE, THAT'S NOT A FEMA DECISION IT'S THAT IT, WE, UM, BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAM GUIDELINES OR OTHER KINDS OF CIRCUMSTANCES, WE DIDN'T, WE'VE NOT SUBMITTED AND WE DON'T INTEND TO THAT'S CORRECT.
AND, AND THE REASON I'M ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS IS BECAUSE IN PART, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT, UM, WHAT CATEGORIES OF NEED, UH, MAY STILL EXIST AS WE MOVE INTO OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO POTENTIALLY SHIFT THINGS AROUND WITH REGARD TO THE, THE PROPOSED, UM, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN SPENDING.
AND SO I'M GOING TO SHIFT GEARS HERE AND ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD WITH REGARD TO EVICTIONS AND HOUSING.
AND THIS IS REALLY FOR OUR HOUSING STAFF.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY OF US ON THE DIOCESE AND CERTAINLY MANY IN THE COMMUNITY ARE SUPER CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE EVICTION MORATORIUM EXPIRES.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH GROUPS LIKE THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION OR OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO, TO, TO HAVE, UM, ANY DATA ABOUT HOW MANY TENANTS HAVE CONTINUED TO PAY THEIR RENT THROUGH SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY OR OTHERS HAVE OFFERED? UM, DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, I HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS, UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, REZI, TRUE LIVE THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS AND ACCORDINGLY WE HAVE MODIFIED OUR, UM, OUR RENT PROGRAM TO ALLOW FOR FOLKS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE, UH, FOR LANDLORDS WHO HAVE TENANTS WHO ARE FIVE MONTHS OR MORE BEHIND, UH, TO BE ABLE TO INDICATE THAT AND GET, UH, A PRIORITIZATION FOR, UM, FOR ASSISTANCE IN THAT CAPACITY.
BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY SUBSTANTIVE NUMBERS, UM, FOR WHAT THE NEED IS.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, WE HAD FOR RENT 3.0, WE HAD 24 MILLION OF DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UH, OUTLINED TO DATE.
WE HAVE ALLOCATED ABOUT 39% OF THAT, UH, OR PROVIDED A LITTLE UNDER $10 MILLION OF THAT RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
UH, WE PAID 8,469 MONTHS OF RENT WITH AN AVERAGE OF $5,596 PER HOUSEHOLD.
UM, WE PAY ON AVERAGE 4.8, EIGHT MONTHS OF RENT.
UH, AND WE ANTICIPATE SPENDING THROUGH THE CURRENT ALLOCATION, WHICH REMEMBER WAS LAST YEAR'S ALLOCATION OF EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE, NOT THE STUFF, THE FUNDS THAT CAME FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.
UM, BUT WE ANTICIPATE, UM, SPENDING THAT $24 MILLION SOMEWHERE IN THE JULY, AUGUST TIMEFRAME, WHICH WILL SET US UP FOR EXPENDITURE OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS NEXT, THANK YOU.
UM, AND I'M SURE THAT YOU'VE CAPTURED THAT INFORMATION FOR US IN SOME MEMO OR RESPONSE.
UM, IF SO, COULD YOU JUST POINT US TO WHICH ONE IT WAS IN, THOSE ARE THE THAT'S THE LATEST COUNCIL MEMBER, AND I'M HAPPY TO SEND THAT OUT OR TO POINT FOLKS TO THE
[01:35:01]
DASHBOARD THAT WE HAVE, WHERE THAT INFORMATION IS REFLECTED, BUT THAT'S THE LATEST FROM MY DOCTOR THAT WOULD BE REALLY USEFUL.WHAT I CAPTURED WAS THAT WE'VE SPENT 39% OF THE 24 MILLION, IF THAT YOU PROJECT ALL OF THE REST OF IT WILL BE SPENT BY JULY.
SOMETIME JULY, AUGUST TIMEFRAME.
AND THAT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY NUMBER OF MONTHS AT LEAST, BUT THAT, UM, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE FUNDED.
I DIDN'T CAPTURE THE DETAIL, BUT IT GOT THE, GOT THE SCALE OF IT AND IT WAS HUGE.
I THINK THAT'S A TREMENDOUS, UM, A TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
HOW DO YOU THINK, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT AN ANSWER TO THIS, BUT I GUESS I WOULD CALL ON OUR, OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND OTHERS, UM, TO HELP US GET A SENSE OF WHAT THE SCALE MAY BE OF, OF OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO, WHO ARE POTENTIALLY, UM, BEHIND IN THEIR RENT AND, AND MAYBE FACING EVICTION WHEN THE MORATORIUM EXPIRES, IF THERE'S NOT SOME SUPPORT THAT THEY RECEIVE FOR RENTAL.
SO WE CAN REACH OUT TO THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY KIND OF INFORMATION THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO SHARE WITH US IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIP.
AND WE'LL, WE'LL CERTAINLY GET THAT BACK TO MARIN COUNCIL.
UM, AND THEN I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION ON, UH, ON A DIFFERENT TOPIC, UH, RELATED TO THE COMING THAT TOPIC I TEND TO YEAH.
IS THERE A SEPARATE ARP MONEY FOR THAT? I DON'T SEE THAT IN SO 4 MILLION IN IRPA IN THE STAFF PROPOSAL.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS THERE IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AS A WHOLE, THERE WAS A SEPARATE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE ALLOCATION TO THE CITY, UM, THAT IS GOING TO BE ABOUT $20 MILLION, UM, ABOUT WE HAVE FROM THE WORK THAT, UH, DIRECTOR
UH, BUT THAT IS SEPARATE FROM THE 20 MILLION THAT COMES FROM AS FAR AS EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
SO IT'S NOT PART OF THE, THE LARGER BUCKET THAT WAS KIND OF GENERAL OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.
UM, EMERGENCY RENTAL IS A SEPARATE AND APART PIECE.
MAYBE YOU'VE ALREADY DONE THIS, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE HAVE SORT OF ALL THESE OTHER BUCKETS OF WHAT'S COMING IN.
I MEAN, WE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE OPPORTUNITIES TO TRANSFORM, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT STREAMS, FORTUNATELY.
UM, BUT IT, IT IS A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING TO FOLLOW THEM WITH WHAT WE HAVE SO FAR.
UM, SO IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE'D BE ABLE TO SEE THAT.
SO FOR INSTANCE, THAT EXTRA $11 MILLION FOR HOMELESSNESS, LIKE HOW WE TRACK, UM, ALL OF THAT STUFF, SOME OF WHICH WE KNOW WE'RE GETTING, AND SOME OF WHICH WE MAY POTENTIALLY BE GETTING, WE NEED A MECHANISM SO THAT WE CAN SEE THAT AS WE'RE MAKING THE DECISION SO THAT WE CAN WEIGH WHERE IT IS THAT OUR IS OTHERWISE NOT GOING TO GET AN INVESTMENT.
AND I KNOW IN THE PRESENTATION THAT, UM, WAS GIVEN TODAY, THOSE $2 AMOUNTS ARE CALLED OUT SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE 20 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND THE APPROXIMATELY $11 MILLION FOR, FOR HOMELESSNESS, UM, WE'RE CALLED OUT SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE LARGER, BUT I AGREE THAT THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES AND IT'S, AND IT'S COMPLEX TO, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES AND THEN KIND OF TRYING TO, TO FOLLOW UP, YOU KNOW, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS CALLED OUT IN THE ORAL PRESENTATION, BUT NOT IN THEIR GOOD, UM, BUT I I'M MOVING TO JUST SEEING THIS THIS TODAY.
UM, SO I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT HAVE THAT CLARITY.
AND I WANT TO UNDERSCORE COUNCILMEMBER TOGO'S REQUESTS TO ACTUALLY GET SOME DATA ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE RENTAL.
THE LAST WE HAD SPOKEN WITH, UH, WITH A, OR THEY, YOU KNOW, WERE, WERE, THEY WERE HEARING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE HAVING A PRETTY NORMAL, UM, RESPONSE TO RENTS IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS BEING PAID.
IT WASN'T PARTICULARLY OFF THE NORM.
UM, AND SO JUST CHALLENGING TO UNDERSTAND THE DEMAND, UM, ABSENT THE DATA.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE HURTING, BUT, UM, WE WANT TO BE AS TARGETED AS WE CAN BE, UM, WITH OUR AID SO THAT WE HELP THE FOLKS THAT, UM, NEED IT THE MOST AND, AND REALLY WILL BENEFIT THE MOST.
AND, AND WE DO NEED THAT DATA.
UM, YOU SAID YOU HAD THE, UM, YOU HAD SOME FUNDING THAT WAS NOW AVAILABLE FOR THEM OR US DIRECTLY.
ARE WE HAVING THAT LORDS THAT ARE APPLYING FOR THAT? ARE YOU SEEING, DID THAT, THAT, UM, THAT ABILITY, SO
[01:40:01]
WITH RENT 3.0, WE, WE, WE ESTABLISHED THE ABILITY FOR THE LANDLORDS TO, UM, REQUEST ASSISTANCE, KNOWING THAT WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO GO OVER AND WORK WITH THE INDIVIDUAL, UM, TENANTS TO ACHIEVE, TO ACQUIRE THEIR INCOME ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION, UM, WITH THE, THE NEW, UM, CAPABILITY FOR LANDLORDS TO COME IN AND INDICATE THAT THEY DO HAVE A TENANT THAT IS OVER FIVE MONTHS OR FIVE MONTHS OR MORE, UM, BEHIND IN RENT THAT IS RELATIVELY NEW.SO I DON'T HAVE ANY DATA ON THAT YET.
UM, BUT THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR JUST A HANDFUL OF, OF WEEKS.
IT'S NOT BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE'RE, I MEAN, WE JUST MADE THAT CHANGE TO THE PORTAL, UH, IN ANTICIPATION OF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM ENDING AT SOME POINT SOON.
AND HOW HAS THAT BEEN COMMUNICATED OUT? WE HAVE A TEAM OF FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT, AND I CAN GET YOU INFORMATION ON THAT IF YOU'D LIKE.
UM, BUT BECAUSE IT IS NEW, IT'S PROBABLY STILL IN THE PROCESS OF BEING COMMUNICATED.
UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE WE'VE JUST, UH, MADE THAT PIECE OF THAT CHANGE TO THE ACTUAL APPLICATION PORTAL IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO.
AND I APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE THAT CHANGE.
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF WE OVERWHELMING DEMAND THAT WE LIKE KNOW THAT SOMETHING'S OUT OF WHACK OR, OR, YOU KNOW, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE HAVE ANY PICTURE ON THAT, OR NO ONE'S APPLYING, OR, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE I'M THINKING NINE YET, BUT AS SOON AS WE DO HAVE IT, WE WILL BE SURE TO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BERTO FOR LETTING ME INTERRUPT YOU TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT QUESTION.
JUST TO LAY A BASELINE FOR FOLKS WATCHING, UM, IN JUNE, WHEN SOMEBODY IS MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS BEHIND THEN A LANDLORD, UM, WOULD HAVE TO APPLY TO THE CITY AND COUNTY PROGRAMS. AND IF THE CITY AND COUNTY DON'T RESPOND OR ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITHIN 60 DAYS, THEN EVICTIONS COULD BEGIN.
AND SO, UM, SO I ANTICIPATE WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT IN JUNE, WE MIGHT SEE A SIGNIFICANT JUMP IN THE USAGE OF THE PORTAL THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR AND DIRECTOR SHU LOVE JUST DESCRIBED SINCE THAT'S, WHEN PEOPLE WOULD START BEING REQUIRED TO APPLY IF THEY WANTED TO START THAT PROCESS AND DIRECTOR SHULA, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
I THINK THE NUMBER IS SOMEWHERE IN THE SIX TO $8 MILLION RANGE THAT WE WOULD NEED TO PAY IF WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IN JUNE THERE WEREN'T PEOPLE GETTING EVICTED, UM, THAT HAVE HAD THEIR APPLICATIONS IN FOR THE LAST WHILE.
SO THERE'S A SIX TO $8 MILLION COSTS THERE.
AND THE QUESTION I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL GRAPPLING WITH, UM, IS, YOU KNOW, IN MID OR LATE JUNE, ARE WE GOING TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT RAMP UP BECAUSE FOLKS ARE NOW, NOW HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR EVICTING THEIR TENANTS, BUT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO APPLY TO US.
AND ARE WE GOING TO SEE A SURGE AND HOW MUCH OF THAT SURGE WILL THE CITY HANDLE VERSUS THE COUNTY? SO JUST SOME BACK OF THE NAPKIN MATH.
MY SENSE IS IS THAT IF THERE ISN'T A BIG SURGE, THEN US IN THE COUNTY DOING ARE USING THE EXISTING FUNDS.
WE COULD MAKE IT THROUGH THE END OF SUMMER.
UM, BUT IF THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT SURGE THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO, UH, AND THEN THE CONCERN IS IF THE MORATORIUM RAMPS DOWN AND IF WE WANT TO RAMP THE MORATORIUM DOWN FROM FIVE MONTHS BEHIND TO THREE OR TWO MONTHS, THAT MIGHT BE AN EVEN BIGGER BUMP.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO JUST LEARN SO MUCH PROBABLY AT THE END OF JUNE OR BEGINNING OF JULY.
THAT PART OF MY CAUTION HERE IS FOR US TO, TO BUILD IN A LITTLE CUSHION, UM, SO THAT WE ARE PLANNING FOR A WORST, NOT THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, BUT A TOUGHER SCENARIO RATHER THAN THE OPTIMISTIC SCENARIO.
BUT I HOPE THAT THAT'S HELPFUL AND DIRECTOR SHOE LOVE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG OR NO.
I THINK THAT YOUR, YOUR ESTIMATES, YOU KNOW, SOUND REASONABLE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE PAYING AN AVERAGE OF 4.8, 4.8, EIGHT MONTHS OF RENT, UM, WITH AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT $5,600 PER HOUSEHOLD.
SO IF YOU TOOK THAT, I MEAN, JUST BACK OF THE NAPKIN, YOU COULD USE THAT AS PART OF YOUR ESTIMATES.
I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO DO MATH HERE BECAUSE THIS IS WHEN I KNOW I'M OVER MY SKIS.
I WAS THINKING, I THINK THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING ON THIS IS, UH, THE WAY THAT WE STRUCTURED IT ALMOST AS AN INCENTIVE TO GET THE LANDLORDS, RATHER THAN EVICTING TO REACH OUT FOR THE SUPPORT YOU OPENED UP THAT PORTHOLE.
AND WE, AND WE AS A COUNCIL PUT IN THE, THE RULE OR THE PROCEDURE THAT THE LANDLORD NEEDS TO APPLY.
IF THEY REACH OUT, UH, THEY DON'T HEAR ANYTHING, THEN THEY CAN PROCEED.
WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO LANDLORDS THAT REACH OUT THAT, THAT ARE NOT SCOOPED UP AND PUT INTO THE PROGRAM, UH, SINCE WE'RE TRYING TO, TO INSENT THAT.
YEAH, BUT BASICALLY THE PROMISE OF THIS IS, IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO
[01:45:01]
KEEP EVICTIONS REALLY LOW.WE JUST NEED THE MONEY TO KEEP THEM AT THAT BARE MINIMUM LEVEL.
ANY OTHER QUESTION THAT WE HAVE WHEN WE WERE DOING IT WAS, IS THAT NO ONE REALLY KNOWS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE BEHIND IN RENT AND WHAT THE STATUS IS IN THE CONVERSATIONS.
I GUESS WE'VE ALL BEEN HAVING IPAD WITH THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, BUT THEY WERE NO ONE, THOSE THAT NUMBER.
UH, AND THE ONLY WAY TO REALLY FIND OUT THAT NUMBER IS TO START SENDING OUT A PROGRAM KIND OF LIKE WE HAVE, UH, WHICH OPENS THE DOOR A LITTLE BIT AND SAYS, OKAY, LET'S, LET'S RESPOND TO TRY AND KEEP AS MANY PEOPLE OUT OF EVICTIONS AS WE CAN.
AND LET'S SEE WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE THERE THERE IS.
UH, LESLIE, AND THEN ALISON, THANKS.
I'M A QUESTION FOR STAFF ABOUT NOTICE FROM HUD, WITH REGARD TO HOME FORECLOSURES.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY, IS THERE ANY MOVEMENT, UM, WITH BANKS FORECLOSING NON HOME LOANS THAT MAYBE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO, UM, THE OWNERS WEREN'T ABLE TO KEEP PACE WITH THEM, SIMILAR TO PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO PAY RENT? I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
UH, AT MY FINGERTIPS, I CAN LOOK INTO THAT TO SEE IF THEY HAVE PUT ANYTHING OUT ABOUT THAT.
UM, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE IS, UM, A MORTGAGE, A HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WE ANTICIPATE WILL BE COMING THROUGH THE STATE.
UM, AND SO THAT WILL BE POSITIONED TO HELP HOMEOWNERS KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE HAVE FOR RENT FOR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP RENTERS.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY DETAILS ABOUT THAT YET, BUT I CAN, I CAN POKE AROUND ON THAT ONE TO SEE IF I CAN FIND ANYTHING.
THAT'D BE GREAT, CAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP HOMEOWNERS.
AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT SOME OF THEM MAY BE HAVING, UM, STRESSORS IN THEIR LIVES AS RENTERS MAY AS WELL.
UM, SO YES, UM, ROSIE, WHATEVER YOU CAN FIND OUT WOULD BE GOOD.
AND IF YOU HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THAT IS A CATEGORY THAT WE SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO, UM, THEN I THINK PROBABLY NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO KIND OF TEE THAT UP.
AND, AND LIKE I SAID, WE WILL SEE SOME FEDERAL ASSISTANCE COMING THROUGH.
UH, THAT'LL BE FUNNELED THROUGH THE STATE TO, UH, TO FOLKS TO APPLY FOR INCLUDING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS TO APPLY, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT ASSISTANCE TO OUR CITIZENS.
WE JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY DETAILS ABOUT, UM, THAT THAT WAS A COMPONENT OF THE LARGER AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.
WHEN WE GOT THE, UM, GUIDANCE FROM THE FEDS ON THE SMALL BUSINESS LOANS FOR SOME VENUES, UM, TO GET SOME RELIEF, WE OFFERED, UM, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE TYPE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE FOLKS.
IF THEY WANTED TO CONTACT THE CITY FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING FOR THOSE SBA LOANS, WILL WE DO THE SAME THING FOR ANY HOMEOWNERS IN AUSTIN WHO MAY BE NEEDING SOME ASSISTANCE IN FILING FOR THAT RELIEF? YEAH.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT THESE ARE KIND OF PARALLEL SITUATIONS, THAT WE DON'T LEAVE ANYBODY, UM, OFF THE CONSENT LIST OF CONSIDERATION.
SO YEAH, MAYBE NEXT TIME WE GET TOGETHER, IT WOULD BE GOOD.
OR IF YOU COULD FOLLOW UP WITH A MEMO ON HOW HOMEOWNERS ARE BEING ADDRESSED, IT MAY BE THAT FORECLOSURES ARE NOT, UM, SIGNIFICANT, BUT, UM, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALSO A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I, I DO THINK THERE ARE WAYS TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
I THINK ONE WAY IS THIS PROGRAM, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO ADDRESS THIS IF WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE COME FORWARD AND SAID, THIS IS A CONCERN, UM, FURTHER FOR LANDLORDS.
AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE EITHER NEED PEOPLE TO BE APPLYING FOR THE PROGRAM OR THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SHOW US SOME DATA.
UM, I KNOW THAT PEOPLE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR RENT, BUT AGAIN, EVEN GOING BACK AS EARLY AS, YOU KNOW, MAY OF LAST YEAR, THERE STILL HAS BEEN NO EVIDENCE THAT WE ARE AT A LEVEL OF NON-PAYMENT THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN NORMAL.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT IF THAT IS TRUE.
UM, AND, AND I, AND IT, I KNOW THAT WE DON'T CAN'T FIND THAT DATA ON OUR OWN, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE THAT STEPPING UP TO HELP, YOU KNOW, BEYOND WHAT WE'VE ALREADY SET UP WITHOUT HAVING THAT INFORMATION IS NECESSARILY THE MOST USEFUL USE OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES BEYOND THE HELP THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM.
UM, I WOULD JUST REALLY LIKE TO HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, MORE DATA ON THAT.
KATHY, DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE BANDAGE OF A QUESTION FIRST? I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE SUBJECT OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
[01:50:01]
UNTIL AFTER KATHY AND UNLESS SHE'S GOING TO CHANGE SUBJECTS, SO I'M GOING TO CHANGE SUBJECTS.ON THE, UM, ON THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, YOU KNOW, ONE IMPORTANT PIECE AROUND THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF EVICTIONS, I THINK, AND I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF, UH, PREVENTING, UH, PREVENTING, UH, A SURGE OF, UH, EVICTIONS, WHICH I THINK IS, UM, AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO OUR HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY BECAUSE, UH, FOR, FOR, UM, FOR A SYSTEM OF ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION IN DEVOTEES KEY, UM, AS WELL AS THE OTHER PIECES ON THE PREVENTION.
SO ALONG THE WAY, UM, SO MY QUESTION REALLY IS, AND I THINK WE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER AT THIS POINT, BUT THE, UH, 84 MILLION OR SO THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR HOMELESSNESS, DO WE HAVE THAT? WE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THAT BROKEN DOWN YET.
I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE, UM, THAT, THAT RELATE TO THE FULL AMOUNT THAT'S THAT IF HE DID FOR THE HOMELESSNESS, UM, YOU KNOW, A PLAN THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, BUT THE, UM, OR APPROACH THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, BUT FOR THIS 84 MILLION, HAS THAT BEEN BROKEN AS THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION? HAS THAT BEEN BROKEN DOWN YET? COUNCIL MEMBER? IT HASN'T BEEN, IT HAS NOT BEEN BROKEN DOWN YET.
THE GRAY IS IN THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIZING ON THE BEST WAY TO, TO SEARCH, TO LOOK FOR FUNDING OR TO IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR EACH OF THEM.
SO IT'S UNDERWAY, BUT IT IS NOT BROKEN DOWN YET.
SO THE, THE ONLY REASON I MENTIONED THAT IS, IS THAT I, I THINK THAT THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS IMPORTANT TO THINK OF, UH, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF PREVENTING OR ADDRESSING ACTUALLY IS A BETTER WORD ADDRESSING ANY SURGE THAT WE MIGHT HAVE IN EVICTIONS, BECAUSE, UM, BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON, YOU KNOW, WELL, AS WE KNOW THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON PEOPLE, UM, ENDING UP ON THE STREETS.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT THAT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S GOOD, KATHY.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT WORKFORCE.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PAGE THAT'S ON.
SO THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENTS THAT, THAT, UH, STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING APPEAR TO BE WORK NOW, WORK NOW AND PUBLIC SECTOR ACADEMY FIRST, I GUESS, COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE PUBLIC SECTOR ACADEMY IS? PLEASED DIRECTOR
I'M PULLING UP MY BACKUP DOCUMENTATION.
AND, AND COULD YOU REMIND US AS SOME OF THIS EXPLAINED IN MORE DETAIL IN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL THAT YOU HAD PRESENTED TO COUNCIL? NO, THE DETAIL WAS SENT OUT AS LATE BACK UP THIS MORNING.
UM, SO THE DETAIL WAS RECEIVED BY THE ENTITIES THAT WE REACHED OUT TO, AND THEY EACH PUT TOGETHER A, UH, A PRETTY ROBUST PROPOSAL.
SO THERE YOU ARE RECEIVING DETAILS TODAY, UM, IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION.
SO, UM, THE PUBLIC SECTOR ACADEMY, THIS IS IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, IT WAS MODELED AFTER I BELIEVE BOSTON.
IT'S AN IDEA WHERE YOU CREATE A PIPELINE FOR AUSTIN RESIDENTS TO ENTER CAREERS IN CITY AND COUNTY AGENCIES.
SO IT'S LOOKING AT LOCAL JOBS FOR LOCAL PEOPLE.
UM, SO THE ESTIMATE FOR THAT COMPONENT IS $2 MILLION.
THE IDEA WAS TO DELTA, SORRY, THERE IS MORE IN DEPTH THAN THE PACKAGE.
I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH THAT, BUT THE CONCEPT IS THAT YOU'RE BUILDING A PIPELINE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES.
SO LOOKING AT, TO LOOK AT INDIVIDUALS OR THEY'RE LOOKING AT RE-SKILLING TO, UH, SERVE AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, THANK YOU.
I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT BACKUP, UM, AND INCLUDING, UM, THE MODEL THAT IT'S, OR THE CITY THAT IT'S MODELED AFTER.
SO I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WORK NOW.
UM, I, I WAS REALLY INTERESTED TO READ RECENTLY.
I APPRECIATE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS FOR PROVIDING US WITH INFORMATION ON A REGULAR BASIS ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND IN CONVERSATION WITH THEM OVER EMAIL, THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WHO THEY'VE SERVED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, NOT AS A PARTICULAR PROGRAM, JUST AS IN THE COURSE OF THEIR WORK.
[01:55:01]
OVER 600 INDIVIDUALS, I BELIEVE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.SO THEY'RE ALREADY DOING GREAT WORK IN THAT NIGHT.
I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THAT AREA.
WHAT ARE THESE, UM, BOTH PROGRAMS AT YOU ANTICIPATE WOULD BE RUN THROUGH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS OR WHAT, I GUESS I COULD ALSO LOOK AT THE DETAIL THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED IN TODAY'S PACKET FOR THE WORK NOW, BUT LET ME, LET ME LOOK AT THAT.
UM, SEPARATE AND OUTSIDE OF THIS MEETING, WHAT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT HERE TODAY IS, IS THE CONVERSATION, UM, THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU OFFERED EARLIER.
SO I HAD BROUGHT UP THIS IDEA ON OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEETING ABOUT CREATING, CREATING A WORK TRACK THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD HELP, UM, TRAIN, TRAIN INDIVIDUALS TO BE CASE FOR THE REASONS YOU HAD IDENTIFIED THAT, UH, THE SUMMIT AND OTHER WORK IN THE COMMUNITY HAS IDENTIFIED A NEED FOR CASE MANAGERS AND NAVIGATORS.
AND WE HAVE A SURFEIT OF THEM IN AUSTIN, UM, AND THE TRAVIS COUNTY AREA.
AND SO THIS, IT SEEMS LIKE A NATURAL PLACE TO INVEST BECAUSE IT IS THAT MULTI BENNET.
IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER MINT, MULTI BENEFICIAL PROGRAM, WHERE WE'RE INVESTING IN WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED JOBS, BUT WE'RE ALSO HELPING IDENTIFY, HELPING MEET AN IDENTIFIED NEED AND OCCUPATION WITHIN OUR, OUR CITY.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT YOU WERE ALREADY HAVING CONVERSATIONS ON THAT.
UM, MY STAFF AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS BOTH WITH CAPITAL IDEA, UH, TRYING TO ASSESS THEIR INTEREST IN DEVELOPING SUCH A TRAIN OF, UH, SUCH A JOB TRAINING PROGRAM AND HAVE ALSO BEEN SENDING OUT QUERIES TO THOSE WHO DO THIS WORK, ASKING, ASKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THRESHOLD QUESTIONS THAT CAPITAL IDEA ASKED US, UM, WHAT ARE THE WAGES THAT ONE CAN EXPECT? WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF TRAINING WHAT'S THE CAREER TRAJECTORY? SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK, ASK YOU KIND OF HOW FAR ALONG YOU ARE, OR THE STAFF ARE IN THEIR CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT.
UM, IS THERE A WILLINGNESS TO CREATE SUCH A, SUCH A CAREER PATH? UM, AND WERE YOU ABLE TO GET SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT, THAT I KNOW WE'VE BEEN SEEKING ABOUT, UM, JOB TRAINING ABOUT WAGES AND CAREER LADDERS, AND, UM, SOME OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I KNOW NEED TO BE ANSWERED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO YOU'RE ENCOURAGING AND RECRUITING AS WELL AS FOR THE JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS AND WHO WOULD BE DELIVERING THE SERVICES, ARE YOU WORKING WITH, UH, A RANGE IS CAPITAL IDEA, ONE OF THEM.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER, WE, UM, DID NOT TAKE TOO DEEP OF A DIVE IN THAT OTHER THAN KNOWING THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY, AND WE'RE CERTAINLY OPEN TO WHO WE WORK WITH.
UH, WE THINK THAT, UM, IT, THERE ARE ENTITIES IN OUR, IN OUR CITY THAT COULD PROVIDE THE SERVICE.
UM, THERE'S ALSO POTENTIALLY ENTITIES THAT HAVEN'T WORKED IN THIS AREA THAT COULD, THAT COULDN'T SCALE UP.
SO I THINK LET'S, YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER WITH IF, IF THIS IS THE DIRECTION COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO GO IN, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HAVE A CREATIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE SINCE WE REALLY HAVEN'T DONE THIS BEFORE AS A CITY, BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO CITY COUNCIL FOR GUIDANCE ON THAT.
AND I WILL, UM, ASK MY STAFF TO LOOP YOU INTO SOME OF THE EMAILS THAT WE'VE HAD FLYING BACK AND FORTH.
UM, JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE OF, OF WHAT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE BEING ASKED HAVE BEEN, AND, AND KIND OF WHAT THE, WHAT THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS THAT THAT OTHERS HAVE REQUESTED.
UM, I CAN PAUSE THERE FOR A MINUTE AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES MAY HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS.
I THINK I HAVE SOME ABOUT A DIFFERENT ISSUE.
SO KELLY, I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON YOUR LAST POINT AS YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THAT.
AND IT WOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR ME AS WELL.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TREVELYAN HAS LONG BEEN AN ADVOCATE OF THIS KIND OF BUILDING CAPACITY IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT, UM, TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU CAN, YOU SHOULD BRING HIM INTO THAT CONVERSATION IN THE COUNTY, UH, AS WELL.
UH, HISTORICALLY HERE RECENTLY WE HAVE BOTH PARTICIPATED IN CONTRIBUTED FOR THAT KIND OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, UH, ELEMENT AND CATHY, WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THAT PAGE ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OVER THOSE THREE PROGRAMS THAT YOU IDENTIFIED, THERE WAS ALSO THE, UH, $4 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT WAS, UM, JUST AN EXPANSION OF THAT WE WORK, BUT ASSOCIATED FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND MY SENSE IS IT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE IN THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING.
AND THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY, UH, AND YOU KNOW, THIS TOO, THAT, OF THAT 650 PEOPLE THAT ENTERED INTO THOSE PROGRAMS, THEIR SUCCESS RATE, GETTING PEOPLE JOBS, UH, IS, UH, LIKE 65% OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO NOT ONLY IS IT HITTING A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT IT'S ALSO NOT APPEARING TO BE REALLY EFFECTIVE COUNSEL NUMBER POINTLESS.
MY QUESTION IS AROUND THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS THAT WE FUNDED OR THAT WE VOTED ON LAST WEEK OR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AS PART OF THE FIRST TRAUNCH OF FUNDS THAT WE DEDICATED TO
[02:00:01]
APH FOR COVID RESPONSE.AND HOW, HOW HAS THAT BEEN GOING? CAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OPEN RIGHT NOW, UM, THAT CERTAINLY NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND GETTING THE WORD OUT COUNCIL MEMBER.
WE, UH, WHEN YOU APPROVE THE ITEM WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH POTENTIAL PARTNERS THAT COULD PROVIDE THAT ASSISTANCE.
I'M GOING TO LOOK TO DAVID GRAY FROM THE EDD TEAM TO SEE IF HE HAS A MORE CURRENT UPDATE THAN I DO.
DAVID DID ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE NAVIGATORS STATUS, RIGHT? COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, NICE TO SEE WE ARE CURRENTLY ASSEMBLING OUR INTERNAL PROJECT TEAMS TO, UH, PROCEED WITH THE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM.
WE'VE ACTUALLY ASSEMBLED THAT INTERNAL TEAM.
WE'RE NOT HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR FINANCE STAFF AROUND WHAT THOSE CONTRACTS LOOK LIKE FOR COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS UP AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO RAPIDLY PROCEED WITH THAT PROGRAM.
WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH DIFFERENT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE, UH, THE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM QUICKLY, BUT ALSO IN A WAY THAT'S REALLY RESPONSIVE TO CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL GROUP, RESPECT TO THE PROGRAMS THAT THE SBA AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE ADMINISTERING.
AND WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO STAND UP A NAVIGATOR PROGRAM IN A WAY THAT'S RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, BOTH ON THE BUSINESS SIDE, UH, AS WELL AS OUR CREATIVE, UH, PROFESSIONALS, UH, OUR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING OUR ARTS NONPROFITS, UH, AND OTHERS WHO ARE A PART OF OUR CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM.
I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE URGENCY IN THAT, YOU KNOW, THE RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND THAT IS ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE AND THEY'RE PRIORITIZING MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES FIRST.
AND SO I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT BY OUR COMMUNITY BY ESTABLISHING THESE NAVIGATORS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT SOURCE, THAT SUPPORT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON IT.
B OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS RELATED TO, UM, THE FOOD INSECURITY FUNDING.
I KNOW THAT PORTION OF THAT SHOULD BE, I MEAN, CUSTOMER TYPICALLY, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED A FEW THE EAT, UH, INITIATIVE AND THE CAREGIVER MEALS, BUT I WAS WONDERING ARE ANY OTHER, UM, FOOD RELATED FOOD INSECURITY RELATED ITEMS, WOULD THAT FALL UNDER THE FIRST, UH, 44 MILLION THAT WE DEDICATED TO APH AS PART OF LAST COUNCIL MEETINGS ALLOCATION? OR WOULD THIS THE PROPOSAL FOR FOOD INSECURITY, WHICH THE PROPOSAL HAS IT AT 3 MILLION THAT WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO WHAT IS IN THE FIRST ALLOCATION? I APOLOGIZE.
I DON'T RECALL THE FIRST ALLOCATION INCLUDED SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS OR NO, IT WAS DISCUSSED.
AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE WE LANDED.
SO THE FIRST ALLOCATION DID INCLUDE SOME FUNDING FOR, UM, THE E AND THE AUSTIN CAREGIVERS PROGRAM.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT FUNDING WOULD GO THROUGH, UH, JUNE AND SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
AND SO THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING WITH THE, THE NEW FUNDING WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE ORIGINAL FUNDING THAT WAS GIVEN OUT IN THE FIRST ALLOCATION A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
THANK YOU, ALISON KEVIN, UM, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, FONTUS FOR BRINGING THIS AFTERNOON.
I'M STARTING TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT AT THE BACKUP THAT WE GOT THIS MORNING AND, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR NUMBERS DON'T LINE UP WITH WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR, FOR EMPATHY SECURITIES.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S, YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY MILLIONS MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE OFFERING.
AND SO WHERE DO I LIKE SEE IN WRITING WHAT WE'RE GETTING FOR OUR MONEY AND WHICH PIECE THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR, BECAUSE IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY HELPFUL TO WRITE A BLANK CHECK TO SOME GROUP OR WHATEVER WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THAT IS, WHICH I DON'T THINK IT'S WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING, BUT WHERE DO WE GET THOSE DETAILS? WHEN WE HAVE A, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MILLION DOLLAR PROPOSAL, AND THEN WE'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, $3 MILLION OF THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, THOSE WERE THOSE 3 MILLION MILLION DOLLARS FULL HASN'T FALL.
HASN'T BEEN OUTLINED JUST YET.
WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY AT PRESENTING TODAY TO YOU A FRAMEWORK AND REALLY LOOKING AT BUCKETS OF FUNDING WITHIN THE PRIORITIES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE RESOLUTION.
UM, I THINK ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO GET COUNCIL'S DIRECTION ON THE FRAMEWORK, WE CAN, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY FLESH THAT OUT AND STAFF WILL BE WORKING ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WITHIN THOSE BUCKETS OF MONEY, BUT THOSE, THE PURPOSE OF OUR FRAMEWORK WAS REALLY
[02:05:01]
TO GET YOUR GUIDANCE ON THE OVERALL, UM, PRIORITIES AND WHERE, HOW, HOW MUCH WE SHOULD ALLOCATE TO ALLOCATE TO EACH PRIORITY IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT AND REGARDING FOOD.THE, THERE IS A, UH, REQUEST THAT IS, THAT IS MUCH LARGER.
UM, WE APPROACHED THIS WITH THE REMAINING BALANCE THAT WE HAD AFTER WE MADE THE ALLOCATIONS TO PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, AND THEN LOOKING AT THE PRIORITIES AND THE RESOLUTION AND, AND THE, AND KNOWING THAT THE, WHAT THE FOUR PRIORITIES HOMELESSNESS LISTED AS THE HOMELESSNESS WAS LISTED AS THE FIRST PRIORITY.
SO THAT WAS ON OUR BRAINS AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS RECOMMENDATION, UM, WITH, WITH LIMITED FUNDS, THERE'S NO DOUBT THE NEED IS MUCH GREATER.
SO I, I'M GOING TO JUST THROW OUT THERE FOR FOLKS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT IN THIS MATERIAL, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN TRY AND MAKE A DECISION BEFORE WE, YOU KNOW, BREAK FOR THE SUMMER, CERTAINLY.
BUT, UM, WE, WE NEED MECHANISMS WHERE WE'RE GETTING MORE, UM, DETAIL.
I'M REALLY NOT COMFORTABLE WITH JUST LET'S THROW X MILLION INTO A BUCKET AND SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE MADE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE'RE USING THIS MONEY IN A TRANSFORMATIONAL WAY.
UM, AND I DON'T CONTROL THE AGENDA.
SO I WILL THROW THAT OUT THERE FOR FOLKS TO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AGENDA AND WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO COVER.
UM, THEY, UM, SO I DON'T WANT TO KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW, SOME OF WHICH I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET ANSWERED WITHOUT TAKING UP TIME ON THE DARKNESS, BUT, UM, THERE'S A LOT TO BE ASKED HERE AND A LOT, UM, THAT SEEMS TO BE MISSING IN MY VIEW.
OH, WELL, TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, UH, IT WOULD HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND, UM, THE, UH, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO JUST A PATH UNDERSTAND WHAT WOULD GET YOU THERE.
CAUSE I REALLY THINK THAT, UM, WELL, I WOULDN'T WANT TO END UP ON OUR JUNE 1ST AGENDA FOR EXAMPLE, AND STILL NOT HAVE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND NOT KNOWING WHAT THE PATH IS.
SO, UM, I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE SO THAT OUR STAFF CAN SUPPLY IT.
I THINK WHEN I'M HEARING, MAYBE THERE A DIFFERENCE HERE THAT, THAT, THAT I WANT TO JUST ADDRESS IF I'M HEARING IT, RIGHTLY I HEARD A DIRECTOR PRESENTING I'LL TALK IN TERMS OF, UM, AVOIDING UNTIL THE COUNCIL HAD HAD, UM, APPROVE THE ACTUAL FRAMEWORK AND THEN DEVELOPING THE KIND OF DETAILS.
BUT I HEAR YOU ASKING FOR THE DETAILS NOW.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO, TO FIGURE THAT OUT SOMEHOW.
UM, IF WE, IF WE WANT AS A GROUP TO KNOW THE DETAILS, NOW THAT'S FINE.
THEN WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S UNDERSTOOD.
SO WORK IS DONE AS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION IN TIME FOR US TO CONSIDER A FRAMEWORK ON THE THIRD.
UM, OR SO, UM, BUT IF WE'RE, YOU KNOW, BUT I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE SAYING I WANT MORE DETAILS AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU DETAILS AFTER YOU DECIDE THE FRAMEWORK.
WE JUST NEED TO ALIGN THOSE TWO THINGS IF I, IF I HEARD THEM DIFFERENTLY.
SO IT, DID I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY, A DIRECTOR THAT YOU'RE THINKING THAT YOU NEED DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL FIRST ON THE, ON THE BUCKETS, AND THEN YOU'LL COME UP WITH THE DETAIL, UM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER WHERE YOU SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T DO THAT, THAT YOU NEED THE DETAIL FIRST.
AM I HEARING A DIFFERENCE IN APPROACH COUNCIL MEMBER? I DID SAY THAT WE WOULD NEED THE GUIDANCE ON THOSE PRIORITIES AND HOW MUCH IS ALLOCATED THAT BEING SAID, I THINK WE CAN WORK TOWARDS THE DETAILS.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF TIME BETWEEN THE TWO.
UM, WE CAN WORK TOWARDS THOSE DETAILS.
THAT'S JUST, I KNOW THAT FROM THE STAFF PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVING THE ALLOCATION IN MIND HELPS IDENTIFY WHAT'S PRIORITIZED IN THOSE REQUESTS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I'D BE FINE IF YOU TAKE, TAKE THE, GET, GET US MORE DETAILS, BUT I'M NOT SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTRUA IS FEELING LIKE.
SHE'D LIKE TO SEE YOU BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE BUCKETS, WHICH IS FINE.
IF YOU'D, IF YOU'D LIKE THAT, I'M JUST NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
WELL, I DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE I EVEN HAVE AS MUCH LEVEL OF DETAIL AS WE NORMALLY GET IN A BUDGET ABOUT WHAT THE MONEY ON, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $84 MILLION FOR HOMELESSNESS WITH A STATED NEED OF 500 MILLION.
UM, AND SO WE COULD BE FUNDING ANY PIECE OF THAT 500 MILLION FOR ALL I KNOW, FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN, UM, GIVEN.
AND, UM, SO WE DEFINITELY, I DON'T NEED TO KNOW WHO THE CONTRACTOR IS PER SE OR, OR THAT LEVEL, BUT I DO NEED TO UNDERSTAND
[02:10:01]
MORE THAN WHAT I HAVE AT THIS POINT.AND SINCE I JUST HAVE THESE VERY BROAD BUCKETS, I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR DOWN, I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR DOWN, UM, WE CAN GET, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, THE POINT OF THESE INVESTMENTS WAS TO BE, UM, TRANSFORMATIONAL.
AND WE HAVE SOME OF THESE PROPOSALS IN MY VIEW, THERE ARE PIECES THAT ARE MISSING FROM THIS, UM, CONVERSATION THAT ARE NOT, UM, YOU KNOW, TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR ME, YOU KNOW, TAKING OFF FAST AND CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS.
UM, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT PUTTING ANY MONEY INTO BUSINESS OR NONPROFITS SUPPORT, UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE CREATIVE ARTS.
IF I UNDERSTAND IT IS JUST REPLACING HOT MONEY, THERE'S NOTHING TRANSFORMATIONAL ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I, I JUST, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN GETTING US TO RESILIENCE AND THIS MONEY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE BEYOND THE SURVIVAL MODE AND, AND I SEE THAT CONNECTION, EVEN IF I DON'T HAVE EVERY DETAIL OF HOW EVERY DOLLAR IS GOING TO, FOR ME TO BE CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES AS THE CITY, WHEN WE HAVE THIS MAJOR OPPORTUNITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST GOT THIS THIS MORNING AND, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS ALL OF THE BACKGROUND HAS ALL OF THAT INFORMATION.
UM, BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND SO IT JUST SEEMS TO ME LIKE IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE, UM, A LOT OF WORK TO GET FROM HERE TO THAT PART WHERE I'M COMFORTABLE.
THAT HELPS ME UNDERSTAND BETTER.
UM, I AM CAUSE I'M, I'M REALLY WANTING US TO, YOU KNOW, TO GET THE INFORMATION WE NEED SO WE CAN WORK TOWARDS THAT FIRST PART OF JUNE, PREFERABLY THE THIRD.
SO LET ME ASK AN ADDITIONAL QUESTION THEN ABOUT, AND I'M SORRY, I'M GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT, BUT ON THE WORKFORCE.
UH, SO THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, SO THE 8 MILLION THAT'S THAT IS RECOMMENDED AT THIS POINT IS THAT, UM, I THINK YOU MIGHT BE SAYING DIRECTOR THAT, UH, THAT WE DON'T, THAT THAT RECOMMENDATION DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY PARTICULAR AREAS OR TO WHAT EXTENT, I'M SORRY, YOU MENTIONED THAT TO US BEFORE.
I'M JUST TRYING TO REMEMBER NOW, TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT WOULD BE RECOMMENDED AS PART OF THAT 8 MILLION? SO WHAT'S THE 8 MILLION WE WERE LOOKING TO CONTRIBUTE IT TO THE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS PROPOSAL.
HOWEVER, WE'RE REALLY, ALL OF THIS IS STARTING AS A DISCUSSION POINTS SO THAT WE CAN GET THE GUIDANCE FROM COUNCIL, UM, IN TERM, IN TERMS OF, UM, OTHER DIRECTIONS YOU'D LIKE TO GO IN.
I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS PRESENTED WAS PRESENTED IN A WAY THAT IT COULD BE SCALED DOWN.
SO, UM, THERE'S DIFFERENT COMPONENTS FOR DIFFERENT AMOUNTS.
SO AGAIN, GOING TO FLESHING THAT OUT, IT COULD COME BACK WITH WHAT EXACTLY THAT LOOKS LIKE BASED ON THE AMOUNT THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO ALLOCATE TOWARDS THEM.
SO IF WE WANTED TO STAY WITH 8 MILLION, BUT THEN CONSIDER THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS AS A PIECE OF IT, UM, THEN WE COULD JUST WITHIN THAT 8 MILLION, IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE PROPOSED THIS ENTIRE FRAMEWORK WITH THE IDEA THAT COUNCIL COULD ADJUST AS COUNSEL WISHES TO, SO THAT COULD ABSOLUTELY COME FROM THAT 8 MILLION.
AND JUST SO IN THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS, JUST HELP ME, I'M SORRY.
I HAVEN'T BEEN, I'M NOT AS, UM, FAMILIAR WITH EXACTLY WHERE IT IS AND ITS DEVELOPMENT.
CAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, WAS BEGUN.
WELL, I DUNNO, MAYBE A YEAR AGO OR SOMETIME LAST YEAR OR SOMETHING.
SO IS IT OPERATIONAL NOW, TO WHAT EXTENT HAS IT BEEN OPERATIONAL AND WHAT ASPECTS OF IT DO WE WANT TO BE SURE AND FUND THAT WOULD BE TRANSFORMATIONAL? DO, DOES IT IMPACT, OR MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST GET THAT INFORMATION.
WE CAN PROVIDE DETAILS TO YOU.
I, IT W STOOD UP AND IT IS UNDERWAY, UM, BY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO, TO COUNSEL ON THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM.
IF I MIGHT ADDRESS THERE AS A WHOLE PLAN FOR SCALING THE PROGRAM TO DATE, WE'VE ESSENTIALLY USED MONEY THAT HAD BEEN IN THE POTS OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
AND WHILE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO PUT 2 MILLION OF FRESH MONEY INTO IT, WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS 2 MILLION, A FRESHMAN YEAR IN THE BUDGET.
ULTIMATELY I THINK ALMOST ALL MONEY THAT WAS USED FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE NOW DOING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, BUT YOU CAN'T SCALE IT WITHOUT, UM, ADDITIONAL MONEY, UM, TO BE ABLE TO DO THE KINDS OF PROGRAMS THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE BEST WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND THE BIGGEST BANG FROM A CLIMATE CONSERVATION PERSPECTIVE, UM, THERE IS OPPORTUNITY TO COORDINATE AND COLLABORATE.
THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS ALSO INTERESTED IN DOING IT.
UM, THE MORE WE CAN DO ON BOTH SIDES, THE BETTER BANG YOU CAN GET FOR YOUR BUCK IN SCALING, YOU KNOW, THAT PROGRAM.
UM, AND NOW IS A REALLY CRITICAL TIME BECAUSE OVER
[02:15:01]
TIME WE MAY BE ABLE TO SECURE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT CAN HELP IT.UM, LAST, YOU KNOW, OVER TIME WE HAVE A MODEL FOR, UM, AIRING TO THE CONSERVATION CORPS, UM, THAT HAS PROVEN, UM, HELPFUL AS I UNDERSTAND IT FOR CITY STAFF.
UM, BUT THERE IS A PROPOSAL THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IN THE WORKS, UM, THAT WOULD BE, I THINK, 9 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, GET US TO WHAT WE WOULD MOST LIKE TO BE ABLE, UM, TO DO.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN WORK ON PROJECTS IN ONION CREEK.
WE HAVE, UM, THE, THE ART PROJECT THAT'S UNDER THE LAMAR BRIDGE WAS PARTIALLY DONE BY THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS.
WE HAVE FOLKS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH A GREEN JOBS PROGRAM, UM, BUT THERE THERE'S A LOT TO BE DONE TO SCALE IT, TO DO THE KINDS OF THINGS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED, AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY, ET CETERA.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN TO BE ABLE, YOU KNOW, TO SCALE IT OUT BEYOND JUST, UM, DEPARTMENTS FINDING, UH, PIECES OF MONEY.
AND YOU RECALL ORIGINALLY I BELIEVE THEY HAD 5 MILLION IN THE ORIGINAL.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THAT I CAN GET THIS OFFLINE IF, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION RIGHT NOW, UH, TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH THERE'S SYNERGIES BETWEEN THAT PROGRAM AND THE, UM, PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, UM, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM PER REC RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS, IS ALL ABOUT, UM, JUST HELPING CONNECT, UH, PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO JOBS, WHICH IS, UH, YOU KNOW, PIECE ALONG ALONG THE WAY.
AND IT WOULD SEEM THAT AT LEAST SOME, SOME NUMBER OF THOSE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOLKS TO, UM, TO PLUG INTO THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HAPPENING NOW OR NOT.
I CAN ASK THAT QUESTION OFFLINE.
UM, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE FIGURES.
I DON'T HAVE THE FIGURES ON THAT, BUT IT BELIEVES, UM, SOME OF THAT IS BEING DONE.
I JUST DO WANT TO, TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE PUT FORWARD, UM, ONE 11, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, MY PRIORITIES WERE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND CHILDCARE.
AND SO PUTTING, YOU KNOW, THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS AND TAKING MONEY FROM THE WORK NOW PROGRAM, OR THE REWORK PROGRAM IS NOT A SOLUTION IN MY MIND BECAUSE IT IS THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM BECOMING HOMELESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
UM, AND WE HAVE TO BE DOING, AS YOU SAID, SO ELOQUENTLY EARLIER, AND WE HAVE TO BE DOING THAT PREVENTION AS WELL.
UM, AND WE GET A LOT MORE OUT OF THE PREVENTION.
I THINK THEN WE DO SOME OF THE OTHER STEPS OVER THE LONG RUN AND REALLY, UM, CHANGING, UM, SOMEONE'S TRAJECTORY.
SO I WOULD NOT WANT TO CANNIBALIZE THE WORKFORCE, UM, INVESTMENTS, WHICH I THINK ARE TOO LOW AS THEY ARE TOTALLY APART FROM THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS AT THIS POINT, IT'S THAT WORK TRAINING THAT REALLY UPSKILLS SOMEBODY, UM, AND GETS THEM INTO A DIFFERENT PLACE THAN THEY WERE HERE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
AND THAT'S WHY ALSO FOR ME TO CHILDCARE IS SO IMPORTANT, WHICH I THINK THERE'S BROAD AGREEMENT, UH, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FUNDING THAT IN THE RIGHT SCALE, THE RIGHT TIME FRAME, UM, TO GET THAT DONE.
AND THEY'RE PENNY-WISE, AND POUND-FOOLISH, IF WE, YOU KNOW, PUT IT OFF TO NEXT YEAR, IF IT HAS A BIG IMPACT TO THE SUCCESS THAT WE CAN HAVE ON THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FOLKS CAN'T GET BACK TO WORK, UM, IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE CHILDCARE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE CREATED THERE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BROADER, THE BROADER SPECTRUM, AND I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER THAT PREVENTION MATTERS.
UM, BUT THE WORKFORCE AND THE CHILDCARE INVESTMENTS TO ME ARE, ARE, ARE PART OF THAT AND ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO HELPING PEOPLE HAVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THEY ASPIRE TO.
AND I CERTAINLY AGREE THAT THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT AREAS.
I DO THINK THAT THE FUNDING FOR ARTS AND MUSIC, UM, IS, IS CRITICAL.
UH, IT IS, IT IS ALSO PREVENTION.
UM, IT IS ALSO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
IT IS ALSO KEEPING FOLKS, UM, WHOLE IN TERMS OF THE, THE, UM, THE DOLLARS AVAILABLE, UM, AND HELP OUR ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEM IS THAT ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT.
AND SO TO THINK ABOUT A BALANCE, BUT I, I DON'T THINK IT'S, I DON'T EVEN SAY THAT THE ARTS FUNDING, ARTS AND MUSIC FUNDING IS, IS NOT TRANSFORMATIONAL OR IS NOT, UM, IS NOT ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING IN TERMS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, IN, IN TERMS OF PREVENTION OR IN TERMS OF JOBS.
SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO THINK THROUGH HOW WE CAN BEST MAKE, REACH THE BALANCE, BUT I, I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS
[02:20:01]
AND I DO SHARE THOSE CONCERNS.I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY GOOD SOLID PROGRAMS AND THEY'RE IMPORTANT PRIORITIES.
IF I COULD JUST RESPOND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALK ABOUT ABSOLUTELY, WE NEED TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN OUR CREATIVE SECTOR, UM, BUT FROM WHAT'S ON HERE, OR EVEN FRANKLY, WHAT'S IN THE ITEM BEFORE US, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE INVESTING IN AND WHAT THAT GETS US.
I DON'T KNOW THAT JUST SIMPLY PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO HOT INTO THOSE THINGS, UM, IS REALLY THE MOST CRITICAL THING THAT WE COULD BE DOING TO SUPPORT THAT SECTOR WHERE WE ARE NOW, BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT'S FUNDING, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FUNDING IT AT ANYWHERE NEAR THE LEVELS THAT YOU'RE ASPIRING TO EITHER.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY'VE PUT IN THOSE BUCKETS, UM, AND, AND SO WE JUST, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSEDLY GETTING AND NOT JUST TAKE IT BECAUSE IT'S A LINE ON A DIAGRAM BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH THAT THAT COULD BE INTERPRETED AS, UM, SO I SHARE YOUR COMMITMENT TO WANTING TO INVEST IN THAT SECTOR.
UM, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF JUST DOING WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE WITH HOT IS THE BEST IS THE BEST USE OF THAT MONEY TO MEET THE NEED OF THAT SECTOR.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
WELL, MAYOR, I JUST NEED TO RESPOND.
YOU ALLOWED COUNCIL MEMBER ALTRA TO JUST, IT'S JUST BY WAY OF EXPLANATION, IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE MORE INFORMATION IS NEEDED AND WE'LL WORK ON THAT.
JUST SO YOU'LL KNOW, THESE FUNDS ARE NOT IN ADDITION TO THE TYPICAL THING FOR THESE PROGRAMS IS TO MAKE THESE ARTISTS HOME.
I HAD, I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR.
I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS SINCE, SINCE NOW, WE'RE ONTO THIS SUBJECT THOUGH.
I'LL START THERE AND GO BACK TO THE OTHERS, BUT I DID WANT TO ASK OUR STAFF TO ADDRESS JUST THAT VERY QUESTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR TALKED ABOUT.
AND SINCE, SINCE NUMBER 60 TOUCHES ON THIS AS WELL, THAT MAY, I DON'T KNOW IF, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS NOW OR LATER, BUT I DO WANT TO KNOW FROM THE STAFF ONE, I WANT TO KIND OF TRACK THAT FUNDING A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING LOTS OF EMAIL ABOUT RESTORING FUNDING, AND I'M JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY HOW THAT EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS CONTEXTS.
BUT I DO WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE INVESTMENT IN CULTURAL ARTS FROM THE RESCUE PLAN MONEY IS DOING THAT IS TRANSFORMATIONAL.
I DO, I DO BELIEVE THAT SHOULD BE OUR CRITERIA FOR A LOT OF THE INVESTMENTS.
AND I WANT TO UNDERSTAND, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
IS IT THAT WE'RE, IS IT REALLY AN IMMEDIATE RELIEF THAT WE'RE PROVIDING FUNDING THAT PEOPLE NEED TO CONTINUE PAYING THEIR BILLS? WHO ARE ARTISTS, OR IS IT, IS IT MAKING DIFFERENT KINDS OF INVESTMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERS 0.1 OF THE THINGS WE'VE TALKED A LOT IS THAT FOR MANY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOSING, WE'RE LOSING MUSIC VENUES, WE'RE LOSING THEATERS, WE'RE LOSING LOTS OF OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE LOSING THEIR LEASES AS THE MARKET VALUES ON THESE PROPERTIES.
GO UP, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO, TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION COULD POTENTIALLY PURCHASE SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES, LIKE IS ANY OF THIS FUNDING CONTEMPLATED TO DO THOSE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS WHERE, WHERE WE WOULD BE INVESTING SOME OF THE RESCUE PLAN MONEY IN SOME OF THOSE VENUES SO THAT WE ARE PROVIDING KIND OF A SUSTAINABLE, A SUSTAINABLE PATH, AT LEAST FOR THOSE VENUES WHO WOULD OCCUPY THOSE SPACES IN THE YEARS TO COME, BECAUSE WE COULD KEEP THOSE RENTS LOW, WHICH WOULD BE MORE THAN JUST AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.
THE PROPOSAL THAT WE PUT BEFORE YOU IS TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF, TO MAKE THE CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR, UM, THE $10 MILLION.
THERE IS THERE THERE'S A PROJECTED, UH, DEFICIT IN THE HOT TAX REVENUE BECAUSE OF THE YEAR THAT WE'VE HAD.
AND SO THIS IS TO CONTINUE ON, UH, FUNDING OUR, OUR CULTURAL ARTS CONTRACTS, OUR HERITAGE PRESERVATION FUND, AND OUR LIFE MUSIC THAN YOU'D FIND AT THE SAME LEVELS THAT WE HAD IN PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC THAT IMMEDIATE YEAR PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, WE SEE IT AS AN IMMEDIATE NEED BECAUSE WE HAVE CERTAINLY HEARD FROM OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY THAT WITHOUT THIS FUNDING, THEY CANNOT, UH, PAY FOR THEIR OWN BILLS AND, AND, AND HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOUSING AND SO FORTH.
SO THAT WAS OUR THOUGHT BEHIND.
IT CERTAINLY NEED MORE TRANSFORMATIONAL INVESTMENT IN THE CREATIVE SPACE AS WELL.
UM, BUT AGAIN, WE HAD LIMITED FUNDS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE COULD RECOMMEND.
AND, AND AGAIN, THIS KIND OF GETS INTO ITEM NUMBER 60.
UM, SO I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT THINGS THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THERE, BUT ARE THEY IN A SECOND YEAR OF THE CONTRACT? SO ARE THESE, ARE THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT AND THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR, AND THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY OUT ON THAT SECOND YEAR BECAUSE OF THE REDUCED HOT FUNDING FROM THIS YEAR, OR IS THIS, ARE THERE CONTRACTS AT AN END, BUT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE RENEWED
[02:25:01]
AT A SIMILAR LEVEL.DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IT DOES.
LET ME CONFIRM FOR YOU, BUT I BELIEVE THAT.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO, UH, I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOOD ON THE CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AND, UM, AND PLEASE, UM, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE.
AND I'M TRYING TO TAG AS SYNOVIAL HOT ROD SAID, JOIN US IN EUROPE.
BUT, UM, IT IS LOOKING AT, WE'RE DEVELOPING A PLAN ON WHAT TO DO FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS IN TERMS OF HOW WE, WE CONTRACT WITH INSTITUTIONS THAT WE'VE CONTRACTED FOR MANY YEARS.
UM, BUT THIS IS LOOKING AT ALLOCATING THE FUNDS THAT WE HAD ALLOCATED, UH, PREVIOUS.
WE CAN TAKE IT UP IN THE CONTEXT OF 60, I THINK IT'S RELEVANT TO THAT ISSUE TOO.
AND I WOULD JUST SAY, I REALLY, I, THAT IS WHAT I'M REALLY STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND.
LIKE, ARE WE, ARE WE MAKING GOOD ON THE CONTRACTS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE OR ARE WE PREPARING OURSELVES AGAINST A REDUCTION IN FUNDING FOR FUTURE CONTRACTS, UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, THAT ANY OF OUR CONTRACTEES HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE CITY YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT IS AN EXPECTATION AND, UH, AND IT PROBABLY, UH, A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF SOME OF THEIR BUDGET.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I DO, I DO NEED TO, I NEED TO BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH WHETHER, UM, WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE DOING.
ARE WE GUARDING AGAINST FUTURE REDUCTIONS OR ARE WE FULLY COMPENSATED, UM, AND THEN JUST TO GET BACK TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
SO I JUST, I THINK THAT PART OF THE CHALLENGE HERE IS THAT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF, UM, I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO HOW, HOW, AND WHAT WE APPROVE, UM, WHEN WE, WHEN WE TAKE THIS UP, BECAUSE JUST TO GET BACK AND I, I SHARE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER YOUR CONCERNS.
AS I SAID EARLIER, I, I AM ALSO, UM, IN THAT SAME PLACE WHERE I NEED TO SEE THE DETAILS.
AND SO PART OF IT, PART OF THE CHALLENGE HERE IS THAT ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, JUST, AGAIN, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, HOMELESSNESS IS ANOTHER ONE.
WE WOULD BE APPROVING $8 MILLION, WHICH I'M I'M SURE IS, IS VERY MUCH NEEDED.
THE DETAIL FOR IT THOUGH IS NOT, IS NOT, UM, GENERAL.
IT IS ABOUT SPECIFIC PROGRAMS. AND SO FOR ME, YOU KNOW, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE INVESTING IN.
SO WHEN WE, WHEN WE GO TO MAKE THAT DECISION, ARE WE JUST INVESTING? ARE WE GOING, ARE WE MAKING A DECISION ABOUT INVESTING $8 MILLION IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT? AND WE CAN SPEND SOME MORE TIME TALKING ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, OR ARE WE INVESTING IN THE BRANDED PROGRAMS THAT OUR WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, YOU KNOW, IN OUR, IN OUR BACK AND FORTH DIRECTOR PRESENTER, YOU TALKED ABOUT, I THINK I HEARD, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE COULD BE OTHER PROVIDERS OF THIS KIND OF WORKFORCE TRAINING AS WELL, BUT THE, BUT THE DETAILED INFORMATION HERE IS REALLY ABOUT WORKFORCE SOLUTION PROGRAMS. AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB TOO, BUT, BUT WE MAY ALSO WANT TO INVEST.
WE MAY WANT TO INVEST IN CAPITAL IDEA.
WE MAY WANT TO INVEST IN THE OTHER ONES FOUNDATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
UM, I'M LOOKING AT THE PUBLIC SECTOR ACADEMY, WHICH SOUNDS WONDERFUL.
AND I I'VE ALWAYS LOVED WHEN I GOT TO MEET SOME OF THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT COME UP AS PART OF, UM, AND, AND TOUR CITY HALL AND PARTICIPATE IN, IN THE DAY OR THE DAY LONG, THE COUPLE OF DAY LONG PROGRAM.
WE'VE GOT SEVERAL OF THESE GROUPS THAT COME UP TO CITY HALL, UM, TO ENCOURAGE THEM IN LIVES OF PUBLIC SECTOR.
I LOVE THOSE KINDS OF PROGRAMS, BUT I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF, SHOULD WE INVESTING IN PUBLIC SECTOR ACADEMY AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, KNOWING THAT MANY CITIES, INCLUDING OUR OWN HAVE HAD HIRING FREEZES? YOU KNOW, I, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO INVEST OUR, OUR, UM, WORKFORCE TRAINING DOLLARS RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT EXAMPLE IS THIS, TO SUGGEST THAT I, WHAT WE HAVE A QUESTION BEFORE US COLLEAGUES, I THINK ABOUT WHAT, AT WHAT LEVEL OF DETAIL WE ARE APPROVING, WE'RE GIVING THE GO AHEAD WHEN WE TAKE THAT DECISION, BUT IT'S A BACK AND FORTH, LIKE I WANT TO KNOW BECAUSE ALL THE DETAILS MATTER TO, UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF IT'S THE PUBLIC SECTOR ACADEMY WITHIN, FOR TWO OF THOSE $8 MILLION, I MAY WANT TO SHIFT SOME OF THAT JUST FOR RIGHT NOW, UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT IS A SUPER IMPORTANT, NEAT SOUNDING PROGRAM.
BUT WITH ONE PAGE OF DETAIL, I'M JUST NOT, I'M NOT ABLE AT THIS POINT TO COMMIT TO A $2 MILLION EXPENDITURE ON IT.
I MEAN, IT'S, SO IT'S A SLASH COMMENT.
IT'S A, IT'S A COMMENT SLASH QUESTION, I GUESS JUST, UM, BUT, BUT NOT ONE THAT NECESSARILY WE NEED TO ANSWER TODAY.
MY SENSE ON THAT, PROBABLY EVERYBODY SAYS IT'S DIFFERENT JUST TO A DEGREE WHERE AT THIS POINT IN REALLY HIGH LEVEL WHERE WE'RE, WE ARE FILLING IN BUCKETS, WE'RE IDENTIFYING PROPORTIONS AND, AND, AND PRIORITIES, WHAT IT SEEMS TO ME, WHAT STAFF DID.
[02:30:01]
IT APPEARS AS IF WE TOOK A LEVEL, WE WENT TO PEOPLE IN THE AREAS AND SAID, WHAT WOULD TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE LOOK LIKE? THEY CAME BACK WITH KINDS OF PROPOSALS, WHICH GAVE US KIND OF SCALE THE $8 MILLION IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.IF THE COUNTY WAS PARTICIPATING IN YOUR FAVOR, PARTICIPATING ON A PRO-RATA ON A SIMILAR POPULATION LEVEL, BUT INDICATED A FUND FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAD EIGHT AND WE'RE 45% TO THEIR 55% BECAUSE WE'RE A MILLION AS OPPOSED TO 1,000,003.
AND NONE OF THESE NUMBERS ARE, ARE GUARANTEED.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, JUST A WAY OF LOOKING AT IT.
AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTION THAT IS PROBABLY EIGHT PLUS NINE OF THE $17 MILLION RANGE.
AND WHAT I'VE HEARD THE COUNTY IS, HAS INDICATED THE DESIRE TO, TO ALSO JOIN IN INVEST, BUT WE DON'T KNOW ANY GUARANTEES ON THAT, BUT AT THE $17 MILLION, IT APPEARS AS IF IT COVERS WHAT AT LEAST THIS PERSON IN THAT INDUSTRY SAID WOULD, IT WOULD HELP US BE ABLE TO FUND THE TRANSPORT TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE.
AND THAT'S HOW I'M LOOKING AT IT AT THIS POINT, I'M LOOKING AT IT THAT WAY AND LESS IN TERMS OF WHAT THE PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS.
BUT I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION FOR US TO HAVE PRIOR TO THE JUNE, WHETHER WE'RE READY TO MAKE THAT OR NOT MAKE THAT, OR KEEP THAT KIND OF MONEY IN AT THAT TO RIDE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE AT THAT SCALE.
AND THAT'S HOW I'M LOOKING AT IT.
I COULD BE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT THAN, THAN EVERYBODY ELSE HAS.
THE COUNTY INDICATED ANY KIND OF DESIRE AT ALL, TO ALSO CO-INVEST ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TYPE ISSUES.
THE COUNTY HAS SPOKEN TO AREAS THAT THEY HAVE PRIORITIZED IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE MET WITH STAFF.
AND THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE HEARD THROUGH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS AND MEETINGS WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS.
THERE'S THERE SEEMS TO BE INTEREST AS WELL.
UM, BUT THEY HAVEN'T MADE A DIRECT RECOMMENDATION.
AND IT APPEARS AS IF THE SAME THING ON CHILDCARE THAT WE REACHED OUT TO EXPERTS, OR THEY CAME TO US AND SAID, THIS IS THE LEVEL OF TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE.
IF YOU TAKE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT STAFF PUT IN THIS, AND AGAIN, ASSUME THE COUNTY WAS CONTRIBUTING IN A, SOME MEASURE OF RELATIONSHIP.
THEN YOU HAVE A BUCKET THAT EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT OR THE SIX SQUARE.
AND, AND THEY, UH, I THINK, I DUNNO, IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE ROUGHLY THEY CAN PAY THE BUCKET THAT WAS SUFFICIENT TO BE ABLE TO DO THE TRANSFORMATIVE PLAN AND CHILDCARE.
SO THAT GENERALLY SEEMS APPROPRIATE TO ME, MARIKA COOK THAT TOO, THAT, UM, THE KELLY DID COMMISSIONERS HAD A CONVERSATION ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THEIR APPROACH TO LOOKING AT THE APPROVAL OF FUNDS.
AND WE'LL, WE'LL SEND THE, UM, THE PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL VIA EMAIL, UM, OR ACTUALLY WE'LL PUT IT UP AS BACKUP TO OUR PRESENTATION SO THAT IT'S ACCESSIBLE.
UM, BUT IN THAT PRESENTATION, THEY TRACK, THEY, THEY BROKE THEIR PRIORITIES AND TO TRACK ONE AND TRACK TWO TRACKS, ONE BEING THE THINGS THAT THEY PRIORITIZE THROUGH CARES.
AND I JUST DOUBLE-CHECKED AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WAS FUNDED BY THE COUNTY THROUGH THEIR CARES FUNDING.
SO I WOULD ASSUME THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A TRACK ONE PRIORITY AS A RESULT, TRACK TWO IS OTHER PRIORITIES THAT THEY HAVE NOT FUNDED, UH, THAT THEY DID NOT FUND THROUGH THE CARES ACT, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL SHARE THAT PRESENTATION WITH THE GROUP.
AND WHEN THEY DID THE CARES ACT BEFORE THEY ONLY RECEIVED ENOUGH MONEY FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, UH, AND NOW THEY HAVE MONEY FOR THE ADDITIONAL MILLION PEOPLE THAT ARE, THAT ARE INSIDE THE CITY.
BUT I THINK THAT THAT MEAN THAT I'M NOT SURE THAT FOR MY VOTE, I NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROGRAM IS.
AS MUCH AS I, AT THIS POINT NEED TO KNOW JUST RELATIVE SCALE AND PRIORITY.
I DON'T THINK THAT MEANS WE'RE JUST WRITING A BLANK CHECK BECAUSE I WOULD STILL EXPECT STAFF TO COME BACK AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
AND, AND, AND I LOOK AT MONEY FOR, FOR MUSIC AND ARTS, THE SAME WAY.
I'M THE SAME QUESTION THAT ALISON RAISED IN KATHY RAISED.
AND I HAVE, YOU KNOW, EVEN YOUR BROTHER'S BACK TO 60, WHICH DOES IT INDICATE IN THESE PARTICULAR PROGRAM, OR IT JUST SAYS THERE'S A NEED HERE.
UM, UM, AND I COME TO, AND ALSO FROM LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS YOU DEGREE? WE CAN DO TRANSFORMATIVE STUFF.
WE SHOULD, UH, ABSENT A, A EXITED THE NEED FOR RELIEF, WHICH IS WHAT WE SAID IN THAT LAST RESOLUTION THAT WE PASSED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.
[02:35:02]
TO THAT POINT, I WANT TO WRITE US BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER FLINT.THIS IS POINT WHERE I THINK ONE PART OF GETTING THAT LOW OF THE BASIC DETAIL IS FOR SOME OF THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH SPENDING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED, BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE, MY ASSUMPTION IS WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING MORE THAN 3 MILLION IN FOOD INSECURITY BASED ON THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, BECAUSE SOME OF THAT WOULD BE IN APH.
SO IT COULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE NEXT PRESENTATION.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO, AGAIN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRILL DOWN TO EVERY $10,000, BUT TO JUST ACTUALLY GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW MUCH FOOD INSECURITY MONEY WHERE WE'RE DOING AND OTHER THINGS, BECAUSE SOME OF THAT IS, IS PACKAGED INTO THAT BIGGER INTO THAT BIGGER CHUNK.
AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A, UM, A MIDDLE GROUND TO WHAT YOU SAID, MAYOR, WHERE IN SOME CASES, I THINK AS A COUNCIL, WE WOULD JUST SAY, HERE IS THE OVERALL LARGE AMOUNT.
AND IN SOME CASES WE MIGHT GIVE THAT LARGE AMOUNTS AND THEN LIST TWO DETAILS.
IF THERE'S A PROGRAM OR TWO THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COUNCIL, WE JUST GIVE THAT ADDITIONAL DIRECTION.
UM, MY SECOND POINT WAS TO SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER RAISED ABOUT THE, THE MARCH MEMO, UH, THAT MARCH MEMO LOOKED AT RESERVES AS A WAY OF FUNDING, SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE FOR, UM, FOR PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO PAY THE BILLS AND SOME OF THE WORKFORCE.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT, UM, THE NEXT PRESENTATION, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN PULL FROM RESERVES AND WHAT WE CANNOT, BECAUSE THAT MIGHT MAKE UP SOME OF THE DIFFERENCE THAT WE HAVE LAID OUT HERE.
UM, I RECALL AND LOOKED AT IT IN THE MARKET.
MY MOTHER RAISED $20 MILLION DEDICATED TO THINGS LIKE RISE AND RENT TO HELP INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING.
UM, AND THEN, UM, TO THE QUESTION OF TRANSFORMATIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT, BUT IF IT'S ALSO JUST MAKING SOME ORGANIZATIONS WHOLE AND MAKING SURE SOME FOLKS DON'T LOSE THEIR PLACES TO LIVE, I THINK THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL.
THE LAST THING THAT I SCRIBBLED DOWN THAT I MEANT TO MENTION A WHILE AGO, I MADE A MISTAKE AND SAID WE HAD SIX DAYS TO RESPOND TO A LANDLORD.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE 45 DAYS UNDER THE ORDER.
UM, BUT I THINK WE CAN MAKE THAT DEADLINE, UH, EVICTIONS, ALL, I JUST, UM, MADE A MISTAKE IN THE NUMBER OF DAYS, COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN.
IT ALSO BROUGHT UP THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING ANOTHER SPECIAL CALL IT OPPORTUNITY OUTSIDE OF TODAY'S MEETING, MAYBE TO GO TO OTHER BRIEFINGS, TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THIS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY'S SCHEDULE IS NEXT WEEK, OR MAYBE JUST ANOTHER WORK SESSION, JUST DEVOTED TO GETTING MORE GOOD OUT IN THESE CONVERSATIONS MIGHT BE, MIGHT BE HELPFUL.
UH, WE'LL CHECK WITH PEOPLE'S CALENDARS OR HAVE THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IN PERHAPS OFFICE CHECK AND SEE WHETHER THERE'S INTEREST IN THAT KATHY.
AND THEN A JUST QUICKLY, I, I DID NOT MENTION, UM, ONE PRIORITY THAT I BELIEVE WE SHOULD FIND FUNDING WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK FOR, AND THAT IS RESILIENCE WORK.
AND SO I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THERE ARE OTHER FUNDING STREAMS THAT ARE COMING IN AND BEING MADE AVAILABLE THAT WOULD BE APPLICABLE, BUT JUST, JUST KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS.
IF, IF NOT, I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS TO SEE WHERE WE MIGHT SHIFT SOME FUNDING AROUND, UM, TO HELP SUPPORT SOME OF THE FOOD ACCESS WORK THAT I THINK IS CRITICAL.
AND SOME OF THE WORK ON RESILIENCE HUBS OKAY.
ON THE WORK SESSION, IF WE DO THAT, WHICH I THINK WILL BE HELPFUL, I WAS HOPING THAT WE WOULD SPEND MOST OF THE TIME ON THE, UM, THE, UH, UH, THE HOMELESS, UM, ISSUES, BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN, IN MORE DETAIL ABOUT BOTH WHAT THE COMPONENTS ARE OF THE SUMMIT APPROACH, AS WELL AS THE, YOU KNOW, BREAKING THAT DOWN FROM A, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM A BUCKET LEVEL, FROM THE FUNDING, UM, AS WELL AS WHAT, UH, WOULD BE THINKING TO INCLUDE IN THE PROPOSED 84 MILLION.
I THINK THAT THAT MAY TAKE A BIT OF TIME TO GO THROUGH.
SO, UM, WE COULD USE THAT TIME TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT OTHER THINGS TOO, BUT I WOULD WANT US TO SPEND MOST OF THE TIME.
AND FIRST I WOULD WANT US TO ADDRESS THE, UM, THE HOMELESS FUNDING, BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
I WOULD ADD TO THAT IF WE WERE COMING BACK, I'D WANT STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE, UH, THE LARGER TOTAL FUNDING ISSUES THAT, THAT SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE RAISED, THAT, THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO COME BACK WITH COMMITMENTS FROM ALL THE OTHER POSSIBLE PARTNERS, BUT AT LEAST TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THAT, WHAT THAT APPROACH IS OR WHAT THAT PROCESS IS, OR ANY ADDITIONAL KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS OR INDICATIONS THAT EXIST.
UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO REALLY CREATE THE, THE SYSTEM THAT WE NEED, WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
WE CAN CONTRIBUTE REALLY SUBSTANTIALLY IF OTHERS ARE GOING TO CONTRIBUTE REALLY SUBSTANTIALLY PRIVATE SECTOR PHILANTHROPY AT ALL,
[02:40:02]
BUT JUST TO HAVE, UH, A PART OF THE CONVERSATION AS WELL.I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL COLLEAGUES IF IT'S OKAY, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT, UH, PRESENTATION.
UH, SO WE CAN GET THOSE OTHER TWO LEANNE, UM, KATHY, RIGHT.
I REQUESTED THE NEXT TWO PRESENTATIONS.
AND I JUST IN RECOGNITION OF THE TIME AND KNOWING THAT WE HAVE PULLED ITEMS, I WANTED TO MAKE A SUGGESTION.
UM, I HAD REQUESTED THE DESIGNATED CAMPING, WHICH I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE TODAY, BUT I ALSO REQUESTED TO HEALTH, SOUTH BRIEFING, WHICH WHILE IMPORTANT, I THINK IS LESS TIME SENSITIVE.
AND SO I, I JUST WANTED TO OPEN UP TO MY COLLEAGUES, THE POSSIBILITY OF PUSHING THAT.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE ARE POSTED TO TALK ABOUT IT ON THURSDAY, BUT PERHAPS THAT'S WHEN WE CAN POST FOUR OR THREE INSTEAD.
AND I, AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE STAFF MEMO THAT WE GOT LAST NIGHT.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT.
I, I DID, BUT, UM, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD, MIGHT BE ANOTHER REASON TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME AND TALK ABOUT IT ON SIX THREE, KATHY.
UH, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT ON THURSDAY.
UH, BUT MANAGER, IF IT WORKS, IF WE GET THIS BACK ON THE AGENDA ON 61, AND WE CAN PICK THAT BACK UP THEN, IS THAT OKAY? ALL RIGHT.
[B3. Staff response to Resolution No. 20210506-070 relating to individuals experiencing homelessness.]
LET'S GO THEN TO THE, UH, CAMERON'S PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL DO PULLED ITEMS. YOU HAVE A HARD STOP AT FIVE.WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR ACM HAYDEN HOWARD AND OUR CHIEF HOMELESS OFFICER.
UH, DIANA GREAT TICKET MOVED OVER ONE SECOND.
LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE JOINED US.
UH, SO THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS IS NOW OUR THIRD OR THE B3 PRESENTATION.
UM, AND THE RESPONSE TO A RESOLUTION WAS PASSED AT OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING RELATING TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND POTENTIAL SANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS.
AND WE HAVE AN UPDATE FROM THAT.
THE MEMO WAS SENT OUT LAST FRIDAY, AND WE WANTED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAIL TODAY.
SO TO KICK THIS OFF, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UH, STEPHANIE HAYDEN, HOWARD SPENCER AFTERNOON.
UM, WE, WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU, AS WE WALK THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION, THIS IS AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT.
THIS IS ALSO SUBJECT TO CHANGE BECAUSE OVER TIME THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO, UM, KIND OF MOLD LOVERS, BUT ALSO HAVE THE FEEDBACK FROM, FROM YOU INDIVIDUALLY.
AND WE ALSO, UM, ARE WANTING TO HEAR FROM EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT.
AND SO THIS IS A STARTING PLACE FOR US.
UM, NO, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.
AND, UM, AND SO THIS IS, I JUST CANNOT EMPHASIZE THIS AS A STARTING PLACE.
ONE OF THE THINGS, UM, THAT WE WANT TO JUST KIND OF WALK THROUGH WITH YOU IS, IS, UM, WE DO WANT TO SHARE THE PROCESS OF HOW WE CAME TO THIS PLACE WITH THIS, WITH THESE INITIAL LOCATIONS.
UM, AND, UM, WE, WE DEFINITELY USE THE RESOLUTION AND THE CRITERIA THERE, UM, TO BE ABLE TO PUT THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER, BUT WE ALSO, UM, LOOKED AT BEST PRACTICE INFORMATION AS WELL TO INCLUDE THAT IN THIS PROCESS.
UM, LASTLY, UM, WE HAD SEVERAL, UM, FOLKS FROM SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS THAT CAME TOGETHER TO EITHER PROVIDE THE INFORMATION OF SYDNEY PROPERTIES AS YOU'RE GONNA SEE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
BUT WE ALSO HAD FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY WENT OUT TO THESE LOCATIONS AND, AND REALLY, UM, KIND OF TOOK A KIND OF SECOND LOOK AT THE LOCATIONS AS WELL.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY A, UM, A TEAM PROCESS.
UH, LASTLY, UM, NOT LISTED ON THE SLIDE IS, UM, UH, DIRECTOR CAN SNIPES, UM, IS ALSO GOING TO BE ASSISTING US WITH THIS PROCESS AS WELL.
AND SO, BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTING THIS INFORMATION.
WE FEEL LIKE IT'S VERY COMPREHENSIVE AT THIS TIME.
I WILL TURN OVER TO DIANA GRAY HOMELESS
[02:45:01]
STRATEGY OFFICER.THANK YOU, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, HAYDEN HOWARD, UH, AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, I WILL START THE PRESENTATION REALLY JUST BY GIVING A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE, UH, HAVE ESTABLISHED SANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS, UH, REALLY PIECES, UH, AND ELEMENTS OF THOSE ENCAMPMENTS THAT THEY HAVE CONSIDERED, UM, CRITICAL, UH, TO THEIR EFFECTIVE OPERATION.
AND THEN IN SOME CASES, UM, JUST A FEW CONSIDERATIONS THAT, UH, WE WILL WANT TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE GO FORWARD.
UH, WE HAVE DONE, UM, SUBSTANTIALLY MORE, UH, SORT OF, UH, BACKGROUND RESEARCH THEN IS REPRESENTED HERE IN THE PRESENTATION TODAY, BUT THAT WILL CERTAINLY BE ONGOING, UH, AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS AND COME TO A DIFFERENT DECISION POINTS ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO, UM, PROCEED TO THE DEGREE WE DO AND WHAT OUR OPERATIONS WILL LOOK LIKE.
SO I'LL MOVE ALONG TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
AND THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST AS BACKGROUND, OF COURSE, UM, UH, JUST ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, UH, OR A LITTLE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO, COUNCIL ADOPTED THE RESOLUTION, UM, DIRECTING CITY MANAGER AND STAFF TO GIVE FEEDBACK AND INFORMATION ON THE, THE POSSIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING SANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THE DIRECTION IN THAT MEMO, UH, WAS FOR STAFF TO COME BACK A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES, UH, TO COUNCIL WITH FEEDBACK.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS, UH, ALLOWED US TO COME BACK TO YOU QUICKLY.
UM, BUT ALSO TO PHASE THAT WORK TO SOME DEGREE.
SO TODAY IS THE FIRST OF THOSE REPORTS OR THE MEMO THAT WENT OUT FRIDAY WAS THE FIRST OF THOSE REPORTS AND TODAY'S BRIEFING COVERS THAT INFORMATION.
UH, THEN WE ARE TO COME BACK JUNE 1ST WITH SOME MORE GRANULAR DATA, UH, AND POTENTIAL PLANNING AROUND SPECIFIC WORK IN AUSTIN.
AND FOR JULY 1ST HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL, UM, INFORMATION BACKGROUND AND COST DATA ON WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE TO OPERATE A SITE WITH, UH, AS THE RESOLUTION OR EXCUSE ME, THE RESOLUTION TERMS, UM, TINY HOMES OR, UH, INDIVIDUAL SHELTERS OF, OF SOME SORT NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THIS IS JUST A VISUAL THAT I THINK IS USEFUL IS NOT TO SUGGEST THAT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT.
IN FACT, THERE ARE SOME PIECES HERE THAT I THINK, UM, OUR FIRE CHIEF WOULD OBJECT TO IN TERMS OF THE PROXIMITY OF THE TENTS TOGETHER, BASED ON THAT, UH, WHAT THEY'RE RECOMMENDING TO US.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING IN TERMS OF, UM, A DESIGNATED ENCAMPMENT SITE, UM, WOULD BE HAVING SOME UNIFORMITY IN TERMS OF, UH, THE TENT OR SHELTER THAT IS UTILIZED, UM, SO THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT BETTER CONTROL OVER, UH, WHAT MATERIALS ARE PRESENT ON THE SITE.
UM, AND, UM, AND THE, AND THE UPS UPKEEP OF THE SITE IN GENERAL, IT'S GOING TO THE NEXT SITE, EXCUSE ME, SLIDE.
I, AS I SEE THIS, I REALIZED THAT THE PRINT IS A LITTLE BIT SMALL, BUT FUNDAMENTALLY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ESTABLISHING A DESIGNATED SITE FOR LEGAL CAMPING, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO ENSURE THAT, UH, FUNDAMENTAL ACCESS TO, UH, TO CLEAN WATER ELECTRICITY, UM, AND HYGIENE RESOURCES ARE THERE, UM, BOTH, UH, AS A GENERAL, UM, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH.
AND OF COURSE, UM, IN TERMS OF, UH, THE WELLBEING OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE THERE, UH, WE ARE, UH, ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A CONGREGATE SHELTER APPROACH, PEOPLE ARE IN CLOSE, CLOSE PROXIMITY, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INSTANCES IN OTHER CITIES OF, UM, HAVING SOME, UH, SOME CONTAGIOUS DISEASE, ET CETERA.
SO WATER AND ELECTRICITY, UM, AND, UH, DIRECTOR KEN MCNEELY WITH BARD WILL SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER ON HYGIENE, INCLUDING RESTROOMS AND HAND-WASHING STATIONS, UH, AS WELL TOO, AS WELL AS TYPICALLY, UM, SHOWERS.
UH, WE MAY HAVE SOME SITES IN WHICH THOSE FACILITIES ARE EXISTING, BUT I THINK THE PRESUMPTION IS IN MANY OF THE SITES THAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT TODAY WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD NEED TO BRING IN, UH, MOBILE UNITS FOR SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES, UH, MAKING, UH, ALLOWANCES FOR TRASH PICKUP FOR OTHER KINDS OF WASTE COLLECTION, UH, IS CRITICAL HAVING SUFFICIENT LIGHTING, UM, FOR THE OVER ALL AREA.
[02:50:01]
THINKING ABOUT, UM, HANDLING OF FOOD AND OTHER ITEMS CAREFULLY SO THAT, UM, WE ESSENTIALLY ARE NOT ENCOURAGING, UH, THE ATTRACTION OF PASTS OF ANY SORT.IN ADDITION TO THOSE VERY FUNDAMENTAL PIECES.
UM, WE WOULD, SOME OF THE, UH, AMENITIES OR, OR SERVICES WE WOULD BE THINKING ABOUT WOULD BE LAUNDRY FACILITIES, STORAGE SPACE, AS WE KNOW, SOME PEOPLE WILL COME, UH, WITH MORE THAN WILL FIT WITHIN THEIR TENT SPACE OR HAVE ITEMS THAT THEY WISH TO SECURE, UH, IN A MORE, UM, ROBUST, UH, UH, MANNER THAN JUST IN THE TENT, UH, MA MOST SANCTIONED ENCAMPMENT SITES DO MEAL DISTRIBUTION, UM, AND REALLY THEREFORE HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER THE, THE HYGIENE AND THE SAFETY OF THE FOOD, AS WELL AS THE CLEANUP ONSITE, WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT FOLKS COMING OUT OF EXISTING UNSHELTERED SITUATIONS, QUITE A FEW OF THEM WILL HAVE PETS.
AND SO THAT WILL BE A DECISION TO BE MADE, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WHEN WE CONSIDER A PARTICULAR SITE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, UH, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE ACCESS, UH, TO THE REST OF THE CITY TO AMENITIES AND SERVICES.
AND TRANSPORTATION IS CRITICAL THERE.
UM, IN THE CASE OF ESPERANZA COMMUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, THERE IS NOT SUBSTANTIAL, UM, SUBSTANTIAL ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION THERE, BUT, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT CAP METRO DID WORK WITH THEM TO PROVIDE THAT ACCESS.
SO NOT, UH, NOT COMMITTING, UH, CAPITAL METRO, UH, ON THEIR BEHALF, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE WAYS FOR US TO SOLVE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, UH, WHEN WE COME INTO CONTACT WITH A SITE THAT WE THINK COULD BE VIABLE.
TYPICALLY WE WILL NEED TO STAFF THE SITE, UM, BOTH WITH GENERAL OPERATION STAFF AND MOST, UM, PROVIDERS HAVE RECOMMENDED 24 HOUR SECURITY OF SOME SORT.
AND, UM, AND THEN, UM, IN ADDITION TO JUST THE OPERATIONAL FOLKS, UH, STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE KEEPING THE TRAINS RUNNING, HAVING SOME SERVICES ONSITE, UH, THAT MEET BASIC NEEDS, BUT ALSO CONTINUE THE FOCUS ON REHOUSING SO THAT THESE ARE NOT JUST PLACES FOR FOLKS TO COME AND STAY LONG-TERM, BUT WE ARE CONNECTING THEM WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HOPE WE WILL INCREASINGLY HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND MOVING THEM INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
NOW, I THINK THE INTENSITY OF SERVICES IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BUT, UH, BUT WE'LL BE CRITICAL.
I THINK IF WE WANT TO UTILIZE THESE SPACES AS, UM, TEMPORARY, UH, SPACES THROUGH WHICH MULTIPLE, UM, FOLKS COULD USE A TENT, FOR EXAMPLE, OR A STRUCTURE OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, UM, WITH THE IDEA THAT THEY THEN ARE BECOMING RE REHOUSED.
AND SO SPOKE A LITTLE BIT TO, UM, THE INDIVIDUAL SHELTERS, UH, OR PROVIDED TENT STRUCTURES AS ONE APPROACH THAT SOME LOCALITIES HAVE TAKEN.
PERHAPS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT WE HEAR FROM OUR PARTNERS IS THAT VERY OFTEN, UH, SANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS ARE SET UP AS TEMPORARY, UH, BUT THEY TEND TO BE QUITE DIFFICULT TO DEMOBILIZE.
AND SO WE WANT TO THINK THROUGH WHAT OUR TIMELINE IS ON A PARTICULAR SITE.
UM, THERE MAY BE INTENDED USES FOR LOCATIONS THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY THAT WOULD NECESSITATE, UH, DEMOBILIZING A, AN ENCAMPMENT THERE, UM, IN THE MIDTERMS SO THAT IT WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE LONGTERM.
AND OBVIOUSLY IF WE CONTINUE TO HAVE VERY SUBSTANTIAL NEED FOR SHELTER OVER TIME, UM, IT, YOU KNOW, AS A COMMUNITY, WE MAY NEED TO CONSIDER THE MORE PERMANENT SHELTER STRUCTURES WITH THAT.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR KIM MCNEILLY WITH PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WHO IS GOING TO TALK YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ASSESSING THE PROPERTIES THAT STAFF LOOKED AT AS POTENTIAL SITES FOR THE SANCTIONING CAMP.
I DON'T BELIEVE I STILL THERE.
UM, KIMBERLY MCNEALY FROM THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR.
SO PLEASE KNOW THAT, UM, RIGHT NOW STAFF REVIEWED APPROXIMATELY 70 CITY OWNED PROPERTIES AND THOSE 70 CITY OWNED PROPERTIES WERE A COMBINATION OF PARKLAND WAS IDENTIFIED FROM, BY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT STAFF AS POSSIBILITIES, ALONG WITH, UM, PROPERTIES THAT WERE CONSIDERED, UM, QUOTE UNQUOTE,
[02:55:02]
UM, SURPLUS.BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING USED FOR SOMETHING IN THAT PARTICULAR SERVE.
CLASS OF LIST OF PROPERTIES WAS RECEIVED FROM THE REAL ESTATE OFFICE.
AND SO EACH OF THOSE PROPERTIES ON ARE MANY OF THOSE PROPERTIES ARE NOT OWNED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT THAT ARE OWNED BY A VARIETY OF DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING, UH, AUSTIN HOUSING AND FINANCE CORPORATION.
THE PUBLIC WORKS ALSO RESOURCE RECOVERY, AUSTIN WATER ALSO ENERGY IS NOT LISTED AUSTIN WATER.
UH, AUSTIN WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO PART OF THIS.
THERE IS ALSO SOME, UM, CONSIDERATIONS FOR PIECES OF LAND THAT WERE SLIVERS OF LAND, WHERE THERE MIGHT'VE BEEN MULTIPLE OWNERS, OR WE WEREN'T A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE WHICH CITY DEPARTMENT HAD CONTROL OVER THAT, BUT IT WAS CONSIDERED AS A PART OF A SURPLUS LIST.
AND SO THE INITIAL ROUND THAT WE'LL BE SHOWING YOU IS, UM, IS VERY, VERY PRELIMINARY, AND IT WAS BASED UPON SOME ANALYSIS THAT WAS VERY BASE ANALYSIS.
SO WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THE BASIC THINGS THAT WE TOOK A LOOK AT, UM, WITH REGARDS TO THESE PROPERTIES INCLUDED ON THE LENGTH OF YOU.
SO WE WERE HOPING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THE PROPERTY FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS, AND WE'RE STILL ANALYZING WHETHER THAT'S APPROPRIATE OR WHETHER THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE IN THE LIST OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE, THAT ARE, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD.
WE NEEDED AT LEAST TWO ACRES OF PROPERTY FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 PEOPLE.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY IF YOU DOUBLED THAT FOUR ACRES FOR APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED PEOPLE, AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR ACCESS, OR WE HAD BEEN LOOKING AT ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, IS IT ON A BUS LINE? COULD IT BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE, UM, BY INDIVIDUALS USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR EVEN SOME OTHER MEANS? UM, AND THAT'S TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO, UH, DELVE INTO THE, THE MOBILITY OPTIONS.
UM, IF, IS THERE ACCESS TO AMENITIES SUCH AS GROCERY STORES OR OTHER KINDS OF RESOURCES, UM, IN THE AREA, UH, IS THERE ACCESS TO, UM, OUR I'M SORRY, IS THERE A PROXIMITY TO A SCHOOL OR TO OTHER CHILDCARE FACILITIES? AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO CONSIDER AS A, UM, AS A CONSIDERATION OR KIND OF LAND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS MIGHT BE HAVE? IS IT IN THE FLOOD PLAIN? AND WE ALSO WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE WHAT THE FIRE RISK WAS AND HOW CLOSE THE FIRE HYDRANT MIGHT BE.
SO WITH 70 SEPARATE PROPERTIES, WHILE IT MIGHT'VE BEEN EASY TO REMOVE SOME OF THEM, BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T EVEN LARGE ENOUGH FOR, THEY WERE IN A FLOOD PLAIN, AND THEY WERE PRONE TO FLOODING.
UM, NOT EVERY PROPERTY HAS HAD A FULL ANALYSIS.
AND ON TOP OF THOSE BASE CRITERIA IS I'M ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND ALSO WITH THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USES OF THOSE PARTICULAR PROPERTIES BASED UPON HOW THEY WERE ACQUIRED OR PURCHASED.
UM, I HAVE CONTACTED, AND I THINK SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH EACH OF THE COUNCIL OFFICES.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM, FROM ONE OF THE TEAM MEMBERS, YOU WILL IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE TO ALSO BE, UM, UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ABOUT, UM, PROPERTIES THAT MAY BE IN YOUR DISTRICT.
THERE IS A, UH, INTENTION FOR US.
ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO DO A FULL ANALYSIS OF THE PROPERTIES TO BE ABLE TO BRING FORWARD A PROPERTIES THAT SEEM THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND DO SOME COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF THAT.
WE ALSO WANT TO ENSURE THAT, UM, WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THERE ARE OTHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE OWNED PROPERTIES.
AND SO WHILE THIS FIRST ASSESSMENT WAS 70 ON CITY PROPERTIES, THE REAL ESTATE OFFICE, AND I ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY TO IDENTIFY PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT CITY OWNED, PERHAPS OWNED BY OTHER GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES OR PERHAPS PARTNER PROPERTIES, UM, THAT MAY BE WILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS ENDEAVOR.
UM, AND WE HAVE, WE NEED MORE TIME TO WORK ON THE COMPLETE FEASIBILITY.
SO IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THE NEXT TWO SLIDES, WE CAN START WITH THE VERY FIRST ONE.
AND THEN THE FOLLOWING ONE IN JUST A MOMENT, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 45 DIFFERENT PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT ARE LISTED.
AND THOSE FORTY-FIVE DIFFERENT PIECES OF PROPERTY ARE LISTED BECAUSE OF THE 70, I'M SORRY, THERE'S 35 PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT ARE NOT LISTED, I'M SORRY, 25 PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT ARE NOT LISTED ON THE 70, BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T IN THE FLOOD PLAIN AND THEY'RE PRONE TO FLOODING, OR THEY WERE JUST MUCH TOO SMALL FOR US TO EVEN CONSIDER THEY DIDN'T MEET THE BASE CRITERIA.
OH, OTHER PIECES OF PROPERTY ARE LISTED HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL UNDER, UM, UH, CERTAINLY A REVIEW PROCESS.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE VERY SPECIFIC ADDRESSES AND SOME OF THEM WERE IN THE SYSTEM AS LARGER PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT DIDN'T HAVE A SPECIFIC ADDRESS BECAUSE THAT'S HOW EACH DEPARTMENT REFERRED TO THEM.
AND SO I'M STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT THROUGH THE, UM, THROUGH THE, UM, UM, IF WE WERE, IF WE WERE EVEN GOING TO CONSIDER THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, COLONY PARK, RIGHT COLONY PARK LAND IS, IS ACTUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLONY
[03:00:01]
PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.UM, CATTELL IS A NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE.
AND SO IT'S ON THE LIST, BUT I, THERE'S WAY, THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS IS EVEN AN APPROPRIATE PROPERTY TO CONSIDER, BUT IT IS PART OF IT IS PART OF THE SYSTEM WHERE WE KNOW WE OWN PROPERTY THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY BEING USED.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THIS PARTICULAR USE, BUT WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY REMOVE ANYTHING FROM THE LIST.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE MAY BE PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT ARE PRESERVES OR ARE PART OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS THAT WILL SOON BE, UM, ELIMINATED, UH, AFTER WE GO THROUGH A MORE INTENSIVE LOOK AT EACH OF THESE PROPERTIES.
SO IF YOU GO TO THE SECOND PAGE, YOU'LL SEE, THESE ARE THE OTHER PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT ARE LISTED.
AND AGAIN, IT'S THE SAME, IT'S THE SAME PROCESS.
WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT EACH OF THOSE PIECES OF PROPERTY, LIKE CIRCLE C PARK CIRCLE C PARK IS, IS A PRETTY BIG PARK.
AND PUTTING JUST A SINGLE ADDRESS ON THAT PARTICULAR PARK WAS DIFFICULT FOR US.
UH, AND ALSO THERE'S ONLY PORTIONS OF MAYBE A PARTICULAR AREA THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE USED.
AND SO THAT'S JUST HOW CIRCLE C WAS IN THAT IN THE SYSTEM.
IT'S NOT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE PARK SYSTEM OR PART OF THE PARK PART OF THE CIRCLE SEED DISTRICT PARK.
BUT WE JUST HAVE IT WRITTEN DOWN THERE, UM, KNOW KIND OF SHORT FORM.
UM, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, UM, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS, IS, UM, IS, IS CLEAR THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN SELECTED AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT OF TIME.
EVERYTHING IS BEING EVALUATED ON THE BASE CRITERIA.
AND ALSO I'M OPEN TO FEEDBACK ABOUT OTHER CRITERIA THAT MIGHT BE, UM, MIGHT BE, UM, OR INTEREST TO THE COUNCIL OFFICES.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT A REVIEW THAT HAS TO BE DONE VIA OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND OUR PERMITTING DEPARTMENT, OR WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY, IF A PIECE OF LAND WAS SELECTED, THERE MAY BE MITIGATION THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.
AND WHEN I SAY MITIGATION IS THAT IT MIGHT HAVE TO BE CLEAR.
THERE MIGHT HAVE TO BE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE BROUGHT IN VIA INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM WORKABLE.
AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO, UM, TO EVALUATE THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH MAKING THESE PARTICULAR PIECES OF PROPERTY READY.
UH, AND SO THERE'S MUCH EVALUATION THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE.
UH, BUT THESE WERE THE FIRST, THIS WAS THE FIRST BLUSH AND IT WAS THE FIRST REVIEW.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO JUST PUT A PLUG IN FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY'VE GIVEN ME IN THE VERY FIRST REVIEW OF THIS ROOM FOR THESE PROPERTIES.
AND WITH THAT SAID, I THINK IT'S TIME TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM WHO WILL LIKELY BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS REVIEW AND SOME OF THEIR CODE PEAKS ITERATIONS, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP IN THIS LOOKING AFTER OUR COMMUNITY AND THE WEALTH OF, OF ALL THE FOLKS THAT RESIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, THE HALF OF CHIEF BAKER, UH, I'M SORRY, I CAN'T QUITE HEAR HIM.
WE WANT TO, UH, SAY WE'RE HAPPY TO BE PARTNERS IN THIS PROCESS TO FIND SOLUTIONS, TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND FOR THIS CONVERSATION SPECIFICALLY, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS HOW FOR ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT RESIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO DO SO SAFELY, AND THAT IS BEING MINDFUL OF, UH, THE SORT OF WILDFIRE OR FIRES THAT COULD DAMAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER IT BE A, A BUILDING OR A BRIDGE OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
AND THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES, OUR FIRE MARSHALS PUT TOGETHER THAT HAVE THINGS FROM IT, THINGS FROM ADOPTED CITY CODE AND CITY ORDINANCES THAT HELP PROVIDE SOME DIRECTION ON THAT.
IF WE COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND THE ONE AFTER THAT, HERE WE GO.
THIS SLIDE IN THE NEXT, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE SMALL PRINT ON, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ITEMS THERE THAT PROVIDE DIRECTION, UH, THINGS SUCH AS, UH, THERE'S NO CAMPING BY SITTING ORDINANCE ALLOWED IN ANY HIGH WILDFIRE RISK AREAS.
WE'VE ALSO GOT THAT IF THERE ARE GOING TO BE, UH, FIRES THAT THEY'RE NOT IN, UH, WITHIN 25 FEET OF COMBUSTIBLES, UH, THAT IF THINGS ARE GOING TO BE SET UP IN PARKS, WHAT SORT OF PROXIMITY YOU NEED OF, UM, FIRE HYDRANTS AND EXCESS FOR BRUSH TRUCKS TO BE ABLE TO GET IN AND PUT OUT ANY PARTICULAR FIRE THAT MAY EXIST IN THOSE AREAS AMONGST SOME OTHER ITEMS ON THERE WITHOUT GOING INTO EACH ONE OF THEM SPECIFICALLY.
UH, BUT OUR FOCUS HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE RESIDING SAFELY AND THAT THERE'S NO, UH, UM,
[03:05:01]
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT WOULD RESULT IN ANY SORT OF A FIRE THAT WOULD GET BEYOND, UH, WHAT IT WAS CONTAINED IN, OR THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO PUT IT ON QUICKLY ON THE OCCASION THAT SOMETHING MAY OCCUR IN A TENT.SO, UH, WITH THAT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, AGAIN, THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE CODES, UH, THAT OUR FARM MARSHALL PUT TOGETHER, UH, TO GIVE SOME DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE ALONG WITH HELPING THEM, THE PART GROUP TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND TO SEE WHICH ONE OF THOSE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A HIGH WILDFIRE RISK AREA.
ULTIMATELY THE, THE CHIEF BAKER'S, UH, CONCERN AND FOCUS IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE FOLKS RESIDING IN HIGH FILE, HIGH WILDFIRE RISK AREAS, OR IN THE WOODS IN GENERAL, JUST THE SAFETY ELEMENT THERE.
AND THEN THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF ANY SORT OF FIRE IS, IS VERY NEGATIVE AND THE DAMAGE THAT IT COULD CAUSE, UH, BUT THAT WE HELPED FIND SAFE PLACES FOR FOLKS TO RESIDE AS THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THE CITY HAS TO OFFER TO IDEALLY GET BACK TO A, A MORE DESIRED, UH, POSITION FOR THEM.
AS FAR AS HOUSING GOES WITH THAT.
THOSE ARE SLIDES I'VE GOT HERE IN THE ROOM WITH ME, OUR FIRE MARSHALL AND, UH, CHIEF OAKEY AND CHIEF KENNEDY.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS FOR US, OTHERWISE I'LL HAND IT BACK OVER TO, UH, RIGHT.
I HAVE A QUESTION MAYOR OR KIMBERLEY.
UM, DID YOU APPLY THOSE CRITERIA AGAINST THIS LIST? I'M AWARE OF THAT CRITERIA AND I'M STILL WORKING THROUGH THE LIST, SO IT HAS NOT BEEN APPLIED TO EVERY PIECE OF PROPERTY I'M STILL CALLING THROUGH, UM, ALL OF THE, ALL THE PROPERTIES THAT AT LEAST MEET THE SIZE AND ARE NOT IN THE FLOOD PLAIN, BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO APPLY IT TO EVERYTHING SO PROPERTY.
SO YEAH, I'M WORKING ON IT AND WORKING ON IT, BUT IT'S NOT DONE YET.
AND CAN WE REMOVE THE SLIDE, THE SHOW FROM THE AD? WHAT DO I HAVE, YEAH, I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR DLA.
UM, SO I, I KNOW, AND I'M SURE OTHERS KNOW WHAT HIGH FIRE I FIRE WILD.
I WAS, OUR RISK IS IN THEIR AREA.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT LEASED PROPERTIES IS, UH, IN MY AREA.
SO I JUST WANT TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT JUST BECAUSE IT'S ON THIS LIST, DOES IT MEAN THAT IT'S, THE ASSESSMENT'S BEEN DONE? SO ALTHOUGH THE FLOOD RISK AREAS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, THE WILDFIRE RISK AREAS HAVE NOT YET BEEN TAKEN OFF.
SO I WOULD REALLY URGE YOU TO DO THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
UH, I THINK THAT THERE'S, I EXPECT TO HEAR QUITE A BIT OF CONCERN, UH, AT THE AREA IN MY DISTRICT, THAT'S ON THIS LIST BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS THERE A RISK FOR THAT PARTICULAR AREA, BUT ALL AROUND IT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THERE'S RISK.
AND IF I MIGHT ADD TO WHAT YOU'VE SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, THAT SAGE ADVICE.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THERE ARE PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT I'M SURE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ARE AWARE, MAYBE A PARTICULAR PRESERVE OR HABITAT FOR ANIMALS THAT ALSO, OR SPECIES RIGHT.
SPECIES ARE INTERESTING ANIMALS, BUT SPECIES THAT ALSO MAY MAKE IT NOT SUITABLE FOR THIS PURPOSE.
AND WE'RE STILL APPLYING THAT CRITERIA TOO.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY ALSO KNOWS THAT THERE'S OTHER CRITERIA THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY APPLIED EITHER IN OUR, IN THE PROCESS.
CAUSE THE MARY MORRISSEY WRIGHT PARK IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS.
IT'S COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE ON SEVERAL CATEGORIES AND THE WILDFIRE RISK BEING ONE OF THOSE.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.
SO THERE'S NOT ANY MISUNDERSTANDING, UH, FROM PEOPLE WHO MAY SEE THIS LIST.
ARE WE GET INTO MORE QUESTIONS? WE DID HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF CONCLUDING SLIDES.
I DON'T KNOW IF DIANA WAS GOING TO WRAP UP THE PRESENTATION, BUT THAT'S A GREAT POINT AS WE TAKE SOME OF THESE, UH, SITES OFF THE LIST.
WE'RE ALSO ASKING FOR THE CALL TO ACTION ABOUT ADDING SITES.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING UP WITH EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY TO LOOK AT OTHER POTENTIAL SITES IN YOUR DISTRICT.
UH, THOSE NOT BE CITY OWNED PROPERTIES, BUT MAYBE YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH A PRIVATE LANDOWNER OR WE CAN START THE CONVERSATION WITH OTHERS.
[03:10:01]
WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT ADDITIONAL STEP ABOUT LOOKING AT OTHER PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE NOT CONSIDERED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PART OF OUR CITY OWNED PORTFOLIO AT THIS POINT IN TIME.BUT IF DIANA WANTS TO, UH, CONCLUDE AND JUST, YOU CAN PROBABLY JUST WALK OR TALK THROUGH THE LAST TWO SLIDES BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER FOR MORE QUESTIONS.
I THINK THAT, UM, LARGELY THE, UM, WHAT REMAINS WAS A DISCUSSION OF NEXT STEPS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT AT THE BEGINNING, WHICH IS THAT WE WOULD BE COMING BACK TO COUNCIL, UM, AND ON JUNE 1ST, UH, WITH FURTHER INFORMATION, OF COURSE DURING THAT TIME, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OPTIONS THAT, UH, CITY MANAGER CRONK JUST REFERRED TO IN TERMS OF POTENTIALLY PRIVATE PROPERTIES OF ENTITIES THAT MAY BE INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OR OTHER JURISDICTIONS, UM, WHERE THEY HAVE A PROPERTY THAT COULD BE SUITABLE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT OF COURSE, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UH, PARALLEL TO THIS WORK, WE ARE CONTINUING TO PUSH FORWARD, UH, TO ADVANCE, UH, THE AVAILABILITY OF PERMANENT HOUSING RESOURCES, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, AND WE'LL NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THAT WORK, UM, WHILE WE WORK TO, UM, POTENTIALLY PROVIDE THIS CRISIS RESPONSE.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATIONS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A, UH, CORRECTION ON THIS IT'S UH, IT'S UH
IT WAS JOHN EDWARD AND DAWN PARK AND THE OTHER ONE, THREE 13, 11 SURELY TILLERY STREET.
DON'T BOTHER LOOKING AT THAT THAT'S EVERGREEN CEMETERY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU DIDN'T WANT TO PUT A CAMPSITE ON A SUBMIT IN A CEMETERY.
SO ANYWAY, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL MY QUESTION, MY RESPONSE.
AND LOOKING AT THE FIRST THING YOU SAT FOR, FOR DOING THIS WORK OF IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL SITES FOR ENCAMPMENTS, I DO HAVE QUESTIONS AROUND, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT WOULD BE THE PROCESS OF SELECTING ONE, ARE YOU SELECTING ONE OR TWO AT A TIME, WILL THERE BE 10 IN EACH DISTRICT? BUT FIRST MY QUESTION IS ONE THING THAT I NOTICED ON THIS LIST OF POTENTIAL SITES IS THE OMISSION OF THE WORD PARK FROM SEVERAL OF THE PROPOSALS.
SO I WANTED TO SEE WAS THAT INTENTIONAL TO LEAVE OUT, FOR EXAMPLE, ONION CREEK, METRO PARK, NORTH, I CAN LIST SEVERAL OTHERS BECAUSE I THINK ONE THING THAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM THE PAST FEW YEARS, THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MISTRUST AND THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO HOW WE ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
AND SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE AS TRANSPARENT AND CLEAR AS POSSIBLE.
AND SO IF WE ARE CONSIDERING PARKLAND, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING THAT THOSE ARE POTENTIAL SITES.
AND SO IT DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH ME THAT WE HAVE SITES LISTED THAT IT LOOKS WE'RE NOT BEING AS TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN BE.
SO IF SOMEONE CAN SPEAK TO THAT, THAT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, OR PERHAPS I'M MISSING SOMETHING TOO.
UM, THIS WAS A VERY PRELIMINARY LIST.
UM, I THINK THAT THERE'S NO INTENTION TO BE DECEITFUL AT ALL IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
I THINK THAT, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PARK SYSTEM, OBVIOUSLY I KNOW WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M TRYING TO THINK ABOUT.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ONION CREEK, METRO PARK, THAT'S A PRETTY BIG SPACE, BUT THAT ENTIRE PARK IS NOT NECESSARILY APPROPRIATE FOR VIOLENT OF EXAMPLE.
THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PARK IS, IS PART OF THE BUYOUT AREA AND THAT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE.
SO PERHAPS WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT RIGHT, WE MIGHT ONLY CONSIDER ANOTHER PORTION OF THE PARK FOR, WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC ADDRESS THAT WE'RE READY TO NAIL DOWN OR THAT WE'RE READY TO COMMUNICATE.
AND SO WE WERE BEING AS BROAD AS POSSIBLE, BUT IT WAS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO, IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM TO DECEIT IS THAT WE HAVE NO IDEA AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME, IT'S ON THE LIST BECAUSE IT COULD BE A POSSIBLE ACTION, BUT THE ACTUAL SPACE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE HAS NOT BEEN FULLY VETTED WITH ALL OF THE CRITERIA AND THE WILDFIRE AND THE FLOOD AND THE FLOOD AND THE SPECIES.
SO IT WAS, IT WAS INTENTIONALLY VAGUE, BUT NOT MEANT TO DECEIT.
AND I CAN CERTAINLY MAKE THOSE CORRECTIONS, UM, FOR THE FUTURE SO THAT PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL AS THOUGH, UM, THERE'S MISSING INFORMATION.
AND IF YOU COULD JUST SHARE WITH US, UM, WHY PARKLAND IS BEING CONSIDERED AND THE CRITERIA FOR WHY
[03:15:01]
SO MANY, UM, PARKLAND LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN NARROWED DOWN ON THIS LIST.WELL, I THINK THAT, UM, FIRST OF ALL, THERE, THERE'S NOT, WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE SURPLUS LAND THAT'S AVAILABLE VIA THE, UH, VIA THE REAL ESTATE OFFICE, MANY OF THOSE PIECES OF PROPERTY WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO EVEN MEET THE SIZE CRITERIA, OR WHERE ARE YOUR FLOOD PLAIN, UM, BASED UPON THE RESOLUTION, AT LEAST THE WAY THAT I INTERPRETED IT, THAT THERE WAS A, A DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL TO CONSIDER PARKLAND.
AND SO IT IS INCLUDED, UH, AS PART OF THE INITIAL ANALYSIS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THOSE SPACES WILL END UP BEING BROUGHT FORWARD AS RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT I INTERPRETED THE, AND I THINK MY COLLEAGUES ALSO INTERPRETED, ALTHOUGH I WON'T SPEAK FOR THEM, I'M ONLY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF THAT PARKLAND WAS, WANTS TO BE OF THE CONSIDERATION.
I BELIEVE THE RESOLUTION WITHOUT READING IT TO YOU, I BELIEVE IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS SPACES THAT ARE DESIGNATED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AS AVAILABLE FOR CHAMPION.
SO THAT WOULD GIVE THE, UM, THAT'S NOT THE EXACT QUOTE, BUT THAT WOULD GIVE THE INDICATION THAT THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION THAT PARKLAND WAS AT LEAST CONSIDERED NOT GOOD.
IT WILL BE SELECTED, BUT THAT IT'S AT LEAST CONSIDERED.
I CAN'T SAVE THE MAYORS THERE.
UM, YEAH, I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION GOING ON.
UM, JUST BECAUSE THE PARTY FACES PREVIOUSLY WHERE THE LOCATIONS WHERE CAMPING WAS EXPLICITLY NOT ALLOWED, AND NOW I KNOW, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY IS WRITTEN INTO ORDINANCE.
UM, AND SO I THINK THERE'S JUST A LOT OF CONFUSION WHERE IT WAS NO CAMPING AND PARK SPACES.
I DON'T KNOW THAT COUNCIL HAS TAKEN AN OFFICIAL POSITION ON THAT.
UM, AND SO I'M NOTICING SOME OF THE LOCATIONS IN MY DISTRICT LIKE DICK NICHOLS AND CIRCLE C METRO PARK, THOSE ARE LOCATIONS WHERE THEY HAVE YOUTH SPORTS GOING ON OFTENTIMES.
AND SO I WANT TO KNOW A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE CONVERSATION OF, I KNOW THERE WAS CONSIDERATIONS FOR PROXIMITY TO SCHOOLS, BUT I'M, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUTH SPORTS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A LOT OF GREEN SPACE AND DISTRICT DATA, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF YOUTH SPORTS ACTIVITY AREAS THAT AREN'T ON A SCHOOL PROPERTY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE TO HOW, HOW YOU'RE CONSIDERING, UM, THAT, THAT OVERLAP? YEAH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ASKING THE QUESTION.
SO ANOTHER PART OF THE CRITERIA IN THIS SECOND ROUND IS, IS, UM, A CONSIDERATION OF RESTRICTED ACCESS OR RESTRICTING PUBLIC ACCESS.
SO BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, THEY'RE HAVING SOMETHING IN 2019 THAT WAS SENT OUT THAT TALKS ABOUT PERHAPS USING RECREATION CENTERS AS, UM, AS AN OPTION OR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TEMPORARY SHELTER.
AND IT WAS, IT WAS PUT OUT, UH, BASED UPON A COUNCIL RESOLUTION.
AND THOSE WOULD BE ENTITIES THAT HAD, UM, RESTRICTED ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THEY BEGAN TO BE USED FOR A VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
AND AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME, THE COUNCIL OFFICES DECIDED THAT THOSE WERE PROBABLY WERE NOT CHOICES THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE.
SO IN THE SECOND ROUND, RIGHT IN THE SECOND ROUND OF REVIEW, I'VE TAKEN NOTE THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS SOME COUNCIL DIRECTION THAT WAS PROVIDED BEFORE.
I'VE AT LEAST TAKEN NOTE OF IDEAS THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS GAVE ME IN 2017.
AND IT WILL BE A CRITERIA THAT'S APPLIED IN THIS NEXT ROUND AND I'LL MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL MIGHT NOT WANT TO CONSIDER, BUT CERTAINLY AS A CHALLENGE OR AN OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT? IF WE WERE GOING TO PUT THINGS IN A, IN AN OPPORTUNITY CATEGORY OR A CHALLENGE OR CATEGORY, A CHALLENGE TO PICKING A PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT HAS A LOT OF YOUTH OR OTHER KINDS OF ACTIVITIES, UM, WHERE YOUTH ARE, ARE PLAYING, OR EVEN ADULTS ARE PLAYING, AND NOW THE PUBLIC ACCESS IS RESTRICTED.
THAT WOULD BE CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT I WOULD THINK THAT COUNCIL MIGHT WANT TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
AND THAT WILL BE NOTED AS A CHALLENGE TO THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT WORK IN 2017.
UM, WE WOULD LOVE TO GET REFRESHED ON IT, JUST UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT WEATHER SHELTERS OR ARE WE TALKING SOMETHING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE, UM, A LONGER TERM, UM, CONVERSATION? UM, OTHER CONSIDERATIONS I HAVE.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I'LL SEND YOU THE LINK TO THE IT'S PUBLIC INFORMATION.
I'LL SEND YOU THE LINK TO THE REPORT.
UM, AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT I HAVE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO BE MINDFUL OF THE HIGH WILDFIRE RISK AREAS, JUST KNOWING, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE COULD BE SOME INADVERTENT ISSUES, YOU KNOW, WITH FOLKS TRYING TO WARM UP DINNER AND BEING HIGH WILDFIRE RISK AREAS.
UM, SO I REALLY WANT TO SEE HOW THAT LIST EVOLVES AS, AS THOSE ASSESSMENTS ARE MADE.
UM, AND I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO FIND IS, IS A GOOD COMBINATION OF
[03:20:01]
ACCESS TO GROCERIES, ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION.YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF BUS ROUTES IN DISTRICT EIGHT, BUT IT'S ONLY FOR IF I'M CORRECT.
UM, IT'S REALLY FAR SOUTH, ALMOST TO HAYES COUNTY TO ME WOULD CREATE A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS.
AND THERE'S FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT I'VE MET DURING THE POINT IN TIME COUNT THAT ARE, ARE CURRENTLY CAMPING NEAR WHERE THEY WORK.
AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT MOVING THEM FURTHER FROM ONE OF THE ONLY CONSISTENT THINGS THAT THEY HAVE, WHICH IS MAYBE WORK IN THE GYM SO THAT THEY CAN KIND OF GO ABOUT THEIR DAILY LIVES, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE CURRENTLY CAMPING.
AND SO, UM, I'M, I'M RIGHT NOW, NOT CONFIDENT ABOUT THE ONES THAT ARE ON THIS LIST RIGHT NOW, BUT I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET OUR HEADS TOGETHER.
AND I'LL ALSO REACH OUT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME PRIVATE THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A GOOD RESOURCE NETWORK AND DISTRICT DATA PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPASSIONATE ABOUT ASSISTING FOLKS.
UM, AND SO I DON'T, I'M, I'M NOT, UM, KNOW THAT THE SPOTS THAT ARE ON THE LIST RIGHT NOW TODAY ARE GOING TO BE THE RIGHT ONES FOR THE DISTRICT, BUT I AM COMMITTED TO FINDING INAPPROPRIATE LOCATION SO THAT WE'RE NOT AFFECTING YOU SPORES.
WE'RE NOT DISCONNECTING PEOPLE FROM TRANSPORTATION AND WE CAN TRY TO BLEND THOSE NEEDS, UM, IN A WAY WHERE WE'RE CHECKING MORE BOXES.
AND SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHO WAS THIS? YOU HAD MENTIONED ME THERE, MAYOR.
UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU'VE PUT INTO IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL CAMPING LOCATIONS.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S NO EASY TASK, BUT I'M HEARING FROM MY CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE, THAT WERE IN THE BACKUP AND I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES ARE AS WELL.
SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT THE UNKNOWNS RELATED TO THESE SITES AND THE CONCERN.
THEY'RE NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT FINAL YET.
SO I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT THESE ARE JUST UNDER CONSIDERATION AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR WILLIAMSON AND TRAVIS COUNTY PARTNERS TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS REGIONAL ISSUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STRIVE FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME FOR ALL INVOLVED.
AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST STAFF FOR A FURTHER BREAKDOWN OF EACH PARSE FROM MENTIONED SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES OF EACH PROPOSED LOCATION.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MINDFUL TO BRING WILLIAMSON COUNTY INTO ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT UTILIZATION OF LAND IN THEIR COUNTY.
THAT WAY WE CAN HELP COLLABORATE FURTHER.
SO, UM, WITH THAT SAID, MY REAL QUESTION HERE IS ABOUT HOMELESS, CAMPING IN PUBLIC SPACES.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT'S CURRENTLY AGAINST THE MUNICIPAL CODE FOR THE CITY CHAPTER NINE DASH FOUR, ARTICLE TWO, SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSES NO CAMPING OR HOMELESS SHELTERS IN PARKS.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW THIS MIGHT BE ALLOWED IN PARKS AGAINST THE ORDINANCE? IS IT THE SAME THOUGHT PROCESS, SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS MENTIONED ABOUT THE WORK DONE IN 2017 AND WOULD WE NEED TO AMEND OR CHANGE THE ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT WORK? SO THAT'S REALLY A QUESTION THAT WE WOULD NEED TO EXPLORE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER WITH OUR LAW DEPARTMENT, BUT AT FIRST BLUSH BASED UPON MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A CAMPING IS A, IS A, A REASONABLE USE OF A PARK SPACE, RIGHT? SO, UM, BUT I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BECAUSE THIS IS, THIS IS CAMPING FOR A SPECIFIC POPULATION.
UM, SO WE WE'RE WORKING WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DETERMINE, UH, HOW WE WOULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
BUT AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME, UM, A PARK COULD HAVE A CAMPING LOCATION BECAUSE IT'S A REASONABLE USE OR AN EXPECTED USE OF A PARK SPACE AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR THROUGH THE PROCESSES OF DEVELOPING THE LAND OR DESIGNATING THE SPACE FOR CAMPING IS ABLE TO DO THAT.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A NUANCE TO YOUR QUESTION IN THAT THIS CAMPING IS A, IS A SPECIFIC TO, UM, TO A PARTICULAR POPULATION.
AND SO I'M WORKING WITH A LOT DEPARTMENT ON THAT QUESTION AS WE SPEAK, RIGHT.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO APPLY THAT AS ANOTHER CONSIDERATION.
AND YES, MA'AM, WE, IT MAY MEAN THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER A PROTEIN MODIFICATION, BUT I'M NOT THERE YET WITH BEING ABLE TO GIVE YOU, UM, THAT, THAT, UM, RECOMMENDATION AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME.
AND I ALSO AM NOT AN ATTORNEY, SO I DON'T WANT TO PRETEND LIKE I KNOW EVERYTHING RIGHT.
IT'S SPECIFICALLY IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE, MENTIONS HOMELESS SHELTERS, INCLUDING TEMPORARY LIVING CONDITIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO LOCKED UP A FIXED REGULAR ADEQUATE RESIDENTS AND PROVIDING THEM WITH SOCIAL SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE.
AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO GET THAT CLARITY FOR THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND THAT ALL OF COUNCIL IS MADE AWARE OF THAT BEFORE WE EVEN CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT AS A RECOMMENDATION.
THANK YOU AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE WHAT WAS SAID BEFORE THIS LIST DOES NOT HAVE NOT BEEN GOING THROUGH
[03:25:01]
FOR HIGH WILDFIRE AREAS.UM, BUT THAT IS A CRITERIA THAT WILL BE USED MOVING FORWARD.
NOW YOU MENTIONED THERE WERE 25 THAT WERE NOT LISTED BECAUSE THERE WERE A FLOOD PLAIN.
UM, THE TWO PROPERTIES THAT ARE LISTED IN MY DISTRICT ARE RIGHT ALONG THE WATER.
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW THEY COULD NOT BE IN A FLOOD PLAIN.
UM, SO MAYBE WE CAN HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT, AND CERTAINLY THERE WOULD BE, UM, RISKS TO WATER SUPPLY AND OTHER STUFF, UM, FOR THOSE TWO AREAS.
AND SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE AND UNDERSTANDING, UM, THE CRITERIA AND WHAT'S BEEN APPLIED OR NOT.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK IF THERE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE OFTEN PURCHASED LAND, UM, AS A PARKS DEPARTMENT, THAT'S NOT YET DEVELOPED INTO A PARK, UM, OR WE GET IT DEDICATED OR WE, WE, WE SOMEHOW COME IN CONTROL OF IT.
UM, BUT IT'S NOT AREAS THAT ARE CURRENTLY, UM, BROADLY IN USE BY THE COMMUNITY, NOT PROGRAMMED, NOT PRESERVE AREA.
UM, ARE THERE PARKS ON THIS LIST THAT FALL INTO THAT KIND OF SWEET SPOT FOR A PARK WHERE IT'S NOT ACTIVE? WE BEING USED AS A PARK OR PRESERVE? YEAH.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT ARE A COUPLE OF PARK SPACES ON THE LIST THAT ARE NOT FULLY DEVELOPED.
AND SO WHILE THEY HAVE NOT, AGAIN, WANT TO, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE NOT FULLY VETTED AND WE'RE NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE IF THEY WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU, YOU, AS A COUNCIL JUST PASSED BOTH WALTER ILAN AND THE JOHN TREVINO JR.
AND WE KNOW THAT THOSE PARKS, UM, WHILE THEY ARE NAMED PARKS, THEY ARE NOT DEVELOPED.
NOT ALL OF THAT PARK IS DEVELOPED.
THERE'S A LOT OF SPACE THAT STILL REQUIRES, UM, INVESTMENT.
UM, WE'VE NOT YET AS A CITY BEEN ABLE, I'M SORRY.
AS A DEPARTMENT BEEN ABLE TO BRING FORWARD, UM, A VISION PLAN FOR BOND ROAD, DISTRICT PARK.
AND SO THAT IS A PARK THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY OWNS, UH, THAT IS NOT, DOES NOT HAVE A VISION PLAN FOR IT YET.
AND, UM, THERE'S NOTHING THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD TO COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
UM, THERE'S ALSO A PIECE OF PROPERTY OUT ON JOHNNY MORRIS ROAD CALLED THE WALNUT CREEK SPORTS COMPLEX.
AND THAT PARTICULAR PARK HAS SOME TENNIS COURTS, BUT THE REST OF THE PARK, APPROXIMATELY 200 ACRES IS NOT DEVELOPED AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT OF TIME.
UM, I WILL SAY THAT I KNOW BECAUSE THAT'S A PARK, RIGHT? I KNOW THE, THERE IS SOME OF THE SPACE THAT MIGHT BE IN A FLOOD PLAIN ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR DEVELOPMENT, BUT THOSE ARE EXAMPLES BECAUSE YOU SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE QUESTION, THOSE ARE EXAMPLES OF PIECES OF LAND THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT THAT ARE PARKLAND THAT ARE NOT FULLY DEVELOPED.
I, I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT EVERY PARK THAT'S ON THIS LIST, UM, HAS THE SAME LEVEL OF USE AND IS AT THE SAME STAGE OF ITS DEVELOPMENT AND, AND ACCESS.
UM, AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD WANT TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP IN MIND AS WE ARE MAKING SOME OF THESE POTENTIAL CHOICES.
UM, ALSO WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT WE ARE NOT, WE HAVE NOWHERE COMMITTED A THAT WE'RE DOING ANY OF THESE OR B THAT WE'RE DOING 10 OF THEM.
UM, WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER IT IS A STEP IN OUR SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS AND FOR OUR ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT PROPERTY AS THE VOTERS, UM, HAVE INDICATED.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.
THERE ARE TWO PROPERTIES ON, UM, NORTH 35, IT'S WANTING TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT PROPERTIES THERE WERE.
I THINK IT WAS 72, 11 AND 7,309.
IT LOOKS KINDA LIKE THEY'RE IN THE SAME BLOCK.
IS THAT THE HOME DEPOT PROPERTY? AND THEN WHATEVER'S NEXT TO IT.
THEY'RE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE HOME DEPOT PROPERTY AND THE CHRYSLER PROPERTY.
AND AGAIN, PRELIMINARILY, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A SOLICITATION, UH, THAT HAS BEEN, UM, THAT IS UNDER HIS UNDER IS IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
SO I KNOW THAT THERE WILL EVENTUALLY BE A DEVELOPMENT THERE I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND EDD WHO I BELIEVE ARE, UM, RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT PUBLIC PARTICULAR SOLICITATION.
WE HAVE NOT HAD IN DEPTH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHETHER THIS COULD BE APPROPRIATE OR NOT APPROPRIATE, NOR HAVE WE CHECKED WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT AS TO WHETHER, UM, NAMING A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S IN THE MIDST OF A, OF A SOLICITATION, IF THERE'S ANY LEGAL RISKS THERE.
SO IT'S, IT'S A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME BY THE REAL ESTATE OFFICE AS A SURPLUS PIECE OF PROPERTY, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN, THERE HAS NOT BEEN, UM, FURTHER LAYERS OF INVESTIGATION PUT ON TOP OF IT.
WE OBVIOUSLY KNOW THAT IT'S NOT A HIGH FIRE RISK, RIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT AROUND, UM, A LOT OF FIRES, NOT AROUND, UM, MANY, MUCH OF A BRUSH AREA, BUT WE HAVEN'T APPLIED ANY OTHER CRITERIA TO DETERMINE ITS SUITABILITY.
[03:30:01]
THANK YOU.I MEAN, I THINK THAT JUST UNDERSCORES THAT THIS IS A VERY PRELIMINARY LIST THAT HAS HAD, YOU KNOW, 25 OUT OF THE 70 KNOCKED OUT, BUT THIS STILL, YOU KNOW, JUST THE FIRST STEP TO SEE WHETHER WE COULD IDENTIFY A CITY OWNED PROPERTY, UM, THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO PURSUE AS DESIGNATED CAMPING OR MORE THAN ONE.
BUT AGAIN, NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE THAT THAT IS THE APPROPRIATE.
WHAT WE ASKED FOR IN THE RESOLUTION WAS, UH, INFORMATION SO THAT WE COULD MAKE THAT DECISION AND DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS A PIECE OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO PUT FORWARD, UM, AS WE TRANSITIONED TO IMPLEMENT A PROPERTY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER, JUST TO UNDERSCORE WHAT YOU SAID WHEN WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES, SHOULD ANY GIVEN PIECE OF PROPERTY BE BROUGHT FORWARD? I WOULD BELIEVE IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO INFORM YOU AS A COUNCIL, WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AND WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE.
SO YOU CAN HAVE A FULL CONSIDERATION OF THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
SO DEPENDING UPON THE OUTCOME OR THE INFORMATION THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE LAW DEPARTMENT THAT MIGHT BE LISTED AS A CHALLENGE, UH, OR IT MIGHT SAY THIS IS JUST NOT EVEN AN APPROPRIATE PROPERTY TO BRING FORWARD, BUT I'M NOT THERE YET BECAUSE THEY'RE A TOTAL, THANK YOU MAYOR.
I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT KIND OF OUR CURRENT TOPIC, WHICH IS ABOUT LOCATIONS AND CRITERIA.
AND THEN I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MEMO AND SOME OF THE COSTS.
SO I'LL, I'LL START WITH THE FIRST BUNCH AND THEN, AND THEN SEE IF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT TOPIC, BUT JUST KNOW I HAVE, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS I'D LIKE TO GET TO.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF.
THIS WAS A BIG LIFT AND YOU DID IT VERY QUICKLY AND PROVIDED US WITH A LOT OF INFORMATION.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THAT TASK AND REALLY WORKING HARD ON, ON RESPONDING TO IT.
UM, I KNOW THAT THIS IS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.
WE ALL KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGING CONVERSATION AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO, BUT I REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE THOSE OF YOU WHO, WHO ARE NOT, UM, SETTING SOME OF THE POLICIES IN THE CITY THAT, THAT MAY PROMPT DIFFERENT KINDS OF RESPONSES, BUT ARE, ARE VERY MUCH PART OF THE SOLUTION CREATION.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR IDENTIFYING THESE PROPERTIES.
UM, HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN DOZENS OF EMAILS JUST TODAY ALONE EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT PARKLAND.
AND SO I KNOW, I KNOW THERE ARE MANY CONCERNS ABOUT SOME OF THE PROPERTIES THAT PEOPLE SEE ON THIS LIST AND, UM, CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND THOSE CONCERNS AND THANK PEOPLE FOR ENGAGING.
I WANT TO ECHO SOMETHING SEVERAL OF OUR COLLEAGUES, SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, AND JUST TELL A VERY BRIEF ANECDOTE.
WE WERE CONTACTED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO BY, UM, A CONSTITUENT COUNCIL MEMBER INTER IN YOUR DISTRICT ACTUALLY, WHO MAY HAVE WRITTEN TO THE WHOLE COUNCIL, OR MAY, MAY JUST HAVE WRITTEN TO A FEW OF US, BUT EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT PARKLAND BECAUSE THAT HAD COME UP, UM, RIGHT AFTER WE PASSED THE RESOLUTION.
AND I WROTE BACK TO THAT INDIVIDUAL AND SAID, YOU KNOW, THANKS.
DO YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS ABOUT, ABOUT WHERE YOU MIGHT SUGGEST AND SHE WROTE BACK AND SAID, UM, NO, BUT I'M GOING TO LOOK AND HAS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS SENT ON MULTIPLE SUGGESTIONS.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO REALLY REITERATE TO OUR COMMUNITY, PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THIS TOPIC THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY, PLEASE LOOK AROUND AT YOUR OWN COMMUNITIES AND HELP US IDENTIFY OTHER OTHER SITES THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION HERE.
WE HAVE SOME GOOD CRITERIA THAT THE STAFF HAVE DEVELOPED.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OTHER CRITERIA AND ASK FOR FEEDBACK ABOUT BEST PRACTICES THAT, UM, DIANA YOU AND, UH, DIRECTOR MCNEELY AND OTHERS HAVE LEARNED FROM, FROM OTHER CITIES.
BUT I THINK WE, AS A, IF OUR PUBLIC CAN HELP US WITH THIS TASK, I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL.
I'M PRETTY INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT WHAT SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES MIGHT BE.
I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY PARKLAND.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PARKLAND AND WE HAVE IT IN A LOT OF PLACES.
AND IF WE PUT AMENITIES IN PLACE IN SOME OF THOSE, THEY WILL, UM, THEY WILL LAST FOR A PERIOD LONGER THAN, THAN, UH, OUR DESIGNATED ENCAMPMENTS, RIGHT? THOSE MIGHT SERVE AS AN AMENITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF PARK USERS.
SO I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND THE, I UNDERSTAND ON YOUR RIGHT WHEN WE SAID CITY-OWNED LAND, CERTAINLY PARKLAND, UM, FALLS INTO THAT CATEGORY, BUT I WOULD INVITE MY COLLEAGUES TO, TO IN ADDITION TO THE PUBLIC, BUT MY COLLEAGUES TOO, TO KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT, AT SOME OF THE CITY OWNED PARCELS OR PARCELS OWNED BY OUR PARTNERS OR PRIVATE PRIVATE FOLKS TO SEE WHAT OTHER SITES MIGHT FIT THE BILL THAT ARE, THAT ARE IN ADDITION TO THE ONES THAT ARE ON OUR LIST.
SO AS I UNDERSTOOD BACK TO THE CRITERIA,
[03:35:01]
UM, AS I UNDERSTOOD THE CRITERIA THAT YOU'VE SPELLED OUT AT THIS POINT, THE UNIVERSE INCLUDES SITES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN SCREENED.YOU HAVE NOT YET SCREENED FOR OTHER USES.
SO THERE ARE, THERE ARE CERTAINLY SITES ON HERE THAT ARE VERY WELL UTILIZED AS PARKS.
UM, SO AT THIS POINT THAT IS NOT ONE OF, THAT'S NOT A CRITERIA THAT WAS USED FOR SCREENING, IS THAT ACCURATE? IT'S ACCURATE, IT'S NOT A CRITERIA THAT WAS USED FOR SCREENING AND THIS PURPOSE, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IT WOULD BE PART OF A SECONDARY, A SECONDARY SCREENING WHERE I WOULD BE COMMUNICATING TO THE COUNCIL OFFICES, THE RESTRICTED ACCESS THAT THE PUBLIC, HOW THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE RESTRICTED ACCESS, SHOULD THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY BE SELECTED.
UM, YOU CITED THE, THE RESOLUTION, WHICH I ALSO SPONSORED TO LOOK AT AT POSSIBLY USING OUR REC CENTERS.
AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.
IT WAS REALLY ABOUT AROUND THIS ISSUE.
WE, WE RECOGNIZED AT THAT POINT IN 2017 THAT WE HAD A REAL LACK OF EMERGENCY SHELTER AND NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING AS A COMMUNITY.
AND SO STARTED STARTED THAT CONVERSATION BY LOOKING AT OUR, WHETHER OUR REC CENTERS COULD BE USED, WHETHER IF WE, IF WE TREATED HOMELESSNESS AND REGARDED HOMELESSNESS, LIKE THE CRISIS THAT IT IS AND RESPONDED IN A WAY THAT WE DO TO, UM, EMERGENCY CRISES, YOU KNOW, COULD WE, COULD WE, UM, GET TO A PLACE OF EQUILIBRIUM BY USING SOME OF OUR OWN FACILITIES? AND AS DIRECTOR MCNEELY SAID, THE REAL TRADE-OFF THERE OF, OF, UM, TAKING FACILITIES THAT WERE WELL USED AND TAKING THEM OUT OF USE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT ALSO STAFFING THEM.
IT TAKES, AS WE ALL REALLY KNOW NOW, UM, IT TAKES SUCH A TREMENDOUS EFFORT FROM OUR CITY STAFF, A 24 HOUR EFFORT, UM, STAFFING IN THE, IN THE STATE OF EMERGENCY THAT IT JUST, UM, WASN'T, WASN'T SOMETHING WE COULD TAKE ON AT THAT POINT, BUT I THINK THAT IS, UH, IT IS A COMPARABLE KIND OF CONVERSATION AROUND SOME OF THOSE SITES THAT ARE VERY WELL UTILIZED.
THERE WERE A COUPLE FACILITIES ON HERE THAT ARE, THAT ARE OUR FACILITY PLUS A PARKING AREA.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE AUSTIN REC CENTER, UM, I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER REC CENTER.
MAYBE THE NORTHWEST REC CENTER IS ALSO ON HERE.
CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND, WAS THE CONCEPT THAT THE FACILITY AND THE PARKING AREA, OR IS IT THE PARKING AREA OR, OR IS IT JUST, AGAIN AT THAT TOP LEVEL, THIS IS A SITE THAT MEETS THE INITIAL CRITERIA AT THE VERY TOP LEVEL.
IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE 2017 MEMO THAT HAD PUT OUT.
I DIDN'T WANT ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THINK THAT I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE HAD WORKED, THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY DONE.
SO AT THE VERY PRELIMINARY LAB AT A VERY PRELIMINARY LEVEL, IT WAS ON THE LIST AND IT WAS INCLUSIVE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED.
ALSO, LIKE I SAID, BUT I REALIZED THE RESPONSE THAT I HAD RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL.
SO IN THE SECONDARY REVIEW, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY HELP TO REMIND EVERYBODY WHAT THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS WAS BACK THEN AND WHY THESE PARTICULAR PROPERTIES WERE NOT SELECTED.
UM, SO, SO THAT'S THE RECREATION CENTERS.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE AUSTIN RECREATION CENTER AND THE PARKING LOT, THE ONE THING THAT I DO NEED TO JUST SO EVERYBODY REALIZES THAT PARKING LOT IS A SHARED, UM, MULTI-USE SPACE BETWEEN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UH, AUSTIN ISD AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
AND SO USING THAT SPACE EXCLUSIVELY WITHOUT PHYSICALLY GOING INSIDE WOULD WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANTED TO PUT IT ON A LIST.
BUT THERE WOULD BE CHALLENGES THAT I WOULD NOTE IN THERE ABOUT, ON THE AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE WITH REGARDS TO THAT PARTICULAR NEWS.
SO IT DIDN'T, IT WAS NOT INTENDED TO EVEN MEAN THE PARKING LOT THERE.
IT WAS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SPONSORED THE 2017 RESOLUTION REALIZED THAT I HADN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN A QUESTION ABOUT TODAY, SO I APPRECIATE YOU ADDRESSING IT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BEST PRACTICES AND WHAT, AND WHAT, UM, WHAT SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES ARE AT THIS STAGE THAT YOU'VE, THAT YOU'VE IDENTIFIED AT THIS STAGE OF YOUR RESEARCH.
IF THAT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT PRODUCING WHAT YOU DID PRODUCE MAY HAVE WAS THE FOCUS.
UM, AND SO MAYBE, MAYBE THAT'S A CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER DAY, BUT I WANTED TO INVITE YOU TO TALK ABOUT IT.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY, IN ADDITION, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGING CONVERSATION TO IDENTIFY SOME POTENTIAL SITES, THOUGH.
WE NEED TO, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE ALTERNATIVE SPOTS FOR PEOPLE TO GO.
UM, AS WE RESPOND TO, TO, UM, PROP THE PASSAGE OF PROPOSITION B, I DO WANT TO SAY, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAD A REALLY GOOD PRESENTATION FROM OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND I APPRECIATE THEIR COLLABORATION ON THIS.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT AND CITY MANAGER, YOU AND I OVER
[03:40:01]
THE LAST YEAR, MORE THAN A YEAR, UM, HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OFF THE DAYAS TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION SOMETIMES WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALSO HAD IT WITH WE ARE.I THINK IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE SET SOME VERY CLEAR STANDARDS FOR WHAT IS ALLOWED AT OUR DESIGNATED CAMPING AREAS.
IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE MOVE IN, AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SAME, SAME ITEMS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARE CURRENTLY BEING ENFORCED.
I KNOW, AGAIN, YOU AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS.
MANY OF US HAVE HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU OFF THE DYESS.
IT IS HAVING NOW HAD A SECOND FIRE.
I'M AT AN ENCAMPMENT IN MY DISTRICT.
I JUST FEEL IT NECESSARY TO PUBLICLY SAY, PLEASE, WE HAVE PROPANE CONTAINERS AT ENCAMPMENTS ALONG THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
THERE ARE GENERATORS, THERE IS A GENERATOR AT ONE OF THE SHOAL CREEK CAMPS.
WE, WE REALLY NEED, I THINK WE WOULD, UM, WE REALLY MUST ENFORCE SAFETY MEASURES AT THE EXISTING PUBLIC ENCAMPMENTS.
AND WE MUST BUILD CONFIDENCE WITH THE PUBLIC THAT IF WE SET UP DESIGNATED CAMPING AREAS, WE WILL ENFORCE, UM, SOME OF THOSE VERY BASIC SAFETY MEASURES THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN BACK WHEN WE WERE HAVING THE PUBLIC CAMPING, UM, CONVERSATION ABOUT IN THE ORDINANCE, WE HAD A CONVERSATION ON COUNCIL ABOUT WHETHER THOSE MEASURES NEEDED TO BE MADE, NEEDED TO BE ARTICULATED.
AND THE ANSWER WAS NO, THESE ARE JUST BASIC SAFETY MEASURES THAT ARE IN PLACE.
THEY DON'T NEED TO BE ARTICULATED.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ENFORCED IN MANY CASES.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL, UM, TO BE, TO BE SAID.
AND AGAIN, I THINK IF WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, AS I BELIEVE WE NEED TO ON A PATH TO CREATING DESIGNATED CAMPING AREAS, NOT NECESSARILY ON AN, EITHER PROPERTIES ON THIS LIST, BUT SOMEWHERE WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE A VERY CLEAR SET OF EXPECTATIONS FOR WHAT WILL BE ALLOWED AND WHAT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN TERMS OF SAFETY.
SO HAVING SAID THAT, I JUST WANTED TO INVITE OUR STAFF.
ARE THERE, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED ONE, WHICH IS THAT IT'S VERY HARD TO CLOSE THESE.
AND SO TO ME THAT A BEST PRACTICE TURNING THAT INTO A BEST PRACTICE WOULD PROBABLY BE HAVING A VERY CLEAR TIMELINE AT THE OUTSET OF WHEN THESE MANY SITES WILL OPEN AND WHEN THE SITES WILL CLOSE.
AND THAT WILL GIVE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY SOMETHING TO FOCUS ON IN TERMS OF FUNDRAISING AND REALLY FOCUSING ON HOUSING, THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THAT AREA.
UM, SOME OF THE OTHERS YOU'VE, YOU'VE NOTED BASIC BASIC SERVICES.
ARE THERE OTHER BEST PRACTICES THAT, UM, OR OTHER CITIES THAT YOU BELIEVE HAVE DONE THESE VERY WELL AND SUCCESSFULLY THAT YOU WOULD, THAT YOU WOULD POINT THE COMMUNITY'S ATTENTION TO, OR, OR OURS AS MEMBERS? SO I THINK THAT, UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE DONE AND, AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE, FIRST OF ALL, THAT CITIES, AS YOU HAVE, I THINK POINTED OUT EXPLICITLY COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, COMMUNITIES DON'T DO THIS AS AN IDEAL, UH, SOLUTION.
THEY DO THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, UH, OUR, THE, THE, UH, THE SITUATION SORT OF REQUIRES IT IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, UM, GIVEN THE ALTERNATIVES.
AND SO THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
I DO AGREE WITH YOU, UM, THAT SORT OF, UM, BEING REALLY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE GUIDELINES ARE IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING HEALTH AND SAFETY, UM, HAS TO BE, UH, REALLY OUR PRIORITY.
THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT APPROACHES THAT I THINK WE CAN DISCUSS.
SO, AND NONE OF THEM, I THINK, LEAP OUT AS BEST PRACTICES.
UM, BUT AROUND, YOU KNOW, ARE THESE OPEN ENCAMPMENTS, ANY, ARE THEY WALK UP? IS IT, YOU KNOW, IS IT REGIONAL? IS THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS, UM, OF, OF STRATEGIES OR APPROACHES WE COULD TAKE? UM, I WOULD NOT SAY THAT THERE ARE STRONG BEST PRACTICES IN THIS FIELD, BUT WHAT WE WILL BE ENDEAVORING TO DO, AND WE'RE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, GATHERING IS ALL OF THE LESSONS THAT HAVE BEEN LEARNED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, IN SAN FRANCISCO, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, THEY HAVE DONE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE REDUCED, UM, UNSHELTERED AND, AND, UH, UNAUTHORIZED CAMPING, UM, WITHIN AREAS WHERE THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED ENCAMPMENTS THAT SERVE THAT PARTICULAR GEOGRAPHIC REGION.
I DON'T KNOW HOW PRACTICAL THAT IS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK IT RAISES SOME REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT FAIRNESS.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE LOOKING MORE CLOSELY AT THE OPERATIONS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AS WELL.
UH, I THINK AS WE, YOU KNOW, COME UP WITH, UH, AS I SAID, THE DECISION POINTS THAT WE, UH, THAT WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE A CHOICE, OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS THOUSAND MEMBER
[03:45:01]
POLL, I HAVE A QUESTION, UM, UH, KIM DIRECTOR MCNEELY ABOUT THE REC CENTERS AND EXISTING PROGRAMMING, OR, YOU KNOW, BEFORE TIMES PROGRAMMING, FOR EXAMPLE, AT NORTHWEST RACK, WHAT PLANS, UM, WOULD STAFF HAVE IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, NORTHWEST REC AS ASIDE, IS THAT THE PARKING AREA, IS IT INSIDE? IS IT BOTH? AND IF IT IS INSIDE, WHAT ABOUT THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE PROGRAMMING PRIMARILY FOR YOUTH, BUT NOT SOLELY FOR YOUTH THAT CURRENTLY? YEAH.SO COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, THAT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE THAT OBVIOUSLY THAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD BE IF THEY CHOSE THAT, THAT TO BE A LOCATION OR ANY RECREATION CENTER TO BE A LOCATION.
MY, UM, MY ADVICE OR MY, MY RESPONSE TO YOU WOULD BE THAT THAT WOULD SEVERELY RESTRICT PUBLIC ACCESS, WHICH WOULD MEAN THAT THERE WOULD BE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAPPEN IF WE DECIDED TO USE A RECREATION CENTER FOR A TEMPORARY SHELTER.
UH, AND CERTAINLY THAT'S A POLICY DECISION THAT COULD BE DECIDED BY THE, UM, THE COUNCIL, BUT I WOULD ABSOLUTELY WANT TO LET YOU KNOW HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT PROGRAMMING.
AND SO TO YOUR POINT, THAT WOULD ABSOLUTELY IMPACT THE ABILITY TO RUN AFTER SCHOOL, SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMMING, ANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT HAPPEN OUT OF RECREATION CENTERS.
AND IF THIS COUNCIL WERE TO DETERMINE THAT THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE OR SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING TO BE RESOLVED IN THE MANNER, THEN WE WOULD WORK TO RELOCATE THOSE PROGRAMS AND OTHER LOCATIONS.
ALTHOUGH I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL IN RUNNING THE SAME QUALITY OR THE SAME NUMBER IN ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS, BUT THAT'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY AND BASED ON YOUR DIRECTION, WE WOULD BE ARE FLEXIBLE AND WE WOULD MAKE DECISIONS TO BEST SERVE THE PUBLIC, UH, AT YOUR DIRECTION.
BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY BE GIVING YOU THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD BE DISPLACED, UH, SHOULD, SHOULD THAT BE THE CHOICE THAT THE PENCIL, THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO MEET? I REMEMBER THAT DISCUSSION WHEN WE SAW THE LIST, UM, BACK IN 17 WITH THE DIFFERENT REC CENTERS AND STUFF.
AND I THINK THAT THE SAME RELUCTANCE THAT EXISTED THEN, AND, UH, REALLY GOOD FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS FROM, FROM THE PUBLIC WOULD BE THE SAME THAT WE WOULD BE FACING HERE TODAY.
AND, UM, AND SO, YEAH, I DON'T, I DON'T ACTUALLY SEE A PATH FORWARD FOR THE REC CENTER.
SO ACTIVELY, JUST SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT PROACTIVELY I, I HEARD THE COUNCIL IN 2017, SO I WOULD TRY TO INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION, UH, AS A REMINDER OF THIS WAS THE DISCUSSION IN 2017, RIGHT? AND SO, UM, AFTER I CAME OUT OF THE CALL THAT I HAD, I GUESS IT WAS YESTERDAY, UM, WITH THE POTENTIAL SITES IN DISTRICT SEVEN, I, I OFFERED UP TO STAFF THAT MY TEAM HAS ALREADY BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH SOME OF OUR PARTNERS IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
AND, UM, THEY MAY IN FACT BE THE PLACES THAT GET THE ADDITIONAL LOOK.
UM, I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU WERE, UH, PRIMARILY LOOKING OR SOLELY LOOKING AT CITY OWNED LAND, AND THESE WOULD BE, UH, NOT CITY ON, UH, AREAS, BUT, UM, MY TEAM WILL BE EXPLORING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY ON POTENTIAL CAMPSITES BECAUSE, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M COMMITTED TO TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE THIS WORK, BUT THE, THE SITES THAT YOU'VE DESIGNATED IN DISTRICT SEVEN, AND NONE OF THEM MEET THAT CRITERIA, THEY JUST WON'T WORK.
UM, I DON'T SEE THEM AS PRIMARILY BEING, UM, TEMPORARY TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU CAN THEN RETURN THEM TO THE STATE THAT THEY WERE IN, UM, BEFORE DESIGNATING THEM AS CAMPSITES.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES WITH SAYING THAT CAMPING CAN OCCUR ON PARKLAND.
UM, AND, AND I, AND I CAN SEE WHERE YOU, MIGHT'VE WHERE YOU INTERPRETED THE, THE LANGUAGE AND THE RESOLUTION TO INCLUDE LITERAL PARKS.
BUT I THINK IF I WAS READING IT AND I'VE BEEN TALKING IF I HAD TALKED WITH YOU ABOUT IT, I THINK I WOULD SAY, WELL, I THINK MAYBE THAT THE INTENTION THERE IS LAND THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS, BUT THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY PARK PUBLIC PARK LAND, WHICH IS HOW IT WAS LOOKED AT.
FOR EXAMPLE, PUBLIC WORKS OR AUSTIN ENERGY.
WE WEREN'T LOOKING AT BOSTON ENERGY HEADQUARTERS FOR HOMELESSNESS SITE OR THE GARAGE ATTACHED TO AUSTIN ENERGY HEADQUARTERS.
UM, BUT THAT SAME PARALLEL CONSTRUCTION WAS NOT USED WITH REGARD TO THE PUBLIC PARKS AND, UM, THEY ARE PUBLIC AND THEY ARE NOT DESIGNATED FOR CERTAIN,
[03:50:01]
FOR, FOR CAMPING PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE DON'T SEE THE USE OF THAT LAND IN THAT, IN THAT FASHION.SO, UM, THEY'RE THEY'RE DAY PARKS AND THEY'RE MOSTLY CLOSED AT NIGHT.
SO, UM, I DID WANT TO JUST MENTION THAT MY TEAM IS ACTIVELY, UH, CONNECTING UP WITH FOLKS IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
LIKE I MENTIONED TO STAFF YESTERDAY, UM, WE WILL INITIATE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND THEN TURN ANY CONTACT OVER TO STAFF SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN WORK YOUR MAGIC.
AND, AND, UH, AGAIN, THE KEY HERE IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO APPROACH THIS IN A, UH, IN A REGIONAL WAY.
IT'S A REGIONAL CHALLENGE AND WE HAVE TO HAVE REGIONAL SOLUTIONS.
AND, UH, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE ARE IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY, I THINK WE'RE NOW IN THREE COUNTIES, RIGHT? ARE WE ALSO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, A LITTLE BIT IN HAYES COUNTY? SO WE SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING NOT JUST TRAVIS COUNTY AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY CHEMISTRIES, BUT ALSO OUR FRIENDS AND HAYES COUNTY AND CALDWELL COUNTY, FRANKLY, JUST TO REALLY EXPAND THAT CONVERSATION AND, AND MOVE TOGETHER FORWARD.
UM, AND ALSO SO THAT WE CAN SHOW THAT THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT BE SEEN AS ABLE TO CARRY THIS BURDEN SOLELY, SOLELY ON OUR SHOULDERS.
SO THANKS TO THE STAFF FOR ALL OF THE WORK.
AND, UM, I, I WILL LABOR TO, UM, CONVINCE MY DISTRICT SEVEN RESIDENTS THAT THAT LIST IS, IS NOT A DONE DEAL, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOME MESSAGING COMING FROM OUR COMMUNICATION STAFF IN ORDER TO HELP LIFT THAT, UM, PRESUMPTION, BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S HOW IT'S BEING INTERPRETED.
SO I WILL WORK ON THAT COMMUNICATIONS WITH OUR RC, OUR COMMUNICATIONS STAFF, AND I WELCOME ANY LEAKS.
TO THE EXTENT THAT WE ALL HAVE THE SAME BASELINE INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP US TO CARRY A COORDINATED MESSAGE FORWARD.
SORRY, COUNSELOR OF THE KITCHEN, THE COUNSELOR.
I WANT TO ASK ABOUT, UM, A QUESTION RELATED TO, UH, INFORMATION THAT WAS ON THE MEMO, I BELIEVE, AND THAT HAD TO DO WITH COST.
THE REASON I WANT TO ASK THAT IS I WANT TO ASK THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THAT AND THE SIZE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO, TO FIND A PLACE THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR TEMPORARY, UM, UH, CAMPING.
UM, AND I AM WONDERING IF, IF YOU ALL HAD, UM, THOUGHT ABOUT PLACES THAT ARE SMALLER, UH, IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF, OF TENTS OR SHELTERS THEY MIGHT ACCOMMODATE, OR MIGHT EVEN MIGHT EVEN BE PLACES THAT, UM, CHURCHES FOR EXAMPLE MIGHT HAVE AVAILABLE.
I REMEMBER FROM LOOKING AT THE, THE, UM, MEMO, THAT PART OF THE REASON I EXPECT MIGHT BE FOR LOOKING AT LARGER SIZES IS BECAUSE OF THE, UH, THE SYNERGIES AND, UH, IN, IN THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO, TO PUT UP IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT, BUT I THINK THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DIFFICULTY IN FINDING A PLACE, UM, AND THE SIZE WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
SO CAN YOU JUST TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT YOUR THINKING WAS THERE AND WHETHER YOU, YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE TO LOOK AT PLACES THAT ARE SMALLER, THAT MIGHT TAKE 25 PEOPLE, FOR EXAMPLE, 50 PEOPLE, AND JUST HELP US UNDERSTAND YOUR THINKING ON THAT, OR, AND ALSO WHETHER YOU THINK THAT WE'RE NOT THERE YET, AND THAT, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO MIGHT HAVE TO CONSIDER LATER.
JUST TELL ME WHAT YOUR THINKING IS ON THAT.
SO, VERY PRELIMINARILY, THE REASON WHY I WENT WITH 50 OR MORE WAS BECAUSE OF ECONOMIES OF SCALE, IF YOU HAD LESS THAN 50 AND YOU HAD 25, HE WOULD LIKELY PROBABLY NEED APPROXIMATELY THE SAME NUMBER OF SHOWERS AND THE LAUNDRY, LIKE THE WAY THAT THE LAUNDRY FACILITIES COME.
SO THE COSTS FOR 25 PEOPLE ARE NOT VERY, ARE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE COSTS FOR 50 PEOPLE.
HOWEVER, THE COSTS FOR 50 PEOPLE ARE APPROXIMATELY ANYWHERE BETWEEN, UM, BETWEEN EIGHT, 800 AND I'M SORRY, 700 AND $500,000 LESS, UM, AS IT IS FOR, FOR A HUNDRED PEOPLE.
SO THOSE ARE ALL VERY PRELIMINARY COSTS, PLEASE.
I HOPE THAT YOU WON'T GRILL ME ON THE EXACTNESS OF THAT, BUT THE REASON WHY WE WENT WITH 50 IS BECAUSE ANYTHING LESS THAN 50, IT ALMOST FELT AS THOUGH WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ECONOMIES OF SCALE, YOU'D BE SPENDING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, UM, AS, AS YOU WOULD, UM, YOU WOULD FOR ABOUT 50 PEOPLE.
AND THEN SECONDLY, UM, A LOT OF THE VERY SMALL PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT WERE ELIMINATED ORIGINALLY LESS THAN TWO ACRES, WE'RE REALLY, UM, AND I'M NOT SAYING
[03:55:01]
THAT THIS ISN'T AN OPTION, BUT NOT FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT OR REALLY, UH, LOCKS THAT WERE IN BETWEEN, UM, ALREADY RESIDENTIAL HOUSING UNITS, RIGHT? SO THEY WERE ALREADY LITTLE, LOTS THAT WE OWN, BUT THERE WAS A HOUSE AND ANOTHER HOUSE ON EITHER SIDE OF THAT.AND IT DIDN'T SEEM AS THOUGH THAT WOULD BE CONDUCIVE TO, UM, TO PUTTING AN ENCAMPMENT OVER A FEW TENTS OVER THERE, PLUS ALL THE SERVICES THAT NEEDED TO BE PROVIDED.
HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THOSE PIECES OF LAND SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FOR OTHER KINDS OF CREATIVE WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE, THAT WAS NOT WHAT I WAS ASKED TO DO IN THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
SO, UM, THAT HOPEFULLY GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN UNDERSTANDING.
HOW, WHAT I'M THINKING THOUGH, IS THAT AS YOU WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE COSTS OR TO REDUCE THOSE COSTS COSTS WERE ACTUALLY PRETTY HIGH.
UH, I THOUGHT AND UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT THEY ARE PRETTY HIGH, UH, FOR THIS KIND OF TEMPORARY INVESTMENT IN THE THING THAT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF IS, IS KEEPING OUR FOCUS ON MORE PERMANENT HOUSING AND NOT DIVERTING A LOT OF FUNDING, UH, TO TEMPORARY ENCAMPMENTS LIKE THIS.
SO I'M THINKING THAT THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES WITH, WITH CHURCHES OR OTHER NONPROFITS OR OTHER ENTITIES THAT MAY HAVE LOCATIONS, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY ACTUALLY HAVE A SHOWER OR RESTROOM FACILITIES ON SITE, UH, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD PROVIDE A LOWER COST IN TERMS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, PUTTING UP A TEMPORARY SHELTER.
SO, UM, SO I'M SURE YOU HIT, YOU NEED TO REMAIN FOCUSED ON THE TASKS THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT, UM, I'M THINKING THAT FOR, FOR OTHERS WHO MAY BE LOOKING AROUND IN YOUR DISTRICTS OR ARE JUST TO, UH, NONPROFITS AND CHURCHES IN THE COMMUNITY WHO MAY BE THINKING ABOUT THIS, UM, AGAIN, THEY, THEY NEED TO BE APPROPRIATELY LOCATED AND, YOU KNOW, UM, NOT IN AREAS THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE PROBLEM FOR NEIGHBORHOODS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT, UM, BUT I'M JUST, I'M JUST THINKING THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO THINK MORE BROADLY, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY LOCATE SOME S SOME SITES HAD AT A LESLIE COSTLY AMOUNT AND COUNCIL MEMBER WITH THAT ADVICE, I CAN CERTAINLY, UH, I WROTE THAT INFORMATION DOWN AND CERTAINLY WHEN I'M DOING SOME OF REVIEW, THAT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT I COULD ADD TO THE LIST.
UM, I CAN'T GUARANTEE IT FOR EVERY PROPERTY, BUT I'LL, IT'LL BE ON THE TOP OF MINE WHEN I'M, WHEN I'M REVIEWING THIS THROUGH THE SECOND ROUTE.
SO CUSHIONS ARE THE JUNE 2ND MEMO THAT STAFF WILL REPORT BACK WITH, IS THAT, WILL THAT HAVE, LIKE, WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP? LIKE, WE, YOU ALL RECOMMEND, OKAY, BECAUSE PHYSICALLY WE CAN'T STAND UP 10 CAMP ENCAMPMENT OR SANCTIONED CAMPING SITES AND ALL 10 OF OUR DISTRICTS, BECAUSE THEN WE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE 10 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS TO GO ALONG WITH RUNNING THOSE SANCTIONED CAMPSITES.
SO ARE WE, I JUST WANT TO LEVEL SET EXPECTATIONS WITH MY COMMUNITY IS THE JUNE 2ND MEMO, WILL THAT RECOMMEND PERHAPS ONE A SANCTIONED IN CAMPING AREA OR W TWO OR AS MANY THAT MEET THE CRITERIA THAT Y'ALL ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR.
AND THEN ALSO, IF YOU CAN CLARIFY WHETHER THE FLOOD PAIN RISK, IF THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ASSESSED ON THE PROPOSED, WAS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY OR IS THAT ANALYSIS STILL BEING DONE? SO I'LL ANSWER THE LAST QUESTION.
FIRST, THE FLOOD, THE AREAS THAT HAVE THERE HAVE BEEN PROPERTIES THAT ARE ELIMINATED BECAUSE THEY WERE CLEARLY ALL IN THE FLOOD, PLAIN, THERE ARE PROPERTIES THAT REMAIN ON THE LIST WHERE PART OF THE PROPERTY IS IN THE FLYNN PITE AND PART OF THE PROPERTY IS ELEVATED, OR WHAT HAS NOT HAPPENED IS A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF, SHOULD THERE BE, UM, EXTENSIVE RAINS OR A FLOOD SITUATION? WHAT RISK IS THAT ELEVATED PROPERTY AT? I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO, THERE WERE SOME THAT WERE CLEARLY, YOU COULD JUST CLEARLY TAKE OFF OF THE LIST, BUT OTHERS THAT HAVE AN ELEVATION THAT ARE STILL UNDER, YOU WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE REVIEWED.
AND, UM, TO ANSWER THE SECOND QUESTION, I, I THINK THAT WE WILL TAKE ALL THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED FOR STD, UM, AND PROBABLY AS A TEAM GET TOGETHER AND DISCUSS HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD PROPERTIES IN THE FUTURE.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THE, UH, RESOLUTION VERY SPECIFICALLY SET A MINIMUM OF ONE PROPERTY PER DISTRICT.
AND I, I WOULD BE, UM, AMENABLE TO IF THERE WERE MORE THAN ONE PROPERTY THAT, UH, SEEMED TO MEET THE CORE, NOT JUST THE BASE, BUT SO SOME OF THE CORE FEEDBACK THAT YOU PROVIDED ME, UM, ON BUS LINE DOES NOT RESTRICT PUBLIC ASSETS.
THOSE THINGS THAT YOU'VE TOLD ME TODAY, THAT THERE WERE MORE THAN ONE PROPERTY IN A GIVEN DISTRICT THAT SEEMS APPROPRIATE.
UM, I THINK THAT, UM, PROVIDING CHOICES, UM, WE ALWAYS SAY AND USE DEVELOPMENT,
[04:00:01]
VOICE AND CHOICE.UM, PROVIDING CHOICES MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR MY ENTIRE TEAM.
AND I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO JUST DISCUSS, UM, THE, THE BEST PATH FORWARD.
UM, BUT CERTAINLY COULD TAKE, WOULD TAKE FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL OFFICES.
AND THEN, UM, MANAGER CON, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE US TO SHARE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK WITH YOU AND WHAT CAN THE COMMUNITY EXPECT IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THE PROPOSAL LIST AND, AND, OR LIKE, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR US TO ENSURE THAT WE, THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOOPED IN ON THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE RECEIVING IN OUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CERTAINLY AS A SHORT, NEXT STEP, WE WILL BE SENDING UP MEETINGS WITH EACH OF YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE LOCATIONS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN YOUR DISTRICT.
THAT CALL TO ACTION THAT HAS BEEN EXPRESSED A NUMBER OF TIMES ABOUT OTHER POTENTIAL SITES AND HEARING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THEIR ENGAGEMENT.
AND SO I THINK WE WERE PLANNING TO ESTABLISH AN EMAIL ADDRESS SPECIFIC TO THIS TYPE OF FEEDBACK.
UM, BUT WE'LL HAVE THAT TO YOU IF NOT TODAY, THEN TOMORROW.
SO YOU CAN START TO FILTER COMMENTS THAT WAY AS WELL.
I THINK HAVING AN EMAIL ADDRESS WOULD BE GREAT FOR US TO SHARE OUT, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS ALL BEING MADE PUBLIC TODAY, THAT WHEN WE CAN START CAPTURING THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE ALREADY RECEIVING, THANK YOU.
NO, THIS IS, THIS IS, THIS IS HARD WORK, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A GOOD ANSWER, UH, FOR THE CHALLENGE WE'RE TRYING TO EXECUTE, UH, IN A LOT OF WAYS, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND THE BEST ANSWER AMONG THE CHOICES THAT WE AREN'T, WE, THAT WE DON'T LIKE.
UM, THAT SAID MANAGER, YOU KNOW, IT'S YOUR JOB TO ENFORCE THE LAW AS, AS, AS VOTED BY THE COMMUNITY, THE BALANCE BETWEEN SPEED AND, AND, AND HUMANENESS IN THIS, UM, I WOULD URGE YOU TO OVER-COMMUNICATE ON THIS ISSUE TO THE PUBLIC, UM, BECAUSE IF THE PUBLIC ARE PARTS OF IT ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO SEE TENTS, UM, UH, IT'S REAL IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY CONTINUE TO, TO SEE THAT.
UH, AND I THINK THAT IF WE GO SILENT OR THERE'S NOT A REAL STRONG COMMUNICATIONS ON THIS, IT'LL BE MISINTERPRETED AS, AS, AS NOT TRYING TO, TO, TO APPLY THE LAW OR TO, TO ENFORCE THE LAW.
SO I WOULD URGE YOU TO JUST REALLY, REALLY, REALLY OVER-COMMUNICATE ON THIS ISSUE AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING.
UM, YOU KNOW, MORE FREQUENT MEMOS TO COUNCIL THAT ARE, THAT ARE PUBLIC FOR PEOPLE TO SEE JUST WHATEVER, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT IT IS AT ANY POINT IN TIME AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS ANALYSIS.
UM, UH, IT'S REALLY, I WOULD, UH, ALSO ADD MY VOICE TO THOSE THAT ARE, UH, SAYING THAT IT WOULD BE HARD TO, TO VOTE, TO LOCATE SOMETHING IN A PARK AREA THAT WAS BEING UTILIZED OR ITS PARK, UH, PURPOSES BY THE, BY THE COMMUNITY.
AND I KNOW THAT WAS KIND OF A SEDIMENT IN 26, IN 2017, BUT I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT AS WELL, MANAGER, I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED, UH, WITH RESPECT TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN, IN, YOU KNOW, UH, POTENTIAL, UH, SANCTIONED CAMP AREAS, UH, THAT, THAT WE DO, UM, UM, A REALLY STRONG EFFORT TO ENFORCE THOSE ALL OVER THE CITY WHERE WE HAVE ENCAMPMENTS NOW, BUT THERE WAS A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS THAT WERE BACK IN THE RESOLUTION THAT WE PASSED.
AND IN JUNE OF 2019, IT WAS CONSIDERED BY THE COUNCIL LATER THAT FALL, UH, THAT I THINK LISTS SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT, THAT SEEM TO FOLLOW FROM THE EXISTING, UH, LAWS AND ORDINANCES THAT WE SHOULD REALLY, WE SHOULD REALLY DO THAT.
IT'S GOTTA BE DIFFICULT TO LOCATE THESE.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE THE STAFF GIVING US A LIST AND PUTTING SOME PLACES DOWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER, REITERATING THAT THERE'S NO CHOICES MADE WITH RESPECT TO THESE.
UH, BUT I THINK THAT THERE HAS TO BE A LIST AT SOME POINT TO START.
UH, AND I THINK WHEN IT STARTED, THE PEOPLE ARE NOW GOING TO BE ABLE TO COMMENT TO IT.
UH, THE, UH, THE, THE LOCATIONAL SEARCH WILL BE SHARPENED IN PART BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A LIST OF FOUR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO ACT TWO.
UM, YEAH, AND EVEN DOING THIS, THERE WILL NEVER BE THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR ANY OF THESE THINGS, JUST BECAUSE THAT KIND OF THING DOESN'T DOESN'T EXIST, BUT I'M HAPPY WE'RE STARTING THAT PROCESS.
I THINK WE HAVE TO WORK OUR WAY THROUGH IT.
UH, WHEN THIS CONVERSATION DOES REALLY REITERATE THE, THE NEED FOR AN EMPHASIS TO GET HOUSING EXITS
[04:05:02]
FROM THESE LOCATIONS SO THAT THEY ARE IN FACT TEMPORARY.UH, AND SO THAT PEOPLE JUST DON'T GO INTO THESE PLACES OF THEM END UP BEING WAREHOUSED IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, AS WE, AS WE MOVE PEOPLE INTO PLACES LIKE THIS, ESSENTIALLY, CANBERRANS, WE NEED TO PULL THEM OUT INTO PLACES THAT ARE BETTER EQUIPPED TO GET THEM BACK INTO SOCIETY OR HELP THEM STABILIZE THEIR, THEIR LIVES.
AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT EVERYBODY, THE COMMUNITY IS DOING TO TRY TO CATCH UP THAT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAD WE'RE SO FAR BEHIND ON.
UM, HAVE YOU EVER ACTUALLY GETTING STARTED, UH, IN AN EVEN MORE ACCELERATED WAY TO DO THIS, THE SINGLE BIGGEST, UH, ALL RIGHT.
LARRY TO HOMELESSNESS, AND THIS IS HOUSING PRICES AS HOUSING PRICES GO UP AND IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER THAN A HOUSE, UH, YOU SEE INCREASES IN HOMELESSNESS IN CITIES, ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UH, AND AUSTIN IS THE POSTER CHILD FOR THAT.
UH, WE'VE GOTTA GET A SYSTEM ESTABLISHED IN OUR COMMUNITY OR SIX TO EIGHT YEARS FROM NOW.
UH, THE CHALLENGE IS GOING TO BE SO FAR BEHIND ANY SCALE WE CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT NOW IS THE TIME THAT WE HAVE TO GET THAT SYSTEM IN PLACE.
AND I HOPE THERE WAS SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT SIZE.
IT MAY BE AS WE LOCATE THESE THAT THAT WOULD HAVE WE, THAT WE CAN'T, UH, GET THE BIGGER SITES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO LOCATE THEM.
MAYBE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET PARKING AREAS AND CHURCHES THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE SOME FOLKS AND HOPE YOU'RE DOING THAT KIND OF POTENTIAL OUTREACH TO THE SANCTION PARKING AREAS AND PARKING THE ODDS THAT OTHER CITIES DO MIGHT BE AN OPTION TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT'S REAL CLEAR.
AND I'LL REAFFIRM AGAIN FOR ME THAT THESE NEED TO BE AT ALL PARTS OF THE CITY, SO THAT EVERYBODY'S IN THE EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATING IN THE CHALLENGE.
EVERY THAT WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD PARTICIPATE.
YOU KNOW, IF I'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY A SITE THAT I THINK COULD PROBABLY WORK, BUT I COULD TAKE IN UNDER 50 PEOPLE, BUT I, YOU KNOW, UNLESS EVERYONE ELSE PARTICIPATE, I DON'T FEEL MY COMMUNITY WOULD ACCEPT, YOU KNOW, A HOMELESS CAMPGROUND ON THIS LOCATION.
AND IF THEY DO, THEY WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS THERE, THE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING FROM MY DISTRICT AREA, YOU KNOW, FROM THAT PARTICULAR AREA, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO THAT, IT JUST, IT WON'T WORK.
YOU KNOW, I, I, YOU KNOW, WE, WE FELL FAR.
WE ONLY GOTTEN WHAT THREE HOTELS OUT OF THE FIRST ONE THAT RAISED MY HAND UP AND I DID GET A LOT OF PUSHBACK ON IT.
AND THEN, BUT I THOUGHT WITH MY EXPECTATIONS, SINCE EVERYONE WAS GOING TO GET A HOTEL, WE WERE GOING TO GO AND GET THE HOMELESS IN MY DISTRICT AND PUT THEM IN THERE TO TRANSITION THEM OUT TO PERMANENT HOUSING, WHERE IT JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT THAT WAY.
AND I'M VERY HESITANT TO GO OUT THERE AND RAISE MY HAND AGAIN, UNLESS EVERYBODY PARTICIPATE.
IF I'M THE ONLY ONE OR A FEW THAT PARTICIPATE, THEN I FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD BE THE HOMELESS CAMPSITES IN MY DISTRICT SHOULD GO IN THERE FIRST, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS MAKE THAT COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HOTEL IN EVERY DISTRICT, AND IT JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CAMPSITE AND EVERY DISTRICT, THEN WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY DISTRICT GETS ONE.
AND THEN IT CONCENTRATES THOSE HOMELESS THAT LIVE IN THEIR DESPERATE TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO A CAMPSITE SO THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THEM AND TRANSITION THEM OUT, YOU KNOW, TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND IT WAS A HAND, UM, LET'S SEE, I WANTED TO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, WE'RE ENTERING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT CONCERN AND I'M, AND I THINK WE ARE HEARING THOSE KINDS OF CONCERNS, OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND IT'S CERTAINLY UNDERSTANDABLE.
UM, AND SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS.
UM, I WANNA, I WANTED TO SAY TWO THINGS FIRST OFF.
I WANTED TO, UM, ASK THAT WE, UM, I APPRECIATE IT WHEN, UH, WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA BROUGHT FORWARD, HER RESOLUTION THAT SHE PUT IN IT, THAT THIS IS NOT TO SUPPLANT OUR EFFORTS TO GET PEOPLE CONNECTED TO HOUSING.
AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT, AND THAT IS IMPORTANT BOTH FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE, THE TIME AND ENERGY THAT OUR VARIOUS, UM, STAFF MEMBERS SPEND ON THIS, BUT ALSO THE COST.
SO, BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO BE A SIZABLE COST FOR, UM,
[04:10:01]
FOR, UH, TEMPORARY CAMPING.I HOPE THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER WHETHER, YOU KNOW, IN ANY INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO HELP AN INDIVIDUAL IN AN APARTMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I KNOW THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR EVERYONE, BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT DOES, IF WE'RE GOING TO OFFER SOMEONE A PLACE IN A TEMPORARY CAMP AT A COST THAT COULD BE MORE ACTUALLY THAN STAYING, YOU KNOW, GETTING THEM LAUNCHED IN AN APARTMENT.
I HOPE WE'RE ALPER WAYNE, ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT NEEDS FOR PEOPLE, BUT I'M JUST WANTING TO CAUTION THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE COST AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'RE DOING THIS.
SO RELATED TO THAT, I JUST HAVE ONE SPECIFIC QUESTION RELATED TO COST, BECAUSE I NOTICED THAT THE, UM, THE COST FOR LAUNDRY FOR EXAMPLE, WAS, WAS LARGE AND ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, UH, REGARDLESS OF SIZE OF THE CAMP.
AND I'M JUST HOPING THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS LOOKING AT OPTIONS LIKE MOBILE SHOWER TRAILERS THAT ARE ABLE TO SERVE MORE THAN ONE CAMP AT A TIME.
SO I HAVE SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LINE ITEM COSTS THAT WERE PART OF THE MEMO.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ANSWER THOSE DOWN OR I CAN SEND THOSE SPECIFIC, UH, QUESTIONS TO DIANA OR TO KIMBERLEY WHOEVER THE APPROPRIATE PERSON IS.
I'M JUST THINKING I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF THE COST AND HOPING THAT WE CAN REDUCE THOSE.
I'LL SPEAK AND THEN LET, UM, DIRECTOR MCNEELY FILL IN.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN WE SORT OF DEVELOPED THE PROFORMA BUDGETS FOR A 50 OR A HUNDRED UNIT SITE, THERE WAS NO ASSUMPTION MADE ABOUT, UM, HOW MANY SITES THERE WOULD BE OVERALL AND WHAT RESOURCES COULD BE SHARED.
AND CERTAINLY THE MOBILE SHOWERS ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WERE THEY TO SURVEY SINGLE SITE, UM, IMPOSE A VERY SIGNIFICANT COST.
SO WE WILL, AS, YOU KNOW, WHAT, UH, COUNCIL DIRECTION TAKE SHAPE, WE WILL CERTAINLY LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO, UM, TO ACHIEVE SOME SAVINGS AND, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT ANY OF THE AMENITIES OR SERVICES THAT, UM, ARE PARTICULARLY COSTLY.
I WILL ONLY ADD THAT WE DID NOT OF EACH OF THOSE COSTS ARE FOUR STANDALONE LOCATIONS.
THERE WAS NOT A CONSIDERATION.
SO WE CAN'T JUST MULTIPLY IT BY 10 AND THINK THAT THAT'S THE COST NECESSARILY.
DO YOU WANT TO BE SAID HERE AT SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT COST AS WELL? YEAH, I DID.
UM, AND THEY RUN A BIT ALONG THE SAME LINES.
AM I TO UNDERSTAND THE EXCHANGE THAT TOOK PLACE JUST NOW TO SUGGEST THAT SAY THE TRAP SHOWER TRAILER MIGHT SERVE US ALL, MIGHT SERVICE FIVE ENCAMPMENTS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE SUGGESTING? COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
I WAS ASKING IF THAT, IF, IF I THINK THAT THEY ANSWERED FOR ME WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE TEMPTATION TO SAY THAT THE COST FOR ONE, IF YOU HAVE 10 IT'S TIMES 10, BUT WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THEY DIDN'T ACCOUNT FOR THE POTENTIAL, UM, YOU KNOW, LEVERAGING ACROSS SITES.
SO IT JUST WANTING TO CAUTION THE PUBLIC TO NOT THINK IN TERMS OF, IF WE'RE TALKING 10 SITES THAT IT'S 10 TIMES, 10 TIMES THE COST OF ONE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A MOBILE, MOBILE SHOWERS BEING AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE YOU CAN HAVE, UH, SERVICES ACROSS MULTIPLE THE SAME COST.
SO THAT'S THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO, UM, TO DETERMINE.
AND I THINK TO YOUR QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER, TOVO THAT'S, I MEAN, I THINK THE MOST OBVIOUS EXAMPLE OF A RESOURCE THAT COULD BE SHARED AND WOULD, YOU KNOW, WOULD LEVEL YOUR PER PERSON COST PER SE.
UM, IT IS OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU, AS YOU CORRECTLY, POINT OUT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, UM, IT, YOU KNOW, IT IS EXPENSIVE TO OPERATE THESE KINDS OF, OF, UH, ENCAMPMENTS.
AND, AND SO THAT WILL BE A CONSIDERATION IN TERMS OF HOW WE BALANCE THAT WITH OTHER OTHER NEEDS, UH, TO SERVE THIS POPULATION.
AND, AND SO I THINK I, YOU KNOW, I WAS CONCERNED WHEN I SAW THE, WHEN I SAW THE LIST OF COSTS AND THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO PROMPT CONCERNS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TOO, FROM ALL SIDES OF, OF THE ISSUE.
AND SO I, I GUESS I WANT TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT ON THEM AND REALLY UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE, SOME OF THESE COSTS.
AND, AND, AND LET ME SAY AGAIN, HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU PROVIDING THIS TO US ON SUCH A SHORT TIMEFRAME.
I THINK THIS IS REALLY GOOD INFORMATION FOR US TO HAVE, AND, YOU KNOW, AS THE MAYOR SAID, HAVING A LIST, HAVING THIS INFORMATION PROVIDES US WITH A STARTING PLACE, WHICH WE REALLY NEED,
[04:15:01]
BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE PROGRESS QUICKLY.HAVING SAID THAT, I, I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER THESE, UM, JUST IN THE WAY THEY WERE PROPOSED, WHICH IS AN ALTERNATIVE WE NEED, BUT NOT WHERE WE WANT TO PUT A LOT OF OUR INVESTMENT BECAUSE WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PRESERVE OUR INVESTMENT FOR THOSE SHELTER AND PERMANENT HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER THESE IN THE SAME WAY WE DO THE SAFE SLEEP PROGRAM.
AND SO MAYBE THESE ARE SAFE SLEEP OPTIONS, UM, AS DESIGNATED CAMPING AREAS, WE DON'T TRADITIONALLY PROVIDE LAUNDRY SERVICES WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF SAFE SLEEP PROGRAM.
WE DON'T TRADITIONALLY PROVIDE MEALS WITHIN THAT CONTEXT, NOR DO WE PROVIDE SERVICES.
AND SO I GUESS TO ME, YOU KNOW, AS I LOOK AT SOME OF THE COSTS ON HERE, I, I THINK THAT THOSE MIGHT BE THE THINGS, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FALL OFF IF WE ARE TRYING TO GET THESE SITES UP AND RUNNING VERY QUICKLY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO FOCUS OUR CASE MANAGING SERVICES ON, ON THE HEEL LOCATIONS, ON SOME OF THE OTHER, THE OTHER NEEDS, IF WE HAD THE FUNDING TO DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE EVERY, EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO'S EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS SUPPORTED WITH CASE MANAGEMENT.
I KNOW THAT'S EVERYONE'S GOAL HERE, UH, BUT WE NEED TO BE KIND OF REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT TAKE ON IN THIS WITH OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF FUNDING.
AND SO JUST TO KIND OF LEVEL SET, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE I SEE SOME OF THE CHANGES HAPPENING PROBABLY FROM HERE TO IMPLEMENTATION.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE CAN ASK OUR PARTNERS TO ASSIST THERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF VERY PHILANTHROPIC MINDED INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND PERHAPS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR MOBILE SHOWERS AT, AT THREE OF THE 10 LOCATIONS, OR PERHAPS, UM, THERE COULD BE A SAFE FOOD OPTION PARTNERSHIP WITH, UM, SOME PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.
I DON'T MEAN ASKING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME AND BRING FOOD, WHICH GIVES ME, MAKES ME CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD BE RECEIVING THAT FOOD.
BUT IF THERE ARE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS WHO WANT TO STEP UP AND MAKE, UM, MAKE A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE FOOD OVER TIME, YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT BE AN OPTION THAT MAKES SENSE RIGHT NOW IN THE INTERIM, WE DO HAVE THE EAT PROGRAM THAT IS PROVIDING FOOD TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND SO THAT'S BEING FUNDED THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE 300,000 ON HERE IN THIS NEXT YEAR OR SO, UH, ALREADY HAS FUNDING.
SO I'M NOT, I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THIS WAS CONTEMPLATED AS ONGOING MEAL SERVICE AT THE DESIGNATED CAMPING AREAS, OR WHETHER IT'S FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME WHERE, WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE THOSE MEALS AS A PANDEMIC RESPONSE.
SO I GUESS THAT'S THE QUESTION.
UH, THERE WAS NO PARTICULAR ASSUMPTION MADE ABOUT WHETHER EAT WOULD COME INTO THIS OR NOT.
UM, I, I BELIEVE IT WAS ONE OF THE, THE COSTS THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE MEMO AND I MAY BE, OR THAT, EXCUSE ME, THE RESOLUTION, I MAY BE MISTAKEN.
I WILL SAY THAT FOR MOST OPERATORS, I THINK THEIR INPUT IS IT IS OBVIOUSLY A SUBSTANTIAL COST.
UM, MOST OF THEM PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE MEAL A DAY.
AND I THINK PART OF THE CONSIDERATION THERE IS ABOUT THE ABILITY TO REALLY MAINTAIN THAT HEALTH AND SAFETY, UH, ENVIRONMENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, MOST OF OUR FIRES ARE CAUSED BY COOKING FIRES CURRENTLY.
UM, AND SO, WHICH IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE USING WHEN THEY NEED TO PREPARE THEIR OWN FOOD, UM, AND THE NEED TO KEEP FOOD WITHIN TENTS.
OBVIOUSLY I THINK, YOU KNOW, CREATES MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, SOME PROBLEMS AROUND, AROUND SANITATION.
AND SO THOSE ARE ALL CONSIDERATIONS.
UH, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS SORT OF A MENU OF THE COST THAT WE KNOW ABOUT AS BEING TYPICAL.
UM, AND SO WE CAN CERTAINLY GET MORE GRANULAR AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
I, I UNDERSTAND, UH, THE CONSIDERATION THEN AROUND MEALS.
AND SO SOME OF THE SERVICES SUCH AS LAUNDRY, UM, MIGHT BE SHARED AMONG DIFFERENT SITES.
SOME SAY TRASH AND MAINTENANCE ARE COSTS, FRANKLY, WE'RE CURRENTLY INCURRING AT, AT SOME OF THE PUBLIC, OH DEAR, AM I STILL HERE? OKAY.
UM, SOME OF, SOME OF THOSE COSTS WE'RE CURRENTLY INCURRING, UM, THROUGHOUT OUR CITY AT PUBLIC ENCAMPMENTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY, EVEN AT 10 TIMES 35,000, WE WOULD BE THERE WOULD BE SAVINGS, UM, IN THAT, IN THAT LINE ITEM.
SO I WANT TO POINT THAT OUT TO THE, TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
[04:20:01]
THE RELATIONSHIP? I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT JUST TO GET BACK TO A POINT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN RAISE.SO WE HAVE THE HEAL INITIATIVE, AND I THINK IT'S WORTH JUST PAUSING THERE FOR A MINUTE AND TALKING ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALL REALLY CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT, UM, THERE IS STILL, THE HILL INITIATIVE IS STILL CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE'LL FOCUS ON FOREIGN CAMP MINTS CONNECTING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND WE'VE HAD SOME, WE'VE HAD SOME CONTRACTS ON OUR AGENDA ALREADY AND WE'LL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL ONES.
SO THE SOCIAL SERVICES HERE WOULD BE, WOULD BE AFTER HEAL AND KIND OF WITH THE NEXT BATCH OF ENCAMPMENTS THAT WOULD AT THAT POINT BE DESIGNATED OR W CAN YOU TALK ME THROUGH THE RELATIONSHIP THERE? SURE.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UM, DETERMINED THE RELATIONSHIP, UH, CLEARLY BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT DETERMINED HOW HEAL GOING FORWARD WOULD BE RESOURCED.
SO HOW MUCH REHOUSING, UH, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO, UH, BE DOING DIRECTLY FROM, UH, AN UNSHELTERED SHELTERED STATUS NOR THE, UH, THE NUMBER OF SANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS.
UM, ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME NOW? IT LOOKS LIKE I'M HAVING SOME CONNECTIVITY ISSUES AS WELL.
YEAH, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK FUNDAMENTALLY THE CONCEPT OF HEAL IS THAT MOST IMPORTANT THING IS NOT WHERE THE INTERIM SHELTER IS, WHETHER THAT IS, YOU KNOW, COULD BE IN AN, A SANCTIONED ENCAMPMENT OR IN, AS WE HAVE AT SOUTH BRIDGE, THE NEW SOUTH BRIDGE SHELTER, UM, IN THIS CASE, A CONVERTED HOTEL.
UM, BUT THAT WE ARE DEDICATING PERMANENT HOUSING RESOURCES AND IMMEDIATELY BEGINNING TO MOVE PEOPLE INTO HOUSING.
AND SO IDEALLY CERTAINLY SHOULD WE HAVE ANY NUMBER OF SANCTIONED ENCAMPMENTS? WE WOULD HAVE, UM, READY RESOURCES SO THAT WHEN SOMEONE ENTERED AND MAYBE EVEN BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO ASSESS THEIR NEEDS, REFER THEM TO EITHER A RAPID REHOUSING PROVIDER, A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROVIDER, OR IF THERE ARE OTHER NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE.
UM, SO THAT, THAT PROCESS OF GETTING THEM OFF THE STREET HAS ALREADY STARTED.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT THINK OF THESE AS PERMANENT INSTALLATIONS.
AS MANY OF YOU HAVE MENTIONED ALREADY THAT, THAT OUR APPROACH IS GOING TO CONTINUE.
EVEN IF DESIGNATED CAMPING AREAS ARE, ARE ESTABLISHED.
THE INTENT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE, TO USE THE APPROACH FROM HILL, UM, WITH, WITH, UM, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN THE DESIGNATED ENCAMPMENTS AND CONNECTING THEM TO THE SERVICES AND TO THE PERMANENT HOUSING.
IT'S 20 AFTER FOUR, OR TRY AND GET TO THE POOL LICENSE IF WE CAN.
AND, UH, JUST TO QUICKLY CLARIFY, I THINK THAT, I THINK YOU MEANT THIS, UM, DIANA, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT CAME ACROSS THAT WAY.
THE, THE INITIAL, WHEN YOU SAY WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RESOURCES ARE FOR HEAL, YOU MEAN AFTER THE FIRST FOUR, WE HAVE THE RESOURCES FOR THE FIRST FOUR.
THE QUESTION IS CONTINUING IT PAST THAT THAT'S THE COUNCIL MEMBER.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR FOR FOLKS.
COLLEAGUES, ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS BEFORE WE TRY TO HIT THE POLE ITEMS? HOW'S HER KELLY, THANK YOU.
WHILE LOOKING AT THE COSTS, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN A COMPARISON OF WHAT THE COSTS FOR THE SANCTION CAMPSITES THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WOULD PROVIDE, VERSUS MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE WHAT CAMPUS BARRANZA HAS BEEN DEALING WITH OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET A SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON OF THAT BY REACHING OUT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT WE COULD SEE AT COUNCIL SO THAT MAYBE WE COULD UTILIZE SOME OF THEIR LESSONS LEARNED? YEAH.
SO COUNCIL I'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO THE OTHER ONES FOUNDATION, WHO IS THE ENTITY THAT'S RUNNING CAMPUS FOR ANZA.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT PRELIMINARILY HAD COSTS, ESTIMATES ARE TRACKING TO SOMETHING SIMILAR THAT THE OTHER ONE'S FOUNDATION HAS, UM, UM, HAS, UH, SUGGESTED, WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE COSTS, BUT WE CAN, I CAN WORK ON TRYING TO GET A COST BY A SIDE-BY-SIDE COUPONS TOO, BUT THEY'RE TRACKING SIMILARLY.
AND IF YOU COULD PROVIDE THAT TO COUNCIL, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
AND, UM, THE, WE'VE A NUMBER OF US.
UM, MANY OF US HAVE, UH, BEEN HEARING FROM FOLKS WHO ARE, UH, OFFERING, UH, YOU KNOW, INNOVATIONS IN TERMS OF TINY, NOT TINY HOMES, EVEN JUST TEMPORARY STRUCTURES.
SO, UM, I KNOW THAT PART OF COUNCIL MEMBER
[04:25:01]
IF YOU ARE FACTORING IN OR CONSIDERING ANY OF THOSE KINDS OF, UM, UM, OFFERS, I SUPPOSE YOU WOULD CALL THEM THAT ARE COMING FORWARD FROM DIFFERENT, UM, DIFFERENT SOURCES.COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, WE'VE BEEN GATHERING SOME OF THOSE EXAMPLES.
I THINK THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED AS YOU SAY, UM, EMAILS OR, OR CONTACT FROM, FROM VENDORS, FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THOSE TO US.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE CAN SPEAK TO, I THINK, AT THE NEXT, UH, REPORTING, UH, THROUGH THE MEMO OR A BRIEFING, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR PERCEPTION OF THE RELATIVE COST AND BENEFITS ARE OF USING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SOME OF THOSE ARE VERY, THAT'S VERY INNOVATIVE AND INTERESTING.
THE KINDS OF STRUCTURES THAT ARE BEING, UH, THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED, UM, AT, AT APPARENTLY LOW PRICES TOO.
IF I COULD ADD TO WHAT, UM, WHAT DIANA SAID, PLEASE KNOW THAT, UM, WE'VE ALSO PRELIMINARILY ENGAGED, UH, DSD, UH, WITH REGARDS TO PERTINENT PERMITTING, BECAUSE DEPENDING UPON THE TYPE OF STRUCTURE, THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH.
SO PRELIMINARILY, WE DON'T, WE HAVEN'T SELECTED A STRUCTURE NEURO SITE, BUT THEY'RE ON, THEY'RE ON STANDBY TO HELP US WITH THAT FOR THE FUTURE.
ANYTHING ELSE RIGHT NOW? IS IT DAILY? THANK YOU.
THE REST OF THE STAFF, UH, ON THIS WE'LL MOVE TO A PULLED ITEMS MANAGER.
OVER-COMMUNICATE ON THIS TO THE COMMUNITY.
[A. Pre-Selected Agenda Items]
TO, UH, PULL ITEMS, COLLEAGUES WE HAVE ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR, UH, THE, UH, THE FIRST POLL OF ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 13, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.UH, YES, I, I GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME.
THERE IS TIME FOR IT, UH, BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY POINT OUT A FEW THINGS TO MY COLLEAGUES, BUT, BUT I KNOW THERE'S QUITE A FEW THINGS THAT ARE UP, SO WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU THEN.
AND WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU THEN.
AND A NUMBER 29, YOU ALSO PULLED, UH, THIS WAS, UH, UH, CAP METRO, TODD THAT'S I POST BEING POSTPONED.
UH, SO, WELL, I THINK THAT, UM, I, I'M NOT SURE THAT EVERYONE AGREES TO POSTPONING IT, BUT PROBABLY WE WOULD, BUT, UM, I'M WANTING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON THURSDAY.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TODAY BECAUSE, UH, THE MAIN APPROACH TIM'S NOT WITH US AND IT WOULDN'T, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WHEN SHE'S AVAILABLE.
IF YOU WILL BE PARTICIPATING ON THURSDAY AT THIS POINT, I ANTICIPATE HER HERE ON THURSDAY.
AND EVEN IF WE'RE GONNA POSTPONE IT, UH, WE CAN CERTAINLY DISCUSS IT IN THE CONTEXT OF POSTPONING, RIGHT? YEAH.
I WOULD WANT TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS IT BECAUSE IF WE POSTPONE IT AND THEN OUR, BECAUSE WE HAVE YET TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AND WE'VE HAD TO POSTPONE IT SEVERAL TIMES, WHICH IS FINE, IT'S JUST, WE NEED A TIME TO DISCUSS IT OR WE'LL NEVER GET TO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL NEVER GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN, UM, MOVE IT FORWARD.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.
ITEM NUMBER 60 COUNCIL MEMBER FROM THIS, YOU PULLED THAT.
I THINK WE CAN, HOPEFULLY IT SHOULDN'T TAKE TOO LONG.
UM, BUT THIS RESOLUTION GOES RIGHT IN LINE TWO, OR IT'S RELATED TO OUR CONVERSATION AROUND THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS AND WHAT I'M SURE ALL OF US HAVE NOW RECEIVED SEVERAL EMAILS AND CALLS FROM INDIVIDUALS IN THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND IN THE MUSIC COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THESE COMMUNITIES ARE ASKING FOR HELP.
NOW THEY ARE ON THEIR LAST LEG.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BE FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS FOR THESE COMMUNITIES, WHO'VE BEEN HARD HIT FROM THE PANDEMIC AND BECAUSE OF THE WINTER STORM, THE, THE NEED IS FOR STABILIZATION AND RECOVERY FUNDING.
AND SO THAT WAS KIND OF THE IMPETUS OF WHAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS WHY I'M BRINGING FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION AND WHAT IT CALLS THIS RESOLUTION DOES A NUMBER OF THINGS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT REAFFIRMS OUR COMMITMENT TO THE FOUR POLICY CHALLENGES THAT WE PRIORITIZE AND THE RESILIENT ATX RESOLUTION BEING NUMBER ONE, HOMELESSNESS, FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY, EARLY CHILD CHILDHOOD CARE, AND, UH, JOBS WHO ARE WORKING CLASS.
AUSTINITES A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
IT REAFFIRMS OUR COMMITMENT TO THOSE FOUR PRIORITY BUCKETS.
AND THEN IT ALSO DIRECTS THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE A PLAN TO HOW WE APPROPRIATE STABILIZATION AND RECOVERY FUNDS FOR UP TO 15 MILLION OVER THE TWO YEARS FOR OUR ARTS COMMUNITY AND UP TO 10 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS FOR THE MUSIC COMMUNITY.
[04:30:01]
IT GOES RIGHT IN LINE WITH THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING EARLIER, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE IS FUNDING AVAILABLE NOT ONLY THROUGH THE ARP, BUT ALSO THROUGH THE CITY GENERAL REVENUE FUND PROCESS OR BUDGET AND OTHER LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING.WE KNOW THAT BOTH OF THESE COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO SEEKING FUNDING FROM TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET A HOLISTIC PLAN AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO SEE HOW WE CAN PROVIDE THIS CRUCIAL STABILIZATION AND RECOVERY FUNDING.
IT ALSO DRAWS ATTENTION TO THE LEGACY BUSINESS RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM.
UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE ON THE DIET, BUT THE NEED FOR US TO INCLUDE NONPROFITS, UM, AS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE PART OF THE FUNDS FROM THIS PROGRAM.
AND SO WE HAVE MET WITH EDD STAFF, THEY'RE AWARE OF THE NEED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO OFFER FUNDING FOR OUR NONPROFITS.
AND SO, UM, THEY, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE ON, IF THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO, TO SPEAK TO THIS OR WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT ON THURSDAY.
UM, BUT THERE ARE, THEY, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF WAYS WE CAN ADDRESS THIS.
UM, AND THEN THIRDLY, THIS RESOLUTION, UM, THAT I THINK I REALLY WANT TO HONE IN ON IS WHAT THE ARTS COMMUNITY HAS MADE VERY CLEAR IS THAT THEY DON'T WANT FUNDING FROM THE ARP TO GO TOWARDS BACKFILLING THE HOT DEFICIT, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE THE HOT DEFICIT, WHICH THE SHORT FALL BELIEVES IS BETWEEN FOUR TO 5 MILLION.
THEY WOULD PREFER FOR THAT TO BE PAID OUT, UM, OUT OF THE HOT REVENUE THAT WE GARNER OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
THIS ISN'T AN UNKNOWN PROCESS.
IT'S ONE THAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH.
ONE THAT WAS UNDERTAKEN IN 2008 AND ONE THAT EDD HAS ALREADY HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH, UM, WITH OUR BUDGET STAFF ABOUT, UM, SO THERE IS A DISTINCTION THERE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING OUR CULTURAL ARTS AND MUSIC COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ARP FUNDS, THE REQUEST IS THAT ANY ALLOCATION THAT WE MAKE FROM THE ARP FUNDS, THAT IT GOES TOWARDS, UH, STABILIZATION AND RECOVERY FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND THAT ANY FUNDS NEEDED TO BACKFILL HOT, THAT THAT WOULD BE BEST SERVED AT A LATER TIME, OR W WE WOULD PREFER THE CITY MANAGER TO COME BACK TO US WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND HOW TO ADDRESS THAT DEFICIT OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND THAT PRACTICE HAS BEEN, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, EXPLORED BEFORE.
AND SO THIS WOULD, UM, ALSO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL BY JUNE 8TH, WITH THAT PLAN, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, GOES OVER ALL THE DIFFERENT POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES.
WE REALIZE THAT ARP IS JUST ONE OF THE POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES THERE.
THE COUNTY COULD ALSO DEDICATE.
UM, AND THEN ALSO THE SHUTTERED VENUES GRANT, THE FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT'S OUT THERE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS ARE ALSO RESOURCES.
SO THAT WILL HELP US MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ON HOW WE ALLOCATE THE ARP FUNDS.
AND THEN ALSO IT CALLS FOR US TO TAKE STEPS, TO EXPEDITE THE ADMINISTRATION AND RELEASE OF THE CURRENT LIVE MUSIC FUND DOLLARS.
BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS NONE THERE'S NOT FUNDS LEFT IN THAT, IN THAT POT OF MONEY.
UM, AND SO PERHAPS WE WOULD HAVE TO DO A THIRD PHASE ON THAT, ON THAT FUND.
SO WE WOULD HAVE TO INJECT NEW DOLLARS TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THAT AREA.
UM, SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO OPEN IT UP TO.
YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
UM, SO I THINK ONE CONFUSING THING IS THAT WE'VE DONE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND RELIEF FOR CULTURAL ARTS AND LIVE MUSIC.
AND SO THE LAST I WANT TO END ON YOUR LAST POINT, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, AND I NOTICED ON PAGE EIGHT, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT EXPEDITING THE USE OF THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
AND ON PAGE EIGHT OF NINE, YOU'VE ASKED THE MANAGER TO DEVELOP AND PRESENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL ON THE BEST USE OF MUSIC FUNDS, INCLUDING THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE LIVE MUSIC FUND THAT THE LIVE MUSIC TASKFORCE HAS BEEN DELIBERATING ABOUT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IS THAT I'M NOT CLEAR ON WHICH FUND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT? IT'S THE LIVE MUSIC FUND AND ITS ASSOCIATED PROGRAMS IS WHERE WE'RE WANTING TO DIRECT ATTENTION TO, UM, THAT, AND THE INTENTION WAS THAT WE EXPEDITE THE RELEASE OF DOLLARS THAT WERE HELD UP IN THAT PROGRAM, BUT WE MET WITH EDD YESTERDAY.
AND IF THEY'RE ON THE LINE, THEY CAN ALSO SPEAK TO THIS AND MAY LET US KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SENT OUT NOTICES TO THE AWARDEES, OR THEY WILL SEND IT OUT THIS WEEK TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE GETTING FUNDED.
AND SO BY THE TIME THEY FINISH OUT THOSE NOTICES, THERE WILL NOT BE ANY LEFT.
UM, SO THE NEED WOULD BE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, ANY MONEY TO INJECT NEW DOLLARS INTO THAT FUND BECAUSE THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY FUNDS LEFT OVER, BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR EDD STAFF TO CONFIRM I'M CLEAR THAT
[04:35:01]
THE LIVE MUSIC, THE LIVE MUSIC FUND, I MEAN, THERE'S THE LIVE MUSIC FUND THAT WAS CREATED WHEN WE AGREED TO THE 2% INCREASE FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION.AND THEN THAT MONEY WENT INTO THE LIVE MUSIC FUND THAT THE LIVE MUSIC TASK FORCE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME, HOW TO SPEND IT, AND THEY'VE BEEN MEETING AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE JUST ABOUT TO RELEASE THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
SO I, I THINK YOU'RE NOT RECOMMENDING, I THINK WE JUST HAVE A LANGUAGE ISSUE.
IT DOESN'T SOUND TO ME LIKE YOU'RE RECOMMENDING THAT PROCESS BE EXPEDITED.
AND THAT COUNCIL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT THAT FUNDING BECAUSE WE HAD ASKED THE LIVE MUSIC TASKFORCE TO DO THAT, AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE LISTED OUT TO GET THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO US.
AND WHEN WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT A YEAR AGO ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD TAP INTO IT AND SPEND IT, THE DECISION OF THE COUNCIL, UM, WAS NOT TO, TO LET THEM FINISH THEIR WORK.
SO THAT'S, SO THAT'S NOT, UH, THAT, THAT PARTICULAR, AND THIS IS NOT ONE THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING TO RIGHT NOW, IS THAT RIGHT? NO, I THINK THAT'S THE ONE THAT I'M SPEAKING TO, UNLESS ARE YOU, BECAUSE THE OTHER FUN WOULD BE THE STAVES LIVE MUSIC FUND.
UM, SO THE, YEAH, I THINK, I THINK WE HAVE, I THINK, I THINK MAYBE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ONE THAT WE SET UP IN, UH, AS A RESULT OF THE RESOLUTION THAT I THINK I BROUGHT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S VERY CONFUSING BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL, SEVERAL, UM, ALLOCATIONS OF FUNDING FOR LIVE MUSIC AND CULTURAL ARTS AND VENUES SUPPORT THROUGH THE CARES ACT SEPARATE FROM ALL OF THAT.
THERE IS THIS LIVE MUSIC FUND THAT PREEXISTED THE PANDEMIC AROUND WHICH STAKEHOLDERS ARE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, PERHAPS WE COULD HAVE, UM, SYNOVIA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT, BUT I WILL SAY THAT, UM, THE CONCERN THAT CAME FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS AROUND THE LIVE MUSIC FUND.
I DON'T KNOW IF, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE ONE THAT C W THIS PART OF THE CARES ACT OR THE ONE THAT DOESN'T VERTIGO IS SPEAKING TO, BUT IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT PART.
SO NOVIA HAUTE REP WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THERE ARE TWO FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST THE LIVE MUSIC VENUES.
THERE IS THE LIVE MUSIC PRESERVATION FUND THAT COUNCIL ESTABLISHED THAT WE ARE NOW IN THE FINAL PHASE OF THE VENUES PRODUCING THEIR STRATEGIC EQUITY PLAN.
AND THEN THERE IS THE LIVE MUSIC FUND THAT WAS ESTABLISHED AS PART OF THE EXPANSION FROM THE 2% WE ARE WORKING ON GUIDELINES TO BRING BACK TO THE MUSIC COMMISSION TO PINE ON BEFORE BRINGING THOSE TO COUNCIL.
AND SO THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE FUNDS.
SO JUST ON PAGE EIGHT, I WOULD JUST CALL THE SPONSOR'S ATTENTION TO PAGE EIGHT WHERE YOU, I THINK, TALK ABOUT BOTH.
I THINK THE ONE IS SORT OF ON A DIFFERENT TRACK.
UM, SO THEN I HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU ABOUT, UM, I'M SORRY, I'M NOT FOLLOWING CLEARLY A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.
I THINK YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT, YOU HAD SAID SOMETHING ABOUT NOT WANTING TO USE HOT FUNDING, UM, THAT YOU WANTED TO USE.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT WANTING TO USE HOT FUNDING TO SUPPLEMENT THE MISSING HOT FUNDING? SO WE WOULD, THE ARTS AND MUSIC COMMUNITY WOULD RATHER, INSTEAD OF USING THE ARP DOLLARS TO, TO BASICALLY FILL THE SHORTFALL THAT IS BETWEEN FOUR TO 5 MILLION, THEY WOULD PREFER THAT THAT SHORTFALL, THAT DEFICIT BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THE GENERAL REVENUE FUND PROCESS.
AND THAT IT'D BE PAID OUT THROUGH A NUMBER OF YEARS.
THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN DONE, I THINK LAST YEAR.
AND IT WAS ALSO DONE IN 2008 WHERE WE PAY OUT THE DEFICIT OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW BUDGET CYCLES.
UH, SO THE PREFERENCE IS THAT WE USE THE LRP DOLLARS, THE AMOUNT THAT WE DEDICATE FROM THERE TO DO NEW SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE ARTS AND MUSIC COMMUNITY.
I'LL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT, UM, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE WOULD GET IT FROM.
DID YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON WHERE WE WOULD GET IT FROM IN THE GENERAL FUND? I MEAN, WE CAN'T TAKE IT OUT OF THE HOT FUNDING BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE, WHERE WE'RE SEEING THE SHORTFALL.
SO THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO USE THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN TO TRY TO SUPPLEMENT SOME OF THAT FUNDING.
SO WE'RE ASKING THE, FOR STAFF TO COME BACK AND LAY OUT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
IT COULD BE IF THE HOT FUND, YOU KNOW, STABILIZES, AND IT HAS INCREASED REVENUE THAT WE USE ANY SURPLUS IN THE HOT FUND FOR NEXT YEAR TO PAY PAYBACK THAT DEFICIT.
UM, SO WE WOULD WANT TO EXPLORE THOSE OPTIONS, BUT WE'D WANT TO KNOW WHAT THOSE OPTIONS
[04:40:01]
COULD BE.CAN YOU TALK THROUGH THOUGH, HOW THAT, HOW COULD THAT WORK WITH, UM, GIVEN THAT WE'RE LIMITED TO 15%? I MEAN, WE HOPE THAT THE HOT FUNDING WILL COME IN NEXT YEAR HIGHER THAN IT DID THIS YEAR, BUT WE'RE STILL LIMITED TO 15% EACH YEAR FOR CULTURAL ARTS.
SO EVEN IF IT COMES IN HIGHER, WHICH I HOPE IT DOES, IT, IT DOESN'T, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING.
IT DOESN'T ALLOW US TO SUDDENLY SPEND MORE ON THE CULTURAL ARTS THROUGH THE HOT FUNDING.
SO THERE'LL BE A WHOLE RAB AGAIN, YOU ARE CORRECT.
WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COLLECT MORE THAN 15%, UM, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FOR THE CULTURAL ARTS.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THE LAW DEPARTMENT TO, UM, COME BACK WITH A PLAN ON HOW TO CLOSE THE GAP IN THE CULTURAL ARTS FUND.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE ISSUED A MEMO HONORING THE CONTRACTS THAT COUNCIL HAD APPROVED FOR THE CURRENT YEAR BECAUSE OF THE, UH, THE CURRENT NATURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND ALLOW, EXCUSE ME, THE ARTS COMMUNITY TO KEEP THOSE CONTRACTS.
AND SO WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE ON HOW TO ELIMINATE THE DEFICIT THAT IS ANTICIPATED BY SEPTEMBER 30TH OF THIS YEAR.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE HOT FUND IS A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, SO IT'S ALLOWED TO RUN AS THE DEFICIT.
AND SO, AND SYNOVIA, CAN YOU SPEAK AS OF MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE JUST THIS PAST YEAR, WHERE WE RAN OUT OF THE DEFICIT, AND SO WE'LL PAY IT BACK THAT, THAT, THAT GAP.
SO AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER OF 2020, THE FUNDED AND AS A DEFICIT AROUND $800,000.
AND SO WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE TO CLOSE THAT GAP.
AND AGAIN, THIS YEAR'S ANTICIPATED GAP IS MUCH LARGER.
AND SO WE'RE STILL IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY TO CLOSE THAT GAP.
AND WE WILL COME BACK WITH THE, UM, RECOMMENDATION AS ARTICULATED IN THE IFC, BUT I DEFINITELY WANT TO GIVE TIME TO, UH, DISCUSS IT WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE BUDGET OFFICE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN COMPLIANCE.
SO I WONDER IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN, SO SOME OF THIS SEEMS TO BE ABOUT HOW WE SPEND THE, HOW WE INVEST THE ARP DOLLARS.
I GUESS I'M STILL STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS, OH, THIS CHANGES HOW THE PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION WOULD CHANGE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU'VE MEANT MADE FOR THE INVESTMENT OF ARP.
BECAUSE IT, AS I UNDERSTOOD THE CONVERSATION WE HAD THIS MORNING, UM, DIRECTOR HOLT, RAB, YOUR, THE STAFF ARE SUGGESTING THAT WE INVEST SOME OF THOSE ARP DOLLARS IN FUNDING THAT GAP, UH, BETWEEN THE ANTICIPATED HOT REVENUE AND WHAT ACTUALLY WAS RECEIVED AND USE THAT FOR OUR CULTURAL ARTS CONTRACTS.
SO HOW DOES THIS RESOLUTION, HOW DO YOU SEE THIS IFC AND ITS POTENTIAL PASSAGE CHANGING THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AT THIS TIME? UH, WE ARE, AGAIN, ARE EXPLORING A COUPLE OF IDEAS THAT PART OF THAT FUNDING, UM, PROCESS, WE DEFINITELY HEARD THE CONVERSATION AROUND TRANSFORMATIONAL, UH, PROJECTS.
AND SO AGAIN, WE WILL BRING BACK FORTH THOSE DETAILS, UH, THAT WERE DISCUSSED EARLIER TODAY.
UM, BUT WE DEFINITELY HEARD THAT CONCEPT AROUND TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS AND MOVING FORWARD FOR EVERY SHOW I GO ON TO SOMEONE ELSE.
MAYBE, MAYBE IN THE COURSE OF THE CONVERSATION, I'M STILL STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND THIS A BIT, BUT I'LL, I THINK OTHERS HAVE QUESTIONS.
SO I THINK MY ROLE HAS HAD HER HAND UP.
I, I HOPE THIS IS, UM, COVERED WITH THE RESOLUTION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO GET A LITTLE CLARITY.
UM, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT HOW OUR ARTS AND MUSIC COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS ARE IMPLEMENTED AND SOME OF THE RELIEF FUNDING THAT WE'VE DONE.
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW THIS AFFECTS FOLKS IN THEATER? I WASN'T SURE IF THAT WAS UMBRELLA WITH SOME OF THE OTHER CULTURAL ARTS OR IF THAT'S A SEPARATE CONVERSATION, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER? YES.
THE THEATER IS COVERED AS PART OF THE CULTURAL FUNDING PROGRAM.
SO CAESAR, UM, LITERATURE, DANCE, ET CETERA.
CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S SOME FOLKS IN THE THEATER COMMUNITY THAT HAVE JUST STARTED BECOMING MORE ORGANIZED SO THEY CAN HELP INFORMATION TO EACH OTHER TO UNDERSTAND
[04:45:01]
BETTER WHAT CITY PROGRAMS OR OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO HEAR ALTERNATIVE.
UM, SO I THINK I'M STILL IN THE PLACE THAT COUNTS A MEMBER TOE IS WHERE I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RESOLUTION IS.
I KNOW WE'VE RECEIVED LOTS OF, LOTS OF EMAILS AND THEY ALL SAY THINGS LIKE THEY SAY 15 DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT WHAT THIS IS DOING, WHICH REFLECTS THE NEED THAT I THINK THAT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FRANCIS IS TRYING TO ADDRESS, UM, WITH THIS RESOLUTION THAT BUILDS ON WORK THAT WE'VE ALL DONE OVER THE PAST YEAR PLUS AND BEYOND, UM, TO SUPPORT OUR CREATIVE SECTOR.
SO WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE LIKE FROM A BASIC LEVEL, UM, AND I'M ASSUMING THERE WAS JUST THE INITIAL DRAFT, NOT A SECOND VERSION YET.
UM, THAT IT IS SAYING THAT WE WOULD FUND UP TO 15 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS AND IS THE FIRST IS THE, I GUESS IT'S THE SECOND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, BUT THE FIRST KIND OF SUBSTANTIVE SECTION IS THAT ONE SAYING IT'S FOR ARTS.
AND THEN THE FOURTH ONE IS FOR MUSIC.
CAUSE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT, I WAS A LITTLE BIT UNSURE THERE SO THAT THE, IF YOU CAN CLARIFY FOR ME, COUNCIL MEMBER POINT IS THE SECOND ONE IS THE UP TO 15 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS FOR ARTS, THEN IT'S SAYING LIKE, COME UP WITH A SOLUTION FOR THE DEFICIT FOR HOT.
AND THEN IT'S SAYING UP TO 10 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS FOR MUSIC, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
AND SO THERE IS, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE, THERE WAS KATIE JUST SENT OUT THE REVISED VERSION TOO, CAUSE WE DID HAVE A TYPO IN ONE OF OUR VIET RESOLVES.
UM, SO I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT.
SO THAT MIGHT BE WHERE THE CONFUSION IS STEMMING FROM JUST TRYING TO FIND IT HERE IN MY, UM, HARD COPY, BUT SO YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
THE ARTS COMMISSION RECOMMENDED 20 MILLION FOR TWO YEARS.
AND SO THIS RESOLUTION IS UP TO 15 MILLION FOR TWO YEARS AND THE MUSIC COMMISSION RECOMMENDED 20 MILLION EACH YEAR, SO 40 MILLION.
UM, AND SO THIS RESOLUTION CALLS FOR UP TO 10 MILLION.
AND SO WE WANTED TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT WE WERE STILL UNDERGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE ALLOCATE THE ARP FUNDS, UH, WITH THOSE FOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES THAT WE OUTLINED IN THE RESILIENT ATX.
AND WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, UH, FOR, FOR OUR CREATIVE SECTOR WILL BE ADDRESSED.
FOUR WILL BE ADDRESSED FROM ALL THE OTHER, UM, PROGRAMS WE HAVE AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, SUCH AS THE IN RENT FUNDS.
AND SO WE WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, AFTER HAVING MANY CONVERSATIONS, THOSE WERE THE NUMBERS THAT WE LANDED UPON.
UM, BUT WE, THIS IS, UM, WE WANTED TO GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE ARE ALSO FEDERAL RELIEF PROGRAMS. WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A BUDGET PROCESS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY IT, IT DIRECTS STAFF TO COME BACK TO US WITH, UH, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO PLAN UP TO THIS AMOUNT.
AND ALSO BEING AWARE THAT THESE GROUPS ARE ALSO ASKING TRAVIS COUNTY FOR FUNDING.
AND SO THAT MIGHT BE A WAY TO SUPPLEMENT TO GET TO THEIR FULL, THEIR ORIGINAL FULL ASK.
UM, AND SO, AND WHAT WAS THE THIRD QUESTION CUSTOMER ALTAR? THE, I GUESS THE OTHER ONE WAS LIKE FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION FOR THE DROP IN HOT FUNDS, RIGHT? AND SO THAT'S BEEN NEAT.
I WANT TO GET TO IS THAT THEY, THE NEED IS THE NEED.
THEY ARE COMMUNITIES NEED RELIEF NOW.
AND SO THERE, THE CONCERN IS, IS THAT IF WE, IF WE USE THE ARP DOLLARS TO BACKFILL HOT, THAT THEY WON'T GET THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO, TO MAKE IT THROUGH.
AND SO THAT IS WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR ARP DOLLARS TO BE USED FOR MORE OF THE TRANSFORMATIONAL, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS AND FUNDING, AND THAT WE SUPPLEMENT THE HOT FUNDS THROUGH A DIFFERENT PROCESS, EITHER THROUGH THE BUDGET OR ANY OTHER FUNDING REVENUE STREAMS THAT STAFF MIGHT RECOMMEND AS POSSIBLE AVENUES FOR US TO EXPLORE.
SO THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
I THINK THIS GETS TO PRECISELY THE POINT THAT I WAS TRYING TO GET AT EARLIER TODAY WHEN I WAS ASKING AND SUGGESTING WE NEEDED MORE DETAIL.
UM, AS I UNDERSTOOD THE PRESENTATION FROM STAFF, THEY WERE SAYING WE WERE, WE WERE COVERING THE HOT MONEY FOR THE THREE BUCKETS THAT ARE UNDER HOT, WHICH WOULD BE THE CULTURAL ARTS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND AND THE LIVE, UM, THE LIVE MUSIC FONT.
AND THAT DOESN'T DO ANY OF THE STUFF THAT'S IN HERE AT ALL.
AND SO, AND IT'S NOT TRANSFORMATIONAL.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I KIND OF, I'M A LITTLE BIT AT A LOSS FOR HOW TO PUT ALL THESE THINGS TOGETHER.
UM, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE JUST SHOOK THEIR HEAD EARLIER AND SAID, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
AND NOW WE HAVE THIS AND IT, IT SEEMS I AM EITHER
[04:50:01]
I'M MISSING SOMETHING OR WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT, UM, I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT HOW WE'VE ARTICULATED ANYWAY.UM, UM, I THINK WE ALL SEE THE NEED TO HELP THE ARTS COMMUNITY TO HELP THE MUSIC COMMUNITY.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OUR HOT DEFICIT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RECONCILE THESE.
AND I'M A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THIS DIRECTION MEANS IN LIGHT OF THE OTHER AND IN LIGHT OF OUR 20 MILLION DEFICIT IN OUR, UM, IN OUR BUDGET, IF THE CONCERN IS THAT WE NEED HELP NOW, AND WE NEED TO BE DOING THAT STUFF NOW BACK FILLING THE HOT FUND AND DOING THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY GET US THERE UNLESS WE WANT TO BUY US THE MONEY TOWARDS THE GROUPS THAT ARE ALREADY GETTING SORT OF HOT FUNDING IN TERMS OF WHO WE HELP, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF THAT I'M HEARING, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO EITHER.
SO, SO I'M, I'M JUST RIGHT NOW TRYING TO RECONCILE ALL OF THESE THINGS AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WHEN THERE'S PROBABLY NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE OF WHERE WE WANT TO GO, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE CLARITY WE NEED TO FOR STAFF AT THIS POINT FOR THE NEXT STEPS.
CAUSE OUR FOURTH IS, AS I READ THIS, AS IT WAS BROUGHT, I THINK THAT YOU WERE IMPORTANTLY RAISING THE QUESTION OF, OF, UM, TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT IN THIS AREA WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO, TO ADDRESS AND ALSO TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES WERE.
I APPRECIATED THAT THE RESOLUTION BEGAN WITH A STRONG REAFFIRMATION OF THE EARLIER WORK THAT WE HAD DONE AND THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAD SET, UM, EVEN THAT RESOLUTION ALLOWED FOR SOME ADDITIONAL SPENDING, UH, IF THERE WERE EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES OR A PARTICULAR THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, UM, BUT IT HAD IS REALLY FOCUSING ON THOSE FOUR PRIORITIES.
SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT, UH, THAT THE STAFF DID.
I HAVE SOME OF THE SAME QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK THAT PART IN PART, THIS RESOLUTION IS TO, IS TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
UM, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT, UH, THAT GET FUNDING AND THE CULTURAL ARTS FUNDING ARE, ARE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS.
UH, AND THEY HAVE A PROGRAM THAT THEY DO ONCE A YEAR.
UH, AND REALLY THIS IS, UH, THIS FUNDING PROVIDES THEM THEIR, THEIR INCOME FOR THAT YEAR.
UH, SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS MAY WELL HAVE BEEN COVERED THIS YEAR WITH THE, UH, OTHER RELIEF PROGRAMS, THE RENT PROGRAM, OR THE RISE PROGRAM, OR THE, UH, ARTISTS, UH, LEAF PROGRAM.
UH, SO IT MAY NOT, I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT MAY NOT BE THEM AND IT MAY NOT NEED TO HAVE THE, THE, THE, THE, THE HOT CULTURAL ARTS FUND, UH, PUT BACK INTO PLACE TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM.
UH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE MAY BE SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THAT FUNDING, UH, THAT, THAT, UM, UH, MAY NOT SURVIVE IN WHICH CASE THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO, TO IDENTIFY THAT, UH, THERE WERE SOME FUNDS THAT WE HAD SET UP THAT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, WHERE THEY ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY ARE, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
AND I DO THINK THAT, THAT WE'RE ALL FOCUSED ON TRYING TO DO SOMETHING THAT TO THREE WEEKEND IS, IS TRANSFORMATIONAL, UH, HAVE CAPACITY BUILDING AS OPPOSED TO JUST RELIEF.
AND I THINK THAT THE RESOLUTION GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SEE WHETHER THOSE KINDS THINGS EXIST AS WELL, EITHER AS PART OF THE ERP PROCESS OR AS PART OF A LONGER PROCESS, OR EVEN LEAVING IT TO THE, TO THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.
AND, UM, UH, THAT'S HOW I READ THE RESOLUTION.
I, I SEE THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND, UH, WE COULD BE AVAILABLE TO HELP, YOU KNOW, WORK ON THE LANGUAGE A LITTLE BIT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANTED TO DO, BUT I SEE EXACTLY THAT, THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF QUESTIONS HERE THAT WE HAVE THAT WE, THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO, TO, TO ANSWER STAFF MAY BE HELPFUL TO HELP US THAT'S FOREVER KITCHEN.
SO I, I WOULD SAY THAT, UM, I DON'T THINK THIS IS INCONSISTENT WITH OUR EARLIER CONVERSATION, BUT I UNDERSTAND, UM, I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE RAISING.
I DO THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND I WOULD JUST ASK OUR STAFF TO DO THIS.
UH, WE HELPFUL JUST CREATE A LIST FOR US.
UM, UH, AS YOU THINK THROUGH, UH, YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ARP, AND AS YOU THINK THROUGH HOW YOU'LL RESPOND, YOU MIGHT RESPOND TO THIS RESOLUTION.
WE HAVE DONE THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS ON ARTS AND MUSIC.
AND THERE WAS A WHOLE RANGE OF NEEDS, JUST,
[04:55:01]
JUST LIKE, UH, IN, IN OTHER SUBJECT AREAS, THERE'S A RANGE OF NEEDS, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THOSE NEEDS TODAY.THEY ALL EXIST, AND THEY ALL ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT AND THINK ABOUT FROM AN AI ARP STANDPOINT, AS WELL AS FROM OTHER STANDPOINTS.
SO, UM, SO FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THE, AS, AS Y'ALL HAVE ARTICULATED, THERE ARE SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS THAT MAY BE IN A POSITION OF ACTUALLY NEEDING TO, UH, FILL A GAP BECAUSE, UH, BECAUSE OF THE WAYS THAT YOU HAVE ARTICULATED MAYOR, UM, AND MAY BE IN SERIOUS NEED OF IMMEDIATE NEED, UM, THAT'S ON ONE END OF IT ON THE OTHER END OF IT, THERE ARE, UH, SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED BY THIS COUNCIL IN THE PAST THAT ARE TRANSFORMATIONAL.
ONE OF THEM IS THE CON ANY FUND THAT WE JUST PASSED.
UM, I THINK IN DECEMBER, SO I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN WE DID IT AND THAT ONE WAS ALL ABOUT HOW CAN WE, HOW CAN WE, UH, PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE ICONIC, UH, VENUES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY, UM, INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO LOSE THEM.
SO THERE, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THERE ARE A RANGE OF THINGS THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE TO SPEND ARP DOLLARS ON AND PROBABLY WOULD BE BEST IF WE HAD A LIST AND UNDERSTOOD THE RECOMMENDATION OF OUR STAFF ON THAT.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE COVERED BY ARP, THAT WE STILL NEED TO FIND A WAY TO COVER THEM.
UM, AND THOSE ARE THOSE NEEDS AREN'T AWAY.
SO, UM, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT ADD SOME CLARITY TO THE CONVERSATION IF WE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THE LIST.
SO PERHAPS, UM, UM, YOU ALL, AS STAFF CAN, CAN THINK OF PRESENTING IT THAT WAY.
CAUSE IT CAN BE CONFUSING ALL THE DIFFERENT, UM, PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN EXISTENCE RIGHT NOW TO COVER DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE NEED.
SO THE THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER WENT TO US FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I THINK IT IT'S, THERE'S CLEARLY A VERY URGENT NEED IN THE ARTS AND MUSIC COMMUNITY, AND IT'S, IT'S ACROSS A RANGE OF IMMEDIATE NEEDS TO THE NEEDS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED TO ACTUALLY PRESERVE ARTS AND MUSIC IN OUR COMMUNITY IN THE LONG RUN.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION MINUS YOUR DIFFERENT ITEM CONCLUDING ON THIS? YEAH, I MEAN, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I THINK THAT WE ALMOST SHARED THE SAME GOAL HERE.
UM, I'M TRYING TO PUT ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES.
I'M SURE THAT NO FIXING THE TYPO MAY FIX PART OF THAT, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT STAFF WAS PROPOSING THIS MORNING WAS USING THE HOT FUND TOBACCO, THE HOT, IT WAS NOT ANY OF THIS.
AND NOW WE'RE SAYING WE WANT TO PUT THE OTHER DIRECTION AND I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT THAT LEAVES STAFF WITH CLARITY.
UM, AND, AND SO I JUST, FROM A PROCESS PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I SAID WE NEED MORE CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED MORE DETAIL.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF WHAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES, IS IT, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S A PART OF, OKAY, WHAT IS OUR PROCESS AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE CLARITY FOR STAFF? AND THEN THERE'S, YOU KNOW, IS WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS DOING.
YOU KNOW, SAYING WE NEED TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR OUR MUSIC INDUSTRY.
WE NEED TO FIND SOLUTION FOR OUR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HOT.
LIKE I'M TOTALLY ON BOARD WITH THAT, BUT I'M, I, I, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DIRECTION IS SPECIFICALLY THAT THIS LEADS STAFF TO DO DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT THEY WERE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, DOING, GIVEN WHAT OUR EARLIER CONVERSATION IS.
I THINK THAT IT HELPS CLARIFY SOME OF IT.
UM, WHAT I WAS TRYING TO ASK FOR BEFORE, AND I GUESS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FONTES AND OTHERS WHO CO-SPONSORED IT.
I WONDER WHETHER THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE SHOULD HAVE AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT ARP.
UM, ONE OTHER THING I JUST WANTED TO ASK FOR CLARITY ON THE LAST BIT FOR THE RESOLVES RESOLVED, ALMOST SOUNDS AS IF WE ARE ALLOCATING THE FUNDING AND I, I JUST WANT TO BE AWAY WITH ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING AROUND INVESTMENTS WITH THE ARP AND WITH OTHERS.
I JUST WANT TO SET REALLY CLEAR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC.
AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK, UM, IF YOU COULD, IF YOU COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT LANGUAGE TOO, IT TALKS ABOUT THE MA THE CITY MANAGER IS DIRECTED TO REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL ON THE STATUS OF THE ALLOCATION OF THESE FUNDS BY THE JUNE 8TH.
[05:00:01]
AGAIN, I JUST WOULD ASK THAT YOU LOOK TO CLARIFY THAT LANGUAGE TOO.SO IT DOESN'T MAKE IT SOUND AS IF WE ARE ACTUALLY IN PASSING THIS ALLOCATING FUNDING, WHICH WE WOULDN'T BE DOING.
SO, AND TO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WOULD, BETWEEN NOW AND THURSDAY, JUST THINK ABOUT THE TIMING OF THIS AND WHETHER THIS IS WHETHER THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT SHOULD GO FORWARD AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE HAVING THE ARP, UM, CONVERSATION, BECAUSE IT, IT MAY, UM, AS COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, I THINK BETTER ARTICULATED THAN I DID.
I THINK IT, IT'S A LITTLE UNCLEAR TO KNOW HOW, HOW THOSE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, STAND TOGETHER.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TOBO CONFLICT.
YOU KNOW, I, I SEE IT AS ACTUALLY PROVIDING THAT CLARITY.
I MEAN, IT'S PROVIDING DIRECTION ON HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR DOLLAR SPENT AND ADDRESSING THIS IMMEDIATE NEED.
UM, SO I THINK IT ISN'T APPROPRIATE FOR US TO BE HAVING THIS TYPE OF CONVERSATION AS WE CONSIDER HOW TO SPEND ARP AND THE COMMUNITIES REACHING OUT.
THEY'RE LETTING US KNOW THAT THERE IS A GAP IN SERVICES, THERE'S A GAP IN PROGRAM FUNDING, AND THEY WANT US TO CONSIDER FUNDING FROM THE ARP.
I MEAN, THAT IS THE SPECIFIC ASK OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
ONE THING THAT I THINK THAT MY COULD, COULD BE TWEAKED AS WELL, IS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR A REPORT BACK ON HOW WE IDENTIFY THESE FUNDS TO COME BACK BY JUNE 8TH AND, UH, FOR HAVING, UM, OUR WORK SESSION ABOUT THE ARP ON, ON JUNE 1ST, THEN MAYBE WE COULD ASK DOC TO SEE IF HE COULD HAVE IT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
SO AS WE, IF WE INTEND TO TAKE A VOTE ON, ON THE FRAMEWORK OR HOW WE SPEND AT THAT JUNE 3RD MEETING, THEN I WOULD DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF BOTH THESE COMMUNITIES BEFOREHAND.
UM, BUT I THINK WILL HELP US INFORM OUR DECISION.
WE, UM, MET WITH EDD A COUPLE OF TIMES THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
SO THEY WERE A WAY TO END AND THE CHANGE AND WANTING TO SEE, UM, THE ARP DOLLARS BE USED FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF EFFORTS AND MORE, UH, OF THAT TRANSFORMATIONAL NATURE VERSUS THAT FILLING THE HOT, UM, THE HOT FUNDS.
AND THAT IS A PATHWAY THAT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE AND TO BE DONE AGAIN.
AND SO HAVING THAT RECOMMENDATION COME BACK FROM STAFF COULD REALLY BE VERY CLEAR AND LAYING THAT OUT.
BUT THE BYPASSING THIS RESOLUTION, WE'RE GIVING STAFF VERY CLEAR DIRECTION AND THAT WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S FUNDING FOR THESE COMMUNITIES, BUT WE WANT TO SEE, LIKE, WHAT IS PATHWAY? IS IT THROUGH ARP? IS IT THROUGH, IS IT THROUGH GENERAL REVENUE OR IS IT, YOU KNOW, TRAVIS COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL, LIKE, LET'S IDENTIFY ALL OF THE OPTIONS, ALL OF THE OPTIONS OUT THERE AND, AND GET TO THAT NUMBER IT'S POSSIBLE.
HOW ARE THINGS IT'S AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK, UH, I'M GOING TO NEED TO, TO STEP OFF HERE JUST A SECOND, UH, BECAUSE I PULLED IT, YOU ASKED ME WHEN DID THE DOVE YEAH, REALLY, REALLY QUICK ITEM 18 AND 59 ARE, ARE, UH, RELATED.
AND ON THURSDAY I MAY, UH, BRING A RECOMMENDATION TO POSTPONE THEM IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE TEXAS BUNGALOWS HOTEL CONVERSION PROJECT, THAT'S IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
UM, LIKE MY STAFF IS WORKING WITH CITY STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY MAINTAINS MANAGEMENT CONTROL OVER THE PROPERTY THAT WOULD REASSURE THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE NEED, AND WE PROMISE TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT WITH DIANA GRAY AND WITH PUBLIC HEALTH STAFF.
SO HOPEFULLY MY CONCERNS CAN BE ADDRESSED BY THURSDAY.
WE CAN MOVE FORWARD THAT DAY, BUT IF NOT, I'LL BE ASKING FOR, UM, PROBABLY JUST A ONE MEETING POSTPONEMENT.
IF I COULD JUST GO BACK A SECOND TO COUNCIL MEMBER FRANCIS'S, UM, PROPOSAL.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO A REVISION, UM, I HAD A SUGGESTION.
I KNOW YOU'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NAVIGATOR.
UM, I THINK IT'D BE USEFUL TO HAVE A CLAUSE IN THERE UNDER IS GOING TO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE NAVIGATORS, UH, SUSTAIN, UM, THE CREATIVE SECTOR SPECIFICALLY, UM, TO PULL DOWN THE FUNDS.
AND SINCE I THINK YOU'RE WORKING ON AN ITERATION, I'LL MAYBE YOU COULD JUST DO THAT.
UM, AND THEN I WANTED TO ASK, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M GETTING STRAIGHT WITH RESPECT TO THE HOT, AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE QUICK.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAD A TWO YEAR CONTRACT THAT WENT THROUGH THIS YEAR THAT WE MADE FOLKS WHOLE FOR, UH, WE FOUND A WAY TO DO THAT IN THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 21.
SO THAT STARTING IN SEPTEMBER 30TH AND IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, THE QUESTION IS HOW WOULD WE CONTINUE WITH OUR HOT FUNDING, UM, YOU KNOW, AT ANYWHERE NEAR THE SIMILAR LEVELS, BUT DO WE HAVE CONTRACTS ALREADY WITH FOLKS FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR 22 AND BEYOND, OR DO WE ONLY HAVE CONTRACTS THAT RUN THROUGH THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 21? WE ONLY HAVE CONTRACTS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH
[05:05:01]
OF 2021.ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES WE'LL WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THEIR CLERK AND YOUR OFFICES TO SEE WHETHER WE HAVE A WORK SESSION NEXT WEEK ON A RFP TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK.
UH, WITH THAT IT IS FIVE OH THREE AND OUR WORK SESSION IS ADJOURNED.
WELL, I, I LOST CONNECTION, SO I DIDN'T HEAR THE LAST PART OF WHAT YOU HEARD.
UM, SO WE'RE FINISHING WITHOUT GETTING TOO.
SO CAN I JUST SAY THING ABOUT THE ITEM 13 SINCE WE DIDN'T GET TO IT, YOU CAN, I'M GOING TO GIVE THE CHAIR TO, UH, TO ALISON BECAUSE I NEED TO, I NEED TO GO, WELL, YOU KNOW, ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS THAT I, I NEED TIME TO, TO REALLY SPEND SOME TIME ON THURSDAY, TO GO OVER IT WITH PEOPLE AND, AND HAVE OUR, UH, STAFF AVAILABLE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION SO WE CAN DO THAT.